I wanted to begin by telling you all about Friday night, and my bizarre moment of eerie coincidence. I was writing the scene when Misaki is out on the balcony. And when I finished that scene, I went outside to smoke (it was about 11pm.) I did not realize there was a new moon that night. So I go outside and I'm looking up at the night sky to find that there is no moon whatsoever. My eyes quickly scanned the heavens for the brightest star. I couldn't help but smile to myself. I pondered how I was going to open the next scene. When I was done with my bad habit, I took one last look at the sky to witness...a falling star. Seriously. I exclaimed aloud to no one, "WTF?" and just laughed, and went back inside to finish chapter one. So here is Chapter 2, started yesterday, finished today. I will be starting Chapter 3 after this is posted, as I have so many ideas that are swirling around in my head. They want OUT. Please leave me some love letters if you enjoyed it!
PS: Glossary of Japanese Terms at the end...check it out. You might learn something cool.
Chapter 2: Rays, Racks & Ramen
The next morning was just as beautiful as the previous one. Misaki stretched and could feel the difference that two sessions in the springs had made on her once stiff muscles. The girls put their robes on as there was a knock at their door. "Room Service!"
Kanami opened the door to Michio holding trays for breakfast. Her robe fell off her shoulder, exposing her skin, causing the bellhop to blush profusely. "I-I…" he stammered, trying to collect himself, "…have your complimentary breakfast!" He practically shoved the trays out towards her. Kanami opened the door the rest of the way, allowing him to come in and set the trays down on their table.
Misaki smiled at him as he bowed, "Ohi, Michio-kun, what's the best way to get down to Futami Beach?"
He cleared his throat, "I would definitely take the streetcars. There's a stop right out side, and they do a loop down and around through town, right by Futami Beach. They're a little slower than the buses or taxis, but it's more fun than walking and you can do a little sight-seeing while you're at it."
Kanami, who was still standing near him, decided that messing with the poor kid, who was obviously ten years younger than them, would be fun. She rested her hand on his shoulder and gave him a flirtatious smile, "Thank you so much, Michio-kun. Care to join us?"
Michio's jaw went a little slack as his face turned crimson, "A-arigato, demo… d-dekimasen!" He bowed stiffly and practically fell over himself as he hurried out the door. Kanami laughed like a banshee. She was having entirely too much fun with making him squirm.
"Kanami!" Misaki reprimanded her friend, a smile attempting to invade the incredulous and horrified look on her face. "That is enough! Leave that poor kid alone!"
They both made their way to the table and sat in front of the food. "Itadakimasu!" They proclaimed in stereo as they began to shove breakfast in their faces. After having their fill, the duo prepared themselves for a day of sun, shopping and self-indulgence. Both wore wide brimmed beach hats, sunglasses (prescription in Misaki's case), and sundresses over their bikinis with cute flat sandals. They carried large woven bags that doubled as both beach bags and purses, with all the essentials for the afternoon. As they exited the hotel they passed Michio once more who saw them out of the corner of his eye. Kanami nudged Misaki and smiled at him with a little wave of the hand, "Ja Ne!" Misaki just shook her head in disbelief at her, "You're awful, you know that?" Kanami just snickered, "Ah come on! I'm just having some fun."
Once outside, Kanami lit up a cigarette while they waited for the trolley. Fortunately for Misaki, she was down wind. They hopped on the streetcar as it pulled up in front of the hotel. It wove its way through town, and Kanami outwardly noted a few shops she was interested in checking out at some point during their stay. Misaki just admired how the city was a balanced blend of old meets new and how quaint it was compared to most of Tokyo. I wouldn't mind living here at all…This place has everything. It has such a friendly and relaxed feel compared to the craziness of the big city. Hmm, retirement, maybe? Kanami snapped her from her daydream with an elbow to her ribs, "Hey! There's the beach! We're almost there!" Misaki look in the direction the trolley was heading down the hill, to see a beautiful sprawl of shoreline, with a smattering of early bird beachgoers. She smiled to herself as her daydream about lying on the beach was about to come true.
