SNAKESKIN (Tangerine) ✓

エピローグ

Bronte stood on the platform of Kyoto Station, the two most important people in her life on either side of her. She was content. There was nothing that could change that, not even the job that they were travelling back to Tokyo to do.

The trio had taken a much needed break from the confusing nature of the criminal underworld. It was refreshing, to say the least; a chance to release the breath Bronte didn't realise she was holding. The chance to explore her budding relationship with Tangerine.

"Bronte?" Speak of the devil. Tangerine stood on her right and was now looking down at her with bright, warm eyes. "You okay?"

Bronte nodded. "I'm brilliant." Tangerine reached over to place a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently. "I'm excited for this new chapter." He grinned, planting a kiss in her hair, before leaning back to his original stance. "The gang finally back together."

"You bet." From Bronte's other side, Lemon poked his head into the conversation. He had a wide grin on his face as he looked between his brother and his best friend. "I've bloody missed this."

The platform started to become more crowded as the time approached eleven o'clock. The train was only minutes away and the chaos of passengers pushing to get to the edge of the platform was becoming slightly overbearing.

The feeling of her best friend and her fiancé on either side of her filled Bronte with an indescribable sense of familiarity. It was the one place she felt at home, even if they were constantly on the move. If they would always be on the run—always travelling around the world—Bronte would never trade this life for any other. As long as Lemon and Tangerine were by her side, she would never feel alone.

"Well," Tangerine began, glancing down at his very expensive gold watch with a look of purpose. He glanced back up at Lemon and Bronte as the sound of the approaching bullet train filled the noisy station. "Better get tickety-boo."

The Hayate Shinkansen screeched to a stop, sitting stoically for a few moments before the doors slid open, revealing a horde of passengers, pushing and shoving to disembark. The chaos was almost liberating, a distraction from the real chaos of the life Bronte was about to begin.

She had never really had a normal job or a real family. Having left home at nineteen and becoming a low-level contractor in her home city, she had never experienced the normal things that a woman her early twenties typically did. She never went to college, never had a real job. Hell, she hadn't even spoken to her parents and siblings in over ten years. She had been on her own, except for when she was with the Twins.

And now, looking at the welcoming door of the bullet train right in from of her, Bronte felt excited. She felt like this was what her whole life had been leading up to. All the obstacles, she had overcome, all the people she had killed and all the jobs she had done; they had all brought her to this moment. This moment, where she was about to embark the train that would take her to the beginning of this next stage of her life.

"Alright, let's go." Lemon bent down to pick up the small duffel bag that had been sitting on the ground beside him. He took a step towards the train. glancing back at his friends with a tilt of his head. "Only one minute, remember?"

Tangerine reached down to pick up the two remaining bags—his and Bronte's. Then, with a cheeky grin, he nudged her in the rib with his elbow. She glanced over at him, melting slightly at the happy gleam in his eyes. He raised an eyebrow, his moustache furrowing as his grin widened. "You ready?"

Bronte pressed her lips together, unable to control the involuntary movements her face was making. She couldn't explain how happy she was feeling in this moment. She had never felt so good—so optimistic—about anything. It waa this moment that she knew she would remember forever as the turning point in her life. The moment her life really became hers.

The warning alarm sounded, signalling the train was about to depart. Bronte nodded at Tangerine, reaching over to take her bag from his hand. "Come on." Lemon was standing in the gangway, frantically beckoning them on board. "Do you want to fucking miss the train?"

Bronte gestured for Tangerine to go first and he quickly stepped up beside Lemon. She took one last look at the slowly emptying platform. Kyoto Station was still far more busy than it had been the last time she was here. But the cherry blossoms had started to bloom, almost as if to cover up the terrible things that had happened not too long ago.

Turning back to the train, Bronte smiled at the sight of her two best friends waiting for her. Without another moment of hesitation, she took a deep breath and stepped onto the train, just as the doors closed silently behind her.

A/N: And that's the end of Snakeskin. I'm honestly really sad. I've enjoyed writing this book so so so much and I love each and every one of you so much! I'm trying to decide what to do next, so feel free to leave some suggestions down below.

Final question (oh no that's just sad): What is your favourite line from the film? Mine is "first his wife, now his son. That's a lot of white deaths." Tangerine's reaction to Lemon saying this is priceless! Let me know yours.

Don't forget to vote and comment and I love you all!