There are some things I have come to accept.
1) My fics will never ben wildly popular. But I have readers who faithfully read and enjoy my stories, and I am thankful for them. (Shout out to Madiha, the most faithful and supportive reader of all.)
2) I don't even know if anyone visits my website. But I had fun making it, and it will be there for anyone that wants to take a look.
3) For some odd reason, a lot of people still aren't into KenRan. I don't get that at all. Oh well. I'll just keep hoping that, one day, people see the light. (hehe) Maybe I'll even get some members and actual activity in my KenRan group. (That would be a miracle!) I won't get my hopes up, but I will plug my NEW STORY THAT I WROTE WITH MY FRIEND AVAILABLE ONLY IN THE GROUP! Here's the linkie:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kenxranfanfics/
But you probably wish I'd keep my stupid realizations to myself and just get on with the damn chapter. Okay. Here you go. The final chapter. First off, let me warn you that it does contain spoilers for the last episode of Gluhen. That said, I hope it leaves you with warm, fuzzy feelings, and a sense of closure for the characters as well. Happy reading. ^_^
Crap! I'm annoying! :-p
~ Koyasu
~~~~~~~~~~
"Chotto matte!" Asuka called, wiping off her hands on a towel. 'This better not be a solicitor', she thought, irritated. She hated having to run out of the bathroom to answer the door. And it was even worse when it was a total stranger trying to sell her something. She peered out the peephole. Letting out a slight gasp, she put her hand to her mouth. "Yoji..."
"I understand if you don't want to see me." Yoji looked down at his shoes. "I mean, I am the one that left you."
Asuka straightened herself up. "Don't be silly!" she laughed, opening the door. "You are welcome any time." She opened the door, greeting her ex-husband with a hug.
Yoji took a step back, surprised. Asuka simply laughed at his reaction. "Well, are you going to come in or not?"
"H-hai." Confused by Asuka's friendliness, he stepped inside. Looking around, he saw that not much had changed. The furniture was where it had always been, random trinkets lay about the apartment that Asuka didn't want or need, but held onto just the same. Only one thing had changed. Yoji's eyes caught sight of a picture in a frame on an end table. "You've met someone, I see", he whispered, relieved.
"I have", Asuka nodded with a big smile and a girlish giggle. "His name is Fariz. He's a new doctor at the hospital. Born and raised in Iran, but he studied medicine in Japan. We're getting married in December, and will probably think about kids in a few years."
"That's great news!" Yoji clapped his hands together once and smiled. "Your children will be beautiful, I'm sure. Mixed babies usually are."
"You're mixed yourself, aren't you?" Asuka nudged him playfully in the ribs.
"I am. My mother was white and...Hey! I didn't mean I-"
"I know", Asuka stuck her tongue out, then motioned to the couch. "Please. Have a seat. And stop acting so nervous. I told you we could still be friends. I didn't just say that to be polite, you know." She took a seat on the couch next to Yoji, taking his hand firmly, yet gently. "What can I do for you?"
Yoji reached into his pocket with his free hand, pulling out an old photograph. He handed it to Asuka. "That's me with my three best friends", he explained with a bittersweet smile. "We've known eachother for years, but got separated on a couple occassions."
"The last one being when you lost your memory", Asuka guessed.
Yoji nodded, continuing. That redhead is Ran. He acted like a woman with PMS most of the time, but he has a kind heart. The brunette standing next to him is Ken. Ken is Ran's husband. Kind of hot-headed. He used to start a lot of fights, but he was generally good-natured and fun. Most importantly, he loves Ran, and has helped him deal with a lot of his inner demons. And that cute little guy that I have my arm around is Omi. Extremely intelligent, very kind and..." Yoji stopped, swallowing a sob.
"What is it?" Asuka asked with concern. "Did something happen to your friends? I notice you keep jumping between past and present tense when you talk about them."
"Omi..." Yoji cleared his throat, straightening himself up. "Omi commited suicide."
Asuka gasped. "Oh, Yoji, I am so sorry!" She threw her arms around Yoji, lightly massaging his back.
"He's always been sensitive, Yoji choked out, giving his ex a squeeze before pulling away. "And after the accident, I guess he'd had enough."
Asuka looked confused. "Accident?"
