You see? I told you I'd be back for more! You people... you just can't get
enough of me, can you? Tsk. Tsk. Don't you know that I'm taken? Oh right,
you don't. ^_^; That's my new surprise. Only me & that 1 other person know
that... or, well, USED to know that. Don't tell my parents yet! I'm having
a hard enough time trying to figure out how to break it to them, I just
need a little more time... so for now, I'm just gonna kick back & enjoy my
Papa's birthday party. Here he comes!
*~*
Yuki covered Shuichi's eyes as he led him through the house & to his study. "I have a surprise for you."
"Really?! What is it Yuki?!" Shuichi squirmed a little as he walked, trying to peek through Yuki's hands.
"You'll see." Yuki smiled, it was easiest for him to smile when Shuichi couldn't see him even now, after so many years. "Ready?" He asked.
"YES!"
"Alright, now." Yuki lifted his hands & Shuichi blinked.
He kept looking around Yuki's study, wondering what was supposed to be his surprise. "Yuki... I don't see anything. What am I supposed to be seeing here?"
"Me!" I sprung up from behind the desk. "Happy Birthday Papa!!!"
"Kiku!" Papa gasped.
I hopped over the desk, making Dad wince as I just barely missed knocking over the computer. "I'm home!" I gave Papa a big hug.
"I didn't think you were supposed to be done until the summer!"
"I finished early, I went to classes in the summer instead of taking it off for my break. That's why I wasn't able to visit." I explained.
"I'm so glad you're home!" Papa hugged me again. "How long have you been in town?"
"About a week or so."
"You knew about this?" Papa asked Dad.
"Yeah." He nodded. Papa hugged him.
"Where have you been staying?"
I blinked & blushed a little. I was caught off guard by the question. "Um... just at... a friend's house." I wasn't ready to tell them yet... not right before the party started.
"Ohh."
"Come on Papa! Dad & I still have one more surprise for you!" I grabbed his arm & dragged him from the room & into the dark living room. I flicked on the lights & all of Papa's friends shouted
"Surprise!"
"Ta-Da!" I smiled brightly. "Are you surprised?"
"Of course!" Papa laughed.
"I hope you don't mind that you're gonna have to share your Birthday Party with Kiku as his Welcome Home party." Dad said.
"Not at all!"
"Shu-chan!" Ryuichi ran from in the crowd & leapt, tackling Papa to the ground. "Happy Birthday na no da!"
Dad sweat-dropped & stepped around them to stand beside me. "Kiku, What are they saying?"
I sighed. It's almost kind of sad that I understand their gibberish. Oh well, at least I can say that I'm trilingual on my resume. Japanese, English & Hyper-Active Rock star. "Ryuichi is asking him if he's surprised to see everyone. And Papa is telling him that he had no idea that there'd be a party for him or that I'd be able to make it home in time. And then-"
Papa stopped me by putting his hand on my shoulder. "Thank you. Considering that Ryuichi has started using the words 'pika-pika!' I don't think I want to know any more."
"Yeah." I agreed.
"Kiiikuuu!" A girl's high voice squealed.
"Huh?" I turned just in time to be caught by the arm & dragged to the other side of the room. It was my equivalent to Ryuichi; Saki, his daughter. She was 23, a few years older than me; the product of one of Ryuichi's relationships while he was in the U.S. with K. Saki didn't even come live with Ryuichi until she was 5 or 6, when her mother got sick. Before then, not even Ryuichi had known he had a daughter. She sat me down with her & pushed her long wavy auburn hair back over her shoulders & straightened her yellow miniskirt. "Saki?" I blinked.
"It's been so long! I'm so glad you're back home!" She smiled & gave me a big hug.
"What do you mean 'It's been so long'? You saw me just before the party..."
"Yeah, but we didn't get to talk that much. It's been a long time since today."
"You picked me up at the airport..." I grinned.
"But you were so tired, we didn't get to talk. I've hardly seen you for the past 3 ½ years."
"More than most people... you came to visit me a few times in New York."
"Don't let my dad know that!" She whispered. "He still thinks that I went on camping trips with my friends. He loves New York, he'd be so upset if he found out I went & didn't take with me."
I laughed. "No problem."
"Thank goodness!" She sighed.
Some of my cousins came over & sat down with us. "How was it in New York?"
