Fujioka Penthouse

Roppongi Hills, Tokyo

Japan

December 21, 2006

For the first time since they arrived in Japan, Ryo was having a time getting Dee to wake up. Or at least to get out of bed, and it was not in a fun way either. If Dee wanted a last morning romp in that room, Ryo might not say no to that, but Dee was just refusing to move with his eyes closed.

"C'mon Dee," Ryo said. "I know why you're doing this. Do you know why I didn't go back to sleep feeding our babies?"

There was a slight movement from Dee. Ryo had to smirk because he knew Dee started to shrug and then caught himself.

"I stayed up because I didn't want to waste what time we have left in Tokyo sleeping it away."

Dee let out a sigh. "It's not like we can go out and do something."

"I was thinking of going to Donki and get snacks to have on the plane and even for a bit when we're back in New York. We can pick up some things that we can't find at Mitsuwa or any of the other Japanese stores. Bikky is up already. He said he could sleep on the plane, so he just wants to enjoy his last morning here. He wants to go to a 100 yen store and a conbini."

Dee turned over onto his back and let out a heavy sigh as he covered his face with his arm. "I'm thinking when I wake up, then I'm going to be doing things leading to us leaving." He moved his arm enough to peer at Ryo with one eye. "I know this is silly, but I'm afraid once we leave, we're not coming back for a long time, if ever. The last time I left Japan after graduation, I had all sorts of plans of coming back often and that didn't happen until about ten years later."

"I didn't mean to wait so long either," Ryo said. "Even when I went to Emiko's wedding, I didn't have the time to enjoy being back in Japan, and that was only the one time since I left Zama. But things are different now."

Dee finally sat up. "Yeah, I know we can afford to come back now. The reason why it took me ten years is because I couldn't afford it, and for some reason when I did have money to go somewhere out of country for vacation, I thought it was a good idea when you suggested England."

Ryo let out a snort. "Are you ever going back to England?" he asked in amusement.

Dee gave Ryo a slight grin. "I guess it will be easier to go through Heathrow going to Cardiff. I don't know when, but I would like to meet the Welsh side one day."

"I would like you to, too," Ryo admitted. "But that's in the future. In between many trips to Japan and doing things with the Japanese side."

"What if we find ourselves too busy and end up not going back all the times we talked about?" Dee asked.

"I definitely know we're coming back in March for our anniversary, because of all the work Tomoko is going to put in planning our ceremony and party. And your Uncle Takahiro will also be putting effort in making the ceremony happen at the shrine."

"Okay, you have a point there," Dee conceded.

"And you did promise that next New Years, we'll be helping out at the shrine," Ryo said. "Something tells me that your grandfather is not going to let you back out of that, no matter what else is going on."

It was Dee's time to let out a snort. "You're probably right about that."

"Oh, I know I am. And that is one of the few things I will allow your grandfather to get his way with. And there are still other reasons to be here, including birthdays and other family celebrations. For my family and yours. We said we will do our best to celebrate with at least immediate family."

"I guess we also have a business that we're actively involved with now and should probably drop in now and then," Dee said.

"There's that too. Don't forget what Dafydd told us yesterday about needing to show up and be part of Dafydd's meetings with the National Police. It's work so we can't be denied going when we're expected to attend. But for today, do you really want to sleep away the time until we have to leave when we could be enjoying what we have?" Ryo asked.

Dee slowly shook his head. "No."

"I know you don't want to leave. You know I feel the same way. But we also do want to finally go back to New York. If we didn't, we probably would have said yes to that one question that kept coming up, and would have been going to New York today only to start moving here."

"Yeah, you're right. But crap, once we're back we're going to have to put serious effort in looking for a new New York home. That's not going to be fun."

"It could be," Ryo said. "I mean, why isn't it, when looking for a house on Fire Island is going to be fun?"

Dee leaned over toward Ryo and let out a slight growl. "Sometimes I hate you, you know."

Ryo smirked at Dee. "I know, but then you remember you love me." He winked at Dee.

Dee grabbed Ryo and pulled him down on the bed with him. "Okay. But at least let me cuddle you in our Tokyo bed one last time before we get on with today."

OoOoOoO

When Dee finally joined the family after taking a shower and getting dressed, he found there was a joint effort in making breakfast. There was grilled salmon, tamagoyaki and dorayaki being made. There was also the rice cooker they were keeping in Tokyo filled with rice almost ready and a large clay pot of miso soup. Some of the pickled vegetables that Eri had bought with her for them to enjoy that week were also out. Dee was going to miss his sister-in-law's tsukemono. They did have extra that she gave them to use in New York, and she promised to give them more whenever they were in Nagoya, or when Jirou and Eri visited them in Tokyo or New York. Dee's grandmother had also promised to include them in care packages she planned to send from Nagoya. But while they were in New York, it wouldn't be like they were in his fathers' house and Eri would come from next door with a fresh batch, or even at his grandparents' home with Eri also there.