They arrived at the beach, which was situated across from a line of large modern hotels and a string of more shops and food stands. They removed their sandals as they stepped onto the sand. Misaki curled her toes into the warm golden grains as she tried to remember the last time she felt sand between her toes. They settled themselves between the beach volleyball net, which Kanami openly hoped would eventually be occupied by some eye candy, and a little cabana that sold cold beverages. Kanami wore a cute pink bikini with a white scrolling pattern throughout. It was strapless with a high-cut bottom. She put her hair up in a ponytail to keep from getting sunscreen in it. Misaki was a little more modest and wore a halter top turquoise two-piece with little silver stars all over; her bottoms were a modest boy-short. Misaki followed suit in putting her now incredibly long chestnut hair up in a messy bun of sorts, to tan her back evenly.
The sun was strong, and the morning air was still cool enough that the breeze offered relief from the already toasty rays. After an hour or so, Misaki dragged Kanami away from people watching, or as she assumed, guy watching, to go for a swim to cool off.
Misaki felt the cool relief splashing around her ankles as waves gently rumbled against the sand, as if grabbing at her feet, beckoning her into the blue-green waters. She didn't hesitate to undo her hair and take a few large strides before diving right in, leaving Kanami to shiver in the water up to her knees. As soon as she surfaced, about seven meters away, she turned to her friend and called her out, "Come on, scaredy cat! The water's fine once you get in!" Kanami baby stepped her way in far enough that she had to jump to keep waves from splashing in her face. Misaki swam back over to her. They tread water and swam through the waves for a little while before Kanami wimped out and headed back toward dry land. "And you tell me that I'm no fun!" Misaki grimaced. With a sigh she followed suit and headed back to their blanket.
After another solid two hours of roasting in the sun, Kanami and Misaki packed up their things, put their dresses over their now dry swimsuits and grabbed some sodas from the nearby cabana. Misaki's stomach rumbled a little. "I need a snack to get me through shopping," she told Kanami. As they left the beach, they passed a stand selling meat buns, and stopped to grab a couple. After quickly stuffing them down her throat, Misaki was ready to endure what she assumed would be a test of her patience.
Misaki found herself actually enjoying the leisurely feel of their browsing. Usually shopping in Tokyo meant rushing from store to store in the mall, trying everything on, and feeling hectic. There was no time crunch. They weren't at the mall, which Matsuyama did have, but which she begged Kanami to avoid in lieu of going to the local shops. "It's better for business," she had said to convince her shopaholic friend.
They had entered a local silversmith's jewelry shop. Kanami ogled all the beautiful and delicate handmade pieces that dangled from dainty chains. Misaki kept one hand protectively attached to her bag, the other rested by her side as she leaned over glass cases, admiring the artisan's work. She stopped short as she came across a few pendants that were all similar, save the stone that was in them. The pendant was shaped like a bright shining star, with four larger points, like a compass, with smaller silver rays radiating from the middle. In the center of each star pendant was a stone of each a different color. There were six pendants altogether, zircon, ruby, topaz, aquamarine, sapphire and onyx. She just stared at the black and blue ones, sitting side by side. She fought with herself over merely considering buying one of them, just because she knew why it caught her eye.
I'm crazy for even letting myself think about buying one! It'll just be a constant reminder, Misaki! I've kept myself from obsessing for so long now. Why am I letting myself dwell so much on him lately? Why would I even want a painful reminder to wear everyday? She sighed softly to herself, as the answers to her own questions seem to come so easily. Because…it reminds me why I fight for what I do. It reminds me that there is someone else who believes in what I believe, and somewhere is following the same path as I do…and if he can do it, so can I.
Kanami had heard Misaki's sigh and looked up to see her melancholy stare fixed on something in the case. "What ever it is, Misaki, Katte."
