Shortest Chapter…Well, it's NOT EVEN CLOSE TO OVER! I have chapters after this. By the way if any of my lovely readers have any cute, scary, sappy, romantic, and so on idea's tell me and I'll try my best to fit them into the story and give credit to the wonderful reviewer! Well enjoy!

Darklilwanderer

Chapter 9 Graduation

Graduation next day

Beep, beep, beep

WHAM

"Dammit." Kikari said in her usual tone of voice in the morning. She lazily looked at her clock "8:00" Kikari whispered to herself as she slid out of bed. She turned to her closet to find her white graduation robe and hat. She smiled as she quickly threw it on and looked at herself in the mirror. "If only you could see me now…" Kikari frowned at her self and shook her head violently back and forth. 'No, no, no stop it talking about them! It will not get you ANYWHERE!' Kikari yelled in her head 'stupid, stupid, stupid' Kikari thought again punishing herself. 'Ok graduation is at….' Kikari thought for a moment 'at…8:00' "DAMMIT!" Kikari yelled as she quickly put her hair up in the usual ponytail and rushed out the door to her car. "I'm late, I'm late, I'm late." Kikari repeated to herself as she stumbled into the car and drove away.

8 minutes later

"Oooooooo crap" Kikari said to herself as she saw the parking lot full and finally found a parking space. "Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap" Kikari quickly locked her car and ran into the building everyone in there seats as their names were being called a she walked in. "Dammit!" Kikari yelled as she ran down the stairs passed the people who heard her and stared back in surprise.

"Kikari Kino"

As the announcer called her up she saw the angry glares coming from the students around her as she ran up the stairs. She finally gained her balance back and walked ever so gracefully over to the man. "Yes?" she asked smiling happily as she made it to him and stopped.

"Your diploma." The man smiled back looking entertained by her intro.

"Thank you." Kikari said sweetly and took the paper in his hand. When she took it she walked back down the stairs and sat in her empty seat thinking to herself. 'I've finally got it, I have my diploma, and the only thing I ever truly wanted and I have it.' Kikari smiled and watched seniors take their diploma. 'The speech…' Kikai's eyes got wide as she remembered what she left behind 'OH GOD THE SPEECH!' Kikari screamed in her head and she tried to shake her head enough times to get a grip. 'Ok, ok calm down Kikari, you can just make it up as you go…it can be that hard can it?' Kikari thought as the last seniors name was called to the front.

"This concludes the diploma's, but before we take our hats and turn the tassels I would like to introduce you to the top students of the class, better known as valedictorians. Please welcome them as they make their speeches."

Kikari froze in her seat as she heard the crown start clapping wildly and from the corner of her eye she saw Kenshin walking up to the stage. 'Is this how I truly am? Afraid of everything around me? No. No I'm not.' Kikari's eyes became focused on the stage as she stood up looking like she could take any punch thrown at her. 'I wouldn't' Kikari smiled to herself and to show her own pride in what she had done her whole high school life. 'This is what I worked for' she thought as she walked on the stage again. She stood next to Kenshin without fear, worry, nervousness, just happiness because for once she didn't care about what was going to happen, instead she was happy for who she was right now, herself, she got the diploma she worked her whole life for, she proved her parents wrong. This was the day that she could tell of her life without worrying. This was her time and nothing could stop her. "Kenshin I hope you don't mind it if I went first." Kikari said staring at the crowd in front of her.

"Not at all." Kenshin said normally smiling for the crowd in font of him, trying his best not to look at Kikari.

"Thanks Kenshin." Kikari said as she took the microphone.

"As you all know my name is Kikari Kino. I had a father and a mother like all kids, and just this week they both died. I wanted this diploma to prove them wrong, that I could graduate high school and I could become somebody important. I know I haven't fully finished the task, but I have finally taken my first step, just as all of us have. It takes a lot to come this far, and we did it, finally we did it. Just last week I met one of the best guys on the planet and like it or not he helped me too, I just didn't know it yet. I know all of us has met someone out there and have no idea that they helped him or her in some way, big or small. This just proves the effect that other's have on us and helped shaped whom we truly are. I bet now half of my peers are all shocked that I am Kikari Kino, and not the Kikari Kino everybody knew me as." Kikari looked back at Kenshin and smiled "the Kikari I used to be was a nobody in regular terms, somebody in a classroom that just filled another seat. I wore baggie pants and baggie shirts just to hide myself even more. I always felt attacked by someone, but the only person that was being attacked was I, I attacked myself by saying what other people told me instead of believing in myself. I have an other side, the side that stays hidden because of my hard horrible past. I was always treaded like dirt, probably even worst, that's why this diploma means so much to me, this just shows me who I really am and makes my horrible past and memories just…another memories a memories I can just get over and move on with my life without worrying about what everybody in my past said to me. This is who you see now who I really am, a somebody and now with our diploma's we can now forget and forgive past memories and move on with our lives and make new memoirs better and made even have families. This, everyone, is the beginning of the rest of our life's and the very last time you'll see me because I'm catching a plane in a few minutes. I wanted to say thank you for letting me be your valedictorian and goodbye." Kikari smiled one last time at the crowd and ran off the stage to the outside.

