One Year Later

"Thank you for doing this." said Angelica, handing Kira a cup.

"It's no problem at all!" she said, gingerly sipping the hot coffee.

"Not at all!" added Chas, stretching his arm around his wife. "It's nice to get out of the suburbs sometimes. Now we can see what you kids like about the city so much. Maybe we'll get into all the exciting things you do."

Angelica smiled and set her cup down on the counter. "Maybe." she said with a shrug. "As long as you bring in the mail and water the plants before you go on your benders."

"Benders?" asked Chuck, walking into the kitchenette.

"I don't think it's the best idea letting them housesit while we're gone. Sounds like they've got some crazy plans."

Chuck grinned and kissed Kira's cheek. "Can we trust you two not to throw a party?"

"So what exactly is going on in China again?" asked Chas.

"Susie's filming her new music video there." answered Chuck. "Tommy's directing and Susie thought it'd be a good chance for us all to catch up. She's flying everybody out. And Kimi is coming in from Japan, too."

Kira smiled, pushing her glasses up her nose. "Susie is such a sweet girl."

"Yeah," said Chuck. "Sweet. It's costing her a fortune."

Angelica rolled her eyes. "Not this again. Look, she offered! Don't you want to see everybody? And a chance to visit China! This one—he feels guilty, as usual. I have no problem taking a free trip."

"Everyone knows that, Dear."

"Oh, ha ha. She's one of our best friends and we're going and you're going to enjoy yourself, damn it!"

"Mom, Dad, don't mind our domestic bliss. More coffee?"

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"Um, Ang, I can't breathe."

Angelica responded with an even tighter squeeze. "I just can't believe it! How long has it been since I've seen you? And that's when you're in the country. We don't live that far away, you could visit, you know!"

"Thanks for flying us out, Suze." offered Chuck, prying his wife off of her. Susie smiled and ran a hand through her buoyant curls. "No problem!"

"You guys need help with your bags?" offered Phil.

Angelica handed him all three of her bags. "Thanks."

"Yeah," said Phil, stumbling under the weight. "No problem at all."

"Don't you have a guy for that?" asked Dil. "You know, someone to schlep around all your stuff. That's what celebrities do, right?"

"Yeah, because we can't carry some suitcases." replied Susie sarcastically, taking one of the bags from Phil.

Chuck spotted his suitcase on the conveyor belt and lifted it up. "Ok," he said, indicating Angelica's three bags and his one, "That's all of them."

"Come on," said Susie, tilting her head to the right. "Kimi's gate is this way."

"Did you see the city as we got in?" asked Angelica excitedly. "Shanghai is amazing! It's like from the freaking future."

"It's interesting so far." said Phil. "After you guys get settled, we should do some exploring."

"Sounds good to me. I—"

Their conversation was interrupted by a high pitched shriek. A colorful blur ran past Angelica and into Dil's arms.

"…And now they're making out." observed Phil.

When Kimi finally came up for air, Dil's ears were as bright as his hair. "Kimi…you know I'm not really one for PDA."

She kissed him again. "I haven't seen you in months, you shush."

Chuck cleared his throat.

"Big Brother!"

"Little Sister!"

"Um, I'm here, too." said Angelica.

Kimi grinned and wrapped Angelica in a hug.

"Ok, I didn't say you had to hug me. Ok, get off, get off!"

Kimi excitedly greeted Phil and Susie. "Ok, that everyone? Where are Tommy and Lil? And where are we staying? I've been wanting to visit Shanghai! I went to Bejing a few months ago, and I've been to South Korea and Vietnam, as well. It's really pretty easy to get places around here. I'm so excited to see you all!"

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Chuck let out a low whistle as he took in the view from Susie and Phil's suite. "What floor are we on?"

"36th." said Susie.

"It's beautiful." said Dil, looking out the window in awe. "I can't believe how many colors there are." He indicated the neon lights illuminating the skyscrapers against the oranges and reds of the setting sun.

"Are we going to eat at some point?" asked Chuck, clutching his growling stomach.

"Very good question, my good sir," said Tommy. "Let's get some grub."

Susie pulled out her phone. "Let's see what has good reviews."

"Where's Angelica?" asked Lil

Chuck finally tore his eyes from the sunset and glanced back at her. "She's in our room, freshening up."

Everyone groaned. "This could take a while." said Tommy. He plopped down on the sofa and stretched out. "We might as well get comfortable."

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"This place is supposed to be really authentic." said Susie as they entered the restaurant.

