Massive time skip here. I felt that this was the only way I could end this, read on and tell me what you think because, to be honest, I don't know what to think anymore.

Shifting my tired and weary bones I sighed, turning into Snake Eyes as he pulled me closer. He no longer wore the suit or the mask, he had not done so for many years now. In public he always wore a low hood to cover his face and a mask underneath but between us, he was still my Snake Eyes, scar and all.

We were old, ancient in fact. Although I could still get up and move I rarely went faster than a shuffle these days and Snake could not move at all. After a horrific accident his lower legs had been paralysed. It had torn him up at first, not being able to fight but I figured a way around that.

Many times I would dance with him, using the air waves to support Snake as he used his upper half whilst I guided his legs, the perfect and lethal ninja returned. He was his nineties and I was not far behind him.

Our children and their children were all grown up, even the great-grandchildren were beginning to come of age. Takeo and Amaya had beautiful children, I was always proud of them. Kei had found his perfect match in a woman who could not fight or was in any way a ninja, she was in fact an artist but she understood our ways and respected them greatly.

Ghost, Blade and Wolf were long dead and their puppies but their descendants still lived in our family and protected us like fierce warriors. Over the years we had lost everyone. Duke, Scarlet, Ana, Roadblock, Flint, Lady Jaye and General Joe. Snake Eyes and I were all that was left of the original Team Alpha.

My staff was now passed onto my son, Kei, who was the wisest master I could have ever imagined, which was why I named him the Wise Master. Amaya was the Great Master as, once she was older and more experienced, no one could defeat her in battle except myself, seeing as I taught her all the moves she knew. Takeo became a master also, not long before he proposed to Amaya. He was known as the Strong Master. When I gave him his title, he had looked up to me with so much pride I thought his heart would burst. He did well in continuing his father's legacy, Storm Shadow would have been proud.

Arisu left the institute to continue her life as a teacher, wanting to do her part in helping to raise and protect children. She always told me I was her inspiration. She was an elderly lady now, not quite as old as I am though, mind, she still has a few good, happy years ahead of her.

I felt so weak I could barely feel my heart beating anymore. Looking out the window I saw the sunset and smiled. The colours danced before me, bright and vibrant with the cherry blossom tree standing in full view with the temple. So peaceful.

My children and Arisu were here now, crying quietly as they knew my time was coming, it had been for a very long time now. Snake was not far behind, I could hear his breathing getting lighter and lighter so I clung onto him as tightly as I could.

Their children and grandchildren stood quietly also, morbid as they sobbed and the little ones cradled close to each other. They were preparing for mourning. I loved my family with all my heart, I was sad to let them go but I knew that I could not hold on much longer, I was so tired…

Looking at the sun it dipped behind a distant mountain and I breathed softly. My ashes would be cast into the wind, a free spirit, the rest would be buried beside Snake Eyes where I would rest between him and Storm Shadow, where my heart had always lain.

A flash of white light slowly bloomed before me as the last of the sun disappeared, beaming down to me and I smiled. "You took your time." I murmured in an old, wise voice that was so different from how Storm used to remember it. He was exactly the same. Without a word he leaned down and kissed my wrinkled brow.

"Kaze, you're still as beautiful as you were when you were younger." I scoffed, smiling as I closed my eyes.

"I'm old, Storm Shadow, I have as many wrinkles as I have years."

"Beautiful." He told me then stood, offering his hand to me. "It is now time."

"I know." I whispered and as I spoke, the years peeled away from my voice as my spirit took his hand and got up, a gust of wind spiralling around me as I leaned back and accepted it. Looking behind I saw the shell of my body, old, frail and empty.

"I will always love you Kaze." Storm whispered to me as he drew close but before he tried to kiss me I touched my hand to his mouth and shook my head.

"I love Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow and I will always love him. It is different now, I have shared my life with him." Leaning up I kissed his face tenderly then leaned into his embrace. "But you will always hold a special place in my heart." He smiled.

"That is all I ask. We must wait for your husband now." I turned and smiled down at Snake Eyes who had tears in his eyes as he silently cried, drawing my body's head into his chest.

"Snake Eyes, beloved, come to me." I whispered, standing over him. His eyes opened and he looked around. When his eyes fell on me I smiled brightly. "It's time to let go." I held out both hands to him and nodded. "Come to me." Silently he took one last breath before it shuddering left him.

His hands reached out for me and I grasped them, pulling his spirit from his body until I gazed into his eyes. As the room fell away from around us we gazed at one another, completely locked together. He no longer had a scar and I sorely missed it already. I traced his face where it should have been.

