Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Inuyasha or any of its characters. I do not own Goodbye to you performed by Michelle Branch.

Please forgive any spelling and grammar mistakes.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

This is NOT the last chapter…..I thought about it and decided that if I kept everything I had planned for the final chapter together it would make for a ridiculously long long long chapter @__@. So I decided to post what I have done for you guys then immediately start working on the second half as soon as I possibly can….The two sections (making up 20% of what's left of this chapter is pretty long thus resulting in posting Graduation as two chapters and I might even go into more detail and add a few more sections…haven't decided yet.)

Hope you all like this chapter….please review and the last part coming within the next two weeks…check my author profile for my author notes about the chapter progression…..and thank you all for your wonderful feedback! ^__^

From Friendship to Love

Chapter Eighteen: Graduation Day Part 1

Inuyasha rolled his neck back trying to loosen the cramp that ached through his upper spine. He walked slowly away from the football field pass the gym and towards the senior parking lot. Graduation practice had just been adjourned. It had been the longest hour and half of his life.

The blazing sun burned into his skin as he sat in his seat waiting for each student to be called up to the stage to receive the tickets for the event. Later in the evening when the graduation commencements began the students would be called up and instead receive their diploma.

His heart weighed heavily down into the pits of his stomach. It was midday and in a little over six hours he would graduate. Naraku and his father had arranged for the principal to announce his and Kikyou engagement right before the class was declared graduated. That single idea caused Inuyasha's heart to turn inside out in agony. It was not fair to Kagome, to have to sit and hear about Kikyou and him but he had no power to change his father or Naraku's mind.

Inuyasha squinted his eyes when he left the haven and shadows of the trees surrounding the gym. He could hear Kikyou and Sakura giggling and going over their plans for the day. By the sound of their voices Inuyasha knew they were close behind him, not really caring he continued walking towards his car when he entered the gate of the parking lot.

After graduation, he would ask Kikyou marry him. She would find out by the president's announcement, but Inuyasha had to make it official afterwards. He had suspicions that Kikyou already knew just by the way she had been constantly clinging to him, and hinting around the subject of their future together.

He wished Kikyou was still mad at him, at least then he had a few hours of peace. When Kagome hit Kikyou at Rin's party a few days earlier, Kikyou had a fit that Inuyasha didn't race to her side and then was even more pissed when Kagome went without him attacking her.

After Kagome raced out of his room that day, Inuyasha had just sat on his bed forcing himself to believe there was a reason to continue living. He was glad Kagome left when she did because barely five minutes later Kikyou burst through this door screaming at him for not upholding her honor or something along those lines. He had not been listening. Eventually the irate girl stormed from his room and refused to talk to him until later that night.

Inuyasha caught the sight of Kagome sitting on the back of Rin's car waiting patiently for Sango and Rin. Her chin rested in her closed fist and she looked like she was ready to get the hell out here. He couldn't blame her; he wanted the same thing himself. Inuyasha quickly looked away not wanting to have to fight to control the raging pain that swamped him every time their eyes met.

The clouds above passed over the sun and darkened the outside light a bit. Kikyou quickened her pace to catch up to her boyfriend. Upon reaching him she entwined her hand with his, he stopped dead in his tracks. The pale girl stared at him in confusion for a second as he regained his posture.

"Is anything wrong, baby?"

Inuyasha turned so that he faced her slightly annoyed to be torn from his thoughts, "Nothing is wrong," he snapped back.

Kikyou glared at him, "Obviously something is wrong or you would not be such an ass to me."

"There is nothing wrong ok?"

"Fine," she gave up, no use arguing, 'besides I already know what is eating at you, Inuyasha. You're mine. You can never be with that whore you betrayed me with. If I ever find out who that fucking bitch is… Inuyasha, I swear to you, she'll disappear from the face of the planet. You'll never see her again,' Kikyou cocked an amused eyebrow at her thoughts while an evil smirk began to form on her lips.

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Miroku softly squeezed Sango's hand as they stepped inside the gate of the lot. Sango let out a long sigh, but squeezed back. She scanned the surrounding area and saw Kagome sitting alone on Rin's car, a few people scattered here and there, a few cars driving away, and Inuyasha staring at Kikyou as she rambled about her plans for the day. She was loud enough the entire school to hear.

The dark-haired man stopped and pulled the love of his life into his arms. He gently kissed her forehead, delighting in the feel of her hands clasped behind his neck.

"Today is going to be hard on her," Sango sadly stated. She hated seeing her close friend hurting so much. Kagome had been there for her for what seemed like forever, she always found a way to light up a dark situation. Sango wished she had to ability to do the same for her friend.

"I know, just try to keep her mind off him and just be there for her."

