BISHLOV'S WORDS OF GRATITUDE AND OTHERS:
icy-natsu85 – Here's chapter 4. It's a bit rushed but I like it just the same. I'm glad that you enjoyed the last chapter and I hope you'll like this one too. And yes I agree with you. These two make such a kawaii couple.
M!SaO^_^ - Ehehehe ^_^0. Thanks for the compliment although I would like it better if you don't call me that because it just might pressure me to insanity. However, your opinion is very much appreciated. I love those two couples too (assuming that you're talking about Kaoru+Ganko and Tokiya+Fuuko although I like the Recca+Yanagi pairing too but not that much).
Enigma – I'm glad that you liked the idea of Kondo being a matchmaker. I was expecting someone to flame me about it since in the anime Kondo doesn't really care too much about anyone else except himself. Hehehe. I just love the idea of Kondo teasing Kaoru endlessly.
JaKil13 – I am so sorry that I wasn't able to upload this soon enough. I update chapters alternately in between my other fics. Currently I still have four unfinished stories (including this one) so please bear with my slow pace. In another note, I am still inclined to believe that Kurapika is a girl because he is too beautiful to be a guy. But if you're sure that he's a guy then all I can say is…MAMATAY KA LEORIO! AKIN LANG SI KURAPIKA! DO YOU HEAR ME?! HE'S MINE…ALL MINE! BWAHAHAHAHA!!!
Fire Arrow – Thanks for reviewing. I'm gonna start the roller coaster ride this chapter so hold on to your seat.
Genki girl – They're my favorite couple after ToFuu too ^_^.
dueyoso – Thanks. As I said earlier this is a bit late but hey…better late than never, ne?
Vamp – MABUHEY!!! Yes, my inquisitve kababayan, I am a citizen of the lovely Pearl of the Orient. There are lots of Filipinos in FF.net. We are swarming in great number like the flies in Payatas. JaKil13 (one of my reviewers) and SAICHO-18 (who's currently writing a Kurei+Fuuko fic) are also Filipinos. And if you go to the Hunter X Hunter site, most of the writers there are our kababayan too.
Lafine – Here's the next chapter. ALL HAIL THE COOLEST FoR PAIRS…TOKIYA+FUUKO AND KAORU+GANKO!!!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own FoR or any of its characters. This plot is a product of my imagination. Any similarities to other fan fictions are unintentional.
BABY YOU'RE MINEBy bishounen lovah
Chapter 4
"What?!"
"Huh? What do you mean 'what'?"
Ganko shot an irritated look at Kaoru. This had been the fourth time she caught him taking, what he imagined to be, an inconspicuous look at her ever since he picked her up so they could walk to school together. "Do I have something on my face? Is that why you kept on looking at me?"
"Er…no."
"Then what is it?" she demanded in exasperation. Her irritation suddenly disappeared when she shot him another glance.
Was he blushing? Ganko's blue eyes swept over his face but the morning sun momentarily blinded her. When her vision cleared Kaoru had already feigned an innocent look. It was quite obvious that he was not planning on answering her question anytime soon.
Did I imagine it or was he really blushing? But why would he blush in the first place?
Her conversation with Megumi suddenly popped in her head.
I think Kaoru likes you, Megumi had said yesterday.
Of course he likes me. I'm his friend, Ganko retorted back.
Not that kind of 'like'. You know, 'like-like'.
Like-like? Ganko wondered now. What the heck was that? She had always heard about it. There was 'like' and there was 'like-like'. It was either you like a person or you 'like-like' a person after which you love the person.
Does Kaoru like me as in 'like-like' or was Megumi just imagining things, she thought, fighting her very own blush. It doesn't seem possible since the only girl he thinks as special is Yanagi-neechan.
She frowned at the thought, making her wonder why she did so. Do I 'like-like' Kaoru?
She never got to think of an answer because she bumped into something hard.
"Itai," she rubbed her forehead and saw that she walked into someone's back. It wasn't long before she found out whose back it was.
"Hey! Watch where you're going," Nakajima roared as he turned around. His goon squad immediately came to his aid, ready to beat the crap out of the person who bumped into him. The mean scowls on their badly bruised faces vanished when they realized who that person was. Then their faces lost all color when the saw who was with her.
"AAAHH!!! Gomen nasai! We didn't see anything! Gomen nasai! Gomen nasai!"
Ganko watched in confusion as the group of boys yelled those words and quickly covered their eyes with the palm of their hands. They backed away from them, blindly stumbling on top of each other as they made their hasty retreat.
