Chapter 5: The Workings of Fate

Fuuko stepped out of the shower, drying her hair with a towel. She had called up Yanagi after Tokiya's call and the Healer had promised to inform Recca, Domon, and Kagerou about it. She had texted up Ganko on her cellphone to invite her and Kaoru. The two had sent her a text message to say that they would be able to make it this week.

She pulled on a change of clothes and plopped down on her couch. She stared up at the cracks on the ceiling, mulling over the day's events.

Tokiya's cold streak apparently hadn't changed a bit. Physically though, he had grown a few inches taller. He had gone from gangly teen to slim bishounen. He certainly filled out in a muscular sense...

Fuuko shook her head. She was doing it again. 'It' being that habit of sizing up her opponent before a fight.

Tokiya wasn't an opponent. In fact, she didn't know what to consider him as besides a teammate. He had gone and left without saying goodbye.

'And now, it seems fate let our paths cross again.' Fuuko thought as she got up from the couch.

She made for her bedroom and caught sight of herself in the full-length mirror.

'Is that how I look like, now?' she stepped forward and touched the mirror.

She was surprised at her appearance. She never really paid any attention to it before. She just agreed to Yanagi's suggestion of letting her hair grow long for a change, but she never spent more than ten minutes in front of the mirror, preferring to either keep her hair back in a ponytail or a headband, to keep things simple. Her curves were a bit more noticeable now that she was wearing shorts and a tank top.

She shook her head and trudged back out the door and into the kitchen. Maybe a snack would help clear her head.

It was plain that a peanut butter and jelly sandwich wasn't really helping. Fuuko swallowed the last of her PBJ and put the plate in the sink. She usually left the dishwashing till after dinner.

"BRIIIIIIIING!"

Fuuko hurried to the phone and picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Fuuko-san?"

"Hey, Yanagi-kun!"

"I called up Recca and Domon. They said they owe their favorite Ice Boy a knuckle sandwich each for leaving without saying good-bye."

"I'm feeling the same way right about now." Fuuko admitted.

"So, how is he? What was it like seeing him?"

"It wasn't so bad. And he seems to be fine. He owes us a couple of explanations though."

"A couple of explanations?" Yanagi sounded puzzled.

"Yes." Fuuko replied, staring at one of the framed pictures on the desk where she kept the phone. It was of the whole Hokage team, fresh after the UBS. Tokiya was actually mustering up a smile in that picture, and he had a hand on her shoulder. She felt herself turn pink.

"Fuuko? You still there?" came Yanagi's voice.

"Yeah. Sorry, I was thinking about something."

"What's the second thing he has to explain to us?"

"You'll see." Fuuko answered. "I think it'll be a long story."

"All right, then." Yanagi said. "Recca says his mother will be driving up here tomorrow to stay with him and Domon for a while. Will Kaoru and Ganko be able to make it?"

"Yeah. They're coming too. We just have to tell them when."

"Great! Well how about this coming Friday?"

"I'll ask Tokiya, then I'll let you know."

"Okay. See you soon! Ja ne!"

"Ja ne!"

Fuuko hung up the phone slowly and headed back to the kitchen, her mind not on preparing dinner.

'You owe us more than 'a couple of explanations' Mi-Chan. And for your sake, they'd better be good.'