Author: Sacharine
Feedback: yes, please!
Rating: PG-13
Warning: Future profanities? No-beta (Please excuse any minor mistakes.)
Notes: "..." denotes speech '...' denotes thoughts
Disclaimer: All rights go to their respective owners. I claim nothing.
---Previously---
Mikagami made little encouraging sounds for Recca to continue.
"It was tough for Fuuko. I have found her crying a few times even though everything she will give excuses. She was defensive and would lash out at anybody so I made fun of her, poking her till she broke out of the hard shell and show some true emotion. But she keeps building walls. I think it went on until when we were eight? It was about the time the blue-hair guy, Mit- something appeared. It was shortly after his appearance that Fuuko actually ask me to teach her how to fight. She said she was going to kill him... Eh?! Why did I tell you so many..."
"Never mind." Mikagami cut off Recca abruptly and hanged up the phone.
'Stranger and stranger!'
---
Fuuko paused in front of the mansion that the Hanabishi called home. Lifting a hand to press the bell, Fuuko accidentally compressed Recca's nose instead when the door opened.
"Ahhhhhh!" Recca and Fuuko shrieked in unison, both jumping back, Recca cupping his nose protectively as it would fall off and Fuuko staring at her hand as it had taken life of its own.
"Fuuko! You are here finally!" Yanagi squealed in delight, knocking Recca away as she grabbed Fuuko by the arm and dragged her in, narrowly missing Recca head by an inch when the door slammed shut. Recca yelled angrily at the close door. Then dusting himself off, Recca picked himself up and went to work, grumbling all the way to work about crazy women and their mad antics.
Meanwhile, Yanagi was prodding about Fuuko about her development with Mikagami.
"What? You mean you haven't done anything yet? And here I thought Recca was one of a kind for being slow..." Yanagi exclaimed, flushing magenta red as she remembered how she manoeuvred Recca into marriage.
"Actually... I think he still loves you. He just keeps going on about you..." Fuuko replied morosely, her chin resting on her knees and her arms around a giant cushion.
"It can't be... I'm married after all. He will get over me soon enough. The only reason for his fondness for me is my resemblance to his sister." Yanagi waved off Fuuko's suspicions.
"That's what you said three years ago too." Fuuko replied, punching the cushion with a tight fist and glaring daggers at Yanagi.
"I... I don't know!" Yanagi answered, flustered. "Well you can't say it all my or his fault either! You didn't tell him you like him too! Even though it is normally the guys that make the first move..."
"The guys around are just too dense!" Fuuko and Yanagi lamented in chorus. 'Recca – idiot. Mikagami – Ice block. Domon – rock head. Koganei (And we miss him so) – Childish'
They smiled at each other.
"How many years have it been now? Since we met each other, I mean." Yanagi asked wistfully.
'Almost five years now." Fuuko replied, "I'm so glad to meet you guys, its... it's beyond words." Fuuko hugged Yanagi impromptu.
They basked in the warm glow of friendship, happily willing the time away.
The clock chimed loudly, echoing in the large sitting room.
"Hmm? I'm sorry but I have to go, Yanagi. Today is my brother anniversary, I need to pick up the flowers and visit him." Fuuko hugged Yanagi again and whispered apologetically into Yanagi's ear.
"Take care... I'm sure things will work out between Mikagami and you." Yanagi broke off the embrace and walked Fuuko to the door.
"Bye."
"Bye! See you again."
---
Fuuko placed her bouquet of her white roses next to the lilies. She smiled from underneath her shadowed bangs.
"Hello niichan... It has been long isn't it? Sorry for not visiting as much as I used to. Ah... Father had been here already huh? Maybe I should visit him later too, it have been too long... I don't know. Hmmm... University life is pretty relaxed so far, the lecturers are a bit doddering but still okay. Guess what! Mitchy is staying with me right now. He is still under JABBA program, and will be going to America for some matches soon. He should be coming around to visit you too. He has change even more. He acts a little strange nowadays especially around Mikagami, wish I know why..." Fuuko sat down and lean slightly forward, speaking into the open air.
"Some of Mitchy's friends are here too; you might know some of them... Ryota, Rukawa and Kogure. Some of them are in the JABBA program too. Hmm... Rukawa is Mikagami's cousin. I was really surprised to find that out. Speaking of Mi-chan..." Fuuko sighed. "I had hoped... I want..." the words refused to come. "I miss you so much niichan. I really wish you are here now. I wish..." Fuuko started in surprise as a pair of hard arms wound around her midriff from behind.
"But I'm here. I'm here..." Mitsui muttered into her ear, a warm and supportive presence at her back. "I'm here and I will never leave you..."
'Kirisawa... I will take care of her as long as I required to.' Mitsui send the silent message.
They spent the rest of the afternoon together in the mild sunlight, taking comfort from each other, paying respects and speaking in their own way.
---
My father has aged." Fuuko whispered pensively, a little poignant a little surprised. "I didn't expect him to age so fast, this much." They rounded the corner. The sky was darkening a crimson red, the sun a glowing orb of orange across the horizon. Mitsui did not know what to say; hence he kept quiet, offering only his presence. They walked down the street silently, both of them more than a little tired.
"Ahh... I'm sorry." Mitsui spoke to the man he had bumped into.
