Notes: The RarePair community asked the amusing question of what the pair smells like. Thus started an amusing pondering of Kalin's thoughts on shampoo, which I explored a little here. As for the climax, try listening to the perfect Sailor Moon DiC dub song The Power of Love while reading.

Chapter Sixteen

The palace garden was beautiful, one of Prince Ramon's favorite spots. He never failed to find some measure of happiness and peace there, amid the flowers and other plants. Tonight, however, even though he wanted this to be a time of joy with his dearest friend, his heart was heavy.

"The darkness over the kingdoms is getting worse," he remarked. "Everyone's starting to fight with each other. Their fe and hatred is completely blinding them to the true enemy."

Kalin frowned and nodded. "We have no choice. Tomorrow we're going to have to go up against Stacey and the evil that's controlling him." He clenched a fist at his side. "And we might not come out of it."

"I know." Ramon stopped at one of the yellow rosebushes. Being his favorite flower, there were many such bushes in the gardens and throughout the palace grounds. He hesitated, then carefully picked several and held them out to Kalin.

The other prince took them, gazing at the bright yellow petals. "What are these for?"

Ramon smiled sadly. "For you. For us. A wish for a bright tomorrow and a victory over the fear and hatred. A wish that . . . friendship would prevail."

Kalin bowed his head and nodded. "I wish for that too."

"And if we can't have that, and we don't come out of this mess alive, then . . ." Ramon sighed. ". . . I hope we'll be together in Heaven. Maybe there, at least, we won't be told we can't be together."

Dying was not an outcome Kalin wanted to think about, but he knew that under the circumstances they really had to. "One way or another, we'll be together," he vowed.

Radley stared up into the old showerhead as it poured water down on him. It was large, similar to the largest and fanciest showerheads made in the present day. The very idea that such a thing had existed in the long-ago past and had been used by the Ramon family was surreal and unreal. Yet the proof was right here above him. The water pressure was amazing and soothing and he was delighted and awed. Someone in the family had apparently been an incredible inventor.

Soon he was clean and he stepped out, drying himself with a fluffy towel he had brought before putting on fresh clothes and heading for the doorway. The bathroom he had chosen was just off of Prince Ramon's bedroom, and he paused there and looked back again, as if half-expecting to see a scene of the past. But he did not, and he sighed as he went into the hall to find Kalin and the others.

Kalin was showering in the bathroom off of the parents' bedroom. Radley paused, listening to the sound of the rushing water until it stopped. Soon Kalin emerged fully clothed and drying at his hair, a far-away look in his eyes.

"That was nice, huh?" Radley greeted him.

"It was," Kalin admitted. "I can hardly believe it's really here."

"Water, electricity. . . ." Radley chuckled. "I almost feel like we should be finding an ancient TV set next. I wonder who the inventor was."

"Maybe you," Kalin said with a smile.

"Oh? So you're embracing the idea that I'm the prince now?" Radley smiled back.

"It seems undeniable, even though it's still surreal to think about," Kalin said.

"I guess it is," Radley mused. "Undeniable, I mean. Surreal too."

Kalin laid a hand on Radley's shoulder, followed by his other hand. He gripped tight. "Always stay the same," he rasped. "Even if you accept being Prince Ramon. Don't change."

"He seems like he was just like me, so that's unlikely," Radley smiled. "But I ask the same of you, Kalin."

Kalin nodded. "I'll always be me," he promised.

Radley hugged him close, unable to help taking in the scent of Kalin's latest experiment in shampoo. When they had first met, Kalin had been very uninterested in such things. On the one hand, Kalin still thought all the different varieties were silly. After all, getting clean was the most important thing. That didn't require fruit scents or flower scents or even multiple scents deemed more manly. Yet on the other hand, he was morbidly curious about all the varieties available and had tried quite a few different scents. Radley was amused, but he certainly didn't mind the interest in hygiene.

