Wow, chapter four's here. Wee
P.S. I noticed I made a mistake in chapter one. When Julia commented Jin on being one of the top business managers in Japan, it was supposed to be in Houston. Sorry about that.
I posted a Steve/Miharu fan art in my gallery. Just click on the link in my profile.
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Miharu and Xiaoyu were gone for the bathroom for quite awhile now and Christie was starting to wonder. The men, however, continued their chit chat like nothing was going on. She looked over to Julia, who listened like how a good student would to a professor. Their topics kept on switching back and forth from the Iron Fists to football and back again. Sometimes they would also jump randomly to Hwoarang's hair color and rock bands. Christie knew the Native American was losing interest fast and wouldn't blame her for it. Men could talk about so many things among themselves that women often get confused if they knew their girlfriends are still here with them.
Boys would be boys, even if they are full-grown men.
Just when Christie felt like getting up to go check on Ling and Miharu, the two women walked over to the table with expressions of insecurity and doubt. She looked on as Xiaoyu tries to get the group's attention, especially the men's.
"Um, guys…"
"What is it, Ling?" Hwoarang asked.
"Mi's feeling a bit sick so we have to get her home."
"Are you okay?" asked Julia.
"Yeah, I just need to go see the doctor…"
"Preston?" Xiaoyu tapped the man on the shoulder.
"Hmm?" He replied while he finished off his drink.
"Could you take Mi home and stay with her for a bit and wait for me there?"
"Uh…sure."
"I'm sorry everybody…" said Miharu. "…for the inconvenience."
"It's perfectly fine." said Jin. "You should inform others whenever you're ill."
The eight of them stood up, paid for their drinks, and walked outside.
"Alright, everyone meet up at our house." Ling said. "There's something you guys should know."
Miharu looked elsewhere while she followed Preston to his car. This is what she was afraid of, other than her physical condition. She hates it whenever her close friends, including Preston, are troubled because of her, especially when there's possibly no cure at all for this state of her body.
No cure at all.
Miharu wanted to cry or possibly even die. This numbness and the strange light emitting from her body, and how she practically was disappearing, she couldn't bear it. How on Earth will the others react to this? After seeing Ling's face when she received the news made Miharu fearful of the others' response.
More importantly, how will Preston respond? Will he dump her because of how hopeless she is? No doubt about it. If not break up with her right away he will just give up the idea of living with her forever sooner or later.
They got in Preston's car and he started the engine. He was incredibly silent while he followed Hwoarang's car toward his girlfriend's home.
Miharu glanced sideways at him. He was staring at the road with an unreadable look on his face.
She decided not to speak with him either. She didn't feel like talking at all. She just hoped that Preston will not see her the way she is. Miharu was also beginning to think if having a boyfriend was such a good idea anymore.
But Preston said he loves her didn't he? And she kind of told him that too. When he said that, didn't he mean that he's committed to her, and she to him? How will that commitment be kept strong anymore?
Miharu closed her eyes tightly and a tear expectedly ran down her cheek. She was quiet; Preston wasn't looking her way, so he didn't know she was weeping.
The trip to the house seemed shorter than expected. Preston parked at the front and finally looked at her. He unbuckled his seatbelt, leaned toward her and gently massaged her neck and shoulder. "Everything okay?" he asked with concern.
No. It's a living hell. This was her reply, only she didn't say it out loud.
"What part are you not feeling well?" he asked again.
When she did not answer again, he sighed. "Let us go in shall we?"
She nodded. Preston got out from his side of the car and went over to her side, opening the door for her as she unbuckled her seatbelt. He helped her out the car when Jin came over to them.
"Is she okay?"
"She didn't reply me when I asked her that…" Preston said.
"Well come on, everyone's inside." He and Preston accompanied Miharu into her home and sat her on her couch.
"Thanks." She muttered.
Preston's cell phone rang again.
He sighed. "Excuse me while I take this…" He went into a corner to take the call.
Ling sat next to Miharu. "Mi, you think Preston should know about it?" she whispered.
"Well…I personally don't want to but…"
Preston walked over to Christie. "Um, I got another offer from the office and they request me to go now."
"Go ahead."
"Thanks." He then stopped next to Miharu and held her hand. "I need to run. They're sending me in." He kissed her cheek. "If you ever need me, well, you have my number. 'K?"
She smiled weakly. "Okay…"
He hugged her one last time before he went out the door and closed it behind him.
"So…" Hwoarang started, after seeing Preston leave. "What is this thing that we need to know?"
Miharu put up a hand to stop Xiaoyu before the Chinese woman could start.
"I'll tell them…"
Ling was a bit taken aback but she backed down and respects her friend's request.
Miharu couldn't look into the eyes of her friends as they waited patiently for her to start.
"I…I'm not really sick…it's much worst than being sick."
