She would have said something else, until Alice was abruptly kicking them out. Before she had time to protest, she was distracted by Alice’s order. For her to walk home with Katashi. Eh! Her heart wasn’t ready for this. Staring at Katashi as white roses bloomed around a border around the man who always had a red suit on hand.
Mika-Cam:
“Mika-san, are you ready? I be willing to take you anywhere else,” Katashi said.Her face turned red, they were going on a date. This was actually happening. He might not be able to eat, but he’ll take her to get ice cream, and then he’ll take her out to go shopping. They’ll end up at her apartment and what do you do at the end of a date, but...kiss.
Katashi leaning his forearm over the door, her heart racing, his smell of nicotine, his chest close to her breast and they would lock lips.
Her heart was pounding fast. She could barely contain her nervous attraction.
“Walk...walk home with Katashi!” she said nervously failing her hands in the air, “O...okay! We won’t...ki...I mean we will be safe. Be safe Alice!”
The Red Tiger stood up straight from leaning against the doorframe from the back rooms and nodded to Alice and the others.
”I’ll report back with whatever I can find.” He replied to Alice. Katashi then turned to Mika who honestly looked a little… flustered? Hmm, maybe it’s being alone with a Ghoul? No matter. Katashi lead the way, waving for Mika to follow before smiling and bidding farewell to the rest of the group.
When the two went outside of the coffee shop, he looked around.
”Day’s still ahead of us. Anywhere you would like to go before I take you home?” Katashi asked the young idol.
This isn’t happening! Screams. It’s happening.Mika looks nervously at Katashi. She swings her arms side to side, letting the tuft of her skirt swing side to side with her arms.
“Only…” Mika looks away nervously, her heart won’t stop beating so fast, her face is going hot, “....only...if you want to...Katashi.”
Katashi chuckled. She seemed so timid around him. It was cute. It was almost like she had a cru-
Oh… Ohhhhhhhh…Katashi scratched the back of his head. Nah, that couldn’t be it. Right?
”Just name a place, Mika. We’ll make a day out of it.” He laughed.
Omg! Omg! Omg! Screams. It’s a date. It really is a date. It really is. Omg!“Would….you like…” she blushes, “like to go to the fabric store? I need to make an outfit for a...function. And you can pick something out too….and I can make you a suit for later.”
Katashi waited a moment or two before smiling.
”Lead the way.” The Ghoul said, starting to walk towards where the stores were located.
”Uhhh, you know it’s going to be red, right?” He joked.
Mika looked at Katashi, when she moved her head abruptly her brown hair caught a glint of the light. She seemed to sparkle sometimes in these moments.
“Katashi, I like you the way you are, red or not, you can get anything you want,” she said with a smile and grabbed his hand to reassure him.
Katashi was taken aback a little bit when Mika held his hand. It was sudden but at the very least, it was also a comforting feeling. Katashi liked that feeling. A lot. He smiled, keeping her hand in his. If his assumption was right, it would make Mika happy.
”I’m glad you feel that way.”She was about to faint. This was a dream, right? This had to be a dream. He was holding her hand. He was speaking to her. He was accepting her and her heart couldn’t take it any more. She wanted to look away, but couldn’t.
“I feel….that way….for everybody,” Mika tells him nervously, “No one should be ashamed of who they are. Each thing that makes them, them. Should be respected. It’s why I don’t care that you’re a Ghoul. Because to me….you’re just a human with a different dietary need.”
The world needed more people like Mika. That universal acceptance of not judging before you meet someone. It’s a quality that is sorely missed from the rest of the world.
”I wish the rest of the humans could see us through your eyes.” Katashi admitted.
The pair continued to walk down the street. Katashi liked the feeling of holding hands with Mika. It seemed she liked it too, otherwise she probably would’ve let go. Did Mika really like him? Can a human love a Ghoul? Can a Ghoul love a human? That was a crisis he would only be able to figure out with a cigarette later.
“I wish you could come up with a compromise,” Mika said, “Why is it always extremes? What if you set it up that Ghouls ate real bad people? Like they are still murderers, and robbers, and other bad people. Why do you have to kill people on the streets? Why doesn’t the CCG and Ghouls work together? Instead of against.”
Mika stared at the cement, but she continued walking.
“I just don’t want anyone to get hurt any more,” Mika told him, “Why are we even fighting? Alice saved me. You’re…..nice” she whispered the last bit, to me, “Natsuya protected me. If you are capable of that. Then why are we still fighting each other?” Mika felt tears stream down her face, “Can people stop being hurt? It doesn’t seem like any of you know what you’re fighting. Yourselves or each other.”
