Chapter 10

One week later.

It is said that much sake, self-pride and luxury are to be avoided by a samurai. There is no cause for anxiety when you are unhappy, but when you become a little elated, these three things become dangerous. Look at the human condition. It is unseemly for a person to become prideful and extravagant when things are going well. Therefore, it is better to have some unhappiness while one is still young, for is a person does not experience some bitterness, his disposition will not settle down. A person who becomes fatigued when unhappy is useless.

--from the second chapter of Hagakure, by Yamamoto Tsunetomo

The flavor in his mouth was pungent yet not overly sweet. Its flavor was contenting, oddly so. It refreshed his senses, and for a few moments at least blocked out the weariness that was creeping towards his eyes. Lately, perhaps even more so, work had become unbearable. He could feel the sense of death surrounding his frame, pushing against his chest. At times he found it hard to breathe. Yet, he was the master of disguise; he would not show the faults so easily to the others. Never to Nariya Kouga, for now they were enemies. Enemies were never supposed to know the weaknesses of another. Never.

Yet…

He closed his eyes, and took off his glasses that were beginning to cause a full pain in the back of his head. Just enough to be uncomfortable, but not quite unbearable. He massaged the hallows of his eyes, and then his temples. Slow movements, slow strong movements. He stood perfectly still. The voice had just called him, called him to her. Hadn't he told her to stay away? Hadn't he told her to go along her own way? Yet, such a girl would never listen.

"Okuda-san."

He would never have admitted it, but he preferred being called by his first name. Okuda- san sounded like a young boy with large glasses, struggling to hold a pile of books. He turned his head, slowly, and stared at her. She was framed in a golden afternoon light. Sleep was certainly playing tricks on his perfect vision, or did she seem to glow?

He quickly crumpled the mint wrapper.

"What is it now, Higurashi?" he questioned slowly, turning his head back down, and leaning against the table. To look stoic was much better than the truth. The truth was he was tired of it all. Tired of deaths. Tired of this never-ending battle. Yet, here was Kagome, still new to the job; smiling sweetly as though she had just walked off a beach. How could she smile so sweetly? Did she really possess such strength, facing death in her own terms?

"Your tired. Here." She handed him a cup of tea, although hot, it was not scalding. The color was a warm honey, and it smelled of sesame seeds.

"I want none of your tea." He stated coolly, turning his attention to the window and the towers beyond.

"Don't be that way. You should drink it. It will do you good." She insisted, her voice becoming tense. Must it always be this way?

"Higurashi, should not you be doing your shift?" Sesshoumaru turned around, and gazed at her, his eyes firm—all trace of weariness magically disappeared.

Her eyes glared at him with an unnerving intensity. Was she accepting his challenge? She dusted off her spotless uniform as though it had formed a layer of dust. As though he was old, and weary. Old like an old, tired, wrinkled man. His presence emanated such dust. Perhaps, he was old and tired.

"You do what you want, Sesshoumaru." She sniffed sullenly, and placing the cup onto the desktop she quietly left the room.

Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru. Twice now, she had said his name. Twice, wasn't it? She always said it the same way. With disdain, and an irritated tone. As if saying his name would end the conversation. Yet, this time had been different. There had been a twinge of regret and sadness. Kagome had not covered it up as well as she believed.

He stared at the cup of tea.  With its steam rising up from it like that from a hot bath. The pleasant golden color. The persimmon colored cup, edged in brown. Where had she found the cup? The craftsmanship was excellent. He reached out slowly, yet gently wrapped his fingers around it. Lifting it to his mouth the scent overwhelmed him. Traditional, yet comforting. He opened his mouth, and let the warm liquid drain down his throat.

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"Anou?? Hello??" a young voice called through the wavy glass door, "Is anyone there?"

A faint rustling could be heard, then grumbling. Finally, an old crinkled face poked out of the door. Her voice old, and worn; yet kind.

"Yes? What do you want?"

"Anou, I just came to see if—" the young man began.

"I don't want any dango. Do you sell octopus though? I need an order for next Thursday. I'm making tako-yaki." Kaede said. Her eyes glinted happily, as memories of yummy octopus filled her thoughts.

