SIX
The flight was as long as Mika had feared, but at least Hikaru had been kind enough to offer his window seat so she could look outside. The takeoff was a bit harrowing and she was ashamed to admit that she might've left finger-shaped indents in the padded armrests before the plane finally leveled and the uncomfortable pressure building in her ears settled, helped along by the stick of chewing gum she'd dug out of her bag. She was glad now she'd thought to buy a pack at the convenience store, even though she normally didn't chew gum. Bad for the teeth, Jemima had always claimed.
Once she got over her initial discomfort, she couldn't help but marvel at the view out the window; an entire landscape of cities, woodland and fields, rivers and lakes laid out in a patchwork of sparkling color, all lit up by the morning sun. She was equally fascinated by the clouds they passed over and through, at one point commenting that she never imagined she'd get to see what a cloud looked like from the other side.
Hikaru chuckled and she blushed, realizing how naive and childish she must seem to an experienced jetsetter that had probably seen similar views a hundred times over in his life. It didn't stop her from snapping way too many pictures on her phone to send to Jemima later, silently lamenting that she hadn't had an earlier flight so she could see what the cities looked like in the dark, all lit up like a Christmas tree.
She amused herself for a while by picking out shapes in the clouds until her musings were interrupted by the arrival of the flight attendant and a cart filled with platters of food. Mika accepted the plate set on her tray but, stomach still queasy with nerves, couldn't do much more than pick at it. The fresh fruit cup and glass of apple juice she managed to down, but the scrambled eggs and sausage just wasn't appetizing. That was okay, though, because Hikaru was more than willing to polish them off in exchange for his own cup of fruit.
She hadn't thought to bring a book or anything to entertain herself. There was an in-flight movie but she could barely understand the plot, and she wasn't much interested in action movies to start with. Hikaru hadn't asked for his book back yet, so she set to work translating some of it using her phone's app, jotting down the words in a small notebook she carried. It was far more difficult than puzzling out Ema's simple texts, many of the words too advanced for the simple app to translate correctly. Maybe Hikaru was right about needing to take real classes in a real school. The very thought made chills crawl up her spine.
Eventually, boredom and exhaustion caught up with her and she dozed off, head resting against the window.
She woke with a start, groggy and disoriented. It took her a few moments to remember that she was currently in a plane, flying somewhere over—Well, she no longer knew where she was and someone had drawn a shade down over the window, blocking out the sky.
A scratchy wool blanket had been spread over her body and her seat reclined back into a more comfortable position. Her head felt like it was stuffed with wool, as it always did whenever she woke up from a heavy sleep. Which wasn't often, especially lately. She must have been more exhausted than she'd thought.
She turned to Hikaru to ask him about the blanket, and instead bolted up with a shocked yelp when she found a complete stranger in his seat.
The Japanese man in a wrinkled suit gave her a smile that was more leer than anything and greeted her in an overly-loud voice that made several other passengers look their way.
Mika glanced around wildly for Hikaru, but he was nowhere in sight. The stranger spoke again and she frowned and shook her head; even had he been speaking English, she doubted she'd understand him through the heavy slur that laced his words. Clearly, he'd taken full advantage of the alcohol being offered to passengers.
The man spoke a third time and his hand reached out to squeeze her knee. And Mika reacted without thought, pinched a fold of skin on the back of his hand between three fingers, dug her short nails in and twisted viciously. The man howled in pain and surprise and jerked away, face contorted into a snarl of rage.
"Yeah, that's right!" She might've looked and sounded more intimidating were she not attempting to burrow into the back of her chair. "Touch me again and I'll smack the living donkey snot outta you!"
Rage melted into confusion as the drunkard squinted blearily at her through unfocused eyes. "Keiko-chaaaann?" he slurred.
"No." She knocked his hand away when he tried to reach for her again. "Don't touch me." She reached up to frantically push the call button. Heaved a sigh of relief when a male flight attendant hurried down the aisle toward them.
"I don't know him. This is not his seat," she attempted to explain in broken Japanese. Then again, in English.
"Sir, I think you're in the wrong seat. If you'll come with me I'll escort you to the correct seat." The attendant attempted to help the man to his feet, who immediately protested and tried to struggle away.
"Keiko-chan!" he wailed, reaching yet again toward Mika, who balled her fist and drew it back, ready to strike.
