Me: Camping trip, people! I love this stuff!
Lee: Um, why am I back here?
Shun: Hi everyone, I'm back!
Me: I have you two here because you are the cutest characters in the story.
Lee: I-I'm not cute! I may be short, but that doesn't make me cute! You jerk! Kisama! (Continues ranting awful names)
Shun: That's a bad mouth.
Me: I agree. Anyways, I do not own Morenatsu! Shun would be so much cuter if I did! That, or he would look a little more like Ten. Wait, no! Then you'd look awful! Only he can pull off himself!
August 16
Camping Trip and Crazy Dancing
I cling for dear life to the side of the truck bed, every bump in the dirt road ready to throw me sky high. Everyone else, except for Tatsuki and Shin, both of whom are in the front, is doing the exact same thing, so I don't feel embarrassed about this.
We left Minasoto about an hour ago, carrying everything from spare clothes and sleeping bags to cooking materials and water bottles. Luckily, I wasn't dragged out of bed at dawn like I was for the beach, so I managed to change from pajamas into a pair of plain black shorts that end just below the knees, my Vans skater shoes, since sandals wouldn't be appropriate for camping, and a large gray shirt with Japanese characters scattered across the material. My sketchbook and a clump of pencils are pinched between my abdomen and my lap, so that I don't risk losing anything besides my breakfast.
We take a sharp left turn, and someone cries out, sliding across the bed. I honestly let out a small laugh when I see the position Soutarou lands on Kyouji in. Even though I haven't spent much time with either of them, it's pretty obvious the lion looks up to the Labrador as more than a mentor and even a metaphorical brother. Of course, neither seems willing to bring up the subject, and I don't plan to be a match maker.
Coming to a screeching halt at the edge of a clearing, the engine shuts off, and Tatsuki climbs out of the truck, an obvious signal as we all scramble to get out of the bed. I hit the ground first, collapsing to my knees and gasping for breath.
"Sweet land," I mutter in English. "I am never leaving you again." Once I regain my composure, I turn back to the rest of the group, holding out my arms, my own belongings in my hands, ready to take some of the load to the center of the clearing.
After a good ten minutes of taking trips and dropping off the camping gear, the truck is completely empty, and we are all claiming a spot to set up for tonight. Torahiko and Shin leave once they have their areas set up, and I have to assume it is for fire wood. Tatsuki and Shun stick close together, talking up a storm to one another. Despite a size difference, I can see them actually together as a couple. Strange, I know, but they are very close, closer than Shun is with his own brother, or with anyone else at that. Kounosuke and Hiroyuki, along with Kouya, all venture off empty handed, the lion and Labrador close behind. That only leaves-
A blunt finger pokes my right shoulder, sending a thick wave of pain through my body. I cry out, spinning around to see the stern face of Juuichi staring at me with little emotion. "What are you doing, Blade?"
I hate when he uses only my last name. "I was trying to find something to do when you jabbed my shoulder."
"Sorry about that." He moves off, grabbing his bag and digging through it. Of course, it is for honey, and quite a large jar of the golden, liquid sugar. "Want some?"
I just sigh, moving to sit next to the bear. I don't take the jar, of course, mostly because I would probably get a major sugar rush, or worse, get sick from how sweet the honey is. Strangley enough, something has been on my mind whenever I'm not getting embarrassed around Kouya. I never found out why I was invited to Minasoto in the very first place. Yes, I know I am a bit of a celebrity, being an international kendo champion and all, but still, why invite me, and for a whole month at that? A few days I would understand, but not an entire month.
"Hey, Juuichi," I start, and he turns to me, a few dribbles of honey and saliva caught to his fur covered chin. "What made you guys write to me and send those tickets? I'm just curious."
He takes a few seconds to answer, swallowing a mouthful and wiping his face. "Really, I have no idea. Torahiko said about two months before we wrote that someone in America had won another kendo tournament, and showed us the paper he read it in. That was the first time any of us have ever heard about you.
"I guess it was the little backstory the article gave about you. Being raised without a father and all."
I remember that article. It was in the middle of May, a week after my last kendo tournament. It was posted that I was a strong child, raised in poverty by a single mother. Of course, the paper stated that my father went missing. I doubt people would believe he actually ditched my pregnant mother and his unborn child while forcing them into poverty by stealing their money. I don't like to talk about that though, so I told them that lie about him being missing, and us always living in poverty.
"Shun and Kounosuke went crazy, jabbering away about inviting you so you could try and spend time with us all," Juuichi continues. "Of course, Hiroyuki and I were against the idea, since you would probably have a heart attack the moment you saw one of us. In the end, it was put to a vote, and thank god Ten was around to break the tie. Of course, you can see how the vote went. We saved up money over the next few months, wrote the letter, bought the tickets, and you can guess the rest."
