Chapter 3- A Warm Welcome and a Shocking Truth

The two, Yusuke and Raisumi even stare at each other. "You're my ooooolder bbbbbrother???" Raisumi said in a whisper of shock as she examines her brother's face. Yusuke's eyebrows twitched and he closes his eyes to blink. Then blackness covers his sight. His "sister" is wearing shades, and he puts on his shades too. Then they stare at each other again. Atsuko gave a deep sigh. Nonaka and Keiko sweatdropped. Yusuke speaks in a low tone, "I hhhavve a younger sister?? A little brat such as this is my sister?" This time, Raisumi's eyebrows twitched, and she gave a long sigh. Then the wind blows a bit hard, which makes them to stop staring at each other and turn to their opposite sides.

"Ok, enough you two!" Atsuko shouted, "Come on guys, let's go home," she continues as Keiko and Nonaka get on the car and as she dragged her son and her daughter. Keiko and Nonaka just gave themselves a deep breath and sigh while carrying Raisumi's baggage. Yusuke and Raisumi stared at each other again, this time, with some kind of irritation surrounding them. Both.

They finally get on the car, both of them at the back seat with Keiko, and Nonaka occupying the passenger's seat. '"Ah, Raisumi, dear, meet Keiko-chan..." Nonaka introduced. This makes Raisumi stop staring at his brother and looks at Keiko's direction. "Hi there, Raisumi-chan, I'm Keiko, nice to meet you," Keiko continued as her hands signals for a handshake. Raisumi's irritated look turns to a smile, "Hi Keiko-chan, nice to meet you, just call me Rai-chan if you wish. May I just ask what is your relationship with my..... er...... Brother??" "Well...um," Keiko's kind of nervous voice was interrupted by Yusuke "She's my girlfriend, yeah, she is..." he snapped with the irritated look at his face. "Oh..." Rai exclaimed. "Rai- chan, dear," came Atsuko's concerned voice. Rai turns her head to see her mother, then Keiko-chan gives her a bouquet of tulips, "Your mother's welcome gift for you," she added. "Thanks so much Keiko-chan! Atsuko-san... I mean Mom..." she said as her cheeks give a wide smile with a bit of red flash on her cheeks. Atsuko cannot explain how she feels this moment, her daughter, will finally be with her. As for Yusuke, he doesn't know what he felt, whether angry or be happy that he has a young sister. "I will be called onii-chan now?! But how did I have a younger sister such as this, why didn't mom tell me that I have a younger sister all these years," he thought as he looked outside the car window. Raisumi couldn't help to think about it too. "Aunt Nonaka tells me, my mom is far away, to work in Tokyo, but why didn't she tell me I have a big brother? Well, this is a surprise I guess, I don't know if I am happy or not, but something is kind of different about him," she thought as she stared again at her brother, with a faint smile. The four females kept chatting along the way, but Yusuke remained silent.

After less than hour, they finally arrive the Urameshi's residence. "Atsuko, this is surely a nice house, and your new car surely is good," Nonaka commented as she stepped out of the car. "Of course it is, Nonaka... Yusuke, would you mind carrying your sister's baggage? Please?" she requested as she closed the windows of the black car. "Yeah, sure..." came again his irritating voice. To his surprise, the baggage is already gone from the compartment, "Thanks, Yusuke, I can handle this by myself... no need to worry," she smiled as she lifts her baggage single-handedly. "Fine with me..." he snapped as he lifted up his shades from his eyes. "You sure you can do it sweetie," Atsuko asked her daughter, "Yup, you don't have to worry about it," she answered with a wide grin. "Um, Atsuko-san, can I go now? It's about 7 o'clock in the evening," Keiko asked. "Oh well, Keiko-chan, please just join us for dinner, I'll call your house to tell them you're still here ok?" Atsuko suggested. "Ok then, thanks so much," she said as she bowed. "Anyway, let's go inside now," Atsuko continued.

Rai takes off her shades, obviously, it's already dark, and funny that Yusuke took off his shades late also. She goes inside the house carrying her baggage. "Yusuke, kindly go with Rai-chan and Keiko-chan upstairs to show her room, OK?!" goes again Atsuko's goat-like voice. "Ok, ok, mom, come on Rai-chan, you better get to you room now," he said with a faint smile. "Yeah, he's right, let's go, I wanna see your room too," Keiko's voice is filled with excitement as she put her hands on Rai's shoulder and leads her to the new room besides Yusuke's room.

