Other Fan Fiction ❯ Big Time Temptations ❯ Culture Shock is Fun ( Chapter 8 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: I don't own the song Loving Loved featured in this chapter, it goes to the talented Yuya Matsushita.

Claimer: I own the song Falling for Christmas featured in this, althoguh should I really take credit for it? Ahaha, its pretty not great ahaha. I don't know, my proofers gave mixed reviews, so enjoy that one.

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Kendall lazily popped his knee into James' when noticing that all the other guys were out cold during the flight to Japan. He wasn't sure what made him choose right then, since James is still currently nursing nausea from his alcohol intake last night; Kendall still couldn't understand what his friend was thinking. James' drive could be a frightening thing, but at the same time, he still felt flattered by it. Which is why he's intent on getting into his head to see if things are OK between them.

"James." He whispered like a voice bullet into James' general direction. "James."

"Hmm?" Hummed the male, with his heavy eyelids still closed.

"You mad?" He asked.

James opens his eyes then, that hazel gaze seemed to be asking 'what do you think?', but he only sighed after his momentary silence and replies with; "I'm not," he makes a getsure like a monster with claws and fangs at Kendall as he said "mad at you, I'm just," He shrugged a hand. "mad at you."

And Kendall knew the difference. It was like that time when they were younger- much younger- and Carlos took it upon himself to use his toy chest as a toilet rather than stop playing wrestler with them all to go to the bathroom. Very annoying, and very maddening. But Carlos apologized, and even cleaned it up... although, Kendall still never looked at his toy chest the same afterwards. The urine was like a horrible monster lingering in the back of his mind, creeping open the lid at night, and sending a whiff of its bad breath into the air.

Kendall shuddered at the memory, and was greeted from his mental return by James' nodding.

"The toy chest from when we were six." He stated in case Kendall still wasn't sure of the difference.

Kendall nodded.

"That's the mad."

"Okay. ....But unlike the toy chest, there is no lingering..." He waves his hand looking for a word, upon finding none he says. "linger?" He said, and sounded like he were questioning the end of that sentence himself. There had to be a better way to say what it was that he was asking.

"Not entirely.... I'm still kinda ticked off about it. But it'll pass, probably."

Nodding with a satisfied smile, Kendall then reheard what James had said. "Now see, I've kinda got a problem with the whooole probably part. Probably is not a good word for me."

James, having had to open his eyes again, only looked at Kendall. Receiving a shrug from the offered look, James rolled his eyes and says very calmly. "Probably is probably. I'm not saying I'll never forgive you, I'm just saying probably."

"Stop saying probably!" He hissed in a whisper. "I don't like probably."

"And I'm tired, I don't like being awake right now, so I'm saying probably." James hissed right back.

Making a disgruntled face at the male, Kendall crosses his arms and tries to ignore the need to keep talking to James until he takes back what he'd sort of said but didn't say; while James took this moment of ceased verbal fire to shove some earbuds in and resume his nap. Kendall was planning to definitely find a way to make it up to James, and remove that 'probably' from the table.

..............

It was exactly like any picture you'd see online, or on a postcard. Japan is all lights and sounds, and people traffic, and car traffic, there seemed to be a perminant buzz of scooters in the air; and the visual of it all was so overwhelming that the band could only drink it in through jaw dropped silence. They were definitely not in the refined agriculture of Paris anymore. Everywhere there was music and large display windows showing off moving toys, expensive electronics, and more stuff than anyone could even hope to imagine.

Logan couldn't wait to see their hotel rooms! He just knew that the rooms would have those talking toilets and control panels that turn on bath water from anywhere in the room! How cool is that!? The technology here was gonna spin him around so fast he wasn't sure of how he'd be able to stand for very long. He'd spend his some odd days in Japan in bed from the head rush.

Carlos was looking forward to the food. He couldn't smell anything cooking in the air, though they're passing numerous eateries. So many different types of noodles, and fish, and maybe- just maybe- they'd have some form of corn dog. Well, that was unlikely since whenever they come to America they have to try a hot dog, but then again there are foreign markets.

James was instantly smitten with a picture of a male singer advertizing manly make-up and hair care products. Those people at the airport really do a number on you with thievery of liquid products. Time to restock. He grinned at the thought of running through his paycheck and coming away with piles of product.

Kendall had his eyes on James before he turned them out to the streets, where he noticed a few small stores along the ride to their hotel. Small stores that would hold a few key items that he'd need to make things up to James, like a costume shop.

The shuttle passed through the streets slowly with the band going unnoticed by anyone outside because of the tinted windows, but they can see everyone passing by. The fashion is amazingly out-there, from: lacey mini-skirt with aprons, to bonnets, to dudes wearing spikes all over the place, and a multitude of hair colors.

"Wow! I wanna get my hair done like that." Whooped Carlos pressing his face into the window for a closer look.

Kendall made a face at that statement, saying to his- longing to be bold- best friend. "Carlos, you don't have enough hair on your head to get that look."

"Well, I can get weave put in." He slumps back against the back of the bench seat.

"No trippy hair styles." Muttered Gustavo, who's half paying attention to them, and half on his phone.

"Well, I'm definitely gonna find an outfit that suits my style." Carlos cheered himself by popping the collar on his shirt.

"No hair-brained flashy outfits." Interferes Gustavo again.

"Well then what can we do in Japa-... Ohhh."

All boys 'oooh' in unison when spotting a large neon sign advertizing Japan-Disney. Though not able to read the strange writing on it, they know Mickey Mouse when they see him. And they also know a high roller coaster calling out their names, begging that they ride it.

