Meet the parents Izzy tag Taki

[Izzy Chen]

Why was Izzy so nervous? She was just meeting Taki's parents. He already met hers and Taki assured her that she did not need to be nervous. Besides after her embarrassing break down and her father basically asking Taki if he had sex with her yet....well what could go wrong at his parents house. Izzy did not want to think about it. She just wanted to make a good impression. Izzy chose clack jeans, with black heels and a blue sweater shirt, that was actually pretty breezy.

Izzy told her father she would be home late. Although he knew where she was going, Izzy rushed out the door before her father could attempt to actually parent her. She still did not consider her father a parent. Not yet. Especially since it was confirmed. He was leaving with the rest of the family on Saturday and Izzy was to stay in America cause she was not his in the eyes of his family back home. What ever that meant.

It was good news mixed with news Izzy had accepted a long time ago. Either way that was not about to ruin her night. She decided to bring something with her. An apple pie. She hoped that even if Taki's family did not eat it, that the gesture would be appreciated. Izzy got into her car and made the drive over to Taki's house. She was early, but Taki was expecting her cause they were going to hang out in his room for a bit before dinner.

Izzy got out at his place and walked up to the door. She knocked and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Once the door began to open Izzy felt this sudden rush of nerves. She smiled so no one could tell she was nervous. She had practice from all the parties she attended with her mother. Izzy had a feeling by the end of the night she would think herself stupid for being so nervous. "Hi I am Izzy..."

[fryn]

"Imouto! Hurry up and clean up your books! Okasan, tell her to hurry up. Izzy will be here soon and her stuff is all over the place!"

"Sonomi peered into the room, seeing Takumi scowling down at his younger sister who was taking her time clearing away her homework. "Mayuki, take them upstairs right away."

"Hai, mama," she replied and instantly obeyed.

Takumi muttered beneath his breath.

"Mama! Takumi called me a bad name!"

"I did not!" he protested.

"Did too!"

"Enough!" Sonomi interrupted. "Go, Mayuki and Takumi... come and help me lay the table."

"Hai, mama," he replied.

* * *

He was ready well in time and waiting for Izzy to arrive. "Leave the curtains alone, Takumi. She will be here when she's ready," stated his father. Finally that moment arrived and he ran to the door, eager for her to meet his family.

"Hi, I am Izzy..."

"This is my mother... and my father. That is Mayuki," he said in introduction.

Sonomi stepped forwards first and clasped her hands before her, dipping her head in respect. "I have heard a lot about you, Izzy," she said in her gentle voice. "I am angry with Takumi for making me wait this long to meet you, though!" She wasn't of course, and her son knew that.

[Izzy Chen]

"Nice to finally meet everyone. I brought an apple pie. I was hoping you wouldn't mind. Its my favorite kind and I wanted to share it with Taki and his family. It's a Korean custom to bring a gift to the home of someone you care about." She knew about Korean customs. Her mother taught her in case she ever went to Korea. She hoped they liked the gift. She had read up on Japanese culture and sometimes they would refuse a gift, but in Korean culture it was a sign of respect to give a gift, so it would be interesting to see what happened.

"He has been keeping me all to himself...." Izzy joked, "I am happy to finally meet all of you. Taki has told me a lot about you all, and it;s nice to finally put faces to the names." She hoped they understood the joke. They might not. She had to remember that they had not lived in America for all that long. Still they all seemed so nice. "You must be Taki's sister." Izzy said to the the shorter girl, "I have an older brother too, so I know what its like...I hope Taki treats you well." She said smiling.

Izzy walked into the house, "Do I leave my shoes by the door?" She asked. She didn't want to offend anyone and she knew some people liked shoes to be left by the door, so as not to track in mud or dirt or anything like that. She didn't mind at all. Heck half the time she hated walking around in shoes. She preferred the beach with the sand between her toes. It always felt nice.

[fryn]

Sonomi took the offered gift with a warm smile. It wasn't unusual to give food as presents in Japan. Ornaments and such like were seen, though, as insulting as it inferred the giver's tatse in articles like that was better than the recipient's. Food, though, was perfectly fine. We shall have it after our meal," she promised Izzy.

Mayuki smiled sweetly at Izzy and nodded her head when addressed. "He treats me badly," she pouted.

"I do not! Mayuki don't lie!"

His sister laughed. "Sometimes. Like earlier when I had my books all over the sitting room. He yelled at me."

