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Flower Gathering
Chapter 6: Regalia—Prelude
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Flecks of luminescent orange danced with the silver edge of the katana. Nothing flowed amongst the objects. A boy, a girl, a sword. But tension filled the void, invading every space and still yearning for more. Even within close quarters, the two figures remained unconnected. Not even the threat of the sword to one brought from the other tied the images together. Despite the aggressive thrust with which the maiden handled the katana, her opponent scowled with more animosity, betraying his otherwise harmless manner. The glowing eyes bored into the girl's own windows, setting her ablaze with their chilling emotion.
The girl's brow furrowed with thought as she studied the man in front of her. Expressionless. He remained immobile as sleeping cattle in spite of the pointed object centimeters from his nose. The imposing object made quite an impression even on a passing viewer.
He can't stand there forever. What kind of inhuman idiot can dodge a
weapon so closely placed? He has to answer me. My approach. I've
been such a good miko recently. Doing more than my share of chores.
Following curfew and remaining within the stern walls of this stuffy
shrine. I thanked him last night for his hard work at not saving my
life. He has to feel some pity for a converted heretic whose piety
now surpasses those of her peers. The clearly secluded training area
this building offers ensures that no one will know about the training.
He WILL say yes. There is no fault in my approach.
The boy remained unreadable as no nerve twitched within his entirety let alone the face, which the miko was studying frenetically—any signal would do for her at this time. He remembered the silence in the passageway down to the room, clearly a hint that any transactions that occurred on the premises would remain secret. The sweet girl of the past week suddenly made sense. He had been duped. To think such a rebel would be so easily cured of rugged habits was much too naïve. He'd never been so easily trusting of someone's actions.
She still hasn't given up on the self-sufficiency thing. She expects
me to understand the discretion she has and her ability to act
obediently so long as I teach her. What kind of deal is this? I'm
not here to teach her. I knew I should never have taken the job.
Still no word of Kurei. Well, I guess there's no other way then.
A tug. The hilt slid from the delicate hand. Raiha sandwiched the blade, his two palms pressing against the tapering steel—surprisingly light but not bending under his applied strength. The weapon dropped to the ground, a crisp clang of fine welded metal cut through the darkness. Specks of the orange lantern light scattered everywhere in the unexpected exchange and finally found rest upon the maiden's face, taunting her for its removal from her possession. The curl of the blade smirked up at her in mockery.
"Is that what you really want?" The blue hair brushed beyond her and toward the stairs he had descended.
Silly girl. What did she think she was doing asking him, of all
people, to teach her? She really didn't understand a thing.
The simply clad apprentice stooped down and picked up the blade. Cradling it in the folds of her plain robe, the determination of a second ago lay lost as if dissipated into the ground by the fall of the sword. Anger.
The nerve! Just attacking me like that. What right did he have in
disarming her? It wasn't like she really would have wounded him.
Didn't he have any tact? And what did he mean what I want? Would I
ask him for something I didn't want? Males sure have ways of pointing
their excuses to women. As if I didn't want to be trained by him.
Who else am I supposed to get instruction from? Recca won't do it in
case Sakoshita-sempai finds out. This is bullshit.
Fuuko proceeded around the circle of lamps, extinguishing each only to add its flame to her own infuriation. But slowly darkness invaded the maiden's heart. Her eyes grew dim and with the dying of every light, the disappointment that the previous event had sparked increased in weight. She followed the sound of retreating footsteps with her eyes. It had been so strategically planned. Where did the fault in her tactic lie?
Did I ask him inappropriately? He doesn't expect me to wait for him
to protect me, right? Though he didn't give me a direct answer. I
hate that about men! They never tell you precisely what they mean.
That's it! I won't let him get away so easily. Heh. "Is that what
you really want?"
The fair stubbornness flew up the steps toward the bright sunlight and flowing ponds. The day once again enraged Fuuko with its optimism. Where had the idiot gone? Unsurprisingly he had abandoned her with nothing but a question mark of a response. If she really had executed the plan as perfectly as it seemed, why had it not warranted the desired response? And, really, for someone so unaccustomed to the grounds, where did he find such damnably accessible places of seclusion?
Fuuko's eyes darted around the perimeters of the garden as her neck swerved left and right, allowing her to peer behind all possible hiding spots. She conducted a very thorough examination of the area in front of her. Certainly not even an ant had gone unnoticed to the pricked up senses of this spitfire. But then again, that was merely in front of her.
Behind that steaming mop of violet hair, two sapphires peered out from the side of a willow tree. Of course having only a few minutes ahead of his acquaintance, the only sanctuary he spotted was this grandmother willow with her far-dangling limbs. The ninja congratulated himself on escaping notice. He loved how the usually keen maiden dumbed her logic in flurries of frustration. Checking only in front of her...how hilarious. She really had a knack for entertainment. Why she had stuck to this miko stuff really dumbfounded him. Wait! But was it not just this morning that Fuuko seemed so near the true rank of miko? Yes. Something certainly had changed in the bodyguard's mind. She seems rather mischievous in all actions...never doing what is expected. Yet, maybe he had been misled by the immense joy of finding her not nearly deceased last week that he believed every bit of her false sincerity. Of course, her playing so cutely the naïve repentant black sheep of the shrine struck no strings within his heart. What a silly idea. He would just have to be wary of all her actions hereafter. She was, after all, as easy to read as an exposed letter.
But why the training? Certainly she did not want him, of all people, to become her pedant, confidant, advisor. Though that may be overstepping the boundary between sensei and husband. The fact of the matter was that this request, though well staged, lacked in...something. If he were to be her protector then wouldn't his training her imply a sense of insufficiency on his part? Clearly the maiden meant no offense on his marvelous skills; even so, he resolved to stand with his original decision. No training would commence between him and that oh so conniving girl. Smiling triumphantly about his decision Raiha congratulated his ability to so easily decipher the right path for this situation. He readied himself mentally for the immense violence he expected from the raging maiden once he declared the verdict. That done he only needed to find the girl himself.
"Muahahahaha....have you taken to the willow as you weep the regret of your decision?"
An all too triumphant Fuuko, upon spotting her prey, guffawed down over the blue haired boy. Although he crouched to only half his normal height, the normally immeasurable pride the girl had in her achievements, now trapped within the dense foliage of the not quite weeping willow, elevated exponentially to create a magnifying effect on the stature of the triumphant rascal as she beamed down upon her adversary.
"That's alright. I'm willing to forgive your hasty abandonment and will gladly become your fated disciple who will launch you into fame. What do you say?"
The smirk poured into his dilated pupils until all he could recall was ivory. Was this to mean that she would make a meal of him if he refused?
Go on, Raiha. You know that this is a ridiculous notion. Just say it and get it over with.
Raiha maintained his fixation on the glistening white teeth. Excluding the girl's ill temperament the mouth itself, with plump rose- colored lips, really was a marvel. Well-formed they seemed most amiable. The girl just had to be full of contradictions.
