~Chappie 24~
"Ryoko-chan,
I'm sorry. Don't be mad at me. Please. I didn't mean it like
that--if you'd just let me finish, I'll say what I was starting earlier.
Please come. Just follow the red string.
~Kouga"
Ryoko stood and blinked after having read the letter. What red
string? She blinked as Yuki flew in front of her with the thread in her
beak. "Oh... that red string... but where's the other end?" She asked confusedly,
following it through the halls, passing teachers, students, and ghosts.
And even going through Nearly Headless Nick. "I'm sorry Nick!" She shouted,
still following the string. As she went she wound it around her hand, 'I
know I've heard some legend about these things... but I can't seem to remember
it...'
Kouga sighed and leaned against a tree. Was Ryoko even going to
come? He'd sent Yuki and Tori with the note and string half an hour ago...
Maybe she wouldn't. That would make his life easier, in one respect: if
she didn't come, he didn't need to tell her what happened. But if she did
come, it would take a whole lot off of his mind. "But how do I put it?"
He mumbled, sliding down and leaning against the trunk of the tree, "'Oh,
Ryoko, I'm sorry I didn't tell you-- Voldemort's my dad. Yeah, the same
Voldemort who tried to kill you.'" he sighed, that sounded REALLY stupid.
"'Ryoko-chan, I know you're probably gonna kill me for this, but... Voldemort's
my dad. And he's out to kill you. Although, I don't know why... probably
because you and me are like... really close...'" He sighed again. This
really wasn't gonna work. "Ryoko... I wanted to say I'm sorry for..."
"Sorry for what, Kouga-kun?"
Kouga jumped out of his skin. Well, almost out of his skin. He
turned quickly, "R-Ryoko- chan!?"
"What are you sorry for, Kouga-kun?" She asked, sitting next
to him and leaning against his shoulder. "I don't remember you doing anything
wrong... I'm the one who should be sorry."
Kouga blushed, "S...Sorry for what, Ryoko-chan?"
"I've been having mood-swings lately. I don't know why I've been
having them, but I've been yelling at you a lot..."
"No you haven't... You've just been having a bad week..."
"But that's just the thing, Kouga-kun..." Ryoko said, turning
and looking up at him, "I don't know why I've been having such a bad week!
It's been happening since we got back from that weird place... And I don't
really remember the time before that after we went to the dance at Hogsmead..."
"It's ok. You shouldn't say you're sorry for... what happened.
It wasn't your fault. It was Voldemort's plan..."
"Why do you keep saying that Voldemort was involved? If he was
there we wouldn't be here now, right? We'd be dead..."
"I don't know what happened while we were there, Ryoko-chan.
I mean--After Voldemort knocked me and Tom out, that is..."
"Who's Tom?"
Kouga sighed and tried to explain the events of the past few
days to her. Leaving out his jealousy, Tom's interest in Ryoko, and the
kissing part. Which made the story interestingly different. Ryoko didn't
understand most of it though. Without much luck she tried to put the pieces
of his version together. When she asked more about Tom he shrugged her
off and said he wasn't very important to the story.
"How could Tom-san not be an important part of the story, Kouga-kun?
I seem to remember something about him... but not much... like he meant
something to me... but I don't know what..."
"He didn't mean anything to you." Kouga said haughtily. "He was
just a guy."
Ryoko looked up at him, "...Are you jealous?"
"Jealous?" Kouga blinked, blushing, "Jealous? Me? A-are you crazy?
What do I have to be jealous of...?"
"You are, aren't you?" Ryoko giggled, pulling herself off of
the ground and grinning at him, "You're jealous that I might like someone
else better than I like you!"
"W-Why would I be jealous? It's not like you're my girlfriend
or anything! You're free to like who you please--just as long as I approve
of them!"
"I don't think you're telling me the truth. Hagrid says you make
eyes at me."
"What!?"
Ryoko nodded, "That's what he said. But I don't know if it's
true or not." she looked over at him, "Is it?"
Kouga blushed and inched back from her, he couldn't tell her--what
if she didn't like him back? At least, not in that way? His mind was so
filled with doubts he couldn't reply. Not even one of his cheeky ones.
Ryoko sighed sadly and looked up at the sky, "I just remembered
a legend I heard when I was small..."
"L-Legend?" Kouga blinked, trying to compose himself.
"Yeah." Ryoko turned and held up the red thread that was tied
to her wrist, "It's about two people connected by a red thread. Haven't
you heard of it?"
"Yeah... I think so... The red thread of destiny, right?"
Ryoko nodded, "You've got the other end..."
Kouga blinked and looked at his arm. Yuki and Tori had wrapped
the thread around his arm while he was talking to Ryoko, "...I guess I
do..."
Smiling Ryoko leaned up and hugged him, "Then I guess we'll be
stuck together for a long time."
Kouga blushed and nodded, putting one arm around her, "I guess
so."
~End Chappie 24~
heheheheheh... but wait! there's more! >=P you don't think I'd end
it like that, do you? (Kiseki: knowing you? yes --;) ^^:;; ok--final chappie,
coming up!