A/N: plain OMG! wow i didn't expect the reviews to be this many... i guess you guys realy liked it.. thanks for reading and reviewing it ^-^ i'm very happy ^-^

but swear i need to take a break first... i have my flash and now my system project to finish.. i promise i'll update as soon as possible! it won't take a week...

well here's the next chappie...

Chapter 6: cry in the rain

The next morning, Natsuki woke up earlier than usual. She looked at her clock and saw that it was only 5:00am. She slowly stood up and stretched her arms in the air and proceeded to the bathroom. After a few minutes of cleansing herself and making sure she's clean, she walked to her cabinet and looked at the best looking clothes she could find.

She wore a white hooded shirt with a wolf print at the front and a semi baggy pants that matched her shirt perfectly. 'It would take me 3 hours to go to Fuuka by bus so I have to go now.' She noted herself, fixing any crease in her clothes. She walked outside her room slowly and quietly so that no one would be bothered by her.

"I guess you don't need your Ducati, Natsuki." A sweet voice said making Natsuki shiver.

"You know kaichou, sometimes you just creeps me out." Natsuki said in a scared way, not looking at Kanade behind her. Then when her mind processed what Kanade told her, she turned around to see a smiling kaichou."Wait... Did you say my Ducati?"

Kanade giggled and took out a key from her pajama pockets. She wagged the key left to right, making Natsuki follow her hands like a curious puppy. "Don't you want it? Mr. Yamada brought it here yesterday, said that it belongs to you." She said playfully. Stopping her hand from wagging the key, she smiled and gave the key to Natsuki. "Be sure to be at Fuuka dojo at 1p.m, understood Natsuki Kuga of the Gokoujo seitokai?" Kanade said in a playful commanding tone.

Natsuki sighed and held a hand salute, puffing out her chest and grinning playfully. "Yes kaichou!" she replied in a military tone.

"Good, now go before you're late Natsuki. Oh and please be careful." Kanade requested with concern. She was looking down to the carpeted floor with a sad and worried face.

Natsuki smiled and cupped Kanade's cheek and brought it up to look at her blue eyes. "Don't worry kaichou. I'm Natsuki Kuga, the only person that even your covert squad couldn't spy on." She jested, hoping that Kanade would smile.

Indeed Kanade chuckled at Natsuki's jest. It was true that none of the covert could grab hold of any information on Natsuki and when they conduct spying, they always end up seeing Natsuki looking straight at them with her scowl. "I agree. Well now since it is Natsuki Kuga, I would rather appreciate it if you join us later at the dojo without any grease or smelling like smoke?"

"As you wish kaichou." Natsuki replied playfully as she turned around and walked away to the garage. "I promise!" she said softly before disappearing from Kanade's sight.

As she saw her Ducati black dogo monster in the garage, she hastily run to it and hugged it like a mother missing her daughter. She missed her motorbike so much ever since she left it in Fuuka. "Well baby, I guess we have to give you a hell of a run" she said to the inanimate object. She stood up and put on her black helmet and mounted the bike. Turning on the ignition and revving it up to the max, she raced her bike outside the garage and drove to her destination.

The drive to Fuuka was a long and annoying for Natsuki. She always ends up in a traffic jam or the usual way back to Fuuka was closed due to road repairs. It was as if that day prevented her from coming back to her old school. Yet she still drove to the Fuuka Park with confidence. 'This is my last chance! If this wouldn't be successful, then damn I should die!' she shouted in her mind.

After a long and annoying drive, she finally made it to Fuuka Park with a record of being the first to be there. 'Wow, it's not like Shizuru to be late.' She said as she glances on the clock at the park. It was already 8:15a.m when she arrived. She removed her helmet and turned off the engine before making her way to the fountain in the middle part of the park. "Well I guess Shizuru must be dressing up for this, since she's late." She assured herself as she sat down by the edge of the fountain and clasps both of her hands. 'Shizuru.'

0-0-0

Shizuru woke up from her deep, relaxing slumber. Stretching her arms in the air, she let out a soft moan and looked at her window to see a shower of rain pouring down from the dark sky. Taking a small glimpse of her wall clock, she and heaved a deep sigh. It was already 12:00pm. She rubbed her eyes gently and blinked a few time to clear her sleepy vision. "I overslept… I guess I'm late." she whispered as she stood up and went straight to the bathroom.