The smooth, usually quick to smile, lips opened to form a room for words. They moved but to no music. The girl bent as if her eyes would make out the sounds for her.
What was he saying? Did the lips appear to say yes? A tug. The
words, they're repelling me. Does rejection feel so bitter, the taste
so repulsive that I am pushed away? My robe is acting on its own,
overpowering my body.
Her head turned...by a hand? A fragile looking girl stared up into the mint irises.
"Teeth..." burst out of the ninja's lips. He reddened and awaited the maid's reaction.
She broke her gaze and looked down. Raiha awaited the shift of facial features that would unfold Fuuko's exploding rage. Her face shifted toward the ground.
"I'm sorry, Ganko-chan. What did you need? You want to go see some orchids?"
The girl blushed with delight at the suggestion. An entire afternoon looking at the beautiful Japanese orchids in the garden? Certainly she was not worthy of so much attention from Fuu-onesan. The flush passed with the rustling of the grass, though. Realizing that she was still met with refreshing mint, Ganko broke her rude gaze up at her superior and intentionally launched her eyes into the dirt mud in which the willow thrived.
"Actually, Neon-san sent me with orders that onesan and Raiha-sama meet her in the conference room."
With a smooth pat on head of the irresistibly cute doll, Fuuko regained some of her usual poise that had completely disintegrated whence she'd spotted the blue hair circa archaic willow tree.
"Let's go Raiha. What are you still standing here for?"
Raiha hastily tumbled out of the willow tree, letting a sigh escape from his mouth.
It's a good thing she didn't hear me. I think I've endured enough
bodily torture from her since coming here. Suspicious that Neon would
summon us to her considering Fuuko hasn't done anything deviating from
excellent recently. I wonder what's in store. I really don't
understand Fuuko sometimes. She has so much tenderness for her peers
but so much hate for everyone else. I wonder if she should become a
babysitter rather than miko.
Raiha smiled as he beheld the older miko entertaining the younger one. He slackened his pace in order to admire from afar, not disturbing the two at play. For the first time since his arrival at the shrine, Fuuko looked purely happy. No secret thoughts danced on her face. Instead, the frail girl tagging along truly resembled a regular girl being guided by her older sister. The laughter emanating from the two melted the asceticism of the shrine, transforming it into more of a home.
Perhaps its not protection Fuuko needs so much as companionship.
The miko marched triumphantly ahead, blond girl in tote. As she bounced along, giving Ganko a thrillingly rough piggyback ride, she became suddenly aware that the annoying bastard now gloating in his time to be smug had once again dodged the question. She glanced back toward the ninja. He cheerily met her gaze. That triumphant smugness embittered the maiden, almost ruining the joy she was receiving from the excited gasps and giggles of little Ganko atop her back. The fates must hate her.
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The musk of old incense and crackled parchment documents permeated the space that was the meeting room. For Fuuko, this was more of a second home than her room had been since she had come to the shrine. Whether for discipline or holiday, Fuuko could always be relied on to visit the room daily. Now she graced the head of the shrine once again, indulging the mandates of the magistrates, if any there were.
And as usual Neon studied one of her many disciples with much reserve. One could never quite tell what record played in this leader's mind.
"Fuuko-chan..." although a sisterly way to address her underling, the word rather sliced the dust in the air than soften the cruelty that dripped within the room. "As you know from your many years' residence in the shrine, spring has approached and preparations are being made for the spring festival. This year, since you are perhaps the apprentice miko most familiar with the activities, I prefer that you volunteer services in supply amassment. Do you agree?"
"So basically, you want me to buy everything for the festival?"
"If that is what you think preparations entail, then that is what is preferred."
Flame consumed the green in Fuuko's eyes. Neon always acted so superior just because of her status as head miko. She never said anything directly. As if Fuuko had a choice in the matter. This was a demand that she take charge of the festival's preparations.
Raiha felt the heat of Fuuko's anger for Neon and everyone else. Being the closest living organism to the woman on fire, Raiha experienced the molten lava of this volcano rush over him. Then, something unexpected.
The girl smiled. "Of course I would love to mount this event. I have great memories of the old booths as I was a mere child. But, I must insist that Raiha-sama be allowed to help me with it. I know that the shrine shies from unnecessary heterosexual interaction, but really, I mean, after living in such close quarters with him, he's not really a man, more of a sister. And since he has to protect me, I'm sure he'd be bored if he didn't have equal responsibility in the project. Plus, what better memory to take away than experiencing one's first spring festival by taking part in the project from its roots?" Smile.
Idiot! Any unprecedented smile of the maid's always results in more
mischief.
Sweat congregated underneath the layers of his robe as Raiha felt an immense chill stand his hair on end. His face lost its expression as he searched for a plan of escape. He felt everyone's eyes studying him, this vagabond who had magically found a place in the shrine. Most of all, Raiha felt the pressure of Fuuko's enlivened eyes bore into his being. She was telling him that this was only the beginning of her revenge, the hell he would experience unless he agreed to train her.
"I appreciate Fuuko-chan's consideration, but as a ninja, I'm more accustomed to observation and would be bothersome if I attempted something I have never done before. Surely this is unnecessary."
Don't think you can escape that easily. Neon-sama never refuses an
opportunity to have another person do work. She'll surely make you
help out. Feeling nervous yet, Rai-san. Muahahaha.
Fuuko pressed harder. "He's always like this." Rub of the back. "It's alright, Rai-san, you don't have to be so polite. He was just telling me how excited he was about the festival being so near and all—but it's still over a month off. Clearly he's been looking forward to it, impatiently calling it so near when there is so much time before it. Please allow him to work. He's just bashful."
No, you will not win this one. Neon-san doesn't even like Fuuko.
Must work my charm. Must get out of this doom. Cannot
decorate...cannot work on festival preparations.
"Neon-san...this girl is merely delir...."
"Actually, he will be." Raiha's jaw hit the floor. "Since he is staying for essentially free board, the shrine would like compensation in the form of work toward the festival. Plus, it would be a good experience to remember us by."
Fuuko hid her frown and basked in triumph. As if the situation weren't bad enough, now the insanely sanguine idiot of a ninja would play gopher with her. But at least he was no longer smirking. The corners of her lips curled up in spurts as she masked her delight in Raiha's misery.
He had no idea that such coaxing of Miss Fuuko would end with his own commitment to the matter. Of course he had been excited that, as her guard, he would finally leave the stuffy shrine and see the sights of the town. But to help plan a party of sorts, that was better left to the jesters of this queen's court, namely the apprentice miko. As far as he knew, the only things needed at a party were some good jokes and equally good food.
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Recca stood at the bridge, looking for any sign of his hime-san. She certainly was late. He didn't understand her weird behavior today. Running off to do groceries by herself and only shooing him away once he had caught up to her. He hoped nothing bad had happened to her. She was hardly ever late. In fact, late for her was being on time. Still, Recca looked at the setting sun and hoped that Yanagi would appear before darkness set in.
