Namie pulled her too big pants up  as she walked into Eden, seeing that it wasn’t as crowded as she had previously feared. None the less she took herself to the bar and ordered a few shots of strong whiskey, eying a booth without too many people nearby. It had been a long day, and she had finished a comission for Onyx for a small flash bomb that for some reason had taken her longer than usual, that between the obnoxious bike racer that had come in to hit on her while she fixed his bike from the tenth crash this month and she was ready for a relaxing drink and possibly–though not likely–dancing. Her body rotated around on her barstool as she waited for the man to get her the shots, pulling her hair away from her face–oh great it still smelled like the gunpowder she had used earlier– she  leaned back and smiled at the man as a small tray of five shots was set before her. As she walked towards the booth looking like a waitress she checked her phone, oh shit is it really already 4:30?, man she needed to work on getting an actual schedule going on instead of whatever it was that she had now.
	Sleep on a friday night was something Daniel never even bothered attempting these days. He’d been with in Onyx long enough to know that as soon as he’d laid his head down onto his pillow, someone’d call him in need of help. A regular doctor would have complained and rejected working with such insane conditions but he’d gotten used to it. Sleeping in all day and being up all night during the weekends was merely part of his life nowadays. Tonight, he was sitting at his regular spot at the bar. He knew that reading a book in the poor light would ruin his sight but he didn’t really have anything else to do. With even intervals, he reached to check the time on his wrist-watch. 4.30, two more hours to go, tops and then I’m heading home. Shutting off my phone as well. He sighed and reached to take a sip out of the little whiskey glass next to him. His eyes scanned the bar routinely, something he did every once in a while as he checked the time. Once again, he expected to find nothing interesting but then just as his eyes moved back to the pages, he saw a small figure across the long bardisk, sitting there on her own. Curiously he watched the young woman. What could she be doing by herself at this time on the night in a place such as this? He thought as his eyes began studying her.
	Sliding into the booth she set the tray down on the table, leaning back against the wall as she closed her eyes for a moment and listened to the sounds of the music that was thankfully not as loud over here along with the conversations of the other people at the bar. Boots kicked up in front of her on the seat while her hand reached out for one of the small glasses of her favorite drink.  Even as her eyes remained closed she downed the shot in one gulp, her fingers staying curled around the cold glass for a long moment before setting it back down on the table, her body so much more relaxed as the liquid burned down her throat and a shiver darted down her spine giving her goosebumps as she scanned the crowd. The sight of a man sitting at the bar reading gave her pause and she tilted her head curiously as she watched him, who comes to a bar to read? Namie loved to read, truly, in multiple languages and on various subjects–but good lighting and not interruptions was a must for her to sit down with a book, so at a bar where music was playing and the possibility of a drunkard stumbling into her was not exactly optimal. The man seemed to somehow fit in and stick out at the same time, his clothes fitting in with the classiness of the bar, but the book didn’t belong at a bar at all, and he seemed all too…something that she couldn’t place to be at a bar period. If her feet didn’t hurt and if she wasn’t comfortable against the wall she would get up to go see what his story was, but for now she would have to make do with theories.
	Daniel’s eyes followed her every movement, the way she sat down and closed her eyes indicated that she was not there looking for someone to bother her, not looking for sex. On the other hand, he could have been completely wrong, seeing how he was only assume all of this. His eyes followed her fingers as they reached for the small glass, the relaxed expression as she drowned it in one go. Was she there to get drunk, take her mind off things? The questions continued building up inside the man’s head.  Soon enough, he couldn’t take his eyes off her, even as she opened hers and looked right back at him. Although rather than couldn’t, he wouldn’t. She was by far the most interesting thing he’d seen the entire night. In additional to all of this, her exotic features made her even more interesting, she didn’t seem Korean. Finally, his eyes locked with hers, capturing her attention.. or was she the one capturing his, he couldn’t really decide. Daniel held their gaze for a moment before slowly rising en eyebrow, as though asking for an invitation.
	The thought flitted through her mind that he was there to look for someone, which was why he was alone and not interacting with a lot of people, only nursing a small drink instead of drinking like one might expect. Once again though all she was had theories, but she was always interested in mysteries, and people who weren’t normal; which this guy certainly wasn’t. Goldbrown hair fell in front of her face as she wondered what he was drinking, was it a wussy drink or straight and strong liquor like her own? When her eyes open and she caught his she knew without a doubt that he preferred strong, bitter drinks like she herself did. Sitting up a little straighter her curiosity peaked when he was bold enough to keep watching her even when she caught him watching her, and she found herself gesturing to the table with an open hand; her head inclining slightly as she invited him to her booth. Her hands adjusted the light jacket she wore, pleased with the sudden twist in the night’s–or rather morning’s– events. If he was here to work, to spy or something along those lines, he wouldn’t casually join a stranger at a table right? So that theory was crossed out, or maybe he was just cocky and thought he could handle the job with a distraction.
	The thought of shaking his head dismissively crossed his mind as she signed for him to come over. Normally, if a lady would have asked him to, he’d have declined. Tonight, however, he was far too curious stand the invitation up.  His eyes lingered on the young woman for a moment as he closed his text book on cancer and stem cells. Crossing the room swiftly, he made his way to her booth, sliding smoothly through the few people as they swayed drunk and aimlessly. As he got to her booth, he could see the young woman much clearer, her youthful features strong. 22, perhaps? He thought as the corners of his lips curved up into a smile. Not knowing in which language to being in, he simply bowed politely and waited for her to have the first word.
	Victory!  Even as he walked towards her she kept her body in the same position, her back against the wall and her body facing the club instead of towards the other seat. As he sat down he interest was immediately taken not by the older man but the book that he held in his hands. After a moment she identified the title and content of the book, and found herself oddly more curious as she saw that he was studying a medical book, is he a doctor? A teacher? Shouldn’t he be rich enough to be in a posher place with a bunch of yuppie friends or something? Although he seems like a bit of a loner. “Hello. I didn’ think I would see someone reading here of all places.” She greeted him casually like they were old frends meeting after a long time apart. She spoke in Korean; a language she spoke as default here unless she saw someone she knew wasn’t of Korean descent. Calloused fingers wrapped around another shotglass as she tilted her head back slightly as she finished off half of it, a little less in a rush to drown unnecessary alcohol with a nice distraction in front of her. Now that he was in front of her she got a closer look at his nice, stylish clothes and couldn’t help the curious thought; would he have sat down if she was dressed just as chic and stylishly, or was he curious because of her baggy cargo pants(though clean and no oil stains for once), leather boots and dark red jacket that admittedly clashed with her odd colored hair. She definitely didn’t look upper class tonight, but not exactly like a mechanic either…Did she? I’m too old for these sorts of questions, who gives a shit now anyway?
	“You wouldn’t?” He chuckled softly, his voice calm and steady, he too speaking as if this wasn’t a complete stranger he was talking to. “Then perhaps you should look closely, I doubt that I’m the first one.” Daniel continued as he scanned her. The more he saw, the more confused and curious he got. Her clothes where not the type of clothes one’d see young women her age wear at such a place, neither did she seem depressed. If she wasnt looking for sex.. nor was there to drown her sorrows, what was she doing there? “Henney. Daniel Henney.” He introduced himself shortly before placing the book onto the table. “I like reading.. sharpening up my skills. I just happened to find the wrong place to read at and I’ve been too lazy to find a new one.”
	“Oh really?” A small playful smile tugged up the corners of her lips as she turned towards him as she set her elbow up on the table and cradled her head in her hand, “I’ll be sure to look for fellow bookworms here from now on.” One of her eyebrows rose as she looked around at him, her body finally rotating as she brought her legs under the table to face him properly. Without warning Namie laughed, her head freeing itself from her hand  as she put her head on the table and laughed, before looking at him completely with a completely unapologetic spark in her eyes, “I’m sorry there was this American movie series where the main character always said ‘Bond. James Bond, and you reminded me of him.” Well here was seeing if he was put off by her random insertion of a refrence to another culture and amusement at his expense. Sort of at least. Really though, the nice clothes, the unknown motives, the good looks and his introduction all reminded her of James Bond, “Skills huh? So you’re a doctor then Mister Henney?” She inquired casually, her eyes and posture showed her usual curiousity about any sort of puzzle present to her. Without asking, but with slow actions so he could see what she was doing she took his drink in her hand and waved it under nose gently and caught the scent before setting it down, “Ah no wonder we get along.” She said quietly, smiling with  a pleased glint in her eyes  as she was proven right; which was always a good thing in her mind to a certain extent.
	As she laughed and then explained her reasons for laughing, he too couldnt help it but chuckle. “You see, there’s an explaination to that. People call me Henney, even though my first name is Daniel. Therefore, I present myself as Henney. However, I was taught that presenting yourself by one name is a rude thing. So I mentioned Henney first, letting you know that, that’s what you can call me and then added Daniel to it, for the sake of being polite. And then I added Henney once more, so for you to know that Daniel’s my first name and Henney my surname.”  He explained with a smile, wondering if she understood. People rarely did but it didnt stop him from using telling them from time to time. “And yes, I’m a doctor, a specialist you could say. I’m acutally on duty as we speak.” He told as watched her pick up his drink with a raised eyebrow, her comment indicating on that she knew that it was he was drinking. Daniel couldn’t decided if it was bothering or amusing that such a young woman drank such strong liquor.
	It was slightly surprising to her that he went though all the trouble of explaining his introduction to her, her usual assumption in this osrt of situation would be that he likes the soundof his own voice, but this time she wasn’t so sure. This guy seemed to have a cool confidence about him that said he didn’t need her admiration or approval, “So which do you prefer? I think its best to call someone whatever name they’re most comfortable with even if it’s against custom, ‘s why I don’ think I could ever fit in living in Japan for too long with all of the levels of formality.” Her hand waved in dismissal as her face showed how much she disliked ‘levels of forrmality’ in general. Now her eyebrow rose in curiousity as she looked pointedly around them, “Pray tell, what could you specialize in that has you sittin’ at a bar at four in the morning? Poison?” She was half serious and half playful, there wasn’t a hospital for a few miles and one would expect a on duty-doctor to be sitting at a coffee shop or something along those lines near the place where emergencies could happen, unless he was employed elsewhere–like Eden perhaps–or by someone. Her eyes lit up at the new theory as she leaned back and away from him a bit, relaxing against the backrest, “I just got off work and here you are busy, it’s nice to see someone else’s schedule is as wonky as mine or maybe even moreso.”
	Ah, Japan, of course. It explains her features. He thought and made a mental tick in his head. One question down, about five thousand to go. “I’m most comfortable with whatever feels best on your tongue.” He said with a small nod, acknowledging her view on formalities. Even though he himself did not approve of the way ways of speaking determained wiether one person was ‘higher’ than the other, he had grown up to respect that sort of system. It was something he simple couldn’t change, far too deep engraved into his system, one could say. “Ah.. well.” He began with a small hum. “It’s hard to explain. I specialize on certain people.” Daniel then said shortly, making it clear that he was not going to speak further on the subject. “And yes, working hours for someone us know no limits.” He chuckled, reaching to take a sip from his glass. The liquor he was drinking was not something one’d play with if one could hold their liquor well. Once more he scanned her clothes before leaning back and speaking in a calm voice “What does the young miss work with, if I may ask?”
	“Daniel Henney.” Her eyes  looked at things unseen she listened to the words coming out of her own mouth slowly before nodding to herself, “Daniel.” She said at length, seeming to take great deliberation in what ‘felt best’ to her. She found it curious that he hadn’t asked about her name, and she filed it away in her head because what someone wanted to know about you was just as important as what they actually knew. “Certain people.” Ah so she was right, in a way at least, “I see how you roll, I can go with that.” Namie knew a purposefully vague answer when she heard one, and it was more in his tone than his words that she heard the boundary being drawn.  Gesturing to her clothes and then his, “Nothing as prestigious as yours,” Her palms turned over subconciously and she glanced at her palms that were so unfeminine with uld sores and callouses from various physical hobbies, “I’m a nomadic mechanic, and when the whim hits me an engineer of a slightly different breed” The gunpowder smell from her hair hit her again as she spoke and she took a sip of whiskey to chase away the smell from her nose as she glanced at the slightly older man, 28..at the most? Asians are harder to peg their age. I could use my phone a friend lifeline to find out if it starts driving me really crazy I’m sure. That wouldn’t be as fun though. What would he think, a woman as old as she was working as a meager mechanic? ‘Maybe thats the reason she’s darker’ perhaps?
	“A Mechanic?” He chuckled, not expecting that answer. On the other hand, he hadn’t known what to expect to even begin with. His eyes followed hers down to her hands. Such of a woman who knew that meaning of hard work. He deeply respected and approved of such women. Those who didnt lay around and wait for fortune to come their way simply because they were beautiful. A smiled spread across his lips as he wondered if she knew how to cook, surely she didnt. She didnt seem like the kind. “A normadic mechanic who enjoys strong liquor and reading.” He confirmed, trying to connect the pieces into something that… made sense? “From Japan.” Daniel continued and tilted his head slightly to the side. “Do tell, how old are you?” Out of all the questions he had, this one was bothering him too much to keep inside. The older man knew better than to ask a woman her age but just this once couldn’t hurt, could it?

 

The smile and the obvious respect that blossomed in his eyes as he looked at her hands caught her offguard and made her pause before she said or did anything else. It was true that she liked unpredictable, not-mainstream people, but she had never met a Korean man that wasn’t a fellow mechanic or something of that nature who seemed so happy at her obvious signs of physical labour. The thought of I wonder if his hands are as rough was a surprise to her also, and she brushed it aside without hesitation.
    
    A scolding finger was waved towards him as her head shook, “Now don’t go assuming because I’m part-Japanese I’m from Japan. How silly of you.” In fact she didn’t blame him, she looked Japanese so why wouldn’t she be from there? It wasn’t his fault she had been raised in an unusual nature, but she couldn’t turn down the opportunity to tease him a bit, “26. Your turn.” It was a little surprising that the polite man had asked her age but she had never been embarassed about how old or young she was besides it wasn’t like he was asking her weight. Her head returned to her hand as she nodded at him, “You next Danniel, it wouldn’t be fair for me to give up more info than you.” The surprise and slight confusion in his voice as he had listed what he knew about her had brought her much satisfaction and amusement, even more so that he was a bit like a cat–eager to know even though at first they shouldn’t mix–with the same slightly introverted, cautious persona as a feline too.

“Ah, of course.” He chuckled amused. “Very silly. It’s like assuming that I’m korean just because speak and look like one.” Daniel continued. Part japanese.. what was the other part? Certainly not korean nor chinese. His eyes brushed her facial features once more, carefully, like an archeologist gently brushing a peice of something rare. Her eyes, something about them called for something non-Asian, something European perhaps? Her nose seemed Asian and told him nothing, for now. As Daniel’s eyes continued down to her lips, he felt something catch a spark inside him. He knew what it was and him being a man, it was only natural even almost inevitable. Too Young.
    
    She’d told him that she was twenty-six yet as much as her voice seemed truthful, he didn’t believe her. She looked far much younger than twenty-six. “Me?” He asked, his eyes still stuyding her face. “Give it a guess?” Daniel chuckled.

If Namie was bothered by his obvious analyzing of her features she said nothing, allowing his eyes to roam her face and lower. They were in a bar and she was a woman who–while she didn’t wear ‘sexy’ clothes often– didn’t always dress conservatively often, and she was fit so men eyeing her like that, but he didn’t have the lecherous grin and hungry look like so many of them had. Besides, its not like she hadn’t taken a few liberties of her own since he sat down; the man wasn’t bad to look at, even hidden under the stuff clothing he donned.
    
    Taking in his hair, the tightness of his skin and the composed look in his body she tried to come up with a guess that was at least close, but she had always been horrible at this game, “28. 29. You can’t be that much older than me can you?” Would he ask anymore questions about her nationality or history or simply try and figure them out? Without dwelling on it she knew he liked puzzles too, was that the reason he sat down? As perplexed by her as she was by him?

“Close enough.” He smiled but shook his head. “30.” Which is a lot older than you, young lady. He kept the last words to himself of course. Suddenly, it hit him that he didnt even know her name. He wasnt one to care about others names, honestly. Knowing a name obligated you to put a face on it, remember whose face the name belonged to. It was lot easier to forget someone who’se name you didnt know. So Daniel rarely asked people for their names.
    
    With the young lady infront of him however, this was different. He knew that he wouldn’t simply forget her face by not knowing her name. It was the opposite, he’d lay up in bed, twisting and pondering over what her name could be. The same way one did when they knew something but couldnt find the word for it. For a second, he considered not asking her, however, his curiousity won him over again. “I dont even know your name, young lady.” He smiled towards her.

