Crossed Wires
~/ Beautiful angel…eyes like chocolate kisses…could you love me back?
Glorious angel…with a sweet, melodic voice…would you love me back?
Oh divine angel…were that you would be my own…can't you love me back?
My dearest angel…if I offer love to you…will you love me back? /~
TK chewed on the cap of his pen as he looked over his most recent bit of poetry in his composition book. He drew in a long breath, sighing to himself as he thought for about the twelfth time that day about the subject of the haiku, as well as about twenty or so other poems he'd written so far that year.
Kari Kamiya had been the fixation of his affections since before Junior High. Whether or not she knew it yet was a question TK battled with day after day. Some days it would seem like she would hardly give him the time of day, and on others she would go out of her way to spend time with him. TK had to laugh to himself as he thought about it all. If it was true that women were fickle, then Kari must be the quintessential woman in that regard.
Complicating the issue, as if it weren't complicated enough already, was TK's would-be rival, Davis Motomiyia. Davis was practically TK's polar opposite. Whereas the true depth and breadth of TK's feelings for Kari was known only to him, Davis seemed to go out of his way to try and prove himself to her at every opportunity. Persistence had paid off for Davis, though, as he and Kari had dated a few times in the past year. TK didn't know how to feel about it, but so long as Kari was happy he figured he could live with his loneliness. At least it gave him fuel for his writing.
TK looked through his composition book again, noticing that he had used half of the last page for his most recent poem. He fished into his pants pocket and checked his wallet for money, relieved to find some cash inside.
"I guess it's time to pay Yolei a visit again. Knowing her, she probably has a new book set aside for me." TK said to himself. He stood up from the park bench he'd been sitting on and headed over a couple of blocks, eventually coming to a small convenience store that was neatly laid out.
Behind the counter stood a purple-haired girl with glasses and a blue kerchief tied around her head. She held a paddle with a rubber ball attached to it by an elastic cord and was repeatedly batting the ball with the paddle, an utterly bored look pasted on her face.
"121…122…123…" she counted as she continued to hit the ball.
"Afternoon Yolei!" TK called from the door.
"12…TK? OUCH!" Yolei yelped in pain as the ball missed the paddle, smacking her in the forehead. She tossed the toy under the counter, grumbling at it. "Stupid thing, I'm gonna end up putting an eye out with it someday."
"Stuck tending the shop again?"
"And on such a beautiful day, no less. I envy you guys quite a bit, you know."
"At least you're getting paid. I can't say I'm earning anything sitting around scribbling in my books all day."
"Believe me, the money does not justify the free time I've lost already, and summer has just begun so it sucks all the more. But I digress. I assume you're here because you need a new book?"
"Yeah, and toss in a box of Pocky while you're at it. I've got the munchies."
"What kind? We've got regular, Men's Pocky, strawberry, coconut…" Yolei went on for about 2 minutes naming every kind of Pocky they sold at the store.
"Uh…just regular thanks. Why do they make so many different kinds?" TK said after Yolei finished her list.
"Hey, I'm just waiting for the day they come out with prune juice flavored Pocky. I'll make a fortune selling a lifetime supply to Cody's grandfather."
"If that happens, let me know and I'll give up writing and open a Pocky store."
"I'll go in with you on it!" Yolei said, laughing at the idea. She set a box of the treat on the counter along with a blank composition book and rang the purchase through. "That'll be 1,250 yen."
"I thought it was usually more?" TK asked as he handed her 2,000 yen.
"Yeah, but you kept me company for at least a little bit here. Consider it a 'thank you discount' from me."
"I much appreciate it, Yolei." TK said as he took his change and his bag of goods.
"So when are you going to ask her out?" Yolei asked, cutting to the chase. TK's expression quickly turned a bit sour.
"Why do you always ask me that question?"
"Because you've never given me an answer that I can accept, TK. Come on, I've seen what you've written about her! You're going to drive yourself nuts if you don't at least ask her out once."
"She'll never say 'yes' though, and Davis will freak out I guarantee it. The last thing I ever want to do is hurt people, and I know my asking her out will do just that."
"So you'd rather suffer by yourself, is that it?"
"You've oversimplifying the situation."
"Have you ever heard the saying 'All's fair in love and war' TK? Well this is love, and just like in war, people get hurt in the process. If you don't at least try and ask Kari out once you'll spend your whole life wondering what it'd be like if you had, and you're the last person I thought would be content to live with his regrets."
"I know you're right, Yolei, but at the same time I just…she's never even so much as given me an indication that she likes me like that at all! I just know I'll end up making an ass out of myself if I ask her out."
"You're not making this easy, TK."
"Nothing in my life has ever been easy."
Yolei bit her lower lip as she thought of how she could get TK to have the guts to ask Kari out.
'It's obvious he'll never do it on his own without some kind of push in the right direction. Though I have to admit, I know how he feels all too well. The difference is, Ken hardly even acknowledges my existence, whereas Kari at least spends some time with TK. There's got to be a way…that's it! It's just crazy enough that it might work!'
"TK, I have an idea for you." She said, stepping out from behind the counter.
"So long as it doesn't involve pineapple juice filled water balloons this time." TK said, smirking at her.
"Hey, it worked to scare away those freaky people that were hanging around the shop that night! Don't argue with results."
"Okay, okay. So what's the plan?"
Yolei smiled as she folded her arms, explaining her plan.
"Sometimes people need a bit of a nudge to start to show their real feelings for someone else. Jealousy can be a way to see just how someone feels about you. You following this so far?"
