Notes: I return to Radley's storyline from chapter 8. I did use the basic concept in an RP with Amber2002161, but I'd had the idea before that. This version bears very little resemblance to the RP.

Epilogue

Kalin snapped awake, staring around the darkened room as sleep immediately fled. It was still the middle of the night, but another nightmare had interrupted his slumber.

Now he was back to thinking of what had happened in the Duel Monsters world. There had been so much going on that he hadn't had the chance to fully focus on it, but now that all was peaceful he was remembering Radley's agonized tale more fully.

Radley had left his body that time too. He had seen Kalin attacking Barbara out of rage and grief. He had tried so hard to get through to Kalin and he hadn't been able to. . . .

Kalin looked down at the older man, currently still asleep next to him. Kalin had an arm draped around his waist, and he could feel Radley breathing peacefully.

He settled back into the bed. He hadn't thought they would revisit that nightmare in anything other than dreams. He had never imagined there was another piece to the story. And Radley had been so badly shaken by the first out of body experience. He would no doubt remain shaken about this one for some time.

And yet, for all of Radley's horror, he wasn't afraid of Kalin in the least. He was only afraid for him. His anguish had been because he hadn't been able to get through to Kalin and because Kalin had snapped out of grief over his death. Kalin once would have never believed Radley could be so devoted and kind. That still haunted him.

Scotch no doubt was still haunted too, about what had happened yesterday. But he had seemed to rally a bit, and he was happy to have something he could do in watching over the prisoners. In talking with Roger, he had found out more details of what had happened at the ranch and how Roger had used a state-of-the-art KaibaCorp projector to send out images of his brother's ghost from afar. He hadn't explained how he had access, but either he or someone he knew must work for them. That would have to be investigated later.

Roger had also explained that it had been KaibaCorp technology that had allowed them to roam the tunnels undetected. It was a special contraption that hid them behind holograms that matched their surroundings, such as the walls of the tunnels. Kalin had made him tell where all the devices were so they could be collected and returned. Seto Kaiba was not going to be pleased about this in the least.

They still weren't sure what Rick had subconsciously heard to make him afraid of the ranch. But from their discussions and putting all the pieces together, Kalin suspected he had heard Jared's mad laughter from the tunnels. That would have been more than enough to frighten him, especially while lying in shock after being so seriously injured.

Hopefully, once the whole story came out and it was clear that the ranch hands had not been involved with anything, any lingering prejudices against the ranch would diminish. Both Kalin and Radley wanted the town to be united, not divided by the distrust and hate that had torn it apart in the past.

Radley suddenly jumped in the bed with a gasp, sheet-white, his eyes flying open.

Kalin started. This certainly wasn't unusual for either of them; they both had countless nightmares that startled them awake many a night. They had really expected it would happen tonight. For Kalin, it already had, and apparently it had now happened for Radley as well.

"What is it?" Kalin asked. He could feel Radley shaking under his arm. This nightmare had apparently been especially bad.

Radley turned, looking to Kalin over his shoulder. His eyes were filled with horror. "I'm remembering more of what I saw when . . . when I was lost and wandering in the Duel Monsters world. . . ."

Kalin wasn't surprised, but his stomach twisted. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Radley sighed. "I remember when it first happened, I ended up propelled out of my body and somewhere into the night sky. I was so afraid. It was terrifying enough to die at all, but to die in a world that's not even our own. . . . I wondered if I'd be stranded there for eternity. Then I saw the angel who later brought me back, Kasumi. She told me I wasn't supposed to be dead and I'd be allowed to find my way back. I was still afraid, but at least then I had hope. I knew I could come back to you."

Kalin gripped Radley's shoulder, knowing this was hard for him. And it hurt him too, discovering there was another missing piece from that horrible night. "What happened then?" he asked quietly.

"I tried to get back," Radley said. "I got lost a couple of times. . . . I was mostly flying, like an angel, and I had no idea what I was doing or where to even go to get back. Some Duel Monster ghosts wanted me to play with them, but I ran away . . . or flew away, really. I had to keep going. . . .

"I found you around the time you were attacking Barbara out of your grief. . . ." He shut his eyes tightly. "I tried to call to you, but you couldn't hear me. I could only watch you losing yourself. . . ." A tear slipped down his cheek. "Thank God Yusei got through to you. . . . I thought I'd come too late, that I'd come back only to find you lost. . . ."

Kalin's heart twisted. "I never wanted you to see me like that," he said. "Especially when my grief over your death was the reason for it. . . ."

"I know." Radley turned to face him. "I went into the castle with you. . . . I tried to get back in my body, but I couldn't, not until Kasumi came and healed it. I wanted so badly to get through to you, to talk to you, but I could never get you to hear me. . . ."

Pain and sorrow passed through Kalin's eyes. "I'm so sorry. . . . I had hoped you really hadn't experienced being out of your body again when you didn't remember anything like that. . . ."

Radley couldn't even bring himself to give a weak chuckle. "I hoped that too," he said softly.

