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Fan Fiction 2; Parts 7-12
By: Megan B.

7. I Can Speak Japanese, You Know

As we all filed out, I had to turn my music off. Nearing the door, I stopped. I was behind Kanon, so I tapped him on the shoulder.
He turned. “Nami? Oh, I’m sorry! What?”
I rolled my eyes. “I know some Japanese!” I teased. “But, um, tell the others that Jo and I are going to change quickly,” I explained, pulling on the thighs of my pants.
Kanon-san looked up and nodded; then he turned back and shut the door.
Through the door, I could hear his voice—good.
“Jo!” I said, turning around. She was behind me.
“We need to get dressed, I know,” she laughed.
“Good,” I smiled. “You can wear some of my clothes.”
Nodding, Jo followed me up the stairs and to my bedroom.
Quickly, I pulled out blue jeans and a Rolling Stones shirt.
Motioning to Jo, she nodded.
“Rolling Stones and An Café,” she said, shaking her head.
I stuck out my tongue. “Well, I’m going to the guest bedroom to change. Feel free to look,” I said, walking out and shutting the door.
Across the hall I went, and in no time, was heading back over.
Knocking on the door, I straightened my shirt.
“Hold on,” came a muffled cry.
“Jo,” I started. “Are you stuck?”
Footsteps approached the door, and it swung back.
“Nope!” said a cheery Jo, dressed in red pants and a white T-shirt with a light blue jacket. Her hair was ruffled.
I laughed. “Nice choice!” I complemented. “Now, I need to brush my hair.”
Stepping past her, I grabbed my brush off my bed and stood in front on the mirror, perfecting my hair.
“…99…100!” teased Jo.
I waved my hand at her over my shoulder. “Do you need to fix your hair?” I asked, turning to her.
She thought. “Yeah.”
I chuckled. “I’ll be downstairs putting on my shoes.”
Going down to the kitchen, I chose my XX high tops again—I couldn’t get enough of those shoes!
Slipping them on, Jo ran down the stairs and snatched her Hello Kitty sandals.
“Let’s go!” she piped.
Outside we went. As we poured onto the porch, Takuya was saying “Baka!” and laughing.
When they saw us—courtesy of the slamming door—all heads turned and pursed their lips.
I shook my head. “Yare yare,” I mumbled. Stepping down the concrete steps, I turned around. “You guys coming?” I asked.
Slowly, they followed me to the end of the sidewalk.
“Did you bring a car?” I asked.
They looked at each other.
“No,” said Teruki.
I cocked my head to the side. “Then how’d you get here?”
Miku looked at me in surprise. “We can walk!” he laughed.
I laughed. “Well, then, if we go to eat in the city, we’re going to have to take a car.”
Jo squeezed between Yu-ki and Kanon. “What about mine?” she asked.
I laughed, imagining the five of An Café squished in the back of her petite car. “That’ll work!” I said, starting for Jo’s car.

8. There’s No Japanese Restaurant Here
When we reached Jo’s house, I could see her car was parked in the driveway.
“Is it locked?” I asked.
“No,” Jo called.
I went over to the passenger side and got in, waiting. In the rear-view-mirror I could see Jo near the car.
The door opened, and I gasped. Jo got in.
“It’s just me!” she said, starting her car. She rested her hands on the steering wheel and waited for the last person the pile in.
Jo turned around. “Squished?”
Teruki shifted and smiled smugly. “Not the slightest bit.”
I sighed to myself. ‘Thank god I have a crush on the overly talkative one!’ I thought, smiling, but then quickly wiped the smile off my face.
The car rolled backwards and accelerated out of the drive way.
I could feel Takuya grab for the back of my seat.
Soon, we were cruising down the highway.
“So, tell me, Miku, where do put your puppy?” Jo asked, focused on the road flashing by.
In the rear-view-mirror, I could see Miku widen his—today—green contacted eye and look around.
“Uh…I think I left him in the house…” he said, pointing to me.
I frowned. “Zing will keep him company.”
He nodded and settled back in the seat—for a second. Miku perked back up and leaned over on Kanon, reaching into his back pocket.
Snuggling back into his seat, he produced a glasses case. Her peered inside and nodded, licking his right lip piercing as he did.
I turned back to the road and saw we were in downtown.
“Guys,” I said, turning back around and focusing on Teruki’s right ear,
”Where would you like to eat?” I paused. “There’s no Japanese restaurant here. Sorry.”
Teruki let out a small “s**t!” but shrugged.
Jo stopped at a red traffic light. “Do you guys like pizza?” she asked, now pressing on the accelerator, causing the once snuggled Miku to use his hands to stop his face from being planted on the back of her seat. “Sorry,” she apologized.
“Yeah,” replied Kanon, answering her question.
I smiled. “Good.”
Nodding, Jo zoomed up to the nearest pizza restaurant—Montey’s Pizza.
She unfastened her seat belt and turned around. “The pizza here is yummy!” she said, opening her door and stepping out.