"That sounds delicious." The young man admitted, sweating slightly, "But, I came here to inquire if you still have the lower apartment free?"

Kaede blinked, and then gushed, "Oh! Yes! Come in, won't you? I was just about to make some crepes and green tea."

The young man blinked. It was an interesting combination indeed. Dabbing his head with a handkerchief, he smiled sweetly, "Sounds lovely."

And…it did.

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(takoyaki—octopus balls. Actually, not so bad. Dango, usually sweets…or breads and stuff. To some extent. Usually filled with red bean paste.)

(also…about the glasses. Sesshoumaru does have perfect vision, he just wears the glasses cause he is a tiny bit vain, like we all are.)

(shoudo or Shodo with a little ^ over the first 'o' is the art of Japanese calligraphy.)

about 2 months earlier

It was cold and wintry that day. The sky was overcast, yet the clouds were not saturated enough to be so threatening. Soon, gray bottoms would form and the city of Tokyo would turn dark and cold. The light that these clouds cast was not wholly unpleasant in his Sensei's apartment. One only needed a dim overhead lamp to see by and the rest was of the house was illuminated by this grayish white light that flooded in through the apartments large windows.

Sitting in the traditional seiza style, Sesshoumaru began to slowly and rhythmically scrape the bar of ink against the cold stone. Adding small amounts of water at a time, and finally satisfied with its deep gray color, he dipped the ornate bamboo brush into the newly formed ink. The four treasures. Paper. Ink. Ink stone. Yet, what was the fourth again? The fourth…

He tried to clear his mind, letting all of this thoughts and questions crumble like a cookie in water to the bottom of the glass. Shoudo was not difficult, but to clear ones mind was. For as soon as it was clear, one wondered if it was. Hence, new thoughts would flood one by one into his mind.

"You seem tense today, Sesshoumaru-san." An old sturdy voice said.

Tilting his head slightly he looked directly up in the eyes of his master, "Yes, it is true Zendai-sensei." His sensei's eyes were deep, and dark; like murky pools.

The rustle of fabric against the tatami mat alerted Sesshoumaru that his teacher was sitting beside him.

"Do the eighth radical, please." His teacher commanded.

Sesshoumaru hesitated for a moment, then, closing his eyes for an instant, then he swiftly, yet firmly in fluid stokes, painted the eighth.

"It does not seem anything so serious. On the contrary, your style seems more fluid and free." His sensei noted as he massaged his chin. "It is like the way your script was when you first came to this school. You possessed such a fluid grace. Over the years, however, you became …stiffer. Yet, now it is reappearing." A pause. The sensei mumbled to himself, as though checking off some list in his head. "That was when you were twelve, I do believe."

"Yes, sensei." He found himself replying. He had just returned from the island, and father was still fresh in his hilltop grave.

Sesshoumaru stared angrily down at his paper in hatred. So, he preformed better when she, Kagome, was around. Or at least, her thoughts clouded his mind. He was more fluid. More graceful. Why was this?

"Whatever the cause may be, don't let it go away this time. Please, write the kanji for 'freedom' and then of 'night'. After that, continue with whatever is your pleasure."

"Yes, sensei."

Sesshoumaru looked down at his paper with scorn. Why was it that he was performing better now? Why was it that her presence brought out the best of his skills? It irked him immensely.

He had remembered when he had first come to this school. Right after he had left from the island…and how he had wanted to capture this carefree and beautiful essence in his work. He wanted to remember the island. The people there. He wanted to remember it all. Yet…over the years, times and both he had changed. And soon, his skills slowly weakened. He was a master, of course, but he lacked no originality. It had faded inside of him, just like her presence had over the years.

So many things had faded…and now, painfully, they were reappearing.

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Kagome kept her head down as she walked quickly through the hall pushing along a now empty cart. She hoped that lunch would come soon for today she was abnormally hungry. It was not even eleven and already her stomach was grumbling and gurgling in protest. Wincing, not in pain, but just out of frustration she walked along the hall, her head bent down. Yet, perhaps, she would realize later, it was always a good thing to watch where one was going. Unexpected obstacles could always prove dangerous.

