"You shouldn't say that." a soft familiar voice protested from behind her. Fuuko hesitantly turned as she recognized that voice. 

"R, Raiha-kun...!" 

"It's okay." Raiha smiled. "I heard from Kaoru what happened between you and Kamui, the new assassin." 

"Y...You did?" Fuuko said, slumping to the ground. She then shot her kazetsume into the bushes. "How can a woman get respect here anyways?!" 

"Many do respect you, Fuuko-san." Raiha said, kneeling beside her. 

Fuuko looked back at him and blushed despite herself. Raiha smiled. 

"You couldn't blame if many also fall for you. You are very attractive, you know." 

"Attractive? ME?" Fuuko sneered. She then layed down on the ground. 

"Attractive to what? To big muscle-heads, to perverts and to Mr. Bat-man-who-steals-icecreams?" 

Raiha sighed, sitting down on the ground. He sensed the melancholy in Fuuko's voice. He then turned to her. "Do you consider all that are attracted to you umm... well... beasts?" 

"Yes." Fuuko admitted, looking back at him. 

Raiha lifted a brow. "Then you consider me a beast?" 

Fuuko blushed again. She turned her gaze away from him and smiled unbelievingly. "It's not as if someone like you would be attracted to a girl like me. Miracles don't happen around here anymore." 

"Wouldn't you believe me if I told you I liked you?" Raiha asked,  still looking at his companion. 
  
"... What do you think of me anyway?" Fuuko replied. "I'm just somebody who holds the Fuujin, right? Someone to battle... some girl I am." she said, turning her front to the ground so Raiha would not see the tear that welled up in her eye. "That's all I'll ever be, right?" 

"... No." Raiha said. "You are the one who holds the Fuujin. You are very important to the one who holds the Raijin, not because of battle, but because..." Raiha stopped. He didn't see though that Fuuko was now crimson as the one who holds the Raijin was he. 

"But because of what?" Fuuko asked. There was pure silence afterwards. "There's no 'because of something else', is there?" 
  
"There is." Raiha replied.  

Fuuko sighed, but then, a white flower appeared beside her. She turned her head and saw Raiha smiling, holding the flower in his hand as he knelt beside her. "I wish I could tell you what it is, but it is not time yet. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to depress you with the thought." 
  
"Raiha-kun..." Fuuko mouthed as she felt her cheeks grow hot again.  

Raiha's smile grew wider as he handed her the flower. "I don't want to see you sad, Fuuko-san. It doesn't suit you." he said softly. Fuuko would've blushed more if that were still possible. He watched as she sat down and added, "I would've placed this on your hair but you look beautiful enough as you are. It would be too much for me if you were more." 
  
"Stop flattering me, will you. I'm not used to it." Fuuko admitted as she took the flower and smiled at Raiha gratefully. "Thanks." 

They looked at each other silently, wordlessly, contented with just that. Their moment together was interrupted, though, as a crumpling of leaves were heard from somewhere in the bushes. 
  
Both stood up, Fuuko preparing her kazetsume. "Who's there?" she  demanded. "Show yourself!" 
  
Fuuko felt Raiha pull her close by the hand. She looked at him to question, but saw the seriousness in his face for the first time.  
  
"They're everywhere." he said, scanning the whole area. "Stay close." 

"Teeheeheeheee!" they heard a shrill voice laugh. From the bushes stepped out some cloaked figures similiar to Kamui. Leading them was a lady in red, holding a fan in her hands. "Sorry to interrupt you two, Fuuko-sama, Raiha-sama." 
  
"What do you want?" Fuuko growled, glaring at the ones infront.  
  
Raiha, on the other hand, stood calmly as usual, but he was on his guard. 
  
"Kamui-sama wants you over for dinner." the woman explained. "He told us to pick you up."  

"Ha! And what makes him think I'd go with you?!" Fuuko retorted, lifting a brow. "I don't go on dates with bats, sorry." 

