Ze epilogue!

EPILOGUE

Like they predicted, peace in the world of the gokudo would not last forever.

Kuryugumi was alive with activity. Throughout the halls of the Shinigami mansion men were running back and forth at a frantic pace, some shouting orders, others moving crates of guns and ammo into large battle cars.

Ryuji rounded the corner covered from head to toe in the latest armor and talking to a small screen on his right gauntlet, "I want teams A and B to head out first. Teams C and D back them up! Stick to the plan, I don't want any gung-ho heroes!" he barked the last part out before snapping the screen off.

Tsukasa snapped on the last of her armor and stood, facing the congregation of yakuza members, "I want everyone to stick to someone, no one gets left behind." She turned to the hologram behind her, "We're going to infiltrate the enemy base through the air duct system on the south side, the ducts fork every 30 feet or so, just remember to stick to the left path. It's our job to take out the opposition and secure the target." her face set into a serious one, "Once in there, our communication with the others will be cut off, we're on our own, that's why it's important to stick to your partner!" She caught each of their eyes as she spoke for emphasis. "These bastards want a taste of Kuryugumi, they'll get one!" Everyone knew when it came to the sesai; lack of safety was NEVER an option. They also knew that her current contempt for the opposition was fueled by the loss of a low-level gaki.

Her face then softened and she gazed at a member in the middle, "How's your leg, Shiro?" she asked. The man froze, surprised that the sesai even knew his name and was let alone concerned with his well being, "H-hai, it's fine ma'm." he stammered, keeping his head down.

Tsukasa smiled at the poor guy, then at her comrades, "Rest for a minute, get your heads together. We depart in exactly 15 minutes."

The yakuza members nodded to their leader and disbanded.

"Tsukasa!" Meiko ran pushed through the group of departing men, her face was flushed and her breathing heavy. When the doctor saw Kuryugumi's sesai, she relaxed, "Thank Kami you haven't left," she said. She grabbed Tsukasa's wrist and led her to a meeting room, "We have to talk."

Ryuji gave the word for his men to move out and left an injured Bun-san to take care of things on the home front before searching out his wife. When he found her, the look on her face was not what he'd expect.

Tsukasa's eyes were red, like she'd been crying a good while. 'She can't still be upset over the gaki we lost this morning,' he wondered. Ryuji had been upset as well; they lost someone because he decided to be a hero, but had been over it after a couple of hours.

Tsukasa apparently hadn't seen him and jumped in surprise, "Ryuji!" she exclaimed. Ryuji pulled her aside, enclosing her in a tight hug. The sesai had never been able to keep much from him, and began to sob into his chest, her small shoulders trembling underneath her armor.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I've let you guys down," she said into the breast plate of this armor. Ryuji rolled his eyes, it was a nasty lesson to learn, but she needed desensitize herself to the cost of war, "Tsukasa, there wasn't anything you could do. You already know damn well that death is the norm in the gokudo world."

"It's not death that I'm worried about." she said.

That wasn't expected, "Then what is it?" he asked.

"Birth," she answered.

That really wasn't expected, Ryuji laughed, "What are you talking about?"

"I can't go with you," she answered.

"What?" he asked in a laugh.

Tsukasa grew impatient, "You're the genius, you figure it out," she cried.

Ryuji humored his wife and thought for a moment, 'Tsukasa's crying because for some reason she can't go with us, she feels like she's letting us down, and she can't go with us because she's worried about birth...' the facts bumbled around in his head before he realized what she was getting at. His jaw dropped, "No, you mean you're-."

Tsukasa nodded.

The walls of Kuryugumi shook with a loud cheer.

She stood, tall and proud with her midnight blue hair whipping around her face. Ducking under the whirling blades of the helicopter, she stepped up and planted a soft kiss on Ryuji's lips. "We'll never be able to give our child a safe world, but let's at least make it bearable," she whispered into his hear, "And come home safe."

She turned to the other members, "You too, all of you better come back to be in my baby shower!" she had to yell as the blades picked up speed.

"We will! Get some rest!" they yelled back in unison.

Tsukasa stepped off the helicopter and stood back as it took off to battle. Staying long after it was out of sight.

She rubbed her flat belly, "Welcome little one, to Tokyo Crazy Paradise."