(A/N: This is the epilogue. Enjoy it, for it is the last thing I'm posting for this story. ^_^ And maybe, leave me a review on the way out?)
Dawn of Terror
Epilogue
The evening was hot and dry, as an August evening should be. Bugs droned lazily by, some of the stupider ones drowning themselves willingly in the torch fires that blazed at various places around the garden. The courtyard of the Hiwatari household was buzzing with activity and all over, the party guests were dressed in their finest. A live band played in one corner of the yard and colourfl laterns had been strung all across the courtyard. There was a huge buffet table, filled with the finest delicacies. The stars shimmered over head and the blooms and leaves danced in the late summer breeze. The guests, who were in abundance, were celebrating Hiwatari Rei's fifteenth birthday.
But the birthday boy was no where to be found. Instead, he and Kai had retreated from the party to the back yard. Rei sat on the rickety old swing hanging from the gnarled old oak. Kai was leaning against the tree, gazing at the stars. "Sure are pretty, aren't they?" Rei asked quietly, glancing up.
Kai smiled. "Not as pretty as somethings."
Rei blushed. They were silent for a moment, then Rei said, "You never did say what happened to Lupinex and those under Boris."
Kai frowned, still looking at the stars. "Boris was dead, so they gave up. Turns out they were afraid of him too. Lupinex said something about a bakery or something."
Rei laughed lightly. "Do you think he meant he and the others were going to open a bake shop?"
Kai shrugged. "Beats me."
They were silent again. Rei looked at the ground beneath his feet. "And what happened to Enrique?"
"He's dead," Kai said, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "Robert's Emperor now."
Rei nodded. "Robert will be a good Emperor."
"Time will tell that, Rei."
They looked at each other and smiled. "Max and Tyson are getting close - "
"A little too close."
Rei smiled knowingly. "Tyson says he wants to marry Max."
Kai laughed a little bit, then looked earnestly at Rei. "I'd marry you, if it weren't illegal."
"Too bad," Rei said jokingly. "I'd like to be your wife."
They were silent again, thinking of all the people they'd met on their journeys. Gary and Kevin were still living happily in the household, as was Grandpa and Tyson. Grandpa had recieved word from his son two days ago that Dickenson, the man who'd refused to give Kai a ride out to the old mansion, had passed on.
Eddy and the rest of the soldiers in the platoon had become sailors and were a loyal crew to their Captain, Miss Frankie. They shipped grain products all over the world. Robert, who was now Emperor, had even said they were the "royal" shipping crew and they were supported by the government.
Kai's cousin Ian had gotten married and Kai's aunt had passed on, leaving the estate to Ian.
Judy and Max had sold their home and come to live permenantly at the Hiwatari estate, much to Tyson's delight.
Kai had hired a new maid to take the stead of Mariah. Emily was learning quickly, but she would never be able to match Mariah.
And sadly, they couldn't forget those who now laid in their graves - Johnny, Oliver, Taiyou, Junsui, Mariah, Li, Tala, Boris, Brian, Enrique and Micheal. Both Rei and Kai doubted they'd ever forget any of them, even though some had caused them pain, and others joy.
Kai had moved behind Rei and was now pushing the swing back and forth lightly. From the front yard, the music could be heard, drifting up to the stars, who danced their own elegant dance in the velvet sky.
~*~*~*~*
Judy peered 'round the corner of the house, then guestured to Max, who scuttled to her side. She pointed toward the old oak tree in the back yard and smiled. "Isn't that sweet?"
Max smiled. Rei was sitting on the swing and Kai was pushing him. The blond boy turned to his mother. "They look really happy."
Judy put a finger to her lips. "Shhh. Let's leave them alone."
They walked quickly back to the garden party, leaving the two lovebirds to themselves.
*~OWARII~*
Dawn of Terror
Epilogue
The evening was hot and dry, as an August evening should be. Bugs droned lazily by, some of the stupider ones drowning themselves willingly in the torch fires that blazed at various places around the garden. The courtyard of the Hiwatari household was buzzing with activity and all over, the party guests were dressed in their finest. A live band played in one corner of the yard and colourfl laterns had been strung all across the courtyard. There was a huge buffet table, filled with the finest delicacies. The stars shimmered over head and the blooms and leaves danced in the late summer breeze. The guests, who were in abundance, were celebrating Hiwatari Rei's fifteenth birthday.
But the birthday boy was no where to be found. Instead, he and Kai had retreated from the party to the back yard. Rei sat on the rickety old swing hanging from the gnarled old oak. Kai was leaning against the tree, gazing at the stars. "Sure are pretty, aren't they?" Rei asked quietly, glancing up.
Kai smiled. "Not as pretty as somethings."
Rei blushed. They were silent for a moment, then Rei said, "You never did say what happened to Lupinex and those under Boris."
Kai frowned, still looking at the stars. "Boris was dead, so they gave up. Turns out they were afraid of him too. Lupinex said something about a bakery or something."
Rei laughed lightly. "Do you think he meant he and the others were going to open a bake shop?"
Kai shrugged. "Beats me."
They were silent again. Rei looked at the ground beneath his feet. "And what happened to Enrique?"
"He's dead," Kai said, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "Robert's Emperor now."
Rei nodded. "Robert will be a good Emperor."
"Time will tell that, Rei."
They looked at each other and smiled. "Max and Tyson are getting close - "
"A little too close."
Rei smiled knowingly. "Tyson says he wants to marry Max."
Kai laughed a little bit, then looked earnestly at Rei. "I'd marry you, if it weren't illegal."
"Too bad," Rei said jokingly. "I'd like to be your wife."
They were silent again, thinking of all the people they'd met on their journeys. Gary and Kevin were still living happily in the household, as was Grandpa and Tyson. Grandpa had recieved word from his son two days ago that Dickenson, the man who'd refused to give Kai a ride out to the old mansion, had passed on.
Eddy and the rest of the soldiers in the platoon had become sailors and were a loyal crew to their Captain, Miss Frankie. They shipped grain products all over the world. Robert, who was now Emperor, had even said they were the "royal" shipping crew and they were supported by the government.
Kai's cousin Ian had gotten married and Kai's aunt had passed on, leaving the estate to Ian.
Judy and Max had sold their home and come to live permenantly at the Hiwatari estate, much to Tyson's delight.
Kai had hired a new maid to take the stead of Mariah. Emily was learning quickly, but she would never be able to match Mariah.
And sadly, they couldn't forget those who now laid in their graves - Johnny, Oliver, Taiyou, Junsui, Mariah, Li, Tala, Boris, Brian, Enrique and Micheal. Both Rei and Kai doubted they'd ever forget any of them, even though some had caused them pain, and others joy.
Kai had moved behind Rei and was now pushing the swing back and forth lightly. From the front yard, the music could be heard, drifting up to the stars, who danced their own elegant dance in the velvet sky.
~*~*~*~*
Judy peered 'round the corner of the house, then guestured to Max, who scuttled to her side. She pointed toward the old oak tree in the back yard and smiled. "Isn't that sweet?"
Max smiled. Rei was sitting on the swing and Kai was pushing him. The blond boy turned to his mother. "They look really happy."
Judy put a finger to her lips. "Shhh. Let's leave them alone."
They walked quickly back to the garden party, leaving the two lovebirds to themselves.
*~OWARII~*