Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds
The Sharp Knife of a Short Life
By Lucky_Ladybug
Notes: The characters from the show are not mine and the other characters and the story are mine! For a long time I've wondered what would have happened had all of Radley's estranged family learned of his death in the mines in my verses. I finally started writing the first half of this piece, which was meant to be a missing scene from the You Are Just Like Me version of my The Night After storyline. But then I wasn't sure where to take the piece next, and I ended up combining it with another, much darker thing I've also been wondering. Hence, this piece got really weird. I love it, though. Thanks to XenoEmblemFTW for introducing me to the heartbreaking and beautiful song If I Died Young! I also took some inspiration from a dream sequence in an RP with MoonlightTyger.
Kalin had experienced several horrible days in his life, the kind where one's experiences and emotions could teeter all over the place. He would be on top of the world one moment and come crashing down to earth in the next.
That had happened the night he had been arrested. Everything had seemed amazing at first. He had attacked Sector Security and his plan had looked poised to succeed. But then everything had fallen apart and he had mistakenly believed Yusei had betrayed him. When he had ended up thrown in the Facility with everything taken from him, he hadn't thought things could possibly get worse.
Today had been even worse of a teeter-totter. He had started out filled with depression and self-hatred, but had gradually begun to regain the will to fight and to live. Then Jordan's fall and Lawton's explosion had decimated all of that. When he had again found hope, he and Yusei had managed to defeat Lawton and restore peace to Crash Town. But then he had found Jordan alive, rescued by Radley, and Radley had been laying dead, killed by the mine guards. Now Kalin was devastated again, realizing to his horror that underneath all the self-hatred and depression, he had come to care about his poor ex-boss. But he and Yusei had both abandoned him to the mines and now he was gone.
It was bad enough to have a gut-wrenching realization like that, but on top of that, he had also been learning that Radley had not been the greedy tycoon Kalin had thought. Yes, he had loved money and power and had wanted control of the dyne mine, but he had never deliberately hurt anyone to get it. Malcolm had forced him into the dusk duel system of winning labor by threatening the townspeople if he didn't comply. Radley had been trying all along to protect the town by pushing back against Malcolm and keeping him from taking over, but Kalin hadn't realized, or let himself realize. Radley would have been a valuable ally, and a deserving one. He should have been with Kalin and Yusei to bring down Lawton, not being tortured to death in the mines because Malcolm wanted him dead. Kalin would never not be haunted by all that had happened since Lawton's defeat.
Right now Radley was laying on the couch in his office at the diner, so sad and still. Kalin had just been about to take him to the mortuary with a heavy heart when Trudge had come in, frowning at the scene.
"Hey, I'm really sorry about the poor guy," Trudge said when he was given all the details about Radley's death. "I need to let his family know about this now. Maybe they'll wanna claim the body."
"They won't want him," Kalin said darkly. "Radley told me they kicked him out years ago."
"Well, it's police procedure anyway," Trudge gruffly told him. "I've gotta try."
Kalin looked away, clenching a fist. "They don't deserve to have him. The people who truly love him live here."
"Yeah, yeah, I know, it's not fair," Trudge said. "But I've still gotta do this. Will you cooperate or not?"
". . . I can't really stop you," Kalin crisply replied.
". . . The only thing is, what the heck is his last name?!" Trudge exclaimed. "I dunno where to even start to find out!"
Another arrow flew into Kalin's heart. He knew.
". . . He told me his last name is Ramon," he said. "He said his family lives in California and is in the wine business." Radley had also told Kalin to retain that information in case something happened to him and it was needed. He had told Kalin that Malcolm wanted him dead, that he had even tried several times before, but Kalin hadn't paid enough attention. If he had, maybe . . . maybe this wouldn't have happened.
Trudge stared at him in disbelief. "Those Ramons?! This guy was high class!"
Kalin looked back sadly at Radley's body. "Yes," he said softly, thinking of Radley's kindness and how he had tried to help Jordan at the cost of his own life. "He was."
It didn't take Trudge long to find the number for the estate, and soon he had reached someone there. It sounded, however, like the conversation was not going well.
"Who did you say is dead?" a heavily-accented voice asked.
Trudge looked like his patience was about to unravel the rest of the way. "Your grandson Radley!" he yelled into the phone. This was the third time he had tried to make himself clear. Two servants had uncomfortably given him the run-around before one of the Ramons had come to the phone. She seemed less than pleased with the call, but not for the reasons Trudge would have thought.
