Note: At long last, it's finally over. For the first time since I began writing this book, the whole thing is now available online (albeit in rough format). Now, the real fun begins... the EDITING. Oy. But for those of you who have been reading and enjoying my story, keep an eye on my profile! For as one story ends, another will begin... with THE TWILIGHT OF ALL TIME.

The poem that is quoted in Kurenai's eulogy is from the poem "Left Behind" by Elizabeth (Akers) Allen (1832-1911). This is the last verse of the poem, and was simply too good not to include.

The last set of lyrics for the book comes from the Chris de Burgh song "New Star Up in Heaven Tonight." However, the actual ending of the book is another set of lyrics, from the "Theme from Love Story."

To everyone who has followed along with my ramblings and so ardently cheered me on, without your support, your encouragement, your reviews and criticisms and suggestions, my humblest, deepest, and most heartfelt thanks.


And the Greatest of These

Epilogue

The following evening, a memorial service was held for Kurenai. They all met at Kami's Lookout, where Kurenai had left her final instructions with the Guardian in the event of her death. With Bulma's help, Piccolo had brought clothes from Kurenai's house, while Mr. Popo and Kami had prepared her body for the funeral.

Kurenai had not wanted to be confined to the ground, but rather, to let her spirit fly one last time toward the stars. Her body lay on a funeral pyre, in accordance with her last wishes. The sunset's glow touched her face, and she looked as luminous as she had when she had lived.

Everyone was there – the Son family, the Briefs family, Vegeta, Yamcha and Puar, Tien and Chiaotzu, Master Roshi, Oolong, Krillin and Turtle, and Kami, Mr. Popo, and Piccolo. They all were formally dressed in black, every single one of them, and wore black armbands to signify their loss.

Kami stood beside the pyre, and with a deep breath, gave Kurenai's eulogy.

"Today we have gathered to bid farewell to an extraordinary woman. Kurenai was charming, caring, and wise. Even after a thousand years, she still knew how to live, appreciating the fleeting nature of our mortal lives. She touched the lives and hearts of everyone she knew, bringing joy and laughter and love to them all. It was for this that she gave her immortality and her life to save her loved ones. She died bravely and with honor, as true a warrior as the ones who stand with us today.

"Kurenai will still live on, in our minds, in our hearts, and in our memories, a different kind of immortality. We pray that she has finally found the peace and rest she sought all her life."

He then unfolded a sheet of paper, one of the pages she had given him as part of her last will and testament. It was a poem that she had found a long time ago, one that she had thought painfully appropriate. His voice hoarse, he began to read aloud.

"I used to dream, in all these years /
Of patient faith and silent tears,

Gohan stood with tears in his dark eyes, ChiChi holding one of his hands, Goku holding the other.

That Love's strong hand would put aside /
The barriers of place and pride,—

Standing slightly away from the group, Vegeta slowly nodded to himself.

Would reach the pathless darkness through /
And draw me softly up to you.

Beside Kami, Piccolo clenched his fists and lowered his head, remembering a starlit night and holding a woman in his arms for the first time.

But that is past; if you should stray /
Beside my grave some future day,

Krillin winced, and Master Roshi quietly placed a hand on his student's shoulder.

Perchance the violets o'er my dust /
Will half betray their buried trust,

Tien closed his eyes and turned his head away.

And say, their blue eyes full of dew/
'She loved you better than you knew.'"

Bulma choked back a sob, and Yamcha placed his arm around her waist to comfort her.


Then each person stepped up to the pyre and said goodbye in his or her own way. Gohan was first, and by her hand, he laid a sketch he had done of Namek's stars in the sky.

"I learned so much from you… and I hope you find your way to the stars one day," he said, tears running down his face. He reached out to touch her black hair, feeling it slide through his fingers. "I love you, Kurenai." ChiChi stood beside him, also weeping, her hand on his shoulder.

Bulma and her parents came up to the pyre, and Dr. and Mrs. Briefs placed flowers at her head and feet, while Bulma placed Kurenai's Capsule house beside her.

"Dad says… that house was always yours, and it's only right that you take it with you," Bulma whispered, not holding back her tears. "And Mom's planting a tree where your house was. That way you'll always have a place with us."

Then Dr. and Mrs. Briefs moved away, but Bulma remained beside Kurenai, looking down at her. I know this might sound strange, but thank you… you showed Vegeta how to love. I'm so sorry he didn't love you, but I swear to you… She rested one hand on her stomach, remembering the results of the tests she had run earlier that morning. I'll love him enough for both you and me, Kurenai.