I followed suit. Through the window, I could see the guys struggle to find the door handle.
Reaching out, I opened Takuya and Yu-ki’s door.
“Thank you,” Yu-ki breathed, quickly stepping out. On the other side, the three were already out.
I nudged my head towards the building and the seven of us walked up the sidewalk, in the direction of the door.
Jo stopped in front of the door, and, checking her money, pulled out her cell phone.
After a pause, she talked. “Hello? Yes, um, we just want to say that seven of us are going to come in today,” she said.
Jo was talking to the guy working inside.
She darted away from the window. “Yeah, and, well, we’re kind of outside the door…and, um,” she rubbed her nose, “we have someone special with us, so yeah.”
She paused, twirling her hair.
“Yeah, okay. See ya in like, five minutes!”
She hung up and slipped her phone into her pocket and produced her wallet.
She turned to us and smiled. “Let’s go!”

9. An Café and Montey’s Pizza

On entering, the environment didn’t change—good.
At the front desk was Rob from school.
He smiled when we came in. “Whoa, Jo! When did you become a hoe?” he teased.
Jo flipped him off. “This is An Café for your information,” she said matter-of-factly.
Rob smiled and rolled his eyes. “How did that ever happen?” he mumbled to himself. “Now, what would you like?” he asked, paper and pen in hand.
I turned to the guys. “What would you like?” I repeated.
They looked at each other and shrugged.
I turned to Jo. She shrugged and turned back to Rob. “One cheese, one sausage and mushroom and seven Cokes,” she ordered.
Rob scribbled on the paper and nodded. “It’ll be about, oh, ten minutes.”
We nodded and turned around to find and empty table to fit seven.
Scanning the room, I saw a booth in the corner. “Found one,” I said and led the others over.
Sitting down, I was against the wall, next to Jo and across from Teruki.
I could almost taste his hotness. It seemed as if steam lines were producing from his head, but that was just the people’s pizza behind us.
For several minutes we sat in silence.
Finally, I broke the ice.
“Teruki,” I said, “do you take out your earrings at night?”
Leaning forward, he narrowed his eyes. “What?”
“Do you ever take our your earrings?” I repeated, louder.
Teruki leaned back and smiled. “Yeah, but it’s hard!” he laughed.
I smiled. ‘Sexy…,’ I thought.
We all made scrappy conversation until the food came. Yu-ki and Kanon, on the ends, passed around the Cokes; immediately, we dug into our food, not caring what the others thought.
After one slice of cheese pizza, I sipped my Coke and glanced at Teruki. He was staring to his left, pizza sauce under his lower lip.
Suddenly, he turned to Miku, next to him, and whispered something.
Miku gasped, exposed chewed cheese on his tongue, and they both stared.
Questionably, the rest of us turned.
Kanon cough up his Coke. His face grew red, but he still stared.
“Is that…,” he mumbled in Japanese.
Miku turned and nodded hysterically, smile growing on his lips.
Teruki licked his lips and yelled across the room.

10. Bou-kun

“Bou-kun, if that’s you, walk over here three steps!” Teruki yelled in Japanese.
Sure enough, the man they were all staring at, (except Takuya and Yu-ki, who had lost interest and were now chatting amongst themselves,) looked around and stepped three steps towards us.
Kanon ran out of the booth and over the Bou.
I saw them embrace tightly. Arm around each other’s shoulder, they walked over to our booth.
Smiling greatly, Kanon introduced the blonde guy.
“Bou-kun desu!” he pronounced proudly.
Teruki and Miku clapped and motioned Bou to sit next to them.
Excited, Bou slipped in next to Miku, Kanon following.
I smiled at Jo, whose mouth was wide open, unchewed bits of pizza littering her tongue.
Snapping out of her trance, she covered her mouth.
“Bou-kun…,” she muttered.
Bou turned to her; confused, he turned to Kanon and whispered in his ear. Kanon whispered back.
“Ahh,” Bou replied.
Bowing, Bou smiled.
Jo waved, and I smiled.
I turned to Teruki, as if he was now my closest friend. “Do you think we need another pizza and Coke for him?” I asked.
Smiling, Teruki nodded. “Hai!”
”Hm?” Bou-kun asked.
I turned to him. ”We’re getting more food for you.”
Bou smiled. “Thanks,” he said quietly in his low tone.
I slipped past Jo and Yu-ki and walked up to the front desk.
Rob raised his eyebrows in suspicion.
“Yes, Rae?”
“Unexpected guest. Can we please have another cheese pizza and…one—no eight more Cokes?” I asked, pulling out forty dollars from my back pocket.
Rob stared blankly. “Yeah.”
I smiled. “Thanks”
But he didn’t move.
I rolled my eyes. “May we?”
Rob looked relief. “Yes! You may,” he answered. “Ten minutes.”
“Loser.” I nodded and went back to our booth. Sliding in, I locked eyes with Bou.
“I’m Rae,” I introduced.