There was a click and the holographic projection feature on the phone was activated. A stern older woman in traditional Spanish clothing materialized, glowering at Trudge. "I have no grandson named Radley," she coolly replied.
Kalin felt his heart simultaneously shatter and fill with rage. But before he could let loose with what he really thought of this unfeeling person, a younger woman slowly made her way into the hologram. She pulled her shawl around herself, staring at Trudge with disbelieving eyes. "Is this true?" she demanded. "My son is dead?"
"Yeah, that's right, lady," Trudge barked, harsher than he might have ordinarily sounded after dealing with the unkind grandmother. "He was trying to save some poor sap's life and the bad guys did him in."
"Oh . . . !" Her breath caught in her throat. ". . . I want to see him. . . ."
Trudge stepped aside, revealing the couch where Radley's body had been laid. "He's here."
The mother screamed, falling to her knees. "Radley . . . my son . . . my poor boy. . . ." She reached out with a shaking, holographic hand, trying in vain to stroke his hair and brush it away from his closed eye.
The grandmother had gone pale, but turned away, not wanting to admit to her shaken feelings. "Just look at him!" she gruffly barked. "All that leather and jewelry, and especially that long hair! He is not my grandson any longer, nor is he your son! We agreed to that!"
"I didn't agree for him to die!" the mother screamed back. She laid her head on the stilled chest, desperately longing to feel a heartbeat . . . even though she couldn't anyway when they were not physically in the same location.
"You left him and you never let him go back," Scotch finally spoke, blinking back tears. "We left him too, when we were scared. He did so much for us and we just ran away! But . . . we wanna have him here, with us. He loved this town . . . and us. . . . He didn't even hold what we did against us, even though he had every right to!"
"Of course you can have him," the grandmother snapped. "He is still disowned here." But she reached up with a corner of her shawl, brushing at her face.
"We drove him away and now he's dead!" the mother sobbed. "Radley, please . . . please wake up. . . . Please come back and show your mother you're alright! . . . Please . . ."
The grandmother turned, bringing her up by her shoulders. "He can't come back!" she retorted. "He brought this on himself when he decided to fall in with the wrong crowd! This is not our doing!"
"This is our doing!" the mother shouted, tearing away. "We threw him out because of this!" She gestured broadly at Radley's hair and leather jacket.
"You were just as adamant as I was!" the grandmother shot back.
"But we were wrong, Mama! Can't you see that we were wrong?! We can't even fix this, ever! He's gone!"
"We have another heir!"
"But we don't have Radley!"
Suddenly realizing that the telephone conversation was still active, the grandmother looked to Trudge. "Keep him," she said coldly, and ended the conversation.
Trudge let out the breath that he was holding. ". . . Wow," he said. "And I thought families in the Satellite were messed-up."
Kalin walked over to the couch and dropped to his knees beside Radley's body. "Families can be 'messed-up' anywhere," he said flatly. The knife that had already been driven into his heart had gone deeper now. The pain Radley had gone through in his life . . . being abandoned by everyone he cared about, from his family to his girlfriend to his friends . . . and he had still been kind! Kalin could hardly comprehend it. Only thinking he had been betrayed by Yusei—mistakenly at that!—had sent Kalin off the deep end.
Trudge turned away. "Poor guy. I guess all he wanted was a little kindness."
Kalin took the lifeless hand in his. "He wanted money and power too," he said quietly. "But . . . that didn't make him bad. He never hurt anyone, like Malcolm did. I knew that, and yet I didn't really know it. I'm just as bad as Radley's family. I judged him too."
". . . It's not like you really knew him that well," Trudge said awkwardly. "And Yusei said you weren't right in the head. So . . . no, you weren't like his family. They knew him all his life and they just tossed him out like he was nothing."
"I detest what they did to him," Kalin snarled. "And yet I can't hate them more than I hate myself right now. They didn't know he would die. I knew people were dying in the mines and I still just left him there!"
Trudge didn't know what to say. He stepped back, awkwardly shoving his phone back in his pocket. ". . . Should I go find Yusei? I think he's talking to the kids."
"No," Kalin said. "They need someone right now. I . . . I just want to be alone with him. . . ."
Trudge nodded. "Okay." He headed out of Radley's office, pulling the door shut behind him.
Scotch hesitated. "I should go too?"
"You do what you want," Kalin said. "You have a right to be here. More right than I have."
