Chapter 4

Fuuko

I put down my cell phone, feeling a bit better. Raiha was coming soon. I won't have to spend the night alone in this lonely school building, here on the rooftop. I leaned my elbows against the railing and gazed ahead at the dance of nature performing before my very eyes. The wind howled eerily, lifting and spinning the leaves from the courtyard. Lightning played across the heavens, illuminating the landscape in a ghostly white light for a few brief seconds. The thunder rumbled on ominously, heralding the storm to come. It was actually quite beautiful.

I loathe admitting it, but I was scared. Scared of reality, scared of facing up to my feelings, and now, scared of being alone. I'm a coward. And I always thought that I was fearless and brave. Anger and fear, that's all I could feel right now. I wanted someone to be with me and surprisingly, I reached out for Raiha. Why? Why not Recca? Why not Yanagi? Why not Domon? Heck, why not Tokiya? Why Raiha, someone who was once an enemy? I've known the others much longer than I've known Raiha. So why is it the first one I called was him? I laughed out loud to myself despite the tears. And why am I devoting so much thought on Raiha when my parents want a divorce right now? Fear, anger and now guilt.

* * * * * *

Raiha

Damn, but her school is big! How in the world am I supposed to find her?! I didn't even know my way around! I gazed around frantically, my nerves all jangled up with worry. And this stupid rain is making it even harder to see! What am I going to do?

Then, I nearly slapped myself for my stupidity. Duh. "Fuuko-chan, where are you?" I couldn't help yelling into the mouthpiece once I heard her voice on the other end. The roof? I looked up just as a bolt of lightning flashed through the sky, catching a glimpse of a lone figure standing forlornly in the rain.

I flew up the stairs and swung open the door leading to the rooftop. Fuuko stood unmoving still, her back towards me, presumably lost in her own thoughts. She was drenched to the bone. How small and vulnerable she looked like this, just her amidst the elements. Strange, I've never seen Fuuko as 'vulnerable' before. "Fuuko-chan," I called softly.

Fuuko turned around slowly and regarded me for a moment before launching herself at me in a tight embrace. To say I was shocked would be an understatement. She buried her head against my chest, her whole body wrecking with sobs. I awkwardly placed my hand on her head, patting it slowly. Whatever pain she was feeling, it was beginning to creep into me now. "Please don't be sad Fuuko-chan. Please don't cry," I whispered. What else could I say? I hate seeing her cry. It made me feel like crying too. Overcome by my emotions, I wrapped my arms around her and rocked her gently. "Please don't cry. I'm here with you now."

Fuuko

Raiha's warmth flooded through me and I felt less alone. We stood there for a while, just hugging each other, with him begging me to stop crying. Well, I wanted to stop too but the floodgates were open and I had no way of closing them. So I let him hug me, letting his concern wrap around me like a warm blanket.  But what if Raiha gets the wrong idea? I tentatively pushed his arms away as gently as I could.

Raiha immediately let go and smiled understandingly but I could detect a hint of hurt in his eyes. I felt really bad. Here he was, coming all the way here to make me feel better out of concern for me. And I was worried he'll get the wrong idea? "I'm sorry; it's just that I…" I started to say, but Raiha cut me off.

"It's ok, Fuuko-chan. What happened?" he asked. "You'll feel better telling someone. But first, let's get out of the rain," he suggested, leading me inside to the staircase. He sat on one of the steps and motioned for me to sit down too. I sat down next to him and tried to begin.

"My parents…well… They…" I hesitated. Come to think of it, this really *was* kind of personal and I started to regret asking Raiha to come. Although he was a friend, I really didn't know him that well and it would be really awkward to confide my family problems to him. But seeing how truly concerned he was, I just poured out everything I had been keeping in my heart.

"They want a divorce. But I DON'T!!! I want my life, I want my family, I want things the way it is now!!!" I shouted angrily. I knew I sounded like a spoilt, selfish brat. I banged my fist on the wall in anger. "Why do things like these happen? My life was going fine!!"

"Maybe they happen to make you stronger," Raiha said quietly. I looked at him in surprise. "My parents died when I was young. It felt horrible to lose them, but I managed. I like to think that that made me stronger," he smiled slightly.

"Oh," was all I could say. I didn't know much about Raiha's past. Now that he let me know that fact, I felt as if a new bond had been formed between us. "I guess I am being selfish," I admitted.

"Have you tried talking to them?" he asked. I nodded.

"It didn't work. They were okay for a while, but then it started all over again."

"Well, Fuuko-chan, you should feel happy that you've tried. Although it concerns you, this divorce is entirely your parents' decision. It is *their* marriage, after all. If they feel unhappy with each other, is it fair to force them together just because you want to? Can you stand to live in a house where the love is forced?" he said gently. Raiha did have a point.

Raiha

Fuuko was silent as she absorbed what I'd just said. I really hoped I said the right thing, and I hoped she didn't feel that I was getting preachy. She smiled sadly, no, resignedly was more like it.

"You're right," she conceded. "I wouldn't be able to stand it. I've tried talking to them countless of times but it doesn't seem to work. All I can do is pray, although it isn't much use. The lawyer is coming tomorrow."  She choked back a sob. "I'm trying to be brave, Raiha-kun, but these tears won't stop flowing."

I put my arm around her shoulder and squeezed her reassuringly. I hope she won't shrug this off. "It's ok to cry, Fuuko-chan. Every one has to cry. It's only human."

Fuuko continued crying. I left my arm around her shoulder and we sat there, side by side. As her tears subsided, she finally looked up at me, smiling weakly. "Thank you for coming, Raiha-kun. It meant a lot to me." 

Just those simple words filled me with a wonderful feeling of happiness. Then to my amazement, Fuuko rested her head on my shoulders, a few tear drops still sliding down her lovely face. "I'm sleepy Raiha-kun. Stay with me?" she mumbled tiredly. With that, she dozed off.

I looked down at Fuuko's peaceful, sleeping face. Like an angel. She seemed so different when she was asleep. Is this the strong fighter who defeated me? Now, I felt an overwhelming need to protect her, to always be there for her. To be her Prince. I gently brushed a few stray wisps of hair from her face, taking in the scent of her hair. Her breath felt warm and light against my neck. I wished the moment could last forever. But not at the expense of Fuuko's pain. I stayed awake for a while. For this precious moment, just watching her sleep and experiencing the feel of Fuuko against me. Soon, I began to doze off too, my head drooping against hers. So we slept, right there on the stairs, next to each other. I wish… I wish  we could do this again… but not only just as friends.