Kenshin saw her smile and finally after everything he knew her, all of her. Kenshin now understood that Kikari didn't want him to know about the other side of her that held the bad memories and that maybe…she was scared that he would reject her for it, but now she was leaving… forever? He had to catch her before she left he just didn't felt right without her. Kenshin ran out the door after Kikari hoping, praying, he would catch her before she left. He was going to try everything in his power to keep her here, with him.

Kikari quickly looked at her watch as she was running '8:50? Crap…my speech took longer than I had expected…ever though I really didn't have my speech, but still if I go as fast as my car will go I'll make it to the airport in just enough time-'

"KIKARI!" Kenshin yelled

"What?" Kikari turned around surprised that he followed her. 'Time…no time!' her thoughts kept telling her. "Kenshin I don't have the time I have to go!" Kikari stopped in front of her car in the middle of opening it.

"Well make time." Kenshin said in a low tone of voice as he grabbed her wrist. He never once ever talked to Kikari like that.

"Kenshin I really don't have time!" Kikari begged as she pulled on her wrist.

"No Kikari, I'm not letting you leave me again. Where are you going?" Kenshin asked tighten the hold on her wrist.

"I'm going to college Kenshin, my plane leave in ten minutes." Kikari smiled sweetly at him.

"I'll come with you." Kenshin said firmly

"No, Kenshin you do what you want to do in life and I'll do mine. We crossed paths, but…but I'm passed that now and you should be too. I know there is someone out there who is perfect for you and-" Kikari was cut off.

"Stop Kikari I know that you are the one…" Kenshin stood firmly and became tense.

"Listen Kenshin maybe we'll meet again…someday, but for now I have to leave to take my second step in life ok?" Kikari looked at her watch "8:55 Kenshin let go I really have to go, if you don't then my plane will leave without me." Kikari begged again.

"Would if you don't catch your plane? You'll have to stay here right? Right?" Kenshin began to sound more and more demanding.

"Kenshin, I want to go to college I really do! For once in my life I feel important. Thanks for all you've given me, but…just remember me ok?" Kikari said smiling as she gently leaned up and kissed Kenshin fully on the lips.

Kenshin was surprised by her actions at first, but then quickly melted into Kikari's innocent and sweet addicting kiss once again. He couldn't have stopped he if he tried, not that he would EVER stop her from kissing him. He finally knew this was what she truly wanted and he had to let her go, he would regret it, oh how he would regret it, he would probably hate himself for it, but he felt she wanted to go. Kenshin slowly released her wrist as he deepened the kiss pushing her against her car door shutting it. Kikari responded by lighting the kiss a little and finally breaking it. Kenshin backed away staring at Kikari for the last time. "Goodbye Kikari." Kenshin said deeply hurt and destroyed that she was leaving.

"Goodbye Kenshin…" Kikari smiled one last time at him before she started her car and drove away…

Forever…

Ok! Time for reviews! And The story gets so much better by the next chapter….clip….

"Oh yes…the mail…" Kikari said uninterested. She gracefully got out of the tub and threw on some PJ's that ended up being a dress like PJ's with laces and silk. "Dorra!" Kikari hissed, but a thought crossed her mind as she remembered her old friend Mya…Dorra reminded her of Mya. 'I wonder what she's doing now…in fact I wonder how Rena's doing too, and even…Kenshin.' Kikari shook her head wildly as she started to blush beat red as she remembered Kenshin's last kiss. 'I still remember it.' Kikari thought as she touched her lips gently. She finally snapped out of her dream and picked up her mail from under the door. "Bill, bill, bill, junk, junk,-"

Plop

"What's this?" Kikari looked to were she hear the sound, she looked down and saw a white envelope that she dropped. "What's this?" Kikari picked up the envelope and looked to whom it was from. "M-m-my old high school?" Kikari quickly opened the letter and read it

Dear: Kikari Kino

I hope you are doing well! As you know it has been five years since your graduation. We are asking that you would come and visit your old friends, teachers, and staff this year at the class of 2005 reunion! Nothing much is needed just fill out the papers in-closed and send it in before the shown date. All other information is shown on other paper, please come!

Hope you will be there,

Peers, teachers, & staff

"O…k…" Kikari said taking out the other paper from the envelope and reading it over. "It say's I have to sign my name, job, etc…whatever…" Kikari sat down in one of her black velvet chairs. Kikari looked around for a pen and found one on the table and started to fill it out.

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