This Chapter is Dedicated

To:

Ninastylee

High School Sweethearts

Written by:

13ISMYNUMBER

Chapter 33

Vows

"Shut up and kiss me."

Yuu Tobita

Yuu stood there beside Kitsuname with a smile on his face. He placed a hand on Kitsuname and patted his back. Then he said, "You're one lucky bastard."

Kitsuname chuckled, "Don't call me a bastard in my own wedding, moron."

Yuu laughed silently.

The music starts and she walks down the aisle, all eyes on her but her eyes held the gaze of Kitsuname. She wanted this. She wanted to get married and stay in love with someone forever; to grow old without being afraid of being alone.

Her father handed her to Kitsuname and he walked to his seat. Kitsuname smiled at her as he brought her hand to his lips then he whispered as they walk towards the altar, "I love you."

She couldn't help but swallow the lump forming in her throat. She smiled through her tears and said, "I will always love you."

"We are gathered here today, to witness the becoming one of two people who destiny intertwined to prove that love is still and forever infinite." The priest started. "And now for your vows."

Kitsuname and Anna had promised each other when they were in England together that if ever they do get married, they would write their vows for each other. Kitsuname went first, clearing his throat.

"Majority of the people here today have witnessed my player days in high school." Kits started earning some 'yeah's' from the crowd. "But you're the only one who witnessed the transformation I made. It was because, somewhere along my teasing and playboy ways to win your heart, I fell for you. And I didn't think it was possible to fall for someone deeper and deeper but I did. I did for you. So, here I am vowing to constantly remind you that I will love you forever and always; that when the rough days come yet again, I would never think of abandoning you; and that if you ever want to flee from my side, I won't stop fighting for you until you remember the love we shared and vowed on this very day.

"Anna, I'm going to mistakes. I'll probably panic when you tell me that your water broke when you have your first or maybe every single time pregnancy. I'll probably have weakened knees when you ask me to be with you as they bring out a mini us. I'll probably even forget days that are important to you and I. But remember this, I would never stop, forget or even pretend to stop loving you. Because I vow my life, my love and my heart to you, forever and always."

Anna tried to blink away the tears from her eyes as Kits said the last part but just when she did so, a tear ran down her face. Kits brought his hand up to brush it away with a smile. Anna laughed and smiled back at him.

She breathed, making sure her voice won't break.

"I didn't know what draw you to me back then. If you were standing in front of the old Anna, the Anna who just wanted to get rid of you, she'll probably say, "Let's figure it out so I can make him leave me alone!"" People laughed at how dramatic she was. "But that's not me anymore because ever since I fell for you, I knew something in me would change.

"Thank you for catching me, for not letting me fall alone. And the most cliché part is, aside from us being High School Sweethearts, you were also my first love. I know sometimes I can be so naïve and stupid when it comes to our relationship, and I'm sorry but do know I'm trying.

"So this me, the Anna who you caught and who fell in love with you, vowing. I vow to hold onto your hand when tough days come; to love you not because you're perfect in my eyes but because you made me see not through my eyes alone but as well as through my heart; and lastly, I vow to believe in you like a child believes in fairytales, filled with hope and faith, to love you like a crazy teenager who believes that love is a never ending story, and to understand you like a complete adult who would be sensitive and patient with you.

"For forever and always, my heart belongs to you." Anna finished with tears flowing down her face.

The priest smiled before saying and turning to Kitsuname. "Do you, Kitsuname Ichiou, take Anna as your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do."

"And do you, Anna Ogasawara, take Kitsuname Ichiou as your lawfully wedded husband?" The priest said looking at Anna.

"I do."

"Then, by the power invested in me, I know pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

And they kiss, a kiss that was witnessed by more than a handful of people who will forever remember this day for now they see that true love does exist.

High School Sweethearts by 13ismynumber

Nonoko held a champagne glass on her left hand as she took the stage for her bridesmaid speech. She smiled to the crowd as somebody handed her a microphone.

"So, where do I start?" Nonoko laughed. "Well, I can start with threatening Kitsuname. Okay, so you know the old break her heart, I'll break your face? I can do that and I can also hold a gun, just telling you."

Everybody laughs at this.

"Okay, serious mode now. I'll keep this real short. I just want to say that I'm really happy for you guys. I never thought that this day would come, never thought that my little sister would actually be saying vows to a used-to-be-playboy but she did. So, please be careful with her heart, Kits. Love her and make her feel safe, cause I can't do that anymore. That's your job now." Nonoko's tone lightened as she said the last part.

Then she beamed a smile "So, cheers to the new couple!" Nonoko said as she raised her glass.

