Iris

Chapter 2 - Dinner Time

Ayame ran upstairs to her room, closing the door behind her. She pushed the power button on her speakers, playing music from her CD player. She loved American music, and like most students in her school, she spoke English quite well. Her mother was also from the United States, and she had taught her and her brother when they were children.

She looked down at a picture of the beautiful woman on her vanity and smiled. She had pretty light brown hair and green eyes, and was dressed in her Navy uniform. Her mother's parents weren't well off like Kioshi's, so she joined the military right out of high school.

"I miss you, Mother." Ayame sighed, a look of acceptance over her mother's death on her face. "I wish you were here sometimes."

Ayame's family had lost her mother when Ayame was just nine years old, when they were all living in New York City. She was in a car accident, something that killed many people each year in the states. There was nothing anyone could have done to prevent it. She died on impact, so it brought her husband and children comfort that she didn't suffer.

Shaking her head, Ayame walked through her messy room to her bedroom, stripping off her painting clothes as she went. When she entered the bathroom, she turned on the shower, and then turned towards her full-length mirror. She had grown up to be quite beautiful, and she knew it. Her body was slim and strong; the perfect athlete's body. Her hair was long, reaching the small of her back when let down, most of her bangs sweeping to the right. She had her long, thick eyelashes and a movie star face, but she was still insecure. Her face and hair may have been gorgeous, but she hated her body. The only thing about it that she was completely happy with was her stomach. She tucked her bangs out of her eyes and scowled at the part of her body she was least happy with: her breasts. Men liked girls with big breasts, and she wondered if her B cups would get her much attention.

When she thought about her body, the first girl to enter her mind was Honda's friend, Anzu. She had been envious of her fellow classmate's figure for years, and who wouldn't be? She was curvy and beautiful, and it made Ayame feel like garbage.

As Ayame stepped into the stream of hot water, the first thing she thought of was the young man downstairs, grilling burgers with her father. She couldn't understand why she was being so insecure; Honda often told her she was beautiful. In fact, it was often a word he used when greeting her. She didn't date, so why did she need to worry what other men thought? He was the only male whose opinion, other than her family's, that mattered to her.

Once she had scrubbed the paint off of her face hands and out of her hair, she stepped out of the shower, grabbing a towel to dry off. She wrapped the towel around her body and went into her room for clothes. She threw on a matching pair of panties and a strap less bra, and then shuffled to her closet. It was a very warm summer day, so she chose a sundress and wedges.

She slipped back into her bathroom to blow dry her hair. As she sprayed it with product, she couldn't decide what to do with her hair; she wanted to look pretty for her father and Honda. She went to her large collection of jewelry in her vanity and chose a pair of bright blue stud earrings and a giraffe necklace Kioshi had bought her when she turned seventeen. After running back and forth from the bedroom to the bathroom, she finally decided on curling her long ponytail. Once finished, she headed downstairs.

When she reached the sliding glass doors that led out back she paused, smiling at what she saw. Honda was laughing as Kioshi tried desperately to brush his cigarette ashes off of his plate. Shuichi was outside as well, shaking his head, his brown eyes less than amused. Honda was cooking regular beef burgers for the boys, and for her, turkey burgers. He knew well of Ayame's strict diet, so he made sure to abide by it. When he spotted her watching them from behind the glass he smiled, waving her over.

"Hey beautiful," Honda said, looking down at her. "You were gone long enough."

"Do you want to curl my hair for me next time? Looking this good takes effort." Ayame replied.

"If it makes you feel any better sweetheart," Kioshi said, wrapping his arm around her. "I thought you looked cuter with paint on your face."

"Thanks Daddy," Ayame muttered, blushing as he kissed her on the head.

"I think you always look like crap." her fourteen-year-old brother snapped, lying through his teeth. He rather enjoyed pissing off his older sibling.

"Don't make me punch your cast." Ayame said, glaring at the boy.

"That's enough you two." Honda laughed. "Dinner is ready, dig in."

"Sweet." Shuichi said, using his good arm to grab a plate.

"So, are you hungry?" Honda asked Ayame as her family got their food.

"Starving. Kicking your ass in basketball during gym today really worked up an appetite." Ayame replied.

"Hey shorty, I let you win." Honda laughed.

"I am not short. You're just tall." Ayame said, playfully shoving him. "And I kicked your ass."

"Okay fine, you kicked my ass. Doesn't make you any less short."

"I am not short. I'm the same height as Mazaki, and I never see you making fun of her."

"I do make fun of her, on occasion. We make fun of each other. I'm the tallest guy in my group of friends, so it's too easy."

"I sure hope you don't make fun of poor Mutou. I'm pretty sure that would be considered a hate crime." Ayame said, putting a turkey burger on her plate. Honda knew she enjoyed spicy foods, so he had put some of her chopped jalapenos from the fridge in her ground turkey, and she smiled as she smelled it.

"No, I would never do that. Besides, I usually make fun of Jounouchi the most. He's a much more fun target."

"That's to be expected."

"Honda, you actually played basketball with Ayame?" Kioshi asked as they all sat down.

"We do every Friday." Ayame replied. "He's such a good sport about it."

