The Whimsical Adventures of My Tutor and Me
by Kathy

Chapter Five - Winter Night's Boogie
Part Two - Chill in the Wind

She certainly looked like a boy from behind.

What with a short boy-cut hairstyle and fat brown bubble jacket.

She walked like a boy too. With legs spread apart at times, hands in pockets and sloping shoulders leaning slightly backwards to give the look of an easygoing, happy-go-lucky guy that girls often went crazy for.

She even talked like a boy. She could swear and cuss to make any seasoned sailor blush. And the grammar she used-! It made him wince to even remember how her potty mouth was constantly mauling their language.

From the front, is she was more flat chested, or wore the fat brown bubble jacket more, he would indeed have had worthy competition for being the prettiest boy in school. No more would he receive the same busload amount of Valentine's Day candies and cards that expressed their undying love and devotion to him. Half of that booty would have gone to her.

But... what was it Domon said? She was still a girl ?

It could be plausible. In her hips she carried a certain swinging gait that made her seem less manly. It moved in such a way that would make any guy think twice before embracing her with open arms into their exclusive " NO GIRLS ALLOWED " tree house club. Her slender waist had a particular soft curve to it that caused men's heads to swim with impure thoughts, and in effect those thoughts would be abruptly stopped since those heads had gotten rammed rather painfully into a lamppost that those eyes were supposed to be on the lookout for in the first place. And even as she had on the boyish outfit, the low- waisted hip huggers she wore did nicely accent... her ...lower half...

He noticed the rare occurrence of a shooting star this night. It usually meant good luck. But he wasn't the superstitious type.

They walked on half a bridge. On one side of the bridge was the forest. On the other was water. The outskirts of the city could be seen from this vantage point. Wooden benches relaxed themselves on the water side of the bridge and the street lights began to light up one after the other in a tumultuous domino effect. He kept his distance from behind, observing her movements. She was in front, unaware of his presence.

Night was fast approaching, covering everything in its path with a wave of inky black darkness. The Christmas lights of the city began to flicker on cue, responding to the sudden scarcity of the day. On and off the lights sharply blinked, looking like clumsy man-made fireflies opening their luminous bulbs one after another in random sort of synchrony. They signaled every passerby with a warm greeting of Christmas cheer.

On the now sparse cherry blossoms hung the traditional Japanese lanterns in pastel shades of red and yellow. Made by the neighborhood children, they were small and light with messily scrawled messages on the sides. To and fro they swung from perfectly sculpted branches extended like outstretched beggar's fingers seeking alms from the high and mighty born sky. Even to the brazen demands of the breeze, the lanterns gently swayed, aiding the work of the stars, glowing like soft marsh lights on a Midsummer's Eve; illuminating the lane much brighter, less dreary. They glimmered a delicate hue on this moon lit twilight-- the contrasting blend of cultures between traditional East and commercialized West.

Down the last leaf of a cherry blossom tree fell, reluctantly following its sisters that littered the floor and spread as a lush pink carpet. There, joined with its kin, it would impatiently await the summons of spring; a time when it could join the earth once again to bloom in full glory and proudly take center stage between the sun's light and against the backdrop of wraithlike-tree curtains. The winds would play nothing more than the role of a silent yet appreciative audience. Snow layered leaves did little to contain their joy at this remembrance and danced in a quiet spiral pillar with each other, until the gust considered their actions impertinent and came and quieted their laughing giggles, putting them back in their place to lay still on the ground of ghostly white.

All this scenery, however, could not have come to be completed without the LIVE: NUDE SHOW! sign flashing boldly in gaudy colored lights.

She stopped at the rails of the bridge and looked up, resting her chin in her hand, getting the look of someone who had been hastily kidnapped down memory lane. She still hadn't seen him.

He quietly trod beside her, and bent down to make his face level with her's, just to give her more of a scare.

" What are you doing? ", he asked in his most unconcerned voice.

She immediately sprang backwards into battle stance, all ready to whip some butt. Quite impressive.

" Who?! What?! Where?! What the-!? You! Stop that! That's a really bad habit ! "

She mumbled something about not having life insurance and leaving no will.

" Where'd you come from anyway? "

" The fair ".

" Very funny ".

She snorted and gazed back up. He saw no interest there.

" I was just thinkin'... "

" That's new " .

"You keep picking on me lately. What's your problem anyway? "

" Feh " , followed by crossing his arms over his chest, was his nonchalant reply.

She sighed again.

" I was just thinking... about the past year... The New Year is coming and all..."

" And what conclusions have you come up with? "

" None really... At least, I don't think they're definite. Oh, I don't know. They come and go, fleeting... something about this place here... brings back so many memories...

She touched the railing fondly.

'"... I was just thinking..."

" Yes, you said that already ".

" Have I? ... guess I don't really know what I'm saying... "

She smiled wistfully at nowhere. He gave her awhile to gather her thoughts.

" The Urabatousatsujin... that's what I was thinking about..." She leaned her head into her arms, gazing moodily over the horizon. " And a whole lot of other things... "

She remained silent for a moment, but then began to stand up straight, her mind looking like it was made up, and she faced him. She took off the black choker around her neck.

" This choker. Know why I wear it? " She didn't wait for an answer, instead tilted her head higher to show the area of her chin usually covered by shadows. " There was a scar here when I was younger. It's been ten years since Recca saved me from having my neck completely sawn through ".

" The same Recca who is a moron? ".

" Yeah, that same Recca. The same Recca who's hurt your pride. He has, hasn't he? "

Mikagami slanted his eyes dangerously.

" Real badly too, I can see. He's put you down a notch lower that the place you thought you were in. He beat you ".

She smiled a faint smile of understanding; her gaze shifted downwards. " Like me. When I thought I was the best ".

She leaned forward to relax her neck. " Isn't it... weird? For 10 years all I ever wanted and wished for was to beat Recca. I thought life wouldn't be complete if I didn't. But when this whole madogou and Urabatousatsujin business came, it just blew me away. Oh, pun unintended! " She said when she realized that she had made one. " But, I mean... "

She blinked and her brows furrowed in deep contemplation. " I guess this all just made me realize how...shallow I was...thinking I was the best and the only person I couldn't beat was Recca... how weird... for 10 years...".

She paused for a while. She wondered what next to say. " I'm not ungrateful for the Fuujin and everything that's happened... I'm pretty grateful for it. It's opened my eyes to things I thought were never there. I've been through doors and places I thought never existed! "

" It's led me to you, " she gestured to him. " And Ganko, " she gestured to an invisible Ganko beside him. " And Kaoru and Yanagi. And Kagerou. " She ticked off the people with her fingers " And all those people I've met and been with, " she placed her hand over herself " have come into a full circle around me, to shape who I am now ".

Her next words were almost a whisper. " Recca... it's like everything has happened because of him..."

Mikagami listened closer, not really knowing why his interest was piqued at a probable fact that had suddenly crossed his mind.

" You love him? "

She shook her head " No... that's not it. Recca is...It was because of Recca that I was able to find the this key, " she raised her fuujin arm " to unlock these powers that I've felt I've had for a long time. To me, Recca was just the one guy who I thought was different from the rest of the cowardly male population that dominated our school. And I liked him and respected him for it. All the other guys were either trying to get dates from girls, or always trying to outdo each other in sports, or trying to gain as much popularity as they could, but Recca... " she grinned. " Recca only had thoughts about being a ninja, and about fighting. He never really cared about anything else. I never met anyone like him before ".

" Recca always beat me in every fight. I wanted so badly to beat him. I thought I wouldn't be strong if I didn't. You have no idea how mad I was when I found out he just wanted to be Yanagi's ninja. I hated Recca for changing! I thought Recca was different for never falling in love! I felt so disappointed when he did. He was supposed to be MY ninja! He was supposed to be MY victory! For 10 years I've wanted it! The humiliation he put me through! And then... and then he just went along and gave up his freedom to be her servant! "

" So you DO love Recca ".

All this talk. He wanted to know for sure. He NEEDED to know. All this talk of Recca!

She shot back an angry " Why, don't you love Yanagi? " sentence then immediately regretted saying it, wondering what possessed her to get so mad. She didn't know why she had gotten so touchy, but just knew that whatever she had to say shouldn't be misinterpreted. She rubbed the back of her neck in an exhausted motion, a brow creased across her forehead.

" Recca never treated me any different for being a girl. In all the fights we've had, I gave it all I got. And I know he gave it all too. And for that I respect him, and yes. I do love him, as one of my oldest friends. But I'm not in love with him. " She slowly adjusted her brown bubble jacket. "All my life I've regarded love as a huge weakness. It made you soft, that's what I believed. But Recca's made me see that it can make a person a hell of a lot stronger, too. Recca would give everything for Yanagi, much more than for himself. He'd break all limits, he'd sacrifice his own life. And not out of a sense of duty of being her ninja either ..."

" Mikagami, I lost sight of a goal that day when Recca wanted to be Yanagi's ninja. One of the driving forces of my life, to finally defeat him... it was gone. I thought I lost the only real good challenge I would ever have...that's the real reason why I was so jealous and frustrated. No, I'm not in love with him ". She made a face. " Eeeeee. Even the very THOUGHT of me actually being in love with... in love with RECCA! Blech !!! I don't know how Yanagi can do that ! "

She made more barfing noises with her throat. Mikagami considered himself convinced. She laughed hard, but her mind had strayed into wondering what it would be like to be in love so much that your own life didn't really matter anymore... for purely experimental reasons, of course, in seeing just how far her power would go.

She stretched her back and shrugged." But...this love thing ain't so bad after all. Whenever I fought in the Urabatousatsujin, and even in Kurei's mansion, I forgot that I was fighting for my reputation. All I remembered was fighting for Yanagi's life, and for Recca's sake; fighting for those I cared about, fighting because I had people depending and believing in me, and that it didn't matter if I got hurt in the process. I mean, the safety of my life is usually a BIG conscious thought whenever I fight, but... not during those bouts. When I lost that final fight in the Urabatousatsujin against Kurei's team, I cried for the first time...and you wanna know the funny thing? The reason I felt so bad was because I thought I didn't help Recca... I should cry over myself, right? Over losing? But I cried because I know I didn't win and Yanagi would be taken away...Gosh, that feeling was weird, Mikagami ".

Again, she sighed.

He remained quiet. The lamps lights flickered dimly, in sync with his thoughts. Her words had not fallen on deaf ears.

Why had she even begun to talk to him about these things? She was supposed to be aloof in her own way. He knew it. Domon had noticed it too. Yet her she was, revealing things that she probably never did for anyone else, and to *him*. She didn't even seem to be aware of it. She really should have been. Who was he, after all, to be placed with so much trust? ...Had he actually gained it? It would have been ironic if he did. He hardly even knew her for a year. Recca and Domon had known her for most of their lives.

The lanterns shone brightly. The air was cool and crisp around them. The mood was calm, relaxing; easing tension, if any.

Love, love, love, she thought. What a word. What a word to create such chaotic madness in a person. What a word to give a person incomparable strength. What a word she'd really rather not be associated with. What a word she'd really, REALLY rather not be associated with when it involved Mikagami. Oh, she could care about the guy, him now being considered a friend and all, but she couldn't really fall in lo-...luhh... in luhh.. into the L-word with him, could she? Why SHOULD she?

" Say, Mikagami? You mind if I ask why you didn't kill Meguri? "

He turned to her, not answering.

" Um.... You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. Just curious, 's all ". She mumbled quickly, turning away from him, trying to bring her attention to something else. But his low timbre voice had made her look back.

" I suppose...I didn't kill him... because it was what he wanted. He wanted me to atone his deeds, and make himself feel like there had been justice served. He wanted to die at my hands. I suppose, at the last moment, I had decided that my revenge would be by not doing what he wanted ".

" ...You hated him so much? "

But Mikagami shook his head. " Yes. And no. I don't know. Part of me didn't want to find out where he was...A part of me...It seemed like...even if I had known where he was, and if he hadn't done anything, I would have let him die of old age. That would be my show of gratitude of having taken care of me... "

He was hesitant at speaking, frustrated that he could not comprehend his own line of thinking." I am a selfish man, Fuuko. My conscience of knowing that I bit the hand that fed me... I do not know the reason why, but it was actually relief I felt at knowing it was not I who had taken his life..."

His voice drifted away to silence. The lanterns stopped to move, as if Mikagami's response had shocked them to immobility. The wind was gone.

