Old Acquaintances
"Oh no."
Kaoru looked so dismayed that Yanagi tried to cheer him up.
"Look Kaoru-kun, maybe there is some sort of secret code in this paper."
"Ya, maybe he used invincible ink!"
"Or lime, or lemon! Maybe orange!"
"Orange?"
"Recca, give us some heat."
"This is ridiculous!"
"Shut up, Mi-chan."
"Are you sure this would work?"
"Yes, just do it Recca."
"Okay then, Fuuko."
Recca created a small fire. Unfortunately, it was too large and burned the paper….
"Recca, you idiot!"
"Oh, Kami-sama."
After Recca had burned what possibly contains a message from Kurei, Kaoru had recalled that he did not say how Kaoru is going to find him later. Oh no. It isn't what I think is it? Kurei-ni, he….he planned to leave me here! But why would he do that? Kaoru is getting tenser by the second. I-I must find him! Without any more words to the people around him, Kaoru quickly runs to the last place he had seen Kurei.
When he got to the park, there were only birds pecking on the ground. No one else is there. Kurei isn't there. Kaoru drop to his knees when he realized what he had feared has come true.
"Kaoru-kun."
Yanagi and the others had followed him.
No. I mustn't think so. Kurei always take a few days to sort out his things. I will just have to wait for him. That's right. He had always been like this even when we're still at the Uruha mansion. That must be what he meant when he told me to take my time.
Kaoru tried to convince himself. Deep inside however, he had a sinking feeling.
It has been a week. To be exact, it has been nine days. And Kurei did not contact him at all. The sinking feeling inside had gotten worse. Kaoru had gone to school for the past few days while waiting for what? For him to show up? He didn't enjoy school at all. Not when he's not here. Not when everything is still unexplained. He could have at least said something. Or when he is coming back. Kaoru silently fumed.
"Kaoru-chan, I've had enough of your moping!"
Fuuko?
He looked up to see Fuuko with a dangerous looking kitchen knife being restrained by Domon and Recca.
"What the heck are you mourning like someone's dead for? Don't you know that you have been getting to everyone with that gloomy expression of yours? Ugh! Let me go!"
"You should put that knife down first before you poke someone's eye out!"
"That's right, Kaoru-chan." Kagerou had come out from the kitchen.
"You have been so down lately that Yanagi-chan is so worried about you." He can see Yanagi's concerned face behind Kagerou. Kaoru stared at his sneakers, ashamed that he had made everyone troubled and not even realize that he was doing it. But I can't help it. Why hasn't he come for me yet?
"Kaoru, everyone is worried about you."
Tokiya.
Recca had let go of Fuuko, almost costing Domon his head who was luckily helped by Tokiya. He now approaches Kaoru with a determined look on his face.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Why do you care so much about that dumbass Kurei?"
Silence.
Recca lost his patience and started to shake Kaoru by the shoulders.
"Recca-kun, don't hurt Kaoru-kun please."
Suddenly he was bored of it all. Of all these people, pretending that they cared. And so he exploded.
"What is wrong? You asked me what is wrong? Kurei-ni isn't here that's what is wrong! He promised that we will be brothers!"
He promised……He did……
Recca had a strange feeling suddenly but he ignored it. Right now what is important is to wake Kaoru up from his stupid state.
"So he ditched you. Big deal. We are all still here. Isn't that enough for you, stupid brat?"
"Congratulations monkey ninja, you finally say something worthwhile."
Tokiya's sarcasm was just ignored by Recca, something very rare.
"I'm afraid Recca is right, Kaoru. Kurei must have a reason for not being here. Since he asked you to come here he must have done so you will be safe. Perhaps what he has been doing is far too dangerous and complicated?"
"But why did he have to do it that way? Can't he just tell me straight away instead of leaving me to learn the truth?"
"That's because he's a dumb bastard!"
"You're not helping, Recca."
"That's it! If I didn't know better I would have thought that all of you were trying to stop me from finding Kurei-nissan!"
Kaoru flared up again. He then runs outside but not before Yanagi noticed that his cheeks are wet.
