The Reconciliation

By: Chan Yoruyamatiha

Sorewa Bonsaku...

*whacks self with mallet* For anyone who cares, the Xmas concert was horrible. We were singing the song of the night, and there was an interlude before the climax where we were supposed to hold a rest for an extra four counts, and I didn't, and so I went in on top soprano loudness too early while everyone glared/laughed/cussed at me. DAMN ME!!!!!! :X Ok on with story...

Kikoken: I woulda smacked him too. Lol!

Tornado: I love those long reviews of yours! ^_^ Mwah. Mitsukake did lose. Did it seem like I made Ryu a little too "soft"? o.O You confused me. I hope I didn't. Ya know, even though he's this big strong hot solemn dude, he still has a LITTLE emotion. I tried to bring that out without overdoing it. Anywho, I'm not sure on how I'm going to make him feel now. (Hmm... I feel like a dictator saying that) Lol! Thanks for those comments and suggestions... I'm gonna use them, as always. Though I'm a little hesitant on this, I feel like I'm rushing the plot in a little too fast now... I hope that's not the case in this chapter. Michael and I were discussing this on the phone at 10:something at night and you know it's gonna be crazy now! Let me know if the plot is beginning to feel rushed. I'll need to revise it; I just need a second opinion or two. (Stares at this long paragraph O.O)

Fle: I'm working it! ^_^ How could they?!! VAN?? UGLY?!?!? Nooooo! That's just messed up!! Okay, I'll stop.

Michael: It's Eternal Spring that we are using your ideas on... Mwah and you don't like Mitsukake anymore?? Now he's getting suicidal over here!! *Runs off to comfort Mitsu* Hope you had fun Thanksgiving! ;)

DeNice: Hehe... but what the heck is PWNED!? LMAO!! Anyway on a serious note, I'M TRYING TO GET SAKURA BACK TO NORMAL!!!!! Don't kill me pleeeeeaaaaseeeee! *runs for cover*

Jami: Hehe. I think so too. Mitsukake is just a little crazy in love. (Beyonce song plays on TV) AAHHH I HATE THAT SONG!! DAMN MTV!! *runs*

~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 16 - Friends Again?

Some very disgruntled nurses loaded Mitsukake onto a stretcher and placed him onto a bed on the 12th floor of Koui Hospital as Ryu and Sakura watched in silence. This gave Ryu some time to scold himself good.

("I'm so damn stupid!!") he thought angrily. ("This never would have happened if I hadn't been so... so...") Ryu's thoughts were broken by Sakura speaking. Secretly, she wanted to get away from him as soon as she could.

"I'm going to see Mitsu now..." Sakura informed him as she hurried off into Mitsukake's room and shot him a glance before closing the door behind her.

Ryu stood there, confused for a moment, until he realized that they really needed some alone time together. Heaving a huge sigh, Ryu turned and left out of the hospital.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sakura walked in the room where Mitsukake was lying on his hospital bed, sleeping quietly as nurses bustled around him. One of them loaded an oxygen mask onto his face while another began to insert IVs into his right arm. Quietly, Sakura leaned against the wall farthest away from them and watched in silence as some of the nurses took a step back to observe Mitsukake. One of them reached out a hand and brushed back Mitsukake's almond-colored hair and admired his good looks.

Walking over quietly and carefully to them, Sakura nudged one of them to move aside and let her see Mitsukake. One of the nurses nodded and signaled the others to step back. Sakura took a seat in the chair provided beside Mitsukake and stared at his face in silence.

"Mitsukake..."

Sakura reached out one of her hands and gently caressed Mitsu's face with it. Almost instantly, his eyes snapped open to the feel of Sakura's hand on his face and he glanced over to her, a small smile coming onto his face.

"S-S-akura..."

"Shh... Just don't... ever pull off another stunt like that again..."

"You... you saw it?"

"Yes I did..."

"Oh..." Mitsukake looked at the floor in shame. "I'm... sorry... I didn't mean to start all of this chaos..."

"Don't worry about it now... I just want to talk..."

Sakura glanced at the nurses, who seemed to be trying to listen in on the two's conversation.

"Could I please talk to him in private... please?" said Sakura as the nurses (reluctantly) filed out of the room and shut the door behind them. Sighing, Sakura brought her gaze back down upon Mitsukake, who turned away.

"Mitsu... look at me..."

Sakura used her soft hands to turn Mitsukake's face to hers and gave him a small smile.

"Sakura... look, I'm really sorry..."

"I know, and you're forgiven... It's just that..."

Sakura fell silent and stared at her lap, wondering what she could say to Mitsukake. Before she could even think of anything, Mitsukake reached his hand outwards to hers and grasped it tightly, smiling at her.

"Don't worry... I won't ever do that again."

Sakura turned her dark eyes up to Mitsukake's with a hint of a smile on her face. It seemed as if things were going to turn out good after all...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ A Week Later ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The coldness of winter was threatening to have an early effect on Japan as students with heavy coats bustled their way to school early in the morning. Sakura and Mitsukake shared an umbrella with Mitsukake to keep the light rain off of them as they ran down the slick sidewalk towards Tamagawa High. The couple had grown much closer during the duration of the past week, as everything had been worked out with Ryu and the two made up with one another.

