@TWILIGHT@ A Monogatari by Hikari. E-mail: Rated: PG Genre: Alt.Reality Part: Epilogue AN: So here it is... seeing as you've all been pestering me to write this. Nah! Just kidding. You know I love you guys e-mails. Actually, I love then *so much* that I have even done a special prize. What about? You'll have to read my ending author's notes to find out. As for now, ON TO THE STORY!!! Epilogue: Mamoru could only stare out the window. A gray sky hid the sun from Tokyo. It was raining once again. He couldn't believe that today, of all days, *they* were planning on taking him *there*. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* "I'm sorry Kaoru-kun." Usagi began. "I tried to talk to her... tried to make her see... but she just wouldn't listen to me." She hung her head low as if she couldn't bring herself to face him after her defeat. "It's alright." Kaoru sighed in regret. "I think I knew from the start that she and I would never be." *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* As they came into the living room, Mamoru looked up from his position. All previous thoughts of his past would soon be put to rest. He gave them a weak smile and followed silently as they all walked out of the apartment. Once inside the car, Mamoru preferred to take the backseat next to his girlfriend. He knew she felt his discomfort at what lay ahead, but he dared not give voice to his thoughts. And as if she had read his mind, she gently took his hand in hers and squeezed it softly. He looked into Usagi's eyes, and all the worries that had suddenly filled his heart where gone. It didn't matter now if his parents were dead... if he had really been an orphan all his life. All that mattered now was her. She alone was his future. And with her, he would start a life anew. Glancing at his cousin, a warmth filled inside of him. 'No,' he thought. 'I have never really been an orphan. Not when there was so much love around me as I grew up.' He immediately remembered his uncle Masayuki and everything he had done to make sure that Mamoru felt at home. Sometimes, he knew, that his uncle had even taken his side over Kaoru's. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* As soon as they arrived at the cemetery, the rain seemed to pour down harder. The dry leafless trees that lined the entrance gave the cemetery a highly morbid look. And as they walked along the rows of gravestones, a chill crept up their spine. Kaoru led the way towards the burial site of Mamoru's parents. He knew quite well the place where his aunt rested, having visited it many times himself. After all... Kaoru was part of the conspiracy that his father had elaborated for Mamoru's benefit or misfortune. Arriving at the site, Mamoru saw Kaoru step aside, to give him a view of what he had wanted to see. And it all lay before him, proof that his parents had died. Proof that he was an orphan. Proof... that he really had never been abandoned. Silent tears rolled down his cheeks as Mamoru's lips parted into a serene smile. How long had he wished for this day? How long had he waited to know... to be able to *see* the proof that he hadn't been discarded, forsaken, or simply forgotten by those he loved? Kaoru and Usagi's heads were bent low before the joy filled laughter of a husky male voice interrupted their mourning. They both turned to look at Mamoru, whose expression was filled with mirth. He was laughing so openly. He was finally... free. Usagi smiled as she entwined her arm in his, linking their fingers together. She could sense it in his eyes. The past... was finally where it belonged. Kaoru turned around as he heard the sound of retreating footsteps. A tall brunette woman was walking away from a nearby tree where she must have been hiding. He walked towards her, his stride quick and effortless. "Mako-chan?" The woman stopped, her head hung low, and turned around. Her eyes locking with his as she faced him. Green met green as they stared at each other... he had never realized how alike they were. Her lips parted into a soft smile. "Hello Kao-ru... kun." Kaoru made his way towards Makoto. "I- I- " He suddenly bowed down, his hands stiff at his side. "I'm sorry Makoto-san." She took a step back. "I'm sorry to Kaoru-san." She said as she turned her back to him so as not to see her tears. "But, *I'm sorry* doesn't change anything." Kaoru grabbed her arm. "I love you Suzuki Makoto-san!" Fire traveled through Makoto's veins. "No you don't." Her tears began to burn a path to her lips where she could taste their salt. "You love Hanako, you always have." She whirled around to stare at him straight on. "Admit it! You're *infatuated* with her!!" *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Mamoru and Usagi looked back as they heard people arguing. To both of their astonishment, it was Makoto who stood next to Kaoru. And Usagi knew what they were quarrelling about. She had to stop them. Usagi began to talk towards Kaoru and Makoto but was stopped. "Leave them alone." Mamoru said as he held onto her wrist. "They need some time to talk." "But," Usagi just stared as Makoto cried and tried to prevent Kaoru from getting too close to her. "They're fighting about me! Can't you see?" "Come on Usako... let's wait for Kaoru in the car." And like that, he guided Usagi towards the entrance of the cemetery. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* "Makoto, what am I going to have to tell you to make you believe me?!" "Nothing!! I won't believe you... YOU'RE LYING TO ME!!" "Yeah? Then why did you come here?" Kaoru countered. "Why did you accept my invitation? Huh?! TELL ME!" Makoto's revere crumbled. "NO!!" She was frantically shaking her head from side to side. "I- I- " her hands holding her head as if it might fall off. "JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!!!" She screamed as she began to run away from Kaoru. Trying to make her escape, Makoto fell on the grass as her foot tripped on a gravestone. She didn't want to believe him. She had made a promise to herself to never trust another guy again... all they wanted was sex. She hadn't realized how long she had stayed there until she felt Kaoru's hands on her shoulders. Brushing them off gently, she tried to recollect her strength. "I don't know why I came here Kaoru-san. I will admit that..." Standing up, her green eyes watered with the forlorn tears of sleepless nights. "But, if you really mean what you say... then prove it to me." She hushed him as he tried to speak. "And I don't mean by words Kaoru-kun... prove it to me by actions. Show me, and then I will believe you." Kaoru stood so to be the same height as her. Taking gently her hand in his, he brought it to his lips and laid a butterfly kiss on each of the knuckles. "I would like to be your friend if you would let me?" Makoto smiled as she inclined her head forward. Kaoru had understood completely what she had wanted... Time to regain her trust in him. "I'd like that very much." *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* In the distance, Mamoru and Usagi could see Kaoru walking hand in hand with Makoto. "Do you think we should go?" Usagi asked mischievously. He grinned. "I think Kaoru will be able to find a ride home without us." And with that, Mamoru started up the car, and drove of into Tokyo... the city where his life had finally found peace with both past and future. ?...The End...? +~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~+ HIYA AGAIN MINNA!! So you wanna find out about the contest right? Well, I guess it's really not a contest... it's just a way of me to thank all those people that have stuck with me all this time. Ok, here's my plan. I will review the stack of e-mails people have sent me all throughout Twilight (yes, I have kept every single one), and from them, chose the one person that e-mailed me the most. To them, I will give the special prize of hand picking the next story I will begin. Does that sound fair people? I think so. You know what this means... if you think you are one of those people, keep a close watch on your e-mail. You might just get a letter from me!! Well, JYA NE!! att: Hika-chan