A/N: whee! the second chapter is up and running! somehow. i feel as though the title is totally going to be out of point. –sighs- perhaps I should change it? okay. So everyone who voted, exception of one, wanted tofuu. Hees. So Tofuu it shall be! okay. so. Hope you pple will enjoy this chap! please r/r!! thank-you list below.
disclaimer: i can only wish for the rights to this anime. and obviously, i don't own it. but i can dream, right?
+Pole Dancer+
"What the hell is going on here?!"
The slave-master stopped in his efforts to control the struggling girl, glaring curiously at the gentleman. Fuuko, oblivious to it all, continued in her desperate attempts to free herself from the thick arms upon which she was seized.
The slave-master finally recognized the gentleman. "Mister… Mr. Mikagami!" he sputtered.
Seizing the chance to break free, Fuuko dug her elbows hard into the monster's ribs.
The monster yelped in pain and let go of her.
Her tears stopped flowing and she had only one thought.
Mummy!
She tried to flee in the direction of her mother, her heart beating wildly against her chest. But it was too late. A crowd of curious passerby's had surrounded them in a tight circle, mumbling and gossiping.
Fuuko spun around, the last trace of hope dashed from her heart.
Will this man make me go back with that monster? Tasukete, Kami-sama!
Mikagami-san watched the young girl with interest. She was probably no more than ten, but already she had a strong fighter's spirit. She was thin with tattered clothes and a haunting look brooded in her eyes. What could have caused such a disturbance in a young child's growth?
Turning his deep brown eyes onto the slave-master, he said calmly, "Explain youself for this behaviour."
Stammering slightly, the monster replied, "I… I, Mikagami-san, this child is my, my daughter. She was helping me do some… work on the construction of your house when she suddenly flared up into a temper and ran away. I tried to bring her back but she wouldn't listen."
Of course the slave-master had every reason to lie to the richest man in Tokyo. If the man was to find out he was forcing Fuuko into child labour, he could forget all about the big dreams of making it rich one day. No, it would be jail for him.
Fuuko stared up at the man incredulously. How could he lie like that! Flaming, she shouted, "You liar! You're not my father! My father's dead! And I wish you were too! You forced me to work at the construction site! I had no say, and neither do the other children there! I want my Oka! Bring me back to her!"
Mikagami cocked his silver-brown head slightly. "I take it the child is telling lies, then?" a fake smile widened across his handsome face.
"Yes, yes sir! She's lying. She has no mother." The man said hurriedly.
Fuuko gasped. I'm not lying! I'm not! Why doesn't he believe me? Mummy… Help me…
"Mr. Yamamoto, you are fired. The police will see to it that you are properly dealt with." Mikagami said simply. Coolly, he walked towards the young girl, ignoring the slave-master's pleas and arguments as a couple of police patrollers arrested him.
Fuuko backed away, frightened of what this man would do to her. He was powerful, no doubt. With one word, he could jail a monster! She gazed up at him, and whispered, "I want my Oka…"
Mikagami stopped moving. Her words had touched his heart in a way he had only felt for his own children, Tokiya and Mifuyu. He smiled gently and knelt down to be eye-level with her.
"I won't hurt you, dear girl. Come, I'll bring you to find your mother." He raised his outstretched arms, hoping the girl would trust him and allow him to carry her to her mother.
Fuuko frowned.
Can I trust this man? Men aren't to be trusted. But he's my only way of getting back to Oka.
Decisively, she took a few small steps towards him. Ignoring his gesture of carrying her, she stood in front of him awkwardly before taking his long sleeve in her own petite palm.
Mikagami looked at the little child with a strange expression on his face. Had the slave-master really impacted her so much, then? Apparently, she feared touch. Mikagami smiled sadly. So many abandoned children of today, the least he could do was to help this one.
Fuuko dragged the tall gaunt man to the bar in the alley and let go of him suddenly. She ran into the bar, shouting wildly, "Oka!" Mikagami followed her hurried footsteps and gazed about in wonder at the pathetic sight before him. Drunken, loud men crowded around tiny tables, drooling disgustingly while watching scantily clad ladies dance on the tables. He winced in disgust and wondered out loud, "This is where her mother is?"
He finally found the little girl, huddled in a corner with another pretty-looking pole dancer. They were crying softly and whispering words of comfort to each other.
He bowed slightly in greeting. The girl turned her tear-soaked face towards him and mumbled a quiet, "Arigato."
He smiled and the lady he assumed was her mother stood up.
"Thank you… Mister…" She left her sentence trailing.
"Mikagami. And you are…?" He replied politely.
"Mister Mikagami. I am Miss Kirisawa Midori. Thank you so much for helping my Fuuko." She smiled gratefully.
"It was nothing, Miss Kirisawa." Mikagami contemplated her name. He was to address her as a Miss, no doubt, but where was the young girls' father? Could he leave her with her mother to live like this? In such a disgraceful area? No, he could not. It may not be his right to meddle and probe into the Kirisawa's family's affairs, but to leave a young girl in a bar was morally wrong. A sudden idea struck his head.