"Ken and Ran...um...were in a car accident", Yoji lied, knowing that Asuka shouldn't hear the truth about what happened." Ken suffered partial memory loss. Not as severe as mine, but the effects on his personality were far worse. He regressed to a child-like state. He's since improved, but his short term memory is very bad, and he needs constant supervision. As for Ran, he sustained severe back and head injuries. As a result, he is unable to speak, and has difficulty walking. His meds have also caused him to put on a lot of weight in his stomach, butt and face. He kind of looks like an overfed chipmunk." Yoji laughed awkwardly.
"It sounds like your friends have been through a lot", Asuka commented, still looking at the picture. 'They all look so full of life and vitality.' She looked up and saw Yoji staring into his lap. "This can't be easy for him. It's almost as if he's lost them all.' "Is there anything that I can do?"
"As a matter of fact-" Yoji began, before his cell phone interrupted him. He looked down at the number displayed. "I'll only be a minutes", he said apologetically before answering. "Hey, love!"
Asuka guessed that Yoji was talking to Schuldig, his long lost love that he had been reunited with not long after they had gotten married.
"That was Schu", Yoji confirmed, after a conversation that consisted of no more than "What's up? Really? Now? Okay, I'll be right there."
"Is everything okay?" Asuka asked with concern. "That sounded urgent."
"It is urgent. But don't worry about it. Everything is fine", Yoji reassured, patting Asuka on the knee as he stood up. "I have to go now, but I would like to speak with you some more. Can I call you later?"
"Of course." Asuka gave Yoji a big hug and saw him out the door. "What could he need from me?" she wondered, closing the door behind her.
*
A tall, bulky man with gray hair and kind eyes walked beside Ran down the hall to his room. He was pushing an empty wheelchair, just in case Ran needed it. "Your progress astounds me!" the physical therapist said with a kind smile. "Before you know it, you'll be walking without that thing." He pointed at Ran's walker.
Ran smiled slightly, but kept focused on the steps he was taking.
Yoji and Schuldig met them at Ran's doorway. "Better keep a leash on him. He'll try breaking out if you're not careful", Yoji smirked.
Ran stopped in front of Yoji, sticking out his tongue. Something the old Ran never would have done.
"Yes." The physical therapist smiled, patting Ran gently on the shoulder. "Ran has really come a long way."
"Thanks to you", Schuldig praised. "Jonasu, you truly are a miracle worker."
Jonasu bowed humbly. "Arigato. Demo, it was really Ran's hard work that got him this far."
Ran looked up proudly. At that moment, his left hand slipped, and his body slid to the ground.
"Talk about unfortunate timing", Schuldig winced.
"Yes. I think he overdid it a bit today. But, over time, his endurance will continue to build", Jonasu assured them, helping the flushed redhead up off the floor.He pushed the wheelchair up behind Ran. "Maybe you should use this the rest of the way."
Ran shook his head defiantly. He didn't have much further to go before he was safely in his bed.
"Listen to Jonasu. He knows what he's talking about", Yoji scolded playfully, as he and Schuldig eased Ran into his wheelchair. "Besides, you'll want to hurry into your room. There's a surprise waiting for you in there", he added with a mysterious smile.
Ran looked up curiously. "Mm?"
"You'll find out in a minute. Hold your horses", Yoji laughed, as Jonasu wheeled Ran into his room.
Ran tried his hardest to suppress the sobs of joy he felt welling up in his throat. He didn't want to wake the perfect, sleeping bundle in his sister's arms.
"Nii-chan, this is your niece", Aya beamed, holding the infant, swaddled in a pink blanket, up to Ran's face. "Her name is..." There was a dramatic pause. "Nii-chan, you have sacrificed so much for me. Your love for our family has shown through in so many ways. So I named my daughter Ran, as a tribute to you."
Ran gazed lovingly at the child, eyes lit up like shining stars. At this moment, all of the pain he had endured since Weiss' last mission was forgotten. Life was perfect. Well, nearly perfect. If only he and Ken could reunite.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
eight monthes later...
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ken looked at the clock, sighing. 'Time seems to drag on endlessly these days', he thought with a frown. He had really come a long way since Schuldig had started working with him. He now knew the reality of his past, and what had happened to get him in his present state. While he did have a greater self-awareness than before, though, he often forgot many common sense things, like putting on pants before leaving his room, or remembering to flush the toilet. For these reasons, he was still living at the group home. 'Alone with these damn memories.' He folded up his arms on the table, placing his head in them. He didn't care if one of the staff lectured him for not participating in the stupid card game.