Did she love him? Why SHOULD she? Why should she fall in love with a seemingly arrogant, uncaring jerk?

The answer to her question had been in his own. His confusion had made her know.

She could fall in love... with Mikagami. Maybe...

Maybe she already had...Maybe she had fallen for this man of ice...for the hurt and lost human being that hid under the cold exterior, for the being that she thought had all figured out, then would go ahead and surprise her, the team, and most probably, even himself. How many times had he silently defended someone else, or rarer yet, voiced his concern for another? A few times was more than enough to rearrange her whole speculation on him.

Maybe she had already fallen... for the somewhat normal, awkward teenager of 17 that lurked beneath the mature façade, the one that still had a lot of life to go through and wasn't really sure whether or not he would make that journey alone; the one that liked eating burgers and fries and watching movies, even skipping a class or two. Mori Kouran's so-called charity had been nothing more than an ornate front for his ruthlessness in the never-ending quest for power, immortality, and wealth. The opposite had been Mikagami. Below his cold civility was the noble and compassionate being that refused to emerge, forcefully staying dormant until absolutely necessary. He had the ability to seem arrogant, when in truth he had humbled himself. He made it sound like the feats some of them could be in awe of were but mere child's play and that they had no right to be so impressed by it.

She could be in love with him, all flaws still intact. His face, what he looked like, didn't matter. Sure, it helped. It pushed herself to a level of physical attraction. But it didn't matter. She had come to love the human he was, grudgingly admiring his fighting prowess, not noticing it had given way to something deeper; that the respect and comradeship had faded away to a tie that bound her much tighter to him. A tie that would be difficult to break away from.

" Will you tell me something though, Kirisawa ". He was unsure of whether or not he should continue, but he did. " Will you humor me? Will you tell me what you would have done if I asked you not to interfere? Would you have let me take his life? You, and the others, know that it was what I had long sought for. It was what I had devoted my entire self to. Would you have allowed me my revenge of finally killing him? "

His gaze bore intensely into her. It challenged her. It wanted to know what she would have done. It would hang by her every word. It would judge her.

She had to avoid that gaze. She let silence resume the space for a moment, and moistened her lips. She chose her words carefully.

" No...I wouldn't have let you kill Kyoza. Even though I never met your sister, I don't think she'd want a life for a life. I would have done everything I could to prevent you from heading down that path of death. But if you had somehow did, I guess I would have tried to help you escape authorities and stuff, and... stuck by you. And made sure that you were safe ".

" Why? " He made the question sound accusing, an almost low hiss. His face had leaned closer to her's, his eyes searching and watching. Waiting.

She bit her lip and looked straight up at him. " Because you mean too much to me ".

The statement was simple. Sincere. Said with a faint pink blush, so subtle that he wasn't certain if it was just his imagination.

She thought it sounded too much like a corny, come-on flirtation line. " Uhhh... 'Cuz us buddies an' all gotta stick together! A-ha! Hah! Right? Right? "

" You're a stupid, ugly monkey, Kirisawa. Can't you take anything seriously? ".

She flinched. It was like he had struck her in the face.

" I know... that I'm ugly, but please... don't call me that... there really is no need for you to rub it in ".

Gone too far. His timing had been off. What had he done?! The tone was supposed to have come out as nothing more than a cool, lightly snide remark. But to his astonishment, it had become a severe, cutting tone of irrational anger directed at her for having to add that little 'buddies' line.

Her expression was of genuine hurt. She turned away from his eyes.

The half dissapointedness of his from not getting a desired reaction of her ranting or screaming, had caved in to the point where he actually... felt as bad as dirt.

" So... you think it'll snow, Mikagami? "

That... that fake smile made him feel even worse! This was supposed to be the time when she would laugh off his rude comment, or shout at him until he would have gone deaf. Should he apologize? But he *never* apologized.

" Yes ", he said.

" Hope it's going to be a nice, white, Christmas! "

He swallowed. He hated to admit it, but swallowing had included his pride.

" You know I didn't mean it ".

" Oh. Too bad. It would have been a nice thing to look forward to ".

" NO! I meant about the monkey part! "

It was hard enough to imply an apology! Did she have to make it harder?! He didn't want to actually SAY it! Just because every now and then he had admitted a few mistakes to himself didn't mean he had to do so out loud.

Her mouth formed a pert "Oh ".

Again she smiled.

Damn that smile.

Damn that smile made him think of stupid poetry. Damn that thing that made him forget the current subject matter and made him want to throttle her at the same time. Damn her. She could shift his moods like a chameleon rapidly changes skin.

" Thanks... Mikagami...."

He averted his gaze from grateful eyes, therefore not noticing that her smile diminished, and her voice had drifted away.

---o

What was it again? ... Had it really been that long?... oh yes...

" Wow! You're really good at the monkey bars, Fuuko! "

" Thank you."

" You're six years old today, aren't you? "

" Uh-huh ".

She didn't even glance at the kid talking. Too busy playing with herself on the bars. Her small, pudgy arms traveled to the other bar, then to the next, and this action repeated itself. Her little scratched and sunburned legs dangled in the air. The kid watching her intently, applauded.

" Hey. Look at this. A monkey on the monkey bars ".

She jumped down and landed on bald grass. Two... three... five kids stood around her. She recognized them. They were of the year above her. Bullies of the school. The leader was the one who said it- a grimy boy of 7 built like a 9 year old.

She glared at him. She walked away.

" Whassa matta? Gonna run home to mommy? "

She stopped in her tracks and turned her head around. " What did you say? "

The side of his mouth rose upwards cruelly. His eyes became coal black. " But you don't have a mommy to run home to! There's no mommy to protect you! "

She shoved him as hard as she could. He hardly even moved backwards.

" Hey, looky here! The baby is gunna try to hurt me! "

He pushed her back and she fell to the ground, scraping an elbow.

They surrounded her. They made sure she couldn't escape. They walked around her, creating a circle, pointing and laughing, and looking down. Their faces were all a haze of distorted shapes and shadows. They jeered in a dissonant chorus, and every now and then someone spat.

" Drunk father! "

" Ugly! "

" Ugly! "

" Weakling! "

She wanted to run home. She wanted to cry on her mother's lap and bury her face into her mother's skirt.

She covered her ears with her hands and crouched down in the middle of their malevolent circle, trying to drown out their name-calling in a whirlpool of nothingness, imagining herself within the dark corners of her room. But a haunting recitation would play over and over again in an eerie heavenly choir like a broken record in her mind.

My mommy's dead...
My mommy's dead...
And I can't get it through my head...

She lost it. With an anguished cry her body had hurled itself forward and toppled the boy it first came in contact with. Dirt smudged her face, bruises appeared on her skin. Adrenalin rushed madly through her small body and her fists kept pummeling at the boy she had gotten ahold of. But she had been overpowered with numbers. They swarmed her like starving dogs finding a bone. In their zeal, a sharp rock had been grabbed and slashed her throat. Warm blood trickled from the small wound, down to her shirt collar.

More pain. She wanted more pain. The pain would make her forget her heart.

The blows stopped.

Her eye slowly peeked out from her fingers. A different boy, with a bracer and orange-red cap stood in front of her, offering a hand. A band-aid adorned his cheek. The bullies were nowhere in sight.

" You okay? "

" You... saved me? "

" Guess I did ".

She slapped his hand away. " I didn't need saving! I could have handled them! " It was said with false bravado and her chubby chin jutted out in a haughty pout. He shrugged and walked away.

" No, wait! " She struggled to stand and was able to grasp hold of his arm. " Now you gotta protect me! "

" Huh? Why should I do that?! "

" Because you saved me! So now... now you gotta serve me 'cus you protected me! "

" No way! I don't wanna! "

" You haff' ta! "

" Don't wanna! "

" Why not?! "

The boy thought for awhile. He looked like a child version of ' The Thinker '.

" All right. How about this? If you wanna be my master, you gotta beat me! "

" Why? "

" 'Cos it's a rule! Ninjas are s'posed to have masters that are worthy! "

" N-in-jas?! What's a ' ninjas' ? What do they have to do with anything? "

" Ninjas are warriors! They're real loyal an'stuff an' they always obey their master. I'm a ninja-s ".

" Who's your master? "

" Dun have one yet... " He put his fists up. " But if you wanna be mine, you gotta start attacking! "

She looked at him. She stared. Then her eyebrows came together to the center of her forehead, and she put her fists up as well. " Okay. It's a deal! "

She tried. She tried with all her might. But she couldn't even lay a finger on him.

" I hate you! Why do you keep moving? I can't hit you if you're moving! "

" I'm supposed to move! "

She was out of breath. She couldn't throw another punch anymore. He hooked his hands behind his head.

" We can try this again tomorrow, if you like ".

She glowered at him. He started to walk away, still talking with his back to her.

" And the day after that, until you can finally beat me ".

He stopped midway...

" Oh! I forgot! "

... and looked back at her with an apologetic grin.

" My name's Recca ".

---o

" ... and well.. The rest is history. That was that. Recca's just always been quite a character. Even then, when we were kids. "

Fuuko's eyes dimmed at a bitter memory, her voice filled with scorn. " Those bullies would have cut my throat out at the second try. If he hadn't been there ...I would have died. On that day I decided to fight Recca, I thought that by beating him, I would NEVER need anyone's help to depend on. I thought that way, I could never be hurt. Recca's passed where I failed ".

" Why... are you telling me all this? " Mikagami was hesitant at asking, still confused that she would confide in him; Confused at a small elation knowing that it was he alone she told.

She looked guiltily around her. She knew that he had a right to ask why. She knew it wasn't like he would give a damn.

" I... I don't know , " She frowned. Why was she? " All I remember was being all alone and no one would talk to me... guys were afraid, even girls " Oooo... like he gave a damn. " ... and it hurt... A lot at first, but later on, it gradually became lesser and lesser... but never completely went a way... "

Like he gave a damn!

The only reason she had was the strange compelling feeling to tell him everything and let him know she cared... that there were people who cared and trusted him.

Like he gave a damn about it!

" I did have... a friend though. Once. But she moved. Haven't seen her since. To be strong I thought I couldn't allow myself to feel, but all that's done is make me empty. She got hurt one time during a game, and I helped her out. She said I saved her life, but I think she really saved mine. She made me laugh.. and smile... and remember other things that mattered. She did me a big favor... I guess I wanted to return it somehow..."

The moon was reflected in a stream of ripples below the bridge. Shiny and luminescent, in a slow wavy flow.

" What she did for me. I can't thank her enough for it. I just don't want... anyone else to feel lonely anymore. You think you're used to it, but you never really do- "

She let out an exasperated sigh and refused to say anything else.

The night sky looked like it had a Cheshire cat's smile, courtesy of a crescent moon. It was an enigmatic smile of unspoken agreements and secrets and journeys. It grinned below at the boy forced to be man, who had just met a girl trying so hard to be one.

Mikagami basked in the stillness of the night. The peace he felt... this talking... had triggered warm feelings buried somewhere deep in his heart. The stupid stuff he thought was all gone. Where was the mind that so oft had governed his heart? How could he have changed without noticing? How could he have let it slip past into his heart?

Big brother... Kaoru had called him that. So easily. So naturally. And Mikagami had not protested. The Hokage team never seemed to take him seriously. Especially Recca. Where other people had been intimidated, these people had been tolerant and accepting. How frustrating. How refreshing. The Urabatousatsujin too had changed his perspective on himself... on them all, including... ugh... Domon.

Fuuko fiddled with the choker still in her hand- thin, black, and velvety. But into the arms of the wind it was snatched, since it had found the action annoying, and into a ditch it was nastily dropped.

" Ah! "

She ran to see where it had fallen. He followed behind, peering over her shoulder.

" Just my luck. Guess we'll just have to leave it and- hey! No! You don't have to do that Mikagami! Leave it! "

She tried to stop him from crouching down to pick it up. " It means a lot ", he stated.

" Geez, no... I mean... it shouldn't, since I can always buy a new one... "

" It means a lot to you", he repeated. He offered it for her to take. She was apprehensive to touch it, seeing the slime and who knows what else, drip off. With a swift movement of hands, Mikagami wiped it clean with his sleeve cuff.

Before she could figure out what he was going to do, in order to protest, he had stood behind her and wrapped it securely around her neck. Warm fingertips lightly grazed the skin, and the sudden brush of his hand made her nape hairs stand on an end.

