Disclaimer: Nothing is Mine. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You is by Led Zeppelin
Author's Notes: This took a bit long to write as I got stuck in several places. I think this is the longest chapter I have ever written for any story. All mistakes are mine. I hope you enjoy it, it's a labor of L-O-V-E
Special thanks to OD-chan for discussing some aspects of the story with me and letting me ramble on with my Domon love :D Go Domon Appreciation club! (Where we are the only two members.)
Thanks so much to my reviewers: thepinkmartini (thanks so much!) aki reinhart (Angst kills me, and most writers get it wrong and think angst is about two idiots being stupid, which, well it is not. If they're going to have problems, it's not going to be from miscommunication, because Tokiya is not an idiot. There is so much more Kurei here, I hope you enjoy.) Snowcharms (Possibly she will, thanks for the review!) abubi-chan (Thank you! Ahaha, great minds think alike :p) satomika (aw, give Yanagi a chance. I mean I know she's not fleshed out right now, but she's not evil. I really like her and have a lot planned for her.) kyusetsuki satsuki (I'd like to think that I still kept some of Tokiya's essential characteristics in there. Like I said before, this is my deduction of what he would be like if none of his tragedies ever happened. And yes, I love Domon/Tokiya friendship, I loved writing that exchange ) eirist (Wow, thank you! RecFuu friendship is so fun to develop and write. The two of them just click so well so I'm glad you liked. And about the tragedy thing, death (particularly of someone close to you) has a certain effect on some people. It's that realization of mortality that drives you to do things that can make you feel alive and thus I thought it was natural for Fuuko to react that way. I plan to discuss this a bit in the next chapter.) Anon (thanks!) khryzzie khryzzie (pfft, spice it up, you just want porn! :p Hahahaha. I want another conference ) champylin (Thanks so much! Hope you like this chapter as well) Anne Raven (Thanks! I hope you enjoy this chapter since I delve really deeply into Kurei's backstory) tofuu (Here ya go!)
THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR READING AND PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!
Chapter Six: Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
Twenty Years before the bombing of Nashikiri, Tenth Year of Ouka Hanabishi's Reign
A boy with messy, jet black hair and clear blue eyes carefully treaded through the rocky path leading to his home. He adjusted the heavy weight of his backpack, filled with his school books, as the strap bit painfully into the thin frame of his shoulders. He had always been teased for being a bit frail and short for his ripe age of eight. His mother told him that his uncle had been the same way when he was his age and now, well, let's just say that he was the strongest man in the entire land.
When the young lad reached the front porch of his modest, bungalow house, he smelled the delicious scent of frying fish. Using his free hand, he turned the knob and stepped inside the house, but not before meticulously wiping off the mud under the soles of his shoes on their old welcome rug.
"Mama!" he called out.
He heard light footsteps before a woman dressed in a rusty brown kimono came out from the direction of the kitchen. There was a fresh sheen of sweat on her forehead. She wiped her greasy hands from cooking calloused hands on her apron as she walked up to him. "How was school, darling?" she asked with a tired smile.
To be honest, school wasn't too fun. He was teased again for his old shoes and his math teacher yelled at him for forgetting his homework. He set his bag down on a small settee near the door before plastering a smile on his face and said, "It was good, Mama."
She nodded, seemingly satisfied with his answer. "Why don't you go upstairs and change out of your school clothes while I set the table for dinner? I made your favorite."
Before he could answer there was a knock on the door. Without waiting for his mother the boy rushed to the door and opened it.
"Uncle Ouka!" the boy welcomed with positive gleam in his eyes as he barreled towards the visitor and hugged his middle tightly.
"Kurei," the man's deep voice greeted, "You are as energetic as ever." He bent downwards at the boy who only reached his stomach and hugged him tightly.
"I haven't seen you in so long, Uncle! I heard from my classmates that you were in a mission to the Middle East! Were you in a war? Did you battle people? What was it like? Was it very dangerous?" The boy steadily turned red as he excitedly bombarded their visitor with fervor.
Ouka simply laughed at the boy's enthusiasm and ruffled the hair on Kurei's head, messing it up even more. "Why don't I tell you about it over dinner? I've got pizza and chips. And then we can open the presents I got for you from the trip."
It was only then that Kurei noticed the pizza box that the man balanced on his hip and two big paper bags that were dropped on the floor.
Kurei eagerly turned to his mother. "Mama, can we have this for dinner instead?" he asked hopefully, bright blue eyes practically bulging out from his socket.
His mother tried to hide the flicker of resentment on her face as her son easily disregarded her home cooked dinner in favor of the yummy treat brought in by their visitor. Money was hard and she could rarely afford anything more than fish and vegetables on their table every meal. It would be selfish to deny her son of small joys like this. She nodded her head softly and instructed her son to go upstairs first to change and then he can eat.
Kurei bounded up for the hallway leading to his tiny room. As soon as the door clicked shut, the woman turned to their visitor and bowed her head politely. "Hanabishi-sama."
The man continued inside the house without waiting for an invitation. He haphazardly dropped the packages he brought on the square wooden dining table. "I wish you would stop addressing me with such formality, Reina."
He turned around to look at the woman still standing in the foyer, head bowed down slightly. Reina was two years younger than he was but time has not been kind to her. Soft lines appeared on her pallid skin and hair that used to be rich and thick was now thinning and peppered with gray strands.
"It would be improper to address you as anything else," she said softly.
Ouka Hanabishi regarded her with a thoughtful eye. Reina had softened much throughout the years. When he had first met here she was a stoic and unattainable beauty. Despite coming from a family with modest income, she was of noble birth and her regal bearing attested to that. It was a far cry from the woman standing in front of him right now.
He walked up to her and stood as closely as propriety would allow. "How are you and Kurei?"
She paused briefly before she answered, "We are thriving."
Ouka took her hand in his and felt the calloused skin. She had been working very hard, he could tell. "Let me help you and Kurei out, please."
The woman gently shook her head. "We can manage. The council is already unhappy with the fact that you visit with us from time to time, I doubt they would tolerate anything more than that."
"The council cannot dictate my actions!" he pronounced fervently.
"And yet Kurei and I are here," she quickly retorted, a hint of bitterness betraying her pleasant features.
Ouka turned his eyes away. There was nothing he could say to that.
He felt her hand rise up to cradle his cheek, a rare display of affection that she had taught herself to control throughout the years. "I understand that what happened was something you could not control. I have accepted it. I chose to remain with my son. I will protect him and take care of him for the both of us. What little you can give him, I truly appreciate. Do not feel the need to do more."
Ouka drew away from the comfort she offered. So much has been taken away from her already, and he would not take more.
"Mama, I can't find my new kunai! I want to show Uncle how good I've gotten at throwing them!" Kurei's energetic entrance was a welcome distraction. The pitter patter of his feet slowed to a halt as he saw his mother and his uncle looking like they were in the middle of something important. "Mama?"