"So sorry about this, Miss," the attendant panted, literally yanking the drunk to his feet and then catching him when he nearly tipped over.
"My my. I go to the restroom for five minutes and all hell breaks loose in my absence. Made a new friend, have we?"
Mika shot her brother an exasperated look. "Maybe you can talk some sense into this lush," she huffed. "I'm not his Keiko-chan, whoever the hell that is…"
"I see." Hikaru looked far too amused at this turn of events as he bent down to quietly speak to the stranger who was nearly a foot shorter. The man gazed back at him with a rapt expression that had Mika rolling her eyes. They chatted for a few moments before Hikaru straightened with a chuckle. "It seems our friend here got a bit turned around looking for the restroom. Perhaps you might help him to the correct location? His … eh … 'daughter' is waiting for him. And I'd recommend cutting him off before you're forced to carry him off the plane.."
"Yes, Ma'am. Of course, right away!" Relieved that the potential violence had been safely averted, the flight attendant helped the man stumble his way down the aisle toward the business class section of the plane.
"Ma'am," Hikaru scoffed, offended. "I am clearly a Miss!" He turned to regard Mika, who was still crouched with both feet up on the seat. "You can climb down now. The scary man is gone," he teased.
"I wasn't scared," Mika grumbled. "I was cornered. There's a difference."
"Of course." His tone was grave but his eyes sparkled with laughter. "My mistake."
"Keiko is his daughter?" she asked with vague disgust as she settled properly into her seat. The way that man had leered at her had been anything but fatherly.
Hikaru chuckled. "We'll just say so for propriety's sake." He leaned over and, in a stage whisper, "More likely she's his underaged mistress." His face abruptly lit up. "Ooh! Idea!" Flipped open a notebook to scribble it down.
"Men are gross," Mika grumbled as she wrapped the blanket around her shoulders.
Hikaru barked a laugh. "An unfortunate opinion for you to hold, considering that in about three hours you'll be up to your eyeballs in them." He reached across her to slide up the window shade and Mika frowned when she saw that it was fully daylight outside.
"Shouldn't the sun have set by now?"
"I imagine it has in America, but we're currently flying over Japan, where it is about eight AM, Sunday morning. We should soon be starting our descent to land in Tokyo."
Mika's jaw dropped. "I slept that long?"
"Well, there's quite a large time gap, of course. But you needed the rest." His amusement faded to a sympathetic smile. "You look much better now. The bags under your eyes have all but vanished and your pallor is no longer quite so corpse-like. A bit of sun and food that doesn't come out of a can or a plastic bag, and I dare say you'll look remarkably healthy in a few weeks."
"Such a flatterer," she sniped
At long last, the plane arrived at its destination and everyone scrambled to disembark, eager to stretch their legs after such a long flight. Tokyo's international airport was crammed with people and Mika was hard-pressed to keep up with Hikaru's long strides. He didn't seem inclined to slow down and wait for her, either. If she got lost in this place she was screwed. After nearly getting separated in customs for the third time, she finally grabbed the back of his jacket out of pure frustration and held on for dear life as he towed her along.
Hikaru's mischievous glance told her in no uncertain terms that this was exactly what he'd been waiting for. "Weirdo," she muttered at him, earning only an amused chuckle in reply as he pushed his way toward the entrance. All around, people greeted each other, welcoming new arrivals and sending others off with fond farewells. Mika wondered if anyone from the Asahina family had come to meet them, but Hikaru didn't even pause as he led her from the building out to a long line of taxis.
He chose one at random and, after loading their combined luggage, they climbed in and Hikaru rattled off an address to the driver. Nobody spoke as they drove through Tokyo's streets, already crammed with traffic. Mika tried her best not to stare; it wasn't like she hadn't been in a huge city before, but she'd never been in a huge city in a foreign country before. It was the same as what she'd grown up with, yet somehow so different. They were driving on the wrong side of the road, for one thing. She'd almost forgotten that in Japan the driving laws were different, which meant she'd have to learn to drive all over again in order to get a license. Maybe she could ask one of her many brothers to teach her. Once she got more comfortable with them, of course. Then again, with all the transportation available in the form of trains and buses, maybe she wouldn't need to worry about driving herself anywhere.
