It was strange to see my family grow together. I insisted that they remain under watch for a while before we could be sure they were fully cured, and during that time I found a sense of humour in the members of Schwarz that I thought I'd never see. Yohji-kun's first priority was to shave, and get cleaned up, unlike Aya-kun, who hissed and spitted in a very catlike manner at any member of Schwarz to approach him – this was especially true of Schu.
Ken-kun and I had a lot of catching up to do, and I got the vague impression that Nagi was a little jealous when Ken-kun and I spent too long together. He hovered near-by a lot, at first, but the bumbling apologies that Ken-kun went through, with an utterly agonized look seemed to help him calm.
Yohji-kun's apology was somewhat more embarrassed; first of all, he seemed utterly freaked out that he'd done anything, and the way he explained his apologies made me laugh once or twice, despite the severity of the situation. Secondly he was absolutely mortified that he'd done something with me because I was male – which made me giggle further.
Aya-kun's apology was the quickest, and least eventful. He simply apologized, and we both left it at that. He was pretty obviously ashamed, in a stoic, Aya-kun sort of way. But these three men were my family, and what they did wasn't of their own will, which made it all that much easier to accept each apology.
Four people? No… All seven of these men had made a strange way into my heart, as family. Of course, Schuldig refused to let me think about it that way – incest, he insisted, wasn't his thing.
Interestingly, Ken-kun and Farf managed to make good friends, playing target practice with one another. Darts, soccer balls, anything to keep one another entertained. Yohji-kun was immediately back to his old habits, dating and drinking leisurely, sleeping in to all hours of the day.
The interesting pair to watch was Aya-kun and Schu. Nagi and I often spent time chatting about them over assignments, or after somewhat more interesting events.
Even during our Graduation Ceremony, both Nagi and I had an eye on them. Even as Schuldig's hand moved to lightly cover Aya-kun's; even as Aya-kun growled at him to get his 'bloody fucking hand off, and his stupid brain out'.
Aya-kun was in more denial than any person I'd ever met, but Schuldig appeared to be working down Aya-kun's rougher exterior. It was truly the most messed up family I had, but they were mine. I had managed to make something akin to a relationship with Crawford, as well, though Nagi warned me not to try too hard.
The quiet last dance of the ceremony had Nagi and I quietly thinking to ourselves, ignoring the low lighting, and the couples here and there who had moved from a proper dance to a barely-vertical tango of flesh and limbs.
It felt like the end to a chapter in my life, and the beginning of a new one, starting us off fresh. Life wasn't what it was; being alive suddenly meant so much more. It meant teaching Nagi the joys of music, and in turn being taught the strange art of living with an adaptation.
As terrified as I was to tell the others of my choice, I found myself pleasantly disappointed by their lack of negative response. Ken-kun was as enthusiastically interested as always, and Yohji-kun simply teased about 'heating things up' and such, much to my annoyance.
Nagi and I sat in our room, at the close of the school year, at the beginning of spring, where everything began anew, including out lives. Nagi sat reading, and I gazed out the window, listening quietly to the music with a small reminiscent smile.
In a world far away, we may meet again,
But now hear the song at the dawn of the night...
Let's sing the Bard's song.
Tomorrow will take us away; far from home,
No one will ever know our names, But the Bard's songs will remain
Tomorrow will take it away; the fear of today,
It will be gone.
+Story inspired by: The Bard's Song – Blind Guardian
OWARI
A/N: …I refuse to accept any trash thrown in my direction at the lame-o last chapter. Apples and all food items will be accepted. With the way I ended up ending this chapter, I can guarantee that there will be no epilogue – this is almost an epilogue of its own.
If you have any questions, you're always welcome to ask. This lovely new-ish feature that allows me to respond to your comments is something I'll take full advantage of for those who do have questions.
I would like to personally thank each and every one of you who stuck with Shadow Eyes from the beginning, but since I'm sure there are a few readers who've been here all along, and simply haven't reviewed, or haven't reviewed in a while… I can't identify who's been with me this whole time, and who hasn't, so to you, cheers! And thank you. I hope I didn't disappoint too much.
(And yes, because I know someone was –thinking- about stating this fact, I know it's short. I copped out and did a very non-descriptive, lazy, half-assed last chapter. –sob- That's what you get for no reviews. -sniff-)