CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

Aoki Residence

Hase, Kamakura

Japan

November 26, 2006

After dinner, as everyone sat in the living room with the TV on, Dee explained to Ryo's family on how he had been feeling the last few days and gave them the reasons why, including at Dafydd's prompting the phone call from Ryoichi. Ryo learned about what was said along with the rest of his family. While they were out, no one mentioned Dee's avoiding his family, because they were just happy to be doing something together. So Dafydd learned of the second call his grandfather had made as Dee spoke to everyone after dinner. Their grandfather called again, asking when Dee planned to speak to his grandmother, reminding him that his family was at stake.

Everyone was furious and outraged, and knowing Dee's history could not blame him for feeling as he was.

Bikky exclaimed, "That asshole!"

Leaning against Dee, with his arm around his husband's shoulders, Ryo felt that he should have reprimanded Bikky, but the kid just voiced what he was about to say, so he let it slip, noticing that no one took offense of the outburst. Instead, he admitted, "Yeah. That's what I'm thinking too." He looked at Dee, still furious and said, "I wish you had told me this right after his call."

Ryo's relatives who were there when Dee got the call agreed with him.

"Why did you not say anything, Dee?" Nobu asked. "Your grandfather was completely wrong. You were never at fault."

"I hope he didn't think all he had to do was sing a couple of songs to your grandmother and all would be well between them?" Moriko remarked.

"My grandfather probably did. It had worked before, but then my grandmother would be more annoyed at him and not really mad," Dafydd said.

"When it didn't work, he turned to blame poor Dei," Akira stated. "That's horrible. Why did you not say anything to at least Ryo?"

Dee shrugged. "Because I believed him, about losing my family, but I still could not bring myself to doing what he requested."

"You were right in not calling your grandmother on his behalf," Akira stated, "and he was wrong about everything."

Dee and Dafydd told the others about what they had worked out in the guest house about why he made the call, and they echoed what Dafydd had told Dee. There were better ways to ask Dee to do that as a favor, but the reason should have been because Ryoichi felt that Dee could get her to listen more than he was able to at the moment. It was not sure if he felt that way, and so the meaning got garbled by all the things he never should have said to Dee, and of course, Dee would take the call's meaning as he had.

"I know Maria called earlier today," Akira said. "Did you mention any of the call to her?"

"Yeah. She was the first person I told," Dee said.

Ryo gave Dee a small, grin. "Of course, you did. And I'm glad for that."

"Yeah. Me too. Because once I told her, I was ready to tell Dafydd when he asked."

"I had a feeling your bastard of a grandfather said something that triggered everything. But there had to be something to be triggered," Ryo stated. "And I think I know what. I had a feeling that one of your nasty little insecurity monsters was lurking as we left Nagoya. I sensed something was wrong from the way you were crying."

"You're right. I did feel as if now that I met my family, accepted them, come to love then, I was now about to lose them all as we left Nagoya. But that's all on me," Dee insisted. Ryo nodded slowly, watching Dee with knowing eyes. "No one in my family gave me any reason to start thinking that up to that point, including my grandfather. It just happens to me sometimes when something good happens in my life. Ryo could tell you that's true." He shrugged. "Hell, even my grandmother figured that out about me, and I should have taken her advice when it hit."

"It is all Dee," Ryo confirmed, looking at Dafydd. Looking back at Dee, he continued, "And I accept why, considering what you believed all your life. But it's different now. Right? You find out that you were taken from your father and very likely left abandoned by whoever killed your other father. And now you know you have a father who loves you so much, and even believing you were dead all these years, had never stopped loving you. And with him comes this big wonderful family who are happy to have you back. Wonderful with exception to one. But there's always one in any family."

Dee gave Ryo a teasing grin. "Except Aoki."

Everyone laughed with Ryo as he nodded. "We're not normal."

"There was one of your grandfather's uncles, but he passed before your grandfather," Akira said. "So, there was one."

"Okay, we're not normal now," Ryo corrected. "But what I'm saying is with everything you gained in the last few weeks, I hope that was the last of those buggers who had to break free, and now hopefully, you'll never had to deal with those feelings again."

"I'm hoping so too," Dee said. "Only time will tell."

"And you'll talk if you do," Akira said, "to Dafydd, to Ryo, to your father, or anyone if you start feeling that way again. Even me. However, I agree with Ryo."

"Yeah, Dad," Bikky said. "That was a last hurrah of those feelings and now you're free. Trust me. I know." He stared at Dee. "It just happened for me sooner because I didn't carry all that baggage for all those decades."

Dee nodded at Bikky. "You're probably right. And watch how you say for all those decades. I'm not that old, you know."

Bikky started to laugh. "Yeah, I know. But can't afford to have you thinking I changed my mind about you being my dad."

And everyone laughed with Bikky, and Dee.

"You still should tell your father and grandmother, at least," Takehide said when the laughter was gone.