The door of Yusuke's room is slightly open, so she had a little peek, and saw the green wallpaper, of course, as any boys room, a bit messy. Rai sweatdropped. "That's my room," Yusuke said as he closed his door. "Hehhee... he still doesn't know how to take care of his room, even with a new house like this," Keiko commented as she gave a long sigh. "This is your room, Rai-chan..." Yusuke continued, "It was just renovated this morning, which woke me up in my good night sleep," his irritating voice came again. Rai just ignored him and fixed her eyes on the door to her room.

He opened the door slowly, and the two girls stood side by side to see what's inside. Blue, everything is blue, of course, of different shades. The blue wallpaper makes Rai's eyes become puppy like. "Blue... haha!! Dark blue, Navy blue... Baby Blue, Turquoise Blue, Ocean Blue... EVERYHTING BLUE!!!!!" she said excitedly. "OF COURSE IT WOULD BE BLUE!!!!!!! YOUR AUNT NONAKA TOLD ME YOUR FAVORITE COLOR IS BLUE!!!!!!" Atsuko's loud voice added as she heard her daughter's excited shouts. "Eh? You're some kind of weird... blue is actually the color of most boys," Yusuke said as he pushes his sister in. "Yusuke-kun, it's not always like that," Keiko explained as she enters the room. "My," she exclaimed, "this room does have a touch of being a female.... blue suits you really good Rai-chan," Keiko continued. "Hahahah!!! I'm really good when it comes to colors..." then she continues making her pride laugh. Yusuke's eyebrows twitched, then sweatdropped.

"So, Yusuke-kun," Rai said as she faced her brother, "you're not that bad at all! Heheheh..." she laughed as she pat her brother's back and made a big grin. Yusuke turns to her and made a wider grin, "heheh... you think so?" and pats his sister's head, "I guess I have to treat you nicely, you're not bad at all either," he thought. Keiko smiled and thought, "It seemed to be so easy for the both of them to understand each other, that's odd, for such a situation," then her smile faded to make her face a plain one, "I believe Yusuke-kun has something in mind. I know it," and stared at the two. "Is there something wrong Keiko-chan?" Rai interrupted. "Oh, nothing at all, I just heard Atsuko-san calling up from downstairs," Keiko replied.

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"GUYS!!! COME DOWN NOW!!! Dinner's READY!!!!!!!!!!!!!" rang Atsuko's loud goat-like voice as she prepared food in the dining room. "Atsuko, do you always have to shout?" Nonaka blurted. "UM... NOT REALLY? JUST GOT USED TO IT, heheheh..." Atsuko replied, with her endless shouting attitude. Nonaka sighed. "Atsuko, you know, Mother did thought so much for Rai-chan, she really hated to let her granddaughter go." "I know that Nonaka, but she does know that I have to be the one to take care of her, she's my daughter," Atsuko's cheerful face turned to a concerned one and turned to her sister. "I do believe she took good care of Rai-chan, and wanted to see Yusuke too," she continued, "but she didn't want to see me that much since I went here and chose Yusuke and Rai's father," Atsuko gave a long sigh, "Well, I guess I don't have to talk about that too much." "But what will you say if your children asked many questions about it?" Nonaka asked in a low tone. "I'll explain everything, there seems not much problem knowing that they are brethren," then she smiled. "You better not think much of those things now, Nonaka, take a break!" Nonaka smiled.

"What's for dinner?" Yusuke asked with his tongue out. "Got some fish fillet, ramen, grilled pork and rice," Nonaka replied. "RAAAMMMMMEEENNNNN!!!!" Yusuke immediately got to his seat at the end of the table. "Yusuke..." and Yusuke got another hit from his mom. Rai made a sheepish laugh. Keiko sweatdropped, "Heheh Rai-chan, that is really a usual event here..." "Yusuke, you better sit here at the right side of the table with two chairs... your Aunt Nonaka will occupy your sit at this moment!" Atsuko roared, with Yusuke getting another lump on his head, "Ouch..." "Keiko- chan, you may have your seat beside Yusuke, and Rai-chan at the left side," Nonaka instructed. And they started eating a sumptuous dinner.

