(LA Night)On the Road (not actually in L.A.)

[Joshua]

"Oh believe me, it's possible," I said with sarcastic relish. I breathed a heavy sigh and sat down on a nearby rock.

"I could spend days listing to you all the previous . . . events, that have happened because people either purposely or accidentally mixed their essences the way you did when Ate interferred," I told her.

She moved over and sat down on a rock opposite me.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she demanded once again, going back to that.

I sighed again, but kept my eyes on hers as I explained, the best that I could.

"It was a little difficult, you know, in those last few minutes, me dying and everything. You have no . . ." I stopped and regained control of my temper, "Nobody has any idea what it was like, what it took just to say those final words to you, my promise to come back. Nobody possibly could."

She looked down, possibly ashamed, but knowing her like I do, I think she was just trying not to tear my head off.

"And the other reason was I honestly didn't know I would come back as a soul bound to a Soul Sword," I told her. "I've told Doc this, but less than a few minutes into my purgatory for irreversably altering the Space/Time Continnuum, the soul of his teacher showed up and started to tutor me into making my own Soul Sabre, but made entirely from elements only found in Spirit World."

Silence existed between us for a few more moments before I finally told her, "I didn't plan this Mai. I didn't want this. I . . . I wanted to be . . . I didn't plan on Avalon . . ."

I sighed again and scratched the back of my head. Finally I just spit it out. "I wanted to be Avalon! My plan was that I was the one that went to the Crossroads and trained for centuries, and then come back as a Champion of the Powers That Be. Well, obviously, it didn't work out that way."

More silence.

"So . . . what are some of the things that happened when people mix their essences?" she asked me.

I looked up at her and stared.

[Maya]

"You probably dont wanna know." He said with a slight smirk, "And like i said, we dont have much time... I just... i wanted you to know. After you ran off..."
"I know." I interupted, "I'm sorry... i just couldn't take it right then. I was gonna leave even before you came back- i needed time away from it all- i still do..."
"But..." he said a little awkwardly, "You're ok with... with what's happening?"
"DO i have a choice?" I said a little bitterly. I sighed, "Goddess... i dont know, Josh... it hasn't properly sunk in yet... it'll probably hit me in a couple of hours." I bit my lip in worry- though he couldn't see it, here in this world where i looked like whatever i wante to, i could feel myself weakening. Seems Joshua knew me too well though...
"What is it?" He asked, suddenly full of concern.
"I dont know." I said truthfully. "Something's happening, Joshua... something more powerful than... that... other thing... I'm getting weaker, Josh, and i dont know what's doing it!" I realised i was getting a bit hysterical- in the real world i was keeping myself grounded, forcing myself to hide the pain inside, but here, with him, i just couldn't.
"Hey." He said, joining me on my rock, "Calm down, Mai- it's gonna be ok."
"How can you say that? How can you know?" I snapped, "This isn't even real!"
"Feels real enough to me." He said quietly, gentley pushing a strand of hair from my face with his fingers. A shiver ran though me as his skin brushed mine. I swallowed. It seemed like an age since i had felt him this close, i could feel the warmth of his breath on my lips he was so close. Our eyes were locked, and i could feel that connection we'd had since we got together tugging at me, willing me a little closer.
"I swear, Maya," He said, "No matter what- i'll be there for you in this, ok?" I nodded slightly. A thought occured to me, something i hadn't said, when i perhaps should have,
"It doesnt matter." I said suddenly. He frowned,
"What?"
"It doesnt matter that you're not some great being from the powers... not to me... it's the joshua part that matters..." I realised that tears were falling, "Even... even like this... even though i know we can never be... Even though this isn't real... It's you i want." My voice was cracked with near-sobs as i spoke.
"Shh." He said, and kissed me, ever so softly.
"Oh goddess, we shouldn't." I said despairingly, "This is bad, its not real, it'll only make things feel worse!" But damn they felt good right then.
"Shh." He repeated, and he was kissing me again. I felt his hands on my back, and my own around him, and for those few moments, i let myself believe that this was reality. I could taste my own tears on his lips, and breathed,
"I love you."
In the real world, silent tears trickled down my cheeks as i slept, despite the smile on my lips.

[Joshua]

"May not be real," I told her after we had briefly stopped kissing, but I continued to hold onto her, "but that doesn't change anything about it, which is an expression for how we feel for each other."

"Don't you have to be going soon?" she nearly sobbed into the crook of my neck.

"I've got a little time left," I answered cryptically. "I'll also tell Avalon about whatever this weakness is that seems to have affected you, she'll get the others started on it immediately."

"Well, I know that even while I'm sleeping, Willow, Charlotte and Faith are researching their eyes out about the same thing," she informed me.

"Wanna make it a race to see who can figure it out first?" I challenged her with a smile.

She smiled back and straightened a little. "You are so on boytoy."

"How many times have I asked you not to call me that?"

She rolled her eyes up in mock-thought for a moment before replying seductively, "You've never told me not to call you that."

"Gee, I wonder why?" I answered back as we went back in for another kiss.

Our emotional link, while weakened, for obvious reasons, was still there, and we could both feel what the other really wanted to talk about, but for the time, we just wanted to enjoy the time we did have to talk.

When Mai woke up, there would no longer be any tears, only a smile, and a feeling of contentment. And if I had been dreaming instead of living in Mai's dream, I would have been the same.

[Maya]

By now i was sitting on his lap, my head rested on Joshua shoulder, our arms around each other.
"Why cant life just be like this?" I asked quietly.
"Cos then this wouldn't be so special." He replied.
"Oh i'm not so sure." I said with a smile. I sighed, "Josh?"
"Uh-huh?"
"Could you... could you not tell the others where Charlotte and I are?"
"Why not?" He asked.
"I just... i'm not ready to go back yet, or to be back with all o' them... which is odd, cos it's the memory of you i was running from."
He chuckled softly,
"If its what you want." He replied.
"Thanks."
Just down the hill from the cliff, i could see trees gathering once more, and i felt the world around me slip a little.
"Times up." He said. I nodded slowly, not looking up. "Hey." He said. He touched my cheek, bringing my eyes up to meet his, "I'll see you soon."
"Yeah." I agreed. I kissed him again, longing for the moment to last. I closed my eyes, then thought of something, "Josh..." I said, opening my eyes again, but instead of the grassy hill, i saw the sitting room- i was lying on the couch, a blanket over me. "Good bye." I said with a sigh, and a smile i just couldn't shake.