Taking some time out - Takumi - open tag

[fryn]

"Animal shelter?" Takumi looked aghast. "But Lace-chan... we would never see it again! No, we can't do that. If there is no safe place here on the school grounds I can take it home. That way you could come over and see it whenever you wanted and if you are ever allowed to have it for yourself you know I would take care of it in the meantime." Okāsan might be less enthusiastic but she would fall instantly in love with the kitten and so let him give it a home... Even if it turned out to be a temporary one. "I live at Venice Beach... Is that anywhere near to you? I have a scooter," he said. "Vespa," Takumi added proudly. He loved his little red scooter. "So I can pick you up to visit."

He nibbled at his portion of the sandwich, enjoying the taste and forgetting completely about the monstrosity he'd bought earlier. "Will it work? Our plan? I would hate to think of this poor little thing being cold and hungr... or sent to a shelter." He might not know how such places worked here in the US but he'd heard horror tales of similar animal shelters back home in Osaka. He wouldn't tell Lace anything about those, though!

[Lace Kellan]

Takumi's ardent refusal to let her give up the kitten was something she was happy about only because she usually ran into people who could not care any less for these animals. She loved animals more than she liked to be in the company of people until recently. If everyone she met were like Takumi or Theo or Dare, she was going to like being in the company of people much more.

The fact that he was willing to let the kitten stay with him perked her up very much. It also reminded her of Dare who would most likely want to see the kitten first...

"Oh! Dare would mostly definitely want to see this kitten too! Do you know Dare? I'm assuming you do since I assume you're a Gould." Lace smiled as she took her last bite of sandwich and picked the kitten up to brush her nose on its nose. "You're just way too precious to be in the shelter, aren't you?" Lace gushed. Although the animal shelter downtown was mildly decent and most of the animals have been adopted by really good families, Lace always felt a bit upset whenever she had to send a stray there.

"I live in Van Nuys." She stated like it was something understood. "I think this will work. I'd love to see this kitten a lot. And Dare would most likely do too. If you can't take care of this precious thing, I'm sure I can rope Dare in. He loves animals as much as me. Or...us, I suppose." She grinned and scratched the back of the kitten's ears. "Let's give her a name...I like Ginger. Original aren't I?"

[fryn]

"Dare-kun? Yes!" Takumi replied immediately. "I mwet him yesterday when I was with Evan. I like him a lot. We are to... ah... jam togather at the weekend." He frowned slightly, head listing a little to one side. "I think I remembered that word right. Jam? Play music. Yes?" Lace nodded and Taki's smile returned, glad he hadn't forgotten the odd little word.

"Sugoi! The it is sorted," he said when she told him where she lived. He hadn't a clue where that was but Izzy would be sure to know. Izzy was smart... She knew everything there was to know about the area. "Both you and Dare would be welcome at any time to visit. I would even make supper so you copuld stay a little longer." He paused. "You like Japanese food? I don't really know how to cook anything else but will hope to learn some Korean cooking soon. Will you be at Dare's home on Saturday?" At least he thought the music session was Saturday... Or was that bowling? He'd have to double check with the others.

"As for the name... Ginger... Its kawaii... Cute," he finished.

[Lace Kellan]

"Oh I like Dare too. He's amazing with animals...we've been walking dogs for a bit now." Lace beamed happily. Dare was such a nice guy and his cute boxer dog is so energetic and cute. She was glad she decided to take up his offer to walk their dogs together after that party.

Listening to Takumi talk about jamming, she smiled and nodded when he asked if that was the correct word. Lace didn't know much about a lot but even she knew what jamming was. "I'll tell Dare about it later after school." She nodded, the smile still intact.

"You can cook? That's cool! The only thing I can cook is uh...bacon and eggs." She chuckled as she pulled the kitten up to her face. "You're so cute..." she whispered before setting her down again on her lap. The kitten's energy seemed to be coming back again as she leapt off Lace's lap to prance to Takumi's side, raising one paw to swat at Takumi's knees. Mewing softly she cocked her little head up at the sandwich. Lace laughed at this. "I think she wants more of the bacon." Lace said.

When asked about this Saturday, she bit her lower lip and shook her head. "I have plans actually. There's a brunch at the Four Season's. Bree Marcus is hosting. But maybe afterwards I could come. It starts at 11. What time is this jamming session? I could swing by after."

"Really you like it?" Lace smiled sweetly and nodded. "Ginger it is." She turned to the kitten and tried out the name. "Hey Ginger..."

[fryn]

"I love it!" he assured her, smiling as he watched Lace call the kitten. The
small creature perked up its ears and abandoned Taki's leg, instead
preferring to seek out Lace's attentions. Who could blame the kitten for
that?

"We are to meet at Dare's house in the afternoon so I'm sure we will still
be there when you have finished your brunch. Dare and Evan said to ask
whoever we wanted and as you already are friends with Dare I am sure he will
be even more pleased." Takumi looked a little less certain as he continued.
"That is... once I discover where Dare actually lives. I didn't think to ask
him but you know so it is all good." He rummaged in a spacious pocket and
drew out a scrap of card... the backing of a set of Hello Kitty pin
badges... and the stump of a pretty old pencil.

