Hi there! So this is the final chapter for my SuzuKou fic, yay! I just want to warn you, if you think chapter 5 was a perfect ending, then you can stop there. This chapter is unnecessary, you can view it as an "alternate ending" and chapter 5 as the true ending. But if you're curious to see how I wanted to truly end this story, then go ahead and read chapter 6. But you have been warned.

The weather was warm today, yet so too humid. There was a comfortable breeze that was quite refreshing, little birds singing, a really sunny and beautiful day. Sitting on the terrace were Suzu and Kouko, enjoying the pretty day to play shogi outside. They could feel the wind in their hair, the sun on their skin, and smell the flowers in the garden next to them. Suzu was enjoying the sight of the garden, before focusing back on the game. It was her turn to play. She examined the game board, impressed by Kouko's game. Truly, her wife had gotten better at shogi. It really showed how much she practiced during all those years. Out of all the time they played, Kouko's victories could be count on the fingers of one hand. Suzu took one of her pieces and moved it.

"You have been getting better at shogi, I'm proud of you," Suzu said with a smile.

"Please, don't treat me like one of your grandchildren," Kouko replied, prideful as she moved one of her pieces.

Suzu chuckled a little. Her wife was truly the most adorable in her eyes. She was glad she got to grow older with her, those past decades had been the happiest in her long life. She enjoyed every single day with Kouko, their life was all she had even dreamed for, and she wished it would continue like that for more years. They were old now, but not that old. They still had some time left together.

"How's the job these days?" Suzu asked.

"Tiresome, it feels like each day any tasks seem for exhausting than the day before," Kouko replied.

"Have you considered retiring? You're not that young anymore."

"I'm not that old either, I can still work!"

"All those years you did a good job, you deserve to retire and just relax, have a break and enjoy life… with me."

Suzu had pronounced those last words with some pain in her voice. She loved her life with Kouko, but her wife was often busy with her work, and now that Suzu had retired since their fosters kids were adults (one of them took over the orphanage), she was all alone at home most of the days. She missed Kouko, she wanted to pass more time with her, just like a normal elderly couple. Suzu wanted to spend as much time as she could with her wife, she wanted to live her life with no regret.

"I feel alone at home when you work, I wish we could spend more time," Suzu added.

"I… wish that too, I want to be with you more. But my work…"

"You always been so diligent and hardworking, this is why I love you so much. But you don't know when to stop, you're a workaholic."

"I mean… I just want to give to the community, I want to help others."

"I know, but what about giving to me? You have other doctors working with you, younger, that would gladly take your place and continue your work."

"You… you're probably right," Kouko said with some shame in her eyes. "I'll think about it."

Suzu softly smiled, trusting her wife. After all, Kouko always keeps her words. When she says she'll do something, she does it. Suzu moved one piece and Kouko moved hers, and as a smirk appeared on her lips Suzu realized she made a mistake. But it was too late now, it was over and Kouko's smile turned victorious.

"Checkmate," Kouko declared, almost grinning.

Suzu remained shocked. She looked at the board, trying to find a way out, a loophole, anything, but there was nothing. Her king was surrounded, there was no escape, she was screwed. All she could do was accept defeat. She raised her head and smiled softly.

"You won, Kouko-chan."

"Yes!" Kouko replied excitedly.

Suzu giggled. Kouko looked so childish right now, it was adorable to see. She really did improve in shogi, she looked so proud of herself. Suzu wanted to carve this image in her head, to never forget it and treasure this memory.

Suzu felt some weird salty and metallic taste in her throat, followed by a sudden pain in her chest. She started to cough and brought her hand closer to her mouth.

"Suzu? What's going on? Is losing to me making you sick?" Kouko tried to joke while still looking worried.

Suzu closed her eyes and continued to cough before she spat something on her hand. She opened her eyes and remained shocked when she saw her hand, and so was Kouko.

"Is… is that blood?!" Kouko exclaimed.

There was a bloodstain on Suzu's hand. She continued to cough, feeling blood in her throat spilling from her mouth. Kouko immediately rose up and rushed towards her wife, helping her to get up.

"I'm bringing you to the hospital," Kouko said, panicked yet controlling herself.

