Author’s Notes:
Okay…so I edited this chapter before sending it.  No major mistakes, though.  I just reread the whole story, changed a few things here and there, formatted the sentences…it may look different from the one in fanfiction.net.  Oh well, this one’s better.  Disclaimers: Flame of Recca doesn’t belong to me.  I’m dirt poor.  I would be sooo rich and wealthy if I did own FoR.  It belongs to Nobuyuki Anzai-sensei.

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“Wait.”

Fuuko turned her head so she could see him.  “Nani?  What did you just say, Mi-chan?  I’m sorry, really, I didn’t quite catch it.”

“Wait.  Stay.  Here.” Mikagami said, not letting go of an expression.

“O…okay…whatever you say…uh…yeah…sure…what is it, Mi-chan?” Fuuko sat on his bed, nervously asking.

“I’m sorry I yelled at you.” Mikagami turned his head; he didn’t let Fuuko see his face.

Fuuko sighed, “Oh, Mi-chan!  It’s all my fault!  I yelled at you at the first place.  I’m the one to be blamed!”

“No.  No.  I don’t know how it happened.  It just happened.  Yelling at someone is not one of my habits.  But…I don’t know.  I just reacted.  I felt…offended.  Don’t know how.  Confused.” Mikagami stayed still, not moving a bit.

Fuuko smiled sweetly, “Never mind that, Mi-chan.  You wanna talk about this?  You can’t just keep it in your heart for yourself, you know.  You have to share.”

She searched for an answer, or a gesture.  She got it.  She saw Mikagami slightly nodded.  She heaved a sigh of relief.

“There you go!!  Now, you can start sharing by telling me the truth.”

“What truth?”

“Truth!!  You know…truth…truth…yadda yaddaaaa…” Fuuko shrugged her shoulders, sighing.  “Well, you can tell me the truth about your TRUE feelings for Meguri Kyoza, for Yanagi, and…for us, your friends.”

Mikagami didn’t answer.  “I dunno.  I really don’t know.  I told you, I’m confused.  I can’t determine what I feel for him.  I don’t think I’ll be able to hate him, as he was the one who brought me up, the one who made me as skillful as I am today.  Then again, he charged a lot.  He killed my sister.  He charged me my sister’s life.  I…do…not…know…” Mikagami murmured.

Fuuko soften the expression on her face.  Mikagami is really complicated.  He doesn’t even know who he really is.  He’s pleading for help.  Will I be able to help him?

“And…Yanagi?”

“Yanagi…I’m also clueless about this.  I can’t figure this out.  When I first saw her, she was a perfect carbon copy of Mifuyu.  She looks perfectly the same.  And…somehow…my heart started to pound when I see her.  She started to make me nervous whenever she’s beside me.  And I feel worried for her when she was away…but I can’t really make sure about my feelings for her.” confessed Mikagami.

Sigh.  He was too complicated for Fuuko to understand.  He took Yanagi as a resemblance to his dead sister.  Yet, another feeling sprouted.  He was too stubborn to learn that he started to…love.  He didn’t want to love anymore.  He was afraid to be betrayed again.  To be rejected.  Fuuko sighed.  Yanagi is better at doing this than I do…but…she’s the only one who could do this.  Yanagi?  No, she’s the topic.  Recca?  He’d beat Mikagami up once he heard his story.  Domon?  Nah, he had no brain.  Koganei? Ganko?  They’re too young.  Kagerou?  She’s gone for a while.

“Mikagami, please don’t think that I’m bossy or something like that…  But… you have to find the answer.  You have to learn about your feelings.  Don’t be stubborn.  Learn to learn.  You have to believe.  You have to soften your heart, your mind, your soul.  You have to understand that loving is okay.  Don’t let the past ghosts haunt you.  Don’t be afraid of betrayal.  And…I think you’re in love—no—you love Yanagi.”

“What makes you think that?” countered Mikagami.