“I’m horrible at that game, especially with Asians,” Shrugging her shoulders at expected partial failure, “Ah but I won a little, you are only  four years older than me, and I called that much right? So I think you owe me half a cookie later.” Why was it that she couldn’t keep the bit of playfulness in her voice as she spoke to him? Was she trying to bring him out of his shell as a challenge or what? For some reason, maybe knowing he had secrets, liked puzzles and seemed naturally wary and somewhat distant she felt more comfortable to joke with him. Not that my logic makes any sense or anything. Maybe it’s the chemicals I was workin’ with today.
    
    Ah, finally. Now she laughed, “I was beginin’ to wonder ’bout you wanting to know my age but not my name you know. Maybe the book was a ploy,” Regardless of her ‘theory’ that she said in a serious manner she extended her hand to him as if they had just now started speaking instead of several minutes ago, “Namie Amuro. Or Amuro Namie if you’re a tradionalist. In an attempt to live up to your shiny introduction I’ll say this,” Her hand that was not extended to him popped the collar of her jacket up as she spoke, “Some coworkers of mine call me Boomer if it’s easier to remember, plus it’s catchy. Sorta.” Her shoulders raised again, as the energy she had put into her little mini-speech faded a bit as she reached up to massage the back of her neck where it still ached from staring down at wiring for two hours straight earlier that night.

“I’ve got my reasons for not asking.” He grinned playfully, hoping that she wouldn’t ask him for his reasons, seeing how he didn’t really have any. “Naime Amuro..” Daniel repeated as her name. “It’s.. beautiful.” He added genuinly. Some women apricitated such compliments, some didnt. Whenever he wanted something, he played on his charm, however, not tonight. He wanted to be sincere as she seemed that way towards him. He wanted something but he was not sure of what it was yet.
    
    ”I’m a doctor, you know.” Daniel smiled as she reached to massage her neck. “And one on duty for that manner. Why not ask me for help?” He asked as he sat up straightly before patting the space infront of him on the long stol of the booth.

Unphased and not particularly flattered by the compliment she did not blush nor even thank him, regardless of if she seemed impolite. The compliment was odd and seemed slightly out of place comin from him, but regardless she never put much stock into compliments that dealt with things she had worked for, or at least had some hand in. Besides, how was her name beautiful? It was boring; but she did note his attempt at flattery somewhere in her mind.
    
    At his sudden offer her movements, stilled, her hand and neck in an awkward position as she blinked at him before regaining her ground, “Because I don’t like asking for help,” With that she stood and moved around the table, sitting beside him with her body face away from him towards the bar her head tilted some so she could look at him out of the side of her eyes as she spoke again, her former hesitation gone, “But I guess I’ll make an exception since you’re offering this time.”

“Not since I’m offering, young lady. Because I am a proffessional.” He noted as he reached to tugg up his sleeves. Her untouched demeanour had not gone unnoticed. It was neither rude nor impolite, it was as if she found his statement uninteresting. As if he’d mentioned that there was a glass on the table. This adding yet a question in his head.
    
    ”It’s late.” He spoke softly as his fingers trailed her shoulders, feeling along them to find the knots disturbing her. “You’ve been working.. why arent you at home?” He asked, trying to keep his voice light and easy, trying to disguise the heavy curiousity behind his question. After all, this had been the first question that gotten into his mind when he first laid eyes on her.

As if to contrast with the statement that preceded the action she found her eyes rolling as she looked back at him, “Why do you insist on calling me young lady?” Her confusion and curiousity was obvious as her brows furrowed and her eyes scanned his face, “There is a four year difference between us.” It seemed to bother her a bit, aside from the fact that she had always found the phrase a bit demeaning, “Would you be more comfortable if I was younger?” Maybe that was it, maybe in his mind she was younger. Twenty maybe? But why?
    
    Her eyes closed–trusting him to keep an eye out for wayward drunkards and the like– as she felt goosebumps along her skin from his touch, “It’s early.” Her hair was pulled gently onto her shoulder, the mass of it resting against her cheek as she induldged in the odd sensation of someone gently touching her like he was, “The world is far too interesting to be at home. Don’tcha’ think? How boring it would be to waste your life away,” She hummed quietly as her voice became softer, “In a dark and unchanging apartment.” It was a rather unexciting answer and he may not even believe it, but she had a hunch about tonight and she ran with it. Her gut never lied.

Because it tricks my mind into not thinking of you in ways I most probably shouldnt think of a young woman such as yourself. He wanted to answer but didnt, instead he said. “Because.. you look young, much younger than twenty-six.” Daniel spoke, letting  her know about his lack of belief when it came to the question about her age. Daniel then let out a laughter as she asked if he’d be more comfortable if she was younger. “No.. not at all.” He shook his head. “It’d this strange on a level I dont wish for things to be.” His hands kneaded her shoulder gently yet with enough pressure to untie the knots bothering her. He wished that he could do it without her shirt in the way. Not for any other purpose than professional ones of course. However, being the gentleman he was, he kept this to himself and continued massaging her.
    
    ”Well, yes I meant early.” He laughed softly. “I’d agree.. if one’d not been working a few hours before.” He continued. “Sleeping is not wasting your life away, it’s healthy for you.” He spoke in a matter of factual tone, being the doctor he was. “And an apartment does not need to be dark nor unchangable.” Daniel continued, drawing from this that she was single. But then again, this girl was a mystery.

Even though her eyes were still closed she could imagine his face as he laughed and the picture–much more than his compliments– made her face heat up slightly as the stabbing, tense feeling in her neck finally started to fade as her muscles became more pliant under his hands. It took her a moment to process what he said, her mind still trying to figure out if she really looked so much younger than she actually was, “Do you want my ID Daniel? Flattery on my physical features won’t get you very far you know. Of every thing I take pride in about myself–” She paused and sighed happily, a small noise of contentment escaping her as he hit one of her worse spots, “My looks are on the bottom of the list.” Well that statement didn’t make any sense, but her mind wasn’t working so well at the moment, “Ah. You think it would be awkward if you acknowledged you’re attracted to me, if only to yourself. I get it now.” Her relaxed tone showed little of her opinion on the subject but she did think it was slightly silly, that much was clear.
    
    ”I enjoy my work, accomplishing something gives me energy,” One of her hands reached out across the table to claim one of her half drunk shots while opening one eye and took half of it right away, although the warmth that spread throughout her at the liquid hit her stomach was not entirely necessary, almost excessive really, “True, but alcohol in’t exactly the staple of a healthy diet either.” Her lips upturned in a slight smirk as she spoke.

“ID? It’d be faked.” He smiled at her offering, keeping this tone light, letting her know that he didnt need to see her ID since he’d already made up his mind on the question. She was lying about her age and that was it. He could be so stubborn at times. “Oh, I’m not flattering you, Naime.” He spoke truthfully. Telling women that they looked younger only counted as flattery if the women were 40 and upwards. Daniel noted the spot that made her let out the sigh and rubbing it repeatedly til the knot softened. “And no, I’m a grown man and you seem like a grown woman, there’s no need to hide the fact that I am attracted to you.” He chuckled softly. “It’s me being attracted to such a young ‘looking’ woman that’s holding me back.” He laid out for her to interpret as she wished. 
    
    As she reached to for the glass, he too felt need to wash a down a glup of the burning, bitter liquor down his throat. “As much as one needs to be healthy, one needs to live. That too is a form of keeping healthy, at least on a mental level.” He spoke and leaned forward, resting his chin onto her left shoulder. One of his hands travelled down her arm, the one which was holding the shot glass. He wrapped his fingers around her hand and then gently brought the glass up to his mouth.

“You’re being ridiculous.” Even as she sighed an exasperated laugh fell from her lips, “Why would I lie and say I was 26?” As he set his mind to that kink in her neck she felt her body melt unwillingly and another shiver travel down her spine that caused her back to straighten. Even though he was distracting her it was stillnagging her that he thought she was lying, no one tagged her as a liar upon first meeting because, well, because she wasn’t one. She smiled in satisfaction when he admitted he was attracted to her; not because of his attraction(because it wasn’t as if it was unexpected), but because he had admitted it and been bold about it, “Ah well, maybe I should try layers next time we meet to make you more comfortable, or perhaps you’re just too worried about ‘acceptable behavior’” Was that a challenge in her voice? Maybe, he was too tense.
    
    The moment she felt his touch on her arm her eyes were wide as she took in his hand around her darker one, her European blood never more obvious than at that moment. Her heart picked up speed even as she smiled slowly, watching his face so near to her own and his back pressed up against her’s. There was only a moment’s hesitation before her other hand rose to run one finger gently along the veins on the underside of his wrist, “Maybe you’re too mentally healthy at the moment.” As much as this turn of events excited her–and it did–she would hate the thought of him acting a certain way because he couldn’t handle his drink, but the fact that she had not expected this and that he had completely surprised her made her see him in a whole new light that was for sure, he’s definitely more than he seemes. I wonder if he planned this when he sat down?

“That’s your opinon.” He shrugged. “Lots of people lie about their age, I’ve done it tons of times.” He smiled, closing his eyes at the sensation on the liquor as if slowly burned down his throat, leaving him warm and soothed. Daniel was one not to worry about acceptable behavior, but respected the boundaries that were. He wasnt one to start making out with his partner in public. If he’d been a teacher, he’d restriced himself from the students, no matter how tempting the idea of being with one would have been. The idea of him being with someone who was far too young somehow unsettled him.
    
    Daniel kept his chin rested against Namie’s shoulder, trying out the limits, the boundaries. He believed in the man pushing things forward but woman telling him when it was time to stop. He watched as her fingers brushed the inner of his wrist, her smaller hands examining his, wondering what that meant. Not that it was important, the touch merely making him more curious since seeing how he already had such a difficult time figuring her out as it was. “I am.. not only at the moment, I always am.” He spoke softly, know what it was that she meant. “Perhaps you know the cure to such a disease?” He chuckled softly, his voice challenging.

“That doesn’t mean it makes sense,” She had never been burdened with the thoughts of age and being with someone too old or too young, but then again she had never tried. This man was obviously hiding more than she thought if he had reason to lie about his age, or maybe he simply enjoyed lying to people and manipulating their image of him.
    
    Her hand that was still wrapped around the glass brought it to her lips as she looked up at him, her eyes holding his as she downed the last of the bitter drink, while at the same time leaning back  against his chest as she set the empty glass on the table. Freeing her hand of his she let her fingers skim down his leg before lightly resting on his knee as she let her head tilt to the side, exposing of her neck that caused more of his skin to come in contact with her own, “I can fix many things, that is what I do you know,” The hand that wasn’t on his knee pulled her hair  down so it formed a thick curtain around them that hid their faces—his still so close to her’s– from the view of outsiders, “And make connecting things…Spark you know?” Her lips quirked up in a teasing smirk, still not sure if he was just playing with her and regardless of that she wasn’t aware of if she wanted him to be or not. It was a bit dangerous; flirting with a stranger with obvious hidden, possibly ‘dark’ secrets that she met at a bar.
    
    Dangerous and exciting, the fact that it was reckless was brushed aside without hesitation.

“A lot of things dont make sense.” He answered her with a small grin, knowing that she wouldn’t understand what it was the he was taking about because, as much as they seemed alike they were as unalike. Daniel was a respectable person in general, more so that most people. He was someone who’d never even had as much as a one-night stand in his entire life. Certainly, he’d rarely approche women and get physical with them as quickly as he’d gotten with Namie. There was something with her that broke and interfered with all the rules of his system, his rearing. Her reckless and youthful demeanour captured him. Surely, it wasnt normal for a young woman, who didnt look as if she was out to have sex with a stranger, to enturst herself a complete stranger such as she was doing?
    
    A soft approving hum left his throat as she rested her body against his chest and as her fingers trailed down his leg, the small touches lighting up small sparks inside him. His eyes gazed her exposured neck almost hungerly as it appeared before him. It was clear that she wanted something but what it was still a mystery to him. Daniel shifted his head slightly, moving so that his lips were touching the soft skin of younger woman’s neck. The kiss was feather light, almost as if he teasing her. “Spark me up? Oh, but I think that we’re far past that stage.”

She raised an eyebrow at him curiously, confused as to what he meant exactly, but could see by his  hesitation slowly slipping away in his eyes as he spoke though the wariness was still there, holding on like a dying animal. Her friends would not believe that the normally at least semi-cautious Namie who didn’t give into her physical urges so easily and wasn’t tempted easily was suddenly acting like a teenage girl. She had travelled the world, partied, drank and been seduced(or rather been attempted to do so by the best) and was raised by a strong woman who didn’t want her to be taken advantage of. Even with all that aside, Daniel Henney is not the type that drew her in on a normal basis, am I drunk? Lets not be stupid, I haven’t been drunk since I was at Mardi Gras last time.
    
    Playing games like these was not her style either, she didn’t play word games, this wasn’t her sort of dance at all, so why was she letting him guide her through this waltz so unfamiliar to her?  Her eyes closed a bit and and her heart raced even more as she saw the look in his eyes as he took in her flesh that she showed him and she thought that it was going to burst out of her chest when his lips touched her neck. This was not the loud, bold, daring zeal that her previous sexual counters with her boyfriends were filled with, but somehow it equalied her past experiences in passion, but she hardly knew this man, “Tell me, did you plan this when you sat down,” One of her hands reached back to grasp his shirt, tugging him closer without thinking, needing him closer without knowing why is this why lust feels like? “Because I didn’t, not that I’m objecting or anything, but I do think you were cheating with the massage.” The smirk that she gave him sent  the message that she could outdo him even without cheating, the constant spark in her eyes igniting even more as she took in a deep breath; memorizing his scent.
    
    
 Daniel had an exremely observant character. He prefered observing before speaking because one could get so much more from taking things slow and merely watch or listen. When it came to sexual encounters, he was no different. He loved watching the person he was with, see what places made the person twitch or shudder. With Namie, he observed her breathing as his lips trailed her soft skin. Although she kept it rather steady, small uneven intakes showed him that he was slowly but surely undoing her. Her reactions were.. so mysterious. They were as ones of a virgin yet she was not being shy nor did anything else with her indicate that she was one. The more he saw, the more interested he got and the further he wanted to take it.
    
    ”When I sat down across you. My head was filled with questions. Non of which even as much involved anything to do with sex.” He spoke honestly as he pulled back, letting his fingers gently massage her exposed neck, as a doctor, he knew a thing or two about the female body and what places made the female body more.. excited than others. “Nor was the massage cheating. Truthfully, I was merely going to release the tenseness from your shoulders. ” He continued, noticing the hand tugging him closer. The smallest actions lightning even more sparks and he knew that soon enough, he turn into a firework.

Has it been so long since I’ve been with a guy that when one starts touching me I get unwound so easily? Has it been that long? Only…Two–three years?  Since she started staying in Korea on a regular basis her mind added at the end of her thoughts, because it almost seemed as if she wasn’t even attracted to Korean men; the urge hadn’t hit her to date any of the ones who had shown interest in her here, and business with the bombs and the cars, and relationships had fallen on the wayside.  That was surely it, she had gone so long depriving her body of  anything sexual that she was more wanton than she would normally be.
    
    But when he pulled away and she felt her body instinctively wanting to push back towards him or take his hands–which were so much smoother than her own should I be embarassed about that?–back in his she had to question her new theory. Her back arched just slightly into his touch before she had the chance to stop it as his hands were at work again, this time he was quite obviously after another goal entirely, “Glad thats cleared up, thought you had some kind of foreign fetish or something” The statement was halfhearted, “I know what you’re doing, and if I didn’t for some unknown reason feel comfortable around you I could break your wrist for it.” Her words dissolved into another language for a moment, it took her mind a moment to process that it was, in fact, Italian–her first language–and she was surprised, she hadn’t accidently slipped into another language in a long time. With her hands on the seat she pushed herself farther away from him and turned completely to face him, her left leg under her and her right dangling under the table as she tried to get her heart under control as she watched him–surprised to find her hand had found it’s way back to his knee and was tracing designs on it with her fingers–”You didn’t come here looking for this, so you, like me, weren’t wanting. I wonder, what is it you want from me now?” Her voice was just as soft as it had been earlier when his hands were working magic on her muscles, though with the usual strength that her voice always held naturally as she spoke to him, trying to keep her own desires from reaching him.

He, as well, had not had sex for a while, it’d been more that a year since last but he wasnt one to have sex with strangers, at all. Nor had he started dating anyone since he ended his previous relationship. Namie attracted him in ways he couldn’t understand. Sure she was pretty, very much so, but he’d seen other pretty women. If anything, she was the type of women he stayed away from, the young and reckless.
    
    ”No.. no foreign fetishes as far as I know.” A soft chuckled run through him as she spoke. ‘For some reason’? Isshe as confused as am I? Daniel thought, too consumed by his thoughts to hear the foeign words she’d uttered. The loss of the warmth from her body as she switched positions was undeniable. The hand on his knee caused the corners of his lips to tugg upwards into smile. Namie’s question however compeletly caught him off guard. He himself hadn’t figured out the answer yet. So Daniel did something he rarely, very rarely did. He opened his mouth to speak without consulting his brain first. “I want to take you home with me… I want to watch you as you sleep, hoping that somehow, the mess you’ve created inside my brain solves itself. And I want to see if you’ll still draw me as much in the afternoon, when we wake up, compeletely sober and all.”