Scotch looked to Radley, silent and sad on the couch, his expression not at peace in the least. "I . . ." He shook his head. "It hurts too much. I can't . . . I can't keep seeing him like this. I keep thinking he's just asleep and he's going to wake up and . . . !" He choked on a sob. "But he's never going to wake up again! The last time I ever saw him was when he tried to make his last stand against Lawton. He tried to protect all of us, and the town, but Lawton just took him out without even giving him a fair chance! He got hurt so bad from that, and he just fell down unconscious. . . . But he was alive! We knew he was still alive! . . . And then you brought him back from the mines and he wasn't. . . . He isn't. . . ."
"He would have been, if Yusei and I had made sure to find him," Kalin said softly. "But I wonder if Jordan would have survived if Radley hadn't been there to find him, and to give himself up to the guards so Jordan could have that one last chance to get away alive. . . ."
Scotch sniffled. "Poor Radley. . . . I just can't believe he was supposed to die like this! He should have lived too! It shouldn't be a thing where it has to be one or the other! It shouldn't!"
"No, it shouldn't," Kalin agreed.
Scotch bent down, hugging Radley close. "I'm so sorry, Radley," he whispered. "We all failed you and now it's too late. Now you're gone! I . . . I just hope you're happy now, without screw-ups like us around. . . . I'll never be happy again." Blinking back tears, he straightened and stumbled to the door. "Goodbye, Radley. . . . Goodbye. . . ." He managed to get the door open and make his way out into the hall before he lost it again and fell to his knees, sobbing out his heartbreak.
It was only then that Kalin also broke down sobbing, cradling Radley's hand between his. So much lost time . . . lost friendship and family . . . lost life.
"I'm so sorry too," he whispered. "I understand now, but what good does it do? It's too late to save you. I thought you were insincere, and a nuisance, and even though I wasn't in a good mental state, it doesn't feel like an excuse. I should have been able to see what I can see so clearly now, that you were genuinely trying to reach out. I can't imagine why you latched on to me or thought I'd be a great friend for you. I'm the worst one possible! I wanted you to go away . . . and now you have . . . and I only realize what I had now that it's too late."
He gently brushed Radley's hair to the side, as his mother had tried in vain to do through the holographic connection. Radley's sad expression would never stop haunting Kalin now. He had wanted to be loved, and instead everyone had left him. Could he really be at peace now? Maybe he had been glad to get away from such a cruel, unfeeling planet. But on the other hand, maybe he would linger in the shadows, a forgotten, restless soul who could never find peace.
"You gave your life for Jordan," Kalin whispered. "You let the guards take you again to give him one more chance at freedom. They beat you and they whipped you and they overloaded that evil collar for the last time. . . . Jordan told me you'd sacrificed for him, but I didn't believe it . . . and then you were laying dead at my feet when I looked for you. . . ."
Kalin brought Radley's lifeless hand to his forehead and leaned against the couch as he sobbed. Right up to the end, he hadn't believed in Radley's goodness. Then he had been forcefully shown, and that realization had unlocked a worse one in his heart. Even under the depression and self-hatred, and even initially thinking Radley wasn't sincere, Kalin had come to care about him anyway. Deep down, perhaps he had seen Radley's innate goodness even though he hadn't let himself consciously realize it.
"I lost my dear friend . . . and I didn't even know you were my friend until you were gone." Kalin gently laid Radley's hand on his chest and got to his feet. "I hope you will find peace. I never can now."
Sighing sadly, he lifted Radley into his arms. Now he had to make the journey to the mortuary. It was one of the hardest trips he would ever have to make. And for Radley, the second to last he would ever make.
Steeling himself against the feel of the dead body slumped against him, Kalin headed for the door.
xxxx
The Bunch really had no idea how to handle a funeral. Kalin didn't either. But they wanted to do it instead of not being involved. When Kalin got back, badly shaken from having had to hand Radley over to the funeral director, the Bunch was all discussing the grim subject.
"We should have it soon," Marty said. "Dragging it out will make it even worse."
"Why?" Virgil retorted. "I mean, Radley is still lost to us either way. Having it sooner won't make it hurt any less."
"No, I guess not," Marty sighed.
". . . What about preserving him?" Clint asked.
Scotch looked down. "Do we really want to hurt him any more than we already did?" he said softly. "Taking all his blood out to embalm him . . ." He shuddered.
". . . No, I don't think any of us want to do that," Clint said.
