Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, etc.

Author's Note: It took awhile, but it was fun! Deciding the ongoing fate of others. This is a good thing for you guys because using your imagination to continue this line of endless lives is good for the soul. I was already thinking of Sora and Kairi's wedding day while I was writing this!! I mean, like, HOLY CRAP, I'm a bit ahead, aren't I?

Warning: ...I'm starting to rethink putting these warnings in.

Quick Author Babble: This chapter will be delivered in...RIKU VISION!!

Epilogue

Ah, graduation day. A sad day for some, a simply happy, thrilling day for others. Riku walked through the crowd of parents, grandparents, siblings, students, and teachers in his black cloak and graduation hat, smiling at the excited people surrounding him. A red-haired girl in a black cloak came stumbling out of the crowd.

"Hurry up, Riku!" she cried. "They're starting soon!"

"Coming, Kairi," Riku sighed, rolling his eyes. "It's not a big deal..."

A spiky-haired brunet boy also burst his way through the throng.

"Can you be any slower?" he shouted. "Look, the principal's already at the microphone!"

"Sorry, Sora," Kairi replied. "Come on, Riku!"

The three pushed their way back to the stage, where the principal was already blabbering away.

"I am proud to see these students move on through their lives. It always brings a tear to my eye to think that our school has brought them this far..."

Hopping up the steps, a few people murmured as they saw them race to their places in the group of graduates. However, the principal seemed to take no notice.

"I congratulate you all for getting past this step in your lives and making so many memories, and there's no doubt you will make many more in your future..."

"There you guys are!" Yuffie whispered, not caring less about the speech. "Where were you?"

"Mr. Always-Late over there," Kairi said, gesturing behind her with her thumb to Riku, "held us up."

"Hey, I was enjoying my last moment of teenagehood!" he said defensively.

"Isn't this exciting, Kai?" Naminé whispered to her younger sister. "We're graduating together!"

Naminé had failed twelfth grade once, keeping her in level with her younger sister. A whole lot of people surrounding Riku had once been part of SCARF, and in a way, they did succeed in their mission...and besides, after they graduated, Riku and Naminé couldn't exactly rule Destiny High anymore, could they?

"Isn't this fun, Squally?" Yufffie squealed, causing people around them to laugh.

"It's...Leon..." Leon sighed defeatedly.

"Aw..." Kairi said, patting him on the back. "Cheer up, Leon, I'm sure she'll stop soon."

"Or not," Sora whispered to Riku.

"We're gathered here today to honor these young achievers..."

"What is this, a wedding?" Hayner snapped.

Olette shushed him with a sort of angry look.

"Now, I'm pleased to announce the people who have graduated from Destiny High this year."

Everyone sat up straighter, and many excited murmurs passed through the crowd of graduates.

"Yuna Alexander!"

"Alice Allison!"

"Seifer Almasy!"

They were going in alphabetical order, so Riku just had to sit back and relax. After all, his last name was Smith.

"Roxas Cooper!"

Roxas looked a little petrified. Hayner had to shove him to get him to stand up. Olette smiled encouragingly at him as he walked robotically over to the principal.

Roxas had become the basketball team's captain and had became closer to Naminé, still in high hopes to go steady with her. He'd gotten into Deep Jungle University on a basketball scholarship, and was no longer in his temporary, emo state.

Roxas returned to his seat with his face looking like he'd seen a ghost, a piece of paper rolled up and tied with a ribbon saying he'd graduated from Destiny High.

"Hayner Cox!"

Only a moment later was Hayner's name called. Not even nervous at all compared to his shaken up friend, he coolly slid off his seat and walked over to the principal.

Hayner was now going out with Olette, which was a bit of a strange pairing, Riku kept thinking secretly to himself. Still pranking everyone he could reach, especially poor Mrs. Ita (he still hadn't forgotten that baseball) , Hayner still managed to squeeze in some study time, usually after Sora or his parents started yelling at him. Squeezing through into Deep Jungle University was not an easy task, but he made it eventually.

A couple moments passed. Riku watched person after person go up and accept their note of graduation.

"Pence Howard!"

Pence looked shaky as he stood up and walked over to the principal.