Suzu was starting to feel weak, Kouko had to help her to remain on her feet. They walked away from the house and before going inside their car, Suzu glanced at the flowers, thinking about how well the day started, wondering why something like that had to happen.

"So, doctor, how am I? Is it serious?" Suzu asked with some tease in her voice, yet worries in her eyes.

Kouko could see that Suzu was trying to make this situation funnier than it actually was. She was trying to keep a light and optimistic mood, but deep down she knew how severe the situation was. Kouko clenched her teeth as she looked at the result of the test, not even able to look at her wife.

"Your internal organs… are slowly collapsing. It's like they had suddenly aged quickly, you are… biologically much older than you should be," Kouko said.

"Oh…"

Suzu looked down like she had some difficulties digesting what she just learned.

"And how… are you going to treat me?" Suzu asked.

Kouko remained silent for a moment, looking away.

"I… I don't think I can treat you, not at this stage, your body wouldn't support any more surgery… all I can do is try to keep you alive and reduce the pain."

"Ah."

Suzu looked hurt by this reveal before she smiled softly with sadness in her eyes.

"At least I'll be able to be with you more," Suzu said.

Kouko got closer to her wife and sat by her side, softly putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I'll stay with you, I'll take care of you, I'll be your personal doctor. I talked with my assistant, she'll take care of the hospital, so I'm free to be with you, I won't leave you alone anymore."

Kouko's eyes started to be teary. It was all her fault. She had been so busy with her job that she neglected Suzu, she should have spent more time with her, maybe she would have noticed symptoms. It literally took her wife to almost die for her to finally decide to give her more attention. And now she was slowly dying and there was nothing she could do other than make it less painful. She wished she would have quit her job sooner and simply enjoy a quiet life with Suzu, but now it was too late. Death was at the door, ready to take away once again someone she loved, and once more it was her fault.

"Is it… related to the Highlander Syndrome?" Suzu asked.

"Not totally… you are definitely cured of that illness, you can grow old, but it seems that… some effect of the illness remained and just took a while before taking effect."

"I see… the doctor told me it would make my body collapse at some point, looked like I couldn't escape that fate… but at least I got to grow old, and I'm not dead yet. I'm glad that it didn't kill me instantly as it should have, it's thanks to you. At least I got to spend whatever I have left with you by my side, it's not so bad."

Tears started to roll on Kouko's eyes, she could no longer hold them.

"I'm sorry Suzu, it's all my fault! I should have spent more time with you, I should have been more careful with your illness! I shouldn't have been careless and neglect you like that, if I had done a better job at curing you you might not have those effects now! I should have retired and just be with you…"

"Kouko-chan…"

Suzu stretched an arm and gently wiped away Kouko's tears, smiling kindly.

"Nothing was your fault. You actually cured me, you couldn't have known there would have repercussions decades later. And even if you had retired, I would have still ended up sick. It's not too late, you still have time to be with me, we still have time left together. So let's not waste it with cries and sadness, let's try to be the happiest we could for the time left."

Tears continued to roll on Kouko's cheeks until she wiped them away, forcing herself to smile.

"You're right, we still have time left. I'll do my best to allow you to live the longest you can, so we can be together. I won't neglect you anymore, I promise. I'll be with you… until the end."

Suzu continued to smile, with a bittersweet look in her golden eyes as she gently caressed Kouko's cheek. Kouko stroke her hand and closed her eyes for a moment, simply focusing on her wife's warmth against her skin. She then opened her eyes and leaned, softly pressing her lips against Suzu's and delicately kissing her wife. She gently ran a hand through her blue hair as Suzu continued to touch her cheek, kissing like it might be their last time kissing.

But Kouko was determined to make it as it won't be their last one and intended to have many more as long as she can prevent Suzu's inevitable death.

Kouko rushed towards Suzu's hospital room, nearly pushing anyone in her way. Her heart was beating so fast that it seemed like it was going to come out from her chest and she was sweating from all that running. She nearly tripped when she arrived in front of the room and brusquely turned and stepped inside, heavily panting.

"Suzu!?"

Her wife was laying on her bed, weakly turning her head when she saw Kouko entered and softly smiled.

"Kouko-chan… finally, you're here. We're waiting for you."

Kouko noticed that they weren't alone, a couple of their foster kids were present, looking sad.

"I'm sorry, I was at the grocery store when the doctor called me," Kouko said as she rushed towards her wife to be by her side.

