Notes: I was having the hardest time expanding Yusei's scenes in the fic since Yusei feels he must be strong for everyone. I did a scene with him and Antinomy, but also kept feeling I needed to do a scene with him and Kalin. I had a conversation with a couple of fellow fans (XenoEmblem4TW and NakaShigeo) to get my thoughts together and was happily convinced I was approaching Yusei correctly. I finally decided to go with an idea I'd been kicking around where Kalin starts the conversation instead of Yusei. It shows Kalin's growth as a person.

The Bunch let the two sleep for as long as they could, certain a good rest was important after everything they had been through. Instead, the Bunch collaborated with Yusei's group to plan what to do to try to get to the bottom of what had caused the crash.

"Are we going to tell everyone Kalin is okay?" Scotch wondered. "It feels wrong to keep it from them, but if it'll only put Kalin in worse danger. . . ."

"Let's not say anything for now," Yusei said. "It's not worth the risk."

Antinomy nodded. "We'll try to solve this quickly and then it will be safe to reveal the truth."

It didn't take long before they were certain the crash had been deliberately caused. The brake line had been cut neatly, as though sliced through. And Klaus confirmed it had been tuned up just days before and had been fine then.

"So what we really need to find out is who would have done this," Billy said in concern.

"Of course there's no fingerprints," Virgil said with a scowl of frustration. "That would be way too easy."

"Well, we know it must have been a Malcolm supporter," Scotch said.

"The problem is, the brake line had to be cut while the truck was up at the mines," Yusei said. "Any sooner and it would have been noticed when Klaus drove it there."

"Do any of Malcolm's supporters work at the mines?" Antinomy asked.

"No," Scotch said.

"Then we also have to consider the other employees as suspects," Antinomy said. "Would any of them have a reason to try to kill Klaus?"

"Of course not!" Scotch objected. "Everybody loves him! Well, he's gruff and all, but he's got a heart of gold!"

"What if it wasn't a hate crime, but was instead for some other reason?" Antinomy mused. "Maybe Klaus saw something he shouldn't?"

"Like what?" Virgil frowned.

"I don't know," Antinomy sighed. "But let's try talking to him about it anyway."

Klaus was baffled by the concept. He sat at his kitchen table as the others questioned him, but in the end, all he could do was helplessly shake his head.

"I didn't see anything out of the ordinary," he insisted. "There sure wasn't anything worth killing for!"

"Try to think about it anyway," Yusei implored. "Maybe something will come to you. It's important."

"I know it's important, but I'm tellin' you, I've got nothing!" Klaus said in frustration.

Antinomy didn't look defeated. "Alright," he said as he stood up. "Thank you for your time."

"I'll let you know if I come up with something, but I'm not betting on it!" Klaus said.

"Me either," Billy remarked.

"What now?" Virgil scowled as they left.

"Let's give it time," Antinomy said. "We put the thought in his mind. If he really did see something strange, maybe he'll remember it later."

"But will it be before anything else goes wrong?!" Virgil retorted.

"We'll keep an eye on things at the mine and with Kalin and Radley to make sure it doesn't," Yusei said. "Let's check in with Jack and Crow and see if they're all okay."

That report was positive. Kalin and Radley were asleep, snuggled together and happy. Yusei smiled as he hung up. "They're fine," he reported.

"Good," Antinomy said. "And I don't think we're likely to learn anything more tonight. We'll assign shifts and start getting sleep as well."

The Bunch was reluctant to stop looking, but the mention of sleep was making them realize how tired they really were. In resignation they agreed to the idea and headed for their motorcycles.

Yusei looked troubled again as he watched them. "What if it really was Kalin or Radley they were after?" he worried. "Maybe whoever did this overheard the plans for them to drive the truck and hurried to cut the brake line right before they got in."

Antinomy sighed. "We can't overlook the possibility," he admitted. "After they wake up, we'll question them too."

"Maybe it's not about anything they saw," Yusei said. "Maybe it really was another hate crime."

"That's also possible," Antinomy agreed.

Yusei clenched a fist. "They don't deserve that."

"No, they don't." Antinomy laid a hand on Yusei's shoulder. "But at least for now they're both alive and safe. We'll make sure they stay that way."

