Disc: Flame of Recca and all original characters belongs to Anzai Nobuyuki.
Endless Road chapter Three
Tokiya holds the mike.
"And now, the questions are over, right? So I have no business anymore at this place. I'll go home, and maybe will never coming here anymore. Thank You and I wish you all wo get a good life afterwards!!"
He gave the mike to the confused MC. Then he walks down and left the stage. He ignores the MC who called his name. He walks towards Fuuko, and Tokio.
He stopped right in front of Fuuko and Raiha. Domon, Yanagi, and Recca move nearer to them. Tokio still carried on Fuuko's arms. Fuuko gazed at Tokiya sharply. But when she opened her mouth to ask Tokiya's explanation, Tokiya beats her to talk.
"Fuuko, Raiha, Domon, Yanagi, and Recca, I have something to tell you all. Would you like to come to my place after the party? Especially you, Fuuko." Tokiya stared at Fuuko. They are nodded. Tokiya looks curious.
"Now Tokio, let's go home." Tokiya lifted both his hands against Fuuko to carried Tokio. No longer, Tokio now on his father's arms.
"We will come after the party." Said Raiha. Tokiya nodded, and then he left.
"Bye-bye, mom!!!" shouted Tokio from his father's shoulder. Fuuko smiled at him and waved her hand.
"Do you have any idea what's Tokiya's going to tell us?" Fuuko asked Raiha when they walked out of the campus and made their way towards the parking area.
"Uhm, yeah. But I think it's better if you know it directly from Tokiya."
"I think you know something! Why don't you tell me if you know about it?" Fuuko settled herself at Raiha's car.
"I have no rights to broke Tokiya's trust against me. I'm so sorry, Fuuko. But he had told me not to say anything." Raiha smiled and started the engine.
"Oh yeah? Since when did you two become good friends?" Fuuko narrowed her eyes. Raiha didn't answer her; Fuuko let out a sigh then diverts her gaze to the window.
They keep silence all way long until Raiha's car reach Mikagami's house.
At the front, there is another car. It seems that Recca had come first. The front door is open. Raiha and Fuuko walk through the door.
At the guestroom, they meet Recca, Yanagi, and Domon sat down at the long sofa, and Tokiya sat at the single sofa at the corner of the room. They look tensed. Tokiya saw Fuuko and Raiha with the corner of his eyes.
"We've been waiting for you two," he said politely, "please sit down."
Fuuko and Raiha come in and took a seat at the double sofa.
Tokiya took a deep breath before he started to talk.
"My direction to gather all of you here is to tell about something important. This is about my plan." He stopped for a while. "Raiha, I believed that you didn't open your mouth about this because you're the only one person that I took my trust on."
"Recca, I mean, Enjutsushi-sama."
"Don't call me with that name, its Recca for you."
"Okay, Recca. After all you are the new leader of Hokage clan, so I must call you with 'sama'. I want to apologize, because I can't grant your request to be the vice-leader of the Hokage clan."
"But why? I think the best person to fill the position is only you!! You know, I need you to lead the clan! Besides, as a good swordsman, you could teach the junior ninja at Hokage clan to using sword!! I'm hoping so much that you will help me! You know, I really need so much help because the clan is just proclaimed few months ago. We need the right person to organize this clan. Why wouldn't you help me?"
"I have my own reason, and I'll tell you after this. Yes, I'm a swordsman. But don't forget that Hyoumon Ken only can be passed to one person. Besides, there is another person who could play the sword as good as mine, live in a big organization, so he could organize a group better than me." Tokiya narrows his eyes.
"I'm sure that Raiha could be a good leader to representative your existence if you had any obstacles to lead your clan. Besides, he's the only real ninja in between us, am I right?" Tokiya pointed at Raiha. Recca turned his head to Raiha who chuckled at Tokiya's words, and then he leaned back against his sofa. Probably think of the possibility about Raiha's recruitment.
"Good idea, but I still wanted to know why you rejected this position."
"Yeah. Now I'll tell you." Tokiya take a moment before speaks. Everyone holds their breath. "Me and Tokio. We will not going to stay in Japan anymore."
Everyone except Raiha went into panic mode. Fuuko stands up.
"Nani?! Where do you want to go?! What's your decision with this, Tokiya?!!" Fuuko shouted.
"Maybe you can control yourself, Fuuko? Tokio is asleep, he's tired today and you don't want to disturb his rest, do you?" Tokiya replied calmly.
"Okay! Okay! But can you tell me where do you want to go? You're not doing this to separate Tokio, and me right? But, what is your reason? Are you looking for a good job? Or do you want to start a brand new life? Do you want to runaway from the reality? Or you wanted to…"
"One by one, Fuuko!" Tokiya cuts off Fuuko's words.