"Gustavo can we go to Japan-Disney!?" They asked as a team, and put their hands in prayer hoping that a higher power would smile down upon their wishes and let it be granted.

Blinking, their manager sucked in a breath; the boy's braced their ears by covering them with their hands as they readied for Gustavo to let them have it. And it was a simple no- well, it was said with the flare or "Anooo"- but to four teenaged boys it was the NO heard round Japan. They wouldn't have been surprised if a traffic jam started from some sort of electrical interference with the traffic light the van just went under. Or if maybe the glass on the stores' display windows were going to shatter all around the unsuspecting patrons.

Logan was the brave one that night, with an elevated index finger and leaning forward, he asked. "Why?"

The other 3 members of Big Time Rush gasped, but looked on without interrupting the delicate window of communication Logan opened up on their behalf. And with a side-long glance at Gustavo, they wait anxiously for the answer.

"Because we have too much important stuff to do while we're here, and you dogs can never seem to get it together in time to have these spare little opportunities that you keep hounding me for." As if he heard a brilliant joke with the dog and hound reference he laughed, wiping a fake tear. "Hound dogs," He chuckled a bit longer. "Good one, Gustavo."

Kendall, James, Carlos, and Logan were not amused. But, the gears in Logan's head were turning rapidly as the car pulled up in front of their hotel. And when Gustavo and Kelly exit the van, he declared to his fellow band mates.

"I have a plan."

...............

The thoughts of the plan were put on the back burner once they'd gone inside their hotel, and the 'aaw' got at their senses. Polished wood floors and walls, throw rugs- or Tatami matts, as they're traditionally called- before every door. It was like something out of a Samurai film. And as they removed their sneakers and high heeled shoes, in the hotels front foyer, they're given Geta to wear around the Inn in their usual footwears place. This is exactly what they thought of when they were told their tour was going to Japan. Old-school Japan. The bits of a feudal era that they've learned about in school and old Samurai movies.... and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III movie, when the four ventured to Japan. Wooden this and tatami that. The woman who greeted them and gave them their new footwear, Tsukiko, is dressed in a lovely kimono of powder pink with little blue waves at the bottom and a darker shade of pink birds flying possed to fly here and there along the top.

Shoes removed and new ones replaced, they shakily stand from the bench seat at the front foyer. They're not much for arch support which has them a little off kilter.

"Is everything to your liking?" Asks Tsukiko, when seeing them swaying.

But her curt little bow has the band and company bowing back, and that unfortunately had them all lose their balance and fall to the floor with a swarm of 'whoas' into a pile of moans and groans.

The young woman laughed dantily into her palm. "It takes some getting used to. Here are your keys; follow me to your rooms, please." She waited for the band to straighten theirselves up before handing them a key attached to a little wooden paddle, decorated with a lucky charm cat. "Right this way."

They all follow the woman down a narrow hall; seeing normal doors where they thought they'd see the ones that slide was a bit unexpected, but their wonders were explained easily once they unlocked the solid wood door to find a small entrance before them that walked straight to the sliding door they'd been expecting to see.

"For security." Explained the woman when seeing the four teens nodding at the traditional door before them.

"Oh." They voiced.

"Let me show you inside."

The door slides open with a light thwak. The boys look around the large space with interest until they see that there was nothing beyond the door but a large room with one little dresser.

"Your beds are here." She points out with a sweep of her hand to a closet where inside sit four rolled up cushions known as futons. "And your change of clothing is here."

"Wow. Change of clothes," Carlos snags a folded up dark purple robe, that has been placed up on the shelf above their fold away beds. "This is the best hotel in the world."

"Oh no, you are not in a modern hotel with the western style beds and amenities. This is a traditional Ryokan Inn."

"What's a Ryokan Inn?" Carlos folds his arms over his chest, head turned to give their hostess a curious look.

"That means that we have certain entertainments then a modern hotel. We are located directly over a hot spring, we also have performances for dinner parties, and-..."

"Did you say a hot spring?" The four interupt her explanation.

...............

"The etiquette rules of the hot spring." They read together.

"Rule three," Logan branched away from their spoken harmony. "no tattoos."

The band looked themselves over- as if they had to- then state proudly. "None. Check!"

"Rule two," Carlos has a turn. "please do not be rowdy."

They could only shrug to that, who would they be rowdy with but themselves. So that was a big check! off the list of things to not do.

"Rule four," James smirked. "No swinsuits allowed."

Reaching down Big Time Rush removed their swim trunks like they were pull aways.

"Check!" They called out, receiving mixed murmurs and dejected stares from the small crowd in the room. Remembering rule two they lowered their voices and again declare it a "Cheeeck."

Continuing to read the rule, James adds. "You may help yourself to a small towel for modesty from the basket in which you bathe."

Scanning the large area for baskets, their multitude of colors gaze curiosly around the room seeing a sweep of the place since walking in with its large print of marble flooring and wall- though its likely some type of granite- there are 5'4" boarder walls housing inside the divide a stool, a wooden bucket, a faucet, and what appears to be toiletries of soap and shampoo. A couple men are there bathing now, there are six stalls left unoccupied. Beside that station is a stack of box-style shelving units that have baskets inside.

Big Time Rush head over to grab a basket and find that the towel wasn't exactly a towel, it was more of a wash rag. And after numerous attempts to tie it around their bare waists, they finally just give up and leave them resting atop their heads- their actual heads.

Returning to the wall they scan it for any missed rules and regulations.

"Most important rule, rule number one." Kendall reads. "Make sure the body is clean of all dirt at our bathing stations before entering the bath."

Looking over at the open to public viewing bathing stalls- meaning there is no door just a partition wall to keep you in your space- the four look over at each other and with a polite bow, they ask.

