Wow! The seminar didn't turn into what am I usually expecting, which is, boring let's commit hara-kiri. Anyway, I spend half of my time ogling at our speaker, Carl E. Balita. Haha! Big deal peeps. I've seen him before. And the remaining is for shouting at anyone who dares to ask if who's the long, haired, anime guy I keep on sketching at middle of the lecture. Poor kids. Too deprived by FoR info because they keep on watching the blasted anime. But anyway, here's my update, and I hope with all my might that you'll love it. . .
TuckingFypo: Poor Marie. I didn't have any intention to include her at all! It was December's fault! Hehe!
Suryasree: That's one of the best part of being an adult. Alcohol. Lots and lots of alcohol. . . I'm drooling again! Oi, oi. Is this a sign of substance abuse?!
Satomika: Hehe! I don't know how old is she, try to ask her yourself. Kazryle-kawaii is also a nurse! So it's welcome to the white parade for most of us here. Hehe!
Pewww! I thought they are emos because if they are, then I'll be definitely ditching their song.
Really, you have a good voice? Why don't you join a band? Should have invited you to mine, but no vacancy. Gomen! Anyway, try Rain Sahara. I think they're looking for a female vocalist. (wink, wink)
Wala ba kayong comprehensive exam dyan sa school nyo? Because if there is none, then you are a lucky kid. Hehe!
EiRist: Don't! You might regret it. . .hehe!
STANDARD DISCLAIMER: Nobuyuki Anzai owns Flame of Recca. Not Sodium Nitrate.
My Parents Are Giving Me a Headache
By: Sodium Nitrate
Chapter Ten: The Best Gift So Far
The little disk that Koganei and Ganko shoved in his face, turned out to be a home made video. It was devoted entirely on why the Hokage should be invited to his birthday party. It enumerates invalid reason such as, individually showing off their worthless gift and how they practically own his souls, for not choking him up to death.
So, to make the story short, at nine o'clock in the evening, the Hokage are complete and present in Mikagami's lighted backyard.
The whole place is decorated formally, with circular tables and lights. All of his visitors are enjoying the orchestral music, which makes him wonders. Why the Hokage are's so keen to take an invitation from him, well in fact, as much as he can remember, they don't enjoy occasion such as this.
Whatever their reason is, Tokiya decided he doesn't give a single shit.
He's bored on his pants and hates the cooking scenario of this sickening party, his sister has given him. So bored and tired of the same strait line he's been living on in his everyday life. In fact, he's silently wishing the Hokage will burn up something to lighten up the mood. How weird is that?!
Everything felt like it's scripted and fake. He tried to smile but his muscle is so stiff, he's suspecting atrophy.
Damn it! He should be happy. . . It's his birthday anyway. All of the expensive gift they've been throwing at him, well, they all look promising.
He sighs and looks at his back. No December. Just Mifuyu mouthing the word, 'wait'. He nodded and averted his gaze again to a colleague that's standing on a small platform, blabbering his wishes for Tokiya's good health and long life.
Long life his ass. . . If he can read minds, they all want him dead anyway! Especially those who own a fair share of stock hold in their company.
He successfully stifled a yawn, but was lost at his will to turn around again. No Fuuko. Just a passing waiter with a platter of cold wines on his hand.
How ironic. . . The rut of all his evil, the alcohol. All night, he's been fighting the urge to grab one of those.
He sighs again. And when someone poked his broad back, he almost yells in delight after finding out that it's December.
"What toke you so long?" He tried to sound not so furious but his voice sounded a note too high.
She smiles as if she's been suffering too. Then she sits down to a chair beside him.
"I got stuck. "
Tokiya cocked an eyebrow, yet again, when she yawns and slumped at her old tired act. But today, he can definitely note a big difference. She's been wearing a dark brown velvet dress and matching block doll shoes. Her hair is curled and seems to grow by an inch or two. She looks good and he cannot help himself but to stare.
"What are you looking at?" She yelled at him after seeing that he's been observing her. She gave him the familiar icy glare, her father is famous about.
He smirked at her. The only kami-sama given action that he thinks will provoke a stoic personality such as December.
"Nothing. I thought you look like a real princess tonight."
