(Chapter 12: Miracle at the Park)

Char did not return. Not the next day, not the next week. And Kira refused to go to school, no matter how much Rukawa coaxed or threatened. Instead, she insisted on staying home to wait for her dog, lest he decided to come home to found no one to open the door for him. Rukawa couldn't stand watching her fly to the front of the back door at any little sound, throwing her door open expecting to see Char at her doorstep.

"He'll come home. He's a smart dog." He would assure her, laying a hand on her shoulder. But he, too, was worried, for the wolf dog hadn't shown up for the past four days. He'd biked and searched everywhere, but had seen no sight of him. But Rukawa didn't give up. One reason was because Rukawa was fond of the intelligent animal that had taken care of Kira so diligently over the years. The other reason was Kira.

Char had been with Kira for long, and their affection had been greater than any bond in the world. If he doesn't return…well, he doesn't want to think about that.

"Don't feel bad, Kira. I'll get you a new puppy if Char doesn't come home." He patted her with a paternal air. Unfortunately, that was the wrong thing to say, for Kira's head flew up, and Rukawa saw an icy fire in her eyes.

"Don't say that!" She backed poor Rukawa up against the wall, flames shooting out of her eyes. "I'll never get another dog! Never!"

Then she stalked off to her room and slammed the door, leaving Rukawa to wonder in the mist of rattling objects wondering if it was that time of the month.

Saturday, eight days after Char's disappearance, Rukawa trouped into Kira's house early in the morning noisily. He stepped into her house loudly, and letting Buster off the leash, made a beeline toward Kira, who was sitting in the middle of the kitchen, absentmindedly finishing off a whole box of donuts.

Rukawa wrinkled his nose with disgust as he reached her and pulled the jelly-filled donut from her hand. She automatically reached for another donut, but didn't get one because Rukawa had thrown her half-eaten donut into the box and slammed it shut.

"No more donuts." He said sternly, holding onto the box. Kira was silent. "Unhealthy." He added, knowing that healthy food had always been her priority. "You don't want to get fat. No girls want to get fat."

Still Kira said nothing. Her eyes were distant and dull, as if drowned in the pool of depression. But Rukawa had been prepared for this. With quick steps, he flung the curtains and shades away from each window, allowing the April sunshine to stream in, brightening the whole house. A fresh fragrance crept into the house from the open French doors.

She heard him walking into the living room, where her precious piano had been closed ever since that night, and pulling back the curtains there. She heard the lid to her piano opening and lowered her head, her long dark hair falling forward like a curtain of secrets.

She was still wearing her pajamas, a large white button-down and baggy pants, but she could care less what Rukawa saw her in. Char was gone that's all it matters.

Char, oh Char! She cried silently. All the loneliness she had felt for the dog since he had gone away overwhelmed her now in a great flood. Char, whose eyes were always full of sympathy and understanding, whose wagging tail and warm tongue had always sustained her in her moments of unhappiness and doubt. Char was gone, and she would probably never see her again. Worst of all, she knew that Char was hurt by her actions and was longing for her. The thought of that hurt Kira more than her own loneliness.

Kira reached up to her face and realized that fresh tears gleamed on her cheeks. She brushed it briskly away as she heard Rukawa coming back.

"Up." He commanded, his Nike shoes tapping impatiently on the shiny wood floor. She didn't move. He sighed. "You really are trying my patience." He said, irritated. "On which girl have I ever spent so much time and feelings on, huh?"

"Go away and leave me alone." She pushed him away stubbornly, burying her face in her arms. She heard him sigh again and the next moment, found herself being thrown over his shoulder.

"Put me down." She said crossly, in no mood for games. "Do you hear me, Rukawa Kaede, I said put me down."

"I heard you." He said simply, marching up the stairs. "But I have no desire to comply." She let out a long, annoyed breath.

"Where are you taking me?" For the past few days, he had distracted poor Kira by his affectionate stupidity until she completed his bewilderment by getting cranky and scolding him. Right now, she's not expecting anything better.

"Get dressed." He said crisply, dumping her unceremoniously onto her bed. "We're going out." He opened her closet and studied her collection. Then selecting a pretty, rosy sundress with sandals to match, he tossed them to her. "I've got to pick up our other member first."

"Why this dress?" She complained, holding up the satiny, ruffled material with one hand and the strappy sandal with the other. She could swear that she saw a wink and a smirk before Rukawa closed the door behind him, saying in a muffled voice.

"Wearing elegant or new dresses always makes girls' moods better."

Then he left her house whistling a tuneless tune, leaving Kira behind, not daring to speculate on how he knew so much about what women wore.

"This is our third member?" Was the first thing Kira said as soon as Rukawa returned.

"Yep." Rukawa smiled. "I borrowed him for you from his mommy. We're going to take him to the park."

Sitting in his baby stroller, Yukki made a happy gurgle. Kira was incredulous.

