Re:Shuffle! P3

The Princess' tale, part 3

Risago sat with Tsute, her in her hospital bed still. The boy had his hand gently holding the girl's. They were both just sitting there, looking out the window as the clouds went by. The pair both wore faint smiles, though Risago was still a little troubled.

"Rigo-kun," Tsute suddenly said, "I should be able to go back home soon!"

Risago smiled, "That's good."

Tsute nodded, "Then we can go see Lupi together."

A slight sigh escaped Risago's lips, "Yeah... we can..."

Tsute beamed, not noticing Risago's sigh. "That's good."


When Risago arrived home, he stepped inside, kicked of his shoes, then leaned against the wall, sighing deeply. Asa came to the door when she heard it open, and saw Risago.

"Hey, Rigo, how was Tsute?"

"She was fine... she said she would be back home soon... and that when she was... she wanted to see Lupi..."

Asa frowned, "She still hasn't been told?"

Risago shook his head, "No..."

The door opened behind them, and Rin stepped inside, looking exhausted, and panting somewhat.

"Dad! Any news?" Risago asked.

Rin nodded, "Apparently she was seen near the hospital."

Risago's eyes widened, "And?"

Rin drew a deep breath before answering, "The police are still looking."

Risago sighed, "I hope they find her..."


Two days earlier.

Risago was sat in his room doing homework, still vaguely thinking about what had happened earlier that day, when he heard the phone ring. He heard his mother give a loud 'hello' down the phone. But the boisterous greeting subsided into a much quieter version of his mother very quickly.

Soon after, there was knock on Risago's door.

"Come in!" he called, and the door slid open. Asa stepped inside.

"Rigo... I've got some bad news..." she said, biting her lip.

Risago's eyes widened, "Tsute's not..."

Asa shook her head, "Tsute's fine. That was your father on the phone." Rin was working late, and still at his office, as Risago knew. "Apparently Nerine just called Fenrir, because Lupi's not come home..."

Risago raised an eyebrow. It was nearly four hours since school finished, and Lupi should have made it home.

"Nerine tried calling Lupi's mobile, but she can't get through. Fenrir's gone out looking for her..." Asa had a frown on her face.

"She's disappeared..." Risago said, totally confused. Sure, Lupi had been giving him the silent treatment lately, but this seemed a massive jump.

Asa bit her lip, "Well, we can't be jumping to conclusions just yet, but... that's not unlikely."

Risago stood quickly, "I have to go help look!" He tried to pass his mother, but she stopped him.

"No, the last thing we want is you disappearing on us as well. Leave it to Fenrir, and if she hasn't turned up by the morning they'll call the police."

The last thing Risago wanted was to sit still and wait, but he knew his mother had a point, it wasn't like he could do anything much anyway. He sat back in his chair, and stared at the floor.

"Does... Tsute know?" he asked.

Asa frowned, "No... and Rin said her parents asked us not to tell her. Given her state of health..."

Risago nodded, "Of course..."


Risago sighed as he dragged himself upstairs and took out his homework. He heard his sister talking to somebody as he passed her room, and the very quiet reply, from Kibo as it turned out. The pair had ended up spending a lot of time together, as Kibo's parents were spending so much time either looking after their elder daughter, or looking after Nerine.

Risago had only seen Nerine once since Lupi's disappearance, when he had been walking to the hospital the day before, he had passed her house, and, happening to glance in it's direction, he saw through a window that she was crying. She was by herself, as Fenrir was no doubt either forcing himself at work, or out looking for their daughter.

Risago had just walked on by, unable to help his friend's mother.

Risago tried to concentrate on his homework, but as he found when he had tried the day before, it was impossible to concentrate properly. He stopped trying to force himself, and stood up. It was Saturday tomorrow, it wasn't like he was hurried to finish his work.

He went downstairs, thinking he'd help his mother with the dinner, but when he got down there, he heard Rin talking to Asa.

"The police called back, it was a false alarm."

"So they still don't have a clue where she is?"

"No..." Rin said, sadness weighing his words down.

Risago frowned at the words, before walking quietly back to his room.


The next day, Risago found himself aimlessly walking through a nearby park. He stopped at a bench and sat down. It was cloudy today, and looked like it could rain at any moment, so there was hardly anybody around.

He looked forwards, his eyes not really seeing the grass before him, and the trees a little way off, bordering the park, cutting off the road that ran past it.

