Ch. 3 – Sweet Sister Bliss

What was that? It seemed the whole house shook. All I can hear is numerous people yelling. I can't really make out what their saying. Should I come back at a later time? Yuzuki was already long gone, if I left, I would just get lost. Just take a deep breath and press that door bell.

*Bing Bong*

Immediately the house stood still and the shouts went quiet. I then heard numerous footsteps running toward the door in front of me.

*BAM!*

"WHAT IS IT?!"

It wasn't one voice, but 2. 2 girls who look heated, with flustered faces and sweat dripping from their brows. They leaned over me as I bent backwards.

"S-sorry, I-I…"

I couldn't make out what I wanted to say. Their gaze went from angry to shock as if their sight came into focus and figured out I wasn't who they were expecting. They both started taking tiny steps backwards in unison. They look like they've seen a ghost. It was almost like the time with Yuzuki. Maybe they think I'm this Keita guy as well.

Slowly both their heads turned inwards towards the stairs. Again, in perfect unison, they gave a soft whimper.

"Kei-chan, aren't you upstairs?"

A voice from the top of the stairs shouted down.

"I'm right where you left me! Now come untie me!"

Their glares look back at me and instantly..

*SCCCCCRRRREEEEAAAAMMMMM*

They quickly ran upstairs, and I could hear the bang of doors closing. I know they aren't expecting me, but to run off like that without explaining myself is kind of rude.

"Hey! Somebody! Anybody! Help!"

The voice upstairs again screamed.

I guess I'll let myself in. I know in Japanese culture, you should take off your shoes at the doorway. I guess since I'm in Japan, I should follow this custom.

I could hear the voice upstairs again, it sounded like he was struggling with something.

I slowly walked up the stairs, taking a deep breath. What was with those girls? Why is this guy sounding like he's suffering? What the hell did I just get myself into? UGH! More unanswered questions!

I followed the sound to a doorway that was straight down the hall. There were 2 other doors to my left and right. The one to my left had a green sign, to my right, pink. The one straight ahead was blue. I continued straight to the blue signed door where the struggled noise came from. Slowly, I start to open the door.

"HEY! This isn't funny anymore. You 2 can untie me now!"

I hesitated for a second, but continued to open the door to get a full view of the room. The room was a mess. Books were thrown all over the floor. The bed to my right looked like it was flipped. And there on the computer chair by the desk to my left, was a half-naked man. The chair was tipped over and he was facing away from me. He was bound to the chair by a furry purple rope.

"Seriously, this rope really itches!"

I walk over towards him, and untie the bow in the back. His arms get free and he pushes himself up. He turns around and..

"Thanks fo-…"

It was like looking in a mirror. I knew I had a twin up until 5 days ago, but it was still quite shocking. I could only imagine what was going through his head since our father decided to not let him know of my existence until I arrived.

He took a deep breath and seemed like he was about to scream until… a sharp pain to the back of my head and everything around me went dark.

I can hear chattering now.

"What should we do with him?"

"Isn't obvious? We should burn the body. Leave no evidence."

"Riko, Ako-nee, that's too much. Besides him looking exactly like me, he might be harmless. He did help me get away from your clutches."

"Keita… you obviously don't know what this is."

"Enlighten me."

"He's obviously a body snatcher, like that movie."

"Riko, you idiot! Kei-chan is clearly right here, he can't be a body snatcher. But, he could be an alien who copied him."

"Don't call me idiot! Idiot!"

More yelling ensues. My head is throbbing.

"Riko-Ako! He's waking up"

I slowly open my eyes. Trying to focus on the scene in front of me and figure out what kind of predicament I'm in. I can't move my arms. I see now I'm the one tied to the computer with the fuzzy purple rope. It is kind of itchy. Looking up, I see the 2 girls earing elbow pads and buckets on their heads. The one with longer hair was holding a hockey stick, while the other one was holding one of those hand-held vacuums.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

The one with longer hair yelled while holding her hockey stick directed at me.

"Whoa! Calm down! This is all a misunderstanding!"

"Spill it!"

Trying to gather my thoughts, I needed to be sure to use the right words. I could only think in English, but needed to explain myself in Japanese.

"My name is Suminoe Leon. I'm from America and I'm Keita's twin brother."

All 3 of them looked at me like it was the most absurd thing to say. I thought it was more believable than some worms who can take over your body, or some alien. Not to them, apparently.

"I don't have a twin brother."

"I know it seems weird. I just found out about you just 5 days ago. Please, our father is expecting me. He should be able to explain this whole situation to you."

They all huddled to each other, with whispers of who knows what nonsense they could be saying. Every now and then, they take turns looking up at me and go back down into the huddle.

"Unfortunately, OUR father is away on business and won't be back until the morning."

"The stepmother! She also knows I was coming!"

The one with shorter hair pulled out a cell phone.

"I'll get to the bottom of this."

She stepped out of the room, I try to squirm about trying to get loose. Nothing. This rope just looks like a flapper's scarf, but with a stronger material. I definitely can't break it.

After a minute or 2 goes by, the one with the short hair comes back in. With a look that looks like she's laughing but scared at the same time.

"He's not lying…."

The other 2 slowly turns towards me. They quickly run over and untie me and starting yelling apologies at me.

Trying to get feeling back into my arms and ignore the throbbing pain on the back of my head, I remembered back to the gesture that Yuzuki gave to me at the train station. I waved my hand saying it wasn't that big of a deal. I guess it was unexpected. I would have done the same thing.

There was a long silence. The one with the shorter hair decided to break that.

"I'm Ako. This is my twin sister, Riko. And I guess you should know Keita."

"Well, this is our first time meeting. But, it really is nice to meet you all."

Silence again. Any time I would look away, I feel like there's a untrusting glare being fired in my direction, but I look back at them, they quickly show that nervous smile again.

The sisters, they're quite stunning. They should be my age, maybe younger? It's hard to tell.

We head down stairs and sit in the living room. Ako said she would make us some tea. I first thought, sweet tea, but no. I'm not sure what it was. I've never had hot tea before, and the taste was a little bland. I didn't want to show disrespect so I continued drinking telling her it was good. She just gave a short smile and took her seat on the floor.

All 3 of them were just staring at me. What do I do know?

"So…"

They repeated in unison.

"I wonder how much like Keita, you are…"

"Yeah, you think him and Kei-chan are anything alike? I mean, he's a westerner."

Riko slammed her fist in her hand, as if she just had a brilliant idea.

"Then we should give him the western greeting."

"Riko n-…"

In a flash, her face met mine. Our lips enclosed on each other. I'm in awe. This isn't how we greet each other in America, but somehow I don't have the heart to stop her. The sweet taste of her lips, the warm feeling from her breath hitting my face. I feel weightless. I can hear the other 2 just having shocked expressions in what we were doing.

"RIKO! You can't be doing that with someone you just met!"

She pulls away, our eyes never break. The red in her face, it was just Yuzuki, only I knew why her face was so red. I could feel the heat rushing to my own cheeks.

"It's almost like Keita… but there is a difference."

"R-really? B-but, that doesn't excuse you from kissing a random person!"

"He's Keita's brother, so he really isn't a random person. Just a stranger."

Keita just made a sigh.

"I'm sorry for my sister… Ah! I mean OUR sister."

That thought just hit me…. Sister.

"W-what?! I just kissed my sister? And enjoyed it in that way?!"

Riko's hands fell on her face and turned away from me with her face becoming completely red.

"It's ok…. Leon. We're not blood. So, it's ok for you to enjoy it. I did."

That's right. I remember Yuzuki saying stepsisters…. Then it's ok? Win!