Blood, Lust and Love

Disclaimer: I do not own Flame of Recca or any of the characters. I'm merely using them for my own pleasure. Please don't sue me. Thanks.

Chapter 3: Longing

(Akiko Kirisawa's POV)

"I can't believe this. It's been 3 days, 3 DAYS and you haven't found anything?!" I watched my daughter yell at the group of men and women we hired to search for my granddaughter. I sighed deeply to myself, shaking my head with worry. Aya was right. It's been too long. Something must have happened to my dear Fuuko because there's been no sign of her ever since her 18th party. It ended early at the first sign that our debutant was gone and nowhere to be seen.

The entire mansion was searched, stripped...every room opened, every attic explored when we finally decided that it was time to ask for professional help.

"Have you tried the Hanabishi's?" I spoke up.

Perhaps she was there. She seemed a tad upset before the whole celebration started so maybe she sought refuge from Rekka's place.

No reply. "Then we must get in contact with that young man and ask him if he knows of her whereabouts." I suggested, gesturing to the phone. "Since he and Fuuko are good friends then he might know something."

Aya nodded, tight-lipped and picked up the handset.

My heart ached for my daughter. This was the first time I've seen her upset since...

"Aya-chan? What are you doing here? Is there anything wrong? Is Fuuko sick?"

"No okaasan..." her lips trembled. "It's...it's..."

"Aya. Get a hold of yourself. Here, sit down and tell me what's going on."

I watched as she took a deep breath and hastily wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. Sadness was evident for it was shown all over her face.

"Kyota..."

Kyota? "Pardon?"

"He...he...he left." She managed to blurt out before she started sobbing once more.

That was when I felt the full impact of the situation. Kyota Takada, her husband, left her?

"But how? Oh, my dear Aya..."

My own tears rolled down as I moved to take my only daughter into my arms and cradle her.

"He...he had a mistress, that slimy bastard... All those 'business trips' he was taking turned out to be sessions with this foreign girl who works for him. I came home and saw a note lying on my dresser. His things were gone..."

"What did the note say?"

"It said...'I'm sorry, Aya.'".

"That's all?!"

"Yes. That's when I realised it all. The numerous calls of that woman claiming to be work-related, his late night endeavours with people he refused to tell me about...everything! I was a fool to fall for him, okaasan. It was clear that he was only after my inheritance. He never really showed that much interest for Fuuko too! He declined to put her to sleep, to feed her... I thought it was because he was too tired from his office, but now I see that he didn't care for her at all. It was all fake and I let myself get caught in it. What a fool I am!"

I could only watch as she cried herself out, ashamed and angry at her mistake.

Fuuko had only been an infant then, with no memory of her deceitful father. After a few months, she and Aya abandoned their apartment and came to live with me. It took her years to overcome the depression that sunk into her mind and while she was struggling to battle it, Fuuko grew closer to me. We spent countless hours in the garden, as the little girl amused herself among wildflowers and offered them so prettily to the people passing by. She never knew that a swindler gave her life and pretended to love her mother so that he could make capital out of it. The word 'father' was never written in her vocabulary and she never asked.

Until she met Rekka.

She came home one day, quieter than usual. We probed her for a few minutes when she finally spoke up.

"Who is the man who takes care of Rekka? How come I don't have one?"

And we were speechless.

Aya was the first to speak up. "He is dead, Fuuko-chan. He died when you were still very young."

"Oh." She said, her blue eyes still looking lost. "So it's just you, me and grandma?"

"Yes, Fuuko. I'm afraid so."

It's been that way for 15 years.

I sighed, and prayed to the gods that Fuuko was still safe and sound. The last thing we need is another pierce in the heart.

While Aya was relaying details to Rekka and inquiring about Fuuko, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

"Madam, may I be permitted to give my opinion on this matter?"

I turned to Toya, one of the guards and Fuuko's caretaker for so long. His dark eyes showed every sign of confidence that was absent from my own. "And what would that be Toya?" I asked, tiredly.

"I think that the young Kirisawa did not take off during the party."

