Happy Birthday

[IdentityUnknown 216]

Author's Note: Happy Birthday, Misaki-chan!

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Sato was having a horrible day.

Megure had assigned her two exceedingly difficult cases that day which had turned out to be a disappointment as in both cases the victims (or rather, she thought grudgingly, the people who had committed suicide) had found it interesting to leave rather confusing wills that had been misinterpreted as a dying message or possible clue to a nonexistent murderer. The coffee machine just so happened to run out of coffee when it was her turn in line and the vending machine had eaten up her money. To top it off, nobody had even said happy birthday to her, much less given her a present.

Even the person she had been looking forward to the most.

He was her boyfriend. Her b-o-y-f-r-i-e-n-d boyfriend. What kind of boyfriend forgot his girlfriend's birthday just like that?

Takagi had been assigned to different cases than she did, which was a first in quite a while. He hadn't stopped in for lunch break either, and when asked, all Yumi said was that he had decided to eat with a friend instead. Yumi also added that she unfortunately couldn't meet Sato for a shopping trip later as she had a few things scheduled that might take her a while.

Dejectedly, Sato only was half-listening as she went through the debriefing with Megure and listened to the powerpoint presentation he had prepared.

“Sato-kun. Sato-kun. Are you paying attention?” Megure looked at her sternly from across the room. Several police officers looked at her and Sato's face burned. She was supposed to be the exemplary officer – how could she have drifted off? Even more, why was all this happening on her birthday?

After the meeting, Sato angrily shoved her car key into the ignition and turned it. “Today,” she muttered under her breath, “the day that should be the best in my life, has become the worst.”

It could be worse, she thought, your car could be out of oil, the market could run out of everything you need, your mom could be sick, your dad could announce an arranged marriage...really, anything could happen...

Yeah, right.

Despite herself, Sato couldn't help feeling dejected and disappointed. She had really been looking forward to this birthday, especially to what Takagi might come up with.

Well, she thought, at least you'll have time to get some rest today. Sato pulled up to her apartment, parked the car, and took the elevator up. The elevator music seemed unusually annoying and Sato walked out of it as soon as the door opened. She pushed the keys into the keyhole and turned it. Collapsing on her couch, she fell asleep.

“Miwako!” Yumi squealed as soon as she stepped into the office. “Happy Birthday!” She thrust forward a small envelope and winked. “Don't open it until I text you with the ok. It's your present and I want it to be opened at exactly the right moment.”

Confused, Sato accepted the envelope and with a smile, thanked her friend. The envelope was light and Sato wasn't quite sure exactly what might be in there. She put the envelope in her purse and sat down.

The door opened again and Takagi came in, beaming. “S-Sato-san!” he stuttered. Sato smiled – his stutter had grew on her and only betrayed how much he cared. “Do you...do you have time to, um, go to dinner with me tonight?” he asked, his face turning bright red.

Sato punched him on the arm teasingly. “Of course,” she smiled. “Why wouldn't I?”

Megure entered, from where Sato wasn't quite sure and Takagi nervously took a step away. “Sato-kun, Takagi-kun, I need you two to head down to Beika street. We've got a tough murder on our hands and you're the most capable team to solve it. By the way...” Megure smiled, “happy birthday, Sato-kun.”

Sato drove (like a maniac as usual) to Beika street. The murder, after a few confusing messages and a little digging, was wrapped up in just under three hours – a relatively short period of time. As the other police officers lead the criminal away, Takagi pulled Sato aside.

“You know,” he said softly, blush creeping up into his cheeks, “you really are the smartest woman I've ever met.”

Sato felt her cheeks burning. “Really?” she asked.

“Really. And you're beautiful today. Absolutely beautiful.” He leaned into her, and...

“Sato-san?”

Damn it, Sato cursed under her breath. “Coming!” she called.

After work had ended, Takagi drove Sato to the fanciest restaurant in Tokyo. At first, Sato had been worried about expenses, but Takagi shrugged it off. She noticed that one of his hands was in his pocket and quietly wondered exactly what he was doing.

The meal was absolutely fantastic, but the best part wasn't any of that. It was staring into Takagi's eyes and knowing that he really, truly loved her.

The entrees had just arrived when her cell phone went off with a text message. Remembering that Yumi had said she would text her, Sato took a moment to look at it. A large “OK!!!” was the message and smiling, Sato took the envelope out of her purse.

Written in neat handwriting, there was a small letter.

I know you and Takagi-kun are going out tonight so I thought I might treat you two to a little something.

Inside were two tickets to a romantic comedy movie that was playing at the movie theater near their restaurant, something Sato doubted was coincidental. Still, she smiled and showed the tickets to Takagi. His knowing look confirmed her suspicions.

After the meal, they headed over to the movie theater. When they were still in the car though, Takagi motioned for Sato to stay in.

“Miwako,” Takagi said, and Sato noted pleasingly that he had dropped her last name, “you really are the most amazing woman I've ever met. And I...I just wanted to say...I love you.”

He leaned over and Sato closed her eyes...

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing.

Sato opened her eyes and found her phone ringing incessantly. Grumbling, she picked up. “Who is it?” she asked grumpily. She should've known that the dream would cut off at this moment.

“Uh...is this a bad time?” a hesitant voice asked. Sato's annoyed expression softened somewhat.

“It's fine. What is it, Takagi-kun?”

“I...uh...kinda...you know...accidentally...” Takagi drifted off. “It's kinda hard to explain. Can you come over to my house so I can tell you in person?”