"I plan to. At least my father and Ayaka," Dee remarked. "My grandmother? I'm not sure, because I'm thinking once I tell her, she might divorce him, and that will be my fault."

"She still needs to know, Dei," Akira said. "And if she does divorce him, it wouldn't be your fault."

"Yeah," Tsubasa stated, "if your grandfather wasn't such a dumbass with the call, you'd have nothing to tell her. And if he was nicer to you and your family, your grandmother wouldn't have been mad in the first place."

"I wouldn't put it exactly in those words," Akira stated, "but Tsubasa is correct. Or maybe I might have put it that way. If you like, perhaps I can talk to your grandmother about the call?"

"I want to say yes, but I know exactly what he said, so it's best I tell her. But you could be with us, I hope?"

"Of course, if that is what you want, Dei. I can do that."

The subject was done and there were a few seconds of silence as everyone pondered the next topic as they watched Darin and Ryoko, who were currently in Tsubasa's and Kumi's laps.

It was Ryo who broke the silence. "I guess the big secret is out of the bag, even if we didn't hear anything from you yet, Obāsan. I hope this Thanksgiving meal wasn't supposed to be a surprise."

Akira let out a sigh. "No, it was never supposed to be a surprise, but I did want to keep it from you and Dei until I finalized the arrangements. I planned to tell you on Saturday, but since it included Dei's family, I didn't know how he would feel about it at the time, so I decided to wait and hope everything would be worked out before Wednesday night, which is when your family was originally supposed to start arriving."

"Yeah, that makes sense," Dee said. "And I'm sorry about that."

Akira waved him off. "I think we already established that you have nothing to be sorry for. It's your grandfather who should be doing the apologizing. If I let him in."

"If you do, I might deck him," Ryo said with a bit of a growl in his voice.

"I'll hold him for you," Dafydd added.

"Did you invite him too?" Ryo asked.

"I didn't specifically invite him, but since I did invite Sakura, it will be up to her to decide to bring her husband with her or not. I did not say she couldn't bring him either."

"That makes sense," Ryo admitted. "But I don't think I want him here."

Dee let out a snort. "Yeah, but if he's here, that means we get to watch my grandmother go off on him when she learns about the phone call."

Ryo let out an evil chuckle.

"I think we best keep Ryo away from Dee's grandfather for a while," Nobu stated. "Because I don't want my nephew to end up standing trial in Japan for murdering Ryoichi Fujioka."

"No matter how justified it would be," Tsubasa added.

"I wouldn't kill him," Ryo said. "But I sure would love to deck him just once. Or twice."

Dee looked at Dafydd and said with amusement, "Okay, now you know how Ryo gets when he feels his family is threatened."

Dafydd held out his hands. "I'm glad Dee is my twin brother and I would never do anything to threaten him." With a grin, he added, "Not seriously at least."

"And that's fine," Ryo said amid the laughter.

"I think that the serious but very necessary discussion is over. Am I right?" Nobu asked, starting to stand up.

Everyone nodded or said some form of yes in reply.

Clapping his hands together, Nobu announced, "Then it's time for some boardgames."

Which is how they spend the rest of the evening, while having beer for some of adults, and tea, milk and juice for those not having beer. The TV was turned off and Tsubasa turned on the MP3 player.

At one point in the evening, everyone paused as a song started, while Dee looked up and around at everyone, who laughed as they sang along to "It's Gonna Be Me", the version by Daigaku Dudes.

"Whoops. I forgot I had that song in it," Tsubasa said.

"You did not," Dee accused.

"No, I didn't but too bad, Dee. It's a good song and many of us liked it long before we met you. So, suck it up."

"How about just own up to it, Dad?" Bikky asked. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about. It pretty cool actually."

"Yeah Dee," said Carol, "Bikky's right."

"Should we make sure there's no NGY or TKY songs set to play on Thursday when we put some music on?" Nobu asked.

"No. Ayaka doesn't mind when she hears her songs. I think she needs to give Dee a few lessons about that," Dafydd said and laughed.

"Thanks a lot, brother dear," Dee remarked. "I know I should own it, but it's just hard, especially after all these years."

"Wait!" Kumi exclaimed. "Ayaka? Ayaka Fujioka is going to be here on Thursday?" she asked, her voice rising with each word.

"Oops?" Nobu asked and laughed. "Yes, Kumi. Ayaka was invited as she is one of Dee's sisters, and she called Obāsan herself to tell her she is coming. So you didn't miss your one chance of meeting Ayaka."

Moriko and Hoshi started to giggle. "That's how we felt at the Naming Ceremony. We didn't think about it until before the ceremony at Dee's grandparents' house, we found ourselves suddenly being introduced to Ayaka Fujioka, but as Dee's youngest sister," Hoshi explained to her daughter-in-law. "Did I not tell you about that?"

"No!"

"There was so much going on that day," Moriko mentioned casually. "It was easy to forget that."

