Disclaimer: Flame of Recca (and its characters) belongs to Anzai Nobuyuki-sensei.
I have no beta-reader. Any grammatical and spelling errors are solely mine.
This chapter is dedicated to all the people who reviewed Chapter 10. Guys, thank you so much. Just keep the reviews coming and I'll keep on writing.
Warning: OOC possible.
Stalker
Chapter 11: Turning Point
"So… you need that list for the sole reason that you think my stalker is also a member of the Photography club?" Fuuko queried, a frown gracing her features. She was peeking outside the window, holding the curtain aside and kneeling on Mikagami's bed. It was still raining. And it was pouring down much stronger than before.
Tokiya sat on the bed, drying his hair with a towel. "Hai…"
Fuuko blew at her bangs before turning her head a little to gaze at him. "What made you think of that?"
The ex-Ensui master carelessly threw the towel on the chair near the study table before answering her. "It was because of what you said this afternoon."
"What did I say?"
"Something about you and your stalker having something in common," Tokiya responded. "Which is photography. It got me thinking."
Fuuko nodded indicating that she remembered it and at the same time, urging him to go on.
"When it comes down to it, I think he moves in the same circle that you do."
The former Fuujin master straightened up. "Nani?"
"Think of it this way Fuu. If he's a student at Todai and moves in the same circle that you do—then stalking you would definitely be a piece of cake."
Fuuko pondered at what he had just said. "You do have a point," she murmured. When it comes down to analyzing things, leave it to Mikagami.
"That's why I asked Natsuo for the list," Tokiya motioned to her to come closer to him. The ex-wind wielder wasted no time and crawled towards him. She settled herself comfortably on his lap.
"You're heavy Fuuko," he winced a little. "You've gained some weight haven't you?" He got a hearty whack on the head as a response.
While he was busy rubbing the abused part, Fuuko rested her head on his shoulder. "But Mi-chan, let's say he is a student too, but what if photography is just a hobby of his? What if he's taking another course?"
He circled his arms around her, lightly kissing her temple. "If he is, then he wouldn't know you Fuuko. Tokyo University's not that small that people from another course will be aware of the existence of the people from another."
"People from other courses are aware of you." Fuuko pointed out with a cat-that-ate-the-canary grin.
A vein popped in Mikagami's head at the implication of that sentence. "That's a different matter, monkey."
Fuuko scowled at nickname. "Oh it is?" She asked rather dryly.
"Shut up." The ex-Hyoumonken master muttered. "For now, let's just concentrate on the people in your club. I have a feeling that we will find your stalker there."
"I still don't understand how you're able to come up with all these."
"Intuition babe," Tokiya answered with a teasing smirk before lying down on the bed pulling her with him.
They stayed that way for a while, with Fuuko lying on top of him and Tokiya playing with the strands of her hair as he stared at the ceiling. There was a sudden clap of thunder outside that rumbled for a good few seconds. The light on the ceiling blinked on and off before completely enveloping the room in darkness.
Fuuko pushed herself away from Tokiya and he in turn sat up. "Oh drat," she murmured. "Blackout."
Tokiya sighed. "That's just great. Now I can't finish reading the journals."
"Hey…" Fuuko poked his cheek lightly. "Gomen ne. If you didn't pick me up at Bijinshi you would've been able to finish them."
"Don't mind it Fuuko." In the dark she could see a small smile gracing his lips. "I told you before, you are much more important than them."
The tender tone of his voice made her smile. Even if they are together for close to a year now, there is still that tingling sensation creeping all over her whenever he shows his sweet side. "I guess I owe you one then?" She murmured her question softly, caressing his cheeks.
"Yeah, you do." Tokiya breathed out. His hand reached out to her nape to pull her head towards his. His lips touched hers and he started kissing her in a lazy but indulging manner. She tilted her head a little to the side, a silent indication for him to deepen their kiss, which he did.
Her toes curled in excitement as she felt his arm around her waist and he pulled her closer to him. The hold on her nape tightened as he began to ruthlessly assault her mouth, making her moan in pleasure.
She wrapped her legs around his waist, holding him close, entangling her fingers in his long and unbound hair, kissing him back with the same fervidness that he was kissing her. Her tongue teased his until she heard him groan, knowing that she had succeeded in making him lose control.
When his mouth left hers to assail her ear, she was already breathless, heaving and heady. "I think," she murmured. "It's about time to—" Sleep, she wanted to say. She felt his lips form into a smirk and he just continued teasing her ear with his tongue. When he started sucking on the skin of her neck just near her pulse, making her moan again… she knew she was lost.
"Mi-chan…" She managed to utter out before she closed her eyes, letting herself revel in the delicious sensations he was making her feel…
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He stood silently across the street from the apartment staring at it intently. The rain continued to pour down heavily on him but he paid no attention to it. He pulled the hood of his black raincoat closer to his face—the coat as well as the darkness of the surroundings cloaking his presence. Anyone from any of the apartment building in the vicinity will have some trouble seeing him. He thanked the weather for causing the black out, which according to the news from the battery-operated radio back at his room, will not last the whole night.
He lifted his head a little to watch the water from the sky fall down. He was always… enchanted with rain, especially when it's pouring down heavily like what it was doing now.
The apartment before him was dark. He knew that the people inside it are already sleeping. After all, it's nearing midnight. Well… all the more better for him then. With a smile like that of a predator's plastered on his face, he crossed the street and strode boldly towards the edifice before him. Oh he'll be seeing her again tonight.
He approached the trusty tree that was the one witness to his one-sided night tryst with Kirisawa Fuuko. The very tree where that idiot Kamatari Natsuo saw him. Carefully, he began to climb it, not minding the slippery branches. The need of seeing the purple-haired girl was much stronger than the fear of falling down from it. He knew from experience that Fuuko rarely closes the curtains of her window. But it wouldn't surprise him if she does that now… now that she's aware that he is peeping in her room.
He was able to situate himself on the branch that'll give him a good view of Fuuko's room. Glancing at it, he realized that the curtains were drawn away. He grinned. He knows of course that Fuuko loves watching the rain too… it was one of the things that they had in common.
She's probably sleeping exquisitely by now. In his mind's eye, he can see her on her bed, with the blanket tangled around her. He moved forward a little and peered inside.
He blinked. And his eyes narrowed.
The room before him is empty.
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Tokiya sighed as he leaned back on the kitchen counter. He brought the glass, filled with cold water, to his lips and drank almost all of it. Running a hand across his tousled hair, he put the glass down and decided that it was best not to go back in his room. Once is enough for tonight. If he goes back upstairs, he definitely wouldn't be able to stop himself from having his way with Fuuko again. Besides, they had an agreement that there will be no all-nighter when it's a school night.
Rubbing his face with his hand in an exasperated manner, he pushed himself away from the counter, deciding to watch some shows in the television to distract himself.
He stepped into the living room, plopped down on the couch and grabbed the remote. He started surfing the channels, looking for a show that might interest him. He settled for a channel broadcasting some midnight news. It held his attention for a good 5 minutes before his face scrunched into a frown.
He pressed the mute button of the remote control. There is someone outside the apartment—he can sense it.
He could never go wrong of course. He didn't spend 7 years of his life training and fighting just so he could forget how to sense if an enemy is near.
And this presence… it definitely belongs to an enemy.
There was no other person who had enough guts to approach the apartment at this time of the night, while it's raining cats and dogs outside.
Fuuko's stalker.
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He leaned against the wall at the back of the apartment with a frown. His jaw was clenched so hard that it's starting to hurt.
Why was her room empty?
Maybe she just went to the bathroom. Or down to the kitchen. But looking around, he didn't detect or saw any movements in the lower part of the apartment.
