Hey Pal. How was your day?

Mine was pretty good.

I was brought breakfast, some kind of pastry I had never even heard of. It was good. I washed it down with a glass of water. All morning, I was permitted to wander the grounds.

After getting myself lost for about the hundredth time, I finally stopped walking.

"Do you have a map of this house?" I asked in Japanese. I had taken it all throughout middle school and my first year of high school, studying the language over the summer as well. I had planned on visiting Japan some time in my future. I just wasn't expecting it to be so soon.

She looked at me, laughing. "Here," she said, pulling a folded piece of paper from her pocket. "I always keep one on hand."

I was happily surprised. Who knew she'd actually have one? I unfolded it to see a rough sketch of the ground floor, including the grounds. On the other side, it depicted the second and third floors.

She flipped the paper back to the first floor. She pointed to a hallway outside the kitchen. "You are here," she said, before continuing on her way.

"Thanks!" I called after her, and she waved her hand in acknowledgement.

I spent most of the time out in the garden, after I had picked up my guitar. I loved playing that thing. I have always loved it, ever since I picked one up when I was seven.

No, I don't play rock music, and it's not an electric guitar. I tend to lean towards the soft, slow songs on my acoustic. But I didn't sing today. I just sat, cross-legged on the ground in the heart of the rose garden, playing my guitar quietly and humming to myself.

Around noon, I was starting to get hungry. I headed in, guitar hung on my back. Using the map to guide me, I made my way to the kitchen. The chefs there were really nice, and they gave me yakitori, which is what seems to be chicken on a stick, though I get the feeling they felt a bit insulted at being asked to prepare something so simple. Or maybe they were relieved. I am not that good at reading people.

After lunch, I had my first meeting with my etiquette teacher. She knew about my situation, and tried her hardest to teach me to be a girl.

I failed miserably.

I had a hard time remembering to maintain my posture, I couldn't balance anything on my head for more than a minute, and I couldn't giggle. My voice could pass as a girl's, luckily. However, I did do some things right. I could force myself to blush, I could bat my eyelashes, and I wasn't annoyed at having my hair down. Though I normally put it up, it falls just past my shoulders when it's down. What can I say, I like long hair!

Another plus is I have yet to start growing facial hair. I could walk like a girl, if I focused.

After etiquette, I was educated on the latest fashions, from manga (which I already knew), to clothes, to tea cups.

Then I was hurtled into the Ishikawa family's tailor's room, speedily fitted for my uniform. He also promised to have a comfortable bodice made for me by tomorrow.

In other words, I get to wear removable boobs. Fun.

Dinner was a family thing, and Dad and I were invited. We sat around a table with Mr. and Mrs. Ishikawa and Reiko. She looked up at me a few times during the meal, but they were only fleeting glances.

I must admit, Japanese cuisine is way different. I like it though.

After dinner, I went up to my room to do homework. In other words, practice my giggling.

An hour-and-a-half into it, Aaron lifted up his head from my lap and looked at me.

"Yeah, I know I sound like an idiot. Get used to it," I told him.

A real giggle from the doorway alerted me to Reiko's presence. I turned, and she hid behind the doorframe.

My guess is that she was interested in Aaron. Snakes are pretty cute, Though Aaron is quite a bit bigger than green snakes. "You can come in and pet him if you want," I told her. "We don't bite."

Slowly, she reappeared. She walked into my room, seating herself a safe distance away from me and Aaron. My scaly friend took an interest in her, and started to unwrap himself from my body. He slithered over to her, looking up. His tongue flicked in and out of his mouth quizzically as he scented this new person.

She giggled again, and I mentally saved that noise and filed it away for later use. Gently, she stroked his head. He rested it in her lap, tongue still tasting the air.

A little while later, she got up and left, giving me a small wave goodbye. I hadn't heard a single word from her.

I tried one more time to giggle.

I got it.

Mission accomplished, I should probably get some sleep.

Good night, Pal!

Rai

P.S. You'd have to have an anaconda or something if it would eat a cat. Even boas prefer smaller things like rodents. XP