"Yes, you are right, Moriko," Hoshi agreed.

"I do not listen to idol music when I'm by myself, even if I do not mind it being played for the younger ones in our family, so it did not even faze me," Akira said with a smile. "I knew she was in NGY52, but she was just Dei's sister when she was introduced to me. Meanwhile, Hoshi and Moriko nearly fainted and started babbling."

"I hear that it's on video somewhere," Dee said. "Ryo and I missed it, but we were told we'd eventually get it on video along with other video from that day."

"We'll let you watch it, Kumi," Ryo said to his cousin with a wicked grin.

"Uncle Hitoshi has that already uploaded on his YouTube channel," Dafydd informed them.

"Really?" Ryo asked. "We'll have to check that out later tonight or tomorrow."

"Definitely," Dee said. "I'm glad we have Uncle Hitoshi's channel on our feed. He has some great family videos, and we only got to watch a few so far."

Looking directly at Carol who sat across the table from Dafydd, Dafydd stated with fond affection, "At least Carol doesn't make those funny little sounds anymore every time Ayaka's name is mentioned."

Indicating toward Carol, Takehide exclaimed, "Ladies, something to aspire to one day when you get to know Dee's family more."

Moriko tossed a wasabi peanut at her husband as she blew a raspberry, causing everyone to laugh as they went back to the game.


Later that evening after Ryo's family went to bed, Dafydd went to the guest house with Dee and Ryo. Bikky excused himself and went to his room, planning on editing another video or two, depending on the time, while Carol decided to call it a night.

Inside the guest house, after Darin and Ryoko were settled in their crib for the night, Dee, Ryo and Dafydd sat in the lounge. Dee had his laptop out. Dafydd plugged the digital camera that Saburo bought for Dee and connected it to the laptop. While Dafydd worked on the camera connection, Dee connected the laptop to the flatscreen TV in the lounge. Dee took out the tripod that he had bought during their travels and set the camera on it in a position so all three could be seen without having to cram close together or moving for someone to be able to be seen. Once everything was connected, Dee logged into the network for NYPD video conferencing. Meanwhile Ryo called Rose, asking if he was free for a conference and to pull together whoever was around at the time.

Since it was a last-minute decision, not everyone was present, but Rose was happy to do the conference call with those who were there.

On the TV, the squad room came into view, with Rose standing in front of everyone who was seated.

"Hey slackers," Jim greeted, leaning sideways so he wasn't blocked by Rose.

"Ha ha Jimbo," Dee remarked. "More like jetsetters, thank you."

"Oh, is that how it is?" Diana asked in amusement. "Are you finally settling in as one of the wealthy, Dee?"

Ryo started to laugh. "Dee? Get real, Diana."

"How was your birthday, Ryo?" Rose asked.

"Yeah, did you have a party?" Ted asked.

"I believe that the correct question to ask is 'How was Disneyland?'" Henry remarked.

'Yeah, Ted, I did hear mention of a party at Disneyland in Tokyo when they mentioned their vacation plans," Dana said.

"Well, plans change sometimes, so just checking."

"Dude, that party was booked and paid for before we left New York City," Dee commented. He looked at Ryo in amusement. "So how was your party at Disneyland? I hope it was worth that frightening amount of money I sent them with the reservation forms."

"Oh definitely worth it," Ryo said. "And I wasn't expecting all the characters to show up for cake time, but we got some wonderful family photos that are priceless."

Dee started to laugh. "Bikky didn't understand at first why a grown man would be so excited over all those Disney princesses and other characters, but it was to pose for photos including Bikky, Darin and Ryoko. It's also something to put in the nursery and then their rooms once Darin and Ryoko get older."

"Hey, everyone," Ryo said. "I want to thank you for all the e-cards and emails with birthday greetings. It meant a lot."

"Ah, it was nothing," Marty said. "We all just wanted to make sure you didn't forget us."

"Oh, how I wish I could," Dee sighed, making Ryo and Dafydd laugh.

"JJ is going to be so pissed he missed it," Dana said, "but him and Drake caught a case this morning. Even more than usual, we have Dee times two this time."

"Parker and Adams didn't even get to enjoy their coffee before they were on their way out," Rose explained.

"Anything interesting?" Dee asked.

"I wish I could say it is all interesting," Rose replied, "but it's getting old. We got a report of a Carrier found beaten in a playground in Brooklyn. I see you are filled in with events during the weekend."

"The ACC rally in Central Park?" Dee asked. "Yeah. Between Diana and Elena, we were well-informed already, but then there was that one email from my grandfather."

"Did you get a chance to look at it yet?" Rose asked.

Dee shook his head and looked at Dafydd, who looked surprised. "No, not yet. Probably after we're done here, we'll go over it with Dafydd."