Yusei nodded. He wouldn't accept anything else.

"How are you doing anyway?" Antinomy quietly asked. "I know you're trying to be strong for Kalin and Radley and the Bunch, but it's just us now. You can talk to me." Behind the visor, worry flickered in his eyes. When they had received that horrible phone call, Yusei had gone completely stiff, the color draining from his face. For a moment, Antinomy had feared Yusei would actually swoon. But instead, he had pulled himself together and immediately set out for Satisfaction Town, desperate to prove the doctor wrong.

Yusei clenched his fists. "I'm fine."

"Kalin was your first best friend. This isn't the first time you've thought him dead, and he's still in danger. I find it hard to believe you're fine," Antinomy pointed out.

"I have to be fine," Yusei said. "There's no time for anything else."

"As far as being stoic and aloof, you and Kalin are very similar," Antinomy said. "You've always felt you need to be strong for your friends and you try never to break."

Yusei looked away. "I've faltered sometimes." Such as when Kalin had first dueled him as a Dark Signer. It had taken Yusei ages to feel ready to fight again after that.

"I know. But Yusei, you don't have to be strong all the time. You shouldn't." Antinomy sighed. "Being the strong one is a very lonely position."

"You feel the same way," Yusei said. "You've always been strong for me as Antinomy." As Bruno, he had been more likely to show weaknesses now and then. But even though he was becoming more like Bruno in some ways, he largely tried to keep hold of that protectiveness.

"Everyone needs someone to give them strength," Antinomy said. "But the strong ones need to let themselves be vulnerable sometimes too, if they're with someone they trust."

"I trust you," Yusei said immediately. "But until this creep is caught, I can't afford to be vulnerable."

Finally Antinomy nodded in understanding. "Alright then. But later."

"Later," Yusei promised.

xxxx

Jack stood in the doorway of the bedroom with folded arms, regarding Kalin and Radley with an impassive expression. They hadn't changed position since he had hung up with Yusei. It didn't look terribly comfortable to him, but they certainly seemed to enjoy hugging each other in their sleep.

Crow came up beside him with a smirk. "Aww, you've gotta admit they're kinda cute like that," he said.

Jack grunted and turned away. "It's no different than when that would go on in the Enforcers."

Crow blinked in a bit of surprise. "Hey . . . you really are jealous, aren't you?" he realized.

"No!" Jack insisted. "Kalin's happy. I'm happy for him."

". . . You are a sentimental guy at that, though," Crow remarked. "I mean, you're the one who came up with 'Team 5Ds' because of the Signer marks binding us together."

"That has nothing to do with this," Jack retorted.

"If you say so," Crow said. "But seeing them . . . it does kinda take you back, doesn't it?"

Jack grunted. "We never cuddled like that."

"Sometimes Kalin and Yusei did," Crow said. "I'm sure you remember."

"What does it matter?" Jack retorted.

"I'm just trying to figure you out, why you're still so prickly," Crow said. "We got Kalin back."

"He's not out of danger yet," Jack said. "Neither is Radley. We don't know they're not the targets."

Crow sobered. "Yeah, I know. But we're gonna solve this. We won't leave until we know they're safe."

Jack sounded far away when he replied. "Then we will leave," he said, "and Kalin won't be with us."

Crow leaned on the wall. "Maybe if you'd just talk your feelings out instead of, you know, screaming them or pretending they don't exist. . . ."

"It wouldn't make any difference." Jack turned away. "Everything would still be the same."

"You might feel better anyway," Crow said. "I know you were the one insisting the Enforcers' era was over and done with and we'd all moved on, but . . . sometimes I think you miss it more than any of us."

"Of course I miss it," Jack retorted. "But it will never come back, so it's pointless pining over it."

"Yeah, I guess so," Crow sighed. "You sound like you're doing a lot of pining anyway, though."

Jack didn't respond for a long time. ". . . Do you think Kalin loves Radley more than us?" he said at last.

Crow blinked. "Nah," he retorted. "Just as much, maybe."

Jack sighed and finally looked back to the two friends snuggled close. ". . . He looks so happy," he said. "I haven't seen him like that since the days of the Enforcers."

"Radley helped him smile again," Crow said.

