Futari no Merry-go-round: Chapter 1 - Reunion
The standardized disclaimer: No, I don't own
Fuuko or Mikagami or Kaoru, all characters are from Flame of Recca by Noboyuki
Anzai.
Do have fun reading the story though. I
don't have much experience in writing fanfics so help me out here k? Drop me a
line of comments/suggestions/declaration of hate here.
=)
Love Love Aishiteru,
Pink Yuki
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The
plane slowed down and the air stewardess' voice was mumbling about buckling
seatbelts and putting seats in upright positions. The purple-haired girl looked
out of the window, admiring the snow-covered city. *I am back.* She thought as
the plane reached land and stopped.
Fuuko
walked into the arrival hall and immediately spotted her father and Ganko.
"Odousan! Ganko!" She waved and ran towards them.
"Okairi,
Fuuko-san." Her father gave her a warm smile. "That's all the luggage
you have?" Pointing at a small canvas bag.
"Yes."
As Fuuko hugged Ganko and held the girl's hand while the three of them walked
out the airport.
--------------------------
She
walked along the streets she knew so well and closed her eyes to breathe in her
hometown's air. *It's good to be back. I even missed the smell of the air
here!*
"Fuuko?"
A surprised voice rose behind her and she recognized the voice at once.
"Domon!" She turned and saw a huge smile on Domon's face.
"Hey
girl! Finally got your ass back here? How come you didn't call any of us? We
could have gone to pick you up!" He gave Fuuko a bear hug that nearly
suffocated her, but she was pleased to hear the sincerity in his voice.
"Oh,
I forgot to introduce… err, actually you know each other right? Fuuko, this is
my girlfriend Aki." Domon blushed as the blue-haired girl smiled next to
him.
Fuuko's
heart skipped a beat. *Did I hear it right? Aki is Domon's girlfriend?* She
looked at the couple smiling lovingly into each others eyes. "I am so glad
for you!" The reality settled in and Fuuko screamed with enthusiasm,
"Aki-san, he is a great guy, one of my best friend of all time. Treat him
well, ne?" She smiled as Aki winked and nodded.
"
Why don't we all gathered at the Uruha mansion tonight? A party welcoming
Fuuko-san's return."
"Wonderful
idea! Koishii, you are so clever!" Domon jumped at the suggestion and
grinned.
"Ano…
would that be all right though? It's already four…" Fuuko worriedly
added.
"Oh
don't worry! We have parties nearly every night in the Uruha mansion ever since
Recca-san moved in." Aki gave an assuring smile and called the Uruha
mansion on her cell phone, "Neon neechan? Aki desu. We just bumped into
Fuuko-san…"
"Recca
moved into the Uruha mansion?" Fuuko turned to Domon with a puzzled look
while Aki was talking on the phone.
"Ah…
Shigeo-san finally did it. His cigarette fell and the factory just exploded
because of all the fireworks and stuff inside. The explosion damaged their house
also, so now Recca is living with Kurei, while Shigeo-san is still being
hospitalized." Domon smirked.
"Recca forbids Yanagi to heal him, he said this should taught his old man a
lesson."
"OK!
Neon neechan said she would prepare everything." Aki got off the phone and
wrapped her arm around Fuuko's shoulders. "Now our guest of honor,
Fuuko-san, should come with me to get the perfect dress for tonight!" Fuuko
was really glad that Aki was treating her with such affection. "Do-chan,
why don't you go and inform the others?"
"A-chan,
you just want to shop yourself, don't you?" Domon looked at his beloved and
laughed, "Don't corrupt Fuuko too much okay?" With that he lightly
kissed Aki's cheeks and walked away.
----------------------------------
"What
do you think of this one?" Aki held up the fifteenth dress she has picked
for Fuuko, which the latter sheepishly took and returned to the dressing room.
Fuuko
walked out and looked into the mirror. *Now this is perfect.* She thought. She
is not a big fan of shopping at all, especially not dresses, but the dress she
had on right now is one that she knew she would regret if she didn't pay for it
right now. It fitted like a glove and showed off Fuuko's luscious curves. Being
slightly short and low-cut, the dress enhances Fuuko's long legs and perfect
neckline.
"This
is perfect!" whispered Aki, who was obviously proud at her choice.
"You look so beautiful in it! Silver and blue fit you really well. They
enhance the color of your hair."
"Thank
you." Fuuko blushed slightly. Even though she knew that she is not ugly,
thanks to the boys in Boston who constantly wanted to take her out, she had
never had a girl telling her she looked good before.