Kalin returned the hug. "Let's check in with the Bunch and go to bed," he said.

"Virgil and Jimmy are eating a late dinner, last I knew," Radley mused. "I'm not sure about anyone else."

"I'm sure Scotch is exploring," Kalin grunted.

Radley chuckled. "Yeah, probably." He sent out a group text to all the Bunch. Replies soon poured in and everyone's whereabouts were swiftly established.

Radley relaxed at the arrival of the last message. "Looks like everyone's okay."

Kalin nodded in approval. "Then let's go to bed. There's not much more we can do tonight."

That brought a sigh. "I wonder if there's much more we can do tomorrow either," Radley lamented. "I just don't know what we're gonna do if Anastasius doesn't show up somewhere."

"Let's worry about it if he doesn't show up by tomorrow," Kalin said. "There's still the thought of going back to the Kessler village to ask more about the sword. I don't know if there's any point to that or not."

"Me either," Radley sighed. He started to turn, but paused. "Are you sure you're up for this? Going in Prince Ramon's room, I mean."

Kalin looked hesitant too. ". . . Would going in the parents' room be better or worse?"

Radley chuckled. "I think I'd feel more like I was intruding there. At least the prince's room was probably mine."

Kalin nodded. "Let's try there."

It still felt strange and surreal there, especially with the bittersweet painting of what could have been hanging over the bed. Radley sighed and pulled back the covers, climbing into the soft mattress. Kalin laid down on the other side of the bed.

For a long moment Radley just lay there, staring off at the ceiling and the opposite wall as he pondered. ". . . It feels like coming home, to be here," he said.

"For me it doesn't, but I doubt Prince Kalin was ever in this room," Kalin said.

"Yeah, probably not." Radley fell silent again.

". . . Do you feel like other memories are coming back?" Kalin asked.

"Right now it's more feelings," Radley said. "But it does feel like I'm welcoming back a part of myself long forgotten."

". . . I guess that's how I felt looking at the prince's reflection," Kalin said. "And picking up the sword."

Radley nodded. "Yeah." He reached and laid a hand on Kalin's. "It's still weird, but . . . it feels more familiar the longer it goes on."

Kalin rested his other hand on Radley's. "Familiar. . . . That's it exactly."

Radley smiled, snuggling closer to Kalin as sleep finally started to come.

Kalin hugged him close. The princes had likely never got to enjoy this, and it had almost been torn from him and Radley more than once. He would appreciate and love it even more because of how blessed they were.

xxxx

Eventually most of the group slipped off to sleep, except those of the Bunch on sentry duty. They waited tensely and talked, staying alert for any sign of Anastasius.

Yusei too was having trouble sleeping. He got up, staring out the window at the grounds around them. Antinomy petted Monkey the cat and watched.

"What are you thinking about?" he finally asked.

"All of this . . . it's so unreal," Yusei said. "And like everyone else, I'm wondering where this guy is we're waiting for."

"It's strange," Antinomy agreed. "My guess is that he's on the grounds and the security guards keep missing him. Or maybe he intimidates or even hypnotizes them into not remembering they saw him."

"And what's his deal? What could he want?" Yusei frowned. "Does he really want to start that second battle from the legend?"

"If he's possessed, then I'm guessing the evil force does," Antinomy said. "He himself might feel differently."

"When he was Devack's friend in cults, who knows," Yusei said.

That was when they felt a tremendous rumble and heard a booming malevolent laugh from high above them.

"At last—the final remnants of the kingdom all together! This time I won't fail to destroy all of you permanently and claim the power for myself!"

Doors flew open up and down the hall.

"What the heck?! He's on the roof!" Crump cried.

"How did he get past everyone?!" Lector exclaimed.

"That's not as important right now as stopping him," Antinomy said grimly.

In Prince Ramon's room, Radley and Kalin snapped awake at the vicious call.

"What is he doing up there?!" Kalin snarled.

