Disclaimer: FoR is not mine. I make no money out of this. Please leave me alone. Misty Mountain Hope is by Led Zeppelin.
Author's Notes: Yay! So far I'm making good on my one chapter a week promise! Um yeah, read the chapter, enjoy and REVIEW BITCHES!
Thank you notes: Lyris (I'm still trying to maintain her true character, at least in terms of integrity and values. Enjoy this chapter!) Eirist (Aw, Lyris beat you to it. I am also somehow tempted to write RecFuu at one point, you're not alone) loujane14 (Maybe I'll surprise you...okay I probably won't. I'll say it right now, Kurei and Raiha's relationship always held a special place in my heart...because I honestly think Raiha is in love with Kurei, haha. And your theory is very much correct, much pestering on Tokiya's part will be committed) shalei (he's enamored. It's just what I pictured him to be if his family hadn't died and he never experience betrayal) satomika (hehe, funny thing is I was watching Baz Luhrman's Romeo+Juliet when I got this idea, modern plus classic rocks) ohchan (thanks! glad you liked Tokiya and Fuuko's development so far, hope you like the ones in this chapter as well) Nils (Thank you! Aunt Jun is terrible, although it wouldn't be the way you had described it, will not give anything away as it comes to play in the next chapter) kyusetsuki satsuki (kukuku indeed, Tokiya's playing Fuuko, bloody man's engaged and he still offers to show off his sword and moves to other girls, hehe) abubi-chan (the school was fun to write about, and I really wanted to play up the fact that they're teenagers even with all the supernatural things going on because seriously, being a teenager is fun, it only sucks when you're currently one...hehe) Suryasree (Thanks!) SugarArts (Thank you!) SnowCharms (Well, if he knew, there wouldn't be a story...) khay (we can live right next to each other, thanks girly!) yanagi-chyan (dude, you have no reason to be jealous because you're an amazing writer, your fans, including me, can attest to that. Unfortunately, Kurei has evil shaped face, he'd always get the evil end of the stick, hehe and RecFuu is starting to grow on me, meeble) aki reinhart (thanks! that was my favorite part to write, seriously. And I loved writing Recca/Fuuko's friendship. I've sort of patterned after one of my close guy friends...except we shared dirtier jokes and everyone thought we were together but it never crossed the platonic scale and that's what I loved about our friendship)
Chapter Two: Misty Mountain Hop
It had been a very strange week for Tokiya. Nashikiri was very different from his old home, he had known this the moment he had first stepped out of his father's car when he was twelve and smelled the polluted air. It was easy enough to adjust to the smoke and to the spiderweb layout of the city streets. It was the copious amount of people that he was finding very hard to conquer. In the mountains of Hakurei, his sister was his only friend and it was never that hard to get along with her. He got along well enough with his tutor and the servants and he had but two neighbors, both old couples and he never had to worry about making an impression with them.
But here, it was like a jungle of teenagers. He would like to not care, but it was hard to ignore them when they were all over the place. It was extra hard that they all saw him as either that strange, quiet country boy or the new hot student (mostly from the female population). He found it difficult to make friends, he never really had to, so he had no idea how to approach someone new. Yanagi was kind enough to adopt him into her clique, expectedly of course, since she was after all set to marry him. However he found her friend quite annoying, a thought that he kept to himself. He hadn't known Yanagi long enough and he wasn't sure how she'd react if he told her he thought her friends were superficial and imbecilic chits.
That's why he was very thankful of his tentative friendship with Fuuko Kirisawa. They were both very different people but they shared the same passion for their craft. At first she had ignored him, just nodding at him when they would pass each other in the corridors and sitting away from him during classes that they shared. It wasn't until the third day of school, during they psychic devices theory class that she had finally paid attention to him. And only because he had finally swallowed up his pride and asked for her help.