She felt her body suddenly crash into something very firm, yet not hard. Stumbling she felt and heard the wisp of air around her as she fell to the ground. Rubbing her shoulder for a moment, she had view enough to see that the other person, unlike herself, had not fallen to the cold tile ground. She cursed herself for her stupidity, and looked up suddenly when a kind, yet irritated voice said, "Here."

A hand appeared, a strong yet gentle hand, she found herself placing her own in it. It was warm, worn, but soft. Strange. Looking up, their eyes meeting as he helped her and she found herself once again falling to the ground. The fluid bright amber color was so familiar it hurt. The air swam around her. This was all unnoticed by Kagome. His surprise must have been evident, as was hers, to be sure. How could it be, she wondered, that this was him, standing in front of her?

"I-Inu Yasha?!" Kagome sputtered from the ground. She gazed at him in amazement. He certainly looked different with his hair tied back, and not wearing the apron she was accustomed to seeing. She rubbed her nose and cheeks suddenly, trying to make the sudden burn that came to them cease.

"Kagome?!" Inu Yasha chocked suddenly, "What the hell are you doing here?!"

He lifted his hand again, and this time fully lifted her figure to an upright position.

Kagome smiled broadly, as she answered, "I work here." There was a pause, as the two summed each other up, each aware of the rosy color that had come to their cheeks. Suddenly, Kagome, who was bursting with happiness to see him, exclaimed happily as she wrapped her arms around his frame, "Its SO good to see you! I missed you!"

She held him tight, not romantically, but fondly. All the memories that the two of them had shared: the fires Uemura caused, the late nights preparing food and telling jokes, and the ever-famous flour fights. Her fondness of him all came washing back, like the lyrics to a long forgotten song. Inu Yasha was speechless for a moment; speechless with a rush of joy that he had never experience him. She had said she had missed him. Had anyone ever said that to him before, he tried to remember. No…never. Yet, she, Kagome, had missed him. And…how much he had secretly missed her presence as well? He could not describe in measurement…

He closed his eyes, and savored this one, perfect, sweet moment before he would ruin it.

"Oi! Get your hands off of me!" he snarled, not harshly, but enough to get the point across.

Her grip loosed, yet it had not completely faded. Her arms were now down by his waist, and her face looking up into his. She was smiling so sincerely. "Inu Yasha…the same as usual."

"Yeah. You haven't changed a bit." He paused, regretting what he would then say, "But…I missed you too."

Inu Yasha took one of his hands and rustled her loose hair a bit. The moment was there again—yet reality snapped the two and a few moments later he watched her who was now picking up a few bottles that had become scattered across the hall. Ah, he had missed her so much more than she would know.

"So, Inu Yasha, what are you doing here?" Kagome chirped merrily.

"I work here. Didn't you know?" he snorted as he tossed a bottle lazily to her.

"What!? You work here? Since when?!" Kagome gapped, shock coursing through her body.

"Uh…since…" he tried to remember. Days had no meaning for him lately… "Since about two months ago. About a week after you quit Pleut…"

"But why!?" Kagome gasped, "You were paid wonderfully! You were the star chef! You were moving towards your dream to own your own restaurant!"

His dream…his own secret dream which only Kagome knew…

"Kagome, stuff happened." Inu Yasha sniffed angrily, not wanting to go into the perverted details of Naraku Honda.

"But what could have happened that would have caused you to quit?! Sure, Naraku is disgusting, but he paid you good!" Kagome insisted fiercely, "But now, your working in a hospital cafeteria? Inu Yasha…" the passion faded from her voice, and only a quiet sort of sorrow remained, "Tell me…what happened…?"

"Nothing happened!" He roared angrily, flushing. "I just quit! I wasn't going anywhere! Besides, this job is only temporary."

A pause. A long pause. The jovial fondness had been cracked, yet, not damaged beyond repair.

"Lets not fight, ne?" Kagome whispered as she began to wheel the cart, "How about coffee…after dinner, about seven? I can imagine dinner will be good, after all you will cook it, ne Inu Yasha? I want you to meet a friend of mine…"

"What kind of friend…?" Inu Yasha inquired, his eyebrows burying together to form a scowl. He tried not to act jealous. Apparently…it didn't work.

Kagome laughed kindly, and continued walking. "Its not that kind. Don't be envious." She teased.