"What email from Ojiisan?" Dafydd asked suspiciously. It was obvious their grandfather was still a sore subject with Dee's twin. It was still for Dee, but he knew he couldn't allow what he thought about his grandfather to get in the way of the job waiting for him back in New York.

"Hello Dafydd," Rose greeted. "It's nice to have you join us again. Where are your wife and boys?"

"They are in Nagoya. I am here visiting in Kamakura," Dafydd replied. "How are you, Commissioner Rose?"

"I am fine, thank you, Dafydd," Rose replied.

"Momo will be joining us in Tokyo tomorrow morning," Dee stated, "and their boys will be coming into Tokyo with my fathers and grandmother Wednesday night. Turns out Ryo's grandmother planned a Thanksgiving meal on Thursday to include both Ryo's and my families. Dafydd ended up arriving a little earlier."

"Twin separation anxiety?" Diana asked.

"Something like that," Dee mumbled. He waved it off and looked at his brother. "It doesn't matter why. I'm just glad he's here with us tonight." He smiled at Dafydd, who returned the smile. "Anyway, to fill Dafydd in since I received that email before my brother arrived in Kamakura, Ojiisan sent me this email loaded with links and attachments of videos, photos, and eye-witness reports of the ACC Rally in Central Park yesterday. All he said in the email was that he hopes it helps my unit. So I forwarded it to the Commissioner for his review. I planned for Ryo and me to go through it when we had a chance, but since you're here too, we can all look through it." Dee went into his email and pulled up the one from Ryoichi and showed it to Dafydd.

Dafydd started to frown. "He does seem to be able to gather information about Carrier issues in New York quickly. I still can't believe he did that!"

Dee quickly hugged Dafydd. "I know. It sucks. I'm still pissed too, but I had to accept that if it helps me now, I'll take it." He rested his head against Dafydd's. "Let's not air out our family drama to my unit, ne?" he said in Japanese.

"Oh. Right. Sorry," Dafydd said and took a deep breath. "I apologize," he said to the camera.

"I have to admit I'm curious now," Diana said, "but since I have a meeting this morning, I have to ask for this meeting to move on. But I will be contacting you at a later time."

"Leave it, Diana," Ryo commented. "I guess it'll come out at some point, so just wait until then. I know Dee got that email and that he forwarded it to the Commissioner, but I didn't look at it yet either. After all, we are still on vacation."

"This is true," Rose agreed. "And I thank you for forwarding it. Yes, it is helpful. In something like that, it's very hard to know everything that went on, but your grandfather sent us some interesting video and photos. Especially enlightening the riot on Central Park West, and who really threw that bottle during the rally."

"Is it all legit?" Dee asked. "As in, can you use it in court, if needed?"

"Most of it, yes," Rose replied. "Some of it is in gray areas, but not illegal and we can work around that. It appears your grandfather has a crew in New York prepared to show up at all the various ACC events to document them. There also seems to be a use of drones, and some images appear to come from long-distance. How, I can't tell you."

"I can," Dafydd remarked. "GPN has satellites and they are active everywhere, not just Japan, because of cellphone service outside of Japan. Especially North America. Many Japanese in North America have GPN services."

"Roaming services?" Dana asked.

"For those who are just visiting, yes, but residents in America and Canada who came from Japan also have GPN service, especially if they have relatives who still live in Japan. They can also receive Japanese television much cheaper than what American cable charges for the Japanese channel, and instead of just one with selective programming, they can get all the Japanese channels, along with the basic American cable plan," Dafydd explained.

"I never knew that," Diana said.

"We really didn't know any Japanese living in New York either," Marty remarked.

"Except for Emiko," Ryo remarked, "but I don't think she has GPN services here."

"She could," Dafydd said. "Sometimes a Japanese person doesn't realize they can take their GPN service with them. Other times, they just want the same as everyone else in their new country to start fitting in."

"I'm pretty sure for Emiko, it's the second. She was so excited about moving to New York, that I think she just wants to become a New Yorker. Meaning eventually she'll start missing Japanese TV," Ryo said. "But what you're saying is that sometimes GPN uses the satellites for images? Like of rallies, and other major events?"

"Yes," Dafydd said. "I'm pretty sure they do."

"They have that technology?" Rose asked, amazed.

"GPN has cutting edge advanced technology," Dafydd replied, with some pride in his voice. "It's why most people prefer it. Better calls, more uses for your cellphone."

Dee rolled his eyes. "Oh, trust me. There are things we're still learning to do with our phones that everyone there probably didn't know you could do with a cell phone. And our phones." Dee held up his smartphone. "This is one lightweight beauty, with a great screen and an amazing graphics card." He grinned. "But I'm not trying to sell you mobile service, so back to business. I know GPN has advanced technology, but I didn't realize just how advanced until now. But if you can use even most of it, that's a good thing."

"A very good thing," Dominic replied. "Diana and I just got back recently from processing the person who actually threw the bottle, who was part of the ACC and made it look like it was the Carrier who was attacked."

