Rikku: Hey everyone! Grr... school's been so tough on me! I got so much homework on the first few days and it's so hard to find time to go on my computer. I apologize for making you guys wait, but you understand right? I'm trying as hard as I can, and we all know how school's like... (rolls eyes)
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Thanks:
lonelysparrow
Nakashima-Michiyo
dranzy
star pana
saber-kon
syaoranz gurl
Sentra
aaaa322
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Rikku: Here's the chapter I made you wait for... remind me to kick myself, please.
P.S. Can you believe we're on chapter 20 already? (Gasp)
Oh yeah, and don't mind if there's less japanese phrases, once you use so much, it's hard to think of any different ones! :P Gomen nasai! (I'm sorry)
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Winter of Love
Chapter 20: A Burning Will
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"Sooo... how was Kamui?"
I grinned at the giggling girl before me and relaxed into the soft couch I claimed as mine at that moment. The guys were out training or doing whatever they do with their spare time, and us, girls, took up the living room to chat. Pirika and I were getting along relatively well and were almost on the same track we had been on before our fight. Anna rolled her eyes at Pirika's enthusiam as she drank from her cup of tea, sitting by the table. Tamao, on the other hand, was sitting next to Pirika on the other couch, blushing at the thought of a celebrity. (Rikku: I know there probably aren't that many couches in their shrine, but bear with me guys.)
I flicked my gaze to the ceiling, ignoring Pirika's continious giggling. "He was nice... not great and definetely not like your brother." I smiled at this and watched Pirika smile as well out of the corner of my eye. "He was a real jerk at first, but I guess he was still... totemo (very)... friendly."
Tamao clasped her hands together and sighed dreamily. "How was it like being around a celebrity though?"
"I didn't feel anything," I shrugged. "I almost forgot how famous Kamui was during my stay anyway."
Anna suddenly averted her eyes over to me, still an emotionless expression on her face. "Have you read the articles?"
"Only one." I replied. "Got any with ya?"
Anna shrugged. "Not with me... ask Ryou, he might have them."
"Okay..." I said with an audible sigh. Anna and I were really good friends, but the only conversations we could make were always short. "Thanks."
I watched Pirika as that oh-my-God! expression washed over her face. "Miho-chan! His butt! Kamui's butt! Ikaga desu ka? (How is it?)"
"Pirika-chan!"
"You're blushing!" she stuck her tongue out in a mocking way. "C'mon, out of 10, what would you rate it?"
I brought a hand to one of my burning cheeks and realised, I really was blushing. 'Chikuso... (damnit)' "Must I?"
Tamao chuckled and leant back in her seat. "I saw an article in a magazine once- they said Kamui was a solid ten. But I want to hear it from someone who's actually seen his... you know, bottom..."
I giggled, shaking my head in disapproval. Why were they getting so worked up anyway? Once you've seen one celebrity, you've seen them all! "You guys want the honest truth? Those magazines are just flattering him... Kamui's butt is only a seven!"
Tamao gasped and Pirika promptly cracked up into another fit of laughter. Anna raised a brow, sending me a message that clearly said, 'Now look at what you've done.' I felt my lips quirk into a smile at this. "Horo's got a much better butt if you ask me."
Pirika suddenly stopped laughing to sweatdrop. "Sugoi (wow), I don't think I've ever payed any attention to my brother's butt."
My smile soon formed into a grin. "So, Anna... tell us, how great is Yoh's butt?"
I watched Tamao flush into another shade of red but decided not to focus too hard on her obvious crush. I turned my gaze to Anna instead who quickly looked away, her eyes glued to the floor. "Eight." I could faintly hear it, but she was definetely rating Yoh's butt.
Pirika and I choked on our laughter, we really had the giggles in for us, ne? I slowly calmed down in time for Pirika's next question- she got over her laughter faster than I could. "Really, Miho, can Horo's beat Ren's?"
I was quite shocked at this. Not the question... but it was the first time Pirika had spoken of Ren after we made up. "I-I don't know... you tell me."
"You rate Horo's first!" Pirika squealed, cupping her hands on her cheeks.
I groaned, latching the tips of my fingers together. "Hmn... I would give him a perfect ten," I shook my head again. "But then I'd be giving him too much credit... Horo's definitely a... kyu. (nine)"
Tamao seemed to be lost in her own thoughts as she bit her bottom lip, training her focus on the ceiling. Pirika gaped a moment before sighing. "Honto? (Really?)" she crossed her arms. "Well, if Horo's a nine then Ren must be... a nine and a half?"
