Here's the next one. Enjoy.
It was early in the morning when Shin went for a swim. After all the craziness, he felt that he needed to relax before heading west towards Yamaguchi. While the others didn't care if they all drank themselves into a stupor, Sayoko would. Thinking about home, Shin knew that it was going to be odd. He was a bit afraid of not fitting in as everyone else changed. Not to mention recently added family. He didn't really know what his niece liked so he bought a stuffed toy hedgehog. Well, Gabby found it for him and the toy was adorable. Taro had talked about knights in armor, so he bought quite a few of those.
"Shin." he heard Seiji call.
Swimming back to the beach, he saw that Seiji was sitting with two cups of something warm.
"You know," Seiji said as Shin was walking out of the water, "I think I remember a certain someone saying that he wasn't going to wear a speedo ever again."
Looking down, Shin laughed.
"Towel?"
"Yeah." Shin said, sitting down.
"Tea?"
"Thanks."
"So," Seiji started, running his hand threw his recently cut hair, "I want to apologize for my behavior, for the past few years."
Shin grinned, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"And thanks for taking care of Nasuti when she was over in Paris."
"It wasn't a problem. You know any of us would have done the same."
"I know." Seiji sighed, "So you think Nasuti will like the haircut?"
Shin smiled, "She will, and if she doesn't then we'll just have to shave the rest off."
Seiji gave him a look.
"I'm kidding." Shin laughed, "You look fine. She'll want to steal you away for a few hours."
"It has been a while since the two of us went out."
"Take her out then."
Seiji laughed, "I thought that I'd never get marriage advice from a man in a speedo."
Turning red, Shin laughed.
"Seiji." They heard from behind. It was Shu.
"Touma's completely out."
Turning to Shin, Seiji grinned, "Want to help? He did leave you to fight us both."
Shin grinned, "I'm in."
When Touma woke, he noticed that there was quite a breeze blowing by. Then he noticed that he was duct taped and tied to the roof of the jeep. No matter how much he screamed and yelled, no one heard him. When they pulled up to the mansion, Seiji, Shu and Shin got out to look at what was still there, glaring at them.
"He looks angry." Shin said.
"Yep, well, if he played the game the way he was supposed to, he'd be free." Seiji grinned.
Ryo hobbled over to look as well, "Should we let him go?"
"No." Seiji quickly responded, "Carla needs to see this and then we need to throw him into the lake."
"You evil bastards! I swear when I get out, I'll get on such a sugar high, that even your ancestors will need to jump off a bridge into hell to get away."
"Nah, I think we'll leave him there for a bit." Shu said, turning to go greet his running wife.
Carla and the kids soon came out. Carla laughed at Touma's situation, while both kids asked why he was tied to the roof. Taking the chance, Shin nudged Seiji to head inside before the house became crazy. Jun had a look of relief when he finally came out.
"Man, I hate kids." Jun said, "They're such a pain to watch. Hector wouldn't stop following me around for the days you were gone, and then when I'd play video games, he'd sit there and cheer."
Shin and Ryo looked at each other. Shin had a smile form, and Ryo just busted out laughing. Shin then joined him.
"What?" Jun's tone became angrier.
Trying to explain, Ryo couldn't help but continue to laugh at the young man.
"Good one, Jun." Shin said walking into the mansion.
Ryo patted him on the back, "Welcome to our world."
"What, I wasn't that bad."
"Hey Ryo, remember when you slapped him because he was getting weird?" Touma yelled.
"Or how he'd cheer us on while getting in the way?" Shu added.
"Jun," Ryo smiled, patting his again on the back, "Pay back is a bitch."
"A fat slutty one." Touma yelled. He was then slapped by Carla for yelling that in front of the kids.
Once everyone started heading inside, Touma wanted to remind them that he was still tied to the jeep.
"I shoulda been a cowboy!" he started yelling, "Shoulda learned to rope and ride!"
"Tom, can you be quiet for once?" Carla asked. Ryo and Jun laughed as they still couldn't see their friend as 'Tom.'
"Negative." he smiled.
It started to downpour when the other four decided to bring Touma into the house. And while the weather was the biggest reason for bringing him, Shin didn't want Seiji to get pulled over for having a man taped to the jeep as he was being taken to the train station.