". . . Maybe what I really regret is that you and I gave up on him," Jack said. "Yusei never did. Radley never has. But you and I wrote him off as hopeless and walked out. I never gave up on Carly, but I gave up on one of my closest friends."

"Maybe that's why you never gave up on Carly," Crow said. "You didn't want to make the same mistake again."

"It doesn't take away that I did," Jack huffed. "That we did."

"No, it doesn't," Crow frowned. "Sure, I regret it too, but really, there wasn't anything more we could have done. Kalin had just cracked! He needed help we couldn't give him."

Jack looked like he was torn between knowing Crow was right and wondering if he was wrong. But either way, talking about it really wasn't helping or changing anything. Finally he just grunted. ". . . They'll be needing food in a while. Will you be fixing them something?"

"Well, I sure won't let you fix something!" Crow shot back. "You're a disaster in the kitchen!" He headed back up the hall. "Come on. Let's leave them alone and go see what there is to have. I'll cook it up come morning."

"There should be quite a lot, given that Radley runs a restaurant," Jack said as he followed.

xxxx

Waking up to the smell of delicious food cooking was certainly pleasant. Radley stirred, blinking at the arrival of morning, and sleepily looked to Kalin, who was also rousing up.

"This is service," he smiled.

Kalin blinked at the room. "I wonder who's cooking. I hope it's not Jack."

"Oh? Jack is a bad cook?" Radley looked amused. "It smells too good to be a novice in the kitchen."

". . . You're right," Kalin conceded. "It's probably Crow. Or the Bunch."

Radley sat up. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm alright," Kalin smiled. "But you took a hard hit too. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," Radley insisted. "You protected me well."

"I'm glad I could," Kalin said. "I just wish I could have survived to begin with so I wouldn't have caused you and the others so much pain."

Radley sighed. "I'm just thankful you survived," he said softly. "Let's go get some breakfast." He started to get up.

Kalin moved to follow. He smiled a bit when Radley waited for him before heading for the door.

It was Yusei's group waiting for them in the kitchen. Greetings were exchanged all around. Crow smiled, looking up from the stove. "Hey!" he greeted. "You guys sleep well?"

"Quite," Radley said, not about to bring up the nightmare.

"Very," Kalin agreed. "Did you learn anything yet?"

"Nah," Crow frowned. "We'll try to do more later today. For now, let's just focus on eating."

"Works for me," Radley smiled. He settled in at the table and Kalin slipped in beside him.

Yusei, sitting on Kalin's other side, smiled too. After the horror and devastation of that terrible phone call the past night, seeing Kalin alive and breathing and anxious to eat was a joy that could never be overstated.

The meal was peaceful and pleasant, with all the friends talking and enjoying each other's company. The Bunch eventually joined them too and all crowded into the kitchen, many eating standing up just to share in being there with their loved ones.

They didn't get back to business until the meal was done and the dishes washed and put away. Then, sighing, Radley looked very seriously at everyone. "Okay, so I'm thinking we need to find out where all of the Malcolm supporters in town were yesterday," he announced.

"Works for me," Crow said.

"We already know about some!" Scotch happily volunteered. "But some of the others don't seem to have alibis. . . ."

Radley frowned. "Yeah, huh? Who?"

Billy gave him a list, which he and Kalin thoughtfully studied.

Soon Kalin scowled. "Any one of these people might hate us enough to do it."

"Yeah," Radley agreed. "In fact, it's kind of weird that the strongest suspects are the only ones with no alibis. Maybe that's just the way it is, nothing suspicious behind it. But on the other hand, what if someone wanted to frame them?"

"They'd have to have looked up all of them to know they wouldn't have alibis!" Scotch said.

"And if they wanted to do it, they might be dedicated enough for all the necessary research," Radley said.

"But . . . someone wanting to frame them would probably be one of our supporters," Scotch protested. "Would anyone on our side want to get at them so bad that they'd be willing to risk hurting Klaus or you and Kalin for it?!"

Sadness flickered in Radley's eyes. "I don't wanna believe it, but we can't ignore the possibility."

"That's so messed-up," Virgil snarled. "There wouldn't even be a decent town without everything you guys did! It better be something Malcolm's supporters did even if it doesn't look so likely right now."