Conversations cannot be avoided while eating, and Nonaka started it all, "I miss doing this thing for a long time, eating at one table together with many people." Everybody stared at her. "Nonaka, being dramatic again... by the way, how is mother now?" Atsuko talked in. "She's really fine, she's still in her fifties, so she's still in good health..." Nonaka replied. "I thought so. Oh well, I still have to ask something," Atsuko continued. "What then...?" Atsuko made herself look that she's thinking what to ask, and finally said "I just wanna know why this fortune is all of a sudden, I mean, did she won in the lottery?" The room becomes silent.

"HEHEHEHEHEHEH!!!!! HAHAHAHA... Of course! How else?" came out Nonaka's loud identical goat-like voice. The three kids sweatdropped. "She won thirty million yen... That's what we call fortunate!" Nonaka continued. "I knew it..." Atsuko snapped in a giggling voice. "Yup, grandma is just so fortunate to win thirty million yen. She deserves it I think, cause she always have her bets by the lottery place everyday," Rai said in a normal tone. "Oh yeah, I knew grandma would be like that... well, based on mom's attitudes...OUCH!!!" shrieked Yusuke after having a second lump by his mom again. "Heheheh... just kidding mom!! Hehe..."

"Um... everybody, it's getting late I think I should go home now," Keiko interrupted with a bright smile. "Oh... sure Keiko-chan, I'm sorry if you're late, I think your parents are already waiting for you," Atsuko apologizes in a "sorry" tone. "Anyway, Yusuke, would you please walk Keiko- chan home," Nonaka requested with a smile. "Sure Aunt, I always do that, come on Keiko, it's getting late," Yusuke asked in a hurry. "Oh well, take care Keiko-chan, be sure to go home right away Yusuke," Aunt Nonaka told then in worried tone. And the two left, walking out in the dark streets.

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"That's a wonderful surprise, isn't it Yusuke," Keiko started as Yusuke looked deep in thought. "Yusuke..?" He looked back at her and smiled, "I guess so... It really surprised me a LOT," his words were spoken clearly with his lips mentioning the words one by one with it's obvious movements. "Hm... I didn't really expect it to be like that... but I really like your sister," Keiko continued. "Yeah, I thought so, you're very amused with her I believe," he said with a wide grin. "Yup, yup, we'll be good friends, she's adorable, and I can see the glimpse of her looking alike with your face," "Oh well..." Yusuke exclaimed with a deep sigh. Keiko giggled and then she fell into silence. "Huh? Is there something wrong Keiko-chan?" Yusuke asked in a worried tone. "Nothin Yusuke-kun... I just thought," she stared at him. "Thought what?" Yusuke's asked in a puzzled look. "Well, I just thought..." Yusuke listened. "I just thought, or let's say ask if you will tell her about your true self, will you let her know about it?" She asked in a low tone. "I will not. As much as possible, I won't," he answered immediately and the two stopped by the front of Keiko's house. "But..." Yusuke continued in a voice much of a whisper, "I just don't know how long, but I sense something really different about my sister. Yes she is my sister, OF COURSE SHE SHOULD BE DIFFERENT! SHE IS MY SISTER HAHAHAH!!!!" and here comes again Yusuke's "pride laugh". Keiko sweatdropped, "But I bet you will still ask Atsuko-san about the whole truth of all this, won't you?" Yusuke smiled still "Of course I will."

Suddenly, a big frying pan fell on Yusuke's head... and was broken, making his third lump for the day. "WHO THE HECK IS OUT THERE? CAN'T YOU SEE IT'S ALREADY LATE, YOU'RE GOING TO DISTURB SLEEPING PEOPLE!!!" came a loud voice from Keiko's house. Then a man from the ramen house looked outside. "Oh... my... Yusuke-san, are you hurt, I didn't mean to throw a frying pan... heheh..." Keiko's dad apologized. "Don't worry dad, he isn't..." snapped Keiko's annoyed voice. "No, I'm okay Mr. Yukimura, look," Yusuke assured while exhibiting bodybuilding exercises. "heheh..." he said in a little laugh. "Phew, I just thought you were some kind of a drunken person outside our house, so threw it out," he apologized, "where is my frying pan? MY FRYING PAN!!! Broken? It's my fault anyway," "oh well, gotta go home now Keiko-chan, Yukimura-san," Yusuke waved. "Oh, Yusuke-kun, thanks for bringing my daughter back home safely," Mr. Yukimura waved back. "TAKE CARE YUSUKE-KUN!!!" shouted Keiko.

