Standard Disclaimer STILL applies
Chapter 15
"How long have they been in there?"
"About half an hour."
"Can you hear what they're saying?"
"I would be able to if you would keep quiet, Shuu."
Shuu sulked. "Sorry…" He and the other five troopers stood outside the door of Prof. Yagyuu's study where Nasuti and enclosed herself and Kiyone thirty minutes before. Ryo, with his ear to the door, and Shin, with a Styrofoam cup, tried to piece together their conversation from the hushed tones coming from within.
"Anything now?" Shuu asked hopefully.
The warriors of virtue and trust turned to him with frowns of frustration. "No." they growled in unison.
"Sorry, sorry…" Shuu waved his hands in front of himself in defense. "I'm just worried, that's all. What if Kiyone really leaves?"
"If she leaves, then she leaves." Shin replied. "Besides, we never really expected her to stay that long anyway."
"But that's before we knew how cool she was." Shuu protested. "C'mon, how many of Nasuti's friends could fit in with us as well as Kiyone? I mean, she was one of the guys!"
Ryo smiled sadly. "You've got a point there," he agreed. "She's got a mean, offensive edge in sports, and she can put up with Shuu's table manners." Shuu shot him a dirty glare. "It won't be the same without her."
Seiji sighed wistfully. "Isn't there some way to convince her to stay?" he asked.
"You can't force her." Touma replied from his spot in the corner of the hall. "If you'll miss her so much, why don't you go with her?"
"Touma--," Shin began.
"You're a fine one to talk." Seiji frowned at Touma. "It's your fault she's leaving in the first place."
"My fault?" Touma asked. "How is it my fault? I didn't do anything."
"Yes, you did." Seiji replied, walking towards him. "You said something to her… did something… I don't know what, but I know you did." He grabbed the front of his shirt. "So just come clean already!"
To his surprise, Touma glared daggers at him. With lightning quick movements, he slapped his arm away. "It's none of you damn business." He gritted.
Seiji was surprised at first, but recovered quickly, raising a fist. "Wanna bet--?" Before he could come at him again, Ryo stepped in between them.
"Hey, knock it off!" he exclaimed, tiger blue eyes blazing. "This has been going on long enough. How long have you two been friends?" The two young men looked away from each other. "We've been through so much stuff together, and you guys are going to let something like this ruin your friendship? Both of you grow up! We don't have time for games like this. There's still a possibility that Kiyone's in danger. If she is then she's going to need all our help to protect her."
"She doesn't need our protection." Touma replied bitterly, breaking away from him. "She doesn't want it either - she said so herself."
Ryo turned to him, seeing the angry and hurt look hidden in his eyes. "Touma…" he began.
"She's leaving, okay?" Touma exclaimed, his expression dark once again. "We can't force her, so that's it. And you know what? I don't care anymore." With that, he turned away and stormed off down the hall.
Ryo sighed, stuffing the ten-dollar bill Shin had given him into his pocket. He watched his blue-haired comrade storm off down the hall. 'That's a lie, Hashiba Touma, and you know it.' He thought to himself. 'You do care that she's leaving. In fact, you care so much it's killing you.' He sighed again, turning back towards the others. 'I just hope you do something about rather than let it eat you up inside.'
~*~*~*~
Kiyone's suitcase hit the floor with a soft thump. Adjusting the strap of her shoulder bag, she braced herself with the task she despised in most of her numerous travels - saying goodbye.
'I can do this,' she kept telling herself. 'Hell, I'm an ace at this. I do it all the time. Just say your goodbyes and be on your way. Piece of cake.' She let out a deep sigh. If only it were that easy. Deciding not to prolong the inevitable, she hefted up her suitcase, making her way down the steps. On her way down, Seiji intercepted her. Oddly enough, he seemed at a loss for words. Rather than saying whatever it is she thought he wanted to say, he offered to take her suitcase, taking it down the rest of the way. Kiyone followed behind him silently until she made her way to where the others waited for her.
One look at their faces and she was ready to crumble. 'Kami… I can't do this.'
Feeling a soft nudge against her leg, she looked down to see Byauken nuzzling her gently. She smiled at him softly. 'Thank you, Byauken… Koko-chan… at least the two of you understand…'
Nasuti walked up to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Are you all packed, Ki-chan?"
Kiyone was slightly startled. The elder woman hadn't used her old nickname since she had arrived. She gave her a small smile. "Yes, I'm all packed, Nasu-chan."
There was silence for a moment before the two women embraced. "Are you sure you won't change your mind?" Nasuti whispered to her. Kiyone shook her head. Nasuti sighed, breaking away. "Well, understand that you're never a stranger here."
"As strange as you guys are, I find that close to impossible." Kiyone said with a smirk. "Don't you worry, I'll come back and visit again. When the wind blows back this way."
Shin walked up to her. "Well, until it does," He handed her 2 small Tupperware containers.
"What's this?" she asked, blinking.
Shin smiled, in his fatherly sort of way. "A little snack for the road. In case you get hungry."
Kiyone laughed, giving him a hug. "Arigato, Shin-otouchan."
