DISCLAIMER: R.O.D. and all related characters are the property of Shuei Sha (Ultra Jump and Superdash), Manga Entertainment and New Generation Pictures. No copyright infringement is intended. This work of fiction is for entertainment purposes only and no money has changed hands. The original characters and events are the sole property of the author and may not be used without permission.

R.O.D. - THE FAN FICTION

By Darrin Colbourne

"I think you're going to be happy here, Miss Sumiregawa," the real estate agent said as he showed his client through her new house.

"I hope so," Nenene Sumiregawa said with a sigh. "Now that I think about it, it may not be big enough."

The real estate agent blinked in surprise. "Three bedrooms, two baths, an attic, plenty of closet space…it's the biggest available house in the ward, a relative stone's throw away from Jinbocho…"

"I know, just like I asked you to find, and I'm grateful, but the reasons I asked for all of that have got me thinking that this place may not be big enough after all."

"Why's that?"

"I'm going to have a lot of people moving in with me."

"Family?"

"In a way."

"Well, this house is big enough to hold a lot of people."

"It is, but it's not the people I'm worried about." She sighed again as she looked around.

"Is something wrong?" The agent asked.

"Maybe I should have just bought a library…" Nenene muttered.

Two weeks later, Nenene and her "family" were all moved into the new house. Once the moving trucks were gone she gathered them all in the living room and had them sit on the floor in a line. She remained standing and paced back and forth in front of them while hitting them with the best "stern sensei" look she could manage. From her left to right were sitting Junior and Nancy Makuhari, Yomiko Readman, Michelle Chan, Maggie Mui and Anita King. Nenene didn't say anything until she was sure she had everyone's attention. "All right, listen up! Here's how this is going to work. Yomiko, Nancy and I will sleep in the master bedroom. Michelle, you and your sisters will take the middle bedroom. Junior, that leaves you with the last bedroom."

Of course, Anita protested immediately. "Hey! No fair! How come he gets his own room?!"

Nenene walked over and rubbed the top of Anita's head, aggravating the girl further. "Because, Brat," Nenene said, "he's going to be trapped for God-knows how long in a house with six nearly pathological women. He's going to need someplace to get away from all of us. Besides, when we have guests staying overnight he's going to be the one to give up his room and sleep on the couch."

Michelle beamed. "See, Anita? Nenene has everything worked out!"

Nenene turned to her. "That's right, and one of the things I've worked out is that I'm not paying the upkeep on this place all by myself, so to do your part you're moving your detective agency's headquarters here, and you'll contribute part of your profits to the household budget."

"Well, of course we will!" Michelle said.

"Oh, sure," Anita huffed. "It's not like we never made enough money from detective work to keep our own place. Oh, wait a minute…"

"Anita…" Maggie muttered.

Nenene gave Anita's head one last rub before she stepped over to Yomiko. "You're pitching in too, my dear," she said to her good friend. "Didn't you used to be a teacher before you started working for the evil library?"

"Um, actually I used to do both at the same time," Yomiko said, "but my work for the British Library did tend to pre-empt my substitute teaching jobs."

"Well, obviously that's not going to be a problem anymore, so starting tomorrow you're going job hunting. It'll be fun. You start out by reading."

Now Yomiko beamed. "Really??"

Nenene smiled back. "Really. They're called the classifieds, remember? They're in every newspaper."

Yomiko blushed and adjusted her glasses as she came to her senses. "Right. Of course. Silly me."

"Yep, silly you." Nenene bent to pinch Yomiko's cheeks, then she straightened up when she was done and looked around the group. "Okay, for all our sakes I think it's best if we leave the cooking to those of us who know how, so that'll be Maggie's job."

Junior raised his hand. "Actually…I might be able to help with the cooking."

Nenene turned to him. "You do a lot of cooking?"

Junior blushed and looked away. "Well…not a lot, but I can follow the instructions in a cookbook."

"That's more than I can do," Nenene said with a shrug. "Okay, so Maggie and Junior will handle the cooking, and everybody will help with the cleaning, starting right now. I want all the boxes in this house unpacked and your rooms organized and ready to be slept in by this evening, and I want them kept clean. That means when you bibliophiles want to start piling books everywhere you'll pile them in that really big attic that I just spent lots of good money on, you got me?"

"Yes!" Yomiko, Michelle and Maggie said with a nod and a smile.

Nenene nodded back and put her hands on her hips. "Well, what are you all still doing sitting there? Up to your rooms! Now now now!!"

