After a a year and a half, here is the final installment of Bet! (That took way too long!) Haha, and what a year (+0.5) it's been, filled with inactivity and flailing and trolling the readers just because I can. (That's mean.)

A- anyway! I wrote most of this on Christmas, even though I had wanted to upload it on... oh well. Without further ado, please enjoy the final act.

Kyouya was awoken by the sunlight filtering through the window curtains. Since when were the curtains white? And why were they on the left side of the bed? Also, why was his room so big and... clean?

It took him a moment to remember that he was in the hospital.

It took him another moment to remember that he had lost the bet; Sawada had said so.

In total, it took him about 5 seconds until he remembered that he was in the same room as the scariest person in the middle school.

"Hey, don't fall out of the bed," Sawada said, amusement coloring his voice. He had a book open on his lap, but he apparently hadn't been reading it for the past minute. "Your left arm already has a third degree sprain; you don't need to bruise the other one."

And you, Sawada-san? Don't you need to be careful? Kyouya thought, as the prefect in question leapt out of bed with a stretch and a yawn.

"Well, come on then," the brunet said, gathering his things and changing into school clothes (Kyouya looked away). "We're going to be late. It's too far to walk, so I'll take you."

"Wha-" Kyouya's sentence was interrupted by a bundle of clothes being thrown in his face. His uniform.

Sawada growled a little impatiently. "Hurry up. I'm not going to let you off for being tardy."

Kyouya quickly changed and ran after Sawada downstairs. The nurses all let them go, which the raven-haired boy thought was strange, but then thought better than to question it. Sawada probably had his own rules. After the elder of the two signed them out with the head doctor, they went outside.

Kyouya Hibari spent the next seven to thirteen minutes (he wasn't really keeping track) trying not to scream in terror as he clung for dear life to Sawada's middle with one arm as they zipped through the streets on a motorcycle at speeds which the poor first-year was sure were illegal.

Sawada pulled up right in front of the gate. The Disciplinary Committee was, unusually, absent. Students who saw the head prefect scrambled inside post-haste, though Kyouya could feel the confused glances of a few more attentive ones. "We're here," he said, nudging the slumped form of his junior with a finger. "Kyouya Hibari, get up. You're going to be late, and I'm not in the mood for a fight right now."

Feeling almost as though he were drunk, Kyouya managed to get up onto shaky legs. Then, after a wobbly bow and mutter of gratitude, he shuffled away unsteadily. As he tripped over his own foot and simply lay there, trying to wait for his head to stop spinning, Sawada smirked a little, though it was soon replaced by a scowl as he walked over to kick the prone form lightly. "I'm not going to tell you again. Get up and get to class."

Kyouya half dragged himself, and half shuffled his way off toward his classroom.

…

Finally in the safety of his homeroom, the black-haired boy sunk into his chair, bag in hand. In front of him, Gokudera turned and gave him a bewildered look. "What happened, Kyouya? You look like you got run over by a truck!" he asked incredulously.

In a heartbeat, Yamamoto was over by their desks in the corner, fussing over his beloved Tenth like a mother hen. "Tenth!" he wailed, kneeling and beating his head on the floor. "It was my fault! I should have stayed after school with you yesterday! It was him, wasn't it? That- that- ugh! I can't stand the thought of him being a guardian. This is unacceptable! Please accept my sincerest apologies!"

"A- actually, Yamamoto-kun," Kyouya insisted, trying to get his friend to stop beating the floor in. "I- I got let off easy, I think. A- and it probably would have been worse if you were there... because that would have been flocking, right? And then Sawada-san would have gotten angry..."

Gokudera laughed lightly. "Don't worry, Yamamoto!" he said with a chuckle. "Kyou's fine, as you can see!"

"Shut up, you... you octopus-headed idiot!" Yamamoto shrieked. "Imagine what could have happened if that guy weren't a guardian! The Tenth could have been killed!"

Kyouya felt a bead of sweat drop down the side of his face. I- I don't think Sawada-san cares about that, Yamamoto-kun.

He was saved from further embarrassment at the hands of his two best friends when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning, he instead felt his face go red at the sight of his crush. Nagi really was the prettiest, nicest girl he could have ever hoped to meet. Oh, she was saying something. "I'm sorry, what?"

She blinked, then giggled. "I was just asking if you were alright, Kyou-kun," she said. "Since you didn't come home yesterday, Kyou-kun's mom called my house! I said that you were probably okay, and Onii-chan said so too. But since you have a sling and all, I was just wondering..."

"O- oh!" Kyouya floundered, and Gokudera laughed. "I- I'm fine! Really! I just had something to do with Sawada-san yesterday, a- and I only got hurt because I'm clumsy! You know, Dame-Kyou and all that! N- nothing's wrong, really!" Around him, he could faintly hear intense whispering going on immediately after the words "something to do with Sawada-san".