Seeing the look of unadultered, raw confusion o his face which she knew was about as real as it got even if he WAS hiding some things about himself–and it wasn’t like she was being very open either– but she really didn’t have reason to be open and honest, they weren’t anything…Were they?
    
    Taking another deep breath she reached up to her neck where his hands had been, feeling how different her own felt than his and wanted the sensation of his hands on her back, and it wasn’t just because he was really  good at giving massages. She saw that she had ripped the proverbial rug out from under his feet with her question and knew that whatever he said was going to be honest at least, or maybe her bluntness would scare him away? As he spoke she felt her eyes widen in shock and it was a long moment of her brain tryign to process what he said before she spoke again, advice, suggestions and experiences runnign through her mind at a hundred miles a minute as she tried to figure out what she should do, “Watch me sleep?” She regained her composure as she slowly moved to be closer to him again, her body positioned at a slightly awkward angle with her side and part of her back pressed up against hist chest and her head resting on his shoulder and her breath against her neck, “You mean you don’t want sex?” She was oddly happy about this, though still confused over his initial response, “I talk in my sleep when I’m relaxed.” Came the muttering against his skin that she hadn’t meant to happen but had slipped out.

“Yes.. I do” He answered slowly, reaching to wraps his arms around her as he though about it. He did want to watch her sleep, wondering how she looked. Wondering if all of this would make sense to him. “I wouldn’t say that I don’t want to have sex with you.” Daniel chuckled softly, he was still a man after all. “However, I fail to see how that would help out in this situation of ours. I’d rather we didnt have sex, so that I could see how you look in the afternoon, rather than catch a glimpse of you as you leave.” He continued.
    
    ”You do?” He then laughted softly, the warm breath against his neck, slightly tickling him. “Then..  I’ll have to get you relaxed so that I can ask you confidential things while you sleep.” Daniel teased, speaking of the issue as if it already was decided that she was to follow him back to his place.

Another deep breath of his scent filled her lungs and she was no longer as surprised at his honesty; if anything she was growing to expect his slightly detatched sounding breed of truthfullness that was more refined than her blunt and to the point comments.  As he spoke a dozen ‘what if’ questions occured to her but she voiced none of them, for the moment she was comfortable and felt safe, why ruin that with possible outcomes and logic? As his arms wound around her she rested her own on top of his, her hands tracing over the top of his before resting where she could feel his pulse in through his wrist, finding herself oddly comforted as she counted the beats in her mind.
       
        Without warning she pressed her lips lightly to the skin just below his ear, “Oh? But you think I’m a liar, are people more honest in their sleep Danniel?” She drew his name out as she spoke, her head still hover beside his ear, her lips just grazing the shell of his ear as she spoke he’s not the only one who can use someone’s own body against them, her mind still not sure where the mornign was headed but she coultn’d deny the fact that she hadn’t turned down his invitation yet or that she wasn’t going to be in that bar much longer regardless. She was gettling restless, and as much as she hated to admit it, a bit weary.
 

There was a soft but noticable breath intake from Daniel’s part as he felt the softness of her lips against one of the most sensitive spots on his body. He couldnt really hold back his reaction, however, he tried to keep it at a minimal. He knew how dangerous it could be letting someone know your weak spots, especially when this someone happened to be a young, beautiful stranger whom you knew almost nothing about. What her motivations could be. The older man’s inner voice wanted to scowl him for being so thoughtless, letting a stranger in this close  when infact, he’d not touched a woman this way ever since his last relationship. Daniel couldn’t help it nor could he denial the fact that as reckless as this was, it felt damn good. The way their bodies fitted together so well and the way his own body seemed to crave her warmth as if it’s already learned to depend on.
    
    Daniel closed his eyes, processing in her acsent free voice, trying to find the tiniest hint that suggested of the young woman next to him wasn’t korean but it was almost impossible. A shiver run through his body as her lips touched his ear.  “I dont believe that you’re a liar. I simply think that you have reasons to not tell me your true age.” He spoke, his voice low and husky. “And yes.. people are far more honest while they sleep. Even though all of us do not talk in our sleep, our faces are more honest than when we’re awake.”

Pride filled her as his arms tightened around her waist and his heart picked up speed under her fingers, they weren’t going to have sex tonight granted, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t have a bit of fun and enjoy herself. Would she have had sex had he asked for it?  The thing that she had to admit to herself was that she wasn’t sure; ever since she was young she had been someone who ran with her instincts and her gut, so she had done a few things she had probably been better off not doing–but not with sex– maybe its because she had been lucky enough to not  be around teens when she was one so she wasn’t pressured to have sex, and had never thought it was ‘cool’ so she had never jumped into it recklessly. It just sort of…Happened in her relationships, and that was how it was supposed to be, right? She didn’t trust easily enough to sleep around people she doesn’t know very well and she isn’t the hit it and quit it type to just leave, so where did that leave her with Danniel?
    
    She wanted him, that was for damn sure, but was it because of her depriving herself(on accident of course), the alcohol or something else? Was it just him that caused her to play this game? He was obviously quite passionate under his controlled exterior, and she wanted–with an unexpected fierceness–to see what he looked like with his control and restraint gone, and not just for his physical reactions. The trembling of his body excited her, and she couldn’t help but agree with him, that people were more honest and real when they were asleep, and it didn’t really matter that he didn’t believe her about her age did it? He would get it eventually; that could be her new project.
    
    Without warning she took his arms in her hands and pulled them away from her body and was standing from the seat, still grasping one of his wrists, “This doesn’t exactly make logic, but I’ve always thought that we shouldn’t let facts get in the way of the truth.” And she was pulling him from the booth, gently but insistently with an energetic grin on her face, “I can’t go to sleep hungry, lets remedy that so we can get some rest.”

Daniel blinked as she sudden rose up, for a slipt second, he thought that she’d come to her senses. Realized that whatever it was that they were doing was highly illogic and that she was getting out of there before more recklessness could happen. He’d never admit it out loud but his heart sank for that very short moment. Daniel couldnt really decide for what reason, disappoinment perhaps? However, the soft yet firm grip around his wrist told nothing about her wanting to escape his company, yet at least.
    
    ”I’m glad that I’m not the only one here who’s wondering what’s going on.” He chuckled soft, getting up as she pulled him along. With a quick glance towards his watch he could detect that the time was almost 6 am. Had they really talked for that long? It seemed more like minutes. “Yes, breakfast sounds wonderful. Lucky for you that I’m really good at making breakfast.” He smiled, grabbing his medical book in one hand and letting her keep the one she was holding onto. He was not one to bother making proper breakfast after being up all night but the again, he wasn’t really one to bother bringing women home like this. If he was breaking his coustums, he might as well do it fully and properly. As they strolled towards the exit, the different between them became so clear, it was almost amusing. Daniel couldnt help it but chuckle as his eyes darted from his own usual classy and chic clothing to hers. 

As her hands pushed open the exit she wondered if he really was going to take her to his home, which was surely as out of the ordinary for him as this was for him, he seemed like a private person. She was too, even though she liked to crash at her friends’ places as long as she knew where she was and could easily leave and find her way when she pleased; and surely he wouldn’t try and stop her from leaving would he?
    
    The morning air was cold on her skin and she was grateful for her jacket, even as she glanced at the slowly rising sun, “Hmm I could cook something non-breakfasty if you want, to repay you for letting me sleep at your place.” It may have sounded odd, but she had always believed in paying people back when they did something for her, both because it was the mark of a good person and because–frankly– she was always worried  they would hold it against her later. Plus she couldn’t let him do the ‘man’ thing and completely take care of her, could she? The looks they got from the early bird commuters amused her, true they looked different–different sides of tracks completely, but such differences had never bothered her–or was it the fact that he really did look older than her that arose curiousity from passerbys? She wondered, briefly, if he would hesitate again because of how young she appeared, and the possiblity that she would get punished for looking young angered her.

Stepping out, his lungs became aware of how stuffy it’d been inside the bar. As the fresh air filled his lungs, he wondered which path would be the fastest to take. Walking was an option he really wasnt in the mood for this early in the morning and he wasnt fit for driving with all that liqour inside his body. Quickly, he concluded that taking a cab would be the best option. Daniel filtered out the curious looks they seemed to be attracting as they walked down the street, towards where he could spot a few taxi cabs parked, waiting for people just like him and Namie, people who simply where unfit to drive on their on. It bothered him a bit, her looking so young next to him. Even though it didn’t bother him anywhere near to the point where he’d change his mind about taking her home but he still slightly uncomfortable with it. To him, it felt as though people where looking at them thinking there was a teacher and student relationship going on between them, as if they were doing something as taboo. 
    
    ”You.. cook?” He asked with a soft yet very surprised expression. For he’d already drawn the conclusion that she was the kind of woman who was exellent at the mechanical chores but not at house work. “I wouldn’t mind cooking for you at all.. but if you insist?” He smiled as he opened the cab door for her, relaxing in the same manner he had inside the bar. Being outside with her.. would take some getting used to. On the other hand, was he planning on spending more time with her outside? Would she let him if he asked for it?

Even though she preferred walking to calm her down, and just because it was an enjoyable experience that enabled her to see different things and talk to people she could understand why he wanted to take a cab and rolled with the idea without much disapointment on her part, after all she had taken the bus/walked to Eden and had no car to worry about. As she slid into the cab and let go of Daniel’s hand she flashed the cabbie a smile, her hands in her pockets and pulling out what would hopefully be enough cash to get them where they were going; money had never been an issue for her and she would have more than enough for a bus if his apartment was too far from work for her to walk. Judging from his clothes and profession, he definitely lived far away from the autoshop.
    
    Laughter was followed by a look of one mildly offended, “I’ve been–for the most part–on my own for my adult life, I couldn’t survive on take out before momma died and I couldn’t do it afterwards.” Her head tilted to the side as she took in the familiar sight of the world as viewed from a car window, a bit of nostalgia hitting her as she recalled travelling when she was younger, “Now I can’t bake worth a damn, and I can’t exactly sautee you frog legs or anything that posh, but I get by on pasta, stew, veggies and stuff.” Her shoulders raised as she looked at him, “Plus, the best way to learn about a culture is through their food and the traditions that go with it.” Okay that was a little cheesy, and half the time growing up it had been an excuse for her and her momma to try weird things and just to eat and general, but it was still true none the less.

Daniel couldnt help it but frown as she paid the cab driver. As the man, he saw it his duty to take care of that kind of things and frankly, he was a doctor after all. One with quite a paycheck as well. He decided to let it slip this time but in the future.. Daniel couldnt decided if it bothered him that he seemed to form all these future hypothesis. As though it was certain that they were going to have more with they had at the moment. His eyes trailed her face as she spoke, the longing clear in her voice and on her face. The short extract of infomation about her mother suprised him, for he’d not thought that she’d open up to him with this kind of thing at all. “I’m sorry to hear, about your mother.” He spoke softly, wanting to reach and take her hand but it felt as it he’d be overdoing it if he did. It wasn’t as if they were a couple.
    
    ”Oh, I’m not one for fancy frog legs anyways.” Daniel said with a small chuckle. He had something for women who could cook. He could sit there, fully content simply by watching a woman prepare food for him. The thought of Namie cooking for him excited him abit more he’d admit, even to himself. ” Does that mean that you know how to make kimchi?” He asked with a soft laughter as she spoke about food and cultures. His tone was held playful and light, however, there laid some hopefulness behind the playful demeanour.

Even though she saw his displeasure at her paying she knew that it would inevitably happen again because she, well, she liked paying for things. People taking care of her made her nervous, and she didn’t work six days a week(or more on occasion) for nothing, besides, she placed no importance on their genders when it came to these sorts of situations.The obivous surprise and pity in his eyes  and his tone as she spoke about her momma was clear to her, and it took her amoment to remember that  it wasn’t normally socially polite to talk about the deaths of one’s close family, which she had often forgotten about. She had that tendency–to forget about what she wasn’t supposed to talk about in public–which sometimes caused awkwardness for other’s and she felt a bit bad about it, but she smiled at him, patting his hand, “My momma was old when she died and she lived a good life it’s been so long I’m not sad anymore.” Partial lie,  when she was really confused and feeling lonely, she was so sad that the woman that guided her through her whirlwind of a childhood was gone, but that was only in passing.
    
    Of course its kimchi, “I can only make basic things with Kimichi, like soup, its pretty strong so its temperamental,” Jeez that probably didn’t make any sense did it? Her odd habit of putting emotions to inanimate objects to explain things confused people and she dismayed at things that obstructed communication, especially when she saw the hope in his eyes and how he was obviously happy that she cooked. Wait. Since when did she care about someone else’s approval of her skills, or lack thereof? It wasn’t that she thought he would be attracted to her any less if she couldn’t cook Korean food(which was odd if you asked her), so what was it? Holding her hand up quietly she gave him a semi-seious look, “And I can’t make sushi, I dont’ even like it to be honest. Everyone thinks because I’m part Japanese I must love to eat and cook sushi. But its harder than it looks, I’ve tried. It’s too delicate of a process.” Her tone was one of dismissal for the last part, as if scoffing at the ‘delicate-ness’, even though she was truthfully mad to not be able to make something that seemed to simple at first glance.

He nodded at her words and as much as she tried to seem fine about it, he could still see that she still had some hidden sorrow. He saw that a lot as a doctor, mostly with parents or elder siblings who tried to put on brave and calm faces for the young ones. A sudden urge to wrap his arms around her swipped through him but he held it back, for now at least.
    
    His inner.. whatever it was he seemed to have inside him that loved food, made a volt as she mentioned that she knew how to make Kimchi. Even as she mentioned that she only knew the most simple type, it still excited him. “That.. didnt make much sense.” He laughed softly even though he’d understood what she meant. “Sushi?” He blinked, the connection of her being part-japanese and sushi hadnt even occured to him until she brought it up. “Oh.. I didnt really expect you to know how to make it. I barely expected that you’d know how to cook.” He smiled reassuringly, the cab pulling up to his home. “Ah.. we’re here.” Daniel said in a soft voice, stretching out a bit before stepping out of the car. Being the gentleman he was, he stood by the cab door, holding out his hand for her to take.

An unusual feeling of embarassment had hit her after she babbled about sushi, because honestly whenever cooking came up people in other countries did  expect her to love and cook sushi, so she had ended up begrudingly joking about it after a time; but apparently it had been completely misplaced with him.  Maybe she should just stop steotyping him because he was Korean, because contrary to popular belief, just because you know a lot about other cultures it does not make you more open minded towards new ones and less subject to falling for stereotypes…which she had a nasty habit of doing. His soft voice helped her feel less embarassed, but not by much.
    
    Her irrational need for standing on her own two feet didn’t stop her from taking his hand as she stepped away from the taxi, a wave and a pleasant good night and be safe sent with the driver as her…–Friend? Companion? Yes, she settled on companion for Daniel–shut the door. Finally she looked at the house that stood before her, “Oh my hell,” Came the quiet statement in English before she caught herself and switched back to Korean, “Man do I feel out of place, I knew you lived in a nice place but,” Her eyes surveyed his home and the grounds, even as she started to walk towards the front door she felt more out of place with no makeup on, ever unstyled curly hair and casual clothes she definitely didn’t look like she should be staying in a place like this, it wasn’t so much that she was uncomfortable–because that feeling was only slighty– more like a feeling of it being unreal, “What do you need all this space for anyway? Wild parties?” She couldn’t help it, to make herself feel more comfortable she joked, if she couldn’t fit into a place she tried to make the place fit her. Or she just ran–she was good at that–but that was the last thing on her mind at the moment.

His house did have that effect on people, he was quite used to it. A small chuckle escaped his lips as she asked. Daniel himself, didnt have a good explanation to why he’d gotten the large house. “I.. saw it and fell in love?” He began, trying to form his word so that they’d make sense as they came out. “You know that feeling when you see something, might be totally useless or even ridiculous to others but to you, it’s the perfect thing?” He continued, hoping that she had understood what he was trying to get at because it was way too early for him to start using of long sentences and big words. He had to admit, the place was indeed too big for a man who lived alone but he wasnt planning on spending his entire life single. One day, he’d love to have a pretty wife and afew kids. The grounds were prefect for children, spacious enough for them to run around as though his home wasn’t located in the center of Seoul.
    
    ”Oh.. I forgot to ask.” He remembered as he fumbled for his keys. “Are you by any chance allergic to dogs? Because I’ve got a puppy, a golden poddle.” How my entire day would be ruined if she in fact is allergic to dogs. Daniel thought, trying not to frown at the thought.

His scrambling for words to make her understand about his house and why he had bought it made most of her discomfort go away and the relaxed, casual feeling of earlier was slowly seeping back into her and she nodded as he spoke, “You don’t gotta defend yourself, it fits you somehow.” She had the urge to ruffle his hair but held back, somehow sensing that the action might not be so well received.
    
