Screaming Siopao: Gaaah, after I wrote the first part of this fic, I didn't really know where the story would go next, haha. I knew I wanted the next portion to be about Miyako/Bubbles, though. So… Here it goes! Enjoy the next few minutes of my improvised writing! xD
Also, thanks to those who reviewed the first part! -smiles-
Disclaimer: I do not own Demashitaa! Powerpuff Girls Z or its characters. Plot's mine, back off. (:
Love Chronicles
Part II - Miyako - Angel
Monday, November 11th;;
"How's the café work going, Kaoru-san?" a bubbly Miyako asked during lunch one Monday morning. Of course, she was eating her favorite meal-- meatballs. Miyako hadn't changed much for the past three years, except for the fact that her hair was longer and she was taller now. She was still pretty much the dense sweetheart of the group.
"Yeah, it's been like three weeks you've been working at Cure Maid," Momoko said while chomping on some rice balls. "When are you going to have enough money for that skateboard?"
"Well, I actually… I got enough money for the skateboard two nights ago," Kaoru said, beaming. "I'm going to buy it after my shift today!"
"So why don't you quit already?" Miyako asked. Kaoru blushed at the question just a tad bit, so her friends didn't quite notice.
She couldn't say that Butch visited her everyday during her shift. She had kept her relationship with the Rowdyruff Boy a secret for all of this time. She did not want to reveal it now and have her friends scold her. They would totally disapprove of her decision and demand her to break off whatever she had with Butch immediately. But, truth is, Kaoru was happy with Butch. He made her laugh a lot, and that was a big bonus. Any guy that could make her laugh her brains out was good enough for her anyday. She was truly content with him as her boyfriend-- Rowdyruff Boy or not. It's not like the boys have caused much trouble in Tokyo, anyway.
"Well, see, I… er, I kind of l-like…" Kaoru started, but then paused. "I… I'm really starting to like the job." A lie. A terrible lie. The only reasons Kaoru had for liking the job was the good pay and that it was the only time she could see Butch without looking suspicious. Momoko began laughing shamelessly.
"Bwahaha! Kaoru's turning into a girlie-girlie softie~!" the red-head scoffed.
GONK!
"Ow ow ow! Mou, Kaoru, that hurt!" Momoko yelled as Kaoru put her shoe back on after launching it at her friend's head.
"Serves you right, you fat freak!" Kaoru yelled.
"Fat!?"
Miyako watched from afar and sweat-dropped.
"What's wrong with being a softie?" she asked quietly to herself as she looked on at her two bickering friends and sighed.
"Ah, Miyako," Momoko suddenly said. "How's Takaaki-kun doing?" At the sound of her crush's name, Miyako instantly blushed.
"Yeah, he was released from the hospital just last week, right?" Kaoru asked. "That's really great news!"
"Y-Yes, It is, ne," Miyako said with a shy smile. "He actually visited me last night," she stated, blushing even more.
"Oooh," Momoko cooed. "And how did that go? Did you two behave?" Miyako blushed an even brighter shade of red, if that was even possible.
"O-Of course! Don't kid like that! We're just friends, you see. He j-just came over for dinner."
"Suure. Miyako, you can tell me what happened, just whisper it, 'kay?" Kaoru said while pointing to her ear.
"Really! You guys, nothing's going on between me and Taka-chan. I'm just so very glad that he's out of the hospital. It was a miracle that he was able to be cured," Miyako said with obvious happiness and relief in her tone. "It's so great that we can actually see each other again outside of the hospital. I'm so glad…" Miyako stopped talking and looked up to her friends who were both snickering. "Hey! What's so funny?"
"Miyako and Takaaki sittin' in a tree," Kaoru sang.
"K-i-s-s-i-n-g!" Momoko continued. Miyako's face became as hot as a tamale.
"Mou! You guys!" she yelled as she got up and rapidly chased her friends around the classroom. A calamitous sight, yes. Such an oh, so destructive sight indeed.
o0o0o0o
"I'll catch you later, guys!" Kaoru said as she left school to go to work. Momoko and Miyako had to stay after school to attend a club meeting.
"Bye, Kaoru!" the other two girls yelled back as their friend. Both Momoko and Miyako began walking towards the classroom where their club would be held, until something caught Miyako's eye. There, on a desk in their homeroom, sat Kaoru's green hat.
