By the time the plane landed, Yuko knew everything she needed to know about America, the family, and Ethan himself. Ethan had fallen asleep on her shoulder and she fell asleep with her head on top of his.
They were awakened by the older boy.
"Wake up you two! We're home." He was a too loud for Yuko's liking. Not only did he wake her up, but he woke Suren up as well.
A shroud of impending doom covered the little wolf girl as she hung over his shoulder. He, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to her. Yuko just settled for a sleepy glare.
"Come on, Ethan. Wake up!" He continued to poke and shake his little brother till he opened his eyes.
"Aw Xander…I was havin' a good dream, too." Ethan wined as he yawned.
"Xander? Do you have another brother Ethan-kun? You told me your brother's name was Alexander." Yuko asked, completely confused.
"My real name's Alexander, but I like to be called Xander. It's more unique." The older boy said. His eyes had more of a purple tone than Ethan's, but their hair was the same. "It really is a pleasure to meet such a beautiful girl such as you." He added.
"You're acting again." Ethan pouted. He turned to Yuko whose eyebrow was raised. "He's not usually this nice, or flirty."
"Oh really?" Yuko said a smug grin on her face.
Despite the smile on Xander's face, the twitch of his eyebrow and the vain in his forehead let Yuko know he was annoyed.
"Look squirt, I wasn't being flirtatious, I was being nice and complemented her. And I am too nice!" He growled at his brother. It was obvious he was trying to keep his composure but was failing miserably.
"Exhibit A. See, I told you he wasn't always nice." Ethan tried to be calm and expressionless, but he couldn't help but grin.
"Only with you, squirt." Xander replied, scooping his brother up from the seat and slinging him over his shoulder. Ethan giggled childishly and Alexander grinned. Smiling seemed to be contagious because even Yuko grinned.
Everyone seemed to be content…everyone except the guardian characters.
"He ignored me…" Suren hissed. Her crimson eyes narrowed and her nose scrunched up.
"He might not be able to see us like Ethan-kun." Megumi squeaked.
"No. I can smell and sense another character, and it's not any of you. It belongs to the tall one."
"Then how come I can't sense it?" Lyn asked.
"I don't know. Maybe he's like you. He can mask his presence to others. But of course I can, because that's my ability. I can sense a character for a mile around." Suren replied with a huff.
"You don't need to remind me…" Lyn said irritably.
"Calm down guys. Besides, even if he didn't ignore you, he wouldn't be able to understand you. They don't understand Japanese." Yuko said. She stood up and slung her bag over her shoulder. Her three guardian characters flocked to her and sat upon her head or continued to float around.
With cello in hand, she exited the private jet to a relatively empty airport. It was nothing like the LA airport she started her American adventure at. 'That's exactly what this is…an adventure. Nothing permanent.'she thought to herself as she followed the family.
Ethan and Xander stayed close to her the whole time.
"Welcome to Washington D.C.! The capitol of the U.S.A." Xander proudly announced when they walked outside.
"Why do you live here again?" Yuko asked.
"Cuz' dad's the Attorney General. He tells the president what's legal and what's not." Ethan replied thoughtfully.
"Not like he always listens anyways." Mr. Burbine laughed once they were in the car. Yuko jumped at the sound of his voice. It was deep and soothing, but it held a rather cold undertone.
"So Yuko, how are you enjoying America so far?" Mrs. Burbine asked her. Her voice was the same as her husband's; sweet and inviting, but slightly impersonal.
Yuko thought for a second. To be honest, she found it quite uneventful. But she didn't want to offend anyone with her feelings.
"I don't believe I've been here long enough to make a proper decision." She replied. To her, that was neutral ground. No one should be offended and she didn't have to sugar coat anything.
"I regret not being able to spend more time with you. You'll be starting school at the Rosewood Academy here in D.C. It is a boarding school, so you'll be required to live on campus. Of course, our home isn't that far from the school if you wish to visit. All you'd have to do is make a quick call and I'll be sure to send a car." Mrs. Burbine said. She smiled as she produced several papers and pamphlets from her ridiculously large purse and handed them to her adopted daughter.
