Dlbn: Hello, everyone! Well, this is it. This is the last shebang, the grand finale. Welcome to the final chapter of The Executioners!

Nbld: Be on the lookout for the sequel, Midnight Sun, coming out as soon as I get the time and motivation to write for it.

Dlbn: I wasn't entirely certain how to end this, so that's why it took so long to update. That and I work two jobs and have no time to have a life outside of work. *twitches*

Nbld: Least we got to the final chapter of Diablo earlier. Time for Review Corner! The DarkCat and Promocat for reviewing! Cake for you both!

The DarkCat: I normally refer to her as Hostile just for simplicity's sake. There's a lot of OC action here, so I wanted her to stand out since she's Kaji's mother. His father is at a bit of a dead end without Copycat, but I'm sure his slimy backside will figure out something. I'm always worried about how I portray Mikado, but I'm glad you liked her.

Promocat: He doesn't want to be like or look like his brother but, unfortunately, they're a lot alike. Without the homicidal urges and the like.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, Kaji and parents, Akito and her father, Sanji and her parents, Mako, and Taika. I make NO money off writing this. Anything Loveless canon belongs to Yun Kouga.

Dedication: As of May 25th, 2019, I am officially Mrs. Dlbn H! My husband and I tied the knot with my little boy at my side and all my friends and family in the wings. I can't wait to live a long and happy life with you by my side.

Dedication 2: Happy fourth birthday to my favorite little special dude! My son's birthday was the thirteenth, but I didn't get to update then, so he gets his dedication now! I look forward to watching you grow up into the great young man I know you will be. Mommy and daddy love you so much!

Dedication three: Happy belated birthday to my best friend and wifey, who shares a birthday with my son. Can't wait to see you and the boys soon!

000

It wasn't the nice, homecooked meal by candlelight-probably because Soubi forgot to pay the electric bill again-that surprised him. Nor was it Yoji and Natsuo being told to stay in Gora so he and Ritsuka could have a nice night together, nor staying the night that surprised him. No, Soubi was always asking him to spend the night-thank god mother didn't mind all that much-and doing nice things like that for him, especially after a long, tiring investigation like the Tamed murders had turned into. It was how affectionate Soubi was being. How he all but hinted that he wanted to go to bed early, despite having slept on the six-hour train ride back from Gora. He gave him a back rub after they shared a hot, relaxing shower to get rid of the stink of public transit and work out the kinks in their bodies from uncomfortable seating and the stress of everything going on around them. While they were safe for now, neither thought that the safety and serenity of their world was going to last long, let alone forever. But for now, Ritsuka had been content to get a little extra attention, to pay a little bit more attention to one another and less on the case that was surrounding them. A back massage turned into a pair of lips on his neck, kissing in the dark, and an hour or so later of missing clothes and preparations that sent Ritsuka to a place he never thought he'd be.

000

Waking up the next morning and not being able to twitch his ears or tail to get a feel of the day startled him and he frantically ran his fingers through his obsidian hair to find the appendages. But when he finally woke up a little and looked around the room, eyes first spotting his discarded clothes and then the sleeping, naked blonde at his side, he started to laugh to himself. How could he have forgotten? For once, it wasn't just a dream. It was reality. He and Soubi had…finally, after begging for all these years, the blonde finally made a damn move and got rid of his child-like features that frankly just didn't belong on an Executioner. He was giddy as he carefully slipped out of bed and made his way to the bathroom, wincing at the pain in his back and the coldness of the floor. He flipped on the light and took time admiring his now more adult reflection. His mother's words of coming home with ears filled him with dread and he rushed back to the bedroom.

"Soubi!" Ritsuka shook him. "Soubi…!"

"Mmm…?" Soubi stirred, turning over and snuggling under the covers more. "Ritsuka? What time is it?" He asked, a lazy smile crawling over his face as he sat up and gently ran a hand over where one of his ears would be. "Damn…"

"Yeah, damn is right, idiot!" Ritsuka huffed. "Mother is going to kill us." He pointed to his missing ears. "We…god, I was so wrapped up in the idea of finally making love to you that I forgot she'd kill me."

"Relax, relax." Soubi pat his head and reached out to the nightstand, opening a drawer and pulling out two fuzzy black fake ears. "I'm prepared."

Ritsuka frowned, corner of his lip twitching. "You've been planning on this for a while."

"You were getting insistent." Soubi shrugged one shoulder. "Of course, if you'd ordered me, I'd have had no choice. But can't hurt to be prepared, can it?"

"You know I would never order that!" Ritsuka took the ears and studied the clipping mechanism.