Suzu looked awful. Her skin was terribly pale, she had deep dark circles under her eyes and she looked like she had lost a lot of weight. Suzu's body had deteriorated those last few years. But despite her sad state, she was smiling.

"I'm glad you're here with me… I didn't want to go without seeing you one last time," Suzu said.

"I'm here! I promise you, that I would be with you until the end. The doctor told me everything, that you're…"

"Yes, this looks like it's the end," Suzu said with a sad smile.

"Does it hurt?" Kouko asked with concerns.

"No, I'm fine. Not with the pills the doctor gave me."

Kouko sat down and gently took Suzu's hand, softly caressing it.

"You always keep your words huh," Suzu teased. "So diligent, I always loved that part of you."

"For you, if I promise to break the moon in half I would do it."

"Hehe, no need to go that far, just be by my side and hold my hand," Suzu said as she gripped Kouko's hand tighter.

"I'm here with you, I won't leave, I'll stay with you!"

Even if she was still smiling, Kouko could see fright in Suzu's eyes.

"I must admit that… I'm kind of scared. Is death painful? How is it to die? What's the afterlife look like? Or is it even one to begin with? Can I see those I lose again? Will I go to Heaven of Hell?"

Suzu's hand started to shiver a little and Kouko immediately took it with her other hand, holding it tightly.

"It's going to be okay, you don't have to be scared. I'm here, just focus on me. And there's no way someone as good as you would go to hell, you'll go to heaven, you'll be reunited with everyone you loved. This is not the end."

Suzu smirked when she heard that last sentence.

"Death is not the end of life, it's the completion of life," Suzu said. "I can't say I'm not satisfied with my life. I always wanted to die of old age, just like a normal person. I lived way longer than I should have, I got to know you, be with you, married you, have a family with you. I could never be more grateful to you for everything you brought to me. You allowed me to live a couple more years, and now I get to go with my family and my wife by my side. What more could a woman ask for?"

Fully realizing what was about to happen, tears started to form in Kouko's eyes, rolling on her cheeks.

"Please Kouko-chan, don't cry. It may be selfish to ask you that, but I want to see you smile. This is the last time I'll ever see you. I want to leave while seeing your beautiful smiling face."

Kouko tried to hold back her tears and smile, but she couldn't. And she didn't want to force a smile, she knew that wasn't what Suzu wanted to see. She had to smile naturally, and for that, she needed to be happy. Hard to be in those conditions but she tried. She remembered all those happy moments she had with Suzu, all those fun memories. Their first kiss, all those times they hugged and held hands, those intimate moments, living together, running the orphanage, their wedding. Remembering all those good memories made Kouko genuinely smile, but her eyes were still teary.

"We had a good life together, didn't we?" Kouko said.

"We sure did, I couldn't have a better life than the one I had with you. Thank you for everything, Kouko-chan."

Tears continued to roll on Kouko's cheeks but she continued to smile happily. Suzu's eyes became teary too as they started to close like she was starting to be tired or losing her strength.

"I love you, Suzu. Forever and ever."

Tears started to roll on Suzu's cheek yet she looked truly happy, and her grip became weaker.

"... I… love you too… Kouko…"

Suzu took a deep breath and closed her eyes, and her hand became limp. She was still smiling happily, but her body was now inert. Kouko felt her heart stopping for a moment and pressed two fingers on Suzu's wrist, looking for a pulse. Tears rolled even more when she discovered that she had no pulse.

Suzu was dead.

Her wife was gone.

"... Suzu…?"

Obviously she received no answer. Suzu was dead, yet she was smiling so happily, she almost looked like she was sleeping peacefully. An eternal sleep where she will no longer suffer, an eternal peace. It was the completion of her life.

Kouko leaned on her wife and softly kissed her forehead, before gently stroking her cheek, still forcing herself to smile and remain strong.

"Goodbye, Suzu, may you rest in peace."

Kouko's lips began to shiver, she tried to hold up her tears but she couldn't resist anymore. She burst into tears, crying with no restraint as she held to her wife's body, tears streaming on her face. She continued to cry her lover's death, hugging her as if she didn't want her to go away, but it was in vain.

Suzu was gone, leaving Kouko alone with all those sweet memories they shared together.

