Sealed With a Kiss - Chapter 2
Here it is (so soon?), chapter 2! ^-^ And if you liked the last chapter, you'll love this one... *^.^* ::eyeballs Ferio:: As much as I love Fuu, I am going to steal him away from her one of these days...
::cough cough:: Right-y-o. Fuu-chan, Ferio-ouji, and all other characters are © CLAMP. Not me! ;_; (I'll probably never get over that... ::sighhhh:: ) "SWAK" is © 2001 suzanami. Enjoy! ^.-
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"Soooo..." Umi probed the next morning as Fuu came into the living room. "How was your daaate?..." She poked Fuu in the ribs, grinning.
Fuu blushed. "My date?" she echoed, swallowing. "Why do you care how my date went, Umi-san?..."
Umi frowned and sat on the couch, pulling Fuu onto it next to her. "One: because you're my friend and I wanna know. Two: because *Ferio's* my friend and I wanna know. Three... Fuu, I just wanna know!" She grinned again.
Fuu leaned back on the soft couch. "Well, we walked around town, mostly," she said softly, looking at the gray carpet. "Just talking and such. Then around ten, he walked me home."
"Did he kiss you?" Umi asked wide-eyed.
Fuu's face turned bright red. "N-no. Umi-san, we hardly *know* each other!"
Umi's face twisted into a pout. "Darn. I was hoping the sparks would *really* fly between you two." She drummed her fingers on the back of the couch.
Fuu looked at her friend. "Umi-san..." she asked, speaking slowly. "Did you only ask Ferio to visit to get the two of us together?"
Umi blinked at her then shook her head. "No, I never dreamed that my best friend and my roomie'd hook up." She flipped her long sapphire hair over her shoulder. "But when I saw the looks he was giving you, I thought I'd... nurture the 'relationship,'" she added with a leer.
Fuu sighed, but was secretly thankful to Umi. Ferio made her so happy; just to be with him was better than anything she could imagine. He made her feel like no one ever had. "Ne, Umi-san..."
"Hm?"
"I am just curious..." Fuu murmured, looking again at the carpet and blushing slightly. "Has Ferio ever had any girlfriends?"
Umi shook her head. "He's gone on dates a few times, but he was never much of a romantic." She looked up at Fuu. "I don't think he's ever kissed anyone, either." She saw Fuu's eyes light up descreetly and smiled gently. She rested her chin in her hand, looking at her friend. "From the look in his eyes... you might be his first kiss, Fuu."
Fuu blushed and took a deep breath. "Why do you think that?"
"Like I said," Umi replied. "The look in his eyes. It's something I've never seen in his eyes before, something I've only seen in my father's eyes when he looks at my mother."
"Umi-san," Fuu said, taking another breath. "Your parents love each other very much. Ferio hasn't known me long enough to be in love... If he even would be," she quickly added. "So how can you--"
"Ferio cares for you a lot," Umi interrupted. She sat up straight. "Trust me, I know Ferio. The look in his eyes when he looks at you is unmistakable. He knows what he wants..."
"So what you're saying is that he's just lusting after me," Fuu snorted.
Umi shook her head. "Fuu, he doesn't want your body, he wants your heart." She looked at Fuu tenderly, taking her friend's hand. "And he wants to give you his."
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March flew by quickly and before anyone knew it, it was April and much warmer. Fuu could go out without a jacket, and most often she went out with Ferio. The two of them were getting closer every day, and Fuu found herself slowly falling in love with the handsome young man.
One afternoon in mid-April when the two of them were sitting under a tree in the park, Ferio took one of her delicate hands in his own, running his fingers over her pale palm. "Ferio?" she whispered.
"Fuu, I..." He paused, sighing. "I'm not sure how to say this."
'Say what?' Fuu thought frantically, worried. "Ferio, what's the matter?" He looked up, staring into her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat, but she managed to repeat herself. "What's wrong, Ferio?"
"Fuu, I..."
'Is that all he can say?' she thought, frowning. "Ferio..."
Ferio took a deep breath. He reached over with his other hand, stroking Fuu's cheek delicately. She blushed but did not move away. "Fuu, I think..." His eyes softened and his voice became soft. "Fuu, I think I'm in love with you..."
