CHAPTER 20: NEW BEGINNINGS

"We did it!" Misaki shouted as she ran through the halls of the Samezuka dormitory. "We did it!" She repeated again as she opened the door to Rin's room and ran inside nearly knocking Rin over while he folded clothes near his bed. "We-

"Did it, yeah yeah I know I know jeez calm down," Rin laughed as his girlfriend wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed him tightly.

"You should be more excited," Misaki lightly bit Rin's back through his shirt, a yelp exiting his lips but his eyes and hands staying focused on folding clothes and placing them into a black duffel bag.

"Finishing high school isn't that big of a deal."

"Party pooper," Misaki tried to tickle Rin, her fingers lifting his shirt and lightly running across his bare torso. It did nothing to distract him.

Third years at Samezuka could choose to stay in the dorms for a month after graduation to give them time to find a place to stay. However most would be out within the week. Rin, however, was probably one of the very few packing up and attempting to leave the dorm only an hour after graduation. He'd already changed out of his suit- an outfit Misaki was very displeased she wouldn't be able to see him in considering Iwatobi was having graduation at the same time. He now wore dark black skinny jeans and a white tank, an outfit that gave no hint at the accomplishment that they had both achieved.

"We are gonna be late," Misaki sat down on a pile of clothes thrown on Rin's bed. He was about to tell her to get off but if dating Misaki taught him one thing it was to let little things go, even if it was irritating. "You still have tomorrow to pack anyway." Her tone had changed going from cheery to sadness as she picked at her nail polish.

"I need to drop off extra stuff with my mom though, can't take all of it with me."

"Which," Misaki sighed and smiled, forcing herself to think in the present instead of worrying about the future. She placed her hand on top of Rin's, "You can do later tonight or tomorrow morning. I'll help you."

"Fine," Rin grumbled, "Let's go then."

Misaki hopped up and latched onto Rin's arm, hurrying him out of the dormitory. Together they walked the ten minutes to the pizzeria, Misaki chatting about how her graduation had went while Rin listened. His replies were short, curt and soon Misaki's random chatter turned to asking him what was wrong. "Nothing," he replied repeatedly. The only thing that stopped her asking was walking into the pizzeria and having Nagisa jump hug Rin.

"Happy graduation!" Nagisa screamed and it became apparent he had been and still was crying. "I'm going to miss you so much!"

"Sorry we're late," Misaki left Rin to fend for himself and walked towards the large table in front of her, "Rin wouldn't stop packing." She pulled out a chair and sat down next to Gou who was sipping on a soda.

If anyone had asked Misaki at the beginning of the school if this would be how she'd celebrate graduation she would have laughed. No way would she be sitting at a table with Azami, Haru, Rei, Nagisa, Gou, and Makoto. Especially not Makoto. But here she was, and things were a new normal that she would eternally be grateful for.

When the school year started Misaki wasn't talking to anyone at Iwotabi except Gou and Nagisa, the latter who after crying and asking her how she could do such a thing eventually forgave her and said he'd still be her friend. Azami had stopped talking to her because she couldn't believe Misaki would cheat on Makoto. She was also pissed that Rin was now taken and felt embarrassed about the whole thing. Haru never went out of his way to talk to her before, but now he wouldn't even look at her. The first time she saw Makoto after so long she couldn't even bring herself to say hi. It was two months into the school year before she even had the nerve to talk to him again.

It had been after school, Misaki had left an assignment in her locker and had gone back to get it. She heard the footsteps while rummaging through her locker and looked to see Makoto walking down the hall, still in his swimsuit from swim practice. First instinct was to avoid, but how could she avoid him when they were the only two in the hallway? So instead she took a deep breath, shut her locker, and said one simple word- "hey". The two ended up going to grab a smoothie together and hash out all of the unresolved feelings and issues between them. It didn't make things right, but it opened up the door for a friendship which she was grateful for.

Eventually even Azami came back around and that feeling of guilt began to dissipate. The group came back together in a sense, and sure it was different but it was good. Misaki didn't go to as many of the group events as she had before, but they had been Rin's friends first anyway and knowing that his friendships were still strong made up for any time she felt left out. Plus, through all of this her and Gou became close- something that irked Rin when they would gang up against him. Life was different, unexpected, but wonderful because every day she'd hear Rin say "I love you" and nothing could replace that.

"So Misaki-san you hear anything from that school yet?" Rei asked as Rin sat down next to Misaki, rubbing his neck which ached from Nagisa hanging on it.

"Um no, not yet," she answered and shrugged. "Probably didn't get it in anyway though."

"I thought you did get into University?" Nagisa asked, grabbing a slice of pizza.

"She did," Makoto answered, "The one in Tokyo yeah?"

"Yeah," Misaki smiled and nodded, "But I applied for one in America too."

"Speaking of America," Azami sat up straight, loving when she was in charge of conversation, "You excited to be going Rin-kun?"

Rin narrowed his eyes briefly, still not enjoying Azami's presence but he put up with it for Misaki. "Yeah."

"When's your flight?" Haru asked.

Rin's eyes softened as he looked across the table at his best friend. "Sunday morning, wanted to have time to pack."

"And have this beautiful going away slash graduation party," Rei spread his arms wide as if showcasing the pizzas and soda on the table, "Planned by yours truly."

"Ha, thanks Rei. I really appreciate it."

"When will you be back?" Haru questioned, and it was obvious that he was having a hard time coming to terms with Rin leaving again. They all were.

