Disclaimer: I created Flame of Recca!! He he he!! Just kidding…

AN:Fourth chapter of "Never Lose You Again". Hope you, reviewers, like it!!



Never Lose You Again

By green goddess

Chapter Four- Such a Special Birthday

****

"So, Fuuko-chan! What do you want for your birthday?" Yanagi asked her best friend who was eating her lunch; tempura, rice and miso soup (Yum! ^_^)

Fuuko looked up. Then she thought for a long time, until she finally answered.

"Oh…I dunno…" she said. "Anything's fine, Yanagi-chan!"

Fuuko grinned at her.

"Are you sure anything's fine?" Yanagi asked to make sure.

"Yes. Anything's fine."

"Okay then!" Yanagi nodded. "Anyway, where do you want to spend your birthday? Amusement park? Restaurant? Mall?"

"Hmm…actually," Fuuko replied slowly, "I'd rather spend it in anyone's house. I want it to be just family and friends, namely you guys."

Yanagi cheerfully then agreed. "Okay! Let's do it in…your house, okay?"

"Sure!"

****

Yanagi was scanning the clothes rack in the shop. She decided to give Fuuko clothes that were quite feminine and simple. Since Fuuko always wore pants and shirts, this, she thought, was the perfect gift.

"Hmm…not this one…" she said as she took out a red strapless dress which was real short.

"I wouldn't even wear this!" she exclaimed when she then picked a dress which had a neon color and had black flowers.

She had such a hard time because she didn't want anything TOO feminine or TOO boyish.

When she was about to give up, she came across a simple white ¾ blouse. She thought THIS was lovely and fit for her best friend. Then luckily, she spotted a denim skirt that was just the right length.

'Yes!! This is too perfect!!' Yanagi thought.

Before going to the cashier counter, she checked the blouse and the skirt one last time for any tear or hole. Finally approving it, she proceeded to the counter with a big smile on her face.

****

Tokiya and Fuuko were walking home from school. As usual, they didn't have anything to talk about and preferred not to talk.

Just to make some things different, they decided to walk through the main street that had all the nice shops aside from the mall.

Fuuko actually enjoyed window-shopping since she usually did this with Yanagi, Ganko and Kagerou every weekend.

Tokiya, however, didn't enjoy it. Like any other ordinary boy, he found it very boring.

"Ooh, Mi-chan! Look at that!"

"That is NICE!"

"I'd do anything to get THAT!"

Fuuko said tons of things about anything she saw which she liked and that drove Tokiya mad. His vein was already popping!

'This…was a mistake.' He thought, gritting his teeth.

He was about to tell Fuuko they were going to go straight home, when he noticed she wasn't beside him anymore.

He looked around and saw her.

She was two shops back, staring intently at something.

Tokiya sighed.

****FLASHBACK****

"Faster, Fuuko-chan!! Faster!" a little Tokiya said to his best friend.

Fuuko was panting. "Okay, Okay!!! Hold on! Hold o--!"

Fuuko stopped. She saw something.

"What's the matter, Fuuko-chan?"

No answer.

Tokiya approached her. "Fuuko-chan?"

"Mitte, Mitte, Tokiya-chan!" Fuuko exclaimed happily. Her eyes were twinkling and she had a wide smile on her face.

She pointed to something behind the glass window of a shop.

Tokiya gazed at it.

It was a teddy bear.

It had black button eyes, a purple ribbon on its neck, and it had a cute smile on its face.

"You like it?" he asked.

Fuuko bobbed her head up and down.

"Well, then, I'll get it for you for your birthday!"

Fuuko was surprised. Then her face suddenly had a wide smile on her face.

She hugged him tightly.

*****END FLASHBACK****

"What now? Is it still a teddy bear?" Tokiya said when he reached her.

"You still remember that?" Fuuko asked, surprised.

"Uhh…no." Tokiya replied. "Anyway, what is it?"

"Look for yourself."

He then looked.

She pointed to something shiny.

It was a necklace.

A sterling silver necklace with an amethyst pendant.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Fuuko said quietly.

Tokiya nodded slowly. "Simple…yet elegant."

"Too bad it's past my allowance."

Fuuko said sadly. She closed her eyes.

Tokiya looked at her.

'Weird…why do I feel a bit sad for her?'

"Look, Fuuk--!"

Before he could finish his sentence, Fuuko stood up and brushed off the dust on her skirt.

"Well, we better get home now, Mi-chan! It's getting dark already!"

Her voice was happy but there was a hint of disappointment.

Tokiya wanted to help her, but hesitated and changed his mind.