Then, he heard a scuffle. Just two hundred meters down from where he was he thought he saw a shadow quiver. Something was definitely down there. But he told himself to keep cool. Just because Yanagi had stood him up did not mean that something bad had happened to her. Jeez, since when had he gotten so self-centered anyway?
"Recca-kun's waiting for me..."
Had he heard correctly? Although distant, the voice had most definitely called his name. He ran his fingers crudely through his breeze- tousled hair. Keep your cool. What kind of drama would it be if a boy waiting to meet up with his girlfriend was really only two hundred meters away from her. And at this same time the said girlfriend was being abducted by a hentai old fart? But what if he really wasn't an old fart? What if it was a street punk disguised as a lost old man, who stopped a young, innocent girl for directions? And as she stopped he pulled out a knife, holding it to her throat while he led her away to dark oblivion. Her body would turn up violated and bruised one month later.
"Yosh!" Recca abandoned his position at the bridge. Old fart or not, no man would lay a breath on his hime. At a record-breaking dash toward the aforementioned corner, Recca futilely pushed back the sleeves of his robe and readied himself for what unsightly encounter he was about to intrude upon.
As he was about to round the corner, he heard the sweet whisperings of none other than Hime-san.
"...shouldn't be here. If Recca finds out he'll be really mad. He's not very logical when..."
A deep, wicked voice cut her off. "You're so cute when you're nervous. Don't worry about me. Hiro can take care of himself."
Yanagi downcast her eyes. Shame filled her face as she knew she shouldn't have hid this from Recca. It was just that sometimes her was so rash. She feared that he wouldn't let her come. But she needed to know. It was for the good of both of them.
"Well, as long as it's not too long of a meeting."
What?! Have I heard right? My beautiful Hime-san just....
Recca stalled behind the street corner to observe more. Lighted by the moon and dim glow of lights within nearby houses any observer would assume the couple he beheld was secret lovers on a nighttime rendezvous. The girl, blushing nervously, kept meandering eyes about her surroundings. The boy, with his self-assured smirk, fixated on the girl's beautiful features. The two almost looked in love.
"So what was it you wanted to tell me?"
"Well," the scheming bastard leaned closer to someone else's property. He could smell the light scent of roses radiating off the young girl. As he perfectly glided toward her, never losing the attention of her eyes, Kurei felt that his masterpiece was coming together perfectly. "I just wanted to say that I know you have a great boyfriend. And as friends, we should try to look out for each other. I hope I'm not being too impolite but I fear there is someone close to you who may be putting a rift between you and that spiky-haired boy who follows you around."
"Recca-kun?"
Yanagi doubted anything would be coming between them aside from her father. But that was nothing more than ordinary. She smiled. This was nothing to fear. Yet, when she'd received the note secretly tacked to her window frame last night, slumber had fled her. A muffled giggle escaped the girl's mouth.
"I'm sure I can handle whatever you are suggesting. My father has never been able to put much distance between me and Recca-kun. Thank you for your concern, though." She turned to leave, a smile pasted on her face. All her worries for nothing. Now she could return to Recca and explain her odd behavior.
Kurei tensed. The plan wasn't going as he had hoped. Sensing the girl turn away from him, Kurei caught her by the waist.
"Well, you see...I noticed that your friend...uh...Recca seems to be rather interested in other girls...He's not always with you is he? Doesn't he wander off sometimes? I saw him around the shrine a few times."
Yanagi paused. Fuuko couldn't be anything more to Recca. After all, they'd grown up together. It'd be like incest. Then again...she had grown up with Recca, too.
But it's different. Recca-kun and I are different. He would never go
for Fuuko. Besides, this guy doesn't even know Fuuko. If he really
knew what Fuuko and Recca acted like, he wouldn't be thinking that at
all.
"I know you mean well, but you are mistaken. It may seem like Recca-kun gets friendly with Fuuko-chan, but they're like brother and sister. Really, I thank you for your concern, but I cannot believe what you claim."
Recca beamed proudly at his princess. She really did understand him. He had never felt so grateful for her presence as he did now. He watched as Kurei's smugness melted away into a masked anger. He would have to work harder at this plan.
What's with this guy? Just because someone's loyal to her boyfriend
doesn't mean that he should get pissed. Really!
Just then he realized his said girlfriend was coming his way. Thinking better of her discovering his eavesdropping, Recca dashed away from his stakeout and back to his post on the bridge. He couldn't wait more than ever to see Yanagi. The grace with which she handled the situation really made her his Hime-san.
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Dust cleared the way for the two figures. As Fuuko attempted a muffled cough the stubborn haze in front of her accentuated the absolute lack of artistic inspiration she had for decorating. The last time she ever took charge of a project was when she attempted to decorate her measly piece of wall space in the apprentice miko's common room, which conveniently served as a bedroom. Enraged by her organizational ineptitude the wall came away with one of its rice paper panels in tatters. Still, having allowed twelve years between that unfortunate failure and the present, Fuuko prayed that she would at least execute the festival with a distinguishable display of effort.
"This is the storage room. Basically all the useless stuff the shrine has accumulated over its centuries on earth are here. Unfortunately for us, that makes finding last year's materials even more difficult."
The maiden restrained the coughs that gathered in her throat like the whirls of dust flying around her. It seemed that this mountain of junk contained everything but what she was looking for. As she moved things around, the room became so filled with dust that it seemed she was swimming in it.
Fuuko no baka. If only I had resisted this task. I doubt it would
have worked, but I didn't even fight. This bodyguard will be the end
of me.
Raiha tried his best to keep up. Clearly not as familiar with this junk storeroom as the miko, the boy meandered along. Slowly examining the items deemed worthless by the girl and thus tossed in his path. But it seemed...there certainly couldn't be a reason why everything seemed launched at his head.
Why is he following so closely? Yeah...don't think it's a mistake. I
hope you get knocked out cold and then I can bury you in this dust
mound. Not being able to work on the festival because I'm too busy
mourning the loss of your great companionship seems reason enough.
Baka!
The more Fuuko thought about Raiha's indecipherable answer the angrier her hands became. Soon, things were flying at a record pace. Dust flew everywhere and a blur of blue emerged behind Fuuko as the ninja worked hastily at dodging the various projectiles aimed his way.
As expected she's resorting to violence again. I really don't
understand where her violent streak comes from. She must have had the
violence of a demon if the shrine's serene atmosphere has only reduced
her violence into rage. Perhaps if I talk to her...
"Fuu-chan....are you mad?"
A vein snapped in Fuuko's mind. Mad? Had she heard correctly? The boy was certainly more oblivious than she thought. Of course she had reason to be mad. After all, it was his fault that she was stuck in this place. And now all her prissy apprentice miko behavior had resulted in this heinous assignment. Even so, the idiot ninja had the boldness to ask if she was mad?