Nagi sighed in relief, the tension in her body releasing. "That's good," she said, smiling brightly. "I was worried that maybe Onii-chan convinced you to climb up the chimney of the bath house with him or something! Don't push yourself, alright?"

Here come Onii-san's crazy fibs again... "N- no, it's nothing like that!" Kyouya insisted. "Oh, say hi to him for me!"

"I will! Oh, class is about to start. I'll talk to you later then, Kyou-kun!" Nagi replied, going back to her seat. Haru was waiting for her.

"Take your seats," the teacher said, opening the door. The students obediently sat down. He took out the roll book and began calling out names, asking a few students to help pass out today's memos. "Let's see... Annaka is sick, and I think that's it. As I'm sure you all know," he said, not looking up. "Today is a B schedule, so we'll be having-"

He was interrupted by a crackling sound as the PA system burst into static. "Testing," a voice said, and Kyouya recognized it as Reborn. "Ah, it's working. Good morning, everyone. I hope I'm not interrupting anything terribly important, but I promise that I won't take long. First, I would like to remind-"

"Vice chairman, move over."

The class (teacher included) gave a collective shudder as the head prefect's voice filtered through.

"No, not shift, I said move over. All of you, stop flocking about. Move!"

There was an amassed shuffling and murmuring (presumably) as the Disciplinary Committee members cleared the area. Gokudera laughed. "Sawada's always lively, isn't he?"

"Alright, now that this is working. Kyouya Hibari, are you listening? I'm only saying this once."

As a whole, the class (teacher included) turned and stared at Kyouya, who was sitting in the very back. The boy swallowed thickly, looking down. For lack of a better description, he looked as though he were already in line at the gallows for a hanging. Maybe it would be something swifter, like a guillotine. Either way, death seemed imminent.

"Kyouya Hibari isn't as weak as you think. I suggest that you stop pushing his buttons; he may just snap and kill you all. Vice chairman, take over."

"Thank you, Chairman. Taking over from where I left off, there is a baseball match later this-"

Everything after that was completely drowned out as the class (teacher included) practically blew the walls out with a collective yell. Announcements were forgotten as students rushed over to a bewildered Kyouya's desk, pressuring him with questions.

"Dame-Kyou, how'd you do it?"

"What happened yesterday?"

"Did you hurt your arm in a fight with Sawada-san?"

"I heard that you and Sawada-san were in the hospital this morning!"

"So it's true, then? You and Sawada are friends?"

"Do you know why they had us leave really fast yesterday?"

"What happened? Tell us!"

"Yeah, go on! Spit it out, Hibari!"

Overcoming the huge shock that came with the announcement, Kyouya swallowed nervously. "I- I- I just…" he managed to splutter out. The crowd moved even farther in.

Taking a deep breath, he regained his composure before trying to speak again. "I just won a bet," he answered honestly. "With my dying will."

…

"Sawada-san!"

Sawada stopped and turned. His trademark gakuran sat loose on his shoulders, looking more at home there than they had yesterday on the small first-year's. The red armband remained untouched, fastened securely to the left sleeve with a safety pin. School was done for the day, and he had simply been making his way to the Reception Room to finish up some work. Students had gone home, and the hallways were empty of flocking creatures… with the exception of one, anyway. "Kyouya Hibari," he said, acknowledging the raven-haired boy who power-walked up to him (he noted the observance of the rule not to run in the hallways). "Is there something you need?"

"I hope I'm not being a bother," Kyouya replied softly with a smile.

Sawada shook his head. "Not really. There isn't much work today, so I can give you a few minutes. What is it?"

"Alright then," Kyouya said. He opened his mouth to begin the next sentence, apparently thought better of it, and went into thought. This repeated once or twice. "... Why?"

"Why what?"

Kyouya's head tilted slightly to the side, expressing curiosity. "Why did you let me win? I lost the bet, I lost the battle."

"If you had lost the bet, I wouldn't have conceded to your strength," Sawada pointed out. Kyouya still looked confused, so the brunet sighed. "Do you remember the conditions I set two days ago?"

"Well," the shorter of the two hummed, trying to remember. Yesterday had been a long one. "We were to switch roles for a day, and during that time, I had to prove that I am strong. A- and if I didn't, I'd have to fight you. Which I did, so that means that I didn't. And I lost anyway. S- so I don't understand."

"You're right," the prefect agreed. "I had said, 'Tomorrow, you an I will switch roles in school for a day. During that time, if you can prove to me that you have what it takes to be strong, then I will make an announcement to the entire school the following day, saying that you are not weak.' Do you understand?"

Kyouya shook his head.

Sawada sighed. "I said that we would switch roles in school, and you had the time period of a day to prove your strength to me. By allowing Ryohei Sasagawa to not infiltrate my school, but kidnap one of my students, you proved that you were still too weak, too naïve. For that, I had you fight me."

