Chapter 7: Tokyo Blues II

"Anyway... where's the bastard?!" Kazuki asks while looking for Jay.

"Dunno," Troy replies, cutting him from asking more questions. He nods. Then, he starts eating his oden. He makes noise as he slurps and savors his comfort food.

"Guys, I'll show you your rooms. Enjoy your meal, brother!" Troy says as they go out of the dining area to their rooms upstairs.

No matter how many times they enter the same room, they have the same reaction--- awe.

From the tatami floors to the beautifully painted fusuma, the raised and coffered ceilings to the chigaidana, built-in, staggered shelves, adorned with fine porcelain jars. They also have a view of the city from the glass wall covered by a broad byobu, which is adorned by exquisite cherry blossom sketches.

The rooms are contemporary, yet they still exude the rich Japanese cultural heritage.

Jason enters his room and immediately falls in love with it.

"Damn!" he whispers.

"I can just stay here all day! Nevermind going out!" he says. Troy laughs.

"Thanks. I'll take that as a compliment!"

"I love what you did to your place. Modern, yet it didn't lose its culture!"

"Whoa! Praises from the Dark Prince--- should I cry now?" Troy teases. Jason chuckles.

"Anyway... I should leave you to rest!" he says. Jason thanks him again before closing the door.

Meanwhile...

"I am really sorry!" Jay apologizes in front of Belle, who is ignoring him.

"Do even know how rude and insensitive you are?!"

"Yes. So, I am saying sorry!"

"I know you too well, Harry. I am sure, your brothers and cousins urged you to come and say sorry!"

He keeps quiet since it's the reality. Then, he clears his throat before he speaks.

"What matters is that I came. I am really sorry. I was just joking a while ago. Had I known your efforts, I should have been more careful with my words!"

"Okay. Apology already taken. But... you still owe me!"

"What?!"

"Photoshoot will do!"

"No! Never!"

"Harry~"

"Do you know the value of my face?"

"Priceless. So, do it for me!"

"Exactly! So, no can do!"

"For the sake of our friendship!"

"Eish! I know what you're up to, Belle! Cut the crap. I won't do it."

She sulks. Then, walks away from him.

"Fine! I will encourage him to you!"

She beams as she hugs him tight.

"You're the best, Harry!"

"I can't promise though! You know him. He's a little prickly."

She nods with a smile.

Later that afternoon, Belle tour them around. They also travel to Kyoto, the old capital of Japan, to visit the famous temples. And at night, they go on a food tour and try Japanese street foods.

They are eating okonomiyaki in a stall when a group of women approaches them.

"Anata ha Berure desu ka?" one of them ask.

"Hai!" she says, beaming at them. They suddenly scream and cheer.

"Sain si te kudasai!" they gush as they show her a magazine featuring her and her creation. The ladies tell her how famous she is and how they love her creations. Belle is surprised. She doesn't really consider herself popular and doesn't any idea that her name is already known to the public that fast, especially here in Japan.

She thanks them.

"Oh! Someone is famous here~" the lords tease as they eat. Then, one of the ladies flips the magazine and points at the surprised lords. They check the magazine again and then they go crazy. Their squeals and joyous reactions attract some attention.

"Hai," Belle says, answering their questions. Still intoxicated by their happiness, the ladies turn their attention to the handsome guys in front of them.

"W-wait! Uhm... what do they want from us?" Mon asks nervously while forcing a smile.

"Ah... they saw your photos on the magazine as well and they would love to take photos with you," Belle explains.

The look on the lords' faces is priceless--- distorted by their confusion. They want to refuse, but they also don't want to appear rude.

"Oh c'mon guys! Taking photos wouldn't hurt, would it?" Jason says comfortably, amused by the situation.

"Easy for you to say!" Jay grunts while still keeping his smile.

Jason chuckles. Then, to everyone's surprise, he says, "Daizyoubu!"

He smiles mischievously at the lords as the ladies swoon over them.

Click. Click. Click.

Then, Belle whispers to the ladies. Surprise is plastered on their faces as they look at Jason. He gulps. The lords chuckle.

"Karma is real, dark prince!" Leo smirks.

"What did you tell them, you witch!" Jason asks Belle, who is smiling sweetly at him.

"I told them that the photos they love were taken by you!" she replies.

The lords laugh as Jason tries not to curse at them and tries hard to smile and pose on their camera.

One lady talks to Belle. Their conversation seems serious, making the guys wonder what it must be. Belle sighs while taking the contact card from her hand.

"Arigatougozaimasi ta!" they say as they wave goodbye, which Belle and the guys reciprocate.

There is a moment of silence while Belle stares at the card, trickling the curiosity of the guys.

"Hey~ what's that?!" Ron asks.

"Are you familiar with the Ambulance Wish Foundation in Europe?" she asks.

Leo and Mon nod while the others shrug.

"What is that?!" Ben says.

"It originated in the Netherlands. Its aim is to grant the wish of terminally ill patients across the country. Simple wishes that they wanna come true like going to the beach and so on," Leo explains.

"Wow! That's an amazing concept," Ron exclaims while the others agree.

"The older sister of the Mayu, the one who gave me this~," Belle says, answering their questioning look. A loud 'Aaaaaah' is heard.

"Anyway, her sister is a retired nurse who worked in a hospice. Seeing firsthand the sufferings of the patients, she came up with a similar concept--- WishBliss," she continued.

"And?" Jason asks. Belle turns to them with a wishful smile.

"No!" Jason says defiantly. "I am out! I didn't come here to be stressed out!"

"One of the patients has only months to live, actually maybe weeks. She has dreamt of becoming a model until she has succumbed to her illness. And she's only 25," Belle says. There's a moment of silence. Then, they sigh in sympathy.

"So,.... uhm... what is her wish?!" Jason suddenly asks that surprises his nephews and Belle.

"All she wanted is a photoshoot and a catwalk."

Jay snaps his fingers and exclaims, "Why don't you include that in your creations?"

Belle furrows her face.

"Ah... like provide terminally ill patients the clothes they want to wear on their deathbeds," Ron adds. Jay nods.

"Hmmmm.... many people won't be able to understand and they might be a skeptic of your purpose, but I am sure those patients who already accepted their approaching death would appreciate it!" Leo adds.

Belle thinks for a second.

"So... should I call the foundation to discuss it?"

The lords look at Jason who is staring at the card intently. Nodding, he says, "Do it!"

Driven by happiness and gratefulness, Belle impulsively throws her arms around him. He freezes. The lords exclaim 'Ooooooh'.