Chapter 9

"Nii-san, hurry up!" Yuumei screamed from the foyer.

"I'm coming!," Reito quickened his pace as he descended the grand staircase, putting his arms in his light jacket, "cut me some slack, Yui. I just arrived last night."

"You can sleep later, at night. We're going to be late to Haruhi's!" Yuumei walked out the front doors without waiting for her brother.

"Easy for you to say, I'm the one dealing with jet lag and a different time zone here," Reito dashed to his sister's side, "what were the chances you saw Haruhi again, huh? It's gonna be so nostalgic going back to our old neighborhood," he chuckled.

"But it'll be fun too," she smiled back at her brother.

"Yeah. Did you bring a jacket?" he eyed her bare arms as they walked towards the car.

"I'll be fine," she began to climb into the car when she felt a hand on her head.

"Careful, don't hit your head," her brother called out behind her.

Once inside the backseat, Yuumei faced him, "nii-san, I'm not 5 anymore, you don't have to baby me."

"Exactly," his hands reached for her cheeks and squished her face affectionately, "you're so big now I was worried you'd hit your head!"

Yuumei stretched her jaw and rolled her eyes at her playful brother.

He was the type that would never be seen without a smile. In time he learned to tone down his personality, especially for serious events, such as business occasions. However, one trait that he did not seem to outgrow was his protectiveness over his little sister.

"You know it's just because I've missed you," Reito put an arm around Yuumei and hugged her, "this is the first time we've ever been separated! Except for the time before you were born."

Yuumei returned the hug, admitting she felt the same. "Anyway, remember I told you Kyouya's going to be there too."

"That Ohtori boy you're fond of?" he smirked.

"What do you mean by 'fond of'?" Yuumei couldn't stop her face from heating up, "we're really good friends and you said you wanted to meet my friends."

"I know, so I can't wait to meet him. I can barely remember him," he laughed.

After a few more minutes the two arrived at Haruhi's apartment. Bystanders were not only staring at them and their car, but also at another car not too far away. They could only guess it was Kyouya's.

Yuumei and Raito tried to ignore the attention from the bystanders and passersby as they climbed the stairs to Haruhi's door. Both of them almost did not recognize the woman that answered the door until Ranka crushed them in an embrace.

"Look at the two of you!" Ranka released them and took a look at each of them, "you both have grown up so well! So handsome and so beautiful!"

It took a second for the two to match the face they could remember to the face in front of them with make up and long hair, but when they did they returned his affectionate embrace and complimented his new look. Once they entered the small apartment, they saw Haruhi and Kyouya standing by a set table, facing them. They each walked towards Yuumei and Reito.

"Haruhi!" Reito began, "look at you! You've cut your hair, but still cute," he grinned.

"And you look older now, nii-san, not as goofy as before," Haruhi looked up at him and smiled, "it's nice to see you again," she bowed.

Reito dismissed her formality and caught her in a brotherly hug. "Don't treat me like some stranger, with the amount of time I saw you when we were little I can practically consider you as another little sister."

The sudden physical affection surprised Haruhi, but she quickly forgot it as she remembered the memories that confirmed his statement.

"Nii-san, this is Kyouya," Yuumei introduced.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you again," Kyouya bowed, "I am Ohtori Kyouya," he then reached out a hand for a handshake.

Reito eyed him, "I remember you now. From what I've heard from Yui, you two get along very well," he let a smile grace his lips and shook Kyouya's hand, "that's good to hear. It's good to meet you like this, not in one of those stuffy dinner meetings. I'm Reito."

Kyouya laughed, "I agree, but I'm sure with your experience with overseas enterprise, you would do well in those meetings."

Yuumei rolled her eyes at Kyouya's behavior. She quickly insisted on eating lunch and took her seat on the floor, by the table. Reito sat beside her while Kyouya sat across. Haruhi helped her father bring the heated food to the table before taking a seat beside Kyouya.

"I know our food probably isn't to par with your meals now but-," Ranka began.

"Nonsense!" Reito cried out, "we haven't' had a simple, intimate meal like this in forever."

"Yeah and frankly we miss it. Homemade is always the best," Yuumei smiled.

Ranka squealed in excitement, "oh you two are just so precious!"

Haruhi simply ignored her father's display, accustomed to his personality, while Kyouya quietly watched the show.

"Make sure to blow on your food," Reito warned towards Yuumei, "so you don't burn your tongue."

Tired of her brother's pestering, Yuumei took a spoonful of food to spite him. Unfortunately she realized she chose the wrong moment to challenge him when she fanned her open mouth in an attempt to cool down the food inside.

"I told you! Here," leaning over to his sister, he handed her his glass of water.

She quickly chewed and swallowed the scalding food, drank the water she was handed, then exhaled in relief. Reito looked her straight in the eyes and wiped the tears that had formed from the pain.

"You okay?" he asked, to which she nodded in response.

Ranka once again squealed in his seat at the end of the table. His arms wrapped around his body as if containing the exhilaration he felt, "oh sibling love! You two haven't changed at all!"

Everyone simply sighed at his behavior.

After the meal, Reito, Yuumei, Kyouya, and Haruhi decided to walk around town with Ranka claiming he needed to rest for his work. First, they headed for the shopping district.

"There are so many more stores," Reito stated as he and Yuumei looked around in awe at the busy area, "hey I remember that shop!" He headed for a store with the others following.

"Careful, there's a step."

Yuumei instinctively looked down to find the overlooked step, then thanked Kyouya for the reminder. She took his offered hand which guided her through the doorway.

Inside, she stared in wonder. The modest store of little knick-knacks and toys had not changed one bit in comparison to the growing district surrounding it. They sold old fashioned toys like tops and yo-yos along with the latest cards and gadgets every kid wanted.

