Kana: WAFFO! #2: Looking for Kana's Eyes

Note: Please read the guidelines before posting a story instalment.


*Spoiler Warning*

I'm about to explain what happens in ending 1 in the upcoming paragraph.

Premise

The surgery is a success and Kana has been living happily at home for almost a year. Then Kana gets a job at a bookstore and moves out. She doesn't want to have a relationship that is forbidden. So Kana and Taka are just brother and sister.

Several months have passed since she's moved out and on one summer day...

Tone

Light hearted with some comedy. It will have some emotions but I don't see this being too serious.

Direction

Kana has had poor eyesight ever since she was little. After many years it's finally time she did something about it. Will she get glasses? What if they break? If they're lost? Or maybe contacts? They look better, easier on the face and come in different colors. But is it too much work?

The journey will be watching Kana figure out what she wants to do. I'd imagine there will be outside influences (people and such) that keep making her switch from glasses to contacts and back again.

Continuity

It's the same universe as KLS and takes place in the first summer Kana is away.

Exclusions

It's been over a year since Yumi and Yuta have been seen by either Kana or Taka. Miki also hasn't seen too much of Kana and Taka since the operation. For the first 4 posts they are not allowed to appear.

If you have a just reason for thier appearance please place in the discussion board who it is and why you need to use them. There's no need for your full post. I/Darkling will stop the story and either of us will give a yea or nay and give the green go.

The Big 4 have gone thier seperate ways by now. I don't expect them to be in this story at all, unless they're just passing through. It also doesn't seem plausable they could all be together at the same time.

Aunt Sumako has passed away already and neither Kana nor Taka have any knowledge of Cana.

Other Notes:

I want to remind everyone that the main part of this story is Kana and her eyes. I understand that the story will go in different directions at times but each effort should have something to do with the main story.

That is my reasoning for locking down certain things early on. I saw some things get too far away too early in WAFFO #1.

Taka and Kana have history together. It's ok for them to reflect certain feelings they have for each other.

Personally...I don't see "glasses" being the savior for Taka and Kana's love.

1.

The sun shines through the clear blue sky. In the burning sun and overheated nights it's just another day in the seemingly endless row of summer days. It's the middle of the afternoon and I'm just lounging on the couch trying to read.

It's so hot I can't even focus what I'm looking at. The pictures are blurred and the words are hard to read.

"It must be this heat."

My eyes drift towards my desk, finding my clock.

...

...

...

I guess I'll see what they're doing.

I shake my head, clearing my vision. I spring upward and grab my purse nearby. I put on my shoes and head down the stairs towards the front door.

*Click*

I lock the door to the bookstore and walk on my way.

---------------

"Whew...I'm finally here." I say looking upon the familiar home.

I search for my keys walking to the door.

"Ah here."

I bring the keys out in front of me.

"Now which one is it-ah!"

The key slides in and with a twist unlocks the door, allowing me inside.

"Tadaima!" I announce. I see a peeking head from the couch turn my way. He jumps up and walks to me.

I slip off my shoes and skip towards him.

The gap closes and we embrace each other.

"Okaeri Kana. What are you doing here?" He asks.

"Well...it's so hot at the bookstore I had to get out of there. It's cooler over here and besides, I know it's been a while since I saw you guys."

"Well I'm glad to see that you're doing well. You want anything to drink?"

"Hai." I take a scan of the room. "Where's otousan and okaasan?"

I hear my response coming from the kitchen. "Working...what else?"

I should have guessed.

I sit on the couch and watch TV. I'm watching some travel channel about some guy looking around England. I try to focus but I have the tense feeling in my forehead. It's hard to concentrate.

"Kana?"

"Huh?" I dart my head upwards.

"Is something wrong Kana? It looked like you were crying or something." Taka says.

He sets down two iced teas on the table and sits by my side.

"Oh no...I'm just trying to watch TV." I say.

"I see." He says bring his attention to the TV.

Sipping on iced tea we silently watch what's happening on the screen...except for my occasional questions.

...

...

...

"What's that?"

"That's a pound."

...

...

...

"What does that say?"

"Long live the Queen."

...

...

...

"Hey...isn't that uh-"

"Kana."

The TV goes blank as Taka faces me.

"Are you sure your ok Kana?"

"Why do you say that?"

"Kana..."

Taka sits up and kneels in front me.

He's looking strait at me. Looking right at my eyes.

"You've been having more touble than usual with the TV."

"Well...I think because of this heat and my head hurts a litt-"

"Kana."

"Yes Bro?"

...

...

...

"I think it's time you got glasses."

