A/N: I OWN NOTHING! EVERY BIT OF YU GI OH 5DS GO TO THEIR CREATORS! THE ONLY THING I OWN IS MY OCS!

Epilogue

Third Person POV

It had been seven long months since Z-One's defeat and the Divine Temple departed the Earth. So many things had changed in that time: A new city hall was being built and a mayor inauguration was going to take place as Lazar being the new mayor, which also meant the Sector Security Bureau was done. Akiza was preparing to graduate Duel Academy soon. Crow was a part of Sector Security at the time. Jack was back to pro dueling. And Yusei was leading a new team of operators working on the Planetary Gear.

At the moment, Yusei was at the lab getting ready to start up the project called "Fortune". His crew performed a system check and reported normal functionality. One of the operator reported that Ener-D and the energy gearing system were functioning properly and asked Yusei to enter the last code.

Yusei typed "GOOD DAYS" into a computer and the program started up. Again no abnormalities were detected. The operators at the four stations stood up and jubilantly applauded Yusei on the completion of Fortune. Among them was Zigzix, who pirouetted around ecstatically.

Yusei turned as Lazar entered the lab. "Congratulations, Dr. Fudo," the new mayor greeted.

"I'm not a doctor, nowhere near that level," Yusei responded.

"Perhaps," Lazar agreed truthfully. "But I believe you will be in the future and you will be so incredible. I'm sure you'll even surpass your father. With Fortune, New Domino's lifeline will be assimilated, leading the city's functions in the right direction. We are now linked to cities around the world, and as the leader, New Domino will be managing the others."

"The future Z-One mentioned probably won't happen now," Yusei predicted.

"That's all thanks to you, Yusei," Lazar responded.

"It was because everybody was there to help me. We were an amazing team," Yusei responded.

Lazar smiled. "Your form of speech about teamwork and friendship hasn't changed. That's just the type of thing you'd say. It reminds me how you once said there is no human who is unneeded or useless. With that belief, you were able to make New Domino City free from Yliaster's curse. With that, the city will truly find freedom," he responded. "Now, I apologize for disturbing you. Please, go through the future you must go through. Althought, in truth, I wish your future went with New Domino City." Yusei looked mildly surprised and Lazar apologized again, saying, "I have said too much. Excuse me." He left with that.

Yusei then received a call on one of the computers. He answered it to a woman who said, "There is a communication from Crow."

"Thanks," Yusei responded and entered another room where a video chat with Crow was opened.

Crow then said with slight frustration, "I had some trouble getting in contact with you. Were you busy?"

"I was, but we managed to finally complete the mainframe," Yusei answered.

"Nice!" Crow congratulated amazing.

"How are things on your end?" Yusei checked.

"Trudge has us going around in circles. I don't even have free time to sleep," Crow answered. "But for someone who is marked being allowed to manage things, the city has changed a lot."

"We've changed it and will be making the future from now on," Yusei told him.

"Yeah, that's true," Crow agreed. "With the bonds of Team 5Ds, we'll be lighting up the future."

Yusei looked at Crow, who looked a bit confused and wistful, and asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," his friend answered.

"What is it, Crow?" Yusei persisted. "You called because you had something to tell me."

"That's not really it. It's more I haven't seen you in a long time. I wanted to see your face for once, Crow answered.

"How about the two of us meet up with everyone and have a meal on the weekend?" Yusei suggested.

"Sounds great, I'll tell everyone," Crow responded. "But there is one problem."

"Is it Jack?" Yusei asked. "Is it still impossible to contact him?"

"I have no idea what Jack is up to," Crow answered. "I'll send him mail at least. But does Jack really understand our bonds?"

"We'll find out," Yusei answered.

"How have you been? You know, with Jayla…" Crow asked.

"I've been fine," Yusei replied. "Worried, but fine. I'll be checking on her after I leave here."

"You do that every day," Crow responded. "Do you actually ever go home? I know you work and then you go to Jayla, but I never see you at the garage."

"It's just hard to be anywhere without her. After so long of being close to her like that and now she's… it's just hard, Crow," Yusei told him sadly.

"I understand that," he assured. "If anything happens, let us know."

"I will," Yusei agreed.

"Now, I have to go," Crow told him. "I'll see ya."

"See ya, Crow," Yusei responded before they hung up.

He sighed in sadness a bit. Jayla had been on his mind ever since the Immortals went to kill her.

He looked at the time and sighed in relief. His shift was over. 'Now I can go check on Jayla,' he thought. He said goodbye to his friends for the time being and got into his riding clothes he always had to the side. With that, he walked out.

He got on his duel runner and hurried towards where Jayla lay resting: New Domino Hospital. He said hello to the nurses here and there and hurried to Jayla's room. He entered slowly and found Jayla still on the bed.

He sat next to the bed and looked at her with worried eyes. Her heart monitor gave a steady heartbeat. Though she didn't have a true heart, the stone still acted like one to their medical equipment. An IV was in her arm for nutrients. She had been in a coma since the Earthbound Immortals nearly destroyed her stone. She hadn't budged or many a sound. If Yusei didn't know better, he would've thought she was dead.

Yusei reached over and gently held her cheek. It was warm, another helpful indicator that she was alive. He then slowly grabbed her hand and held it in his hands, eyes closed as he leaned his forehead against the hand. Sometimes he spent the night at his home. But most nights, he spent at the hospital in hopes she would wake up then. He wanted to be there when she woke up.

By what Life told them, the Earthbound Immortals were completely out of her system. She was free from their curse. So he was certain there wouldn't be any risks of her panicking when she woke up from the Immortals trying to control her again.

