Sayonara, Koguma

Akahi chewed on her lower lip as she paused to look around. She had been fussing all day and was really starting to stress out. "I don't know how you do it, Imouto-chan." She said. "Your parties always turn out so great, I feel like I have forgotten nearly everything. I am definitely not hostess material!"

Akashi huffed and tugged at her kimono. She was wearing a dark black one with a beautiful orange obi sash tied around her waist that complimented the tigers embroidered on the kimono. She pulled out her phone and began scrolling through it. "Ok, ok, so uhh... Shinobu-kun and Bucky-kun should be arriving together. Uhhh... same with Alaina-chan and Julia-chan, I think. Is Higurashi-san coming?" She asked. "I wasn't sure if it was appropriate to invite her. Ahhh..."

"And, um... I feel like I'm forgetting someone. Cassie-chan said she wanted it small, but.. OH!" She blurted out suddenly. "Johnny-kun!"

'I'm right here, dude..." Johnny said as he walked into the room with a big glass full of juice. "Don't worry about the drinks, dude, I got it covered!" He said and grinned.

"Ahh, Taylor-chan, I don't know why he needed to bring his juicer... I have one..."

"No, you don't, dude." Johnny said seriously and passed off his glass to Taylor.

Akashi sighed and let her arms slump. "Imouto-chaan..." She whined. "Ahhh, where is Cassie-chan at!?" She said and turned to look at her stairs.

"CASSIE-CHAN!?" She bellowed.

Standing just behind Johnny, Taylor discreetly waved her hand at Akashi and shook her head no. If her two-and-a-half years of marriage had taughter her anything, it was to let Johnny have his juicer.

"I'M COMING!" Came Cassie's voice from upstairs.

The little Canadian stood in her bedroom, where she had lived for several years, and stared at the calendar on the wall next to her desk. Each passing day in July was ticked off with an X, leading up to one. Two more days, and she would be there. She stared at the word, the one that would bring her everything she wanted while taking everything away.

Home.

She patted silently down the stairs in black leggings and a long yellow shirt, with fuzzy blue socks. A pretty barrette pinned her short orange hair back out of her face, and she wore a quiet smile as she emerged in the living room.

Immediately, Taylor's full attention was on the girl. She smiled, but no words came to mind. Her heart was pounding as their eyes met.

"Hi, guys," Cassie said with a small wave.

"Cassie-chan!"

Akashi leaned in and wrapped an arm around Cassie and hugged against her, so their sides pressed together. Suddenly she found herself giggling.

"Hey, Cassie-chan, did you tell Taylor-chan!?" She squealed. She reached for Cassie's big shirt and began to yank up Cassie's shirt to try and show off Cassie's tattoo.

While she fussed with the shirt, she grinned. I can't show you mine without getting naked and, unfortunately, Johnny-kun's here." She winked at Johnny who just blushed.

Whapwhapwhapwhapwhapwhapwhap!

Cassie repelled Akashi's hand from her shirt with a flurry of rapid slaps, and then quickly wagged a finger. "Later," she said.

Taylor abruptly departed from the group and winged off to the kitchen, raising an eyebrow on Cassie. She returned a moment later, and offered a glass of water to the redhead.

"H-here..." She said, and a faint glow appeared on her cheeks. She just thought someone should offer Cassie a drink instead of just standing there! But... It was Cassie's house, and...

Cassie graciously accepted the glass and took a sip. "Thanks, Taylor." She smiled, and Taylor continued to blush. The blonde still couldn't stand still and again scurried away to the kitchen.

"Do you need help with anything, Kashi?" She asked. Cassie just glanced blankly at Akashi and Johnny.

"Thanks for coming, Johnny," she said with a warm smile.

"Um, weeeeeelllllll!" Akashi said and followed Taylor into the kitchen.

She quickly nudged the blonde out of ear shot of Cassie. "I don't really know what to do!" She said, trying to stay as quiet as possible while still, sort of, yelling. She leaned in, putting her arms on Taylor's shoulders. One of her hands slipped down Taylor's arm and she squeezed Taylor's hand tightly and looked into her eyes.

"Oh, UM, WE'RE JUST GETTING SOME SNACKS!" Akashi shouted.

Johnny grinned at Cassie as they were left alone. "No problem, Shorty." Johnny said. "It sucks you're going, but, don't feel too bad, ok?" He said. "If you ever feel like visitin and junk you can stay at our place. It's cool. Even if you want to fly out for just a weekend or somethin, just keep in touch, ok? I don't mind payin for a flight. I know Taylor would love it. Maybe we'll come out and see you too and junk. I know Akashi would like that. I'm sure you'll hardly be able to tell the difference."

