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 hell!" 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 anticipated question afterwards .
"Why? Because the festival committee can't find their own arses 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 . "
Chapter end
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