Here we are, everyone. The final chapter. Hope you all have enjoyed this addition as much as I have. Once again, all the credit goes to Music Chick for continuing this wonderful story.

Enjoy the finale.

The rest of the week flew by. If Itsuha wasn't at the crépe shop with Tohma, Tohma was over at Itsuha's home. The topic of the future, the In–Between, the guardian dog, the comets, and so forth were touchy subjects –– more so for Tohma. It was a silent agreement to avoid these subjects at all cost.

On Monday, everyone in their grade spread the word by lunchtime that Itsuha and Tohma were a couple. Even if a student wasn't in their grade, it wouldn't be hard to see they were.

It was said whenever anyone spotted them together, their smiles to each other were infectious. The air felt light and playful. At lunchtime, they always sat outside with Hikari as they discussed how to evolve Inuman's plot. It was night and day how they acted towards each other after Golden Week, and the students found it adorable.

It was now Thursday, the end of the school day, and Itsuha waited for Tohma by the school gates while he spoke with an instructor to ask about clarification on a history project that everyone was assigned. Since the beginning of this week, they would always walk to the crépe shop to get a snack. Tohma would then walk her home and stay for dinner. Every time her parents would have to inform them after the dishes were washed and put away, with amused grins, that it was time for Tohma to go home.

Neither were normally clingy, but it was another silent agreement to spend as much time together as they could until the inevitable move. Who knew how long before they could visit each other after that happened.

It was either today or tomorrow, she couldn't remember specifically, when her father would break the news that he accepted the job promotion in the Sapporo branch. It would be reliving the nightmare all over again. She didn't want to. Not again. Not after finally confessing to Tohma and dating him.

One thing she wasn't sure of, and it wasn't one she wanted to jinx, was why she was not returned to the present after she and Tohma started dating. Why was she still stuck here? The whole goal for Itsuha was to not forget Tohma so that the future of Japan was saved. Was there something else she had yet to do?

No matter how many times she called out to the elderly gentleman, he never answered. It was ridiculous to think that the he and Kami abandoned her, but it was still unnerving to see that things had yet to change. Was it possible that Kami was waiting on Tohma to be fully onboard?

Yesterday she saw Tohma using his phone to search on how to properly submit a storyboard, scripts and anything else that was needed to Shounen Jump. Itsuha had a feeling he was losing sight of the future. She didn't know how to bring it up. She was the one who mentioned it might be possible for Tohma to be a priest and a mangaka, but if she had to be honest with herself, she wasn't sure if that was even possible.

She watched an old anime a while back that was about two teens struggling to become mangakas and it kept them busy all day. Years later, they became successful. Itsuha had a feeling it wouldn't be possible for Tohma. She might have put her foot in her mouth.

Tohma still thought he could have it all. After they left the Shinsui Deck on Children's Day, he was still struggling to accept everything. Tohma was sure he could break into manga after the comet was diverted, but who knew how soon or later in life that would happen? Maybe it was partially her fault too? She had to fix that, but how could she do it without upsetting Tohma?

Itsuha felt someone tap her shoulder from behind.

"Excuse me. Waiting for someone?"

She turned and hugged the person. It was Tohma joking around with that gorgeous smile of his.

"Hi there! Let's get snacks! I'm starving! I can feel my insides dying already."

It wasn't a good idea to let him know her current thoughts. At least not at the moment. One thing her mother would always say to her was, "If you want to change a man's mind, always talk to him after a full stomach and lots of love."

It would usually work when her mother needed to convince her father on a subject. Then again, it didn't take much for her parents to come to a compromise on any subject. How she admired their relationship. Hopefully hers and Tohma's could be similar.

Tohma smirked as he led the way to the crépe shop. "You're a bit extra today, don't ya think?"

"No way. Tohma, food is life!" She held the back of her right hand over her forehead and released a dramatic sigh. "I can feel my insides withering within. They're crying out for sustenance."

"Look at you using a big word."

"What word? Sustenance?"

He shook his head with a chuckle and reached out for her hand. "Not extra at all today."

