well... sorry i was not able to post anything for such a long time... school work is really killing me... but don't ya worry guys because i'm still writting the fics i started... only this time, it might take me a long time before i could update... hehehe! hope you guys understand...
anyweiz, here is the next chap... i'm really sorry though because kurei's part of the story was kinda rushed... i promise to edit it as soon as i can... at least you guys have an idea how kurei's part of the story would look like... but with the rest of the story, i hope you guys like it.
read on!
Chapter 7:
He was blushing. He was blushing because of a girl. He was blushing because of a girl who just kissed him. He was blushing because of a girl who just kissed him on the cheeks. He was blushing because of a girl who just kissed him on the cheeks for the very first time in his entire life. Oh, and did he happen to mention that the girl who just kissed him was Fuuko?
Trying his best to ignore the annoying shade on his cheeks, he quickly went for the faucet and splashed the cold water on his face, hoping against all hope that it would remove the annoying stain from his face. He looked back at the mirror, watching as water lined down his cheeks and gather at the base of his chin, only to fall down as a small droplet on the sink.
You look like a complete idiot, blushing like mad over some monkey kissing you on the cheeks. Shouldn't you be worried that you might get monkey flees and not blushing like that?
Shaking all those thoughts from his mind, he went over to the other side of the bathroom and got some tissue to wipe his face. Just after he finished wiping his face dry, he noticed another presence of a person he didn't quite expect to feel, much more in a man's bathroom.
"I believe you're aware that this is the men's bathroom and I believe that you're also aware that if someone happens to come barging in here and see you, it would be quite a huge scandal." He said dryly, glaring at the mirror and waiting for the person to show herself to him.
Just as expected, Kagero appeared from behind him, her hands crossed across her chest and a sly smirk playing on her lips. However, he refused to look around and face her directly; instead, he glared at her through the mirror and waited for what she has to say.
A minute passed but Kagero seemed to have lost her ability to speak. This time, Tokiya faced her, wanting to find out what's wrong.
"What now? Felt tired of taunting me to the brink about not doing anything and being so foolish for realizing my feelings for her too late?" he said, sarcastically. "If so, you can now leave for I have a reputation to hold and I don't want that to be destroyed once someone comes in and see you in here."
He watched as Kagerou merely shook her head and walked towards him, leaning against the sink near him and looking straight ahead.
"No… I didn't come here to taunt you or anything else for that matter. Tell me, Tokiya," she said seriously as she turned her head to her left and looked directly at Tokiya's baby blue eyes. "Are you going to tell her about it?"
He chuckled at the question the immortal woman had thrown to him. "And what? Confuse her to no end and destroy the relationship she now has with Kurei? Forget it. Besides, just like you said, it's too late already." He answered, his voice almost constricting with emotions he never thought would haunt him.
After his last statement, he watched the open display of emotions that played on Kagero's face until it finally settled to the point that her eyes reflected sadness from something that, he guess, she was just about to tell him.
"I pity you." The woman stated dejectedly.
The mere fact that she actually had the guts to tell him straight forwardly that she pitied him annoyed him to the edge. It took almost all his self control and the added value that Mifuyu taught him about respecting women not to lunge at the woman and hit her square on the face. He just stood there, glaring at the woman and wishing to the heaven's that, as impossible as it may sound, looks could kill.
"Life had been so unfair to you." Kagero continued much to Tokiya's dismay.
"Must I be reminded of how it had been unfair to me?" he asked, raising a sarcastic brow at her. "Besides, since when had you been this nosy before?"
And with that, Tokiya stormed out of the restroom and put up his façade before heading back to the table where the others are still happily chatting with each other and appears to have not noticed his long absence. Even his nearing presence seemed to go beyond noticeable but he didn't mind. Besides, why should he when this gave him the opportunity to look at her without anybody noticing it?
From the distance he was covering, he watched as Fuuko laughed her heart out, her hair tumbling behind her back and her hands gently tucking a stray of hair behind her ear. Damn! How did he ever fall for someone like her? Yes, she has the body but she wasn't just mature enough for him. She was always joking around, playing and laughing without a care in the world. Yet, she was the only one who made sure he would feel, just feel, something, whether annoyance, amazement, anything, in just a span of five minutes. She was the only one who would encourage him to laugh with her, to relax a little, even dare to annoy him to no end without the trepidation of how he could slay with just a mere look. And God only knows why he lets her do that to him.
