AN: Hey guys! Surprise! I'm back because my fingers are itching to write. Its so uncomfortable to want to write and try not to (because of finals and everything). *Sigh* Real life comes in, but I thought since I finished my politics final I should just write since I won't study any Chem today. . .With regards to everything – I love you guys! Ahhh. Moral support rules. But I guess Dark Phoenix was right, reviews aren't exactly necessary. . . I just ask for them shamelessly, even if I don't get enough I would have still written the next chapter anyway ^_^. Well. I'm back! Read my fic please and if you feel like it, drop me a line by reviewing and I will be grateful forever!
Disclaimer: Forgot to put this on for the previous chapters. But the usual still goes. Everyone knows the drill
Author thank-yous
Ali: can't believe you actually read this! Yay my friend! Well, please don't hunt me down cuz I still kinda. . . okay, I want to live!!!! ^_^
Yanagi: *Tears streaming down face* you love my fic? Wow. I'm so happy! I read your fics the other day, they are so adorable! Sorry about Seth though, I'm afraid he has to make reappear in this fic because, oh, because his appearance is essential to the development of the plot. Yes. I'm sorry to say, but you're going to hate him a lot later. Please don't direct the hatred of the anti-seth club in my direction. Thanks ^_-. Mushy stuff? I thought last chapter was somewhat mushy. . .couldn't make it to mushy though, you know? I was just thinking that it would be way to out of character for mushiness to start now. yeah! Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Dark Phoenix: Wow! You returned! ^_^ I didn't update for some time because of my "real life" as well. I can't tell you who darlin' Seth is, if I do, I'll give away my one "secret". . .Don't worry, I'm not offended at all. In fact, I'm quite glad you told me that because. . . on retrospect, I sort of agree with you. Asking for reviews is a bit shameful. -_-Oh well. Thanks for still reviewing tho (ps. Don't worry, I am writing the story for its sake. . .got the plot all figured out on a piece of "legal pad" paper. Plus, I hate starting something and not finishing it. That really irks me! But still, thanks a lot. You've been the most straight forward/honest. That kicks ass^_^!
veggie_eater wow. You're returned as well! Ha ha. Love story? I'm not so sure. . .ha ha just kidding, actually, I don't know if a love story will be entirely possible without me making the characters completely out of character. ^_^ I will try as much as possible to live up to your expectations! Thanks!
Ranka: Tofuu. *Melyan dances around* is the best (insert swearing slang that starts with "s" )! *grins* I will try and keep up the good work, though I am starting to see more and more grammar mistakes in my writing and incongruity with the plot.
Chapter 7:
The clock that stood on the tower of the school chimed seven times, signaling the start of yet another mundane school day. Students filed into the school, grumbling, looking lifeless and complaining about the hefty amount of work they had to do for class. Something out of the ordinary, however, interrupted this monotonous routine. All heads turned and gaped at Fuuko as she strolled to school situated in between the two Mikagamis, wait a second. There is only one Mikagami. The cold one was the "real" Mikagami. The smiling Mikagami was the new student, Seth.
What is Fuuko doing? Fangirls gritted their teeth angrily. Why does she command the attention of the two perhaps most drool worthy students of the school? Many girls found a quick explanation – the tomboy was only befriending them as a guy. They found her easy to talk to because she was, essentially, just another one of the "guys." Exactly. Happy with their conclusion, the fan girls ceased bombarding Fuuko with death glares.
"Hey, Mi-chan, you know, that banana toast thing you gave me was actually quite good." Fuuko slapped Mikagami on the back playfully.
"I'm sure anything tastes better than your fist. Mikagami scoffed, regaining every inch of his icy shield. Snideness returned full force. Fuuko anticipated this response and laughed.
"You know, your responses are so cliché and predictable?" Fuuko looked at Mikagami testily. Mikagami paused for a second, she was right, but he wasn't about to let her win their quarrel.
"You know, the definition of stupidity happens to be committing the same acts continuously, expecting different results? How can I not be cliché towards some dumb monkey who always makes the same mistakes?"
"You calling me stupid?" Fuuko's face flamed, she was ready to pounce on Mikagami and cut off his hair when Seth grabbed Fuuko back.
