Chapter 33

They pulled up outside a neon glowing Japanese restaurant, slightly over glitzy but he knew from experience the food was superb. He’d taken just a bit of time to stop off at his place to shower and change into a pair of black jeans and silky black shirt. The ride there had been silent, yet not the strained silence one might expect but comfortable and relaxed. He'd held her hand as he drove, looking her way to smile once or twice. She really was a stunning beauty, he couldn’t beleive his luck.

As he turned off the motor he turned her way. "I hope this is ok?"

She glanced out at the restaurant then back to his face. "I ain't eating raw fish."

"Ever tried it?"

She shook her head negatively and tried to not look green. "Raw fish? Ummm, No. Don't tell me You have? Man you wouldn't even eat your meat rare as a kid."

He grinned "I know.. crazy huh?" he got out of the car and walked around to open her door and help her out. "But man I've been all over and tried so many new things.. This is one of ‘em.. I thought the same thing at first but I'm tellin' ya Mel.... you gotta try it..."

"You my friend are nuts." She slipped from the car, brushing her skirt back down as she grinned. "Raw fish belong in the ocean."

"And don’t forget the saki!" he grinned as they walked towards the doors"

"The Whati?"

He stopped at the doors pausing with his hand on the handle "Saki Mel.... you never had saki??"

"Is it raw fish? Some weird dish?" She glanced up at him and saw the mischievous gleam in his eyes and nearly shuddered. "It is something raw and nasty isn't it?"

He clapped his hands together and rubbed them gleefully "Oh... this is gonna be classic!" he grinned as he held the door open for her "After you my dear..."

She walked in, her eyes adjusting to the dim lighting and smiled. "If you say so Scarecrow."

They were seated and he immediately ordered the saki then began to look over the menu "You should let me order Mel... trust me I won’t get anything too weird."

She propped her elbows on the table and studied him. "Well ok, just know you'll wear it instead of eating it if it is."

He grinned and waggled his eyebrows. The waiter brought the saki as Richie placed the order. Turning to Mel with a devious grin he poured just a bit in her sake’ cup and his before raising it up..."A toast?"

She took the tiny cup, studying the minute amount of liquid in the cup. What, he didn’t think she could stand it already? Her brow arched as she looked across at him. "If I was dying of thirst, you sure wouldn't be helping eh?" She lifted the small cup towards his and waited.

He grinned even more. "To the future and the past that brought it," he winked and clicked his cup to hers before tossing the clear liquid back easily.

She watched him a moment then tossed the small thimble full of liquid back and swallowed. As it traveled to her tummy her eyes widened. Well hell that was pretty smooth and not that bad. She held the tiny cup out to Richie with an arch of the brow. "Rice flavored water? You HAVE lost your mind."

His eyes glittered "Nope! You like it?" He held the bottle out to pour. "Want some more? I love this stuff.."

She lifted the cup and nodded. "Sure. It’s about as potent as," she paused, she was going to say his kissing; but that just wouldn't work any more dammit, those were freaking potent, "water."

He reached over and poured as the food showed up. He made sure to set the bottle within her reach and went about explaining all the different choices on the large platter before them. He truly wanted her to experience this exotic cuisine, so he made sure there were no tricks and told her which were the most succulent and rare.

She listened to his descriptions and shuddered, pretty words to cover what it was, fish, raw pickled fish. She poured another thimble of the rice flavored sake' and blinked, "I dunno you pick."

"Hmmmm try this one first its not so harsh... and if you take it... just like this," He showed her with his chopsticks, holding them delicately in his big hands " and you dip it here...." he dipped the morsel into a sauce before easily popping it into his mouth to chew. A look of pure pleasure crossed his features and he closed his eyes. "Wonderful," he said thru a half full mouth.

She shivered and lifted the cup taking another gulp of the "water,' her eyes glued to those big hands that held the tiny sticks so easily. "If ya say so."

"I say so" he winked "Try it" he went for another piece and again moaned appreciatively.

She watched as he chose and dipped the funny looking roll thing in some sauce, winced as it was aimed at her mouth and closed her eyes. As he brushed it over her lips she opened and took a bite and chewed. Ok it wasn't so bad, she guessed. She took another healthy swallow of her drink before opening her eyes. "Well maybe it won’t kill me."

He laughed "I swear it won’t" He grabbed the bottle sitting on the table and poured himself another drink, it was time to see what he could do about her anger at Jon, before more food came and gave her ample missiles to aim at his head. “Mel,” he paused a moment and watched her eyebrow lift then took a deep breath and waded in. “About what happened earlier. Baby, I love how you still wanna protect me, that you STILL can tell me what’s what, but you gotta give Jonny a chance. Hell between him, Dave, Tico and myself we end up saying all kinds of shit to each other now.”

As she leaned back he hastened to finish before she could reply. “It’s just that we all tease each other, so I’m as bad as him really.” His brow lifted as she snorted, the disbelief obvious in her eyes. He reached across the table, taking one of her hands in his. “I want them to like you baby, and if you keep blowing up at all their jokes, hell you’ll have them killed before they get to know you even.”

Her head tilted as she listened. It seemed important for her to give this friend of his a chance. It would be hard, that poofy headed one was way too easy to rile and get to, but if it meant something to Rich, she’d just have to try. She took a sip of her drink and sighed. “Well if it means THAT much to ya, I’ll TRY, but I swear Rich, the first time he actually puts you down? He’s mine. Got that?”

Richie laughed, then nodded. “Wouldn’t have it any other way Mellie. Taking a deep breath, his fingers crossing he plunged forward. "So look.. I was thinkin' Mel... how would you like to travel?"