"Would you wash my back?" To the person closest to them.

In which came the bow and reply. "It would be my pleasure."

Hey, if the rules are gonna be stuffy, then why not go along with it. Besides, it lessens the blow of the uncomfortable stare around wondering if anyone would volunteer; and they've known each other forever- you scratch my back, I'll wash yours- its fine.

So after a very brisk scrub down, and help with their backs Kendall on Logan in reverse, and Carlos on James also reversed, they finally walk to the bathing area and pad across the wooden planks over into a large dip of water that looked like a large pond. It was a hot toeing experience, but once they were completely submerged they all let out a comforted "aaaahhhh!"

...............

"Who has the best dream-come-true" and James' voice goes up merrily on his next words "in the world?" though he's mumbling through his blissful haze.

The others, also engulfed in a sleepy, comforting haze reply with just as much laxed tone as James had taken when asking. "James Diamond."

"You bet I do." He closes his eyes. "Yeah, being a hockey star, doctor, or super hero could never amount to this."

"I'd be offended by that, but I really can't argue his point." Comments Kendall, who's just about taking his jet-lagged nap under the water.

"Mhmm." Agree Carlos and Logan dreamily.

Their attention was grabbed by the sound of a sliding door. The large area is covered in a fine mist from the onsen's heat vapors drifting up into the open air, blinding them really, so they couldn't see who'd entered or who is walking up to the large heated lake of water causing ripple after ripple to tremble over the surface.

"Make room boys." Gustavo's voice cut through their blissful lounge. "Papa bears ready for a dip."

They barely got their eyes open before they were rocked out of the pond by Gustavo submerging in.

"Gustavo!" Complained James, rolling onto his stomach he gets himself up from the floor, and helps the others stand as well.

"What? The water was too high anyway." The man shrugged. He made a very relaxed sound before closing his eyes. "Come on back in boys, we'll have dinner out at eleven."

With a few exagerated sighs and groans of disbelief that they've been flushed out, the four teens slide back into the heated water. It didn't take long to get comfortable again; the nip in the air from being outside of the water was easily heated away in their returning.

"So," Logan interupts the silence, intent on asking Gustavo about Disney again. "What can we do to get us some free time while we're in Japan?" Silence. "...Gustavo? Gustavooo?"

The three others shrugged, confused as to why the man wasn't answering. He'd at least banter back to their desires with "no this" and "never going to happen" that. So what gives? The four teens throw their wet hands into the air when a very loud snore comes from their manager's mouth.

"Oh, come on!" Logan bellowed in exasperation.

"Okay, what was plan A?" Kendall asks; his hand making fist in the water to pop little squirts into the air like a fountain in Vegas.

"Well, its a little out there," Logan confesses. "But if we work together, we can do it."

"Tell us the plan." James moves in closer to Logan; his actions have the others doing the same.

"Okay, we sneak into Kelly's room either during dinner or after she falls asleep" His index and middle finger make a walking charade for added effect. "We steal her phone and go through the schedule- anything that we can manage to get done tonight- like photo shoots- if we can get the photographer to come out- our fitting for the costume changes while we're here."

The others nod happily, thoroughly liking where this train of thought is going.

"Minus the interviews tomorrow that shouldn't take too long, we could be at Disneyland as soon aaasssss.... one o'clock."

Fist in the air the four give a happy cheer, waking Gustavo from his heat enduced slumber.

"What are we cheering about?" He asked blearily.

"Ummm, it's time to eat." Kendall shrugged. "Let's get out before we turn into prunes..." He then mumbled under his breath. "or have to see Gustavo nude."

"Hey! I heard that!" Bellowed their gurthy manager slash best adult friend.

"Sorry Gustavo!" Kendall called over his shoulder as he streaked through the bathing area.

"Sorry!" Called the others, though they're chuckling through the apology.

Gustavo seemed to want to relax for a while longer as he made no rush for the door at the call of a meal. Instead he set his arms behind his head and laid himself back more comfortably against the trim of the pond.

5 5 5

"Are we all sleeping together?" James asked while looking around at his fellow bandmates getting into their yukatas.

"Not if you're gonna say it like that." Replied Logan slipping his arm through a dark grey robe.

"Sure; you've seen all those Edo movies, they sleep tons of guys in the same room." Kendall says casually while tying the deep yellow yukata closed.

"Who cares if we have to because now" Carlos steps farther into the room from where he'd been standing at the closet entrance. "we get to have a futon fiiight!" Slamming his rolled up bed into Kendall's back, he paced around the room going "Wooooaaaahhh!!!" like a ninja as he sized up the other two opponents.

"Carlos, you've insulted my dojo's honor" Kendall says as he recovers from his place on the floor. "And now the Knight family will have to exact revenge." He declared with a finger in the air, and a quick turn into the closet where his bed slash sword lay.

"The Garcia dojo is stronger than yours!" Carlos assured the blond while swinging away at Kendall's rolled up mattress.

"No its not!" Kendall swung his mattress left and right against Carlos'.

Watching, James and Logan shrug and then square up themselves.

"For the Mitchell's!" Cried Logan coming in at James with an overhead swipe.

Clashing sounds of "Booosh" and "Whooosh" fill the area as the four fight each other for victory and who gets the best spot on the floor when its time to go to bed.

The room was alive with sounds of laughing, karate noises- to the stereo type- and flying colors of white beds and yellow, blue, dark grey, and purple robe.

The screen door slides over with a low thwak. Kelly, mouth agape, shakes her head as she wishes that she had a referee whistle to stop their horsing around. But instead she settled for a good enough shout. "Enough!"