Reina schooled her face into a wide grin. "Kurei-chan, I kept your kunai in the chest inside the pantry. You left them outside yesterday."
"Why don't we eat first and later you can show me what you got, eh sport?" Ouka said.
Kurei nodded and let his uncle pick him up like he weighed nothing and carry him to the dining area.
…
Kurei sat on the wooden armed chair inside his homeroom class. It was only seven in the morning but his mother had to go work at the new restaurant where she served in real early and she didn't want him alone at home so Kurei found himself alone in class instead. Classes were not to begin for another hour and so he busied himself with some light reading. His mother couldn't afford to buy him books not related to his studies so he was really glad for the school library. They had quite a collection and he was always borrowing books to take home to read. He was currently engrossed in a book about a bespectacled boy who found out he was a wizard on his eleventh birthday. Sometimes, Kurei liked to daydream that it would be the same for him, and a mysterious being would come into his life and he would find out he was really something special instead of his old boring self.
"Kurei-kun, you're early this morning!"
Kurei looked up from his book and discovered a boy about his age with long purple hair peering over his shoulder to see what he was reading.
"Good morning, Raiha-kun," he greeted as he carefully earmarked the page he was in and closed his book.
Raiha Endo was Kurei's only friend at Nashikiri Elementary. They were a curious pair. Raiha was a popular sort, he was quite becoming and tall for his age and he came from noble line of ninjas. He was very personable and well liked by his peers. He could've taken a pick of anyone to become his friends but he always chose the company of the obsidian haired boy who everyone avoided like the plague. When anyone would ask him why he continued to hang out with Kurei, he would simply say that Kurei was the first kind soul he met in kindergarten, and he will always be loyal to his friend.
"You're always reading a book, Kurei-kun. You should train more so we can enter the military academy together when we grow up," Raiha pronounced as he took the seat beside his friend.
Kurei shook his head vigorously. "That's not going to happen. I'm not a good ninja and you know I'm never gonna get a madogu like you. And besides," he hesitated a bit before continuing, "I think what I really want to do when I grow up is write books."
Raiha furrowed his eyebrows. "Books?"
"Yeah, you know like stories. I like to read a lot, and I think I'll be good at writing too. And I get really good marks in our language classes," he answered, feeling rather shy after his revelation.
"Have you ever written anything?" Raiha asked.
"Yeah, some. I write adventure stuff you know, like about wars and soldiers. Sometimes I write about wizards. Magic is cool," Kurei finished meekly.
The purple haired boy turned up his nose. "Being a ninja is cooler," he said but his mouth turned up slightly afterwards, "but you know, maybe you can let me read them sometime. Might be something."
Kurei smiled at his friend and nodded.
Nineteen Years before the bombing of Nashikiri, Eleventh Year of Ouka Hanabishi's Reign
The year had passed without much incident. Reina and Kurei lived peacefully in their little house, a little away from the village. Reina was promoted to an assistant manager position at the sushi restaurant where she worked. It still wasn't a lot but at least now she could afford to buy Kurei some new school shoes. Ouka still visited them as much as he could and brought presents for Kurei but they were usually something the boy would want but not necessarily need. She smiled ruefully; men can be such idiots about children sometimes. It's not that she ever went out of her way to tell Ouka what her son needed and she had always given back the thick envelop of cash he would try to sneak into the obi of her kimono (knowing full well she would deny it if he tried to hand it to her upfront), so she was satisfied that he could bring a smile to Kurei's face whenever he gave her son a luxury she cannot afford.
Reina frowned as she watched the clouds darken, the sun steadily descending towards the horizon. Kurei should've been home hours ago and yet she saw no sign of him still. She knew that sometimes Kurei would stay late at school to play with his friend Raiha, and she wasn't one to deprive him of friends, but he always knew to come home before night falls. They still lived within the borders of Nashikiri but their area was practically provincial. They had a total two neighbors, both elderly farm folks and street lamps ran apart a mile away. It was far from dangerous but it did make her worrisome.
With a firm resolve, Reina went inside and got her shawl and prepared to make the long trek to the city. Her son might've gotten into some trouble preventing him from coming home and she wasn't about to just sit around and wait for news.
Reina walked quickly down the rocky pathway of their home leading up to the unpaved road. She had walked a little past their house when she sighted a silhouette of a small figure.
"Kurei, where have you been? Do you have any idea what time it is?" Reina bellowed, voice uncharacteristically high. Her face was couldn't seem to decide whether it was worried or incensed.
Kurei slowed down his pace as he approached his panicking mother. Small hands held so tightly onto the straps of his knapsack that his knuckles turned white. His mother had never raised her voice at him and it was rather unnerving.
"I'm sorry," he cried as he ran up to her and hugged her waist.
Reina dropped to her knees and returned her son's embrace. "It's okay, Kurei. Mama didn't mean to yell. I was just so worried about you. Where did you go?"
Kurei shuffled his feet guiltily and looked away from his mother's searching gaze. "I went to see the parade. I wanted to see Uncle's new wife."
Reina frowned. She had heard of Ouka's wedding about a month ago. She remembered clearly that it was the day after Ouka's last visit to their home. The woman he married, Kagerou, Reina knew of her. She was a strong ninja that served in the Nashikiri army but she wasn't of noble birth. But Kagero's skills and talent as a ninja earned her a name and power in the community. She was the perfect candidate to be the next matriarch of the Hanabishi house.
"Mama," Kurei's small voice broke into her thoughts, "why didn't Uncle invite us to his wedding? We're family, aren't we?"
The sheer sadness in her son's face broke her heart to pieces.
"Oh Kurei, your uncle did invite us," Reina lied, "but I didn't have a proper dress and I didn't think you'd want to go. Mama's sorry, I should've asked you my son."
And just like that the light was back in her son's eyes. The mere suggestion that his Uncle Ouka did not forget about him was enough to chase away his forlorn thoughts.
Reina wiped away the stray tears that fell down Kurei's cheeks and kissed his nose. "You know the butcher that delivers the goods at the restaurant gave me a good deal for some beef. You want Mama to cook some beef hotpot for you tonight?"
Kurei nodded enthusiastically, all thoughts of weddings forgotten. Reina stood up from her kneeling position and took Kurei's tiny hand in her calloused ones as they walked back home.
…
Kurei found himself alone in class at seven in the morning once more. Her mother had again taken on the early morning shift at the restaurant and would still not allow him to stay alone at home. A pen and an open journal were his only companions that morning. He was scribbling away about dragons and princesses when the creak of the door jarred his flow. He looked up to find a woman dressed in a long black skirt and a white button up shirt looking at him curiously.
"You're Uncle's wife," he said without missing a beat.
The woman smiled tentatively. "Let me guess, you are Kurei?"
The child nodded, in too much shock that she would know his name.
