Dom: All of my chapters have happy endings and I don't want it to be all like that so once in a while I am going to write a sad ending I guess—well this one ain't that much of a sad ending. Prepare for the epic failness

Alyssa: Is that even a word?

Dom: I just used it so I guess, yeah

Alyssa: Dumbass

Dom: Will you ever let that go?

Alyssa: I was right and you and Belinda are wrong. I WILL never live it down

Dom: I also got reviews from the last chapter that it was funny... Really? That was funny? I mean I read it and cracked a smile, but I didn't know it was that funny that it caused laughter...

~O*~O*~O*~O*

Kazuo had admired Yamamoto for so long; whether it'd be his skills, persona, attitude or his obliviousness. Everything about him is just great. To him anyways. He's a couple years older than the boy and ever since he watched him try out for the baseball team, he was drawn to him like moth to fire. It didn't take him long to realize that he's in love with him.

One of his closest friend, Bankotsu, always tell him to get over him. He'll just get hurt in the end, but he never listens as Bankotsu rolls his eyes at his typical answer and stubbornness.

He introduced himself to him soon enough. They got along real fine. They hung out a lot of times, but neither treated it as a date.

One day, Kazuo decided to confess to him. He only had a couple weeks left before he graduated with Bankotsu. He asked to meet up in the park by the swings. He arrived first and took a seat on the swing. Yamamoto arrived few minutes later. They talked for ten minutes or so then silence. It was broken by Kazuo outright saying that he likes him.

Yamamoto was startled at the confession and fidgeted nervously.

Kazuo of course was expecting rejection from the start. He was a lovesick fool, but he wasn't stupid. He knew from the start that his feelings wouldn't be returned, but he continued to pursue it.

"Yamamoto, you don't need to answer. I know you don't like me that way, but I really need to let that out before I graduate. Don't let this thing break our friendship and if it does I understand. See ya around, Yamamoto," he stood up from the swings and walked away.

Bankotsu was already the living room in their shared flat since they started highschool with blankets, sodas, popcorn, candy, and movies. He heard from a certain birdie that Kazuo confessed and was rejected.

"I heard," Bankotsu stated bluntly.

Kazuo chuckled weakly and removed his shoes slowly, "Really now? I heard about your breakup with Sango from Kouga today. You okay?"

"It was a mutual agreement. We are still in good terms. Both of us fell out of love," Bankotsu looked thoughtful for a moment or two as if debating with himself before opening his arms.

Kazuo immediately understood the action and tackled the older man in a hug when he was only a few steps away. He released a shaky breath on Bankotsu's neck a buried his head on the crook of his neck and relished the scent of trees and water. He will not cry he told himself.

Bankotsu sat down on the couch and Kazuo sat sideways, legs outstretched on the couch, his side resting on the elder's body while the former's arm was wrapped is shoulders. The younger proceeded to play with Bankotsu's fingers when it dangled in front of him.

"What movie?"

"Mama," Bankotsu shortly answered before turning on the TV and played the movie.

Kazuo snuggled deeper and took one of the blankets that covered both of them nicely and comfortably, "Remember when we watched it in the theatres I screamed a little bit."

"Then you laughed."

"Well, it was pretty funny I mean both of us were just sitting there and Annabel was in the girls' room and thought it was Lily curled up in the ball by the corner, but it was Mama. Then remember she went to check the closet and one of the people in the movie room just said, 'Don't go in there. We ain't got no time for that' and then the fucking movie decided to give us a fucking heart attack," Kazuo babbled as the first scene played out where Lucas's brother is urging the two girls to get out of the house.

Bankotsu chuckled at the memory. Kazuo was looking at the direction the voice came from when the music in the movie gave them a cliché scare. It was amusing to watch Kazuo's reaction when he jumped back a bit and let out a little scream as he closed his eyes. He also remembered the way Kazuo clung to him when the moment happened. The younger boy rarely gets caught off guard and if he did, he'll think about how stupid he probably looked and laughed afterwards. The tanned-man placed a brotherly kiss on Kazuo's head, "I do."

The two soon-to-be-graduates continued to watch the movie and when they got to the part where they were interviewing Victoria, Kazuo asked something, "How would you feel if I leave?"

"Sad."

"Oh."

"Why? If you're leaving because Yamamoto rejected you—"

Kazuo cut him off, "No, no, no. It's just that…I received a letter a week ago. You know Stanford, right?"

Bankotsu scoffed, "Who doesn't?"

"Well, you know that it's like my dream college ever since I was a kid and, well, I submitted my forms and I got accepted."

"Really? That's great. When are you leaving?"

"After graduation, but it could be sooner. It depends when they are going to call me again."

"So we only have several days to do stupid stuff that might get us in trouble with the cops. Wanna start now?"

"No," Kazuo snuggled even deeper, "Let's stay in today. I'm tired."

Bankotsu got the message: I'm tired of today's shit. I just wanna sleep. I wanna get away from reality even if it's just for one night.

