P.S: I just realized that I’ve been writing without thinking.  If anyone’s confused about the time…well, here’s the explanation.  In chapter four… “He was in his room, alone” This paragraph took place in dusk… probably 3 am in the morning.  The next one “Fuuko was also in her room” That’s the morning, about seven.  Those become one day… Until down there *points below* … it’s still one same day.  I sure hope that helped!

 
“DOMON??!!” Fuuko yelled, which made almost all of the customers confused.

“FUUUKOOO!!” Domon yelled too, running to Fuuko with open arms.

“ARRRGGHHH!!!  Go away!!!  Shoo!  Shoo!!” Fuuko tried to release herself from Domon’s iron-like grip.  “Lemme go!!!  DOMON!!!”

Domon finally let her go.  He wiped the tears on his eyes, still sobbing a little.

“Domon?  What is it?” Fuuko looked concerned.

“Fuuko…my dear Fuuko…what the hell are you doing here with that pervert, stupid, crazy, idiot, baka, dummy, fool, naughty, Mikagami?”  Domon sniffed.

“Huh?!” Fuuko was plain confused.  What’s he talking about?!

Mikagami smirked, “I’m sorry, Ishijima.  What did you just say about me?  Pervert?  Stupid?  Crazy?  Idiot?  Baka?  Dummy?  Fool?  Naughty?” Mikagami recited.  “There seems to be a mistake, ne?  C’mon, let’s go outside and face my Ensui.” He smiled sarcastically.

“Oh yeah?  Well…you were trying to get my Fuuko from me!!” Domon defended himself.

Fuuko blushed.  Mikagami looked very silly with that puzzled look on his face.  “Huh?!”

“Well, well…you were talkin’, chattin’…and…umh…and…you looked so close!!!!”

“Domon!!  We were just sharing!!” Fuuko snarled.

Now it’s Domon’s turn to look bewildered.  “Sharing?  Sharing what?”

“None of your business.  Now, go.” Mikagami ordered.  “Oh, and Fuuko, I’m really sorry but my head’s kinda dizzy right now.  You can tell me about that later, okay?” He got up and left.

Fuuko could only say, “Oh?  Yeah.  Sure.  Later.” She smiled and she left too.

The only one left was the big fool, Domon, with that mystified look on his non-bishounen face (Whee…sorry Domon!!)

***

Fuuko dropped herself to the bed’s welcoming comfort.  She sighed.  Today is very weird.  Really… impossible.  She was actually sharing with the fridge Mikagami?  And she felt at ease with that.  She felt fine.  She felt happy.

She shook her head.  Oh…there must be something wrong with him.  She had never felt any joy when she’s close to this guy.  Instead, she felt scared.  But after she took a closer look at him, she discovered the boy that was lost years ago.  The cheerful, funny, happy, Tokiya Mikagami.

He had never looked happy until that talk with her.  Well…he didn’t actually look happy, but there was a bright light in his eyes.  And after that big gorilla appeared, that bright light was gone.  In its place there was a solemn, cold, icy look.

*Geez, too bad.  That bright light sure made him cuter,* Fuuko smirked at her own thought.  Since when she started to think Mikagami is cute?  The sky’s falling down!  Pigs will fly!!!    Somehow, her heart stated a denial to her statement.

But she sure wanted to see him like that again.  Not only because he became cuter, was he also actually softening up!  Listening to her thoughts and sharing his own problems.  She liked him that way.  She liked him a lot.  *Hmm…I wonder what can make that light appear again.  Hey…wait a minute…  I know!* She grinned.  Yeah.  She was good!  She was great!  She was a genius!  She was happenin’!!  Yeah, baby, yeah!!  She’s smart!  *Hee-hee.  I’ll accomplish this task tomorrow!*

Another thought came into her.    *And when I tried to search my soul…I found something weird.  Really weird…* Like someone was staring at her.  And her heart beat faster.  Faster.  Faster.  *God!  What is happening to me?!*

***

Mikagami glanced at the wall clock.  Already seven?  Sheesh.  Time flies so quickly.

Knock, knock.

He opened the door.  Yanagi?  He thought it was Fuuko.  Oh well.

“Come in, Yanagi-san.”

The brown-haired girl smiled.  “Great room, Mikagami-sempai!”

“Thanks.”

Then she turned to face him.  “Mikagami-sempai, can I talk with you for a minute?”

The silver-haired bishounen nodded.  “Sure.”

“Mikagami-sempai, are you sure that you haven’t change your mind about Fuuko?” asked Yanagi.

“Huh?”

“Well, I heard from Domon that you and Fuuko were actually talking to each other at the café this afternoon.  Smiling, chattering, and everything!  Admit it, Mikagami-sempai.  You’re softening up!” Yanagi looked like a brain genius professor.

Mikagami only got question marks above his head.  “What do you mean?”

“You and Fuuko are becoming friends!” The healer girl smiled cheerfully.

