Chapter 1: Family Dinner
Kenji sighed as he looked around the table. Seems like they rarely had just the family for dinner anymore. Either Serena was there with one or more of her friends and Sammy was missing or vice-versa. Occasionally they would both (or all three, now that Rini was visiting again) be gone and it would be just himself and Ikuko. She enjoyed having the company. She had grown up in a large family and loved to cook for a group.
This evening Darien was present on one of his infrequent visits. It had been several months since he had requested permission to date Serena and he was still seeing her. Wasn't it more normal for girls her age to be in and out of love? "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." He still hadn't quite decided which the young man was.
Darien was seated opposite Serena- no more holding hands under the table! Sammy was out of reach of being kicked by his sister, too. Come to think of it, dinners were quieter the nights Darien came. Serena had better manners and Sammy teased less. He had a way of listening to everyone, even Rini. Kenji had spoken with other fathers and heard stories about other daughters' boyfriends: how they would be disrespectful, loud, mooching, or mean. It wasn't so bad having an older suitor for Serena. A generation ago, it was normal to find an older settled man for a daughter. What am I thinking? Serena is too young to be serious. Besides, what do I really know about the young man? "So, Darien, what are your plans for the future?" he asked.
"Future?" he responded, giving Serena and Rini a confident, possessive smile. The two giggled secretively until he gave them a warning glance. "Um, what do you mean, sir?"
"Your plans for after college, what are you studying?" Kenji asked.
"I have been studying medicine, but now I don't know. Physics for sure, and possibly history and government." Darien answered thoughtfully.
"History and government? That's very different from medicine. Why did you change your mind?" Mr. Tsukino asked curiously.
Darien paused, collecting his thoughts before answering. The rest of the family were also quiet, interested in his reply. "I have always been interested in physics: natural law and how things work; and in history: what has been done in the past, and what should be avoided in the future. Studying government will help me understand how groups can work together to solve problems." "That's a good answer, Darien. How are you with languages?"
"Besides Japanese, I speak English and French, some Chinese and Latin. I seem to have a knack for learning languages," he stated matter-of- factly.
"Perhaps you should consider a career with the Diplomatic Corps. I'm one of the official photographers there. I could arrange a tour if you are interested," Kenji offered.
"Yeah, Darien, you'll be great at that!" piped up Rini.
"Rini," he admonished, glaring at her.
"Sorry, Fa.Darien. Oops!" The little girl covered her mouth with her hands and looked down, abashed. Serena giggled nervously and Darien looked up, scratching the back of his head.
Sammy, sensing something was up, decided to tease. "What was that, Rini? Did you just call Darien 'father'?" he asked insinuatingly.
"It's just a game. Yeah, that's it, it's just a game we..." Serena started brightly, then faltered at her parents alarmed looks.
"Waaa" Rini started crying, "I miss my real mom and dad so much!" She jumped up and ran to her room, followed by Ikuko.
"Girls! Always with the waterworks," Sammy said disgustedly.
"Sammy, go to your room and think about being more considerate," his father ordered.
"What? I didn't say anything!" he protested.
"GO!"
"Perhaps I should leave now," Darien said.
"No, stay, please. Forgive the behavior of the children."
"I understand, kids will be kids. You are very kind to take care of little Rini. I'm sure her parents appreciate it." (It was the closest he may get to thanking them, he thought.)
"Yes. We don't hear from them often, they're rather out of touch, but Rini has adjusted very well thanks to Serena," Mr. Tsukino nodded to his daughter.
"Me? I haven't done much." She had caught Darien's drift. "You and Mom take care of her just like you do Sammy and I"
"Yes, but you have included her in your activities with your friends and you all watch out for her." He said this while looking at her, then gave a glance to Darien and raised an eyebrow to include him, "Serena, I'm proud you are getting along better with Rini this time."
"Aw, Dad, you know I love the little spore," Serena said, pleased.
"So do I," her father replied, "still I wish her parents would get back from this trip. It's not good for a child to be separated from her parents for so long." He paused and became aware of the two teens reactions. He had expected Darien to be disinterested or maybe both to be a bit annoyed to have to include Rini on their dates so often. Instead, they were almost giggling, like there was a secret joke about it. A thought occurred to him; perhaps he could put this topic to good use. "So, Darien, do you remember much about your parents?"
A look of sorrow crossed the young man's face and Kenji realized he had never spoken about them. "I don't remember anything about them," Darien confessed. Serena looked at him sympathetically. She knew how difficult it was for him to speak about it, how much it hurt him.
"Don't you have any clue, pictures or such to remind you?" Her father pressed, "It's not so unusual to not remember your early years, especially after a traumatic experience."
"I do have a box of photos and things from my parents' home that the social worker saved for me," Darien admitted, "I haven't looked at them much because I couldn't relate to them."
"You should look at them again with fresh eyes. After all, a man should know where he came from as well as where he's going," Kenji stated.
"Oo, Darien, may I come over and look at the photos with you, I have fresh eyes. Oops, I mean,.well, you know what I mean. I love looking at old photos," she finished.