"I guess. You think I should make Kari jealous to see if she really likes me?"
"Exactly!"
"And just how would I do that?"
"By going on a date or two with another girl!"
"It'll never work."
"Why not?"
"Because, Yolei, the only other girl I really know is…"
TK stopped in mid-sentence as it dawned on him what Yolei's plan was. He began to shake his head 'no' vigorously.
"No. No way. Yolei it won't work!"
"Oh come on! It'll be fun! You and I go out a couple of times, and we'll see just how Kari reacts to it. There's no harm at all."
"How do you figure that?"
"If Kari does like you, the reaction it gets out of her will be plainly evident. If she doesn't react that much, then you'll know for sure and won't have embarrassed yourself. Besides, we know how to have fun TK, and Kari hangs out at all the places we do."
"Well…"
TK considered the plan for a moment. It was a wild one, as was typical of Yolei's schemes, but it did make sense. All else set aside, despite what she thought Yolei was a really pretty girl and TK always thought it was a shame that she never really dated that much.
"Hey guys! What's up?" Kari asked as she stepped into the store. She stretched out a bit as she walked towards TK and Yolei.
"Kari! What brings you here?" Yolei asked, quickly looking over to her friend.
"Oh, just here to get something to drink. What're you guys up to?"
"Nothing much." TK said. It was now or never. "So Yolei, I'll pick you up tomorrow about two 'o clock right?"
"Hmm? Oh, sure thing! I'll be ready, TK!" Yolei said, quickly catching on.
"Great! See you then. Later Kari!" TK headed on out of the store for home. Kari watched him leave and then looked back at Yolei.
"What's going on tomorrow afternoon?" she asked, a puzzled look on her face.
"Oh, you just missed it!" Yolei said, acting all excited.
"Missed what?"
"TK asked me out on a date!"
"Oh." Kari's tone took a sudden turn at Yolei's announcement. "That's…that's nice, I guess."
Kari turned around and started to head back out of the store, her face full of mixed emotions.
"Kari? Aren't you going to get something to drink?"
"No thanks, Yolei, I'm suddenly not thirsty."
Kari left the store quietly, leaving Yolei wondering if this was indeed such a good idea after all.
_ _ _ _ _
'I always thought he'd finally ask me out.' Kari thought on her way home. 'I guess that's what I get for playing hard to get with him. I only went out with Davis those few times to try and get a rise out of TK, and now I've…I've ended up losing him to my best friend.'
As she walked home she barely noticed Davis making his way over to her, as she was lost in thought about TK and Yolei dating.
"Hey Kari! What's shakin'?" Davis asked, energetic as always.
"Nothing." She replied flatly.
"Whoa, I'm sensing some major negativity there. Sure you don't wanna talk about it?"
"Just leave me alone right now, Davis."
"Hey, maybe I could take you out for a movie and some ice cream! That'd cheer you.."
"Just shut up and leave me alone, damn it!" Kari snapped. She was immediately conscious of her outburst, though, and ran off, leaving Davis bewildered.
"What the heck was that all about?" Davis asked no one in particular. He shrugged and continued on his way for a bit until he spotted TK and ran over, trying to get his attention.
"Hey, GJ!" he called out.
"Huh? Oh, hi Davis." TK said, waving to him. "What's up?"
"I was hoping you could tell me. What's up with Kari? She's acting all weird right now."
"She is?"
"Yeah. She actually snapped at me, her own boyfriend!"
"Well, I don't really know Davis. I'd love to help out, but I've got a date to plan out for tomorrow."
"What? You, a date? That's a good one, EK!" Davis said, stifling a chuckle.
"You don't believe me? Ask Yolei, she and I are going out tomorrow night."
"Right, whatever. You're joking."
Davis stopped chuckling a bit to see that TK's face was dead serious.
"It's…a joke right? As in 'ha ha, yeah I'm not actually dating Yolei'?"
TK just blinked at him, still dead serious.
"It's not a joke?"
"Nope."
"You're really gonna go out with Yolei?"
"Yeah. What of it?"
"Oh, nothing! Have a good time!"
Davis turned around and headed back for home, walking at first, and then sprinting.
'You've gotta be kidding me! Aw hell, Ken's gonna flip when he hears this!' he thought as he tore his way homeward, eager to call his friend and inform him of the bombshell TK had just dropped on him.
_ _ _ _ _
Kari sniffled as she sat at home alone, sobbing. In the same day she'd lost TK to Yolei and had snapped at Davis who had just been trying to cheer her up. She reached for the phone and dialed a number, hoping the other person was at home.
"Hello, Takenouchi residence. Sora speaking."
"Sora? I-I-It's Kari…" Kari said, her voice trembling.
"Kari? What's wrong, are you okay?"
"I need to talk to someone. Can I come over, please?"
"Yes, please! Come over right away!"
"Okay, thank you…"
A few minutes later, Kari was ringing the doorbell to Sora's family's apartment. No sooner did Sora open the door then Kari stepped inside and hugged her, sobbing into her shoulder.
"Kari, what in the world's going on?" Sora asked as she tried to comfort the young girl.
"I've screwed up, Sora…big time." Kari said between sobs. After sitting Kari down on the couch and getting her some water, Sora listened as Kari told her what had happened earlier on.
"This is crazy. Are you sure you heard right?" Sora said, still skeptical about the whole story.
"Yolei told me herself, Sora! What am I going to do?"
