Well, here's the epilogue! My final close to the story. I changed this one
quite a bit from the original that I wrote heavens knows how long ago, but
I like it regardless. So, let's get to the story! The entire thing is in
Makoto's POV, just to keep any confusion from arising as to who's thinking.
~*~*~*~
There was a high pitched wailing and I quickly went over to the bassinet, picking Ran up and cradling her in my arms. Life was hard now, but I wouldn't change a bit of it. After sitting down in the rocking chair with our quilt of memories, Ran quieted and looked up at me with her curious eyes. I couldn't help laughing. My life was being run by a completely different kind of monster. Only problem was that this one happened to be cute. Always a surefire way to win.
"Feel like listening to some music Ran?" I asked, gently tweaking her nose. She giggled in response and held tightly to my finger.
I stood up and carried her over, turning on the radio and sitting back down. Then a song came on, and I couldn't help but wonder if it was talking about me.
***
Yeah, I have my addictions/ And keep my share of secrets/ And things you'll never see/ I get selfish and defensive/ And pay too much atttenton/ To my insecurities/ Oh I, I'm just like everybody else/ I try to love Jesus and Myself
I don't know what you believe/ Or what you think of what you see/ But this is a part of me/ What I do and who I am/ All of my impurities/ Are right her one my sleeve/ This is me / This is me
My heart breaks for the homeless/ I worry about my parents/ And all my bills are late/ I'm dealing with the changes/ This complicated strangeness/ Of seeing life this way/ I,I'm just like everybody else/ I try to love Jesus and Myself
I don't know what you believe/ Or what you think of what you see/ But this is a part of me/ What I do and who I am/ All of my impurities/ Are right her one my sleeve/ This is me / This is me
I laugh at silly movies/ Tear up when I see babies/ And I'm subborn as a stone/ I criticize my body/ I wonder if I'm ready/ To ever be alone/ Oh I, I'm just like everybody else/ I cry, just like everybody else
I don't know what you believe/ Or what you think of what you see/ But this is a part of me/ What I do and who I am/ All of my impurities/ Are right her one my sleeve/ This is me / This is me
***
There was a knock on the door, then I heard someone enter.
"Mako-chan, are you in here?" It was Shinozaki. I let out a sigh.
"I'm in the living room. Come on in." I called.
Shinozaki appeared and made his way over. He stopped just short of the rocking chair and sat down in an adjacent recliner. There was silence for a moment, then he finally spoke.
"I got the note in the apartment, about you deciding not to choose Nephrite or me. I'm kinda disappointed not to be spending the rest of my lifetime with the two of you, but I guess it is the best thing." he said, eyes downcast slightly.
I reached over and took his hand, squeezing gently. "This had nothing to do with you. I just decided it was best for all of us to be this way. Otherwise, we'd end up like Rei, Jadeite, Yuuichirou and Sakura. I couldn't do that to any of us. Especially not Ran." I told him.
Shinozaki nodded, looking up with a half smile. Then he looked at Ran, who was whimpering with her arms outstretched. I smirked, planting her directly on his lap. He stared at her, blank with confusion while trying to support her just sitting there.
"Don't just sit there like an idiot, hold her!" I insisted.
Tentatively, Shinozaki cradled her, eventually becoming more relaxed as I got up to start making lunch. I looked over the counter at the two of them.
"What do you want for lunch?" I nosed.
Shinozaki looked at me with the same blank look he had given Ran only a few seconds ago. I rolled my eyes.
"Just because I'm not marrying you doesn't mean you're banned from my life. Honestly! You're my best friend, you should have more sense than that! Besides, Nephrite will be over soon, and I'm going to need help keeping him from trying to move in regardless. I love you both to death, but you guys drive me to crazy to live with." I remarked.
Shinozaki laughed, then stood up and walked into the kitchen with Ran, peeking over Makoto's shoulder before looking at Ran.
"Well, what do we want for lunch?"
"How about an order of senshi with a side dish of insanity?" Nehprite commented, coming in through the back of the apartment.
"Not funny!" I whined.