    Almost as soon as his question left his lips a grin like he hadn’t seen before lit up her face and she had to stop herself from darting towards the door, “I love dogs! I’ve never been able to have one because it’s cruel to keep them locked up in an RV or an apartment iwht no yard and I like big dogs and–” She stopped herself, suddenly feeling childish as she calmed herself, “This may end badly for you, I’ll spending more time with your animals in the future than you.” She had begun to walk backwards, tugging him insistently by his hand toward the front door, clearly more enamored with the concept of his dogs than his big house and she hadn’t realized the word ‘future’ had slipped into her sentence.

The way her face lit up at the mentioning of his dog made him smile. Daniel loved discovering things that could split open a person’s personality that way. Her excitement making her seem even younger. 20, perhaps? The realization didnt make as uncomfortable as it could have. He’d gotten used to her youthful nature. The difference between 20 and 30 did scared him slightly. “Ah, you do? He’s not that big yet. Still only a puppy and I accidentally stumbled across his outside my place and he seemed lonely so I took him in.” The man chuckled as he finally found his keys. The next sentence that followed from her shocked him. He knew for sure that the word future had slipped unconsiously yet from a pyscoligc view. It was such slips that revealed ones inner wishes or thoughts. Has she been imagining a possible future for the two of us?
    
    Soon enough, he managed to unlock the door and as soon as it opened, the little brown teddy bear looking puppy jumped up as high as it could reach, desperate to held. “Ah.. Calm down there, Changmin-ah.” Daniel smiled holding up a finger till the puppy calmed down before picking it up. “Namie, this is Changmin.” He introduced the two, gently petting the puppy before handling it to the young woman. “Come on in first though.

The way her face lit up at the mentioning of his dog made him smile. Daniel loved discovering things that could split open a person’s personality that way. Her excitement made her seem even younger. 20, perhaps? The realization didnt make him as uncomfortable as it could have. He’d gotten used to her youthful nature. However, the difference between 20 and 30 did scared him slightly. “Ah, you do? He’s not that big yet. Still only a puppy and I accidentally stumbled across him outside my place and he seemed lonely so I took him in.” The man chuckled as he finally found his keys. The next sentence that followed from her shocked him. He knew for sure that the word ‘future’ had slipped subconsiously yet from a psychologic view, such slips tended to revealed ones inner wishes or thoughts. Has she been imagining a possible future for the two of us?
    
    Soon enough, he managed to unlock the door and as soon as he opened it, the little brown teddy bear looking puppy came running towards them. As if it’d been waiting for them to arrive. As the puppy reached their feet, it started jumping high as it could reach, desperate to held. “Ah.. Calm down there, Changmin-ah.” Daniel smiled, holding up a finger till the puppy calmed down and then reached to pick it up. “Namie, this is Changmin.” He introduced the two, gently petting the puppy before handling it over to the young woman. “Though, come on it.” He said as he walking into the hallway. The entire first floor consisted the hallway, a livingroom and a kitchen on a semi-open plan. 
“Ah so it really is a habit for you to bring lonely things into your home,” Her words were soft as she watched him unlock the door, watching his face and the play of emotions across strong, sharp features. She had noticed how, progressively he became more open as the morning went on, his emotions more raw and easy to read. Of course this was only natural, everyone was like that, but it didn’t change the fact that she enjoyed watching the change as he slowly unwound around her presence. The woman rarely thought of herself as lonely, regardless of the fact that she had no family to speak of, she made friends easily and had many spread across several countries and she hadn’t intended for the word to have the connontation it had, but it didn’t mean it was false. She had always kept a certain distance from people; always expecting to leave at any time.
    
    

The puppy instantly lost his calmness in her arms and was licking her face gleefully, and now she was glad for her lack of makeup. A cold nose on her own made her laugh even more as she bent down to take her boots off and set them by the front door, her attention so focused on the innocent, gleeful ball of energy in her hands that for a moment she forgot to take into her surroundings (again). When she finally took in his home though she found herself slowly walking around, petting the dog as she walked through out the bottom floor of his house, seemingly not caring if she was being impolite for it. She seemed perplexed by his remotes and the electronics and fascinated with the softness of the couch that her fingers brushed and the carpet beneath her bare feet, and as she made a circle around his kitchen she paused to look at him, obviously grappling for her words for a moment, “It seems…” She looked around again for a moment before smiling warmly at Changmin whose energy was apparently short lived because he had snuggled half into her jacket and was much calmer and only half visible, “Sterile and impersonal,” Her hand reached out to run along a barren wall, “So few pictures, no tapestries or personal decorations, it makes me almost concerned which is hypocritical considering my home but still–” She looked up at him, eyes wide as they jerked away from the wall, “I’m sorry Daniel, I know everyone’s different, I don’ have the right to judge you by your home.” She was genuinely apologetic for letting her mouth get ahead of her mind–again– as she stepped closer to him, what if he liked having a barren home and  not her opinion at all? Ick. No one messed relationships up for Namie more than Namie. Whoah. Wait, what was that word?
    
    
Paitently, he watched as she played with Changmin. It was adorable, really. The puppy seemed so excited to meet someone else that him, which was fair in his opininon. He rarely ever brought home any visitors, so this was a treat for the puppy. He then obsevered her as she finally stopped playing with the puppy and looked around. He was curious of how she’d think of his house. He, himself, found it okay. It was his home, he’d grown used to it and sort of lost a real opinon about it. To him it was simply, home.
    
    He’d not expected her words as she spoke them, on the other hand, he’d not know what to expect. He never knew with her. Her words did not insult him in an way, rather, they interested him. “Sterile and impersonal.” He repeated as he listened to her explaination. “I find it.. appropriate this way.” He spoke in a soft voice as he lead the way into the kitchen area. Thoughfully, he looked for the right words to use before speaking again. “If, lets say, I had a wife.. or a girlfriend or even children. I’m quite sure that this place would look a lot different from what it does now. I would like to say that as it is right now, it sort of compliments the shell of my inner self, however,” He let out a small chuckled before continuing. “I wouldnt like to describe it as sterile and impersonal. More like simple and clean with a few soft details. The center of my inner self or if you’d like to call it the heart, lays in the bedroom.” He said with a nod.

As she followed him, her eyes taking in the kitchen again–this time with an eye for preparing a meal. She zipped up her jacket partially so that Changmin could sit inside of it with his hour still sticking out where she could still pet him but didn’t have to hold him as she walked around, at this point she didn’t care if she looked silly.
    
    Her relief that he wasn’t offended or put off by her opinion was almost tangible as she headed for the fridge, “Thats very zen of you, not scientific and logical.” Her head was hidden by the door of the fridge now as she spoke, taking in  the fruits, veggies and otherwise healthy array of foods spread before her, “I like it, ‘reminds me of a setting of a story,” She moved a few containers aside with her hands as she tried to decide what to cook for their…Whatever meal this was for the two, “I like hearing stories you know, I can’t figure out if it’s just me or because of–” She laughed as she stuck her head back out into plain view, her hands filled with a plastic bowl and some veggies in her hands as she stepped away from the closed door, “Eh you probably don’t care about my weird thought process,” The vegetables were sat down on the counter along with the bowl of white rice she had found as her hands reached for a cutting board she had spied, “I’m thinkin’ stir fry.” It was not a question, it was a statement.
   

    ”Good thing he’s potty trained.” Daniel smiled as she let Changmin cuddle her jacket. Amused by the fact that the puppy had taken a liking to her scent, he too found it slightly intoxicating. But then again, she was a woman. Women smelled in a ways that could practially hypnotize a man’s senses, didnt they? Not that Daniel had any scientifical support behind this theory, it’s was merelyt something he believed to be true. It was the same with his previous girlfriends, besides from the physical attraction, the scent of a woman could swoon him.
    
    A soft unannounced smile spread across his lips as she so effortless made her way into his kitchen and his fridge, digging up the things she wanted doubtlessly, if she stayed there. Her lack of shyness or someone could call it politeness, attracted him in a way he couldnt really grap. The inevitable sparks, which had hidden themselves but not disappeared, suddenly flaring up. Now, thing was that Daniel was a well brought-up man, who almost never let his body reveal his sexual instincts unless the situation was 100 percent appropriate for him to do so. However, as much as he tried hide all of this away, sometimes, the primative male instincts won over his better knowing. Once in a blue moon, something or someone would break his boundries and that was exactly what Namie was doing.
    
    Sitting down onto one of the chair located across the cooktop, semi listening to her words, Daniel tried to think of way to calm his mind down. Stop his eyes from travelling to places where they shouldnt be travelling to. “No.. do tell, I’d want to hear your story.” He said with a smile, keeping his gentle demeanour as he watched her prepare the food. This of course not help his problems at all.

> “Haha. Thats not funny.” She laughed a bit even after she said it though contradicting her statement as she gave the puppy in her jacket a serious look, as if it were suddenly possible he would forget all about his potty training and the would definitely be 10 shades of fucked up. She had to admit though, there was something that made her want to keep watching him about his smile as she held her and the puppy, and to think; she had half expected him to be disapointed when the puppy got so much attention and not so pleased.
>
> Drawers were opened and she easily found what she was looking for under the cooktop–knives of all sorts– and she pulled her excessively long hair into a messy ponytail on top of her head that still managed to leave a few stray curls around her face. As she started to cut the veggies, her hands moving almost in an automated fashion out of habit as her thoughts strayed elsewhere she began to talk–”I grew up travelling you know, and I didn’t really socialize with people my age, it was always with momma’s older friends when we stopped and yeah their kids, but still. I didn’t know what it was like out in the real world outside our RV,” Changmin saw one of their curls and his hyperness returned as he tried to attack them to which he was reprimanded for with several very-serious taps on his nose before being taken out of her jacket as punishment for yanking her hair, “We didn’t watch the news because it depressed momma, well we didn’t have a t.v at all really. Just books and stories that gave me insight into the rest of the world.” As the knife hit the bottom of the cutting board she smiled in both amusement of herself and happiness at the memories, “So I don’t know if my love of stories is…” she paused, her mind scrambling for the word in Korean before settling on one that still obviously was not good enough for her purposes, “Literary or my selfish hunger for more experiences. I mean I was a really lucky kid wanted for nothing but I can’t help but still be curious of all the possibilities out there.” Coming out of her reverie she blinked at him, “I don’t usually say that to people it makes me sound like I have my head up in the clouds.” It Went unsaid that it was something very personal and if used properly it was a weakness to her.

It wasn’t until she had dumped the veggies into a wok behind her with an assortment of sauces from his fridge and spices from the cupboard that she spoke again walking over to him in his chair and finally gave into the urge to run a hand through his hair, blunted fingernails running over his scalp as she stood beside him, “Story for a story now, be fair now.” Fingers tugged gently on his hair as she made her request with no room for a negative response on his part

    Daniel’s eyes followed her as she moved through the kitchen, getting the items she needed without even asked for where they where place. The corners over his lips curved upwards as he followed her hands cutting the veggies. Her feminine hands looking very delicate, not at all as the one of a person who spent their days fixing vehicles. Something also change about the way she looked as she wore her hair was up in the ponytail, strangely enough, she somehow looked more relaxed? Daniel couldnt really decide which he liked the best, however, an advantage this look had over the other was that her neck was visible now. How soft and delicate would it feel to kiss it? Would it make her shiver? The questions building up before he had a chance to stop them.
    
    Intently, he listened to her story. He knew by now that she wasnt the sort of person to share such deep things with random strangers. The fact that she’d chosen to tell him made him of course very pleased. As she continued, he tried to match the pieces together. Her childhood, mysterious as it sounded, surely must have helped form the mysterious being she was now. One would think that it’d be easier to read her after hearing her story but it wasnt. However, he managed to catch a glimpse of her face in the softer glow it wore as she remembered her past and her mother.
    
    Daniel looked up at her as she moved towards him. The simple action of her fingernails running over his scalp set him on fire once more. Not caring wiether it was inappropriate or not, he reached for her. Daniel wrapped his arms around her waist and spread his legs, he was sitting down, to tug her till her body was pressed flush against his own. Slowly he leaned forward, his eyes looking straightly into her chocolate brown ones. Daniel knew that he was being hasty but he couldnt help himself, the urge to taste her lips had grown beyond his self-contol. Closing his eyes, Daniel brushed his lips against hers in a careful and tender manner, as though giving her a last chance to pull away if she wished to.

The first moment her skin touched his she had told herself it was merely a casual touch, like she did with her American friends–an affectionate gesture from one friend to the other–but when her hands wanted to roam lower over his neck, wanting to see if she could feel his pulse racing again as it had earlier that morning she couldn’t lie(even to herself)unfortunately. She worried for a moment that she dug her nails into his skin too roughly when she stopped herself from reaching down to run over his biceps, the curiousity about what he was hiding under his not-flattering enough shirt was nearly as bad as her original question of why in the world was he in a bar with a book.
    
    When he wrapped his arms around her she was surprised, and felt a bubble of excited giddiness light her nerves on fire as his arms accidently, or was it purposefully?  pull her shirt up and the warmth from his flesh to her own almost burned and her hands were on his shoulders, fingers digging into his muscles as she tried to pull him closer, her hands only remaining there for only a moment before roaming farther down his back. Even as she pulled him closer and her hands explored his back her lips were more cautious–she was caught off guard, something she wasn’t use too–and he was different so she wasn’t sure how to react.
    
    It was a moment before she nipped at his lower lip, drawing it into her mouth and tasting it with her tongue; which turned out to be a bad idea because it made her self-control slip more. Her whole body fetl hypersensitive, and even though they had hardly done anything her breath was coming in shortened, quicker intakes, the smell of the cooking food mixed with his scent and taste and she couldn’t focus on anything beyond this. She kept her eyes open, scanning his face looking for his reasons behind this, and she was fighting to question this especially when his eyes closed; a sign of trust, a sign that he wanted to enjoy this as much as he could.

Daniel didn’t let go as her hands explored his neck and then his back. He wouldn’t have unless she’d made herself clear of that she didn’t want him. His arms kept the firm grip around her, waiting for her to make the next move. The touches sent shivers down his spine, it’d been awhile since he’d had a woman touch him this way. It was so gentle, he couldnt help it but try to savour the feel of her fingers run down his back. Wherever they touched, they left his skin burning. 
             
            A low and husky sound left his lips as Namie nibbled his bottom lip, his hands slowly caress the small of her back as she took it into her mouth. H sighed as though he’d been holding his breath for far too long as she took the lead. He too could feel how his own self-control started slipping away. How was it that they gave into each other so easily? Had it been too long since she’d had any sexual contact as well? The way all of this came so effortless scared him a bit, because he couldn’t really understand it. Neither seemed to be the kind to have sex with strangers yet here they both where, heating things up with each other even though they’d barely know each other for 5 hours.  Was it that whatever attracted them also came with instinctual craving for sex or was there something deeper behind it.
           
            Just as Daniel started moving his lips, taking the lead since he’d been granted permission, he felt the scent of something almost burning from the stove. With a frown he pulled himself away, allowing her to go check the food.

In her past, she had only ever been with men who were aggressive and forcefull–live in the moment, all fire and passion like herself–but he was treating her differently. Other than his shy and cautious kiss he had done nothing to move the situation forward, but she didn’t wonder for a second if he wanted it to move forward. His back moved into her touch in subtle ways, and he certainly didn’t say anything about her being ‘too rough’, but she couldn’t help but be a bit tenative with him, he was old fashioned…She wasn’t, and if she got carried away by her hormones and physical urges her more aggressive nature came out to play at times, would he like that or would he expect differently? Would she care if he rejected her suddenly? Lets not pussyfoot around it, I’d care.
    
    Was it the fact that he was ‘forbidden fruit’ per se that made her feel so pleased by the sound he made, that made her want more than anything else to cause more of those sounds. It was ridiculous how overwhelming it was really, but she understood why her back arched into from the contact of his hands which caused a bolt of electricity to travel up her spine from his so soft hands. Her muscles, normally prepared to run or react was pliable in his hands, and her aggression had to be tamped down as she felt more parts of her body heat up other than just where his hands were touching her. Walking around his kitchen, cooking his food, and yes;  kissing him in the middle of his kitchen with his hands under her shirt seemed strangely natural, and while Namie was normally gifted with integrating herself into new places easily this was a little extreme. His scent relaxed her, and they got along so oddly well for two people so different, and more importantly…She couldn’t stop touching him, and he apparently had the same issue with her.

Her body was still hot as she stepped away from him, exhaling a shuddering breath and she turned from him, her hand on the panhandle as she moved it to another burner, turning the heat off as she dumped the rice into the pan before starting to mix it, her body twitching still. It was an after effect of the sensitivty he had made her feel and the sensations and energy that had just hit her like a tsunami and then rolled back away almost as quickly, “Maybe this is because you and I are so opposite. I shouldn’t normally be able to touch someone like you and it isn’t acceptable for you to be after someone like me.” She was trying to rationalize it, obviously, she may be one who lived on her instincts and whims but still she didn’t like feeling as if she had no control over her own body, “You and I are acting like a couple of teenagers, eager and so sensitive to eachother.” This made her snort in amusement good naturedly and confusion as she shook her head, stirring the rice and veggies with a spatula.
    

