Epilogue

He slept for a couple of days straight. His leg was stitched and his body bandaged by the only doctor the Valentines trusted; the old doctor from Medeel and his apprentices.

When he woke up, he jumped out of bed right away.

He just couldn't stay in.

It has been almost a month now since the end of all the mess. The Valentines and the Highwinds resumed close contact and the Highwinds often flew over. Those were always fun times, even for Sether.

He felt healthier than he had felt in ages, and more happy than he could remember himself being since Ryuto died. His health returned to him quickly, and his leg hardly hurt anymore. He bore several scars, though. The one on his stomach, he knew, he would bear to the end of his days, but he didn't mind. It was a reminder of what he had done, what he had been through, and who he had become as a result.

He greeted sensai Yuffie and told her that he was interested in taking up the Masamune again. He wanted to learn how to control it, this time.

Sether did not see or hear from Sephiroth since that time with Aeris. He wondered if his spirit went into the lifestream or not. He vaguely missed his brother, and it was kind of funny to tell anyone about it; you didn't usually miss someone that died nine months before you were born.

He didn't tell anyone of his experiences within the Planet, either. It didn't seem right, somehow, to tell.

Katai returned with her parents to Rocket City. A lot of people were worried about them there, and she missed home. What was left of it, at least. Their constant visits kept Sether from missing her, as much as he hated to admit to himself that her absence was hard on him.

Both the Valentines and the Highwinds were surprised at the changes in their children.

Katai was better behaved, kinder, and definitely gentler. She still had her own spark, of course, but…

Sether was gentler too, both physically and mentally. He tried very hard to forsake his days of self torment, and his eyes returned to something was not quite Seth-kun, but a lot happier than the old Sether's. He still had to control his emotions all the time, of course, but…

Katai had told her parent's and Sether's all that had happened in their travels. She told them this right after that big fight, between terrible hiccups and sobs. Half from the trauma of all that she had been through, half from relief that it was over.

Sether was practicing in the backyard; he had crafted an especially long training sword, a Boken, that could give him the general feel of the Masamune. He enjoyed wielding the weapon again, but wasn't confident enough yet to use the real thing around people.

It was a pleasant day; a chilly wind blew from the northern continent and contrasted the warming sun, slowly making it's way up through the lower parts of the east.

He counted his blessings with each swing of his sword. His thoughts often returned to the events, since they were still pretty fresh in his mind.

Jenova was gone forever; you can't go wrong with that.

The Sephiroth Clan, apparently, was held together by Luchian, and after his demise, the Clan simply dissolved.

Since it's people were mostly made out of fanatic people who enjoyed killing, they created something they called The YMCA, the 'Youngsters Monster Cleaving Association'. A group of young men and women that can be hired by various parties when they have a problem with local wildlife. Lots of violence, and they get paid for it, too.

Everything fell back into place, and Sether's life could return to its peaceful course.

Not quite.

There was still this little problem that nagged the lower part of his heart, and the better part of his brain. No matter what he though about, it never failed to bring him back to the same problem. His concentration was broken, and he lowered the Boken to the ground, leaning on it thoughtfully. The wind flapped his Gi and Hakama softly.

In some ways, this problem was bigger than all the previous put together, since it involved something that Sether knew nothing about. It didn't involve fighting and it didn't involve pure intellect either.

It was just a matter of people, and Sether never got along too well with people.

Especially if he had to talk to them about himself. He always got lost there. Only a handful of people saw him as anything else than a… a 'third rate Sephiroth clone'…

He didn't even really understand what the problem was, but it bothered him, so he considered it a problem.

He could sum it up in one word:

Katai.

He returned to life for her.

Because he loved her.

And she was going to come over sometime today, as the Highwinds always did on Sundays.