Pence's photography work was now known worldwide, and he had transferred on a scholarship to Deep Jungle University, same as Hayner. He now spent most of his time in his dark room.

Soon after, the principal cleared his voice again.

"Kairi Ire!"

Kairi turned bright pink and gave Sora a hug before walking down and shaking the principal's hand.

Kairi had worked hard for her photography scholarship, along for her excellent grades with Sora's help. After a long time of stress, she'd finally managed to get accepted into Bizarre University, the same university Sora had been offered a scholarship to a couple years ago. She wanted it to be a surprise so Riku had promised not to tell—Sora was so far the only person who didn't know. She was still dating Sora two years running as a result of Riku's clever meddling, which he was still proud of, and was still sweet as always.

As she sat down, she seemed speechless with excitement.

"Naminé Ire!"

Naminé breathlessly got up and walked over to the principal.

Naminé, as predicted by Kairi, only lasted a week with Marluxia, and was not happy with how it went. She remained single after that, saying she didn't want to deal with "sleeze balls" anymore and was tired of guys who only felt like "picking up chicks" and she was going to wait until she finally felt a "sincere, true guy" who she could "actually have a serious relationship with." She got accepted into Olympus College.

Waiting, waiting, waiting. Riku could barely stand it. How many Isaacs and Jacobs were in this grade?

"Yuffie Kisaragi!"

Yuffie jumped up and squealed, causing everyone, even the principal, to laugh. Not embarrassed in the least, she raced over to the principal, and instead of giving him a handshake like what was proper, she hugged him and, according to the principals bright red and bulging face, she was squeezing pretty hard.

Yuffie became extremely interested in acting, after Sora's suggestion, but did not apply for a scholarship. She did, however, get accepted into Olympus College like Naminé, and was now happily going steady with Leon.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she cried, giving a big kiss on his shiny, bald head, then kissing her rolled up paper and skipping back to her seat.

"Er...yes...you're welcome, Yuffie..."

Straightening his round spectacles, he turned back to the microphone. Waiting a little while longer, it wasn't long before a familiar name was called.

"Squall Leonhart!"

A few chuckles came from the audience and the group of graduates. Leon looked very agitated and swiped the letter of graduation from the principal more than accepting it and did not shake the principal's hand.

It proved that the long periods of time when Leon was by himself he made good use of it by studying. He got accepted into Bizarre University almost as easily as Sora did, and was, after a lot of time of waiting, dating Yuffie.

It took a very, very long time and Riku was literally almost asleep by the time the principal called someone's name he cared about.

"Olette Richardson!"

Olette stood up, waving at the applauding crowd and made her way to the principal.

Olette, with her supreme skill in the arts, applied for the most artsy university known around, Disney University. She got in and was very happy about it, and was complaining, though, about being separated from her best friends.

"Sora Roma!"

Sora gave Kairi's hand a squeeze and walked up to the principal.

Sora, still the genius from the very beginning, accepted the invitation to Bizarre University. Still dating Kairi and very happy that he was, he did not know she was accepted into Bizarre University too, and had been a bit upset about it for the past couple days.

Riku groaned when he noticed all his friends had their letter of graduation and he had nothing. He would be the last, technically, to graduate. Oh, well...might as well take a nap in the spare time...

"Riku Smith!"

Riku was already sound asleep.

"Riku Smith! Uh...Mr. Smith? Riku?"

Roxas shook him awake. Riku looked up blearily.

"Riku, that's you!" Roxas hissed. "Go!"

"W-What are you talking a..."

Riku paused mid-sentence and shook his head as he noticed all the people watching him expectantly and in confusion. Graduation day. Right...

Standing up and walking over to the principal, the principal smiled at him.

"Ah, there you are, Riku."

Riku had apologized to Kairi, unknowingly once again creating a friendship between them. When he started talking to everyone else, he stopped being classified as a "bully", though still considered to be "most popular". As he thought about it now, it seemed that Selphie and Tidus were both very likely to become the king and queen of the school once he and Naminé were gone. He'd been accepted into Deep Jungle University.

Handing him his rolled up letter and shaking his hand briskly, the principal then said quietly so the audience couldn't hear,

"Good luck, son."

