Disclaimer: Nothing has changed, I still don't own Flame of Recca. Also (as with the previous chapter where I forgot to mention it) How Many More Times is a song by Led Zepplin. All chapters will be titled after Led Zeppelin songs. Because I need a soundtrack for everything.

Author's Notes: Yay new chapter! Thanks so much to your feedback: champylin (they did actually, already but I had to make it subtle in keeping up with the rating, hee) kyLaaa (it took a while, but I couldn't abandon the fic, I had so much more in store for them) SnowCharms (Aw, don't hate so much on Raiha, bb! He's not as bad as you think) abubi-chan (Yes, there will be a bit more drama in the coming chappies, but no worries, I'll still find ways for them to have fun :D) OD-chan (my stalker! Haha! Ooh, I missed writing ASOC, and yup there's so much going on already, RecFuu just seems unnecessary and contrived if I went that way) khyrzzie baby (I hope you like your new nickname :p wah, I distracted you from work! As for the lemon, I don't actually have one written but I might do one just for you, hehe and I'm gonna go check on your fic after I upload this) aki reinhart (I miss you too! Yes they did! Insert evil laughter here!) Anne Raven (wow, I'm so glad that I could drive someone to start writing ToFuu! I'll go check out your fics after this :D Three things, I LOVE writing Recca and Fuuko friendship so I'm glad you liked. Yanagi, no worries I have something planned for her as well. And Kurei, I have a lot planned for him.) violin girl (it feels great to be back! I'm glad you liked the chappie!) the pink martini (thanks so much!) kyusetsuki satsuki (thank you baby!) satomika (Heh, I couldn't remember my plot that well either and had to do a re-read to build the plot in my head once more. Aw sweetie, well I honestly thought Tokiya would've been a horrible character if he didn't think of Yanagi). Anyway, onto the chapter! Thanks in advance for reading and please don't forget to review!

Chapter Five: How Many More Times

"Does it hurt?" Tokiya asked.

He could feel her smile as she kissed his hands.

"Not so much anymore. Just a little sore," Fuuko whispered.

He tightened his arms around her and kissed her bare shoulder almost reverently. "I'm sorry."

Fuuko reached back and patted his hip as if to comfort him. "It's really not your fault. It's more like physiology's way of fucking over women."

He grinned. "You're funny."

…

"You're kidding right?"

"Well, now that you're looking at me like I'm a freak show, I really wish I was," Tokiya said, looking thoroughly affronted.

At this point Fuuko didn't bother to hide her soft guffaws. "I just can't believe that knitting is your secret talent."

"I grew up in the mountains with only my sister as a constant playmate. I should be glad I didn't pick up her talent in applying make-up," he said seriously.

"Ne, Mi-chan, I'm cold, you think you can knit me a sweater?" she chided.

"Shut up." But he pulled her closer and cocooned her in his body to keep her warm anyway.

…

"I make the best mac and cheese in town! I swear!" she proclaimed as he looked at her incredulously.

"You don't seem like the cooking type," he teased.

Fuuko huffed and crossed her arms under her breasts. The movement distracted Tokiya and he let his eyes travel south, ogling her shamelessly, before she smacked him gently under his chin to make him look up. "I got the recipe from my mom. She only used the best and most expensive of cheeses. None of that cheap cheddar stuff."

"Is that so?"

"I'll make some for you one of these days and then you can stop doubting me," she said with finality.

"Is that a promise?" he asked hopefully.

Fuuko nodded, the twinkle in her eyes palpable. Tokiya moved his head closer to hers and claimed her lips in a kiss. His mouth moved sinuously against hers and the moment her lips parted his tongue slipped in between her sweet skin and tangled with hers.

"Mmm, sweet," he hummed against her mouth. They broke the kiss but their faces remained close, their noses bumping softly against each other's. "I bet you still taste better, though."

Fuuko snickered before snuggling up to him and joining their lips once more, effectively shutting him up.

…

In the night when they could only see the glistening sweat of skin and the frosted moonlight on the sheets, it was easy to pretend that they were just two teenagers both so hopelessly infatuated and discovering and exploring their first tastes of pleasure with each other. But in the harsh light of day, neither could deny the truth.

Tokiya could no longer suppress the guilt that loomed in his chest since the moment he'd kissed her. No, the guilt was there long before that, it was there the moment he'd laid eyes on her two months back when he visited Nashikiri a second time. It was there the moment he realized that he could never, ever stay away from her.

