Disclaimer: As the disclaimer is on his honeymoon, Fitz will speak for him.
Fitz: Ack! I'm not ready! Let me get my notes!
--We are experiencing technical difficulties. Fitz is unable to present in front of a crowd, so please refer to earlier chapters for disclaimer.--
Notes: Here it is, folks. The last of the actual chapters. It's been grand. *sniffle*
Aoshi: *hands Fitz a tissue*
Fitz: Thanks. *blows nose noisily*
Warnings: No warnings for this chapter. Well, other than my attempts at writing a decent speech. Sap. The ending of a fic… sort of.
Note from Fitz: As I have mentioned in response to some people's reviews, I am planning out a sequel/continuation to this story. At the moment, it is sitting mostly stagnant in my computer. If there is any interest in this follow-up story, please say so in your reviews and/or emails. I will be more than happy to put my mind to it once again.
And also, let me know if you would like me to post as I write, or do what I have done with this story. True enough, if I post as it is written, then the reviewers will have more influence on the story. Keep that in mind and decide if that is what you want. I aim to please.
Thank you to all those who have read this and offered me helpful comments and criticism. It really meant a lot to me to know the thought processes of everyone out there. (well, not everyone. That would be a lot of people.) To those who read the story despite the distinct lack in K/K, all the more power to you for keeping an open mind. Thank you for that.
Lastly, this chapter is fairly short. It is made longer with these extensive notes and extras at the end, but it will not be like other chapters in length and depth. Sorry if that disappoints you.
And now, on with the story… *sniffsniffHONK*
Sano: That was crude.
Life's a Dance--Graduation
"Your tassel is supposed to go on the right."
"I thought it was the left."
"I'm pretty sure it was the right."
Kenshin and Aoshi glanced at each other as Misao and Kaoru fiddled with the tassels of their graduation caps. Aoshi lifted his eyebrow, and Kenshin smiled and shrugged.
"It's got to be right," Misao muttered.
"I thought you said left," Kaoru frowned.
"No! I mean, I did!" Misao wrinkled her nose as she tried to figure out what she had just said. "I mean it's got to be right--as in correct--because Aoshi and Kenshin are both going to give speeches tonight."
"I'm sure the teachers will tell us if we've got it wrong," Kenshin pointed out.
"The teachers are all wearing their tassels to the right," Sano inserted, walking up and hooking his arm around Kenshin's neck.
"Therefore, we wear ours to the left," Okita appeared as well, reaching up to correct Sano's tassel. "Teachers have already graduated."
"Minor details," Sano grinned at Aoshi, Kenshin still trapped in a headlock. "Are you going to bore us to sleep with your speech?"
"Probably," Aoshi returned calmly.
"Sano!" Misao growled. "Aoshi will be perfect."
"Aren't you supposed to be sitting in the gym?"
"Actually, we should get to the choir," Kaoru said doubtfully. "Kenshin, you're singing today, right?"
"We're supposed to," Kenshin finally freed himself from Sano's grip. "At least I'm sitting in the front so I don't have to climb around the other students."
"Speaking of singing," Misao piped up, gesturing toward the gym. "We are supposed to go sit with the choir in about..." she looked at the clock and smiled sheepishly. "Two minutes ago."
"That didn't make any sense," Sano mumbled, scratching at his temple in confusion.
"Don't think too hard, Sano," Okita said soothingly. "School's over, after all."
"Hey!"
"We'll see you later," Kenshin interjected.
"Break a leg, Kenshin," Kaoru kissed his cheek, earning a light smile. She blushed, reconsidering her choice of words. "I take that back. You've already got a hurt leg."
"At least I can use crutches now," Kenshin chuckled. "It would be terribly embarrassing to be wheeled up to my chair."
"You're still going to look weird," Misao pointed out.
"Thanks, Misao," Kenshin rolled his eyes. "The choir director is going to throw a fit."
"We're going!" Kaoru grabbed Misao's arm and pulled the girl into the gym.
They left just in time. No sooner had they disappeared through the doors, then the school guidance counselors were calling out orders, getting everyone into two single-file lines. Aoshi slipped into line behind Kenshin while the shorter boy waved at Sano and Okita.
"Odd," Kenshin smiled absently. "Okita's in the 'O' section?"
"You never knew?" Aoshi smirked. "Okita is his family name. His first name is Soushi."
Blinking in surprise, Kenshin glanced away from Sano, who had been smiling and giving him the 'okay' sign with his thumb and forefinger forming a circle. Aoshi just shrugged in response to Kenshin's questioning gaze.
"He thinks it makes him sound too much like a sea food dish," he said. "But you did not hear that from me. He'll make you regret it if you call him by his given name, so I suggest you forget I told you that."