"Demo…"
"No buts! Buy it!" she commanded her frugal friend as she walked over to see what she was considering and she paused. "Misaki…why would you…?"
"For inspiration."
"Not because you're letting yourself obsess again, right?"
"Hai." Misaki stared that the two pendants. Now, do I get onyx because he's the Black Reaper and his codename Hei, means "black"? Or do I get the sapphire, like the color of his eyes that are burned into my mind?
The shopkeeper came over to them, "Can I help you with something?"
She pointed at the case, "I'll take the sapphire star, please."
They exited the shop and Misaki stopped and put her bag down to extract the dainty necklace from the box, putting it on and securing the clasp at the back of her neck. Kanami just watched her as she did so, wondering aloud, "So why didn't you get the onyx one? He is the Black Reaper."
Misaki was taken aback by her intuited question, and didn't want to answer that truthfully, as that would give Li, or Hei rather, away. Quick thinking gave her an easy answer.
"You know blue's my favorite color," she replied grabbing at her light blue sundress with a delicate white paisley pattern. "Besides…black is just too obvious."
Kanami shrugged off her friend's response as they continued down the sidewalk, exploring what the city had to offer. Numerous shops, six large, colorful bags and thousands of yen later, Misaki helped Kanami with her load of merchandise. As they were leaving a shoe store with yet another bag in hand, Misaki's stomach growled loudly. So loudly, in fact, that it caught the glances of the people walking by and a girl walking into the store. Misaki blushed as she said, "Can we stop somewhere to eat? I'm starving!"
Kanami gestured to the little ramen stand down the block, across the street, "You ok with some noodles real quick? There's another couple places I want to hit up before heading back up to Dogo Onsen."
Misaki nodded, "Anything, as long as it's food." Her stomach growled once again.
They made their way across the street in a lull in the traffic. As they approached the ramen stand, they could smell the various vegetables and meats in the ramen. Misaki inhaled deeply as her mouth began to water. The cook busily boiled his noodles, cut vegetables, sautéed and tossed in a very quick and methodical way. Misaki was looked down at her phone to check the time when Kanami's elbow met her ribs, she looked up to scold her friend for the jab, when the cook had turned around to serve the hungry customer who sat next to them. Misaki's heart stopped and gasped softly at the face before her.
O.o ^_^ o.O ^_^ O.o ^_^ o.O
Hei busied himself as usual, just to keep out of his head. Business had been non-stop all day and was finally slowing down as the afternoon had sped by. Ever since Yin's death, he headed south, stopping briefly in random towns along the way, trying to get as far from Tokyo as possible. He liked Japan, and thought it was a beautiful country and didn't really want to leave it. So he ended up on Shikoku, heading toward the Inland Sea that separated him from his homeland. Matsuyama-shi reminded him in some ways of home. It was warm and inviting. And nobody knew him there. He could have a chance at living a peaceful life in this seaside town. He exhaled as he grabbed leeks and began chopping away, tossing a handful eventually in the boiling noodles. A few minutes went by as he prepared yet another bowl. Hei had decided that running a ramen stand, once again taking on his old persona "Li Shengshun", would be a good move for so many reasons. Good for my wallet, good for my appetite with all that free food, and good for my sanity to keep busy, he had reasoned to himself over two years ago.
After losing so many people he cared about, he needed to not be the Black Reaper anymore. Yin's death had been the last straw. He had had enough death for one lifetime. He had decided that the moment he walked away from Hell's Gate with Yin's lifeless body in his arms. Hei shook his head to shake himself of his train of thought as he put the finishing touches on the bowl of noodles. He turned to hand the hearty bowl to the gentleman, noting new customers out of his peripheral vision. Then there came an all-too-familiar voice.
"Li-kun…?"
Hei froze as he looked at the two women sitting before him, his jaw went slack. Kuso! What the hell is she doing here? Is she still hunting me? Is this merely coincidence?