Lost in her musings, Mika barely noticed when skyscrapers melted into suburban neighborhoods. She only snapped to attention when the cab eventually slowed to a stop in front of an open gate that led into a sprawling apartment complex. A huge tree dominated the front yard, centered before the trapezoid-shaped, five-story building with well-maintained shrubs and flower beds gracing the walks on either side.
Realizing Hikaru had already exited the car, she scrambled after him and accepted her luggage from the cabbie with a nod of thanks. Hikaru offered his payment, then turned to Mika with a smirk. "So, are you ready to meet the rest of the family?"
She sighed. "As I'll ever be." Turned to let him lead her toward the front entrance of the complex. A plaque on the wall caught her attention and she paused to try and read it.
"It says Sunrise Residence. The name of the complex," Hikaru explained without breaking stride.
"Wh-which floor do you live on?" Mika hastened to catch up.
"We live on the top three floors," he replied with amusement. "Well, actually, you do. I have a place of my own."
Mika's attention was still stuck on that first part. "D-did you say three floors?" she asked faintly.
"Of course." Another amused glance. "You didn't think our entire family was crammed into a single unit, did you?"
She didn't answer, gazing doubtfully up at the building before her. It looked posh and modern and very expensive. "The rent must be … astronomical."
"Not really, considering we own the building. The tenants on the bottom two floors pay us rent. Balances expenses quite nicely," Hikaru replied cheerfully.
Of course the family owned the whole building. Why had she expected otherwise? All that money had to come from somewhere.
Deciding that he was having way too much fun at her expense, Mika clammed up and didn't say another word as he unlocked the door and led her into a posh foyer. A receptionist behind the desk greeted him and he paused to speak with her quietly for a few moments, gesturing toward Mika, who straightened self-consciously under the receptionist's curious stare. When he fell silent, the woman nodded her understanding, then bowed politely to Mika who, recalling her manners, awkwardly returned it.
"Come along, Mika-chan!" Hikaru called gaily as he strode toward the nearby elevator. "Time to meet the family!"
They traveled to the top floor and when the lift's doors slid open, Mika found herself in a short hallway, where Hikaru stopped her to point out a wooden cube unit in which to place her shoes. A new pair of house slippers waited for her and she slipped them on her feet, feeling a little silly. This whole not wearing shoes in the house deal was going to take a lot of getting used to. She hoped that she wouldn't constantly forget and end up embarrassing herself too badly.
A short ascent of three steps and she entered an open foyer that overlooked an extensive living area one floor below. She gripped the balcony railing and gazed around with wide eyes. It looked like something out of a movie set, all clean, modern lines, polished wood and tasteful furniture and lots of potted plants to add an air of outdoor freshness. The entire wall was one long line of floor-to-ceiling windows and she could see the top of the huge tree through it. Everything was bright and airy and beautiful and she suddenly felt positively grimy in comparison as she hastily stepped back and self-consciously wiped her sweaty hands on the seat of her jeans.
"C'mon down, honey! No need to be shy!"
The sudden proclamation made her jump in surprise; she'd been so busy ogling the decor that she'd failed to notice the people who were seated around a huge red sectional by the window. The couch was easily big enough to accommodate thirteen, but there seemed far fewer than that right then.
She inched forward again for a better look and was immediately waved at by an exuberant boy with pink hair and a huge grin. "Welcome home, Onée-san!" he called in heavily-accented English.
Onee meant older sister, if she recalled correctly. "A-arigatou, Wataru-kun," she replied awkwardly as she slowly descended the nearby flight of stairs. The way the boy's entire face lit up made her relax a little. At least one of them didn't mind that she was here. She glanced around for Hikaru, only to realize he'd already joined his brothers, seated calmly on the couch and sipping a cup of tea.
Her heart thudded so hard she was almost sure they could hear it, but she nevertheless crossed the room until she reached the matching coffee tables in front of the couch and, recalling the manners, offered a stiff little bow. "I am Mika Simmons. Starting today, I'll be in your care," she said in Japanese, wincing inwardly. She was sure she'd gotten the pronunciation wrong, despite practicing the greeting over and over in her head. But nobody seemed to care as they murmured responses with smiles and nods.
The only other girl in the room abruptly hopped to her feet and hurried forward, beaming as she took Mika's hand in both of hers. "I'm so glad you're here!" she gushed, her accent thickening in her excitement. "It's so nice to finally meet you in person!" And she threw her arms around her in an impromptu hug.
