New York Minute

Tiny feet pattered through the house, rumbling the floorboards and landing to a stop outside the wooden door of the man's bedroom. He had long since moved out of the family home and started living on his own several years ago. There was a brief moment of silence, his one eye open and peeking at the door. The girls were exchanging ideas, which was never a good idea. Clearly they got their mother's scheming. Artemis and Luna were the family's pride and joy; despite the turbulent circumstances regarding their birth. Artemis had her mother's long red hair and her father's lavender eyes, while Luna had her father's sandy blonde hair and her mother's honey brown eyes. They were quite the pair; incidentally fraternal twins, yet they looked hardly anything alike. And every day he saw more and more of Kotoko in them.

"Artemis, let's go see if he's awake. It's mother's day he can't sleep through the tradition!" Pushing her sister playfully towards the door, Luna came forward and tapped on it gingerly. "Not like that, you dummy! Like this!" She pounded on the door, but neither got an answer. The silence was audible as she frowned and pushed open the door.

Their father lay in bed, arm curled around a pillow, laying on his stomach. He was watching the door, but thankfully in the darkness they couldn't see that. Both the girls were eager to get his attention today; it was going to be busy. Luna came forward first, shyly tugging on his arm that was hanging down over the edge of the bed. "Papa." Nothing.

"Wake up, dummy, we have plans today, remember?" Artemis crooned, pushing against his rib cage. Finally, he rolled onto his side and threw an arm over his face for dramatic flair. "He's awake!" Climbing onto the bed, Artemis began to hop while Luna climbed onto his legs and hugged his neck.

He checked his watch while his arm hung over his face and blinked at the time. Ten? "Didn't I say we were going to visit mama at noon?"

"Yes, but it takes an hour to get there. You need to shower and look nice! She'd want that!" Luna added, while her sister started braiding Naoki's hair. "No, Artemis, stop." She swatted her sister's hand away and smiled at her father. "Go get dressed and look pretty fancy. Mama's waiting."

Mother's day was special in their house. They had a very strict schedule and a set ritual before they could leave and do anything. Naoki was particular about following it to the letter every year, strictly because the girls were used to routine. "Fine," He groaned, climbing out of the bed, pajama bottoms hanging low on his hips. He quickly fixed it and turned to Artemis. "Go get papa's outfit for him. I'm sure you've already picked one out."

Artemis nodded and ran to the closet, following him to the bathroom dragging the suit on the hanger. "Your favorite blue suit! Nana says it was Mama's favorite, too. She says it was the one you wore when you went on your first date."

The emotions that overwhelmed him were nauseating as he hung the suit up in the bathroom and turned to close the door. "Artemis, thank you. Stay here, please."

While he was in the shower, the doorbell rang, prompting Luna to go answer it. She smiled brightly when she saw her uncle on the other side of the door with his new girlfriend. "Yuuki!" Jumping up and holding her arms out, she waited for a hug. Yuuki enveloped her and pulled her towards him with a smile. "Are you going to visit your mama today? Your father asked if I would come along."

Luna nodded, her honey brown eyes looking down the hall towards the bathroom. "Papa is sad today. He wanted her to be with him. He won't say it, but I know he's sad. His eyes are soft today."

"Well, you know, he loves her very much. I remember once upon a time when he didn't like her at all. Then they got married and you were born." He set her down and moved passed her to look for Artemis. "Are you two going to help me pack a lunch for your visit?"

Luna nodded and ran down the hall to find Artemis. "Arty, come on, Uncle Yuuki is going to help us make papa a lunch for our trip!"

While Yuuki was busy working with the girls in the kitchen, he barely noticed his brother standing in the doorway. Naoki looked worn and haggard, like he wasn't the same man he was six years ago. Somewhere in that darkness that clouded the older brother's mind was the same man who was carefree and spirited, but since the girls were born, that had changed. He became more stoic and quiet; insisting the girls needed the best care he could give. Under the circumstances, he couldn't offer much, but it didn't keep him from doing his best. "You really miss her, don't you?" Yuuki inquired.

"Yeah, but it's fine. We'll get through this." He ran a hand through his hair and smiled at his brother, offering a thankful nod towards him and Karina. "She always did tell me I was too tough for my own good. I think it shows in the girls."

