English*

Uru's POV

Uru tried not to look at the floor to much, but it was almost impossible. First, she embarrassed herself by getting dragged under a bush by a dog, then she was hosed down in the back of the hotel…like a dog and now here she sat in the baths fully clothed with Moko-chan…looking like a wet dog.

"Are you sure you don't want to start showering now?"

"No I want to wait for them."

"ok."

With that the awkward silence came back. But what was she to do? Uru was feeling a wide range of emotions with no idea on how to control them.

Maybe I should run around? No that would just make it worse.

"Ok get in the shower your trembling is getting me anxious." Moko-chan said.

With that Uru realized that she had been shaking this entire time.

"Ah no I am fine. I just have to many emotions." Uru slapped herself right after saying that and she could feel Moko-chan tense up.

At this point she might as well go to the parking garage and run around in circles.

Finally, the door opened and in came Kyoko and Natalie. She was so excited that she could not help but wave with both arms, but Natalie seemed really concerned. Before she could understand what was going on, she was dragged over to the lockers and with signs instructed to strip down before being dragged to the shower area.

Once they entered Natalie took a step back obviously experiencing a large degree of culture shock. Or maybe it was something else. A small part of her wondered if the Russian born beauty had similar practices in her culture. The thought did last long as the warm bath called her. Kyoko and Moko-chan were obviously in their own world so Uru-chan took it upon herself to educated Natalia in the art of the onsen, even though they did not speak the same language. It proved to be a simple task as Natalia obviously researched beforehand. Well duh Uru! She is staying with Kyoko-chan who, from past conversations, is obviously an expert in this area and speaks English.

Upon reflecting on the 101 things that Kyoko-chan is skilled in, cooking, cleaning, running, studying, sowing, making voodoo dolls (😮) etc Uru started to feel a bit self-conscious toward her. Kyoko-chan is truly everything I long to be and at the same age. Why cant I..? NO…no Uru stop thinking that way! You…

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden splash of water to the face. When she looked around, she realized that she had been ignoring poor Natalia who had resorted to playing to catch her attention. For a second she considered the proper etiquettes of the onsen but…no one was there and what were they going to do talk? In a matter of seconds they were playing around and having lots of fun splashing each other and having contest.

They were having so much fun that they almost lost track of time. Thankfully the inn worker (female) knocked on the sliding doors that separated the bath and changing rooms and reminded them that it was almost time for dinner. They quickly got out and got into their yukatas.

"Ah im sooo hungry." Uru said.

"Ah..hun…yes I am hungry.." Natalia managed to say in Japanese.

"Mhmm.."Kyoko-chan mumbled obvousily not entirely back from wherever she was. Until there was a loud grumbling sound that made all of them stop in their tracks.

"Egh!" Natalia and Uru exclaimed but neither of the other two girls replied. After a odd moment of silence they all started laughing and continued laughing until they entered the traditional dinning room.

Natalia looked very funny walking on the tatami mats. In fact, Kyoko had to convince her several times that the floor was not going to break on them. It also took her a while to sit down in the traditional matter and it was then that Uru realized that the young woman was also having a general problem with the yukata. As they sat down Uru's curiosity toward Natalia became even stronger.

"Kyoko, if you don't mind I was hoping to ask Natalia-chan some questions about her country Russia."

"That's a wonderful idea. Natalia if you don't mind can we learn more about where you grew up?*."

At first, she was a little hesitant, as she had not been there in years but it once she started, she was on a roll. Kyoko had to ask her several times to slow down to translate and on occasion even asked for an interpretation as Natalia would switch over to Russian. Uru closed her eyes and tried to envision the cold country but having soaked in a hot spring for so long the feeling of cold was foreign to her.

After the meal they went to Natalias room for some girl talk. There Natalia showed lots of pictures that helped with the stories that she told during dinner. She even showed them a picture of her ex-fiance and surprised everyone when she said that her mother did not approve because he was not Russian.

"Wow that sounds like a very interesting romantic movie." Uru said upon hearing all the struggles they had gone through.

Kyoko-chan agreed which, oddly enough left Natalia very confused and they entered into a very deep discussion.

Why oh why cant I speak English?