"It's just the strongest suspects who don't have alibis," Kalin pointed out. "Other Malcolm supporters still could have done it. They wouldn't be the first to commit a crime while having an alibi."

Yusei nodded. "Right. So we'll hope it's them, but not lose sight of the darker possibility too." His eyes darkened at the thought. He certainly hoped that idea wouldn't turn out to be the truth. Kalin had given so much to this town. The very thought that someone not on Malcolm's side would be willing to sacrifice him to get at Malcolm's supporters turned his stomach.

"Did you and Radley see anything strange yesterday?" Antinomy asked. "Another possibility is that it wasn't a hate crime, but that someone saw something they shouldn't."

"I don't remember seeing anything unusual," Kalin frowned.

"If we had, we would have checked it out," Radley said.

"What if it was something you didn't really think was strange enough to warrant serious investigation?" Antinomy persisted. "Maybe it was just mildly odd and you dismissed it."

Kalin and Radley exchanged a look.

"I really can't think of anything," Radley said. "All we saw were the miners going at it." Then he paused. "Well . . . I do remember seeing Hank picking the wall when it was actually Ron's shift, but it's not unusual for the miners to trade shifts sometimes."

Antinomy sighed. "It doesn't seem like that could possibly be grounds for attempted murder, does it? Still, we'd better find out why the switch happened."

"That shouldn't be difficult." Radley took out his phone and called the mine. The conversation he ended up having, however, left him staring at and frowning at his phone in bewilderment and disbelief.

"What is it?" Kalin asked.

"They're insisting there was no switch and that Ron was there on schedule," Radley said.

". . . Alright, now it's concerning," Antinomy said.

"Why would they lie?" Yusei frowned.

"This is getting bizarre," Radley said. "I wonder . . . do you think somebody at the mine may be getting an itty-bit ambitious and want to steal some of the dyne for themselves?"

"It's not impossible," Kalin said. "Dyne is one of the most valuable resources now. Who were you talking to on the phone?"

"Jerry," Radley said. Glancing to Yusei and company, he added, "He's an assistant foreman. He and Hank might be in on something together. We should talk to both Hank and Ron and see what they have to say about the switch. I know I wasn't imagining it!"

Ron, as it turned out, was baffled. He readily admitted to the switch. "I didn't know there was anything wrong about it," he insisted. "Hank said something had come up and he wouldn't be able to do his regular shift and asked if we could switch. I said okay!"

"Hmm. Well, at least they didn't try to pay you off or worse to keep you quiet," Radley mused. "Or maybe they just haven't had the chance to try yet. We'll leave a couple of the Bunch here in case they show up."

"Why?! What do you think they'd do?!" Ron exclaimed.

"Maybe nothing," Kalin said. "But something is getting strange here. If it's at all possible that they caused Klaus's truck to crash by cutting the brake line, they might want to silence you too. They're already lying to Radley about the switch happening."

Ron fell back, looking sick. "I had no idea. . . ."

"We'll figure out what's going on," Radley soothed. "You should be safe in the meantime."

"I hope so, but gosh, I didn't want to be used in some plot against you guys!" Ron said in dismay.

Radley had to smile a bit. "I'm glad of that."

At Hank's house, the curtains were closed and it didn't look like anyone was home. But without warning, the garage door opened and a fast car shot out, speeding down the street.

"What the . . . ?!" Radley stared after it. "He's trying to get away!"

Yusei glowered at the wayward automobile. "Not on my watch." He sped off on his Duel Runner after it.

"We'll all bring him in!" Scotch declared. He led the Bunch after the car too.

"You're not leaving us behind!" Crow said, and he and Jack and Antinomy followed as well.

Radley started, but smiled at the procession. "It's nice we have so many in our corner," he remarked.

Kalin stared after them. "It is," he said.

With so many vehicles pursuing and surrounding the car, it didn't stand a chance. The driver was soon forced to stop. "What is this?!" he demanded.

Scotch recognized Hank, with Jerry in the passenger seat. "We're asking the questions!" he retorted. "Why are you guys in such a rush to get away all of a sudden?!"

"It's a free country," Hank said. "There's nothing saying we can't!"

"You've got duties at the mine," Yusei coolly replied. "You didn't tell Radley you were cutting out."