" There is no sense in you getting your hands soiled as well "

It was said with slow deliberation. Hot breath made the sensitive skin on her throat tingle. It jolted her nerves. He firmly closed the clasp and smoothed the material, and his touch lingered for more than a necessary moment. She did not move all the while, breathlessly letting his fingers creep around the slender lines of her jugular vein and rest beneath her collarbone.

Ach, the guy was probably going to strangle her!

She shifted forward so that his breath would not tickle her skin any longer.

" Um. Thank you... bit slimy tho! "

She rubbed the patch where his touch left last , hoping that the burning sensation would decrease.

' Oh, I've got it bad, ' she thought. With nothing more than skin on skin, butterflies flew in her stomach and beat their wings against the interior. Cupid had lost its bow and by finding no other projectile, had decided to mercilessly bash her heart in with the arrow instead. She needed a big bottle of Tums. Preferably fortified with calcium.

If this was what Domon called love, she would hate being in love. It seemed to make her nervous and insecure. And angry. Since when did he act all gentlemanly to her? The only nice guy was Saicho, and Saicho was an opponent at that time!

She didn't turn around yet. If Tokiya saw her blush-!

Too embarrassing!

He started at feeling her move away from him, blinking back to reality. He looked at her fidgeting form, not really understanding why he had even decided to pick up that choker. He concluded it was because he had felt he owed her something... that was all.

At about this time, a diversion was needed. Which fate is graciously going to fling their way.

" AI AI AIIIIEEE! HYYHIEEE WHOO hoooo! "

went the dreaded war cry of forlorn abandon that could distract anyone's bowels severely.

Out step our contestants for today's game show of Reccafighters, rushing out from the forest in full-blown battle gear.

" Moe-san! Owner of the Madogou of Tomorrow! "

" Larry-san! Fastest legs on this side of the east! "

" And I'm Curly-san! "

" Together, we are- "

" The Three Fo-... no, no, we can't use that. That's been done already ", said Moe-san disappointedly, a distinct British accent emerging and prissily clucking his tongue.

" Oh, " said Tokiya, half curious, half uninterested. " You're British ".

" Yes I'm BreeEEttEEEIIIshh ". Moe-san replied in a mocking drawl that made his accent more potent, accosting Mikagami for bringing that matter to light. " Pip Pip Cheerio. Hwho hits a jowlee holiday with Maiiwe. Why, that's a strikingly dandy frock! ' Pon my honUr, mUm, that coloUr. And yes, we actually do have stuff like crumpets and spotted dick ". He waved a hand dismissively.

The Moe-san collectible card ( limited edition only! ) went as follows:

Moe-san was not your average looking distinguished English man. Get rid of the bowler hats, and canes and high society. Moe- San came from the significant other side, although he talked and acted like one that lived in every part and in every class of England. Austin Powers eat your heart out.

Moe-san was a man as tall as a reed and about as thick headed as an oak. His face was shaped like a perfect orange. His fingers were as pudgy and sticky as grapes that had been left out in the sun for too long and had gone overdue on prune stage. His complexion was of a rotten kiwi . Sure smelled like one too. He wore pear-shaped glasses and his grin was like a wide cut watermelon with the seeds of the tropical fruit being gaps and cavities on his teeth.

" Duuude. We could, like, call ourselves the Three Stoog-...aw, but naw. Won't fit such radical kahunas like us " said Larry-san, scratching his red-blooded, all-American head.

Larry-san stood in a clueless position. Larry-san was a man with salt and pepper hair and smudgy locks the color of cheddar cheese. His pimply skin, pockmarks and much too oily face reminded anyone of drippings on pizza. He possessed buns of steel and a body like a soft pretzel stick, even though he had a perfectly proportioned butterball face, and his multiple mocha colored chins waggled . His grin would sometimes show too much gum. His countenance alone would give the feeling of a loss in appetite and an afterward stomach trouble.

Larry-san was the type of guy who still thought it was exceedingly humorous to ask rich old men in stretched black limousines if they had any Grey Poupon.

And Curly-san said " Wei. Flyed lice " .

Curly-san stood at an alarmingly tall height nearing that of a Himalayan bear in upright position. He had a hawk like nose that would crinkle like a pig snout whenever he sniffed something. His teeth could rival the Easter bunny's, and any moment now Curly-san was expected to whip a carrot from some obscure place in his pants, munch on it and complain about making a wrong turn at Albuquerque. He had the slanted eyes of a snake and a face like a weasel. No penny had been spared on the amount of collagen injected into his lips, it being as big and fat as a grotesque goldfish. He smelled like a wet dog that hadn't been washed for 5 years, and when he finally got down to it, he hadn't exactly been dried right. Where people walked, Curly-san waddled like a limp duck.

Fuuko scanned the three abominations quickly and without even looking at Tokiya, said from the side of her mouth, " Ten minutes. Tops ". She cracked her knuckles with glee. A remedy definitely better than Tums had come her way.

" Yo! We heard that dudette! That is like, so bogus! "

Yo? She thought. Does anyone even use that word nowadays?

Out loud, she countered with " Yeah? You gonna prove me wrong? You guys look like you couldn't beat eggs ".

" Oi! I heard that! " Moe-san decided it was time to defend his team's ( that shall remain nameless for now ) honoUr. " Well, you're the type that couldn't whip cream! "

" Ohhhh! Good one boss ! " Larry-san's sausage-like arms brought out Japanese fans and flailed them around self-importantly.

" You couldn't kill time, even if you tried! "

" Is that so?! You can't hang plants! "

" Another good one boss! "

" Weeeeeiii! " came the trumpeting cheers from the sidelines.

" Plants?! Hah! You couldn't toast a victory! "

" And you can't even blow up a photo! "

" WEIIIII!!! "

" GO BOSS GO! "

Tokiya took the time out to actually try assorting which was worse: Being witness to this spectacle or actually knowing Fuuko. He felt the heaviness in his head that indicated a migraine. The puns became worse and worse, making him cringe.

" Hey! Tokiya! Help out here! "

He decided to put an end to this.

" That's quite enough of this farce. State what your business is with us ".

" A man who cuts the chase, ey? I like that! "

" Yeh, dude. That is like, soooo gnarly ".

" I don't care what you like. If you have nothing to say, leave us alone. "

" Oh we so solee to intewupt womantic intahlude "

Fuuko cut in. " It isn't anything like- "

" So, Mr. Mikagami, we shall get straight to the point. "

" Ex-CUSE me. Are you listening?! "

Moe-san continued. " We wish to take your madogou from you "

Mikagami shrugged. " That seems all it will ever be. A wish ".

" ANY-one listening? " she tried again.

" Not so, dear boy. For you see... "

" Pwah! " She gave up trying to clear her name, throwing hands up in the air from frustration.

" ...We know that not even madogou wielders can run or block a bullet. Even you must bow down to the forces of the gun "

Moe-san had a gun. He took it out with an arrogant flair. He boldly aimed the gun point blank at Fuuko's heart.

" Now, Mr. Mikagami. Will you cooperate? Bring out the shikin'enjo madogou! "

Tokiya was about to take out his ensui, with the full intent of fighting, but at the sound of 'shikin'enjo , he thought twice about bringing it out.

" The... what? "

" Don't play dumb! Where is the shikin'enjo ! The pot of never ending gold madogou! "

" Tokiya doesn't have that madogou. He's got the ensui! Who the heck told you guys he had that madogou anyways?! " Fuuko rolled her eyes upwards, not the least bit unsettled about the gun pointed at her.

" The ensui?... all you have is a dinky sword that you have to supply with water?! Well keep it! "

" So should we ice 'em, boss? "

" Wei knock 'em out cold? "

" Please! Please! People! I am an artiste! " Moe-san huffed in aggravation. " So sod off, you 'effin buggers. Never outdo your leader ! "

With his nose up in disdain, Moe san stomped away.

Then a light bulb pitched like a tossed shoe, faster than a speeding bullet, struck him on the head with a sound not too unlike 'kapoick'

" No wait! Better idea! What say we take his madogou, chaps, and use it for ourselves? "

" Good idea, boss! You already got that madogou of tomorrow! Maybe I could have this one? "

" What do madogou of tomorrow do, 'zactly? " inquired Curly-san.

" I forgot. What DOES it do boss? It hasn't done anything yet. Maybe it's not a madogou? "

" Never mind what it does! And it is SO a madogou! " Moe-san yelled, mumbling a " That old gypsy at the flea market said it was... "

He adjusted his huge prescription glasses and rejected all arguments. " What are we to do with such unbelievers, ey? , " he asked it rhetorically, addressing no one in particular.

" Separate the gel, lads! It'll be easier to pry off Mr. Mikagami's madogou with the lady as hostage! "

" Dude, are you sure this ain't gonna take long? I don't want to miss Baywatch. Man, that Pam Anderson. She sure has these bodacious looking eyes ".

" Larry-san, that has to be, undoubtedly, the largest fib I have ever heard. Yes, I'm sure that's why thousands flock to their telly at night, never wanting to miss an episode " Moe-san inhaled deeply, chanting a new-age mantra of him being one with the universe. " Well. Far from me having to be the cause of you missing another mind stimulating episode... Get your bloomin' arses over there, take her hostage, and be quick about it! "

" Sure boss. Don't bust a vein over it ".

Tokiya saw them move towards to where he and Fuuko stood. He fixed his glare on the advancing two men. It was the famous gaze that the Hokage Team fondly referred to as " the evil eye ". It's title was not misplaced.

The three would-be madogou stealers had met that gaze falteringly, and took a minute to rethink. Moe-san's Adam's apple bobbed cautiously. Curly-san began to sweat, wiping his brow with even sweatier palms. Larry-san farted nervously.

Moe-san signaled impatiently to his two cohorts. " Damn, are you lot still here? Go on then! Get a move on! "

Larry-san and Curly-san, with stout resolution, trekked over to Mikagami..

" BLOODY HELL! WHAT IN THE GOOD QUEEN'S NAME ARE YOU DOING?! I DIDN'T TELL YOU TO GRAB THE BLOKE! "

" Um, but boss. The OTHER one's a guy ".

" Dis one have purty long hair, see? " Curly-san tugged at Mikagami's ponytail for effect.

Tokiya was a man who never really took things in good humor. Too many times was he the butt of jokes, the joke mainly being him mistaken for a girl.

But at this incident, he was not even mad. Angry? Never thought of it that way! Furious? Absurd! Enraged? Preposterous!

He was downright pissed. The only one who saw his masculinity was an insane, short-sighted wonder. If Mikagami had looked at Fuuko, he would have seen her turn purple at being mistaken for a boy. Again!

" Ere, wuld it kill you two to get something right in your miserable little lives?! Concentrate! "

Curly-san did. Really hard. With his forehead all wrinkled, he took on the face of a bull dog undergoing serious constipation problems.

Moe-san's own face, meanwhile, grew as red and puffy as a ' jolly good ' English muffin that had been stung by a hive of very ticked off bees.

" Just... get.. the ... other... one... " he said, restraining himself from jumping off the bridge and ending all misery.

The two complied. Fuuko didn't struggle, but she did stifle a yawn. Those three didn't have the guts to do anything anyway. She'd just play along, to satisfy her greed of curiosity.

" Why are you interested in the madogou ? "

" To take over the world! What else? "

" Why? Why does everyone want the world? What's so great about it ? "

" You know boss... she's got a point there. I mean... life sucks, man ".

" Yeah, you see?, " she continued " There really is no point in- "

Moe-san looked at Fuuko. And without letting her finish, slapped her.

The action caught her too unaware and she did not have time to close her mouth. Teeth caught the skin of her lips, and the small gash left a trail of red down the corner.

He had drawn blood. Tension was built, and it had suddenly become deadly serious.

" Don't think this is a game, gel ".

" Dude?! That wasn't right ! ..."

Tokiya immediately readied his sword. If another offense was committed against her, he would not stand idly by. From a doddering villain, Moe-san had been transformed as a dangerous enemy.

The slap was stronger than she could ever imagine. Her body twitched at the insufferable indignity. She would have wanted to kill for less. But once the ground underneath her feet stopped rocking, she leered at him with aplomb, and cursed herself inwardly for misjudging him.

" You slap like a girl ".

Moe-san's nostrils flared. The gun was cocked. " Bring her to the bushes. Do whatever you want with her ".

She did not resist, out of fear this time that the gun would go off and hurt Mikagami. Moe-san would pull the trigger. Of that, she could be certain.

