Excuses:…heh heh heh…my friend always told me there's no such thing as a good excuse…but I'm giving you readers one anyway. I suppose I should have informed all of you at the beginning that this fanfic takes place after UBS. So it is focused on how the characters have matured after the UBS due to what they've discovered and what they have learnt during the tournament. I suppose this is reason enough that tokiya seems a little nicer than usual…so does this still mean he's out-of character? Maybe I've been watching too many other animes and gotten a little confused…It would help tremendously if you could tell me if tokiya is still ooc and if you can, what I can do to better the situation…thanx!!! I also apologise for how chapter one turned out…I think that chap is the most badly written of the lot…do forgive…

Spiked Punch7: Solutions and Answers

Recca was having trouble processing the information he was filling him in with from the other side of the line. It was all pouring in so fast he was trying to grapple with the magnitude of the situation he was being presented with and the even more problematic solution the other person was proposing. Would it really work? Was it really worth it calling in the Uruha over such a trivial matter? It may be true that things have simmered down since the death of Kouran Mori. But it was a known fact that the two sides stayed as far away from each other as possible while still living in the same country! If Japan was not the land on which the Hokage was born, Kurei would have moved to the other end of the planet!

He was pulled out of his reverie suddenly when he heard a crisp voice through the static of his phone calling him,

"Hanabishi? Hanabishi are you still there, sea monkey?"

With a measure of uncertainty present in his voice he uttered,

"H-hai?"

"There's one more thing you must do, you need to swear you will not tell anybody about what has been exchanged between us."

"Swear?" the uncertainty now more obvious than before.

"Yes…" the voice from the other side hissed, his patience was definitely thinning out.

"Heh Heh Heh… Ne, Mikagami don't you think that is too…"

"Just SWEAR!"

" OK!OK! I swear!"

And then the line went dead.

His legs felt weak beneath him. He muttered to himself, "What have I gotten myself into?" an exasperated sigh escaped his lips as he trudged back to the bedroom, which he now shared with Kouganei. As he slid open the door, he saw the kid sprawled over both futons, with his mouth wide open, snoring AND drooling at the same time. It seems that no matter how mature he was when he was awake, it was not his time to grow up yet. Looks like sleep would be eluding him this night so he might as well spend it planning for the little 'event' that was about to take place.

* * * * *

He hung up as soon as he swore Recca to secrecy. Is it the right thing to do? True, it was elaborate, but there are more benefits than detriments, are there not? Both fractions are part of Hokage, why should they remain separate? Plus, it was more than evident to him that Recca, as much as he likes to deny it, did long for his half-brother's acceptance. And Kurei on the other hand was not all that cold as he made himself out to be.

He smirked. Since when have I become so meddlesome? Their lives are theirs to govern. It's not up to me to look out for them...I guess I'm just not the same person anymore… But what changed all that, which I've worked so hard to build? The life without friends, the burning desire for revenge, what happened to all that? He had to smile when only one word came to mind, Wakaranai…

He released an exasperated sigh…so many questions too few answers…

The next few days passed without incident. Hokage still gathered at the usual place, the fanclub still chased Mikagami, and Recca and Domon still got caught for sleeping in class because they snored too loudly. But all that was on the surface. Someone was definitely up to something and only time would reveal what it was.

~ One week later…~

"Hey! Fuuko! Wait up!" Recca hollered from the other end of the corridor. Tiredly she stopped and turned around to face him. She was drop dead tired and really did not want to waste any more time than what was completely necessary in school. She had things to do, sleep to catch…

"What do you want, Recca?" she asked lethargically.

He bounded up to her and skidded to a halt right in front of her. Bent over and panting with his hands to his knees for support and his sports bag slung over his shoulder, he gushed out between breaths, "I [pant] need to [pant] speak with you. [pant*pant] It's a matter of [pant] utmost importance." He finally straightened up still red in the face from his exertion. Fuuko turned around and started walking, but at a slower pace so Recca could keep up. He took this as an invitation to speak freely. He was a little hesitant about assuming that Fuuko would stop and listen to what he had to say with full attention, as she usually did, because his proposal this time round was of a somewhat more complicated nature. So it was best to be formal and polite so as not to trigger an outburst.