The others jumped and scurried past Nenene to the stairs and hurried up to their rooms. Anita took a second at the bottom of the staircase to stick her tongue out at Nenene, but her sisters grabbed her and pulled her away before Nenene could respond.

When everyone was out of sight, Nenene smiled a real smile. Maybe this will work out after all, she thought.

She wasn't as confident two weeks later when she returned from a weekend business trip and found Yomiko, Michelle, Maggie and Nancy sitting around the living room table reading. Next to each woman was a stack of books and magazines as tall as one of the children. Shocked, Nenene's first impulse was to check the bedrooms. She ran upstairs and found the master bedroom and middle bedroom overrun with books.

She was livid when she came back downstairs. "I thought I told you to keep all your books in the attic!"

The others just looked at her for a second, then Michelle, Maggie and Yomiko blushed and turned away while Nancy timidly raised her hand. "Um, we tried, but the attic is full."

Nenene shot her a confused look, then she ran back upstairs. She returned a moment later looking completely stunned. "How?" She breathed. "Even all of you couldn't have bought enough books to fill the attic in the three days I was gone."

"Oh, well we didn't buy all of them," Yomiko said. "Most of them are from my place in Jinbocho."

Nenene lowered her head and pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to fight the headache that was coming on. "Yomiko, I thought the whole point of us keeping your apartment was so that you wouldn't have to move any of those books here!"

"Oh, it was," Yomiko said, "but you see" - she adjusted her glasses - "I had to get caught up on all the things you brought me - thank you for that, by the way…"

"You're welcome…" Nenene growled.

"Yes, well…I didn't want to let myself get caught up in something while I was there and not come back, and I couldn't carry everything here by myself, so I asked the other girls to help me…"

Michelle piped up then. "Oh! And while we were there Maggie and I saw so many books that we'd always wanted but could never find, so Yomiko said it would be all right if we borrowed them!"

Then Nancy spoke. "And I remembered all the books Yomiko had that I always wished I could share with my baby but never had the chance, but now that Junior's with us I can, so I brought all those books back too."

"And of course," Yomiko said, "once we had all those books here and went through them we realized that there were some volumes that were missing…"

"And that's when you went book shopping." Nenene finished.

Yomiko nodded. "Yes, that's right."

Nenene just stared at them for the longest time, then she sighed and shook her head. "I see now," she said. "I have to kill all of you. It's the only way." The other women lowered their heads in shame, and Nenene just let out a defeated sigh and walked over to the table to sit next to Yomiko. "So, whatcha reading?"

Yomiko brightened immediately and began to describe the novel in her hands, but she was interrupted by the phone ringing. Maggie was closest to it, so she answered. "Sumiregawa residence. Oh, hold on." She passed the phone to Yomiko. "It's for Nenene."

Yomiko passed the phone on and Nenene stood as she answered. "Hello? Daddy! How are you? That's great! No, I'm fine. That? That was Maggie. I told you about her. Yep, that one. So, what's up? Really? When? Oh, you have to come stay with us. Oh, no problem at all. We have plenty of room. Besides, there's no furniture in the old place anyway. We're all moved out. You have the new address? Right…right…right! Okay, when's your flight due to arrive? Hang on…let me get something to write it down." She extended her hand in the others' general direction and snapped her fingers. Michelle took the hint and scrambled to get Nenene a pen and paper. "Okay, go ahead…uh-huh…and you're coming into Narita? I think I'll be in the city that day. Hold on." More finger snapping prompted Maggie to fetch Nenene's appointment book. "Okay, let me see…yeah. Okay, I'll pick you up myself. I'm positive! It's no trouble at all. I'll see you then. I love you, too, and give my love to Mom. Right! Bye-bye." She hung up then, closed her eyes and smiled, letting herself get lost in thought.

When she didn't say anything for a minute or so, Yomiko said, "Um, Nenene?"

"Now you losers are really going to have to shape up," she said before turning to flash them an evil grin, "because my parents are coming home!"

"I wonder what Nenene's parents are like?" Anita said later that night. She and Junior were washing the dinner dishes together. When Junior didn't answer she continued. "I'll bet they're super-strict, super-conservative old fuddy-duddies."

Junior gave her a sidelong glance as he dried a plate. "Why would you think that?"

"They'd have to be to raise somebody as uptight as Nenene. I think all that yelling and domineering is just her rebelling against a repressed childhood."

"Nancy said Nenene sounded genuinely happy to hear from her father."

"Pure denial. She's just trying to fool herself into thinking her childhood was perfect."

Junior smiled a little. "I don't know. It seems to me that she couldn't have been too repressed if her parents moved to another country across the Pacific and left her alone here willingly."