“Aha! See?!!  You’re being stubborn again…Listen to me!  If you don’t love Yanagi, why did you suck blood from her in the Urabutousatsoujin?   It was more than caring.  Can’t you see?  Well…no wonder you love Yanagi.  Everyone loves Yanagi.  Recca loves Yanagi.  Koganei loves Yanagi.  You love Yanagi.  Sheesh…Mori Kouran loves Yanagi!!!  Yanagi is perfect.  She’s beautiful, nice, kind, loving, cheerful… Not like me.  I’m a tomboyish, ugly, brat.  And...Yanagi only wants Recca, but she gets more than that.  My only wish…is to make Raiha see me.  Me for who I am…” Fuuko muttered, her head down.

Mikagami stared at her.  “No.  Raiha does see you.  Now it’s my turn to ask ‘can’t you see?’.  And he sees you for who you are.”

“Thanks, Mi-chan.  Yikes, it’s so hot in here.  C’mon, let’s go get a drink, ne?” Fuuko hopped to the door.

“Yeah.  Let’s.”

***

In the cafeteria they met the others.  Yanagi was at the magazine kiosk, the boys—except Mikagami—were ordering food, and Ganko was waiting for the others.  “Fuuko-neechan!!  Mikagami-niichan!!” she waved her hand.  Fuuko waved her hand too to the smiling, little, yellow-haired Kata Kugutsu wielder.

Fuuko sat between Yanagi and Mikagami.  Yanagi was filling the quiz part of the magazine, ‘Are You Supposed To Be With Your Partner Now?’.  Within moments, she screamed.

“HIME?!  What’s wrong?!!!!” Recca asked with a VERY worried face.

“This quiz!!!  This quiz said that we don’t belong to each other, Recca-kuuuunnnnn!!!” Yanagi threw the magazine to Fuuko.

“ ‘Twenty three to thirty points: You don’t belong to each other.  One is very nice, kind, and caring,’ That means Yanagi,” Fuuko pointed to the girl beside her.  “Uh… ‘and the other one is loud and careless.’ That means Recca.  Whew.  This is so true.”

“FUUKO!!!  WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT??!!!” Recca cursed.

“But WE belong to each other, right, Fuuko??” Domon winked his eyes.  And he got a BIG punch as an answer.

“You know, I think Fuuko-neechan’s right.  Yanagi-neechan’s very sweet, tender-loving, nice, kind, and everything but Recca-niichan is mad, furious, crazy, nuts…” Koganei muttered.

“SAIHA!  NADARE!  HOMURA! SETSUNA!  MADOKA!  RUI!  KOKUU! RESSHIN!!!!!!” Recca called his famed flame dragons.

“YIKES!  I’m sorry, RECCA-NIICHAAAAAAAN!!!!!” Koganei disappeared.

Yanagi and Fuuko just sweatdropped.  Mikagami nodded in agreement of Koganei’s statement, while Ganko and Kondo were hugging each other in sheer terror.  Domon?  Nowhere to be found, thanks to Fuuko’s muscular punch.

Ten minutes later…the girls, Mikagami, and Kondo had finished eating.  Domon was still nowhere to be found, perhaps he landed on Egypt.  And…Recca Hanabishi was back with another black Kaoru Koganei.

“Recca-kun?  What did you do to him?” Yanagi rushed to nurse Koganei.

“Err…I sorta…well…the same thing happened…again…” Recca scratched his chin with his forefinger.

“I didn’t go with you.” said Mikagami.

“Yeah, take note of that.  Well, I slipped because of a water puddle.  But I don’t know how, I was thrown, up above…maybe I slipped too hard.  Anyways, I called Madoka for a barrier so I wouldn’t land on solid ground.  But…instead of Madoka…I made the letter of Nadare.  And…I sorta murmured ‘huh?  Nadare?’ like that, and…BOOM!!  Nadare appeared and attacked the running Koganei.  I DIDN’T MEAN IT…I’M SORRY HIMEEEEE!!!!” He kneeled in front of Yanagi, begging for mercy.

