Its been 3 long weeks of tests and finishing the exhibit
that she had been interning on while finishing her Master's
degree in London England. She was seated at the table on
her apartment balcony with some coffee before she and
Sphinx made their way to the airport to head back to
Japan. Head back to the craziness that is her family, which
was even more so with the added siblings. She had spoken
to a few of them over the past few weeks when she would
call to check in on each of her siblings. She looked over at
the peaceful morning in the city.
Thinking about last night, the Gala for the exhibit was
amazing even if it wasn't the first she had been to. London
Gala's were different then the ones in Japan but not my
much. Gala's here were appetizer base instead of a dinner
after the initial gathering that evening. As she thought
about the differences, the call home popped into her mind.
She spoke to the triplets last night after the Gala of the
opening, her new brothers Tsubaki and Azusa joined the
call.
From the call she concluded that Kouji, Dauji, and Nenji
were either in one of their rooms with the room door open or
in the living area for the twins to join the conversation.
Thinking of rooms, she was dreading unpacking hers. Which
would be why she took a week and a half off when she got
back. Kimika's birthday is this weekend and her father's
wedding is the fallowing weekend. She looked over at her
year old kitten, who after a month she found out was a
MainKoon, so he was larger then other cats. She found him
around the dumpster of the Museum. He was just a tiny
thing at the moment. She took him to a vet that a co-worker
suggested and they ran all kinds of tests and checks to
make sure that the kitten was alright. After taking the kitten
home she struggled to come up with a name for him until
her mentor brought her a Spinx statue from Egypt. Spinx
came into her life a month after a month of being in a new
country.
'Ring, Ring.' she heard her phone ringing from inside.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Hey Mio, all packed up there?" Riku's voice came over
the phone.
"Yes, Spinx and I are ready. Though its going to be a long
flight." She started nonchalantly looking at the cat who was
lying on the sofa.
"Thats good."
"So what do you need to talk about?"
"Well, I just wanted to chat with you since I have a bit of
time at the shop alone. I haven't had enough time to have
a conversation since the move without it being hijacked."
He chuckled.
"Oh I see, your jealous of the attention I'm getting." She
laughed.
"The novelty will wear off when they all realize how much of
a nerd you are." He shot back.
"The Littles aren't impressed with a tattoo artist huh? I bet I
will be a hit with them as I get to see cool things." She
teased.
Riku was a bit rough around the edges and a bit of a
delinquent when he was a teen. Even though he was 3
years older, and Akemi was 5 years older, he always
seemed to be in the wrong place at the right time when
things went wrong. He was jumped by some guys when he
was in his last year of high school, someone stepped in to
help him. That person turned out to be a Tattoo artist that
was nearby. Soon Azka took her brother under his wing and
began to show him the ropes of the tattoo industry. She
watched as her brother started to round out those rough
edges. It was reassuring to her even as the dedicated geek
in the family.
"Mio, I worry a bit about you." He spoke.
"I'll be fine Ri."
"I know, so what time will your flight land tonight?" He asked
"Well I leave here at 10 am London time, which means I'll
land tomorrow morning at 9amish. I'm glad that I was able
to get a flight today. Miwa got me a cabin for Sphinx and
myself so we aren't going to be disturbed." She looked at
her watch for times.
"Oh your flying that one plane that has private cabins
right?"
"Yep so I'll be able to let Sphinx out and put a pop-up litter
box out."
"Well I'll make sure that someone is available to pick you up
tomorrow morning."
"Oh that's good. How's Akemi's cybersecurity company
coming along?" She asked as she dragged her large
suitcase to the door.
Mio left all her personal belonging in Japan a year ago and
already shipped the things she bought here back. So all she
had was clothes and Sphinx to take care of now.
"It's going well, I think she is up to 6 employees. She is
looking for a rental space to hold meetings and give her a
new workspace with all the siblings living together now."
Mio and Riku talked until it was time for her to leave for the
airport. Sphinx volunteered to get into his carrier without a
fuse. Which Mio was grateful for. Getting pass security was
smooth after checking in her luggage and finding the
business lounge near her gate was simple enough. She had
a few airport visits that she couldn't find the lounge at all.
Riku got home that night exhausted, it was the day to
order inventory for the shop. Ink bottles, needle cartages,
numbing creams, gloves, cling wrap and many more
supplies. It always made his head hurt looking at the spread
sheets. He was half tempted to hire a secretary to handle
the inventory and paperwork. He was working with a
company to create his own ink to promote his brand.
