A/N: Here it is, the final chapter. Thank you so much for reading through, reviewing, sending me notes, and being generally awesome. Happy 2017 to all of you. :)
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EPILOGUE:
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Two Years Later
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"Please welcome Misaki Ayuzawa Genji, Double Majoring in Political Science and Diplomacy and International Business, to give the opening remarks for this year's freshman class."
Misa climbs the stage, her hands cold as she grips the folded paper. Public speaking still does not come easy to her, but she is getting better with practice. She launches into her speech, looking across the sea of young people, just like her. Unlike high school, this university does not have uniforms, so everyone is dressed casually.
In spite of herself, Misaki's eyes scan the audience. She finishes her address, forcing a smile on her face, and takes a bow, before sitting back down beside Tora onstage.
"Nice speech," he quips, patting her shoulder. "You seemed… ah, distracted."
"Why are you here?" she mumbles, crossing her arms to hide her disappointment.
"Igarashi Corp donated a building," he grins, hiking up a shoulder in a shrug. "So I'm here both as a representative of Igarashi Corp and as a student. But are you looking for someone in particular?"
She shakes her head, knowing that if she gave Tora any more fuel, he would take it and run with it. "No, I mean, why did you choose my university?"
Tora smirks. "Well, it is an Ivy League school, Misa darling. Besides, I think we both needed to get out of Japan for a bit. And you'd miss me if I wasn't around, right?" He winks at her and turns back to the serious-faced Shinoda, who is sitting on his other side. Misa has to admit, flying to the other side of the world was less difficult with Tora and Shinoda, though she still misses Takumi Usui.
Her thoughts drift to the boy in question. Last she heard from him was about a month ago when he had called to tell her she might be seeing him soon. Holding back a sigh, she masks her disappointment with a blank expression.
The door at the back of the auditorium swings open, just as the chancellor pauses in his speech. A familiar blond head ducks in. Heads swivel towards the back, as Takumi strides in. Misa's heart rate kicks up as his green eyes lock onto hers, though from this distance she can tell his face is on fire.
The chancellor glares at him, waiting for him to sit down in the back row, before continuing.
"Grand entrance from the President, what a drama queen. Hey, Misa. You never looked at me like that," Tora snickers. Shinoda clears his throat, sending him a glare.
Misa ignores him, her gaze still on Takumi's. He stares back at her, and suddenly it feels like she can breathe again, as if there was a tightness in her chest that she had never noticed until it was gone. She struggles to keep her face expressionless, though she is afraid that she might burst into tears.
Finally, the speech is over, and the assembly is dismissed. Misa loses sight of Takumi, and panic grips her chest. "No," she mutters aloud, "he won't disappear again, not before he talks to me."
"Fool," Tora chuckles, giving her a shove. "Go find him."
She is already moving, pushing past the faculty members to run down the stairs, diving headfirst into the crowd of students heading out. Fighting the crush, she makes her way to the last row, to find no sign of Takumi. Desperately, she glances back at the stage. No sign of him there, either.
The crowd sweeps Misa out the door, and she scans the crowd for Takumi's blond mop. Suddenly, a hand grips her wrist, and she is swept into an alcove, away from the rush. Misa's back is up against a familiar chest, and long arms curl around her protectively. Takumi's scent fills her senses, sending an ache across her chest.
She closes her eyes, breathing deeply. It has been two years since that day at the hospital, two years since Takumi has touched her.
Two years of phone calls, emails, different time zones, videos on birthdays, mailed presents and midnight confessions, and now she is in his arms, and all is well. It feels too perfect, too right.
He buries his nose in her hair, sending shivers skittering down her spine. Quietly, she leans back, absorbing his presence. Amidst all the chaos surrounding them, her heart quiets down, finally at peace.
"P-president," she croaks, swallowing the lump of emotion in her throat.
"Mm?" he rumbles in her ear, his voice sending shockwaves through her system.
"Why were you late?" Misa keeps her eyes distant, afraid that she will break down if she looks at him. His lips curve against her skin.
"I had to check my mail," he laughs. Heat climbs up her cheeks.
"Are you serious?" Her spine stiffens.
"Yes," he responds, turning her in his arms. "But you called me President again."
She buries her face in his shoulder, suddenly too shy to look him in the eye. "So I did."
