Time for a new chapter! Admittedly, I can't promise that I'll have one ready next week. Finals are coming up quickly (two weeks from now), so my writing time has diminished significantly. That being said, there's only one more chapter of the main story after this, then we're onto the epilogues!

I guess everyone's getting busy now… I feel like the number of reviews coming in is decreasing each week. I mean, the story will be here, so take your time, folks. I just miss reading your thoughts :)

Anyway, reviewers this week are Rapis-Razuri, FiringShootingStar, Q-A the Authoress, theforgottenpeople96, and Flame-Metal-Heart! Thank you guys so much for your support!

And anons this week are the ever-present and ever-awesome ChibiX and LDC! ChibiX: Jack, Crow, and Carly stayed back in New Domino while Yusei went to take care of his family business. Carly can't really do much travelling, anyway, and neither Jack nor Crow have a reason to go to the Capital besides supporting Yusei. LDC: Heh. Well, Yusei's getting closer to accepting his impending fatherhood. Personally, I think he'll do fine :)

Many thanks to RobotFish for taking the time to proof this chapter!

Sunset Horizon
Chapter 46 – Fluttering Dream

Yusei stood in front of the mirror, sighing as he tugged the ascot into place. He had really hoped those things were behind him. Grumbling, he pulled the knot into place and glanced at the felt-lined box in front of him. So many brooches to choose from. Nobility was a pain in the ass.

"Yusei…? What are you doing?"

He glanced behind to see Akiza watching him curiously. Sighing, he tugged the collar of his dress shirt to fit around the suffocating ascot and reached out for the red vest lying out. "I have to do some stuff for Z-one to prepare for his burial and part of that involves wearing a suit to make people happy and take me seriously."

She nodded slowly and approached slowly, reaching out to adjust the ascot around his neck. "I see… But where did you get the suit from?"

He shrugged slightly and muttered, "It's Z-one's, actually. We're about the same size and I didn't have time to have one tailored. I'll be getting one made for Friday, though."

She cocked her head in curiosity. "What's Friday?"

He paused while reaching out for the jacket lying out. "I… haven't told you about that yet?"

She shook her head back and forth. "No…"

Scratching the back of his head, he murmured, "The day before the funeral of a senator, there's a ball to celebrate their life. It's when you look back on all the good that person did, whether for the country or for one person."

"So…" she spoke slowly, making sure she understood what he was saying. "You're saying… There's going to be a ball on Friday?"

"It's kind of like a wake, but not quite. The easiest way to describe it is that it's a celebration of their life." Cocking his head, he frowned at the sight of the blue dress she wore and murmured, "Where did you get that dress?"

She looked down in surprise at the change of subject and held out the corners slightly before saying, "Oh… Um…" She pointed vaguely in the direction of the doorway indicating towards something outside. "Er, the senator…"

He gave a light sigh blended with a chuckle when he finally understood why she seemed nervous. "You can just call him my father. No amount of wishing is going to change that fact."

She bit her lip and nodded before offering the explanation he'd asked for, "Your father had one of the employees bring out some of your mother's clothes from when she was pregnant and had them washed for me to use until I could do some shopping for my own. In retrospect, the news of this ball explains why they showed me gowns…"

He offered a smile and reached out to cup her chin, drawing her closer to kiss her lips softly. "You can have a dress made, if you want."

She accepted his kiss before smiling playfully. "But Friday's only three days away…"

He chuckled and shifted to set his hands on her hips. "So? Back when we were younger, Sherry used to make a game out of seeing how long she could wait to order her clothes for events like this. Her record was a day and a half, I think. Businesses will bend over backwards to make a senator's family happy. Well, maybe not so much now that we're not in as much power anymore, but I'm sure if we paid them enough, they'd do anything."

"Even so," she cooed, drawing close and touching her nose to his. "I found a dress that I like among your mother's. I didn't know I'd have a reason to wear it, but it's gorgeous."

"Then that'll save my family a few hundred gold. What color is it?" he asked, pulling her hips right up against his.

"Ah-ah-ah…" she murmured, drawing back slightly. "That's a secret."

He held his hands up in surrender. "Maybe I just wanted to match my suit?"

She smiled coyly and winked playfully. "It's a pretty basic color. Just about anything will match."