“Sure I forgive you, Recca-kun.  But, be careful, okay?”

ZIPZAPZIPZAP!!!  Yanagi healed Koganei’s wounds.  And Koganei became the natural Koganei, yelling at his fellow Hokage.

“YOOUUU!!!!  YOUUU!!!! YOOUUUUU!!!!!” Koganei wiggled his forefinger at Recca.

“Oi, what’re you doing, Fang Boy?” A familiar voice with an Osaka accent followed.

“JOKER!” Koganei turned, now facing the rasta-braided freak.  “AHA!!  YOU!!!  YOOUUUUU!!!  You’re the one who made Recca-niichan looped!!!  YOOOUUUU WITH YOUR CURSED TAISHAKU KAITEN!!!”

“Oi!  Koganei-han!  Don’t be so rude!!!  You hurt my feelings…” snarled Joker playfully.  “ITAIIII!!!” His right ear was pulled by a beautiful slender hand.  “Neon-han!!!!  Ay!!  Ay!!  That hurts!!!”

Neon finally let go of Joker’s ear.  Joker rubbed his ear like crazy, trying to rub the pain off.

“Pardon me of his behavior.  He’s…Joker.  So, anyways, what’re you guys up to?” Neon asked.  Her eyes were attached to the sandwich on Yanagi’s plate.  “Can I have that?”

“So, Fuuko…where have you been?  We were worried.” Recca was still trying to escape Koganei.

“Huh?  I’ve been…here..??  Eating with Yanagi?  Duh???”

“No, he meant, before that.  Before you and Mikagami-sempai came to the cafeteria.” Yanagi explained.

“Yeah, that’s what I meant.  Before you and Mikagami…..” Recca’s voice trailed off.

Neon was paying attention to the conversation.  “Before Kirisawa and Mikagami…wow…yeah, you guys barely spent time together.  What happened?”

“SOMETHING happened!!” Joker grinned.  “Something unmentionable happened between Kirisawa-han and Mikagami-han!!!!” *light bulb appeared above head* He smirked.  “Now, you two…Don’t keep secrets from us…he-he-he…what is it?!” Joker shot.

Fuuko scowled.  “We were just…”

“You were just what?  What secrets?  Hey, what’s going on, guys?” Raiha appeared out of nowhere.  Fuuko quickly turned her head, face ruby red.  Yanagi sighed.  Koganei acted like a detective.  Recca, Ganko, and Neon just watched with plain confused looks on their faces.  Joker was irritated, cut off by his own friend!  How rude!!

“Raiha-han, if you wanna know more, sit down.  We’ll discuss this properly.” Joker lowered his cap, then coughed.  “Eh-hem!!  Where were we?  Oh yeah.  Fuuko-han!  Mikagami-han!  What happened?” He was fixing an imaginary tie and twirling an imaginary moustache.

“We were just talking at Mi-chan’s room.  What’s so wrong with that?” Fuuko frowned.  She tried not to look at Raiha (who was pure clueless).

“Really???” Joker investigated the purple haired girl even more.  “You are not telling the truth, are you??” He grinned.

“Of course I am!”

“What were you talking about?” Yanagi sipped her tea.  She wasn’t sure Mikagami-sempai would talk to Fuuko if she didn’t push him.

“Err…”

“AHA!!  You WERE lying!!!  Hee-hee!!!!  Joker won again!!!  MWAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!  Itai!!  Neon-han!!!  Be nice!!” Joker rubbed his head.

“Baka.”

“ ‘Err’ what, Fuuko?” Yanagi stared with puppy-dog eyes.  Mikagami-sempai must be trying to comfort her.

Mikagami was thinking.  He couldn’t let Fuuko tell the truth.  Yet, he couldn’t say that he was helping Fuuko out with the Raiha problem.  Raiha was there.