He smiled. “Bou-kun desu”
I laughed. “I already knew that!”
Bou shrugged, laughing. Suddenly, he dropped his mouth in puzzlement and turned to Kanon. Eyes narrowed, he premeditated Kanon’s face.
“Did you change your hair to the other side?” he asked.
Kanon laughed. “Bou, you notice everything! Ah, but sumimasen; I need to use the restroom,” he said politely, slipping out of the booth and toward the obviously marked lavatory.
I had a feeling if it wasn’t marked he would have walked straight into the kitchen.
With Kanon gone, I focused on Bou.
“So, Bou, I—…” I started but stopped.
Bou peered up, head tilted, eyebrows furrowed.
I shrugged. “I just think it’s amazing you’re here.” I sounded like an utter loser.
Bou smiled and turned to Jo.
“Are you are?” he inquired.
Jo beamed. “Jo,” she retorted.
“Aa, like Bou!”
“Hai!” she laughed.
Suddenly, I had an urge to hug Miku, who was ogling Bou, eyes wide but cute.
I put my head down and snickered.
Teruki looked at me, bamboozled.
I shook my head. “I just…”
Shrugging, he took his last sip of Coke.
A waitress came over and set down our sodas and pizza for Takuya and Yu-ki to pass around.
Kanon walked back and stopped in from of the table.
“More?” he cried, slipping into his seat, pushing Takuya over, nearly spilling his glass.
“Kanon-san!” he cried.
“Sorry, Takuya-san!” Kanon cried back, smiling. Takuya wasn’t exactly smiling though.
When Teruki got his beverage, he gladly took a hearty sip.
“Ah, great!” he said, pushing his empty glass towards me.
I had an impulse to take the straw, but didn’t want to look crazy, so I decided against it.
As Bou ate, we talked gladly again, arising memories.
Finally, Takuya had the nerve to turn to Bou. “Uh, Bou,” he said, shyly, “Takuya-san here. Uh, can I ask you why you left?”
Bou stopped eating, and Miku practically choked on his Coke, going into a coughing fit.
Teruki patted him on the back.
The table fell silent.
“Um…,” stared Bou, “can I please not answer that?” he asked, eyeing my side of the table.
Nodding, Takuya shrugged. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to know…because, well, you know, I took your place in An Café.” He seemed guilty.
Bou shook his head, eyes closed. When he opened them, it looked like he was about to cry; he ran his fingers through his hair. He was obviously having flashbacks of a sort.
Miku coughed to break the stillness. “Yu-ki, what time is it?”
Yu-ki glanced at his watched. “2:30.”
Miku nodded and took a nibble of pizza.
I looked around. “So,” I said, “where do you guys go next?”
Teruki looked up. “San Francisco.”
I nodded. “Cool.”
Jo and I exchanged glances, confused on what to say.
Just as I was about to open my mouth to speak again, something hit my cheek: straw wrapper. I turned in the direction it came from—Teruki!
I stuck out my tongue and he crossed his arms like a two year old.
I leaned to Jo. “He doesn’t act 27!”
Teruki leaned forward, chin plummeted. “I heard that! I always get that—I don’t look 27! I don’t sound 27! I don’t dress 27—!” he turned to Miku, confused. “I don’t dress 27?” he asked.
The An Café vocalist stared blankly.
Teruki shrugged and flew his hand out in question.
Bou-kun cleared this throat. “This doesn’t feel right,” he said, scrutinizing the table.
“What do you mean?” asked Kanon-san.
“Well, all of us together. Like friends again with those two.” He meant Jo and me. “I don’t know.”
Jo nodded. “I know because, like, we’re obsessed about An Café, and here we are eating with them!”
I nodded in agreement.
Miku smiled. “We like fans.”
I couldn’t hold it in any longer. “I love your accents!” I cried, face growing a deep red.
They all turned to me. “Accent?” Takuya asked.
I shook my head. “I’m just in love,” I mumbled, embarrassed to look up.
Teruki laughed and leaned forward, patting my hand. “It’s okay,” he joked.

After we all ate, we sat around, and I paid while the table cleared.
Once that was done, we tipped, thanked, and left, full bellies.

11. Back Home

The ride home was even more crowded. Being on of the biggest, Teruki had to squish up with me—my dream.
I didn’t want to make it too obvious, but I had to hold on to him around corners, especially with Jo’s speed.
I apologized continuously, but he just shrugged it off.
In the back seat, Kanon, Miku, and Bou reminisced, and Takuya and Yu-ki made small conversation with Teruki and me, occasionally addressing Jo, who was blasting The Pink Spiders.
Dancing, the twenty minutes seemed like five minutes, especially when Kanon broke out in air guitar to “Hollywood Fix”, making the others extremely squished.
When we reached my house, I saw my mom was home.
I turned to Jo, all of us still in the car.
“My mom’s home,” I said through clenched teeth.
My friend bit here bottom lip, but stepped out anyway, turning off Def Leppard’s Armageddon It”. Letting out Teruki first, I ran into the house.