"Fuuko san, calm down. He was only kidding." Seth flashed another one of his now-famous Raiha style grins. Fuuko and Mikagami choked, obviously for different reasons. Mikgami did not appreciate seeing his face being contorted into such a childish smile. Fuuko did not need any more reminders of Raiha. Unconsciously, Fuuko whacked Seth across the head, Domon style, and Mikagami finished him off by sending him flying away with one of his famous in the stomach kicks.
Silence inched across the students heading towards school as they stared at Fuuko and Mikagami in disbelief. They shuddered, reminding each other not to cross Fuuko and Mikagami at the same time.
Recca and Yanagi witnessed this from afar. The two smiled and each other knowingly.
"Seems like Domon san will be experiencing a terrible heartbreak soon." Yanagi smiled as she leaned on her ninja's shoulder.
"Don't worry, he'll pull through. Speaking of that gorilla, where is he?" Recca peered around, concerned. He wasn't paying attention to the road at all, consequently, he collided, head on, with a gigantic boulder. "OW! Hime! Who, in the name of God, puts a boulder in the middle of a busy road?" Recca rubbed his face angrily.
"Recca-kun, I don't think that's a boulder" Yanagi managed to suppress a fit of laughter when she discovered the "identity" of the boulder.
"Huh? What do you mean . . ." Recca stopped in the middle of his sentence and burst out laughing when he realized that the gigantic boulder was, indeed, Domon turned into stone. "Domon! Oy! Get yourself together!" Recca slapped the Domon statue and it crumbled into bits, scattering the sidewalk.
"Do you think I need to heal him?" Yanagi glanced at Domon in concern.
"Not if your powers can cure a broken heart" Recca grinned "Hime, he'll be okay. Let's hurry, otherwise we'll be late" Without another word, the students filed into the school, regaining the dull and lifeless expressions they had on their faces prior to this commotion.
The morning rushed by uneventfully. Well, not quite, actually. It was uneventful for most of the Hokage. Except for poor Fuuko that is.
"Kirisawa san!" Fuuko's teacher stared at her sternly "Kirisawa san! I don't know what I am going to do with you! Can you at least pretend to pay attention to what I am saying?" Sensei's face fumed. Fuuko has been fingering her necklace and staring out the window for the past half an hour. Fuuko's mind snapped back into reality with the sound of sensei's voice.
"So. . . sorry" Fuuko stammered. She better shape up and not show anyone else at school that she had so many things occupying her mind. "I . . ."
"If I catch you slipping up one more time. . ." Sensei warned Fuuko with a high air of authority in her voice. Having issued her ultimatum, Sensei returned to history. She continued droning about the three unifiers of Japan who brought the country out of the Warring States period. "Toyotomi Hideosyi, surprising, was not born in a samurai family yet he was able to be one of the most influential men of. . ." Her tedious voice lulled Fuuko back into her wonderland of thoughts.
Mother. . . Fuuko fingered her locket. This small bumble bee shaped pendant was one of the few things her mother left for her. Fingering it always gave her some feeling of security. She felt the comforting presence of her mother whenever she touched that pendant. Fuuko sighed. What was going on this morning? Why did she break down in front of Mikagami? True, he is probably the only member out of the Hokage who was capable of understanding her. But, this is the man of ice! He doesn't care. He doesn't care about anything. Fuuko fumed. Why should she, in turn, care about him? Or, moreover, why should she care about what he feels for her? He doesn't. This morning was, well, she didn't know. But it shouldn't mean anything. It doesn't mean anything. She could not help but smile slightly when she recalled how coordinated they were in attacking Seth. It was a bit hilarious. Seth didn't seem to mind though. He returned with a large smile. Too much like Raiha. . . just a bit too much for comfort. Fuuko grasped the golden chain around neck firmly. Just when they got a bit closer than normal friends would, he left, muttering something about fate and what not. It didn't matter to Fuuko. She felt betrayed. It didn't matter if he meant to hurt her or not, she was hurt. Don't get too close. . . you will get hurt Her mother's words flashed back into her mind. Was this? Fuuko pondered a bit. Was this always going to be the case? Was her mother correct in saying that once she got close to someone misfortune was destined to befall her? If this is the trend, she should abstain from feeling anything for. . .(no names!!) Because she didn't!