"Err… Fuuko, are you free tonight?"

She paused for a moment, long enough to throw him a suspicious glance. This sounded too much like somebody's speech to ask a girl out on a date. And that was the last thing she would be expecting out of Recca's mouth, especially when directed to her instead of Yanagi. Her senses dulled by her weariness of a day at school, she was still uncertain about giving a straight answer. A question would be better.

"Why?"

He already knew he would not get a straight answer from her, this coming from knowing her almost all his life. Thank goodness he had an excuse prepared. Stumbling a bit at first, a little unused to lying to a good friend,

"Er…my…my…MUM! Yes, my Mum won a $100 voucher to Compass Rose the other day at a lucky draw. She couldn't go with Shigeo cause he has to a lot of orders coming in for fireworks lately so she gave it to me. I was wondering if you could go with me tonight cause I don't want to waste the voucher and all…" he let his lie tail off hoping she would bite the bait.

Fuuko did not bite the bait. She knew a lie from a truth and whatever Recca was saying sounded suspiciously like a lie. However, she would like to give him the benefit of the doubt since they are childhood friends after all. But one thing still stood out…

"Why me? What about Yanagi? Isn't she free?" with a bit of her jovial personality coming back into the picture, she teased,

"Wouldn't want her to think you're cheating on her with me, do you? Hmm…?" she paused for a bit and sucked in a deep breath. Then with the sternest look she could create, she stared him down (and he visibly cowered) saying,

" Cause if you are, I WON'T LET YOU GET AWAY WITH IT!"

With his best poker face, he breathed a sigh of relief and replied smoothly,

"Nah, she's not interested, I asked her a few moments ago. She said she wasn't feeling up to western food tonight. So you see I've exhausted all possibilities, that's why I've come to you!" Evidently proud of himself that he had managed to reason things out to a logical conclusion to Fuuko. (At the same time making a mental note to self to explain all this is not quite what it seems to Yanagi later on.) However, contrary to what he believed would happen, Fuuko's features darkened considerably, in a dangerously soft tone she hissed out,

" So, I'm the last option, is it? So you think I'll definitely go out with you tonight, is it? Well think again buddy! Go find yourself another dinner partner!" she huffed and stomped ahead. Recca quickly realising the error of his ways sprinted forward to catch up with her and apologised profusely for assuming her response. She smiled tartly at him and grinned mischievously,

"Just kidding! I'd go anywhere with anyone as long as there's good food! Just don't make such audacious assumptions in the future, you might make other girls angry!" she teased, walking away from an incredibly stunned and incredibly relieved Recca, waving her hand and calling out for him to meet her at the place itself at seven tonight. He yelled out an affirmative as she faded into the distance.

He breathed a sigh of relief and slumped against the wall. That had been an incredibly hard stunt to pull off. To get Fuuko to come out with him that night without letting her know the real itinerary, that is. Phew! He wiped the sweat off his brow. Now to confirm the night's agenda with another very testy someone. Man! I think my nerves would burn themselves out by the end of the day! Trust Mikagami to come up with such elaborate plans…and evade all the groundwork!

Fuuko was excited to say the least. She was going to the Compass Rose! It did not really matter who she was going out with but the Compass Rose! It was like one of the most prestigious restaurant worldwide! With world class service from the waiters and waitresses and, where only the finest delicacies were served! There was so much else to rant about the food, ambiance, food prices…FOOD PRICES! She shot out of her daydreams. One dish could cost up to twenty plus thirty dollars. If both Recca and herself were to have an appetizer, a main course and a desert each, it was highly unlikely that one $100 voucher would suffice. Recca could not possibly splurge so much on one meal, he and she were just neighbourhood kids; they could not afford such expenditure. Something suspicious was definitely going on.