"What about that Carrier?"

"All charges are dropped," Diana replied. "He did have surgery and it's going to be a long recovery for him, but he'll be okay eventually. They even managed to save the baby, but she's in NICU since she's 7 weeks pre-mature."

"And we're going to slap a whole lot of other charges on the idiots who felt they had to jump the Carrier in the first place," Marty added. "All because of your grandfather's files."

"What about the riot after?" Ryo asked. "Reports are saying Carriers threw the first blows."

"ACC supporters acting as Pro-Carriers threw the first blows," Henry stated. "They were even responsible for getting the Pro-Carriers to gather for the stand-off."

"Basically, the ACC is starting all the crap, and making it look like it's the Pro-Carriers in an attempt to discredit them," Dee summed up.

"Exactly. Of course, for those who were there, trying to cover the events, they did not know that the culprits were actually part of the ACC," Dominic explained. "But your grandfather not only had video showing the plants getting into place, but his people used facial recognition and included information on them and evidence placing them with the ACC."

Ryo's eyes went wide. "Damn! It feels like we're going CSI: Miami with the high tech!"

Dee started to laugh. "Apparently. Personally, I would love to get some of that technology for our use instead of waiting for my grandfather's people doing the work and my grandfather sending me the results. But I do have to agree, this is better than not having anything at all."

"I agree. Thank your grandfather for us, Dee," Rose said. "It really did help us."

"It's nice to know he's good for something," Dee muttered.

"Remember what you said to Dafydd," Ryo reminded Dee, but he did nod his head in agreement.

"If it helped this unit, then I'm glad," Dafydd stated. He looked at Dee. "Is that why you had me join you in this conference?"

"Besides telling you to go to your room until we're done here?" Dee asked. "And yes, that is one of the reasons you are here with us. The second is to fill you in on Ojiisan's email, and I know the Commissioner has no problem with you involved, since you do have information we don't have. Like the GPN satellites and all that."

"Which also did help," Rose replied. "So thank you. I did say you are our Japanese consultant to handle a couple of our other issues, so you are always welcome to join Dee and Ryo in video conference."

"Thank you, Commissioner Rose," Dafydd replied with a bow of his head.

"And in an email I got from Diana last week, I also figured since you were here with us, best to have you join us in conference. Diana, you had a question about Japan?"

"Yes," Diana replied. "We heard that there were a couple of Anti-Carrier incidents in Japan and I was curious about it, if you can share them."

"I can. Since I got back to work with my unit, we have been investigating more anti-Carrier graffiti. No more shrines and temples, but now it is showing up on overpasses and buildings. We do have a small graffiti problem in some areas of Nagoya, but mostly just taggers making their art. Still a crime, but at least it's a form of art. However, it's becoming a serious issue with the number of graffiti appearing and all of it slurs against Carriers. We suspected that the ACC is behind it somehow, and like the email Dee received from my grandfather, we received images that we were able to use to make arrests of the taggers, and even a couple of ACC members. But my grandfather did not send the email. Instead it came from a Pro-Carrier group that GPN sponsors. They have been using the same technology in helping the Aichi Prefecture Police that was used to assist your unit."

"Do you know if any other cities in Japan who are having Anti-Carrier issues getting the same assistance?" Ryo asked.

"As you know, this is all new for Japan," Dafydd replied. "Once in a while, there will be a tourist who makes trouble because of how things are in Japan, or a Japanese who decides not to accept, but it wasn't a problem. But since we got word that the ACC are sending people to Japan, things are getting worse. I don't have any connections with the other cities' police to know if they are receiving assistance too. I do follow the news and it seems like there aren't very many arrests with the other incidents around Japan. Thankfully it's been mostly graffiti with only a few attacks on men who are pregnant."

Dee nodded. "Not that I'm actively following, but I'm reading local newspapers, and we're watching the news. We see incident reports, but I don't see much progress in arrests, unless someone was caught red-handed, which happened a few times in Tokyo." Dee shrugged. "It could have been a tip-off, or it could have been a patrol officer in the right place at the right time."

"There was that one incident where someone living across the street noticed it, and suddenly there were a bunch of angry people coming out of the building," Ryo added. "They grabbed the tagger and practically dragged him to the nearest koban, where he was arrested. That was in Kawasaki."

"Oh yeah," Dee remarked, laughing. "Someone got it on video and uploaded it to YouTube. Now that's a community coming together."

"I guess that means the number of Anti-Carrier crimes have increased in Japan lately," Diana said.

"In the last month or so, unfortunately, yes," Dafydd replied.

"Which means, if you know anything about Japan, that crime has increased in Japan," Ryo commented.

"It's keeping us busy, but at least we're making arrests," Dafydd said. "Some of those committing crimes are not very careful, or they have no idea how we can use DNA samples to identify them. Or sometimes they forget there are security cameras in an area."