They led her away. The Hyoumen Ken master did not want her out of his sight. He took a step towards them but Moe-san warned him back with a motion of the gun. She mouthed the words " I'll be okay ", and so they disappeared.

The rustle of the bushes indicated that they had stopped moving.

And it was right after that Tokiya heard a bloodcurdling scream undeniably female- a shrill, high pitched timbre of pure terror, dying as quickly as it came.

His thought was instantaneous; a sudden chill rushing down the spine.

Fuuko...

In his mind's eye he saw... He saw them take her. He saw them forcing her to the ground and he saw rough hands pinning her on the hard floor. He saw them covering her mouth with large hands, brutally tearing away clothing. He saw them grope her. He saw them messing her hair, touching areas of her body he dared not even look-! He saw them laugh while she tried to push them away, her eyes widening in fear and horror. Pain contorted her face, each time she tried to scream.

His stomach knotted tightly. The startling sensation of outrage flooded his senses. He was unprepared for its violent onslaught of fury. His heart constricted painfully and his vision grew dim, spots dancing as the blood pounded and raged in his ears. All he saw was a red haze. Each fraction of the silent moment was torture. His sword itched to be put through Moe-san's body and all he wanted to smell was the foul breath of death.

" Touch her and die. " The low growl escaped his throat without a hint of realization.

" A threat, Mikagami? "

" A promise ".

It was an emotionless voice that did not reveal anything. But at the first opportunity, Tokiya would lop the older man's head off.

" Put your sword on the ground ".

Tokiya did so, hilt up. The sword had already crystallized, and he started to summon the needed force for Absolute Zero. He would freeze Moe-san and render all life to a hellish inactivity forever if they so much as misplaced a strand of her hair.

" You are a wise man, Mikagami ".

" Don't condescend me ".

" Huh. I'll tell you something though. I have no intention of hurting anyone, but if push ever came to shove... well... bang!bang! "

Moe-san pantomimed shooting two bullets into Mikagami.

" Bring the she-bitch out, boys! "

" BOYS ! " , he commanded louder.

" .... Boys? Larry-san? Curly-san? "

" Sorry. They can't hear you right now ".

The voice was female.

Before Moe-san had time to react, the gun dropped from his hand, the result of a dart thrown at it.

She came from the bushes. Unscathed, whole. Untouched. Not very pleased. She readied another dart. Dark shadows twisted around her.

Moe-san became nothing more than a smoking dot over the horizon.

" You're... allright... " Tokiya said it as a loud observation, a small amount of wonder mixed, as well as relief.

" Yup. A girl's best friend, these darts. Never leave home without it! "

" But that scream...?"

" What scream? "

He shook his head and reprimanded himself for having to worry.

" Normal girls prefer diamonds as their best friends. And normal people wouldn't leave home without credit cards ".

He was about to pick up his ensui, but saw the madogou of tomorrow had fallen beside it.

" That's... the madogou of tomorrow, right? " She stayed still a bit off ways from him, not really bothering to move from her current place.

He examined the madogou closer. It was like a harmless white ball of yarn. Entwined into the center was a glass lens with a letter. " It doesn't look like any madogou I remember. But now that you mention it...I don't exactly remember there even being such a thing as a madogou of tomorrow ".

Something stumbled out from the bushes, interrupting their discussion.

" Dude... I think I finally got this dart off - "

Fuuko saw Curly-san and Larry-san. They saw her. She did a small wave and a wide grin.

They took one look at her and shrieked into the night like a horde of banshees that hadn't quite shed off their female characteristics and were now witnessing an X-mas bargain sale since a millennia ago.

It was a scream...unmistakably female.

" Oh " Tokiya said.

" Yi-ah " she nodded, watching her handiwork run off. She kinda wished they didn't leave so soon. She would have liked to exhibit her work to Tokiya, because by the time she was finished with Curly-san and Larry-san, her darts had stuck out from varying parts of the anatomy, making them like an acupuncture needle student's practicing dummy.

" Ah. That was fun! Not every day something like that happens. Wonder where they came from? Oh well. Who cares ".

" Is that a real madogou, Tokiya? We should bring it to Kagehoushi ".

He did not answer her, instead searched the madogou more. There was energy streaming from it, he could sense it... but what kind of -?!

The madogou emitted a glow of malicious light. First blue... then white....

" What's happening, Tokiya? "

" Stay where you are! "

" Tokiya... my fuujin... "

She gaped at her arm...her fuujin seemed to have a life of it's own... it was pulsating...

He instinctively grasped the ensui's hilt. In his hand, he could feel a throbbing vibration come from his madogou. Like a heart beat...

" What-? "

The lens shattered. The fragments buried itself into the ground, the pieces already lost within folds of a blanket of snow.

Each string in the ball of yarn came alive, imbedding into the snowy floor. The threads reached for him...

He was seized. Crackling steel barbs wrapped around his body, emitting a barrier around him, binding his limbs to complete paralysis. The movement was too quick. He was not able to unearth the ensui. The cords suspended him a few inches from the ground; he was levitating away from the floor. Each strand was like an individual crushing weight against his rib cage. He could feel it squeezing painfully thru layers of clothing, thru his skin, right down to his bone- He could feel it!

The pain was so strong, a gasp of air exuded him.

Her only weapons were darts. Her mind had already registered it. She began to run to his side, hoping she could pry each strand away. He saw her run. He saw more crackling threads of wire reach for her.

" You Stupid-!! Get away! "

Ow! Careless mistake! His mouth was being covered by the sharp filaments...He could feel himself gradually choke...The threads squeezed tighter and tighter and the pain would almost reach the point of being unbearable. His windpipe started to dry...

His mind raced with a last recourse. He would be cut in the process but...

With the all the strength he could hardly muster, he called upon the ensui's Dancing Icicles.

The ensui obeyed. The strands began to loosen, began to be cut, and the heavy weight was being placed away. He could move his muscles freely again.

But the icicles were too random. Too many. The cone shape needles that set him free began to turn on him. The salvation he sought was a betrayal. He could not control all the power. There was too much water being absorbed! More and more icicles appeared. For every dozen he dissolved into the atmosphere, another twenty would come from above or below.

He was trapped.

The madogou of tomorrow's doing....it was altering his commands!

The icicles sliced his clothing. He jerked back from sharp pain- the tip of another ice needle scarred his cheek. Blood rolled down his forehead, blinding an eye. Melted water dripped from his hair. Ice would implode, and the shards would cut him like fragments of glass.

" Tokiya! Let me near! I don't care what happens to me! "

She distracted him for a mere instant. The knot around his hair became undone. His strength was fading fast... Blood gushed out from so many gashes, there seemed to be no more left to keep him standing...The struggle for oxygen became more fierce. How long could he keep this up?

He would not die. Not here. Not now.

An icicle slashed his arm. He dodged another one. More were vaporized. The pain shot upwards...the pain erupted from below...

From the side...?

Fuuko's fuujin arm was raised high above her head. Her expression was determined, mirroring the thoughts he had but a moment ago. She would not allow him to die. Not here and not now.

The power of the icicles... so immense! No wonder he could not control all of it! Even if most were already gone from his doing, it needed at least four madogou wielders to be able to contain it!

The fuujin altered the path of the icicles. On wings of concentrated winds the ice needles were carried horizontally. The icicles wedged into the benches...lodged deeply into sturdy tree trunks of a quiet forest... ripped fragile paper of the childish lanterns to shreds. What had taken days to do was being destroyed in seconds. Red and yellow confetti sprayed the black backdrop, combining with the white snow. The air looked like it was being torn in rags. All was done by an impoverished blizzard they had created; razor sharp and lethal.

Her bandana was sliced neatly in two; falling past her eyes, blocking his own sight momentarily; barely noticed. The air currents were becoming even more rapid. The hair that whipped past her face left red welts. The wind was not fully obeying her... icicles would stray wayward and nick her.

He did whatever he could. Some icicles would not even get near her. Others would be shot skywards, some ended on the ground, melting quicker than in the blink of an eye.

One last icicle was left... the tip was aimed straight between her eyes. She would not have time to change the direction. She made the currents carry the icicle faster, bargaining if she could not alter the path, then perhaps the heat of air friction alone could make it...

Evaporate...

She smirked confidently at him, putting down her fuujin slowly. He returned her show of self-assurance with just as much poise. Her chest heaved with exertion. His hand covered a cut on his arm. But there was danger still... too late was he to see it. The warning he uttered to her had become useless. The confident smirk and short victorious gasps of breath were exchanged with complete surprise when she looked down.

The most beautiful icicle...as translucent as lake's water at midnight...

Imbedded into her liver...in a sickening pierce...and melted away...

Her knees buckled underneath her, and she sank down, trying to hold the railing for support, holding her abdomen in morbid wonder, amazed that there could be so much... red stuff...

" I guess I...missed one..."

She felt dizzy. The blood that she saw on her hands... couldn't possibly be her's... could it?

Time ceased to exist.

He held her arms; took hold of her, ignoring the pain gnawing his insides. Hot blood mixed with cold air.

" Don't talk. It isn't deep. You'll recover but you musn't- "

His efficient manner left him when she placed two fingers to his lips, in the weak action to silence him. She smiled at him, ruefully, with one hand clutching her body. She understood she had such little time left...

" Two favors? "

" Don't . " He didn't want her to speak. He demanded she didn't.

She shook her head feebly, wanting to continue." It's not your fault... promise me... you won't blame yourself... "

" Don't- " He asked that she didn't speak. " Don't... " He pleaded that she wouldn't.

The finger to his lips became a soft caress to his cheek; touching him so tenderly he let out a delicate, involuntary shudder.

" Will you forgive me?... " Clear blue eyes became dim with death; snow crusted around her lids. " For as much as I tried to be tough...I suppose in the end... I chose to be nothing more than a silly... girl... "

Her voice was faint. She tried to keep her eyes open. Her head rested on his shoulder and all she wanted to do was sleep...

He cupped her chin and forced her to face him; the words she spoke were only half absorbed. " Look at me!"

But she could not. She snuggled closer to his chest, where it was warm. Her body hunched against him and he could feel her lithe form tremble.

" Cold... To... ki... "

It was a frail whisper silence shattered. The swirl of smoke hardly reached his ear. It was the final coil of hot steam her body would ever emit. The only mobility was her hair blowing in the wind. The crescent moon turned a menacing crimson color.

She was no more.

His name! She would have said his name ! Within her last breath, his name was within the reach of her lips! Sweet breath...

Breathe!

" I refuse! What sort of favors do you ask of me? Do you hear me? Look at me! Open your eyes! Listen to me! Say something! "

He shook her. There was no response. He shook her until her head rattle loose.

She needed warmth! Fool, fool he was!

He rubbed her arms. He held her close, letting his own warmth seep into her body. No response.

... It was but a joke, this was all it was. He grasped her. It was but an elaborate prank of her own twisted sense of humor.

He should shock her awake! He should do the first thing opposite to what he would have normally done. This was but joke! Well! He could play a joke as well! He'd show that he was just as good a prankster. Did she think he could not see right through her ploy?

He kissed her lips. She did not kiss back. He kissed her again. Longer. Then briefly. She did not return the affection. Once, twice... With all the passion his aching body could muster. With all the eagerness his momentary loss of indifference would allow. His hands reached her face, rocking her back in forth, cradling her limp head. His cheek pressed against her cheek and he kissed her again; just behind the ear.

Breathe!

No No NO! He was doing this all wrong! She was just asleep! Cold... that's what she had said. Cold. He should go back to warming her up. It was a duty as Hokage Team member. As a man! He quickly put his own jacket around her body...why was it so stiff?

He held her tightly. He willed her to come back. He held his own breath, stupidly thinking that by doing so, she would get the unused supply.

His own life was slowly ebbing away...His own vision faded. He flung an injured arm around her still, lifeless body in the maddened, wasted attempt to shield her from the cold... his body was numbing. Vainly he warmed her, blatantly neglecting restraints of logic blaring madly, spiraling in a downward vertigo in his mind. Rigor mortis settled on her slender limbs.

It was futile, what was being done.

NO! It wasn't! She was cold, that was all! He would keep her warm until Recca came along and-!

Recca and Domon would never forgive him for letting her catch cold. Yes. It was cold.. She would catch a cold if she wasn't warm enough... so cold...

He was doing best to warm her, why-!

They would never forgive him if she caught a cold...