High School Sweethearts by 13ismynumber

Nonoko laughed at her father who was swaying with her to the music. "You're supposed to dance first with your daughter who got married. Not me, dad."

Her father smiled at her. "I know. But then I also know that I don't need to tell her things anymore. I don't need to remind her to be careful always, or to tell me when somebody made her cry because I no longer held that job."

Nonoko's smile faded when her father's eyes was filled with sadness.

"But I can do this, tell you to fix your wings and fly. There's nothing else that could be more beautiful for a father to see his daughter fly and be happy with the man she loves. Anna is so beautiful today, and I never thought I'd see your mom in her. But I did." He said as he caressed Nonoko's cheek.

"I want you to be happy, Nonoko. I want you to fly."

Nonoko didn't quite understand what his last words meant but one thing was for sure, he wanted her to try with love again.

And before she knew it, she was being handed to none other than Yuu Tobita. She gave her father knowing look which he returned with a small sad smile. The moment Nonoko and Yuu touched, Nonoko said through gritted teeth, "What did you tell my father?"

Yuu just laughed. "Au contraire, your father came to me."

Nonoko just glared at him, swearing that she won't talk to him until the dance finishes. Yuu smiled at her.

"Nonoko—" Yuu started but Nonoko glared hard at him and cut him off saying, "Was my slaps not hard enough for you to understand that I hate your guts?"

"I deserved those." Was all Yuu said.

"Yes, yes you did." Nonoko said, Yuu's grip on her waist getting harder. Nonoko made a face but then said, "Why are you doing this?"

It broke Yuu's heart to hear her voice break. It was as if he was causing her much pain than before. Did he make a mistake by chasing her? By wanting her back?

Maybe he did.

Maybe she was right…it was time to walk away.

He wanted to tell her that he still loves her, so much. He wanted her back in his arms, back in his life. He wanted to let her know that what happened back in High School wasn't just a fling or a mistake…no not for him, it was the best time of his life. He was so in love with her.

He loves her so much…

He'd let her go.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry." Yuu muttered, looking straight into her eyes.

Nonoko's breath got caught, she didn't expect that.

"I'm sorry for using you, for breaking your heart, for not coming after you back then and then coming after you now and making your life so much more unbearable. I know you want me to just walk away—"

"What are you—"

"So I will. Next time you see me, it will be all business. No more tricks, no more cheeky remarks. All business." Yuu explained, his face holding his emotions back.

Nonoko searched his eyes and face for any emotions but found none.

The song ended and Yuu slowly let her go. Nonoko felt like it was High School again, she was being let go again. Why she felt miserable a lot more, she didn't know.

And before she knows it. Yuu had walked away from her.

High School Sweethearts by 13ismynumber

"You better dance with him." Someone said from behind Mikan, who was drinking her ass off while sitting on the table alone.

Mikan looked behind her and found Anna. She smiled up at her. "What are you talking about?"

"You better dance with Natsume." Anna said, clearing it up as she sat down beside Mikan.

Mikan just laughed. "Sweetie, it's over for us. I'm getting tired saying that so could you please just get it through your head?"

"I don't think so. If you're getting tired with saying that then maybe you should just walk over to him and ask him a dance and clear things out." Anna said taking the champagne away from Mikan's hands.

Mikan got her glass back and said, "No way. This isn't High School anymore. I thought you figured that out when you decided to suddenly get married."

"Mikan." Anna said in a soft tone. Sumire and Hotaru arriving, sitting down as well. "You still love him."

It was something Mikan heard so many times that she got tired of hearing it but when Anna said it, it felt different. It felt more real than it ever was. It was as if she couldn't runaway any longer.

"I'm afraid."

"We all were. " Hotaru said, joining the conversation. "But if we let the fear get the best of us, we might as well kill ourselves."

"Sometimes, the worst decisions we make are the best ones we ever did, Mikan." Sumire said, somehow being serious for once. "Thing is, you're always going to love him. And sure, some people moved on and accepted those kinds of the fact, but people like those find somebody who they love greater than the person who would always have a place in their heart. What I'm saying is, did you find somebody who you love more than you ever loved Natsume?"

Mikan was speechless. She didn't want to hear her own answer. She just sat there frozen.

Sumire continued talking, "Cause it's been four bloody years! If you still didn't, I don't think you will any time soon. So, it's time to face the music."

"It just feels so wrong to be with him." Mikan let out in a whisper but the girls heard her.

"Why?" Hotaru muttered.

"Because it's been four years, and he pretended to be somebody he's not and…and it feels like I'm in love with somebody I feel like I've known my whole life but in truth not really." Mikan said, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

Anna held Mikan's hand in hers and smiled up at her. "Then here's your chance to get to know him."

