Minato sighed. This was so wrong. He was in yacht, a stylish and expensive one, but a yacht nonetheless. Everything around him, the birds, oceans, greenery, all of it sickened him to his stomach. "Ever heard of a fucking plane!?" he shouted at Mitsuru who just ignored him and resumed talking to Akihiko. "Rich bitch..." Minato muttered to himself. He leaned against the railings, with his arms crossed. "God damn the sea."
"Hey, Minato?" A shivered ran on Minato's spine as he registered the voice. That was Hamuko who was slowly advancing towards him. He gulped and slowly moved on the side. Hamuko sighed. Things weren't getting any better. She looked towards Mitsuru and Yukari who were still quiet. They still weren't talking much. The atmosphere was still quite tense.
"I see it!" Junpei cheered, spotting their vacation spot.
"Shut the hell up. We all have eyes," Minato growled and Junpei went quiet.
Fuuka gulped and smiled nervously while Junpei just gave out a sigh. Things definitely weren't getting any better.
...
SEES finally arrived at the resort with the boys hauling the luggage... Well, that is except for Minato who was only carrying his own. "Why am I here again?" Minato hissed. Everyone ignored him and turn their attentions to the gigantic, luxurious building which was supposed to be their vacation home.
"Wow..." Junpei muttered. Two maids came through the doors and bowed at Mitsuru.
"You have maids?" Yukari blinked. She really was that rich, wasn't she?
"Dude, real life maids..." Junpei said slowly.
"Pft!" Minato blew a raspberry and threw the cigar he was holding.
"Welcome to the Kirijo vacation home. Please follow me," One of the maids spoke, taking their luggage. Minato actually handed his own but with a vicious look nonetheless.
The next moment, an impressive looking man that seemed to be in his 40s came through the door. He was clad in an expensive suit and and had and eye patch on his left eye. The tanned adult looked at Mitsuru who smiled. "It's good to see you," she greeted. The man only gave a grunt in acknowledgement and walked on without another word.
"Was that her father?" Yukari said after the silence.
"Dude, talk about scary... He isn't going to make us walk the plank, is he?" Junpei gulped.
"Don't be stupid," Akihiko rolled his eyes.
"We won't be here long but make yourself at home," Mitsuru smiled.
"Sweet! This is gonna rock," Junpei said excitedly. "Wanna go the beach? It's right there!"
"Already?" Yukari groaned but looked around to see Hamuko and Fuuka smiling. "Well okay, but at least let us changed first."
"Pft! Good luck ogling like idiots," Minato sneered at Akihiko and Junpei. "I'll be in my room. Stay out if you know what's good for you." He began to walk away but was stopped in his tracks when someone pulled his collar harshly. "Who the fu-" Minato turned around to see Hamuko glaring at him.
"W-What!?" Minato tried to glare but it came across as a pitiful one.
"You. Will. Join. Us," Hamuko said slowly and with authority. She leaned in and whispered with a mischievous grin, "Besides, aren't ya excited?" Minato's cheeks heated up. He couldn't deny that one bit.
"D-Don't lump me with him!" Minato glared, pointing his thumb towards Junpei.
"I resent that!" Junpei cried.
"Shut up! Nobody asked for your opinion!" Minato growled back. He turned back to Hamuko and sighed. "I'll come..."
"Knew you couldn't resist a good ogle," She grinned and skipped away with the rest of the females.
"Damn woman..." Minato muttered and looked back at Akihiko and Junpei who seemed to be holding in their giggles. "We'll be two men down before we get to the beach, if you both don't quit it." Minato growled, silencing the two. He sighed and went towards the restroom. This was going to be tiring.
…
It only took a few minutes for any of the boys to get changed, and they got to the beach early. "Ah, got my sandals on… giving my feet a chance to breathe… Yup! Summer's here!" Junpei exclaimed happily.
"Darn. There's nothing out here I can use as a marker. Too bad. I was hoping for a good swim." Akihiko muttered aloud.
"You must be joking! We come all the way to the beach and you wanna train?" Junpei looked at him incredulously.
"What's wrong with that?" Akihiko glared at Junpei. "You got a better idea?"
"Damn right I do! It's summertime at the beach! I've got the perfect activity," Junpei grinned confidently.