"Well, I hate to say it, but there's not a whole lot you can do at this point. If the two of them really want to date, it's their business Kari. I mean, did TK ever say anything to you when you dated Davis?"
"Well no…but I always thought someday he would!"
"So did we for that matter. Something here just doesn't add up." Sora propped her chin in one hand as she tried to think about it all for a minute.
"I should've just asked him out myself. Why did I have to be so stupid and play games with him?" Kari said, beginning to break down again.
"Calm down, Kari. There has to be an explanation behind all of this. Let me call Matt and see what he thinks. If anyone knows TK, it'll be him."
Sora left Kari on the couch for the moment and hit her speed dial button for her boyfriend. She prayed that he hadn't already left for practice yet.
"Yamato here, make it good!"
"It's Sora, Matt. We've got a bit of a problem here."
"What's up? Who's that I hear in the background?"
"It's Kari. She's completely hysterical because…well you'll never believe me."
"It'd take quite a bit to really surprise me to the point of disbelief at this point Sora."
"Your brother is going on a date with Yolei."
"WHAT?! You've got to be kidding me! What kind of stupid joke is this?!"
Sora held the phone away from her ear as Matt shouted through the phone lines.
"Gee, thanks Matt. I didn't need my eardrums!"
"Sorry. That's messed up, though. I'll try and track him down in a couple of days and see what I can get out of him."
"A couple of days??"
"I've got practice tonight and a gig tomorrow, Sora! I promise I'll get over to his place as soon as I can."
"Alright. In the meantime I'll try and help Kari calm down about this."
"Okay. Take it easy Sora. Love ya!"
"You too, Matt."
Sora hung up the phone and returned to Kari, who had managed to get control of herself again, but was nonetheless depressed.
"What do you want to do, Kari?" Sora asked, leaning over the chair where the girl sat.
"I don't know. I always had this idea that TK would come sweep me off my feet like a knight or something corny like that."
"Well don't give up on him entirely. One date isn't the end of the world. Who knows? Maybe they won't be able to stand each other afterwards."
"Maybe…"
"Well we've got to get you to stop moping, Kari. I guess this calls for a Takenouchi Special." Sora said, standing up. Kari just stared blankly at her, completely bewildered as to what a Takenouchi Special was.
"Come with me. We're going to do some grocery shopping!" Sora told her.
"For what?" Kari asked as she stood up.
"A really big tub of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream!"
_ _ _ _ _
"Why doesn't it surprise me?" Ken said with a laugh through the phone.
"I thought you'd want to know, man. I know you have a thing for her after all." Davis replied.
"Had a thing, Davis. You really ought to keep up on this sort of thing."
"I don't understand. When did that change?"
"When I realized that Yolei is just way too crazy for me to handle. I say more power to TK if he thinks he can manage her."
"You know, I think she still thinks you like her though. You ought to tell her as much."
"I'll get around to it sometime, if I can ever get away from all of my studies that is."
"Still trying to set yourself up for Tokyo University?"
"I wouldn't accept any less."
"Well, good luck. I'll talk to you later."
"Yeah, later Davis."
Ken hung up the phone and went back to his book. He thought about Yolei briefly, remembering his short-lived interest in her. Then there was that incident with the water balloons that one night, and that had sealed it for him. He shook his head and laughed to himself.
"Certainly, more power to you TK."
_ _ _ _ _
It was 1:55 PM the following day, and TK stood outside the store that Yolei's family owned waiting for Yolei to come out. He knew he'd said two 'o clock, but he also knew Yolei had a penchant for being early about everything. Sure enough, she walked out a minute later, smiling at him.
TK was quite impressed as what he saw. She'd ditched both her hair kerchief and her glasses, and wore a tight, black t-shirt and jeans with tennis shoes. A purple ribbon choker adorned her neck, with a small, silver heart dangling from it.
"Wow, you look really good." TK said. "Sure you can see, though?"
"I have contacts in, and from what I can see you look pretty darn good yourself." Yolei replied. TK wore a faded green, buttoned shirt and a pair of khaki pants, and was without his hat for that matter.
"All set, then?"
"Sure, but what're we going to do?"
"I thought the standard date would work out: dinner and a movie?"
"Fine by me. Let's get this show on the road!"
For dinner the two stopped at a café-style place that served good enough food, but was always affordable. TK and Yolei managed to get a table outside on the sidewalk.
"Matt sometimes brings me by here for lunch. I know it's not much, but at least it's casual." TK said after they'd ordered.
"Oh, this is fine by me. It's at least a relaxed setting. I like it." Yolei told him. "Besides, I don't want to break your bank on my…I mean, our first date after all."
"Yeah, there's that too." TK laughed at the comment. He looked back at Yolei then, with a raised eyebrow. "Hold on, you said 'my'…Yolei, don't tell me this is the first date you've ever been on."
"Well…yeah, kinda…"
"Well then, I'll just have to step things up so that it's memorable for you. We can't have you having a lackluster first date after all."
"Oh come on, this is to help you and Kari after all TK. There's no need to go out of your way for me."
"Nonsense. You're a good friend of mine, Yolei, and you deserve a fun night."
Yolei tried to argue more with TK, but the food started to come. By the time they'd finished with dinner, she'd all but forgotten about the earlier discussion as TK had been busily making her laugh with his antics with their food.
Soon enough, they were on their way to the theater again. As it came into view, they passed by a game center that had a crane game up front. Yolei looked at it as they passed by, seeing a few plush dolls that looked particularly cute. TK picked up on what she was looking at and stepped over to the machine.