Bikky and Carol were out doing their usual morning routine one last time, which was buying pan in their favorite bakery. They returned with even more than before. With amusement, Dee knew what they were going to have with their breakfast on their first day back in New York.

They ate breakfast on the terrace. Thankfully because of Dee's family, Dee stopped dreading when they would be on the plane in about 8 hours. Dee's family was really looking forward to the trip.

Dafydd, of course, had lived in New York for four years while he went to New York University. His choice to go to college in New York was his hope he would find his twin brother during the time, but ironically Dee wasn't in New York during that time because he was living in Yokohama while he attended Yokohama National University. When he graduated, that was his last time in New York.

It was also Saburo's first and last time, because the only reason Dee's father came to New York was for Dafydd's graduation. His father admitted to not really wanting to be in the city where he lost his infant son and first husband. Yoshio's only time in New York was also for Dafydd's graduation but knew he would have to go sometime in the following year to firm up the deal to sell the ChiyoshiAka brand in Macy's. He did have a team whose job was to work on such deals, but Yoshio felt it was his duty to show face at least once in the finalization process. Saburo would also usually be part of the proceedings, but Yoshio knew he was never going to get his husband to go to New York to close that deal. That was before Dafydd returned to Nagoya after a week in Tokyo, bringing Dee along. Now Saburo couldn't wait to go to New York and spend time with Dee. The rest of Dee's siblings were also only in New York for Dafydd's graduation. Ayaka was 10 years old at the time and Jirou was 17.

Momo and Eri had never left Japan and both women were looking forward to finally going. They had heard plenty of stories about New York from Dafydd, especially Momo, and both women also heard of Hitoshi's and Kyoshii's time living in America. Most of the stories were from San Francisco and Los Angeles.

SJ and Kenny were rehashing when they lived in Los Angeles. They were born in Los Angeles and lived there until Chiasa and Sam decided to relocate to Osaka so Chiasa could be closer to her fathers. SJ was 16 years old and Kenny was 8. Both boys had dual citizenship, and along with Dee, Ryo and Bikky, they would be using their US passports to go through customs in New York. They had been to San Francisco and Los Angeles since they moved to Japan, but never to New York and were looking forward to finally seeing the city.

The only one who had been to New York was Sakura, having gone several times with her husband in the past, but she had never imagined the reason going that this trip was – to see where her grandson, who she had once though was dead, lived with his family.

It was hard to feel sad with all the excitement going on, that was for sure.

After they ate breakfast, they relaxed on the terrace for a while, until Dee's family insisted on taking care of the breakfast dishes while Dee and Ryo went to finish their packing.

Dee and Ryo were almost finished with the packing when Ryo got a call. Dee already knew who it was before Ryo hung up from his side of the short conversation.

"It was Obāsan," Ryo said to Dee. "She said that they're going to meet us at the airport and that a van will be arriving in a half hour to get everyone's luggage to the plane. Their bus will also stop in Yokohama to pick up Yuki and Jae-Hwa. She also wanted to confirm that our bus will be getting here around 2, and the driver will text me when it's downstairs. So that means after we get our luggage down to the lobby, we have until around 1:30 taking a last walk around this neighborhood until hopefully March, if we can get enough time off to spend some time in Tokyo."

"At least that means we'll only have carry-ons to take on the bus with us."

"Including what we need for Darin and Ryoko, plus two puppies," Ryo stated. "We don't have to be here for the pick-up. I'll call the front desk and have them start bringing the luggage down and store until the van arrives for pick-up."

They quickly finished their packing and while still in their bedroom, Ryo called the front desk to send someone up with a cart and explained the situation. By the time they left the bedroom with their luggage, everything left in the bedroom was what belonged there for the next time they will be in the penthouse.

A couple of minutes later, someone arrived to start bringing down their luggage, while Ryo did a walk through making sure the only items left in penthouse was what belonged there. That included the playpen, bouncy seats and the highchairs, since they had a playpen and high chairs in New York, but more as well was already sent to New York that Saburo and Yoshio had given Dee and Ryo from Akaya, among the various other baby items from the store.

Once the last of the luggage was on its way down to the lobby, Dee looked at everyone in the living room. "So now that we're going to be down to the essentials, where are we going first to add to what we're bringing to the airport?" he asked in amusement.

"Since there are several conbini in the area, and we'll pass them going to Donki, and there is a Can-Do in the underground shopping center, and a Daiso in the hotel shopping center, I guess Donki should be first," Ryo considered.

"We need to think about lunch, and it's probably a better idea to eat out," Tomiji suggested.