"Sound advice," Kenshin chuckled. "I'm assuming he's referring to sushi?"
"That would be my guess," Aoshi nodded toward the counselor--a pretty woman with blonde hair--who was waving them forward. "This is it, Kenshin. I hope your speech is a good one."
"Do I have to make up for yours?" Kenshin wondered, half joking.
"Yes."
Startled again, Kenshin nearly stumbled as Aoshi nudged him forward. He tossed an anxious glance over his shoulder at the class's salutatorian, but the soon-to-be-graduated senior was not looking at him. The counselor giggled softly as she heard him mumble a few words.
"But hey... no pressure or anything."
^_^
It was what the parents would later call a 'moving' presentation. The students, who all knew better, figured that the principal must have had someone else write his speech. By the way Saitou grimaced on occasion, he was of the opinion that the words were far too sappy and soft. He stuck with the script, and the parents clapped in approval of his words.
Aoshi grunted softly in displeasure as it came time for him to speak. Kenshin smiled and nudged at the boy's arm to get him out of his chair. Many girls and the occasional guy sighed in appreciation when they saw him, and Aoshi opened his mouth.
The speech really was awful. It was long. It was boring. Students and parents alike were watching the second hand on the clock, praying for the boy to finish. The applause was thunderous, not because they liked his speech, but because they were glad it was over. Aoshi was only too happy to comply with the students' and parents' desires that he take his seat.
"It really wasn't that bad," Kenshin whispered to Aoshi as one of the counselors took the podium. He stood and followed the first row of students who were to receive their diplomas.
"You're just saying that in hopes that it will make me feel better about myself," Aoshi replied, just as quiet.
"Well, yes," Kenshin smiled brightly in response to Aoshi's irritated glance. "But all of the teachers stayed awake."
"Just the teachers?"
"Well, a few of the top ten were nodding off in their chairs..."
"Wonderful," Aoshi sighed. "I love to go out with a bang."
Kenshin chuckled and hobbled forward with his crutches as his name was called.
^_^
Finally, it was time to finish the thing. Students were bored, and the teachers were getting restless. The family members sitting in the bleachers were all fanning themselves in attempt to overcome the heat that was building in the space filled with so many people. After having listened to high school counselors mispronounce names in a dull monotone for a half an hour, Aoshi's speech before that, and more slaughtering of names prior to that, the last thing anyone wanted was another speech.
Kenshin hoped to all that was holy that he did not faint during his speech. He hated public speaking as it was. To speak in front of such a restless crowd, which had no interest in what he had to say, was a daunting prospect. Even so, he bravely hopped up the stairs to the stage, setting his crutches down on the floor beside the podium before reaching up to pull the microphone down to his level. He was too short for the podium, but not so short as to require a step stool. He was grateful for that small favor.
Clearing his throat softly, he leaned forward and addressed the class.
"Good evening."
There was a slight shifting in the crowd. A few muttered replies.
"Seniors, if you're falling asleep now, you'll never survive the all-night party," Kenshin smiled when he heard a few hesitant chuckles in the crowd. "I know everyone's anxious to get out of here, so I'll keep it short."
"Thank god!"
Laughter spread through the group at the loud comment. Kenshin chuckled and nodded his acknowledgment.
"First, I want to apologize to Mr. Johnson and Mr. Andrews," he said, a bit nervously. He glanced down the side aisles and spotted the two men of whom he spoke. "I know your students loved the chance to be without an instructor for those days, but I'm sure you had a less enjoyable time of it with a broken nose and a wrenched back."
The student body thought that was rather amusing. Bubbles of laughter moved through them, growing louder when one of the teachers called out a response.
"No broken bones!" he shouted.
"That would explain why your face is just as pleasant to look upon as it always was, Mr. Johnson," Kenshin replied jovially, earning more giggling from the students and parents alike. He took a breath and glanced down at his notes. As prepared as he was ever going to be, he looked up and spoke to the room.
"I was going to give the usual sermon about how we're the new generation, and we're going to change the future, but I think that's already been covered by everyone else who spoke tonight," he smiled self-consciously as someone whooped in the crowd, no doubt glad that the night was almost over. "Besides," his smile grew bolder. "No matter what people tell us to do, we'll just turn around and do what we feel works best. If we're wrong..." Kenshin shrugged, "well, I'm sure everyone has had some experience with that. It's okay. Failing does not mean failure. It just means admitting to a mistake and picking yourself up to try again."
He had total silence now. Kenshin was surprised--he had not thought anyone would really listen to him. He kind of wished that was the case. That meant he had to try not to blush and keep his voice confident.
"The future is important," he continued, a bit more quiet, perhaps, but still steady. "But so is the journey. In the words of the great John Lennon," he smiled when he received a positive response for that reference. "'Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.' So take a few pictures, make a few memories, and when you come to your ten-year high school reunion, be sure to tell everyone here so we can laugh and make fun of you."
