AN: Here we are with the final chapter. In the first draft, this and the second portion of the previous chapter made up the original final chapter. Again though, it was a little too long for my liking. Anyway, here, we catch up with a majority of events from Kingdom Fall. If any of you would like to read the events of these stories in absolute chronological order, it would be the first eleven chapters of this story, then the first twelve chapters of Kingdom Fall, come back and read this chapter, and finally end with the last two chapters of the other story. That's not a request or anything, just something for those who might be interested in doing something like that.
Ch 12: Eight Years Later
"Okay, Class, here are the grades on your papers," Melon says into his laptop's speaker.
The many faces on the screen make various expressions after they read the emails that the hybrid sent. Most are quite happy.
"The majority of you did very well. Ken? Did you throw something together at the very last minute because you went on a date again?"
"Yeah," the duck in the upper left corner of the screen admits.
"I'm glad you have a thriving personal life now, but you need to buckle down with this if you hope to get the job you want."
"Yes, Professor Melon."
In the eight years since he was let out of prison, Melon has become an online tutor with a most impressive track record. He started up his website not that long after moving in with Sebun so he'd have something to do during the day while she's at work. Plus, it lets him utilize his PhD in History. He didn't have any students during that first month, but in eight years, the hybrid has had a revolving door of students that has stayed within the double digits.
Melon's phone alarm goes off. "Time for me to go pick up my wife from work. Read the first half of Chapter Sixteen in your textbooks, then send me the notes. See you guys tomorrow."
"Bye, Professor Melon," the entire class calls out to the hybrid, some with waves.
Melon shuts off the laptop and stands.
Sebun and Melon aren't actually married. His criminal record prevents them from being able to. Still, the two are so devoted to each other that they use the words "husband" and "wife" freely.
The hybrid takes a look around the apartment. 'Nostalgia sometimes gets me to miss our old place at the Hidden Condo, but I'm glad we live here now. We have more space, a bathroom to ourselves, and the walls aren't paper thin in this building. I can still remember all of the noise complaints we got after our first night together. Sebun and I had to promise the other tenants we would keep it down.' Melon smiles to himself. 'Didn't always work. How can anyone expect us to stay quiet when we're so good together?' He heads for the door, patting the picture frame that holds Yafya's photo before he leaves (this is a habit Melon picked up as a good luck charm).
Outside, a few passerby wave to the leopard-gazelle hybrid.
Melon waves back. 'In the years since Sebun and I moved here, some of the locals got to know us. None of them are friends, more like friendly acquaintances. Still, it's nice not having a lot of judging animals around us.'
A zebra man ends up walking beside Melon. Recognizing the hybrid, he strikes up a little conversation. "How's the tutoring business going?"
Melon glances at the zebra with confusion before going along with it. "It's good. I have over twenty students right now."
"Glad to hear it. You getting groceries or just on a stroll?"
"I'm picking up my wife from work."
"Your wife? I didn't know you were married."
"Not legally. In spirit."
"Still, good for you finding a partner in life."
"Thanks."
The two reach an intersection.
The zebra looks all around before facing Melon again. "So…which way are you going to go?"
The hybrid points to his right.
"I'm keeping straight. Nice talking with you." The zebra walks away.
The hybrid goes his own way, now realizing why the semi stranger talked to him.
The whole world has gone through a shift concerning hybrids after what's now referred to as the Philip Incident. All of the young deer-wolf hybrid's actions, the reveal of his past, and his near suicide sent shockwaves everywhere. This was made even more intense by Philip's parents' (Louis the Red Deer and Juno the Grey Wolf) determination to help him despite everything he'd done, their calming words to him to talk him down from committing suicide, the despair they had felt when he accidentally shot himself, and especially the pair's desperate struggle to get back to their grievously injured son after being pulled away by police officers.
Melon and Sebun had seen these events as they happened. After the fact, the two noticed a change in those around them. Those that had kept their distance from them or given the couple the stink eye were suddenly talking to them as if they were normal and even trying to be friendly. The pair quickly guessed this was a conscious effort to change their behavior after seeing that the Philip Incident was the kind of thing that could result from unwelcoming and prejudiced actions.
