In the box, was a stuffed bunny. A brown bunny with a white and pink poorly stitched muzzle and brown eyes with its head separated from its body. Stuffing oozing out from the bunny's head.
Mina made a twisted expression of horror and confusion, "What is this?" She turns to Sakura who has a scared look in her eyes.
"What is that?" Mina said in disgust.
Sakura sat still like a deer in headlights and just stared at the box.
"There's something else is in the box.", as she said this she began reaching in the box and found a card that read:
Happy 7th Birthday my little Sakura.
I see you are very big now.
I am sad that you did not want to spend your birthday with me.
But it's okay, I still love you.
Hope to see you soon.
-Daddy
After reading Mina threw it back in the box and took the box in her arms., Sakura gripped onto Mina's sleeve and asked, "What are you going to do with the box?"
"I am going to show it to Misaki, she needs to know about this." Mina removed Sakura's fingers from her shirt and ran to where Misaki was, in her room talking on the phone with Satsuki about what they were going to do today for Sakura's birthday.
"Well you only met her a year ago, but yes it does feel like my little girl is growing up. Yes, yes I can't wait for you to see her to, even though it has only been a couple of days." Giggling, "She also can't wait to taste your cake."
Mina, listened to Misaki's present conversation for a while before tugging on her shirt.
Still on the phone she turned to look at her and saw that she was carrying a box, not fully aware of what was in it she asked, "Is that for Sakura?" She said as she patted her head.
"Yes, and I need you to get off the phone right now." Her voice very insistent
A bit surprised she listened to her and went back to her phone call,"Satsuki, i'm going to need to call you back...Yes everything is okay...see you at the party, bye."
After she hung the phone up she looked down at Mina, "What's wrong?"
She took a deep breath and exhaled incoherent sentences, "WellaboxcameandNanagotitandshethoughtit wasapresentfrompapabutthenitwasn'tbecausethecardsaiditwasfromherDaddybutIdidn'tevenknowshehadadaddyandthepresentwassowierdtowhywouldadaddygetherthatand-"
Failing to understand a single word that came out from her mouth she interrupted her. Misaki gently placed her hand on her shoulder, "Take another deep breath and calm down, talk slower for me okay."
She took another deep breath and this time exhaled carbon dioxide, as she then nudged her with the box in her hands directing her to get it.
As she got the box and lifted its ripped tabs Misaki was horrified at what she saw. The bunny head was almost empty of stuffing. Only its ears had its shape so far, from Mina rushing over to her the box was now filled with white fluffy cotton. Already knowing but afraid the answer might be the same she asked, "Where did you get this?"
"Ugh, were you not listening!? From the front door! The card said it was from Sakura's dad!" Her hands on Misaki's arm, Mina pulled her closer to her chest insistently. "We need to go to Sakura! She got scared and went to her room!"
Horror spread across her face she grimly asked, "Sakura saw it?"
"Yees! Gosh why don't you listen to me!" Pulling her more insistently now.
Together the pair rushed upstairs to Sakura's door, holding back her tears she knocked on her door.
Lightly knocking, "Sakura, honey, are you okay."
Hearing the knocks from inside the room Sakura chanted to herself, Big girls don't cry, They smile for mommy. After repeating this for the 5th time she wiped her tears, opened the door, and smiled for her mommy. "I'm okay, hey, for my present I want to cut my hair."
Seeing her smile only made the pair feel worse. Misaki softly pat her head and kneeled down to her level, while all Mina could do was watch.
Concerned she stroked her ponytail, "Sakura, honey, why do you want to do that? Your hair is so pretty."
She put both hands on her mother's shoulders, "Because I want the hair that you had when you were little."
In the midst of holding back her tears her voice became raspy as she forced a smile, "Okay." she hugged her tightly afraid of letting go.
Back at Walker Corporations going up the elevator Mikio was bombarding Takumi with numerous questions.