"We needed to leave, okay?" Hank snapped.

"And what's all that luggage in the back seat?!" Jack chimed in. "It looks like you're not planning on coming back!"

"Just what's in that luggage anyway?" Crow frowned.

"We don't have to tell you anything without a court order," Jerry said.

"We can get that easy enough!" Scotch retorted.

"But the fact that you won't just tell us looks suspicious as it is," Yusei said.

"Are you running off with some of the dyne?" Antinomy asked.

Hank went sheet-white. "N-No!" he stammered. "It's just clothes and stuff!"

"We'll soon find out." Virgil took out his phone. "I'm calling the judge for that court order."

Hank looked about to faint. Jerry just glowered, outwardly unconcerned. "Go ahead," he retorted. "It'll never be granted."

"Under the circumstances, I'm quite sure it will be," Radley remarked as he and Kalin walked up to the scene. "We have reasons for our suspicions, and I think the judge will be very interested in hearing all about them."

Both men in the car went several shades of white. "Kalin?!" they cried.

"Yeah, that's right," Kalin said coolly. "I survived. But that doesn't let either of you off the hook by a long shot if we're right."

"No . . ." Hank moaned.

"Shut up, you idiot," Jerry growled.

"Why? The jig is up anyway," Hank said. He looked to Radley in resignation. "Yeah, we're stealing some dyne. I always swipe some when I take extra shifts in the new tunnels. Jerry doesn't record those shifts."

"People would still see you there," Radley pointed out with a raised eyebrow.

"They don't make anything of it, though," Hank said. "And they forget it soon enough. But Jerry was afraid you would figure things out when you saw me."

"So did one of you cut the brake line and try to kill us?" Radley demanded, folding his arms.

"Jerry did when he realized you saw me," Hank said. "I didn't want things to go that far! I told him not to do it!"

Jerry looked ready to murder Hank with a look. He kept his fists tightly clenched.

Jack couldn't restrain himself. He punched hard at Jerry through the open window, his fist connecting with Jerry's cheek. "That's for almost killing Kalin and Radley!" he snarled. "And you'd be getting worse than that if you'd succeeded!"

Jerry's head snapped back and he looked at Jack in shock and fear. He very wisely didn't protest.

Radley was amazed—not at the punch, but that Jack had included him being harmed as a reason for it.

Kalin smiled at him, but then glowered at Jerry. "We thought we'd routed out all the greed strong enough to take lives in exchange for it," he said coolly. "I guess something that ugly never really goes away."

"I pay you guys well," Radley said, folding his arms. "But it's no match for what you'd get for the dyne, huh?"

"You know the answer to that, Mr. Ramon," Hank mumbled. "I'm sorry. I never wanted anyone to really get hurt! I never would have let Jerry in on it, but I didn't know how to work it all out on my own."

"Yeah, I guess you wouldn't." Radley looked away. "I almost lost my world because of you guys' scheming. Sure, I love dyne and the money I get from supplying it, but that's not the real treasure for me. If Kalin had stayed dead, you would've killed not only him, but my heart and the hearts of everybody else who loves him."

Hank stared at the floor and didn't answer.

"You've already made a mockery of everything he stands for and fought for to protect this town," Yusei said. Disgust filled his voice. "Didn't you learn anything when Lawton took over?"

"I can think of a lot of ways they could have handled it differently," Kalin said. "But talk is cheap. It's not going to do any good here. Let's just get them arrested."

"I finally got through to the judge," Virgil reported. "We've got the court order."

Jerry's expression twisted in resigned anger.

To Radley's relief and sadness, the suitcases were soon opened and the contents revealed. They had already made it clear the dyne would be found, but it still hurt to see it. On the other hand, finding it was a big step on the path to bringing those people in for what they'd done. The Bunch was soon carting them off to the town jailhouse.

"The mystery is solved then," Antinomy remarked. He looked to Radley in sympathy. "But recovering from it won't be so easy, will it?"

Radley sighed. "I feel betrayed. I was betrayed. I guess it could have been any of the miners, really; being so close to something that brings in so much money would be enough to tempt almost anyone to do things they never would have before. I'm glad at least Hank wasn't greedy to the point of murder, but it hurts about Jerry."