The students liked that comment. The parents liked it more--most likely because many of them had already experienced it. Just thankful that he was about to finish, Kenshin took a deep breath, straightened, and took the tassel off his graduation cap. The students in the gym all mimicked him.
"Whether it be college, a technical school, the military, going straight into the workforce, or sitting around being a bum at your parents' house," Kenshin paused and took off his cap, absently shaking his head to fluff out the bangs that had been flattened against his skull, then offered his best grin to the class, "don't forget that the people here at Central High School helped prepare you for all of it." There were several groans from the students. Kenshin grinned. "Then again... high school is over. It's nine-oh-eight, according to that clock on the wall. At nine-oh-eight on Friday, June sixth, two-thousand three," he paused dramatically, "we will do what all those administrators told us not to do. Congratulations on graduating, class of oh-three!"
He flung his cap up into the air. Not a second later, well over two hundred graduation caps flew into the air, joined with a loud cheer and joyous clapping of hands. Kenshin caught his cap again and leaned down to pick up his crutches as the band started playing 'Ode to Joy.' He glanced out into the crowd, eyes quickly finding Hiko, who just smirked at him. Not far behind the immense man sat the familiar, graceful figure of Tomoe. She smiled and disappeared into the exiting mob. Smiling faintly, Kenshin went to where a teacher was waiting to help him off the stage.
Various students patted his back as he followed them out into the school commons, complimenting him on his speech--which was much better than Aoshi's--and teasing him about the event for which he had apologized. Kenshin just blushed and smiled, saying his thank you's and scowling when it was appropriate. He barely noticed when Mr. Greywers tried to catch up with him to ask him a question.
"Mr. Himura!" Greywers did not have an easy time of pushing through the crowd. "About that report you gave me--!"
Kenshin smiled and waved at the teacher, pretending to be completely deaf to the man's words. He found himself wrapped in the circle of Kaoru's, Okita's and, yes, Aoshi's embrace. All at once. Sano soon joined them, yelling out:
"Group hug!"
At which occasion, Misao appeared and squirmed into the cluster. It was not long until the other seniors, friends and strangers alike, were getting into the fun of things. They had a group hug consisting of twenty-eight people before they finally pulled apart. Kenshin laughed as Okita took his crutches and Sano presented his back for a piggy-back ride out into the school's front parking lot.
"Hey, Kenshin!" Kaoru called out, reaching up to hug an arm around his waist. "Smile for the camera!"
"Huh?"
Lights flashed, and Kenshin blinked. The group clustered together for another photo-op, and they grinned happily as the parents snapped off countless pictures.
"Hey, Sano!" Kenshin ruffled the boy's hair with one hand, the other arm busy being curled around Sano's neck.
"Yeah?"
"Going to the all-night party?"
"Hell yes!" Sano laughed. "It's bound to have something fun to do."
"Take a camera!" Kenshin smirked as Okita waved around his own 35mm and shouted for them to get together. "I would hate for you to forget what a great time you had in high school while you're off in boot camp."
"I wouldn't dream of it--"
"Ready?!" Okita shouted.
Kenshin, Kaoru, Sano, and Aoshi all brought forth smiles and shouted:
"Cheese!"
Misao giggled.
"Pickles!"
Life's a Dance
--John Michael Montgomery
When I was fourteen I was falling fast
For a blue eyed girl in my homeroom class
Tryin' to find the courage to ask her out
Was like trying to get oil from a waterspout
What she would've said, I can't say
I never did ask, and she moved away
But I learned something from my blue-eyed girl
Sink or swim, you ought to give it a whirl
Life's a dance you learn as you go
Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow
Don't worry 'bout what you don't know
Life's a dance you learn as you go
The longer I live, the more I believe
You do have to give if you want to receive
There's a time to listen , a time to talk
And you might have to crawl
even after you walk
Had sure things blow up in my face
Seen the long shot win the race
Been knocked down by the slamming door
Picked myself up and came back for more
Life's a dance you learn as you go
Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow
Don't worry 'bout what you don't know
Life's a dance you learn as you go
Life's a dance you learn as you go
Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow
Don't worry about what you don't know
Life's a dance you learn as you go
Life's a dance you learn as you go
Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow
Don't worry about what you don't know
Life's a dance you learn as you go
Life's a dance
Life's a dance
Life's a dance
Take a chance on love
Life's a dance
You learn as you go
End notes: While this song did not actually inspire the fic, it continually came to me while I was writing, thus the title. I thought it fit rather well, actually. *sniff* This was it. Sorry if the speech was too cheesy, but hey. *shrug* I will claim it to be better than the speech my class Valedictorian (or was it the Salutatorian?) gave that night. It was painfully long, and she was not a very good public speaker. *wince* I had never been so glad to be out of the school's gym.