Daniel’s personality matched the way he had sex, to put it simple. He was not one for aggressive and forcefull passion, no, that kind of loving making only kept you high for the moment and as soon as it was gone the passion disappeared as well. He was the kind of person who took it easy, especially in the beginning, wanting to make sure that whatever was burning inside him was more than just sex. Once he got past that phase, once he’d distinguished where the fire came from and was sure of where he was heading, he released his passion. Rather than agressive and forcefull, it was concupiscence and detailed, the kind that made sure you felt everything. Daniel had another side to him as well, this one appeared when he became compeletly sure of what was going on, this one a simple combination of the playful part of him that he mostly kept hidden and his passionte side.

The corners of Daniel’s lips curved up into a smile as he watched Namie stepped away to go and check the food. He could see that he wasn’t the only one who was drawn towards the other and he couldn’t help it but love the slight confused in her expression. It was as if he’s actions were new to her and she wasn’t sure of how to react to them. Once more, she seemed younger than she claimed to be – although it didnt bother him anymore. Here, in his kitchen with the heated atmosphere between them, there were no room for such feelings.

Daniel tilted his head slightly and chuckled as she spoke, for there was a thruth in her words. They where acting like teenagers who couldnt decide if they were ready or if their hormones where jumping ahead of them. “Maybe there is no easy conclusion to it, at least not yet? Perhaps it’s the same thing that pulled me towards you when I saw you at the bar.” He spoke, resisting the urge to walk up to her, wrap his arms around her waist from behind her and kiss that oh-so inviting, soft looking skin of her neck. Daniel held himself back though, because he was sure that once he started, he wasn’t going to be able to stop. He didn’t want to rush this, whatever it was between them because something told him that it would mean so much more if he waited. Besides, it was really early and he’d not gotten any sleep for about 20 hours, his performance wouldn’t be as good as he knew it was.

Even though  she didn’t drink orange juice very often, for the simple fact of it’s acidity level which tended to give make her acid reflux messed up but today would be fine because she had been prepared for such since she had been going out to drink. Not to mention the fact that the thought of drinks had completely slipped her mind(not that she would admit this of course) and felt relieved when a glass of juice was set before her. But dismay hit her and she grimaced when he also set chopsticks down and she took a deep breath, alright, she could do this. Really, even though she was normally bad with anything that required anything close to finesse she could definitely handle chopsticks for a few minutes. There was a moment between his touching of her and her reaction, a slow smile forming on her face as she sat down at the table, taking the chopsticks in her hands with more ease than she had thought possible, even if she handled them slower than he would. Her feet were pulled under her in a yoga-esque position, her eyes pulling themselves from him to stare out the window, “I like how many windows you have, I bet its beautiful in the fall right?” Namie absolutely loved to be outside, but didn’t have the best reaction to the cold so loved places where she could be inside but still view outside and not feel trapped. Plus it just made the house feel more…alive.

It took her a moment to get use to using chopsticks again, having preferred either forks or meals she simply ate with her hands. She held the bowl up as she ate, her fingers only stumbling every once in awhile much to her own relief, how awful would it be for her to mess up with chopsticks, after all she was asian and people expected asians and people who lived in Asia to be chopstick experts, or something like that anyway.

 

The grimacedidn’t go unnoticed and even though Daniel wondered what it was that mde her react that way he didn’t ask her. Simply figured that she’d tell him if something was bothering her. The fact that she didn’t showed tht it was nothing she wanted him to worry about or let him know so he just left it to her. Eating with chopsticks required no special talents for he assumed that most people who lived in Asia, or at least those who were born there knew hot o use them. How else could one eat? Sure there were forks and other western utensils, however, chopsticks were the norm.

Daniel noticed the slight uncertainness on Namie’s face as she picked up the chopsticks and then caught the slight relief after she’d picked them up. This, of course, raised some curiousityin him, however, he decided not to draw any quick conclusions. She was half Japanese and had probably lived there and was currently living in Korea, surely she knew how to use chopsticks?

“Yes ..it is. That’s also one of the main reasons why I chose this house. I find it soothing being able to look outside even though I’m not and it does save a lot of electricity. I use day light most of the time instead of the  lamps.” He spoke as he started eating, “Really good.” He said with an approving nod, he seriously adored women who could cook. His stomach growled as the first chew went down, he hadn’t realized that he’d been this hungry.

    It took her a moment to get use to using chopsticks again, having preferred either forks or meals she simply ate with her hands. She held the bowl up as she ate, her fingers only stumbling every once in awhile much to her own relief, how awful would it be for her to mess up with chopsticks, after all she was asian and people expected asians and people who lived in Asia to be chopstick experts, or something like that anyway.
    
    It surprised her a little, that he was concerned about saving electricity, and she felt her respect for him grow a bit as she digested the information. While level-headed she was not, she had always been taught to conserve what she had, and so it aggravated her when people wasted resources, and it took discipline to be frugal and long term thinking for him to see the house that way when he bought it, two traits she respected a great deal. Her lips quirked up in amusement at the sounds his stomach made that matched her own, “Thanks, I would say the leftovers would be good for your lunch tomorrow but you probably don’t do stuff like that.” What did doctors do for lunch? Probably dine at an actual restaurant instead of bringing their lunch right? It’s too bad, she had made too much out of habit. The casual statement made her chew slower as she thought over her own words, her eyes on the sunrise which prompted a question that left her mouth as she reached for her juice, “Do you have a big window in your room?” It seemed kind of a silly thing to ask, after all, presumably he wanted her to sleep there, with him shortly so she would see what it looked like then but she couldn’t stop the question before it slipped out, it must be amazing to wake up and have breakfast and be able to see a beautiful sunrise every morning from your kitchen after watching the sunset from your bed. We should have an actual breakfast outside though in the shade of the trees it would be better once it gets warmer.
    The imagery and emotions that unbidden thought brought to mind very nearly had her snorting in surprise intto her juice but luckily she stopped herself in time and her eyes darted to him, hoping he hadn’t figured out what was going on in her head at all; he would think she was crazy.

	Daniel chuckled as he saw how unsure Namie was with the chopstick. Omo, how adorable. How was it that a full grown, Asian – part-Asian woman could not use chopsticks properly? “Namie.. Let  get you a fork.” He said with a smile, his tone neither mocking nor pitiful and then went to get her a fork and a knife.  “Oh, why not?” He asked with a raised eyebrow, knowing that she was thinking. It’s understandable that most people would think that doctors constantly lived life in luxery because they got paid as much as they did. Daniel himself enjoyed buying expensive clothes and cars but there were certain things that didn’t really matter to him if they where overly priced or not. Things such a food didn’t matter to him at all. It was the opposite rather. Resturants with exclusive chefs and menu’s didn’t interest him at all, seeing how the weird looking food often still left him hungry. Usually, he didn’t have time to make his own lunchboxes but if someone made one for him, he’d been more than thankful for it. There was no doubt in his mind, if there were some leftovers, he was going to take them.
	“Windonws?” He said with a smile. “Well.. how about you find out for yourself later on?” He nodded, not wanting to ruin the surprise. Truth be told, he found his bedroom the most amazing part of the house.
	The tenseness that had been building in her as she tried not to show that chopsticks were not, in fact, her primary every day utensil seem to flow out of her as she gave him a relieved smile, holding her hand out for said fork, “Thanks for dealing with my clumsy fingers Danny.” The changing of his name had happened on accident because she often did it with her friends, but they were usually more down to earth, casual and playful; like her, so it was perfectly natural for them to have nicknames like that, and though she hadn’t intended to call him something that was so informal she had to admit…She kind of liked it and hoped he wouldn’t mind because she might have to call him that even if he did dislike it. Her dislike of stating the obvious and being predictable caused her mind to scramble when he asked her that and she paused in her eating to look around his kitchen, “Well you only cook for one right? You probably don’t cook enough to have leftovers, and its extra dishes from the bowls and since its just you doing the cleaning,” She shrugged, “Then theres the obvious of course, that its just not needed for you.” Her legs extended back towards the ground again as she shifted in her seat, finishing off her juice, she hadn’t meant to eat so quickly but she had been starving and had practically inhaled her food. “I’ll roll with that,” She stood, leaving her bowl on the table for a moment as she moved to stand behind him, her hands on his shoulders for a moment before sliding farther as she lowered her head  to rest on top of his, turning so her cheek was pressed into the softness of his hair,, “I don’t suppose you have a spare toothbrush you want to let me use while you clean up?” The hands on his shoulders had been planned, but the roaming lower had not–but she didn’t entirely regret it either–it just felt like the thing to do in the moment, it wasn’t so much sexual as it was…Affectionate? She wasn’t sure what it was really, but standing there gave her a pleasant feeling of contentment that she wasn’t going to question.
	“Not needed?” He huffed abit. “How I wish that I had time to prepare something in the mornings. Or even better, having someone do it for me.” He grinned as he finished up the last of his meal. “I dont really fancy resturant-made meals. Not the one’s I know you’re thinking of at least As strange as it might sound.” Daniel simply explained as he stretched and yawned softly before reaching for her plate. Daniel hadnt expected her hands but they felt good as the trailed down his arms and he’d grown fond of the warth from her body. “There are a few if you check in one of the cupboards in the bathroom. Feel free to take a shower as well if you want. There are some towels in there as well.” He said before giving her directions to the bathroom on the second floor. He then reached to take one of her hands into his and brought it up to his mouth to place soft kiss on back of it, smiling as she walked off. “Oh, dont ask why there’s a mini pool in the middle of the bathroom, it came with the house! There’s a shower there as well.” He called out with a chuckle as he went to do the dishes.
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Tsuchiraven (3:34:45 PM):	As she headed towards the bathroom she paused midstep, a shocked look on her face, “A mini–” Her voice was incredulous as she sighed, “Nevermind I’m getting use to it.” Shaking her head she made her way upstairs to the bathroom. She was quite surprised to find that he was not joking as she had initially suspected, and that there really as a mini-pool in the room that was quite possibly as big as her apartment. Walking around the room so she knew where everything was she took in the place with a shaking head and wide eyes wondering why all this was needed for one man, even if he intended to have a family eventually. Her hands rested on the towels for a moment as she wondered if she should take a shower, she had taken one before working on her comission so she wasn’t sweaty or anything and surely any lingering chemical smells had faded by now, and she did not want to subject Danny’s bed to her wet hair. Finally she opted not too, even though he had one of those really nice delux shower heads that made her back feel amazing–another day perhaps–and went straight to brushing her teeth and hair and washing her face with hot water. As she finished cleaning herself up and listening to the sounds of Danny downstairs she contemplating exploring the second floor of his house alone but decided not too, she respected his privacy enough not to go around opening doors without his permission. She  chose instead to wait at the top of the stairs for him, leaning against the wall with her eyes directed at the bottom of the stairs, now so much more tired now that she was full and clean, even more relaxed now than she had been when he had first massaged her earlier. His house didn’t feel like home–hell her apartment didn’t even really feel like home–but it still felt safe.
	As she went to the bathroom upstairs, he took the opportunity to take a shower downstairs. The bathroom there wasn’t as large as the other upstairs but it was good enough and quite comfortable. For the sake of being careful, he made sure to shower with cold water, not wanting any unfortunate surprises later on. Unfortunately though, Daniel didn’t keep any clothing down stairs, seeing how he rarely need them. He’d forgotten about it as he’d decided to take the shower so he had to go upstair wearing nothing but his towel, which covered from his waist downward. Daniel wasnt really self-concious but he hopped that him being like this didn’t offend her or make her feel uneasy. He made sure to fill Changmin’s bowls with food and water and opened the door which led to the garden for the puppy before he headed upstair. As he reached the topstairs, he almost colided with her, not expecting her to stand there. He’d thought that she’d already found to his bedroom as she seemed to have no problem with making herself at home. “Ah.. Where you waiting for me?” He asked with a smile before nodding towards the door at the far end of the corridor that was slightly open. “Ladies first?” He asked as he walked after her towards the bedroom.
	When he started up the stairs she had been too surprised to move at first, wondering why in the world he was apparently in nothing but a towel. Old reflexes kept her from actually being walked into though, stepping to the side just as he stepped close to her, and she didn’t quite know what to say to him asking if she was waiting for him since it was a rhetorical question she said nothing and just started down the hallway, one of her hands reaching out to lightly skim the wall as she opened the door into the room. She had expected it to be more spacious, but to be honest she liked it better this way, as her her barefeet hit the cold floor she looked around the room finding it gave off a warmer feeling than she expected it to. It was definitely more personal than the rest of the house and she headed for the carpet around the bed right away, disliking the cold floor on instinct. As she sat down on the bed and looked around the room again her hands spread out over a thick but soft blanket under her and she felt the urge to just curl up in a ball and sleep right there at the foot of the bed, but instead she gave him a teasing smile, “You should probably get some clothes on, unless you prefer to sleep naked?”
	Daniel watched her hurry over to the bed, wondering if she really was that sleepy or if it was him in his towel that made her uncomfortable. As for how she behave, she didnt seem that uneasy at all but on the other hand, he almost never knew what she was thinking. She was too hard to read. The little playful comment proved him the oppsite, that she wasn’t uncomfortable at all with him only wearing his towel. He would have followed along her teasing if he hadn’t been so damn tired. “Actually, I dont, however I do sleep shirtless.” He said as he moved towards the walk in closet, tossing away the towel for he knew that she couldn’t really see him from where she was sitting. Unless.. she moved to the center of the bed, but that’d be on her. Daniel slid on a pair of boxers and comfortable trousers before drying his hair with another towel. “I surely hope that you’re not planning on sleeping in those clothes.” He called out from the closet. “It’s not good for you, they’ll be way too warm.. can cause fungal infections in the longrun.” He spoke on along with other medical things.
	When he moved to the closet she had wasted no time in doing what she had wanted to do for hours, which, unfortunately for him was not peek at his nude body but instead to take off her jacket and pants, folding them neatly and setting them near the bed on the side with the window, along with her bra. All she planned to sleep in was her tanktop that she had put on just before leaving her apartment and her plain black panties, it occured to her that it might be a good idea to ask him for a shirt of his to wear but she disliked borrowing things from people whom she didn’t trust completely and frankly,,. Frankly she didn’t know if she wanted to get use to sleeping in his clothes. By the time he finished drying his hair and pulling on his sleeping clothes she had crawled under the blanket and pulled it up to her waist because of how warm it was and anticipating him beside her, his body heat warming her so the blanket was only half necessary. His pillows her as soft as his hands and she smiled contentedly, her half-lidded eyes on the outside world still as she waited for him, as she slowly braided her hair so it wouldn’t bother him as she hummed to herself quietly.
	Daniel came out of the closet with yawn, he knew that he’d probably  pass out as soon as his head hit that pillow. Which was unfortunate because he’d wanted to cuddle a bit. As he moved towards the bed, he spotted the pile of clothes laying on the window bench and he couldn’t help it but secretly wonder which of her clothes she’s removed. As if it were the most obvious thing ever, he reached for her as soon as he slid into the bed. His arms comfortably wrapped themselves around her body, one of them reaching to place itself onto her thigh. His heart skipped a beat as his fingertip felt the soft skin of her thigh instead of the fabric of her pants which they’d been expecting. He’d concluded that she’s be wearing them since she still had the tanktop on but once again he proved himself wrong when it came to her. Instead of pulling away his hand however, he left it lingering there but he did not attempt to move it to her feminine parts of the body.
	“Hhmm…” Was the only sound she made as she finished her braid, moving it so it was on the opposite side of her than him.  She had expected him to hold her when he finally came to bed and so she wasn’t so startled, though she hadn’t expected him to do it so easily with no hesitation or shyness. She liked the subtle show of boldness though and thought very little of his hand on her thigh as he simply rested it there, feeling the now familiar pleasant feeling of warmth spread from where his skin touched hers. Grasping both of his hands in her’s she turned to the side so that she was facing the window, letting go of one of his hands to reach up, her arm resting on his neck so that her fingertips could run over through his hair lightly as she slowly started to doze off, “Sweet dreams Danny,” Her eyes were closed as she spoke, voice hardly audible as she took deep breaths of his scent before her breathing finally started to even out, her body finally letting go of the tenseness that she tried not to show but always held. She just hoped she didn’t say anything too incriminating in her sleep, but at the moment she didn’t even care.
	Daniel shivered slightly as he felt the fingers run though his hair. The hand that she’s released moved to her stomach, pulling her closer before resting there. Danny, again? He shook his head slightly with a soft chuckle and then placed a small kiss at the cape of her neck. “Sleep well, dear.” He breathed, lingering there as,  her scent following him into his sleep.
	Namie didn’t stir until almost three in the afternoon, though she was use to sleeping a bit excessively she was surprised that she had slept so much since she– Whoah. Wait. Her mind finally caught up to the events of that morning and the images that hit her were clean and sharp, she remembered everything that she did and that she felt with Danny and realized that one of her theories could be crossed our for real this time. She really had not been acting on the part of alcohol, plus whenever she was drunk she tended to flail around wildly no matter who was sleeping nearby, and she had hardly moved all morning though with my luck I probably talked so much I woke him up. Had she really gone home with a complete stranger? Taking a deep breath she inhaled his scent and realizing that it still made her feel safe and she relaxed again, her head tilting back so she could see his face better, and she smiled as she memorized the contours of his face and the way the light and shadows played against his cheekbones just in case I don’t get this chance again. The thought made her a bit sad, but it was one she knew had to be faced none the less, the man was grounded and reasonable, who knew how he would react when he woke up?
	*Sure, she needed to be at the shop soon, and couldn’t stay much longer, but his arms were still around her and such a warm morning and a wonderful sleep wasn’t as common as she wished so she was going to enjoy this as long as she could.
	Daniel had unfortunately overslept, at least in the matter if him watching her sleep, since she woke up before he had. Slowly he stirred up from his sleep but kept his eyes closed, trying to remember why there was a warm body snuggled up into his arm, into his bed. It took him a short moment to remember everything that’d happened that morning and while he did, he took the opportinue to enjoy the soothing scent of the young woman in his arms. A soft smile spread across his face as everything came back to him. He pulled the body that laid next to him even closer yet kept his eyes closed, playfully pretending to be asleep.
	When the smile broke out across his face she felt the nerves slowly die out and the unusual thought that had been nagging at her to leave before he awoke, leave without the hassle because she never did that but she never slept at a stranger’s home either. Here he was though, moving and smiling and if she was correct; very awake but acting as if he wasn’t. Laughter bubbled out from her chest as she felt herself being pulled tighter against him, trying to ignore any reactions from her body at the feeling of his form being pressed against hers in favor of hitting him lightly in the chest, twisting and and wiggling in the strong grip of his arms until she was facing him instead of with her back to his chest. A mischievous smile suddenly over took her face as she leaned forward to bite at his neck gently, no more than her teeth grazing against his skin before pulling away to blow lightly on the flesh she had just been teasing and then quickly pulling his arms away from her and sitting up beside him, her back arching as she stretched, her hand back in his hair, “I have to go soon,  but I gotta ask–did the mess in your brain get unjumbled by the light of the afternoon sun Danny boy?” Her tone was teasing and light as her feet touched his, her legs still buried underneath the covers.

