お帰り [Welcome Home] - Epilogue

[yeonah]

Title: お帰り [Welcome Home]
Authors: curionenene  and yeonah 
Chapter: Epilogue
Fandom: SS501 + Epik High Cameos
Pairings: KyuMin, HyunSaeng
Rating: PG-16
Warning: Angst, AU
Summary: Black and white... white and black. It isn't always possible to tell what is good and what is evil; and four players in the never-ending fight for freedom would know. In a world where things are painted by shades of grey, taking a stand could mean life or death. And the struggle to be free, truly free, may tear them apart until there is nothing left but ash.
A/N: KyuJong, HyunJoong, and Tablo are played by curionenene , while JungMin, YoungSaeng, HyungJoon, Mithra and Thaestae are played by yeonah .


The room was silent except for the sound of a radio left on low, the lights dimmed to give a peaceful atmosphere. A clock ticked away in the corner, the tiny hands moving slowly along it's surface. There was no movement in the room nor the attached bathroom and kitchenette, the curtains on the windows drawn.

For a while there was only the sound of the radio and the clock. Then a shuffle outside the door, handle turning and clicking lightly. The door swung open, a young man walking into the room with a bag in one hand, placing it down lightly out of the way and closing the door behind him.

Pulling off the hat on his head to free his ears, YoungSaeng shook his head to clear his hearing with a sigh. "It's going to start snowing soon," he spoke quietly, hanging the hat up and undoing the scarf from his neck to do the same. "They're probably going to have snow falling in the park too, the kids would love it." Jacket coming off next, the felinefolk freed his tail before bending to pull slips of paper out of his bag.

"It would be nice to see a good amount of snow this year," he smiled wistfully, golden eyes going to the bed. "Right, Hyun?"

The bed's occupant didn't so much as stir, eyes closed and breathing slowly and evenly through the oxygen mask placed over his mouth and nose as a precaution. YoungSaeng hadn't expected a response, but it made him feel better to talk to HyunJoong, hoping that maybe his partner heard him.

Walking to sit in the chair next to the bed, YoungSaeng took one limp hand in his own, stroking the soft skin. HyunJoong wasn't a little boy anymore; he'd watched as his partner slowly grew and matured, features filling out and frame lengthening. He was a handsome young man, just as YoungSaeng remembered him to be.

"I started composing," he commented after a moment of just watching him, glancing at the papers he'd placed on the nightstand. "It's taking a bit of practice, but I've been getting help. You'll never guess who from; your favorite nurse," he chuckled. "Or least-favorite. Maybe I'll be able to play the piano for you one day."

The felinefolk hummed softly under his breath, kissing the back of HyunJoong's hand lightly before leaning forward to rest his head in his arms on the bed, closing his eyes. He didn't try singing to the tune he'd been working on composing, but a different song he'd done for HyunJoong once before. Sitting in a park under a large tree, singing about flying and freedom.

There was a soft knock on the door, and someone quietly pushed the door open, stepping in. It was a familiar figure that stood at the door way now, wearing a slightly outdated coat, hair startlingly long, but YoungSaeng would be able to recognize who it was despite haven’t seen him in a while. After all, ankous didn’t age after reaching their prime.

One ear twitching at the knock, YoungSaeng cracked his eyes open and looked over HyunJoong towards the door. His eyes widened to see the man standing just inside the door, a soft smile curling his lips.

Standing, the felinefolk squeezed HyunJoong's hand lightly and walked around the edge of the bed, going to give the new arrival a hug. "It's been a while, Kyu," he smiled, hugging the taller man. "Safe travels?"

KyuJong smiled, hugging the felinefolk back. In the first few months after the incident, the two had become close friends, supporting each other in their pain. Even after KyuJong had taken to travelling to deal with his grief, he would come back every once in a while to visit YoungSaeng, seeing how the felinefolk was holding up, and telling tales of his exploits. “Yes, although, I’m not really travelling any more. I mean, I am, but for a different reason now.”

