Epilogue
Final Resting Places

The surrounding area was crisp and clean. The sun, though it provided little warmth considering the time of year, still shone bright finding it almost hard for the small sorrow filled audience to feel depressed.

Tala stood close behind Kai with both arms draped over his chest, holding him in a locking embrace. Only the boy's eyes were expressing what real emotions were running through his head, as crimson gave way to respectful tears.

The two boys were accompanied here by Max and Tyson who were still in deathly shock, and stood close together near by holding each other with their own grief.

They were in China. Rei's final resting place.

After Tala, with Rei, had escaped the building it had taken several minutes for the blue haired boy to emerge as well, however after they had escaped the abbey, and the nightmares that had plagued them so often, they had looked upon the situation with obvious despair. Rei was dead. So in respect they gave way to the expense of bringing the angelic body home to the White Tiger village, where they knew Rei would want to be.

Now the fire's licked at Rei's body, soothing away any forgotten pain and devouring the smiling boy's figure with honor. It was not in sacrifice, and the flame's seemed to realize this, as the red shadows exhibited precaution. The effect in allowing the boy to fade away gently, admitting all the viewers to feel remorse, yet the satisfaction the White Tigers were supposed to feel for Rei's passing spirit.

Kai found it ironic watching the scarlet dance, that if it was not of for his own ambitious fire, the boy would still be alive, yet it was flames that would take Rei to his final fate. He sighed enjoying his play on words as he reached for his Dranzer blade nestled in his pocket, and squeezed it tight before looking at Tala with teary eyes.

"Kai." Tala smiled and pulled the younger boy into an embrace, stroking his hair softly and kissing him on the forehead. "The nightmares are over for all of us." The red head smiled through his own despair and held Kai closer hoping to comfort his self and the saddened blader.

Tyson and Max came over still cautious of Tala's presence but felt the need to console their captain.

"Kai?" Tyson asked, testing the grounds of his crimson eyed leader. He had Max's hand firmly in his own, and anyone could tell it was taking a lot for the blonde boy not to burst into to tears again.

Kai pulled away from Tala's embrace and bothered not to wipe his eyes.

"Tyson." He responded in his usual deep tone, meeting the boy eye to eye until the younger blader looked away. Then Kai smiled slightly, his crimson eyes softening just slightly before he pulled the navy blue haired boy into a loose embrace. "It wasn't me." Kai whispered into the shocked boy's ear. "Believe me it wasn't me who hurt Rei."

"I know Kai." Tyson said surprised at any accusation of Rei's death upon Kai. "Of course it wasn't."

Kai let go of Tyson who pulled back abruptly still surprised by the sudden affection, which the crimson eyed boy seemed to regret with a glare.

The conversation at an end the four boys returned their gaze to the flame's that began to settle, melting away as a shower of ashes settled to the ceremonial platform. The high elder seeing this stepped up by the platform and smiled through his own tears that he shamelessly wore.

"Rei Kon was far more than any of us ever saw. He died with honor saving the concept of compassion and protecting those who he cared for and though he will be greatly missed," all around Kai people were nodding through reflecting teared eyes, "his accomplishments in life reached further than any of us thought comparable. Rei, may your spirit live freely and your precious ashes rest in peace." It was at this time that a young pink haired girl joined the older man with a basket, a handkerchief to her face to wipe the obvious forever tears. Mariah smiled slightly and bowed to the high elder before following the same actions to the silent hearth. She carefully gathered the ashes in a red silk cloth into the basket, whispering a prayer over them.

"Is it my fault?" Kai asked Tala when the process was over and other viewers had either left to seek solitude or feel together. It seemed apparent that Rei was a dear loved one.

"Of course not Kai." The red head whispered into his ear, holding him closer.

"It's not over yet."

"I know but for now can we enjoy the freedom." Tala contradicted.

"And Boris."

"He'll always be somewhere." Blue eyes looked away thoughtfully before continuing. "Worrying about him will not make him go away. When the time arises, together we will avenge Rei."

"And all this time I thought I was off to avenge you." Kai laughed, again with bitterness creeping into his words, as pair crimson orbs looked away. "It's just with everything?"

"Reports have it Kalma is dead." Tala was now filled in with the actions of the lawyer. "Voltaire is deceased."

"So is Rei." Kai growled sharply interrupting the red head.

"You can't beat yourself up about it." Tala muttered deliberately. "We are free."

"But-"

"Don't let him rule you."

"It's just-"

"You have to move on.

"And-"

"One day we will be free." Tala said finally with a smile. "The time will come and then we will be free."

Kai nodded believing in himself, because Tala believed in them.

"I need some time." Kai said beginning to pull away from Tala's grip.

"Okay." Tala responded with hesitation hating to see the boy go off alone.

"Um... Kai?" A new female voice drifted to them, as Kai was about to leave.

"Yea?" Kai asked in a bored tone.