Just his touch gave her goosebumps. Itsuha's instant reaction was to let out a quiet gasp and pull her hand away. She didn't mean to. This would be the first time they would hold hands and it caught her off guard.

They both stopped walking. Tohma's hand jerked back with a surprised look. She couldn't blame him. What would be the difference between the hugs and holding hands? One meant they were holding on to the other for a longer period of time than the other. It meant, at least to her, that Tohma believed being with her wasn't some sort of game. Most twelve year olds would date for a week or two and then get tired of it and break up. Itsuha? She always told her family she felt Tohma was the one. Call her a crazy, hormonal preteen, but by that graze, she was starting to believe it again.

Itsuha didn't know how to fix what she just did. Tohma hung his hand next to his side again and looked away uneasy. She was the one that told him she was touchy-feely when she was happy. Pulling away must have given him mixed signals.

She tried to mend the situation. Time waits for no one, and there was no way she would let something silly like this get in the way.

Itsuha turned to Tohma bashfully. "I'm sorry. Let me explain -"

"Can I hold your hand?"

Itsuha cocked her head to the side, not expecting Tohma to ask. Just like at the zoo when she held his arm for the first time, he jumped right back in resilient as ever. Tohma raised his hand out to her and waited for her response.

She laced her fingers with his and held his hand tight as her answer. Worry from Tohma's expression washed away as they headed to their destination once more.

"I didn't mean to pull away," Itsuha tried to explain again.

"I get why," Tohma reassured. "Holding hands is a big step to you, right?"

"Yeah, but it feels right."

"Feels better than eating crépes?" Tohma winked.

"Then again," Itsuha laughed and pulled her hand away to grip her stomach, "my stomach just twisted in the pure agony of being foodless! I can feel my whole body start to wither away from the lack of water!"

Tohma snickered and grabbed her hand again. "Drama queen. Tell your stomach to hang on. We're almost there."

He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze as they crossed the street while she laughed.

She was going to miss Tohma. He really was her soulmate. She could feel it deep down inside. So why did she still feel this impending doom lurking within?

The couple were on Tohma's bedroom floor as they ate snacks. Itsuha laid on her stomach as she worked on her homework while Tohma sat crossed-legged and hunched over. He stopped to answer a call. Itsuha saw his screen flash Hikari's name and curiosity peaked. Why would her best friend call her boyfriend?

Itsuha dove for Tohma's phone before he could reach out and rolled away from his reach.

"Hey!" said Tohma.

Itsuha stuck her tongue out and answered the phone. "Hikari Maeda. What a coincidence! I was about to call you––on my phone."

"Oh, get over yourself. There's a reason why I called him and not you. Put that hunk of a boyfriend on the phone."

"Give me that," Tohma snatched his phone away.

Itsuha whined in defeat.

Tohma placed the phone to his ear and listened to Hikari. He nodded as the information was relayed.

"Kane hates surprises like there's no tomorrow. Get silly string and it'll make his not-so-surprise party even better," Tohma laughed.

Kane Sano. He was Tohma Shirukashi's best friend and the best baseball player in Aoyama Gakuin Junior High School.

It was widely known to never surprise Kane. That kid was easily scared from almost anything. Pop quiz? Anxiety attack. A friend slaps him on the back without acknowledging his presence as a joke? A high pitch scream would vibrate the entire school building.

Kane Sano on the pitching mound was invincible. Nothing could scare him there. He was only twelve, but could already throw a fastball at 84 miles an hour.

Too bad Itsuha wouldn't be there for the party. Tohma and Hikari would go on to make the best surprise party for Kane that could be imagined: The Not-So-Surprise Birthday Party.

Tohma ended the call and laid on his back next to Itsuha, who had returned to her original position.

"Almost done?" he asked. "Should be easy right? You did all this before."

"Doesn't mean I remember it. Why? Want the answers?" she winked.

He tucked his hands behind his neck and grinned. "Wouldn't hurt."

A short laugh escaped as she pushed Tohma's shoulder. "It's on you if you copy any wrong answers."

