Notes: So, here it is - the ending of this fic. (Apart from the two side-stories that will follow as postscript extras, of course!)

It's short and sweet as promised, but somehow, I think I had more trouble with this ending piece than some of the really long chapters that this fic has had. I had a helluva time editing this because I really wanted this to sound right to me, and I hope that you guys are just as happy with what the epilogue contains as I am.

Chapter Title: Catch the Moment - LiSA

"The moment my voice rang out, my heart started counting the limits of this life:
Even if this wish keeps coming true over and over, I don't want it to end.
The second hand of this world, running with sweat on its brow, will someday leave me stranded here, unmoving—
How many more times will I be able to smile with you?
So I'm going to test my own limits, and I'll catch the moment."

—LiSA, "Catch the Moment"

April 2031

Spring had come late to Tokyo that year. It had been mid-March before there was even a hint of warmer weather, and only now—three weeks later—were the blossoms of the trees that lined the neat, orderly streets of the city in full bloom.

Stepping out of the car, Eli pushed back a stray strand of blonde hair, tucking it underneath a hairpin, and smoothed out her blouse. The fabric itched around her neckline slightly and the stiff material of the collar had rubbed uncomfortably against the back of her neck for the past three hours—had it been up to her, it certainly would not have been her outfit of choice had she not had a conference to attend with Nozomi that morning. Unfortunately, turtlenecks, jeans, and boots were not proper attire for a presentation at a senate meeting, and to her dismay, her hair had also had to match the occasion.

She resisted the urge to rake her fingers through the tight bun that one of Nozomi's attendants had bullied her long hair into that morning.

From somewhere behind them, the sound of the walled fence being torn down filtered through the trees, muted and indistinct against the birdsong that filled the forest around them. The acrid tang of Namidite lingered, as it always did outside of the city's perimeters—but here, it was smothered by the clean, soft scent of the petals above them and the petrichor that rose from the earth.

Eli felt Nozomi gently touch her shoulder. "Is it that way?" she inquired, pointing a gloved finger at the worn pathway through the trees ahead of them.

Looking in the direction that she was indicating, Eli nodded. "I think so," she replied.

Nozomi took her hand as the two of them carefully picked their way through the undergrowth that had grown to take over the paved walkway. Although the park on the other side of Tokyo Bay had not been maintained in almost a decade, large, delicate blossoms still hung from the tree branches above their heads, waving gently in the breeze.

The cherry blossoms were not the only unexpected thing that had become a part of the long-abandoned park. Someone—perhaps a someone who had also lost someone they knew to Edenra—had placed a bouquet of early spring flowers by a wrought-iron cross that stood at the base of a hill that overlooked Tokyo Bay. It didn't take long for other passersby to do the same—a silent, poignant tribute to the all the victims of Edenra who would never have a proper grave.

Inexplicably, against all the odds that she could think of, the site had become a memorial.

The two of them walked in silence until they reached the top of a low hill, shaded from the sun by a shroud of pink and white. From its crest, the waters of Tokyo Bay were visible, dappled a deep blue by the sunlight.

Nozomi suddenly stopped beside her, holding her free hand up to her face to shield her eyes from the bright sunshine so that she could peer down at the small gathering of people below. "Is that them?" she asked, turning her head in Eli's direction curiously.

It was.

Kotori was the first to notice their arrival, turning her head from where it was resting against Umi's shoulder to wave at them with one arm. "You're here!" she called, her musical voice carrying against the peaceful backdrop of the park.

Her greeting caused both Maki and Umi to turn around. Something that resembled a disdainful scowl twitched at the corners of Maki's mouth as she looked her up and down, her arms crossed over her chest. "I hope you're not going to make a habit out of being late now that you've become part of the impressionable," she remarked, wrinkling her nose.

Eli gave her a dry smile. "I'm sure you'll be the first to remind me if I do."

The redhead snorted. "Damn right I will be."

Beside her, Umi sighed and shook her head. "This isn't what we're here for today," she said evenly. "We chose to come here on this day for a reason. Let's try not to forget that."

The bounty hunter looked at her then, the seriousness in her amber gaze belying the slight hint of annoyance in her tone, tilting her head slightly in a silent question. Eli looked back at her, swallowing the sudden tightness at the back of her throat and pressed her lips together. She nodded once.