He sighed in defeat. "You're really not going to tell me, are you?"

She pulled out of his hold and backed away from him slowly, every step slow and silently telling him she wanted him to follow her. "Nope. I get to live the life of a true heiress for a few days. You said so yourself, so let me enjoy it."

He sighed with a smile on his lips and walked after her, knowing he was falling right into her game. He couldn't help it. She was just too cute and he was glad to see her back to the cheerful and jubilant woman she was before all of this Underground stuff happened. He did need to get ready to go, but he could spare a few moments for his wife.

Reaching out, he caught her hands and pulled her against him again, saying, "Since I'm already dressed up, would you join me for a dance?"

She giggled and nodded once, shifting to place her hand on his shoulder as they assumed the proper position. "Speaking of, where are you going?"

He gave an uncomfortable shrug in his suit and muttered, "My father and I have to go to the family treasurer to take care of Z-one's final expenses. It'll probably take a couple hours, easy."

While that was part of the truth, he wanted to wait to tell her the rest. Might as well have the fortune signed over to his name officially before he told her she was going to be married to the third-richest man in the country in a matter of months.

Then there was his second stop…

But that one was going to be a surprise. He would let her see for herself and not tell her he was behind it. Especially until he knew his idea would pass.

…

He sat tall in his chair, silently grateful that his father had deigned to stay out of this. On the other hand, his bargaining ability wasn't anything to sneeze at. His father had listened silently to his idea, offered some figures to go with it, and, ultimately, gave approval for the plan. He hated dealing with high class folks, but this was for a friend that would do anything for him.

He kept a steady eye contact with the man seated across from him. He sat tall, a soft smile on his face while his sleeved white and red robes fell down his broad frame. "What can we do for you, "Mr. Fudo?"

He glanced down the long table at the five other high priests and priestesses present, inhaling deeply before saying, "I have a proposition for you, High Priest Andre Bartz."

The brunet smiled a little more brightly. "From the son of Lady Elise?"

He bit on the inside of his cheek, trying to keep himself in check. This man was too young to be responsible for his mother's death. He looked to be no older than thirty, meaning he would have been about twenty when his mother died. Nodding once, he said, "I'm prepared to offer a generous donation on behalf of my family. However, I have a few favors I'd like to ask in return."

The high priest nodded slowly. "I'm listening."

The other members of the church stayed silent as he took a breath and started, "My first condition is that a portion of the donation is used to fund the construction of a church in the town of New Domino. My donation will cover well more than the cost to build. Secondly, I ask that my friend, Luna, be placed as the resident priest of that church. All of her family and friends are in New Domino, and I know she can't live without them. At the same time, she can't abandon her loyalty to the Crimson Dragon."

The man hummed a sound of contemplation. "You would give this much for your friend?"

He waved a hand dismissively. "It's not even a nick in my family's fortune, and Luna is my wife's sister. On top of that, Luna's younger brother is like a little brother to me. It means a lot for them to stay together."

"I see. Are there any other stipulations?"

"One more," he murmured. Straightening up in his chair, he folded his hands in front of him and said, "I ask that this church be named in my late mother's honor."

"I understand." He frowned slightly and nodded in careful thought. "Tell me, Mr. Fudo, have you seen the Memorius entry for Lady Elise?"

He froze. The Memorius? That was the book the church kept for noteworthy members of the faith after death. In the forty-plus generations that the church had been intact with its followers spanning the entire country, only a select few received the honor of being entered into the Memorius. There were less than five hundred people catalogued. Slowly, he managed to murmur, "My mother was entered into the Memorius?"

Andre nodded. "She did a great service to Yliaster during the fifteen-year war with the Nazca."

His teeth clenched as his eyes narrowed. 'A great service'? That's what they called her death? Her act of mass-murder at the order of their precious Archbishop? He shifted to stand slowly and kept his eyes down as he said, "Do we have a deal?"

The high priest stood across from him and watched him with a sad frown on his lips. "Mr. Fudo, I mean no disrespect to Lady Elise. I understand her sudden departure must have caused you a great amount of grief-"

"No," Yusei started, steel in his voice as he pointed an accusing finger. "I wasn't going to say anything. Respect the religious food chain like my mother would have wanted, but I can't. My mother died because your corrupt teachings led her into becoming a martyr. She gave everything she had for you. The Signer is supposed to unite the people to the spirits, not take the lives of thousands!"

