A distinct lack of pain was the first thing Ryu became aware of. He knew he should be in pain because the last thing he remembered was being in the middle of a giant explosion. That's when it hit him that he shouldn't even be aware of anything at all, there was no way even he could have survived that explosion.
Opening his eyes Ryu was assaulted by lots of bright whiteness and a fluffy kind of mist.
"Oh great I died and went to hell" Ryu mumbled when he noticed his surroundings, pulling himself off the ground Ryu soon became aware of a slight laughter, whirling around he came face to face with the last person he would've expected: his sister, Arina.
"Only you would think of a place like this as hell." Arina laughed.
"Arina…but how…I mean…?" Ryu couldn't seem to put a single sentence together.
"To be honest I gave up trying to figure this all out a long time ago. All I know is I am where I'm needed."
Speechless and over whelmed with emotions Ryu just pulled his sister into a tight hug.
"Yes I've missed you to, brother." Arina returned the hug. "It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do, leaving you."
"What do mean?" Ryu finally found his voice.
"Let's just say my death wasn't by accident…" Ryu still had a confused look on his face, so Arina, after leading Ryu over to what appeared to be a park bench and sat down, continued. "You know as well as I do that everybody has their own destinies to fulfill and everybody else has a part to play in other peoples destinies." Ryu nodded his head. "Well part of your destiny was to defeat Apocalypse, Right? And in order for you to do that I had to die."
"But why just me? We could've just as easily defeated him together."
"True but in order to defeat him we would have needed to be on earth, but if I'd lived what are the odds we… you would have still been on earth?"
"Not very good…Ok that may explain part of this but why are we here now?"
"Like I said before I stopped trying to figure this all out a long time ago. But as far as I can tell it has to do with my destiny of making sure yours goes on. Today was not the day for you to die, there are still many things left for you to do in life before you die."
The two siblings sat silently for a while, neither making any noise. Arina was waiting for Ryu to say something and it had been so long since Ryu had seen his sister he didn't want to say anything for fear this was all a dream and he would wake up if he made any sound.
"Why do you push them away, brother?" Arina broke the silence. "These people really do care about you. You should stop hiding and let them in, let 'her' in."
"Her?" Ryu was slightly surprised by the sudden topic change.
"Yes 'her' you know of how I speak. She truly loves you and yet you insisted on pushing her away. Why?"
"Because I refuse to be the one to bring her pain."
"You mean bring you pain. Don't forget I know you better than you know. I know that in the past you have been hurt by those you thought you were in love with, but the truth is you've never really been in love. Your head my have thought it was love, but your heart and soul never did."
"Never been in love? How can you say that?"
"Because it's true. You never truly loved any of those other women in the past yes you lusted for them, were infatuated with them, but never truly loved them. This time it's different, this time you truly are in love and it frightens you. No matter how much you may want to deny it Peyton is your one and only; your heart and soul."
"You're wrong! I can't except that, I won't except that, because if I do I won't be able to survive when she leaves me and I'm forced to go on for thousands of years with out her."
"Brother you told Selmak that after my death you had no purpose, no reason to keep fighting." Arina paused to look at her brother. "And that you've been searching, since then, for something to give you a new purpose, a new reason to fight. Also you told him that for a time you'd found that with the X-Men."
"Yeah so what's that got to do with my love life?"
"Why do you think that after all these centuries of looking you finally found what you were looking for with them?"
Ryu opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again and sat thinking about his answer. It was several minutes before he answered.
"I guess it was because they were like me. Of all the people I've met in my life they came the closest to understanding me and because I felt that their cause was just."
"Those are good reasons but not the truth. You found what you were looking for because of her, in her. The need to keep her safe and out of danger rekindled the fire in your spirit." Fully expecting Ryu to argue with her, Arina was surprised when he remained silent, staring off into the distance at something only he could see.
"Ryu, it's time to stop letting your life pass you by and start living your life." This got Ryu's attention.
Spring up from where he was seated Ryu began to pace, feeling his anger beginning to build. He'd forgotten what an annoying pain his sister could be at times.
"I have lived my life. I mean shit after 4,000 years or so of being alive, I've lived more lives than any one person should be allowed to."
"Yes you've been alive, but you've never actually lived life, like other people. See usually people only have 70 or 80 years to live and do the things they wanna do and see the things they wanna see, so most try to do what they can, never passing up opportunities. But where you have thousands of years to live, you don't worry about not getting to see or do the things you want. You let opportunity after opportunity pass you by. You just are, nothing more, nothing less." Standing to join her brother, Arina gently took a hold of his face between her hands and rested her forehead against his. "Please, brother let these people in and start really living your life."