"Good sport?" Honda laughed, taking the chair next to Ayame's. "Our score sheet is tied."

"I'm the one letting him win." Ayame whispered to her father as Honda grabbed his ringing cell phone out of his jacket pocket. Kioshi and Shuichi both heard her, and nodded in agreement.

"Hey Aya, I'll be right back. It's Jou." Honda said, getting up from his chair.

"Go ahead." Ayame said, eating a baby carrot.

While Honda was in the house talking to his friend, he could hear Ayame and her family talking to each other. In the Tanaka house, everyone spoke English to each other. It was Ayame and Shuichi's first language, and they were much more fluent in it than Japanese. Ayame had made it a point to begin teaching Honda when they were ten, and he was very fluent in English as well, so it didn't bother him too much. He appreciated it, more than anything. Everyone in Japan spoke some English, and there were always tourists in town.

When he got off the phone, he walked back outside, breathing deeply. The news he had for Ayame wouldn't make her happy, but he had to tell her anyway.

"Hey Aya, can we talk for a second?" Honda asked as she finished the last of her salad.

"Of course sweetie." she replied, covering her mouth full of food. "Let's go inside, I'm doing the dishes."

Ayame gathered up the dishes from the back yard and followed Honda into the house. He closed the sliding door behind him, and sighed to himself. He watched as she began rinsing the dishes and putting them into the dishwasher. She and Shuichi worked so hard to keep the house clean while their father was in New York, so he couldn't understand why she couldn't keep her room, bathroom, or her locker at school as clean as the rest of the house.

He quietly walked up next to her, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He admired the kitchen as she cleaned, avoiding telling her what he wanted to say. He knew it was going to piss her off, but he had to.

"Hey Aya, do you rememberwhen you told me today that you'd hang out with my friends."

"I do. What about it?"

"Well, the only time we can really do it in the next week would be tomorrow."

"Honda," Ayame said, keeping her eyes focused on the dishes. "Tomorrow is-"

"I know it's your I know how important your birthday is to you. But Jounouchi and Anzu both have jobs, and it's the only time this week they both have the same day off. I want you to hang out with all of my friends, not just one or two of them."

"You promised we would do my birthday first Honda." Ayame said.

"We will still make tomorrow all about you, I promise." Honda said whiletaking her soap soaked hands in his. "Aya, this is important to me. Please, for me?"

Ayame rolled her eyes, looking up at his brown ones. He knew that she was a sucker for him, and he usually got his way. She had the same effect on him, so it was only fair.

"Fine." Ayame snapped, slipping her hands out of his and turning back to the sink. "But I swear to God, Honda, if they mess up my car-"

"Have I ever told you that you're amazing?" Honda said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"No, but I didn't need you to tell me. I already know that." Ayame said, pouting a little.

"Of course, how silly of me." Honda laughed. "Don't worry; I will make sure they know about the car."

Ayame's car was the only thing in her life that she kept completely tidy. Her father gave it to her for her sixteenth birthday, two years ago, and it still looked brand new...except for the scratch Jounouchi had put on it the last time she agreed to hang out with Honda's friends. She knew it was an accident, but it still made her mad. Honda knew it wouldn't have been such a big deal if her father hadn't purchased it for her. She took special care of all the gifts her family gave to her, and her car was one of her most prized possessions.

"Look, I promise, we will do something awesome for your birthday the day after tomorrow." Honda said, placing both hands on her shoulders. "Just you and me. Okay?"

"It's all right sweetie. Don't worry too much about it. And don't worry, I'll behave."

"I'm not worried about that." Honda said, leaning his back against the counter. "Trust me, I'm sure once they get to know you, they'll love you. Maybe almost as much as I do."

"Hmm, I sure hope not." Ayame said, winking at him as she finished up.

Honda crossed his arms over his chest, looking down at the floor. He felt guilty for suckering Ayame into hanging out with his friends, but he loved them all, and he wanted to see them get along. He wasn't really worried about her getting along with Yuugi or Anzu. Neither of them were immature, and even if they didn't become close, he knew they would get along for his sake, and they wouldn't be rude. It was Jounouchi he was worried about. Jounouchi was his closest guy friend, and he sometimes wanted the three of them to hang out. He often spent time with Miki, Ayame's only girlfriend, and they all got along just fine. He wanted that same thing with Ayame and Jounouchi.

"Honda, would you come with me to drop Shuichi off at his school?" Ayame asked. "His bus is leaving for Kyoto in about an hour, so we have to leave soon."

"Sure," Honda said, smiling. "I'll come with you."

After dropping off Shuichi, Ayame took Honda back to her house so he could get it bike. It was getting dark, and Honda wanted to go home and sleep.

"So," Honda said, his helmet under his arm. "I figured tomorrow morning we could all meet at your favorite place for breakfast, and then you can decide what you'd like to do after that."

"That's fine. Do you want me to pick you up in the morning?"

"Yeah, that would be okay."

"I will be there to get you around nine. Don't make me have to come in your room and wake you up." Ayame said, poking him on the chest. "Because if I do, you won't like it."

"Okay. I will see you in the morning then."

"Goodnight, Honda."

"Goodnight, Ayame."