"Well said, Yusei Fudo."

He gave a silent word of thanks in response to Black Rose's compliment, staring fiercely at the shocked expressions around him. Sighing heavily, he muttered, "Did you really think I didn't know? My mother died because her faith was too deep. She followed this church blindly instead of listening to the generals' guidance. She paid the price. You don't get to say anything about what kind of person she was."

He stood still as he absorbed his words, then gave a slow nod. "May I at least show you the Memorius?"

Exhaling audibly, he closed his eyes for a moment as he tried to calm down before nodding. "Fine. Show me."

He gestured towards the door, indicating that he should follow before leading him down the halls. The younger man sighed to himself as they made their way through the cold brick passages, wondering how long it had been since he'd stepped foot in the Cora Atrium, the central building for the church. It was where the Archbishop operated from and where many of the new students came to learn. No doubt Luna lived here during her studies as a priestess.

When he was a child, he used to go there with his mother and follow her like an excited puppy. He had always loved to see all of the statues and carvings of the dragons, happily staring at them endlessly while his mother went about her practices. It was a fond memory, if not one he would repeat. Now as he passed through a hallway with the sides open to the courtyards below, he paused as he took in the sight of the statue therein. Giving a slight snort, he couldn't help but wonder how the church got Stardust's appearance wrong. The Signer had been involved with the church for so long, so how did they not know what he looked like?

He hadn't mentioned that he was the new Signer and he planned to keep it that way. The last thing he wanted was the church butting into his life and telling him how to run it. He wanted to live his life freely, to be able to listen to the dragons with the power he'd been given and do things his own way.

While the church was based around the Crimson Dragon and its generals, he knew, just from the statues and the stories, that history had been distorted somewhere along the line. He respected the dragons, but he rejected the church and their teachings. They were all wrong, anyway.

Frowning, he took in the sight of the statues of Black Rose Dragon, Red Dragon Archfiend, Black-Winged Dragon, and Ancient Fairy Dragon positioned around Stardust. He cocked his head in consideration, reaching out with his powers to ask without speaking, "Stardust, can I ask you something?"

"What is it, Yusei Fudo?"

"First, you can just call me 'Yusei.' It feels awkward when you use my full name. Secondly, I just remembered some stories from my childhood. Were you and Black Rose ever… you know… together?"

Silence passed for a long moment, making him wonder if he touched on a sore spot. "Stardust?"

Finally, an answer sounded, "That… is no concern of anyone; human, spirit, or Signer."

Human or Signer? Was he being singled out from humanity now? Raising his hands in a mild surrender, he replied, "All right. But I would really like to know. One of my favorite stories as a kid featured you two living as humans and falling in love."

"I'll not deny that we lived as humans, but my personal life is no concern of yours."

"You know everything about me. I'm just trying to connect to the spirits of the Crimson Dragon's generals. Never mind, then."

"Are you coming, Mr. Fudo?"

He looked up to see the high priest standing by the doorway, waiting for him to proceed. Nodding once, he gave one glance back at the statues and murmured, "Just thinking about the past."

Giving a soft smile, he said, "I see. It is a lofty place to be, isn't it?"

He wasn't about to mention how far into the past he had been thinking. Surely any history between Black Rose and Stardust took place a long time ago. "Yeah, I guess so." Shaking his head, he flashed a smug smile and said, "I'd rather live in the present, though. I don't have a wife and a child coming in the past."

"As Black Rose spake earlier, well said."

He smiled lightly to let Ancient Fairy Dragon know he'd heard her. He didn't sense either Stardust or Black Rose near the surface like usual, leaving him to wonder if his question had gone too far.

Andre nodded. "Your way of thinking is that of a healthy man. There are far too many who choose to live in the past instead of letting go of who or what they've lost." Gesturing through the next doorway, he added, "The Memorius is in here. Please, have a look."

He walked inside and glanced around, frowning at the sight of a hefty book placed on a podium at the head of the small room. It was lit by torches, no windows to let sunlight inside. The entire purpose of the small chamber seemed to be for reading the book. Walking over to it, he glanced down to find it on a page from ninety years ago. Turning the pages carefully, he found his mother's and started to read.

