Chapter 9

Raiha

When we finally broke the kiss, all I could do was gaze at her in wonder. Finally!!! Happiness was rushing through me, making me feel so warm and tingly all over. I wanted to just burst out laughing with joy, but of course, that would make me look pretty stupid. Finally, I could bask in the knowledge that Fuuko likes me! I tried to think of something intelligent to say, but Fuuko beat me to it.

"Wow," she gasped. "I should have done that sooner. Now I REALLY regret running away from that kiss, Raiha-kun!"

"Good that you know," I laughed. Right now, my initial anger and irritation was fast fading away to oblivion. What can I say? I'm a forgiving guy!

I gazed down at this beautiful, wonderful, amazing girl that I'm in love with. Only one question remained. Should I ask? The butterflies in my stomach started flying around in full force and I had the sudden ridiculous urge to twiddle my thumbs.

"Fuuko-chan," I began with great difficulty. "Urm… would you…"

Fuuko cocked her head as if to say "get on with it". Somehow, that didn't help much.

I took a very deep breath and swallowed hard. Just do it, my head screamed. "Uh…" I hesitated. This time, she frowned at me looking a tad irritated. It was now or never.

"Wouldyoubemygirlfriend?" I rushed out as quickly as I could.

"Huh? What the hell are you mumbling about? Can't you speak properly?" she complained, folding her arms.

Oh great, I thought in exasperation, now I have to start all over again!

"I said - 'Would you be my girlfriend?'", I asked her slowly. "Please?"

Fuuko's eyes widened and her cheeks reddened slightly. A tiny smile tugged at the corner of her lips but she looked up at me slyly.

"Would you kill me if I asked you to say that again?" she asked with feigned innocence, plain mischief sparkling in her eyes. I think my expression must have been simply too funny for her to stand because she burst into laughter. Great, she was going to say no!! I just knew it.

Fuuko

Yes! Yes! Yes! I was amazed to find myself so elated that he asked this question. With a start, I realised that ever since SODOM, having Raiha as my boyfriend was one of the silly, girly fantasies that I've had. Now, the incessant tug at my lips gave way to a full-blown smile.

"Yes!! *Ahem* I mean, yes," I said trying to sound not so excited. For some reason, I felt embarrassed to sound too eager.

"Ye-yes?" Raiha asked as if he himself couldn't believe what I'd just said.

Who am I kidding? I thought. I was happy, might as well show it.

"Yes!! Really! Raiha-kun, I would love to be your girlfriend!" I burst out, jumping at him to envelop him in a hug.

The expression on Raiha's face was priceless. He looked startled and incredibly happy all at one go.

"Re- really?" he asked again. He seemed to be zoning off again.

"How many times do I have to tell you?!" I grumbled. "I want you to be my boyfriend because I really like you!!" Whoa, where did *that* come from? I didn't plan to say that to him out loud but now that I've said it… well, I didn't mind one bit.

Raiha started to get that dazed, goofy expression of his. He looks so cute like this. I smiled to myself. Raiha, my boyfriend. How could I have ever doubted my feelings for him? Now, at this moment, all my past worries and fears were just too laughable. Funny how easily we can change our minds sometimes, huh?

* * * * * *

Tokiya

I sat at my balcony, gazing up at the sky. Whenever I feel troubled, I would just sit and watch the endless heavens. Somehow, that would bring me some measure of calm. But tonight, there was no moon, only a single, small star shining weakly. How lonely it looks, I mused.

I looked around my apartment. Stylish and spotless. Yet cold and lonely. Such a big place… but with only one person living here. Ever since Fuuko left, I was suddenly struck with a feeling of emptiness. I was used to being alone. I *like* being alone. But still… if that were the case, why do I feel so hollow inside?

 Have I really changed so much? I wondered. I remembered the times shared with the rest of the Hokage. The battles, the pain, the joy we've been through. I used to regard them only as team mates, but after sharing so much, I knew that they were more than that. They are my friends. Why is it that I just don't want to admit it to them? Why do I insist on playing the part of a loner?

I thought of Fuuko's brief visit. Having her over made the apartment more alive, more warm. Truthfully, I couldn't wait for her to move in. I wouldn't admit it to her of course! Then, I remembered the feeling of jealousy that I experienced when she hugged Raiha.

What kind of jealousy was it? Was I jealous because she could show her emotions so spontaneously and easily? Was it because I was envious that she had found her soul mate while I was still wallowing in loneliness? Or was it… something a bit more complicated?

I sighed. I was stumped. Besides, a part of me didn't want to know the answer. I resumed my star gazing.

"Don't worry," I whispered to that one star. "I know what loneliness feels like."

* * * * * *

Raiha

"How much clothes do you need?" I panted as I helped Fuuko lug all her bags. "I can't believe how much clothes can weigh!!"

"Stop complaining, would ya? And you call yourself a ninja!" she called out. "Anyway, we're already here, you big sissy."

"Hey!!" I exclaimed indignantly. Fuuko grinned back cheekily and I resigned myself to the fact that yes, this is my girlfriend. I smiled to myself.

"Raiha!! Stop zoning off again!!" I heard her yell and I quickly snapped back to reality.

