a bitter kind of cake (open)

[MATSUMOTO, MAYUMI]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,480,bTable]

[atrb=style, background-color: #1A1A1A; border-radius: 35px;] [STYLE=height: 250px; width: 460px; margin-top: 6px; opacity: 0.7; border-radius: 30px; background-image: url(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm306/dodo44554/sad.gif);][/style][STYLE=font-family: times new roman; font-style: italic; font-size: 45px; color: #E7E1CD; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -30px; letter-spacing: -3px; opacity: 0.99; text-shadow: 2px 2px 2px #000000;]YOU ONLY GOT ONE LIFE TO LEAD[/style][STYLE=font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -10px; color: #CEC6AA; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase;]SO DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED THE LITTLE THINGS[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 11px; font-family: arial; margin-right: 13px; margin-left: 13px; text-align: justify; background-color: #696969; padding: 13px; color: #000000; margin-top: 6px; opacity: 0.95; margin-bottom: 1px; border-bottom-right-radius: 30px; border-bottom-left-radius: 30px;] Mayumi shivered in the rain, pulling her thin jacket tighter to her as she walked down the sidewalk. It was late evening, and she was alone right outside of Starducks. She walked up and pushed the door open, listening the the familiar jingle of the bell as she walked by. The heat of cafe made her sigh; she liked being cold, but she could go without being wet. The barista there recognized her immediately, smiling warmly, although there was a hint of pity in her eyes. "Hello, Yumi," she said. She didn't have to ask what she wanted, and Mayumi made her way to the place the Starduck baristas handed out drinks. She had been here many times, for the same thing, so the workers at this hour all knew her by sight. Growing up poor, Mayumi had learned to be resourceful as a child. One of the things she did was make stops at bakeries and local restaurants to ask for their stale food or things they threw away. At this point, everyone recognized her if they gave her bread. She didn't beg, although if the person working happened not to know her she did say please. She waited paitently as the woman put the bread they wouldn't sell or be able to keep in a paper bag. "Here you go," the woman said quietly, smiling that same smile. "Thank you, ma'am." Mayumi replied. She took the bag and sat at the very edge of the cafe, facing the window as she stared at the rain. Her father would be waiting, but it was nice to sit and watch the rain. She would be able to dry off a bit here before going out into the rain again. She reached into the bag and pulled out a piece of french bread, working hard to rip it into pieces before shoving a bit into her mouth. She looked down into the bag and saw that there was some dry cake in it, too. That would be next. It made a nice dinner. After chewing for a couple seconds, Mayumi paused and looked around the cafe, wondering if anyone from school was there. [/style][STYLE=width: 400px; text-align: center; font-size: 9px; color: #565656; text-transform: uppercase; margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial; letter-spacing: 3px; opacity: 0.9;]made by kiwii at btn & ote![/style]

