Epilogue
(Mariah Carey’s Always Be My Baby)
(Do do doop)
(Do do doop do doop da dum)
(Do do doop dum)
(Do do doop do doop da dum)
(Do do doop)
(Do do doop do doop da dum)
(Do do doop dum)
(Do do doop do doop da dum)
We were as one, babe
For a moment in time
And it seemed everlasting
That you would always be mine
Now you want to be free
So I'll let you fly
'Cause I know in my heart, babe
Our love will never die
No
You'll always be a part of me
I'm part of you indefinitely
Boy, don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way you're never gonna shake me
Ooh darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby
(Do do doop)
(Do do doop do doop da dum)
(Do do doop dum)
(Do do doop do doop da dum)
I ain't gonna cry, no
And I won't beg you to stay
If you're determined to leave boy
I will not stand in your way
But inevitably, you'll be back again
'Cause you know in your heart, babe
Our love will never end
No
You'll always be a part of me
I'm part of you indefinitely
Boy, don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way you're never gonna shake me
Ooh darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby
I know that you'll be back, boy
When your days and your nights get a little bit colder
I know that you'll be right back, baby
Oh baby, believe me
It's only a matter of time
Time
You'll always be a part of me
I'm part of you indefinitely
Boy, don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way you're never gonna shake me
Ooh darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby
You'll always be a part of me
I'm part of you indefinitely
Boy, don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way you're never gonna shake me
Ooh darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby
(Do do doop)
(Do do doop do doop da dum)
(Do do doop dum)
(Do do doop do doop da dum)
(Do do doop)
(Do do doop do doop da dum)
(Do do doop dum)
(Do do doop do doop da dum)
2 years later……
Ryo awoke late in the darkness of the night. Sage slept soundly beside him, unaware of anything amiss. For a few seconds Ryo could not put his finger on just what had woken him up. The house was silent, no wind moved through the tress outside, he didn’t feel any presents of danger. Then he felt something tugging at him, not physically, but something telling him to move.
A call.
Ryo silently got out of bed and put on a pair of loose pants and a t-shirt. It was a warm summer night so he didn’t bother with sandals. Without a sound he moved downstairs and outside; pulled by an unseen force. He soon realized he was going towards the lake.
The moon shone down on a cloudless night, making the water sparkle. A lone figure stood upon the dock, and in spite of the warm weather wore a long trench coat, looking out at the shimmering water.
The figure turned when Ryo approached and the face caught in the moonlight and the long red hair shone and dark green eyes sparkled.
“Ryo.”
“Casey.”
Casey reached out a hand towards Ryo and Ryo took it gratefully and was pulled into Casey’s embrace. Ryo found there were tears in his eyes as he settled against him.
“I’ve missed you,” Ryo whispered into Casey’s shoulder.
“And I you.” Casey moved slightly away from Ryo and put and hand gently under his chin to lift Ryo’s head up. “And I’ll have none of that,” he said whipping away Ryo’s tears.
“I’m sorry! It’s just that, after everything, I was so worried what was going to happen to you….”
“I know. Even after everything you still cared about me. You still amaze me, Ryo.”
“Are you ok?”
“Yes, I’m more then ok. I’m wonderful. And what about you? Are you happy?”
“Yes, very much. We’re all happy.”
“No more treating you bad?”
“No, he’s doing quite fine.”
“Good,” Casey hugged Ryo one more time, letting his head rest on Ryo’s shoulder.
They remained that way for some time, until Casey broken the silence. “I should go.”
“No! Please stay, just for a while longer.”
“It’s not my place…”
“Just for the night?” Ryo took Casey’s face in his hands. “Please?” Ryo let his lips brush against Casey lips and without another thought, brought it to a full kiss.
Casey’s grip on Ryo tightened, but he did not push Ryo away at once. He let himself be deluded. He let himself dream that there wasn’t everything against them, keeping them apart.
It didn’t last.
“No, Ryo, what are you doing?” Casey pushed Ryo away and stumbled back.