He held the pencil stub poised over the card and glanced up at her. "You can give me
his address....?" It wouldn't mean much to Takumi as he probably wouldn't
have heard of the area but google.co.jp would be sure to help him locate the
street.

[Lace Kellan]

When the kitten came back to Lace, she used a finger to move about in front of the kitten's face, making it move its head according to where Lace moved her finger. She giggled at the kitten's actions, thinking it would be so nice to have a kitten at home. But she supposed she was quite content with her dog walking business now. At least for a few hours a day, she could feel a sense of being needed and wanted by her canine companions.

At Takumi's continuance, Lace looked up to face him, listening to him intently and nodding appropriately. When Takumi hit a snag at the address, she nodded and gave him Dare's address. She hadn't been up to Dare's house obviously but she's passed the building plenty of times to head down to Venice beach where she usually let the dogs run wild. "Why don't you get Evan to meet you somewhere you know and then you both could head down to Dare's apartment?" She suggested as she stroked the kitten's body.

Now she hoped the brunch would end early so she could get to Dare's house. She had never been to a jamming session before so she thought it would be exciting. Especially if it meant she would be seeing Dare and Takumi again.

[fryn]

He quickly scribbled Dare's address onto the scrap of card. "Union Lofts... 8th and Hill... got it," he repeated. Apartment 1001, penthouse." He shot Lace a look of sheer panic. "It sounds very confusing. It is in a block of buildings? Like a... high rise... yes?" Lace nodded. "I think I will do as you suggest and meet Evan first!" he added. He'd never find this place. Not in a million years. google japan probably didn't work in 3 dimensions and while locating 8th and Hill - where those 2 different roads? - he highly doubted it would stretch as far as the uppermost apartment. "Ah so... Downtown Los Angeles," he said to himself. "That is a little easier to find as it is of a decent size. Nothing like Osaka," he added with a rueful grin.

The afternoon bell rang out and Takumi frowned slightly. "We should hide... Ginger and then I can collect her after the last lesson." He peered at Lace, a concerned look etched onto his face. "Are you sure you are ok with me taking her? I promise I will care for her..." The last thing he wanted was for Lace to feel he'd steam-rollered her into this decision. The kitten was hers, after all... not his. He was just babysitting. Ok... kittensitting.

[Lace Kellan]

Lace nodded as Takumi repeated Dare's address as she continued playing with Ginger who looked like she was about to drop to sleep. She laid the piece of cloth she had used previously to cover Ginger on the grass and placed the sleepy kitten on it. Immediately the baby feline curled up into a ball, her tail practically wrapped around her whole body.

"Yeah...you should meet up with Evan." Lace chuckled softly, looking up at Takumi's confused expression.

"I'll bring Ginger with me. She's already asleep so I'll just bring her to class. Hopefully she doesn't wake up in the middle of French." She grinned. The bell rang a second time and surprisingly, Ginger didn't stir. Lace carefully wrapped her up in the cloth and gently put her into her bag, leaving the top uncovered so Ginger doesn't suffocate. The Silver sophomore got up and helped Takumi up as well with a little bit of difficulty. "It's so nice of you to keep Ginger for me, Takumi. I truly appreciate it. I'll be sure to get Dare into some sort of pet shopping spree." She was delighted in the idea of getting stuff for Ginger with the money she had saved up from her dog walking business.

"I'll see you after school, Takumi." She squeezed Takumi's hand gently before turning around to go to class. "Bye."

[fryn]

He smiled as he watched her walk away, carefully carrying the precious little bundle. His lunch break hadn't been anything like he'd expected but Takumi was far from complaining. He brushed grass off his clothing before setting off towards teh main building. The second bell would soon sound and that would tell him he was on his way to being late. Before class, though, he had one quick phone call to make.

He rummaged in his pocket once more and pulled out his phone, pressing the key marked with a symbol that looked something like a lower case t and s, joined together in script. Katakana for 1... Speed dial home...

"Kachan... It's me... Takumi," he said in his native language. "I wanted to let you know I'll be bringing... um...a friend home with me tonight. Is that ok?"

He listened as his mother assured him it was.

"No, she won't want a meal. I'll pick something up for her on the way home." He half grinned at his mother's astonished response. "I'll explain it all when I get home. Yea... ai shite ru... Bye."

He smiled as he ended the call, his mother finishing in her usual way of telling him she loved him... and not letting him go until he'd replied in kind. Old habits died hard and he was glad that particular one had made the journey across the Pacific with them.

He grabbed his books and headed for his first class, looking forward to meeting up with Lace again later... and taking charge of their little mutual friend.

(wrapped methinks and thanks! cute and fun one ;P)

[Lace Kellan]

[yep wrapped! see you next TC!]