One big happy family

[kazue]

Tonight was the night of the family dinner. Silk had told Kazue about Kazuya and his two kids joining them. To be honest Kazue was happy at that thought. She would finally meet her siblings and didn't have to worry about if she would ever find them. Silk dressed in a black and red kimono since they were going to a rather traditional styled Japanese restaurant. She even insisted Kazue wear one as well, though Kazue's choice was not as bright as her mother's. Kazue picked a sage green kimono. Silk's hair was done up in a simplistic bun and Kazue's was left down to curl and flow about her shoulder's. Both girls left their contacts at home. Silk kept her natural brown eyes and Kazue kept her grey eyes visible. It wouldn't take the two of them too long to drive and get to the restaurant, especially since Silk was driving.

"Are you nervous Kazue?"
"Hmm? Why do you ask?"
"It's nothing... you just look nervous."
"Well dur, I'm meeting my brother and sister for the first time."
"You weren't nervous meeting your father."
"...You were drunk! One of us had to hold it together and uh mom... what is up with all the cleavage?"
"...What?"
"Don't play dumb. Your boobs are practically popping out. I doubt dad wants you to meet his kids that way."
"...I wasn't...I... Fine adjust it for me then."

Kazue adjusted her mother's kimono in the truck on the drive over. Parking the huge truck they jumped out and surprisingly landed with ease and grace. You would think wearing kimonos they would have trouble moving about like that but they were crazy so that must have been why it worked so well for them. They strolled up to the restaurant and got a few looks from the hostess. Not many people in New York wore kimonos when they went out to eat. Kazue blushed a little. Sometimes her mom got her to do some pretty embarrassing things. Yet... Kazue wondered if her dad would be happy that she wore kimonos.

They were seated at a nice table surrounded by cushions for the group they were having. Kazuya and his two kids hadn't shown up yet. Silk fussed with her kimono.

"This is awefully constricting. Your father used to like when I wore them lose."
"You keep those robes on missy. You will not blind my siblings."
"...uhg... fine. Guess I'll wow your father with my fabulous conversation skills then."

Kazue snorted with laughter which earned an annoyed look from Silk.

"You are so lucky you are my kid and I love you."

Kazue smirked at her mother and reached over to readjust the kimono again. She knew her mother was just nervous. Silk hadn't spent much time with Kazuya when they had gone to Japan. She let Kazue spend that whole month with her father because she felt bad about having kept them apart. Now, Silk wanted to see if her and Kazuya could combine families and be together now. The silver haired spanish woman had never felt so nervous in all her life. What is Kazuya's other kids didn't like her? That was pretty common with her. Lots of people didn't like her. Seeing Silk reach for the saki, Kazue's hand shot out and slapped her mother's.

"Only water and tea this time mom. Lets not scare them away okay? Give them time to get used to you."

So... There the two sat, waiting for Kazuya and Kazue's half siblings.

[Ryu Hikari]

The night of the family dinner had finally arrived. Kazuya had told Ryu and Mai about Silk and their older half-sister joining them, and to be honest, Ryu was a little excited about it, while Mai was practically jumping for joy. They were finally going to meet their half-sister and wouldn't have to worry about if they'd ever find her. Instead of his usual suit, Kazuya was dressed in a light blue male kimono today, since they were going to a traditional style Japanese restaurant.

Since it was a special occasion, Ryu and Mai decided to wear kimono's as well, Ryu wearing a light khaki male kimono while Mai wore a light purple with pink floral print kimono. The three of them piling into the limousine, it wouldn't take Jake very long to drive them to the restaurant.

"Are the two of you nervous?"

"...? Why do you ask dad?"

"DA-DDY! We're meeting our half-sister and her mom for the first time, of course we're a little nervous!"

"Hahaha, that's true, sorry Mai."

Gently patting his daughter on her head, Jake would then park the limousine and open the door for them, as they all piled out of the limousine, letting Jake do as he liked until they were done. Kazuya striding into the restaurant, Mai happily clinging onto her father's arm while Ryu hung in the back, the hostess would give them a few looks before leading them to the table where Silk and Kazue were already seated at.

Spotting Silk and Kazue, Kazuya would lift his arm up and wave at them, as Mai looked around, trying to spot her older half-sister, Kazuya leaning down slightly and pointing her out to Mai.

"Kazue-chan!"