"But Tokiya-senpai, I think all of us wanted to know about it too." Yanagi put her arm around Fuuko's shoulder to relaxing her. Domon, not like the always, looking at Tokiya curiously. Only for this time he's looks grew up.
"Okay! I'll explain my reason." Tokiya give up.
"I want to start a new life with Tokio. I want him to have some experience about people in the world. I want him to be able to be a survivor. And Japan is the last choice for him. I know where the right place to train him and that is my destination."
"Where, where is the place?" asked Fuuko.
"Indonesia."
"WHAT?!!"
"Indonesia?! Are you crazy? That place is so far! And I have no doubt that you've known the condition of the country right now! I know you always watch CNN, don't you? I'm not sure that you want to harm yourself and MY child!" Fuuko can't hold her words.
"You can say that because you don't know the factual condition of Indonesia! I choose that country because I'm sure that Tokio will be able to learn much than what he might receive if we stay in Japan." Tokiya replied.
"Emh, Tokiya-senpai, I know this is your decision and we have no rights to disturb, but, I just can't understand why do you choose Indonesia? I mean, if you want to look for exotic Asian's atmosphere to live, I think Philippines or Singapore will be better!"
"Yanagi, I've chose Indonesia as a place where Tokio will grew up and learn. You don't need to worry us. I know how to take care of him and myself. I don't care about any issue, or else. We will go there in a few weeks, and nobody can stop me. I'm not gathering you all to prevent me to go or to hear any comment, am I clear?"
Everybody get silence. They're unable to speak. Tokiya had made his decision. Nobody can stop him.
"When will you go?" Raiha broke the silence.
"Next month."
"So soon?"
"Yeah."
Once again the silence gets around them. Until the clock pointed at 00.30 am. Recca, Domon, and Yanagi get permission to back home. Fuuko stay at Tokiya's house to have a little time with Tokio, and Raiha go back alone to his apartment.
Tokiya's flight to Indonesia is tomorrow.
Fuuko can't sleep well this night. She rolled her body turn left and right at the bed, but still, she can't sleep. Give up trying, she sat on bed, and turn on the table lamp.
"Fuuko? What's wrong?" asked Raiha when he wakes up because of the light.
"I'm sorry, I made you awoke, but I just can't sleep well tonight." She hugs the pillow and laid her chin. Raiha made a sat position too.
"Are you thinking about tomorrow?" Fuuko nodded slowly. Raiha sighed.
"Well, that is Tokiya's decision. We can't do anything to stop him. Wherever he goes, I know he could take care and protect Tokio. So, stop worry about it."
"I have no doubt that Tokiya would take care of Tokio, but you know that impossible to him to take care of Tokio 24 hours everyday. Tokiya have to work, so who will take care of my child while he goes out for some work? Will he leave Tokio alone at home? Who will pick Tokio from school everyday? Who will cook for him when he's hungry? And if Tokio gets sick, who will take care of him? I can't let it be!!" Fuuko's tears started to down. Raiha soothe her back slowly.
"I believe that Tokiya have a way to solve the problems. He had planned his life since Tokio was born. I know that he will be okay. Don't worry about Tokio. Do you think Tokiya will be a careless human against his own blood? Both of us know that Tokiya loves Tokio very much. He is the only one legal heir of Mikagami's name, and I have no doubt that Tokio will inherit the Hyoumon Ken from his father. That's more than enough for self defense." Raiha wiped Fuuko's tears with his sleeve and hug her. "They will be all right, just relax, and try to sleep, okay?"
Raiha smiled when he realized that Fuuko didn't heard his words. She already fell asleep. Raiha turn off the light and he continued his rest.
At the Narita airport, 30 minutes before the departure.
"Finally you go." Recca tapped Tokiya on the shoulder.
"I'll be return home sometimes, when is your marriage?" Tokiya's eyes pointed at Yanagi, who started to blush.
"We're still not sure yet, Tokiya-senpai." Replied the red-faced Yanagi. Tokiya turn his head to Raiha, who looking at Fuuko carried Tokio. Tokiya walked towards Raiha and face him.
"Mm, thank you very much, Raiha."
"What for?" Raiha smiled at him.
"For everything. For your humble heart to forgive me, for your existence to be my friend, for your readiness to help me, take care my secret, and else. Now I must survive to start a new life without you. I hope I will be alright."
"You will. Don't worry."
"When is your marriage with Fuuko?"
"Next year. And I'll use Kirisawa's name after." (Japanese culture allowed husband to use his wife's name)
"We'll come to visit you. Keep in touch with me okay? I'll give you my new address and number as soon as possible." He shook Raiha's hands. And then he left to talk to Fuuko.
"Fuuko." Fuuko try to ignore him while she's playing with Tokio.
"Mom, father is calling you." Fuuko seemed reluctant but finally turn her head to face Tokiya. Their eyes met. But Fuuko quickly turned back to Tokio.
