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Note & Disclaimer: I'm telling you, I do NOT own any money from doing
this. They don't belong to me. True!!! Guides' honour!!!
Fuuko: You're not a guide.
Whatever!!! They belong/are the property of Nobuyuki Anzai. Now go
and worship him. Hehehe... ^_-
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The university is having a dinner and dance function. The members of
the Hokage team are seated at the table - Domon fighting with Fuuko
over the last fishball, Mikagami lowering his head in his hands and
Recca playing with the rim of the wine glass in front of him. His
eyes are fixated on a feminine figure dancing gracefully alongside a
young male. A look of joy and serenity on her face. A look of despair
and loneliness on his...
"Yanagi..."
[Hime set me free]
[From this misery]
[I can't take it no more]
Domon and Fuuko stop fighting as they watch Recca slump dejectedly
into his chair. He was dressed up for the occasion, wanted to look
his best for his hime. And where was she now? Twirling around and
about in the arms of Atsushi. Domon growled and Fuuko glowered. She
turned to face Mikagami, whose face remained about as impassive as
ever.
[Since you ran away]
[Love hasn't been the same]
[Don't know what I'm living for]
In his mind, Recca recalled the instances pre-Atsushi. How they were
always together, had lunch together, picnisc together. Did virtually
everything together. That was... until Tomomi came. He winced. It was
all his fault. If he wasn't so busy spending time with Tomomi and
tutoring her in English, then he wouldn't be in this state. Mutely,
he cursed himself.
[Here I am]
[So alone]
[And there's nothing in this world I can do]
From where she was on the floor, doing a cheerful fox trot with
Atsushi, Sakoshita Yanagi turned to glance at her ninja. Her
boyfriend. His disheartened expression told her everything. He was
sorry, or at least she thought him to be sorry. Silently, she
wondered where that Tomomi was. Surely he didn't dress up that nice
just to go to the dinner with.... Domon, Fuuko and Mikagami. Right?
[Until you're back here hime]
[Miss you]
[Want you]
[Need you so]
Atsushi watched Yanagi's expression and then his eyes sought to seek
Mikagami's. The young silvery-haired male was observing his
surroundings, drinking every detail as thought they would prove to be
very much valuable in the near future. His gaze wandered and finally
held on to the male. The icy stare, it was enough to send shivers
down his spine. Then suddenly his view was obscured. The one named
Kirisawa was standing in front of Mikagami. Her hands were on her
hips in a threatening and imposing manner. What was she saying to
him? And was Mikagami... was Mikagami snickering?
[Until you back here hime]
[There's a feeling inside]
[I want you to know]
[You are the one and I can't let you go]
"You. Owe. Me. A. Dance." growled the purple-haired beauty. Her
finger was poking the Ensui wielder's chest but he didn't seem
threatened by it at all.
"Oh really? Well then, let's go." his response was fast, calm and
smooth. Fuuko blinked. Did he just agree to dance with her? By then
when she had regained back her stature, she was being dragged to the
floor.
"Oi! I'm wearing a dress and heels! I could fall you know." she
growled. Mikagami gave her a sly look. Fuuko widened her eyes in
alarm.
[So I told you lies]
[Even made you cry]
[Hime I am so wrong]
[Girl I promise you]
[Now my love is true]
[This is where my heart belongs]
Domon watched Recca and then he turned to watch Yanagi. Recca.
Yanagi. Recca. Yanagi. Recca. Yanagi. Fuuko. Mikagami. Recca. Yanag-.
What? Fuuko and Mikagami?!?!
Atsushi twirled Yanagi around and then pulled her back into his
embrace. He smiled warmly at her, causing her to blush radiantly
under the yellow and subdued lighting of the ballroom. She returned
his friendly warm smile and then as if by instinct, turned around to
find Recca again. She found Domon and the seats surrounding him was
empty. Where was Recca?
"Ahem." Atsushi turned to find Mikagami behind him. Kirisawa was in
his arms, the confused and bewildered look still on her face. She
couldn't accept the fact that Mikagami willingly danced with her.
"I must be dreaming..." he heard her mumble.
"You know what to do Atsushi-kun. We'll be counting on you." Mikagami
spoke in his ear. Softly but firmly. Yanagi was still looking for
Recca and by the time she turned back, Mikagami and Fuuko had long
waltzed off somewhere.
[Cos here I am]
[So alone]
[And there's nothing in this world I can do]
"Yanagi-san."
"Hmm?"
"I have to tell you something." Yanagi watched Atsushi's face
attentively. The male breathed in and then slowly led her out of the
dance floor. They moved silently, one contemplating how to tell the
her while the other wondered what he was going to say. Finally they
reached their destination, the balcony.
Romantic setting. Yanagi shivered. Could it be?
[Until you're back here hime]
[Miss you]
[Want you]
[Need you so]
"Recca! Where the hell have you been?" Fuuko nearly screeched at her
former team leader. He gave her a tired apologetic look. Fuuko calmed
down, seeing him in such a state, mellowed her a little.
"Gomen minna. Had to take a breathe of fresh air." he replied and
settled back down into the chair. His tie was loosened, fatigue
showed clearly on his face. He had been through worse. Fighting off
foes in the Urabutousatsujin and yet, this measly incident drained
him. He had underestimated the love of his hime. He had taken her for
granted. And now, he paid the price.