Briefly, Sato wondered if there was something more behind his request, but her pessimistic side took over and told her there was no possibility. “Alright,” she said in a falsely cheery voice, “I'll be there in a few minutes.”

Takagi, she wondered, everybody. Why did you forget my birthday?

------

“Hi,” Takagi greeted her. Sato gave a fleeting smile. “Hi,” she said back quietly. Takagi didn't seem to notice that she was a little down.

“Let's get into my car, shall we?” he offered. Sato was a little surprised.

“I thought you had done something wrong,” she asked, a little suspicious. Maybe he hadn't forgotten her birthday after all.

“Er...” Takagi scratched his head apologetically. “I did. Kinda. I'll explain on the car.”

He opened the door for her, a small gesture that would've pleased Sato, but that she felt oddly let down by. Takagi climbed into the seat and drove off.

For a while, there was silence between the two. Then Takagi spoke.

“I, uh, kinda, you know, lost my, uh, police notebook...”

“WHAT?!” Sato nearly leaped out of her seat. She reached over to grab Takagi's collar...

“SATO-SAN!” Takagi screamed as the car veered sharply to the left. Sato withdrew and a shaky Takagi somehow managed to pull the car back onto the road.

“Pull over,” Sato said in a deathly voice.

Takagi glanced at her nervously. “But Sato-san...”

“I SAID PULL OVER.”

Takagi obliged. Sato motioned for him to get out of the car. When he did, she grabbed his collar.

“Takagi Wataru,” she said, her voice dripping with malice. “You. Dared. To. Lose. Your. Police. Notebook.”

All Takagi could do was blink and nod. Sato glared at him, then released her grip and sighed. “Just this once,” she warned. “Just this once.”

As they got into the car again, Sato was fuming. How could Takagi, such a dedicated police officer, forget his notebook?

Gradually, her anger faded into sadness. On her birthday...everything had to happen today...on her birthday. She look at Takagi. Was he really someone she wanted? Someone who wasn't dedicated enough to his job to remember something so important? Or more importantly, someone who wasn't dedicated enough to her to remember her birthday? These doubts flitted through her brain and despite her trying to get rid of them, they constantly flew back.

Silently, they pulled up in front of a large mall. Takagi quietly lead the way up until they reached the top floor where there were several meeting rooms lined up along a long corridor. The entire floor was deathly silent, except for the sound of Sato's high heels clicking against the floor. The floor wasn't lit very brightly and near the end of the corridor, it was almost pitch black. Sato thought she caught a whiff of something fragrant – berries. The smell was so faint that Sato thought she had imagined it.

Near the end, in front of something named Tsubaki* Hall, Takagi stopped. Turning to Sato, he said quietly, “Did you honestly believe I lost my notebook?”

Sato paused and looked at him. “So you're saying...” she trailed off.

Sato thought she saw a somewhat hurt look pass over Takagi's face, but it was brushed away with a gentle smile. “No,” he smiled, leaning into her. “I didn't lose my notebook. Far from it.” Through the corner of Sato's eye, she saw the incriminating notebook in his pocket, just out of sight when she had been a little farther from him.

He leaned in even closer and Sato felt his warm hands bringing her closer to him. His lips brushed hers gently and she could've stood there forever, held in his embrace. Before she closed her eyes, she glimpsed a bright light, the door to Tsubaki Hall sliding open, her family and friends smiling with a large birthday cake in the middle. Overwhelmed, tears slid down her cheeks. They hadn't forgotten...they hadn't...none of them...none of them...

“Happy Birthday.”

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Notes: *Tsubaki = Also known as Camellia. Their meaning in the language of flowers is "Love."

Author's Note: Well, I hoped you enjoyed this. I didn't have too long to edit this, so I hope it's at least decent.

[Misaki-chan 164]

I love you. <33333333 *hugs* I swear, if it weren't 10:30 PM, I would squeal in delight. But still, thank you so~~ much! I loved it! *hugs again*

[IdentityUnknown 216]

I love you. <33333333 *hugs* I swear, if it weren't 10:30 PM, I would squeal in delight. But still, thank you so~~ much! I loved it! *hugs again*

I'm glad you liked it. I got it in on time! \o/

[hopes 237]

AMAZING. INCREDIBLE. I LOVE IT.

SAKI-CHAN, YOU FINALLY WROTE SOMETHING AGAIN!!

+1 FOR YOU... <3

HAPPY (BELATED) BIRTHDAY (FOR THE Nth TIME) MISAKI~!! <33333333333333333333333

[IdentityUnknown 216]

AMAZING. INCREDIBLE. I LOVE IT.

SAKI-CHAN, YOU FINALLY WROTE SOMETHING AGAIN!!

+1 FOR YOU... <3

HAPPY (BELATED) BIRTHDAY (FOR THE Nth TIME) MISAKI~!! <33333333333333333333333

Thanks. <3 But it was kinda rushed. :/

And truth be told, I still am writing. I've had more than half of the next chapter of Taken finished since before summer started. However, I have yet to finish the chapter. Can't find a good ending point and very busy.

[- Ryuuji - 57]

Good job, 牛仔褲

+1 for 牛仔褲 ~

[IdentityUnknown 216]

Good job, 牛仔褲

+1 for 牛仔褲 ~

Stop calling me that.

[Cindy-Chen 82]

That's a really good piece of fanfic.

Sato dreams about Takagi.... :smile: