Identity
Chapter 12: Home
"I can't believe we're officially out of school now," Yanagi said in awe.
Recca grinned. "Well, things aren't going to be too different, hime. It's going to be just like high school - only in a different environment."
"I guess." The girl looked at him affectionately. "I'm so glad that we're all going to the same university."
"Oh, and Recca-nii," Kaoru chipped in, working his fanged smile. "Since you're in university now you're finally going to have to act your age, you know."
"What did you say?" the seventeen-year-old spluttered as Domon guffawed loudly. "Why you little…" He then proceeded to chase after the younger boy, only to trip on his graduation gown.
"ALRIGHT!" yelled an extremely annoyed Fuuko, startling the milling groups of students around them. "Why don't the both of you act your age!"
"Yeah," echoed Ganko, hands on hips. She glared especially hard at Kaoru.
"Fuuko."
The teenager turned. "Oh, hey dad," she said as a tall, black-haired man came over. They moved to one side, away from the others. "Are you okay?" she asked in a low voice.
He smiled, the lines of worry around his eyes brought on by the past few days disappearing for a short moment. "I'm fine, Fuuko," he replied. "Today's your day, so don't worry about me, okay? I want you to know that your mum and I are very proud of you. I'm sure Ganko is too." He warmly looked over at the young girl who was shaking a fist at the kougan-anki master. The green eyes Fuuko had inherited flickered back to her as her dad brandished a camera. "How about a photo?"
Fuuko grinned. "That would be nice, dad." She turned back to her friends and clapped her hands. "Okay, photo time guys!"
They huddled together and Fuuko, who found Mikagami on her other side, nudged him playfully. "Don't forget to smile, Mi," she said with a grin.
The ensui-wielder frowned. He couldn't believe he was stuck next to Fuuko instead of Yanagi. "I am smiling, Kirisawa," he said, annoyed.
"Okay, say 'cheese'," Fuuko's dad said from behind the camera.
"Nah, that's too ordinary," Recca said from his place beside his princess. "Let's go for 'Hokage'."
That brought on a smile from everyone.
"Uh, okay then. I guess it must mean something special to you teenagers. On three then. One, two, three…"
"Hokage!"
~
Present day
"You're lucky we made the flight," Mikagami said accusingly. "You should have told me that you hadn't eaten for over 24 hours."
"I'm sorry," Fuuko said with an embarrassed smile.
Mikagami's eyebrows knitted together in annoyance as she gave him furtive glances. "What is it?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"I didn't get time to finish my sushi," she replied slowly. "I'm still a little hungry."
"Young people starving themselves these days," the old man next to Mikagami said, shaking his head. "Back in the old days we used to eat without a care."
Mikagami frowned. Usually, he would be in the aisle or window seat on the plane as he disliked sitting next to strangers, but Fuuko had wanted the window seat. Fearing that she might run off if she didn't get what she wanted, Mikagami reluctantly gave it up and took the middle seat. It was bad enough that the seat on the other side of him was occupied, but for it to be occupied by a rambling old man made Mikagami want to groan aloud.
He pressed the attendant assistance button and soon, one strolled up, flashing him her pearly white smile. "What can I do for you sir?"
"My friend here is hungry. Can you bring her something?" Mikagami asked.
The brunette flight attendant didn't even look at Fuuko. "Of course," she said, batting her eyelashes at him. "Be right back."
Fuuko grinned and nudged the ensui-wielder knowingly. "I'm keeping count of how many stewardesses you've picked up so far, you know."
"She was definitely flirting with you, young man," Old Man chipped in with his bit. Mikagami buried his head in his hands. "But isn't your girl jealous at all?"
"Hah! My girl?" Mikagami harrumphed.
He was taken back when Fuuko gave him a strange look. She leaned in close, her hair brushing his face. "Is that such a ridiculous idea to you?" she asked seriously.
Mikagami swallowed as he looked into her green eyes. There was no trace of mischief in them. "I…" Mikagami didn't know what to say.
A smile broke onto Fuuko's face. "Gotcha," she said with a wink.
Mikagami gaped at her, irritation washing over him. Yet, one word popped into his mind. Cute. "That wasn't cute at all!" he blurted before he could stop himself. Damn. He hadn't meant to say the word aloud.
