A/N: This is the end. *sobs hysterically*. Thank you everyone who stuck with this story until the end. I still can't believe I've basically written a book. Blows my mind. I really appreciated all the reviews and positive feedback. I don't know what I'll write next, although I do have some ideas knocking around. Until then, keep reading.
Epilogue
"Wait, so that's it?"
It was some weeks later and Ren and Kyoko sat together in the Hizuri's library, recounting their tale for the Pirate King. The flamboyant man had been in ecstasy over the romance and adventure of the whole story. Ren had actually been afraid that he might explode.
But now he seemed quite put out.
Kyoko furrowed her brow. "What do you mean?"
Lory waved his arms about. "Well, for one, how did your crew escape the brig?"
The two lovers turned to where Yashiro was ensconced in one of the armchairs. The first mate steepled his fingers and peered at them over the rim of his glasses. "Do you want the long or the short version?"
Ren said 'short' while Lory called for long. The two pirates glared at each other, prompting Kyoko to giggle at them and Yashiro to shake his head.
"You know our escape plans, right?" The first mate began. "Plan Alpha is to fight, Plan Beta is to talk our way out?" Lory nodded. "Well, the captain charged me with executing Plan Beta, which has an exceedingly low success rate." He adjusted his glasses.
The Pirate King raised an elegant brow. "But you obviously succeeded."
Yashiro bobbed his head once. "Indeed, although not in quite the way I expected.'
"Oh?"
"Yes. Captain Fuwa's first lieutenant proved to be of a similar mindset."
This garnered a startled look from the Pirate King, as well as the other two listeners. Ren had not heard this part of the story before. He had just assumed that Fuwa had reached the ship and released his crew as he had promised.
"Wait," Kyoko interjected. "So the lieutenant was already going to free you?"
The first mate nodded. "Aye. Apparently, he was concerned at how long the expedition was taking and wanted to send out a search party. He'd planned on leading a small group of our crew since his men were necessary for maintaining the status quo."
Ah, that made sense. The Dark Moon crew had been expendable. Though, he did admire Lt. Aki's bravery for going off into the jungle alone amongst the enemy.
Yashiro continued with his tale. "We didn't get far from the beach before we ran into Captain Fuwa. He told us what had happened and how to reach the temple. Without his help, we never would have found you."
Ren grumbled. He didn't like being reminded that he was indebted to that bratty captain in any way. He was quite content with hating his guts, thank you very much.
A gentle hand on his wrist brought his attention to the young woman currently curled against his side. He looked down and was rewarded with a bright smile.
Well, maybe he could let the whelp live for a little longer.
He snugged an arm around Kyoko's shoulder and dropped a kiss to the top of her head. He chose to ignore the satisfied smirk that graced the Pirate King's face.
Lory turned back to Yashiro. "So what was the name of this paragon of a naval officer? I may like to recruit him."
"Lt. Aki. But you may have some diffi-"
He was interrupted by the noisy opening of the library door. "What are we talking about?" Kuu boomed in an exuberant voice as he and Juliena entered, trailed by a pair of servants bearing tea trays.
"We were just discussing a rather remarkable young man who I want to steal from the Navy," Lory said, as he hungrily observed the scones and cakes being set up by a footman.
"Yes," Kyoko added, receiving a cup of tea from Juliena with a nod of thanks. "Lt. Aki."
Kuu paused in his acceptance of a large platter of pastries from his butler. "Aki?" He asked, tilting his head. "Now why does that name sound familiar?"
Juliena was passing another cup to Ren. "Maybe because you've already heard this story, dear?" She teased her husband.
"No," he replied seriously, biting into a scone. He thought hard while chewing. "I believe it was from my Naval career." After a moment, he snapped his fingers. "That's it. I knew an Admiral Aki."
"Maybe it's his son?" Ren offered.
His father shook his head. "If I remember correctly, he only had a daughter."
Kyoko's back straightened. "What was her name?"
"Shoko, I believe."
She shared a glance with Ren and Yashiro before all three fell to laughing. At the blank stares from their audience, Kyoko struggled to regain her composure. "That explains rather a few things actually," she managed finally. "I wonder if Sho is aware that his first lieutenant is a woman."
Lory and Kuu's eyes widened, but Juliena joined in with the laughter. Once the merriment subsided, Yashiro turned to the governor. "Does that sort of thing happen often in the Navy?"
Kuu gave a knowing half-smile. "More often than you'd think. I can personally think of three occasions off the top of my head."
"Well, at least in the pirating business, women don't have to disguise themselves," Lory stated somewhat proudly.
