REUNION OF THE HEARTS
-Kawaii Hana-
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DISCLAIMER:
I don't own any of the characters in FOR...
The other names in there came from the seiyuu or voice actors of the anime. Obviously, I don't own them either...
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CHAPTER 3: DANGER MOVES IN SHADOWS...
"Oh really? That's what happened!? Wow!" Fuuko exclaimed at Tokiya's story. She definitely has not heard this part in the news broadcast or in the paper.
"Yes, I'm glad Mr. Rokuro's daughter stood as witness for him, even though they have some family problems..." Tokiya said.
"Of course, it's because you who convinced her to help her father. You know, you have this power of words..." Fuuko complimented, obviously impressed at the lawyer's antics.
"Thank you..." Tokiya nodded in acknowledgement.
Then silence consumed the room once again. Both are trying to think of what to say each other. The silence was really annoying, as it seemed like time has stopped, waiting if someone is going to talk.
"So, um, there's definitely something changed in you..." Tokiya suddenly said.
- What the hell am I saying!? - The usually calm and collected lawyer gets a little frantic.
- In court, I think it over very carefully before I say anything. And here I get frantic over just one sentence I suddenly utter out of the blue... Mikagami Tokiya, think! -
"Huh!? R-really!? What is it?" Fuuko blinked curiously.
- OK, Mikagami! You got her to tell her something. What you're gonna say now...? -
"It's... just that you are pretty blooming today. I just don't see where exactly it comes from..." Tokiya said.
- OK, now that came from the heart. - The ice king said to himself sheepishly.
Fuuko felt her cheeks burning and all she could do is to stare at him in shock. She was glad that she was wearing a blush-on so that he won't notice at all.
"Um...uh... err... T-thank you..." She managed to say, though she seemed to choke.
"Oww! Oh great! I can't take it anymore! Damn it!"
The two heard a certain flame boy in pain. Both rose from their seats to see what is going on.
As Tokiya opened the door, the couple found the kitchen in chaos. Recca was already screaming in pain as his right arm was shaking like it was being electrified. Domon holding his friend up as the latter fell suddenly. Yanagi, was over her beau, trying to calm him down and she was in the point where she was about to cry. Kaoru and Ganko was also in the scene, confused and doesn't know was happening.
"What in the world happened here!!?" Fuuko exclaimed rushing towards them as Tokiya followed close by.
"We don't know! When Kagero-san appeared, Recca-niisan fell and screaming in pain!" Ganko said frantically.
"K-Kagero-san!?" Tokiya and Fuuko both stated.
"Everyone, please! Calm down! I know exactly what to do... Please stay away." Kagero said. With that, her right hand formed a seal. She closed her eyes and was concentrating as the rest were watching at her curiously.
The Woman who have lived for over 400 years... A piece of history performing some sort of a ninjutsu right in your very eyes... People think it of it only as a folk story or myth. And for that, the Hokage ninja has truly kept their secrets safe...
After a few seal formations, Kagero has concluded this jutsu by placing two of her fingers from her right hand to Recca's tekkou from a fair good distance. And soon, the violent shaking subsided leaving the poor Hanabishi breathing hard and sweating profusely.
"Recca-kun! Are you alright!?" Yanagi asked, with tears rolling down her cheeks.
"No need to worry, Yanagi. His flame dragons have calmed down... for a moment." The raven haired mother reassured the crying woman.
"Calmed down? What do you mean? They were going ballistic? What the hell is going on? Why are flame dragons burning their master's arm?" The group had so many questions to ask.
"Please do not panic. I can't answer all of your questions at once. And I'm afraid I don't have most of the answers, as well." The immortal sighed and looked at her son with sorrow and regret as he has become unconscious after the jutsu. Clearly, there was something going on.
"I'll be back here in 3 hours... Recca should be well by then. I shall explain to you why I have sent all of you here..." With that said, she promptly disappeared within the shadows again.
The whole group was silent for a few minutes. "We should put Recca somewhere comfortable." Kaoru said, breaking the silence.
