Xylon wrapped his arms tightly around Jade, unwilling to let her go.
"I missed you," he whispered softly.
A gentle smile appeared on Jade's face.
"I thought I was going to lose you," Xylon admitted as he pulled back slightly to look into her eyes. "I was terrified. If anything happened to you... I wouldn't be able to bear it. It would destroy me."
Jade lovingly caressed his cheek.
"I'll never leave you," she said. "I love you so much, babe."
A warm smile spread across Xylon's face before he leaned in and kissed her.
"Woooo! That's some serious PDA right there!" Blake shouted.
The couple turned toward the voice.
They couldn't help but laugh when they saw Blake and the others watching from nearby.
"Get a room, you two," Maddison teased.
"Or we could get one ourselves," Zander replied, casually draping an arm over Maddison's shoulders.
Maddison immediately smacked him on the arm. "Keep dreaming."
Everyone burst into laughter.
"Seriously, they're making me jealous," Blake complained dramatically.
"Then maybe it's time you find a partner," Zander shot back.
"Easy for you to say, since you guys are in relationships now," Blake grumbled.
The group laughed even harder.
As the others continued teasing one another, Xylon secretly pressed a kiss against Jade's cheek.
She blushed and leaned against him.
Finally, Aznar was at peace again.
The war was over.
Leviathan was gone.
And the future seemed brighter than ever.
At least...
That was what they believed.
.
.
.
"AAAAHHHHH! It's coming out!"
Luna's scream echoed throughout the small house.
"That's it, miss. Keep pushing. You're almost there," the midwife encouraged.
With one final cry, Luna gave one last push.
The sound of a newborn's first breath and cry filled the room.
A baby boy had been born.
"It's a healthy boy," the midwife announced with a smile as she gently placed the infant into Luna's arms.
Tears filled Luna's eyes as she gazed at her son.
"He's so beautiful..." her voice trembled as she kissed his tiny forehead.
At that moment, the door opened.
Xerxes stepped inside.
His eyes immediately settled on the child.
For several moments, he simply stared.
Luna looked up at him nervously.
"A-Are you going to take him?" she asked quietly.
The midwife glanced between the two of them.
"Are you the child's father?" the midwife asked.
Without a word, Xerxes slowly drew his sword.
The blade gleamed in the candlelight.
Before either woman could react, he struck.
The midwife collapsed instantly. Blood is spilled all over the floor.
Luna gasped in horror. "W-What have you done?!"
Xerxes wiped the blood from his blade.
"The fewer people who know the truth, the safer it will be."
Tears streamed down Luna's face.
She understood.
The secret surrounding the child could never be allowed to spread.
"I understand..." she whispered through her sobs. "Just... please take care of my son."
She hugged the baby tightly and kissed him one final time.
Xerxes stepped forward.
Gently, he took the child into his arms.
Luna looked at him with pleading eyes.
"Promise me you'll raise him to be a good person," her voice broke. "Don't let him become like his father."
He gave a silent nod.
Then he stepped closer to her.
Leaning down, he kissed her lips.
Luna closed her eyes.
A single tear rolled down her cheek.
In the next instant, Xerxes drove his sword into her chest.
Her body went still.
The tears remained on her face as life slowly left her eyes.
The room fell silent.
Xerxes looked down at the child resting peacefully in his arms.
The baby knew nothing of the tragedy that had just unfolded.
Xerxes gazed at him for a long moment.
Then he spoke.
"From this day forward... your name is Akuma."
Outside, the night wind howled.
Before leaving, Xerxes set the house ablaze.
Flames consumed the walls, erasing every trace of what had happened there.
The fire rose high into the darkness.
When the house finally collapsed, Xerxes was already gone.
Carrying the infant in his arms, he disappeared into the night.
Toward a distant land.
Far away from this place.
And far away from anyone who might discover the truth about Akuma.
.
.
.
.....
End of Season 2.