I'll Be There For You
Chapter 2: Anticipation and Exasperation

by:
Rune Valentine

There wasn't much time left. The Autumn Dance was fast approaching, and he had absolutely no intention of coming without someone on his arm to divert attention from him and direct it to whoever came with him. He firmly believed that jealousy and rage would overshadow his fangirls' adoration toward him. He was walking to school while pondering his last resorts, I don't really know any of those girls and they would possibly end up staring at me for the whole night anyway, his vanity preceded him. He shook those thoughts out of his head and considered his only possibly option. An image of a certain purple-haired wind weilder started to form in his head.

I could possibly ask her, but... he stopped. His pride got in his way almost instantly. Fuuko would not say yes so easily. She'd just loved to make him squirm. Beg, grovel even. Scowling, he shook the thought of her away from his head.

Only to have her jump back in like the annoying monkey that she is. Scenes replayed on his head of the day before. Her touch was soft around his neck, her eyes gazed delightedly at him, sincerity beaming from her gaze. She was such a silly little monkey. But thinking of her brightened his day... Ugh! Why am I even thinking about her? He was angry with himself for even remembering few shared moments with her.

A voice in him cheered ecstatically, L-o-v-e, a tune hummed in his head. Not a chance, he shook it off again. Yes, it was true she gave him some form of comfort when she was around, but there was no chance in hell that it would even be close to being called love. More like insanity. He thought miserably as he walked into the school gates.

Kirisawa Fuuko relaxed on a bench under a tree in the courtyard of the University. She was enjoying some time alone from the business of her current University schedule, I don't know how all of them manage to get through all of this, she looked down warily at her lap, at the pile of homework that was threatening to eat her head if she didn't get started on them soon. Maybe just five more minutes, she thought to herself.

Closing her eyes and feeling the Autumn wind in her hair, she pointed her head to the sky and felt the sun glow over her eyelids. And out of the bright light, a certain silver-haired swordsman manifested. She rolled her eyes and tried to remove him from her thoughts. 'All this time and he's barely changed.' – was her only sentiment towards him. If she had any feelings for him, they were of annoyance and maybe a slight infatuation. He was gorgeous, even she couldn't deny that.

Gorgeous, she thought mindlessly, her eyes still closed. She couldn't help but imagine his perfect features in her head once more. Fuuko had savoured the brief moment they had together, she breathed in his intoxicating scent of clean clothing and a faint smell of cologne. She inhaled heavily, trying to remember. She scowled at the thought of her even beginning to form such thoughts, and opened her eyes quickly to snap her back to reality.

Are you even kidding me with this? Fridge boy would want nothing to do with you. Stop. Thinking. About. That. Cute. Face. She demanded herself for some form of composure. It was the first time in a long time that Tokiya even had any semblance of a smile on his face. She had only seen it once when Domon had started choking on a fish bone as he ate way too fast. Although Fuuko was entirely certain that Tokiya's lips only curved at the side ever so slightly as he was looking on at a very cheery Yanagi. Her lack of confidence in her natural attractiveness had always kept her away from pursuing anybody.

He smiled, she consoled herself, he smiled because he saw me.

Something caught his eye as he walked at a steady pace through the University courtyard. Purple-headed and still was the figure beneath the tree. She caught his attention almost immediately. He swallowed labouredly as he recalled his thoughts earlier that morning. Could he even bring himself to do it? Would she even agree to such a strange proposition? Tokiya heaved a heavy sigh. There shouldn't be much to it. He speaks eloquently in front of large crowds, what threat was this girl to him? - Besides the fact that she could punch me unconscious. He admired her talents and fighting skill, and respected at least that part of her. But he would never admit this to anyone. No way in the threat of a slow and painful death would I... his thoughts trailed off. He couldn't afford to miss out on the credits for his Sociology subject. One bad mark could mean the end of his scholarship.

It's now or never, Mikagami. He gave himself a last boost of confidence and left his ego by his feet. Coming closer to Fuuko, he noticed that she was mindlessly staring into space. Completely like a monkey to not even have a single thought in her head. He scoffed as he made his way to the space beside her.

Fuuko was not thoughtless as she stared into space. She was far from it. As she was reading a chapter in her Ergonomics manual, she had heard a small crowd of excited fangirls screaming excitedly. That was the sign, he was somewhere near her. Her heart nearly skipped a beat when she saw him from the corner of her eye, and it seemed like it stopped dead when she noticed him coming near her. Pretend you don't see him, Kirisawa. Maybe he was just running after something blown in the wind. She knew he wasn't the running after things type, but she tried to give herself some form of hope.

He was inching near her, Fuuko clearly being the object of his advances toward her direction. She stared at him blankly as he approached, willing her eyes not to give away the details of her fantasies during the course of the day.

