: Another chapter in the unfolding saga of Sachi's step-family! Let's all give a hearty welcome to UCCMaster as well. Welcome aboard! Also, if you want to check it out, I've got a Facebook page up /Browncoat31986 I've got some trivia and "artwork" (really just Photoshoped screenshots) up there if you're interested.
And by the way, I love Easter Eggs!
Chapter 2
I yawned as I rolled my wheelchair into the kitchen. It was much later than I had intended, but with the nightmare last night, there really wasn't much I could do about it now.
I smiled at my little family as I wheeled myself towards the kitchen table. My wife and stepdaughter were both dressed and brushed already, and were pouring over the crossword puzzle in the morning newspaper. Sachi's ever-present headphones were draped around her neck, the blue pigtails tossed over her shoulders like the ends of a scarf.
"Good morning, Scott!" Kimiko greeted me cheerfully.
"Hey, Babe," I said, trying to keep the grogginess out of my voice. I glanced at the clock on the microwave and grimaced. "Wow, I really slept in, didn't I?"
"I figured you needed it," she said, pecking me on the lips.
"You're probably right," I sighed. "I just feel bad that we missed the morning menu at the Dicey." Andrew and his wife, Kathy, had catered our wedding almost a year-and-a-half ago, and since then, the girls had quickly developed a real taste for Kathy's cooking, especially her American-style breakfast. So it became a family tradition to go have breakfast at their restaurant/coffee shop, The Dicey Cafe, on Saturday mornings.
"I'm always right, Scott," Kimiko answered, smiling. "I called ahead and let Kathy know we would be coming in later than usual, so she's saving some just for us."
"That was nice of her," I said.
Sachi nodded in agreement, looking up from the crossword.
"Hey, Firecracker!" I said, wheeling over to greet my stepdaughter.
She smiled at my pet name for her. Sachi and I had grown fairly close even before I married her mother, which I thought was surprising, given her shy nature.
"Good morning, Stepdad!" she replied.
"How's my princess this morning?" I asked, leaning over and kissing her cheek.
"I'm fine, I guess," she said, pushing her glasses back up on her nose, trying to hide a blush. She had never been an overtly affectionate person, but by now I had learned the difference between her "trying not to enjoy being the center of attention" blush and her "genuinely embarrassed" blush. This was not her embarrassed blush.
"Well I'm glad," I said, ruffling her hair playfully.
"Scott," Kimiko said, clearing her throat, "if we're going to make it to the Dicey at all today, you need to get dressed."
I glanced down at my t-shirt and pajama bottoms. "Oh yeah."
"Come on, I'll help you," she said, starting down the hallway toward the bedroom. "Sachi, make sure you have everything ready to go," she called over her shoulder, "we'll leave as soon as your Dad's dressed."
"Don't you have anything better to do than worry about me all the time?" I sighed over-dramatically as Kimiko closed the bedroom door behind us.
She raised an eyebrow at me. "I'm your wife as well as your physical therapist. If I don't worry about you, who will?"
"Fair enough," I conceded, setting the wheelchair's parking brake. Kimiko offered me her hands, and after a quick "1-2-3", helped haul me to my feet.
I held onto her hands like an NBA-sized toddler as we shuffled over to the bed, where I sat down heavily. Thanks to three titanium rods in my back, I could stand for a while and even hobble around with a cane for a little bit, but it took a lot of effort.
"Here we go," Kimiko said, laying out a pair of slacks and a button down shirt. With her help, I got out of the pajamas and into the slacks and shirt much faster than I could have on my own. Socks came next, and then she helped me into a pair of cowboy boots. I had a lot of trouble bending over, or rather, straightening up afterwards, so I really couldn't wear anything that needed lacing up. The long throat and pull straps made it easier for me to get them on and off without too much help, also.
Once I was presentable, we all piled into the van for our morning excursion. We had worked with the VA to get the vehicle modified with additional hand controls, in case I ever needed to drive, but I was more than happy to let her chauffeur today.
We parked in front of the Dicey Cafe after a short drive, and I waited for Kimiko to come around and help me out of the passenger side. Technically, I could do it by myself, but the last time I'd tried, she had given me an earful. Not that I could really blame her. Like she said earlier, if she didn't worry about me, who would?
"Well look what the cat dragged in!" Andrew boomed as we made our way through the door.
"Yeah, I'm sorry we're late," I grunted as Kimiko got me settled into a booth. "I had a little trouble getting moving this morning."
"Don't even worry about it, Scott," Kathy said, rolling a cart full of steaming plates over to our table. "Kimiko called ahead, so I saved a Cooper Family Special just for you guys!"
My stomach rumbled approvingly as she began setting the plates in front of us. Pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausage, and French Toast, all piled high. We joined hands and I said a quick grace over the food before we all dug in.
"Here, let me help you with that," I teased, reaching for Sachi's plate.
She made a sound like "Nah-ah-ah!" and batted my fork away with hers. She giggled as I mock pouted before returning my attention to my own plate.