87th High Priestess Elise Fudo

Daughter of Marco and Elizabeth Brenning

Wife of Senator Katsuro Fudo

Mother of Yusei Fudo

When one is asked what they love most in the world, one usually has an easy answer. A lover, a child, a parent, a friend, an occupation, a possession, a song, an activity… There are few in this world who, when posed with this question, would consider their options. Lady Elise was one of those people. She loved her husband and her son as a wife and mother would, but she loved her country and her god as a senator's wife and a high priestess.

She will forever be remembered as a gracious soul who could never refuse to love someone or something. Anything she was exposed to, she loved. Dance, literature, art… Science, technology, learning… Even something as simple as writing a letter. She found love in every simple thing she did in her days.

Her love for her country is something that will never be forgotten. Let it be said here that her efforts to end the war with the Nazca were immense. She wanted both Yliaster and Nazca to be at peace. She didn't want for lives to be lost and wished war was not a necessary action.

Her heart was among the largest ever known. For her efforts, she will forever be acknowledged as a saviour within the pages of the Memorius.

He was grateful they didn't forever mark her as a mass-murderer and instead focused on her desire to end the war. Though her abuse of the Signer powers wasn't mentioned, they worded her entry in a way that was sill truthful. His fingers ran over the top of the page where the dates of her birth and death were recorded, biting back tears as his eyes skimmed the bottom of the page. At the end, those close to her had written a note with personal thoughts. Centered on the page, his father's neat penmanship scrawled out a short message.

Nineteen years ago, I asked you to be my wife. You have always been so easy to love. I was lucky that you would love me in return. Until the day I join you, Elise, wait for me. In the meantime, I'll do my best to take care of the country you loved, but, more so, I promise to care for the son we created together.

Katsuro Fudo – Husband

He had always known his parents were in love. Even as a child, he had been able to see the smiles they shared and the touches that lingered. He could still remember sitting on his mother's lap when his father would come into the room and they would share a few words with gentle smiles on their faces. He couldn't remember what they said, but his father's hand would touch his mother's shoulder from his place behind the sofa and he suddenly found himself hoisted over Z-one's shoulder as he announced it was time for bed.

Next to his father's note, he found a message from his mother's mentor in the church. The message was something to do with returning to the Dragon and being coddled in its warm embrace. His grandparents on his mother's side had died before he was born, so there weren't any notes from them written. He moved on, glancing over to find a note from Z-one.

I may not have shown it much, but I respected you, Elise. You always had a knack for knowing exactly what to say. Not to mention, you made my son the happiest I'd ever seen him and gave me a grandson to spoil. Thanks and take care out there, you hear?

Z-one Fudo – Father-in-Law

His eyes widened in surprise as he spotted the note below Z-one's. The shorthand was messy, but he was able to make out the text.

We never really got along. We had our own sets of ideals, but I can't deny the strength you showed. I always thought women had to be coarse to be strong, but you managed to be graceful and gentle while still showing strength. May you rest in peace.

An. Fudo – Mother-in-Law

He stared at his grandmother's ever-unusual signature. He never knew why she always signed things off with just two letters of her name, but he couldn't help but admit that he was surprised by her final words to his mother. With one being a high priestess and the other a whore, he could imagine that they didn't get along well. He couldn't really remember a lot of tension between them, but surely it had been there.

Glancing back at Andre, he asked, "When was this written?"

"Six years ago. I understand that you were away from the Capital during that time, else you would have been asked to write an entry."

Swallowing the lump in his throat, he quietly asked, "Is it too late to add one?"

Shaking his head, he moved to pick up an ink jar and a quill, saying, "Not at all. Please, feel free."

Nodding, he took the quill and paused, considering what to write before dipping it in the ink and scratched it along the paper, letting his thoughts flow free.

Mother, it's been thirteen years since you left us. I'm late in writing this, but now I have a better understanding of what happened. I'm not the irresponsible child I was when this entry was written. I was a foolish boy chasing foolish dreams. But I understand now. Everything you taught me, it all makes sense. Now it's my turn to bring a child into the world, and I know I want him or her to understand the value of life and love that you taught to me. I'm ready to accept my responsibility as a father now.