He sighed, “Maybe we are.”

Yanagi continued smiling, “How do you feel about her?”

“Why are you asking me that?”

“Just asking!”

The water wielder just put himself on his bed.  “Well…she’s a good listener.  She’s okay.”

“And…” Yanagi had such urge for Mikagami to continue.

“Okay…she’s a good friend.” Mikagami searched his brain.

“That’s it?” Yanagi asked.

“That’s it.”

She looked disappointed.  “Humph… Well, Mikagami-sempai,” Yanagi opened the door, “I’m sure there’s something other than that.  But maybe you aren’t able to figure that out right now, ne?  So…uh…I gotta go now.  Recca-kun needs me.  Just make sure you’ll find the answer out someday somehow, ‘kay?  Bye!” She went outside and left.

Mikagami smirked.  As usual, ‘Recca-kun needs me.’ Thanks to Fuuko, he realized his feelings sooner.  Or else he’d be tortured by now.  Yanagi’s a resemblance his sister.  Sister.  Only sister.  No more.

***

He glanced again at the clock.  Eleven thirty pm.  Gotta get to sleep.

Knock, knock.

*What’s Yanagi doing at this late hour?* He thought, but he opened the door anyways.

Again, he was dumbfounded.  “Fuuko?”

“Yeah, Mi-chan!  It’s me!  Sorry to bother you this late!  Do you mind?  You know, if you’re tired…I can just go and return tomorrow…” She smiled.

Strangely, he didn’t.  “No.  Come in.”

Fuuko lazed on Mikagami’s bed, murmuring something he couldn’t really catch.

“Real comfy bed, Mi-chan.  It’s really good… Lucky you, you have your own room.  My bed was all scruffy and messy, shabby and grubby all because of that stupid stuffed fox Kondo.  Same goes to all the other beds.  Geez!  Can I sleep here, Mi-chan?” She stretched her arms, yawning.

Mikagami only snorted.

Fuuko tried to stop yawning, her hand waving in front of her mouth.  “Yawn, yawn… Kidding…”

“Fuuko, just…what is it?” Mikagami lost his patience.

The purple-haired wind wielder shrugged her shoulders, “I thought I might share what I got today.”

Mikagami frowned, what did she get?  Oh, yeah, that café incident.  “Go on.”

“Err…I…got…nothing.”

He was dumbfounded again.  “Huh?”

“Nothing!!  I don’t know, I don’t know!  My mind went BLANK and all I got was nothing!!  I’m still not sure…” Her voice trailed off.

“That didn’t work?” Mikagami asked with a concerned face.

Fuuko blinked.  Ooh?  Mikagami?  Concerned?  Yeah, the ground would spit out apples.  Cows would be born from dogs.  “Eh…no.” She turned her head away in embarrassment.

He sighed.  “How come?”

“I HAVE NO IDEA!!  Well, at least I figured out something!” She grinned.

“What?”

“I figured that I’ll give a chocolate!” Fuuko smiled the widest she could.

Mikagami pointed to the fridge, “Take your pick.”

Fuuko shook her head hastily.  “NO!  I’ll make my own chocolate!!”

“Okay.  Suit yourself.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

“Okay…”

“Well?!”

“Err…I don’t know how…” Fuuko tried to avoid Mikagami’s death glare.  “And I don’t have the ingredients too…” She mumbled.

“I suppose you need my help?” Mikagami smirked.

“Yeah!!”

“It’s eleven thirty, for heaven’s sake, Fuuko!!!  You can’t get the ingredients now!” He was furious.

Fuuko wiggled her hands in front of him… “Woow…now, Mi-chan!!!  Be patient!!  Stay still!  I think there’s a 24-hour mini market nearby…”

“Why don’t you just ask Yanagi?!”

“She’s asleep!”

“Duh, I mean…not this late?!  Earlier?!”

“Err…I really wanna keep it as a secret!!!  C’mon…Mi-chan!!!  We’re friends, right?!”

Mikagami took a deep breath.  Better help her.  If Yanagi knows about this…whoa, she would never forgive him.  Not that he still felt something for her…but having an angry sister aiming at you ain’t no good, ne?  For Yanagi?

“For Yanagi.” He murmured.

“Huh?  What did you just say, Mi-chan?” asked Fuuko.

“Nothing.  C’mon, let’s go.” Mikagami put on his jacket.

***

“White or black?” Fuuko asked to herself, “Black or white?”

“Black’s bitter and white’s sweet.”

“Oh?  How did you know, Mi-chan?” She turned her head to face him.

Mikagami shrugged his shoulders, “Mifuyu used to make this chocolate thingy.  She had a crush on this guy and she asked me to help her make it.”

“Which one do you like?”

“None.  I don’t enjoy eating sweets.”

“Geez.  Okay…I’ll just take the white one!” She picked a pack from the shelf.  “Now…we only need to get the sprinkles!”

