Akari brought Kiko back onto the burnt grass field, stained with blood and covered in dead bodies.  When Kiko saw the devastation around her, it was only then did she finally gave up on any chance of hope that she could be saved.  

Everything that she knew and lived for was destroyed.  She knew that even her adopted family would also be destroyed down to their ninth generation.  

Kiko knelt in the middle of the field with her head bowed down.  Kiko had completely submitted to her fate. Akari stared down at Kiko and crouched in front of her.  Her dagger raised Kiko’s head up so she could stare into Kiko’s grey eyes. The look of defeat made Akari happy, but she didn’t celebrate yet.  

“At first, I had intended to kill you just like I slowly killed Misah, piece by piece.”  Akari confessed to Kiko. “However, now that I’m here. Now that I have you in my hands. So defeated and so compliant. I realize that through our fated entanglements, in the end, I just want us to never see each other again.  So, I’ll grant you a quick death to end all this for you and especially for me. Let’s never meet again. Ever.”

Akari plunges her dagger into Kiko’s heart and infuses her fire magic inside of Kiko.  The dagger immediately killed Kiko and the fire burned her body into ashes, completely forbidding her soul to reincarnate.  

Dean wraps his arms around Akari, embracing her tightly inside of his arms.  Every knot inside of Akari’s heart that was created by her past 99 lifetimes had finally been undone.  She held no more thoughts of regret and revenge.

“Let's go home.”  Dean told Akari as he kissed the crown of her head.  

“Okay.”  Akari agreed.  

“Let’s try for a family as well.”  

Akari was surprised by Dean’s words, but she too wanted a family.  She knew it would be nearly impossible to create a child for mages, but they had 980 years to try.  

“Okay.”  Akari agreed happily.  

~~~~~~

Once Dean and Akari arrived back home, they quickly filled Jona and Emi in on what happened.  From shock to anger to sadness, they could not believe any of it happened. Jona and Emi were sent back home the next day to help Obara.  The three of them were childhood friends and could not believe that Riho was Queen Maya’s agent.

While Hiryir reorganized the political power structure and stabilize the government, Dean and Akari lived their lives like newlyweds.  They spent their days in bed, hardly leaving the room.

It was during one of those lust filled days that Akari and Dean were quietly staring at each other after a long bout of lovemaking.  Akari was tracing Dean’s face, memorising every arch and line that defined his handsome features.

“Tell me something.”  Akari said as she rubbed Dean’s lips back and forth before bring her hand back down to her side.  

“What?”

“For you, what was it like to die?”

“Mages are mages for a reason.  Within them, they hold magic inside of themselves.  With that magic, they are able to hold on to their souls after death, as long as they are younger than 1000 years old.  By calling a Mage’s true name after death, it helps calls the mage’s soul back into its body.”    

“And if there is not body to go back to?”  

“Then the soul cannot reincarnate nor can it posse another body.”

“And if an enemy knows a Mage’s true name.  What could happen then?”

“If an enemy knows a Mage’s true name, and if that enemy is also a mage, they could create a death spell and immediately kill you, trap your soul and steal your magic core.”

“Is that why mages are so antisocial?”

Dean smile and laughed at Akari’s question.  

“Yes.”  Dean answered.  “There is always a chance that another mage does not have good intentions towards you or me.  You should always be wary of mages. One day they may be your friend, the next they will become your enemy.  1000 years is a long time to live, mages can hold on to grudges for a long time.”

“As long as you’re by my side, there is no need to seek out another mage or be introduced to another mage.”  Akari told Dean.

Since the day they arrived back in their home, Akari sent messages to her parents every week to ensure they were fine.  There was no need to visit them, unless it was an emergency or if she missed them.

Akari was informed from her parents that Obara did not bury Riho in the family cemetery.  Where she was buried, no one knew, but the King. The ministers, generals, and those who allied themselves to Queen Maya were executed to the ninth generation.  Every side branch was eliminated throughout the country and the finances of each family was added to the royal treasury.

When Rin woke up, he was devastated.  He kept himself in bed for a whole month before going back to his life.  Obara retired from his position in the government. Now he and Rin spend their days at Noboru Enterprises.  

~~~~~

On the day of Akari’s birthday, she finally turned 21 for the first time in 99 lifetimes.  She had beaten her fate and spent the day with her family. She had a quiet dinner with Jona, Emi, Green, Selena and Dean.  

The next day, Rin stopped by with Obara to wish Akari a happy birthday.  And even though Rin was a day late, Akari was able to forgive him, because at least he remembered.  

Three years later, Jona and Emi adopted an orphan child from a side branch. At the age of 11, Taikin Ayame officially joined the main branch and became heir to the Ayame Clan.   

Another six years pass, before Akari received an invitation to Rin’s wedding.  Akari had not seen Rin in nine years, so Dean and Akari attended his wedding. To have two mages attend his wedding, brought great honor to his family.  Rin’s wife was the complete opposite of Akari and Kiko. Yue was taller that Rin by a head, she had a warm and inviting smile and emerald eyes that shines with a hint of mischievousness.  Her long, ruby red hair fell down in waves round her shoulders and back, making her look enchanting. After the wedding ceremony, Rin introduced Yue to Akari and Dean and everyone got along merrily.  

~~~~~~~~

The moment Taikin turned 18 years old, he began following Jona at Ayame Enterprises.  After five years, Taikin completely ran Ayame Enterprises himself, while Jona and Emi traveled the world for two years.  

After their travels, they stayed in the ancestral home and helped Taikin raise his children, while Taikin and his wife, Heiwa, worked at Ayame Enterprises.   

By this time, the only people Akari secretly visited was her parents.  Time quickly pass for Akari, and ten years later her mother died of old age, while her father died of heartbreak the next day.  After the burial of her parents, Akari had no more reason to visit Hiryir.

Every five years Akari would send someone to find out information on the Ayame Clan to ensure they were fine, however after a century, the people she knew and loved, were no longer alive.  

Selena and Green also died of old age.  Their son and daughter-in-law had taken over their position.  And once they grew old, their son took over their position as stewards for Dean and Akari.  Their position as stewards for Dean and Akari would last from generation to generation. Leaving behind a detailed history of Dean and Akari’s life for the new steward to learn.  

Akari’s every moment, for the rest of her life was spent with Dean.  And over the years, they tried every day, sometimes three to four times a day to conceive a child, however they were never blessed with a miracle.   

Although a child would have been a blessing, Akari and Dean did not dwell on it and lived their life side by side until Dean’s last breath.  When Dean breathed his last breath at 1000 years old, Akari still had 285 more years to live

“We’ll meet again in our next life.”  Dean promised Akari.

“Promise?”  Akari said as she held him tighter in her arms.  

“Promise.”  Dean answered.  “I’ll move heaven and hell to meet you again.”  

“And what if you don’t remember me?  What if I don’t remember you? How would we meet again.”  Akari asked worriedly.

“You and I, our fates are tied.  There is no way that I’ll not recognise you.  I will know you the moment I see you and I’ll make you my wife again in the next lifetime. If you don’t recognise me the moment you see me, I’ll win your heart over and make you remember our love.”

Akari smiled at Dean’s words.  

“I love you, Dean Wilde. I’ll be looking for you too, in our next lifetime. And I hope to spend the next 100 lifetimes with you.”  

“And I love you, Akari Ayame. For the next 100 lifetimes, I'll always be by your side.”

The End