Get your own Free Home PageFuuko and Tokiya might be at logger heads, but they were perfectly sensible people who could really work and live together once they forgave each other. Of course, they still had quarrels and skirmishes, but they were always minor and apologies were also always made. Since Tokiya and Fuuko were living together, with a chaperone mostly present only in the day, it was inevitable that the tongues would start wagging. Many rumours flew around campus, mostly about Fuuko, but a few on Tokiya. As Tokiya was well-respected by the teachers, rich and with a couldn’t-care-less attitude, Fuuko had to bear the grunt of the gossips. She wasn’t really bothered by the those of bystanders, but Yokko and her friends came up with some especially meaningless and horrid ones, which hurt Fuuko a lot. Tokiya may be emotionless, but he only chose not to display his feelings, but he sure noticed Fuuko’s mood swings. Tokiya felt that Fuuko had been hurt enough and without telling the latter, decided to put an end to the tormenting. Yokko’s clique had boyfriends with whom Tokiya was familiar with, and he met up with them to talk things through. The guys respected him and told their girlfriends to stop acting like kids. Tokiya was reluctant to talk to Raiha, as their relationship was still sore, since his loyalty laid with Fuuko. But after a particularly malevolent and spiteful comment delivered right into Fuuko’s face, Tokiya went to Raiha’s hostel and told him about the whole mess. Needless to say, Raiha was deeply shocked that Yokko was capable of such actions, but listened through and agreed to help Tokiya. And so, the rumours and teasing stopped, to Fuuko’s surprise, not ever guessing why. However, Yokko was angry at being thwarted and rebuked by Raiha and swore to get her revenge. Tokiya might have protected Fuuko for that period, but there was no way he could shield Fuuko forever. Sooner or later, Fuuko would be ambushed again… At least it happened only a year and a half later…
“Fuuko?! What in the world is going on?!?!?!” Tokiya was genuinely flustered and was actually filled with fear. This was obviously not Tokiya in his normal self, but it was fully understandable. The house was starting to fill with thick dense smoke coming from the kitchen, and any other noraml human would have been screaming and panicking away. Tokiya always acted one level calmer that others, and slight worry was his main feeling.
“Eah, erg, ahh!” came a reply.
“What? I can’t understand you!” By this time, Tokiya had thrown all windows open, the fresh clean morning air dispelling the smoke. He wasn’t happy at being awaken on a Saturday by a suffocating odour.
“I said I’m sorry. I can’t breathe either, you know.” Tokiya walked into the kitchen and a impossible mess greeted him. Sinks were filled with dirty plates and bowls, the tables were cluttered with dough, eggs, flour and goodness knew what else. Standing in front on the oven, a tray of blackened whatever in her hands, was Fuuko with an apron tied around her waist, a sheepish gleam in her eyes.
“You tried to cook. I thought you gave up after the last dinner over a year ago?” Tokiya brought up a good example of Fuuko’s bad cooking ability. Because of her eagerness to show off her supposedly brilliant culinary skills, both of them ended up having pizza for dinner, and the kitchen utensils burnt black.
“It’s not my fault! Nat can’t use the oven, and we need to bake cookies for the carnival.”
“Fine, then buy them! It’s certainly cheaper buying a few boxes of cookies than renovating my entire kitchen.” Tokiya was piqued.
“Nat called me only at 4am this morning. The cookies had to be ready by 9am. The shops are all closed, and the nearest 24-hour shop is miles away, and I don’t have a car. I remembered watching my mother bake the most fantastic cookies, so I thought…”
”You have your mother’s cooking skills,” Tokiya finished, “But you don’t.”
“What am I supposed to do, Mikagami?” Fuuko was really, really helpless. “Hey, I can get Nat over here to bake the cookies. It’s only 5am now, we can still make it!” Tearing her apron off, Fuuko leaped for the door, but Tokiya just sighed and stopped her.
“You forgot another much more convenient alternative. I guess I’ll just have to lend you a hand. Again.” Tokiya didn’t have to mention the many instances where he helped Fuuko solve her social problems, or stand in for her martial art classes, taking her notes, fetching her supplies, helping her finish an essay etc. Grabbing the apron out off Fuuko’s hands, Tokiya instructed Fuuko to sit the living room, read a book or sleep, just as long she exiled herself from the kitchen.