“Mom!” I shouted. “Someone special is here!”
Opening the door, I let the others in, Bou last. The dogs ran up excitedly, and Miku grabbed his.
Yu-ki got down on his knees and petted my dog, smiling as his hands ran through Zing’s dark fur.
That’s when my mom came out.
“Rae,” she said, “who’s this?”
I stepped back and pointed to Teruki. “Mom, meet Teruki-san desu, Miku-san desu, Kanon-san desu, Bou-kun desu, Yu-ki-san desu, and Takuya-san desu,” I introduced, pointed to each.
Stepping to Teruki, my mom held out her hand.
“Karen, Rae’s mother,” she offered.
Taking her hand, Teruki shook it, and then bowed.
She leaned close to him. “My daughter always talks about you,” she whispered, winking at me.
My face could have been jammed into a paper bag and never shown again for all I cared.
Teruki’s eyes widened at me, but a smile slowly took control of his face.
“I see,” he replied, narrowing his ideal eyes at me.
Turning to Miku, my mom offered yet another hand shake. He reacted as Teruki did.
“OH! Cute puppy!” My mom cried, reaching out to pet the cuddled dog in his arms.
The puppy barked shrilly, as is someone had just hurt him.
Shocked, my mom back away and turned to Kanon-san.
“What’s your name again?” she asked, shaking his hand.
“Kanon-san.”
“Hm…,” my mom said, backing away slowly. “Ah! But I like your hair.”
I could have died.
Bou.
“Aw, how cute!” my mother exclaimed. “You look like a little doll!” she said, touching Bou’s hair. Teruki laughed in agreement. My mom didn’t see the face Bou catch the look on Bou’s face, but I did.
He glanced at Kanon, and then widened his eyes at my mom, rolling them as she walked to Yu-ki.
My mom didn’t say anything to Yu-ki. She couldn’t even see his eyes! Just a quick hand shake, bow, and over the Takuya.
I could tell she loved him at first sight!
“Tayuka?” she asked.
“Takuya,” he corrected.
“Oh,” she said. “I—“
I coughed. “Mom! Hi. It’s me! Yeah, can Jo stay over if her parents are cool with it?” I asked.
Jo glanced at me and smirked.
Stunned at my voice, my mother turned around. “I don’t see why not…” She didn’t turn back to Takuya. Good.
“Thanks!”
I called Jo’s parents for her, and quickly handed the phone over to her.
After a quick talk, her parents gave in, and we were jumping up and down in enthusiasm.
My mom went over to the cabinet and pulled out two boxes of macaroni and cheese.
“Hungry?” she asked.
We all exchanged glanced and laughed.
“No, we’re fine, thank you,” responded Teruki.
‘Surprise!’ I thought.
“Well,” my mom said, putting the boxes back, “you guys just do what you please.”
I smiled and turned to the waiting guests. “Um…you want to go to me room…and just talk? I mean, or you can go back. I don’t care!” I said, forcing a laugh.
Yu-ki shook his head. “We leave tomorrow at about seven at night!” He turned to the others and shrugged. Speaking in Japanese, he addressed them. “Well…?” he asked.
The others shrugged politely.
“It’s a yes!” Jo cried, leaping up from her chair at the table.
I smiled and clapped. “Yay! Let’s go up my room?”
Without a response, they started to follow.
Turning back to my watching mother, Takuya bowed.
“Douzo yorosiku,” he said. “Oijigin.”
My mom looked surprised. “Oh, that’s so cute. Now, what did you say?”
Smiling, he shook his head and followed the rest of us up the stairs.

12. Slumber Parties Must Have Cookies!

My room was extremely crowded when all eight of us were inside, door shut.
Shyly, An Café stood around, staring at their feet.
“Well,” I broke the awkwardness, “make yourselves at home!"
Jo and watched as all six of them plopped to the floor, pillows as cushions.
Shrugging, we joined the, making a large circle.
“That works!” Jo laughed.
Miku’s puppy jumped out of his arms and to the middle of our circle. Sniffing in circles for several seconds, he finally decided to lie down and enjoy himself in slumber.
Miku beamed and looked at me. “There’s a reason I love him!”
Yu-ki slid forward and scooped the sleeping dog up and cradled him in his arms.
The dog emitted a rather large yawn and went back to his nap.
The room exploded in “Awww!”s
Once we quieted back down again, I glanced at my clock.
3:25.
“So,” I broke in, “You’re leaving tomorrow?”
“Hai,” Teruki replied, shifting on his pillow.
The floor was getting uncomfortable.
“And, I believe you said….eight?” Jo asked, also shifting.
“Hai…iie,” Miku corrected. “Nana.”
“Aa,” I replied, hoping someone would reply back in Japanese. I really needed the practice!
Jo spoke us. “How long will it take you to get over to San Fran and set up and junk? I’m just interested because your next concert is scheduled for about another week.”