The sunlight filtered through his eyelashes and his eyes fluttered open. He looked down at the slumbering wind master tangled in his limbs and reveled at the soft curves of her face and supple form of her body. He had been attracted to her from the very beginning. It wasn't just that she was beautiful (and sexy, damn, he never thought women could ever be made that way), but it was her strength and passion for her craft that drew him in. He should've stayed away from her, let the infatuation remain what it was. But no, he went and sought her out, cried for her attention and got to know everything about her and in turn let her see every side of him. God bless his soul but she must've seen something good. He had only suspected at first, from her shy glances when they talked during classes and her intimate yet innocent touches when they would spar. But now he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he had made a mark on her heart just as deeply as she had made a home in his. But his situation…it wasn't fair to Fuuko. And it wasn't fair to Yanagi. Something in his heart clenched at the reminder of his betrothed.

If he had never met Fuuko, perhaps he could've gone on and learned to love Yanagi, maybe they could've lived happily even. Perhaps not as deeply and not as much, but then he wouldn't have known that life could be so much more. But it was too late now. All he could do at this point was to rectify the situation.

"I have to go. I need to prepare for the funeral." He felt more than heard the soft voice against his chest.

He hugged her tightly and buried his nose in her hair, enjoying the sweet fragrance of apples. "We still need to talk."

She shook her head. "We will. But not now, alright?"

Fuuko slithered away from his embrace with a sigh. He watched her quietly as she picked up her clothes on the floor and dressed. The slight limp in her walk betrayed their activities from the previous night. When she had buttoned up her denim jeans she turned to him once more and sat on the bed, facing him. Her hand reached for his face and she let her index finger trace his face from his forehead to the aristocratic point of his nose and finally landing on his lips. "Mi-chan, thanks."

Tokiya kissed her finger tip softly. "Anything for you."

Fuuko nodded, a thoughtful smile gracing her face before she stood up and exited through his still open window.

…

Recca stared up at the minister performing the services for his father's funeral, a glacial expression on his face. His mother sat beside him, her face obscured by an opaque black veil that extended down to the top of her chest. Fuuko sat on his left, keeping her promise and holding on to his hand tightly. He felt a hand clamp over his shoulder and knew that Domon was on the pew behind him. Domon had never been good with words but Recca could feel the sorrow the overgrown boy felt.

Recca appreciated it really, the support and love he got from his family and his best friends. But he still felt alone even with the hundreds of people that mourned with him.

He lost his father. And the worst part of it was that he had no idea why. He knew he had been killed, by a masked man with a murderous glare. Recca had felt the absolute anger and hatred that the stranger had directed solely at his father and his mind just couldn't understand it.

Ouka was the kindest man Recca had ever known all his life. He was fair and generous to his people and he was even merciful to his enemies. Whenever they engaged in battles with warring nations, his father had always instilled in his men that every life is worth being saved. A warrior is never to meet death unless it was the absolute last and most desperate option.

So even now Recca could not understand the vitriol and enmity that seemed to seep out of the skin of his father's murderer; hatred so strong that even now it kept Recca awake at night, twisting fitfully between his sheets. It wasn't a simple mutiny; there was something more, something deeper for that stranger to feel that much hate for his father. He needed to find answers. He needed to find them soon.

…

Recca held on to the casket's handles tightly with one hand while Fuuko's father Fujimaro balanced the weight on the other side. Domon and Shigeo, his father's childhood friend, brought up the rear. The foursome paced slowly up to the hill that would be his father's final resting place. The hill was at the edge of the local cemetery and overlooked the rest of the other tombstones of civilians and ninjas who have passed away. Even in death, Ouka would be watching over his people.

Recca and the others carefully set the coffin on the metal contraption that would lower Ouka's remains six feet below the ground. Recca put his hands inside the pocket of his black slacks before taking his place between Fuuko and his mother. He immediately grabbed onto Fuuko's hand, welcoming the strength she offered.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to remember and celebrate the life of a great man who dedicated his whole self to ensure the safety and prosperity of the people of Nashikiri," the minister began.

Recca put his head down and shut his eyes tightly to will away the tears coming forth. His mother's hand settled heavily on his back and he wondered just how much worse she felt. He loved his father but it was different with his mother. He always knew, at some point, that he would be independent from his family and that he would separate from his parents and begin again on his own. His mother though, his father was Kagerou's entire life.

The afternoon went by in a blur and one by one, their sympathizers left until only Recca, his mother, Shigeo, Fuuko and her family and Domon were left. Fuuko and Domon stood to one side, whispering to each other, probably thinking up ways to entertain Recca so he won't go once more into a bout of depression. His mother, Shigeo and the rest of Fuuko's family stood in a circle discussing god knows what. Recca stood alone in front of the freshly dug soil over his father's resting place.

