"I still think we should have been married by Elvis," Shigeru pouted.
Yuzan grinned at her in agreement. "That would have been a great story to tell our friends. But Tsukushi was right in advising us to take care of it in Reno. Going all the way to Vegas would have wasted too much time since they tracked our movements in Atlanta that quickly."
"Well, at least we got pictures, even if they're just cell phone snaps by Rui's limousine driver." She scrolled through them.
"Don't diss our wedding witness." He took the phone from her and viewed them again. "I told you that dress from Morocco would suit you. I didn't know that you'd brought it."
"Yes, luckily it rolls up well for travel." She patted the backpack next to her. "I only hope it survives this leg of the trip so I can wear it again." The plane hit an air pocket and knocked their shoulders together. "I didn't expect to fly home in a cargo plane though."
"Look on the bright side. This is one arrival method that Dad wouldn't expect."
"It's a good thing that Akira had one ready and waiting in San Francisco, even if the cabin service leaves something to be desired." She held up their bag of fast food purchased at the airport.
"Don't forget dessert!" Yuzan tugged his backpack over. "I told you all that candy from Epcot would come in handy!"
"Now we're hiding in the back of a delivery van?"
"I told you that I'd bring excitement to your life."
"What a sweet-talker you are."
In early morning—Japanese time—they finally arrived at the back entrance of their destination. The two staggered to the ground, stiff from over twelve straight hours of uncomfortable travel. As he stretched, Yuzan looked around at the meticulously landscaped grounds and outbuildings surrounding the mansion, and Shigeru thanked the driver of the Nishikado Specialty Teas truck.
"Okay," she said, taking his hand, "arriving safely in Japan was Step One. Now for Step Two, trying to survive my parents." Yuzan shuddered.
"So the young Yoshida heir whose disappearance caused such a stir has married my daughter, eh?" The eagle eyes of Shigeru's mother pinned him over the tea set.
"Yes, ma'am, if you please." Yuzan bent his head respectfully, wishing that he and Shigeru were wearing anything other than dusty jeans.
"Mother!" Shigeru hissed.
"Daughter, be silent," she commanded then turned again to her son-in-law. "You know, you do not bring as much benefit to the family as the husband her father and I chose for her. The Yoshidas, while accepted in society, are viewed as slightly nouveau riche by our peers." She took a sip of tea as she steadily regarded him.
"Every family has a starting point." Yuzan bowed again. "And if I may be so bold, the husband you selected for her is no longer available."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better that she is being used by you to get out of a sticky situation?"
"I promise to respect, honor and care for your daughter. Is that not better than more wealth than can be counted or more influence than can be used?"
The stern matriarch of the Okawahara family suddenly smiled and chuckled. "Well said, young man. I do not know why that idiot Taizo was so blessed with such extraordinary sons."
"Wh-what do you mean?" Yuzan stammered. "There is nothing that special about me. My brother is the genius."
"Has that idiot of a father brainwashed you so much? Yes, your brother is one of those savants who are of little use in real world situations. Such an eccentric is best left to his ivory tower of pure research. You, however, have caught my attention."
Shigeru could no longer remain quiet. "Is that good or bad, Mother?"
Ignoring her, Madame Okawahara continued to address Yuzan, "Don't think it has gone unnoticed that your company's profits have doubled since you came of age and began to take part in fund management. And your father would have been exiled to a deserted island for his antics by now if not for your adroit handling of many more situations than have been reported in the yellow press. Yes, I am well pleased with my daughter's choice."
"You are?!" the newlyweds replied in unison.
"However"—they held their breaths—"although this marriage is legal, you know that you must register in Japan to be secure from any of Taizo's maneuverings."
"We, ah, actually hoped that if they focused their attention on the foreign ceremony they wouldn't notice us sneaking down to the city registrar," Yuzan offered as an explanation.
"But," Shigeru pointed out, "he apparently has spies everywhere."
"Darling daughter, you forget with whom you speak." She opened a folder on the couch beside her and handed over a sheaf of papers. "Fill out both the marriage and proxy forms, and my staff will take care of the rest. And to make public our family's seal of approval, I believe I shall plan an extremely large reception introducing my daughter and her husband to few hundred or so of our closest acquaintances."
"Mother! Are you sure that it's all right to do this? After all, Daddy is still in the Middle East—"
"Shigeru. Remember whose side of the family added the oil wells to the family." She turned to Yuzan. "Now, Son-in-law?"
"Y-yes?"
"Your refusal to clean up your father's latest mess will not endear you to him. Although this goes against our country's tradition, it might be best to take this opportunity to cut familial ties."
"What—"
"You can continue using your considerable talent in managing certain investments for the Okawahara family. And Shigeru, I would strongly advise you to turn OgaShi over to him."
"OgaShi?" He turned to her.
"My trust fund."
"But that's in the bi-bi-bil—"
"Actually close to a trillion yen by now," his mother-in-law corrected. "And although the Okawahara have always made appropriate political donations, we have never made a public declaration for a candidate—as of yet."
"Ah, that's a bit further in the future," he waved his hands at her, "as well as a trifle premature."
