[Important Notice: (7/28/2022) I'm glad to have managed to greatly improved R4S, and now here's the finale. Aside from the Morgaine stuff and changes with Harley, most of what was needed here was a general clean up on spelling and grammar. Thanks for all the support. – Yoshi3000]

[LAKEY INSPIRED – A New Year]


残り:四の影/ Remnant's Four Shadows

Grand Finale: Out from the Shadows


Yuki opened his eyes looking around only to see complete blackness. Panic had set in for the moment only he forced Tranquility to calm him down.

"Yuki."

He turned to see he was not alone. Chronoa, Noire, Ruby, his team, and Blade were here with himself summoning Serena.

"What's going on?" Yuki asked.

"The process of feeling putting Remnant to rest was tampered with." Chronoa said sourly. "An outside force came subtly trying to assault our minds. Your mind was protected…so was Noire. Ruby's a time herald like you and your teammates. Blade is the only anomaly…but I assume this is because of you awakening his aura in your heightened state."

"But what happened?" Ivory asked.

"Something…or something intervened on the process…taking CASL with them and attempting to wipe everyone's memories of them. They would have succeeded how I rushed to save us all." Chronoa mused. "With them being taken, I realized that CASL and their history was unnatural addition to the time that I didn't makebut of the work of someone else."

Yuki had a look of horror…someone just coming in and taking his friends away. The idea of not even leaving a memory of them was horrific to him.

"At the very least, I can restore Fria and Isis's memories. They were the only ones I could save among the people." Chronoa said.

"The victory we were finally going to get and CASL is just denied in…how cruel a fate." Lapis said.

"When I find out who did it, I will see to it that they suffer dearly for this!" Yuki said angrily.

"No, you won't." Chronoa firmly said. "You have done enough. Please, you've worked so hard, and you and your team deserve the reward you toiled for so hard. This isn't your fight anymore."

"She's right, it's mine." Ruby affirmed.

"Ruby, I…"

"No, Chronoa. It is my fight with you." Ruby said determined. "I'm still a time herald under you. Take me as your apprentice in full."

Chronoa winced being reminded of Towa, but she knew Ruby was far from being like her.

"But what about your teammates?" Chronoa asked as Ruby gave a hollow laugh.

"They'll understand. Not like we're going to keep being a team when there's no Grimm to fight. Besides, they didn't sign up to be a herald, I did. I'm not going to leave that when I have a chance to do better. Yuki, you and your team have done more than enough…it's time I took the reins." Ruby said adamantly.

Yuki affectionally brushed a lock of her hair aside before hugging her.

"I'm so proud of you…and I guess I won't be handling your training anymore." Yuki said before his voice went serious. "But keep us posted."

"Don't worry, we will." Noire remarked. "I'll be assisting in this matter."

"I'll restore Fria and Isis's memories. They'll be joining me on a team focused on the investigation." Chronoa said. "Now let's get out of here."

"Where are we anyway?" Blade asked.

"Nowhere really. I simply supplanted us outside of time for a moment. I'll snap us back with the others and it'll be we were gone for a millisecond." Chronoa explained. "I guess I'll be seeing you all."

She snapped her fingers and the light consumed them once again. Truly at least, Remnant's final moments had come for something new to take place.

[-]

[XanTech Headquarters (Maze Bank Tower), Neo Los Santos, New San Andreas, United States of Remnant]

[Cues: marlboro. - a great day]

Yuki looked out of the window of his office, a snazzy place that give an icy feel with its furnishing yet having a techno feel with his neon circuitry patterns on the walls. He took off the steel rimmed, blue tinted aviator glasses. His signage was on the wall, he had the money safe, and even had an accommodation if he needed to sleep here. He took in the sight and the jazzy music that played on the radio. Memories of this new universe easily flowed with the old as he looked back to his desk.