Jack looked to him. "You talked about Kalin being your world," he said. "I'm glad Kalin is with someone who loves him so much. He deserves that."

"He loves you guys too," Radley said.

"I know," Jack said.

"And I always will," Kalin said. "You are all immeasurably special to me."

Yusei smiled and gave him a thumbs-up. "The feeling is mutual."

Kalin returned the gesture. "Always."

xxxx

Yusei and the others didn't want to immediately return to the City. They stayed for the rest of the day, spending more happy times with Kalin and Radley and celebrating their survival with the town after Jerry and Hank were booked. At night, everyone shared dinner together before it was time to separate for bed.

"We'll probably go back tomorrow, but we'll stay for breakfast," Yusei said. "And Kalin, I'm really glad we're leaving you alive and well."

"Yeah, planning a funeral isn't high on our list of fun things to do," Crow said. "The call we got last night scared us all real bad. We kept hoping for a miracle, though. And we actually got it!"

"It feels like a bad dream," Kalin admitted. "But it wasn't. I'm so sorry."

"Just don't let it happen again!" Jack gruffly scolded.

"You can be sure we'll do everything we can to prevent it," Kalin assured him.

"And then some," Radley added. "I think you'll find we'll be even more protective of each other for a while."

"Good," Yusei smiled. "I'm sure you will be."

Kalin hesitated, then finally said, "Yusei, can I talk to you for a few minutes?"

Yusei blinked in surprise. "Of course."

Kalin led him down the back hall to the lounge, which was currently empty. "Are you really alright?" he asked. "I know getting that call about me last night must have been horrible."

Yusei was further surprised for the aloof Kalin to think of asking. That never would have happened in the past. But he didn't want Kalin to feel even worse about what had happened, so he smiled and laid a hand on Kalin's shoulder. "Kalin, I'm fine," he insisted. "You're alright, and that's all I need to be okay too."

Kalin sighed. "I wish I could do more than cause you so much pain."

"You do!" Yusei said. "You're living your life and happy. That was what I always wanted to see."

"I know you'd hoped I'd go back with you to the City after we saved the town," Kalin said.

Yusei sighed too. "I guess I hoped maybe we could pick up where we left off," he admitted. "That we could bring back what we had in the Enforcers. But we changed too much for that. When I saw you with Radley, and with the kids, I saw a happiness and peace in you that I'd never seen before. I knew you'd found your true home, and I accepted that."

Kalin relaxed, but still felt he had to say, "Radley's worried sometimes that maybe everyone feels he took me away from you and the others. I don't believe that myself, but I'm happy to hear this anyway."

"I love Radley a lot," Yusei said. "He makes you happy, and you've done the same for him. I've seen so many positive changes in you lately, Kalin, and I know a lot of that's because of Radley."

"He's everything to me," Kalin agreed. "I can never be thankful enough that I was given the chance to come to know him and love him even after I squandered what he tried to give me.

"I squandered your friendship too. I wish I could begin to make up for all I did to you, even though I know I'll always fall short."

"Just be happy," Yusei smiled. "That takes away the pain of the past. It's the best thing you can do for me."

Finally Kalin smiled. "Thank you, Yusei." He hugged his old friend close.

Yusei hugged him tight. Feeling him alive and well and at peace would never not be amazing.

When Kalin headed back out of the room to find Radley, Crow and Jack stepped out of the shadows with Antinomy. "That was Kalin there, wasn't it?" Crow remarked.

"He truly has changed," Jack grunted. "He was never that open in the past."

Yusei smiled. "He's changed for the better, and I'm really happy for him."

Antinomy smiled too. He could see now that Yusei definitely was okay. This was a good ending for all that had happened.

". . . How long were you there anyway?" Yusei had to ask.

". . . We heard Kalin ask how you were," Jack admitted. "We left, but later we came back to check on you and Crow pulled us into the shadows."

"It looked like you were wrapping up and I didn't want to spoil it!" Crow defended.

Wrapping up. . . . It was an ending in a way, Yusei supposed, but it really felt more like a beginning. He wanted this to be a turning point for something even more wonderful.

"I want to come out here more often," he said. "Kalin is our friend, and Radley is too. I want to make sure he knows that."

Antinomy smiled. "That's a nice idea."

