"Try this."
	"Why should I?"
	"Because I know you will enjoy it."
	"I don't want to."
	"Why not, dearest Brother?  Are you afraid?"
	"I'm not afraid.  I just don't want any of your garbage."
	"Just try it.  You will find it most enjoyable."
	He looked at her with distrust.  "I'm not going to."
	"It will give you the courage to ask that little Akane
Tendo out," she said, waving the vial in his face.
	"I don't need your help to ask anybody out."
	"Oh really.  I've heard you talking; I know how the other
boys pursue her.  What makes you think she won't go out with them?
You will have lost the opportunity because you are too frightened
to ask her.  How humorous."
	He could not allow her to damage his pride like that.  He
was not frightened!  "You don't know anything about what it takes
to ask a girl out, so don't try and guilt me into trying your
junk."  He walked away, angered and a little insulted.
	Kodachi watched him go.  He would be back eventually.

	"Akane Tendo, would you go to lu...  That's not right.  I
would be honored if you would go to...  No."  He paced back and
forth, trying to think of something good, that would really get
her attention.  "I'd be really happy if you...  Too loserish.
Akane Tendo, would you please go out with me."  It was crude and
abrupt, but it was the only thing his mind could come up with.
	He picked up the phone, his hands sweating and his mouth
dry.  He dialed the number to the Tendo residence like he had
numerous times before.  He listened to the phone ring.  "Please
don't let Nabiki answer it.  Please don't let...  Nabiki, it's me.
Could I... uh... talk to your sister?"
	He was walking around, tangling himself in the cord.
"Hello, Akane?  It's me.  I was wondering...  Tatewaki Kuno.
Yeah, with your sister.  I was wondering if, well, maybe...  You
know.  Maybe you'd like to...  I don't know.  Go to the movies or
something sometime."
	He was prepared for rejection, especially after that
little blunderous conversation.  Jeez, it wasn't even a
conversation; it was a demonstration of what a blithering idiot he
was.  He almost hung up the phone right then.  "You would?  With
me?  Uh...  I don't know. Ha ha."  That sounded extra lame; why
would someone ask her out then not have any plans?  "Um... maybe I
could call you tomorrow and talk about it then.  Then I could...
you know... see what's going on and stuff.  OK, tomorrow at lunch.
That's no problem.  Bye."
	He hung up the phone and tried to jump for joy, but the
cord was wrapped around his legs and he fell down.

	"If you have to eat in front of her, you will be far too
nervous to present yourself as worthy of her attention."
	"No.  I will.  I can do it.  I CAN do it."
	"As you insist, Brother."

***

	"Hi, uh... Akane."
	"Have a seat.  We were just talking about the new movie."
	He looked at the five faces, which were all looking at
him.
	He swallowed.  "Hi... everyone."
	They didn't say anything, only went back to their
discussion.  It made him feel distinctly unwelcome.  He sat down
in the grass behind the group, waiting for Akane to speak to him.
	He started his lunch, a bit tentatively, listening to
their conversation.  He was amazed at how easily they spoke of
things with each other.  When he talked to other guys...
Conversation was kept to one syllable words normally.  'Ask her
out?  Nope.  Movie?  Sure.'
	"So what did you have in mind?"
	He looked at her blankly.  She was talking to him.  He
choked on his lunch when he realized it.  "I..."  He coughed
violently.  "I was thinking..." he said in a hoarse voice.
	"Barely," a girl said quietly.
	"Now, now.  I think he's got something important to say,"
Nabiki said, grinning at him.  "So tell us, Kuno.  What were you
thinking?"  
	He looked at Nabiki, then at the others, finally stopping
on Akane.  "Well... I think...  That new movie that's..."
	"We've already seen it," one of the girls said snottily.
	He got a desperate look on his face for a moment.  He
couldn't tell them what he was really thinking.  It just wasn't
what a gentleman said to a lady.  "O... K.  Uh, what about... the
amusement park?" he asked hopefully.
	"We don't have any money."
	He looked at Akane, silently pleading that she would say
something.  It worked.
	"I'd like to go.  Hey, Nabiki, you'll loan me some money,
won't you?"
	"Of course.  Anything for my little sister.  I'll even
give you the family rates."
	The other girls groaned.  They never got any discounts.

***

	"She agreed!"
	"Agreed to what, Brother dear?"
	"To go to the amusement park with me!"  He was so happy,
his sister couldn't even get him down.
	"My, isn't that fortunate.  I'm sure you will have a good
time."

	He looked through his closet.  He looked through his
dresser.  He looked through the hamper.  He looked through the
washing machine and dryer.  What would he wear?  He had no clothes
suitable to be seen with Akane!
	He scurried from room to room, not knowing what to do.
	Kodachi watched him with a knowing smile.  "Brother..."
	"Not now.  I have to find some clothes to wear."  He
rushed past her.
	"But Brother..."
	"I said not now!"  He rushed past her in the opposite
direction.
	"I have something that will help you, though."	
	"I told you I don't need your help!"  In the other
direction.
	"Oh, but I think you will... eventually."