"What're you doing?" she asked, watching him plunk 50 yen into the machine.
"Just watch." He said with a smirk. He carefully maneuvered the crane around the machine, his eyes intently watching where it moved.
"TK, no one ever wins at these things!" Yolei protested. Just then the crane dropped and snared a plush turtle doll, which it picked up and dropped down the chute. TK picked it up, handing it to Yolei.
"For you!" he said with a smile.
"How in the world…"
"Matt taught me a couple of tricks. You should see the amount of plush dolls Sora has from their dates."
"Well, thank you TK!" Yolei gave him a hug and then hugged the little doll as they continued along.
'That was awfully sweet of him. Then again, he's always been a really nice guy. And cute to boot…' she thought to herself. 'Wait, am I actually thinking this? Don't be silly Yolei, you don't like him like that. This is to help him get together with Kari, and maybe to get Ken to notice you as well. That's what this is all about.'
At the theater, the two floundered over what movie to go and see.
"I'm not much for chick flicks." Yolei said, making a face at some of the titles. "How about something exciting?"
"Well, there's Blade 2, but I don't know…you might not like it." TK said with caution.
"Sounds fine to me. Let's check it out!"
TK paid for a couple of tickets and they went in to watch the movie. It turned out to be action packed, and a bit shocking in parts. Yolei found herself screaming along with others in the crowd at some points, and at one point she grabbed onto TK's arm, hugging it tightly as she almost freaked out.
"Sorry…that was just really scary!" she whispered as she quickly withdrew to her seat.
"Uh…no problem! Don't worry, I'm right here." TK said, trying to get his face to stop flushing so red.
"How much longer is the movie?"
"We still haven't gotten to the final battle scene yet."
"Oh. Um, mind if I…hold your hand, TK? Just in case it gets scary again, that's all."
TK was about to say something when he felt Yolei's hand on his, squeezing it a bit. He sighed and smiled and turned his hand over, taking hers into his. Both of them blushed about it, but continued like that for the rest of the movie. When it ended, they left the theater to find the sun was setting and it was starting to getting late.
"We ought to get you home. I don't want you to get in trouble for staying out too late." TK said.
"I do have to open the store tomorrow." Yolei admitted. She began to walk, but noticed that she was still holding TK's hand. "Oh, I guess you'll want your hand back now?"
"It's okay. We can walk like this." TK told her. Yolei just nodded and the two walked back to her place in silence, both feeling a bit self- conscious about the movie. They reached her front door a short time later.
"Well, back safe and sound. How's that for a first date?" TK asked.
"Fun. Really fun." Yolei said, holding up her plush turtle again. "Even if it wasn't for real, I had a good time TK. Thanks."
"No problem. I'm in the same boat as you for that matter. This was my first date ever, too."
"Oh, and I made you spend so much money! TK, I'm sorry!"
"It was worth it, Yolei, I had fun. Well, I'll talk to you." TK turned and began to walk home.
"Yeah…hey, hang on! Our date…isn't over yet, after all."
TK stopped and looked back at Yolei, who was completely red in the face.
"You haven't kissed me good night yet." She said sheepishly.
"Oh. Well, if we're going to do this right I guess I should." TK said, his heart suddenly racing. He stepped back over to her nervously, clearing his throat as he did.
TK leaned over, closing his eyes a bit and at first giving her a quick kiss on the lips. He began to pull back, but as if something was magnetically pulling him, he leaned in again, kissing her again. Yolei had closed her eyes as well and at first let him kiss her, but then started to kiss him back. Soon she found herself in his arms with her arms encircling his neck, the two of the kissing intensely in front of her home.
'This is so nice…he's such a good kisser. I'll bet it runs in his family. Why can't I stop doing this? It just feels so good…' Yolei thought.
'She deserves better treatment than she's had in the past. Boy, this is nice. I hope she doesn't mind. I kinda like kissing her, I guess…' TK thought.
They broke off their kissing, gasping for a bit of air as they did. They stayed in each other's arms for a long moment, catching their breath.
"That was…nice." Yolei finally said after a moment.
"Yeah…" TK said in agreement. "I guess the date's over now, then. Huh?"
"Yeah…"
TK slowly let go of Yolei, who stepped back from him a bit. They struggled to make eye contact, finally able to do so after a few tense moments.
"Well, I'll talk to you tomorrow Yolei. G'night." TK said.
"Okay. G'night, TK. And thanks again for a nice night." Yolei said, managing a smile. TK smiled and nodded back, and then began to head for home.
Upon getting home, TK changed into his nightclothes and lay in bed for a while. He lost track of time as he tried to sort his thoughts out about the evening. Finally, he sat back up an hour later, unable to sleep.
"I can't stop thinking about that kiss." He said to himself. "But I gotta get to sleep. Maybe…if I write something about it, I can work out my feelings."
TK grabbed his new composition book and a pen and sat at his desk, turning on his desk lamp and starting to write.
~/ A hidden beauty… revealed under pure moonlight…touched my heart tonight.
Does she think of me…as I think of her right now…sleepless in my room?
Or was tonight false…an illusion of the night…solitary bliss?
I sit confused here…torn between an angel's love…and her true beauty. /~
Satisfied with his entry, TK closed his composition book and left it on his desk. He crawled into bed and managed to drift off to sleep, his dreams now divided between his long time love of Kari and the new feelings he was experiencing towards Yolei.