"OI!!" Inu Yasha roared, "Who would be jealous of a chicken legged girl like you!?"

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The sun was now high in the sky, and the midday quiet had settled over the hospital. Patients were eating their lunch, and most of the hospital staff as well. Kagome, who had opted to take an early lunch today, found herself soon contented with a bowl of ramen. She still had fifteen minutes left, so she took out of her purse the latest book by Haruki Murakami. About to settle down to read it, a voice above said.

"You know, if they let the broth come to a full boil, it will never be clear."

None other than the voice of Arima Miyazawa, no doubt. Kagome looked up, smiling, and questioned, "I presume you are talking about the ramen broth, ne?"

"Yes, of course." Arima smirked as he seated himself down. Kagome noticed Kouga was still inline for the soba noodles.

"And where did you learn this information on ramen broth? Since when have you been the aficionado?" Kagome quipped amusedly, putting the novel back into her bag.

"Actually…" Arima began, "I was watching this movie last night. It was really good, it's called Tampopo."

"Tampopo? As in dandelion?" Kagome asked curiously, wondering what dandelions and ramen had in common. As far as she could tell: nothing.

"Un. Yeah—it's about this chick that owns a crappy ramen shop, and then this cowboy truck driver dude comes and says he can help. So they like making her find the perfect noodles, broth, her customer greetings, and such. It's really funny! I love that movie! I'll let you borrow it some time, I think you would really like it." Arima was now chuckling as he slurped his noodles. Kagome watched him, sarcasm and pity mingling with amusement on her features.

"They even tell you how to eat ramen properly!" Arima said randomly.

Kagome laughed slightly, and then waved over to Kouga who was trying to find them. Kagome was not totally unaware of the bright smile that flooded Kouga's face. This look of relief and happiness that washed through it.

"Kouga-kun!" Kagome called merrily.

If Kagome had been close enough, she would have been able to see the tears of joy twinkling in his eyes.

"Oh—Kagome-san, did you hear?" Arima chocked suddenly as he slurped up some of his ramen.

"Eh? What?? …are you alright?" Kagome inquired hurriedly.

"Eh…" He coughed, cleared his throat, then continued, "About…who is joining…your…?" He waited in-between each word, hoping that a spark would light in Kagome's eyes in recognition. None ever came.

"Joining my…what?" Kagome questioned confusedly. One of her eyebrows rose. "What?"

"Eh! Kouga! She doesn't know!" Arima exclaimed jumping up to his friend who was nearing the table.

"EH!?" Kouga burst out, "What?! Not yet?! But…! But…! Its all over the nurses division! Even I know about it!" Kouga was now fumbling for words, while trying to submerge his pork into the ramen broth.

"What?? What is it??" Kagome hissed urgently. She hated this feeling of being left out.

"We…" Arima snorted, "Can't tell you that…"

"Even though I am really pissed off about the whole thing. You know how I feel about that jack-ass—if he weren't my sempai, I would beat the crap out of him." Kouga grumbled moodily as he began to munch on some soba noodles.

"…S-Sesshoumaru?" Kagome questioned quietly.

"What are you talking about? You are never supposed to say his first name! Trust me, he hates that!" Arima explained spastically.

"Yeah. Best just to call him Okuda." Kouga continued to grumble.

"…but, what about Sesshou—I mean, Okuda-san?" Kagome insisted.

There was a moment of silence, interrupted by the two men slurping and chewing their noodles. Kagome looked at them, and then fell back into her chair sighing in defeat.

"You…will just have to hear it from him…" Arima said mysteriously, his eyes twinkling.

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Human life is truly a short affair. It is better to live doing the things you like. It is foolish to live within this dream of a world seeing unpleasantness and doing only things that you do not life. But it is important never to tell this to young people as it is something that would be harmful and incorrectly understood. Personally, I like to sleep. I intend to appropriately confine myself more and more to my living quarters and pass away my life sleeping.