“Fuuko?”

“Eh…we were talking about…” Fuuko caught Mikagami’s death glare.  “Talking about…food.  Yeah, food!!  You know how he loves French food, and I love French fries…” Fuuko mumbled.

Raiha sweatdropped.  “Mikagami-san?  Food?  I don’t think so…”

“But that was the truth.” Mikagami said.

“Hey, I love French food!!” Joker grinned AGAIN.  “Would you mind taking me to the BIGGEST French restaurant nearby??  Darling Mikagami??”

“No.”

“Why?”

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Author’s Notes:
Goodness!!  I think the worst chapters of this story are chapter one, two, three.  I haven’t edited it yet, and I know it’s so pathetic.  Anyways, please read my other fic, in fanfiction.net.  Cinderella? is the title.  Humor.  Read and review, as always…

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Part Two: Friends

Author’s Notes:
This part is about…I don’t know.  Just read, okay?  And I usually change chapter titles.  They don’t suit!  See…so don’t think you can predict my stories, har-har-har!  They’re mysteries unable to be solved!  Disclaimers: FoR cast doesn’t belong to me, but to Nobuyuki Anzai, the very creative person!!

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After lunch, the Hokage parted ways.  Recca, Yanagi, Koganei, and Ganko decided to go to the playground.  Fuuko preferred a bath while Domon ate (he returned an hour later, and Yanagi healed his wounds).  Mikagami chose to read a book.

“Mikagami-sempai!!!” Yanagi pulled Mikagami’s arm.

“What is it?”

“Really now, what were you and Fuuko talking about?  So, you decided to care about her too?” Yanagi attacked with her well-known puppy-dog eyes.

Mikagami frowned.  What the hell was she talking about?  “What do you mean?”

“Well…until now you have to be pushed to talk to her.  But since you talked with her…seems that you’re softening up, ne?”

“No.”

“Oh c’mon Mikagami-sempai!  You two can be good friends!”

“What do you mean again?”

“Uh…since she’s dying for Raiha, why don’t you try to comfort her?  And…move her gaze from Raiha…”

“And…” Mikagami wanted to know the continuation.

“To you?” Yanagi smiled the best she could.  She had to make Mikagami-sempai agree!!

Mikagami snorted.  Sure, he could die seeing Yanagi’s smile.  It was so sweet, and it showed the curves of her lips, but…nah!  Making Fuuko stop thinking about Raiha and start thinking about him?!  No way!  Fuuko would never do that, and he would rather die than seeing Fuuko joining various fanclubs of him.  He knew that Fuuko’s not someone who’d be bewildered with someone, but he didn’t want to have to attract her.

“No.  Gomen, Yanagi-san, but I’ll be in my room if you need me,” Mikagami released himself from Yanagi’s grip, and turned away.

He didn’t see two black figures behind the bush.

***

Joker grinned his famous fang-grin.  “Tee-hee.”

“What were they talking about?  I didn’t catch a bit!” Neon growled.

“Oi, Neon-han, do you wanna know what Yanagi-han and Mikagami-han were talking about????” Joker offered Neon.

“Yeah.  Tell me.”

“Fuuko-han’s in love…ah…how tragic…”

“With who?”

Joker frowned.  “Neon-han!!  Can’t you see the beautiful guy in front of you?!  Who else but me?  The famous Joker… aw…you must be jealous, ha, Neon-han?  Don’t worry…my love’s for you and for you only…” Joker puckered his lips.

“In your dreams.” Neon sent a punch to Joker’s beautiful face.  “I’m serious, dummy.  Who’s the guy…or…err…girl?”

Joker just shrugged.  This made Neon very angry; she delivered Neon’s Special Punch-Kick Action.

“OOOOOWWWW!!!!  Neon-han!  What a rude way to declare your love…ITAI!!!” Neon pulled his braids.  “My beautiful hair!!!  NEON-HAN! Play nice, will you?!”