Radley leaped out of bed, his hands shaking as he went for his day clothes. "We've gotta find out and then get him down!" He frowned, pondering on what had just happened. "Did you hear and feel that rumble? I think he chartered a helicopter and then jumped down on the roof!"

"We weren't prepared for that method of attack at all!" Kalin said in frustration.

"He was steps ahead of us," Radley agreed. "Let's make sure he doesn't get any more ahead. For him to stand there and yell like that, he must figure he's already ready to get rid of us." He touched his pendant, his hand still trembling. "And if we can't fight back with enough strength . . . maybe he is."

Kalin got up, swiftly going to Radley and grasping his shoulders from behind. "I am not going to lose you again," he vowed. "And I'm not going to die either. I don't know how we're going to do it, but we're going to fulfill the rest of this legend and win!"

Radley finally nodded. "Let's go," he said.

Out in the hall, their loved ones had all assembled.

"What are we going to do?!" Scotch exclaimed.

"We don't have any choice but to go out there and fight him," Radley said.

Spotting something out the window, Lector stiffened. "And I am afraid we are on a very limited time schedule, Mr. Radley," he said. "Darkness is falling over the land!"

Radley looked out just in time to see the rest of the moon be covered by a thick black fog. "Oh no. . . ."

Valentina was especially alarmed. "The moon appears to gives added power to this place and your pendant! Without it, you lose an important advantage!"

Radley drew a shaking breath. "We don't have much choice. We have to fight him anyway."

Valentina nodded. She recognized that all too well. "Let us pray before going up," she said.

No one objected.

Antonio offered a fervant, heartfelt plea to God, imploring Him to protect Radley and Kalin and everyone else and allow them to live and be happy as the legend promised. Then, sighing, he closed his prayer and looked up.

"That was really nice, Grandpapa. Thanks." Radley smiled at him and gripped Kalin's hand. "Let's go up."

Kalin clutched Radley's hand while holding the sword in his other. "Yeah." He wanted to say it would be okay, but they had no way of knowing what awaited them up there or how hard it would be to fight. He could only pray that God would indeed have mercy on them.

Radley led the group up each flight of stairs as they headed for the roof. With every step, it felt like he was remembering more and more. He had gone up these stairs so many times, including that last, fateful time with Kalin. He knew the way . . . he knew what was up there. He knew, he knew. . . .

Anastasius sneered at them both as they burst through the door at the top of the final flight of stairs. "Welcome, Princes," he said. "So we meet again. It's been such a long time coming."

"You're not welcome here now any more than you were back then," Radley said coolly.

"No, I would think not," Anastasius replied. "But I'm every bit as pleased to be here."

"What do you want?" Kalin demanded. "Just to rule the world?!"

"Of course. I want to make it over in my image. Doesn't every megalomaniac?" Anastasius replied. "Unfortunately, for every such dictator, there is always a force of goodness waiting to stop them. For me, it has always been the two of you."

"Always?" Kalin frowned.

"You, or others in your family line," Anastasius said. "I can never actually be killed, you see. I have existed since the beginning of time because of the fear and distrust and hatred in people's hearts, and your families have always been charged with stopping me! They seal me away until I'm deliberately summoned or until my power grows strong enough that I can come out again."

Radley stared in shock. "Then . . . that's what all the training with the pendant is for," he realized. "For sealing you away!"

"Oh yes," Anastasius said darkly. "I was never more powerful than I was when I faced off against the two of you all those centuries ago. The people were so ripe for falling under my control. I should have known that for this final battle, you would be my opponents again. I never faced such formidable adversaries as the Princes. I have no doubt you've grown stronger still, as I have. Even though the moon cannot be your ally in this fight, I will not underestimate you."

Radley was still reeling from this information. "But . . . if our families have always gone up against you, then what happened to split them apart?! Did you get to them too?!"

