6/12/14

BNH: Sorry for not updating in so long. I'm going to try to be more committed (so hopefully a new chapter every other month?)! The things in bold are supposed to be English, you can figure the rest of the story is in Japanese.

In Miru's eyes Daichi was infallible. When Daddy was away at the big soccer games and Mommy was busy at work, Daichi was there for her (except when he went to school and soccer, of course). When their brother said she was too little to play with him, Daichi would compensate for whatever she lacked in size- whether that meant digging a little soccer ball out of the back of a closet or letting her hang on his neck when they went swimming. He always made her life fun and he would understand that she didn't want to wear the shirt her Dad was trying to force on her.

Needless to say, she was more than happy to see her older brother.

"Daichi!" She called to him happily with her arms extended out in front of her.

Daichi's POV

Why is someone sitting in the walkway outside of my house talking to Miru? This girl... Dad was supposed to have gotten her dressed by now. He's really not good with these sorts of things.

"Excuse me," I said stepping around the weird girl who'd been gawking at me from the ground to pick up my sister.

"Gomen," she apologized, looking flustered and jumping up and onto the grass.

I just nodded and continued into our house with the door wide open. "Aren't you gonna come in?" I asked her.

"Eto... I think I'll just stay outside." She replied in English. I knew what she'd said so it didn't bother me. I just shrugged and redirected my attention to my sister.

"Miru, where are your clothes?"

She looked like she was going to cry. She clung to my neck, "No! I don't wanna. It's too hot." She whined. I sighed, mentally preparing to convince a small child that she needed to wear clothes and veto a few poorly coordinated outfits.

Aiko's POV

Oh my gosh. What is happening? Why?! My brain was having difficulty processing what just happened... and the heat was not helping. I decided to wait in the car. That cool lady who I kind of dislike (a/n: Because your personalities are similar...) has a sweet little girl and a really good looking son... who probably thinks I'm crazy. Great.

Regular POV/Third person (where it will probably stay for the majority of the story)

Rima stormed through her house with the sound of her bare feet on the floors as the only warning of her approach. Kukai will soon wish he had been better prepared. "Kukai."

Said man stopped dead in his tracks and locked eyes with his wife, whose look of irritation he didn't miss. "Hey Rima."

"Don't 'hey Rima,' me. Miru was supposed to be dressed by now. Chika, too!" She fussed, moving quickly passed her husband on her warpath to see if their youngest child was properly dressed.

Kukai followed his wife, who- was moodier than most on a good day- was kind of an emotional mess because of the heat. "She is," he defended himself.

When Rima got to the baby's room and saw her lying in her crib fully clothed and even wearing a headband, she exhaled deeply. Rima crossed the floor and picked up her baby. She turned toward Kukai who was standing in the doorway. "Sorry, I'm just a little bit-"

"Stressed out...?" Kukai finished for her, grinning as usual. He strolled over to her and rubbed the top of her head. "It's okay," he consoled her, kissing her forehead. "Everything's going to be fine. The party will go well and it'll cool off a bit in the evening."

Rima nodded.

"And the air conditioning will come back on at our house this week, even if I have to fix it myself."

Rima looked at her husband with pleading eyes. "That's not even funny, Kukai. Just spend a little extra money and let a professional do it."

"I am a professional."

"Yes, a professional soccer player. Stay in your league."

"Come on Rima. This is one of the things man was meant to do!"

"Really? Man was meant to fix air conditioning systems that he barely knows how to turn on?"

"Rima," he pulled out the puppy eyes and when she turned away he knew he had her. "I mean, it's something the guys and I could do. We could make Ikuto climb up in there and Nagihiko's smart, he probably has a book on air conditioning. And Kairi will keep us from blowing anything up."

Well he did go on to become a scientist... Rima conceded, "Okay. Okay, fine... but if you guys burn my house down I'll skin you alive," she walked left the baby's room threatening her smiling husband. "And tell Nagi it'll be his head!"

His laughter carried outside through the open windows as Rima told Daichi to lock the door and took her two daughters out the car. Rima jolted to a stop when she saw the teenage girl sitting in the front passenger seat of her car. After a moment she remembered and resumed getting her kids in the car with more urgency. Rima threw the door of her Escalade open and Aiko turned around to see her ushering Miru into the car with one hand before climbing in herself to put the Chika in her car seat.

"Here, let me help," Aiko said, climbing into the cabin and strapping Miru in. Rima thanked her and before long they were on their way to Yaya's house.

"Sorry I took so long," Rima apologized.

Aiko tried to smile. "It's okay. This isn't the first time." It was far from the first time Aiko had been forgotten. Rima glanced over at her. She knew what that felt like. She felt like apologizing again.

When they pulled up to Yaya's house, she and her daughters were already outside. Aiko opened the door and got out.

"Miki-chan!" Yaya exclaimed hugging Aiko before introducing her daughters: 12 year old Temari, who was habitually embarrassed by her mother's behavior, and Pepe, who was 4 and excited to go anywhere with her mom.

The two older girls had a light conversation. Just the basics, really... family and given names, ages, etc. When it was over they sat in silence until a thought crossed Aiko's mind. "Just how formal is this thing?"

"Pretty, but not exceptionally..." Temari said. Her answer was vague and casual, but not meant to be rude. Aiko gave a questioning look.

"Like prom formal?"

"Prom?" Temari repeated, not understanding.

"Eto..." Aiko racked her brain trying to find words- Japanese words- that would help her in this conversation.

"It's not as formal as a wedding, but more formal than an average house party. It's a 4-6 inch heel ordeal." Aiko may not have recognized the Japanese word for heel, but she got the point.

"Prom formal," she nodded to herself. This was going to be some kind of night.