"There are?" Dee asked, amazed. "Then again, I guess that's one way of keeping the crime rate low."

"In certain areas, in Nagoya, yes there are. Plus there are traffic cameras in many busy sections, or spots where there are many traffic incidents. They are all for our use in identifying perps."

"It is alarming that the ACC is causing crime to go up in Japan," Henry said.

"Is there anything else you have questions about?" Ryo asked. "Dee and I decided since we were in for the night to have this meeting, especially in light of the email Dee received from his grandfather this morning."

"Yes, I have a question," Marty said.

"What is it?" Dee asked.

"We received some photos of a ceremony for Darin and Ryoko at your family's shrine and I'm curious to know more of it," Marty replied.

Others around the room laughed.

Jim looked at the others with him. "You mean you could not piece together the events of the Naming Ceremony for Darin and Ryoko? They did look adorable in their outfits for the ceremony."

"I loved those quilts they had," Dana commented.

"Those have been passed down from my grandfather's and Uncle Takahiro's Naming Ceremonies," Dee replied. "They are beautiful. And still in great condition."

"You and Ryo were looking pretty sharp in your Japanese menswear for the ceremony," Diana stated. "Dafydd, you too. And the kimonos the women wore are absolutely gorgeous!"

Dee smirked and looked at Ryo and Dafydd. "She made kimono plural."

"It's not?" Diana asked.

It was Rose who shook his head. "No. Kimono is never plural. Even I know that, and I'm not the fashion guru here."

Diana looked affronted. "Fine. Point taken. I'll remember that. But whatever, they still were gorgeous."

"Yes, they were," Ryo agreed, laughing. "You don't want to know the cost for most of the kimono worn for the ceremony."

"Including ours," Dee added.

Dafydd nodded his head. "I am glad I did not have to pay for Momo's kimono. It was provided by our grandmother."

"About how much is average?" Dana asked. "I heard kimono can be expensive, but how expensive."

"The ones worn by my family in the photos, start at about, in dollars, $5000 - $6000. For the women, if you count everything, including hair ornaments, undergarments and all, we're looking at $10,000 and up easy," Dee replied. "I always knew a real good kimono ensemble cost more than I was able to afford while living in Japan, but the first time I got an actual price on some of the high end ones, I nearly fainted."

"That sounds like Dee," Diana said with a laugh.

"Well, some of us should be getting back to work, and some of us should be going to bed soon, so Ryo and I have nothing more to add." Dee looked at Dafydd. "Do you have any questions for the team?"

"No. Not now," Dafydd replied.

"Any more questions on this side?" Rose asked.

"Me!" Jim exclaimed, holding up his hand. "I have one!"

"Oh crap," Dee sighed as Ryo chuckled.

"You have a very colorful team, Dee," Dafydd remarked.

"That's Japanese for telling Dee that you're all a bunch of idiots," Rose quipped with a smirk.

"No! I did not mean it that way. I swear." Dafydd bowed in his seat. "I apologize if it seemed that way."

"I was just joking," Rose admitted. "You're fine, Dafydd. They are colorful."

"Go ahead, Jim," Dee said and sighed.

"Do you know when you're coming back?" Jim asked.

"In time for Diana's party and not much before," Dee replied.

"We're looking at somewhere between December 18th to the 22nd," Ryo replied. "I'm still waiting for a confirmation of which date we can use my grandfather's private jet."

"So you'll be at my party?" Diana asked.

"Yes, Sea Hag, we'll find out way to Brooklyn and finally see that house you bought and eat all your catered food," Dee said, and with a wicked grin, added, "and show more vacation photos."

"Now that's a party!" Dana crowed and then laughed.

"Just as long as you bring souvenirs with you," Diana remarked.

Ryo snapped his fingers. "Oh damn! Dee, I told you we were forgetting something."

"Ha ha, pretty boy," Diana said. "I know you better than that. Dee, maybe he would. If he knows what's best for him."

"Hey now, don't go threatening me in front of my twin brother, who is also police," Dee warned.

"And don't bring back boxes of some type of weird food," Ted commented. "I heard what Japanese considers gifts to bring back co-workers."

"Then you're lucky that Ryo and I are American enough to buy boxes of not so weird food to give to our co-workers," Dee quipped.

Rose was laughing. "All right, all right. I think this is a good time to call it quits for today. There's word that the ACC will be holding a member's only conference on December 4th. I doubt we'll be able to get anyone in, but we're going to try. If anything of interest comes up, we can all meet up again. If not, then enjoy the rest of your vacation," Rose said. "And keep sending us photos."

"And links to those videos Carol is making," Dana added. "I love them!"

"Bikky's working on editing a new video to upload soon," Ryo said. "They're really backed up with videos they haven't uploaded yet, but Biks needs the time to do the editing before they can be uploaded. And yes, Bikky is doing the editing. That's a whole different story that we might have to wait until we're home for us to tell you."

