Epilogue - Restart

Yuusei's POV

I was standing in the middle of my prison, totally frozen, unable to move. I didn't dare blink. Actually, I feared that if I closed my eyes, my friends would disappear within the wind and they wouldn't be there when I reopened them again. Tears were blurring my vision, but I didn't bother to wipe them away. I simply tried to keep them inside, but I couldn't. The emotions were too strong to control them. In fact, I dare to say in a time like this, I could let my emotions to take control over me.

I must be the luckiest man on Earth!

There they were, with me in my prison. I thought I would never see them again, and yet there they were. I've never have been so happy for being wrong. They were standing before me with their hands together and with blazing gazes they were staring at me, waiting.

It was only then that I realized how much they meant to me and it's a bit scary to find out that I loved and cared for them more than I believed. I was more than willing to do anything to keep them safe; even if I had to give up my own life. I wanted to keep them away from even the possibility of being in danger. So I didn't say a word. My lips were sealed.

I wasn't an idiot. I knew; I perfectly knew that I couldn't fight this battle alone and come back a winner. I knew this was dangerous, more dangerous than any previous threat humanity has ever faced. And deep in my heart, I knew my fate from the beginning.

I always knew and yet I didn't stop. I kept going because I had a good reason for it. Keep trying; keep moving forward and never abounded hope. I would keep my friends and my city safe no matter what. I was facing Death with the hope that everything and everyone I love would be unspoiled and unharmed.

But I was a fool too! And my friends proved it to me. Our bonds were once again more than just strong. They did everything in their power to follow me here. They searched, they learned, they accepted every possible help from anyone who could help and there weren't few: Ancient Fairy Dragon, Regulus, Martha, Mikage, Ushio, Sherry, Kiryu, Misty, Carly, Team Ragnarok, Fire Sorcerer, Torunka, Dark Magician Girl, Yanagi… and everyone else, stood by their side, offering their help with hope. The same hope that they would find and save… me!

And my friends were so determined to reach to me and learn the truth that defied any threat and natural law. And with Crimson Dragon by their side, they could even travel back in time for crying out loud. And they did all those things for me! To get to me and save me!

As much as I tried to keep them away from danger, they ignored it and here they are; ready to fight, standing up straight bravely by my side, lending me their strength.

A howl filled the area, covering everything inside my room, and the howl only grew stronger as five Dragons and Stardust joined their leader, soaring high. My cell that used to be my personal mind prison for the past one and a half months began to fade.

I lifted my eyes, seeing Crimson Dragon flying above us. My breath suddenly became heavier. Now my friends were smiling at me…with warmth and understanding, encouraging me to make my final decision. And now their forearms were starting to glow, bright and strong… just like how my forearm started to glow, and throbbing and spreading a deep red light around.

My friends were waiting… the Crimson Dragon was waiting… for me to make my last move and fill the last piece of the puzzle or better say, the last piece of the Shield.

However, everything was unnecessary. I had already heard their hearts beating hard, with determination, with hope, with warmth, but the most important of all… beating inside my body, synchronizing with mine. Their hearts were mine, and my heart was theirs.

Our bonds have proved to be stronger than any force out there. Our bonds are eternal and beyond space and time.

I closed my eyes as waves of heat filled me, touching me, holding me and protecting me. I smiled back, lifting my hand and placing it above theirs. The Crimson Dragon howled again, stronger and louder and his servants joined him. Now their hearts were united as our own and everyone was now sharing the one and whole heart that holds each one strength and beats faster, harder, stronger and louder.

And with every breath, the bricks on the walls of my prison were blowing, destroying, disappearing and fading away…

I smiled one more time, feeling no fear anymore. As long as my dear friends were there and, as my childhood friend said to me, I knew that everything would be alright in the end. If it wasn't alright…then it wasn't the end.

Everything was in my hands to smash and rebuild.

I could do anything, I could come back again.

Together we were stronger and were able to do anything, even miracles.

We could change the past… or the future.

Erase and restart it.

…And I wasn't alone in this anymore…

"Yuusei?"

"Hmm," I hummed, rubbing my eyes at the same time.

"Daddy?"

"What's up?" I asked hoarsely.

"Honey? Wake up."

"Aki?!" I exclaimed, forcing myself to come back from the world of dreams.

"Come on, daddy. I want to go home, and sleep," Chou purred with complaint.

I couldn't help but smile seeing how adorable she was as she pressed her little arms around my waist, resting her head on my chest. I stroked her hair and held her in my lap.

"I guess I had fallen asleep, right?" I asked, sitting up on the couch.

My wife nodded.

"You saw a nightmare, Yuusei?" Carly asked, leaning a bit forward in her seat. Seeing my puzzled expression she added, "You were strolling in your sleep."

Jack crossed his arms. "Don't tell me that our duel made you tired, Yuusei?"

Oh yeah, the duel! "It was an interesting duel, Jack. I hope you are not upset."

Crow started to crouch only to hide his snorts.

Jack rolled his eyes and grunted. "Never! But mark my words, Yuusei: we will duel again one day and I will be the winner!"

"Anytime you want," I smiled to my blond childhood friend.

"I know that you will, Dad!" Katsumi harried to support him.

"We will cheer for you," Akio had a mature expression; he looked so much like his father.

"It's time for us to go," Kiryu announced and got up, "I have a very important appointment tomorrow."

Misty followed his example. "Asami, Jun! Come, say goodnight to Martha and to your cousins. We are leaving in a bit."