"I'm game," Crow said.

Jack nodded without hesitation. "Yes, let's do that."

Yusei smiled. Their little family that had begun with the Enforcers was now so much bigger, encompassing all the members of Team 5Ds as well as Radley and the Bunch. It was different than before, but this was a change he could fully get behind. Kalin's revelation about Radley's concerns didn't exactly surprise him, but it made him sad. He would strive to make sure all of his loved ones knew they were valued.

xxxx

Both Kalin and Radley were deep in thought when they got back home. They didn't want to, but it was impossible not to think about how things might have gone.

"I know I'm the one who usually finds it easier to forgive, but this is going to be hard even for me," Radley said. "I can't stop being repulsed and outraged that Jerry tried to kill us . . . or me, rather. I was the one who saw Hank. He wanted to take me out and didn't care if you got it too. Jack said it was my fault when we thought you were dead. And I guess, looking at it that way . . ."

"No!" Kalin interrupted. "It was not your fault! You innocently saw Hank working the mine. It was no one's fault but theirs! And if Jack really blames you . . ."

"He said he was speaking in grief," Radley said. "And he even punched Jerry because we were both in danger." He sounded awed. "I never would have thought it would matter to him about me."

"Of course it would." Kalin hugged him close. "You're part of the family."

Radley managed a smile and hugged back. "I once never would have believed that was possible."

"Are you still afraid the others are jealous?" Kalin asked in concern.

"I really don't think Yusei is," Radley mused. "He's been very kind to me. Crow I honestly haven't interacted with so much, but he seems friendly. Jack is the main one I've been worried about, but I'm feeling better about him now too."

"Good," Kalin said.

Radley smiled a bit. "I'm glad something good has come out of this. Last night I didn't know how anything would ever be right again."

". . . What if I had stayed dead?" Kalin worried. "What would have happened to you?"

"I would have tried to go on," Radley said softly. "It would have been selfish not to, with the Bunch and the town needing me. But . . . it would have been so hard. And I never would have recovered. Part of me would have died that night."

"I would have been an absolutely empty shell if the situation had been reversed," Kalin said. "And I might have killed the one responsible. I can't think you would have been as bad off as me. You're a much more stable person than I am."

"Maybe," Radley said with a sad smile. "Something like that can negatively change anyone." He sighed. "I know I'm going to have more nightmares about it."

"I no doubt will too," Kalin said. "I didn't want to leave at all, especially not getting to say Goodbye." He hugged Radley close. "I thought I wouldn't get to do this anymore for years."

"Me too. . . ." Radley pulled Kalin closer into the hug. "If anything ever does happen, I'll try my hardest to stick around anyway. I don't wanna say Goodbye."

"We might not have a choice," Kalin said. "If they come to collect us, we'd have to go or risk eternal damnation."

"Have you been watching All Dogs Go to Heaven or Beyond Tomorrow again?" Radley said with a bit of a smirk. "Honestly, I don't think it'd damn either of us to not be ready to go, especially if we were nice about asking to stay. I don't think all the wandering spirits or spirits who choose to stay here are damned. Actually, I think God is being merciful, just waiting until they're ready to move on and not trying to force it."

"Maybe." Kalin looked doubtful. "Kasumi really didn't say one way or another."

"She always is kinda vague. So I'm gonna keep believing until I'm told otherwise by her or someone like her," Radley said. "But I'm also going to hope that's information we're not going to need."

"I hope that too." Kalin sighed. There really weren't any answers. They could only hope for a long and bright future for them together.

"So maybe we should start thinking about getting to bed now," Radley said.

"Yeah." Kalin hesitated. ". . . One thing Kasumi did tell me is that God's proud of me. That's . . . still difficult to wrap my mind around."

Radley had to smile. "You've done really well," he said. "It doesn't surprise me that God would be proud."

"I wonder if it will ever not surprise me," Kalin said.

"I hope you'll come to see your worth that much," Radley said. "I think you can, with my and Yusei's help."

"If anyone can convince me, the two of you can," Kalin said. He finally drew back. "Yes, let's get to bed."

Soon they had each showered and were settling into bed. It felt so good and warm and filled with comfort. They smiled, fully at peace being together as they dozed.