Minato growled. Was that all the gym junkie ever thought about? Fucking training of all things? And he thought he was obsessed with Hamuko. With that, Junpei ran off to the side.
"What?" Yukari deadpanned at Junpei, who was staring at her. She emerged from the forest first. Yukari had on a pink and blue bikini, with denim shorts on top.
"Say hello to contestant number one, Yukari Takeba! As you can see, she's chosen a bold design—rather unexpected," Junpei commented as they joined their group. Minato groaned. What the hell was Junpei doing? This wasn't a beauty pageant! "It takes a lot of confidence to pull off a swimsuit like that!"
Yukari looked at Junpei with questioning eyes while Akihiko turned away to face the sea. He was pretty sure he was blushing. While Yukari looked at Junpei suspiciously (who was whistling an off-key tune), Fuuka came afterwards. "Is that umbrella taken?" Fuuka asked. On the other hand, Fuuka was wearing a teal blue tankini, which was surprisingly form-fitting. It even looked a tiny bit small…
"Next up is contestant number two, Fuuka Yamagishi!" Junpei announced. "Wow, Fuuka… I had no idea you were so… I mean, you should wear a swimsuit more often!" he stuttered.
"You don't sound like a fucking pervert when you say that!" Minato declared (of course, with a heaping of sarcasm), earning him a dirty look from Junpei and a blush on Fuuka's flustered face.
"H-Huh?" Fuuka's eyes widened and she hid behind Yukari.
"Oh come on. There's nothing to be embarrassed about!" Junpei exclaimed. "Heheh…" Minato facepalmed. What the fuck…
"Stop that creepy laugh, you perv!" Yukari growled.
Junpei just laughed and continued. "And our third contestant is…" He couldn't even finish his sentence as Mitsuru came into the fray. Everyone's eyes were on her. The general consensus was 'whoa'.
"Hm? Is something wrong?" Mitsuru asked as she noticed the staring crowd. She was in a white bikini, nearly matching the tone of her skin and had a large red flower placed in her top half.
"Wow… Mitsuru-senpai. You're beautiful," Fuuka said in awe.
"Yeah, your skin is flawless! Did you already put on sunscreen?" Yukari asked.
"N-No, not yet," Mitsuru answered.
"The hell's Hamuko?" Minato finally muttered.
As if on cue, Hamuko came running out of the forest. "God… guys, you know it's better to put on sunscreen before you go out to the beach!?" she exclaimed.
"Oh, Hamuko-chan!" Fuuka said.
"O-Our final contestant!" Junpei shouted. "Is Hamuko Marie!"
Hamuko was wearing a pink and white patterned bikini. She took a deep breath, squirted some sunscreen in her palm and applied it to her face.
"And oh boy, our final contestant is..." Junpei gulped as he felt a cold shiver running down his spine. He didn't even bother looking back. He was perfectly sure that Minato was beside him, and one more word could cause his spine to get separated from his nervous system.
"Hehehe..." Junpei quieted down with a small smile and a light blush on his face.
Hamuko grinned and shifted her gaze to Minato who was finding it very hard to breathe. "No, you're goddamn Minato. Women are no problem for me!" he repeated the mantra, desperately trying to cover up his blush.
Yukari sighed. It was so obvious that Minato had gone gaga on Hamuko. He was staring at her ever since she came. Mitsuru smiled. It was refreshing seeing the normally cold and rude Minato stutter and blush like that. Junpei wanted to joke about how Minato was staring for the last several seconds but he wouldn't dare. Minato did carry around a pocket knife at all times, and he was sure that he wasn't nice enough to refrain from using it.
Hamuko took things a bit further. She widened her grin and winked at Minato, nobody but Minato saw it. Minato felt his heartbeat double, and his legs wobble. Moments later, his legs gave away and he dropped right on his ass onto the sand. The blue haired devil blushed a deep shade of red and looked away.
"What's wrong, huh?" Yukari said, raising an eyebrow.
"S-S-S..." Minato stammered.
"WHAT?" Yukari said with a frown.
"Sandcastles, bitch!" Minato replied back with a glare, grabbing a bucket and a small shovel. "All of you, get out of my sight, no one will look at my sand castle! Majestic sand castles!" Minato shouted, trying hard to sell that fact.
