Lost and Found

Epilogue: New Horizons

The young woman paused at the entrance to the massive university campus, a light breeze causing her white sundress to tickle her delicate ankles as it gently shifted against her slender yet curvy frame. A pale, dainty hand brushed rainbow-colored hair away from anxious, dark eyes as they surveyed the mass of young humanity before her.

To her left stood another woman, shorter but with long, black hair, long enough to reach the ground had it not been tied up into a high ponytail that gently brushed against her light-brown hakama with matching jacket as she turned a worried gaze to the taller woman. "Are you okay, ojou-sama?"

The rainbow-haired beauty took a deep, calming breath before replying. "I'm okay, Katana. There are a lot of people here, and I just need a minute to adjust to all of the emotions."

"It certainly is noisy," another young woman on her other side agreed, blinking ruby-colored eyes as she absently drew an errant lock of green hair over her ear to spill gracefully over a white dress that stopped at the knees to reveal legs clad in green tights. She smiled up at her former protégé. "Cookie, I could buffer the emotions for you, if that would help."

"No thank you, Kiki," the taller woman replied. "I appreciate the thought, but I need to learn how to cope with situations like this if I am to be with..." She trailed off with a light gasp as she sensed a familiar serenity at almost the same time she saw an equally familiar figure off in the distance. "...h-him!" She gestured excitedly to where the figure sat among a small group. "He's over there!" she cried, the excitement in her tone matching that of her gesture as she quickly made her way across the grassy courtyard. "Let's hurry; it's been so long!"

"Wait ojou-sama, ojou!" the ponytailed girl called as the other two hurried ahead, nearly leaving her behind. After catching up with the pair she gave them each a disapproving look. "Please do not leave me behind like that; ma-were you-" She flinched, jerking her head to the side in response to a slip into an old speaking habit. "Were you to be harmed due to my absence I could never forgive myself."

"She'll be fine, Katana," Kiki said with a giggle. "She may not have studied the sword like you have, but she still has her abilities, right? Like mind-speaking."

Katana sighed in resignation as the trio continued toward the group. "Of course you are right, ojou. It's just that I feel responsible for ojou-sama since she was pivotal in my rescue from...from my old life."

The other women exchanged a fond smile at the aspiring samurai's words. "Don't you think it's time to stop calling me 'ojou-sama'?" Cookie asked the former Mawile. "It's been a long time since then; I think you've more than made up for it... not that you had to make up for it in the first place."

Katana's gaze lowered. "If that is what you wish."

The shorter girl's dejected tone was not lost on the former Hattrem. "If...If it makes you happy, then...I'll deal with it. I just feel like you're worshiping me, and I don't think that I'm deserving of such treatment."

"I don't mind if you keep calling me 'ojou', though," Kiki added with an impish grin, only to duck her head apologetically at Cookie's withering look. She then looked ahead in eager anticipation of a happy reunion.

***

The young man sat on a section of short wall with his friends and acquaintances, eyes closed as he strummed the wooden guitar within the circle of his arms. Those around him listened to the melody that flowed from his fingertips, some with eyes closed, some swaying side to side, but all of them with contented expressions as the notes washed over them like a cleansing bath.

The song ended, and the group clapped their appreciation for the young man's gift. "Dude, that was the shit," a young man said, one with piercings in his ears. And nose. And lower lip. And somehow on his cheek. "You know I'm the metal type, but I can't get enough of your shit."