A moment later, Ken felt a tap on his shoulder. "Ken?" It was Aya's voice. Ken slowly raised his head and turned to face her, glad to see his old friend. He hoped she'd brought little Ran with her today. Sure enough, theres he was. Sitting in the stroller with eyes fixed on Ken, the infant cooed and babbled, as if she had something very important to say. She looks a lot like Aya, but her eyes are so intense and violet! Just like her uncle!' Ken looked away sadly, biting his lip. Would he ever see his love again?
Suddenly, Ken felt a gentle hand on his arm. "I'm sorry, Aya", he softly apologized. "I was just-"
"Aaah."
Ken felt as though his heart was going to leap out of his chest. There was no mistaking that soft voice, unable to speak words. It could only be...
"Ran." Slowly turning his head, Ken looked up to see the beauty that he loved standing over him. Even with all the extra weight padding him, Ran looked amazing. Both men smiled at eachother, teary-eyed, and Ken stood up, taking the redhead into his arms and planting a passionate kiss upon his lips.
"You'll never be apart again", Aya smile at them, gently rocking the stroller back and forth as baby Ran began to stir. "That's a promise."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
five years later...
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Rannie! Rannie, come inside! It's time for bed", Aya called to her daughter, who was playing soccer in the yard with Ken."
"Can I stay out just a little longer?" Yamada Ran begged, flashing her bright, violet eyes and a smile much like her late father's.
"I don't think so", Aya laughed, picking the small, sturdy girl up and carrying her inside. "It's already 20 minutes past your bedtime."
"I'm sorry!" Ken called, running in after them. "I was supposed to put her to bed but I-"
"You forgot. I know. It's okay." Aya smiled patiently, turning to Ken.
"Can uncle Ran tuck me in tonight?" Rannie asked in her sweetest voice.
Aya kissed the girl's forehead, running her hands through dark brown hair that matched her own. "I am sure he would love to."
*
Ran pulled the blankets up over his namesake, smiling down lovingly.
"Will you sing to me, oji?" young Ran asked sleepily, her own voice sweet, high and musical.
Ran nodded with a warm smile and began humming his niece's favorite song. He would never speak again, but he could still sing, and the child loved his smooth, deep, gentle voice. Young Ran fell asleep midway through the song, and Ran leaned back into the chair where he sat, eyes full of contentment. After almost two years in the hospital, he and Ken had moved in with Aya and Rannie. It was a sweet renunion for the two lovers, who had not been together since Ken was put in the group home. And it was comforting to Ran, being with his lover, his sister and his young niece. For the first time in years, he felt that he was part of a happy family. Completing the family were Yoji and Schuldig. Yoji worked as a financial advisor, Schuldig a German teacher. They stayed to offer financial assistance and to help Aya care for Ken and Ran. Ran could walk now, but still got confused when it came to direction, so he always needed someone to guide his steps. Having Schu around to translate his thoughts also came in very handy. Ken was nothing like the man-child he had been after Weiss' unfortunate final mission. However, he was forgettful, and easily confused by even the simplest of tasks. There was no way that either one of them would be able to live independantly again. For this reason, Asuka acted as a live-in nurse, administering medication, and helping with the daily tasks that Ken and Ran could no longer perform on their own. Yes, their home was crowded. But Ran had never felt safer in his life. And it had been years since he'd been so happy.
Ran looked up at his Asuka, who was standing in the doorway. He nodded to her, and she walked over quietly, taking Ran's hands and helping him stand up. As they walked slowly toward the bedroom that he shared with Ken, Ran thought of all the loss that everyone had endured. Aya lost a husband, Rannie lost a father, and Ran lost a brother-in-law. Then there was Omi's suicide, a friend lost to all. As for Ran and Ken, their physical and mental losses were immeasurable. There was a part of Ran that mourned these losses. It really was a shame that it had taken such tragedy to get them all into this place of calm and serenity. 'But if that's what it took to help us find this peace', he thought, as Asuka helped him into bed, ' I'd do it all again.' He closed his eyes, fighting off sleep as he waited for Ken to slip into bed next to him. 'Inner peace.' He sighed, rolling over onto his side. 'Yeah, it feels good.'