Everyone, sans Yukari gave out a chuckle and walked their separate ways. Hamuko, however remained with Minato, who wasn't complaining at all. "Can I help?" Hamuko said with a sly grin.
Minato stammered. "N-No thanks, you can watch it when I'm done..."
"Goodie!" Hamuko winked at Minato and gracefully walked away.
Minato sighed just as Hamuko went away from his line of sight. He would have gone crazy if she stayed for two more minutes. Seeing nothing else to do, Minato began to work and actually started building a sand castle. He always used to do this when he was little, and somehow, he felt joy once again even though it was brief. It reminded him of the time when he was actually normal, long ago, with his parents.
"Parents... Love... Harmony..." Minato muttered. "Hell, I don't know these anymore." He said, filling the bucket with sand once again. "Rage. Blood lust and pain. That's all the gods have written in my fate now." Minato actually used to wonder, what exactly happened to him. He was a pretty social kid in primary. He used to have loads of friends which made him laugh like any other kid you'd see.
Sometimes, in his mind, Minato did indeed feel conflicted about things that he did, even though the conflict was momentarily and generally just shrugged off in seconds. "I'd like my life back now, though," Minato said, looking up to the sky. He sighed, realizing it was futile now. He had to be this way now.
Minato looked at his castle again and gave a small smile. It was majestic, and he made it all by himself. He was excited to show Hamuko that he could also build things, instead of destroying them all the time. "Welp, good one mate," Minato sighed in annoyance as Junpei came up from behind him.
"What do you want?" Minato said flatly.
"Just admiring yo handicraft dude," Junpei clapped. He crouched down to Minato's level. "So dude, which one of the ladies do you like so far?" He asked with a sly smirk.
"My imaginary friend Alice," Minato said with a deadpan. "Are you fucking serious? I don't want to be anywhere near the skanks!"
"Are you serious? I mean, look at them!" He said exasperatedly, pointing at Fuuka, Yukari and Mitsuru in the ocean.
"Meh," Minato shrugged. "Mitsuru has a hotter body, but so what? Doesn't help the fact that she has her head way too far up her ass." Junpei cringed at his comment.
"Welp, then look at that!" He said, pointing over to Hamuko who was lying below the umbrella with headphones clipped on and sunglasses shielding her eyes.
"U-Uh..." Minato stammered and began to blush again. He turned around and began to lash out. "Shut the fuck up! I'm Minato Goddamn Arisato. I don't fall for women! Goddesses fall for me!"
Junpei just grinned and patted him on the back. "Whatever you say, mate!" He skipped over to the water and took a dive in.
Minato muttered a few curses at Junpei before yawning. He was still tired, and it was a day off so he could afford a good nap in the open. Anyone who woke him up would be dead and they knew better not to. The blue haired demon lay on the sand and closed his eyes, slowly drifting into a deep sleep, and a peaceful one at that.
He actually dreamed of something decent. He was standing in gigantic sand castle that he himself made. It resembled the one he made the last time he was at the beach with his parents, but this was gigantic in comparison. Who knew Minato could dream about normal things? He usually got nightmares. He actually began to smile a little. It sorta felt good.
And the dream then ended, as someone splashed sea water all over the sleeping lion. Minato bolted up and screeched venomously, almost hissing a cat who was very, very annoyed, by being splashed with water.
"Who's the dead ma-" Minato stopped midsentence. The person who splashed him was none other than Hamuko. Minato bit back the cusses and just lowered his head, water still dripping down from his hair. "Hamuko-chan, why did you do that?" he said sweetly, but dangerously as well.
Hamuko grinned cheekily. "You shouldn't sleep! I mean all your dreams are coming true!" She exclaimed pointing a thumb over to herself. "Aren't they?"
"Goddamn you!" Minato scowled, pouncing on Hamuko who yelped and sidestepped the tackle. Minato's face met the sand instead, and Hamuko splashed him once again with the remaining water in the bucket. He cussed and got up again, snatching the bucket from Hamuko who was smirking.
"Aww, what's the matter, Minnie-kun?" Hamuko asked.
Minato looked at Hamuko and then at the ocean, before looking at her back again. "I forget we were on the beach..." He said with a sly grin of his own.