I'll show him mad. I can't believe I'm stuck with this prime moron,
of all people my uncle could have sent to me.
"Fuu..."
Burning emerald shot into Raiha's body. For the first time in this afternoon Fuuko was looking straight into him. The rage emanating from her body told his ninja instincts that something was definitely amiss. He actually found himself backing up on the girl...a first for him, ever. No one could make him feel so inferior.
"Let's think about this. Why would I be mad? I mean, I think it's perfectly normal for a guy to just brush off questions. Really, considering how concerned the said guy is in butting his nose into everyone else's business and finding an easy psychoanalytical answer to all problems, I find it not frustrating in the least that this said ninja can just dodge people's questions in order to avoid confrontation. Or is he that scared of upsetting a girl? Is it against his code of chivalry?" Fuuko swept aside the debris impeding her path toward the retreating boy. "But don't worry. I'm not mad at all. What would make you think that dodging a serious question and always acting like a silly little boy would make anyone angry? FUUKO does not get MAD at such ANNOYING people."
For once Raiha felt a chill come across from the maiden. Her usual frantics just made him amused. But he sensed this time he may really have touched something that mattered. Her eyes held truthfulness to them, as if telling him that he'd really betrayed her. Any bond between the two at that moment seemed severed for eternity. But before Raiha could respond...
Fuuko's hand swooped at a rickety, three and a half legged chair in her way. As it flew through the air with enough velocity to create a whirlwind in the room, a heavy crash was heard as the chair barreled into a wall of junk. There was a resonating as the stacked materials vibrated on impact. Both figures appeared startled and their movement paused as they listened to the sound. The humming turned to a rumble, the rumbling to a pound, the pounding to an unbearable roar.
In a moment of conflicting instincts, Fuuko shielded her ears from the unbearable sound. Both pairs of eyes gazed up at the mountain as it began to tumble, inverting itself to the floor. Raiha, in accordance with his own instincts, tackled the girl, who was still marveling at the crumbling heap. The sound of whipping wind shot past the pair as they lay suspended in the air before the inevitable thud to the ground.
The force with which the ninja had projected himself into her returned Fuuko to the present. She'd panicked and frozen. Why had she not dodged herself? It was very unlike her. As she glanced forward into the tumbling mound, she could feel the speed of the air as it fled from underneath the falling objects. Then, without precedence, a great weight fell upon her and all went black.
"Umph."
Two bodies lay breathless as a lone stream of light penetrated into the dome. Fuuko stared at Raiha, who likewise looked down at her. In the tight space allotted by the wood board that created their ceiling, the two lay almost sandwiched together. Fuuko could feel the warmth of the ninja's breath on her cheek. He'd very possibly saved her life. For a moment Fuuko felt a tide of appreciation for the boy...that is, until she felt cold air brush between her thighs.
As the ninja adjusted his arms, putting more distance between the two bodies, the rustle of fabric brushing the inside of Fuuko's leg brought further clarity to the situation. Fuuko inched away out of discomfort, which motion knocked her legs against the side of Raiha's body, making the said ninja equally aware of the situation. Raiha hastily backed up, knocking his head against the ceiling but failed to lodge himself free from the maiden. Had there been ample light to banish the darkness, two faces of crimson would have met the other's embarrassed eyes upon realization that there simply was not enough space for the pair to escape from their compromising entanglement.
Fuuko listened to the soft breathing from above her as she felt her chest collapse and expand at an equally steady rate. As if by a silent understanding Fuuko began using her arms to search for any weak spots in the enclosure. Likewise, with his arms supporting his body weight, Raiha began pressing the enclosure with the stretching of his legs. Unable to budge any of the indiscernible objects around them, both pairs of eyes looked toward the speck of light peeping down over Fuuko's head. With her arms reaching toward the opening, Fuuko diligently pushed away the debris from the outside. She could feel Raiha's face as she brushed it with her sleeve. The prickly ends of his hair tingled alongside her exposed arms. Fuuko let out a giggle, cut short by her own flood of bashfulness. She paused, and both bodies waited.
This is no time to be getting embarrassed. We only have a few minutes
before we run out of air. Just pretend he's not there. It's just you
and the hole. Nothing else.
Movement resumed. Raiha could distinguish the quick gesturing of the arms around him as they scattered the stream of light. He found himself breathing in the fresh air as Fuuko cleared the space in front of him. Air clean, scented slightly of freshly picked lilacs. He realized, that was her smell. A smell of eternal violet. Subtle but ever present.
Then, the arms were grasping frantically, clawing at anything they could touch. In a moment Raiha's reverie shattered as he realized what had happened. As he greedily basked in the fresh air, the maiden a considerable foot beneath him, had none left. Raiha continued what the girl could not. He pushed and heaved first with one arm then the other then both as he destroyed the deathly enclosure. Finding a hole large enough for escape, he pushed the girl, dizzily cooperating with his movements, and then himself out of the cramped space.
The girl lay coughing as the first breaths of fresh air flooded her lungs. Raiha smiled in gratitude upon realizing she had not fainted. It seemed that one consistence that the girl brought to his life was adventure. As the two met eyes, blue on green, the nervous blush from before resurfaced. But refusing to allow nerves ruin the situation, Raiha let out a laugh. The girl followed. Lying on the heap of odds and ends, the two celebrated their good fortune. But happiness is fleeting.
"Train me?"
The short phrase cut Raiha's breath, and the laughter stopped. The girl's eyes, still smiling, awaited a response.
"No."
Becoming less amicable, the eyes shot directly at the ninja.
"Why not? You don't want to train a woman? Am I not good enough to be your disciple? I don't understand you."
Apologetically Raiha inched closer to the miko.
"Fuu-chan, it's not what you want."
"Would I be asking you if I didn't want it? I know what I'm doing. I can handle it. I want to."
The maiden's eyes were searching his for a reason. An honesty unlike anything he had experienced nibbled at Raiha. His hand settled on something soft. He looked down and saw a tattered old doll—a charm resembling a cat. Silently, he handed it to Fuuko.
"What?"
"Because you remind me of a cat. I can't train you."
As the girl stared thoroughly confused at the feline figurine pressed into her palm, the ninja cut the conversation premature as he began sorting through the pile of rubble from the collapse. Fuuko simply did not understand.
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a/n: So sorry it's been a millennium since my last update. But school happens. I've been working on this chapter for a while but it really wasn't turning out the way I wanted it to. Nevertheless, I have settled in a way and thus posted it as is. Seeing as it is summer, I hope to cover good ground on this fic. For those who are wondering, I was working on the outline, and the fic is definitely turning out longer than anticipated. I realized that I had a lot more loose ends and unanswered questions if I left it in the original plan. According to my predictions the fic should end around chapter 16 or 17. Thanks for bearing with me, and your feedback is always appreciated.