[MIYAKE, SUMI]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=style, width: 350px; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/PTnT0.png); border-radius: 10 10 10 10; padding: 25px;][STYLE=text-align: center; font-family: impact; font-size: 25px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #ffffff; margin-top: -25px; text-shadow: 1px 1px 0px #000000]brighter than a lucky penny![/style][STYLE=width: 350px; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-align: justify; background-color: #ffffff; border-radius: 10 10 10 10; border-top: 5px solid #BFBFBF; border-bottom: 5px solid #BFBFBF; padding: 10px; ]The black-haired girl hummed quietly to herself, kicking her feet back and forth as she sat at her table at Starducks. The chair was comfortable, the café was warm, and Sumi couldn’t have been more content. Her blue eyes slid shut in bliss as the thick, chocolate beverage slid down her throat; there was nothing better than a cup of hot chocolate on a cold day. As she placed the Styrofoam cup back on the table, her eyes opened, lips curling in that perpetual smile that seemed to be a near-constant fixture on the young girl’s face. She turned to look out the window, staring at the rain as it slathered the pane of glass. It was as if some great god had decided that Kyodo needed a shower. Maybe it was an evil flying monkey. Suitably disconcerted by that possible assessment, Sumi allowed her gaze to drift elsewhere; her attention darted to the door. The bell had rung, signalling the arrival of another guest. Her interest piqued as she saw the slightly scraggly girl who had entered the café wander up to the cashier. Her head cocked to the side like a nosy feline, and she watched the girl drift to the side where baristas handed out their drinks. Instead of receiving a Styrofoam cup filled with some sort of hot drink, though, she got a paper bag; she then proceeded to sullenly take a seat at one of the other tables. Had she been a cat, Sumi’s ears would have pricked; as it were, the only thing to show her enthusiasm was the sudden gleam that shone in her eye. Picking up her cup of hot chocolate, she stood up so quickly that the chair screeched along the tiled floor; paying it no mind, she scampered out from around her table and skittered to the place the girl had sat down. ”Hi there!” she said animatedly, blue eyes bright with cordiality. ”Can I sit here?” Without waiting for a response (which perhaps defeated the purpose of asking the question in the first place), she pulled out the vacant chair from across the girl, placing her cup down in front of her. Sumi’s head inclined to the right curiously as she gazed at the other girl. She looked a bit older than her – more mature, the fourteen year old thought admirably – but she also looked a good deal more downcast. ”Hey, are you okay?” Her words were laced with honest concern. Perhaps it was not her place to ask, but Sumi really hated it when people were sad.[/style][STYLE=float: left; width: 100px; height: 100px; border-radius: 50 50 50 50; background-image:url(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q298/ElvenSheWolf/kunogi%20himawari/dragonsquee-xxh02.png); border: 3px solid #BFBFBF; margin-top: 10px;][/style][STYLE=width: 235px; height: 80px; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-align: justify; background-color: #ffffff; border-radius: 10 10 10 10; border-top: 5px solid #BFBFBF; border-bottom: 5px solid #BFBFBF; padding: 10px; margin-left: 115px; margin-top: 10px;]word 000 tags mayumi and open notes --- [/style]

[STYLE=font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #bfbfbf; text-shadow: 1px 1px 0px #000000;]template by pebble of btn[/style]

[MATSUMOTO, MAYUMI]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,480,bTable]

[atrb=style, background-color: #1A1A1A; border-radius: 35px;] [STYLE=height: 250px; width: 460px; margin-top: 6px; opacity: 0.7; border-radius: 30px; background-image: url(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm306/dodo44554/sad.gif);][/style][STYLE=font-family: times new roman; font-style: italic; font-size: 45px; color: #E7E1CD; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -30px; letter-spacing: -3px; opacity: 0.99; text-shadow: 2px 2px 2px #000000;]YOU ONLY GOT ONE LIFE TO LEAD[/style][STYLE=font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -10px; color: #CEC6AA; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase;]SO DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED THE LITTLE THINGS[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 11px; font-family: arial; margin-right: 13px; margin-left: 13px; text-align: justify; background-color: #696969; padding: 13px; color: #000000; margin-top: 6px; opacity: 0.95; margin-bottom: 1px; border-bottom-right-radius: 30px; border-bottom-left-radius: 30px;] The second Mayumi turned around, she saw a young girl (young in the sense that she looked like a freshman in high school) stand up suddenly in her chair, eyes focused straight on Mayumi. She blinked, curious and interested, as the girl headed straight towards her with a drink in hand. "Hello," she said as the girl approached, tilting her head to the side. She was a morning person, and was actually not as energetic this evening as her normal self. Or maybe it was because she was hungry. Before she could invite the girl to sit down, she did so herself. Mayumi smiled. She liked this girl. She was forward, just like Mayumi. The girl wanted to know if she was okay. Mayumi paused. She supposed staring out into the rain soaking wet did look rather bad. Mayumi was accustomed to looking raggedy, so she didn't really notice. She swallowed the bite of bread. "I'm perfectly fine," she replied with a smile. "Just wet, you know?" She pulled at her sleeve. "I'm Mayumi, by the way. What's your name?" [/style][STYLE=width: 400px; text-align: center; font-size: 9px; color: #565656; text-transform: uppercase; margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial; letter-spacing: 3px; opacity: 0.9;]made by kiwii at btn & ote![/style]