"Of course. I sowed lies and distrust among them, hoping that to divide my enemies would ensure my victory when I was ready to try again to enact my plans for bathing the world in my darkness. And it worked! Your families' ridiculous feud fueled my strength for decades until you were both born. I sensed something different about you. Neither of you would listen to the tales that fooled others in your families before you. Instead, you both tried to repair the damage and unite your families! The strength of your love sealed me away for far longer than ever before. And it was all leading to this, to this ultimate battle with both of you again, in modern times!"

"And then what?" Radley frowned. "We seal you away again until our descendents have to deal with you?!"

Anastasius's eyes darkened. "This is the final battle, my friends. When you or I win this time, it's permanent. And I can assure you, I will not lose."

"And what about your host?" Radley frowned. "Is he all-in with you?"

Another sneer. "He supports the both of you with all his heart, just as he did back then! It's such a cruel irony that he will be forced to help bring you down!"

"We won't let that happen," Kalin vowed. "We'll save him from the darkness, just as I was saved in the past!"

A dark aura began to form around Anastasius. "Well, then, gentlemen, by all means. Take your best shot!"

Radley walked forward slowly, deliberately, his pendant glowing more with each step. "I am Radley Ramon," he said. "But I am also Prince Ramon. And with all the power of two lifetimes, Kalin and I and all of our friends are going to stop you." He stopped walking and stood there, concentrating hard on his pendant. As it glowed brighter still and finally blasted at Anastasius, Radley's clothes changed to the bolero jacket and other traditional apparel of the Prince.

Scotch gawked. "How did he do that?!"

"I don't believe it was on purpose," Lector mused. "Rather, I believe it is a sign to show that he is indeed the Prince and he has accepted it." He moved forward too, as did the rest of the Big Five, and they added the power of their rings to the fight.

Kalin stood for a moment on the sidelines, watching the sides trade magical blasts. As usual, he could not seem to will his psychic powers to work. He would have to rely on something else. His eyes narrowing in his resolve, he ran forward with sword held high. His clothes soon changed to the white coat and red pants of Prince Kalin.

Yusei stared. "Kalin. . . ."

With the moon darkened behind the fog, Anastasius's blasts were far more powerful than Radley's. The Big Five's power helped fend him off, but when cries from below grew loud and distracting, their attention wavered. Anastasius sent out an energy ring that sent them and the Bunch all flying.

Radley stared in horror. "Everyone . . . !"

Then Anastasius blasted him too and he crashed to the roof.

"The cries are that of the people as they fall to my power and turn against each other," Anastasius sneered as he advanced on the dazed Radley. "Eventually that will be the fate of the entire world!"

"And why not us too?!" Scotch retorted as he struggled to get up.

"You're holding out longer because you were more prepared for my coming," Anastasius said. "You knew at least some of what I could do."

Radley brought a hand to his forehead as he tried to sit up. Anastasius was upon him in an instant, pushing him back down with a foot on his chest.

"That will only save you for a short time!" Anastasius crowed. "Even all of you will fall prey to my power before the end!"

"No." Suddenly Kalin was there, holding the tip of his sword to Anastasius's chest. "What's protecting us has nothing to do with knowing you can manipulate people's feelings and emotions. It's our love for each other. You, a being born of the darkness, could never understand that."

Kalin's sword began to glow. As Kalin stared at it, memories began to trickle forth and into his mind. He remembered. . . . He remembered. . . . He plunged the sword into Anastasius's chest.

Radley shot upright. "Kalin?!"

"Kalin! What are you doing?!" Yusei cried.

Radley stared. From Anastasius's expression, he didn't even feel anything.

"I remember! The sword seeks demons and evil spirits," Kalin said. "It was blessed by a Christian priest when it was forged. It can take hold of something possessing someone and pull it out without harming the person!"

Radley smiled. "Then you work on getting it out and I'll get this portal open somehow," he said.

An inhuman shriek tore from Anastasius's lips. "You think it will be that easy?" the dark voice from before mocked. "I won't let it happen, not without leaving a string of bodies in my wake just like before—including yours!" Anastasius started to get to his feet.

