Lexie-chan here, I realized how freaking slow the progression of this story has been getting, so I've decided with the karaoke scene I'm going to kick things up a notch. I mean, there was a reason I was making Ichirou go home with her. And then there's always fun when there's alcohol, riiight? I'm pretty sure I've messed up the timeline, which was a careless mistake on my part, so if anyone else is confused, my bad! Sorry. I'm basically going to pretend that it's Monday evening, so I hope everyone can pretend along with me. And from now on I'm going to keep the timeline on track. So here goes another chapter, and it's super obvious I don't own anything to do with Happy Café.

Chapter 9: Sake

We made a quick pit stop, grabbing some burgers and eating in relative peace, only broken up by idle chit chat about how Sou's school life was going. When we finished, Sou seemed a little bit more nervous as he led the way to the karaoke bar. We made it at a quarter of ten, which seemed to be just on time. A group of other students were standing outside the bar, and it looked like they were waiting for Sou.

"Sou-kun! You're finally here!" One of the girls called out to him, and he shook his head.

"I'm on time, you're just early." Sou pointed at me and Ichirou, standing off to the side. "This is Uru-chan and, um,-"

"Nishikawa-kun," Ichirou said, "Nice to meet all of you." Sou started to get angry, but another one of the guys laughed. I recognized him as Kanda-kun.

"Sou, I told you to bring another girl, not another guy!" Sou was punched in the arm jokingly, and Sou stopped frowning.

"Um, you're Kanda-kun, right?" I interrupted, wanting to satisfy my curiosity.

"Uru-chan, you remember me! I'm flattered!" Kanda-kun came closer as if to touch me, but Ichirou put an arm around my shoulders and stopped him. I remembered that Ichirou and he never met before, and that was probably why he was acting strange. Kanda spoke again, and drew my attention back to him. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Three years, I think?" I said, and he laughed.

"Time just flies by! Come on, we'll finish introductions inside," he ushered us in, the rest of the group following us. We walked through a nice lobby towards the back, where they had reserved a room. I was excited, since this was the first time in a while since I had been to karaoke. Ichirou stuck close to me as I followed Kanda-kun, and Sou was just behind. We walked into the room, and I suppressed a small sound of excitement. There was a large screen and a computer now to choose songs from. I had to stop myself from immediately rushing over to pick a song. "Uru-chan, you get to sit here," Kanda-kun pointed at a spot in the booth opposite the screen, and I moved to sit there. Ichirou made as if to follow, but Kanda-kun stopped him. "Nope, you get to sit over here." He steered Ichirou into a chair at the other end of the table.

"Kanda, what are you doing?" Sou asked, and Kanda laughed.

"This is a gokon, a group date, Sou! Guys and girls have to sit opposite each other to meet and mingle. That's why you can sit here." Kanda pushed Sou into a chair opposite me, even as three other guys and four other girls walked in.

"Kanda, you didn't say this was a gokon! I mean I never would have-" Sou looked anxiously at me, and I realized why he was worried. I pushed aside a twinge of depression and instead felt grateful Sou cared.

"It's fine, Sou, I don't mind. After all, I do still like karaoke-"

"I'm not fine with it," Ichirou interrupted, but Kanda waved his opinion away.

"As long as the lady is fine with it, it's okay. Now then! Uru-chan, the girl with the pink barrette to your left is Sakura-chan; the one with bleached hair to her left is Yuki-chan. The girl to your right is Chiya-chan, and the girl on her right is Ayame-chan. You don't have to worry about the guys." Each girl waved to me in turn and I responded with, "Nice to meet you." Kanda-kun clapped his hands

"Now let the gokon begin! Boys, introduce yourselves." Everyone began talking right away, and I glanced at Sou, who looked miserable.

"Sou, are you okay?" He lifted his head up to look at me, and then turned it away, although I could still see some of the red from his blush.

"I'm fine. I just didn't expect this to be a gokon, and, well, I feel like I tricked you now into coming," Sou finished, still not looking at me. I laughed, startling him.

"Sou, it's fine. I know it was an accident. Why don't we just forget about it and try to have fun anyway?" He smiled at me, making my heart skip a beat, something it's never done before around him. I chalked it up to the fact that we were at a gokon, and it was an awkward situation. Kanda-kun interrupted our conversation.

"Sou, Uru-chan, you guys have to sing the first song!"

"I-I'm not very good at-" I tried to explain my lack of singing skill, but Kanda would hear none of it. Soon Sou and I were standing in front of the screen, the theme to a popular anime playing. Sou looked as embarrassed as I felt, but when our eyes met before the song began, we both smiled. I started singing the words to the song, a happy theme about love. I lost myself in the music, ignoring the other people in the room. When the song ended I flushed, remembering there were others here beside myself.