[MIYAKE, SUMI]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=style, width: 350px; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/PTnT0.png); border-radius: 10 10 10 10; padding: 25px;][STYLE=text-align: center; font-family: impact; font-size: 25px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #ffffff; margin-top: -25px; text-shadow: 1px 1px 0px #000000]brighter than a lucky penny![/style][STYLE=width: 350px; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-align: justify; background-color: #ffffff; border-radius: 10 10 10 10; border-top: 5px solid #BFBFBF; border-bottom: 5px solid #BFBFBF; padding: 10px; ]She stared, rather plaintively, at the other girl, expression still utterly concerned. How could she be sure she was fine? Was she really really reaaaaally fine? She leaned forward unconsciously, peering into the other girl’s eyes as if they could reveal the secrets of her soul. When the girl smiled, though, Sumi found herself recoiling to lean into the back of her chair. Both her hands came up to circle the cup of hot chocolate and her fingers laced around the Styrofoam, her palms warming immediately. Well, she supposed that being wet sort of answered her question. No one would look good when they were wet like that. But – ”You looked reaaaally sad when you were looking out into the rain, though!” she insisted. If she’d had a magnifying glass, she would have wasted no time studying the older girl while she was underneath it. Sumi picked up her cup to take a sip of the hot beverage, lips finally quirking upwards when the scraggly-dressed girl introduced herself. ”It’s nice to meet you, Mayumi-san!” she said, unable to stop the grin that spread across her face. ”I’m Sumi!” She held out her right hand for a handshake, still smiling. Her gaze roved over Mayumi-san again, expression slightly less accusing and more understanding. Of course someone would look forlorn staring outside into the rain. The more she thought about it, the more it made perfect sense! Perhaps it had been nothing, after all. She felt silly for bothering the girl over nothing. Her sister had often looked sad when it was raining; although she supposed that it was more because she hadn’t liked the rain than the fact that she had actually been unhappy. As for Mayumi-san’s clothes – well, she’d probably just had a rough day and hasn’t changed yet. Yup, that made sense! She smiled privately to herself, proud of her deductions and the accuracy of them. Taking another sip of her drink, the young girl took a glance out of the window, humming quietly to herself for a moment. ”Hey! Did you know that earthworms come out when it’s raining?”[/style][STYLE=float: left; width: 100px; height: 100px; border-radius: 50 50 50 50; background-image:url(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q298/ElvenSheWolf/kunogi%20himawari/dragonsquee-xxh02.png); border: 3px solid #BFBFBF; margin-top: 10px;][/style][STYLE=width: 235px; height: 80px; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-align: justify; background-color: #ffffff; border-radius: 10 10 10 10; border-top: 5px solid #BFBFBF; border-bottom: 5px solid #BFBFBF; padding: 10px; margin-left: 115px; margin-top: 10px;]word 000 tags mayumi notes I feel like I must apologize for not being nearly as fast as posting as you are. hence...my apologies. [/style]

[STYLE=font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #bfbfbf; text-shadow: 1px 1px 0px #000000;]template by pebble of btn[/style]

[MATSUMOTO, MAYUMI]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,480,bTable]

[atrb=style, background-color: #1A1A1A; border-radius: 35px;] [STYLE=height: 250px; width: 460px; margin-top: 6px; opacity: 0.7; border-radius: 30px; background-image: url(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm306/dodo44554/sad.gif);][/style][STYLE=font-family: times new roman; font-style: italic; font-size: 45px; color: #E7E1CD; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -30px; letter-spacing: -3px; opacity: 0.99; text-shadow: 2px 2px 2px #000000;]YOU ONLY GOT ONE LIFE TO LEAD[/style][STYLE=font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -10px; color: #CEC6AA; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase;]SO DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED THE LITTLE THINGS[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 11px; font-family: arial; margin-right: 13px; margin-left: 13px; text-align: justify; background-color: #696969; padding: 13px; color: #000000; margin-top: 6px; opacity: 0.95; margin-bottom: 1px; border-bottom-right-radius: 30px; border-bottom-left-radius: 30px;]Mayumi had to keep herself from laughing as the girl stared at her. She didn't quite understand why she cared, but she seemed convinced that something was wrong. Mayumi really didn't like being wet and soaked, and that only affected her mood a little. Really, she just hadn't been smiling because she didn't keep a smile on her face when she was alone. "Maybe I'm sad because this is my dinner." She held out the bag of bread. "And my dad's. I mean, I'm used to it, but I suppose since I always have an appetite I wish I'd have more food." She smiled wryly. "Curse of an ever-hungry stomach, you know?" "Hi Sumi!" She shook her hand, and was glad that the paper bag had picked up the water from her hands. "Earthworms?" What a random change of subject. Mayumi smiled. "I think I've noticed that before," she said. "Like when it rains a lot the crowd onto the sidewalk. Is it because they'd drown in the dirt when it's covered in water?" She didn't know if Sumi was an expert on earthworms, but she'd brought up the subject, and Mayumi liked talking about almost anything. [/style][STYLE=width: 400px; text-align: center; font-size: 9px; color: #565656; text-transform: uppercase; margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial; letter-spacing: 3px; opacity: 0.9;]made by kiwii at btn & ote![/style]

