Chapter 6

Fuuko

Tokiya stared at me like he'd seen a ghost. "Wha-? Are you sure? You're kidding right? I didn't even ask you!" he choked out, appalled.

I burst out laughing at his expression. Seriously, you'd think living with me was the worst thing in the world!

"Sheesh! It isn't that bad right? Yeah, I was kidding… I'm just moving into your block that's all," I assured him. He gave a very audible sigh of relief. Dumbass…

"Thank God… don't scare me like this ok?" he muttered.

"You know, having Fuuko as your flat mate isn't such a bad idea after all!" piped an innocent voice.

Both Tokiya and I glared at Raiha. Of all the silly ideas in the world… Did he really think both of us can survive without pissing the hell out of each other?

"Why not? Fuuko is a young girl. At least if she lives with you, she has a friend to count on," Raiha explained, putting extra emphasis on the word "friend".

I opened my mouth to protest but Raiha immediately put his hand over it.  "Mmpf!!"

"Come on Mi-chan," he pleaded with puppy dog eyes but I could see Tokiya shooting death glares at Raiha for using that hated nickname. I snickered. Undeterred, Raiha continued, " Please, Mikagami. I'm sure having Fuuko-chan with you won't be much of a problem, right? I'll be worried if she's all alone."

"If you're so worried, let her live with you then!" Tokiya shot back.

To my amazement, a pink blush actually crept into Raiha's cheek. "That wouldn't be very appropriate," he said quietly.

A sly look crossed Tokiya's face. "Hmm… not appropriate eh? I wonder why…" he mused in an irritatingly smug manner. He pretended to think about it, with an exaggerated frown on his face.

"If the safety of your pet monkey means so much to you, then sure, I'll look after her," he told Raiha after what seemed like careful deliberation. God, I wanted to strangle that annoying asshole.

"That's great!" Raiha said in his usual happy way. "Take good care of her!"

Now, this was all that I could take. "Raiha, you idiot! You make it sound as though I'm really a monkey!!"

* * * * * *

Raiha

Fuuko and I strolled side by side in the park. It was still pretty early and Fuuko didn't want to get back home just yet. She's been avoiding her home lately, it seems. Briefly, I wondered whether her parents objected to her moving out in the first place. Probably not, I thought. My impression of her parents was that they were too busy with their own stuff to even remember that they had a daughter.

"Hey Raiha-kun," Fuuko's voice broke my train of thoughts. "Why did you insist on making me stay with that irritating bugger?"

"Coz it isn't very fun staying alone," I said softly. "Trust me, I know."

I must have sounded too serious because a worried look crossed her face.

"Maybe… Do you get lonely then, Raiha-kun?"

I looked at her startled. I wasn't expecting her to ask me that. I tried to think of an answer but it was harder than I thought. Do I get lonely?

Flashback

I sat on my bed, staring at the Star Wars poster on my bedroom door. It was night time and the enveloping darkness was stifling..

Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see were two faces. My mother and father. I had spent the whole day holed up in my room crying and I was exhausted. Crying wouldn't achieve anything. It couldn't erase away the pain. It couldn't help me feel better. Most of all, it couldn't bring them back.

I missed them. I didn't know what death really meant but I knew that I'd never seen them again. No one to take care of me. No one to give me a kiss if I fall and scrape my knee. No one to tell me "I love you" before I go to bed.

I was alone for the first time in my life.

End flashback

"Oi, you here with me?" The next thing I knew, a feminine hand was waving in front of my face.

I tried to smile at Fuuko. "Sorry, got a signal from the supreme alien commander just then."

She simply rolled her eyes and smacked me good-naturedly on my shoulder. "Hard to imagine you feeling lonely, ya know. You're always so happy day in day out!"

"I did once…"

"Huh, what did you say?" she asked, cocking her ear.

Oops, didn't realize I said it out loud. It's feels so silly, to be thinking of something that happened so long ago. Anyway, I'd long gotten over it… I think. I must have had a frown on my face or something because suddenly, Fuuko gave me a small pat on my shoulder, making me jump.

"You okay? You seem more spaced out than usual."

Maybe it was the cool night breeze, or the gentle stars twinkling in the sky… But I looked right into her eyes and said, "I was lonely once, but not anymore. Because now I have someone to take all that loneliness away." 

Fuuko looked away but tentatively looked my way again. 

"Raiha-kun, I…"

Before I knew what I was doing, I was cupping her chin in my hand and my lips were on hers. Then, no words were necessary.

Fuuko

When his lips touched mine, I froze. I was shocked. Ok, it was my first kiss after all… though I would never tell anyone that. Gently, tenderly, his lips brushed against mine, so soft like a feather's touch. His touch on my face was so light that I could barely feel it. My eyelids closed as I melted into his kiss and before I could realize what I was doing, my arms were around him.

He stopped for a moment, murmuring, "You're my angel," before touching his lips to mine once more. I could feel his arm around me too, so strong and reassuring. Deep inside, my heart was beating wildly and I could feel all my longing for Raiha surfacing. All those nights thinking of him after SODOM and missing him. It all seems worth it now. Everything felt so right… so natural.

Then, I became acutely aware of what the hell I was doing. I was kissing Raiha! I jumped away from him as if he was a hot iron, entangling my arms away from him.

"I'm sorry Raiha-kun. I can't do this. I need to think." I felt horrible for ending this tender moment so abruptly. But I needed to sort some stuff out first. Raiha's my friend… but friends don't kiss each other like that. You like him, a voice in my head whispered. Do I? Looking at the puzzled look on his face, I wanted to answer yes.

But, I was confused. A million emotions were flying around inside me, yet none was taking hold.

"Fuuko…?"

"I'm really sorry Raiha. Believe me, I am," and with that, I turned around and ran off.

I'm good at that.

* * * * * *

A/N: Ok… I realise that I'm really lousy at writing love scenes and such… darn… haha!! Once again, thanks to all those who reviewed… they really mean a lot to me! Hmm… Tokiya doesn't seem as cold and icy as usual… but it has a lot to do with post-SODOM. I think he really did thaw out a bit after their final battle so yup, here you have a sarcastic but not-so-cold Tokiya! Oh well, that's what I think anyway. Hehe… so any comments or wadeva, please review ok? Thanks!