Flower Gathering
Chapter 6: Regalia—Prelude
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Flecks of luminescent orange danced with the silver edge of the katana. Nothing flowed amongst the objects. A boy, a girl, a sword. But tension filled the void, invading every space and still yearning for more. Even within close quarters, the two figures remained unconnected. Not even the threat of the sword to one brought from the other tied the images together. Despite the aggressive thrust with which the maiden handled the katana, her opponent scowled with more animosity, betraying his otherwise harmless manner. The glowing eyes bored into the girl's own windows, setting her ablaze with their chilling emotion.
The girl's brow furrowed with thought as she studied the man in front of her. Expressionless. He remained immobile as sleeping cattle in spite of the pointed object centimeters from his nose. The imposing object made quite an impression even on a passing viewer.
He can't stand there forever. What kind of inhuman idiot can dodge a
weapon so closely placed? He has to answer me. My approach. I've
been such a good miko recently. Doing more than my share of chores.
Following curfew and remaining within the stern walls of this stuffy
shrine. I thanked him last night for his hard work at not saving my
life. He has to feel some pity for a converted heretic whose piety
now surpasses those of her peers. The clearly secluded training area
this building offers ensures that no one will know about the training.
He WILL say yes. There is no fault in my approach.
The boy remained unreadable as no nerve twitched within his entirety let alone the face, which the miko was studying frenetically—any signal would do for her at this time. He remembered the silence in the passageway down to the room, clearly a hint that any transactions that occurred on the premises would remain secret. The sweet girl of the past week suddenly made sense. He had been duped. To think such a rebel would be so easily cured of rugged habits was much too naïve. He'd never been so easily trusting of someone's actions.
She still hasn't given up on the self-sufficiency thing. She expects
me to understand the discretion she has and her ability to act
obediently so long as I teach her. What kind of deal is this? I'm
not here to teach her. I knew I should never have taken the job.
Still no word of Kurei. Well, I guess there's no other way then.
A tug. The hilt slid from the delicate hand. Raiha sandwiched the blade, his two palms pressing against the tapering steel—surprisingly light but not bending under his applied strength. The weapon dropped to the ground, a crisp clang of fine welded metal cut through the darkness. Specks of the orange lantern light scattered everywhere in the unexpected exchange and finally found rest upon the maiden's face, taunting her for its removal from her possession. The curl of the blade smirked up at her in mockery.
"Is that what you really want?" The blue hair brushed beyond her and toward the stairs he had descended.
Silly girl. What did she think she was doing asking him, of all
people, to teach her? She really didn't understand a thing.
The simply clad apprentice stooped down and picked up the blade. Cradling it in the folds of her plain robe, the determination of a second ago lay lost as if dissipated into the ground by the fall of the sword. Anger.
The nerve! Just attacking me like that. What right did he have in
disarming her? It wasn't like she really would have wounded him.
Didn't he have any tact? And what did he mean what I want? Would I
ask him for something I didn't want? Males sure have ways of pointing
their excuses to women. As if I didn't want to be trained by him.
Who else am I supposed to get instruction from? Recca won't do it in
case Sakoshita-sempai finds out. This is bullshit.
Fuuko proceeded around the circle of lamps, extinguishing each only to add its flame to her own infuriation. But slowly darkness invaded the maiden's heart. Her eyes grew dim and with the dying of every light, the disappointment that the previous event had sparked increased in weight. She followed the sound of retreating footsteps with her eyes. It had been so strategically planned. Where did the fault in her tactic lie?
Did I ask him inappropriately? He doesn't expect me to wait for him
to protect me, right? Though he didn't give me a direct answer. I
hate that about men! They never tell you precisely what they mean.
That's it! I won't let him get away so easily. Heh. "Is that what
you really want?"
The fair stubbornness flew up the steps toward the bright sunlight and flowing ponds. The day once again enraged Fuuko with its optimism. Where had the idiot gone? Unsurprisingly he had abandoned her with nothing but a question mark of a response. If she really had executed the plan as perfectly as it seemed, why had it not warranted the desired response? And, really, for someone so unaccustomed to the grounds, where did he find such damnably accessible places of seclusion?
Fuuko's eyes darted around the perimeters of the garden as her neck swerved left and right, allowing her to peer behind all possible hiding spots. She conducted a very thorough examination of the area in front of her. Certainly not even an ant had gone unnoticed to the pricked up senses of this spitfire. But then again, that was merely in front of her.
Behind that steaming mop of violet hair, two sapphires peered out from the side of a willow tree. Of course having only a few minutes ahead of his acquaintance, the only sanctuary he spotted was this grandmother willow with her far-dangling limbs. The ninja congratulated himself on escaping notice. He loved how the usually keen maiden dumbed her logic in flurries of frustration. Checking only in front of her...how hilarious. She really had a knack for entertainment. Why she had stuck to this miko stuff really dumbfounded him. Wait! But was it not just this morning that Fuuko seemed so near the true rank of miko? Yes. Something certainly had changed in the bodyguard's mind. She seems rather mischievous in all actions...never doing what is expected. Yet, maybe he had been misled by the immense joy of finding her not nearly deceased last week that he believed every bit of her false sincerity. Of course, her playing so cutely the naïve repentant black sheep of the shrine struck no strings within his heart. What a silly idea. He would just have to be wary of all her actions hereafter. She was, after all, as easy to read as an exposed letter.
But why the training? Certainly she did not want him, of all people, to become her pedant, confidant, advisor. Though that may be overstepping the boundary between sensei and husband. The fact of the matter was that this request, though well staged, lacked in...something. If he were to be her protector then wouldn't his training her imply a sense of insufficiency on his part? Clearly the maiden meant no offense on his marvelous skills; even so, he resolved to stand with his original decision. No training would commence between him and that oh so conniving girl. Smiling triumphantly about his decision Raiha congratulated his ability to so easily decipher the right path for this situation. He readied himself mentally for the immense violence he expected from the raging maiden once he declared the verdict. That done he only needed to find the girl himself.
"Muahahahaha....have you taken to the willow as you weep the regret of your decision?"
An all too triumphant Fuuko, upon spotting her prey, guffawed down over the blue haired boy. Although he crouched to only half his normal height, the normally immeasurable pride the girl had in her achievements, now trapped within the dense foliage of the not quite weeping willow, elevated exponentially to create a magnifying effect on the stature of the triumphant rascal as she beamed down upon her adversary.
"That's alright. I'm willing to forgive your hasty abandonment and will gladly become your fated disciple who will launch you into fame. What do you say?"
The smirk poured into his dilated pupils until all he could recall was ivory. Was this to mean that she would make a meal of him if he refused?
Go on, Raiha. You know that this is a ridiculous notion. Just say it and get it over with.
Raiha maintained his fixation on the glistening white teeth. Excluding the girl's ill temperament the mouth itself, with plump rose- colored lips, really was a marvel. Well-formed they seemed most amiable. The girl just had to be full of contradictions.