"Well, I'm sorry I'm not cute," Fuuko said, still smiling.
Mikagami stared at her and despite his irritation, he felt his heart lighten. She sounded like the old Fuuko again.
"Excuse me, sir." The flight attendant was back. "I'm afraid we don't carry meals on this flight, but I've brought some ice-cream." She handed it to Mikagami, which he passed to Fuuko. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
Mikagami ignored the hint. "No," he replied shortly. The attendant pouted and huffed off.
"That was mean of you," Fuuko remarked as she tore at the wrapping hungrily.
Mikagami just shook his head. Luckily for him, Old Man had fallen asleep.
They sat in silence for a while with Fuuko looking out the window at the cloudy, blue sky. She finished her cone and crumpled the brown paper in her hand. "Mikagami," she said, breaking the silence. "Will they be waiting at the airport?"
The ensui-wielder turned to look at her. They were landing soon, which was probably why she was getting nervous. "Yes. Recca said that he and the others, including Yanagi will be there to meet us. Don't worry. He believed me when I said that I had run into you at the airport in Hiroshima. Remember that you flew there to meet a friend."
"I know," Fuuko said quietly.
Mikagami gave her a curious look. "Why did you ask Recca not to tell Ganko or your parents that you were coming home?"
Her features clouded at his question. It was a while before she replied. "I want to talk to them myself first. I want to see them face-to-face and tell them that I'm back." She faced him, the uncertainty showing on her face. "Or maybe I'm just scared and wanted to put it off." She smiled. "That's probably the truer reason."
"That's only natural," Mikagami said. "It's nothing to be ashamed of."
Fuuko turned back to the window. "Yeah," she said, unconvinced.
"Attention, ladies and gentlemen. The plane will be landing at Tokyo Airport shortly. Please make sure your seatbelts are fastened and your seats upright. I hope you have had a pleasant flight with Nippon Airlines."
"Wha..?" Old Man came awake with a snort. "Are we there already?"
Mikagami looked at Fuuko worriedly, but her face was turned away from his. From what he could tell, she would have appeared calm were it not for her hand, which was clenched tightly around the arm rest.
~
"You don't have to go, Fuuko." Her dad's voice was sad and slightly ashamed.
"Dad." Fuuko knew that he felt responsible for her decision to leave Tokyo. She shook her head vehemently. "Dad, I want to do this. No-one's forced me into this, least of all you. I know you don't want me to go, but I want you to know that I'm happy doing this. So please, please don't feel like you're to blame."
He looked at her tenderly, and reached out to ruffle her hair as he'd done over the years. "You've always had a will of your own. I want you to know that I… we are all proud of you."
Her mum stood beside him an odd glint in her eyes. "Take care, Fuuko," she said softly and turned away. If she'd looked at her daughter any longer, she would have burst into tears.
Fuuko smiled at her. "I will mum," she said, hugging the woman tightly. She then turned to the girl standing beside them, watching quietly. "Ganko," she said affectionately.
The puppet-master was unable to the hide the misery showing in her eyes.
"Hey," Fuuko said. "Don't be sad."
"But…" the younger girl began to wring her hands. "But Fuuko-neechan is leaving."
She smiled. "Not for long, so cheer up." She looked down at the girl and said. "Ganko, while I'm gone I'm leaving it up to you to take care of Mum and Dad, okay?"
Ganko nodded seriously. "Okay, Fuuko-nee. I won't let you down." She then added. "Will you promise that you'll call?"
"I promise, so don't be sad anymore."
"Okay."
The two girls hugged each other, each trying to put on a brave face.
"Well," Fuuko said when she finally released Ganko. "I guess I'll be off then."
But she didn't leave until the final boarding call was announced for her flight, and when it did come, she walked away from her family with a heavy heart.
Little did she know that she would be back at Tokyo airport two years later, more mature and world-weary, with Mikagami by her side.
~
Present day
"Are you okay?" Mikagami ventured as they walked out of gate 42, wheeling their luggage along.
"Mmmm." Fuuko murmured in reply.
"A little nervous?"
"Well, to tell the truth…" she smiled at him, a smile that was both apprehensive and self-conscious. "I'm scared to death."