"Come again?" Aya dropped the phone and turned to face him, before glancing at me.

He replied, his face serious. "I've known the girl ever since she was born and she is not the type to run off like that. I know she didn't approve of the party and..."

"Your point is?" I interrupted, rushing him to get there.

He cleared his throat. "I think that Fuuko-san was kidnapped AT the party."

My eyes narrowed. "How could that possibly happen, Toya?"

"Yes," Aya chimed in. "My daughter only socializes with her friends, and only a few of them were able to make it to the party. Besides, the people who were invited were people we know and trust. They wouldn't kidnap Fuuko! Let's avoid being hasty and jumping into conclusions here."

"No madam. You don't understand my point. Were both of you aware that Fuuko-san was seen talking and dancing to a man we've never seen her with?"

"What do you mean by that?" I raised my eyebrows. "Surely you know Recca Hanabishi and Domon Ishijima. They were the only boys from Fuuko's school in that party."

"I know what Domon and Recca look like." Toya explained. "This man was different. He looked like he was about their age, but acted so much older. He had silver hair and blue eyes. I saw him and Fuuko dancing while you and Akiko-san were at the kitchen. I've asked several of the guards to keep an eye on them, but for some reason, they disappeared in the middle of the dance."

Silver hair and blue eyes?

"What about Rekka and Domon? Weren't they with her?" Aya asked.

Toya shook his head. "We asked them were Fuuko went and they couldn't remember a thing."

"Who could that man be?" Aya asked, turning to me. "Did we invite anyone like him?"

"No," I said. "The question is: how could someone like him show up at the party without invitation?"

"He had an invitation."

We both looked at Toya in surprise. "An invitation?" I repeated.

"Yes, madam. It was the one that you sent."

"Well, what was the name in the invitation?"

I waited for a while as they shuffled through the pile of envelopes. This was strange. A man, approaching Fuuko with silver hair and blue eyes. It's oddly familiar - I think I've met someone like that before. Someone in my past. I just can't remember who.

"Mikagami."

"What?" I asked, snapping out of my thoughts.

"Mikagami, okaasan." Aya repeated. "Strange...I don't think I recognized that name."

Silver hair and blue eyes.

Mikagami...

My mouth fell open. "I know that man."

"Okaasan?"

"Kami-sama!" I exclaimed, suddenly feeling weak. "No..."

"Okaasan!" Aya rushed to my side, placing her hands over my shoulders. "What's wrong? Do you know this person?"

"Aya..." I managed to whisper, "that man shouldn't have been with Fuuko...that man..."

"Okaasan," Aya urged me. "If you know him, tell us where he lives and we can ask him if he has seen Fuuko. Kyouta here is suggesting that they may have disappeared together."

I remained silent.

I know the name Mikagami. I would never forget that name. No wonder the silver hair and blue eyed description struck me. The boy was back.

Back for revenge.

"Aya..." I slowly said, looking into my daughter's concerned face. "We have to find her. Quickly. I fear that our Fuuko may be in more danger...than we ever imagined."

TBC

A/N:

Okay, I'm alive. And back. I am SOOOOOO sorry for keeping you guys waiting for this. *bows down and begs* Forgive me?

Here are a few notes:

- Fuuko's using her mother's maiden name. Ideally, Kirisawa should have been taken from her father, but certain circumstances change the whole thing. Told ya this had nothing to do with the series.

- If any of you are wondering how Akiko managed to slay Mifuyu, it would be explained in later chapters. Please hold on to your seats. :)

- No mention of Tokiya and Fuuko in this chapter. I still don't know what to do with them. As of now, they're still stuck in Tokiya's castle, staring at each other until one melts into a puddle. Don't worry! We'll have more of them soon.

- Rekka and Domon are minor characters. I might bring them into play, but maybe much later.

Please, please, please DO review and tell me what you think. I suspect that I'm a little bit rusty now because I haven't written for a while. My latest fic, Complications, features Tokiya as a laqyer. Pay him a visit, will you? He's currently offering pro bono services. :D