Smiling at his idea, he asked Midori quickly, "Miss Kirisawa, may I discuss some things with you?"
Midori frowned and walked off with him to a quieter corner in the bar. Fuuko stared at the two adults deep in conversation. She watched curiously as the man called Mikagami explained some things to her dear mother, and as her mother exclaimed in delight.
What is going on? Dare I sneak up on them and listen?
Before Fuuko could make up her mind, the pair returned, both smiling and nodding in agreement.
Midori ran to Fuuko and grabbed her tightly and swung her around.
"Oh Fuuko! We have much to thank Mr. Mikagami for!" she squealed in relief and bliss.
Mikagami smiled. "It is my pleasure, Ma'am."
Fuuko frowned. "What?" she said simply.
Mikagami's smile grew broader. "I have offered your mother a job at my company, with the condition that she allows you to stay with me and my two children in our house. I will raise you like my own child and give you the education that every child needs. Your mother will work at my company for the money she needs, and it will be up to her to decide if she wants to stay in my house or live on her own. Of course, you will see your mother as often as you possibly can."
Her heart wrenched in initial shock. "I- I am to have a new father!?" she gasped.
No, I don't want another father. Please. No!
Mikagami laughed. "No, dear child. I am not going to be your new father but a guardian who will help to raise you. Is this alright with you, Fuuko-chan?"
Although his reply was the least bit hesitant, his mind clouded over again. Why did this girl had such a fear of fathers, men, and touch? A dozen thoughts raced through his mind.
As the information suck into Fuuko's head, she smiled. "You're not joking." She stated obviously.
This man is so nice to mummy and I. He can't possibly be a bad guy, right? It's the first time in along time anyone has ever asked me my opinion too. He is a nice man!
The adults laughed again.
"No, I am not, Fuuko-chan. I thought at first your mother might take this as pity and charity and refuse. But luckily, she understands I only want what's best for you." Mikagami explained.
"Thank you so, so much, Mr. Mikagami. I'm so sorry to trouble you like this, really, but I am grateful too."
The two grown-ups dispensed with the formalities and Midori went to pack up her things while Fuuko and Mr. Mikagami went to get the limousine.
They neared the large, sleek car and Fuuko noticed two other young children hovering around it. The boy looked about a year older than her and the girl looked around twelve. The boy had stunning blue eyes and his hair was a dashing silver-brown. His body was lean and his face cute. The girl looked a lot like him, and had a very pretty and petite face. She was slim and her brown hair flowed down her nice dress.
"Otosan!" They shouted as they saw him. "Where were you? We've been waiting ages!"
Seeing Fuuko, they stopped in mid-sentence. Their father explained as best he could what had occurred, and introduced Fuuko to his children.
Mifuyu smiled and waved at her. "This is going to be fun!" she smiled and welcomed her.
Fuuko cracked a smile and waved shyly back. The girl seemed nice enough.
She felt a curious gaze upon herself and she shifted her head such that she could see who was watching her. It was the boy called Tokiya, and he gazed at her with such intensity Fuuko felt like hiding and telling him to shove off. But she neither hid nor shouted, and stared back at him with the same gaze he held.
All of a sudden, the intense look stopped, and Tokiya stuck his tongue out at her.
Dumbfounded, Fuuko made a monkey face back at him.
Strangely enough, Tokiya broke into a grin and laughed.
He's weird!
Fuuko wondered at him. Mifuyu was right after all.
This was indeed going to be interesting.
-=-=-=-
A/N: okay! finally done! please r/r pple! I suddenly realize I've nvr done a raifuu in all my years of fic-writing. Hmm. I'm weird. Okay. I love reviews! Bcos they inspire me. hahas. –hinthint- I'll update sooner if I get more reviews! Hees. Shameless lil me.
thank-yous…
No one in particular: well. i do hope you like this chapter ok? hahas. tofu is nice! I mean the couple tofu of corse. But tofu aint too bad either. Hehes. So here it is. Tofuu. Hope you enjoy it and thanx for the review!
JamJam-chan: heyy thanks for that nice review. Okay, you got it. Tofuu coming right up!
Khay: haha. Gomen nasai! I've raised it to PG13. here! I've updated. Thankx for the review and I hope u enjoy this fic too!
Kaze Yurei: thanks for that nice review! Hahas. so here it is! Tofuu! Hope u'll enjoy this chappie!
Kohaku: hees. Its made tofuu! Thanks for the review! Hope this chap is up to standard.
Ranka: okie! Its tofuu! Thanks for voting. Hope u enjoy this chap!
scorpio_girl1211: thanks for the review. I'm glad u liked it! please continue to review! Hope you like this chap.
JadOo: thanks! That's a real nice review. Im glad you enjoyed it! hope u like this chapter as well!
Eileen: im sorrie… ur the minority! Hahas. so its tofuu. Please continue to support this fic ok? thankx!