Mai exclaimed happily, as she let go of her father's arm and ran happily over to her, latching onto her and giving her a hug. Ryu soon joining his father after, having slowly made his way through the restaurant, he'd glance over in mild boredom in the direction his little sister was in, his eyes sliding over Silk and Kazue, before snapping back over and doing a double take.

"K... Kazue!?"

Well... This was awkward...

[kazue]

Kazue was sipping her water and not really watching the door so when Kazuya and her siblings walked in she had no idea. Silk saw Kazuya right off the bat and waved at him so he could find them easier. She had to admit, she always loved seeing him in his kimono. Kazue heard someone say her name and looked up to see a little silver/whited haired girl running at her. When she was hugged by the little girl she blinked a few times. It took a moment for her brain to go 'Hey dumb-ass, it's Mai'. Kazue giggled and hugged Mai.

"Hi there Mai-chan. Did you get the Kimono I sent home with your brother?"

She asked. She looked up expecting to see Ryu and admittedly she wondered why they were here. It wasn't until she saw her dad being followed by Ryu that she grasped what was going on. This was such a shocking discovery. The young girl had no words.

"There you are Kazuya...I was worried you had forgotten. Though I suppose I should know better."

Silk's voice snapped Kazue from her shock. She looked at her mom and then at her dad. She still couldn't think of anything to say. She was related to Ryu and Mai? Her crush was also her brother?! Oh god this seemed like some terrible sibling incest anime. Silk would smile at Ryu and then blink. Oh... she had been a bad mother. She had called Ryu a hottie and commented on his bottom. That was terrible of her.

"Nice to see you again Ryu dear. I had no idea you were Kazuya's son. Kazue... did you...oh... Guess not."

Silk said finally catching the look on both the teenagers faces. She giggled a bit and sipped at her tea. She looked at Kazuya and pouted a bit.

"Ne, Kazuya... our daughter is making me drink tea. She keeps slapping my hand when I go for the saki."

Kazue looked at Mai and then at Ryu. She didn't know what to do or even say so she reached over and took a sip of her tea trying to settle her nerves. Listening to her mother complain to her father Kazue blinked and patted Mai on the head.

"That is because I don't think you should let Mai and Ryu see you act more loca. You are bad enough sober. Right dad?"

Wow... why did saying dad feel weird all the sudden.

"Ryu, honey sit down. Kazue pour your siblings some tea."

Kazue nodded and set about pouring tea for Mai and Ryu. She would smile at little Mai.

"You look so kawaii Mai-chan. Mom, look at how cute Mai-chan is."

Kazue knew her mom fussing over Mai would give Kazue the time she needed to text Ryu and go unnoticed. Just as planned, Silk took the bait. She looked over at Mai and smiled so happily.

"Oh my god she's adorable! She is so cute! I am going to have to take you shopping Mai. We will buy you an entire store of clothes if we have to!"

Meanwhile... Kazue was texting Ryu discretely. ["Y didn't U tell me U were a Hikari!? Did U know about this!?"] She would join the conversation with her mother and hugged Mai close.

"Don't worry Mai-chan. She sounds nuts, but she's a nice person."
"Kazuya, I bet you wore that kimono just for me."

Silk smiled looking at Kazuya again. This was going to be a long night. Kazue could already tell. Between trying to protect Mai from her mother's influence and trying to figure out how she never knew her and Ryu were related... long long night for our little half Japanese, half Spanish girl.

[Ryu Hikari]

"Yup! Thank you so much for the kimono Kazue-chan, it's really lovely and pretty!"

Mai beaming happily up at Kazue, she'd continue to cling onto her big half-sister while turning to look over at her dad and adopted big brother, the two of them making their way over. Ryu stopping dead in his tracks behind his father, he had a look of utter and pure shock on his face and was literally rendered speechless.

"Come now Silk, you really should know better and have a little more faith in me, how could I forget such an important event?"

His father's voice snapping Ryu out of his state of shock, he'd look back and forth between his father and Kazue. His crush... was also his older half-sister!? Okay, sure he was adopted, so unlike Mai, technically, he had no blood relation to Kazue whatsoever, but still! This was like some bad sibling incest anime... Noticing Silk smiling at him, Ryu would try to smile back, but all he managed was an awkward smile.

"... Yeah... Nice to see you too... I had no idea you were my dad's second wife either..."

