Wow I can't believe it, I'm already on my 11th chapter. Ah well. I haven't been updating this fic lately because I had the serious case of writer's block and school's started, meaning I don't have as much free time anymore. Man you guys don't know how loaded I am. I've also gotten into my other fic, Blasting the Gauge. I have the plot of that already down so it's easier for me to be able to update that.

To Upa: This fic isn't only for Christians. It's for everyone. It just warns because I don't want people criticizing me for adding Christianity to the fic just because they don't believe in God.

To Amethyst Blizzard: I hope I don't sound too, uh, "not-in" (is that a word?) but what does "peachy" mean? ;;;

What Are Friends For? : Chapter 11: Realizing the Truth

Ruki asked but figured she knew the answer. "What was it?"

"Makino"

Ruki felt herself freeze. Though she was expecting that answer, she was hoping it was not. It wasn't that she hated her father, it was just that she wasn't…prepared.

Juri put a hand on her shoulder. "You know, Ruki, there are many Makinos in Japan…"

"Yes but…Juri, you know your father said that he looked like me…I'm a Makino, that guy is a Makino, and we look alike…what do you think?!"

Ruki felt anger rush through her. She didn't know why, though. She didn't like getting mad at Juri but she didn't know what took over her. It was that feeling you felt when life just isn't going the way you want it to, it seems that every turning point will just bring you more disappointment. There didn't seem anything good about life.

"I---I'm sorry, Juri…" Ruki managed to say and looked away. Juri nodded her head.

"That's okay…I understand…"

They looked at the chessboard. Both suddenly lost the urge to play any more. Juri silently fixed it up and piled it neatly into her cabinet.

-Next Morning-

Ruki was awake early. She had changed from her pajamas already and was sitting at the back porch of Juri's home. Nobody else was awake. She gave a long, deep sigh as she recalled last night's events. She heard light footsteps from behind her and felt Juri's presence near her.

"Ruki, I'm sorry. If I hadn't invited you over-" She began to say but was cut off.

"If you hadn't invited me over I wouldn't have known that my father could possibly still be in these areas. It's destiny, I guess. Thank you, Juri"

Juri looked at her friend, seeming not to understand. She nodded her head and the two watched as the sun slowly woke up from its sweet slumber and stretch its arms to spread its warmth to the half of the world.

-

Ruki said goodbye to Juri and her family, thanking them for letting her stay and walked home. After a few steps she realized that they were meeting Jen at the chapel later on in the afternoon. That would still be a long time so she decided to pay someone a visit.

She took a familiar turn walked towards Ryo's house. She knocked a few times until he finally answered. He was tired from sleep and was still very drowsy. His clothes were all wrinkled and he rubbed his eyes to clear his vision.

"Ru-Ruki?" He said sleepily. "What are you doing here this time of the day? I thought you were at Juri's?"

"I was" she replied simply.

"Then what are you doing here?"

"I'm going home"

"This isn't your home"

"I know"

"Then why are you here?"

"Is it wrong to pay you a visit?"

Ryo looked up and thought about it. "No, I guess not. But this early…" He yawned and motioned Ruki to come in. Ruki stepped into his house and sat on the rugged floor, looking down.

"So, what's up?" Ryo asked, sitting across her. He was quite energized by Ruki's unexpected visit.

"Well…I found my father…" She said, barely above a whisper.

Ryo beamed. "That's great! Weren't you looking for him?"

She sighed. Ryo didn't notice it and continued his question. "So, how'd it go?"

Now Ruki frowned. "I said I found him Ryo, I didn't meet him"

"Yet?"

"What do you mean yet?"

Now it was Ryo who frowned.

"Well, don't you have a plan or something? I mean, you are going to try and meet him, aren't you?"

"Well…"

"How'd you find him anyway? How'd you know it was him? Perhaps it could have been some other guy? Tell me about it" Wow, for someone who just woke up, Ryo sure had lots of questions.

Ruki sighed yet again and told Ryo her story. He listened attentively and nodded his head now and then. When she finished he rubbed his chin.