Darien laughed. Mr. Tsukino was right, it was time to confront his past with 'fresh eyes'. "Sure, Serena, come by tomorrow after school, ok."
"Great, I'll be there. That is if it's all right with you, Dad?" she pleaded.
"You may go, if only..."
"I know, I know. If I take Rini or someone else."
"No. If only you are back in time for dinner," he finished. The two would be busy and Darien didn't need to answer questions from the precocious child.
"Thank you, Daddy!" Serena gushed. Darien looked at him grate-fully, acknowledging the honor of trust.
"So, Darien, about that tour. Are you interested?" It would be a good chance to get to know the young man better on his own turf.
"Yes sir, I would appreciate it, but I would have to wait until winter break to go." The old man is finally beginning to accept him.
"Serena." Mrs. Tsukino came into the dining room, "Rini is asking for you."
"I'll go up in a minute. Darien?" She looked at him questioningly.
He rose from his seat, "Thank you for dinner. If you'll excuse me, I really should go home and study." Serena walked him to the door. A quick handclasp and a peck on the cheek along with the murmured good-bye was all that were tolerated by her parents.
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Serena approached the little girl who was lying face down on her bed. "Rini, are you alright?" she asked, concerned.
Rini gave a couple of sniffs. "Yeah," she replied, turning her head. When she saw they were alone, she sat up and hugged Serena. "I'm sorry for saying anything. Are you and Darien in trouble?"
"Don't be sorry. We all nearly blew it. You saved us with your crying. Do you really miss your Mom and Dad that much?" the older girl asked with a smile.
"Sometimes, but not too much. Not like last time. I know you love me now and my best friends are here. And Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Sammy,"
"Sh-sh," Serena cautioned. The two hugged each other again. "Actually, some good came of it. Gramp, uh.Papa Kenji got Darien to think about his parents. I'm going over tomorrow to look at some pictures. Without you!" she said triumphantly.
"Really? Now you're going to find out about.oops. I nearly did it again."
"Find out about what? I know, I know, 'you can't tell us'," Serena said, exasperated.
"That's right!" the little girl crowed.
"You've got so many secrets locked up in your noggin, some of them are bound to spill," the teen replied, rubbing her knuckles in the pink hair.
"Yeah, well it's a good thing I take after my daddy. If I were like you, you'd be front page news!" Rini exclaimed.
"Oh yeah? Come here, you little squirt." The two girls started chasing each other and ended in a tickling session. At last the older caught her breath. "At least we know we're supposed to find something," she giggled.
"Do you think we can go find some dessert?" Rini asked.
"Let's go!"
Kenji sighed as he looked around the table. Seems like they rarely had just the family for dinner anymore. Either Serena was there with one or more of her friends and Sammy was missing or vice-versa. Occasionally they would both (or all three, now that Rini was visiting again) be gone and it would be just himself and Ikuko. She enjoyed having the company. She had grown up in a large family and loved to cook for a group.
This evening Darien was present on one of his infrequent visits. It had been several months since he had requested permission to date Serena and he was still seeing her. Wasn't it more normal for girls her age to be in and out of love? "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." He still hadn't quite decided which the young man was.
Darien was seated opposite Serena- no more holding hands under the table! Sammy was out of reach of being kicked by his sister, too. Come to think of it, dinners were quieter the nights Darien came. Serena had better manners and Sammy teased less. He had a way of listening to everyone, even Rini. Kenji had spoken with other fathers and heard stories about other daughters' boyfriends: how they would be disrespectful, loud, mooching, or mean. It wasn't so bad having an older suitor for Serena. A generation ago, it was normal to find an older settled man for a daughter. What am I thinking? Serena is too young to be serious. Besides, what do I really know about the young man? "So, Darien, what are your plans for the future?" he asked.
"Future?" he responded, giving Serena and Rini a confident, possessive smile. The two giggled secretively until he gave them a warning glance. "Um, what do you mean, sir?"
"Your plans for after college, what are you studying?" Kenji asked.
"I have been studying medicine, but now I don't know. Physics for sure, and possibly history and government." Darien answered thoughtfully.
"History and government? That's very different from medicine. Why did you change your mind?" Mr. Tsukino asked curiously.
Darien paused, collecting his thoughts before answering. The rest of the family were also quiet, interested in his reply. "I have always been interested in physics: natural law and how things work; and in history: what has been done in the past, and what should be avoided in the future. Studying government will help me understand how groups can work together to solve problems." "That's a good answer, Darien. How are you with languages?"
"Besides Japanese, I speak English and French, some Chinese and Latin. I seem to have a knack for learning languages," he stated matter-of- factly.
"Perhaps you should consider a career with the Diplomatic Corps. I'm one of the official photographers there. I could arrange a tour if you are interested," Kenji offered.
"Yeah, Darien, you'll be great at that!" piped up Rini.
"Rini," he admonished, glaring at her.
"Sorry, Fa.Darien. Oops!" The little girl covered her mouth with her hands and looked down, abashed. Serena giggled nervously and Darien looked up, scratching the back of his head.