Ryu carefully staring into empty space, making sure to avoid looking in Kazue's general direction, Kazuya would gently clap his hand on his son's shoulder, to try and help calm his nerves down while turning to Silk and seeing her pout, a slight frown appearing on his face. Seeing Kazue look over at Mai and then him from the corner of his eye, while Mai would give Kazue a comforting hug, knowing the internal crisis she and her big brother were going through, Ryu on the other hand, would just look down, his arms casually folded across his chest.

Poor Mai, even she was a little distressed, she thought Kazue and Ryu looked cute together, not knowing Kazue was actually her older half-sister back then, now? She didn't know what to think or do.

"... You know Kazue is right, Silk. If you wish to drink sake, you may have some back at my house. For now, let us not run the risk of trashing the restaurant, alright?"

Ryu looking up and over after his attention was caught by Silk's voice, he'd nod and walking with his dad, his father's hand still clasped comfortingly on his shoulder, Ryu would take a seat, his father beside Silk and Mai sitting beside Kazue, leaving Ryu in between them and sitting opposite from Kazue. Giving her big brother a comforting squeeze of his hand, Mai would smile back at Kazue, before beginning to pout.

"Onee-chan! I'm not... cute..."

Mai did like shopping though. While Silk fussed over Mai, Kazuya watching in mild amusement his youngest daughter deny looking adorable and cute repeatedly in exasperation, Ryu would feel his cellphone vibrate in his pocket, and pulling his phone out, would discretely read the message and reply back.

["What do U think I was trying 2 tell U all this time!? Of course I didn't kno! Did U!?"]

Mai pretending to squirm in Kazue's grip, in actuality, she was pretty happy, and would hug Kazue back. An equally amused look appearing on Ryu's face, he'd make eye contact with his father and the two of them would smirk their infamous smirks.

"Kazue's right, imouto-chan. She's not all that bad, once you get to know her."

"... Of course I did, and I am sure you wore that kimono just for me."

Returning Silk's smile with a slight smile of his own, taking a sip of his tea, Ryu would try to keep his nerves calm, but he knew this was going to be a loooong night. How he never connected that he and Kazue were related... in a sense, was bewildering for him, but what worried him even more was what he was going to do about his crush on Kazue. Things just got a whole lot more complicated...

[kazue]

Second wife? Well... Kazuya and Silk had never been married. She and Kazuya had been dating and that was really as far as it got with them before they had Kazue. Silk blinked and looked at Kazuya wondering what or how he had explained things to his children. The silver haired woman shifted a little on her cushion and looked at Ryu with a smile.

"Well actually... Your father and I were never... uhm... married."

Kazue looked over at her mother a little shocked. She didn't know this. She always thought, with how her mother talked...

"Wait wait wait... are you saying to two did the... deed..."

Kazue shuddered at the words she said.

"and you weren't married?! Mom what the heck? What about all those lectures of saving my self for marriage!?"

Silk sipped her tea rather casually as Kazue stared at her waiting for an answer. Silk would stare at Kazue for a bit and said with a rather casual tone.

"I waited on my first marriage, to Tenchi. By the time I met Kazuya I really wasn't saving material sweetheart."
"Oh god... Mom I can't believe you just said that. I swear... any therapy the three of us now need... Totally your fault woman. Totally your fault."

Kazue shook her head and shuddered. Obviously, like most teens, she knew how babies were made but faced with the thought of her parents doing it...well it was kind of disturbing to her. She found her self wondering what her father saw in her mother. Sometimes the woman she lived with was just so...weird... that would be the word used for this situation. Both Silk and Kazue looked at Mai when the young girl tried to say she wasn't cute. Kazue blinked hearing her self for the first time being referred to as big sister. Silk would smile as she watched her daughter's face.

Kazue never had siblings and it was something different entirely to hear her self called big sister by adorable little Mai. With out saying much of anything the young girl wrapped her arms around Mai and hugged her rather tightly. The shock had worn off it appeared or at least it wasn't as big a problem as it was moments ago. Kazue was glad to hear that Mai accepted her. Perhaps that was one of Kazue's biggest fears. Her family related to her through her father, wouldn't like her. They wouldn't accept her and wouldn't want her. Mai had made Kazue very happy. Seeing her daughter hug the little girl Silk just smiled and sipped at her tea.

"Ne, Kazue... I think your little sister needs some air."
"Hmm? Oh... right."

