Hmm…epilogues and prologues…I was always taught to have one you have to have the other, but it's not like I really care. Curse you, English teachers! Grr…they have influenced me for far too long. I found out I have to write another research paper later in the year. Luckily that won't cut into this, since it will be done by then. All that aside, onto the beginning of the end!

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            Taki's POV

Two and a half years…that's how long it's been.

We never saw them again after we came back from Konan. We've been away from them for so long. I watched the snow fall from my seat in the living room and sighed. It's Christmas Eve…the third winter since we've been back.

It's really hard to live without them, but we're managing…barely…

Jason and Lily go back to the States every so often to visit, but never for that long. Jason has been doing a lot of movie stunt work now. He's really suited to the job and he does excellent work. He's really famous for his work around town now.

 Lily stopped competing, much to Taka's dismay. He never did get a rematch from her and he never will. Now she's going back to school to get a teaching degree. I never thought she'd try and be a teacher, but she's been doing the teacher's assistant thing and she's really good at it.

Me? I still model, but not like I used to. I don't do it for the same reasons and I don't take it as seriously anymore. My mom is still with John and I see them every so often. John makes her really happy, and I hate to admit it, but it makes me jealous. Mom asks about Hotohori sometimes and I have to make up another excuse that sounds convincing for why he's never around. Some day I guess I'll have to tell her she'll never see him again.

And Kei…I feel bad for her. She never talked to her mother again after that night. I've asked her about giving her mother a chance, but she won't. I can't blame her, not after everything that happened. Now that she has a future, she studies law. She's gonna be a lawyer and be very good at it I imagine. She misses Tasuki so much. I see it in her eyes, hear it in her voice, she's so depressed.

Not that the rest of us are any happier…

I got up from the couch and went upstairs. I went into my room and pulled an evening gown from my closet. I don't want to stay in the house, so I'm going to a party. I convinced Lily to come with me, not really sure how.

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Narrator's POV

Kei and Jason watched Taki and Lily get ready for the party. Lily and Taki wanted them to come, but they didn't want to go anywhere where there were happy people.

Lily put on some earrings and stood at the front door. "Taki, remind me again why I agreed to come with you?"

"Because you love me and you didn't want to stay at home with the bags of sorrow that happen to be Jason and Kei." Taki put on her coat.

"Right…it think it's the 2nd one more than the 1st…" Lily got her coat on.

"Oh well, you still agreed to."

"Yeah, yeah…let's go…" The two left the house and ran to the car in the snow.

Down the street, a fire red car turned onto the street they lived on.

Back inside the house, Jason walked out of his room and down the hall to Kei's room. She was sitting on her bed with all her law books. She buried herself in them trying to ignore her pain.

"You can't do it forever…" He sat down on her chair.

"I can damn well try…" She stared at him for a brief moment before going back to her books.

"You'll eventually have to give up…" He played with a chain around his neck.

"I know…I try, but I'll fail. I can't hid forever, but I want to for now…"

"I can't blame you I guess…" He sighed and rubbed his fingers on a ring on the chain.

"You know, you're gonna wreck that if you keep that up…"

"Right…" He stared at the ring. He had found in his pocket after they had gotten home. Upon closer inspection, he recognized it as one of Nuriko's. He had put it in Jason's pocket sometime before they left. The ring was too small for Jason, so he wore it on a chain instead.

"Forget I said anything…" Kei shook her head when she saw how upset he looked. She sighed.

Jason moved from the chair to her bed. "You feel like crying?"

She just nodded and began to cry. Jason pulled her close. Over the years, he stopped teasing her and he had truly become like a brother or a father to her. She wept to her heart's content while he cradled her. Since they had come back, she only cried around him. Their closeness surprised the both of them, but neither one questioned it. Kei just liked having someone around to cry to. After she cried for a while, she pulled away from him. "Thanks."

"Sure…ya know…I can't stay in here. I'm gonna go nuts. I'm gonna go take a walk. I'll be back later." He got up and left the room.

"O…okay…don't go too long. It's really cold."

"I'll be okay."