She snorted and begun to roam her sky blue eyes on his visitors. For a moment their, he didn't see himself, for the first time, at her. He saw Fuuko's. "I toke a bath if that's what you're trying to imply. But I must state that I do not LOOK like a PRINCESS!"
"Just smile and let's get this over and done with, shall we?"
"Definitely, your highness."
They look at each other and they both laugh heartily. Once they started it, it's almost impossible to stop. But they did, eventually, because guess are beginning to stare. So they cough and turn their attention to the freshly served food.
"Where's your mom?" Oops, busted! He tried with all his might to look casual and be his usual uncaring self.
"She's having a problem with her dress. You know mom. She hated shopping and pick up dresses blind folded. Today she bought a tube dress that didn't fit her," She gesture her chest to Tokiya that almost choke. "But don't worry, she'll show up somewhere around, twelve o'clock.
He nodded and doesn't say anything again. He busied himself with the food and in bullying December on trying a variety of vegetables. But in the end, he realized that he doesn't want to hear the world starvation theory again, so he let him select her food.
"So, you did invite the Hokage?" She said suddenly.
"Yeah."
"Glad they're behaving huh?" She asked him again.
"Actually, I have been wishing all night that they would start a wrestling match here. I'm bored!" he exclaimed while rolling his eyes. The irony again. Here he was, having an adult conversation with his six years old daughter. When are they going to start cursing and swearing? It's much better that way.
She look at him with her eyebrows' on one line. "Who are you and what have you done to Tokiya?"
He was taken aback. He's not his self since this party has started. It must be really that boring. . . He thinks
"Where's Naoko, anyway?" He knows that somehow this will come. Hell, it's been flung to his face all night!
"She's in Paris. But look! She sent me a Rolex!" He held out his left arm to show her the gold plated watch.
"Now we're talking! That's the Tokiya I know!" She smiles at him sweetly and it taken him aback again. They both cannot recognize their selves anymore. "Hey, listen. It's time for my speech."
"What spe---."
He lose the chance to finish his sentence when, December stand up and walk towards the platform. Come to think of it, Mifuyu introduced her without even his realization!
The crowd went silent for a while (even the Hokage) but he can still hear a few whispers here and there. It was their first time to see Tokiya Mikagami's daughter so he cannot blame them. But anyway, that gossip has died down a long time ago at their office, and was replaced by a new story about a stupid microchip.
"Am, hey! I mean hi!" December started speaking at the microphone. "I'm not that good at speech and the like, so I've written a poem for the birthday celebrant."
Everybody oh-ed but Domon howled shamelessly to tears.
All the ladies may scream,
Mikagami, Mikagami,
You're as sweet as an ice cream!
They wanted you as their hubby,
Because of your new Jag probably.
But that didn't hide the fact,
That you're an asshole, are you not?
For me, that's not that bad,
Because I cannot deny, you're my dad.
Everybody went quite with their eyes corking upward, involuntarily. Tokiya, was readying himself, for a forehead smack, almost fainted when the crowd went wild with standing ovation and streaming eyes.
Oi, oi! How weird is that?
"Happy birthday Tokiya." December walk away and then pulled something heavy behind the stage decoration. It was a flat rectangular shape box that she single handedly carried on their table.
He excitedly claimed it, thinking of something funnier than her sardonic poem, but received a mighty blow of surprise when a large frame emerges at the gift wrapper. It wasn't just a frame. December painted a descent portrait, of him leaning on a red Jaguar. No one will ever believe that a six years old had made this. . .
A sticky note was place at the lower part of the big frame. It says, 'dada Recca said that Yan-chan has given you a caricature on your eighteenth birthday. Hey, I made you a real one. Hehe! I haven't slept for days and haven't taken a bath 'till now.'
He look at her after reading the message. She was standing their, with her little dress, looking so innocently fearful, he might reject her gift.
"These will definitely be going to my wall." He smiled at her.
"Really?" She asked him again as if her ears are deceiving her. When he nodded, she almost smile. "Well, I can give you a hug if you want. But you have to remember that both of our reputations are in line."
He found himself chuckling.
"Let's take the risk."
Faster than a bullet, she hugged him and he did the same. For another everyday father, this may seem a show of affection. But for Tokiya, this meant everything. . .
