Yoru: The Epilogue! DUN DUN DUN! Thank you to all my fabulous reviewers! This has been a blast to write, but all good things must come to an end. And after a fic of nonstop mean people and separated friends, there must be some FLUFF!

Kuronue: Fluff? Hooooo boy.

Youko: Yay!

Youko watched Kuronue as he slept next to the fire. It had been weeks since the two had left the castle, and Kuronue had regained his strength. But Youko's brow furrowed as he watched the scars on Kuronue's body shine in the firelight. They crisscrossed on his torso, visible on his chest through his vest. The kitsune sighed, letting his eyes wander over Kuronue's still-beautiful body.

Youko ran his eyes over the full lips, the high cheekbones, the perfect contours of Kuronue's face. Youko had always thought the Chimera beautiful, had always wanted…no, loved him. But Kuronue had never shown more than deep friendship to the kitsune, never seeming to want romance. And Youko would never force himself on Kuronue, or try to make the Chimera love him. He just quietly waited, or rather hoped, that one day Kuronue would love him, the deep and inscrutable way that Youko loved him.

"I told you I loved you." Youko whispered this out loud without even realizing it. Kuronue had simply taken it as a vow of friendship.

Kuronue dreamed. He dreamed that he and Youko sat in a field, filled with buzzing insects and green grass. Youko was laughing at something Kuronue had said, and then their eyes locked. Without another thought, their lips came together in a passionate kiss.

But it didn't last long. Youko pushed Kuronue to the ground, a teasing smile on his lips, and walked away. Kuronue could only stare after him.

Kuronue woke to see Youko asleep. The firelight shone on his silver hair, on his ivory skin. Kuronue longed to touch, to feel, to know what it felt like to kiss those lovely lips, run his fingers through that metallic hair, see love in those golden eyes.

Youko woke to see Kuronue staring at him. Those indigo eyes fixed on his golden orbs…he almost lost the battle with his heart then and there. He wanted to kiss Kuronue, feel him, be with him…

"Kuronue…" Kuronue came closer.

"Yes, Youko?" Youko sat up and scooted closer to the fire. He smiled and winked at Kuronue.

"Did you like what you were seeing?" He meant it as a joke, but inwardly he wondered…was that a blush that crossed Kuronue's cheeks, or was it just the fire?

"Depends on what you mean by 'like.'" Kuronue smirked, but inwardly his heart was beating fast. Did Youko see his blush?

Youko watched Kuronue come closer to the fire. The movement of that lithe body.

"Youko, when you told me you loved me, what did you mean?" There. The question was out. Kuronue waited with bated breath. Youko was still watching him. Then the kitsune came closer.

"I only meant this, Kuronue." And Youko kissed him.

It was an impulse. Youko had lost the battle. All of his passionate feelings for the Chimera were there, thrumming in his chest, ready to explode forth at any second. And he was shocked.

Shocked, because Kuronue was giving back.

Kuronue wrapped his arms around Youko's neck and ran his tongue over the kitsune's lips, begging for access to his mouth. Youko gave it to him, wrapping his arms around the slender waist. He had longed for this forever, wanted nothing more than to kiss the Chimera. And it was just as wonderful as he'd known it would be.

They lay back after breaking the kiss, Kuronue's head on Youko's chest. Silence reigned in the air for a long time.

"How long have you loved me?" Kuronue's question held an accusatory note. Youko sighed.

"Too long, Kuro. I didn't think you wanted me that way." Kuronue leaned up and gently kissed Youko's lips.

"I did, my kitsune. I did."

That night, they gave themselves to each other. They knew they were life companions, lovers for as long as they lived. And there, lying with Kuronue fast asleep on his chest, Youko vowed that no one would ever take his Chimera away again.

Kuronue's dreams no longer involved Youko leaving. The kitsune would stay with him, simply being there, simply loving him.

The two wanted to give each other the world, if that was what each desired. If needed, they would take it by storm.

Yoru: AAAAAAAAND FINALE!

Kuronue: Um...Yay? Seems so…weird. You finished a story.

Yoru: glare Yeah, well, Youko's happy.

Youko: sitting on floor humming Happy Days

Kuronue: O.o

Yoru: Once again, thank you to my reviewers. I hope this final chapter was not too boring or whatever. It's 1:30 in the morning and I'm going to bed. Good night! Love you all!