Now Fuu inhaled sharply, her cheeks ablaze with a firey blush. "Ferio..." was all she could think to say.
"I just had to tell you," he whispered. "I mean, I don't expect you to *love* me back, just..." He sighed again. "I just wanted you to know..."
Fuu wasn't sure what to say. She tried to calm her blushing cheeks and think. No, not think. Listen to her heart. Did she love him back? Did she really, truly love him back? Something in her heart said yes. The way he looked at her, the way he touched her hand... The way that he loved her... Yes, she loved him, too.
Ferio blinked as she leaned onto him, snuggling her face in his chest. "Ferio," she said, trying not to let her heart spill tears onto her cheeks. "Ferio, I think I love you, too..."
She felt his tense body relax as he slipped his arms around her shoulders, pushing her closer to him. "Fuu... Every moment I spend with you is... is..."
"... heaven..." Fuu finished, sighing happily. In love. She was in love. And he loved her back. "Ferio, I love you so much, and every day I'm falling even more and more in love with you... You stole my heart the first time you looked into my eyes..."
Ferio tilted her chin up, looking into her eyes again. "Then let me steal a kiss too, hm?..." Fuu didn't reply, just blushed but leaned in as his mouth lowered to her own. They met and Fuu felt adrenaline surge through her veins and a shiver run up her spine as their lips carressed each other tenderly. Ferio pulled her closer, combing his fingers through her soft hair.
He reluctanly broke the kiss, nuzzling his nose to hers. "Fuu..." he whispered, dazed. She whimpered his name and he kissed her again, even sweeter than before. She broke the kiss, her lips lightly brushing his cheek along the scar. She whispered his name again as a cool breeze teased her curls, brushing them on his face.
"Fuu... you mean so much to me."
Fuu leaned back a little so she could look at him. "I love you," she smiled, taking his hand and holding it gently. She blushed as Ferio lifted her hand up to his mouth, kissing her soft palm once, twice, and whispered that he loved her as well. She put her other hand to her warm cheek. "Thank you."
"For?"
"That kiss was amazing," she said softly, gently brushing his hair out of his face. "I enjoyed every second."
"Have you ever kissed anyone?" Ferio asked.
She smiled, shaking her head. "You are my very first kiss."
"And you're mine," Ferio murmured, looking at her lovingly. "And there's no one I'd rather share it with than you."
Fuu sighed happily, brushing her fingertips on his lips. "Now... all that I wish is that this moment would last forever..." She leaned her head on his shoulder, snuggling close to him. Ferio put his arm around her, pulling her as close as possible and burying his face in her hair, smelling its sweet aroma. "All I need is you..."
Ferio smiled, rubbing his hand over her hair lightly. "You're amazing, Fuu," he whispered. "I want to fall more in love with you." They sat in silence for a few moments before Ferio spoke up. "I have to go to work..." He worked in stock at Giant Eagle.
Fuu nodded, standing slowly. She laughed as he struggled to stand.
"Sorry, my butt fell asleep..." Fuu giggled again, linking her fingers through his. Ferio smiled at the feeling of her hand wound in his own. "Want me to take you home?"
"I don't want you to be late."
"I'm usually on time," Ferio snorted. "They'll get over it."
"I don't want you to get in trouble because of me..." Fuu said quietly, lowering her eyes.
Ferio shook his head and squeezed her hand. "Don't worry. I *want* to walk you home. I have to talk to Umi about something anyways."
Fuu nodded readily. "All right."
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"You're home already!" Umi exclaimed, clothed in her short bathrobe and rubbing furiously at her long, wet hair with a towel.
Fuu shot a glance at Ferio, but he was unaffected by the fact that Umi was most likely naked under that little robe. She remembered Umi telling her that she and Ferio were very close friends and it hadn't even bothered either of them when he walked in on her in her bra a few times. He had always had a key to her home and was like a brother to her.
"Yep," Ferio replied. He dropped Fuu's hand and crossed his arms across his chest, leaning on the doorway. Umi scowled at him. "What?"
"Would you *mind* shutting the door?" she chided, frowning. "People are walking by and I'm naked under this thing!"
'Ah, I was right,' Fuu thought unemotionally.
Ferio sighed in exhasperation and shut the door. "Maybe you should try dressing before walking around the building?"
"I never left the apartment!"
