I in no way shape, shape, or form own Yu-Gi-Oh! or Inuyasha and their respective characters.

I retain all rights to the OC character Darren. Rights to characters Samara and Saidren are shared with Henka-chan.

This story is a stand alone. The only association between this story and Shattered Dream is Darren. Therefore, certain aspects of some characters and situations have been changed to suit the needs of this story.

I in no way gain profit from the production of this story.

This story is rated Mature for adult language and situations.

Now who's ready for the real ending to the story?

Ch XV- Epilogue

While the others all began climbing a series of metal rungs that had been built into the side of the Well to make getting out easier, Joey stayed in the bottom with his devastated best friend.

He didn't make any move to touch Yugi, knowing it would offer no comfort. "Listen Yugi, I... I just want to say I'm sorry. For everything, you know? The things I said when it looked like you were cheating on Yami, for you not having Saidren anymore. Hell, for this whole damned trip. If I had just decided I wanted to stay home instead of coming with Darren all the way out here, then you never would have even met Saidren because there wouldn't have been any reason to invite you along."

Yugi looked up at his friend, eyes bloodshot from all the crying he'd done today. He kept wondering when he'd finally run out of tears. "I'm glad I came along, Joey. Some good came out of it. Yami and Sesshomaru found each other."

"Yeah, but who have you got?"

"It's like Saidren said- I've got my grandpa and my friends." He might not have a lover anymore, but he wasn't alone in the world at least.

"And we'll all be there for you," Joey said as he got to his feet. "We should probably join everyone so I can treat you to the biggest sundae you've ever seen."

With a little sniffle and a sad smile, Yugi stood as Joey began climbing the ladder. He frowned when he saw his friend pausing right at the top. "Joey? What's wrong?"

"Huh? Oh, uh, nothing. Sorry about that."

Yugi waited until Joey had clambered out of the well before resuming his own climb. He was just beginning to resign himself to having no one special in his life when he reached the top and was greeted by a sight that stole his breath and nearly caused him to lose his grip.

"Saidren?"

His mate was standing in the doorway of the Well's hut. Even with the crisp, black armani suit and his long red hair in a high ponytail, there was no mistaking Saidren for anyone else. "Is it really you?" Yugi asked as he exited the Well.

"Yes, hana, it's me," Saidren replied, his golden eyes almost glowing with joy. When Yugi made no move to embrace him, he cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. "I know this must be confusing for-"

"Why the hell are you here?!" Yugi snapped with a rare curse. Part of him was overjoyed to see Saidren standing there within reach, and another wanted to punch this male for breaking his heart and then showing up like nothing was wrong.

"Let me explain, Yugi. If afterwards you desire me out of your life, I shall go. I more than owe you that for what I've done to you." Sitting on the short set of stairs that led down into the Well, Saidren ran his hand over his mouth as he gathered his words.

"What I did five hundred years ago was the hardest thing I'd ever had to do. But you see, I know what I did was for the best. In the time period where we met, I could not guarantee your safety, and that terrified me. When I said mating didn't bond the life forces of mates, I lied. Only because I knew it would make it that much harder to convince you to go back to your own time. Not that I was truly successful at that.

"Given that, barring incident, a daiyoukai is immortal, now you are as well. But if I had been slain in battle, our conjoined life forces would kill you too. To be responsible for your death in any way, shape or form is something I cannot bear to consider."

Though his anger was somewhat mollified by this, Yugi wasn't ready to forgive Saidren just yet. Because there was another detail that was bothering him. "But if you knew we were mates for the last five hundred years, why did we just meet when I went into the past? Why didn't you come to me sooner?"

Saidren gave sad smile. "You think I didn't want to, hana? From the moment of your birth, it has been the bitterest hell not approaching you in this era until now. But what would I have said if we had met sooner? Not too mention the damage I could have done to your timeline. Yugi, our experiences both good and bad shape who we are. You needed to live your life as you were supposed to. Because it's the man who was forged by that life that I love."

When Yugi didn't say anything more, but merely looked at him with an unclear expression, Saidren gave a nod and stood. Though his body radiated tension, his words were calm. "Very well. I will not bother you again."

Just as Saidren disappeared into th sunlight outside the hut, Yug bounded up the stairs after him. "Saidren, wa-" He cut himself off as among his waiting friends he saw Yami standing with Sesshomaru. "Yami? What are you doing here?"

"You didn't think I would miss the end of this latest little adventure, did you?" We started it together, so naturally I would want us to end it together. You might say I merely took the long way around."

"But if you've been around this whole time, how come you didn't help us out every time some psycho tried destroying the world?" Joey asked.

"The temptation was considerable, I assure you. But I knew that if I were to interfere it could actually cause great harm. If I had intervened at the wrong times, the world might have been save faster, but the change of events might have shifted things just enough that certain relationships never formed." He looked pointedly at Darren and Joey, who clasped each others' hands at the prospect. "In fact, if you two never became lovers, Yugi and I wouldn't have our mates, either."

Hear Yami basically say the same thing that Saidren had made the rest of Yugi's anger fade, and he was able to feel how broken hearted Saidren was in believing Yugi wanted him gone. "You really couldn't risk coming to me?"

Saidren knelt before Yugi and took both of his hands in his own. "So many times I wanted to. Seeing you suffer in any was utter agony. At times I wanted to rip my heart from my chest to ease the pain."

It seemed that was all Yugi needed as he threw his arms around Saidren's neck and kissed him. When he pulled back after several breath stealing moments, he frowned as he looked at the others once more. "Shouldn't Inuyasha and Miroku be here as well?"

A flash of sadness crossed Saidren's face. "Inuyasha was half human, remember? While the yokai blood in him granted him and Miroku long lives, they were still mortal in the end."

Then he smiled. "But I tink we've all had enough of dwelling on the past. I'm sure we would all like to go home after this rather tiring adventure."

"Where do you live?" Yugi asked, a touch of worry in his voice. Saidren was right about his grandpa needing him, so living far away from him wasn't an option.

"We live right in Domino, another reason keeping away from you was so damned hard. Our home is a penthouse atop the antique/treasure hunting company Sesshomaru and I run."

At this, Yugi gave a cry of joy and threw himself into Saidren's embrace. This meant he could check up on his grandpa anytime he liked and still be able to actually live with Saidren. He'd worried for a moment lived out in the country somewhere, and that just wouldn't have worked well for them.

"Wait, treasure hunting?"

Saidren nodded. "What better occupation for a centuries old demon? Sesshomaru handles our domestic affairs, and in a homage to my exile, I travel the world seeking out valuables and such."

"Does that mean you'll be leaving me behind to watch my grandpa constantly?" Now that they could be together, Yugi wanted to be with his mate as much as he could.

"It means no such thing. I have no intention of letting you out of my sight again, and I'm sure your grandfather would rather enjoy having a few more adventures."

"You mean he'll come with us?" Yugi asked, his eyes almost glowing with joy.

"Of course, hana. Five centuries ago, I had little to offer you aside from my love. Now, I'm not merely offering you the world, I can give it to you."

With tears of love brimming in his eyes, Yugi leaned in to kiss his male. "You already have."

Owari

Author's Note: You guys didn't really think I'd actually send a story on such a sad note did you? I'm a sadist when it comes to these things, sure, but I'm not that mean. I did lead you on for a bit, though because I wanted to see how you guys would react if you thought the previous chapter really was the end.

As always, avid readers, please feel free to leave your comments and opinions, aside from flames, after you've enjoyed this actual final chapter to the story.