Melon soon arrives outside the Metal Mouse building and he waits for Sebun to come out of there. 'I remember how happy she was getting the new job even if she was frustrated with my tactics. To make doubly sure it stuck, I called Juno and suggested she and Legoshi visit Sebun at work some time. I knew Legoshi would be against such an underhanded tactic, so I told Juno to keep the truth behind the visit a secret.' The hybrid smirks to himself. 'Sebun was able to figure out what I did pretty quickly and was pretty pissed about it. Still, she couldn't help but enjoy her boss just about having a mental breakdown over how well connected she is.'
Sebun exits the building, deep in conversation with someone on her phone.
'Metal Mouse quickly realized how capable she was and they gave her more promotions. Now, she's one of the higher ups. She's behind the company hiring more herbivores, none forced to be therapy animals since that position was eliminated soon after Legoshi and Juno's visit. The Philip Incident being on everyone's minds led Sebun to push for Metal Mouse to start selling the athletic footwear to herbivores too, not just carnivores.' Melon smiles. 'That's my wife, causing great change.'
Sebun hangs up her phone. Seeing her husband is there waiting for her, she runs over and hugs him with a big smile. "I had a great day at work."
The hybrid kisses the sheep. "I'm glad to hear it. You ready for tonight?"
"You bet. Do we need to shop for anything?"
"Nope. Everything's set."
"Great. Let's go."
The couple heads home hand in hand.
Later…
Melon and Sebun have their dining table set for six.
"Do you think they'll be here soon?" the sheep asks her husband.
There's a knock at the door.
The hybrid smirks at his wife. "I'd say…probably." He heads over to the door and opens it with a smile. "Hey, guys. Dinner's all ready."
Without so much as a hello, Haru rushes inside the apartment, excited for the meal. "Oh, yay! I'm starving!"
Legoshi walks in without looking at Melon, his face looking guilty for some reason.
Juno clasps the hybrid's hand. "I just wanted to say in advance…I'm sorry." She follows the others inside.
Before Melon can ask, his nose picks up very familiar scents. He turns his head and feels his stomach twist.
Standing nearby are five lions who are staring at the hybrid.
'It's my old gang…the Shishigumi.' Melon closes the door behind him as he slowly goes over to the lions. "It really has been a long time."
Silence is the only answer the lions give.
The leopard-gazelle hybrid takes a deep breath. "Look, we're all aware I was a shit boss to you guys. I can't do anything to change the past. All I can do is say I'm sorry." His eyes look at Dolph. "I'm sorry I sliced your neck."
The serious lion just grunts.
Melon turns to Agata. "I'm sorry I stabbed your hand with a fork."
The darkest and youngest lion flexes his hand, scars clearly visible.
The hybrid addresses every lion with the next one. "I'm sorry for restricting the food you could eat and when. Finally, I'm sorry for being an all around tyrant. If that isn't enough for you guys, you're all free to take swings at me with your fists. I'd deserve it. However, don't you get to thinking that I'll be allowing any of you to kill me. No way in hell am I letting Sebun become a widow like that."
The five lions keep staring, but it's now less angry and more shocked at how different the hybrid is.
The lion named Free laughs and runs his claws through his pompadour like mane. "Wow, you sure ain't the bastard we knew anymore!"
Dope puts a claw to his own chin as he becomes thoughtful. "While forgiving you might be a stretch, I think we can at least put away our anger and coexist peacefully."
Hino shrugs. "Besides, I've never been a fan of making ladies cry. Sebun shouldn't have to be put through that because of us."
Melon feels a little relieved. "Thanks."
"I'm glad all that has been settled," says a new voice that clearly doesn't belong to a lion. The speaker weaves through the lions and comes face to face with Melon.
The hybrid smirks. "I was wondering when you'd come out from behind them…Louis."