Okay, so here was where I was going to post the extra stuff. Unfortunately—scratch that—it's not unfortunate. As I have gone a bit overboard on the Extras section (that is, Fitz made it longer than this chapter), I decided that it deserved it's own chapter. It will be coming soon. The chapter will include the following:
1. Movie/TV show listing
2. Music listing
3. List of extras (other anime and characters)
4. An extraordinarily shortened version of Life's a Dance
5. A final response to reviewers regarding the possibility of a sequel and answering final questions
6. And a surprise… heheheh
For now, we have…
RANDOM OMAKE!!Omake #1
Kenshin: *walks up to the podium*
Students: *mutter amongst themselves and giggle*
Kenshin: *reappears at the side of the podium* Who made this thing taller? I can't see over the top!
Omake #2Kenshin: *walks up to the podium* Ahem. Four score and seven years ago…
Students: *GROAN*
Omake #3Aoshi: *walks up to the podium* I am stronger than all of you.
Students: o.O
Aoshi: *returns to his chair*
Omake #4Kenshin: Do I have to make up for yours?
Aoshi: Yes. *nudges Kenshin forward*
Kenshin: *Falls flat on face* Ow…
Aoshi: Uh… you okay?
Omake #5Kaoru: Kenshin, you're singing today, right?
Kenshin: *belts out* Don't break your dream! Smile once again!
Everyone: *blinkblink*
Sano: Hey. You're not bad.
Kenshin: *Winning smile*
Reviewers: I would never forget about you.
Crystal: Actually, this makes it… about over. Yeah. 'cept for the extras next chapter.
Oryo: Thank you, as always. Your reviews are always insightful. No, sadly, there was no Kenshin/Okita date. School year's over, making the fic also complete. I think I'll go cry now. (Oh, and Ranma's cool.)
Dogmatix: Ah, sorry. No report, really. I allude to the contents, as you might have noticed, but I'm not up for that. And Kenshin liked his sakabatou, too.
Black Soul: I'm not much of a gun person, actually. I just pulled that one at random. It's illegal here anyway, if I'm not mistaken, being an automatic rifle and all that. As far as weapons go, the only ones I have handled were made specifically for self-defense. I don't think I'd be much good at hunting. I don't possess the focus. My luck, I'd go deer hunting, and one would walk right by me while I was off in Lala land.
Jason M. Lee: I haven't seen many crossovers with InuYasha and Kenshin, actually. Ranma and Kenshin. There's a really good one somewhere around here… And you didn't like my Omake? Well, call me morbid. I was reading that scene, and I see: 'long, rather narrow box.' Of course, what's the first thing that pops to mind? It's better than what ChibiAssassin came up with, so be grateful. *mutters about dirty-minded friends*
Vesca: I don't believe it. You actually made me blush. Gah! Now that was flattery if I ever did see it. *muttering* As long as it's got my name on it. *blushing again* Grrr. Anyhoo, about the report. Yes, it was about himself. And as for mischief, that would be Kenshin dangling that information under his teacher's nose without ever answering any solid questions.
TigerBlak: I do have a sequel. Please review and answer those questions I wrote at the beginning. (Note: It's actually set several years later.)
Li: *sigh* The date is not a part of the story, no. And how they knew about the dress? In the words of Xelloss! "Sore wa himitsu desu!"
Tariq: To avoid sounding like a defensive jerk, I will not respond to any protests regarding Kenshin's sexuality. I addressed this in several of the earlier chapters. I understand if you do not approve, but please do not ask me to change it. I have made my decision. It will stand. If you are dead set against it, then my sincere regrets, and you may find yourself less offended reading something else.
marstanuki: Eh… I'll try with the romance. I'm not very good with it. I have this tendency to shut down after writing too much sap. Then I'm off writing angst and other such evil things. I'll see what I can do.
Yami no Tenshi: Yes, the world now knows how morbid little Fitz can be. *waves arms around and points at the notes at the beginning of chapter* Please respond to that and give me your honest opinion. It will affect how I handle things. And it's not completely over. I have an extra chapter right after this one. One last hurrah after it's all said and done.
Hitokiri Gentatsu: Just answer the question above, and I'll be glad to comply. Hope the short ending wasn't disappointing.
Aku-sama: …Odd name. Yeah, I knew someone would wonder about that. The doll itself is not important. I could have stuck in a ratty old blanket. It was a random bit of innocence. It was something from Kenshin's life that was pre- plane hijacking, so that's what I was trying to focus on.
Tydepul: I've heard that both schools are exceptional. I've never been to CA. And I'm sure each college has its good points. Personally, I went through three schools before finding one I feel is suited to my needs.