Storm
by Raydance
Gust of WInd
"Fuuko! Do you want to go out to the
ice-cream parlour with me?"
"Sorry Domon, no can do... I'm meeting somebody else." I ran off
happily, my purple hair flapping against my neck, leaving a forlorn Domon
behind. Who needs Domon when I've got HIM?
I brushed past the rest of Hokage, heading straight for the main school gate.
"Hoi, Fuuko! Where are you going to in such a rush?" Recca called
curiously after me.
"A date!" I yelled back, flashing him a cheeky grin.
"Where are you, baka..." I mumbled softly under my breath as I checked
at my watch yet again. . I crossed my arms and leaned against the school gates. He
is going to get it SO good when he actually reaches here...
"Fuuko!" I looked up. It was him! I waved enthusiastically back,
smirking to myself about the other girls who were staring enviously at the sight
of such a good-looking young man running towards me. Ahh..., I sighed in
contentment mentally. My... ACK! He had fallen face down tripping over a
tree root.
Why does he always fail me at times like this? "Raiha, are you
okay?" I asked as he got up and jogged to my side, dusting himself off. He
nodded cheerfully. He reached out a hand towards me. "Come on," he
said. "Let's go for a early dinner and then I can show you what I wanted
to."
I took his hand, a little self-conscious and we headed towards his car, a
convertible Jaguar. Rich man... Together, we set off for his favourite
restaurant.
I could never think of things to tell him about, or discuss with him. I never
thought Raiha would be interested in my test results or Recca setting a new
record for getting sent out of class the most number of times. I always felt
that Raiha was above that, that he was too mature to hear of schoolboy antics. I
snuck a peek at his chiseled profile and sunk deeper in my seat. What was such a
good-looking guy doing with ME? I thought back to the time when he asked me to
be his girlfriend.
"Fuuko..." he asked in his baritone as he traced the outline of my
features with his light touch.
"Hmm?"
"Are you willing to be my girlfriend? Someone I can love and cherish, to
hold forever?"
I wanted to make a smart comment about how that statement was only suitable for
his future wife, but I made the mistake of looking up. Once I looked into his
burnished-gold eyes, I drowned within the love and sensitivity that I saw there.
The raw honesty of his words touched me. Without thinking, I agreed.
And ever since, I always felt a tinge of doubt when I went out with him. He was
so rich, so handsome, he could have ANY girl he wanted. Three million of them
were throwing themselves at his feet anyway. But what did he want with me, a
normal schoolgirl with a fancy armband? I stopped. Was that it then? A ploy to
get at Fuujin? Or because of that legend crap about the Raijin and Fuujin being
fated?
"Fuu-chan?" came a soft call and a touch on my shoulder.
I snapped back to reality to see Raiha staring down at me, a concerned
expression on his face. I smiled weakly. We were already at the restaurant and I
hadn't noticed. I got out of the car. Kirisawa, get yourself in shape and pay
attention.
Fat lot of attention I paid. For some reason, that little niggle of doubt that
usually only remained at the back of my head had grown into a size of a 40-ton
elephant and was dancing around happily in my mind. In other words, I was
getting a splitting headache just being with Raiha. Gee, never thought that
was possible. I guessed I must have shown it, because he stopped in the
middle of his main course and asked if I was feeling alright. I gave him another
weak smile and nodded. "Perhaps I'm a little stressed at school."
He frowned a little. "Should I send you home?"
I shook my head. "It's okay, Rai-chan. It'll go away after a while." I
mustered up another smile for him and a little skeptically, he went back to his
food.
I watched his bent head. Later, I promised myself, I will ask him why
he loves me.
The wind blew through my hair and I closed my eyes with pleasure. It caressed
me, stroked me, soothed my hassled nerves. I enjoyed the wind. It was as if I
had a connection with it, as if I could actually understand it and be a part of
it. I opened my eyes again and smiled with enjoyment.
"You sure like the wind, Fuu-chan," Raiha said amusedly, keeping an
eye on the road.
I grinned back at him. "No less than how much you like thunder."
He laughed out loud and I laughed along with him. I settled back in my seat. It's
so surprising how much we know about each other. How much time we've spent
together that we know each other's likes and dislikes without the other half
stating it. I lived for times like this, when I could relax, be at ease with
myself and with my companion.
We zoomed along to a deserted road which led to a dead end. By this time, we
were already out in the countryside. I cocked my head at him questioningly and
he smiled back, a little apologetically. "Fuu-chan, we'll have to walk from
here, but it isn't too far." I shrugged and hopped out of the car.
We climbed up a little rocky footpath which was ridden with potholes. I followed
his lead, his sure movements telling me that this was not the first time he was
here. "I never brought anybody here," he told me as we climbed.
