before and found the work interesting but it would never replace singing. Well, it would if his voice ever gave out.
Someone knocked on the door. "Come in."
Satoshi sauntered in and flopped down on his bed. "Going out?"
Takumijo nodded. "It's been a long week and a couple of my friends and I are going to make the rounds."
"Same old Takumijo. When are you going to give up all this partying and settle down?"
"Right before I die," Takumijo said pulling on a pair of tight black jeans. He didn't have a problem dressing in front of other guys and besides Satoshi was harmless. "What's up with you this evening?"
"Nothing," Satoshi said. "I was thinking about calling it an early night since everyone is going out for the evening."
"Not everyone," Takumijo said. "Why don't you take Cristal out?"
Satoshi shook his head. "She won't go out with me. She's still hung on Yi-jun."
"How do you know this? She seemed awfully glad to see you at the airport."
"And where would I take her on such short notice?"
Satoshi asked.
"To a movie or out for a stroll somewhere away from the farmhouse."
"Or I could just stay here and have my way with her,"
Satoshi said.
"We're talking Cristal here. Not some club floozy."
"Floozy? Where are you and Ich learning these words? But I do get the drift."
Takumijo pulled on a sleeveless tee shirt and then a silky black jersey. He added a silver cross with one half of a broken heart and then added a broken heart earring to his left ear, followed by a silver ring.
"How is the production of the drama coming?" Satoshi asked.
"Fine," Takumijo replied as he added some cologne to his wrists and behind his ears. "I'm having fun and the cast members are great."
"That's good," Satoshi said. "But don't enjoy it too much."
"Don't worry, I'm not leaving Aomori. Despite what everyone thinks, our group comes before anything and everyone."
"Even Osamu?" Satoshi asked.
Takumijo nodded. "I'm too selfish to put anyone before me. My life is Aomori and you guys. Acting is a hobby and maybe something to fall back on if I can no longer sing or dance. Now stop stalling and go ask Cristal out."
Satoshi nodded and moved forward toward the door.
"What is the worst thing that can happen?"
"She can slam the door in your face." Takumijo replied with a chuckle.
"Had that happen to me a time or two before." Satoshi walked out leaving Takumijo to finish dressing.
Satoshi walked to his room. A date? Where could he take her that would impress her? A festival? To the movies? To dinner? He reached for the phone and made a couple of inquiries. There were a lot of things going on around Osaka, but he wondered what Cristal would enjoy doing. He picked up the phone and called her. Cristal picked her phone up on one ring.
"Hello."
"Hello beautiful Cristal."
There was a pause.
"Are you there?" Satoshi asked.
"Yes," Cristal answered. "I'm polishing my toes."
"What color?" Satoshi asked curiously.
"Firehouse red."
Something inside his loins stirred. "I can't wait to see them on our date tonight."
Sounded like she dropped the phone. "We have a date? I don't see it on my calendar."
"Ah, come on. What else do you have to do?"
"Let me see." She paused. "Nothing, but that does not mean I'm available."
"Don't make me beg," Satoshi pleaded. "I'll let you pick out the place."
Cristal chuckled. "You must be desperate if you're allowing me to make a decision."
"Not desperate, but lonely. Suddenly I've discovered that I don't have a life."
"I know what you mean," Cristal replied.
He knew they had something in common. "So what do you want to do?"
"I'd like to find out about you," Cristal said.
"Meaning?" Satoshi asked intrigued.
"I'd like to meet your family."
Satoshi eyes widened. "Of all the things in the world you could have chose, why this?"
"Because other than the obvious, I've discovered that I know absolutely nothing about you."
"That's not true," Satoshi said. "You know that I'm charming, cute, have a great sense of humor, and I find you interesting."
Cristal laughed. "True, but I want to see where you reside, meet your people, and find out what you were like as a child."
He'd never been presented such a request before. "Hold on a moment. Let me see if my parents are at home." He put Cristal on hold and dialed his parents, who were delighted to hear from him and wondered if he was in trouble again. "No, a friend of mine would like to meet you," he told his mother.
"A girl friend?" His father asked over