Then, without warning and as if sensing he was watching her, Fuuko turned to look at him straight at the eye. Baby blue met dark blue and time stopped, for Tokiya that is. He was drowned by those blue depths the color of the sea and he was making no effort of saving himself. He just stood there, five step from his seat, hands in his pockets and mouth slightly agape. He must have looked stupid. No, scratch that! He looks stupid! And yet, he doesn't even seem to care.
"Why Mi-chan, you spent an awfully long time in the restroom. Is it that hard to remove monkey fleas?" Fuuko teased him, unknowingly saving him from a very ridiculous situation he just let himself into.
He quickly recovered his composure and just shrugged his shoulders and slowly walked away from the table without another word.
"Mi-chan, where are you going?" Fuuko's voice followed him.
"I still have something to do." He curtly answered without even turning back to look at her or the persons at the table.
He can't stay. He just couldn't because something was eating him up from the inside. Something he was beginning to get accustomed to. Once again, the cold, unfeeling Tokiya Mikagami was hurt. It just hurt him to see her smile at him, yet knowing that she already belong to someone else.
As he was walking down the sidewalk, he passed a store with a one way mirror and he couldn't help but turn to its direction and watch himself. Not that he was vain or anything. He just wanted to see how a devastated look fits his face. That's when he noticed his eyes. Not that it was the first time he realized what color they were, but because a realization suddenly dawn to him that time.
It was cerulean… the color of the sky.
While Fuuko's eyes were dark blue… the color of the sea…
North and south… complete opposites… meant to be separated from each other and never to blend into one…
Probably… just like us…
She stared at the retreating back of the former ensui wielder until he had disappeared into the night, thinking if there was something that she said that made him leave.
"Mou! That was rude!" Ganko's voice finally broke the silence between them and the line of thoughts going in her head.
"Some things really never change." Kauro followed Ganko's statement before he went back to his food.
Things went back to normal around the table but unknown to it's other occupants, she was feeling bothered, not by the fact that Tokiya had walked out of the room without so much of a good excuse, but because of the fact that she was bothered by his eyes.
That time, when he came back from his, rather long, comfort room break and she turned around to tease him a little bit farther, her heart just stopped for a second. There was something in his eyes that she can't help but notice, something different, and something that wasn't there before and a while ago, it was glowing all of a sudden. It was as if his eyes had hidden it very well until that moment when it was all written in them for the world to see. Yet, she can't put her finger on exactly what it was that she saw. Besides, with just a blink of his eyes, all of it was gone and she had to mentally shake herself and continue her teasing remark before anybody else noticed what it was that presided between them.
After a few more minutes, dinner was finally over and everyone decided to retire for the night.
"Let me take you to your room Fuuko." Kurei gently said as he offered his hand to her like a perfect gentleman.
Fuuko hesitated for a moment, thinking that he might notice that something was bothering her and she couldn't bring herself to tell him what it was. That would be very unfair. Here he was, offering all the love in the world and all the understanding she ever needed and all she could ever think of was the way Tokiya looked at her a while ago. What kind of girlfriend would do such thing?
Smiling softly at Kurei, she reached out her slender fingers and touched his offered hand. She felt his fingers enveloped hers with its warmth and she couldn't help but blush at the intimate contact.
They finally reached her room and paused at the doorway. Slowly, she turned around to look at Kurei, who was standing close, way too close, to her.
"Well, here's my room." she said, slightly lowering her head to avoid his stare.
"Fuuko…" she heard his voice call out to her as if she was everything that he ever needed in the entire world.
Still she avoided his gaze, suddenly feeling a little bit uncomfortable due to the intensity of their surroundings. He, too, seemed to have been caught with the intensity that he wasn't able to continue whatever it is that he wanted to say and let the silence speak for himself.