“You’re starting to sound like Tsukishiro.” Neon scowled.

“Tee-hee.” He grinned again, oh boy, does Joker love grinning!!

***

Fuuko was reading Danielle Steele’s book while she bathed.  She put it on a small table beside her, then she dipped her head in the water, making air bubbles inside.

*Should I give Raiha chocolate or not?* She thought.  *He must’ve already got lots of chocolates by now.* Fuuko murmured.  *I wonder how boys think about chocolates and Valentines?  Until now I still think that chocolate-giving in Valentine’s Days aren’t cool.  Yeah.  I always think that only sissy girls do this.  And I am not one of them.  So maybe I shouldn’t.  Then again, he wouldn’t recognize me and my feelings.  I don’t know…* she thought, and closed her eyes.  *I should ask Mi-chan about this.  He and Raiha have a lot of things in common,* She got up, took her towel, and dried herself.

She thought about wearing her usual outfit, ripped t-shirt and shorts.  But…she had to make Raiha look at her.  *Raiha doesn’t like aggressive and hyper girls…so I think something feminine can do it…* Fuuko decided not to wear her headband today.  Then, she searched her travel bag (she stayed at a cottage).

Fuuko picked a sleeveless white blouse Yanagi gave her last Christmas.  With detailed borders, this was the most feminine top she had.  And…she gulped.  She looked at a brown jeans miniskirt.  This garment also came from Yanagi.  It was kinda pretty when she first saw it.  *Okay…for Raiha?*  “For Raiha.”

***

Knock, knock.

Mikagami opened his door.  He was not surprised when he saw Fuuko.  He was surprised when he saw Fuuko without her usual headband.  He was VERY surprised when he saw Fuuko’s clothing.

“Hi, Mi-chan!  May I come in?” Fuuko smiled.

“O…oh, yeah, sure, come in…” Mikagami was in loss of words, so he swung the door to let Fuuko in.

Fuuko’s eyes searched Mikagami’s room.  So neat!!  The bed was so huge and beautiful without a scratch.  All the furniture in the right places.  Sure, it was the cottage’s default decoration, but she messed up her room just three minutes after she settled in.  Her eyes found a small fridge.  Ah, of course, the Fridge Boy has a fridge!

She grabbed the handle, expecting that he’d only have juices and healthy drinks.  But what she saw was nothing she expected.  Bottles of liquor and beer, well…there was also a bottle of apple juice…but she had never seen Mikagami drink stuff like this.

“You drink this?” Fuuko asked, puzzled.

“Yeah.”

“Wow.  I can’t stand a glass.” Fuuko uttered in amazement.

“Whatever.  Now what do you want?” Mikagami stared at her.

“Geez.  What if I say I’m only dropping by?” Fuuko retorted, kinda annoyed by Mikagami’s talking.

“You better get out.  Is that the reason?”

Fuuko sighed.  “I thought we were friends, Mi-chan.  But anyways, nope!  That ain’t my reason.  I need to talk to you.”

Mikagami didn’t want to talk about anything.  But if Yanagi finds out, he was gonna be dead meat.  So he decided to listen.

“Okay.”

***

“…So I thought about asking you this.  Since you and Raiha have lots of things in common.  Example…your hair… You’re both bishounens.  Your weapons, you use your ensui and he uses his katana.  And…a lot more.” Fuuko explained.

“Uh huh.  So, you don’t know you wanna give him chocolate or not?” Mikagami tried to listen.

Fuuko nodded hesitantly.

“Think.  I can’t tell you anything, but if you decided to give him, I have lots of pricy chocolates in the fridge.” Mikagami pointed at the fridge with his thumb.

Fuuko sweatdropped.  “Err…yeah, thanks.  Those must be from your fans, ha?”

“Yeah.  Ditz.”

