The last chapter, I'm fuckin' cryin' man, I've been writing this fic since 2015. I don't know what I'm gonna do with myself now that it's over.

Yeah, I know I said Mikoto & Munakata were coming next but I say a lot of things. Yukari & Nagare are going to be the next story and Mikoto & Munakata after I finish Mikoto & Totsuka's story. One day. Hopefully. Anyway, enjoy.

Chapter 5: Home

"You ready?" Izumo asked Seri, she nodded, face set. She reminded Izumo a little bit of a hunting dog at the moment. Completely still but ready to lunge forward at a moments notice and sink her teeth into her prey.

He had the good sense not to say this though.

Izumo tightened the last buckle on his bulletproof vest while Seri gave him a critical once-over, making sure he had put everything on properly.

Izumo almost sighed, "it's just one guy, do I really have to wear thi-"

"You really have to wear it," said Seri in a tone that booked no argument. "You don't have a lot of power anymore, remember?"

"Hard to forget," Izumo muttered, "but still, this seems a bit excessive for just Matsunaga."

Seri gave him a firm look, "we nearly caught him in Australia, he'll be a lot more cautious now and probably a lot better prepared. We don't want any injuries, especially preventable ones. And besides," she continued in the exact same serious tone, "you have a magnificent body, I'd hate to see it get ruined."

Izumo made a choked sound and Seri was delighted to see that he was actually blushing, "well when you put it that way…" He mumbled. Reaching for his riot helmet he slipped it on to hide his blushing face.

Smiling, Seri put her own helmet on, "let's get this bastard."

Scepter 4 and the remnants of Timeless Palace stood guard outside the buildings and even the nearby streets. They hustled everyone out and shut down traffic in the immediate area. A bit much? Perhaps, perhaps not. But even if Matsunaga made it past them he would have nowhere to run and no innocents to hide behind. Everyone remaining in the area knew what Matsunaga was and was prepared for him.

Seri's PDA buzzed.

"Okay, I've chased him into your section," Domyoji sounded breathy but not breathless. "He's three streets away, he should be coming up on your left."

"Excellent work Domyoji," Seri told the younger woman who had -assisted by the other members of Scepter 4's Alphabet Squad- been chasing Matsunaga up and down streets for almost twenty straight minutes now. Matsunaga was a determined little fucker but so was Domyoji. If she had caught him that would have been great, but even though she hadn't, her work here was done. Domyoji's job had been not just to tire Matsunaga out and wear him down, which she had done admirably, but to keep him from escaping while they blocked the area off and to heard him into position. All done perfectly.

Domyoji had done her part, now it was up to Awashima and Kusangi.

Seri had gone left, Izumo stayed where he was, crouched down behind a garbage bin, hearing the sounds of footsteps coming closer.

Just before Matsunaga reached his hiding place -he did not want Matsunaga to get past him- Izumo jumped out and tackled him.

The two of them landed on the hard cement, Matsunaga smacked the back of his head on the ground but not nearly hard enough.

He managed to throw Izumo off, which was fairly impressive considering how strong he was. But, although he had no special physical abilities, Matsunaga hadn't lasted this long because he was easy to catch.

They both scrambled to their feet, Izumo averted his gaze quickly but not quickly enough.

"Don't move," Matsunaga ordered.

Shit. Izumo thought as all his muscles locked in place. Move, he told his limbs urgently, move. But he didn't want to move, he wanted to stay exactly where he was. He had to, at all costs.

No! That was Matsunaga's ability talking. He had to move, he couldn't let Matsunaga escape again. But he didn't want to move, he wanted to stay right where he was. So he did.

Matsunaga pulled out a gun with shaking hands.

"Izumo move!" A woman's voice shouted.

Seri's voice. Seri wanted him to move.

Kusanagi didn't stop to think, he just threw himself to the side, Matsunaga's control over him snapping like thread. The bullet hit him in the shoulder instead of the throat. It hit the bulletproof vest and Izumo winced. It still hurt, but it was better than getting shot for real. Only, Seri was never going to let him live this down.

Speaking of Seri, she'd come up behind them while Izumo was struggling with Matsunaga's powers and when Izumo threw himself sideways she moved into the space he'd been in so smoothly you'd think they'd done this a thousand times.

Seri leapt into the air in a move any gymnast would envy and kicked Matsunaga in the head, he flew into the opposite wall and then hit the ground. Hard enough this time.

He did not get back up.

Izumo and Seri both practically jumped him, they did not care that he was unconscious. Izumo held him down by the shoulders while Seri pulled both his hands behind his back, cuffing them with flexible cuffs that would restrain his power. When they were on Izumo and Seri both relaxed slightly, although they kept their grip on Matsunaga.