A photo of the team together that got him to take it more, but he sensed a presence. Out from the accommodation was Mary in more professional wear. A black blazer with a white folded collar and rolled sleeves, a short black skirt, a silver watch, thigh-high stockings, and black heels. Her hair, earrings, and makeup remained the same, but he realized she was only wearing a blazer buttoned only at the middle.

"Um…is that even appropriate?" He asked.

"You're the boss…hell, you're basically the ruler of this place…you tell me." Mary teased.

He shrugged and asked what she was even doing here.

"Fixing myself up, of course. The assistant has to look good for her boss." Mary said with a wink.

"Right…we got plenty to do today. I'll need to check on the kids." Yuki said eagerly.

"What about Morgaine?" Mary asked.

"I left her a note that she's got a week off for vacation and that I'll see her next week. She's going to need some rest after that device did it's work on her. That thing was made with some of the energy that the damaged core gave off." Yuki remarked.

Serena's face showed up on one of the television screens in the office.

"Blade and Adrien are in the penthouse in Eclipse Towers." Serena remarked. "Your portal is ready."

A portal materialized as the screen went off before Yuki looked at himself in the mirror. He was in a charcoal pinstriped three-piece suit, ice blue collared buttoned shirt, a gold rimmed sports watch, black oxfords over grey socks, a dark blue tie with his company's logo on it, a black trench coat (even sported his emblem on the back) that hid his guns, and a gold chain. His sword on his side.

"Damn, I look like a million bucks." Yuki remarked.

"Pretty sure what you are wearing is worth half that." Mary said as he put on the aviators. "Shall we?"

She pulled out a pair of dark sunglasses before they both exited through the portal.

[Music Ends]

[-]

[Eclipse Towers, Neo Los Santos]

Blade snapped awake on a bed and sprang to his feet looking around. He was in a bedroom, a pretty luxurious one…that he recognized was his. His things were around it along with new things he had a feeling were his. He got on his sneakers before leaving the room…to find himself in a penthouse suite, modernly furnished with a tech finish. He went downstairs to see the window with the massive view of the city.

"Shit! I live here." Blade said excitedly looking around before bumping into Adrien. "Wait, you're the cat guy?"

"And you…what was your name again?" Adrien asked.

"Blade. Blade Bronzeblaze." Blade touted. "Adrien Agreste, right? I guess we're brothers, now."

"I guess we are…"

Both jumped to see a portal open in the middle of their home as Yuki and Mary stepped out.

"Boys. Good to see you." Yuki said.

"Yuki. Could you explain where I am?" Adrien said.

"You are the United States of Remnant. I decided to adopt both you guys seeing you both don't have any family. I decided I wasn't going to leave you two to the wolves like I was." Yuki explained gesturing to a family photo of the three together.

"Oh…wow, that's really nice of you." Adrien said surprised.

"There was also a pragmatic reason to it." Mary said taking off her glasses. "I'm assuming because of his father's business. I remember him mentioning it."

"I still would have done either way. But the Gabriel brand is a nice bonus to everything as a subsidiary to XanTech, and don't worry about the model. I have more people modeling the products with you to allow for a more flexible schedule. And the moment you're eighteen, I'll hand the reins of the brand to you as it is rightfully yours." Yuki said humbly.

"Thank you, Yuki…but there's…"

"I'm not done yet. Yes, the Agreste mansion still exists and is yours. There's a portal lined up in your walk-in closet connecting it to your closet back in your room there in Paris. While I do want you to attend school here, I'd figure you'd want to see see that girl of yours." Yuki said as Adrien lit up. "And Blade, I've sent the address of your friends to your phone."

Adrien was racing to his room only for Mary to stop him.

"Your father didn't dismiss you." Mary said playfully.

"It's fine. He just wants to see her…but I do want to let you know that this setup is a bit weird, but I want to do my best, Adrien." Yuki said. "Welcome to the Azure family, I'll call you when we'll have dinner together. Oh, and one last thing to both of you, we need have a family maid. I'll introduce you to her after she's down with her vacation."