"You walked down to his house and picked him up?" She repeated slowly. "You walked down to his house and picked him up?"

"Of course." He retorted breezily, as if it was nothing. But inside, he added silently, anything to make you smile again. And he ignored all the troubles and embarrassment and looks he's gotten while strolling him back. But, like he determined, he would try anything to bring Kira out of her depression.

"Come along," he prompted, draping a light jacket over Kira before wheeling the stroller out into the garden, then the road. Kira slowly followed, wondering what exactly was wrong with Rukawa, making him so lovable to infants all of a sudden.

It was a warm, sunny day. Birds chirped along the quiet road as Rukawa, Kira, and their ward headed slowly for the grassy park nearby. Kira and Rukawa were both silent, and only Yukki made elated baby noises. They were soon stopped by a lady on the street, and she wouldn't be the last.

"Oh, how adorable!" She cried. "How old is he?"

"Not old enough—" Rukawa began to say, but Kira quickly put in with a smile on her face.

"About seven months, I believe?"

"Oh, you two must be proud! New parents are always proud of their firstborn."

"What?" Rukawa looked stunned.

"You two have such a wonderful baby," the woman continued, beaming. "I can see he's got his father's eyes and his mother's smile."

"He's not mine!" Kira and Rukawa said simultaneously.

"And I would not know what his father's eyes looks like." Rukawa looked as if he was about to explode. His pale complexion had deepened into a very interesting shade of purple.

"Nor would I his mother." Kira added quickly. The woman nodded and laughed, her eyes sparkling.

"So modest. You don't see modest young people anymore these days. And you three are the very image of a perfect family." With a wave, she was gone.

Kira and Rukawa stood motionless for the next five minutes.

Unfortunately, this was not the last incident, but the first of many incidents of misconception. Before they had reached the park, no less than a dozen people had came up to them and commented on the wonderful family they exhibited and what a cute baby they had. Kira was certain that Rukawa was about to burst a blood vessel.

"Is everyone in the world blind?!" Rukawa finally exploded as he flopped onto a park bench, smoke coming out of his ears. "Yukki looks nothing like me or you!"

Kira giggled, spooning applesauce into Yukki's waiting mouth. A little dribbled and she wiped it expertly. Rukawa looked around, apparently bored. Then he suddenly asked,

"Hey, want an ice cream?" Kira looked up, her brows furrowed.

"Ice cream?" She began to echo, but Rukawa was already gone and five minutes later, returned with two cones and a small bowl with one scoop of vanilla ice cream. She took the cone he offered gratefully, for Yukki was done with the applesauce and it was rather awkward. The licked their cones in silence and when Kira was done with hers, she took the little spoon and gave Yukki a portion of his.

"Why not give him all of it?" Rukawa asked, his eyes amused yet interested. Kira looked up, and Rukawa couldn't believe when he saw the old merry look danced in her eyes.

"He'll get sick, Rukawa!" She exclaimed heartily. A delicate blush turned her complexion a marvelous mixture of honey and roses. Turning back to Yukki, Kira lifted him out of the stroller and set him on the soft grass.

They watched as the baby crawled around and tried to stand.

"I haven't been down to the warehouse for a while." Rukawa was the first to speak, stretching his long legs out and crossing them at the ankle along with his arms.

"Oh." Kira relaxed beside him. "Ever since you met me?" She added in a teasing tone. But Rukawa was solemn.

"Yes, I think so."

"Why didn't you ever go back?" Rukawa looked down at her with a look that Kira couldn't quite decipher.

"Because I met you." Kira felt a small blush creeping onto her cheeks.

"You're a really sweet guy when you put your mind to it." She commented lightly. She knew he admired and loved her artistic talent, respected her independence, and enjoyed her company. But when something warmer and more flattering than admiration, respect, or pleasure crept into his manner, she could not help seeing that the biggest and only goal at this point of her life was within her grasp.

"You think I'm joking." Rukawa raised an eyebrow. "You don't believe me?"

"Oh, I believe you alright." Kira grinned. "I'm everything you needed, so you don't need anything, or anyone else."

"Except basketball."

"Yeah," she agreed. "That's something I can't beat. First comes the basketball, then comes the si—girls." She finished quickly and Rukawa wondered what word she had stumbled on and why she was turning into a darker shade of red. But he nodded his agreement nevertheless, and gave a satisfied little sigh, feeling serene and mellow. Life is good. Yes, life is good.

Kira suddenly sat up straight next to him.

"Rukawa." Her voice was strange.

"Hmm…?"

"You look different." He looked over to see Kira's eyes shining. He frowned. "You're glowing." She explained, her eyes dancing with merriment. "Are you in love?" He rolled his eyes.

"What in the world are you sprouting about?" He closed his eyes and rested back against the bench. But her next words made him sit right back up.