Jason got his long coat on and walked out side. It wasn't too dark yet, but it would get dark soon enough. The snow all around silenced everything. There weren't too many cars out and the ones that were didn't make a sound as they went down the street.

Once he disappeared down a side street, the fire red car stopped in front of the house.

Taki leaned over a rail on the inside balcony at the party house. She was bored and Lily had disappeared somewhere. She was beginning to wonder why she came. There was nothing interesting happening. More than anything though, she was lonely. She watched couples dance together and have fun, it depressed her. She should have known better than to come to a Christmas party like this. She felt like crying as the lights dimmed and a slow song began echoing through the room. She leaned over the rail. Her phoenix necklace hovered in the air almost as if it was floating.

She gasped when she faintly heard the clasp pop and saw the necklace fall to the 1st floor. "No!" She hissed and ran for the stairs. She swore to herself because of distance to the stairs and her shoes. 'Why, why, why did I have to where these shoes?!?!' She ran down the stairs and some how got her shoes off in the process.

She saw the spot where her necklace lay. A boy not more than 10 bent down and picked it up. He looked interested in it. She swore to herself again as she weaved in and out of the people who stood in her way. "Excuse me! Sorry! I'm in a hurry, sorry!" When she finally got back, the boy was gone. "No!! No! No! No! No!" She looked around for him. 'Damn it! I gotta find that kid! I'll never forgive myself if I don't…'

She began to run around looking for the small boy. She finally found him. He was with a few other kids who looked bored. "You!" She grabbed his arm.

"What?!?! I didn't do it!!! Let me go!" He tried to get away from Taki.

"Not until you tell me what you did with it!"

"With what?"

"My necklace! You picked it up from the floor. What did you do with it?" She held him tighter to emphasize her need for it.

"That bird thing? I gave it to this guy who asked me to get it for him. He gave me 3000 yen for it."

"What? You sold it to someone?" Taki hissed. 'Now I'll never get it back…'

"Yeah…I guess he saw it fall or somethin'. I think he's still around here somewhere."

"You better show him to me. I need that necklace!"

"Will you let me go then?" He was still trying to get out of her grip.

"Yes." Taki moved her grip to the back of his shirt. "Now."

The slightly frightened boy lead Taki around for awhile.  They boy finally found the man standing near a window. "That's him. Can I go now?"

She let him go. "Yeah…" He ran off while Taki approached the man. "Excuse me, I believe you have my necklace."

"Really? What makes you think that?" The man was tall and had very long hair. His voice was deep.

"I found a boy who said he picked it up and gave it to you for 3000 yen. Do you have it or not? If you don't I'll go, but I need it back."

"Need it?"

"Look, I don't think you'd understand…"

"Why not?" He still hadn't faced her.

"It's…it's the only thing I have from someone…"

"A lover?"

"More…" She felt a bit strange. This was a man who she didn't know, who had her necklace, yet she felt strangely comfortable talking to him.

"I see…how'd you lose it then? If it's means so much to you…"

"I…I don't know…I was just standing up on the balcony when I heard the clasp pop. I don't really know why it broke."

"I noticed it…not hard to fix though." She saw him holding it in his hand. It looked fixed.

"Please…can I have it back?" She felt like crying. "I need it…"

"I'm surprised you still wear it." The man turned around and handed it back to her.

She gasped and her knees felt weak. "H…H…Ho…Hotohori?" She stared at him.

"Taki…" He smiled.

"Oh God…" Her legs buckled and she fell into his arms. "Is it really you?" She touched his face with her other hand.

"Yes…it's me…" He pulled her close.

She wrapped her arms around him. "How? I don't understand…" She was starting to cry.

"I'm not really sure either. Nozomi found a loop hole in her own spell or something like that."

"Oh God…you're not leaving again, are you?"

"No…we're staying here."

She cried on his shoulder for a moment. "Wait…we?"

"Myself, Chichiri, Nuriko and Tasuki."

"You're all here?" She smiled.

"Yes…Chichiri is somewhere, looking for Lily. Nuriko and Tasuki will be where ever Jason and Kei are."