" Yanagi! Hurry! "

The running of three various footsteps... Recca's voice... Yes, Recca was here, and then everything would be fine... They'd all laugh at the joke and he wouldn't talk to Fuuko for at least a week. Such a silly, silly girl with a silly sense of humor.

So stupid to get herself killed.

---o

The smell of alcohol. Clean sheets. All was white.

Hospital. The question remained of which one it was...

" So you're awake ".

" Mifuyu?... no, Yanagi ".

" We were... worried ".

He sat up. All the cuts he had suffered were healed. Recca was here. Domon was seated at a nearby chair. Domon presented him with a basket of fruit.

" You might be hungry ". In forced good spirits, Domon tossed an orange at Mikagami.

Tokiya made no attempt to catch it. It landed to his lap where he focused on the orange color starkly contrasting with the white linen sheets.

Domon cleared his throat shamefully. " Sorry ".

" Where... is she? "

The other three exchanged uneasy glances with each other. Recca stepped forward to answer.

" She's... in a better place... "

" I see... "

" How you feeling anyway, Mikagami? Do you want to stay here for another- Hey! What are you doing?! "

Tokiya uncovered the blankets, proceeding to get up and change.

" I have things to do. There is a report that must be handed in after the winter break ".

He found his clothes folded on another chair. The piece of fruit on his lap rolled off the bed, bounced off the floor, then rolled across like an orange connect the dot. Recca's temper flared. He would grab Mikagami and give him a good punch in the-

" Stop it! Stop it, please! "

Tokiya found that he could not move. Yanagi's arms wrapped securely around his waist, where she sobbed into his chest.

" To... Tokiya! Please! It hurts so much to see you like this! Please... please... I don't want to see you hurt yourself anymore! "

She clutched him tighter.

She felt like his sister...so kind...

He let himself be hugged. He allowed himself this moment of warmth. But only for a moment. Into her ear he whispered " Thank you for your kindness ", and gently, he pushed her away.

" Will it be all right with you... if I am to be left alone? "

She looked at Recca. Recca motioned with his head that it was probably a good idea for them to leave. She nodded.

" We'll be here... if you need us... "

They left. But not before Domon hesitantly patted Tokiya's shoulder in awkward reassurance.

They stayed at the hospital corridor. No one spoke for some time. Yanagi's hand constantly clasped and unclasped the hem of her skirt.

" Tokiya....has a new kind of sadness in his eyes... "

She hung her head. She did not remove her gaze from the floor.

" It's the type I got... when I thought I lost you forever, Recca... every time I'm not sure whether or not you'll live through a fight..."

She wrapped her arms around herself. " His eyes are like a plea for help... he's crying without any tears...and his mouth will never confess it. "

She looked up at her ninja. " It's not the one that usually claims his eyes whenever you mention his dead sister...because before, when I see him with us... it's like THOSE eyes crack a little to reveal the person that was there 7 years ago... When he teases you or when he looks at Fuuko... "

She started to cry. Her body racked with sobs.

" Hime! "

" I can't do anything! For all this power's worth! What good is it to heal people if I can't save the people I love? Mori Kouran wanted it! And he can have it if it can bring her back! "

She covered her face with her hands and tears streamed down her innocent face. " Just bring her back! I couldn't! I couldn't do it! I don't have the power to raise the dead! I...Isn't there anything I can do? "

Recca reached out to hold her...

" Domon? "

Her body was engulfed in the big man's arms. Domon looked down and gave Yanagi an encouraging smile.

" You did all you could. And that was the best....no one will ever ask you for more."

He stroked her hair. Yanagi smiled back, resting her head on his broad chest.

" Hey! That's enough! Get your hands off my hime! "

Domon's laughter rumbled through the hallway. Yanagi and Recca could not help but catch it.

That was the first laugh the three of them shared together since yesterday.

Through a partially open hospital door, Tokiya heard. He WANTED to join them. He yearned to apologize and let them reassure him that everything would be fine. He started to stretch for the door, but all words stuck in his throat after looking out the hospital windowpane.

For outside the window, for once in this sleepy winter's season, snow had begun to tumble down to caress the barely soiled earth, descending in gentle cascades... reminding him of one brisk winter's day accidentally spent at the local pond when he had made the ice resemble the twinkling of fallen night stars.

---o

The fog was heavy today. Thick and oppressing. Her mahogany coffin looked like it was being lowered onto a cloud.

" Dearly beloved... we are gathered here today... "

Raiha's shadow could be seen at a distance. He had come to pay his last respects to his sister.

Moesama Kirisawa walked mournfully up the podium to give his farewell speech.

" There are so many things about my daughter I'll miss. So many things that I've come to remember, now that she's... "

Yanagi's tears watered the site like brilliant jewels; dainty and small, petite in form, just like her. Recca's arm was around her, the lapels of his black shirt sometimes fluttering to the breeze.

" ...I'll miss having to run after my daughter, and tell her to wear the neatly ironed, pink school ribbon on the collar... Me! Telling my daughter, in my apron on and fuzzy bunny slippers, with the coffee roasting and toast burning...And then having her yell out - It's too girly! Doesn't suit me! Change the uniform design! "

The mourners politely chuckled or smiled. Even then, there was still sorrow in it.

" ...When my daughter came home with her first black eye ( Recca did that ).... "

Kagerou stood behind Recca and Yanagi. Kanojo would lean on Domon's arm every now and then. She wore a somber black dress of conservative quality. Kaoru's hands were on Ganko's shoulders. The taller boy's usual fang-toothed smile was not there. He had the tinge of sadness. He looked older because of it.

" To all of you... thank you for loving my daughter...thank you for coming...and to the powers that be... thank you for bringing my daughter into my life, even if the time was so brief..."

Moesama stepped down the podium, and took Ganko's tiny hand into his own fatherly big ones. At his touch, she ran into his arms, crying uncontrollably.

" Daddy! "

" Shhhh...it's all right sweetie... you've been very brave... daddy's so proud of you... "

" You won't leave me too, daddy? Is it because of me- "

" No more of it. I won't hear it! You are all I have left! "

Moesama shut his eyes to stop unbidden tears. On bended knees, he held her close, muffling sounds of Ganko's weeping.

Snowflakes as light and heavenly as a generous sprinkling of angel dust...snow as
white and lustrous as pearls found in the deepest depths of a crystal ocean...snow like a smattering of frosted sugar on a cake...

Mikagami observed all. His mind had been honed to be logical in every situation. Every. All features drained of expression. He stood with a straight back and impassive mask. He was unnaturally calm.

This was but a dream. A dream that he would soon wake up from. Or he would never wake up at all.

He saw Kagerou talking to Yanagi. He did not mean to hear it, but he did... they did not seem to notice that he was nearby. Mostly everyone had dispersed, since the funeral had ended.

" Yanagi... if I may take but a minute of your time... "

" Of course, Miss Kagehoushi! You don't have to ask that! "

Kagerou acknowledged Yanagi's comment gratefully. She struggled to find the right words, but when she could not, shrugged her shoulders in defeat.

" Yanagi...please help my son... I wish to comfort him, but am afraid that I cannot do so..."

Yanagi nodded gravely. She wiped eyes red from crying. She understood the curse.

"I pray that you never have to go through what I have... The pain of a mother is so great... I have roamed this vast country with no other intent than for a chance to see my child... but instead of a child, I have found a man in its place..."

Yanagi grasped hold of Kagerou's hand.

" And even when I have found him... I cannot even hold him... not even when he needs me the most...."

Kagehoushi swallowed back tears as bitter as medicine. The tears were meant for her son's friend. For the grief her son must be feeling. For the loss of human life that she should have gotten used to seeing die.

" I pine for the touch my son's hand, but this curse... " she discharged the words with even more resentful loathing. " This CURSE! I must be content to watch him sleep... I have never watched him grow...I have missed his first steps... never been there at his first birthday... not known what his first words were..."

" Never kissed boo boos away? "

Yanagi attempted to lighten the situation. The corners of Kagehoushi's lips lifted in a good-natured smile.

" Never kissed ' boo boos' away, " she gathered Yanagi into her arms. " I am glad at least... that I can hold you... Thank you..."

Mikagami observed all. His mind had been honed to be logical in every situation. Every. All features drained of expression. He stood with a straight back and impassive mask. He was unnaturally calm.

This was all a dream.

This was all a dream...

---o

The day was over before he even knew it. He packed his things up for winter. Mikagami organized everything into boxes, and it seemed liked he was doing some very early spring-cleaning.

What had been his Christmas present?

To get the hell out of the premises because he was considered to be a minor living alone.
Meguri Kyoza's body had been found. That meant he had no more legal guardian.

Damn. Even dead the man caused trouble.

His ensui lay beside him. Unwillingly, his eyes had slowly been drawn to it. Whatever he held presently to be packed away was dropped. The ensui carried memories of his sister...

When she had died... 7 years ago...

How he had cried in fury then!

How he had let hot tears sting his eyes and streak down his face! How he had gnashed his teeth, and banged the table they used for dining! He shook small fists at invisible beings, and shouted bitter questions at walls that would never answer; thrown whatever furniture his small body would allow him to lift!

But... there was nothing in him but dullness now. He supposed... he really didn't care after all.. that his fuujin girl was gone. Part of him was more saddened at the fact that it seemed he had lost some of his humanity. He could not feel. Anything.

A yellow handkerchief...caught his attention. What a hideous rag! He never bought this, and it certainly was no gift from any admirer of his!

He twisted it this way and that.

Oh. It was hers...

It was the bandana she used to bind his arm during the Urabatousatsujin. His blood had dried but she had tied it on his arm anyway, to stop the bleeding from going any further.

He had the full intention of giving it back to her. But never found the right time and simply forgot to.

Her scent lingered on the cloth, still... . made sweeter by the passing of time....even after a washing...like she was actually here...

On disinclined, trembling fingers, the bandana was brought closer.

Strawberries and lightly perfumed talc...

He inhaled it softly, lids half closed, unaware of lips forming a wistful kiss that would never happen. His mouth wanted to feel it , but never touched; afraid that once touched it would disappear and he would again be left with a bleak nothingness.

He never did thank her for closing his eyes when he had been too stubborn to listen to Recca's warning. Setsuna might have burned him...

It was only then he felt something aside from the hollow center in his heart.

"Hey, wait up! I just wanted to thank you .. for everything you did. It really meant a lot. Thank you so much, Tokiya "

The sweetest smile of gratefulness he had ever seen... He would never see it again.

" Wow ! This is great Tokiya! I didn't know you could do this with your ensui! The way the ice glitters...You make it like I hold the stars themselves in my very hands... "

She had captured the ice within her hands, and kept them close to her breast, marveling at his mere parlor trick of making the ice sparkle. What euphoric delight she had displayed! Smoke and mirrors. Moonshine and glamour. That was all it was.

" Come and join me, Tokiya! "

He had found himself thinking more than once at that time: How beautiful! Her, the girl he snidely thought a father would have to pay a large dowry for. He had found himself wishing that the moment would hold eternal. She had one shining moment of beauty, and with him, he had seen it in dreamy eyes and childlike smile.

" Damn it Tokiya! Why do I gotta carry this box? What's in this? Rocks? "

He didn't need emotions! Too long had he been encased in isolation !

" Of course I know how to skate! "

Couldn't save her! Hyoumen Ken master! THAT was the joke! His sister would have been so disappointed. All his training...

" I'll look like some hot dog in a week old bun! "

How he wished he were cold! To truly have ice flow in his veins as people were wont to think!

That way he wouldn't feel-

" Know why I wear this choker? "

No apologies. No thank yous. No farewells. Nothing. No chance...to do any of those.

He had no need of friends!

" I just... don't want you to feel alone anymore. You think you're used to it, but you never do. "

He didn't need-

" Tokiya! Let me near! I don't care what happens to me! "

HE DIDN'T NEED!

" I thought... falling in love meant a huge weakness, but I think now I know it can make you stronger.... "

I cannot love. I did not love her...

"Two favors? "

I. Hate. You. For leaving me. For letting me believe that you...that I could ever...

" Will you forgive me ? In the end...I acted like a silly girl..."

He didn't know. Whether to laugh or cry. His heart simply wasn't big enough for anything anymore .

His sister's spirit remained in ensui. Slowly, carefully, he picked it up and wrapped Fuuko's bandana around the hilt. Mifuyu's last words were, after all, that the ensui was to protect him. Always.

---o

He awoke from his bed with a start. His head hurt. The nightmare of Mifuyu's death had visited him. But she had tried to say something to him... a warning of some sort that he could not grasp.