"New York was a blast. I miss it already. I met so many people there."
"What was your roommate like?"
"His name was Shane. He's majoring in Dance."
"Really?" My cousin, Hana asked. She was 18, & had short, strawberry blonde hair. "Was he hot?" And she was a little boy crazy.
I blushed bright red. "Um..."
"Hana!" Her twin brother, Ken'ichi, Ken for short, smacked her arm. "Don't ask such things! It's embarrassing. Sorry." He apologized to me for her.
"It's ok." I laughed. "He was a really nice guy. He promised to come visit here sometime."
"He was hot." Saki answered Hana's question. "He's a really good dancer too."
"You met him?" Aki asked her. He had scruffy red hair & as you probably guess, he was Hiro & Ayaka's son.
"Yup. I went to visit there once." It was more than once but she didn't want her dad to find out. "Don't you have pictures of your friends?" She asked, tugging on my sleeve.
"Oh yeah." I pulled out my wallet & showed them my pictures.
"Aw! You even have the pictures from that little photo booth that we went to!" She squealed.
"Well, you did threaten me to never take them out..." I laughed.
*~*
Its like I live in 2 different worlds, the first is just my 'normal' life; school, movies, jobs & my friends like Daisuke & Miyako. My second life though, consists of wild parties, clubs, bars, raves, anything we could sneak into & everything we could get away with doing. That life involves Hana, Ken, their older sister Mina, Aki, & of course, Saki. It was also the life that I definitely kept hidden from my parents, classmates & the press. I never drank, & I never had a girlfriend, but that doesn't mean that I stayed out of trouble. I'm lucky that the worst I ever got caught for was smoking cigarettes... I'm past that all now, though. It was just basic rebellion from the children of rock stars. My younger cousins are starting it now too, I can tell. We've all done it, but it all started with Saki & I.
Saki is a nice girl. The first one I ever really became friends with. Even with Miyako, it took a while because she was kind of a bully when we were little. Saki was a few years older than me, but she didn't treat me like I was younger or like she knew more than I did, mainly because she didn't. She didn't know Japanese until she moved here, so even though she was older, we were both learning the same sort of things at the same time. The first time I ever met her, was probably a few weeks after she first moved to Tokyo. She didn't know how to say much, but she was so happy to have someone to play with that she didn't care, she just grabbed my hand & dragged me off to play hide and go seek... a lot like she still does. I think its pretty safe to say, that I was her first friend, & that she was mine.
*~*
I spent most of the night either talking with Aki, my cousins, & Saki, or being hugged & clung to Papa who missed me so much. I fell kind of bad that I went away for so long & hardly visited... I know he must have been upset after I left. To tell the truth, I missed him & Dad a lot too. It was driving me nuts, being home for a week & not seeing Papa. I was glad to be able to give him lots of hugs.
I'm a lot like him, its true what they say, that you are your parents. No matter how hard you may try to avoid turning out like them, in the end you are, just the same. I'm like dad too. Which seems strange considering that he & Papa are complete opposites...
I worry sometimes... I'm always so afraid that I'm letting them down. It seems like no matter what I do, I always do something wrong... but they're just too nice to tell me it hurts them. Like how I've always tried really hard in school, no matter what. I had trouble in math, so I got tutored at lunch, I joined all sorts of clubs & was on the soccer team & the basketball team, I was even in a few school plays throughout school, I was elected valedictorian & got accepted to Julliard... but I did all this & didn't even tell them. I always wanted to surprise them with all of these things that I did, but I never could find the right moment, & it was always left too late. It must've hurt them too find out all these things so late, made them feel like they didn't know their own son. But I never intended these things to turn out like this, big surprises that just kinda erupt like volcanoes when they've been concealed too long. It's just like now... I have to find a way to tell them my next secret.
I'm scared... I always feel like I disappoint them when I do this, but everything happens so fast. I had no idea that I would end up falling in love with someone like "that". I wasn't even looking for a relationship. All I can do is hope that they can accept & understand what I'm about to tell them... I think I'll tell them tomorrow.
*~*
I shuffled underneath more blankets & cuddled up closer to the older man beside me. I was worried still, but I could relax more in the comfortable bed, I didn't have to tell my parents yet, & I was thankful for that.
"What time did you get in?"
"About an 2 hours ago or so." I replied.
