New Beginnings

It was a strange site, seeing the figure walking down the steps, box and bags piled on top of each other precariously perched on a hip that didn\'t seem to have enough curve to hold it in place. The descent down to the entrance of the studio took an excruciatingly long time to complete, but a loud sigh could be heard and the proud ‘humph’, that mocked the stairs and their pathetic attempt to harbor her journey.

Lan had realized shortly after entering the large store that she would need quite a few more supplies if she were going to get the business up and running with in the month, as well as help with the upcoming fashion show that they had briefly talked about. She had grabbed a few fashion magazines to get a better feel for the fashion industry in Japan. Sizing up the competition so to speak. It wasn\'t until she was struggling with her supplies to get off the train that she had second thoughts and wondered if she might have been a little forward in buying all of the things she did. She didn\'t expect to be reimbursed for her spending, these were supplies she wanted to make everything easier and more efficient, she would have to look into contracts and licensing today, she hadn\'t seen any papers stating they owned a business license, then again they were her age and still in high school.

(any one who could give me info on Japanese business practices, ect. I would be MOST grateful!!!)

Shifting the box and bags onto her knee in order to free up a hand to open the door, she almost lost everything in the balancing act. After a few attempts to open the door without success she nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard laughing close behind her. In her focused attempts at opening the door she had failed to notice George walk down the stairs or hear him walk up so close behind her.

\"Need some help?\" still chuckling he reached around her to push the latch and open the door.

With that he bowed and with a sweeping motion invited her to enter in before him. Very gentlemanly, she thought, until he walked past her with out offering to take any of the bags. Sighing she made her way to the nearest free table.

\"\'ey, wat\'s all this?\" Arashi came over to look at the bags that Lan had carried in.

A loud \'Lan\' was heard from the back as the seemingly endless bundle of emotions and happiness rushed to help the over loaded new member of Paradise Kiss. Miwako gingerly took bags from Lan\'s arms as she sat the box down on the counter with a soft thunk.

Placing the bags on the counter and pausing to stretch her cramped hands she was about to answer when a very happy Yukari came bounding through the door and nearly toppled George. Looking at the interesting display of what she could only assume as affection she looked over at Arashi and Miwako, the former with an annoyed look on his face. It was then that she realized Isabella was missing.

“Oh! Who went shopping?” Yukari commented on the large pile of bags on the table. Once again the group was focused on her.
“I bought some supplies that I will need in organizing everything. I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to set up a desk here or at home.” turning while talking to start unloading the bags. “Since I don’t really have any furniture yet, I thought it would be best to keep everything here. Not to mention easier.” She looked over to see the interested faces of George and Arashi.

‘Oh!” she stopped mid unwrapping and went over to open the large box and give them the papers she had drafted to look at.

Of course the crew recognized the box but when she took the lid off it was far from the heaping mess of receipts and papers that they had given her not twenty-four hours before. Pulling out a neat folder of papers, she handed each of them a small folder with their names on it, setting Isabella’s aside to give to latter, when the door opened and the tall figure walked in.

A bit taken aback by todays beautiful out fit, which she assumed she would have to get used to, she smiled back as she handed over the folder.

“What’s this?” he/she asked as she opened the folder to look inside.

“I made copies for everyone, so far this is the rough draft for the business document for Paradise Kiss, I put all of your names down as owners.” looking around at all of them. “Granted it is only the first stages but with a little tweaking and more information from you. I’m sure I can have a smooth draft by the end of next week.” She looked over at the reactions of the group who seemed to be fully concentrated on the papers.
“Is that not a good time line? I suppose I could move it up a bit, but I have some questions that need to be answered first, and some errands that I’ll have to run.” She went off thinking grabbing out her bag; she pulled out her lap top and started it up.
It was then that the attention turned towards her.