To her surprise, Mikagami laughed. It was a pleasant sound, she thought, shocked. "What?!" she asked, half-annoyed. "What's so funny?"
"Just act like that. Be yourself," Mikagami smiled warmly at her.
Fuuko's heart began to race at his smile. Mikagami's good looks was so easy to overlook when he was cold, but when he acted nice… She flushed.
"After all, nothing can go wrong if you act like the monkey you are." The ensui-wielder finished.
"Why you…!" Fuuko shook her fist at him, but a part of her felt grateful. He was trying to make her feel more at ease and she appreciated it. But when they reached the doors to the arrival lounge, her dread resurfaced.
"Ready?" Mikagami asked quietly, looking at her.
She took a deep breath. "As ready as I'll ever be," she replied and walked forward.
The automatic doors slid open and a crowd of faces turned towards her. She almost reeled back then, but Mikagami placed a hand on her arm, his other hand firmly steering the luggage trolley. "I'm here, Fuuko," he said softly.
She nodded, not looking at him. Instead, she slowly scanned the crowd, searching for a familiar face.
"FUUKOOO!"
Fuuko's heart jumped at the familiar voice, raised above the buzz of the crowd.
"There."
Her gaze followed Mikagami's, to a man pushing his way forward towards them. "Domon?" she whispered.
In an instant, she found herself caught up in a crushing embrace in a pair of well-muscled arms. "Domon," she repeated in a strangled voice.
"Fuuko!"
"Domon," Mikagami scowled, feeling annoyed for reasons unknown, "you're breaking her ribs."
The big man put a relieved Fuuko down promptly, a big grin on his face. "Sorry Mikagami, no hug for you."
"That's quite alright," the ensui-wielder muttered.
"Domon," Fuuko exclaimed, looking at her friend clearly for the first time. "What happened to your mohawk?"
"Heh," he ran a hand over his spiky, closely-cropped hair. "Too hard to maintain I guess." He then looked at hers. "You grew out your hair too, Fuuko."
"Yeah."
"It looks good. Looks more…" He made a curving gesture with his hands. "More… feminine."
Fuuko scowled.
He added quickly. "I mean, not that you weren't before."
Fuuko looked past the big man to see three familiar faces peering back at her.
"Yo, Mikagami! Fuuko!" Hanabishi Recca said, grinning. "Hey, your hair's long."
"Yeah? Well, so is yours," Fuuko retorted, annoyed that people kept mentioning her hair. "In fact, you haven't changed one bit, Recca."
"Yup." Koganei Kaoru was at least sixteen years of age now, Fuuko surmised, and it showed. He was almost as tall as Recca and his once boyish face had lengthened into maturity. He had grown into a handsome young man, but as he showed immediately, he still retained his mischievous nature and irritating fang-smile. He continued, "Recca's just as immature as ever."
Fuuko rolled her eyes as Domon proceeded to restrain the flame-master from strangling the younger boy. Some things, she could see, were always going to stay the same.
She turned to the young woman with the long, brown hair, who was trying to calm Recca down. "How are you feeling, Yanagi?" she asked hesitantly.
Mikagami watched silently. Fuuko had beaten him to the question. He frowned. Was she still feeling guilty?
Yanagi turned to her friend and smiled. "I'm fully recovered, Fuuko. Thanks for asking." She then added shyly, "I'm so glad you're back. We missed you."
When Fuuko smiled back, Mikagami relaxed.
"So," Recca said, turning to Mikagami after giving Kaoru one last glare. "I guess everything's okay now."
"Yup. Everything's okay now."
"Great! Although I haven't forgotten how rarely you kept us up to date," he scowled at the ensui-wielder. Then he brightened. "But you did a great job anyway. The villain who tried to hurt hime is gone forever and that's the main thing. Let's go and celebrate with a meal. My treat."
"Isn't it a bit late for lunch?" Domon asked.
They all turned to stare at him.
"Since when have you turned down food?" Recca asked.
"Oh yeah," Domon said sheepishly.
"He must be astounded by your generosity today, Recca-nii," Kaoru remarked, making the older boy scowl again.
"What are you trying to say? I'm always generous."
Another argument ensued, which was ignored by Mikagami as he glanced over at Fuuko, who looked on with a small smile on her face.