Mika squeaked in surprise before awkwardly returning it. "Y-yes, it's nice to meet you, too," she replied shyly. "Thank you for texting me all that time and helping me out with names and such." She grunted when Ema's arms tightened in response.
"For goodness sake, Ema-chan, let the poor girl breathe," Hikaru called teasingly amid chuckles from his brothers. Mika didn't miss the knowing told-you-so look he cast her way, though.
"Ah! I'm sorry!" Ema immediately released her and stepped back, blushing. "I just got carried away!"
Mika chuckled. "That's okay. Honestly, I'm a bit relieved. I wasn't certain whether you really wanted me to come or not."
Ema looked floored at the idea. "Why wouldn't I want you to come?" she gasped. "We're sisters!" She tilted her head. "Are you older or younger than me?"
"I'm eighteen," Mika replied.
Ema's face lit up. "That makes you my Onée-chan! Can I call you Mika-née?"
She looked so hopeful that Mika didn't have the heart to deny her. "Sure, I guess. Or, you know, just my name is fine, too."
"I'll call you both! And you can call me Ema. Or Imouto if you want to call me little sister." The look on her face suggested that she wanted Mika to call her just that. She gripped her hand again and tugged her closer to the couch. "Come meet your new brothers! Well, some of them. Some aren't awake yet and others aren't here, but you're sure to meet them all soon."
Mika shifted uncomfortably as she suddenly found herself being surrounded by no less than eight strange men who all seemed determined to meet her at once. Well, five men, really. She'd already met Ukyou, who remained where he was beside a tea cart. Hikaru also stayed seated, and the one she remembered as the eldest (Masaomi?) seemed content to simply hang back and let the others have their turn, first.
"I can't believe we get to live with another adorable little sister! I feel so lucky!" exclaimed the silver-haired man in lightly-accented English as he zeroed in, and Mika released a surprised squeak as she found herself enfolded in a pair of firm arms and a wash of expensive cologne. Guess Jemima was right about those hugs, she thought sardonically as she shifted in his embrace, trying for a bit of breathing space. And she was definitely right about Tsubaki! Silver fox, indeed.
Wataru suddenly exclaimed loudly in Japanese, much too fast for Mika to possibly follow, but his expression and tone of voice told her he was none-too-happy as he tugged on his brother's arm until he could squeeze his way in and throw his own around Mika's waist. He hung on tight, grinning up into her face as he babbled something else at her, and Mika cast a helpless glance around, hoping for a translation.
It was Masaomi who stepped in to save her, speaking slowly and clearly in English. "Wataru-chan, you must speak English in Mika's presence so she can understand. She's still learning our language."
Wataru immediately pouted. "Do I have to?" he whined.
"Think of it as practice, kid." Grinning evilly—and clearly miffed about having his moment horned in on by his kid brother—Tsubaki ground his fist into the top of Wataru's head, who squealed in protest.
"Uh!" Mika hastily cut in before a squabble could break out. "You all don't have to speak only English around me. That's not really fair to you. Just, um, talk slowly and be patient with me until I can learn to hold a conversation, okay? I'll need the practice anyway."
Wataru's face lit up. "I know! I can help you practice Japanese and you can help me practice English! That's a great idea, right?" He laughed a little evilly. "And soon I'll be the best English speaker in class and that snobby Kendo-kun can suck it!"
Tsubaki and Hikaru both barked out surprised laughs while Ukyou and Masaomi released identical exclamations of dismay at his language. Wataru ignored them as he rested his chin against Mika's body and begged her with his best puppy-eyed stare.
"Uh, yeah. Sure. I guess that could work," she agreed around an awkward smile, although she wasn't exactly sure what she was agreeing to. But anything to be freed of the shaggy-haired barnacle clinging to her waist. His face was way too close to her breasts for comfort, practically nestled between them thanks to his height. It was hardly appropriate but she couldn't tell if it was a duplicitous action or not; he seemed completely oblivious towards what he was doing.
"Wahoo!" Wish granted, Wataru abruptly released her to race around the room in excitement, managed to get in a lap before he was scruffed by Ukyou—whose eyebrow was twitching strangely—and forced into a chair. From the end of the couch where he perched, Hikaru struggled to hold back laughter, eyes dancing with open amusement. "As per usual, the youngest brother manages to outdo us all," he commented idly, only to earn several dark glares in response.
