OKAY! SO HERE IT IS!
Sorry if it took SOOOO LOOONG! I was actually planning to upload this on October 23 so that it would really match up to the day of Misaki's birthday but I was not able to finish it because at the moment I am reaching the end...writer's block flew unto my head so quickly...and I forgot what I was actually going to write!
But thanks to the prayers...and all the supporters, I made it through somehow...though I was not able to really post this on October 23...huhu!
Well anyway...at least I still managed to finish it a bit closer to the date and Here it is now! I hope you enjoy it! :D
Chapter 10
Ryoma's Choice…
"No…"
June's eyes opened wide after hearing Ryoma's answer. "What?" Apparently she couldn't take no for an answer. But before she could snap back to her senses, Ryoma was already taking his flight.
"B-but Ryoma-kun!" With frustration crawling upon her face, she couldn't seem to believe the fact that Ryoma just rejected her favor.
June slammed her palm unto her forehead to think. "Now…what do I do?"
"WHAT?"
Momoshiro's face almost died after realizing a much unexpected fact. He turned to Eiji. "E-Eiji-senpai? You…you—"
Eiji smiled back at him. "Of course I have!" Then he enthusiastically brought out a little alien stuff toy from his bag. "Hora!"
"What is that Eiji-senpai?" Kaidoh asked in curiosity.
Eiji gave one of his naughty smiles. "Hehe…June-chan said Misaki likes aliens. She helped me find this one so I'm pretty confident about this!" He proudly told the rest of the Seigaku in the locker room.
Momoshiro seems to feels like he was going to die because of distress. "Eiji-senpai will give her the alien stuff toy…Oishi-senpai bought Misaki her longed book, Fuji-senpai bought her favorite CD, Kawamura-senpai will give her a bento full of her favorite sushi dishes, Inui-senpai will give her the Inui juice recipe she's been waiting for, and Kaidoh…well he will give her a planner…"
He tried to think for sometime…but later on gave up. "ARGH! What would be a good gift for Misaki? It seems like everything has been taken already!"
"Tshh… loser." Kaidoh whispered but loud enough for Momoshiro to hear. Of course…the rest was history…
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE HUH KAIDOH? WHY? DO YOU THINK YOUR PLANNER IS THAT GOOD OF A GIFT?"
"ARE YOU QUESTIONING MY TASTE IN CHOOSING A GIFT?"
Kawamura grabbed hold of Kaidoh while Eiji tried to seize Momoshiro's arm. "Argh! Stop it Momoshiro…stay cool." He said to Momoshiro.
Oishi tried to place himself between them. "Stop it! We shouldn't fight, especially now when there's a finals ahead of us."
"IT'S BECAUSE OF THAT VIPER..HE'S RIDICULING MY CAPABILITY TO THINK OF A NICE GIFT FOR MISAKI!"
"WELL YOU ARE RIDICULING MY CAPABILITY TO PICK A NICE GIFT FOR MISAKI!"
"It doesn't matter what gift you give to her, she would surely accept anything anyway." That simple sentence coming from the voice of a small person drew everyone's attention away from the fight, halting it for good.
"Ah…Echizen…since when did you arrive?" Momoshiro asked, now with a cooler temper.
Ryoma pulled down his cap. "Just now."
Oishi smiled. "Echizen is right. No matter what we give to Misaki, as long as we give it wholeheartedly, she would surely accept it." He informed them.
Inui finished scribbling on his notebook. "I figured that out the minute I came to see her. She's that type of girl that could easily be amused by almost anything." Everyone seemed to resort to silence, while on Ryoma's face came secret smile as he closed his locker for good.
"But still…it's different when the one you get on your birthday is what you wished for…" Momoshiro answered.
Fuji gave a brilliant smile. "Well if you would want that, then I'll advice you to seek some help from Ryoma."
"Eh-" Both Momoshiro and Ryoma let out a small gasp because of the unexpected comment from Fuji-senpai. Momoshiro looked upon Fuji's smile for a second, contemplated…then finally realized what he was trying to mean. "Oh I see!" He then faced Echizen.
"Echizen…let's go shop for Misaki's gift for tomorrow okay?" He enticed.
"Yada." Ryoma rapidly answered back which had Momoshiro's face fall down in disappointment.
"C'mon! I promise you, once I bought up a nice gift for Misaki tomorrow, I'll treat you with Chawanmushi after…"
And Ryoma looked back with eyes of agreement.
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Starry sky…crescent moon…
Glowing Sakura trees…sparkling blue lake…
…and when I turn my head towards the trees…
Soon a figure of a man flew before her eyes. The cape of his dark blue medieval hood was flowing together with the night breeze that was felt through Misaki's cheeks. The silver earring wrapped around the helix of his left ear sparkled and the black carving of the winter lynx on its surface lighted up for a second. He smoothly landed on the ground about a few steps before Misaki. Misaki, in uneasiness, took a few steps back until her feet brushed an autumn leaf. From the autumn leaf, her eyes turned unto the person in front of her. Soon, the night breeze began to blow a soft yet strong force that made all the sakura trees around shower their petals to the two people in the middle. He took a few steps forward. Misaki tried to move but her feet didn't let her. Not knowing what to do anymore, she placed her hand right before her chest. To her surprise, the known warrior directly knelt down the minute he reached her as if he were her knight.
…There he comes…appearing before me…
Taking his hood off, he raised his head towards Misaki, revealing his soft, silky, raven hair, smooth light face, rosy cheeks, pointy nose, and sparkling hazel eyes. From her chest, Misaki tried to move her hand closer to him, in a manner of touching him.
And when I try to do something like this…
With his eyes connecting unto hers, the prince's pinkish lips curved up a timid yet wonderful smile.
He would always…
"Misaki? Misaki! Wake up, time to go to school!"
And with her mother's voice, she slowly opened her eyes with sadness plastered upon her face…
He would always vanish...in darkness…
Misaki immediately washed her face with tap water the minute she went inside her bathroom. She looked upon the mirror and gazed at her own reflection. "Tsu…ba…sa…" She uttered his name with a very poignant tone.
"When I come to see you here…in reality…" She moved her hand in front of her chest just like how she did inside her dream. Her heart beats normal but she could feel the ache it buries inside.
"Would you also vanish…in darkness?"
"Misaki-chan?" Her mother's voice seemed to be so worried that it snapped Misaki back to her consciousness.
She smiled at once. "Hai?" That energetic respond seemed to successfully wash her mother's worry look away.
She softly looked back at Misaki. "Here…" she uttered placing a closed black envelop just beside the plate of Misaki.
Misaki gazed upon it for a second then finally asked. "Nani-nani? What is this?" Her cute voice echoed unto their dining room.
Her mother just gave her a witty smile. "Open it."
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"The last to finish the 20th lap shall drink this juice Inui has prepared." Coach Ryuzaki raised another pitcher of bubbling juice, but now it is black and has strange things floating beneath it.
"MFFgghhpP! ARGHHHH!" Eiji's will of being the first to finish got even bigger after seeing the juice before the goal stand. However, he wasn't the only one who was thinking such.
"Step aside!"
"Coming through!" Momoshiro and Ryoma both ran passed him, followed by the other regular players, including Inui himself.
"Fuji! You like that juice don't you? Why don't you just stay behind and drink it?" Eiji asked as he runs to the pace of Fuji.
"Yes, I do love it. But it is much more fun watching others drink it." He answered without any remorse.
"Fuji-kun you are scarier than Inui himself." Eiji whispers right before Fuji but Fuji just smiled his way out.
"Here, Kawamura-senpai…" Ryoma placed the yellow racket unto Takahashi's hands and in a blink of an eye, the old nice and friendly Takahashi Kawamura changed unto a fiery, aggressive one, taking his way onto the finish line with Ryoma following his back.
