Epilogue: Immortal Game
Keisuke and Daisuke had gone to visit their parents after they had found out about their mother's pregnancy in order to say goodbye. Having two of them in one timeline was a bit too risky to the flow of time, so Keisuke had determined now was the time to leave while they could. Daisuke's ears were drooped at the thought of returning, but seemed cheered at the thought of being reunited once they had returned home. "You make sure to take good care of me until we meet again," he had firmly instructed Fia, who had cooed at him and grabbed at his ears.
Aizaem had met them at the border to the Winter Kingdom, leading the way through the forest, checking the pocketwatch he kept on him for the purpose of finding the door to time. "Aizaem, will things be different when we go home?" Daisuke asked, ears still drooped as he followed along behind his brother. "Did we make a difference after all, or will we still be stuck in our old timeline? I guess...can the past change?"
"It can," Aizaem said. "Although your thoughts over your previous sufferings will not be lost, the events that caused them will change. Your memories will reflect that, once you return to your own time."
"But we won't forget the time before?" Daisuke frowned at that.
"Yes, because those memories have meaning. An event may occur, but unless it is heard, unless it is remembered, it is useless. That is why memory is so closely tied to time."
"Will we see you again?" Keisuke asked.
"Yes. I think you'll be surprised. I have stepped in to the role of White Bishop until you become of age, Keisuke. You will see when you return."
"So which you is the one that came last? The you in this time leading us to the future, that already knows what happens, or the you in the future?"
"All of me are the same. I remember the same things from all times as a necessity to my job."
"So you know what happens in the future."
Aizaem glanced over at him. "The future is always changing, Keisuke. As is the past, for those in the White Kingdom. Time is never still for the kingdom founded on it."
They entered a thicket, and Keisuke could see the door ahead of them, the large, impressive wooden structure perched in the middle of the woods, as if someone had just decided to build one there. Pulling out a key, Aizaem stuck it in the lock, giving it a turn before nodding to the pair. "Go now. You wouldn't want to be late."
Keisuke nodded, taking his younger brother's hand in his own, and then he leapt through, Daisuke following. It seemed like they had just leapt through an empty frame, but Keisuke could sense the change in the flow of magic around him. They were definitely in another place, if nothing else.
The streams were where they were when they had left for the past initially, so Keisuke led the way back, following the streams to emerge in the White Kingdom swiftly. Swallowing nervously, he took his first steps into the White Kingdom, his brother trailing behind. Ahead of them, the White Rook loomed in the distance, the walls taking on a soft glow in the afternoon sunlight, and Keisuke thought he saw the shape of a half-completed tower springing out of the northern face. As they neared, he could make out the figure of someone on the walls, and he realized it was the White Rabbit, as promised, identifiable by his long ears. The rabbit closed his pocketwatch as he spotted them, and even at the distance Keisuke could make out his smile and slight nod before he disappeared from the walls.
Daisuke took his brother's hand, squeezing it tightly, and Keisuke could tell his twin was equally nervous as they rounded the castle to the front gate, the old wooden doors creaking open as they approached. Keisuke's breath caught in his throat as he saw their parents standing in the courtyard, Ameko wearing the old plain cloak, calm and expectant, and Nikado with a confident posture to his back, the Sword of the Lion and the Unicorn at his side. Talira was standing off to one side with Yukita, the female Cheshire waving merrily and Yukita smiling softly. Fia, the princess from the Winter Kingdom, was also standing with them, now fully grown, and she smiled brightly as she saw Daisuke. The cat gave Keisuke's hand another squeeze, and Keisuke tried to hide a smile as he could hear his brother's heartrate increase at the sight of the young girl.
Keisuke walked up to the White Queen and King, stopping a few feet away, Daisuke stopping with him, the younger twin suddenly shy. Giving the pair a salute, Keisuke spoke softly. "We've returned, Mother, Father."
"Welcome home," she greeted both of them, putting a hand on each of their heads. "You were missed."
Nikado nodded in agreement, giving them a smile that spoke by itself of his pride in them. "You both did very well."
"Papa!" Daisuke cried out, jumping into Nikado's arms and snuggling against him, shaking his shirt. "Papa! Papa!"
Nikado laughed gently, stroking his son's ears. "Cut that out, you silly thing. You'd think it'd been ages since we saw you," he teased.
"I'm glad," Keisuke murmured as Ameko pulled him into a hug. "The past changed. The future can change. It will change."
"Yes, it will," she agreed, kissing his forehead. "The game is never over."
"That's not the only thing that changed," Nikado added with a grin, letting go of Daisuke and ruffling his ears.
"Oh?" Daisuke tilted his head, ears perked. "What's that, then? What's changed?"
Before Keisuke could question things as well, a small head poked over Nikado's shoulder, white ears flicking as the female kitten scowled down at the pair of them with their mother's eyes, finally pointing a chubby clawed hand at the pair. "Heeeey," she said with a scowl. "You left."
The twins blinked in unison, looking at each other, and then Daisuke began to giggle. Keisuke smiled as well, searching through the memories that had changed, and finally reached up, petting the kitten on the head.
"We're home, Kiseki."
