Disclaimer: No, everything FoR (Except this fic) is not mine. Really.
Author's Note: The title of the last chapter came from the 1st line of the chorus from the song "This Love" by: Maroon 5, by the way. Sorry it took me so long to update! With school and life whatnot. This chapter is long and things get a little "fluffy" here so I guess you guys will be satisfied right? Personally, I like ToFu's little repartee going on in the story. Right, I should get to bed... Finished writing this at 1:19 AM afterall. Enjoy!
Kohai - lower classman
Divine Intervention
Chapter Three: Shooting the Messenger
Mikagami Tokiya did not sleep very well that night. His sister's words still resonate in his mind with deadly precision. Heck, even covering his head with a pillow didn't help him one bit. What time is it? Groaning, the boy sat up and snatched a gray alarm clock that was innocently sitting on his bed side table. 4 AM… 4 AM. 4 stinking AM. No matter how many times I repeat it, that will still be the same time. Oh, 4:01 AM. I stand corrected.
After rubbing his eyes, the sleepy swordsman forced himself to get off the mattress that now has lopsided sheets. He slapped his face a couple of times before he dragged his comatose body to the kitchen. Tokiya grabbed a stool, sat on it, and used the counter as a make shift pillow. He was supposed to make warm milk to help him sleep but his lithe body gave in to the inevitable grogginess.
Unbeknownst to the young man softly snoring atop the marble kitchen counter, the spirit of his loving sister crept into the bedroom to get his blanket. In one fluid motion, she gently wrapped the thing around his body. Once she was solid enough, her hand brushed away the stray hairs that were covering his face. A buss from Mifuyu was planted on the Ensui master's forehead and a rare smile graced his boyish features.
"Tokiya, you're going to get one heck of a back ache when you wake up." The older girl chortled after she said that thought out loud. She then reminded herself that her "plan" must be executed immediately as soon as her brother makes his way to school.
True to Mifuyu's prediction, the boy did wake up moaning and rubbing his sore part. It took him a while to fix breakfast and to get ready for school. Ohhh… It's going to take a miracle for me to get through the day. He thought while rubbing his back. Once the pain subsided, he was poised to leave the apartment when he remembered his sister is in the presence of the house.
"Itekimasu." He whispered and took his leave. The apparition took this as her cue to put her plan into action.
This particular morning's temperature was just right. Not too hot and not too cold. Too bad Tokiya's "admirers" thought it was the perfect opportunity to fawn all over him. Girly shrieks of "Senpai!", "Kakoiiii!", "Go out with me!" and everything else imaginable broke the sanctity of the swordsman's day. If only I didn't have self-control… IF ONLY!
Fuuko saw the scene unfold right before she walked into the building. She shook her head in disbelief and felt sorry for her comrade. This really looks bad… Heh, Fuuko-chan to the rescue! The Fuujin master turned around and made a beeline at hormone palooza that's taking full swing.
"Ne! Mikagami-senpaii!" The wind child cooed and waved her arms around to get his attention. Seeing that "Feminine Persuasion" didn't work, she decided to turn to brute force as way of passage. Crude? Yes. Effective? Definitely.
"Hey! That hurt!" Ah, a casualty. Fuuko assumed that this one's a kohai. The girl crossed her arms and glared at our purple-haired heroine. The latter just grinned, much to the former's chagrin.
"Well, tough luck, Princess! Colder-Than-The-South-Pole there is being summoned by his homeroom teacher. Move it!"
"No way! I was here first! Wait, you called Mikagami-senpai a what!" Kohai stood there, incredulous to what the Fuujin master called her "beloved". Ooohoh boy… She wants to make something so simple so god damn complicated!
"Woman, do you want a black eye that will be visible at the very top of Tokyo Tower? DO YOU?!" Everyone in the vicinity paused and stared at the two. Fuuko was cracking her knuckles. The younger girl gulped and stepped back.
"N-no,"
"Good. Now, step aside." The girl obeyed and Fuuko gave everyone in the circle the "evil eye".
"So, anyone willing to step up to the plate," Silence greeted her.
"Che. Figures… Why do people always shoot the messenger?" She took only one step and every girl with .5 radiuses to Tokiya parted like the Red Sea. The Fuujin master sighed and made her way to one stunned swordsman. So this is how it feels to be inside of an eye of the storm…
"You–"
"Shh. Let's go before they recover from the shock." The girl grabbed his wrist and dragged him out of the x-chromosome induced madness. The boy didn't know if he should be embarrassed or grateful for what had just happened.