"I love it when it's Inui juice days." June proclaimed feeling every bit of the heat brought by the Seigaku regulars racing against one another in order to escape the wrath of the Inui juice.
"You are a certified sadist, June." Liara stated after handing the Winter Moon DVD movie 2 back to June.
"So Rie informed Misaki that this was her gift to her?" Liara confirmed to Rie who had her usual stoic face while eating crunchy flakes early in the morning.
"Yes. She was actually begging me to give it to her three days before her birthday or earlier" Rie responded.
Liara rose one of her eyebrows. "Really why?"
"Well that's because that is the sequel of the Winter Moon DVD Akemi and Daichi gave to Misaki." She answered .
"-Which, that little brat Misaki hasn't surrendered to me yet. Ugh, why does the end result of the Inui juice race always have to be a draw?" June expressed, keeping her eyes on the regulars.
"You are so mean! That was the last memory of Akemi and Daichi to Misaki, June. Why do you have to get that away from her?" Liara scolded.
"A deal is a deal, Liara." June airily answered.
"What a heck of a deal does it have when all that you benefit is loss?" Liara uttered in dismay.
"Misaki adhered to it, so she has no choice." June answered back.
Liara finally sighed. "This is why I declined on helping Misaki in this thing." She said. Liara's look was a bit irritated at first but after a few seconds she finally smiled. "So, is tomorrow's surprise all set?" She asked.
June's face suddenly became uneasy. "That's the thing…it's not yet-"
"What the hell? June tomorrow is Misaki's birthday!"
"Miss American girl here didn't seem to organize her plan too well…" Rie backed-up Liara's complaint in disappointment.
June looked at the two of them in piss. "Well sorry if I was doing this plan all alone okay?" She irritatingly emphasized making Rie and Liara look on the other way in guilt.
There was silence for a short while, and then came a sigh.
"I told you it wouldn't work" Rie softly stated.
June's face curved down a cave in annoyance of the truth on Rie's sentence. "Alright alright. I know it already…"
Liara, fidgeting, gazed upon the blue sky. "What should we do? If only Misaki was the one to do it…" Liara's voice fades out in sorrow but only for June to find her voice back.
"That's it!" June happily snapped the other two from thinking.
"What 'that's it'? You have thought of a plan?" Liara asked.
June winked. "A very nice plan actually-"
"Ahh…minna-san!" From that moment, June's triumphant face suddenly changed unto a straight and sour one.
"Great, here comes Ms. Ryoma Echizen's fan's club president." June expressed after hearing Tomoka's loud and annoying voice. She rapidly went beside Rie. "Remind me again why I should talk to her?"
Rie just stared blankly at her.
"I beg of you please!" June pleaded.
"June, Tomoka is a nice girl." Liara inserted.
"Yeah but she's a big pain in the ass too. She way boasts about Ryoma's skills. Ryoma here, Ryoma there…how he is definitely suited for her blah-blah-blah...it's just deafening!" June complained.
"Just keep up with her for she might just be Misaki's ultimate protection against Ryoma's fan girls" Rie stated right in time for June to recognize and welcome Tomoka with open arms.
"Wow. What a plastic." Liara softly expressed, earning a strong elbow punch from June.
"Ouch! Do you know how big you are?" Liara angrily stated.
"Hold your tongue little lass." June fought back and soon, a lightning flashes between the eyes of the two.
"Ah…please be calm guys." Sakuno, who came with Tomoka, tried her best to halt the two after seeing the visible thunder traveling between their eyes.
"Just let them be, Sakuno-san." Rie uttered, still grabbing some pieces of her crunchy flakes. "They are always like that. That's normal."
"Ah…but…"
"Don't worry, it's not as worse as Kaidoh and Momo-chan senpai." Rie assured and Sakuno silenced at once.
"OHAYOO MINNA-SANNN!"
Of course, that very loud and energetic voice would very much draw everyone's attention to the girl in black hair, twin pigtails, and for once, seemed to be appropriate for the Seigaku girl's uniform.
"Ah-huh…and here comes the stupid protagonist." June whispered to herself.
Misaki angrily rushed in front of June. "WHAT DID YOU SAY? HUH JUNE?" She angrily engaged.
June fought back. "AH-huh? Hey mistress, where's the Wintermoon DVD that you promised to give me? HUH?"
Misaki's morning seems to be tough. "GRrr… I ALREADY GAVE IT TO YOU DIDN'T I?"
June flapped her palm. "Yeah…yeah. But that was Rie's gift only! Where's the ones that Akemi and Daichi gave to you?" She assaulted.
Misaki's cloud burst at once in innocence. "Ah! That…" She finally comprehended then rummaged unto her bag. Soon enough, the wintermoon DVD Akemi and Daichi gave her was visible to their eyes. "HERE!" She reached with a voice of pretend rage.
June gave a very sardonic smile. "Good, thank you!" She said as she grabbed the DVD and placed it unto her bag.
Liara tapped her head with her palm. "Wow…" and she just can't seem to continue her sentence any further.
"Well I hope that ends my part of our agreement." Misaki hoped in bitterness.
June smiled. "Don't worry. It is…NOT!"
"EH!" Misaki's face formed a frown. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN? HUH JUNE?"
June motioned a thinking person. "Hmm…perhaps I'll tell you when I think of something." She excused. Misaki was about to rebut when she suddenly opened a new topic.
"By the way, may I see the tickets?" She asked, reaching out an open hand.
"Huh?" Of course, dear Misaki wasn't ready for that sudden change of topic.
"What ticket are those?" Liara whispered unto Rie.
"Beats me." Rie answered.
"B-b-but…but…" Misaki could not seem to find the words she needed to express herself.
"C'mon! I just want to see them. Don't worry, I will not lose them." June said in compliance.
At last, Misaki has adjusted and shifted to the topic with a heavy sigh. "Really? I doubt about that capability. Well here it…ah-huh…now where did I put it?" Misaki babbles as she rummaged through her bag.
"Well, I don't doubt about your losing capability though" June stressed, which actually made Misaki stop what she is doing.
"What did you say? Huh-June?" Misaki was obviously guilty.
"Nothing…nothing…" June calmly answered as she looks upon her newly manicured fingernails. "Now, how long is it going to take you to find i-"
"—I'm trying to find it o-kay?" June seemed to like pissing Misaki off.
"What tickets are those Misaki-san?" Rie asked, interrupting the two.
"Ah!" Misaki finally shrieked in victory. "Here it is!" She announced raising a smooth, black envelope unto the air, just right their eye level. "These are gifts from my parents. They wanted me to spend my birthday with you guys on Tokyo Magical Amusement Park so they gave me these tickets." Misaki cheerfully explained.
Liara rapidly grabbed the envelope away from Misaki's hands and counted the tickets. "20 tickets…just good enough! C'mon! Let's invite everyone! It's a good date because the school just declared that we would be on a half day this Friday due to the General Council Meeting." Liara excitedly acknowledged.
June grabbed the envelope from Liara and laughed after seeing Liara's aggravated eyes before her. "Don't worry; I'll keep it sa—
"Huh—YOU? NO WAY!" Misaki argued as she jumped after June, and soon a rumble came after the two.
"AH, Misaki-san, June-san stop it!" Sakuno wanted to stop the two but she knows if she interfered she'll just cause much trouble.
"Give it back!" Misaki whined but June just let out her tongue.
"Wow…what a rumble." Tomoka finally expressed.
"Tell me about it. June and Misaki are so alike in some ways that it makes them fight each other." Liara just rolled her eyes just in time to find a person she least expected to see.
"Oh, Momoshiro-senpai." Liara expressed loudly enough to stop Misaki and June's rumble and have everyone's attention to him.
Momoshiro's look was subtle. His eyes, though, are still sparkling purple and it looked from the wrecked hair of Misaki to June's settling eyes. "Tsukino-san, may I talk to you for a second?" With that, June nodded on agreement and they both walked unto somewhere Misaki knows not.