Where is she? He had to be sure that she's not anywhere near Mikagami at this hour. Of course. They are alone in the apartment. They are a couple. They can do whatever they like…
He seethed, gritting his teeth. Imagining her making love with Mikagami Tokiya is enough to drive him to crazy. Fuuko would never do that. She would never betray him, ne?
He had to fucking know where she is right now.
Pushing himself away from the wall, he started to walk away in fast strides, venting his frustration in his movement. He decided against going back to the front of the apartment to climb the tree again, just to check if Fuuko's already back in her bedroom. He had a better idea. He would just… call her. Besides, a while ago, he saw a beam of flashlight from the first floor of the neighboring apartment and heard a door opening. If the one using that flashlight aimed the light in the wrong direction, the person would see him up the tree and it would've have been disastrous.
He opted to use the road on the back of the apartment instead of his usual route. Just to be safe.
That decision turned out good for his part.
For if he had made his way back towards the front of the apartment, he would encounter face to face, the tall, silver-haired lad who came out of the apartment to look for him.
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Mikagami Tokiya clenched his fists. He was standing outside the apartment, in front of the tree near Fuuko's room, drenched from head to toe.
He was slow… too slow. The presence he had felt earlier had already disappeared.
His pale blue eyes shifted around the place again, looking for any suspicious being anywhere around… but there was none. Not a single soul was in the vicinity.
Shit! That guy is fast. Did he sense that he was coming out of the door and high-tailed it out of there before he can even catch a glimpse of him? How could that be? He was so sure that Fuuko's stalker is just a normal guy who wasn't trained to fight or sense someone's presence.
Maybe it was just that… stalker-san's lucky.
Kami, he wanted to hurt that bastard so bad. If only the Ensui was still here…
Luck runs out too, you bastard. Mikagami thought grimly, heading back inside the apartment.
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He closed himself up on the phone booth and dialed the number of Fuuko's phone. When it began ringing, a smile formed on his lips.
One ring.
Two rings.
Come on baby, he thought. Answer the phone. I need to know why you're not in your room.
Three rings.
Four…
"Hello." A voice, definitely belonging to Mikagami Tokiya answered.
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Amidst the hustle and bustle of the student-filled hallway, Kamatari Natsuo spotted the purple-haired girl who was standing in front of her locker. "Kirisawa Fuuko!" He screeched as he made his way towards her like a heat-seeking missile. "Screw you!"
Fuuko turned her head towards his direction with an astonished look on her face. "What? What did I do?"
Natsuo stopped in front of her, an indescribable expression marring his handsome (or rather, pretty) face. "I hate you!"
"Well… I hate you too." Fuuko muttered back.
"Honestly!" Natsuo hissed at his purple-haired friend. "Mikagami-sama rarely asks favors from me and you just had to screw it up! Of all times to do so!"He hit the locker next to her out of frustration. "Ouch!"
Fuuko raised an eyebrow at his action and muttered a 'baka'. So he already found out that she lost the list he gave her yesterday. Tokiya probably asked him for a new one. "Shut it, Kamatari. Tokiya asked you again for it didn't he?
"Well yeah…"
"Then stop griping!"
Natsuo pouted. "Demo… demo… If I don't know any better you did that on purpose so Mikagami-sama will think I'm irresponsible and will not ask favors from me again!"
Fuuko grinned evilly. "Who knows… maybe I DID."
"Kyaah! You evil, mean bitch! You, you, you…" Natsuo scrunched his face a little trying to come up with more insulting words while Fuuko just muttered a 'yeah, yeah'.
"Hey Kamatari, if you have time to complain and insult me, how about getting that list now so that I can give it Tokiya later?" Fuuko suggested as she brought out her locker's key.
Natsuo gazed at her in a snooty manner. "And how sure am I that you'll be able to give it to him and not lost it like last night?"
Fuuko sneered at him. "He'll punish me if I don't."
