Hello Kitty [ATTN: Dare, Takumi]

[Dare Madison]

"Will we have a tea ceremony?" Dare asked as they went back out to the limo, who had always wondered about a ceremony for making tea and if it happened every time or just on special occasions.

They removed all the kitty's supplies which were about a hundred times as big as the kitten herself. Dare told the driver he could go and he would call when he needed him again. They carried the things inside.

"If you have a screw driver I could put together the scratching post and cat tree. The tree had been his contribution, basically a tube with shelves and places Ginger could hide and play. There was a string with a hanging cat nip mouse and a spring with fluffy yellow feathers. Do you know where you want it put?" Dare asked looking around and thinking a bedroom might be best so it wouldn't disrupt the symmetry of the living room.

[fryn]

"You would like that?" asked Takumi with a pleased smile. "I have learnt how to perform 'chanoyu'... the ceremony. I am not as good as my mother but I don't think you will notice my mistakes," he added with a laugh. "I would be honoured to serve you both tea." Taki didn't get the chance to perform the act enough times to perfect the art and so he could use the extra experience.

They carried the items inside the house with Takumi leading the way into the large utility room at the back. There he deposited the kitten's sleeping equipment and litter tray before making his way back to the living room.

"I think my father has some tools in the garage," he answered, vanishing and only to re-emerge moments later with a small box. He handed it to Dare, kneeling down to watch him construct the post. "I think we can put it up in here for now. I will ask kachan later where it should go but Ginger would probably feel happier in here for the moment. I may even get to put her in my bedroom," he added hopefully.

"You really want to see the 'chanoyu'?" His eyes told his two friends he would love to show them the ritual...

[Lace Kellan]

At the new information about Japanese culture, Lace nodded and thanked Takumi's mother. "I never knew that." She smiled with polite interest. When told of the special green tea, she nodded once again. "I like green tea. I'm sure I'll like this one."

They walked out of the house to get the cat supplies and started setting up in the garage like room. As she looked on to Dare's skillful building of the scartching post and tree, Ginger stirred awake in her arms and she looked down, tilting her head to the side curiously. Mewling softly, the tabby kitten batted a paw in the air to catch the boys' attention.

"I'd love to see the ritual," Lace voiced out. She had never seen one being done, although she knew it was a very big tradition in the Japanese culture. It would be interesting to see, she was sure. "And we still haven't seen Hashi yet...mustn't he get acquainted to Ginger first, you think?" she asked curiously. She knew there are quite a few dogs and cats that got along with each other but she also knew that the two animals' nature was to get up on each other's grill, so to speak. She really hoped the dachshund took well to the pretty little kitty in her arms.

[fryn]

"Ahh yes, of course!" Takumi replied. "I will go get Hashi..." He vanished yet again, back within moments with the golden long-haired dachshund.

He set Hashi down.

"Look," he said to the dog who sniffed at the kitten. "This is Ginger. Ginger, meet Hashi..." Takumi held his breath, praying the two would get along as well as he'd been sure they would...

Hashi sniffed once more before licking the kitten's left cheek. Ginger, in turn, batted playfully at the dog's floppy ear and Hashi yapped in excvitement. Within seconds the pair were chasing each other around the room, much to the amusement of the three youths watching. "That went well," Taki stated with a grin. "Hashi! Come here!" The stumpy legged dog waddled over and panted up at Takumi. "Lace-chan... Dare-kun... This is Hashi... " He peered down at his beloved dog. "Say 'hai', Hashi..." The dachsund yapped on command, one eye always on the kitten. He wanted to get back to their game...

[Dare Madison]

Dare was pretty good with his hands, he had helped build the loft sections in their apartment. He had been disappointed that the school had no shop classes. He really wanted to learn to build a guitar. He was going to spend part of the summer later in the year in England learning. He was very excited. The cat tree was relatively simple and he just needed Taki's help holding things in place a few times, mainly because it was taller than he was so they had to do it laying on the floor rather than upright.

Dare paused for a moment to pet the kitten who seemed fascinated with the building project. "We'll be done in a moment Ginger, but you'll have to wait for the glue to set," he informed the small bundle of orange fur. "You wouldn't want to get stuck to the carpet."

Dare's smile almost spoke for itself. "I really would like to see the ritual. I have heard about it for a long time. When I was in Japan we were supposed to go visit a Japanese family and observe it, but one of the band members ate something bad and we were at the hospital instead. It was disappointing, but I couldn't have gone alone and Dad thought I should be with them. I would like to see your bass too." Dare couldn't help it, he loved musical instruments.

