10/21/10 リン雨
The storm started to rage again as she forced me into her home. The scent of different cooked foods and different spices hit me face-first, immediately causing my stomach to growl. Satoko called out a greeting to her mother before she dragged me down a hallway at the back of the house to a rather large bathroom. Fuzzy towels were pushed into my arms before she ran off to get a spare set of clothing for me to wear. I was only a little concerned about the sizes she would bring as I removed my drenched clothing.

"Throw them in the bathtub for now!" Satoko yelled, throwing a pair of black sweatpants and a black tee-shirt into the bathroom. I thanked whatever God was listening that she hadn't looked in to find me soaking wet and naked. Sighing, I dried myself off as quickly as I could, noticing just how cold I felt. Looking over the clothing she handed, I decided it best to at least try them.

I was surprised at how well they fit, even the pair of yellow smiley-face boxers that was folded in the pants. My body shivered in welcome to the warmth. When I opened the door, Satoko waved before slipping into the room herself. A couple minutes later, she returned with the large pile of dripping clothing to run across the hall to a laundry room.

After throwing our clothes into the dryer, she turned to me with a smile and led me to the dining room table. She sat me down, a plate already set for me. I couldn't form words at their generosity.

"Help yourself to however much you want, Lance," Satoko's mother told me, placing a large pot of some kind of stew in the middle of the table. "Any friend of Satoko's is allowed their fill. That, and I don't want either of you two catching a cold for being out in that storm!" she started scolding Satoko about responsibility. Satoko just munched on a dinner roll, leaning against her left elbow as she pretended to listen.

The home cooked meal still steamed with freshness and heat. After my second helping, I was self-conscious about taking a third. That is, until I glanced at Satoko to find her taking her forth. Throughout the dinner, the three of us laughed at stories Satoko and her mother told. Their happy little family made me feel welcome.

After dinner, which Satoko and I cleaned for her mother, Satoko and I sat under a blanket together in front of a fire in the fireplace. She had her head leaning against my shoulder, falling asleep.

"I hope you don't mind sleeping on the couch," Satoko's mother whispered as she walked down the stairs from the second floor with a thick blanket and a fluffy pillow. She set them on the couch with a soft thud.

"Not at all," I replied, smiling.

She unfolded the blanket, placing the pillow at one of the arms. "Can you be a dear and tuck Satoko into bed for me, please?" she asked. "Her room is at the top of the stairs."

Satoko muttered something, her eyes barely half open. I carefully removed the blanket from our shoulders, gently picking Satoko up like a sleeping child. She was wearing a button-up pink night shirt and light blue sweatpants, she looked warm. Her arms wrapped loosely around my neck.

Her room was filled with different plushy Pokémon, little figurines on shelves. It was dark, I didn't feel a need to turn the light on. Her bed was in the far corner, blankets soft as I sat down.

"Good night, Lance," she muttered as I pulled the blankets over her. She took a plushy tightly in her arms, falling asleep quickly.

"Good night, Satoko," I whispered, placing a light kiss on her cheek before I returned to the couch to sleep out the storm that still rumbled over the house.

Did anyone else "aww" a lot while reading this?
I hope you enjoyed. Reviews would be nice!
Until next time, nakamatachi.
~RS