“Mikka susai kakarinas,” Miku replied, sexy in his words. As he spoke, I watched his lips move along to the syllables. Mmm…his piercings moved in synch. A wave came over me.
Jo glanced at me in an evil-joking way.
“Sou desu ka,” she replied.
“Hai,” Kanon broke in. “Nontouni shiawase.”
“Nyappy!” Teruki randomly cried.
The room was now full of laugher—comfortable laughter. Perfect.
That was a relief!
“Hm…I thought, having nothing to say.
“Aa, anata-tachi, Rae.” Jo laughed. ”Baka desu!” She shrugged and lowered her voice. “Mo karera wa!” She broke up in laughter.
Yu-ki and I exchanged glances.
“Hey!” Teruki cried, throwing a small pillow at Jo.
Bou jumped up. “PILLOW FIGHT!”
Takuya moaned. “Oya…” just then a pillow bounced off his head.
“Nyaa! Hai yo!” cried Miku, dodging a pillow thrown by Jo.
Pillows littered the air and we desperately tried to throw them at each other.
A collection of things fell to the floor: posters, papers, blankets, drawings, pop and water bottles, books, and magazines.
Screaming, Kanon-san ran out of the room.
We all stopped.
He peeked back in. “I’m hiding,” he whispered, blocking himself with the door as Bou’s pillow flew at him. “Bou-kun!” he cried.
Laughing, Bou plopped back down on the floor. “Tired...”
We all agreed and Kanon came cautiously back in.
Bouncing a pillow on Kanon’s head, Teruki looked around.
“Hee! You’re mother was right!” he said, gazing at all the posters of him I had cluttering me walls.
Deliberately looking away, I pulled down CD player. “Music anyone?” I asked.
After much thought, we all came to an agreement.
“What do you want to listen to? I have tons of An Café…and Danger*Gang…but I don’t think you want to listen to yourselves.” I glanced around, fingering my Aroma case. “Do you?”
Miku tapped his cheek with my finger. “I say no.”
The others mumbled a concurrence.
I walked—or stumbled, tripping over the many feet in front of me—over to my shelf and pulled out a Def Leppard CD.
“You guys like Def Leppard?” I asked.
They just kind of shrugged.
I rolled my eyes and fought my way back to me seat. Popping in the CD, I turned to track two—“Photograph”.
As the song started, Miku perked up. “I know this song!” he cried, and started to sing.
Jo and I joined in.
Soon, we were all singing at the tope of our lungs, trying to out-sing the person sitting next to us.
When the song slowed to an end and the next song played, we all looked around, red-faced.
“That was great!” I said, laughing.
Jo nodded. “Really; it had a nice sound to it.”
I coughed intentionally. “Miku,” I coughed.
He turned, confused. “I don’t understand…”
I waved my arm to indicate it meant nothing. I snuggled back into my pillow.
“This is awesome,” I said to myself, staring at Teruki, across for me.
“Rae!” my mom called from downstairs. “Hungry yet?”
I looked at me clock. 4:00. Shocked, I looked around.
“Are you?” I asked.
Teruki tried to hide his smile.
“Yes, Mom!” I called, nodding to Teruki.
I heard footsteps advance the cabinet—Mac and cheese.
“After we eat, it should be, like, five. Then we can talk some more and watch TV and stuff until about 6:30. Then we can change—7:00. Then we can have cookie”—Teruki perked up—“and snacks and talk more. Then…you guys decided,” I addressed, planning out our night.

At 4:30, my mother called us to eat.
We all rushed down like hungry wolves.
With loaded plates of yellow, cheesy, macaroni, we sat down at the dining room table.
The guests—not including Jo—were very messy with their food; about five minutes into our meal, Teruki’s jacket was already dotted with yellow, Bou’s catching up. I noted that no matter how hard they tried to follow their forks with their plates, food still spilled.
My mom laughed to herself and mumbled, “Just like babies!” under her breath.
We ate through silence, until my mom decided to get to know about An Café a little more than she did—which was nothing.
(Actually, she just wanted to hear them speak Japanese.)
“So,” she said to Miku,”can you please say something in Japanese for me?”
After a forkful of macaroni and a big gulp of apple juice, Miku began. “Uh, what do you want me to say?”
“How about something simple?” my mom replied. “No!” she corrected, nudging her empty plate to the middle. “Let’s play a game! You say something simple in Japanese and I’ll guess what it means?” she suggested.
Miku shrugged. “Sure. Um…Something simple…Ah! O-tearai.”
The table burst up in laughter.
My mom looked confused. “Something funny…” She studied the room. “Clown?” she asked.
Teruki choked on his food and laughed to himself intensely. Finally, he redeemed himself and laughed silently to himself. “Clown…” he mumbled, snickering.
My mom frowned. “No?”
“…No,” Miku said.
Biting her nails, my mom shook her head. “I give up.”
Miku shrugged. “Don’t feel bad. O-tearai means toilet.”
My mom closed her eyes and shook her head. “Miku…,” she chuckled. She straightened back up and turned to the next in line—Takuya. “I’m stilling learning names. Takuya?” she asked.