"But I'm just a regular student now," he tells her. "And we're schoolmates again. If you call me President again, I'll-"
"Really?" Misa's head darts up, eyes wide. "So you're really going to study here with me? At this university?"
Now she remembers how devastating those green eyes can be, up close. Her breath hitches and her stomach flutters at the emotion in his eyes. He nods, leaning his forehead against hers. "I'm going to be with you from now on."
Before she can stop herself, she pulls him by the lapels of his coat, tipping her head to the side so she can kiss him properly. He tastes like mint gum and his own unique flavor, supporting her waist when her knees give out.
And then he does something with his tongue that makes her squeak.
Takumi Usui got a lot better at kissing in the past two years. She narrows her eyes, pulling away. "Where did you learn to kiss like that, Pres-" she breaks off his title, remembering the sentence she had interrupted. She doesn't like the mischievous glint in his eye that appears at her words.
"Remember the last time I had to make you say my name?" he murmurs, his hot gaze dropping to her lips. Who is this sexy man and what has he done with her straight-laced President? The memories of a darkened closet and his lips on her skin send a wave of heat through her.
"T-Takumi," she stammers, biting her lower lip. Someone jostles her from behind, pushing her against him.
His arms steady her, pulling her close. She can hear the mad thumping of his heart under her ear. Her own arms go up around his waist, but she brushes against something that is sticking out of his coat pocket, sending it to the ground.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she tells him, picking it up. It is a sealed, padded envelope, addressed to him, from Tora's mom, Cecilia. He takes it back, smiling sheepishly.
"Why do you have a package from Cecilia Igarashi?" Misaki asks, her brows drawing together.
"Ah, this was the mail I had to pick up," he replies, his ears turning red.
She frowns, but doesn't say anything. After a few seconds, he sighs and tears the tab on the mailer. "Look, here."
Holding the ripped side of the envelope over his hand, a small box pops out into his waiting palm. She stares at it, not comprehending.
"I wanted to get something that had meaning," He pops it open, and a thin gold band winks up at her, inlaid with diamonds.
Misa's breath catches. "That's…" She cannot speak, as her eyes fill with tears.
"This was your mother's ring," Takumi confirms, pulling it out of the box. "In fact, Cecilia said this was also your grandmother's ring. Misaki Ayuzawa Genji," he begins, his green eyes piercing hers. "I love you and want to spend the rest of my life making you happy. Will you marry me?"
Misa claps one hand to her mouth, the tears spilling over as she nods. He slips the band on her trembling finger, pressing a kiss on her forehead.
Tipping her head back, she kisses him again, deeply. This kiss is sweeter, though her tears add a salty tang to it. She loves how he cradles her head with his palm as he presses his lips to hers. Time stops, the world goes away, and all she can do now is feel him against her.
When she comes to her senses, Misa realizes that they are surrounded by applause. Takumi pulls back and she blushes to find her new classmates surrounding them. Tora and Shinoda are front and center, leading the clapping and cheering.
"Congratulations, kids!" Tora drawls, wedging between them to throw an arm around each of their shoulders. He steers them outside, to a waiting chauffeured sedan. Misaki meets Takumi's eyes over Tora's shoulders, and they both exchange grins.
"Okay, before I drown from the excessive sweetness," Tora proclaims. "Get in the car. You've got all weekend to catch up, but don't you dare miss class on Monday. Got it? Scholarship students can't get bad grades." He slams the door in their faces, walking away with his hands in his pockets.
"Hmm, I wonder if he knows I always got second place after you in school?" Takumi mutters, crossing his arms. Misa laughs, leaning her head on his shoulder.
The driver nods to both of them. "Are we heading back to your condo, Lady Genji?" he asks.
"Yes," she replies, slipping her hand into his. As the car speeds away, Takumi kisses her forehead again.
"I guess we've got a wedding to plan," he quips.
"Wait, I want to graduate college first," Misa protests.
"True, true," he agrees. "But… I'll be living with you, until then. I'll have to find a way to earn my keep, eh, Lady Genji? Why are you blushing so hard?"
She squeals as he tackles her, capturing her lips again. "Is the rest of our life going to be like this?" she laughs.
"Yes," Takumi smiles. "We'll never be apart again."
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- END -