"Your uncle's told me a lot about you," she said to explain the question in his face. A smile brightened his face when she told him that tidbit. "You're rather early for school. I thought I would be the only one here."
"My Mama has to go to work early and she doesn't want me staying in the house alone," Kurei explained. "Why are you here, um." He fidgeted in his seat nervously, wondering how to address his uncle's pretty wife.
"You can call me Miss Kagerou. I wanted to come in early to prepare for my lessons," she said calmly as she took her place at the teacher's desk at the head of the room. "I will be your teacher for Languages this year, Kurei-kun."
Kurei scrunched up his nose in thought. "But aren't you a ninja?"
Miss Kagerou laughed good naturedly at the boy's innocent question. "Well, I was, I still am in a way. But since I married I've decided to leave that dangerous lifestyle and take up teaching. I did earn a degree in Creative Writing while I was training for the army. I would be a capable teacher for the younger students like you."
Kagerou looked bemusedly at Kure's desk. She had seen what he was doing before she interrupted the child. "Do you like languages, Kurei-kun?"
The black haired boy scratched his nape as his cheeks puffed with a blush. "Eh, well, I like reading a lot. I like reading adventure books. And sometimes I write too."
Kagerou smiled at him. "I like the same things you do. I guess we'll both be having fun in this class, ne?"
His cheeks reddened even more before he nodded. Kagerou couldn't help the tiny giggle escape her mouth. The boy's awkwardness was simply adorable. She grabbed a chalk from her desk drawer and stood up to write on the board behind her. She had just finished writing her first name when she heard Kurei's shy voice.
"Miss Kagerou, Uncle hasn't come to visit us in a while. I know he's very busy, but, well, can you…I guess can you tell him that I miss him?" Kurei bowed his head down as if afraid he had asked for too much.
The new teacher smiled at him tenderly. "I promise I will."
…
Ouka began removing his armors as soon as he entered the bedchambers he shared with his wife. He had spent the day assessing the strength and skills of four of his new generals. It was tiring to say the least. He would probably give up his entire kingdom at the moment for a meal and a hot bath. He haphazardly dropped his arm guards on the carpeted floor knowing full well that he would receive hell from his wife much later for being such a slob but he was just too worn out to care at the moment. Just as he had taken a seat at the end of the bed to take off his shoes, he heard the opening of the bathroom door.
He had expected her to start berating him for his messiness but instead she smoothly said, "I saw him today."
Ouka paused from untying the laces to his boots and looked up at her. "Saw who?"
"Your son."
Ouka's eyes widened and it felt as if his entire being was encased in ice. "How did you-"
Kagerou remained calm as she moved to stand in front of him. "Know?" She smiled at him as if he were an ignorant child. "I've been in the army for as long as you have been. I'm privy to classified government documents. As far as the public knows you divorced your wife peacefully after the birth of your still born son. But I know the truth."
He remained mum; he wasn't sure how to respond.
She continued without waiting for him. "I also know that you see him regularly. But you stopped after our wedding. Why?"
He looked to his feet and spoke lowly. "I didn't think that you would understand."
Kagerou rolled her eyes and swatted his shoulder. "You wound me, my husband. You really think I would be so selfish as to keep a boy away from his father?"
Ouka stood up and took hold of her arms. "That is not what I meant!"
She reached up and caressed his face to calm his nerves. "He is precious. And so very smart. He looks just like you, you know? He has your chin and your nose. Except for his eyes, they were these deep beautiful baby blues."
"He has his mother's eyes," he said in a grave tone, as if apologizing for loving someone else before her, even though he knew it was not something he should apologize before.
"Go to see him, Ouka. He longs for you," she whispered softly.
Ouka wrapped his arms around her waist in a bone-crushing embrace and kissed her tenderly. "I love you. Thank you."
…
Kurei huffed heavily as he kicked another rock standing in his way. The sun's punishing rays prickled on his skin and his legs felt like it would collapse at any moment. "How much farther up do we have to go, Raiha-kun?" he whined dramatically.
His companion trekked up the steep hill a few feet away from him looked back at him with a smug smirk on his face. "You are such a girl, Kurei-kun. Just a little more. Don't drop dead on me, okay?"
Kurei pouted at Raiha's seemingly bottomless energy. His sweat made his clothes cling to his skin and his hair was plastered onto his scalp and Raiha still looked like he just came from a fresh bath.
Once they had reached the clearing Raiha set his backpack down on the muddy floor. He opened the zipper and took out a package about the size of a shoe box. He excitedly tore the red wrapping paper around it and deftly handled the brightly colored rocket shaped objects in his hands.
"I got them from my cousin. He came home from China last week and they have the most awesome fireworks," Raiha said, "if we launch them from up here we'll see everything. It's going to be amazing!"
Kurei set his bag next to Raiha's and sat on his haunches. "Don't you think this is dangerous?"
Raiha rolled his eyes. "Psh, it's perfectly safe. I handle these things all the time," he said confidently. He was lying of course. He handled it maybe once and he burned his thumb in the process.
Raiha slipped his hands in his pockets searching for something. When he came up empty-handed he rummaged through his bag and as minutes went by and still nothing, he got frustrated. "Shit!"
"Don't say that! Mama says that's a bad word," Kurei admonished.
Raiha looked at him with a raised brow. "You're such a mama's boy, Kurei-kun."
"I am not!" Kurei defended.
"Whatever," Raiha waved off. His back hunched over. "Looks like I forgot the matches. And it's too late to go back down now. What a stupid thing to do. Argh!"
Kurei watched the sheer disappointment in his friend's face. He frowned, forehead creased in deep thought. Mama said he shouldn't but Raiha was his best friend, and Kurei trusted him with everything.
"Raiha-kun, we can still light up the fireworks, if you want," Kurei said carefully.
Raiha stared at him as if he were a mental patient. "What're you planning to do? Rub two stones together?"
The black haired boy ignored his friend's sarcasm. He looked to his sides and behind him as if making sure there was no one else around, never minding the fact that they were the only two people on this blasted hilltop.
"Look, you can't tell anyone, okay? It has to be a secret," Kurei whispered conspiratorially.
"Whatever."
"Raiha, I'm serious, you can't tell anyone or Mama might kill me!"
"Fine, I won't! I promise!"
"Shake on it."
Kurei spit on his right hand and offered it to Raiha who did the same. After they finished their secret handshake Kurei took a deep breath and held his right palm up, positioned as if he was begging for alms. Raiha was beginning to wonder if he should give him a quarter or something when his eyes widened. A small blue flame formed seemingly out of nowhere right in the middle of Kurei's turned up hand.
"You're a flame caster?" Raiha whispered breathlessly.
Kurei shook his head at his friend's conclusion. "No, I'm not. I can only make tiny blue flames like this. It's really weak."