"No matter that I will be on the other side of the world after we go to our separate ways I will ALWAYS be here for you, you know that right Kaz?"

"I know Ban and I'm grateful…if you need help with your homework or you just want to say 'hi' ring me up. I don't care of it is 2 am in the States call me if you miss me."

Graduation Day

"Yamamoto, c'mon we have to go for moral support not only to Ryohei, but also to Kazuo-sempai and Bankotsu-sempai," Tsuna whined from the doorways of the ace's bedroom.

Yamamoto only sunk deeper in his pillow, "I don't want to…Kazuo would be there," his voice was muffled, but there was a whining tone in his voice.

Tsuna looked confused as well as Gokudera. They both went in further in the room and Tsuna sat on the mattress while Gokudera remained standing near the bed.

"What happened? You guys were closed the last time I saw you and him together," Tsuna was curious.

Yamamoto removed his face from the pillow and turned to his Boss, "It's complicated," he mumbled.

Gokudera arched a brow, "Is this about him confessing to you like a couple weeks ago?"

The tall teen sat up abruptly, "How'd you know about that?"

"It's been circulating between Kazuo's fan club members. I heard a bit of snippets, thought it was a rumor though until I saw your reaction to it I supposed it's true."

"But Yamamoto…don't you like Kazuo-sempai?" Tsuna tilted his head to the side in an innocent fashion.

"N-No, I…I-I don't know," Yamamoto slumped back down, defeated.

"The way you talk about him, there's a certain fondness and loving tone. The way your face lights up when he glances or smiles at you," Tsuna started.

Gokudera continued, "You frown when girls surround him and you clenched your fists when they give him gifts or throw themselves at him."

"Your eyes dimmed when you don't see him at school or in your games watching you in the stands, but it lights up when you catch his eyes and you try to impress him knowing he's watching," Tsuna smiled as he says this.

"You smile when you talk about him or when someone talks about him. You have this smile that Haru has when Juudaime's in the room. It's full of love," Gokudera finished.

"I-I do all those things?" Yamamoto asked his bestfriends unbelievingly.

The two nodded.

"You should tell him before it's too late," Gokudera advised before walking out of the room.

"He's right. Now, come on. Let's get your man!" Tsuna cheered.

Yamamoto frowned, "I don't think he still love me after all these days."

"We will never know until we go there first hand. C'mon."

Namimori High

The three freshmen arrived and saw the rest of the Guardians and their friends near the back since the seats are for the guests, parents, and graduates. The students who want to come in the graduation hung back.

They missed some of the ceremony, but it was time for the valedictorian's speech. Kazuo, surprisingly, got it even if he caused too much trouble he was a smart young lad; one of the reasons why Stanford accepted him.

To all of their immense surprise, Bankotsu got up and whispered something to the principal to which the principal nodded.

Bankotsu arrived in the stand and had to chuckle at the confusion of his batch mates. They knew all too well that Kazuo would be the one with the highest marks so why isn't he here? He cleared his throat, "Good morning everyone. I am sure that everyone is baffled right now since our valedictorian is gone. However, it is for a good reason."

People who knew the young Ryuu raised a brow at how formal he was talking. It was just so…unlike him.

"Everyone knows of the university in the US, Stanford, am I right? Well, I found out a couple weeks ago that they accepted him and he'll start schooling as soon as they can arrange everything. Unfortunately, when they called him back and told him when he's leaving it was scheduled today. He has no choice, but to leave," Bankotsu explained.

Yamamoto froze. Bankotsu's words rang through his head.

…Stanford

Leave…

Today…

Kazuo's leaving today and we might not see each other again! Yamamoto snapped out his daze and ready to bolt out of the door if it wasn't for Hibari holding him back.

Did I forget to mention that Hibari and Kazuo are cousins? They aren't that close, but they will always have each other's back.

"I have to go," Yamamoto hissed at the older man.

"You don't even know if he's still in the airport or not," Hibari hissed back.

"So?!"

"You are extremely stupid, herbivore!"

Bankotsu's voice droned on, "Anyways, he recently sent me a record of his speech since he's still in the airport waiting for his flight. I know what you are thinking now. Why can't he drop by if he still has time? Well, the ceremony would take too long. The speech also takes time and to get his diploma would also be a hassle and his flight is in like 30 minutes or so. So he sent me a video of saying his speech and here it is," he pointed at the monitor that was behind him.

It revealed a happy, but at the same time a sad Kazuo, "Hello Graduates of 2008 of Namimori High. First of all, I would like to thank everyone who came to celebrate this event. Our first step in our adulthood. Emotions and tensions are high and I wouldn't be all to surprised of some of you are already crying because your beloved daughters and sons are graduating. The feeling is overwhelming. You want jump in the air and say, 'YES! I FREAKING SURVIVE 13 YEARS OF PURE TORTURE!' no offense to teachers, of course. But at the same time, you want to shrivel up in a ball and cry 'cause this means leaving your friends and your childhood."