[MIYAKE, SUMI]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=style, width: 350px; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/PTnT0.png); border-radius: 10 10 10 10; padding: 25px;][STYLE=text-align: center; font-family: impact; font-size: 25px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #ffffff; margin-top: -25px; text-shadow: 1px 1px 0px #000000]brighter than a lucky penny![/style][STYLE=width: 350px; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-align: justify; background-color: #ffffff; border-radius: 10 10 10 10; border-top: 5px solid #BFBFBF; border-bottom: 5px solid #BFBFBF; padding: 10px; ]So she was sad! Had Mayumi-san been lying to her? Sumi’s gaze turned a bit reproachful, blues narrowing in suspicion and concern. When she actually processed what the girl had said, though, her gaze fell to the bag that Mayumi-san held out. Her jaw unhinged, dropping in a spectacularly attractive manner. That was – dinner? No. That couldn’t possibly be dinner. The girl shifted a bit in her seat to glance at the café’s pastry and bread selection near the cashier, and then snapped back to stare at the other girl again. “How is that dinner?” she demanded, arms folding across her chest, clearly not believing her. Say it isn’t so. “How are you used to it?” The frown had returned full blown to her face, and the young girl’s voice was rising higher and higher and louder with her irritation. Abruptly, she seemed to realize something, for her expression turned serious and contemplative. “Was it the evil flying monkeys?” She leaned forward, voice a conspiratorial whisper, arms uncrossing to circle her hot chocolate protectively again. Sumi had grown to understand that the evil flying monkeys were the culprit of everything – if the girl didn’t have her dinner (or a normal one at any rate), then they had to be the ones behind it. “Did they steal your dinner?” This was serious business, though. They’d already upgraded to stealing people’s food. She’d have to write that down somewhere; it was important if she wanted to crush the flying monkey empire for good. Maybe she could catch one of them in the act and trail it to the flying monkey kingdom. Then she’d beat the evil flying monkey king in a final boss battle that would put even the most fearsome boss battles to shame! Her rather far-out trail of thought was interrupted when Mayumi-san asked her if earthworms came out when it rained because they would drown if they didn't. That sparkle reignited in Sumi’s eyes, putting aflame her entire being. “No, actually!” she chirped, “but that’s what a lot of people think!” The urge to start kicking her feet and forth again was great – force of habit. It was something she could barely resist when she was interested in something. “I read that they actually come out because it’s easier for them to move!” A small grin formed on her face. “See, see, earthworms breathe through their skin, right? So they have to be wet so that they can breathe properly! And when it rains they can move around without drying up and suffocating.” The small grin fell slightly at the prospect of something, anything dying, but the spark was still within her eyes all the same.[/style][STYLE=float: left; width: 100px; height: 100px; border-radius: 50 50 50 50; background-image:url(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q298/ElvenSheWolf/kunogi%20himawari/dragonsquee-xxh02.png); border: 3px solid #BFBFBF; margin-top: 10px;][/style][STYLE=width: 235px; height: 80px; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-align: justify; background-color: #ffffff; border-radius: 10 10 10 10; border-top: 5px solid #BFBFBF; border-bottom: 5px solid #BFBFBF; padding: 10px; margin-left: 115px; margin-top: 10px;]word 000 tags mayumi notes [/style]

[STYLE=font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #bfbfbf; text-shadow: 1px 1px 0px #000000;]template by pebble of btn[/style]

[MATSUMOTO, MAYUMI]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,480,bTable]