By 7am, a delicious smell wafted in from the kitchen, and Fuuko just had to sprint in, to find Tokiya lifting tray of freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies from the oven. On the table were a nicely packed bags of vanilla, strawberry, blackberry and other flavours. Biting into one cookie, Fuuko exclaimed out loud,
“Where did you learn to cook like that, Mikagami? You should be a cook, not a lawyer, this is simply irresistible!”
“Fuuko, I was born with this ability. I didn’t learn. Cooking comes naturally to some people, some have to learn, but other can’t. At all.” Fuuko was so glad she had somehow managed to get the cookies she ignored the snide comment altogether. Instead, she did the exact opposite. Flinging her arms around a surprised Tokiya, who was so caught off guard he didn’t protest, Fuuko hugged him tightly as she thanked him for being such a great friend.
“Mikagami, I thought you are a pain most of the time, but you’re really, really great! I love you so much!” Unaware of what she actually said, being so relieved the cookies were baked, Fuuko grabbed the bags and stuffed them into a carrier. “I’ve really got to go. I’m suppose to meet Nat at 8. Bye. And hey, thanks again, Mikagami. Go back to sleep, you look pretty tired.” As Fuuko closed the door, Tokiya was still speechless. He hadn’t managed to utter a word ever since Fuuko hugged him. In fact, he was bewildered that he was actually blushing, something he hadn’t done since he was 10. Shrugging, and deciding to dismiss this matter, Tokiya took Fuuko’s advice and went back to his bed.
That night, Tokiya was reading the newspapers when he heard the front door squeaked open. Fuuko had returned from the carnival to raise money for the university’s prom night. Tokiya disliked crowded places and abstained from leaving his house; besides, he helped, no, it should be single-handedly, baked the cookies. He figured he had contributed more than enough.
“Fuuko, you’re back. How was the carnival?”
“Um, yeah, I guess it was fun.” At that short, sharp and utterly devoid of interest reply, Tokiya looked up from his read and regarded his friend with a icy stare.
“What happened, Fuuko?”
“Nothing much. Just sold cookies the whole day.” As mentioned before, Tokiya was only emotionless on the surface, but now he could feel that Fuuko was upset. Walking towards her, Tokiya took in her stooping frame, the absence of that twinkle in her eyes, mouth without a smile and knew immediately that Yokko was involved. For the past year, he had heard first hand from Fuuko and second hand from others, the 2 women long standing rivalry.
“Fuuko, What did Yokko say?”
Mikagami, it’s nothing really, just one of her silly comments. Forget it.”
“You’re upset, this comment must have been different. What did Yokko say?”
“Mikagami, it’s really nothing. Ignore her. Please.” The last stressed syllable made Tokiya pursue the matter.
“Come on, Fuuko. Even if you don’t tell me, I get it from the other students.”
Fuuko sighed, but gave in. “If you really want to know, Yokko Shoshima said that I was a conniving little slut that hides behind my boyfriend, you that is, and is a disgrace to womankind. I am also, according to Yokko, a fool that is really pathetique and wretched.
“That’s not all, is it?” Tokiya assumed, “And what is with the French terms?”
“I don’t know,” Fuuko shrugged, “but you’re right. She said much more.”
“Such as…” Tokiya prodded on.
“Such as I am a tomboy with no figure, rough and rude. And that it was no wonder Raiha dumped me. And no guy would ever go to the prom with me, since I am such a stigma, so I needn’t have to bother raising money for the prom.”
“Yokko is really too much.” Tokiya was outraged, but once again, checked his feelings and only presented a bland expression.
“Mikagami, I just want to say,” Fuuko sighed, “That Yokko’s words doesn’t hurt me anymore. You don’t have to protect me. I am used to her torments already. They’re only words, they can’t hurt me.”
“But you’re obviously upset, Fuuko.” Tokiya’s eyes narrowed.