She reached for a snack as Tohma jumped at the chance to copy. He was in a good mood and had some food in his stomach. Now was as good a time as ever.

Itsuha sat up. "We should talk about something."

Tohma stopped writing. After a three second pause, he dropped his pencil and sat up as well.

"How does Kane's party go?"

"What? No," she shook her head. "That's not what I meant."

"Still."

"I don't know, Tohma. I'm gone before it happens."

"But it's two weeks from now. You leave in four."

"Yeah, but, stuff happens that pushes the party back."

Disappointment showed from Tohma. "Oh. I guess I can't say anything to Hikari?"

She smacked a hand over her eyes. "Especially not Hikari. We have to let the past play out. That's playing with people's lives and we don't want Kami, or that old man, or that guardian dog upset with us."

Itsuha didn't need to see her boyfriend to feel him stiffen at the silently forbidden topics. She scooted in front of him and held his hands.

"Tohma? Have you thought about why I'm still here? It doesn't make sense, does it?"

He kept his gaze at their hands without answering. She took it as he did wonder as to why.

She rubbed her thumbs along the back of his hands with a soft voice. "I think it's because you still think you can submit Inuman when you get to high school. That's going to change history if you do that."

Tohma looked Itsuha straight in the eyes with determination. "I could make it work."

"Tohma."

"I can! I'll get picked up by Shounen Jump and make us a lot of money. I've seen it! Now that you're my girlfriend, you'll still be in my life."

"I don't think it works that way."

"How would you know? Why can't you teach me what I need to do when it's time to defeat that evil spirit and stop the comets?"

Tohma had a point. Why couldn't he appear when it was time? With all the technology that was available, astronomers were able to see celestial events and predict outcomes. Then again, she didn't have much knowledge of priest duties and training as it was.

Before she could argue, a text came through with Wabisuke's ringtone. Dread filled her. This could be the day.

With a sigh, she opened the text.

Annoying Brother: Itsuha, get home.

Itsuha: Why?

Annoying Brother: It's Dad. He's acting weird. Mom says he's cool, but I don't believe it.

"What's up?" Tohma leaned in and read the messages. His face fell. "It's today, isn't it?"

She nodded just the same. "Yeah. Guess I gotta go."

He grabbed her hands and yelled with frustration. "Why do you have to listen to some kami! Just leave it to someone else to do!"

That shocked Itsuha. She didn't expect that outburst and answered with just as much frustration and energy.

"Do you really think I want to be responsible for saving millions of lives? I want to be the editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine! Not some priestess!"

"Then be that instead! We can make our own choices!"

"I want to, but I can't!"

"Why not?" he threw his hands in the air. "We're together now."

Itsuha baulked as she lost her patience. "Because I prayed to Kami in Sapporo to forget about you, but instead I was told to follow my heart and to find you! I bet that Kami can just as easily reverse time and bring things back to the way they were if I disobey. Do you want that? Because I don't!"

"That's not going to happen!"

"How do you know?" she gawked in disbelief. "What the heck happened when you went to the In-Between? You came back freaked out so I know you know every single thing that's going to happen. Can you live with knowing you'll be responsible for half this country's deaths?"

Tohma hesitated.

Itsuha crossed her arms at her chest and closed her eyes, torn from her wants and responsibility. Guilt spread from just the thought of giving in after a split second.

"I couldn't."

"It's still not fair," Tohma muttered.

"Grow up!" boomed the elderly gentleman's voice in the air.

Both children yelped and hugged the other from shock. Itsuha's vision turned black. The next thing she saw was a spotlight straight ahead. She had returned to the In-Between, this time with Tohma beside her.

Something told her it wouldn't be good news.

Itsuha gulped. There was a guardian dog that appeared in the spotlight waiting for them. It sat on its hindlegs and growled. There was no way she wanted to go near it. The last thing she wanted to do was anger any kind of deity, and that's exactly what they did.

Tohma, on the other hand, gritted his teeth, took her by the hand, and marched them both into the spotlight to face the guardian dog. Itsuha kept dragging her feet as she tried to talk Tohma out of confronting the deity, but it was no use.