Fuuko’s eyes showed concern to her friend.  “Geez, Mikagami.  You don’t know how to appreciate girls’ feelings, do you?  They really care about you, and gave you chocolates…and you just give them away?”

Mikagami shrugged.  “They see me for what I am in the outside.  No one has been able to understand my feelings.  They just chase me around; they don’t care about my mood nor feelings.  So why should I care?”  He took out a can of beer from the fridge.

“No one?  You mean, absolutely NO ONE?” Fuuko investigated Mikagami deeper.  He has friends, doesn’t he?

“Well…Yanagi almost understands me…but she won’t be able to realize my true feelings for her,” Mikagami stared blankly at the ceiling; he dropped his body to the bed.

Poor guy, Fuuko thought.  “So, do you think I’ll be able to understand?”

“What do you mean?”

“Since you can’t really tell Yanagi about it, why don’t you just tell me?” Fuuko grinned.

“And what good would that do?”

“Err…I don’t know.  But we talked about this before, right?  And I never hear you complaining about it,” She smiled.  “Besides, I also have no one to talk to about my feelings.”

“You don’t say anything to Yanagi?”

“No…she’d only tell her Recca-kun.  Then Recca would tell Domon…and Domon would kill Raiha…” She shivered at her own thought.

“Yeah, you’re right.”

Fuuko turned to face him.  “But you can keep secrets, right?” She didn’t know why, but she felt like sharing with this guy.  And she felt comfortable with that.

“Oh?  Yes.”

“You promise???” Fuuko asked like Ganko asking for ice cream.

Mikagami slightly nodded.  That means he couldn’t tell Yanagi too…but he also felt like sharing with her.

“Thanks!!” Fuuko smiled widely.

“Sure.  You’re welcome.  Err…I think it’s hot in here.  Let’s go to the café, okay?  The café, not cafeteria.” Mikagami opened his window, and he pointed to a small building.

“Alright.  Friends, Mi-chan?” Fuuko smiled.

Mikagami returned her smile (well…he only lifts a corner of his lips…but for Mi-chan, that’s a smile alright).

Now, there were SIX black figures watching them.

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Part Three: Search Your Soul

Author’s Notes:
Dividing a chapter into parts is really easier.  And this fic is based loosely into events in the anime—only a bit from the manga.  Raiha is based on the manga.  I hate anime Raiha!  His hair was black flat, his eyes piercing, ugh.  And I reallyreallyreallyreally hate Mikoto.  That stupid bitch.
 
 

“WAAH!!  What were they talking about?!” Kondo jumped to Ganko’s head.

“Ssshhh!!  They might hear you!!!” Ganko pulled the stuffed fox and choked it.

Joker put a hand to hold his head, thinking.  “Hmm…I couldn’t really hear what they were talking about.  But probably Fuuko-han told Mikagami-han about her love for me… And she’s afraid my very lovely Neon-han would kill her…AWWW!!!  Love triangles!!!  But, do not worry, Neon-han...OUCH!”  Neon’s fist hit his face.

“Shut up.  I sorta heard something…it was about…Raiha…I suppose.” stated Neon.

“Raiha??” Kondo scratched his furry head.  “Raiha???”

“What?!  Raiha-han?!!  Oh well, that means we can spend more time together…Neon-han…” Joker grinned and showed his fangs.

“I said shut up.” Neon sent him a death glare.

“Neon-han!  How rude!  For heaven’s sake we were married…!!!!!” Joker crossed his arms, faking anger.  “Ey…what’s this wet thing??” Joker wiggled his left leg.

He turned his head, and he saw a crying and sobbing Domon.  “FUUKOOO!!!  MY DEAR FUUKO!!!  That stupid Mikagami hypnotized you!!  FUUKO!!  Don’t worry!!  Domon Man is here!!!!” He pounded his chest and ran to the café.

The rest just sweatdropped.  Then Joker continued, “Koganei-han?  You know what’s going on?”