She stood at Tokiya's door, empty-handed of course, since ALL her stuff was with me. She impatiently jabbed the doorbell non-stop and basically, she was making a hell of a racket.

Suddenly, the door swung open with a predictably annoyed Tokiya standing there glaring at Fuuko. He was clad simply in a plain white t-shirt and khaki pants with his silver hair pulled back in a ponytail, I noted. Seriously, he could be a very pretty girl if he wanted to. Ookay, since when did I start "noting" what other guys dress in?

"What are YOU staring at?" he growled at me, apparently in none too good a mood.

"Huh? Me? I was just thinking how prett- oops," I covered my mouth with my hand. Now *that* was really, REALLY dumb!

Fuuko thought so too and she poked me in the ribs - hard. "What the hell are you saying, you idiot? He looks grumpy enough already!" she hissed. We warily looked towards him.

Tokiya's eyebrows knitted together and I half expected him to explode in full livid rage. To my amazement, his face relaxed and he started *laughing*. Although I didn't know Tokiya very well, the impression given to me by Fuuko and her friends was that he was some kind of emotionless person, sort of like how Kurei-sama was.

"I'll let you go for that comment," he joked. Fuuko playfully punched him on his shoulders, relief written all over her face. But when she faced me, she gave me a look of mock warning. You were lucky, she mouthed at me silently.

I pretended not to notice her and handed her bags over to Tokiya. "Brace yourself," I joked as I dumped all her belongings into his hands.

Then, a very scary thought which I'd rather not have slipped into my mind unbidden. I'm letting my girlfriend live together with another man. Wait, make that a good-looking man. Even though Fuuko and I have been together for a few weeks already, I couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. Besides, it was my idea to let them live together. Still… what guy wouldn't feel this way if his girlfriend was going to be living with Tokiya? I shook my head as if by doing so, I could shake off this thought.

"I trust Fuuko," I told myself.

"Huh? Trust me to do what?" Fuuko asked in puzzlement.

"Oh, it's nothing," I replied. "Hey Mi-chan! Can you get me a drink? Fuuko's bags weigh a ton, as can be seen from your painful expression, and I had to carry them all the way here!" I added, trying to change the subject.

Tokiya rolled his eyes. "I'm warning you, stop calling me that!" but he still went off to get me a drink, like the gentleman he was supposed to be.

Fuuko however, stood there quietly, her eyes silently questioning me. I quickly looked away.

* * * * * *

Fuuko

Tokiya and I sat opposite each other eating dinner. Strangely enough, both of us were silent, save for the munching of our food. Considering the last boisterous breakfast we had, I was beginning to feel a tad uncomfortable. I was thinking of injecting some conversation but decided against it. Tokiya seemed *really* deep in thought. I think he has been chewing the same piece of chicken for about three minutes and he kept on staring at a spot somewhere behind me.

Not that I minded much anyway because I too had a few things on my mind. I thought about the comment I accidentally overheard from Raiha. I trust Fuuko. It seemed innocent enough, but the way he said it… it was like he was trying to convince himself of that fact. Like he was suspicious of me or something.

Then before he left, he had suddenly placed his arm tightly around my waist and faced Tokiya, telling him to take good care of me. With that, he gave me a full-blown kiss there and then. I had felt really weird, especially with Tokiya standing there. PDA was definitely not one if the things Raiha and I indulged in. And what's more, he *knew* I didn't like to do such things in front of my friends. I could feel myself getting worked up over it, so I quickly stuffed more food in my mouth and chewed harder. What the hell is up with Raiha?

Tokiya

I don't know what's wrong with me. It's like I'm back to my anti-social self again. I just didn't feel like talking. Anyway, Fuuko seems quite contented to just concentrate on eating. I felt… well, strange to be around Fuuko. I began to take note of certain things I've never bothered about before. For example, I just realised how vivid her eyeswere. I used to think that they were just green but now, I realised that they were a lovely shade of deep emerald. Very unusual. Now, why the hell would I be noticing such things unless…

Maybe that's why Raiha said that it wouldn't be very 'appropriate' if Fuuko lived with him, I thought wryly. Raiha… He sure behaved strangely today. For most part, he was goofy and rather idiotic as usual. But before he left, he turned to me and told me to take care of Fuuko. His actual words were "Take good care of my girlfriend Fuuko". The look on his face was one I had seen before while he was fighting a battle. It seemed as though he was challenging me and warning me at the same time. However, it was gone as quickly as it came and there he was again, smiling away happily. Then he kissed Fuuko and as he waved goodbye to us, he gave me that look again. I didn't think Fuuko saw it but I sure did. Like I said, I'm good at reading expressions and I knew what Raiha's meant. His said: Keep off, Fuuko is mine. Perhaps Raiha was good at reading expressions too. He certainly knew that whatever it was that I was thinking about, it had something to do with Fuuko. Truly, a ninja never loses his craft.

* * * * * *

A/N:  Thanks for all the people who reviewed, especially wanderer for such an in-depth review! I've thought about it and have decided to complete this fic. It is after all my first fanfiction and I think I wouldn't be able to stand leaving something left unfinished! I'm going to try my best to make it as fresh as possible and I would very much appreciate some feedback from you guys!