Looking for trouble - Ryu (open tag)

[Ryu Kobayashi]

By now Ryu's face was a black as thunder, arms crossed defiantly across his chest. The people of Japan were known throughout the world as being the most polite. Only bettered by Canadians, so he'd been informed. And yet she was declaring HE was being the rude one? So maybe he was being a touch arrogant but that was only his deep sense of personal pride coming to the fore. "It isn't only the school that I am struggling to adjust to," he finally forced out. "Everything here is... " He drew in a deep breath and huffed it out. "I diodn't want to come here and so far nothing has happened to make me feel like changing my mind.

"And no... I have no need of lessons from someone like you. I am struggling to make friends as it is!"

His eyes narrowed further but when he caught sight of the skateboarder heading their way his expression altered instantly. "Baka mitai!" he shouted for the second time but this warning was directed in general rather than at any person in particular. The skateboarder was oblivious, iPod buds attached to his ears as he focused on changing his playlist.

There was only one thing for it and Ryu hurled himself at his nemesis and pushed her clear and onto the grassy verge. She landed on her back with him sprawled over her.

Ryu muttered and rolled off as if scalded.

[Dani Johnson]

"If thats how you feel then I doubt anything will change your mind. Its clear to me you moved here with a bias already in place. And that means you will probably find everything to be wrong and nothing to be right." Dani said. If this guy was going toact like he had some big grudge then let him. "You obviously made your mind up about America before you got on the plane."

Dani didn't really mean to offer him lessons, but it did not shock her he refused. It would have shocked her had he agreed. "Change the perception and you might change that fact. How can you befriend people if you think everyone you meet is rude. I mean what does someone have to do to be your friend, grovel and beg." She said sarcastically. Yes, Dani knew she was probably making things worse. She had a bad habit of not knowing when to stop.

Dani's back was to the skateboarder. She did not seem him coming. Dani opened her mouth to say something when Ryu dove for her bringing her to the ground. "What the hell..." She muttered as she looked up to see Ryu on top of her and his face very close. Too close for comfort.

Oh thank god he rolled off, and thats when she saw the skateborder go by right over the spot they had just been standing. Well damn it, now she really did have a reason to be nice to the man. He had just saved her.

Dani looked at him, as her expression softened. "Thanks for that. I owe you one for it. " Dani said, and here it came. The apology t follow, cause he deserved it. But this would be the only time she would say it. "I am sorry. About my attitude and for bumping into you. You didn't deserve my rudeness and I was rude. Sorry." She spoke being genuine.

[Ryu Kobayashi]

Ryu's scowl faded slightly. Not much but then again, anything was an improvement... right? He peered at her in suspicion but her gratitude seemed heartfelt... as did her apology. Ryu had to admit that came as a complete shock.

"Dô itashi mashite," he finally replied. "You are welcome. I mean, I could hardly watch you get knocked over. No doubt you would have found a way to blame ME for it... and... perhaps some of the fault was mine," he added, albeit reluctantly. "Gomen ne." An apology... and one he hadn't thought he would utter.

He pushed himself to his feet and brushed his hands down his shirt front before reaching out to pull her upsright. "You have leaves... here," he added, touching how own hair.

Ryu, belatedly, looked around for the ignorant skateboarder but he was long gone. "Were you hurt?" he asked. Luckily Ryu didn't weigh all that heavily and so probably hadn't crushed her.

Much.

[Dani Johnson]

Dani wouldn't call Ryu a friend yet. She didn't even know his name was Ryu. But she knew when to admit defeat. She had been rude to begin with. He was right about that. She had snapped first. Even though she would not go that far to admit she had acted first, she could apologize for being rude in general. She was genuine about it. "I mean if you are willing to take fault, i won't stop you." Dani said with a small smile. She was teasing.

"You would be surprised. I am quite good at finding ways to blame other people for almost anything. I mean what teenager wants to admit their own faults." Dani spoke playfully. But it was true. Teenagers, well the ones she knew would like to place the blame at someone elses feet cause its easier. "No doubt that skateborder would have said we were in his way and we should ahve moved, had he hit us." She commented.

"Thanks for saying your sorry as well."If there was one phrase she knew in his language it was I'm sorry. That was something her dad had taught her.

Dani took his offered hand as she was pulled up. She began to rake her figners through her hair to get the leaves Ryu pointed out, out of her hair. "You mean besides my hurt pride and ego. I think I will live. Can't say the same for these pants. Those dirt stains will be hell to get out, bu I am good. You okay?"

[Ryu Kobayashi]

“Somehow I doubt I would be surprised at knowing you would lay blame anywhere but on your own doorstep,” he retorted but the harsh glare had left his eyes, to be replaced by a far more gentle glint that scream he was joking... for the most part. “So the skateboarder would have said we had been in his path? And tell me, just how does that differ from what you said to me?” The girl had claimed he’d been in her way, after all!

“I am perfectly ok,” he assured her. “I had a soft landing,” he added with a very brief grin. He’d ended up sprawled over her and so hadn’t even had a chance to bruise himself.