"We have decided that as you were present in the final moments of Rei's life, you should be granted the responsibility of placing his ashes." She paused and offered him the red cloth that was carefully bundled. Smiling she bowed again to him. "Thank you Kai, I know that you were kind to him at last, and I thank you that he did not die alone." Kai accepted the gift hardly feeling that he deserved such privilege, however was pleased to have been chosen to protect the sacred ashes. "Also," Mariah caused the boy to stop his leaving process as she held out her closed palm, amber eyes adverted in a sparkled remorse. "He would have wanted you to have this." She paused to sniffle and wipe her tears. "It is always passed to the leader when a teammate falls and therefore becomes your guarded possession."

Kai could hardly accept what she held out to him, however knowing it would be wrong to refuse and even more so to ignore the silent voice of the white tiger, he smiled gratefully and took the object with his other hand, holding both items close to his chest.

He returned a nodded bow in respect, before directing away from his watchers. Tala stood alone, yet nearby Tyson who was comforting Max, and Mariah had run off to where Lee had been waiting, while glaring after Kai.

Kai couldn't help but cringe from the look, knowing that the Chinese leader was probably devising his own tales of Rei's death.

The crystal blue sky met the natural terrain, as Kai sat for a long time on the ridge of his chosen solitude. Below him lay Rei's home village, beyond lay forever and so much more, mountains, fields, smaller villages and life, freedom, happiness. It seemed even for just a moment that far enough to the north Kai could imagine the great towers of Moscow. Representing his past, evil and nightmares.

His entire freedom still lay out of reach, and somewhere in that hate filled place of doom was Boris. Biovolt was collapsing without his Grandfather's funding, and the police were finally bringing an end to the operations of the abbey. However this did not mean an end. Boris was ambitious, he would not want his company to fall and would try anything to prevent, this Kai feared. The end was far from near.

Tala was right though, they would have to confront Boris one day soon, and there was still the aspect of destroying any traces of Biovolt, however more immediately was to rediscover his lost love.

Tala. He still couldn't believe he was still alive. He had lost one and gained one and now he felt as if it was his fault. Nearby lay the silk protected ashes, which he had yet to decide to do with.

Rei. He had passed on, and happily as he had told Kai, though the crimson eyed boy still believed no one should have met that fate. He was instantly recollected with an image of him holding the ebony haired boy close to him. Why was he gone?

Beyond lay the world, now held love, later held fate and forever held courage. Kai smiled and looked again at freedom. The mountains, the fields, and the protection.

Kai stood, a breeze catching his scarf with the dulled blood stains, fire glowing softly with warmth in his eyes as he reached for the red silk cloth, standing close to the edge of the high cliff he sigh happily and pulled the silk from it's ties. The breeze caught the ashes and allowed them to play. Kai laughed happily feeling the joy as he pulled out the object that Mariah had given him and held it to the breeze. The white tiger burst from it's confinements to join his master playing amongst the soft pastels of the world.

This was perfection.

This is where Rei belonged, forever the guardian of freedom.

Fire and Loss

Ambition Rising
He'll have it all
Determination
But strength will fall

The courage is there
As is heart
But enemies power
Has its part

You fought so hard
The team knows well
It's not your fault
That you fell

The pain is ruthless
It stole your life
Your soul is taken
By fate's cruel knife

Your fire's lost
Left you in the cold
But you're still strong
Your tears are bold

Revenge is sweet
It's be yours
Ones soul returns
Behind closed doors

The End.


After word: Thanks for reading and sticking with the game plan though sometimes it went astray. I really appreciate all the review I received and I hope you all continuing to find interest in my other works.

However there is a point to this after word. As you might have noticed this was the last chapter or epilogue. If it didn't make a lot of sense, mainly due from having the story set in Russia and all of a sudden it jumps to China. That is because this was an epilogue which are usually like mini sequels and don't always have to follow the same setting as the main story, but my thoughts don't end there. You might have also noticed that I left a lot of unanswered questions. This also has explanation.

Well writing this story I had far to many ideas coming to me at once and I could hardly make sense of them all to fit in Addictive Manipulation. I would have just made the story to busy and confusing so I decided about half way through that there would be a sequel. Then I thought well a first story should have a real ending and the sequel should have a new plot. So what I came up with was a sequel however it's more of a continuation of this story only about sixth months later with a bit of a twist in the plot line. It is called Obsidian Reflection, and as the title may or may not give away to you it will feature Black Dranzer, hence my recollection of him in the past couple of chapters. This isn't a far off project so it's not like I'm saying there will be a sequel and there isn't because I actually have ideas, unlike Judgment of Tears --; Please forgive me on that one.

Anywise my point is, yes there will be a sequel but only if the readers, being you great people out there are interested. I don't want to continue something that seems to be dying or loosing flair, so your input is important or I may go back to stories more like Weak and Powerless, which is mere 14A angst oppose to R angst. I value your opinion, and thank you for reading.

Amaro