[---------------]

Chapter Two: Friendships

I left Tokyo Tower about 6:45 pm that evening. Fuu was still there cleaning up the tables and washing up afterward. She said she would take care of it, so I left.

Ferio and Lantis decided to leave 15 minutes before I did. I overheard Ferio talking about a show he wanted to watch on television. I guessed correctly before he could announce it to Lantis.

It was raining when I got off my job, so I grabbed my umbrella and walked swiftly down the street toward to Dojo. Cars flashed by, throwing large amounts of water my way. I dodged them each time a car did so and laughed if I got wet. It was only three minutes of that before I made it into a game.

Letting my umbrella fall to the ground, I rushed up and down the streets, waiting for cars to zip by and dodge the water. Just for fun. It started to rain heavily, but I didn't care. I twirled around in the storm with my face to the sky and when I got dizzy, I stopped and let the rain pound on my back.

I could no longer hear the rain. My heartbeat drained it all.

"Hikaru! What are you doing out in the rain?"

I turned around swiftly and my ponytail almost slapped me in my face. My hair was soaked. My clothes were soaked. I just looked at the figure who had called my name. "Fuu?"

Fuu stepped closer with her umbrella over her head and mine in her other hand. "Hikaru! You can catch a cold out here in this storm! Why aren't you home yet? You should have been home a long time ago. It's almost 7."

I walked over to her and took my umbrella. "But, Fuu! This is so much fun! You should try it. It's a fun game!"

"A game?! To spin around soaked in the rain? I think not." I looked at her and said nothing. "Hikaru, go home. Your mother must me worried about you."

"I don't have a mother."

Fuu lowered her umbrella. "I'm sorry...well, you should go home to your-"

"I know what you mean." I smiled. "Please, join me. I can tell by your expression you never really had any fun."

Fuu smirked. "No. You're right. I never did have any fun. There is no fun in my school or household, just manners. Manners, and learning to be a smart, young lady."

"Fuu."

She looked.

"I'll show you fun if you just lose the umbrella. Hurry! Before the rain stops!"

Fuu hesitated, then closed her umbrella and set it down. She instantly yelped when the rain pounded on her head. "I'm not having fun, Hikaru! I'm soaked! How could this possibily contain fun?"

"Watch." I ran out to the curb and waited for the car. It zipped by and splashed a ton of water over my head and I ran, laughing, when most of the water drowned my back.

Fuu holded her arms. Her pale green and slightly yellow uniform looked dead as it hung to her thigh, close to her legs. Her hair lost its curl. "I don't see any fun in this."

"Because you have to be IN it!" I grabbed her wrist and forced her over to the curb. Sure, she screamed a little bit, but once she got there, she folded her arms again. "Now, when a car comes, stay. When it throws the water, RUN!"

"Seriously, Hikaru. This is so childish."

"Hey, even a fourteen year old should have fun!" Fuu looked over at me, as if stunned my age was fourteen. We were both silent, but my eyes were bright as I prayed for a car to come. In an instant, a red car rolled down the street. "Ready, Fuu?"

"I guess.."

I grabbed her hand and held it tight as the car zipped down the street. "NOW!" We both lept back to the sidewalk and the car threw gallons of water from the flooded streets onto us. I made it out of the way with just my hair wet, but I heard Fuu scream.

I turned, and Fuu stood in the middle of the sidewalk. Her head was hanging and water poured off of her body like waterfalls. Then she looked up at me. "Hikaru.." I gulped and stepped back. "That was great!" Fuu laughed out loud and skipped around the sidewalk. "Hey, follow me!"

I smiled widely, grabbed our umbrellas, and joined Fuu. We ran in the street, the water half way up to our knees; the rain still poured down. Fuu stopped next to me and pointed to the distance. "First one to the corner wins!"

I laughed and we both took our pose. "Ready. Set. GO!" We both took off down the street, as fast as we could. Fuu's yelps and laughter drained the sound of the swooshing water as it pounded in my face. There was no set record, but Fuu reached the corner in about 20 seconds flat; fast for a girl who constantly studied.

Once I caught up, I found Fuu sitting in the dirty water. It came up to her stomach and attacked like waves from behind her. Even though it was raining, I could see tears running down Fuu's pale cheeks. She was laughing so hard.

[---]

I sneaked into the house around 7:30 that night. After the race with Fuu and I, it stopped raining and I managed to dry off a little. I drained the water out of my ponytail just before I walked into the dojo and found myself in a head lock with my older brother, Kakeru.

He rubbed my forehead and his eyes twinkled. "Hikaru, how come you are late?! And your soaked!"