Gradually, it began to drizzle, a few drops of water falling from the sky, then gradually the drizzle turned into a shower, and in turn the rain got ever heavier. Risago just sat there staring at nothing.

"You'll get a cold if you stay here," said a familiar voice.

Risago turned, and saw the girl he'd been thinking about, well, one of them at least.

"So," Lupi said, calmly, "Miss me?"

"Of course," Risago did not express his surprise, though he was very surprised. He did not know quite why, but he just sat calmly watching her. "Why'd you run away?"

Lupi sat next to him, "Because I couldn't stay."

"Stop being cryptic Lupi!" Risago half-shouted. He stared at the girl angrily. "Do you have any idea what happened because you ran away? Your mother's in tears over it, and you father's running around madly trying to find you!"

"And you're falling in love with Tsute," Lupi said, quite calmly, quite composed.

Risago would have retorted, but Lupi got in first, 'Don't deny it!' But then Risago realised her lips had not moved when she spoke. Her voice sounded weird as well.

Then he knew where he had heard it before, that not-quite voice. "It was you that spoke to me in the hospital."

"Very good Risago, you aren't too slow after all." Lupi feigned a smile, but it faultered. "Yeah, that was me."

"Why? Why did you do that?"

"Because you were already in love with each other. I just... pushed you a little further." She looked at the ground, "I... wanted you both to be happy, especially as Tsute doesn't have long."

"What do you mean? She said that she'd be out of hospital soon!" Risago was suddenly frantic.

"She lied. She didn't want you hurt, but I read it in her mind. A lie is the easiest thing to read in somebody."

"So... when did you start with this telepathy stuff?" Risago asked, wanting to avert the subject of Tsute's death.

"The night Tsute fell ill. I wanted to reach out to her, and my mind let me, but..." mixed with the rain falling on her face, Risago was sure he saw tears forming, "I can't stop it! Everybody's thoughts are flooding my mind, and I'm scared of it! It hurts to know what people really think of me."

"Then stay with those that care about you!" Risago said, "Come back with me, you can go home and then..."

"No!" Lupi said the one word with a sort of finality that cut Risago off from hi reply.

"Why?"

"Because... I can't have what I want, so... it's best I disappear," Lupi then looked at Risago, "But let me have what I want... just once..."

Risago was, needless to say, surprised when the girl moved suddenly, pressing him to the bench, and kissing him. He thought he should resist it, after all, he was with Tsute, but... he could not help but think in an odd way, that the kiss was really... good.

Lupi pulled back as suddenly as she had pressed forward, and smiled sadly. "You're confused. That's probably to be expected. But please, if you do hold any feelings for me... let them disappear. Let me die in your heart. For Tsute."

Now Risago was certain she was crying, but before he could do any more, she moved off him, and ran away from him. The last he saw of her was the silhouette of a wolf running away into the distance.


Risago went ot the hospital that afternoon, after going home to change out of his drenched clothes. Before entering, he saw a doctor leaving, and suddenly went up to him.

"Doctor, how is she?" he asked.

"Well... she'll be okay for a few days yet, but then... I don't know," the doctor was grim-faced.

"She'll be alright in the end though, won't she?" Risago asked, praying that the answer would be 'of course.'

The doctor frowned, "There's a slim chance... that she'll live. But I wouldn't pin your hopes on it."

Risago stared at him, "No..."

The doctor left him, and Risago sat on a chair just outside the room, for waiting in. His head was spinning.

"She lied. She didn't want you hurt."

Lupi's words rang in his head. She was right. Tsute would likely...

...die.


Wolfie: Sorry for the mega long delay in updating... I won't give excuses.

Miku Hatsune: Silly Wolfie.

Risago: Where's that Shana girl that was giving the announcements before?

Miku: I'm her replacement... long story.

Wolfie: Yeah, let's not go there. Anyways, so um, thanks for the reviews. If you liked this chapter, please give more, especially if they're as helpful as KoshKing777's. That sort of thing is actually really helpful, and helped me get off my ass and get back to writing. So yeah, it's true that reviews can fuel writing! Oh and don't forget to vote on the poll if you haven't already. Tsute still hasn't had any votes.

Tsute: Does nobody love me?

Wolfie: Anyway, 'til next time (whenever that may be.)

Bis Bald

BW