Taki closed her eyes for a moment. "So…after 2 and a half years, you're finally here…"

"That long? I had no idea…" He murmured apologetically.

"I don't think there was anyway you could have known…" She rested her head on his shoulder. "It doesn't matter now though. Everything is okay now."

He smiled and kissed the top of her head.

Back at the house, a figure had walked from the car to the door.

Lily sat at the bar on the ground floor. She sighed. She couldn't believe Taki had talked her into coming here. 'I'll kill her later…what made me do this?' She watched people talk and have fun. The bartender neared her.

"Can I get you somethin' Miss?"

"Huh?" She turned back. "Oh…umm…I'll have a dry martini I guess."

The bartender began making the drink. "You look down Miss. This is supposed to be a happy party."

"I know…I guess I don't belong here then. A friend of mine got me to come."

"I see. Something bothering you?"

"I…uh…lost some one close a few years ago. Guess I'm still not over it…"

The bartender handed her the drink. "Boyfriend?"

"Yeah…" She stared into the drink before taking a small sip. "I haven't seen him in a few years now…"

"Did he leave you?"

"We got separated because of stuff…I still love him."

The bartender noticed someone on the other side of the bar wave him over. "Hey, lemme take care of that guy and I'll be right back."

"Sure." Lily nodded and slowly drank the martini.

A few minutes later, he returned. "Hey, I don't mean to over step my boundaries, but are you Lily Kazama?"

"That's me. Why?" She finished the drink in one gulp.

"The young man I was just with asked. He asked me to give you this." The bartender handed her a folded piece of paper.

Lily took it and opened it. She looked it over. "How cute…"

"What is it?"

"He wants to dance…" She smiled slightly. "Too bad I have to turn him down. Gotta pen?"

He handed her one. "Why do you have to say no?"

"I don't want to do anything with anyone who isn't the one I lost." She wrote a polite refusal to the man. "Give this to him will you?"

"Sure ma'am." The bartender disappeared to the other side of the circular bar.

A bit later he came back. "Well Miss Lily, you have a persistent suitor." He handed her another folded piece of paper.

She sighed. "I'll just tell him 'no' again then…" She opened the paper. Something fell out. "What the…" She stared, wide-eyed, at the object. "No way…" She looked at the paper. 'It couldn't be…' The paper simply said 'Please no da?' She picked up the object for closer inspection. She felt her eyes tear. It was her necklace.

"Something wrong?" The bartender was startled at her sudden emotions.

"Oh God…" She wiped away the tears that threatened to fall. "Umm…where's the guy who gave you this?"

The bartender looked up. "He was on the…err…behind you." The man behind the counter nodded to a man standing behind Lily.

"Huh?" She stood up and turned around. She came face to face with a relatively tall, blue haired man. Her jaw fell open slightly. "Chi…Chichiri?"

He smiled. "Well, do you still say no, no da?" He took her hand. The chain of the necklace hung between them.

"Yes…er…no…I dunno…" She stuttered.

"I think I understand." Chichiri took the necklace from her limp hand and put it on her. "I believe you wanted this back."

She flung herself into his arms. "Whatever…I don't care…" She began to cry. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again…"

"Weren't you the one who said we had to be hopeful?" He took her to the dance floor.

"You remember?" She was still in awe of being with him again.

"Of course."

She rested her head on his shoulder as a slower song came on. "I guess I don't have to kill Taki after all…"

"Why would you in the 1st place?"

"I couldn't believe she got me to come here. Now it isn't so bad…"

Chichiri smiled and kissed her lightly. "Hotohori would be very mad at you if you had."

"You mean you're all here?"

"Yes. We all made it back."

"Good to know."

The bartender watched the happy couple from the bar. "How cute…" He murmured and went back to work.

The figure entered the house. Huan-Lang came trotting up to it, wagging his tail.

Jason walked through the park. He had no real direction, he just walked. People, couples to be precise, walked around in the well lit park. He realized it was a mistake to come where other people were on Christmas Eve. He walked up a small hill and leaned on a bare tree at the top.