The four pause, almost startled that anyone had come in at all. And when they look to see who had ceased their sword swinging, their eyes widen a bit and they smile at the only female member of the band's gang.

"Wooow. Kelly, you look beau-.." Carlos hit the tatami floor face first from James whacking him over the head with his futon.

"Beautiful." He finished for the ambushed male.

Smiling, Kelly spins in a circle to show off her dark blue kimono with snow capped mountains painted on the bottom. "Thanks guys. But enough messing around, we're gonna have dinner." Looking past them into the room, she then looks over her shoulder to where she knows Gustavo is not. "Where's Gustavo?"

"Napping." Kendall fixes his twisted robe to sit on him correctly.

"Napping where, he's not in our room."

"Oh, in the hot spring." Kendall points in the direction they'd just come from.

"Well, I guess that's not so bad, but he really should eat with us. We have a lot to do tomorrow." She says mostly to herself.

They all perked up when seeing Kelly use her iPad to bring up their schedule. The soon-to-be theived schedule. But how to get it away from her without her knowing it was them?

"I'll go wait in the dining room, could one of you wake him up for me?" She asks scanning the room for takers.

"We'll do it!" Carlos grabs Logan's hand, then stands up straight from his kneeling position on the floor. "Come on Logan, but um.. Kelly. They said uuhh..."

"You aren't allowed to bring computers and phones and stuff into the dining room!" Blurts Kendall assisting Carlos. "Its bad manners."

"And you know what sticklers they can be about rule breaking." Logan adds with a hand brought up to the side of his mouth as if to shield offendable parties from overhearing his comment.

"Oh. Okay. Well, I'll just leave this in the room." She shrugged. "But wake Gustavo."

"Sure, Kelly." They say together.

When she left for the dining room, the four teens huddle together.

"Alright, Carlos and I will go wake Gustavo- slowly, so not to get you" He points to Kendall. "and James caught, while you're swiping the schedule. Okay?"

"Yeah." James nods.

"Good."

They all give their hands a clap and say. "Break."

Separating down opposite ends of the hall, Kendall closes the door of Gustavo and Kelly's room after he and James are inside.

The two spot the bag and do tumble after tumble, losing their wooden shoes along the way, to get over to it. Spy music playing from their lips as they move the bag into place before them. Unzipped and exposed to the world, the two rifle through Kelly's belongings with kid's hands. They've never gone through a woman's personal things before and it was kind of exciting in its own way. Lady things. Her bag consist of long dresses to keep out the nip but allows her to look fashionable, there were make-up kits, lotions, a perfume bought while they were in France, a book- Kendall noted that Kelly is reading the same one his mother can barely get through the first chapter of- then there's a magazine with their pictures in it- nice- and unmentionables, a couple candy bars, and a few other unmentionables... no iPad. Where would she put it?

"Maybe on a dresser?" James suggested over the ruffling of clothing.

Blinking, Kendall wondered why he hadn't thought of that.

The two look over their shoulder and sure enough, there was the iPad. Looking back at the mess they'd made, they wondered if Kelly would notice that the things have been harshly moved around. Naah. Shoving it all quickly back into the bag, the two do a couple ninja-like tumbles over to the dresser.

"Got it!" James swiped it into his grasp. "Now let's get our schedule and get out of here."

"Yeah."

"Grab some paper," James orders while starting up the computer. "Shoot. Its got a password on it.... what should I type?"

"Something Kelly would think about." Kendall says from across the room while confiscating paper from the stationary left on an opposite dresser, set beside a phone and a phonebook. Curious, he opens the phonebook cocking a bushy brow at the names and the numbers, and the complicated words beyond in the yellow pages. He could recognize pizza though, since there's a little man holding a large pizza pie in his hand.

"How would I know what women think about?" James wonders out-loud. Cocking his head thoughtfully back and forth, he taps his name in with the keypad.

"James, don't try your own name." Kendall repremands from his place over at the dresser, knowing what his lover would consider.

"Maybe its one of our songs!" James snaps his fingers. "Which one plays as her ringtone?" He asks out-loud but mostly to think rather than be answered.

"Last one I heard playing was an older one. Try Big Night, but run it all together." Done with the phonebook fascination, Kendall crawls on bare knees over to James.

"It worked! We're in!"

"Sooo what about dinner? You dogs can't just let me nap for a while longer?"

"Its Gustavo!" The two alert each other.

Logan and Carlos must have thought getting the schedule was a cake walk, otherwise Gustavo would still be asleep and they would be pacing the springs bathing area while checking watches for time lapse.

"Hide!" They sneak into the closet located next to the opposite dresser.

Its just like you see in all of those Asian horror movies. A long bench inside with drawers beneath it, and a sliding door that runs the track both ways; which gave them a nice comfortable resting place while they waited for their boss to leave. Only problem is if he were to come in to change.

"You know," James whispered while Gustavo griped around the room about his ruined soak. "if this were a naughty movie," He gestures his index fingers between the two of them. "you and me would be in here doing it right now."

Kendall looked appaulled, but then smiled and nodded saying, "Right?" to agree.

Snickering about it, the two are actually thankful this wasn't a movie. Bad enough Kelly had accidently seen them, last thing they need is a big mouth like Gustavo shouting to the moon over the horror of the two of them latched together in his room's closet.

"This dinner had better be worth it." Gustavo says as he exits the room.

Letting out an audible sigh, the two remove themselves from the closet and continue their rifling through Kelly's computer.

"The easy use is really something," James says thumbing through it with just a swipe of his finger. "you know, we should get one for ourselves."

"Where's the first location." Kendall asks to get his friend back on track.

