Chapter Fourteen: Closure

It had been several days since our talk at the picnic table, and I was ready to give her my answer.

It wasn't as though I hadn't seen Kyou at all during that time, but what I had seen was upsetting. Kyou spent most of her time holding on to her sister, who would lead her from one class to the next. Ryou would also do most of the talking when it came to the two of them. It was as though the twins had switched personalities.

I couldn't believe that our breakup could have that kind of effect on such a strong girl. Sunohara was glad for the break from the threats and violence, but even he didn't like the change. "I wish she'd throw something at me!" he'd complain. He'd do stupid stuff around her to try to get some kind of reaction out of her, but she'd just stare blankly at him. I supposed that could have been considered worse, in a sense.

As I headed up the hill to the gate I noticed that several of the other students would stare at me until I looked their way, then they would quickly look away. It didn't take a genius to figure out that word had gotten around school. I may not have been Mr. Popularity, but Kyou was well-known and loved by a lot of the students. In hindsight, I was surprised that I didn't get death threats for dumping her.

Somewhere along the way Nagisa had tagged onto me without me noticing. "Good morning, Okazaki-san."

"Oh. Morning."

"Are you feeling better?"

"Sort of."

She looked at the ground ahead of us as we walked, and the way she bit her lip told me what her next question would be. "Have you decided whether you'll be getting back with Kyou-san or not?"

I sighed but otherwise said nothing. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Nagisa watch me for a bit more before returning her gaze to the ground.

"Okazaki-kun…?"

"Yes, Fujibayashi. Today."

Ryou had been checking in with me almost every day since the talk at the picnic table to see when I would be ready to give Kyou my answer. The whole situation felt strange, really; usually it was the guy who got dumped and had to prove himself to the girl over and over again before she'd consider taking him back. This had me wondering who was the guy and who was the girl in our relationship.

"How do you want to do this? Where do you want to meet?" Ryou asked.

I had already given that question a lot of thought. "Lunch. Same place where we talked. I would prefer it if was just her and I, but I'll understand if she wants you there just in case."

She nodded, with a small smile. "I understand. I'll let her know, and she'll be there if I have to drag her out there myself."

I chuckled in spite of myself. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

"Right."

The picnic area was empty as I had hoped. Most students preferred the front courtyard because of the short walls and, well, just being out front. Closer to the school's exit.

I was surprised to find Kyou sitting by herself at the table; I was sure that Ryou would be with her. Her head was down, resting on her folded arms. "Kyou?"

Her head snapped up at my voice, and she slowly – cautiously? – got up from the table to stand before me. Her expression was one of uncertainty, and the way she clasped her hands in front of her with her feet turned inward told the same story. "Tomoya…" I could hear her voice tremble. What the hell had I done to her?

I took a deep breath. I had planned all of these things that I wanted to say to her; how I felt bad for hurting her, how I wished that things had gone differently…but one look at her…

I quickly crossed the distance and took her in my arms. "I missed you…"

I felt her tense up, which was understandable. But only for a moment, and I felt her arms snake around me, her hands pressing against my back. "Tomoya…"

I placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Will you date me again, Kyou?"

She hiccupped.

"Kyou…?"

I realized that it wasn't a hiccup, as she broke into sobs. "Tomoya…Tomoya…"

I didn't realize that I had been holding back some pretty heavy emotions myself until I heard her sobs and saw her tears. "What the…?" was all I could get out before my tears joined hers.

We were both pretty quiet after that; apparently crying together took a lot out of us. We just lay in the grass next to each other, holding hands and staring at the sky. I wasn't sure what to say, so I left it to her to say something if she wanted.

The pressure on my hand changed, and I looked over to see her roll toward me and snuggle up beside me. A few seconds later her breathing evened out, and I figured that she had fallen asleep.

Maybe nothing more needed to be said.

A few days later, Tomoyo's part would be resolved as well.

"Kyou, may I speak with you?" she asked as my girlfriend and I sat in the courtyard enjoying our lunch.

Kyou looked to me. I didn't know what the Student Body President wanted, so I just shrugged. "It's up to you."

I noticed a bit of concern as Kyou got to her feet and followed Tomoyo a short distance away, where I could see them but not hear them. It was kind of funny seeing them mirroring each other's posture, each of them with their hands clasped in front of them. I saw Tomoyo say something, then Kyou, then Tomoyo said something again. Kyou took a step back in surprise and Tomoyo nodded.

Then Kyou stepped forward and slapped her hard. Tomoyo's head spun with the force of the slap and I could hear the 'crack' from where I sat.

I was on my feet before realizing that Tomoyo had to have let Kyou slap her. But why?

I watched in stunned silence as Tomoyo bowed before turning and running off.

Kyou was staring at her hand as I came up to her. "What was that all about?" I asked.

She continued to look at her hand. "She told me to."

"She told you to slap her?"

Kyou nodded slowly.

"Why?"

She finally looked up at me, and I was stunned by the…maturity?...I saw in her eyes. "She told me to slap her for trying to take you away from me."

Some pieces finally clicked into place. "I see that, now." Realizing that I had said that out loud I felt the blood drain from my face. Not even back together for a week, and I was already going to be clobbered…

Except it didn't happen. Instead, she gently cupped my face with the same hand that had slapped Tomoyo. "Thank you for staying faithful to me, even after breaking up with me."

I did the only thing that would come to mind; I took the hand cupping my face and kissed the palm. "You're welcome."