Johnny then opened his arms. "C'mon, dude. Before Shinobu shows up. I don't want him to think I'm puttin the moves on you and junk!" Johnny laughed. "He's a pretty lucky dude, man." He continued. "I was surprised that he really was goin with you though. I mean, You're all he ever talked about when we hung out and junk, but..." Johnny shrugged. "I guess all I ever talk about is Taylor." Johnny continued to smile. He knew things might get a bit teary eyed as the night went on. Especially when it was time to wind down. He was going to miss Cassie, but he was more worried about Taylor and Akashi and everyone else. Johnny knew he had to be strong for them. And maybe Cassie too so he kept smiling as he went in for a hug.

Taylor nodded her downcast head, and then wrapped her arms around Akashi and plastered herself to the sumo, eyes shut tight.

In the living room, Cassie's big eyes lit up, and she wrapped her arms around Johnny and plastered herself to the muscular boy. She put her cheek against his chest and closed her eyes while she squeezed, with a big, contented smile.

"I love you, Johnny. Make sure you guys come visit, okay? I think you'd really like it at home. You could cut firewood with my dad and stuff."

She released him finally and stepped back, a moment before Taylor and Akashi emerged from the kitchen, and Shinobu and Bucky appeared at the front door.

"Hey, guys!" Bucky said with a bright, handsome smile. He quickly began to make a pass around the room, hugging and shaking hands.

"Buckyyyyyy!" Cassie greeted him with her usual exuberance.

"Buckyyyyyy!" Taylor echoed.

"Ahh, hai..." Shinobu nodded his head as he talked to Johnny. "Fujiko-san has been a nightmare, but I think in her own way, she's a bit excited as well. We both understand that this move could really help my career but..." Shinobu turned his head and looked to where Cassie was. "I told her, that I don't want to be working all the time. I am moving because I want to live with Cassie-chan. If I'm in Vancouver for three quarters of the year, then why am I moving to London?" He said. "So, it will be tricky at first. She's always pressuring me, but it's been hardest for..." Shinobu paused and tilted his head. As he was lost in thought, Johnny tugged his arm.

"Ok, dude, hold that thought. You gotta try this juice man. Like, you gotta take the recipe with you and kill it in Canada. Promise me, bro."

Johnny pulled open the fridge and was about to reach for his juice container when a loud scream bellowed from the upstairs.

"JOHNNY-KUN, COME UP HERE! JULIA-CHAN DOESN'T THINK YOU CAN BENCH PRESS ALAINA-CHAN! IT'S NOT WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE TAYLOR-CHAN I HAVEN'T BEEN DRINKING!"

"Oh, shit." Johnny flashed Taylor a smile and grinned. "Dude, I gotta!" He said and hurried towards the stairs, flashing Shinobu an apologetic look as he breezed past them with a giddy look on his face.

Shinobu looked down and then at Taylor and smiled. "Taylor-san, are you doing alright?" He asked, bowing politely to her. He knew that this must be hard for her and he felt bad, like he was whisking Cassie away from her even though he definitely wasn't.

Taylor looked around and realized that for the first time she was alone with Shinobu. Bucky was upstairs palling around with Akashi, and Cassie ran up the stairs ahead of Johnny, and then the living room was quiet, except for the noises coming from the rambunctious second floor. She was content to stick around down here for the time being.

"I'm..." She began to answer, and trailed off. She gazed down at the floor in thought, with the faint remains of a friendly smile tracing her lips. Finally, she looked back up at Shinobu without ever finishing her sentence. She only drew a deep breath and blew it back out, like it summed everything up.

Shinobu frowned at Taylor's reaction and lowered his head. "I... understand." he said. "This move has been both difficult and sudden for me as well. Both of my parents died when I was much younger." He began. "I was forced to raise my little sister all by myself. I'm the only family she has and now I'm moving so far away. I feel awful and I feel like I'm..." He paused. "I don't know." He looked up at Taylor. "All I know is that Cassie's struggled with the decision and she didn't make it lightly at all..."

Shinobu bowed again. "But, I hope you do not resent me, Taylor-san. If you were to feel like I might be to blame, I could understand, but I know that there was no way for me to sway her decision and I know that I will do my best to make her as happy as I possibly can. Please, understand that." He lifted himself up and smiled at Taylor weakly. "She speaks about you all the time. She loves you with all of her heart." He tried his best to encourage though he thought his words might not have worked as he intended.

Taylor smiled back at Shinobu and shook her head, to dismiss the thought that she could hold him somehow responsible. Cassie made her own decisions, and Taylor respected them no matter what.

Then she struggled to hold onto her smile as her face tightened and her eyebrows weakened. She could only nod in response. Every part of her loved Cassie, and that was why so few parts were fully functional, like her mouth.

"Um..." She nodded and waved her hand at Shinobu to excuse herself as she stood up from the couch and moved back to the kitchen, arbitrarily to get a glass of water.