Natsuo choked and the purple-haired girl laughed. "Besides, he told why he needed that list," Fuuko explained. "So for my sanity's sake I have to give it to him."
The elegant eyebrows of Natsuo disappeared behind his bangs. Mikagami-sempai didn't tell him the reason why he needed that list. He just said that it was really important that's why he acquired it without question. But maybe Fuuko will tell him. "Ne, Fuuko-chan, why does Mikagami-sama needs the list of our club members?"
Fuuko fiddled with the lock. "Oh, because he was thinking that my stalker might be in the Photography club too."
"What?!!" Natsuo exclaimed. "Oh… my… gosh!"
"You're quite right with that," Fuuko glanced sideways at her friend who was gaping in surprise. "Oh my gosh, it is."
Natsuo tapped a finger on his chin. "Come to think of it… sempai's the kind of person that is rarely wrong." He was silent for a moment then he nudged Fuuko. "Hey, did it ever occur to you that you possibly know who that guy is?"
Fuuko rigidly turned her hear towards her blond friend. She possibly knows the one who is doing all those crazy stuff? That's a sickening thought. She would prefer not knowing that guy at all than find out that one of her many acquaintances, or if worse, one of her friends is her unwanted admirer.
"Kamatari… that's a scary assumption."
"Fuu-chan, what if he is someone you know?"
"I don't even want to think about it. So don't!" Fuuko replied stonily.
"Gomen…"
Fuuko stared at her friend for a few seconds. "You know, last night, stalker-san paid a visit at the apartment again."
"He did?!"
"Yeah, Mi-chan said there was a presence around the apartment and he went out to check it."
"So sempai saw him?"
"That's the sad part… he didn't. When he got outside, the presence was no longer there."
Natsuo bit his lower lip. "He must have been one hell of a lucky guy…"
"That's what Mi-chan said too." Fuuko said as she inserted the key on the lock and turned it. "After that he called my phone and luckily… it was Mi-chan who answered it."
"What did stalker-san say?"
"Not much. The line went dead after Mi-chan said 'hello'."
"Mikagami-sempai must be in a foul mood because of it."
Fuuko snorted. "Oh he is in a foul mood, alright. A very foul mood, to be exact."
Natsuo cringed and Fuuko laughed at his reaction. She opened her locker door and stopped cold. Natsuo followed the direction of her friend's eye and his own widened. A rose and a letter were quietly sitting inside. They seemed to be staring back at them and Natsuo felt a chill creeping up his spine.
"I just changed the lock," Fuuko gritted out. "How in the fucking world…?"
Natsuo was quick. He grabbed the letter and opened it. "Fuuko-chan," he began reading. "I wasn't able to see you last night. Why weren't you in your room? I looked around the apartment but I wasn't able to see where you are. Are you with Mikagami last night? I wanted to talk to you and called your phone but he was the one who answered it. How could you betray me like that?" Natsuo started to crumple the paper, muttering 'son-of-a-bitch' while Fuuko reached for the red, long-stemmed beauty.
"Keep on reading Natsuo." Fuuko told him. "What else did he say?"
But Natsuo already ripped the letter in half and crumpled it. "Nothing much, that's all."
Fuuko raised an eyebrow at him.
"He wrote something about the rose is his gift to you." Natsuo said with a sigh. He did not add that the letter also contained shits about him and Fuuko belonging to each other. That'll only make the wind child furious. "Sorry Fuu-chan, I think it's better not to read his letters anymore, he's just spewing out crap in it." He grabbed the rose from Fuuko's hand and snapped it into two.
Fuuko stifled a smile. Natsuo rarely gets angry like this. "Hey cool it Kamatari. I should be the one who's getting pissed with this, not you."
"Ugh, I just hate the likes of him." Natsuo said with a disgusted tone. "Both of these are going straight into the garbage can."
"Hey, if Mi-chan asks for that letter… I'm going to tell him you threw it away."
