And Then, They Fell in Love

Ken and Osamu were at war with one another. Neither mentioned the soap bubble and science project incident to their parents, but it was easy to see they were not happy with each other. Ken was now constantly in his bedroom, and would conveniently leave the room should Osamu make an entrance. Osamu was no better - he flat out ignored his younger sibling. It was sad to see - two brothers who were normally so close, feuding over something so small.

“They’ll get over it,” Rika muttered to Sara one evening. “They’ve done this before, and they will do it again. Ken is just a little boy, he can’t hold a grudge forever. He’ll be the one to break first, I guarantee it.” She smiled and rolled her eyes. “As much as they gripe at each other, Ken looks up to Osamu. No. . he won’t stay mad at him for long.”

That was two and a half weeks ago.

“Why don’t you just apologize to him?” Sara asked suddenly, causing Osamu to look up from his homework. His pinned her with a gaze that clearly stated ‘Are you crazy?”

“Why should I have to apologize?” he answered. “I’m not the one who ruined a project I worked very hard on. All I did was get on to him for it, and suddenly this makes me the villain?”

“Sometimes, you need to be the bigger man. Just apologize, get one in return, and we’ll all go back to normal?”

Osamu gave her a flat look that ended the conversation. If one thing could be said about the Ichijouji’s, it was they were stubborn. Sara was frustrated, but determined she was not going to let this go. She scooted closer to him on the couch, and rested her head on his shoulder. “You’re the older brother, Osamu. Ken looks up to you.”

“Ken hates me.”

“He doesn’t. You don -”

“Yes. He does. Sara, I have been living with Ken since I was eight years old. We get along to outside appearance, but on the inside. . .we feud. You have not even been here an entire year, yet you think you know how to fix every little detail in this family. Don’t be so cocky, Sara. The Ichijouji’s are f’ed up and we always will be. Either learn to live with it, or find someone else to be with.”

Sara stayed silent, knowing that Osamu was in one of his moods. Trying to convince him of anything else could be a bad idea. She sighed and focused on the remainder of her homework, glad that the seasonal break was now here. Christmas was in two weeks, and although the holiday usually made her cheerful, the stress of school and finals were finally taking Sara to her breaking point. Osamu’s sudden bad mood was not helping matters in the least.

“You know what,” Sara announced out of nowhere, “I don’t feel like studying anymore. I don’t know why you’re pouring over those books - you know the topic like everything else. I’m sick of our only conversations being fights. Let’s do something. . Spontaneous.”

Osamu’s eyes peeked over his book. A spark of amusement ran through them. “Spontaneous?”

“Sure. Like. . Dancing to “Thriller” in the middle of a mall. Attempting to do “The Lift” from Dirty Dancing, karaoke in the street. Something.”

He blinked. “Dancing to “Thriller”?”

“Sure, why not?” Sara grinned. “A few years ago, my friends and I were at the mall during Halloween, and they played it. . One of the guys, Caleb, started the dancing in the middle of the mall. The funny part was, half the mall knew the dance as well. Of course, Caleb was also probably a little stoned at the time too . .” She shrugged. “You’d like Caleb.”

“Sounds like it. I’m sure I’ll meet him someday.”

Osamu’s voice was bored. Sara was quickly losing his interest, and she was determined to have it back. She grabbed his book, laid it aside, and climbed in his lap, straddling his waist. Leaning her forehead against his, she looked him in the eye. “Osamu,” she whispered. “I’m scared for us.”

“Scared?” His brow furrowed. “Why are you scared?”

“You don’t seem to care anymore. You’re grumpy all the time, we don’t go on dates anymore . . . I would say sleeping together changed us, but considering you’re not even interested in that, I can’t. What’s going on? Is it something I’ve done?”

Osamu leaned away from her, resting his head against the back on the couch. “Sara . . .” He closed his eyes and sighed.

Sara stomach went into knots.

“Nothing is wrong with you. I hate to be cliché, but it’s me, not you. I warned you a few weeks ago that I could be having problems. I am having problems. School is stressful, and the fights with Ken are causing me to flare up. That isn’t an excuse - it’s the truth.” He sighed again.

The front door opened before Sara could reply. She scrambled off Osamu’s lap before his parents entered the living room, but from Rika’s raised eyebrows, she hadn’t moved fast enough. Although she blushed, Osamu remained in different. He returned to his book, leaving Sara wishing she could read his mind just as easy.

A small noise caught her attention. Ken stood at the door way, eyeing the television. He made quick glances between it and his brother, rocking back and forth on his heels. “Ken -”

Osamu’s head shot up. He took one glance at Ken and rolled his eyes. “You want the television? Fine.” Osamu grabbed his backpack, and stood from the couch. “Next time, ask. Standing there makes you look stupid.”