"Tokio, would you like to say goodbye to uncle Domon? He looks like very sad because you will go. There is nobody could accompany him to play Logico anymore." Tokio nodded and left his parents. He come to hugs Domon and tell him that he will remember his uncle Domon always, and Domon tried with all his strength not to cry in front of his little friend.
"Fuuko, I want to talk to you."
"What? What else? Finally you took him away from me! Very distant. My child… Finally you separate us. Now what else you wanted to tell me? His stepmother's name?" Fuuko's tears already down. Then she diverted her eyes to the floor.
"No. Tokio's mother is only you, and it will never change. All I want to talk to you is just to thank you."
"What for?" Tokiya put his hands into Fuuko's shoulders and drew her closer.
"Because you had gave birth of my child. Now I have no reason to force myself to get married in order to pass Mikagami's name. And I want to apologize, for all I did against you. I'm so sorry."
Tokiya laid his head at Fuuko's shoulder for few seconds. Fuuko can't hold her tears running down her cheek.
"Mom? Are you crying? Father? Are you tired?" innocent question from Tokio make them back to reality. Fuuko wiped away her tears and knelt down at Tokio's side.
"No, sweetheart. We just talk to each other." Fuuko hugged Tokio softly. "Tokio, when will I hug you like this anymore?" Fuuko's voice gets soaked. Carrying Tokio in both her arms, she stands up, at Tokiya's side.
"Father, mom looks like so sad, why didn't you hug her like what you do every time I sad? Maybe it will help her." Tokio hugs Fuuko's neck. "Don't cry mom."
"If it will help..." Tokiya lifted his hands and hugged Fuuko and Tokio. For the first time of his life, Tokiya realized that he had a family. He has a son, and a woman who had gave birth of his child even though he doesn't love her, in his hand. So warm. But he knows this is the only chance in his whole life. Tokiya promised to himself that he would never forget the warm feeling when he hugs his 'family'.
He doesn't love Fuuko as a woman, but he loves Fuuko as a friend. Now is the first time for him to be a man completely, and probably the last too. Yanagi and Domon cried when they looked at them. Recca and Raiha just smiled.
Tokiya broke up their hugs when he heard that the flight is no more than 10 minutes to boarding.
"Okay, now this is the time. Tokio, would you say goodbye to everybody." Ask Tokiya.
Fuuko put Tokio down and the boy running towards Recca, Yanagi, Domon and Raiha.
"Goodbye, uncle Recca, uncle Domon, uncle Raiha, and aunt Yanagi!! I'll always remember all of you!" he said innocently. Yanagi hugged him and rubbed his hair.
"Take care of yourself Tokio, always hear your father's words, promise me!"
"Off course auntie!" And then he ran to hug his uncle Domon, who had made flood on the airport's floor with his tears. And the last, he comes to Fuuko.
"Okay, mom, now let's go!"
"But, mom is not going with you." Fuuko shook her head.
"Why not? Father, why mom not going with us?" Tokio looked at his father.
"Tokio, your mom can't leave uncle Raiha; aunt Yanagi, and the others. They will be more sad if she going with us." Tokiya tried to explain.
"What about me? I won't go if mom is not come with us!! I want my mom!"
"No, Tokio, please understand!" Suddenly Fuuko felt a million pinpricks on her heart. Tokio won't go with his father because of her. Tokiya looked at his watch, and once again try to talk to Tokio. But the child, not like the always, still obstinate. And then he started to cry. That wasn't his fault. Every child wants to be with their parents.
Fuuko moved towards Tokio and Tokiya. Then she talks distinctively to Tokio.
"Tokio, listen to me. I don't like if you crying like this, you're a boy. I like an obedient child, and be like that! I'm not going with you but it doesn't mean that we'll never meet anymore. Please listen to me, you'll go very far, so grew up and be a nice boy! Mom will always pray for you every night, okay? So don't cry."
"Yes, I understand." Tokio replied weakly. Still sobbing, he nodded.
"That's my son." Fuuko smiled then she kissed Tokio on his cheek. Next she stands up and kissed Tokiya too. "Take care of my son; I'll never forgive you if there's anything happen to him." Tokiya nodded and smiled to her. Then he grabbed Tokio's hand, waved his hand to the gank, and then left to the plane.
After one year, both Mikagami back to Japan.
To attend Fuuko and Raiha's wedding party.
Tokio still too young to understand about the meaning of the marriage so he didn't ousted any protest or else.
And the day after, they flew back to Indonesia.
Ten months later, they return back to Japan again.
To attend Recca and Yanagi's wedding, and greet Fuuko and Raiha's newborn baby.
After the time, they never get back.
To be continued.
A/N: How do you think? The next chapter will be the real next generation story, as Hokage juniors will take the center of the story. The juniors belongs to me though.
Diamond-Crest