"I don't care what deal was made with whatever kami! You're not going to make us give up on our dreams! Find other people that aren't kids to save the world!"

The guardian dog's growl turned into ferocious barks and jumped on to Tohma. It caused him to fall on his back. The guardian dog pounced on his chest and kept barking as Tohma screamed in fear.

"Get off him!" screamed Itsuha.

She tried pushing the guarding dog off without success. The last thing she could think of was to get on her knees and bow with a plea.

Her arms shook with fear as she shouted with desperation, "As the future priestess at Hokkaido Jingu Shinto Shrine, please stop!"

The guardian dog stopped and whined in shame as it faced Itsuha. It stepped off her boyfriend, who was still shrieking from fear, and lowered its body in submission. As Itsuha looked up to ask for forgiveness, she watched the guardian dog shapeshift into the elderly gentleman. Her jaw dropped.

The guardian dog and the elderly gentleman were the same!

"Priestess Itsuha," the old man groveled on the ground. "I am but your faithful, humble servant. My anger is not with you. I must do my duty to protect not only you, but also Hokkaido and all of this country."

"Yeah, but you can't jump on my boyfriend like that," Itsuha said, still frightened. "We're trying to save the future, but you scaring the crap out of him isn't going to win him over."

Tohma scrambled on his feet and hid behind Itsuha.

"And what protection do I need from Tohma?" Itsuha stood to her feet. "Tohma wouldn't hurt a fly."

"Not physical protection. Emotional." The elderly gentleman pointed his cane at Tohma. "I felt him almost swaying your heart, and I will not allow that to happen! You, future Priest Tohma," he practically barked his words, "are not worthy of the spiritual power that resides inside! You don't deserve to be with Priestess Itsuha!"

Fire burned in Tohma's eyes as he stood next to his girlfriend. "What kind of guardian dog are you? Do you realize how old we are? You're not protecting anything! This is bullying!"

The elder grunted from that statement. He used his cane to walk until he stood before Tohma. The boy took a step back in fear.

The man lowered his head and spoke with a humble voice. "My role as a guardian dog at Hokkaido Jingu Shinto Shrine is to not only protect the shrine, but specifically to answer prayers about fulfilling romances and protect children.

"When I discovered that you prayed not long after Priestess Itsuha left to forget she existed, it set off a chain of events in the future that spelled disaster. The first one led to Priestess Itsuha praying to forget you as well, Priest Tohma Shirukashi. The second led to your incorrect future career, and you know the rest. I knew I had to intervene to protect the future."

"I would never pray for something like that," insisted Tohma, who then looked at his girlfriend earnestly.

The elderly gentleman stood his ground. "The past you certainly did. However, there was no way for you to know the consequences of your action. Now there is no excuse."

The In-Between violently shook causing all three to fall. After the quake ended, the elderly gentleman used all this strength against the cane to stand, moaning as he did so. He tried to catch his breath and addressed Tohma.

"I fear we're out of time. I'm aware it is asking a lot for children to give up on their dreams to protect others. However, Kami and I have repeated the past many times to find the best scenario. We're left to conclude that the best one is with you deciding right here, right now, if you will follow your destiny, or be selfish and die without Priestess Itsuha by your side."

"Why can't I do both?" Tohma argued. "Why can't she get me when it's time to fight against the evil spirit?"

The In-Between shook again, but this time cracks on the ground formed all around. The trio fell to the floor once more.

The old man stayed on the floor this time after the quake ceased again.

"Because this is just as much a spiritual fight as it is a physical one in the form of a comet," he said. "She will not have enough time to teach what is necessary as these comets will astound astronomers by seeming to appear out of nowhere.

"Priest Tohma, look Priestess Itsuha in the eyes and tell her your decision!" he pleaded. "Do it before the In-Between spits you back to your proper places in time! I don't have enough energy left to keep you both here, as well as Priestess Itsuha in the past, until you come to terms with your fate."

The cracks in the In-Between seperated and grew apart.