Thank you for everything, Mother. Ya skuchayu po tebe.

Yusei Fudo – Son

…

Akiza walked through the extravagant bedroom, smiling to herself at the feel of the plush carpet beneath her bare feet. The past three days she and Yusei had spent in that house had been something else. She never imagined she would even see a house that big, let alone live as a guest of honor in one. Even if they were only staying for a week or so, the concept of being there was so surreal.

She glanced over towards the open windows to find Yusei standing outside on a balcony, leaning on the thick stone rail. He seemed deep in thought, but, at the same time, he seemed at peace. She walked up behind him, reaching out to brush the billowing white curtain to the side. "Yusei…"

He turned to glance over his shoulder with a smile. "Hey."

She smiled back and walked over to stand next to him, resting her hands on the rail like he did. Looking down from five stories up, everything below seemed so small. It was dark out, but people walking the grounds of the estate seemed like tiny little insects scuttling along. "You seem happy."

He gave a slight nod and retorted, "Is that a crime?"

She chuckled and shook her head. "Not at all. It's nice to see that smile again."

A light laugh tumbled from his lips as he looked out into the distance. "I'm feeling pretty good lately."

She bit her lip, knowing there was a question she needed to ask him. It seemed like a perfect opportunity, too. Taking a deep breath, she started, "Is it because you're home?"

He turned to look at her, shock on his features as he quickly replied, "N-no! What would make you think that?"

She gave a small snort in humor. "You're been much happier since you came back. I see a side of you that I've never known before. One that's completely relaxed in his environment."

He stayed silent for a second, thinking her words through before turning back out to face the view beyond. Gesturing out to the city and the expansive buildings on the horizon, he said, "This is my world. This is what I grew up knowing. I walked down these streets on my way to school and I slept in this bedroom. I played in that yard and I walked through that senate building. This is where I grew up and, yes, a part of me does consider it to be home, but…"

"But…?" she prompted, feeling a slight dread in the pit of her stomach. What if he wanted to stay here? She was happy for a week, but she couldn't imagine spending the rest of her life in all of this formality.

Running a hand through his hair, he closed his eyes and mumbled, "I never thought there would be anything here for me except bad memories, but I am happy here."

Inhaling deeply, she looked at the stone floor and murmured, "Do… Do you want to stay here?"

She sensed him freeze across from her, blindsided by the idea. "A-Akiza…"

She looked up at him with a forced smile. "This is home to you, right?"

"Akiza, look, it's not like-"

She reached up to touch a finger to his lips and silence him. "Yusei, I want you to stop and truly think about what you want. I don't want an answer tonight. I don't want to go back to New Domino if it means you won't be happy."

He swallowed the lump in his throat and said, "But you wouldn't be happy if—if—I said I wanted to stay here."

She flashed a quick smile up at him. "Just think about it, okay?"

He nodded once, biting down on his lip. She didn't want to consider staying in the Capital. In truth, the thought of staying there terrified her. She wanted to go back to New Domino where her friends and family were. She turned slowly to look back out over the balcony and quietly murmured, "Where did you end up going today?"

"After I finished with the treasurer, I went to the Cora Atrium. It's the central building of the church. If you compare religion to a monarchy, it would be the equivalent of the royal palace. I found my mother's entry into the Memorius. She's been inducted into the ranks of unforgettable servants of the church. Her name will be taught to all new students."

She peered at him curiously, knowing his dislike of the church well. "Is that a good thing?"

He nodded. "I may not like what the church did to her, but at least she won't be forgotten. At least they're owning up to what they did and honoring her as a legend."

She nodded and reached out to wrap her hands around his arm, leaning to rest her head on his shoulder. "I wish I could have met her."

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her hair, reaching across himself to set his free hand on hers. "I wish you could have, too. She would have liked you. I went down to the family crypt and I spoke to her. I mean, obviously, she didn't respond, but I told her everything that's happened and I told her all about you. I talked to Z-one a little, too. He's been resting down there until the funeral on Saturday and, well, I had a few more things I wanted him to hear before he left for good."

She smiled up at him, glad to see him returning back to the cheerful man he was until the Underground showed up. "I'm glad."

