6. Haruko: Inextinguishable Fire

Shohoku:

"What shall I wear?" Haruko asked Ayako excitedly.

"Why? Who are you meeting?"

Haruko smiled, "Secret. Come on. Help me out."

"Well, I think the blue dress looks nice. It's simple and it brings out the color of your eyes."

"Blue it is!"

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Ryonan:

"You want to go out for two hours?" King Taoka said.

Rukawa nodded.

"It's dangerous for you to go out alone."

"You can send someone with me."

"Well…"

"Would you like to know a secret your son has kept from you?"

"What secret?!" he demanded.

"I'll tell you when I come back," he stated.

King Taoka frowned, "Who do you plan on taking with you to protect you?"

"Sendoh."

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Sendoh looked at Rukawa. Rukawa was a serious person as it is but today he seemed even more serious if possible and also a bit troubled. The got to the centre of the town square when he spotted a girl with long brown hair waving at them.

Rukawa looked at him, "I'll be back in an hour."

Sendoh smiled, "Hai. Enjoy yourselves."

He turned and walked towards the girl.

Sendoh shrugged, 'Finally out again. What to do?'

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"Rukawa-san, I…why did you ask me out?"

'Why?' he thought, 'because I know I can't save you. I don't want you to die like okaasan, sad. I should've stayed with her, did my best to make the remainder of her days happy. I can't protect you but the least I can do is make you happy.'

He said, "Because I want to see you."

She looked at him, "Really, Rukawa-san?"

Her eyes shone with such hope and love.

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His expression softened, "Of course. Why else would I be out here? You don't have to call me Rukawa-san. If you like you may call me Kaede."

'Rukawa-s…no Kaede's looking at me so…differently. I feel like I'm floating,' she grinned and said shyly, "Kaede-kun…"

The name rolled off her tongue. She loved the sound of it.

But looking at him, he didn't look very happy. Haruko never seen him look anything that resembled happiness. She worried about him a lot, 'It's not good to keep your feelings bottled up, Kaede-kun.'

"Kaede-kun, you don't see too happy…"

He gave her a soft smile and said, "Because I can only stay for 45 minutes more, then we won't see each other for a long time."

Haruko couldn't believe this is real. Not only was Kaede smiling but we're actually having a conversation. He's actually unhappy because we can't see each other.

"Lets go for a walk," he suggested.

"Hai."

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She paused at the necklace stand. He followed her gaze, "You like it?"

"Uh…hai."

He picked out the silver necklace with a red flower pendant, "How much?"

"12000 yen."

He paid for the necklace.

"Ru…Kaede-kun, you brought if for me?"

He nodded, "Yes, shall I help you put it on?"

She brushed and nodded.

He circled around her and clasp the necklace on her neck, 'Who would've guessed a simple necklace can make her so happy. Like Sendoh, she's an optimist.'

"Um…Kaede-kun…can I, uh…"

He looked at her, "Yes?"

"Can I hold your hand?" she blurted out.

'That's all? You just want to hold my hand?' he nodded, "sure."

They walked back to the town square and he spotted Sendoh already there waiting.

"You have to go back now don't you?" she asked sounding disappointed.

He nodded.

"I want to ask you something. Do…do you really like me?"

'I like you but not the way you think. Since I was small I knew I didn't like girls. It's not your fault Haruko. You're a really sweet girl. But one can't help who one likes.'

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She was feeling nervous.

He smiled at her gently and yet so sorrowfully, "Yes. I like you, Haruko-chan."

She was very happy and yet at the same time worried, 'Why does he look so sad? I never seen him look sad before either.'

She quickly kissed him on the cheek, "Daisuke desu, Kaede-kun."

He didn't look surprise and said softly, "I know."

'How can I tell him that? I'm so embarrassed," Haruko thought turning red, "jaa Kaede-kun!"

Haruko hastily turned and ran away, 'But I feel much better telling him how I feel.'

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Sendoh felt a ting of jealousy watching them hold hands and especially watching the girl kiss Rukawa. The girl shyly muttered something and ran off. After a moment Rukawa turned and walked back to him, looking as emotionless as ever.

"So did you have fun Rukawa-san?" Sendoh asked.

"Baka," he stated.

Sendoh shook his head and followed Rukawa back to the palace.

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Shohoku:

Haruko been acting like she's on Cloud 9 for a couple of days, grinning and giggling out of the blue and sometimes, at the most inappropriate moments.

"Haruko-chan. Haruko! Are you paying attention?!"

Haruko blinked, "Huh? Oh, sumimasen Ayako-san."

Ayako sighed, "What is up with you? You seem so happy ever since you got back 2 days ago."

"I'm just happy," she said fingering her pendant.

Ayako looked at her sceptically, 'She looked like she's under a love spell. I know that love struck look, it's the look Miyagi has, but the thing I can't figure out is who the guy is…'

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Someone shook her, "Haruko-chan! Wake up!!"

She replied groggily, "Huh? What?"

"Fire!! We got to get out of here now!!" Ayako said pulling her up.

That woke her up. She began to notice the smoke and heat. She got up and ran with Ayako. As they got close to the main dining hall the flames got worst. Haruko reached for her necklace and stopped abruptly.

"Come on. We got to run!" Ayako said.

"I can't. I left something. I got to go back and get it."

Ayako grabbed her arm and looked at her like in disbelief and annoyance, "Don't be stupid! The most important thing right now is escaping. Your life is more important than anything else!!"

'No. I can't. I know it was hard for him to get out and see me. It's Kaede's first gift to me. A gift used to tell me he cares for me. The necklace is a reminder of his love for me!' Haruko thought.

Determinedly she pulled her hand free and gave Ayako a reassuring smile, "I'll be fine. See you outside."

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Ayako came out, alone.

"Ayako-chan, I'm so glad you're ok!" Ryota exclaimed.

"Where's Haruko?!" Hanamichi asked worried.

"She's…still inside."

"Nani?! Why is she still inside?! Is she dead?!"

"No!" Ayako exclaimed, "she's not dead, she…"

"She what?!" Hanamichi demanded.

"Don't yell at Ayako-chan," Ryota said.

Kogure spotted the worried look on Ayako's face and frowned, 'I got a very bad feeling about this.'

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Haruko grabbed the necklace on her night stand and quickly raced to the nearest exit. The smoke was getting very thick. Suddenly a column came tumbling down making it impossible to continue down the corridor. She coughed and turned around to leave but that way was blocked too. She was trapped.

'I can't breathe,' she thought falling to the ground gasping for air but it only succeeded in causing her go into a coughing fit.

'It's hot…' she was growing dizzy, 'am I going to die? I don't want to die…I want to see Kaede…I want…'

She never finished that thought because she blacked out as the flames closed it on her.

End of Haruko: Inextinguishable Flames