He wanted to be with her. He really did. But every time she came over, the words would just stumble in his throat and he would promise himself to say it next time they came. Every time, though, something happened, and he never got around to it in a whole month. Also, when the two of them did get a moment alone, they would always end up fighting. It's not that Sether didn't enjoy the squabbles, on a certain level; it was nice arguing with someone that wasn't stupid or just plain out to hit him. That doesn't mean that he didn't get really annoyed in those arguments, or that she didn't really mean to annoy him. At first, when Katai would get tired of the argument, she would just resort to pulling his bangs and making him crash into the nearest furniture. However, it stopped when she did it and the stitches on his shoulder opened. He remembered that she felt really bad. Especially when he said to his father that he made a sudden move, and did not blame Katai for the pain.

Sether sighed. He didn't know what to do, and he didn't dare to tell his parents about his dilemma, since they would try to marry them off. Sether wasn't ready to marry her… Not yet, anyway. And he sure as Meteor wasn't going to tell her parents, he didn't come back to life just so that Cid could beat him dead again.

Sephiroth sighed with relief and happiness,

"I knew it would end good!" He chirped happily, not fooling anyone.

Aeris just smiled at him.

He looked around,

"So, what do you think I should do now? Maybe I could go get Sether's stick back from that babe with verbal problems… The umbrella is useless…" He scratched his chin thoughtfully.

Aeris raised one slim shoulder and twidled one of her bangs thoughtfully, suddenly looking not-as-innocent,

"You could stay here… I'm terribly lonely…" Her voice was low and purring.

Sephiroth blinked at her several times before realizing that from all the dimensional sorceresses he met, the most beautiful one was standing right in his own world.

"Heloooo, Planet!" He suddenly smiled, and Aeris laughed, "If this is the afterlife, call me dead!"

Aeris laughed some more. It was decided that he would stay with her. Now neither will ever be lonely.

"Oh," Sephiroth scratched the back of his head, "Sorry about the stabbing-you-to-death-in-the-back-in-order-to-take-over-the-world-thing…"

She laughed again.

A familiar rumble made Sether look up, snapping from the strange relaxation that overcame him moments before, and he saw the Highwind pass overhead, Katai leaning over the railway and waving at him. He waved back. A mighty gust of wind followed the low-flying airship, blowing leaves into the air and fluttering Sether's ponytail.

They passed and went to find a good landing space on the edge of town. Sether returned himself and the Boken into the house and announced the imminent arrival of the Highwinds to his parents.

They came in with the usual fuss and noise that they usually came in with. The usually quiet Valentine couple greeted them with joy and hugs as if they didn't meet in years, when it was actually just a week. Their bond was fast and strong.

Katai looked around. She didn't see Sether. Shrugging, she excused herself and went to the bathroom.

Upon opening it, she yelped.

Sether yelped too. Luckily for him, he didn't get undressed yet. He was just beginning to undo his ponytail.

Katai stared at him. She never saw him in traditional Wutian clothing yet.

"Do you mind?!" He blushed.

"It's not my fault!" Katai snapped at him, yet did not move from the door in or out, "I can't believe you still don't lock the $%^@ door!"

"It's my home, I don't need to lock anything!"

"Well, when visitors come, you do have to, baka!"

"You're not visitors," Sether said in a calmer voice and a smile, "You're family."

She smiled at him.

There was a pause.

"Now get out!" Sether snapped at her with annoyance.

"What are you… wearing? You look kainda funny in a skirt and a jacket!"

Sether frowned, "It's not a skirt, you dolt, it's a Hakama."

"Eh?"

"And this is not a jacket, it's a Gi."

"Eh?"

Sether closed his eyes tiredly,

"Traditional Wutian training and fighting clothes." He explained slowly. He then opened his eyes and looked at Katai, who was still standing in the doorway, "I just finished training and didn't want to greet the guests all sweaty. Nobody likes a stinky warrior, remember?"

"Aww…" Katai came in and looked him over, "But you look so cute! Just like a little girl…!"

