Title: As Swift As the Wind
Author: Haze
Disclaimer: I don't own Flame of Recca so don't sue me…
Chapter 1:
"What?!" Recca couldn't help but yell on the phone. "Are you kidding?! This is NOT funny!"
"If you don't want to believe me, fine." And with that, Mikagami ended the phone call.
Recca stared at the receiver in his hand. He couldn't believe what Mikagami just told him. It's impossible. How can that be? They were just having fun together yesterday.
"Recca." Kagerou tapped Recca's shoulder. "What's the matter?"
Recca looked at his mother, trying to find his voice.
"What happened?!" Domon grabbed Mikagami's collar.
"Get your hands off me before I cut them off." Mikagami replied in an icy tone.
"Calm down, Domon-niichan." Koganei soothed Domon after seeing Mikagami's irritated expression.
They were in the hospital's hallway, waiting for the others to come. A few minutes later, Recca, Yanagi, and Kagerou arrived.
"What happened?!" Recca blurted out.
"Well, men entered Fuuko-neechan's house. We found out when we were watching news this morning. The house behind the newscaster looked like Fuuko-neechan's. There were ambulances and police people so we went there and found out that she was brought to this hospital." Koganei explained.
"It's a good thing that Ganko had been staying with us since school break." Mikagami interrupted.
"Can we see Fuuko-chan?" Yanagi asked calmly.
As they entered the hospital room where Fuuko was, they saw that Ganko had fallen asleep by Fuuko's bedside. And Fuuko – she was strapped in so many gadgets looking so dead.
Yanagi instantly burst into tears. Kagerou tried to comfort her. Domon and Recca stood rooted at where they were standing. Koganei sighed sadly and went out, still not able to take this. And Mikagami was the still his calm self.
A few minutes later, Ganko stirred and noticed the other Hokage there. She immediately burst into tears and ran to Yanagi and Kagerou.
"It's been a week and they still don't know who did this?!" Recca fumed as he walked to and fro the hospital hallway.
"Who did this? Mori? Don't tell me he's back again!" Domon flared up.
"Calm down, you two." Koganei soothed. "All this blowing up wouldn't help. We need to stay as calm as we can."
"Hah! Easy for you to say! Fuuko's our best friend since we were kids." Recca retorted.
Mikagami shook his head and left the three to argue.
"Mikagami-senpai." Yanagi acknowledge from her position by Fuuko's bedside.
Mikagami nodded. The room was silent save for the slight noises that came from the gadgets strapped on Fuuko.
"How are her parents?"
Mikagami shook his head. "They didn't make it. They sustained far too many fatal injuries."
"Oh. I'm sorry I wasn't able to do anything."
"It's alright, Yanagi. The doctors were with them all the time, there was nothing you can do."
"How is Ganko coping up with this?"
"Not so good. She's depressed all the time. Kagerou-san is going to fetch her from school today and take her somewhere to ease out her dampened moods."
With that, the room turned back to the way it was with only the sounds from the gadgets filling it.
"Kagerou-san." Yanagi called softly that afternoon.
Kagerou looked at Yanagi from her position by the window. "Yes?"
"It's been a week. She still hasn't woken up. Do you think there is something I could do to call her back? Do you think there is a madougu that could help me talk to her in her mind?"
"As a matter of fact, Yanagi, there is such a madougu. But it is quiet dangerous. It had been known that no one was able to come back after using it."
"Oh."
The room fell into silence for a long time. Yanagi gazed at Fuuko and sighed. "Can I at least give it a try?"
"Yanagi–"
"I know it's rash but I can't help it. Seeing Fuuko-chan like this hurts me so much, hurts everyone so much. And it makes me feel guilty to have this gift of healing when I couldn't even do something to prevent her parents from dying."
"But it's not your fault, Yanagi. It's not."
"I know. But I can't help but think it is."
Suddenly, the door opened and Mikagami walked in.
"Why isn't Fuuko-chan waking up yet?" Yanagi asked almost immediately.
Mikagami closed the door gently and looked at Yanagi. "The doctors said that she may have developed a mental trauma and because of that, she might be shutting herself down and might remain in a coma."
"But Fuuko-chan will never give up like that." Tears she had managed to control the entire day finally escaped her eyes. "She's brave and she wouldn't want to stay this way."
Kagerou moved from her place to Yanagi. "It's going to be alright." She looked at Mikagami while embracing the silently crying Yanagi.
"I promise, Fuuko-chan that whatever happens, we will always be here." Yanagi sobbed.
Everything was dark and I felt that I was floating in space. It reminds me of the time when I was floating in Magensha's dimension. The only difference is that there are no floating bones here. And one more thing, I couldn't move a muscle.
I racked my mind. Where am I? This is not another dream, is it? What happened back there? How long have I been here? What happened to my parents?
More questions crowded my mind. But to each question, I had no idea on what the answer would be.
I had no idea on how long I have been floating aimlessly. Everything was pitch-black. I couldn't decipher anything at all. But after a certain span of time, I heard a familiar voice call me gently. It was the very same voice that called out to me whenever I'm dreaming.
"Fuuko." The voice was soft and melodic. And it was the most wonderfully beautiful voice I have ever heard.
I was surprised to discover that I suddenly could move. When I spun around, I was stunned at the image before me. I never did get to know how the owner of the voice looked like because every time the voice calls me in my dream, I never could see anything in the dark. I never could move. But now, for the first time, I saw the owner.
It was that of a very beautiful girl wearing a long, white robe. She had a glowing white skin, much like that of an angel we see in story books and movies. It's as if she had a fluorescent light hiding beneath her soft-looking skin.
