Disclaimer: I do not own Flame of Recca or any of its characters.
I have no beta-reader. Any grammatical and spelling errors are mine.
Again this will be edited. With some few major/minor changes and add-ons.
Stalker
Chapter 4: Boyfriend's Back
"I've been waiting for you." A voice boomed out from the darkness.
Fuuko's heart jumped to her throat. I have no weapons here with me. She thought, a bit panicky. My awls are long gone and… She felt for the closed door behind her. I'm trapped! Shit!
She drew in a deep breath. She didn't expect her unknown admirer to show up not just at the doorstep of her apartment…but inside it. Kami help me! She pleaded silently, appalled that she was so shocked that she seemed rooted on the spot.
Normally when she is facing an attacker (or someone like this), her body's automatic response would be to fight back. She was a former Hokage fighter after all, for Kami's sake!
But right now, all her fighting hormones were probably in a dormant mode, since all she could think of is escaping the apartment in order to get some help.
Natsuo's probably somewhere near here. She thought, staring down at the books in her hand. An idea occurred to her. Right! If I throw these at him, he'll be caught off guard and it'll give me enough time to escape. She realized. At this moment all I can count on is the split second between surprise and realization…She readied herself. And my speed.
On the count of three Fuuko-chan. One, two--don't forget to turn the lights on first. She reminded herself, one hand groping for the switch. Three! She flicked the switch on and threw her books at the figure standing a few feet away from her.
Without bothering to look if she had hit the target, she opened the door and ran outside shouting Natsuo's name.
--
Natsuo glanced back when he heard someone shouting. He was not far from the apartment where he parted ways with Fuuko. Just three houses away to be exact since he ran into someone he knew and they chatted for a few minutes about their favorite subject: Mikagami Tokiya. The guy, or much appropriate, the gay was also a member of MTFC (Mikagami Tokiya Fan Club).
And now… some lunatic was shouting his name in public. Talk about humiliation. This crazy human species will absolutely get something from him…
…like a good chiding—Kamatari Natsuo style.
--
"Natsuo!!" Fuuko called out while running towards her friend. She felt relieve that Natsuo is still within the vicinity. Surely that stalker of hers wouldn't dare to come near her since she's with guy.
Or in Natsuo's case…never mind.
"KAMATARI NATSUO!" She yelled again.
Natsuo turned towards her direction with an annoyed expression on his face which changed swiftly when he realized who was calling him. "Fuu… Fuuko-chan?" He sputtered out.
The purple-haired girl stopped in front of him so suddenly that she nearly toppled over him.
"Fuu-chan what happened?" Natsuo shrieked; placing his hands on her shoulders, trying to steady her. "Daijobu desu ka? Fuuko-chan!" He shook her a little.
"He…was…he was in... the…apartment." Fuuko managed to sputter out, still short-winded. "He is inside the apartment!" She pointed towards the apartment's direction.
"Who? Why? What?" Natsuo asked, rubbing her back gently hoping to soothe her. "Take your time." He ordered. "Take a deep breath, first." He demonstrated.
Fuuko followed his order. "He's inside the apartment." She repeated after a couple of deep breaths.
Natsuo raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
"The guy that I told you. The one… the one sending those…those letters." Fuuko stammered. "He got inside. HE GOT INSIDE THE APARTMENT!" She screeched as she grabbed Natsuo's arms and started shaking him.
"DAMN IT!! What's with all that shouting?" An angry, middle-aged neighbor banged her door open. "You young people have no manners! You're just wasting time in those universities where you learn nothing but flirt. That's why…" The woman ranted only to be cut off by Natsuo's remark.
"Keep your mouth shut woman!" Natsuo shouted back. "We're having an emergency here! Turn the volume of your TV or radio high. That way, you won't hear us. Damn it!" He cursed back shocking the woman who, after recovering, banged her door again--close.
He turned to Fuuko who was still trying to compose herself. "There, there," He soothed her. "I'll accompany you back home. Maybe you stalker isn't there now. From the way you were shouting, he probably got scared and ran away."