"Oh?" YoungSaeng raised an eyebrow, pulling KyuJong out of the doorway to sit down. "Where have you been for the last while? You haven't visited in months." The felinefolk took up the same chair as before, instinctively taking up HyunJoong's hand again. He rarely let go.

“A few months back, I finally decided to take up my duty as an ankou. You know most ankous are born into this world in order to escort the souls of the dead back to the spirit world. But of course, I’ve never done that since I was abducted close after I was born.” KyuJong explained, “So, I went back to the spirit world to see if it was possible to take up that job. And apparently, I could. So I’ve been running here and there on assignments, trying to get troublesome souls to go back to the spirit world.”

KyuJong chuckled ruefully. “I thought I took up the job so that I could settle down a little, but apparently, the job requires even more travelling then I was doing it to get over JungMin’s death.”

YoungSaeng quirked a sad smile. "Be careful not to overwork yourself too, an exhausted ankou is never good." He watched the man beside him. "You've been doing okay, though...?"

He knew KyuJong would never completely get over JungMin's death, but if he was ready to settle down, then that meant something.

KyuJong only smiled; an enigmatic smile that could mean anything and nothing at the same time. Instead, he only turned his eyes on to HyunJoong’s sleeping form. “How’s he doing?”

Looking at KyuJong for a moment longer, YoungSaeng turned towards HyunJoong, smiling softly. "He's been doing well," the felinefolk replied softly, thumb stroking over HyunJoong's hand. "The mask is just a precaution, he's healthy, and HyungJoon visits whenever he's in town to make sure his muscles don't deteriorate from lack of movement."

“That’s good… How are the rest doing? I haven’t seen them in a while.” Although KyuJong had wanted to keep in touch with the rest, it was a little difficult since most of them were out of the country most of the time. The organization had come up from under in the recent years as the acceptance of non-humans began to gain more popularity. Now, instead of dealing with hunters, the organization had to deal with governments, fighting lawsuits for more rights for non-humans.

"They've been keeping busy," YoungSaeng chuckled. "HyungJoon's running around all over the world helping with trouble spots, he just got back not long ago. Mithra hyung's been bugging Daniel hyung to retire before his hair turns white," he smiled. "And Daniel hyung still refuses to listen to him. You're lucky, everyone's in Seoul today."

“Well, maybe I’ll see them later.” KyuJong laughed. “Actually I met Tukutz earlier on. And he said something interesting…”

"Oh?" YoungSaeng quirked an eyebrow. "What did he say?"

KyuJong smiled, glancing at HyunJoong. “I won’t bother you with it. I think you might be really busy with someone else in a while.”

"Hm?" the felinefolk blinked at KyuJong. "What do you mean, Kyu? You're not making any sense." Maybe working as a proper ankou meant KyuJong had to speak in riddles from now on.

KyuJong only smiled, nodding a greeting in HyunJoong’s direction as he stood up to leave. “I don’t suppose I have to remind you to take care of YoungSaeng. If he’s unhappy the next time I come back, I’ll make sure that you won’t have an easy time sleeping at night.”

Blinking at the ankou, YoungSaeng's eyes widened as he registered what KyuJong was saying. "Hyun?" He turned towards his master, partner and lover, grip on HyunJoong's hand tightening a little.

There was only the flicker of motion at first - a tilting of HyunJoong’s head, so slight that you would have missed it if you hadn’t know what to expect. Then, a soft groan, a furrowing of eyebrows, and eyelids slowly cracking open to reveal unfocused brown orbs.

Ears perking straight up, YoungSaeng watched in first disbelief, wondering if he was dreaming and was imagining all this. It had been long, so long, only soft reassurances from the others had kept his hope up.

"Hyun?" He whispered again, shifting closer in his chair and holding HyunJoong's hand in both his own.