“Sugoi!” Arashi moved forward to see the silver lap top that Lan was starting up.
“If there’s somewhere you’d like me to set up I’ll start working.” They looked at her in awe.
“No, need to work so fast!” said George looking at Lan with a strange emotion in his eyes. “This is GREAT!!!” Said Miwako looking at all the work Lan had done. Isabella smiled and nodded. “George is right we don’t want you over taxing yourself the first few weeks of work.” “Mmmmhmmmmm,” Miwako should her head her pink pig tales flying with the movement of her head. “Miwako thinks Lan should have the desk that is in the big scary closet! It is a nice desk and should not be left in e ale all alone.”
“Good idea!” Said Isabella as she followed Miwako’s gaze over to the closet.

It took Arashi’s help to move the desk over to the corner where Lan wanted it, Isabella offered assistance but Lan had said she could get it; George volunteered Arashi with some comment about getting close dirty and brute strength against beauty, which sent the blonde mumbling curses as he helped.

The day went rather well with Lan and Miwako organizing the corner Isabella handed them tea cups and sat down to enjoy a little peace and quite. Arashi had gone to a band practice; George had left to drop off Yukari at a photo shoot or something along those lines. With everything peaceful, Lan began asking questions about the fashion show, and Miwako talked about Arashi and the band, and their relationship. She had been right, they were dating, and very much in love by the way Miwako’s face lit up. Isabella said that ‘she’ had been looking for some material for the dress and had told George she had found some that he might like. At that Lan asked about everyone’s goals in PK and their different jobs and about this Yazawa Art’s that she kept hearing about.
By the time they had everything set up and finished, only God knows what number of cups of tea, it was late in the afternoon. Arashi soon followed by George, arrived and they made plans to go see the fabric on Sunday, which left Saturday a question for Lan. They said she could come in if she wanted but there was no real need, since the patterns and everything were ready they just needed to find a fabric which George liked, at which point Arashi did more mumbling. Lan wanted to laugh at the low slung curses and names the British man was saying, she liked the way the group worked together, nothing hostile or volatile you could tell Arashi was a bit temperamental but meant well.

“I had hoped on buying a few things this weekend.” She admitted when Isabella asked if she had plans. Miwako started jumping up and down and offering to help her pick out things if she needed help. Lan thanked her and said that she would enjoy company and directions since she did not know where to go or what to buy since her list of home supplies was so large.
“I was hoping to find a nice bed, and some dishes, a desk, a few things to get me started. Right now all I have is boxes and boxes, oh, did I mention boxes!” the other laughed.
“Where did you move from?” Asked Isabella, thinking maybe Kyoto or some other big city.
“Hawaii, well not exactly Hawaii, but a small private Island not to far off the mainland of South California. It’s not on any of the maps but it….” she stopped looking at the shocked faces of her new friends. “What? What’s wrong?” Her voice was concerned they looked at her very strangely.
“I thought Kyoto or one of the other big cities but America? You don’t sound American.” Said Isabella. Miwako shook her head in agreement, “You don’t have and accent! To move so far away from home. WOW.”
Laughing at the awe in her voice, Lan shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve always been independent and I needed to get away, start out of my own, you know.” she grabbed her bag, as she looked at her watch. “I have to run, the train leaves in half an hour and it will take me at least fifteen to get there.” She smiled. As Miwako yelled at her as she headed out the door. “But the train station is only five minutes away!” “Oht tht that one, no train that stops there goes near my house. I have to walk over to (insert name of a Train station thirty minutes away by walking) and it leaves soon so call me tomorrow morning and well meet somewhere, ok?”

“OK!” was the happy reply. As the figure pulled her head out of the door way and ran.

“But (name of Train station) is more than fifteen minutes away; it’s more like thirty walking!” Said Miwako. At that they all looked at George, he sighed said “ok’ and grabbed his keys to head after the tall figure.

With his long legs he took the stairs two at a time hoping to catch up to her, but when George reached the side street and looked down toward one of the main streets he didn’t see her. So he hopped in his car and headed in the direction of where Lan would have gone. He drove a few blocks and while stopped at a red light saw a tall figure running down the street a block away, and more as he sat there. He was impressed that she had gotten so far in the few minutes it had taken him to get into his car, since she left the door way of the studio.

He pulled up beside the running figure and slowed the car down to meet her pace, which was surprisingly fast. Lan didn’t notice the car or George what she did notice in she sprint to make it on time was a loud sound that seemed to be following her and it wasn’t until she actually stopped to find out why a few on people up ahead of her were looking at her strangely that she looked over to her left and saw George in what she presumed was his car, a beautiful Jaguar convertible.