The smooth, usually quick to smile, lips opened to form a room for words. They moved but to no music. The girl bent as if her eyes would make out the sounds for her.
What was he saying? Did the lips appear to say yes? A tug. The
words, they're repelling me. Does rejection feel so bitter, the taste
so repulsive that I am pushed away? My robe is acting on its own,
overpowering my body.
Her head turned...by a hand? A fragile looking girl stared up into the mint irises.
"Teeth..." burst out of the ninja's lips. He reddened and awaited the maid's reaction.
She broke her gaze and looked down. Raiha awaited the shift of facial features that would unfold Fuuko's exploding rage. Her face shifted toward the ground.
"I'm sorry, Ganko-chan. What did you need? You want to go see some orchids?"
The girl blushed with delight at the suggestion. An entire afternoon looking at the beautiful Japanese orchids in the garden? Certainly she was not worthy of so much attention from Fuu-onesan. The flush passed with the rustling of the grass, though. Realizing that she was still met with refreshing mint, Ganko broke her rude gaze up at her superior and intentionally launched her eyes into the dirt mud in which the willow thrived.
"Actually, Neon-san sent me with orders that onesan and Raiha-sama meet her in the conference room."
With a smooth pat on head of the irresistibly cute doll, Fuuko regained some of her usual poise that had completely disintegrated whence she'd spotted the blue hair circa archaic willow tree.
"Let's go Raiha. What are you still standing here for?"
Raiha hastily tumbled out of the willow tree, letting a sigh escape from his mouth.
It's a good thing she didn't hear me. I think I've endured enough
bodily torture from her since coming here. Suspicious that Neon would
summon us to her considering Fuuko hasn't done anything deviating from
excellent recently. I wonder what's in store. I really don't
understand Fuuko sometimes. She has so much tenderness for her peers
but so much hate for everyone else. I wonder if she should become a
babysitter rather than miko.
Raiha smiled as he beheld the older miko entertaining the younger one. He slackened his pace in order to admire from afar, not disturbing the two at play. For the first time since his arrival at the shrine, Fuuko looked purely happy. No secret thoughts danced on her face. Instead, the frail girl tagging along truly resembled a regular girl being guided by her older sister. The laughter emanating from the two melted the asceticism of the shrine, transforming it into more of a home.
Perhaps its not protection Fuuko needs so much as companionship.
The miko marched triumphantly ahead, blond girl in tote. As she bounced along, giving Ganko a thrillingly rough piggyback ride, she became suddenly aware that the annoying bastard now gloating in his time to be smug had once again dodged the question. She glanced back toward the ninja. He cheerily met her gaze. That triumphant smugness embittered the maiden, almost ruining the joy she was receiving from the excited gasps and giggles of little Ganko atop her back. The fates must hate her.
----------
The musk of old incense and crackled parchment documents permeated the space that was the meeting room. For Fuuko, this was more of a second home than her room had been since she had come to the shrine. Whether for discipline or holiday, Fuuko could always be relied on to visit the room daily. Now she graced the head of the shrine once again, indulging the mandates of the magistrates, if any there were.
And as usual Neon studied one of her many disciples with much reserve. One could never quite tell what record played in this leader's mind.
"Fuuko-chan..." although a sisterly way to address her underling, the word rather sliced the dust in the air than soften the cruelty that dripped within the room. "As you know from your many years' residence in the shrine, spring has approached and preparations are being made for the spring festival. This year, since you are perhaps the apprentice miko most familiar with the activities, I prefer that you volunteer services in supply amassment. Do you agree?"
"So basically, you want me to buy everything for the festival?"
"If that is what you think preparations entail, then that is what is preferred."
Flame consumed the green in Fuuko's eyes. Neon always acted so superior just because of her status as head miko. She never said anything directly. As if Fuuko had a choice in the matter. This was a demand that she take charge of the festival's preparations.
Raiha felt the heat of Fuuko's anger for Neon and everyone else. Being the closest living organism to the woman on fire, Raiha experienced the molten lava of this volcano rush over him. Then, something unexpected.
The girl smiled. "Of course I would love to mount this event. I have great memories of the old booths as I was a mere child. But, I must insist that Raiha-sama be allowed to help me with it. I know that the shrine shies from unnecessary heterosexual interaction, but really, I mean, after living in such close quarters with him, he's not really a man, more of a sister. And since he has to protect me, I'm sure he'd be bored if he didn't have equal responsibility in the project. Plus, what better memory to take away than experiencing one's first spring festival by taking part in the project from its roots?" Smile.
Idiot! Any unprecedented smile of the maid's always results in more
mischief.
Sweat congregated underneath the layers of his robe as Raiha felt an immense chill stand his hair on end. His face lost its expression as he searched for a plan of escape. He felt everyone's eyes studying him, this vagabond who had magically found a place in the shrine. Most of all, Raiha felt the pressure of Fuuko's enlivened eyes bore into his being. She was telling him that this was only the beginning of her revenge, the hell he would experience unless he agreed to train her.
"I appreciate Fuuko-chan's consideration, but as a ninja, I'm more accustomed to observation and would be bothersome if I attempted something I have never done before. Surely this is unnecessary."
Don't think you can escape that easily. Neon-sama never refuses an
opportunity to have another person do work. She'll surely make you
help out. Feeling nervous yet, Rai-san. Muahahaha.
Fuuko pressed harder. "He's always like this." Rub of the back. "It's alright, Rai-san, you don't have to be so polite. He was just telling me how excited he was about the festival being so near and all—but it's still over a month off. Clearly he's been looking forward to it, impatiently calling it so near when there is so much time before it. Please allow him to work. He's just bashful."
No, you will not win this one. Neon-san doesn't even like Fuuko.
Must work my charm. Must get out of this doom. Cannot
decorate...cannot work on festival preparations.
"Neon-san...this girl is merely delir...."
"Actually, he will be." Raiha's jaw hit the floor. "Since he is staying for essentially free board, the shrine would like compensation in the form of work toward the festival. Plus, it would be a good experience to remember us by."
Fuuko hid her frown and basked in triumph. As if the situation weren't bad enough, now the insanely sanguine idiot of a ninja would play gopher with her. But at least he was no longer smirking. The corners of her lips curled up in spurts as she masked her delight in Raiha's misery.
He had no idea that such coaxing of Miss Fuuko would end with his own commitment to the matter. Of course he had been excited that, as her guard, he would finally leave the stuffy shrine and see the sights of the town. But to help plan a party of sorts, that was better left to the jesters of this queen's court, namely the apprentice miko. As far as he knew, the only things needed at a party were some good jokes and equally good food.
----------
Recca stood at the bridge, looking for any sign of his hime-san. She certainly was late. He didn't understand her weird behavior today. Running off to do groceries by herself and only shooing him away once he had caught up to her. He hoped nothing bad had happened to her. She was hardly ever late. In fact, late for her was being on time. Still, Recca looked at the setting sun and hoped that Yanagi would appear before darkness set in.