The woman smirked. "Then we have no choice..." 
  
Fuuko readied to fight, but she heard Raiha sheat his sword behind her. She then heard him say, "I'll handle this, Fuuko-san." 
  
"This is my fight, Raiha-" 
  
Raiha stepped forward. His eyes glared, focused on the enemy leader. He was a deadly assassin then. Fuuko stepped back. He was serious. 
  
"You have a fight tomorrow, Fuuko-san. I don't want you tired when you battle. It would be unfair." Raiha explained. 
  
The woman smiled again. "How sweet, Raiha-sama. It is tragic though that both of you need to die now."  
  
With that the enemy Uruhas jumped at Raiha one-by-one. The woman threw in a piece of rock, covering the whole area with black smoke. 
  
"Raiha!" Fuuko called out as she wasn't able to see what had happened to her companion. She then saw the woman charging for her. She shot her Kazetsume, but it was easily dodged. They then went for each other, both nearly equal in speed and technique. The smoke though, made it hard for her to move and she had to use her senses to detect the oppenent. She smirked as an idea came to her. 
  
"There you are!" the Uruha woman cried out. She aimed a fan at Fuuko  but was stopped as the ground began to rumble. "Huh?" 

"Taste the wrath of my Fuujin, bitch!" Fuuko smirked. She had planted her Fuujin so as to be able to create a whirlwind just below her enemy. The Uruha woman was caught in a whirl of smoke and dust, and Fuuko put back on her Fuujin. She then released the whirlwind and watched as it speedingly went off to the far mountains. "Write to me when you reach your destination, okay?" 
  
Fuuko sighed. She had cleared the smoke off. She then turned to see how Raiha was doing, but was caught in surprise as her eyes lay upon the fifty other Uruha assassins now sliced and dead on the ground. She then saw Raiha pointing his bloodied sword at the last one alive. 

"Tell Kamui that if he wants to have dinner with Fuuko-san, he would have to pick her up personally." Raiha glared. "Go." 
  
The assassin hurried off faster than any normal human could. Raiha  then turned to Fuuko. "Are you okay?" 
  
"Y, yes." she answered, still in shock at the damage Raiha could do. 
  
"D, did you do all this?" 
  
"..." 
  
He didn't answer. He didn't want her to fear him neither did he want her to hate him for being capable of doing such things. Fuuko sensed his worry though and she approached him. 
  
"Thanks, Raiha-kun. I owe you again." she smiled. Raiha just nodded in reply. His eyes then caught the flower he had given Fuuko inserted between her wrist and the Fuujin. 
  
"You still have that?" he asked. Fuuko looked at where his eyes were and smiled shyly. 
  
"I think it looks nice there, don't you?" 
  
"Lovely, as usual." Raiha smiled. He then glanced at the sky and it was nearly sunset. "What time do you have to be home, Fuuko-san?" 
  
"I dunno. Later, probably." Fuuko replied. "Why?" 
  
"I... was wondering if you would like to stay with me for a while." 
  
Raiha said shyly. "But if you want to rest up-" 
  
"Are you asking me out on a date?" 
  
"D...date?" Raiha repeated, nearly losing his balance. He then gathered himself and took a deep breath. Fuuko laughed. 
  
"I'd love to stay with you longer. They wouldn't be looking for me anyway." she replied, to Raiha's utmost delight. 
  
"Good." he smiled taking her by the hand. "Come, Fuuko-san, I have something I want to show you." 
  
Fuuko followed wordlessly through the thick forest as Raiha led her on. A few minutes later, she found herself near the edge of a cliff, overlooking more of the forest. She smiled at the wonder of nature as in a distance she could see the sun set beneath the mountains. 
  
"Wow... This is beautiful!" Fuuko sighed as she sat down on the grassy cliff. Raiha sat beside her, unable to take his eyes off her. 
  
He smiled, glad that she liked the place. 
  
"Would you watch the sun set with me, Fuuko-san?" Raiha asked.  
  
