Before the story begins, I'd like to mention that some
people have brought it to my attention that this story
has NO plot.... Well, you're RIGHT!  It doesn't.  
Coff-EZ is more like a sitcom than anything else.  Something
you watch and enjoy for 5 minutes in between commercials.

Now, on with the *show*  :)


**********************************************
Coff-EZ Part 2: mended hearts, shattered walls
**********************************************

Tellez pulled up in front of Coff-EZ in his '96 convertable Mustang.
He looked up at the store sign and groaned.   

"You've gotta be kiddin'!", he exclaimed.

He walked into the coffee shop and immediately gained everyone's
attention.  That's just the way he liked it.  Tellez was an imposing
figure.  He was 6'2" and 225 pounds of pure muscle.  His jet black
hair was cut as a flat top, a popular style in the 1980's, but still
looked good on him now.
  
The place looked busy today, everyone was getting ready for the
party. He looked around the room for a minute and found Mitamoro 
sitting at a table blowing up some red and white balloons.  

"Hey Mitamoro, what's with the sign outside?"

Mitamoro looked up at his best friend and said, "Tellez,
you know we are having a Valentine's Day party tonight.
The sign is decorated just perfectly."

The sign in question had LOTS of white and pink frills around it
and not a few red hearts.

"Man, no wonder you don't have a girlfriend!"

Mitamoro looked hurt. "Hey! I though girls liked romance,
and the sign looks perfect for Valentines!"

Tellez just shook his head.  "Romance, yes.  CandyLand(R) no."

"Well, I'm just leaving it like it is.  What are you doing
here so early anyway?"

"I came by to see if you needed any help."

"Seeing as how you are always filled with hot air, sit
down and help me blow up a few of this balloons."

"Ha. Ha. Ha."

Tellez sat down at the table and then noticed a stack of
papers near all the balloons. He picked it up at studied
it for a while.  

"Hey! Is this the guest list?"

"Yep."

"Cool."  

Tellez proceeded to scan the list.  

"Lets see... male, male, male, dog, dog, male, dog, bitch...."

Mitamoro decided to ignore him.  All of a sudden red lights 
started flashing everywhere and an alarm klaxon went off.
Mitamoro jumped out of his seat.

"He's here!  Standard evacuation procedures NOW!  Let's
go people, lets go!"

Quickly all the women in Coff-EZ bolted for the back door,
or went upstairs to hide.  Ariana, one of Mitamoro's new
waitresses, did not understand what was going on but 
let herself be dragged away by Deedlit anyway.  

			*****


Ataru Moroboshi had not had a good day, that is to say,
this day was like any other.  He had started his girl-hunt
early in the morning and had been slapped seven times, pushed
away four times and kicked eight times.  He had not been able
to get even one girl to commit to a date, give up a phone number
or even tell him their measurements!  He found himself standing
in front of Coff-EZ and, seeing as he was hungry from the day's
strenuous activities, decided to go inside.

Ataru entered Coff-EZ and looked around. *Damn. Not a girl in sight*

He walk up to the booth where Mitamoro was serving some 
customers, they looked familiar but he really couldn't place 
them.  

"Hey Mita-chan!  What happened to this place?  There used to
be soooooo many beautiful girls here.  I thought I was in heaven!
But the last few times I've been here, there hasn't been a girl
in sight! "  

Mitamoro had to laugh.  Ataru looked so indignant.  
"Ataru,  I told you the LAST time you were in here,
you scared all the women away.  They just don't come here 
anymore."

"Really???  Behold the Evidence!"
All of a sudden Ataru was standing next to a scaffold
with a chart on it. He boldly guestured towards the
chart as he continued, 

"One! Frills and Hearts on your shop sign,
 Two! Streamers and balloons inside,  and
 Three!  *sniff sniff*  A delicious 5 course meal is being prepared
in your kitchen.  You are holding a Valentine's Day party here
tonight, aren't you?", Ataru accused.

Mitamoro had to think fast.  "Well... Yes, but it's a 'Lonely
Hearts' party.  All the guys who don't have girlfriends will be
coming to this party, so if you want to spend VALENTINE'S DAY
with MEN, by all means you are welcome to-"

"hehehe... Ah, never mind Mita-chan, I'd, uh, better be going!"

Ataru fled from Coff-EZ.  

"Whew!  Signal the 'All Clear' ", Mitamoro called out.

"All clear!"

"All clear!"

"All clear!"

Slowly, the women who had evacuated Coff-EZ all returned.  
Ariana walked up to Mitamoro giggling.  

"Mitamoro-san, I didn't believe it when Deedlit told me,
_why_ we were leaving.  To imagine that Ataru is really like 
that!  I thought he only acted that way in the Anime!"