"Goodnight!" Asami waved her hand and offered a dashing smile. No doubt one day she would be prettier than her mother.

Jun did the same. "See you soon!"

Misty gave my wife a quick hug. "Aki, it's so nice to see you again. Carly, Sherry, Ruka congratulations again!" She dipped her head lightly.

"My little sister will make me an uncle…again," Rua grinned.

"Rua, we are twins, remember?" Ruka scolded him softly.

"We're just a few minutes different," Rua protested. "What? It's true!" he added as Patty laughed.

"Yeah, it's true, Rua. You are the oldest," his girlfriend giggled, exchanging a meaningfully glance with Ruka.

"Yuusei, I hope to see you again soon," Kiryu shook hands with him before he turned to wave his goodbye to the others.

"Jack, we must leave too," Carly addressed her husband, "It's getting late and Akio has classes tomorrow. And since you were out of town for some time, it will be nice to spend the night as a family."

"We can see your last duel on the screen too!" Katsumi cheered and jumped into her father's lap, with Akio nodding with excitement.

Jack's chest filled with pride. "Sure, why not?" he said, helping his daughter sit on his shoulder.

"It was a great day. Thanks, everyone. And now that Jack will be in town for a few days, we can arrange another meeting," Carly grinned, took Akio's hand, and the Atlas family headed to front door.

"We all had a good time," Crow muttered.

Sherry nodded in agreement. "Yeah, but now we must go home too. And Crow?"

"What's up, beautiful?"

I held back a chuckle after seeing Sherry frown under my old teammate's complement, but decided to let it pass. It wasn't a secret that she didn't like being called by those nicknames, just like it wasn't a secret that Crow was always going to be asking for troubled.

"Our daughter fell asleep on the couch, so I think you should carry her."

"No problem at all!"

"And our daughter won't fall asleep until we get ourselves home, Yuusei," my wife said and I trailed my eyes to the little girl which was still on my lap, playing lazily with my shirt.

"Time to go then," I got up, lifting my daughter in my arms.

Chou made herself comfortable, resting her head on my shoulder, but soon I put her to her feet so I could hug my foster mother.

"Thank you for the party, Martha."

"You don't have to thank me, Yuusei; it's my pleasure to have you all here."

I smiled, nodding my head.

"See you, Yuusei," Crow said while carrying the sleeping Ichigo in his arms, waving goodnight with his head.

"Be careful, Aki," Sherry said and my wife dipped her head.

"Goodnight!" the twins exclaimed at the same time.

"Time to go home too," Ruka announced and Tenpei pressed an arm on her shoulder, giving her a light kiss on her cheek.

"See you tomorrow," Rua took Patty's hand and left the room.

I stood at the front door, watching all my friends and their families head to their cars and rides. I waved my hand to them as they all offered me one last goodnight, seeing me standing there.

"Are you ok, honey?" Aki asked as she stood by my side and I kissed her forehead.

I took a deep breath. "It's always hard to see them leave, but I know that as far away as they are, as long as it takes for me to see them again, I know that our bonds will always be stronger than ever."

My lovely wife stared at me in utter confusion. "Why are you saying this, Yuusei?"

"You know, Aki," I turned to face her -my expression revealed nothing of what I was thinking and feeling right then. "I always thought that I was the one who saved you a long time ago."

Aki offered me the smile I loved the most. "But you did save me."

I locked her in my arms. "Maybe, but you saved me too. You, and Jack and Crow and Ruka and Rua…"

She lifted her head so that she was able to see my face. "That was a long time ago, Yuusei."

But that didn't change anything. A long time… a short time… I'm here because of them. I may have lost my parents at Zero Reverse, but I found myself a true family after many years: brothers and sisters who would always be by my side.

I held my reason to live tighter in my arms as I bent my head and sealed her lips in a kiss capable enough to set everything on fire.

Life is not always fair, but it's always beautiful. And I couldn't be more grateful. I saved them, but most importantly, they save me; they gave me a second chance at life

The End


EEEHH! My story is finished? *wide eyes* it's hard to believe! Actually I'm both, thrilled and sad now… my baby-story is finished! And of course I made a good end! I couldn't bring myself to give a bad one!

It's so strange but it's a fact and I don't know what to say now, except a big THANK YOU ALL! All of you who read, review, love, support my work and made my days warmer! I did my best to give you a good story with a nice plot and I really hope I did it. English is still hard for me and I want to thank everyone who helped me, beta reader or not.

If any of you are still confused I'll try to light up some things. Yuusei being stubborn as always wanted to save the world without putting his friends into any danger. But his friends being more stubborn than him, tried their best to find and save him. And their determination was so strong that they were able to travel through time and space.

A part that I think it confused some of you was the 2 different futures; the bad one (without Yuusei) and the good one (with Yuusei and team 5D's kids). The answer is that BOTH were real, first the bad one -Yuusei did die- but because of the time travel with the help from Crimson Dragon, his friends were able to erase that future making a restart, so the good future could happen. So Yuusei didn't dream it, he saved his friends and his friends DID save him too! (Yuusei can't get all the glory all the time, right? Hehe)

My thanks to: Ulrich362, The Man with Imagination, tmntlover2013, ObsessedwReading, G.A. AnimeFan4 and JuniorXD for their reviews. And my special thanks to Pure Red Crane and EndlessNight025!

One last thing: I started a new story under the title "Daily Little Miracles". It's a drabble collection so it's easy and fast to take a look if you want ;)

As always, if you liked it, review! If you don't, review anyway… ^_^ ( I love reading your reviews!)