"Only a bit and you were being annoying," he pointed out.

"Sisters are supposed to be annoying," Mayuki replied.

She had a point.

Takumi looked back at Izzy with an apologetic grin. "Hai. Leave your shoes," he replied as he kicked off his own and arranged them neatly to one side of the door. "Other than that this isn't all that unlike any other western home. Except the food will be different and we eat sitting on the floor. Well, on cushions."

"And in the winter the table is sooo warm!" Mayuki interjected.

"There is a heater underneath it and a sort of... ah... " He frowned, trying to remember the word.

"Duvet," Takumi," his mother called out from the kitchen.

"Yes, it has a duvet attached to it so we can all stay warm. Mayuki is usually asleep under it!"

She nodded in agreement. It was, after all, very true.

"Let me show you my room," he added.

[Izzy Chen]

Izzy pushed her shoes off to the side like Taki did. She smiled at his little sister. "My brother is like that. He annoys me too. You know what I do....I mess with his stuff to get him to stop." Izzy winked. She smirked at Taki, "Of course you should not do that to Taki....never." Izzy laughed and lightly bumped Taki with her shoulder to show she was kidding, "you have a nice home." It was smaller then hers, but her mother had always been a bit on the flashy side. She was an actress and she loved to show off.

But she liked Taki's home. It looked more homey then hers did. "That sounds nice. They eat like that in Korea as well, but my mother...she always said sitting on the floor hurt her knees, so she prefered a table." Which was unfortunate, but still she would get a chance to now at least.

Izzy took Taki's hand. "It is nice to be here and to meet you all. " She told the family as Taki led her to his room, "Your family is lovely. Definitely different from my dad. Your sister is funny. I would like to be here in the winter to experience the Duvet. I admit I was a tad bit nervous. I see now I have nothing to worry about." As Izzy walked up the stairs her foot caught on one of the steps and she fell against Taki in a rather embaressing and compromising position.

[fryn]

Takumi shot Izzy a look of sheer shock. "Mayuki? Funny? I am most impressed that you were able to use those two words in the same sentence!" He caught Izzy as she tripped and held her tightly to him

"Mama! He's being mean about me! And... ew! They are cuddling!"

"Leave them, Mayuki," their mother said and Mayuki stuck her tongue out at her older brother who laughed as he led Izzy upstairs. "Otosan and Fumihiro will be home later," he told her. "And then you will have met them all. I'm glad you like my mother and... the brat." He shot Izzy a quick glance. "Brat... That's not a rude word, is it?" He loved his little sister with all of his heart despite their bickering and would never knowingly insult her.

Izzy laughed and shook her head... much to Takumi's relief.

The Yoshino house had been decorated in the traditional Japanese manner. Externally it looked the same as every other house in the street but inside it was painted white and very minimalist with a few Japanese decorations scattered around. His room wasn't a great deal different although it wouldn't have hurt to have witnessed a slight decluttering. At least it wa sreasonably tidy and he threw his back down onto the futon he used for sleep, turning back to face Izzy. "it isn't much but... I like my room," he said with a grin. In one corner stood his two guitars - one red and the other black and white, with a shelf filled with manga off to the left. The 'shrine' in the far corner was devoted to Helly Kitty and his other collection - countless nendoroids - were sitiated in a tall glass cabinet in the opposite corner. A TV set and DVD player stood on a low table alongside his X-Box and CD player.

"What would you like to do?" he asked as he crossed the room and opened the double doors that led out onto a narrow balcony that overlooked the rear garden. He couldn't wait for the sakura tree they'd planted on arrival to grow and blossom as it would be right outside his window.

[Izzy Chen]

Izzy laughed as Taki led her up the stairs. She had blushed a tad, but of course she didn't mind Taki holding her tightly at all. She looked around his room. It was very nice. She nodded at him and smirked, "My brother has called me that more then a few times. He still does. Just goes to show girls do mature faster then boys." Izzy winked as she looked around the room, "its a nice room. You should see mine. Its not much better. Except mine is a shrine to movies and journalism." Izzy told him. she walked over to the balcony and looked over the railing, "Even from the second story that looks like a big drop." Now she was not afraid of heights, but looking down was still scary.

