Chapter 14: Birthday Blues
"Be careful!" shouted Miki, watching Natsu balance on a chair.
"I know what I'm doing! I have the skills of a cat," snapped Natsu, pinning the bubble of the horse into the ceiling.
"You almost finished with the cards Udo?" asked Ran, pinning the bubble of the cow into the ceiling. Udo placed the last card on the desk.
"You betcha!" he chirped, a thumbs up. Ran rolled her eyes. She looked over at Miki.
"You are the one who needs to be careful, you're the one standing on the desk," said Ran. Miki waved her hand.
"I'm fine. I just couldn't reach standing on that chair," she said, putting the bubble of the rat up. She touched it lightly, smiling. She loved being the rat. She turned and stepped onto the next desk. As she stepped, it wobbled, making Miki lose her balance. She let out a scream and fell back, knocking the desk she was just on, onto the ground. She hit her head on the top of the desk.
"Miki!" shouted Ran, jumping off the chair. Udo made his over over next to her, kneeling down on one side, his sister on the other.
"You okay?" asked Udo. Miki rubbed her head, her legs up in the air, still on the desk she was stepping on. She looked at herself and looked at Udo and slapped him across the face. He held his face as she put her leg down. "What the hell?" he asked. Miki sat up, straighting her uniform.
"Pervert," she mumbled. Udo blinked. He was so confused. Natsu looked from his position on the chair and rolled his eyes. Stupid rat...
"Wow, the classroom looks really good you four," said the teacher, looking around the room.
"Thank you, may we begin?" they asked. The teacher nodded and smiled at them. Natsu walked to one side of the room and Miki walked to the other.
"Alright, we are doing the Chinese Zodiac. There are twelve animals in all. If you could look down on you desk and you have a card. If you have gray written on it please go over to Miki's side. If it says orange, go to Natsu," explained Ran. The students looked around, and began to get up, making their way to either side of the room.
"Alright. If you are on my side, you are the year of the Snake," explained Miki. "Being a snake means that you are positive, romantic, clever and beautiful. But... we are also vain and horrible procrastinators. "
"If you're on my side, you are the year of the Horse," said Natsu. "This means that a horse is cunning, adventurous, and cheerful. But, we are also impatient and selfish," Natsu explained.
"I agree with that," snapped Miki. Natsu glared at her.
"And dear teacher, you are in the year of the boar. You are reliable, sincere, and tolerable. Unfortunately you are shy, and short tempered." explained Udo.
"If you all would like to sit down we'll begin to go in depth with the zodiac. You all have another piece of paper on your desk and you have been given a role. You shall act out what we say and hopefully you'll learn most about this amazing subject." said Ran, smiling at the others. The teenagers looked upon their cards.
"Alright. This is the story of how the Cat is not part of the zodiac. Natsu will be playing the cat and Miki will be playing the rat. May the rest of the animals come forward." Udo said. "Now, let the story begin!" said Udo.
Ran stood upon a chair. "One day, there was a feast to be held for the new year. They were all called to attend." Miki stood up, motioning for the rest of the animals to stand up. "The rat decided to play a little trick on the cat though," Miki advanced toward the sleeping Natsu, who was sprawled across two desks. "The rat invited the cat to the feast," Miki tapped Natsu on the shoulder.
"Hey, there is going to be a big feast and I was going to invite you," said Miki cheerfully.
"Really? What time?" asked Natsu, pretending to be interested.
"But, instead of telling him the right day, she told him the day after the feast," said Ran.
"In two days," Natsu clapped his hands.
"Alright! This will be a blast," said Natsu. Miki waved and turned.
"See-ya then!" she cooed, skipping to the other side of the classroom.
"The next day, the line of animals walked towards the feast, the rat upon the ox's back," said Ran, looking over at the animals. They lined up and got on all fours. The male playing the ox got on all fours. Miki blinked as she noticed that it was a male who was the ox. She thought quickly... I won't change if I touch him... i'll be sitting on him.. my chest won't be anywhere near him... yeah... I don't have to worry.. but.. what if...