Everyone in Coff-EZ stared at Ariana in shocked silence.  

"Huh?  Did I do something wrong?"

Mitamoro looked embarrassed.  He dragged Ariana into the 
kitchen so they could talk privately.  

"Uh, Ariana-chan?"

"Hai?"

"Well, *How should I say this?* the people who come here...
they don't ACT in Anime, that's their real life."

"But, what about the fanfictions and the dispruption in continuity
between the Manga and the Anime?"  

"I know its hard to understand... In fanfics, they are acting,
(auth. note:  My most humblest appologies to any and all authors
offended by this!!!)  after all, they do need to make a living
when their series' end.  As for continuity dispruption, well,
that's kinda like death and taxes, its always going to be there
and there isn't much you can do about it."

Ariana still looked confused. 

"But, a couple of weeks ago, I saw LARGO in here!"

"Well, he DOES like my Jamacian Slow Roast blend...."

"B-But, he's DEAD!!! A-and he's EVIL!"

"Well, that's true, he did die, but the fanfic authors keep
bringing him back, powerful antagonists are hard to come
by these days..."

"I still don't-"

"Ariana, just... trust me on this, OK?"

"Uh, OK..."  At this point Ariana desprately needed to
change the subject.

"Mitamoro-san, when did you get that anti-Ataru alarm installed?"

"About six months ago.  Before then, Ataru would come in and attack
anything in a skirt!  I didn't think much of it, and everyone else
just sort of put up with it. But then, Ataru showed up one day
and groped Nabiki Tendo. " Mitamoro shuddered at the memory.  

"Well, she threatened to file a sexual harrassment suit against
Coff-EZ.  I ended up settling with her by making her my billing
agent for setting up the alarm; her commission was rather... high.
I also agreed to provide catering services for Ranma and Akane's
wedding, WHEN and IF that ever occurs."

Ariana laughed at that. 

"Mitamoro-san?"

"Yes?"

"Uh, Do you have a date for tonight?"

*CHA-CHING!*

"Uh, no I don't Ariana, why do you ask?"

"Well, I'm inviting my sister to the party, she doesn't get
out much, and well, I was hoping you could kinda be her
escort, seeing as how you know everyone and all...."

*LIFT-OFF ABORTED*

"Sure Ariana, I'd be happy to be your sister's escort. Ah. Well, we'd
better get back to work."

Mitamoro opened the door for Ariana and they went back into
the main room.  As they exited the kitchen they heard a yell.

"YESSSSSS!"

"Tellez, what's up?", Mitamoro inquired.

"The whole cast from La Blue Girl is gonna be here tonight!", 
Tellez exclaimed excitedly.  He was still examining the guest list.  

Mitamoro just rolled his eyes.  Ariana looked alarmed. 

"The *whole* cast?!"  

"Calm down, Ariana.  Actually what Tellez means is that the
whole *female* cast from La Blue Girl is going to be here."

"Oh."  

		****** Later that Night ******

"The party seems to be going well!"  Tellez said as he casually
leaned on the bar.  

"Uh, Yeah."  Mitamoro looked around nervously.

"Hey, what's wrong, you look nervous."

"Well, actually-"

Just then a beautiful woman with long green hair walked up to
the bar and ordered a drink.  Tellez shifted gears immediately,
he was stalking his prey.  

He turned towards the woman and said, "Hey, I recognize from
someplace... Were you in Galaxy Express?"

The woman giggled coyly in response.

*oh boy* Mitamoro thought *just his type*

Tellez continued, "No? Well were you in Patlabor?  Macross Plus?"

The woman continued to giggle then said, "Have you heard of 'New Angel'?"

"Ah! I knew I'd seen you before, I didn't recognize you with your 
clothes on...You really are quite remarkable!  Would you like to 
dance?"

"Sure!" 

Mitamoro was left alone at the bar.  He just wanted this party
to end.  Things were running smoothly, there were only a couple
of fights that needed to be diffused.  The biggest problem of the
night was getting the cast from "Miyuki-chan in Wonderland"  to 
stop hitting on all the other women at the party.  Mitamoro didn't
care about one's sexual preference, but some the guests were finding
it a little disconcerting.  Especially Ranma-chan.  What was really
bothering him  was his 'blind date'.  Ariana had not arrived with
her sister yet.  