“I can’t deny that I’m not. I mean who isn’t. Except for you, of course. It’s just that she brought up Raiha, which she hasn’t in a long time. I wasn’t used to that, I guess.”
“So, you’re not going for the prom, are you?”
“I guess not. Yokko was right about 1 point though, nobody has asked me to the prom. And you need a date to go. And I won’t be going at all.” Walking past Tokiya, Fuko proceeded to her room. She wasn’t going to cry, no way! She just needed to calm down. As she walked past, she felt something holding her back. Looking back, she saw that Tokiya was actually holding her hand. Looking into his eyes, Fuuko saw pity, concern and sadness that paralleled her own. If Tokiya had been shocked when Fuuko hugged him, then Fuuko was now 10 times his surprise, stunned and startled. She never knew or suspected Tokiya could care.
“Mikagami…”
“Fuuko, go to the prom. Don’t worry about Yokko, I’ll come with you.”
“You mean…”
“Yes,” Fuuko saw that Tokiya was fighting to get his words out, “I’m asking for a date.”
“You don’t have to pity me, Mikagami. I don’t need…” Fuuko stared at Tokiya and trailed off, as pity vanished from his eyes and something completely different took its place.
“I don’t pity you, Fuuko. You deserve to go. You are such a generous, kind, witty, sweet and charming girl. Any guy would be honoured. I care about you and want you to go.” Tokiya was dumfounded at himself, he didn’t mean his words the way they came out, but to his utmost amazement, he didn’t mind the way he presented them, and he actually really, deep down inside, meant them. Fuuko felt her world had been turned upside down. ‘I’m can’t be falling for Mikagami, can I?’ Fuko thought. But all thoughts fell away as she inched nearer to Tokiya, her arms automatically liking around his neck; his at her waist, their faces mere centimetres apart. They struggled to break the trance, but couldn’t and their lips touched…
“Ding dong!” The door bell rang. That broke the spell, and the instance their lips touched, making it a kiss, both of them turned away and what happened was nothing more than a touch. Regaining their composure, which was no mean feat, even Tokiya, especially him, in fact.
“Yes, may I help you…” Fuuko stood at the threshold, “Raiha?!”
“Can I come in?”
“Um, yeah. Sure.” Fuuko was shocked another time for that night. Leading Raiha in, much to the annoyance of Tokiya, Fuuko wore a glazed expression.
“Fuuko, I just want to say that I was at the carnival today, and I heard what Yokko said to you,” Raiha didn’t beat about the bush, “I always thought that Yokko was such a sweet girl. I was wrong.”
“You don’t have to be, Raiha. Yokko is a master at acting. And I sincerely thought she liked you.”
“No, she didn’t. I confronted Yokko and she confessed the whole thing was a ploy to destroy you, Fuuko. I was a pawn in her game. I should have been more careful. In the end, you were hurt the most. I’m sorry.”
“I already forgave you right from the start, Raiha. I just can’t believe Yokko would go out with you for 1.5 years just to hurt me.”
“You have no idea how much she hates you, Fuuko. I’m sorry.”
“Raiha…” Fuuko couldn’t think of what to say. She thought she had fallen for Tokiya, but while Raiha was professing his love, Tokiya wasn’t saying anything at all. In fact, he had disappeared to give the former couple some privacy.
“You don’t have to say anything, Fuuko. Mikagami, there you are. I just hope you’ll take care of Fuuko from now on, for me.”
“Raiha, what are you saying? I know Yokko must have said plenty of things, but they aren’t true. Mikagami and I aren’t a couple.”
“Fuuko’s right, we are not a couple.” Tokiya confirmed, although in both their minds were trying to erase the intimate moments they had shared.
“I know what Yokko said were false, but only her opinions and the rumours. The facts are all true.” Raiha shook his head, “Mikagami came to me about a year ago to tell me to ask Yokko to stop harassing you, Fuuko. Now that I can ‘see’ better, it just goes to show Mikagami is worried about you, Fuuko.”
“Don’t utter rubbish, Raiha. You should be pledging you undying love for Fuuko now. And I talked to you only because Fuuko is my friend.”