"I don't want to go back…yet." Fuuko declared stubbornly, shaking her head. "What if he's hiding somewhere inside the apartment waiting for me to come back?"
"Sshhh!" Natsuo hushed her. "WE are going back to your apartment. This is so unlike you, you know." He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. Fuuko might be a one brave girl. But finding your unknown admirer AKA stalker waiting for you inside your apartment, can be downright unnerving.
"I'm going to look at every possible place inside your apartment. Every corner, every closet and cabinet just to make sure he's not there. Is that a deal?" He promised. "And if he is; I'll beat the crap out of him." He stated not-so-confidently, following it with a little gulp and a somehow painful expression on his face. "For you… that is."
Fuuko's expression turned skeptical. Somehow… that sounded a little ridiculous.
Natsuo rolled his eyes in response. "I know I can't exactly beat the crap out of him." He admitted. "But there's the two of us, so we got the upper hand in this situation." He reasoned out.
The former wind master bit her lip, contemplating.
"We can gang up on him." He grinned sheepishly, trying to calm his own starting-to-get-frazzle nerves. "And I know you can handle arm to arm combat with a person twice your own size."
Without another word (and without waiting for Fuuko's reply), he grabbed her hand and started pulling her towards the apartment's direction before his courage ran out.
--
Yanagi glanced at her bedside clock. It's nearly seven o' clock. Recca's probably back in his dorm now. She grabbed the cordless phone and dialed her boyfriend's number.
After four rings, Recca finally picked up the phone. "Konbanwa." He greeted. "Recca here!"
"Recca-kun. Konbanwa." Yanagi greeted back.
"Yanagi-chan!" Recca exclaimed. "I'm glad you called. How are you?"
"I'm fine. I just want to check if you're already there in your dorm." Yanagi explained, tapping her slender fingers on her study table.
"I just got here." Recca laughed. "Your timing is good Ya-chan. Our professor dismissed us a bit earlier today. Normally, I wouldn't be back here until 7:30." Recca had stopped calling her 'hime' since she personally requested it to him after the last battle with Mori Kouran. Now he was taking Behavioral Science at Waseda University, believe it or not.
"Oh, gomen!" Yanagi apologized. "Maybe you better change your clothes first and rest."
"Don't worry about it." Recca assured her.
"No, I insist." Yanagi replied in an authoritative tone. "Do what I say."
"Hai, hai!" Recca agreed. "You know I can't say no to you. I'll call you later."
"Eat first." Yanagi reminded him. "Then call me. I have something to tell you. Sayonara."
"Sayonara."
"Sayonara." Yanagi repeated before turning the phone off. Then she remembered that she herself hadn't eaten any dinner yet. She stood up and went out of her room. Since her parents had so much money, they had insisted on buying a house for her to live in while she was attending Tokyo Uni, complete with 2 maids; one for cooking and the other one for cleaning. She sighed. So much for wanting to be independent. She thought sadly. Her parents are overprotective. How she envied Fuuko who was living on her own, from their day one in the university.
But Fuuko's not 'on her own' anymore. She reminded herself. She's now living in Mikagami-sempai's apartment. I wonder what those two are doing now. Yanagi's face colored; a deep shade of red. Of course they'll be making up for all those days they've been separated. Are they cuddling, kissing or… She left the sentence hanging in the air. "Iie!!" She squealed as she shook her head to erase such unwanted thoughts.
One of the maids who was about to go upstairs and call her, saw her blushing and shaking her head furiously. "Yanagi-san daijobu desu ka?" She asked worriedly. Yanagi stared at her wordlessly; embarrassed that she was caught in a humiliating situation.
"I'm ok." Yanagi gave her a weak grin.
"But your face is all red. Maybe I should call a doctor."
"It's not necessary. I just remembered something funny." Yanagi assured the maid, still blushing. "I'll go and eat now." She headed towards the kitchen as fast as her feet would let her.
--
Natsuo inhaled sharply when he entered the apartment with Fuuko in tow. He was expecting someone to pop out suddenly and whack him in the head unconscious or something. Uno, dos, tres…he counted in Spanish. Nothing happened.