Anna looked behind her and the others did the same. Natsume was standing beside them, avoiding eye contact with Mikan. Hotaru cleared her throat, clearly annoyed at the silence.

Natsume finally looked at her and said, "Will you dance with me?"

And Mikan understood what Sumire said when she placed her hand in his.

"Sometimes, the worst decisions we make are the best ones we ever did, Mikan."

High School Sweethearts by 13ismynumber

"Why the long face girlie?" Kitsuname teased as he handed Nonoko a drink. Nonoko took it with a small smile.

"Oh, it's the married man." Nonoko teased with a chuckle.

"Well, I'm proud to be one." Kitsuname chuckled and then said, "But seriously what's wrong? Is it Yuu again?"

Nonoko clicked her tongue and then nodded.

"Well, what did he say?" Kitsuname said before taking a sip from his glass. "What got you so sad this time?"

"Actually it's not what he said. I just think, I mean when he walked away…I felt like he finally gave up." Nonoko said softly, trying to hold back her tears yet again.

Kitsuname laughed humorless. "Yuu Tobita? Give up? I don't think that's possible."

Nonoko drank from her glass. "Well, believe it. He gave up on me."

"Then there's got to be a good reason then." Kitsuname said with a shrug. Nonoko looked at him confused. "I mean, look, Nonoko you're a great girl and I'm not saying this because you can hold a gun and I'm scared. I'm saying this because Yuu saw in you what I saw in Anna. And Yuu loves you, and I don't think anyone would love you the way he did. Nobody would ever be able to compare to that."

Nonoko stared at him. "What do you mean?"

Kitsuname looked hesitant, and he drank a few times before facing Nonoko and telling her, "He gave up his dream for you because he knew what he did was wrong. And for me, I think he suffered enough and been punished enough for what he did to you."

Nonoko let his words sink in. He gave up his dreams for her. She shook her head, "What does that have anything to do with him walking away from me and giving up?"

Kitsuname breathed. "Well, he came back for you and you didn't want to go back. I think it's finally clear for him what you wanted, he's walking away not because he gave up, he's walking away because he wants you to be happy."

Nonoko's tears were no longer able to be held back and they started rolling down her cheeks. And for the first time in four years, she finally figured out how much Yuu loves her and now, she finds out how much she had just lost.

She didn't know what she was doing when she handed her glass back to Kitsuname and ran off to the path that Yuu took.

Now, it's her turn to run after him.

High School Sweethearts by 13ismynumber

Yuu had his hands inside his pockets as he drank another shot. He was outside, in the garden. He was telling himself that he did the right thing and he better move on no matter how impossible it may seem. He has to move on and let her go cause that's what she wanted.

That was what makes her happy.

He ran a hand through his hair. He didn't want this pain anymore. He just wanted to drown himself in alcohol but what kind of friend would he be if he did that in Kitsuname's wedding?

He knew it was time to return to the part, pretend he didn't have a broken heart for a few more hours and then go back to L.A. and pretend that he wouldn't be working with the woman he loved for more than four years.

Yup, it was that easy.

And he was going to get through hell.

So he turned, ready to get it over with. Blood hell, he thought to himself. And when he looked up, there stood the person who he was doing this all for. Look frantic and tearstains on her face. And before he knew it she was in his arms.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have slapped you, let you walk away or even let you suffer just because of one stupid agreement with your father. I was young, naïve and stupid, really, really stupid. I wish I could turn back in time and just take it all back. Let's start over, please. Am I too late?" Nonoko muttered as the tears were back again.

She hugged Yuu tighter and then looked at him when he wasn't saying anything. "Say something." She pleaded.

Yuu looked at her, saw the tears in her eyes. It was unbearable to see her hurt, to see her heart yet again break because of him. He wouldn't let it happen again, never ever again. "Nonoko," He whispered as he leaned in, "Shut up and kiss me."

GUYS! DON'T KILL ME!

Okay, I promised you I'll finish this right? And here I am updating the last few chapters. Yes, its coming to an end and I guess we only have a few more chapters maybe less than 5 or something. Anyway, Ninastylee was right, i am through High School so I better finish this. It's been four years, damn it. HAHAHA.

Well, anyway, I hope you haven't forgotten.:)

AND OH, I HAVE A NEW STORY, SERENDIPITY. It's a one direction fanfiction, if you like my writing style or if you're a big fan of the boys or maybe both, then go to my profile, check out my story SERENDIPITY and tell me what you think! Thanks!

Thank you and let me know what you think. REVIEW!

Stay Safe.

xoxo,

13ismynumber