Hey, good to see that the WAFFO is up and running.

One question - what are we assuming about Kana and Taka's emotional states? Do one or both of them still want to be together? Is Kana still adamant about leading her own life?

2.

"Glasses?" I can't look at him. Instead I keep my attention on the TV screen. The reception is awful. "Oh, my eyes aren't that bad, Bro. I think... I just have a bit of heatstroke, that's all. Maybe if you could turn up the air conditioning a bit...?"

"Kana." He reaches out and takes my hands, in that firm but gentle grip. Just like the hold he has-- used to have, on my heart. He would tell me things and I'd know that it had nothing to do with what he wanted - it was all about me. It was always about me. "Kana, it won't be as bad as you think. All you have to do is visit an optometrist. I'll go with you."

"That's okay, Bro, really," I protest, weakly. I tug my hands from his grasp and get to my feet, a bit unsteadily. "Do you want some more tea? I'll go get it."

I grab the two glasses - which are still half-full - and carry them into the kitchen. Bro doesn't follow me. He knows I don't react well when he presses an issue right away.

But this isn't an issue, is it? My eyes are fine! Sure, I have trouble reading invoices sometimes at the bookstore, but that's just because the overhead lights aren't bright enough. I still read as much as I ever did - lying in bed at night with a little reading lamp, with the book pressed almost to my nose. And sure, sometimes when I'm out walking I can't tell if that blur in the distance is a person or a car or just a tree or something, but I... I don't need--

I don't want to have to wear glasses! I just don't want to!

"Kana?" Bro calls, from the living room. I can hear the sound of the TV again; he must have turned it back on. "Kana, hurry up. The show's almost back on!"

"I'll... I'll be right there," I mumble. Suddenly it feels much too cold in here. I need some fresh air and sunlight. The glass door leading out to the back yard is open - so typical of Bro to leave it open even when the air conditioning is on. I'll just step out for a minute and--

Smack!

"Oww!" I scream. The door was closed!

"Kana?" Bro's in the doorway from the living room, looking concerned. "Kana, what happened?"

"I... I don't need glasses," I mumble, stubbornly, rubbing my aching nose.

Let's see...Taka and Kana still love each other but Kana is still looking forward to her new life. And since it hasn't been that long since she's left I can only assume that they're trying to deal with each other and acting as brother/sister.

Fair enough. And as you said, that doesn't mean they can't think about their feelings for each other, from time to time. *rubs hands in anticipation*

3.

"Arigatougozaimasu."

I bow sending the customer on his way. The store is empty now and there aren't a whole lot of people walking around anymore.

"I guess I'll close up." I say glancing at the time.

I go over to the closet to grab a broom. I turn on the light switch and...

*bzzz*

The light bulb goes out. It's hard to see but I use the trailing light from the store. I spot the broom handle and grab a hold of it. I pull it out and place it next to my foot.

"Now where is the dust-oh!"

My foot is wet. I look down and realized I grabbed the mop instead.

How silly of me.

I place the mop back and find the broom and dustpan and begin sweeping.

--------------

I finish cleaning and head upstairs. I realize I need to grab a few items from the store before I begin cooking. So I take a quick shower and get ready to go outside.

The streets are dark with only the street lamps providing light. I walk through the night reaching the supermarket. I grab a hand basket and walk inside.

I grab what I need and wait in line. I have some soy sauce, hot sauce, vegetables, tea bags and some chicken.

The checker rings up my order. I look at the total.

$130!!!

"Your total is $13.57 please."

"Huh?"

I look at the total again. But this time I try looking harder. With effort I'm able to rid of a blurry zero and see that the true total is $13.57.

I pay for my groceries and head home.

---------------

I'm home now and I've just put away my groceries.

Why did I put it away? I'm going to be using it soon anyways.

I slice up the chicken and start frying it. The sound of chopped vegitables fill the room.

"Humm mmm mmmm."

I hum away as I cook. Throwing the vegetables into the pan adding some soy sauce and hot sauce. I turn off the heat, ready to serve myself dinner.

I have some tea and rice with it and I begin to eat.

"Itadakimasu!"

...

...

...

"Urmph!"

I choke after only taking one bite. I cough up bits of chicken and vegetable.

"This doesn't taste very good."

I carefully take another bite. The taste is wrong and it's not hot at all. It tastes a little too sweet and doesn't go well with anything.

I force myself to finish my dinner and start to clean up the dishes.

I put the sauces back into the fridge and-

!!!!!!!!

I notice I'm holding teriyaki sauce and ketchup.

"How could I grab these by mistake!?!?"