He glanced back at Fuuko who was behind him. "We're going in." He said and got a nod as an answer. Heck! That line sounded like they're in some kind of a mission involving entering an abandoned building in search for hostages or whatever. They just lack the proper uniforms, helmets with communicating systems attached to it and of course guns.
Fuuko clutched Natsuo's hand tighter. She had never been nervous like this before. Not even when she was facing Gashakura in the UBS. Surely all her opponents will have a fit once they find out that only a stupid stalker managed to scare Kirisawa Fuuko. If ever that twerp shows up in front of her and Natsuo, she would probably faint.
Glancing left to right, Natsuo released a sigh. "The coast is clear." He whispered. "I repeat, the coast is clear captain. We're…" Fuuko whacked him on the head. "Ouch!" He turned to give her a glare. "I'm just trying to lighten the mood here."
Fuuko was about to respond when she heard some sounds coming from the direction of the kitchen. "What's that?" She hissed as she grabbed Natsuo's arm.
"It's coming from the kitchen." Natsuo murmured. "Shhh!"
Slowly they edge towards the direction of the kitchen. Fuuko's heart was beating, no, more like pounding inside her chest so hard. "Please don't let it be him. Please!" She whispered.
"I think it's only a mouse." Natsuo whispered back to her.
"Fuck. This apartment doesn't have any mouse." Fuuko retorted.
Suddenly Natsuo stiffened. "You're probably right about it not being a mouse Fuuko. They don't make sounds that loud." There was a sharp intake of breath beside him. "I think it's a man!" He shrieked when a figure appeared in the kitchen doorway.
Fuuko gasped. She couldn't see the figure well since she's currently hiding behind Natsuo's back. But she can make out the silhouette of her stalker.
The pounding of heart was so loud that it feels like she's going to be deaf from it. There is a weird feeling inside her as if she was being suck into a whirlpool of nothingness.
With that, she did the most unbelievable thing she could ever do in her life. One that will surely bring ruin to her reputation as one of Hokage Team's toughest fighter…
She fainted.
--
Yanagi was talking to Recca on the phone. Again.
"Yes I'll be there tomorrow." Recca was saying. "Come on I can't let a week pass without me seeing you."
"Hai." Yanagi replied. "But are you sure you have no classes tomorrow?"
"Of course." Recca answered. "I have both of my weekends free. Maybe I'll be there about 10:00 am?"
"That'll be fine." Yanagi said gleefully. "By the way Fuuko told me that Mikagami-sempai's coming back."
"The ice prince?" Recca snickered. "Oh yeah, you told me he went to some kind of a meeting, ne?"
"A lecture...or seminar." The former healer corrected him. "He called Fuuko earlier and told her that he's coming back tonight, though I still haven't called Fuu-chan if he's already there now."
"U-huh."
Yanagi rested her head on the fluffy pillow on her bed. "There's something I have to tell you about Fuuko, Recca-kun. Promise me you won't tell anyone." Recca can be a tattletale sometimes.
"Err… sure." Recca answered in a doubting tone. "What about Fuuko huh? Is there any problem?"
"There is…" Yanagi sighed.
"Nani?" The former flame master all but screamed. "Is she…pregnant?" Recca asked the last word in a very soft tone.
Yanagi coughed. "Iie!" Trust Recca to assume that first.
"Joking!" Recca said in a sheepish tone. "Ok, so what's the catch?"
Recca's former 'hime-chama' drew in a deep breath before telling her boyfriend all about Fuuko and her unknown admirer-slash-stalker, despite her promise to the ex-Fuujin wielder that she would keep mum about it. Recca is also Fuuko's friend--the closest one to her actually.
He has the right to know what is happening to his childhood friend. Right?
--
Natsuo took a very deep breath for the umpteenth time that day.
A very deep, deep breath.
Who knows maybe it'll be his last breath considering the person standing before him is glaring at him menacingly.
In a very calm and serious tone, Mikagami Tokiya asked. "What's going on here?"
