Friends, Family and San Francisco
When Grampa dies, Raye's long-lost father returns to Japan, only to yank her away from her friends and everything she has ever known. Upon arrival in America, Raye discovers a completely different life than what she is used to. Lonely and homesick, Raye tries desperately to find a way back home.
A/N: it's been done before, I know. One of my fave stories is on this subject. Actually, for right now, all I can say is thank goodness for baby name books with Japanese names included.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything or anyone except Aiko, Nori, Kimi, Ringo, Toshihiro, Samuru (Samuel), Annette, Alexander and Jeremy.
Chapter 1:: Departure
It was a beautiful warm afternoon on August 2nd, 2001, when Taro Yakira died.
The doctors said it was a heart attack, but to Taro's two daughters, Aiko and Nori, and his three grandchildren, this didn't help to relieve any grief.
Especially for 16-year-old Raye, since Grampa had died on the day of her 16th birthday.
Raye, overcome with grief, was quickly surrounded by her four supportive and sympathetic friends, even Amy, who had her own problems to deal with. That night, Raye's aunts gave her permission to stay over at Lita's apartment. All five girls were there, with offers of shoulders to cry on.
The next morning, Raye's Aunt Aiko picked her up and took her back to the temple, where Chad was sweeping dejectedly. Nori and her husband Yukio were already there, with Raye's two little cousins Ringo, who was 6 and Toshihiro, who was 2.
As the morbid plans began for Taro's funeral, Chad interrupted only once, to say that a man was waiting outside to speak to one of them.
Aiko frowned and left with Chad.
"Good afternoon, Aiko," the tall man greeted Aiko, apparently taking no notice of Raye, who was hidden in the shadows of the temple, watching.
"Konnichi'wa, Samuru." Aiko answered, surprised. "You weren't supposed to come until later this week!"
"Actually, I go by Samuel Winslow now," Samuru said crisply. "I had business to attend to in Japan so I thought I would come and collect Rachel before I leave for San Francisco tomorrow."
"It's Raye,"
Aiko and Samuel both jumped at the sound of Raye's voice as she emerged from the shadows into the sunlight. "Oh, Raye!" Aiko exclaimed. "Don't do that to me!"
"So what was this about collecting me?" Raye addressed Aiko, pointedly ignoring Samuel.
Aiko dragged her foot in the dirt guiltily. "I was going to tell you tomorrow, because Samuru wasn't supposed to arrive until Sunday."
"Samuel. And what in the world are you wearing, Rachel?"
"My robes. Now, what were you going to tell me?" Raye asked again, slowly.
"Well," Aiko began hesitantly.
"When Taro died, custody of you fell to me." Samuel cut in. "You'd better go pack, because we leave tomorrow morning."
"Whoa, back up a couple steps here," Raye snapped. "I have never met you before in my life, I don't even know who the heck you are, and suddenly I'm supposed to go live with you? I don't think so."
Aiko smiled grimly, more of a grimace than a grin. "Excuse me for not introducing you. Raye, this is Samuru Wakaso, your father."
"Samuel Winslow."
"…and now I'm supposed to leave tomorrow!" Raye ranted, her grief temporarily forgotten in the wake of her rage.
Her outrage was mirrored on the faces of her friends. "That's not right!" Lita exclaimed.
"How the heck does that work?" Mina agreed.
"I mean, the guy doesn't even live in Japan!" Serena added. "Besides, isn't it like, illegal or something to take a kid out of a country when there's still family in the country?"
"Not quite," Amy responded, her hands still resting on her gently swelling stomach, her eyes closed. "But I still don't see why they would give custody to your father when he hasn't been around for you at all."
"No kidding," Raye groaned. "I mean, sure, biologically the guy's my father, but in terms of actual parenting, he sucks! It'd be much simpler if I would've just gone to live with Aunt Aiko."
"Raye," Amy's mother said, entering the bedroom. "Your father's here."
Raye made a disgusted face. "The guy calls himself my father, he's got another thing coming…" she muttered as she left, still seething.
The next morning, the five friends were clustered together, hugging and saying their last good-byes. Contrary to how she had been last night, Raye seemed quite calm.
"Don't worry," she assured them. "Not even oceans can keep Raye Yakira from Japan. I'll be back, you can count on that."
"Rachel!" Samuel called irritably before sweeping down the tunnel to the plane.
"Rachel?" Lita teased gently.
"I wouldn't laugh if I was you, Lolita. That was my milk name." Raye tossed back, then sauntered leisurely towards the gate, clearly hoping she'd miss the plane.
"Lolita?" she heard Serena asked incredulously from behind her.
"Hey, don't blame me! It's my parents who chose the name!"
Unfortunately, she didn't miss the plane. About fifteen hours later, Raye found herself following Samuel off the airplane into the bustling crowd of people in San Francisco, California.
A tall, leggy, busty blonde came pushing through the crowds, followed by two boys, one with dark hair and the other with blond hair. "Samuel, dah-ling!" she cried, flinging her arms around him.
The older boy, the blonde one, rolled his eyes theatrically. The younger, darker-haired boy was more involved with watching Raye to notice.
"And this must be Rachel!" the blonde exclaimed.
"Raye," Raye corrected her, rebellion in every syllable.
"But it's Rachel on your birth certificate," the woman said confusedly.
"Rachel was my milk name." (A/N: maybe about now I should explain what a milk name is. From what I remember, in Japan, some parents gave their children a 'milk name' which was sort of a temporary name until they became old enough to choose their own name. I believe that's what it is.) "My name is Raye."
"—chel." Samuel added testily. "We have no such nonsense like milk names in America. You'll go by what's on your birth certificate, and that is Rachel."
"Raye," she shot back.
"But Raye is such a masculine name," Blondie whined. "Rachel is much more pretty, much more feminine. It's a nice name for pageants. They like Rachels. It's only a few months until the Miss Teen San Francisco, that's enough time for me to get you prepared…"
Raye glared at her, and whirled around to grab her suitcase. "Actually, I would like to know who the heck you are before you start organizing my life."
"Rachel,"
"Raye,"
"This is Annette. Annette is my wife. Your stepmother. These are your brothers, Alexander and Jeremy. Alexander is 12 and Jeremy is 7."
Raye remained silent but shot daggers at Samuel. He would leave Raye's 14-year-old mother the minute he found out she was pregnant, but he would remain with Ms Queen of Ditz? What's wrong with this picture?
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A/N: *sigh* well, I'd better go now. Review, will ya? For me?