Fuuko looked at him and smiled back, silently nodding. The two of them then gazed at the rosy clouds and the orange sun. Mother Nature surely had a way in handling her palette. 
  
"Fuuko-san...?" Raiha called out. 
  
"What is it?" Fuuko asked, turning to him. He wasn't looking though. His eyes were still seriously focused on the sun set. 
  
"I had been wanting to ask you this since the Uruha Satsoujin..." Raiha continued. "Who is Domon-kun?" 
  
"W-what... y-you know who he is right?" Fuuko stammered nervously, rather surprised that Raiha would be asking that. Raiha then turned to her, his eyes kind and glowed in mystery. 
  
"Who is he to you?" 
  
Fuuko would've put red roses to shame at that point. Raiha's question repeated in her mind. She wanted to move her gaze away, but her eyes were caught in his. She could say he meant nothing,  but she would be lying. She could say he meant something, but she would be lying as well. 
  
"I... I don't know..." she admitted, hoping that it would be a safe answer. Raiha turned away, still looking melancholic, much to Fuuko's regret and question. "Raiha--" she thought biting her lower lip. He was now looking back into the sky. She also turned and watched as the sun had gone beneath the mountains, like a candle being put off by the wind. 
  
The two let a long moment of silence pass them by soon after the sun had set. It was dark already and the only light they had were that of the pale moon's. Raiha was the one to stand first and he held a hand out to Fuuko. 
  
"It's time to go." he said. Fuuko looked up at him wondering if he was disappointed with her answer, but just saw him smiling at her. She took his hand and helped herself up.  
  
"Raiha..." Fuuko called out softly as the two of them began to walk back to the hotel. 
  
"Hm?" 
  
"Will... you be watching tomorrow?" 
  
"Of course, Fuuko-san. Like I always had... I'd be with Saicho-kun and Kukai-sama." 
  
"... That's not what I meant." Fuuko admitted. She then looked at him and was caught in his gaze as he was already looking at her. Their eyes lock. "I mean... would you be down in the ring with Hanabishi and the others when I fight?" 
  
Raiha smiled. "Do you wish me to be?" 
  
"I'd like you to be but..." Fuuko said, turning away from him and looking into the dark sky. "If Mori Kouran finds out that you are helping us... God knows what he would do...!" 
  
Raiha's smile faded. A cool chilly breeze passed through them as went on side-by-side. Fuuko then turned to him again. "Raiha-kun... promise me that nothing bad will happen to you." 
  
Raiha looked back and saw the concern, fear and worry in her eyes. He smiled and nodded, even though deep inside he wasn't sure if he could keep the promise. Nevertheless, he wouldn't die before he could have a chance to fight againse the Fuujin. "I promise." 
  
A smile finally painted Fuuko's lips as she sighed in relief. They stopped in front of the hotel where a familiar rough voice called out to them. 
  
"Fuuuuukkkoooooo-chan!!!" 
  
Both turned towards the entrance and saw Domon shouting at the top of his voice, running out the lobby. Fuuko felt her stomach sinking as she remembered Raiha's initial question to her... and her answer, of course. 
  
Domon stopped right before the two of them and took Fuuko by the  hand. He handed over two movie tickets. "Teehee! Kagero wanted Recca and I to go, but he wasn't available. So, you shall go with me." 
  
"What makes you think that I want to go out with a muscle head like you?" Fuuko retorted, pulling her hand away from Domon and hitting him hard on the chest. Her gaze accidentally shifted to Raiha, only to realize that he was gone. 
  
Domon continued to talk, but Fuuko didn't understand a word he said. She was too preoccupied looking and searching in the darkness, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Raijin master... but he was nowhere to be found. 
  
Fuuko's gaze shifted to the flower in her Fuujin. She suddenly ached within. "Raiha-kun..." 

"Kagero-sama, may I come in?" Fuuko knocked at Kagero's room. She had tricked Domon to watch the movies with the two children-- Kaoru and Ganko.  
  