Yuko pretended to read them. The only reason why the pamphlet was so big and the papers where so long was because they used unnecessarily huge words. It was way too confusing to trouble her mind with.
Mrs. Burbine blathered on about the school and its prestige. It seemed like her kids had learned how to drone out her talking. Her husband seemed to be doing the same.
"What a windbag." Lyn sighed. Yuko shot her a quick glare from the corner of her eye. Even though she knew the lady could not hear her, Yuko still found it rude for Lyn to say what she had been thinking. At least she kept it to herself.
After a quick drive, they arrived at a large, brown brick house. From the outside, it looked like it had two floors and an attic. The front steps where made of the same brick as the house. The double door had to be at least twelve feet high and five feet wide. The patio was covered by an extension of the roof. Over all, it was very beautiful.
"Welcome to your new home." Mr. Burbine said with his arms spread out. It looked like he was going to hug the house.
'I'll decide if it's home or not.'she thought to herself.
Xander carried her cello up to what would be her room.
"Now close your eyes!" Ethan said, blocking the door. An exited glow lit up his sparkling blue eyes.
"Is that a command? You know I'm older than you by six years." she reminded the young boy she was the more authoritative person by poking his head a few times.
Xander had to laugh at that. "Would you do that to me if I told you to close your eyes? There's a surprise in there from all of us." he said, violet eyes sparkling as well.
Outnumbered (even her Chara where on their side), Yuko finally closed her eyes and allowed herself to be led into the room.
Ethan led her past the bed (she knew it was a bed because she stubbed her toe on one of the feet) and to what she thought was the middle of the room.
"Okay, open your eyes!" they both said in unison.
Slowly, she opened her eyes to a room that was the size of her old living room. It even had a T.V. in it!
She swung her head left and right to take in every detail of the room. Everything was grand and a little over the top. Never before had she ever lived with such a wealthy family.
After the amazement of what was in front of her wore off, she couldn't help but feel like she was missing something.
"What do you guys think?" she asked her chara in Japanese.
"It's huge! There are so many places I could hide and ambush Suren or Megumi!" Lyn cried, zooming all over the place.
"That bed looks comfortable…" Suren drooled. Yuko guessed she was still tired. "Ahem, these are the most wonderful living conditions we have ever lived in, but don't let it go to your head." she added as she floated around to get a better look.
"Aiyee!" Megumi squealed.
"Ethan, let Megumi go!" Yuko snapped. Ethan shook his head and held up his hands to reveal their emptiness.
"Well if you didn't…then…" Yuko slowly turned around to observe the final wall. Her eyes grew as wide as saucers. All she could do was stand motionless, mouth hanging open.
The back wall, opposite from her bed, was covered end to end with all kinds of musical trappings. There were three book cases of different sheet music. In between them were many different instruments. They ranged from brass to string.
In the very center of the arrangement was a double bass. The pegs shined like the polished silver it was. The body was a beautiful reddish brown. It looked like it was sent from heaven because of the way the light was hitting it.
Megumi was zipping around everything, praising the instruments and glancing at the sheet music titles. "This is paradise!" She exclaimed.
"That empty stand is for your cello." Xander pointed to the empty slot to the right of the bass.
"This can't seriously be all for me. I can't even play most of those!" Yuko was hardly able to form a sentence, let alone in English. She was surprised that he was even able to understand it at all.
"It's a welcome home gift. And I'm sure you can learn. The adoption papers said you where really talented in the music field." He winked at her.
Tears sprang up in her eyes. This wasn't fair. These people made it really hard to hate being in the situation she was in.
"Xander, look what you did! Your ugly face made her cry!" Ethan shouted at his brother.
"Huh, what? I did not!" Xander was too shocked and taken back to shout.
All Yuko could do was laugh. She laughed like she had never laughed before. Maybe she could survive living here for awhile.