******
"Man, I'm stuffed," Recca said, sighing contentedly.
"Just make sure you keep your eyes on the road and not fall asleep like Domon-nii," Kaoru said.
"Of course," Recca snorted as he glanced at a snoring Domon through the rear-view mirror. "It's only that weirdo who falls asleep after having a meal."
Yanagi, Fuuko and Mikagami were cramped next to the sleeping man at the back of van.
"I told you we should have dropped off the luggage first," Kaoru chided Recca. "See how cramped they are? If Domon-nii lets one go," he was referring to Domon's flatulent ability, "Yanagi-nee will bear the full brunt of it."
"Alright Koganei, stop nagging. Hime, will you be okay?"
"Eh?" Yanagi had no idea what they were talking about.
"It's alright," Fuuko said, "We can always hold our breaths, right Yanagi?"
"H-hai."
Mikagami wondered what they were worried about. After all, he was the one who was sitting next to the big man.
"So you'll be continuing your studies here, Fuuko?" Yanagi asked her friend.
"Yup. I'll be at the same uni as you guys now."
"Great!" Recca said with a grin. "It'll be just like old times."
"Yeah…" Fuuko replied quietly. "Um, Recca, can you drop me off further up the street?"
"What?" he said puzzled. "I'll drop you outside your house. It's no big deal."
"No, it's okay. Please."
Mikagami turned to look at her. Was she getting cold feet?
"Alright," Recca conceded. "I guess you must want to surprise your family."
"Something like that."
"You can drop me off with Fuuko," Mikagami said, startling everyone including the girl sitting next to him.
"Huh?" Recca blinked in surprise. "But you live a few blocks from her house."
"Just do it, Hanabishi."
"Okay, okay. It's none of my business if you want to walk."
Fuuko turned to Mikagami. "I don't need you to come with me," she said in a hushed tone. Yanagi, who was sitting beside her, stared furtively at them out of the corner of her eye.
"Who said I'm going with you?" Mikagami replied quietly. "I just want to get out of this confinement."
She frowned at him and turned away.
Yanagi's eyebrows raised as she glanced at them. That was an interesting exchange…
******
"Okay, Recca. Thanks for the lift," Fuuko said as she climbed out. "Say goodbye to Domon for me when he wakes up."
Recca hung his head out the window. "Yeah," he said, rolling his eyes, "whenever that'll be."
"He's going to be devastated that he didn't see you out," Kaoru's voice drifted from the front of the van. "Perhaps I should wake him up…"
"Don't you dare!" Fuuko hissed, prompting laughter from her friends.
"Well, we'll see you tomorrow then," Yanagi said as she helped her and Mikagami unload their luggage.
"Sure," Fuuko smiled. "See you guys."
Yanagi gave the pair one last look before sliding the van door shut. They watched as it pulled away from the footpath and drove off down the street.
"Well, I'd better be getting home," Fuuko said. Home. The word felt so strange on her tongue. "Your apartment is the other way."
"I know."
Neither of them moved.
"Did you think that I was going to run off or something?" Fuuko finally asked softly.
"Are you?"
She smiled. "No, I'm not going to run away anymore. I've done enough of that. I guess I can't fault you for thinking otherwise."
"No," Mikagami shook his head. "I didn't think that you would run."
Fuuko was taken back. "Then why did you get out of the van? I thought you'd want to spend more time with Yanagi."
Mikagami smiled a strange smile. "That's what I thought too. I guess that's not the case anymore."
There was an awkward silence. Then:-
"How are you holding up?"
"Huh?" Fuuko turned to look at him. "Fine, I guess. I just want to have my family back again."
"That's a good feeling to have," Mikagami said. "You should probably go then. They're waiting for you." He picked up his bag and turned to go.
"Mikagami."
The ensui-wielder whirled around. "Yes?" he said a little too quickly.
"Uh," Fuuko had trouble looking at him straight in the eyes. "You've done so much for me these past few days, you know, and yet you've never complained. I know that without you, I wouldn't be here today. So -" She let out a deep breath and smiled. "So thank you. For everything."
