And it came to pass (attn Izzy, Jett, Ben, Eden)

[Eden Patridge]

"Yeah...clearly this isn't the time or place to talk about this," Eden agreed, still stressed out about the whole thing. Eden was going to have to get together with Jett sometime this weekend and they were going to have to figure out what to do. Ben and Izzy seemed to think the idea of Eden and Jett together was crazy, which was good, but they hadn't exactly played it cool and she was pretty sure that they knew something was up.

"Yeah," Ben agreed, looking from Jett to Eden who still looked distraught. He didn't really believe that Aly was just causing drama...okay, he did believe that...it was more how she'd pointed out the signs that Eden had been with someone. Those had all been dead on from his sister's messy hair to disheveled clothes.... They'd driven to school together and she'd been completely put together and then she'd shown up to first period as if she'd just rolled out of bed. Up until now, Ben assumed that his sister had been making out with Cole or something since they had gone out a few times. He figured she was just too embarrassed to tell him. But now...the way Jett was acting...could it really just be one big coincidence? And what about how he'd seen them acting all friendly in the hallway the other day...

Taki excused himself for a moment and Ben remained quiet. He pulled out his phone, pretending he was just playing around with it for a moment when he really quickly texted Izzy, since he didn't want to say anything while Jett and Eden were standing right there.

idk about all this...Jett/Eden sounds totally crazy but it seems like they're hiding something. Could the "blonde" be Eden? He texted to her before sliding his phone back into his pocket. He did this all very nonchalantly so it wasn't obvious that he'd texted Izzy. He just hoped she already had her phone on silent for the services...or even didn't have it at all. He didn't want the other two hearing the beep of the text message. Plus, he wouldn't be able to actually talk to her about it till later, for now Ben was finished talked.

The silence between the four of them after Taki excused himself was heavy and awkward...or maybe it was just the sexual tension she was feeling standing this close to Jett. Eden found it quite unbearable. "What do you think is taking Taki so long?" she asked, obviously oblivious to the fact that the other boy was giving them all time to talk when here they were not talking about anything. "Maybe you should go get him, Iz...the service is probably going to start soon...right?" she said, hopefully glancing over her shoulder at the adults to see what they were up to. She knew it was wrong for her to be looking forward to the service...but anything was better than the current awkwardness. She was so totally going to kill Aly Durand the first chance she got!

[Jett Chen]

Jett nodded, "Look I am sure none of us are thinking clearly now anyway. This whole rumor is crazy so why don't we just forget it." jett said as stuffed his hands in his pockets. He could feel the tension too> The sexual tension that he got every time he was close to Eden. It just made him look even more guilty. Jett took a few steps back in order to lose the tension and wipe the guilty look off his face. Jett hated lying to Ben and Izzy and thats what he was doing.

Luckily Izzy had her phone in her hand when she saw a blue light blinking, which meant she had a text. She quickly checked the phone and looked from Jett to Eden back to Jett. Jett looked guilty as hell. "Jett look, you don't have to be embarrassed or nervous about this rumor, its just us. Who cares if it was Aly....no one will hold it against you." izzy said on purpose.

Jett looked away when he answered, "Yeah of course, look they are motioning for us. Jett said still avoiding eye contact, which meant he was lying. Jett was not bragging another sign. Izzy typed a quick message back to Ben. "Jett avoided me....he is hiding something..what if it is...them" Izzy pressed the send button.

She looked at Eden and smiled. "Are you okay? I mean it must be hard having everyone lying about you around school." Izzy offered her friend another hug. "I will go get him." Izzy excused herself for a brief moment as she went to go look for Taki. she found him sitting down.

"There you are, hiding from us. Sorry about the awkwardness. It must be the whole funeral service and stuff. Never makes conversation very easy. I hope we didn't put you out or anything. " It was Izzy's mother's funeral and she was worried about Taki feeling as if he didn't fit in.

[fryn]

Takumi glanced up when he heard someone approaching and he smiled when he saw the person was Izzy. "Not really hiding," he replied. "Just giving you privacy." He paused and frowned. "That is the right word? Time to talk about the rumour. I think I was in the way a bit." For 'a bit' read 'a lot'. "But no, I wasn't put out," he assured her. "It is time for the ceremony to start?" He could hear voices in the hallway. Adult voices and all speaking in rapid Korean. At least, he assume it was Korean. It sounded like Izzy's father's voice anyway, telling him the family had arrived and so the funeral was likely to begin shortly.

He got to his feet and straightened his jacket, lifting his chin high when Izzy reached up to tighten the knot of his tie. "Arigatou," he murmured and he grasped her hand firmly in his as they headed out to meet the rest of her family.

Kim-san threw Takumi an cold look but he seemed to approve - slightly - of his clothing. That was a huge step in the right direction. He smiled at the rest of her relatives in turn, earning himself a mixture of responses. Some spoke, others smiled back... but one or two of them mimicked Mr Kim's own reception and Takumi looked down at his borrowed shoes, willing himself to merge into the wallpaper and vanish. That wasn't going to happen - as well he knew - and so instead he resigned himself to a somewhat awkeard afternoon.