Anita wheeled on him and raised a finger to make her point. "Ah, but what if that was part of their nefarious plan?! They drive her nuts while they're here, then they leave her here all by herself and see what happens!"

Junior just looked at her. "Has your imagination always been this active?"

Anita's stance softened just a little. "No. It's been getting worse ever since my sisters started rubbing off on me."

They smiled at each other, then went back to the dishes in silence.

Meanwhile, Maggie and Michelle were reading in the living room. "Nenene's right, Y'know," Michelle said. "We need to be on our best behavior when her parents come to visit. Let's make the best first impression we can. Agreed?"

"Agreed," Maggie said, then after a moment's pause, "Do you think they'll like us?"

"I don't see why not. Nenene likes us."

"But that took a while, didn't it, Sis?"

"Well, that's why we have to make a great first impression when they arrive. We want them to accept us and to respect Nenene's already having done so. Whether you ask for it or not, approval from family members is important. We should make a plan. It should be our primary mission to be considered worthy in the elder Sumiregawas' eyes."

"Worthy…" Maggie muttered. Her voice trailed off as she got lost in her book again.

In the master bedroom, Nenene was at her computer working on her latest novel while Yomiko and Nancy sat at opposite ends of the couch behind her reading. Nenene hoped that they would have retreated to their own beds by the time she got tired, but she just knew that, as had happened so many times since they moved in, she would simply have to add her own Tired Author body to the pile of The Paper and Miss Deep draped across the couch cushions. That could be dangerous in more ways than one. One time when that happened she woke the next morning laying on the kitchen floor. Nancy had phased her downstairs in her sleep.

Just as that memory came back to her, as if on cue, Nancy asked, "Nenene, was your mother a good mother?"

Nenene never turned away from the screen. "Of course she was. Why do you ask?"

There was a short pause, then Nancy said, "Do you think she can show me how to be one?"

Yomiko looked up from her book. "I think you're a fine mother, Nancy," she said.

"I don't know, Yomiko. Junior and I were separated for so long, and even now we don't spend nearly as much time together as mother and son as I'd like. Sometimes I worry that he'd rather have Michelle for a mother than me."

Nenene smirked. "What he wants isn't the problem. With Michelle you have to mark your territory, or else she pounces on it. Especially if it's a kid."

"I wouldn't worry about it, Nancy," Yomiko said. "You have plenty of time to bond with Junior now. None of us will let you get separated again."

"Still," Nenene said, "if you really want to talk to Mom about it, go ahead. I'm sure she'd be more than willing to impart her words of wisdom on how she raised such a brilliant and talented only child."

There was a moment of silence, then Nancy's voice shook as she said, "Oh…that would be….great…" and pondered what Junior would be like raised to be exactly like Nenene.

Nenene stopped typing a moment later and turned to face Nancy, saw the look on her face, then grinned. After that all three women burst out laughing.

The day of the Sumiregawas' arrival came three days later. That morning Nenene dressed in a dark suit for the day's business. Nancy, Michelle and Maggie were sitting at the door and listening to her as she put on her shoes. "Okay, I have meetings with my editor and agents all morning and I have some business to take care of before I pick up my parents, so I'll be out all day. Junior and Anita will be back before we are so I want them dressed up and looking like angels when we get here."

"Of course! They'll be irresistible!" Michelle said with a smile.

Nenene checked her watch. "And speaking of dressing up…Yomiko's still unconscious right now but eventually she'll wake up and start reading again. You guys can make clothing out of paper, right?" Michelle nodded. "Make her something nice to wear. I don't think she owns any other clothes besides that library uniform. I want her out of it and in something more formal and pretty. Oh…and see if you can pry her nose out of whatever book it's in long enough to give her a good bath."

"No problem!" Nancy said with a smile.

Nenene nodded. "Okay, then. I'll see you this afternoon." With that she turned and left.

The other women let out a breath of relief when the door closed behind her. "No problem," Nancy muttered. "Who am I kidding? There are times when I'm surprised Yomiko remembers to go to the bathroom when she gets engrossed in a book. Getting her to take a bath might require expert brainwashing."

"She needs a firm hand," Maggie muttered.

"It would probably be easier if Nenene left Yomiko one of her notes," Nancy said.

Michelle sighed. "Maybe, but Nenene left it up to us. Let's make a plan before Yomiko wakes up."

Yomiko woke up a short time later. Her eyes blinked a few times as she became aware of her surroundings, then she realized there was something covering her face. She sat up on the couch and pulled it off, feeling the glue of some masking tape peeling off her forehead. It was a piece of printer paper, and on it was marked in large characters:

CLEAN YOURSELF UP! UP! UP!

