Chapter 8

Fuuko

I opened my eyes and blinked hazily. White ceiling, white walls, white bedspread… definitely not my house… but not a hospital either. Gosh, doesn't Tokiya know that white everything can be very straining for the eyes especially in the morning?? I thought irritably. I could smell something good cooking out there, which is about all the encouragement needed to give me one final nudge out of bed.

I shuffled out to the kitchen, sniffling away noisily when I saw Tokiya bustling around in the kitchen wearing only a pair of boxers. I tried to contain my laughter but I just couldn't help it.

"Haha!! Omigosh Mi-chan! You want me to kiss your ass?" I hooted.

Tokiya

I nearly dropped my frying pan when I heard that familiar female voice guffawing away. Oh shit, I forgot that she's here! I mentally chided myself for being so totally used to living alone that I could forget that a GIRL was in the same apartment as me. How brilliant. Of all the damn times to be wearing the boxers with "Kiss My Ass" printed on it.

"Seriously, I didn't think that underneath that cold, cold exterior of yours, you had such a naughty sense of humour," Fuuko remarked seriously before bursting into laughter again.

I slammed my plate of bacon and eggs on the dining table.

"Fine, laugh all you want. That'll just mean that you won't be getting breakfast. Gee, Raiha would be so mad to see his pet monkey go hungry," I retorted immediately.

I was just about to chew on my bacon when I noticed Fuuko's lower lip trembling. Good grief, not again! At this rate, she would probably beat Yanagi when it comes to the most amount of tears cried out.

"Hey look, I didn't mean it ok? I did cook for you. See? I gave you a big portion too," I blabbered, much to my horror. I NEVER blabber.

"Don't be lame, Tokiya," she snapped, her eyes blazing. "But I'm kinda hungry. Where's my food?"

"Are you blind or something? It's right there. Only a pig could eat so much," I growled. Here she is talking about food when she nearly gave me a heart attack with that 'I'm gonna cry' look of hers. What a nut. I can't wait for her to patch up with Raiha, I thought. I better pray extra hard that they do just that.

* * * * * *

Raiha

I threw my mobile phone against the wall in frustration. I've probably called Fuuko's house more than a hundred times but her parents tell me she's not back yet. I asked for the Recca's number and called him, but she wasn't there. I even begged him to check with Yanagi and Domon but nope not there either.

"What about Tokiya?" I had asked.

"That guy? Don't waste your time on him. He's like some sort of hermit. Besides, I don't have his freaking number! Like I would want it? Please!" Recca had continued on enthusiastically. I had to cut him off as politely as I could.

Hmm… could she be at Tokiya's? I nearly laughed at the absurdity of it. Just yesterday he was making such a big fuss about them living together. But then again, he DID agree to let her stay with him. Geez, I'm such a dope! I always seem to miss out the obvious. Some ninja, huh?

* * * * * *

Fuuko

"See, this isn't so bad, is it?" I grinned at Tokiya who had grumpily, albeit sheepishly, put on some decent clothes. "I'm helping you wash dishes! Having me around won't be that bad! I think I'll go get my stuff all packed up then move in here right away!"

"Great, I'm going to have a female with mood swings living with me. Life sure is beautiful," he grumbled.

"With me around, it definitely is! Anyway, YOU'RE the one with the major mood swings. Wait, yours is like an ongoing PMS!" I started laughing again.

"You're starting to piss me off," he warned. "And to think I was so nice to you last night. This is how you repay me?"

"Yeah yeah, it probably took a great deal of self-restraint not to chase me out, right?"

Tokiya went quiet for awhile.

"No, I was just trying to help," he replied curtly.

My eyes widened slightly. I didn't realise that he would take my remarks so seriously.

"Hey, I was joking! Ok, ok, you're nice and helpful. And you have a great butt!" I conceded, trying to lighten things up. Was it some trick of light or did a faint pink tint creep into Tokiya's pale cheeks?

Tokiya

"Yeah I know, girls would just die to have a butt like this," I replied as Fuuko rolled her eyes. What the hell is wrong with me? I thought irritatedly. Oh yeah, she just said I have a great butt… This is like the first time any female has ever dared compliment me of one of my physical features. And of all things- my butt.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

"I'll go get it!" Fuuko said, rushing to the door. It's amazing how child-like she can be at times. Or childish, to put it more bluntly.

She flung opened the door, but stopped short. I could see the veins on her hand bulging as she tightly gripped onto the door handle. For a moment, she stood there silently, her face ashen.

"Raiha…" I heard her say softly. Then, her face crumpled up again and she threw her arms around him, sobbing quietly into his shirt.

"Hey Fuuko-chan, why are you crying? Don't you remember? You look prettier when you're smiling!" Raiha said as he affectionately stroked her head.

"I'm crying 'cos I feel so terrible for hurting you. I know you've done so much for me and I feel really bad for bringing you sadness. I'm so, so sorry Raiha-kun," she sniffed.

Raiha hesitated. "It's… it's ok then, Fuuko-chan," he told her gently.

Although I may not display many emotions, I sure am good at reading them. And from Raiha's expression, I could tell that he was still hurting over what happened.

Fuuko quickly rubbed her eyes, looking a bit sheepish. Then without warning, she smacked Raiha on the head. From his expression, I could tell that THAT hurt a lot too.

"That's for making me look stupid from crying!" she yelled with her usual fervour.

Raiha simply smiled as he idly rubbed his head.

"I promise I won't make you cry again then," he said.

With that, he leant over, tenderly wiped her tears and gave her a quick, light kiss on the cheek. Instead of getting worked up, Fuuko wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

Now, all these were going on with me standing just a short distance behind her. I didn't realise how ridiculous I must have looked.

Suddenly, Raiha looked at me. "Thank you so much for taking care of her."

"My pleasure," I replied, surprised that I really meant it.

As I watched them hug, I could feel a slight, wrenching feeling in my heart. It was a feeling I seldom felt but I knew very well what that it was- jealousy.

* * * * * *

Raiha

We stood in the park again but this time, Fuuko was holding on to my hand tightly like she was afraid I might leave her. Ironic, since so far, she has been the one leaving *me*, I thought, then immediately felt bad for thinking so.

"Raiha-kun, when I ran away that night, I was just feeling really confused. A part of me insisted that you were my friend, nothing more, nothing less. Yet another part was telling me that I was lying to myself," she paused and took a deep breath. This was obviously not easy for her.

"Then, I finally had the courage to admit what I have been feeling all this while," she continued. "Raiha-kun, I… I… I think that I'm… falling in love… with you."

This was it. This was what I've been waiting to hear ever since the day I first set eyes on her! She gazed straight into my eyes, while I gazed back at hers, enchanted. Her eyes strayed down to my lips and lingered there. Then she did the unbelievable.

She kissed me.

* * * * * *

A/N: Hey there! Once again, I'd like to thank the people who have reviewed. It really is a great deal of encouragement. However, I'm thinking of discontinuing this story. For one thing, it's getting very clichéd with the whole triangle thingy. I have to admit, it seems easier to write about the interaction between Tokiya and Fuuko than that between her and Raiha. Also, the story is drawing out on too many chapters for my liking. Now, I kind of regret adding Tokiya as a main character to the story. I'm totally running out of original stuff to write and to me, originality is pretty important. Another point is that I have an idea for another fic but I don't think I could juggle writing so many fics at a go. It's one of those ideas that keep on nagging at the back of your head… hehe… So please, please let me know what you honestly think of this fic be it good or bad. Thank you so much! ^-^