Author's Note: Yes, yes, I know that this is short. Sorry! That's just the way it wanted to be written. Also, you probably want to know why this epilogue takes place so far in the future. Well, people who have read Solace and Not Human will realize that this is where I tie them all together at the end. Yes, this is the same New Year's Eve party. So, now you know. (And yes, that is why the epilogue in Not Human was the way it was...some people found that confusing.)
If you want more of the story, this is continued from Yukito's point of view in Not Human. Touya's story is finished though, or at least this part of it is. There will be more, however. I'm not just writing this one story, but weaving a tapestry of many different stories together. If you want to know what stories I've written tie into this timeline, there is a list on my website.
Thank you all for reading this story. I hope I made it entertaining for everyone. I had a lot of fun writing this, and I'm sad to see it go. Eventually though, all good things must come to an end.
Epilogue
New Year's Eve, eleven years later:
"Yuki, go take your shower while I finish up here. The only thing we have left is the oven, and we can't work on that together." We were almost finished scrubbing down the entire house for the New Year. We'd normally be taking it easy at this point, but this year we had been invited to a party. I still wasn't sure why the two of us were going, but Yuki insisted.
He smiled at me, kissing me in passing before he left the room. "Don't take too long," he called over his shoulder.
He was still simply breathtaking.
I know now that declarations of love don't turn life into a "happily ever after". Things weren't perfect and I refuse to pretend they were. I'm hardly complaining, however.
Through it all we were together. We faced everything hand in hand, and I was far luckier than I thought I deserved. It was wonderful. It wasn't perfect by anyone's definition, but that didn't matter. I had my Yuki, so everything was just spice. As long as he was still here, and as long as we were together, that's all that mattered.
I scrubbed the oven, but it wasn't very difficult. Yuki and I were very good about cleaning oven spills as soon as it cooled enough, so this was really more symbolic than anything. I had just finished and was thinking of joining Yuki for the last half of his shower, but the doorbell buzzed.
I slid the door open to reveal the last person I expected to see.
"Kaho?"
~~~~~@~~~~~
Yukito had left for the party hours ago. He had understood why Touya wouldn't feel comfortable there, so there was no problem about them staying behind together. Kaho would never feel welcome at Eriol's house after the way they had finally broken up, and that is where the party was being held.
"That's the whole story, really," Touya finally said with a shrug.
"You love him more than you ever loved me?" There was no accusation in her voice, only curiousity.
Touya shifted a little. "Love is love. I'm happy with Yuki though, and nothing could change that."
"I'm glad," Kaho said, looking both relieved and a touch disappointed. "I did worry about you. I thought many times over the years that I should never have loved you in the first place. I wondered if I had damaged you, but all I wanted was for you to be happy."
"I'm very happy, now. The way you left me though, it really hurt. I still can't understand why you did it that way."
"I'm only human. I thought that by keeping the truth from you, I could protect you from the pain. I think though, that I was really being a coward. I knew it would hurt me to see you hurting, and I was already--"
"It's okay. You're right, you're only human. We've all grown a lot since then."
"I wanted to tell you something, but I don't think I need to now. You'll be happy with or without what I've seen, but this will be a special year for you I think."
"Doesn't that ever spoil the surprise? I mean, you see everything coming and--"
"No, I don't see everything coming." She frowned, but shook her head and went on before he could ask about the source of her sorrow. "Okay, let me ask you something. Do you miss your magic?"
Touya frowned, looking at her closely. "I don't miss it more than I would have missed Yuki. I'd give it all up again in a heartbeat."
Kaho's smile was as enigmatic as ever as she heard his answer. "Seeing the future for me is as natural as seeing spirits was for you. It feels natural to me, and I'd feel blind without it."
His frown deepened, but he nodded.
Their conversation went off in new directions, and sooner than Touya expected Yuki had returned home. Kaho left, congratulating them on their successful relationship and wishing them both well. Touya was lost in thought of what he had told her about meeting Yuki and all it took for them to find their love for each other. He realized he had left a lot out, so while it was all still fresh in his mind he took out a sheet of paper and began to write.
"I pedaled faster, pushing myself to my limit. I left her in the dust, skating as fast as she could, but she could not catch up to me. I felt a small pang of guilt, but it couldn't hold me back.
"Touya! Wait!"
With a sigh I slowed down..."
The words flowed with a natural rhythm on the page. Still, he realized it would take him a long time to write all he wanted to put to paper. He thought about giving it to Yuki some day and smiled. As far as presents go, it would certainly be unique. With a smile he bent over the page and decided he'd make it as full, and as honest, as he could.