It was written in Nenene's handwriting. She smiled at it for a second, then thought about it, then gave one of her underarms a sniff. "Oh," she said, and she resolved right then to take a nice bath. That was exactly what she was going to do when she stood up and turned to leave the bedroom. Then she spotted the spy novel she had fallen asleep reading the night before sticking out from behind one of the throw pillows, and then she remembered that she had just gotten to the point where the American CIA agent was about to kill the KGB spy and steal the submarine, and then she remembered it was a first edition paperback copy and it might be damaged if she took it into the bathtub with her.

I have plenty time to get cleaned up before Nenene's parents arrive. With that happy thought she sat back down on the couch and picked up where she had left off.
Later still, Nancy, Michelle and Maggie were standing outside the cracked-open master bedroom door, peeking in. "I wonder how long she's been up?" Nancy whispered.

"It doesn't matter," Michelle whispered back. "Her bath will be ready in a minute. You two know what to do?" Nancy and Maggie nodded. "I'll give you the signal when it's ready." Michelle tiptoed off to the upstairs bathroom while the others went back to watching Yomiko.

As the Russian attack sub was about to launch its torpedoes, a nagging voice in the back of Yomiko's head tried to remind her that she was supposed to be doing something. She paused for a moment to try and remember what it was. When she couldn't, she shrugged and turned her attention back to the book. A few moments later she half-heard Nancy walk in and come over to the couch, humming merrily. When she was standing in front of Yomiko she put her hands behind her back and bent down to ask Yomiko, "What are you reading?"

Yomiko didn't look up as she said with a smile, "A fascinating Cold War fiction! I can hardly put it down!"

Yomiko didn't notice the hint of mischief in Nancy's voice when she purred, "I knew you'd say that."

Nancy grabbed the top of the book with two fingers and ever so gently phased it out of Yomiko's hands. The look of shock on Yomiko's face amused Nancy no end as she began to play "Keep-Away" with the book. "Nancy!" Yomiko yelled as she grabbed at her friend. "Stop that! Give me back my book!" At one point Yomiko almost got her hands on Nancy's waist, but Nancy just smiled and phased through them and then through the floor and out of the room.

"Ooh!" Yomiko exclaimed as she stomped out of the bedroom. She only got just outside the door when two strong arms scooped her up off the floor and she felt herself being carried off to the main bathroom. It didn't take long for her to realize she was being abducted by one of Maggie's familiars. "Maggie!" she called out when she spotted the tall Paper Sister standing outside the bathroom door. "Let me down and help me get my book back from Nancy!"

Maggie simply smiled and waved as her paper puppet carried Yomiko past her and into the bathroom. Inside the familiar carried her over to the large bathtub. A hot bubble bath had already been prepared. Yomiko could feel the steam rising off the water.

She looked around and spotted Michelle standing nearby. "Michelle," she said, "do something about your sister!"

Michelle smiled prettily. "I'm sorry, sensei, but we have our orders!" With that she raised her paper bow. Yomiko went pale when she saw Michelle had several arrows aimed right at her. Nancy phased into the bathroom just a split-second before Michelle let loose and touched Yomiko's ankle. The Paper felt herself phase out of her clothing and fall into the tub with a heavy splash. When she recovered she looked at the nearby wall and realized Michelle had pinned her clothes to it with the arrows.

"We'll wash those later," Michelle said cheerily.

Yomiko slammed her fists in the water, splashing out more of it. "Was all this really necessary?" She demanded of her captors.

"Apparently it was," Nancy said as she held Nenene's note in front of Yomiko's face, then she plucked off Yomiko's glasses while her friend was distracted. Yomiko tried to protest that action, but Nancy held her down with one hand while she passed the glasses off to the familiar. "He'll keep them safe. Right, Maggie?"

"Right!" Maggie said, just a little more chipper than usual.

Yomiko sputtered a little, then she sighed and settled down in the tub. When they were sure she wouldn't fight anymore, Nancy and Michelle got ready to join her. Nancy phased out of her clothes, while Michelle let the paper that comprised her daytime dress fall apart and float gently to the floor.

"Um, I can bathe myself," Yomiko said feebly as the others stepped into the water.

"This will save time," Michelle said as she settled in.

"And it will be fun," Nancy cooed as she got close to Yomiko. Then she and Michelle each grabbed a soft cloth and some liquid soap, then began to gently bathe Yomiko.

Yomiko closed her eyes and relaxed as the sensation of it hit her. "I suppose you're right," she whispered. "It's just…" Her eyes half-opened. "…I was getting to the really good part in the book."