1) My fics will never ben wildly popular. But I have readers who faithfully read and enjoy my stories, and I am thankful for them. (Shout out to Madiha, the most faithful and supportive reader of all.)
2) I don't even know if anyone visits my website. But I had fun making it, and it will be there for anyone that wants to take a look.
3) For some odd reason, a lot of people still aren't into KenRan. I don't get that at all. Oh well. I'll just keep hoping that, one day, people see the light. (hehe) Maybe I'll even get some members and actual activity in my KenRan group. (That would be a miracle!) I won't get my hopes up, but I will plug my NEW STORY THAT I WROTE WITH MY FRIEND AVAILABLE ONLY IN THE GROUP! Here's the linkie:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kenxranfanfics/
But you probably wish I'd keep my stupid realizations to myself and just get on with the damn chapter. Okay. Here you go. The final chapter. First off, let me warn you that it does contain spoilers for the last episode of Gluhen. That said, I hope it leaves you with warm, fuzzy feelings, and a sense of closure for the characters as well. Happy reading. ^_^
Crap! I'm annoying! :-p
~ Koyasu
~~~~~~~~~~
"Chotto matte!" Asuka called, wiping off her hands on a towel. 'This better not be a solicitor', she thought, irritated. She hated having to run out of the bathroom to answer the door. And it was even worse when it was a total stranger trying to sell her something. She peered out the peephole. Letting out a slight gasp, she put her hand to her mouth. "Yoji..."
"I understand if you don't want to see me." Yoji looked down at his shoes. "I mean, I am the one that left you."
Asuka straightened herself up. "Don't be silly!" she laughed, opening the door. "You are welcome any time." She opened the door, greeting her ex-husband with a hug.
Yoji took a step back, surprised. Asuka simply laughed at his reaction. "Well, are you going to come in or not?"
"H-hai." Confused by Asuka's friendliness, he stepped inside. Looking around, he saw that not much had changed. The furniture was where it had always been, random trinkets lay about the apartment that Asuka didn't want or need, but held onto just the same. Only one thing had changed. Yoji's eyes caught sight of a picture in a frame on an end table. "You've met someone, I see", he whispered, relieved.
"I have", Asuka nodded with a big smile and a girlish giggle. "His name is Fariz. He's a new doctor at the hospital. Born and raised in Iran, but he studied medicine in Japan. We're getting married in December, and will probably think about kids in a few years."
"That's great news!" Yoji clapped his hands together once and smiled. "Your children will be beautiful, I'm sure. Mixed babies usually are."
"You're mixed yourself, aren't you?" Asuka nudged him playfully in the ribs.
"I am. My mother was white and...Hey! I didn't mean I-"
"I know", Asuka stuck her tongue out, then motioned to the couch. "Please. Have a seat. And stop acting so nervous. I told you we could still be friends. I didn't just say that to be polite, you know." She took a seat on the couch next to Yoji, taking his hand firmly, yet gently. "What can I do for you?"
Yoji reached into his pocket with his free hand, pulling out an old photograph. He handed it to Asuka. "That's me with my three best friends", he explained with a bittersweet smile. "We've known eachother for years, but got separated on a couple occassions."
"The last one being when you lost your memory", Asuka guessed.
Yoji nodded, continuing. That redhead is Ran. He acted like a woman with PMS most of the time, but he has a kind heart. The brunette standing next to him is Ken. Ken is Ran's husband. Kind of hot-headed. He used to start a lot of fights, but he was generally good-natured and fun. Most importantly, he loves Ran, and has helped him deal with a lot of his inner demons. And that cute little guy that I have my arm around is Omi. Extremely intelligent, very kind and..." Yoji stopped, swallowing a sob.
"What is it?" Asuka asked with concern. "Did something happen to your friends? I notice you keep jumping between past and present tense when you talk about them."
"Omi..." Yoji cleared his throat, straightening himself up. "Omi commited suicide."
Asuka gasped. "Oh, Yoji, I am so sorry!" She threw her arms around Yoji, lightly massaging his back.
"He's always been sensitive, Yoji choked out, giving his ex a squeeze before pulling away. "And after the accident, I guess he'd had enough."
Asuka looked confused. "Accident?"