"But how's that possible? Only the Hanabishis are blessed with such a gift," Raiha asked, eyes still focused on the bluebell flame that continued to flicker in Kurei's hand.
"Mama says my Dad was a far relative of the Hanabishis, that's why I can do small stuff like this. She tells me to keep it a secret though because she says if anyone finds out I'll be taken away from her and be tested in labs or something. So you can't tell anyone, okay?" Kurei said nervously.
Raiha shook his head and finally looked up to his friend's eyes. "Kurei, only one in every generation of the Hanabishis is blessed with such powers and can only pass it on to their direct descendants. What you're saying is impossible."
"Are you calling my Mama a liar?" Kurei shouted in a rare display of temper. The flame in his hand brightened, as if reacting to his mood.
Raiha gulped. Kurei was almost never forceful but when you say anything about his mother, he got really scary. "Of course not. It's just odd, is all. Hey, maybe we can tell the teachers at school and they can train you to make a really big flame so we can join the army together!"
Kurei closed his hand into a fist, effectively extinguishing the small fire. "No! I told you it has to be a secret. And besides, I already said I don't want to join the army like you, I want write books!"
The purple haired boy sighed deeply. Honestly, he had no idea why he kept insisting this army stuff on his friend. Maybe it was because Raiha just really wanted them to be joined at the hip forever.
"Alright, alright, I'll keep it a secret," he relented.
"So, are we still going to do this?" Kurei asked, wanting to veer away from the subject. He picked up a small rocket and looked at it as if it would come alive and bite him at any moment.
Raiha grinned from ear to ear. "You bet, it's going to be awesome!"
…
"What're you so nervous about?" Raiha asked as he chewed on his banana fritter.
Kurei was walking beside him, his little hands fiddling with the straps of his backpack. "My house is really small."
It would be the first time he would let Raiha visit his home. Kurei had been to the other boy's house all the time. Well, he didn't think house would be the appropriate term; Raiha lived in a mammoth of an estate. Their downstairs bathroom was about the size of Kurei's tiny hut.
Raiha waved off his concerns with a reassuring smile. "Pfft, don't think about that too much, okay? That stuff doesn't matter."
Kurei only nodded and continued walking.
"But your home sure is a long walk. No wonder you're so bony," Raiha teased.
"Yeah, I can still run faster than you though," Kurei challenged. Without waiting for a reply Kurei sprinted quickly down the road.
"Cheater!" Raiha exclaimed as he chased the other boy.
The two went on their race until they reached the front porch of Kurei's house. Kurei was heaving slightly as Raiha came up shortly behind him.
"I let you win, just so you know," Raiha said.
Kurei just laughed at him. His friend didn't handle defeat too well. He wordlessly led them to the door. He instructed Raiha to wipe his shoes on the rug before proceeding inside. As soon as they were in the house, Kurei was greeted with a wondrous surprise.
"Uncle!" Kurei dropped his backpack on the floor and barreled into the statuesque figure.
Ouka welcomed Kurei readily and easily lifted the boy in his arms. He crushed the boy in a tight hug and kissed the top of his head. "I've missed you sport!"
"I thought you were never gonna see us again," Kurei whispered with a slight hiccup as he hugged his uncle's neck tighter.
"Let him breathe, Kurei-kun," Reina said from behind them.
Ouka gently put Kurei back on his feet and took notice of the purple haired boy who was starting at them unblinkingly. "Who's your friend?"
"That's Raiha, he's my best friend!" Kurei forgot to mention that he was his only friend.
The purple haired boy waved in a zombie-like manner.
"I brought some snacks here for Kurei, but there's more than enough. Would you like to join us Raiha?" Ouka asked, smiling at his son's friend.
Raiha just nodded. He was still just positively dumbstruck.
"Your friend doesn't talk too much, does he?" Ouka said to Kurei.
Reina decided to take over at this point. "Why don't you two change into play clothes? Raiha, I'm sure Kurei has something that would fit you."
Kurei walked over to Raiha and dragged his friend who still had a bug-eyed look on his face.
As soon as they were safely inside Kurei's room, Raiha finally burst his spleen. "Ouka Hanabishi is your uncle?"
Kurei calmly walked to his dresser and pulled out a pair of t-shirts and two draw string pants. "Yeah, Mama said my dad is his fifth cousin or something. I told you earlier, didn't I? We're kinda related."
Raiha furrowed his eyebrows, deep in thought. "That's weird though, in history class they said for the past couple of generations there has been only one son born into the Hanabishi family…"
"Are you calling my Mama a liar again?" Kurei said with warning tone.
"I was just thinking aloud…"
Kurei glared.
"I'll shut up now."
Eighteen Years before the Bombing of Nashikiri, Twelfth Year of Ouka Hanabishi's Reign
Kurei neatly placed his book and pen inside his backpack, preparing to go to his next class. Most of his classmates were already heading out the door when Miss Kagerou drew his attention. "Can you stay a bit after class, Kurei-kun?"
There was a series of "ooh-s" and "aah-s" from the other students, thinking that Kurei must be in trouble. Kurei ignored them and nodded politely.
As soon as the last student was out the door, Miss Kagerou motioned for him to take a seat on the chair in front of her desk. Once he was settled, Miss Kagerou pulled out two bond papers stapled together and had neatly scribbled writings on it. Kurei recognized that it was his homework from last week. He felt the sweat drop come down the side of his face. Was it that bad?
"I read your story, Kurei-kun," Miss Kagerou began with a smile, "and it was very good."
A wide grin flourished on his young face. "Really?"
Miss Kagerou smiled at him. "Have you given thoughts to joining the school paper for next year?"
Kurei shook his head. "Do you think I'm good enough for that?"
"I think you are more than good enough. You'll be a stand-out for sure," she said confidently, "also, it would allow you to hone your talents more and you could interact with other students who share the same interests with you."
"Yeah, maybe I will," he said.
Miss Kagerou smiled at her introverted student. She knew he would just need a little push and encouragement. She rubbed her stomach as she felt a light kick on her womb.
"Your tummy's getting a lot bigger now," Kurei said. Then blushed as he thought over his words.
The languages teacher just laughed. "Yes, he's ready to come out any day now."
"Oh, it's a boy?" Kurei asked, looking very excited.
"Um-hmm, I hope he becomes as smart and as cute as you, Kurei-kun," she said sincerely.
Kurei blushed harder. "Do you think, when he comes out, Uncle will let me play with him?"
Miss Kagerou looked at him tenderly. "Of course, Kurei-kun. You'll be just like a big brother to him."
…
His office was looking more and more like a newspaper drive these days. Stacks upon stacks of documents pressed neatly between manila folders littered his desk, awaiting review and approval. The conflict in the Middle East had taken him away from his administrative duties for a while and it was now time to pay the piper. He leaned against the back of his leather arm chair and rested his eyes. The words were beginning to blur which was a sign he needed a bit of a break.