It took Katashi a moment to think of an answer. That was until he turned to see Mika’s face. Tears. He gently wiped away her tears with a finger.
”I dunno. People just don’t like the thought of people being eaten.” He began.
”Anytime I’ve had to feed, it’s been the dead. Suicide cases. There are Ghouls who don’t want to hurt anyone, but it’s those damn few… they want more. It’s just like human criminals. They want more, so they use guns, knives and fear. Those ghouls will use their tools that they have. It gives a bad name.” Katashi went on. He sighed thinking about it.
”I hope Alice has a game plan. This group can do some real good. But I don’t want to become Aogiri.”It was then that Katashi saw a street musician playing a saxophone. An idea flashed across his mind that could cheer Mika up.
”Follow my lead.” He said with a playful grin. As they got closer, Katashi spun the music Idol around before starting to dance with her in the middle of the street.]
This was too much for her. She wanted to call it off. Run to her home and beg Alice not to do what she was doing. She wanted a better solution. One where she might have to think of Alice dead body on the concrete. Or Katashi’s. The idea of them dead haunted her because they were so close to her. They didn’t understand that just because they regenerated, someone still cared, and was scared that they would die. That someone still loved them enough that they didn’t want to see them hurt.
Before she attempted to run away, Katashi dragged her towards a street performer. He spun her around. Was he trying to cheer her up? She felt her whole face go hot and turn bright red. Oh Katashi. He was really sweet and nice. What did this mean, if they fell in love? For Ghouls and Humans. She...could possibly, truly fall in love with him.
Mika just smiled at Katashi, letting go of his hand.
“I’ll show you how to dance Katashi, just follow my steps,” Mika told him.
Moving her hips to the side, the end of her skirt swayed with her movements. It was then a crowd began to realize who she was. They began to crowd around the center, but she didn’t mind. This was her trying to show Katashi that she appreciated his efforts.
She spun around and lifted her leg up. She smiled at Katashi, reaching her hand out towards him to get him into the rhythm.
Katashi nodded and tried to follow Mika’s steps the best he could. It was abundantly clear that he certainly wasn’t as practiced to dancing as the Idol was. He noticed the crowd start to form, but shrugged at it. It wasn’t that big of a deal, Katashi could see why Mika would like performing to crowds. He tried his best to mimic the movements in his own manly way. Whether it worked or not, that would be up to the onlookers. The musician didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he seemed to be more into it as the music progressed.
The crowd was clapping in excitement and the musician was getting into the rhythm. She moved side to side, and hopped a little on her feet. She watched Katashi try his hardest and she laughed a little. This certainly did make her feel better.
It was always a good thing when the sun was up so high. Today was a nice day and something nice would come out of it, for everybody. As the musician begins to die, she begins to slow her steps, she twirls, and rolls into Katashi’s arm to do a romantic fall and drop to pose for the pictures being taken.
What would Alice say? She was scared that she could only love Katashi from a distance because of what he was. But she wanted to maybe love him more. Maybe he did too?
“Katashi….” she mumbles and looks away, as she is held in his arm, “....I like you.”
If that didn’t confirm Katashi’s suspicion, then what will? Although, not only did it confirm Mika’s feelings, but also confirmed his own. He looked into her eyes and smiled, before leaning down and giving her a small kiss on the cheek.
”I like you too.” He whispered back,
Mika felt her own heart rush with excitement. He kissed her cheek. And she felt like everything would be okay in the world.
“Should….we get you….” Mika paused, “That fabric.”
Katashi looked around, being reminded of the onlookers, going red in the face a little himself.
”Yeah… that sounds good.”Mika couldn’t keep her anxiety steady. This wasn’t a dream any more. This was reality. She had initiated a reality and she was scared of the consequences. The image of Katashi dead scared her the most. Actually all of them. If she found any of them dead she would be heartbroken. She tried to smile though, and push past it.
Today was a beautiful day and there was no reason to look into a bleak future. Live the day to the fullest and make it to the next day. That’s how you kept on carrying on. Promising herself no more dark thoughts she smiled at the crowd and waved. She grabbed Katashi’s hand again, “Let’s go. You’re going to have run though. Or else they’ll be with us all day.” She laughs.
