AN: Ok, Chap.2 is up…. Pls R/R… and I'm not doing any POVs for the moment… ok, I think this could get a little confusing coz of all the Italics but all of them are Fuuko's thoughts… Kinda helps ryte? I dun think so… haiz… I give up on myself…

Fuuko sat silently by the lake beside the hotel. Dinner had just finished and the others retired to their rooms. She sighed loudly and wondered what she should do. Could it just be a trick? But… Mikagami's arm was injured and the wound was bleeding and fresh. It was impossible for that jerk to know…

She recalled the previous day's events.

Mikagami closed the door before she could retort. She walked away sighing. She led herself to her favourite spot by the lake for some peace and quiet, while wondering whether what she felt for Mikagami was love. "No way. I don't love. I can't. And besides, Mi-chan's probably gonna burst out laughing in my face. I don't like him. He's cold and he's a Fridge Boy. Then why do I care so much about him?" she murmured. Suddenly, she sensed a presence behind the tree that stood somewhat next to her.

"Who's there!" she snapped. Being interrupted during the rare times she had to herself was her least favourite thing.

"Hehhehhehhehheh…" a laugh only answered her as a figure stepped out from behind the tree.

"Who are you?" Fuuko asked.

"It doesn't matter very much, does it?" the cloaked figure said. "After all, it's what I'm here for that matters."

Fuuko looked curiously at the man that stood by her side. He removed the cloak. Underneath was a guy she had never met before. His hair was a raven-black; eyes deep brown. Rather tanned and seemingly weak, he had a cold glint in his eye.

"I see you need explanation. To put it simply, I want you. I could use you in many ways, you know. To kill, to fight, to be mine. So are you willing?" he smiled.

Fuuko jumped up and aimed for a punch at his face. Surprisingly, the man dodged it no harder than hitting a mosquito.

Fuuko glared at him. "Dream on. I wouldn't choose a jerk like you over Domon for God's sake!"

"You don't have much of a choice," he said. "See this 'madougu' here?" He gestured towards a dome-shaped, cut-into-half, meant-to-be madougu. "One of the lost madougu in the world, but so different. It's an explosive madougu. If you were to remove a part of it, and insert it somewhere, leave at least half of the madougu with you, you could explode whatever it is inserted to. Need a demo?" He smiled again, but coldly. He removed a part of the madougu to make into a perfect dome-shape and put the piece into the tree by piercing it roughly in.

"Explode. Total destruction." He said, eyes closed and apparently concentrating on the piece within the tree.

BOOM. The explosion that took place next nearly blew Fuuko off her feet. She covered her eyes to avoid the splinters that went flying in every direction. When she opened her eyes, all that was left of the tree was a pathetic burnt stump and splinters of wood.

The man smiled. "See? What's more, the piece used would return in two hours. The stronger you become, the faster it returns."

"So you want to put it in me so I will go with you? Yeah, right. I'd rather die." Fuuko replied, almost shakily.

"No, I put a 3/8 in Mikagami Tokiya and 1/8 in Ganko."

"What are you doing here? It's late and everyone's asleep." A voice cut in.

Mikagami. "Then what are you doing here?" she replied.

"I thought I could afford some peace and quiet. Unfortunately, you came before me."

"What do you mean, unfortunately?!" Fuuko snapped back.

"I don't know. How about you, like your fellow monkeys, are never quiet?"

Fuuko fumed. "I ain't no monkey!"

But then, she softened. "Your arm… is it better yet?"

"It's not too bad. But I wonder, how did it just explode like that?" Mikagami eyed Fuuko suspiciously.

" I wouldn't know." He was suspecting. But he cannot know the cause or the effect.

She went back into her thoughts as Mikagami sat down against a tree (another tree).

"Wha-?! You did not insert in them! No! It's impossible!" Fuuko yelled. She wanted so badly to punch the jerk in his smiling, taunting, face. But she knew she could not. If what he said was true, Mikagami- and Ganko- were in trouble. Agitating him was the last thing on her mind.

"I did. And I will prove it."

He walked over to one of buildings of the hotel. Fuuko followed his gaze up to a window… and recognized it as Mikagami's room.

"Explode. Minor." He said.

"No!" Fuuko glanced up again at the window and watched as Mikagami fell against it, falling off his chair where he had had been reading. His left arm seemed like it was bleeding, but she was a little relieved it was not off.

"Kirisawa.I doubt anything I said got into your head, have they?" Mkagami cut in. Again.

"No, they haven't. Does it matter very much?" Fuuko shot.

"No, they don't matter. That's why I wasted about two minutes trying to get them in your head." Mikagami's sarcastic voice told her.

"All right, what do you want?" Fuuko gave in.

"What were you doing with that guy earlier today, blowing up the tree, and I wonder… my hand?" Mikagami said.

Dammit. Mikagami has always been too damn smart for his own good.

"What guy?" Fuuko feigned innocence.

"Don't play dumb with me, Kirisawa. I saw you today. With that guy. Blowing up the tree and then, looking at my window, injuring my hand. He said a few words and left you. The words obviously troubled you. What is wrong?" Mikagami asked. For a moment, concern seemed to flash across his face but his cold expression sank in again.

"What does it matter to you?! For that matter, anyway, I DID NOT BLOW UP YOUR LEFT ARM THROUGH SOME STUPID MADOUGU!" Fuuko shouted. But once the words had come out of her mouth, she regretted it immediately.

"I see. A madougu blew my arm up. But why did you do that?" Mikagami said, as emotionless as ever.

"I didn't," Fuuko sighed. "He did. He… um… thought it would be fun. He's a bit crazy, I think." Then she saw a question forming in Mikagami's eyes.

She replied quickly. "Don't ask me how. He just did. If you observed as closely as you stated, you should have known I was shocked and bewildered." Mikagami's cold eyes bore into her, as if doing that would make him find out the truth. She had to go away. She hated lying. Especially to Mikagami. Not just because he's hurt so badly by his master, his teacher, but there's more. I know there is. Kirisawa Fuuko. Stop lying to yourself! She did not know what she felt for Mikagami, and there was possibility she refused to know. But right now, as deep as she dug into her heart for the truth, she just could not find out. Perhaps it was better that way. Just care. Don't bother about what he is to you. Just help him and care. That's your job. She thought. "Well, I'm going to bed now. It's eleven-thirty and I'm tired."

She was walking when what that guy said struck her. "I'll let you decide. You know what is the truth. To sacrifice yourself or your friends. Just decide. I'll meet you tomorrow at this same spot." Yeah, right. Sacrifice. That's what this whole thing was about, right? Shit that jerk. Why me? Why me? Why not Rekka or Domon? Or Mi-chan…

"Hey. Just be careful with that guy. I don't think he is as weak as he looks, Fuuko." Mikagami said just as Fuuko reached the entrance to the building. "Yeah, okay." Fuuko mumbled vaguely.

She pressed the "UP" button for the elevator when it struck her. Mikagami—he- Mikagami—gosh! He-he… Just called me Fuuko!

Does it mean he cares? That he bothered to tell me be careful? Or…or is he just saying it as a friend would?

For a weird reason, her eyes seemed to fill with tears.

I hate this. I hate that jerk from today. Just appearing from behind a tree. And changes my life. I hate it! I hate it! Why must I sacrifice anything?! Why can't I just not make choices? Sacrifice… I have to. I don't have a choice.

It has to be me.