"Where are they going?" Misaki intriguingly asked.
Rie just shrugged. "Don't know. Who knows they might actually be dating." She added to which Misaki's ears flapped in surprise.
"WOAH! NO WAY! JUNE COULD NEVER DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT WITHOUT TELLING ME!" Misaki loudly expressed in surprise.
Tomoka cackled. "You'll never know Misaki-chan." She said then opened a new topic with Rie, Sakuno, and Liara.
Misaki, however, was already being bothered. It seems like Tomoka triumphed on making her curious and all fussy. She tiptoed away from her four friends and stalked June and Momoshiro in silence.
"If June and Momoshiro were dating each other…then how about Heira-san?" Misaki contemplated peeking behind a wall. Suddenly she felt a rush of ice as something circular thumped on her head. She rapidly looked back and anger crawled from her soul as she found the tennis ball in front of her handed by someone she calls 'displeasure.'
"Just what are you doing huh Ryoma-kun?" She softly expressed her annoyance to the boy in front of her.
Ryoma stared upon Misaki's eyes for a second. It made Misaki gulp in discomfort. Suddenly, he thumped the tennis ball unto the forehead of Misaki, while turning his back on her. "Cats are not supposed to stalk other animals." He articulated while doing so.
Misaki pouted. "It's not stalking, it's spying!" She reasons as she walks after him.
"Yeah and they are what now? Antonyms?" Ryoma confidently asked in a manner of offending.
Misaki's walk suddenly got halt by a guilt. "NO they are not! -But it's just that…" She cannot seem to summon a single word to protect herself. Why does she feel so defenseless when he's with her anyway?
With his hands in his pockets, he stopped and looked back at Misaki. "Curiosity kills the CAT." He quoted with mocking eyes.
Misaki's face blushes in guilt. "Hey! I am not curious about what's happening between them!"
"Oh, okay then. If you are not curious then why are you stalking them?" He questions in a manner of implying.
"Its…a…it's just that..." Misaki tried hard to think of a reason but it seems like the only reason that is on her mind is exactly what Ryoma is charging her.
"It's just that…?" He mocked, while waiting for her reaction.
"Shut it! I just….grrrr…FINE! I am curious about what is going on between the two of them okay? What is wrong with that? Was it wrong to find the answer by using my own ways?" Misaki admitted and defended herself at the same time.
"Hn…" Ryoma grunted conceitedly with a smirk. "Being nosy is sometimes what puts up stupid cats in jeopardy" He uttered then continued his walk.
Misaki was already flowering with pissed off signs above her heads. "SHUT IT! I am not an idiot! And…and stop calling me a CAT, Ryoma-kun!" She angrily requested.
"I don't remember calling you a cat on any of my sentences." He said sounding innocent, which makes Misaki even more furious.
"BUT YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY IMPLYING IT!" She shouted in madness.
Ryoma stopped and looked straight at Misaki's eyes. "If you wanted to be called a cat, you should have said so." He said then resumed his walk.
Misaki's lips opened up. "I…I don't want to be called a cat!" She corrected him.
"Don't be so excited. I'll call you a cat anyway." He complacently said then paused his walk. "Starting now…" His hazel eyes then reflected a cunning, happy, and mocking eyes towards Misaki. "CAT." He addressed to her, and after attaining his satisfaction to Misaki's sudden reaction, he then continued his walk.
Misaki was iced in anger. 'I hate you! I hate you! Stop messing with me you little housedog!' Misaki wanted to shout what is on her mind all along but she just can't. Soon she felt blood rush through her feet and soon enough, she managed to run after Ryoma before her view of his back gets any smaller.
"I swear I am going to kill you." She threatened Ryoma who can't help but smile triumphantly.
"I'll wait for that day." He said in soft eyes then thumped the tennis ball once again to Misaki's forehead. "CAT." He happily tuned.
Misaki was about to give Ryoma a good punch but after seeing the childlike, smiling face of Ryoma, it's as if all her madness drained as he reflects the smiling face of Tsubasa in her eyes.
'He would always…'
The dream she remembered almost had her heart sunk in nothing more but sadness. '…vanish...in darkness…'
"Uh-oi!" Ryoma was about to get mad as Misaki's hands pulled on his cheeks. But seeing her head bow down, with her bangs covering his eyes…he can't help but feel guilty.
"Neko…jyanai…" She uttered in soft voice. 'Is it because he will never cease to exist? Is that the reason why he will always…vanish?'
Suddenly, a bolt of pain rushed after Misaki's forehead. She looked up and found Ryoma's fingers liable.
He sighed. "I thought you would not be so easily dispirited."He uttered in disappointment as he looked at her. "Stop that. Cats do not appear endearing when they mope." He caringly commanded though still trying to sound harsh and obnoxious.
Hearing Ryoma's words suddenly lightened Misaki's heart and made the sun shine before her once again. "Ryoma-kun…"
Ryoma turned his back with his hands on his pocket "If you don't like it. Fine, I would not call you a-Oi! what are yo—" It seems like the prince got surprised as little miss sunshine grabbed hold of his arm.
Misaki smiled brightly. "C'mon! I'm going to show you a very magical place." Her blissful voice echoed unto the autumn breeze as she took Ryoma to the place where Sakura trees surround the blue lagoon.
"What's so magical about a lake and a garden of soon to be leafless trees?" Ryoma uttered in his monotonous voice. It seems like Misaki forgot the very fact of autumn. The once green trees where now painted with sunset as each leaf comes to fall down to the ground and cover the once green grass. But autumn would not stop her. She will no longer be dispirited.
She looked upon the sky. The dawn was already engulfing the blue sky. Soon enough the morning school bell would be ringing and everything would be as it was once again. Fantasy would soon be reality once again.
"If you'll excuse me, I have to come back to our practice which should have been resumed by-"
"It's supposed to be the most magical place in the world." Misaki loudly uttered which halted Ryoma from leaving.
"Because…it's the place…where Tsubasa and I…will someday meet." Misaki's soft and serene voice echoed unto Ryoma's ears as the autumn breeze delivered a sweet and gentle smile in Misaki's face. In some way, Misaki feels like Ryoma needs to know something like this. Maybe deep inside, she already knows that Ryoma, COULD be Tsubasa...
Ryoma, however, felt something different. It was as if his heart became heavy as a metal as Misaki's wonderful green eyes pinned his. 'Tsubasa…huh…' He thought in ache as he took a step closer to Misaki.
'Is he…really that important to you?' Ryoma wanted to ask but he just couldn't find the guts to say it. With a heavy heart, he moved his hand and placed it before Misaki's soft cheeks. But just before Misaki could react, he awakened from his own illusion and rapidly pulled Misaki's cheek hardly away from her face.
"That's my revenge." He explained then turned his back just before fuming Misaki could see the rumbling emotion of his face.
"I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU!" Misaki kept on repeating as she gazes upon Ryoma's back who, in her view, was clearing his ears, clearly trying to offend her.
'I kept on repeating it but…' Soon, another autumn wind blew softly unto Misaki, blowing her silky black hair beautifully. She held up her hand and placed it right before her chest. 'Why doesn't it stop?' She softly whispered unto her heart.
Do I…really…hate you?
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"Are you really sure you are not going to do it?" Momoshiro asked Ryoma for the second time after school, as Ryoma accompanies him in buying Misaki a gift.
"Remember, you owe me Chawanmushi after this." Ryoma reminded him.
"You haven't answered my question yet." Momoshiro reminded back.
"I don't remember being so obliged to answer your question." Ryoma defended himself.
"But still…" Momoshiro dropped the conversation. Knowing Ryoma, he knows that if he, Ryoma, doesn't want to answer the question, he wouldn't answer it.
Momoshiro sighed. "Here."
Ryoma looked upon the black ticket Momoshiro was reaching unto him. "What is—"
"It's Misaki's birthday celebration." Momoshiro explained.
