A/N:

Hails: FINALLY. WE MADE IT TO THE EPILOGUE. I've been writing this story since November 2017, I can't believe I got this far. Thank you all for your support! I hope this short and fluffy epilogue will suffice for a good ending.

I disregard any claims to the characters, setting, or plot of Blue Exorcist/青の祓魔師, which are a property of the mangaka Kazue Kato. I'm just borrowing them for a little non-profit fun.

"If the final chapter of your life story is written by love, you are guaranteed a happy ending."
― Matshona Dhliwayo

The coarse threads of the towel sifted through Yukio's hair and scratched the back of his head softly.

This was the first decent, hot shower he'd had since escaping the Order. The stream of warm water had scoured and drenched his skin, made the dirt and the blood and the miasma roll off him in lathery waves. As he stepped out of the shower he realized how much it had soothed the burning ache for the clean feeling one got after just slipping out from underneath the running water.

He sighed in content, laying the towel to rest around his shoulders. The door creaked in a double-edge where wistful met annoying behind him. Rin entered, rubbing his familiar's fur where the buttermilk and soap once were with a pale yellow bath cloth. Kuro deemed himself dry as soon as possible and leaped from his master's arms, choosing to scurry off and curl up at the food of Rin's bed.

Yukio had to keep from laughing at the poof ball Kuro had become in response to the bath and his lips pressed into a soft smile. His eyes shifted to his phone; he thumbed through the new text message he received from Izumo just seconds prior.

"The Order just released
everyone from the
interrogation rooms so we're
on the way back to our dorms.
The Paladin is an asshole. (`Д´)
Paku and Godaīn did all the
work for us so we should thank
them. Our joint trial is in a few
weeks: February 8th. So far,
we're the victors. Here's to us.

P.S.: Tell your brother that his
advice to Shima about
serenading women was terrible.
Really? That's what he
exchanged the Koma sword for?"

'Us.' It was such a simple term yet it held so much meaning. Just the small things sent a throb, an oscillation of positive energy through him. 'Us,' 'we,' never just 'I' anymore, never solitary. This whole plight had brought him closer to those he had once only considered Rin's friends. Rather, they were his friends now too (although Yukio suspected they had been his friends for a long time, he was just too blind to see it. Too much at a power imbalance.)

"Aaargh, this sucks!" Rin groaned, flopping down into his desk chair. Yukio was no stranger to house arrest, although he had never been put under it before. He supposed, for someone as high energy and need-to-do-things as Rin, it must've been painfully tedious. "We save all of True Cross Academy and this is our reward?"

"To be fair, we were fugitives just a day ago," Yukio pointed out.

"Can I just say," Rin began, leaning his head on his hand. "That was all your fault."

Yukio stuck out his tongue childishly, antagonized by the reminder. If he were allowed, he would have blamed it on Mephisto for being a Grade A Jackass.

"Might as well get used to it, Rin. We're gonna be here a while."

"Thank you, Captain Obvious," Rin replied.

Yukio rolled his eyes, offering not to entertain this squabble. Instead, he opted to invade Rin's bed and fall back onto the mattress with a soft, indistinct flump. He sunk into the downy of the bed, laying his phone aside when no new notifications showed up. Moments later he was joined by a grumbling, irritated Rin.

With an off-topic tone of voice, he spoke. "So, while we were escorted back here, I couldn't help but overhear that there's another monster in Chiba. Apparently, it's a giant woman made entirely out of water. They're calling it The Ocean Queen."

Rin made stared at his brother with a mischievous smile. "You wanna sneak out and go help them?"

"No," Yukio breathed, closing his eyes. Right now, this moment was all he needed. It was peaceful, like the meditation of flowing bamboo water and Tibetan bowls, the air of the meditation and hot springs. While none of it was there, Yukio suspected that was the kind of medicinal, healing peace he had right now. "I just want to stay here, rest, do things that brothers and kids are supposed to do. No more fighting."

"Ah," Rin sighed. Truth be told, he could use his own bout of relaxation. You know, if he could get his leg to stop. Bouncing! He forced himself to still. "Sounds good to me."

Yukio allowed the dimples of his smile to show in the most genuinely untroubled and serene expression Rin had seen in a while.

Then a thought overcame Yukio, a thought of knowing that Rin was far more persistent and roguish then most made him out to be.

"We're going out there to fight anyway, aren't we?"

"Oh, yeah."

A/N:

Hails: Aaaaand cut! That's a wrap, folks. Thanks once again for sticking with me through all 100,000+ words.

Just a quick thing before you go, I plan on adding bonus content and epilogues for all the other characters, both Kato's and mine. Normally I would have added their finish here but I wanted to keep this chapter short and sweet. I promise I will not leave you guys hanging.

Be sure to look for more fanfiction in the future written by me because I'll certainly be churning them out.

Stay savvy, my friends.
~Hails