The group agreed to that. Domon carried his friend to the couch since it was nearer than all the way to the bedroom. Yanagi continued what Recca was cooking a while ago. Ganko helped in, too, feeling a little guilt for making the poor guy cook some food as well as Kaoru and Domon. And so, Tokiya and Fuuko were left to taking care of their Team leader.
It was just after the shadow woman left that Yanagi told everyone how Recca felt the burning pain each time someone enters the house ever since the reunion. Despite his efforts to keep his Hime from worrying, she can see right thru him. That made the others feels guilty. But Yanagi told them it was not their fault. There is definitely something going on. And so, Team Hokage waited for Kagero's return and for Recca's recovery.
"Is he gonna be alright?" Tokiya asked. It was already 10 minutes before time will be up.
"Well, Kagero-san said he would. We'll just have to wait..." Fuuko replied in which the young man nodded. Since, Recca was placed to where Fuuko sat. The two were forced to sit together on one couch.
Silence, for the umpteenth time, once again consumed the family room. Either of the two was not talking. It's either they are still confused about Recca's flame dragon thing or they were getting awkward again.
"So, wonder what will Kagero say about this matter?" Tokiya asked, hesitantly.
"Well, let's just hope nothing bad comes out of this." Fuuko told him, remembering well how tough it is for Recca live alone in this house with only Yanagi visiting almost rarely.
Ever since Hanabishi Shigeo learned he had lung cancer, he stopped smoking. But, he didn't tell it to Recca. Yet, his sudden stop caused his son some suspicion. And in time, the truth was out...
That was already two years ago...
"It appears that we might be able to use our Madougu again." Tokiya stated thoughtfully.
Fuuko sighed. It has been 7 years. She looked at her right hand.
Fuujin... She almost cried at the thought of giving it away. But, since, it was Kagero who gave it to her...
"Well, that's a nice thought..." She replied.
Meanwhile, back at the kitchen...
Yes! Yes! Despite the fact that Recca is unconscious, Yanagi and Ganko are still eavesdropping in the conversation while Kaoru kept Domon busy by making him eating some of the food they prepared awhile ago.
"Hey, that's good! I can use Kata Kugutsu once again!!!" The teenager said, obviously acting like a child and was listening intently to the conversation.
"But that means trouble, too" Yanagi countered, worried once again.
"Awwwww, c'mon. How worse can this situation get?" Ganko said, trying to think positive.
"You never what will happen next, Ganko-chan..."
"Hey! Hey! Hey! They're going silent again... Yanagi-neesan, you should serve the juice now..."
"Hai!" The brunette took a tray with two glasses of juice on it. "Commencing mission..."
As Yanagi opened the door, she noticed the two looked relieved she came. She smiled. They are so predictable, alright.
This is the plan they had all along: Yanagi will serve some drinks to the two. Yanagi will purposely spill the juice on Fuuko. She'll have to say sorry and Tokiya, being the gentleman, will offer his handkerchief to Fuuko. Or, better yet, He'll have to offer his clean clothes... And well, who knows what'll happen next?
"Hi, you two!" Yanagi greeted. "Have some drinks? You guys look like you'll need it." She smiled secretly. The couch the two were seating on was only fit for two people or better known as a 'love seat'.
But as Yanagi was about to touch one glass, she felt a hand touch her. It was Fuuko. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" She asked, nervously.
Oops! OK, that was unexpected. The healer looked over to Tokiya and nodded, saying that it was alright. She sighed and both stood near the kitchen door.
Fuuko took a deep breath. "I look like an idiot..." She whispered, desperately.
Yanagi smiled. "Fuuko-chan, you look fine."
"No, I'm not! I'm going nuts each time everything's silent..." The purple-haired girl whispered back.
"Relax, Fuuko-chan. Like I said, you look fine. After all, he complimented that you look blooming in some way." Yanagi reassured her friend.
"Yeah...you do have a point and... Hold on! How did you know he said that?" Fuuko asked, with a death glare on her face.
- Uh-oh... Abort mission! Abort mission! - Yanagi sweatdropped nervously. "Err... uh..."
"Ow... my right arm still hurts..." Recca whined.