She felt her heart starting to beat wildly against her chest as she inhaled his wonderful scent. She could feel his warm breath against her temples and it just made her heart beat like frenzy. Suddenly, she felt him raise his hands to touch her cheeks and the moment they do, she slowly lifted her head up to stare at his pale blue orbs. She almost gasped at the intensity of those stare and felt her breath caught in her throat. He must have noticed this for the next instant, she found him dipping his head lower and his fingers suddenly found their way under her chin to lift her face up. Slowly, and for what seemed like eternity, his lips touched hers for the second time that day, their eyes fluttering close and she felt how different this kiss is from what they had earlier.
Slowly, she felt him pushing her back against the frame of her door, his soft lips gently grazing and teasing her own lips until such time that she had to lock her hands around his neck for support while his hands settled on her waist. Her action, however, seemed to have intensified his feelings and desire to be close to her for she suddenly felt his soft tongue touching her lips, seeking for entrance. She gasped at the feeling it brought her, which Kurei had taken as an opportunity to slide his tongue into her warm mouth, eliciting a moan from the depth of her throat.
They were locked in a fiery kiss, each stroke bringing both of them a step away from reality and towards their own world, until such time that Tokiya's eyes, those very same eyes that she had seen earlier at dinner, flashed across her mind and jolted her from the kiss.
Suddenly pulling away, she settled her hands on Kurei's chest, and felt him place his chin on her shoulders. She could feel the way Kurei's heart was beating against his muscular chest and she became very aware of his heavy breathing against her ears.
"We, can't do this." She whispered, catching her own breathing.
Everything was silent for a moment until such time that Kurei straightened up and gazed into her eyes.
"I know. I'm sorry." He whispered back, his fingers gently grazing against the soft skin of her cheeks.
She smiled at him, giving him the assurance that there was nothing to be sorry about, before turning around to enter her room.
"Goodnight, Fuuko."
Still with the smile on her lips, she slowly closed the door to her room. "Goodnight, Kurei." She said before the door completely closed.
Heaving out a sigh of relief, she rested her head against the door frame and listened to his vanishing footsteps across the hall.
What the hell happened?
Her mind wandered back to the kiss that she and Kurei shared just a few moments ago.
That kiss… there was something in it that made her feel different. It was more like their desires being fulfilled and not the emotions being showed. It was as if she was doing the right thing with the wrong person. And one thing more…
Why the hell did Mi-chan's face suddenly appeared in my mind!
She was lately having a lot of questions concerning Tokiya and she could feel that they would continue bothering her if she doesn't do anything about it. Finally, she decided that the only thing that could end the questions bothering her was to go and confront the person causing them. She has to go and talk to him and clear everything that she was thinking.
Waiting for a few more minutes, just to make sure that she wouldn't have to deal with running into Kurei or anybody else on her way, she gathered all her courage and opened the door to head for Tokiya's room. She stepped outside her room, her feet slowly making their way towards the other hallway where Tokiya's room was located. Ironically, each step that she took towards his room seemed to be the same steps she wanted to take away from it.
Get a hold of yourself Fuuko… You're just going to talk to him, just like the way you both do way back during high school.
Before she even realized it, she was already in front of Tokiya's room, heaving out a deep sigh before summoning all her courage to knock on the door before her. She waited for a few seconds but no answer came from the other side of the door.
She knocked again, this time calling softly his name softly so as to let him know that it was her at the other side of the door.
"Mi-chan…" she softly said, her knuckles connecting to the varnished door.
Still, no answer.
"Mi-chan, are you there?" she called out more loudly, this time, turning the knob.
It was locked.
She had almost had the nerve to kick herself as soon as she realized that. Of course it should be lock, with or without Tokiya inside. How stupid could she be?
Very. She must have been very stupid just thinking of coming here. And her being here made her more stupid than ever.
Still, she wanted to find him so badly. For what reason, she doesn't know. It was as if her very actions don't even register to her brain anymore and her body was moving into its own volition of finding him.
She found herself going out of the hotel building and searching the bar beside the pools for any sign of him. Still, she found none. This time, her feet led her to the beach. It was lucky for her that there are post lamps along the beach, or else, finding him there would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. She slowly walked along the shoreline, not minding that the water was gently grazing her feet each time the tides reach the shore and the very few people taking a stroll under the night sky. Her eyes kept on wandering around her, hoping to catch a glimpse of silver and blue amidst the vast space laid out before her.