"Maybe the food court at Midtown?" Ryo asked. "Let's see how it plays out. I know it'll be nice to enjoy a last meal in a restaurant somewhere, but we have a large group and might not be as lucky as the other day in finding a private room. At least, if needed, we'll have whatever we pick up while we're out on the flight. Plus chances are the meals provided on the flight will be Japanese. The flight crews for the family's private jets usually request local food for flight meals."

OoOoOoO

Not everyone decided to join in on the last-time shopping spree. In fact, Dee's father and grandmother thought it would be best if Dee, Ryo, Bikky and Carol went to the places they wanted one last time without a large crowd. It wasn't the last time they would all be together since there was plenty to see and do as a combined family in New York.

So Saburo, Yoshio and Sakura stayed at the hotel but not in the penthouse. Instead they further explored the shops that were part of the lobby shopping center and the rest of the mall that was on the property L-M Asia owned. Yoshio admitted that he was most interested in seeing for himself if there was a possibility of opening at least an Akaya Express store. If there was, he could still call his team from Tokyo, or even New York and have them contact the leasing team at L-M Asia and start working on projections so a final decision could be made in the early part of 2007. Dafydd and Momo did not feel like they had to see everything again. Not this time at least, because they were both certain they would be seeing more of Roppongi and Roppongi Hills in the future. They decided to stay at the penthouse with their boys and just relax before it was time to go to the airport.

Ayaka did want to be part of the expedition, as did Jirou and his family, Tomiji, SJ and Kenny. Saburo, Yoshio and Sakura did join them going down to the lobby.

In the lobby, Sakura touched Dee's arm. "Daisuke, I suddenly had an idea about lunch."

"What's that, Obāsan?" Dee asked his grandmother.

"Why don't we see if the restaurant on the top floor can provide seating for us? It is, after all, the premiere restaurant of the hotel you own."

Dee looked at Ryo, who gave a rueful grin.

"Well, that was an obvious thing we didn't think of," Ryo said. "Dee and I do have to speak to the manager before we head out anyway, so let's bring it up."

Dee nodded his head. "Sounds like a plan. We don't need a private room. Just be able to sit close."

What they needed to discuss with the manager was to confirm the time they were leaving. They did not have to worry about cleaning up everything in the penthouse because once they left, a cleaning crew would be sent up and take care of that, including emptying their refrigerator of anything they did not take with them. They also wanted to confirm that management knew should anyone from the Fujioka or Aoki family show up, needing a place to stay in Tokyo, that they were to be given the penthouse. Chances are that Dee or Ryo would know in advance and call the hotel, but in case there wasn't time, that their families would still be given the penthouse. They also discussed that while they were not in Tokyo, it was possible that Hide's production company might have VIPs coming to Tokyo and Dee and Ryo gave approval for them to stay at the penthouse. This was all things previously bought up during their stay, but Dee and Ryo wanted a last minute confirmation that the staff would be aware of those things.

They also bought up hoping to have lunch in the restaurant before leaving, and the manager assured them that it would be made possible by then. Dee called Dafydd to let him know of their lunch plans.

The new plan was they would all meet at the restaurant. By the time they were finished with lunch, they should be getting the text that the bus was arriving. It will give them time to stop at the penthouse one last time to collect their carry-ons and puppies and go down to meet the bus.

OoOoOoO

It was just as Dee feared it would be. The hours since Ryo convinced Dee to get out of bed and start the day went by quickly. Everyone was in the restaurant with a table arrangement near the windows with Mt. Fuji in view. They were done with lunch, including desserts that were unique to Japan and were just talking while they waited for the text.

When Ryo got the text, everyone went to the penthouse one last time to get what they were taking on the plane. Dee could not help walking through the apartment with Ryo.

"I can't believe this is really ours," Dee said as they went out on the terrace.

"I know, but it is. And we'll be back. This is only the last time for this trip, you know," Ryo said. His voice was still rough with emotion. "But I admit it is hard leaving." He hugged Dee.

They put their heads together as they took in the view one more time. They kissed and then joined Dee's family waiting in the living room to head down to the bus. Bikky and Carol already had Hanabi and Mochi in their pet carriers. Saburo and Yoshio had Darin and Ryoko.

Dee smiled at his fathers and then to the rest of his family. He placed a hand on Dafydd's shoulder. "You know, this is where all this began."

"Actually it was in the ballroom," Dafydd remarked with a smirk. "But yes, this is where we cleared the air and you accepted that I was your twin brother, and that you had a family who would want to know you."

Dee had to wipe his eyes, but could not help smiling brightly. "And you were right. You told me how wonderful our family was then, but it didn't even come close to what I know about them now."

"Are we ready?" Ryo asked.

Dee nodded and he looked at Bikky and Carol. "It certainly was the trip of a lifetime. Beyond anything we imagined when we planned it."

"You're not kidding," Bikky exclaimed. "And we're going back to New York with a lot more people than we came here with."

"People and puppies," Ryo joked. "Okay penthouse. We'll see you next time."

And then it was time to leave.