Recca felt a presence walk up to him and he turned to see Yanagi, shyly making her way beside him. She was dressed in a simple black dress with her hair tied in a neat plait that flowed down her back.

"I'm sorry," she began meekly, "I'm really sorry, Recca-kun."

"It's not your fault," he said.

Yanagi looked up at him a bit shocked that he could read her mind so easily.

"I know you blame yourself," he explained.

She looked down, an embarrassed blush settling on her cheeks. "If I hadn't been so weak…"

"Neither of us drove that sword into his heart. I don't blame you, so don't blame yourself," he said kindly.

Yanagi nodded. "Your father, he was really amazing. I wish I could've gotten to know him."

Recca smiled at her. "I think he would've liked you."

She bit her lip at his tiny compliment. "I can't really offer much but if there's anything I can do for you, anything…"

"I like sweets," Recca cut her off.

Yanagi's head shot up at his sudden announcement. Her brows furrowed in askance.

"Ice cream, chocolates, muffins, they make me feel better," he continued, "Fuuko told me once that your blueberry cheesecake is the best in town."

She smiled brightly up at him. "I'll bake some tonight for you."

…

School resumed the following Monday, nine days after Ouka Hanabishi's death. The fate of the nation was still unclear, no one knew what was happening and if there would be further threat to the country's security but at the moment the national board had issued the missive that life should continue as normally as it possibly could while they investigate the matter.

Tokiya leafed through his notes for his Madougu Theory class. It was his first class for the day and Fuuko was yet to arrive which he found strange, she was always early. He wondered if she was avoiding him. He hadn't had a chance to see her seeing as she had been cooped up at her home since the funeral. He didn't think it would be well accepted if he just showed up at her door demanding to see her.

Just as the bell rang, Fuuko came rushing inside the room. Their teacher, Master Kuukai, came in a few steps behind her. She took her regular seat beside him, and mouthed a silent 'Later' to him when she sensed that he was about to speak. Tokiya rolled his eyes, it wasn't like he was going to start talking about their situation in the middle of class; he was just going to ask her how she'd been. The lesson commenced as soon as Master Kuukai dropped his giant notebook ledger. Once the bell rang Fuuko bolted out the door before Tokiya could even blink. Well, she was definitely avoiding him, that part he knew now. He would just have to corner her after school.

By lunch time Tokiya had seen neither hide nor hair of Fuuko. The girl was incredibly adept at making herself scarce when she put her mind to it. He himself hid in the library. Yanagi had been calling him, possibly wondering why he wasn't joining her for lunch as he normally would. He simply sent a text message saying that he had to study and for her to go on ahead without him.

There were only two other students in the library, a nerdy freshman kid with round black rimmed glasses and another senior like him who Tokiya remembered was in his Madougu Theory class. His name was Saicho, if Tokiya recalled correctly.

He took a seat in the farthest table at the back near the periodicals section. He took out his books and prepared to review for his next class. A few minutes passed when he felt someone take the seat in front of him.

"Mikagami, right?" a deep and gruff voice said.

Tokiya looked up and was surprised to find himself face to face with Fuuko's gorilla like friend. He composed himself well enough to nod before he said, "Ishijima Domon?"

The boy grinned from ear to ear, "You go that right."

Tokiya cleared his throat. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Domon pulled out the toothpick resting between his thick lips before speaking. "I just wanted to say thanks man."

Tokiya furrowed his eyebrows. That was definitely the last thing he expected to hear.

Domon adopted a very serious look. "Fuuko told me what happened at the ball thing. Just wanted to express my gratitude for taking care of her."

"I didn't really do anything," Tokiya answered. He wasn't being modest; he just felt that he really didn't do much to warrant a thank you.

Domon gave him that shit eating grin once more. "Well, you took her to safety and you didn't leave her when Raiha showed up. Anyone else would've run for the hills, that asshole's a creepy mofo."

"I would've never left her there," Tokiya answered truthfully.

Domon nodded. "You know, I like to perv on her and shit, but Fuuko's one of my best friends. We know she can take care of herself, but me and Recca, we like to watch out for her. I'm glad you were there when neither of us couldn't be this time."

Tokiya urged him to continue with a look, he wasn't sure exactly what the burly boy was getting to.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is, I know you ain't got a lot of friends in this town being new and all. But since you were there for Fuuko, well I consider you an ally. So if you ever get into any trouble, I got your back." Domon held out his hand.

Tokiya considered the offer for a moment before finally shaking Domon's hand. It was nice, he thought, to have one more friend.