Hwoarang frowned. "What do you mean?"
Miharu slowly, but steadily, told her Iron Fist friends about her unpromising situation.
"WHAT?" Christie yelled.
"Are you fucking serious?" Miharu heard Hwoarang curse.
"This…this isn't possible!" Julia's voice was filled with incredulity.
"It's hopeless!" Miharu yelled, startling everyone in the room.
She burst into tears. "What is happening to me? I want this to stop!"
Xiaoyu immediately hugged her. "Mi! Don't cry! Please…" The raven-haired woman was also close to tears.
Hwoarang came up to her. "Mi, snap out of it!" He also held Miharu, trying to comfort her. "Everything's gonna be fine…"
Christie and the rest joined in the embrace. Each of them circled around her like a protective shield, saying words of comfort as the poor woman cried her heart out. Miharu couldn't do anything else but lean on them for support. Those surrounding her made her have the feeling that she's not alone, that they're always here to help her stand up whenever she falls. But she also knew they cannot be beside her always. They have their own work, their own life to live, future families to raise. She needs a lifetime companion that would be there for her till the end of time, to be the wind beneath her wings, her first source of comfort. No matter what happens to her that person would still be beside her, never leaving her.
She thought of Preston. How she wished he would be the first to hold her in his arms. She doesn't want to ask too much of him. She just wanted him to be here alongside with her. That's all. She wanted him to be her companion.
But he wasn't there.
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Monday: the most hated day for most citizens of the workforce.
Even though Jin was contented that his business had maintained a high cash flow within the industry, Miharu's depressing news brought him unending worries for the Japanese woman. This was something never heard of ever in history. He was sure of it. Miharu told them that there will be no cure for her, and he admitted, she's right. Even though Earth's medical technology had been vast over the years, it still had no ability to cure a disappearing person.
Jin felt deadened. He didn't want this to happen to her. Not now, not ever. He wanted to ask whoever or whatever the question why. Why do this to her? Why make her suffer? What is the purpose of this?
The man slammed his fist hard on his desk. It broke instantly underneath him. Some of his co-workers paused at his door to peek inside; curious of their manager's burst of rage. Most of them knew him well enough and were familiar with his background of being a Karate pro participating in the most well-known fighting tournament in the world. So it shouldn't be a big shocker for them.
Jin looked up and saw the inquisitive faces at the door. They backed off and went back to work as soon as he did so.
Jin wouldn't blame them if they're afraid on him from now on. He doesn't express his emotions at work, he only talks to others whenever there's a meeting or whenever communication was required of him and comes in play. Yes, he's friendly and polite and really appreciates everyone who works under his wing, but breaking his glass desk was a first.
Speaking of glass, Jin looked at the bottom of his balled up hand and, indeed, blood was already trickling down at the bottom.
He sighed and walked to the restroom to clean it up. When he got back into his office, not without getting worried glances here and there while he made the small trip, he took a box of first aid kit from inside his storage shelf and started bandaging up the wound.
When he was finished, he replaced the kit back to its place and sat down on his office chair, staring at the mess in front of him. He wondered how the others are doing right now. He wondered how Miharu's doing right now. No so good, of course.
He heard from Ling that Miharu went for a check-up at her physician this morning and miraculously, the doctor said she had the flu. Jin wanted to laugh. A flu? No way was it that simple. But why did the physician claim she was indeed sick, and gave her permission from work?
Dozens of questions flowed through Jin's mind. About Miharu's situation, about her check-up, Preston, the others, etc.
Miharu had requested to work home and so did Ling, who wanted to look over her friend.
Jin wanted to thank Ling for her generosity. He decided to pay a visit to her house around seven.
But first he needed to clean up his office space and finish the paperwork before he could worry about Miharu any further.
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Miharu tried to call Preston many times, but it was only his answering machine that she received. Ling assured her that Preston probably had things to do and will return her call when he finishes. So Miharu could only tell Preston she had the 'flu' as a message.
"What is he doing?" she asked no one in particular.
"Mi, do you want some water? You look drained."
Miharu ignored Ling's question. Her body almost disappeared again. Twice. She had cried all night yesterday night, and cried more today.
This morning she finally gave her doctor a try and only got a presumption of her having the flu. Doctors are no help at all, she thought.
Miharu was getting close to the edge of the cliff. Her spirit and hope had all fallen apart by now. She hid her tear-stained face under her pillow and lay down on the sofa. The Japanese woman hasn't heard from Preston ever since yesterday, when he left because of an offer. Part of her wanted to hold him, and another part wanted to forget him. Adding more stress to her friends' lives was enough. She doesn't want to do that to Preston either.
Ling wanted Miharu's suffering to stop. She wished it was all just a nightmare. So far they haven't found anyone who could help her. No one can. All she could do was reassure her friend again and again that everything's fine. But both of them knew everything wasn't fine.