---------

Tired I fall into my bed and turn on the TV. I flip through the channels but I don't see anything good on. Or...

...I can't tell what is on.

I quickly turn off the TV.

*Sigh*

"I think it's time you got glasses."

Bro's words echo into my mind.

Everything today has gone wrong. I couldn't do anything right because I can't see clearly. How can I do anything if I can't see?

I turn off my lamp and try to go to sleep.

*Sigh*

"I guess I need glasses." I say sadly.

4.

Out of habit, I'm walking through the shopping district in town. Kana and I used to come here a lot before she moved out. We couldn't be as close as we might have liked - Kana usually didn't even want to hold hands out in public - but it was time away from the house, time away from Mom and Dad.

I smile as I see the noodle house where we had lunch a few times. Kana's appetite didn't really increase all that much after her transplant operation, but she was still eager to try new dishes. She methodically went through the menu, trying something different each time.

Maybe I'll stop in and have lunch there, for old times' sake. I pause, looking up and down the street for oncoming traffic.

Something catches my eye. A window display.

I turn right and head up the street. It's an optometrist's window, the display filled with free-standing racks of eyeglasses. All different colours and styles, from thick-rimmed black glasses to elegant fashionable designs for women.

"Kana would look good in those," I murmur to myself, looking at a set of gold frames with rounded rims. "Or maybe those..." I add, as my attention drifts to a different pair. Deep green, with a swirly marbling effect on the frames. They're more dramatic; they'd provide contrast to Kana's pale skin. But maybe that wouldn't be a good thing? Kana doesn't like to draw attention to herself. Well, in that case...

All thoughts of lunch forgotten, I push the door open and walk into the store for a better look. Looks like it's going to be a long afternoon.

5.

I walk out of the store satisfied with my work. I took a look around and asked some questions about glasses. The lady there showed me several pairs and the basic different styles glasses come in these days. The lady also pointed out contacts and maybe laser eye surgery somewhere down the road. She even gave me a brochure to show Kana.

"Kana will see glasses aren't so bad after all". I say heading home.

*Growl*

I stop in my tracks grabbing my stomach. I look back around and spot the noodle house I thought of ealier.

"Bro?"

As I turn around I find Kana's hand on me spinning me around. I take a glance and notice she's in her regular clothing. She must not be working today.

"Hi Kana." I lightly embrace her. "What are you doing here?"

"He he. I was going to ask you the same question." Kana's eyes scan the area. "I was headed towards our noodle shop today."

"That's funny. I was just headed that way. You want to go eat together?"

"Hai."

Kana and I head to our noodle shop. We talk about her work and what's new at home. All the while I look at her swinging arm beside her.

---------

"So what are you going to eat Kana?" I ask. "Are you going to try something new again?"

"Well..." Kana buries her head into the menu. She silently reads the menu. She isn't mentioning anything that catches her eye.

If she's even reading it.

The waiter comes buy and takes our order.

"I'll have beef udon please."

"I'll have the same too." Kana says.

I'm a little surprised at Kana's response. Her body seems like it's sunken in itself. Like it's embarrassed or something.

"Is everything ok Kana?"

No response. Kana didn't even noticed I was talking to her.

"Kana?" Again I ask.

She seems really into herself. She doesn't hear me at all.

...

I think myself trying to find a way to snap Kana out of it. I look at my side and see the glasses information I had gotten earlier.

I pull out the envelope lay out the contents in front of Kana. Kana's eyes drift towards the main brochure.

"Bro?"

"I was out earlier and I picked up some stuff about glasses, contacts or whatever for your eyes."

"Ah-Thank you Bro." Kana quickly packs everything in the envelope. "I'll look at it when i get home."

What's the deal? Kana's acting so nervous for some reason. It can't be because of the whole glasses thing, can it?

What could be the big deal about glasses?

6.

"Four-eyes! Four-eyes! Sayuri's a four-eyes!"

"I didn't think she could get any uglier!"

"Hahaha!"

Poor Sayuri-chan. She came to school wearing glasses today. Her parents got them for her because she has trouble seeing the blackboard.

I think they look nice. They're light blue and very pretty. But I don't think Sayuri would care what I think. She's not a popular girl in the class, but she's still more popular than me.

The other children are gathered around her now, pointing and laughing and doing little dances. Sayuri-chan looks like she's going to burst into tears at any moment. I feel awful for being glad that it's not me who's the centre of their attention. It's not fun to be teased.

"Sayuri's got four eyes. Sayuri tells lots of lies! Sayuri eats dead flies! That's what Sayuri does!" Kenji-kun starts a little chant, and the other kids all pick up on it gleefully. "Sayuri's got four eyes! Sayuri tells lots of..."

