I got a lot of reviews that commented on the Japanese romanji used in some of the chapters. I would switch it all over to English, but it wouldn't fit the story the way I wanted it. I'm sorry some of you can't read it. I thought of putting the English translation in parentheses after the romanji phrase…I wasn't sure. I thought it would make it look sloppy. If I get any more reviews like that, I promise I will put those in. But, please, until then…imagine what they could mean. I don't put random stuff in…they usually have something to do with what's going on. Thanks for the time

~*~ Kelly (Washuu Puppet)

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I left Lily's house a little after nine. It wasn't only the best dinner I've had in a long time, but also the best company. The Waterflowers seemed like such a nice family from what I saw; it was hard to believe the stuff Hatsu said. They weren't being hard on Misty at all. So why should I feel bad? I didn't see a problem.

            As I pulled out of the driveway I put on my Do As Infinity CD in the deck and turned up the volume. I was tapping my fingers in the steering wheel to the beat of 'Tooku Made' when I saw Misty and Hatsu locked in a hug on the sidewalk. I don't know why Misty yelled at me when I confused Hatsu and herself as a couple. Who would blame me? When they act as close as they do, who wouldn't think they're a pair?

            Without realizing it at first, I kept looking in my rearview mirror at them. Something inside me wanted to honk the horn, or shout something out the window. Anything to separate them and their moment. That one small feeling made me mad. Why the heck did that one part of me feel that way? As a minor result, I just roll down all the windows, turn the stereo to blasting, and almost run a stop sign.

            I get home eventually, after cutting off a semi-truck and almost causing a hit-and-run. There's the lesson for the night. Never drive angry. I get in the door, kick off my shoes, and go straight up to my room. I strip down to my boxers and flop onto my bed. I didn't feel too good. My mom always said to never exert yourself on a full stomach. To heck with that. Mom was half way across Japan. Then I realized I didn't know why I was so exerted in the first place.

             I woke up at ten the next morning. I had to be to work in an hour. Of course, Tiko will want to know how dinner at Lily's went. If I say 'fine', he'll just want to know the details. I think that man is either trying to live my life or be my father. 'Don't pitch a ten yet'. Ha! When was the last time he did? Wait…I don't wanna know.

            I put on my work shirt and hat. Walking down the steps, I pull my fingers through my mat of hair. Getting a brush would be too much of a hassle. I open the rice maker and paddle a lump into my hand. I start to mold it into a rice ball. I go to the fridge and take out a baby plum. Sticking it into the back of the rice ball, I stick the whole thing in my mouth. Breakfast. Check.

            I turn off my street onto the main road at around ten-forty. I didn't want to go to work. IT was one of those days where nothing bad had happened to you, yet you feel like crap. Your eyes are dry and itchy, your mouth involuntarily hangs ajar, and you can't help but look possessed. I knew I'd shape up sooner or later. Mostly because Lily said she'd come by to order some lunch.

            My ears ring with the sounds of  'kokoro chizu' as I pull into the small strip mall parking lot. I get out of the car, lock it, and slowly walk up to MizuNezumi, whistling to myself . Only a short hour and a half until Lily comes.

            I go behind the counter and turn on the cash register. We were officially open for the day. Just as I thought, Tiko comes out of the back kitchen and give me that look. He was willing to put up the closed sign just so he could hear how things the Waterflowers went. I grab the stool that was behind the counter and sit down.

            "You want to know how it went, don't you?"

            "Otherwise I wouldn't have come to work this morning!" He chuckles.

            "Well," I sigh. "Mostly everything was great."

            "That's all?" Tiko asks. "You say mostly. That means something, however so small, went wrong."

            I roll my eyes. "You know that kid who works at KawaiiYuki?"

            "That Misty?"

            "No," I reply. "The guy. Hatsu."

            "Yeah. What about him?" Tiko asks.

            "He was there too. Misty invited him." I say.

            "What's so bad about that? He's a nice kid, isn't he?"

            "He's alright, but," I pause. "Something about him drives me crazy."

            Tiko lifts an eyebrow. "He has something you don't, doesn't he?"

            I just look at him eccentrically.

            He laughs. "It's the way of the human male. When one is better than another, they feel threatened. So, you don't like that guy because he could easily take something you want."

            "You are one strange man." I reply. "And I mean strange."

            "Is it because I'm right?" He asks.