“Over there,” Mikagami pointed at a shelf near them.

“Got it!  Done!  We’ve got all the ingredients.  Now let’s make some chocolate, shall we?” Fuuko hurried to the cashier.

Mikagami glanced at his watch, “Do we still have time?  It’s already one in the morning.”

“What????  Oh!!!!  Well we better hurry up!” Fuuko threw some money on the cashier’s table.  “Take the change.  C’MON, MI-CHAN!!!!” She grabbed Mikagami’s hand and blasted out the mini-market.

They left the confused cashier lady alone.  “Hey…that’ll be four hundred yen…” She stared blankly at the one hundred yen bill Fuuko gave her.  “You’ll need three hundred more…”

***

Mikagami glanced at the clock… “Hurry up, Fuuko…I need some sleep…”

Fuuko used his private kitchen as her workplace.  She messed up, all the chocolate on the floor and everything.  And she got him to teach her too.  While Fuuko was still happy as ever, Mikagami’s eyes had black bangs.

“Wait a second, will you?!  Now…after you cut the chocolate into little bricks…you melt them.” Fuuko read a recipe book.  “How do you melt them, Mi-chan?”

“Oh, monkeys have no brain…” Mikagami murmured, eyes half closed.

Fuuko scowled, “Mi-chan!  I ain’t no monkey!  Now, how do you melt them?!”

“Oh yeah?  You ain’t no monkey?  Well…monkeys can’t think, just like you… Normal people would think… melt them by putting them on top of fire???” Mikagami smirked, half asleep.

Fuuko grabbed the white bricks, turned on the burner, and held the bricks above the burning fire.  “You mean like this?”

“NO YOU BAKA!!  Why don’t you try putting the bricks in some pan?!!”

“Oh?  Okay.” She turned to find the pan.  “Hey…Mi-chan…where’s your…Mi-chan?”

Fuuko blinked.  *WAAAHHH!!!  Mi-chan’s asleep!!!*

Indeed, he was.  Mikagami lay on his snuggly bed, eyes completely closed.  He was snoring a bit.  Fuuko was sure, his mind’s already in Dream Land.  Or maybe Nightmare World?!  Yet, his peaceful face made Fuuko sure that his mind’s in Dream Land.

*Funny,* she thought.  *I’ve never seen Mi-chan sleep like this.  His expression was always…guarded.  He was always ready to wake up whenever an enemy’s nearby.  Now…he’s even snoring like a baby!* Then Fuuko frowned.  *Aw, I’ve never realized he had such eyelashes, though.  Aww…it’s soooo cuteeeee….* She frowned again, *Wait a minute.  What the hell am I thinking about?!*

She decided he might catch a cold, sleeping just like that.  She grabbed a blanket, and covered him with it.  Much better, she thought.  *Now…the chocolate!  Since Mi-chan’s asleep, I better do it myself quietly.*

***

The next morning.

Fuuko glanced at her alarm clock.  Six.  *Geez.  I’m still sleepy… I slept at three thirty am…But…there’s something more important!*

She grabbed her towel and rushed into the bathroom.  *Today is officially the Valentine’s Day.  Yesterday was a VERY long day.  And I didn’t get any sleep at all.  Oh…my head…* But her strong will to stay awake kept her still.

*Wonder if the chocolate’s good…* Fuuko thought, *I don’t think so, though…there was no one to guide me…and I’m just a failure cook…All I can make is poison…* She shuddered at her own thought.  Sheesh.

Fuuko was done.  She dried herself with the towel, and searched her travel bag, seeking for the right outfit.  She thought about wearing her usual clothing, a normal tee with shorts… But then… *Feminine.  That’s right!  Be feminine!*

She got a white dress…another courtesy of Yanagi Sakoshita.  It slipped from her sight yesterday.  A simple, white, sleeveless dress.  Afraid of the weather, she put on a brown jeans jacket.  She seemed to like the combination of white and brown.

While Fuuko was admiring her own reflection on the mirror, a few strands of purplish hair came to her sight.  She sighed.  *Right.  The hair.* She couldn’t find anything in her travel bag to keep her hair neat, other than her headband.  She looked for something in Yanagi’s hair accessories pouch.

The wind wielder found a cute white bandana that suits her dress.  *Perfect!*. And then her hand touched her neck.  *Ah…right*.  Her neck felt bare.  The purple haired girl decided she would wear a brown choker, just like her normal black one.  Except for the little, white, pearl pendant hanging.

And then, Fuuko Kirisawa was ready.

***

Tokiya Mikagami woke up from his sleep.  Thanks to someone knocking on the door.

Knock, knock.

He opened it.  “What’re you doing this early?” Mikagami sent a death glare to the ever so happy Fuuko.

“Nothing!  Just wanna have breakfast with you…” Fuuko’s voice trailed off.  Mikagami was still in his pajamas.  Nothing fancy, just normal, simple, blue pajamas.  Without any patterns.  Just…blue.

