Disclaimers: All characters belong to rightful owners.
Story concieved by Lee.


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"Y-yea...." Lem nodded slowly to the girl's words about not liking crowds as he turned his grey eyes fearfully toward the general mass. The very corners of his lips pulling down into a frown, the finger twirling his curl only increased in pace as he shook his head. "Crowds... really can be unnerving..."

"Hm?" At the soft squeak from the hidden mouse, he blinked softly and glancing toward the stranger's pocket, he smiled to see a small furry nose twitching at its surroundings. A bright smile taking his features, he bent a little and, giggling softly, he moved to stroke at the creature's fur with a single fingertip. "Oh, how cute!"

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"Let Lukie order his own when he gets here...I mean, his lovely date might be allergic to olives or something crazy like that!" Kisoku laughed, before practically inhaling his first slice of pizza. "Oh man, this pizza is crazy good!"

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Sasurai looked over quickly to see the stranger stroking Mousy. Her eyes couldn't help but widen at the close contact, but she was comforted by the fact that Mousy, unlike her, was not all afraid. She relaxed slightly, just trembling a little bit more, "Arigatou...that-that's Mousy..." Carefully she scooped the little creature from her pocket, careful not to touch the stranger as she held up her friend towards him, "He and I have been together for-for so long..."

She let herself giggle softly as she held her friend carefully, "he-he-he loves attention...," She blushed, now aware of her of social behavior, her giggle fading, leaving only a hint of s soft smile, "Do-do-do you want to hold him..?" she murmured quietly, more careful to hide enthusiasm, "Mousy won't mind."

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"Mm. Good idea!" Sam grinned as he demolished his first slice and reached for his second. Cleaning the lingering grease from his fingers, he tipped his head. "Ne, sempai, what kind of date d'you think it'll be this time? Boy or girl? Gorgeous or more just cute? Funny, spazzy, bitchy, or what?"

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"Mousy, huh?" Lem smiled widely at the cute little creature, then, at the question as to whether he wanted to hold the mouse or not, he tilted his head. Suddenly brought back to his anxiety by the sound of the girl's voice, he flushed a bit and, inclining his head a bit, he murmured quietly. "Is... is it really alright? I... I don't want to... to..."

He let that thought trail away, though, as he wasn't even sure how to finish it. Really, it wasn't like he'd hurt the mouse, but, still, it probably wasn't very... polite to just accept right off.

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Sasurai slowly pulled her hand back, but she still held it out, holding the invitation to hold her friend open to the stranger, "Mousy is strong...he won't mind being held, won't you Mousy?" The furry creature only squeaked in response, his glittery black eyes looking up at his friend than at the stranger, whom he was quick to see as a welcoming presence.

Sasurai knew what she was offering the stranger was something that seemed so out of place. She was offering the stranger a bit of her trust, testing him, despite the fact she had rationalized that Mousy needed company other than herself, "...don't-dont'dont' worry about hurting him-him if that's what you mean...he's not the one-one who get's hurt..." she finished quietly, "easily."

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"Al-alright..." Lem nodded slowly to this and, offering a tentative smile, he held his hand out so that the small mouse could crawl over if it would like. Of course, he only slightly registered that this was a trust exercise, so to speak, and even the hint of this thought made him nervous. Still, he was determined not to hurt the mouse, nor its mousy owner. "I... I won't hurt him... I... I promise."

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Sasurai let out a soft sigh of relief as Mousy first sniffed the hand, then crawled over to it, giving an approving squeak. Sasurai made a faint smile, watching, looking up at the young man, searching in his words and actions that he would keep his promise, she nodded lightly, still making sure to keep an eye on Mousy, "He-he loves cheese... he's so spoiled, aren't you Mousy?"

