Chapter 3
Fuuko
Raiha and I make a good team. In less than 5 minutes, the remaining thugs were either decked out or on the run. I turned to Raiha and grinned happily.
"That was great man!!" I exulted, still drunk from the rush of being in a fight once more. "But hey, how come you're here anyway? " I asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
"Uh, I happened to be around," he blurted out, looking flustered.
"Really…?" I arched my eyebrow at him. "Well ok, if you say so then!" I said, although I kinda suspected that he was probably waiting for me to arrive here and somehow… I felt a tinge of gladness knowing that fact. I even forgot that I was still supposed to be pissed off with him.
"Fuuko-san? Are you hurt or anything?" he asked suddenly, eyes filled with gentle concern.
I smirked at him. "Come on, I've taken worse!!" I laughed arrogantly. But in my heart, I was secretly… well, pleased. He actually bothers to ask…
"Urm… yeah, but uh, you sure you can go home like this? Won't your mum be worried or anything?" he persisted, averting his eyes from me.
I looked at him quizzically and racked my brains as to why he seemed so shy all of a sudden. Oh of course! My blouse! In the midst of the fight, I had not paid much attention to the sorry state of it. It was stained with blood and the front part was hanging open. Oops. I quickly clasped it shut with my hand and smiled sheepishly. "Actually, she wouldn't notice at all," I said, thinking about the situation at home. "But it *would* make walking home a lot harder!"
Suddenly, Raiha's face lit up and he grabbed my hand excitedly. "I'll drive you! And here, you can wear my shirt for the time being!"
Before I could protest, Raiha whipped of his t-shirt and handed it to me.
I was then greeted with the very delectable sight of Raiha's tanned and well-toned torso. I tried not to stare but my eyes kept on stealing glances back to his naked chest. Damn, I'm being silly! Raiha was just Raiha. Nothing to get all excited and drooly about. Right?
Raiha
Fuuko pulled on my t-shirt and I couldn't help smiling at her. She looked so cute wearing my clearly over-sized tee.
"What?" she growled.
"Nothing, Fuuko-san, nothing at all," I laughed. That made her even more annoyed and she smacked me on the head, *hard*. Ouch. Been a long time since I've gotten a Fuuko Smack. But then, her eyes twinkled mischievously and she started laughing along too.
"Wow, Raiha-kun, I didn't know you wear t-shirts! I mean, you're always in that ninja outfit of yours. You look so normal like this! And jeans too!" she chattered on gaily as I led her to my car. Good, she doesn't seem so angry anymore.
When she saw my car, her mouth formed a surprised 'O'. "A Jaguar? Not to be rude but, where do you get your money from anyway?" she asked incredulously. "This is one expensive car!"
"Oh Kurei-sama is rich you now. He left us a lot of money…" I trailed off as I was reminded of the man who was more than my master - he was my close friend. After defeating Tendoujigoku, he had used the time travel spell to transport him 400 years back into the past. I still missed him but a part of me felt guilty that I spent more time thinking of Fuuko than of him.
Does that mean I've forgotten about him? No, I've hurt Fuuko at Kurei-sama's orders once. And yet I still care for them both. Just that now, I *know* I care for Fuuko more.
"Raiha-kun? Oh… sorry, touched on a sensitive topic huh?' she asked quietly, shaking me out of my reverie. "You must miss him a lot. I miss Kaoru too," she added.
Without thinking, I turned to her and grabbed her by the shoulders. My mind was a whirl of emotions and I struggled to get a hold on them. Suddenly, all I wanted to do was to apologize to Fuuko outright for hurting her.
"Fuuko-san, I just want to say that I'm very sorry about what happened back there in SODOM. I've regretted it to this day and I hope you will truly forgive me." I said slowly. I meant every word with all my heart.
Fuuko gazed back at me with calm, brown eyes. "Raiha-kun, to tell you the truth, I was VERY angry and hurt but now that you've apologized, I'll accept it!" she said easily, with a soft smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
Without thinking, I took her up in my arms and hugged her. What am I doing!!!??? I just couldn't help it. Relief flooded through me and all the pain and regret I'd been harbouring all this while was washed away. I immersed myself in her sweet scent and the warmth of her body. I could have hugged her forever until I realized what *exactly* I was doing.
Feeling suddenly foolish, I let go immediately. Fuuko's face was turning pink and I could imagine what mine looked like too. And I was *naked* waist up too. Of course, that realization only succeeded in making me even redder.
"Let's just get into the car and get you back home," I mumbled.
* * * * * *
Fuuko
I stole a glance at Raiha again and absently studied his side profile. He was good-looking, that I had to admit. He had a sharp, well-formed nose, so uncommon among Asians. Blue-grey eyes lined by a curtain of lashes, giving him a slightly feminine quality. His lips were slightly rosy and looked so kissable. Kissable?? Argh, must be that hug just now. I'm starting to get funny thoughts! But right now, those lips were frowning slightly and I wondered why. What's he thinking about?
The car ride was uncharacteristically quiet, with Raiha keeping his eyes straight ahead on the road. I shifted around uncomfortably. This is getting weird. Thankfully, my house came into view.
"My house is over there Raiha-kun, you can drop me off here."