“You were going to beat me up! Is that just concern?” Raiha retorted.
“You were?” Fuuko demanded. She had no idea to what extent Tokiya had helped make her otherwise miserable life better.
“Not only that,” Raiha chipped in, “He also spoke to the boyfriends of Yokko’s cronies. How do you think they managed to stop tormenting you?”
“Raiha, Fuuko still loves you. Take her away now, please. I want my house back.” Tokiya’s heart suddenly felt constricted and small.
“Mikagami, I never knew you to be so rude!” Fuuko was mad, somehow.
“Well, your lover is back! You don’t need me anymore!” Tokiya vented his frustration.
For the first time in 1.5 years, Tokiya and Fuuko started a really serious quarrel. Raiha looked at the debating match, felt it was his fault and decided to put an end to it.
“Quiet!!! Both of you!” There was silence, and Raiha continued, “Fuuko, Not only did Mikagami spoke to all the boys, he did much more for you. Think, all this time, he always fetched notes, solved your problems, helped in your thesis. No other guy would do the same without a price, unless he truly cares for you.”
“How did you know?” Fuuko was surprised.
“I told you, Yokko told me some facts, which were the truth.” Looking at Tokiya, who just glared back without an excuse for his subtle display of affection, Raiha continued, “Now that I think back, the times I saw both of you in campus, you were always together. Fuuko might be laughing and fooling around, and Mikagami may be solemn and cold, but you showed affection towards each other. Whether it was just handing something over, or saying something, there was always a touch of affection in your ways. Even your cookies, I know you can’t cook Fuuko, was done by him.”
“But you love Fuuko. Why are you doing this?” Mikagami demanded.
“Because,” Raiha looked Fuuko squarely in the eyes, “Fuuko told me once that loving someone is to ensure that person’s happiness. I love you, Fuuko, and I know I can give you happiness. But I also know someone who can give you much more happiness, what you deserve. To make you happy, I have to sacrifice my feelings and allow Mikagami to shoulder that responsibility. If I do otherwise, I’m being selfish, and I don’t love you.
“Raiha…” Fuuko was speechless.
“Don’t say anything. Just listen to your heart. And you too, Mikagami. Just now, when you asked me to take Fuuko away, I could see you were upset. But that was good, and it confirmed my opinions. You love Fuuko, but you would sacrifice your feelings for her to be with me. And Fuuko, you were angry because you loved Mikagami and was mad he didn’t express his feelings. The fact that both of you started quarreling proved that you love each other, you just have not figured out how or why yet.”
Fuuko and Tokiya just stared at each other, no words between them. Raiha took their hands and joined them. Fuuko didn’t let go, neither did Tokiya.
“For the first time, I’ve seen Mikagami displaying some form of feelings. If that isn’t because of love, I don’t know what is. You 2 belong together. Work it out.” Raiha turned and walked to the door.
“Raiha!” He turned towards Fuuko, and was pleased that she and Tokiya were still holding hands. “We just want to thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. Mikagami, thank you for taking care of Fuuko when she was at her lowest.” Tokiya nodded and Raiha smiled a cheeky smile, “And you can continue where you left off when I rang the bell. Silly of me, wasn’t it, to disturb?”
“How did you know?”
“How did you know?”
Fuuko and Tokiya phrased the same question, faces red with embarrassment.
“Oh, I somehow had another ability.” Raiha answered, “As will both of you. The ability to love.”
As Raiha walked away from Tokiya’s apartment, he decided to take just one small peek, and was thoroughly satisfied. Locked in a passionate embrace was his former love and her newfound boyfriend. Raiha sighed, his conscience was at peace. Pulling his scarf tighter, since it was getting chilly, the lone figure walked into the night.
Around, snow had begin to swirl in a joyous dance, a tiny breeze lifting the little ballerinas higher and higher in happiness. Wind cannot melt ice, but after days and nights of daily exposure, wind can reduce ice to it’s most basic and delicate form, a crystalline snowflake. And all it takes is a little sun, a little light, a little love, to melt frost. This way, even the hardest icicle can be melted, all is needed is wind… and love…
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