He glared at her. More correctly, he glared down at her, making it clear that he was much bigger than she was.

"I'm not coming out like this." He pointed at himself, "It's bad manners."

"But we're not guests! We're family!" She laughed at his slight annoyance, and looked him over once again.

His crimson Gi was slightly open, exposing his fine collarbones. The Gi was tucked rather neatly in the black Hakama. He wore his hair in a high, tight ponytail.

He looked terribly Wutain, Katai thought.

"You looked terribly Wutian, I think." She said.

Sether smiled his lopsided grin at her,

"Maybe it's because I am 'terribly' from Wutai."

"Weeell… It might have something to do with it, now that you mention it."

They smiled at each other before he grew serious again.

"Now get out already! I want to take a bloody shower!"

He started to shove her out gently but firmly. She protested and tried to say that he looked pretty good in these clothes. He ignored her and continued to get her out the door.

Just as he was about to close the door and lock it, this time, Katai's hand grabbed the hem of his Gi sleeve.

"Teach me."

"Huh?" He opened the door back a little, looking perplexed. Katai gave him a stern look.

"I want you to teach me some moves." He blinked at her, and she blushed only slightly before continuing, "I wanna learn how to protect myself and since you're already all stinky…"

Sether's face gave her an annoyed look for that last remark, but his heart was pretty confused. He didn't expect such a request.

At his hesitance, Katai tugged at his sleeve,

"I still owe you a good whopping, you know?"

He smiled and consented, never to be one to back off from a challenge… If you could really call it that.

This time though, Katai had a few tricks up her sleeves. She wasn't the one to forgive and forget…

Sether wouldn't start teaching her anything before he went back into the house and kindly asked Cid permission to try and hit his daughter. He changed the words around a bit to make it sound safer. He got an affirmative answer.

"You know that… It's physical, right?" Sether cautiously asked Katai as they both stood apposed in the back yard. She rolled her eyes.

"You might get hurt, though I'll try that you wouldn't."

She scoffed,

"I can take on anything. Even you, fatso."

Sether choked,

"Fatso?!"

Katai fluffed her hair in a stuck up manor,

"Yup."

Sether crossed his hands over his chest, tilting his head slightly to give her a reproachful look. She laughed and he shook his head with slight annoyance.

He started by teaching her the very basics. How to stretch correctly and how to stand.

She listened attentively, and he enjoyed teaching. He also enjoyed the time with her, but he didn't say it.

She thought he was a very good instructor. Maybe he should work as one…?

"Hey, Seth?" She interrupted him. He gave her a quizzical look and she gave him a radiant smile that made him nervous, "You're a really good instructor!"

He smiled meekly at her,

"Teaching others how to protect themselves is one of my dreams." He said with pride.

"Really?"

"Yes." He nodded his head, "If I'll be a master of swords and martial arts, people would come and want to learn from me. They wouldn't care what I look like, they wouldn't notice I look like Sephiroth if I have something that makes me different from him."

Katai nodded her head, clearly impressed.

It was strange, training together. Sure, she used to ask him a lot of questions all the time about himself, but this was different.

It was the first time for Sether that someone that didn't learn at the Kisaragi School with him took active interest in what he did. She seemed really eager to learn, and Sether was happy with it. He enjoyed explaining things that didn't have to do with himself; not to talk about how he looked or what it was like to be Sephiroth's brother. He could just talk about what he thought he did best; fight. He could help other people and they didn't care what he looked like, when he talked.

"Aw, c'mon already!" She scoffed and fluffed her hair when he began to explain about the importance of concentration.

"I can beat you without even braking a sweat!" She laughed evilly.

"You keep claiming that." He sighed, "Prove it."

She blinked at him several times, and it was his turn to smile evilly,

"Or are you all talk?" Her eyes flared with anger, her nose wrinkling with agitation. He took a few steps back and turned to face her. She was smiling with confidence, even though her eyes were tinged with anger and mischief.

