Me Me: I WILL get this done out of pure spite.

Since I, unlike Elaine, do not have prophetic powers, I'm writing what suits my endgame needs and not wherever Memories is going. Also this is fanfiction and I can do what I want, damn it.

"the world

gives you

so much pain

and here you are

making gold out of it
there is nothing purer than that"
― Rupi Kaur, Milk and Honey

The effect of time's quick passage on mortals shocks Ai, despite her closeness with humans, on the day of Hector Hex's funeral. When her mother had sat her down in their front parlor gripping her hands and told her that the boisterous human had died, Ai had blinked rather dumbly for many moments. How could it be that he was no longer there, that an entire existence could just cease to be, so suddenly? A gnawing, bitterly cold hole had seemed to pool in the young Pureblood's chest – everything else sinking into it.

Ai has no grandparents as they had long turned to dust before she ever existed. Due to their mothers being quite close and their own friendship, Ziva's maternal grandparents had treated Ai as a member of their own family. Upon reflection, she realizes that this was only the natural course of interpersonal relationships. Zero himself had also all but been adopted into the Hex family, and as Ai viewed him as her Special Person, she naturally accepted this intersection of families. Some of the young Pureblood's most precious and treasured memories were holidays in England spent with Ziva under the care of Hector and Annette Hex. "Mama, why does it hurt?" She asks, one hand to her chest, half expecting an open wound to have suddenly appeared there.

Yuki's dark eyes glisten, struggling to remain strong and composed for her daughter. Inhaling a shaky breath, the Pureblood moves her grip from Ai's hands to her shoulders, pulling the youngest Kuran into her embrace. "It's a special kind of sadness, which you only feel when your beloved people die."

"Like Father?"

"Yes,"

There will be a funeral, her mother told her with tears in her eyes, and it is the first Ai has ever attended. Vampires have no need for such things.

Yuki assures Ai that her attendance is not required, but the girl insists on it. Her mother is hesitant, but Ai is persistent. This mortal had welcomed her into his home without reservation and with his whole heart, even as young as she was Ai felt the importance of respecting such kindness shown to her. The travel from their home to the Hex family manor in England, once a place of warmth to the youngest Kuran, is relatively quick with the underground rail at their disposal. A private car is reserved for their use, and though Ai manages to rest she knows her mother remains awake for the travel. The ancient Hex castle is bustling when they arrive, but the activity is somber. Many had come to pay their respects, and Ai clutches her mother's hand tightly as they patiently wait to speak to the Hexes.

Elaine's careworn expression shifts to open surprise when she observes Ai dutifully standing beside her mother. The Druid expected Yuki's appearance, no doubt the Kuran head felt obligated for many reasons to attend. However her daughter's presence, while welcome, was unexpected. Ziva would be glad for the company, having found a quiet corner to hide in.

"Yuki, Ai-chan," Aurelius greets both from his place beside his sister, voice spiritless. "Thank you for coming." The Hex siblings are dressed in swaths of black, dull and flat. The dark color only serves to emphasize the wane pallor of their skin and circles the color of bruises under their eyes from sleepless nights. An ancient brooch is pinned at the Druid's breast, and an identical sigil is sewn on the pocket of Aurelius' jacket.

"I'm so sorry for your loss," Yuki offers sincerely, one hand lightly gripping Ai's shoulder to keep her close. The young Pureblood is unused to so many humans pressed around her, their smells and sounds a constant chatter in her peripheral.

"Thank you," Elaine and Aurelius respond simultaneously. The Druid musters a weak smile at the younger Kuran. "Ai-chan, I'm sure Ziva would be glad of your company. She is hiding out on the balcony just down that hall, if you wish to join her."

Ai looks to her mother for permission, who nods softly. "Go ahead," The Kuran head watches her daughter thread her way through the crowd before disappearing down the indicated hallway. Turning back to the siblings, she inclines her head slightly. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Your presence is enough," Aurelius assures his former ward and gestures for her to take part of the refreshments provided to guests.