Mitamoro watched the crowd.  Tellez had told him
on several occasions that he needed to get out more, but Mitamoro
enjoyed people-watching, and there was no better place to watch 
people than in Coff-EZ.  He watched as the people danced, talked,
laughed, and in some cases, fought.  He loved it all.  He watched
as Akari and Ryoga danced together.  It was hard to believe that
a martial artist like Ryoga could be so clumsy on the dance floor.
*At least they seem to have patched up their problems*  
The same could not be said for some other couples, but Mitamoro
didn't let that spoil the feelings he had.  There was something
special about Valentine's Day... Sooner or later *everyone* would
realize it, and things would be OK.  *Even for Ranma and Akane*
Ranma had spent most of the party having an intense conversation
with Kenishiro.  Rumor had it that there was Fist of the North
Star - Ranma 1/2 cross-over being written (Auth note:  This is
a shameless plug on my part.  Look for 'Return of the Fist' coming
to an e-mail or newsgroup near you!)  Akane had stormed off in
frustration.  They'll makeup eventually; they always do.   
        
Mitamoro sighed as Ariana entered Coff-EZ.  She seemed to
be dragging someone behind her, and Mitamoro, because of the crowd,
could not see the other person.  Ariana finally arrived at the bar
and pulled her sister into view.  

"Mitamoro-san, this is my sister, Natasha."

Mitamoro was pleasantly suprised; standing before him was a tall
brunette with curly hair.  She wore a pair of rectangular, thin-rimmed
glasses that gave her the air of intelligence.  

"Hello Natasha-san.  Welcome to Coff-EZ!" Mitamoro walked around
the bar and stood in front of the two women.

"Uh, thank you Mitamoro-san.  I hope I am not intruding in your
party, Ariana said that it would be OK...."

"Of course!  I am glad you could make it!"

An uneasy silence settled over the three of them. 

Ariana was the first to speak. "Well, I see a few people I want
to talk to; Natasha, Mitamoro-san has promised to keep you company
tonight, so I'll see you later!"  

And with that Ariana ran before Natasha had time to object. 

Mitamoro really wanted to hit it off well with Natasha.  After all,
it was Valentine's Day.  

"Natasha-san, would you care to dance?"

"Uh, sure, i-if you really want to..."

			*****************

Mitmoro whistled a merry tune as he mopped the floor.  The party
had been fun and exhausting, but he did need to get some of
the cleaning done before tomorrow.  Natasha had turned out to be
a wonderful person.  Maybe he'd ask her out sometime...
Tellez stumbled downstairs from the guest room he had be staying in.
Most of the guests had gone home, but some had opted to stay at Coff-EZ.

"So how was you 'Date with an Angel'?" Mitamoro asked.

"It reached its inevitable conclusion... She fell asleep a few
minutes ago. I thought I'd never get out of there!"

Tellez shivered. Although he enjoyed sex well enough, for some
reason he never wanted to *wake up* next to any of his partners.

"Sooooo, who was the girl *YOU* were dancing with all night?"

"That was Ariana's sister, Natasha."

"Hmmmmm.  You seemed to be having a good time... So when are you
guys going out ?"


"Well..."

"You *did* ask her out didn't you?"

"Well, no.  I didn't want to pressure her or anything." Mitamoro
said defensively.  The two of them had had conversations like this
before.  

"Asking her out to lunch or dinner is *not* pressuring her. Its showing
interest. You give me all kinds of shit because I'm a player, but
you're worse.  You unintentionally lead girls on! You talk, and talk,
and talk. But you never tell a girl how you feel.  Girls are like us,
they are not going to know unless we tell them.  The burden of risk
is on your side."  

Tellez liked Mitamoro very much; they had been best friends for many
years and Tellez had never met anyone with more integrity or heart...
but sometimes he was such a coward...  

"Well," Mitamoro looked guilty, *oh what the hell*  "I'll
ask her out on a date tomorrow. Deal?"  

"Good.  If you need to know what to say, let me know... and as this
little relationship progresses, I'll let you know how to show
her a good time." Tellez said with a wink. 

Mitamoro went to the bar and pulled out two glasses and a bottle
of Remy Martin.  As he filled the glasses he said, "Man, I'm no
where near ready for THAT talk yet!"  

"Yeah, but you're gettin' there"

Mitamoro handed Tellez a glass and said, "A toast:  To the journey,
where ever it may take us."

"To the journey." Tellez replied as he downed his drink.

*******************************************************
End part 2.  
*******************************************************

Well, that's over with.  This one might have been a bit
"touchy-feely" but after all it is a Valentine's Day story.
I didn't concentrate too much on the Anime characters.
This was more of a way to vent my own frustrations when it
comes to romance...  I, uh, really haven't thought about
a third episode yet...  I have a couple of other projects
in the works and will wait until I get make some headway
in those before I return to Coff-EZ.  Well, until then,
C&C is always welcome and appreciated: anandr@earthlink.net






    


===============================================
Anand Rao
anandr@earthlink.net
===============================================