[atrb=style, background-color: #1A1A1A; border-radius: 35px;] [STYLE=height: 250px; width: 460px; margin-top: 6px; opacity: 0.7; border-radius: 30px; background-image: url(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm306/dodo44554/sad.gif);][/style][STYLE=font-family: times new roman; font-style: italic; font-size: 45px; color: #E7E1CD; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -30px; letter-spacing: -3px; opacity: 0.99; text-shadow: 2px 2px 2px #000000;]YOU ONLY GOT ONE LIFE TO LEAD[/style][STYLE=font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -10px; color: #CEC6AA; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase;]SO DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED THE LITTLE THINGS[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 11px; font-family: arial; margin-right: 13px; margin-left: 13px; text-align: justify; background-color: #696969; padding: 13px; color: #000000; margin-top: 6px; opacity: 0.95; margin-bottom: 1px; border-bottom-right-radius: 30px; border-bottom-left-radius: 30px;] Mayumi saw that Sumi almost frowned when she said that she might have been sad. She didn't really see it as lying, although Mayumi didn't find anything wrong with it. Besides, Mayumi could be sad and not feel it. It happened all the time, especially because of her ADHD meds. They sort of made her feel or not feel things without really knowing much about it. She saw Sumi's shock and gave a wry smile. "It's enough food," she said. "It's okay." She was used to it because it had happened enough time -- that's what used to it meant. She shrugged, confused as to why Sumi was so upset. And then the evil flying monkeys thing came. Mayumi paused, unable to determine whether or not Sumi was serious. "Um," she said. "No..." It took a lot for Mayumi to think someone was strange, but this was definitely very strange. "Hm." When Sumi stopped talking about the evil flying monkeys, Mayumi relaxed a little. Okay, this she could understand. She listened to Sumi talk about the earthworms. It was very interesting. "That's pretty cool," she said, smiling. "How'd you learn so much about earthworms?" she asked. She also wondered why Sumi was reading about earthworms, not that she thought that was odd. If it was easy for Mayumi to read, she would have read about various things, too. The best she could do is get books on tape -- but only if those were free. [/style][STYLE=width: 400px; text-align: center; font-size: 9px; color: #565656; text-transform: uppercase; margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial; letter-spacing: 3px; opacity: 0.9;]made by kiwii at btn & ote![/style]

[MIYAKE, SUMI]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=style, width: 350px; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/PTnT0.png); border-radius: 10 10 10 10; padding: 25px;][STYLE=text-align: center; font-family: impact; font-size: 25px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #ffffff; margin-top: -25px; text-shadow: 1px 1px 0px #000000]brighter than a lucky penny![/style][STYLE=width: 350px; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-align: justify; background-color: #ffffff; border-radius: 10 10 10 10; border-top: 5px solid #BFBFBF; border-bottom: 5px solid #BFBFBF; padding: 10px; ]The thought of “dinner” being “bread” was simply incomprehensible to the black-haired girl. Dimly, she wondered if Mayumi-san had ever had what Sumi considered to be a proper meal. A proper meal was warm and filled you up and made you feel happy. Cold – or what she assumed to be cold, anyway – bread did not in any way constitute to a good dinner! And yet Mayumi-san still insisted that it was “enough food”, that it was okay. A pout formed on her lips, and her legs kicked back and forth – not out of excitement this time, but instead out of irritation. One foot accidentally collided with the other girl’s legs, and she jumped slightly in her seat. “Sorry!” she apologized quickly, pulling her legs back and keeping them still. “A-anyway, I don’t approve,” she continued, blue eyes fixed on Mayumi-san. “I think you should come to my house sometime!” No matter that she had to ask her parents first, and that a fourteen year old girl inviting strangers to her house was rather odd. The statement was punctuated by a sip of her hot chocolate, which had grown slightly cooler as the two girls spoke. She took another sip, before placing the cup back on the table. So, the evil flying monkeys hadn’t stolen Mayumi-san’s dinner? Well, that was good. That meant that she could relax. Evidently they hadn’t breached that line of defense yet. Sumi nodded, more to herself than to Mayumi-san, and took another sip of hot chocolate as if in self-congratulation. A job well done, Sumi-gunsou! she thought, resisting the urge to swing her legs back and forth yet again. Sumi-gunsou. It had a nice ring to it, she decided, a smile forming on her lips despite herself. At Mayumi-san’s question, the smile grew. “I used the internet! And books,” she replied, flashing the older girl a hundred watt smile. “There’s soooo much stuff you can find out on the internet! It’s kind of sad, actually. You almost don’t need books because everything is on there!” Sumi crossed her legs at the ankles to stop herself from moving them, and took a sip of her drink to wet her throat. “See, I reaaaally love animals! All types of animals! Except for evil flying monkeys.” There was a pause. “Oh, and spiders. But I hate flying monkeys more.” She twirled a strand of hair around her index finger, lips curing downwards slightly as she wondered what to say next. “When I grow up, I kind of want to have a job where I’d be able to work with animals! Like a veterinarian! But you know, I’m not really sure. I also like plants, so maybe I could be a florist?” The girl shrugged. “It’s reaaally hard to choose!” Onee-sama had everything figured out, though. That was why onee-sama was so much better than Sumi.[/style][STYLE=float: left; width: 100px; height: 100px; border-radius: 50 50 50 50; background-image:url(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q298/ElvenSheWolf/kunogi%20himawari/dragonsquee-xxh02.png); border: 3px solid #BFBFBF; margin-top: 10px;][/style][STYLE=width: 235px; height: 80px; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-align: justify; background-color: #ffffff; border-radius: 10 10 10 10; border-top: 5px solid #BFBFBF; border-bottom: 5px solid #BFBFBF; padding: 10px; margin-left: 115px; margin-top: 10px;]word 000 tags mayumi notes my apologies for the delay! also, "gunsou" means "sergeant". [/style]

