A/N: Sorri for taking so long… With all the exams and all, I had no time to continue this fic… but I'm back aniwae!! And I wanna thank all of u who reviewed!! Please continue to support this story, ideas or comments anione?? Once again, thanx to all who reviewed!

P.S. Mikagami's eyes is blue ryte?? I noe I'm an idiot to forget, but hey! I haven't touched FoR for um well…. 2months! Okok, maybe less, but still… my memory's really bad!!

Disclaimer: If Flame of Rekka was owned by me, do u really think I'd still be writing fanfics on it?? So don't sue me, coz I don't own it.

=tRi@ngle oF d0ubt=

--Fuuko's POV--

Strangled. I feel so strangled. Just when I thought my luck took a turn, just when I thought I had found light at the end of a cold, dark tunnel…

What am I thinking? Do I not like Raiha? Is he not my prince?

The heavens always pick on me like this. Mocking me, jeering at me. I hate it! I hate them! I hate you! Understand? I hate you for playing with me like this!

I started to sob uncontrollably. Stupid! Stupid! Stop! I can't. Why am I crying anyway?

Mikagami. The one I care so much for. The one I love. The one who's so perfect…

Raiha. My prince. The one who protects me. The one who shows me all his care. The one who saved me time and time again.

The one I can't afford to hurt.

Not after all he's done for me. Rescuing me countless times, taking vengeance for me, and now this…

I don't have a choice, do I?

"Raiha… Hai…" I heard myself whisper. No! No… I love Mi-chan! Tears spilled again as Raiha smiled at me. he drew me into his arms gently. I hugged him back tightly and wished with all my heart he was Mikagami.

Would this tunnel ever end?

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He should not be doing this. Peeping, eavesdropping. It was so wrong.

His heart ripped into bits as he watched the two embrace, watched Raiha smile, watched her hug him as though she needed him so bad. Watch Fuuko cry. Was her tears of joy then?

Hurt, sadness, pain, jealousy. All of which he should not feel.

He had waited, hesitated, he had been a coward, and he had lost. The whole damn thing was a joke. Just when he reached a decision, just when he broke the wall, just when he confessed everything…

Stupidity. A joke.

I have to… I have to forget her then?

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+2 years later+

Fuuko walked quietly down the busy street back towards the apartment she shared with Raiha. A small bag of paperback books swayed slightly in her hand. Some she had bought for Raiha, some for herself, and the rest Ganko.

Ganko was attending school with Koganei, and Yanagi and Rekka had married a few months back. They were living a couple of streets away from Kage Houshi and Mr. Hanabishi. Domon, after over thirty rejections, was dating a cute and bubbly girl two years his junior. Fuuko and Raiha were living peacefully together. Perhaps this peaceful life would last?  Perhaps their destiny would never be? For she still had not found the Fuujin.

Mikagami… he had left for America to find a job about a week after the day they left the forest. They lost touch with him one month after and Fuuko missed him sorely.

His snide remarks, his cocky attitude, his loving eyes, his perfect frame.

She wanted him back, but the decision had been made. It was hard to give him up, and now she could never have him back.

Flashes of the night he had admitted his feelings toward her came reeling back and Fuuko was slightly dazed. After that night, Mikagami had acted as though nothing had ever happened. His cold demeanor had returned and he withdrew even further into himself. Besides monotonous replies, the Hokage could not get anything out of him.

Was he hurt? Did he know of her decision then? Or was it just madness on his part? Confusion invaded Fuuko's mind once again.

She sighed. What it would be to talk to him once more.

All of a sudden, a pair of strong hands grabbed Fuuko and pulled her into the alleyway quickly, never giving Fuuko a chance to react. Before she could scream, her mouth was smothered; before she could struggle, she was jerked to stop.

She was forced around and found herself glaring into a pair of blue, blue eyes.

Strange… Familiar... So familiar…

"Mikagami?" the name came out a question instead of an exclamation.

His hands were resting gently on her shoulders, and his long, tangled and slightly messy hair draped down his body, reeking of liquor. His eyes bored down into hers and he struggled lightly to keep his balance.

Brushing aside a stray lock of hair on her face, he laid his hand lovingly on her cheek. He bent down and his lips touched hers softly.

Fuuko's eyes widened slightly; what was Mikagami doing?! She felt his breath on hers, it was warm, so warm…

His hand caressed her cheek slowly, and she gave in to the overwhelming temptation.

Her lips parted and eyes closed, she kissed him back.

She had never felt a moment so special and so tender. How she wished it would never end.

Mikagami drew back slowly. His eyes seemed clearer, perhaps the drunkenness was fading?

"Fuuko…" his voice, how long had she not heard it speak like that? With warmth, with care. "Fuuko… Gomenasai. I know you're living with Raiha now? I… I missed you. A lot."

"Mi-chan… Where've you been?"

"I came back about a year and a half ago. I didn't wish for the Hokage to know I returned, I didn't wish to meet you and Raiha… Living happily together. I followed you around for some time, then I finally, well I finally decided to come and ask you,"

He gazed solemnly at her.

"I want you to choose, Fuuko. Decide between me and Raiha. Now. If you pick me, I'll give you as happy a life as you want. I swear I will. If you pick Raiha, I'll never bother you again."

------Fuuko's POV------

What the hell is this deciding all about anyway! Choices, choices, choices!

Damn it!

I still owe Raiha, my debt would be for eternity.

Mi-chan, mi-chan returned, only to leave again?! It must seem such a joke. Oh hell, I can't do this again, not while I'm looking at the man I love, not when I have to reject him…

But I have to, don't I.

"G-Go-Gomen Mi-chan… I… I choose Raiha."

I watched as Mikagami stiffened suddenly. He released my shoulders from his grip, and frowns circled his forehead. He turned away quietly, and muttered a soft apology and goodbye…

And he walked away.

"Sayonara Mi-chan…?" Tears welled up once again in my eyes; why do I cry so much now?

"Aishiteru…" I whispered to the wind; Mi-chan was gone.

Why? Why? Mikagami, why? Of all things to ask, of all departures you could make, why choose to ask me to choose, why choose to leave because of my choice?

You, of everyone, you, at least you should know that I owe Raiha too much to hurt him.

Maybe one day, when our destiny clashes, Raiha's and mine, maybe then, you'd come back?

Raiha saved me too many times. He cares for me too much. I could never leave him for you, not when he loves me this much.

Why couldn't it have been you who saved me that night? Why did you have to stubbornly stick in your ice wall and let Raiha saved me, when the consequences would be this?

Oh hell, Mi-chan. I'm sorry…

Blinking away the tears, I continued back home. This was going to be a long trip.

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"Fuuko… the time for our destiny has arrived then. Now that I know… Now that I know you really do love Mikagami and not me. Maybe it'd be for the best. Now our destiny will truly be."

Unknown to Mikagami and Fuuko, Raiha had seen the whole incident, heard every word said, and felt every emotion caused.

He clutched the Fuujin quietly in his hand and went after Mikagami.

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A/N: Please review!! Was this chapter bad? I think it was worse than the previous few… ughx… I'm so brainblocked for this story, but rest assured, I'm trying to have the next chapter the last chapter and finale! As soon as my brain clears, that is.