The Right Things
By saicho_18
December 14, 2002
When Fuuko turned around, she was surprised, again, to see Tokiya Mikagami. Only this time, she was positive that he wasn't as cheerful.
She could not find it in herself, after seeing his mortified face when he read the invitation, to say anything. The first thing that came into her mind was to run. But unfortunately, this was Ice Boy she was facing so that wasn't really an option.
She figured, and hoped, that his anger has already been appeased by the whole twenty-four hours that has passed.
Right. Like her Mi-chan was that shallow.
"What are you doing here?" he broke the silence with the question. "Out on a date with your fiancé?" he remarked sarcastically, emphasizing the last word.
It was actually then that she noticed, when he took off his glasses, his new style of clothing. The Fridge Man was actually wearing a red v-neck sweater that had the sleeves pushed back so that his very white arms were bare and khaki pants. Nice. In his hand was a book, a very thick one.
Is this how he spent his weekends? A sweat drop formed at the side of her head despite the situation.
"Well?" Tokiya asked impatiently.
"Uh, I . . . " Fuuko stammered. That was an easy question, right? Then why was it so hard for her to answer it?
"Never mind," Tokiya said, turning his back on her and walking away. "I don't want to know."
"Wait!" Fuuko shouted in the empty school, almost sounding desperate.
Her sempai had stopped his brisk walk but did not turn around. "What?"
The wind blew hard and had played with both of their hairs.
"I'm . . . sorry," was all she mustered up, apologizing for something that she didn't know.
Tokiya stilled and turned around, finally facing her. The anger that was earlier etched in his face was gone but his face was still tense. His jaw and mouth was closed tightly. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"I couldn't," she answered plainly, truthfully.
"Why?"
"I still can't," she almost whispered, unsure if her voice traveled the distance to his ears.
"I can't call someone who doesn't trust me a friend," he said stoically, locking his eyes on hers in a dead serious gaze.
The Right Things
By saicho_18
December 22, 2002
"Look, Tokiya," Fuuko shouted. That was it, he was going to get it. "Why don't you just leave me alone? I mean, I respect your privacy! So why don't you just do the same for me? Just this once?"
"Is it really that important to you?" he asked, his voice soft unlike his eyes.
"It isn't important to me," she started. "But it is very complicated and I'm not allowed to talk to anybody about it."
Tokiya shrugged and turned away from her. "Whatever." He started walking away from her.
Fuuko, being Fuuko, followed him from five feet away. She had nothing better to do anyway and she was kind of wondering where Tokiya's haunts are.
They went outside of the school gates and into the sidewalk. It was then when Tokiya finally spoke.
"Why are you following me?"
"I'm not," she replied. "I just happen to be walking in the same direction."
"Whatever," he replied again, but this time in a more friendly way. "Do what you want."
"So, Mi-chan," she asked again, for the sake of breaking the silence; even if she was five feet away from him. "What happened to the nice you?"
It took a while before Tokiya answered. "Oh, he's still in here somewhere," he stated, looking back at her with a smile.
"Well where is he? I think I like her better than the old Mi-chan."
"You'll see him later," he started as he stopped walking. "This is a serious time, Fuuko."
Seeing that he stopped, Fuuko stopped as well. When she looked at where he was facing, she noticed that it was the cemetery's gate. Oh.
He opened the rusted gate, which gave a loud squeak, and went in. Fuuko followed, still in the five-foot radius. Tokiya kept walking until he reached this unfamiliar tree, which had beautiful lilac blossoms. Under the tree was a grave. There was no need to look at the tablet to know who was laid underneath it.
Tokiya kneeled in front of the grave and closed his eyes.
Fuuko, from five feet away, was surprised to see the tranquility in Mi-chan's face. She leaned behind the tree and watched him quietly converse with his sister. After a while, her eyes traveled into the skies, where the puffy clouds were moving about. Her mind wandered on its own accord whether to tell Mi-chan the truth or not.
She weighed out the pros and cons and the consequences of each, but before she could conclude a decision, she saw in the corner of her eyes that Mi-chan stood up.