~/ Beautiful angel…eyes like chocolate kisses…could you love me back?
Glorious angel…with a sweet, melodic voice…would you love me back?
Oh divine angel…were that you would be my own…can't you love me back?
My dearest angel…if I offer love to you…will you love me back? /~
TK chewed on the cap of his pen as he looked over his most recent bit of poetry in his composition book. He drew in a long breath, sighing to himself as he thought for about the twelfth time that day about the subject of the haiku, as well as about twenty or so other poems he'd written so far that year.
Kari Kamiya had been the fixation of his affections since before Junior High. Whether or not she knew it yet was a question TK battled with day after day. Some days it would seem like she would hardly give him the time of day, and on others she would go out of her way to spend time with him. TK had to laugh to himself as he thought about it all. If it was true that women were fickle, then Kari must be the quintessential woman in that regard.
Complicating the issue, as if it weren't complicated enough already, was TK's would-be rival, Davis Motomiyia. Davis was practically TK's polar opposite. Whereas the true depth and breadth of TK's feelings for Kari was known only to him, Davis seemed to go out of his way to try and prove himself to her at every opportunity. Persistence had paid off for Davis, though, as he and Kari had dated a few times in the past year. TK didn't know how to feel about it, but so long as Kari was happy he figured he could live with his loneliness. At least it gave him fuel for his writing.
TK looked through his composition book again, noticing that he had used half of the last page for his most recent poem. He fished into his pants pocket and checked his wallet for money, relieved to find some cash inside.
"I guess it's time to pay Yolei a visit again. Knowing her, she probably has a new book set aside for me." TK said to himself. He stood up from the park bench he'd been sitting on and headed over a couple of blocks, eventually coming to a small convenience store that was neatly laid out.
Behind the counter stood a purple-haired girl with glasses and a blue kerchief tied around her head. She held a paddle with a rubber ball attached to it by an elastic cord and was repeatedly batting the ball with the paddle, an utterly bored look pasted on her face.
"121…122…123…" she counted as she continued to hit the ball.
"Afternoon Yolei!" TK called from the door.
"12…TK? OUCH!" Yolei yelped in pain as the ball missed the paddle, smacking her in the forehead. She tossed the toy under the counter, grumbling at it. "Stupid thing, I'm gonna end up putting an eye out with it someday."
"Stuck tending the shop again?"
"And on such a beautiful day, no less. I envy you guys quite a bit, you know."
"At least you're getting paid. I can't say I'm earning anything sitting around scribbling in my books all day."
"Believe me, the money does not justify the free time I've lost already, and summer has just begun so it sucks all the more. But I digress. I assume you're here because you need a new book?"
"Yeah, and toss in a box of Pocky while you're at it. I've got the munchies."
"What kind? We've got regular, Men's Pocky, strawberry, coconut…" Yolei went on for about 2 minutes naming every kind of Pocky they sold at the store.
"Uh…just regular thanks. Why do they make so many different kinds?" TK said after Yolei finished her list.
"Hey, I'm just waiting for the day they come out with prune juice flavored Pocky. I'll make a fortune selling a lifetime supply to Cody's grandfather."
"If that happens, let me know and I'll give up writing and open a Pocky store."
"I'll go in with you on it!" Yolei said, laughing at the idea. She set a box of the treat on the counter along with a blank composition book and rang the purchase through. "That'll be 1,250 yen."
"I thought it was usually more?" TK asked as he handed her 2,000 yen.
"Yeah, but you kept me company for at least a little bit here. Consider it a 'thank you discount' from me."
"I much appreciate it, Yolei." TK said as he took his change and his bag of goods.
"So when are you going to ask her out?" Yolei asked, cutting to the chase. TK's expression quickly turned a bit sour.
"Why do you always ask me that question?"
"Because you've never given me an answer that I can accept, TK. Come on, I've seen what you've written about her! You're going to drive yourself nuts if you don't at least ask her out once."
"She'll never say 'yes' though, and Davis will freak out I guarantee it. The last thing I ever want to do is hurt people, and I know my asking her out will do just that."
"So you'd rather suffer by yourself, is that it?"
"You've oversimplifying the situation."
"Have you ever heard the saying 'All's fair in love and war' TK? Well this is love, and just like in war, people get hurt in the process. If you don't at least try and ask Kari out once you'll spend your whole life wondering what it'd be like if you had, and you're the last person I thought would be content to live with his regrets."
"I know you're right, Yolei, but at the same time I just…she's never even so much as given me an indication that she likes me like that at all! I just know I'll end up making an ass out of myself if I ask her out."
"You're not making this easy, TK."
"Nothing in my life has ever been easy."
Yolei bit her lower lip as she thought of how she could get TK to have the guts to ask Kari out.
'It's obvious he'll never do it on his own without some kind of push in the right direction. Though I have to admit, I know how he feels all too well. The difference is, Ken hardly even acknowledges my existence, whereas Kari at least spends some time with TK. There's got to be a way…that's it! It's just crazy enough that it might work!'
"TK, I have an idea for you." She said, stepping out from behind the counter.
"So long as it doesn't involve pineapple juice filled water balloons this time." TK said, smirking at her.
"Hey, it worked to scare away those freaky people that were hanging around the shop that night! Don't argue with results."
"Okay, okay. So what's the plan?"
Yolei smiled as she folded her arms, explaining her plan.
"Sometimes people need a bit of a nudge to start to show their real feelings for someone else. Jealousy can be a way to see just how someone feels about you. You following this so far?"
