Seeking Peace (on 100 yuan a day)

Michelle was still feeling raw from the beating her heart took over Connor's betrayal so she hopped a plane to Takemizu. The hotel was opulent and her room a delight but still she hungered. Hungered for... something.

 At a roadside shop in a lovely garden of cherry blossoms Michelle experienced the finest pork udon soup. The broth was so fragrant and the noodles were so delightful that she felt herself transported to a land of insights and wonders.

 Waking up with a sudden start from her udon dream Michelle found herself before a weathered shrine of stone and wood. She knelt to pay her respects and make an offering and felt... well, it wasn't a peaceful shower of love and hope.

 During a lull between tours she was invited to partake in the sacred tea ceremony. The tea was warm and soothing and the wisdom shared around the table was something she would take home with her and savour for years to come.

On her return Michelle felt happier and more aware of the world around her. She also took a moment to have a chat with one of her neighbours. It turned out that one of her tea partners had seen her neighbour up in a tree over the shrine. With his pants down. Well, baby steps.



The End

Love's Twisted Progression

  It never runs smoothly, does it? When we last left off Michelle's fascination with love continued to lead her astray. She'd broken it off with Brooke after that last nightmare but Connor continued to fascinate her. One afternoon she came upstairs to investigate a leaky faucet and discovered something far worse.

 Later that evening she caught up with Connor and decided to have a chat with him. He told her to grow up and find someone more her, shall we say, speed.
The conversation went downhill from there.

 Connor had worked it out with Brooke and didn't want to lose her. He had to end it completely with Michelle - no matter what. So he called her every name in the book and likened her makeup to ground-up rabbit turds.

 Finally he let fly with the nastiest onion breath in the whole Valley. Surely this would drive her away.

The welt on his cheek and the ensuing concussion were worth it.

Michelle decided she needed a bit of a holiday from her tenants and from love in general. Otherwise she knew she'd be tempted to smack him again.


The End?