Koganei sweatdropped.  Oh no.  Yanagi-neechan told him NOT to tell this to anyone.  But he really couldn’t keep it any longer.   But...Neon almost figured it out.  “Err… I don’t…I think.”

***

Mikagami called the waiter.

“Yes, may I help you, sir?”

“Yeah…I’d like a glass of champagne, please.” Mikagami searched the menu.

“One glass of champagne…” The waiter scribbled something.  “And you, Madame?” He looked at Fuuko.

“Uh…” Fuuko thought.  “I just have…some cherry parfait…”

“Alright.  I’ll repeat your orders.  One glass of champagne and one cherry parfait.”

“Yes.” Mikagami answered.

“One glass of champagne and one cherry parfait coming up,” The waiter turned away and walked to the bar.

***

Fuuko twisted her spoon.  “So…Mi-chan…what do you think I should do?”

“It’s up to you.  Things have good sides and bad sides.  If you decided to give him…he might see you, or he might think you’re one of his fangirls.  I don’t know how Raiha thinks about fans, but I hate them.  If you don’t wanna give him, he might think you’re a worthy girl that has some good taste.  Or he might not recognize you at all.” answered Mikagami.

“Uh hum… You’re right.  Actually, I’ve been doing lots of stuff to impress Raiha these days.  Can you recognize them?  And some of those things bug me.  They bug me a lot.  So?  Guess what did I do to impress him today?” Fuuko gave him a naughty grin.

“Sure.  You don’t wear your headband.  Instead, you used some feminine-smelled cologne.  And you replaced your choker with that necklace,” He pointed at Fuuko’s neck.  “Last, your garments.  Blouse and miniskirt?”

Fuuko was kinda surprised to know that Mikagami noticed all the changes.  “What?  They don’t suit me??” Fuuko asked with a worried face.

“Not at all.  They look good at you.  You’re showing your girl sides.”

The certain purple haired girl blushed.  “Geez, thanks, Mi-chan.  I didn’t know you can say nice things!”

Mikagami snorted, “Humph.”

“Just kidding.  Of course you can, Mi-chan.  Like you said, everything has its good and bad sides.  All you showed us was just your bad sides.  But since you became more open now, you can show me your good sides too, ne?” Fuuko smiled.

Mikagami lifted the corner of his mouth, “Sure.”

***

“You really can’t determine your feelings for Yanagi?” asked Fuuko.  They’ve been spending three hours at the café, much to everyone’s surprise.  They talked about various things, and Fuuko thought they’re very close now.

“Uh huh.  Still not sure about it.” Mikagami gazed to the window.

“Oh, Mi-chan!  How many times should I tell you?  You love her!” Fuuko made a concerned face.

“I do?”

“Yeah…right?”

“I’m not sure.  Well…probably I do.  In what way, I still don’t know.” Mikagami murmured.

Fuuko smiled, “Okay, let me give you this advice.  Stop talking, keep quiet.  Close your ears from all the commotion here.  Close your eyes.  Search your soul, your mind.  Ask your heart.  You have a heart, don’t you?  Stay in that position for five minutes, and use those five minutes to find the answer.  You’ll get it.”

Mikagami sighed, “I’m not sure about doing this…”

“Just do it!”

“Okay.”

Mikagami closed his eyes.  He was so quiet, Fuuko could hear him breathe.  She used this time to take a better look at him.  Because of the transparency of the glass table, Fuuko could see him from head to toe.

She first gazed at his shoes.  Fuuko frowned.  Sneakers?!  Mikagami wears sneakers??!  They were brown-colored.  Same goes for the shoe laces.  Then she looked at his pants.  He wore dark denim jeans.  Jeans?!  What happened to Mikagami?!  He was being more…casual?  She took a good look at his hands and palms.  The nails were perfectly trimmed.  Such perfect hands, Fuuko thought.