"What time is it?"
"It's 7:30. I had a pretty late night... Saki dragged me to all sorts of clubs." I smiled.
"I thought you were staying at your friend's house?"
"Would you rather I left? I didn't think you'd mind."
"Of course not. Where's your Dad?"
"He's writing I think... he doesn't know I'm here as far as I know." I replied. "Papa?.." I looked up at him.
"Yes?" Papa asked.
"I have to talk to you and Dad... it's kind of important."
"How important?"
"Kinda really important." I replied nervously.
"Is something wrong?"
"No. I just have some news... that I don't know how you'll react too."
Papa gave me a concerned look. "Well, then let's get up for now, you can tell us while your Dad's still awake."
"Ok."
*~*
Okay, so right about here, I was just about ready to throw up. I know that sounds a little gross, but I was THAT nervous. This was really big, like when I went to America, except, this is something that I really wanted their permission & blessings for. I wasn't sure I could even go though with it if they didn't want me too.
*~*
"What's wrong, Kiku?" Dad came out of his office. I don't think I remember a week in my life where he didn't spend at least one night writing all night, & he as still going strong with a thousand & one ideas. He looked even a little worried when he came & sat down beside Papa on the couch. I was seated in the chair across from them.
"It's not really that anything's wrong, per se... It's just-" I stopped & shifted uncomfortably in my soft chair. "I don't really know where to start."
"It's ok, don't worry, just relax, Kiku." Papa smiled.
I took a deep breath. "Well, Here goes! I'm in love."
"O.. K.." Papa said slowly. Trying to figure out why I was so nervous.
"Wait, there's more." I said. "We've been together for about the last 2 years or so, even though we knew each other before then... I've just never known how to tell you. You see, things are so different in college... everything was so overwhelming & everything always goes so fast that before I realized it, it had already started."
"Who is this person?" Dad asked me.
I swallowed. My mouth suddenly felt very dry & I would've killed for some water, anything to get me out of there for a few minutes. "Will you promise me that you won't be ashamed, or disappointed? If not for anything else, at least for the fact that I've kept such a big thing a secret for so long."
"We could never be ashamed of you." Papa smiled. "Go ahead, who is it?"
I closed my eyes for a moment while I thought of how to say it. I didn't want to just blurt out the name just like that. I felt I owed them an explanation as well. "It's Saki."
"What?" Papa & Dad both blinked.
"She came to visit me at Julliard, out of the blue one day. I had told her in an email once how much I missed everyone back home & the fun we used to have when we were kids. I said that New York was great & that she should visit there someday... so she showed up a few days later at my door. We just sort of clicked."
I knew that they'd be shocked. It was why I was so nervous. I'd grown up with Saki; she'd been my friend almost all my life. And since Ryuichi had always been like an uncle to me, I guess we were always more like family than anything else, even though we weren't related at all. We were from different countries, Ryuichi & Papa weren't related; just friends, & on top of that I was adopted. Everyone just assumed that we'd be more like brother & sister than anything else. Well, they were wrong.
"How many times did she visit you?" Dad asked. Papa was still recovering from the initial shock.
"Over the 2 years since her first visit... it's probably been around 7 or 8 times." I admitted.
"That many?" Papa asked.
"Yeah. I know this wasn't really something that you or anyone else would expect, it surprised us too, but I love her. We're not the 'friends' that everyone always assumed that we'd be."
"Well then, is she the one you've been living with?" Dad asked me.
"Yes." That's not really something a guy ever wants to admit to his parents. Especially since I'm so used to keeping my private life so... well, private. "I know what you must be thinking..."
"It's ok." Dad said. I blinked.
"I'm glad that you're happy." Papa smiled. "I don't mind. Saki is a nice girl."
I was so relieved. I was so glad that they didn't mind that we were boyfriend & girlfriend that I thought I could faint. But I was still forgetting one major detail.
"But now that you've surprised me, you can come back home & live here, right?" Papa asked.
"Well, actually..."
"Are you moving back to New York?" Dad asked.
"No. I'm staying here in Tokyo... but I'm not moving back home. I'm staying with Saki. I've asked her to marry me. We're engaged."
This was what I was the most worried about. I was only 21 & Saki, only 23... my parents only just found out we were dating, never mind engaged. And I wasn't sure if Ryuichi knew yet even though we had both promised to tell our parents today.