And for some reason, Riku found all his hate for his principal just...vanish. All the times he'd been put into detention for threatening some kid, setting off a stink bomb in the boys' washrooms, and putting "Out of Order" signs on all the doors in the school, were suddenly gone. As he walked back to his seat, he felt this totally new feeling bubble up inside him...freedom.

"Time to start a new life, I guess," Riku said, sitting back down beside Sora.

"I guess," Sora remarked, shrugging. "I can't believe all our universities are so far away, though. I mean, leaving home right after!"

"The farther away, the better," Riku stated.

"For you, maybe," Sora sighed. "You have Roxas, Hayner, and Pence going with you. I, on the other hand, have no one."

"That's not true. Leon's going with you."

"When I say no one..."

"You mean not Kairi. I know, I know."

Riku gave him a big, gloating smile.

"What are you grinning about?" Sora snapped.

"Just boasting that I don't have the complications of having a girlfriend," Riku said, laughing at his friends frustrated face.

"You suck!"

"Ah, just another part of my personality."

Riku laughed at Sora's burning face.

"It's not funny!" Sora yelled, turning redder still. "I'm really going to miss Kairi, and all you can do is sit there and laugh!"

"Calm down, sheesh," Riku said. "It was just a joke."

"Wakka Zane!"

Sora sighed and placed his head in his hands.

"Boy, you are a bummer today," Roxas remarked from behind them. "It's your graduation day. You should be happy!"

Sora scowled at him.

"If you were dating Naminé right now, I'd bet you'd be even worse than me!" he cried defensively.

"Shut up!" Roxas hissed, darting nervous looks toward the blond girl talking to Kairi and Yuffie.

"Paine Zinko!"

"I can't believe this," Riku said. "I'm graduating and I'm being brought down by you, Sora. If you're so miserable, can't you at least pretend you're happy when you're around me? You only graduate high school once in your entire life."

"You're lucky you graduated!" Hayner snorted from beside Roxas.

Riku thwacked him in the face with the back of his hand.

"Ow!"

"Rikku Zyan!"

"Yeah, I guess," Sora muttered, but his face remained in his hands.

"Of course you do. Now stop being an idiot and smile at the crowd."

Riku turned to his parents and put on a big, false smile.

"Sora, I'm warning you, I see your mom beside my parents, and she looks worried..." Riku said between his teeth.

Sora blearily looked up and put a false grin on his face. Mrs. Roma's expression immediately eased.

"And those are all our graduates! I consider you all..."

Everyone's breath ceased and looked over at the principal.

"Graduated!"

As the principal's voice echoed through the air, the graduates threw off their hats and cheered. Riku had to throw off Sora's hat for him, but besides that tiny fact, he felt absolutely liberated. He looked all around him. Cheering and filled with excitement, Naminé grabbed Roxas and kissed him, sort of like people do on New Year's. A stupid smile on his face, Roxas fell backwards.

"We're adults, Squally!" Yuffie squealed, hugging Leon. "I can't believe this!"

Leon opened his mouth as if to say "It's Leon", but decided to stop and just sighed and put an arm around her.

"No, no, Olette, you have to let out a hoot like this..." Hayner explained to Olette, putting his hands beside his mouth. "WHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"

"No way," Olette said. "I am not doing that! I'll look like an idiot! And nothing's going to make me...mmf!"

Hayner forcefully kissed her.

"WHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOO!!" Olette hooted.

Pence took a picture of that, and of the now unconscious Roxas. Riku chortled. They left the stage and was now conversing with other people in the crowd.

"We're so proud of you," Mrs. Smith said, pushing back a lock of lank, silver hair and looking at him with tears in her eyes. "My little boy..."

"Mom, quit it!" Riku hissed, looking around for people who might be listening.

"Yes, we should leave him to his friends," Mr. Smith sighed, rolling his eyes. "Go."

Riku smiled thankfully at his father before racing off to find Kairi and Sora. He couldn't wait to see his face when Kairi told him and hoped Pence would take a picture. Finally managing to find them in the throng, he came to an abrupt stop so he could listen.

