The (second to) Last Goodbye

"Ok... so..."

Akashi bit her lip as she looked through her phone. Her contacts list had a lot of numbers, but she felt like she didn't have a lot of friends. She glanced over at Cassie. Cassie probably had a lot of friends. "We've got to be able to do this without talking to Taylor-chan. She always has great parties, but this time it's our turn to show her how it's done! Yosh!" Akashi pumped her fist but quickly turned and looked at Cassie.

"But, let's not get crazy. This is for you, Cassie-chan. So, we're only going to invite people that you want to invite, ok?" Akashi had a small notebook out that had Japanese scrawled on it. "Obviously Taylor-chan and Johnny-kun..." She said. "But, uhhh...." Akashi turned and looked at Cassie. She could start naming people but she wasn't sure how many of them Cassie was still on good terms with. She'd heard about a few things and Cassie was a lot more scandalous than her cute and innocent looks might show off. At least, that's what she had heard. Akashi found it pretty cute.

"Oh, and Shinobu-kun, of course!" She said and scribbled his name in her notebook. "Well, that's four! How intimate..." Akashi said, chuckling to herself.

Cassie sat cross-legged on the couch, with a blanket draped over her head like a cloak and cinched in front of her in her hands. Her feet in fuzzy pink socks poked out from under her knees, not covered by the blanket. Her short orange hair matted down against her forehead in front, no matter how hard she tried to push it aside. Without a hair clip, it was hopeless.

"I dunno, Akashi," she said, cheerfully sedate, unmoving from her post on the couch, like a monk in meditation. "Just you guys is fine with me. I don't need a big thing. But... Don't forget Bucky."

"Well, yeah, I do want to keep it small, but isn't there anyone else you want to say goodbye to? Someone you might not see again? It's always good to make sure you can say sayonara if possible." Akashi said, looking back to where Cassie was sitting. "Of course Buckie-kun will be there."

"Hmmmmmm..."

Cassie brought a blanket-wrapped hand up and tapped her lips while she thought. "I don't really want to see Hailey, after... the stuff. I don't think any of us really want to see Adrian... And I guess I gave up on Talia, sort of. I haven't heard from her."

She pulled her lips back on one side to dimple her cheek, saddened by the thought. "I don't really have a lot of friends here. I thought I'd make more, but... I didn't. Eclipse and Drake's girls, like Hitomi, haven't called or anything in... years, so..." She shrugged.

Akashi bit her lip as Cassie spoke. The way she talked, it felt like coming to Japan was one of the worst experiences of her life. Even though she didn't say it in those terms, She always seemed to add some reminder of how things didn't go very well to the end of any discussion.

Akashi steeled her resolve. "What about the girls from the dojo? You worked with them for some time. Is there any you'd like to invite?" She asked. Maybe Alaina or Julia? Akashi didn't know. She had been much more of a taskmaster than she figured she might have been. Then again, when around Junko, it was hard not to be.

Akashi stood up and walked over to the couch and stood in front of Cassie and looked at her. "Well..." She said, her voice softening and becoming a bit timid. She turned and looked away from Cassie and then back to her.

"What about Mamouru-kun?"

"Oh, um... Yeah, Julia and Alaina would be great. Maybeeee... Even Nikolette, I guess. Oh, Nicole!"

Cassie pulled her blanket hood forward when Akashi stepped in front of her so that her face disappeared almost completely. She raised a curious eyebrow, and when Akashi was done she pulled the blanket hood back around her shoulders and shook out her orange mane.

"Mamouru?" She asked. "Well, the last time didn't go so well. Do you really think that's a good idea? What about that Jess girl, she seems nice. As long as she doesn't make me dance to that shake your ass song again."

"Hai!" Akashi said and scribbled down their names. Though she didn't know who Nicole was... "I don't remember a Nicole..." Akashi said, scratching her head. "I thought that blonde boxer girl's name was Gabbie..." Akashi was a little confused. "Anyway..." Akashi said, sitting next to Cassie.

"I don't know if it's a good idea inviting Mamouru-kun over or not, but it's the last chance to try and..." Akashi bit her lip. "See if it is? Make some peace?" Akashi shrugged. "I'm just the sort of person who doesn't like to let things be. If you don't want him there, I won't invite him..."

Akashi then hopped up. "But, I love your ass, Cassie-chan! She turned around and stuck her own big butt out and began shaking it in front of Cassie. "It's not as awesome as mine, but it's pretty hot! It's so unfair you're straight!" Akashi said, pouting while she continued to twerk at Cassie, letting her hips shake while she laughed. "I'll be right there with you if she tries it again!"

"Gabbie's sister. My friend from Canada. We competed in jiujitsu," Cassie clarified. "Gabbie hates me," she added, and let that be reason enough to leave her off the list.

"Ah..." Her eyes scrunched up with worry and she pulled her blanket tighter around her. Then Akashi's ass dominated her view. Still, she remained motionless on her perch on the couch. Like a monk on a mountaintop.

"Akashi..." She said, in a soft, soothing, meditative voice. "I've seen enough of your butt to last forever and ever. You can do whatever you want with it with Jess. But if you don't get it out of my face..."

She suddenly leapt up, her feet sinking down into the couch cushions, and threw her blanket off, revealing her plaid boxers and white "Elliot Martial Arts" t-shirt.

"...I will show you why all of Canada remembers my name!" She declared, and dramatically pointed a finger at Akashi's.

Akashi's eyes widened and she spun around with one surprisingly graceful hop and spin. Her feet landed and the floor rattled a bit. She had a big grin on her face and she held her arms out.

"Ohoho!"

Akashi bellowed. "But I am Japan's favorite daughter! Now we fight!" Akashi lunged at Cassie, giggling as her big body sailed at Cassie and the couch.