Waiting at the pier - Takumi (tag Iz)

[fryn]

Takumi had spent a pleasant lunch break with Lia. It was good to catch up on all of her news as well as to finally be able to give her the gift he'd been carrying around in his pocket for the past few days. Before class he'd sent a reply to Izzy, telling her the pier after school was fine and that he was sorry she'd been unable to make it for lunch. He knew she would have liked the opportunity to talk with Lia also.

For now, though, he was heading towards the pier and as he walked he glanced skywards when he heard the distant rumble of thunder. A storm perhaps was approaching? It was certainly humid enough for that to happen and the temperature was enough to see him clad in only a pair of very worn jeans and an equally loved t-shirt that bore a few katakana symbols. It was probably better that he didn't translate the meaning.

He perched on a section of wooden railing near the far end of the pier, gazing out across the ocean. It looked so flat and calm and yet he knew that it would be a very different scene once the storm made her appearance. Hopefully the rain would at least hold off until Izzy arrived...

[Izzy Chen]

Izzy felt super bad. Taki asks her out and then she stand shim up at lunch. She much rather would have been with him, but her editor went on a rampage and insisted that everyone on the paper either leave the paper or redo the edition and Izzy loved the paper too much to leave, so...she stayed against her better judgment. However, this time there was no standing Taki up. Izzy had her afternoon clear...as usual.

So she made her way to the Pier to meet Taki. Of course Izzy went home first to drop her books off and stuff. Then she hopped in her car and drove to the Pier. She parked and got out to search for Taki. She found him easily. He was not hard to miss which was a good thing, because sometimes looking around was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Izzy smiled as she walked over to Taki and tapped his should, "Penny for your thoughts?" She said in a sweet voice, with a soft smile, "Again sorry about this afternoon. I missed you. Believe me I would have much rather met you for lunch then work on the paper, but my editor is a slave driver at times." Izzy told Taki with laughter in her voice.

[fryn]

"Izzy!" he enthused, turning when he felt the hand on his shoulder. "My thoughts?" He frowned. "You wish to buy them?" Izzy laughed a little and Takumi smiled back at her. The phrase had to be yet another hard to understand American one and he'd work out what it meant in time. Possibly something to do with the fact he'd been staring at the sea and a good million miles away from the pier - at least inside his head.

"Please... don't apologise ok? You couldn't help it if your editor needed you. I found Lia. She was feeding the fish!" he stated with a laugh. "I ended up sharing half of my bento with her. She didn't seem all that happy, though, but said she was just tired." He frowned slightly. "I think she is worried about her brother. The older one... Saint. You've met him, haven't you? It must be so hard to lose your sight like he did. I can't imagine not seeing the sea... a sunset... your face."

Takumi looked away, the soft hue of the start of a blush beginning to form. All too often he say what he'd simply meant to think. And all too often he'd end up embarassing himself.

[Izzy Chen]

Izzy laughed at Taki's misunderstanding of the phrase. She did not mean to confuse him, so she figured she should explain, "No, it's an expression. It just means talk to me. Tell me whats on your mind. People tend to say it when they think something is bothering someone." She explained and hoped that it worked. She hoped he understood. Sometimes it could be hard to explain. Expressions always were. Either way she hoped he understood, if not hopefully he would one day.

"I know but I really wanted to see you at lunch." She told Taki. She was looking forward to sharing a lunch with him. Oh well. There would be many more. "Yes I met him in the hospital, poor Lia, it must be hard. I would love to help out more if I can, but I do not know. She probably needs a good nights sleep. it can be hard to get sometimes." Izzy said feeling bad for her friend, "Maybe we should all hang out one night. You, Lia and I. We go grab some food, maybe see a movie. Something to cheer her up." Izzy offered.

Izzy blushed when he said the last comment, "You are far too kind Taki." She said as she leaned up and kissed Taki's cheek. "Thanks. I know I would miss your face too. I hope Saint does get his sigh back. its amazing the simple pleasures people take for granted these days....its sad too."

[fryn]

"I think that is a great idea!" Takumi replied with a bright smile. "It would be good for us to all be together and if we can cheer her up then it is even better!" Already he was starting to put a plan together. "Perhaps one night after school," he added as a suggestion. The weekend was alread looking pretty busy - not that he was in any way voicing a complaint at that.

Takumi's smile deepened even more when Izzy kissed his cheek and he couldn't miss the blush that filled her face. One that matched his own - of that he had no doubt. "So he might be able to see again in time? That would be amazing if so!" he enthused. Takumi had just assumed he'd lost it for good but while there was a chance that could change then there was also hope. "But yes, taking what we have for granted is a crime we are all found guilty of," he continued. That day... when the guns had been fired and the school held hostage... it had changed them all. Some more obviously than others, as in the case of Saint Juarez.