"How about the Camelia stars?" Ryoma asked.
"From what I know, they have a separate celebration which would be on their house this Saturday." Momoshiro brushes his hair while saying that.
"I can't go." Ryoma coldly uttered.
"Huh?" Momoshiro let out a much exaggerated expression in surprise. "WHAT CAME UNTO YOU?" He shouted with a hot temper. He was about to grab Ryoma's shirt but after seeing his sulking eyes, he halted and tried to cool down on his own.
"That." He arrowed a small violet doll hat designed with ribbons, gems, pearls and some violet fur displayed before a shop's window.
"Is it cute?" It was absolutely small, but cute enough when clipped unto Misaki's head.
Ryoma gave a light smile. "It would weirdly suit her." His voice is soft and blissful, and his eyes were sparkling. Seeing this, Momoshio can't help but feel a little bit irritated by Ryoma's actions.
"Then, let's go inside." He uttered then went inside.
"No. You go inside." Ryoma corrected him.
"What? B-but you promised me to—"
"—find a suitable gift for her." He emphasized which made Momoshiro with no choice but to go alone.
The shop was full of cute and girly stuffs that it made Momoshiro a little bit uncomfortable. There were a few customers and they were all girls. "It's s bit embarrassing…" He whispered, and then sighed. "Oh well, this is for Misaki. I just have to buy that gift for her then get out of here fast…now, where is it?" He moved his head up and down, left and right, and circled the shop up until he found a stock of doll hats in different colors, hanging in a silver stand. He looked for the same doll hat at the display window and after finding one; he rushed towards the counter and paid for it.
"Found it! Now, Ryoma let's-" He was about to boast at Ryoma when he got outside but he stopped after realizing Ryoma was missing. He looked from left to right. He was nowhere to be found.
"Now where is that dude?" Momoshiro thought, then looked left to right, up until he found a small guy standing before an old man's shop. He happily rushed unto the place.
"Now, Ryoma, what are you looking out ther-" He halted and stayed from his place as he saw how Ryoma's eyes softly gaze upon an item the old man was selling.
The old man, who was sitting before his collections, smiled at Ryoma as his eyes set unto the small snowflake necklace he was displaying.
"She said she would kill me if I sell this to other people." The old man uttered making Ryoma come back to his senses. "But if it's you, I guess it's alright." He happily informed him as he placed the necklace into Ryoma's hands.
Ryoma looked back at it. "Why did she didn't bought it?" He asked in piss.
The old man smiled. "It seems like fate has other plans…" He articulated.
Ryoma smiled, and that smile did not escape Momoshiro's eyes. Ryoma is…truly…smiling. He moved closer to find out if its real but his move made out a sound to which Ryoma noticed and brought back his own stoic face.
Ryoma placed the snowflake back to where it was. "Yeah, fate has other plans." He whispered as he turned his back then walked away.
Momoshiro rushed after Ryoma. "Tell me Ryoma, do you already have a gift for Misaki?"
"None."
"What?" Momoshiro was even more surprised. "But…I thought—"
"Now that you've bought Misaki a gift…can we eat now?" Ryoma asked, switching the topic.
Momoshiro's face got serious. "Fine, then." He roughly said.
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"Hai…after tomorrow is the most awaited day of Misaki." Momoshiro expressed after getting bloated from eating a lot of Chawanmushi. He stared upon Ryoma who was wiping his lips with a white napkin.
"Are you really sure you couldn't come?" Momoshiro asked but still no reply.
"Ah… oh well…what is a party anyway…" He expressed and suddenly something came up. "OH NO! I FORGOT TO BUY WHAT MOMOJI WAS ASKING ME TO BUY!" He panicked.
"Momoji…?" Ryoma asked.
Momoshiro looked at him with beseeching eyes. "ECHIZEN PLEASE!" He pleaded hugging his feet.
"Argh! Momo-chan-senpai!" Ryoma struggles to get his hands away from his feet.
"I really need 16000 yen! I haven't bought yet what Momoji was asking me to buy but I am out of money so I really need it. Please please please!" Momoshiro pleaded even more.
"It's. your…fault…Momo-chan-senpai, let go!" Ryoma irritatingly answered as Momoshiro kept on pleading on his feet.
"Echizen I promise I would really pay you back. Just please let me borrow 16000 yen, please please please!" Momoshiro beseeched.
"But I don't have that big of a money!" Ryoma reasoned but it seems like Momoshiro doesn't want to let go.
"I will really pay you back Ryoma, just please give me 16000 yen! Please please please!"
"Yada." Ryoma stiffly answered. But just in time for Momoshiro to find Ryoma's wallet.
"Hai! A-arigatou!" Momoshiro happily said rushing out of the restaurant.
"Mo—momo-chan senpai!" Ryoma stiffed out as Momoshiro left him alone in the restaurant.
"He better pay it back soon…" Ryoma said in straight face as he placed his hand under his chin.
*******R*Y*O*M*A*'*S******C*H*O*I*C*E*************
Momoshiro opened Ryoma's wallet. "Hai-hai. So I really am right, he saved something for that thing." Momoshiro thought as he walks towards the busy street of Tokyo. He kept on walking up until he was back from where they are before. He stopped. Finally he saw that little stand, now he was looking for.
"The plan of fate depends on the one who chooses…"
*******R*Y*O*M*A*'*S******C*H*O*I*C*E*************
"It seems like none of the Seigaku regulars are going to come." Rie informed Misaki while they were all eating lunch.
"Well that's given since they have finals coming up this Sunday." Liara backed up.
Misaki sighed. "Well…it's not like we could do something about it." She thought.
"Well I think that's lame." Tomoka further explained. "If Ryoma-sama wasn't there then-"
"-Tomo-chan!" Sakuno's voice made Tomoka realize that her words are already kind of offensive.
"I…I did not mean it like that Misaki-san." Tomoka apologized.
"Mhmm!" Misaki smiled in crescent eyes as she move her head left to right. "I know you didn't mean it." She said trying to sound as if everything is normal.
June rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Well, whatever. Let's just continue the celebration tomorrow no matter what." She said trying to sound normal even though she's already burning in annoyance to Tomoka.
"So…what are you going to do with all their tickets?" Tomoka asked to which June, Rie, and Liara panicked.
Misaki looked upon Rie. "How many?"
June sweat out. "We…we already gave it to them…s-should we really take it back?"
Misaki placed her look upon June then gave a serene smile. "That ticket is meant for them…I couldn't think of any other person suited for that ticket than them." With that reply, the three heaved a vey stressed sigh.
"There was one who did not take it though." Rie informed her, giving the last of the black tickets.
"Echizen, Ryoma." Misaki whispered to herself as she received the last ticket from Rie. "Tsk. Why?" She expressed running away from where her friends were.
*********R*Y*O*M*A*'*S******C*H*O*I*C*E*************
"Baka!" Misaki thought as she runs towards the tennis courts. "Baka, Ryoma-kun! You are such an idiot!" Misaki whispers up until she reaches the tennis court. She looked from side to side but Ryoma was nowhere to be found. She tried to round the courts, the locker rooms but all she found were Inui and Kaidoh who are helping each other to improve each other's strengths.
"Inui-senpai, Kaidoh-senpai!" Misaki interrupted the two.
"Hmm?" Inui turned his back and found Misaki's yearning eyes. "Have you seen Ryoma?" She asked hoping for a good answer.
Apparently not even the data tennis player Inui could give her an appropriate answer. Misaki turned to Kaidoh but he just shrugged. "He's gone right after practice." Was all he could say.
Inui slicked his tinted eye glasses. "If my instincts are right, if he wasn't at the canteen with the trio, then he's probably at the library…" He said but before he could finish, Misaki was already gone.
"Got any ideas?" Kaidoh asked.
Inui smiled. "Of course."
