"The Perfect Day"


Miki couldn't surpress her growing smile as she hurriedly tied her shoes.  A slightly 
irritated voice called from the hallway outside of her hotel room, "Miki!"

"I'm coming Yuu!"  Miki dashed about her room collecting her sunglasses, sunscreen, 
camera and hat.  "Its barely 8:15.  What's open at this hour?"  Miki muttered to herself 
as she took one last look about her room to make sure she had everything she needed for 
the day.  "Oh my purse!"  One last dash to dresser and she had everything at last.  Or 
did she?  "Oh, my key!"

Meanwhile out in the hallway Yuu smiled cheerfully as he waved goodbye to the parents and 
the elevators doors closed upon them.  As soon as they were gone he turned back to Miki's 
door.  Yuu leaned his head upon the door and whined once more through the crack, 
"Miiiikiiii-", next thing he knew he was lying on the floor of Miki's room with Miki 
beaming down at him.  "Really Yuu, if you're that tired why did you want to get up so early!"  
Surpressing a giggle, Miki lightly stepped over Yuu and headed toward the elevator.

**********

Miki was right.  Most shops along the deserted Waikiki streets were still closed and 
wouldn't be opened for nearly half an hour.  But this didn't phase Yuu who seemed 
preoccupied in thought.  His paced quickened and he steered Miki towards the beach.

The beach was as deserted as the streets.  The only sound Miki could hear was that of the 
waves lapping the shore and birds fluttering from tree to tree.  A smile crept across her 
face as she watched the last of the tangerine colored clouds change to white as the sun rose 
out of view behind the mountains.

Yuu slip his fingers into Miki's hand and she gently squeezed them in delight.  "Its 
beautiful, Yuu."  Yuu squeezed her hand in reply and they remained on the beach like 
that-hand in hand watching the day awake before them.

**********

They had spent most of their Hawaiian vacation with their parents.  Jin was reluctant to 
let Miki out of his site.  He realized his little girl had grown up into a woman but he 
couldn't resist the urge to keep his only daughter to himself much to the dismay of Miki 
who still wasn't used to her dad's sudden protectiveness.  But finally Miki and Yuu had a 
day completely to themselves.  Tomorrow they would be returning to Tokyo and Rumi, Miki's 
mother, had talked Jin into finally letting Miki and Yuu spend the day alone to do what they 
like instead of having to follow the parents everywhere.

Miki wasn't sure how her day could get any better after watching the sky change colors over 
the ocean, but she soon changed her mind as the shops opened.  Yuu just smiled and nodded 
in agreement as Miki pointed out every window display.  "Look at that one!", squealed Miki 
as she eagerly gazed into the window of a jewelry store.  Yuu glanced at the sign above 
them and sighed.  It read Cartier.  He should have known.  

Yuu looked at Miki who was still transfixed to the display of sparkling diamonds.  The 
soft light of the morning sun gave a her skin a warm glow and the summer trade winds blew 
her hair gently across her face.  Suddenly the thoughts that invaded Yuu's mind made his 
face flush a deep red.  Miki hadn't noticed the change in his complexion to Yuu's relief, 
but the idea still active within his mind caused his flushed cheeks to turn to determination.  
"-Yuuuuuu?"

Yuu suddenly realized that Miki had long since given up the diamond display and arm and arm 
with himself had actually led Yuu down the street towards the corner.  She gazed at Yuu 
warmly and happily chirped about how lovely the morning was and how the street was slowly 
beginning to fill with other tourists.  Yuu just smiled as Miki chattered away his thoughts 
still preoccupied elsewhere.

**********

"Where did he go?" was the only thing Miki could say to herself as she kept darting glances 
between her watch and the now crowded Waikiki sidewalks.  "He was just here... Where on 
earth?"  She began to tap her foot impatiently with her hands on her hips still searching 
the crowd for Yuu.

