In The Eye of the Storm

Author's note: So yes, this is my first fan-fic piece for this site. So I'm humbly your noob. Lol. This is my first Kodocha piece, as well, now that I think about it. But I really love Kodocha. It was the first manga I ever read, and pretty much the only one I read faithfully until someone handed me a Rurouni Kenshin, but that's another story. So chyeaa, enjoy, review!

Disclaimer: I do not or have I ever, and probably never will own the rights to Kodocha or Kodomo No Omocha or "Child's Toy". I bow to Obana and Toy-Pop for bringing this wonderful story into life and existence. This is a Fan-Fic and purely made out of admiration.

Summary: So as we all know, this manga revolves around Sana and Akito, and I love them like crazy, but this story is about Sagami Rei and Kurumi Asako. (Sana's manger and his ex-girlfriend, if you didn't know.) This story is about their relationship. It takes places within the time that Asako makes her way back into his life while he's living with Sana, but there are a lot of references and flashbacks to their college days.

Hehe: oh another small note, if you like this one, there might be a Naozumi and Sana story with interesting quirks in it. So yea.

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Asako pounded down the side-walk pavement after Rei, half in shock that she was chasing him, half in dismay that he was actually running from her. 'What have I done? I only wanted to see him. That's all I really wanted!' Her eyes shimmered in threats of dissolving into fierce tears, and the wind whipping her face wasn't helping at all. Thoughts of her previous scene with him ran through her mind. 'It was a simple moment in time. I just wanted to know if he'd meet me tomorrow. A simple request, right? Then again, all it ever really takes is a simple moment in time to break us, doesn't it. Oh Rei, will you ever forgive the fragile mistakes of a girl'?

She stopped, suddenly aware that Rei was nowhere in sight. 'Huh? Where'd he go to now?' "REI!!!!!" she called out.

Rei leaned behind the cool of a tree, his chest heaving from the un-expected dash. He listened to her distressed but still small and lightly flowing voice call out his name. 'You idiot! Why can't you just face her? Face her and tell her to go away. Why? Why? Is it because you know you won't be able to resist her. Because you know, you'll die inside If she cries?'

"Rei?" Asako's voice was small and clear and as he looked over she was standing not 15 inches away from him. "Rei, please. Please, talk to me." She asked in a voice that threatened to crack and break away forever, but it was still just as sweet to him. "Rei, why won't you answer me? Please answer me! It's because you think I'm monster isn't it. I'm a monster and you and I both, know it!" She screamed at him fitfully. She stared at him fiercely her eyes filling with tears.

Asako clenched her fits, determined to make him answer. She had already embarrassingly chased him around the block and was now going topsy turvey with her emotions; she was at least going to get an answer. "And take those stupid glasses off! Look at me. I want to know that you're looking at me." She demanded of him. Calmly Rei shifted to focus a gaze she could not see, on her, through his dark sun-glasses that were never removed. He sighed. "No." He said simply. "Why, is it because you can't stand the sight of me? Is that girl making..."

"Sana is not some girl. She's everything to me, and she's not apart of this conversation. Do not. And I repeat. Do not, speak ill of her, don't ever, or I will never regard you as a living soul again."

Asako shivered, feeling as out of place as his comment had intended for her to feel. He spoke again.

"Asako. I. Well… We were once everything to me. You were my life. And then you left. You left for some dream, as if I never mattered. And now you're here, and it's supposed to be okay to just go along with where we ended? I'm supposed forget about all the pain you caused and be okay? I don't think so. Sorry Asako. I won't give you the satisfaction of hating you like you want me to, but I want forget the pass either. Please. Do not contact me anymore."

With that he walked past her, leaving her diluted and shattered. He simply walked away looking forward. Refusing to look back at her. He was leaving her in the past. And he was never looking back again.

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Five hours later that evening Asako walked into the lobby of her hotel. She walked silently with her gaze focused on the red and white tiling on the floor. Her eyes concentrated on the detailing but saw nothing. She passed the bell-hop and made her way across the clearing that led off into the various attractions in the hotel, and she heard a group of people not to far away chatting excitedly.

"I heard this is the hotel that Kurumi Asako is staying in," the young girl practically squealed. One of her companions looked past her and over her shoulder noticing Asako's entrance. Gasping she squealed, "Oh MY GOD, it's her! Quick ask for an auto-graph. I hear she's really nice and down to earth." Another chimed in, "No, she's probably way busy and doesn't want to be bothered." But despite the protest all four girls trotted over giggling mischievously among themselves.

"Um excuse me, Miss Asako? May we…"

"No."

She had coldly and blatantly cut them off before they could start. She tugged her gray trench coat closer around her and briskly walked onward to the front desk. Behind her she could hear the girls' dismay. Reaching the front desk she lifted her eyes to meet those of the of the desk clerk.

"Any messages from my manger or family?" she asked dryly.

"No, ma'am." His voice and face were young and eager. He wore a white button-down shirt, his name-tag, and had incredibly mange-able looking hair.

She began to walk away.

"Buttt, there was a gentleman who left his card and a note at the front desk for you."

Something deep inside her rustled with a tiny hope, but her eyes were still dead and knowing…

"For you." The clerk handed her the card as she shifted back towards him. She took it into her hand. Lonnie Leary, it read. Dean of Murphy's school of boys in Rochester New York. 'An American?' She flipped it over. Scribbled on the back was, "My Dearest Asako, please, meet me tonight in the 3rd floor restaurant at nine o' clock. I'll explain everything then. Your's truly, Lonnie Leary.

She dropped the card into her pocket, thanked the clerk, and walked away. She searched her mind. She certainly didn't know any Lonnie Leary. All she really wanted was the comfort of her bed, the warmth of my sheets, and the soothing taste of the ice-cream she was going to pig out with.

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