Tokiya was undoubtedly intelligent but his education was limited at best. He had no trouble with physical training. He was at par if not better than most of his classmates in manipulating his psychic devices. It was theory that he was having some trouble with. Not even the best tutor in the world could substitute a true Madogu master. His sensei, Kukai, had been kind enough to understand that he was behind his classmates who had been studying under various Madogu masters all their lives and had offered extra lessons after school but Tokiya, proud man that he was, declined and said that he would have no problem catching up. That turned out to be a mistake, since he found out that he had a mountain of reading materials to catch up on and he wasn't quite sure where to start. So on a busy Wednesday, while the rest of class took advantage of the fact that Kukai was sick with the flu and no one could substitute for him, he walked up to Fuuko Kirisawa and asked her if she would be kind enough to tell him where he should go to get a better understanding of the Madogu Law of Physics.
He thought it was logical to ask her, he already knew her and she was obviously at the top of her class. That didn't stop the shocked expression on her face though. But she quickly got over it and invited him to sit next to her. After that day it wasn't so uncommon to find the youngest Mikagami sitting beside his fiancées cousin in every class, sharing notes and exchanging information under their breaths. They have yet to talk about anything outside of lessons, but he was fine with that. He was just happy that he could talk to someone who enjoyed the art of fighting as much as he did.
He was a bit disappointed that the weekend had come so soon. It meant that he would have to wait until Monday just so he can study with Fuuko again. It wasn't like he could ask her to study with him over the weekend, she had never shown any signs of wanting to spend time with him outside of class as she would usually run off to her two friends once the bell rings for lunch or breaks.
And so he found himself sitting in his room, watching some mindless show on TV and unsuccessfully thinking of ways to entertain himself. He was broken out of his stupor by the sudden staccato ring of the phone beside him. He quickly picked it up and held the receiver near his ear.
"Mikagami residence," he said tonelessly.
A soft voice answered, "Good afternoon, may I speak with Tokiya?"
"This is he," he said, wondering who could possibly be calling him.
"Tokiya-kun, this is Yanagi."
"Ah," he said, questioning himself why he couldn't have guessed immediately.
"Well, Mother would like to find out if you could come over today for cotillion practice? I assume you already know that you are to be my escort for the Debutante ball?" she said shyly.
"Yes, yes. Dad told me before. When do you need me?" he said.
"Now, if you wouldn't mind. I'm sorry for the short notice, I wasn't informed that we would be practicing with our escorts today," she apologized, voice full of embarrassment, "could you come over to our house?"
"I'll leave at this instant," he assured her.
After short goodbyes, Tokiya headed to his room to change out of his pajamas. At least now he had something to do.
...
Tokiya walked up to the rather majestic Sakoshita residence, feeling plain even in his black slacks and blue button up shirt. He took a deep breath before gently banging the brass door knocker. A man in a blue uniform answered the door and immediately recognized him. The butler was about to lead him to the parlor where the other debutantes and their escorts were but Tokiya stopped merely two steps into the house.
He didn't expect to see her here, although it shouldn't have come as a surprise, Yanagi had told him that she normally stays at their house when her father was out of the country.
"Fuuko?" he said tentatively.
Her purple head turned suddenly at the sound of her name. She was wearing something similar to what he saw her in the first time they had met when she was eleven. Denim shorts and a white wife beater, although it looked very different on her now. Her legs had gotten longer and, well, she seemed to be bursting out of her wife beater.
"Hey, Mikagami," she said, letting go of her hold on the balustrade and walked towards him. He tried very much to not let his eyes peruse her body. "What're you doing here?"
"I'm here for cotillion practice," he answered automatically.
"Of course," she said, crinkling her nose.
"Are you here for practice as well?" he asked, feeling very unsure of himself.
She shook her head with a laugh. "I'd look awfully silly in a gown, don't you think?"
He shrugged. He thought it wouldn't have been too bad. "Are you going somewhere?" he asked instead, noticing the body bag on her shoulder.
She nodded. "Um, Recca's picking me up, we're going to catch a movie at the mall."
"Is he your boyfriend?" he had to ask.
He felt rather insulted when she laughed mockingly at him. "No! God, just because a girl and a guy are close, doesn't mean they're shagging on the side."
"I'm sorry."