“You better hop in.” He said smiling at her, as she stared. “Are you offering me a ride to the station?” she asked. “Maybe.” a confusing reply to say the least but Lan was not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. she slid in beside him, and was surprised when he started a conversation. “SO, where do you live?” “In (insert name of providence), it’s rather nice.” That’s not to far way from where I live.” said George a surprised note in his voice. “OH, really?” the conversation went on; George asking a few questions Lan answering and putting in her opinions.

There was laughter and joking and George found himself actually talking to a girl and not getting bored in the first ten minutes. It seemed this Lan Parker was nothing but surprises, he had been extremely impressed by the work she’d done in one night and they talked about his ideas and her ideas for the shop. Since right now he was the main backer for the company at the moment, Lan wanted to get started right away, she told him about the ideas for getting sponsors, and talked about the fashion show, and how until then they might have problems with financing. George told her that she would get paid, but she said that it wasn’t a big deal, that she trusted them and knew she would get a pay check, but that she didn’t expect one until the business was up and running. Who know what the cost would be with buying supplies and things, she would rather have the money to get the business started and running, and then be reimbursed for her work.

It wasn’t until an ebb in the talking that she realized that they had been driving for quite a while, and that they were very close to were she lived. The car stopped at a stop sign and Lan looked over at George questioningly.
“So…where do I go from here?” he asked looking over at the strange, interesting girl that dressed in mans clothes but was totally different than Isabella and his dresses.
“Turn right at the next light and you can drop me off at the bottom of the hill.” She motioned with her hand as she gave directions and he nodded and they headed towards the hill looming in front of them. When Lan pulled her bag from the floorboard, George, who had been looking around and only saw the long stairway up to the top of the hill and what looked like the walls of a temple, asked what had been on his mind since she had told him to stop here.
“Where do you live exactly?”
She smiled at him and pointed up towards the top of the hill. “But isn’t that a…” He trailed off as she laughed and said. “Yep.” Stepping back from the car, closing the door and walking across the street, she turned and started walking backwards so she could see George. “Thank you again for the ride! I guess I’ll see you tomorrow maybe, I’ll be in on Sunday if you need me?” it was more a question than a statement.
“I’m not sure would you like to go?” Lan stopped on the sidewalk and looked at George.
“I’m not sure; I’ll think about it and let you know tomorrow, K?” He nodded and she nodded, it was all very strange the way things had gone that night. She started to head up toward hoe and waved back to George to signal it was alright to go, but he stayed there until her figure was no more than a little tick at the top of the hill.
“Strange indeed.” he mumbled to himself as he thought about everything they’d talked about, and how many times he’d laughed at her jokes or the interesting pieces of information she had given him when he asked a question. He had noticed that she avoided answering the personal questions very well.
But as he pulled in to his house still thinking about his new employee and sitting down on his couch he realized something, it had been the first conversation with anyone that he had responded and talked like a human being, free of any innuendos or falsity. He had been truthful and said what he wanted to say, in fact it had been one of the longest conversations he’s had in his life, and amazingly he’d enjoyed it!

The lights were on when she finished climbing the last stair, the soft glow coming from the hanging lanterns guiding her down a well worn path that had a few days ago been overgrown. She took pride in the small jobs she had completed here and there, the grounds were far from perfect but that was ok, she had time. The rather account number that Paul had given to her in the file had, had a note attached to it, in his simple scrawl. It was for fixing up the temple and grounds, apparently her grandfather had started it way back when he had first planned on taking her to his home land. A painful burst of longing to see Japan with him, to hear his kind voice, pointing out al the little things that he saw so she would not miss them. His funny antidotes and jokes that seemed just right for the moment always lightened her day, she missed him dearly. With that she went inside and prepared for tomorrow and shopping, she would see how much was in this bank account and start setting up her house. ‘Her’ house is was funny and exhilarating to think of the large temple area as her house, but it was, it belonged to her. And she was determined to make this house the best home she could, her new home.