Cupid's Chokehold

I Promise Not Again Takeshi!

"Get out!" I shouted to that...that whore!

"Takeshi! Babe I said I was sorry!"

"No! You did this before "it wasn't my fault! He came on to me!" Oh spare me! This wasn't the first time, or woman that cheated on me. Just because I'm Takeshi Shindou doesn't mean anything! All women ever want from me is money...

I stare at the picture of my deceased wife, she was the only ever person I loved as much as my mother. Mika, I will always remember my first loves' name, we grew up together and were best friends. She knew everything about me: my likes, dislikes, and even my weird quirks. She was the greatest woman any man could ever ask for and the best part was, she was mine.....until that day.

~5 years ago~

"Takiiiii!  Oh Taaaaaakiiiiii!" Mika mused. She always loved saying my name in a sing-song voice.

"Mika, my love! You beckoned for me?" I playfully asked, we always had our own little games.

I ran over to her, hugged her, and swung her in my arms as she giggled like a little child. It was cute to me and always reminded me of a bird's whistle. We had been married for 6 months now and counting; she was my high school sweathear, or rather, my childhood sweetheart.

"I found our old Big Box O' Toys", she heived the box towards me.

The Box was our favorite thing to have because it held special toys; every toy had a meaning, even the box itself.

I held up a toy and smiled at the memory it gave me, "do you remember this plastic ring?" I asked showing it to my beloved.

"Yes! I thought I lost it!, I remember crying for days over the thought of it being gone because it was the first thing you gave me when  you told me 'I love you' for the first time"

I loved Mika with my entire heart...

~Forward to the afternoon of that day~

As I drove home my phone buzzed. Stefanie? Wonder why she's calling? Isn't she with Mika?

I answered the phone, "Hello? Stef? What's wrong?"

"Oh Taki! It's Mika! Apparently she's pregnant!"

"That's wonderful news! Why do you sound scared though?" I had gotten a sickening feeling at the words she told me afterwards.

"She was hit by a car, it was a hit-and-run. When the ambulance came she had already lost alot of blood, the EMT said she's with-child and the baby could be lost!" Stefanie cried into the phone.

I couldn't hear anything else she had said, I raced to the hospital to see my wife.

Upon arrival I immediately asked for Mika Shindou, her doctor was already waiting for me.

"Hello Mr. Shindou, I'm sorry to say this but...we couldn't save your wife and child"

Everything went dark, I could only hear fragments of what the doctor told me.

Too much blood loss.....13 weeks pregnant.....dead fetus.....brain damage......broken spine.....she's dead....

Those words still ring in my head even to this day. She's dead.

~Flashback end~

I felt like God delt me the worst hand ever. What had I done? Did you give me happiness only to take it away? Was it because I'm asian?

That night, I spent at at the local bar, where some guy was having a weird chat with Sam the local bartender.

"Well...I'm getting divorced, Catherine says my students don't see me as an authoritative figure nor do they actually listen to me like one. She also thinks I give all my attention to them, basically it was quit teaching or divorce my wife. I still don't get what's so bad about having a nice relationship with my students but I, pardon my language, chose to divorce the bitch! Oh do I feel like a bad ass! Catherine never let me swear!" Said the man. He sounds like such a nerd that let his (ex)wife control him.

I decided to listen in a bit more, this could get interesting.....

Sam laughed, "well don't go overboard Joe Cool. Wouldn't want the cops to catch wind of your anarchy!"

"Oh my! I could get in trouble?!" The man said hiding upder the table, he really needs a life... 

"Heheh, calm down I'm joking!" He laughed even more, "atleast you did what you thought right. I always knew that woman was loco with her broco, insane in the membraine, to much medicinal herb smoke in her head!"

".....Too soon Krillin, too soon."

"Ohhhh...You know it hurts when he uses nerd jokes."

After a couple hours the guy finally left Monaki; FINALLY I could talk to Sam!

"Hey Sam...." I said

"Oy veng....not another one!" Sam sighed.

"another one?"

"Don't be a nosy chismoso! Sneaky asian man...well what's got your face all frowny?"

"Well...it happened again." I sighed.

I told the entire story to Sam, being sure not to leave out any details. Who knew my life was so full of crap? Even I find it saddening; The many whores, sluts, skanks, bitches, cheaters, liars, one night stands, and even the "I promise baby it wasn't my fault!" excuse I've heard many times before. It all sounds so.....tiring.

'Well...that's a very colorful story that's for sure!" Sam bellowed between laughs.

I will admit it's also a bit funny...

"I suggest you take a break from the dating scene. Start with keeping her as friends rather than waking up next to her nude figure in the morning okay?" Sam said to me.

I stroked my chin thinking, that's not a bad idea...

"Hm....okay I shall!" I declared.

After leaving at closing time I felt remade, never shall i jump into a relationship again! But then I bumped into a woman...

"Oh sorry!" she said in seductive lilth, and just like that I was sprung..

+++++++++++

The next morning I awoke to the scent of chocolate and syrup.

"Oh good morning! The pancakes are almost done!" said, Sherri? Sheeva? Acarina?

"Uhm, hello....Ms.....?" I asked.

"Shira, Shira Reignhart, Mr. Takeshi!"

How did she know my name?!

"I bet you're wondering how I knew your name, well it's kind of printed on your mail. I hope you don't mind that I answered the door! The doorman was all 'oh ANOTHER one' though..."

"It's alright..." I said to her.

But in reality all i could think was NOT AGAIN!

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Enjoy? One more before the full story! Next up Ricardo!