"Engaged?" Papa gasped. "You're getting married?"
"That's what I wanted to talk about. We've agreed, that we won't get married if we don't have our parents' blessings. We'll wait if you don't think we should..." I told them. "... But we'll just wait, we won't call it off." A bold statement, I know. That's the other thing about my secrets; I always seem to spring them on people when it's too late for them to do anything about them. I'm a little too cocky & bold for my own good sometimes... its something I should work on.
Papa looked over at dad, making some eye gesture that had a meaning that was hidden from me. He silently got up & left the room & I was left sitting awkwardly with dad in the living room, wondering what they were both thinking.
"Dad?" He's always been the quiet one... he seems to enjoy letting people figure out how he feels on their own, he rarely says how he feels unless he's really mad or annoyed. So, I guess this is kind of a good sign... at least he's not furious that I kept the fact that I'm engaged to my childhood best friend a secret. ...I think.
"When did you ask her? How long have you been engaged for?" Dad asked.
"The 2nd day after I got back home. She picked me up at the airport & we spent the day together & I proposed the next day."
"I see..." He said. "So, you were already engaged by the time I first talked to you." It was more of a statement than a question.
No way. I didn't really think it was possible... but I think I may have hurt his feelings. I really did disappoint him this time. Papa too, he didn't even stay in the room. This was exactly what I feared would happen. "Dad... I just didn't want to say anything until I could tell you & Papa together. I'm sorry that I've let you down..." I looked at my hands that were folded in my lap. I couldn't bring myself to look in his eyes. "I'm such a screw-up, I know. I'm sorry. For you to not be able to have a child of your own with the person you love... & then to get me, who always messes things up. I should be better... I shouldn't be like this, causing you & Papa both so much grief." I squeezed my eyes closed tightly, wiping them with my sleeve before I started crying. What kind of a man cries? I felt so stupid.
All of a sudden, I felt a hand grab my wrist & pull me off the chair & to my feet. The warm arms of Dad wrapped around me, it was rare that he hugged me, I wasn't very used to it, but I felt bit better. "Why do you say such things?" He asked me.
"It's true, isn't it?"
"No. Of course not."
"Really?" I looked up at him, a hopeful smile starting on my lips. "But... then why did Papa leave without saying anything? HE'S disappointed."
Dad sighed. "Let me enlighten you as to why your Papa left the room." With that he began walking, signalling that I was supposed to follow him.
I peeked around the corner & could hear Papa squealing away with excitement & chattering poor Hiro's ear off on his phone. I was so relieved; I ran into the room & gave him a big hug. "Papa!"
"You should go answer the door." Papa smiled down at me.
"Eh?" I wasn't sure what he was talking about, but sure enough, about 10 seconds after he said it, I heard a knock at the door. I bounded from the room, seeing as we were on the opposite side of the house & ran to answer the door. I was so happy I felt like I was flying. Unfortunately, after tumbling down the last 5 stairs of our staircase I realized that wasn't true.
"Kiku!" Saki wrapped her arms tightly around my neck & leapt into my arms. I barely caught her without falling to the ground. She kissed me even though Ryuichi & Uncle Tatsuha were standing right there. "I'm so happy!"
I wrapped my arms around her waist & spun her around in circles. "What are you doing here?!" I laughed.
"Your Papa called & said we need to come over & celebrate!" Her big blue eyes sparkled.
Ryuichi bounded forward & it was pretty safe to assume that Papa had come. A familiar thud sound confirmed all suspicion. "Shu-chan! We're gonna have the same kids now na no da!"
"Well, I guess that's one way of putting it." Papa said.
Dad rubbed his temples... I could tell what he was thinking... 'It's too early for Sakuma Ryuichi.' Oh well, at least Uncle Tatsuha will be fun for him to talk too. Or... well... oh heck, it's only one day, I'm sure he'll survive. ^_^;
*~*
Thank you everyone for listening! I hope you've enjoyed hearing my story! And don't worry, Dad survived being surrounded by us all day long. I'll talk to you all sometime soon, but for now, I'm going to get some rest... Saki & I only got 2 hours of sleep by the time we got home from all of those bars last night, & with all that excitement today we're just about dead on our feet.
"But not OFF them!"