"You know, it'd be easier to carry our phones around than a peice of paper- I mean- its not even written down, so why should we. I'll just forward the list over to you." He opens a message with a copy of the schedule ready to send. "And we'll be on our way, with no evidence left behind that we were ever here."

"Good point," Kendall pats James on the shoulder. "all that time spent with Logan, his smarts are really rubbing off on you."

"Athank you." James preened. "Now I just set this back down and away we go."

But James hadn't seen his thumb swipe the screen where erase had been located before the two dashed out of the room and down the hall to the dining room where the others would be waiting for them.

................

"Iiits official," Logan begins as he looks over the menu. "I can't read Japanese." He shakes his head.

"Me either." Chimed Kendall.

"Its easy, you just read it.... its easier to pronounce than French anyway." Carlos says while looking over the menu. "See, like this one VE-GE-TA-BLE."

Tapping his finger to his chin, James asks in a thoughtful whisper. "But what does it mean?"

The other three band members shrug with a shake of the head.

Watching in mute dismay, Gustavo and Kelly look to each other for intellegent conversation.

"Kelly, you ever wish there were some other way to make money and be successful other than the dogs?"

Kelly waved the comment off, refusing to get into it.

"Let's see.... the translation book says, vegetable meeeans..." He flips the page; finger skimming the page. "Vegetable." Logan stabs the word with his finger as if to officialize its meaning.

"Aaah."

Skimming the menu Logan perks up when coming across a food item. "They've got sushi!"

"Whooooa. Sushi where sushi was invented." Declared Carlos in awe. "Let's get the sushi!"

"It shows so many kinds, though. Which one should we get?" Kendall eyed one in particular named Aburi sushi. He can't read the rest, he just likes the name.

"Let's get 'em all!" Carlos declared. He wondered if he should loosen the belt on his yukata.

"Speaking of ordering it all," Kelly interupts. "I got the money exchanged for you guys when you were taking a soak, so... here. Incase you have free time and wanna buy something for yourselves."

"How much is this?" Kendall folds his money in half. Looking down at his clothing, he realized he has no pockets to stick his money in so he tucks it safely under his seat cushion.

"300. So remember that." Kelly replied playing the rest of the money in her purse.

They thanked Kelly and all do the same as Kendall had, tucking their money beneath them.

Sitting on the floor to eat was something new, and he was sure his butt would be paying for it later while he slept... also on the floor. Maybe they should have gotten a Western hotel to spend the night in? But then he would be missing out on the hot spring and the sight of James in his yukata. He cast an appreciative glance at his secret lover, who's currently in a sword fight with his chopsticks against Carlos'.

He has big plans, and if everything goes right he can slip away and get them accomplished.

"You guys will have some time to yourselves tomorrow evening after the interviews." Kelly assured them as the waiter came up.

Seeing that they were about to ask, Gustavo cut them off. "But not enough time for Disneyland, so don't ask."

"But Gustavo-..." Again Logan was flexing his ability to argue with the man.

"But nothing.. Mr. Fujisaki asked that you come to his place for a private concert so he can hear how far you've come without being at the concert itself."

"Can Mr. Fujisaki even hear?" Asks James curious to know. The elderly man isn't exactly... how can he put it? Alive.

"We're not sure."

They all yelped when Griffin's voice came out of literally nowhere to answer the question.

"But your gonna give him the show of a lifetime regardless."

"Griffin? What are you doing here?" Asks a baffled Gustavo.

"Eating the sushi. Its amazing." Replied the essentric white-haired man; but in comparison he's definitely got more pep in his step than the elderly Japanese man. Right now he kind of looks like Hugh Heffner with his yukata over his usual suit and tie. "And they're not half bad at massages either- I recommend Shobu, he can put an arch in even the flattest foot." He showed off his feet that are arched enough to resemble cresent moons in their curve, which causes everyone in the dining room to gag. But he paid it no mind, and tucked himself back into an Indian-style sitting position.

Meals were ordered and platters are soon brought out to the tables. Eyes wide and appetites on high, the four band members, plus Gustavo dig in with a ferocity to match a starving mountain lion that's found a wandering goat. Even the diners around them thought that they were watching something out of Wild Kingdom, when Kendall's chopsticks went in for the last piece of Aburi, which the lead singer found out is the most delicious roasted sushi he's ever even known to exist. Its got Nigiri fish and a fish topping that is partially grilled and partially raw so the crunch was light and cripsy; but James had the speed to swipe it first, only to have it fall when Kendall's sticks crash into his. Their utensils battled fiercely before Kendall, finally, just lowered himself down over it and consumed it.

Logan cornered the market of the Katsuo, which is a raw served skipjack tuna. It was obvious which piece of raw delicacy Gustavo was after as he wolfed down piece after piece of Fugu, translation a puffer fish. Kelly was smart and ordered a seperate plate from the herd, but now and then she tried her hand at stealing a roll or two.

Carlos was infatuated with the taste of the sushi wrapped in thinly sliced tofu- tofu! Who knew? And he enjoyed the selections of Makizushi, and crucian carp, and sushi that is pressed to be the shape of a square.

By the time they were done, they were DONE, and lay leaned back and full to the brim with food moaning and groaning.

"So full!" Logan groaned.

"I'll never eat again!" Declared Carlos.

"But it was so good." Kendall moaned.

"I know, I think I might have been alergic to some of them" Carlos chimed in, receiving looks from his friends to be sure he was only kidding- he was. "but I didn't even care."

"Yeah." They all agreed; happy to let off a couple little belches here and there.

"How will you be paying your bill?" Asks the waitress for their table.

"Griffin!" Points their table with a sudden second wind strong enough for them to get up and floor it out of the dining room.

