Transition And Restart

Yukio hugged Kyoko closer to him . The blanket barely managed to keep the autumn cool out, but he didn"t care . Up here on the rooftop they could be alone at last . He hadn"t even bothered bringing their radios .

"She said she hated me!"

Yukio relived his anger at seeing Kyoko"s bruised face . The face Kuri struck so hard that vessels burst . Tomorrow it would look like she had used her fist, but Kyoko promised it was a slap .

"She can go to h.e.l.l!" Yukio said .

Kyoko shook her head . He could feel her nose rubbing his chest . "No . We turned our radios off . "

Yukio stroked her hair and looked down . Late afternoon wind played in it and her blouse .

"Look, Kyoko, we couldn"t have heard anything . Kuri didn"t, no-one with a radio inside the gym did . "

Deep inside he realised Kuri"s wrath expressed her fear and helplessness more than anything else, but still . She had slapped his Kyoko .

Deep inside he was scared witless, but he couldn"t say that .

His fingers moved through Kyoko"s hair while he listened to her sobs . But for her need to believe him a solid rock of strength and safety, he"d have joined her crying long ago .

"Are you OK man? Are you going to die on me?"

Over the other rooftop a helicopter slowly rose to vanish away from the school . The third to do so in short time, and at the service gates a small truck had just arrived with desperately needed supplies; and Yukio didn"t care at all .

The cultural festival had become a meaningless display, one that slowly degenerated into chaos now when most members in the club had fallen into apathy .

"I"m scared," Kyoko whispered .

Yukio pulled the blanket closer around them . From below he heard the rumbling murmur of thousands of guests milling around the school grounds . Sometimes interrupted by a shout or a loud laughter but always there in the background .

He knew the student council and the festival committee belatedly tried to do the job they should have done from the very beginning, but without the club they didn"t stand a chance . Without Urufu if he was honest .

"Kyoko, I"m here . I"ll always be here, OK?"

She hugged him tighter and rubbed tears away from red rimmed eyes . "I know . Thank you!"

"Kyoko . . . " Yukio fell silent . He wanted to stay by her side more than anything else . "Kyoko, you"re my hero . Help me be yours!"

She took his hands in hers and rose to her feet . Together they walked to the railings and looked down .

"Yukio, they need us now, but could we stay here for a while longer? Please!"

He looked at her for a long time . "Yes I think we can," he said and smiled . Smiling was good . Smiling made his fears take a back seat . "In fact I think we have to . "

An icicle of wind cut through his clothes and reminded him of the season . "Will you help me?"

Kyoko nodded back . "Yeah . If I"m with you I can do anything . "

Yukio grinned at her . "My girl!" He thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone . Noriko picked up on the second signal .

"Noriko, could you have someone come to the rooftop with two radios and a blanket?"

He waited for her surprised affirmation and the antic.i.p.ated question afterwards .

"Why? Because the festival committee can"t find their own a.r.s.es in the dark, and that"s not good enough for Urufu . " Yukio laughed when Kyoko slapped a hand to her mouth . "Noriko, we started this madness . Let"s finish it the way we planned . I"ll stay on the rooftop with Kyoko and help you get the show running again . "

He almost finished the call there and then, but as an afterthought he put the phone to his ear again .

"Noriko, tell that idiot brother of yours to keep the council president off my back . I only have room for Kyoko on it . "Yukio hugged Kyoko closer to him . The blanket barely managed to keep the autumn cool out, but he didnt care . Up here on the rooftop they could be alone at last . He hadnt even bothered bringing their radios . She said she hated me! Yukio relived his anger at seeing Kyokos bruised face . The face Kuri struck so hard that vessels burst . Tomorrow it would look like she had used her fist, but Kyoko promised it was a slap . She can go to h.e.l.l! Yukio said . Kyoko shook her head . He could feel her nose rubbing his chest . No . We turned our radios off . Yukio stroked her hair and looked down . Late afternoon wind played in it and her blouse . Look, Kyoko, we couldnt have heard anything . Kuri didnt, no-one with a radio inside the gym did . Deep inside he realised Kuris wrath expressed her fear and helplessness more than anything else, but still . She had slapped his Kyoko . Deep inside he was scared witless, but he couldnt say that . His fingers moved through Kyokos hair while he listened to her sobs . But for her need to believe him a solid rock of strength and safety, hed have joined her crying long ago . Are you OK man? Are you going to die on me? Over the other rooftop a helicopter slowly rose to vanish away from the school . The third to do so in short time, and at the service gates a small truck had just arrived with desperately needed supplies; and Yukio didnt care at all . The cultural festival had become a meaningless display, one that slowly degenerated into chaos now when most members in the club had fallen into apathy . Im scared, Kyoko whispered . Yukio pulled the blanket closer around them . From below he heard the rumbling murmur of thousands of guests milling around the school grounds . Sometimes interrupted by a shout or a loud laughter but always there in the background . He knew the student council and the festival committee belatedly tried to do the job they should have done from the very beginning, but without the club they didnt stand a chance . Without Urufu if he was honest . Kyoko, Im here . Ill always be here, OK? She hugged him tighter and rubbed tears away from red rimmed eyes . I know . Thank you! Kyoko . Yukio fell silent . He wanted to stay by her side more than anything else . Kyoko, youre my hero . Help me be yours! She took his hands in hers and rose to her feet . Together they walked to the railings and looked down . Yukio, they need us now, but could we stay here for a while longer? Please! He looked at her for a long time . Yes I think we can, he said and smiled . Smiling was good . Smiling made his fears take a back seat . In fact I think we have to . An icicle of wind cut through his clothes and reminded him of the season . Will you help me? Kyoko nodded back . Yeah . If Im with you I can do anything . . Yukio grinned at her . My girl! He thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone . Noriko picked up on the second signal . Noriko, could you have someone come to the rooftop with two radios and a blanket? He waited for her surprised affirmation and the antic.i.p.ated question afterwards . Why? Because the festival committee cant find their own a.r.s.es in the dark, and thats not good enough for Urufu . Yukio laughed when Kyoko slapped a hand to her mouth . Noriko, we started this madness . Lets finish it the way we planned . Ill stay on the rooftop with Kyoko and help you get the show running again . He almost finished the call there and then, but as an afterthought he put the phone to his ear again . Noriko, tell that idiot brother of yours to keep the council president off my back . I only have room for Kyoko on it .