They were outside Fuuko's bedroom, where he had obligingly carried his unconscious girlfriend, glaring at Natsuo. "First, she threw her books at me with NO apparent reason, opened the door and ran outside screaming her head off like a lunatic." He ran a hand through his hair and released an exasperated sigh.
Natsuo kept his mouth shut. Wisely kept his mouth shut.
The silver-haired guy in front of him continued speaking. "After a few minutes, both of you came back here like two scared rabbits. When I appeared in the kitchen doorway, you shrieked and she dropped unconscious." He was looking--correction--glowering at Natsuo, demanding for an explanation.
Natsuo gulped. "You have a photographic memory Mikagami-sama, uh, I mean sempai." He gave a weak smile. "No wonder they call you 'perfect'."
Mikagami scowled and Natsuo bit his lower lip. Wrong thing to say. Fuuko often told him that Mikagami's always calm and cool. But right now he looked a little closer to the word pissed. Well whatever his emotion is, he's still so handsome. Natsuo thought. Maybe we can have some coffee or juice or tea at the kitchen now that Fuuko's lying knock-out on her bed. He sneaked a look at Mikagami who was still wearing a scowl on his face. Then again, maybe not.
"Let's go down to the kitchen Natsuo-san." Mikagami invited, or more like ordered. "We have a lot to talk about." With that, he turned and walked towards the stairs.
Natsuo placed a hand on his open mouth. A private talk with Mikagami-sama? Now this is what I call fun. He stared at Mikagami, who was now descending the stairs, dreamily. Gomen nasai Fuuko-chan. By the time you wake up Mikagami Tokiya's mine. He silently faked an evil laugh and blew kisses at Fuuko's closed door.
"Natsuo!" Mikagami's voice thundered from downstairs.
"Coming!" Natsuo replied. Ta-ta Fuuko-chan. Rest well!
When Natsuo entered at the kitchen, Mikagami was already making some juice on a glass pitcher. Natsuo studied him not-so-discreetly. No wonder Fuuko-chan's in love with him. He's such a darling. He gave a small, inaudible sigh as he seated himself on one of the chairs of the small, round dining table.
"Natsuo," Mikagami began as he placed a glass of orange juice in front of him. "What the heck is happening here? Has Fuuko gone nuts?" He did not wait for Natsuo to respond; instead he strode towards the ref.
"Iie, Mikagami-san." Natsuo replied. He watched with pure interest as Mikagami brought out a frozen chicken.
Mikagami felt his eyes on him. "Yes Natsuo-san, I do cook. Do you honestly expect us to survive with Fuuko's cooking?"
Natsuo shrugged, smiling a little. "You're like a…"
The ex-Ensui wielder raised an eyebrow prompting him to continue.
"Like, uh, you know…houseband?" Natsuo said.
"A houseband?"
"Just a neologism, sempai." Natsuo explained. "It's like a housewife... male version."
Mikagami nodded, indicating that he understood what Natsuo was saying.
Natsuo relaxed and cleared his throat. "Ano Mikagami-san, sorry for what happened a while ago."
"It's ok. But I do need an explanation for it."
Natsuo debated whether or not he should tell Mikagami about Fuuko's stalker. Go on and tell him, besides Fuuko might not tell him everything. At least, Mikagami will know how to deal with it. His conscience explained. Go on. It urged him.
"Mikagami-san," He began. "I know I'm not the one who should tell you this and that it should be Fuuko-chan. But she's currently lying unconscious upstairs." He paused for a moment, glanced at Mikagami who was paying full attention to him. "Fuuko has a…has a…stalker."
Mikagami's eyebrows shot up. "What?"
"Fuuko has a stalker." Natsuo repeated, biting his lower lip.
-To Be Continued-
If the characters are too OOC for your taste, that's because the plot calls for it. Besides, number one, it has been years after the Sodom battle. Number two, Mikagami is now Fuuko's boyfriend. And number three, anime characters do change—in my opinion.
Anyways, just an additional info, awls are the weapons that Fuuko uses when she is fighting. In a special chapter in the Manga Volume 7 (it was Night Breeze, if I'm not mistaken), it was mentioned there: "Hey! The awl!"