Tokiya sat down quietly beside her, his face grim with a plea. "Fuuko," he started, his eyes avoiding hers. This is a stupid idea. He thought angrily at himself, he couldn't go through with it. She would not even entertain the thought. Fuuko stared at him with a confused look. "What are you on abo-" Fuuko was cut off, "Look, I could use some help of my own today." Tokiya said hastily.

Fuuko could do nothing more than raise an eyebrow. Tokiya took this as a sign that he should continue his babbling, "This dance, in two days, Sociology credits...can't lose scholarship." Possibly for the first time in his life, Mikagami Tokiya could not fit words in the proper order. He mentally scolded himself. Stop acting like an idiot, Mikagami. This situation is embarrassing enough. His stammering would only arouse more suspicion in Fuuko.

He stood up to regain composure, Fuuko not tearing away from his gaze. "Mi-chan," she said softly. "Just breathe," she blinked at him innocently, steadily breathing in hopes he would acquire her breathing pattern. Tokiya was thankful she was merciful today, "Would you like to come with me to the Autumn dance?" he asked quickly, like ripping a band aid off his arm. He was glad it was over. "Excuse me, what?" Fuuko looked even more confused than ever. Leave it to trust a monkey to comprehend a 9-word sentence.

"Would you care to repeat that again, Mi-chan?" Fuuko teased, trying to hide her excitement from Tokiya. Tokiya caught on and glared. "Never mind," he muttered angrily and started to walk away.

"Mi-chan, I was only kidding." Fuuko said sadly from behind him. He stopped and looked back. She was too kind for her own good. "I suppose I owe you one." Fuuko and gratitude weren't always hand-in-hand. Most of the time she was a reckless miscreant, but when a friend's in need, she was always there to give a hand; if you call going on a date with the infamous Mikagami Tokiya giving a hand. Her hand in marriage, maybe. And for the nth time that day, Fuuko shook any such thoughts from her head.

"I'll pick you up at 7." He said coldly. That was the Mikagami she knew. Not even a glint of happiness in his eye. Of course he needed accompaniment to the dance. He needed his sanity, and his school credits, and nothing more. How stupid of her to even formulate the thought. She convinced herself, and tried not to be hurt by his intentions. Tokiya was her friend, and she wanted to help. "I'll see you then," were Fuuko's last words as Tokiya strolled off to find his way to his next class.

Tokiya wasn't paying any attention to the class he was in. For a few moments, he even forgot what class he was actually even in. Although he did not show it, he was both relieved and happy that Fuuko agreed even after his idiocy. Stammering, Tokiya, really? Could you have been clumsier? I suppose I owe you one her words resonated in his ear. Perhaps it wasn't the most excited response, but he was glad she had his back. He was giddier than a kid in a candy shop. But he would never let it show. He focused his gaze back to the front of the room where the sensei was discussing something about Argon. Oh right, chemistry.

The days to the dance seemed to extend excruciatingly long. Fuuko couldn't concentrate on her exceedingly large pile of schoolwork, and Tokiya was doing no better. Neither of them are usually the ones to have problems with school, but the anticipation of the day they would actually be spending time together had taken its toll on the both of them.

Tokiya arrived early that Saturday, and rang the doorbell on Fuuko's apartment door. No answer. He rang again impatiently. A muffled "I'm coming!" was heard. And the door opened to reveal a scantily clad Fuuko, wrapped only in a towel, her hair still dripping. Tokiya's jaw dropped.

Fighting all his urges, he blinked mindlessly before saying, "Kirisawa. You aren't ready." His observation only irritated Fuuko. Of course she wasn't ready, Rome wasn't built in a day. And after a long bathing regimen she was only getting started on preparing herself for that evening. "You're 40 minutes early, and I can't just make magic happen!" she snapped. Grumbling annoyedly, Fuuko turned around and stomped back to her bedroom. Tokiya let himself in and sat on the couch, and observed Fuuko's apartment. She had very little around. A few magazines, a laptop left open, and a kitchen that seemed unused. He sighed, Why am I not surprised...

Tokiya looked impatiently at his watch. 7pm. He wasn't very fond of being late. Just as he was getting up to check on Fuuko, her bedroom door opened, and emerged a beautifully dressed Fuuko. In a dark silver knee-length strapless coktail dress, her short hair was bobbed neatly and a single flower hairpin clipped her bangs from falling on her face. She looked stunning. Enough so that Tokiya's mouth gaped slightly open. He made a mental note to stop doing that.

Not expecting any compliments from the man with an ego the size on China, Fuuko was more than surprised to hear the words "That dress looks nice on you," from Tokiya's mouth. Fuuko blushed madly at this, having been caught off guard, but managed to reply a swift "Thank you," to him before he noticed anything.

Fuuko hadn't really looked over what Tokiya was wearing until after she was dressed, and he looked sharp in his black tuxedo. Hot, even. But she'd never let him know that. "We'd better go," she pointed out. Tokiya opened the door for her and followed her out.

To be continued...