   

Daniel opened his eyes as the younger woman twisted around him in his grip. He chuckled softly as she finally managed to, or rather, as he finally allowed her to. The mischievous smile on her lips surprised him, even more so that she leaned forward to bite him. Even though the action was playful his skin still burned as her teeth brushed it. The instincts hed hidden away from yesterday slowly returning to him.

Daniel remained in the bed, watching her as she sat up. The hadn in his hair was soothing. He reacted faster than he had time to think, a frown spreading across her face as she told him that she was going to leave. On the other hand, it was only logic. What else would she have done, stayed? For what, make him more food? “Okay.” He nodded before sitting up, stretching a bit. “The mess?” He asked as he remembered the point of this ‘mission’. “Ah…” He wasn’t really sure of what to answer since he’d slept most of the time, he hadn’t even watched her sleep as he intended to.

The teasing of her feet almost made Daniel pull Namie back into the bed and kiss her senseless. It was these small affectionate touches that drove him to the edge, well almost. He still had some self-control left.

As she watched him frown her hands began to undo her braid, fingers winding through her hair gently in a leisurely fashion, not letting his obvious displeasure at what she said bring her still pleased and relaxed mood down. The fact that he obviously wasn’t regretting her presence in his bed now that he was sober and saw her in the proverbial ‘light’ filled her with a new kind of confidence that she had yet to feel with him until that point.

Her head tilted at the way she had caught him off guard with her question, liking the genuine response she had solicited from him. Leaning toward him she allowed hurt now mostly unbraided hair to fall towards him as she grasped him gently by the nape of his neck and pulled him towards her.

Her lips were barely contacting his as she spoke, “You look even more enticing in the sun. I’m sorry I woke you, you looked as if you had been relieved of a burden as you slept.” Their noses bumped together as she gave him a bliss filled smile, fighting the urge to just curl back up on the pillows

Like most things with her, he’d not expected this. However, it didnt mean that he didnt appriciate it. Even more so, it was as if she’d made up his mind for him, for as she leaned down, he felt the last of his self-control slip away. The sheld that had held him back over-powered but the need he felt, or rather by the power pulling him towards her. He could merely hang on and hope that he would go too fast, do anything that they’d regret later on. Although he doubted that he’d regret anything he did with her.

Daniel leaned towards her as her hand rested on the cape of his neck, his own hands sliding around her waist, pulling her closer. With a slightly shaky breath, he burshed his lips against her, waiting for her to finish her words. “Who said that you’re making me speechless?” He grinned playfully and then captured her lips in a soft yet sensual kiss. His hands trailed down her back as the tip of his tongue brushed her soft bottom lip. Before taking the kiss any further, Daniel shifted them so that she was laying against the pillow on her back and he made sure to do this without breaking the kiss.

Gotta go soon, gotta go, ooh I forgot how wonderful his skin feels… Her breath caught when she saw the surprised look in his eyes go from confusion and restraint to excitement, and the difference between the still-cautious man of that morning and the sensual, but still patient one before her now became so much more prominent while the insisting voice that reminded her of her obligations became quieter. Though not completely nonexistent unfortunately.

She had expected him to be more restrained than he was yesterday, more sensible. As his lips over took her own though she realized that she had been quite wrong, and when she felt her back hit the still warm sheets her hand that was at his neck moved down, finally giving in and exploring the curves and shapes of his arms without a hint of shyness, her other hand at the small of his back urging him closer, closer without her even realizing what she was doing. Eyes stayed open, her gaze sharpened as her heart beat furiously in her chest, feeling more alive somehow, her back arching slightly from his hands on her flesh while her lips started to trail from his own alongside his cheek and up towards his ear, lips and tongue looking for the spot that had made him react so much while they were at the bar. Even though they were sober he was having the same effect as he had before, if anything everything felt sharper—clearer—than it had that morning, he still made her skin so sensitive and hot; which she felt acutely as she kicked away the last vestiges of the blankets over her legs, feeling the colder air on her skin there

Daniel held the kiss for a long moment before slowly pulling away as they’d run out of air. He couldn’t help it but feel like such a teenager with is sudden reaction, however, he could understand why he was acting that way he was acting since he’d longed to kiss her for along time. Daniel pulled away to look at the younger woman, studying her face and emotions as his hand brushed a few curls from her face. She looked gorgeous yet so young, her lips slightly swollen from the long kiss they’d shared. “Sorry…” He said, not really apologizing, rather he was being polite. “Couldn’t help myself… I’ve been wanting to kiss you since this morning, at the bar.” He smiled softly as his fingers reached to brush her cheek and then her neck.

Daniel’s eyes lingered at Namie’s neck. Oh, what the heck. Might as well do this since I’ve already gotten this far. He thought and leaned down to place a soft kiss onto her cheek. With closed eyes he continued placing gentle kisses along her jawline and down to her neck. Daniel’s lips brushed the smooth skin of her throat, allowing his warm breath to tickle it and once in a while, he placed a feather -light kiss onto her skin.

For a moment when he drew away her eyes stayed half half open, head head tilting upwards at the loss of his mouth against her’s, her tongue reaching out to slowly run along her lips as her eyes became sharper again as she took in the taste of him, her hand that had found it’s way to his hip dug in just slightly, massaging his skin–wanting him to react to her as much as she did to him–as her other hand explored the contours and dips of his arms.

When she felt his lips on her skin her body tensed for a moment, eyes widening before shutting, “Danny…” His name left her as she exhaled, her hand ghosting from his shoulder down his chest, “If ya’ gona keep goin’ the way you’re goin I don’t think I’m going to be,” Her palm pressed into his hip, “Leaving anytime soon,” Her eyes opened, <I>of course he had to go for my neck where I’m most sensitive and be all weirdly gentle and shit.</I> Now her eyes were open again, somewhere between serious and logical and predatory.

Daniel shivered as her fingers dug into his skin. His skin was on fire again and the fact that it’d been so long since he’d last had a woman touch him this way didn’t make it better. His lips found a spot at the base of her neck which he started kissing and gradually, the kisses turned into small sucking motions, his tongue licking across the soon bruising spot. Daniel wasn’t intending on marking her…Well actually he was. He wanted to leave a trail on her that’d remind her of him. He hated the thought of her forgetting him as soon as she’d walked out his door.

His body started heating up as her hands roamed his body, a soft groan escaping his lips at her touches. “I should…stop.” he mumbled against her skin as he reached to where her tanktop covered her body yet his hand trailed up her thigh to gently squeeze the soft curve of her back. The feeling so erotic as she was only wearing her underwear. This of course, sparked him up and got his boxers slightly tighter than before.

Her hands met at the top of his spine, pressing in with slight pressure as her hands glided down to the small of his back, fanning out over his skin before pulling his hips down onto her own with a sudden boldness. The bruise forming on her neck had been almost too much, a light breathy sound of surprise and pleasure slipped from her, the slight bit of pain from the spot sent electricity down her body and she unintentionally moved her neck to give him better access.

If he expected her to just lay there he was wrong, and even as muscles twitched and jumped from where he had grasped her back she had turned his weight against him, a just a little force from her hands on his shoulder was all it took for her to catch him off guard and push him onto his back. Her hands clutched at his wrists –pinning them on either side of himself– as she moved to straddle his hips, “I don’t like just lying there, ” A gentle bite at his collar bone was followed by another at the shell of his ear, “We’re sober and wide awake, now I have to ask while I still have some control over myself.” She pulled away from the side of his face looking him in the eye, the unspoken question hanging between them.
Another groan left his lips as Namie’s fingers pressed down his spine. The sensation almost torturing as it cause his body to sudder with anticipation. The small gasp from her didn’t go unnoticed, his lips added more pressure to the mark, wanting to hear it again. He wanted to hear more of those.
    
    As she suddenly started pushing against his shoulders, he first thought that she was going to push him away. However, as her hands remained on him so he understood what it was that she wanted. He shifted his weight to the side, allowing her to push him onto his back without too much effort. A smiles spread across his lips as she pinned down his arms and straddled him. She like being in control, huh? How sexy. Seems like a sweet challenge, He thought smugly but she bite his collar bone, he groaned again, this time louder that the times before. He wasn’t good at keeping in these kinds of sounds at all.
    
    Daniel looked up as she pulled away, his eyes slightly lustfilled as he watched the young woman. “Yes?”

She pressed her hips down onto his, knowing the affect she was having on him and even more aware of the sensations her hips her going to cause as they pressed down on his most sensivitve area.  His sounds were driving her crazy with an almost primal need to cause more of them, far too pleased that he wasn’t the quiet type that she had suspected. She should never have tempted herself with putting her lips on his collarbone, now she couldn’t stop looking at it, wanting to trail her lips down farther and taste him.
    
    The excitement at her switching of their positions was almost tangible in his eyes and she could feel his heart speed up through his wrist and it caused her hips to move against his again once more, this time without her meaning to. Letting go of her wrists she rolled her eyes, though too wrapped up in everything she was feeling to feel anything close to real irritation, “Don’t be daft Danny boy, do you want to fuck me now?” A vivacious grin pulled across her face, unphased by her own vulgarity as she leaned down to kiss him again.

Daniel’s breath hitched once as she pressed herself down, his eyes flaring up with lust. He tugged his hands from their pinned position and moved them to grip her his hips. With each on either side of her hips, he thrusted upwards. The sensation had been even better without his trousers on but it was still very good. His bulge was very visible by now, so her question did seem slightly.. unitelligent, to put it with nicer words. On the other hand, so was his. The way she stradded him and rolled her body against him only called for one thing.
    
    Daniel paused for a moment, his hands still at her hips however their grip softened. He tilted his head backwards and closed his eyes. “No..” He spoke honestly, he’d never just plain fucked a woman. He wasn’t about to start either. “I dont want to fuck you.” All of this, everything I’ve felt, was it all just sexual attraction? Because for the moment so it seemed that way. Somehow, he felt as if whatever they’d had would be lost if they gave into their needs. It was as if the sex would determain whatever it was that they had. Something inside him told him that they indeed, did have something beyond the pysical attraction that they felt and even though he wasn’t really sure of what it was yet, he wanted to figure it out.
    
    His eyes opened and his hands reached up to touch her face. “I want to make love to you.” Daniel finished with much effort because he did want to have sex with her, very much so. But he also knew that if he did it, right at that momnet, it’d be fucking – not making love.

Her head bent down to the crook of his neck as he gripped her hips, her breath catching for a long moment as she dealt with the almost painful bolt of pleasure erupted from where he had pressed into her.  His grip on her hips felt just as amazing and caused the lower half of her body to drop down, pressed against against his as she seemed to have lost the strength to hold herself up.
    
    When he told her no she felt her heart drop and her heat skip a beat and she immediatly lifted her head to look at him, too stunned to push herself away from him, her body just froze, tense and poised as she listened to him–very confused– because she knew he wanted it, but for some reason he was telling her no. Why was she so worried? Because guys didn’t normally reject sex? Or maybe it was because he had been so warm to her, so accepting and obviously lustfull towards her and the completely unexpected–180– response caught her off guard.
    
    As she listened to what he said she swung her leg back over him and sat back on the bed, her back to him, her mind trying to make sense of what he had just said make love? What an utterly strange concept, the thought of ‘making love’ to someone had never occured to her and it had never been thought of as important, and hardly considered real. It was emotional, filled with love and understanding and where had that even come from anyway?
    
    “I don’t–” A sigh, and she tilted her head to look back at him with a frustrated look in her eyes, “Danny that seems a little…idealistic for you.” Or maybe she was a little cynical and alittle too use to keeping a distance from people and unable to comprehend being around someone for so long she could reach a point where they  would be ‘making love’; but she would never admit these things outloud.

He laid still as she moved off hin. Slowly, he tried calming his breathing down and everything else that had risen. As he breathed, he tried to think of ways to explain his sudden actions to her so that they made sense. Thruth be told, they barely made sense to him. In able to make love, alot of things were required, things they didn’t have, at least yet.
    
    Daniel sat up next to her and rested his back against the head board. At first he stared ahead, trying to think of which words to use in able to avoid his entire explaination to turn into a porriage of rambling. As the words unfortunately failed him, he say another solution. Without know if it’d work or not he went for it. Daniel turned to face her and placed his index finger against her lips, stopping her from speaking. After he’d made sure that she was not going to talk anymore, he cupped her face with both his hand and leaned down to kiss her as gentle as he possibly could manage. His lips moved softly against hers, their breaths mingling. His nostrails filled with that wonderful scent hers that made his head spin. Little by little, he was turning into a dizzy haze of bliss, at her mere lips. Do you feel that as well?

When he let her move away from him without protest she assumed that he was giving up on whatever it was they had going on, and she was mentally prepared to tell him goodbye and thank you for the food and the ejoyable morning even though she wasn’t sure that merely enjoyable was the right word.
    
    Her first reaction to his finger on her lips had been for her eyes to narrow; both because of the cheesiness of the gesture and the fact that she really  did not like being made to stop talking. When he leaned in to kiss her though her irritation was forgotten and she felt the tense feeling that had begun to fill her body from the moment the word ‘no’ came from his mouth start to train as he was kissing her again,  this time even gentler and  sweeter than when he had first kissed her in the kitchen and it made her heart ache because she knew she shouldn’t because it felt amazing but he believed in ‘making love’ she should just stop while she was ahead but she couldn’t. He wasn’t going to hurt her, he wasn’t even going to try, and she knew that without a doubt somehow. Slowly, as they kissed the feeling of contentment encompassed her again and she pulled her mouth away from his, resting their foreheads together as she regained her breath, “Alright, I still don’t get it, not really but. I’ll–” A deep breath and a long exhale as she licked her lips, “But I want to see what this is.” Her words were tenative, as if she wasn’t sure if he’d accept them, but she just didn’t know with him, hell she was still recovering from the surprise of him not  kicking her out once he saw her sober. 

As they rested their forheads against eachother, he could almost hear the soft pounding on his heart in his ears. It’d been awhile since he’d last felt like this. He feel more alive that he’d done in a long time. Daniel’s eyes remain closed as his breathing slowed down. God, I feel like such a teenager. He scowled himself. After a short moment, he opened his eyes and studied her face. She seemed confused, like a child in a candy store with too many options and too little money. He wanted to assure her that everything was going to be fine and as incredible as it was in that very moment, but he didnt know if this was ture. He too was as.. well almost as confused as she seemed.
    
    ”I .. dont know either but I want to try and see where it leads us.” He smiled softly, giving her the best answer he had. “I really want to try this out.”