“Ryu,” he added, coming to a sudden decision. She might be a royal pain in the ass but having grappled her to the ground it might be an idea to share his name. “I am Ryu... Ryu Kobayashi...

[Dani Johnson]

"The difference is that you were in my way, just as much as I was in yours. The skateborder could have moved way easier then us since he is on wheels. Wew just so happen to run into each other. Its not like you saw me coming and I sure as hell didn't see you in my way until I hit you." She told him. "So there is a big difference. Besides I finally apologized for it." She reminded him. "Are you really shocked people are so rude? I mean why did you move here if you knew you were not going to like it. Sounds to me like you haven't even given America a chance.." Dani thought.

"I mean have you even tried to find something good about this place. It took me a while to find something good about it. I wasn't born here." Dani revealed to Ryu. She would bet that Ryu never considered the fact she was not born in the US.

"It's not a bad thing, but you do have to admit, you judged me the same way I judged you. I bet you, there is something about this Country you will like if you just give it a chance and stop holding a grudge over the fact you live here now." Dani said trying to sound serious as well as genuine. If he was stuck living here then he should start looking for something to like, cause it might be a while before he moved out.

"Nice to meet you Ryu. As for the soft landing, at least you are not as heavy as I thought you would be." She chuckled.

[Ryu Kobayashi]

"Yes I find it strange to be met with so much negativity," he admitted. "Where I am from it is rare to find so much rudeness... and so often!. And I didn't want to move here." He scowled. "I had no choice. It wasn't my decision." Not entirely true as it had been his sole decision to take part in that race. Getting caught and arrested hadn't been part of teh plan admittedly but... From there on his fate was, as it is said, sealed. America. The Land of Opportunity... and boredom... and rudeness... and misery...

Perhaps the girl was right in that he hadn't allowed the country a chance to prove its worth? What did he expect? That people would trip over their own feet to welcome him? No... The effort had to come from his side, it seemed.

"So tell me what you have found that is so marvellous about the USA," he challenged. "It isn;'t the food, that's for sure!" The sashimi here looked as if it' been lying around for days and there was no way in this or any other hell that Ryu would eat any of it!

He narrowed his eyes at her last comment. Was she being genuine? Was she truly pleased to meet him or simply using her apparent sarcasm once more?

'... just give it a chance...'

She'd said that only moments ago and so he inclined his head slightly. "Hajimemashite," he replied. "So what am I to call you?" he asked. He'd provided his name but hadnm't had one in return. "Or shall it continue to be chiisana?" She wasn't so obnoxious when she forgot to try.

[Dani Johnson]

"I found TV." She said to him. "I like to act and America has more of an an opportunity then South America." She told him. Not that she was admiting to being on TV or anything. Not yet anyway, but she was telling him about the acting at least. "Its not easy and took me a few years to find it, but I like it. At first I found it to be repulsive. I could not imagine how people could be so mean and do not get me started on the driving, but its gotten better." She told him.

"I have a feeling you will find something, just depends on what you like to do." Dani found what she liked to do and she loved America now. The question is would Ryu found the same thing, "What you don't like calling me Princess. I knew it. You just want my real name. Next you will be asking for my number." Dani said teasingly.

"Dani. You can call me Dani." She told him. "And I tell you what. Tell me something you would love to do in America and I bet I can find it for you." She said. Dani was not sure why she was even considering helping, but here she was. Trying to help a guy she had just been fighting with moments before.

[Ryu Kobayashi]

Dani. What was it with western girls who liked to use male names? First Jamie and now Dani? Maybe it was a cultural thing?

What did he like to do? Such an open question and if he answered her honestly then he might be opening a virtual Pandora's Box. "I like reading manga and watching anime," he replied. "Neither of which seem all that popular here... at least not in my language. And the anime voices they dub over are too annoying! Music. No one here seems to listen to J rock. I can't stand any of the music the other kids at school listen to."

He paused before adding his last interest. "Cars. I like to race cars. Not that I have a permit to drive nor do I own a car but neither of those things stopped me from racing in Tokyo. On the streets." He peered at Dani. "It is against the law..." That said, so was 'borrowing' the cars he raced.

"Think you can help me find a race?" He knew that answer before he even asked. She know as much about that as he did about the way girls brains worked. Talking of which...

He reached out to touch her hair. "Is that your natural colour or is it dyed? Girls back home are dark."

[Christina Durnham-Chang]

Tina wandered aimlessly around her adopted father's huge mansion. Next she went to the pool house trying to find her playboy brother,Tyler.Feeling at loose ends and very lone;y she went to the garage and climbed in her jazzy little sports car, the night was nice so she put the top down.The crisp air felt wonnderful in her hair as she pulled out on the shoreline highway.

After a bit she turned into a ddark neighborhood. In the gleam of her headlights she saw two teens.She recognized the blonde female from school.
"hi, Dani. Do you need a ride somewhwere?I am heading to themall for dessert and tea."She smiledwelcomingly noting Dani's companion was also Asian.































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