Rebellious Duo (#Wattys2016)

Epilogue: 20 Years Later

Kaine Kiln sat in her wheelchair by the hearth reading a frayed leather bound book. It had been pawed through so many times, been dogeared on so many pages, that one might not tell that it was such a special book. But this was no ordinary book. At least, not to Kaine. She had been reading and rereading this book for at least thirty years now. And every time she picked it up and began on a new page, she still felt a thrill of excitement. She was interrupted in her deep thoughts by a pat on the shoulder. "Kaine?" Rodger said quietly.

"What is it?"

"I'm sorry I interrupted your reading. Ah, Sherlock Holmes again?" He observed when she closed the book.

"He was my first love, you know that. Even before you." Kaine gave him a playful smirk. "And twice as clever, might I add."

Rodger laughed. "I can't expect to be as smart as the great Holmes himself, my dear. I was only wondering if you would go out for a walk with me? It's just that... you haven't been outside in a month, I imagine. You've been shut up in your study for far too long."

"You always think that going outside is the cure for everything."

"And I'm not wrong. Now come on, I won't take no for an answer." He wheeled her from the hearth, handing her the old peacoat and fedora, and opened the door to the busy city outside.

--

"Remind me why we're here," Nao drawled, picking at his fingernails absentmindedly.

"We're selling the goods, idiot. Why else do you think?" Reiko said.

"There's nothing here! Nobody knows magic anymore, nobody knows who we are. Just sayin'. It's kind of weird." Nao shoved his hands in his pockets and walked a bit faster to catch up with Nori. "When did you say we would leave?"

"Quit complaining," Ryota called to Nao over his shoulder. He was walking at the front with Nori. She had only brought him along in the first place because of his business acumen, but the crew was simply delighted that he was there. Only Reiko, the one who had known him the longest, was a bit sour at him. Ryota fit in comfortably with Nori's crew. She almost wished that the Marziale Motley could stay together for another few years.

Nori swept her long red hair behind her back. "I remember why we never came here, though. It's so... what's that word? Droll. God, I sound like a friggin grandmother."

"Heh. I wish Masa was here. He'd love this place," Reiko remarked.

"What makes you say that?" Asked Akira.

Reiko pointed to her right at a dingy old bookstore. "You don't think he'd love this? But I guess he's happy, being a professor. I'm kinda disappointed that he isn't here with us," she added, slightly scornfully. "He said he wanted to. But he was 'too busy'". She made air-quotation marks with her hands. "Just like Michi. A princess once again. I thought she hated that sort of thing... well, at least she says she's happy."

Akira stopped unexpectedly in his tracks. His hand suddenly flew into his pocket and felt around for a small golden ring. Kei ran into him and started to say something reproachful, but Akira interrupted him. "It's... Kaine!"

"Who? Oh!" Nori glanced across the street. "So it is. What the hell's she doing in a wheelchair?"

"I know her, don't I?" Ryota said, frowning in thought.

"Yes, you do! You met her when Raiden kidnapped the crew! Come on, let's go see her!" Nori started to cross the street, but Akira held her back.

"Idiot, she doesn't remember us!" Akira hissed. He looked over at her wistfully and turned the ring over and over in his fingers..