"Minato, no..." Hamuko said, taking a step back. "I just put on some sunscreen!" She cried.
"I don't care!" Minato said, grabbing a hold of Hamuko's wrist tightly. Hamuko screeched and began to kick sand in Minato's face, making him release the grip and try to wipe his face clean.
Hamuko laughed and ran ahead to tackle Minato into the sea. The blue haired devil however was quick. He grabbed the oncoming Hamuko by her wrist again, stopping her.
"Heh!" Minato said, grabbing a hold of her one leg before actually picking her up with ease. "See? You don't just splash Minato with sea water and expect to get away with it."
"Goddammit I was kidding!" Hamuko flailed to no effect. Minato was still holding her up, dangerously close to the ocean. "Don't you dare!"
"Have a safe swim. Oh, and white is almost see through!" He said with a laugh, tossing Hamuko into the sea with a victorious smile.
Hamuko can up on the surface with a yelp, coughing out sea water and sending death glares to her friend. Minato gave her a thumbs up and in the moment, he actually smiled wide. This time, it wasn't for Hamuko for her antics that made him laugh. This time, he actually had fun and all the hate he had about coming to the beach started to vanish. He actually enjoyed being on the beach. It felt so nostalgic.
Hamuko swam over to the sand and glared at Minato. "Jerk!" she spat playfully.
Minato just smiled and looked down. "Unfortunately..." he said with a bitter chuckle, pointing at his sand castle and walking away towards the vacation home.
Hamuko watched his smile fade and eyed the castle. "Well, looks like Minato is still fighting." She smiled.
...
Minato changed into his usual jeans and shirt and begrudgingly walked over to the lounge in the mansion. He didn't want to attend but Mitsuru had requested.
SEES settled down as Takeharu started to speak.
Minato sighed and got back. He couldn't handle another 30 minute meeting which was surely going to end in tears. "I already know," he shrugged, before walking out of the vacation home and onto the beach once again. Minato sat on the beach, overlooking the calm sea. It sorta looked beautiful, he had to agree.
"It feels nice..." Minato said quietly, snapping a picture from his cell phone and saving it. He looked over to the spot where he was in the noon, and the sand castle was still over there. Interestingly enough, there was a smaller one right next to it. No doubt Hamuko made it, since she actually wrote "I WIN" on the sand right next to it.
"Should I confess?" he asked aloud. "Should I? I'll get rejected no matter what anyway," Minato mumbled and gave out a bitter chuckle. "She's way out of league." He didn't believe he actually said that. "If I actually take anger management classes, then maybe I'll have a chance!" His shoulders slumped down. "Doesn't wash the blood from my hands though..."
Minato let out another breath and closed his eyes.
Was someone running over?
He looked back and saw god damn Yukari running to the edge of the beach, tears flowing freely and traveling down her cheeks. Minato stood up and ignored her and just kept staring at the sea, resulting in a tense silence with the usual sniffs coming from Yukari.
"I feel so... broken," Yukari finally said.
"I didn't ask," Minato spat.
"Then don't reply back, asshole," Yukari screamed in return.
"Don't talk here then, get the fuck out of here and go cry yourself to sleep, you pathetic, weak willed child," Minato spat back, crossing his arms. "What happened, huh?" he taunted her again. "Did you find out that you have a bastard brother?"
Yukari had enough, and this time she turned around and slapped Minato hard across the face, not caring she'd be on the receiving end of a vicious beat down. Minato grabbed her wrist roughly and hissed venomously, almost wanting to break her god damn hand in half. "You bitch," Minato spat, his cheek stinging from the slap.
"Go ahead, do whatever you want to do. Beat the crap out of me. I don't care anymore. I believed in him for so long and that trust was a lie!" Yukari screamed, still sobbing.
"Does it look like I care!?" Minato spat. "I don't know what happened to your dad and I don't give a single shit about how much of a horrible death he died."
"You bastard!" Yukari said, slapping Minato across the face again. Minato threatened to grab her throat and Yukari didn't do anything in return. "Kill me right now, or else I'll kill you."
Minato smiled sickly in return. "Go ahead and try."
She just lowered her head. "Yeah, go ahead and taunt me Minato," Yukari said with a sigh. "I just don't care anymore. I've lost all hope. Reality is so harsh. I'm jealous, broken and hurt. It's over now..."