"What was that all about?" She said out loud in wonder with question marks popping over her head.
"I have absolutely no idea." Kaoru pushed her to walk again. She never did get to see that he was smirking behind her.
What she did notice was that his hand did not leave her small back. The blush that she had been fighting crept slowly from her neck to her face. But even though she thought that his touch was a tad disconcerting, she couldn't help but get this feeling that it was so right. His hand felt so warm and comforting.
Kuso. This is all Megumi's fault. I wouldn't be thinking this way if she hadn't messed with my mind with those silly notions, she thought, unaware of the looks the other students were throwing at them.
"Daijoubu? You suddenly became quiet," Kaoru interrupted her musings.
"I-I'm just thinking," she stuttered.
"About what?"
"About something that doesn't concern you," she replied a bit harshly, scared that he might find out that she was really thinking about him…and herself.
"Koganei-sempai!"
Ganko couldn't help but roll her eyes heavenward. She didn't have to turn around to know who screeched Kaoru's name. That annoying voice could only belong to…
"Ohayo, Koganei-sempai," Meiling suddenly appeared at his side, latching onto his arm like a python to its prey.
Yup. It's her all right, Ganko thought in amusement and irritation. Meiling Li was a sophomore who thought Ganko was a nobody who didn't deserve to hang around the resident bishounen. Ganko didn't mind because the older girl was really the one who's a nobody. It amused Ganko that Meiling thought she had a hold on Kaoru whereas he didn't even remember her name even if she had told him like a million times.
Ganko called her the 'High and Mighty Priestess of the Koganei Cult'. She saw her locker once and had to admire the way she managed to post a zillion of Kaoru's pictures on the inside wall of the metal door. And she wouldn't be surprised if the girl was hiding a candle or two somewhere inside her locker because she smelled its heady scent eight lockers away. All of her friends happened to share the same obsession on the Anki wielder and had equally sweatdrop-inspiring shrines in their lockers, which were why Ganko dubbed their group as the 'Koganei Cult'.
"So have you decided who you're going to take to the high school dance?" She tugged on his arm.
"Er, no…um…" Kaoru stalled.
"Meiling." Ganko was only too happy to provide him of her name none too quietly. She resisted the urge to snort out loud when the girl glared at her. She had just realized that he was with Ganko and, not only that, had his hand on her back.
"Uh, right…Meiling. Anou, isn't it a bit early to worry about the dance?" Kaoru sweatdropped because of what he said plus he couldn't feel the blood circulating in his arm anymore.
"Are you kidding? It's just a few months away," she made her voice sound sweet as though to lure him to asking her out.
"Dang! She's right, Kaoru! Only five months left. The horror!" Ganko mocked with wide eyes and a dead serious tone. Meiling sent another glare at her. If looks could kill…well, she wouldn't have to worry about Tsukiho. Maybe they could get together and haunt Domon instead. Or better yet, Meiling, she thought with a giggle.
Kaoru gave her a warning look that she dismissed with a bright smile. A smile that turned to mush when she felt his hand press harder on her flesh to reinforce his look. And just as her mind was starting to swirl, she felt his hand slide away from her back.
"Hey, there are the girls now. Come on, Koganei-sempai, let's go say hi to them," Meiling dragged a confused Kaoru to the other end of the school grounds.
Ganko just stood there with an equally bemused expression. She didn't know with whom she was annoyed. Was it because of Meiling…because the insufferable girl liked Kaoru? Or was it because she herself liked Kaoru? Well she was still not sure if it was 'like-like' but it was annoying just the same.
She was too caught up with her thoughts that she did not notice that Megumi was at her side. The other girl had been standing beside her for quite some time now, looking alternately back and forth from Ganko to the object of her attention several times. Megumi did not even bother to conceal her knowing grin when she decided to snap Ganko out of her thoughts.
"He's got a nice butt, doesn't he?"
"Hmm…yeah…WHA—?! Who's got a nice butt?" Ganko flushed.
"Aw, come on. No use pretending. There's only one guy in your line of vision," Megumi teased. "So you've finally realized that Kaoru-sempai is no brother material, eh?"
Ganko's protests died on her lips. She decided that it was less energy consuming if she told the truth. Besides, what are friends for if you couldn't tell them about that irksome voice that had been nagging you from the back of your brain?
