Twisted Fate

A/N: Thank you Vasu, Lisa and Savagehunger47 for your reviews, and those who voted.

Hanami: is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers, "flower" in this case almost always meaning cherry blossoms or ume blossoms. From the end of March to early May, sakura bloom all over Japan.

Yukata:Yukata is a Japanese garment, a casual summer kimono usually made of cotton. People wearing yukata are a common sight in Japan at fireworks displays, bon-odori festivals, and other summer events.

Inokashira Park: Inokashira Park is a park located in the cities of Musashino and Mitaka in Tokyo, Japan.

Taiyaki:Taiyaki is a Japanese fish-shaped cake.

Castella: Castella is a kind of sponge cake

Konnichi wa: It means hello in japanese

Onegai: It means please

This chapter is beta’d by my adorable kitties Savagehunger47, and Lisa

Chapter 9

“Morning Mikki; just give me two more minutes and breakfast will be ready,” said Daniel, while he was busily stir-frying noodles.

“What are you planning to wear today?” questioned Mikki as he sat down.

“My version of a modern yukata,” beamed Daniel as he served breakfast.

Mikki rolled his eyes, knowing pretty well about his friend’s sense of fashion, so he decided not to interfere, because he didn’t want to become the scapegoat.

Daniel had been looking forward to this day, and he just couldn’t wait to see his luscious Mikki in a yukata. If he had the power, he would make a rule that Mikki would be forced to dress in a yukata and kimono every day. He just couldn’t hold back to see hanami with his Mikki.

He started daydreaming about himself and Mikki sitting under a Sakura tree, with Mikki seated on his lap feeding him all kinds of killer foods. Mikki blushing under his intense stare, and later both of them would kiss. Daniel didn’t realize he was grinning like an idiot, which was literally scaring Mikki.

After they both had breakfast, they went to their respective rooms to get dressed.

Mikki wore a black yukata which had grey colored patters, and a grey colored obi was fastened around his waist.

Daniel chopped down his dark navy blue color kimono to just few inches above his knee, which now looked more like a jacket than a kimono. He wore denim jeans under it, and a sleeveless black t shirt. In addition to the top, he wore his kimono jacket. He looked at himself in the mirror, and gave himself a pat on the shoulder.

When both of them walked out of their rooms, they caught a sight of each other.

Not only did Mikki’s eyes widen when he caught a glimpse of Daniel’s dress, but he also started laughing.

“What’s so funny?” barked Daniel whose pride was abused.

“You look good; I mean it really suits you, and I am aware of your knowledge of fashion disasters, but this time you genuinely did a marvelous job,” complimented Mikki.

“Really? Geez thanks,” said Daniel scratching his head, he felt so peppy by the compliment he got from his buddy.

“The color goes really well with your complexion; in fact you look bewitching,” said Daniel, drooling over his Mikki.

“Tell me something I don’t know,” teased Mikki.

They both started laughing, but when their eyes fell on the clock, they rushed out of their home to meet their colleagues who would be waiting for them.

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When they reached Inokashira Park, the first thing both Mikki and Daniel noticed was that the park was crowded with a countless number of people. Daniel heard the sound of his dreams crashing; on the other hand Mikki was a bit edgy because of the crowd, and he had trouble finding his colleagues.

A woman in a red yukata greeted them both, and led them to a more secluded place. That’s where their peers were waiting for them.

He carefully sat on the blanket on the ground. The physics sensei was emerged in her book, while the chemistry sensei was drooling over her, which she obviously ignored. The baseball coach was busy obeying his bossy wife, and music sensei just approached the group with a cute little girl tagging along behind her with the hem of her kimono clenched in the child’s fist. The little girl smiled innocently, and introduced herself.

“Konnichi wa! I am Haruko; I am five yrs old, and very soon I will be going to school,” chirped the little girl.

She sat next to her mother, but her eyes were glued on her prince in the black yukata.

“Are you an angel?” questioned Haruko with large and dreamy eyes.

Mikki was confused if she had asked him or someone else, so Haruko answered his silent question.

“Yes, my prince charming in the black yukata,” she said boldly. Haruko was seated in her mom’s lap.

