• CHAPTER 96 - GRADUATION DAY

    Okay, so you made it through another nightglare and a day at the carnival where your nightglare just so happened to occur. If you survived those two, it's definite you'll halfway survive Graduation Day.

    I told Kai about my last nightglare once we got home and ate dinner. Of course, it took me a little while to tell it because I kept glancing over at the wall mirrors. Kai had finally picked up the hint and took the mirrors down for me and held me the whole time I was telling him. I still didn't tell him that it was the same Vampire yet again; he would definitely freak.

    When it was time for me to finally go to bed, I tiredly asked Kai to sleep with me. Of course, he gave me a funny look after I said "sleep with me" and I of course yelled at him. He has such a perverted mind sometimes. Kai seemed to fall asleep faster than I did; I only stared at him while his eyes feathered shut and his limp arm hung around my waist. His face was positioned perfectly; the moon's bright shine was emulating off of his complexion and he only glowed--not sparkled. I would freeze that moment forever if I could; I hardly ever see him sleep anymore.

    The only thing that woke me up the next morning were Kai's wet, icy lips kissing my cheek and his arm wrapping around my shoulder. He was already awake and dressed when I cracked my eyes open. I rolled over onto my back and groaned at the sunlight freely flowing into the bedroom. Kai teleported, drew the curtains shut, and teleported back to my side of the bed. He kissed my forehead and rubbed my arm generously.

    "You need to wake up," he whispered. "It's graduation day."

    I peeked my eye open again and propped my hand onto my forehead and stared at Kai, "It is?"

    He nodded and I responded by holding my arms up so he could embrace me. My heart uplifted and a hundred pounds were lifted off of my shoulders once he nodded. He kissed the corner of my jaw a couple of times and backed away a few inches.

    He nodded, "Yeah. You should eat first before we head over to the gymnasium."

    I groaned after glancing at the clock that read ten forty-six in the morning, "It's not even noon,"

    "We need to go shopping for you to get you some nice clothes," Kai rolled his eyes. "Matsuda and Orihime's orders."

    I pulled the covers over my head and groaned again, "It's just a graduation; what's to dress up for?"

    "Just because it's graduation doesn't mean you can't wear formal clothing," he shook my shoulder again. "It's a big day."

    "My gown will be covering the clothes anyways," I mumbled.

    I heard Kai sigh and after another second, he threw the covers up and crawled under them with me. He moved around under the covers and ended up climbing right on top of me and he hovered his face only inches above mine. The cold of his body compressed against mine and I let out a short quick breath.

    "You're cold," I giggled. "Are you thirsty?"

    "After graduation," he pressed his thumb against my lips. "I can't go ruining your perfect neck."

    "You're so...weird." I frowned.

    At that, Kai rolled us over so I was sitting on top of him and the covers halfway fell off of us. His large hands gripped my thighs and I pressed my hands against his chest for weight support. I blushed heavily at the sight of me straddling him but at least there were no more mirrors on the wall for me to actually see it. Kai's hand reached up and his fingertips cruised across my cheek gently.

    "I'm proud of you," he smiled. "You've gotten far, despite all that's happened to you."

    I looked down, "Yeah. And to think, I almost ended it all."

    Kai's eyebrows burrowed together, "What?"

    "I thought I told you," I copied his expression. "I tried to...kill myself."

    "When?"

    I bit my lip, "When I first came to the orphanage...right after my parents died."

    "Arisa..." Kai cupped my face and pulled me down so my face was above his. "Arisa, you have no logic to think or do that."

    "I-I know, but..." I could feel myself choking on a lump in my throat again. "Kai, you need to understand that I was in a severe state of loss and hopelessness."

    "Arisa..." he held me close to him and my face buried into his neck. "How close did you get?"

    "I...was sent to the hospital...I overdosed on medications."

    Kai flinched a little at that and he kissed my ear, "I can't imagine you were that kind of person..."

    "I wasn't," I mumbled into his neck. "I was drowning in shock and confusion and depression...what else would you expect?"

    "Arisa, I survived after losing everything and becoming a Vampire on top of that," he lightly grabbed my head again and held my face an inch above his. "I'm sure you'll make it through too."

    I nodded and closed my eyes, "I know...I was pessimistic."

    "And I'm not trying to say I'm in a worse state than you," he ran his thumb over my eyebrow. "I lost almost everything naturally besides my humanity; you lost everything the last way people should lose everything. I don't understand what that is like, but you need to talk about it."

    "I promise I won't have such thoughts again," I smiled weakly. "I wasn't looking at the possibilities in the future; I assumed it was all over with and I'd have nothing."

    "Same here," he kissed my forehead, "but I've got you now." he kissed my lips.

    Our kissing was gradually heating up and it all came to an abrupt end when Kira ever so gracefully barged into the bedroom to see me straddling and kissing Kai. To top it all off, I was in my underwear and camisole that I slept in and Kai's hands were making their way to my butt. As soon as my head had whipped around, Kira burst into laughter and collapsed onto the ground. I sat up and straightened out my hair while panicking and blushing only to hear Kira laugh even louder. I hopped off of Kai frantically after seeing I was still straddling Kai and I gave Kira a good kick in the kidney--of course it only hurt me rather than him.

    ~*~*~*~*~*~

    With my heart pounding and my palms sweating, I waited in line to walk onto the stage to receive my diploma case. I continued to fidget with my fingers and avert my eyes to spot where Kai and the others were sitting in the gym. I tried not to rub the sore spot near my collar bone; Kai had given me yet a third hickey right before we left. We were lucky enough to cover it up with makeup, but it would all rub off and expose the intimacy.

    My mind went blank as soon as my name was called and I stumbled across the stage, almost tripping on my gown on the way up. I quickly shook hands with the principal, recieved the little diploma cover, got my picture taken with one of the staff, and quickly took my seat. I released a large breath I had been holding unconsciously and was relieved at the fact that I didn't trip completely.

    The time finally came where we were ordered to stand, the staff voiced a few words, we rotated our tassels to the other side of our hats, and we were pronounced graduated. I joined the rest of the crowd and tossed my crimson hat high in the air while cheering. We all scurried to find our hats with our names on them and the audience was released from the bleachers to congratulate their loved ones. A part of me felt unfortunate; Aya wasn't sitting next to me, throwing her hat in the air, and mom and dad weren't coming down from the bleachers to congratulate us.

    I brushed my cap off after checking for my name and mused at the said thoughts and sighed. I looked around me at all of the students cheering and crying and some were even giving piggybacks. A pair of broad, cold arms constricted around my waist and the hands with the extended nails linked together and pulled me backwards against a sheet of ice. Kai's lips kissed my ear and I could feel them pull into a smile.

    "Congratulations," he whispered. "You're graduated."

    "All thanks to you," I smiled and turned around, only to smile wider after seeing his face and the faces of the rest of the family.

    I gave Kai a quick peck on the lips and he lifted me by my waist and twirled us around a couple of times. I kicked my legs back and coiled my arms around Kai's neck and laughed. I ignored the curious and jealous eyes and only continued to enjoy my moment. Kai and I kissed a few times roughly and Takeuchi and Kira's cheers followed soon after that.

    I frowned at Kai after peeking at the sleeve of my gown, "I look like blood,"

    "I'll bet you taste like blood," Kai smiled.

    "Maybe I should sample the blood," Kira suggested cooly, "to see if it's safe, little brother." he crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.

    I responded by sticking my tongue out at Kira, "Not cool,"

    Kai set me down and kissed me one more time and my heart jumped. Matsuda and Orihime and Miku took their turns congratulating me and I had to bend over to give Miku a hug in her wheelchair. She handed Toshihiro to me and I propped the one-month-old on my waist and he played with my hair. It was surprising to me that he was able to sit upright without head support only after a month of life. Bystanders were probably getting the wrong impression at me holding a baby, but Toshihiro wasn't mine.

    "So, Kurabashi, congratulations,"

    I turned around and met up with no other than Ayameka, "Oh, hi,"

    "So we're finally getting out of here," she crossed her arms as though she were cold.

    "Yeah," I held onto Kai's hand. "We're finally free."

    Ayameka eyed Kai up and down and she sighed, "Well...good luck in the future,"

    My heart stopped and restarted at hearing that and I nodded, "Y-yeah, you too," I smiled halfheartedly. "See you at the class reunion in ten years."

    She only nodded and left and I stared at her, flabbergasted. She actually wished me luck in the future; with my luck, she was probably wishing me luck on the curse she'd cast on me.

    "She means it, Arisa," he looked down at me.

    I only nodded, absorbed in the fact that I was really free and that I'd never see these people for probably another ten years. I would go on with my life with my new family and I wouldn't have to be scared to arrive at school anymore. I was free and able to do whatever I wanted; and I all I wanted to do was live the remainder of my life with Kai.