Shuu laughed. "Ha ha, now you've got a nickname, too!" Shin smirked at him.
"You're still my, big brother, aren't you, Shuu-niichan?" Kiyone asked, turning to the warrior of justice.
"You bet I am!" he answered, trying to look macho. "Just you remember, anyone tries to mess with you and Big brother will come and beat'em up for ya'!"
"That goes for all of us, Kiyone." Ryo replied softly. "We'll be here if you ever need us."
"Thank you, Ryo." Kiyone replied. "That really means a lot to me."
"You be careful out there, Kiyone." Seiji replied, taking her free hand in his.
"Of course, Seiji-kun." Kiyone replied with a grin. "Just don't forget about me when I'm gone."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
Kiyone chuckled softly, turning away from him. The others followed her gaze as it stopped on Touma, who stood leaning against the wall. They all seemed to be waiting to see what would happen.
Feeling all eyes upon him, Touma pushed off of the wall, walking towards Kiyone. 'Here goes nothing.' he thought uneasily to himself.
Kiyone gulped slightly, expecting the worst. She was surprised to see his slim, but strong, hand extended out towards her. She looked up at him in bewilderment, but his face was lowered. His expression suggesting he was engaged within some inner battle. She seemed slightly disappointed.
'So much for hoping…' she thought to herself, sighing.
Touma heard her sigh and looked up. She had yet to take his hand. Feeling slightly rejected, he began to lower it, surprised when she quickly grasped it. He looked up at her questioningly.
"I never leave without saying goodbye," she said.
Touma nodded slightly, squeezing her hand back in response. "Don't let this be our last." he replied.
Aqua locks flowed back and forth over her tan face as she shook her head. "I don't break promises."
Touma's other hand closed over hers. His face was surprisingly calm. "Then, make me a promise." He replied. Kiyone tilted her head in curiosity. "Promise me that… I mean…" He paused, remembering the others were in the room. His calm demeanor shattered, leaving him with nothing to give her but a shaky smile. He patted her hand lightly before letting go. "Stay out of trouble."
For a few moments, all the young demi youja could do was stare at him blinkingly. However, she recovered quickly, flashing him her trademark smile. "Well, Touma-kun," she replied. "I'll do my best." She picked up her suitcase, turning towards the door. "After all, I am my father's daughter." With a wave and a few more quick goodbyes, Kiyone Jade was gone.
Hashiba Touma felt very empty. Without a word to any of the others, he left the room, walking up the steps to his room, closing the door behind him.
~ End of Chapter 15
Chapter 15
"How long have they been in there?"
"About half an hour."
"Can you hear what they're saying?"
"I would be able to if you would keep quiet, Shuu."
Shuu sulked. "Sorry…" He and the other five troopers stood outside the door of Prof. Yagyuu's study where Nasuti and enclosed herself and Kiyone thirty minutes before. Ryo, with his ear to the door, and Shin, with a Styrofoam cup, tried to piece together their conversation from the hushed tones coming from within.
"Anything now?" Shuu asked hopefully.
The warriors of virtue and trust turned to him with frowns of frustration. "No." they growled in unison.
"Sorry, sorry…" Shuu waved his hands in front of himself in defense. "I'm just worried, that's all. What if Kiyone really leaves?"
"If she leaves, then she leaves." Shin replied. "Besides, we never really expected her to stay that long anyway."
"But that's before we knew how cool she was." Shuu protested. "C'mon, how many of Nasuti's friends could fit in with us as well as Kiyone? I mean, she was one of the guys!"
Ryo smiled sadly. "You've got a point there," he agreed. "She's got a mean, offensive edge in sports, and she can put up with Shuu's table manners." Shuu shot him a dirty glare. "It won't be the same without her."
Seiji sighed wistfully. "Isn't there some way to convince her to stay?" he asked.
"You can't force her." Touma replied from his spot in the corner of the hall. "If you'll miss her so much, why don't you go with her?"
"Touma--," Shin began.
"You're a fine one to talk." Seiji frowned at Touma. "It's your fault she's leaving in the first place."
"My fault?" Touma asked. "How is it my fault? I didn't do anything."
"Yes, you did." Seiji replied, walking towards him. "You said something to her… did something… I don't know what, but I know you did." He grabbed the front of his shirt. "So just come clean already!"
To his surprise, Touma glared daggers at him. With lightning quick movements, he slapped his arm away. "It's none of you damn business." He gritted.
Seiji was surprised at first, but recovered quickly, raising a fist. "Wanna bet--?" Before he could come at him again, Ryo stepped in between them.
"Hey, knock it off!" he exclaimed, tiger blue eyes blazing. "This has been going on long enough. How long have you two been friends?" The two young men looked away from each other. "We've been through so much stuff together, and you guys are going to let something like this ruin your friendship? Both of you grow up! We don't have time for games like this. There's still a possibility that Kiyone's in danger. If she is then she's going to need all our help to protect her."
"She doesn't need our protection." Touma replied bitterly, breaking away from him. "She doesn't want it either - she said so herself."