"Ah!" Miyako exclaimed. "Kaoru-san left her cap."
"We'll just give it back to her later after our club meeting," Momoko suggested. Miyako nodded and took the hat.
She was happy about being able to go visit Kaoru later to see how she was doing. She and Momoko actually haven't visited in a while, for something urgent often came up or times came when they were just tired from school. But, most of the time, Kaoru assured them that she was fine and that there were need for visitations anymore.
Suddenly, an upbeat, cheery music began playing from inside of Miyako's bag.
"Oh," she gasped. "My cell." She reached into her bag, pushing aside books and Octi, to grab her cell phone. "Moshi moshi."
"Miyako-chan."
Miyako's heart skipped a beat at the sound of that voice. That so very musical and pleasurable voice.
"T-Taka-chan," she stuttered while turning red. Somewhere next to her, she heard Momoko stifle a laugh. Miyako motioned for her to go on ahead without her. Momoko understood, and went ahead to the club meeting.
"Hey, uhm, I was wondering if you were busy," he said. "My parents are out and it's really kind of lonely here."
"Don't you still need to rest? You just left the hospital."
"All I've been doing is resting. I'm fine, really. And I start school again tomorrow anyway," he said. "I'm really behind, but I hope I can catch up."
"Oh," Miyako said. "Well, I'm at school now, and then I'll be at Cure Maid Café visiting Kaoru. Oh, that's right!" she exclaimed. "You've never seen her at work. She looks so cute! Why don't you stop by there at around four later on?"
"Ah, sounds good," he said.
"Okay, it's settled then," she said. "Four o' clock."
"Alright," he said with a smile.
"W-Well, I guess I'll see you soon," she stuttered. "Darn it. Miyako, stop stuttering!"
"Yup," Takaaki confirmed. "Oh, and, Miyako?"
"H-hai?"
"I… I can't wait to see you."
Miyako took an intake of breath and held back a squeal.
"Hai. Well, I-- I'll be going, now," she responded while in a daze. "Ja." And with that, they hung up.
Miyako let out her anticipated squeal and was so joyful that she hummed the rest of the way to her club's room.
o0o0o0o
Momoko yawned.
"That meeting was so boring! School is just getting so tiring!" the red-head exclaimed while rubbing her eyes. Miyako giggled.
"You're pretty tired already, ne, Momoko? And it's only Monday!"
"Monday!?"
"Yes. Monday."
"G'ack!"
"What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry!" Momoko apologized while bowing. "I can't come with you to Cure Maid Café. There's this TV special tonight and Hiro Mizushima will be guest-starring for this episode only!" (a/n: ahh! Hiro Mizushima is so… -squee-)
"Just another one of your boy idols again, hm?" the bubbly blonde giggled. "It's fine. I'll go ahead by myself. I'll be with Taka-chan and Kaoru-san anyway, so it won't be lonely."
"Ah, that's right. Thank you so much!" Momoko said. "You're the best!"
Miyako laughed and smiled sweetly at her friend.
"I know," she joked.
o0o0o0o
Miyako skipped happily along Tokyo's sidewalk while on her way to the café. She hummed yet another upbeat tune while skipping. It felt like she was walking on air. She was so elated and uber glad to have the chance see Kaoru in her cute outfit again. And also, Takaaki would be there with her, eating sweets and all sorts of goodies. This was almost like a date between her and Takaaki right? The thought made her squeal with joy and blush madly out of control.
Oh, she didn't even notice that she was at the café already. Skipping truly was a fast way of commuting. Miyako glanced at her watch. 3:30 PM. It would still be at least thirty minutes before Takaaki would even arrive. Oh well, she thought. She could just keep Kaoru company for a while. She pushed open the front door and spotted her friend in the green uniform.
"Kaoru-san! I'm--" Miyako announced, but was cut off by someone putting his hand over her mouth.
"Shh!" a boy said, while pulling her to a table off to the side. Miyako squealed lightly and looked up at the boy who had interrupted her. "Don't bother Kaoru!" he hissed.
"Eh!? Boomer!" she yelled. The blonde lad who sat with Miyako was, indeed, Boomer. Boomer, like Butch, had also grown taller and had a much more defined jaw line. His face was becoming manlier and he had grown a bit more built over the years as well.