"HA!" My hand laid firmly on my heart as I tried to grasp the understanding in that. It didn't come to me. "Ren? You're talking about the same Ren I know, right?"
Anna snorted and crossed her arms. "Maybe you're flattering him a bit too much?"
Pirika waved her hand vaguely, as if to discard any more comments. "Well, have any of you actually looked at his butt?"
...Silence...
"Thought so." Pirika concluded, smirking with satisfaction.
"Hey minna! (everyone) We're home!"
I recogonized that voice as Manta's, but I didn't bother to get off that couch. Neither did Tamao nor Pirika. Anna got up however and instead of greeting the boys, she headed for her right- over to the kitchen. I slowly brought myself off the couch, turning around to face the other girls. "I think I'll go talk to Anna."
I walked over to the door and I could already see the boys piled up at my left. Ryou noticed me first and waved, I waved back and smiled when I caught Horo's eye. "Hey guys, what did you all do now?"
Yoh snickered. "You make it sound like we've murdered someone."
"Well, I can't be too sure, now can I?"
"Don't worry," Yoh smirked, sending me the thumbs-up sign. "we went out for lunch- you know, to the local burger bar and then we thought we'd crash the bowling arena, that okay?"
I nodded, my smile growing even wider. (Rikku: I know this is very random, but oww! It's so hard to type- I had a whole staple stuck in my finger recently and had to pull it out... now my finger's swollen and it hurts when I type!!) "Sounds like you guys had fun."
Ryou shrugged, giving me a reluctant look. "Well if Horo hadn't hogged all the food or gotten us kicked out of the bowling center..."
"Oi (Hey), that was not my fault!" Horo shot back, clenching a fist. Ryou merely sighed. "Ryou, if you forgot, you were the one that had mistakened Manta as a bowling ball, rolled him down the lane, knocking all the pines down and at the same time, making him crash into the electrical wires due to all the strength you put into that roll, which might I add, caused everything that ran by electricity in the whole arena to malfunction!"
"That was not funny!" Manta protested rubbing his bruised head which I had just noticed. "Does my head really resemble a bowling ball that much?"
Yoh chuckled at this, propping an arm on the shoulder of a rather quiet Ren. "Well... since you asked..."
"Why must you blame me for everything?!" Horo continued, his voice raising higher and higher until it reached an unbelievable height. "Why not Yoh, or Ren? Or maybe even Manta?!"
"Oh, so then I must have rolled myself down that lane?!" Manta retorted, wailing his arms around in an annoyed manner.
"It's only the truth!" Ryou stated, though I found myself doubting that- not just because it was Horo he was arguing with, but because I knew Ryou, himself, all to well...
"Guys?" I suddenly spoke up, surprising even myself.
At this, Horo quickly turned away from Ryou to look at me with a calm, questioning expression. "What's up, babe?"
"I'd love to stay here and chat, I really would," I took a small step back, attempting to conceal my eagerness to leave and restrain myself from turning around and bounding away. Arguments like these didn't strick me so much... I had a feeling this was going to get violent and annoying. "but I'm gonna... uh... help Anna... um... prepare dinner..."
"Suit yourself." Horo smiled, turning back to Ryou within a few seconds with a hard glare.
"Hey, um Miho?" Ren's voice suddenly sounded and I raised a brow. "Do you know where I can find... Pirika?"
This had me shocked. I could even see Horo eyeing him suspiciously. "Er... un (yeah)," I answered after a moment of silence. "She's in the living room."
"Thanks." Ren said simply, leaving Yoh's side as he headed for the said room.
I watched his retreating back with wonder... until my eyes trailed lower... 'Damnit... maybe Pirika was right about his ass...' I quickly shook off the thought as I turned on my heal, heading for the kitchen.
"Chotto (Wait), Miho-chan!"
Once again, I was interrupted by another voice. I turned my head to glance at Yoh- who had spoken. "Hai? (Yes)"
"Uh, do me a favour..." Yoh's smile was soon replaced by a small and rare frown. "Tell me if Anna's... you know, doing okay?"
What was this, a make-up-with-your-girlfriend-moment-and-turned-to-Miho-for-it? I sighed, though I felt my smile stay firmly on my face, as if showing a sign of relief and satisfaction. "Sure Yoh... anything."