He was wanting her to wake up so he could tell her about so many things: Her freedom, the new changes to the city, the new future ahead of them. But that wasn't the only reason he wanted her awake: He had something he wanted to ask her. But he could wait a few weeks after she awoke to ask her it. Added to that, it was her twentieth birthday today. Yusei's had turned twenty about three months after Z-One was defeated. But he wanted to tell her happy birthday. She always hated it when he told her that when the others were around. But most of the time, he was the only one here since the others were so busy.

"Yusei?" came a groggy, familiar voice. He slowly looked up, not sure if he heard it. But when he saw those familiar brown eyes tiredly staring into his.

"Jayla…" he whispered back, relief clear in his voice and eyes, but he kept the tears of joy from visibility. He gently held her cheek again. "You're finally awake."

"What happened? How long have I been out?" she asked.

"Right after we left the Divine Temple, the Earthbound Immortals began to try to destroy your stone," Yusei explained and she went a bit wide eyed. "With the help of the Crimson Dragon and Life, we managed to save you and finally get the Immortals out of your system. But you've been in a coma since the Immortals tried to kill you, which is about seven months."

"Seven months?" she asked. He gave a small nod. "What's happened in that time?"

"A lot," Yusei answered. "I can explain everything once you're able to move around better."

She tried to sit up and Yusei went to set her back on her back again, knowing she needed the rest, but she leaned into his chest. He didn't even hesitate to sit on the edge of her bed and hold her against his chest while she set a hand on his heart. He leaned his head against the top of her head and closed his eyes in peace. When she was still in a coma, the doctors told him he shouldn't move her like this until she woke up. And now that she was, it sent every sense of relief and happiness to be able to hold her like this again.

"I missed you, Jayla," Yusei whispered. She gave a small nod.

A nurse walked in and questioned, "She finally woke up?" Yusei nodded. "Let me get a doctor to check her over real quick and see how long it'll be before she can leave."

"Thanks," Yusei told her and she nodded with a smile before walking out. He looked at his lover. "You doing okay, Jayla?"

"Yeah," she answered. "Still a bit groggy from waking up after seven months, but I'm fine."

"You're free from the Immortals now and a new future is in front of us, so it'll definitely be fine from now on," Yusei told her.

"Sounds good," she responded with a small smile.

The doctor soon came in to check her over. Yusei let him do a few routine checks and had her try to walk a bit. She stumbled for a few seconds at first having not walked at all in three months, but it didn't take long before she was back to normal walking wise.

Eventually the doctor had finished his analysis and check up and stated as he had Jayla sit down again, "She actually seems to be in perfect health for being in a seven months coma. She should be free to go in the next couple days."

"Thanks," Yusei told him politely.

"Let us know if anything happens," the doctor told him. "And take care of her, Mr. Fudo. After this, I'm sure she needs you."

"Will do," Yusei agreed and the doctor walked out with that. The Signer soon sat next to Jayla who leaned against his shoulder. He wrapped his left arm around his girlfriend's waist and slowly stroked Jayla's hair with his right hand. "I can't tell you how happy I am you're awake."

"I guess it is a relief to be awake for once after three months," Jayla agreed. There was a small silence, but it wasn't too uncomfortable. After a bit, she asked, "What's in your pocket?"

"Hm?"

"Earlier, before the doctor came in, I thought I felt something in your pocket," Jayla explained. "It was small and round."

"I'll tell you about it when you're up and moving around more," he answered.

"Is it a surprise?" she answered curiously.

"Yeah," Yusei answered, trying to hold down his blush.

"I just woke up and you're going to torture me with waiting for a few days on this?" Jayla asked, giving him an annoyed face. "You know I don't like surprises."

"Perhaps," Yusei agreed, "but you'll just have to wait." Jayla groaned. Yusei couldn't help but laugh a bit. "You're kind of acting like I would as a kid when I got something like this."

"We aren't that different, Yusei," she responded with a small grin.

"Maybe that's what makes us such a good pair," he agreed, holding her cheek and giving her an actual kiss for the first time in so long. She responded in an instant. Yusei felt her begin to sneak into the pocket and touch the item. He grabbed her hand and looked at her. "You never give up, do you?"

"Neither do you," she replied with a grin. "Please, Yusei."

He gave a small smile and gently put the item into the palm of her hand, but kept his hand covering it. They pulled it out together and Jayla immediately smiled, able to tell what it was.

Yusei pulled off his hand to reveal it. It was a ring with a small, white diamond on top of a silver ring that had three tiny sapphire gems lined up on each time of the diamond. Jayla put it on immediately and kissed Yusei with as much love as she could give him.

When she pulled back, she stared into his eyes and whispered, "Yes." Yusei smiled before kissing her back, holding her close to him.

This was one change Yusei wanted and the change that would make him happier than he ever would be. Once she was out, they would tell the others. But for now, he just wanted this moment to last. He may have wanted to wait for a better place to give her the ring and ask, but she was as persistent as ever. Not that it shocked him.

Slowly, though, Yusei pulled back and told her, "Happy birthday, Jayla."

She gave a small laugh as she grabbed his hand gently. "Thanks, Yusei."

Alright, guys! This is the end of the Guardian series!

I was having a big debate with how to end this story for the longest time. I am not joking about this: I was actually debating on killing her again. But, be happy I didn't, and now we have this happy ending.

This ending was a bit tricky for me to write and I was off and on on things I wanted to do for it. But I tried for you my amazing and wonderful readers and I managed to write it. I hope you like this ending.

Let me know what you thought of the ending, story, or the series in general through PMs and Reviews. I would love to hear your feedback! I hope you enjoyed this series as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Until the next story, readers!

-bricann