A MASK OF HUMANITY
Epilogue (Zadei)
It is a cool, sunny morning. The beach, our beach, is quiet, peaceful. Tetei and I are sitting close to the water, feet buried in loose sand. His head is resting on my shoulder – he is dozing a little despite the incessant cries of the seagulls. Sherrill has called twice since I talked to her. She was very polite, distant, but at least she doesn't seem ready to give up on Tetei's friendship. There have been no more demons either. Tetei ... he hasn't quite forgiven me for not telling him. It's kind of difficult to understand that this is what bothers him the most, even after he learned all the details. He doesn't seem to fear me, though, doesn't act any differently. I stretch a little, make Tetei lift his head. He smiles drowsily, blinks into the sun. I, too, look into the sky.
"Do you think all the trouble is finally over now? I mean, happily ever after and all that?"
"You know what? Somehow I don't think it'll ever come to that. However, what I have been meaning to ask you: there's no chance I'm going to sprout wings anytime soon, is there?"
I can't help but laugh a little.
"No. It'd be nice, though. But ... your powers, they are still there. They are just – you could say buried, I guess."
"Well, that's certainly nice to know. Not that I'll be needing them anytime soon."
"Ne, Tetei, you don't ... hate me, do you?"
"... maybe hate is too strong a word."
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Well, sometimes I'm really mad at you. Like, when you keep things from me. Or when you are being deliberately stupid. But by and large you're not that bad."
"That's all?"
"And sometimes ... sometimes I really rather like you. But don't you dare tell anyone."
I feel my face grow hot and instinctively tighten my arms around him.
"And I – well, you know how I feel."
"Yes, I know."
The water has reached our toes.
The End
For Rhea and Selan and Strega, who isn't the only one who wished Tetei would get his wings back. I'm afraid it was just impossible, though. Sorry.
Oh, just in case you were wondering: Yamato does have a first name. It's Tetsuo but I didn't want to confuse things (and poor Tetei) even further by adding yet another name – four are more than enough, don't you think? Oh, and Julian's last name is Sakamoto. See, I do consider these things. Anyway, I wanted to thank you all yet again and announce that this series is now officially finished. No more sequels, no prequels, no nothing. Done. You've been great readers and it was a wonderful time and just ... thank you.
Ayumie, who is already thinking about a new Seimaden fic
Epilogue (Zadei)
It is a cool, sunny morning. The beach, our beach, is quiet, peaceful. Tetei and I are sitting close to the water, feet buried in loose sand. His head is resting on my shoulder – he is dozing a little despite the incessant cries of the seagulls. Sherrill has called twice since I talked to her. She was very polite, distant, but at least she doesn't seem ready to give up on Tetei's friendship. There have been no more demons either. Tetei ... he hasn't quite forgiven me for not telling him. It's kind of difficult to understand that this is what bothers him the most, even after he learned all the details. He doesn't seem to fear me, though, doesn't act any differently. I stretch a little, make Tetei lift his head. He smiles drowsily, blinks into the sun. I, too, look into the sky.
"Do you think all the trouble is finally over now? I mean, happily ever after and all that?"
"You know what? Somehow I don't think it'll ever come to that. However, what I have been meaning to ask you: there's no chance I'm going to sprout wings anytime soon, is there?"
I can't help but laugh a little.
"No. It'd be nice, though. But ... your powers, they are still there. They are just – you could say buried, I guess."
"Well, that's certainly nice to know. Not that I'll be needing them anytime soon."
"Ne, Tetei, you don't ... hate me, do you?"
"... maybe hate is too strong a word."
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Well, sometimes I'm really mad at you. Like, when you keep things from me. Or when you are being deliberately stupid. But by and large you're not that bad."
"That's all?"
"And sometimes ... sometimes I really rather like you. But don't you dare tell anyone."
I feel my face grow hot and instinctively tighten my arms around him.
"And I – well, you know how I feel."
"Yes, I know."
The water has reached our toes.
The End
For Rhea and Selan and Strega, who isn't the only one who wished Tetei would get his wings back. I'm afraid it was just impossible, though. Sorry.
Oh, just in case you were wondering: Yamato does have a first name. It's Tetsuo but I didn't want to confuse things (and poor Tetei) even further by adding yet another name – four are more than enough, don't you think? Oh, and Julian's last name is Sakamoto. See, I do consider these things. Anyway, I wanted to thank you all yet again and announce that this series is now officially finished. No more sequels, no prequels, no nothing. Done. You've been great readers and it was a wonderful time and just ... thank you.
Ayumie, who is already thinking about a new Seimaden fic