"Huh?" he said. "Who are you?" He stared intently at the girl in front of him, as if they were having a staring contest of some sort. After a few seconds, something in his brain finally clicked. "Oh," he gasped as he finally realized who it was that he had just grabbed to sit with him. "I see! You're that Miyako girl. Uh, Bubbles! That's right!" he said with a smile.
"Shh!" she hissed this time. "Don't say that out loud! You have some nerve after dragging me to this table!"
"Oh, sorry about that. It was just a natural reflex. I couldn't let anybody bother Kaoru, because I have to observe her," he said. "Well, long time no see, huh? Last time was… hmm, well, a few months back when me and my bro's found out who you girls really were, ha ha," he laughed. "Such careless, dense girl. Good times."
"No, not good times! This isn't a laughing matter. You guys shouldn't have been spying on us anyway. And why is this plant here? I can't see Kaoru-san! I have to return her hat!"
"I picked this table especially so that Kaoru girl and Butch wouldn't see us," Boomer pointed out. "So don't speak so loudly."
"Huh? Butch?" Miyako questioned, confused. "He's here, too?"
"That's the only reason why I'm here. Look," Boomer commanded. Miyako did what she was told and peered through the leaves of the plant that was covering both her and Boomer.
Miyako saw Kaoru in her green maid uniform and was about to call out for her. But then, she saw who her friend was walking towards. No other than Butch himself. Miyako watched Kaoru set a simple cake dish in front of Butch and observed them laughing and talking and… well, if Miyako didn't know any better, it was as if the two were… flirting. She hadn't seen Kaoru laugh like that for a while now. The blonde girl gasped and looked back at Boomer, who was wearing a serious expression on his face.
"I know," he said. "It's bad, huh."
"But," Miyako began. "Why are you spying on your brother?"
"He's been gone everyday for like three weeks. He leaves for a few hours and then comes home all weird and fruity," Boomer said. "Me and him were supposed to go skating in the park, when he said he had to go do something else. Brick didn't even bother following-- that lazy bum. But if he saw this now, he'd be furious. I decided to follow Butch here and what do you know? He and that Kaoru chick are hooking up or something."
"I…" Miyako whispered in disbelief. "I don't believe this."
"Me neither. Girls," Boomer said while making a disgusted face. "He practically betrayed me and Brick! It's bad enough that he got a girl, but it's even worse that the girl is a Powerpuff Girl. It's totally sick, if you ask me."
"What?" Miyako said.
"I said it's sick. Girls are vile and disgusting. They're crybabies and softies," he spat.
Miyako then became angry all of a sudden. She didn't even care anymore that Kaoru was with Butch. That didn't seem like a problem to her right now.
"Now, listen here, Boomer!" Miyako exclaimed while slamming her hands on the table. "Kaoru-san can be with any guy she wants! Rowdyruff Boy or not, her choice must be respected! Plus, she looks totally happy with him! Just look at her smile! I am her best friend and if this is what she wants, then I'll support her one-hundred percent! You should feel the same way towards Butch! He's your brother, after all, right? You should stick by him whenever he needs you to! Talking about him like that makes it look like you're the one betraying him as a brother!"
"Uhh… M-Miyako," Boomer said.
"Don't interrupt me! I'm not done with you!" Miyako yelled, completely out of control. This was totally unlike her.
"Miyako!" a new, more feminine, voice said. Miyako turned her head and looked at the new speaker.
"Ah… Kaoru!" Miyako said in a surprised tone. Had she attracted that much attention? Now that she thought about it, almost the entire shop was looking at her. Butch was standing behind Kaoru and gasped at the sight of his blonde brother.
"Boomer?" Butch breathed. "What are you doing here?"
"I think that I should be the one asking you that, Butch!" the blonde lad exclaimed. Butch gulped.
"I-- it's not what it looks like," Butch stuttered. "I…" He had absolutely no excuse for being in the café mingling with a Powerpuff girl. Who knows how long Boomer has been there, staring at him? All he could say was the truth now. He sighed. It was inevitable. He had to confess to his brothers someday, and he knew it. "I was just…"
"He was just here making fun of how horrible I looked in this outfit," Kaoru blurted, protecting Butch from humiliation by his brother. Butch was taken aback by this.