"Merci." Adrien said before rushing into his room.

"I guess I'll go and see my friends then. I don't know if I can call you Dad. I'm a bit too old for that to happen quickly and you're clearly too young to be a dad." Blade snarked.

"I'm 20." Yuki remarked. "And in my world, teen fathers are…far too common."

"Regardless, I'll take what I can get. I always wanted one again…to ease the burden of taking that role." Blade said showing a bit of exhaustion in his tone.

He simply hugged Blade who returned it.

"Go pay your friends a visit." Yuki said before Blade broke off the hug to get his things before leaving the house.

"Damn, how much is this place worth?" Mary said looking around.

"A little over 1 million. This is Penthouse Suite 3. Suite 2 is yours." Yuki said leaving through the door as she excitedly followed.

Her penthouse suite reminded her of her old place except a lot less messy. Exercise equipment and a training dummy were in a corner.

"It's beautiful." Mary said looking out at the city from the balcony. "The seductive interior is a nice touch. I recall there's a garage here with several cars with my name on them."

"What can I say…I'm good to my people." Yuki said.

"If we weren't busy, I'd show you how appreciative I am on my bed." Mary said bluntly.

"Well…work can wait." Yuki said. "We got plenty of…"

He was thrown onto the bed before he could finish.

[-]

[Goma Street, Vespucci Beach, Neo Los Santos]

Lapis looked at herself in the mirror in her apartment, a small but well-furnished place near the beach. It was an odd choice for a CEO of a company, but she never really needed much. Though considering she did have others place in USR made that notion debatable…plus she shared a nice house in Paleto Bay with her sister. She raised an eyebrow at the outfit she was in.

An ocean blue rolled up, long sleeved untucked dress shirt with dark blue tie with the XanTech logo on it, carbon suit slacks, black dress boots, gold diamond stud earrings, a Gold iFruit Link watch on her right hand, and an engagement ring on her middle finger.

She headed out to her living room to get her cellphone.

"Cell Phone just rolls off the tongue better than calling it a scroll." Lapis said to herself before calling Jaune up. "Hey Jaune, how you holding up?"

"My family is freaking out over the engagement ring on my finger when I video called them." Jaune said sheepishly. "Did you buy it or did I because this thing is probably worth more than what my parent's make in a year?"

"Of course, I paid for it. I asked you to marry me, silly." Lapis teased. "Just be glad I didn't fall for Ivory's trick of getting you a dog collar to make you mine….like the Mistralians claim to 'do'."

They laughed.

"But where are you? I could use some company…and I'm pretty sure you live here too." Lapis said warmly.

"I'm not too far away from you. I'm at Sloth Slacks…you know Ren and Nora's restaurant." Jaune said.

"On my way over." Lapis said. "Love you."

"Love you too." Jaune said before hanging up.

She left for her car.

[-]

[Sloth Stacks, Del Perro Pier, Neo Los Santos]

For Nora, it was all a dream come true. She'd kiss Yuki if she was not 'together together' with Ren. Her own pancake place with her own emblem of a cute sloth sleeping on a stack of pancakes. The location was prime for business. Ren was pleased they had employees, ironically several of them were former gangbangers from the various Stilwater Gangs.

"This is it; we're living the dream." Nora said contently. "But…Pyrrha's not here."

Ren and Jaune both looked a bit down. The three had gotten a text from Pyrrha, to which along the lines she was living on the Aura Islands…and was essentially cutting ties for a time to 'find herself'.

"I don't blame her, but I'm surprised she wants to be a ninja." Ren remarked as he put down an order for a customer.

"At least she's not drowning her in ice cream feeling sorry for herself." Nora said before eyeing the engagement ring on her finger. "But there's something I need to ask you."

Ren raised an eyebrow only for Nora to tell him what he preferred for their wedding. Ren stammered only for him and Jaune to gain a memory…of Lapis and Nora wanting a double wedding.