We were both younger, exactly the way we were when we had met and fallen in love. Reaching up I wound my fingers into his girls then drew his lips to mine, finding them warm and gently like they had always been before.

Turning around I saw my family crying. My son and daughter flung themselves over our bodies, sobbing their hearts out and I longed to call out to them, to tell them everything was alright. "We must go." Storm Shadow told us gently but his eyes were resting proudly on his son and his children, quietly watching them all before finally looking towards us. "The others are waiting."

Looking up I heard a bark so I squinted into the bright misty light that Storm Shadow stood before. Glancing to my family one last time I took Snake's hand and walked forwards. "Faith?" I called out in hope as the light began to stretch behind us, the world falling far behind us.

I saw the bounding shape of a dog and I screamed. "Faith!" I ran to her, beaming as she leaped into my arms and licked my face, rolling as we reunited once more. Her golden eyes gazed up at me as she whined, panting heavily before jumping on me again.

"About time you two showed up."

"Heavy?" I looked up and he laughed, grinning as he nodded.

"We've been waiting for you." Scarlet said as she walked into view, Ripcord close behind her. "For a long, long time."

"Hello princess, creepy Zen Master, how was life?" I beamed widely, watching as those who had been taken from me walked into view, one by one. Duke hugged Ana from behind, gazing down at me with brotherly love as I slowly stood, Faith pressed closely into my legs.

Breaker waved as Lady Jaye walked into view, holding Flint's hand tightly with Roadblock not far behind. General Joe nodded to me and I smiled, unwavering love filling my heart as I gazed at them all. "You two certainly took your time. We've been waiting here for years just for you." Ana said to me as she smiled. "Now, we're finally all here."

"But what about my children?" I asked. "I want to wait for them."

"You can." Storm said as he walked past me to stand with the others. "When we walk through the door, it closes behind us but there are always windows you can watch through. You will never truly be cut off from them." Relaxing I felt Snake hug me from behind. "Brother, you have taken your vow to your death. There is nothing binding it to you now." Storm Shadow told him with a nod. I blinked then looked up at Snake Eyes.

"What does he mean?" I asked him softly but he let go of me and turned me to face him, gripping my shoulders as he gazed into my eyes. Then he spoke.

"I love you Kaze." Blind shock settled over me as I heard his voice for the first time. It was so delicately accented, so exotic that I couldn't even place its origin. The perfect baritone sound thrummed every string in my body, husky and tender with emotion of unbelievable quality as the words powered into my core.

"Snake…" I whispered to him, my hand still slid into his curly hair.

"I have loved you since the moment you stepped out of that hut and will continue to do so for the rest of eternity. The way you understood me like no other, I did not need to say a word and you could read me letter to letter." He pulled me close, never taking his eyes from mine. "You have no idea how much I wanted to say something to you."

"I know." I nodded my head, stroking his hair tenderly as I smiled serenely at him. "I've always known. I'm glad you didn't though, because I knew you would never have forgiven yourself if you had." Unbridled love filled his eyes and I truly felt like the most beautiful, loved and lucky woman in all of creation.

"Alright you two, enough of that. Who's up for one last adventure?" Heavy Duty asked, cracking his knuckles as he turned to the star of bright sunlight that stood not too far away from us. We joined the line, turning to face this new unknown.

"I'm up for it." I nodded. "Anyone else?"

"As long as I got my team with me, I'm up for anything." Roadblock said. "As long as there's some ass kicking thrown into the mix."

"Well then. What are we waiting for?" Duke asked. "We all ready?"

"Hell yeah!" We chorused and I lowered my stance as everyone did the same, reaching out to grab Snake's hand whilst my other found Storm's. He looked at me and gave me a firm nod.

"Three…two...one…HO-AH!"

"HO-AH!" We all bellowed then thundered towards the light, everyone holding hands as Faith bounded beside me at my heels. The brilliance of light and warmth sang before my eyes but it did not hurt. I no longer felt pain. Wind danced beneath my feet as we raced for this new adventure, broad smiles lighting everyone's face as we all leaped into the unknown, allowing the light to swallow our souls as we held on tightly to one another.

And then I saw it…and it was beautiful.

Well. Thank you for sticking with me to the end. A little bit of a cliff hanger but, you know what? I think that's exactly how Kaze would have liked it to have been. So this is the end, please tell me what you thought of the entire thing. I'm proud of this one, really proud, but I can't say this story would ever have happened without those who actually made G.I Joe so thank you guys. Great job. This is Silver sighing off, over and out.

HO-AH!