"Ken and Ran...um...were in a car accident", Yoji lied, knowing that Asuka shouldn't hear the truth about what happened." Ken suffered partial memory loss. Not as severe as mine, but the effects on his personality were far worse. He regressed to a child-like state. He's since improved, but his short term memory is very bad, and he needs constant supervision. As for Ran, he sustained severe back and head injuries. As a result, he is unable to speak, and has difficulty walking. His meds have also caused him to put on a lot of weight in his stomach, butt and face. He kind of looks like an overfed chipmunk." Yoji laughed awkwardly.
"It sounds like your friends have been through a lot", Asuka commented, still looking at the picture. 'They all look so full of life and vitality.' She looked up and saw Yoji staring into his lap. "This can't be easy for him. It's almost as if he's lost them all.' "Is there anything that I can do?"
"As a matter of fact-" Yoji began, before his cell phone interrupted him. He looked down at the number displayed. "I'll only be a minutes", he said apologetically before answering. "Hey, love!"
Asuka guessed that Yoji was talking to Schuldig, his long lost love that he had been reunited with not long after they had gotten married.
"That was Schu", Yoji confirmed, after a conversation that consisted of no more than "What's up? Really? Now? Okay, I'll be right there."
"Is everything okay?" Asuka asked with concern. "That sounded urgent."
"It is urgent. But don't worry about it. Everything is fine", Yoji reassured, patting Asuka on the knee as he stood up. "I have to go now, but I would like to speak with you some more. Can I call you later?"
"Of course." Asuka gave Yoji a big hug and saw him out the door. "What could he need from me?" she wondered, closing the door behind her.
*
A tall, bulky man with gray hair and kind eyes walked beside Ran down the hall to his room. He was pushing an empty wheelchair, just in case Ran needed it. "Your progress astounds me!" the physical therapist said with a kind smile. "Before you know it, you'll be walking without that thing." He pointed at Ran's walker.
Ran smiled slightly, but kept focused on the steps he was taking.
Yoji and Schuldig met them at Ran's doorway. "Better keep a leash on him. He'll try breaking out if you're not careful", Yoji smirked.
Ran stopped in front of Yoji, sticking out his tongue. Something the old Ran never would have done.
"Yes." The physical therapist smiled, patting Ran gently on the shoulder. "Ran has really come a long way."
"Thanks to you", Schuldig praised. "Jonasu, you truly are a miracle worker."
Jonasu bowed humbly. "Arigato. Demo, it was really Ran's hard work that got him this far."
Ran looked up proudly. At that moment, his left hand slipped, and his body slid to the ground.
"Talk about unfortunate timing", Schuldig winced.
"Yes. I think he overdid it a bit today. But, over time, his endurance will continue to build", Jonasu assured them, helping the flushed redhead up off the floor.He pushed the wheelchair up behind Ran. "Maybe you should use this the rest of the way."
Ran shook his head defiantly. He didn't have much further to go before he was safely in his bed.
"Listen to Jonasu. He knows what he's talking about", Yoji scolded playfully, as he and Schuldig eased Ran into his wheelchair. "Besides, you'll want to hurry into your room. There's a surprise waiting for you in there", he added with a mysterious smile.
Ran looked up curiously. "Mm?"
"You'll find out in a minute. Hold your horses", Yoji laughed, as Jonasu wheeled Ran into his room.
Ran tried his hardest to suppress the sobs of joy he felt welling up in his throat. He didn't want to wake the perfect, sleeping bundle in his sister's arms.
"Nii-chan, this is your niece", Aya beamed, holding the infant, swaddled in a pink blanket, up to Ran's face. "Her name is..." There was a dramatic pause. "Nii-chan, you have sacrificed so much for me. Your love for our family has shown through in so many ways. So I named my daughter Ran, as a tribute to you."
Ran gazed lovingly at the child, eyes lit up like shining stars. At this moment, all of the pain he had endured since Weiss' last mission was forgotten. Life was perfect. Well, nearly perfect. If only he and Ken could reunite.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
eight monthes later...
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ken looked at the clock, sighing. 'Time seems to drag on endlessly these days', he thought with a frown. He had really come a long way since Schuldig had started working with him. He now knew the reality of his past, and what had happened to get him in his present state. While he did have a greater self-awareness than before, though, he often forgot many common sense things, like putting on pants before leaving his room, or remembering to flush the toilet. For these reasons, he was still living at the group home. 'Alone with these damn memories.' He folded up his arms on the table, placing his head in them. He didn't care if one of the staff lectured him for not participating in the stupid card game.