SAKI!!! O.O Oh my gosh... I can't believe she just said that... -_-; Well, I've really enjoyed meeting you all & I hope to get to talk to you again! I talk a little too much sometimes... but as long as you don't mind hearing my stories then it's all good, right? Good night!
The End ?
*~*
Yuki covered Shuichi's eyes as he led him through the house & to his study. "I have a surprise for you."
"Really?! What is it Yuki?!" Shuichi squirmed a little as he walked, trying to peek through Yuki's hands.
"You'll see." Yuki smiled, it was easiest for him to smile when Shuichi couldn't see him even now, after so many years. "Ready?" He asked.
"YES!"
"Alright, now." Yuki lifted his hands & Shuichi blinked.
He kept looking around Yuki's study, wondering what was supposed to be his surprise. "Yuki... I don't see anything. What am I supposed to be seeing here?"
"Me!" I sprung up from behind the desk. "Happy Birthday Papa!!!"
"Kiku!" Papa gasped.
I hopped over the desk, making Dad wince as I just barely missed knocking over the computer. "I'm home!" I gave Papa a big hug.
"I didn't think you were supposed to be done until the summer!"
"I finished early, I went to classes in the summer instead of taking it off for my break. That's why I wasn't able to visit." I explained.
"I'm so glad you're home!" Papa hugged me again. "How long have you been in town?"
"About a week or so."
"You knew about this?" Papa asked Dad.
"Yeah." He nodded. Papa hugged him.
"Where have you been staying?"
I blinked & blushed a little. I was caught off guard by the question. "Um... just at... a friend's house." I wasn't ready to tell them yet... not right before the party started.
"Ohh."
"Come on Papa! Dad & I still have one more surprise for you!" I grabbed his arm & dragged him from the room & into the dark living room. I flicked on the lights & all of Papa's friends shouted
"Surprise!"
"Ta-Da!" I smiled brightly. "Are you surprised?"
"Of course!" Papa laughed.
"I hope you don't mind that you're gonna have to share your Birthday Party with Kiku as his Welcome Home party." Dad said.
"Not at all!"
"Shu-chan!" Ryuichi ran from in the crowd & leapt, tackling Papa to the ground. "Happy Birthday na no da!"
Dad sweat-dropped & stepped around them to stand beside me. "Kiku, What are they saying?"
I sighed. It's almost kind of sad that I understand their gibberish. Oh well, at least I can say that I'm trilingual on my resume. Japanese, English & Hyper-Active Rock star. "Ryuichi is asking him if he's surprised to see everyone. And Papa is telling him that he had no idea that there'd be a party for him or that I'd be able to make it home in time. And then-"
Papa stopped me by putting his hand on my shoulder. "Thank you. Considering that Ryuichi has started using the words 'pika-pika!' I don't think I want to know any more."
"Yeah." I agreed.
"Kiiikuuu!" A girl's high voice squealed.
"Huh?" I turned just in time to be caught by the arm & dragged to the other side of the room. It was my equivalent to Ryuichi; Saki, his daughter. She was 23, a few years older than me; the product of one of Ryuichi's relationships while he was in the U.S. with K. Saki didn't even come live with Ryuichi until she was 5 or 6, when her mother got sick. Before then, not even Ryuichi had known he had a daughter. She sat me down with her & pushed her long wavy auburn hair back over her shoulders & straightened her yellow miniskirt. "Saki?" I blinked.
"It's been so long! I'm so glad you're back home!" She smiled & gave me a big hug.
"What do you mean 'It's been so long'? You saw me just before the party..."
"Yeah, but we didn't get to talk that much. It's been a long time since today."
"You picked me up at the airport..." I grinned.
"But you were so tired, we didn't get to talk. I've hardly seen you for the past 3 ½ years."
"More than most people... you came to visit me a few times in New York."
"Don't let my dad know that!" She whispered. "He still thinks that I went on camping trips with my friends. He loves New York, he'd be so upset if he found out I went & didn't take with me."
I laughed. "No problem."
"Thank goodness!" She sighed.
Some of my cousins came over & sat down with us. "How was it in New York?"
"New York was a blast. I miss it already. I met so many people there."
"What was your roommate like?"
"His name was Shane. He's majoring in Dance."
"Really?" My cousin, Hana asked. She was 18, & had short, strawberry blonde hair. "Was he hot?" And she was a little boy crazy.
