Chapter 6 – A Taste of a Normal Life

Wednesday, August 28th

Tyson's house, McClaine district.

7:15 pm

Tyson's house was located in a quiet neighborhood in the McClaine district of Fairhaven. The outside of the 2 story home including the lawn were kept. Out on the street was Izumi's S15 parked outside.

"Can you break into the phone?" Izumi said over her cellphone.

"Already did… you can pick it up tonight" a young man's voice was heard on the other side of the line.

"Great… you're a genius" Izumi's voice sounded rather optimistic after knowing she could find out what happened to Manny.

"Ok… I'll see you tonight at that racing spot" the guy said.

"Thanks a lot, I owe you one" Izumi said before she ended the call.

It was a rainy evening and the heavy raindrops could be felt on the top of the Nissan S15, good thing Izumi had an umbrella since her attire which consisted of a pair of blue jeans, a white blouse and black high heels weren't the right choice for bad weather. Izumi stepped out of her vehicle and climbed a flight of stairs towards the front door.

"I was wondering what took you so long" Tyson opened the door, he was wearing blue jeans and a basketball jersey.

"I had to run a quick errand but here… I brought some pie" Izumi handed a box that contained apple pie she picked up from a local super-market on her way.

"Come in" said Tyson.

The inside of the house was nicely decorated, the tasty scent of home cooking filled the air. Izumi and Tyson walked towards the kitchen where his wife, Leann was doing the finishing touches of her family's secret recipe for Fettuccine Alfredo.

"Izumi, how you've been?" Leann greeted Izumi, she stood 5'7 and had slim complexion. She was wearing a white sleeveless short dress with her black hair down.

"You know me…. Keeping your husband out of trouble" Izumi answered.

"I know… he can be a handful" said Leann.

From behind a young 7-year old girl wearing a red dress ran and jumped towards Izumi and wrapped her arms around her.

"You haven't forgotten about me" said the little girl.

"Of course not" Izumi replied as she wrapped her arms around the girl as well.

"Come on, Audrey. Let Izumi breathe for a second" Leann said.

"It's alright" Izumi smiled at Leann.

"Have you gotten any better at Gran Turismo?" Audrey asked with her sweet, innocent voice.

"I've been too busy, sweetie" Izumi replied.

Tyson laughed "Audrey taught me how to play that game… I guess I'm getting old since all I know is Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat"

"Yeah dad, you're getting old" said Audrey.

"I bet you tomorrow's coffee I can beat you in Gran Turismo" Tyson said to Izumi.

"You're on" Izumi accepted Tyson's challenge.

Leann shook her head "I have a kid for a husband"

Tyson and Izumi headed to the living room along with Audrey to play Gran Turismo on the PS3. Tyson picked a Corvette C6 and Izumi picked a Nissan GT-R. At the beginning of the race, everything was even but eventually Izumi took the lead.

"Dad, you're not doing what I taught you" Audrey looked at Tyson's car losing control and slamming into the side barriers while Izumi was handling her car very well. Their laughs could be heard all the way into the kitchen where Leann was.

"Someone is buying coffee tomorrow… I want my latte frozen this time" Izumi said with joy in her voice, she remembers playing video games when she was younger. But more to it, she enjoy living a piece of the family life she didn't have. Being born in a wealthy family didn't leave space for quality family time.

After half an hour dinner was ready.

At the dinner table everyone was enjoying the Fettuccine Alfredo Leann cooked.

"This is really tasty" said Izumi.

"I'm glad you like it, my grandma was from Italy and she taught me how to make it" Leann responded.

"I visited Italy back when I was a kid" Izumi responded.

"You never told me you went to Italy" Tyson said.

"I had a family once" Izumi said.

Everyone kept digging in as they were talking about Italian cuisine, eating the main course they ate Izumi's apple pie. She wasn't much of a cook but sure knew of many places where good food was made.

"So tell me, Izumi… are you seeing anyone?" Leann asked.

"With this job? I don't have the time to be in a relationship" Izumi responded.

"I've tried convincing her to go out with one of the guys from SWAT but she doesn't want to" Tyson said.

"You're young and beautiful… you could be with a real nice guy" Leann insisted.

"Thank you" Izumi blushed.