A moment later, Ken felt a tap on his shoulder. "Ken?" It was Aya's voice. Ken slowly raised his head and turned to face her, glad to see his old friend. He hoped she'd brought little Ran with her today. Sure enough, theres he was. Sitting in the stroller with eyes fixed on Ken, the infant cooed and babbled, as if she had something very important to say. She looks a lot like Aya, but her eyes are so intense and violet! Just like her uncle!' Ken looked away sadly, biting his lip. Would he ever see his love again?
Suddenly, Ken felt a gentle hand on his arm. "I'm sorry, Aya", he softly apologized. "I was just-"
"Aaah."
Ken felt as though his heart was going to leap out of his chest. There was no mistaking that soft voice, unable to speak words. It could only be...
"Ran." Slowly turning his head, Ken looked up to see the beauty that he loved standing over him. Even with all the extra weight padding him, Ran looked amazing. Both men smiled at eachother, teary-eyed, and Ken stood up, taking the redhead into his arms and planting a passionate kiss upon his lips.
"You'll never be apart again", Aya smile at them, gently rocking the stroller back and forth as baby Ran began to stir. "That's a promise."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
five years later...
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Rannie! Rannie, come inside! It's time for bed", Aya called to her daughter, who was playing soccer in the yard with Ken."
"Can I stay out just a little longer?" Yamada Ran begged, flashing her bright, violet eyes and a smile much like her late father's.
"I don't think so", Aya laughed, picking the small, sturdy girl up and carrying her inside. "It's already 20 minutes past your bedtime."
"I'm sorry!" Ken called, running in after them. "I was supposed to put her to bed but I-"
"You forgot. I know. It's okay." Aya smiled patiently, turning to Ken.
"Can uncle Ran tuck me in tonight?" Rannie asked in her sweetest voice.
Aya kissed the girl's forehead, running her hands through dark brown hair that matched her own. "I am sure he would love to."
*
Ran pulled the blankets up over his namesake, smiling down lovingly.
"Will you sing to me, oji?" young Ran asked sleepily, her own voice sweet, high and musical.
Ran nodded with a warm smile and began humming his niece's favorite song. He would never speak again, but he could still sing, and the child loved his smooth, deep, gentle voice. Young Ran fell asleep midway through the song, and Ran leaned back into the chair where he sat, eyes full of contentment. After almost two years in the hospital, he and Ken had moved in with Aya and Rannie. It was a sweet renunion for the two lovers, who had not been together since Ken was put in the group home. And it was comforting to Ran, being with his lover, his sister and his young niece. For the first time in years, he felt that he was part of a happy family. Completing the family were Yoji and Schuldig. Yoji worked as a financial advisor, Schuldig a German teacher. They stayed to offer financial assistance and to help Aya care for Ken and Ran. Ran could walk now, but still got confused when it came to direction, so he always needed someone to guide his steps. Having Schu around to translate his thoughts also came in very handy. Ken was nothing like the man-child he had been after Weiss' unfortunate final mission. However, he was forgettful, and easily confused by even the simplest of tasks. There was no way that either one of them would be able to live independantly again. For this reason, Asuka acted as a live-in nurse, administering medication, and helping with the daily tasks that Ken and Ran could no longer perform on their own. Yes, their home was crowded. But Ran had never felt safer in his life. And it had been years since he'd been so happy.
Ran looked up at his Asuka, who was standing in the doorway. He nodded to her, and she walked over quietly, taking Ran's hands and helping him stand up. As they walked slowly toward the bedroom that he shared with Ken, Ran thought of all the loss that everyone had endured. Aya lost a husband, Rannie lost a father, and Ran lost a brother-in-law. Then there was Omi's suicide, a friend lost to all. As for Ran and Ken, their physical and mental losses were immeasurable. There was a part of Ran that mourned these losses. It really was a shame that it had taken such tragedy to get them all into this place of calm and serenity. 'But if that's what it took to help us find this peace', he thought, as Asuka helped him into bed, ' I'd do it all again.' He closed his eyes, fighting off sleep as he waited for Ken to slip into bed next to him. 'Inner peace.' He sighed, rolling over onto his side. 'Yeah, it feels good.'