5 5 5 5

"Okay," Kendall starts when the others meet him in the center of their room. "We can find the phone number of this Amana Kishomoto and see if she can take our pictures now instead of tomorrow."

"Right." Agrees Logan.

"Then we head to...." He cocks his head. "Tokyo Next for our fitting for the concert."

"Yeah but it's midnight, will they even be open?" Carlos wonders out loud.

"A good business would be."

"Yeah." Agreed James. "One problem though-"

"How're we gonna get around?" Carlos finishes for his friend.

"Honestly... I didn't think we'd get this far." Kendall replies. "Maybe we can take a bus, it seems cheaper than a cab."

"Walking is cheaper than a bus." Carlos puts his opinion in. "And we can ask people where to go, and we'll get to see the city in the process." His gaze became very far away as he says. "And I'll get to have one of those cool hair styles."

"Stop it." Logan postured on Gustavo's behalf.

Carlos shrugged his hands and shoulders.

"We'd better get moving, its already midnight." Kendall stands up from his hands and knees kneeling position, exposing that he's fully clothed in his usual attire.

The others reveal the same state of dress upon getting up. They didn't have to change into night clothes or anything since Gustavo and Kelly don't exactly check up on them as though they are their parents. Though, they sort of are like parents in the sense that they trust their children to behave and not sneak about at all late hours of the night.

Standing in a stack, the four peek around the corner of the hall to the lobby. The desk clerk is standing in place behind the counter, typing on the computer beside him. A patron is checking in.

"Its clear. Let's move out." Kendall orders.

"Busted!" Came Gustavo's voice before he made his appearance by turning around the corner directly beside the four peekers; arms crossed and looking quite smug about catching the four.

They could swear they heard a siren blaring like a squad car just pulled them over. It was so real to them that they actually put their hands up to show that they're not going to reach for their weapons, as they round the corner.

"How did you find out?" Kendall asks.

"One! I am Gustavo Rocque," And he said it with such flare it sounded as though there were an A before his last name. "dog trainer extraordinaire. And I know you dogs well enough to know that despite my amazing prowess of keeping young boyband idiots in check- you seem to keep getting out anyway!"

They flinched at the elevation of their bosses voice.

"And two... you left your sandals on the floor of my room."

"Idiots." Came Logan smacking his forehead.

"Now get back to your rooms, and go to bed, because whatever it was that you've planned is over." Pointing he says. "Now march! March! March!"

And they marched like good little soldiers all the way back to their room. Time to think of a Plan B.

Kelly, in her and Gustavo's shared room, is checking her schedule for the next day when she receives a phonecall. "Hello?" She listens to the man on the line. "New York for the tree lighting? Let me check the schedule, please hold...."

Kelly looks through her computer, chopping out the boys' schedule. "I see a free slot, we'll definitely be there. Thank you for calling." After a few more words exchanged, she ends the call. "That's funny... I could have sworn the boys had an interview tomorrow... maybe I read wrong." Picking up her phone from the bedside table she calls the number of the television station that had the boy's scheduled in. Maybe she'd made a mistake. Its always good to triple check- especially since the appearances were made while they were in L.A.

"Caught the guys sneaking out?" She asked when seeing her boss enter the room.

"Yyup."

"Why can't they ever just stay put and get the rewards as they come?"

"Because Kelly, when you're young the world is exciting and new- so you want to go out and explore it- or at least you think that you do."

"Right. So when dangers befall them, you'll be there to say 'I told you so'?"

"No. Because danger won't befall them." He shrugs a hand. "Its that simple. Now I am going to bed, don't wake me until morning."

"Fine, but we got a call to be in New York for the tree lighting in Timesquare tomorrow night."

"The tree lighting?!" Gustavo popped up from his laying position as if he'd been shocked by a jolt of electricity. "That's the biggest holiday event of the year, and they want BTR to play?"

Smiling, Kelly replies. "Yeah. I just told them we could do it... but it feels like we're missing something somewhere... Did you go through my scheduling book?"

"Let's seeeee, did I go through your scheduling bo-..." He hit his pillow like he'd been pushed onto it by a ghost and was snoring loudly to show that he is fast asleep.

Rolling her eyes, Kelly could only hope that wasn't the case because she couldn't get through to the television studio. Well, they'd just have to see tomorrow then.

5 5 5 5

They clearly are gluttons for punishment because BTR found their way out onto the streets of Shinjuku with little other than a translation book and their personal wads of cash. It was a simple trick, they said they were going to take a soak to help them get to sleep, and Freight Train just moved right over for them. So they're in yukatas and sandals in the winter; its not nearly as cold in Japan as it was in Paris, though.

"Okay," Says James in a tone higher than usual. "I vote we find a clothing store and get something to wear, because I can't feel my legs- which are bare by the way!"

"Second." Agreed Logan casting his vote.

"Third." Chimed Carlos, who has his hands stuffed under his armpits.

"Then it's settled. First clothing store we see we go inside." Kendall sealed the deal.

They spot a few girls coming from a place and notice that its a clothing store- but for women.

Breath sucked in and eyes wide in objection, Kendall says. "Okay, first men's clothing store we see, we change."

"Big Time Rush!" Three girls called out.

Grimaced, rather than smiling at them, Logan leans over and whispers to James. "I'd rather be rude and run, then have my picture taken while looking as if I'm about to get in the bathtub."

"We've still got time to run, they're a couple dozen feet away, and haven't even started to run yet." James commented.

But the problem with that statement is that they started to move forward on their own. They weren't walking, it was more like being pushed from behind, like snow being shoved by a street plow. Caught in a foot-traffic crowd title wave, the four move closer and closer to a pile- no longer three- of fans screaming their own ways through the human traffic.