There wasn’t a reply for a moment, then HyunJoong’s eyes seemed to focus a little bit more, searching for the voice. “S-saeng…?”

Tears gathered in YoungSaeng's eyes. How he'd missed that voice...and HyunJoong knew him, he remembered him. "Right here," he smiled widely, leaning over more and squeezing HyunJoong's hand. "Welcome back, Hyun..."

“He’s awake!” There was a shout from outside, and it was the only warning before a tumble of people burst into the room. The first to be by the bed is Tablo, his face a bit plumper and hair a bit lighter, but still the big brother/mother hen both YoungSaeng and HyunJoong had known. “Hyun! You’re awake!”

HyunJoong blinked at him, then turned to YoungSaeng, uncomprehending. To him, it had been just a shut-eye away.

YoungSaeng wasn't up for explaining the time difference just yet. Tears spilled over his cheeks before he wiped them away, smiling happily as he kissed the back of HyunJoong's hand.

"You're going to crowd him," Mithra chuckled, easing Tablo back from the bed a little. "Good to see you again," he smiled at HyunJoong, the sand demon looking the same as he always had.

"Coming through!" HyungJoon managed to get past them both, starting up spells instantly to make sure HyunJoong was in top shape. "Looking much better," he grinned, hands up in front of him. The White Rabbit's hair was longer, and he was taller, but looked the same still.

HyunJoong blinked confusedly at them all, staring in alarm at the tears on YoungSaeng’s face and trying to reach up to wipe them off. Then he looked up as Tukutz bustled in the room - a little more grey in his hair, but that enigmatic smile still on his face. “Mithra’s right. You’re crowding him. Come on, move out and give him a little space.”

KyuJong smiled at the scene, before tipping his head in goodbye at HyunJoong, who had noticed him. And amidst the all the hubbub in the room, left.

It didn't look like anyone was going to be moving anytime soon, Mithra giving a long-suffering sigh and snagging Tablo by his collar, pulling him back towards the door. "Come on, you'll have your turn." He pulled HyungJoon out as well once the rabbit was done checking on HyunJoong's condition.

HyunJoong stared at the crowd, still confused. And his hand went up to the oxygen mask around his mouth, pulling it off. “Saeng…?” He asked softly, entirely lost as to what had happened. “What was that? Was that… Daniel hyung? Why did he look so much older? What happened?”

YoungSaeng smiled sadly, placing the oxygen mask to one side. He didn't let up his grip on HyunJoong's hand, not sure how he was going to take this. "Well, HyungJoon had to reverse time on you after the fight with the demons...to make sure there were no negative effects on your body," he said quietly, getting up from the chair and sitting on the edge of the bed.

He played with HyunJoong's fingers a little nervously. "You were in a coma after it, it just took so much energy...and well...you were asleep for a while. A long while," he said softly.

HyunJoong stared at YoungSaeng as if he couldn’t quite believe what the felinefolk was saying. “…How long exactly?”

"Ten years," YoungSaeng repeated, giving a shaky smile. "When HyungJoon turned back time on you, it removed the curse, but put you back as a ten-year-old...you're about twenty again right now."

HyunJoong gaped at YoungSaeng, reaching up to cup the felinefolk’s cheek. “I’ve… been asleep for ten years?”

Nodding again, YoungSaeng tried to fight back the tears and finally failed. He leaned down to nuzzle lightly against HyunJoong's neck. "I'm so glad you're okay Hyun," he whispered, sniffling.

HyunJoong automatically wrapped his arms around YoungSaeng, a trouble look on his face. “I… left you alone for ten whole years?”

"HyungJoon said you needed time to recover," YoungSaeng whispered against HyunJoong's neck. "It's fine." He couldn't stop the tears of relief from falling though, purring as he nuzzled against his partner and lover. "You're okay, that's all that matters."

“I’m so sorry.” HyunJoong apologized nonetheless, pulling the felinefolk up for a soft, tender kiss. Ten whole years… that was a long time. And YoungSaeng had been alone all this while. “So, so sorry.”