Oh boy. That was a frightening thought in itself. Katashi laughed along with Mika as they ran from the crowd, but not before Katashi parted a bit of change for the musician. The two ran off as they attempted to lose the crowd. It wasn’t the first time Katashi had ran from a group of people, but it was certainly the first time he found a bit of fun in doing it.
After turning a few corners, he looked over his shoulder.
”Think we lost them?”Mika smiles.
“Only for a while,” she says, “They run away whenever Natsuya-san shows up.” She gives a little laugh, “This is my favorite store in Tokyo. They sell all kinds of pretty fabric. And you can make your own kimonos with most of the patterns because they are so pretty. I made this dress with the fabric in this store.”
The Red Tiger smiled. Mika seemed to light up talking about the materials in here. This was her area of expertise and passion. It certainly wasn’t his own forte.
”That’s awesome.” Katashi chuckled as they walked inside.
”I could never have the patience to make my own clothes.” He acknowledged.
”You’re the expert in all of this.”Mika blushes as she walks into the fabric store, she tries to distract herself with a pretty blue color. She takes a second.
“I am not….really an expert,” Mika said, “I...just.” She frowned for a second, “I don’t really admit this to a lot of people. But when I was a girl, I was given everything to me. I grew up….to parents who made a name for themselves. My mother was a very famous model. But everything I ever wanted was given. Because I guess it’s how they show love and I am not complaining, I loved my parents very much. But when….I became an idol I made a promise to myself I’d always make my own stuff to remind myself what it must be like to work hard everyday.”
Katashi blinked in astonishment for a few moments.
”That’s… truly admirable.” He complimented sincerely. It’s not often you’d see someone go out of their way to make a point like that, but it was a fair point nonetheless, and there was something to be said for that kind of resilience. Katashi also looked around, but he wasn’t really too sure about the details. How to tell the difference between materials, the name of that shade of orange to that other one and so on.
Mika continued to look at the blue fabric. Something was bothering her right now. She turned back to Katashi.
“That boy, Kristian,” Mika said thinking about his tears today, the poor thing must have went through a lot, “I made him wear a dress. But he seemed really uncomfortable with it.” she continued to stroke the fabric, “Do you think I should make him some boy clothes as an apology?”
Katashi smirked and rubbed the back of his head, trying to think up of a response.
”I mean, it’s not like you knew he was a boy and then FORCED him to wear it.” He tried to joke. It was a little funny at the time, but it was clear that Mika was worried by the impression she might’ve left on the boy.
”Yeah… Yeah, I think he’ll appreciate that.” Katashi smiled.
“He seemed so sad today when Natsuya pressed him like that,” Mika said, “Natsuya should probably apologize to him too. Right?”
Katashi sighed, but spoke in a bit of a lower volume.
”The thing is, that kid helped Travis take on a Chimera. He’s more than what he lets on to be.” Katashi explained. He then folded his arms and leant against one of the tables displaying clothes.
”He’s definitely a little shady, and Natsuya… well, he’s gonna be Natsuya.”Mika moved over to a shade of burgundy.
“Katashi would you like this?” Mika asked, she thought they were being overtly cautious. He was just a kid. “He’s just a kid. Any kid would react like that if they didn’t have a mom or dad.”
Katashi smiled.
”Yeah, looks good.” He said, nodding. Something about Kristian just rubbed him the wrong way. To just show up with a bloodied Travis by his side…
”I dunno. You’re probably right, there’s probably nothing to worry about. We just can’t be too careful these days.” Katashi looked around to see one of the store clerks glaring at him for leaning on the table. He gulped and held his hands up apologetically before turning back to Mika.
Mika giggled.
“Nay Katashi,” Mika said, “I really….do mean it when I say I like you...I’d like...this to continue. I won’t always have an off day. And you might see your….” her heart begins to pound once again, “your...girlfriend on the TV a lot with men….worshipping her. But I’d….like to know that girl on the TV could….maybe have a boyfriend waiting for her off the stage.”
She buried her face into the burgundy fabric, and the store clerk stared at her. She looked away embarrassed. She couldn’t believe she just said that. What if he rejected the notion? Why did she think this would go any further?
Katashi chuckled. Before Mika could blurt out anymore words, he pinched the fabric and peeked under it.
”That boyfriend would like that very much…” He reassured with a smile. He then managed to stop Mika from hiding under the material.
”Who knows? Maybe you can teach me to be a backup dancer?” He laughed at the joke. While that certainly wasn’t his thing, it was definitely an entertaining notion.
Mika squeals.
“You’d make a wonderful backup dancer,” she told him.