Then she saw him, or rather, an outline that could be him, sitting on the boulder of rock that she and Kurei had been sitting on that morning. She walked a little bit farther until she could really recognize his features from where she stands. As soon as her eyes took in the familiar silver locks and perfectly chiseled face, she hurriedly walked towards him. However, she stopped on her tracks when she saw the look on his face.
He was sitting there, oblivious of her presence, his left leg lying flat over the rock while his other leg was pulled towards his chest. His right arm was placed on top of right leg while the other holds onto it. He was looking towards the dark horizon as the gentle night wind played with the strands of his silver mane. He seems to be thinking about something, and the pained expression on his face gave her an idea of who it might be.
Mifuyu…
She had never seen this side of Tokiya and she's not sure if she should be thankful that she saw him like that. There was a part of her who wanted to leave and leave him with his thoughts, and if what she thought earlier was right, his pain. Yet, there was also a part of her who wanted to stay, to walk up to him… share his pain, if possible.
Slowly, and rather reluctantly, she withdrew her gaze from his figure and settled it on the vast darkness spread out before them, her eyes, turning poignant all of a sudden.
But… how could I? How could I when I am so full of pain, myself?
Returning her gaze back at Tokiya, she decided to go to him and have a nice talk, completely forgetting that she was there to find the answer to her questions earlier. She'll have another time for that. This time, though, she just wanted to comfort him, and probably find comfort in him too.
"Hey…" she greeted in a soft voice the moment she reached his place.
Slowly, she lowered herself onto the boulder and sat beside him, not looking at his face, rather focusing her gaze on the ebony sky above them.
Whether he wanted her company or not, she doesn't know for he remained silent and didn't even turned to look at her when she greeted him.
"You're thinking of her, aren't you?" she asked softly, carefully choosing her words so as not to jeopardize her stay.
"No." came the curt answer from her companion, giving her the confirmation that he knows who she was talking about.
Silence followed after that, the wind constantly playing with their hair and grazing their skin. She shivered involuntarily as a cold wind blew their way, her being clad in spaghetti strapped dress. She listened to the waves crashing against the rock they were sitting at and can't help but wonder why people tend to deny the fact that they think about their loved ones who passed away. It wasn't as if doing that would lessen the pain. On the contrary, it even makes it hurt even more. She should know. after all, she was basing it from her own experience.
She almost gasped when she suddenly felt a heavy, yet warm object being placed around her shoulders. When she look at what it was, she saw Tokiya's fingers leaving the jacket he was wearing a while ago, and which is now draped comfortably against her shoulders.
"Thanks." She murmured, fighting down the blush that threatened to show on her cheeks. Not that he would see it anyway. After all, it was quite dark from where they were sitting at.
Silence followed again after that and she sighed inwardly. Tokiya was never the one who would break such silence. Knowing him, he might be thinking of a polite way to make her leave. She is an unwanted company after all.
"I was serious." His gentle voice reached her ear the same time a wind blew past them, making her almost gasp in surprise for his sudden initiative.
She looked at him, questioning what could he possibly be talking about.
"I wasn't thinking of my sister." he added. "I was thinking of other matters."
She smiled softly at this. "It's okay… But in case you want somebody to talk to, you could just approach me, if you want."
Silence followed once again and she took this opportunity to tilt her head to the side so that it would be lying comfortably against Tokiya's shoulder. She felt him stiffen at her action and was half expecting that he would abruptly stand from his position and push her away, but it never came. Instead, she felt him relaxing against her and allowing the contact between them.
Why she did that? She doesn't know. But she knows that she feels comfortable with the feel of his broad shoulders against her head.
"I think I owe you an apology." She heard him say, his deep voice resonating against her ear.
His voice distracted her for a moment, hearing how deep it was and how gentle it sounded. She got so distracted that she didn't realize that Tokiya, the ever so great and mighty Tokiya who never lowered himself before anyone, actually humbled himself and asked for her apology.
"For what?" she asked, not moving from her position.
"The thing I said to you at the airport when you left a few years ago."