The house was quiet but someone rang the doorbell, startling the Chinese woman.
"Coming!" Ling called out. She walked to the door and opened it. It was Hwoarang.
"Hi." He greeted.
"Hey."
He walked in and she closed the door. "Came to see Mi?"
"Yeah." He quietly replied. He then held up a plastic bag. "Um…got some Korean noodles for you two. Hope you ladies enjoy…"
Hwoarang's voice was dispirited. Ling frowned at that.
"How's she doing?" he asked, even though he knew the answer to that question.
"Not well…"
The man walked quietly toward the sofa Miharu's lying on. The Japanese woman was taking a rest. Hwoarang saw all the tears on her face. He placed the bag carefully on the rectangular coffee table and sat down next to her. He took a tissue from the box on the table and gently wiped Miharu's face.
He heard her moan quietly. "…Preston?" she whispered.
"No, it's me."
She opened her eyes and saw the all too familiar face of the red haired Korean. "Hwoarang?"
He nodded and held Miharu's hand. "Why is this happening to you?" He whispered.
"I wish I knew…" she sniffed.
"Xiao told me it happened again today…"
"I wish I was dead…"
"Don't ever say that!" Hwoarang said sternly. "I believe that this is all going to pass. I don't think this is happening without a reason!"
Miharu's eyes went wide, so did Ling's who's standing behind the sofa where her friends sat.
"Hwoarang…"
"Look, I know what you're thinking…you wondered why such a punk like me started to have faith in that concept." He sighed. "Maybe I've changed too much…ever since I fell in love with Jules…"
"You've changed for the better." He heard Ling say.
Hwoarang nodded at Xiaoyu. "Thanks…" he turned back to face Miharu. "But really, Mi, I don't think you're suffering for nothing. I think there's something behind this whole thing…something that we've never seen or experienced before…"
Miharu couldn't believe what was coming out from the Korean's mouth. But something told her he's right. The words he said gave her a sense of hope for the first time that day.
She hugged him. "Thank you Hwoarang…for being such a good friend."
He hugged back. "You're welcome…"
Just then, Miharu's whole body glowed in a bight neon light. Hwoarang and Ling backed off and shielded they eyes. Miharu's scream was the last thing they heard before she finally disappeared, the light shot away from the couch and into the sky.
"MI!" Xiaoyu cried out.
"Mi!" Hwoarang frantically felt around the couch where Miharu lay. "Shit!"
"No!" Xiaoyu fell onto the carpet floor; tears continually flowed down her cheeks.
Hwoarang came and knelt down next to her. He shook her shoulders gently. "Stop it Ling! You have to believe she'll come back!"
She shook his hands away. "What do you know? Huh? How can you be sure that nothing bad is happening? She disappeared damn it!"
"Look, Ling. When I said what I said, I meant what I said! There's gotta be a reason behind this and it might not be as bad as you think!"
She stared at him in shock. "What kind of a friend are you?"
"A kind of friend who believes in her…"
Ling frowned. "How? How do you know that she'll come back? What makes you so sure?"
"I don't know…I just know…"
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Just in case if anyone was confused, Hwoarang visited earlier than Jin.
Well, chapter four's finished! Whew! wipes forehead
To Karisan-Karisan: Well, the wait is over. Steve will appear the next chapter. I'm glad you like the idea of Hwoarang and Julia's marriage. But this has to be cut off for awhile because the setting will not be on Earth for a few chapters…maybe a few interludes here and there. Thank you for your kind words yet again! Be sure to update your story too!
To thunderxtw: Yes, I updated! I'm glad I'm not quitting this. Yeah, I feel very sorry for Miharu as well. But all the pieces will come together later on. I'm so glad you're reading this. –bows-
To Panda: I know the pairings are perfect! I hope Namco pairs these people together in Tekken too…if they decide to do that of course. But that'll be unlikely since it's a fighting-based game. Thank you for your comment. I'm trying my best on the grammar. About the plot, I just hope it'll flow well later on in the story. Oh, I so hope it will! Thank you for reviewing.
To Skylight Angel: Steve and Miharu ARE cute! Be sure to check my fan art out! Oh, another thing: you're Miss Sweetness on Tekkn Zaibatsu right? I read the general discussions forum recently and saw you playing that Tekken Game invented by TekkenGamr4life. I was wondering if you can keep Steve alive for me? He has only seven points left! I'm not a member of that site so I can't do anything. –sniff- I'm glad that Hwoarang's far from dying. Hwoarang's Babe made sure of that. Miharu and Jin are dead! No! Oh well…I'll get over it I hope…
Thank you so much for your review and don't stop on your fic either!
To MooNTeARZ: I hope chapter four wasn't that bad…hope you liked. Your fictions are more awesome than mine. I'm no writer…