It would all be over soon enough... right?

[Izzy Chen]

Izzy knew most of her friends would be coming by after school. Like Cat, maybe Sidra, Mal. They would all be here after school, which was fine. This whole first ceremony was more for family and close friends like Eden and her parents. It was to be more intimate. Then came the celebration that her mother was moving on and her spirit being accepted up into the heavens. It would run late into the night probably. Izzy fixed Taki's tie and led him outside.

She motioned for Jett, Eden and Ben to follow. It would not last too long. But she kind of felt bad. Izzy felt as if she was forcing people to be here. Was she forcing Taki? Her friends? Who really wanted to come to a wake or a funeral. Izzy would not be there if it wasn't the fact it was her mother. Okay maybe she would go to a friends place if they had a funeral, but the point was, she was feeling pity , and thinking she was a bad girlfriend, cause she had been a bad daughter by fighting with her mother that day. Taki did not look comfortable at all, and things with Jett, Eden and Ben felt weird.

The ceremony lasted almost all of lunch time. It would bee very soon when the wake started, that afternoon. The family ceremony was nice, and was both in Korean and English and it ended with Jett and Izzy spreading their moms ashes over the rose bushes. Then everyone was directed back inside to offer condolences and talk. Soon everyone else would arrive.

The kids were alone out in the garden once more. Jett was avoiding looking at Ben and Eden. He sighed, "I am going to grab a drink, anyone want?" Jett asked. Izzy nodded and pulled Jett down, "With a kick." Izzy asked softly. She needed something. She felt edgy almost. Like she was itching to get out of her own skin as she separated from the group to look at the roses.

Jett watched Izzy go and turned toward Taki, "Thanks for coming man. I am not sure she would be so well put together without you. Let me know when you need to head home and I can take over. Especially if you want to change. I am about to go change my self."

[fryn]

The ceremony was serene. It passed in an almost dream-like state for Yoshino Takumi. Partly that was due to the fact that he only really understood one word in twenty. No, make that thirty. He did grasp enough to understand the basics but he was relieved that all he was called upon to do was either sit or stand - depending on what the other people around him were doing at the time.

Finally it was over and Takumi wasn't sure he'd be able to look at those roses in the same light from now on. Still, Izzy had her mother close by now... and for always.

The five of them were outside, giving the adults time to chat, and Jett said something about fetching drinks. Izzy walked over to the roses and Takumi left her alone to have a moment with her mother. He glanced at Jett as he spoke. "I wouldn't have even thought about not coming," he replied with a wry smile. "I might not understand the ceremony or what it all meant but I wanted to be here for Izzy... and for you. I have my Vespa here and so can easily run home to change. I will do that shortly but first I would like to help you get the drinks for the others... if that's ok."

"Sure," Jett replied and Takumi trailed after him into the house.

"Jett-san," he began as the other boy rummaged for glasses. Takumi had perched ona high barstool set to the side of the kitchen counter. "Is everything ok between Izzy and her father. I mentioned him to her and she seemed... sadder than ever. Have they argued do you know?"

[Izzy Chen]

Jett gave Eden and Ben a look before he disappeared. The less time he spent around them the better. He got the drinks and swiped some of the gin his mom had and poured some into his cup and the cup he planed to give to Izzy. "Want a little? Helps keep the whole nervous, sad feelings off." he explained as he filled the cups up with juice. He could see Eden and BEn chatting and looking his way wondering what he was going to do now. Damn it. Why did that punk have to walk in on them.

Jett was dragged from his thoughts when Taki asked him a question. He looked around to make sure they were alone, "Don't....ask her about her father. Better thing to ask is what father?" Jett could tell Taki did not understand. "There was no threat of her going back to Korea. None. Her father never planned on taking her even if he is her legal guardian now. She would never be accepted by his family cause she wasn't born in a proper Korean marriage." Jett explained. He sighed and rubbed his temple for a moment.

"Izzy is not like me. I never had my father in and out of my life like she does. Mr. Kim swoops in one moment and leaves the next, always getting her hopes up and crashing them down. Izzy has cried to many tears over that man. If you want his approval...you should get an approval to kick his ass." Jet said, "Come on..let's get back outside."

Jett handed people their drinks and took Izzy hers. "Extra special sis." he kissed her forehead and smiled. 'You got a good boyfriend over there." Jett mentioned.

Izzy had been saying sorry over and over to her mother. Sorry that she did this to her. That her words killed her. She smiled when Jett joined her. "I just want them all to go home and things to be back to normal." She sipped her drink with the special kick. "Lets go join the others.

"Do we have to."

"Yes they are our friends despite this rumor." Izzy dragged Jett back over as she stood next to Taki, "is that hello Kitty on your socks." She smiled. "I like them."

[fryn]

Takumi had declined the addition of alcohol into his drink. He rarely - if ever - drank that sort of thing and never when he knew he had to make a trip on his Vespa. He sipped the juice slowly as he walked around the small garden. He glanced over at Jett and Izzy where they spoke together by the rose bush and he could tell they were both reluctant to rejoin the rest of them. That made him feel all the more out of place. He knew he was here for Izzy but he wasn't so sure she wanted him there as much as Jett made out.