She rolled her eyes at his quick apology. "Don't worry, you're not the first person to ask," she said assuringly and squeezed his arm for good measure.
He wondered if she noticed his shiver at the contact.
"Anyway," she started, "you should go join them, they look like they're having lots of fun," she said with a snort.
He tilted his head to the side and remembered what she was doing before he had called her attention. "You were watching them."
She appeared unaffected except for the sudden quirk of her lips, so infinitesimal, he wouldn't have noticed if he hadn't been looking at her so intently. "It was just amusing, watching them dance around like circus monkeys," she said, trying to play it off as casual.
He simply nodded and let her think that she had convinced him. He didn't think he had the right yet to dig so deep into her thoughts. But he knew she was lying, her eyes were too expressive and in her unguarded moment, he was able to see her longing.
The honking of a car sought her attention and just like that, Tokiya once again felt like an outsider in her world.
"That'd be Recca, who's not my boyfriend," she said teasingly, "I should go."
"And I'll go play with the circus monkeys," he said in a low voice, unsure how it would go over her.
Thankfully she laughed at his measly attempt at a joke. "Have fun!"
He smirked at her as she started for the door. "You too."
...
Fuuko ran down the marble steps of the Sakoshita residence, her legs reacting to Recca's continuous honking.
"Pipe down, will you? My aunt's gonna kill you!" Fuuko admonished as she got near the car.
Recca finally let the beeping rest. "Get in, we're gonna be late for the movie."
She walked around the driver's side and got into the passenger's seat. She noticed the back seat was missing its usual occupant. "I thought Domon was coming?"
"Nah, he's helping out with the flower shop, can't come," Recca explained as he started pulling out of the driveway.
Fuuko narrowed her eyes, her forehead crinkling. "So that means we're watching a movie, together? Alone?"
Recca grinned. "Yeah. Do I make you nervous?"
Fuuko whacked the side of his head.
"Hey! I'm driving here!"
"Then stop being a pervert," she said, "I was just saying that now more people are gonna think we're together or something."
Recca snickered. "I think we should spite them all by making out."
"How does that spite them all?"
"I don't know, I just wanted to make out."
She whacked the side of his head again.
"Bitch!"
"Perv! Anyway, aren't you supposed to be in love with my cousin?" she said.
He grinned at her. "Being in love and wanting to make out with a smoking girl are two very different things dear," he said cheekily.
"You're pathetic," she said with a shake of her head.
"Speaking of my beloved, how's Yanagi today?" he asked.
"She seemed happy last time I saw her," Fuuko answered, "Tokiya came over today for cotillion practice, so they're dancing away right now."
Recca's disposition suddenly turned sour. "Right."
Fuuko put a hand on the arm that was holding the stick shift. "Look, don't act all depressed if you don't have the balls to fight for her. She doesn't even know you're carrying a torch for her."
He shrugged her hand away. "I just don't want to make a mess of her life, okay? Everyone knew about their engagement before we could even walk. And you know how people are, they're gonna talk shit about her if she just broke that off and got together with another guy. Not to say I even have a chance. She's just so perfect, Fuuko, and she's heading for a perfect life."
Fuuko sighed, personally she thought that if Yanagi could only get to know Recca, she'd be willing to leave her entire life for him. "Sorry."
"It's alright," he said, the smile on his face returning, "you're a good friend."
Fuuko smirked as her thoughts whirled around her head. I'm a great friend, Recca, that's why I'll make sure all your dreams will come true.
...
Tokiya watched his brunette fiancee as she carefully listened to the dance choreographer's instructions. Her face looked serene, thoughtful...beautiful. She stood out in the crowd, with a regal stance and a humble countenance. If life were a movie, she would be the lead character, charming, gorgeous and kind. He understood why everyone at their school flocked to her like moths to the flame, she was luminous next to the mass of lifeless drones. It shouldn't be so difficult to fall in love with her.
And so he told himself he was just tired, that's why he felt nothing when she laid a dainty hand on his shoulder, and he told himself he was sleepy, that's why his heart didn't beat faster when she looked at him, and he told himself he was nervous about school, that's why he couldn't pay long enough attention when she talked to him, and he told told himself he was bored, that's why his thoughts kept drifting towards another girl who had purple hair and intimidating eyes.