Aki
told her to put her T-shirt and jeans in a paper bag and just walked out with
the dress she had on right now, seeing that they didn't have much time left.
"Kurei-sama said he would buy you your outfit today." Aki took out a
platinum card despite Fuuko's protest. "As your welcome back present."
Aki winked and dragged Fuuko to buy shoes that match her new outfit. Fuuko felt
like she had found a long lost sister, and was beginning to enjoy her new
shopaholic companion.
Aki
and Fuuko arrived the Uruha mansion and Aki immediately took her guest to her
room. Neon and Miki were there and they both welcomed Fuuko with pecks on the
cheeks.
"Now
it's time for makeup!" The Uruha Oto trio giggled in unison.
"Ano…
it's okay…. I am not used to all doll up and stuff…" Fuuko turned to
the trio who just gently pushed her to the chair and started fiddling with their
makeup brushes.
"You
want to just stun all of them tonight!" Aki was putting foundation on
Fuuko's face.
"Yeah,
you disappeared for three months! You should make a dazzling appearance!"
Neon quickly added while putting a silver blue eye shadow on Fuuko.
"Yup!
Especially when someone might just give you a love confession tonight!"
Miki giggled and saw Fuuko's bewildered expression. "Err… just stating
the possibilities…" Miki murmured as she brushed Fuuko's hair, avoiding
Neon and Aki's death glares.
"Well,
there is someone who seems rather devastated when you left without a word."
Neon stared at the bewildered wind wielder. "But we can't tell you who it
is, since we haven't confirmed our suspicion."
"Oh…"
Fuuko muttered. She looked into the mirror and, seriously, thought that makeup
IS an amazing thing. She has never looked so good before!
"Fuuko-san!"
Someone rushed in. "You are back! You are back!" The figure was
grinning with tears in her eyes. "And you look wonderful."
"Yanagi-chan"
Fuuko smiled and approached her friend. They hugged and Fuuko happily said,
"Tadaima!" The two best friends giggled.
"Is
Fuuko in Aki's room?" Recca's voice was ringing in the corridor. "No
boys allowed here! Not even you, Recca-san." Aki stuck her head out the
corridor. "We will bring her out when everyone is here, okay?"
"What's
the big deal?" Recca protested while Aki whispered into his ears. He nodded
and beamed, "Okay then, I will come and inform you when everyone is here.
Now where is niichan…." Recca wandered off.
"He
is actually calling Kurei niichan now?" Fuuko have a quizzical look on her
face when Neon and Yanagi smiled at each other.
"Yes.
And Kurei-sama seemed to like that a lot also." Neon smiled.
"Recca-kun
is doing much better in school since Kurei-san tutored him on sciences and
math." Yanagi said with a hint of relief in her voice.
"Neon-han!"
There was a knock on the door, and Miki opened a crack. "Yosu, Miki-han, is
Neon-han here? I've got the stuff she wants." Fuuko recognized the Kansai
accent and Neon whispered something in her ears, "Hey, Hiroji!
Wassup?" Fuuko shouted.
"Do
NOT call me Hiroji!!!!" Growled the angry assassin outside, while Neon was
rolling on the floor dying of laughter. "Joker! My name is JOKER! Damn you
Neon for corrupting Fuuko-han… anyway, just give this to Neon-han will you,
Miki-han?" With that Joker walked away mumbling swear words.
"Still
doesn't like his real name I see." Fuuko looked at the Uruha trio, who were
still hysterically laughing. Even Yanagi's face was red with laughter.
"That
baka…haha… oh yeah, this is the last piece to complete you look." Neon
pulled something out of the box Joker delivered. "A welcome back gift from
the three of us, Fuuko-san." She put a purplish-blue choker around Fuuko's
neck; a small heart-shaped amethyst was dangling in the middle.
"That's
so pretty!" Yanagi exclaimed. Fuuko thanked the trio and gazed at the gift
from the mirror.
"Well,
we bought it a long time ago when we went to Paris for a …err…mission."
Miki said. "We thought it would fit you very well in your wedding."
"My
WHAT?" Fuuko jumped at Miki's words, "WEDDING? To who?"
WHAM!
Both Neon and Aki hit Miki hard on the head. "Just forget what she
said." Neon softly said while shot dagger through her eyes at Miki.
*Raiha.*
Fuuko bit her lip. "Raiha…we did seem inseparable back then, don't
we?" Fuuko smiled and saw the rest loosen up a bit.
"Gomen…"
Miki murmured in her half-conscious state.