"It's okay, sensei," Maggie said. She held up the book. "We saved the page. I'll read it to you. Where did you leave off?"

Yomiko closed her eyes again and moaned a little before she answered, "The Russians were setting up their torpedo shot."

"Right." Maggie closed the toilet cover and sat down on it while she found the spot on the page. Just before she started she looked at the tub again. All three of the women in it were soaked, and some of the suds Yomiko had been covered with had rubbed off onto Nancy and her Big Sister.

Maggie turned away, smiled and blushed hard. "Wow…" she muttered before she turned back to the book and began reading aloud.

Nenene rented a car after she was done with her business meetings and used it to run her errands before heading off to Narita International Airport to pick up her parents. She would get there an hour before the flight was due to arrive. Once at the airport she killed time by reading part of a paperback novel available at the duty-free shop and jotting some plot notes for her own book down in a small notepad. When she heard the announcement that said her parents' flight had arrived she rushed to the proper gate and stood in the crowd of people waiting. When passengers started coming out of the gate, she raised a large hand-made banner marked "Sumiregawa" in bold characters.

Kirika Sumiregawa, walking just a step ahead of her husband, spotted the banner after a casual glance to her right. She squealed like a little girl when she saw who was holding it, and she tried her best not to knock anyone over as she rushed to hug her daughter.

Eiichi Sumiregawa smiled as he watched the happy reunion for a few moments before walking over to join in. Nenene tried to squeeze both of them to death and all three of them laughed and cried a little as they enjoyed each others' warmth. When they finally broke apart, Nenene said, "Look at you two! You look great!"

Kirika grinned. "It's the California sun," she said as she faux-modeled herself. Kirika was about Nenene's height and maybe a little plumper than necessary, probably from too much rich American food. Still, she looked very attractive in her blue dress and jacket, which complimented her long auburn hair.

"Ah, yes" Eiichi said, "which you get in between the California rain, the California brush fires, the California earthquakes, the California mudslides…" Kirika stopped him with a swat on his shoulder. Nenene could see that Sumiregawa-san had dressed formally for the trip. He was in a three piece suit the same dark color as hers.

"Don't let him fool you," Kirika said. "He loves it there. If he didn't have to be in Japan on business we'd probably never make it back here."

"Well, I'm glad to have you back no matter what the reason," Nenene said, then she looked at them carefully. "No carry-ons?"

"Bah!" Eiichi said. "We checked everything. You can't get out of an airport over there if the security people think they need to search you for something. It's just easier."

"Okay, but that's a really long flight. I think I'd go nuts if all I could do is just sit there."

"The movie wasn't bad," Kirika said with a shrug, "and he slept most of the way."

"The only way to fly," Eiichi grinned.

Nenene grinned back. "Well, come on. Let's get your luggage. I rented a car for us."

A short time later, with her parents and their things packed into her rental, Nenene was driving home at a leisurely pace. "Now, you're sure we won't be too crowded there?" Kirika said from the front passenger seat. "Your father and I can always stay at a hotel."

"I promise it won't be a problem," Nenene said. "You'll have your own room while you're there. It's already been settled. Besides, everybody there is pretty much used to living in a crowd."

"Oh, really?" Eiichi said from the back seat. "I seem to recall one of the things you always guarded jealously was your privacy."

"Well," Nenene said, "let's just say they got me used to living in a crowd."

"I have to admit, I'm anxious to meet everyone," Kirika said. "Some of the stories you've told us about them just seem so fantastic! It's like your life has just turned into one big manga since you first met Yomiko."

Nenene glanced at her mother in shock, then she thought about it as she turned back to the road. "Holy crap," she said. "I never thought about it that way, and it's a frightening thought!"

"She's right," Eiichi professed. "In a really good manga, all the heroes die."

Nenene rolled her eyes. "Great, Dad. Thanks for making me feel at ease."

Eiichi chuckled as Kirika reached back to swat him again.

"It's a beautiful home," Kirika said as they pulled up in front of the house.

"On the outside, sure," Nenene said. "I can't promise how beautiful it will be when we get in there."

"I'm sure it will be fine," Eiichi said. His attention was drawn to the two signs hung on the fenceposts by the front gate. One said "Sumiregawa," which made sense. The other made him raise an eyebrow. "'Paper Sisters Detective Company'?"

"That's Maggie, Anita and Michelle," Nenene said as she parked. "I told them they should set up shop here. That way, they can help with the bills and I can keep them out of trouble. Let's go inside. Your bags will be taken care of."