"Really, now?" Boomer said. "I don't believe it."
"Well, believe it, twerp!" Kaoru exclaimed.
"That's not what it looked like to me and Miyako here. Right?" he said as he looked at the blonde girl next to him. Miyako bit her lip, not knowing what to do.
"Don't involve Miyako in this!" Kaoru demanded. "You want proof? Tell him, Butch! He was saying how this dress made me look like a clown! And how it looks like I never brush my hair! And how it looks like I--"
"That's enough, Kaoru," Butch said, clenching his fists. "I'm not going to lie to Boomer." He couldn't bear it anymore. Kaoru didn't need to protect him like this. He was the man after all, right? Butch stared his brother straight in the eye. Sapphire met Emerald. "Truth is, I've been with Kaoru for a while now. I… I really like her. Is there a problem?"
Boomer growled.
"I knew it," he said between his clenched teeth. "Backstabber."
"What?" Butch asked, but was too late. Boomer had already stormed out of the café in a flash. Butch was about to go follow his brother until Miyako stopped him.
"I'll go find him. This is all my fault. Besides, I don't think he'd be very willing to negotiate with you right now," Miyako stated apologetically. "You stay here with Kaoru." The blonde girl then left the café in a rush as well. Boomer couldn't have gotten far. She would go find him and calm him down so that he and his brother could talk calmly. She couldn't help but feel totally responsible for what was going on. If she just hadn't thrown a fit, then she and Boomer wouldn't have been spotted. Then, Butch and Boomer wouldn't be fighting. She had to fix this… somehow.
She ran down the streets yelling Boomer's name when suddenly, she saw a bob of blonde hair in the distance. "Aha!" she exclaimed as she ran up to the figure and tapped his shoulder. "Boomer."
"Huh?" the person turned around and looked down at Miyako. "What's a 'boomer'?"
"Aghh!" Miyako yelled as soon as she saw it was just a bloated middle-aged blonde woman. "Ehe, sorry, wrong person." But something caught Miyako's eye off to the direction of the café. It was another person with blonde hair who ran into an alleyway right next to the Café. "Boomer."
She ran back to the direction in which she came from and followed the figure into the alleyway. There, leaning against the brick wall with his back to her, she saw the boy she was looking for. His head was down and his face was blocked from the shadows of the alley. She slowly approached him and placed her small hand on his shoulder. "Ne… are you alright?"
"No," he mumbled, his back still to her.
"I'm really sorry for yelling at you earlier, 'kay?"
Silence.
"Turn around, please," she politely asked.
"No."
"Look at me, Boomer," Miyako gently said. She was always like this. Gentle. Even with a boy whom she should be enemies with.
"I said no!" he yelled as he roughly nudged her away. Miyako stumbled back a few feet, but did not fall to the ground, luckily.
"Please," she whispered timidly. "I want to help."
"Help…" It's exactly was Boomer sought. But from a Powerpuff Girl? He refused. "Just leave me alone."
She then heard a soft, muffled sound come from him. What was that? A cough? A groan? No, it was none of those, Miyako thought. It was a… a sob. Miyako slowly and cautiously walked up to Boomer again and looked at his face only to find it tear-struck and drained. She gasped lightly. This was a side of him that she had never seen before. All she knew was the immature trouble maker that always wreaked havoc in Tokyo with his brothers. Now, she saw a helpless boy that just longed for compassion.
"Boomer is… so sensitive…"
"Stop looking at me," he breathed. "I'm pathetic."
"Why… why are you crying?" Miyako asked. "Please don't cry…"
"Because of Butch, of course," he replied while wiping his cheek with his sleeve. "I can't believe he'd betray me and Brick like this. We're brothers. We're supposed to stick together no matter what. We made a pact three years ago that we would never ditch each other for a girl, and he broke it."
Miyako listened as he let out all of his feelings. She could understand his feelings of sadness, loneliness, and betrayal, for she could remember the day that she and Takaaki made a pinky promise when they were little kids. They promised to see each other the next day and play with bubbles, but Miyako was so crushed when Takaaki never returned to the park to see her. The promise was broken that day, and so was her heart.
"I understand that you're upset. I know what you're going through, trust me. But just because Butch likes Kaoru now doesn't mean that he's betrayed you and Brick. You're still brothers," she said. "No broken promise can deny that."