Kazue would let go just as her phone vibrated and she would glance up at Ryu before looking back down at her phone. ["Does it look like I knew?!Guess we ended up at the same dinner anyways tho."] Kazue replied back having remembered their pinky promise to sneak away from their dinners.

"Of course I wore the kimono for you. You always seemed to like seeing me in one."

Silk grinned at Kazuya and adjusted the kimono a bit only to have Kazue reach over and readjust it.

"I saw that woman."

Silk just pouted and sighed.

"Geeze Kazuya... our daughter is such a party pooper."

Silk said with a disappointed sigh. She was smiling though so she wasn't really disappointed.

"So, Ryu... Mai... how do you both like New York? Your dad said you haven't been here too long. If there is anything you ever want to go see, don't hesitate to ask me. I've been here since I was Kazue and Ryu's age, so I know everything there is to know about living here."

Kazue took her napkin and began to fold it up. She folded it into a little crane for Mai and smiled as she gently nudged it towards her sister. Kazue wasn't exactly sure what to do here now that she met her family. Mai was hardly one you could play with like you would a baby and Kazue had never really been close enough with other children to know what to do. Around Ryu she was so at ease before but now, she was obviously conflicted. How do you rationalize your crush being your brother? Oh right... Ryu's adopted, not blood related. Still though... it just made her think of a weird incest anime. Perhaps in time she will get over her crush, or get over him being her brother.

[Ryu Hikari]

"... What?"

Ryu staring at Silk with his mouth gaping a little, an equally shocked look on Mai's face, the two of them would turn to their father, who was taking a sip from his tea cup, as he nodded his head slightly, confirming what Silk said was true. All he had told Ryu and Mai was that they had a half-sister, and that their half-sister and her mother would be returning to New York City soon.

He had not told them that he and Silk were not married, that had been an assumption on Ryu's part, not that he could blame his son for it. Although he and Emily had never officially gotten married, back in high school, they had had a mock wedding, with a priest and everything, a prank played on them by their classmates and friends.

It may have not been official, but it was as close to a real wedding as any wedding could be. Ryu had heard about it from his mother, when he had asked her when he was little one day, when she and his dad had met and got married, and she had told him the whole story. It was not really a lie, but not really a true wedding either.

"Nee-chan, I... can't breathe!"

Mai would manage to gasp out through Kazue's tight grip of a hug, both Ryu and Kazuya smirking at how easily Mai managed to dissolve the tension that had been hanging in the air. Mai taking in deep breaths of air after being released from the vice grip of a hug, Ryu would notice Kazue glance up at him followed by his phone vibrating.

["I guess so... Promise U will sneak away if I sneak away?"]

"... I do... But our daughter is being a party-pooper for a reason, she does not like you potentially sending every male in this restaurant all goggle-eyed, and neither do I. If you must do so, wait until we are home, please?"

Ryu rubbing his sister's back while she continued to try to regulate her breathing after nearly suffocating, the two of them would look up and over at Silk, then at each other, then back at Silk.

"It's different than London, but a lot like Tokyo, that's for sure. We've been to a couple places here and there, but we still haven't been around to the more famous spots yet."

"There's a lot of skyscrapers everywhere! I want to visit Times Square and The Empire State Building and, and--!"

While Mai wide-eyed and excitedly rattled off the list of places she wanted to visit, Ryu would watch Kazue fold a crane out of a napkin, and nudge it over to their little sister. Smiling slightly at the gesture, Kazue would find a paper swan being nudged in front of her from Ryu soon after, having folded it for her while Mai smiled happily up at Kazue and thanked her for it.

Although Ryu was just as conflicted as Kazue was, finding it just as hard to rationalize his feelings for her, now that he knew she was his half-sister, despite having no blood relation to her. He didn't know if in time he'd get over his crush on her, or get over her being his adoptive half-sister, but he knew he'd have to figure something out.

"Kazue, perhaps you, Ryu, and Mai should one day spend time at the beach together? I heard the beach and boardwalk on Coney Island looks incredible at night."

Looking at Silk, Kazuya would nod his head slightly at her, he had a feeling all three of them had much more than just getting used to be siblings to be sorted out... much more...

"Come, let us order some food to eat. Mai, what do you want to eat? Or do you want your usual?"

"My usual, daddy, yakisoba!"

"Hahaha, I did not need to ask then. Ryu?"

"... Chicken teriyaki on rice for me, dad..."