"He's doing a great job," Ted said. "Are you sure you aren't helping him, Dee?"

Dee let out a snort. "Are you kidding? The kid can teach me some things about video editing. I just help with some post-frame work and nothing else. Everything else is all Bikky."

"He really is doing an excellent job with the editing," Henry commented. "And Carol knows how to keep the videos interesting. It is going to be such a wonderful way to look back at this vacation years from now."

"Oh, I agree, Henry," Ryo said. "And this vacation is the best one for her to start doing videos for, because not just looking back at the kids, but we have a lot of firsts for Dee with his family in those videos."

"My family is loving them too," Dee said. "And on that note, we should check to see if Bikky is still editing or if he finally went to sleep. We have an early day tomorrow. We'll be going to Tokyo with Ryo's uncle on his way to work."

"Hint taken," Rose said. "Good night, gentlemen. And enjoy the rest of your vacation. Dafydd, it was great speaking to you again."

"The same, Commissioner Rose," Dafydd replied. "Take care."

"Stay safe out there," Ryo said. "We'll be in touch soon, one way or another."

"What Ryo said," Dee commented. "Have a good day."

Once Dee closed the conference, he turned to look at Dafydd. "You really did mean that they are idiots, didn't you?"

"Well, not idiots," Dafydd said. "They are just, well, I know we joke a lot with each other in my unit, but nothing like they do with you and Ryo."

"I let them get away with it, because we've always been like that since the days that Drake, Ted and I started working together in our uniform days. Besides, they don't mean it. At least I hope they don't mean it," Dee said.

"Most of the time they don't mean it," Ryo replied.

"Then the other times, they are idiots," Dee commented with a grin, making Ryo and Dafydd laugh.


Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway

Shinagawa, Tokyo

Japan

November 28, 2006

It was another early start that morning because Dee, Ryo, Dafydd, Bikky, Carol and the twins were to go with Nobu when he left for work. He took the van so that they could offload everything they had collected during their trip that wasn't already sent to the hotel, and then Nobu could take the van home that night. They did not need the van with them while in Tokyo, but with the luggage they wanted with them, it would be difficult to take the train from Kamakura. They still considered it, but Nobu and Akira were not hearing it, since it would be more comfortable getting a ride to Tokyo. Nobu saw no problem with it, because he drove to work every day anyway. The only difference was instead of taking his car, he drove the van to work. Whatever they did not have with them was already sent to the hotel using the express service from the freight company.

They were driving through Shinagawa when Ryo's cell phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and smiled. "It's Momo," he announced and answered the call. "Moshi, moshi."

"How come she's not calling me?" Dafydd asked.

Dee looked at his brother with a smirk. "Because Momo has your phone?" he asked slyly.

"Oh, right. Yes. I keep forgetting about that," Dafydd said, blushing a little.

"Momo said her train just pulled into Shin-Yokohama," Ryo announced.

"Did you tell her that we're in Shinagawa?" Nobu asked. "I can get off the next exit and we can be waiting for her there."

"My uncle said we're almost at Shinagawa Station and can meet you there," Ryo said to Momo. "She said she doesn't want to make you late for work."

"Nonsense. It's my company and I have no meetings this morning. Tell her to get off at Shinagawa. You'll text her on which exit to come out of the station to meet us," Nobu insisted.

"Momo, you're getting off at Shinagawa or you'll make my Uncle Nobu very mad. I'll text you with which gate to exit to find us." He chuckled. "Okay, see you soon." He disconnected the call. "She said you're a tyrant, Uncle Nobu."

"I am," Nobu agreed with a smile as he nodded. "Which is why I'm able to take the extra time to pick her up before going to work."

Everyone laughed with Nobu.


At the Takanawa exit, Nobu found a place to pull over while Ryo sent his cousin a text. Dafydd got out of the van when they saw her coming out of the exit. Momo was smiling as she approached her husband and after hugging him, she pulled back to slap him on his chest. They all heard Dafydd's exclamation of surprise and laughed. They weren't surprised since Dafydd had taken off for Kamakura before calling his wife first, not that anyone was finding fault in Dafydd. It's just how things had happened.

"Did you feel that, too, Dad?" Bikky asked with amusement after Dee winced as Dafydd was hit.

"If he did, knowing Momo, that wasn't just an accident of hitting a twin," Nobu stated.

"Ouch," Dee commented. He had done stupid things like his twin brother had. In fact, he had done something even worst which had affected his twin brother's state of mind to make him do what he had. He had to admit it was funny watching the tiny woman nearly knocking her husband who towered over her on his ass, but he also felt sorry for Dafydd. Especially since he swore he did feel some of that hit.

She handed Dafydd her suitcase, which he placed in the back of the van and then opened the door so she could get into the van. She greeted Ryo and Nobu as she got in, then Bikky and Carol. Finally she sat down next to Dee as Dafydd got into the van.