After her daily lavender scented bath, she went to her closet and wore her school uniform. Sure it was a Saturday but she still has her kaichou duty and she has to meet the members of the visiting competitors in the kendo club. "Hmm I wonder who Reito-kun would be up against…" she thought as she fixes her clothes.

A few thirty minutes later, she grabbed her bag, umbrella and keys to her car and went to the front door. She opened the door and saw the hard pouring rain. "Ara, ara, it's raining cats and dogs. Whoever's in the street at this time must really be careful" she said to no one. She opened her umbrella and went to her car and drove off to Fuuka gakuen.

She carefully drove to the school, fearing that the road might be slippery. She drove past the Fuuka Park but somehow she felt like something just hit her heart with a rock. Still concentrating on her driving, she placed her left hand over her chest. 'I think I forgot something important.'

She continued her driving until she arrived at Fuukua gakuen. She opened her car door and took out her umbrella to shield her from the icy raindrops that fell from the sky. She hurriedly went to the kendo club dojo where Reito and the other kendo club members were practicing and the visitors from other school were waiting.

"I'm sorry for being late." She apologized, making the entire Fuuka kendo club members look at her with a blush.

"I-it's no problem kaichou!" the kendo club said in unison.

Shizuru chuckled and bowed to show her apology. "Ookini everyone. I do hope all of you are practicing hard." She said with her façade of smile.

Reito, wearing a bogu(1) but without the face protector, approached Shizuru. He beamed the brunette his signature smile and gently grabbed her hand, "it's the first time you overslept Ru-chan. Did you enjoy your dream?" he asked in a cheerful manner, giving Shizuru a kiss on the back of her palm.

"Ara, Reito-kun's mistaken. I had a blank dream last night." Shizuru answered, still with a façade of smile. She looked around the dojo and saw the visitors sitting by the side of the dojo. There were 5 of them, talking with each other. One of them was wearing a mask less boku as well. "I see your opponent is a girl. I might say you should atleast tend to be a gentleman Reito-kun." She teased.

Reito chuckled and placed a hand behind his towel covered head. "That's a hard thing to do Ru-chan. That girl is Hida Sayuri. She mastered her family's sword technique at a young age and she's strong enough to defeat even Takeda-san." He said flatly, looking at the Sayuri which was talking with the other girls.

Shizuru looked at Reito with a teasing look and grinned. "Looks like you've found your match Reito-kun." She said playfully.

"Well if I ever win this, promise me that you'll be my girlfriend."

Shizuru just chuckled and gave Reito a teasing look. "IF you win…"

Few moments later, the practice match began. Reito intended to hold back but with Sayuri's skill, he just gave in full force. Giving everything he got to each blow of his shinai, evading each and every attack of Sayuri. Yet, skilled as he may be in a sword, a hit landed on his head and a loud shout of 'Men!' along with the time limit told him that he lost.

"That was new; I guess I can't beat the Hida clan." He said cheerfully, shaking Sayuri's hand.

"You did pretty well Kanzaki-san. Please excuse me." Sayuri said coldly as she made her way to her companions.

Her companions were Rein, Kuon, Siena and Kanade. She gave them a weak smile and bowed before Kanade. "I won, Kaichou." she said in a low tone of voice.

"Outstanding! Great! Wonderful! Sayuri's the best!" Rein said happily as she hugged her friend.

"We're proud of you Sayuri." Kuon congratulated Sayuri with her sweet smile.

"Nanaho would be pleased to know her assault member is the victor." Siena said, smiling cheerfully.

"Good work Sayuri. Why don't you rest a bit?" Kanade said, offering Sayuri to sit down.

Sayuri nodded and sat down beside Rein. She leaned her head at Rein's shoulder and closed her eyes.

"Congratulations, Hida-chan." Shizuru said in her kyoto-ben accent. She has her sweet smile on her face while looking at Sayuri. She turned her gaze on Kanade and bowed her head. "Pleasure to see all of you here; I welcome you to Fuuka gakuen. I'm Fujino Shizuru, the fuuka seitokai kaichou."