…

Fuuko stealthily peered from behind the lockers to make sure that the hallway was clear. It wasn't like she was avoiding Tokiya. She was just trying to prolong the inevitable. To be honest, she hadn't had the time to think about Tokiya the past couple of days. Between constantly supplying Recca with sweets (seriously, he was such a girl) and conspiring with Domon of ways to entertain Recca to keep his mind off his father's death, she simply didn't have the energy.

But last night, when her father had finally forced her to come home and stay in her own bed, her mind crashed with thoughts of him. She honestly wasn't sure what he was going to say when they finally talk. She had half a mind to skip school altogether, but she wasn't about to break her record for her perfect attendance for anyone, including extremely good looking and well endowed men. Fuuko groaned, this wasn't the time to think about that.

Fuuko wasn't sure what scared her more; the thought of Tokiya leaving her cousin for her or him telling her that it was a mistake and they both should forget about it.

And then there was Yanagi. A heavy weight tugged painfully in her heart whenever she thought of her cousin. The last thing that Fuuko wanted was to hurt her. But she couldn't help herself…Tokiya was in her heart too. And that thought made Fuuko feel like she was the most horrid person on the planet.

Fuuko slowly traipsed down the hallway when she felt hard muscles press behind her back as a hand clamped over her mouth while the other wrapped around her torso. The figure quickly pulled them inside an empty broom closet.

"Damn it, Mi-chan! What're you trying to do give me a heart attack?" she squealed as soon as he let go of his hold on her mouth.

Tokiya locked the door behind him and pulled the switch for the tiny yellow bulb above them. "Well if you hadn't been trying to avoid me all day, I wouldn't have needed to go to extreme measures," he drawled smoothly.

"I wasn't," she huffed before looking away guiltily.

They remained like that, with Fuuko standing with her arms crossed over her chest and Tokiya leaning against the door for a couple of minutes before Tokiya decided to speak.

"I'm calling my parents tonight. I'm breaking off the engagement."

Fuuko hid her face in her hands and promptly burst into tears.

Tokiya panicked, this wasn't exactly the reaction he had in mind. Well, he wasn't sure what he expected, to be honest, but he was pretty sure it wouldn't involve crying. It only took half a step to reach her in the cramped broom closet. He put his hands on her shoulders and tried to peer into her face. "Why are you crying?"

"Because I wanted you to say that! I'm such a horrible person!" she screamed between muffled sobs.

"You're not. I'm the one who's horrible. I'm a contemptuous cheating bastard and I can't stop myself because I want to be with you," he said seriously.

She peeled her hands away from her face and looked up at him. "I hate this."

Tokiya wrapped his arms around her waist and settled his forehead on hers. "I can't really say I do. I wish there was another way, I wish I wouldn't have to hurt anyone because you and Yanagi both deserve better. But it is what it is and the only thing I know right now is I don't want to lose you. And if that makes me a selfish bastard, then so it is."

"That makes two of us," she murmured.

He swooped in and kissed her roughly, letting her feel just how much he meant it when he said he wanted to be with her. "I missed you so much."

"Me too," she whispered and let him claim her lips in another kiss.

"My family's going to hate me," she mouthed as his lips trailed kisses along her jaw.

"They're not," he assured, his warm breath tickling her ear.

"They're probably going to hate you a lot more," she said as she played with hairs on his nape.

"I know," he surrendered.

"Are you sure you still want to do this?" she asked in a small voice.

It took all his self control but he pulled away from the sweet taste of her neck. He gripped her jaws gently in his hands and made her look up in his eyes. "I meant it when I said I wanted to be with you. But regardless of whether or not you would've stayed with me, I would've broken off the engagement. Yanagi, she's a good girl, and she deserves someone who would love her and be devoted to her completely. I can never be that man."

Somehow that just made her fall for him deeper. She buried her head in his chest and embraced him tightly. "I'm still scared, though."

He let out a deep breath and kissed her temple. "I won't rush you into anything. I know you have so much more to risk than I do. I'm prepared to wait. I won't lose you."

Tokiya felt her nod against his chest as she clung to him tighter. "You won't," she promised.

…

Recca pulled at the starched collar of his white dress shirt irritably. His mother had insisted he wear a suit for this occasion. They had argued a full ten minutes about his choice of clothes before he finally relented and donned the black suit and tie. Mothers and their voodoo ways, honestly he didn't know how she always got him to do her bidding.

He shifted uncomfortably in the hot leather chair. His mother was sitting on an identical chair beside him. They were waiting for his father's lawyer inside his dark and dank office filled with dusty leather bound books and bulky oak furniture. The mother and son were summoned for the will reading.