The company shared another laugh except for Ren. That last statement dislodged a mystery that had been knocking about his brain for awhile now. Turning to his old friend, he said, "That reminds me, Lory. I've been wanting to know how you worked out that Kyoko was a woman." At the Pirate King's stunned silence, he added, "You knew from that very first night, didn't you?"
He was surprised to see a flush rising up the old pirate's neck and face. What on earth? Was Lory...embarrassed? What a laugh.
"Ah, you see," Lory stammered. "The thing about that is- Hmm, how to put it?" He hemmed and hawed for a moment longer.
Ren's temper began to rise and he finally exploded, "Out with it already!" Looking distinctly uncomfortable, the Pirate King raised both hands and flexed his fingers as if grabbing something. "What the hell does that-"
Then it hit him.
He glanced down at Kyoko to see if she had understood the gesture. Luckily, she wore a vaguely confused expression as did his father and his first mate. The only other one who seemed to understand was his mother.
Who then smacked Lory upside the head.
"Lecher." She muttered under her breath.
"I swear it was an accident," he protested vehemently. "We bumped into each other. I would never intentionally-" He quickly shut up under her heated glare. Ren couldn't help but laugh. At Kyoko's quesoning look, he merely shook his head. She pouted up at him and he was hard pressed not to kiss those delectable lips.
"I still can't believe you hid my son from me all these years, you kidnapper," Juliena was saying.
"Hey, I wrote at every opportunity," Lory defended. "If anyone's to blame, it's your husband." He pointed at Kuu, who was stuffing his face with an éclair.
Sensing imminent disaster, his father swallowed. He wiped at his face with a napkin and moved the tray from his lap. "Now, dearest-"
But Juliena's wrath would not be contained. "Don't. Dearest. Me, Kuu Hizuri." She bit out as she stood and towered over her husband. "You knew all this time and didn't think to tell me?" Tears fell from her green eyes.
Kuu jumped to his feet and rushed to pull her into his arms. She struggled for a moment before stilling and clutching at his coat. "Shh, my love. I know I should have said something, shown you the letters." He pulled back and offered his handkerchief. "But Kuon needed to do this on his own. You would have wanted to rush to his side. Don't deny it," he said when she opened her mouth to protest.
Juliena snapped her teeth shut and shot her husband an irritated look. Then she sighed. "You're right. But I'm still mad."
Chuckling, Kuu pressed a kiss to her temple. "I know, darling. Forgive me?"
She sniffed. "For now."
The tense moment was broken by a teary sniffle and light applause from the Pirate King. Lory dabbed at the corner of his eye with a lacy handkerchief. "See?" He said to Ren, gesturing to his parents. "This is why I spared your lives so many years ago. This devotion, this love. What a crime it would have been to destroy it."
Ren grimaced. So that's what had really happened. Honestly, he should have seen it coming. Typical Lory.
His father simply laughed at the old pirate's theatrics. He then turned to Ren. "So, son, what are you going to do now? Remain a pirate?" Surprised at the change in topic, Ren wasn't sure on how to answer. Kuu continued. "You could become a merchant,you know. Winter here, let your hair grow out, and take up your real name. Start over in the spring?"
The thought had some merit. Leave behind the reputation and criminal record of Captain Ren Tsuruga, Scourge of the Navies. Turn to honest trade and be able to provide a stable home for Kyoko. Be able to have a home with her. He felt giddy thinking about the possibilities.
Then he realized that his opinion wasn't the only one that counted anymore. He glanced down and saw that Kyoko was ducking her head in that way that meant she was unhappy about something. Ren opened his mouth to ask what was wrong, when she suddenly stood and excused herself from the room.
He could only watch miserably as she fled.
Kuu looked between his son and the door through which Kyoko departed. "Was it something I said?" He asked distressed.
"Hush, dear," Juliena admonished. Turning to her son, she smiled warmly. "Go on, Kuon. She needs you."
With a quick nod, Ren was up and gone.
O.o.O
In the garden, Kyoko sat on a stone bench, arms wrapped around her chest in despair. She didn't know what was wrong with her. She knew that she should be happy that Kuon had the chance for a honest life without fear of being hunted. She should be able to feel gladness for his renewed life and the new path opening before his feet.
Unfortunately, that path seemed to lead away from her side.
Kyoko didn't feel as if she could return to a normal sort of life. She knew that her destiny was aboard the Dark Moon with her friends..no, her family. She had hoped that it would include Kuon, but she didn't want to be the one to hold him back.