"It's not like anyone will be seeing him after the funeral anyway," Virgil said.
The rest of the Bunch echoed agreement.
"Okay, no embalming." Marty was writing on a piece of paper. "If we have the funeral tomorrow, would that be enough time to get everything together?"
"Yeah, I think so," Biff said. "We don't havta write out any big talks. We'll just talk from our hearts, stuff we remember about him and that sort of thing."
"We should sing too," Scotch said softly.
"We will," Marty said. "We'll make sure to sing a couple of his favorites."
Kalin came farther into the room. "Even just having the funeral tomorrow, he'll have to be put in cold storage until then," he said, his voice taut.
Scotch flinched. ". . . I know he can't really feel it, but . . . it seems awful to do that to him too. . . ."
"That is non-negotiable." Kalin was still speaking flatly, his eyes dead. "I already told the funeral director to do that. But I said to hold off on anything else until everyone discussed it."
". . . I guess he never wrote out what he wanted us to do if anything happened to him," Jimmy said.
"No," Scotch said. "He wrote us that letter trying to encourage us not to give up hope if he died, but that was it."
"So we'll have to decide everything ourselves," Marty said.
Billy had been completely silent. He got up now, crossing to the window and staring out at the cold night. Kalin wasn't sure exactly why, but he followed. "Billy?"
Billy slumped forward, resting his forehead against the glass. "If I'd only stayed with him in the mines and not run away to save my own stupid life," he choked out. "Maybe he'd still be alive, or maybe at least he wouldn't have had to die all alone and forgotten!"
Anguish filled Kalin's eyes. He certainly understood that guilt and sorrow.
"It's hard to say," he said. "I'm sure he'd still be alive if it wasn't for me."
Billy broke down, sobbing into the window.
Kalin was at a loss. He didn't know how to comfort anyone when he himself was hurting so desperately. All he knew to do was lay a hand on Billy's shoulder, and he knew that really wasn't much of a help.
Yusei was standing in the doorway, looking sadly at Kalin in concern. He had walked with Kalin to the mortuary but had lingered behind on their return, not feeling that he belonged in the discussion the Bunch had been having.
Kalin walked over to him after a moment, seeing that Billy was inconsolable. "Everyone misses him so much," he said quietly. "And so do I." His shoulders shook. "It's my fault he's gone, and I don't know how I'm ever going to deal with that."
"Kalin . . ." Yusei pulled him into a firm hug. "It's my fault. Neither of us knew Malcolm ordered him killed, but we should have brought him with us anyway, or gone back for him. You weren't thinking clearly, but I should have been."
"But you weren't, because you were worried about me." Kalin choked on a shuddering sob. "Radley should be here now, coming in and announcing a round of cactus cider or root beer for everyone and starting up the jukebox. But he's dead and we just delivered him to the mortuary to be put in a freezer! . . ." He covered his face with a hand as he cried. "He wanted to be my friend and that's the best I could even give him!"
Yusei hugged Kalin close. Kalin was just as inconsolable as Billy—and the rest of the Bunch, judging from how they were all starting to cry as they continued to discuss funerary plans.
What have we done? Yusei thought sorrowfully. What did I do? It was a mistake that never could be fixed.
Kalin had barely said anything to and from the mortuary, numbed with grief and guilt. When Yusei had found him in the mines he had been in hysterics, but then his emotions had all drained from him by the time they got into town. Now they were coming back again. All Yusei could do was hug him and wish to God that things had turned out differently.
Of course, that was a vain wish now, and they were left to reap the consequences.
Where are you, Radley? Yusei silently asked. You're the only one who might be able to bring some comfort here.
That was the irony of it. The one person who could help them was the one person who couldn't.
I'm so sorry, Radley.
xxxx
Radley's family flew out the next day, somewhat to Kalin's surprise and somewhat not. The mother had clearly been crying most of the way over, as her mascara was running when they arrived. Her son was dead and she no longer cared about social appearances.
With her was a small child of five or six, tightly gripping her hand. He didn't fully understand what was going on, but he didn't like it.
"Why are we here, Mama?" he asked as they entered the cemetery.
"We're here for your brother, Emilio," she replied.
"You never let me meet him!" Emilio cried. "You kept saying he was bad and I wanted to meet him anyway! Now it's too late!"
She broke down in tears again.
"Pull yourself together!" the grandmother hissed from behind her. "Everyone is watching us!"