He frowned slightly and stared down into his glass of juice, looking up when he heard the siblings return. Izzy walked over to where he stood and offered him a smile. To his credit, he managed to rustle up a half decent one in response, despite his heart far from being in it.

"Hai... it is her," he replied and he pulled up the leg of his father's pants to show Izzy more of his sock. "I suppose I couldn't go completely without some colour," he admitted.

He set his part empty glass down on a small bird table. "I really should pay my respects to Kim-san," he added, relactant to do that and yet knowing ettiquette decreed he had no choice.

He straightened his jacket and headed inside and over to where Mr Kim was talking with some of the other relatives. Takumi waited politely until they'd finished before placing himself before the older man. Feet togather, back straight and hands clasped before him. Takumi bowed his head slightly.

"Kokoro yori okuyami moushiagemasu," he said in something of a rush. The traditional Japanese offer of condolence, literally meaning 'from the heart I give you my condolences'... not that Mr Kim would know that and so he uttered an English version. "I wish to offer my heartfelt condolences," he said, having memorised that phrase. His head remained bowed and would do so until Mr Kim responded.

[Izzy Chen]

"I like your color." Izzy said softly. It made her feel better, cause to be honest, she could not get use to seeing Taki in normal clothes. She liked his style. So to know he had on Hello Kitty socks made her smile a little inside. She finished her drink and threw her cup into the nearest trash bin. But then he wanted to pay respects to her father, "Oh you don't....." But it was too late. Taki was gone.

Jett looked at Izzy, "What is it..you keep scaring the poor boy away. Thats the third time.." Jett was trying to make a joke. "It's a joke Iz. I know this is an emotional day, but take a joke alright. You got a good guy there." Jett said. "This is hard on all of us."

Izzy sighed, "Yeah but...." She slumped her shoulders down, "I don't know." She said a little depressed.

Mr. Kim turned to see Takumi standing there. "Thank you Takumi. Means a lot to have you say this and be here today. Thew gift was appreciated too." Mr. Kim said a hard look still on his face. He was till not sure what to make of the kid. The kid was nice, but he was not traditional in terms of clothes and he seemed a bit of a free spirit, but he cleaned up well.

Mr. Kim motioned for Takumi to stand and held out his hand, "It was a pleasure meeting you. You have been most enlightening." He told Takumi. There was no mention of meeting again or seeing him again. It was a simple nice to have met you. "I can tell you make my daughter very happy. That warms my heart." He might not act like a dad, but Mr. Kim had a soft spot for his daughter.

[fryn]

Takumi nodded. "I hope I make her happy, Kim-san," he replied. "I am honoured to have had the chance to meet you but wish it had been for another reason." Funerals were never the best occasions. He nodded once more and to each of the others present in turn before heading back out to where he'd left Izzy. She was with her brother and the pair were talking. He hesitated, unsure if he would be interrupting them but then Izzy glanced up and he smiled at her.

He wandered over, loosening his tie as he went and unbuttoning the top two fastenings of his shirt. "Your father was nice to me," he said in surprise. "He actually said he was glad to have met me." Takumi felt an over-whelming sense of relief, knowing their first encounter hadn't gone quite so well. He was glad he'd opted to wear the white shirt and not the other one he'd been considering. Funerals weren't really the time of place for such bright clothing.

"You said this will go on into the evening, yes?" Izzy nodded. "And will you change out of your black dress? I'm not sure whether to go home and change or stay as I am. What should I do?" No way did Takumi want to risk annoying Mr Kim again. Not after such a promising exchange.

[Izzy Chen]

"I am glad you and my father have found some middle ground." Not that she cared if her father approved. He had no right to say anything, but she knew it meant a lot to Taki. So, although she knew her father might not completely approve, she was glad he accepted it and that Taki felt better about meeting her dad now. Cause that had been a bit embarrassing. Then again most parents were embarrassing.

Jett nodded, "Yeah man, its a bit more casual. So you can loosen up a bit. I have a few shirts that might fit you, I have been meaning to get rid of them, but keep the pants...I don't have pants"

Izzy looked at Taki. "Yeah just a bit more informal. Black represents sadness, so adding a bit more color gives hope to looking toward a bright future and lets the person who died know that the people left behind are happy." Izzy explained. "So the socks should come out to play." She smirked.

Izzy sighed. She just felt so sad and stressed. "Are you doing okay?" She asked Taki. She knew he struggled with English and it just now occurred to her that he had probably been behind in the whole ceremony.

Jett eyed Ben and Izzy, "I think I am gonna go change." He said avoiding yet another glare from Ben as he looked toward Eden. Once Jett disappeared, so did Ben and Eden, leaving Taki and Izzy alone.

"We can start by loosening the tie." She smiled tugging on the tie a little. "Thanks again for coming. I really needed your support. I know this is not an ideal place to bring a boyfriend, but thanks..." She said it him.