"Kirisawa Fuuko!" Fuuko's behavior irritated Sensei. Why doesn't this girl just pay attention like everyone else? Am I a bad teacher? "Fuuko! This behavior. You've done this so many times in these past few weeks. What am I going to do with you?" Sensei felt her voice rise, her anger boiling. "If you don't learn, what are you going to do when you leave school? If you become a failure, don't blame it on me. . . don't blame it on the school. It'll be your own fault!"
The teacher's words seemed to strike a cord in Fuuko's mind. If she failed, it would be her fault. Does that mean all the past failures in her life were her fault as well? Her mother. . . her father. . . .broken family. . . loosing everything. She had no one to blame but herself. Is that what her teacher was trying to tell her? Fuuko slammed a fist on the table, her anger sent chills throughout the classroom.
"Fine!!" Fuuko bit back her tears. Why was she acting this way? She had no right to act this way towards her teacher. It wasn't the teacher's fault that she was forced to make such an awful realization. ". . ." She gathered all her things and stormed towards the door. Before leaving, she turned around and remarked coldly "Sentence me to endless days of detention if you'd like, call me a failure, whatever, please yourself. Don't blame me for being a failure of a teacher."
The whole class stared at Fuuko in disbelief. No one ever expected her to lash out against the teacher in that manner. The old Fuuko would have either broken something in anger or humiliate the teacher through jokes. But this Fuuko. . . so serious. So menacingly silent. No wonder their teacher was still trembling in shock. Fuuko was good natured. She probably didn't mean what she said, did she?
Fuuko retreated to the rooftop. She sat there, glaring at the fence, fighting back tears. She was so emotionally unstable! Nothing made any sense anymore. But, it seemed as if she wasn't in complete control of her emotions anymore. Another force. . . ah, the darkness. It was calling her. Beckoning her to itself. To not feel anymore and give up all this anguish.
It'll be so easy Fuuko. . . just give in and you won't feel any of this anymore. Everything will go away, so swiftly you won't even know it came.
Really? Fuuko asked the unknown voice. . . where did it come from? In her head? Where? Was this, like Mikagami said, the real her calling for her to return?
Of course Fuuko. It was easy for your mother, it will be easy for you too.
Fuuko's eyes contorted in anger as she heard her mother's name. My mother!!?? What do you know about her?
Don't get too close. . . the rest of the "voice's" response was cut off when Fuuko was jerked back into reality a loud slap.
"Who? What?" Fuuko's eyes glazed a bit before they regained their original splendor.
"Why do I keep on running into you?" Mikagami stared at Fuuko with an extremely annoyed expression on his face.
"What are you doing here?" Fuuko hadn't recovered from the shock of being jolted back into reality.
"What is happening to you?"
"I've told you. I don't know."
Mikagami raised his eyebrows in question. He could not bring himself to go to class this morning, after what had happened earlier. To escape from the mundane everyday routines, he had retreated to this rooftop. He was thinking about several things. . . and he noticed Fuuko's arrival. She was so distressed she did not even realize that he was present. She didn't even take notice when he approached her. He had been trying to get her attention for the past, say, ten minutes. What was she playing at?
"You'll have to do better than that Kirisawa. . ."
" I thought. . ." Fuuko shook her head. She thought they had a tacit understanding this morning. Why was Mikagami pushing the issue further? She didn't need his sympathy or his snide remarks. She needed. . . oh hell, she didn't even know what she needed. Perhaps. . . she needed the relief that nothingness, that void in her heart would bring.
"Will you quit breaking off like that?" Mikagami was getting a bit uneasy. He saw Fuuko mull over certain things in her mind. . . he felt that they weren't exactly pleasant. Why did he care about her? This question kept on pestering him. Why did he care? Why? Does this mean that. . . it can't! Fuuko is not someone who would like that. No. Neither can he.
"What's that to you anyway?" Fuuko snapped back.
"You and your mood swings. . .I guess you are a female after all" Mikagami attempted to crack a joke, only to be meet by a pair of serious, unaffected eyes. How come she changed so much since this morning? He thought they had reached some understanding this morning. . .he had thought she felt better.