Minato shoved his hands back into his pockets and actually listened. "I'd like to slap the shit out of you actually," he spat. "I've lost my parents too, but goddamn you if you've lost hope in someone who you hold so close already."
"Huh?" Yukari was taken aback by his words.
"It isn't rocket science, woman," Minato said and looked towards the sky. "Keep believing in him. I don't like him, I don't know him but he's still your god damn father who loved you, are you just gonna spit on his memory just because of one video that God knows is legit or not?"
"... Do you think of your parents?" Yukari asked slowly.
"I do," Minato replied calmly for once. "I hate everyone else, but I still respect them and I don't care which bastard tries to convince me that they were mafia dealers or murderers. They're still my parents. I've lost them too and their memory is one thing I won't ever let go, no matter what."
Yukari was actually surprised. Minato wasn't cussing and he actually still loved his parents. What a freaking surprise. She wiped the tears from her eyes and finally spoke. "You're right."
"I'm always right. You people are just too stupid to understand me," Minato shrugged.
"I'm gonna keep believing and I'll keep fighting. He's still my dad," Yukari vowed.
"Really?" Minato raised an eyebrow, receiving a nod in reply.
"... I respect that," Minato nodded back, pulling out a hanky from his pocket and handing it over to Yukari who was actually surprised. She slowly took it and began to wipe her tears with it.
"T-Thank you Minato-kun. You're not as bad I thought," she smiled.
"I'm easy to piss off, but I only get pissed off on the wrong reasons," he shrugged.
"Sorry for slapping you though..." Yukari cringed.
"Meh." Minato shrugged again. "You hit like a child anyway. It didn't hurt anyway."
Yukari giggled at his remark. Minato narrowed his eyes at her and growled. "Don't laugh at me, dammit!" she laughed again and Minato just sighed, deciding to wave her off.
She slowly drifted closer to Minato who was oblivious. The two remained silent for a somewhat long time. Minato wasn't actually that much annoyed by her presence. Yukari came even closer, but just then, someone else coming running onto the scene. It was Hamuko.
Minato smiled slightly and Yukari waved at her friend. "You guys had me worried. Is everything alright?" Hamuko asked.
"It's fine now," Yukari said with puffy red eyes. "Everything is okay now. I just gotta believe. That's all!" She smiled wide.
"Awesomeness!" Hamuko fist pumped. She looked over to Minato. "Why is Minato's cheek red though?"
Yukari sweat dropped. "Uh, I gotta go now. Don't wanna miss… lunch," she stammered, speeding off.
"But its dinner time..." Hamuko said to herself. She looked over at Minato. "Did you get one?"
"Two, actually..." Minato shrugged.
"My poor Minato…" Hamuko said sadly, hugging Minato tightly who didn't pull away this time. He actually returned the hug. "I saw how you handled her. I'm proud of you," she whispered into his ear.
"Y-You are?" Minato said with a smile.
"Totally am!" Hamuko pulled back and clasped his hand. Now was perhaps the best time to ask. Hamuko took a deep breath and started. "Why have you been ignoring me lately?" she asked seriously. "I don't know about you, but it kinda tears me inside."
Minato cringed. "I, uh..." She paused.
"Don't stutter like an idiot, tell me!" Hamuko scowled.
"No, it's okay..." Minato looked away, trying to free his hand but Hamuko surprisingly held onto his hand tightly.
"You will tell me, Minato Arisato!" Hamuko shouted.
"Don't push me," Minato said slowly. Hamuko shoved Minato and then another step forward.
"I will push you. Goddammit, just tell me so I can better our relationship," Hamuko demanded. "I know you've killed Minato. I know you're a prick at times but I still consider you my friend." Minato cringed at the word 'friend'. Why did she call him that?
He fought back the tears and stubbornly kept looking at the ground. Hamuko growled and grabbed a hold of his chin, forcing his face up. "Open up!" She blared into his ear.
"I will!" Minato shouted, slapping her hand away. "I've fallen for you goddammit," fe shouted, unable to hold it any longer. Minato clutched his head and began to pull his hair. "Fuck you Hamuko. You're the only god damn girl that made me question myself. I feel pathetic. I feel so god damn pathetic whenever I'm near you."
