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Mirai no Yakusoku Epilogue

Fall 2006 (7 years later)

"Kakushin!" Yuukiko kicked off her shoes as she entered the house, dropping them haphazardly in the entrance area. She paused, reaching down to turn them to face out towards the door. "Kakushin!"

In the distance, she could hear the guttural cries of the dojo students as they practiced with Ojii-chan.

"Yuukiko. What's wrong?" He reached up, parting the noren, the curtains parting as he stepped out of the kitchen.

Kakushin wore his favorite apron, busily preparing dinner. Yuukiko paused to breathe the rich smell of chicken. His hair was tied back and for a moment she forgot where she was. Her heart still fluttered when he smiled and she did what the apron asked of her, kissing him lavishly. He pulled back, his eyes bright with a light that made her shiver. He kissed her again, his hands reaching up to massage her scalp, pulling her hair out of the neat twist.

"Thank you. Now what's wrong?" He held her close. She shivered and snuggled in his arms.

After all this time, they were together in ways that they never had been in all of those past lives. After high school, they both were accepted into Keio University. It was painful to think about everyone they lost those horrible days. Nozomi still looked lost sometimes, but Yuukiko knew that there was a strength in her that no one would ever break. Both she and Akira often came by, but with college exams coming up, they were pretty busy.

"is that oyakodon?" she asked, wanting the moment to last. " You read my mind. Do we have fruit? I have got to have some fruit. Maybe mangos… or watermelon"

"You mentioned that this morning," he said ruefully. "They are out of season, baby. Yuukiko, you came running in here like a demon was chasing you. Now what's wrong?"

"Well..." She smiled against his neck. She kissed the spot where his shoulder met the curve and nibbled she felt him tremble ever so slightly. She loved him so much. Yuukiko knew deep in her bones that they belonged together. Souls called to each other, entwining time after time. All these years, she knew him so well. And she wanted him to squirm before she told him.

"Well?" She smiled at the hint of impatience in his voice. She pulled at a lock of hair that rakishly fell along his cheek. She flushed from the look in his eyes.

"The doctor said..." She lowered her voice and leaned closer to him, her lips almost touching his.

"Keiko-san said...?" Kakushin's voice was husky as he stared into her eyes. He could feel her words brush his lips. The little witch loved to tease him.

"Congratulations, papa. In seven and a half months-" She swallowed the rest of her announcement, as Kakushin swooped down and kissed her hard and then with all the passion of several lifetimes.

"I love you," he whispered into her hair, dropping more kisses around her face as the chicken burned in the kitchen.

"We finally got it right this time," she replied mistily. "And dinner is burning."

"Dinner?"

"Oyakodon? Remember?"

"Oro!" She laughed as he dashed to remove the food from the heat.

"That's okay. I think we should call the gang to celebrate!" He smiled brightly, boyishly. His throat felt tight as he touched her cheek. "I love you so much."

She closed her eyes and felt at peace. Ken was no longer the sinister specter looming over them. Reaching for his hand, she brought his palm against her belly. She blinked a sudden rush of tears away.

"If we had failed, if we could never be together... So many if's, Kakushin. I would never be this happy, not in a thousands lifetimes. No matter how many times I could be born, there would be a piece of me missing." She sighed and leaned into his warmth.

"Yuuki-chan, my love for you has always gone beyond time, beyond life. In the next life and the one after that and the one after that…. I will always find you. Always."

Her eyes shined as she smiled through her tears. "And I do hope the next life is a bit more peaceful than this one was."

"Oh, I dunno. A little adventure never hurt anyone, Yuukiko." He kissed her softly and grinned. "I'm sure that this little one and all the others after her will give us no end of adventures. And I can't wait. As long as I am with you…" The rest of the though melted away as he kissed his wife, letting dinner burn on the stove.

She sighed and snuggled closer to him. Life was good and they had all of the time in the world. Maybe. Maybe even more than that.

"Let's call the others! I think this calls for a bit of a party!" he grinned.

"Let's. That will make everyone but the kids all set for life. Ball and chain and all of that." Yuukiko smiled back. "Babies! Responsibility. It's so adult. Even Fumi and Rei are finally getting married!"

"Baby, there is nothing better than being changed to you for the rest of my life." And her soul-mate grinned mischievously. "And for any life I have in the future. Forever."


2599 AD

"I can't believe you, Kaori! You are crazy." Kaori grinned up at her best friend. Zoe could only gasp for breath as her friend zoomed ahead. The tiny brunette was fearless. Zoe laughed and pushed her 'craft harder to catch up. "Hey! You've broken so many laws driving your micro-craft, you're father would have to lock you up if he caught you!"

Zoe could only laugh as Kaori twisted in the air in the micro-craft, pausing to float gracefully to a perfect landing. Both of them were at the top of their class and would soon be Xone Officers.

"Zoe, in all of our two decades on this plane, he hasn't caught me yet." Kaori pushed her long hair away from her face and stuck her tongue out. "Plus he's off planet anyway!"

Zoe shook her head at her friend. From the time she could toddle, they had been inseparable. And from that time, there had always been something restless and wild about her best friend. Kaori kicked her 'craft into hover and throttled backwards.

"Kaori! Watch ou-" She winced as she ran into a large, human object. Er. Cute guy plus 'craft plus Kaori equals hospital ward.

"Eep! I'm so sorry. I…" Kaori felt two strong hands around her elbows, steadying her. She couldn't look away from his eyes. So deep. The dark depths seemed to see her soul and touch something that she couldn't name.

"It's OK. I've been waiting for you." He grinned boyishly, the smile shy around the corners.

Zoe could only stare in confusion as her best friend wrapped her arms around a strange, albeit attractive man. Kaori was kissing him with an emotion that made her want to look away. "Uh, Kaori?"

"What's your name?" she asked him, whispering against his lips.

"Shinta. And I've finally found you. Again."

"Yes. Finally." She kissed him with everything in her soul. "What took you so long?"