Kalin kept gripping the sword's hilt. "And we won't let that happen again," he vowed. He began to pull back with the sword, praying he was drawing the force out with it.

Radley stood now as well, praying this would work. "We found out about you, Anastasius. You were part of the legend, a tragic part that isn't talked about anymore. You loved us and you wanted the kingdoms to be united. The evil force tricked you into believing that if you accepted it, it would give you the power to unite the kingdoms. But what it really wanted was a human body so it could properly wage war on the kingdoms, uniting them under its dark rule and killing the princes."

Anastasius paled, his eyes flickering as he struggled for control. "No! No, this can't be true! I would never do anything to hurt either of you!"

"You didn't mean to," Radley said. "You thought you were helping. That's the tragedy of it."

"It's because of you that they—we—died," Kalin said. "No one could understand more about being tricked by the darkness than me. I was a Dark Signer and tried to destroy the world, all because I let the darkness trick me into believing it would let me see my friends again!" His eyes turned pleading. "Don't fall into that trap again like you did in the past! Fight the darkness!"

Anastasius snarled as the force tried to get back into control again. "You cannot! The darkness is always stronger than the light!"

Kalin tried not to flinch. That sounded like a Dark Signer's words.

Radley held his ground. "Hey," he said. "I know it won't change what happened back then, Anastasius, but we all have a new chance now in this life to do better. I forgive you for the past; I know you sincerely wanted to help. That's why you've just gotta be stronger this time. You can't let the evil take you like it's been doing."

Anastasius struggled, but then held still. "The Princes are stronger than you!" he choked out in his real voice. "I . . . I renounce you! I won't allow you to use me to harm the Princes!"

Another roar of rage, more vicious than Kalin would have thought would come under the circumstances. Was Anastasius really strong enough to fight back?

Radley exchanged a look with Kalin. "Anastaisus! Maybe . . . we can try to pull this thing out of you?" he suggested. "With my pendant and Kalin's sword, we might be able to make it work. Apparently that's what we did in the past."

"But it killed him in revenge when it came out!" Scotch exclaimed.

"If I am truly to blame for your deaths, I want to give my life now to save you," Anastasius said sorrowfully. "Please, do what you have to do!"

Radley hesitated. ". . . Getting it out of you didn't stop it, though," he said. "It was after it came out that we tried to fully banish it and got killed."

"But wasn't that because you just didn't have enough power and your pendant overloaded?" Nesbitt said. "You've got all of us now. If we all work together, maybe we'll have enough strength that it won't happen a second time!"

Yusei nodded. "It's up to you two, but we have to try something. I know Bruno, Jack, Crow, and I don't have any powers anymore, but we're here for support and I'm going to ask the Crimson Dragon if he won't help anyway."

Kalin smiled, deeply touched. "Thank you, Yusei." He looked to Radley. "Yes, we need to try something.

Radley nodded. "We have to stop the evil force for the whole world's sake. But this time, we're going to try even harder to save Anastasius, our friends, and ourselves. No one should have to die!" He straightened, pushing back his fear as he began to concentrate on his pendant. He had to help get the evil force out, to thrust it into a portal that would not be opened again. He had to, he had to. . . .

The Big Five gathered around, prepared to use their rings' powers to help push the evil into the portal. Yusei, Bruno, Jack, Crow, Valentina, Antonio, and the Bunch desperately tried to aid their friends with their prayers, encouragement, and love. But no matter how Radley struggled, as usual his pendant was not cooperating.

He breathed heavily, dizzy spots flickering in front of his eyes as he fought with the stubborn piece of jewelry. "Come on," he hissed under his breath. "This time of all times, you can't do this! You have to work!" He stumbled into a tower.

Kalin wavered, his concentration breaking out of his fear for his friend's health. "Radley!"