Oh, she knew what Kuon would say. That he would love her no matter what and that they would be together regardless. But Kyoko didn't want that kind of love, where one half would stunt themselves for the other. She had already experienced that. If it turned out he could make a better life for himself without her, then Kyoko would have to let him go.
Even if it broke her heart.
"Here you are."
His voice, which normally would have soothed her fears, only caused the anxiety to rise. She scrunched up further into herself, trying to ignore the desperate need she had to touch him. If he was going away from her, she needed to start distancing herself now.
"Hey," Kuon called softly, joining her on the bench. "What's wrong?"
Kyoko closed her eyes tightly as she felt his body turn towards hers. An arm snaked around her waist and it took all of her control to not melt into the touch. Instead, she angled herself away and managed to ask one question.
"Do you want to become a merchant and stop being a pirate?"
A soft intake of breath was the only indication of his surprise. Kyoko waited as he thought, dreading his answer.
"Well, that depends."
She breathed out. "On what?"
"On what my wife thinks."
His response electrified her and she spun around, gaping in amazement. "Your wife?" She choked out, her eyes wide.
Kuon was blushing and reaching into his pocket. He withdrew a ring and Kyoko's heart sang. "If you'll have me, Kyoko." He held out the piece of jewellery for her approval.
She stared down in bewilderment. The ring was a dainty silver band with scrollwork etched on the sides. A large sapphire sat in the center of a circle of diamonds. The blue gem threw off purple undertones, much like her Corn stone. She lifted the ring from his palm with trembling fingers. She glanced up, hope blossoming. "Really?"
He chuckled. "Of course, really."
"What about becoming a merchant? Having a pirate wife could be a hindrance."
He cocked his head to the side. "Is that what you want? To stay a pirate?"
She nodded. "But I would understand if you don't."
"Kyoko," Kuon said, clasping her hands around the ring and staring straight into her eyes. "My life has been all about you ever since Hyde Park. I would do anything to have you by my side. If you wanted to be performing circus monkeys, I would go out and find us a troupe. Nothing else matters to me." He swallowed thickly, suddenly nervous. "So, will you?"
She stared up at him as he awaited her answer, his green eyes steady and loving. Kyoko realized that he was as determined as he could possibly be and that there was no way she would be able to survive without him.
So with a cheeky grin, she replied, "I suppose it's the least I can do, since you died for me and everything."
Kuon laughed and swept her up into a whirling embrace that left her dizzy and ended in a searing kiss. Pulling back, he reclaimed the ring and fit it onto her left hand. The gems flashed happily up at them and Kyoko felt an echoing joy bubbling out. She began laughing.
With an ecstatic grin, Kuon leaned over and whispered, "I love you."
Kyoko blushed and beamed at him. "And I love you."
They were leaning in for another kiss when a slow clapping drew their attention. Tuning towards the sound revealed that they had an audience.
Kuu, Juliena, Mr. Yashiro and Captain Takarada were standing at the gate, applauding the scene before them. Kyoko was mortified and yet not terribly surprised.
The Pirate King nudged Kuu and whispered loudly, "Told you he'd do it before dinner. Pay up."
Kyoko blinked as Kuu grumbled and passed over a handful of coins. "You bet on us?" She turned to Juliena, hoping for some commiseration and a voice of reason.
"Of course, they did," the older lady said before turning to the two men. "And they should be ashamed of themselves." They looked contrite. "For they should be paying me since I said it would happen by teatime."
Kuon's jaw dropped open as his mother collected her winnings from the gentlemen while Mr. Yashiro laughed merrily. Kyoko could only shake her head in amazement. To think that this was her family.
Still wearing a look of bemusement on his face, Kuon turned to her. "They bet on our engagement." he said disbelievingly. "What next?"
"Well," Mr. Yashiro piped in. "I do have a pool running on what your first child's name will be."
This caused Kuon to squawk indignantly and Kyoko couldn't hold it in any longer. She burst out laughing and leaned helplessly against her fiancé.
Fiancé. The word rattled around inside her until it settled in a special niche in her heart that she hadn't known was there. It filled her with warm light and overwhelming joy. This was what it meant to be truly happy.
Eventually, Juliena managed to chivvy all the men back inside with the promise of a proper celebratory dinner later. Once they were alone, Kuon turned to his bride-to-be and wrapped her in his arms. "So, dear heart, what does the future hold for us?"
Grinning widely, Kyoko slipped her arms about her captain's neck. "There was a saying that I heard while I was in Tortuga that says it all." She leaned up and whispered against his lips. "It's a pirate's life for me."
And that's the end, folks. Thanks again for reading.