The Sumiregawas got out of the car and let their daughter lead the way up the walk to the front door. Nenene said a quick, silent prayer before opening the door. "Hello!" She called inside. "We're back!" As they stepped further in, Nenene took note of all the pairs of shoes placed neatly just inside the entrance. "Looks like everybody's home," she said.

Just then Maggie walked briskly into the front hall. She stood straight in front of the trio and bowed politely. "Welcome home, Nenene," she said, "and welcome Mr. and Mrs. Sumiregawa. May I take your things?"

Neither of them could answer right away. They were too busy staring in awe at the girl. It wasn't just her height - Eiichi considered himself tall because he had a few inches on both his wife and daughter, but Maggie towered over all of them - but she had also chosen to wear what looked like men's clothes, straight slacks, a vest, a white button-down shirt and tie.

Nenene sighed. "Mom, Dad, this is Maggie." She turned to Maggie. "We'll be fine. Would please get their things out of the car?" She handed Maggie the keys.

"Yes, Ma'am," Maggie said. She blushed a little as she passed the Sumiregawas, then she put on her shoes and headed out to the car.

When the door was closed, Eiichi leaned over to Nenene and whispered in her ear, "That was a girl?"

"Yep," Nenene whispered back. "Welcome to my manga."

Just then Anita and Junior came out. Junior was in a boy's suit complete with short pants and Anita was in a frilly pink and white dress. Each child was carrying a pair of slippers. "Welcome to our home, Mr. and Mrs. Sumiregawa!" They said in unison.

Kirika gushed, "Aren't you just the most precious things?"

Nice job, Michelle, Nenene thought with a smile as her parents took off their shoes and let the children put the slippers on them. Then everyone took off their jackets and let Junior and Anita take them to be hung up.

As Nenene handed her jacket to Anita, the girl hissed quietly, "You owe us both big time for this!"

"Suffer, small one," Nenene said with an evil grin and a rub of Anita's head.

"Where are the others?" Eiichi said as the children left.

Nenene led the way out of the entrance hall. "They're probably just…" she began, then she couldn't speak when she saw what was waiting for them in the living room. "…in here."

Michelle, Nancy and Yomiko were all wearing smooth, form-fitting cheongsam dresses. Michelle's was the same sleeveless, silky white one Nenene had seen her in before. Yomiko's was long sleeved and a sparkly red, which looked awkward with her glasses and her shy stance, while Nancy's was short-sleeved and deep blue. Michelle was standing between the others, making the three of them look like a living, curvaceous French flag. When she saw the Sumiregawas, Michelle beamed immediately. "Welcome to our home!" She called out. "Please, come in! Sit down, weary travelers! Let us make you feel at home!"

Nobody could speak for a minute, then Nenene found her voice. "Um, Mom, Dad, these are, from right to left, Yomiko, Michelle and Nancy. Ladies, these are my parents."

"Um, hello," Kirika said with a slight bow.

"Wow…" was all Eiichi could mutter when he found his voice. The grunt earned him a shoulder-punch from his wife.

Michelle, still beaming, walked up to Kirika and bowed deeply. "Hello and welcome!" she said when she rose again. "As Nenene-sensei said, I'm Michelle, and it is my duty - nay, my privilege - to make your stay with us as comfortable and pleasurable as possible! Please, do sit down and let us make you comfortable!" She ushered them toward the big sofa in the living room while surreptitiously signaling to Nancy and Yomiko. The others took the cue and trotted into the kitchen to get appetizers. "Maggie will have dinner ready soon, but we have many delicacies for you to sample in the meantime, and we can bring you tea, coffee, anything you'd like!"

"I'd like some tea," Kirika said. She was a little overwhelmed.

"I'm fine," Eiichi said, maintaining what composure he still had.

Michelle nodded to each of them. "I'll be right back!" With that she trotted off to the kitchen.

Nenene, flustered, said, "I just need a minute…" to her parents and trotted off after her. In the kitchen, she confronted Michelle. "Are you three insane wearing those??"

Michelle didn't bat an eyelash. "Well, you said I should make Yomiko look pretty, and I should make the little ones adorable, so I thought Nancy and I should look pretty, too." Suddenly she pouted and pinched her left cheek. "I thought you'd like the way we look in them."

"You're gorgeous," Nenene said, "and that's kind of the problem! I just wanted you to look well-dressed. I don't want you to break up my parents' marriage!"