"Well, we'll have to investigate first and find out if it's true or not, I mean, if he's really your dad or not. I suggest we tell the others, if you want to, I mean"

Ruki thought for a moment. "Well, maybe Juri, you, Takato and Jen are okay…but I don't really want to tell Shouchion, Kazu or Kenta yet…"

"I respect your opinion. Now, when should we tell them?"

"Perhaps later…"

"When we meet at the chapel?"

"Yes"

-

Ruki opened the door to her house and walked inside, her footsteps echoing through the empty halls. As soon as she left Ryo fell right back to sleep. She didn't feel the least bit sleepy.

Not knowing what to do, she went online. She entered a web engine and typed the following: "Makino, Takehashi". She scanned the results. None matched of her desire. She repeated the search again, this time inverting the words; "Takehashi Makino". She examined the results. Perhaps her father had been someone popular that a website had at least a few information on him? Who knows?

She went into the 3rd page of the results and one particular definition caught her eye. She clicked on the link and was led to a website. She pressed ctrl F and typed "Takehashi Makino". It led her near the bottom page. She looked at the title of the website; 'Successful Businessmen'.

She looked over the picture beside 'Takehashi Makino' and gasped. It was her father, all right. Auburn-colored hair. Yup, that was him. She looked at her father's face. He wasn't very old. The few memories she had with him were good ones. She missed him dearly. She read through his description. 'Very successful…holds a high position…open-minded and eager…friendly…hard-working…single. She read that sentence again. 'Takehashi is a single man. He does not wish to marry though rumor has it that he had had a wife before, maybe even a child. These are rumors and Takehashi denies it. Though when asked about a child…'

Ruki's jaw dropped open and she adds the site to her favorites and turns off her computer. She could bare it no longer.

-

The meeting wasn't until far in the afternoon, and Ruki was bored. She did not know what to do. She walked over to the pond and looked at her fish. She didn't feed them, they ate the moss that grew at the side of the pond. Her attention turned into a tired looking goldfish. It didn't belong in the pond, she knew that. It had once been in her room and she had even spent hours just watching it, talking to it, coloring beside his bowl and even trying attempts to make it jump through a hoop. Its name was Fishy. It sounds stupid now but it had been marvelous to her when she was young.

Her dad was the one that gave her Fishy.

Ruki sighed and recalled that day when she and Takehashi had gone to the pet store to buy her a pet.

(Flashback)

6-year old Ruki begged for a pet from her parents. Rumiko laughed had said that she was too young for a dog or a cat. Turtles would bring bad luck and birds would be too big a job.

Takehashi and Ruki looked carefully at each pet first. A dog had grabbed Ruki's eye the moment she came inside. It was a collie pup. Takehashi just shook his head. She tried to looked over at the cats but was driven away by her father's strong grip before she even got to see one close-up. She took no interest in the rabbits as they were all just lying there, twitching their noses. Ruki tried to copy them which made her father chuckle. Finally, after around 30 minutes of searching, they went to the fishes.

"Ruki sweetheart, look over here. I remember my first pet. My parents gave me a fish. I know it looks boring at first but soon, well, you'll get to know each other and perhaps even be friends"

Ruki peered over the fish tank and pointed. "Fish?"

Takehashi laughed and nodded. "Yes, fish. But don't touch the water. It's dirty. Now, choose what fish you like and its all yours"

Ruki beamed and searched the fishes. As each fish passed by she would tap the glass. If they swam away she would shake her head and say "No, not that one". Finally, after what seemed a long time, a fish didn't swim away. Ruki smiled and shouted to her father, who was across the room looking at the dogs.

"DAAADDDDDDDY! I found the perfect fish!"

Takehashi purchased it at once and handed a bowl which he had just bought to Ruki.

"We'll fill that with water when we get home and you can put your fish in there. Now, what's his name?"

"Fishy" Ruki hugged the fish in the plastic to her chest. Takehashi feared she would break it.

"Are you sure you want that name? How about Flipper or…Jaws?"

Ruki shook her head abruptly. "No, Fishy"

"Fishy it is then" He smiled and lifted her up on his shoulders, giggling and clutching on to her new pet.