Natsuo paled. "Oh," he thwacked his forehead. "Stupid me." He stared at the crumpled paper in his hand. "Geez, Fuuko. You could've said that earlier."
"Well it was you who ripped and crumpled it so fast, I wasn't able to." Fuuko muttered a 'tch'. "Besides, you have a good memory. You can just tell Mi-chan what's in it if he asks ok?"
"Hai…" Natsuo saluted.
"Ano…" A voice suddenly spoke up. "Uhm, excuse me Natsuo-san, Fuuko-san."
Natsuo yelped in surprise and Fuuko peered over Natsuo's shoulder. Yurikago Hoshi is standing behind her friend.
"Hoshi, you bastard." Natsuo swatted the arm of the guy behind him. "Do not creep up on me like that."
Hoshi sheepishly scratched his head. "Gomen Natsuo-san, but I wanted to get something from my locker."
Natsuo pouted. "Your locker? What crap are you saying? Your locker is located on the other side of this building!"
"Err… gomen nasai," Hoshi scratched his cheek. "I was having some trouble with my old locker so I requested for a new one." He motioned at the locker beside Natsuo.
"Oops…" Natsuo murmured sheepishly, getting out of Hoshi's way. "So you and Fuuko-chan are now locker mates eh?"
Hoshi immediately turned red. "Kinda…" He whispered, nodding. He sneaked a glance towards Fuuko's direction shyly.
Fuuko laughed at what Natsuo said. "Ok you guys, I have to go now," she said, pulling a book from her locker and closing it. "I have class. Natsuo, I'll see later at the library ok? Bye, locker mate." She said to Hoshi waving a goodbye before walking away.
"Bye Fuu-chan!" Natsuo waved back, before the wind child disappeared amongst the throng of students filling the hallway. He glanced sideways and saw Hoshi staring at the objects in his hand.
"Oh… these stuff?" Natsuo showed it to him. "I tore them up. You see they are from my ex-boyfriend. He gave them to me as a sort of… peace offering. But I really hate his guts so… I did this."
Hoshi just nodded.
"Anyways, I have to go now too Hoshi-kun." Natsuo murmured a goodbye to him before walking away. He didn't want to lie of course, but he can't possibly tell Hoshi that the rose and letter was really for Fuuko and that it came from her stalker. That's a no-no.
Natsuo stared at the objects in his hand. Now, what to do with these thingies? He approached the nearest trash bin and threw the letter and rose inside it. Congratulating himself for a job well done (even if it was just throwing those repulsive things away), he headed off towards his destination, whistling.
He didn't notice that Hoshi's gaze remained fix on him all this time.
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He drew in long deep breaths, trying to calm himself.
He hit the wall with his fist, furious at what he just saw. How dare that blasted Kamatari Natsuo do that to his precious gifts? Who gave him the right to do that?
And what makes him more furious is the fact that Fuuko wasn't able to read his letter because that idiot homosexual friend of hers ripped it into half, before she can even touch it.
And he knew she wanted to read it… wasn't that the reason for that dismayed expression on her face a while ago?
He gritted his teeth. What the hell? Why are there so many people trying to stand between his and Fuuko's way. Can't they see that they belong together?
Oh, he's going to make Kamatari Natsuo pay for this.
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The afternoon sunlight streamed inside the library building. There is a rather somber mood around… just like one would expect in a room with a strict librarian whose gaze is enough to turn anyone into a stone if ever they make just one, loud, unwanted sound.
A chair screeched lightly and Natsuo winced at the sound, muttering a curse. He stared at the purple-haired girl beside him who was wearing a smirk on her face and was probably laughing inwardly at his jumpy state. He hated this part of the library—the one that was located in the farthest area of the room, away from the students and civilization. The only advantage in this place is that he can giggle all he wants and not earn an evil glare from the almost ancient and withering librarian, Akiko-san.
"Hey," he murmured at the girl beside him. "Can you search a bit faster? You know how this place gives me creeps. It makes me feel like a psycho killer's going to pop out from behind these shelves and chop me into pieces."