Mikki turned a cute shade of pink at Haruko’s question. “Sorry Haruko, I am neither an angel nor a prince charming,” answered Mikki.

“Then do you have a girlfriend?” At this question everyone’s attention turned to Mikki, seeing that he gulped nervously. The mother could only give him sorry look.

“No, I don’t.” Mikki replied.

“Well then, will you take me there to that stall, and buy me taiyaki?” requested Haruko, pointing in the direction of the stall.

“You are no gentleman, if you decline a lady’s request,” teased Daniel.

“I never had any intention to decline,” replied Mikki as he slowly got up.

The little girl jumped, caught hold of Mikki’s hand, and they both headed towards their destination.

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“Come on, couldn’t you find any better place? This place is too crowded for my taste,” seethed Ryo, when the group reached their appointed place in the park.

“Well, I never knew you hated crowded places because you never grumble about the night clubs where you hang out from dusk till dawn,” countered Tama.

“Tama please; you’re giving me headache. I’m going home right now,” insisted Ryo.

“Jo-kun I am really sorry but I can’t stay here anymore,” said Ryo, all set to leave the place.

While Jo was fighting back the tears, which were about to roll down his cheeks at any given moment, Izanagi was giving him the look which said ‘if you dare to leave, then you are dead’.

In spite of the dagger looks he got from his two friends, Ryo ignored them, and headed towards the exit. Just as he was about to get into his car, his eyes caught the sight of someone in a black yukata. A smile appeared on his seductive face, the sight made him change his plans and race back towards to his friends.

“Sorry, I changed my mind. I think it’s an excellent idea to watch hanami,” said Ryo, panting a bit because of the dash.

Tama and Izanagi exchanged worried looks, wondering what was the real reason behind their friend’s sudden mood change.

Ryo dragged Tama towards the stall, where Mikki had stopped to buy taiyaki and Imagawayaki. Just as they got close to the stall, Tama finally understood the reason behind his friend’s cheerfulness, and sighed.

Mikki and Haruko managed to secure a table next to the stall where they leisurely sat. The little girl ate the taiyaki like it was the most delicious thing on the whole planet. He could only smile at the little girl, who got happy simply over small things, and wished he could be as carefree and as happy like her.

Mikki couldn’t linger too much on his thoughts because a familiar voice broke his thinking. Even if Mikki wanted, he couldn’t do anything when Ryo and Tama sat on the opposite side of their table.

“Hello Reizo sensei, it’s a surprise to see you here,” said Ryo with a compassionate look, while his hungry eyes inspected the tasteful prey before him.

“I didn’t expect to meet you here,” said Mikki panicked. Even though Mikki was shocked when Haruko out of blue sat on his lap, he was happy. He felt himself relaxing.

Ryo was glaring at the girl who wrapped her arms around his angel’s neck, he just wanted to pull the girl from there, and above all he longed to put his arms around his angel. Both Haruko and Ryo had started a staring contest, neither of them wanting to lose. Haruko grinned suddenly, as a light bulb went off in her little brain.

“Mi-chan can you get me a plate of castella Onegai?” pleaded Haruko with puppy dog eyes.

Mikki’s eye twitched when the girl called him Mi-chan, but his anger disappeared when he saw those sweet amber puppy dog eyes begging him for a castella.

“Alright, I will get you one, but only if you promise to wait here for me,” cooed Mikki getting up from the seat.

When Haruko nodded, Mikki left to the stall to buy the item that the little girl had asked him for. Not only did the little girl get up when Mikki’s back was turned to them, but she also stomped on Ryo’s feet earning a cry from the victim. Tama couldn’t hold back his laughter anymore.

Ryo’s antagonist ran up to Mikki and playfully pulled the hem of his yukata. When Mikki looked down, the little girl stretched her arms up. Mikki understood that she wanted him to lift her. So he bent down, lifted the girl, and smiled when Haruko wrapped her arms around his neck possessively and kissed his cheeks.

All this was unhappily being watched by a huffy Ryo. Tama could almost see smoke coming of out Ryo’s ears until eventually he backed away cautiously. His foe stuck her tongue out, adding more fuel to the fire making Ryo want to strangle that little devil, but held back because he didn’t want to get on the bad side of his angel.