“Whoops.  Well, now, get dressed!!  Hurry up!  I’ll give you exactly seven minutes to bathe, and dress.” She glanced at her watch.  “Three…two…one…”

“And who are you to boss me?” Mikagami asked, forever, in his special, solemn, way.

Fuuko put her hands on her hips.  “I don’t know who the hell I am!  Just, go, go!!!  There’s something important!!  GOO!!!”

“Whatever.”  With that, he turned back, entering his bathroom, leaving the door opened.

Fuuko came inside his cottage.  Then she peeked into his kitchen.  Uh, oh.  Messy.  Chocolate.  Everywhere.  And the worst thing was…she’s responsible for all this.

“MI-CHAN!!!  HURRY UP!!  YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES!!” She yelled.

Fuuko heard the bathroom door opened.  “I’m done.”

She could only open her mouth, agape, amazed.

Mikagami was standing in front of the bathroom door, drying his silver-blue hair.  Fuuko’s eyes scanned every part of him.  *Beautiful…* And she felt her heart pounding.  Faster.  Faster.  *What the hell is it?!  AARRGGHHHH!!!*  And she realized, she was staring at him, almost drooling, just like his normal fangirls.  She had to cover it up.

“WAAAAHHHH!!!!!!  I’m impressed, Mi-chan!!!  How did you manage to do that in…five minutes??” She clapped her hands.

“None of you business.  Now I’m giving you exactly seven minutes to clean up my kitchen.” He glanced to the clock.  “Begin.”

The purple haired girl shook her head.  “No way!  I’ll clean that up later.  Now, you come with me!” She grabbed her hair and dragged him outside.

***

They took their normal place at the café.

“So?” Mikagami started the conversation.

“So.”

“So.”

“So…”

“So…”

“So…”

“So what the HELL is it?!”

“Whoa, Mi-chan!  Be patient, duh!!  I just wanna give you this!” Fuuko inserted her hand into her jacket’s pocket, fumbled for something.

“Here.”

Mikagami frowned.  It was a beautiful, dark, blue box with silver glitters on it.  Neatly tied up by a pale blue ribbon.  He opened the box.

Chocolate.

***

Author’s Notes:
Yikes!!  I KNOW, I KNOW!!!  THIS IS WAY TOO CRAPPY!!!!  This is WORSE than I expected!!  AAARRRGGGHHH!!!!!  Danger!  The characters are too OOC, huh?  And it’s stupid too.  FOR PETE’S SAKE, I NEED COMMENTS, PEOPLE!!!  Comments make me improve!!!  You want a better fic?  You gimme comments.  Nice trade, huh?  PLEASE!!  I’m begging you!!!!!  GIMME YOUR COMMENTS!!!!  I SWEAR, this fic’s gonna be better if you do.  Arigatou gozaimasu!!!  Send me your e-mails to eternal.lover@mikagami.zzn.com , ‘kay?!

PART TWO: Heart

Author’s Notes:
Whew.  At least a better title.  I like that word.  “Heart” .  It’s simple…but I love the word.  Thanks to my biggest idol EVER, Britney, for giving me the inspiration ^___^!!  Anyways…I decided to chop off some useless stuff and rush to the ending.  It’s better, I’m telling you.  Before I go completely nuts and can’t even spell “fic”.  To prevent me from going to the psycho hospital, send me your comments to eternal.lover@mikagami.zzn.com .  I accept ANYTHING!

***

Chocolate.

Mikagami could only gaze to the little sweet in the box, covered by streamers.

“So?  Whadda you think?” Fuuko asked, grinning widely.

The Ensui master lifted an eyebrow.

Fuuko snorted, “I know you received TONS of chocolates already, but I just wanna give you some more.  You can just throw it away.  It must taste like poison, ne?”

Mikagami shrugged, “Nah, I don’t know.  Probably yes, considering the mess you made in my kitchen.  But…why are you giving me this anyway?  You said you’re not one of the ditz.”

The certain wind wielder closed her eyes, using her palms to support her head.  “I’m not…I hope.  I also have no idea why am I giving you this.”

He twitched a brow.

“But…maybe as a thank you.”

“For what?”

“For everything.  Thanks a lot for helping me out.  I thought you’re not one caring person, Mi-chan.  But I guess you are…ha?  I’ve never thought you’d do something so nice, like that.  Arigatou, Mi-chan.” She smiled.

He smirked.  Humph.  If only she knew the truth.  But he didn’t want her to know, why?  He didn’t know.

She continued, “I mean…I don’t know why, but thanks to you, I recovered.  I did.  I don’t know, but Yanagi’s crying, Recca’s soothing, and Domon’s pleading didn’t seem to work, at all.  But…just…one word from you…” Fuuko blushed.  That sounds like a common line in the movies.