Itsuha reached a hand out to Tohma and screamed. "Take my hand!"

Tohma barely managed to grab her hand until he crawled to another larger area of the ground. The elder raised a hand and surrounded them with a shield that gifted them a ground to stand on as he floated in the air. The shaking stopped again. The ground below the trio was separated into patches of ground. The cracks had grown that someone could fall through if they were not careful.

"Priest Tohma!"

"I get it!" Tohma grunted at the elderly gentleman. He turned to Itsuha, held her hands, and rolled his eyes, torn about the decision he needed to make.

Itsuha felt the teardrops from Tohma fall on their hands. It was enough to make her cry as well.

She sniffed. "I know. It's not fair."

He shook his head in agreement.

"I won't be mad if you still want to draw," Itsuha said. "I'll try to find another way."

"If I say no, does this mean we'll breakup eventually?"

The elder's breathing was becoming more labored. "We need to make this decision quickly. I don't have much strength left to protect you."

Itsuha didn't want to admit it, but she couldn't see herself with someone that would have blood on his hands. She was far from believing she was a saint in that she could easily give up on her dreams. She didn't want to do this either. At the same time, she could make a difference in many people's lives and have Tohma by her side.

She held his cheeks anxious to hear his answer. "I don't want to, but if the future isn't important to you…"

His eyes widened with dread. Tohma looked at his surroundings, then back at his girlfriend. "I'm not going to lose you."

"Hurry!" the elderly gentleman urged.

The barrier surrounding both future priests cracked above them.

"I don't want to lose you either. Change the future for the good."

The main crack at the top of the barrier spread into multiple offshooting cracks and creaks from them echoed. The In-Between shook for the last time and the floor with it disappeared. If it wasn't for the barrier, they would have been ejected already.

Tohma yelled in irritation pulling his hair. Itsuha held his cheeks again to get him to focus. She saw the elderly man flickering. They were almost out of time.

"Look at me, Tohma! One thing I've learned is that time waits for no one! If we're doing this, I think we're going to wake up in the corrected timeline. Meet me at the Tokyo station for the Shinkansen as soon as you wake up! I'll come for you. I promise!"

He held her cheeks too. She saw him struggling to make up his mind. Why was this a hard decision to make? What more proof did he need that it wasn't possible?

"Itsuha!"

The barrier cracked in half after being littered with cracks from all angles. Itsuha could feel air seeping through the main crack.

Tohma eventually peeled his eyes away from the crack. "Itsuha! I'll -"

He flickered away from her sight. The barrier dissipated. Instead of falling, she floated in the air with only the elderly gentleman by her side.

"TOHMA!" Itsuha screamed in fear. "TOHMAAA!"

The elderly gentleman gently shushed her as he rested a hand on her left arm. "Well done, Priestess Itsuha. It's time to sleep now."

"Sleep? I have to go to him! He's being stub...born."

She couldn't explain how, but Itsuha felt her eyes droop and tiredness washed over her. The same sensation of landing on what felt like a soft mattress when she was first sent back in time returned.

"Sleep. I'll see you once again in the future."

The spotlight disappeared.

Then nothing.

Why was the light so bright? Her body felt like it was hit by a train. That ceiling. She didn't recognize it. Where was that annoying beeping coming from? Wherever she was laying, it felt like that soft mattress again. Any time Itsuha tried to open her eyes, they felt heavy and fell close again.

"Itsuha? Are you waking up? Taki! Go get the nurse!"

Was that her mother's voice? Someone's feet scuttling out of the room echoed in her ears. Hold on. Was she in the hospital? Itsuha managed to keep her exhausted eyes open this time and pushed out one weak word.

"Mom?"

"Hi, sweetie," Mitsuha said, caressing her daughter's face. Tears welled in her eyes as a smile of relief grew. "You gave your dad, brother, and I a scare there."

Itsuha tried to think what she meant. How in the world did she end up in the hospital? The last thing she remembered was getting her fortune from the omikuji box. Her voice was scratchy when she spoke.

"What happened?"