“Making you stay…” Ryo said seductively. “Is it working?”
“Ryo please don’t do that. I’ll stay tonight, but not because of that.”
Ryo nods and gives him a small smile.
“Don’t look so sad, it doesn’t suit that pretty face of yours. We still have the rest of the night. We should make use of it.”
Ryo looked out over the water. “It would be a perfect night for a swim…”
“Yes, it would.”
“You can’t swim in all that…” Ryo reached up to slide the trench coat off of Casey’s shoulders. Casey didn’t move, allowing Ryo to remove his coat. Ryo moved down to his shoes, slowly unlacing each one and letting Casey step out of him, and then pulling off his socks. He then fingered the hem of Casey’s shirt but Casey’s hand grasped his.
“I can do the rest myself.”
“Killjoy.”
“Don’t I know it.” Casey quickly removed his shirt and Ryo followed suit. “Come on!” Casey grabbed Ryo’s hand and ran to the edge of the dock. “On the count of three, ok? One…..two…….THREE!” They jumped hand in hand into the cool water.
They spent hours swimming in the dark waters, swimming with each other, playing, rough housing; dunking each other, Casey would pick Ryo up and toss him a little ways away, they tried to race each other but Ryo only won when Casey let him. They would swing over the water on the new tire swing and jump off it, or just sit it, letting the motion of the swing lull them into some semblance of peace.
After they were tired they crawled up on the dock and lay there, looking up at the stars and watched as they faded away in the early morning light.
“So what happened after you left? What happened to Julian?” Ryo asked. They both lay on their sides, hands interlaced, facing each other, eyes locked together. “He won’t come looking for you again, will he?”
“No, he won’t come looking for me or you. Shortly after we left They came and took Julian away. My pleas had been heard. They finally saw that Julian was crazy.”
“Where did they take him?”
“I don’t know. They wouldn’t tell me and I didn’t really care to know.”
“Have you found anyone?” Ryo was hesitant to ask. Part of him still felt for Casey.
Casey chuckled. “No, but it doesn’t matter. I’m not looking for anyone. It’s just gonna be me now. That’s the way I want it to be. I’m trying to focus more on work. I’m trying to help be producer to new music artists. I’ve had a lot of experience in music before, so it won’t be that hard.”
“Do you really have to go?”
“Yes, I do. My place isn’t here.”
“I don’t want you to go.”
“I know, but I can hardly stay too. I wish I could, though. I thought you were happy here. Happy with Sage.”
“I am, but with you it’s different. Special, because it’s you and only I know it. I can’t really think of how to explain it in words.”
“I understand. But always know that there will always be apart of me in you. Just as I will always have a part of you in me. Forever.”
Casey moved to close the distance between them and let his fingers slide through Ryo’s hair, one last time. Their lips met in one last desperate kiss that had to last for eternity. Then Casey was standing, putting on his shirt, sock and shoes. He picked up his trench coat and looked back at Ryo who was sitting up.
“I can’t think of anything else to say,” Casey admitted.
“Then don’t. We don’t need words.” Ryo stood up and gave Casey a tight hug. “Good—bye. I’ll miss you.”
“As will I. I hope you have wonderful fulfilled life Sananda Ryo.”
“Will I ever see you again?” Ryo hated that his voice sounded a bit too needy, to pleading.
Casey paused then pulled back from Ryo embrace. “I don’t think so.”
“Why?” Ryo’s voice was straining with effort from holding back tears.
“It’s better that way. I’d only get in the way of things.”
“What things?”
“In the way of the way it should be. You belong with Sage. You don’t have a life with me. You know that, deep down in your soul, as do I. You and he are one. I’ve done enough damage.”
“Won’t you be lonely?”
“Don’t you worry about me. I’ll be alright. I’ve pulled through worse, you know.”
“Yes…..”
“I’ve got to go. Take care Ryo.” He left one kiss on the top of Ryo’s head and then he was gone.
Simply gone.
(Bella is...speechless...and going to post the first bits of the epilogue tomorrow or sommat)
Back to part nine
back to ronin fic