I most certainly can, since I've been around since then. "Thanks for telling me," I say calmly, stretching a little bit. All I have to do now is enjoy the camping trip. Perhaps this won't end up very embarrassing for me.
A fire roars in the center of the clearing once the sun is fully set, about half an hour past eight o'clock. Kouya, having brought his guitar, starts a small tune once he finishes a bowl of curry, giving a nice setting for the rest of us to finish eating in. I, for some strange reason, stop eating, simply listening to the tune that floats through the calm night air. Even without any lyrics, I can tell there is a sense of joy in the notes.
I pull out my IPod, which I brought for some unknown reason, entering my music app. Of course, all I have are a few songs, mostly the Japanese covers I made with CJ in America. It is these that I look through, smiling as I remember working on translating the lyrics.
The small device is snatched from my hand, and I feel a massive blush developing as Hiroyuki scans over the names, which are written in traditional Japanese characters, thanks to certain programs. "Lee, you sing?"
"N-not really. They're covers I made in America. I mostly translated them, but a few, I guess I did sing." Looks like my plans of not being embarrassed have been ruined. And it only gets worse when he passes the device off to Torahiko, currently wrestling a drunken Tatsuki off of him. "Please be careful with that, guys."
Torahiko laughs, looking over the list of songs. "What would happen if we ended up playing one of these, hm?" His finger hovers over the screen, and attention has been drawn to the three of us, and the lack of guitar notes tells me Kouya has become attentive of this little scene. My heart races nervously, and I feel just about ready to die of embarrassment, more so than when I had to be taught how to swim.
"Just play something already," Tatsuki bellows, and I can't help but gawk, since he has stripped free of every single piece of clothing. Luckily, his, um, genitalia are hidden, being a reptile of sorts. The tiger grins, tapping the screen to my utter horror. (A/N: The following cover does not exist on YouTube from what I know, so I have no idea how it would actually sound. Thank you.)
The translated version of "Hey Soul Sister", one of the first songs I helped translate, starts playing, and already it is my voice that rings out from the device. I sound young, and I hide my face, wanting this to end. Of course, fate definitely has other plans in mind.
"Catchy," Hiroyuki smirks, standing with Torahiko. "Who's up to dance?"
I groan, watching as Shun, Shin, and Tatsuki start going crazy, spinning rapidly. Kyouji and Soutarou join in, and Juuichi takes Kounosuke, strangely. Of course, since they are dating, Hiroyuki and Torahiko dance with one another, but I don't see Kouya. I can tell someone is behind me, though, and I silently pray repeatedly that he won't ask me to dance. Again, thank you fate for ruining my hopes.
"You can't say you don't feel left out," Kouya states with a grin, holding out a hand. "Come on, you'll enjoy it."
"I'm not so sure about that," I mutter, not moving. He sighs, grabbing my hand and pulling me up. The force of his pull on my light, small body has me up on my feet in seconds, and I'm pressed right to his chest. Even through clothing, his dog tag is cold, a complete contrast to the heat that seems to be transferring from his body to mine. "I-I don't want to dance, Kouya."
"You're doing it anyways." He starts to take a lead, forcing us to dance in a fashion similar to the others; spinning while moving around the campfire. He places a hand on my back to hold me close, mostly because I'm a little stiff, but also because the spinning is forcing me away slightly.
I keep my attention away from him, ready to die from my embarrassment still, but also ready to faint from the lack of space between us. I can't believe I'm being forced to dance! I never went to a school dance, and I've never done this before in my life. Apparently, this summer is going to be filled with more than a few new experiences. I just hope that some of these experiences aren't going to be very serious. Otherwise, my life will be officially over, I just know it.
Once the song ends, the others all begin to laugh or clap, but Kouya refuses to let me go, keeping us standing in one spot. The heat in my face increases tenfold, and I try to speak.
"K-Kouya, y-you can let g-go now…" I sound like a glitch, or even a broken record right now! I don't even want to think about how this can get worse, because it may very well end up happening with my luck.
I feel myself slide from his arms, and I admit, my legs collapse under my weight, so I sink to my knees, sighing heavily. "Tell me when this trip is over," I mutter quietly, making it so no one else can hear me.
Me: Aw, poor Lee! He got forced to dance. YOU LUCKY LITTLE B**CH! I would do anything to be in that situation!
Lee: Then you should be put in the story while I write. I refuse to continue with this!
Shun: But you looked like you were having so much fun, Lee-kun!
Lee: I-I did? Oh… Somebody kill me now…
Me: No! Because I have many more situations for you to go into…
Lee: Why must it be me!?