Of course, I was lying through my teeth. It was funny, because for once, I had a strange sort of family, and with two of my best friends at that. Life was going to be challenging from here on out, but I knew it would never be lonely.
~*~*~*~
There was a high pitched wailing and I quickly went over to the bassinet, picking Ran up and cradling her in my arms. Life was hard now, but I wouldn't change a bit of it. After sitting down in the rocking chair with our quilt of memories, Ran quieted and looked up at me with her curious eyes. I couldn't help laughing. My life was being run by a completely different kind of monster. Only problem was that this one happened to be cute. Always a surefire way to win.
"Feel like listening to some music Ran?" I asked, gently tweaking her nose. She giggled in response and held tightly to my finger.
I stood up and carried her over, turning on the radio and sitting back down. Then a song came on, and I couldn't help but wonder if it was talking about me.
***
Yeah, I have my addictions/ And keep my share of secrets/ And things you'll never see/ I get selfish and defensive/ And pay too much atttenton/ To my insecurities/ Oh I, I'm just like everybody else/ I try to love Jesus and Myself
I don't know what you believe/ Or what you think of what you see/ But this is a part of me/ What I do and who I am/ All of my impurities/ Are right her one my sleeve/ This is me / This is me
My heart breaks for the homeless/ I worry about my parents/ And all my bills are late/ I'm dealing with the changes/ This complicated strangeness/ Of seeing life this way/ I,I'm just like everybody else/ I try to love Jesus and Myself
I don't know what you believe/ Or what you think of what you see/ But this is a part of me/ What I do and who I am/ All of my impurities/ Are right her one my sleeve/ This is me / This is me
I laugh at silly movies/ Tear up when I see babies/ And I'm subborn as a stone/ I criticize my body/ I wonder if I'm ready/ To ever be alone/ Oh I, I'm just like everybody else/ I cry, just like everybody else
I don't know what you believe/ Or what you think of what you see/ But this is a part of me/ What I do and who I am/ All of my impurities/ Are right her one my sleeve/ This is me / This is me
***
There was a knock on the door, then I heard someone enter.
"Mako-chan, are you in here?" It was Shinozaki. I let out a sigh.
"I'm in the living room. Come on in." I called.
Shinozaki appeared and made his way over. He stopped just short of the rocking chair and sat down in an adjacent recliner. There was silence for a moment, then he finally spoke.
"I got the note in the apartment, about you deciding not to choose Nephrite or me. I'm kinda disappointed not to be spending the rest of my lifetime with the two of you, but I guess it is the best thing." he said, eyes downcast slightly.
I reached over and took his hand, squeezing gently. "This had nothing to do with you. I just decided it was best for all of us to be this way. Otherwise, we'd end up like Rei, Jadeite, Yuuichirou and Sakura. I couldn't do that to any of us. Especially not Ran." I told him.
Shinozaki nodded, looking up with a half smile. Then he looked at Ran, who was whimpering with her arms outstretched. I smirked, planting her directly on his lap. He stared at her, blank with confusion while trying to support her just sitting there.
"Don't just sit there like an idiot, hold her!" I insisted.
Tentatively, Shinozaki cradled her, eventually becoming more relaxed as I got up to start making lunch. I looked over the counter at the two of them.
"What do you want for lunch?" I nosed.
Shinozaki looked at me with the same blank look he had given Ran only a few seconds ago. I rolled my eyes.
"Just because I'm not marrying you doesn't mean you're banned from my life. Honestly! You're my best friend, you should have more sense than that! Besides, Nephrite will be over soon, and I'm going to need help keeping him from trying to move in regardless. I love you both to death, but you guys drive me to crazy to live with." I remarked.
Shinozaki laughed, then stood up and walked into the kitchen with Ran, peeking over Makoto's shoulder before looking at Ran.
"Well, what do we want for lunch?"
"How about an order of senshi with a side dish of insanity?" Nehprite commented, coming in through the back of the apartment.
"Not funny!" I whined.
Of course, I was lying through my teeth. It was funny, because for once, I had a strange sort of family, and with two of my best friends at that. Life was going to be challenging from here on out, but I knew it would never be lonely.