~ From the second chapter of Hagakure

Angrily Sesshoumaru threw a piece of crumpled paper into a mesh wire trash bin as he walked the length to the nurse's main office. The garden path was well suited for his mood. Perhaps the chilled air outside would calm him. Yet…probably not. He sincerely irritated by this sudden turn of events that his sempai had instructed him to take. The man, Sesshoumaru, reckoned was a fool. However, a wise fool at that. Of course, it was not hard to notice that in recent months he, Sesshoumaru, had become quite popular with the patients in prescribing the right medications. However, his sempai on the other hand seemed to be going the lull in his middle aged life, and was lessoning on the doctor's rank. Even the senior doctor's said so, and in turn had great hopes in his own career rising to the top. Although his sempai was an idiot, he was mischievous as the fox. He changed his shapes quickly, playing the alliance one day, and now, this hour, as the enemy…

"Sesshoumaru-san." Kikyou said to his right, hurriedly walking to keep up with his long strides, "It is not so bad. And here both of us will be higher on the ranks compared to all of them. We will be able to use our power, unlike before…"

"Fool." Sesshoumaru hissed as he stopped walking suddenly on the gravel path, "Don't you see that they are casting us aside like an unused 'go' piece. You may have been well suited for this transfer, but I on the other hand had other things in mind. You may be contented to work among them, but I on the other hand have much higher standards."

"Sesshoumaru-san…your words are that of irritableness. Come a week you will enjoy your position of dominance. You can use them to your advantage…" Kikyou suggested craftily, her tone going up slightly higher to accentuate the point.

"Kikyou…to win alliance with them, you must first win their trust. That means one must try to be liked. I care for no such thing. Those idiots, as well as you, can think what you like." He spat angrily, as he began to walk again.

A high, false giggled came from Kikyou's throat as she jogged to keep up. "My my! You certainly are in a mood today. I wonder, what or who could have caused it…"

Sesshoumaru pretended not to hear, and briskly opened the door to the office of the nurse's quarter.

(AN: 'Go' is a game related to chess, only the Japanese style. The strategy of this game it to surround and capture your enemy. This game can take hours, even days, or years. One misplaced piece in the game can bring the destruction. An unused piece as well can bring the same fate.)

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"Now, everyone, please wait a moment or two before you go out and do your rounds." The head nurse insisted while she waved her hands in the air to capture everyone's attention. There were murmurs of questions and exclamations as the old frail nurse continued, "We will have two new doctor's who will be joining our division to help us organize for an unseen amount of time. I hope you all welcome them warmly."

The murmurs continued, until suddenly it became deathly quiet. Kagome, who had been fiddling with a ring on her pinky finger, looked up when Arima not so kindly nudged her in the ribs. At first, Kagome could not see due to the fact that another, much more taller nurse was blocking her view. A sudden lump came into her throat as she saw the beautiful cold woman that had glared at her before. Her  expression was still the same, cool and calm—as though nothing, not even introductions, got her frazzled. Kagome gulped slightly, and she heard Arima whisper to the person next to him, "Looks like she needs to get laid."

Kagome wanted to belt out laughing, but instead allowed the corners of her mouth to smirk.

"Now, everyone, I would like to introduce to you two young and brilliant doctors. Takoage Kikyou and…" She took a deep breath, and continued, "Okuda Sesshoumaru." Sesshoumaru and Kikyou as though on cue bowed deeply, and said, "Thank You. It is a pleasure."

The head nurse bowed deeply, and then the other nurses taking from her example did so as well, and bowed.

"Now!" the head nurse exclaimed, clapping her hands in a brisk manner, "Please make sure that they feel welcome. You may go on your rounds now."

Arima walked past Kagome, and turned around giving her a smile and a wink as he headed off with his stethoscope. Kagome, who had found a bottled of pills to fiddle with around in her hand smiled nervously in return. She watched Arima for a moment, before forcing herself to gaze at Sesshoumaru. How could this have happened? How could he be now working in the same department as her? She glanced at him, only to find he was now glaring unemotionally at her. Startled, she dropped the bottle of pills, and second later small white shapes danced in front of her eyes as she gazed at the floor.

"Kagome! What have you done? I expect you to pick them up and throw them away!" The head nurse sighed exasperatedly. Turning to Kikyou and Sesshoumaru, she questioned sweetly, "Takoage-san, Okuda-san…would you care for some coffee?"

"Of course. Allow me to assist you." Kikyou said sweetly.