"And you didn't want to wear the vest," said Seri, panting ever so slightly from exertion. Izumo rolled his eyes, yup. There it was.

Still holding Matsunaga tightly with one hand, Seri pulled off her helmet and pulled out her phone. We've got him, he's down, we're at-" her eyes flicked around and recognising the alley they were in, gave the address, "-Matsunaga's down." She continued, her voice became ever so slightly abashed as she said, "he may need medical attention."

She hung up and looked around, "what happened to the gun?"

Izumo located it and unloaded it before sticking the gun in one of the back pockets of his jeans and the bullets in the other.

"Make sure to give that back, it's evidence," Awashima warned him.

"Yes ma'am," Izumo said, smiling slightly. Even after travelling around the world after Matsunaga for so long he still thought getting to see Seri in full work mode was a rare treat.

They rolled Matsunaga onto his back, they'd already checked on him. He did seem to be okay, he was just definitely unconscious and barely stirred when they turned him over.

"Relax Lieutenant, he's not goin' anywhere," Izumo said, keeping his grip on Matsunaga, "although, I am a little concerned about later, we can't keep these cuffs on him forever."

That being said, if he got away once Scepter 4 properly had him in custody, Izumo honestly thought he'd almost deserve to get away. That would be on them, not Matsunaga.

"Hmm, yes, I've thought about that," Seri admitted.

She brought her foot down hard on Matsunaga's ankle. Even asleep he twitched, so did Izumo.

"There, he wont get very far like that," said Seri as more members of Scepter 4 approached them.

Izumo shook his head, half-laughing, half-cringing, "no such thing as human rights in Scepter 4, are there?" He asked.

Seri raised an eyebrow, "the rules are different when you have superpowers."

"Which is a little terrifying when I think about it for too long but I can't say I disagree," Izumo removed his own riot helmet with a wince as he moved his hurt shoulder.

Seeing this, Seri had the urge to hurt Matsunaga worse and squashed it with difficulty.

They helped load Matsunaga onto a stretcher and Kusanagi handed over the gun and bullets, then they left with the other members of Seri's team. Seri even rode with Matsunaga in the van, no way she was letting him out of her sight until he was safely locked up. Her hand clenched on her thigh, she wanted to be with Izumo, he was hurt. But they'd come this far, she could wait a few more minutes and see this through to the end.

Then it was over.

Seri walked out of Scepter 4 headquaters in a slight daze. Izumo was waiting for her by the gate.

He'd actually been treated rather kindly, other members of Scepter 4 had asked him if he wanted to come in and one of the doctors who worked there had offered to take a look at his shoulder. Before she'd even checked in, Domyoji had stopped to make sure he was okay and some of the off-duty special squad members had brought him a water bottle and stayed to keep him company while he waited.

They were gone by the time Seri left the building, instead Kusanagi was talking quietly to Fushimi, his voice so low she couldn't hear what he was saying. Fushimi was nodding ever so slightly, that was unusual. Fushimi was as contrary as a cat and never agreed with anyone on anything. He'd come a long way since he was a teenager but some things never changed.

When Seri reached them Fushimi broke away, with a slight handwave for Kusanagi and a murmured 'Lieutenant' for Awashima he went back inside.

"What were you two talking about?" Seri asked, curious that Fushimi had gone out of his way to talk to his old clansman.

Izumo shrugged with his good shoulder, "ya know… stuff," he muttered.

"Hm," said Awashima, not impressed by this non-answer. She wondered if the 'stuff' they were talking about had red hair and a skateboard.

"C'mon, let's get outta here," Izumo said.

They went back to his bar but, by unspoken consent, ducked around the back so they wouldn't have to talk to anyone. Izumo was pretty sure that Anna knew they had come back and Yata's sharp eyes missed nothing but, mercifully, they were left alone.

When they reached his room, Seri jerked forward, she stopped herself before she could throw herself into Izumo's arms and hurt his shoulder worse and just pressed her face into his chest. "You got shot!" She yelled, although not very loudly. Her voice was muffled by his shirt but she still kept her volume low. There were kids downstairs and they didn't need to here that.

Izumo sighed, like he'd thought back in France, he didn't like to see his heartless woman even a little upset. And he certainly didn't want her bringing this up every time she was mad at him. "It's just a bruise."

Still, he was man enough to admit when he was wrong, "and you were right about the vest, I'm glad I listened to you."

Seri hummed slightly and rested her chin on his chest, looking up at him, "good response." She murmured, "but I'm still a little mad."