Aware that arriving guests await their turn to greet the siblings, Yuki nods and walks further into the manor. Hands clasped behind her, Yuki keeps herself to the perimeter of the room. She is not the only vampire in attendance, and she recognizes many faces, however she did not wish to bring attention to a Pureblood's presence. Many vampires are unfamiliar with the social customs of funerals, and she did not want to encourage conversations of council business at an event meant to honor Hector Hex's memory.

"Yuki," A familiar soft voice greets.

Turning, the Pureblood keeps her voice low and reaches for the other woman's hands. "Yori-chan, I didn't know you would be here."

"Hanabusa was adamant we pay our respects." Yori elaborates, tilting her head closer to the Pureblood's so only they are privy to their conversation. Unlike her friend, the tides and time had started to ebb over the human woman, changed from Yuki's memory of their younger years. "Truthfully, I think he was worried about Elaine-sensei's wellbeing and wanted to check on her himself." The blonde smiles softly as she speaks, affection threaded warm and golden through her tone.

They always did have a bond. Thinking back to her human life as a prefect at Cross Academy, there was many times Yuki had seen the closeness between the Druid and Aido vampire. Elaine would never admit to favoritism, but it was obvious to everyone that Hanabusa was special to her. Her dark eyes drifting over her friend's shoulder, Yuki watches as Hanabusa approaches Aurelius and Elaine. Even from a distance she observes his nervousness, unsure what words of comfort to give. Aurelius places a hand on the blonde's shoulder, no doubt assuring the vampire noble that paying his respects was touching to their family. Elaine reaches out for Hanabusa's hands, saying something too quiet for even Yuki to hear from this distance.

"I'm glad to see you, though I wish the circumstances were better." Yori admits sheepishly.

"Don't we all?"

Elaine's looking at him in a way that's making Yagari suspicious. "What?"

It had been a long day. Though the couple had arrived with their children the day before the funeral, Elaine had awoken at dawn along with Aurelius to oversee the preparations for the event before mourners arrived. Yagari had groggily dragged himself to the main floor soon after his wife, but quickly realized his presence was more distracting than helpful. Instead, he'd dragged Ronan and Ziva to the sitting room where Annette had sequestered herself to keep the older woman company and take her focus from grief to doting on her grandchildren.

The funeral had been public, attracting visitors from the human, magi, and vampire communities. Aurelius and Elaine stood together for the entry receiving line, accepting condolences with nods and quiet thanks. The siblings had insisted their mother be spared this task, instead allowing her to focus on her own wellbeing. "In many ways, I've held the position of head of our family and now Aurelius will inherit the business." Elaine had told her husband the night before. "It's our duty to oversee the..." Her voice trails off, unwilling to force the word 'funeral' out of her throat.

While the sun had set long ago, the two had only just been able to finally retire to their room. Elaine tilts her head slightly, greying hair twisted sloppily over one shoulder after unpinning it from the knot at the base of her neck. "Best case scenario is that I outlive you."

Yagari blinks once, twice. "What?" That was a hell of a non-sequitur.

Shaking her head a small, sad smile pulls at his wife's lips. "You'd be hopeless without me."

Inhaling slowly, Yagari runs a hand through his hair and ignores the knots his fingers catch on and the slowly ever growing ache in his joints. "… Yeah, that's probably true." Dropping his hand, he reaches out to her with the other and she folds easily against his chest. "How you holding up?"

He feels rather than sees her shaky inhale, her ribs moving underneath his palms. "I don't know." Elaine concludes after a long moment of contemplation, hands curling into his shirt. "I feel numb."

"That's alright, pretty sure that's standard." His own father had been dead for so long Yagari couldn't even remember how he'd reacted. Then again, as a vampire hunter, he had prepared himself for that inevitability; most hunters didn't die of old age tucked into their beds. "If you do out live me, don't send me off with any of this fancy shit."

"Cheap whiskey and smokes I can manage," Her voice is muffled in his chest, fingers coiling into his sides and bunching the stiff material of his formal shirt.

"Just bury me face down so everyone can kiss my ass."

Elaine laughs, voice cracking at the unexpected humor.