Then, he heard a scuffle. Just two hundred meters down from where he was he thought he saw a shadow quiver. Something was definitely down there. But he told himself to keep cool. Just because Yanagi had stood him up did not mean that something bad had happened to her. Jeez, since when had he gotten so self-centered anyway?
"Recca-kun's waiting for me..."
Had he heard correctly? Although distant, the voice had most definitely called his name. He ran his fingers crudely through his breeze- tousled hair. Keep your cool. What kind of drama would it be if a boy waiting to meet up with his girlfriend was really only two hundred meters away from her. And at this same time the said girlfriend was being abducted by a hentai old fart? But what if he really wasn't an old fart? What if it was a street punk disguised as a lost old man, who stopped a young, innocent girl for directions? And as she stopped he pulled out a knife, holding it to her throat while he led her away to dark oblivion. Her body would turn up violated and bruised one month later.
"Yosh!" Recca abandoned his position at the bridge. Old fart or not, no man would lay a breath on his hime. At a record-breaking dash toward the aforementioned corner, Recca futilely pushed back the sleeves of his robe and readied himself for what unsightly encounter he was about to intrude upon.
As he was about to round the corner, he heard the sweet whisperings of none other than Hime-san.
"...shouldn't be here. If Recca finds out he'll be really mad. He's not very logical when..."
A deep, wicked voice cut her off. "You're so cute when you're nervous. Don't worry about me. Hiro can take care of himself."
Yanagi downcast her eyes. Shame filled her face as she knew she shouldn't have hid this from Recca. It was just that sometimes her was so rash. She feared that he wouldn't let her come. But she needed to know. It was for the good of both of them.
"Well, as long as it's not too long of a meeting."
What?! Have I heard right? My beautiful Hime-san just....
Recca stalled behind the street corner to observe more. Lighted by the moon and dim glow of lights within nearby houses any observer would assume the couple he beheld was secret lovers on a nighttime rendezvous. The girl, blushing nervously, kept meandering eyes about her surroundings. The boy, with his self-assured smirk, fixated on the girl's beautiful features. The two almost looked in love.
"So what was it you wanted to tell me?"
"Well," the scheming bastard leaned closer to someone else's property. He could smell the light scent of roses radiating off the young girl. As he perfectly glided toward her, never losing the attention of her eyes, Kurei felt that his masterpiece was coming together perfectly. "I just wanted to say that I know you have a great boyfriend. And as friends, we should try to look out for each other. I hope I'm not being too impolite but I fear there is someone close to you who may be putting a rift between you and that spiky-haired boy who follows you around."
"Recca-kun?"
Yanagi doubted anything would be coming between them aside from her father. But that was nothing more than ordinary. She smiled. This was nothing to fear. Yet, when she'd received the note secretly tacked to her window frame last night, slumber had fled her. A muffled giggle escaped the girl's mouth.
"I'm sure I can handle whatever you are suggesting. My father has never been able to put much distance between me and Recca-kun. Thank you for your concern, though." She turned to leave, a smile pasted on her face. All her worries for nothing. Now she could return to Recca and explain her odd behavior.
Kurei tensed. The plan wasn't going as he had hoped. Sensing the girl turn away from him, Kurei caught her by the waist.
"Well, you see...I noticed that your friend...uh...Recca seems to be rather interested in other girls...He's not always with you is he? Doesn't he wander off sometimes? I saw him around the shrine a few times."
Yanagi paused. Fuuko couldn't be anything more to Recca. After all, they'd grown up together. It'd be like incest. Then again...she had grown up with Recca, too.
But it's different. Recca-kun and I are different. He would never go
for Fuuko. Besides, this guy doesn't even know Fuuko. If he really
knew what Fuuko and Recca acted like, he wouldn't be thinking that at
all.
"I know you mean well, but you are mistaken. It may seem like Recca-kun gets friendly with Fuuko-chan, but they're like brother and sister. Really, I thank you for your concern, but I cannot believe what you claim."
Recca beamed proudly at his princess. She really did understand him. He had never felt so grateful for her presence as he did now. He watched as Kurei's smugness melted away into a masked anger. He would have to work harder at this plan.
What's with this guy? Just because someone's loyal to her boyfriend
doesn't mean that he should get pissed. Really!
Just then he realized his said girlfriend was coming his way. Thinking better of her discovering his eavesdropping, Recca dashed away from his stakeout and back to his post on the bridge. He couldn't wait more than ever to see Yanagi. The grace with which she handled the situation really made her his Hime-san.
----------
Dust cleared the way for the two figures. As Fuuko attempted a muffled cough the stubborn haze in front of her accentuated the absolute lack of artistic inspiration she had for decorating. The last time she ever took charge of a project was when she attempted to decorate her measly piece of wall space in the apprentice miko's common room, which conveniently served as a bedroom. Enraged by her organizational ineptitude the wall came away with one of its rice paper panels in tatters. Still, having allowed twelve years between that unfortunate failure and the present, Fuuko prayed that she would at least execute the festival with a distinguishable display of effort.
"This is the storage room. Basically all the useless stuff the shrine has accumulated over its centuries on earth are here. Unfortunately for us, that makes finding last year's materials even more difficult."
The maiden restrained the coughs that gathered in her throat like the whirls of dust flying around her. It seemed that this mountain of junk contained everything but what she was looking for. As she moved things around, the room became so filled with dust that it seemed she was swimming in it.
Fuuko no baka. If only I had resisted this task. I doubt it would
have worked, but I didn't even fight. This bodyguard will be the end
of me.
Raiha tried his best to keep up. Clearly not as familiar with this junk storeroom as the miko, the boy meandered along. Slowly examining the items deemed worthless by the girl and thus tossed in his path. But it seemed...there certainly couldn't be a reason why everything seemed launched at his head.
Why is he following so closely? Yeah...don't think it's a mistake. I
hope you get knocked out cold and then I can bury you in this dust
mound. Not being able to work on the festival because I'm too busy
mourning the loss of your great companionship seems reason enough.
Baka!
The more Fuuko thought about Raiha's indecipherable answer the angrier her hands became. Soon, things were flying at a record pace. Dust flew everywhere and a blur of blue emerged behind Fuuko as the ninja worked hastily at dodging the various projectiles aimed his way.
As expected she's resorting to violence again. I really don't
understand where her violent streak comes from. She must have had the
violence of a demon if the shrine's serene atmosphere has only reduced
her violence into rage. Perhaps if I talk to her...
"Fuu-chan....are you mad?"
A vein snapped in Fuuko's mind. Mad? Had she heard correctly? The boy was certainly more oblivious than she thought. Of course she had reason to be mad. After all, it was his fault that she was stuck in this place. And now all her prissy apprentice miko behavior had resulted in this heinous assignment. Even so, the idiot ninja had the boldness to ask if she was mad?