Izumo gave her his most charming smile, even though he knew that would probably just make her madder, "don't be. We got him Lieutenant."

A light sparked in Izumo's eyes, "we got him," he whispered again.

A beaming smile broke over Seri's face, matching the one on Izumo's, "we got him," she echoed.

This time Seri did throw herself into Izumo's arms, wrapping hers around his neck. Izumo scooped her off the ground and swung her in a circle, both of them laughing in slightly vindictive glee.

"We got him!" They both said again.

Izumo winced as he set her down and Seri's hands flew to her mouth. His shoulder! "I'm so sorry," she whispered.

Izumo caught her hands in his and kissed them, "it was worth it."

He squeezed her hands, "marry me Seri," he said impulsively but she didn't look surprised.

"I will," said Seri promised calmly, "one day." Her smile grew less bright, more sultry, "of course, you're welcome to try and convince me to make it sooner rather than later."

Good God, this woman was so perfect.

His own smile devastatingly sexy, Izumo backed her against a wall and leaned down to press his forehead against hers, he opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by the sound of laughter from downstairs. His smile became slightly rueful.

"I don't wanna scare you after I said all that, but before I try to convince you, there are two clans that need convincing first," said Izumo, slightly apprehensively. While HOMRA and Scepter 4 were on better terms than he thought they'd ever been, they were still HOMRA and Scepter 4.

Seri raised an eyebrow at him again, "two clans? My clan doesn't get a say." The only person in Scepter 4 who's opinion on Seri dating HOMRA's number two that mattered was the Captain, but the whole clan? Not a chance.

"Oh really?" Said Izumo. So her clan didn't get a say did they? He wondered if Seri would believe him if he told her that Fushimi -who'd been listening so politely and attentively when Seri had been walking up- had originally approached Kusanagi to give him a very thinly-veiled-threat version of the Shovel Talk. He'd assured Izumo that he knew, should Izumo ever hurt Seri, she was very capable of taking care of herself, but also wanted Izumo to know that his pain wouldn't end there, the members of Scepter 4's special squad had weapons and they knew how to use them.

Didn't get a say. Yeah right!

No, Izumo decided, Seri would never believe him if he told her what he and Fushimi had been talking about.

"Introduce me?" Seri said softly, glancing at the door. Izumo knew what she meant.

Nodding, he took her hand and lead her downstairs. To his surprise, the entire inner circle of HOMRA was there.

"You guys got him, right?!" Yata demanded, the minute she saw Seri and Izumo, knowing what they'd been doing.

"We got him," they confirmed together.

A cheer erupted from the assembled HOMRA members. Someone threw confetti. Masaomi Dewa pulled a string and a banner that read 'congratulations' unfurled itself, hanging from the ceiling.

"You guys are cleaning that up," said Izumo, looking at the confetti. Seri and the others all chuckled, knowing what Kusanagi was like with his bar.

There was food and drink, Izumo had thought everyone had just gathered to say congratulations but it turned out this was a full surprise party. Yata had cooked and she was indisputably the best cook in HOMRA. Her crowning triumph was the cake Kouyuu and Anna brought out, Izumo choked on a laugh when he saw it. It was decorated to look like a jail cell, the bars done in white icing over the dark cake. The word 'congratulations' was also written across the cake, below the writing were a pair of handcuffs, done in red and blue icing.

"You didn't have to go to so much trouble," Kusanagi told Yata when he could talk properly again.

She grinned at him, "you deserve it, nice job!" She cut the cake and started handing it out. The first piece went to Kamamoto. So did the second. Luckily Yata knew HOMRA and had made a big cake.

"Would you like a piece, Lieutenant Awashima?" Yata asked, slightly awkward with addressing Seri.

Seri smiled at the younger woman, "Seri, please. And I'd love a piece."

After a second, Yata smiled back and cut Seri a big piece, "congratulations on your mission success! And thanks for bringing Mr. Kusanagi back in one piece… Seri."

"It was my pleasure," Seri smiled and took the cake, she tried a bite and the smile widened, "it's delicious." And Seri's family ran a confectionery business, she knew what she was talking about.

Izumo tried to turn Yata's attention away from Seri before she saw the blonde ruin her beautiful cake by adding red bean paste to it but was too slow. Yata saw.

HOMRA's vanguard turned slightly green before she shook her head and turned away, "well, I always knew those blues were fuckin' weird," she muttered but she kept her voice low enough that only Izumo could hear her and there was only head-shaking amusement in her voice. Now that Yata had done it, other members of HOMRA began to interact with Seri, asking her questions, Shouhei even taking a seat by her. Yeah, Izumo thought, Yata was HOMRA's vanguard on and off the battlefield, the others followed her lead. Seri would be accepted now that Yata had done it, Izumo couldn't ask for more.