	"Oh, I don't know.  He's kind of cute.  Don't you think
so?"
	Nabiki shrugged.  Like she would ever admit it.  "I've
seen worse."
	Akane giggled.  "A pretty good compliment from you."
	Nabiki shrugged, smiling faintly.
	Akane looked back at her closet.  "What do you think I
should wear?"
	"Sis, he liked you in those awful uniforms.  Anything else
you wear he's going to think is great."
	"You really think?"  She was still holding out for Dr.
Tofu, but he never asked her out.  A fun... date wouldn't hurt
anything.  She pulled a white dress with blue trim out and held it
against her.  "What do you think of this?"
	"I tell you, it doesn't matter.  He won't care."
	"But I care."
	"Well, whatever.  I still think it was a mistake."
	"Why?  You wanted him for yourself?"  Akane grinned at
Nabiki.
	"Hardly.  I just think you're setting yourself up for
trouble."
	"I don't see how.  He's harmless.  He can barely talk in
full sentences."
	"Just don't say I never warned you."

***

	He was practically going out of his mind.  He was in his
white pants and striped t-shirt, but he couldn't find his jacket.
He couldn't go without it; his outfit wouldn't be right.  He
couldn't be anything less than perfect before escorting Akane to
the amusement park.
	Kodachi was watching him once more, a small smile on her
face.  She was holding a small cigarette-type object out of his
view.  "Please let me help you, Brother.  You look in dire need of
assistance."
	"Please, Kodachi.  I don't have time for this."
	"I know where your jacket is."
	That made him stop and look at her suspiciously.  "You
know where it is?"
	She nodded.  "I only want to help you.  You must realize
that."
	"Where is it?"
	"Not so fast.  I want to help your date go smoothly, and
it won't go smoothly if you are so excited."  She kept the
cigarette out of sight still.  "So, shall we deal?"
	"Where is my jacket?"
	Kodachi sighed.  He was so uptight.  "I'll tell you when
you agree to relax."
	It was his turn to sigh.  Maybe he should just do it so
she would stop bugging him.  How bad could it be?  He wouldn't get
addicted, he could control himself.  Besides, it was his sister.
Why would she want to do anything bad like that to him?  "Fine.
Just make it quick.  I don't have a lot of time."
	Kodachi smiled a bit more genuinely.  "Come with me.  We
need some privacy."

	"Smoke it."
	"What?  I don't smoke."
	"It does not matter.  It will relax you."
	He put it to his lips, unsure if he should be doing it or
not.  "I'm not..."
	"Just do it.  Inhale.  You may find it a bit... unpleasant
at first, but your opinion will quickly change."
	He inhaled and immediately coughed, the pungent smoke
swirling around his head.  It was awfully... mellow.  He tried
again and coughed again, but not as violently.
	Once the entire thing was gone, with some pointers from
Kodachi, he felt so relaxed, he wasn't sure he wanted to go out
any more.
	"Isn't it time for your date, Brother?"
	"Oh, I don't know.  Is it?"  He gave her a tired smile.
	"Now is not the time to nap.  Do you not want to continue
on your date with Akane Tendo?"
	"Oh, sure.  Whatever."  He struggled to stand up, his legs
feeling all... relaxed.  His eyes were almost closed and he was
smiling.
	Kodachi got his jacket out of her closet.  "Here is your
jacket, Brother."  She held it out to him.
	He looked at her, smiling, but didn't take the jacket.
	Kodachi rolled her eyes.  "If I must do everything for
you..."  She slipped the jacket on him.  "There.  Be on your way
now."
	"Where was I going?"
	Kodachi sighed.  "You were going to pick up Akane Tendo
and take her to the amusement park."
	"Oh yeah..."  He didn't move.
	"Brother..."  Kodachi steered him from her room, out into
the hall.  "It's time to go now."
	"Right."  He looked down the hall in one direction then
the other.  "I'll be going now..."  He walked down the hall for a
few feet, then realized he was heading in the wrong direction.
"I'll be going now," he said as he walked past Kodachi in the
proper direction.
	
***

	"So how was your date?"
	Akane took off her sweater.  "Weird."
	"Weird?  How is that?"
	"I don't know...  He was just...  It was like he wasn't
there."
	"Akane, he's never there."
	"Oh, come on."
	"You don't sit next to him every day."
	"No, but..."
	"I warned you about him.  I told you it was a mistake."
	"I know.  But he didn't act at all like he did before..."

	"How did your date go, Brother?"
	"Oh... fine."
	"You're not ecstatic at being in her company?"
	"Oh, yeah...  It was cool."
	Cool?  That was totally unexpected.  She expected him to
be bouncing off the walls with excitement.  He fairly worshipped
Akane Tendo and all he could say about the date was that it was
'cool'?  Maybe a downer wasn't the right thing for him, but it
sure didn't seem like he needed a pick-me-up.
	"I assume you enjoyed yourself?"  Really, all she wanted
to do was help him.
	"Oh, sure.  Great time.  Real blast."  He took off his
jacket and tossed it aside.  "I'm just going to..."  He waved his
hand down the hall and walked away.

***

	
	"Inhale."
	He looked at her with bloodshot eyes.  "Huh?"
	"I said inhale."
	"Why should I?"
	"Because you've smoked too much.  This will wake you up."
	"I didn't smoke too much.  I'm just a little tired."
	"That means you've smoked too much.  Now snort!"
	Just to make her stop bothering him, he snorted the little pile of
dust on her fingertip.  Immediately, it felt like his brain was on fire.
His eyes popped open and his nostrils flared.
	Kodachi smiled and backed away.