Garu sat in silence. From the other room, he could hear the muffled voices of Abyo and his father, but his mind was far away from them.

Mato had asked him if he wanted to explain, but Garu refused. And not simply because he didn't know how to explain; he refused to believe what Botan had forced him to do. In the same way one refuses to believe a wonderful dream wasn't real. Was it a dream? He could only wonder. Watching the world from behind his own eyes certainly felt like a dream. There was no way this could all be real.

So Garu stayed in the dark, wondering what to think. He could somehow tell Botan was still unconscious, but there was no telling how long he would stay that way.

So, what's the plan now? he thought to himself.

Do I need a plan, he wondered back, when I have no idea what's happening?

He nodded. Good point. I should just wait for my dad to get back and we can sort everything out. Somehow…

You're talking to yourself again.

I know, he thought. It was never this bad until you –

He cut himself off. His eyes widened, his heart began to race. Oh no.

An image flashed before his eyes; the evil grin Tobe had worn all those years ago, with those frenzied eyes and blood trickling down his face. He exclaimed softly, jumping in surprise. In that moment, he lost control once again.

"Thank you, Garu," he heard his own warped voice hiss. "I couldn't have done it if you weren't so easy to scare." He felt his lips curve into a smirk.

Botan! Garu thought frantically. You weren't supposed to… why did you wake up?

"Perhaps Fate is on my side after all." He chuckled.

Stop doing that!

"Doing what?" Botan asked aloud, but then his smirk grew. "Oh, you mean talking? Hah, you wish! I will do WHATEVER I WANT with this body!" he screamed. He chuckled once again, giving in almost immediately to manic cackling. He leapt to the ninja's feet and raced down the hall.

Almost immediately after turning the corner, he ran into Mato again.

Both of them stumbled back, a little shaken, but nonetheless regained their composure. Mato reached for his sword reflexively, his hand resting there even after he noticed whom he was confronting. He gasped sharply upon seeing his son's enraged face.

"Ha!" Botan mocked him. "You coward; you're just as easily startled as your pathetic son!"

Mato's shock turned instantly to rage. "It's called being alert, Botan. You were always so easy to distract that I expect you know nothing about it."

"I merely observe small details that you're too ignorant to notice!" Botan countered.

Mato only seemed angrier. He pulled back his fist to knock that cocky grin off his face… until he realized just whom he would be fighting. He groaned and slapped himself on the forehead with his other hand. Botan laughed cruelly at the sight.

"Come on, Mato, what're you waitin' for?" Abyo yelled. Garu saw him sitting at the dining room table, where he had been listening to Mato's story about Botan. "You can knock him out again, right?"

Mato turned around to glare at him. "I could, but I can't risk it! Last time was only because I didn't know Garu was still… I mean, I just…" Mato sighed. "I have no idea what's going on, okay? All I know is that my son is.. possessed, I guess. And I don't want to take any unnecessary risks."

Botan prepared to punch Mato while he was distracted. Mato, seeing Abyo's eyes widen, leaned out of the way just in time, sticking out his leg as Botan stumbled forward from the momentum. The ghost, however, stuck out his hands to catch himself, threw himself into the air, flipped around to face Mato, and landed on both feet.

"Hmm," he muttered, impressed. "Garu is much more agile than Tobe was." He sneered once again. "More than I can say for you, old man."

"Which one of us is dead?" Mato answered.

Botan chuckled. "It's good to have you back, my old friend!"

Perhaps hoping he had distracted his "old friend" with this comment, he leapt at him in a soaring kick. Undaunted, Mato caught his foot in his hands, spinning him and attempting to throw him. Before he could, Botan grabbed both his hands and, kicking off from his chest, sent them both flying across the room.

Garu's agility helped Botan land perfectly on his feet; Mato, however, slipped as he attempted to land, stumbling backward just a bit. But it was enough. Botan grabbed one of the shuriken from the wall beside him and threw it directly at him. However, it clanged softly as it was swatted away by a pair of nunchucks.

Abyo smiled, pleased by how cool the move was. "You know," he said offhandedly, "this technically makes it two against two."

His smile vanished after receiving glares from Mato, Botan, and (unseen) Garu.

"I will not tolerate interlopers this time!" Botan exclaimed. He rushed at Garu's friend, who forgot his nunchucks in his shock, simply bracing himself for impact. Mato rushed between them.

"Have you really stooped to attacking children?" he growled. Botan, in response, flinched toward him, menacing. He jumped back defensively, and Botan laughed once.

"Too easy," he said through his teeth. He grabbed Mato's hand, throwing him across the room, and they were off once again.