I blushed bright red. "Um..."
"Hana!" Her twin brother, Ken'ichi, Ken for short, smacked her arm. "Don't ask such things! It's embarrassing. Sorry." He apologized to me for her.
"It's ok." I laughed. "He was a really nice guy. He promised to come visit here sometime."
"He was hot." Saki answered Hana's question. "He's a really good dancer too."
"You met him?" Aki asked her. He had scruffy red hair & as you probably guess, he was Hiro & Ayaka's son.
"Yup. I went to visit there once." It was more than once but she didn't want her dad to find out. "Don't you have pictures of your friends?" She asked, tugging on my sleeve.
"Oh yeah." I pulled out my wallet & showed them my pictures.
"Aw! You even have the pictures from that little photo booth that we went to!" She squealed.
"Well, you did threaten me to never take them out..." I laughed.
*~*
Its like I live in 2 different worlds, the first is just my 'normal' life; school, movies, jobs & my friends like Daisuke & Miyako. My second life though, consists of wild parties, clubs, bars, raves, anything we could sneak into & everything we could get away with doing. That life involves Hana, Ken, their older sister Mina, Aki, & of course, Saki. It was also the life that I definitely kept hidden from my parents, classmates & the press. I never drank, & I never had a girlfriend, but that doesn't mean that I stayed out of trouble. I'm lucky that the worst I ever got caught for was smoking cigarettes... I'm past that all now, though. It was just basic rebellion from the children of rock stars. My younger cousins are starting it now too, I can tell. We've all done it, but it all started with Saki & I.
Saki is a nice girl. The first one I ever really became friends with. Even with Miyako, it took a while because she was kind of a bully when we were little. Saki was a few years older than me, but she didn't treat me like I was younger or like she knew more than I did, mainly because she didn't. She didn't know Japanese until she moved here, so even though she was older, we were both learning the same sort of things at the same time. The first time I ever met her, was probably a few weeks after she first moved to Tokyo. She didn't know how to say much, but she was so happy to have someone to play with that she didn't care, she just grabbed my hand & dragged me off to play hide and go seek... a lot like she still does. I think its pretty safe to say, that I was her first friend, & that she was mine.
*~*
I spent most of the night either talking with Aki, my cousins, & Saki, or being hugged & clung to Papa who missed me so much. I fell kind of bad that I went away for so long & hardly visited... I know he must have been upset after I left. To tell the truth, I missed him & Dad a lot too. It was driving me nuts, being home for a week & not seeing Papa. I was glad to be able to give him lots of hugs.
I'm a lot like him, its true what they say, that you are your parents. No matter how hard you may try to avoid turning out like them, in the end you are, just the same. I'm like dad too. Which seems strange considering that he & Papa are complete opposites...
I worry sometimes... I'm always so afraid that I'm letting them down. It seems like no matter what I do, I always do something wrong... but they're just too nice to tell me it hurts them. Like how I've always tried really hard in school, no matter what. I had trouble in math, so I got tutored at lunch, I joined all sorts of clubs & was on the soccer team & the basketball team, I was even in a few school plays throughout school, I was elected valedictorian & got accepted to Julliard... but I did all this & didn't even tell them. I always wanted to surprise them with all of these things that I did, but I never could find the right moment, & it was always left too late. It must've hurt them too find out all these things so late, made them feel like they didn't know their own son. But I never intended these things to turn out like this, big surprises that just kinda erupt like volcanoes when they've been concealed too long. It's just like now... I have to find a way to tell them my next secret.
I'm scared... I always feel like I disappoint them when I do this, but everything happens so fast. I had no idea that I would end up falling in love with someone like "that". I wasn't even looking for a relationship. All I can do is hope that they can accept & understand what I'm about to tell them... I think I'll tell them tomorrow.
*~*
I shuffled underneath more blankets & cuddled up closer to the older man beside me. I was worried still, but I could relax more in the comfortable bed, I didn't have to tell my parents yet, & I was thankful for that.
"What time did you get in?"
"About an 2 hours ago or so." I replied.
"What time is it?"
"It's 7:30. I had a pretty late night... Saki dragged me to all sorts of clubs." I smiled.
"I thought you were staying at your friend's house?"
"Would you rather I left? I didn't think you'd mind."