"I'm going to miss you, Kairi," Sora said in what might be the most depressing voice Riku had ever heard.

Riku couldn't help but break into a smile at the obliviousness of his spiky-haired friend.

"You know, I'll visit all the time," Sora continued, still void of happiness. "And I'll phone, and write...and all that..."

"Sora..." Kairi began to interrupt.

"Don't say anything," Sora sighed. "I know this isn't much of a goodbye, and I'll see you over the summer, but I don't feel like partying about graduating when I'm not going to be able to see you anymore..."

Riku rolled his eyes. What a moron.

"Er, Sora..." Kairi tried again, but was once again cut across.

"And I want you to know that I totally understand if you start dating other guys, because I would too - I mean, I wouldn't date guys, you would," Sora corrected himself hastily, "I would date girls...Like, not immediately, I mean!"

Riku snickered. He was so going to rub this in Sora's face tomorrow.

"Sora!" Kairi shouted, and covered his mouth with her hand to prevent him from talking. "I got in!"

"Huh?" Sora's face was immediately shaded in bewilderment.

"I got accepted into Bizarre University!" Kairi cried.

There was a long moment of silence as Sora just stood there, gaping at her, until he took a step closer to her and began to kiss her very forcefully.

"Get a room!" Riku snapped, but the two promptly ignored him. "Fine, I'll just go find some better company! Maybe you two aren't WORTH MY WHILE!"

Sora, whose face was still interlocked with Kairi's, reached out a hand and made a rather rude hand gesture. Riku glared at him, but then lost hope to install fear into Sora and was too disgusted to continue to stand there, so he turned away to find someone else who didn't happen to be making out.

He stopped walking when he reached Olette, Hayner, Pence, and the newly-revived Roxas standing beside the stage. Roxas still appeared to be a bit dazed and had a goofy smile on his face, but was at least conscious.

"Riku!" Olette cried happily as he approached. "Congratulations!"

She kissed him on both cheeks in a very lady-like manner.

"You too, Olette," Riku replied, smiling at her.

"What're you doing here?" Hayner asked curiously. "I thought you were waiting to see Sora's reaction...?"

"I did," Riku replied, "but then they started making out..."

"Was it worth it?" Pence questioned.

"Hard to say," Riku answered, making a disgusted look which made everyone laugh.

Music started bursting out of the amps that were used for the principal's speech.

Driving slowly, watching the headlights in the rain.

Funny how things change.

Think of the good times, wishing you were still with me.

The way it used to be, graduation day.

"That's a depressing song," Roxas remarked.

"Come on, Hayner, dance with me!" Olette chirped, grabbing the brown-eyed boy's arm and pulling him towards the other dancing graduates.

Riku and Roxas exchanged looks before shrugging.

Watching the stars fall, a million dreams have all gone bad.

I think of all we had.

I knew all then, I thought you loved me - I was wrong.

Life goes on, oh, graduation day, oh, graduation day.

"Hi, Roxas!"

Roxas turned a flaming red as Naminé appeared out of nowhere, a bright, pearly smile decorating her face.

"H-Hi, Naminé..." he stuttered.

Riku took a step back, deciding blending into the wall was the best plan. He'd been in these situations before with Sora and Kairi, and it was far safer to pretend to be invisible.

"I...uh...congratulations," Roxas said, scratching the back of his head.

"You too!" Naminé chirped. "I am so incredibly excited!"

"Yeah...heh, heh..."

Turning, if possible, even redder, he attempted a smile. Naminé cocked her head to the side, golden locks tumbling down her shoulder.

"You want to dance with me?" she asked.

"W-What?" Roxas stuttered, his face looking as if it had been painted red. "Y-Yeah! I mean...sure."

"Come on!" Naminé giggled, grabbing his wrist and pulling him into the dancing throng.

Thinking of a time when everything was right.

Thinking of a time with only you and I.

Makes me sorry that it had to end that way.

Learned my lesson - now there's nothing left to say, graduation day, oh, graduation day.

Riku looked glumly as Yuffie and Leon swept past him, trying their best to dance without stumbling. Sora and Kairi were probably somewhere in the heart of the crowd, slow dancing. He tried his hardest to be happy for them, and on the outside he was, but deep inside, in a dark corner of his heart, he felt jealous. They all had someone. He had no one.