The younger boy flushed and sent a dirty look to his older brother, who was now retreating down the hallway. Sara sighed, and ruffled Ken’s hair. “Give him time,” she whispered.

“I hate him.” Ken spat.

“You don--”

“Yes I do! He’s mean to people, he only thinks about himself. I hate him! I wish, sometimes, that he would just go away. Move to America, live somewhere else, die . . Something.” Ken’s eyes were focused on the ground, his hands bunched into tiny fists. “I hate him.” he finished.

Sara saw movement from the corner of her eye, and turned her head to find Osamu stalking back to his bedroom.

He’d heard every word that Ken has said.


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Ichijouji Rika could not stop grinning as she gazed between Sara and Osamu. The two teens had been called for a ‘conference’ in the living room. Osamu was sulking against the couch, arms crossed over his arms, and glaring at almost anything that dared to stare at him for more than two seconds. Apparently, Rika was used to this - her son’s grumpy mood didn’t bother her a bit. “Christmas in in two weeks!” she announced happily.
“You called us away from out homework to announce something even a five year old knows?” Osamu grumbled. Sara nudged him in the side with her elbow, shooting him a glare. He ignored her.

Rika ignored her son as well. “I have a surprise for the both of you.” She reached into her purse and pulled two slips of paper, handing them to Osamu. “Sara’s family and mine put together some money to give you an early Christmas present. . I’m almost positive you two will love it. At least Sara will. Grumpy over there might not.”

Osamu snatched the paper from her hand, scanned what it said. His eyes widened. “Mother these. . .”

“Are two plane ticket to Oklahoma City.” Rika’s grin was contagious now, with both Sara and Osamu grinning back and forth to each other. “You leave this weekend, and will be staying with Sara’s family through the New Year. Merry Christmas, you two.”


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The trip to the United States cheered Osamu up almost completely. He woke Sara bright and early the day they left, and even hugged his little brother goodbye. Ken took the hug emotionlessly. Osamu didn’t seem to notice.
“This is my first trip away from Japan,” Osamu explained during take off.

Sara blinked in surprise. “Seriously? Have you ever flown before?”

He shook his head. “Never. Usually, if my family is going to a different town, we’ll take a train or a car. I’ve never flown, and I’ve never been out of my country. I’m excited about this.” He flashed her a grin and settled back into the plane seat, closing his eyes. Sara relaxed against the seat, turning on her loaned iPod (courtesy of Osamu) and attempted to catch a nap. If this was anything like flying from the States to Japan, it would be extremely long.

Her attempt at sleep didn’t last long. An hour or so later, she felt a poke in her side. Grumpily, she opened her eyes to find Osamu grinning at her. “Did you know,” he whispered. “It is illegal to have sex on an airplane?”

“What?” she whispered back furiously, wondering where the heck this had come from. Osamu only continued grinning at her.

“That’s why “The Mile High” club is so secretive. You can legally be fined if caught. . Going at it in an airplane bathroom.” He leaned closer and placed a small kiss on her neck. Sara jumped and stared at him as if he were crazy.

“Did you eat chocolate before we got on here? Or is that book secretly a porn magazine?” Osamu shook his head, still grinning. “What is going on with you?”

“Figured it could be fun.”

“Not so much if we’re caught.”

Osamu shrugged. Sara glared. “Osamu, I would never be able to face your parents or my own if it’s all over tabloids that we were caught . ..” She blushed and couldn’t manage to finish the sentence. “No, Osamu. No.”

He looked put out. “You are no fun.”

“I’d rather keep my pride, thank you.” She stuck her tongue out at him. Osamu rolled his eyes. He leaned in closer and placed a small kiss on her forehead.

“Someday.”

This time, Sara rolled her eyes at him. She grabbed the pillow from behind his back and placed it under her head, pulling the sheet up around her. As she closed her eyes, she heard Osamu’s faint laughter.

Osamu shook her awake what seemed like moments later. “No, Osamu,” she grumbled.

“Sara, the plane is landing. You need to wake up.”

Hours later, both wished they had never stepped foot in LAX. What was supposed to be a half-hour delay quickly turned into seven. Osamu’s good mood was also diminishing very quickly. He was bored the airport. A fast reader, Osamu had gone through two of the books he brought, and had re-read the “Worst Case Scenario” book at least three times. Food could only hold him so long, Sara found.

“This is stupid,” he griped. “You can’t even go outside the gates and let back in without giving up your firstborn child. Are all American airports this bad?”