After a while they broke then cough again.
"Well, let's start again. Happy birthday, Tokiya."
"Why thank you, December." He offered his hand, fighting the urge to laugh.
She accepted it and they both shook it in front of an astounded guesses.
---
"May I remind you, that you're here because of Tokiya-nissan. Not flirting to anyone!"
"I'm not flirting! Koichi and I are just talking!"
Two teenagers are yelling at the side of the dance floor, causing a small commotion. The girl with a blonde hair is almost crying in frustration, while the boy with a brown hair is fuming with too much range.
Good thing, December is already soundly sleeping at Mifuyu's bed room.
----
She was wearing a black tube dress that's been flowing beneath her knees. It was expertly paired by another block, tree inches sandals with straps. Her long purple hairs are flowing freely and cold night airs are playing with a few strands.
Tokiya had stopped dead on is tract looking at newly arrived, Fuuko Kirisawa.
She was swaying her head, here and there, creating a disturbance on her soft hair. Her eyes are flashing with a mixture of innocent anxiousness and curiosity. He knows that she is looking for someone and it give him slight offense. It didn't help, though, because he's imagining he can smell his perfume despite their questionable distance.
There eyes had met after a few minutes. . .
To his surprise, she turns around and scuffled out of the dancing pairs with his ring tone in a clearer and louder version, lingering the whole place.
He decided to follow her. . .
"Fuuko, where are you going?" he demanded with authority while walking fast, trying to keep up on her athletic stamina in spite the eels.
"Going home." She answered him after they reach the part of their backyard that is ironically deserted that evening.
"Let me walk you to your car then." He offered her.
She stops on her track and turn to look at him. Her glistening lips are open slightly with too much amazement for some reason he doesn't even know.
"Why?" her word is almost un-audible to the man's ears. But then he manages to catch it somehow but he needed to decipher tat simple question first before answering. He voice out his confusion and it make her rolled her eyeballs before explaining, "Why are you acting as if noting stupid happen on the beach? I mean here I am been avoiding you as much as I can, while you act so cool and unfeeling towards it? Are you really is that piece of shit?"
He looked at her blazing eyes, trying to defy the answer she was expecting from him. And he found out that she's still the old Fuuko Kirisawa with un-decodable personality. "We're both drank, monkey. What do you expecting?"
She was taken aback by his answer, he can tell. Then she turns to leave again.
They walk again but this time with no much hurry. He's a little behind her but she doesn't protest this time. Every step they take, the slow music from his party, seems to distance itself away from them.
"How far are you're parking lot, Mi-chan? My legs are seizing up!" She protested after a while.
He snorted and she turns around again ready for a good retort or fight. He was tired too and he doesn't have the strength to dodge this time. So he just wished silently that she should realize that today is his special day.
The expected blow from her didn't come however, to his delight, instead she said, "Oh, your still keeping that bench?" She was pointing something behind his back and he reluctantly turn around to see what the hell is it so important in that damn bech.
When he saw it, he understood at last and nodded. . .
After the SODOM, Fuuko would sneak up in here just to talk to him. And that is there favorite part of the backyard. This is the only place that they can exercise the privacy, the Hokage has been depriving at the school's cafeteria during lunch. In fact, Fuuko had carved a, 'Mi-chan and Fuuko Forever' somewhere at the back rest. But the care taker, thankfully or unfortunately painted it maybe after learning that the Mikagamis are returning at this place.
"You're a cheap skater back then, remember?" She laughs, still looking at the bench while he's glowered at her. But if truth was about to be told, he really is a cheap skater back then.
On this bench, in front of their fountain and his resting mother's hydrangea bush, she had received her first gift from Tokiya, a sized small, superman t-shirt. . .
"Happy birthday Mi-chan." He turned around and found himself, face to face with a silver necklace that has a superman logo for a pendant. To his surprise, she's been also bestowing him sweet smiles.
Before he can even think he had hug her, muttering, "Thanks for keeping December, Fuuko."
From that position they heard a distance yell of, "Food fight!"
----
A/N: Hey there! Again. . . This time, I want you to answer some question for me . . . Number one: what is Tokiya's best gift so far? Number two: did you miss me at all? Hehe! Please leave your reviews for this chapter. . . Thankies!