Sango smiled up at Miroku, "Rin has the 'preoccupied' plans in wraps. I don't think Kagome will have time to think until we drop her home an hour or so before graduation to finish her packing. What about Inuyasha?"

Miroku tightened his hold on her and looked in her eyes. He loved her so much; he could only imagine how it would feel to be in Inuyasha and Kagome's situation. Miroku figured he would have already been locked away in a mental institution by now. But again both Kagome and Inuyasha were very strong people. But he knew they had to be hanging on by only a thread by now.

"Um, I think we are just going to hang around my house playing video games or something until Inuyasha's meeting with the newly joint companies. He wanted to know what time he had to be here. In the school cafeteria a half hour before graduation right?"

Sango nodded her head.

"Okay, I will tell him. But I think um…" Miroku turn his head to glance over at his friend, "I am going to go save Inuyasha and head on out."

"Alright," she replied sadly not wanting to let him go.

Miroku pulled her closer to him for a firm embrace before capturing her lips in a short but passion filled kiss.

"See you later on. I love you," he whispered in her ear.

Sango closed her eyes, smiled and strengthen her grip, "I love you too."

He let her go and grabbed her hand. Miroku tenderly kissed it before walking away towards Inuyasha. Sango watched him leave but jumped about three feet high when Rin clutched her on the shoulder.

"Damn it, Rin!" Sango almost screamed.

Rin started laughing, her other hand covering her mouth in an attempt to control the bubbling amusement.

"Sorry," her voice was muffled and pleased.

"Yeah whatever," Sango smiled at her, grabbing her arm and pulling her towards Kagome, "We have a mission, remember?"

Rin almost tripped over her own feet at the pace Sango was dragging her but after a few seconds was able to balance so she wouldn't fall, "How could I forget? The whole idea was mine."

Sango rolled her eyes, reaching up to brush a piece of hair from her face, "You did forget something. We have to be at the spa for our appointment in ten minutes, we have no time for conversation."

"As I recall Sango, I wasn't the one sucking face," Rin beamed when Sango's normal skin colored turned unusual shades of red.

"Shut up. I was saying goodbye."

They reached Rin's bright yellow convertible. Kagome sat up, straighten a bit and flashed a small grin towards her bickering friends. Sango motioned for her to get in the car.

"If that was your 'goodbye'. Then I don't want to even think twice about what you two do before your goodbye," Rin bit her lip and gripped steering wheel to keep from slipping out of the driver seat before she could shut the car door as her body shook with laughter.

"Rin…" Sango warned.

Kagome piled into the back seat, scooting to the middle, she rested her arms on the two front seats, listening with interest at their topic of conversation.

"Okay. Okay. I'll stop with the jokes." Rin giggled.

"Thank you." Sango replied please she was no longer the center of discussion.

"What's on the agenda today?" Kagome asked quickly getting bored now that the fun was over.

"Well, first the spa, then the salon and after that lunch in the city. Then we'll drop you off at home so you can finish packing, sound good?" Rin answered her question.

"Sounds great," and with that Kagome sat back against the seat, her eyes found Inuyasha hugging Kikyou and her heart twisted. She watched him walk with Miroku to their cars as Rin drove out of the parking lot. Tonight she was to going to have to say farewell to everybody. Goodbye may not be forever but Kagome knew it would be a long time before she would be able to come back here after she left.

Tonight would be the end. She would leave and life would go on.

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Rin watched Kagome curiously from across the table. She could hear the heavy chatter of those around them. Kagome had barely eaten a bite since the food had been brought to them. Instead she sat staring at her plate, her hand subconsciously stirring her soup into a whirlpool. Her other hand rested underneath her chin, balled loosely around her jawbone. Rin sat back in her chair and looked around the room.

The restaurant they were in was almost completely made of glass. The walls, the ceiling, and the doors all let the beautiful brightness of the day illuminate the dining area. Sango sat at the head of their small rectangular table, and caught Rin's attention when she spoke.

"How much do you have left to pack, Kagome?"

Kagome ceased her the circular motions that fueled her liquid tornado. She looked up at her friend then over across the table to her other friend; a weak smile was her answer.

"Kagome?!" Sango spoke again, laying her fork next to her plate.

"Not much, just a few things I didn't want to pack until I left for good."

Rin smiled. She didn't want Kagome to leave. She knew she would miss her more than words could say. But there was no stopping her from going. If Sesshoumaru had to marry someone else, Rin knew she would want to be far away form the source of her pain too. She glanced down at her watch; Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha's meeting is about an hour away. Rin hoped that Naraku's daughter agreed to help Inuyasha. She hated to see her friends in so much anguish.

A soft, gently melody emerged from Rin's small black handbag. Without a single thought, Rin reached in her purse, grabbed her cell, flipped the silver electronic up, and answered her phone.

