My Grandpa's Back
Epilogue

Kohari: Well, it's the last chapter. It took a long time coming, but...it's finally here. Kinda bittersweet, ya know? Don't worry, I'm not gonna get all gushy or anything. I'll just get right to the epilogue. Thank you, everyone, for all the support you've shown me since I first took on this project. I truly appreciate it, and I hope that you decide to check out my other works and enjoy them just as much. Anyway, I've kept you all from reading long enough.

Kai stepped off the train, waving to his friends to signal that they didn't need to follow him. The village was just as he remembered it. Although he felt like there was something missing in the atmosphere, everything was the same.

He walked down the market streets, searching every face, listening for the sound of her voice, alert for any hint of her presence. He wandered up and down the roads, his eyes occasionally drawn to a booth decked out with wares or sidewalks covered with rugs and vases of every quality and pattern.

As much as he tried to force his mind to stick to the task at hand, it strayed, and memories of Voltaire's demise came rushing back to him.

Voltaire pounded his fist on the desk furiously. He cursed Kai's name and every other beyblader with him. He rose to leave, possibly to run, probably to put his plans into action without them. But as he started to depart, he found his grandson blocking his path, leaning confidently against the doorframe.

"Hello, Grandfather," he said, smirking.

"Kai," Voltaire growled. He fingered Black Dranzer in his pocket. "You're here to stop me?"

"As much as I'd love to be the one to stop you once and for all, I'm not the one with the score to settle," Kai told him, and moved to reveal Tala behind him, cracking his knuckles. "But if he fails, yeah, I'll stop you."

"I won't fail," Tala assured him, pulling out Wolborg.

'No, Tala, you didn't,' Kai spoke to him in his mind. What had happened after Tala attacked Voltaire, he would never describe to anyone else. All he would tell anyone was that Voltaire's Reign of Terror had ended. Tala had gone on television after the whole event, proudly declaring his victory and telling his future plans to retire from beyblading to the press bombarding him with questions.

It all seemed like a fleeting dream now. A passing nightmare. He was free now. Free forever. And now that it was over...he didn't quite know what to do with himself. The whole escapade had become his entire life. So what now?

That brought him back to the present. He knew what now. That was why he was here.

A familiar booth caught his eye. The vendor was trying his best to entice passing market-goers to buy some of his herbs. Kai approached him, greeting the vendor, who immediately recognized him.

"I hear everything's been smoothed out," he said, after echoing Kai's 'hello.' "You're a free man, Kai Hiwatari. So what brings you back to our little village?"

"A promise," Kai replied.

"Always a good reason to do something," the vendor agreed. All of a sudden, a little boy ran up to the vender and handed him a basket of fresh herbs, for which the vendor gave him some money. The little boy then ran off. The vendor examined his purchase critically. "Tsk. Not as good I used to have. These boys don't know how to gather herbs like she did."

"What do you mean?" Kai asked, confused. "What happened to the girl that brought your herbs before?"

The vendor looked at him sadly. "You didn't know..." he realized.

"Know what?" Kai demanded.

"She died, Kai," the vendor informed him. "Not long ago."

"How?" Kai pressed. "Why?"

"Her father...well, it's a sad story," the vendor refused to tell him, tears welling up in his eyes in memory of her. "But I'll tell you where you can find her."

He gave Kai directions, which Kai followed, ending up at the local cemetary. Melancholy gray headstones rose from black soil, covered in epitaphs, some of which could no longer be read. Kai gripped a bouquet of tiger lilies by his side. He walked slowly down the paths, scanning every tombstone for her name, which had been given to him by the vendor.

Finally, he glimpsed it. He stood by it, reading the words written on the cement marker. Everything on it was true. Lines about how much she meant to everyone, her kindness, her wonderful heart and love of the world, even when it didn't deserve to be loved. All written below her name.

Kai stared at it for a long time, remembering her face, her voice...everything about her. Mainly her eyes...

It was near nightfall when Kai finally decided he should leave. She wasn't coming back. She was gone forever, no matter how much he wished he could have returned in time to save her. He whispered, hoping that her spirit, at least, could hear his final farewell, "Good-bye...Ariana..."

He dropped the collection of flowers, watching it fall, as if in slow motion, onto the grave in front of him. He then turned and left, something in his heart missing, although it was still beating.

What now?

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
and each road leads you where you want to go.
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope to keep on walking, 'til you find a window.
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile...
I hope you never look back, but you never forget
all the ones who loved you in the place you left.
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
and you help somebody every chance you get.
You find God's grace in every mistake,
and always give more than you take.
But more than anything, my wish for you
is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold.
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to,
I hope you know somebody loves you,
and wants the same things, too.
This is my wish...

-From the song "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts-

THE END

Kohari: Just so nobody sues me, I don't own the song or the band. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed my fanfic and decide to check out my other works. But more than anything, MY wish for all of you is the best of happiness, luck, and success in all you set out to accomplish. After all, "Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away" (and no, I don't know who said that, but I like it). Thank you once again, everybody.

Note: There will not be a sequel.