"You're the first. But you have to keep this place a secret. This is my
private thinking spot."
I stopped dead in my tracks. Why is he bringing me here then, if it's such a
big secret? I suddenly thought I shouldn't continue. Was I ready for this?
To be part and parcel of everything and anything that Raiha held dear?
"Fuu-chan? Did you trip?" Raiha poked his head from around the corner.
"I'm not like you," I retorted good-naturedly. Reluctantly, I went on.
Higher and higher we went, until we arrived at a little clearing that was
obviously the top of the hill that we just climbed.
A grove of trees grew around the clearing, providing welcome shade from the sun.
I checked my watch. Almost 7 in the evening. He threaded his way through the
forest. "Come." He said softly. His low, clear voice travelled over
the calm air, adding to the quiet ambience of the evening. I followed him,
holding my breath in anticipation.
I was not disappointed. Before me was a resplendent sight of the sun setting
over the city where we came from, the golds, reds and oranges casting a mystical
glow over us and the city. The radiant orb of colour began to descend on the
horizon, with a foreground of high-rise buildings. The light of the setting sun
reflected off the glass windows of the tall buildings, the flares shining into
my eyes. The strange juxtaposition of nature and the human world appealed to me.
I smiled. Then again, perhaps it was because the brilliant colour of the sun
resembled the deep wells of gold that was my boyfriend's eyes.
I drank it all in; the colours, the warmth, the sheer joy of living and being
able to see the beautiful sight. My heart soared. Japan was the Land of the
Rising Sun, but truly, the Setting Sun is the more glorious. I stood there
silently, just enjoying the view and the company.
When it had set and dusk had fallen, I turned to Raiha to find him watching me
with a slight smile on his face. "Wasn't that a beautiful sight?" I
asked him, a little breathlessly.
"Not as beautiful as you are." His large stride covered the short
distance between us and he took me into his arms. I wanted to surrender, but I
broke out of his embrace.
"Wait, stop. What's all this?" I asked warily.
He stared back, a puzzled look written across his features. "Fuu-chan? I
just wanted to hold you. Didn't mean anything else." A look of
understanding dawned upon his face. "Surely you didn't think I was going
to..."
I sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, Raiha. I think the stress is getting to
me." I laughed a laugh that sounded hysterical to my own ears. He only
narrowed his eyes suspiciously at me.
I had better change the subject. I smiled winningly at him. "Hey,
Rai-chan... what attracted you to me in the first place? My beauty? My charm? My
wit?" I struck a pose.
He smiled that little smile again, the one where only the corners of his mouth
turn up and the one that made him look like a Greek God. "That and so much
more." He sat down on a rock, and I noticed that he was carefully keeping
his distance from me now. He picked a leaf and systematically began to shred it.
"Your independence. Your zest for life." He looked up and gazed into
my eyes. Oh no. Not again. "Your uniqueness."
Once again, I fell into the deep gold of his eyes. I saw the devotion in him. I
felt the frankness of his words. I never wanted to leave him. But, I had to
know. Even if the result was that I had to go away, to break his heart and mine.
"Then... why me?" I faltered.
"So... is this what you've been worrying about all day?" He asked
archly.
I reddened. I should have known that he would see through my question. I gave a
small, timid nod.
"I told you," he began, "you're different." He dropped the
shred of green from his hand and started on a blade of grass. "Different
from other girls I know. All three million of them." He rolled his eyes. I
would have laughed if not for the seriousness of the subject. He discarded the
grassblade and took a flower. "Your vibrancy and your vivacity caught me,
took me up, swept me away." The wind blew the shredded red petals from his
hand.
"I love you not because of the tie between the Raijin and the Fuujin, but
because of the tie between our hearts. I love you not because of what the Fuujin
or you can give me, but because of what I can give you. I love you for the woman
that you are. I love you for the respect you give yourself, others and nature. I
love you for the silliest reasons possible. But, I love you, Fuuko, for
everything that you are, for just being you. Fuu-chan... do you understand
me?" He looked up, and his eyes spoke what was left unspoken. The hurt and
the fear and despair that despite his explanation, I would leave him.
And then I knew, that his love for me was unconditional giving. Suddenly filled
with guilt and remorse, I threw myself into his arms. "Forgive me," I
whispered with tears running down my face. How long has it been since I last
cried? When we had that quarrel. I realised something. He controlled my
emotions like no one could. He could bring me to a great high, he could lift me
from the deepest low, and it was because I let him. Because I love him.
His comforting arms enfolded me and he buried his face in my neck.
"Forgiven. Because I love you."
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