Radley shakily gripped Kalin's shoulder. "Keep going," he insisted. "You've gotta get it out. I'll do my part. I have to."

"But do you have to do it alone, Mr. Radley?" Lector asked. "What if we all help you open the portal?"

Radley smiled. "I don't know if it'd really work, but I'd welcome the help," he said.

"It should work!" Scotch exclaimed. "Your family didn't know about the rings, did they?! They thought it was only the pendant and then Kalin's sword too! But there's no reason why you guys should have all the weight on you! That's why we're all here, to share the load!"

"It doesn't hurt to try," Radley said, praying in his heart that it would work.

"Hurry if you can," Kalin said through gritted teeth. "I don't know how long I can hold it. It's not coming out!"

"Some of us will help Mr. Radley and some of us will help you, Mr. Kessler," Lector said. "This is going to work! Now, all of us together! Concentrate!"

Valentina clasped her hands, whispering desperate prayers under her breath. Antonio crossed himself and joined her.

Radley resumed his concentration. But unlike before, he wasn't as frantic or strained. They were all here, helping him and Kalin. It would work this time. He would get the portal opened and Kalin would throw the evil force into it. Anastasius would be safe too.

Everything would be alright. . . .

The pendant glowed more brightly. Slowly, ever so slowly, the portal began to open.

This wasn't the past, Radley told himself. They weren't going to die this time. They were going to live! They were going to live!

The portal swirled open at the same moment that Kalin fully wrenched the evil force from Anastasius's body. It was wretched and twisted, a mass of thick fog through which no features could be seen. And yet it was sentient, still roaring in rage as Kalin tried to thrust the sword into the portal.

"You will not defeat me and live!" it snarled. "If I am to be cast out again, you will both come with me into everlasting darkness!"

Kalin clenched his teeth. "No," he hissed. He tried to let go of the sword and send it into the portal with the creature, but his hands were stuck. In bewildered horror he desperately shook them, to no avail.

"Kalin!?" Yusei rushed over to try to pry Kalin's fingers up from the hilt.

Radley came over likewise. "What's wrong?! What's it doing?!" he cried.

"I don't know," Kalin rasped. "It's controlling my hands somehow, or the sword . . . ! I don't know!"

Alarmed, the Big Five poured all of their power into forcing the creature into the portal and breaking its hold over Kalin at the same time. But instead, Kalin was tumbling into the portal with it.

Still dizzy and dazed from the exorcism, Anastasius looked over his shoulder in horror at the sight. "No! No, this can't happen! The Princes can't be lost again!"

Radley was grabbing Kalin from behind, frantic to pull him back even if that meant the demon would come too. But the pull of the portal locked on to them both and they fell, even as everyone else was screaming for them.

Help, he prayed in despair. Please! Don't let this happen. Don't let us live just to be lost in here for the rest of our lives! Please . . . save us. Please, God . . . !

"Let go of me," Kalin ordered as they fell. "You have to let me go and go back!"

"Do you really think I would?!" Radley countered.

"No," Kalin said. "But . . . we're falling into the Netherworld body and soul! This is worse than death!"

Radley stared in horror, still frantically praying for divine intervention. "You recognize it already?!"

"If it's not it, it looks just like it!" Kalin said. "More importantly, the feeling of hopeless despair is just like it!"

"Oh God. . . ." Radley shut his eyes tightly, still clutching Kalin.

Suddenly a rope went around their waists and pulled tight.

"We are not letting you guys go so easy!" Scotch cried.

Both Radley and Kalin looked back in shock. All of their loved ones and even Anastasius were at the top of the portal, gripping the rope.

"You guys might be pulled in too!" Radley exclaimed.

"We won't!" Scotch insisted.

With all of them working together, the power of the portal's grasp finally snapped and Radley and Kalin were free. As they were pulled back up, the demon's power over the sword fell away as well and the creature dissolved into nothing with a roar of hatred.