"Someone's turning red" Audrey teased.

"Yes indeed" Tyson said.

Everyone laughed…

Leann looked at Izumi "So… what brought you to Fairhaven? You're from Olympic City, aren't you?"

"I'm from Bayview actually" Izumi responded.

"We got an uncle in Bayview" said Audrey.

"That's a long way" Leann also commented.

"I studied criminal justice back home and after graduation I've received many job offers from different police departments. Fairhaven was the most appealing" Izumi responded to Leann's question.

"I see" Leann said.

"Do you have a mom and dad…. Brothers and sisters?" Audrey asked.

Izumi looked at Audrey with a tender look "I do have a mom and dad but no brothers or sisters, honey"

"And where are they?" Audrey asked with curiosity in her voice. Tyson knew family wasn't a happy topic for Izumi but he also noticed she was opening up to his wife and daughter.

"Well… My mom lives in Japan and my dad in many places…. One day he can be in Portugal and the next in Spain" Izumi responded in a very sweet tone.

"Wow… that sounds like faraway" Audrey commented.

"Yes it is, sweetie" Izumi responded with a smile on her face.

Tyson knew that wasn't a happy topic for his partner but found it interesting how she was opening up to his wife and daughter. Izumi seemed totally different… she was sweet and caring. After a long chat, Audrey was in the living room watching TV and Leann was putting away the left overs in the fridge. Izumi and Tyson were on the deck located in the backyard. From there the city's skyscrapers were in plain sight.

"My wife and daughter love you" said Tyson.

"They're very sweet…. You're very fortunate" Izumi responded.

Tyson looked at the city lights "So… your mom is in Japan and your dad travels a lot… that's interesting"

Izumi took a deep breathe "It's more complicated than that… but you deserve an explanation"

"No… I don't. I understand it's not a happy topic for you" Tyson said.

Izumi turned to Tyson and looked at him with a serene look in her eyes "Its ok… I'll tell you"

Leann walked outside to the deck as well "Look, Izumi. Don't listen to Tyson… he can be a gossiper"

"It's alright, Leann" Izumi insisted.

Leann put her arm around Tyson's waist and leaned on him, Izumi took a step back and leaned against the hand rail.

"You probably won't believe me…." Izumi looked down at the floor.

"Are you a millionaire?" Tyson asked.

"Not me… my father is" Izumi answered.

"You're father?" Leann asked.

"Have you heard of Taelon Industries?" Izumi asked both.

"The real estate and stock trading company…. Don't tell me you're related to Joao De Souza"

Izumi nodded "That's my father"

"You're a millionaire?!" Tyson and Leann said in unison.

"I'm not a millionaire… We're not on speaking terms" Izumi said.

"So your mom is…" Leann said.

"Kiyomi De Souza… well her maiden name was Nishimura" Izumi responded.

"I've seen pictures on the news and you do look like her" Leann commented.

"Yeah… I guess" Izumi said with sadness in her voice.

"Wow… partner" Tyson said.

"Long story made short…. I was eighteen when my father had the fun idea of arranging a marriage between me and the son of a big time politician from Portugal…. I was disgusted by his idea of basically selling his daughter for exchange of business opportunities. I was living in Japan at the time so I packed my bags and took all my savings and came back to the States. I went to college and then here I am… wearing a badge" Izumi explained.

"So you and your family?" Tyson asked.

"I'm dead to them… that's why you'll never see my name on the papers and magazines when they talk about Joao's family" Izumi said with anger.

"I'm sorry" said Leann.

"It's alright" Izumi replied.

"Well... you can trust us, partner. We'll be here for you" Tyson felt sympathy for Izumi after listening to her story and he understood why she seemed cold and uncaring on the surface. He also felt it wasn't the right to ask about the whole deal with Manny.

The Junkie's notes: I know… maybe some of you are asking "why is chapter so much around the whole family topic?" My answer is this… I felt it was a good opportunity to look at Izumi's past and how she became a badass instead of a spoiled princess. But don't worry… I'm not gonna venture into the realm of daddy issues and the stuff you could've seen in Dr. Phil or my personal favorite Jerry Springer. By the way I wanted to pay homage to Gran Turismo, Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. I grew up playing those games….. One Love