"Hanabishi-sama, your father is here to see you," a female voice drifted to his consciousness.
He opened his eyes to see Yumi, his executive assistant, poking her head through the slight crack on his door.
"Let him in," Ouka instructed. It wasn't like he could turn away his father. If he did the old man would probably set loose a horde of slugs in his office just to spite him.
Yumi disappeared behind the door. A scant few seconds later Yuzura Hanabishi entered his office, long silver hair flowing down his back. He held a bottle of champagne in one hand while the other rested heavily against his black cane. He put the champagne bottle down Ouka's desk, not caring if it caused some folders to fall down the floor. With much flourish he took a seat on the armed chair on the other side of the desk. He crossed his legs, his leather boots shining in the lamplight.
Yuzura's suffocating presence intimidated Ouka when he was younger, now it just irritated him. "What is it that you want, father?"
"I am allowed to congratulate my son on the birth of his child, am I not?" Yuzura said with an arrogant sniff.
Ouka gave him a disbelieving look. "You've never been the sentimental type. Why are you here?"
"I've received news that your son has the flame," he said without preamble.
Ouka rested his elbows on his desk and leaned forward. "Yes, he does. You should be happy the next heir to the throne is secured."
The elder Hanabishi took his time to pick off imaginary lint on his fur coat, enjoying the aggravation he caused his son who waited impatiently for him to continue. "While it is uncommon it is not impossible for two sons to carry the flame. I am sure you have learned basic math in the years you spent as a mediocre student, I don't need to explain to you that that cursed son of yours is still the older one and is therefore a threat to the throne."
Ouka drew a deep breath. He wanted to throttle the man in front of him for insulting his eldest child but knew it was pointless. "Reina has made it clear that she has no aspirations to associate herself with our family when you cast her out of the palace because of an archaic prophecy. Leave them in peace."
"Do not blaspheme our legacy, Ouka. Those archaic prophecies you dismiss so easily has strengthened the power of the Hanabishi family through many generations," he declared, unperturbed by the rising anger in Ouka's eyes.
"You will not hurt Kurei, or Reina," Ouka said with finality.
Yuzura let out mocking laughter from his lips. "You are far too dramatic my son. I am simply proposing that the mother and child be removed completely from Nashikiri. I'll even be generous and set them up in a chateau in France. It will definitely be an improvement from that pitiful shack they call a home."
Ouka slammed his fist against the desk, the rumblings penetrating Yuzura's stoic grace for a mere moment. "I have allowed you to rip my family from me before, but you will not take Kurei further away from me!"
A flash of rage ran through Yuzura's eyes as he held his son's steady gaze. "You are a fool if you think you can keep up this charade you've weaved. Posing as the boy's caring uncle, how terribly cliché! You think a secret of this magnitude can be kept under the rug with that woman and her cursed offspring living here while you keep close ties with them? I've indulged you for too long, Ouka, but what you're doing is dangerous. If they continue to live within the boundaries of Nashikiri, people will find out, your son will learn the truth sooner or later and the results will be disastrous!"
It seemed as if his entire body was consumed in controlled rage as he slowly stood up from his seat, hands clenched tightly at his sides, the veins on his muscles arms traced his skin with boiling madness. "I have let you control me for far too long. I will only say this once, you dare touch even a hair on Kurei's head and I will forget that you have sired me."
Yuzura stood to match his stance. "You foolish boy, you think I would cower at your meager threats. Let me remind you that I handed you the leadership of Nashikiri and I an just as easily take it away. You must be terribly naïve if you think I no longer hold any sort of power in this nation. I will bring this to the council and trust me when I say that they will favor my judgment over yours."
Yuzura turned around with a fastidious swish of his coat and slammed the door behind him.
…
There was an atypical skip in his step as Kurei made his way over to the young oak tree. He held a brown paper bag in one hand and folded letter in the other. The sun shone brightly in the sky and the wind blew easily in his face as if to reflect his rather agreeable mood.
"What're you so happy about?"
Raiha was already seated inbetween two thick trunks of their tree, it was their regular lunch spot. He was already chewing on a turkey sandwich and a half empty juice box lay wayward in front of him.
Kurei didn't wipe the Cheshire grin on his face as he took his spot in front of Raiha and handed him the letter. The purple haired boy put down his sandwich on top of its forgotten paper wrapper and wiped his hands on his pants before snatching up the proffered paper. He opened it up and read the contents, his frown steadily deepening until he got to the end.
"I didn't know you tried out for the school paper," he sniffed.
"I didn't really think I'd get in, but I did!" Kurei said excitedly. "And I get to write my first piece about the school's 'Go Green' project!"
"That's lame," Raiha said carelessly. He dropped the letter on the grass and picked up his turkey sandwich.
Kurei grimaced as he picked up the discarded letter and reverently smoothed out the edges. "Aren't you happy for me?"
Raiha looked at his friend's utter disappointment in his reaction but was still callous in his tone. "There's just a bunch of geeks in there. You should've tried out for the kendo team with me."
"But I'm no good at stuff like that, Raiha-kun," he said, sounding utterly despondent. "Ne, Raiha-kun, if I don't become a ninja like you, are you going to stop being my friend?"
Raiha gulped down the masticated turkey in his throat. It didn't taste as good as it did a minute ago. He looked down guiltily. "They're still a bunch of geeks…but you'll be the only cool one in there."
"Really?"
"We'll be friends forever, Kurei-kun."
"Always."
…
There was palpable unease in the air as Fujimaro Kirisawa watched the grown man in front of him shift uncomfortably on cushioned booth opposite his. His hand fiddled with the salt shaker nervously, his movements oddly unsure. Fujimaro had been friends with him for fourteen years, since they first became bunkmates in the military on their freshman year.
Fujimaro knew something was off when he had asked the decorated general to meet him here. They would usually meet at his office but today they found themselves in a non-descript pub on the outskirts of the city. He doubted either one of them had been in here since their years in the military academy. He had been reluctant to leave his wife's side, after all she had just given birth to their first daughter but there was an urgency to the request given to him and Fujimaro could not deny.
It was unnerving to see Ouka Hanabishi bothered by anything, not just bothered, it was almost as if he was afraid.
"I will be leaving tomorrow for the West. The council was adamant I be present for the treaty with the Americas," Ouka began.
Fujimaro nodded. "Would you like me to cut short my leave to join you?"
Ouka shook his head. "No, no. There is no danger, it's an economic treaty, to smoothen our trading laws with the West. And I would need you here."
"Continue," Fujimaro said.
"What I'm going to ask of you is not official business," he said.
"What is going on, Ouka?" Fujimaro asked, letting the restlessness seep through his tone.
"You are one of my most trusted generals but more importantly you are one of my closest friends," Ouka said, "My father has expressed his fear of Kurei becoming a threat to the throne now that Recca is born."