"Ah yes, your usual as well. Silk? Kazue? What would you like to eat?"

[kazue]

Kazue would look at her phone again as she got a new message from Ryu. It took her a moment before she would send one back. She had to think if she wanted to sneak away and talk with him or not. ["K, promise."] She finally replied. Silk saw her daughter texting and was about to reprimand Kazue, but then the girl put her phone away. Silk would leave it be but probably lecture Kazue later on.

"See Kazue, never say I never told you about your father. You and him are mirror images."
"...Shush and drink your tea woman."

Kazue smiled at Mai and blinked seeing the swan be nudged her way by Ryu. She looked at him and smiled rather shyly. It was funny how one moment the two couldn't stop talking to each other and the next, it is like they are even scared to look at each other. Kazue would gently pat the little origami swan her adopted brother had pushed her way. Silk listened intently to little Mai talking about all the places she wanted to go and see. The silver haired woman giggled and smiled at both of Kazuya's children.

"Well Kazue hasn't gone to any of those places either. I say we make a day of it. I'll take you to all the big famous places, and the zoo and shopping if you kids would want to go shopping."
"What about pit fights?"

Kazue asked a little hopefully. Silk looked at the kids and then away and at her tea before taking a sip of it.

"Kazue, I think Mai is a little young for that."
"Oh come on mom. I've been wanting to go so bad. I promise Ryu and I will watch Mai. Dad wont mind, he took Ryu to lots of pits in Japan."

Silk raised a brow and looked at Kazuya. She took another sip of tea. For a woman who constantly fought in her younger years she was pretty hesitant to let her daughter end up with that life style.

"...Let your father and I discuss it later."

Kazue sighed slightly annoyed about not getting the answer she wanted. Kazuya asked about what they would like to eat and she listened to Ryu and Mai blinking. Yakisoba... Teriyaki and Rice. So these were things her siblings liked. She made a mental note should she ever wish to cook for them.

"Mmm... It has been a while since I've eaten here. Kazue... sweetheart, what would you like?"
"Huh? Oh uhm..."

Kazue blinked a few times pulling her self from her little thoughts and looking at the menu before her. Silk wondered if Kazue was a bit nervous trying to pick something out with her dad and siblings around. Silk had tried to expose her daughter to Japanese cuisine but there were still many things little Kazue had yet to try. A little bashfully Kazue would lean towards her mother and point at something on the menu like suddenly she had lost her voice.

"Ah, you know what it is right?"

Kazue nodded and Silk just smiled and patted her head.

"That actually sounds really good Kazue, I think I'll have some *Kushiyaki and rice too."

Silk said trying to help her daughter feel more at ease in her situation. Kazue went back to poking the swan around the table in circles. Silk looked over at Kazuya.

"So, how many more days do you have left in New York? I'm going to be going to Japan for business. It seems Tenchi has put another knot in Sanada Corp. and I need to fix it."

Silk had a way of introducing to Kazue that she was going to be going to Japan. Kazue looked over at her mother. The last time she heard that line, her mother was in Japan for a month. Kazue wasn't particularly fond of this Tenchi fellow. It always seemed like he was messing things up at the company and her mom always had to fly in and rescue him. It was funny how even though she was divorced from the man, she still cleaned up after him sometimes. Of course, the words were only half true on Silk's part. Tenchi had messed something up but it wasn't that big of a deal. Kazuya and Silk had worked this out though. They wouldn't tell the kids they were going to try and make things work between them till they were sure things would be okay.

"You think Kazue could stay with Mai and Ryu while I'm over there. I don't really like leaving her at home alone. The kids could go to the beach and Coney Island together then, like you suggested Kazuya."

Kazue blinked and her eyes lit up. Not so much about going to the beach, although that did sound fun. She was more or less excited about staying with her siblings and getting to know them. If her and Mai had a sleep over she could do everything she wanted to do with a little sister. Play with her hair, dress her up, put make up on her and teach her things. She wasn't quite sure what you did with a brother, well other than annoy him. That sounded just as much fun as dressing up Mai though.

*Kushiyaki - skewers of meat and vegetables. Usually pan fried or grilled.

[Ryu Hikari]

After a long while, Ryu finally received a reply back, and had just enough time to see the message before his father noticed his cellphone was in his hand, and was about to frown at Ryu, but his son quickly stowed his cellphone away. He was probably checking the time or something, though unless his son had a plane to catch, there wasn't really a need to do so. Oh well, no harm done anyways.