"Well…I'm sure what you and Lapis will pick will be fine." Ren sputtered.

"I want kids."

Ren choked on his own spit hearing Nora say that. Their employees looked at Ren with a bit of pity.

"What? I said this was going to be a family business." Nora said completely serious. "And I meant it."

Ren was sweating nervously. It was not if he could not do it…but he was a bit scared of becoming a parents. Even if he wanted to be one…he just did not expect Nora to want to be a mother so soon.

"And I'll make sure we put in a lot of work to knock me up. You'll get some good exercise out of it, dear. I'll even wear that nice ling…"

Ren shut her up with a kiss to get her to stop leaving Jaune to raise an eyebrow as Lapis came in being followed by Lazuli and Adam.

"So, my sister's apparently living next door to me." Lapis said, taking a seat. "Hey…"

Unlike the two couples, Lazuli and Adam already sported wedding rings.

"I'm surprised you two have those already." Jaune remarked.

"Adam and I have been together for far too long to be simply engaged." Lazuli remarked. "Now with the loss of my kingdom, I don't have to worry about royal standing to prevent us from being together in full."

Adam just blushed.

[-]

[Vinewood Hills, Neo Los Santos]

Her home was a rather fancy stilt house, and Kelly took it in stride. She finished putting on her clothes for work: a green turtleneck under a black blazer, a black pencil skirt, dark leggings, a purple tassel scarf, diamond studs, painted white nails, red lipstick, a silver sports watch, and low purple heels.

She went out to her living room to see Cinnabon in his fancy playpen to which she took him out of to hold.

"I missed you so much." Kelly said kissing his head and petting him.

She was interrupted by a knock on the door, and she put him down to answer it to see one of the Loud kids and their mother.

"You?!" The other squeaked in surprised.

"Oh, thanks heavens, we're neighbors. Makes this easier. Lana's pet frog, Hop, leapt out of the window into your yard." Rita said sheepishly.

Kelly took a whiff before turning and giving a low whistle that drew a bird, Cinnabon, and the frog in question.

"Hops!" Lana said taking him up as the bird right away. "There you are."

"You're quite welcome." Kelly said before getting her purse and putting Cinnabon on her shoulder. "Now if you excuse me."

Kelly stepped out of her home before locking the door.

"I got a meeting to get to." She said sauntering to her garage.

It opened up to show a few expensive cars, a company car, motorcycles, and a bicycle.

"….I guess I have to get used to that." Kelly said sheepishly.

"Maybe I should get in my garage to see what I have." Rita said.

Kelly spied her mother's car…though it was different in build and now appeared as an Annis Elegy RH8 and had a livery of green bunnies on the sides and hood. She simply got in putting Cinnabon in the other seat before strapping him in. She started up the car before getting on a pair of green wraparounds before taking off as the garage closed behind her.

Lana and Rita walked back over to their home where the rest of the family was outside waiting for them.

"So how was the neighbor?" Luna said strumming her new guitar.

"It was one of them. One of Yuki's teammates." Rita said as they balked.

"And one of the CEOs of XanTech." Lisa remarked leaving at her cell phone. "Speaking of which, I need a ride to a XanTech meeting."

"May as well check the garage?" Lynn Junior said walking to it only for open automatically. "Holy shit!"

Inside was several rides. Vanzilla was replaced with a shiny beige Mammoth Patriot Stretch. The parents were drooling at the pair of classic Polaris V8s that were clearly their personal cars. Lori gazed in smugness over her sky-blue convertible Dewbauchee Rapid GT. A few bikes were found and Lincoln putting a circular band on his left hand knowingly aware of what it hid. However, there was a car with a white sheet with a note on top addressed to Leni.

'To my muse and designer. Sincerely, Yuki'

It was in fancy handwriting as Leni pocketed that note before removing the sheet. The car under the sheet was expensive…dwarfing the other cars in price. A seafoam green Pegassi Ingus with white stripes.