Kagome, from where she was crouched, made a face of disgust. 'Allow me to assist you' Kagome mouthed irritably with a sour  expression on her face. Who was she kidding? She was about as fake as hotdogs.

"Oh! What a sweet thing you are! Thank you!" the head nurse cooed mindlessly. "Kagome, do hurry."

Kagome grimaced.

She heard footsteps and then the room was quiet, and Kagome reasoned that Sesshoumaru had left with the nurses. Good, she thought, now I won't have to face him.

It seemed as though some cosmic force was slamming her and him together—and if he had been the kind Sesshoumaru she once knew it wouldn't have been so bad.  Yet Sesshoumaru now hated her, now despised her…and probably had forgotten their secret, her precious promise…

"…Are you always that graceful?" A slightly amused voice asked.

Kagome glanced over her shoulder, and said in a  mumbled voice, choosing to avoid his question, "I thought you had left with them."

"No…Kikyou was intent on bringing me coffee. That is her womanly art, and I will not disturb it."

Kagome flushed a bit as she watched him stoop down and began to help her pick up the pills. "Don't you have a broom here?" he questioned after a moment.

"Uh…yes, somewhere." Kagome admitted. She had yet to master the workings of this place.

The two continued to pick up the white pills, now decreasing in number, in the humming silence.

"…You know, we have tea…" Kagome ventured after a moment, finding the hush to be more uncomfortable than the talk.

"Yes, I know…but it is probably in tea bags." Sesshoumaru replied quietly, his eyes cast low at the ground, a few strands of hair falling across his face.

Kagome stopped for a moment, and gazed at him squarely in the face. He looked up, and then inquired, "What? What are you looking at?"

She flushed, and then grinned, "I take it you don't like tea bags with your tea."

"…Ah…" he murmured after a moment, his eyes once again down cast as he scanned the floor for pills, "I prefer loose tea. The teabag ruined the quality of tea—after World War II everyone wanted and desired a faster way of life. So…tea bags came into fashion, but with that also came a loss in quality."

"Really? I never knew that." Kagome mumbled in awe. Somehow, he was softer today, or at the moment. He had looked as dangerous as a porcupine's quills when he first walked in, but as soon as the presence of Kikyou had vanished he had transformed into something…more…dare she wonder, gentle?

"Yes, despite popular opinion…"Sesshoumaru began, his eyes glimmering will of sarcastic laughter, "There are reasons for my madness."

Kagome laughed gently, and wiped her eyes slightly. "No—I mean, yes." She laughed a bit longer, and then continued, "I knew you had your reasons. After all, everyone does, ne Sesshoumaru?"

He said nothing, but instead stood up suddenly and walked to the garbage can where he tossed away his handful of pills. Kagome glanced up at him a few times, was that actually a form of a smile beginning to appear? His golden eyes met hers, and quickly she bent her head and continued to search for the last of the pills. His eyes were brutal and haunting…and as though they could see her soul within her, the soul she had wanted to hide from him. Finding no remaining pills, she stood up and walked to another trashcan at the other side of the room. She could his feel his presence all around her…as though he was gently holding her body.

Coughing, she looked at him, and smiled warmly, "Thank you for helping me pick up the pills."

"It was nothing." Perhaps it was nothing to him…yet to Kagome…

She grabbed her own stethoscope and made her way towards the entrance, or rather in this case exit. As she passed Sesshoumaru, she said, "I'll bring in loose tea tomorrow, ne?"

His face had not moved a muscle, and it was as though he had transformed into some cold statue made out of marble. Sesshoumaru said nothing as she passed; yet perhaps, Kagome reasoned, there was nothing he could say. Or, perhaps nothing he would allow himself to say. Yet, she was sure there was unspoken words waiting to fly free somewhere from within him. She was sure…

She heard the whisper of cloth and she knew that as she walked away his eyes were following her…

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AN: OKAY, sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out. I have actually had it for about a month but reasons came up for me not being able to post. In anycase….uhm, I hope you enjoyed this chapter….^^;; Thanks so much for waiting and being supportive….

Can you guess who is moving into the apartment?

Furinkoto_neko@yahoo.com

Oh! Did you know? Angel-chan finally subtitled Meteor Garden in English! I can't WAIT until I can buy it!! I so look forward!