Zach had driven faster than usual, practically imitating his brother’s driving style. He didn’t slow down to enter Old Man Hobbs’s field, clipped a sign and almost tilted the pickup in the muddy grass.

He hopped out of the car, waving to Mister Hobbs, who had left the house to see what the commotion was, and ran to the back of the trailer.

“Wasn’t expecting you, boys!” Mister Hobbs called, “But that’s quite alright! What are you two bringing me today?”

“Get this,” Sawyer shouted back, “It’s a fucking zebra!”

Mister Hobbs frowned, took a notepad from his overalls and scribbled something before coming over to check if the Brooks boys weren’t messing with him.

“You’re pulling my leg?”

“Nope, a legit fucking zebra.”

Old Man Hobbs scratched his head, then simply shrugged, “They’ll be fine with Bucky and Rocky I suppose. What’s this one’s name?”

“Shaka.”

Zach threw the trailer open, stepped back to not get in the way of the ornery equine, then ran to unhitch the trailer.

“I’ll pick up the trailer later, Mister Hobbs!”

“What’s with your brother?”

“Haven’t the foggiest. Probably wants to hang out with his girl…”

“Sawyer! Stop yapping! Move!”

“You heard the man,” Sawyer said, a hint of apology to his words, “We’ll talk some other time.”

Sawyer was barely in the car when Zach started it, backed it up and grazed the trailer. He shifted into gear, briefly getting stuck in the mud, showering an annoyed zebra with the dirt, then cut back into the road.

“Hey, look,” Sawyer said as they left the field.

“What?” Zach bit back, slamming the brakes.

Sawyer pointed to the sign Zach had clipped on the way in, advertising donkey and alpaca rides.

“I bet he’s making out like a bandit.”

“Bandit,” Zach said softly to himself, then hurried back into the road.

Sawyer hurried to put on his seat belt.

“Fuck yeah, little bro! Show that car who’s boss!”

Fifteen minutes later, Zach skidded into a wet parking lot, sliding the rear wheels through a deep puddle and filling the back of a parked pickup with dirty rainwater.

“You bring the car back!” he called, threw open the door and tried to get out without taking off his seat belt, almost strangling himself as he did.

Sawyer got out slower, watching his brother rush through the rain into the video store, then mumbled to himself.

“...She can’t be that good.”

Zach almost bowled over an older lady as he ran into the store, knocking the video she was carrying out of her hands. The woman paled, glancing at the dropped copy of ‘Back in Black’, unsure how to proceed. He picked it up, ignoring the giant genitalia on the cover, muttered an apology, then flew towards the counter. The woman muttered a thank you and was out of the store as fast as Zach had entered.

“Zach?” she smiled, “Back for more already?”

“Maybe when you get off…”

“Big plans,” she tried to tease, interrupting herself with a wide yawn.

“Off work,” he stressed, “I’m here to warn you.”

“About?”

“That guy, Vinnie. You know? The one that was all over Tara? He was at my house, looking for two Japanese girls.”

“Did you have them? Starting a harem?”

“Yuki,” Zach sighed, dropping his voice, “I might not pass for a Japanese girl, but you definitely do. So you need to pretend you’re Chinese or Vietnamese, or Tanzanese. Something Asian.”

“Tanzania is in Africa, Zach… Are you sure I should be going to school here?”

“Just pretend you’re…”

“How about I simply pretend to be American. Can not find Japan on a map. That is believable if I listen to you.”

“That works,” Zach agreed, realizing that Yuki had thought well ahead of him, “That definitely works...But your accent.”

“Do I sound like mister Miyagi?”

“You don’t,” Zach shrugged, “But there’s definitely a foreign note to your voice.”

She shook her head, “So? The Tran kids also have that and they were also born here.”

“Fair enough. Just… Don’t give yourself away.”

“Only to you if you play your cards right.”

Zach felt himself turn red.

“Besides. I do not they can tell the difference between Chinese or Japanese. They called us Jacuzzi.”

“I meant to ask about that. Do you know what he meant?”

“Yakuza,” Yuki said, some distaste to the word, “Japanese organized crime.”

“Say, you two…” a newcomer interrupted before Zach could continue his questioning.

Zach and Yuki looked up simultaneously, finding Chelsea Bichler smiling at them.

“Your Miki doll will come soon, Chelsea. Do not worry.”

“I never worry,” Chelsea smiled, flicking her hair back, “Makes you sweat.”

She waited a moment for that to sink in, then her smiled turned predatory, “I heard something interesting when I was t the food court.”

“Did you?”

“A man, Vincent Sonetti, is looking for two Japanese girls.”

“Only got one here,” Zach interjected a little too hastily.

Chelsea offered him a thin lipped smile, then tapped the magazine Yuki was reading, “Dressed just like these girls. Oh, those sailor suits look so familiar, Zach…”

Zach sighed, “What’s it going to take to keep you quiet?”

“I want Maria!”

“Who?”

“Another doll,” Yuki explained, “It goes with the Miki doll. I will ask mother to send me one..”

“Thank you for your patronage,” Chelsea grinned as she left, “Recommend me to your friends and family…”

“Sure, Bichler, sure…”

“So, Zach,” Yuki said, returning Zach to the present, “What are you doing tonight?”

“Just getting my bike back.”

“Oh good,” Yuki yawned, “You can give me a ride home.”