Her brows furrowed as she thought about that day once again, her mind searching for the memory of what he told her before.
You're a coward…
Her eyes momentarily widen when she remembered those words but she felt no grudge against him.
"It's okay… that happened to long ago to be apologizing for it now. Besides, I was who you said I was during that time. A coward. A coward who cannot face what it was that went smack right onto her face." she sighed.
"You still love him?" she heard him voice out, not actually sure whether it came out as a question or a statement.
She smiled sadly. "Does it matter right now? Besides, I'm trying to forget that's why I gave Kurei a chance… see if we could work things out… see if he could help me mend."
"You're being selfish."
She smiled inwardly, not really believing that she was having this kind of conversation with Tokiya. Things sure have change during those times that she was away. Tokiya was a little warmer now, not like before that he kept on pushing them away. Yet, his keen senses never changed.
Before, during the UBS, he was always the very first one to recognize danger before it could even happen. He was always the one who could observe everything and everybody around him even though chaos was right before his very eyes. And until now, he still does. He could still sense if there was something wrong. He was able to see directly right through the façade that took her years to build. He was able to see behind her smile, her mask…
"You were able to see right through me…" she spoke her thoughts aloud. "How?"
The last word was forced from her lips for she suddenly felt a lump in throat.
"Let's just say I am a master of the art that I can sense easily who was putting up a mask and who is not."
She smiled sadly at his words as she felt the tears pricking her eyes. Knowing that they were threatening to fall any second now, she turned her head so that her face is now buried against his shoulders. Quietly, she cried against him, letting her tears to fall down freely and be absorbed by the fabric hanging on his broad shoulder. She felt his arms go around her shoulders, pulling her closer against him and this gave her the comfort she had been looking for ever since Raiha died. Funny how she traveled and wasted money to seek it in some place only to find out that the person who could give her such comfort was right beside her. Only during those times, she was too hurt to notice, acknowledge or even seek.
After a few minutes, her cobs finally died out and she turned her head once again to look ahead of her. She could still feel his arms around her but she didn't care, nor did she even notice.
"I want to forget him, Mi-chan." She whispered.
"You don't have to forget him… you just have to learn how to deal with the pain."
"You'll help me, won't you? Since you're the only one who seems to notice my huge masquerade."
The only answer that she got was the tightening of his arms around her and it was already enough answer for her to give her the assurance that he'll be there for her.
She continued looking at that space before them, knowing that her companion was also looking at the same sight before her. The questions in her head was long forgotten already and it might be the next day that she'll remember them once again, yet, she wasn't even bothered. It was as if the question had already been answered without her knowing it, right there in the arms of the most unlikely person who would understand her like that.
He wasn't supposed to be jealous. He told himself over and over again as he made his way to the elevators located at the other side of the hallway. Surely, there wasn't anything that he should be jealous about. Fuuko and Tokiya had been friends since high school, and he had already been used to seeing her act that way towards him in particular. She was, as the rest of the Hokage put it, the only one who could fish out some emotions out of the human ice block, so it was enough reason for her to be extra close to him.
And yet…
Just a few minutes back, as he was sipping a cold beer by the window while reading some documents he took with him from his office, he glanced out of the transom of his room located at the third floor of the hotel just in time to see Tokiya entering the hotel vicinity with an unconscious Fuuko lying on his arms.
The first thought that came to his mind the next instant was that time when he took Fuuko to her room and left her to rest.
If that is so, then what is she doing in the arms of Tokiya?
Maybe she went out to have a breath of fresh air and happened to pass by Tokiya.
The next thought that came to his mind was that Fuuko might probably be injured that's why she was unconscious and Tokiya had to carry her back to her room.
This thought triggered him to hastily leave the comfort of his room and dash towards Fuuko's room five floors above his own room.
However, no matter how much he wants to deny it and how much he wish to ignore it, he still couldn't get that nagging feeling inside him that triggered his jealousy.
He reached the elevators and his thought temporarily left his brain as he pushed the button that indicated Fuuko's floor. The moment the elevator doors closed and locked him securely inside the spacious four cornered space, he was greeted by his image reflected on the mirrored walls. He stared at it for a few seconds before closing his eyes and leaning his body against wall, refusing to look at his reflection. It was as if his reflection was slowly mocking him and intensifying the nagging jealousy pouring over his body.