Yamcha, Puar, Tien and Chiaotzu were next. Each of them also placed flowers on her still form. "Goodbye, Kurenai, I only hope that one day, I'll be as strong as you were," Yamcha said softly as Puar floated near his shoulder. Tien and Chiaotzu murmured prayers over her, commending her soul to the heavens as they wept.

"I'll... I'll always be here, Kurenai," Tien whispered, just as he had when she had visited him at the temple. "No matter what... I promise." He clenched his fists and bowed his head, swallowing tears. "That promise I will keep."

Then Master Roshi, Krillin, Oolong, and Turtle approached the pyre. For a long time, none of them said anything, but then Krillin spoke, his voice hoarse and shaking. "I'll never forget you, Kurenai… and no matter what you say, you were the rare and special one." He buried his face in his hands, and Master Roshi led him away.

Everyone held their breath as Vegeta walked up to where Kurenai lay. For what seemed like forever, he simply stood there and gazed at her, never taking his eyes from her serene face. She was wearing the blue dress she'd worn the night of their date, and he lifted her left hand and held it close to his chest, speaking softly to her in his native Saiyan.

"You were right, Kurenai. I do know love…" He paused, wanting to say something more, but romantic expressions had never come easy for him. Then a half-remembered quote came to mind, and he smiled. "'You will never age for me… nor fade… nor die…' Sleep well, for I will miss you." He released her hand and stalked away as Piccolo and Kami approached with Mr. Popo.

Piccolo stood on her left side, Kami on her right, and each placed his hand on the pyre, their eyes meeting over Kurenai. Mr. Popo laid flowers from his own garden in a wreath on the woman's head. As one, they looked down at her, and wished her a safe journey into the next world, and they all had tears in their eyes.

Then Piccolo surprised everyone when he touched one finger to his mouth, then gently brought it to Kurenai's lips. One last kiss for you, Kurenai… May your sleep be at last untroubled and your heart always fly free.

He softly brushed his fingers against her cheek as Kami came to stand beside him. Normally, he would have moved away, but now, he was strangely glad to have him there, perhaps because Kami was the only one who could understand how he felt.


At last it was Goku's turn, and ChiChi and Gohan let him go alone. Slowly, as though walking in his sleep, Goku approached and stood beside her, his back to the others. His eyes were bright with unshed tears as he took her right hand in his, willing some of his warmth and life into her in a hopeless attempt to bring her back.

It took all of his will not to collapse and give way to his grief and hopelessness. At last, he bowed his head and began to whisper to her, praying that she could hear him from heaven.

"In my heart, I still can't believe you're gone. I would do anything, give anything, for you to still be here with us… with me. I just can't say goodbye to you, there were too many other things I never said. You died never knowing if we loved you, never knowing if we even cared. But we did care, Kurenai, we all cared. And ever since that day we flew… when we watched the sunset… and you kissed me… I wanted to tell you, but I was so afraid of losing you forever. But I want you to know… to know that… that I…"

His heart breaking, Goku leaned against her pyre and swallowed hard, unable to go on as he choked on his sorrow. But the truth could no longer go unspoken.

"I… love… you…"

Then all the other mourners approached, forming a circle around her, and ChiChi and Gohan stood beside Goku as he finally released her.

One by one, the Z Warriors raised their hands and focused on Kurenai, fighting back tears. Then they looked at each other and nodded, and as one, flares of light flowed from their hands toward the pyre. The fire blazed toward the skies, glowing embers dancing on the evening breeze. Higher and higher they reached, fanned by the wind, until it seemed like the sun was setting again. For an instant, they could see Kurenai through the flames, at long last at peace, but then they consumed her and she was truly gone.

At last, the three men she had loved finally gave way to their feelings of grief and anguish, and the others let them be.

Piccolo staggered to the edge of the Lookout and howled his sorrow to the sky.

Goku sank to his knees, beating the ground with his fists, weeping with halting, wrenching sobs.

And Vegeta moved away from the others to stand with his eyes closed, making no sound, as a single tear trickled down his cheek.

▲▼▲

That night…

Piccolo headed north toward the arctic wastelands, hoping to freeze the pain in his heart. Goku and Gohan watched him go, wishing that their friend would stay and train with them, but they understood the Namek's need for solitude.

He trained every day until he thought he would collapse, praying for the exhaustion that would blot out his dreams. But train as he might, the peace that normally comforted him here was strangely absent, and the cold chilled him to the bone when he had thought himself already numbed to its icy touch.

Then, one day, he felt that he was being watched, and he glanced over his shoulder to see Kami standing nearby.

What brings you here from your Lookout, old man? Piccolo asked silently without turning to face his other half.

