Whole

Chapter 2

Enjoy fetus Coldrain in one of their very first songs =P

Masato's POV

I looked over at Kat as we walked down the road now our stomach's had been satisfied with food. Ryo had shown me pictures of her, but she was far more stunning than I'd been led to believe. The images I'd seen hadn't done her hazel eyes or full smile justice. Those were my favorite things about her.

Her eyes weren't just a basic, hazel color; they held darker rims around the iris, and they were piercing. Her lips were full but not too big, and when she smiled, it made my heart skip a little. It was the kind of smile that you could see, and no matter how awful you felt, it would wash away everything negative. A light in an otherwise dark room, along with her bright personality and laugh.

Her laugh wasn't annoying, grating, like nails on a chalkboard, it was sweet. Almost like a giggle, without sounding childish and when she laughed too much, cute, nearly silent snorts came from her.

She was far from most of the other women I'd met in my twenty-seven years of existence.

"So, what made you get into the whole computer, technology business?"

"Dad, he's a tech whiz too. He worked for Sony back in the day, too, and was behind the original PlayStation."

"No way, really? God, I still have my PS1, and I love it; you can't beat it personally." I smiled, feeling like an excited little kid. When I wasn't busy with music, I was often gaming on my PlayStation. I was a gamer at heart, along with my music.

"Yeah, he helped with the design and build. He still has the very first prototype for it they put together at home in Baltimore. Maybe next time I see them, I'll see if he will lend it to me to show you. It does work, although there's only one game you can play on it, which is a sonic demo."

A board smile spread on my face at the idea, "I'd love that, and Sonic is a classic."

"Tails was always my favorite." She smiled sweetly, "He's just so awesome."

"It was Knuckles for me," Ryo interjected.

"Hey, do you still have that Knuckles plush I got you way back when? I think it was the first gift I brought you with my paper round money."

"Oh yeah, I still got that. It comes on tour with me!"

"He carries that Knuckles everywhere, always in his bunk." I laughed, for as long as I'd known Ryo, we never played a show where the plush wasn't somewhere to be seen.

"Aw, you're sweet." Kat teased, reaching her hand out to pinch Ryo's cheek.

Ryo instantly recoiled and narrowed his eyes at her. "Woah, don't you be pinching my cheek! My mother does that enough; I'm a man in my thirties, not a child!"

Kat burst out laughing, "Aunt Mei does like pinching cheeks, she gets that from grandma. Dad gets so annoyed because they still do it to him. Now come here and let me pinch your cheek, you little cutie, come here!"

I watched as Ryo and Kat started play fighting, Kat trying to get a hold of Ryo's cheek as he swatted her away. They were teasing each other, which ended up developing into a poking war.

I couldn't stop the smile as I laughed at them, acting like big children. She was so full of life, and I loved that about her.

I found myself thankful my friend had got caught up with work. I was supposed to spend the afternoon with him; however, there had been a mishap in the office. I'd been with Ryo and Sugi at the time, and Ryo mentioned that he was going to see Katsuko. After a good couple of years of always hearing about her, I was curious to meet her. We hadn't had the chance before because she was only in Nagoya for five weeks of the year. Because we were always on tour, or busy with our families, none of us had met her. When he offered for me to join him, I couldn't say no, and I was glad I didn't.

"Ow! That hurts you, asshole!" Kat hisses, the words coming out in Japanese rather than English. Her voice in English was beautiful and soft-spoken, but hearing her speak in Japanese; it was even better. The perfect annunciation and tone.

"Yeah, because you haven't given me five bruises with your damn robot fingers!" Ryo retorted back in Japanese.

"What do you mean, robot fingers?" Kat looked at him, open-mouthed in offense.

"When you poke, your fingers are made of metal, I swear! They hurt!"

"Good! Stop being such a donkey!"

"No, you did not just call me a jack ass, Katsuko!"

"I think she did." I laughed amused, although instantly regretted it as they both looked at me with narrowed eyes. "I'll uh, go back to being quiet."

They both swiftly howled out in laughter, "We're just messing with you, buddy."

Kat lifted her wrist to look at the small, black leather strap watch she wore on her left wrist. "I got to go, sorry. I promised Asumi I'd head over to her's to work on our presentation, which is due at the end of the week."

"Aw, that sucks!" Ryo pouted, and I couldn't help but agree. I could've spent hours with her and not got bored.

"Hey, if you're around for a while, I'll see you soon, okay? I'm free this weekend. Maybe I can finally meet your other band member's too?"

"I think we can arrange that." Ryo nodded, "How about Saturday, at mine? Gaming, pizza, and ever-loving alcohol."

"Now that sounds like a perfect Saturday night to me, text me to give me the details. You up for that, Masato?" Kat looked at me with her head cocked to the side a little, her flowing dark hair flopping to the side with it.

A night with my friends, her, gaming, pizza, and beer sounded like heaven, so I smiled as I nodded, "I'll make sure I'm free."

"Good; otherwise, I'll have Ryo tell me where you live, and I'll drag you there myself. Your attendance is non-negotiable."

"I promise I'll be there." I had initially made plans with a couple of old friends for Saturday, but I could always arrange that for the afternoon. I didn't want the pass up the opportunity to get to know her more.

"You better. Anyway, I love you, cuz." She smiled, enveloping Ryo into her arms as he happily accepted.

"I love you too. I'm happy you moved here, at last, now I get to see you more than once or twice a year."

"I'm glad I did too." She sighed softly before she let go and turned to me. "It was nice meeting you, Masato."

"And you, Kat." I gave her a small smile and suddenly found myself feeling awkward. Did I hug her? Shake her hand? Just stand there like a fool, smiling?

"Um, so, see you on Saturday?" Her cheeks became stained with light pink as her teeth pulled at her bottom lip, and her hand pushed her hair behind her ear.

"Sure." I nodded. "Bye, Kat."

"Bye." She paused for a moment, looking at me as if she was battling with the idea of doing something before she turned and walked down a small street.

Ryo turned and looked at me with a straight face and raised brow, "Idiot."

"What?" I looked at him gobsmacked, where on earth had that come from?

"Nevermind, come on." Ryo rolled his eyes before he began walking, leaving me standing there, confused before I started following him.