He walked towards her, smiling, and proceeded towards the noisy old gate. Feeling unexplainably relieved, she resumed her distance and attempted once more at a conversation.
"So, what did you talk to her about?"
"It's a secret," he started. Something in his voice changed. She didn't know what, but it was certainly very, very far from the angry voice she heard earlier. "If I tell you, I'm going to have to kill you. And let's not forget who exactly you're talking to here, shall we?"
Fuuko couldn't fight back a smile; even if that was the corniest and lamest crack she ever heard. Okay, so it wasn't the lamest, nobody could ever beat Domon at that game. "Like you could ever beat me, anyway."
"Whatever," he said simply as they passed by the school.
It was then that Fuuko decided to move closer to the person she was talking to. So it wasn't that close but three feet was an improvement, right? "What is it up with you and that word?"
Tokiya looked back at her, puzzlement in his eyes. "Which word?"
"The 'whatever' word," she replied. "Is that a new 'hip' expression or something?"
"Fuuko, you're forgetting," said he. "I don't follow trends. I start them."
She could retort to that, but decided against it. Mi-chan did have sufficient evidence to back him up. Her mind drifted back to her companion's mobs upon mobs of fan girls and a surprising amount of fan boys worshipping each and every one of his styles.
She looked at her watch and saw that it was nearing twelve o'clock. The first thought that ran through her mind was that she was supposed to be hungry. She was wondering what the delay was about when her stomach rumbled.
"Hey Mi-chan!" she called out, catching his attention along with many others. "I'm hungry."
"Apparently," replied he, with a smirk.
"Wait a minute," she started, walking up to his side finally. "You're supposed to be nice to me."
"It's not binding," he started. "After all, there is no legal contract."
"Whatever," she sighed. Somewhere in the back of her mind, the thought 'boy, this expression is catchy' went by unnoticed. "Anyway, I'm hungry. Do you know where to get some good grub around here?"
"You seem to always forget whom you're talking to, monkey," said he with a smile. "Of course I know where to find some classy food. I happen to only eat at the best restaurants, unlike so many others."
A sweat drop formed at the side of her head. She decided to let the monkey thing drop. "Boy, you're egotistic. Is this what goes on inside the mind of the supposedly humble and quiet Mikagami?"
"You were the one who wanted to see the different side of me in the first place," he said. "And besides, at least I'm not lashing out on you with my Ensui."
"Good point," Fuuko admitted. Her stomach rumbled again, this time a little more loudly. "So, where's that oh-so-classy-and-oh-so-delicious restaurant?"
"Just be patient, will you?" he started, walking into a different street. "Of course it's a little far away from the school, the owner is smart enough to know that average students wouldn't fund his shop."
"Uh-oh," she said worriedly, recognizing at once the area. "This is the rich part of town, right?"
Tokiya nodded while still walking.
Fuuko silently wondered if the handful of cash she grabbed that morning is going to be enough to pay for her lunch. It would be terribly embarrassing of her to ask her sempai for money. If only Kurei had lent her one of his credit cards . . . .nah, like he would ever trust her enough with that. She was about to suggest some other place, a cheaper place when Tokiya stopped suddenly in front of her that she bumped onto his back.
"Hey!" she shouted from behind him.
"Well, here we are," Mi-chan said a little too loudly. Fuuko had this idea that he was somewhat proud of this place.
Fuuko turned around and looked at the shop. To her surprise, it was small. Well, not that small but it was way smaller than what she had imagined. It was made of brown bricks and had this window that almost filled p the space of the wall with loaves of bread displayed outside of it. On the dark glass of that window was written the words 'La Montmarte' in white cursive letters.
In other words, it was very simple. And cute.
Tokiya started to walk towards the door and held it open for her to enter. Okay, so this was new. But on the other hand, she always knew that Tokiya was a gentleman
"Well, ladies first," he said.
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Sorry . . . dumb move, really. Oh well.
Hey, by the way, please read the Slam Dunk fic that Strife_07 and I wrote. Pretty please? I wrote half of it, if it makes it worse.. ..
--saicho_18
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