“Sincere.  Such a hard word for you to pronounce, ne, Mi-chan?  But…arigatou for showing that to me.  It really helped, believe me.  And this…silly…love…on Raiha…” Fuuko lowered her head, not letting Mikagami see her eyes.

She stopped talking for a while.

“Fuuko?”

“And…silly…love…on…Raiha...” She ceased, trying to breathe.  “Is over.”

Mikagami seemed concerned.  “Tell me about that.”

“Over.  I just got that answer…last night…I have never loved Raiha.  At all.  No.  It was just a silly…child’s crush…but…I just can’t believe it.  All those tears…all those sleepless nights…for nothing??  I was kind of disappointed when I realized this, but I also felt relieved.  I could’ve got more pain.  And now I can stop.”

Mikagami saw tears rolling down her cheek.

“Fuuko…don’t cry.  Please…do not cry.  Don’t shed tears again…” said Mikagami with a very soft tone…that touched Fuuko’s heart.  Big mistake.  This made her sob more.

*My love…for Raiha…has never existed…*

*But…my heart…there’s still something bothering it…*

*No…it can’t be…*

*Mikagami…please…go…you’re making me confused…*

*Confused on everything…*

*Stop disturbing my peace…*

*Stop these tears…*

*Stop me from falling in love with you…*

Mikagami reached out his hand, to wipe Fuuko’s streaming tears.  “Fuuko…cease it.  You won’t get anything from crying.”

*His hand…*

Fuuko held on to his hand, which made Mikagami completely confused.

*So soft…soothing…helping me out…*

“I’m so stupid.”

Mikagami had question marks above his head.  “Huh?!”

“Fuuko no baka.  BAKA!” She let her rage flew out.  Then she started slapping herself.  This caught every customer’s attention.  Especially Mikagami’s.

“Fuuko?!” He frowned.

That woke her up.  *What the HELL am I doing?!  I have to cool down!*

“Err…I just remembered something…Mi-chan…I got…erm…an appointment…With…er…Yanagi!!  Yeah!!!  Yanagi!  I wanna talk to her about…eh…monkeys???  Yeah, whatever!!  MONKEYS!!  THAT’S IT!!!!!!!!  Since you called me a monkey, and you called Domon a gorilla, and you called Recca a sea-monkey…I got this…err…this special interest on primates!!  That’s right!!  And now, Yanagi’s helping me in a research on… eh…orangutans!  They’re one of the monkey-ape families!!  I wanna know…er…what do orangutans and monkeys have in common!!!!  Okay, now…eh…see yaaaaa!!!!!” She burst through the door, leaving a dumbfounded Mikagami.

“Monkeys?”

He snapped out of it.  What happened?

He glanced at his forefinger and middle finger.  Wet.  Tears.  Fuuko’s.  Beyond his usual awareness, he gently pressed them against his lips.  Softly.

***

Fuuko ran and ran.  Tears came streaming down.  Her heart felt like it was torn to little pieces.  It hurt.

*I do NOT love Raiha…*

*And I have never had love him.*

*My heart…*

*Aches…*

*That DAMN Raiha!*

*Why is my heart going against my will?!*

She saw a big tree.  The wind wielder quickly sat on the wide, wooden swing that was hanging.  Behind her was the ballroom.  Her ears could hear the song playing inside.

Heart, I know love’s been hard on you,
And I’m sorry for the things I’ve put you through,
Before, you start to break on me, or ask for sympathy,
I need to make you see,

She tried to understand her own heart.

*Love’s been hard on you.  Sorry I’ve put you through a lot of difficult times.*

*But before you start to break me down…or ask me for anything else…*

*You just have to know…*
 

Oh heart, I’m not sure it’s been long enough,
To say that I feel is really love,
There is just one way to learn,
Sometimes we’ll get burned,
And right now it’s our turn

*Heart…please listen to me for once.*

*It was only for a short while, and I don’t think what I felt was really…love.*

*We have to take chances and risks.*

*And because of that…we were hurt.  Risks.*

Give it time,
Help me through,
Heart we can do this together,
You’re my strength,
You’re my soul,
I need you now more than ever

*C’mon, heart…listen to me.  We need time.*

*And I need you.*

*We can do this together.*

*I really need you.  You have to help me again.*

*You are my fuel.  Without you I can’t do anything.*

*I need you right now.*

Heart, all the hurt will soon be gone,
If you, if you just keep on beating strong,
You will always be my friend,
So keep on hanging in,
And we’ll find love again

*Heart…c’mon.  Don’t give up.*

*If you keep on going…We can do it.*

*I’ll always be there for you.*

*So let’s stay together.  Keep on hanging.*

*And we’ll find the true love.*

Give it time (give it time),
Help me through (help me),
Heart we can do this together,
You’re my strength (you’re my strength),
You’re my soul,
I need you now more than ever…

*Give me another chance.*

*I swear I won’t disappoint you.*

*Heart…I need you.*

*You’re the only one who can help me.*

*I do.  I do.  I really, really need you.*

Heart, I know I’ve been hard on you,
I’m sorry for the things I’ve put you through,
Please, don’t you break on me, I need to make you see,
It wasn’t meant to be,
‘Cause you will always be my friend,
So keep on hangin’ in,
And we’ll find love again…

*Not only love, but I also hurt you.*

*Once again, forgive me.*

*Don’t go, do not leave me!*

*It wasn’t supposed to be that way.*

*Coz, you’re my friend.*

*Let’s stay together.*

*And we’ll meet another true love.*

***

Yanagi was heading to her cottage when she saw Fuuko.