Clinging to his arm, "Why were you eating with that ex-waitress? Is she the reason you haven't been eating with me? Are you interested in her? Why are you ignoring me? Are we not friends anymore? Why couldn't you just tell me that you were going out to eat with someone else?"
He removes her from his arm, "Please stop." The elevator reached their destination and he walked out in front of her.
She pulled him by his arm, "Aren't I good enough any more?"
He sighed, "You are being very pathetic right now. Why can you not understand that I am not interested in you in the slightest."
Distraught she asks, "You love her, don't you?"
"Yes. Now leave me alone." He walked ahead of her to the direction of his office ignoring every word that came out of her spiteful mouth. Behind him he heard her screaming.
"How can you love her if you just met her!? What happened to all your love being only for your daughter!?"
Closing his office door behind him he calls human resources, "Yes, human resources. Yes hello….Good afternoon to you too...Can you fire Mikio Nakamura, reason being she is disturbing the peace of my company screaming in the hallways forgetting her worth ethics. Yes thank you, have a nice day."
He half-smiled and started thinking to himself. 'I am go glad Misaki is going to have a nice place to live in now. But I have to think about what to get Sakura for her birthday. Hmmm...what kind of things does she like.' He woke up his computer from sleep mode and searched online. 'Maybe a tablet...no, she wouldn't know what to do with it. Maybe another stuffed animal, she did like the raccoon I got her.' Thinking to himself for a long moment it came to him, ' A tea set! Every girl needs a tea set. She needs a new one.' He went on with his time looking for a tea set since there was a little down time. Before he has to continue working on all the data concerning his strategy and direction that he wants to take his company, where he later has to present to his investors.
Before going to Satsuki's house Misaki took Sakura to get her hair cut.
The Hairdresser sat Sakura in her chair and lowered the seat with her foot, "How short do you want me to cut your hair?"
She placed the side of her hand 2 inches below her ear to indicate how short she wanted it.
While waiting for the hairdresser to be done a lady waiting for her turn started talking to Misaki.
"Are these girls your daughters?"
She hesitated for a second, "Yes." deciding not to explain the situation because that would be to much of a hassle she just agreed.
"Wow, they are such beautiful girls." The lady turned to the little girl sitting next to her leaning on Misaki's shoulder. "What is your name?"
Uninterested she answered, "Mina Walker." as she got up from her seat and went to stand in front of Sakura who was still in the middle of getting her haircut.
"Guess what?" She started, knowing Sakura would be interested in this guessing game.
Lifting her head according to the hairdresser, "Mommy got me a dog?"
She started teasing her, "No, but mommy said that I am her favorite daughter, and the lady over next to her said I was cute."
Sakura blew up her cheeks like balloons, "If you take her then I will take your daddy" She crossed her arms putting her head straight.
"You can have him, just as long as I have a cute and nice Mommy like Misaki."
She pouted childishly, "I was just kidding." She started whining ," I don't want a weird Daddy like Takumi. He always smells and he doesn't tell bedtime stories right."
A light bulb turned on in Mina's head, "How about we leave him and just have Misaki as our mom only."
"I am done with your hair do you want to see?"
She answered yes and as she was happy with her haircut they went on to their destination.
Situated in a nice apartment he sits. He sits crossing his legs with his elbows on the table hearing as he responds to what he is listening to. The blabbing of his lawyer annoyed him but he knew playing it safe to some degree will get him to where he needs to be.
"Mr. Shintani, now that you have filled your answer to your wife's 'Complaint for Dissolution of Marriage' stating that you disagree to her terms and want full custody of your daughter. The temporary hearing will take place about 3 months from now."
He smiled deviously, "3 months is all I need."
"You need to do what I told you to do." The lawyer slid a picture across the table.
Hinata placed his drink on top of the picture, "Yes, I know. I hope she liked her birthday present, I can't wait to see her."
Arriving to Satsuki's house she was decorating her front porch as Sakura crept behind her. She hugged her from behind which startled her.
Startled she turned around, as she saw it was Sakura and not Aoi playing a prank on her she smiled and hugged her. "Happy Birthday Sakura", she said pulling her into a tight hug.
