Well, kudos to FFVIIKnight for seeing this coming.
Summary:
Kiri grasps ahold of Heine’s hand, saving her before she dissapears completely. Elle’s theory from the last chapter is quickly revealed; knowing that Kiri can’t have both of them on his shoulders, she attempts to treat Heine. But there’s also a risk that she could die, despite Kiri’s ability to stop the seizures, as it could simply be too much for her system to handle. However, she does this anyway and….

*dramatic pause*

…everything’s fine.

Of course at this point, both Kiri and Heine freak out about what Elle just did, as she could’ve killed herself. But Elle knows that if she had said anything, Kiri probably would have stopped her, but now they don’t have to worry about Heine taking up his other hand. Kiri proceeds by accepting this calmly threatening her with EXTREME TEDDY BEAR BADGES. Meanwhile, Heine sobs in the corner, glad to be alive, as even though she thought she had given up all of her hopes and dreams, she realises she hadn’t, and Elle knows this as well. Kiri tells her that she should get back to painting as…

In this time, the girl who was just treated by Heine wakes up, learning that the two ladies next to her are Sisters. She’s relived as she thought they weren’t coming, like with an aquaintance’s friend who died as the Sisters were late. Heine, rather than descending back into her self-sacrificial doom spiral, simply apologises and says to the girl that at times, Sisters may be late, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t trying their hardest to save as many people as they can.

Back in the town, Heine explains that though she’s been saved for now, she’ll most likely only have another 2-3 years before the seizures come again, and pretty much tells Kiri (newly named “Mr Hope”) to come up with a cure by then. Kiri says they have to head back to the inn as someone (read:Farran) is getting grumpy (understandably, as they are completely exposed out here). Heine begins to make her farewell, not before shaking Kiri to make him remember that they should meet up again and saying she wants to see his paintings. Kiri explains that he doesn’t paint but he sews *ahem* cute designs, like monkeys, bears and muscle men >_>. He and Elle argue about the cuteness of his designs, while Heine talks to Farran about the two’s predicament. However, Farran believes that despite the fact they are being the most heavily targeted, that Kiri won’t die so easily, and nor will Heine. Unless they just die later (talk about a downer)

Heine finally bids farewell to the two as the rain clears…

As she walks away, she can barely contain her excitement about once again beginning to paint; she’s already found her first soon-to-be masterpiece…

Thoughts:

HEINE DOESN’T DIE!!! YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!

Well, this chapter handled the saving of Heine quite well. The solution was practical, and in hindsight should’ve been predictable, but I was too busy wishing for Heine not to die ^_^. I was also glad to see that though Elle is still a quite self-sacrificial, (you’d have to be to be a Sister, of course) she was also thinking about the well-being of Kiri, who’s still the most important thing at the moment, and the future of the world as well, while still caring about Heine. Nice to see she’s thinking in a broader sense of things.

Heine had some noticeable developement as well; she’s accepted the fact that she may or any other Sisters may be late, but they are always trying their hardests to keep people alive. She’s regained her lost dreams thanks to Kiri and Co., and will (at the very least, this is hinted) go on to a successful career as a painter, with her first masterpiece, Elle X Kiri ^_^. Farran’s still the voice of reason, as well as hope and a bit of dark humour, but he believes in the ability of people to fight for their life. Kiri’s still kind of shallow in character, so hopefully he may come across some sort of dilemma so he can grow and develop.

He says they’re cute, but he knows they’re not.

Why else would he use the horrible bears from my nightmares as a threat?