"Kirihara-san…w-what are you doing here?"
O.o ^_^ o.O ^_^ O.o ^_^ o.O
Kanami just glanced back and forth like her eyes were watching ping-pong, waiting for one of the two bewildered faces to say something. She could have cut the tension with a knife. Misaki's heart raced, she didn't know what to say or how to say it. Suddenly overwhelmed by everything she had felt and never said a tear slid down her cheek as she held her breath. Oh no! What the hell is wrong with me? Say something Misaki!
Part of Hei wanted to run, but then he saw…a tear? With that he relaxed his shoulders and exhaled. "I-I'm sorry, that was rude of me," he said coming off to Misaki somewhere between Hei and "Li". "I'm just, well…really shocked to see you here."
"L-likewise. We're on vacation, Kanami and I." Misaki couldn't break her gaze, those deep blue eyes that she never thought she'd see again…Until Kanami chimed in. "Yeah! I totally won a trip from the radio station for a week here at the Dogo Onsen, and it's my birthday on Friday, so you better believe I dragged this workaholic with me!" Kanami put arm around Misaki's shoulder and jostled her around playfully, snapping her out of her daze.
"I-it's been a while, huh?" She said timidly, feeling unlike herself. His face softened to a somber half-smile, "Yeah…"
"Well, that's an understatement!" Kanami interjected. "What over four years now since you lost your student visa and got sent back to China!"
Hei grimaced. That must be what Misaki had told her had happened. That means…. She kept my identity a secret? "Hai, I got it back about a year later, and decided to come here instead," He lied through a smile.
"You broke her heart, you know, Li," shaking a finger at him, causing them both to blush. Misaki put her face in her hands, "Tomatte, Kanami! Please! Just stop talking!"
Hei laughed nervously and put on a "Li" face as he wondered, "Broke her heart"? His thought was interrupted by a growl from Misaki's stomach. The gentleman, who had been slurping away quietly at his noodles, stopped and looked at her.
They all just laughed aloud to shake off the uneasiness of the moment. Hei looked at them and smirked, "I assume you came for something to eat."
"Hai, Li-kun, I'm starving!" Misaki said resting her hand on her flat tummy.
"You better get cooking, she'll eat you out of house and home!" Kanami said with a laugh. "She told me you're the only one she ever met who packs it away better than she can."
"This is true," Hei replied with a raise of the brow, "You definitely made a noble attempt to keep up with me." …in so many ways…
The man next to them got up upon finishing his meal, bowed as he thanked Li, praising his cooking skills, and quickly departed.
"So, what do you want with your noodles, ladies?" Li asked as he picked up his chef's knife.
"Everything!" chimed Misaki, flashing him a smile for the first time since their one evening together. "Give me the house special."
"I'll have the same," Kanami added, "as long as the House Special comes with you on top!"
Li blushed, "Eh…?" Misaki was finally feeling more herself as she really wanted to let Kanami have it. But she just slapped her palm to her face in mortification.
Hei just watched the two of them quizzically. How are these two friends? Misaki is such a straight arrow and this one…Kanami, did she say?...is her total opposite. I guess they balance each other out. Hei shrugged to himself and turned to chop vegetables. He pondered Misaki's demeanor, and seeming lack of intention. Has she put her hunt for BK201 aside? Who is she even working for now? There's no way she could have known I was here. But why is she being so stand-offish? She's a relentlessly tenacious woman. It's her silence that bothers me. He threw handfuls of meats and vegetables in with the noodles and served up one bowl to Kanami and two to Misaki. Kanami laughed, "Li knows to make you extra!" Misaki just stared at the both of them and blinked as they laughed at her expense. She raised a brow and looked at Li, "Who are you to laugh?" she retorted. "If I remember correctly, you ate over 20 platefuls to my 10 at the hibachi place." She laughed at him and his big appetite as he picked up a bowl and ate as well.