"Nevertheless, aligning yourself with the Okawahara empire during this time of upheaval is not going to cause you to give up any of your career dreams. I do believe that there is an empty office suite on the same floor as my daughter's at Oka Tower. But that is for later." She stood in anticipation of departure and the young couple rose as well. "Complete those forms before you retire and leave them with my secretary. I assume that you will wish a little honeymoon privacy in your house instead of your suite here?" After their affirmative response she continued, "Shigeru, since you and your husband have other items of importance to take care of in the coming days, will you trust me with the reception planning?"
"Of course, Mother," she answered, a little shell-shocked.
"Then, farewell for now. I understand that your bodies feel like day and night have exchanged places, so I do not expect to see you until tomorrow." An efficient servant closed the door silently behind her.
Yuzan flopped back into the chair. "Why do I feel like I was just run over by a velvet steamroller?"
Shigeru shoved his shoulder. "Get used to it. As for me, I've got to take on a mother-in-law that once lusted after my husband."
He shuddered. "How long are you going to continue to bring that up?"
"Probably for the rest of our lives," she laughed, then pulled the papers toward them. "Okay. Let's get this show on the road so we can sleep. I am never traveling any way but First Class ever again!"
The following morning Shigeru had just poured her first cup of coffee when the estate phone rang next to her elbow. "Yes?"
"Miss Okawahara?"
"Speaking." She answered to her maiden name, not quite ready to encourage rumors among the staff.
"This is the front security gate. We have a visitor who insists upon speaking with you. He seems to think that you know where his brother is."
"Um, is he about 5'10", with longish dark hair?"
"Yes, Miss, and with quite a ferocious expression on his face," he whispered into the phone.
"Ah. Please treat him with the utmost courtesy and have a cart bring him to my villa."
She hummed as she took an extra cup from the cabinet and set a platter of sweet pastries on the glass topped table. When the shower turned off, she called, "Yuzan! Haru's on his way here."
"What?!" he called at the same time as the chime rang. She opened the door to her twitching brother-in-law. "I thought you said that Haru was coming." Yuzan came to a halt, wearing one towel around his waist while rubbing his hair with another. "Oh. I guess I heard correctly."
Haru grinned and pulled Shigeru into a quick hug and smacked her on the cheek before advancing on his brother. "You idiot!" he shouted. "What are you doing, disappearing while Dad is going haywire? Do you know that he's trying to marry you off to some little society idiot?" He lifted his brother off his feet and shook him.
"Ow! Ow!" Yuzan protested. "I'm going to lose any semblance of modesty if you don't stop that!"
"Well, from the look of things," Haru's eyes shifted mischievously between the two of them, "I don't think it will be anything she hasn't seen before."
"Be that as it may," Yuzan attempted for some dignity, "at least let me get dressed first."
"Haru," Shigeru called. "I don't know if your preferred breakfast matches your brother's, but I do have some food ready. Won't you sit down?"
"So," he said between bites a few minutes later, "are you going to make an honest man out of him? You'd better hurry, or he'll end up hitched and you'll be the other woman."
Yuzan approached him from behind and snapped him with the towel he had used on his hair. "Watch your mouth, little brother," he growled. Shigeru smiled into her coffee.
"I'm just saying that you can't let the grass grow beneath your feet. Dad's spies are everywhere, even at Mitchan's place. I played musical taxis with them for half an hour this morning before losing them." He grinned. "It helps to know the exact times that trains go through crossings."
Yuzan rolled his eyes. "That's so like you. Just so you know, we got married in the United States and the Japanese registration should be taken care of already." Shigeru nodded in response to his raised eyebrow.
"Great!" Haru's excitement was infectious. "That'll lock the old man's heels."
Shigeru rose after topping off her cup. "I'll let you fill him in on the rest of the sordid details while I take my turn in the shower." She kissed the top of her husband's head and patted his shoulder on the way out.
Even over the sound of falling water she could hear raised voices. Haru was still steaming when she emerged in a fresh outfit. Yuzan leaned on the table with his hand over his eyes.
"For the last time, you don't need to get involved with Father any more than necessary. You know what he's like, Haru."
"Yes," he replied bluntly. "And I know that you've put up with it for almost two decades. Why are you trying to make this easier for him? Let him stew in his own juices for once."
Enough was enough. "Yuzan," she interrupted. "Did you tell Haru that your father had threatened him if you didn't comply?" From the nonplussed look on Haru's face she guessed that he hadn't. "Yes, he threatened to block your funds and your brother wanted to protect your future. Of course, I told him that you would be livid if you found out after the fact, but he isn't yet used to listening to his wife."
"You weren't my wife at the time," Yuzan began before Haru snatched him out of the chair by his lapels.
"You absolute ass!" he expostulated. "Why must you always take it on yourself? I've done little enough except try to stay out of your way!"
"Well," Yuzan managed to free himself, "your money isn't in any danger, even if Dad declares me incompetent."
"Huh?" Shigeru and Haru both had mystified responses.
"Never mind that." Yuzan's shoulder jerked. "Have we found out when and where the yuino is to be held tomorrow?"
"It's at the Maple Group's flagship hotel. Micheru told Shizuku, for some reason." Haru admitted, "I was planning to crash it and raise holy hell."
"Thank God we came back in time," sighed his brother.
"Wait…Maple Group." They turned to Shigeru, whose eyes were focused on the distance. "Maybe that's a good way to handle it." She looked at them with a slowly widening grin. "The united Yoshida brothers—and spouses—will destroy his house of cards once and for all!"