Something... someone shifted beside him.

" Mmm... something wrong, Tokiya? "

That voice.

His hand instinctively grabbed his ensui, but found that it was not anywhere near him. He turned to her angrily. To say he was startled was putting it mildly.

" What the HELL are you doing here?! " She was wearing his favorite silken shirt. " And that's MY shirt! "

Fuuko stretched lazily with a satisfied purr. Her hair was rumpled and fell in small curls around her face. She sat up beside him. The bed made a small creak. The shirt she wore did very little to conceal the naked form beneath. Each slight movement accented curves. There was no shame of modesty around her.

He punctuated his anger and even more. " What. Are.YOU. Doing here. "

" My, someone's cranky tonight. Did you dream of your sister again? Poor baby. "

Poor WHAT?!

She giggled at his expression. He stared back at her coldly.

Fuuko sighed and placed a hand on his cheek, speaking to him as one does to a child.

" We live together, remember? "

He grabbed hold of her wrist. He brought her closer to scrutinizing eyes. He replied flatly. " You're dead. I saw you die ".

She did not seem to be affected by his words. She grinned slyly; amused.

" Dead? Do I look dead to you? "

" No... " He let go of her wrist. His head begun to hurt again. There was no explanation for this. This must still be part of a dream...

" If I were a dream, Tokiya... would I do this? "

His body instantly went rigid. She had leaned forward to kiss his forehead so suddenly.

Warm...her kiss felt so warm...

" Or this? " With a hand on each side of his cheek, she kissed his eyelid with tenderness not thought possible, coming from her.

Soft... inexplicably soft....

His hand reached out desperately, to drive her away...

She grew bolder in her actions, murmuring thru hushed lips. The playful, teasing tone became sensuous and sultry, dipping low so dangerously that it was barely audible.

" Or maybe even... this? "

She kissed him full on the mouth.

And she was in his arms.

Alive...

His body reacted before he could gather his mind. He let himself surrender to the wicked burning desire and a deathly fear for her kiss. He let it course in his body; intoxicate him like slow working venom. He yielded to her touch. Never before had anyone dare touch him like this. She stirred something in him that none should have.

Her kiss became more eager until it demanded. The reason of the mind slipped away. His body began to relax, the stiffness in his joints slackened, when she began to press closer. Eyes closed in ecstatic pleasure. He wanted so badly to believe this was real... take away the guilt, how easy!

She arched her neck, moisture on her lips. He would not wait.

Hands roamed up the back of her throat and explored every contour of her body impatiently. Her legs were firm and slender; pliable at his fingers. Behind him, there was the feel of the bed as he brought her down with him. Nimble fingers entwined and tangled in strands of short cropped hair. He pulled her closer, and never broke apart their pair of lips. He felt the hiss of the silken shirt rub against his bare chest; felt the texture of soft lips slide on top his own.

Real... so real...

Beneath her flesh, the heartbeat pulsed. Most sweet was her mouth; his own wandered to places that made her gasp and his limbs throbbed with craving to be released from the fabric that contained him.

There was no sense in this! Why was she here?

What cares had he? Only the powerful, alarmingly great need for her remained. She was here. Alive! That was all that mattered! His want of her was irrational. But it must be fulfilled. He was a thirsty man, drinking in the sight of her, savoring the taste of honeyed nectar skin. He was a hungry man, devouring the feast set before him. His appetite must be sated.

He let her take hold of his arms. He allowed himself to prolong her scent... her fragrance cloyed and blocked his senses. It made him lust for her more.

With sudden insight and surprising speed, he shoved her off the bed. She landed with an unladylike grunt.

" You reek of death! "

He wiped his mouth as if the foulest bile had tainted his taste buds.

" Who are you ? "

She made no sound. He grabbed her collar.

" ANSWER ME!!!"

" Who am... I?"

She smiled mockingly through blue, demonic eyes...

And a face that turned into his own.

" I am you... "

It faded away.

The room faded away.

He was in a field of yellow flowers.

Mifuyu was calling.

" Tokiya! Little brother! Wake up, now! We have to get you to school! "

Tokiya, the child of 7, rubbed his eyes sleepily. " Mifuyu? I had such a bad dream..."

" Oh? Tell big sister all about it ".

" I dreamt... that I was all grown up... that I was 17, and I met all these people...and someone that looked like you was in it, and there was all this snow around an- "

Mifuyu checked her little brother's forehead. " Hm, you must have a fever. Don't go to school today, okay? Stay with me?"

" But don't I haffta go to school? " Tokiya whined.

" No, stay with me. I'll show you something really neat, if you do ".

" Really? Let me see! "

" Sure! But you have to be good, okay? Stay with me? "

The ensui was in her hands.

" Stay with me? " she asked again, more insistent.

There was a yellow handkerchief tied around the hilt.

" Stay with me? "

He sprang backwards. He was older again." You aren't her ".

She was undaunted by his reaction, instead calmly stated, " You won't feel any pain...none at all, if you stay with me... take this orb... "

She offered him the a white ball of yarn with a glass lens entwined in the center...

" Do you get it now? Take the orb. For me, little brother. You won't feel... no pain, no suffering, no love, no hurt, no guilt. Nothing. Nothing at all. Take the orb. Stay with me."

He clutched his aching head. " This isn't real..."

" TAKE THE ORB! STAY WITH ME! "

His sister's face was not smiling. Gone were the gentle eyes and soft voice. There was envy in its stead, and hatred.

" Sister, why... "

" I am not your sister! She is dead! STAY WITH ME! There is no pain! None at all! Isn't this what you want? "

" NO! " He shut his eyes. He refused to look at her.

There was a flash of light that seeped past his closed lids.

Where was he now...?

He heard the scrunch of snow under his feet.

Fuuko smirked confidently in front of him. Her chest heaved with exertion. Large icicles were lodged in tree trunks; red and yellow lanterns were torn to shreds.

He ran to stand in front of her, to take the blow of the one last icicle. His arms were already flung around her shoulders. But the ice needle passed harmlessly through him. Through his protective embrace.

He heard the sickening pierce through flesh.

" No..." It was happening all over again.

He could not block the icicle, nor catch her in his arms as she fell. The icicle had passed him like he hadn't existed or tried to resist the fates. He could only stand mutely and watch.

All over again.

To watch all over again.

To watch her body turn limp and fall swiftly. To watch her sink to her knees and clutch her abdomen in complete disbelief. To watch her hair of dark red wine splash to the icy ground, and see the strands spill over her face. To watch the pallor of her once peach cheeks match the white, white snow. Watch the vibrant azure of shining eyes glaze over and fade to chilling, blank, nothingness. To witness her blood pool and see the mix of crimson spread on a fresh mantle of ivory...

All over again.

He could do nothing but watch all over again in helplessness. She was already dead before reaching the ground.

He tried to pick her up. Hands pawed at her face in futile attempts to wake her. He tried to close the blank eyes that stared at him Tried to yell, shake her, anything! But it was to no avail. No matter how much he tried, he could not touch her. Yet her sticky red blood discolored his fingers, embedded in nails; when he wiped his brow, blood was smeared all over. He was marked as murderer!

" Why... "

The wind howled and teased. It sighed and laughed. It mocked him, all in her taunting voice... in her seductive tone... It cried and screamed...

Accusing! Constantly accusing! The whispers of the dead became shouts ringing in his ears, echoing in his heart, stinging his brain. The wailing rose to a tortured scream whose equal was never heard of in hell; surrounding him like unrelenting vultures circle prey.

" Do you see? It'll hurt again and again! "

The voice would not reveal its face.

"WHERE ARE YOU? SHOW YOURSELF! "

" Isn't this what you wanted? That annoying root of all your confusion is gone. She is never to bother you again. "

" SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO DIE! "

" Neither did you sister. Or Recca's father. Do you want to know how his noble heart broke when the sword and weapons of his enemies impaled him? There are good people who never deserve to die. But they do. You cannot stop it! "

He watched a mirror image of himself materialize.

" Isn't this what you wanted? " He saw himself point to Fuuko.

" NO! " He turned away from her. From himself.

" THEN WHAT DO YOU WANT?! "

" I want..." he faltered, searching for an answer. What did he want? " I... "

" She is dead! That is what should have made you happy! WHAT DO YOU WANT?! "

" I WANT TO HEAR HER LAUGH! I WANT HER HERE! BESIDE ME! TALKING TO ME! I WANT TO HEAR HER SAY MY NAME! "

The cry was fierce and anguished, as if he had to rip his very soul to reveal it.

" I want to hold her... just once... just one last time to at least say thank you... I want her to be able to tell me...I want her to hurt just as much as I do! To feel my pain just as I am capable of feeling hers! "

" But that is precisely my point! I can take away the pain! I can take away your guilt. All it takes... "

He saw himself offer the orb. He would not touch it.

" It shall be better off this way! Admit it! Don't be stubborn! "

Tokiya would not budge.

" You cannot save your sister! You cannot have saved your friend! This will eat you away, and you know it! "

He saw himself pace around in frustration.

" Who do you have to live for? Why this attachment still to life? Is it for your friends? " It was said in a derisive sneer.

" How long have you known them? " he heard himself whisper, he felt hot breath on his cheek. " Less than a year! They use you! You will never belong! They laugh at you! "

" They... they don't... "

" They don't care, that's what! Such faith you have, in your so-called friends. They talk behind your back and make fun of you! STAY WITH ME! "

" You have heard the snickers, " the voice and shape turned to be Recca

" the gibes, " the body shifted to be Domon

" the sneers, " the form took on Kaoru's.

The genial laughter that he remembered of his friends turned ugly and twisted. It carried nothing but gaiety before, but now it held malice and spiteful intent.

" WHO went to your sister's funeral? None but you and Kyoza! And Kyoza KILLED her! What does that say of friends? Who can you really trust? "

Mikagami stared straight ahead of him. The being made mocking gestures. " Who would cry in YOUR funeral? Them? Hah!"

Tokiya raised his head unsteadily. His tone was hesitant, but tight. " If I stay... will that bring her back? "

Yes, he thought, no one would care about his death.

The being offered the orb. Forced it on Mikagami. He reached out.

" Yes... take the orb "

Tokiya grasped hold of it, and the faceless being smiled. Against the palm of his hand, he felt the flawless sphere. Under his thumb, he rubbed the smooth surface. He felt the threads begin to come alive and start to cover his arm, snaking upwards like hundreds of worms.

His face took on grim determination. Slowly, intentionally, he began to crush the orb into his hand, hearing the crunch of the glass with a sick satisfaction, feeling the jagged edges of the glass orb biting into his skin and the small slivers push deeper and deeper into him.

" WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! YOU'LL REGRET THIS! "

He ignored the shooting pain up his arm. He watched the orb wielder writhe, and the pain made everything worth it.

" How dare you toy with my emotions. How DARE you make sport of me. I will not allow you to stain the memories of those I consider my friends... of Fuuko... and *especially* not of my beloved sister. Your transgression against me, by impersonating Mifuyu is unforgivable. Go to hell and rot. How dare you take me for a fool! "

The being pleaded. " I could have given that Fuuko girl back! All you had to do was take my place! You are stone! "

He crumbled the shards in his hand. His face was unreadable.

" You are cold! So cold... "

He saw his own face collapse to the floor.

" So cold... " He saw the face become his sister's.

" So cold... "

Fuuko's....disintegrate and become dust.

He addressed the pile of dust that lay before him. He spoke with cold clarity.

" Do you know what is worse than the hardness of the heart? It's the softness of the head. "

He watched the powder blow away with dismal indifference, and all was silent.

" Well. You're all grown up ".

He turned around at the voice, muscles tensed for a fight.

" What kind of greeting is that? To your own sister! "

She stood but a few steps away from him, and he took an automatic step backwards in skeptic calculation. She was still as he remembered. Her hair was just below shoulder length, and her hands were demurely in front of her. She wore her favorite cotton dress; the one he had last seen her wearing. With a smile in mock scolding, she approached him.

" Mif... uyu?... " His immediate thought was that this was another trick. But there was no malevolence he could sense.

" You have grown so wonderfully strong! Look at you! I can hardly believe that I used to carry you on my back! Oh! "

She had to stop for a moment to cover her mouth. Her voice was filled with pride in him.