"It's still here!" Reito screamed from the back of the little store, "the car that I was saving up for!"

Haruhi perused the store, she had only been there a couple of times but it was always nice to look around the shop. Meanwhile, Kyouya followed Yuumei around the unfamiliar atmosphere.

"Well, this is quaint," he commented looking around the small space.

Yuumei giggled, "what? You've never been to a toy store?"

"I have, they were just not like this."

"Yeah, it doesn't have five floors and thousands of the latest, name brand toys," she exaggerated.

"Hey, I said it was cute," Kyouya defended himself.

Yuumei laughed at him, but was distracted by something she had not seen in a long time, "remember these?" She faced Kyouya with a childish grin and with her forefingers stuck together.

"A chinese finger trap, I've read about them."

"These drove me crazy when I was little!" Yuumei turned to explore more of the store, but her elbow pushed a figurine off the shelf. Luckily, Kyouya was able to catch it mid-air before it shattered on the floor.

"Making a mess, Yui?" Reito said appearing before them, an eyebrow raised.

"Kyouya caught it," she placed the trap back on the shelf while muttering a quick thanks to Kyouya.

Yuumei made sure to keep her hands and elbows to herself as they made their way out the store.

"Look," everyone looked towards the direction Haruhi pointed at, "that's the ice cream place we used to go to."

"They've gotten bigger. I guess they've been successful," Yuumei smiled.

"How about I treat you all with some ice cream?" Reito exclaimed, however he did not wait for anyone's response as he dashed to the shop.

Haruhi and Yuumei did not argue, they were getting free ice cream after all.

"You don't have to pay for me, I can buy my own," Kyouya protested, attempting not to offend him.

"Don't worry about it, Kyouya," Reito shot him a reassuring smile, "just think of it like an older brother treating you kiddies," he joked though he was only a year older than the boy.

Kyouya acquiesced to the unfamiliar behavior coming from a brother figure.

The four sat at a table outside the shop. They discussed topics from stories from the past and present, to overseas experiences, business and casual, while they finished their snack. As they threw away their used napkins, they decided on their new destination: the elementary school.

Engrossed in their discussion of who their teachers were and if they were tolerable, Haruhi and Yuumei failed to notice how the two males had fallen back and followed behind them rather than beside. Their obliviousness grew as they got closer to the school, until Yuumei stopped when a sudden gush of wind passed through them and she visibly shivered.

Reito tutted and shook his head, "I warned you. Here-"

But before he could offer her his jacket, Kyouya already had his on her shoulders, assuring her that he was fine in his layered outfit. Practical and mindful of the weather, Haruhi had brought her own and proceeded to put it on.

Reito eyed them for a bit as he continued to follow the two girls in silence, with Kyouya beside him.

Once at the gates of the school, Haruhi and Yuumei proceeded to point out the windows to their classrooms. At the same time, Reito took a couple of steps back away from the two, out of earshot, and put a hand on Kyouya's shoulders as a signal for him to follow suit. He remained silent for a moment as he stared at the girls. Kyouya looked at him bewildered at the gesture.

"We never tried to hide who we are," Reito said seriously, still looking forward, "but as we grew up and our friends and classmates became aware of our family background, they began to treat us differently even though we hadn't change from the day before. They just realized something about us and in their eyes that made us different from them. Of course there were exceptions, like Haruhi who is either incredibly oblivious or incredibly kind. I think she's both," he chuckled.

Kyouya nodded in agreement.

"Still, it was hard to see her go through that, so I promised myself I would protect her. If she didn't have friends then she would at least have me to keep her smiling. Again, thankfully Haruhi was there too. Then we moved and everything changed again. The whole adjusting process was a struggle but I guess I can thank you for helping her out with that," he smiled at Kyouya.

Kyouya quickly returned it, but when Reito faced forward again with a much more solemn look, he turned his gaze to Yuumei.

"But then our mother died. It was hard to accept it but death is inevitable, you know? I'd say it was harder to watch someone alive suffer, especially someone you dearly care about. That's why when it was suggested that Yui go to America I begged to go with her, but that wasn't easy either. I was desperate to make her feel better so I was relieved when she began to be happy again after some time. Then two years later she says she wants to go back to Japan, she almost gave me a heart attack! But worse of all, I couldn't go with her because of my responsibilities at school and to my uncle at the American extension of the company. But there was no stopping her. For the first time I had to trust that she could fend for herself and, from what she's told me and from what I've seen today, I can be sure that she didn't make the wrong decision. It helps to know that, along with Haruhi, you're here with her too." Reito looked straight at Kyouya who looked at him in return, "promise you'll protect her too, especially when I'm not around, ok?" he winked.

Kyouya was taken aback for a moment and automatically nodded in reply. He kept his eyes on Reito even after he had left Kyouya's side to move towards the girls. He stood frozen, pondering the words he had just heard.

"Are you ok, Kyouya? You can take your jacket back if you're cold," Yuumei asked noticing her rigid friend.

"No, I'm fine," he assured, plastering a smile on his face. He dismissed his thoughts as he decided it was a topic to reflect on later, when he would no longer be at the company of others.

Soon after, the group decided to part ways. They thanked Haruhi and her father for their hospitality, while Yuumei and Reito thanked Kyouya for his time. The siblings got into their car and were driven home.

"That was so much fun," Yuumei reflected as she stared outside the window of their moving vehicle.

"Yup, that was. I even got my car!" Reito laughed, holding out a plastic bag.

She mimicked his laughter, "we should go back there every once in a while."

Reito reached out to Yuumei and placed her head on his shoulder, "I'm really glad you're doing well. You have some pretty special people around you."

She sighed, they were definitely 'special.' "You have no idea."