A/N: Okay, since this is the last chapter (and I still need to take care of something else...), I'll go directly to the story...

Disclaimer: Do pigs fly? I don't think so.

Epilogue: Reunited!

"Who do you think just arrived?" Takao asked in between mouthfuls of ramen.

"Ah, it's probably just an employee of the BBA to deliver something to the chairman," Kai said. A few minutes earlier, the slate-haired teen had finished eating. In fact, everyone at their table, save Takao, was already done with dinner; the brunette had gone back to the buffet table for a second helping…of everything, as he was wont to do.

"Kai may be right…" Max said. "I mean, Chairman Daitouji did say that everyone was here already…"

Suddenly, Kai glanced towards the back door; he had heard voices – one of them was the chairman's and the other one…

Crimson orbs narrowed. The other voice, a man's, sounded strangely familiar. He quickly pushed his chair away from the table and got up, surprising the other occupants, and several at the nearby table.

"Kai?" Hiromi called after him as she watched the stoic team captain stride over to the back door.

Kai pretended not to hear. Hiromi turned to Takao and the others.

"What's with him?"

Max and Rei shrugged, while Takao replied with a more than a little muffled 'I dunno…'

Kai approached the back door, which was slightly ajar. He could hear the voices more clearly now; he definitely recognized the second voice. He pushed open the door…and stood stock-still.

"Now what's he doing?" Takao said, pushing away his half-eaten plate, having noticed the slate-haired teen freeze in the doorway. He got up from the table, and the others – Max, Rei, Hiromi, and Kyouju – followed suit. Hitoshi, Yuuya, Judy, and Kane remained in their seats.

Kai, who still wasn't moving, opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

It was him. It had to be. Everything – the rather floppy black hair, the strong jaw, the crimson eyes – was as he remembered. Was this just a dream? He shook his head, as though to clear his vision, but when he opened his eyes, he was still there.

It was only at that moment the man who was conversing with the chairman seemed to notice the slate-haired teen, and turned towards him. Crimson eyes lit up with joy, and a smile came to the older man's lips.

"Kai…"

It was only one word – his name, in fact – but Kai came out of his 'trance'.

"It's…it's you…" he said, still not quite able to comprehend.

The tall brunette took one step towards him; Kai did not move. "Yes, its me, Kai…you still recognize me, after all these years and what happened to you?" the newcomer was saying.

Kai took one step towards the stranger. "Yeah, I do…what are you doing here, anyway?"

"Now, Kai, Yuuhi is here as my guest, just like your other friends." Chairman Daitouji said, laying a hand on 'Yuuhi's' shoulder.

"Yuuhi…why does that name sound familiar?" Takao said, scratching his head. The other guests, upon seeing Kai start towards the back door, had followed moments later and had gathered around the threshold, watching the drama unfold within.

"I don't know…" Max shrugged. "But you're right; it does sound familiar…"

"Dad…" he said quietly, taking another step forward. He tried hard not to show any emotion on his face, but deep inside, the questions were welling up. With each step he took, another question came to the surface.

Why did you leave me?

Why couldn't you just leave your dream?

Why did you make me suffer all these years?

Why did you allow Grandfather to make you suffer?

Why couldn't you come back for me?

Why didn't you just stay away?

Finally, Kai couldn't take it anymore. He had to know. "Why?" he asked quietly, his eyes hidden by his slate-gray bangs. Yuuhi looked puzzled.

"Excuse me?" the older Hiwatari took a tentative step towards the crimson-eyed teen.

"Why did you do it?" Kai suddenly burst forth. Yuuhi stepped back, surprised at the wealth of passion he could see in his son's eyes. Even those watching could feel the emotions emanating from the once-stoic teen, and they were overwhelmed at what they could feel.

Sorrow.

Fury.

Hurt.

Confusion.

Yuuhi blinked, and then closed the distance between him and Kai. But the latter would have none of it; he backed off a little, making it clear to his father that he could come no closer. Yuuhi sighed.

"Kai, I-"

"I know, Dad…you're sorry it had to happen, that you had to leave me, etcetera… You don't need to explain…" Kai said, his voice quieter now; not a hint of sarcasm could be found. He looked up at the man he had known as father, taking deep breaths, but didn't say anything more.

Hiromi pushed her way to the front and into the hallway, but it wasn't as though she were being rude; Takao and Max let her go ahead. She glanced at Kai and gasped, not quite able to believe what she was seeing.

Tears. Small, crystalline streams of emotion, running gently down the teen's face, issuing forth from hitherto lifeless crimson pools.

Kai was crying!

"No way!" Takao breathed.

"Am I seeing things?" Max said, rubbing his eyes. "Nope, definitely not," he muttered as he looked up again to find the same scene.

"Oh, dear…" Judy murmured, putting a hand over her mouth. She had expected something of the sort as a reaction from Kai – the initial confusion, and then the overwhelming joy that was typical of long-overdue reunions – but this…Judy shook her head; this much emotion from the young man was…in a word, unexpected.

"Kai…" Hiwatari Yuuhi could do nothing but reach for his 'little boy' and enfold him in an embrace. And, for the first time, Kai made no move to reject it; in fact, he reciprocated the gesture, burying his face in his father chest.

"Dad..." Kai's voice came out as muffled, but there was no mistaking the sadness and joy mingled in the single word.

"There's no need to say anything, Kai..." came the gentle reply.

