The Typical Fan-Fiction Disclaimer: I do not own +Anima or any related characters, the +Anima series is owned by Natsumi Mukai, Tokyopop, and various other parties that have to do with the creation and publishing of the series. As I probably don't need to say, this is purely a fan work. Also, since this is the last chapter, I may as well mention that I do own my OCs, though with the exception of Catherine, Elizabeth, Mirka, and Tilah, I don't mind if they're used elsewhere as long as I'm credited.

Now just for the epilogue, and twenty-fifth chapter overall~

This was uploaded at the same time as the final full chapter, so if you ended up at this page first, make sure to go back and read chapter twenty-three before this.

Epilogue: Home

Dear Journal:

Well, I liked doing this as Tilah, so I figured that I may as well give it another try now, right?

I picked up this notebook at a store in Senri's village. I think we're getting close to Nana's shop now. It's really quiet in here – almost everyone's asleep, so the only noise comes from the carriage's wheels. But it's okay – I can finally find silence peaceful.

It's been almost two weeks since Sister… Since Catherine passed away and everything was finally put to rest. I'm still not used to it – being able to sleep through a whole night without have to be afraid, I mean.

It feels so strange, but it's wonderful.

So is everything else. I'm finally free – I think that thought is only just now registering in my mind. I don't need to feel frightened or guilty anymore. I don't have to worry about her coming or anyone else getting hurt because of my presence. I'm finally just a normal human, and a normal +anima.

Even the war is over – the king kept his word. We got back to the fortress just in time to celebrate with Kazana and everyone else. It was a little awkward, especially since I don't have my powers anymore – I was known for that there, but I don't think it's a story that I can just go around explaining. For the most part, I just hung out Nana and the others…but that was enough. Being able to fully enjoy the party was another simple pleasure I never thought I'd have.

Meora was buried there, too… I've both gained and lost so much just in these last couple of months – it's staggering. Thank you, Meora…I promise that I won't ever forget you. I hope you finally got the chance now to tell Captain Jake how you feel.

A lot of the +anima there had their own homes to go back two, and others were ready to search for a new life of their own. A lot of carriages started running to carry everyone – we were lucky and got a ride on one of the first to take off.

We left from Senri's village just a little more than half an hour ago. He got off there. With the movement against +anima lifted, he was able to go back home to his workshop. It was hard to say goodbye, but I know we'll see him again soon this time.

He looked so happy, too. It'll probably still be rough for a while – there were a lot of people giving him nervous or dirty looks – but there were just as many parents and children who looked excited to see him. They need him, just like we did when we were young.

And it was less than ten minutes ago that Husky got off. It was in this same village, actually, just at the stop near the entrance, with a couple of other +anima that he met at the fortress. One of them offered him a job at a jewelry crafting and repair shop. Certainly different than the job he had as a guard, but it's perfect for him, I think – he still has his penchant for anything expensive that glitters or sparkles. I think he'll be happier here than he was with the squadron.

It won't be far from the merchant shop, either – we'll be within walking distance, just on the edge of the same village.

I'm excited, as well as a bit nervous – it feels odd coming back here now, after everything that happened. This is where the rock was thrown that set it all in motion. I wonder what would've happened to me if I'd never run into Nana here…sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between coincidence and fate.

I wonder if I'll really be any good at helping to run a shop? Nana says that she'll help teach me everything that Niomi passed on to her, though. I can't wait to get started…finally, I'll have a real family and a real home.

Cooro Alba

The book in the dark-haired boy's hands was suddenly pulled down slightly, Cooro blinking and looking up to see Nana gazing at him. Her lips formed an excited grin. "We're almost there, now! We should start getting ready!"

Indeed, it was just a few moments later than the driver called out the name of their stop. Quickly closing his notebook and placing the pen inside the coil, Cooro packed the journal inside the same wooden box that held Tilah's broken pendant.

The young man paused and stared at it for a while. Nana had been holding onto it after finding it, and had given it back to him during their journey by ship back the fortress. Even with the unnatural glow gone and a few chips in its smooth glass surface, the necklace was still beautiful…and it held so many bittersweet memories.

They were memories he'd made peace with back at the resort town where he'd entered this world for the first time as Mirka. That was where they slept. He was strong enough, now, though. He was Cooro, no one else, yet the memories he carried as Tilah and the others would always have their own, special place somewhere in his heart.

But that would no longer stop him from carving out as many new memories as he could.

This time, the two of them stepped off as the carriage came to a halt near the village's edge – the place where Nana's old merchant shop was there waiting for them.