*******R*Y*O*M*A*'*S******C*H*O*I*C*E*************
Misaki run through the hallways to the canteen but only found Eiji, Oishi, and trio there. She rushed unto the library but there's just Fuji and Kawamura…no sign of him. She searched the whole school but she just couldn't find him…that is, until she realized that there is only one thing she hasn't searched for, yet.
"But…it's…impossible for him to be…" It's as if her breath stopped as she found a man peacefully sitting under the soon to be leafless tree. She took another step forward.
"I thought this was supposed to be a magical place?" Ryoma asked, though not bothering to look back at her.
"Why…why can't you come?" Misaki asked as she stood before him, looking straight unto his eyes.
Ryoma, however, looked the other way around. "I'm feeling lazy." He answered.
"WHAT? BUT WHY?" Misaki asked obviously not accepting his reason.
Ryoma looked back at her, then flicked Misaki's forehead once again.
"Itai! What's that for?" Misaki asked in annoyance, as she rubbed the portion that hurt.
"For being so noisy." Ryoma answered with cat eyes.
"I really hate you, you know that." Misaki alleged with a snob. "But…still…" Misaki suddenly held out Ryoma's hand and from her hand, she placed the black ticket right at the palm of his. "You are someone special after all…" Misaki's eyes gave out a very soft and honest picture which made Ryoma even more confused.
Misaki looked back at him. "It's alright if you don't come. But this ticket…it is meant for you." She said with crescent eyes.
"Hm.." Ryoma grunted once again. "What makes you think that?" He asked in a very skeptical tone.
"Because I said so." That simple sentence coming from the very innocent voice of Misaki, surprised Ryoma as much to his console.
"What?" He asked in which Misaki, realizing what she just said, felt a sudden blood rush unto her face. "Y—you heard me! Wa-why should I repeat it?" She said in boiling anger.
"Because I wanted to hear it again, isn't that obvious?" Ryoma asked also on his temper.
"Sheesh! Just…just keep it okay!" Misaki said then ran away.
Ryoma, gazed as Misaki vanished from his sight, and then finally weakened. "Jeez…" He thought as his hand caught up his head. "Just what the hell are you doing to me?" He whispered as his hands supports his head.
"Maa…just what the hell are you doing Echizen?" Ryoma, hearing that rough voice, looked up and found Momoshiro cleaning up his ears.
Momoshiro sighed. "You can't stop it. No matter what you do." He explained unto him.
"What do you mean 'can't stop'?" Ryoma asked in cat-like face.
"STOP PRETENDING TO BE SO INNOCENT!" Momoshiro shouted in annoyance.
He arrowed Ryoma's chest. "That!"
"What?" Ryoma asked which made Momoshiro even more annoyed.
Momoshiro sighed. "Just…how long are you going to stop it?" He silently murmured.
"It has a feeling of discomfort, sorrow, and a tinge of dismay, so it better be stopped." Ryoma finally answered.
Momoshiro sat beside Ryoma. "So, what do you think is it?" He asked him.
"Who knows…?"
Momoshiro's eyebrows almost met in dismay, but seeing as there is nothing he could do, he just let it all out with a sigh.
"Don't you want to give it a chance?" He asked as if asking a favor.
Ryoma closed his eyes and suddenly remembered the face of Misaki as she longs for Tsubasa. "…It's the place…where Tsubasa and I…will someday meet."
"Fate has other plans." He murmured in the shadows of the autumn leaves.
"I know that but…" Momoshiro looked seriously back at him. "But…the plan of fate is always controlled by a choice…" Momoshiro answered him back.
"And I do think you'll make a good option." He said while reaching something unto Ryoma's hand.
"Think about it." He added as he stands up and leaves him in peace.
"Hn! baka." Ryoma addressed as he watches Momoshiro depart. He opened up his hand and soon, the silver snowflake necklace was visible in his sight.
"You are someone special after all…" The smiling face of Misaki reflected in his sight.
"A real idiot…"
************R*Y*O*M*A*'*S******C*H*O*I*C*E*************
"June c'mon! Let's ride the roller coaster!" Misaki happily asked as they went down from a very nauseating ride.
"Hai-hai!" June lowly answered back. "B-but before that, I think I'm going to-" She then rushed towards the ladies room.
"Eh…okay then June…" Obviously that's the only thing left for Misaki to say.
"Tomoka…I have a question if you don't mind." Rie asked the minute only Tomoka and Rie were left alone.
"Hmm? What is that?" Tomoka lively asked.
"Are you really…having fun?" Rie asked her.
Tomoka smiled. "Of course I am having fun." She happily charged. "It kind of annoys me but…Misaki always give us that happy or light aura no matter what the situation was." Tomoka honestly answered in which Rie left a smile.
"Why'd you ask anyway?" It's time for Tomoka to ask the question.
"Nothing." Rie abruptly answered then went towards the other people.
"Misaki-san…can we…just get rest for a bit?" Sakuno pleaded in huff.
"Yes, could we please?" Liara backed up.
"Ah…alright then…" Misaki mumbled and as soon as they sighed a chair, Liara and Sakuno both sat down to it rapidly.
"Liara-san, don't you think its fun?" Sakuno asked the girl before her.
"Are you kidding me? I think I was going to die out there!" Liara answered while panting for breath. "But…it surely is fun." She added in a smile.
Misaki looked up. 'Sunset…' She thought, after seeing the sky engulf in violet, red, orange, and yellow color. Soon enough the sun was already at its peak of sinking and Misaki closed her eyes and made a wish. 'From this day…I do wish that…'
June finally went out of the Ladies room. "Gosh, I think I just got pregnant." She uttered and soon enough she was moving inside the ladies room to barf once again.
"Rie-san!" Misaki jumped towards Rie who was eating hotdogs at the moment.
"Tomoka-chan, how was your stomach?" She asked the other one.
Tomo-chan signaled a 'don't bother' sign. "Yeah, it got better…but I swear I never am going to eat a lot of pizza and ride the river jump again."
Misaki smiled back at Tomoka. "It's a pity you missed the flying monkey ride, it's actually fun!"
"Yep, and it was really nauseating." June shared, she was already pale and her face was already miserable with sweat.
"Barf-bag?" Rie invited.
"No thanks, I'm fine already." She answered. "Now, I have to retouch myself." She added going back to the Ladies room.
"So, how are the two of you?" Rie asked Liara and Sakuno who were sitting at the bench.
Liara raised a thumb up. "Still alive." She told her.
"Where are the Ichinen Trio?" Misaki asked Rie.
"Didn't they went to the flying monkey with you?" Rie answered just in time for Misaki to find the three go out from the boy's comfort room.
"That was…the best ride ever!" Kachiro shared while Horio and Katsuo gave a very weak smile.
"No…it was the worse." June corrected as she appears before them.
Misaki smiled. "Aw, c'mon June, you've got to admit you enjoyed it."
"Yeah, but I just don't understand why in America when I ride something like that I don't barf. But here….I was barfing bigtime a moment ago, weren't I?" June complained.
"Well that was because you ate a lot of hotdogs." Liara answered her.
"Shut it, little lass." June responded. Sakuno feared that there would be another fight coming but Liara is just too weak to reply.
"Misaki, the world in my eyes were absolutely spinning. Can we…just stop by for a few minutes?" Liara pleaded as she closed her eyes to sleep.
June sat on the other bench that was not occupied. "Wew! I could already feel the tiredness from my feet." She stated then looked above. "Oh so that is why…it's already night!" She looked at Misaki.
"So, what do you say? Let's go ride the three roller coasters?" She asked her best friend Misaki.
"Ah….can I just past on the last one? The one with a very steep ride and turns you upside down?" Misaki politely asked, to which June just smiled. "Okay then."
"Aren't you still afraid of heights?" June asked as they rode the smallest adult roller coaster on the amusement park.