A muffled 'Thank you' came out because she was being squished, "Sathuki,youth squithing me."
She pulled away from her hug, "You cut your hair!? It's so pretty, but why did you cut it?"
Mina came out of nowhere and started teasing her, "I know, it looks ugly doesn't it?"
Surprised she said, "Mina, you came? Where is your dad?"
"He's not here, I came with my mommy."
Sakura crossed her arms, "She is my mommy to, we made a deal!"
"What deal?" acting as if she doesn't remember.
"Why do you always do that!?" Her cheeks became balloons as they blew up.
Pointing at her, "You make fun of me all the time, and be a dumb banana!"
"That's not very nice to bananas, you know they have feelings to. Besides I rather be a dumb banana then a girl who is selfish."
"You are selfish! And also-"
Misaki interrupted Sakura, "Just put a sock in it!" Misaki demanded
Both girls said 'Sorry' and the small party began. Using Satsuki's house phone Mina called her friends houses and after a while Kaito, Viola, Alisa, and Adrian arrived to party. Together they played games, ate pizza and had lots of fun. After 3 hours of hyper children, chatting parents, and cake and ice cream, it was time for the fun to end as everyone left back home.
As the only ones left Misaki kneeled down to Sakura's level and asked her in a serious tone, "Do you wanna continue the party in a nice apartment? It will be just me, you and Mina."
She nodded her head, "Like a sleep over?"
"Yes, With a movie and popcorn"
Mina added ideas, "And candy to?"
"I will think about that."
Both girls were happy and they went into the car to go back home and get their things. After doing that they went to the apartments from the inside they looked very prim and polished. Going to the floor that is written on a paper attached in the back of the key, opening the door was like the entrance to a whole new world.
The view was spectacular, and there were two rooms. The living room only had a couch so the girls decided to continue their party in the main bedroom where there was a large flat screen television and a king sized bed. They did get the popcorn and movie that they were promised, but to bad for Mina no candy.
As Takumi entered the key into the lock and opened the door, inside, the house was very dark and empty. He turned on the lights to the living room and went upstairs to see the girls who were alway awake past their bedtime like always. Walking upstairs he was surprised to see that there was no light coming from under the door. He knocked and seeing as no one answered he took the liberty to let himself in. Turning to his right, the bed was made perfectly. Everything from the mouse on the mousepad looked like the person inhabiting the room has not been there for a while.
He took a deep breath and sighed, "Maybe they are in Sakura's room."
He left the room closing the bright pink door behind him and went next door to Sakura's room. Going inside the plain room it was the same as the last. He turned on the lights and the whole room came to life, looking at the white sheets and the empty chair next to her bed, it was like the room was trying its hardest to tell him something. Looking into the closet he finally pieces everything together as to why the green blanket was not on the bed, and how Mr. Raccoon wasn't in his place on the chair.
"How can Misaki do this to me, how can she leave the house without telling me beforehand. Ugh! Where is Mina."
He went through the service rooms swinging doors to the men's quarters and knocked on the main driver's door. Upon answer Takumi quickly asked, "Where did the girls go, do you know!?"
Still half asleep he answered, "They went to a sleepover." Wiping the drool from his face he added, "They left a note, I forgot where…5 more minutes." Closing the door behind him the driver was about to go back to sleep when behind him he heard a more rougher knock on his door which woke him fully up from his half sleepiness.
"What sleepover!?" he angrily insisted
"I am not sure, but I helped them put their luggages in Misaki's car, there is a note on your nightstand and-"
He calmed down and politely excused him to bed. "Thank you, you may go back to sleep"
He calmly walked to his room, and removed his tie tossing it aside as he began to read the note.
"So they all went to sleep over at my apartment, but why? Knowing her it would have taken her more time to cave into my suggestion."
He called Misaki's cellphone, and just as she answered the first thing he said was, "Can you pass it to Sakura?"