...
"That movie was awesome!" Recca exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air as they walked out of the cinema.
Fuuko looked at him incredulously and crossed her arms on her chest. "That was the worst two hours of my life."
Recca gasped as if she just told him Big Bird was shot by a poacher. "Blasphemy! That was cinematic art at its finest!"
"You just liked it because the lead female character spent half the movie topless."
"That too!"
Fuuko shook her head. "You are so weird!"
He winked at her. "It's part of my charm." He swung an arm around her shoulder and dragged her towards the parking lot. "You wanna grab dinner before I drop you off?"
"Let's just have dinner at my Aunt's," she suggested.
"Sure she wouldn't mind?" he asked.
Fuuko looked up at him with a sneer. "We're talking about my Aunt here. She's a notorious social climber, she would love to have you for dinner."
Recca snickered. "That's Aunt Jun alright."
...
Recca yawned as he waited for Fuuko to open the door, her keychain jingling with its myriad of keys.
"Sometime this year?" he nudged.
She stuck her tongue out at him. After a couple more seconds, she finally got the right key and opened the door. They were greeted with Aunt Jun's stern face.
"Where have you—Recca, it's so nice to see you!" Aunt Jun immediately back peddled.
Fuuko rolled her eyes. She was such a suck up. "Aunt Jun, can Recca stay for dinner?"
"Of course, I'll have plate set for you. It's always such a pleasure having you over," the Sakoshita matriarch answered readily, face all saccharine smiles. She turned to Fuuko and pursed her lips at her niece's skimpy clothing. "Fuuko, why don't you go up and change into something more...appropriate."
"Sure," she answered sourly and added in her mind "Anything to get out of your way."
Recca watched Fuuko rush up the stairs two at a time as if a plague was on her tail. He stood there as Mrs. Sakoshita continued to smile sweetly at him. She was about to ask him a question (possibly about his father's social calendar) but he intercepted her before it was too late. "Oh, I was gonna borrow a CD from Fuuko, I'll just go up there right now."
Before the older woman could open her mouth, Recca had walked around her and followed Fuuko up the stairs.
Recca had been very familiar with this place. Before high school happened and the politics of teenagery came into play, Yanagi was also his friend. She was never as close to him as Fuuko was, she had always been proper, obedient and much too reserved to be involved in any of their shenanigans. But he had enough fond memories of playing hide and seek with her.
He remembered the first time he ever saw Yanagi. He was six years old and just had an accident with his skateboard and she saw him fall flat on his face from her little lemonade stand. She rushed up to him, hair in pigtails and wearing a pink apron with a red bow on each strap. She asked him if he was okay and immediately cried when she saw red gashes on his knees. Without a word, she ran back her house and minutes later came out with a first aid kit. And when she gently blew the stinging wound on his knee, Recca knew he was in love.
Of course, at that age it was probably just a crush. But as the years went by and he had gotten to know her, gotten to know that her heart was even more beautiful than her face, he had already irretrievably lost his heart to her. He was heartbroken when he found out about the engagement, to a boy whose father was friends with Mr. Sakoshita. He locked himself up in his room and refused to come out, even when his mother bribed him with ice cream. Then he saw her, with the boy she was to marry. He was taller, much more handsome and she looked very happy to meet him. It broke his little heart again, but he didn't want to intrude on her happiness, he didn't need her to love him back, he just needed to see her smile.
Recca counted the doors, down the hallway, it had been a while since he was last in this place and he wasn't sure where Fuuko stayed these days. He figured it wouldn't have changed since the last time. He counted three doors and opened the door with little caution.
"Yo, Fuuko," he muttered without looking up.
"Recca-kun!"
His head shot up at the squeak that was decidedly not Fuuko's. For one, it was much too feminine, two, Fuuko would never call him Recca-kun, and third, Fuuko didn't squeak.