[Until you're back here baby]
[There's a feeling inside I want you to know]
[You are the one and I can't let you go]
"You were saying Atsushi-kun?" standing beside her on the balcony,
Atsushi sighed. He liked the girl, a soft yet determined spirit. But
he remebered why he was here. Taking in perhaps his fifth deep
breathe, he turned around and faced her.
It's now or never.
"Yanagi-san..."
[And I wonder]
[Are you thinking of me cos I'm thinking of you]
[And I wonder]
[Are you ever coming back in my life]
"Hey! Where's Hi- I mean Yanagi?" inquired Recca. He had expected her
to be still waltzing on the floor. The tune being played sounded
familiar. Too familiar.
"She's at the balcony with Atsushi-kun." replied Mikagami matter-of-
factly. The three watched the reaction on Recca's face. Initially
there was anger and then a flicker of emotions crossing his face. In
conclusion, he remained seated. Hime could take care of herself. Hime
had a nice romantic Shakespeare now. She doesn't need me.
Domon turned to face Fuuko who in turn faced Mikagami. He was deep in
thought.
"Hanabishi. You're just leaving Yanagi outside with an unknown
stranger?'
"Well, she knows him. That's good enough."
"Baka. You're her ninja. You're supposed to be with her wherever she
goes. Wasn't taht part of your code?"
"I broke it when I betrayed her trust and went out with Tomomi."
Fuuko gasped. She had never hear Recca talk so calmly about Yanagi,
treating her so indifferently. In the past it was always "Hime this
and Hime that" until she had got so sick of it she nearly drowned him
in Kagehoushi's lake.
"Well if you didn't know it Recca, you're breaking her heart by doing
that." remarked Mikagami. He let the words sink into the slightly
young and rash fighter. Recca slowly turned to face him.
[Cos here I am]
[So alone]
[And there's nothing world I can do]
"What exactly are you implying?"
[ instrumental ]
"Well, you did swear to be her ninja. Now you've already broken that
pact. You're her boyfriend too are you not? You're leaving her alone
with a strange fella and you don't care? You're pathetic. You disgust
me. You've been through so much for her and just this... you're
giving up. Pathetic." Recca's jaw widened but then the urge to want
to strangle Mikagami was doused as realisation sank in.
[Until you're back here hime]
[Miss you]
[Want you]
[Need you so]
"HIME!!!"
"Recca?" Yanagi spun around from Atsushi and face Recca. He stood
there, swaying a little but then regained his posture and sqaured his
shoulders. He regarded Atsushi warily, eyes travelling from head to
toe and then locked on to where his arm was around her waist. He
growled. Instinct told him to brutally beat the living daylighst out
of him yet logic and common sense told him not to. After all, Hime
was there and she wouldn't like it. Behind him, Mikagami casually
sauntered in accompanied by Fuuko and Domon.
[Until you're back here baby]
[There's a feeling inside I want you to know]
[You are the one and I can't]
"Get away from her Atsushi." growled the flame caster.
"Recca..."
"Hime... I'm sorry." Atsushi moved away and now stood a distance away
from Yanagi and Recca. Time for the final showdown.
"For what Recca?"
"I'm sorry I took you for granted, betrayed your trust and feelings.
I lied to you. I'm... s-sorry. I guess I was too preoccu[ied by the
thought of free food and being treated to lunch. I completely forgot
about you, I acted like an idiot and am unworthy of a ninja."
"Oh Recca..." by now Hanabishi was kneeling on the floor before his
princess. His head was bowed down, eyes shadowed by his heavy
thickset bangs.
"Sakoshita Yanagi. Your ninja begs you to forgive him of his heinous
deeds." he spoke calmly, his words holding pent-up emotion. Yanagi
knelt down in fornt of him and tilted his chin so that he would face
her. She smiled, one filled with warmth and radiance.
"Oh Recca... I'm sorry too. I forgive you... but will you forgive
me?" Recca's gaze locked onto hers. Slowly, the familiar smile crept
onto his face and he hugged Yanagi. As if on cue, the skies exploded
into a shower of red, blue, green and yellow. Recca blinked and the
turned to face the rest of the gang.
[Until you're back here hime]
[Until you're back here hime]
[Until you're back here hime]
"You planned this didn't you." Domon gave an innocent-enough look,
Fuuko merely smiled and Mikagami gave him -the- look. Recca turned to
face Atsushi.
"And you?" the latter smiled and shrugged.
[Cos I'm feeling inside and I want u to know]
[You are the one that I can't]
Still confused, he was unaware of Yanagi pulling him towards the
ledge, watching the stars. The rest moved off, not wanting to intrude
the couple's privacy.
"Recca..."
"Yes hime?"
"Do you know what day it is?"
"Erm... Saturday?" Yanagi laughed, her voice high and clear. Recca
suddenly felt as though he had never heard her laugh in such a long
time. His arms slowly found their way around her waist and he rested
his chin on her head.
"No baka..." she whispered softly.
"Hmm? Then?"
[Until you're back here hime]
[Until you're back here hime]
[Until you're back here hime]
[Until you're back here hime]
[Until you're back here hime]
"It's our anniversary. Aishiteru Recca..."
"Aishiteru koishii..."
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OwaRi
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