Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King and all related copyrights.

Back after a long time, and I've made a big (sorta) decision. This will be the final chapter for Destiny. HAHAHAHA. After waiting for so long right? :/

But! It's not the end! There's a sequel. I do not know the title, but I'll decide on one by the time I finish writing out this chapter. ^^

A lot of conversation the first part. A heck of a lot. And whatever is within the square brackets is Ren's simultaneous thoughts, for the first part only.

So. Lets go! :D

Epilogue- Here's to Destiny

"I've always believed…
Destiny…
Isn't something you wait for, to sweep you off your feet.
Whether you like it or not."

"You're bleeding…"

"I've always liked to think…
That Destiny is something…
You grasp,
with your own two hands."

"Stop talking…you're bleeding…"

"Silly boy…I'm fine. Let's just stay like this for awhile…"

"But…
…

Fine."

[I just couldn't argue…when you made that face…]

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"So you don't believe in fate?"

"I do! I mean, it's silly not to, right? There are things that are out of our control in this world. Like who our parents are. People we meet. All those are not within our control, nor can we predict it."

"Then…aren't fate and destiny the same thing?"

"Heh. I'm glad you asked. In my books, Fate determines for you. Destiny is created by your choice. Mostly from what you do with the cards fate deals you."

"Its just wordplay, isn't it? You still have to go along with fate."

"Fate actually counts for nothing much. It just throws you cards, and you decide how you want to play them. For example, meeting you was fate. Falling in love with you was probably fate. But deciding to be together with you…admitting I loved you…all those decisions created part of my destiny for me."

"Makes sense…But what's the point of telling me all this suddenly?"

"I don't know. I'm just glad, I guess. Shinn's prophecy…I managed to prevent it. I fought against what was fated. What others believed was destined."

"…"

"Ren?"

"Hmm?"

"After all this…I need to leave for awhile…to settle some things…
I promise I'll come back.
I promise…
So…Don't try to find me…please?
…

…
You don't have to wait for me. Just don't try to find me.
I'm begging you…"

[How could I promise you anything like that…
And yet. I nodded my head.
Why the hell did I nod my head?]

[I guess. At that point of time, as we were sitting in the truck…it felt like the right thing to do.
I trust you.
So…
I'll be waiting for you…]

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Come back to me…

Ren was about to open his eyes when he felt someone's fingers brush his hair gently, and he opened one eye only to find Hui smiling at him. Throwing the covers off, he jumped out of the bed and stood there, glaring at Hui through his narrowed golden eyes, ignoring the trembling of his legs and the pain that shot through his body.

"Wha-"

He was about to ask what she was doing and demand that she get out of the room, but stopped himself when he realized that she was just standing there, hands clasped as she looked down at the floor, shoulders slumped. That action didn't feel fake.

Not just that. There was something different about her posture. She seemed less haughty, and strangely, kinder. He just couldn't put his finger on it.

"Where's Yoh?"

He watched as her whole face perked up when she realized that he wasn't going to chase her away. She smiled, telling him to sit and wait while she went to get Yoh-kun. It seemed that it wasn't just his imagination. She really had changed.

A hundred questions raced through Ren's mind as he sat down on the bed. How had he gotten into a room? He had been fighting, then they had rode on a truck, and the next thing he knew, he was here, wherever here was.

Ren shook his head, trying to clear the fuzziness that seemed to be preventing him from thinking clearly, and regretted the action immediately when it caused his head to spin uncontrollably. He leant back onto the wall, closing his eyes and breathing deeply.

His entire body felt weak, as if he had been running around for an entire week without rest, and parts of him hurt or ached so badly it felt as if those parts had been ripped off and glued back on. Ren raised his trembling right hand up to his face, taken aback but not surprised to see that it was bandaged. He could vaguely remember that he had hurt it, but he could not recall how for the life of him.

Ren growled in dissatisfaction. It wasn't right for a Tao not to know things. A Tao knew everything, and yet here he was, with huge blanks in his memory.

"Ren! You're awake!"

Ren turned around at Yoh's greeting, and his jaw dropped when the rest of the gang followed behind Yoh. And indeed, Horo Horo, Ryu and Choco Love fighting to fit in through the door was quite a sight to behold. Annoyed at the hold up, Anna and Hao kicked the three idiots, sending them flying towards the bed.

