A/N: Sunshine (Sierra's Song) - The All-American Rejects (don't look at me like that.)
Disclaimer: Don't own anything, all rights go to the respectful owners.
"Good morning, Nozomi,"
The artist stirred and groaned. Her head felt heavy, and so did her limbs.
When Nozomi cracked her eyes open, she saw the angelic face of Eli on top of her, blonde hair catching the winter sun to form a halo.
"E-Elichi?" Nozomi looked around. They were back in their bedroom, with clothes strewn across the floor.
"About time you woke up," Eli grinned and kissed her girlfriend's lips. Nozomi blinked the sleep out of her eyes as she gazed at Eli, puzzled.
"Did…Did something happen last night?"
"Oh, not at all," Eli rolled onto her side and lay next to Nozomi with a grin.
"You just had a little too much to drink after slapping some sense into Honoka's ex."
Nozomi blinked again, then groaned as the memory returned. During dessert, Rin brought out a sweet wine to go with the sake.
It then lead to a contest between Nico, Nozomi and Rin to see who could finish their glass of wine, plus their sake, then the liqueur chocolates Eli had brought along as a housewarming/thank-you gift.
Eli laughed as Nozomi threw her head back into the pillow.
"Nico is smaller than Honoka's attention span, how is she able to outdrink me?"
"I believe there was a quote that does never judge a book buy it's cover," Eli smirked, and burst out laughing when she dodged the pillow that catapulted in her direction.
"Hey, your words, not mine," Eli chuckled and sank back into the bed next to Nozomi.
After Nozomi had showered and taken some painkillers, she brought up her plan for the day: to visit the flea markets in Akibahara.
Soon enough, the two were wandering through the street, taking in the array of stalls and different scents of the food being cooked.
"Of course, it's still freaking cold," Eli mumbled, tucking her chin into her coat. Nozomi just chuckled and stuffed her hand deeper into her leather jacket's pockets. She had opted for layers, rather than one large coat.
"The sooner this month is over, the better," the blonde continued into her coat.
"I may lose a few clients once spring rolls around," Nozomi started the small talk as they passed a seafood stand.
"Because everyone wants tattoos in winter?" Eli raised an eyebrow, glancing at the calamari rings.
"Some people find it easier to get them done now, rather than in summer," Nozomi explained.
"No swimming, showers are supposed to be short, and the ink should be protected from the sun."
"That makes sense," Eli stopped a small flower booth, and observed the gardenias. The old lady smiled at the young blonde, who was smelling the bouquets on display.
"They are so beautiful," Eli grinned at the old lady.
"Thank you, dear,"
"Elichi is a florist, too," Nozomi patted the 26-year-old on the shoulder.
The old lady's eyes twinkled, and started to show Eli more flowers.
"N-Nozomi-san?"
Hearing her name, the tattoo artist turned and saw Hanayo, rugged up with earmuffs on, holding a young child's hand.
"Hanayo-chan! Hello!" Nozomi greeted. The childcare worker bowed.
"Thank you so much for having us over last night,"
"Th-thank you for coming," Hanayo's voice was diminishing, and Nozomi had an idea why.
"N-Nozomi-san?"
"Yes?"
Hanayo looked down at the child, then looked back up with a smile, and it honestly shocked Nozomi.
"Thank you for standing up for Rin-chan last night. That Tsubasa was downright awful, but I am so thankful you put her in her place."
Nozomi's eyebrows flew into her bangs, but she merely shook her head.
"I will always stand up for Rin-chan. She is a very important person to me," the artist smiled at Hanayo, but caught a glimpse of the child by Hanayo's side staring up at her.
Nozomi bent down to reach the child's eye level and grinned.
"And just who is this?"
"This is Yurika, she's my younger cousin," Hanayo smiled at the young child, who was still staring at Nozomi, more specifically, her ears.
"It's lovely to meet you, Yurika," Nozom bowed politely as Eli walked out of the stall with a small bag.
"Oh, Hello Hanayo," Eli greeted the childcare worker, who smiled and bowed at the florist.
"Have you made a friend, Nozomi?" Eli grinned down at her girlfriend and the small child.
"She…she really likes silver things," Hanayo explained In a soft voice, as if she was trying not to offend Nozomi's piercings.
"Well, Yurika-chan, you have excellent taste," Nozomi tilted her head to the side and shut her eyes. Yurika blushed and moved closer to Hanayo.
"You should meet Umi-chan, that girl is practically covered in silver," Nozomi stood up straight and clenched at her stomach as her cravings kicked in.
"Oh, that reminds me," Eli saw the motion, then turned to Hanayo.
"Where was that shop that Rin bought the vaper from again? Is it around here?"
"Yes, just keep going down this road then turn left. It's next to the photo-booth," Hanayo pointed down the street.
"Excellent, thank you, Hanayo," Eli bowed, and Nozomi raised a delicate eyebrow.
Eli and Nozomi said goodbye to Hanayo, and went their separate ways from the younger girl.