"Are you afraid that he will try something while you're away?" Fujimaro supplied.
"My father still has deep ties with the council. I wouldn't put it past him to have orchestrated this entire ruse of a treaty just to get me out of the country," Ouka said. "I need you to stay here and make sure that nothing happens to Kurei and Reina."
Fujimaro sighed deeply. What Ouka was asking for was not an easy task. Yuzura Hanabishi, while no longer leader, was still a powerful man. He still wielded a strong hand in both military and legislative systems and he was but a young general fresh from the ranks. However, he was not about to let his comrade and his friend down. "I will do everything in my power to keep them safe."
…
Reina carefully stirred the cuttlefish stew that was slowly coming to a boil on the stove top. Her eyes watched as the soup turned into a murky brown but her ears were trained to Kurei's continuous chatter. She nodded gently as Kurei animatedly talked about his new friends at school after he had joined the school paper. She smiled fondly at the thought that Kurei was becoming a lot more social and active in school.
"Mama! You're not listening!" Kurei whined as he tugged the skirt of his mother's kimono.
Reina patted the top of his head. "I am, I am! You were telling me about who you had lunch with."
Kurei, satisfied that she was in fact paying attention, continued to prattle on. "Right, there was Chiako, and there was Souta, and there was Ruka. But Raiha-kun didn't seem too happy with all of them there though."
"Well, friends can get jealous too, Kurei-chan. You just need to let Raiha adjust and all will be well," Reina assured him.
Kurei tilted his head to his side thoughtfully. "Yeah, I s'pose. Raiha-kun can be so moody."
Reina laughed heartily. "But he's still your best friend, Kurei-chan."
The loud creak of their front door stopped Kurei from replying. Reina frowned, wondering who could possibly be coming to their house at this time. She turned off the stove and headed out the kitchen. Kurei followed her steps.
Their uninvited guest stood at the foyer, head lolling around as he inspected his surroundings. Every movement of his eye and quirk of his mouth seemed to be some form of judgment.
"Go to your room, Kurei," Reina immediately said as soon as she recognized the man.
"Do you know him, Mama?" Kurei asked, the exigency in her voice gave him goosebumps.
"Just go, Kurei, I will talk to him," she insisted.
The man continued his way, not acknowledging the presence of the mother and her child. He betrayed no expression on his face as to what was running through his mind. Kurei followed his mother's orders and disappeared inside his room but stuck his ear to the door. He didn't trust that man.
"Yuzura," Reina greeted.
Only then did the man acknowledge her presence. Reina, despite her frailty, was a tall woman, standing only two inches beneath the man, but somehow he managed to stare her down as if she was nothing more than an insect in his path.
"Your home…is quaint," he drawled. Everything that came out of his mouth always sounded like an insult.
"To what do we owe your visit?" she asked calmly.
Yuzura lifted the cane in his hand and easily twirled it between his fingers. He never really had a need for a cane, but found that it made his presence more intimidating. "You have heard of course of Ouka's new heir."
Reina huffed impatiently. She was never one for dancing around subjects and she truly loathed Yuzura's presence. The faster they get to the point, the faster he can leave. "I've told you before, I have no interest in the throne. Kurei and I are of no threat to your family. If you have come all the way here for that, then you have wasted our time. You need not worry about us."
Yuzura laughed mockingly at her. "Oh I have heard that before, Reina. However, it is not such a simple matter. You may say that you and that bastard child of yours will keep away, but your continued presence here in Nashikiri, could be problematic."
Reina narrowed her eyes at the implications of his words.
Yuzura drew nearer to her, his stature towering menacingly over her form. She could smell the scent of stale cigars wafting from the thick fibers of his midnight cloak. "I want you out of this country. Do not worry that peasant head of yours, I've taken care of everything, you will lead a much more comfortable life."
Reina clenched her fists at her side, her mouth thinning into a grim line. "I have no need for your money. You have already taken away his birthright, you will not take him away from his home. You will not take him away from his father. What kind of a man are you that you would force your son away from his child?"
He smirked deviously at her. "Foolish woman, defending your former lover so stalwartly. I wonder if you would feel any differently if I told you it was Ouka himself who gave me the order."
Her eyes widened. Anger bubbled up her throat. "You lie! Ouka loves Kurei, he would never do such a thing!" she yelled with as much force as her body could muster.
"Mama!"
Reina turned around so quickly that the bones in her neck seethed. Kurei stood at the end of the hallway, a horrified look on his face, eyes brimming with tears.
"Get back inside, Kurei!"
"Oh no, he should stay and find out just how much his father hates the wicked flame running through his bones," Yuzura taunted.
Reina looked back at him, her chin jutting out as she gritted her teeth. "Get out, now!"
Yuzura's mouth twisted into a sneer. His entire form shook with anger. "Who do you think you are barking orders at me?"
"And who do you think you are coming into my home and hurting my child with your lies?" It was as if there was foreign entity that took over her being as she raised her palms up and pushed at Yuzura's chest.
"You insolent woman!"
And then it happened. His cane rose magnificently above his head, its silver dragon cap gleaming in the soft yellow light and struck down the unblemished cheek of the woman standing in front of him.
Kurei stood frozen in his spot, as if icicles crawled up the veins of his body. He watched in horror as his beloved mother fell to the side with great speed. He heard a sickening crack split the air as her head hit the sharp corner of their dinner table before her body limped to the floor with a painful thud.
It was as if all the muscles in his body melted into mush as he dropped to his knees. His palms and knees scaled the floor to reach her. It felt like he crawled for hours upon hour before he finally came to a halt by her side. Her entire face was wrapped in a pallid color save for the bright red bruise that stained her cheek. Blood pooled around her head until it stretched to reach his palms, soaking it with its copper smell. It didn't look good. She didn't look good.
"Mama," he whimpered. His small, palpitating hands went to her shoulders as he tried to shake his mother
Slow, uneven gasps made its way out of her mouth. "Kurei…" Her voice was but a whisper that haunted him to his core.
"Mama, get up," he pleaded.
Her eyes fluttered weakly searching for her son's face but failing to find him until her irises shrunk to point. "I love you, Kurei…"
Then he could no longer hear her gasps.
His heart beat against his ribcage wildly as his breaths escalated to difficult pants. A sharp pain struck his throat until it reached his cheeks. "You hurt my Mama," it was soft and daunting murmur.
He looked up at the man who seemed to be in shock, his wrinkly hands holding tightly onto his dastardly cane.
"You hurt my Mama!"
Yuzura never had the chance to scream as the brilliant blue flame engulfed his vision.
…
Kirisawa Fujimaro hurled out every swear in the book at the three hare-brained rookie officers in front of him. He had been called to see to a situation that arose in the guard station at the borders. He thought of the worst, possibly an attack from rebel soldiers, only to be greeted with the site of three drunk imbecilic officers engaged in a brawl over a fucking bottle of scotch.