With her bubble slightly dented, she dressed for the dinner. She had tried calling Recca earlier, but nobody picked up the phone. She slipped on a simple chiffon dress. With a halter neck fastening around her pale, slender throat; its length reached to her knees. She twirled about in front of her full length mirror in one of her rare moments of femininity, and watched in with a slight smile as the material fanned out around her legs before falling back into place. She put on lilac lipstick to match her evening dress of pale purple and her mane of lustrous amethyst. Around her neck was a quaint little necklace with a perfectly clear orb-shaped pendent. The only other accessory she had on, was her Fuujin on her customary hand.

The cab pulled up outside the Compass Rose and she got out after paying the taxi driver. Her white strapped heels rapped against the pavement as she made her way to the front entrance. She saw Recca standing there in a full tuxedo. Unlike what she had expected, he did not look the least bit dumb in sophisticated clothing. The black coat of the tux was buttoned at his front and flattered his male figure by hugging his waist. With one hand tucked into his trouser pocket, he looked positively charming. He smiled slightly when he saw her, but she could see that it didn't quite reach his eyes. There was a certain amount of uneasiness radiating from him. His lack of quips about how girlish her outfit was and his subdued mannerism unsettled her somewhat. She slowed her pace as she approached him. Suddenly, she picked up a very familiar vibe. Turning her head slightly to the greenery surrounding the restaurant, which was situated atop the little hill on the other side of Tokyo, she watched with apprehension. Dread built up inside her as two figures materialized in the shadows. One stepped into the light before the other, both wore a look of severe seriousness. The first was also, like Recca, clad in a suit of formality. The second however, wore a cloak of blood red fastened around his waist by four black belts. He did not wear a mask this time, but he might as well have since his façade was virtually emotionless.

" Raiha…Kurei…" she breathed out in shock. Her mind raced over the possibilities for their presence and the most logical one it came to was that they were not here for mid-afternoon tea. Whatever their reasons were, it was not likely that they would be pleasant. With the ease of an experienced fighter, she slipped into stance. Her fists were positioned protectively in front of her face and her legs spread slightly to brace herself for the attack she felt was sure to come. A little worried of her lack of suitable attire, she eyed them warily waiting for them to make the first move.

However, it was curious to note that her eyes while flitting back and forth between the two, was more focused on the former, Raiha. She had not seen him in ages and their brief encounter with each other was straight out of a fairytale; she was already standing in the doorway of death when he, like a prince on a white horse, came and saved her and Domon from the clutches of death. That day, he had left her with a cryptic message, when she had asked him if they would meet again, he replied without hesitation that they definitely would because they were destined to. Thereafter, whenever she laid eyes on him, even after she found out that he was Kurei's right-hand man, she always felt a strange tug in her gut. It was like she was drawn to him by some higher power, and she was tempted to believe that it was Love, in fact she already had.

Shaking herself out of her thoughts, she threw a quick glance at Recca to see how he was coping with the situation. She had to make a double take when she noticed him standing there nonchalantly with, both his hands this time, shoved deep into his pockets. His lack of response was disquieting and it was not long before she could no longer hold back her curiosity,

"Recca what's going on?"

He froze it was like as though he was not expecting her question. Slowly, he came back to life and lifted his hand to scratch the back of his ear. He must have been really nervous cause she had not seen him do this since he was a kid. Finally, he ventured an explanation,

"Well, I called Kurei, and through him I set up a blind date for you,…with Raiha…" he tailed off. A slight frown creasing his young brow as he anticipated her none-too-favourable answer. She looked at him her pretty face painted with a look of disbelief,

"And whose stupid idea was this?" she slackened her stance, knowing for sure now that there was not eminent fight, with one hand rising to rest on her hip as she stared at him with a mildly irritated gaze.