"Yanagi-chan! Shit! I'm so sorr--" but his apology was cut short when he glimpsed upon her clothing. The the sweetheart neckline adorned with glittering silver sequins, the white satin stretched across her waist before starting a ballerina skirt from her hips down to her torso. His eyes glazed over at the picture she made, "Wow."
Yanagi blinked before realizing what she was wearing. "Oh, it's my dress for the ball. Mother had it ordered from Paris...I think it's a little too much."
Recca shook his head in disagreement. "I think it's perfect."
She blushed at his appraisal. "Really?"
He gave her a gentle smile, holding onto the doorknob tightly to stop himself from rushing to her and taking her in his arms. "Yes. You look like a princess."
She dropped her head to hide her incarnadine cheeks. "Thank you."
Recca felt his insides turn to mush as he watched her fiddle with her hands. How could she not be aware of her effect on him? "I should look for Fuuko."
"Her room's right next door," Yanagi answered, still not looking at him.
"I'm sorry for bursting on you like that," he said. As he turned around and started to pull the door close, she called his name, and it sounded so soft coming from her lips.
"It was very nice seeing you again, Recca-kun," she said.
All he could manage was a nod and a smile, he was very sure he would've blurted out something stupid like 'I love you' if he had dared opened his mouth.
...
Tokiya was not stalking her. It just so happened that he overheard her telling her friends that she was going to the library, and he was already thinking of going to the library at that point. And he was just exploring the many shelves and the extensive collection of books, that's why he had been walking around for the past fifteen minutes around every corner, he was not actually looking for her.
After five more minutes of walking through aisles of strange books (the books about bestiality made him shudder) he began entertaining thoughts that perhaps she had changed her mind about going to the library and was currently off with her friends doing something illegal, like terrorizing senior citizens. He was about to turn back and actually study when he spotted her at the last aisle at the very back of the library, sitting on the floor with a thick, moldy book on her lap. He finally found her and now he wasn't very sure what to do. Why was he even looking for her in the first place. He turned on his heel and started walking the other way but he must've been a bit too loud in his movements because in a fraction of a second she called his name.
"Mikagami?"
He stopped and tried to calm down his breathing before turning around to face her. "Fuuko-san."
She smiled at him. "What're you doing here? People rarely stay long enough to get to this part of the library."
He walked up to her with a steady step. "I was looking for a book about," he said, before randomly pulling out one of the tomes from the shelf and read the title, "How to toilet train your cat...I've been planning to get a cat."
Fuuko giggled. "Well, you wanna join me here? I doubt you want people to see you reading about cat toilet-training."
Tokiya wished the floor would swallow him at that moment. He carefully placed the book back in its place and sat next to her. "It's actually good that I ran into you," he said, his ears burning because he knew that she knew it was a lie, "I was hoping we could do our homework together...it goes by much faster that way."
She shrugged. "Sure. I was about to anyway."
He peered into the book she was reading. "You mean you're not doing homework?" She snapped the book shut before he could take a better look, although he didn't miss the glossy paper and the bold colorful letters.
She became flustered at his question. "No, just doing some extra reading."
He let it pass and continued to take out his notes from his book bag. "Don't you think it's pointless for us to be taking western physics when our Madogus appear to be above such laws."
She nodded, thankful that he had not asked more questions. "My father said the same thing you know. They keep saying that our Madogu's simply defy or bend such laws, they didn't even explore the fact that perhaps the laws they've written are wrong. But it's good, I guess, it's what prevents the scientific world from discovering the secrets of the psychic devices. Can you imagine if everyone in the world ran rampant with a psychic device? It'd be chaos."
He nodded thoughtfully. "Although, it might really be a mix of science and providence. After all, anyone can possess a psychic device, but not all of them would know what to do with it."
"Hmm, guess you're right. My Fuujin picked me, in a way. It was supposed to go to my oldest brother but it wouldn't react to him," she mused.
"I've yet to see your Fuujin in action," he suddenly remembered.
"And I've yet to see you with Ensui," she returned with a smirk.
"How about tomorrow? After school?" he asked.