But she just shook her head. "I did everything you wanted, Mother! Now I've lost my son! It wasn't worth it. It was never worth it!"
Kalin looked away in silent agreement.
Radley's father and grandfather were also present, but they stayed silent, looking awkward and sad at the same time. They hadn't wanted this outcome. They looked toward Radley's body and couldn't look away.
The coffin was open, positioned at the bottom of the mountain leading up to that treacherous mine. Radley was silent and still, not looking peaceful as he laid on the satin lining. He had been bathed and his hair washed, removing all the indignities of the inhuman mine. His clothes were fresh, another leather jacket and pants and a tank top. A bouquet of yellow roses was clasped to his chest by his limp hands, while others had been arranged all around the casket.
Scotch was hovering around him, his hands shaking as he gripped Radley's hand. "Poor Radley," he whispered. "Poor Radley. . . . If we'd only stood by him, maybe . . ."
"Scotch, you're gonna speak, aren't you?" Biff said. "You've gotta stay strong somehow. . . ." But his own voice was thick was grief and sorrow.
Scotch shook his head. "I can't. . . . I can't stay strong! I'm going to be bawling through this whole thing! I know it!"
The kids were crying too. Kalin looked to them, a bit surprised that they were so deeply affected. "I didn't know you even knew Radley that well," he said.
West shook his head. "H-He looked out for us after Dad was taken by Malcolm," he choked out.
"Yes, he checked in with us every day to see what he could do," Nico added.
New horror stabbed Kalin in the heart. "I had no idea," he said sorrowfully.
"Radley always looked out for all of us," Nico said. "He loved us all and the town so much!"
Kalin looked to Yusei with shattered eyes. Yusei looked back, stricken as well.
"That poor man," Kalin choked out. "I judged him so harshly and never thought I was wrong, and now . . . now it's too late. . . ." He covered his face with a hand.
"Kalin. . . ." Yusei reached for him, drawing him close. "We didn't know. I was so worried about you, and I blamed Radley for you being in that mess. . . ."
"He didn't know, Yusei!" Kalin said. "He had no idea I was so mentally ill. I joined of my own free will, and he thought I was just unkind when I treated him so badly. And he thought I hated him! I . . ." He shook his head. "I should be the one laying in that coffin. Not Radley."
"Kalin!" Yusei gripped his shoulders. "You shouldn't be! The town wouldn't have been saved without you!"
"You didn't need me, Yusei," Kalin said. "You could have taken Lawton down with Radley's help. He should have been with us to defeat them. He was fighting for the town for so long, so many years, only to be cast away by everyone at the end. It's no wonder he died! He thought he had no more reason to go on living!"
"He died because the guards tortured him to death," Yusei said. "No one could have survived what he went through!"
"Jordan should have died from that fall," Kalin said. "But he was alive when Radley found him. The doctor said it must have been his desire to be with the kids that kept him going. Radley had no hope left. He thought no one cared what happened to him. That's why he died, Yusei! That's why and how he died!"
Yusei didn't know what else to say. He hugged Kalin close. Neither of them would ever get over this.
The funeral was bittersweet and heartbreaking. Scotch was right that he kept crying. But he struggled on anyway, telling of how he and Biff met Radley after running away from foster care so they wouldn't be separated. Radley had realized it would be cruel to split them up and never turned them in, instead accepting them into the Bunch.
It had been Radley who had finally helped Scotch open up again after the heartbreak in foster care had shattered him. Radley had been the brightest light in Scotch's life. Now it was extinguished and Scotch was in despair. He didn't know how to ever even begin to recover from this.
The other talks were similar, at least in the respect of telling how knowing Radley had changed everyone's lives for the better. The Bunch had stories of being taken out of their abusive or lonely home lives and brought into Radley's group, where they had found love and happiness. The townspeople talked of how Radley was always polite and respectful to them and how they had felt safe with him there to watch over them and push back against Malcolm's cruelty. Even the pastor, badly injured from a murder attempt by Lawton, spoke from his wheelchair, wanting to honor Radley's sacrifices.
"We're all here to pay our last respects to our dear brother and friend," he said gravely. "When I first came here, I heard many of the good residents praising Radley for his steadfastness in looking after the town and showing kindness to the people. I spoke with him myself and found him completely sincere in all that he was trying to do. Right up to the end, he tried to help us. He gave his life to save Jordan Sergio, a father of two. God will certainly reward him for all of his efforts. As hard and as heartbreaking as it is to be forced to say Farewell to Radley so soon, we can take comfort knowing that his suffering is over now and he is at peace with our Lord."