"I'll be training with my coach out there for two years, I'll be back a few months before Olympic Open Trials to train here again."

"And why again can't you just train here in Japan?" Rei asked.

"Altitude training," Rin replied and took a bite of pizza, fully realizing he'd soon not be allowed to eat like this. "My coach here says he sends all his athletes to train in America."

All this America talk had Misaki feeling nauseous. Here he had finally come back to her and now he was leaving again. When she first found out she admittedly was infuriated. Rin had been scouted by universities here in Japan but didn't want to do the college route, so when a coach who specialize in Olympic training contacted him he had been thrilled. So had Misaki, until she found out about the whole training in America thing.

It had caused a big fight, they went a few days without talking until Misaki showed up at his dorm crying. He understood her anxiety. Last time he left he completely stopped talking to her and she couldn't help but fear that would happen again.

The pizza party lasted longer than expected and while Misaki had fun she had grown quiet after the conversation about Rin leaving. When the two walked out of the pizzeria into the night air Misaki still couldn't figure out how to be cheery again. She had promised herself she would be happy today, but with every passing hour Rin was closer to leaving her.

"Stop being so sad," Rin mumbled as they approached Misaki's house.

"You're leaving," she whined, "Of course I'm going to be sad."

"Yeah but I'm here now," he grabbed her hand and interlaced their fingers, "Plus I have a surprise for you." The grin on his face made Misaki momentarily forget about her sadness.

"What is it?"

"Just c'mon."

Rin led her towards her house, but stopped when they got to the front door. "Close your eyes."

"My surprise is in my house? How'd you even do that?"

"Don't ask questions just do it."

Misaki obeyed and closed her eyes and listened as Rin knocked on the door. Soon the door squeaked open and she was led inside. "Okay," Rin whispered in her ear, goosebumps forming on her neck from his warm breathe, "Open."

"Surprise!" Her mom and dad shouted as Misaki opened her eyes and blinked, trying to get her vision to clear. Above where her parents stood was a homemade banner that said "America!" And had hand painted smiley faces and an American flag.

"So you surprised me by celebrating your leaving?" Misaki turned around, feeling like she was about to cry.

"No, no, no honey look!" Her mom said while jumping up and down and Misaki noticed that she was holding a letter.

Quickly she grabbed the paper, her eyes scanning over it again and again trying to make sure she was reading it correctly. "I got in," she whispered, "I….I got in and this letter is dated two weeks ago?"

"We wanted to surprise you," her dad explained, "Well it was actually Rin's idea."

Misaki looked to her side and saw another paper in Rin's hand. "We leave at 6 a.m. so you better get packing."

"We?" A tear ran down Misaki's cheek as she took the airline ticket, "Same flight?"

"We are going to be living in the same city so makes sense."

"But mom, dad it'd only want to go for two years or until Rin came back and the tuition is going to be expensive and to transfer and-"

"Honey," her mom came up and enveloped her in a hug, "We know. And we already have the money saved."

"Really?"

"Ha! No!" Her dad chuckled, "I mean we have enough for the flight and probably the first year but you'll for sure need to take out loans. We already have the loan application filled out for you, but if this is what you want money shouldn't stand in the way."

"I love you guys," Misaki hugged her mom again then ran up and gave her dad a tight embrace.

When the tears subsided and her parents went to bed Misaki was left sitting on the couch next to Rin, her body resting on him. The disbelief hadn't worn off yet and it felt like she was floating. She'd be going with Rin. This time she'd accompany him on this journey and all that fear and anxiety was gone.

"This why you were acting so weird before the pizza party?" She nuzzled into his chest.

"Keeping secrets from you is hard," Rin yawned rested his head on Misaki's.

"So we are really doing this?"

"This?"

"Going to America."

"Hell yeah," Rin smirked and sat up, Misaki following suit. "Told you there was no reason to worry."

"Yeah but at the time of my worry I didn't know I'd gotten into school!" She playfully slapped his chest then laid back down on him. "You think this is how things would have turned out? The past year doesn't even feel real sometimes and now we are going to America."

"When I left for Australia I had no idea how my life would turn out, but I knew you'd be in it somehow."

"Me too," Misaki whispered. She'd have to make sure to pack up all those letters her and Rin sent each other when they were younger, and the bracelet that she had put into her memory box. As she laid there on Rin's lap she thought back to that little girl who dreamed of the life she'd have with Rin. That little girl never knew the hurt she would go through, or cause. Didn't expect all the tears she would shed, but now Misaki was sure that little girl was smiling. Because the future was bright, and it was with Rin, and it always would be.

Author's Note: The. End. Literal YEARS after the start of this story it has finally reached it's conclusion. Wasn't what I originally had planned, but it's an ending and I'm so very happy to have given this story one. HUGE thanks to HellOnTheEngine, smollburrito, and the very kind guest who left reviews. It really did mean a lot to me to see that people who had read this story years back were still around and wanting to see the ending. To old readers who have been with this story since the beginning and were able to witness it's ending- thank you for coming back, reading, reviewing, and inspiring me all those years ago and today. To new readers- hope you enjoyed this complete story which was years in the making. Thank you to everyone AND one last thing: if you enjoy my writing or Free! or some combination of the two I will be starting a new Free! story coming out soon. Yes, a whole new 2018 journey on fanfiction. I'm excited to be back and hope to see some (all!) of you over on my next story.