chapter five;
floral disrespect
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"Oh my God, it's beautiful!" Chenle cooed, falling to his knees and bringing his face really close to a specific collection of flowers. The boys had trailed into the shaded, woodland-esque section of the gardens where special creatures tended to visit the wonderful flowers. "It's lovely scarlet tone really does represent its summer appearance, don't you think?"

"Yo, it looks like a hand," Donghyuck poked one childishly, and the youngest Chinese boy smacked it away with a pout.

"No it doesn't. Red spider lilies, or higanbana over here, are native throughout Asia, but where I live in Shanghai, they don't really grow. I'm glad I've gotten to see some."

Renjun crouched down beside him and drew one closer to his face to see if it had a scent. "It's pretty. I haven't seen one before either."

"Where in China are you from?"

"Jilin. I've actually been meaning to ask how it is you know Korean, Chenle?" The older enquired softly. "I mean, I studied it in school 'cause I wanted to. What about you?"

The ravenette smiled faintly, standing up from his position and bringing the other to his feet as well. "I've been planning this trip for a while, now. I got a tutor to teach me what I know, since I just spent two months over there."

Jisung interjected since he'd sort of been listening while the others started looking for nettles to sting one another with. "Wait, you've been to Korea?"

"Mhm. I'm only in Japan for a month, like you guys. But I'd spent a while in Korea for wildlife studies."

Renjun smiled excitedly, "Then are you going home after this?"

"Psh, yeah. My course awaits after a long pause..."

"Hey guys! I found some berries!" Jaemin called, holding up a twig with a round, red fruit attached. "Who dares me to eat it?"

"Dear Lord, put that down!" Chenle hissed. "Have you never read about yama ichigo?!"

"Sorry to break it to you, but I don't think anyone reads about whatever that is," Jeno apologised. "Just tell him it's life threatening so he'll put it away."

"Ugh, yama ichigo is a mountain strawberry, but it's-"

"Oh, strawberries," Jaemin gleefully plucked it from its twig and held it up to pop it in his mouth."

"Fuck, they aren't even strawberries!"

But the blonde didn't seem all that worried, nor did he listen to the younger. Flicking it into his mouth, the young ravenette suddenly got very distressed and pulled at Renjun's arm. "Please make him listen. That thing is poisonous!"

"Hang on," Jeno sighed, grabbing their misguided driver and bringing him closer to him, shocking the life out of the man. The older placed his fingers over his jaw and forced his lips open. "Spit it out. C'mon."

Jaemin held eye contact with the boy for a moment, sort of surprised by the strength and masculinity of the ravenette. Jeno arched his brow when he didn't listen, so the younger reluctantly complied and let the wild berry fall from his lips and drop to the ground. The older's fingers slowly retracted from his jaw, letting it close again, and patted his cheek fondly. "Good."

Mark clapped a little with a smug smirk, only inwardly enjoying how their silly guide had been manipulated so easily. He'd assumed the guy was a lost cause, but perhaps not.

"I'm gonna' head to the shop," Renjun sighed, stretching his tanned arms up and closing his eyes as he tilted his head towards the sun. "I need a drink and a leash for this idiot."

"The shop probably doesn't sell those," Jisung pointed out, but he supposed in the end that it was more of a sentiment than a realistic comment. The birds in the trees were shaking the branches and singing above their heads, a pleasant noise as each boy took a moment of reprieve.

"We should probably think about getting back to the bus, anyway," Donghyuck yawned. "It's getting closer to evening time and we still haven't located our hotel."

"Oh right....that," Jaemin cleared his throat. "Is it bold of me to assume that you guys know what it's called?"

"Ummm..." Renjun pulled his bag down off his shoulder and rooted through it for the details of this tour. "The romanisation says Kyukeisuru. I wouldn't know what that looks like in Japanese, though."

"I do," Jeno and Hyuck raised their hands together, looking at one another and giggling.

"It means 'relax' or 'take a break' I believe," the taller of them explained.

"Nice," Mark stepped in. "So pushing aside the fact that I shouldn't even be here in the first place, and that the hotel won't recognise my name-"

"We'll work on that," Jisung assured.

"Well, can we take a toilet break first?"

They all simply stood quietly and stared at him as though he'd grown an extra head. The huge fuss at the start suddenly crackled and died with that stupid request at the end.

"Yeah," Chenle chuckled, shaking his head to unstick his sweaty fringe, "We should do that."

• • •

The bus journey had been relatively rowdy this time, since everyone was officially onboard with this excursion now. Without Jisung and Mark's negativity dragging them down, it felt as though they could lift the world. The heat had died down exponentially now that the evening was setting in, and the beautiful array of golds, burnt ochres and pinks staining the city of Osaka were breathtaking.

The unpredictably decent Kyukeisuru hotel appeared outside the windows after around twenty five minutes of driving, and everyone on the TTN other than Jaemin had fled to the right side of the bus to press their faces against the glass and size it up based on visuals.

"Damn, if they have a pool, I am living in it tonight," Donghyuck hummed. "There is a cute Japanese boy out there with my name on it and I am determined to find him."

"What?" Mark frowned. "Why on Earth would you seek out a native boy when you're leaving after a month?"

"Because fleeting, heated romances are the best, alright? Go and culture yourself with some movies."

"But I thought you came to Japan to find yourself?" Jisung pressed. "What does that even mean?"

"It means I want to find the love of my life, which will be a sexy Japanese male with an adorable accent, and hopefully discover what it is I want to do with my life."

"He's fucked," Jaemin cleared his throat haughtily at the front. The vehicle had been parked in the time they'd been examining the hotel, and even if it was only for a night, they were excited to stay. "Okay, Ladies. Off."

The group of young adults didn't even bother disagreeing with that bold order while grabbing their bags and belonging before hopping down off the ugliest bus they possibly could've found.

The evening air was pretty muggy at this time, filled with warmth from earlier in the day, but not enough to be uncomfortable. The boys were all about to learn a whole world of discomfort though, when they attempted to sleep tonight.

"Okay, everyone grab your suitcases," Jaemin spoke loudly, the side of the transport vehicle already open and showing off the luggage within. They all scrambled to take what was theirs and were practically kissing the familiarity of it all. Yet, when all was unloaded....there was still an eighth case left.

"Um.....is that yours?" Chenle quizzed curiously, pointing at the black container, and glancing at their driver. "I assumed all necessities were paid for by the compan-"

"Must've been left behind from the last group," Jaemin hummed. "This bus was used like, a week ago?"

"I think it has a name...." Renjun pointed out. "Is that the company logo-"

"I'll call the boss tonight and report it. Now let's go inside." With that, he slammed the door down and clipped it shut, locking it up.

They all watched the blonde march off ahead towards the entrance, leading the way. One by one, they all pulled their handles from their suitcases and proceeded to drag them along behind him, only Renjun pausing in his place to look back over his shoulder at the pink and turquoise monstrosity.

They were heading in for night one - the first of many. And to be perfectly honest, he felt today had gone perfectly.

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Okay Lovelies, I'll be taking a break from updating for a week. You probably won't even notice, but it's just so you're aware.
I'm really happy with the feedback on this silly sorry so far, so thank you~

Rest up, eat well, and drink water!
-lily