Fuuko
raised a finger to touch the amethyst and sighed. It was tough, but she
understood now that it was over. For the time she took in Boston, she finally
realized that she loved Raiha, but despite the physical attraction she loved him
more like a friend, or a brother.
"Are
you okay?" Yanagi said in a worried tone. Fuuko merely nodded.
"Hey
ladies! Are you ready? Everyone is here!" Recca shouted outside the room.
"Now
now, Fuuko-san! You are going to make them all drool out there!" Aki
giggled. "Except for Rasshen, who can't see, and all the other girls
there." Miki added.
Recca
was not sure if it was really Fuuko in front of him. He knew that she is a girl
and he knew that she has a great figure, but damn!
"If
it's not because of hime here, I would probably be nose bleeding like mad."
Recca winked at his former teammate and laughed. Fuuko smiled while Yanagi
blushed at Recca's comment.
"Now
do I have the pleasure to escort my five beautiful ladies to the living
room?" Kurei appeared from nowhere and asked. Fuuko was surprised that
Kurei would actually lose his red cloak and mask, but the man in front of her
was certainly in a suit. The girls giggled and nodded while Recca complaining
about Kurei turning into a slimy ladies man.
The
brothers walked into the room and announced that their guest of honor is here.
"Fuuko neechan!" Koganei jumped onto Fuuko when she stepped into the
room. "Kaoru, never changed ne?" Fuuko smiled at the familiar welcome
and the boy gave her his famous fanged grin.
"Hey
Fuuko neechan, why don't you tell us what you did in the past three
months?" Koganei finally released Fuuko and asked the question everyone in
the room was dying to know.
"Well,
I took the English improvement course and some geography classes in Boston
University. And I had an internship at the weather channel as a
researcher." Fuuko slowly stated her achievements and looked around the
room. Everyone was listening intently. She hesitated before she continued,
"And…err… I have decided to take the full scholarship offered by BU to
study meteorology there after high school."
Silence.
"You
are leaving us again after high school?" Yanagi voice trembled. "You
are not staying?"
"I
have decided." Fuuko turned and gazed softly in her best friend's
direction. "It's an opportunity of a lifetime. The weather channel seemed
to like me too. They offered me a rather promising position there."
"Well,
I guess we should open the champagne and congratulate our lovely
Fuuko-han!" Joker broke the silence and proceeded to get a bottle of Dom
Perignon. Everyone started chattering again.
Fuuko
smiled at Yanagi, who seemed to be having a mental conflict about being happy
for her or being upset at her. Finally, Yanagi looked up and smiled,
"Congratulations!"
Fuuko
was relieved by Yanagi's reaction. The two friends hugged, and Yanagi went off
to get both of them something to drink. Saicho came over to introduce Fuuko to
Misora, who seemed to be a girl as sweet as Saicho. Fujimaru came to compliment
Fuuko's breast, and got a big whack by both Saicho and Kuukai before Fuuko could
react.
Fuuko
let herself slipped into a corner and observed the crowd with interest. She
looked over to the bar area and saw Joker and Koganei struggling with the bottle
of champagne. * Don't those two look like brothers? The same fanged grin and
cockiness.* She giggled at the thought while watching Joker trying to unscrew
the bottle by pointing his Taishaku Kaitan at the cork, attempting to make the
cork flied away, and failed miserably. Kurei rushed to the scene growling,
"Don't you two know that you can just open champagne with your hands?"
Fuuko could not suppress a laughter escaping from her mouth.
She
turned and suddenly caught Mikagami staring at her. There was a notion of hurt
and anger in his eyes despite his emotionless face. He was standing apart from
everyone and once he held Fuuko's eyes, he started to make his way towards the
wind master.
"Monkey."
Mikagami hissed in a low voice, which got Fuuko upset in an instance. *And Neon
was saying that men are going to drool over my appearance…* She thought
disappointedly. * Well, at least I am more mature now. Three months ago I would
be beating his ass up by now." Her thought relieved her and so she squeezed
a smile, "Konbanwa, Mi-chan."
Mikagami
stared at Fuuko with slight surprised that she was not screaming at him, yet the
hurt and anger was still there in his eyes. * And I thought avenging his sister
would finally bring some liveliness in him. Well, it's the fridge boy we are
talking about here.* Fuuko thought with a smirk
on her face.
"So
you are going to leave again? Leaving Yanagi sad behind?" Mikagami simply
stated.
"Mi-chan,
I know you want the best for Yanagi, but I have a life also." Fuuko
replied. "Besides, she still has Recca and you protecting her."