"It was totally Mi…my idea." He replied in a defiant voice, catching himself just in time before he made a slip. At this, Kurei raised an eyebrow in amusement. Growing more than a little tired with the two bickering with each other over a problem as small as dinner at the Compass Rose, he decided now was time for him to take control. In a deep cutting voice, he spoke,

"The night isn't getting any younger. There are important things that need to be discussed than who is stupid and who is not, so would the two of you stop wasting everybody's time and get on with the program?"

Both Recca and Fuuko stopped short to stare at him, their mouths hanging half open in shock. Seeing that he was not going to get an intelligent response from his half-brother nor Fuuko, he continued,

"I've already booked the restaurant, all that is needed of you, Fuuko, is to remove your madougu so we can proceed as planned, or should I say as agreed?" with the last statement he threw Recca a pointed glance which warned him to keep his end of the bargain. At this, Recca finally decided that it was time to quit fooling around. With sure steps, he approached Fuuko and grasped her right hand and looked deep into her eyes.

She snapped her head back to face him when she felt him grasp her arm, a spiked retort on the tip of her tongue. Then she fell right into his arresting gaze. Fuuko froze. It was not often where people saw this side of Recca, the sure and authoritative leader of team Hokage. Being a member of his team, she was privileged enough to catch a glimpse of it from time to time. However, seeing it directed at her was quite another thing altogether. She did not even retaliate when she felt his hand slip off her weapon.

When he finally released her from his grip, she regained some of her senses, at least enough to shout back cuttingly,

" Why do I have to go through with this?! I'm sure that Raiha wants no part in this mess!" then she turned her head questioningly to Raiha and added, "do you?"

Without warning, she felt Kurei's ki gather around him. She was almost sure the temperature of the vicinity rose a few degrees. The only response she got from Raiha was his trademark smile and a non-committal,

"I'll want whatever Kurei-sama wants me to do."

Fuuko's eyes widened at his answer. Was there no limit to his loyalty to Kurei? She felt Kurei's ki lessen somewhat as a small mirthless smirk appeared on his scarred face. It was Recca's voice that called her back to the situation at hand and away from her musings.

"Fuuko, I would greatly appreciate it if you would cooperate this once and try to enjoy yourself. The primary purpose really was for your benefit, but Kurei's right, he and I do have other important things to discuss."

Her eyes widened and her jaw slacked. Could this night get anymore surprising? Recca is agreeing with Kurei for crying out loud! I think the world is coming to an end…

With her shoulders slumped in resignation, she sighed her consent to having dinner with Raiha and going through with the blind date. However, just as Kurei and Recca were walking off to another location, she shouted her challenge into the night, "I'll get you back for this one day, Recca!"

She watched for a moment as Recca and Kurei stood side by side before disappearing in an instant using the age-old jyushinshu trick. She sighed again and turned around only to be met with startling amethyst eyes and a pleasant smile from her date. He was less than an arms length from her and she caught a whiff of his cologne. A shock of pink fanned across her cheeks, as he reached out and took her hand in his, leading her to the grand entrance of the compass rose.

Author's ramblings:

Fwah! Another chapter finished! Sorry folks for taking so long with this chap. I'm going through a transition period in my life and it's kinda rough so I hope ya'll can cut me some slack. I want to assure you guys that I've every intention of completing this fic and even re-do chap on when I feel up to it. However, I can't upload chapters very fast cause the workload in JC is a killer. Erm…once again, please drop me a review if you feel the story is up to standard if not don't bother. Like always constructive criticism is WANTED and flames will be accepted. I really only want the truth. If it's bad, just give it to me straight in the face. It would be even more helpful if you could tell me how I can improve.

Last but not least, if you pple really like appreciate the uploading of this chapter, you should thank Kavi-san. It was from this kind soul that I found the strength to complete it this soon…if not you'd still be waiting for me to upload. This individual took the trouble to email me and ask me personally about the fic and that touched me greatly. Unfortunately, when I tried to reply, the email kept bouncing back, so this is my way of thanking you if you're reading this. THANX!