*Japanese italicized.

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  "So tell me, why come to Japan?" Yamaa asked. he wanted to know more about Alice. "And is it okay if I call you Alice? Here we start out by..."

  "She put her hand up as she sipped from her soda. "Haiii. Alice is fine." She cocked her head. "Well, I started learning Japanese a while back. 8th grade. I was gonna go onto my fifth year my last year of high school, but due to money, the program got cut. Along with my French."

  "You speak French?" he interrupted.

  "Un peu," she laughed. "Anyways, along the way I just became consumed with everything Japanese, and some Korean. My sister and I love j-pop and k-pop. But most, uh, above all... I love Yamaa Tomohisa's music."

  He looked at her, surprised for who knows how many time now. She sipped her soda again, looking down. She was blushing! She'd known about him for so long, yet he... never knew there was anyone like her. He was fascinated by her. "Go on."

  "Well, I had to come here, especially since..." she hesitated. "Well, maybe I'll tell you later."

  "That's no fun!" complained.

  "So, eeto, what should I call you?" she looked at him troubled.

  "Call me?" he puzzled over it. "Well, not... you know..."

  "Yeah..." she stood. "What about... no, never mind. What about Tomo-sama?"

  "Tomo is fine, but no honorifics," he stood, wiggling his finger at her. "Tomo-kun."

  "Tomo...kun?" he nodded.

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  "It's absolutely amazing!" Alice looked at Heian Shrine.

  "Okay!" Yamaa took her camera. "Pose big!"

  "Like this?" she stood, legs spread apart at an angle, arms in a "v" leaning slightly forward.

  "San sen..." Yamaa was about to snap the picture when...

  "Oi!" we looked at the couple behind Yamaa in alarm. "Wouldn't you two prefer getting a pic of you two?"

  Yamaa walked up to Alice and translated. "Sure!" we both said. We posed, back to back and the guy snapped a picture.

  "One more!" he said. We posed again.

  "Wait!" the girl walked up to Alice and Yamaa, making us uneasy. "You two love birds should be closer!"

  Yamaa looked at Alice, translating everything before he realized what she'd just said. He looked away, embarrassed.

  "Iiie! Iie!" he turned to he girl. "You're mistaken..."

  "Oh, don't be shy!" the couple argued.

  Alice was still blushing after hearing what the couple thought. But she turned even redder when the girl put her in front of Yamaa, had him wrap his arms around her waist from behind, and placing Alice's over his. Her face felt as if it were burning.

  "Cute!" the girl sang. "Smile! Good. San sen no!"

  "Uh, eeto... thank you..." Yamaa went to receive the camera.

  "Your welcome!" with that the couple went on their way.

  Alice was in a state of shock at what just had happened. That's it! she thought. She must be dreaming on the plane still.

  "Here," Yamaa handed her the camera.

  "Oh, um, thanks," she moved slowly, as if she were on time warped.

  "How did the picture turn out...?" Yamaa asked shyly.

  "Oh, um, here," she flipped the little switch to view the pics she'd taken. The first one was silly and fun, and the second... there they stood, smiling, looking like an actual couple. "I'll delete this one if you..."

  "Why? he sighed. "It's a good picture, so you might as well keep it."

  "Well..." she hesitated.

  "If you keep it, you can brag to everyone later," he smiled at her.

  "But I... if I keep it, I'll be selfish," she blushed.

  "Selfish?" Yamaa cocked his head. "Why? How?"

  "I wouldn't want anyone to see it," she paused. "I would keep it to myself, because I feel it's for my eyes only..."

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  He looked at her surprised. She wanted to keep her to herself. He couldn't get this thought out of his head the rest of the trip. He had fun with her. She had great energy and was genuinely excited about everything. When she saw Kinkaku-Ji, the Golden Temple, she gawked at it for a good while. For that picture, she posed as if she were carrying the temple on her shoulders. He couldn't help but laugh. Among the places they went, they went to Ginkaku- Ji, Nanzen-Ji, the Philosopher's walk, and when they went to Seimei Shrine, they had someone take a picture of them with their elbows propped up on the podium like piece with the star on it, chin in their hands, facing each other. She had gorgeous eyes.

  "I know we discussed going to Uzumasa eigamura... Kyoto Studio Park? But..." she looked at her watch. "It's almost 9... I don't think we have enough time."

  He didn't like it. Her look of disappointment. "I think we'll make it," he put his hand on her shoulder and smiled.

  "Are you sure?" she didn't look too sure.

  "Yeah," he shrugged. "I received such philosophy when we walked through the Philosopher's walk."

  Alice laughed, "Okay, let's go then!"

  He doesn't know what made him do it, but he took Alice's hand and ran, leading the way. Her hand was loose in his, surprised at first. But eventually she tightened her grip. He couldn't help but smile, pleased.

  "Tomo-kun? he'd finished changing a few minutes earlier and was waiting for Alice to come out.

  "I'm right here," he answered.

  "Well..." she stepped out slowly. She wore a navy blue kimono with a white plower pattern on it. He hair was coiled in a bun with chopsticks running through it. She looked beautiful, and he was rendered speechless. "I knew it. I look weird."

  "Kirei, pretty," he finally managed, breathless.

  "Would you two like a picture of the two together?" asked the employee.

  "Hai, arigato," Yamaa replied.

  The two stood side by side, and finally Yamaa put his arm around her shoulders. Slowly, she but her arm closer to him around and behind his back. They smiled and put their hands up making the peace sign and posed.

  "Dozo," the woman said as soon as the picture was taken.

  "Arigato!" they both said, and walked off.

  "We have to go!" Alice took his hand and began to run. "Someone's spotted you!"

  "Whe--?" he heard them. Alice fell, tripping over the kimono. She couldn't run as fast with it on. He picked her up in his arms like a princess and ran, looking for a place to hide. "Here!"

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   They were in a small shack, cramped with tons of things, barely leaving any room for the two escapees. Yamaa was breathing hard and fast, but still carried her.

  "Eeto, you can put me down now..." she hadn't been the one running, so why was her heart beating so fast?

  "Eeto..." he put her down. "Sorry."

  The shack was very crowded, leaving the two to face each other in a really close proximity. Too close! Alice thought. She felt self-conscious, more than she ever had. She looked down, shy, waiting for the group of girls to pass. She looked at her watch, seeing they were running out of time. They had to get to the hotel... fast.

  "We can go, but carefully," Yamaa finally said, taking her hand and leading the way. Soon they were changing and running to get to the station.

  She couldn't believe it. They entered the hotel and her friends surrounded her, separating her from Yamaa. They'd made it just in time. Well, she had.

  "Tom-" she felt someone put something in hand. She looked up, watching as Yamaa walk away, never looking back. She squeezed the key card in her hand. "Nice to meet you..."