(Before we start...

After re-reading this several times, I thought I should be fair and write something before hand.

I already know that this isn't the most accurate portrayal of the characters, but I think most people expect that with fan-fiction, anyway. However, this gets a little "graphic," so to speak, so if you want to keep your personal portrait of the characters intact (esp. with Hanako and Lilly), you probably shouldn't go any further than this sentence. However, if you do decide to press on, I would like to suggest that you treat this like any good liquor, and do this whole thing in just one shot.

This, first and foremost, is a very self-indulgent affair, as is with most fan-fiction, so I would only like to ask for your patience. This is also my first time.

And thank you for yours.)

FRIDAY

Hisao had completely forgotten about the chilly train platform from hours ago. He now was doing everything he could to keep his breath from hitching too bad, and every so often quickly making a clandestine swipe at the beads of sweat collecting on his forehead. It really was a futile effort, being that Lilly would be able to hear his breathing slowly become more strained, and not even be able to see him sweating. Luck was on his side, though, as Lilly was trying to keep pace with Hanako, who seemed to be just containing her excitement, facing only forwards, feet barely touching the ground. He couldn't figure out if Hanako was really happy to be traveling, or simply wishing to be out of public. Not that there was anyone around, the "road" they were on was more of a packed dirt path if anything, with the occasional tire rut to snag any missteps. The trees overhead arched over it, giving the vague look of a tunnel, but with none of the stale air and bad lighting. Instead there was a delicate breeze, bringing sweet country air, free of any exhaust, and sunlight cheekily peeking in at them when the branches above swayed with the gentle wind. Even though he was tired, Hisao still held a smile, glad for the shade, and glad to see something so pleasant.

Eventually, the treeline broke, and a large grassland greeted them. Hisao had never seen so much open space in all of his life. The grass looked as if it was fanning them, sweeping over rolling hills, the backdrop the silhouette of blue mountains an impossible distance away.

He clamped his mouth shut at the sound of Lilly letting a light giggle escape her lips. She turned her head over her shoulder, and spoke warmly, "Impressed?"

"Heh," Hisao shook his head. He should have known that he couldn't fool her, but he still asked, "Was it really that obvious?"

She giggled again. "You've been holding your breath for quite a while now. I thought I might try to get you to remember to breathe." If Hisao strained his ears, he thought he could even hear the faintest of laughter even coming from Hanako.

Hisao blushed. He really didn't want to come off as the ignorant and awe-struck city-kid, but he couldn't help it. The sight emerging from the treeline would be something he would never forget.

Even though Hisao was having trouble keeping conversation, Lilly still prodded him. "There's no need to get embarrassed, Hisao."

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"You're blushing."

Hisao dropped his eyebrows, squinting hard at Lilly. "You can't honestly be telling me you heard the blood rushing to my head."

"No, that would be ridiculous. You're just easy to figure out, and you just admitted to it."

Hisao sighed, then jokingly shot back, "But you two still lost all those hands in poker."

Lilly's face seemed to screw up in concentration. "As I recall, during the last hand we managed to call your bluff and take a lot of your winnings."

Hisao scoffed. "Yeah, the only win. And then you quit right afterwards."

"Well, Hisao, half of gambling is knowing when to quit."

He sighed again. She had him there.

Hanako then drew a sharp gasp. "I see it!"

Even when exclaiming something, she still managed to be barely audible. It didn't upset Hisao, who was still taking in the serene aura that wrapped around the three of them.

Hisao looked up from his reverie to see the house, not so far off now. He kept his eyes fixed on it as it slowly grew in his vision. He wasn't surprised by the Western styling of the house, but he was surprised that it looked more like a farmhouse, one floor high, surrounded by an old fashioned and crooked wooden fence, nestled in a small tangle of trees and bushes that had managed to creep away from the covered road, standing as a barrier between the different fields. The lawn was somewhat unkempt, but there was a wild charm to it, a wonderful sight for eyes that had grown tired of the rigid utilitarian design of a city or the preened and "perfect" look of suburbia, and was another reminder of how far away they were. Hisao was actually starting to find that idea somewhat more comforting as time marched on. The house itself looked in excellent shape, no missing siding, no missing roof tiles, but Lilly warned that Akira, who had used the house last, might not have taken such care of the inside.

After taking the sight of it in for a few moments, the three of them walked up the driveway and through the front door, their long trek finally over, and the first real part of their vacation finally beginning.

Akira really had left the place somewhat of a mess, with pans on the stove, an old magazine on the couch, an out of date TV guide on the coffee table, and who knew what else. None of the three let it spoil their mood, and the two girls walked off to the only bedroom, leaving Hisao with the convertible futon in the living room. He scanned the room, his eyes lingering for a moment on a bookcase to his right, before deciding he would just flick on the TV. He hadn't watched television in quite a while, so he figured he would just check it out. Unfortunately, it failed to hold his interest, so he fell asleep.