Episode Four

Dance

Joyfully, she laughed as his voice warmed her heart through the telephone. With the cordless phone between her shoulder and ear, she dug through her closet for an appropriate outfit that night. "Where exactly are we going?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"I told you. It's a surprise."

"You'd surprise me now if you just told me."

Akira sighed. "Raye, why are you so worried?"

Raye continued to dig through the closet. "I don't know what to wear since I don't know where you're taking me." She looked through her shirts some more. "Would you just tell me?"

"No," He said teasingly, his voice almost smiling through the phone. "Just wear something nice but comfortable."

"Like what?" She asked.

"Oh, I don't know, how about that tube-top and fish net combo you have?"

She laughed. "I don't have a tube-top. I'll have to borrow it from you."

"How did you find out about that?" He asked, teasingly.

"I know everything."

"Yeah, except where we're going!" He laughed.

Raye sighed. It was near the closing of the semester. They had been dating since August, and now they were in the beginning of December. Things were started to escalate in their relationship—in two weeks, she was going to Sendai to visit Akira's sister and nephew.

"I really don't know what to wear," Raye said.

"Raye," Akira's tone grew serious. "I'm sure you'll look beautiful in anything you decide to wear."

Raye paused for a moment. Statements like that seemed too good to be true, but as she paused, she felt warmth in her spirit. Sure, she had heard lines like that a thousand times, but this time, from him, she believed it.

The door to Raye's bedroom slid open. The head of a short bald man popped into the room. "Raye, would you get off that blasted phone! You've been on it for two hours! Who in the world do you need to talk to for that long?"

Raye looked over at Grandpa. "I'm talking to Akira."

Grandpa pulled his head out of the bedroom. "Never mind," he said sweetly. He turned around and started walking down the hallway while humming the tune to the "Wedding March."

Raye rolled her eyes as she heard the song her Grandfather hummed. "Listen, I better get off the phone."

"Alright, if you must," Akira sighed, teasingly.

"I must," Raye responded. "I'll see you at six then."

"Alright. Goodbye then."

"Goodbye." Raye pushed the button to hang up the phone. She walked out of her room and headed to the kitchen to hang up the telephone. At the table, her grandfather sat drinking a cup of tea.

"You know, Grandpa, it's really rude when you barge into my room like that."

"It's really rude when you tie up my phone lines like that."

Raye rolled her eyes. She started to dig in the cabinets for a cup. "You didn't seem very upset when you found out who I was taking too."

"A small price to pay for phone bills to see you married."

Raye turned around. "Is that all you care about—getting me married?"

"That's not entirely true."

"Grandpa!"

"I care about getting you married to the right man."

Raye shook her head and turned back to the cupboards. "The right man for you just has to be a male."

"Not true!"

Raye turned back around with a suspicious look on her face.

Her grandfather reflected for a moment. "You're happier when you're with him." He traced his finger over the rim of his teacup, something Raye also did. "I haven't ever heard you laugh as much your entire life as you have the past few months." The old man looked up at his granddaughter. "I really do just want you to be happy, and as I said, it's a small price to pay in phone bills to see you happy."

Stunned, Raye stood in the kitchen for a few moments pondering over what her Grandfather had said to her.

They rode the bus for a very long time until they reached the section of Tokyo Akira was leading them too. Raye had never been to this part of town before. It was the section where most foreigners lived. Finally, they got off the bus. Akira led her through the streets that were exotically decorated. It was like she was transported into a different world. They didn't need to walk very long until they reached a large building with faint music seeping from the walls. Akira led her inside by the hand.

She felt awkward in unfamiliar territory, but Akira seemed to know exactly where he was going. After they walked through some hallways, they reached their destination. It was a nightclub with foreign sounding music. They walked straight up to a foreign bouncer.

"Hey, I'm Akira Kawamori. I'm looking for my friend…"

"Akira!"

Raye looked up. A young foreign man approached them with his arms open wide. He reached out and hugged Akira, not a Japanese custom, but Akira responded. "Dilip! It's great to see you!"

"Yes, and you old friend!" The young man named Dilip said. He looked over at Raye and smiled. "And who's this?"

Akira smiled then looked over at Raye. "This is my girlfriend, Raye." Raye bowed politely.

Dilip bowed with his hands folded in front of him. "Namaste." He looked up and grabbed Akira's shoulder. "Well, it is good to have you both with us!" He laughed. He ushered Akira and Raye into the nightclub. Raye looked around. Most of the people were foreign, but there were some Japanese. The beat of the music started to make her body sway. She smiled—she was in an Indian nightclub in the middle of Tokyo.

Akira looked over at her. "You like it?"

"I love it!" Raye said over the loud Bhangra style music. "Where did you ever find a place like this?"

"Dilip and I met in London back a few years ago," Akira led her forward. "We've always been in contact since." While Akira was high school, he spent most of his summers in Europe. He was a very cultured person and had traveled to many places.

Dilip walked over to a table and sat Akira and Raye down. He looked to Raye. "You'll have to drag him out unto the dance floor! I'm sure he hasn't told you, but your boyfriend can really move."

Raye looked over at Akira slyly. "Oh, really?" She looked back over to Dilip. "He never told me that."

Dilip laughed. "Are you hungry?"

Akira touched his stomach. "Starved."

"I'll bring us some dinner." Dilip walked away.