" All on your own! Oh, You've grown up so wonderfully! All on your own! You're so much taller than me! I'm so glad... "

He still felt tiny in her presence. He felt like he was the child of 7 again, catching hold of her and trying to cling to her, and he could hardly contain the tremor in his voice.

" Don't leave me again. Let me join you! "

She met his eyes. Her gaze was one of pity that said that what he asked, was not really what he wanted. " Do you really want to do that, Tokiya? Do you really wish to leave your plane of existence? "

He did not hesitate in his answer. " Yes! "

" What did I tell you about lying, little Tokiya? " she waggled a finger sternly at him and sighed. " I saw you shake when Kurei was there, when there was a potential threat to end your life. The attachment you have to life...has become too usual for you. It is nothing to be ashamed of, little brother! As for me... well, I don't mind. I've pretty much gotten used to...you know... "

She smiled again. He missed that smile that made him feel so at peace.

" There is so much I wanted to say to you, Mifuyu, I ..."

" You don't have to say it. I know it. The only regret I have is that I was not there to physically guard you from hurt. But I've been wherever you have. Don't worry! We will be together some day! But not now... enjoy this life that you were given, and what I was denied... "

She brushed away tendrils of hair across his face, and gently looked into his eyes. It was the look of a concerned sister lecturing her little brother with a piece of advice. " Will you give those people a chance? Allow them to give you back a childhood that I took away by dying? Will you try to keep a soft heart, Tokiya? For a hard heart of stone, whenever cracked, is so very hard to mend..."

She put a hand to her hip. " So stop using me as an excuse! They care very much about you! I love you very much, my little brother, " She paused to give him a playful rap on the head. " who isn't so little anymore! "

He smiled at her. Mifuyu always knew how to make him smile.

When all remnants of her faded, he finally felt the consequences of the searing heat of red-hot anger at the orb wielder. All the anger had drained him of his energy and mental will.

He still wondered why he was alive. He had seen no reason to stay. Yet she was right in saying that he fought to survive. Was he really just a glutton for punishment? Was he to always be dangled with a lifeline in front of him, then have it be cruelly thrown away beyond reach? Was he to be driven off the edge of sanity?

Perhaps... he would find answer one day. He would just have to survive until then. Death would call when ready to take him away. In extremely loud bellows.

He smirked tiredly. He had remembered, all of a sudden, an odd mannered girl with a captivating smile somewhere on an independent, boyish exterior. It was to her he used his final ounce of strength to speak.

" You would never allow me in front of you, would you, Fuuko? ... But what man am I if I stay behind? I cannot protect you that way... No, beside me you should have stayed... By my side do you belong... "

The room was dark when he fell. It was a welcome darkness he surrendered to, for in the dark there flickered a small light of realization, snuffed out just as quickly as it came.

Late had he realized

He had loved her.

---o

He awoke again... slowly this time. Tiredly opening eyelids, feeling like his body had numbed all over.

He awoke to the feel of something soft and slightly lumpy under his head, and a warm, brown bubble jacket over his upper body.

" Mornin' sleepyhead! "

His eyes slammed open .

"You look like you've seen a ghost. "

He continued to stare with disbelief.

" Bad dream? What's wrong? "

Fuuko tilted her head to the side and looked at him puzzled. He rose from her lap to kneel in front of her.

" Are you real? "

" Huh? What kind of question was that? "

He leaned forward, to the expense of her surprise. He was unaware of shaking hands brought up from his side; Touching her face in an uncertain manner, feeling the hair that framed her face, and watching it slide between trembling fingers. She blushed at the sudden contact of his skin. It was a feverish tinge, but she did not move away.

" Are you real? " he asked it again in a gentle whisper.

His hands were frozen. Enough to make anyone wince from the icy touch. Yet she did not flinch, and instead, placed her own hand on top of his, pressing it closer to let the warmth of her face spread to heat his cold palm.

" Of course I am. I'm right here..."

Yes, she was real. She was here. The scar on her lip was only visible from this close a vantage point. This was her- the one he had given forged starlight to and would have condemned enemies to an icy hell for all eternity.

Unstable. Unsure were her actions at the surge of blood and the slightly faster rate of her pulse. She was transfixed for the moment, mesmerized that his baby blues did not hold the usual cold quality of ice. On this strange and clear winter night, they were as kind and soft as falling rain.

A thumb roamed down her chin and slowly traced the scar on her lower lip, parting her mouth to expose even teeth. Carefully, carefully. The wound was still fresh and the press of his thumb might hurt her.

There was the feel of a slight, shy smile of pleasure curve her lips. He felt it a like a certain gratification a blind man has after learning to read Braille. So near was he to see himself reflected clearly in the convex of her eyes, underneath subtle long lashes raised to meet his steady glance.

Perhaps it was the trickery of the moonlight that enhanced her eyes to a deeper shade of misty cobalt blue. They were alight like molten sapphire, glistening with an intense emotion that no words could possibly describe; an emotion that went beyond words. One that paralleled his own.

He pushed her bangs aside, and was enthralled by the way the strands of her hair fell across her rosily flushed cheek. He swirled the tips with slender fingers, treating each lock like a fragile masterpiece that must only be appreciated from afar. A masterpiece that only naughty boys would touch out of sheer fascination because it was forbidden to do so.

Ah, to claim those lips of ripe autumn apples and erase that scar that marred her features! To take those lips within his own-

... What was he thinking?! He gave her cheek a good hard pinch.

" OW! What the hell was that for?! "

" Just checking " .

" Say what?! "

She rubbed her cheek, regaining her quizzical look earlier, not really wanting to contemplate what could have happened.

She offered him a hand to help him stand up. He looked at it for awhile... did he need help? Decided he did and took it. She turned her back on him to walk ahead, yammering nonsense to cover up a seemingly embarrassing scene. She asked if he wanted to see a doctor, then made a crack about going to see a quack.

She was not paying full attention to where she was walking, and she tripped accidentally on a small stone... wrists crossed in front of her to brace herself for the rush to the ground and mouth formed a silent swear word!

She found herself suspended by an arm and suddenly pressed close to his body.

His hands had darted quickly to catch her, the sudden feeling of fear that he would not grab hold of something tangible... but he did . This time he did. Wrapping his arms tightly around her body... brought comfort, why? Enveloping her protectively, with the irrevocable feeling that she would disappear again... why should he act like this? He would regret it later, he knew, but for now he would draw her closer into his arms and give in to the sensation of never letting go.

In that one embrace from behind, letting his chin rest on her shoulders, squeezing his hand in her own, reassurance that this was real, there was no warmth she felt. All the loneliness and sadness was what she had embraced, and gladly did she share it. It was like having an embrace from an old friend.

She heard the soft intake of a breath of relief beside her ear. Warm breath caressed her face. She willingly let herself be enfolded deeper into his arms, and he buried his face within the scent of her sun-kissed hair. What happened in his sleep... she did not know and she did not care. His chin was nuzzled in the crook of her neck, and she leaned her cheek against his head. Arms encircled her waist securely, covetously. She let it happen for just this night, and her heartbeat was paced in a steady rhythm with his.

---o

Oh god, how many times of the waking up scenario could go on ?

Mikagami looked up from his bed to see them all standing in a straight line.

Grinning like maniacal idiots.

He imagined them like the seven dwarves in ill-fitting beards. The seven dwarves were singing to him: The void you feel! We can heal!

He supposed he was left with the role of Snow White. He wished they would go hi-hoing away. Next he would have visions of sugar plum fairies.

" Here ya go! An apple for you! Keeps doctor away! " Kaoru said, putting the apple at his bedside table.

... how appropriate.

He had the sudden urge to upchuck. And he was absolutely sure it had nothing to do with his current cold.

" We'll have Christmas dinner here, okay? " Recca declared.

" Yeah, seeing that you can't go anywhere else, Mikagami! " Domon agreed.

" Do you people know no mercy? I am in no condition to celebrate! "

Ohhh... that outburst cost him a painful headache.

Recca brought out the Hokage Team's ace in the hole whenever confronted with a dispute against Mikagami.

" But Yanagi wants to have all of us for dinner! "

Tokiya would not say anything. The rest of the Hokage Team took it as an approval.

" So we'll come back later with the food, okay? Yanagi's cooking! "

They nattered excitedly all the way out the door. He slumped his head on the pillow.

Please let this be a dream.

---o

She saw them all busy with preparations on their Hokage Christmas dinner. Fuuko tidied up an area of the living room. Not that there *was* anything to tidy up. The place was practically spotless.

She felt a little uneasy at touching his things. It had to do with the last night she saw him. That last night...the guy passed out after contact with the madogou, after the three had left. Panic had initially taken over her, but after putting an ear to his chest, and taking his pulse, just to make sure he hadn't died, she figured there was nothing to worry about. She couldn't very well carry him or leave him. So she decided to at least make him comfy. It was not so cold that night, and she was able to do without her bubble jacket. Every so often her legs had started to cramp, so she stretched them, careful not to wake him. She blew into her hands to keep warm, and would take back her jacket when she thought she might get frostbite.

And there she had stayed for about an hour or more, getting little glimpses of sleep and wrestling with the option to slap him awake. But the madogou had exploded when he woke up. Then that embarrassing scene! She covered her face with her hands. Uckkkk... Her heart just skipped a beat.

The winter break had just started the day after that, and for the next few days she hadn't seen him since. She did not mind it. She had wanted to avoid him as much as possible and figured that he needed some time alone as well. But the days had gone by so fast, that it was Christmas Eve, and now... well, they were all here. They all barged into Mikagami's house and decided to crash here, under the pretense that they were to cheer him up when they found out he got sick.

There was a report that caught her eye. Probably because on it was written: Kirisawa, Fuuko. Re: Arithmetic tutorials.

She shouldn't be so nosy. That was what she thinking as she flipped through the pages of the report.

Excellent mind. Quick learning. Usually on time.

Other notes: nosy.

She knew it. It was all bad!

She smiled and placed the report back where she had seen it.

---o

" So what do you think Mikagami would like to eat? "

" Ice cream, Yanagi ".

" Eskimo pie ".

" Baked Alaska ".

" Um, um... Sno cones! "

" Iced tea? "

There was a pattern here, Domon thought. The cogs, wheels, axels and winches in his head whined at the abuse since they weren't oiled very often and they worked overtime. Even though the synapses in his brain made the extraordinary leap, it still failed to make the connection.

" Uh. Pizza? "

---o

Hanabishi swiveled his hips- elvis style. He did a 360 degree pirouette and ended with a John Travolta Staying Alive finger pointing pose. He was in perfect tempo to the music.

You are the Dancing Queen!
Yu-huuung and sweeet,
only SeEEvenTTTEHhhnn

Ooo yea! He was hip! He was diggin' it! He was*da bomb* . He was groovin' to the beat, baby! Getting 'jiggy' wid it! How could the lovely Miss. Kagehoushi resist his slick moves now? Now where was his trusty feather pink boa?

Moesama was head of the conga line. He was here to cha-cha-cha the night away! Oh! Oh! Up next was the Limbo rock! He could hardly wait!

Moe- san was astounded. As co-owner of the Happy Hour Bar, Moe san felt it was his duty to kick certain people out who were TOO happy so that depression could take place and REAL happy hour could start.

It was funny. After they got rid of that madogou and their plans for world domination, things begun turning up better. Larry-san had what Moe-san liked to call a ' round the clock privvy duty ' .

Moe-san knew for sure that the table over there, table number 5, - the one with a young twenty-four year old woman, a balding, pot bellied man, another guy with a bandage around his head, and a motherly, curly haired woman- had had too much to drink.

The young lady was insisting that she had lived for 400 years and she was complaining to someone named Mrs. Ishijima that there were only so many ways a person could die. After about 100, it started getting boring. Bad enough once, but...She'd been mugged, strangled, beaten, shot, knifed, hanged, crushed, subject to the iron maiden, the Chinese water torture, burned, speared, broken neck, snapped spine...she took another swig of her drink. Mobbed...but she had to admit...she hadn't gotten trampled by a stampede of angry elephants yet, and maybe she'd have to try it one time. She said it with a girlish giggle.

---o

" Pass the salt, please! "

" Here, Yanagi. " Kanojo said, handing Yanagi the salt shaker with one hand, and stirring the gravy with another.

" Smells great! Mind if I- "

" No, Domon! Don't dirty it! " Kanojo warned him.

" God bless us! One and all! "

" ...." The ladle of the soup pot was dropped.

" Shaddap, Domon ".

He stayed beside Kanojo, grinning happily.