"Hmmp."
Mikagami stared at her for a moment and walked away.
"The
fridge boy was still cold as ever." Fuuko whispered quietly to no one in
particular. "No, he is doing much better lately." Yanagi and Recca
suddenly appeared with three glasses of champagne in their hands. Fuuko took one
and sipped her drink.
"You
should have come back a week earlier. Mikagami-senpai was so drunk! Tsukishiro-san
and him kept talking about the new Clinique shampoo and how it has too much
alcohol content that it would destroy their hair!" Yanagi couldn't hold
back the laughter as she recalled the scene.
"Mi-chan?
Drunk? That's something I surely want to see." Fuuko was giggling at the
thought.
"You
do? We can try on that then." Recca grinned evilly and called out.
"Niichan! Niichan!"
Kurei
hurried over. "Thanks bro, you saved me from Neon's hands once again. Why
the heck is she always throwing herself at me?" Kurei had a confused look
on his face.
"Maybe
it's because of your Armani suits these days. Stop shopping with Mikagami and
you might have a chance of stopping girls swamp over you." Recca teased his
brother, who abruptly replied, "This is Gucci for god's sake!"
Fuuko
and Yanagi sweatdropped as the brothers continued their conversation on men's
clothing. "Back to why I called you over. Hey, you think we can get
Mikagami drunk again tonight?" Recca grinned.
"Hmm…
might be a problem. He has developed quite a good tolerance you know."
"I
am sure Joker and you can accomplish the task just fine. You two are the biggest
drinkers in the world!"
"We'll
see." Kurei smiled and turned to face Fuuko, "May I have the pleasure
to have the first dance?"
Fuuko
laughed at how Kurei has truly turned into a ladies man while letting Kurei took
her to the dance floor. Much to her surprise, Kurei was a great dancer.
"The only thing I would ever feel grateful to Mori Kouran is that he forced
me to go to all these dancing lessons." Kurei winked.
Fuuko
was enjoying herself immensely. Kurei and her were having a great conversation
while dancing all around the dance floor. The once evil flame caster turned out
to be an intelligent man who treated girls like jewels in his hands. *Neon
couldn't possibly be talking about Kurei, could she? After all, she was so in
love with him that she would never say that Kurei likes someone else.* Fuuko
thought.
The
music slowed down and Joker came to take Fuuko out of Kurei's hands.
"Kurei-han, you can't keep the guest of honor all to yourself!" Joker
flashed his fanged grin and swiftly took Kurei's position. At the corner of her
eyes, Fuuko could spot Yanagi and Recca, Domon and Aki, Saicho and Misora
dancing around them.
"Nah…
Fuuko-han, you should be looking at your wonderful dance partner here
only." Joker laughed while putting up a hurt face.
"I
wouldn't know if you are looking at me though, would I? Joker-san." Fuuko
teased Joker. Even now Joker still kept a cap or sunglasses on all the time, to
prevent anyone into looking at his eyes.
Joker
laughed at Fuuko's comment and lowered his sunglasses a little so that Fuuko
could spot a gold twinkle appeared in front of her. Unfortunately, it was only
for a short second that Fuuko couldn't make out what color his eyes really were.
*Neon
cannot be talking about Joker-san either, can she? I don't know him really
except for the fact that he was Raiha's best friend.* Fuuko thought.
"Ano… Joker-san?"
"What's
up? Fuuko-han?"
"Do
you know how Raiha is doing right now?"
Silence.
Joker slowed down a little and Fuuko mistakenly stepped on his toes.
"Itai!" Joker playfully screamed and lowered his voice slightly,
"Fuuko-han, I think you should concentrate on the amazingly cool bishounen
in front of you right now." Fuuko just stared at him.
"Fine,
but don't tell the others I told you though." Joker sighed. "Raiha is
still in Tokyo, operating the kendo dojo Meguri Kyoza had. Kurei-han bought it
you see."
"I
am glad he is doing well." Fuuko smiled and Joker studied her intently.
Finally, he too smiled. "I see you got over him quite well."
"Yes,
maybe next time we could all have a gathering together?" Fuuko heartily
replied.
"Can
I have the dance, Joker?" A giggly voice raised behind her. Fuuko couldn't
figure out who it was but Joker promptly slipped away.
Fuuko
turned around and found a red-faced, smiling Mikagami behind her. Kurei and
Recca, not too far away from Mikagami, laughing hysterically and mouthed Fuuko
that they have gotten Mikagami rather tipsy, pointing at the five empty red-wine
bottles at their feet.