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After Yusuke left, Atsuko, Nonaka and Rai were the ones left in the house. "Well, Rai-chan, give me a big hug," Atsuko requested with a smile. Rai smiled back. "I can't believe it," she muttered in a low tone, "I missed having a mother. For almost fifteen years, I haven't felt this great," she continued. "Aww, don't be so emotional Rai-chan, your mom is right here now... I'm sorry," Atsuko replied with watery eyes. "She's right Rai-chan, but you know, you understood it all... you're such a good kid, that's why your mom is changing for the better. For you and Yusuke," Aunt Nonaka said in a happy tone. "That's true, and I won't leave you anymore," Atsuko hugged her daughter and brushed her waist-long black hair. Rai smiled with puppy dog eyes, and sniffed. "I was surprised," she said in a whisper. "I told you that you will be," Nonaka assured. "You know Atsuko, that girl is so naughty sometimes, when we were in Kyushu, but her grandma surely loved her," she continued, "but she showed courage in times she meets up with troubles," she nodded. "I'm fluttered enough that you think so, Aunt Nonaka, I'll sure miss grandma there," Rai replied with a big smile. "We will visit there every vacation, I tell you," assured Atsuko. "I'm glad that you'll do so. Mother did long to see Yusuke," Nonaka said.

"Hey, why don't we drink just for now?" Atsuko suggested. "Good idea! I'm sure I'll beat you this time, but we should have something enough for the kids," Nonaka added. "Fine with me," Rai replied.

"DDDIIIINNNNGGGGGGGG DOOONNNGGGGGGG!!!" the doorbell rang noisily. "That must be Yusuke," Nonaka hurriedly opened the door. Yusuke entered with a wide grin. "What's up mom. WHY DO YOU SMILE LIKE THAT?" Rai giggled as she sat on the sofa. Yusuke made a puzzled look, looking at Nonaka, who makes a very wide grin. Yusuke makes his way inside the house. "Look here son!" Atsuko shouted as she handles a bottle of whiskey right at Yusuke's face. "what do you mean by this?" he said pointing at the whiskey. "obviously... you know what we mean..." "Yeah. Yeah. Right." He replied with a sheepish smile.

"So, what do we do next? We are going to drink that?!" Rai stood up and approached the table. "of course we are..." Atsuko opened the bottle of whiskey and started to drink. Nonaka got hers and also started to drink. Yusuke went to the sofa, got a glass and pours his. Rai got her glass and pours a very little amount of whiskey. "Why young lady? Are you afraid to drink whiskey?" Nonaka's slang voice rang out. "well, not really auntie, remember, grandma trained mo to stay away from liquors, you know what I mean." "Wow, is grandma that disciplined eh, little sis? Actually, I was only planning to drink one glass." Yusuke pushed in, making a straight drink. "Ah... mom really did not change ever since we parted ways, well my children here aren't like us am I right sis?" "Yah sis, you bet!" and the two women made a big laugh. "oh..." Rai sweatdropped.

"Nonaka, we better hurry up drinking our bottles, we have many things to do tomorrow, and besides, you're leaving that early?" Atsuko cut in. "Yeah, sis, mom needs me at Kyushu immediately, and she told me to tell you to pay her a visit next vacation. Of course, she also told me that everything's okay between you and her now." "Aunt Nonaka, you're leaving that fast?" blurted Yusuke. "I'm afraid so, just take care of your sister here," she replied sitting beside Rai. Yusuke nodded. "BWAHAHAHAHHA........ I won!!" Atsuko roared. "WHAAAAAATTTTTT??? This can't be! You cheated! You cheated! You made me talk so you can be able to drink straight up that bottle!" Nonaka spitted out, disgusted. The two kids made a puzzled look, and sweatdropped. "I guess that will be all for now ladies, we better get to bed. C'mon Rai-chan, let's go upstairs." Yusuke invited. "Sure, after you. I guess we have a LOT to talk about."