"Do you really think I'm gorgeous in this, Nenene?" Yomiko suddenly asked. "Because it doesn't feel right to me. It's made of paper and I'm not sure of the style. If you'd like, I can change back into my clothes…"

Nenene cut her off with a pointed finger. "Don't you dare!" She said. She turned to Michelle. "You're all fine. Don't change a thing." Michelle brightened up again.

In the living room, Kirika leaned toward her husband and whispered, "I don't think they were wearing any underwear under those dresses."

"Odd," Eiichi deadpanned, "I was just thinking the same thing."

"Oh, you…" Kirika grumped as Eiichi chuckled. The sound of the front door drew their attention to the entrance hallway. After a second or two they spotted Maggie walking in carrying Eiichi's suits. They wondered for a moment if she would make another trip, until they saw the rest of their luggage being handled by thin, life-sized paper dolls.

When Maggie saw them looking, she blushed and said, "We'll take these to your room." She didn't wait for them to respond.

It didn't matter. Neither elder was capable of speech at that moment. Eiichi recovered first. "Michelle," he called out, "I think I will have some tea! Strong tea!"

"Coming right up!" Michelle called back brightly.

Maggie and Junior served dinner in the dining room. Eiichi and Kirika sat in the center of one long side of the dining room table and were served first. The meal began when Maggie and Junior sat down and joined the others in prayer. Michelle started off the dinner conversation. "So what business brings you back to Japan, Mr. Sumiregawa?"

"Research," Eiichi said. "A major American publisher is looking for a new computer services company to upgrade and expand its online publishing and sales services and my company intends to put in a contract bid. I'm here to talk to the publisher's representatives here and find out how well the current system works in Japan's market and see what improvements we can include in our proposed system."

"Which publisher, Dad?" Nenene said.

"I'm sure you've heard of them. It's the Stanton and Sharp Publishing Company."

Nenene's eyes went wide. "Heard of them?? Dad, Stanton and Sharp isn't just 'major.' It's the biggest publishing company in America, maybe the world!"

Eiichi smiled. "I had heard that, dear. Anyway, I'll be spending the next couple of days talking with sales and information technology people in their branch offices in Tokyo."

"Do you think you'll get the contract?" Michelle asked.

"We're pretty confident. Our company was one of the first S&S approached, and all our negotiations with them to this point have been very positive."

As they talked, Nenene stole a quick glance at Yomiko. The woman was eating quietly, fidgeting every now and then as if she couldn't stand to be without a book in her hands. It made Nenene smile a little before she turned back to her meal. "Well, I think it's great," she said. "It sounds like your company is in for an obscene amount of profit if they go into this venture."

"Oh, must we talk about business now?" Kirika said. "I'd much rather hear more about all of you."

"What would you like to know?" Michelle asked.

"Well…the one thing I've been dying to find out is…how exactly does one become a Paper Master?"

Everyone blinked at Kirika's question, then looked around the table for a moment before settling their eyes on Yomiko, who looked up from her food in surprise at the sudden attention. "Is something wrong?" She asked.

"Mrs. Sumiregawa was wondering how someone becomes a Paper Master," Michelle said.

"Oh," Yomiko said with a blush. She put down her chopsticks and straightened up a little. "Well…it's rather hard to explain," she said as she adjusted her glasses. "You need to develop a special relationship with books…"

"Not me!" Anita said. "I was born a Paper Master."

Michelle gasped. "Anita dear," she said, "you're being rude."

Anita shrugged. "Well, she wanted to know."

"Well, I suppose there are exceptions to every rule," Yomiko said, "but generally, you need to develop a sense of how books feel. The greater the empathy you feel for them, the greater the potential you have to manipulate the paper they're made of, and the more you do it, the greater potential you have to be able to manipulate all paper."

Eiichi gave her a confused look. "Wait, you have to know how books feel? Books have feelings?"

"Of course!" Michelle said. "They're happiest when they're being read, especially if they're being read by more than one person. They're sad if they're left to collect dust on the shelf. They feel pain if they're damaged, and anger if the person damaging them is being malicious. They enjoy being shared and will often find their own way to the people they believe they should be with."

"Oh…" Kirika said, not really understanding. "Have you ever felt that way about books, Nenene dear?"

Nenene looked at her in surprise. "Me? No. To me books are just…books. I'm not the kind of bibliophile that they are."

Eiichi laughed. "You couldn't tell that from looking in your bedroom while you were growing up! As I recall you always seemed to be surrounded by books, especially when you started writing."

"She hasn't changed that much over the years…" Anita muttered.

"Anita…" Maggie whispered.

Eiichi laughed again. "You know, Little One," he said to Anita, "you remind me a little of Nenene when she was your age."