His phone call was very pleasant. Sakura thanked him for calling but still lectured Takumi for not going to her party, he begged for forgiveness telling her that he got her a present, Sakura got excited and asked him what it was, he said it was a surprise. Then Mina gave him a condensed summary of how they spent her birthday. Finally Misaki thanked him for the apartment, but made sure to tell him that she is not going to keep it, he interrupted her telling her to just keep it already since one day they will get married and that will be her house anyways, even if they don't get married he was going to give it to her for her birthday, though he asked her when was it. Over on his side of the phone he was smiling like an idiot the whole time. Hearing the girls argue over something trivial made him chuckle and Misaki hung up the phone so she could break it up. That day became, the best birthday Sakura had in 2 years. Not being hurt or scared with her bruises that are now gone, not feeling like the whole move was her fault, best of all she had a best friend, her mother who cared for her more than anything in the world, and even smelly Usui.
Like the pervert Takumi is, he changed into his pajamas and went to Misaki's room glad that she left for the night. He turned on the lights to her room, shut the door, and sat on the edge of her bed running his fingertips along the covers.
He sighed remembering the incident back at his office with Mikio, "You know, I really do love you. I loved you ever since highschool, and I loved you even more when I met you again."
*Flashback*
It was sunny outside as summer started approaching. Meridian lost an employee due to personal reasons. Just days after Satsuki had put up the 'Help Wanted' poster a women came in asking for the job.
Satsuki walked up to to my table and sat down across from him, "We got a new girl today, the little girl she came with was so cute! She had black hair and she had a little backpack with her. The women, her mother, she was very beautiful to. I feel like I have seen her before, but oh well. She was overqualified for the job, she studied to become a lawyer."
Confused I looked at her and asked her, "A lawyer?" I couldn't help but think, who in this world would study, graduate from a university, and then decided to become a waitress. It is not a bad job, but it is a waste of effort and time. "When does she start?"
"I told her to come in tomorrow so we can test her on how well she can serve customers and such, And, well, I wanted to ask you since you come here every time it's your lunch break can we test her on you?"
'Test her on me? You sound like a pervert, though I wouldn't mind. I am curious about this person who threw away her time to become this.'
"...tomorrow the other girls are going to be busy with rush hour, and on how loyal you are, you won't ever leave."
"Okay, deal. But my food is on the house okay?" I smirked at how fun this was going to be, and I am glad that I wasn't wrong.
'Sitting down in my usual spot I waited in anticipation. Mikio wanted to come again, it was hard to shake her off. Sometimes I wish that she wasn't so clingy. How does she look? Calm down stupid Takumi. This is not a date, you just came here to help Satsuki.'
"Hello Sir. may I take your order?"
That's when it occurred to me, 'I know her from somewhere. She looks very different, but I know her from somewhere.' "No you may not, can you come back in 10 minutes."
Just as she took 3 steps away from my table I called her back, "Yes waitress, waitress. I am ready now."
Her face was so funny, her face flushed a light shade of pink as she turned around to face me. At that time she reminded me of a girl I fell in love with in high school. She used to blush the same way as her. "What would you like to eat?"
"A BLT sandwich with strawberry lemonade."
'Her forced smile became genuine, did saying my order to her make her happy? Maybe she was hungry and wants to eat that to. Why am I caring so much?'
'Walking back with my order she walks almost confident, has she worked this position before?'
"Here is your order." Her smile was bright but the shine in her eyes were weak, as if she was somewhere else. 'What world are you in?'
"Taste my drink before I drink it, you might of tried to poison me." Again she made a cute face, but there was a frown.
"Why would I poison you? I am trying to keep this job, so can you please stop bothering me."
I understood then, that she...is different. She did not want me for my looks, my money, or my status like every other women. She rejected me. I still can't figure out why that made me happy, but I guess it is in human nature to want things that you can't have. Little did I know, that later on this women who I thought was foolish for throwing away her lawyer title, would mean so much to me.
Covering himself with Misaki's blankets he fell into a deep slumber dreaming beautiful dreams.