Mikki didn’t want to return to the table, so he headed back in the direction of his peers.

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The whole day the little lady refused to let go of her prince charming, so Mikki had no other choice but to carry her around. He dreaded what he thought what would happen to the boys when this little girl grew up. She already had him wrapped around her finger; he just couldn’t refuse her.

When Haruko was finally exhausted, she fell asleep on her cute little make-shift bed.

‘She looks like an angel’ thought Mikki looking at her sleeping form.

“Hey! How about we take a little tour?” asked Daniel.

“That’s good idea,” replied Mikki.

They walked for a long while until they found a place where there was less of a crowd. They stood before a big Sakura tree; both were awed, dumbstruck by the sheer size and beauty of it.

“Shit! I left the camera in my backpack!” cried Daniel.

“It’s alright, why do you need a camera?”

“To capture this beauty,” said Daniel looking at Mikki, but Mikki mistook that he meant the marvelous Sakura tree in front of them.

“Give me two minutes; I’ll be right back,” with that said, Daniel left.

Ryo, on other side, had been following Mikki, watching him like a lion would watch its delicious prey. Mikki, like a deer, was still unaware of the predator.

Mikki just stood there admiring, and in a way respecting, the old Sakura tree which stood proudly in all its glory. Mikki was in a state of ecstasy at the sight in front of him, and felt tranquility wash over him. When a petal of a Sakura flower touched his face, a teardrop danced down his cheek without his knowledge.

”Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put souls into it.”

Mikki remembered the quote by Henry Beecher. ‘I beg to differ, Henry. How can something so beautiful be without a soul?’

He was completely relaxed as all the tensions, and all the worries evaporated from him. He felt strangely calm; a feeling of serenity wrapping around him. His eyes closed trying to savor this moment, his face completely showing his tranquil state.

Ryo was spellbound by the enchanting beauty in front of him, and he could feel his heartbeat rising. ‘He is so beautiful. The scenery looks like it’s been made for him. What am I supposed to do? Or what am I expected to do? Is he a heavenly being? Am I dead or alive?’

Ryo was quick to recover from his trance, and he captured this angel with the camera on his cell phone. He just wanted to go there and hug his sensei.

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Daniel came back after some moments later. He approached Mikki looking devastated, and Mikki could immediately sense that something was bothering his friend.
“What’s wrong; you look so pale.” asked Mikki worried.

“Nothing,” Daniel lied. ‘Forgive me for not telling you the truth, but I am sure you will understand why I hid it from you’ thought Daniel.

“Come on take some nice shots of me,” said Mikki trying some poses, and also trying to calm his friend.

Mikki gave some poses, but was still worried about the fact that his friend still hadn’t cheered up. He decided he will force his friend to tell him what was wrong later, when they got home.

Daniel pretty much seemed lost the rest of the day, and it started to bug Mikki more than anything. Night came pretty fast, but for Daniel it took an eternity.

Mikki sat on one of the park benches watching some group perform, he was really tired of carrying Haruko all day along, yet the little girl only left when he promised her that he would visit her soon. His neck and shoulders were killing him right now. He was slowly trying to massage his aching shoulders, but stopped when he felt someone massaging his shoulder with their hands, hands slowly moving to back of his neck, and working on his pressure points. A moan escaped Mikki’s mouth. He felt completely relaxed under the skillful ministrations of those big hands.

“That really feels good Daniel,” confessed Mikki.

He faintly felt those hands stop moving, from the back a figure appeared before him, making Mikki gasp out of shock.

“It’s not Daniel sensei; it’s me your beloved student Ryo,” thundered Ryo.

The way Ryo spoke made Mikki jump out of his skin, the coldness in his voice was really scary, and he could sense the anger in those eyes. Mikki just stood up, and ran away from the place.

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Mikki was more than happy to get home, but before he could question why his friend was so sad, Daniel started to sob. Mikki was instantly by his side comforting his sad friend.

“Now please tell me what happened.” begged Mikki.

A/N: In the next chapter Daniel’s guy will be making his appearance.... From next chapter onwards things will really start to heat up : )....

Bows down to my splendid beta readers who turned my story so beaufitul. Hugs and kisses to savagehunger47 and Lisa.