I felt your distress, Kami replied as he watched Piccolo blast icebergs into steam.

So you came all the way out here just to check on me? Piccolo thought with derision.

The Guardian heaved a sigh. Still so angry, Piccolo? I would have thought that all your training would have eased your temper.

Piccolo shattered another iceberg into a thousand fragments, still not looking at Kami. The Guardian stood patiently and watched the other Namek struggle with himself.

I wish I could have loved her, Piccolo at last thought to Kami. I wanted to, I wanted it so much that it hurt. Is it because I am only the evil from within you that I couldn't?

Had that been true, Kurenai would not have loved you, and she loved you, not me, Kami replied silently. But I think she knew that you cared for her, despite all the differences between you. Don't blame yourself. That's not what she would have wanted for you.

I couldn't give her what she wanted, Piccolo thought sadly, and Kami rested a hand on his shoulder.

She wanted solace and friendship and joy, and that, Piccolo, you did give her.

Together they stood and watched the snowflakes drift slowly to earth, remembering a woman who had found delight in their ephemeral beauty.

"I miss her so much!" Piccolo whispered aloud, sinking to his knees and staring at the falling snow. "I didn't realize I would miss her so much!"

"I know, Piccolo," Kami said heavily. "I know."


Vegeta left to grieve and train in the depths of space, away from the memories of Earth. At all hours of the day and night in the perpetual blackness of deep space, he trained and meditated, reaching for his destiny. Each night he fell into bed exhausted, but still the dreams came and no matter how high he set the thermostat, it always seemed so cold.

One night, before going to sleep, as his spaceship headed toward distant worlds and challenges, he gave in to his melancholy and stood at the window to watch the stars flash by.

I find it… extremely difficult to imagine this life without you in it, Kurenai. You were a bright spark, a brilliant energy like nothing I'd ever seen, and now, that light has gone out and the world seems a darker place for me.

He paused and looked down at his hands where they rested at his sides, and with slow and hesitating movements, he pulled off his left glove to reveal the ring she had given him on the ring finger of his hand.

The prince had not removed it since the day Kurenai had died.


Goku stood alone by the lake near his home, staring emptily out over the water. Earlier that day, he, Gohan, and ChiChi had visited Capsule Corporation at Bulma's request. The scientist had been appointed as the executrix of Kurenai's estate, and Gohan, among others, had been named as a beneficiary in the will, Bulma explained.

"A beneficiary? You mean Kurenai left something to Gohan?" ChiChi asked.

Bulma nodded.

She led the Sons into her laboratory where a copy of Kurenai's last will and testament was kept. Removing an envelope from the safe, she withdrew a sheaf of papers from the envelope and handed them to Goku and ChiChi.

"She… she left this for you. I think it explains things… it explains things far better than I ever could."

They read:

"To Son Gohan, I leave all of my books and research, so that he may follow in my footsteps as a scholar, although I suspect (and hope) that one day, he will far outshine me. In addition, I leave funds in the amount of one million zeni, to be held in trust by his parents Son Goku and Son ChiChi, for Gohan to attend college. Never stop learning, Gohan - there is always something new just beyond the horizon, if only we have the courage to find it.

To Son Goku and Son ChiChi, I leave this message. Gohan was my student, but he was also my friend. Cherish him as I did, for those all-too-brief moments. And above all, remember this - I could not have loved him more had he been my own son."

Unable to read any more, Goku had fled the lab, but he had not been able to escape the pain of his memories and his loss.

I didn't realize how hollow my heart would feel without you, he thought, looking at the sky. Already I miss you so much that I can scarcely breathe… Oh, God in heaven, Kurenai, why did you let yourself fall in love? Why did you love me, or Piccolo, or Vegeta, when you knew it would kill you? Why, Kurenai? Why?

Because a life without love would be hell, he heard.

Goku whirled around, searching frantically around him for the source of the voice.

No, Goku... I'm not there. Where I am now... I pray you won't be for a long, long time.

"Kurenai?" he whispered, staring up at the sky. "But... where...?"

I'm in the other world now... at last. Please don't mourn for me, Goku. You have so much to live for, so much to achieve in your life. He heard a faint laugh. Besides, being the Dragon's avatar did allow me one small consolation.

"What do you mean?" he cried, but the voice was fading away.

I have given the world one last gift...

"Kurenai, wait!"

Then the voice was gone, leaving Goku alone.

Then he felt the warmth of a hand in his, and he looked down to see Gohan standing beside him. The boy was staring out over the lake, and the Saiyan wondered what his son was thinking at that moment, wondering what memories he held of Kurenai.

Yes... he thought. She did give the world a gift.

A future.

- The End -