" Hey. You guys know what this is? " Fuuko dangled mistletoe on top of both their heads.

Domon started with a " No, never seen- " and ended with a " WAOUUUU!" because in the middle of his sentence, Kanojo had blushed and whapped him on the face saying " Oh no! We're too young!!! "

A few of his teeth had been knocked loose. Domon was in seventh heaven! He felt just like he did when Fuuko first punched him in the face! This must be loooove!

" Oh, I'm done with the chicken noodle soup! Could someone please give that tray to Tokiya, along with the cocoa?" Yanagi went back to checking her apple pie.

Fuuko looked around the room. She caught Recca's eye. He looked away. Kaoru whistled innocently. Domon was still unconscious. Kanojo was blushing madly in her own little romantic world.

" Where's Ganko? "

" Oh, I dunno. Maybe you'd better bring it. "

" Very funny, Recca ".

" Ganko can't possibly carry such a big tray all by her lonesome... "

" All right! All right! I'm bringing it! I'm bringing it! "

---o

" Ey. You awake? "

She knocked once, and when she didn't hear an answer, she peered into the door.

" Got some soup and coco ".

She came in, and placed the specially built bed tray over his lap.

" I don't like... all this fuss ".

" Aw, I bet you like all the attention, don't you? Feels great, don't it? Enjoy it while it lasts, buddy. "

" I'd rather die ".

" Don't exaggerate ".

She folded a napkin over his lap and did not meet his eyes since coming in the room. He looked at her funny. She plopped the spoon into his hand.

" Here. Go feed yourself. "

" I am not... hungry as of this moment ".

" You SUUUURE? The coco's got marshmallow bits ".

She smiled brightly, and then lowered her gaze when she had realized that she had looked into his face and he had said nothing but stared at her until she was so self-conscious. She removed the tray from the bed and placed it at his bedside table, Kaoru's apple on an empty space of the tray.

He watched her every move with no attempt to conceal he was watching. He wondered whether or not her should tell her about the madogou of tomorrow. He wondered if he should tell that he had consulted Kagerou on it, and -damn the half blinded man called Moe-san- it was the madogou of sorrow. He thought about telling her that the madogou would choose the death of the one closest to his heart, and it had chosen her. But what would he gain by telling? What would she gain by knowing?

" You have... a lot of books...reference material... research...encyclopedias..."

She spoke her observation out loud, her back to him. Hard bound books... in gold and silver covers...Paperbacks of essays written by philosophy masters...prose and plays by great authors and theatrical kings...lovingly organized into shelves...

" Have you read all of these? "

" Some, twice "

" Oh...that book... " she caught sight of a lone book, standing out from the rest. It was no philosophy book... no hard bound or paper back great. It was an old storybook, almost tattered, but still readable. It was the only book that looked like it hadn't been touched for a long time. She brought it out and blew the dust off it, and she turned to the first page.

To Tokiya,
Happy 7th Birthday!
Love ,
Mifuyu

" Mifuyu gave it to me ".

She turned at his voice.

" On cold winter nights, such as this... she would read to me... "

He was tired... fatigued... keeping his defenses up were slipping away...

" You don't have to beat yourself up, every time you admit something ".

The bed shifted to her weight when she sat down at the side, near him. She did not know she hugged the book.

" I know... how it feels like to be read to... snuggling up to a mother's lap, and feeling yourself cloaked in her dress... She smells of clean soap and dried laundry..."

His sister... had been something like that... There were times when he could not remember her face, since it had been so long. But her touch and her smell were still fresh in his mind, as if it had only been yesterday. She smelled of cinnamon and sugar; of homemade Christmas goodies. She sold them to neighbors and friends. Whenever he helped, to him was given the extra- special- important task of putting the smiley face on gingerbread men. Where was his own smile now? Perhaps a gingerbread man would come to life and put one on him.

He recited a children's lullaby in a whisper; it was a hymn Mifuyu would repeat every night. He was in a reminiscent mood.

" Kiss good night. Tucked in tight. Story read, safe soft bed ".

For the second time, his eyes turned kind. It was this that focused on now; as light and glorious as morning dew.

" Would you like me to read to you? I'm not your sister, but... "

She did not know what she was doing. Her hand had found its way up to his face and rested there. She hastily drew back. But he kept her hand on his cheek. He liked the feel of her smooth palm, and of her slender wrist. He liked the way his pulse quickened to a dizzying speed, underneath her warm touch.

" You're pitying me... "

Any sign of discomfort on her, or any sign that she wanted to push away... he would let go.

But there was none. Fingers waltzed across the delicate arch of his brow and carefully brushed away stray pieces of hair that fell across his vision.

" No, that's not it... Well... maybe a little, but that isn't why... "

You're a friend, was what she was supposed to say. But she had never gotten to finish. The hand that followed the contour of his firm jaw line, had found its way to the corners of his sensuous, unsmiling mouth. Her lips had slowly been drawn to his, like an uncontrollable and inescapable magnetic force, and the words she did not know would be scathing, were sucked into a vacuum of her sharp intake of breath. She shut her eyes, because it did not feel like it was right to keep them open for this much too precious act.

He closed the distance between them with very little effort, but exerted just a bit more to deepen the sweetest of kisses each passing second.

Much better than the chocolate, even.

It was a chaste kiss. It was a soft and shivering touch of lips that would pause hesitantly, at a loss of what to do next. It was a gentle press against his skin; a light and silken feather's touch as supple and valuable as pure Venetian lace.

It held no malice or lust. No raging rush of teenage hormones in the bloodstream. It carried with it a sense of new beginnings, and was by no means insistent. It was their first.

With luck, it was not to be their last any time soon.

He opened his mouth to make love with it. She obeyed in turn. The sweet ache of desire swept through his entire body like a brushfire; so strong and incredible that it would have surely broken him. His lips stroked her lips in a slow circular motion and sealed the breach of all friendly or sibling affection towards another. It was a confirmation of mutual feeling. With this kiss, all cares and doubts were cast into the wind.

She leaned forward into his awaiting arms. He continued to shower attention on an innocent and trusting mouth. Around his neck, she placed both hands, to bring him in closer, to preserve the moment longer.

Air! Need air! Because she had to... had to...

" Ah- Chooo! 'Scuse me! I think I've caught...a... "

It dawned on her then. She had caught a cold. His cold.

For the first time in the bleak home, it was warmed with its owner's genuine and warm baritone laughter. He had not eaten, yet his cheeks were filled with a healthy glow and he felt better already. In this room, the place was warmer than any fireplace could ever burn.

Her expression was too hilarious! The mixture of bafflement, a sneezing, a blush, and embarrassment... It was too much for him to take after an exhilarating thrill!

She was definitely not his sister. She was strawberries and cream... and blackberry currant.

Sweetness with an edge and a dangerous twang of curves. Just the way he liked it. Perhaps...he was hungry after all, for a slice of dessert.

His grin of amusement stayed. " Looks like someone's got the flu. "

She squelched his laughter with a pillow, snuffing out his protests of : " Have pity on a sick man!"

Peering thru little creek in door stood Kaoru. He was just in time to see Fuuko try to kill Tokiya, and he knocked politely once, not waiting for answer because if he did...he would hate to wear a black formal suit of mourning.

" We're supposed to let you blow out the candles to your pizza . They said you're supposed to change. "

" Pizza? Don't you mean cake? ", she asked the question for Tokiya, since he couldn't seem to ask it for himself.

" Yeah well... " Kaoru jerked his thumb in the direction of the kitchen. " Domon wanted pizza, and Yanagi's too busy to be baking a cake, so... "

" What kind of pizza is it? Do you think it's big enough for all of us? Better not be any anchovies and... "

She speed walked out the door and left the both of them in the room.

She met Recca on her way to the kitchen. He was with Ganko and Domon, putting Christmas presents in one area.

" Hey Fuuko! Too bad Tokiya's too cheap to get you a present! "

" No... I think I got mine... "

" You say something? "

" Um, I said it was fine! "

She practically ran to the fridge, and opened it up, looking at the flavors of juice and different sodas, letting the air cool her face.

How embarrassing. What the hell did she say that for?!

... Maybe she shouldn't have been the first one to close eyes... and maybe she should have tilted her head more to the side so that their noses wouldn't touch like that... Maybe next time she'd remember that...

NEXT TIME?!?!?! If she had her way, there wouldn't BE a next time... but maybe... if he wanted... and didn't mind... urrr...

By the time Kaoru came back she had already switched to the freezer.

" The fireworks are here! Hey! Everyone! "

Ganko flailed her arms wildly and shouted that she would be at the balcony.

Recca went to drag Tokiya out of to watch the fireworks. Recca went ahead to watch, since Tokiya was still changing.

Fuuko followed them shortly. She was the last to enter the balcony, and she saw Tokiya make his way there.

They entered the balcony at the same time. Looking at the couples in front of them, radiating neon pink hearts, they knew exactly just what to do.

Fuuko went to kneel behind Ganko and hug her, while Tokiya stood behind Kaoru, arms folded across his chest, stern face on.

Bursting in a myriad of colors in the night air, exploding in a disarrayed sparkling of flowers, under an army of stars...

It should not have been a new experience. They had all seen Recca's fireworks before. For every birthday of his friends, Recca had put on an fireworks display for them.

Yet tonight the fireworks seemed more special...much brighter, more distinctive and elaborate... it was because on this particular night, there was a brief sharing of a secret smile that spoke of a single intimate memory... right before they turned away from the other and promptly ignored each other for the rest of the evening, and pretended as if nothing happened.

----o

EPILOGUE:

( too tuuut tooot tu tuuuu ruu tuuu )

( chuck chuc chukka chukka chukc Weeeoooo Ohhhhh )

Who! Love is Changing Ev- eri thi-hing!

AIIIiiii! Shi Te Re RouuuU! ...

...and the rest goes.


Fin~

Kiyastu ( cast )

Larry-San-
Moe San------------------Three Fool's. in really good makeup job and latex masks
Curly-SAn

Writer- me

Producer- Me

Original concept - Anzai Noboyuki

Acting coach- Me ( u can see the lousiness... should hire more talented actors. )

Dialogue director- oh, by golly I do believe it's me again.

Food committee - Mom

Distracter- Mom.

Example:
Tokiya didn't need emotions! In an isolation of ice his soul would forever be encased! What need had he for such paltry humanities like emotions?
NOK NOK NOK! "Honey? Time for dinner! "
" Ma! I'm in the middle of something right now. Can't it wait ? I'll be there in a min- "
" Now honey. Unless you intend to never have your computer see the light of day. "
" okayokayI'mgoingI'mgoing "

And YOU, dear reader. ( yeah yeah. I'm making fun of Capcom )

Stuff that ain't mine:

My mommy's dead poem from some Batman issue. I forgot which one. So erase any sort of respect for me ( if you had any to begin with ) that was based upon that rhyme. But c'mon. Doesn't take a genius to come up with that small rhyme. What else can rhyme with dead anyways? Okay, there's a lot. For starters there's red.. bed. Fed.. cred, led, zed, jed, tread, wed. hmm, club med. Too OT.

Apologies:

To people who find my jokes offensive. For that I'm sorry. They're not intended to be, but you might take offense in it. It's really meant for a laugh, but again, I could have gone overboard on it. So I'm sorry for that. I'm not gonna change it. I'm just apologizing for it.

And no I don't have anything against anyone.

Too screwy for words.

Finis! Kaput!

02/4/2001

---

Epilogue's epilogue:

" You think Mith Kirithawa's okay with that Mikagami guy? "

" Sure hope so. "

" Gosh, I hope these fireworks we're doing come out okay. That Hanabishi fella would have beat us up otherwise ".

" Yeah, and that Domon ape would have sat on us ".

" Kanojo would have extorted money from us all the way 'till senior year! "

" And what about those tiny terrors? Jr. and Little Mith Stubborn?

All three geeks shuddred invoulunatrily- simulataneously.

They set off more fireworks. They focused the telescope. Over a smoky night sky, they hoped to catch a glimpse of the silhouette of a boy riding on a bicycle over the moon.

---o

Okay. This really is the end.







I mean it. Really.








Quit scrolling down.










Stop! Stop I say! In the name of Science and all that is considered holy, stop!











Are you trying to be a tough guy? Huh? Huh? C'mon punk! Make my day!












Is this necessary? There's nothing down here! Believe you, me! ( never did understand that phrase ).













Argh. Suit yourself.








Le end.

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