Mai HiME
Lost & Found
Chapter XXII
Everything went well, and Mikoto's parents went back to England right after Christmas. She took them to her personal airport, during the whole time they exchanged very few words. But at the end of it all, they all come to a conclusion that slowly they wanted to reconnect with each other again. Mikoto agreed to that as she needed times to accept as they needed times to learn to accept the world that she's living in. It wasn't a tearful goodbye, a smile, a nod, and some hand-shaking and that's all to it.
Her Jiji didn't come, but he did call to wish his grandchild and her friends Happy New Year because he's in Hawaii enjoying the sun. Nao was disappointed that he didn't come for the Christmas party, and ended up complaining the whole day afterward about how unfair it is that Jiji was sunbathing while everyone here suffer miserable cold of the winter snow. Shizuru and Natsuki went to Kyoto to visit Shizuru's family for the New Year while Reito spent that time with his and Fumi's family at his home, Shiho dragged Nao home with her the day after New Year. Yukino asked Haruka to come along with her to visit her parents just a few miles away from Mikoto's home, and so all that's left were just Mikoto and Mai as all the workers were allowed to go home to their families right on Christmas Eve until the first of February.
Mikoto left Mai used her brand new laptop with streaming video to talk to her brother from oversea in the living room as she went to prepare lunch for them. She was happy that her brother is doing well and his girlfriend seemed to be a fine young lady, and he told her that their parents wondered about her whereabouts over the years and Mai had to lie that her job caused her to move around so much that she lost their address. So Takumi give her their parents' address and asked her to make sure to visit them because they're really worried about her well-being. Of course, Mai told her brother about her new love life which would say a bit shocking to him since he thought she would be marrying Tate Yuuichi. Though he was glad that she's happy with her newfound love, and this new person treated her well as she flashed him the earrings she's wearing.
"Mai, lunch is ready…" Mikoto called as she came out of the kitchen. "Takumi, I want you to meet someone," Mai said sounding all giddy as she waved Mikoto over. Mikoto walked over and stand behind Mai, dressing in gray sweatpants and white long sleeves t-shirt smiling warmly at the small camera on the laptop. On the screen was a young man with brownish red hair smiling while a girl next to him waving at the sight of Mikoto. "Takumi and Akira, this is my girlfriend Minagi Mikoto. That's my brother and his girlfriend," Mai said enthusiastically.
"Whoa, Minagi Mikoto? Nee-san, you're dating the Minagi Mikoto?!" Takumi asked looking slight shocked. "Takumi, you make it sounded like a crime to date her…" Mai said with a forceful smile on her face. "No, but she's on Forbes top ten wealthy people and Fortune top five in business-wise, she's famous over here." Takumi said as his girlfriend just nodded her head in agreement. "Not only that, we're here on full scholarship that were offered under the Minagi Conglomerate. All expenses were paid for too," Takumi's girlfriend chimed in. "You guys sounded like you've been doing your homework, but it's late over there and I don't want Mai to skip out on lunch either. We'll talk to you guys some other times then," Mikoto said giving them a knowing smile as they agreed to her comment as well.
They had lunch together and neither talked about Mikoto's vast fortune and it's not something to be talking about either. Lunch was simple; Mikoto prepared Caesar salads and nicely cooked Kobe stakes which Mai found it to be very good. She thought the feral girl didn't know how to cook since they have at least two cooks on call almost all the time, that and Mikoto seemed to always be so busy with work that there seemed to be no time to learn how to cook.
Mai washed the dishes after lunch, while Mikoto went to put her laptop away. Once everything was done, the couple cuddled up on the couch and just enjoys each other's presence. Soon, Mikoto fell asleep and pulled Mai down on top of her, the old woman was caught by surprised but decided to snuggled up against her lover and she too succumb to sleep soon after.