I then made my way over to the kitchen without anymore interruptions, and no, I didn't turn back around when I heard Horo swear a rainbow at Ryou. "Hey Anna." I greeted once I reached the kitchen and found her chopping up tonight's dinner. "Nan dai? (what's up)"
Anna looked up from the neatly cut carrots scattered on a cutting board to glance at me. "I'm just cooking." she answered softly.
I nodded slowly... talking to Anna made me miss the old times... when we were still children and talked so freely... but now that we were older and one year away from becoming adults, I found it harder and harder to speak to her. "Need help?"
"Grab an apron." Anna stated as her answer as she gestured to a hook screwed into the wall with two aprons hanging from it.
I reached for the black and white one- the other was pink- and tied it around myself, feeling a bit uncomfortable with it on. "Since when have you started to cook?" I inquired, smirking as I walked over to the counter.
Anna simply shrugged. "Don't know... thought I'd try it." she said nonchalantly, handing me the knife she used to chop the carrots. "Keep on cutting these, will ya? I need to check the soup."
"Okay." I replied, taking the knife as Anna walked over to the stove. I began slicing the carrot stick in a neatly manner- the way my mother taught me how. I frowned, remembering what my father had told me about her death... but I still didn't want to think about it- I needed to let all my emotions out before I could re-play that talk we had. "So... how are things with Yoh?"
Anna didn't turn to look at me. I watched her right arm move in the motion of stirring as she spoke. "We're fine."
"Did you talk to him?"
"Iie... (no)"
"What about that limo ride?"
Anna's arm stopped moving. "We talked a bit..."
"That's it?" I could clearly hear the disappointed in my voice. "You just talked?"
"Well, what did you expect?" Anna turned around sharply, sending me a cold stare. "Yoh and I aren't what you'd call a couple. We were arranged to get married, Miho! That doesn't prove any kind of love!"
"Anna-"
"I don't want to talk about this-"
"But do you or do you not love him?!" I realised that I had abandonned the knife when I turned to face Anna. "Tell me."
Anna sighed and averted her gaze over to the floor. "I don't know... I'm not romantic and I don't know how to handle a relationship... I care for Yoh, I really do... but I just can't show him any sign of affection. Who knows, maybe we weren't meant to be- maybe he'd be better off with Tamao."
"Do you honestly believe what you're saying?" I asked softly. Tamao was my friend... but I already knew that Anna was the one for Yoh- not her. "Do you think you're able to just give up on him like that?"
"No, of course I can't give up on him that easily!" she retorted, clearly flustered. "I don't know what I'd do without Yoh anyway... when we talk... we don't speak of our relationship or anything- we talk about life, friends, family but we never talk about love."
"Did you ever consider the fact that maybe Yoh does have feelings for you and that he's afraid you don't because of your coldness?" I sighed and turned back to the carrots, picking up the knife I had dropped. "Why can't you just tell him?"
"Because it's not that easy." Anna answered. I could still feel her eyes on me. "Miho... I do love Yoh and maybe... maybe he loves me too... but we're two different people, and it's so hard to confess to it!"
"Then that's you're own problem to work out." I concluded, narrowing my eyes slightly. "I don't have any part of this, but at least take my advice, okay? You and Yoh... you need one another and if you really want this to be more than a friendship then do something."
I watched Anna return to the stove out of the corner of my eye. "I don't know... the last time we actually spoke about our relationship, we only talked about how it needs some repairing... I guess he took it as a girlfriend-boyfriend thing... but definetely not as love."
I chuckled inwardly, looking up at Anna's back, unaware that I was still sliding the knife on the carrots until the blade narrowly missed my fingers. "Aha, so you're willing to call him you're boyfriend?!"
Anna slowly turned around, revealing the sprawled blush across her face. "Miho, that's not it!" She protested, slamming the side of her fist onto a bag of flour which burst open, sending a wave of powder all over me.
I dropped the knife in shock which had almost stabbed my foot as it clattered an inch away from it onto the floor. I stayed on the same spot, with my hands set before my face, staring at the flour poured all over them and the rest of my body. I gaped at the mess and slowly lifted my gaze to see Anna staring in shock at me. "Oops..." she breathed, now eyeing the river of flour that had been spilt on the floor as well.
It took a moment for me to get over the situation before I felt my senses return to me. "Anna... anata no... baka (you idiot)..." I brought my hand over to the counter where I grabbed another bag of flour, this one smaller than the other, and casually threw it hard onto the floor in front of Anna.