Yanagi went straight to her ninja, secretly thanking him for waking up at the right time. Indeed, even though Recca just woke up, he has just protected his hime from a certain death. Fuuko momentarily forgot Yanagi and called the people at the kitchen.
Sure enough, as the people from the kitchen entered the family room, the shadows began to move around and materialize into the woman they have been waiting for three hours.
"Ma... what happened?" Recca spoke in a hoarse voice. The burning feeling was gone. But the impact still made his arm a little shaky. And his voice was hoarse from all the shouting.
"Don't worry, Recca. Your dragons have calmed down. I have loosened the seal a little bit..." The mother answered quietly. Usually, she had a very stern face. But now, it was laced with worry. "How long have you been feeling the pain?"
"Err...ever since...You sealed it." Recca answered plainly. All eyes glared at him. Why the hell did they not know?
"Huh!?" Domon said. "Then, why didn't you tell us, man?"
"Hey, I can handle the pain back then. It's just now that it hurts like hell..." Recca explained.
"I see. The pain was just like a pinch in the arm. But now, it has gone astray." The mother told the curious group.
"W-What does that supposed mean?"
"What the hell's going on?"
"What do you mean 'gone astray'?"
"Children, please..." Kagero looked at them as soon as she said that. Most of them are already in their twenty's, just like her appearance. In fact, she looked like she was one of them. She smiled. "I guess I don't have the right to call you 'children' anymore."
The rest smiled and were relaxed. "Please, sit down first." Kagero commanded and they did just that. Tokiya stayed where he was. Fuuko was sitting beside him with Ganko. Kaoru sat beside the blonde on the side.
Yanagi was with Recca, of course. And Domon just stood by the kitchen door. All were looking at Kagero expectantly.
Kagero then took a deep breath and sighed. "First of all, I am glad that all of you have grown to become independent and productive individuals."
All of them nodded in response.
"And that," She continued. "Most of you have not been affected when your madougu and special abilities were taken away..."
- Ha-ha-ha! Talk to the hand, ma. Talk to the hand. - Recca muttered somewhere inside his head.
"But, it seems that this is not the end. I took all your madougu, thinking that the enemy has already been eliminated. But I'm afraid the battle is not over yet..."
Everyone stiffened at that statement.
The immortal sighed again. She let out her Ekai Ball. Suddenly, a screen appeared. Images of the UBS Tournament were shown.
"During the UBS, our popularity increased beyond the standards in the fighting world. What the most talked about us is our weapons... Some schemes have been planned to steal them."
"Steal them? When?" Tokiya interfered. He didn't think that someone was actually trying to steal their weapons at that time.
"Do not worry... I stopped their plans myself back then. However, even after UBS, there were still some who are scheming. That's why I took your weapons away. But that did not even stop them - even when you have all graduated from high school."
The group had their jaws wide opened.
Suddenly, the scene changed to Tokiya studying on a table from a cafeteria. The others didn't have any idea what was that about.
"That's in Tokyo University." Tokiya said, countering their curiosities. But he was surprised to see himself, wondering what this means.
"Pay attention to the man near Tokiya." Kagero commanded and they did so. While the silver haired man was concentrating on some research papers, there was another man wearing shades that has a particular shape and seems to have also doing some school work.
"Um, so... He looks like any other student in the university..." Kaoru shrugged.
Then, Kagero showed another scene of Tokiya at that university. This time, Tokiya was studying from a textbook in a classroom.
"Look closely at the person across where Tokiya is sitting." The shadow woman instructed again. The group looked and sure enough, there was the same man with the same shades. But his clothing was different from before.
"Maybe that was the next day." Ganko suggested.
"This scene was a just only a few minutes later from the last one." Kagero explained. Then came more disturbing images from Tokiya's college days and there was always that guy with the same shades. Even though, he was dressed as a student, a professor, or even a janitor. He always seemed to be near Tokiya during his really busy moments.
"Y-You mean there was someone watching my every move." Tokiya was shocked just like the rest.
"Not only you, but everyone else." Kagero said. She showed a couple of scenes for each person. There was always one person who had the same attribute or feature from the last scene.