The red deer places his hands in his pockets. "While I certainly won't forget what you'd put my men through while you were in charge of them, keeping a grudge seems a bit pointless at this time, you being so different now. I suggest we simply move on from this event and proceed to dinner."
"Agreed." Melon looks at the lions. "You guys need another table set up to join us?"
"We've already eaten," says Agata.
"We're just here as bodyguards," says Dolph.
Melon and Louis join Sebun and the other guests in the apartment.
Dolph goes inside as well and stands to the side of the door.
Agata closes the door behind them all and remains out in the hall in front of the door like a sentry.
The other three lions leave to take their own positions (Dope sits in the lobby and pulls a book out to pretend to be reading it while keeping watch over the front door, Free places himself in an alleyway right across the street from the building and lights up a cigarette, and Hino sits in the car they drove just in case they need to make a quick getaway).
Dinner gets underway and everyone at the table makes small talk.
While this is happening, Melon is observing Louis with Juno. 'After all the hellish years he put her through, is he making up for it now? Let's see. Juno is openly affectionate with Louis. He…is not. Granted, when I'm in public with Sebun, I tend to randomly fluctuate between being extremely affectionate and almost standoffish with her. Juno just leaned over to rest her head on his shoulder. Louis looks embarrassed, but he is smiling. Oh. He scratched behind her ear. It's starting the whole canine tail wag thing. Maybe I should hold off on instantly judging him. After all, Louis was stuck in a loveless business marriage for twenty years. Affection is probably hard for him.'
At the same time, Louis is observing Melon's interactions with Sebun. 'While I certainly was impressed with what he said out in the hall, I won't be completely convinced he's a redeemed man until I see how he treats his significant other.'
Sebun picks up the salt shaker and holds it out to her husband. "Do you need salt for the salmon, Mel?"
Melon smiles at the pet name his wife used as he takes the salt shaker. "I do. Thank you, Honey."
Louis blinks. 'Wow. In that one look, I could tell that those two practically worship each other. Congratulations, Melon. You quickly passed my final test.'
The hybrid finishes salting his salmon, then looks up at the guests. "So? What made you guys want this dinner party?"
The four guests look up, none of them having expected the question.
Sebun glares at her husband. "How could you ask something like that?"
Melon looks over at his wife. "Come on. Like you didn't figure out they had an ulterior motive?"
"I did, but I wasn't going to say anything. It's rude."
"Good news, me being rude gets us to the point quicker." Melon turns to the others with a smirk. "So?"
Haru huffs and acts offended. "What a question! I mean, really!"
"That's right!" Legoshi shouts to join his wife. However, he's quickly given away by his unnatural movements and cracking voice. "Can't friends eat with friends for the sake of…being friends?"
The rabbit lets her face fall to the table. "Why are you so bad at this?"
Louis and Juno glance at each other, deciding to be honest.
"You're right," the red deer says to the hybrid. "There is a reason for us being here."
The she wolf nods. "We'd promised Philip we'd set up a home for him to live in with us while he's in juvie."
"Legoshi and Haru have been kind enough to let us stay with them."
Sebun smiles. "Must be nice sharing a home with Marie again."
Louis nods with his own little smile. "After everything that happened, I'm so happy that she's still accepting me as her father."
"Have her and Goshen visit sometime," Melon cuts in. "I haven't seen that kid since just before the wedding and I'd like to finally meet her."
Legoshi and Haru give a thumbs up.
"Louis and I have taken jobs at Haru's flower shop," says Juno. "We're saving up to buy a home for ourselves."
The stag gives Dolph an annoyed glare. "The Shishigumi are contributing their wages as well, which I'm still against."
The lion shrugs. "You're our boss and we want to help you."
"I still say you should keep your earnings for yourselves to put towards your own goals."
"Again, you're our boss and we want to help you."
Louis rolls his eyes and turns back to everyone at the table. "I've at least convinced them to keep fifty percent for themselves."
The usually stoic Dolph smirks. "Only because we knew you'd keep on arguing with us, Boss."