"Miki? Get on his back," said Udo. Miki smiled.
"Yeah, sorry," she said. She sat upon his back, closing her eyes. She felt a jerk and felt the student walking with her on his back. She let out a sigh.
"You're heavy.." mumbled the student. Miki slapped him upside the head.
"Hey now!" she spat.
"The poor cat slept through the entire ball.. and the next day he found out that the rat had tricked him..."
"That stupid rat! I'll get her..." growled Natsu, clenching his fists together. He looked over at Miki, his eyes locking with hers. "I'll get her," he said. The two looked at the each other which seemed like moments.
"You wanna get off my back?" said the student. Miki looked down at him.
"Oh, sorry Jijoshi," she said, getting off of the ox.
"Now, if you would go back to yours seats, we'll continue on the history of the Zodiac..." said Udo. Miki stood next to Ran, watching as Natsu walked behind her. She heard a soft grunt and shivered. The stupid cat was trying to get under her skin... but that wouldn't happen.. she wouldn't let him...
0
"I think we aced that project!" explained Ran, taking a bite of her sandwich under the big shade tree. This had become their meeting place for lunch every sunny day. Udo reached over and stole one of his sister's grapes.
"Yeah, I had a blast doing that project today so you know they must of had fun," said Udo, getting slapped on the hand. He rubbed his hand, munching on the stolen grape.
"I think it went basically flawless.. only if Miki didn't hesitate to sit on Jijoshi," said Ran, giggling. Miki went red in the face.
"I... I didn't want anyone looking up my skirt!" she spat, straightening out her red skirt. "It happened once today so," she said. Natsu rolled his eyes.
"Whatever," he mumbled.
"And what about Mr I don't want to do this because I gotta work with her. You acted like you actually trusted her then truly hated her," said Ran, smiling.
"I do hate her," said Natsu, sitting up from his lounging position. And at one time.. I did trust her... he thought to himself, his eyes staring at the ground.
"Nah you don't," said Ran, smiling.
"I do too!" shouted Natsu, pounding his hand into the ground. "At least this stupid project is over, I don't gotta work with her anymore," said Natsu, crossing his arms.
"You don't have to work with me... but you still gotta live with me," said Miki, biting into her sandwich.
"Don't remind me... I gotta still live with you and that.. dog Masa..." he grumbled. Miki rolled her eyes. She looked up at the sky, as the sounds of her friends slowly slipped into nothingness as she thought to herself. She was a little upset.. No one had remembered her birthday. She would have for sure thought that Takai or Masa or Seiko would remember her birthday! She gave a little sigh, nibbling on her sandwich some more. No.. no one... She looked up when she felt Ran tugging on her arm.
"Hey, lets go, the bell rang," Ran said. Miki looked confused, but suddenly she remembered where she was. She could see the back of Udo and Natsu walking into the school. "You must have been in deep thought, you didn't even notice when Natsu shot down your cooking," Ran smiled as Miki gave a soft laugh. Her cooking wasn't that bad.
0
Miki didn't pay attention the rest of the day in class, her head was spinning. No one said anything. She has been with these students the year before, and they didn't remember her bringing in cupcakes for her birthday... Of course, they remembered Selina's birthday the day before and Selina had forgot about it! Miki twirled her pencil and felt someone kick her from behind.
"Ah!" she shouted, and looked behind her. The kid was reading. She grumbled.
"Miss Miki, would you like to read outloud for the students then since you seem so vocal?" asked the teacher. Miki sighed and stood up, her book in her hand.
"Romeo Romeo where art thou Romeo..." said Miki, her voice not very enthused.
0
Miki walked down the street, her schoolbag in her hands. This birthday wasn't going to be a very good one. She felt like going home and sleeping for the next week. She walked past a window. She stopped and backed up. It was her favorite store. Her eyes scanned the window and smiled. She knelt down and put her hand upon the glass lightly, so not to leave very heavy marks. There it was.. the thing she wanted most.. It was a hunter green notebook. It was small, but she wanted it. She sighed softly. She didn't have any money, she had spent it the last week on socks... They were ruined in the wash when Natsu did it. She stood up and turned. She walked down the street, her head held high so she wouldn't run into anything. Back at the shop, a hand reached down into the window and pulled out the hunter green notebook...