Ryo turned to him, seeing the angry and hurt look hidden in his eyes. "Touma…" he began.
"She's leaving, okay?" Touma exclaimed, his expression dark once again. "We can't force her, so that's it. And you know what? I don't care anymore." With that, he turned away and stormed off down the hall.
Ryo sighed, stuffing the ten-dollar bill Shin had given him into his pocket. He watched his blue-haired comrade storm off down the hall. 'That's a lie, Hashiba Touma, and you know it.' He thought to himself. 'You do care that she's leaving. In fact, you care so much it's killing you.' He sighed again, turning back towards the others. 'I just hope you do something about rather than let it eat you up inside.'
~*~*~*~
Kiyone's suitcase hit the floor with a soft thump. Adjusting the strap of her shoulder bag, she braced herself with the task she despised in most of her numerous travels - saying goodbye.
'I can do this,' she kept telling herself. 'Hell, I'm an ace at this. I do it all the time. Just say your goodbyes and be on your way. Piece of cake.' She let out a deep sigh. If only it were that easy. Deciding not to prolong the inevitable, she hefted up her suitcase, making her way down the steps. On her way down, Seiji intercepted her. Oddly enough, he seemed at a loss for words. Rather than saying whatever it is she thought he wanted to say, he offered to take her suitcase, taking it down the rest of the way. Kiyone followed behind him silently until she made her way to where the others waited for her.
One look at their faces and she was ready to crumble. 'Kami… I can't do this.'
Feeling a soft nudge against her leg, she looked down to see Byauken nuzzling her gently. She smiled at him softly. 'Thank you, Byauken… Koko-chan… at least the two of you understand…'
Nasuti walked up to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Are you all packed, Ki-chan?"
Kiyone was slightly startled. The elder woman hadn't used her old nickname since she had arrived. She gave her a small smile. "Yes, I'm all packed, Nasu-chan."
There was silence for a moment before the two women embraced. "Are you sure you won't change your mind?" Nasuti whispered to her. Kiyone shook her head. Nasuti sighed, breaking away. "Well, understand that you're never a stranger here."
"As strange as you guys are, I find that close to impossible." Kiyone said with a smirk. "Don't you worry, I'll come back and visit again. When the wind blows back this way."
Shin walked up to her. "Well, until it does," He handed her 2 small Tupperware containers.
"What's this?" she asked, blinking.
Shin smiled, in his fatherly sort of way. "A little snack for the road. In case you get hungry."
Kiyone laughed, giving him a hug. "Arigato, Shin-otouchan."
Shuu laughed. "Ha ha, now you've got a nickname, too!" Shin smirked at him.
"You're still my, big brother, aren't you, Shuu-niichan?" Kiyone asked, turning to the warrior of justice.
"You bet I am!" he answered, trying to look macho. "Just you remember, anyone tries to mess with you and Big brother will come and beat'em up for ya'!"
"That goes for all of us, Kiyone." Ryo replied softly. "We'll be here if you ever need us."
"Thank you, Ryo." Kiyone replied. "That really means a lot to me."
"You be careful out there, Kiyone." Seiji replied, taking her free hand in his.
"Of course, Seiji-kun." Kiyone replied with a grin. "Just don't forget about me when I'm gone."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
Kiyone chuckled softly, turning away from him. The others followed her gaze as it stopped on Touma, who stood leaning against the wall. They all seemed to be waiting to see what would happen.
Feeling all eyes upon him, Touma pushed off of the wall, walking towards Kiyone. 'Here goes nothing.' he thought uneasily to himself.
Kiyone gulped slightly, expecting the worst. She was surprised to see his slim, but strong, hand extended out towards her. She looked up at him in bewilderment, but his face was lowered. His expression suggesting he was engaged within some inner battle. She seemed slightly disappointed.
'So much for hoping…' she thought to herself, sighing.
Touma heard her sigh and looked up. She had yet to take his hand. Feeling slightly rejected, he began to lower it, surprised when she quickly grasped it. He looked up at her questioningly.
"I never leave without saying goodbye," she said.
Touma nodded slightly, squeezing her hand back in response. "Don't let this be our last." he replied.
Aqua locks flowed back and forth over her tan face as she shook her head. "I don't break promises."
Touma's other hand closed over hers. His face was surprisingly calm. "Then, make me a promise." He replied. Kiyone tilted her head in curiosity. "Promise me that… I mean…" He paused, remembering the others were in the room. His calm demeanor shattered, leaving him with nothing to give her but a shaky smile. He patted her hand lightly before letting go. "Stay out of trouble."
For a few moments, all the young demi youja could do was stare at him blinkingly. However, she recovered quickly, flashing him her trademark smile. "Well, Touma-kun," she replied. "I'll do my best." She picked up her suitcase, turning towards the door. "After all, I am my father's daughter." With a wave and a few more quick goodbyes, Kiyone Jade was gone.
Hashiba Touma felt very empty. Without a word to any of the others, he left the room, walking up the steps to his room, closing the door behind him.
~ End of Chapter 15