|| A Bouquet of Red and White Roses || [Yu Yu Hakusho Fan-fic] {Edits}

Fleeting Flower

"Damn... Where the hell did she go !? Find her quickly !!"

No matter how much I run, she'll find me. She's such a persistent person. If this continues on, I'll collapse. It's getting harder to breathe now. I already taste the bitterness of metallic. The taste of blood. I see why I'm always being warned about doing rash thing now. Oh how I regret not listening to any of those warnings. But with this situation, it looks like I have no choice anymore. If I don't move now, then surely, she'll be able to get her hands on Shiori. That alone is something that I definitely do not want. At least with this, I'll be able to delay her and her actions. I'll be able to protect Shiori, even if it is only "momentarily". Though it's a shame that after this, things will change.

And perhaps someday, that 'change' will be the root of an unavoidable chaos.

Shiori, my dear child. I'm sorry for not being able to be with you in these final moments. If I were allowed to, I'd like to see your smiling face again. A smile free of impurities. A smile free of lies. Forgive this weak mother of yours. It looks like I can't hold onto your hand anymore.

It looks like I won't be able to see you grow up.

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"Damn..."

I looked down at the bloodstained handkerchief that was in my hand. It's been nearly four days since I've gotten sick. I figured that I've already gotten better, but it looks like I'm still sick, hm ? What is wrong with me.. I quickly returned the handkerchief to the pocket of my blazer when I heard footsteps walking towards me from behind. I peered over my shoulder to see Wakahisa. "SENPAI", she shouted as she headed towards me. "Ah, it's you", I replied. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN !?" I gave her a look of disbelief. "Where else ?", I mumbled, "Where else is a sick person supposed to be when they're sick ?" She hit me on the shoulder. It didn't hurt, of course not. "If you're going to be my rival then you can't be sick !", she hissed, "What're you thinking !?" I grinned, crossing my arms. I wasn't even going to bother answering her. "You've adapted pretty quickly haven't you ?", I asked, wondering if she'd catch on. "Obviously Senpai", she snapped without a second thought, "I told you didn't I ? I'm going to make sure that you and Minamino-sama split !" Oh, she didn't notice that I skipped over her question. Oh well. "Well good luck with that Kohai", I replied, moving past her to get to class. "HEY I'M NOT DONE !!!", I heard her shout from behind me. I paused and looked over my shoulder to see an agitated Wakahisa. "Get to class", I called back with a grin, "I have too much things to do than to play with you right now." "WHAT !?" I raised a hand, making it clear that I wasn't going to acknowledge her at the moment. And with that, I continued to walk off to class on my own.

By the time I reached the door to my homeroom, the last bell had already rung. 4 minutes late. So when I opened the door, it was kind of.. awkward. Everyone stared like usual. Even Ciel and Shuichi. You see, I actually wasn't supposed to be here today. Ciel suggested that I stayed home until I fully recovered but I refused. She even tried to lock me up in my room. Either way, I ended up coming to school on my own without her knowing that I was tagging along. You can't really blame me for being bored though, now can you ? I've been stuck at home for almost three days now, doing nothing but eating fruit to get better. I needed to breathe. I couldn't even go outside to patrol at night.

"Ah, Hanamura-san, good morning. I'm glad you were able to join us today. How is your health ? Have you gotten better since the last time we've seen you ?" I smiled at Sensei and nodded my head. "I apologize for my sudden absence", I replied, somewhat doing an apologetic bow. "I'm sorry." Sensei chuckled and turned to the class. "Even so", she was saying, "I'm sure that everyone is glad that you're back. Isn't that right ?" The classmates in my class nodded their heads in agreement. "Welcome back Hanamura-san !", it was. "We've missed you !" Shuichi sighed and turned away, looking out the window. I thought I saw a faint smirk on his face, though it was probably just me. Ciel, who was leaning back in her chair with her arms crossed over her chest, grinned. When I returned to my seat beside Ciel, she sighed in dismay. "I guess that's one way to make an entrance", she said with a faint chuckle. "Be late to class." I straightened out the folds of my skirt and grinned back. "Oh hush", I replied, elbowing her, "I've been gone for too long. So tell me, what'd I miss ?" Ciel looked up at the ceiling while Sensei began her lecture. "Let's see..", she mumbled. "Where do I start..."

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I don't know how I was able to, or why I was able to, but I did it. During lunch break, I decided to give Shuichi a hug. Since he was taller than I was, he looked down at me, slightly glaring. "Get off of me", he said in a dangerous tone. His eyes gleamed with hostility. He didn't bother moving his arms. "Buuuuut whyyyyyy", I replied, dragging on my words, "Aren't you glad that I'm back ?" "Oh I don't know", he said, looking unfazed as usual. "Am I ?" I let go of him and slapped his shoulder. "Ouch", I replied sarcastically, "I see how it is." He smirked and turned around to keep walking. Ciel and I were following after him. "Liar", Ciel mumbled, slightly grinning, "You should have seen him during the days you were gone." "Oh ?", I mumbled, suddenly taking an interested in what she was talking about. "Like ?" She stopped talking the moment Shuichi look over his shoulder. She kept grinning though, which caused me to frown. "Heeeeeeey, thats not fair", I said out loud, trying to catch up to Shuichi. "It's not supposed to be", he replied, glancing over to me. I sighed. "Aww, I wish you'd be more enthusiastic", I said, somewhat pouting. He grinned. "For what ? Your return ?"

"SSSEEEEEENNNNNPPPPAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIII !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I stopped walking while Shuichi and Ciel continued. When they noticed me stop, they turned around. "What ?", I heard Ciel ask. "Oh, Wakahisa", I said, watching her take in a deep breath. She was panting, which indicated that she had been running. I was taken by surprise when she suddenly looked up at me. "I FOUND YOU." I tilted my head. I was kind of confused ? "Yeah ?", I asked in a questionable tone, "You did ?" Wakahisa grabbed my wrist. I stared at her hand. "Uh, Wakahisa", I said, pretending to be shy, "I like you but.. I don't think I like you like this.." "BAKA", she shouted, "THAT'S CLEARLY NOT THE CASE." I grinned out of amusement. "Then what ?", Ciel asked from where she and Shuichi stood. "Prez wants to see her", Wakahisa explained. Shuichi and Ciel exchanged glances. "Ikehara-san ?", he asked. She nodded. I raised the hand that had her hand on it. "Are you sure ?", I asked with a doubtful look, "Ever since I got back you've been awfully clingy. Did you miss me that much ?" She turned away. "As if !", she snapped. "Then why are you blushing ?" She turned to me, glaring. "I- I'm not !", she hissed. "A tsundere ?", I whispered. 

"Anyhow !", Wakahisa announced, "Let's go !" She began dragging me off in the opposite direction of where Ciel and Shuichi were going. They both looked confused. Eventually, they were both out of my view. Great. "Hey Wakahisa", I asked while we walked, "Why does Izumi want to see me ?" I eyed the grip she still had on my wrist. "Who knows", she replied, keeping her eyes set on the placed in front of her. "Then why are you dragging me off ?" She sighed. "It's because I was asked to", she said, sounding somewhat annoyed with my question. "She asked me to get you, so I came to get you." I grinned and thought about stalling. But since I barely got back, I wanted to start off slow.

"Is that so ?", I mumbled.