“Fuuko!” She waved an arm.

The purple haired girl didn’t realize anything.  Yanagi decided to surprise her.  She made her way behind Fuuko, and…

“What is it, Yanagi?”

Yanagi threw her arms in the air to show her disappointment.  “I thought you were unaware of me!”

“I am always aware.  I’m a fighter.” Fuuko said sternly.

Yanagi sat beside the wind wielder.  “Well, well, are we having a bad mood today.  What’s up, Fuuko?”

“Nothing.”

The healer girl shook her head slowly, “Yare…yare…Fuuko.  How many times should I tell you?  You have to learn to tell the truth.  Lying isn’t good.”

She was just like a teacher, and that definitely annoyed Fuuko.  “I’m not feeling good.”

Yanagi’s eyes widened, “What is it, Fuuko?!  Are you hurt?!”

“No.”

*Not in the outside…* She added to herself.

“You can share with me.  Even though it’s kind of weird…you usually talk to Mikagami-sempai.” Yanagi smiled.

*I want to.* Fuuko’s heart answered.  But her mind didn’t want to admit it.  Her mind was still stubborn.

*You told me to work with you!!* Her heart became rebellious.

“Rebel heart.” Fuuko muttered.

“What did you say, Fuuko?”

“Nothing.  Er…Yanagi, it’s really nice that you wanna share with me.  However…I have something important to do.  Please…I’ll be in my room if you need me.” Fuuko stood up.

“Fuuko…”

“See you.” She left.

***

She didn’t actually go to her room.  Instead, she wandered off to another side of the park.

“Now what do you want, Heart?” She asked to no one in particular.

*I want you to listen to me.* Her heart answered.

“Okay, so blabber out.  I don’t mind listening to you for a while.  I’m dead bored.” She gazed off to the clouds.

*I want to ask you something, Fuuko Kirisawa.  What do you want now?*

“You ask me.  I dunno.  I have no idea.  Aren’t you the one who’s supposed to tell me what to do?” She ignored the stares from the people passing by.

*And I’m letting you decide now. Only for now.  You use that chance properly.*

“I don’t know.  You’re supposed to guide me, Heart.” Fuuko snickered.

*You know what you want.  Stop denying, Kirisawa.*

“I don’t!  Stop bugging me, Heart.”

*Fine.*

“No!  No!!!  I was kidding!!  Don’t leave me!!” Her hands reached into the air, as if they were holding onto something.

*Tee-hee.  You need me, huh?* It’s time for her heart to snicker.

“Yeah, you lousy little heart.  I need you.  But…really…I don’t know what I want.  I’m confused.”

*You want love.  No.  You need love. You need love as much as you need me.  You’re craving for love.*

“I am?”

*You are.*

“But…I just…lost love.”

*You said it yourself, we’ll find love again.*

“But…it’ll take a lot of time to retrieve the lost love.”

*What’re you talking about?  It’s already in front of your eyes, you dimwit!*

“Huh?!”

*You already found it.  Thanks to me, of course.*

“Sheesh.  I found it?!  Where?” More stares came from passer-bys.

*You know…*

“I don’t!”

*Ahh…you can’t lie to me.  I’m your own heart, baka.  C’mon…* It seemed like her heart was just grinning sheepishly.

“NO!”

*Yare-yare…It’s HIM, you baka.*

“Him who?”

*Him…him!!*

“Him who?!”

*Er…I suppose that should be kept as a secret…*

“Heart no baka!”

*Hey!  Be nice, duh!!!  Don’t worry, Fuuko.  You’ll get the answer, sooner or later.  Just wait.  It’s not my job to tell you.  You can find it…*

“BAKAAAA!!!!”

*…Just remember that your heart will always be with you…*

“HEART NO BAKA-BAKA-BAAAKAAAAAA!!!!”

People passing could only stare in plain confused looks.

*…For ever and ever...*

“BAAAAAAAAKKAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

*YIKES!!!  FUUKO KIRISAWA!!  I get the idea, I get the point!!  Quit yelling!  You’re embarrassing me.*

Fuuko calmed down easily.

*Atta girl.*

“Now tell me.”

*The ‘guy’ is…*

“Who?!”

*Or, should I say… the ‘man’ is…*

“Who?!?!?!”