Sammy, sensing something was up, decided to tease. "What was that, Rini? Did you just call Darien 'father'?" he asked insinuatingly.
"It's just a game. Yeah, that's it, it's just a game we..." Serena started brightly, then faltered at her parents alarmed looks.
"Waaa" Rini started crying, "I miss my real mom and dad so much!" She jumped up and ran to her room, followed by Ikuko.
"Girls! Always with the waterworks," Sammy said disgustedly.
"Sammy, go to your room and think about being more considerate," his father ordered.
"What? I didn't say anything!" he protested.
"GO!"
"Perhaps I should leave now," Darien said.
"No, stay, please. Forgive the behavior of the children."
"I understand, kids will be kids. You are very kind to take care of little Rini. I'm sure her parents appreciate it." (It was the closest he may get to thanking them, he thought.)
"Yes. We don't hear from them often, they're rather out of touch, but Rini has adjusted very well thanks to Serena," Mr. Tsukino nodded to his daughter.
"Me? I haven't done much." She had caught Darien's drift. "You and Mom take care of her just like you do Sammy and I"
"Yes, but you have included her in your activities with your friends and you all watch out for her." He said this while looking at her, then gave a glance to Darien and raised an eyebrow to include him, "Serena, I'm proud you are getting along better with Rini this time."
"Aw, Dad, you know I love the little spore," Serena said, pleased.
"So do I," her father replied, "still I wish her parents would get back from this trip. It's not good for a child to be separated from her parents for so long." He paused and became aware of the two teens reactions. He had expected Darien to be disinterested or maybe both to be a bit annoyed to have to include Rini on their dates so often. Instead, they were almost giggling, like there was a secret joke about it. A thought occurred to him; perhaps he could put this topic to good use. "So, Darien, do you remember much about your parents?"
A look of sorrow crossed the young man's face and Kenji realized he had never spoken about them. "I don't remember anything about them," Darien confessed. Serena looked at him sympathetically. She knew how difficult it was for him to speak about it, how much it hurt him.
"Don't you have any clue, pictures or such to remind you?" Her father pressed, "It's not so unusual to not remember your early years, especially after a traumatic experience."
"I do have a box of photos and things from my parents' home that the social worker saved for me," Darien admitted, "I haven't looked at them much because I couldn't relate to them."
"You should look at them again with fresh eyes. After all, a man should know where he came from as well as where he's going," Kenji stated.
"Oo, Darien, may I come over and look at the photos with you, I have fresh eyes. Oops, I mean,.well, you know what I mean. I love looking at old photos," she finished.
Darien laughed. Mr. Tsukino was right, it was time to confront his past with 'fresh eyes'. "Sure, Serena, come by tomorrow after school, ok."
"Great, I'll be there. That is if it's all right with you, Dad?" she pleaded.
"You may go, if only..."
"I know, I know. If I take Rini or someone else."
"No. If only you are back in time for dinner," he finished. The two would be busy and Darien didn't need to answer questions from the precocious child.
"Thank you, Daddy!" Serena gushed. Darien looked at him grate-fully, acknowledging the honor of trust.
"So, Darien, about that tour. Are you interested?" It would be a good chance to get to know the young man better on his own turf.
"Yes sir, I would appreciate it, but I would have to wait until winter break to go." The old man is finally beginning to accept him.
"Serena." Mrs. Tsukino came into the dining room, "Rini is asking for you."
"I'll go up in a minute. Darien?" She looked at him questioningly.
He rose from his seat, "Thank you for dinner. If you'll excuse me, I really should go home and study." Serena walked him to the door. A quick handclasp and a peck on the cheek along with the murmured good-bye was all that were tolerated by her parents.
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Serena approached the little girl who was lying face down on her bed. "Rini, are you alright?" she asked, concerned.
Rini gave a couple of sniffs. "Yeah," she replied, turning her head. When she saw they were alone, she sat up and hugged Serena. "I'm sorry for saying anything. Are you and Darien in trouble?"
"Don't be sorry. We all nearly blew it. You saved us with your crying. Do you really miss your Mom and Dad that much?" the older girl asked with a smile.
"Sometimes, but not too much. Not like last time. I know you love me now and my best friends are here. And Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Sammy,"
"Sh-sh," Serena cautioned. The two hugged each other again. "Actually, some good came of it. Gramp, uh.Papa Kenji got Darien to think about his parents. I'm going over tomorrow to look at some pictures. Without you!" she said triumphantly.
"Really? Now you're going to find out about.oops. I nearly did it again."
"Find out about what? I know, I know, 'you can't tell us'," Serena said, exasperated.
"That's right!" the little girl crowed.
"You've got so many secrets locked up in your noggin, some of them are bound to spill," the teen replied, rubbing her knuckles in the pink hair.
"Yeah, well it's a good thing I take after my daddy. If I were like you, you'd be front page news!" Rini exclaimed.
"Oh yeah? Come here, you little squirt." The two girls started chasing each other and ended in a tickling session. At last the older caught her breath. "At least we know we're supposed to find something," she giggled.
"Do you think we can go find some dessert?" Rini asked.
"Let's go!"