Chapter Three - Who is Chou?

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It was finally time for me to board the plane.

"See ya, little bro. Bring me back some souvenirs, yeah?" Aaron patted my back. I bit my lip, but then broke out into a smile. He was proud of me.

"I'll bring you back something for Thanksgiving and Christmas."

"Wait! I love you Conner! Bring me back something too!" Connie called out. I sighed. She never changes.

"Fine, but you owe me a birthday present."

"Deal!"

I shook hands with Connie and then turned toward my parents. Mom was weeping on dad's shoulder. My mom was pretty young for having three kids, one of them being in highschool, and one in college. She was thirty nine, and didn't look a day over twenty five. Her long, brown hair shook as her body heaved with sobs.

My dad, on the other hand, looked very stoic and almost unemotional as he patted my mother's back. He had those same blonde curls, and big brown eyes, like Aaron.

"Hey mom," I whispered. "It's time for me to leave."

She abruptly turned around and tackled me in a hug that probably squeezed the marrow out of my bones. "Oh, Conner! I'm going to miss you so much!" I patted moms back, wincing as she tightened her hold.

"Honey you should let go," dad told mom. "O-oh. Okay."

My mom wiped a few more years and turned her back so we wouldn't see them. "Well," dad began. "You're becoming a man, eh?"

I laughed and hugged my dad. He was warm and comforting, like he always has been. "I'm gonna miss you guys," I said, feeling my tears well up.

"Well if you ever feel lonely, just call Connie. She'll sure blow you up with information."

I snorted. "Connie gossips like old women."

"NO I DO NOT!" Connie screeched.

I said my final goodbyes, and walked towards my gate. Dragging my suitcase across the tiled floors, I started wondering if I had made a big mistake.

• • •

Riding the airplane was hell.

"Are you alright, Connor?"

I ignored Jade's question, shutting my eyes. The plane was landing and frankly, I felt as if my stomach was going to land in my toes. I bit my lip, trying to calm myself. I tried to slow my breathing. I shook my leg. I counted to one hundred. Distract yourself...don't lose concentration-

"Hey Conner-"

"Ah!"

I jumped in my seat, Jade's hand pushing gently on my shoulder.

"Whoa. Slow down Connor. I was just trying to wake you up from your little...episode." My breath came out in a short burst. I quickly brushed Jade off of me, and stood up shakily. There was no one else on the plane. I frowned and grabbed my luggage, hopping off the plane. There was Japanese and Americans all around us although the latter was Japanese. I was suddenly grateful I had taken those foreign language classes.

"This is so cool!" Jade whispered in my ear. I turned toward her and looked deeply into her eyes. Jade was pretty strange in a beautiful way.

Her expression was delicately feminine, complete with thin, arched brows, a small nose, and thin lips. Her eyes were a suave red brown that were decorated with thick lashes and naturally red cheeks. She wore rounded glasses, and dark lipstick. It was as if she couldn't tell if she wanted to be a nerd or an emo. Her pigment was nearly albino, and I chuckled weakly as she caught me gazing at her. I only winked and continued forward, leaving her confused.

"Excuse me," I heard someone say from behind us in fluent English. It was a tall Japanese looking man, with light brown hair and big amethyst eyes. "Hello, Mr. Seville, Ms. Dickson. I am Principal Suoh. I'm here to show you around the neighborhood and then show you to your dorms."

I gave Principle Suoh a bow, and then forced Jade's head down as well. "What the hell?" she muttered.

"You don't shake hands here, you bow." Jade didn't respond as I let her head up. Mr. Suoh laughed.

"You two are quite a pair. I'm sure you'll get along very well here."

• • •

"Thanks for showing us around, Mr. Souh," Jade said in choppy Japanese. He shook his head.

"No the pleasure is mine. Please do get settles in and maybe take a walk around the complex."

We nodded, and he quickly left, a trail of lavender scented shampoo following him.

