Sunday, Day 14: Epilogue

Haruhiko waited with the others in the small, strange chamber. He was still trying to piece together the events of the past few days, trying to understand that everything in his life had changed, and yet it would still go on exactly as before. He could feel his own pulse in his chest, and for the first time in his life, the sound didn’t frighten him.

The faces of the others reflected what he felt--a mixture of confusion and elation. It was as though they had all finally put to rest the memories of Shukkaido, Shusuran, Enju, and Gyokuran. Of Mokuren, Shion, and Hiiragi. The seven of them at last stood as complete people, finally able to sort out which emotions belonged to themselves and which needed to be left in the past.

Daisuke was the last one to get settled into his place. “In forty minutes,” he said quietly, “this whole moon base will self-destruct.” He looked agitated, and Haru understood. This place had caused them a lot of sleepless nights, a lot of painful memories, but it was still special. Destroying it meant moving on--permanently.

A hand on his shoulder pulled his attention away from the captain. Mikuro stood behind Haru, his pale hair flopped over his eyes, as usual. He smiled slightly, raising his eyebrows in a silent communication. Haruhiko smiled, suddenly a bit shy. Mikuro had kept a quiet vigil by his bedside the entire time. Haru wasn’t sure how he was supposed to interpret such devotion, but it made him feel good.

Alice stepped up to the orb in the center of the room. Its glow seem to fracture into tendrils of light, all of them reaching toward her. The Kitche on her forehead blazed. “Is everyone ready?” she asked.

Haru glanced around the chamber.

Sakura and Issei had their arms wrapped around each other’s waists. Jinpachi stood nearby, watching Alice with an eager expression. Daisuke stood across from him, next to Ayame and Nadeshiko--the alien captain still looking sad and a bit lost as she held onto her friend’s hand. Rin stood near Alice, as always. They weren’t as battered and cut up as they’d been just a day before--Sakura had tweaked the dosage of the growth hormone with great success--but everyone looked just a bit older, a little sadder.

Alice touched the orb with both hands, her hair blowing wildly in some phantom wind. Haruhiko glanced up at the glittering constellations that decorated the ceiling. They were so familiar. They reminded him of home.

A swirl of cool green light surrounded them, and the room faded into a pale mist.

Seconds later they were home. Alice had somehow managed to lead them to a deserted playground near the train station. The sun wasn’t yet up, but the sky glowed with pre-dawn blueness. It was warm and quiet as everyone said their farewells. Sakura got emotional, hugging everyone and promising to see them all soon. Even Daisuke forgot his reserve and smiled warmly at each of them as he said goodbye.

Haruhiko watched as everyone split off into different directions. Rin slipped his hand into Alice’s as they walked the short blocks to their home. Jinpachi and Issei headed another direction, and Sakura walked with Daisuke, Ayame, and Nadeshiko toward the train station.

He was almost sad, seeing them go. It wasn’t as though he’d never see them again--Jinpachi had already invited everyone to meet at his house for a picnic the next Sunday--but for the first time in a very long while, Haru understood what it was like to part with friends. Just two weeks before, he thought he had only Tamura.

Mikuro pulled him away from his thoughts with a clever joke and an offer of breakfast. They walked in a companionable silence toward the nearest fast-food place. Just two weeks before, there had been only Tamura. Now he knew better.