"You dare call yourself soldiers you pathetic vermin! You three are suspended indefinitely and I will personally propose to the Secretary General that you be stripped off your titles without honor!" he informed them venomously.
But it wasn't just the three imbeciles that made Fujimaro antsy. Something deep in his gut told him something deeply foreboding was coming this way. The static emitting from his two-way pinched his ears. He pulled it out roughly from his utility belt and spoke into the speaker. "Ishijima, what is it?"
Fujimaro had been staking outside the house of Reina and Kure for the past three days. He rarely left the site and when he did he would only be gone for an hour or two. The situation at the borders forcibly drew him away from his spot and he had called on one of his neophyte officers to take his place, instructing to inform him immediately should anything happen. Ishijima was an unlucky bastard who was forced into the military by his father when all he wanted was to run a flower shop. He was a quiet and submissive one and Fujimaro knew the boy would never question his authority and would keep his mouth shut when told.
"Kirisawa-sama, there's a black town car that parked inside the house a minute or so ago," Ishijima reported from the other end.
Fujimaro clenched his hand around the radio. "How many?"
"Just one man came out, I couldn't see his face but he was wearing a black cape," the freshman soldier replied.
"Fuck!" Fujimaro swore. "Stay put, I'm coming."
Fujimaro jumped into his jeep and stepped on the gas, willing the machine to run as fast as it could go. But he would be too late.
…
"Ishijima, what the fuck happened here?" Fujimaro yelled at the officer who stood helplessly in front of the burning house.
"I don't know! It happened too fast, one minute there was a spark and the next the entire house is on fire!" Ishijima explained.
Fujimaro didn't waste anymore time as he moved forward towards the flaming hut. He took off his fatigue jacket and put it over his head to protect his from the thick black smoke polluting the air. He kicked the door open with his boot and rushed inside. What greeted him was a sight that he would carry to his death.
The boy sobbed loudly over the lifeless form of his mother, seemingly unaware of the suffocating heat and the collapsing house around him Or perhaps he just didn't care. Another body lay just a few feet away, charred to the bone, even his eyes did not survive. But Fujimaro would recognize that black cane anywhere.
He didn't have time to process the situation although his subconscious was already putting together the pieces of the events. He spoke no words of comfort as he scooped up the small boy in his arms easily, he was practically weightless. The boy kicked and screamed and called for his mother but Fujimaro ignored his pleas as he ran to the door, just as the beams finally gave up and fell to the ground, creating a bonfire around the two corpses inside.
Hours later he found himself in his jeep just outside the border gates of Nashikiri. The boy was staring up the stars, his face a canvass of soot and tear tracks. Fujimaro gripped the steering wheel before he spoke, "Kurei, you can't stay here."
He didn't want to do this. The boy had just lost his mother and now he had to be driven away from his home. He was so young. But he couldn't think of anything else. There was no question what had caused Yuzura's death and though he knew in his heart of hearts that Kurei could not be blamed, keeping him here would be feeding him to the wolves. There were too many members of the council that hated the boy on account of his supposed cursed flame and they would jump at the chance to permanently rid of him once they found out about the events that transpired earlier that night. They would eat him alive and neither him nor Ouka would be able to do anything. This was the only thing he could think of. He pulled out a pouch from his jacket pocket and filled it with all the money he had. He handed it to the child beside him.
"There is a bus that would take you North. Get off Hakurei Mountains and find a place to stay. The money I put in there should last you at least two weeks. I will come and find you, understand?" Fujimaro instructed.
Kurei finally turned away from the stars and to face the stranger who saved his life. "Why?"
"It's not safe here for you anymore, Kurei," was all Fujimaro said. How can you explain to a child that many yearned for his death?
Kurei accepted this. They waited together for the bus to arrive.
Present day
Fujimaro watched the thunder in the sky wrestle wildly with the dark clouds. The city lights paled under the rebellious lights. The glass of scotch in his hand was yet to touch his lips. "How is Recca?"
Kagerou reclined on the chair inside Fujimaro's steady, facing the fire. "He ran out of our home an hour ago. I don't know how he's taking it but I'm giving him his space."
The pair settled once more into silence.
"Did Ouka know about you and Kurei?" Kagerou asked.
"He knew that I took him out of the fire but he didn't know that I've kept tabs on him through the years, until I lost track of him when he turned eighteen," Fujimaro answered truthfully.
"Why not?"
Fujimaro sighed. "He would've gotten emotional. He would've fought to bring Kurei back here and taken on the council himself. It would have cracked down his entire government. I had to consider the plight of the nation."
Kagerou nodded.
"Do you think he'd have hated me for it?" Fujimaro asked.
"You were just doing what you thought was right," she answered honestly. "What do you think happened after he turned eighteen?"
Fujimaro put down the scotch on the window ledge in front of him. He was never going to drink it really. He walked towards the fireplace and settled on the chair opposite Kagerou.
"To be honest, I can't be sure. I could only use limited resources to gather intel about Kurei. I heard rumors that he was taken in by Mori Koran but I didn't have any conclusive information," Fujimaro explained.
"Mori Koran?" she asked.
Fujimaro nodded. "He's infamous for running drug cartels and illegal arms trading in the West."
"But what would he want with Kurei?" she asked.
"I have ideas but I would rather gather more information before giving you anything conclusive," he said.
Kagerou shifted in her seat. "What about Raiha?"
He let a frustrated growl escape his lips. "I should've guessed immediately that Kurei was behind this once I found out Raiha was involved. Raiha is posing to be a bigger threat than we thought. I've found out recently that a large number of Madogus that do not belong to any of the ninja families are missing from our arsenal. You can guess who keeps the keys and the ledgers to that."
"Do you think they plan to build an army?" she asked.
"I'm afraid they might've already built one," he answered.
Kagerou tilted her head and stared into the fire. "Perhaps we deserve this for what happened to Kurei."
"We were young back then, Kagerou. We held positions of power but were just slaves to the system," he reasoned.
"We could've tried harder to protect him," she said ruefully, "now our children will have to pay the price for our cowardice."
…
Fuuko dragged her feet up the steps of her home. School was unforgiving. The week long break meant everyone had to work twice as hard to make up for the time lost. Tokiya had asked if she wanted to come over so they could study together but she figured that was a bad idea. When they tried to study together the day before they didn't even make it to the library and ended up making out in a broom closet for a full two hours. Sure, it was fun but certainly not productive.
She was about to insert her key into the keyhole when it suddenly popped open. Her older brother Eisen's clown face attacked her vision. "Hurry, the circus is inside," he pronounced with glee s he dragged her inside.
"What are you talking about, crazy?" she asked even as she let him pull her.
"Aunt Jun is here and she's out for blood!" he said with an evil cackle.
Fuuko stiffened. "What do you mean?"