Miki walked down the dirt road leading down to the house which she had been calling home for a while. The wind blew gently, the leaves dancing around her. She took in a deep breath... The wind smelt so fresh that she felt that maybe she'll stay outside for a while instead of going in.
"Hey!" came a voice from behind her. She turned and glared.
"What the hell do you want?" she asked, indeed not very happy. Natsu stood there, his bag on the ground and his red overshirt already all the way unbuttoned, the black undershirt showing through.
"I think its finally for our fight," he said. The wind blew again, Miki's hair and Natsu's shirt flying in the same direction. Miki glared at him.
"You are out of your mind," she said. "I don't have time for your stupidness you stupid cat..." she finished, turning her back.
"Don't run away you coward!" Miki stopped and looked behind her shoulder.
"Did you call me a coward?" she asked, her voice low
"You heard me! You're a coward! You ran away at preschool, you ran away from the Sohma house and now you are running away again! One day, you will have no where else to run too and then you'll be caught. You'll be a rat in a cage," growled Natsu. Miki just stood there... You ran away at preschool... Sohma house... away again! He was right... She was tired of running away. There was a thud as her schoolbag hit the ground. Natsu smiled. Miki rubbed her shoulder.
"Are you sure you want to fight me?" she asked softly, her eyes hidded by her bangs.
"Hell yes," Natsu said, his legs getting into a stance to keep him upright. His hands were already in fists, up and ready. Miki shot up her head, her violet eyes staring into his red ones.
"Fine!" she shouted.
Miki ran towards Natsu. Natsu reared his arm up to punch but she disappeared. He looked up, noticing her flying above him. He turned around to meet a kick in the face. He stumbled back as Miki landed. She grinned. Being on the middle school gymnastics team paid off along with her karate training. She didn't have to much time to think back until she saw a fist coming into her view. She threw up her arm to block, her other hand going towards Natsu's stomach. She felt her hand get blocked and felt the ground soon under her back. She looked up and noticed Natsu about to kick her. She rolled to her right, got into a squat and twirled on one foot, her other leg extended. She watched as Natsu fell to the ground. He got back up quick, running towards her. Every punch he fired at her she blocked. She wound up and punched him in the face. He stumbled backwards. He stumbled towards her, his eyes glaring at hers. Miki bent backwards, her hands touching the ground and pushed off with her legs, her foot hitting Natsu under the chin. She landed on her feet and stood straight up. She grabbed his arms and the two of them twirled. She shoved him up against a nearby tree. She pressed her body up against his to keep him pinned easier. Natsu was breathing hard, blood coming from the corner of his mouth. Miki looked at him.
"Look at me," she hissed. When he didn't meet her eyes, she shoved herself harder onto him, one of her arms against his neck and her other hand gripping his chin to make him look at her. She stared into his tired eyes.
"You think beating me is going to get you back into the zodiac? Are you that stupid?" she hissed. "I'm not the one you have to beat you, you dead brain cat... Its him... you have to beat.. him." Miki pushed away from Natsu and walked towards her bag. She picked it up and slung it over her shoulder. She continued her way down the road, now wanting just to get a shower and go to bed in her own room. Natsu slid down the tree and watched her go. He looked at his hands. Him? He gave a sigh and a little smile. At least he got some information from the little trip he just had.
0
Miki ran her hand through her now messy hair. The stupid cat... She thought he would never fight her.. She was a little happy he did fight her, but she really didn't like to fight. She as really surprised that he hadn't begged her for more fights. She smiled as she finally saw the house. She really felt like just lounging about. She walked into the house, slipping off her shoes and slipping on her slippers.
"Masa! Masa what are we having for dinner? Whatever it is, you better make a lot more of it, I'm going to eat twice as much," she called. She always seemed extremely hungry after a fight whether it was verbal or physical. She blinked. There was no answer.