Nozomi tightened her grip on her right hand as the five of them approached the growing memorial left by citizens of Tokyo, for whom the past was as unforgettable as it was to her—to each of them.

When they were finally standing directly in front of it, Maki took her other hand, joining their all of their hands together in a gesture of both support and unspoken respect.

In unison, all of them bent in a low bow.

No one spoke as they stood there. Their silence carried far more than words would ever begin to convey.

Eli closed her eyes when the familiar ache worked its way up her chest, tilting her head up slightly to stop any tears that might escape from her control.

When Maki finally let go of her hand, five minutes later, the fingers of her left hand were numb. Nozomi's hold on her other hand was less painful, but Eli could feel the way her fingers searched for support—a reminder that neither of them were alone.

When she turned to look at her friends, she saw Kotori gently wipe away a tear on one cheek with a hand, still holding onto Umi with the other, before the young woman smiled. It was sad, but genuine, as she reached up to brush a fallen petal from where it had settled in Umi's dark hair.

"Well," Maki said, finally breaking the silence. "I have to be back in the city to meet someone, so unfortunately, I have to go." She flattened out the creases in her lab coat and raked her fingers through her tangled red hair in preparation to leave.

Umi straightened from where she had bent to rearrange the bouquet of flowers left by Kotori. "Are you meeting that Yazawa Nico person again?" she asked in a casual, offhand tone, turning her head to look at the redhead.

Eli watched the heat rise immediately in Maki's face as she took a step backwards involuntarily, thrusting one hand defensively into the pocket of lab coat where she knew she was keeping her phone. "H-How do you know about that?" she spluttered, flushing a dark red. "Have you been looking though my stuff?"

Nozomi laughed softly beside her as Umi turned around, crossing her arms. "No," the blue-haired bounty hunter deadpanned. "You asked me to get you your phone from the countertop last time. She just happened to send you a text while I was bringing it to you." She shrugged. "Was this not something you wanted everyone else to know?"

"No!" Maki snarled at her. "I mean, I don't really care—I-It's not like this is something that important, or anything. I just wish you didn't have to talk about my business in front of everyone like it's the latest piece of gossip!"

Eli raised an eyebrow skeptically as Nozomi took a step forward, not trying very hard to hide the smile playing at the corner of her lips. "You know, I'm fairly sure that you wouldn't be this worked up about this if it wasn't something important," the violet-haired woman remarked blithely. "Are you sure you're not just nervous because you've never gone on a date before?"

The colour in Maki's cheeks deepened. "W-What? What do you mean, a date? Who—Look, I never said anything about a date, okay? I don't know what Umi's trying to imply here, but it's not a date!"

Growling in indignation, the redhead spun on her heel and angrily strode toward the direction of the city, not bothering to look back. Eli watched her go, amusement prickling underneath her skin at the stiff set of Maki's shoulders as she stalked away.

Umi had just opened her mouth to say something else when Kotori gasped, staring at the watch on her wrist.

"Umi!" the brunette exclaimed, tugging on her fiancée's sleeve. "We have an appointment at the wedding planner's office in twenty minutes! Come on—we're going to be late!"

The blue-haired bounty hunter threw them a helpless, imploring look over her shoulder as Kotori hauled her by the hand towards the overgrown pathway that led out of the park and back into Tokyo.

Eli laughed. "Godspeed, Umi," she told her as the pair of them disappeared from sight.

Finally, it was quiet again, the sound of the waves lapping gently against the shore of the bay reclaiming the immediate space around them.

Eli turned back towards the cross at the foot of the hill, reaching out the fingers of one hand to gently brush the large, heavily-scented petals of the bouquet left by Kotori and Umi. Uncannily, as though it was meant to be, the shape of the flower reminded her of the hairpin that her sister had always worn.

The familiar ache in her chest reawakened then, a dull ache that she knew would never completely go away. She felt Nozomi take a step closer to her to lean against her shoulder, their arms pressed firmly together. "Are you okay?" she asked gently.

No matter how many times this world may end up repeating the same mistakes that it's already made, this is still the city that she wanted me to change.

She took the hand that gently brushed against hers, and held it. "Yeah," Eli replied.

I remember. And I will never forget.