Pulling away from him she nodded, still unsure but quickly regaining her usual confidence back as the moments ticked on. Even though he said those things to her and kissed her like that she still looked at his face as if she wouldn’t see it again, running her hand through his hair one last time before she stood from the bed, “We’ll try, nothing in the world worth having comes easy or something equally cliche right?” She laughed as she stretched again, twisting her body around for a moment before arching her back and listening to the various noises her bones made before heading towards her clothes, showing not a bit of shyness about her current clothing, or lack thereof as she crouched down to pull her phone from her pants.
    
    Seeing that it was dead she stood again, her eyes scanning his room for a moment–clearly scrambling for an idea–before her talent for coming up with ideas on the spot came into play and she pulled a pen from the pocket of her pants and headed for a small notepad on his table, “I’ll give you my number, call me when the urge hits okay?” The words were casual and showed that she had already adjusted to the afternoon’s events and revelations and was back to ‘normal’ or whatever that was for her.

Daniel could see by the way she looked at him that she didn’t believe it.. or was it him whom she didn’t believe? Her eyes were still as confused but her demeanour had turned a 180, into the confident one she’d worn the morning before. By know, he knew that he wouldn’t be able to say much more that’d change her mind. She was stubborn like that. He’d instead, have to show her that he meant serious business.
    
    As she wrote down her, he saw no point in giving her his because he had a feeling that she wasn’t the sort of woman to call when it came to down such. Sitting there, leaned against the head of the bed, he watched her get dressed with a rather pleased smile. For he knew that the only thing left to prove her suspicions wrong and doing so by a simple phone call. Too young to have fallen in love, perhaps? Too young to know when something feels right – instead you get confused and frightened. It’s understandable. He nodded abit for himself before getting out of the bed. If he knew her well enough so far, he knew that she’d head directly for the door. And well, he at least was going to see her off.

As Namie pulled on her pants, bra, and finally jacket she headed to the bathroom again to brush her hair and rebraid it. As she stood there she was surprised to find that her instinct to leave whenever things in her life started getting serious was not near as strong as it usually was, but unfortunately for Daniel it was still there. She had left the ball in his court though, if he called her she would cross that bridge when she got to it, no sense in worrying about something that was just a possiblity. If he didn’t call her well, life goes on, who needs the ties anyway? A deep breath and a wide smile later and she was back out the door, not even looking for him before she headed down stairs to get her shoes.
    
    I didn’t see him when I came out of the bathroom, I wonder if he’s downstairs taking another shower? Cleaning? What did I expect anyway, a goodbye kiss? She scoffed at her own thoughts, not wanting to look any father in the future than the next few steps.

Daniel had headed downstairs as she went into the bathroom. He didnt know where she was heading but he was sure that she’d get hungry sooner or later, so he warmed up the leftovers and packed them into a lunchbox, which he waited with as he waited for her to come downstairs. While he holded out for her, which he did at the door for that matter because he didnt want to risk her running off without him noticing, he playedwith his little overly enegtic goldendoddle.

Her steps came to a dead stop as she saw Daniel standing in front of the door with a lunchbox, presumably filled with the food that she had made for them that morning. There he stood, like he knew that she would be making her exit right away with no lollygagging, am I that predictable? Her irritation with herself was brushed aside as she took the box from him, a grateful smile on her face as she laughed, “Wow yo uknew exactly where to stand,I must be getting predictable.” Leaning down she scooped Changmin up in her arms to pet him, and felt guilty for leaving the dog downstairs as they slept.

“No.. you’re anything but predictable, dear.” He chuckled softly as she petted Changmin. This was ture but the course that thing had taken after their last kiss was pretty easy to read. He appriciated the fact that she did take the lunchbox, more than that, he wasnt expecting nor demanding of her. “Till next time, take care.” He said with a soft smile.

“The same to you, clear roads.” Giving the dog one last pat she didn’t hesitate before kissing him lightly on the lips and takin gher leave of him and his home.

On my history with Jpop, love of Kpop and Chocolate Love.

Hello all! I know I haven’t be around lately, I doubt anyone noticed—but my life has settled down again so I wanted to get serious about blogging. You should know though—one of the reasons that I’ve been absent from the Blogosphere is because—well—I’ve switched sides.

Now don’t get too angry—I have just jumped headfirst into the kpop ocean of amazingness.

 

I’ll back up a bit and tell you how I got sucked into the Jpop world—why I don’t listen to it as much, why Kpop is now god—and of course what this is really supposed to be about.. Chocolate Love, and no I don’t mean the Hersey’s Bar in my freezer.

I got into Jpop about six months before Konkon and Mako’s graduation. Namie Amuro was my first Jpop love—and to this day I can probably sing you ever live out of every song from Queen of Hip-pop. When I first got into Jpop though that is all I listened too—Namie. The first song that started me on the H!P Crazy!Train has got to be in the top thirty(or so.) or the least known H!P songs.

The video was on my friend’s LJ—and before I knew it I was watching the video almost fanatically. I was addicted—I don’t know if it was Rika’s fishnets—the boots—the creepy as male voice in the back or simply the uniqueness of it. I made up translated lyrics in my head—and months later looked up the real lyrics—hated replaced them with my own again.  Wow. I’m listening to this song again after not having heard it in a really really long time and am still addicted. One thing lead to another, and a youtube search for ‘Country Musume’ lead me to ‘Morning Musume’ which lead me to my first H!P vid—Chokkan 2. Close up version.

Insta!Love.

After some help from my best buddy google, I found Ray Mescallano’s(I CAN HAZ BAD SPELLING??) Feed of Pop and his extensive blog post concerning Chokkan 2’s close up PV and then all the members. My first Momusu love—and my current one if you don’t know is Sayumi though of course as Ray knows Mako came in a close second. I still love this pics you sent me btw <3 you probably don’t even remember though xD

ANYWAY.

Jpop lured me in because—well I’m not sure. Some of you may have read the second blog post I ever did that got noticed by Ray about Momusu being able to make it in America and how they seemed to be so much more genuine and caring about their fans than American artists. I think it was because American artists these days change so much (except Offspring of course. Please tell me there are some Jpop fans that adore them too) along with the fact that they sell out and seem to think it is cool to be cold and distant towards their fans. Not all of them of course—just a lot of them. Plus the uniqueness just wasn’t present as much as I would like—the individuality. The Black Eyed Peas were no longer awesome, No Doubt broke up, Blink 182 disappeared, Sublime died, only Regina Spektor and a few other unknowns kept me interested in American music. And Lily Allen but that is a whole ‘nother story.

Plus Jpop sent shivers down my spine, they inspired me and cheered me up. I was done with my teenage moody phase and was tired of listening to depressing music. Hola H!P! For me, Jpop was actually the next stage in maturity. In my own special kind of way of course.

Lately though—I haven’t really enjoyed a Momusu single since Naichau Kamo—and that is a stretch. I have over a dozen Momusu singles in my home but after Kanashimi Twilight I sorta lost the passion I have for them. Don’t get me wrong, you find me a amazing Sayu vid and I’m all over that. Or Gaki or Junjun or even Linlin and I still watch the concert videos—and I still watch the vids once they are subtitled. But their last three singles haven’t gotten more than one play. I can’t tell you why exactly—they just don’t seem to be Momusu anymore. No more shivers. I mean I enjoy Berryz, truly, and C-ute too but are they enough? I have never followed a member of either of those groups like I followed Mako, Yossie and Sayu.

Admittedly I was never hardcore obsessed with Jpop. Mostly Namie, KAT-TUN, some Arashi(mostly thanks to Hana Yori Dango), H!P of course, Ayu, Kuu(some) and a few others I can’t remember right now. Oh and on the AKB note—the only singles that really caught me were Seifuku and the song about school bullying/suicide… It’s a long name okay! Don’t judge me my head is filled with Korean!

Then I stumbled upon F(x) on accident…

More importantly my new crush—Amber. Quite sexy.  This video is even better:

Yummy, ne’?

Next was Brown Eyed Girl’s – Abracadabra, and I encourage you Jpop fans who have never touched Kpop to watch these just to try something new. Please?

Now  the said thing is, even I listen to a Jpop song five times chances are I can sing you the chorus minimum, Korean is still kicking my ass!

Back to the point—one of my favorite things about Kpop is how they treat sexiness. Okay I know that might sound odd but let me explain. In the Jpop world the girls are encouraged to be sexy—but to be coy about it. You know what I’m talking about, I’m not the first of the Bloggers to say it, “Be sexy but act like you’re not. Be sexy but act innocent. “ Except Kuu—lets not even bring her into this. Now F(x), BEG, and many other girl groups are blantantly sexy—but not in a Kuu kind of way—in that “Yes I’m sexy, yes I’m better than you. I am woman hear me roar!” That overpower, woman in control sexiness. In vinyl. And Fishnets. And stilettos.

These groups..They just seem to give me what Jpop lacks now—the shivers. And you know what? I can show this music off to my friends and they can enjoy it too! Not normally as much as me of course but still. These are still girl groups, doing the same old girl group thing—but for older girls and attracting girls—for the slightly more mature more trendy audiences but still being unique. Each of these groups is very distinct in both style, voices, dance, personas, everything. Even though I haven’t been listening to them very long I can hear a B.E.G song and then a F(X) song and know who it was by style and voice etc. Sadly, a lot of Jpop seems to have lost that—spark. That uniqueness.

I will discuss Kpop more in depth—maybe even a intro post to each of my favorite groups; male and female later on. To help you Jpop-wota who are too afraid to delve into the Kpop world ^_~ but right now this post is really about Chocolate Love.

Now as I’ve made clear I love, absolutely love F(X). But I also love SNSD—just not as much. Cyon as recently gotten both girl groups to do videos with the same song—with only slight differences in style—one Is techno and the other is something else—to promote their new Chocolate phone. Or maybe their phone is called Chocolate Love I dunno.

One way or another the F(X) version brings a whole new element of sexiness to the group, and I LOVE it. Even though of course, my favorite chickie Amber gets very very little attention except a meager solo and a five second clip at the end that makes it seem like they caught her at a private session in front of a mirror. Where she is just having fun, maybe a psyching herself out session?

See what I mean when I say it’s sexy? But not in a slutty way of course, it also made me appreciate the one member I didn’t really like—Sulli. Who kind of reminded me of Rika Ishikawa. Popular, given a lot of solos, but with a voice that didn’t quite match everyone else’s but was cute and confident.

The video has a good unique dancing, very active that goes with the beat of the song and the style—it looks extremely difficult and is sexy without being slutty. I adore their outfits for the most part—except the white parts on the ones they are wearing at the very beginning. The girls are clearly flirting with the camera, being seductive—but not really in a “Come to me, take me I love you!” way but more in a “I want you, you want me, we both know this, but are you sure you can handle this? Maybe I’ll just play with you for awhile.” There is some greenscreen but very little and it Is subtle, the video is probably sixty-seventy percent dance shot but also some scenes with the girls dancing with one or two of the other’s or lounging on some dark cushions singing. The video has no story line but is it supposed to? It is really a glorified commercial. There is also a few scenes with the girls dancing under..a black sheet? Um, copying off G-dragon much?! Jeez! Granted the song is fairly repetitive but the girls are very good at harmonizing and simply their voices sound beautiful—and I’m not sure how to say it—but the way they sing/say the words gets me every time. They sound like they’ve hit a new level of incredible.

Now though to the SNSD version…

I don’t have as much to say about this one—because of the simple fact that is just not as mesmerizing to me. Maybe because the song IS repetitive but  it lacks Amber’s unique solo and awkwardness during the video(for those of you unawares Amber is genuinely tomboy, and doing sexy moves makes her uncomfortable. It is fairly obvious) but the video and the song—is just SNSD. Where the F(X) girls have coyness on their side that lends to their sexiness the SNSD girls will always sound girly and feminine to me. The more submissive, less in control tone of their video/song compared to their younger counterpart may have been what turned me off. The girls wear sexy clothes—but not stilettos, vinyl, and short black dress sexy. They wear SNSD sexy clothes. Lacey white booty shorts that is really lingerie and what almost seems like too pure dresses. They try sexy—but they still come across as young and cute and innocent. That is who SNSD is though. Don’t misunderstand me now: they’re singing was, as always amazing, their dancing flawless, and the girl’s beautiful. The focus was on their legs, and the dancing itself was much like every other SNSD video I’ve seen. I can’t even concentrate on the song long enough to pick out how they changed Amber’s solo to be SNSD style.

Anyways. I guess it’s obvious which group’s version I love better. Expect new things from me and I would love to hear your opinions on the things I talked about <3

BTW, any HYD fans out there still?

Oh! And before I forget! there is a youtube user online(well boviously she's onle xD silly me) who does her own english versions of Asian songs, largely Korean, and here is her version of Chocolate Love–f(X) version of course!

I highly recommend all of her songs!

Get Wild and Tough — Wow Rika, I’m actually happy you were there.

Hell has frozen over, I have found a clip with Rika performing that I actually, genuinely, enjoy her part in it. She wasn’t my favorite part, but given the opportunity to take her out of it, I would leave her there. Wanna know what it is? A Uta-doki performance I stumbled on with them singing ‘Get Wild’, a song which I now adore. Anyone have a original perf of it and a link to the lyrics?

Anyway, back to the topic at hand…

Online Videos by Veoh.com

The performance starts out with Rika and Yossie standing side by side, both looking very serious and wearing outfits that while they aren’t very loud or complex, are still eye catching but not distracting and match their personalities for the most part which is always good. As someone who is constantly wondering how much of what we see is real, I’m always curious as to their clothing choices and how much of what they wear is actually up to them. Do producers actually pick out their clothes for something like Uta-doki or do they trust the idols with that? Anyway.

The music picks up and there is some head bopping and knee movements going on, they both look determined, though Rika more so, with Yossie looking like she is having a hard time not smiling. Ayaka is having the time of her life of course. You know, random thought, but if I was a kid, and I was lost somewhere in Japan and was really freaked out, and saw a bunch of H!P idols, and didn’t know at all who they were mind you, I think I would pick Ayaka to cling to. She just has that safe, protective, genuine vibe going on, you know?

They both start singing, and can’t help smiling but still have the strong, confident, determined expression/tone that this song is clearly supposed to have and Rika’s voice is actually pleasing to hear. Even as she gets to eye level to point at us as she sings, for once, I don’t feel like she is actually in my face like she normally is in, well, every time she is on camera,especially during perfs. Like she is desperate for attention and is shoving herself in the camera like Koharu(who channels her senpai often me thinks.) I mean, for chrissakes, you are ISHIKAWA FRIGGIN RIKA, you don’t have to be a camwhore all the time. Anyway.

Yossie, is as always, fun to watch and hear, and you know, I think the only haircut she would look bad with is bald or a mohawk. I mean, like Ohtani, Yossie is just cool like that.

Thank god they put the english down there, I mean really, I thought she was talking about cream, and thats just wrong I tell you, wrong. That said, Rika gets into this song, and like I said, isn’t camwhoring herself as much as usual but still being Charmy. Even though this is a somewhat serious song, they both look happy, maybe it’s just because they get to hang out together, and I’m pretty sure they have a genuine friendship, I mean you can almost feel it. Their commardre is heartwarming, and it would make me watch a performance of a song that I’ve never heard when I normally wouldn’t. THAT is what Risako and Sayu were missing at the concert. And other stuff too, but thats not the point right now. Also, they are perfectly in sync for this for the dancing, or at least not enough to bother me, which they couldn’t have practiced THAT much, and yet Jaja Uma Paradise’s dancing was so off sync it bothered the crap outta me. What does this say about Viyuuden?

I adore watching Ayaka, she seems like so much fun to be around, like, she could make a funeral fun. You know what I mean? So happy and genuine and infectious, if I’m ever about to commit suicide, I want Ayaka to be the one that comes to try and stop me xD

Notice that Rika doesn’t call Ayaka ‘Ayaka-’ anything, does that mean something that I don’ know about? Are they really close or something? I am SO up for Ayaka replacing Mano Eri in Gatas.

Once Ayaka comes in they start dancing in a circle and the song gets more upbeat, happy and infectious and they aren’t doing so many real dance steps, so it’s okay they aren’t in sync at this point. Towards the end I realize that this whole thing sorta just seemed like the three were friends and went to a Karaoke place, or in one of the girl’s basement, it reminds me of a basement for some reason, and Ayaka was playing with the music system and then got called over and they were all just goofing off. At the end though, in the last few seconds, the music slows down back to being slow and somewhat inspiring-like sounding and the girls come together in the same fashion and point to us…

Yeah, girls, you got me in your idol trap, I enjoyed that crap outta your really simple performance more than some bright, sparkly shiny performances. Go gloat, I understand.

NEW H!P TOPIC~

Did you ever notice I never comment on current Jpop events? Anyway, this time I am. Now that the new Resonant Blue pv is out [Thank you, Celestia~!] I wanted to tell you what I envisioned the PV to be, and then comment on the actual PV later on–because I can.

