Serene typed away at the laptop, a few times I tried watching over her shoulder but was lost among the may windows that zipped across the screen. It was no use; I would have to trust her to explain it to me later. If she wasn't scared off that is. I stretched adjusting my position in the chair, trying to make as little noise as possible. She glanced up smiling briefly before returning to the screen.

"Are you sure you don't have to somewhere Serene?" I asked stumbling over her unusual name once again." It could take awhile trying to teach a techno-phobe like me."

"No it is alright Taira. I do not mind. I enjoy helping people it is what I do best." Although she tried to sound cheerful, she appeared crestfallen for a moment. It happened so fast I wasn't sure I saw it right. I decided not to question it however.

"Well then can I get you something to drink? To eat? My treat."

"Um, a green tea please?"

"Sure thing." I stood up stretching as I did so, noticing that one of my legs had fallen asleep I hobbled and shuffled over to the barista and placed the order. I glanced back at our table but Serene didn't notice my awful shuffling gait. Sighing I tried to shake the pins and needles out of my leg, but I only succeeded in increasing the tingling, pinching feeling that was slowly creeping from my leg into my thigh.

The barista who was a short plump lady in her fifties smiled at me as she handed me the drinks. I had a feeling that she knew I was trying to impress the foreign girl at my table. Well I didn't know for sure if she was foreign but she sure gave the impression that she grew up outside of Japan.

Slowly I walked back to our table, Serene taking a moment to leave the computer to watch me intently similar to the way I scrutinized her before. I placed the drinks down carefully, so I wouldn't spill a drop on the computer and fry it. It would be my luck if that happened. She continued to study me the whole time, unabashed but not quite meeting my eyes. She nodded slightly as if she was making up her mind and gestured to the chair beside her.

"Thank you Taira. The computer is just finishing up; we can have a little rest before we go on to the program. I will try to teach you as much as I can before we have to depart."

"Sure, sure no problem. Can I ask you something though? I don't want to offend you…but …you didn't grow up in Japan did you?" I said it quickly, but quietly in case she didn't want everyone to overhear. I wasn't their business.

She shook her head, smiling as she did so, however her smile seem sad, wistful." You are right Taira. I did not grow up in Japan, but in Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia to be exact. Japanese is my second language, English is my first I also know some French but that is escaping me. My grammar seems too formal does it not? I know everyone says so, and my father has been trying to correct me to no end. But it suits me. You do not mind do you Taira?"

"What? Mind if you aren't Japanese by birth, or if you don't use slang when you talk. Don't be silly girl, why would I mind?"

She looked down, studying her hands that were clasped in her lap, a blush rose to her cheeks when she replied." I do not know Taira… truly I do not. Some people do mind me, they do not understand how hard it is for me to try to fit in. Why I do not talk like them, understand the culture, now my way around the cities. Some ignore me, some write me off completely. I do not have many friends in Japan and I do not know why. I am sorry Taira I do not want to burden you. Please forget what I said."

"Well that's stupid. People are stupid I mean. I won't forget what you said. Look I only met you and I can tell there is much more to you than some ignorant tourist here for some kicks." I reach out to take her hand, a bold move I realize and something I wouldn't normally do. But instead of snatching her hand away, she merely looked up again, searching my face, I could tell she was trying to find out if I was sincere or if I was just playing with her for kicks. I looked back at her offering the barest of smiles, and gave her hand a gentle squeeze before letting it go again.

"Thank you Taira," she murmured gently." You are a good person. I can see that now. I would like to learn more about you as well, but the computer needs our attention if you want to leave at a reasonable hour."

"Oh I wouldn't count on leaving anytime soon girl. You heard me before. Besides we only scratched the surface. I want to know how you came to be here in Japan."

So in the end I told her about Beck, about my friends, my bass, and what we were trying to accomplish with this web page, our gigs, how we found ourselves at Grateful Sound. In return, she told me where she grew up, where she went to school, and how she lives with her parents who are rarely home. Her father taught English at a university in Tokyo, and how her mother travels, so she rarely sees her parents except for a one week window during the month. Although she calls both her mother and father almost every night, I could tell she was a lonely girl, and I did my best to make her feel she had at least one friend in the world. We laughed, we shared stories but we didn't accomplish much that day.

We swapped numbers on our cells and made a promise to meet the following day. We sloshed out into the rain, and waving goodbye she trotted out into the rain neatly avoiding puddles that were in her path. I watched her vanish into the night before I turned and headed home.

I entered our apartment, nearly tripping over Koyuki's legs as he sprawled in front of the couch watching a ballgame with Saku. They both glanced up at me as I placed the laptop on the coffee table.

"Hey make sure you don't spill anything on it OK, or I'll knock your heads off your spindly little necks."

"Where were you Taira?" Saku asked as he searched for the remote to turn the volume down. He knew I didn't like the level of volume he usually preferred when watching TV. Although he didn't want to admit it but the long hours of drum playing was starting to effect his hearing. Although I tried to convince him to wear ear plugs when playing, he has yet to take me up on that offer.

"You're aware that you missed practice don't you? Ryusuke has been calling you for hours. He was ready to sick Beck on you, or worse Chiba."

"Yeah. Ray was really mad, where were you…"Koyuki started, but I interrupted him as I held up my hands in mock horror.

"Look, I don't need it from you guys. I have my reasons. I'll handle Ray don't worry." I started towards my beloved stingray and a pair of headphones when my cell phone vibrated in my pocket. I'll give you three guesses who that was, and the first two don't count.

I flipped open the cell and held it to my ear. He didn't even give me time to say hello or whatever before he started in on me.

"Taira where the fuck where you this afternoon? I expected to work out the new rhythm section with you and you the fucking gall to not fucking show up. If you expect Beck to make it big…"

"Goddamn it Ray shut up for a moment and let me explain. If you remember, you told me, ordered me, to get the goddamn web-page or whatever built. Even though you know that, I never have done a single thing like that before. I'm treading a fine line Ray. I can't do two things at once, plus work, plus keep my sanity in check, or something will give. One day won't hurt Ray, and if you want this thing done you will have to lay off, and leave me the goddamn well enough alone. I'll see you tomorrow." I slammed the phone shut and yanked my bass of the stand, slipping the headphones over my neck.

I turned back to Saku and Koyuki who were staring at me, afraid to move. "What?" I exclaimed. "Never mind don't answer that. I'm going to my room. I'll see you tomorrow." I slammed the door and leaned against it. Sliding to the floor and put my head in my hands. After a few minutes, I lifted my head to stare at the ceiling. So much for a happy ending to a great day. Oh well, I thought as I ran my hands lovingly over my bass. At least there will always be my music, no matter what happens in life, I will always have that.

I plugged in my bass, headphones, and amp ad worked over a complex pattern letting the pounding of my heart, head, and soul match the growl and thump of the bass.