Kairi and Sora suddenly broke out of the crowd, interrupting two none-too-happy teenagers with their dancing.

"Riku!" Kairi chirped with a smile. "In all the excitement, I forgot to congratulate you!"

"Forget about it," Riku said, feeling extra guilty for self-pitying himself now that the happy couple were standing before him. "You guys deserve to be congratulated...I mean, Bizarre University...wow..."

He put on the falsest smile he had ever worn, feeling even worse now that he wasn't truly happy for them when he knew he should. He was so sickeningly jealous. Being jealous was the worst feeling in the world from both sides.

"What's wrong?" Sora asked, observing Riku's easy-to-see-through expression.

"Nothing, nothing," Riku replied, avoiding the topic.

"Riku, seriously," Sora said, giving him a hard glare.

There was a long pause. Riku sighed. He was graduating—it was the perfect time to fess up on everything you've wanted to say through your previous years in high school.

"Everyone has someone!" he cried defeatedly. "I don't! Even Pence is dating that Fuu girl! While everyone is sending each other letters and smiling from telephone calls, I'm going to be sitting alone on my bed, hoping time will pass as quickly as possible! I'm a loser! A jealous, single loser!"

Riku panted a little bit as if saying all this had been exhausting. Noticing this seemed totally out of character, he leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes as if nothing had happened.

Kairi and Sora exchanged looks. Kairi was the one who put her hand on his shoulder.

"Riku..." she said slowly, as if thinking over her words, "you're not a loser just because you're single! And you don't have to be jealous either. I'm sure the perfect girl is right around the corner."

Kairi kissed him on the cheek like Olette did. Sora patted him on the back before he and Kairi disappeared into the throng once again. Riku scratched his chin thoughtfully, thinking over what Kairi had said, and suddenly felt like he was being watched. Turning his head, he smiled at the bright-eyed girl looking at him. He smiled at her and held out his hand.

"Want to dance?"

The girl nodded, smiling, a little flustered, before Riku and her too disappeared into the throng.

Thinking of a time when everything was right.

Thinking of a time with only you and I.

Makes me sorry that it had to end that way.

Learned my lesson - now there's not much to say, graduation day, oh, graduation day.

Oh, graduation day.

...And I'll leave you to decide who that girl was.

I wanted to try that, you know? Make the readers use their imagination for a change. Plus, I also couldn't think of a good match-up for Riku, and I didn't want to leave him (or Pence, as you could clearly see) single, for that would totally take away from the ending.

Don't you love how things always work out at the end?

I will miss you all...so dearly. (Tear)

I'm rewriting Pour Some Sugar On Me because I was not pleased with it in the least. Plus, I was bored. So I'm rewriting it in not the Kingdom Hearts-y background as the original was, but instead a scene...sort of like this one. Mwa, ha, ha...You'll see!

Right, questions/comments:

wwecat: FINALLY!! It was so good to get off my chest, you honestly...well, actually, maybe you do, now that I think about it...but it still was whirring in my brain forever, since the start of this story. "How should this kiss take place? WHERE should it take place? WHEN should it take place?" It took me forever to come up with a suitable answer. This is the extra chapter, a.k.a. the epilogue. No, I didn't know that. I don't watch Batman, but that - that scares me a little. That means me and the Batman people are like this! (Makes signal with fingers.) Maybe we have telepathy...ooh.

xoX-IHeartSureal-Xox: Thanks! Okay, first, before I continue writing my reply, this review made me laugh...so hard. I understand the confusion, it was so darn long it made feel like screaming when I read it over, but still...kind of funny. Sora jumps in front of a train. (Laughs) That would be a depressing ending...Thanks! I'm glad someone shares my love for teapots!