"... Do you hate me now?" Hamuko said slowly, not believing what she was hearing.
"No! I still l-l-love you," Minato spat out. "I want to be away from you. It hurts like a bitch but at least one day I'll get over you and stop clinging onto you and spoiling your reputation in the school."
"What are you talking about?" Hamuko questioned again, placing a hand on her uncontrollable heart.
"I'm a monster. You know that, everyone knows that. Now what chance does a bastard like me has with someone like you?" Minato bit back the sobs. "We're friends but that's just it. In one place you have someone who's respected and loved; someone who helps everyone along the way and can't stop smiling. And on the other hand, you've got Minato Arisato," he said with a defeated sigh. A single tear traveled down his cheek and he immediately wiped it away. "I'm sorry for making you feel guilty. It wasn't my intention. I just wanted to stay away so you can... hang around more normal people,"
"It isn't your fault..." Hamuko replied bluntly.
"What do you mean? I've killed people Hamuko. Don't you get it?" Minato scowled.
"It wasn't you. It isn't your fault!" Hamuko said, hugging him again. Deep down, she knew what the dominating factor in Minato's soul was.
"Wow, are you trying to hug me just to make me feel better? I feel like shit already! Don't make it worse for me," Minato growled.
"You're an idiot," Hamuko pulled back and glared.
"I'd prefer sadist or asshole over an idiot, because it's true," he replied flatly.
"Minato..." Hamuko said softly, with a small blush. "Would be weird if I told you that I sorta feel the same for you?"
Minato gritted his teeth and forced her face up, before hissing at her. "Don't fuck around with me Hamuko. Don't sprout shit just to make me feel better!" he snarled. "I know for a fact, the day I die will be you're happiest day yet. You'll finally have gotten ridden of someone who's an embarrassment to you, all the time!"
And in that moment, Minato was slapped for the third time that night, and this time, it was more vicious than Yukari's slap. "You're an idiot!" Hamuko said, pulling Minato close and kissing his cheek, real close to his lips. Minato heated up and shivered... She wasn't lying?
"You're not lying? Why would you like me?" Minato said, as Hamuko rested her head on his shoulder.
"You've saved me more times than I can count," Hamuko snuggled closer. "You think I don't like it when you give me the special treatment?" she giggled. Minato tried to open his mouth to protest, but he finally smiled and hugged Hamuko back, kissing her on the forehead.
"I'm glad..." Minato whispered, pulling her closer. "So fucking glad." A burden was surely lifted from his chest. Even though he was sure someone was watching the two of them, Minato didn't care. He just held on. Who knew Yakushima would end up being the best night of his entire life?
Raider AN: Look who's back with a shiiiiny new chapter which I'm sure you guys have been waiting for forever! That's right, we are!
I'm not even going to say anything useful, but plz box yo thoughts and we'll see ya guys later! :D
Reviews! :3
MinaxMina: lol, he's avoiding her because… well, to paraphrase, he thinks that even though he likes her, she'd be better off without him. So, he's trying not to be selfish, but it's really working the other way around. And yes, it wouldn't stop her.
Not a problem! Hope you like this one!
Beautiful blossom: All things to be answered in later chapters! :D
Cosmic Guardain: Yes, Elizabeth is fear itself. Haha.
You weren't that far off!
EeveeGen9988: Reasons!
Ah, well I don't think that'll happen in this fic. Indeedly so, if Theo isn't scared of anyone, it'd just have to be his sister…
Gin Nanashi: Of course! She'd destroy him! X3
Aigis should be coming up next chapter. I think. :P
JackFrostDoll: Ten out of ten, would recommend. :3
Yoshikunitsu: Hehe, well… Nights has a thing for pushing her to the side, I've noticed.
Aigis will appear there like in canon. But as to what's going to happen? That's a different story.
Yup!
Thanks for all the other reviews! I'm sorry if I didn't answer, but I'm mostly answering the ones that have things I wanted to comment on. For all the others, thanks for the support!
Nights : Sorry for making you guys wait, but hey this chapter is pretty much packed with minatoxhamuko and some mad CD so it guess it balances out. :P
Thank you very much for the reviews! Box us yo thoughts again and we'll see you real soon again.