"I'm not sure anymore, Megumi," she quietly told her friend as they moved to enter the school building. "I'm used to thinking that he's my oniichan but I guess all those years apart changed us. And I don't just mean physical changes. Sure he's still that annoying, cheeky brat but somehow…somehow he's different."
"What is it that you feel whenever you're with him?"
"Irritated. Confused."
"Okaaay…let me change that. What do you feel when he looks at you?"
Ganko thought for a long time before seriously answering, "What kind of look?"
Megumi sweatdropped. "Scratch that question out. What do you feel when he smiles at you? And I'm not just talking about his cheeky grin."
Ganko thought hard again for a long time, almost making Megumi dread her answer. She wasn't disappointed when it came though.
"Sometimes his smile makes me feel warm and tingly on the inside." Ganko dreamily replied with a blush.
Ahh, now we're getting somewhere, Megumi's eyes sparkled.
"What about when he touches you? You know, on the shoulder…at the elbow…on the back…"
"Have you been spying on us?" Ganko sputtered in surprise.
"Well, technically it's not spying. You guys were rather obvious. So…how did it feel being touched that way by your 'brother'?"
"What do you mean we were 'rather obvious'?" She demanded after recovering from the shock. "Do you suppose other people noticed?"
"Oh, please! Why do you suppose the Priestess suddenly dragged Prince Charming away from you? And stop evading the question and answer it.
"Anou…"
"Answer what question?" Both girls jumped in surprise at the sound of Kaoru's voice.
"Hey, why did you leave me out there," he fell in step between them.
"Aw, come on. The great Kaoru Koganei could handle a dozen girls with both hands tied behind the back. Don't tell me you're losing your touch," Megumi snorted.
"My touch? Nah! Just my interest. I'm finding their incessant adoration quite tiring nowadays." He answered back haughtily.
"Hmm…I wonder why." Megumi pondered while giving a very red Ganko a sidelong glance.
"So what were you girls talking about?"
Kaoru placed a hand on Ganko's waist. He pulled her to his side so he could switch places with her so that she wouldn't get bumped into by the thickening crowd.
Ganko's face whitened at his first touch then instantly turned beet red again at his chivalrous act. Her heart was starting to palpitate and her breathing was getting irregular. His touch was starting to be anything near comfortable.
"Nan demo nai. We'd better hurry or we'll be late for first period." With that, Ganko brisk walked ahead as though the bakuju (spellbound madougu) itself was after her.
"What's with her?" Kaoru asked in confusion.
"I was wrong, Kaoru-sempai," Megumi threw a delighted laugh over her shoulder. "You're not losing your touch after all."
~Later in class~
Ganko fought hard to stifle another yawn. She hated History class not just because the subject itself was boring but also because their teacher has this tendency to drone on and on about a specific topic in a very monotonous voice. He always made his lectures as exciting as counting hair.
Iie. That's wrong. I'd choose counting Tokiya-niichan's hair anytime over this class.
To make matters worse, Mizuki-sensei was having a slide show about World War II. Sure it was an interesting topic but Ganko would rather play with Mikoto doll right now, nails and everything. She was sure it would be less painful.
The thing is, the dim lit room and the soft hum of the projector was making her sleepy. Her eyes were starting to droop so in order to keep them from doing so, she let them wander around the room. It was a bad idea though because almost all of her classmates were asleep, making her very envious. Sleep was not a luxury she could give into.
Maybe I could rest my eyes for a little while. Ten minutes. I can rest for ten minutes.
She gave in to the temptation, letting her fears be overridden. She slid low on her chair so she could lean her head on the backrest. It was uncomfortable but then she didn't want to get too comfortable and risk sleeping longer. It wasn't long before the cool, dark ambience of the room and the teacher's monotonous voice put Ganko in a deep slumber.
~Start of Dream Sequence~
The beauty of her surroundings took her breath away. She was standing on an emerald carpet covering the vast meadow with occasional flowers emerging from the grass blades. The wind stirred her golden strands, making her close her eyes at the serenity that was quickly overcoming her entire body.
Peace. It has been a long time since she last felt this peaceful in her sleep. The nightmares made sure that she got none.
Tears started to fill her eyes. She was so tired of everything. Tired of having nightmares…tired of being scared…tired of pretending to be strong…
Tired of fighting Tsukiho alone.
"But you don't have to be alone."
The wind carried the soft whisper to her. She turned around and saw Kaoru standing several feet away from her.
What is he doing in my dream? Nevertheless, I can't let him see me cry. I don't want him to think that I'm still a crybaby. She turned away from him again, not wanting to see his cheeky grin.
