Chapter 19: Caught on You

It was breakfast time. Team Hokage had gathered in the girls' suite and were sitting around the breakfast nook enjoying a scrumptious breakfast prepared by Kagerou. The delicious smells wafted around the kitchen.

Conversations started. Kagerou informed them that Miki called to say the girls were invited to join her and her sisters at the hot spring at ten. The boys would have their turn later on with Kurei.

"It'll be nice to take a good dip." Fuuko replied to Sakoshita's excited exclamations. The wind-princess was smiling too.

And Tokiya's imagination was running completely haywire.

Fuuko in a towel. Fuuko wearing only a towel.

Only a towel.

One piece of furry cloth.

Tokiya nearly slapped himself. He had to snap out of it. The fact that they were all still wearing pajamas wasn't helping the situation. He knew she was wearing a white tank top and pink shorts under the powder blue bathrobe that she hurriedly threw on when she stepped out of her and Tanya's room and saw the boys were joining them for breakfast.

He put a forkful of scrambled eggs in his mouth and forced himself to chew and swallow normally.

"We boys could check out the badminton courts." Kaoru was saying. Recca and Domon immediately agreed while wolfing down their second helpings.

Tokiya hardly heard them. Even when she was covered up, it was still hard to tear his eyes away from her. She had let her now long purple hair loose from the scrunchie that held it in place while she was asleep. It fell in gorgeous waves that framed her face well.

"What do you think, Tokiya-sempai?"

"Beautiful." His eyes were still trained on her.

"What?" Everyone said together, staring at him in surprise.

Tokiya blinked and all too late registered what Kaoru just asked him.

"I—I mean….. sounds good…. Badminton…." 'Darn that rush of blood to my cheeks!'

His male friends flashed him knowing grins. Tanya, who had been pale and inattentive throughout the meal, was now grinning as mischievously as the expression in her silver eyes.

'Not good.' Tokiya forced himself to stay calm.

He quickly drank some hot chocolate from his mug, hoping someone would start the conversation again. But his gaze returned to Fuuko, for it was she who broke the silence.

"How about we meet at the picnic area for lunch?"

"That's a good plan." Kagerou agreed. "Now, let's agree on a time."

Tokiya inwardly sighed in relief at the change of topic.

By the time they all agreed to meet by one' o clock, everyone was done with breakfast. Kagerou roped her son and his adoptive father to help her with the dishes and insisted that everyone go get ready.

Tokiya trudged into the boy's suite behind Domon and walked into his room to change into tennis shorts and a white shirt.

He brushed his hair back with his hands and sighed. That scene during breakfast was way too close. His emotions were more freeflowing ever since that day he brought Tanya home and met Fuuko at the park.

His little crush on the wind-princess was turning into a bit more than a crush.

Strangely enough, he didn't want to stop smiling.

The elevator dinged, delivering Team Hokage down to the ground floor of the resort's hotel. They stepped outside to a cool morning.

"See you later, Hime." Recca planted a kiss on his princess' cheek. Yanagi squeezed his hand affectionately.

Tokiya put his sister down, plopped a blue beanie on her head and adjusted her jacket.

"Are you warm enough?"

"Yes, Neesan." Tanya grinned at him, still looking pale. "And the hot spring will warm me up loads more."

Tokiya smiled and handed her her favorite red knapsack.

"Did you pack extra clothes?"

"Yep."

"Towels?"

"I get it, bro!" Tanya laughed. "I'll be fine."

"You sure? You look really pale. Did you get a good sleep last night?"

Tanya swallowed. "Yes…."

"Tanya?" Tokiya raised an eyebrow. "You're a really bad liar."

"Dad used to tell me that." She grumbled.

"Because it's easy to tell when you're lying."

"Dad used to say that too. And he didn't tell me how he always knew when I lie."

"Then, I won't either."

Tanya scowled, making her brother laugh. He helped her shoulder her knapsack.

"You're taking a nap after lunch." He raised a hand to silence her protests and finally got her to agree. He kissed her forehead and watched her run over to Fuuko.

Fuuko had watched the Mikagami siblings' exchange a short distance away. She had turned around to wait for Tanya at the exact moment Tokiya smiled.

And that smile had made her heart skip a beat.

'That eskimo really doesn't know how handsome he is when he smiles.'

She watched him and his sister, completely unaware that she was already staring. He and Tanya exchanged a few more words. She saw him raise an eyebrow, heard him laugh at the scowl his sister was giving him. And she smiled when she saw him kiss Tanya's forehead and follow her with his gaze….

…. Onto her! She realized Tanya was running towards her! She felt her cheeks color up.

Quickly, she turned to look from him to the young firestarter.

"Come on, honey. " she held out her hand, eager to get away from there.

Tanya watched the blush recede from Fuuko's face and smiled inwardly as she and the wind- wielder ran to catch up with the rest of the girls.