My eyes traveled to her elegantly sculpted face which was perched ever so perfectly on her regal neck. She had this so-red soft lips, delicate nose, beautifully arched brows, thick eyelashes and rosy cheeks. But what caught me the most was her eyes. She had the most stunning eyes I have ever seen. It had the shades of blue, green, and purple.
I couldn't help but stare at her face until her hair that gently framed her beautiful face took my attention. It was long and had the shade of golden yellow of such delicate tint that it seemed to me they have a mix of silvery blue.
Again my mind raced. Who is she? What is she? Where did she come from? Why have she been calling me all those times?
"Fuuko." Her gentle voice called out.
I stared at her, not able to say anything. Her stunning eyes looked at me gently and I was drawn to its depths. She neared me and reached out as if to touch me. But when my face was only a few centimeters away, she withdrew her hand and looked at me sadly.
"Forgive me, Fuuko."
I looked at her questioningly. "I don't understand."
"I couldn't help you. I'm sorry."
Her eyes looked so sad that I couldn't help but reach out to comfort this beautiful angel. But the moment my hand touched her arm, she moved away.
"Don't. You might stain your hands."
I don't understand her at all. Me? Stain my hands by touching her? Shouldn't it be the other way around like me staining her?
As if sensing all these questions streaming in my mind, she shook her head.
"No, Fuuko. It shouldn't be that way."
"What?"
"Even the slightest of any color can stain the pure white. You must not be marked with the blood I am forever destined to spill."
"I don't understand."
"You wouldn't have to."
"But I want to. Please tell me. Who are you? What do you mean by the blood you are forever destined to spill? What did you mean when you said you couldn't help me? What happened?"
"You ask too much. But you must know that ignorance is bliss. Why do you seek to learn of the knowledge that would bring you Pain?"
I was speechless. I couldn't say anything. How rash of me to question her. Her knowledge surpasses mine like that of a universe compared to an atom. She knows what should be learned and what should be left unanswered. But deep inside, all I wanted was to know.
"Curiosity killed the cat, Fuuko." She smiled ever so slightly.
"You can read my mind." It came out as a comment and not a question as I had intended it to be.
"Your mind and heart spoke the words, Fuuko."
"I just want to know even if it hurts me. As they say, the truth can hurt."
"You have an inquisitive mind." She noted. "And an enduring heart."
"Then, aren't they at least enough reasons for you to tell me what happened?"
She looked at me with concealed pain in her eyes. "Are you sure you are ready to bear the pain, Fuuko?"
I kept quiet and thought for a while. Before I came here, there were only havoc, pain, and fear clutching every part of me. I wanted to know what happened after I fell to the ground. But I was at the same time scared to know what happened after I closed my eyes.
Silence engulfed us. And in the darkness that I was once in, I took notice of the light radiating from her that took away the darkness. She had no wings. But the only thing that registered on my mind was that she was an angel.
"You're an angel, aren't you?"
She looked at me. The slight smile of amusement she had a few minutes ago had been replaced by a slight smile of pure sadness.
What did that smile mean? Could it be?
"Are you an angel of death? Does this mean that I am going to die?" I asked, fearing whatever answer there would be.
"I am not going to let you, Fuuko."
She turned to leave. And as the light withdrew around me, I once again felt fear in my heart. I couldn't understand at first but then I realized. I was afraid of being alone. That was why I fought for everyone I loved.
"Wait. Don't leave me."
She turned back to be. "I'm not going to leave you, Fuuko."
"Then why are you turning to go?"
She smiled slightly, like a mother amused at her child. "What the five senses perceive is superficial. But what the sixth sense alone can comprehend is the one essential."
And before I realized it, the darkness had once again engulfed me. Scenes of what happened before I came to this place flashed back again and again.
I was fighting with unknown men. They didn't have any madougus as far as I know. But they were more powerful than any madougu-wielder I have known of.
I couldn't protect my parents well, and they soon ended up unconscious. Blood was draining away from my body from all the wounds I had acquired from protecting my parents.
"What do you want?!" I screamed.
"Tell us where the Essence is." One of them said in a cold, demanding voice.
"What essence?!"
"We have no time for games! Tell us where it is before we lose patience!"
"But I don't know what you're talking about!"
They laughed. "Then we'll just have to obtain your memory stones which would mean that we would have to kill you."
I got ready to fight them. But I felt a sharp pain on my back. I then realized that they could move with the speed of light. But before I dropped unconscious, I felt an arm around my waist and I saw a very bright light.
I don't know. But I'm scared.
I'm scared to wake up from this dream and find myself in the hospital with my parents dead.
I'm scared to wake up from this dream and find out that those men are after my friends.
I'm scared.
I'm scared of waking up and losing everyone.
They think I am invincible. But I'm not.
I'm just Fuuko – a little girl forced to act tough for everyone she loves.
I'm just Fuuko – a little girl whose strength depends on the people she loves.
And now, I suddenly realize that I wanted to forget everything because all that is left in me is all my fears especially that of losing everyone I loved.
Author's Note:
My Answers to the Reviewers:
hyper_shark It's for me to write about and for you to read on.
veggie_eater I hoped so. Guess it worked huh?
Dark Phoenix Thanks for the suggestion on the 'BUT' part.
Kurei I don't know how to make a horror one without making it look funny so I guess it'll be action.
kaze' Yurei I know. That's why I just so like Fuuko.
bishounen lovah I'll make a summary teaser so the plot would be easier to see.