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[MATSUMOTO, MAYUMI]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,480,bTable]

[atrb=style, background-color: #1A1A1A; border-radius: 35px;] [STYLE=height: 250px; width: 460px; margin-top: 6px; opacity: 0.7; border-radius: 30px; background-image: url(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm306/dodo44554/sad.gif);][/style][STYLE=font-family: times new roman; font-style: italic; font-size: 45px; color: #E7E1CD; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -30px; letter-spacing: -3px; opacity: 0.99; text-shadow: 2px 2px 2px #000000;]YOU ONLY GOT ONE LIFE TO LEAD[/style][STYLE=font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -10px; color: #CEC6AA; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase;]SO DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED THE LITTLE THINGS[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 11px; font-family: arial; margin-right: 13px; margin-left: 13px; text-align: justify; background-color: #696969; padding: 13px; color: #000000; margin-top: 6px; opacity: 0.95; margin-bottom: 1px; border-bottom-right-radius: 30px; border-bottom-left-radius: 30px;] Mayumi tried not to since at the expressions going across Sumi's face. She knew what every 'normal' person had to say about how much people needed to eat. She knew that most doctors agreed with them. But she also knew that when you didn't have enough food on a regular basis, your body adapted and coped in order to survive. Hers had done so rather easily, as she had been raised poor. She wasn't starved, so she didn't get sick when she ate a lot, but she didn't get too energetic, either. To be honest with herself, most of her energy probably came from the ADHD. She jumped slightly when Sumi kicked her, but didn't display any signs of being upset. "It's okay," she said. She raised an eyebrow when Sumi said she didn't approve. The matter wasn't really up to her. When Sumi invited her over, her mouth opened slightly in surprise. "Um," she said. It was rather awkward, as they'd just met and Mayumi didn't do well with parental figures -- especially mothers. Then again... when did Mayumi ever turn down a meal, which was clearly what Sumi was offering? "Sure," she replied, nodding. "I'd like that." She listened to Sumi talk about finding information, and nodded when she discussed her job possibilities. Mayumi smiled. "Wow," she said. "I just take pictures in my spare time." She paused. "I think you'd do well with animals. They respond to you, you know?" [/style][STYLE=width: 400px; text-align: center; font-size: 9px; color: #565656; text-transform: uppercase; margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial; letter-spacing: 3px; opacity: 0.9;]made by kiwii at btn & ote![/style]

Sorry it took so long! I have serious depth perception issues right now, so every few seconds my computer screen is like, a foot in front of me and 2 inches and then two feet and it's just really confusing because then my hands are like, "WHERE AM I THE SCREEN IS MOVING?"