Mikagami didn't know exactly when it was that he'd given up fighting the effect she had on him. His heart began to beat quickly. She was standing so close…
He reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face with his knuckles. The gesture deepened as his hand opened to cup her cheek. Then he drew her towards him, his other hand reaching behind her curtain of hair to caress the nape of her neck.
Fuuko closed her eyes in pleasure as she resided in the comfort of his arms. She could hardly believe that she was experiencing so strong a feeling for anyone, let alone the ensui-wielder. Well, she thought in concession, she could do worse than to fall for Mikagami.
"Well," Mikagami finally ventured, hating himself for ruining the moment, "we should probably go."
Fuuko regretfully stepped away, an abashed smile on her face. "Yeah, you're right." Her cheeks were pink. "Uh, well I'll see you tomorrow, Mikagami."
"Hey."
She looked up to find him smiling gently at her.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine."
She smiled back at him.
******
Fuuko stood on her own doorstep, memories of her childhood flooding back – memories she'd pushed away for two years. "Well, not any more," she said softly to herself.
She thought of Asagi, who hadn't had a home and of Narumi, who was in the same situation, but was making the best of it. Then she took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell.
Maybe they weren't in, Fuuko thought half-hopefully. But it was a weekend, and her parents were normally at home during this time. That was two years ago, she thought. Maybe some things have changed.
She was about to go and peer into the house through the front window when the door opened suddenly.
"Ye -"
The girl holding the door open stopped.
Fuuko's heart gave a leap.
She came up to her shoulders now, and her hair, once too short, was tied up in a ponytail. Her blue eyes, though, were the same as when Fuuko had first looked into them more than four years ago.
"Ganko," she said, almost choking with emotion.
"Fuuko-nee?" The younger girl's voice was filled with disbelief. Her lips began to tremble. The she blurted out, "You promised me that you'd call. And yet you never once did."
Fuuko looked down sadly at her. "I know," she said softly. "I'm so, so sorry Ganko, but I'm here and I promise that I'll make up for it."
"You're back for good?"
She smiled. "For good."
Conflicting emotions showed on Ganko's face. "What… what took you so long?" she whispered.
Fuuko stood silently for a moment. "I…" she began softly, "I lost myself, Ganko. I became someone else for a while and I didn't like it. I didn't want you or Mum and Dad to see me that way."
Ganko looked back at the older girl, a little puzzled. But she knew that in her own time, Fuuko would answer the questions she had. "But you've found yourself now, right?" she asked.
"I've found myself."
"Then that's all that matters." Ganko smiled for the first time as she looked up at the girl she had admired for so long. "You're home and that's all that matters." The tears she'd held in for so long began to leak out of the corner of her eyes. "I've missed you so much!" she wailed, throwing herself into Fuuko's arms.
"Ganko," Fuuko whispered as she held the puppetmaster in her arms. "I've missed you so much too."
"Fuuko?"
She looked up to see her mum standing at the bottom of the staircase, her hand covering her mouth in shock. "Mum," she said.
"You… you are back aren't you?"
"Yes," was all she had time to say before the woman rushed over to hug the both of them.
"Fuuko, I can't believe that you're finally back," she said, sobbing. Then she quickly wiped her tears away. "You could have at least told us that you were coming," she scolded. But she didn't let her daughter go.
Fuuko smiled. A tear ran down her cheek. "I know."
"You'd better come in before all of you catch a cold." A deep, familiar voice said.
Fuuko opened her eyes to see her father standing in the doorway to the dining room, arms folded. His eyes were more watery than usual.
She was so happy to see that he was looking well. A little balder, but well nonetheless. "Dad," she said, "I'm back."
"Well it's about time." He smiled tenderly at her, something that she'd missed for so long. "Welcome home, Fuuko."
~
Author's note: Well, that's it! (*let's out a huge breath of relief*) That was waaaaaay longer than I had wanted it to be. Oh well, you just have to go with the flow.
Writing a suspense fic has been a lot harder than I expected and it took a lot out of me. I do enjoy writing more humorous, light-hearted stories, but I won't discount writing another suspense fic in the future. Not that I'm going to be writing one any time soon – I need the break!
Anyway, thanks again to everyone who read and review the fic, always appreciate your support guys. And I hope you all were satisfied with the ending (added in a little mi-fuu especially for mi-fuu fans :) ).
Signing off,
maboroshi