(End Flashback)

A smile crept through Ruki's face. She remembered how happy she was with Fishy. She kept him in her room all day and even bought sand a little castle for him. They, or she, would laugh and giggle for long afternoons and she even brought him outside sometimes. She fed him 7 times a day and Fishy showed his gratitude by mouthing some words and swimming around his castle.

She tried to recall why she had to put Fishy outside. She remembered now.

(Flashback)

It was shortly before the divorce of her parents. Rumiko was angry and marched into Ruki's room. Ruki was laughing and giggling with Fishy. This enraged her mother for some reason and she screamed at her daughter, though not meaning to.

"Get that fish out of here NOW! Throw it in the garbage can, flush it in the toilet, get rid of him THIS INSTANT!"

Ruki was scared and looked up at her mother innocently, with a face saying 'What does Fishy have to do with anything?!' but she obeyed. Her hands were trembling as she clutched the goldfish bowl. Rumiko went into her room. Ruki found her father in their living room, face in his hands and mumbling something. Ruki ran to him, spilling some water, and, placing the goldfish bowl on the floor, hugged her father, crying.

Takehashi enveloped his daughter into a warm hug and tried to comfort her. He managed to shush her after a while. He touched his forehead to hers and asked what was wrong. Crying, she told him what Rumiko had told her to do. Takehashi sighed and mumbled something like 'Why does she have to involve Ruki in this?' He knew Rumiko didn't mean to but she had involved Ruki in what was supposed to be between them alone and had unintentionally thrown her anger over her only daughter and her innocent pet fish.

He stroked Ruki's hair and pushed a stray strand away. Having an idea, he whispered to her. "I have an idea. Come with me outside and bring Fishy with you"

Ruki nodded and picked up her pet with one hand, the other clutching her father's. They walked outside and knelt beside the pond.

"Now, let Fishy go"

Ruki was reluctant to do this but her father urged her on. Finally, after some hugging and crying, she spilled the water into the pond, sending Fishy with it. She kept the sand and the castle for the pond was too deep for them.

She could have sworn she saw Fishy look back at her before swimming into the depths. Takehasi told her not to feed Fishy, for he was to eat on his own. But maybe a few snacks wouldn't hurt, just not in front of Rumiko.

Ruki nodded, her head bobbing up and down like it was about to fall off. To her then, it was like listening to the most important thing on earth. She did not know the real truth.

(End Flashback)

Tears were now stinging Ruki's eyes. How could she not have known? Up to now she doesn't know what her parents were fighting about, or what caused it. Whenever she asked her mom or her late grandma, they would always reply with a 'maybe when you're older' or 'someday you will know'. But someday was too far. She was older and yet not old enough. If she had been able to survive a battle with something that could have wiped out the existence of the earth, why could they not trust her to be able to keep something like this?

It didn't make sense.

She heard a knock on the gate. She knew who it was so she took her time and walked. She opened it and there was Ryo, ready to bring her to the chapel to meet the others, to learn more on the Word of God that could change their lives.

Suddenly it dawned on her. How can she not have been able to think of it before?

Smiling, she looked up at him. "Ryo, I think I found the person whom I can share with, who can help me…besides Jesus. I think I've found whom he sent"

Ryo seemed surprised but yet glad. "Really? I'm happy to hear that. Who?"

She threw her arms around his neck in a warm embrace. He was taken off-guard at first and was surprised but later on completed the embrace. He whispered into her ear again. "Who is it?"

She replied back in a whisper. "Haven't you figured it out yet?"

"No"

She smiled inwardly.

"You"

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Hey I finished it! Well that was supposed to be the real ending, the one that I've planned out a long time ago. But then I see that I've left you guys in a sort of cliffhanger there. The hunt for her father was supposed to come before that last event but I felt it belonged here and not after the hunt. But if you guys want me to finish this story to another end and you are interested in how the hunt for Ruki's father will be, Just tell me and I'll add it in, either in a sequel or to another chapter to this story. You decide.

P.S. I've opened the Ryuki website already. The url can be seen in my author's page at the bottom of my description. Hope you visit. Updates are coming but since I have 2 sites it might not come very often (considering school) but there will definitely still be updates :D.