"You've found someone to care for." Kira's eyes were soft. Rukawa promptly reject that idea, but Kira insisted.

"How would you know?" His voice was silky and bored.

"From your face…and your manners. Those occasional happy little sighs."

"What do I look like?"

"Like you've learned to care for someone a great deal more than yourself." She replied with color in her cheeks and a sudden softening of her voice.

"Nonsense." He turned away. But Rukawa knew in his mind, he had found someone he cared for. And she was sitting right next to him this very minute, watching him with shining eyes.

But the affections and fondness he felt for her was different than anything he's ever felt. It wasn't the love of lovers, nor was it the love of friendships. It somehow goes deeper than that.

"Who is it? tell me, I won't tell anyone!" Kira, seeing that she was right—like always—immediately began egging Rukawa for all the information he could give, which was none.

"Does she go to our school?"

"Maybe."

"Do you like her, a lot?"

"Maybe."

"Is she pretty?"

"Yes."

"Is she smart?"

"Yes."

"For goodness sakes, tell me her name!" She finally gasped, unable to contain her excitement any longer.

"No." And instead of looking amused like he did for the last few questions, Kira thought he looked almost uneasy. Oh well, she can't push it very far the first day. She'll get the information out of him eventually. She settled back into the bench, then suddenly sat up straight for the second time, and gasped, blood draining from her face.

"Where's Yukki?!"

Rukawa was on his feet immediately. Kira was already running around, calling Yukki's name and searching all that's visible to her eyes. But the baby had disappeared. Rukawa felt his heart thumping against the base of his throat. Yukki was gone, but where could he have gone? His long legs soon overtook Kira as he helped her search through the whole park.

"Yukki! Yukki!!" Tears threatened to flood down her face, Kira turned to Rukawa. "What are we going to do, Rukawa? I can't find Yukki anywhere."

"There's a creek by here…" Rukawa was out of breath, very unusual for the star basketball player. "I'd better check there."

"No…you don't mean—" Without waiting for an answer, Kira began tearing down toward the hill, screaming Yukki's name. Rukawa dove from the stroller and tackled her to the ground.

"Kira…Kira!" He shook her lightly. "Calm yourself down." He ordered. "If Yukki is near here, you're going to scare him. Let's take it slow and easy. He's an infant, he couldn't have wondered far." Kira nodded frantically, convincing herself to believe Rukawa's every word. He helped her to her feet and they headed for the dreadful creek.

But as they were walking, something caught the corner of Kira's eyes. She turned, and froze.

Trotting gaily toward her way, was a large dog. His silver hairs were dirty and covered with burrs, while mud crusted on the delicate hairs of his feet. He was limping slightly on four sore feet while a giggling baby dangled from his muzzle. He was ugly, thin, dirty, wolfish looking, his eyes untrusting. He was footsore and muddy and full of burrs and thorns. But he trotted on cheerfully, so thin, so dirty, so footsore, so weary, and covered with burrs.

But Kira knew him.

"Char!" Rukawa had spotted him as soon as Kira had and was now running like mad toward the dog, who dropped the ecstatic baby in front of him with a wagging tail that whipped back and forth, as if to say, "I believe I found something that belongs to you." He was undoubtedly still the handsome husky wolf dog.

"Good dog!" With one hand, Rukawa held Yukki, who was now entertaining himself by trying to pull Rukawa's hair out by the handfuls, with the other, he petted the animal agilely, feeling for any cuts or broken bones. "Good boy, Char! Good boy! Kira—" He turned, and stopped.

Kira stood as still as a statue. Tears slowly build up under those long lashes. And with a single blink, several pearl-like drops slowly trailed down her cheeks. Her body was trembling fiercely and she looked so white that for a moment, Rukawa was sure she would faint.

But she didn't. For as soon as Char's warm, trusting eyes sought for hers and finally found them, Kira couldn't stand it any longer. Her heart broke into millions of pieces as she flew, open armed, for the pathetic piece of art standing sorrowfully, yet nobly in front of her.

"Char! My Char!"

The mistress and her dog met half way, throwing themselves into each other. Char leaped into the air and find himself being cuddled in the warm embrace of his fair lady, who buried her face and cried into his dirty fur and cut her hand from petting the burrs that were twisted harshly into his hair. His red tongue licked every inch of her face as fast as they could until it was just a red blur, all the while producing little whines that sounded like consolation as well as suffering from the past few days of misery.

Kira was getting grass stains all over her elegant dress and she had lost one of her sandals during her run, but she couldn't have cared less. Char was back! The words sang in her mind and heart and soul. Char was back!!

Rukawa was standing further away, bouncing Yukki in his arms and silently watching the touching reunion. He told himself that the toughest man with an iron heart could have seen this sight and cried for a whole week.

"Doesn't this make you want to cry?" He said nonchalantly to the baby, who was now chewing and drooling all over his T-shirt. "Thank you to you, Char is back."