Malcolm Yuy: Yeah, I know, that was a mistake from stupid, Word Perfect, which I HATE writing in and MUCH prefer Microsoft Word, but it doesn't work on this dumb computer anymore. Thank you! I really worry about these endings, they have to be perfect to suit the story. I was literally beating myself up to get the correct ending. Never fought him. I should get around to playing CoM, since I have it, but I never got around to it. And I went through a lot of trouble to get it - I'm just trying to get through all the Final Fantasies. I wish I didn't have to fight Sin. I just got my first good look at it and it is FREAKING HUGE! I am very, very scared right now, but even more annoyed that Cid keeps repeating "The final showdown with Sin!" over and over again and it's driving me absolutely LOOPY! But right now I'm working to get Anima, and that is the important thing. Second, I guessed you were a guy from the very beginning (coughMalcolmcough) but I was just handing them out at random. I'm sorry.

Fire Ninja: Thanks, and no, I am not. I'm writing a Roxiné, but it will be separate.

zestychicken2: THANKS!! Everyone keeps asking me for a sequel, and I'm like, "What am I supposed to write?!" It's true, I am fresh out of ideas for this fic. Axel...Axel is evil...and I will NOT LET HIM RUIN MY HAPPY ENDING! (Cough) I know, Sora plushies are adorable. Their eyes are so BIG! Thanks!

Isler: Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Wings of Water- SKYE: You mean the movie part with Kairi's fantasy? That was SOOOO much fun to write! Thanks, and my humor, I hope, will keep in check!

RockCityRoadStar: Thanks...I think.

My Paopu Fruit: Thanks! ! !

KhCrystal: Thanks so much! I love Mrs/Mr. (cross?) Teapot! I don't know why, but the teapot scene just had to happen. Thanks, thanks, thanks...etc.! By the way, xoX-IheartSureal-Xox told me you suggested my story to her, and I wanted to say thank you so, so much, I'm glad you think of it as a story worth reading! Happy I Can Put "Complete" On My Description Now Day!!

E Muja SN and TN: Thank you! I'm so happy! (Tear)

AozoraPassion: Thanks! I'm glad!

LOTRchic: Thanks, drama is my thing.

Tooba-chan: Thanks, it was pretty...argumentative (if that's a word). Okay...first suggestion, I know this sounds corny but it is true, follow what your heart. Any idea can help a story in some way. Never just dump an idea immediately. Consider if carefully first. Sometimes you'll have this sudden urge to start a new story - that's good, and you can, but sometimes you should store your ideas for later and never forget the story you've been working on. Also, think through the steps in your story carefully - if you already have ideas, great! All you have to do is piece them together. Sometimes, if you're like me, you wing it...if you don't want to do that, you can follow steps (conflict, resolution, etc.). Um...that's all I got, besides be creative! Good luck!

KairiSakuraTohru: Thank you soooo much! Thank so much for reading!

aya: Already? To me it feels like forever! But all good things must come to an end, which I find out despairingly after I finish a good book. (J.K. Rowling, why must you stop??) Anyway, thanks so much!

Orika: It's all in the epilogue. Nice poem and thanks for reading!

heartbrokensora: Aw, thanks! So sad (tear)! Oh my gosh, so many uplifting words! But I can't make a sequel, because this story has been squeezed dry, I think. Sorry, the epilogue's all I got, but thanks, I appreciate your support!

hwdbz: Thanks! How late did you read?! Yay, favorited!

xXxCrystalHeartxXx: Thanks! And for your questions, 1: Yep, most certainly was! 2: Happiness, I'd imagine! 3: She got used to it, and she was most probably expecting it, in my mind. Thanks!

Bexmar: Thanks! (How many times have I said that word today?) In answer to your question, it was stupid Word Perfect and it's stupidness. I prefer writing on Microsoft Word (it's a lot easier to deal with), but I couldn't because Microsoft Word was wiped off my computer! Sorry for the crampness! I know, but a teapot was calling my name. Whoa, that sounded weird. Thanks!

ANGELofallDEVILS: Thanks! In answer to your question, you save your written document onto your computer, then you go to Documents on Fan Fiction on your account and choose your document, upload it, then put it in one of your stories. It's really easy.

cheychey41: Thanks! Yeah, I am, I'm recreating my original Roxine and making it realitized this time.

Okay, guys, I'll miss you all! Your support has been immensely important to me and I am grateful! 'Till next time!

Read and review, and make it special!