Andrew came over to the table with coffee for Kimiko and I, and a glass of orange juice for Sachi.
"How've you been, man?" he asked, setting the drinks on the table. "This one been keeping you in line?" he said, nodding in Sachi's direction. I couldn't help but chuckle as she tried to hide another blush behind her food.
"I'm good," I said.
"How's that class coming?"
In the time since Andrew and I had been medically discharged, I had started working on a Masters degree in cyber security.
"Not bad," I said, shoveling in a mouthful of soft, fluffy pancakes (heavenly), ignoring the twin glares from my wife and stepdaughter for talking with food in my mouth. "I've only got another 15 credit hours to go, I think. How's the leg?"
He reached down and pulled his pant leg up, revealing the dull glint of metal and carbon fiber.
"Not too bad. Got fitted for this one earlier this week. It's a new model. Supposed to more accurately replicate the human stride. Seems to be doing a pretty good job, too."
I nodded. "Yeah, I didn't even see you limping." I leaned over as much as I could and squinted at the wording on it. "Auto-mail?"
"Really!" Kimiko exclaimed, "I only just started reading about Automail in the medical journals. I didn't know it was out of testing yet!"
"Yep! The best in prosthetic limbs since the hook and peg-leg were invented!" Andrew chuckled, straightening up again. "I know a few people in the VA, so they got me in on the beta phase."
"That's amazing, Andrew!" Kimiko said, obviously impressed. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks," he said.
"You and Betas," I grinned. "Is there anybody you don't know?"
He tapped his chin thoughtfully for a moment. "No, probably not."
We all laughed at that. It felt good to sit and relax with friends and family over good food and hot coffee. After all we'd been through together, I made it a point to never take moments like this for granted.
"So are you coming to the pre-launch party next weekend?" Andrew asked after we were finished eating. The dining area was nearly empty now, the post-morning rush over and done with.
Kathy had swooped in and lured Kimiko away with promises of fashion magazines and girltalk, which they were both happily engrossed in now, and Sachi sat cross-legged across the booth from me, sampling music with her tablet and headphones as Andrew and I talked shop over our coffee.
"Pre-launch party?" I asked.
"For Sword Art Online," Andrew said, motioning toward the bulletin board beside the bar. Sure enough, between a "DD Fridays at 6:30", "Magic the Gathering Wednesday Evenings", and "Free Doughnut With Purchase of Large Coffee", was a flyer that read "Sword Art Online Pre-Launch Party, Saturday, November 5th, 6 AM to Whenever".
"Since most of us Beta Testers already pre-ordered the game, I figured we could celebrate while everybody else is out standing in line," he said. "You did pre-order, right?"
"Oh yeah," I chuckled. "No way I was letting that slip by me! We may have a slight problem, though," I said, nodding toward Sachi.
"Oh?" Andrew said, cocking an eyebrow.
Sachi looked up from her tablet and grinned as I continued, "It seems that we have two potential players, but only one copy of SAO."
"Aha! So what's the plan? Flip a coin?"
"Dance-off," I said.
He looked me up and down with an odd expression on his face. "No offense, man, but uh... you can barely walk."
Sachi's grin looked like it should be an advertisement for a dentist's office, and her nose crinkled adorably while her eyes almost disappeared behind her glasses. "That's why we have Project DIVA, VR Dance Party!" she declared. There were very few things that made her visibly excited, but singing and dancing were at the top of the list. "I'm working on the playlist for when we get home!" she added smugly.
"Bring it, Small Fry!" I challenged, matching her grin.
She giggled before turning back to her tablet.
"Ain't the NerveGear a wonderful thing?" I drawled, draining my cup.
Andrew laughed. "It sure is! So either way, I guess I'll see you next weekend?"
"Yeah, man! Wouldn't miss it!"
He began gathering up the now-empty coffee cups as our wives made their way back to the table.
"Andrew, can you hold down the fort for a few hours?" Kathy asked. "I'm taking this chick here down to Ginza for some girl time!"
"Sure thing, Babe," Andrew said, taking the cups back behind the bar.
"That's really not necessary, Kathy," Kimiko protested. "Besides, I've got to get Scott and Sachi home and..."
"How long has it been since you've had a day out?" Kathy interrupted her. "Too long, girl! And today we are going to fix that!"
Kimiko looked at me, her eyes questioning. Kathy was a force of nature when she wanted to be, and even Kimko was left spinning in her wake.
"I'll take us home," I said. "Go ahead and have some fun. You deserve it."
"A-alright," she said. "Remember, there's leftovers in the fridge, but don't get into the casserole yet, and..."
"Don't worry, Mom," Sachi said, draping her headphones around her neck again. "I'll make sure he behaves!"
I smiled. "See? Everything's fine. Go have fun."
"Okay, have fun, you two!" Kimiko called out as Kathy practically dragged her out the door.
"So," I said, turning back to Sachi. "Best two out of three?"