Aunt Jun's terrible shrill pierced her ears as soon as she stepped inside the parlor.
"They can't just embarrass us like this! There must be something we can do!" the elder Sakoshita cried as she paced back and forth behind the white chintz sofa. Yanagi sat primly in the middle of the sofa with her head bowed down and cheeks blushing with embarrassment. Her father Ichigo was quiet and still as a mouse as he wrapped a comforting arm around his daughter.
Fujimaro had his arms folded in front of him and stared at Jun contemptuously, as if willing her to disappear. "I can't throw someone in jail for breaking an engagement," he said impatiently.
It was as if the woman did not hear him. "Oh god! When everyone finds about this, how can I show my face in public?" she cried inelegantly.
"I thought it was Yanagi who was engaged, not you," the general said sardonically.
"Oh very funny, Fujimaro!" Jun sneered as she paused from her pacing to glare at him. "You wouldn't understand the intricacies of high society since you insist on going about like a commoner for a man of your status."
"At least I'm not running around like a lunatic over something completely banal," Fujimaro returned while inspecting his nailbeds.
"How could you call this banal? He has embarrassed Yanagi by refusing to marry her!" she screamed.
"Mother," Yanagi spoke up in a small placating voice, "perhaps it is for the best. Tokiya-kun is not in love with me."
Jun rounded the sofa and seethed at her daughter. "You naïve little girl! Who said anything about love? The Mikagami's money and our status and connections would've ensured you a powerful place in Nashikiri for the years to come!"
Ichigo suddenly slammed his fist onto the wooden coffee table in front of him, shocking everyone into silence. "You would pander our daughter to the highest bidder?"
Jun was unperturbed. "Don't you dare talk to me like that, you hypocrite. The union was your idea in the first place."
"Because I thought Tokiya and Yanagi would've been a good match and I was good friends with his father, not for their money," he returned without skipping a breath. Ichigo turned to Fujimaro. "I apologize for this mess, Yanagi and I will head home. Jun, you can follow us back once you have your head on straight."
Yanagi followed her father's lead and politely wished everyone farewell. Jun took a moment before turning to follow them. As she exited the room her eyes landed on Fuuko and narrowed suspiciously. Fuuko tried not to cower.
"Well, that was entertaining." Eisen's twin brother Shuichi came up from behind Fuuko.
Fuuko groaned dramatically. "Oh god, you're both back home."
"Didn't you miss us, Fuuko-chan?" Eisen teased as he wrapped his little sister in a bear hug.
"Get off me, crazy," she whined but couldn't stop herself from grinning. It was nice to have her whole family in one place. Ever since Shuichi and Eisen graduated from the military eight years back, reunions like this were a rare occurrence.
"Don't piss off your sister, she can whoop your ass," Fujimaro warned them as Shuichi gave Fuuko a noogie.
Fuuko wrestled away from her brothers and gave her father a kiss on the cheek. Eisen and Shuichi took to the couch Yanagi and Ichigo had vacated.
Fujimaro wrapped an arm around his daughter. "Aunt Jun mentioned that you were friends with this Tokiya?"
Fuuko bit her lip. "He's the one that I told you about before, he's a sparring partner."
"Hmm, Ensui, right?" her father confirmed. "He must be very skilled then."
Fuuko couldn't help but smile proudly. "He's really good."
"But what he did to Yanagi was an awful thing to do to such a sweet girl," Fujimaro finally admitted. He would never give Jun the satisfaction of knowing that he agreed with her though.
Fuuko shied away from her father's glance. "I'm sure he has his reasons."
Fujimaro clucked his tongue. "It better be a damn good reason."
"Maybe Eisen and I should beat him up a little to teach him a lesson," Shuichi interjected half-jokingly.
Fuuko rolled her eyes. "Oh please, he's a Madogu master. He'd eat you both alive."
"Woah there missy, getting a little defensive there," Eisen said before a naughty glint crossed his face, "does Fuuko-chan have a wittle crush?"
Fuuko decided to throw a shoe at him in response. Before Eisen could retaliate, Fuuko's ring tone permeated the air. She peeked inside her skirt to check who was calling. She jumped up as if someone had set fire under her bum.
"It's Recca, I have to take this," she said.
Fuuko ran from the room and went into the study. She locked the door behind her before pulling out the phone and pressing 'answer.'
"Hey," she whispered.
"Why are we whispering?" the voice on the other end asked.
"My family's in the other room, I don't want them to hear me," she answered. "Why are you calling?"
"I just missed you."
She flushed.
"We saw each other half an hour ago, Mi-chan."
She heard him laugh heartily on the other end. "Your presence is quite addictive."
"Flatterer," she teased, "what're you doing right now?"
"Sitting on my couch. What are you wearing right now?"
"Mi-chan," she squealed as a giggle escaped her lips. "Perv."
She could practically see that cocky smirk on his face. "Actually I did call for a reason. My family's in town."
Fuuko took on a somber tone. "I kind of figured as much."
"Hmm?"
"Aunt Jun was here earlier. She's not very happy. I think she tried to get my Dad to assassinate you."
Tokiya sighed. "Well, that's not good, is it?"
Fuuko nodded her head even though he couldn't see her. "Mi-chan, maybe we should just keep this between the two of us for a while…"
"It's never good to keep secrets, baby."
She couldn't help the small grin on her face at hearing him call her that. They didn't actively decide on his pet name for her, just something that came out in the middle of a particularly intense kiss. Somehow it just stuck.
"I know. It'll be just until things settle down a bit."
Tokiya relented. "I guess you won't be happy to hear then that my sister knows. She wants to meet you and asked if the three of us could have coffee tomorrow after school."
"What?" Fuuko clamped a hand over her mouth. She got a bit louder than she wanted.
"Well, I was hoping to enlist her help in breaking the news to my parents. She's the only one I told," he placated her.
Fuuko let out a relieved breath. "Ok, but just her alright? For now at least."
"Just her. So does that mean you'll come with us tomorrow?"
Fuuko took a moment to answer. "Yeah."
"Tomorrow then."
"Yup," she confirmed.
"Anyhow, going back to our previous topic, what are you wearing right now?"
Fuuko promptly dropped the call.
To be continued…
End Author's Notes: OMG, thirty frigging pages y'all. This mammoth of a chapter took over my life for the better part of two weeks. I hope you enjoyed it! Also, Harry Potter reference! Ahahahahhaha. I loved writing little Kurei and little Raiha. Kurei/Raiha is love. Anyone who disagrees can go to the left.
Next Chapter: A little ToFuu, more revelations, some Kurei and my favorite tripod of Fuuko/Recca/Domon. Hee. (Hopefully it won't take as long.)
THANK YOU FOR READING AND PLEASE GIVE THE REVIEW BUTTON SOME LOVIN' CAUSE IT'S VALENTINE'S Y'ALL!