*Or…the ‘boy’ might be better…since he ain’t an adult yet…*

“Who???!?!?!?!”

*Or…maybe ‘guy’ suits him better…*

“AAARRGHHH!!!!  QUIT YOUR GODDAMN BLABBERING AND JUST SPIT IT OUT!!!!” Fuuko shrieked.

No doubt about it, everyone’s eyes were on Fuuko.

*I said, quit embarrassing me!  Okay…he’s…*

“Who?!”

*He is…*

“He is who?!”

*He is…hachoo!  Sorry ‘bout that ~sniff~ sorry.  Caught a cold recently…*

Fuuko was about to yell again when…

*Mikagami.*

***

Fuuko Kirisawa, 16 years old.  Frozen.

“Mi-chan?”

*Uh huh.  Should’ve keep it as a secret, ne?  Told ya you ain’t supposed to know.* Her heart muttered.

“Mi-chan?”

*Mikagami.  Yeah.  Face it!*

“Mi-chan?”

*Alright-tee!  It’s Mi-chan.*

“Mi-chan?”

*YEAH, YEAH!!!  IT’S MI-CHAN!!!  GOT IT!  You got the idea, I got the idea, now shut up!*

“Rude heart.”

“Rebel heart.”

*Re…bel?*

“Rebel.”

*Why?  I just told you the truth.*

“You know I don’t have any feeling towards him.”

*Stop being stubborn, Kirisawa!  You’re in love with Mikagami!*

“Mi-chan…”

“Fuuko?” Yanagi’s head popped in.

“YIKEEEESSSSS!!!!!!!  Good Kami!  Yanagi!!” Fuuko held on to her heart, gasping for air.  She didn’t want to lose her heart now, she needed one.

“It’s alright!  It’s alright!  It’s only me!” Yanagi tried to calm her down, to no avail.  She held Fuuko’s hands, not letting them hurt herself, but Fuuko just kept on struggling.

“IT’S ME!!  YANAGI!!”

At last, Fuuko stopped struggling and calmed down.  “What is it, Yanagi?”

“Nothing.  I was only about to get back when I saw you…talking to yourself.  What has gotten into you?  And why did you keep saying Mikagami-sempai’s name?” Yanagi asked, shooting Fuuko her puppy-dog eyes.

“Err…nothing.” Fuuko shrugged.

Yanagi sat down beside her, gazing to the clouds, “Y’know, it’s kind of weird.  I mean, you two barely have something in common, ne?”

“Yeah.”

Yanagi continued, “And…in just three days you became so close to each other.”

Fuuko felt her cheek turned red.  *And in three days you fall in love with him too,* her heart added.

“Now you be quiet!” Fuuko said quietly.

“And…it’s pretty weird that Mikagami-sempai isn’t annoyed.” said the healer, now facing Fuuko.

“Really?”

“Uh huh.  And it’s weird too…considering that I had to push him to help you.”

Fuuko froze.

“Fuuko?  You okay?” Yanagi waved her hand in front of Fuuko’s face.  “Yo-hoo!  Fuuko!”

*Uh oh.*

*Big mistake.*

“I’m … I’m sorry, Yanagi…what did you say earlier?” Fuuko snapped out from her sudden trance.

“Yo-hoo.” answered the brown-haired girl plainly.

“No, no, before that.”

“Oh.  You mean when I said that I had to push Mikagami-sempai to help you?” She recited.

The wind wielder felt like her world stopped spinning.  “You mean…”

“What?”

“You mean…he didn’t do that because he wants to?”

“Er…no.  But that doesn’t seem to be the problem now, ne?  He’s really softening up.”

“You had to push him?”

“Not only me, but also Recca, Domon—okay, not Domon—Kaoru, Ganko, Kagerou-san…practically everyone minus Domon.” Yanagi added.

“Everyone?”

“And Mikagami-sempai was very reluctant too.”

“Reluctant?”

“Yup.”

“It wasn’t his sincerity?”

“Heck, no!  Why did you think about that?  You know Mikagami-sempai.”

Fuuko’s heart sweatdropped, *Oi, oi…this girl is VERY unaware of what’s she talking about.*

“So…let me get the point.  YOU plotted all of this???”

“Erm…yeah.  Gomen, Fuuko, but we couldn’t stand you.” Yanagi pleaded for sorry.

Fuuko didn’t say anything.

“Fuuko?”

She snapped outta it again, “Eh, yes, sure, Yanagi.  It’s really nice that you want to help me once again…but it’s really unnecessary.  Arigatou.  I just remembered…I have something very-very-very important to do.  See ya!!” Fuuko ran, leaving the puzzled Yanagi behind.

***

She didn’t cry.

Why?

She didn’t need to cry.

Why?

Because she ain’t a sissy girl.

Or…

She didn’t have anymore tears left.

***

It was already three thirty pm, and Fuuko had been avoiding Mikagami ever since.