Jade took a gander at me and then flopped down on a bed. We had an apartment with four bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and the washing room was downstairs. I felt extremely lucky at this moment. "I'm going to take a nap. See ya Connor."

I sighed and placed my bags in my own room. I knew that I was just going to be bored here over the weekend, so I decided to take a walk, get a hang of the neighborhood. By the time I unpacked all my things, I saw Jade already passed out. I covered her in a blanket, and then walked out, and stepped into the crisp Japan air.

My tense shoulders relaxed as I grasped my keys and phone in left hand.

Jade and I had been friends since we were kids. We were never super close, but enough that I ate lunch with her and told her some things I didn't tell others. She's been over to my house a few times. Jade was a unique person, and I was glad she was here in Japan with me. Maybe we could become closer? I bit my lip and continued to stroll down the street. I passed bakery shops, a few other people, and even a clothing consignment shop. Japanese sure did have style. Even in this little neighborhood.

As I walked past a little flower shop, I saw an old woman tumble. Before she could hit the concrete, I helped her up and was rewarded with a bouquet of flowers. She told me to come back any time. I stuck a flower behind my ear and continued my way back towards my apartment, when I heard voices behind me. As I glanced backwards, three figures dressed in black seemed to be tailing me. I sped up my gait.

"Look, it must be her," I heard. Inconspicuously I turned my head to the side and saw the strangely dressed people staring at me. I coughed and walked faster.

"She's getting away!" they called out.

I broke out into a sprint, my legs pumping me faster. I pushed myself, running away — I whizzed past the complex, and ended up in an alley.

"WAIT! CHOU-SAN!"

I didn't get a chance to respond, when someone yanked my shoulder.

In the dark alley I cried out and tried to kick the perpetrator, but my leg was caught.

I gasped and tried to pry myself out of their grip, when I looked into the eyes of a man. Fuck I'm going to die, I screamed internally. I'm so dead. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god.

"You're not Chou..."

I ripped my arm out of the man's grip savagely, after his hold had loosened. My eyes darted all over him, trying to memorize his features so I could tell police. He had short, buzzed hair, with one side that covered partially of his right eye. He wore expensive lookin clothing, and had deep, compelling brown eyes. His face was oval, and he looked extremely confused.

"Who the hell are you?" I rasped desperately. I clutched my now bruised arm to my chest.

The man bowed to me.

"I do apologize sir. I mistook you as Chou-san. You two look quite similar. She also has a haircut that very much resembles yours. I figured she took out her extensions... Chou-san is the famous model of H-Magazine. She's run away, and we can't find her. If we don't get back to the party now, her whole career will be ruined!"

"Whoa, whoa," I shouted. "That's crazy talk."

"Yes, it is," the man said. "My name is Horoki Ozawa. Please call me Ozawa." I bowed to Mr. Ozawa.

"I'm Connor." He bowed again.

"OZAWA! DID YOU FIND CHOU-SAN?!" I heard someone scream.

Quickly, two women appeared next to Mr. Ozawa. "I am sorry you two," he said to them. "But we have not found Chou." The dejected look on his face made me want to help them. They really cared about this Chou lady. "Wait, but this pretty boy looks like Chou-san!" the woman in the right of Mr. Ozawa said. "Yes! He could dress up as Chou, so we will not lose our jobs!"

"Kai, we cannot ask that of-"

"I won't do it!" I shouted. This caught the attention of one of the women.

"Excuse me?" She questioned.

I growled. "I'm not some little girly doll. Now let me leave or I'm calling the police!"

One woman screamed out. "We'll make you look absolutely beautiful!"

I backed up against the wall as the two women approached me, their faces shadowed by the setting evening sun. I heard the ripping sound of duck tape, and then I was tackled.

As sparks flew across my vision, I hard the faint revving of an engine.

They're gonna kill me.

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Whale then!

Now this is a serious plot development. I'm sorry if your disappointed that the OHSHC crew isn't there yet.

I promise within the next two chapters, they will show up.

^ Above is a picture of Chou ^

- A_P♥

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