[MIYAKE, SUMI]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=style, width: 350px; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/PTnT0.png); border-radius: 10 10 10 10; padding: 25px;][STYLE=text-align: center; font-family: impact; font-size: 25px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #ffffff; margin-top: -25px; text-shadow: 1px 1px 0px #000000]brighter than a lucky penny![/style][STYLE=width: 350px; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-align: justify; background-color: #ffffff; border-radius: 10 10 10 10; border-top: 5px solid #BFBFBF; border-bottom: 5px solid #BFBFBF; padding: 10px; ]She smiled brightly when the girl accepted her invitation to come over. “That’s awesome!” she said, smile forming into a grin as it was apt to do. “I’ll have to ask my parents, though – but I’ll definitely tell you when you can come over!” Yet another spark ignited in her eyes. “Maybe some time this week…or over the weekend…” The words were more to herself than to the other girl. Sumi tapped her index finger to her chin, humming quietly to herself as she thought. “Okay! I’ll ask. I’ll definitely ask!” Sumi didn’t bring people over to her house very often; she preferred to go to her friends’ houses, really. But Mayumi-san had never had a proper dinner, and that was a problem that Sumi was going to solve! Pictures? “You take pictures?” she asked, apparently amazed by that revelation. “That’s so cool!” There was a brief pause. “D-do you take pictures of animals?” Even if she didn’t, Sumi bet they were really awesome-looking anyhow. She loved looking at pictures – especially pictures of animals, although that was a given. That was why she adored the educational magazines about wildlife – they tended to have the most beautiful pictures she’d ever seen. “Maybe you could be a professional photographer! Like the ones in the magazines!” Her eyes sparkled. “That would be amazing!” She blinked in surprise at Mayumi-san’s next words; she inclined her head curiously. ”Y-you think so?” A giggle passed through her throat. “What makes you say that?” She was honestly curious. No one had ever told that to her before, and the thought that someone thought she was fit for some sort of role was oddly rewarding.[/style][STYLE=float: left; width: 100px; height: 100px; border-radius: 50 50 50 50; background-image:url(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q298/ElvenSheWolf/kunogi%20himawari/dragonsquee-xxh02.png); border: 3px solid #BFBFBF; margin-top: 10px;][/style][STYLE=width: 235px; height: 80px; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-align: justify; background-color: #ffffff; border-radius: 10 10 10 10; border-top: 5px solid #BFBFBF; border-bottom: 5px solid #BFBFBF; padding: 10px; margin-left: 115px; margin-top: 10px;]word 000 tags mayumi notes heheh, it's totally fine! no worries. also, sorry this is so short! :< [/style]

[STYLE=font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; color: #bfbfbf; text-shadow: 1px 1px 0px #000000;]template by pebble of btn[/style]

[MATSUMOTO, MAYUMI]

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[atrb=style, background-color: #1A1A1A; border-radius: 35px;] [STYLE=height: 250px; width: 460px; margin-top: 6px; opacity: 0.7; border-radius: 30px; background-image: url(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm306/dodo44554/sad.gif);][/style][STYLE=font-family: times new roman; font-style: italic; font-size: 45px; color: #E7E1CD; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -30px; letter-spacing: -3px; opacity: 0.99; text-shadow: 2px 2px 2px #000000;]YOU ONLY GOT ONE LIFE TO LEAD[/style][STYLE=font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -10px; color: #CEC6AA; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: uppercase;]SO DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED THE LITTLE THINGS[/style] [STYLE=font-size: 11px; font-family: arial; margin-right: 13px; margin-left: 13px; text-align: justify; background-color: #696969; padding: 13px; color: #000000; margin-top: 6px; opacity: 0.95; margin-bottom: 1px; border-bottom-right-radius: 30px; border-bottom-left-radius: 30px;] Mayumi nodded, smiling a little. "Yes, you probably would have to ask your parents." She paused to consider this. How odd it would be to have two parents. What on earth did they do? Teenagers could take care of themselves. She supposed they were good for providing money. But for them to be two of them? That was a lot. Although Mayumi couldn't help but wishing that she had a mother... She nodded again. "Yeah, I've been taking photographs ever since my father bought me this digital camera when I was a kid." She laughed quietly. "I end up spending most of my extra money on batteries. And yeah, I take pictures of animals. I mean, there aren't like, a lot of variety of animals in Japan, but I like to catch things in action. Especially birds; they're such a challenge!" "Hm... I've considered being a professional photographer. It would be fun!" she said. "And yeah," she nodded. "You're social, energetic, and you give off a good energy vibe. Animals love that, right?" [/style][STYLE=width: 400px; text-align: center; font-size: 9px; color: #565656; text-transform: uppercase; margin-top: 0px; font-family: arial; letter-spacing: 3px; opacity: 0.9;]made by kiwii at btn & ote![/style]