Fuuko replaced the book that she was examining back on the shelf. "You've been watching too much massacre movies Kamatari." She pulled out another book. "And do I need to remind you that what we are searching here is something that you need? So how about lending a hand?"
Natsuo clucked his tongue and commenced into searching for the book for his Literary Journalism subject. Why his professor was adamant about using a book from a nearly-a- decade dead author is something he cannot understand.
"What did you do with the letter and the rose?" Fuuko suddenly asked as she ran a finger across the neatly stacked books.
"I threw them." Natsuo answered with a pout. "What else am I going to do with them? Keep them as a remembrance?"
Fuuko snorted. "I guess I should say thanks. Anyways, the book that you needed is not here. How about we search the other shelves?"
"Maybe you are not really good with searching books," Natsuo accused. "I should've asked Mikagami-sama to help me."
Fuuko whack his head. "I went with you to help you out and this is how you're going to thank me? By insulting me?" She huffed as she walked away.
"What a pain in my sexy ass." Natsuo muttered lowly as he followed his friend.
Fuuko suddenly halted. She felt something prickling at the back of her neck. The strange feeling of being watched coursed through her. Her nerves reacted and her senses sharpened.
"What's the problem?" Natsuo queried, afraid that Fuuko heard what he whispered and that she'll give him another good dose of whack.
"Sshh!" Fuuko shushed him. "Someone's watching us." She grabbed Natsuo's hand as gently as she could. No use in scaring her friend so much knowing that he had a nasty habit of over-reacting.
She felt Natsuo hand stiffened under her grip and without another word, she pulled him towards the end of the shelves.
"Someone's definitely following us." Fuuko whispered as the rounded the corner of the one of the shelves.
Natsuo cowered. "I don't wanna die."
"Shut it Kamatari. Or I'll kill you myself." Fuuko hissed.
"I don't wanna die in your hands!" Natsuo whimpered.
Fuuko hit his head again. A muffled 'ouch' came out of Natsuo, followed by another whimper. She started moving across the shelves as stealthily as she can. She can sense that the person following them is also moving in the same direction. Chances are, she's going to meet up with him at the other end of the shelves.
The presence was so familiar. She readied herself for battle just in case. She dragged the unwilling and whimpering Natsuo with her and headed straight into the end of the shelves.
It's now or never, Fuuko-chan. She thought. Natsuo clung at her hand desperately. She didn't need to tell him who she thinks was following them. There's only one person who would do that.
Her stalker.
She neared the end of the shelves and took a deep breath. She clearly heard the footsteps on the other side stop. The person following them had probably reached the end too…
On the count of three… Ichi, ni, san…
Fuuko turned around the corner and nearly yelp from surprise. A startled pair of eyes stared back at her in surprise. The ex-Fuujin master blinked.
"Shit!" Natsuo nearly screamed. "Hoshi, don't scare us like that!" Fuuko clamped a hand over Natsuo's mouth to prevent him from spewing out obscenities. Her heart thumped loudly against her chest. What the hell? It was only Hoshi.
Hoshi raised his hands in surrender. "Sorry," he mumbled. "I was just… uhm…" He looked quite at loss for words. "I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to ask something that's why I tried to approach you two. But you suddenly disappeared, so I tried looking for you." His face was so red from embarrassment.
Fuuko sighed in relief. "It's ok." She let go of Natsuo's hand and mouth, wiping her sweaty hands on her jeans. Her heart beat was returning back to its normal pace. Fuck! She nearly kicked Hoshi's ass because of it. Did he know how close he is to getting beaten up all because he was following them like a stalker? "Sorry too Hoshi-kun. We mistook you for someone else."
Hoshi's face crumpled into a question. "Huh?"
Natsuo decided to change the topic. "Oh yeah, you said you wanted to ask us something. What is it?"