Kissing him back, YoungSaeng had to remind himself that HyunJoong was still recovering, not pressing too hard. "Not your fault," he whispered into the kiss, breathing in HyunJoong's earthy scent. "I love you, Hyun," he breathed, eyes opening halfway to look into the Merus's.

“And I you.” HyunJoong replied, a soft smile gracing his face. “Even if it is after ten years… and you’re probably an old, grumpy cat by now.” He joked softly, stroking YoungSaeng’s hair.

Blinking, YoungSaeng mock scowled down at him. "I'll have you know I'm still considered very young for my kind," he sniffed, offended. So what if he was nearly 50 by now, he still didn't look a day over 25.

HyunJoong grinned. “Old man~” He teased, flicking YoungSaeng’s nose, before his gaze softened. “I’m a little glad though… it means that we’re a little closer in relative age now.” And unspoken where the thoughts he had of before, dying earlier as he would have to as a human, and leaving YoungSaeng behind.

Wrinkling his nose at the flick, YoungSaeng sighed a little and rested his head back beside HyunJoong's, careful to keep his body beside HyunJoong's rather than on top of him. "I suppose you could look at it that way...there's also what you found out from HyungJoon before all this, remember?" He peeked up at HyunJoong. "Humans can live as long as their bond partners."

“…” HyunJoong closed his eyes, rubbing his head. “Right… I… Some parts of my memory are a little hazy… I… We were bonded before? And at the last minute before I… did that stupid stunt… I broke off our bond?”

Watching his expression, YoungSaeng nodded sadly. It had felt like something had been ripped out of him, disorientating, painful and leaving a hollow in his chest. "Yeah, that's what happened," he murmured. "And that was definitely a stupid stunt, I still haven't gotten you back for that."

“Well then, maybe we should renew the bond… so that you can have as long a time you want to pay me back.” HyunJoong’s tone was light, but in his eyes was sadness and an apology. “Unless, of course, you don’t want to.”

One ear twitching, YoungSaeng pursed his lips and bit the skin in front of his face lightly as a reprimand. "Why wouldn't I want to," he whispered, smiling a little as he wrapped both arms around HyunJoong's body. "I waited ten years for you."

HyunJoong closed his eyes, breathing out in relief. “And I see no reason for you to wait any longer.” HyunJoong tilted YoungSaeng’s chin, staring back into the felinefolk’s eyes.

Meeting HyunJoong's gaze, YoungSaeng's smile widened even as a few more tears fell. He reached out the same way as before, offering himself to HyunJoong in a way much deeper than a kiss, than sleeping together, than anything.

“I love you, Heo YoungSaeng.” HyunJoong whispered before he pressed his lips onto the felinefolk, parting his mouth and reaching out deep inside his soul, pulling out his essence and offering it for YoungSaeng to take.

And like that, YoungSaeng responding to both the kiss and the pull between them, he felt a rush of strength and love that had been missing for ten years. Mewling in delight, the felinefolk parted his own lips to deepen the kiss, feeling HyunJoong's thoughts and emotions through the new bond so strongly it was as if they were one and the same.

That was what had been wrong. It had been that feeling that had been missing that had been bugging HyunJoong since he’d woken up. He had been able to feel YoungSaeng, but not in the way he had gotten used to through the bond. And smiling through the kiss, tears prickling at the sides of his eyes, he returned the kiss, delving deeply into it. Smiling at the joy which he could feel reverberating through the bond.

The kiss lasted long, neither of them stopping for more than a bare second to breathe. When YoungSaeng finally pulled back enough to take in a proper breath, he couldn't stop purring, tail waving in the air behind him as he nuzzled against his lover like a kitten on catnip, so happy to finally have HyunJoong back.

HyunJoong’s smile was as wide as the moon as he felt YoungSaeng puring against him, and he laughed too, his heart feeling like it was about to burst.