It's too much. Sobbing, Sayuri gets up from her seat and runs blindly out of the classroom. Three or four of the boys chase after her. Their mocking chants slowly fade into the distance.

I sit quietly at my desk. Ten minutes until class starts. It's mathematics first up. I--

Poor Sayuri-chan. Poor, poor Sayuri-chan.

I'm so glad I don't have to wear glasses.

7.

I'm looking over the things Bro gave me yesterday. It's ironic. I'm trying to read something about glasses. Wouldn't you question someone looking at a glasses catalog without glasses?

*Sigh*

"Let's see..."

I've been looking at this for more than an hour. And I still don't feel any better about it.

"Full frames, half frames, no frames..."

I think about Sayuri-chan and how she was picked on for wearing glasses. I already was picked on enough and I don't want that kind attention anymore.

It's strange though. I know my eyes haven't always been perfect but when I really found out I needed glasses I just seemed to be more and more helpless because of it.

*Sigh*

I continue to flip through the pages.

"Hard contacts, soft contacts, colored contacts."

Contacts don't sound too bad. No one will notice I'm wearing them and I'll be able to see.

"Hmmmm..." My fingers stop on a page.

"Laser eye surgery, huh?"

I could have my eyes fixed and I won't need to bother with glasses or contacts.

I hop up and skip towards the bathroom almost misjuding the distance. I step inside and look at myself in the mirror.

I'm pretty like this. I don't want to have four eyes.

I pull out a marker and draw two circles on the mirror. I line my eyes inside of them and stare at the image.

"I like the way I look and I'm not going to change it."

I clean my mirror and get ready for bed.

"I'll let Bro know this weekend I'm getting laser eye surgery."

Feeling better I turn in for the night.

----------

"Kana? Okaeri."

"Hi Bro."

I walk inside lightly embracing him.

"Are mom and dad at work again?" I say dissapointedly.

"Well...no. They went out together just a little while ago."

Figures.

"Anyways, here."

"What's this?"

"I want to get laser eye surgery. Isn't that great! I didn't think there was such a thing but you kno-"

"Kana?"

"Yes Bro?"

"Didn't you read this?"

Oh no...

"Read what?" With a shaky voice.

"You have to be at least 25 years old to get it. And there could be medical complications as well."

Well crap...

*Sigh*

"Back to square one I guess."

"I'm sorry Kana."

"Well...I could still get contacts. And then it still won't look like-"

I hastly stop short.

"Look like what?"

"Oh! Nothing Bro."

He sighs handing me back the page.

"Kana, why don't we go talk to someone." He gently places a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sure we can find something right for you."

"Ok Bro..."

Bro opens his arms and I meekly walk into them. He hugs me. It's comforting.

I don't want to have four eyes.

He releases me and leans in front of me.

"Hey Kana."

"What?"

"Mmrmrrrnnnnn"

He makes a funny noise and pushes his cross-eyed face in front of mine. It causes me to fall landing on my bottom.

"Ha ha ha ha." He laughs.

"That's not nice Bro!"

"Ha ha...gomen. You don't have to worry Kana. It's not that serious."

"Hrmph." I cross my arms and look away.

He continues to laugh at me sitting on the ground at my expense.

8.

I notice them everywhere I go now. They never really registered with me before, but now it's as if I can't turn around without seeing one of them. People wearing glasses.

I can't help but turn my head and follow them for a moment as they walk past me. Schoolgirls chattering with their friends. Businessmen talking on their cell phones. Young women clinging to their boyfriends' arms. I stand in a bright haze as they drift and flow around me in slow motion.

What do I think when I look at these people? Would my opinion be any different if they weren't wearing glasses? Do their glasses make them look intelligent? Fashionable? Unfortunate? Are they happy walking around with these things on their faces that show that they're somehow... deficient?

"It's not their fault," I murmur to myself, sadly, as I turn and continue on my way down the street. "It's not... not my fault that my eyes are bad. And it would be silly not to wear glasses just out of... out of sheer vanity."

Another one walks past me - a middle-aged lady with greying hair up in a bun. Her glasses are perched neatly on the bridge of her nose. The lenses make her eyes look larger than they are. She returns my stare curiously for a moment as she walks past me. The glasses make her look motherly. Grown up.

I pause and look at my blurry reflection in a nearby window, trying to visualise a pair of glasses on my face. Who would I be, then? What image would I be presenting to the world?

"Who... do I want to be?" I mumble, looking down at my shoes. My reflection looks down as well, pale and wan in the tinted glass. It doesn't answer me.