Okay, does anyone remember the ZYX! FLY HIGH video? Where the girls are like, huddled in a alley way-ish place and looking all angsty? I imagined a lot of that in the Resonant Blue PV. The camera slowly zooms in on Junjun sitting on a bridge looking sad in ‘poor’/'thirft store’/'mismatching’ clothes even, sitting there leaning against the railing, looking out at the city and the darkwaters. She looks tough, like something terrible happened but she has gotten over it but is forever scarred.

Then we switch over to Linlin, a nicely dressed girl, none the less looking depressed as she sits at her window looking mournfully outside like she wants to go out, and then sadly looks back inside the house–a caged girl who is meant to be running amok in the city. Her room is very well furnished, clearly her family is well off.

Then we see Eri, crouched in a alleyway, looking vulnerable but resolute in a cramped area where she can relax[this statement could only be said with Eri xD], her clothes were originally very nice but now are old and torn and you can tell she has been suffering for awhile.

Then we see Risa, who is dressed in artsy, almost hippy clothing and is working at a festival type place and doing portraits for money. She is happy when people are there and she is drawing but when they leave she looks sad as she watches the people leave. She has several large bags with her and watches over them like they are everything.

Finally we switch to Sayumi who is sitting with her friends, in a hodge podge style(ex: preppy shirt meets black pants and sandals) and laughing and generally having a good ol’ time when a tough looking guy with several tough looking friends comes up, snaps at her and she suddenly looks somber and she stands, when the guy grabs her arm and drags her away.

Lastly we have Mittsi, who is wearing old clothes that in one way or another don’t seem to fit her and she is sitting in what looks like a orphanage where the other children play sadly because they simply ignore her. She seems a prospective family walk in, glance at her, and then talk to another girl.

This is all about half way through the video. In between each setting you see The Ruling Three, walking down a street together, each in a different style of dress, part of the time they are singing, and the other part they are talking, like they are making a plan. Then suddenly, about the time get halfway through seeing the Other Musume, the three take off in other directions after doing a Yakumi From Gokusen ‘Fight-oh!’. They find each of the Other Musumes and take them to a dark park that seems to get brighter as each girl comes, each of The Ruling Three bringing one back. Then they all sing and do the final part of the dance that is left OR they all just sit around and seem to band together somewhat.

I really love the idea of Reina rescuing Linlin from her house like a Linlin is a princeess though xD being all tough, “I’ll protect you in the city you yearn for” xD oh and all this is in a really cool, NOT CG-ED CITY! Yeah, thought I’d mention that~

EDIT: OR maybe it should end like the actual PV, where the girls are standing there just watching the camera. And yes, if you’re curious, I based each of the scenarios on the girls ‘personalities’ or what I thought would simply fit them best or look the most ‘real’, and I’m starting to think it should end differently, like The Ruling three should have a similar setting like running through the city looking lost and panicked while singing. Opinions anyone? Although this is totally irrelevant seeing as the actual PV is already out >.>’

Robo–jeez c’mon people

I know I said I probably was going to be mia for awhile, but I just had to post about this even though I’m out of it(so if this seems weirder than normal, thats why).

H!F Just subbed this, but it’s not on veoh, I’ll post a link to it later though.

 

Firstly, if you’re new to, well, me, you should know that I am a huge Sayumin fan and a Risako fan, just not very hardcore of one. So, I was really looking forward to this performance. I mean like, THIS is the main reason I want this DVD. And I mean, it still is, but I’m a little disapointed.

Maybe I’m overly critical of Risako but I really exprected more of her since she has all this confidence placed in her, but maybe it’s gotten to her head? She seemed kinda bored and apathetic to in most of this, and her voice cracked several times and sounded strained, much more than Sayumins. I expected a goofy, exaggerated, cutsey performance, and while I got that out of Sayu, I did not see it from Risako. Her voice even let me down until the end of it when she improved a lot.

Sayu’s movements are always full enthusiam in this(although thats always, even this Sayu-haters should be able to admit that if she is good at anything, it is giving her full effort into whatever it is she is doing), whether it be odd body movements, arm motions or what not, she goes all out. She is also always very aware of the camera, making faces and hand gestures that go with what she is singing and is just, well, idol like. Except a few scenes, Risako’s expression hardly changes.  I actually think the camera may have been on Sayu more than Risako, just because Risako seemed pretty rookie on the stage, or maybe an older member who just doesn’t give a shit anymore.

I was happy Sayu got paired with Risako to do this, but now I wish she had done it with Junjun, you wanna know the main reason? There was absolutely no chemisty between Michishige and Sugaya. None. Sayumi may have been having fun and feeling the lyrics, but to Risako, it was obviously a job, I know she use to act a lot, but she is a awful actress now–it’s clear she wasn’t enjoying herself up there.

This wasn’t mean to be a Risako hate post, because I normally adore her, she just let me down is all.

Any other opinions on this?

Oh oh oh you know who else I would adore seeing Sayu perform this with? Nakky!!!! OMG that would be so so so -squeel- awesomely fantastic! Just think about it. Although the height difference would make it a little awkward… Damn.

Oh and BTW, the song Kiss Off by The Violent Femmes pwns my soul. Just a FYI.

Just in case you’re wondering…

I got in a wreck today while going to apply for a job, so I may be MIA for awhile. Just a FYI. If you’re really curious, email me for the details, but I’m not going to just post them here ’cause I’m weird, ‘kay? But no one was hurt, I had an anxiety attack afterwards but thats it.

Makoto Makoto MAKOTO~! -SqueeSpazz-

Another new picture of Makoto has surfaced! This one is of good quality! Her hair is a pretty light brown color, longer, and she has lost weight!

You know what this means don’t you? That’s right, a fangirl post for Makoto, who no matter what happens will always be in my top five Musume, hey that may not seem like a lot, but there is a lot of tough competition in the MoMusume history! She can often be found in my top three of lists (Top Three Favorite to Watch Perform Skits on shows, Top Three Favorite to Watch Perform in Concert etc.) and I’ve missed her more than Aibon, Konkon, and her and the Yaguch are tied for the ‘Most Missed within H!P Spot’ in my heart <3

We miss you Mako! She is also at the top of my ‘Most Admired Musumes’ list, right past below Sayumi but above Yuko. They are a constant three. I just know she is coming back, I know this, I have a good sixth sense about these things–like how good my gaydar, manslutdar, and ‘I will date this person in the future-dar’, my ‘This Idol will Still Release Music in The Future-dar’ is never wrong! Haha isn’t that random for you?

~~ Lady Alice

[Awesome Artists You Have Probably Never Heard Of] Part One — Coco Lee (Chinese)

Name: Coco Lee
Age: 31
Occupation: Actress, singer
Style: R&B, Hip-Hop, Soul
Country of origin: China, but moved to America when she was 10, then went back to China after she graduated High School whihc is when she first started in on her career as a pop star after winning a Chinese Pageant.
Notable: She is a Disney fan, and voiced Mulan in the Mandarin version. She released an English album, and if you listen to her English music (as to be expected after she had lived in America for so long) she has NO accent. Even my dad said so xD. She seems very humble and down to earth from several interviews I read with her, talking informally (bummer, ‘cos etc.) and citing how big of an influence her mother had on her, and even when she had reached super stardom she still received her mother’s permission before becomming engaged.
Been singing since: June 15, 1993
Family: Coco is the youngest of three children. She has two elder sisters, Nancy, who was her manager before, and Carol. Her father died when she was young.

Awards etc.:
- In 2001, Asia Weekly magazine named Coco as one of the most powerful people in Asia on their Power 50 list.
- Coco is the first Chinese to perform in the Oscars, singing the Academy Award nominee for Best Original Song, A Love Before Time from the movie Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon in the 73rd Academy Awards
- In 2002, CoCo was the featured performer at a Houston Rockets NBA game. She became the first Chinese singer to ever perform the US National Anthem at a major global sporting event.
- The success of her concert in Taiwan in 1998, second to Michael Jackson in terms of audience, with more than 30,000 people who watched, caught the attention of Sony Music United States and Tommy Mottola.
- She co-starred in the Chinese comedy movie, Master of Everything (aka Bamboo Shoot) with John Lone, which won the Best Foreign Film award in the 2005 Beverly Hills Film Festival.

How I got into her: You know how a lot of people are talking about on their blogs how they go to Asian stores or Asian supermarkets and find old Momusu CDs and stuff? So I was like ‘Hey, maybe I an do that’ but sadly, when I hit the biggest Asian supermarket in OKC I found NO cds at all, but today we hit another one but all they had was Vietnamese and Chinese and the woman frightened me a bit. I was like “Do you have any S.H.E CDs?” which got me– “I have lots of singers. These 7.99, I sell you 5.99″ and Coco was the only one I vaguely recongnized os I picked her xD that said though, it was a lucky pick.

Which album did I get you wonder? I HAVE NO IDEA. I’ll try and scan it later, but I can’t find a picture of this one online anywhere -.- it’s an older one though, I can tell by the quality of the picture.

My thoughts on her music: It stunned me. She has a beautiful, strong voice that is flexible and it never seems like she is pushing it. The beat and instruments that go with her music never seem to overwhelm her voice too much, and I think a few songs on here are acoustic. A few of the songs, both her voice and the instruments give me a latina vibes, this doesn’t surprise me now knowing that she is interested in having a international sound. As i was listening to her, even when she was singing in Mandarin, and especially after she sung REFLECTION in English(did I mention that before?) I developed a theory that she was one of those artists who had moved from their country, lived in America, and then moved back to be in the music industry. Much like Leah Dizon(though not her so much), Olivia Lufkin, and others who I can’t remember right now xD but you guys know what I mean. Her music is very natural, refreshing, and like I said, stunning. I highly recommend CoCo Lee~!

~~ Lady Alice

EDIT: I’m already frustrated with WordPress. It keeps fucking up my headers. Everytime I upload a different one, it is all blurry and crappy looking. I switched layouts like four times. WTF dude. Not cool.

Elder Club Concert Clip — JKM Maid style

First of all, I have no idea why I am talking about one clip from the elder club concert. But I am, however I am not capping it, simply because it is a pain in the ass. I will however tell you the time of the scene that I am talking about. If that makes any sense.
That said, their JKM is a lot more entertaining than I expected, and I really really hope someone subs it because that would up it’s awesomeness level by like, five squared. [Linkage to vid on Dohhh! Up http://www.dohhhup.com/movie/PMqX41iF8qffV8a1agsp5I7rV6rnn8p4/view.php][:18] Ayaya has dyed her hair black, and cut it shorter, and for some reason this bothers me—it’s a big distraction. Why, in a group of Japanese girls(excluding Ayaka of course) does the black haired one distract me? Anyway, this is pretty much a normal segment for Ayaya—a bit dramatic, a bit sexy and a bit cute. Entertaining to watch but still kind of normal for her. I think she has a problem a lot of artists have—balance. The balance between doing serious music, sexy music, or cute music. You can do a mix, but for some reason a lot of them find that hard. That’s why all we hear from her anymore is boring ass ballads. I mean when Otsuka Ai has a ballad I watch it, several times in fact because they’re always interesting and she doesn’t do a crapload of them. She has a good balance of work.

[:30] I just want to say that with Satoda Mai’s little wave thing she appears more real and genuine than a lot of celebrities do. It made me grin, which is something she never has trouble with. Mai is one of the H!P idols that if I ever met her on the street, she seems like she would be really comfortable to converse with. I’m glad she is active again.

[:39] Haha Yossi. Idols like Yossi make concerts worth watching, seeing them make goofy faces that is most likely unscripted or laughing with one of their fellow singers or just doing something out there makes it unique and entertaining, and in a way, personal.

[:56] Erina may be cute to look at, but from what little I’ve seen, she’s kinda boring. Whenever the camera went to her I just wanted it to go back to the Yaguch, Kei-chan, Yossi, Konkon, or just someone interesting.

[1:23] They are amazingly in synch compared to their dancing in Jaja Uma Paradise aren’t they? In fact it’s almost creepy. Wait I bet I can translate it now, “The music given to us sucks and it’s all about Rika so we have to resort to being skaaaaanks~WAO!” or something along those lines. Sorry, I like their earlier music, and I like Yui and Erika, but I’m kinda all Rika-ed out.

[1:40] I like the Melon’s expressions as they say their names and just the style, though it is really rushed. God they can never win can they? Anyway, their expressions were very ‘Hey Mirai!’ or ‘Mr.Moonlight’ –esque weren’t they? Watch Ohtani’s expression as Shibata says her part.

[1:56] I adore Kei’s segment! She just as this.. thing kinda like Mai that is very personable and always makes me smile. I love the fawning and blowing kisses thing, I wonder who were the girls who yelled xD.I love how she got all cutsey at the end and I think she said something about being a second gen Momusu member, and then the crowd yelled for her. And yay we got a wink!

[2:27] OH MY GOD I HAVE NO IDEA WHO SHE IS AND I DO NOT CARE! XD

[2:28] See this is much more interesting than whatshername, Yossi and Ayaka goofing off up in the rafters. They should SO be in a group together. I love Ayaka, she always seems really happy and interested in whatever she is doing no matter what. I want to see more Ayaka/ Yossi interaction, does anyone have any good clips of them? Look at Erina, looking really happy just to be waving her hand around and not caring about her senpais. C’mon, stick out. You can do it, you’ve got 20+ beautiful idols up on the stage with you, a large number of them are experienced and know what attracts the fans, you have a lot of competition. You’re going to have to compete with one of the biggest cam whores out there—Kusumi. WORK HARDER. After all that, I still don’t care about whatshername who was talking that whole time.

[2:41] OH MY GOD. WAS AYAKA JUST BEING SEXY? THAT WAS LIKE SEEING MY MOTHER STRIP!! MY EYEEES! Ayaka has always felt very motherly and saintly and sweet to me, I’ve never seen her try and be sexy but now that I think about it… Could she be? GAH. BAD IMAGINATION. My new mental scars aside, I love how she switches languages so flawlessly still, and really, she can sing amazingly well seeing as SHE HARDLY DOES SHIT. THANKS A LOT UFA. GO SUCK A NUT.

[2:56] Don’ get me wrong, I adore Nacchi, but I love watching Yaguchi perform. Which I miss doing. I want to see her sing and dance to goofy songs and be, well, the Marippe we all love and adore again. Is that really too much to ask. Or I want to see her marry Oguri Shun and be happy. THEY WOULD HAVE SUCH PRETTY, TALENTED BABIES~ I mean she isn’t doing anything anyway. She could play dress up with her kids and shop in the same section as them xD

{3:23] Yaguchi has lost none of her Yaguchi-ness, she is just as goofy, energetic, eye-catching and a excellent singer as always. She has not however, gained any height, but we love her for it. Also, watch Nakazawa’s expression behind her.

[3:45] I could spend all day talking about Yuko, and still have more to say. She is just all kinds of awesomeness, I mean isn’t she like one of the older H!P members, but you can’t tell. She is so career orientated, my militant, suffragest ‘I burned my bra so I could wear pants whenever I wanted to’ speech teacher would adore her ‘I don’t want to get married’ belief. Although if she married her lover from Utaban, neither me or his mom would protest much I’m sure xD. But, anyway. In her segment, we get to see several sides of her versatile personality; Yankii, sexy, beautiful(does that count?), coy, and in control. When she uses her army of H!P Kids to take over the world, I will not be surprised—in fact, I will sign up to be on her side <3.

[4:10] The only ones that really stick out in this are Mai and Yossi. I think Mai, Rika, Konkon, and Yossi should be called in a group together separate from Gatas since they are well—the presiding adults/senpai of the group? I dunno, but it feels like they aren’t getting as much credit as they deserve. Even Rika.

[4:32] –gigglesnort- admittedly, as much as I don’t like Rika, she is sometimes fun to watch like her head shaking thing here. She is a good idol, a excellent one in fact, just not my type.

[4:43] Yay for Yasuda Kei!

Introduction

You may or may not remember me from the American Wota forum as sunaneko, and LJ as thoughtson_jpop. Well I finally got a wordpress! So now I’m Lady Alice(isn’t that spiffy?) and this is The NoteNotebook. So dubbed because last year I had a notebook with my ‘other half’ that we passed back and forth that we wrote notes in, and we called it The NoteNotebook. Since I’m basically writing notes to everyone online, and this is basically my thoughts on things, what better name for it?

The content will vary from Asian popular culture, to American pop culture, to hell, even politics. If you would like to be associated with this blog, or, you know, help me with setting it up, let me know in a message, email, or comment here!

AIM:(I’ll have this back up soon) shinigamitemari

Email: little_missy_kaoru@yahoo.com

Well anyway, I will be linking to my old LJ Jpop posts here and starting a new series titled [Awesome Artists you've probably never heard of] in just a few days <3 look forward to it! Oh and if you’re curious, here is a cool link to my WritersCafe account, with all my poetry. So if you’re curious… The pictures for most of my poems are of artists you might be familiar with, but the piece has nothing to do with them, I just thought the picture fit the poem

Read My Writing at WritersCafe.org

~Lady Alice