"Hey!" Intuition told her who it was.

"Rin…" A cool collective voice filled her ears.

"Did she?" Rin's voice overflowed with hope and she smiled at Sango and Kagome when they gave her questioningly looks.

"No."

Rin bite the inside of her lip, her heart wretched for Kagome and Inuyasha, 'Damn it, Damn it, Damn it!'

"Mother is still speaking with her and will continue to do so until the meeting. Kagura has refused every offer we have given her." Rin could hear the slight irritation in his voice.

"Have you offered protection?"

A few moments went slowly by…

"Explain."

Rin stared at Kagome while her mind tried to find words to explain to Sesshoumaru what she meant. Kagome did not need to know there was hope, however small. The poor girl did not need any more heartache.

"If the girl does what you ask, what guarantee does she have that her and her little sister would not receive the full blow of her father's wrath?"

Rin could almost hear the wheels turning in her fiancée's head as she waited for his response.

"I see. I need to asking something of you."

The small girl shook her head, understanding that Sesshoumaru was finished speaking of the matter, "What do you need, Sess?"

"I need you to pick something up for me at Takara Kin."

"What did you get from there?" There was no way in hell she was picking up that bitches'…

"It is not mine. My brother ordered an item and cancelled it some weeks ago. They called the house for confirmation of his cancellation and I merely reordered the item."

Rin picked up her water glass and took a small sip while her mind analyzed the number of things Inuyasha could have wanted from that store. Dismissing any thoughts about it when Kagome excused her self from the table, Rin answered Sesshoumaru.

"Yeah, I will pick it up after Sango and I drop Kagome off at her house."

"Very well."

"Anything else?"

"No, I believe that is all. Thank you."

"Your welcome. So I guess I will see you at my graduation?"

"I would not miss it for the world, Rin."

The energetic female could not contain her smile, "Ok, bye."

"Good bye."

Sango observed Rin flip her phone shut and shove it back into the tiny bag. She looked at her empty plate and over at the bowl full of uneaten soup. Kagome had left to use the restroom. It was clear that their attempt to keep her mind off Inuyasha had lasted while they were busy at the spa and salon but now that Kagome's mind had time to catch up to her body, she was having a difficult time.

"I assume she is done with her food. We'll take her home, and then I have to come back to the city to pick something up for Sesshoumaru. Do you want to come with me?" Rin broke Sango from her thoughts.

"Yeah, what do you have to get?"

"I have no clue. He would not tell me, we have to pick it up at Takara Kin"

Sango squinted her eyebrows together in confusion.

"I know, I am just as lost as you are. I guess we will find out what it is when we get it."

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*Of all the things I've believed in
I just want to get it over with
Tears form behind my eyes
But I do not cry
Counting the days that pass me by*

Kagome tapped the volume louder of her radio, the song playing sang to her soul. It wept and grieved with her broken heart. She gently laid the last article of clothing in her yellow suitcase, which rested on the bare mattress. . She turned a little and reached for the silver picture frame on the stand next to her bed. Picking the sparkling silver square up with her dominant hand, Kagome's remaining hand fingered the male figure encased behind the glass.

*I've been searching deep down in my soul
Words that I'm hearing are starting to get old
It feels like I'm starting all over again
The last three years were just pretend
And I said,*

He looked so carefree and happy. It had been a long time since she had seen his eyes lit up so much. Inuyasha…her Inuyasha. Kagome could feel the warmth of her tears trail gracefully down her cheeks rolling off her chin then onto the clear surface.

*Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to*

She moved back towards her luggage and placed the picture on top of the piles of clothing. Her hands then slid up from the center of her chest, gliding behind her neck and unclasping the necklace Inuyasha had given her for Christmas. She held the glowing pink orb in her palm before placing it next to the picture. It was time to let him go.

*I still get lost in your eyes
And it seems that I can't live a day without you
Closing my eyes and you chase my thoughts away
To a place where I am blinded by the light
But it's not right *

She would always love him. There was no way she could ever stop. But she couldn't move on if she stayed. Kikyou would be his wife, the woman he would spend the rest of his life with. It would be easier on the Inuyasha and herself, if she left. She could never, would never see him again after tonight. She would stick with that decision, no matter how much it killed her.

*Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to*

Kagome looked around her room for anything she missed. Besides the furniture and a few books and nick-knacks she decided not to take, the room was bare. Seeing that there was nothing left to pack, she flipped the cover over the suitcase and with each hand on each side of the luggage gripping the zipper she zipped it closed.

*And it hurts to want everything and nothing at the same time
I want what's yours and I want what's mine
I want you
But I'm not giving in this time *

When her hands met at the center of the bag, her eyes fell upon the ring on her finger. Inuyasha had given it to her for Valentines. She had never taken it off since the day he put it on. She loved the ring; it symbolized and reminded her of how much Inuyasha loved her. But if she was going to let him go, she'd have to let it all go. The fingers of the opposite hands grasped the gold object tightly and began to pull it slowly towards the end of her finger.

*Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
The one thing that I tried to hold on to*

Before the ring got pass her knuckles, Kagome squeezed her eyes shut as a swarm of tears flooded her eyes. She didn't want to let him go but she had too. Her hands curled together as she pulled them to the center of her chest hugging them tightly over her beating heart. She would not take the ring off. It was the only thing left of her and Inuyasha's love, and she never wanted to forget that someone even if it was for a short time, loved her so much. Inuyasha had loved her.

*Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
The one thing that I tried to hold on to*

She would never forget. She would make it without him and her life would move on away from her friends and away from him. When she looked back on her time with him, Kagome knew now that it would be joy and happiness she saw in her memories. Inuyasha and her may not be able to live happily ever after but she would think back on him as the years pass and never regret loving him or being loved by him. So then there was hope for her after all.

*And when the stars fall
I will lie awake
You're my shooting star*

Souta opened his sister's door catching Kagome's attention. She smiled at him, despite the pain of losing Inuyasha; she was feeling much better after her newfound revelation. Kagome reached over towards her small radio and turned the volume back down when a new song emerged from the speakers drowning out any possibilities of successful communication between the siblings.

"Mom wants me to put the last of your luggage in the car, so we can go to dinner before you have to be at school," Souta spoke, his voice cracking a bit.

Kagome smiled at her brother, he had grown up so much in the last year. His boyish figure had already begun to expand into a man's body. His voice falling deeper into the adult male he would become.

"Okay," Kagome pulled the yellow suitcase off her bed, walked over and handed it to her little brother.

"Are you ready to go?" he asked her before stepping out of the doorway; he hated the fact that his sister was leaving so soon. He had no time to prepare for her absences since she had announced she planned on going to school in England and would be leaving only a few hours after her graduation. He would miss his big sister more than he wanted to admit.

"Yes."

Souta nodded before descending down the stairs with the heavy bag. Kagome stepped closer to the door, grabbing the knob in the process. Looking around the room one last time she whispered, "Goodbye to you…Goodbye to everything," Kagome gently closed the door and followed her brother.

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Inuyasha stared coldly at the faces in the airless meeting room. There had to be at least fifty lawyers and business partners in the room. Naraku and his father sat in the front of the room facing their old and new colleagues or employees. Inuyasha despised everyone in the room but not as much as he hated the two men priding themselves for their companies and the great empires they would become. Inuyasha had fought with everything he had against this merger at least the part that involved him. Nobody knew that he had hired over a dozen legal analyst and lawyers to get him out of his pending death sentence.

He figured it was a good thing not even his brother knew of his battle with their father and the legal system because then Sesshoumaru would not know of how miserably Inuyasha had failed in trying to save himself. Sesshoumaru had always thought of him as a screw up. Sometimes Inuyasha couldn't blame him especially when it came to his more recent self-destructive action.

The silvered haired senior shifted in his black leather chair as a lady behind him cleared her throat. The meeting had been schedule to start ten minutes prior; however, the absence of Sesshoumaru was postponing the gathering from beginning.

Inuyasha did not want to be present either. They were not going to tell him anything he did not know already. The meeting was strictly an overview of the terms and decisions of the contract, an open forum for any questions or objections anyone might have, then finally an agreement on how the merger of two of the biggest companies in the world would be announced to the press and their clients.

Every time any one would look at him, Inuyasha would stare frigid daggers at them. They watched him as they saw his father, a very power, and rich man who could destroy their career at any given word. The sun began to beam through the blinds of the windows as the afternoon fell closer to the darkness of the night. The normal white room glowed an orange hue.

"Fine, we will save the review for later when Sesshoumaru decides to show up. Until then any final inquiries or oppositions left may be spoken at this time." Mr. Tama's irritated voice broke the silence of the crowded room and muffling the sound of the dark wooden door being shut.

The two leaders waited impatiently for someone to speak, never noticing the presences of an additional person to the room. .

"Very well, then we shall move o…" Naraku's deep, eerie voice was cut off.

"I have an 'objection' as you might call it, father."

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And yes I am afraid I have to leave it here because that is all I have time to type out right now.

PLEASE REVIEW and tell me your thoughts!!!!

Ok again Graduation Day Part 2 coming within the next two weeks. I have a speech, a psychology exam, work, homework, among loads of other things to get done…but I promise any spare time I have will be devoted to finishing the last part to my final chapter. I will also be placing at the end of Part 2 a preview of the Sequel to this story …Then from Love until Forever!!!!!!!!!

^__^ Hope you all have a great two weeks….

Until Next Time….