Just like the other bag, this one burst as well, causing a similar amount of flour to fly up from the pressure and bombard Anna, covering her from head to toe with the white substance. Her eyes widened as she attempted to brush the flour off her new sweater and skirt outfit until finally giving up and reducing herself to glaring daggers at me. "Mou! (jeez!)"
I grinned evilly, wiping the flour from my eyes with one swift movement of my hand and then reaching for an already open bag of... you guessed it! Flour. I grabbed a handful and sent it flying over to Anna, like confetti at a wedding. "Miho-chan!" she thundered, grabbing the bag of flour as well. I watched intently as she clenched a large amount of flour in her fist and released it before me- I tried to dodge it but it was no use. I stumbled back as the shower of powder (Rikku: That rhymes!) overwhelmingly washed over me, covering me with even more of the mess. I had fallen hard on the floor due to the 'attack', and landed painfully on my bottom.
I clenched my teeth together and now it was my turn to turn the glare on her! Spontaniously, (sp?) she took this as amusing and suddenly chuckled before breaking into a rare sort of laughter... it was the first time I had ever heard her laugh like that. 'Could... could Anna actually be having fun?' The question toyed with my mind a bit as I continued to watch the girl laugh... almost glad to see her show any kind of emotion.
"Oi! (Hey) What happened, I heard yelling!"
Anna's laughter was soon interrupted as Horo- the owner of the voice- and Yoh ran into the kitchen, they're faces strained with concern. I chuckled when Horo noticed the mess and waved it off with my hand. "Don't worry guys, we just had... some sort of food fight."
Yoh's eyes fell upon the smile on Anna's face and I noticed one of his brows rise in confusion. "A-Anna...?"
I got up slowly, balancing myself with my hands firmly placed on the counter before I stalked over to Horo. "I think I'll take a quick shower... ima (now)."
He smiled, shaking his head as he brushed off flour from my shoulder. "There are some things I don't understand about you Miho..."
I grinned at his comment and turned my head to see Yoh heading for Anna. He held her steady, making sure she didn't slip with one arm around her waist and the other holding her arm. She blushed a small tint of pink and I swore I could see her smile... "Do you want us to leave you two alone?" I inquired, still grinning.
I didn't expect an answer... until I saw Anna rest her head against Yoh's chest and he nodded. "Yeah... we'd like that."
I turned back around to see Horo smiling down at me, gently taking my hand. "C'mon..." he whispered, pulling me away.
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After taking a shower and ridding myself of the white mess, I dumped all my dirty clothes in the local hamper and slouched out of the washroom and toward the living room where everyone was lying around. Tamao, Yoh and Manta were sitting around the small table, Anna and Ryou inhabited one of the couches, Ren sat on the other with Pirika attempting to cuddle up to him- though it looked as if he didn't mind- and Horo was leaning against the wall, watching TV along with everyone else.
I wanted to join them- I really did. But there were other things on my mind in which I needed to take care of... on my own. For instance, my mother's death. My mind was still grieving over the truth and the best treatment for it... was to just face reality. I still hadn't allowed the feeling to sink in and doing it on my lonesome seemed like the best idea... that, and because I wasn't up to telling anyone my sappy story. "Um... hi everyone."
Everyone turned to see the source of the voice. Manta smiled at me and was the first to speak. "Hey Miho-chan!"
"Come join us!" Tamao called, patting the space of floor beside her. "We're just watching TV."
I smiled but shook my head. "Gomen (sorry) guys, but I think I'm going to head to the back and cool off in the hot spring." (Rikku: Sorry, I don't know whether it's called a hot spring or not!)
Horo frowned, sending me a curious glance. "Are you okay Miho?"
"I'm fine- really. Don't worry about me."
Horo looked reluctant to believing me, but it seemed he had shrugged it off since he turned back to the TV. "But, you know, if anything happens-"
"I'll call you, I know!" I reassured him, with an even wider smile. "I just want to be alone for awhile..."
If only they knew how much I was hiding behind that smile...
No one seemed to have anymore objections so I made my way over to my bedroom, pulled on the same swimsuit I used when in the pool with Yoshiko (back in the mansion) and headed outside for the hot spring. I slipped into the hot water, placing a neatly folded towel on the cement-made edge that surrounded the water and relaxed myself into the boiling liquid. I tied my long hair up into a high ponytail and slowly sank lower into the water, my mind set on other things...
I wished this would have washed away all my confused emotions... but it didn't. I strained my brows in deep thought as I re-played what my father had told me over and over again in my mind:
"And when they came... they murdered her. I let them have her... I sat on the sidelines- watching in fear. I didn't do a thing... and it's all my fault."