"Stop fidgeting, Recca," his mother admonished.

"It's hot, and wool makes me itchy," he argued petulantly.

To be honest, Recca didn't even want to be here. He didn't care about how they were going to divide his father's assets. It wasn't like he didn't already have his own money. A disgustingly huge trust was already set up for him not to mention the money he had inherited from his grandparents meant that he already owned more money than most small countries. Not that he really cared. Okay, maybe he cared a little bit, he was seventeen and he liked gadgets and those things cost money.

The old geezer finally decided to grace them with his presence. Toru Kobayashi, Recca gauged, was probably as old as Mt. Fuji and constantly smelled like efficascent oil. He also was the slowest person on the planet and it literally took him four and a half minutes to walk from the door to his chair situated behind his darkly varnished desk.

"Kobayashi-san," Kagerou greeted graciously and bowed her head slightly.

"Nice to see you're still not dead, old man," Recca said. His mother swiftly pinched his elbow.

"Ne, ne, Kagerou, the youth of today are such rambunctious and witty lots," the barrister said good naturedly as he took his seat. He cleared his throat extensively, and Recca turned green at the sickening sounds of phlegm and snot that seemed to be gurgling inside the old man's lungs. "Actually Kagerou, before we begin the formal reading of Ouka's will, there are some things I would like to discuss with you first. I would need for Recca to step outside for a moment."

Kagerou looked up at Toru with questioning eyes, but the gravity of the man's request could not be denied. If Kobayashi wanted Recca out of the room it had to be for a pretty important reason.

Without looking at her son, Kagerou spoke, "Recca, can you wait in the foyer for a bit? I'll have someone summon you once you're needed."

Recca raised an eyebrow at his mother before shrugging and heeding her request. He stood up and headed out the room. He shut the door behind him and walked a few feet away before decidedly turning back. He wasn't stupid; the look between his mother and the lawyer's eyes was secretive. There was something that they didn't want him to hear and that was all the encouragement he needed to push him to find out. He waited a minute or two before he stealthily crept back to the office and pressed his ear to the door. His heightened sense of hearing allowed him to hear the conversation clearly as if he himself was inside.

"Does he know about him?" he heard the gravelly voice of Toru.

It took a second or two for his mother to answer. "He has no idea."

"You will have to tell him about Kurei, he will need to know who it is that he's sharing his inheritance with," Toru said with finality.

Kurei…where did Recca hear that name before?

"What do you mean Kobayashi-san?"

Recca tried to rack his brain, he had heard that name before, he was sure of it. He closed his eyes and a blinding swath of blue flame flashed through his mind.

"Yanagi, stick by me, okay? We'll find Dad first," Recca commanded as he dragged the girl behind him, weaving through a barrage of panicking masses. With sheer determination he located his father, standing a ways away from the dispersing crowd looking up the mezzanine of the pavilion, a gut wrenching expression filled with guilt stained his face.

"I presume then that Ouka had not informed you of the change in his will?"

"I see you're doing well for yourself, Ouka," the voice sneered.

Ouka Hanabishi's shoulders hunched but his eyes remained focused on the intruder. His mouth opened and spoke one word, one word that filled the air with so much anguish and sorrow. One that made his father's eyes glimmer with tears.

What was it?

"Ouka came to me about a year ago. He said he wanted to make things right. What happened years before was something that went beyond his control and this was the only thing he could think of as penance for all the wrongs he made."

What the fuck was it?

"He said that what he couldn't have achieved this in life, at the very least in death he could leave his legacy to both his sons. Especially the one he has failed in the most spectacular of ways."

Think, Recca, think!

"Ouka has asked me to draw up a new will that would split his assets evenly between both his sons, Recca and Kurei."

"Kurei…"

"That is why it is important you tell Recca, Kagerou, of everything that happened eighteen years ago."

The door opened with a thunderous clang that reverberated inside the room. Kagerou turned her head to find Recca standing underneath the door's arch, his lips narrowed to a thin line and a defiant rapture in his eyes. His next words brooked no argument.

"Tell me what happened eighteen years ago, mother."

To be continued...

End Author's Notes: Whew! Honestly I'm a bit tempted to name the next chapter A brother from another mother...hehe. Next chapter will be mostly dedicated to Kurei's back story and furthering of the action plot. To be honest, while I absolutely adore writing ToFuu, I'm more excited to write about Kurei and Recca and Raiha. I'm finding them more interesting at the moment and I'm itching to further their story. Although I do still have a lot saved up for my ToFuu babies.

Until next time! Thanks for reading and please don't forget to review!