"Of course not. Where's your Dad?"
"He's writing I think... he doesn't know I'm here as far as I know." I replied. "Papa?.." I looked up at him.
"Yes?" Papa asked.
"I have to talk to you and Dad... it's kind of important."
"How important?"
"Kinda really important." I replied nervously.
"Is something wrong?"
"No. I just have some news... that I don't know how you'll react too."
Papa gave me a concerned look. "Well, then let's get up for now, you can tell us while your Dad's still awake."
"Ok."
*~*
Okay, so right about here, I was just about ready to throw up. I know that sounds a little gross, but I was THAT nervous. This was really big, like when I went to America, except, this is something that I really wanted their permission & blessings for. I wasn't sure I could even go though with it if they didn't want me too.
*~*
"What's wrong, Kiku?" Dad came out of his office. I don't think I remember a week in my life where he didn't spend at least one night writing all night, & he as still going strong with a thousand & one ideas. He looked even a little worried when he came & sat down beside Papa on the couch. I was seated in the chair across from them.
"It's not really that anything's wrong, per se... It's just-" I stopped & shifted uncomfortably in my soft chair. "I don't really know where to start."
"It's ok, don't worry, just relax, Kiku." Papa smiled.
I took a deep breath. "Well, Here goes! I'm in love."
"O.. K.." Papa said slowly. Trying to figure out why I was so nervous.
"Wait, there's more." I said. "We've been together for about the last 2 years or so, even though we knew each other before then... I've just never known how to tell you. You see, things are so different in college... everything was so overwhelming & everything always goes so fast that before I realized it, it had already started."
"Who is this person?" Dad asked me.
I swallowed. My mouth suddenly felt very dry & I would've killed for some water, anything to get me out of there for a few minutes. "Will you promise me that you won't be ashamed, or disappointed? If not for anything else, at least for the fact that I've kept such a big thing a secret for so long."
"We could never be ashamed of you." Papa smiled. "Go ahead, who is it?"
I closed my eyes for a moment while I thought of how to say it. I didn't want to just blurt out the name just like that. I felt I owed them an explanation as well. "It's Saki."
"What?" Papa & Dad both blinked.
"She came to visit me at Julliard, out of the blue one day. I had told her in an email once how much I missed everyone back home & the fun we used to have when we were kids. I said that New York was great & that she should visit there someday... so she showed up a few days later at my door. We just sort of clicked."
I knew that they'd be shocked. It was why I was so nervous. I'd grown up with Saki; she'd been my friend almost all my life. And since Ryuichi had always been like an uncle to me, I guess we were always more like family than anything else, even though we weren't related at all. We were from different countries, Ryuichi & Papa weren't related; just friends, & on top of that I was adopted. Everyone just assumed that we'd be more like brother & sister than anything else. Well, they were wrong.
"How many times did she visit you?" Dad asked. Papa was still recovering from the initial shock.
"Over the 2 years since her first visit... it's probably been around 7 or 8 times." I admitted.
"That many?" Papa asked.
"Yeah. I know this wasn't really something that you or anyone else would expect, it surprised us too, but I love her. We're not the 'friends' that everyone always assumed that we'd be."
"Well then, is she the one you've been living with?" Dad asked me.
"Yes." That's not really something a guy ever wants to admit to his parents. Especially since I'm so used to keeping my private life so... well, private. "I know what you must be thinking..."
"It's ok." Dad said. I blinked.
"I'm glad that you're happy." Papa smiled. "I don't mind. Saki is a nice girl."
I was so relieved. I was so glad that they didn't mind that we were boyfriend & girlfriend that I thought I could faint. But I was still forgetting one major detail.
"But now that you've surprised me, you can come back home & live here, right?" Papa asked.
"Well, actually..."
"Are you moving back to New York?" Dad asked.
"No. I'm staying here in Tokyo... but I'm not moving back home. I'm staying with Saki. I've asked her to marry me. We're engaged."
This was what I was the most worried about. I was only 21 & Saki, only 23... my parents only just found out we were dating, never mind engaged. And I wasn't sure if Ryuichi knew yet even though we had both promised to tell our parents today.
"Engaged?" Papa gasped. "You're getting married?"