"Nice to meet you too, Fujino-san. I'm Jinguuji Kanade of the Miyagami gakuen seitokai. Just like you, I'm their kaichou as well." Kanade said with a smile. She introduced Kuon and the others to Shizuru which Shizuru happily greeted as well.

0-0-0

Meanwhile, 4 hours ago; Natsuki was still patiently waiting for Shizuru. She looked at the clock and it read 9:20a.m. She sighed and rubbed her temple, calming herself down. 'she jus overslept… don't get angry Kuga!' she shouted in her head, still rubbing her temple.

She waited until it started raining. She cursed herself for not bringing any umbrella or jacket to protect her from the cold. She stood up and thought of finding shelter from the rain when the thought of waiting for Shizuru stopped her. Glancing around for a nearby shelter, she saw a small tree near the fountain and she decided to stay there until the rain stopped.

"C-Cold…" she stuttered, shivering from the cold winds and icy raindrops.

She stayed by the tree and still hope to see Shizuru coming to her, carrying an umbrella, smiling and saying she's sorry for being late.

Waited and waited… shivered when cold winds pass her body… she slowly felt her body becoming numb and cold. She rubbed her body by her freezing wet hands to maintain body heat. "Shi-zuru…" she whispered, visible breath could be seen due to the coldness of the air.

Tears were now slowly trickling down her face together with the raindrops that fell from the tree's leaves. She continued rubbing her arms and body to prevent from having hypothermia. "W-where a-are you Shi-zuru?" she asked in between shiver. Still she waited for Shizuru.

She looked at the clock again and it indicated that it was already 12p.m. 'my promise…' she said to her mind, she held her helmet and put it on her head. Making her way to her back, she stiffly inserted her key to the ignition and mounted the bike.

Tears were still in her eyes as she revved her bike, making a loud roar of the engine. She kicked the stand back and she drove to Fuuka gakuen dojo in top speed. Speed… it was the only way she could take the hurt in her heart away. "I-is this… h-her w-way to s-say s-she d-does-n't wa-nt me…" she whispered. Still shivering from the rain that poured into her body, she revved her bike to its maximum speed. Her tears blurred her vision as well as the raindrops that covered her helmet. The next thing she could see and hear was black pavement and loud sirens before she fell into the dark abyss.

"KUGA!"

0-0-0

Back at Fuuka, Shizuru and Kanade were having short chats and discussing how they handled the students of each school when they were interrupted by a sound of ringing phone. It was Siena's phone. Siena cheerfully answered the caller but as soon as she heard what the caller said her smile suddenly disappeared. She has her serious face as she finished her call.

Kanade noticed the odd behavior of Siena and looked at her with a perplexed expression. "Siena-san is there anything wrong?" Kanade asked.

Siena sighed and looked at Kanade and the other Miyagami seitokai with a serious look. "Covert report kaichou… she's at Fuuka hospital, bike accident."

Silence covered the atmosphere for a few seconds and Shizuru looked at them with concern. "Is something wrong Jinguuji-san?"

Kanade sighed and looked sad. "I have to go Fujino-san. My bodyguard had a bike accident on her way here."

"Kaichou, Cindy's already at the gates. We better go now." Kuon said worriedly.

"Hurry! Urgent! Hustle! Natsuki-sempai needs us!" Rein said in panic, tugging Sayuri's clothes. "Kaichou, let's go." Sayuri commented with concern in her tone

Kanade nodded and looked at Shizuru. "Fujino-san… I guess you forgotten your 'appointment' with her. Please excuse us..." she said coldly before looking at Rein and Sayuri. "Let's go, Natsuki needs us." She said, turning away from Shizuru and leaving the dojo together with Kuon and the others. On their way out, a red headed girl bumped into them but they just ignored her and went on their way.

Shizuru has a confused look on her face. "What does she mean by forgotten my 'appointment'? And did they just said 'Natsuki'?" she whispered.

A/N: hate it? or like it? sorry if this isn't a good chappie... although i have to admit that all of your guess were somehow correct and your ideas were really nice... many mnay thank you for your continous reading.. ^-^

Bogu- is specially developed protective armour used in Japanese martial arts, kendo and naginata.