Her mother sat on the side of Itsuha's bed and held her hand. "Wabisuke said he found you passed out on the ground next to the guardian dog and lion dog at the shrine. He said when he left you to find someone that worked there, you looked fine. That was yesterday. Can you tell me if you were feeling sick?"

Before Itsuha could answer, a nurse entered the room with Taki behind her and Itsuha's vitals were taken. After telling her parents that a doctor would be in soon, the nurse left them.

Itsuha's father sat on the other side of her hospital bed. "Sweetheart, what happened?"

"I don't–"

That's when all the flashbacks happened. The elderly gentleman. The In-Between. The past. Her boyfriend. Itsuha sat up in her bed with a loud, urgent gasp. Tohma! They were dating! The past changed and she was dating Tohma! She didn't get to hear what Tohma's answer was and…

"Mom! Dad! I've got to go!" said Itsuha as she ripped the IV line out of her left arm and tried to leave her bed. "I'll explain later, but I've got to take the Shinkansen to Tokyo."

"Whoa. Hold on there!" Taki gently pushed his daughter back in bed. "You're not going anywhere but back in your bed."

"Dad, I've got to go! He's waiting for me there!"

"Who's waiting for you?"

"Tohma!"

She watched her father glance at her mother with concern. "You made plans to visit your boyfriend without telling us?" he asked.

Her father acknowledged that Tohma was her boyfriend! The future was still heading in the right direction.

Itsuha turned to her mother. Mitsuha would be the only other one in this room that would understand. She had to. It would be her only shot to get out of here and meet Tohma.

"Mom!" She sat up again and pleaded. "Your family has a long line of priests and priestesses, right?"

"Honey, we can talk about that later. The doctor is going to need to know–"

"Mom, just listen to me! I don't have much time! You traveled back in time to save your town. Don't you remember that? There was a supernatural intervention that only you would understand. And even though you don't remember much about that intervention, it happened because you have a great spiritual power inside you."

Itsuha watched her mother look at her father with curiosity as she listened to her. Itsuha took this as a sign that she had her mother's attention and kept going to make her point.

"Listen to me. I made a wish on an ema and drew my fortune. After that, a kami and the guardian dog granted my wish. Well, actually it didn't grant it. It told me to follow my heart and I did. It made me change the future and I actually saved almost all of Japan."

"Okay there," her father tried to lay her down on the bed again. "That sounds like a crazy dream you had."

"But it wasn't a dream!" Itsuha insisted as she pushed her father off. "It really happened! Mom," she turned to her mother again. "Please, believe me! You saved your town not only from a comet, but also from an evil spirit! You don't remember much about all of the interventions because your memories actually were erased as a sacrifice. Those dreams you had of going into the future and Dad helping you were true! It's all true! Something similar happened to me and Tohma and we changed the future so that the majority of Japan doesn't die from another future attack.

"The only reason why you remember some and Dad doesn't is because you were a priestess in training. You have spiritual powers. Guess what? I'm supposed to be a priestess too. I have to get out of this hospital, and you have to get me to the Shinkansen or Tohma will think I broke up with him and the future changes again!"

It looked like her mother was struggling with wanting to believe her. Finally, Mitsuha looked to her husband and said, "Take out cash. We have to take her."

Taki gawked. "Are you kidding? She's delusional. I'm not letting her leave. The doctor still has to see what caused her to faint."

"Taki, I've never told you, but these visitations always happen with every future priest in my family. I never told Itsuha about any visitations, only about what I thought actually happened. She's telling the truth, and if the survival of this country is in her hands, we'll be the ones responsible for killing millions if we hold her back."

Itsuha's father's mouth dropped. He looked around the room lost in thought and then back to his wife. "You're serious."

"Yes. It happened to us, and now it's happening again. I guess what I did to save my town only took care of the symptom, not the evil spirit. Itsuha must be destined to stop it."

Itsuha interjected. "And Tohma. We both stop it together. I have to go now, because if I don't go, he'll think I broke up with him and will choose a different path. I just know it."