The two kids went upstairs, leaving the two women behind. "You know Atsuko, I assure you, Rai-chan is a good girl. Her grandma built her up as a nice girl. But I'm not sure; she's a bit different from other girls. Since she went on in a training of Karate for the past three years, she could defend herself easily, but sometimes you have to be patient with her, she's a little harsh." "Yeah, I expected that. I spent more than 16 years being a mother for Yusuke, and since they have the same father, I expected that they will have the some similarities. Yusuke's a nice son Nonaka. But very mischievous. Let's sleep now." And the two women went upstairs, following the two children.

Yusuke and Rai entered the girl's room. "Yusuke-kun, may I now call you onii-chan? Well, I was surprised too. I just came to know about you this year. I hope we could be good to one another, I guess I will enjoy having a brother like you. I want to discover more about Tokyo, about you, about mom..." Yusuke looked to his sister. "Of course you may." He smiled. "I tell you honestly, I while ago at the airport," Rai turned to see her big brother. "I had a hard time to accept. I was very surprised. I really don't know what I feel. You see, I have been alone with mom for 16 years, and I never thought about dad, I have a little brother or sister and I felt peaceful that way, I..." "Yeah I know Big bro, I know what you feel right now. Thanks for welcoming me, and accepting me. I guess mom would like to talk to you."

"Yusuke, son. Ah, thank you sweetie for talking to your brother, you better go to sleep now, you're very tired already. C'mon Yusuke." Atsuko cut off the conversation. Rai bid good night to her brother and mother. The door closed, leaving her alone. She changed to her pajamas and lie down her blue bed. "Ah, so this is Tokyo. I have a wonderful mom, a mysterious big brother. I will enjoy here, but I will surely miss grandma way back at Kyushu. I am having my second year in junior high in Meiou High. Where is Meiou High? I'm excited. Yusuke is sure cool. He's different, I sense. Very different. I want to discover a lot more. Have to sleep now, got a lot more to do tomorrow." She thought, gradually closing her eyes, falling asleep.

Meanwhile, the conversation between the mother and son continues. Are you mad at me Yusuke? Or anything?" "No mom. I guess..." "Well, son, I guess Rai-chan already told you about your dad. You have to listen to me, and please, understand." "Yes mom, I will. I am ready to accept whatever you will say, as how I accepted my sister. She just mentioned dad to me, nothing more." "Good, thank you, dear. Now listen. I know that you know the fact that your dad strived hard to support us when I brought you to this world." "Yes mom, I already know that, but I am very curious to know why he left me, you." "I see. This is why," Atsuko had a glimpse of her room, with Nonaka, sleeping. "Yusuke, I hate your dad. I know he strived hard to support us, but after two years, I got pregnant. Your dad was thrown out of the job. He wanted to live a normal life again. He was very selfish. He wanted to study again, leaving me pregnant, you, only two years old. But the main reason is that... is that..." "What is it mom? I'm ready to listen." Yusuke's look is very sincere, and his mom burst into tears. "He wanted to leave me because I did not agree with him to have your sister be aborted. He warned me at first, because he did not know what to do. I thought he would be happy knowing we will have another child, instead he warned me to abort Rai-chan or he will leave us." Yusuke makes a shocked look, clenching his fists. Atsuko wiped up her tears. "That's past already son, and I'm very happy to have Rai-chan back." "But, what did you do with my sister, the reason why am I alone? Did you not support her too?" "Your grandmother. Your grandma far in Kyushu told me, through your Aunt Nonaka, that she will take Rai-chan to be supported and she told me to take care of you. I found some job, and your Aunt Nonaka was here for four years to take care of you while I am working. Your grandmother was mad at me for loving your dad. But I'm happy. I am really happy that she has forgiven me now." "Mom... I understand, don't worry..." Yusuke replied hugging his mom. Atsuko smiled and kissed her son's forehead. "But mom, does Rai-chan know about this?" "Yes... and she said she's grateful for what I did. I talked to her while you were gone out to bring Keiko home." "That's great! Thank you mom, I understand now why... I'll take care of her the best I can. I now accept her wholly. I feel very light and comfortable when I'm with her. Thanks mom. Well, gotta go to sleep now, you'll be enrolling her at Meiou High tomorrow right? Good Night Mom..." Yusuke went back to his room, Atsuko smiling as she goes to her room. ~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Author's Notes:
Finally, finishing my third chapter, a bit dramatic right? Thanks for supporting me... please R&R! But wait, Rai is going to Meiou High? With ******! Gosh!