A/N: Epilogue time. I wasn't originally going to do this until I read a comment that said they wanted Honoka and Kiba to meet one last time. Short read because they isn't much left to say about this story other than thanks for caring about the character like I do. Also, I had a great comment that mentioned that this story isn't realistic, well my original route was practically "killing" everyone off wasn't Tsubasa but honestly, people going through this trouble would not want to say goodbye to their friends. Even if they weren't there for her in the beginning, they are now and that is what matters.

Love the reviews and this will really be the last chapter. I remember I wrote two other stories but deleted them because I didn't like how they were going so I am extremely happy that I was able to finish this one. Thanks again.

StarGazerUnleased6

5 Years Seems too Long

"I don't understand why they have these expectations of me…I'm only one girl." The junior high school girl was sitting slumped in her chair looking so tired and defeated.

"I understand that feeling. Have you told them about what you are feeling?" The orange hair school counselor questioned the teenage girl.

"I tried to, but every time I do, they always do that guilt thing where they tell me if I don't do this, they failed me and stuff like that." The girl responded.

"I see. What other feelings do you feel other than frustration and stress?" The counselor asked another question while writing down the previous one.

They make eye contact once the counselor finishes the response. The young girl tears up at the adult while looking at her deep blue orb eyes. "I'm sorry." The school counselor gets up from her seat and sits next to the girl.

"5 years ago, I had the same problem. I was loved by many and it was suffocating. It took losing my memories to realize that I wanted to work things out. Whether it's the pressure that you are putting on yourself or others putting on you, stand up and tell them, that's enough. If they don't listen, find someone who will listen to you and someone who won't do it out of pity. My fiancé once said, don't try to find your reason to live and love within the ones that can't see you as someone different, place your bets within the someone that will beat it inside you like they are pounding mochi and that will knead into your thick skull." She placed a hand on the girl's head. "Remember, it's okay not to be okay."

After that session, the 22-year-old counselor wrote up her last report and closed her computer. She had a date with someone that she has not ever had a real conversation with, in person, but she respected him. Her heels tapping on the concrete and the wind brushing against her dress. Her hair was to her shoulder blades and tied up in a single ponytail in the back with a yellow bow. She is gorgeous. That is what every student and teacher says about this young aspiring school counselor. She studied hard and worked to better herself. Absolutely stunning.

The walk was about 20 minutes away from the school and she saw sitting on a bench a man who was wearing a brown jacket with an under t-shirt with the words, Run and Chase for your Dreams in English. His pants were a ripped pair of jeans and a pair of big bulky black boots. It looks like he was sitting with a young woman and a little child with them.

The young girl kept walking until she saw them on the bench. She stood next to them and said, "Kiba, I'm glad I finally get to meet you."

The man looked up and smiled. His voice was sweet and deep, "Honoka."

Minutes passed with their introduction to the woman and child next to him. The woman was his sister and the child was his son who was 2. They all sat and talked for a little bit and the woman picked up the child and said, "I'll let you two talk. It was nice to meet you Kousaka."

"You're married?" Honoka questioned.

"Divorced. After she recognized me from an article about the time, I shot you, she bolted. She dropped off Taiyo and was never seen again." Kiba said with a smiling face.

"I'm so sorry about that," Honoka said in an apologetic voice.

"Don't be. He is the sun in my life. I love him to bits. I don't really have the best luck with women. So, I'm surprised you said yes to meet. I was thinking you would never want to meet with me after what happened. After what I did to you." Kiba's melancholic voice woke up Honoka from her drifting thoughts. It's not that she was bored, it's because she couldn't believe that he wanted to meet with her and converse.

"Well, you may be regretting it and beating yourself up about for the rest of your life, but for me, it was an eye-opener to how selfish and blind I was. I'm not going to thank you but what I will say is, we were both lucky on that day. I was able to confirm to myself that I didn't want to die and you were able to recognize that you weren't okay." Honoka stated as she was adjusting a loose strand of her hair.

"Haha, I suppose so. I'm lucky that you and Kisho were on my side after I did something so stupid. It's been five years since then and I still feel the agonizing pain that went along with realizing what I had done. I loved the idea of a strong independent woman who would sacrifice herself for her friends and others. My mother and sister both left me because they were too dependent on my crazy father and it was painful to watch them sink so low." Kiba straightened his back as he sputtered.

"But it looks like you regained your relationship with Miyuki, your sister." Honoka inputted.

"I did. She told me that she shouldn't have blamed me for my father's death and that she wanted to rekindle our relationship. It took me a long time to trust her and even longer to accept that she was telling the truth, but after Taiyo was born, she has been there for me and him. Apparently, my mother gave my father the materials that he needed to kill himself and she told Miyuki. What a devious woman." Kiba chuckled as he concluded.

"Wow, you've been busy. Kiba, I want you to know that the time we spent emailing each other is one of my best memories. I felt like I could be myself with you and I felt like you belong in my life as my friend. I didn't make an effort to meet because I was scared of all the craziness around us and that we both changed. I worked hard to fix myself and found my true calling. I'm here because of you, Kiba." Honoka blushed as she said the last sentence.

"I'm flattered that you think so positively about your shooter. That really means a lot to me Honoka. I want nothing but the best for you and your future. I too value our time together, even though it was online. I work at a rehab facility. I was able to go back to school and get a degree in mental health studies focusing on counseling. The job itself is just talking to the clients and taking care of them like what a nurse does. It's not a psychologist job but, I enjoy it better than what I was doing before because I can see the change. Mr. Mentor comes from time to time and we have a chat about life and anything that comes to mind just like what we did. My vision of the future changed but for the better, because I met you Honoka. It goes both ways." Kiba looked at Honoka with a genuine smile.

"Can we meet again?" Honoka asked, "I still want to talk about anime, manga, and the theories of earth creation."

Kiba looked at Honoka in surprise and smiled, "I would like that. Maybe one day you could introduce me to that lady over there."

Honoka turned her neck and saw a woman leaning on a tree with her hair flowing elegantly in the wind. Her eyes off to the ground and a smile on her face.

"Of course. Kiba, I'm glad we met today. People may call me crazy for wanting this but, I never once have forgotten you and I never will. So, don't forget about me." Honoka stood up and nodded at Kiba and walked towards the woman.

Honoka interlaced her hand with the woman and turned around at the last minute and shouted, "I'll introduce you to my fiancé when you come over! I have your number so, let's have dinner sometime!" Honoka heard the man shout back, "See you soon."

Honoka smiled and looked back to the woman next to her and said, "So, what shall we have for dinner, my future wife, Tsubasa?" Honoka giggled because she could tell Kiba knew who that woman was and she couldn't wait to get this friendship started once again.