"But is he at peace?" Scotch sobbed. "He didn't want to die! It was just that he thought he was all alone! He wanted to live, to be with us! He thought we didn't love him anymore!"
"He knows the truth now," Pastor Green kindly told him.
"Yeah, but then he'd wish he could be back with us . . ." Scotch slumped against Biff in anguish as the tears flowed again. Biff held him close, blinking back tears of his own.
Kalin was devastated more and more with each new revelation. Now it was occurring to him that Radley would never see that the town he had strived so hard to save was going to get on its feet again, nor would he get to live in it and share in it. If Radley hadn't fought so hard for it, it might have already been lost long before Kalin had found it. He covered his face with a shaking hand.
Radley's mother couldn't contain her tears even for her younger son's sake. She had started to break down during Scotch's talk and was outright sobbing during the pastor's remarks. And Emilio was not handling things much better.
"You all told me he was bad!" he finally screamed. "He wasn't bad! He was good! You should have let me meet him! I wanted to know my brother and now I never can!"
". . . I don't think I really ever knew him," his mother said sorrowfully. "None of us did."
The outburst brought the proceedings to an uncomfortable silence. At last Kalin drew a shaking breath and came forward. All of the Bunch had spoken, and some of the townspeople. Kalin didn't want to let this horrible time go by without saying something.
"When I came to this town, I was drowning in depression and self-hatred," he said. "I thought I didn't deserve to live. Radley didn't believe that. He was friendly and kind to me right from the beginning . . . only I was too blind to see that. I thought he was greedy and insincere at first, and when I finally started to realize maybe he was nice, I thought he was a fool to show me any kindness when I didn't deserve it.
"The town has been honoring me for bringing down Lawton. Yusei too, and Jack and Crow. And while I agree that all of us played a part in saving this town, Radley's immense sacrifices can't be downplayed or shoved aside. He fought for all of you for four years as best as he could. He couldn't defeat Malcolm, but he kept him from completely taking over. We all saw what happened when Lawton unfairly defeated Radley and they assumed control. That was exactly what Radley struggled so hard to prevent.
"I never treated Radley the way I should have. Maybe Yusei is right that I can't be blamed considering the condition I was in. But I have lost a friend that I didn't recognize as a friend until it was too late. Radley's little brother never even got to meet him and he wanted to desperately. I met him and knew him for two months, yet I didn't really know him. I squandered my chance and now he's lost to me just as he is to Emilio and to all of us." Kalin looked back sadly at the body. "And I am so sorry, Radley. I hope you're in a better place now, but I . . . I wish you could have known how loved you truly are. Maybe then . . ." He choked on an incoming sob. "Maybe then you wouldn't be laying here right now." He shook his head and stepped back. He couldn't speak anymore.
The Bunch came forward and Scotch hit the Play button on a boombox. As the opening strains of Rock and Roll Heaven filled the cemetery, all of the Bunch began to sing.
". . . It was one of Radley's favorite songs," Kalin explained quietly to Yusei. "I asked him why once. He told me that in addition to it just having a good beat, he liked the message of those we loved carrying on in thenext life. He believed in Heaven. I hope he went there, like the pastor said."
Yusei squeezed Kalin's shoulder. "I'm sure he did."
As the song finished, Scotch leaned down and hugged Radley close. "Goodbye, Radley," he whispered. "I love you. . . . We all do. . . ." He sobbed and straightened, turning away as he completely broke down.
The weak groan made him turn back with a start. Radley pulled himself upright in the coffin, rubbing his head with one hand while still holding the flowers with the other.
Several people screamed. His grandmother crossed herself and fainted.
Kalin was frozen, staring and disbelieving. His mind was blank; he couldn't think what to say or do. This couldn't be real! Dead bodies did not suddenly come back to life, no matter how much one wanted it!
Radley looked up at him, giving a lopsided grin. "Hi. . . ." He looked to everyone else next, but before he could say anything else, Scotch was glomping him in utter joy and all the rest of the Bunch was joining in too.
"Radley!" Scotch exclaimed. He kissed the top of Radley's head and just hugged him close. "You're back! You're really back!"
Radley laughed, joyously hugging Scotch and the others. "Yeah," he said. "When I realized I really am still cared about, I wanted to come back, and they let me. I'm home for good!"