Fuu cleared her throat and her two friends turned to her. "If you don't mind, I've been sitting under a tree all afternoon and I'd like to shower myself." She turned to Ferio. "I'll see you tomorrow?" He nodded and she smiled, heading for her room.
Umi and Ferio watched her exit. Umi turned quickly to Ferio, eyes wide with curiosity. "Well???"
Ferio blinked at her. "'Well?' *what?*"
"Did you *tell* her?" Umi sighed, as if he should have known. She put her hands on her hips, the towel forgotten around her neck. Ferio coughed and averted his gaze from Umi's. A grin spread on her face from ear to ear. "You *did,* you *did!*" she exclaimed, pulling him over to the couch and sitting him next to her on it. "Tell me everything!"
Ferio cleared his throat again. "On two conditions."
Umi pouted. "What?"
"One, put some underwear on, at *least,*" Ferio groaned, pressing a finger to his temple. "I don't need to see anything I don't want to."
Umi laughed. "And two, in the future, don't treat me like one of your girlfirends. Maybe Fuu-chan would be a better person to probe for gossip."
Umi stood and pulled the skirt of her robe down. "It's not gossip," she smirked as she walked out, her nose turned up in the air. "It's a very curious friend wanting to know all the dirty details!"
"There are no 'dirty details!'" Ferio said loudly, hurling a throw pillow at her, barely missing her as she scurried out of the room, laughing.
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"You and Ferio are very close, ne, Umi-san?"
Umi looked up from her salad. "Huh?"
Fuu hesitated before repeating. "You are very close friends with Ferio, right?"
Umi put down her fork and stared at Fuu, a little puzzled, trying to figure out what she was getting at. "Are you afraid that I'm competition?" Umi inquired over her dinner.
Fuu shook her head quickly. "No, it's just that I was wondering--" She was cut off by a knock at the door. She took a sip of her water and stood. "I will get it."
"Are we expecting Ferio-kun?" Umi asked curiously.
"I don't think so," Fuu said, opening the door.
As she did, a girl flung herself into her arms. "Fuu-chan!"
Fuu's eyes went wide as she tried to catch her balance. "Who the?..."
"Fuu-chan, I missed you!" the red-head exclaimed, unlatching herself from Fuu.
Fuu peered at the short girl before recognizing the wide, garnet eyes. "Hikaru-san!" The girl nodded vigorously. Fuu laughed, hugging her friend. "When was the last time I saw you? You've matured so much!"
Hikaru giggled, wiggling her now-shaped hips. "Yep, I finally filled out!" She set her bag on the floor. "Wow, it's been almost two years since I've seen you, Fuu-chan! You hafta tell me *everything* that's been happpening to you!"
Fuu smiled, thinking of Ferio.
"Heeyy!" called a voice from the kitchen. "Who is it, Fuu?"
"Come in, please," Fuu smiled. "I would like you to meet my roommate." She led Hikaru into the kitchen where Umi was still seated at the table. "Hikaru-san, this is my friend and roommate, Umi-san. Umi-san, this if an old school friend of mine, Hikaru-san."
Umi stood, smiling and walked over to Hikaru. "Nice to meet you," she grinned. "Has Fuu told you about her new boyfriend yet?"
Hikaru's eyes widened and Fuu blushed. "Umi-*san*..."
Hikaru turned to Fuu. "You have a boyfriend, Fuu-chan?" she gushed. "I wanna meet him! Is he cute?!"
"He's my best friend," Umi piped up. "And boy, is he a looker!"
"Umi-san!"
Hikaru giggled then quickly straightened out. "Er, the reason I came was... Well..." Umi and Fuu's expressions sobered at Hikaru's solomn tone. "Things are going... not so well with my family, and I had no place to go..."
Fuu's eyes softened and she led her friend into the living room as Umi went to grab her bag which was still by the door. Fuu sat Hikaru down on the couch, and brushed her crimson hair out of her eyes. She had never seen Hikaru look so depressed before. "Hikaru-san..." Fuu felt Hikaru's forehead. She was normal. "Hikaru-san, are you feeling all right? You appear faint."
Hikaru nodded her head as Umi walked in. "I'll sleep on the couch and Hikaru can take my room," she offered, setting down the duffel bag.
