"Roses."

"awe. Roses are also my favorite." The woman smiled as she pointed to an aisle full of the flower.

"wow." I said viewing the many flowers. I slowly examined a few, making sure none was wilting.

"Beautiful aren't they." The woman said as she bent over to smell a rose.

"Yes." I grabbed eleven red roses and then one white rose. "Domo arigatou gozaimasu." I bowed to the woman and headed for the clerk to ring up the flowers.

"kon ni chi wa."

"Kon ni chi wa." I said as I laid the flowers down on the counter.

"Let's see. A dozen roses. That is 1200 yen." He watched me as I digged in my pocket.

"here you go." I placed the money in his hand and retrieved my flowers.

"That's one lucky girl." He said as I was stepping out of the store. Strolling down the street I ran a hand through my hair. Ok knock on her door and give her the flowers….Then what? A few fellow students ran past me.

"hey."

I turned around to see Michelle Chang waving.

"hey." I said waving back.

"see you at gym tomorrow." She said and turning around she followed the other students.

"see you."

Turning the corner of the last shop on the street I stopped at the edge of the building. Leaning over just a bit to see if Jun was in the yard. Ok the coast is clear. I slowly made my way to her house. Taking a few steps to her door, I slipped off my shoes and knocked on the door.

"Coming." Jun's mother called out. I waited a moment before the door opened.

"Hai." Her mother said softly eyeing the flowers bunched in my hands.

"Is Jun home?"

"Yes. She is in her room doing her homework. You may see her." The woman opened the door wider and held out her arm allowing my entry.

"arigatou." I said and quickly slipped off my shoes.

"Her room is the the far hall and to the left."

"arigatou." I bowed to her and strolled down the hall. There was only one door and I prepped myself to see Jun. I stopped in front of her door and cleared my throat. Ok here I go. I softly knocked on her door.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Kazuya."

There was silence and then I heard feet scuffling behind the closed doors.

"I'll be just a moment." She called as the scuffling noise continued. I waited nervously, when the scuffling stopped and I heard the door sliding open. She poked around the door and gave me a pretty smile.

"Kazuya san. O genki desu ka?"

"Genki desu. Anata wa?" I replied as I stepped past the door. She closed the door and turned to me, she glanced down at the flowers I held and back to me.

"Kazama, Jun." I took a breath and held the flowers out to her. "In every bunch there's one who stands out. You are that person who stands out…to me."

She took the flowers from me with a big grin. "Arigatou Kazuya. Their lovely." She smelled the scent of the roses and stared at their beauty.

"dou itashimashite." I gave a small bow. Jun stared into my eyes and slowly took a few steps towards me. My heart started beating hard; I clenched my hands into fists. Heart..your beating too hard. I thought to myself as I tried to calm down. Jun stopped in front of me, her chest was against my abdomen. She stood on her tiptoes and placed a quick kiss on my lips. After the peck she took a few steps back and smiled brightly at me.

"o..oh."

She went to her desk and placed the flowers in a vase, she then poured some water in the vase.

"There." She said as she nodded her head at the flowers.

"I'm glad you like the flowers Jun."

"I'm glad you bought them for me." She said as she sat down on the floor. I followed suite and sat down beside her, our hands brushed each other. Soft hands. I smiled.

"You're the first boy I kissed." Jun said shyly.

"You're the first girl that kissed me." I said with a smile. She looked up at me.

"Good." She said as she leaned into my first and then pulled back. I smiled wider and gently grabbed her hand. Staring into her eyes I leaned closer to her, she closed her eyes slowly as I leaned in and kissed her lips. She brought her arms up around my neck as I dropped my hands down to her waist. She scooted closer to me and I held her to my chest. She leaned her head to the right and I nervously slipped my tongue in her mouth.

"Um." She moaned.

Surprised I pulled back. She slowly opened her eyes and stared at me bewildered.

"What's wrong?" she whispered.

"I..I've never heard a girl…do that before." I stuttered.

"oh…it's ok." She rubbed the side of my neck. "I liked it." She said with a seductive smile.