Then Fuuko started admiring his body.  It was covered in a blue turtleneck jacket and a white t-shirt beneath.  God, it made Mi-chan’s body more…sensual.  Oh geez, Fuuko sighed, he looked so sexy.  *Oh no, what the hell am I thinking about…*.  Before she gets more mesmerized, Fuuko chose to continue.

Fuuko caught sight of his neck.  His slender neck wore a cool chain necklace.  *Damn, that makes him sexier* She moved on.  *Okay, this is the deadliest part of all.  The face that everyone would kill for.* His chin was perfectly curved, his mouth was so beautiful.  His lips were so intriguing, Fuuko thought.  *ARGH!  Fuuko, you pervert!  Quit it!* Then his cute nose.  His sweet ears.  And his eyes… *Lucky he closed them…or else I could drool here* Fuuko heaved a sigh of relief.  Last part, his hair.  The beautiful silver-blue mane was perfectly tucked in a ponytail.  So beautiful…so perfect… *FUUKO KIRISAWA!!!  Stop it, pervert!!* Her mind ordered.  Yet, her heart was pounding like crazy.  Her face became red.

At this moment, Mikagami opened his eyes and he saw Fuuko looking at him.  Fuuko was shocked; she showed Mikagami a very strained face.

“Fuuko?  You alright?” He waved his hand in front of her blushing face.

“Oh, oh, oh… Yeah!  Yeah, sure I’m alright, hee-hee!  So…did you find the answer?” Fuuko quickly covered her red face.

Mikagami sighed.  “Yeah, sort of.”

“So?  What is it?”

Mikagami gazed at the ceiling.  “I figured out that I’ve been taking Yanagi as my deceased sister.  Until now I’ve been longing for love and affection, and Yanagi has it all.  And she looks perfectly the same like Mifuyu…so I wanted to protect her.  I don’t want to lose my sister again, I suppose.  So you were right in some ways.  I do love her, as my sister.”

“Oh.” That was what all Fuuko could say.

“Thanks a lot.  That method you taught me worked real well.” said Mikagami.  Fuuko could find honesty in his eyes.  And…he smiled too, that made him sweeter.

She smiled, “Sure, you’re welcome!  Now let me try it too… for Raiha.” She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

This time it is Mikagami’s turn to take a closer look at her.  He started with Fuuko’s feet.  The feet were covered with white strappy sandals.  They showed her toes wiggling.  He smirked.  Funny.  Mikagami moved on to her legs.  Long, slender, beautiful legs made him raise an eyebrow.  He’d never realize the beauty of Fuuko’s legs.  Oh well, he thought.

He shifted his gaze to her miniskirt.  It was a brown, jeans, cute miniskirt in two layers.  They’re connected by a small knot.  Cute, he said in his mind.  He continued to her white blouse.  It had feminine borders, and the blouse showed all her curves, all in the right places.  Her long, lovely arms to frame her body.  And her hands with their long, slender fingers.

Mikagami moved on to her neck.  The lovely necklace she wore…Mifuyu had one that looked like that too.  Her funny chin and her sweet lips.  The funny nose she had on her face, and her beautiful eyelashes.  Her hair took care of the headband’s job, covering her forehead.  The cute, lovely purple fringe over her face, while the rest of her hair was blown softly by the wind.  *She was right.  This way Raiha would definitely see her in another way.*

Fuuko popped her eyes open.  Mikagami almost blushed…if it wasn’t for the abrupt chaos that came very shortly after that.

“DOMON?!!!” Fuuko shrieked.

Author’s Notes:
Whew!  That was a pretty long chapter, but I enjoyed writing it, though.  Hah, reading fics is so much better than writing them.  Even though sometimes you run outta fics to read.  That sucks.  So everybody out there, you better post your fics or fic’s chapters quickly!!  There are people suffering to read!!  Email me, please, at eternal.lover@mikagami.zzn.com .  God, I haven’t had a new email since 5 days ago.  It sucks.  A lot.