Izzy stepped back a little, "You did promise me a scary movie." Izzy said. "The Japan version of the ring. Its daylight and if I watch it now, maybe I won't be so scared." Izzy said smiling. It was her way of watching the movie like she promised, but in a not so scary setting. Which was fine by her. She started to laugh when Taki gave her a look, as if he could read her mind.

"It was either that or I kick your butt in a pillow fight and I have a feeling you would not like that very much." Although with that said Izzy picked one of the pillows off Taki's bed and threw it at him. Not hard, but she threw it right at him. It was easy enough to catch it. "So what will it be...a movie....or...a..." She gestured to the pillows. Izzy began to back up playfully just in case he decided to throw a pillow.

"Just remember I am a girl....you would never hit a girl would you?" Izzy said in a tatuning, but playful voice. Izzy was actually having fun for once. It was a nice relief since her mothers death. Apparently Taki had a very good effect on her.

[fryn]

Takumi was pleased Izzy liked his room and he wished he'd spent a bit more time tidying it last night. That said, it was pretty good for him as he usually had a whole stack of clothes on the far chair and his guitar leads strewn across the floor. He walked across to peer over the balcony at her side. "It's not all that far," he assured her. "See? You can even use that trellis to climb out." Or back in as he'd done a few times when he'd been late home.

He'd been about to suggest the movie when Izzy brought the subject up, punctuating her comment with a pillow that she hurled at his head. Takumi caught it against his chest and laughed. "I would most certainly hit a girl if it was in defense!" he exclaimed, laughing again. He batted the pillow around Izzy's backside, sending her sprawling against the bed.

"Movie is safer," he stated and he dropped down to rummage in the drwer beneath the DVD player. "I promised Ringu, yes? And far better to watch it during daylight. Even I am scared and I know how it ends!"

He slipped the disc into the machine and then threw himself onto the bed, patting one side to invite Izzy to join him.

The credits rolled and that all too familiar soundtrack began...

[Izzy Chen]

"Have you ever climbed up that thing? It might snap...." Although Izzy was a petite girl so she might be able to climb up and down that thing, but she was not about to try it. "You can climb up that and I will use the front door." She smirked. Izzy smiled at Taki and kissed him. It was a lovely view from the balconey. so why not kiss Taki right here. It was a perfect spot. Besides the door was closed so they had a bit of privacy. After the kiss is when the whole pillow fight happened. Granted she started it, but still.

Izzy fell against the bed laughing after Taki playfully hit her a few times with a pillow. "I call a rematch at a later date." She said smiling. She watched him put the movie in and then sit on the bed. Izzy joined Taki on the bed. She cuddled close to him and kissed him deeply before the movie started. She watched wondering if Taki had been joking, but sure enough not even ten minutes went by without Izzy burying her head into Taki's chest when she flinched at a scary part. "Oh that is not right. Not at all." She commented. "And you want me to watch this." She smirked as she came out of hiding.

More eerie music. More scary scenes. It was about half an hour into the movie and Izzy had hid a few times. Izzy looked at Taki, "I think I need a distraction from the scary movie." She claimed smiling as she leaned foward to kiss Taki. However right as she was about to kiss him.....

All the sudden the door opened and someone said, "Hi!" Izzy jumped letting out a tiny scream as she hid her face into Taki's chest, not realizing the door and the person was not a part of the movie. Someone had opened Taki's door and said hi.

[fryn]

Takumi had a feeling the movie would scare Izzy and, in fact, he jumped a few times despite knowing what was about to happen. Normally he would be watching it without the English subtitles, of course, but even they didn't detract from the eerie atmosphere. It was starting to get dark outside by now, making it all the more creepy.

They'd reached the part where a reporter, Asakawa Reiko finds an unlabeled tape in the reception room of the rental cottage where the missing teenagers stayed. of course, she had to watch it and as soon as it finished the phone rang.

It always rang. The disjointed voice... the curse. She has only a week to live.

The phone went dead and a silence hung over the room... both on the screen and in teh bedroom. Then the footsteps outside... And then the knock on the door...

Izzy screamed and buried her face when the door to Takumi's bedroom opened and Fumihiro's face appeared. The younger brother laughed and beckoned Fumihiro inside, putting the movie on pause.

"Izzy... it's ok. This is Fumihiro," he said with a grin.

"Aaah... Ringu," commented the elder Yoshino boy and Takumi nodded. "And the part when Reiko..."

"Hush, baka!" hissed Takumi. "You'll ruin it for Izzy!"