"Then tell him you're on your way," Taki took his daughter's phone out from one of his pockets and handed it to her.

Itsuha hugged her father. "Thank you, Daddy!" She then hugged her mother. "Thanks, Mom! I won't let you down. I promise."

Five hours.

Five long hours on the Shinkansen.

That's how long Itsuha sat, watching out of the train window at the houses, mountains, and greenery that passed by. Her parents had raced her to the Hokkaido station, bought a Japan Rail pass, and handed Itsuha cash for food. After promising she would call them when she safely arrived in Tokyo, she had nothing to do but wait.

Tohma had yet to return her calls or even answer her texts. Itsuha was worried. How she couldn't stand not hearing things directly and Tohma not being able to finish his thought in the In-Between had her running crazy scenarios the whole trip.

Did he wake up two months ago and had all this time to change his mind? Would he even be there waiting for her? Would she find herself waiting like an idiot for someone that would never come? Itsuha gave up on sending texts. The silence was turning into an unwanted truth she didn't want to accept.

It didn't make sense. After everything they went through, after finally fixing the misunderstanding and finding out the truth, after spending time together and holding his hand, this was how it was going to end? It couldn't end this way. Even if she had to catch a cab to his home, she was going to demand answers. Even if it wasn't the answer she wanted to hear.

Itsuha closed her eyes and shook her head. She didn't want to think about it. She'd cross that bridge if she had to.

The Shinkansen crawled to a stop at Tokyo station. This was it. The moment that would determine everything. She stood as others exited the train, almost too scared to see what fate awaited her. With a gulp, Itsuha followed behind the last of the crowd and stepped onto the platform.

Where was he?

Where was he?

She stepped further onto the platform as the passengers exited into the substation, searching her surroundings. Why wasn't Tohma there? This wasn't his way of saying he broke up with her, was it? It really was ending this way?

Tohma had to be waiting for her outside the station! That's it! No one was allowed past a certain point without a ticket and it wouldn't make sense to buy one to see her. Itsuha rushed past the crowds trying to make it outside the building. He had to be outside. She had to hold on to the belief!

Her lungs burned by the time she slammed the exit doors to the Tokyo train station open to the outside world and ran into the middle of the brick sidewalk opening.

Where was he!

"TOHMAAAAA!" she screamed with all her might into the open air.

It called attention to everyone in her proximity, but she didn't care. Time waited for no one and she had to find her answers now. Standing in the middle of the brick walkway, tears fell down her cheeks. She turned all around her to only find others passing by, staring while whispering to their walking partners.

Itsuha fell to her knees and wailed. Tohma had broken up with her.

She was only a crush after all, offering an exciting future until he couldn't get the future he wanted. Because of that, half of Japan was doomed. He must have gone to a shrine, like what originally happened, and wished to forget her all over again. What was the point of Kami sending her back into the past if she wouldn't be able to change it and get the guy of her dreams?

She stood by her initial belief: In the end, crushes left you crushed.

The squeals of a bike's brake rang in the air. She heard a bike being slammed onto the ground and then:

"ITSUHA!"

Itsuha immediately searched for the owner of that voice, her heart thundering against her chest as she forgot how to breathe.

"Tohma?" she whispered, not believing her eyes.

She stood when she saw a boy frantically rushing over to her.

It was Tohma!

He didn't break up with her! She rushed to meet him halfway. Next thing she knew, Itsuha was in his arms and pulled into a desperate kiss. It was enough to take her breath away and make her knees buckle.

"What's wrong with you!" she demanded, giving several quick kisses. "Why didn't you call me? Or text me back? Huh?"

He shook and hung his head. "I know. I know."

"Did you know I ran through fifty million reasons why you weren't here?"

"I get it. I'm sorry. If you'll just let me explain."

That was when Itsuha was able to take a good look at her boyfriend. His clothes were disheveled with his shirt inside out. His light brown hair on the right side of his head had a leaf hanging from it. There were scratches on his forearms and his left cheek. He rushed here, but what in the world happened as he did?