Juno giggles as she watches her boyfriend massage his temples from the headache he has now. "With all the work we're putting in and the fact that Louis is starting up a movement to get hybrids more rights, we've been pretty busy."
Louis brings his hands together. "We don't get to visit Philip as often as we'd like due to all this work, but we're lucky to have many friends who have taken time out of their own lives to see him."
"What does all this have to do with me?" asks Melon. He's starting to suspect what they want, but he wants actual confirmation.
"Legoshi and Haru made a suggestion," says Juno.
"I wasn't on board with it," says Louis. "Melon, the last time I had seen you, you were a psychotic murderer who was being an abusive boss towards my men. Everyone's attempts to tell me you were a changed man didn't sway me."
"That's the reason for this dinner party," Melon fills in. "You wanted visual proof that I'd changed."
Louis nods. "After witnessing your apologies to my men and also seeing you and Sebun together, I feel secure going ahead with Legoshi and Haru's suggestion."
"Which is?"
Juno takes the stag's hand. "Philip spent years on the streets. He may be clever, but he's technically behind others his age."
Louis rubs the she wolf's hand with his thumb. "Knowing you to be a very accomplished professor, we'd like to ask if you'd tutor our son."
Melon hides it, but he's overjoyed at this offer. Ever since Philip first revealed himself to the world, the leopard-gazelle hybrid felt he was seeing himself in the deer-wolf hybrid. Another hybrid striking out at a world that rejected him. Melon had wanted to talk with Philip, hoping he could calm him by virtue of their similar experiences. He felt disappointed when everything was resolved without any input needed from him. Now, he can tutor the young hybrid. The leopard-gazelle hybrid decides to put on a show of nonchalance to hide his excitement at this opportunity. "Hmm. He won't have access to laptops, so I'll have to visit him in juvie for lessons. Can't be a weekday since that's when I have regular classes. I'd like to keep one day of the weekend for me and Sebun to enjoy for ourselves. I can do Sundays."
"Thank you," says Juno.
"We'll pay whatever you ask," Louis offers the hybrid.
"Keep your money," says Melon. "Save it for getting that kid the home he never thought he could have."
Sebun smiles at her husband. "Mel? After everyone's gone, want to play chess?"
For Melon and Sebun, while they certainly play the game, it has also become the signal to let the other know they're in the mood. The two no longer keep track of the number of wins they have. However, whoever wins gets to dominate in bed that night.
The hybrid can't keep a lusty growl out of his voice. "You bet."
Legoshi, while confused by the growl, takes the couple's interaction at face value.
Louis and Juno catch the euphemism and decide to focus on their food.
Haru, on the other hand, grins mischievously. "Yeah. Get it, you two."
Melon and Sebun are mortified at being called out.
"HARU!" Louis scolds the now laughing rabbit.
Legoshi still doesn't understand. "Get what?"
Juno covers her face in embarrassment and cuts in before the wolf can get an explanation from his rabbit wife. "Haru, wait until we all get back to tell him."
"Does she have to tell him at all?" asks Louis.
"You know he'll never let it go."
Legoshi just looks around feeling confused.
Sunday…
Melon enters juvie feeling eager to get to his lesson with Philip. However, he stops in the doorway.
Sitting at the receptionist's desk is a male leopard.
'Leopard…spots.' The hybrid shakes his head. 'Stop it! Calm down! Panda Doctor had it all explained to you! Not all of the leopards in the world are like Mama and Rick! Just go and talk to him like normal!' Melon approaches the desk "I'm Melon. I'm here to see the wolf-deer hybrid named Philip."
The leopard looks up. "Right. His parents informed us you were coming. Down the hall and to the left."
'Okay. That wasn't so bad.' The leopard-gazelle hybrid starts heading in the direction he was told.
"Before you go, would you answer a personal question?"
'Dammit.' Melon turns to the desk. "What is it?"
The leopard stands up. "My wife and I have been considering having a baby recently, but our families were already against us being together. They used you as an example of why it'd be a bad idea."
"What do I have to do with this?"
"My wife is a gazelle."