"I guess. You think I should make Kari jealous to see if she really likes me?"
"Exactly!"
"And just how would I do that?"
"By going on a date or two with another girl!"
"It'll never work."
"Why not?"
"Because, Yolei, the only other girl I really know is…"
TK stopped in mid-sentence as it dawned on him what Yolei's plan was. He began to shake his head 'no' vigorously.
"No. No way. Yolei it won't work!"
"Oh come on! It'll be fun! You and I go out a couple of times, and we'll see just how Kari reacts to it. There's no harm at all."
"How do you figure that?"
"If Kari does like you, the reaction it gets out of her will be plainly evident. If she doesn't react that much, then you'll know for sure and won't have embarrassed yourself. Besides, we know how to have fun TK, and Kari hangs out at all the places we do."
"Well…"
TK considered the plan for a moment. It was a wild one, as was typical of Yolei's schemes, but it did make sense. All else set aside, despite what she thought Yolei was a really pretty girl and TK always thought it was a shame that she never really dated that much.
"Hey guys! What's up?" Kari asked as she stepped into the store. She stretched out a bit as she walked towards TK and Yolei.
"Kari! What brings you here?" Yolei asked, quickly looking over to her friend.
"Oh, just here to get something to drink. What're you guys up to?"
"Nothing much." TK said. It was now or never. "So Yolei, I'll pick you up tomorrow about two 'o clock right?"
"Hmm? Oh, sure thing! I'll be ready, TK!" Yolei said, quickly catching on.
"Great! See you then. Later Kari!" TK headed on out of the store for home. Kari watched him leave and then looked back at Yolei.
"What's going on tomorrow afternoon?" she asked, a puzzled look on her face.
"Oh, you just missed it!" Yolei said, acting all excited.
"Missed what?"
"TK asked me out on a date!"
"Oh." Kari's tone took a sudden turn at Yolei's announcement. "That's…that's nice, I guess."
Kari turned around and started to head back out of the store, her face full of mixed emotions.
"Kari? Aren't you going to get something to drink?"
"No thanks, Yolei, I'm suddenly not thirsty."
Kari left the store quietly, leaving Yolei wondering if this was indeed such a good idea after all.
_ _ _ _ _
'I always thought he'd finally ask me out.' Kari thought on her way home. 'I guess that's what I get for playing hard to get with him. I only went out with Davis those few times to try and get a rise out of TK, and now I've…I've ended up losing him to my best friend.'
As she walked home she barely noticed Davis making his way over to her, as she was lost in thought about TK and Yolei dating.
"Hey Kari! What's shakin'?" Davis asked, energetic as always.
"Nothing." She replied flatly.
"Whoa, I'm sensing some major negativity there. Sure you don't wanna talk about it?"
"Just leave me alone right now, Davis."
"Hey, maybe I could take you out for a movie and some ice cream! That'd cheer you.."
"Just shut up and leave me alone, damn it!" Kari snapped. She was immediately conscious of her outburst, though, and ran off, leaving Davis bewildered.
"What the heck was that all about?" Davis asked no one in particular. He shrugged and continued on his way for a bit until he spotted TK and ran over, trying to get his attention.
"Hey, GJ!" he called out.
"Huh? Oh, hi Davis." TK said, waving to him. "What's up?"
"I was hoping you could tell me. What's up with Kari? She's acting all weird right now."
"She is?"
"Yeah. She actually snapped at me, her own boyfriend!"
"Well, I don't really know Davis. I'd love to help out, but I've got a date to plan out for tomorrow."
"What? You, a date? That's a good one, EK!" Davis said, stifling a chuckle.
"You don't believe me? Ask Yolei, she and I are going out tomorrow night."
"Right, whatever. You're joking."
Davis stopped chuckling a bit to see that TK's face was dead serious.
"It's…a joke right? As in 'ha ha, yeah I'm not actually dating Yolei'?"
TK just blinked at him, still dead serious.
"It's not a joke?"
"Nope."
"You're really gonna go out with Yolei?"
"Yeah. What of it?"
"Oh, nothing! Have a good time!"
Davis turned around and headed back for home, walking at first, and then sprinting.
'You've gotta be kidding me! Aw hell, Ken's gonna flip when he hears this!' he thought as he tore his way homeward, eager to call his friend and inform him of the bombshell TK had just dropped on him.
_ _ _ _ _
Kari sniffled as she sat at home alone, sobbing. In the same day she'd lost TK to Yolei and had snapped at Davis who had just been trying to cheer her up. She reached for the phone and dialed a number, hoping the other person was at home.
"Hello, Takenouchi residence. Sora speaking."
"Sora? I-I-It's Kari…" Kari said, her voice trembling.
"Kari? What's wrong, are you okay?"
"I need to talk to someone. Can I come over, please?"
"Yes, please! Come over right away!"
"Okay, thank you…"
A few minutes later, Kari was ringing the doorbell to Sora's family's apartment. No sooner did Sora open the door then Kari stepped inside and hugged her, sobbing into her shoulder.
"Kari, what in the world's going on?" Sora asked as she tried to comfort the young girl.
"I've screwed up, Sora…big time." Kari said between sobs. After sitting Kari down on the couch and getting her some water, Sora listened as Kari told her what had happened earlier on.
"This is crazy. Are you sure you heard right?" Sora said, still skeptical about the whole story.
"Yolei told me herself, Sora! What am I going to do?"
