Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Fox Tales ❯ Infusion or Illusion? Part I ( Chapter 5 )

Fox Tales

 

Chapter 5

“Infusion or Illusion? Part I”

 

After walking down the walkway that lead toward the entrance of the plane, Todd was greeted by the flight attendant, looked at his boarding pass, and tried to look for his seat. “Let's see. Row 24, seat A,” he said. He started walking down the length of the plane, looking at the numbers marked on the sides of the aisle. When he approached row 20, he looked ahead and realized that fate, once again, had a terrible sense of humor. How predictable. I should have known they'd have me sit next to Naomi, he thought.

 

“Hello, Todd,” she said with her soft and angelic voice. Todd's knees nearly melted at the sound coming from her vocal chords. At that time, her voice was soft and sweet, but he could tell that she was tired and ready to zone out at a moment's notice, especially since her eyes were half open and barely could stay that way.

“Hey there, Sleeping Beauty,” he replied.

“More like Sleepy the Dwarf.”

“Well, if you're Sleepy, then that makes me Dopey, right?”

“No, no, no,” she said laughingly. “You'd be Bashful.”

 

Todd gave a smirk to her sweet talk, and then brought attention to the journey that was ahead of him. “Naomi, do you know where we're going after we land?”

“I'm not exactly sure. I know we're going to be camping for most of the time, but that doesn't start until the day after we land,” she answered very tiredly.

“You should get some rest now. It's gonna be a long flight, and you need all the rest you can get. We've got a big week ahead of us.”

“You're right, Todd. I'll see you when we land.”

Todd spent the next five minutes or so looking at Naomi sleep soundly like a baby. He wasn't sure why, but he took the time to look deep inside himself, and try to figure out his true feelings towards her. I just don't get it. Whenever I'm alone, I always have this `Fuck you, world!' swagger in my step. But when I'm around Naomi, I become a totally different person. I'm more open towards her, more willing to express myself. It just doesn't make any bit of sense why I can't do it everywhere else. It can't be that…I'm in love with her, can it? No! That's nonsense! But still, I…

 

He was interrupted as the group leader started the roll call, followed by the flight attendants going through the standard emergency situations procedure. When the instructions were over, the pilot turned off all the lights, with the exception to little lights leading down the aisle to the exits and the lavatory, and some very dim nightlights scattered around the plane. The seat belt light came on as the plane turned towards the runway. The plane then sped up, and took off into the dark sky for the early morning flight.

 

Todd quickly fell asleep in his seat, but was awaken fourteen hours later when the pilot announced over the P.A. system that the plane was approaching Tokyo's airport. “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. We will be arriving in Tokyo in about 45 minutes. The local time is 8:53 AM on Monday, so please feel free to set your watches accordingly,” the pilot reported. Typical. Of all the things I could have forgotten to bring, I didn't bring a damn clock, Todd thought. Meanwhile, Naomi was setting her alarm clock to the new time zone. Oh, that sure makes me feel better. Thanks for rubbing it in, God.

 

“Wow, Todd! Look out the window!” Naomi exclaimed.

“That's kind hard for me to do when I'm sitting in an aisle seat,” he replied. Todd had to really climb over Naomi to get any sort of view.

“Isn't it pretty, the ocean and those islands down there? It's beautiful.”

“Yes, it certainly is a sight to see. “ A brief pause followed. “Land ho!” Todd was referring to the main island of Honshu, slightly visible up ahead.

“Where? I don't see it.”

“You may have to really squint your eyes.”

“There it is!”

Todd moved his eyes from the ocean to the side of Naomi's head, and admired another beautiful sight to see. Wow. She really is something to behold. I don't know whether it's because of the bright morning light coming through the window, but she looks very…heavenly, and almost…like she's an angel. Aw, crap. There I go again, rambling on about how pretty she looks.

 

After taking what seemed like forever to exit the plane after it landed, everybody had to go through yet another long line, Japanese Customs. Passports were stamped and luggage was checked, very thoroughly. This is just like the DMV! What is this supposed to be, payback for World War II by making us go through this hell? Todd thought. He turned his head to his right and something caught his attention.

“Huh. That's odd,” he said.

“What are you looking at, Todd?' Naomi asked.

“That poster over there, the one with the black-haired girl wearing a white blouse, green skirt, and a red handkerchief”

“Oh, the one also with the guy with long white hair, a red outfit, and what appears to be dog ears standing next to her?”

“Yeah, that one.”

“You're right. That is odd looking. Wonder what it's supposed to be.”

“I don't know. But who cares?” he asked as the line advanced.

 

It took about ninety minutes for the entire group of twelve to be cleared by Customs. Then everyone hopped on what looked like a tour bus that would take the group to the hotel.

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