"You're a good singer, Uru-chan! How come you lied?" Kanda-kun joked with me, and I just shook my head as he decided who was next. I sat back down, only the other girls had moved over so I ended up next to Ayame-san and Ichirou-kun.

"Uru, will you sing a song with me tonight?" Ichirou asked, and I felt guilty that I had been spending so much time with Sou while Ichirou sat here alone.

"Um, sure Ichirou, no problem!" Ichirou smiled at me, and suddenly fell asleep. I sighed, grabbing some of the chocolate out of my pocket and feeding it to him.

"Thanks Uru," he mumbled, and I shook my head. All of the others stared in shock. I was so used to his behavior now that I forgot how strange it actually was.

"He falls asleep whenever he's hungry," Sou explained, and Chiyo-chan piped up,

"I remember! He was that feed the bishie display my sister told me about. I was so mad when she said it was a one-time thing. Even though it happened a while ago." Another of the girls piped in, and suddenly all attention was on Ichirou as they bombarded him with questions. Sou shook his head and turned to talk to me as the others all paid attention to Ichirou and argued who got to sing the next song. Sou ignored them, and I followed suit since Ichirou seemed fine. We idly chatted about school, our jobs, and the weather for a while, when Sou turned suddenly serious.

"So how have you been doing? I mean, it hasn't been all that long, but-"

"I'm fine. I mean, I'm sure it'll get better over more time, but for now, I'm doing my best." Sou looked as if he was about to say something else, but Kanda-kun abruptly shoved drinks in our hands, demanding that we have a toast. We all raised our glasses and shouted the usual

"Kanpai!" I had swallowed all of mine, and Kanda-kun handed me another drink. I finished that one too, and began to feel a little light headed. All of the singing and talking had made me thirsty, since it was hard to hold a conversation over the music. It wasn't until I started giggling and acting funny after the fourth before I thought that maybe I should've checked what I was drinking. But I was still thirsty and didn't care.

"Kanda! Why did you give Uru alcohol?" Sou grabbed his friend by the collar and started shaking him.

"I gave everyone a little, just to get them to loosen up a bit!" Kanda-kun glanced at me, but everything was spinning and the loud music distracted me so I didn't understand the look on his face. He did make a funny face, so I giggled.

"I'm sorry, Sou, I didn't know she couldn't handle sake! And I didn't think she'd have four cups. And I thought that she knew the other drink had vodka in it-" Sou looked angry, and I didn't like that. I stumbled around the table, almost tripping over someone, and grabbed Sou's arm.

"Don be mad, Sou, iss alright. See? I'm just fiiine." Sou shook his head and frowned.

"No you're not, Uru. You're drunk. I'll take you back to your apartment." I pouted at this.

"No. I wanna stay and play. I never got to play. I waited all this time and was good and now..." Suddenly I started crying, startling everyone.

"Who gave Uru alcohol?" Ichirou walked from his spot at the end of the table, looking menacing. I was too busy crying to care. Sou put an arm around my shoulders, finally releasing Kanda-kun. The other girls were staring, and the boys looked nervous.

"Kanda didn't mean anything. He didn't know Uru can't handle drinking."

"I don't care. I'm taking Uru and leaving. Uru, come on." I shook my head.

"I wanna sing anotha song. I don wanna go yet!" I remembered that in an email I had shared with Shindou-san, we had planned to go out for karaoke when he came back, to celebrate. I started crying harder. Ichirou shook his head, and pulled me away from Sou, lifting me in his arms. I heard a girl squeak, and a boy whistled. Ichirou began walking out the door, despite Sou's protests.

"Nishikawa! I was going to take her home since it's my fault!" Sou raced after us. It felt nice and cozy in Ichirou's arms, enough that I was feeling drowsy. I felt a rush of cool air and realized we were outside, and it woke me enough so that I paid more attention to my surroundings.

"You don't need to. I'm staying with her; I'll take care of her. I promised I would."

"But-How do I know you won't take advantage of her while she's on that state?" Sou shouted and I felt Ichirou stop. I couldn't see the look on Ichirou's face as he turned toward Sou, but whatever Sou saw scared him enough that he took a step back.

"Because I have sat quietly by for three years. Do you really think I'd hurt her now?" Ichirou turned back around and began walking again, this time his steps were more jarring. I was about to ask Ichirou something, when I suddenly felt sick.

"Ichirou, I think I'm gonna-" Ichirou immediately flipped me so I was facing away from him, putting me down gently as I puked. I felt him stroke my bangs away from my face until I was done. I gasped from the effort, frantically trying to wipe away the mess my face had become. I felt a handkerchief gently wipe my face, and Ichirou cradled me closer.