            It suddenly felt like someone dropped a rock in my stomach. What was happening to me? I have this gorgeous, vivacious girl and somehow I still am not content. I thought I'd never do this. I'm questioning my relationship with Lily when it's only been two short weeks.

            "What's wrong? You look worried." Tiko says.

            "Damn it all, Tiko! It's your fault." I yell back.

            "So I was right." Tiko mumbles impishly.

            "Shut up!"

            "Fine, fine, I'll leave you alone. I have to  start up the stoves anyway." Tiko says and leaves.

            I sit there on that stool, staring at the 'form line here' sign for who knows how long. The sun was slowly creeping father into the restaurant as time slowly ticked by. I look down at my wrist-watch. It was quarter-after-twelve. I look up when the door opened and the bell rang.

            "Yo."

            It was Hatsu.

            "Hi." I say a little more harshly than I wanted to. What Tiko said was still on my mind.

            Hatsu obviously got the hint that I was mad.

            "Whoa," He says. "I'm sorry. I won't come here again. I just couldn't help it. Tiko cooks up a mean shuumai."

            "No, wait. I'm sorry." I stand up and rub my eyes quick. "I was just thinking about something. What can I get for you?"

            "An order of ebi chaahan and one of the kani tama soba." Hatsu replies.

            "Will that be on your tab?"

            "No." He shakes his head. "I have cash today."

            "Okay, that will be 1,250 yen." I open the cash register and take his money. "Thank you, your order will be up in about ten minutes."

            "Okay. Thanks."

            Hatsu goes and has a seat. I give Tiko his order and all you could hear after that were pots clanging on pans and Tiko's obnoxious singing. I turn around for a second only to hear the door opening again accompanied by the bell. Turning once more to face front, I see Lily standing in the middle of the room. She was smiling at me.

            "Hello Ash." She turns to Hatsu and gives him this disgusted look as if he were a spider. "Hello…friend."

            Hatsu bows his head shortly and gives her a relatively similar look.

            "Hi, Lily." I say.

            "I'm here right when I said I would be." She walks up to the counter.

            "I can se that." I give her a smile.

            She giggles. "I would come just to see that."

            She puts a finger on my lip, indicating my smile.

            "Now," She says, taking her finger away. "Daisy and Violet wanted something to, so I'll be ordering three things."

            "That's no problem." I reply.

            She bites her bottom lip and leans up against the counter. She slowly squeezes her arms together, pushing her chest towards me. Hatsu was watching me so I didn't want to look too long and make it seem like it was the first time I've seen boobs. Lily hums to herself.

            "Daisy wanted yasai itame. I'll get gyouza for Violet and chaashuumen for myself."

            "Gotcha." I write all of it down at put the order in.

            Tiko looks over the cupboards and looks at Lily. It was the first time he'd seen her.

            "Whoa, boy!" He whispers to me. "How did you get that? And without sprouting a nosebleed. I'm impressed."

            "Shut up, Tiko."

            "What size cup do you think she has?"

            "I said shut up!!"

            "Is something the matter?" Lily asks from behind me.

            I turn around quickly. "Nothing. Just having a word with Tiko."

            We stand around for a while, Lily and I. We talk about little things. Useless things. I could tell Hatsu was getting bored, sitting over there. I could personally care less. The less happy he was the better. Damn! That stupid thing Tiko said came back in my mind. Today is going to be a long day at work. I could feel it.

            "Ebi Chaahan and Kani Tama Soba! Order up!"

            I grab the bag from Tiko and put two pairs of chopsticks in it. Hatsu comes up to the counter and takes it.

            "Thanks." He says and looks out of the corner of his eye at Lily. "Have a nice day you two."

            Lily puts on a fake smile. "Thank you."

            "Yasai Itame! Gyouza! Chaashuumen! Order up!"

            I give Lily her order and she leaves over the counter farther. "See you later, sweetie."

            She closes her eyes and kisses me. I was sort of taken aback. But…It was nice. Of course it was nice, it was my first kiss and it was from an Earthborn Aphrodite. She breaks away and smiles, turns, and leaves. All I could hear was Tiko chuckling to himself in the back.

            "Bet you loved that."

            I look towards the voice. Hatsu was still there, standing in the corner by the door.

            I glare at him. "You have your order. Doesn't that mean you leave?"

            Hatsu sighs and opens the door. Before he walks out, he turns his head to the side and says, "Wonderful service, this MizuNezumi. Ja matta, ne, baka."

            My blood boiled. "Chikusho!"

            "I love it when I'm right." Tiko says in the distance.