XxKarissaShayexX

Japanese Proverbs

A/N: You know what? I'm not even going to explain why this took me so long. I'm sorry. Enjoy. :)

TRAILER!: So, my friend, December'sRose, is done with the trailer and you guys must see it! It is amazing! I love it. :DDD www(.)youtube(.)com/watch?v=JXPBVBztkiw

Show: Life with Derek

Rated: T, just in case

Pairings: Dasey, maybe Lizwin

Summary: "You know, there is an old, Japanese proverb about a pig and a pearl," Mr. Sugimura said, appearing suddenly. Derek jumped at the sound of his voice and gave him a confused look, "What?" Mr. Sugimura sat next to Derek on the outside steps, "Think about it. If you had a pearl that you didn't always appreciate, but then suddenly one day, it was gone. Wouldn't you miss it?" Derek's eyebrows scrunched together, "What about the pig?" "What pig?"
When Nora and George want to get away for the holidays, they send Derek, Casey, Edwin, Lizzie, and Marti off to a distant, unheard-of, Japanese uncle that lives in Hawaii. The uncle turns out to be a bit wackier and stranger than expected. Is this uncle really out of his mind, or does he see something that the elder siblings don't?

The rest of the flight was better than the previous one – thank GOD! There wasn't a pedophile – country woman trying to sweet-talk them, or a scary, war veteran screaming in their faces, or an annoying, little boy pulling their hair, or a cross-dressing boy trying to put the moves on anyone. Needless to say, their time on the second plane was the calmest, calm enough to get a few hours of sleep before they had to get off.

The gang was in the pick-up area outside with their luggage. They'd been waiting for half an hour and still no sign of crazy, old, Japanese guy named Su-sug-sugar-no-soup-no-something that they could not remember. Marti let out another whiny sigh and looked up at Derek, her hand intertwined with his.

She yanked on his hand a little to grab his attention, her high voice weary from long, exhausting hours, "Smerek. When are we going home?" Derek smiled hopefully and ruffled Marti's hair with his free hand.

"I don't know Smarti, but I know it will be soon, okay?" He reassured her, glancing at his wristwatch and looking over at Casey. I can't wait much longer, his eyes spoke. She nodded her head in response and huffed in frustration.

Lizzie and Edwin were sitting on the cement, propping themselves up with their luggage. They would glance at each other every now and then, and then continue to search around them for any sign of – well – that one guy. Edwin looked to his right and let out a happy laugh, smiling. Not five meters away from him was an aged, oriental man holding a sign that read "MCDONALD – VENTURI'S" in big, bold letters.

"Yes! He's here!" Edwin shouted in glee, hopping up off the ground and startling everyone.

Lizzie looked up at him and furrowed her eyebrows. "Who?" She asked.

"Mr. Err, the one dude," he said, trying to recall the man's name.

"Mr. Sugimura!" Casey perked up, walking to the Japanese man. Edwin's eyes traveled after her leaving figure. He nodded.

"Right," he muttered.

"Oh, it so good to see you," Mr. Sugimura said joyfully, discarding the card in the nearest trash can. Everyone gathered around him with luggage and weary smiles.

"Oh, you have grown tall much!" Mr. Sugimura said loudly, his accent making it somewhat difficult to understand. Casey and Lizzie stared in confusion.

"Have you seen us before?" Lizzie asked, looking him up and down, trying to remember if she had ever seen this man before in her life.

"No! But, we were all once babies!" He shouted, and gestured for them to follow him to a parked, faded, black car. Derek glanced at Casey, raising his eyebrows as if to say "what a nut-job!" She rolled her eyes as they stuffed their luggage into the trunk and contemplated seating arrangements.

Before anyone had a chance, Edwin screamed, "shotgun!" and hopped into the front seat. Mr. Sugimura stared, trying to understand the "meaning of this shotgun tradition."

Casey sighed, then smiled, "Fine, then Marti is sitting in your lap." Edwin shrugged and let Marti climb into his lap. Casey and Derek opened each back door and peered inside. It was a two-seater, but they were sure they could squeeze. Derek climbed in and shut the door behind him. Casey slid in and waited for Lizzie.

Lizzie looked down and raised her eyebrows, "Umm, Case, you might need to scoot over just a bit more, unless you want me to be hanging out of the car." Casey looked at the two inches left for Lizzie and smiled sheepishly, then looked over at the three inches that separated her from touching – shudder – Derek. She cringed then slid closer to him, allowing Lizzie to climb in and close the door, but at the same time, forcing Casey over even more.

Why did I choose the middle seat? She asked herself, conscious of the rough denim of his blue jeans rubbing her bare thigh, and the worn leather that rubbed her neck as Derek swung his arm around the back of the seat for more comfort, and, most of all, the tantalizing heat of a 100 degree, California summer day that emitted from his body, sending tingles along the bone of her back. Derek seemed unfazed from their closeness. Casey for a millisecond felt like an idiot for noticing something that ordinary people would over-look, before brushing it off and staring at the road ahead of them passing under the car in waves.

They weren't in the car for more than 5 seconds when Edwin started fidgeting with the radio. It wasn't that he couldn't stand the silence, because with the McDonald-Venturi clan, there was never silence. Marti was happily playing with Sir Monks-a-lot, looking into the back of the cab every now and then to ask when they were going to get there. Lizzie kept huffing and complaining, while Casey reprimanded her, which of course, Casey wouldn't have to do if she just moved over a bit more to give Lizzie just enough room to breathe!!! Derek rolled his eyes at the feuding sisters and tuned out Edwin's rapping and Mr. Sugimura's quiet singing of what strangely sounded like Country Road.

This was going to be a very long ride.

And it was a very long ride indeed. A full 2 hours and 34 minutes of having to be squished up against Casey. Not that Derek was complaining or anything. He rather enjoyed having a nice view of her tanned, dancer's legs. It was nice that she was wearing a tank top, too. Great view. Lovely view. Oh, no, don't look down on Derek as some pervert who stares down his step-sister's tanktop! No by great view, he meant the beach, of course! Of course! Heh heh.

And it was a spectacular view. As they piled out of the car in front of an old, two-story home that sat right on the sand, they gasped at the rolling waves and deep blue sky. Casey sneared at Derek as he smiled at the beautiful 'babes' sauntering along the beach. She thought she heard him say something about maybe they have a nude beach here. Hmm, or maybe she heard him wrong. She shrugged it off and unloaded the luggage from the trunk of the car.

She growled under her breath, "Why am I the one who has to unload all the dang luggage, huh?" She grunted, having trouble with a large suitcase.

"Oh, that is mine, Case, let me get it. Don't want to get Casey germs on it," Derek said, smirking at her, as he easily pulled it out from the trunk. Casey glared, trying to ignore how his muscles ripped from carrying said suitcase.

"Wow, Derek, and I thought my suitcase was big, what do have in yours? Your ego? Wait, no, you would need a bigger suitcase for that," she countered and sauntered off with her rolling luggage. Derek smirked and stared after. He really needed to thank her for buying those shorts.

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