The little house-mouse sniffed at the air, looking up at the stranger then back at his owner, as if noticing the shyness between the two. Sasurai gently scratched behind the ear of her friend as he explored the new hand, and being as cautious as she is, she made sure not to look directly at the stranger, just only making quick glaces at him, trying her best to, at least the holiday, be more... friendly, "He likes it outside, toot-oo bad it's so-so crowded... he-he-he's shy at-at crowds..."

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"It wouldn't be hard to spoil a friend as cute as this..." Lem murmured absently as he watched the mouse explore the plane of his hand. Smiling softly to the small rodent, he moved to stroke it with his unoncupied hand as he giggled softly. "He likes cheese? Maybe we could get him something to eat. There's... there's a lot of food stands around and I'm sure we could find something with cheese on it..."

"I... I can't blame him for not liking crowds, though.." Wincing a little at the subtle reminder of their crowded surroundings, he nodded sympathetically. It really _was_ much too crowded and, though that was a bit troublesome, he was rather enjoying his time with thse two stranges. "Maybe... if... if you'd like... we...could find... someplace less crowded?" Okay. So, normally, that'd probably sound like a pick-up attempt... or an invitation to danger, but, well, he really just wanted to get away from the throng of happily families, friends, dates, and whatall. Sure, holidays were the time for that, but still...

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Sasurai looked up, for the first time, directly at him, her face flushing red at the suggestion/invitation. Surely he was kidding... surely there must be some cruel underlying joke... No... there wasn't. He was sincere. She looked down, trying to assess and analyze the situation. Looking desperately to her furry friend she could almost see him squeaking for her not_to_freak_out... to be social for once, besides... as much as she wished to ignore the fact, she didn't mind the stranger's company; it was a welcoming break from solitude and lonliness that holidays... and everydays bring when one is alone. Besides... she liked less crowded situations, and she couldn't help but drool inwardly and the thought of cheese... she was running out of that very important dairy product at her home. "Maybe... Maybe we- we could-could... find a stand which-which has cheese... perhaps where it's... less-less crowded... I-I-I mean..." Yes... smooth mouse girl... real calm and collected. Sasurai sighed, "We'd... Mousy and me, would-would like to be somewhere less crowded... we wouldn't mind... it's probably better for all three of us... anyways..." Sasurai looked up, taking off her glasses to clean them, wondering if accepting his invitation was the wisest of choices...

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"I'm fine, thanks," Arvel mumbled, then asked, suddenly, "do you believe in True Love?" If someone else believed, anyone else, he would be perfectly satisfied. But it wasn't at all nice of Jeremy to bring up his mother's singleness. It wasn't as though he was _her_ fault, after all! She made sure he knew that, if nothing else.

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"That... sounds good." Lem nodded eagerly to the suggestion that they find someplace less crowded--after getting the cheese, of course-- and, tilting his head, he peered curiously to the other. "Is there... is there any specific good that you or Mousy'd like? I'll... I'll treat."

"Oh! I..." Realizing how that could sound, he rushed in quickly to perhaps soothe any doubts or, perhaps, just to make a fool of himself. "I... I have some extra spending money so it's... it really isn't anything major. I... I mean..."

He trailed off, then, frowning. Well, it was no wonder that he rarely spoke to his clients--or anyone for that matter. Everytime he opened his mouth, he only seemed to stumble over himself.

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Shittsui Barano strode down the streets, frowning deeply. He was thoroughly peeved. Most of his employees had begged for the day off, and he had let them have it. This festival would have been a perfect time to find new clients, too! Ah, well. He would pay for his folly with his pockets. He noticed Lemy talking with some girl. He was surprised; Lemy avoided speaking with anyone at all. The girl wasn't a client, or even a potential client, he was certain. But he also doubted she was a secret lover. Sui knew very well that Lemy was devoted to him. So he didn't go over and bother them. Mostly he was upset that he had given Muneca the day off. He should have kept his favorite pet with him. He wouldn't mind having his pretty doll by his side on this stroll through the park...