Kalin drew him close in an embrace. Radley clutched him and finally choked on a sob. The first out-of-body experience still haunted him, and now he had a second one to deal with.

"The worst part is that I saw your pain," Radley said. "I never wanted to hurt you like that. . . ."

"Lawton didn't give you a choice," Kalin said. "And I still haven't forgiven him for that."

"I haven't forgiven him either," Radley admitted. "He caused me to hurt you and all the others. Especially you, though. I wish I'd really understood just how hard it would be for you to handle my death. . . ."

"That would have only made it harder for you," Kalin said. "You had to do what you did, unfortunately." He held Radley close. "And I can't even say I wish it had been me instead. I can't stand to think how you and Yusei would have reacted. . . ."

"We wouldn't have handled it well," Radley said. He paused. ". . . But you handled yourself so well today. I was so relieved."

"I don't know how I managed to," Kalin admitted. "I wanted to do something horrible to Jared for trying to kill the kids."

"Part of me wanted you to," Radley said. "But at the same time, I couldn't bear the thought of losing you to the darkness."

"And I knew I couldn't let the kids see me snap, or put Yusei through it again," Kalin said. "So somehow I stayed in control. I'm glad you were there to take Jared away."

"Me too," Radley said. He hesitated again. "Do you think we really survive in all the dimensions?"

Kalin held him closer. "I won't believe otherwise," he said fiercely.

"I hope we're friends in all of them," Radley said.

"I'm sure we are," Kalin said. "Of course, the most important thing is that we're friends in this one."

Radley finally started to relax. "It's pretty loco to think that there are other versions of us out there. Even though we actually met some, it's still hard to believe."

"They're probably all different in some ways," Kalin said. "They couldn't be exactly us; they'd have different souls."

"Yeah, I guess so," Radley said.

"Unless you're one of those New Age people who think souls can live multiple lifetimes at once," Kalin deadpanned.

Radley laughed. "No, not really. Just living one lifetime is hard enough to handle. But worth it."

Kalin smiled. He once wouldn't have thought so, but he was glad now that his feelings had changed. Being happy here with Radley and the others had brought him so much joy. His life was fulfilled in ways he never would have imagined.

Radley was relaxing more now. ". . . I wonder what's going to happen with Ms. Bennett and all her injured ranch hands," he mused. "Will the town rally around them? There's still some lingering prejudices against them."

"Most of the town was horrified about what happened to Rick," Kalin said. "Once the full story comes out, probably tomorrow, it might change a few attitudes. I hope so anyway. I can't blame any of the townspeople for just being wary, but if any others are struggling with actual hatred, Jared's reactions should help them understand how destructive and damaging it is."

"Then at least some good would come from it," Radley sighed. "I hope his son will be able to get through to him."

Kalin nodded. "Someday, maybe, like Yusei was able to get through to me. It definitely didn't happen overnight." He hesitated before adding, "And coming back from having fallen so far didn't happen overnight either."

Radley frowned a bit in concern. "Are you still haunted by that?"

"I probably always will be to some extent," Kalin said. He leaned back into the bed, still holding on to Radley. "I tried to kill Yusei while under the Dark Signers' power. Then I got you killed because of my apathy to everything and everyone. I unforgivably hurt both of the people who are my closest friends."

Radley hugged him. "Not unforgivably. There were extenuating circumstances both times. It's over now."

"It could have turned out so differently," Kalin said. "But I want to focus on how it didn't."

"Then focus on that," Radley smiled. "I'm trying to focus on how I did finally get back to my body both times I died." He sighed. "But it will take a while to fully put these returning memories behind me."

"Of course it will," Kalin said. "And I'll be here for you every step of the way."

"We'll be here for each other, forever," Radley said, resting against Kalin's shoulder.

"Forever," Kalin repeated.

He relaxed, finally smiling some more. That was a good goal to work towards. Especially as Radley definitely meant forever, and not a fake forever that would end in several years or so. Kalin had once believed the Enforcers would be forever. Perhaps they would have been, had his power-trip not tore them apart. He would not make the same mistake again. And even though the Enforcers had split up as a team, their friendship still burned strong, much to Kalin's amazement and joy.

". . . I wonder if we ever would have met again after our meeting as kids if I hadn't ruined the Enforcers," he remarked.

Radley looked up at him. "Of course we would have," he insisted. "You said before that you believed that, and I certainly do. The very fact that we met so curiously as kids proves that. It couldn't have been a coincidence; too much had to fall into place just right for that to happen. There was definitely a bigger plan for us from the beginning. Maybe the way it happened wasn't necessarily meant to be, but our friendship was."

"I'd hate to think it only happened because of what I did," Kalin admitted. "But you're right. I still believe we must have been destined for each other all along."

"And we will always find our way back to each other, just as you and Yusei do," Radley said. "You found me in Crash Town. I found you when you struggled to bring me back to life. And we have continued to come together on every occasion since."

Kalin smiled more. "We always will," he echoed.

With that comforting thought, they happily dozed in each other's arms.