"Well, I hate to say it, but there's not a whole lot you can do at this point. If the two of them really want to date, it's their business Kari. I mean, did TK ever say anything to you when you dated Davis?"
"Well no…but I always thought someday he would!"
"So did we for that matter. Something here just doesn't add up." Sora propped her chin in one hand as she tried to think about it all for a minute.
"I should've just asked him out myself. Why did I have to be so stupid and play games with him?" Kari said, beginning to break down again.
"Calm down, Kari. There has to be an explanation behind all of this. Let me call Matt and see what he thinks. If anyone knows TK, it'll be him."
Sora left Kari on the couch for the moment and hit her speed dial button for her boyfriend. She prayed that he hadn't already left for practice yet.
"Yamato here, make it good!"
"It's Sora, Matt. We've got a bit of a problem here."
"What's up? Who's that I hear in the background?"
"It's Kari. She's completely hysterical because…well you'll never believe me."
"It'd take quite a bit to really surprise me to the point of disbelief at this point Sora."
"Your brother is going on a date with Yolei."
"WHAT?! You've got to be kidding me! What kind of stupid joke is this?!"
Sora held the phone away from her ear as Matt shouted through the phone lines.
"Gee, thanks Matt. I didn't need my eardrums!"
"Sorry. That's messed up, though. I'll try and track him down in a couple of days and see what I can get out of him."
"A couple of days??"
"I've got practice tonight and a gig tomorrow, Sora! I promise I'll get over to his place as soon as I can."
"Alright. In the meantime I'll try and help Kari calm down about this."
"Okay. Take it easy Sora. Love ya!"
"You too, Matt."
Sora hung up the phone and returned to Kari, who had managed to get control of herself again, but was nonetheless depressed.
"What do you want to do, Kari?" Sora asked, leaning over the chair where the girl sat.
"I don't know. I always had this idea that TK would come sweep me off my feet like a knight or something corny like that."
"Well don't give up on him entirely. One date isn't the end of the world. Who knows? Maybe they won't be able to stand each other afterwards."
"Maybe…"
"Well we've got to get you to stop moping, Kari. I guess this calls for a Takenouchi Special." Sora said, standing up. Kari just stared blankly at her, completely bewildered as to what a Takenouchi Special was.
"Come with me. We're going to do some grocery shopping!" Sora told her.
"For what?" Kari asked as she stood up.
"A really big tub of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream!"
_ _ _ _ _
"Why doesn't it surprise me?" Ken said with a laugh through the phone.
"I thought you'd want to know, man. I know you have a thing for her after all." Davis replied.
"Had a thing, Davis. You really ought to keep up on this sort of thing."
"I don't understand. When did that change?"
"When I realized that Yolei is just way too crazy for me to handle. I say more power to TK if he thinks he can manage her."
"You know, I think she still thinks you like her though. You ought to tell her as much."
"I'll get around to it sometime, if I can ever get away from all of my studies that is."
"Still trying to set yourself up for Tokyo University?"
"I wouldn't accept any less."
"Well, good luck. I'll talk to you later."
"Yeah, later Davis."
Ken hung up the phone and went back to his book. He thought about Yolei briefly, remembering his short-lived interest in her. Then there was that incident with the water balloons that one night, and that had sealed it for him. He shook his head and laughed to himself.
"Certainly, more power to you TK."
_ _ _ _ _
It was 1:55 PM the following day, and TK stood outside the store that Yolei's family owned waiting for Yolei to come out. He knew he'd said two 'o clock, but he also knew Yolei had a penchant for being early about everything. Sure enough, she walked out a minute later, smiling at him.
TK was quite impressed as what he saw. She'd ditched both her hair kerchief and her glasses, and wore a tight, black t-shirt and jeans with tennis shoes. A purple ribbon choker adorned her neck, with a small, silver heart dangling from it.
"Wow, you look really good." TK said. "Sure you can see, though?"
"I have contacts in, and from what I can see you look pretty darn good yourself." Yolei replied. TK wore a faded green, buttoned shirt and a pair of khaki pants, and was without his hat for that matter.
"All set, then?"
"Sure, but what're we going to do?"
"I thought the standard date would work out: dinner and a movie?"
"Fine by me. Let's get this show on the road!"
For dinner the two stopped at a café-style place that served good enough food, but was always affordable. TK and Yolei managed to get a table outside on the sidewalk.
"Matt sometimes brings me by here for lunch. I know it's not much, but at least it's casual." TK said after they'd ordered.
"Oh, this is fine by me. It's at least a relaxed setting. I like it." Yolei told him. "Besides, I don't want to break your bank on my…I mean, our first date after all."
"Yeah, there's that too." TK laughed at the comment. He looked back at Yolei then, with a raised eyebrow. "Hold on, you said 'my'…Yolei, don't tell me this is the first date you've ever been on."
"Well…yeah, kinda…"
"Well then, I'll just have to step things up so that it's memorable for you. We can't have you having a lackluster first date after all."
"Oh come on, this is to help you and Kari after all TK. There's no need to go out of your way for me."
"Nonsense. You're a good friend of mine, Yolei, and you deserve a fun night."
Yolei tried to argue more with TK, but the food started to come. By the time they'd finished with dinner, she'd all but forgotten about the earlier discussion as TK had been busily making her laugh with his antics with their food.
Soon enough, they were on their way to the theater again. As it came into view, they passed by a game center that had a crane game up front. Yolei looked at it as they passed by, seeing a few plush dolls that looked particularly cute. TK picked up on what she was looking at and stepped over to the machine.