Mai woke to someone's murmuring, and it seemed that Mikoto was on the phone with someone. "No, I am not doing anything right now. Yes Jiji, I can cook for myself. You make it sounds like I'm making her cook all the time now that the chefs are on vacation," Mikoto chuckled softly as not to wake her strawberry orange top lover up. "I haven't thought about it yet," Mikoto replied to a question that Mai couldn't hear as she pretended to be asleep still. "We're still young Jiji, you'll have to ask Shizuru since she got married. Not unless you come home for a visit, Nao was upset that you didn't come for the party like you used to do every year. I'm sure she just wants the souvenirs," Mikoto let out yet another soft chuckle. "I'm very happy with her and I hope that she's happy with me too, but you never know. Thanks Jiji, night." Mikoto said and turned off the phone afterward.
Her grandfather is a man with strict moral code, but he's also very layback about today's relationship. He loved his grandchild and had learned to accept her for who she is, though Mikoto never seemed to disappoint him in any way. She worked hard in her training, her studying, and mainly expanding the Minagi's name and fortune. His granddaughter would probably be the first in the Minagi bloodline to ever make the name known throughout Japan and even worldwide. The fifteen years old girl come home from attending her best friend's graduation and told him that she just found the perfect woman for her, it was shocking at the sudden announcement. But all her friends supported her, so he didn't see any problem with it just as long as his granddaughter is happy.
In Hawaii somewhere, a man with raven hair smiled as he hung up his phone after his conversation with his granddaughter. "Ara, ara… Have you been up to no good again?" a woman with Kyoto-ben accent said with a calming smile on her face. She looked exactly like Shizuru, but only with tanned complexion and dark brown hair and even her voice sounded just like Shizuru. One would have to wonder the relation between her and Shizuru, and why she's here with this man would be another question to ask.
"I was just talking to Mikoto, we missed Shizuru's wedding and Nao's engagement. Even her parents' sudden visit too," the man smiled lovingly at the Shizuru look-alike. "Ara, ara… it seemed that I missed out on my own granddaughter's wedding. Jijirou, we must get them a belated wedding gift…" the woman smiled teasingly acting embarrassed to miss the wedding. "But Shizuka-chan, we're still on our honeymoon." Jijirou said giving the woman a playful pout. "Ara, ara… we'll always be on honeymoon dear," the woman giggled leaning forward and give him a quick kiss on the lips.
Back at the Minagi's mansion, Mikoto gently caressed Mai's face while brushing strands of hair back. "Maybe we should visit your parents?" Mikoto said in a very husky voice. It seemed that Mikoto knew that Mai was awake; it's not hard because the breathing pattern changed and the feral girl noticed but didn't say anything until now. "Now?" Mai asked as she didn't want to move from her comforting position. "Now would be fine, since it's the second day after New Year." Mikoto said softly. "I'm not sure if you be happy to see me though," Mai murmured. "Don't worry too much; I'm sure they would be happy to have you visiting them. Come on sleepy-head," Mikoto said as she tickled Mai lightly to get the woman off of her.
Mikoto took the Mercedes GL550 this time since it is winter, and Mai wondered how much this SUV cost though she isn't sure she wanted to know the price tag to such a luxurious car. "It's somewhere around ninety thousand in US dollars," Mikoto said like she read Mai's mind as they drove down the empty road. "This is the second time I've drive this car," Mikoto chuckled. "How many cars do you own?" Mai asked feeling curious as she saw Mikoto usually drove in her Honda S2000 and Haruka's motorcycle once. "A few," Mikoto shrugged at her own answer. "That's pretty vague," Mai complained. "I'll show you someday," Mikoto chuckled and Mai just pouted cutely at her girlfriend's words.
Author's Notes: Roar!!! Jiji was finally introduced… and he's married to Shizuru's grandmother?! Yikes!!! Yes, the Mercedes GL550 actually cost about 80k+ in US money… that's some expensive car. No, I'm not a gear-head 'laughs' because I don't know how to fix my own car.