He nodded and looked up at the ceiling in thought. Mumbling to himself, he thought of a word. “Kodoro-tachi.”
“Kodoro-tachi…,” my mom repeated. “Kodoro…tachi…” She pondered for a minute before turning to Takuya. “Random guess—kid?”
“Actually,” Takuya answered, shocked. “You’re quite right. Kodoro-tachi means children.”
My mom clapped in triumphant.
Jo turned to me. “Weird,” she whispered in my ear.
I nodded, agreeing.
“Teruki!” my mom was saying.
I put all my attention on him.
He smiled. “Kokoro.”
My mom’s mouth flew open. “These are not easy!”
“But,” objected Miku, “they are simple.”
Shrugging me mom studied her hands. “Kokoro…Cake?”
Teruki frowned.
“No,” my mom said, ashamed.
“Kokoro means heart!” Teruki exclaimed, smiling sweetly at my mother’s effort.
Around the table my mom went—“aijin”, “kawatta kota”, and “watashi” were said.
Sadly, my mother got none right.
After we assured her it was okay, we cleared the dishes and went to the TV room where we packed on the couch to watch the six o’clock game shows. Dinner had taken longer than I had expected!
Shrugging it off, I nuzzled into the couch, pretending not to be aware that I was overly snuggling Teruki as I hugged me plushie—it had been lying on the couch the entire afternoon!
Half way through some whacked up game show, Mik-san left to use the ’o-tearai’. (My mom frowned.) With him temporarily gone, more space was produced.
Five minutes later, Miku came back in, walking awkwardly. He bet down close to me.
“Where’s the bathroom?” he whispered.
Laughing, I looked up at him. His eyes smiling, but his face did not. He studied my face. ‘KAWAII DESU!’ my brain shrieked.
I got up, leaving Teruki in charge to watch my doll. “Come on,” I said, leading Miku out of the room. As we walked through the hall, I could really smell Miku’s sent—lovely; just like Heaven!
Around the corner and down two halls, we appeared at the bathroom door.
Grateful, Miku thanked me and rushed inside.
As I walked back, laughter escaped my lips. “Miku...,” I chuckled to myself.
Back in the TV room, Zing and Miku’s puppy were sleeping together on the couch—taking both mine and Miku’s seats!
Frowning, I saw on the chair, straining to see the show.
When Miku walked in, he saw, too, that no more sears were available.
Lingering, he stood in the doorway.
Finally, Bou noticed him.
“Mik, want my seat?” he asked, preparing to stand.
We all turned to Miku.
“No…,” he replied, still lingering.
I got up.
Miku shook his head, gesturing for me to sit back down.
“No, no.” I insisted. “Guests first.”
Humbly, he sat in the chair; now I lingered.
For a half hour we sat, watching game shows.
When 6:40 came around, we all marched back up to my room, preparing to change.
While Jo and I changed into cartoon character pajamas, a problem arose—the others didn’t have pajamas.
We all ran out the front door and two block to the hotel they were staying in.
Quickly, An Café ran up their room and pulled out clothes.
Jo and I waited in the nippy April wind outside in the nearing dark.
Watching the sun set, the guys reappeared, clothes in hand; Bou was borrowing Kanon’s clothes.
Running back to my place, Jo and I waited around for the guys to change. One by one, they moved into the bathroom.
Ten minutes later they all stood in front of us: Teruki wore white and blue plaid pajamas; Miku was in a red and black matching outfit; Kanon dressed in black, blue, and white pants with a dark purple shirt; Bou wore white, pink, and black clothes—at least a size to big; Takuya wore green and blue flannelled PJs; and Yu-ki was dressed in blue and yellow poka-dotted pants with a white T-shirt; he wore no hat.
Satisfied and snug, we all hiked up the stairs again, bidding farewell to me mother one last time.
We sat down in our places, dogs in the middle too. I noticed only Bou and Yu-ki wore socks. I stared at Teruki’s bare feel. Well, I looked at them all.
I had to admit—Kanon had the best bare feet!
Seven o’clock came around and passed. So did the darkness. That only meant one thing—COOKIES!
Well, before cookies, everyone took out their piercings and set them in separate zip-lock bags; eighteen in Teruki’s, two in Miku’s, and one in Kanon’s and Bou’s.
After all the jewelry was safe and put away in pants pockets, I ventured downstairs with Jo to fetch the cookies.
In the kitchen, I grabbed two packs of Oreos and Jo grabbed a pitcher of milk and eight glasses.
Knocking down my bedroom door and moving the dogs to the bean bag chair in the corner, we passed out the refreshments.
We all ate devoured our first cookie in silence; however, after his second cookie, Teruki noticed my ogling at him.
“What?” he asked.
I stared at his mouth. Barely visible, I could see the tiny holes were his mouth piercings went—the two that we wore today slightly bigger. My eyes ventured to his nose—one there. Eventually, I met his questioned eyes.