Fuu shook her head. "She is my close friend. I will sleep out here," she insisted. She turned back to Hikaru. "Would you care to talk about it?"
Hikaru's eyes slowly became wet as she spoke. "My second-oldest brother has kinda fallen in with a... not-so-good crowd. Even though he thinks they aren't, those people are trouble. My youngest brother is in the Navy and they think that he got a woman pregnant. I haven't seen my eldest brother in months because he's gotten married..." She paused to sniffle. "My father is never home and he fights with my mother a lot. They're seperated right now, and neither of them can afford to keep me under their roof..." She brought her gaze to Fuu's. "Then I remembered *you,* Fuu-chan. I knew that you'd always take me in, so I looked you up and asked around and... here I am." She averted her eyes from Fuu's. "I'll try not to stay long..."
Fuu was speechless. Hikaru had always had such a good family life when they were teenagers. "Hikaru-san," she said softly when she found her voice. "You may stay here as long as you like."
There was a knock on the door. Umi frowned. "I'll get it." She heard Fuu murmuring words of comfort to Hikaru as she opened the door to another solomn face. "Ferio..."
He looked at her, his face expressionless. "Is Fuu home?" he muttered unemotionally.
"Yes," Umi murmured. "Hold on a sec." She let him in and asked him to stay by the door. "Fuu..." She poked her head in the living room. "Ferio's here. I think he really needs to talk to you about something."
Fuu nodded, turning to Hikaru. "I'll be right back."
Hikaru forced a smile, trying, as always, to be cheerful. "Is he your boyfriend?" she asked.
Fuu blushed and tousled her hair. "Yes..." She got up to leave but Hikaru grabbed her arm.
"Make sure I get to see him before he leaves, 'kay?"
Fuu smiled at her friend, who was trying so hard to act like she could just throw her problems off her shoulders any time. The smile fell from her face when she saw Ferio's expression. It was sober and emotionless. "Ferio?"
"Fuu, what's wrong?" he asked, his hand coming up to rest on her arm. When she looked at him puzzled, he added, "You look depressed."
"Oh," Fuu said, flustered. "One of my old friends just stopped by and... Well, she's having problems."
"I'm sorry for interrupting..."
Fuu shook her head. "It's all right." She smiled up at him. "I've been wanting to see you all weekend. Why didn't you call?"
She blinked as he locked his arms around her waist, pulling her close and resting his chin on her head. "Fuu-chan..." She blushed at the affectionate nickname. "After tomorrow, I'm not going to see you for at least a month, probably more."
Fuu jerked out of the warm embrace, confusion etched in her features. "Go *away?*..."
Ferio slowly ran his fingers through her golden curls. "My uncle died last night..."
"I'm so sorry," Fuu whispered.
"... And my aunt can't tend her horse ranch by herself," he continued, his pained golden eyes gazing into hers. "She asked me to help her, and I couldn't say 'no'... I'm so sorry, Fuu, she doesn't even have a fricking phone... I'm sorry, please forgive me for having to do this..."
Fuu blinked back tears of frustration, hurt and anger. But not at him. Not at anyone, really. "Ferio, there's nothing to forgive," she whispered, swallowing the lump in her throat. "You have to do this, you have to help her..." She touched her nose to his lips. "That's why I love you, you're so caring to people who need help."
He kissed her nose. "I'm still sorry." He tilted her chin up. "But I'll write you every day, okay?" She nodded. "And I'll think of you every night, dream of you..."
Fuu nodded, nuzzling her face into his chest. "When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow night."
Fuu winced at his emotionless words. "Ferio... A month or more?"
"Until she can get regain her composure from losing my uncle," Ferio mumbled. "And hire some people to help around the ranch... like they should've done in the first place." His voice was bitter, as if the fact that there had been just to two of them was the reason he was leaving. And, Fuu realized, it kind of was.
She looked up at him sadly. "I'll miss you."
He hugged her close to him, smothering his face in her soft hair. "I'll miss you, too." He kissed the top of her head. "I love you, Fuu."
She sighed heavily. "I love you, too, Ferio... I love you..."
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;.; Poor Fuu and Ferio! What are they gonna *do?* ::worry worry:: And I didn't give away the rest of it too much in the review. ^.^; Don't worry, there are plenty of surprises to come!
suzanami@hellokitty.com
Here it is (so soon?), chapter 2! ^-^ And if you liked the last chapter, you'll love this one... *^.^* ::eyeballs Ferio:: As much as I love Fuu, I am going to steal him away from her one of these days...
::cough cough:: Right-y-o. Fuu-chan, Ferio-ouji, and all other characters are © CLAMP. Not me! ;_; (I'll probably never get over that... ::sighhhh:: ) "SWAK" is © 2001 suzanami. Enjoy! ^.-
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"Soooo..." Umi probed the next morning as Fuu came into the living room. "How was your daaate?..." She poked Fuu in the ribs, grinning.
Fuu blushed. "My date?" she echoed, swallowing. "Why do you care how my date went, Umi-san?..."
Umi frowned and sat on the couch, pulling Fuu onto it next to her. "One: because you're my friend and I wanna know. Two: because *Ferio's* my friend and I wanna know. Three... Fuu, I just wanna know!" She grinned again.
Fuu leaned back on the soft couch. "Well, we walked around town, mostly," she said softly, looking at the gray carpet. "Just talking and such. Then around ten, he walked me home."
"Did he kiss you?" Umi asked wide-eyed.
Fuu's face turned bright red. "N-no. Umi-san, we hardly *know* each other!"
Umi's face twisted into a pout. "Darn. I was hoping the sparks would *really* fly between you two." She drummed her fingers on the back of the couch.
Fuu looked at her friend. "Umi-san..." she asked, speaking slowly. "Did you only ask Ferio to visit to get the two of us together?"
Umi blinked at her then shook her head. "No, I never dreamed that my best friend and my roomie'd hook up." She flipped her long sapphire hair over her shoulder. "But when I saw the looks he was giving you, I thought I'd... nurture the 'relationship,'" she added with a leer.
Fuu sighed, but was secretly thankful to Umi. Ferio made her so happy; just to be with him was better than anything she could imagine. He made her feel like no one ever had. "Ne, Umi-san..."
"Hm?"
"I am just curious..." Fuu murmured, looking again at the carpet and blushing slightly. "Has Ferio ever had any girlfriends?"
Umi shook her head. "He's gone on dates a few times, but he was never much of a romantic." She looked up at Fuu. "I don't think he's ever kissed anyone, either." She saw Fuu's eyes light up descreetly and smiled gently. She rested her chin in her hand, looking at her friend. "From the look in his eyes... you might be his first kiss, Fuu."
Fuu blushed and took a deep breath. "Why do you think that?"
"Like I said," Umi replied. "The look in his eyes. It's something I've never seen in his eyes before, something I've only seen in my father's eyes when he looks at my mother."
"Umi-san," Fuu said, taking another breath. "Your parents love each other very much. Ferio hasn't known me long enough to be in love... If he even would be," she quickly added. "So how can you--"
"Ferio cares for you a lot," Umi interrupted. She sat up straight. "Trust me, I know Ferio. The look in his eyes when he looks at you is unmistakable. He knows what he wants..."
"So what you're saying is that he's just lusting after me," Fuu snorted.
Umi shook her head. "Fuu, he doesn't want your body, he wants your heart." She looked at Fuu tenderly, taking her friend's hand. "And he wants to give you his."
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March flew by quickly and before anyone knew it, it was April and much warmer. Fuu could go out without a jacket, and most often she went out with Ferio. The two of them were getting closer every day, and Fuu found herself slowly falling in love with the handsome young man.
One afternoon in mid-April when the two of them were sitting under a tree in the park, Ferio took one of her delicate hands in his own, running his fingers over her pale palm. "Ferio?" she whispered.
"Fuu, I..." He paused, sighing. "I'm not sure how to say this."
'Say what?' Fuu thought frantically, worried. "Ferio, what's the matter?" He looked up, staring into her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat, but she managed to repeat herself. "What's wrong, Ferio?"
"Fuu, I..."
'Is that all he can say?' she thought, frowning. "Ferio..."
Ferio took a deep breath. He reached over with his other hand, stroking Fuu's cheek delicately. She blushed but did not move away. "Fuu, I think..." His eyes softened and his voice became soft. "Fuu, I think I'm in love with you..."
Now Fuu inhaled sharply, her cheeks ablaze with a firey blush. "Ferio..." was all she could think to say.
"I just had to tell you," he whispered. "I mean, I don't expect you to *love* me back, just..." He sighed again. "I just wanted you to know..."
Fuu wasn't sure what to say. She tried to calm her blushing cheeks and think. No, not think. Listen to her heart. Did she love him back? Did she really, truly love him back? Something in her heart said yes. The way he looked at her, the way he touched her hand... The way that he loved her... Yes, she loved him, too.
Ferio blinked as she leaned onto him, snuggling her face in his chest. "Ferio," she said, trying not to let her heart spill tears onto her cheeks. "Ferio, I think I love you, too..."
She felt his tense body relax as he slipped his arms around her shoulders, pushing her closer to him. "Fuu... Every moment I spend with you is... is..."
"... heaven..." Fuu finished, sighing happily. In love. She was in love. And he loved her back. "Ferio, I love you so much, and every day I'm falling even more and more in love with you... You stole my heart the first time you looked into my eyes..."
Ferio tilted her chin up, looking into her eyes again. "Then let me steal a kiss too, hm?..." Fuu didn't reply, just blushed but leaned in as his mouth lowered to her own. They met and Fuu felt adrenaline surge through her veins and a shiver run up her spine as their lips carressed each other tenderly. Ferio pulled her closer, combing his fingers through her soft hair.
He reluctanly broke the kiss, nuzzling his nose to hers. "Fuu..." he whispered, dazed. She whimpered his name and he kissed her again, even sweeter than before. She broke the kiss, her lips lightly brushing his cheek along the scar. She whispered his name again as a cool breeze teased her curls, brushing them on his face.
"Fuu... you mean so much to me."
Fuu leaned back a little so she could look at him. "I love you," she smiled, taking his hand and holding it gently. She blushed as Ferio lifted her hand up to his mouth, kissing her soft palm once, twice, and whispered that he loved her as well. She put her other hand to her warm cheek. "Thank you."
"For?"
"That kiss was amazing," she said softly, gently brushing his hair out of his face. "I enjoyed every second."
"Have you ever kissed anyone?" Ferio asked.
She smiled, shaking her head. "You are my very first kiss."
"And you're mine," Ferio murmured, looking at her lovingly. "And there's no one I'd rather share it with than you."
Fuu sighed happily, brushing her fingertips on his lips. "Now... all that I wish is that this moment would last forever..." She leaned her head on his shoulder, snuggling close to him. Ferio put his arm around her, pulling her as close as possible and burying his face in her hair, smelling its sweet aroma. "All I need is you..."
Ferio smiled, rubbing his hand over her hair lightly. "You're amazing, Fuu," he whispered. "I want to fall more in love with you." They sat in silence for a few moments before Ferio spoke up. "I have to go to work..." He worked in stock at Giant Eagle.
Fuu nodded, standing slowly. She laughed as he struggled to stand.
"Sorry, my butt fell asleep..." Fuu giggled again, linking her fingers through his. Ferio smiled at the feeling of her hand wound in his own. "Want me to take you home?"
"I don't want you to be late."
"I'm usually on time," Ferio snorted. "They'll get over it."
"I don't want you to get in trouble because of me..." Fuu said quietly, lowering her eyes.
Ferio shook his head and squeezed her hand. "Don't worry. I *want* to walk you home. I have to talk to Umi about something anyways."
Fuu nodded readily. "All right."
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"You're home already!" Umi exclaimed, clothed in her short bathrobe and rubbing furiously at her long, wet hair with a towel.
Fuu shot a glance at Ferio, but he was unaffected by the fact that Umi was most likely naked under that little robe. She remembered Umi telling her that she and Ferio were very close friends and it hadn't even bothered either of them when he walked in on her in her bra a few times. He had always had a key to her home and was like a brother to her.
"Yep," Ferio replied. He dropped Fuu's hand and crossed his arms across his chest, leaning on the doorway. Umi scowled at him. "What?"
"Would you *mind* shutting the door?" she chided, frowning. "People are walking by and I'm naked under this thing!"
'Ah, I was right,' Fuu thought unemotionally.
Ferio sighed in exhasperation and shut the door. "Maybe you should try dressing before walking around the building?"
"I never left the apartment!"
Fuu cleared her throat and her two friends turned to her. "If you don't mind, I've been sitting under a tree all afternoon and I'd like to shower myself." She turned to Ferio. "I'll see you tomorrow?" He nodded and she smiled, heading for her room.
Umi and Ferio watched her exit. Umi turned quickly to Ferio, eyes wide with curiosity. "Well???"
Ferio blinked at her. "'Well?' *what?*"
"Did you *tell* her?" Umi sighed, as if he should have known. She put her hands on her hips, the towel forgotten around her neck. Ferio coughed and averted his gaze from Umi's. A grin spread on her face from ear to ear. "You *did,* you *did!*" she exclaimed, pulling him over to the couch and sitting him next to her on it. "Tell me everything!"
Ferio cleared his throat again. "On two conditions."
Umi pouted. "What?"
"One, put some underwear on, at *least,*" Ferio groaned, pressing a finger to his temple. "I don't need to see anything I don't want to."
Umi laughed. "And two, in the future, don't treat me like one of your girlfirends. Maybe Fuu-chan would be a better person to probe for gossip."
Umi stood and pulled the skirt of her robe down. "It's not gossip," she smirked as she walked out, her nose turned up in the air. "It's a very curious friend wanting to know all the dirty details!"
"There are no 'dirty details!'" Ferio said loudly, hurling a throw pillow at her, barely missing her as she scurried out of the room, laughing.
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"You and Ferio are very close, ne, Umi-san?"
Umi looked up from her salad. "Huh?"
Fuu hesitated before repeating. "You are very close friends with Ferio, right?"
Umi put down her fork and stared at Fuu, a little puzzled, trying to figure out what she was getting at. "Are you afraid that I'm competition?" Umi inquired over her dinner.
Fuu shook her head quickly. "No, it's just that I was wondering--" She was cut off by a knock at the door. She took a sip of her water and stood. "I will get it."
"Are we expecting Ferio-kun?" Umi asked curiously.
"I don't think so," Fuu said, opening the door.
As she did, a girl flung herself into her arms. "Fuu-chan!"
Fuu's eyes went wide as she tried to catch her balance. "Who the?..."
"Fuu-chan, I missed you!" the red-head exclaimed, unlatching herself from Fuu.
Fuu peered at the short girl before recognizing the wide, garnet eyes. "Hikaru-san!" The girl nodded vigorously. Fuu laughed, hugging her friend. "When was the last time I saw you? You've matured so much!"
Hikaru giggled, wiggling her now-shaped hips. "Yep, I finally filled out!" She set her bag on the floor. "Wow, it's been almost two years since I've seen you, Fuu-chan! You hafta tell me *everything* that's been happpening to you!"
Fuu smiled, thinking of Ferio.
"Heeyy!" called a voice from the kitchen. "Who is it, Fuu?"
"Come in, please," Fuu smiled. "I would like you to meet my roommate." She led Hikaru into the kitchen where Umi was still seated at the table. "Hikaru-san, this is my friend and roommate, Umi-san. Umi-san, this if an old school friend of mine, Hikaru-san."
Umi stood, smiling and walked over to Hikaru. "Nice to meet you," she grinned. "Has Fuu told you about her new boyfriend yet?"
Hikaru's eyes widened and Fuu blushed. "Umi-*san*..."
Hikaru turned to Fuu. "You have a boyfriend, Fuu-chan?" she gushed. "I wanna meet him! Is he cute?!"
"He's my best friend," Umi piped up. "And boy, is he a looker!"
"Umi-san!"
Hikaru giggled then quickly straightened out. "Er, the reason I came was... Well..." Umi and Fuu's expressions sobered at Hikaru's solomn tone. "Things are going... not so well with my family, and I had no place to go..."
Fuu's eyes softened and she led her friend into the living room as Umi went to grab her bag which was still by the door. Fuu sat Hikaru down on the couch, and brushed her crimson hair out of her eyes. She had never seen Hikaru look so depressed before. "Hikaru-san..." Fuu felt Hikaru's forehead. She was normal. "Hikaru-san, are you feeling all right? You appear faint."
Hikaru nodded her head as Umi walked in. "I'll sleep on the couch and Hikaru can take my room," she offered, setting down the duffel bag.