"Hn."
"Plus, that pact was… well, it was a pretty dumb one to make," Miyako added. She didn't mean to sound offensive. But to get through to this boy, she had to be a little harsh. She wanted to help him. She had to show him what was already inevitable and unavoidable in life.
"And why is that?" he managed to say under his breath. He didn't know why this girl was still standing here. Was she that determined to help him? Any other girl would have just left him alone to rot by now. He was always left alone to cry. Even his brothers abandoned him at his emotional and unstable times, like this one. He looked at Miyako's caring face as she flashed a stunning and sweet smile at him.
"Because… Butch is going to fall in love sometime in his life. And so will you."
This struck Boomer. He was going to fall in love? With a girl? It seemed preposterous. Utterly absurd. Totally impossible. It was hard to believe and even harder to picture. He and his brothers had always avoided girls.
But as he thought about it, he stared at this little blonde girl before him. This gentle being who was not afraid to look him in the eye, even though he pushed her aside and refused her help. She was here with him trying to set him and his brother on good terms when he should be doing that himself. She felt sympathy for him… something that no one had ever showed to him before. She gave unto him more warmth, understanding, and empathy than he thought he deserved.
"I… I don't know," he said disbelievingly. "I can't. I won't." But as he said this, he doubted himself. For this was because he could already feel a slight, warm passion in his heart, and he dreaded what it might be. Wait. Dreaded? Actually… he sort of liked this feeling.
"You don't always have to hide your feelings," Miyako said. "You can tell me."
"I don't know," he said again, but with more roughness in his tone. He was so lost and muddled. His feelings were becoming haywire and disorganized. He held his head up with his hands, which felt like it was suddenly made of a type of metal. It felt so heavy to him; such a burden. He shut his eyes tightly. He swore he was going crazy.
"Boomer," Miyako softly said. His face softened at the sound of his name. He liked how his name sounded on her lips. So gentle and melodious; like chimes. She really was tender and amiable. "You shouldn't be shameful about who you are and the feelings you have," she consoled delicately. "It's okay to cry once in a while. You don't have to wear a facade anymore. You don't have to run away anymore. I'm here."
These words struck Boomer like a shield. The way she spoke to him made him feel so secure and safe. Her words were like a stronghold to him. He was always the most sensitive out of his brothers; the most self-conscious and unsure. But now, he felt like someone understood him, for once in his life. He stared into her honest blue orbs and saw home. He saw a place where there was protection, security, and hope. There was a whole new haven in her sparkling eyes.
"Miyako…" Boomer whispered. Before she could respond, the Rowdyruff Boy had already wrapped his arms around her. He couldn't help it. He needed to hold her. He closed his eyes, buried his face into her hair and sighed. "Miyako," he whispered again. "Arigatou."
He was just a cast-away soul. And now, he had just stumbled upon his guardian angel.
"Boomer…" she sighed. She did not know why she did so, but her arms just seemed to automatically wrap around Boomer's body themselves. As he hugged her, she embraced him back, and she enjoyed the sensation of it. Boomer's skin was warm on hers and his scent smelled like a sort of mint, in a way. She shut her eyes and inhaled his intoxicating smell and it was as if her mind went crazy for just a fraction of a second. She knew that she wasn't supposed to be feeling like this. To be feeling this light and high sensation while embracing Boomer… well, it was as if her heart was betraying her, wasn't it?
"Miyako-chan?" a surprised voice outside of the alleyway called. Miyako averted her eyes to the speaker, and gasped. She glanced at her watch; 4:00 PM. No…
"Taka-chan…"
Love Chronicles
Part II - Miyako - Angel: End.
Screaming Siopao: Ahhhh! That turned out better than I thought! It was a bit sad though. Yet, so uber sweet. Amai! -squeeee- Yes, Boomer is a bit OOC here, too. Blah! Who cares? He's three years older here, and people change. Will this Rowdyruff Boy also fall into the charm of a Powerpuff Girl? And what about Momoko? Well, stay tuned! Just a poll, would you guys prefer Miyako with Takaaki or Boomer? I personally liked Takaaki better, but this story has made me like Boomer too! Hahaha! Well, please tell me your opinions in your reviews. Or else I won't really know who to pair poor little Miyako with. -sobs-
Ja ne!