"We're gonna crash!" Carlos declared.

They braced for impact, and when they were right up on the screaming teens it was like a mushroom cloud had hit the sky. What was left in the wake was a debris of flurried hugs and kisses on the cheek, laughter at their clothing, and a garble of "Can we get a picture?' Which Big Time Rush gladly received all of. And from their mouths they expelled a bunch of 'Konnichi wa' and 'Arigatou' unsure of what meant what, which made the girls giggle histerically, but it was kind giggling.

"Where are you going in the city?" Asks one of them; she's got a mohawk colored pink on loose hanging front strands, but the rest of her hair is its natural black color. She's dressed as a school girl, covered in a very long and heavy navy blue school uniform issued winter coat. Another girl appeared to be a very girly-girl sporting a Hello Kitty tiny napsack on her back and a winter hat on her head; wearing pink sneakers and white jeans with a blue sweater as a completed look. "Do you need an escort?"

The other girl is decked out in tight leather pants, and a fish net shirt over a thinly knit green sweater; a nose ring flashed in the moving city lights since they've been forced to keep the flow of traffic going even while having their pictures snapped and hugs being brought in. And people say New York is bad. The clutter of fans is a sea of melded water colors and spilled paint to their darting eyes taking them all in.

"We're looking for a clothing store, do you know where any are?" Logan calls over the noise of on-poured love. "Men's clothing." He added.

"Oh sure, there's one right up here, this way." Said fish nets in a tone deeper than they had expected.

One quick glance down explained it all.

"You're a guy?!" They ask in unison.

The male giggled and wriggled his fingers so femininely; the four teens jumped to each other in horrified recoil of disbelief. But they meant nothing by it, its just that you don't usually see a guy look so... beautiful. He's even got lipstick on- come on!

"Right this waaay." He says wrapping his arm around Kendall's to guide the way.

Kendall looked as though his skin were about to crawl off but he allowed himself to be lead away.

Logan and the others looked relieved that Kendall was picked of the four of them, but then they calmed themselves enough for Logan to assess the situation and declare that once again.

"We are horrible people."

"Yyup." Agree Carlos and James.

They called for their friend to wait for them as he and his new fan were crossing the street together with the other girls behind them.

.................

Their new friends left them to their business, which was a relief and also kind of sad since they could use some tour guides while they cruise the city for the locations they intended to get to.

Stepping from the dressing rooms, they look each other over, snickering that they each looked like walking billboards advertizing items they can't read off their shirts. They went through a few choices each before deciding on some street-wear that suited their styles. There was a hard applause that caught their attention from admiring themselves in the long department store mirrors. And, turning to look, they see that sitting across the room sits the one and only, teen heart throb... Dak Zevon!

"I saw you come in here and I thought, why not?" Dak stands from the small single seat he's been resting on.

"But what are you doing here?" Carlos asks in awe of his profession.

"Vacation. Japanese fans, rabid but respectful." He bows to the store clerk, who bowed back and said a quick.

"Love you Zevon-san."

Smiling, he looks back to Big Time Rush. "I take it because you're in Japan all that training paid off."

"World tour!" James declared while grappling Dak's hand to bring him in for the offered hug.

"Awesome!" The man greated them all in the same manly hugging fashion. "Is Gustavo with you? You touring around the city for something to do?"

"We were actually about to look for this designer who's gonna be fitting us for the concert." Logan explained.

"No one is open this late," Dak reported hastly. "I've got a better idea anyway. Do you boys do karaoke?"

They looked concerned when he said there were no fitting places open, but when the rest of Dak's words sank in intrigue soon replaced their despair.

The karaoke bar is packed with men and women all laughing and drinking, talking rapidly in their native tongue; the air had the sort of prickle to it that made them all feel like they had that time they snuck into the girls locker room in the gym hall to see if Rosa Maldonado was into Carlos- she wasn't- but hiding out and eavesdropping on the strange conversation girls have was similar to being around people speaking in a foreign tongue... you just wish you knew what they were saying. Especially when you planned on going up on stage to sing in front of them.

"Can I get you guys some drinks?" Dak looked them over once they made it up to the bar.

"No!"

The rejection was gazed upon by anyone close enough to hear them say it- the back of the room was close enough to have heard.

Unsure of where it was coming from, he loved when older people offered him drinks, especially when he was a minor and it was just sort of exciting because he was THAT important. It was kind of nice not to see corruption though. He ordered them some root beers and handed them to each member of Big Time Rush before locating them a table in the center of the room.

"You guys are number twenty eight." Dak tells them upon sitting down. "I'm going a couple people before you. They count out thirty singers at a time."

Dak looked like a seasoned pro sitting there beside them, while the four members of Big Time Rush looked as though they were going to throw up.

Gingerly sipping his root beer, Carlos asked. "Dak, do you speak Japanese?"

"A little bit, but I can sing anything in the song catalog." He said without boast in his tone. He must really think that they can do the same.

"I can sing Row Row Row Your Boat backwards." Declared Carlos as if to save face; but when he simply turned himself in his place on the long bench seat, Logan quickly turned him back to face front.

"Looks like I'm up." Dak says when hearing a very animated young woman call out.

"Ni-jyuu-san!"

Walking up on the small stage where a television monitor and a small screen with the song selections rolling about it for touch use purpose, Dak looked over the songs and picked a very modern one from one of Japans most popular male singers. Just about everyone, fans, even people who aren't fans, recognized him and pointed or called out when he waved. Lights flashed and music poured from the speakers and without missing his cue Dak sang to them.

"Ha! If that's a little bit of Japanese then we're screwed." James announced to his fellow bandmates.