Abyo paid the two no mind; he was, for once, deep in thought. When he'd called Mato and Garu easy to scare, he vaguely remembered something Chang had once said about fear. Oh, what was it? He knew it was important! Easy to scare… scare, fear- control! Easy to control–

"That's IT!" he shouted, noticing only too late that it had been out loud. The other two stared at him, so he decided to continue. "Garu? I'm not sure if you can hear me right now, but… remember what Chang told us that one time? About letting go of fear in a battle? Well, this is your battle, and this guy Botie-"

"BOTAN!" the ghost screeched.

"Yeesh, sorry," Abyo muttered. "Anyway, he's using fear to control you, so if you can -"

"Who is this idiot anyway?" Botan groaned. He seemed very self-satisfied, and so he tried to distract him from his point. Unfortunately, it seemed to work.

"Are you talking about ME?" Abyo yelled.

"No," he said, rolling his eyes, "the other shirtless Bruce Lee wannabe with nunchucks. By the way, who uses those things in a real battle? Everyone knows they're just for training and kung-fu movies."

"They are not! You're just saying that because you couldn't handle such a complex weapon!"

"Of course; I could never master the art of twirling a stick on a chain."

While Botan and Abyo continued their petty argument, Mato simply watching in annoyance, Garu stirred inside his mind. He had been dormant before. But Abyo's words had gotten through to him. It was true, whenever Botan managed to take control of him; it was because he had shocked him into letting go. So if he could calm himself down, he could regain it.

He disconnected himself from everything, from the sounds and sights of the outside world. He simply floated in his own mind. No, not floated… it was more like he was suspended. In complete silence, pitch darkness, perfect serenity.

As he meditated, he could feel his strength slowly return to him. His heart and breath slowed, no longer frantic and fearful. But still, not a leisurely pace. It now held in it determination, purpose. With his power regained, he knew what he needed to do. As quickly as he could, he extended himself back into his body, pushing Botan down with all his might.

The screams were even worse back in his head. What have you done? This is OUTRAGEOUS! Release me! Let me go you sneaky, traitorous… You're just as cowardly as your pathetic father, you-

He went on, yelling out every insult he could think of (including a few that will not be rewritten here). Frightening images flashed in Garu's mind, brought on by this intense rage. Garu forced himself to ignore it all, opening his eyes and finally regaining control.

The first thing he saw was Abyo's terrified face, at the same time he felt the grip of a sword in the hand by his side. Abyo must have finally gotten the best of Botan (or the worst). Calmly, he tossed the sword aside.

Abyo sighed deeply, laying back against the wall and nearly fainting from relief. "Garu," he sighed. "You were just in time; thanks bud. Oh, and just a tip," he added. He chuckled nervously. "There are plenty of 'fighting spirit' jokes to use in a situation like this, but, um… take my advice: Botan does NOT like jokes."

Garu half-scoffed, half-laughed at his strange friend's advice. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and turned to see Mato smiling.

"Good job, Garu. Are you sure you've got him under control this time?"

Garu flinched as another ear-piercing shriek rang in his head, but he took a few deep breaths to calm himself and nodded. His father looked at him with sympathy once again.

"Well, then I think it's time he heard something. Can he still hear me?"

Of course I can hear you! My senses are the same as Garu's, so I have no choice but to listen to your stupid-

Garu nodded.

"Good. Then, Botan, I think you need to hear this."

Sure, I'm not going anywhere. Why not torture me some more?

"That night, before the final battle-"

Oh, here he goes with the excuses.

Will you shut it with the smarmy remarks and listen? Garu thought. This must be important!

Botan would have snapped back, but then they both realized something: Mato had stopped talking. His face looked pained, and faintly melancholy.

"That night… my wife came to me." He cleared his throat. "She wanted to fight with me. I knew she could. But I told her we needed someone to protect you." He gestured to Garu. "She understood. That should have been it. Then I had to go and ask why she was there in the first place, instead of looking out for you." He made an expression as if he were hitting himself in the head. …Were those tears?

He shook his head. "We fought. Needless to say, I lost. She ran back… I assumed she went back home. The next morning, I was still so angry with her, and even more with myself. I took it out on anyone I saw." He met Garu's eyes once again. "And that included you, Botan. I didn't listen to your story, because in my state of anger, frankly, it sounded ridiculous. But when I found out… I didn't run because I was afraid, Botan." His voice was finally steady now. "I ran so that I could set things right. I had to get rid of the other spies. Unfortunately, the others didn't have time to listen to my explanation of why I'd been killing off their teammates. Remember that mob that was outside our house that night, Garu?"

How could I ever forget?