"I'm here, it's okay."

"Thank's 'chirou. I'm glad. Is it so bad to want someone to be with you?" I asked, and he tilted my face upwards so I looked him straight in the eyes.

"No. It's not." He seemed so serious; I was shocked even through the alcohol. Suddenly, Sou was there behind Ichirou, looking concerned.

"Uru, are you okay?

"'m fine." Ichirou picked me back up, walking a bit more gently this time as we headed for my house. Sou started to follow. "Sou y'should go back to the party. Your friends'll miss you if you follow us. I'll be fine. Ichirou'll take me home," I patted Ichirou on the head with my free hand, and Sou darkened for a split second, before he sighed.

"If you say so, Uru. I'll go back and explain to everyone."

"Thanks, Sou. We'll have to get together next time, kay?" I said, and Sou nodded and waved before turning around and jogging back. Ichirou kept walking, and soon I was lulled back into sleepiness by the gentle rocking. I soon blacked out.

(Ichirou's POV since our main character is in a drunken blackout)

I glanced down at the sleeping woman in my arms, and struggled with the urge to throttle her and kiss her at the same time. How could anyone be so naive as to get so drunk when they couldn't handle their liquor? She snuggled closer in her sleep, and my heart skipped a bit. After three years of love without hope, she still had this effect on me. And now, since Shindou let her go, I could have a chance. I felt awful about feeling joy when she was so miserable, but I couldn't help myself. Even now, looking at her innocent face, all I wanted was to hold her tightly and keep her safe from the rest of the world. And yet I couldn't believe that Shindou had let her go. Just like that. After three years, she still loved him. And on the day of their reunion he brought back some random chick he was engaged to? I couldn't take it. I haven't spoken with Shindou since .I never told Uru, but I had been ignoring all of his calls; his attempts to contact me. It had only been a few days, but it's amazing how things can so drastically change. I walked up the stairs to Uru's apartment, taking the spare key I had out of my pocket. I shifted Uru so that she was balanced on one side of me and I could open the door. As I unlocked it, I heard a noise from next door.

The door opened, and out walked Shindou. He was about to say something when I put a finger to my lips, shaking my head. I finished opening the door, and Shindou followed me as I gently placed Uru on top of her bed. I shoved him towards the front door, and we exited. I closed the door behind me and leaned against it. I was going to protect Uru with all my might.

"Ichirou...I've been trying to talk to you."

"And I've been trying to ignore you," I replied. Shindou looked taken aback, but he sighed heavily in defeat.

"I know you're angry right now, but I want to talk to you. You're my best friend." I stared at him coldly, but he continued anyway. "Look, I know you don't want me near Uru right now-"

I snorted and interrupted with, "That's an understatement." Shindou held up a hand and I stopped.

"So how about we make a deal? I'll stay in my dad's old apartment across town if you meet with me later this week so we can talk?" I considered it for a moment. Up until now it was a miracle that Shindou and Uru hadn't run into each other. And I wasn't counting on that lucky streak holding up. If agreed, I could protect Uru. She wouldn't have to live in fear of running into him. I sighed.

"Fine. But only for an hour. We'll meet at the Abekawa bakery because I don't want Uru to know." Shindou nodded.

"Seems reasonable. I'll be there Thursday, at 2." I nodded, and Shindou returned to his old apartment, grabbing several large bags out of the doorway. "I'm finishing moving out tonight. I won't be here tomorrow morning." It was my turn to nod. I then opened the door behind me, shutting it and locking it firmly. I paused for a moment, trying to calm my turbulent thoughts. I firmly pushed all thoughts of Shindou from my head. He and I would end everything Thursday. No point in thinking of it until then. I returned to Uru's room, where she slept calmly. I lay on the bed beside her, brushing her bangs away from her eyes. I didn't understand how anyone could be so strong and yet so fragile at the same time. A tear slid down her face, and I paused in my actions. I rubbed away the tear gently, hoping she would forgive me for what I was about to do. I gently kissed her lips, tasting her sweetness briefly for a moment.

"Goodnight, Uru." I sighed, as she blissfully slept on. I only hoped that someday, maybe, I could be her happiness as she was mine. I curled around her, snuggling against her. It couldn't hurt if I just stayed here like this for a moment. I closed my eyes.

I feel pretty proud, doing two chapters in one week. With any luck I should be able to write more in the future. We are just getting to the juicy bits now, aren't we? I hope no one minds my switching the POV occasionally, I figured it would be okay because Uru was a little unconscious at the time. Thanks for reading as always! I'll do my best to reply to every review in the future.