"Uhm," Hoshi scratched his head. "I was going to ask you if you are looking for the book Higa-sensei wants us to use for Literary Journalism."
Fuuko blinked. "You're in the same class with Kamatari, Hoshi?"
"Uh yeah…"
Natsuo clapped his hands in glee, jumping in front of Hoshi, the experience from before completely forgotten. "How can I forget that we are in the same class? I'm so stupid!"
Fuuko mentally sighed. This was a very trying day. She stared at Natsuo who has his arm linked around Hoshi's. Her eyes turned towards the taller guy and she frowned. Why did it feels like it was her stalker who was watching and following her a while ago?
She stared at Hoshi's handsome face… he can't imagine him being her stalker. He looks like someone who wasn't capable of doing such things. She mentally shook away those thoughts. Hoshi's a very nice guy. It's unfair to think of him this way. She chastised herself.
"Oi, Natsuo," she called out. "If Hoshi's going to help you search for it then maybe I'm free from your clutches for today?"
"Oh…" Natsuo pondered about it for a few seconds. "Alright, after all… you're no help at all."
A vein popped on Fuuko's forehead and Natsuo laughed tauntingly.
"Ne, Hoshi-chan," Natsuo batted his eyelashes flirtatiously. "You will help me right?"
Hoshi had an indecipherable look on his face. It was like he was itching to get away from Natsuo's vice-like grip. "Hai, I will of course."
Fuuko rolled her eyes at her friend's action. Natsuo is such a flirt. "Then I'm off." She said with a sigh, brushing her bangs away from her face. "I'll make you pay for the insults tomorrow Kamatari. Ja ne!" She was about to walk away when she heard a question from Natsuo that made her stop in her tracks.
"Is that a bruise on your face Hoshi?"
Fuuko's eyes widened and she turned her head to gaze back at the two guys behind her.
"How come I've never noticed that before?" Natsuo pointed at Hoshi's face with a curious expression on his face. "You have a bruised jaw! Poor you!"
"I… uh, I…" Hoshi stammered. His head turned towards Fuuko's direction and his hand went to cover his jaw consciously.
"Let me see it!" Natsuo ordered. He tiptoed and tried to peer behind Hoshi's hand. "I can't see it here properly with all these tall shelves around." The blond-haired guy complained. He grabbed Hoshi's hand and pulled him towards the center of the library where only a handful of students are remaining.
Fuuko stiffly followed the two of them, her eyes fixed intently on Hoshi's back. Why in the world didn't she notice that bruise before?
"Why do you have a nasty bruise like that?" Natsuo inquired as he continued to pull Hoshi.
"I, uh, got beaten by some guys that I don't know a few nights ago." Hoshi responded. He sneaked a glance behind his shoulder at Fuuko who was frowning at him. "Uhm, Natsuo-san, you don't have to concern yourself with me." He pulled his hand away from Natsuo's. "I'm ok now. Thanks for worrying."
"But…" Natsuo started to say.
Hoshi waved both of his hands in front of him. "Don't mind it please. Ano, I have to excuse myself for now."
"Why?" Fuuko inquired. The serious tone of her voice was so evident that Natsuo raised an eyebrow at her.
"I, have to get something from my locker first." Hoshi explained, averting his gaze to the floor. Fuuko was looking at him so intently that he fought to keep himself from shaking from too much embarrassment. "I'll come back here Natsuo-san to help you look for that book. Sumimasen." He bowed his head a little before walking away from them.
"Poor Hoshi…" Natsuo sighed. "There are so many bullies in this world."
"Yeah," Fuuko murmured in a low tone.
"And what's your problem purple top?" Natsuo raised both of his eyebrows this time. "What's with the serious tone and expression? I know you are prone to mood changing every once in a while… What's the reason this time?"
"Nothing," Fuuko answered with a slight shake of her head. "I just remembered something."