Miki had pulled Yuu into yet another shop to look at some charming wood carved figurines.  
She had finally found a pair that she thought her best friend Meiko would like but when Miki 
turned to Yuu for his opinion he was gone.  Not a word.  Nothing.  He had just disappeared.  
That was nearly half an hour ago and now it was nearing 3:00 and still no sign of Yuu 
anywhere.  Miki had thought of combing the stores they had just visited to find him but then 
thought better of the idea.  It was bad enough she had lost Yuu, Miki didn't want to lose 
herself either in a foreign city so she fought the urge to dash madly in and out of the 
crowds shouting for Yuu and tried to remain calm by tapping her foot agressively.

Another fifteen minutes passed and now Miki began to become frantic.  Yuu's English was 
pretty good so if he had gotten lost he should be able to find his way back to the hotel.  
He hadn't spent much of his vacation money leaving him enough for a cab if he needed it.  
But what if Yuu had been mugged?  What if he was kidnapped?  Miki's mind ran through a 
number of troubling scenarios all of which ended tragically with Yuu, alone, and calling 
out her name with his last breath.  Miki shook those thoughts from her mind reminding 
herself, "Let's not get carried away Miki.  Yuu is okay."

"Of course I'm okay Miki."  And out of the crowd stepped Yuu.

**********

Yuu didn't realize just how much his disappearance had frightened Miki but she made sure 
to inform him by telling him over and over again just how much he had worried her.  

"Really Yuu!  You really did scare me.  I was so worried. I didn't know what to do, so I 
just waited and waited and -" sobs of relief punctuated her confession and before she could 
stop herself she felt tears of released anxiety welling up in her eyes.  Miki tried to turn 
her head so Yuu wouldn't see how much his disappearance had frightened her, but Yuu caught 
her chin with his hand and gently raised her head.  A genuine look of reproach was on his 
face and as he wiped her tears he said, "I'm sorry Miki.  I didn't mean to scare you.  I'm 
sorry."

And with that said, Yuu gathered Miki into his arms.

**********  

Miki decided she had had enough of shopping and all she wanted to do was get back to the 
hotel where she took a long shower to help relax her once more.  Before Yuu's 
disappearance she was having one of the finest days of her life.  Miki thought of standing 
with Yuu on the beach and then casually strolling together from shop to shop.  Every moment 
seemed happier than the last and she was eager to enjoy that happiness again before her 
vacation ended on the morrow.  "Tomorrow..." sighed Miki.

Suddenly the bathroom door burst open and before Miki could scream her mother's face was 
peering around the shower curtain at her.  "Hurry up Miki!  Everyone is waiting downstairs 
for dinner."

**********

Dinner was delicious.  Miki ordered grilled Mahi Mahi served over a bed of greens and lilac 
rice while Yuu had the largest lobster Miki had ever seen.  Afterwards the parents headed 
towards the bar where they were going to plan their next Hawaii trip leaving Miki and Yuu 
alone in the lobby.  "Doesn't this seem familiar?" Thought Miki.  Yuu seemed to sense her 
thoughts and replied aloud, "They never change."

Yuu held out his arm to Miki, "Would you like to take a walk?"

He led Miki along a garden path on the hotel grounds which in turn led them towards the 
beach.  Miki enjoyed the warm night air and slight breeze.  Despite the city lights 
countless stars glittered brightly over the open ocean and the high full moon cast a 
silvery glow on everything around them.

Yuu slipped his arm around Miki's waist and pulled her to a stop.  "Yuu-"  The look in his 
eyes stopped her from questioning him farther.  Miki couldn't tell if Yuu were smiling or 
crying or both.  She raised her hand to his face but Yuu caught it and gripping her hand 
tightly he knelt there in the walkway and asked her very softly, "Miki, will you marry me?"

Miki tried to reply but could only manage to sob as Yuu slipped a tiny ring upon her 
finger.  "I saw this when were window shopping and I thought of you."  Yuu frowned, "I 
didn't mean to take so long to get it, but it couldn't be helped-"

Miki didn't let Yuu finish.  She threw herself into his arms because this was indeed the 
perfect day.


by Leilani Williams
18 February, 2000
chaznani@ivillage.com
welcome.to/planetwilliams