"Yes, I am. Though I am really trying my best to overcome it." Misaki answered in smile.
"Well, like I said. Just shout all your fears away." June advised right in time for the roller coaster to move.
*******R*Y*O*M*A*'*S******C*H*O*I*C*E*************
"Whew…that took long." June stated after she and Misaki took the caterpillar ride.
"Uh…wait a minute…what is…" Misaki halted after seeing the main road of the amusement park full of people in costumes.
June smiled. "Yeah, well, apparently, this amusement park hosted a costume party tonight, on the same date as your birthday." She explained to her.
Misaki further smiled. "Wow…" It was all she could say.
"Yeah…wow." June backed up.
It took Misaki a minute or two to admire the people and the lights of the main street before it snapped her. "Oh yeah that's right, where are the others?" She asked June who was admiring the street just like she had.
"June?"
"Huh? –Oh yeah! Um.. let's go! I think everyone was already waiting for us." June utters as she drags Misaki through the main street.
"Yes, I know that so…where is everyone?" Soon enough, they were already on the village square and Misaki find it surprising to find not a single person wondering around it.
"June this is creepy." Misaki thought clinging unto her friend.
"Oh, pish-posh Misaki…it's nothing." June answered.
"But there's not a single person walking in here!" Misaki wailed.
"But there are vendors inside the houses." June reasoned out.
"But—"
"BOO!"
"AHHHH!" Misaki shrieked on top of her lungs as someone surprised her from her back. "A ghost! It's a ghost!"
June rolled her eyes. "Relax…Misaki look closely."
"Naia? Do I really look like a ghost to you, Saku-eh Misaki-chan?" Misaki, hearing that very energetic voice, rapidly looked back and found a person she did not expect to see.
"E…EIJI-SENPAI!" She wailed jumping to hug him.
"Otanjoubi omedetou!" Eiji greeted bringing out his gift to her.
Misaki released her hug from him. "Eh…demo? How come?"
Eiji gave a silent sign. "It's a secret." He said with a wink. "Now c'mon! Open it! Open it!" He commanded.
"Hai-hai!" Misaki nodded and just as she opened Eiji's gift, her eyes shimmered after seeing an alien land before her hands. "Ka…ka…kawaii!" She rejoiced hugging the stuff toy Eiji just gave her.
"Hai-hai! Glad you liked it Misaki..nya!" Eiji smiled with pleasure.
"Arigatou!" Misaki uttered. "Demo…Eiji-senpai…" Misaki's eyes then turned straight and fussy like a cat.
"Hai?"
"Why are you dressed like that?" Misaki asked pertaining to his black suit with shurikens on his black pockets.
"Ah this? It's because I'm the ninja assassin, Tokishiwa!" Eiji happily answered forming a pose. "You liked it."
"Was there really a ninja character named Tokishiwa?" June silently mumbled.
Misaki took a moment to stare at it…then smiled. "Hai!"
"Very well then Cuz…we better get going." June excused dragging Misaki with her.
"Eh? What do you mean June?"
"Oh…yeah…well then, ja!" Eiji bid a goodbye, and Misaki was left with nothing but sheer confusion.
"What do you mean June?" Misaki asked June.
"Well they are waiting for us." June answered.
"But isn't Eiji senpai going with us?" Misaki asked once again.
"He has other plans…"
"But—"
"KONBANWA!"
Misaki looked up and found a sushi man right before them. "Ka-Kawamura-senpai!"
"Otanjoubi omedetou, Misaki-san." Kawamura greeted giving a bento full of Misaki's favorite sushi-dish.
"A…arigatou KAWAMURA-SENPAI!" Misaki can't help but jump at Kawamura and hug him. She feels so touched. She loved Kawamura's sushi ever since, and she's craving for it every day.
"Really June…where are they...?" Asked once again after the bid goodbye to Kawamura and continued to walk now, unto the animal park.
"Fssshhhhh…"
"Eh?" Soon enough Misaki saw a man standing before a snake statue.
"Kai-Kaidoh senpai?"
"I do hope you like it." Kaidoh wished as Misaki opened the gift in front of him, after minutes of talking. After opening it, Misaki jumped and hugged him.
"Wah! I…I've always wanted a planner Kaidoh-senpai…arigatou! Hontou ni, arigatou!" And with smile on her face, Kaidoh got satisfied.
"Wait a minute…umm…Kaidoh-senpai…what are you?" June asked before they leave.
"A tennis player with a bandana." Kaidoh monotonously answered.
"Oh…okay."
...
"June just how long—"
"Konbanwa, Misaki!" Misaki looked up and found Oishi on a samurai suit.
"O—Oishi-senpai!"
"Otanjoubi omedetou, Misaki-chan!" And as Misaki opens up Oishi's gift, she jumped right next to him in glee.
"Oh I've always loved that book! Thank you! Thank you!"
"I'm glad you liked it, Misaki-chan."
…
"This is getting weird June! I promise it's really—"
"Well nothing is weirder than this." A juice suddenly popped before Misaki's eyes. She looked back and found Inui holding unto it.
"Okay, now what is that you are wearing Inui-senpai?" June blinked a thousand times to let the thought sink in.
"It's an Inui juice seller uniform. Like it?" Inui asked and Misaki just jumped right at Inui. "I'm so glad you came." She utters in sheer happiness.
"I know you will say that." He stated then brought out an envelope at Misaki's eye level.
"Here it is." Inui stated. "It's the recipe you've been waiting for." He whispered unto Misaki's ears.
"Woah, NO WAY!" Misaki shrieked and kept it at once.
"Thank you, thank you so much Inui-senpai!"
Inui smiled. "You're welcome." And just as the two moved out from his place, he took out his notebook and scribbled some notes.
….
"June, didn't we passed by here already?" Misaki asked pertaining to the main street.
"Well yeah…umm…" June can't seem to find the right words to say it.
"Are you hiding something from me?" Misaki finally asked.
'Jeez…she just found that out now?' June thought behind her smile.
"Really…June what is—ahhh!" Misaki abruptly covered her ears as she felt someone blow unto it. She looked back and found the smiling face of Fuji looking right back at her.
"Fu—Fuji-senpai!" Misaki loudly shouted in between the people of the main street.
"Otanjoubi Omedetou, Misaki-chan!" And before Misaki's eyes was a paperbag. Misaki peeked unto it then became iced.
"Do you love it?" Fuji asked in a brotherly tune.
"Are you kidding me?" Misaki rapidly asked as she jumped unto Fuji's open arms.
"Arigatou!" Misaki thanked with a very happy face.
"Glad you liked it." Fuji expressed.
June looked at Fuji from head to toe. "Mind me Fuji-senpai…but the thing that you are wearing…is that?"
Fuji smiled back at her. "Hai…after all, I am just one hell of a butler."
...
"June…tell me…did you plan all of this?" Misaki finally asked as June led her unto a place she knows not.
June smiled. "Misaki, I just have one thing to ask."
"Hmm? What is it?"
June sincerely looked back at her. "Why do you always jump and hug at people?"
Misaki smiled back at her best friend. "Why? It's because they came." She answered innocently and happily. "And their presence is already enough for my heart to jump for joy." She continued in sparkling eyes.
June smiled. "I see…"
...
"Ohayoo!" Momoshiro soon came greeting the two.
"Momo-senpai, exactly what are you?" June asked once again afte staring at Momoshiro's outfit.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm Momoji's cousin, Kyo Sohma of Fruits Basket" Momoshiro answered back.
"That is just so wrong." June expressed. "That is MOMIJI not MOMOJI." She corrected him.
"Ah…really?" Momoshiro brushed his hair in embarrassment.
"Jeez, are you even watching it?" June asked in ruse.
"Well, my little sister was watching it." Momoshiro answered back.
June sighed. "Well atleast you are not Momiji himself…coz it would really sound and look so weird." June uttered in compliance.