Ryu heaved a soft sigh, "Maybe you're right." He whispered.
"Of course I'm right, I'm always right. Now come on its time."
"Time for what?"
"For you to go home and live out one last life time."
"Wait one last…then you mean…?"
"Yes, don't ask me to explain how these things works, they just do. Now go on, get."
This time it was Arina who pulled Ryu into a tight hug, which he returned. After a moment Arina pushed Ryu away from her and into the mist, indicating he should keep walking. With a heavy, yet light heart Ryu turned his back on his sister and fully walked in to the mist.
It was several hours after the defeat of Apocalypse and all the X-Men along with SG-1 and Jacob were all back in New York, gathered around in front of the X-mansion mourning the loss of their friend. Their moods were so low and desolate that nobody paid any attention to the strange mist that seemed to come out of nowhere.
It wasn't until they heard what sounded like footsteps coming up the walkway that anyone even really noticed the mist. Looking in the direction of the walkway they all watched in stunned, shocked silence as Ryu came walking out of the mist, alive and in one piece. Once Ryu was fully in view the mysterious mist disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
Standing in front of the people who meant the most to him, Ryu scanned the faces looking for the one person who meant more to him the life itself. Spotting Peyton, Ryu quickly covered the ground between them and gently caressing her face pulled her into one of the most passionate and breath taking kisses either of them had ever had.
Finally breaking apart for air, Peyton wrapped her arms around Ryu and hugged him for all she was worth, never wanting to let go.
"Peyton contrary to popular belief I do need oxygen to live." Ryu whispered softly into Peyton's ear. With tears in her eyes and a faint smile Peyton loosened her hold, only slightly, and rested her forehead against Ryu's.
"I've been an idiot for too long, but no longer. Marry me Peyton." Ryu again whispered softly to Peyton after a moment of silence. Too over whelmed with emotions Peyton merely nodded her head yes and pulled Ryu into another passionate and breath taking kiss.
The sound of someone clearing their throat finally broke the two apart again. Looking at the others Ryu could see the questioning looks on all of their faces, but not knowing how to explain what had happened Ryu answered the only way he could think of.
"I don't know how or why I'm here and still alive, all I know is that I have one last life time to live and it's going to be the best life I can make it."
That night a party was thrown not only to celebrate the defeat of Apocalypse, but also the engagement of Ryu and Peyton. They had all come so close to defeat and to losing a dear friend, but in the end every thing had worked out for the best and the bond they all shared became even stronger.
The next day Ryu drove Jacob and SG-1 to the airport. After the party the night before Ryu wasn't sure they should be driving, being as hung over as they all were. After all the kids and the Professor had gone off to bed, Logan had broken into his alcohol stash and had proceeded to get plastered along with the members of SG-1, (Yes even Teal'c managed to get buzzed, so imagine how the others must be feeling) and since Jacob technically no longer had a valid drivers license that left Ryu being the chuffer.
"Reminded me never to go drinking with Logan if we're ever in town again." Jack moaned as he poured himself at of the van Ryu had borrowed from the professor.
"I second that." Daniel agreed as he too poured himself out of the van. Sam just moaned her agreement and Teal'c raised an eyebrow.
"Don't worry I'll be sure to reminded you guys of this night every chance I get." Ryu assured them. "And its not if you're ever in town again, but when. I fully expect you guys to visit every chance you get. Plus you'll be coming back for the wedding."
Ryu laughed as he watched the four stumble through the airport entrance. When they were out of sight Ryu turned back to Jacob/Selmak.
"You know that goes for you two as well. You'd better damn well make sure you visit or at least call every time you're in the neighborhood if you know what I mean."
"Of course. Selmak wouldn't have it any other way." Jacob spoke, taking a hold of Ryu's forearm, much the same way Selmak had when they'd first met again at the SGC. "Now you go on home to your fiancé while I go make sure none of the others have died from their hangovers… you know I never thought I'd see the day someone drank Teal'c under the table."
Both men had a good laugh over that before parting ways. Watching after Jacobs retreating back for a moment longer Ryu was glad that he'd literally fallen into the laps of those at the SGC, even if it was an accident, because if he hadn't he'd probably still be out there somewhere wandering around alone and unhappy. But instead he was now happy and surround by those who truly did care about him. With that in mind Ryu returned to the X-mansion and into the loving arms of his soon to be wife.