"You sure I don't have to send you to your door-step? That's what a prince would do right?" he joked.
Relieved that the strained silence was over, I giggled, which was a first. "Yes, I'm sure," I replied as I stepped out of his car. "Thanks for helping me, Raiha-kun! And by the way, stop calling me 'Fuuko-san'. Why are you still so formal?" I teased.
Raiha looked taken aback but then he beamed at me brightly, like a little boy. "Ok… then you're welcome, Fuuko-chan!"
Then, he sobered up abruptly and his gaze turned serious. "Anytime you need help, I'll be there. I will always be there for you when you need me. Remember that Fuuko-chan," he said quietly with a strange intensity in his eyes. Then he gave his goofy grin and shouted, "Bye Fuuko-chan!! It was nice meeting you again!! We must really go on a date sometime!!" With that, he gave one last happy wave and drove off.
I stood outside my doorstep, absently fiddling with Raiha's shirt as I watched him zoom off. What are you telling me Raiha? My heart was hammering wildly and I had a really strange feeling in my stomach. How can he be so serious and so silly at the same time? For yet another time, I was confused by the unreadable Raiha.
Raiha
I stared up at the ceiling and studied the patterns the moonlight shining through the curtains made. I couldn't sleep. I was too excited. Too elated. She let me call her Fuuko-chan!! I knew that I was acting like a moron again, but sometimes, little things like this really do make me feel happy.
I replayed our hug over and over in my head. I could almost conjure up her very scent. I ached to feel her in my arms again. Ever since I met her, I felt drawn to her. And it wasn't just because of our madougus. Her spirit, her vibrancy, her cheerfulness… and of course, the fact that she was so pretty yet she didn't seem to have a clue about it. I liked Fuuko a lot. I was very sure about it.
Fuuko, Fuuko, Fuuko… I fell asleep, with her being the very last thought on my mind and with a big smile on my face.
* * * * * *
Fuuko ---- one week later
I sat on my bed, staring blankly out of the window as the war of words continued outside my door. Although it was closed, a few snippets from my parents' argument drifted in.
"How could you do such a thing to me? Fooling around with another woman? "
"Shut up, woman!! And stop hitting me, for goodness' sake!!"
I sat there unmoving, simply absorbing what I could hear. My parents have been spending the last few days quarrelling and it was still not letting up. In fact, it simply got worse.
"I can't take this anymore!! I want a DIVORCE!!! I'm getting my lawyer here TOMORROW!!" Then, more shouts and muffled thuds as things got thrown about.
Divorce… a divorce. They've suggested it before but this time, it sounded for real. I gazed ahead numbly as that single word played through my mind and left me reeling. I felt light-headed and faint as the full impact of it hit me. Divorce… My family will be broken apart. I'll have to choose between Kaachan and Ojisan. But I love them both! I don't want a divorce! This can't be happening! Hot tears stung my eyes and I tried to blink them away, but to no avail. A single tear slipped down my face and like a catalyst, I started sobbing uncontrollably.
Rubbing my eyes roughly, I got up from bed and swung open my bedroom door. My parents didn't even seem to notice me as they were too busy on the phone, presumably with the lawyer. I can't stand it here… Grabbing my cell phone, I ran out of my house… running… running… I had no idea where I was going but anything was better than that house. The night wind caressed my hair playfully and washed over me like a balm. I'm free. I followed the wind and ran.
Raiha
"Hello? Who is it?" I mumbled sleepily into the mouthpiece. I took a peek at the radio clock. 2.00 am. Who on earth could be calling at this time?
"Raiha-kun?" a barely audible voice whispered hoarsely. It took a while for me to register who that voice belonged to.
"Fu… Fuuko-chan?" I stuttered in surprise.
"Am I bothering you?" she whispered tiredly. I furrowed my brows. Fuuko sounded really strange… Has she been crying or something?
"Not at all, what's wrong, Fuuko-chan? Do you want to tell me what happened?" I asked gently. It's weird to hear her like this. Especially since most of the time, she's screaming at the top of her lungs.
"Can you come over now? I'm at school. Please come, Raiha-kun, I don't want to be alone right now," she begged, sounding like a frightened girl. My heart caught in my throat. Fuuko, you're always so strong, I forget that you're still a normal girl too.
"I'm coming over right away," I assured her as I hurriedly zipped up my jeans and threw on a shirt. The wind rattled the blinds and I heard thunder rumble in the distance. I quickly grabbed my jacket too. "Just stay where you are, and don't worry. I'll be there soon. Call me if anything happens ok?" I rushed as I half-stumbled, half-ran out of the house. Outside, the wind raged on unceasingly and lightning cut jagged slits through the sky.
I don't want you to be alone on a night like this, either.
* * * * * *
A/N: Thank you so much to all those who reviewed!!! Like our dear Raiha here, little things make me happy too! ^_^ Btw, the chapters are going to be longer coz being the long-winded person I am, I don't want this story to get into too many chapters. And I know it's kinda weird that Fuuko forgives Raiha so easily. However, reading the manga, I get this impression that most of the characters are REALLY forgiving and tend to be stuck in a perpetually optimistic happy-happy state! Oh well, just review and let me know what you think, okie? Thanks!!