There were a few of her old co-workers, too, there to welcome her home. Only a few of them recognized Cooro when he was introduced, but that was just as well. Like almost everywhere else, this place held both sweet and sad memories for him, though with time he was sure the former would come to overwhelm the latter.

Some of the other workers still seemed a bit wary around them, but they respected Niomi's wishes and treated them well. As days passed, perhaps whatever unease they harbored would fade away, too.

It was when they left, though, that the slight tension in Nana's eyes faded away to pure contentedness. Moving away from the carriage stop, she took a few steps towards the hill that housed the orchard she'd helped grow.

It would be spring soon, but even in the winter the scent in the air was crisp and calm. The young woman closed her eyes, breathing the familiar air that carried with it the scent of her home.

It was exactly the same. Exactly the same as it had been that night when she'd thought she'd left this place behind forever, but she herself was different. Whether or not she'd realized it, she had still been just a young girl when she'd left, but she'd become so much stronger now.

She'd become an adult. All of them had.

"Nana…" Cooro whispered as he noticed a few stray drops of water begin to dampen her cheeks. He took a few steps forward, gently reaching out and wiping them away with the back of his fingers.

Nana just let out a small giggle, gingerly catching his hand. "It's alright, I'm just…" She paused, somehow unable to find the right words to describe her mixture of excited anxiety, bittersweet memories, and utter contentment. "…Really happy." Sometimes simple words could speak the loudest, her smile widening into a grin and a few more tears welling up under her eyes as she finished.

She leaned forward before the boy could say anything, catching him in an embrace. Blinking, Cooro's own lips moved to a contented grin as he returned it. "I am too."

That simple, yet somehow wonderful, moment lasted a few seconds longer, until Nana suddenly leaned up and gave the boy a peck on the lips that momentarily left him stunned.

She backed up, giving a playful giggle and smile. "Come on, can you help me move my stuff from the cottage into Niomi's old room inside the store? We should stay there so that we can keep a good eye on the shop, and maybe we can turn my old cottage into a guest house. I bet it'd be a good place for Husky and Senri to stay when they come visit!"

"Right." Cooro agreed with a nod, a last tint of redness still on his face. The four +anima had all agreed that they would pay each other frequent visits. They all lived close by, and they planned to permanently stay in contact.

After all, they were a family.

They'd given each other the thing they all needed most. They'd been foolish those eight years ago, when they'd once said goodbye. They'd made a mistake. They'd always been meant to be a family, and this time they would continue to share their lives together.

"Good." Nana grinned, a playful tint still present in her voice and face. All at once, her leathery bat wings spread from behind her back, the girl moving into her +anima form. And with the war over, she didn't even have to hide it or worry about who might be watching. "Then how about we race to the top of the hill? You said that you wanted to get some more practice at flying again, didn't you?"

Cooro blinked, momentarily taken by surprise, but then a grin found its way back across his features. "Let's go!" He agreed with a nod.

A feeling that was once again familiar worked its way though his body as huge, black wings emerged from his shoulders in a single movement. The boy gave the powerful, feathery limbs just a few warm-up flaps before the two of them took off, rushing through the air above the orchard's hill.

This time there was no pain, no foreign haze or worry. Just the feel of the wind beneath them and the excited giggles echoing from their voices.

Home…

That word repeated itself over and over again in Cooro's mind. It'd almost seemed like nothing but a fairy tale for the longest time, something he could reach for but never have. But thanks to Nana and the others, he finally had somewhere to give that title to.

And beyond that…he had a future and a family.

Everything was finally over. But that only meant that a new chapter was about to begin. One that all four of them deserved and one that would be much brighter. …And one that he and Nana would give shape to together.

Their faces beaming with warmth even as they flew under the gray winter sky, the orchard on the hill was alive with the sound of laughter and the feeling of hope.

Finally…they were home.

~ Fin ~

And with everyone's return home and at the beginning of their new lives, the fic draws to it's close.

From August 2008 to April 2011...it's finally finished! It's a somewhat bittersweet feeling after having written for it for so long, but this also actually marks the first time I've ever fully completed a multi-chapter story! I've learned a lot while working on it - I certainly don't think it'll be the last.

Thanks a ton to everyone who read, and especially everyone who favorited or reviewed! I hope you enjoyed reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

As always, please review and let me know what you thought of the ending or the fic as a whole.

I don't know what my next project will be (feel free to send in suggestions/requests if you have any), but I don't see myself retiring from fanfic writing entirely, so I'll probably start something new at some date in time.

Thanks again, and see you around~

-Tears