"But we are here to be happy," Taki stated. "The afternoon is far too nice to make ourselves sad." He jumped down off the railing and grasped Izzy's hand. "Let's walk for a while and then you can tell me more of these strange expressions I keep on hearing. Like what is 'sup'? A few of the other boys have said that to me today and it seems to come with an odd upward nod." He threw her a grin. "Can you explain it? And as thanks I will buy you some of otouto-san's cotton candy." Not that it actually belonged to Thad - just that he was the one who introduced Takumi to the sweet.

[Izzy Chen]

Izzy nodded. "I think she could use it and I am free everyday after school. I usually work on the paper in the morning and sometimes at Lunch so I can have after school off." Izzy explained. "I can't wait." Man, she already had more of a social life. usually Jett dragged her off to these things, but now it was all her. She agreed with Taki. "Yes I hope he can one day regain his sight." She said to him. "It is sad to take things for granted, but we are all blessed in one way or another." Those who lost something, always had something else to compensate. Although it was never easy.

Izzy easily smiled and took Taki's hand when he suggested they walk. She leaned up and placed another kiss on his lips. She felt like it was her dream all over again, yet less scary. "I like the sound of that. Oh and we will have to get a funnel cake later.' She suggested. "Sup?" Izzy laughed at that. When he asked for her to explain it. "Ummm..its just another way asking you how you are doing? Its a slang word here." She had no other way of explaining it to be honest.

"You are going to have to meet my brother one day this week. I think he will like you. Although I will warn you, he will pull the protective older brother act, but he is a good guy." Jett always got protective at first when Izzy had guy friends. However, now she was going on a date with Taki, that might be different, but Izzy knew Jett would be cool with it, once he met Taki.

[fryn]

"I would very much like to meet your brother. I have seen him with you but have not spoken to him yet." Takumi looked a little concerned at her other comment. The one regarding him being protective. "I wouldn't let anyone hurt you, Izzy," he promised her. "I just hope Jett will see that." It was unusual for people not to take to the Japanese youth as his character was one of the friendliest but he knew there was always a first time for everything!

He settled close to Izzy and slipped his arms around her waist, drawing her close for another brief kiss.

"Lia said something about going camping. With her brother Jandro, too. Do you think Jett would like to go as well? I mean... that's assuming you like camping," he belatedly added with a grin. "I think it might be fun. Lia is keen to investigate the lighthouse and we could camp on the beach up there. We could also have a... um... I'm not sure what its called. Cooking on a fire on the beach....? That sounds as if it would be nice. What do you feel about the idea? Would you like to go?" He offered her another smile. "I know Lia would love you to be there and... it wouldn't be the same without you, Izzy!"

[Izzy Chen]

"Oh do not worry one bit. He will like you. Jett is friendly with everyone, but he will still pull the protective brother act. Brothers are like that. You have any siblings?" Izzy did not know if she had ever even asked that. Which was stupid of her not to. That should have been one of the first things she asked back when she first met him. God, she hoped she did not sound like an idiot right now. "Next time you see us together, feel free to come say hi." Izzy wondered if Taki knew Jett looked more African American then Korean. Most people knew who Jett was so Taki should know, but since Jett looked nothing like Izzy and Taki was new he might not. She would have to make sure and find Taki next time, with Jett in tow. For once she could drag him along.

Izzy settled at Taki's side and returned his quick kiss. Still just as good as the first one. This was unbelievable. Only a few hours and already they kissed more then once. That was the girl in her coming out. The one that wanted to fall on her bed, call Eden and giggle about kissing a guy she had a crush on.

"Camping.....I never thought of that. I have never really been camping, but after the light house adventure I think camping would be a fantastic idea." Izzy said with a big smile. "I will ask Jett, but he owes me, so he is coming. Besides he loves any idea to hang out and have fun." Izzy was already thinking about it, "Oh you mean a campire...or a bon fire it might be called. I can bring marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers and we can have s'mores." She wondered if Taki knew what a s'more was, if not she would gladly explained. She actually enjoyed helping Taki learn new things.

[fryn]

Takumi nodded. "I have two and I am in the middle," he told Izzy. "My brother, Fumihiro, is older than me and Mayuki... she is younger. Fumihiro really didn't want to leave Osaka and is still sulking," he added with a grin. "He is 19 and Mayuki is 11. Fumihiro is at university studing to be a doctor but Mayuki just wants to get married." He laughed. "At 11? A bit too soon perhaps! But I think I know who Jett is. Someone told me when I saw you with a boy. I thought he was our boyfriend," he admitted with a half smile. "I was glad to be told otherwise."

"Yes, a campfire. I think..." he replied. "You cook chicken and things on it." He frowned slightly. "These food items you mention... marshmallow, crackers.... I don't think i have had them before. I have never heard of the last one at all. Smores? I look forward to trying it," he added. Izzy wouldn't let him eat anything nasty. He trusted her completely. "We could make the camping trip as big as we want. Perhaps even invite Thad, Fallon and Sidra as well! They liked the lighthouse before." Mabe Evan and Dare? "Or we can just have the 5 of us if you like that idea better. You, me, Lia and your brothers." As long as it happened Takumi was easy with whatever was decided.

[fryn]

(bump - so yell at me... I can live with it ;P)