"She's so sweet," Eli sighed and peered into her small paper bag.
"That she is," Nozomi agreed as she reached into her pocket.
"What did you get from the flower stall?"
"Just some ribbon, they're the perfect colour for Valentine's day," Eli took out a roll of pink ribbon to show Nozomi.
"That's a lovely colour,"
"I know, that's why I bought it," Eli put the ribbon back into the bag.
"That lady was lovely and gave me a slight discount."
"Because you're also a florist?"
"Probably, but I was also a nice person," the blonde eyebrows waggled and Nozomi snorted, scuffing her boots across the ground.
"Yes, yes, you're nice and charming, we all know that, Elichi," Nozomi nudged Eli in the side.
Eli then turned left into the street Hanayo had showed them.
Sure enough, there was a lone photo-booth next to a small shop with a bland sign.
"This is definitely it," Eli turned to face Nozomi, who had a cigarette between her lips and was about to light it.
"Ah-uh," Eli tsked and took the nicotine right out of the artist's mouth. Green eyes, now teal from the overcast weather, narrowed.
"Elichi-"
"You're coming inside with me. No ifs, buts or maybes," Eli grabbed her girlfriend's arm and marched into the store.
"Hello!" Eli plastered a smile onto her face as the shopkeeper looked up. A young man with frizzy hair and thick glasses.
"Hey, what may I help you with?" He asked with a slight drawl. Eli pointed to the tattooed woman next to her.
"This one needs to start using a vaper. Care to walk us through the process?"
After a ten minute history lesson on how the vaper started, the man then pulled out two small cylindrical devices and showed them to Eli and Nozomi. One looked like a whistle attached to a drinking flask, whereas the other one was the exact same size, shape and colour of a cigarette.
"So you just pour the flavouring into the cylinder and screw it back on?" Eli watched the man demonstrate.
"Yep, then you just press this button, and the heating element springs to life," the man pressed the button on the cylindrical one, known as a 'pipe.' Smoke fumed wafted out of the pipe and the man brought it to his lips.
"And just do what you normally do with a cigarette."
"How simple! And It's less harmful than smoking cigarettes?"
"So much less damaging to the body. Scientists all over the world are saying that vaping is a healthier alternative to cigarettes."
"Well, I'm sold, you about you?" Eli turned to face Nozomi, who was still processing all of the information.
"Is that fake cigarette the same?"
"This is an electronic cigarette, or an e-cig for short," the men held up the device in his left hand.
"This one does the same thing as the vaper, but it looks like a real cigarette."
"So, they're fake," Nozomi voiced her thought.
"Y-Yes, they are, but they are tonnes more healthier than a real cig-"
"Don't mind her, she's just grumpy because she hasn't had a cigarette for a bit," Eli nudged Nozomi in the side and pulled out her wallet.
"The fake cigarette can use different flavours as well, yes?"
"That's correct."
"Okay, I'll take the e-cigarette with four flavours," Eli opened her wallet as Nozomi choked on her own breath.
"E-Elichi!"
"Quiet you," Eli grinned and pulled out a wad of cash as the man took a pamphlet from the counter to give to the florist.
"These are the flavours available for the e-cigarette."
Eli peered at them as Nozomi's brow twitched.
"Look, Nozomi! They have peppermint!"
"Elichi, this is ridiculous," Nozomi hissed and stuffed her hands into her pockets.
"They also have bubblegum, strawberries, honeydew, caramel –"
Nozomi wretched as Eli handed the pamphlet back to the man.
"We'll take peppermint, watermelon, coffee and chocolate."
"Why chocolate?"
"Because I want to try it."
"Eli, you don't even smoke!"
"You're right, I don't smoke, but I'll try vaping chocolate just once."
Eli left the store with Nozomi trudging behind her, mumbling under her breath.
"Chin up, Nozomi!" Eli shot a wicked grin at the artist and pulled out the e-cigarette.
"Here, since you've been dying for a smoke,"
Nozomi scowled, but she took the e-cig nonetheless. The man had preset the peppermint flavour before they left.
Nozomi stared at the e-cigarette and wrinkled her nose, then took it out of Eli's hand.
The small item was surprising in weight, but that was probably due to the mechanics.
"Give it a try," Eli urged her girlfriend lightly. With a sigh of defeat, Nozomi put the e-cig to her lips, and inhaled.
She knew Eli was just looking out for her, wanting her to be healthier, but Nozomi knew that if she did want to quit smoking, it would be a rocky road.
She inhaled, and the taste of peppermint flooded her mouth. It was clearly synthetic, and not as strong as tobacco, but her body felt no change.
When Nozomi exhaled, Eli looked at her like a proud mother.
"How was it?" She asked, taking Nozomi's hand and leading her back to the markets.
The only answer was a shrug, "It's weird, but I guess I'll have to keep trying."
Nozomi's pocket buzzed.
"Hmm?" She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone.
The caller ID made her heart stop.