"Masa! Masa are you asleep? Get your lazy butt up!" she exclaimed. She walked towards the kitchen and was stopped in her tracks with confetti falling onto her head. The lights came on and there were balloons everywhere and people shouting "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Miki stared blankly. What the hell was going on? She blinked and finally noticed that it was a surprise birthday party... and it was just for her! She looked and noticed that the people in the room was Masa, Udo and Ran. She smiled. She now understood why Natsu asked her to fight him.. to distract him.
"How the heck did you get Natsu to do that?" she asked, laughing. Ran grinned. Masa just smiled.
"I told him that he wouldn't eat for two weeks if he didn't distract you," said Masa. Miki grinned. Masa was a sly dog.
"But.. why did you do this all for me?" she asked, almost on the brink of tears.
"We are your best friends, do you think we'd let you have a birthday alone? You silly girl. Masa told us and we got everything together!" explained Ran. Miki smiled happily. There was a noise far off and Natsu walked in. He had dried blood upon his lip, and his cheek was beginning to bruise. Miki stared at him and smiled. He just looked away. Stupid rat!
"Now.. who wants to party!" shouted Udo, popping a balloon.
0
"Present time!" said Masa. Miki looked up; Ran stopped braiding Miki's hair; Udo sat down and Natsu leaned against the wall. Masa grabbed a big present and gave it to Miki.
"This is from Udo and Ran," he said. She smiled and tore into it. It was a framed picture of all four of them: Miki, Ran, Udo and Natsu after their project for the picture for the wall in the classroom. She smiled. They all were happy except Natsu. She smiled up at them.
"Thank you, thank you so much," she said. Ran clapped her hands together and Udo gave a peace sign.
"This.. is from Natsu." said Masa. Miki blinked. Natsu? She tore the paper and gasped. It was the hunter green notebook she has seen in the window. She looked at Natsu.
"How.. how did you know?" she asked. Natsu shrugged.
"I was in the shop trying to find something and I saw you googling over that notebook so I bought it." Miki smiled, hugging the notebook to her chest.
"You aren't a stupid cat after all!" she said. Natsu coughed, rolling his eyes. She gave him a glare.
"This.. is from me," said Masa, putting down a large box. She blinked. She opened up the box and gasped. She stood up, pulling the thing out of the box with her. It was a deep red dress. It was strapless and around the top was a design in white gemstones. On the bottom was the same design that looked like flowers. It was a little shiny and reached the floor. Inside the box was a matching shawl and black gloves. She looked at Masa.
"Its beautiful!" she said, excitement in her voice.
"Akina's dad is having a big corporate party this weekend, all the members of the families were invited so almost all the..." began Masa, but remembered that Ran and Udo were in the room, "Sohma's are going to be there... you know.. the inner Sohma's. Akina said that you and Natsu can invite a guest if you want too." explained Masa. Miki smiled and turned to Ran.
"Would you be honored to come as my guest?" she asked Ran. Ran jumped up and down.
"Yes! This means I can buy a dress! Score!" she giggled and jumped up and down with Miki.
"If you think I'm going and if I'm going to take anyone, you are crazy," said Natsu.
"Fine then, Udo, you can come!" said Miki, smiling. Natsu grumbled. Masa stared at him.
"Fine.. I'll go... Udo.. you're coming as my guest..." he said. Udo grinned.
"Natsu, your tuxedo fitting is Friday, do not forget!" said Masa. Natsu almost fell over.
"A Tuxedo? Are you crazy.. you..." he grumbled. He hated things around his neck...
"Now.. who wants cake?" asked Masa, raising the cutting knife above the cake.
"ME!" Miki smiled as she watched her two friends and Natsu sit around the table, talking, eating cake and having a good time... She felt that her birthday was turning out to be a good day after all.
0
A/N: Yes! Another chapter down! There is an important fact in this chapter, so it wasn't pointless. Its shorter than the last one, I figured you'd like that ;) Stay tuned for Bell of the Ball. Chow! (P.S. I love you all! You're reading this story and making me happy )