Dark clouds were covering the sky and sun, menacing to pour rains at any moment. But despite that risk, there was no way Kouko could have stayed at home today. Today was a special day, she had somewhere to go, someone to see. It was a special anniversary.

All dressed in black, Kouko was walking among the gravestones, holding a bouquet of flowers. She wanded in the graveward until she found the one she was looking for.

Facing the gravestones, Kouko read what was written on it: Shutou Suzu, Death isn't the end of life, it's the competition of life. Kouko smiled softly when she read the dates. Suzu was nearly 200 years old when she died, anyone who saw the grave and didn't know her would be confused and think it was a mistake. But Kouko wanted the gravestone to be accurate, to fully honour Suzu's life, she didn't care if others who see the grave thought it was an error.

"Hi, Suzu. It had been one year since you left us. There wasn't one day I didn't think about you. I miss you so much."

After Suzu's death, Kouko took a break from her job, before going back, trying to bury herself in work to forget about her grief. But her colleagues convinced her to finally retired and, remembering what her wife wanted, Kouko decided to finally stop and go on a permanent vacation. Kouko spent months on her own, mourning Suzu's departure, before spending time with her foster kids and at the orphanage, meeting the new children, her "grandkids". It brought some joy in her life, meanings, and helped her go through her bereavement. It reminded her that she wasn't alone, she still had a family, people that loved her.

"The kids are going fine, they miss you too. I did as you told me, I retired. I have more time for my family now," Kouko said before she looked at the bouquet of flowers she was holding, all red. "I brought you flowers, red tulips and red spider lilies. Our wedding flowers. I know red spider lilies are your favourite, but mine are red tulips. I love their meaning, you're the one you taught me about it. 'Declaration of love' you told me… they are proof of my love for you. You were so beautiful in that kimono, red tulips really suit you."

Kouko took few steps towards the gravestone and put the bouquet in front, before softly stroking the stone and brushing with the tip of her fingers the name carved, looking up.

"I hope you're happy up there. I'll stick on Earth for a little longer, enjoy life like you wanted me to, and one day, I'll come to join you and we'll be reunited again. You could introduce me to this special person you had in the past. Though I might get a little bit jealous."

Kouko chuckled, her eyes starting to get wet as it started to rain a little.

"I wished we could have more time together. We did had a long life together, but I can't help but feel like it wasn't enough. We could have lived so much more together. I thought God was on our side but it seemed once again he failed me. God is cruel, isn't he? Maybe he just hates me. Well, he still allowed us to be together for decades, so I suppose I can't be too mad at him… especially if I want to get in Heaven."

The rain was pouring down. Tears roll on Kouko's cheeks, mixing with the rains. But she remained smiling because she knew Suzu wouldn't want to see her sad. Kouko wiped out her tears, but the rain continued to pour.

"I'll live the rest of my life to the fullest, and when my time will arrive, I'll come to join you," Kouko declared.

"I'll be waiting for you, Kouko-chan."

Kouko jolted and looked around. She was alone in the cemetery, alone with her memories of Suzu. She smiled to herself, understanding what was happening.

"So you're watching over me from up there, Suzu. You're like my guardian angel, I'm sure white wings and an aureole suits you."

It suddenly stopped raining, some clouds moving out of the sun's way, allowing for its light to reach Kouko. She looked at the bouquet, especially the red spider lilies.

"Do you remember their meaning, Kouko-chan?"

Kouko remembered perfectly, how could she have forgotten after the countless time Suzu told her? Those were exactly the words Kouko wanted to tell Suzu, parting words before leaving, what they both were thinking right now.

"I'm looking forward to meeting you again."

I'm so sorry. I actually cried while writing this chapter. I find that kind of death really beautiful and moving.

I actually didn't know at first how to end this story, but someone told me when they read the title that they felt like one of them was going to die and it gave me that idea. I didn't kill Suzu for shock value but because I genuinely think it was the right way to end her story arc. Suzu's wish was to be cured and die of old age, and I made her wish a reality. This fic allowed both girls to have their wish granted and be happy together.

'I'm looking forward to meeting you again' was the other title I thought for this fic and I'm glad I was able to use it to end this story. I think it was the perfect way to end.

I hope you liked this chapter and thank you for following this fic! Have a nice day!