After a few minutes that seemed like forever for him, the elevator doors suddenly opened, revealing to him the hallway that would lead him to his destination. Hastily, he made his way towards Fuuko's room just in time to see Tokiya opening the door.
"Mikagami." He called out, stopping the other man from his progress of stepping inside the room.
He watched as the man slowly turned around and confidently met his gaze.
Cold…
It was the only word that could describe those eyes. No emotions could be seen on those baby blue pools and yet, it could easily bring shivers across his spine.
But who was he to talk about such things when he knew that his own eyes reflected the same coldness that he could see from the man across him. But he knew that the man could still read something more on his eyes and it's burning with too much intensity, making hell freeze over and then melting down only to freeze again.
He was jealous. No. He was very jealous and the man across him doesn't even seem to care that he was the reason why he was feeling this way.
"What happened to her?" he asked Tokiya, his voice sending ice daggers to the man still holding what's his.
"She's asleep." came the curt reply, his voice also returning the same intensity of coldness.
"And may I ask why?" he asked once again, walking towards the man with every intention of taking Fuuko from him.
"I know what's going on in that filthy mind of your Kurei and it's not what you think it is."
"Why being so defensive?" he asked, arching an eyebrow at him before gently taking Fuuko from Tokiya's hands. "I was just asking why she's asleep."
He watched as a flicker of emotion showed on Tokiya's eyes but it was gone as fast as it showed, making him think if he just imagine what he saw. Still, he held his gaze, refusing to back down from the silent confrontation between them.
Then, Tokiya closed his eyes and started walking past him, not saying another word.
"Mikagami." He called out to him, not bothering to turn around and look at him and just settled on staring at the far wall.
He heard him stop in his tracks, perhaps, not bothering to look at him too.
"I gave her up before. I'm not planning on doing it now." He spat out, each word, leaving his lips with so much firmness as if he would kill again just to make sure she stays his. "She's mine."
Silence followed but he still didn't hear the shuffling of his shoes above the carpeted floor. He waited for him to say something, making the tension around them grow stronger that one more false move and it would snap.
"You're being possessive." Tokiya's voice finally broke the silence and made the tension decrees a little.
Then he heard him walk away once again.
"I meant what I said." He continued, making the other man stop in his tracks once again. He's not going to let him walk away until he got the assurance that Tokiya will not interfere with their relationship.
But this time, he was answered by the footsteps slowly walking away until he heard the sound of the elevator across the hall. His breath hissed between his teeth as the seethed anger slowly rose from his chest. He was about to let go of the frustration by swearing but stopped and calmed himself instantly the moment he felt Fuuko snuggle closer to his chest.
Slowly, he looked down at his load, watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest and the way her eyelids fanned her face in the most enchanting manner. He could feel all the tension leaving him just by looking at her face and watching her sleep soundly in his arms.
Making sure that he won't wake her up, he slowly made his way towards the room and laid her slowly on the canopied bed. He sat beside her before propping up his elbows on her pillow and soothing her soft cheeks with the back of his hand. He saw her sigh gently that made him almost smirk against the darkness of the room.
"Sleep now Fuuko…" he whispered to her as he lowered his face down and gave her a small peck on her temple.
He drew back slightly and watched her angelic face gently illuminated by the moonlight seeping form the curtains of her window.
"Call me selfish… but I'm not going to give you up again…" he continued whispering before lowering his head once more and kissing her softly on the lips. "I love you." he murmured against her lips before slowly hoisting himself up the bed.
He gave her sleeping form one last look before he headed towards the door and left her in her deep slumber.
well? like it? i hope so... really guys, keep the reviews coming! hehehe!
to all who reviewed the previous chapters and all the stories i posted, thank you so much... those really keep my spirits u in writing these fics!
by the way, could some of you guys explain to me the difference between stories written under alternative universe and alternative reality? or is there any difference at all?
i'm planning on writting another one shot fic and another fic... of course, it's tofuu... hehehe! tnx anyways!
