This chapter is much shorter that I expected -not quite one thousand words- but what can I do? I want to thank everyone who's stuck with me through this story for all of the words you've spoken (well, written). It means a lot to me, really. This chapter is dedicated to you guys. So without further ado, here is the final chapter of Words Once Spoken.

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Words Once Spoken: Epilogue

After that, things returned to normal- well, as normal as anything could be for us. Kasumi returned with Kuro and I, and she found the home she had long been seeking. I'd never predicted that she and my apprentice would hit it off so well.

Akiko learned a new kind of honesty; and Kasumi learned a new sort of kindness. It was almost as if their souls existed to complete each other's. I watched them with a growing sense of pride; the pride of one who knows that he was a part of something good. And it was good, without a doubt.

We all lived for a while, in that place. To Kuro, to me, and to all of us, that camp was a place full of memories. Even if I couldn't hold onto them, and I felt them slipping away from me, Kuro and everyone else were there to help me make new memories.

I continued, simply watching for a long time. I saw them grow, and grow, and finally stop growing. At that point, I knew my usefulness had come to an end. There was nothing left for me to teach them.

When they stopped, I knew it was time to take my leave. I told Kuro, and he accepted without question. That selfless chimera gave up his band for my sake, and we left it to them. In doing so, we left them with the hope for something better.

As for Hiei, he kept up with Mukuro and Yukina, just as he had always done. Nothing seemed to change with him, except surprisingly; he visited us fairly often. It seemed as if Kasumi had captured his heart.

I noticed that gradually, his eyes began to shine more. He developed a kindness that he'd always tried to deny. In his own secretive way, he too was growing. For that, I was more grateful to Kasumi than my words could express.

From Hiei, I learned the three butterfly children were adapting well. They lived at the temple. It wasn't surprising to me that they were doing well. Naturally, with the influence of so many great people, they would develop into kind individuals. That was my deepest wish for them, and it was pleasant to be a part of that, however indirect.

Even so, all of those things were passing fancies for Kuro and I. After a while, the two of us grew restless. It seemed that time apart made us desire each other even more, and sharing each other's attention was something neither of us wanted to do.

We wandered for a while, and my worldly lover showed me a new side to Makai. We traveled to places we had known in the past, and we reminded each other of things we had forgotten. Thinking back, those were some of the most blissful moments of my life.

To be alone with my lover, and free of any obligations, or of any restrictions, took us back to the height of our love for each other. Seeing so many new things and making so many happy memories began to take its toll on me.

I still feared for my sanity; and I feared that I would forget all of those new memories as well. That was, and still is, something that would be worse than death to me.

I voiced my fears to Kuro, and he assured me I was just getting old. You can imagine how I took that…

Even so, it reassured me. After all, someone as old as Kuro would know- and that's exactly what I told him. You can imagine how he took that as well…

Those months were fun, and they brought me back to the days of my apprenticeship. Even in my human body, I could appreciate my amusing mate.

We both agreed that we should use my younger self to his fullest while he still lived. It wouldn't be fair for Shuuichi otherwise. He wasn't entirely happy with our logic, but he didn't mind being used by my chimera either.

After a while, all three of us craved something more solid to hold onto. I enjoyed the life of a nomad, truly I did, but it scared me all the same. Once, a long time ago, Kuro told me about the place where he grew up; in a town far far away.

I begged him to take me there one day, and he agreed. But at that time, we weren't ready to settle down. Instead, and I still smile remembering this, in a castle in central Makai, we decided we wanted to celebrate the one-year anniversary of our reunion.

Once determined, my chimera cannot be stopped. He invaded the place by himself, and within an hour, he had emptied it for me. I don't think he hurt anybody- well, not seriously at least.

I fell in love with him all over again then. Who wouldn't? He held me close to him every night, as if afraid we would be pulled apart. I wasn't much better. It's ironic, the two bandit kings acting like children, but who cares? I don't.

We'd been through a lot, and we would be through a lot more before the time came for us to die.

So after a week of sensual delight, Shuuichi, whose sense of propriety was anxious, decided we would return the castle. The look on the owners' faces when we finally tracked them down was priceless!

My darling bat and I continued down the road we ourselves made; learning about each other in the process.

I was still afraid, but even if I lost my memories completely, I would always have Kuro to tell me about the words once spoken. That was all I really needed.

"And in that year, I recovered something I'd thought was lost forever."

That's the end of this chapter in Kurama's life. The Silver Tears adventure will continue in As Long As You're Mine.

Preview: "No… I'll go with you." Resignation filled his emerald eyes, and his shoulders drooped in the manner of one reluctant, but condemned as he stepped into the circle.

A blinding light filled the circle, erasing everything contained within it. When the light cleared, both Kurama and those demons had vanished.

"No…" Kuronue sobbed from where he had fallen. "T-This can't be h-happening again. No, not again…" But in the clearing before him, it was as if the warmth of his lover had never existed. "Kuramaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!"

Also, be on the lookout for The Boy Who Had No Heart, the tale of Kuronue's life before Youko, and after Youko.

Preview: It was night, and outside his window, the bright, full moon swallowed up the sky. Kuronue sat on the windowsill with his legs dangling over the mile-long abyss, staring blankly. Any outsider who saw him would think he was imprisoned in the tower, not knowing that his real prison was much smaller.

Normally at night, he would swing his silver chain obsessively and lose himself in the hypnotic rhythm. But on nights like this, he just sat.

Suddenly, he was falling. Falling, strangely, without fear or excitement. Was it really true then? Did he have no heart; no feelings?

His body hit earth, and then he had no thoughts at all.