"I'm sure its easier than it seems." Kendall tried to comfort the panic in his own gut as well as James'.

The room was screaming when Dak finished and left the stage for buriel of the next singer to go up and perform. They thought Karaoke was supposed to be fun. This wasn't fun, this was sending the poor little pigs, and chickens, and cows to slaughter.

A young girl went up there and tanked while singing a well known pop song that the crowd sang at her whenever she messed a line up. The laughter was in good humor, though, and she didn't look too humiliated as she pranced from the stage, metalic grey skirt swinging about her hips before she dropped down beside her friends.

Leaning over, James whispered. "Dibs."

Carlos, Logan, and Kendall look at him then over to the girl nodding their approval. Kendall knew it was all an act, he wondered though if he joked like that would James know the same? Hopefully after tonight he'll have James very self assured of his place in his life. They're not just having fun on tour, he's serious about him. And they'll maybe tell everyone someday, but for right now, it'll be their secret to keep. And Gustavo and Kelly's. But no one else!

Kendall cast an assuring eye on his purchases that sit concealed in a shopping bag within his shopping bag. A few more people went up a small group of mixed girls and guys, singing their hearts out to a single singer's song.

"Ni-jyuu-hachi!"

"That's you guys." Dak says. "Get up there and kill it."

Flustered, the four scramble up to the stage like a herd of young animals learning how to walk for the first time. Looking out onto the huge crowd they give a hard gulp.

"We can do this," Kendall shrugged. "There's gotta be something in here that's sung in English."

Attention on the selection screen they thumb through title after un-readable title until they spot a song in English. Loving Loved by an artist named Yuya Matsuyama. Easy. The crowd clapped for the selection when they hear music familiar to them. They couldn't be more relieved when the runs came up on the screen in English.

"Oh oooh," Kendall began. "Hey-eee."

"Yeah, yeah." Chime Logan, James, and Carlos.

"This is gonna be a horror show." Kelly whispered while sneaking into a seat out in the back of the crowd with Gustavo behind her.

They're dressed in black from head to toe, clothes perfect for sneaking- minus the neon light on their spying hats.

"I knew they'd ruin this tour somehow," Gustavo adds to Kelly's statement. "the dogs need to learn their lesson about disobeying their trainer."

"By completely humiliating theirselves on stage in front of dozens of people? Plus there are photographers here." Kelly points.

Gustavo looked as though he'd just been electricuted. "How fast can we get them off the stage?"

"Too late." Kelly points to the four who've just whipped around to stare at the large monitor when the singer's English went native in the blink of an eye. Hopefully they can wing it and keep up?

Through the microphones you hear a clutter of something but it certainly isn't the song.

"Mi..mi..mi, mi." Carlos says meekly.

"Missing you!" James jumped on the first word he could read in the flurry of Japanese pouring across the screen.

The boos started playfully right along with the laughter, and you could feel the yellow streak running down their once confident spines telling them "get off the stage, now!" and "Run! Run for your pride!"

Much like the young woman who was struggling with her song, the crowd began to sing in their absence-
"Ai toiu unmei ga, aru to suru nara!" some of them anyway, the others were calling out what was probably the equivalent "Off the stage!"

"Sing a different song!" Called a familiar voice. "Something for the holiday!"

Looking through the blinking lights of cameras and the mist of people, the four notice some oddly dressed signs hanging out in the crowd.

"Gustavo?" They say in unison.

"Just sing something! I've got you covered!" He unplugs something in back.

The song cut short, and instead a jolly little melody played from the speakers. And after a jingle of jingle bells played out the boys raised their microphones and sing as if they'd known the song all their lives, they certainly knew the flow to use. Something along the lines of Beautiful Christmas and Better With You.

"Ooo aaa aaa, we can make a beautiful Christmas!" They harmonized then James went out solo for the first verse.

"Monday I'm at your door, Sunday there's so much more; we're hanging out in the snow.... Ohh." Flashing a smile at the young woman who cheered first when seeing that they were gonna roll with their own thing; he was relieved when the rest of the crowd started to get into it.

Gustavo sat down letting his nerves ease off him. This could work out. The photographer certainly seemed to be snapping shots in a better light than before.

"A cabin in the woods, our love it feels so good; let's start a tinsel fight under the Christmas lights!"

In a somewhat of a chorus- due to it being so short, they harmonize. "Ooh aah ahh, we're fa-la-falling for Chriiiistmas."

Taking to the next cue for a mini-bridge, Logan sings. "Bring on the mistle toe and the fresh fallen snow, falling for me and you, chasing away the Christmas blues."

The crowd stood on their feet to clap along with the rhythm and song.

"Oohh because its us, why I'm fa-la-falling for Chriiistmas."

Kendall branched from the rift to his own verse thats sort of a wrap. "Christmaaaas, ohh yeah, yeah! Let's sit here-"

"gift wrapped!" Assist the others.

"Hold tight and-"

"Don't look back!"

"Go down a hill for a thrill, we're leaving long sleigh traaaacks!"

The music plays softly, a few shakes of jingle bells here and there.

"Ooh, aah ahh, we can make a beautiful Christmas... Its uuus. We can make a beautiful Christmas!"

Carlos takes the last verse, smoothing it out with a lilting sweet voice. "We'll do presents, close your eyes, and we'll kiss right here by the fire light."

After two chorus' Kendall ends the song with one more. 'And that's why I'm fa-la-falling for Chriiistmaaas."

The crowd was in an uproar and they all took their bow. But as they walked off stage they knew they were in sooo much trouble.

.............

A.N: I told you you'd either get it or be traumatized ahaha. Thank you for reading and reviewing this chapter even my secret embarrassment was so much fun.