Masaru stepped out from behind him, with his hands on his hips. "Dancing in the rain again, eh?" I laughed and Kakaru let go of my grip. "Go change into your kimono, before Satoru finds out."

Kakeru nodded, and combed his fingers through his black hair. "Go."

I skipped past the two and I could hear them whispering about a new girl in school while they walked into the dojo room. They both went to the High School down the block from Fuu's school. When I opened the slide door to my room, Hikari welcomed me by pouncing on me and licking my face. "Hey, Hikari!" I said, petting his shiny, gray fur.

Sitting on the bed, I looked toward the window. The dew from the plants were shining in the moonlight. It was such a wonderful sight. As I put on my red kimono, I walked toward the window and looked down. Nobody was in the streets. No cars zipped by to splash a helpless girl who never had any fun.

Or maybe they only zipped by when a girl needs hope.

[---]

Late that night, I awoke when the tide of the moonlight crept up to my forehead. I rolled over and threw the covers over my eyes. I thought of Fuu. I wonder if she got back safe and sound. I wonder if she got in trouble, or if she told her parents about all the fun she had. Or maybe she kept it a secret.

I thought about Ferio. He would be there tomorrow again at the diner to tutor Lantis. He had a crush on me, or did he call every girl cute?

And I thought about Lantis. Why didn't he ever smile? He looks too old to be in Middle School and he reminds me of someone. Where have I met him before?

I stopped wondering and pretended to sleep when Satoru opened my bedroom door. He was much older than my other brothers and looked much wiser. My heart pounded when I felt him walk across the room, his kimono brushing against my covers as he picked up my wet clothes, kissed my cheek, and walked toward the door.

I thought of saying "good night", but I fell asleep before he even left.

[---]

Fuu told me to meet her at the corner so we can walk to school together, so I waited across the street from her house. Many girls with lime green and yellow uniforms poured down the sidewalks, all going in the same direction. They all had their school books in their hands, their curly hair bouncing to match their stride.

It only took a few minutes of waiting until Fuu came skipping down the street with her suitcase in her left hand. " 'Morning, Ms. Hikaru!"

"Good morning, Fuu. Sleep well?"

She nodded and we began to walk. "Thanks for the fun time last night. It was great fun."

"Speaking of that, did you get in trouble?"

Fuu hung her head and twisted a stand of her hair. "Yes, I did. My mother grounded me for two days. I've never been grounded before and my mother also cried when she told me my punishment: no work for two days."

I sighed. "I'm sorry, Fuu. Are you upset with me?"

She giggled. "Of course not, Hikaru! I don't do anything but go to school, work, and come home to clean everyday. You showed me a good time, and I'm glad you did." She paused, as if breathing in every word she said. "Without you and your playful self, I would still be a stuck-up-boring-can't-have-fun-fourteen-year-old-girl."

I smiled and looked at the ground. "You aren't stuck up, Fuu. We both just came from seprate lives."

"I guess you are right." She ran her finger close to the fringe of her skirt and twirled around.

"Hey, Fuu. Would you like to visit my house after school? Mr. Reiku said I could came in an hour later because he has an interview with this food person."

"A food inspector." Fuu corrected me.

"Yeah. That." I laughed. "Well, would you? You could meet my brothers, my dog, see my room.."

"I don't know. I'm grounded, remember?"

"But your mother said you are only banned from work. She didn't say you couldn't go over a friend's house!" I said, throwing my arms in the air, almost shouting it.

"Maybe because I never had friends to visit their home." Fuu was quiet. Once we reached the corner, she gave me a silent yes and we waved goodbye.

I walked left, she turned right.

[---]

"Hey! Watch it!" I yelled at the red mini van that swiftly turned the corner. "Watch where you're goin'!" I panted from the rush of the moment and faced the private school. Girls sauntered out with the same uniform as Fuu. It was then I knew I was in the right place.

"Hikaru!" Fuu ran up to me and fixed her glasses. "I'm glad to see you waited for me."

"No problem, Fuu. Anything new?" I asked, as we began to walk down the sidewalk, passing many girls who all looked alike. I counted many stares.

Looking to the sky, I brushed my ponytail behind my shoulder. I stared into the deep blue for a minute as I walked, thinking, until I bumped into someone. Or maybe it was vise-versa.

"Excuse me," said the girl that accidently ran into me. Her ice blue hair and eyes shimmered in the sunlight and her uniform showed she attended the Girls Only Private School. She ran down the street, dodging the traffic of the people and calling out the name 'Mokona'.

I caught one glimpse of her and my eyes widened, as if a piece of my memory found its way back into my mind.

"Umi.."