"Ganko." The wind whispered again.
There was something in his voice that enticed her to look back. His face held not his usual smug look but a gentle expression that spread warmth throughout her body. She watched him raise his arms to her, as though beckoning her to come to him.
And she did. She threw away all of her hesitation along with her hard façade and ran to him. His arms closed around her, gently at first then tightened when her tears started to fall. She tried to push away for she was drenching his shirt but he wouldn't let her.
So they stood there for a long time with her sobbing against his chest and him brushing her hair with his fingers then letting them glide down her back. When her tears abated, she felt his hand touch her chin and lifted her face up to his.
"My Ganko." This time she heard the words directly from him instead of the wind. She saw his lips move to whisper her name.
Dazed by the gentle look in his brown eyes and the mesmerizing lull of his tone, she did not notice his head bending towards hers until that moment when she felt his warm breath on her cheek. And suddenly all she could think of was to kiss him on the lips…to feel their warmth and softness on hers. Her eyelids fluttered close as she waited for him to give her first kiss.
But instead of warmth, a cold sensation spread from her lips down her spine. The lips on hers were icy cold and hard, bruising her and causing so much pain. She opened her eyes and what she saw frightened her.
She was staring at cold, black eyes. She was not kissing Kaoru. She was kissing some stranger. A stranger with a grin as evil as his eyes.
"Did you miss me?"
That voice! She pushed him away from her with all of her might. "Tsukiho."
"Ah. You remembered my name. How flattering." The man took a step forward and smirked when Ganko took a step back. He was actually a good-looking man if it had not been for his ring less charcoal eyes that shouted death. His hair was jet black, falling over the dreadful eyes but not covering them and his frightful stare one bit. His body was clothed with black ninja robes but she could see that he was as muscular as Domon, maybe even more.
"Have you been a good girl while I was away?"
She couldn't answer…couldn't think. Her brain was replaying their last encounter over and over again. She watched with her mind's eye how her kunai pierced her flesh with such agonizing force.
"Cat got your tongue?" He took another step forward but this time Ganko was unable to move. Her fright had rooted her feet to the ground. "Perhaps now you would give my madougu back."
"Never," she managed to sputter out.
Without any warning, Tsukiho's hand reached for her neck and raised her a couple of feet off the ground. Ganko groped his hand and tried to pry his fingers from her. She couldn't breathe. She tried to fight back but the lack of air and the terror coursing through her body was making her weaker by the second.
"Why do you fight me so? You know you'll never win. Especially now that my craving has become stronger when I realized that the Kata Kugutsu has obtained much more power than before."
His laughter gave her goose bumps. She was fast losing consciousness. This didn't seem like a dream anymore. This was real. He was really here with her, squeezing the life out of her.
"Don't worry. I'll let you live longer. There's nothing I love more than to see you live your life in abject terror." With one great heave, he threw her to the ground, barely conscious. "It's a pity you have to tell that boyfriend of yours that he won't be your first kiss."
~End of Dream Sequence~
"Ganko! Ganko!"
She held on to the voice like a lifeline knowing that it belonged to Kaoru. The lack of air burned her lungs but try as she might she could not take in a single breathe. Vaguely, she felt something warm on her mouth and soon there was a burst of air flowing to her lungs.
More. Onegai, she silently pleaded for more warmth…more air. Thrice she pleaded and thrice she was given air. Before she could plead for one more she heard Kaoru's voice again, heard it tremble in fear. "Damn it, Ganko! Breathe!"
She reacted almost immediately. She did not want Kaoru to worry. Summoning all of her strength, she made an effort to force herself to take in a deep breath all by herself. The burn on her lungs was starting to diminish so she took another breath…and another…and another.
She felt something brush against her cheek. She raised her hand and found that it was another hand.
Kaoru's hand.
Ganko opened her eyes and found herself lying on the floor, half reclining against Kaoru's chest.
"A-arigatou," she managed to wheeze out before losing consciousness again, barely noticing the people surrounding them.
To be continued…
BISHLOV: Is it just me or do you guys think that each chapter is getting shorter and shorter? Gomen ne. I'm not being lazy (well, not entirely ^_^0). I just wanted the next scenes to be under Kaoru's POV. Aw, come on. I know you want that too. So stay tuned because there will be some more jiggy dances coming from me and our favorite stuffed kitsune. Please don't forget to review or else I won't update this until the next decade. Bwahahahahaha!!! Just kidding. No wait…I am serious. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!