"Cool," she affirmed. She smiled up at him, obvious excitement at the prospect of a spar and battling a new fighter.
And ripples ran through his skin.
"We should do our homework now," he said, hoping she didn't notice the catch in his breath.
"Sure."
It took them one and a half hours to go through everything. Tokiya had discovered that once Fuuko started studying, you couldn't get her to do anything else. She was as focused with schoolwork as she would be in fighting, never giving up until her task was done (and he supposed, the enemy was unconscious).
Once they had finished they quietly packed up their things. He stood up and held his hand out to help her up. He could feel her discomfort at his chivalry, but he couldn't help it, his father had ingrained it in his system. She took up his offer and brushed her hands against her skirt after she stood up.
"I'll see you, I guess," she said.
"Let me walk you home," he said before he could stop himself.
"I-" she started.
"I would like to say hello to Yanagi, I wasn't able to meet her after school," he added, not wanting her to feel divided.
"O-okay," she finally conceded.
He wanted to ask her if he could carry her bag, but he decided against it. His actions were starting to frighten him, but he still thought it was nice that he could walk her home.
...
"Go Fuuko! Kick his sorry ass to the curb!"
"Shut up Domon!"
Tokiya looked at the gorilla like teen as he jumped up and down, waving hot pink pompoms that he had stolen from the girl's locker room, cheering the girl in front of him on. Much to her dismay, apparently.
"Your friend, is very odd," he said, picking his words carefully.
She scratched the back of her head as she switched her stance from one foot to another. "Sorry about that. When I told them about us sparring, they wanted to see it too."
"Your other friend is glaring at me," he added, watching the one named Recca bore holes through his skull.
"They're very protective," she explained away, "should we start?"
His answer was to take out a bottle of water from the holster at his side.
"I'm not thirsty," she chided.
"Trust me, you're going to be once I'm done with you," he teased arrogantly.
"We'll see about that," she said as she placed a hand on her hip and raised the arm wearing the Fuujin. He felt the winds change as a whirlwind gathered around her hand.
He took out his Ensui and poured the water seemingly onto air. He noted the astonished look on her face as the water wrapped itself around a seemingly invisible rod, fining out like glass until its sharp edges glistened in the sun's blinding rays.
"Enough of this preliminary shit! Start kicking ass!"
"God Domon, shut up!"
Tokiya couldn't hold in his snort. His first mistake as he felt something sharp like knives piercing the skin of his arm. Fuuko had not moved from her spot and she shouldn't have been able to deliver an attack like that without her kunai.
"I have tricks up my sleeve," she said with a wink. "It's called Kamaitachi, just want to let you know what move will beat you." She slashed her arm against the air with a heavy pressure, creating a thin path of wind sharp enough to cut, all heading towards him.
He barely had time to dodge the attack. He landed on his feet and watched the blood trickle down his hand. He smirked at her. "Nice."
"Told you I'm good," she jeered as she prepared another attack.
This time she caught him but then his form disintegrated into water landing in a puddle on the grass. She calculated his moves and predictably he attacked from behind. She decided to wing it and slammed the heel of her hand against his jaw.
He hadn't expected her to pull taijutsu on him. He stumbled back, amazed at the strength of her strike. This was going to bruise in the morning.
"Sorry." The grin on her face told him she was anything but.
His jaw throbbed and he decided this had to end soon, he's not sure how well he'll do if she decided to forget about their psychic devices and start beating his ass the old-fashioned way. He wasn't exactly trained for that, and judging from the force of her punch, she very much was.
He pointed his Ensui so that it was positioned perpendicularly from his body. "Hyapon Gekki," was his only warning to her before he started quick, straightforward striking blows. She was seemingly defenseless against his attack and he felt victory imminent. But her intuitiveness struck through as she swung her arm in an unfamiliar manner. His blows were suddenly blocked by gush of wind so thick, it seemed to have created a wall around her. He watched as she wrapped herself in a whirlwind so strong that it created a whorl on the grass where she stood, his skin hurt from the pressure of it and he was standing a good distance away from her whirlwind.