The door opened and Kagero welcomed her in, though rather surprised that she would still be awake. 

"Is there anything I can help you with, Fuuko?" she asked, motioning the girl to sit on the couch. Fuuko shrugged, unable to look at Recca's mother. The older woman, though, knew what that meant. "You were with him again, weren't you?" 
  
Fuuko nodded. She then looked at Kagero straight in the eyes. "Don't you think it is time to tell me about the Raijin and the Fuujin?" 
  
Kagero smiled, shaking her head. "As much as I would like to, only a few people know about their history. I only know little." 
  
"Whatever you know... please..." Fuuko nearly begged. Kagero looked at her and saw the desperation in her eyes. She knew that Fuuko had been dying to know about it since the end of the Uruha Satsoujin, and since she is the Fuujin holder, she does have the right to know. 
  
"Okay..." Kagero sighed, though she really didn't know much. "Fuuko, the Raijin and the Fuujin are destiny madougo-- this means that they will always meet in different life times." 
  
"And fight?" 
  
"No... Well, not only fight." Kagero added. "There is more to their destiny than just fighting. There is meeting..." 
  
"...?" 
  
Kagero saw the confusion in Fuuko's face. She smiled. "It would be better if it was Raiha-sama who will explain this to you." she admitted to Fuuko's disappointment. "I think he knows what he means by 'it is not time yet', so trust him, Fuuko." 
  
"..." 
  
"Good. I know you will..." 

  
"Fuuko-sama... I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise... for... give me..." 
  
"Raiha!" 
  
Fuuko awoke in the middle of the night with sweat beading on her face. "It's just a nightmare..." she repeated to herself. She shook her head. She had seen Raiha in her dream, but he suffered the same fate as Kurenai. 
  
"No, no, no!" Fuuko said to herself, hoping all hopes that that dream would not come true. "Raiha..." she thought, looking at the white flower he had given her. "You promised...." 

  
"And the next battle goes to Fuuko Kirisawa of the Hokage Ninjas." 
  
Fuuko didn't seem to hear the announcement as she still looked around, not catching sight of Raiha anywhere. She looked over at where Saicho and Kukai were, but he wasn't there either. 
  
"Where is he?" she thought. Kagero saw this and gave her a tap in the back. 
  
"It is time for you to fight, Fuuko." the older woman reminded.  
  
"Don't worry. He will be here." 
  
Fuuko took a deep breathe and tried to smile a Kagero before she jumped into the ring. Her enemy was just a minor one-- not even one of the Uruha Jyuushinshu's so everyone did suppose it will be a fast battle. Fuuko, though, was still pretty much preoccupied of her nightmare and whatever possibility of it coming true. 
  
Amidst all her worry, Fuuko fought with all her might, not even using her madougo. She was strong enough. In fact, she didn't have to use the Fuujin at that battle. 

  
"You're late." Kagero scolded lightly as Raiha stood near the shadows of the arena just behind the Hokage team. Kagero turned and saw him a little stirred up, trying to catch his breath. "Had some trouble with Mori Kouran?" 
  
"Nope. Just ran into some of Kamui's men." Raiha excused. "Gomen nasai. How is she doing?" 
  
"Perfectly fine as usual." Kagero replied. "I didn't think she'd go into that ring at all." She then took a deep breathe and looked at Raiha seriously. "Don't you think it's time to tell her?" 
  
Raiha blinked once, twice. "T-tell her what?" 
  
Kagero's eyes narrowed at his pretend innocence. "You know what I mean, don't you? She will know sooner or later. She's bound to know.Besides... Why not tell her? What do you have to lose?" 
  
Raiha was about to answer when the two of them got distracted by a loud jeering somewhere in front of the ledge where most of the Hokage member's were. 
  
  
"Go, my beloved Fuuko-chan! Yeah! I LOVE YOU, FUUKO!!!" 
  