Akira and Raye were taken to a back room away from the dance floor. They were placed at a low table with large pillow cushions for seats. Akira's friend, Dilip came back into the room and joined them at the table. Along with Akira, Raye, and Dilip, there were three other Indians. Dilip's new wife, Indira was seated next to him. Kiran, another friend of Dilip, and Kiran's wife, Sati.

Metal dishes were put before them. At the bottom of the metal dish was a banana leaf. Akira looked over at Raye. "Serving us on a banana leaf means that we are honored guests."

Dilip nodded. "That's right. You are very welcome here."

Raye looked over all the Indians. "Did you all live here in Tokyo your whole lives or did you immigrate here?"

Indira, Dilip's wife, spoke for him since Dilip was taking a drink. "I'm originally from Bangalore, but Dilip is from Delhi. We moved to Tokyo two years ago to start a business."

Raye looked over at Kiran and Sati.

Kirin was already digging into the rice bowl. "My wife and I are from Kolkata. We moved here for business ourselves. Tokyo is a very fascinating city."

Raye nodded. She noticed that the Indians were eating with their right hand. Akira started to do the same thing. She looked over at him, slightly nervous. She was never allowed to eat with her hand her entire life. Akira glanced back over at her. He pointed to an orange sauce with chicken. "This is butter chicken. Use your hand to mix it in with the rice." Akira used his right hand to demonstrate. He raised his hand and flicked the rice in his mouth with his thumb. Raye tried to do the same thing, but when she flicked the rice, it flew up into her face.

The Indians chuckled but were extremely friendly. Akira demonstrated again. "Make sure you press the rice into a ball first." Raye tried again. This time she successfully put the rice into her mouth. The Indians slightly clapped and cheered for her.

"Here, try this too." Akira put a round piece of bread on her plate. It was warm, soft, and chewy. "It's called Naan."

Raye smiled and tried some of the bread.

The night continued on, and after a large dinner, Raye felt very stuffed and somewhat tired. The six of them sat around talking for almost an hour after dinner about anything that came to mind. She hadn't felt that relaxed and content in a long time. Indira and Sati shared cooking tips with Raye about making Indian food while Dilip, Kiran, and Akira discussed football and cricket. Sometimes the Indians would tell Raye about India while Raye would explain the usual cultural circumstances of Japan. The night progressed on and pause came in conversation to leave the table. Akira, Raye, and the Indians stood up from the table completely full.

"Well, I suppose we should go," Akira said.

"Oh, no you don't!" Dilip said. "You're taking this lovely young lady out on the dance floor." Dilip motioned to Raye.

Akira smiled, embarrassed. "I don't think…"

"Akira, this is her first Indian experience, and you're going to let her go home without dancing to the beat of Bhangra?" Indira asked.

Kiran started simulating the sound of Bhangra music with his voice while the other Indians started dancing.

Raye looked at Akira with a grin. "Yeah, Akira, you're going to let me go home without dancing?" She grinned wider. "Besides, I need to see for myself that you're as good of a dancer as Dilip says you are."

"Yes, I'd swear he was Indian if he wasn't so light skinned!" Dilip laughed.

Akira laughed. "Alright." He grabbed Raye by the hands and led her out of the room. The six of them walked down the hallway laughing and excited. As the sound of the music grew louder with their approach, they started to move to the beat. Finally, they reached the dance floor and joined the large crowds of those already dancing to the Bhangra pop beat. Colored lights flashed all over the room and the crowds. True to Dilip's words, Akira new exactly what he was doing. Raye stood pondering for a moment. There were so many facets to Akira's persona that he was always constantly surprising her—but it made her like him all the more. She watched him dance with a group of Indian men in jeans and an un-tucked collar shirt. She snapped out of her daze as he approached her. He took a hold of her hands and led her into the group. She started to mimic the dance—she wasn't bad at it at all.

After a few moments, they broke away from the group and started to dance by themselves. She lost sight of him for a moment, but she felt him behind her. Her back was pressed against his chest. Without even thinking, she reached up for his cheek. She glanced back towards him, tilting his check towards her. The fast paced music, the constant moving of the lights, and the dancing crowds all seemed to stop as her lips met his in that moment.

Sure, she had kissed him before, but not like that. She had never kissed anyone like that before. Glad it was night, she traveled the entire night home with a blush upon her cheeks. He was mostly silent himself, but from his facial expression, he looked content and happy. After an hour on the bus, they finally reached the stop of the Hikawa Shrine. Akira always insisted on walking Raye to her door then heading to his apartment by foot. Of course, this night was no different. Tiredly, they climbed the tall stairway to Hikawa Shrine.

"I'm so tired that I suggest you move your house so I don't have to climb these stairs." Akira said.

Raye faintly laughed. "Yes, sometimes I feel like I'm climbing the stairway to heaven." They reached the top of the stairway in that moment. She paused at the top stair.

Akira was already finished. He looked over at Raye who paused on the last step. "Is everything okay?"

Raye looked up and nodded. "Yes." She smiled and finished the last stair. They walked through the dark courtyard for a moment then finally reached the house. Raye bit her goodbyes to Akira then stepped inside the house. Akira turned around and walked back into the darkness. After a few moments, he finally reached the top of the stairs. As he stepped down onto the first step, a blood-curdling scream echoed through the darkness. Quickly, he turned around and ran back towards the house. He flung the doors open. He followed the source of the screaming. As he ran into the living room, he saw Raye on the floor holding her grandfather in her arms.

"GRANDPA! GRANDPA!" Raye shook her Grandfather's lifeless body. Akira dashed for the telephone to call an ambulance.