Both Nenene and Anita blinked. "Really?" Anita asked.

"You're precocious, headstrong, you speak your mind…just like Nenene. A real brat."

"Dad!" Nenene said with a huge blush.

Anita turned to Nenene and grinned. "Oh, really? So I'm not the only brat around here, huh?"

"I will be if you don't watch it!" Nenene growled at her through her teeth.

Anita wasn't phased. "Do you think that means I'll be a world famous but bitter author someday?"

"You wish! And I'm not bitter!"

Both parents laughed then, then Kirika said "I think you're right, dear. About everything! To be perfectly honest, Nenene dear, from what you've told me about the others - and from what I remember about your room - I expected to be buried in an avalanche of books and magazines as soon as we walked in the door."

"Well, we all came to an understanding," Nenene said. "Just avoid going near the attic or the two big bedrooms without an escort, or you may be hit by a random bookslide."

"Those can be very dangerous," Michelle said seriously.

"Consider me warned," Kirika said. "Now, Yomiko, is it true that you were a spy?"

Yomiko blushed. "Well, I was a special agent for the British Library…"

"Those nuts that sunk Hong Kong and tried to take over the world last year?" Eiichi said. "You really worked for them?"

Yomiko blushed harder. "Well…they weren't trying to take over the world when I first started working for them…as far as I know…"

"That's all right, dear," Kirika said, "we understand. I'm sure it was a difficult job for you. I'd be so worried for you if I were your mother. I don't know how she stands it."

"Actually, my parents passed on some time ago."

"Oh! I'm sorry."

"Thank you. In the hardest times, I like to think they're among the spirits that watch over me."

Kirika smiled and nodded. "I'm sure they are."

"What about your parents?" Eiichi asked Michelle. "How do they feel about you girls traveling all over the world, having these dangerous adventures?"

"Dad!" Nenene hissed.

"What?" He looked at Nenene innocently for a moment, then he turned back to Michelle and noticed that she, Maggie and Anita were all looking downcast. It confused him for a moment, until Kirika leaned over and whispered something in his ear. He looked shocked, then ashamed. "Of course," he said, "Nenene did tell us about that. I forgot." When Kirika moved away he turned to Michelle and bowed. "Please, forgive an old man's mistake."

"Oh, it's all right!" Michelle said, trying to sound cheerful. "We know we're not really sure about our pasts, but we know we're at our best when we're together, and that's all that matters. As far as we're concerned, we always have been and always will be sisters." She was wearing a genuine smile by the time she was finished speaking.

"I understand," Eiichi said. "Still, I feel I must make amends, and I believe I know how." He slammed the palms of his hands on his knees and straightened up considerably. "I would be honored if all of you would consider us your parents, and consider yourselves members of our family."

No one said anything for almost a minute. Everyone was too stunned. Then, suddenly, a white blur flew across the table, and the next thing Eiichi and Kirika knew they were flat on their backs, pinned to the floor by Michelle's arms while the eldest Paper Sister sobbed and peppered them both with kisses. Both elder Sumiregawas were scandalized at first, but a second later Kirika erupted in laughter as she hugged Michelle back. When he heard that, Eiichi managed to relax enough to smile.

Maggie's reaction was more reserved. She remained in her place while she sobbed quietly. "So…" she whispered. "So…"

Nenene smiled at the scene and shook her head, then she turned to Anita. "You wanna help me peel Michelle off Mom and Dad before she hugs them to death?"

Anita grinned at her. "Sure…brat."

Nenene gave her a quick head-rub. "Right back at you," she said, then the two of them got up and went to corral Michelle.

"That was a good thing you did," Kirika said as she and her husband climbed into bed later that evening.

"It was the only thing I could do," Eiichi said. "Do you remember when we first talked about getting married? How you always talked about having lots of children?"

"I was an only child," Kirika said, "and I didn't want any of my children to feel as lonely as I did not having brothers and sisters. I always regretted not giving Nenene any siblings."

"Well, you don't have to worry about that any more. Don't you see? Nenene has taken care of that herself. She's got this house and gathered all these people together in it. And did you see the way they interacted with each other? They're all already family."

Kirika nodded and smiled. "I see. So all you did was make it official."

"It was the only thing I could do," Eiichi said again. They both chuckled as they settled into bed.

Later, across the road in a rented house, a man used his cell phone to make a report. "Looks like they're all settling in for the night. Nobody's gone out since the Sumiregawas got in. No, there's no indication that they're alerted to our presence. We're staying careful. Right. We'll check in again at the usual time tomorrow." He hung up after that, then waited for one of his colleagues to relieve him on watch.