Still shaking her head at Seri's food habits, Yata said to Izumo, "you're setting a bad example, dating a blue." She rounded on the kids, "don't you lot start getting ideas!"

Kouyuu Solt, Erica Solt and Kouske Fujishima's fourteen-year old adoptive son, snorted, which accurately summed up his and Anna's feelings on the subject. Ayame Chitose, Masomi and You Chitose's one-year old daughter, and Kouki Fujishima, Erica and Kouske's nine-month old son just laughed and waved, not knowing what their beloved auntie was saying but knowing she was addressing them. They then continued to cram their own food into their mouths, or at least onto their faces, under Erica's watchful and amused eye.

Yata turned on Kamamoto, "especially you!" At the beginning of the year Kamamoto had pursued a potentially romantic relationship with a member of Scepter 4's second special squad. It hadn't gone anywhere, but it had certainly made both clans consider the other in ways they hadn't before.

Or at least most of us hadn't, thought Yata, seeing the look Mr. Kusanagi, and Lieutenant Seri were giving each other. Jeez… Still shaking her head, she turned away. They could be all cute if they wanted to, didn't mean she had to watch.

Her watch beeped. She had a message. Looking down at it, Yata smiled again. It was from Saru.

Then again, maybe the two clans getting along better wasn't such a bad thing after all. She certainly wasn't upset she was rebuilding her relationship with her oldest friend.

She accidentally caught sight of Kusanagi and Awashima again, who were still smiling at each other, great, they're going to be unbearable for a while now, aren't they? She thought with another head-shake before going to stand by the two HOMRA teens. They wouldn't inflict this nonsense on her poor eyes.

"Um, ma'am?" Awashima began, almost timidly, how did one have this conversation with one's boss. "I'm, um, I'm seeing Izumo Kusanagi from HOMRA. Romantically." She added, so there could be no mistaking her meaning. Her words came out calmer and firmer than she'd expected but she didn't mind. She was dating Izumo. Whether her King liked it or not.

Purple eyes danced, "I admit, I wasn't expecting you to be so blunt Miss Awashima but I approve." Munakata leaned back in her chair, "Scepter 4 and HOMRA are no longer what they once were. The remnants of HOMRA are no longer enemy clansmen, they are our allies, and what you do in your own time is your business."

Seri released a breath she hadn't realised she was holding. Oh good. She really, really had not wanted to be accused of being a traitor. Especially since she was still the Lieutenant of Scepter 4. She had to set a good example.

"Thank you for understanding, ma'am." Bowing, Seri excused herself from the room.

When she was gone Munakata rested her elbows on her desk and laced her fingers together. "If I told you where our two clans were right now would you believe me, Suoh?" She asked the empty room. She wouldn't have blamed him if he didn't believe her. She was powerless, her clan almost so, the slates were gone, Awashima and Kusanagi were officially together and Misaki Yata and Fushimi were on speaking terms. She barely believed it herself.

A month later, Scepter 4 threw their own little workplace party and invited a few members of the Red Clan. Izumo was invited, as was Kamamoto and both were welcomed warmly. Yata had been invited but had turned down the invitation, politely though. She had enough sense, or someone had dropped a word in her ear, to know she'd be the hardest roadblock for the blues to overcome in their acceptance of the other clan.

Noticeably, Fushimi wasn't at the party either.

Anna had been invited. She'd worried about going, not wanting to seem rude but not wanting to make the other clan uncomfortable with her presence as both a King and a teenager at an adults' party. In the end she made an appearance and left early, which worked out well. Kouyuu, as usual, followed where Anna went. Some of the other members of HOMRA drifted in and out and, despite Kusanagi's misgivings, the evening went smoothly.

Something he barely could have imagined this time last year was happening.

HOMRA and Scepter 4 were getting along.

It was peaceful.

He pulled Seri into his arms and she blushed up at him but smiled and moved even closer.

He was happy.

A few days after Scepter 4's party, Reisi Munakata was walking down a snow-covered street, when suddenly an immense feeling of power hit her and she almost staggered. She shook it off quickly and glanced around her, nothing was going on and the feeling had left as quickly as it came, but it was the strangest thing…

It felt just like she had when she linked with the Dresden Slate and became the Blue King.

Shaking it off fully, Munakata continued walking, no idea what was in store for her.

Damn, when was the last time I finished a fanfiction that wasn't a one-shot? I can't remember. Whoop, whoop, I'm officially halfway through this K series. It only took the better part of a decade.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed guys! Bye!