Chapter 16: So It Thickens

"Here, this is a good spot." Yanagi hurried over to a bench in one of the picturesque walkways of the resort. She took solo pictures of Fuuko, Ganko, and Tanya, and Fuuko obliged by taking one of her. Fortunately, an employee of the hotel passed by and graciously took a snapshot of the four of them.

Yanagi thanked the waiter before he left and scrolled through the images of her digital camera.

"These look great!"

"You take pictures at every spot we pass by." Fuuko laughed, as she looked over her best friend's shoulder at the photographs.

"You can never take too many pictures." Yanagi grinned back. "Come on. I want to see that enormous fishpond this place is also famous for."

There were a lot of guests taking advantage of the cold weather. As the girls passed by some skateboard-toting teenagers, they barred the way.

"Babysitting because you got no dates, ladies? We're available!". One of them gave a sticky smile and threw aside a toothpick he had been using and nearly hit Tanya.

"Sorry, not interested!" Fuuko tried to push past them.

"Aaww, come on!" a boy with a skull tattoo on his wrist grabbed her waist.

"We won't bite. Unless you want us to." He licked his lips.

Yanagi pulled Ganko aside as another boy tried to slip an arm around both of them. She clutched Tanya to her hip and saw Fuuko's expression. The one that meant she was angry.

"Let go, you sleaze!" Fuuko twisted Skull Tattoo's arm off her. He howled in pain.

"Wench!" he spat. "You'll pay for that! Get over here!"

"Make me!" Fuuko balled her hand into a fist as he reached for her. She was about to punch him all the way off the mountain when a hand stopped her and punched Skull Tattoo first.

Skull Tattoo howled yet again as he fell against his friends who hauled him up by his armpits.

"What's your problem man? You her boyfriend?" Toothpick Boy shouted.

"No." said an all-too-familiar voice. "But I know the owner of this resort and I can have you easily thrown out after I hurt you personally. Believe me when I say I'll make it painful."

"Let's get outta here." Skull Tattoo managed to say in spite of his bloody lip. "We'll get a piece of that wench later. His friends followed behind him.

Normally, Fuuko would have thrown something at their retreating backs or blown them up so high they would have burned up upon re-entering the atmosphere. She regretted leaving her Fuujin in her bag.

Now, she focused her attention on the someone in front of her; long hair tied back with a band across the forehead. Stunningly handsome features. Deep green eyes….

"What'll it be boys?" the bartender asked the four young men who entered the bar.

Tokiya peeled out a couple of bills from his wallet and placed them on the bar. "Beer please. And not the Light version."

"You got it." The bartender plunked down four tankards of the foaming drink.

Recca took a swig. "Man, Tokiya, you actually drink?"

"Yeah. We thought you prefer virgin Piňa Coladas." Domon downed half his drink in one gulp.

Tokiya gave them his famous 'Look'. "It goes to show how little you all know about me."

"You never did let us get to know you fully." Recca hiccupped after his third swallow.

Tokiya nodded. "Well, now you all know I do drink. I keep a few cans of beer around my place. Helps to have a stash handy after mind-numbing examinations."

"Well, the next round's on me." Recca removed his wallet from his pocket. "I think finding out you're actually human deserves a good old male drinking session."

In spite of himself, Tokiya joined in as all four Hokage boys clinked their glasses together in a toast.

There was a deafening moment of silence before Fuuko found her voice.

"R-Raiha?"

"Hello, Fuuko." The Raijin-wielder smiled the smile that had charmed her years ago.

"H-hello…"

Raiha turned to her companions. "Good to see you as well, Yanagi-san, Ganko-chan."

"H-hi." Yanagi replied. Ganko smiled tentatively.

"Is this Tanya Mikagami?" Raiha smiled at the little girl pressed to Yanagi's hip by a protective hug. "Miki told me about her. Tokiya's younger sister, am I correct?"

"Yes." Tanya held out her hand. "Pleased to meet you."

"I'm Raiha." His grin widened as he shook the little girl's hand.

Fuuko stepped over to where they were, rubbing a spot on her forearm where a wristband of Skull Tattoo had caught her. Raiha turned to look at her, his eyes filled up with concern.

"Did they hurt you?"

"I-I'm fine." Fuuko stammered. "Are you here for the engagement party too?"

"Yes." He responded. "I was glad when Miki and Neon told me they were inviting Team Hokage."

Yanagi caught the 'Please Help!' look on her best friend's face. "We were going over to the fish pond to take some pictures-"

"I was hoping I could have a moment alone with Fuuko, if that's all right?" Raiha interrupted before she could finish the excuse to bail them out of the awkward scene.

Yanagi and Ganko looked over at Fuuko, who took a deep breath before nodding. Tanya was looking from Raiha to Fuuko and back again.

"We'll wait for you by the fishpond." Ganko told her sister.

The three left Fuuko and Raiha on the walkway. Tanya looked up at the two girls who each held her by a hand.

"I get the feeling he was someone special for Fuuko-san?"

Yanagi smiled sadly down at the little girl. "You have no idea how much he was, sweetheart."

"I hope you forgive me for stealing you away from your friends." Raiha said, leading the way to a nearby bench. He sat down. Fuuko followed, choosing to sit on the opposite end of the bench, far away from him.

"I don't eat people alive, you know." He joked. Fuuko only gave him a weak smile and moved an inch closer.

Raiha sighed. "I guess I deserve the way you're staying away from me after how I've hurt you."

"It just feels painful to see you again." Fuuko replied honestly, feeling a stab of guilt at the ached look that crossed Raiha's face.

"I did hope that you would all get invited. I wanted the chance to get to talk to you….. and find out if you still feel something for me." He moved closer so that he could grasp her hands.

"R-Raiha…I….."

"I want you back, Fuuko." He blurted out. "I have since the moment I broke up with you."

Fuuko stared at him in complete shock. "When you knew how I felt about you, you shoved me away because of Kurei!"

"I know. I was wrong to have hurt you like that. I didn't want it…. I….." he stopped, seeing the tears that fell from her eyes. He brushed them away with his hand. "I tried to find the right time to come to you... but I saw how well you moved on from what happened between you and me. You graduated high school, went into college. I didn't want to ruin that."

"What do you want?" Fuuko blurted out.

"I want a second chance, Fuuko."

Fuuko brushed a lock of purple hair from her face and swallowed. "Raiha. Please… let me think about it first…. I'm not so sure I about what I feel for you right now."

Raiha sat closer. "Will you let me be your escort during the engagement party?"

"I…."

"Alright, not that fast if you're too uncomfortable. Just say you'll dance AT LEAST once with me."

"Alright…."

Raiha's handsome features brightened as he smiled again. "Thank you. Well, don't let me keep you this long from your friends."

Fuuko nodded. "I'll see you." She managed a smile before hurrying away.