"Hai..hai! I know I know." Momoshiro answered in sweat, and then looked upon Misaki.
"Otanjoubi omedetou." He uttered reaching another paperbag unto her.
Misaki happily jumped at Momoshiro and gave him a huge hug. "A…arigatou Momo-chan-senpai."
Misaki opened her gift and soon enough, a violet doll hat was visible at their sight.
"Wow…it's so cute." June even greeted back.
"D—did you like it?" Momoshiro asked in worry of Misaki's reaction.
Misaki then came hugging Momoshiro back once again. "Are you kidding? HAI! I love it! It's so Kawaii!" Misaki expressed then released him again.
"Could you please be the one to clip them unto my head?" She requested to which Momoshiro happily replied.
"As you wish, little princess."
*******R*Y*O*M*A*'*S******C*H*O*I*C*E*************
"Here we are!" June announced.
"Finally!" Misaki rapidly ran towards a small cottage and just as she arrived, poppers popped out and a cake came in singing a happy birthday to Misaki, surprising her even more. Everyone was there, the seigaku regulars, the ichinen trio, Rie, Liara, Sakuno and Tomoka…everyone except Ryoma.
'It's a pity he missed all this fun.' Misaki thought as they all came singing a happy birthday tune on her.
"Blow the candle!" Eiji excitedly commanded.
"But first, make a wish!" Liara added.
Misaki closed her eyes. "Every wish has its own chances right? Then please…" after some seconds, she finally opened her eyes and blew the candle to which everyone happily clapped.
"That was a quick wish." June stated.
"Neh-neh! Saku-eh—Misa-chan, what did you wish for?" Eiji happily intrigued.
Misaki moved her head left to right. "Everything was already in place. There is nothing I could wish for but the glory of Seigaku at the finals match." She happily informed them with crescent eyes.
"A…arigatou." Oishi spoke for the rest of the shocked Seigaku regulars.
"Oh right!" Tomoka snapped and hurriedly reached a nice present unto Misaki. "Otanjoubi Omedetou!"
"A…arigatou!" Misaki hugged the little cheery girl in happiness.
"Ah—well—hai!-uh…Sakuno-chan…your gift!" Tomoka indicated.
"Ah-hai!" Twin braided brunette happily reached a small box unto Misaki. "Otanjoubi omedetou." She greeted her with a very wonderful smile.
"Sakuno-chan…" Misaki was left with no words as she just motioned a great big hug onto Sakuno who was smiling back at her.
She released Sakuno from her hug. "Hontou-ni-arigatou!"
Soon something thump on her forehead and as she looked at her right, she found Rie's gift being patted unto her head by none other than Rie herself.
"Otanjoubi-" It didn't take Rie the whole word for Misaki to have the urge to hug her. It came naturally and Rie cannot help but smile back.
"Arigatou…" She whispered unto her. "Hontou-ni arigatou!"
"Tsutto matte!" Liara heatedly demanded and Misaki's head tuned into Liara at once. "I haven't given you your gift yet!" She uttered then reached a small present unto her. "Otanjoubi ome-" And just like that, it seems like Misaki has already achieved the peak of her happiness and soon enough, her water came falling down from her eyes.
"What the…you are already crying when I-" June got halt as Misaki just gave her a one tight and wonderful hug.
"June-chan arigatou!" She whispered having her best friend wear out a great big smile.
"Stop crying Misaki-chan, you baka." June teased. "You'll get even uglier than you already were."
"Shut it! I am crying because I am happy, that is why." Misaki whispered back to which June cannot help but smile and hug her back.
Misaki, finally took control of her tears and June just ridiculed her more. "You look awful. C'mon." She said as she grabbed Misaki away from the crowd and unto the ladies room.
Misaki washed her face then looked at the mirror, it seems like she can't wear that happy smile off her face.
"Are you happy?" June asked on Misaki's reflection at the mirror.
Misaki nodded her head. "Of course I am."
"Brush your hair." June commanded, handing a brush unto Misaki.
"Having you here in my birthday already made me happy, June." Misaki thoughtfully answered as she brushes her hair.
"Here," June reached a silver crown-like headband at Misaki.
"Eh?"
June gave it to Misaki. "Wear it now, so that we could go already."
Misaki looked from the headband to June. "Ah—hai. Arigatou gosai-"
"Idiot, that's not a gift." June answered, totally predicting what Misaki was thinking, then went out of the ladies room.
"Eh..it's not?" Misaki suddenly got kind of confused.
"So…where are we going now, June?" Misaki asked as June grabbed Misaki's arm unto a place she knows not.
"Turn around…" June motioned a circle and as Misaki turns around, her jaw dropped as she discovered a beautiful paradise before her.
"Ki…kire…" Misaki couldn't seem to say more than a single word as her eyes got enchanted by the illuminating lights of the small maze garden. It's as if the stars shine down from the sky as the small green bushes were draped with small Christmas lights and the angel in the fountain was illuminated by four yellow spotlights. There are birds wandering before it, as if enjoying the night. It was no ordinary garden; it was like a royal garden on the fairytales where Prince used to date with their princesses.
"All the thing that's left now is two princes for each of us, right Ju—" Misaki was cut as she found no one in her side. To be exact, she found no other people but herself, standing before the shining paradise of green bushes, pink flowers, silver arches, and dreamy fountain. Misaki panicked in fear. She was about to take a step away from the place when her cell phone lighted.
"I forgot to tell you I'm going to run a very important errand this time 'round. Actually, I forgot it myself, until my cell phone vibrated for the alarm. Anyway, I am supposed to get some box by the fountain, try to look for it for me please. I'll be there in awhile."
Misaki sighed after reading June's text message. She kept her cell phone and after a few minutes looked at the stunning view before her. She took a step closer to the fountain and soon found a red box resting upon its ledges. As she approached it, she took a gulp, and with teary-eyes, she smiled. June was absolutely lying. The box was not supposed to be gotten by June, she left it for Misaki. She rest before it and stared upon the white paper with a drawing of a very insulting smiley. "Idiot! It's for you!" Was the words written fancily before it.
"And just when you thought it couldn't be this surprising, here it comes…" Misaki whispered as she opened the box.
"Haha! Just what are you doing June?" Misaki chuckled pertaining to the winter moon related things Misaki surrendered to June days ago that she found inside the box. Suddenly her smile faded as she found not two but three DVD's on the red box:
Rie's DVD of Wintermoon: the second saga
Akemi and Daichi's Wintermoon: The Attack of the West Flames
"And the greatest of all…" Misaki held the third DVD unto her chest and smiled in compressed happiness. "Aggghh! JUNE YOU LITTLE BRAT! THANK YOU!" She yelled while hugging the DVD before her chest, she circled and circled, round the fountain area, leaped in happiness, then finally sat and curled before the fountain. "Thank you! Thank you!" She whispered while slowly, tears are forming unto her eyes.
…...
"The bonds of the two moons…" June leaned back from her position behind the tree and found Rie standing before her. "Is that what Misaki is holding?"
June smiled. "It was actually hard to find you know." She uttered to Rie. "But that's all worth it since I could definitely see Misaki cry in happiness right now. She boastfully looked at Rie.
"Now, who's the best?"
Rie sighed in stress. "You are." She stated in sourness as she moved her head up unto the sky.
…...
Starry sky…crescent moon…
Misaki happily smiled in tears. "Tsubasa...thank you…for even though you are not here…your feelings reached me." She whispered unto the wind, while still curled before the foot of the fountain, hugging the DVD June gave her.
She looked upon the moon. Captivated by it, she smiled. "We are…definitely…bonded by the moon…" She whispered in glee.
"Oi neko."
Misaki was absolutely pissed, yet didn't seem to take note of it. "Haha! Funny, I seem to hear Ryoma's voice here…haha!" She stated while her eyes are still connected to the moon.