"My enraged former colleagues. They found out eventually what happened. Well, the gist of it, anyway. But by then, I was in hiding. I planned on visiting you someday, when I thought you'd had time to adjust to your new life." He sighed. "But I never did. For the same reason I didn't listen to Botan, or that I never looked for your mother. I was… I was too afraid."

At first, he was met only with silence. Even Botan stayed quiet in Garu's head.

Garu felt something, like a knock on a door, in his mind. Botan must have wanted to say something. He could tell all hostility had vanished. So, Garu allowed Botan to step back out into his consciousness.

"Do you… did you mean all that, Mato?"

Mato nodded.

"You did believe me after all." His eyebrows lowered. "But that doesn't change the past," he said, gesturing down to the thirteen-year-old body he now inhabited.

"I know. And I know I can never make up for what I did. I killed a member of my own team, and worse… I killed my best friend."

Botan thought about it. All four were silent for a long time, Garu not daring to intrude into his thoughts. "Now that I think about it… I was perfectly prepared to die," he mumbled. "When they took me. They gave me a choice, 'work for us or die'. And… I was ready. I'd served my time. I'd helped my team and I'd lived a great life." He smiled. "Most of it was thanks to you. But I at least wanted to see if I could somehow salvage that."

After a long silence, he finally added, "Even though it didn't work, I guess… when it all comes down, I'm glad you believed me, and (I guess) tried to avenge me." Mato smiled back.

Suddenly, Garu felt a cold wind against his back. At least, it seemed equivalent of wind. It blew outward from him, as if expelling some cold burden. He watched, transfixed, as the image of Botan appeared in from of him. His head felt strangely lighter.

"For what it's worth," Botan said, "I've forgiven you."

Mato sighed, his eyes shining. "It's worth everything," he choked.

Botan extended a hand, and Mato shook it. Their eyes stayed locked together even as the ghostly form began to fade away.

"Goodbye, old friend." This time, it meant something completely different.

When he was gone, Mato found himself staring into his son's eyes.

"Okay, do either of you know what the heck just happened?" Abyo whispered.

Mato let out a soft laugh and Garu rolled his eyes. Both the ninja smiled at each other, exchanging a hug that had been long overdue.

"I've missed you, son," Mato said.

Garu grunted, about to reply, when he stopped himself, covering his mouth just in case. Mato saw this and smiled.

"You never meant to break silence, did you, Garu?" Garu shook his head. "And technically, you never did; it was Botan's doing. Therefore, you may continue your period of silence as if he never made you speak."

Garu practically laughed with relief; he only stopped himself because he was still light-headed. He leaned toward his father, getting ready to hug him again.

A light outside his window distracted him.

"Wow, is it morning already?" Abyo said. Garu just groaned.

"Garu? What's wrong now?"

The ninja sighed. Monday, he thought. Time to go to work.


OMGOMGOMG! IT'S FINALLY DONE! Wow, I sat down and wrote this in less than three hours; I love Friday nights! :P Of course, it's about 2:30 at the time, so… not night anymore!

Thanks to everyone who supported me during the course of this fanfic! I was on a longer hiatus than I expected because of my collab story with my sister, titansgirl-otherstuff. But I'm done (with the hiatus) now! And I have Tiesto to thank! (Seriously, I listened to both discs of Tiesto's "In Search of Sunrise 6" while writing this and was done by the end of the second-to-last song. If you need any music to motivate you while you write, allow me to suggest him. ;D)

So, what'd you think? A lot of the things turned out much differently than I'd planned them, but I like it that way; when the story just starts throwing these minor plot twists at you while you're writing, like "hey, what if THIS happened instead?" Whatever, you understand me if you're a writer. :)

And now, for my next big challenge. You all have been such faithful readers, waiting so patiently for this chapter, that I'll give you a special treat that even I wasn't planning on: Garu's New Job! Starting this Monday, I'll be working on a spinoff featuring Garu working as one of Tobe's ninjas (written in journal format; it's just so fun to write)! And the best part is, I'm gonna update EVERY DAY. For a whole WEEK!

Or at least, that's what I'm hoping for. I really hope that can work out, but for now, you'll just have to wait and see. ;)

I love all my readers more than I could ever say, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this new conclusion. Of course, don't take it off your alert list JUST yet; there may be some surprises down the road. :D

Oh, and just one last thing before I go. I stayed up until almost three in the morning writing this chapter. The computer I wrote it on wouldn't connect to the internet, and I couldn't find my flash drive to take it to the other computer. So I used my mp3 player instead.

This story has definitely helped me grow and improve my writing, and it tested me a lot in ways. After reading the results one last time, I think I've managed to pass. ;)

Thanks so much to everyone for your continued support; I'm looking forward to those reviews!

See you Monday!