Author's Note: So... here we are; this is the Epilogue. It wasn't part of the original outline - it was also inspired by my Star Wars quote; mostly because the piece used in this part was the last one left and I thought, it was too beautiful not to be used in this story.

Anyway... this actually marks my first finished, multichapter work - and I'm kinda really proud of this. But I also need to say thank you a lot. THANK YOU to all the talented writers in this fandom that inspired this work. Just... Thank you. I had lots of fun writing this and now that it's finished I'm kind of sad that I won't be anymore. ...On the other hand, there are many more stories and chapters I have yet to type out, right? |D

Please, please enjoy.

Warnings: AU, Dark!fic (or considering this ending, I don't actually think it is anymore |D)

Summary: Multichap – And for a second a part of Kiryu despaired and wished things could have gone different. He couldn't let go of his bonds, not when there was still one Last Duel to be fought.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's. Italic text in the beginning isn't mine either, it belongs to Matthew Stover and I'm only borrowing.

- The darkest Shadow -

- Epilogue -

The dark is generous, and it is patient, and it always wins – but in the heart of its strength lies weakness: one lone candle is enough to hold it back.

Love is more than a candle.

Love can ignite the stars.

There was a part of Kiryu, who has seen this vision over and over again.

Everytime in the last few years, when he had felt himself doubt and weaken, from the point on when he had realised, despite his will and thirst for revenge, he couldn't truly hate his former team mates, that their bonds were far too tight for him to be able to bear killing them coldheartedly, the voice of his god had whispered, had shown him this image. The details of what happened were fuzzy, but the result was always the same:

All four of them reunited under the Darkness. All four of them together for eternity.

And every time, the image soothed him and then disappeared into the furthest corner of his consciousness to leave him in his hate and anger and darkness; he would need those feelings instead of doubt and affection, if he were to make the vision come true. That is what he held on, he couldn't play Team Satisfaction's Last Duel without the others, didn't want to play it without the others – even if he had to sell all their souls to the devil to archive that. (He didn't want to be alone anymore…)

And then when the moment arrived - his chance to make his vision true - everything came different.

Because Kiryu didn't defeat Yusei.

Just the second before Ccpac Apu could reach him, could pull his soul over into the dark, the others D-Wheel broke, saving him from the fate that Kiryu had foreseen. And as he stood over his fallen comrade, for the shortest moment he felt torn. Technically he had defeated the Signer, even if his life point counter had never fallen to zero. He could take him, should do so just like in his vision…

Yet he hesitated and then the moment of chance was gone. It didn't matter, Kiryu decided as he laughed at the fallen duelist, wishing him to live through the hell of fear, to prepare himself for what the darkness still held in store for him.

It didn't matter, for soon enough there would be another chance to defeat him (another chance for Team Satisfaction to reunite)

And until then he could wait.

(Could wait and hope in the deepest corner of his heart that it would be him who'd be defeated. So that this deep darkness he was caught in would never touch anyone he held dear…)

- FIN -

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