"You get one swing at me, and may not aim…." His face flushed slightly, "…at sensitive places. I plan to have offspring, thank you very much." He cleared his throat with embarrassment.

"If I win," She smiled, "I get to yank your bangs, okay?"

He chuckled, "If I win, I get to go to the bloody shower." It wouldn't do to let her know how much he was enjoying himself.

He prepared his stance, "Right."

She fluffed her hair one last time and gave another scoff before walking calmly towards her opponent.

"I love you." She said, and punched him lightly in the jaw. Needless to say that Sether did not even think about blocking after her verbal attack.

His head was jerked slightly to one side, his eyes open as wide as they could go.

He seemed totally out.

There was a long moment of silence.

Katai placed her fists on her hips, face cherry-red,

"Well?" Her voice trembled ever so slightly as she pretended to be agitated, "Don't you have anything to say??" Her voice was strained.

Without a word, Sether wrapped his hands around her and brought her very close to him. She suddenly felt so tiny, between his chest and his large arms.

She lied, though: He wasn't stinky.

"…Ore mo aishteru." He whispered almost inaudibly, voice filled with emotion. She understood what he had said, and wrapped her hands around his chest with a sigh of relief.

I love you too.

After a very long time of being held such, hearing his heartbeats race and feeling his warmth, Katai mumbled,

"I think a passionate kiss would have been a more suitable answer, under the circumstances of the situation." The mischief in her little voice was unavoidable.

He lightly grabbed her chin in his large palm and tilted her head up, towards him.

The kiss that he gave her didn't lack passion, but it was infinitely gentle, and shy, and contained emotions far beyond mere passion. Katai couldn't help but melt happily with that kiss.

When they broke, she said with a big smile,

"Baka, this is how it's done." She grabbed his bangs and quite violently pulled his face toward hers. The kiss was so powerful that Sether actually tripped backwards in surprise, Katai still in his arms.

Saying that they lived happily ever after would be a lie.

Though the following facts could be said:

Katai kept calling Sether 'baka'.

Sether kept getting annoyed by Katai.

Their parents weren't all that surprised.

Cid didn't beat Sether when he found out.

And yes, Katai Valentine did sound nice.

Owari The end, but not really.

In some ways, this is just the beginning.

__________________________________

It's been one 'Meteor' of a trip, hasn't it? I don't remember clearly, but I think it must be at least a year and a half of work. It's finally finished. What a strange feeling! Don't worry, though, Sether and Katai will be back, if you like it or not... ^_^; I hope to start working on several short stories about their life both before and after the game. Oh, the earlier chapters will probably be re-posted sometime in the future, since I've noticed some silly spelling and stucture problems.
I don't think I even need to say that I'd love to know what you think of the end. It's been a massive project, and I think I've leanred a lot from him. I hope you enjoyed your meeting with the young man called Sether C. Valentine and the young Katai Highwind. I sure enjoyed writing those two, and I wanted to give a huge thanks and a mighty hug to everyone that helped me to get to where I am ^_^ : From Teka Valentine, that helped me in earlier chapters with my silly booboos, through D-chan and her always useful comments regarding sentance structure and plot building (Not to mention just listening to me babble endlessly about the million ideas for the Epilogue that I had...)... Umm... I'll have to thank Lunar Light, too, for inspiring me with her great writings... And all the people who wrote me to continue- Hontoni arigatou!!! Really thanks!!! I'm terribly sorry if I'm forgetting someone! I'm just so excited that I just wrote the ending, I'm not thinking clearly...
Also, I'd like to wish Crystalis Blade and her mother the best. I wish I could somehow do more...

P.S.
With all the default settings in Word, the story takes up 160 pages (!). Impressive, ne? The longest story I've ever written in my life- And all the credit goes to you, dear readers, since without you I could have never finished it in a bazzilion years... ^_^
Thank you.
LunarBlade.