He sighed deeply, watching the cloud from his breath dissipate. He was standing under the tree where he told Nuriko he loved her. 'Geez…it's been two and a half years already…' He pulled the ring from his jacket. 'Why do I keep going? Because it would be wrong to give up, I guess…' He stared off into the dark forest. 'The woods are lovely dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep…' He recited poetry in his head that reflected his look on like at the moment. His deep train of thought was cut short by a snowball that was whipped at his head. The frozen water stung his face. "Who the hell was that?!?!" He looked around. He saw a tiny figure pointing and laughing at him. "Hey you!" He took off running after the figure.

The figure took off running into the unlit part of the park.

"Get back here!!!" He hissed and continued his chase. He was answered with another snowball. "Damn you!"

There were many paths that went all around the park. Jason kept shouting at the figure to stop. It continued leading him far from everyone. He eventually figured he'd have to cut off his attacker. He turned down a different path that would head to the only place where the paths would cross.

The figure stopped, confused at an open area. Jason crept up behind the figure, thankful the snow silenced everything. He grabbed his attacker by the shoulders and spun him/her around. "Gotcha!…What the…?" He froze.

"I see I can't run from you, Jason…" A distinctly feminine, familiar voice came from the figure's face.

Jason dropped his hands. "Oh God…"

"Hi, sweetie…" The person touched his face. "Sorry about the snowballs."

Jason unconsciously covered the hand with his. "Nuriko…"

"Is that all you can say?"

"Oh God…Nuriko…" Jason broke down crying to his knees. Nuriko gasped and knelt in the snow next to him.

"Jason, what's wrong?" Nuriko cradled Jason.

"It's really you…" He sobbed. Normally Jason wouldn't do anything like this, but no one was around. "I missed you so much."

"It's okay, baby…" Nuriko smiled. "Are you gonna ask me?"

"Ask what?" Jason wiped away his freezing tears.

"Whether I'm a guy or girl? Aren't you curious?"

"Curious maybe, though I don't care. You know that." Jason touched Nuriko's face. "Since you brought it up though…"

"I know, I know…" Nuriko stood up and pulled Jason up. "But first, let's go somewhere warmer. It's too cold." Nuriko took Jason to a car in the parking lot. "Get in."

Jason obeyed and got in. Nuriko got in the driver's side and turned on the car so the heat was on. "So are you gonna tell me now?"

Nuriko slid off the coat. "Satisfied?"

Jason stared at Nuriko. "You chose to be a woman?"

"Well, I always wanted to be a woman, I found it was more fun…and…umm…" Nuriko blushed.

"What?" He shed his own coat and made Nuriko look at him. "Is something wrong?"

"No…it's just…I kinda always wanted to have a family someday…"

Jason grinned. "We can start now if you like…" He murmured and kissed her.

Nuriko blushed even more. "What? I…I said someday!"

Jason threw his head back and laughed. "Geez, you freak out easy!"

"Mou! Don't tease me!" Nuriko lightly slapped him.

"Sorry…" He murmured and pulled Nuriko into his arms, suddenly sober. "I didn't mean to…"

"It's okay, baby…" Nuriko played with the ends of Jason's hair. It was a little longer than it had been a few years ago. "I know…"

They remained silent in the car for a few minutes. Jason stared at Nuriko for a long time. "You won't leave again, will you?"

"No. Never again. Here to stay this time."

"Good." Jason tightened his grip on Nuriko. "Not like I'd let you leave again."

"Let me, eh?" Nuriko raised an eyebrow at her lover.

"Eh…er…you know what I meant…" Jason felt nervous.

"Yes, I did." Nuriko smiled. "Karma sucks, don't it?"

"Yeah, yeah…" Jason rolled his eyes, but he smiled. "God, it's good to see you again."

"I missed you too." Nuriko wrapped her arms around Jason and let him pull her into his arms for a deep, passionate kiss.

Back at the house, the figure stood over Kei. She was asleep on the couch with a wine glass in one hand and a bottle on a nearby table. She had apparently gotten drunk and passed out. Huan Lang whined and sat at Kei's feet while the figure took the glass from her hand.