At least she hugged her husband before hitting him, but Dee figured brothers-in-law didn't need the hug first. She hit him as she sat and exclaimed, "Baka!" and then hit him again.

Dee let out a yelp each time, but he allowed it. He was the reason why Dafydd just suddenly took off, and why she was here now so that he could have his cell phone. If Dafydd had taken his cell phone with him when he left, then she wouldn't be coming to Tokyo until Wednesday night after work.

"You're on your own, Dee," Nobu said, amused as he pulled away from the station.

Dee held out his hands in defense. "I know, I know. I was stupid and deserve it."

"You're lucky I like you," Momo hissed. "Did you really believe you would lose us so easily? Or at all? You're a Fujioka, Dee, so you're stuck with us! Baka!" She hit him again. "And that's for Papa, because I know he won't do it himself when he sees you on Wednesday."

"As I said, I was stupid."

"To be fair, Dee did have his reasons for thinking as he did," Ryo said.

"Do you want me to hit you too?" Momo asked.

"Ryo is right, Momo," Dafydd said. "You got a few hits in, now save the rest for after you hear what Ojiisan did to Dee."

"What?" Momo exclaimed. "What did he do now?"

They had been talking in Japanese since Momo got in the car, and Dee could see that Bikky and Carol were trying to figure out what was being said by tones and actions, and most probably had a pretty good idea even if they didn't know the exact words being said. Except maybe for 'baka', which they both knew very well. Dee turned to give them an apologetic look. He could have answered in English, but he decided to spare them from hearing once again what his grandfather said. Continuing in Japanese, he told her about the phone call he got from his grandfather and then added how it managed to trigger his feeling that his family could dump him.

"Stop the car!" Momo exclaimed, enraged when Dee was done. "Or drop me off at Tokyo Station. So I can go back to Nagoya and give him a piece of my mind."

Dafydd slipped his arm around her shoulders. "You're staying right here with us," he said to her. "Obāsan will give him his due when she hears about it."

"She doesn't know yet?" Momo asked.

"No," Dee said. "I spoke to her this morning, but said I'll save the explanation when I see her tomorrow. I said it was best if I told her in person, since I am going to see her tomorrow night."

"That's true," Momo had to agree. "She does know everything is okay with you now?"

"Yes."

"That's good. I'll accept that."

"Do you know if she is bringing Ojiisan with her?" Dafydd asked.

"She did say that if he knows what is good for him, he's coming here and be on his best behavior too. But I haven't heard if he agreed with it," Momo said.

"If he does, then we get to see the fireworks when she finds out," Dafydd commented. "And as awesome as your displays are, we all know Obāsan when she's fired up."

"Which lately has been because of Ojiisan. Baka! He just doesn't get it, doesn't he?" Momo exclaimed.

"Obviously not," Nobu remarked. "Or else you and Dafydd wouldn't be here until tomorrow night."

"This is true," Momo said. "I'm sorry for hitting you, Dee. It wasn't your fault. Any of it. It's all Ojiisan's fault."

"I'll take some of the blame for actually believing I could lose Dafydd, you, Papa, Chichi and Obāsan, at the least. I should have known better."

"It's still too new for you, Dee," Dafydd said. "So don't blame yourself. A year or two from now, then you're being stupid. Okay?"

Dee nodded. "Okay."

"Besides, you know better now. You see what happens when you try to pull away from this family. We pulled you back even harder," Momo stated.

Dee had to smile as Momo spoke. "So I'm finding out." He looked back again at Bikky and Carol. "Alrighty," he said in English. "Time to start letting these two in on the conversation again."

"It's okay, Dee," Carol said. "I figured out what was going on."

"Me too. Especially Aunt Momo. Boy is she animated when she's mad," said Bikky and laughed.

Momo started to blush a little as Dafydd and Ryo started to laugh. "Bikky's right," Ryo said. "The family's sunshine, but don't piss her off, because the sunshine turns to thunderbolts ."

"Momo's got a dark side," Dafydd said in a bad imitation of a Southern accent, making everyone laugh.

"Don't tell me you got 'Reba' here in Japan?" Dee asked.

"Ojiisan likes Reba McEntire, and so does Obāsan. We started watching the show after seeing a couple of episodes at their house," Dafydd stated.

"Geez," sighed Bikky, "your grandfather has a mysterious side."

"Not that mysterious, Biks," Dee said. "He did spend some time in the South while his father worked on the Carrier Project." At least he got to have a decent enough conversation with his grandfather to learn that much during the party the week before.

"This is true," Dafydd stated. "It's a shame you didn't get to have some of his southern cooking while you were in Nagoya."

"Should I be regretting that?" Dee asked.

"Yes!" Dafydd and Momo exclaimed at the same time.

"Wow. Now I want to try some of that cooking," Bikky stated with a laugh.

"Me, too, Bikky," Nobu agreed with a smile. "And then I will kick his ass."