The Zodiac Cycle

YES -Epilogue- See Them All Again

"Iris?"

"hmm?"

"I'm sorry."

"for what?"

"I wasn't fast enough."

Iris pulled her closer. "you tried, that all I need to know."

"but you-" she sniffled. "you died for me and I still-"

"Sakura, I was fully prepared for the consequences of my choices." Iris smiled at the teen. "And I'm the one that should be sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't do more."

Sakura and Iris sat there together for a little while before Sakura spoke again. "It's time for you to go. I've still got ten days until I leave."

"I'm willing to wait with you."

"there are people waiting for you." Sakura pointed in the distance. it was smoggy and unclear when a figure started to form in it. as he focused a little more, Iris gasped. 

Sakura pulled away from her, nudging her toward him. Iris gave her one more glance before standing and running toward him. as she passed through the border, Sakura also stood. the ripple spreading out across the transparent blockade as she watched. the ripple sent all kinds of colors cascading around Iris as she jumped into the arms of her brother. she had returned to the size she was when she had lost him. 

Sakura smiled, watching two more figures come out of the rainbow smog and wrap themselves around Iris and Reed. the family fell to their knees with the embrace of feathers and affection. 

"I never thought I'd see her that happy again." Sakura jumped at the voice, turning to see Brianna watch the family with joy. 

"you're-" Sakura started. 

"yeah." Brianna crossed her arms. "I don't know what happened, but I don't think I felt anything."

"that's good." Sakura nodded. "and the others?"

Brianna shrugged, pulling her sleeve up to look at her shoulder where her sign had been before. it was gone now. "It's kind of weird, realizing that the signs were not actually a part of who we are."

Sakura lifted her hand to touch her cheek. she figured her sign was gone too.

"I got mine when I turned 21." Brianna continued. "Iris did too. we were confused about where they came from, but after going to the doctor and learning that they weren't harmful, we started just ignoring them." she sighed. "I never thought two small marks on us would lead to something so big."

"I never thought I'd make it this far." Sakura crossed her arms. "I was always alone, always hiding, and always scared. that is, until i got the mark." she remembered when she had first been acknowledged by the vampire that found her. "Olive helped hide me, she started the rebellion. Vel told me about my mom."

"what the hell is this place?" Sakura looked toward the voice and saw Rebecca looking at her hands, and spinning in circles to take in her surroundings.

"the Passover." Sakura replied. "we'll be staying here for ten days, then we'll be able to cross into the spirit world." she motioned toward the border and the family of birds beyond it. "anyone we loved in our life that died previously can come to us here."

the three girls sat down, remaining quiet until they realized that more people they knew started showing up, one by one. first Avery, who seemed confused at first, but once he was calmed down, he settled in with the other three. 

Sakura watched as Iris turned one last time to her, still small and holding her own blue eye rather than Stormy's red one. she smiled, then waved, and took hold of her brothers hand as he guided her off, disappearing from Sakuras sight.