Sara nodded. “Blame 9/11. They’re paranoid now.”

“This is stupid,” he repeated. He fiddled with his cell phone, before shoving it back in his pocket. “I can’t even text anyone. Stupid phone doesn’t work here.”

If Osamu’s mood was bad then, it was nothing compared to later that night, as they both stood in front of a hotel. Their flight had been cancelled, due to a lightening storm, and lack of a pilot and crew. The last flight to Oklahoma City had left earlier that night, and the next one wasn’t until 10:30 the next morning.

Osamu was furious.

Except, things were about to get worse.

“What do you mean, we are not allowed to rent a room?”

The man at the front desk blinked at him. “You are under twenty-one years of age. We do not allow teenagers, especially opposite genders,” he gave Osamu and Sara hard look. “To rent rooms, much less share one.”

“You have got to be kidding me,” Osamu muttered, turning from the desk, and glaring at the wall. Sara sighed and looked at the desk clerk.

“Sir, our plane has been delayed overnight. We have no where else to sleep and the airline referred us here. Obviously, they had no problem with us renting a room, why do you?”

“Miss, I am sorry.” The clerk shrugged, obviously not bothered by what the airlines thought. “You would need parental permission.”

Osamu spun around again. “You need my parents permission? Alright. Sure. Let me just call my mother in Tokyo, Japan, and we’ll have your permission right to you.” He was mad now - Sara could clearly see that. She rested a hand on his shoulder, pinning him with a look that said ‘Calm down.’ He took a deep breath, and pinched his nose. “If it would make you feel better, you can give us separate rooms. On each end of the hotel. And deadbolt the door. Since, you know, Sara and I obviously can not keep our hands off of each other.”

A young woman appeared from the back, a curious look on her face. She took a glance at the desk clerk, and at Osamu and Sara. “Is there a problem?”

“These two teenagers are hassling me about renting a room for the night,” the clerk replied promptly. “They are under eighteen, claim they have been bumped from a plane, and are requesting to share a room.” A disgusted look came over his face. Neither are willing to let me call their parents, so I am assuming their story is false. I know what they want the room for.”

The woman blinked for a second, and then crossed her arms. “Did you think to check with the airlines?”

The clerk stilled. “ . . I did not, Ma’am.”

“That should have been your first step, Mr. Miller. There has been a flight delayed this evening to Houston. They are asking for their passengers to stay overnight in LA. You could have asked for proof of plane tickets, or called the airlines.” She shook her head. “And besides, Mr. Miller, if these teenagers did want to spend the entire night with each other, why is that really any of your business?”

“Mr. Miller” flushed. The woman rolled her eyes and shooed him away with her hand. “I’ll be taking care of you now. I apologize. We have had trouble with him in the past.” She took Osamu’s information and handed them a room key, winking at the two of them as they went on their way.

Osamu was frustrated. “Does all of America have the impression that teenagers are naturally sex addicts?”

Sara shrugged. “Most, yes.”

A frown crossed Osamu’s face. He rolled his eyes, placed his key in the lock, and pushed the door open with his hip. He also stopped dead. “What the . . .”

Sara recognized it immediately.

A honeymoon suite. The woman at the desk had given them a honeymoon suite. The entire room was like something out of a movie - complete with a martini glass bathtub. Could this night get any weirder?

Osamu was already to the only bed in the room, pulling nightclothes out of his bag. He disappeared into the bathroom, and Sara shook her head, grinning. She called her mother, letting her know everything was okay, and the time of their second flight. The bathroom door opened, and Sara let her mother go, assuring her everything would be alright. As she hung up, Osamu dropped his old clothing on the door and flopped to the bed.

“You look stressed.”

Osamu snorted. “For once in my life, I actually wished for someone to recognize me. Who knew it was so much trouble to rent a hotel room?”

Sara grinned slipping under the covers, despite not having her nightclothes on. She snuggled up next to Osamu, wrapping her arms around his chest. “You know,” she suggested. “I could always just sleep on the floor.”

“What? And prove all the clerks at the desk wrong? Oh no. We will be doing exactly what they expect us too. Might as well get the most of the honeymoon suite.”


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Author's Note: I apologize for the lateness of this chapter. It took me forever to figure out what I wanted to write. I know this chapter moves fast, but it has to. I'm greatly looking forward to the next chapter! We meet Caleb (a character from my other novel). He should be amusing :D Also, know that this chapter was written while the authoress was under a tornado warning. For all of you who have no idea that that means, it means that tornado sirens were blaring in my town and weathermen were telling us to get underground. I was in a closet. Apparently, my muse rather likes tornados, because I got ideas immedietly after. See ya'll next chapter!