The figure knelt next to her and brushed her messy hair from her face. "You know this isn't healthy, right?" It gently kissed Kei's forehead.

Her eyes fluttered open. "So what?" She muttered and turned on her side, away from the figure.

"What's wrong, Kei?" The figure forced her to look at it.

"What's wrong? What's wrong is that you're just another figment of my imagination!" She sat up and glared at the intruder in her home. "Why can't you just leave me alone?!?! You're not Tasuki!" She let out a choked sob. "You're just gonna go away again!"

Tasuki was taken aback. "But Kei…"

"No! Shut up and leave me alone! I'm tired of seeing you for a little while and then you leave me again!" She cried even more. "Why can't you leave me alone?!?!" She lashed out at Tasuki.

He caught her hand. "Kei…it's me…really…" He forced her to look into his eyes.

She refused to believe it. She was still drunk though. "No! It isn't you! The real Tasuki's gone and I'll never see him again! Why are you doing this to me?!?!" She tore her hand from his grasp.

"But it really is me…what can I do to prove it to you?" He was confused. What had happened to her in the past two years?

She was slowly starting to sober. She buried her head in her hands. "Why do you insist on torturing me? Every time I see you in my mind, you swear to me you won't go…then you leave…I can't take it anymore…" Tears streamed down her face. She stared at him with nothing but sorrow. "Just go. You will eventually. Just like the rest of them…"

Tasuki pulled her hands from her face. "No…I won't leave…I told you…I'll always be with you. This time I swear I won't leave you…"

She reached out with a timid hand to what she thought wasn't real. "Funny…they never told me that before…"

Tasuki carefully took her hand in his. "Said what to you?"

"That you'd always be with me…" The tears slowed, but hadn't stopped.

"That's because I'm real." He sat on the sofa next to her.

She touched his face cautiously. "Then be here when I wake up…" She put her head on his shoulder and fell asleep.

Tasuki cradled Kei's body to his. Huan Lang whined again. "Don't worry, boy. Everything is okay now. I'm not leaving…" Tasuki pat him on the head. Huan Lang rested his chin on Tasuki's arm and looked up at him with big eyes. Tasuki smiled at the large dog.

Kei's mind buzzed even as she slept. 'Could it really be him? Or is it too much to hope for?'  She still felt the warmth of someone next to her. 'He's not leaving, is he?'

"Kei…what are you doing sleeping when you're finally with Tasuki again?" A voice rang in her head.

"Nozomi…is that you?"

"Hello Kei."

"What's going on? Is it really you?"

"Yes, but for the absolutely last time."

"Is it really Tasuki?"

"Yes. The others are back as well."

"How?"

"Consider it my final apology to you for everything I've put you through."

"Oh…uh oh…"

"What?"

"If that's really Tasuki…then I just attacked him…"

"Better wake up then."

Kei woke up with a start. She was still in the living room on the couch where she had been before. She was in a much more comfortable position though. Tasuki had moved her so that she was lying in his lap. She stared up at him. "You are still here…"

"Of course. You still think I'm not real?" He let her sit up and face him.

"I don't know anymore…"

"I'm still here, aren't I?"

"Yeah…you are…" She touched his face again. "Sorry about before…"

"It's okay." He murmured and pulled her close. "There's nothing to be sorry for."

She hung on to him tightly. " Oh God…these last few years have been hell without you…"

He tightened his grip. "You don't have to worry anymore…"

"Yeah…" She smiled for what felt like the first time since she left Konan.  "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too." He whispered. "I'm never leaving you again…"

Kei pulled herself closer to Tasuki. "I know…" She felt her pendant pressed between the tow of them. "The Hell is finally over…you're finally here for good…"

Tasuki nodded. "You won't suffer again…I swear…"

Kei said nothing and just let Tasuki hold her. She was finally okay. Her life was back in an order she could handle. She didn't have to live in depression like she had been anymore. She could be happy again. Life was finally perfect for her. She didn't care if she never spoke to her mother again, it wasn't like she spoke to her before everything blew up in her face. Her family had always been her friends and she still had them, so it didn't matter to her.

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End Pt. 1