He nodded.

****

Fuuko's birthday was coming up in four days and Tokiya still had no gift for her.

He thought about actually NOT giving her anything…but he thought otherwise that it would be so rude and heartless…well, more than he was now.

The others already had something for her. Even Koganei and Ganko! They had no problem on what to give her, but why did he??

So, just to clear his mind, he decided to have a nice, quiet walk around town. Besides, he was bored at home and Fuuko was at Yanagi's today.

~

When it was about sunset, he gave up. He didn't come up with anything to give to Fuuko as a present.

So, he started walking home, dragging his feet along and his head bowed down in defeat.

But…Lady Luck descended upon him.

He had passed a 'certain' shop along the way home. He glanced at its window shop for a short while and had again started walking…

WHEN he noticed something familiar…

Tokiya's face lit up.

He quickly went inside the shop to buy it.

****

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FUUKO!" Everyone shouted to Fuuko happily. Well, everyone, except for Mr. Blizzard, Tokiya who was leaning on the wall with his arms crossed.

"Thank you!" Fuuko smiled.

"Now, time to eat!!!!" Koganei said loudly.

And before you could even say "birthday", every single person was already in the dining room…except of course the ever so patient Tokiya.

~

The food that Yanagi had prepared was marvelous and extravagant.

There was spaghetti, carbonara, sushi, steak, tempura…you name it!

And every single meal was finished. (ang sarap kasi!)

Now it was time to open the gifts.

"Hey, Fuuko-neechan, if you don't like one of the gifts, can you please give it to me?" Ganko asked with a sweet smile as if to make Fuuko get charmed.

"Not a chance!" Fuuko joked.

"Fine! It's okay!"

Fuuko first opened Recca's gift.

It was a childhood picture of both of them. Except that they weren't smiling…they were fighting in the picture. But the picture frame said, "Best buds forever!"

"Thanks for the frame!" Fuuko told him. "But not for the picture!"

"He! It was the only picture of us I could find! Sorry!" Recca apologized.

Fuuko put it aside then picked up another present. This one was from Domon.

"What is this? A wedding ring wrapped inside a big box?" Fuuko joked.

"Hmm…that is a good idea, but no. Open it!" Domon exclaimed.

She then unwrapped it.

It was a bouquet of plastic flowers.

'I should've known!' she thought.

"You should have just given her some real flowers!" Recca said.

"Well, it would've wilted in just a matter of days!" Domon retorted. "I wanted flowers that would last forever and will be treasured by my dearest Fuuko!"

Fuuko slapped her hand on her forehead. "Stop calling me your dearest!!!"

"L-let's just continue opening the presents!" Yanagi butted in.

~

Fuuko finished opening everyone's gifts except for Tokiya's.

She had received:

Recca- picture

Domon- flowers

Yanagi- skirt and blouse

Koganei- 100 piece puzzle of Mt. Fuji

Ganko- a small stuffed dog

"Finally!" Fuuko stretched her arms. "The last gift!"

She picked up the smallest gift and examined it first.

"Wow! Small, Mi-chan!" Fuuko said. "What is it? It's kinda light!"

Tokiya smirked. "Just open it."

"Probably THAT'S an engagement ring!" Koganei said out loud.

Everyone except Tokiya and Fuuko giggled.

"NO.." Tokiya said. He turned to Fuuko. "Just open and see."

Fuuko nodded. Everyone closed in around her as she opened it.

When the wrapper was torn, a velvet box was revealed.

Fuuko tore the rest of the wrapper and opened the box.

~

Inside was a necklace.

The very necklace that she saw in the jewelry shop.

Everyone gasped.

Fuuko was in shock.

She was speechless.

"Well, it was close to an engagement ring." Koganei said.

Fuuko looked at Tokiya.

****

Tokiya and Fuuko finally reached home.

The party lasted until 10 pm and they were tired. All they wanted to do was to rest and sleep.

~

"You remembered…huh?" Fuuko said quietly to Tokiya.

"Well, there wasn't anything to give you anymore."

"Yeah…you know what?"

"I don't want to know."

"Baka…you know what? You did the same thing like before."

"What thing?"

"Remember the teddy bear you gave me?"

"Uh…"

"You bought that for me when I saw it in the window of the toy store."

"…"

"Thank you."

"Y-you're we--!"

Fuuko pecked him on the cheek.

"Good night!"

And she went upstairs.

Tokiya blushed.

****

AN: Done with the fourth chapter!!!! Finally! Now I have writer's block!!! Ha ha ha!!!

Do me a favor and please review??

Thanks!!!