MAPOV
April 14, 2013…
It had been already little more than a month and a half that Minako had stayed over my place…
It was already nearing April 16, Akihiko's boxing match and Akihiko gave the gang and I some front row tickets.
So I arranged a beach trip, for just Minako and me…
I decided to call Yukari, to see if she was interested to come with us.
"Hello?" a sweet, lilac voice asked.
"Hello, it's Minato…" I said.
"Minato! Hello! How's my little angel?" she asked.
"She's fine… she's having lots and lots of fun… and I want to take her out to the beach today, if that's alright…" I asked.
She paused for a minute, presumably to think…
"Ummmm…. I dunno…" she said.
"Aw c'mon! You can come too, if you really want!" I said.
I was DESPARATE to spend a summer day at the beach with my one and only baby girl… I'm referring to Minako by the way...
"Really? Okay, then I'll prepare my things! I'll be there in a few minutes…" she said.
Well… I asked for one, I get two…
I went over to Minako, who was enjoying a cup of ramen I made for her using a recipe from Lee's grandma.
"Hey baby…" I greeted her.
She took a big gulp out of the bowl.
"I'm fine, Daddy… Haha! That guy got hit in the head with a coconut!" she said.
"Good… Because your Mommy and I would like to take you to the beach." I said.
"Beach?" she asked confusedly.
"Beach! The beach?" I said, hoping that would ring a bell.
She still seemed puzzled.
"I'll show you later, sweetie…" I said as I went to prepare our stuff.
After I packed the sunscreen and towels, Yukari rang the doorbell.
I heard Minako giggle.
I ignored the snickering and opened, rather I wrenched the door out of my way, ridiculously eager, and there she was…
She looked as stunning as when I first saw her…
Well, even though she pointed a gun at me and threatened to shoot my brains out…
Time had not made me immune to the perfection of her face…
And I was sure that I'd never take any aspect of her for granted…
My eyes traced over her pale white features and flawless face…
The gentle curve of her jaw and the even softer curve of her full lips- twisted in a smile every now and then- the straight line of her nose,
The sharp angle of her cheekbones, and the smooth limestone glow of her forehead, partially obscured by the crescent shape of her sun-kissed bronze hair…
I saved her eyes for last, knowing that when I'd looked at it, I was likely to lose my sanity.
They were wide and bright, warm with liquid bronze and framed by a thicket of long black eyelashes…
Staring into her eyes always made me feel extraordinary- sort of like my bones turning spongy and flimsy, like a noodle...
I was also lightheaded, but it could be because I had forgotten to keep breathing…
Again…
Time and time again…
YTPOV
After I had received the call from Minato, I quickly gathered my beach wear.
Then, I rode into my car to Minato's place…
I felt sad that he would be going with Minako only…
Then, elated when he invited me…
As I impatiently ran upstairs to his unit, I briskly clicked the door bell.
And, he opened the door…
He gave me such… a look…
Like a blind man seeing light for the first time,
Or when two lovers, after years of separation, meet again…
He had a face that any male model in this world and the next would trade his soul for…
Though, he already had usedtwo souls…
No… I didn't believe that.
I felt guilty for even thinking that…
And I was glad; as I often was, that I will always be in Minato's heart…
Forever…
I unwittingly reached for his hand, and sighed when his strong, firm and… cold fingers found mine…
His touch brought with it the strangest sense of relief, as if in pain then suddenly ceased…
"Hey…" I said in a dream like way…
He raised our interlocked fingers to brush a lock of hair that strayed to my face, to the back of my ear.
It just… melted me.
"How was your drive going here?" he asked.
I felt… hesitant.
"Mmmm… slow…" I breathed.
"Well… I just called you, like, ten minutes ago…" he breathed in my ear.
"Still…too slow…" I said.
"Yeah… too slow for me too…" he said as he drew closer…
And closer…And closer…
Till we could feel each other's warmth…
MAPOV
We were on the verge of kissing,
Then…
"Mommy!" Minako interrupted our almost kiss.
She turns to Minako and smiled.
"Hey baby!" she said as she lifts Minako.
"Mommy! Don't lift me, I'm too big now!" she pleads.
Yukari pouted.
"Well, someone's certainly a big girl now? What's Daddy been feeding you?" she inquired while giving me a look.
"Fwuits and veggies." She said simply.
"Huh…" she shrugged.
"Okay, if we wait here and chat, it'll be night time real soon…" I said.
"Okay… let's go!" she said.
Minako and Yukari brought our stuff while I carried the food and the large cooler.
They both held hands as Yukari asked about her stay.
"So… what does Daddy let you do?" She asked.
"Daddy lets me watch Discovery channel, Sesame Street and Fox news…"she said.
"Does he let you play?" she asked cautiously.
"Yes… we play a game where we beat each other…." She began.
"Beat each other?" she asked furiously while looking at me with a wild look in her eyes.
"Beat each other in cleaning our rooms… Daddy always helps me though…" she continued.
I beamed at Yukari.
She gave me a skunk eye…
"Did he teach you anything useful?" she asked condescendingly.
"Daddy taught me how to boil an egg using a water heater and how to cook hotdogs in a rice cooker…" she said.
Yukari looked at me as if she was tired or something…
Yeah… a Lady holding a bag of clothes looking tired while a single father carries a big cooler and a basket of food…
Women…
"What time does he let you sleep, baby? Does he play with you?" she asked.
"Daddy always plays with me and lets me sleep at 9 o' clock…" Minako said as she skipped.
"Ah…" Yukari giving me another look…
Did I do something wrong?
YTPOV
Why is he doing this to me?
He seems like the perfect father…
When I asked Minako those questions, I felt… like I raised her wrong…
When I asked her what he feeds her she said fruits and veggies…
Score one for Yukari…
When I asked her what they do, and she said cleaning the house together…
Score one for Minato…
When I asked her what he taught her, and she said something about the water heater and the rice cooker…
Score two for Minato…
The only thing I ever taught her was that if she spills something, put newspaper…
Although, in hindsight, it was a bit foolish of me to suggest that when she spilled glue on the carpet…
Well, when I asked what time she sleeps, and she said nine, I almost cried…
Score three for Minato…
Well… Yukari-1 Minato-3…
That sums it…
He's the better parent…