"What're you doing?" she asked, watching him plunk 50 yen into the machine.
"Just watch." He said with a smirk. He carefully maneuvered the crane around the machine, his eyes intently watching where it moved.
"TK, no one ever wins at these things!" Yolei protested. Just then the crane dropped and snared a plush turtle doll, which it picked up and dropped down the chute. TK picked it up, handing it to Yolei.
"For you!" he said with a smile.
"How in the world…"
"Matt taught me a couple of tricks. You should see the amount of plush dolls Sora has from their dates."
"Well, thank you TK!" Yolei gave him a hug and then hugged the little doll as they continued along.
'That was awfully sweet of him. Then again, he's always been a really nice guy. And cute to boot…' she thought to herself. 'Wait, am I actually thinking this? Don't be silly Yolei, you don't like him like that. This is to help him get together with Kari, and maybe to get Ken to notice you as well. That's what this is all about.'
At the theater, the two floundered over what movie to go and see.
"I'm not much for chick flicks." Yolei said, making a face at some of the titles. "How about something exciting?"
"Well, there's Blade 2, but I don't know…you might not like it." TK said with caution.
"Sounds fine to me. Let's check it out!"
TK paid for a couple of tickets and they went in to watch the movie. It turned out to be action packed, and a bit shocking in parts. Yolei found herself screaming along with others in the crowd at some points, and at one point she grabbed onto TK's arm, hugging it tightly as she almost freaked out.
"Sorry…that was just really scary!" she whispered as she quickly withdrew to her seat.
"Uh…no problem! Don't worry, I'm right here." TK said, trying to get his face to stop flushing so red.
"How much longer is the movie?"
"We still haven't gotten to the final battle scene yet."
"Oh. Um, mind if I…hold your hand, TK? Just in case it gets scary again, that's all."
TK was about to say something when he felt Yolei's hand on his, squeezing it a bit. He sighed and smiled and turned his hand over, taking hers into his. Both of them blushed about it, but continued like that for the rest of the movie. When it ended, they left the theater to find the sun was setting and it was starting to getting late.
"We ought to get you home. I don't want you to get in trouble for staying out too late." TK said.
"I do have to open the store tomorrow." Yolei admitted. She began to walk, but noticed that she was still holding TK's hand. "Oh, I guess you'll want your hand back now?"
"It's okay. We can walk like this." TK told her. Yolei just nodded and the two walked back to her place in silence, both feeling a bit self- conscious about the movie. They reached her front door a short time later.
"Well, back safe and sound. How's that for a first date?" TK asked.
"Fun. Really fun." Yolei said, holding up her plush turtle again. "Even if it wasn't for real, I had a good time TK. Thanks."
"No problem. I'm in the same boat as you for that matter. This was my first date ever, too."
"Oh, and I made you spend so much money! TK, I'm sorry!"
"It was worth it, Yolei, I had fun. Well, I'll talk to you." TK turned and began to walk home.
"Yeah…hey, hang on! Our date…isn't over yet, after all."
TK stopped and looked back at Yolei, who was completely red in the face.
"You haven't kissed me good night yet." She said sheepishly.
"Oh. Well, if we're going to do this right I guess I should." TK said, his heart suddenly racing. He stepped back over to her nervously, clearing his throat as he did.
TK leaned over, closing his eyes a bit and at first giving her a quick kiss on the lips. He began to pull back, but as if something was magnetically pulling him, he leaned in again, kissing her again. Yolei had closed her eyes as well and at first let him kiss her, but then started to kiss him back. Soon she found herself in his arms with her arms encircling his neck, the two of the kissing intensely in front of her home.
'This is so nice…he's such a good kisser. I'll bet it runs in his family. Why can't I stop doing this? It just feels so good…' Yolei thought.
'She deserves better treatment than she's had in the past. Boy, this is nice. I hope she doesn't mind. I kinda like kissing her, I guess…' TK thought.
They broke off their kissing, gasping for a bit of air as they did. They stayed in each other's arms for a long moment, catching their breath.
"That was…nice." Yolei finally said after a moment.
"Yeah…" TK said in agreement. "I guess the date's over now, then. Huh?"
"Yeah…"
TK slowly let go of Yolei, who stepped back from him a bit. They struggled to make eye contact, finally able to do so after a few tense moments.
"Well, I'll talk to you tomorrow Yolei. G'night." TK said.
"Okay. G'night, TK. And thanks again for a nice night." Yolei said, managing a smile. TK smiled and nodded back, and then began to head for home.
Upon getting home, TK changed into his nightclothes and lay in bed for a while. He lost track of time as he tried to sort his thoughts out about the evening. Finally, he sat back up an hour later, unable to sleep.
"I can't stop thinking about that kiss." He said to himself. "But I gotta get to sleep. Maybe…if I write something about it, I can work out my feelings."
TK grabbed his new composition book and a pen and sat at his desk, turning on his desk lamp and starting to write.
~/ A hidden beauty… revealed under pure moonlight…touched my heart tonight.
Does she think of me…as I think of her right now…sleepless in my room?
Or was tonight false…an illusion of the night…solitary bliss?
I sit confused here…torn between an angel's love…and her true beauty. /~
Satisfied with his entry, TK closed his composition book and left it on his desk. He crawled into bed and managed to drift off to sleep, his dreams now divided between his long time love of Kari and the new feelings he was experiencing towards Yolei.