I've decided against a reviewer response section this time. It's my last chapter, so enjoy!

Sorry about the delay. I felt that I REALLY needed to add a few more paragraphs. The Epilogue will be out within the next week or so for anyone who's interested.

Alex: you darn well better enjoy!

Be nice...

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Dying Souls Final Chapter, Chapter 13: Perhaps Things Will Not Be So Bad

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Serenity smiled as she took Seto's hand. They were both completely bundled up with only their faces showing. This made Serenity smile. Seto looked so different in this new attire as compared to his business suits. She had to resist the urge to giggle whenever she set eyes upon him. His brown hair was covered with a fuzzy type of hat and his hands with gloves. It's too bad those gloves aren't fuzzy too. Thought Serenity. She laughed inwardly. Seto sneered.

"Lighten up," ordered Serenity.

Seto smiled at her, "Let's just go."

As they walked outside into the fading sunlight, they looked toward it. The sunset lay in such an array of colors that it seemed to lure their eyes to it. They were almost incapable not to look at its beauty and majesty. The snow had stopped falling now. The clouds had cleared and the sun had been able to shine through. The sun, however, was not able to melt the frozen snow. Seto could have told Serenity all of the scientific reasons for this, but she hardly cared. Neither thought about it anyway. It was behind their minds. They were only focused on one thing now; each other.

As they crossed the frozen lawn to the woods, Seto paused. Serenity looked over at him, "Why did you stop?"

"It's been so long," Seto said with what seemed to be anguish.

"What's been so long? So long since what?" Serenity asked, baffled and confused.

"It's been a long time since I've realized that these woods are here, that they even exist..." he said it wistfully in a way. Serenity wondered why.

"What do you mean by that?" she asked him.

Seto sighed, deciding he should tell her, "When I was young, very young, I used to love the woods."

Serenity looked at him blankly, as if asking him to go on.

He did, "I never went back to any sort of woods until... until you ran away a few months ago. Before that, I hadn't been to them since my parents died. I guess I... just lost interest with my loss. I wanted power, not peace."

Serenity continued to look at him, wondering and waiting. He did not speak again and Serenity felt that it was up to her to fill the silence, "what are you saying, Seto?"

"I'm saying that it was my thirst for power that led to what happened between us. I cast you aside just as I did my own life. All in exchange for power..."

"Don't say that." Protested Serenity.

"Why not?" said Seto blankly. "This is my mansion, these are my woods. I allow you here-"he stopped, realizing what he was saying.

Serenity bowed her head.

"I'm sorry, came Seto voice. It was soft.

"It's ok," answered Serenity in an equally low voice. "I still love you. I'll always love you..."

Seto looked down upon her; "I love you too."

As they walked forward into the woods, Serenity looked back on all her memories with Seto; the good and the bad. She felt sorrowful as she thought of their angst, How he had chased away her sanity and yet brought it back to life again... she loved him, it was true. She always would.

As they walked though the fading sunlight of the woods, she looked up at him, her emotions running so deep. They both kept silent, as though they were both trapped in this moment. This time, it was a prison that they were glad to be in. Blissfulness. Love.

As they walked further and the moon rose, it gleamed upon all of the white snow about them. The forest seemed to light up with the moonlit snow. As Serenity looked around, she noted how beautiful everything was. As she looked up at Seto, she could see his face. It lay in shadows, black and white, aligning with the moon. He was beautiful even here. She looked down at her feet, and back behind her at the footprints trailing off into the distance, far off yonder. The mansion was hardly visible under the cover of the evergreens of the wood.

And then as she looked back up again, she could feel Seto wrap and arm about her waist and holding her to him as he walked, began to speak to her, "you're cold."

"I know," answered Serenity, "but it doesn't matter,"

Seto sighed.

Serenity snuggled close to him, pressing her cold and blotchy face up against his cold, rough coat in an attempt to warm herself. The fabric felt hard and stiff beneath her skin. It only made her more uncomfortable.

Serenity paused as they came to the clearing in the woods. As she looked at the soft moonlight upon it, she sighed with its beauty. The moon lay in all its fullness and glory above them as stars worked their courses above. Serenity halted as they came to the center of the clearing. Her face was still red and blotchy. Seto didn't care if she didn't look her very best right now, so why should she? She lived only to please him with her love. She hoped it would stay that way.

Now as they stood there, frozen in a moment, Seto turned and looked down upon her face. "I love you," he said, and then slowly mustered the words, "I'm sorry... I've been... wrong all these years to you."

"It's ok," answered Serenity. "It's ok..."

Moments of silence passed as years upon the two. They looked only at the other and at the snow upon their feet and laying all about them. And then Seto reached out his arms and took Serenity into them, embracing her in a tight hug. She hugged him back. The hug was followed by a kiss, so gentle and loving.

Serenity could nearly feel tears welling up at this. They had come out of darkness. They were happy now... where they ought to be. Seto was hers forever. She was his. He was her immortal. Immortal would be her love. She thought of the past. She decided in the end to do away with it. What good did it do her anyway?

She thought instead toward the future. Perhaps from now on, things would not be so bad.

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Well, that's it! Dying Souls is done (hate to say it! I was getting GOOD reviews!). I need to know if anyone wants a prequel or an epilogue. Thank you all SO much for all your reviews and support! Until next fic...

To think, this whole fic started when I wrote a songfic to My Immoral by Evenesece and took out the lyrics...

Malik: YAY! Review... heh heh! That's the last time I have to say it too! YIPPIE!