*Oh, Kirisawa, I know it’s hard, but you have to face it!* Her heart yelled at her.

“Face what?” The wind wielder was sitting in the ballroom’s corner, alone.  She was drinking her fifth glass of vodka.  Stressed.

*You’re disappointed in Mikagami!*

“…”

*You love him, don’t you?*

“I do?”

*You do.  But you can’t stand the fact that he didn’t help you sincerely.  What can we do?  You fell in love, and now I can do nothing to get you out.* Her heart stated matter-of-factly.

“I do, huh?”

*Yes.  Don’t you get it?  You love him all along.*

“But I don’t wanna love him!” Fuuko refused to give up.  Luckily, she was at the bar.  People would think she’s drunk.  Well…she WAS drunk.

*Can’t your mind work with me for a while?!  Your heart knows you better!!*

“I don’t wanna love him!  And no one is the boss of me!!!!!  SO I DO NOT AND WILL NEVER LOVE MIKAGAMI!!!!!!!” bellowed Fuuko, out loud.

*Baka.  Your heart knows you, and your heart shall always lead you to the better thing for you.  You love him, and that is not bad.*

“I DON’T!”

*You’ll never change.  You love him, and that’s final.*

“SHUT UP!!!”

*Don’t be stubborn, Kirisawa.* Her heart said.

“YOU are the stubborn one!!!!  Why don’t you listen to ME for a while, bitch?!!!” Fuuko cried.  True, tears were dwelling again on her eyes.

Her heart only said, *I’m tired of arguing with you.  Fine if you want it that way.  I’m outta here.*

Fuuko’s chest felt like it was burned.

“Why…Heart?  Why don’t you listen to me…??  We can work together, you know… You don’t have to leave me alone…” Fuuko whispered.  She’s officially crying.

She tried to stop her sobbing.  “I need you…to support me.  Not to make things harder…”

Fuuko heard the song again.

Oh heart, I’m not sure it’s been long enough,
To say that I feel is really love,
There is just one way to learn,
Sometimes we’ll get burned,
And right now it’s our turn

~Heart.  Why are you so sure that I love him?~ Fuuko’s mind asked.

~It’s not like I fell head over heels when I see him, right?~

~It must be a mistake~

She kept trying to confront her heart to agree with her mind…to no avail.

***

When the 12th glass was over, Fuuko Kirisawa was near collapsing.

~Gimme a hint…~ She pleaded to her heart.

*Search your soul.*

Fuuko got the hint.  “Search your soul…” she repeated.

“That’s right…search…your…soul…” The wind wielder muttered.

So she closed her eyes, relaxed her mind.  Trying to search her soul.  Search for the answer.  Search for the only hope.  But her dizzy head didn’t help her a bit.  Her sight was rather foggy, and her head was hurting like crazy.  After all, she was a light drinker.

“Fuuko-san?” A voice slipped through her ears.  A familiar voice.

She tried to pay attention but she couldn’t.  All she could say was… “Yeaaaahhh…???”

“It’s me.  Raiha.” The voice introduced the speaker.

Fuuko was still drunk…it took her a few seconds before she snapped.  “Raihaaaaaa….oooohhhh yeeeesssss…Raaaaiiiiihhhaaaaaaaa…………..RAIHA?!!??!?!?!?” She jumped backwards in TOTAL surprise.

“Yes, it’s me.  Raiha.  Fuuko-san, you alright?”

“YEAH!”

“So…er…I want to talk to you about something…do you mind?”

“Heck, no!!  What is it?!”

“It’s kind of…private.  Mind if I take you to more privacy?”

“Okay…whatever…sure…” Fuuko was still drunk, though.

Raiha had to drag her out of the ballroom, into the…café.

They missed something.  Or someone, perhaps.  Mikagami was staring coldly at the both of them.

 
Author’s Notes:
Wheeeeeee!!!!  Finally!!  Chapter six done!!!!  Yippee!!!  It’s really unusual, y’know.  I wrote this chapter in…about…two weeks.  The previous ones…I did it in only a day.  Must be school, AGAIN.  Sheesh!  I had the intention to make it longer, but I decided it’s long enough ^__^;;; Where’s my creativity????!!!!  And the story’s getting crappier.  I want to insert some more Uruha scenes…but I have no idea where to put them.  Anyways, since someone had actually ASKED me to write a side story about Neon-Joker’s wedding, I’ll think about it.  Personally, I don’t know what to write ^__^ .  And I’m collecting fanfics on Aoshi-Misao.  I love those two!  Anyways, PLEASE send your comments to eternal.lover@mikagami.zzn.com   Of course, I accept flames as well ^_^;;;  And I think Raiha is VERY OOC here, ha?  I really love manga Raiha…but anime Raiha makes me sick.  Yuck!  Love Joker, Neon…they’re the best of the Uruha!!  And for some curse words I used here…I am officially underage.  So don’t expect me to use more in the upcoming chapter.