Kaoru was sitting in a bench in the quiet park. He had to get out of the house so that he can think alone peacefully without people like Yanagi fussing over him. It's not like he hate it but he needed to be alone. Sometimes everyone needs their time alone, especially when they encountered problems. It can help a lot. That's what Kurei had answered when Kaoru asked him why he uses to disappear to somewhere alone.
Darn, why is he always thinking of Kurei? Kurei, he had leaved him behind.
"Will I ever see him again?"
He did not know whether the question he asked aloud earlier was just to himself or directed to someone. Stupid. There's no one around at all. Who would listen?
He heard a noise behind him and he turned around only to come face to face with a man with his long hair in braids and whose eyes are hidden behind bangs.
"Waaaaaaah!"
They both yelled at the same time and fell on their backs.
"Jo-Joker!" Kaoru point a shaky finger at the man in front of him from his position on the ground.
"Kaoru-chan the traitor and one of the Hokages and the thirteen year old kid who beat me in the third Ura Butou Satsujin!"
"That's not the point now, darn it! What the heck are you doing here?"
"This is a public place. Why shouldn't I be here?"
"Don't yell like that, you idiots."
"Neon-san!"
"I'm here too!"
"Raiha-san!"
The Uruha. What are they doing here? This isn't the kind of place for them to hang out.
Kaoru snatched the Kougan Anki from where he had rested it on the bench before and gripped it tightly.
"Don't worry, we ain't here to fight." Joker had noticed his tense posture. "I had enough bruises courtesy of Miss No-Nonsense here even if I wanted to." He rubbed his head where several nasty bumps are barely visible.
Kaoru gave a sigh of relief; he's not in the mood for a fight now.
"Why are you here then?
"Kurei-sama."
His heart gave a lurch. That's right. Kurei-ni is their leader after all. But wait a minute, but how did they know? Surprised, Kaoru asked them.
"We have our ways. Besides, you're here too. So we put two and two together. It's that simple. "
"You're lying."
"Who cares? Can't reveal our secrets."
"Stop your stupid nonsense, Joker. We're not here for fun. "Neon interrupts.
"We aren't?"
Ignoring Joker, she continues.
"Kaoru, Kurei-sama asked us to check on you."
"What? You mean you met him? Where is he? Tell me!"
"Kaoru-chan, I'm afraid you can't see Kurei-sama at this moment. He has not said anything but I can tell that he is not doing this on purpose. There is something happening that he must deal with. Please stay safe with Recca-san and live the normal life that you deserve to have. Do not jeopardy your health, okay? Or Kurei-sama will not be pleased. "
"That's right. Don't do anything stupid, boy or you will pay the price."
"Now that our errands over, we can have some fun! Come on Kaoru-chan, let's go to the arcade."
Before Kaoru could answer Neon grabbed Joker by the hair and dragged him away not taking notice of his feeble attempts to escape.
"No, our errands are not over yet and the arcade is not one of them."
"Well, I guess its farewell then Kaoru-chan. Sayonara."
"Err…"
"What?"
"Nothing."
Kaoru decided not to ask the question lingering in his mind and just watched the three Uruha ex-members disappeared into the darkness.
I've decided
Yanagi looked out the window for the twentieth time ever since Kaoru had gone. She had wanted to go after him then but Tokiya stopped her, saying that he will come back when he's feeling better. She is worried sick about Kaoru and hoped that some private time for him will have the effects Tokiya said.
"Don't worry, Hime."
"Recca-kun."
"He'll be okay. He's one hell of a tough kid."
Just then, Kaoru appeared and opened the gate. He looks much more cheerful and is now entering the house.
"Kaoru-kun."
"Hi there, Yanagi-chan!"
"Hmph! About time you sobered up."
Kaoru looks at the floor for a while.
"I'm sorry that I made you guys worried. I'm alright now."
The familiar fanged grin returns and everyone was relieved.
"There's something that I need."
"What is it?"
"I've decided. And I need everyone's help. I want to find Kurei-ni.
Author
Typical, isn't it? Review, review please.