He smirked. It was a good try and it would take a great amount of skill to be able to create a tornado of this magnitude, but he doubted she'd be able to stand behind it for so long. He'd giver her five minutes at most and he would strike while she caught her breath.
Like a snake he bid his time and as soon as he saw her barrier weaken, he lifted his sword above his head. Her defenses dropped and as he had predicted he saw her gasping for air, but he didn't give her time to recover as he ran up to her, ready to strike a blow on her shoulder.
Wide brown eyes and a moment of hesitation...
Tokiya found himself on his back with a triumphant Fuuko straddling his waist, forehead glistening with sweat, her breasts still heaving from the lack of breath. "That was fun," she said with a huge grin.
He gulped and nodded as he remembered the first time he found himself in this position. Shouldn't he be yelling at her to get off right about now.
A pensive look crossed her face. "Is it just me or are you getting an odd sense of deja vu?"
Before he could answer he heard two pairs of heavy steps rushing up to them. Fuuko got off him and pulled him up with his hand.
"You're not so bad," Recca admitted but the distrustful look on his face never left.
"You're amazing, Fuuko!" the one named Domon squealed. He held out his arms and stepped up to the female fighter.
"Don't touch me," she warned him. Domon folded immediately.
"We should go at it sometime," Recca half heartedly offered Tokiya, although he really wouldn't mind getting the chance to beat the living daylight out of the other guy.
Tokiya merely nodded, unsure how to address a person who had an obvious dislike for him. He wondered if Fuuko was at all aware that her oft proclaimed best friend was crushing on her.
The flame caster, after giving his obligatory appraisal, turned to the purple haired girl. "Yo, Domon and I are gonna go grab some burgers. Wanna join?"
"You guys go ahead, I'm gonna drop by the house first and shower," she said, making a show of sniffing her clothes. She turned to Tokiya and kindly extended the invitation. "How about you?"
Tokiya appreciated that she was nice enough to invite him for show but he didn't really fancy going with her two friends, especially when one of them didn't bother to hide the fact that he hated him.
"I'm good. I need to head home early anyhow," he declined. With a nod of goodbye, he headed towards the bleachers to collect his things. He heard Fuuko tell Recca and Domon that she'll see them later. He turned his head around and waited for her to catch up to him.
"We should make this a regular thing. I could learn a lot from you, I suck a bit at tactical combat," she said as they reached the bleachers.
"And I suppose you could help me with taijutsu. I've only ever learned sword fighting, never really ventured into martial arts," he said. It was their little way of giving each other props.
He zipped his bag and fixed it on his shoulder and waited for her as she did the same with her gym bag.
"Hey," she said as she fiddled with her straps, "why did you stop?"
Tokiya crinkled his brows in askance.
"You were going to strike, but you hesitated, that's why I was able to counter. I just want to know why?" she clarified. "I hope it's not because you think I'm weak."
He let out a breath slowly. "I couldn't hit a girl?" he said, tone dipping at the end as if asking for approval with his answer.
She laughed. "You do realize that I'm not the only female combatant there is, you're going to eventually have to hit a girl."
"Maybe," his breath hitched, wondering if it was proper to say such things, "I just couldn't hit you."
She looked up his ice blue orbs, cold and stormy yet there was something warm in there, something that made her skin prickle and the back of her head pulsed warning her of something, yet it spoke in a foreign language that she couldn't quite understand.
"I have to go home," she said suddenly.
"Fuuko..."
"I'll see you around, okay? I mean you're my cousin's fiancee...you'll be around the house a lot and I'll see you." She turned around, unable to hold his stare, afraid she might burst.
Tokiya watched her run away, wind blowing wildly against her in directions that made no sense. He wondered if it was reacting to her, she was the wind goddess after all. If it was, perhaps he wasn't alone in the confusion of his mind.
To be continued...
END NOTES: I would like to thank wikipedia for helping me remember names and attacks. I hope that second attempt at an action scene was better. Next chapter, diabolical things happen...and a debutante ball. That's sort of redundant, heh.
THANKS FOR READING AND DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!