"A Pegassi Ingus…" Lincoln balked. "Those things cost over 2 mil!"

"It's customized." Lana said eyeing it up. "Bumper, fender, skirts…it's got the works."

"Oh, come on!" Lori screamed. "Why does she get the fancy car?"

"Lori, be grateful you even have a car." Lynn Sr. said firmly.

"To be honest, we're literally living in a house we could never afford in our old lives." Luna said as Leni get in to find the car keys. "And we've been kicked up from lower middle class to being among the wealthy."

That realization dawned on them.

"Or at least upper middle class." Lisa remarked getting in Leni's car. "I'll need to have a look at our finances to make sure. Now about my ride to the meeting."

"Where to?" Leni asked.

"Portola Drive, Rockford Hills." Lisa said as Leni drove them out.

"Wait a second…" Lola said as she pulled out a cell phone of her pocket. "We have phones."

The Loud kids all pulled out their phones…all which were fancier models. Considering most of them did not have their own cell phones, this was a nice bonus.

"Well, I'm out of here." Lincoln said activating the band.

That band glowed and Lincoln was suddenly on a hoverboard. He confidently rode off with leaving Lola fuming.

"MOM! Why does Lincoln have a hoverboard?!"

[-]

[Hillcrest Avenue, Vinewood Hills, Neo Los Santos]

Ivory was admiring the view of her new house, a swanky stilt house high up in the hills. She was grateful for her own space and was itching for some company. She took out her phone to call Yuki up only to hear moaning.

"Yuki?" She asked.

"Sorry, the boss is a bit preoccupied." Mary said.

Ivory could her a slapped behind.

"Yuki, what the hell?! First you bang that cultist and now the assistant! Damn it, I've been wanting that man meat and you keep skipping me over!" Ivory said fuming. "Where are you?!"

"Ivory, I know you're upset…and I'll make it up to you. But…damn, we got a meeting to make. At the usual place…you know where it is." Yuki said before Ivory recalled it. "Yeah, there. I'll see you there!"

He hung up on her as Ivory threw off her robe before getting dressed. Some dark lacey lingerie was a must with matching sheer stockings connected to some garters to highlight her legs. She donned a cream camisole under a charcoal long suit jacket, black pencil skirt, cream-colored high heels, a gold watch on her left right, a purple floral bow scarf, gold hoop earrings, and a pair of gold slim glasses. She splashed some makeup on her face before getting lipstick on her face. Snagged her purse before leaving the house confidently with a powerful stride to her garage as it opened.

"Never thought I'd be a powerful CEO, but here I am. Let's take…this one." Ivory said striding into her cream white Imponte Sabre Turbo.

She started it off enjoying the purr of the engine before taking off.

[-]

[Portola Drive, Rockford Hills, Neo Los Santos]

Team YUKI may have had their own places, but they all had a few places the four of them co-owned. One of them was a mansion on Portal Drive, built with the Spanish Renaissance style like the other mansions also having a pool, a hot tub, a tennis and basketball court. The New Dragon's Den. The board of directors, Niko, and Ilia were already inside sitting around waiting the others to show up.

The squeal of tires got their attention as the gate to the property opened up. Lapis's Grotti Turismo Classic drove in and parked before both her and Jaune got out of the car.

"I still don't get it. How the absolute hell did I became co-owner of a nightclub…let alone a bodyguard for the Malachite twins?" Jaune asked.

"It keeps you in LS." Lapis said simply.

Ivory, Kelly, and Leni's cars all came in.

"Even with the world changing, you still look the same." Ivory said getting out of her car.

"Love you too, Ivory." Lapis said sarcastically as the others got out.

"Apologies for my older sibling, my parental figures insisted she'd stick around." Lisa said.