Suddenly, a very distinct flower was landed at her lap. It was ribboned with a glittery violet ribbon. She looked upon it closely and admired its beauty. "White and Lavender Columbine…" She dreamily whispered, and finally…she realized. "Eh -tsutto matte—"
She stood up, chased after him, but then froze. She doesn't want to believe it but it was all she could see. Standing right before her eyes was him. "Tsu…ba…sa…"
Ryoma just coolly leaned back at her with hands on his pockets, and with Tsubasa's prince costume which is a black velvet tail coat outside a white shirt, gray vest, and light silver necktie above the dark navy blue trousers that is almost black and black Victorian shoes.
"Y—you're…here…" She utters as if not believing what she is seeing.
Ryoma gave a cat-like face to her. "It's not li-"
However, he was not able to continue what he is going to say as Misaki hurriedly rushed unto his arms and embraced his warm body.
"Tsu...ba..sa…" He heard her weak voice address those words to him. "It really is you…isn't it?" She said hugging him tighter.
Ryoma, however, felt something strange. In an oddly way, he thought that she would call out his name the time she would see him…but she didn't. What she yelled for was a different name. Yet, here he was standing right before her as if he was her knight.
"Oi neko." He coldly warned, but Misaki didn't even move an inch.
"Oi. You wanna die?" He harshly threatened.
"Kill me if you want!" Misaki shouted from his shoulders. Her voice was strong and compelling.
"But just this night…please! Just this night…." Misaki pleads while her head still rests upon his shoulders.
"Let me be…" She whispers in cry as her hands grasp to his coat.
"Ryoma-kun…"
Saying his name, Ryoma finally gave in to the thoughts he's been keeping as he rapidly places his hand unto her hair and held her closer to him like she was his.
He grunted a smirk. "Baka…" He uttered while within his lips, rests a very soft smile.
…...
"I often wonder what is within this two." June whispers beneath the woods. "But I always knew…" She continued.
"Don't you think this is the time that we go out and not interfere…?" Rie asked behind her.
"I am not interfering." June answered back.
"Okay, fine. But don't you think we should go now and leave those two who deserves some privacy?" Rie asked.
June, after being hard, finally let out a soft sigh. "Yeah, I guess you are right."
…...
"Oi. Just how long are going to be like that?" Ryoma roughly asked to Misaki whose eyes were closed as she curled on the seat in front of him.
"I am afraid of heights okay? So just shut it!" Misaki uttered still in closed eyes.
"This is not a roller coaster, this is a Ferris wheel." Ryoma basically said in cat-like eyes.
"Still. It has heights." Misaki stated.
"If you were afraid then why did you ask us to ride here?" He asked.
"I wanted to overcome my fear!" Misaki answered.
"But you aren't going to overcome your fear just like that." Ryoma monotonously said.
"Yes I can!"
"No you can't"
"Yes!"
"No."
"I'm telling you I can!" Misaki angrily uttered opening her eyes and standing right before Ryoma.
Ryoma looked back at her with cunning eyes. "Fine. Then look at the window."
Misaki, pissed, rapidly looked at the window and soon enough her overall body shivered and her face paled up. "Ha—ha-HIGH!" Misaki squealed turning back to her seat in weakness.
Ryoma laughed after watching her which annoyed Misaki a lot.
"Baka." Ryoma strongly uttered as he stare upon Misaki with his head leaning upon his hand. "You aren't going to overcome your fear like that. Look closer."
Misaki angrily looked back at Ryoma. "Stop fooling me you little dog!" She fought back but halted as she saw Ryoma's eyes looking back at her. It was all playful yet…sincere.
She sighed. "What is it to me if I look into the window?" She asked like a little child trying to ask some pity.
Ryoma sighed. "Who knows? Why don't you try and find out?" He uttered in slight annoyance.
Misaki gulped and tried to peek unto the world below her once again. Suddenly out of fear, she saw nothing but a very beautiful scenery before her.
"Su-sugoi!" She finally expressed as she saw a world of stars below her. She further leaned unto the window. "It seems like the world is so small up here…"
She smiled as her fears starts to fade away. "So it is like this. This is the good way to overcome my fear huh Ryoma?" She assumed looking back to the person in front of her.
Suddenly a spark caught up the eyes of Misaki and made her lean before the window once again. "Ki-kire!" She uttered as she let the colorful fireworks bedazzled her.
"Neh, Ryoma-kun look! There's fireworks!" Misaki stated in bliss.
Ryoma glanced at the scenery before them then looked right back at Misaki. "Hai…" He uttered in his unusual self as his eyes deeply looks upon Misaki who was happily looking right before the fireworks and the scenery before them.
He placed his hands deep within his pockets. Somewhere inside it was the silver snowflake necklace he found at the shopping center. He held at it…then released it.
"NEh…where is it?" Misaki asked, now looking at him, and reaching an open hand which somehow confused him.
"Nani?"
"Don't act dumb! I know you have a gift to me… where is it?" Misaki asked in full confidence.
Ryoma stared back at her with cat-like eyes. "Dream on." He uttered. "Why should I give you a gift?" He continued.
"Eh?" Misaki's face sank from hope. Then stood up at once, scratching her head in embarrassment. "W-WH-WELL…you are...right…I mean…you really didn't need to…I mean…it was me who was supposed to give you a gift…after all it is my—"
"Ah-look." Ryoma diverted the topic as he arrowed the crescent moon shining unto the sky. "UFO"
"EEE-EEE? REALLY!" Misaki rapidly turned her gaze unto the sky but found nothing but stars, moon, and the scenery below. She looked back at Ryoma with heated eyes. "Are you playing with me?"
"Ah, you did not see it? Too bad." Ryoma whistled looking outside.
"STOP MESSING WITH ME!" Misaki rages as she hammered her fist repeatedly towards Ryoma while at the same time, Ryoma playfully blocks it all away.
"Here!" Misaki suddenly reached the White and Lavender Columbine flower Ryoma gave her awhile ago. "Even though I know it all came from June, Rie, and Liara…I wanted you to give this to me properly."
Ryoma looked the other way. "Why should I-"
"-Because it's my birthday!" Misaki strongly demanded, suppressing Ryoma's stubbornness.
Ryoma seriously looked back at her, and then heaved a sigh. "I am not supposed to do this but…" Then he knelt down in front of Misaki, releasing her hands in the process. "I wanted an unlimited order of chawanmushi."
The little princess didn't seem to understand what was happening as before her eyes were her prince kneeling affectionately before her.
Ryoma looked right back at Misaki with tricky eyes. "And you are demanding birthday present."
With Misaki's sincere eyes as his cue, he bowed his head down and offered the Columbine back unto his princess once again.
"Happy Birthday…neko-chan…" He stated playfully yet smoothly like it has been Tsubasa who has said it to her.
Misaki couldn't help but see it. Tsubasa. She knows… she knows it was Ryoma…but like in her dream, he all acted like…he was him. Without further ado, both of her hands held the hand of Ryoma holding the columbine, bowed her head down, and smiled.
It's the greatest day of my life…
I saw him with me under the moonlight.
We flew above the whole city of Tokyo…
And with fireworks in the sky, I saw his hazel eyes sparkle with mine.
Reality and Fantasy finally intertwined…
And I never imagined that it all happened here…
Tokyo Magical Amusement Park….
And within Misaki's lips…curved a very deep and happy smile.
It truly is…the most magical place in the world…
I DO NOT OWN PRINCE OF TENNIS!
And again...THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING THIS!
This, I say, is actually LONG! I mean it myself. It's about 23 pages of Microsoft word! woah! :ooo
I really am sorry for making it this long...and so on and so on...
I think i owe you people a lot...
Maybe I'll make the next chapter short...if ever I could do it...haha...
Anywayz please review! -And thank you so much for supporting RyoSaki!
We love you!
From us to you!
Belated Happy Birthday to Misaki...
and Happy Halloween Everyone! :D