He shifted to pull his arm from her hold and wrapped it around her back, holding her against his side. "And, the thing is, after talking to my mother like that, I'm not as scared. Of being a father, I mean." Inhaling deeply, he paused for a moment before murmuring, "I thought a lot about what you said, about how you said I'll be whatever kind of father I want to be. I remembered one of my mother's lessons from when I was kid about how I could be anything I wanted to be as long as I focus and work hard for it, so, from now on, I'm going to focus on being the kind of father I want our child to have."

She looked up at him, tears blurring her vision as she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. She had been worried that he wouldn't be able to prepare himself, but now she knew he'd be fine. He was brimming with a newfound confidence that wouldn't fade easily. It was truly an epiphany on his part and she was grateful he'd found it. Burying her face in his jacket, she murmured, "I love you, Yusei."

His arms wrapped around her waist to hold her close as he whispered, "I love you, too, Akiza. I want to be the best I can for you. Can you promise me something?"

She pulled back slightly and studied his features seriously, asking, "What is it?"

"If I'm ever anything less than what you want me to be, let me know. I promise I'll do better."

She nodded slowly, her tears returning in a rush. He could be too romantic for his own good sometimes. "Only if you do the same for me."

A flutter tumbled in her womb, causing her to pull back and touch a hand to her stomach. "He's feisty today… That's the fourth time already."

His lips cracked into a smile as he set his hand on top of hers, knowing he couldn't feel it yet. He froze slightly, shifting so he could look her in the eye as he asked, "'He'?"

She paled slightly, just realizing that she'd let the sex slip. Shrugging slightly, she murmured, "Well, you know, he or she…"

His eyes narrowed as he studied her carefully. "Akiza, what do you know?"

Inhaling sharply, she knew she was caught and averted her gaze before mumbling, "I've known the sex for over a month now."

He stalled, trying to find the words to reply before saying, "And you're just telling me now? I mean, with you being psychic, I figured there would be differences from a normal pregnancy, but…"

She shifted to rub one arm nervously, hoping he wouldn't be too angry with her. "You were still trying to figure out fatherhood… I didn't want to scare you by constantly talking about it. I had planned to tell you when you were ready, and to do it properly. I didn't mean for it to slip out like that. I'm sorry, Yusei."

He shook his head with a slight 'tch,' a smile falling on his lips as he shifted to wrap his arms around her. "I appreciate you sparing my feelings, but from now on, I want to know everything, okay?"

She nodded. "Okay."

It was silent for a long moment as he held her close, his chin settled on the top of her head. Finally, his voice sounded in the early twilight as he murmured, "So… A 'he,' huh?"

A light laugh tumbled from her lips as she nodded against his shoulder. "Mm-hm."

Slowly, he muttered, "And you already knew about this when I asked to name him after Z-one, didn't you?"

She nodded again. "Yeah."

His hold on her waist tightened as he asked, "Are you sure you don't mind? I mean, not many people know what the sex of their child is before they're born. Are you absolutely sure you don't mind naming him 'Seero'? I won't be angry if you aren't."

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and clung tightly, saying, "I don't mind, Yusei. I already told you. This child would be lucky to bear Z-one's name. As long he skips the smoking and the drinking, anyway."

He gave a light laugh and said, "Don't worry. I think we'll be able to keep him out of the alcohol."

First off, yes, Andre being a high priest is weird. I was running out of characters. So sue me :P Secondly, Yusei's finally convinced himself that he's ready! Yay!

I have two questions for you guys and I'd totally love it if you took the time to answer.

1: What do you guys think is going to be the ending of SH? Where will Yusei and Akiza end up?

2: Which story would you like to see after SH is done?

-Next-gen
-YuAki headcanon
-Stardust/Black Rose fluff-fest
-Get off your ass and finish Thirty-One Days of Halloween
-SH oneshots/SH AU I have planned (AU of an AU. AU-ception, anyone?)
-Medieval AU (Loosely based around Fire Emblem games. See profile for description)

I guess I could turn that into a poll on my profile… I think I will. I just have to remember to check it :P

As always, please visit my Facebook! I do actually respond to folks who comment and I love to hear anything you have to say! facebook.c!om/OCValkyrie (Remove exclamation point)

Please review!

-Valk

P.S. Math placement test in less than an hour… I'm fucked.