"You ever had those feelings where you want to grow up? To be somebody? Then when you're almost there, you hesitate to take the chance because you want to be forever young? I do. I always feel like that. I'm expected to do great things when I finished my schooling and the pressure almost suffocates me. All I hear is 'Kazuo be like this', 'Study hard Kazuo', 'I want you to have perfect grades', 'You're going to be successful one day', 'Kazuo don't do that' or 'Grow up Kazuo'. The thing is I don't want to grow up. The reason I cause trouble is because I'm afraid that once I finally take the step, accepted, that I will never be child again I wouldn't be able to turn around and be innocent and carefree. I'm scared that I would leave my friends, my family, everything once I take that step."

"But I accepted that long ago though there are still remnants of fear that will be forever imbedded in me. Everyone has fears and I know, I am 100% sure that all of you are afraid as well about growing up…One thing I learn under the tutelage of the teachers no matter how mean they are, we will always have this childish side of ours and that you will always be a child at heart even if you're a 97-year-old grumpy man or woman. How do I know this? Ask my teachers. My pranks even it infuriates them they know deep down in their hearts, they love it. I need to wrap this up since my flight is in 30 minutes or less. Thank you teachers, staff, principal, parents. Everyone. Don't be scared to take that step. You might slip and fall, but you will get up. I'm sorry if my speech is nonsense, random and rush, but I didn't really prepare for it. I always thought that my troublemaking days will wipe my name of the list of the possible candidates for valedictorian. Anyways congratulations class of '08! Good luck!"

That was the end and Yamamoto didn't bother to see what happened next. That was sent like 5-10 minutes ago so he has less than 20 minutes to go to the airport. He bolted out the door and hailed a cab. Fortunately, the airport is like 10 minutes away from the school.

Airport

Yamamoto ran. Swerving out of the people's way and entering the airport. Looking for any signs of the blue-black mop of hair that is Kazuo. He turned around; left and right. He picked up his phone from his jeans and flipped it open, pressing the speed button for Kazuo. It rang once, twice.

"Pick it up, pick it up," he muttered.

At the fourth ring, Kazuo picked it up, "Hello?"

"Kazuo!"

"Yamamoto? Wha, why are you calling me right now?"

"Where are you?"

"In line to get my ticket check so I can board the plane."

"Stop."

"What? Why?"

"Just stop. Please I need to talk to you."

"I can't right now. I'm already in front of the line. Look Yamamoto, I really need to go. I'll call you when I arrive in my dorms."

"No! I need to tell you something important."

"Then tell me now."

"It has to be in person."

"Yamamoto…"

"I love you," Yamamoto blurted out, hoping he'll stop.

"…"

"Kazuo?"

"You what?"

"I love you," he repeated.

"Two weeks after I confessed and you chose this time to tell me? Now that I'm going leaving?!"

"Y-Yes."

"You are bat-shit crazy if you think I'm staying after your half-assed confession! I'm going to my dream college to pursue my dreams and you want me pass up the chance?"

"Kazuo, I was wrong. I only realized it today—"

"Well, that makes me feel a lot better," Kazuo told him sarcastically.

"I love you. Madly, deeply, truly in love with you. I-I don't know if I can like someone as much as you."

"You can," Kazuo stated bluntly, "I'm not going to spare any of our feelings, but you don't love me and I'm not in love with you."

"But you said—"

"I never said 'love' Yamamoto. I only said like," Kazuo told him harshly as much as he could. It's better if Yamamoto moved on. He'll be hurt, yes, but he will heal, "It's better if you just forget about me. It's not like we'll see each other again and if we do, we probably have somebody else at that time."

"You're lying. I know you love me. You have that tone in your voice when you're trying to discourage someone by being mean to them. Please, Kazuo."

"I need to go. The flight attendant is asking me to hang up now."

"Kazuo, I love you. I really do. Please, please tell me you do. I know you do…I-I just need to hear it from you."

"…"

"Kaz?"

"…I love you, Takeshi. I do, but we just can't be together. If we're meant to be or at least have a chance to be together, we'll meet again in the right time. Not right now. Take care of others and yourself. I'll miss you guys," Kazuo told him one last time before Yamamoto heard the click on the other said. That's it. That's the last time he'll hear Kazuo's voice. He doubts they will talk again after this.

A tear slides down his face and it was followed by many more. He pressed another button on his phone and put it against his ear.

"So? How did it go?"

"It was too late, Gokudera. I lost him. I let him slip through my fingers and he's gone. I'm too late," Yamamoto silently sobbed.

"…" Gokudera was silent for a moment, "Yamamoto, if you love them set them free. If they never come back, they were never yours to begin with, but if they did, you were meant to be together. Don't give up hope."

"But it hurts."

"I know, but it will get better as time passed."

~O*~O*~O*~O*

Dom: So how was the crappy ending? *raises brow* Is it acceptable enough or no?

Alyssa: Have no fucking clue

Dom: For our reviewer, Jessica, I will make sure that your request will be process on the next chapter

A&D: Thanks for reading