The smaller boy nodded slowly, contemplating what had been said. Yes, that was all true; where was it going?

"However, during that fight, you did prove something. You proved that you have potential. You are still far from being my equal; remember that, Kyouya Hibari. But there is hope for you yet." Reaching out, Sawada briefly ruffled Kyouya's hair, with a mutter of "Live up to my expectations". Then he turned, and began walking down to his office.

"Yesterday was fun. Fight me again sometime."

For a moment, Kyouya stood, rooted to the spot with surprise. Then a grin stretched across his face, and he bowed to the prefect's turned back. "Thank you very much!"

With that, he turned and scampered off toward the stairs. His friends and a brighter future were waiting for him at the gates.

Lately I've taken to rereading the entirety of Bet. Honestly, I can't help but cringe a little at a lot of things in the beginning; I can see that there are many useless or not very well-written scenes (I knew that even before I started reading). But if I can recognize that something was done badly, that means I've improved, right? And that's the important part!

I'm really glad that some readers have been here since the beginning, and I'm almost more glad that I've picked up newer readers as time progresses! It makes me happy to know that my work makes people happy enough to keep coming back to it. Isn't that what all artists want? To create something that will last in peoples' memories, and bring them back again and again. It gives me a very warm feeling.

Ah, I'm rambling, aren't I? … Oh well. I think that, since this is the first multi-chapter story with a plot that I've finished, it should be something special! (Ostinatodoesn't count because of reasons (what).) A- Anyway! Because it's a special occasion, I wanted to bring in some extras, just as a late Christmas present to you all! My school begins right after the New Year, so unfortunately, I won't be around too much for that (I want mochi, haha). I hope you had a good time with me, and I hope I'll continue to write stories that you will all enjoy!

"Kyou-san!"

As soon as he exited the school gates, Kyouya found his arms full of sobbing female. Specifically, I-Pin.

"Kyou-san you liar! Idiot!" she yelped between sobs, shaking the boy back and forth by his shoulders. Suddenly feeling carsick, he was unable to respond.

"Whoa, chill, I-Pin!" Gokudera said. Yamamoto was busy screeching unintelligibly. "What did Kyou do?"

"I- it's not that he did something," I-Pin muttered, quieting down a little. Letting the poor boy go (he wavered uncertainly), she went into her pouting mode, shuffled her feet and looked away. "It's that he didn't do something."

"Then what didn't he do?"

She exploded again. "Yesterday we promised that I-Pin would come see Kyou-san after school and we could go out together! A- and he didn't! I stood there for half an hour! And I wanted to give him something nice, too…"

Kyouya's face expressed only confusion and disbelief. When did I promise that? How did you not notice the fighting? I- I mean I'm glad that you didn't get involved, but still... Swallowing, he tried to look apologetic. "S- sorry, I-Pin… Is there anything I can do to apologize?"

I-Pin tried her best to glare, then broke down wailing. "Y- you're trying to take advantage of I-Pin's affections! You're trying to be all chivalrous and toy with her emotions!"

Kyouya replied the best way he could: "Um..."

"Go to the amusement park with I-Pin!"

"... What?"

I-Pin pouted again. "Since we didn't go out yesterday, then we can go out today, right?"

"S- sure," Kyouya agreed. I-Pin was pretty forceful, in a way. "Right now?"

Gokudera laughed. "Haha, sounds like fun! Can I join you guys?"

"If the Tenth is going, then I'm going too!" Yamamoto shouted.

"Hahi! But, but if Gokudera-san and Yamamoto-san come, then it won't be a date..." I-Pin pouted.

No one ever said anything about a date, I-Pin, Kyouya thought.

"Oh well!" Kyouya marveled at how easily the girl regained her composure. I-Pin clung to his arm, smiling brightly. "I still get to spend the afternoon with Kyou-san!"

In the end, Kyouya was first dragged to I-Pin's house, his two best friends following, where they were presented with a two-day-old cake that she had wanted to give him yesterday. As they were sharing it (Kyouya could never resist sharing nice things with his friends), Nagi dropped by; when the school idol heard about the plans to go to the amusement park, she clapped her hands and eagerly asked if she could join. I-Pin said yes, and additionally offered her best friend a bit of (Kyouya's) cake. The raven-haired boy's face head exploded from the amount of blood he felt rushing up to it when he realized that he would be spending the entire afternoon near his crush.

When Kyouya got home, Fong made him finish his homework immediately after dinner with a poisoned needle held dangerously close to his neck.

All in all, it was a very lively afternoon, filled with merriment and free of worries (! ?).

You probably all thought I forgot about I-Pin, didn't you? Haha! (That's because I did. I- I'm sure someone else did too!) Anyway, I kind of just wanted to end on a very normal note. The bet is done, and life returns to normal.

Thank you, and thank you again!

Next year is the Year of the Dragon... It's Fong's year! (Not really.) But I like to think that it is!