Chairman Daitouji was sniffling into his handkerchief; the kindly old man was rather given to emotions, especially at tear-jerking moments such as this, but he was not the least bit intent on hiding it. Hiromi, too, was dabbing at her eyes.

Takao was smiling, albeit a little watery. He had seen this coming; he knew that Kai could not hold back for long. Even though he couldn't see his captain's face, he knew, he could feel it, that Kai was finally letting loose his emotions.

Kai's father was crying happily; he had expected something a little more hostile from his son – Kai was not exactly the forgiving sort – but was pleased that circumstances had proved him wrong.

It seemed an eternity before father and son broke away. Kai gazed into his father's eyes. "I never thought I'd see you again…" he said, his voice wobbling as he tried to bring it back to the emotionless monotone he so often used, but not quite succeeding. "I thought that you-"

"Whatever you thought, Kai," Yuuhi interrupted, kneeling down and putting both hands on both of Kai's shoulders, "It doesn't matter now. What happened between me and your grandfather is in the past, along with everything else that's happened to you."

"I…you're right, Dad…" Kai smiled broadly through the last traces of tears. "It's time to let bygones be bygones…"

"And face the future-" Yuuhi added.

"With or without each other, because no matter what happens, we'll be together in spirit." They finished. Father and son glanced at each other

"You still remember it!" they exclaimed at the same time. Then, realizing that they said the same thing at the same time again, they broke into grins.

"What was that all about?" Takao whispered loudly. "Some sort of game?"

This time, Kai heard what his teammate said. "No, Takao, it's a saying that my dad taught me long ago, when I was still young." He wiped away the last few tears, and then turned to face the group; he wasn't smiling anymore, but at least his face wasn't…as emotionless as usual.

Max smiled. "Now you look like your old self."

"Whatever, Max…" Kai said. He turned to his father. "Dad," he began, the old authority returning to his voice, "I'd like you to meet my teammates: Kinomiya Takao, Mizuhara Max, Rei Kon, and Kyouju, our resident blade researcher."

Takao stepped forward. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." He extended a hand, and Yuuhi took it.

"Likewise, Takao."

One by one, the rest of Team BBA approached and shook hands with the older Hiwatari. Kai didn't need to introduce Hiromi and the others – it was almost certain that Yuuhi would remember them, which he did.

Slowly, the group returned to the garden to resume dinner, and the atmosphere reverted back to a relaxed and peaceful one – if you didn't count the fact that Takao managed to get on Hiromi's nerves more than once in the span of an hour, and ended up being chased all over the garden. And then, approximately ten minutes after their last chase…

Splash!

"Yaaagh!" Hiromi screamed, as much as in shock as in fury. Takao, an empty cup in his hand, slowly backed away.

"C-calm down, Hiromi…accidents will happen, you know…" he said, his voice shaky. He did not like the look in the auburn-haired teen's eyes. He turned tail and fled, screaming "Heeeelp!"

"You get back here, Kinomiya!" Hiromi yelled, shaking her fist as she ran after the swiftly retreating brunette. "This was my best shirt!"

The other teens laughed. Yes, it was just getting to be just another friendly gathering for them.

Kai sighed, staring down at the blank page in his journal. He had snuck off from the gathering, where almost everyone was telling horrible jokes, and up here to his room. He needed some time to be by himself, and had taken the opportunity to do so.

He uncapped the pen and began to write.

Kai's Log; August 13th

Time: 10:04.15

I still can't believe it. It's like a crazy dream come true.

Over the past few hours, my worst fears had been disproved: Dad is most certainly not dead. In fact, he attended the gathering Chairman Daitouji had arranged here, at our retreat and training facility in the Japanese Alps.

Yes, it felt good to see him again after all these years, and I'm happy to know that since Grandfather is behind bars for what he did in the first World Championships so Dad and I can enjoy the rest of our time together. However, I'm still rather confused on how I should act towards him. Part of me is still angry because he left me all those years ago. I know, it's pretty childish hanging on to that, but I can't help it; some people are just like that. Perhaps it does some good; I'd like to find out what it is.

Eons I've wandered across the land
Alone to face my fears…
No one was there to take my hand
Nobody wiped away the tears…

Hanging on to the desire of yesterday
Unable to forget and to move on…
Hopelessly blinded that I didn't see the way…
Bitterly ungrateful for the new day that dawned…

But now I know the errors I committed…
This life of solitude now will end…
My broken mind and spirit now have been mended…
I was never alone, and never will be again…

A/N: There! All done! So...what do you guys think of the ending? Please tell me what you think. Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated.

For you guys out there who've been expecting a longer story, I'm really, really sorry! I, too, expected it would be longer than 12 chapters (is that right?), but it can't be helped. I've already covered everything I wanted to cover with this storyline. However, I've been contemplating on whether I should write a sequel or not, so send those votes in! Oh, and while you're at it, why don't you check out 'The First of Their Kind', or 'Once in The Future' (for those who haven't read any of the mentioned stories, that is)? I'm kind of in a jam in the former; I can't think up a blasted team name for the OC team; Team Millenium sounds so...bleah. So like mentioned in one of the posted chapters, any suggestions for team names are highly appreciated.

And of course, a VERY big thank you to those who've stuck with me through the course of this story! You know who you are, so: THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH! I't's been a pleasure getting to know you guys!

Dewa matta! Peace out!