[Dare Madison]

(ooc: sorry Fryn was faster than me need an addendum)

Dare grinned at the daschund who seemed delighted with his new companion. "Nice to meet you, Hashi," he said when the dog greeted them. "I think they will be best friends."

[Lace Kellan]

When Takumi came back with the dog, Lace squealed at how cute the dog was. "Oh my God, Takumi Hashi's adorable!" Lace went down to her knees to scratch behind Hashi's ears. She put Ginger down and the two animals instantly bonded. "Wow...that was fast." Lace grinned excitedly at her two friends.

With the two animals playing with each other, Lace rejoined her friends as she smiled down at the playful pets. "You're going to have such a good time having these two around, Takumi." The dark-haired girl squeezed Takumi's arms gently.

The dog waddled up to them and barked up on command. "He's precious!" She clapped her hands in excitement as the dog ran back to Ginger and they started playing again. "They will be the best of friends, Dare." She agreed wholeheartedly to Dare's prediction. "Oh my Gosh I can't believe how excited I am for Ginger to have such a beautiful home. Thank you so much for taking her, Takumi. I don't know you well but you're a complete saint to me right now." Lace pulled Takumi into a tight hug with her arms around his neck. She had to tiptoe a little since Takumi was way taller than her.

It felt both awkward and pleasant to be hugging someone. Once she was done with Takumi, she went to Dare and hugged him tightly as well. "You are awesome and thank you so much for being with us now. I appreciate that you're sharing this moment with us." She pulled away slightly but her arms were still around him. She smiled at him and pressed her lips on Dare's cheek. "You're a good friend, Dare." She smiled widely.

[fryn]

Takumi laughed as he hugged Lace back, wrapping his arms tightly around her. It felt good to be surrounded by such friends... and ones that weren't afraid to show their feelings. Both Lace and Dare had now hugged him... and he liked that feeling. The sense of belonging.

He dropped down next to Hashi and Ginger as Lace hugged Dare as well. In the kitchen his mother had already started to prepare the mochi that they'd eat with their tea but if the chanoyu was to be presented then he had some tasks to perform beforehand... Namely getting the ceremonial tea set out of the cupboard where it was kept.

"I won't be long," he told the other pair and he darted into the kitchen to find the items he needed.

Sonomi smiled as she watched her son, happy for him that he'd found such friends. "I have another person I need you to soon meet, kachan," he told her. He placed a chakin (a small square of hemp to wipe the tea bowls), three tea bowls, - or chawan, a small caddy of tea along with a small scoop. A chasen came next... A small bamboo whisk that he'd use to mix the tea leaves with the hot water.

"Who, Takumi?" she asked, still watching him.

"Her name is Izzy," he replied. "We are... ah... dating."

"Oh?" Sonomi's eyebrows rose. "Then indeed I must meet her... and soon!"

"Hai, kachan," he replied with a smile than screamed self-consciousness shyness and his mother's gaze tracked him as he left the room.

Takumi set the tray down onto the low table and then scurried over to rejoin Lace and Dare. "Did I miss anything?" he asked.

[Dare Madison]

Dare enjoyed the hug, but the kiss made him a bit uncomfortable. He hadn't thought that Lace harbored any feelings for him, but he couldn't remember if he had told her that he was gay or not. "Lace... can I ask you a question? Have you ever liked someone that made it obvious they only liked you as a friend and might even despise something about you that was integral to who you are?" he asked with a blush.

Dare played with Hashi and Ginger while he waited for Lace's answer. He mostly asked to divert her, but he was interested in her answer as well. He had no one to talk to about such things and he really needed a friend.

[Lace Kellan]

Having been left with Dare for a moment by Takumi, Lace dropped her hands to her side and stepped away from Dare only to play with the kitten and puppy. Getting bitten twice, both times by Hashi and playfully, Lace kept a safe distance from the Dachschund anyway.

Dare's question brought a quizzical look on the young girl's face. Tilting her head slightly to regard the senior, Lace shook her head slowly. The blush on her face was instantaneous as she had never been in a situation where unrequited love played a part. "I've never...well I've liked someone but it wasn't anything serious and...he couldn't have hated me for anything since I never talked to him..." her voice thinned by the end.

She saw the look on his face and her facial expression softened. "Are you...why would anyone hate what you are?" Lace asked. Dare was the sweetest guy she had ever met. He wasn't her type of guy, but then again...she never thought about what her type of guy was, but he seemed the type of guy who would take care of her if he wanted to.

Takumi's appearance made Lace turn her attention to him. "Not..really." She looked at Dare, wondering if it was supposed to be kept a secret.