“What about Mister O’Donnell?”

“Zach? Are you stupid? I want you to bring me home.”

“Oh… Oh! Ohhhhh!”

Yuki smiled and reached to gently pat Zach’s head, “There you go. Now go get your bike and fill it up. I want a long ride.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Zach said and, unsure why, saluted her on his way out.

She giggled, “Oh, Zach!”

“What?”

“Do not hurry. I have a surprise for you when you get back, but I need some time.”

“You got it!”

The rain had turned from a drizzle to a violent downpour when Zach returned to the mall, turning the asphalt so slippery he almost skidded his bike into a parked car.

He hopped off, ran into the video store and didn’t bother to take his helmet off until he was inside proper. He passed by a family that was debating going out in the rain or staying to get burgers, then sauntered up to the register which was currently manned by Mister O’Donnell, who was helping an elderly lady decide between two movies.

“I personally recommend Sixteen Candles,” he said, then looked up at Zach, “Ah the Brooks Boy! Here to pick up my daughter?”

“Your daughter…?”

“Temporarily, while she’s in my care.”

“Then I guess you’re right…”

“Now, Zach. I know what you’re after and I’m not going to stop her, just make sure you don’t...you know… Y’know?”

Zach gave the man a confused look.

Mister O’Donnell let out a short two toned whistle, knocked on the counter, then pointed to the ceiling. Zach followed his finger to a spider crawling into the lights.

“Get her pregnant, deary,” the lady who was picking a movie said, “You know, you children should wait till after marriage before you…”

The old woman tried to copy the whistle, accidentally covering the counter in her spittle.

“Oh,I don’t think we’re anywhere near that point,” Zach mumbled, then hastily added to change the subject, “Where is she anyway?”

“Not allowed to tell you. It’s a surprise.”

Zach shrugged, “Any idea when she’ll be back.”

“When she feels like it.”

Zach’s face fell.

“That’s women,” Mister O’Donnell said, getting a very pointed look from the customer.

She coughed to gain his attention, demonstratively picked up the video Mister O’Donnell hadn’t recommended and resolutely placed it in front of him.

“This one, please,” she said icily.

“And that’s also women,” O’Donnell mumbled, ringing it up, “Now, Zach, women aren’t always difficult. In general all you have to do is impress them a little.”

The woman paid, then strode towards the door, mumbling about the fact that Bird Videos was the only store in town or he’d have lost her business.

“...Any tips on impressing Yuki?” Zach asked when the woman stormed into the rain.

“Well, you could learn Japanese…”

“What?”

“Knowing Japanese got me a date with her mother. ...Of course, I was in Japan at the time. That said, I think she’d like it if you put the effort in. Probably beats learning karade.”

The man chuckled at his own joke, “… Did she tell you that one?”

Zach nodded, afraid to tell him he didn’t think it was funny when Yuki told it either. “...I don’t think they offer Japanese classes around here though.”

“They don’t,” Mister O'Donnell confirmed, “But I’ve got some books you can borrow.”

“Just like that?”

“Well, I’m not going to need them anymore and if it’s to make Yuki happy I can part with them for a while. You can pick them up tomorrow when she’s working so you don’t ruin the surprise.”

“Thanks!”

“And while you’re waiting for her,” Mister O’Donnell continued, “Could you bring this package to the record shop for me?”

“Uh, sure…” Zach mumbled, picking up a video that was shoved over to him. A movie called ‘Nice Dreams’.

“Any good?”

“Wouldn’t know. I’ve never seen it. Get going.”

“Yes, sir!”

As Zach left the record shop, he was dreading the questions his mother would have ready. He felt the smell of marijuana clung to his clothes as a second skin and that everyone was turning to watch him.

He was considering washing the riding leathers in a public drinking fountain when his vision was suddenly darkened. His muscles tensed, he stopped breathing and he prepared for the worst.

“Guess who. … Are you okay, Zach?”

“Thought you were that Vinnie guy,” Zach said, relaxing visibly, then turned around, “You…”

He stopped in the middle of his words when he saw Yuki’s hair. Or more specifically, when he didn’t see it. The ponytail that had danced cheerfully when she went jogging wouldn’t be dancing any time soon, as she had her hair cut short.

Yuki’s face fell before Zach could respond.

“You don’t like it…”

“No, no! It’s great! I just didn’t expect anything quite so drastic…”

Yuki grinned, ‘Now I will be harder to recognize when we go to the city.”

“We’re going to the city?”

“Of course we are. I want to go swimming.”

Zach’s heart jumped again, then remembered that Yuki didn’t know the ‘code’ her mother used.

“What is that face?”

“Nothing,” Zach said hurriedly, “Want to go grab a bite to eat before we go?”

“If you do not want to take me home yet,” she said, running her fingers through her hair, clearly pleased with how the shorter tresses danced back into place.

“It’s pouring outside,” Zach said, “I don’t think it’d be safe to drive in this.”

“Then we get food,” Yuki agreed, “But… You are paying.”

“Am I?”

Yuki wrapped her arm around his and pulled herself against him, “Of course. You would not let your girlfriend fend for herself, would you?”

The words hit home for Zach, who was now ready to buy her a five course dinner at whatever restaurant she picked. He let her lead him around the mall, glad to see she was going for the Chinese takeaway.

“You ever see Lady and the Tramp?” she asked.