"WWWAHHH!!!" yelled Sakura as she slipped on the sidewalk as she nearly fell on her bottom. Mitsukake grabbed her by the arm and glanced at his watch.

"Come on! We've only got ten minutes until first hour starts!"

"I'm coming as fast as I can!!"

The two slipped and slid down the sidewalks and onto school campus, where the first hour bell was just about to ring. Running down to the lockers, Mitsukake grabbed his and slammed it open, grabbing both of their books and charging to class with Sakura.

"I'm glad.... we decided to.... share... a locker...." gasped Sakura, who was getting out of breath from so much running.

Mitsukake only nodded as he dragged his girlfriend into their homeroom class and leapt into his seat. Sakura staggered to the one beside him as he tossed her books at her.

"Today we will learn about when, where, and why the..."

~ ~ ~ Four hours later ~ ~ ~

"...Ew, just.... ew..." commented Sakura as she stared at the food on her plate. The "hamburger steak" looked like a brown blob with a little water on it.

"American food... Disgusting..." commented Mitsukake, who had a well-known prejudice against American fast food. "It's fattening, it's nasty, it doesn't taste good, and if you stare at it a while, it starts reminding you of things..."

"Ok, you can stop there!"

"Ok."

*CRASH!!!!!*

A loud crashing noise caused Sakura and Mitsukake to jump out of their seats and stare at the large cafeteria window that had been crashed. Strangely, there was nothing present that could have made the glass break.

"Uh... did someone throw theirs out the window...?" said Sakura, trying to add some humor into the situation, although the pit of her stomach knew that this was not a laughing matter.

Mitsukake's stomach tied itself in a knot as he sensed a presence there. Other students were standing up, some laughing, some screaming at the sight. Mitsukake wasn't doing a thing but staring, and he had to find out who had caused that window to break.

He began to walk forward, Sakura following him. Hearing her footsteps, Mitsukake shot his hand out to his side to keep her from following.

"Stay here..." Mitsukake said in a low, quiet voice, harsh yet gentle. Sakura stopped and hesitated at first, but stood in place as Mitsukake began to walk over to the window, being mindful of the shattered glass sparkling on the floor.

Mitsukake stuck his head out the window, looking to the right, and then to the left. That was where he saw him.

"Akuma!"

Indeed, it was Akuma. He was standing up tall beside the wall (out of view of the cafeteria students) with his head raised high. As soon as he heard Mitsukake yell his name, Akuma turned to him and snarled.

"You're not the one I wanted to see..."

"Well I'm the one you're going to see!" spat Mitsukake. "I'm never going to let you hurt Sakura!"

"Very well then. Just throw your life away for that girl, why don't you?" retorted Akuma as he raised his heavily bandaged fists. It seemed as if he had been doing some serious training after the events of the hospital...

"Mitsukake!!" cried Sakura from behind Mitsukake. She came running over to his side, pushing the school's evilest gen-aku out of the way in the process.

"Hey bitch! Watch where you're going!" he yelled as he glared evilly at her retreating form.

Akuma came forward to where everyone who was in the cafeteria could see him. The room that was about to become a mob scene turned dead silent after setting its gaze upon Akuma.

"Sakura, you shouldn't have come over here..." hissed Mitsukake, pulling his lover close to him."That psychopath wants you dead..."

"I'm not worried about that," replied Sakura unheedingly as she loosened Mitsukake's grip on her and began to rush over to Akuma, her fists drawn.

"Sakura!!!" Mitsukake called after her as he grabbed her by the back of her collar, nearly choking her, but stopping her from running.

"W-w-what in hell!?" coughed Sakura as Mitsukake restrained her from flying at Akuma.

"Do you want to get killed?! Don't be insane, Sakura! He'd take you out in a second... Look at him!"

For the first time, Sakura fixed her gaze upon Akuma and left it there. He did look stronger and more serious than last time. His purple gi was ripped violently on the pants legs, and his bulging arm muscles looked as if they were ready to choke the last breath out of her. Sakura moved her eyes up to Akuma's and made eye contact with him for the first time. What she saw in his eyes made her stomach do flips. His eyes were aglow with murderous intent and were fixed on killing her.

"Well... Do you want your death to come quickly? Or shall I prolong it and make it extra painful?" Akuma growled at Sakura as she felt her legs go weak. For the first time, she was glad that Mitsukake was restraining her; if he hadn't been, she probably would have fallen to the ground.

"You're not going to lay a hand on her, you evil bastard..." Mitsukake snarled back at Akuma, his eyes narrowed with hate.

"That's right, I probably won't have to. She's about to faint as it is..." commented Akuma, smirking slightly.

"Kusoshitenero!" Mitsukake let the vulgar statement escape from his mouth as everyone stared at him. He had NEVER said anything that rude before.

Akuma leered at Mitsukake before bringing his hands up to his chest. A dark, black aura began to surround him as his eyes glowed menacingly. His hair began to glow before turning snow-white, and so did his eyes. As everyone stared in horror, his aura became white and slowly faded to nothing. Before them stood Shin Akuma, in all his undaunted glory.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AN- This chapter SUCKS!! ^_^ Well, you all thought this story died, didn't you? Well, I had my doubts on it as well. But suddenly, tonight... I got the inspiration while listening to my overly loud music! XD Please review!! Please just let me know that you read it!

~Chan