Despite the emotionally grueling day and events, Elaine cannot sleep. After an hour of restless tossing and turning – Yagari having long ago developed a hunter's ability to sleep anywhere regardless of the circumstances – the Druid pulls her long robe over her nightgown and creeps down to the kitchens. A single, soft recess light is already on and she's surprised at the figure sitting at the expansive island counter.

"I would ask if you're having insomnia as well, but…" Elaine trails off, gesturing vaguely at Zero.

"Too quiet," He responds. "Easier to think down here."

"Fair enough," Elaine concedes, crossing to the refrigerator and staring for a long moment at the contents before reaching for the carton of milk. With her free hand she opens a cabinet just enough to grasp a glass. Leaning back against the kitchen counter, Elaine sips contemplatively while Zero pours over the open books and papers spread across the countertop. "You're welcome to use any of the studies, might be a little more comfortable."

Zero's eyes are the only things that move in response, flicking upwards to give her a look. "I know Hex, it isn't my first time here." Elaine represses the childish urge to swipe all of his carefully arranged chaos to the floor while Zero takes a pause. "You're the one who needs to be looked after right now, stop worrying about the rest of us for a bit."

"Your bedside manner is just God-awful." Elaine grumbles, an emotion she cannot fully describe ballooning in her chest cavity.

"Go the fuck to sleep, Hex."

Of her generation, Elaine is the last of the Old Ones.

Ajax was the first to pass on and if you asked any of those who knew and cared for him, this was unsurprising. Ajax had always been the most stalwart of them, unafraid to unflinchingly stride into the unknown. He preceded his friends and family bravely into the place beyond. While never one for words, he was not without a sense of legacy. He had raised three beautiful and wonderful daughters, two by birth and one by choice. He was a worthy husband, a true life partner, and any would be truly fortunate to have a marriage like his. Amongst the magi and vampires and hunters he had been well respected and always sought after for sound counsel. To the other Old Ones, he was an irreplaceable friend. But they would see him again, and they would exist within their ascenders until the very end.

After the bright flames of his pyre had dwindled to embers, Olympe left her sisters and mother to stride across a short stretch of Avalon's shores to where the vampires paid their respects. Though their self-imposed boundaries prevented them from attending events together, Yuki and Zero had both made a concession to that agreement in order to pay their respects to Ajax. A funeral was not the place to concern oneself about the opinions of strangers on your chosen partner – whether they acted on those feelings or not.

"My dad very specifically outlined in his will that I'm supposed to verbally say to both of you that he literally died of old age before either of you made a move." She announced without preamble, much to Yuki's embarrassment and Zero's chagrin. Yagari stifled a laugh with a cough into his fist, it made the ache in his chest dull just a little bit. "So… yeah. Duty fulfilled."

The sands of time shifted and more pyres were lit, Zero watched as each of these extraordinary humans changed – hair graying and lines of their faces deepening. But their eyes never dimmed, always bright and quick. The next pyre on the shores of Avalon was Mathias', who passed on quickly after an unexpected, massive heart attack. Then there was that one Association assignment Kaito didn't come back from, and they all silently acknowledged that Anna had lost her tether to this world and let herself fade away. Only then did Gaheris and Elaine look to one another and accept that their duty had passed. A week after Anna's pyre had collapsed in a heap of ash, Morgan and Ronan ascended. The new generation of Old Ones was complete, an unbroken circle.

Years later, Zero stood at Elaine's side as Gaheris' pyre crackled and burned with bundles of sweet incense stuffed into the gaps between the pale drift wood. Despite the smoke, her eyes stayed dry. She had never expected to outlive all of them, much less Anna and Mathias, whose ancestral legacies were potent and beings not of blood and flesh. However, over the long years of her life Elaine came to find fate delighted in these little, unexpected twists. Both Zero and Yuki had placed a comforting hand on the Druid's shoulder, startled at the frailty of her bones when for so long it had been her they had leaned upon.

"Will you be alright, Miss Elaine?" Yuki asks quietly, wincing against the burn of sunlight as the darkness reels back behind the horizon.

"Yes," She responds, hair still bright despite long having gone grey, colored like cold starlight. "This life is only a passing thing; I will seem them all again."

And so the years passed.