"yeah..I did too."

I leaned towards her again and kissed her for a good ten minutes before she pulled back.

"I'm supposed to be studying." She said between my quick kisses on her lips.

"Oh..I'm sorry." I sat straight up. "What are you studying for?"

She reached over and snatched her book. "I'm studying for my extra curricular activity class." She held up the book that was covered with various animals. "It's endangered animals over the world." She said as she opened the book and turned a couple of pages. "This is my favorite animal." She pointed to a picture of a fox.

"cool." I said as I listened to her blab about various animals she loved.

"I want to help animals." She looked up at me. "You know the ones that can't help themselves because they were harmed by people or other animals."

"I hope you will one day, Jun, because you care." I took her hand in mine.

"Will you help me?" she whispered staring at the pages.

"Yes. I will." I whispered in her ear, causing her to giggle.

"that tickles." She whined.

"really?" I leaned into her neck and began tickling her.

"No Kazuya…stop." She cried between giggles. She laid down on the floor and I was on all fours on top of her. We stopped and stared at each other.

"Jun is your friend still here?" Jun's mother asked in the hallway. Immediately we scrambled to stand up.

"Hai momma." She called back.

"His grandfather is here to take him home."

"Ok." Jun said.

I heard her mother's footsteps retreating back into the living room. I sighed as my heart started to feel heavy again. I turned to Jun to see her staring at me.

"I must go. Kazama, Jun."

"I wish you didn't have to. I enjoyed my time with you, Kazuya." She whispered and stepped into my chest.

"I wish I could too." I wrapped my arms around her as she rested her hands on my chest. "One day, maybe we won't have to leave each other to go home." I suggested quietly. Silence fell between us making me almost regret saying that.

"I…can't wait… till that day comes, Kazuya san." she spoke quietly and drew back.

"I'll show you to the door."

"Ok."

She opened her bedroom door and we sauntered to the living room.

"Did you have a good time?"

Her mother was sweeping the floor as she asked.

"Yes. I did." I grinned at her.

"come again sometime soon ok?"

"I will. Thank you for having me." I bowed to her. Jun opened the door and I stepped out.

"Bye Kazuya."

"bye Jun.I will see you tomorrow." I slipped on my shoes.

"It's not soon enough." With that she closed the door.

Sorry swept through me. I don't want to leave you.

"Kazuya." Jinpachi yelled for me. I turned to him.

"Grandfather." I called back and hopped off the porch and stood before him.

"Let's go home." He started walking towards the woods.

"Ok." I said as I turned to glance back at Jun's house and then I started to walk back into the woods to my house.

We arrived home a little before dark.

"Why was you there Kazuya?" Jinpachi asked as we stepped into the house.

"I….." I contemplated an answer. "She's in my Language class and I needed some help…on pronounciation."

"oh." Jinpachi mouthed as he took a seat on the sofa.

"Well I'm going to head to bed, grandpa. School comes early tomorrow morning."

"Ok goodnight Kazuya."

"Goodnight grandpa." I started up the stairs to my room when Jinpachi hollered at me.

"I think your father will be gone for the night as well Kazuya..You really showed him you've improved in your combos."

I turned to face Jinpachi.

"He's mad.." he smiled. "Good job."

"Arigatou." I said and raced to my room.

Entering my room I shut and locked the door and sat down at my desk. Grabbing a pen and paper I scribbled down my feelings. After that I folded the paper into a heart. It's a good thing I learned origami eh? I opened my window and tiptoed across the roof. I jumped down and as soon as my feet touched the ground I raced back to Jun's house.

Within ten minutes I reached her sidewalk. Ok. Her window is the farthest left corner. I thought to myself and ran towards her window; stopping there I laid the note on her window sill with a rock on top to hold it down from the wind blowing it away and knocked hard twice. I quickly ran around the corner of the house and ran back to my own home.

Kazama, Jun.

If I could stay with you I would. Ever since I met you, my heart has felt lighter and happy. I can't wait till the day I can always be with you Jun. Forever yours my love.