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"In... in True Love?" Nevan faltered a little as the boy asked him this, but, tilting his head on side, he answered without even a second's hesitation. "Yes, of course I do. It's... well... one of the greatest, most wonderful things in the world. I can't see how anyone could not believe in such a thing, especially in a season such as this..."

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Sasurai tiltled her head slightly, this time, taking note of the different reactions of the stranger. He had as hard of time talking as she did. This ony helped soothe her fear and doubts, "Mousy likes cheddar swiss cheese... I like mozeralla..." she stated simply, quietly relating to the first question that he... meant to ask, "you don't have to use your money... I-I-I have plenty on my own..."

Sasurai made a soft smile to try and comfort him, which was ironic, someone like her trying to soothe another. She gently stroked Mousy's fur again and looked up at him, "Before... we-we-go... I-I- I... I am Sasurai Nonezumi" she bowed her head softly, trying to be polite as well as more social for this time, "dare... I mean... what's- what is your name?"

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"Oh, those sound good." Lem nodded to the chosen cheeses of the girl and the mouse and, tipping his head, he silently hoped that they could find one stand or another that sold something with those on it. Pizza, definitely... maybe a steaksandwich... or... even fried cheese? He wasn't sure, not regularly hanging about at fairs and the like. Still, at the mention of using her own money, he shook his head slowly. "Th-that's alright, really. I... I don't mind treating. I just... I just didn't want to give you the... wrong impression or anyhting..."

"Sasurai Nonezumi? That's a very pretty name." Smiling softly, he nodded to her name and, repeating it silently in his mind, he only hoped that he hadn't mangled it too badly. "I'm Lemuel Sammis, though most people call me Lemy..."

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"Wrong impression...?" Sasurai looked down, trying to think of any wrong impression. All he has been to her was polite, even nice... what impression could he mean... She looked up at him, pondering. Perhaps it was better if she didn't know, "No wrong impression... it's all right."

She shook her head at the comment of her name, "It's... it's not that pretty... just... just my name... you name is nice, Lem-Lemuel Sammis," she hoped her accent hadn't stumbled the l-sound to r-sounds as it does at times. She giggled lightly at his nick- name, "Lemy... kawaii..." She looked around a bit, looking for some stands... and easier way to get to them without going through the crowd, "Well... Lemy-san... let's find a way... past... all-all these... p-p-people..."

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"Hmmm..." Kisoku pondered this while gnawing on a random piece of pizza crust. "I bet it'll be one of those bitchy, artsy, "I dress in black because my soul is tarnished" kind of jobs. Woman definetely."

"Do you hear any voices? Anything at all?" The young blonde inquired, drinking up the gossip with glee. He glanced around the pizza parlour, briefly before turning back to his friend. "All I have to say, is that if it's a hot guy, Lukes had better watch out...'cause Willy just isn't satisfying me today!"

He added a giggled onto this last bit before taking a break from his pizza to ravish one of his lollipops.

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"That sounds like a good idea..." Lem nodded to the girl's suggestion of finding a less crowded path and, scanning their area, he looked for some way where they wouldn't like be jostled or, well, crowded. Finally finding a suitable one, he tilted his head as he pointed in that direction. "It looks like there aren't too many people over there and we can probably loop around from there to the stands. Do..do you think that'd be alright?"

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"Mm. You're probably right." Sam nodded his agreement to Kisoku's description of the girl in question as he rather pensively cleaned his fingers. "Definitely a borderline goth-artsy sort. Probably older'n him, too--like a college age girl, maybe older... likely a staunch feminist for all of it, too. Likely pretty humorless."

"Mm. No." Shaking his head, he sighed, then grinned. "I didn't hear anything of her, so either she's very quiet or she was... otherwise disposed at the moment."

"Oi! You can't flirt!" Brandishing a finger--not that one--, he wagged this same at Kisoku as he shook his head. "Lukie said he's _very_ fond of this one, so we'll have to put on a _good impression_, ne?"

Of course, Sammy's idea of a good impression'd be different than any sane person's, but we probably all figured that out by now.

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