"I think it's wonderful what you're doing. Most men wouldn't be able to handle raising twins alone. Let alone girls! And they're sweet and kind, too!" She smiled and watched the two in the yard that had long since given up helping make the lunches.

Most men ? He pushed a hand through his hair and slid his wedding band onto his finger, looking to his brother's girlfriend. "Thank you, Karina. I'll go get the girls if you're ready to go."

This wasn't the first time the twins had been on a train, but it was the first time they had gone with Yuuki. The girls were too excited for the four hour trip, bouncing about the cabin and pressing their faces against the glass, but not being annoying enough to bother the other passengers. Artemis finally landed in a seat beside her father and tugged his sleeve. He handed the lunchbox to Karina and pulled Artemis into his lap, ruffling her hair. "What is it kiddo?"

"How did you and mama meet?"

Suddenly, Luna was interested as well, moving in to sit on the other side of him. "Yeah, how?"

A small chuckle escaped his lips as he wrapped an arm around each of the children, smiling down at them. "It started in high school. I was in class A, she was in class F. What that means is that I was in the top 20 percent of our school and she was in the lowest ten. She fell in love with me at first sight, even going so far as to write me a love letter." He tapped the pocket of his suit and smiled. "And I still have it."

Yuuki never thought he'd see this day coming. Naoki was not only a parent, but he was happily in love, despite their unconventional circumstances. He had two wonderful children and a great job. He'd never imagined this would happen for his brother. It was exciting to see it.

"...eventually she insisted enough and we got married...and then you two were born." He finished finally. Naoki had a tear in his eye, he didn't want to cry, but for some reason he knew it was coming. Biting down hard on his lip, he sniffled and kissed the girls' heads. "Don't worry, I'm okay."

"Promise?" They both chimed in unison. "Cuz we're gonna be sad if you're not."

"Yeah. Papa's okay." He wiped his eyes and looked to his brother again, seeking assurance. The conversation had gone on for at least an hour and Naoki had long since lost track of time, reminiscing with his children. He looked at Artemis and smiled, tugging Luna closer. "Papa loves both of you, okay?"

The girls nodded and Luna moved to look at him again, her voice soft and fragile, much like Naoki's. "Papa, is it true you didn't like mama at first?"

"It's absolutely true!" Yuuki replied casually. "I witnessed it. But then they just kind of...knew, one day, you know? Like how he wanted to be a doctor, it just happened during a conversation one day. Our papa was upset about it, but he let your papa go when he realized it would make him happy. You know your papa tried running a toy company once and it – went well, but not perfect. They put out a new game in two weeks, which was a record...but, he just wasn't happy doing it."

Artemis looked at her sister when the train came to a stop. The screeching of the brakes signaled they were at their destination. Naoki quickly reached out to stop the two from moving from their spots. "I know you're excited, but you're not running off like that. Remember the tradition? We have to visit mama's family first."

"Do we have to? They're weird." Th girls chimed at once. Tugging his bags from the upper compartment of the luggage, he nodded to the children. "Okay, but only for a few minutes!"

The walk to the house was another story entirely, and the visit with the family was chaotic with all the children around. But it was the end that mattered. It was what happened afterwards that made it all worth the while. In the haze of the neon light outside, he could imagine her sitting there. Laughing with him and telling him that her family made a fan club for him. He could remember her talking about growing up here, doing chores...her family sure was strange, but he'd married into it and he was okay with it.

Taking up arms with the girls, they headed out to the cemetery, the walk was long and arduous. Artemis kept running ahead, but Naoki had no intention of stopping her. He could see their destination up ahead, marked with flowers and candles, as the family did every year. It was what was beside the tombstone that caught his attention. Just as lovely as always, standing in the glow of the afternoon sun, aubergine hair billowing in the wind. Her soft white dress was whipping about her body gently, but the girls seemed to look through her.

He came to a stop in front of her and smiled, kissing her lips. She looked back at her husband and smirked. "I thought you would never make it."

"We're here, Kotoko. We made it, just like you asked us to." He smiled and leaned against her while the girls paid their respects to their grandmother.

The ginger smiled and watched her daughters with mild amusement. "I knew you would make it even if it killed you."