I couldn’t utter a sound.
Teruki turned to Jo. “Is she O.K.?” he asked.
Jo nodded and looked at me. “She just likes you.”
I glared at Jo, and she gave an overly cheerful smile back.
“She’s not the only one,” Yu-ki piped, looking over towards Kanon.
Swiftly, Kanon scooped up a cookie from its package and shoved it into Yu-ki’s mouth.
Kanon coughed purposely and looked at the rest of the human circle. “What?” he questioned, eyebrows hoisted. He tried to cover up Yu-ki’s muffled coughs with loud sighs and exaggerated yawns, followed by stretches.
After being a victim of a multitude of stares, Yu-ki swallowed the cookie.
“Kanon-san!” he yelled. “You piss head! You could have killed me!”
“And you can’t have An Café without a keyboard,” Teruki cut in mater-of-factly.
Yu-ki glared at the drummer from under his dark sunglasses. “Not helping, Teruki,” he said through clenched teeth.
Ashamed, Teruki shoved yet another cookie in his mouth and turned his attention to the arising puppies.
Yu-ki probably would have hit the shocked Kanon if I hadn’t coughed.
Eyes looked at me.
I threw my hands in defense, widening my eyes.
“So,” Jo said, being heroine. “Bou, what brought you here?”
Bou thought. “Ah, well, um, I-I just want, uh, heard that the guys were in town and wanted to see th-the-them,” he stuttered out.
Jo nodded slowly, like a therapist. “I see.” Quickly, she left Bou’s gaze and turned to Takuya. Staring, she thought of something to say—nothing.
Takuya stared back for several minutes, and finally he shrugged, eyebrows knitted together.
Jo shook her head hopelessly; she focused, also, on the puppies.
7:30 passed by. We all sat around to think about what we could so, now that the cookies were gone.
Finally, Miku stirred. We all consumed him with our eyes, like birds about to attack.
Eyes wide, he pulled out his glasses case from pants pocket.
“I’ll…be right back…,” he said slowly, leaving the room.
Out of nowhere, Bou laughed.
‘He has an adorable laugh!’ I thought.
Over on Bou’s lap, Miku’s puppy had snuggled into a tiny ball.
“Aww!” Yu-ki exclaimed, extinguishing the fight. He leaned across the circle and traced the dog’s body with his fingers.
A knock sounded at the came, and Miku walked in wearing wire-rimmed glasses.
“Hot!” Jo whispered to me.
I laughed as she “secretly” watched him find his seat next to her and plop down, slipping a contact case into his pocket.
My friend was right.
Miku looked around. “O-cha. Anyone has o-cha?”
I thought about our cupboards downstairs. “Iie o-cha, but we do have bottled red tea,” I offered.
He shrugged and I took that as a yes.
Grabbing the trash and empty dishes, I marched down stairs to obtain the tea.
In the kitchen, everything was still and dark; except the light above the stove cut across the room in a yellow strip.
I threw away the trash and rinsed the glasses and set them aside for later, if needed.
I opened the lit fridge and grabbed a six pack of bottles and plucked two from the pack behind.
“Hungry men?” a voice from my right asked.
Spooked, I jumped up and banged my head on the top of the refrigerator shelf.
“Ow!” I mumbled. “God, ********!” I said, rubbing my head as I stood up.
My mother stood in the shadow fridge, leaning against the table, arm supporting her weight.
She shook her head. “God and ******** in the same sentence. Rae Williams, you should be ashamed!”
I clutched the tea bottles. “Sorry! You scared me!”
“Well, you woke me up!” my mother said crossly.
“What?” I said, turning to the digital clock on the stove. 8:15 it read.
“Oh, man! Time’s going by fast! Sorry, I forget that you had to get up early also. Sorry,” I sincerely apologized. I hated upsetting me mother.
She smiled. “Good night, Rae,” she said, watching me tip toe the best I could up the stairs, still clutching the eight tea bottles.
In my room, chatter was booming. Finally, everyone had gotten comfortable!
“Red tea, at your service,” I said, walking in and handing out the cool bottles.
After they were all out of my hands except for one, I sat back down on my pillow between Mik and Jo. Settling against my bed, I took a drink, studying everyone else for the first time…besides Teruki!
To me left, Miku’s blonde hair was barely spiked. His eyes were dark now behind his glasses.
Next to Miku sat Teruki. His dark hair still hung perfectly. The only difference was this ears were bare—an odd occurrence.
Yu-ki sat next in. Hat off, his curly blonde hair stuck out at all angles. However, his sunglasses still hid his true beauty.
Takuya shifted on his pillow next to Yu-ki. Dark waves hung casually at his shoulders and his eyes pronounced an innocent, yet remarkably cute guy.
Across from Yu-ki was Kanon. Black spikes still held strong in his hair. He still wore his eye patch. I wondered if he would take it off tonight. Nevertheless, his other eye stood out boldly, eye liner defining the darkness even more.