  
It was Domon. Raiha shook his head in disbelief. Kagero had already turned to him and saw that expression in his face that was beyond sadness and defeat. A smile secretly painted her lips. 
  
"It's him, isn't it?" Kagero asked lifting a brow. 
  
Raiha once again looked at her wide-eyed. She did learn a lot of things for having lived 400 years. He sighed. "It's not time yet..." 
  
"That's what you always say." Kagero sighed. "I hope you don't regret saying it, though." 

  
"And the winner is Fuuko Kirisawa of the Hokage Team!" 
  
  
Fuuko jumped up the ledge and bid Domon good luck since the next battle was his. After a few moments of being cheered on by Recca, 
  
Tokiya, Yanagi, Kaoru and Ganko, Fuuko's gaze turned to the shadowy corridor behind the ledge where Kagero stood with... 
  
Fuuko's eyes widened as a smile painted her face. She rushed towards Raiha, unable to control her relief, her arms moving around his neck as she nearly sobbed on his shoulder. 
  
"You came..." was all she could say. She couldn't get passed the lump that formed on her throat. Kagero had already left them to watch Domon's battle. 
  
"Of course... I'm sorry I was late." Raiha replied softly, his hands cupping Fuuko's face so that he could look directly at her. Fuuko wiped off her tears of relief and smiled looking at him. Raiha smiled back. "Hey, you did great, Fuuko-san." 
  
"It was nothing." Fuuko said proudly. Her gaze suddenly shifted behind Raiha as she saw a dark figure approaching. As her smile faded, Raiha turned sensing her sudden fear. 
  
"What are you doing here, Kamui?" Fuuko growled stepping forward as the shrouded figure stopped before them. 
  
"Ah, my dearest Fuuko-sama." Kamui greeted. "And of course... Raiha-sama..."  
  
Raiha glared, his eyes fierce though he kept a stoic face. He didn't react, erupt, unlike Fuuko, but he was just trying to keep himself from killing a Uruha colleague. 
  
"I didn't come here for you, Fuuko-sama. Sorry that I disappointed you." Kamui said, turning to the girl. Fuuko stuck out her tongue. Kamui then faced Raiha. "So... I thought I'd like to see if the rumors were true. I see that they are." 
  
"I didn't think you could see, Kamui-sama." Raiha retorted lightly,not wanting to stir up any arguments. His voice sounded playful, but his eyes said more. 
  
"Ha... I wonder what Mori Kouran would do if he finds out about this...?" Kamui thought out loud. Fuuko suddenly felt her heart shatter at that moment. 
  
"Get outta here, you bastard!" Fuuko growled, pointing her kazetsume towards Kamui. He stepped back slightly, laughing in amusement. "You're not welcome in the Hokage team. I swear that if I ever see your stupid face again, I'll rip off you lungs until you'll be screaming in pain!" 
  
"Fine." Kamui shrugged as he slowly disappeared into the darkness. "But surely, we will meet again." 
  
Raiha turned to the woman who was now in front of him. Fuuko's back was turned to him, though he could see that she had lowered her head and her shoulders were lifted slightly. He heard her whimper and looked at her in worry. 
  
"Fuuko-san..." Raiha called out softly as he rested his hand on her shoulder. 
  
"Raiha... I... I don't want them to take you!" Fuuko whimpered. She faced him, unashamed of the tears trailing down her cheeks. "I didn't mean to get you into this mess... If only I hadn't taken the Fuujin...then... then you wouldn't be seen with the enemy... and you'd be safe and happy... I'm so sorry..." 
  
"It's not your fault, Fuuko-san." Raiha hushed as he pulled her to him, his head resting on hers. "I'll be okay... Besides..." Raiha lifted Fuuko's face and wiped off her tears with the back of his hand. He smiled warmly. "I can't die yet... We still have our destiny together, ne?" 
  
Our destiny together... Those words seem to have lightened Fuuko's heavy heart.