My question was, Why? Why didn't he do anything? Why didn't he save her... or at least call for help? If he loved her so much... if he loved me, then why did he just watch them kill her...?
But, more importantly... who?
Who did this? Was I supposed to know? Who the fuck did my father allow to kill my mother?
I groaned audibly, placing a soaking hand on my forehead as I flicked my gaze heavenward. "Oh Kami-sama... (God) What am I supposed to do? Tasukete... (help)"
"Did I hear someone ask for help?"
I jumped at the voice, swiftly turning around to find the owner. (Rikku: Take a guess at who it is...!) I could barely see him since the sun had already began to set but I could still recognize the familiar figure. "Manta," I sighed contently. (Rikku: I bet you never would have guessed that!) "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I came here to check up on you," he explained, walking over to the hot spring, with nothing but a pair of swimming trunks on. "That, and because HoroHoro wouldn't stop worrying."
"Manta... thanks, but everything's okay."
"Miho, you're usually up and about and so happy, I can tell when you're feeling down," the small boy shrugged, slipping into the hot spring as well, directly across from me. "Besides, you're kinda like a sister to me so I can tell when something's up."
I raised a brow, feeling a bit shocked by the boy's response. "A sister?" I shook my head, declining it. "No offense, but I hardly spend time with you! Don't get me wrong, I'd love to get to know you better but I'm the last person on earth that can actually relate to you..."
"Well, maybe... But in some ways, we have a lot in common."
"Oh? How so?"
"Um..." Manta seemed to be contemplating on something and didn't give an answer until a few seconds later. "well, I guess you're not exactly like a sister to me... I made it up so you'd feel better."
I could have facefaulted in shock from the confession but I chuckled lightly instead. I guess it helped... in a way. "Manta-chan, you always know what to say, don't you?"
He chuckled as well, sending me a happy smile. "I guess so... well, what's on your mind?"
I relaxed into the water again, trying to decide whether or not to reply. "Okay, Manta..." I began. "I've been really stressed thinking about something my father told me back in Osaka... and I've kept it all to myself for some time."
"Isn't it best to just get the weight off your shoulders and tell someone?"
I nodded, deciding it was for the best. "You probably already know that my mother died when I was young... and well, I always wanted to know how but my father wouldn't tell me... finally, I forced it out of him and I guess... I guess I regret ever asking for it now that I know." Manta stayed silent, waiting for me to continue but I had to pause to suck back the tears... crying wasn't going to solve anything. "She... she was murdered. My mother, Emiko Sugiyama, was killed at age 31... by people my father refused to pay. And he was such a coward... that he allowed them to do so without even trying to stop them!" (Rikku: Dun dun duuuunnnn! Finally, Miho's mother's name was revealed!)
Manta let out a small gasp. Soon, silence treated the air and I could feel the awkwardness get to me within seconds... "Miho..." Manta slowly broke the silence, reluctance clear in his tone. "D-do you know who exactly killed her?"
I shook my head... I had already thought of that. "No, shiri-masen. (I don't know)"
"Do you want to know?"
I felt my eyes widen in shock- did I? To hear it from someone else made me all the more eager to know... perhaps it was for the best?
'But I thought it would have been for the best before, when I wanted to find out how she died in the first place... and now I regret ever asking now that I know how much the truth actually hurts... what is for the best anyway?'
"Then you won't live in doubt."
That was true... for some strange reason, I wanted to trust Manta's words... how we was telling me to just go ahead with it. I wanted to find her killers... I did. I really did.
"Everything okay? Heeeey, Manta! What are you doing with my girlfriend?"
Horo's voice now greeted the second moment of silence and I turned to look at him sternly. He must have seen the burning will in my eyes because he stopped dead in his tracks before he even reached the spring of water and his smirk had melted into a frown. "Miho...?"
"Manta, Horo... I've decided that... I want to find my mother's murderers."
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Rikku: DUN DUN DUUUUUNNNN! (Okay, I should really stop doing that... -.-)
So! Now we know how we're gonna fill up 5 more chapters, ne?
Gaaahh! I can't believe I made you wait that long... :( I feel so horrible now... I thought I'd have this up in like... one week after I finished, but I never got the chance to proof-read... yes, it took me one month to proof-read this chapter! I'm pathetic, I know... -.-
Well... ;) I hope you liked this chapter anyway and please review!
x-Rikku-x
Dewa Mata!