"life's funny you know?" Fuuko gazed at the white smudge on the tip of her brown shoes.
"Hmm. I suppose you know more about life than I do" Anything to get her talking, Mikagami thought, anything. Where was the Hokage when Fuuko needed them?
"Things are so . . . unpredictable"
"Funny you should mention that, just this morning you said that my actions were, what was it? Cliché and predictable"
"That is different. You know what I mean" The serious atmosphere hung around them, so thick it could be sliced open with a knife. Mikagami sighed. Did this monkey want him to share his life's troubles with her as well? He wasn't about to.
"What is it?"
"There are certain things. . . that we can't control" Fuuko dug her heels into the cracked titles of the rooftop. "Certain things"
Mikagami turned and stared straight into Fuuko's eyes. He felt her attitude a little bit eerie. Was it her speaking or was it someone else? Could this be the real Fuuko? No, he doubt it. But, this wasn't Fuuko, it didn't feel like Fuuko.
"who are you?" Mikagami voice turned cold "you're so silly" Fuuko smiled wrily "you are so silly Mikagami. . . so silly"
"You aren't making sense Fuuko," Mikagami faced Fuuko and stared at her straight in the eye.
Fuuko chuckled, in a manner not very like herself before glazing over and slumping to the ground. Mikagami caught Fuuko before her head made contact with the floor.
"Oy!" Mikagami stared at the Fuuko lying in his arms. She looked so troubled. There was the usual air of peacefulness around. No assurance. No nothing. So empty. What was he to do? Why was it always him who gets stuck with a sullen Fuuko? Not that he minded or anything. . . wait! He did mind. He had other things on his mind. . .like what? Uh oh. Mikagami sighed. He brushed hair off Fuuko's face. Face it; he told himself, you want to help her. Does she want to be helped though? That doesn't matter, does it? He recalled his old self. He was in dire need of someone to reach out to him, but no one did. He never asked for help, yet he needed it. Mikagami suspected Fuuko will need as much support from her friends as they could give her.
From a distance, the lunch bell rung. Mikagami sighed. The rest of the Hokage team was about to arrive in any second. He better be able to give them an explanation for Fuuko's odd behavior. He had none though.
"Mi. . . Mi-chan?" Fuuko's eyes fluttered open for a second, interrupting his train of thought.
"Fuuko, you alright?" Mikagmai sensed the humanness in this voice. The Fuuko that he knew returned.
"Um. . .why am I lying in your lap?" Fuuko's face turned fire red as she discovered her position. Mikagami tried to extinguish the redness creping on his face as well
"You, kinda, you. . . fainted"
"Oh"
"What happened?"
"Hmmm? Mi-chan, what do you mean?"
"Please Fuuko. . ." Mikagami was tired of playing this game with her "Please. Just tell me."
Never has his voice sounded so warm. Never had it sounded so concerning, not even for Yanagi. Was this what the real Mikagami sounded like? It was so sincere. . . should she tell him? Should she tell him about. . . everything?
."Please Fuuko"
Fuuko stared at the sky and sighed. So this was it. She had to tell. There was no way out of this.
"Well. . . Mi-chan. . ." Fuuko began recounting all the events that happened to her. All the loss she experienced. All the pain, anguish . . . . she found that once she had started, it was hard to stop. Things just flowed out of her, as if they were crying to be heard.
(AN: I am too lazy to retype everything. For detailed information, consult the previous chapters)
Mikagami never uttered a single word. He just remained silent, waiting for her to pour out all her troubles. When she finished, Fuuko turned her face in his direction.
" Fuu. . ." Before Mikagami could finish Fuuko slumped back into a drowsy slumber. This time, however, her countenance was peaceful.
Sadly, this peace was not to last. It was merely the calm before a storm.
How's that for a chapter? Argh!! I hope you guys liked this chapter! Hey, drop a line, a comment. . . anything and let me know what you think ^_^ The plot is starting! Yeah! Whoo hoo ~~ Sorry to let all these bad things happen to Fuuko. Sorry. But anyway. Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed. The next chapter won't be coming for a while (finals, winter break, traveling. . . etc) But until then, thanks and enjoy your lives!