"That's what I wanted to talk about. We've agreed, that we won't get married if we don't have our parents' blessings. We'll wait if you don't think we should..." I told them. "... But we'll just wait, we won't call it off." A bold statement, I know. That's the other thing about my secrets; I always seem to spring them on people when it's too late for them to do anything about them. I'm a little too cocky & bold for my own good sometimes... its something I should work on.
Papa looked over at dad, making some eye gesture that had a meaning that was hidden from me. He silently got up & left the room & I was left sitting awkwardly with dad in the living room, wondering what they were both thinking.
"Dad?" He's always been the quiet one... he seems to enjoy letting people figure out how he feels on their own, he rarely says how he feels unless he's really mad or annoyed. So, I guess this is kind of a good sign... at least he's not furious that I kept the fact that I'm engaged to my childhood best friend a secret. ...I think.
"When did you ask her? How long have you been engaged for?" Dad asked.
"The 2nd day after I got back home. She picked me up at the airport & we spent the day together & I proposed the next day."
"I see..." He said. "So, you were already engaged by the time I first talked to you." It was more of a statement than a question.
No way. I didn't really think it was possible... but I think I may have hurt his feelings. I really did disappoint him this time. Papa too, he didn't even stay in the room. This was exactly what I feared would happen. "Dad... I just didn't want to say anything until I could tell you & Papa together. I'm sorry that I've let you down..." I looked at my hands that were folded in my lap. I couldn't bring myself to look in his eyes. "I'm such a screw-up, I know. I'm sorry. For you to not be able to have a child of your own with the person you love... & then to get me, who always messes things up. I should be better... I shouldn't be like this, causing you & Papa both so much grief." I squeezed my eyes closed tightly, wiping them with my sleeve before I started crying. What kind of a man cries? I felt so stupid.
All of a sudden, I felt a hand grab my wrist & pull me off the chair & to my feet. The warm arms of Dad wrapped around me, it was rare that he hugged me, I wasn't very used to it, but I felt bit better. "Why do you say such things?" He asked me.
"It's true, isn't it?"
"No. Of course not."
"Really?" I looked up at him, a hopeful smile starting on my lips. "But... then why did Papa leave without saying anything? HE'S disappointed."
Dad sighed. "Let me enlighten you as to why your Papa left the room." With that he began walking, signalling that I was supposed to follow him.
I peeked around the corner & could hear Papa squealing away with excitement & chattering poor Hiro's ear off on his phone. I was so relieved; I ran into the room & gave him a big hug. "Papa!"
"You should go answer the door." Papa smiled down at me.
"Eh?" I wasn't sure what he was talking about, but sure enough, about 10 seconds after he said it, I heard a knock at the door. I bounded from the room, seeing as we were on the opposite side of the house & ran to answer the door. I was so happy I felt like I was flying. Unfortunately, after tumbling down the last 5 stairs of our staircase I realized that wasn't true.
"Kiku!" Saki wrapped her arms tightly around my neck & leapt into my arms. I barely caught her without falling to the ground. She kissed me even though Ryuichi & Uncle Tatsuha were standing right there. "I'm so happy!"
I wrapped my arms around her waist & spun her around in circles. "What are you doing here?!" I laughed.
"Your Papa called & said we need to come over & celebrate!" Her big blue eyes sparkled.
Ryuichi bounded forward & it was pretty safe to assume that Papa had come. A familiar thud sound confirmed all suspicion. "Shu-chan! We're gonna have the same kids now na no da!"
"Well, I guess that's one way of putting it." Papa said.
Dad rubbed his temples... I could tell what he was thinking... 'It's too early for Sakuma Ryuichi.' Oh well, at least Uncle Tatsuha will be fun for him to talk too. Or... well... oh heck, it's only one day, I'm sure he'll survive. ^_^;
*~*
Thank you everyone for listening! I hope you've enjoyed hearing my story! And don't worry, Dad survived being surrounded by us all day long. I'll talk to you all sometime soon, but for now, I'm going to get some rest... Saki & I only got 2 hours of sleep by the time we got home from all of those bars last night, & with all that excitement today we're just about dead on our feet.
"But not OFF them!"
SAKI!!! O.O Oh my gosh... I can't believe she just said that... -_-; Well, I've really enjoyed meeting you all & I hope to get to talk to you again! I talk a little too much sometimes... but as long as you don't mind hearing my stories then it's all good, right? Good night!
The End ?