Ren muttered a few curses as he watched the three idiots looming down on him with pained expressions on their faces, quickly rolling off the bed.

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"Kaede's dad was really nice about it, no questions asked, even though he looked surprised when we said Shinn was Lyn's brother."

Ren nodded thoughtfully as Yoh finished his sentence. He had had his memory return slowly as Yoh recounted the events that had landed him here, in a guest bedroom at Kaede's mansion. But he was not satisfied with Yoh telling him what he had missed and remembering what he had forgotten momentarily.

"Yoh. Where's Lyn?"

Yoh stared at Ren in silence for a moment, and for that moment, the whole room, including Choco Love, was silent.

"She left…"

At this, Ren let out the breath he had been holding, his shoulders shuddering as he tried to reign in his emotions. She had really gone and done it, left him alone again. He had been hoping against hope that she was still resting, or recovering, so that he could at least have said goodbye.

"She didn't even let me say goodbye…" Ren muttered, clenching his fists tightly as he bent over, feet gripping the floor tightly. The marble floor was cold to his bare skin, and sent a chill running up his legs, one that he ignored.

"She didn't want to say goodbye. She was afraid she wouldn't be able to leave."

Gritting his teeth, Ren heard this, and knew that it was true. He had known from the start. But hearing it said was a totally different thing.

"She said…not to worry…that she's got Shinn with her."

Ren's head snapped upwards at this. How could he not worry when it was Shinn with her? He would probably try to kill her or something. Sensing the cause of his worry, Yoh placed a comforting hand on Ren's shoulder, opening his mouth to speak, but closing it stupidly when Lyzerg spoke up.

"That attack she used…I don't know how…but he seemed more rational…they had a talk…they're okay now…"

Ren nodded, lowering his head so he was staring at the floor once more. The rest remained silent, as if waiting for him to say something. After several minutes of silence, Ren looked up, and saw that everyone was looking at him expectantly. Not knowing what to say, he stared at them dumbly, and they stared back.

"For goodness sake! Are you going after her or not?!" Anna demanded, glaring at him impatiently. He started at her mutely, and then at Yoh, who had a determined look on his face.

"No."

I made a promise...
To her.
I can't possibly break a promise that I've made to her.

Yoh breathed a sigh of relief at this, then dug into his pocket for something. Taking out a single silver stud, he held it out towards Ren, who took it hesitantly.

"She told me to give this to you if you promised. You don't have to wear it unless you want to. Her exact words."

Ren nodded sadly, taking the earring from Yoh. Despite his bravado, his whole mind and heart was screaming at him to go after her, to hold her close to him and never let go, never again.

Except for one part, buried deep inside of him, that trusted that they would see each other again, soon.

His words had seemed to lift a heavy weight from the atmosphere in the room, although there was a general air of disappointment as well. Everyone surrounded him, each talking to everyone else about something, no one listening to anything, everyone speaking at the same time, at the top of their lungs.

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Unnoticed, Ren slipped away, out the glass doors to the balcony. As he looked up at the midday sun, his eyes glittered with unshed tears, his face twisted upwards in an agonized smile. He recalled the day he had first met Lyn, the day of their fight at the semi-finals of the Shaman King tournament.

He turned his head slightly when he heard the door creak open, and Yoh slipped out.

"I've been wondering, Ren. Who's Cuddles?"

Ren began explaining how the nickname had come to be, smiling when he finished. Who would've thought his childhood sweetheart, a love found in the childish heart of a four year old, would turn out to be the love of his life. Truly, it was his…no…their fate. And from here, he would create his own Destiny.

Yoh headed back to the room with a grin, and Ren looked back at the sun one last time with a less pained smile, one that seemed at peace even, before heading back into the room as well.

Here's to Destiny.

END! HAHAHAHAHAHA. :D That brings Destiny to a close, really sorry that you guys had to wait so long for this unexpected ending. =.= Title…title…oh crap, I really don't know. _ UH. UH. I'll post it on my author's profile when I've decided. :/ Hahahah!

At any rate, I hope this was satisfactory! Thanks for all your support these 26 chapters, I hope you all will continue to support me! You guys have really been a great encouragement, and I'm really thankful. As always, tell me what you think, and I'll be able to try and improve from there! Thanks. ^^

By the way, I've started making AMVs as well. I've only made one so far, but I'm planning to make more, so just check out this username in YouTube if you're interested.