Chapter 3

Rain... *sigh*…kirrai desu... A solitary figure walked, wet, a bag over his hunched shoulders. The noon sun hid behind grey clouds, reflecting his mood…hmph..)

"Rukawa-san?"

Hmm...

An old man sat upon the steps of an ancient temple, beckoning the sullen teen.

Rain dripped from Rukawa's hair, "Nani, oyagi?"

The man laughed, then coughed, "Oh, ho, when you were small, it was oji-san." He peered up to meet the cool stare of Rukawa, "Are…you don't remember do you?" he scrunched up his face and mimicked a young boy's voice, "Oji-san, hai yer kun, ikko, ikke!"

Nani?

The old man shook his head in laughter, "Ne…sit…sit. *cough*," He patted the space next to him, and took up the pot of tea he had. He poured a cup and offered it to Rukawa, "Oolong tea?" The two silently drank together, watching the slivers of rain covering the vast sky.

"Okazaki…"

???

The oyagi looked at Rukawa, "I am Okazaki. That's Okazaki oji-san to you, young man…"

"Ji-san…"

"Are…it's been so long…your father used to bring you here…you were so small," Okazaki held up his hand, "Less than a meter even…look at you now. Hai hai, and such energy…running every where. See that maple tree? You kept trying to climb it…your mother…bless her…was so worried, but you never gave up…just there…you got scratched by a cat…hai…and nearly fell. Wasn't there a girl…hai…hai…I remember a small baby…oh, you were carrying her one day…what was her name? Sumi…Rumi…"

"Kumi…" whispered Rukawa. "Ahhh…hai…little Kumi…trying to keep up with you…and you would carry her on your back…hai…hai," the smile slowly disappeared from the old man's face, "Are, little Kumi is not here anymore, eh?" He sighed, "So small…sometimes kami-sama is not fair…" he glanced at Rukawa.

"Kaede, you never smile since then…you walk past here everyday…with that same look. So much pain you keep…Kaede, you'll make all the ones who care for you, worried…kazokkeu."

Okaasan, otousan na gka ma , Captain, Miyagi, Mitsui, Kogure, Ayako, Anzai-sensei….(An angry chibi Sakuragi pops up, "Oi! You fox-faced…) that do'aho…

"…maybe someone special." The old man patted Rukawa's shoulder, "They care about you…you should about them. "He got up slowly and slowly shuffled into the temple, leaving Rukawa alone on the steps.

Someone special…huh…Taku-chan…*sigh*…festival...

---

Why am I doing this?

Rukawa wearing an ink-blue Japanese formal costume, nervously stood, though he doesn't show it, while groups of people milled around, laughing as they sampled food and played games.

A moment later, he spotted Hanagata, laden with pink candy floss, attempting to pay while Fujima tried to pull him to join one of the dances. String music and drums played in the background, coloured lights brightened the night. A short way off, Haruko giggled at Sakuragi's efforts to catch a fish in a game as Yohei looked on and the rest of the Sakuragi's gang roared with laughter. Miyagi, blushing, was talking to Ayako.

Rukawa raised an eyebrow…where

"Kaede-kun!" Rukawa turned and watch Kanzaki's expression turn to one of delight as he waved excitedly with Misato. The lovers looked at one another from across the crowd…he looks good...my Taku-chan

Kanzaki made his way to Rukawa, a flush of red on his cheeks as they clasp hands. "I thought you weren't coming…"

"I thought you would like it…" Replied the indifferent rookie…then…Rukawa smiled…

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A/N

Keichirou: Phew…finally…it is completed….*sighs in relief*

Taka: You made so many typing errors!! *glares and whacks Keichirou on the head with his almighty fan*

Keichirou: I-iteeee~eee *gently massages the steaming bump on his head*

Sanzo (from Saiyuki): Oi! Baka! No one's allowed to used my fan but me!) *grabs back his fan and starts whacking Taka*

Taka: *runs away as Sanzo chases him*KEIIIIIIIICHIIIIIIIROUUUUUU!!!!

Keichirou: Muahahahahahahaha!!! Serves you right!! Muahah