"So what did Nasuti say about the hair?" Shin asked.
"Nothing, she kept staring into my eyes. It was odd, but then I realized that she had the biggest grin on her face. The others want to go out to a nice restaurant tonight." Seiji said, "Too bad you're leaving early."
Shin nodded, "I know, but Sayoko wanted me to stay for a while. I'm guessing it's to help around the shop a bit."
"Hmm." Seiji hummed before reaching back and grabbing something, "Nasuti said to give Naomi this. She saw the hedgehog you brought, and decided to help you."
Looking at the toy, Shin frowned. It was a Hello Kitty doll.
"She likes Hello Kitty? Do they still talk to each other?"
"Yeah, Nasuti, Yayoi and your sister talk a lot."
"Well, want a hedgehog? It's cute and cuddly and almost looks like you."
Seiji laughed, "No, I'm sure one of the two will like the hedgehog."
Shin leaned back into the seat, hugging the Hello Kitty, "I'm such a bad uncle."
"I think you'll be fine. Bring them some candy and run out of the house. They'll love you; Sayoko, not so much."
Shin nodded.
"Yayoi and her man are over there. He's some musician for a symphony."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Have fun with that."
Pulling up to the station, they said their goodbyes.
"Oh," Seiji added, "There's this thing called email. Touma says you should get one. He's been consistent in making us all get one."
"Yeah, I need a computer first. Enjoy the rest of your vacation with the others." He said before shutting the door and giving a quick wave.
It was late in the evening when Shin walked along the street that he thought his sister lived on. He was a bit anxious and tired from carrying his old green duffel bag. The last time they had talked, she mentioned that they had moved into a bigger place. He just didn't think it was going to be in a better side of town that he didn't know very well. Sitting next to a street light, he wished that he had a mobile phone on him.
"Mental note to get one." Shin told himself, "At least it's warm outside."
Getting up, he spotted a phone booth. After a brief teasing, Sayoko told him that he needed to walk further down the block where the lights were fewer. Looking down the street, he then saw where the new block started. Sayoko was on the front steps waving at him. He was going to receive an earful on this.
"Everyone loses their way here the first time." Sayoko laughed as she gave him a hug.
"What happened to the old place?"
"A certain brother became famous with drowning Paris, and people started buying pottery that belongs to certain brother's family." Sayoko said, "That and the household keeps gaining members."
"Oh. That was about three months ago." Shin replied, not knowing how to take her comment.
"Amazing how news travels fast." She said, opening the door for him, "Ryuusuke is out on a job. He won't be home for a good while and Yayoi and her fiancé are staying for a week. He has some concert to perform in."
"What a shame. I was eager to hear Ryuusuke's insults." Shin said, "And the kids?"
"Hiding somewhere." Her tone changed, knowing that Taro was peeking from another room, "I'm surprised they haven't come running out yet."
Taking their cue, Taro came bolting out with Naomi walking out, "Uncle Shin!"
Remembering what had happened to Touma from crazy running kids, Shin turned himself before being hit. Even if he was small, Taro hit him pretty hard. Shin gave his sister a look. She replied by laughing.
"He's so big." Shin coughed out.
"Mother says that you fought in a war." He commented.
Shin gave her a look, "Which war is this?"
"Suiko's." Sayoko answered, "He saw the fight in Paris on TV."
"Can you teach me? Please Uncle Shin?"
"Yes," Shin sighed, "I can."
Naomi stood behind Sayoko, watching Shin. She didn't walk over to him until he brought out the Hello Kitty doll. And she didn't walk, it was a quick run.
"You're pretty." She then told him.
"Pretty?"
"She calls everyone pretty." Sayoko explained, laughing at her brother's confused look.
She then started to round up the kids for bed. Knowing her son, he would not want to wake up now that it was way past his bedtime. When the bag of knights came out, she knew that he wouldn't want to go to school either.
"Come on," She said, "Uncle Shin will still be here in the morning."
After the kids were in their bedroom, Shin said good night and headed to his room. He knew that the next day was going to be interesting as he had Naomi to watch while everyone else was away. When he didn't know was that he was going to be rudely wakened in the morning.