“Well, what do you guys want to do now?”  Bou asked, looking up towards the gigantic shopping center they were standing in front of.

“We could always go inside, and look around or something.”

“Just look?  Are you crazy?  I need some new shoes…and a new hat!”  Miku yelled, causing many people to look at the trio as if they were crazy.

“Quiet you idiot!  I don’t want any more attention given to us.  We already have people starting at us with Bou’s hair the way it is.”  Teruki said, as they entered the large shopping center.

“Hey!” Bou cried.  

Miku started laughing.  “That is so true!  Bou, you are such a Gaylord!”

“Hmm, I wonder what’s up with all the little kids running around here.” asked Teruki, motioning to all the small children running about.

“I don’t really care…but look, a candy store!” Bou exclaimed, pointing to an unusually large and brightly colored candy store.  “I wonder if they have Pocky!”

===============================

“Dammit Bou, can we go now?  You already have like 10,500¥ worth of goodies!  Can we go now?” Teruki asked, tapping his foot on the floor.

“Nope, not yet my impatient Teruki.  Just a couple more minutes ok?  I just want to make sure that I have enough to share with all of Japan!” Bou said, who’s arms where full of candy.

Teruki made a face.  “Bou, there are millions of people in Japan.  The chance and money to buy them all a piece of candy from America is going to be a lot of money and I don’t think this candy store has that much candy anyway.”

“Hey Teruki, what the hell are Sn-eeeee-aak-er-sss?” asked Miku, holding up a half eaten Snickers bar.

“Miku!  You’re not supposed to eat that!” Teruki cried, grabbing the chocolate bar from Miku’s hand.

“Oi!  What was that for?  I was eating that you know…and besides, it was good!”

<<“Sorry, but you’re going to have to pay for that,”>> someone said behind them.

Bou, Miku, and Teruki spun around to face a badly acne-faced Hispanic teenager.  Guessing from his clothes, he worked at the candy store.

<<“Oh sorry…Victor,”>> Teruki said, looking at the teenager’s nametag. <<“We were just going to the check-out area.”>> Teruki sheepishly stated, glaring at Miku and Bou.  Bou whimpered and slowly walked to the check-out counter.

---- 9.23 minutes later… ----

<<“Alright, that’ll be $164.24,”>> mumbled Victor.

Shocked, Teruki reached into his back pocket for his wallet.  He took a credit card out and gave it to the employee’s outstretched hand.  Victor quickly imputed the information and handed a receipt and the credit card back to Teruki.  

Teruki said thank you and motioned for Bou to grab his many bags of candy.

“Bou, you really got to learn to limit yourself when it comes to candy,” Teruki said as soon as they exited the store.

“What?  I can’t help it.  I’m addicted to candy!”  Bou stated, popping a giant jawbreaker in his mouth.
Teruki sighed and watched Bou helplessly gnaw on the large jawbreaker.

“Oh…my…gosh!  Donald Duck!” squealed Miku, sprinting to a store called, “The Disney Store”.
“No, Miku…come back!  Dammit, I should really think about buying leashes for you two.  You guys randomly run off!”

Bou and Teruki casually walked towards the store and began to look for Miku.

“Hey guys!  They even have Donald Duck action figures!” Miku cried, holding up a white duck in what seemed a wrestlers’ suit.  Miku also had numerous Donald Duck plushies and shirts in his arms.   “Please Teruki, can I get this stuff.”

Teruki looked at Miku’s sad puppy eyes and all the merchandise in his hands, nodded and walked to the check-out counter.

---- 5.14 minutes later… ----

<<“Ok, the price will be $78.56.”>>

<<“Do you take credit cards?”>> Teruki asked.

“<<Uhh, sorry sir,”>> said the gum-snapping blonde employee, who was pointing at a sign that read “Credit Card Reader Broken”.

Teruki nodded and pulled out some wadded U.S. dollars.  He counted out the right amount, which took him a while, and handed it to the girl.

<<“Ok, would you be interested in buying a Disney Store Member’s card?  You get a 20% discount every time you purchase stuff from the Disney Store.”>>

<<“Hem, no thank you,”>> Teruki said, taking the receipt from the blonde’s hand.  Miku grabbed his bags and ran out the store, with Bou and Teruki close behind him.

“Arg, I’m hungry!” Bou said, rubbing his stomach.

“Yeah, me too!  Want to go get some lunch?” asked Bou, glancing at his watch. “Great, my watch is still in the Tokyo time zone.  Teruki, what does your watch say?”

“It’s 11:45.”

-EnD CHAptEr thReE -