Once they were out of earshot, Fuuko let a guffaw escaped. Oh, not a giggle, a guffaw (A giggle would be too girly). It was so powerful that her free hand grabbed her stomach and then held the wall for support. Mikagami didn't think the situation was that funny at all.
"Kirisawa…" His tone was dry but she wasn't quite finished yet.
"I-I'm sorry Mi-chan! That was just like a scene from a shoujo manga! Fact is really stranger than fiction! Hooo, okay, laugh trip over!"
There was a long interval of silence after Fuuko laughed herself silly over her comrade's ordeal. She straightened herself up and took a good long look at Tokiya. His grim expression never faltered under her scrutiny.
It was the swordsman who spoke first.
"You didn't have to do that." Huh? The Fuujin master's curiosity was immediately replaced by utter confusion. She furrowed her brow; scratched the side of her head with her free hand.
"Eh? What did I do?" And now, she plays dumb…She was testing his patience. Tokiya sucked in breath and tried to speak in an even tone.
"Lie to that kohai and scared the souls out of those girls."
"Ahhh, that! You see, I had to…" What's that supposed to mean?
"Oh? You 'had' to do it?" Hey! I just helped you, dammit! Fuuko's temper flared up at that instant. She fought the urge to punch the boy senseless. BOKE!
"Wait, let me rephrase that: I wanted to do it."
"Huh, care to enlighten me on why you did that on your own free will?" The Ensui master felt his resolve dissolve. Her answer was so straightforward that it caught him off guard. Why? We're not that close… And still she…
"Agh! Geez, you were trapped! I had to do something!" Fuuko unconsciously tightened her grip on Mikagami's wrist. The boy crouched down to look her straight in the eye. She winced.
"Did I ask for help?"
"What?!"
"I said, did I ask for help?"
"No… But—"
"See? There you go."
Fuuko was speechless… For about three seconds. "Mikagami! God! You were in trouble," She can not believe what she was hearing from this boy. "Even if you or the others ask me or not, I, Kirisawa Fuuko, will help out her friends!"
"Wait… Friends?"
"Yes, friends!"
"You're considering me as your 'friend'?" A yell of exasperation found its way out of the wind girl's mouth. She wanted to hit her head at the wall beside her. Repeatedly. In this bizarre universe... Yeah, I suppose!
"For a smart guy, you're so stupid. Oh, and you're fucking welcome!" The wind girl was about the leave in a huff but the Ensui master's reflexes sprang into action. He shifted Fuuko's hand from his wrist to his palm and gently tugged her back.
"Wait!" The Fuujin master spun around and her hand felt tiny in Mikagami's grip. She gulped and felt a slight blush coming on. What's gotten into this guy?!
"What do you want?" He paused and found his free hand was now holding the girl's hand too, making Fuuko flush even more. As if it were on cue, the school bell rang.
"I just… I…" Fuuko found herself staring right into the boy's azure eyes.
"We're going to be late." That gaze of his… It's too intense…
"I'm sorry I said those things. I'm just not used to this short of thing." Is she squirming? The girl who defeated the perverted Fujimaru? Well, I'll be damned…
"I would appreciate a heads up next time." Tokiya suddenly took notice of her grin. The thought of "She should smile more." was shaken out of his head before it surfaced.
"Duly noted… And, thank you." Huh. There may be hope for him yet.
"Um…You're cutting the circulation to my hand, Mi-chan." He quickly released Fuuko's hand but the girl surprised him by grabbing one of them in her palm and giving it a gentle squeeze. It's Tokiya's turn to go red. Have all the girls in this school gone insane??
"You're welcome. And I mean it this time." She retrieved her hand back and started to walk away. But that warm feeling remained on his palms and it was traveling up slowly.
What just happened there?
Why did that feel like a weird love confession?
You might be wondering where our paranormal matchmaker is. Well, she's sitting on the roof, admiring her handy work. She couldn't help but feel proud of herself and if were possible to pat one's back on a job well done; she would have done in tenfold.
"Ohhh, this is wonderful! I see sparks! Hayyy, I can't to see the events waiting to be unfold!"
Will you look at that? Mikagami forgot about his back ache!
Phweee! Will answer and thank the reviewers now :)
Utara Mikagami - I'm glad you like that line and my concept ;)
XiRen - Well, I just did! Tada!
CYAFG - (Sorry, your name is long) Thanks for your encouraging words.
Lija-chan - Thanks! All my stories tend to be on the cute side. (Even my Fiction Press story!)
Thank you so much for your lovely reviews! (pulls popper)
PS. I've rewritten the ending dialogue between Tokiya and Fuuko. I hope it isn't confusing now ;)!