"No issue at all…I don't think we're dealing with anything too confidential. Plus, I think she's supposed to be here." Ivory said before removing her glasses. "Leni Loud, right?"

"Yeah, that's me." Leni said happily.

A portal opened between them as a rough looking Yuki came out. Shirt rumpled, the tie was in his pocket, the shirt collar was unbuttoned a bit, lipstick kisses were on the side on his neck, and his hair was ruffled. Mary followed out of the portal with her hair down and looking a bit sweaty. Bite marks were on her neck trailing down.

"Miss…I believe there's a glob of seminal fluid on the back of your skirt." Lisa said as Mary looked at the back of her skirt.

"Yuki, you got it on my skirt." Mary said as Lapis used her semblance to remove it. "Thank you."

Ivory sighed and wordlessly got out a few things from her purse to clean Yuki's neck and face up.

"You can't waltz into the meeting like that." She said tying his tie around his neck. "Professionals have standards."

Serena appeared and fixed his hair and his shirt, but he left the collar up.

"Funny that it's you saying that." Yuki said gently.

"I made an effort to look good." Ivory said with a pout. "Besides, you're the head honcho."

"It still feels like a dream…even if it is bittersweet." Yuki remarked with a pang of sadness. "I'll explain when we're inside."

He spotted Pamela Isley working the garden as everyone else was heading inside. He walked over to her looked appreciative.

"I see that the garden looks absolutely divine." Yuki said as Pamela chuckled.

"So, this is what you're having me do…be your glorified gardener for all your properties." Pamela playfully snarked. "I had a feeling I would have woken up chained to a bed."

"I'm not a madman. Plus, your abilities are insanely useful, so I figured I'd give you something to do that pays decent." Yuki said. "Besides, I felt I would have to actually give you something to do to keep you but having to deal with Harley's shit all the time. Apologies for the living situation, but I did had to 'rush' a few details. You do have to start from the bottom."

"Vespucci Canals is the bottom? The low-end apartment you put me, Harley, and Leslie is a palace compared to the worst of Gotham." Pamela remarked. "You put us practically near the beach. How much did the apartment even cost?"

"80 grand. I fully intend to move you and Leslie to your own places, I just wanted to give Harley a false sense of security. I'll give you a ride back to the apartment, but I need to deal with a meeting first." Yuki said before going inside.

Pamela would have felt bad for Harley, but considering how things ended up…she was simply glad she was not on Yuki's shitlist.

"You're late." Roman teased.

"I'm sorry about that." Yuki said having a seat at the table. "Junior, how's the nightclub business?"

"Actually, I've retired from that to get into producing television shows for Valentine Media. The twins are running a nightclub of their own with Lapis's fiancé." Junior said as a butler set a tray of drinks on the table.

"The Shady Specter." Jaune said remembering a bit about the club.

"It's nice to not have to worry about the Grimm anymore. I can put my talents towards better technology." Peach said excitedly before calming down. "And it warms my heart to know your and the following generations don't have to suffer the endless war."

"I mean this world isn't exactly perfect…but I guess we can live with people fighting each other instead of the Grimm." Junior said with a shrug.

"After all…we're at the top of our game. Wealthy and no longer having to deal with certain problems anymore. The world is ours."

Neo said this while taking a glass.

"To XanTech and the new status quo." Neo said raising a glass.

"Cheers to that!" Mary said as everyone got a drink to clink glasses.

"By the way, where's Adam, Ilia?" Yuki asked.

"With his wife at the moment, he'll be a little late." Ilia said.


(A/N: No, this isn't the end. I realized that the grand finale is going to be a long one and had to be divided into parts. Tragically, it is bittersweet with the loss of CASL, but that will be explained by Cabanilla's spin off "R4S: CASL Doctrine". I wanted the grand finale bouncing between several characters showing their new lives. Neo can speak just fine. And a fun fact that probably won't be mentioned: Yuki's safehouse would be Franklin's second one in GTA V.)