This feeling. It was such a wonderful feeling. Of safety, of comfort, of belonging.

Of home.

“Tadaima.” HyunJoong whispered, remembering a time long ago when they’d done it out of fun. But now, it felt an appropriate thing to say.

YoungSaeng smiled against HyunJoong's collar, nosing the soft skin and hugging him a little tighter. HyunJoong was really home now, home to stay, and the felinefolk was right here to welcome him back.

"Okaeri."

********************

KyuJong smiled as he walked through the corridors of a place he once called home. He was glad he came, seeing all those familiar faces, and of course, to be there for HyunJoong’s awakening. They’d known for a while the exact date HyunJoong was supposed to wake up, but hadn’t told YoungSaeng for fear of being wrong. But it seemed that all those fears were for naught - HyunJoong had been fine, just like all of them had predicted.

It had been nice talking to all his friends again, getting to know what happened. And all of them had tried to weedle out stories of his travels with varying success. He’d only told YoungSaeng about his decision to become a full-time ankou, and with the rest, he’d hinted, although he thought Tukutz probably had figured that out on his own.

But most of all, he knew that all of them could tell that he seemed happier somehow. Some probably had attributed it to him getting over JungMin’s death, which was why they hadn’t asked. Those who did, however, only received an enigmatic smile as an answer.

He had greeted the last of his friends goodbye and had walked out of the place to a more secluded area on foot. It wouldn’t be too good to let people see him open a portal to the spirit world - too many complications.

Making sure he was alone, KyuJong closed his eyes, morphing into his full form. Lifting his hand, he tugged on the fabric of reality and nipped it a little bit - tearing it open temporarily as he opened up a gate to the space between the worlds - the place where all people went after death. The spirit world.

Most people would think it strange, but KyuJong had a smile that portrayed only eagerness and joy as he stepped into the portal, closing it behind him. It was a smile that would have been hard to explain if not for the figure that came up to greet him as he flew through a world that we couldn’t really comprehend.

"Hey!" Arms wrapped around KyuJong's waist to snag him to a stop mid-flight, nearly sending them both bowling over. Not even bothering to re-stabilize, the ankou was pulled up against a semi-solid body. "You were gone for a while," there was a slight pout on the man's lips, but his eyes danced. "Are they working you to death?"

“That would be quite a feat, since apparently, I’m someone whom death has no authority over.” KyuJong laughed, his eyes glittering with gladness as he gazed at the person. “No, I just went back to see the rest. HyunJoong’s woken up, and he seems to be doing fine.”

"Took him long enough, YoungSaeng must be out of his mind with joy," the other man laughed, grinning widely. "And do you have to go on another assignment right away, or can you stay for a while?" One pale hand brushed against KyuJong's cheek, tracing over the moving letters of death that ran along his skin. "Thaestae ran away somewhere, I think he's hiding from the people who keep poking at the only demon here."

“Well, it’d only be natural. Only in death could you have this sort of situation though - humans bullying a demon.” KyuJong laughed, catching the hand in his. “And I can stay for a while. No urgent assignments at the moment, and I think I can say that I’ve deserved a break.”

"He's a very easy demon to bully," the other man snorted, before grinning widely at the hand in his, clasping it tightly. "Great. They had you for long enough, it's my turn now." JungMin leaned in to kiss KyuJong, keeping him close.

“Mmm…” KyuJong smiled, gladly receiving the kiss back. “And I’m glad to be staying here for a while. It’s rather sad though. The moment I decide to preoccupy myself with work, I find out that there was something else I would rather be preoccupied with.”

"Not my fault you took forever to come down here, where else would a spirit go?" JungMin chuckled, resting his forehead against KyuJong's. "Thaestae and I tried to grab your attention and were nearly strung up for it. They're not going to need you for work forever, right? Ankous retire eventually?"

