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"Fuuko-san!" said an astonished Raiha as he whipped around to face her. "What are you doing here?"
"You didn't let me finish."
"I didn't let you. . . ? He started to say, not understanding what she meant. {That night. . . She wants closure.} "Gomenasai. Please finish."
"I want you to stay," she whispered. Raiha didn't know how to answer. Part of him wanted to hold her and say that he would, and the other part knew it wasn't possible.
"Fuuko, I have to leave."
"That's what I can't figure out. I even asked Yanagi to show me your past," she said quietly. "I know it's none of my business, but you seem to know a lot about me, and I know nothing about you."
"My past? How?" This was the first time Fuuko ever caught Raiha off guard. It felt good in a way, and at the same time she knew she had betrayed his trust.
"She used the Eikai ball."
"I see." He turned his back on her. "Is that it?" he asked coolly. Fuuko was only momentarily taken back at his sudden change in attitude; she knew better.
Raiha was angry at her for being acquainted with his past. But what frustrated him the most was the conflict of emotions inside. Even if he decided to reject her one final time, at least she's able to find out why this time.
"No. You still haven't told me why you’re leaving." She responded calmly. "And I want the * real * reason. Not the one you think sounds the best."
"There's nothing left for me here." Raiha said simply, his back still turned.
"What do you mean there's nothing left for you here?"
"My grandfather is finally at rest, and Kurei is finally getting a chance at a happy life."
"What about me?" Fuuko said in a small voice. "I need you."
"You don't need me." Raiha began.
"You only think you need me. You're a normal girl; you always were. I was fortunate enough to be the one you showed your true self to. Now that you realize it, you don't need me anymore." He finished.
"Baka! That's not true! I realized I'm a normal girl because of you! You drew that part of me out!" Fuuko shouted impatiently.
"I never wanted you to be some kind of confidence booster for me! I want you because I have feelings for you!" She flung in his face. Fuuko had to bite her bottom lip to prevent herself from crying in frustration.
Raiha's expressions softened, as if it broke his heart to look at her tear stained face. He knew she cried for him when she witnessed events in his past.
"Fuuko, you'll eventually regret being with me. I have nothing to offer you. I'm a 19 year old ninja from 400 years in the past. Technically I'm 419 years old. I have no money, no job and I've never been to school."
"You're just telling yourself that because you feel like your only purpose in life has ended, and it's too painful for you to actually live your own life. You're always living for someone else, making them happy. You can't picture yourself being happy because you're too busy trying to help every one else. That's why you're leaving. You're shutting everything and everyone out."
It suddenly dawned on Fuuko why Raiha had something similar to a split personality. He was completely mortified when he couldn't protect Akuenai. It left him feeling a neverending guilt he wished and strove to atone for.
Raiha was speechless. He knew she was absolutely right. And yet, he found it difficult to bring himself to deal with his problem.
"Stay, Raiha, and be happy," Fuuko said so softly, that it was almost a whisper.
Raiha wordlessly assented by nodding his head and reaching out for Fuuko. He held her tight until the morning sun was about to rise.
"Gomen. I should've brought you home. We've been standing here for the past couple of hours. You must be tired. And your mother must be worried," he said hoarsely.
Fuuko smiled up at him and then buried her face in his chest.
"Remember when you trained me for three days straight? Now THAT was tiring. Standing here is nothing compared to that. And my mother won't worry too much. Ever since I became a Hokage, she's gotten used to me not being home. Ganko however is another story. Sometimes I wonder who's older, me or her!"
Raiha chuckled as he stroked her hair. "She worries because she cares."
"Hai. I know that. But there's nothing to worry about." She turned her face up to him. "I'm happy. You're happy, and we get to watch the sunrise together," she said, snuggling for more warmth.
Raiha gladly obliged and ran his warm hands over her body before clasping them tight around her waist. Fuuko was right. It was a new day, and there was nothing to worry about.
Nothing at all.
Author’s notes: I hope the ending wasn’t too mushy. I think Fuuko-san deserves some romance in her life. This just basically deals with why Raiha is so bent on leaving, now that his duty as a ninja is done. Kurei has a happy life & his grandfather died just like Kagero-san with the heaven and hell madougu. & Fuuko finally realizes she can’t be afraid of love like she was before. In the series Raiha seems to invoke feelings in her she doesn’t want to have. Or really, she likes it, but is scared of what will happen when she embraces those feelings. She always thought of herself as a tomboy and secretly dreams to be a normal girl, which Raiha treats her as.
As for the names. Here are the translations:
Akuenai- unfortunate in love. This is actually a real word. I saw it in the dictionary.
Jibyou- Chronic disease. I lucked out, this was also a real word. It’s Akuenai’s last name.
Gaijuunaigou-gentle but firm. This was in the dictionary too. I thought it fit Raiha perfectly for a last name.
Isseishi- Issei actually means lifetime. I added shi at the end ‘cuz I thought it sounded better LOL Fit Raiha’s grandfather due to immortality.
Kirittou- Raiha’s father. I wanted him to be a swordsman, (using Jishou’s swords) & kiri and ttou were parts of words related to swordsmanship.
Yokoku-Raiha’s
mother. Her name has something to do with music, & I wanted her
to be the one using Neon’s Fukyo Waon. Like Kirittou, I just combined words
related to music.