"I woke up in bed," Tohma said, "and it's like everything happened as I was sleeping the whole time. It took a while to remember what happened, especially everything that happened after the In-Between spit me back to my time.

"It was foggy at first. My parents kept teasing me about you being my girlfriend, even after you moved away. I thought it was weird that they would say things like that all day because I still didn't remember that the future changed. I got out of the shower thirty minutes ago and couldn't figure out why I couldn't stop crying. That's when everything that happened came back to me all at once.

"I couldn't call because Kane –– man, he's stupid!" Tohma grunted looking to the sky frustrated. "That idiot. He took my phone by accident. His parents bought him the same kind of phone I have. He was over last night. I didn't realize what happened until I tried to call you and realized the contacts list was different. So, I threw some clothes on and, " he looked over his own body, acknowledging his messy appearance, threw his arms in the air, and sheepishly grinned, "here I am."

She smiled at his explanation as she lightly brushed the scratch on his left cheek. "And I guess you fell off the bike on your way here?"

He chuckled and joked while holding her hand that touched the scratch. "How'd you guess?"

With her free hand, she removed the leaf that hung from his hair. "Lucky guess."

"Don't break fast when speeding down a hill," he advised, wincing while holding his forearms up to show the remaining scratches. "It won't end well."

The desperate, nervous atmosphere died down between the two. Those gorgeous light green eyes that were so filled with worry eased with happiness after she hugged him, then pulled away.

"You're here now. That's what matters," said Itsuha.

Tohma interlaced his fingers with hers in silence. After a few seconds, he sighed and pulled her into another hug.

"I choose you and being a priest."

Itsuha held her boyfriend tight. Those words were what she was waiting to hear.

"I still want to work on Inuman, but I'll wait on submitting it until the comet happens."

She smirked and snuggled her head into his chest. "And if it doesn't happen until we're in our fifties?"

"Then I guess I'll be a successful fifty-year-old mangaka."

She laughed. "Who'll stop the presses if we're under a spiritual attack again."

"Yep. That's right," he returned the laugh. "At least I'll know what to do by then."

Itsuha took Tohma's left wrist and looked at the time on his watch. It was fifteen minutes after three in the afternoon and she realized her nerves of what to expect when she got here stifled her hunger until now.

"By the way, happy birthday! Let's get some lunch. My birthday gift to you."

A smile grew before he answered. "It's not 'til tomorrow."

She shrugged with a smirk. "I won't be here tomorrow, but I'm here today for a few hours."

"If we're celebrating it early, then I want one more gift."

"What's that?"

"Another kiss."

That's right! The kiss they shared earlier was their first one as a couple. Itsuha was so caught up in the shock of Tohma showing up that she still didn't have time to process it. She still wouldn't have time to process the new kiss because Tohma already held her chin and pulled her close for that kiss. His lips rested against hers and the world surrounding them melted away.

They were going to be okay. Them, the fate of this country, and everyone they knew were going to survive the future due to their sacrifice. To Itsuha, it was worth it. Kami gave her the gift of time travel for a short period of time so she could follow her heart's desire and look at the end result: Tohma and she were now a couple.

This was what she was waiting for: A similar love story like her parents where fate intervened and brought them together. Proof that a crush won't always leave you crushed, but instead turn into a beautiful, lasting romance that their kids and grandkids would talk about for generations to come.

For now, Itsuha Tachibana would enjoy this moment of walking with her boyfriend, Tohma Shirukashi, to a nearby restaurant to celebrate his thirteenth birthday a day early. There was plenty of time before the anticipated showdown, and all the little things needed to be appreciated before then.

After everything that happened, there was one thing she was sure of: Words and actions always create a butterfly effect. So, no matter what, it was always important to be true to yourself and follow what your heart desires, because time waits for no one––something Itsuha would never take for granted in the future again.

And that is the end. What'd you all think? Let me know in your reviews. I have really fallen in love with this family as I have written them through this whole time. Music Chick just had the idea to move forward with it. She deserves all the credit in the world for this.

I will see you all whenever I decide to come around again. It might be soon. We'll see.

Until we meet again.