As the laughter settled, Kairo leaned down to whisper to Yuki. "You know... technically, you're the princess of the Sand tribe now."
Yuki's eyes widened. "What?"
Kairo chuckled. "Dune's your father. That makes you a princess - whether the tribe acknowledges it or not."
Yuki fell silent for a moment, processing the weight of that. A blind girl, once labeled as undesirable, now recognized - even if unofficially - as royalty.
"I don't want to be a princess," she finally said softly. "I just want... to be free."
Kairo brushed a strand of hair from her face. "Then we'll make sure you are."
The conversation slowly turned quieter after that.
As the night deepened, the desert wind still whispering outside, they finally settled down.
Sylvia and Peggy rested against the cave wall teasing Arson and Glacius.
Kairo sat with Yuki leaning against him, her hand still in his, a peaceful look on her face.
And as the stars glittered above the desert, they all made an unspoken promise:
To fight for each other.
To protect the bonds they had formed.
And to walk forward - not just as rulers or warriors, but as allies.
Maybe even as family.
And under the vast desert sky, they slept - for once, not just as fugitives, but as something more.
The first light of dawn filtered through the cave entrance, casting a warm glow on the resting figures. After a long journey and much-needed rest, Kairo finally felt like himself again. He stretched his arms, feeling the strength return to his body, and smirked.
"Alright," he said confidently. "I'm back to full power. I can fight like before."
The others turned to him, surprised by how quickly he had regained his strength. But what surprised them even more was what he did next.
Without warning, Kairo bent down and lifted Yuki into his arms, carrying her with ease.
"Now is the time to return back the favour by carrying you," he said with a smirk.
Sylvia, Peggy, Arson, and Glacius all stopped in their tracks, blinking at the sudden boldness.
"What the-" Arson muttered.
Glacius raised an eyebrow. "Well, that was unexpected."
Sylvia crossed her arms, giving Kairo a knowing look. "Not shy about it, are you?"
Peggy giggled. "He really doesn't care what anyone thinks."
Meanwhile, Yuki, usually composed, felt a deep flush rise to her cheeks. She wasn't used to being treated so openly like this-especially not in front of everyone.
"K-Kairo..." she mumbled, looking down, clearly embarrassed.
Kairo only chuckled, unfazed. "You're light. And this way, you don't have to tire yourself walking."
Still, despite her embarrassment, Yuki didn't protest. A small, shy smile tugged at her lips as she relaxed in his arms.
With that, they all continued their journey, knowing they had a long way to go.
The desert stretched endlessly behind them as they pushed forward. Hours passed, the blazing sun high in the sky, but their determination didn't waver. Finally, after half a day of relentless walking, the golden sands gave way to lush greenery.
A forest.
The shade of the towering trees provided instant relief from the desert heat, and the fresh air filled their lungs. As they walked deeper into the forest, about fifteen minutes later, they came across a neutral residence-a small village nestled between the territories.
Kairo took in the surroundings before turning to face the group.
"This is where we part ways," he announced.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
They had fought together, struggled together, and bonded like never before. But now, their paths were leading them in different directions.
Kairo, still carrying Yuki, nodded at each of them. "This isn't goodbye forever. But we all have our own journeys to take."
Arson smirked, adjusting his cloak. "Yeah. I still have a lot of conquering to do."
Sylvia rolled her eyes but smiled. "And I have a lot of restoration to do."
Glacius gave a rare smile. "Peggy and I will be heading east."
Peggy nodded. "And who knows? We might run into each other again."
Kairo smirked. "We probably will. The world isn't that big."
Yuki, despite her usual quiet nature, spoke up softly. "Thank you... all of you."
Sylvia, Peggy, Arson, and Glacius looked at her and then at Kairo.
Arson crossed his arms. "You better take care of her, Big Bro."
Kairo scoffed. "Do you even have to say that?"
Glacius nodded. "You're strong, Big bro. But even strong people need allies. Don't forget that."
Kairo's smirk softened. "I won't."
With that, they all exchanged final glances before turning toward their respective paths.
Arson and Sylvia headed west.
Glacius and Peggy went east.
And Kairo, with Yuki in his arms, turned north.
As they walked, Kairo felt the silence between them-peaceful yet filled with unspoken thoughts. He glanced down at Yuki, who was leaning slightly against him.
"You alright?" he asked.
Yuki smiled softly. "Yes... it just feels strange."
"Strange?"
"Being free." She sighed, tilting her head upward as if she could see the sky. "I've never had the chance to just... go anywhere."
Kairo nodded. "Then let's go everywhere."
Yuki turned her head toward him. "What do you mean?"
Kairo's gaze fixed ahead. "We'll travel through the entire planet. That's the peaceful life I was talking about. We may not be able to return to the Sand territory... or the Aqua territory. But the rest of the world? It's open to us."
Yuki's eyes widened slightly. "You mean... we can meet different people? See different cultures? Experience life in different places?"
Kairo grinned. "Exactly."
Yuki took a deep breath, letting the idea sink in. "That... sounds amazing."
Then, after a brief pause, her voice softened. "But..."
Kairo looked down at her. "But?"
Yuki let out a quiet sigh. "I can't see any of it."
For the first time in a while, her blindness felt like a weight to her. The idea of traveling, of seeing the world, felt bittersweet when she realized she would never truly see it.
Kairo stopped walking and gently squeezed her hand.
"Then I'll be your eyes."
Yuki looked up at him in surprise.
Kairo's voice was steady, certain. "I'll describe everything to you. Every place we go, every sight we see. And you'll experience it in your own way."
Yuki's heart felt full at his words. She smiled. "You really mean that?"
"Of course." Kairo smirked. "Besides, you'll finally get to meet people who won't call you undesirable. People who will see you for who you really are."
Yuki's grip on his hand tightened slightly. "I'd like that."
Kairo then hesitated for a moment before scratching the back of his head.
"...You know, we should probably get married soon."
Yuki blinked. "What?"
Kairo cleared his throat, looking away. "I mean... if we keep traveling together like this, people are going to start saying all sorts of things about us."
Yuki's face turned red again, her heart racing. "Y-you don't have to marry me just because of that..."
Kairo smirked. "Maybe. But it's not just that." He looked directly into her eyes, his expression softening. "I want to."
Yuki's breath caught in her throat. For so long, she had been cast aside, unwanted, treated as an outcast. But here was Kairo, the ambitious, untamed prince, choosing her-not out of obligation, but because he wanted to.
Slowly, a tear slipped down her cheek. Not from sadness, but from something warm. Something she had never fully felt before.
Happiness.
Yuki nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Okay."
Kairo smirked again. "Good. Then let's find a place to start our journey... together."
And with that, the two of them disappeared into the vast, open world, ready to forge their own path-one where they were no longer bound by the laws of tribes, but by their own choices.
By their own freedom.