“When I get high enough the ladder to become fat, lazy and important.” KyuJong smiled, closing his eyes. “And I’m sorry for taking so long. I just couldn’t deal with losing you, and just… wandered around aimlessly. But I’m here now.”

"That's what's most important," JungMin chuckled, kissing him again. "Do the others know?" He nibbled a little on KyuJong's lower lip.

“YoungSaeng knows about me fulfilling my intended role. But none of them can know about you, you know that.” KyuJong gently kissed the other back. “All those rules about screwing up the universe if people knew where they went after death.”

"Rules," JungMin sniffed, pouting. "You'd think after you're dead there wouldn't be anymore rules to follow. I feel very cheated right now."

“I don’t.” KyuJong admitted, rubbing his and JungMin’s noses together. “If it means I can stay with you for eternity, I don’t mind a few rules here and there.”

"Yeah, I guess that makes up for it," JungMin relented teasingly as he played with KyuJong's hair. "And I get to see you in your full form without worrying about keeling over a second time."

KyuJong shook his head. “I still don’t get what you see about my full form.” Even in death, JungMin hadn’t changed at all.

"I see you?" JungMin wrinkled his nose, grinning. "I told you before you look like an angel." Fingers ran slowly through strands of hair before trailing down to run lightly over the edge of one of KyuJong's many wings.

“There are plenty of other ‘angels’ here.” KyuJong sighed before shivering - if KyuJong’s wings were sensitive to JungMin’s fingers before, they were even more now.

"Why would I care about any of them when I've got one of my very own?" JungMin chuckled, ducking his head to kiss KyuJong softly.

KyuJong sighed ruefully, kissing JungMin back, holding his close. “Maybe because there are a multitude of them staring at us again right now?” He had caused a big hoo-hah when he had reunited with JungMin. Most of the denizens of the spirit world had thought JungMin to be a mental case when he’d said his lover in the world of the living had been an ankou.

"Rubbernecks," JungMin wrinkled his nose before deepening the kiss, wanting them to see that KyuJong was his. "Let's go somewhere more quiet, yes?" he murmured against KyuJong's lips.

KyuJong raised an eyebrow, chuckling. “This is the spirit world, where in here is it ever not quiet? I think you mean… less crowded.” But he scooped JungMin into his arms beginning to carry them forward, focusing, creating a small haven within the misty space as he could using his powers.

“Here.” KyuJong smiled as he alighted into what seemed like a room - a simple room with a bed, four walls and other various personal effects. But JungMin would know what this room was.

JungMin stopped his protesting at being picked up when he looked around, seeing where they were. And his face lit up, a grin spreading.

He knew this room all right; it was theirs.

"It's exactly the same," he murmured, grinning as he looked around before returning his gaze to KyuJong. "Without hunters trying to peek through the windows."

“Yes it is.” KyuJong smiled, placing JungMin down on his bed, his form shifting to his regular human form. “I found out recently I could do this. And now, even the other ankous can’t look through.”

"They'd be perverts to try," JungMin laughed, sitting up on the bed and reaching out to snag the other man around the waist, pulling him down. "I like this, a lot. We can stay here?"

“Yes. As long as I’m here.” KyuJong smiled allowing JungMin to pull him down. “I’m glad you like it.”

"It's home," JungMin laughed, bringing KyuJong down into his lap to kiss him, soft and sweet.

For the rest of eternity, with KyuJong here, this was home.

“Yes.” KyuJong laughed, his voice trilling from the pure joy he felt. They would be together now, with nothing to prevent that fact. There might be other troubles, maybe a few more rough spots, and times of absence. But from now to eternity, they would both have this - this home to return to.

“Welcome home.”

******************* THE END *******************

And that's it! Welcome Home has officially ended! It's both happy and sad at the same time, we were getting attached to this story ;;

Hope everyone liked it! Please leave us comments if you do, and we hope you keep reading our future (and current) roleplays/fanfics ^-^  사랑해~~~