I'll show him mad. I can't believe I'm stuck with this prime moron,
of all people my uncle could have sent to me.
"Fuu..."
Burning emerald shot into Raiha's body. For the first time in this afternoon Fuuko was looking straight into him. The rage emanating from her body told his ninja instincts that something was definitely amiss. He actually found himself backing up on the girl...a first for him, ever. No one could make him feel so inferior.
"Let's think about this. Why would I be mad? I mean, I think it's perfectly normal for a guy to just brush off questions. Really, considering how concerned the said guy is in butting his nose into everyone else's business and finding an easy psychoanalytical answer to all problems, I find it not frustrating in the least that this said ninja can just dodge people's questions in order to avoid confrontation. Or is he that scared of upsetting a girl? Is it against his code of chivalry?" Fuuko swept aside the debris impeding her path toward the retreating boy. "But don't worry. I'm not mad at all. What would make you think that dodging a serious question and always acting like a silly little boy would make anyone angry? FUUKO does not get MAD at such ANNOYING people."
For once Raiha felt a chill come across from the maiden. Her usual frantics just made him amused. But he sensed this time he may really have touched something that mattered. Her eyes held truthfulness to them, as if telling him that he'd really betrayed her. Any bond between the two at that moment seemed severed for eternity. But before Raiha could respond...
Fuuko's hand swooped at a rickety, three and a half legged chair in her way. As it flew through the air with enough velocity to create a whirlwind in the room, a heavy crash was heard as the chair barreled into a wall of junk. There was a resonating as the stacked materials vibrated on impact. Both figures appeared startled and their movement paused as they listened to the sound. The humming turned to a rumble, the rumbling to a pound, the pounding to an unbearable roar.
In a moment of conflicting instincts, Fuuko shielded her ears from the unbearable sound. Both pairs of eyes gazed up at the mountain as it began to tumble, inverting itself to the floor. Raiha, in accordance with his own instincts, tackled the girl, who was still marveling at the crumbling heap. The sound of whipping wind shot past the pair as they lay suspended in the air before the inevitable thud to the ground.
The force with which the ninja had projected himself into her returned Fuuko to the present. She'd panicked and frozen. Why had she not dodged herself? It was very unlike her. As she glanced forward into the tumbling mound, she could feel the speed of the air as it fled from underneath the falling objects. Then, without precedence, a great weight fell upon her and all went black.
"Umph."
Two bodies lay breathless as a lone stream of light penetrated into the dome. Fuuko stared at Raiha, who likewise looked down at her. In the tight space allotted by the wood board that created their ceiling, the two lay almost sandwiched together. Fuuko could feel the warmth of the ninja's breath on her cheek. He'd very possibly saved her life. For a moment Fuuko felt a tide of appreciation for the boy...that is, until she felt cold air brush between her thighs.
As the ninja adjusted his arms, putting more distance between the two bodies, the rustle of fabric brushing the inside of Fuuko's leg brought further clarity to the situation. Fuuko inched away out of discomfort, which motion knocked her legs against the side of Raiha's body, making the said ninja equally aware of the situation. Raiha hastily backed up, knocking his head against the ceiling but failed to lodge himself free from the maiden. Had there been ample light to banish the darkness, two faces of crimson would have met the other's embarrassed eyes upon realization that there simply was not enough space for the pair to escape from their compromising entanglement.
Fuuko listened to the soft breathing from above her as she felt her chest collapse and expand at an equally steady rate. As if by a silent understanding Fuuko began using her arms to search for any weak spots in the enclosure. Likewise, with his arms supporting his body weight, Raiha began pressing the enclosure with the stretching of his legs. Unable to budge any of the indiscernible objects around them, both pairs of eyes looked toward the speck of light peeping down over Fuuko's head. With her arms reaching toward the opening, Fuuko diligently pushed away the debris from the outside. She could feel Raiha's face as she brushed it with her sleeve. The prickly ends of his hair tingled alongside her exposed arms. Fuuko let out a giggle, cut short by her own flood of bashfulness. She paused, and both bodies waited.
This is no time to be getting embarrassed. We only have a few minutes
before we run out of air. Just pretend he's not there. It's just you
and the hole. Nothing else.
Movement resumed. Raiha could distinguish the quick gesturing of the arms around him as they scattered the stream of light. He found himself breathing in the fresh air as Fuuko cleared the space in front of him. Air clean, scented slightly of freshly picked lilacs. He realized, that was her smell. A smell of eternal violet. Subtle but ever present.
Then, the arms were grasping frantically, clawing at anything they could touch. In a moment Raiha's reverie shattered as he realized what had happened. As he greedily basked in the fresh air, the maiden a considerable foot beneath him, had none left. Raiha continued what the girl could not. He pushed and heaved first with one arm then the other then both as he destroyed the deathly enclosure. Finding a hole large enough for escape, he pushed the girl, dizzily cooperating with his movements, and then himself out of the cramped space.
The girl lay coughing as the first breaths of fresh air flooded her lungs. Raiha smiled in gratitude upon realizing she had not fainted. It seemed that one consistence that the girl brought to his life was adventure. As the two met eyes, blue on green, the nervous blush from before resurfaced. But refusing to allow nerves ruin the situation, Raiha let out a laugh. The girl followed. Lying on the heap of odds and ends, the two celebrated their good fortune. But happiness is fleeting.
"Train me?"
The short phrase cut Raiha's breath, and the laughter stopped. The girl's eyes, still smiling, awaited a response.
"No."
Becoming less amicable, the eyes shot directly at the ninja.
"Why not? You don't want to train a woman? Am I not good enough to be your disciple? I don't understand you."
Apologetically Raiha inched closer to the miko.
"Fuu-chan, it's not what you want."
"Would I be asking you if I didn't want it? I know what I'm doing. I can handle it. I want to."
The maiden's eyes were searching his for a reason. An honesty unlike anything he had experienced nibbled at Raiha. His hand settled on something soft. He looked down and saw a tattered old doll—a charm resembling a cat. Silently, he handed it to Fuuko.
"What?"
"Because you remind me of a cat. I can't train you."
As the girl stared thoroughly confused at the feline figurine pressed into her palm, the ninja cut the conversation premature as he began sorting through the pile of rubble from the collapse. Fuuko simply did not understand.
----------
a/n: So sorry it's been a millennium since my last update. But school happens. I've been working on this chapter for a while but it really wasn't turning out the way I wanted it to. Nevertheless, I have settled in a way and thus posted it as is. Seeing as it is summer, I hope to cover good ground on this fic. For those who are wondering, I was working on the outline, and the fic is definitely turning out longer than anticipated. I realized that I had a lot more loose ends and unanswered questions if I left it in the original plan. According to my predictions the fic should end around chapter 16 or 17. Thanks for bearing with me, and your feedback is always appreciated.