The Bunch all chorused in joy. Pastor Green looked up at the sky. "The Lord be praised," he declared.
Kalin let out a stunned breath. It was real . . . apparently it was real. He wasn't hallucinating.
Next to him, Yusei smiled and laid a hand on his shoulder. "You have the chance you were longing for," he said. "Are you going to go to him?"
"I should let everyone else go first," Kalin said. "They're all more deserving than I am."
"Even his family, after all they did to him?" Yusei asked.
"They regret it now," Kalin said.
"Just like you do too," Yusei said.
Kalin couldn't deny that. But he still held back.
Emilio ran over, staring up at Radley in awe. "You're my brother," he said softly. "I really get to meet you after all! I'm so glad!"
Radley looked to him, his eyes soft. "Hi there," he said. "I've wanted to meet you too."
His mother ran over and fell to her knees. "Radley! Oh Radley, my son!" She reached out for him with shaking hands. "You're alive! You're truly alive again, just like Lazarus!"
Radley stared at her. Finally, slowly, he reached out too, taking her hands in his. "Hi, Mom," he said softly.
"Oh Radley. . . ." She gazed up at him. "I am so sorry for everything we did to you. . . ." She reached out, gently brushing his hair away from his face. "How could I have ever let myself believe that the length of your hair and a few pieces of jewelry changed the person you are?! You're such a good boy. Everyone told of how good you are."
"Mom . . ." Radley reached up, laying a hand over hers. "You and the rest of the family hurt me really badly. But . . . if you're sorry and you want me back, I want that too. This is my home and I'll be staying here, but I'd love to see you and Emilio and everyone else."
"Of course," she said, her voice still choked with emotion. "Dear Radley. . . ." She hugged him close.
Eventually almost everyone had reunited with Radley, even the rest of his biological family. His grandmother, albeit still gruff, believed it was a sign from God that they needed to treat Radley better. The rest were more than happy to comply.
Radley looked overwhelmed and amazed and in disbelief at all the outpouring of love. Realizing he was still sitting in the casket, he awkwardly climbed out and looked to the one person who had hung back. "Hey . . . Kalin . . ." He stepped closer. "I heard everything you said. I understand now. I wish I'd realized how you were hurting. But I know now, and I forgive you. I hope you can forgive me too."
Kalin looked at him in shock. "You don't need to be forgiven," he said. "And I don't know how you can forgive me."
Radley held out his hand. "Can we start over?" he offered. "I'd still like to be friends."
Kalin hesitated, but then reached and grasped his hand. "I . . . I'd like that," he rasped. "I want a chance to make things right."
Radley pulled him into a hug. "Thank you," he said softly.
Kalin went stiff with the unexpected gesture. "For what?"
"Your reaction to my death last night was the first I saw," Radley said. "It was because of you that I started to realize I really am still loved. I thought you were just feeling guilty at first, but then I saw that you'd started to realize you really cared about me. And I started to fight to come back."
Kalin slowly curled his arms around his new friend. He wasn't used to showing such affection, but right now he wanted to return the gesture. He was stunned to hear that he had made such a difference. ". . . You've been trying to come back since last night?!" he exclaimed.
"Yeah," Radley said. "I'm not sure why I couldn't make it until now. But . . ." He smiled. "I really loved everything everybody said . . . and sang."
Kalin held him closer. "That really is like Lazarus, kind of," he said in amazement.
"Hey, I heard you came back from the dead too," Radley remarked.
"Mine was a magical death, though," Kalin said. "Those can often be fixed when the evil is defeated. But a non-magical death is rarely ever repaired."
"I was told it wasn't my time, that I still have a lot to do and some special people to bond with." He smiled at Kalin. "I think . . . maybe now that you're feeling so different about me, that one of them is you."
Kalin shook his head. "I am so sorry, Radley. . . . I treated you so poorly. How can you want anything to do with me?!"
"It helps knowing that you weren't right in your head and heart," Radley said. "And seeing how you've acted since finding me dead. You've really changed, Kalin. I don't hold grudges. I just wanna move on, to put the past behind us and focus on the future."
Kalin still looked unsure of himself. "I don't know if I can do that so easily after what I did. But . . . yes, I want to try. With all my heart, I want to try."
Radley smiled and hugged him close. "It's settled then. Friends."
"Friends," Kalin repeated. He tightened his grip around the other man.
It felt so good, feeling him alive and moving. Kalin would never take that for granted again.