That really catches Melon off guard. 'It's gender inverted, but…still another leopard and gazelle pair.' "So…I'm guessing that your families are claiming you'd bring another me into the world?"
"Specifically, who you used to be." The leopard frowns at the hybrid. "My question is…do you think they're right?"
Melon suddenly remembers back to the year after he moved in with Sebun. She had been wanting to try having kids while she was still young enough to and he only agreed to do it for her sake. As they were trying, the hybrid didn't believe for a moment he'd be any good as a dad. He secretly hoped they wouldn't conceive. When they went to a fertility doctor, he confirmed to the two that they couldn't have kids. Then, he dropped the bombshell. Melon was perfectly capable of having kids. Sebun wasn't. It wasn't menopause either. The sheep's body was never capable of conceiving children. The news left her devastated and the hybrid feeling guilty, as if he made Sebun unable to have kids just because he didn't feel he'd be any good at being a father.
Now, seeing this leopard man ready to give up on having a child just because others have told him not to fills Melon with rage. He slams his hands down on the desk. "Listen here! I had turned out the way I was because I chose to be based on circumstances! My father was a selfish coward who bailed on us the first chance he got and my mother was a mentally disturbed woman who preferred living in fantasies over facing reality! I was basically left on my own to deal with the world not accepting me! Would you and your wife do that to your kid?!"
"Absolutely not!" shouts the enraged leopard.
Instead of being scared at the anger, Melon finds himself smiling at the reason behind the anger. "Good. What'll you two do about your families?"
"We'll tell them to shut the fuck up. We love each other and want to start our own family. If they can't accept that, we don't need them in our lives."
"Glad to hear it." The hybrid walks away with a wave. "Have a nice day."
The leopard smiles, feeling he's going to be taking the first steps towards an even happier life thanks to Melon's words. "You too."
The hybrid goes down the hall and to the left as directed, where he finds a visitor's room. A whiteboard is already set up. Before he can start writing on it, the opposite door opens.
A pair of guards walk in escorting Philip, the deer-wolf hybrid.
Once he's sitting down, Philip looks up at the other hybrid. "You're Melon."
The leopard-gazelle hybrid smiles. "That's right. Whatever you might have heard of me, my goal here is to get you caught up on your education. By the way, how are the dentures?"
Philip subconsciously licks at the new carnivore dentures he needed after he shot his front teeth out by accident. "Still getting used to them."
"Alright. Now, feel free to talk about your experiences with me whenever you like. I can relate to them."
"I'll keep that in mind for future lessons."
Melon goes to the whiteboard and starts writing for the first day's lesson. He can't help it when he suddenly thinks of Yafya. 'Just look at me now, Old Man. No…Dad. Now, I'm the one that's helping a criminal hybrid. Things really have come full circle.' Once he's finished writing on the whiteboard, Melon turns to Philip with a smile. "Let's get started."
The End
AN: With that, How Love Finds the Killer Hybrid has come to an end. Slightly tragic news for you readers, but this will likely be my final story for this fandom. Don't get me wrong, I still love Beastars and even had a couple small ideas for stories concerning the characters, but nothing I felt strongly enough about to actually get into. I honestly feel I've contributed all I can to the fandom and believe now is the time to move on to other things. I'm still absolutely excited for season three of the anime to come around and I very much hope the anime rewrites that portion of the story. Before I sign off, I'd like to clear up something. Many of you have likely been under the impression that I have a negative opinion of Paru Itagaki, the creator of Beastars, based on all my comments about how much I disliked the ending to the manga. That couldn't be further from the truth. I am extremely grateful that she created this world and its characters. Even though I had an interest in writing for a long time, I credit Paru Itagaki for having me really get into it as much as I have in recent years. I may have disliked the way the manga ended, but I'm not holding some sort of grudge or anything like that. Despite the fact that her current series, Sanda, does not appeal to me, I nevertheless wish her success and happiness with it. This is Purkso Livin signing off, hoping all of you had a wonderful time reading along. Thank you, Readers.