A smiling woman in a crisp white shirt and black vest greeted them with a smile. "Hello." she said.

"Hi there," said Phil. "Table for eight, please."

The woman smiled. "Hello."

"Um…"

She smiled again. "Hello?" she said uncertainly.

"I don't think she speaks English." said Angelica in a loud whisper.

"Good catch." said Phil.

Kimi stepped up, smiled at the hostess and started speaking in Mandarin.

The rest of the group looked at each other in shock. Kimi beamed. "Ok, guys, this way."

They all settled in to their chairs and the hostess smiled and nodded before walking back to her post.

"Make sure to ask for a drink menu." said Kimi, "I have had a long week and I'm ready to cut loose…why is everyone staring at me?"

Chuck cleared his throat. "So, you know Chinese?"

She shrugged. "And Japanese and a little Korean, yes. Hey, you can learn a lot in a year."

The server appeared and handed out menus. "Hello, my name is Jiao and I am your server tonight." She said with a wide smile and a little bow.

"She speaks English." said Phil in a loud whisper, pointing at the server from behind his menu.

"Yes, she does, sweetheart," said Susie. "So she can hear everything you're saying right now." Susie gave Jiao an awkward smile. "Could we get a drink menu, please?"

A busboy appeared with water for everyone. Jiao took drink orders and promised to be back shortly.

"So," said Susie, "I can't believe it, guys. We're actually all here, together! It's been so long!"

"Ages." said Lil with a huge grin. "I am beyond stoked. What has everyone been up to?"

Angelica shrugged. "Work, paying bills…you know, life."

"We also just celebrated our first anniversary." said Chuck. "Don't let her fool you. She is happy to be married to me…I think."

Angelica rolled her eyes. "He's so silly. Yes, we had our anniversary. Chuck was very romantic about it. It was nice."

"Just nice?" he asked with fake indignation.

"Well, parts of it were very nice."

"Moving on," said Kimi. "I've been doing lots of traveling, like I said. I've been to Bejing and Seoul and Ho Chi Minh and did some backpacking in the Ba Vì Mountains."

"And apparently learned Chinese and Japanese." said Lil.

"And a lot about Japan and my family's origins and—oh and of course, the fellowship!" Kimi laughed. "I'm all done but um…" She took a sip of her water. "So yeah."

"But um?" asked Tommy.

"Nothing."

Dil looked at his girlfriend questioningly.

"Ok," she said. "I've been offered a job. Teaching. In Japan. At the Kyoto University of Art and Design."

Dil gave her a look that let everyone know that this was the first time she'd mentioned it.

"Well," said Chuck, trying to take some of the heat off Kimi, "Dil, I guess you're officially a graduate now!"

Dil gave him an awkward smile. "Yeah…yeah, I guess I am. Still not sure what I'm going to do, though."

"Congratulations!" said Angelica, lifting her glass. "I'll drink to that."

"You'll drink to anything." said Phil.

"What do you guys want to order?" said Susie. "Maybe a bunch of different stuff and we can share?"

"Sounds good to me," said Tommy. He glanced casually over at his brother and could tell that he was still hurt that Kimi hadn't mentioned she might be staying in Japan. But now wasn't the time to get into it.

Kimi studied her menu. "This place is really authentic. I had some of this when I stayed in Bejing. Real Chinese food is great."

"Why don't you just order for us, Kimi." said Susie. "Since you're so familiar with it. That cool with everyone?"

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"So, said Kimi, indicating the plates of steaming food covering their table. "This is jiang luobo. That's radish pickled in soy sauce. This is tangcu paigu, sweet and sour ribs. This right here is hongshao rou he zhusun, so good! Pork, braised with bamboo shoots. And This is congbao yutou—carp. With scallions and this sauce, oh my gosh, so delicious."

"No, no, no, no, no." offered Angelica. "Please tell me that isn't a fish head."

"It's really good!" said Kimi. "And it won't hurt you, you can even eat that part! Tossing out the head is a Western thing. People in most countries eat them."

Angelica gave her a look of disgust.

"Chuck?" asked Kimi.

"Kimi, I think we both know I'm not the most adventurous eater."

"You're not the most adventurous anything." said Tommy.

Angelica stood abruptly. "I can't even look at that thing. I'm going to the bathroom."

Chuck gave her a worried look. She really did look like she was going to vomit.

"She ok?" asked Susie.

"She didn't even touch her drink." said Kimi, pouring it into her own glass. "Hey, she doesn't feel well. I'm doing her a favor."

"Let's eat!" said Phil. "I'm starving over here."