"I'm only teasing, love." Soubi informed, pecking him on the lips. "Don't be so tense."

"Don't be such a tease." Ritsuka rolled his eyes. "What about…?"

Soubi reached under the bed and pulled out a black tail in a box.

"Okay, I guess you did think of everything…except…"

"Except what?"

"You know my ears and tail are very…expressive…"

"They move."

Ritsuka turned over the box and read the back. "Okay…you got me. You were definitely moreprepared for last night than I was."

Soubi chuckled. "I suppose one of us has to be."

Ritsuka glared as Soubi got up and got dressed, taking in a good view of the man he'd lain with all night. He blushed and looked away when he noticed Soubi noticing him. The blonde kissed the top of his head.

"How about breakfast, hm?"

"Hey, Soubi…?" Ritsuka wondered.

"Hai?"

"What changed your mind?"

"Hm?"

"About…about sex…you always said I was too young…or it wasn't the right time…why the sudden change of heart?"

Soubi tapped his fingers on the doorframe, trying to find the right words to appease his younger lover.

"I've realized something during this investigation." Soubi began slowly. "Whether or not this guy is up to something and exposes our world, the world we live in is very unstable. Between your brother and this guy's nutjob crew, who knows what we're in for in the end. I just…just in case things go wrong…I'd rather they go wrong after I just show you how much I care about you."

Ritsuka just stared, face red as he hid his embarrassment behind the carboard tail box.

"I guess they were right." He side, gently tossing the box onto the bed.

He had the next year or so to pretend to be a virgin. For now, he'd be the adult Soubi turned him into.

000

With things turning back to a relevant normalcy, Ritsuka was falling asleep in math class from a combination of boredom and lack of sleep the past few weeks thanks to his and Soubi's newer relationship development. Yuiko poked him in the side with a pencil just in time for their sensei to begin walking around to check the homework. The bell rang before she could finish, but she dismissed the teens she had already checked the homework for.

"Thanks." Ritsuka told the pinkette.

"You're welcome." She smiled back. "You've been really tired lately."

"Soubi wears me out." Ritsuka leaned back and ran a hand through his hair. "Now that my mother came out and said she knows about us; we don't have to be as secretive anymore."

"That's great." Yuiko beamed. "Yui…I'm really happy for you guys. I'm glad I got to meet him. He seems really nice."

"Yeah, he is." Ritsuka chuckled, fake ears twitching.

Yayoi was waiting for them outside of the classroom. "I heard they're having a memorial for sensei Friday."

"Oh, that's great. About time." Ritsuka replied.

"Yeah, it took a while for them to go over the details and come to a ruling in his death. I was reading about it on Yahoo news last night." Yayoi adjusted his backpack strap. "They ruled it an accident, since they didn't have proof otherwise."

"I wonder what really happened." Yuiko sighed. "Poor sensei. I hope his soul will be able to rest, even if they didn't…"

"You don't think it was an accident, do you?" Ritsuka cocked an eyebrow.

"Well…I mean…" Yuiko swallowed hard. "It probably was, but I wonder how it happened."

Akito walked by with Sanji and a few of her friends, having transferred to the school a week or so prior to be closer to people like her. She waved happily, giving Ritsuka a sign to call her later.

He flipped his hand in a slight wave and nodded.

"You know the new girl…?" Yayoi cocked an eyebrow.

"Yeah, she used to go to school with Yoji and Natsuo." Ritsuka responded.

"That's cool. Ritsuka knows everyone." Yuiko giggled. "But seriously…I wonder what happened to Sensei. I'm going to feel so bad until they find out…"

"We may never know." Yayoi shrugged one shoulder. "Only one that does is sensei, and if anyone was there that night, them, too."

Ritsuka looked over his shoulder at Akito and Sanji giggling with their friends, spotting Mako and Taika with their respective friends near their lockers, preparing for the next class. He smiled. Well, not everyone would always be in the dark. For now, there were four teenagers, one group of Executioners, and a counsel of people who knew the truth. Kaji's spirit would be able to rest in peace, knowing his Fighter was safe and that his father's companions were facing judgment at the hands of the Executioners. Ritsuka was just glad that he was also able to live life in peace, knowing that just a dangerous Unit was off the streets. Now if only Kaji's father would stay in the shadows where he belonged and try to destroy Septimal Moon from the inside instead of through the civilian world that knew nothing of their existence. But if he did ever rear his ugly head again, if his people ever did expose the Fighting world to the rest of the world, they'd be ready. And they wouldn't be going down without a fight. A fight he was sure they'd win. After all, no one got one over on the Executioners.

No one.