Kalin gasped, his hands free. He clutched the sword's hilt before it could fall out of his hands. "What . . . ?!"

Then they were back up, collapsing on the marble ground as everyone encircled them with joyous cries. Above them, the black fog was completely dissipating, revealing the full moon in all its glory.

Radley stared up at everyone in awe. When he willed the portal to shut, it did, and without harming him.

"All of you . . . you really did give us the strength we needed," he gasped. "We're all safe now, because of you! The Princes really didn't have to fight alone, like they were taught!"

"Thank God!" Valentina exclaimed.

Antinomy smiled. "He wanted you both to survive and you have," he declared.

Radley and Kalin hugged each other close and then hugged everyone else.

"And so has everyone else," Radley said in joy. "We're all safe."

Kalin clutched him close. It seemed too amazing to be true, and yet it was. They all truly had their second chances.

"I have witnessed a true miracle!" Anastasius exclaimed. "No, I was allowed to take active part! Nothing can make up for what I did in the past, but . . . thank you. Thank you both so much for your faith in me regardless."

"I'm glad we believed in you," Radley smiled. "You seemed so completely into the legend and the Princes that I couldn't think you were deliberately working against us."

"No, never!" Anastasius insisted. "Oh . . . I wonder how the dean will behave when I go back. . . . I might not still have a job."

"The dean was scared of you because of the times you let loose with dark power," Radley said. "If you really weren't in control any of those times and you didn't know what was happening, the dean should understand if we talk to him."

"Would you?!" Anastasius exclaimed.

"I think he deserves to know what was going on regardless," Radley said.

"One thing concerns me," Kalin said. "How did the evil force get back into this world to possess you again?" He frowned at Anastasius.

Radley sighed. "I also saw that in my memories. It had a spell put on Anastasius so it could return to him, like a tether. But it would only last if Anastasius wasn't able to fight it off, and now he was." He smiled. "So you're free."

"Thank you!" Anastasius cried again. "You are the true princes! I am so honored to have been able to take part in your story and help give it a good outcome!"

"We're honored too," Radley smiled, and Kalin nodded agreement.

"Are you guys going to stay in those clothes now?!" Scotch asked.

Kalin started, looking down at the white coat. ". . . It looks like you've finally got your wish to see me in white," he said to Radley.

Radley smirked. "And you look very dashing, just as I knew you would."

"I still say it's not my color," Kalin said. "Maybe I was okay with it as a prince, but it's just not for me now." At these words, the clothes vanished, replaced by Kalin's favorite black coat and pants and gray shirt.

Radley poked at the hem of the bolero jacket. "I like this myself," he said. "But I want my current clothes back now." To his satisfaction, he swiftly found himself in leather again.

"Do you think you guys can learn to do that at will?!" Scotch eagerly asked. "It'd be like magical transformations!"

Radley had to laugh at that. "I don't know. I guess we'll find out sooner or later."

"Let's make it later," Kalin said, hugging Radley again. "We still need to sleep."

"Do you really think you can after all this?!" Crow retorted.

"Now that it's over, yes, I think so," Radley smirked. He returned Kalin's hug and clutched him close. "We're safe now. We've done what was expected of us. Finally, we can be at peace."

Kalin nodded in agreement. There were still more mysteries, more memories to be learned. But with the danger passed, they were free to deal with those at their own leisure. As far as he was concerned, it was time for sleep and then home. Their lives weren't here any longer, even though this place would always be special to them both. Prince Ramon's family would want them to return to their new lives. And, he realized, so would his. They had grieved and prayed too, and they had been involved with the construction of the tomb. Whatever their faults had been, they had sorely paid for them just as Prince Ramon's family had. He wanted to let go, to forgive.

"We can," he said aloud. "And that's all I want."

Yusei smiled. "And that's what I want for you. For both of you." He looked to Radley and then back to Kalin. "That's what you both deserve."

"I quite agree," Radley smiled, content.