A/N: I'm writing this to say that I suck. Utterly and completely, I suck. My computer crashed, but luckily I hadn't actually written this chapter yet, so nothing was lost. It took me a month to get up and running again. I apologize greatly for the wait, though I know some authors make their readers wait longer for the completion of fanfiction. Still, the guilt bothers me, because I know I hate it when other authors do the same thing I did, and have such delays in updating. And so, I offer you the final chapter of Run Into You.

Days, on days, on days of bore.

Okay, so maybe 'bore' wasn't the right noun. I just needed to come up with a way to occupy myself. For instance, I could read, watch TV, play soccer.

Anything to distract myself.

The nightmares had stopped, mercifully. Also, they had ended on a rather good note, on one in which I saved Kari successfully. However, I was still followed by a disturbing thought: was a burgeoning evil taking hold of me?

I told myself to stop it. I was thoroughly exaggerating the situation. After all, I'm only human. We have a definite imperfection to us. I knew I needed to hone the small amout of perfection in me so I could be the best human possible, throughout life.

I liked to think that I had gained a certain intelligence from the encounter with fire - and if not that, then an enhanced appreciation for life. I no longer took the little things for granted, seeing as those things could change so fast.

The days continued relentlessly, and I realized I hadn't spoken to Tai in almost a month. It's not that I didn't want to, I certainly did. I just hadn't put in the effort. Or maybe I just liked that we never agreed on a meeting, and instead met through coincidence.

The coincidence came.

We were down at the soccer field once again. It seemed that everything significant that happened between us usually occurred on this soccer field.

I liked that, because I liked soccer.

This time, I wasn't the first to reach the field. When I was approaching the grass, I noticed Tai, stretched out and reclining with his hands behind his head.

I smiled. "Are your carefree days coming back?"

He returned the gesture. "I hope so. I liked those days."

"Me too," I said.

"Kari's walking normally again," Tai mentioned, "She's fully regained use of her leg."

"That's good to hear," I replied genuinely. I had worried about the girl's health.

We sat in silence for a bit, but it wasn't like one of those awkward silences in which your thoughts are empty and you have nothing to say, but you search and search for something anyway. It was comfortable.

I pondered how Tai really was the source of my happiness. I wasn't completely dependent on him for enjoyment of life...but he sure helped.

We really had something between us. I hoped he sensed it too.

Then, I remembered the fire, and the incident in which I had almost...what was it again?Oh yeah, been the cause of Kari's death.

I didn't deserve him.

But to redeem what little sense of self I had, I made the decision to come clean.

"Tai?" My voice was suddenly frail.

"Sora?" He asked back worriedly.

"I need to tell you something." I needed to tell him. I needed to be strong. I needed to remember to breathe. I needed to be free.

"First of all, I love you." I hadn't planned for it to come out that way, but I knew the statement was wholly true. "Second of all, before the fire, I was under the impression that Kari was your girlfriend. And, last..." I hadn't checked for a reaction. I was afraid that what I might see would discourage me, and I would stop in my tracks. I took a deep breath and continued my confession and declaration. "...Last...back, during the fire...I considered...leaving Kari."

I couldn't help it. I checked Tai's face.

He was not looking at me. He was staring straight forward, his head tilted slightly. "She would've been to die?"

"Yes." I could hear the guilt and patheticalness in my one word.

Then, miraculously and inexplicably, he smiled. "You love me?" His tone was giddy and realizationary. (A/N: Yes, I know that's not a real word, but it is very late at night as I am writing this and my brain isn't working too sharply, if you know what I mean. Forgive me :P)

"Yes," I repeated.

"Just checking."

The grin remained.

"Why are you smiling?" I burst out. "I almost left your sister for dead! Because of my own selfishness!"

That was it. I had ruined whatever fractional chances I had with Tai.

He stood up, as did I. "Exactly! Sora, do you know what that means? It means that you love me enough that you were willing to do anything to be able to be with me."

"And you're totally okay with that kind of savagery?!" I was bewildered and confused.

He laughed. "I can appreciate it. Just don't...actually kill my sister to prove that, alright?"

I shook my head furiously. "I won't," I assured. "But, Tai...I was so...evil. I might've actually...let her die."

Tai held up one finger to stop me in my speech. "But you didn't. And, what's even more, you realized how despicable that was right after the thought occurred to you. Am I right?"

"Yes, you are."

"I thought so."

"You're actually just going to accept that I almost killed Kari?" I questioned.

"Aren't you?" he asked in return.

My shoulders dropped, and I said nothing.

"Sora, don't you think you should move on? If you spend too much time dwelling on what could've happened, you'll never look forward, at the future," Tai tried to convince me.

I paused. "Really? Just forget?"

"Not forget."

"Then what?" I asked.

Tai resumed the smile that fit so well on his face. "Sora, you need to learn to forgive yourself." And then, I knew that was the lesson I needed to learn so badly, to forgive what I had so nearly done, and move on. "You didn't kill Kari," Tai continued. "You're better than that. Much better."

And with that, he kissed me.

When we broke apart, he kept close to me and said, "And just for the record, I love you too."

FIN.

A/N: Oh my god! What an amzing ride this was. Was that an okay conclusion to the fic? Tell me so! In a REVIEW. Yay! And also, I'd love it if reviewers would include their favorite part of the story, so I know what touched them, what made them laugh, what my best work was. Thanks! I feel so greatful for this opportunity, it's the first ever multi-chapter fanfic I've ever finished. I think that I've learned from the whole experience, from my writing, and from my readers. Thanks so much!! You've really taught me something about commitment, happiness, diligence, and life in general. What can I say? You're just great.