Fuu shook her head. "She is my close friend. I will sleep out here," she insisted. She turned back to Hikaru. "Would you care to talk about it?"
Hikaru's eyes slowly became wet as she spoke. "My second-oldest brother has kinda fallen in with a... not-so-good crowd. Even though he thinks they aren't, those people are trouble. My youngest brother is in the Navy and they think that he got a woman pregnant. I haven't seen my eldest brother in months because he's gotten married..." She paused to sniffle. "My father is never home and he fights with my mother a lot. They're seperated right now, and neither of them can afford to keep me under their roof..." She brought her gaze to Fuu's. "Then I remembered *you,* Fuu-chan. I knew that you'd always take me in, so I looked you up and asked around and... here I am." She averted her eyes from Fuu's. "I'll try not to stay long..."
Fuu was speechless. Hikaru had always had such a good family life when they were teenagers. "Hikaru-san," she said softly when she found her voice. "You may stay here as long as you like."
There was a knock on the door. Umi frowned. "I'll get it." She heard Fuu murmuring words of comfort to Hikaru as she opened the door to another solomn face. "Ferio..."
He looked at her, his face expressionless. "Is Fuu home?" he muttered unemotionally.
"Yes," Umi murmured. "Hold on a sec." She let him in and asked him to stay by the door. "Fuu..." She poked her head in the living room. "Ferio's here. I think he really needs to talk to you about something."
Fuu nodded, turning to Hikaru. "I'll be right back."
Hikaru forced a smile, trying, as always, to be cheerful. "Is he your boyfriend?" she asked.
Fuu blushed and tousled her hair. "Yes..." She got up to leave but Hikaru grabbed her arm.
"Make sure I get to see him before he leaves, 'kay?"
Fuu smiled at her friend, who was trying so hard to act like she could just throw her problems off her shoulders any time. The smile fell from her face when she saw Ferio's expression. It was sober and emotionless. "Ferio?"
"Fuu, what's wrong?" he asked, his hand coming up to rest on her arm. When she looked at him puzzled, he added, "You look depressed."
"Oh," Fuu said, flustered. "One of my old friends just stopped by and... Well, she's having problems."
"I'm sorry for interrupting..."
Fuu shook her head. "It's all right." She smiled up at him. "I've been wanting to see you all weekend. Why didn't you call?"
She blinked as he locked his arms around her waist, pulling her close and resting his chin on her head. "Fuu-chan..." She blushed at the affectionate nickname. "After tomorrow, I'm not going to see you for at least a month, probably more."
Fuu jerked out of the warm embrace, confusion etched in her features. "Go *away?*..."
Ferio slowly ran his fingers through her golden curls. "My uncle died last night..."
"I'm so sorry," Fuu whispered.
"... And my aunt can't tend her horse ranch by herself," he continued, his pained golden eyes gazing into hers. "She asked me to help her, and I couldn't say 'no'... I'm so sorry, Fuu, she doesn't even have a fricking phone... I'm sorry, please forgive me for having to do this..."
Fuu blinked back tears of frustration, hurt and anger. But not at him. Not at anyone, really. "Ferio, there's nothing to forgive," she whispered, swallowing the lump in her throat. "You have to do this, you have to help her..." She touched her nose to his lips. "That's why I love you, you're so caring to people who need help."
He kissed her nose. "I'm still sorry." He tilted her chin up. "But I'll write you every day, okay?" She nodded. "And I'll think of you every night, dream of you..."
Fuu nodded, nuzzling her face into his chest. "When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow night."
Fuu winced at his emotionless words. "Ferio... A month or more?"
"Until she can get regain her composure from losing my uncle," Ferio mumbled. "And hire some people to help around the ranch... like they should've done in the first place." His voice was bitter, as if the fact that there had been just to two of them was the reason he was leaving. And, Fuu realized, it kind of was.
She looked up at him sadly. "I'll miss you."
He hugged her close to him, smothering his face in her soft hair. "I'll miss you, too." He kissed the top of her head. "I love you, Fuu."
She sighed heavily. "I love you, too, Ferio... I love you..."
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;.; Poor Fuu and Ferio! What are they gonna *do?* ::worry worry:: And I didn't give away the rest of it too much in the review. ^.^; Don't worry, there are plenty of surprises to come!
suzanami@hellokitty.com