Entering the living area, he found Emma, Yusuke, the
triplets, Wataru and Kimi playing video games. Kaname was
sitting behind them watching routing for Emma or Kimi while
booing the brothers. Subaru was reading Basketball weekly
looking at the littles every so often.
Riku walked into the kitchen to find Ukyo and Masa chatting
quietly. He needed to see who was available for a airport
run. If he didn't have his one client the next day that he was
working on finishing the back tattoo first thing he would run
and grab his sister. Sitting at the bar he noticed a water
feeder and a food bowl against the wall for Sphinx which
made him smile. These brothers had fully welcomed him
and his siblings into the family which he was grateful for.
"Hey Riku, how was the shop?" Masa asked.
"Oh inventory and pay roll day, so I was stuck in my office
today." He sighed.
"I see, so a taxing day?" Ukyo asked.
"Yeah and a meeting with the company about the ink and
accessories I'm trying to create."
"Well I'm making a new recipe I found for everyone. Emma
and Yusuke are studying a lot. Kouji is still healing, The
younger twins are beginning rehearsals, same as Fuuto."
Kyo explained.
"Well starting tomorrow, the last Hinata will be home." Riku
told them.
"Thats great, the kids decided to unpack her room as a
surprise this afternoon." Masaomi agreed.
"Thats great, she was complaining about unpacking her
books. She'll be surprised in the furniture that Miwa picked
out for her. She never had enough room for the books and
used to pile them on the floor." Riku laughed remembering
tripping over books a bit in her room.
"Well we can always add more bookshelves in the main
area if needed." Kyo chuckled.
"Well speaking of Mio, Akemi has meetings tomorrow
morning and I have a client I cannot reschedule. Will
anyone be available to pick Mio up at 9amish tomorrow?"
He looked at them.
"I am meeting a new client at the office at 8:30am." Kyo
thought.
"I'm on the morning shift so I'll be gone at 6am." Masa
looked at his own schedule.
"Kaname, can you come here?" Ukyo called.
After discussing the schedule for the next morning, it was
decided that Azusa would go to the airport in the morning
as many had meeting or so for the day. Ukyo asked what
Mio's favorite food was and planned to put an order to
have the ingredients delivered the next day so that he
could make it for dinner. Emma was excited as she and
Yusuke had a project in their history class that she planned
on asking Mio to help with. Yusuke just sat there eating.
Azusa woke the next morning a bit nervus as the sister that
everyone had only spoken to over the phone was coming
home and that was jarring if he was honest. He had spoken
to her only a couple of times over the phone when he
needed to speak to her about an anime he was working on
that had historical aspects to it. She was a great help to him
and his understanding of some of the themes in the show.
He remembered one night calling when she was working on
something for the museum. She had her hair bundled up in
a messy bun on the top of her head. A anime hoodie one
with her oversized glasses on and not a stich of make-up on.
He thought she looks amazing. He noticed over the last few
weeks that none of the sisters wore a ton of make up like
those that try to get his and Tsubaki's attention at interviews
and events he attends. The night before last he saw how a
modest women could clean up in the best way possible.
She was taking to Kouji while she was getting ready. She
was wearing a deep green dress with her hair pulled into
and elegant braided updo. He and Tsubaki joined the call
to saw hello but they both were in aw. When she stepped
back to ask how she looked the younger triplets asked if it
was really her in a teasing way.
Her dress had a simple sweetheart neckline with thin straps,
an appropriately high slit on her left side. When she turned
around, her back was exposed and they all saw the tattoo
she had down the spine of her back. A crescent moon with
8 flowers that he guessed represented her siblings. It was a
black inked tattoo that looked elegant. After getting the
siblings approval she told them she would see them later.
But all phone calls never lived up to the person themselves.
He saw her right away when he pulled up to the pick up
area of the airport. One large suitcase, a large pet carrier
and a carry on. She looked tired and ready to be home, she
had her cell to her ear talking to some one as he pulled up
and got out to help load her luggage.
"Yes Riku, Azusa just got here. No I have no plans to stop at
the museum. I am tired from the flight." She sighed.
"Ok I'll see you later." She answered as she placed the pet
carrier in the back seat with another sigh.
"Hello Azusa, its nice to meet you in person." She smiled at him.