"I don't believe this." Recca said, dumbfounded. "How come we don't know?"
"These mysterious people are trained extensively. They play their part expertly, as well as watching your every move." Kagero said.
She then showed a scene of Ganko in school. She was wearing the uniform the older Hokage girls used to wear. She was busy studying a piece of paper. And then there was this particular teacher that seemed to watch her intently.
"Hey! That-that's what happened the day before yesterday." Ganko exclaimed. "I know because I still remember I was practicing that particular speech for a graded recitation."
Now, what did she say? 'The day before yesterday'. The group looked at the teacher closely. He was wearing a particular chain on his neck.
"This is what happened yesterday." Kagero announced. The scene was in the school cafeteria. Ganko was busy chatting with her friends. And one of cooks came out to throw some trash. And, yes, that person was wearing the same chain while he seemed like he was listening to Ganko's conversation.
"OK, that was the same person. But what's that gonna do with Recca's dragons?" Kaoru asked, bewildered.
It was already Recca's turn. And this time it was more shocking. Each scene always involved Recca wincing in pain when the person was near. There was even this scene during Shigeo's funeral. The person looked like he was one of the mourners. He also didn't have a specific accessory or feature but it seems Recca gets irritated or hurt from the pain his right arm each time the person looks at him.
This could only mean one thing... The dragons were warning him about something. In Tokiya, these guys have been following since the group separated. And just like Ganko, they are still doing it now...
"That is why Recca-kun feels pain each time one of us comes to this house. It's because they are also following us here," Yanagi concluded.
"How come I'm not feeling pain anymore?" Recca pondered. Clearly, he was regretting of how he ignored the pain.
"Don't worry. These people have left. They were too many when all of you have arrived here. They wouldn't want to raise any suspicion from the neighbors." Kagero explained. She sighed again as she hid her ball. "I'm sorry this is all my Ekai Ball can show you. Please be careful as you go home tonight. Make sure that none will go outside alone."
With that, she disappeared amongst the shadows again. Everyone were silent again as they looked at each other.
"OK, we should always go out by two." Recca finally spoke.
"I volunteer to walk with my Fuuko-chan!" Domon said suddenly.
"No, you will not. Mikagami will take the Kirisawas sisters home since their homes are near." Recca said sternly. You and I are gonna take Kaoru and Hime to their homes with your limousine."
"Oh...OK..." The wrestler agreed, for once did not protest.
"Erm..." Kaoru interrupted them. "Fuuko-nee, can I take Ganko-chan somewhere?"
The group looked at the fang boy with death glares. "Kaoru, we have a crisis in here." Recca scolded the young man.
"B-But, we had planned this for a week already." The scientist whined.
"Please..." Ganko pouted her lips and her eyes seem to grow bigger and it looks like she was about to cry.
"Ooooh...Fine! Fine!" Fuuko said, while trying not to look at her sister's face. "Just come home early." And both nodded eagerly.
Yanagi smiled at the youngest members of the Hokage and secretly gave them a wink.
"Well, we should be going now." Mikagami said.
And with that, the reunited Team Hokage parted ways again...
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It was already dark when Fuuko and Tokiya arrived at their street. Both of them weren't talking once again. It was awkward so Tokiya tried to start the conversation.
"So, what course did you take...?" He asked.
"Oh... um... Meteorology!" The woman answered plainly.
"Where do you work?" He asked once again.
"Err...actually, I just arrived here. So I planned to go job-hunting tomorrow morning."
"Can I help you...?" He asked.
"Uh... s-sure. C-come by at 8:00." She said, with eyebrow raised at the lawyer, who is trying not to look at her.
"OK!" He said, sounding a little happy.
They were already by the front of the Kirisawa residence. "See you tomorrow..." With that, the lawyer left.
Fuuko couldn't help but smile.
- Tomorrow's going to be an interesting day... -
She thought as she entered the house.
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A/N: Yeah! I know. A cliff hanger always destroys the mood. That's why you'll have to keep reading this fic, kapish!?
Thanks for reading and...
SAYONARA!
