Final Chapter. Hey, I've been gone almost 6 years. I've endured the pain and stress that comes with higher education and love, and I've felt the joy and pleasures of those same things. I completely forgot about this story until the other day when I was reminiscing about the good ol' days.. And well, I wanted to finish it. I had a million and one ideas on how to end it and even as I write this, I'm contemplating exactly what should happen.

I walked away from Shiori feeling slightly guilty, I just my made a promise to her, and I was already breaking it to rush to Mai's side. Thinking of Mai sustaining serious injuries caused my mind to almost go blank; I did promise to keep Shiori safe, but I also promised to protect Mai. I don't know if Mai and I will get back together, but I can't be with anyone else until we at least talk, and Sayuri did seem defeated when she let me know Mai wasn't doing well.

It had been a crazy week that felt like a rollercoaster; up and down, back and forth, but this truly felt like the end of it. Arriving at the door into the hospital I took a gulp. I greeted the receptionist and she directed me to the waiting area, explaining that Mai was not in good condition, and my eyes were immediately glassed over as I felt grief beyond what I was used to. It'll be okay, it'll be okay Yuuichi. People you care about have been in tough situations before; she'll pull through. I had been seated in the bland hospital with no televisions, egg shell white walls, and boring pale green chairs for quite some time before the small receptionist came to get me. Her eyes were sunken and I could tell she was extremely tired, so I tried to be patient with her. "Yuuichi Aizawa, your fried is on the forth floor in room 41egg shell white walls, and boring pale green chairs for quite some time before the small receptionist came to get me. Her eyes were sunken and I could tell she was extremely tired, so I tried to be patient with her. "Yuuichi Aizawa, your fried is on the forth floor in room 412. I've been told that the doctors stitched up her wound and she should be fine."

"Great. Thanks a lot ma'am!" I couldn't have been more excited as we delivered the good news to me. The words were barely out of my mouth as I ran towards the stairwell. In the past week all I've done is run, so my legs were getting used to the running and 4 flights of stairs didn't phase me at all. Hers was the first door on the left of the starircase and my heart was thudding rather irregularly. Sweat formed between my eyebrows and down my nose, and my hands had become clammy as they reached for the door. My stomach was filled with butterflied and I wondered if it was too late to turn around; she was okay, and I could pretend I'd never heard about this, but I guess I am tired of being on both sides of the fence all the time.

Pushing the door open, she laid there, watching the door without a change in her expression until it registered that it was me who was at the door. "Mai… Mai.." I ran over to her and pressed my hands against hers. "I love you."

"…Yuuichi is always the same, that's why Mai loves him." My heart skipped a beat, hearing her be so direct.

Mai's perspective

"…Yuuichi is always the same, that's why Mai loves him." I needed to tell him that I did love him, he was afterall, my very first love. His larger hands were entwined in mine and the warmth was something I often dreamt about. This sweet sweet boy would be at my side whenever I asked him to be, but as I drifted off last night, I realized…. My selfishness was what kept bringing these monsters about, and if I wanted to be done with them, I would have to sacrifice… Sacrifice my first love.

A tear managed to sneak its way from my tear duct down to my cheek, and Yuuichi of course saw it, and one of his fingers wiped it away. A concerned look was drawn on his face, and I knew he wouldn't write this off as nothing. "What's…. wrong Mai?"

"I love you… I'm so grateful we met, and I am sorry for any pain that I've caused you, but this will be the last time we do this."

He opened his mouth to say something, and I gave into my temptation. Before I gave up on loving Yuuichi forever, I pressed my lips against his, stealing one last small kiss. "Yuuichi, I faced my last demons, the feelings I had for you, and the guilt I felt while being with Sayuri, and I won… I know you want to protect me, but I can fend for myself, as well as for Sayuri; you need to protect Shiori."

"But… Us… I'm in love with you."

"You love me, and I love you… But you haven't known love like this more than once. I saw the way you looked at Shiori, and it made me jealous… But you were moving on; you're comfortable with me, but you care for her."

"Mai.."

"You'll always be the beautiful boy I love, but it's okay to let go… Yuuichi j—" I was going to try and convince him, and just as I found the words to say (which was always hard for me,) she walked in. She was a bit reserved, just a bit timid, but she was so beautiful. Her green eyes and brown hair, her slender body, Yuuichi found quite a beautiful woman. "Hello Shiori-chan"

-
Yuuichi

It was hard to have all this sink in, but Mai never spoke so clearly; I could tell she was trying her best to convey her true feelings to me. After I basically said goodbye to Shiori, how could I just go back and say Mai denied me, and we could try again. I guess I'd find out as she came into the hospital room Mai and I were inside, her face full of determination.

"Yuuichi, can we talk outside? I didn't say what I should have before you left."

"Actua-"

"Yuuichi, go talk to Shiori, I'm tired." She was kicking me out on purpose, and I couldn't make an excuse, so I took my hands from her smaller ones, and pressed a hand gently on her shoulder.

"Okay then, get well Mai, I'll bring your homework tomorrow." I walked away, guiding Shiori out of the room and then closing the door behind us. We walked out of the hospital together and soon we were just walking without a clear destination. "So…"

"Yuuichi Aizawa, It may seem selfish, but I can't just let you fly away. It seems selfish, but I want you to be mine, always."

"Shiori… Mai and I agreed that we were done for good. We'd never had other boyfriend/girlfriends so we were holding on to first love, but she's moving on with Sayuri, and… I can't deny that I've fallen for you." As the last words escaped my lips, her arms wrapped around my waist and said not a single word. "It's going to take a while because I want all my feelings to be for you… But I choose you Shiori, I am falling in love with you." We didn't say anything else, we just embraced, cherishing the moment as it began to snow.

Cut. This story has finally been finished! I wasn't fond of the style I used when this was initially written, so this might not seem so good, but I wanted to finish this story before I started on my new idea/projects. Thanks for making it this far, if you did! :P