Bou-kun was smiling when my eyes met his Barbie doll-like completion. I studied his round face. ‘Why do people always think his as a girl?’ I asked myself. To me, he was clearly a guy!
Finally around the circle, Jo. Her short brown hair was sleek and straight. The ends showed thickness. On he face showed an expression of a twelve-year-old as she drank, slipping glances around the room.
I sighed deeply to myself, for once loving the situation I was in. Tilting my head up, I closed my eyes, the light shining orange through my closed eyelids.
“Num, num, num, num…VROOM!”
I slammed open my eyes.
“Teruki?” I asked.
Simply, Teruki capped his bottle—now half empty—and cocked his head. “Excuse me?”
I frowned. “Never mind.”
The sound rang out again, coming from my door. Everyone watched as I walked on my bare toes to answer the door.
Once the door was open, a head popped in—Kary from across the street. She wore her shoulder length hair in pigtails. She, too, has taken out her contacts and wore thick rimmed red glasses.
I swung open my door and rushed to hug her.
“Oh my god, Kary! You scared me! What brought you here?” I cried.
Smiling, Kary hugged back. “I know! Hi! Sorry, I was just bored and wanted to come over before going to bed.” Spotting Jo, she waved. “Ooh, shlumper party?” she asked, faking a lisp.
I turned over my shoulder and glanced over at the broken circle on the floor. “Kind of…I guess. Special guests.”
She raised her eyebrows up and down in fast motion. “I see.”
I laughed. “Did my mom let you in?”
Kary grimaced. “Yeah; she was little pissed, but pfffft!”
I nodded and rolled my eyes. “I know what you mean.”
Kary glanced at the clock on my wall next to her. “8:45! Serious? I swear when I came over it was 8:30. Oh, well. I guess I have to go. Mom wants me home soon.” She paused to roll her eyes. “We have to get up early and leave for the airport.”
I gave her a questioned look.
“Grandma,” she replied.
Pitiful, I nodded and hugged her.
Jo stood and embraced Kary as well. “Have fun,” she said.
Kary smiled. “Oh, Jo!” she cried. Waving to An Café, she shut my bedroom door. I heard her walk quietly down the stairs and out the door.
I loved Kary, but she could never equal Jo!
Turning back to my seat, I sighed, blowing my bangs as I did so.
“I’m bored,” I complained.
Jo nodded. “And it’s only 8:45!”
Moping, I turned to the other six. “Any suggestions?”
Miku shrugged. Suddenly, he started to sing “Tekesuta Kousen.”
Kanon and Bou joined in, followed by Teruki and Jo.
Eventually, the whole room burst up in song. Random song.
Laughing, we ended.
“Thank you, Mik-san. That was awesome!” I laughed.
He bowed. “Thank you, thank you!” he cried.
Kanon “booed” as Teruki shouted for an encore.
Shrugging, Miku started to hum “My Heart Leaps for ‘C’”. Once again, the room burst up in voice.
That went off and on until about nine o’clock.
“It would be 11:00 A.M. in Japan,” Bou pointed out, showing for the first time a touch of homesickness.
Nodding, we looked around.
Finally, my dream was fulfilled: Yu-ki took off his sunglasses and rubbed his tired eyes.
His eyes were beautiful! Not flawless, but handsome. Dark and wide, like Miku’s. Above his eyes rested neat dark eyebrows.
I looked over at my friend. She was astonished.
“Yu-ki!” she cried. “What beautiful eyes!”
Smiling shyly, he looked down. “Thanks.”
Kanon gave her a puppy-dog eyed look. “What about me?” he pouted, trying to hide an obvious smiled.
Jo stuck out her tongue.
Kanon sent her a quick finger.
Gasping, Jo turned to me.
“Did you see that?” she asked teasingly.
I wagged my finger at Kanon-san. “Bad Kanon!”
Laughing, he made a pouty face and crossed his arms, turning his face up and away from us.
All guys laughed.
Bou shook his head. “Kanon-san…,” he laughed.

The jokes and childish actions extended well into the late night.
At eleven o’ clock, Takuya fell over on Kanon-san’s shoulder, immediately asleep.
I smiled at his relaxed, child-like face.
“Shall we go to bed?” I asked.
Slowly, the rest nodded.
Laying out blankets and a myriad of pillows, comfortable beds were made for my guests.
Jo laid on a foam mattress she had found in the hallway closet.
After everyone snuggled into bed, including Takuya—who we had woken and arranged a bed for—I made my way through the crowded floor to the light switch.
“Ready?” I asked.
Everyone mumbled a weary “yes”. Glancing momentarily at the dogs, still fast asleep on the bean bag chair in the corner, I opened my door and turned out the light.
Stepping my way back—after many “ow!”s and “sorry!”s—I crawled into my bed. Cuddling into my covers, I looked around the room one last time, painting a mental image of the perfect moment suspending in time, before turning to the wall and closing my eyes; instantly, falling asleep hugging my Teruki and breathing in the varieties of wonderful scents.