Woo-hoo! The final chapter!!

My Best Friend's Brother
Written by: Jill Annette

CHAPTER FOURTEEN – STARTING NOW

She crossed the stage in the auditorium; proud strides carried her from one side to the next as she shook hands and received a blank scroll that was meant to represent her diploma. The year was over, she had graduated. Rei whooped from the front half of the students, calling Usagi's name and laughing holding up her own scroll. Fighting the urge to run up to her best friend and squeezing her until she could not breathe, Usagi continued her stride back to her seat.

Afterwards, when they threw their hats and every person in the building was out of their chairs, Usagi found Rei and proceeded to choke her in a death grip of a hug. "Can you believe it?!"

Rei bounced in Usagi's hold, "I know, I know, we are amazing!"

They parted; then separated to find other friends and acquaintances throughout their former classmates: congratulating and being congratulated. The stream of people seemed endless, every time Usagi turned around there was another person she hadn't spoken to. By the time she thought her mouth would fall off from the pain of smiling so much caused, the crowd started to thin and she was finally able to start breathing. Only, catching site of yet another person, her breath left her again.

Mamoru. His name was barely a whisper on her lips. He wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug – she had been receiving many bear hugs like this since they became official. It felt nice to be held so securely and by someone who cares so much about her. Usagi burrowed into his embrace – her cheek finding the soft spot beneath his shoulder.

"Congratulations, graduate," he murmured into her hair.

She beamed, "Thank you."

He kissed her hair, her nose, and her lips.

Arm and arm they strolled out of the auditorium to catch up with Rei and Yuuichirou. Tonight was a turning point in their life, a night they would all remember.

---

The cabin sat on top of a hill, a dirt pathway stretched from the porch do a wooden staircase that ended on sand. The beach welcomed them, waves reaching out to them as far as they could before being retracted by the undertow. Rei and Usagi walked the beach, their bare feet sinking in the soft sand.

"So what do we do now?" Rei asked.

Usagi shrugged, glancing back at the cabin. She spotted Mamoru standing at the top of the stairs, mesmerized by the beach.

Rei groaned, "You sicken me!"

"What?" Usagi gasped, "Why?"

Throwing her hands up in the air, Rei said, "You guys can't even keep your eyes off each other for more than ten minutes."

Usagi bowed her head, "Oh that."

"Oh that," Rei mocked.

Using her shoulder, Usagi shoved Rei, a small laugh escaped her. "At least I'm not hanging all over him."

"Hmm," Rei agreed.

Both of them had images of graduation earlier that day, the get-together afterwards for the recently graduated could mingle a little longer. They hired the band now known as Princess Kakyuu and the Three Lights for the ceremony. Even Yuuichirou agreed that their music was mind-blowing. However, during their breaks, Kakyuu would pin herself to Seiya in an almost grotesque display of affection.

"Glad you got out of that one while you did," Rei muttered against the wind.

"Huh?"

"You would have turned into a suction cup!"

Usagi laughed. "That's not funny! Seiya is a really nice, talented man."

"Who loves to have his girlfriend literally on him ninety percent of the time."

The blond shrugged. "He's in love."

"So are you and I and none of us are leeches."

"Stop it!" Usagi rolled her eyes.

"You know it's funny."

"Whatever, let's go back."

"Wait a minute." Rei caught Usagi's arm. "I just wanted to say that I truly am sorry for trying to keep you from my brother earlier this year."

"Why are you apologizing?"

"I just, I feel really bad." Rei leaned on one foot, then the other, twisting her fingers together. "I mean, you guys are really – truly – meant to be together."

"It doesn't matter," Usagi said, waiving it off. "You were forgiven a long time ago."

"Thank you," Rei said, and she hugged her friend.

Returning the gesture, Usagi said, "Anytime."

Spinning around, Rei and Usagi made their way back to the cabin.

---

After dinner, the four sat around a camp fire. They told stories and laughed as the night wore on. Eventually Rei retired to her room and Yuuichirou followed shortly after. Mamoru and Usagi were left with the dimming fire and the night sky blanketing them. Neither spoke for the longest time as they held each other.

"What are you thinking?" Mamoru asked, bending his head to look at Usagi.

"Nothing really," she replied.

"There has to be something going on through that mind of yours." He lightly tapped her forehead.

She shrugged, "It's just, this, right now, is so perfect. Who's to say it is always going to be like this."

Mamoru was quiet for a moment. "No one will."

Usagi sat up straight, extracting herself from Mamoru's hold. "Then why even bother?"

Taking her hand, Mamoru traced the lines of her palm with his thumb. "Even though our life may not always be this perfect, this calm, this stress-free, it doesn't mean I will just stop caring for you. I'm in this for the rest of my life – as scary as that might sound right now."

Wide eyed, Usagi asked, "Really?"

"Yes." Mamoru nodded. "No matter what happens you will be a part of my life and I'm not rushing anything because I know we'll last."

Usagi leaned into him, capturing his lips with her own. This would be the first kiss of many she would initiate. Encircling her arms around his neck, she buried her fingers into his hair. He leaned into her, stretching her body back.

"You taste wonderful," he whispered against her lips.

Cracking her eyes open, Usagi found Mamoru watching her flushed expression. She smiled meekly and he kissed her again.

Usagi broke the kiss, "So this is the rest of our life?"

"Yes." Mamoru nodded. "Starting now, you are my constant."

---

I hoped you enjoyed this! I'm extremely tired because I stayed up until four in the morning selling Harry Potter books last night and I have to go back into work in about an hour and it's not even noon yet. Point is, I don't have much to say. Too tired to think.

Thank you guys who stuck with me from the beginning.