"Bastard!" The unkempt man made a fist as to punch Mitsui. Then he faltered as he seems to recognize something. The man grinned maliciously as Mitsui blanched.
'Shit! If Ryu is here than the rest of them can not be too far away! Damn! Damn it to hell!' Mitsui ducked the flailing fist with ease. And sure enough the rest of the posse came running. He turned to shout for Fuuko to runaway first and promptly received one of 'Life's Little Shock'™, in simpler terms, his jaw hit the pavement. He was greeted by the sight of Fuuko going viciously for a guy's eye with something remarkably like ice-picks.
From behind the wall, Mikagami cursed violently. 'Can't she keep out of trouble for once?' He cursed again. He only meant to check out what the two were doing together to gather a better hold on what he should do with Fuuko. But now if he does not go out and save her skin there will probably be nothing left of her for him to hold on to. Yet if he does go out and rescue her she would probably realise that he had been tailing her and would be pissed at him.
"Aggrhhh!" Mikagami growled in frustration. 'How brainless can she make me? She must be a virus!'
Then as Fuuko received a particularly nasty kick in her stomach which sends her doubling over, he made up his mind. Shaking his unbounded hair aside, he carefully slides out his sword from the sheath and harness under his clothes.
It was a replica of Ensui, only differences being the weight and material. Mikagami turned the blade to the flat side and charged towards the throng, his mouth a thin grime line. The reactions were immediate, ranging from shock to anger and to outright fear.
"That a fucking sword! Are you nuts, bitch?" The man charged towards Mikagami and was knocked across the face by a downwards stroke.
"I'm. Not. A. Woman." He growled and kicked the man in the face while he was still down. Between the three of them, they made short work of the men. They watched in silent as the last man cursed and scrambled away.
"What are you doing here, Mi-chan?" Fuuko spoke, sweat running down her neck in rivulets.
'Visiting relatives." Mikagami lied fluently without any preamble.
"Oh." Fuuko uttered it out of a need to say something rather than anything else. Mitsui edged himself to Mikagami.
"I never thought I would have to say this but nevertheless, thanks." Mitsui said to Mikagami.
Mikagami looked up coolly and said back low enough that even Mitsui barely heard it. "Just taking care of what is mine, thank me not."
Mitsui grinned behind the hand he had lifted to wipe away the beads of sweat. 'Possessive Bastard.'
Then he became more serious as he watched Mikagami and Fuuko bickering friendly. 'Well, he can fight well enough and looks intelligent too. And most importantly, Fuu likes him lots. Maybe it is time someone take care of her too, hmm Kirisawa?'
Smiling, he caught up with them.
"Say... What's up with the sword? It is illegal you know... And don't you dare edge away Fuuko! I want to know what you are doing with those ice-picks-darts things too!"
---
To be continue
Haha... now with the grudging well-wishes of Mitsui, will the couple find true love finally? Or will they not? * Evil Laughs* Heheh...
Erm... so, so, so sorry for the delay! Had a little domestic problem with my family... Hello? Oh no!!!!! I think all my readers have left me!!! *Running around like a headless chicken, crying *
Thanks,
Reviewer
Date
Chapter
Type
Isilwen Nyx Silverstar
2003-02-10
8
Signed
Definitely Tofu but… hmmm… I will see what I can do about the Rufuu... Cheers!
Hume Esper
2003-02-03
8
Signed
Haha… thanks! They are going to stay together! But it is a FOR fic after all... Root for tofu though I must agree the idea of Mitfu is very attractive to me too…
bishounen lovah
2003-01-28
8
Signed
I do think Fuuko can kick his *ss anytime. But I think she would prefer to sleep sprawl over him! Haha... who wouldn't? *thinks of the abs and faints from blood loss *
TouTetsu
2003-01-26
8
Anonymous
So for being late! I love this fic too! Haha... Thanks!
Cherie (cherie@silver-shining.net)
2003-01-26
8
Anonymous
Hey I'm still alive… Sorry for not being around... I will send chapter 2 over in about maybe... dear me... honestly I don't know. But no fear! I will continue! To my fav' beta…
* gives chocolates, hugs and kisses and cats*
Darkness XI
2003-01-26
8
Signed
Freakier? (o_O) somehow… that wasn't really what I had in mind... Haha thanks!
Darkness XI
2003-01-26
5
Signed
Erm… how to say... Well my sister was the one teaching me basic Japanese and I was under an assumption that Kogure - (some prefix) was more formal than Kogure. Hence... and well in the comic and manga and Kogure was called Kogure even by people that knew him for a long time so... Sheesh... honestly I don't know... Thanks anyway!
Ranka
2003-01-25
8
Anonymous
Thanks... Haha, my speciality is sad fics!
Yanagi-chyan
2003-01-13
7
Signed
Soon, soon! Prince charming to the rescue... Is this tofu mushie enough? Thanks!
Ranka
2003-01-09
7
Anonymous
Thanks for your support!
bishounen lovah
2003-01-09
7
Signed
You got to have faith in Mitsui! He is like way taller then Mikagami... In addition, I had discover Mikagami tend to draw with people he don't intend to kill. All his techniques are killing strokes. (o_O) Remember the first fight? There is so many tricks that he used UBS III that he didn't use on Recca. I still can't believe he lose to Recca! Must be a fluke.