Natsuo pursed his lips. His eyes followed the line of Fuuko's vision. She was staring at the departing Hoshi so intently that he's half-afraid that her gaze would burn a hole on Hoshi's body.
"You know," he began, tapping his cheek with his finger. "He's a little shy and uncomfortable every time he's around you. I've been hearing some rumors about him having a crush on you Fuuko-chan."
Fuuko stiffened. She stared at her friend who had a wondering expression his face. "Come to think of it…" Natsuo said. "It must be true."
"Shut up!" Fuuko snarled. "Rumors are just rumors. Besides…" Her voice trailed off as stared again at Hoshi's retreating back. The door of the library opened and Mikagami Tokiya step inside the room.
"Ehm," Natsuo faked a cough. "Boyfriend's here."
Tokiya immediately spotted them. He smiled at her and she could see from the corner of her eye, some girls who suddenly stopped reading and writing to give their full attention at the approaching law student. It was a rather entertaining sight.
Hoshi passed by Mikagami on his way out…
Fuuko froze for a moment, her sapphire-colored orbs widening.
Hoshi Yurikago was exactly three inches smaller than Mikagami Tokiya.
---------------------------
It was already past 7 pm when Natsuo left the library and quarter to 8 pm, when he alighted from the bus and began the not-so-long trek towards his apartment. He was walking in rather, fast strides. He shuddered a little not because of the cold wind that was blowing, but because the place was so quiet. And it was just his luck. Most of the street's lampposts were faulty after some drunken guys used it as their targets for stone throwing. So there were definitely some areas around him that's dark.
Damn it, maybe he should've called one of his friends—or much better—two of his friends to come and pick him up. Walking on this road, at this time of the night, scares the hell out of him.
I have to stop watching those thriller movies. It is so not helping my imagination. He pouted at his own thought. He would've requested Hoshi to accompany him home since he knows they're both going the same way. But drat! Hoshi left him an hour ago saying that he's going to meet up with Amano-sempai. It was so clear that their sempai had already chosen who his protégé is. But Natsuo wouldn't—or rather couldn't—say that it was unfair; since talent-wise, it is Hoshi who's next in line after their club president.
He hugged the book that he borrowed from the library closer to himself. What's the most likely thing that'll happen to him here? Getting beaten up or getting mugged?
He would choose neither.
The wind blew again and he hugged his books closer to himself. Great! This is just what he needs. The atmosphere's all set for something scary to happen.
He hastened his steps and nearly screeched when someone called out his name.
"Kamatari-san."
He turned his head towards the direction of the voice. "Wha--?"
The words died in his throat as he felt something hit the back of his head, hard enough to make him lose his balance. There was a ringing sound in his ear and he felt the cold and hard concrete against his cheek. He tried to open his eyes and found out that his vision was out of focus.
"I'm going to make you pay..." He heard the voice said. He tried to recognize it but he can't because the pain on the back of his head was already clouding his senses.
Pay for what? He wanted to ask but no words came out of his mouth as he felt something hard hit his back. He felt it again and again, in different places. He was being beaten up. By who? He had no idea.
He tried to scream, but a fist landed on his face. Woozily he stared up at the figure in front of him. But the figure was wearing a black ski mask over his head.
"I'm going to make you pay for what you did earlier." The voice came behind the mask, muffled and low. The figure raised his hands and Natsuo saw a glint, like what one sees on a steel getting hit by light.
Oh God… Natsuo thought as he felt a painful sensation creeping up on his arm, making him cry out. What is happening?
There was another painful sensation and another and another. But slowly by slowly, Natsuo felt numb against it. It was like he became immune to it.
Suddenly there was no pain at all…
… just darkness.
-To Be Continued-
That's it. I enjoyed writing Tokiya and Stalker-san's POVs. But, poor Natsuo-san. I feel sorry for him.
Anyways, I know some people will be happy if I update this story (or am I only kidding myself with that?). Well whatever. So YOU, yes YOU… should READ and REVIEW, ok?