9.

"Yea...I don't get it."

"Hmm....."

She sits there in front of me bouncing a finger off her chin.

"It's like she's scared about something." I say.

I'm at the hospital talking to Miki. It's been over a year since I last saw her. She was wondering about Kana. She sort of freaked out when I wanted to talk to her about Kana, thinking something went wrong. But I've asked Miki's input as to why Kana is acting so strange about glasses.

"Glasses aren't that big of a deal. I mean, everyone has them now. They shouldn't be too much of hassle to take care of. So I don't see-"

"Taka."

"Yes Miki?"

"It seems you don't quite know enough about women yet, huh?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well...a woman cares about the way she looks. She always wants to look beautiful in the eyes of loved ones and strangers. Kana is no different. No matter how much you tell them it doesn't matter how they look to you, it matters how much they look for you."

"But I mean. Glasses aren't that-"

"It's true glasses have changed over the years. More people do have them and they come in a variety of styles. But not too long ago some people, especially young kids were made fun of for having glasses. Kana may feel something from something she saw in the past or maybe...maybe she doesn't doesn't want them covering up her face."

"Hmmm...I think I get it."

Slowly but surely Miki leans seductivly towards me.

"Hey Taka."

*Gulp*

"Y-Ye-Yea Miki?"

Miki moves in closer. Closer to me. Her beautiful, never aging face nor luscious body seem to draw me into her.

"There's something I've been meaning to show you."

She moves in, her face in front of mine, my body frozen from movement. Miki's face is no futher away than my breathe can reach.

...

...

...

"Ah, there."

"Huh?"

I look at Miki and she's holding out a finger upwards. She's holding a small bowl-shaped object there. I look at her eyes and see her purple eye, which I've always know, and a hazel eye.

"Miki? You wear contacts?"

"Yup...I've had them forever. Surprised aren't you?"

"Well yea. I mean, how was I supposed to know? You don't even have natural purple eyes like I thought."

"Ha ha. Well, when I was getting my eyes checked I had just met Kana and saw her wonderful purple eyes. I wanted purple eyes too so I got contacts that changed my eyes to purple just like Kana's. Then when I saw you and everyone else with purple eyes it just made me want to keep them."

"I see. So have you ever worn glasses before?" I ask.

"I did yes. But I didn't like them. Sometimes they would get bumped off, scratched or something. But I was made fun of when I was younger."

"I'm sorry Miki."

"It's ok. I don't mind now. But that's when I moved to contacts."

"So do you think Kana would like contacts better than glasses?"

Miki sticks her finger in her eye. It looks dangerous but she does it with ease as if it was second nature.

"That depends on what Kana wants. She won't know till she tries. It will give her an experience in life."

"Well she's always wanted to experience life. But I don't think this was one of those experiences."

"Experiences come as they please. That is the ultimate experience in life itself. But I'm sure Kana will find out that each experience is enjoyable in it's own way."

"I sure hope so. Thank you Miki."

"You're welcome Taka."

10.

It's quiet in the bookstore, and I'm taking advantage of the lull to paste more pictures into my scrapbook.

I've started buying magazines recently - all kinds of magazines, on a variety of subjects. And then, in my spare time, I browse through them and I clip out pictures of people wearing glasses.

"There," I murmur, as I paste my most recent clipping into the book. It's an ad for a dietary fibre product that's supposed to keep you regular. A middle-aged woman is out in the middle of a meadow with a young boy running along next to her. She's wearing glasses.

I've started sensing a pattern. I've gotten lots of clippings from magazines targeted at older readers - ones that cover political or business issues, for example. There are lots of photos of politicians and executives and academics. But I can go through an entire fashion magazine and not find a single picture of anyone wearing glasses.

The message seems to be this: beautiful people don't wear glasses.

Slowly, I flip through the pages of my scrapbook. Parents wearing glasses. Scientists wearing glasses. Retired couples wearing glasses.

It doesn't matter what style or colour the glasses are. People my age just aren't shown wearing them. There has to be a reason for that, right?

Of course there is. Young people don't wear glasses. Or at least, not young people who want to be popular and attractive.

And I... I want--

The door to the bookstore swings open, and I look up with a start, automatically flipping the scrapbook closed with my right hand. "Good afternoon, and wel--" I start, then break off, feeling a smile spreading across my face. "Bro!"

I like the Miki bits, especially her line about Taka not knowing enough about women yet, and the moment where she leans closer to him. That would actually have gone down quite well as one of the recurring Miki moments from the first WAFFO.

Hmm, and that moment did get me thinking about TakaxMiki, I must admit. =)