Hei's mind flashed back to that night. He remembered how relaxed he had felt with her that night. They had been very honest with each other for the level of secrecy they both had to uphold at the time. Misaki's laugh… He was giving her the Black Reaper, right in front of her, and she just laughed at the rice stuck to his face. Little did he realize she'd put two and two together. He recalled faking being awful at swinging a bat. He wondered why he bothered to do that then, when everything else hadn't been as much of an act. Hei felt his face get warm as he realized they both could recall that evening vividly. He hid his face with the bowl as he slurped away at his food.
"So when do you shut down for the night, Li?" Kanami asked abruptly.
Hei stopped eating, swallowed and replied, "We're open around the clock during the summer, but the other chef relieves me at ten o'clock."
Misaki knew what question would follow. Kanami was going to try to play matchmaker with "Li". Little does she know she's trying to hook me up with BK201 himself…not that I mind. It'll be an opportunity to talk with him. Knowing Kanami, she will end up leaving me alone with him.
"So ka, you want to join us this evening?"
Hei fought with himself for a moment. I should just say no. But I can tell this woman's persistent. If "Li" says no, after supposedly disappearing from Misaki's life…Hei sighed. Besides it will give me a chance to find out some information. He could tell Misaki had something to say, but was holding back for the right time, probably as not to blow his cover. But why protect me? There were too many burning questions. It was decided.
Misaki flinched, awaiting his answer, assuming he would say 'No' and give some excuse. But she knew that he knew she wouldn't buy it, but probably let it go.
"Sure, I'd love to."
O.o ^_^ o.O ^_^ O.o ^_^ o.O
I hope you are all enjoying this new story. I put down the epic Inuyasha Post-Manga fic for this. DTB has consumed my soul and I'm leaving my husband for Hei. LOL!
In this story, I wanted to purvey that now that Misaki is preoccupied with her new goals, the hunt for BK201 has come to a standstill, and that this is fine by her. All those feelings, from infatuation to concern, she had locked them away somewhere, and now she's terrified of the opportunity to say all those things she never said. Misaki is aggressive with her gun and quick and tenacious when it comes to justice and the ways of society. But as for matters of the heart, where she is inexperienced, I would think that her heart would scare the sh*t out of her.
I love feedback, both praise and critiques, so please take the time to let me know what you think!
I had a suggestion to include term definitions of the random Japanese I throw into the mix. I apologize because it's all over the place in the InuYasha community and most people read and write them all the time and I forget that many people have watched stuff in dub, not sub. So here is the LONG A** list of terms I use frequently. (A * denotes DTB specific terms that, if you watched the sub version, you would hear ALL THE TIME)
Glossary:
Arigato – Thank You
Dameru – shut up!
Dekimasen – I can't
Demo – But
Desu – I am/It is
Gomen nasai – I'm sorry!
Hai – yes
Iie – no
Ikimasho – Let's go
Irasshaimase – Welcome!
Itadakimasu – I gladly receive/accept (proclaimed when served a meal)
Ja Ne – See Ya! / Later!
Ka – added at the end of a sentence to denote a question.
Kaimono – shopping
Kami – gods/spirits
Katte – Buy it!
*Keiyakusha – contractor (pronounced "kay-yahk-sha")
Konban Wa – Good Evening
Konnichi Wa – good day/hello
Kudasai – Please
*Kuro no Shinigami – Black Reaper
Kuso – Sh*t!
Mataashita – See you tomorrow
Matte – Wait!
Nani – what
Nani-yo/Nanda-yo? – What? (or) "What do you want?"
Naze - why
*Ni Maru Ichi – "two – oh - one" ^_^ (pronounced "nee-mah-ree-chee")
Ohayou – Good Morning
Ohi (also "Oi") – hey!
Onsen – hot spring
Oyasumi (nasai) – Good night
Shi – city (often a suffix) it's also the word for "death" and "four"
So ka – well then, so then
Tomatte – Stop!