Ryu smiling shyly back at Kazue, it's funny how a couple days ago, these two couldn't stop exchanging sarcastic jabs between each other, and now? They couldn't even make eye contact with each other anymore. Mai giving her big brother another comforting squeeze of his hand, soon after Kazue gently patted the paper swan Ryu had made for her, she'd find a paper frog hopping over to her, to join the swan and crane.

"I wouldn't mind that, though I think Mai would like to go shopping much more than I ever would."

"I want to go shopping! And pit fights? ... Oh! What Ryu used to do back in Tokyo, right!"

"... Your mother is right, Kazue. Just because I took Ryu to them, does not mean I will approve of you going as well right away. We will talk about it, then we will see..."

Ryu pouring more tea for Mai and their dad, he'd then pour for Silk and Kazue, before refilling his own cup. Ryu and Mai going with their usual order, Kazuya would go with a bowl of udon noodles with a plate of gyoza, watching Kazue suddenly turn mute and resort to pointing and having Silk become her sounding board, while Ryu would look at Kazue from the corner of his eye and Mai playing with the paper frog, before calling one of the waitresses over to them.

"Hajimemashite! (How do you do!)"

["Eh... yakisoba, chicken teriyaki with rice, udon soup noodle with gyoza, and two Kushiyaki and rice."]

"Hai! Hai! Hai! Hai! Arigatō gozaimasu! (Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Thank you very much!)"

The waitress quickly moving off to relay their orders to the kitchen, Mai would continue to play with the frog and hop it towards Ryu, who would notice it and hop it back towards Kazue, making brief eye contact with her and giving her a slight, if awkward, smile.

"I will be leaving for Japan on Saturday night, and arrive Sunday afternoon. When will you be leaving for Japan though, Silk? I could pick you up at the airport and take you Sanada Corp., if you wish. Naturally, Kazue is always welcome to stay with Ryu and Mai, are you alright with that, Ryu? Mai?"

"Oh! Oh! I want Kazue to stay with us, daddy!"

"Yeah! Of course she can stay with us, dad."

"Then it's settled. Although, Kazue, you may have to stay in Ryu's room, as Mai's room is too small to fit the both of you in it, and Ryu's bedroom is the second biggest bedroom. We will probably hang a sheet up to divide the room for you two, you don't mind, do you, Ryu?"

"Why can't Kazue stay in your room, dad?"

"Did you forget already, Ryu? My room is always kept unoccupied when I am gone. Just because your half-sister will be staying with you and your little sister, does not mean my room is up on the market..."

"But... I... Alright..."

Ryu rubbing the back of his neck, Mai would happily beam at Kazue, she was just as excited, if not more, for the sleepover. Their food arriving soon after, Ryu, Mai, and Kazuya would clap their hands together and say 'itadakimasu' before beginning to eat.

"Nee-chan! I can't wait for you come and stay with us! You probably won't have a lot to do with Ryu, but he'll be doing other stuff while you're with us, right nii-san?"

"Yeah. I'll probably be in the dojo or something, I mean, what else is there for me to do but train and practice martial arts or with my katana?"

[kazue]

"Well Ryu, that is why I'd let you go shopping for video games, sports stuff and I actually own a shop full of some pretty neat weapons. I spent a lot of time around boys when I was younger. They never really liked shopping either. I am sure Kazuya wont mind me giving you a nice decoration sword or anything. If I remember correctly, he likes swords himself."

Silk said and smiled at Ryu. Kazue sighed as her father sided with her mother. She had to be honest, she half expected her dad to give her what ever she wanted. She had heard so many stories about how dads would spoil their daughters and things of the like. Though Silk hadn't raised her daughter to be spoiled, so Kazue knew they were only trying to protect her and her siblings. Kazue would let the topic go.

"Mai, my mom knows some really nice places to shop. I think you will like it. Oh and if she takes us to her store, the Obsidian Rose... it is kinda dark there but she has some pretty neat clothes."

Kazue listened to her father place the order for their table and smiled. For some reason hearing her dad speak Japanese made her happy. It could have been that when Silk was teaching Kazue to speak, and Kazue would have trouble, Silk would tell her that once Kazue learned she would be able to talk to her dad.

"Saturday night? Well I'm not going to Japan till Monday but that would be nice thank you. It is always a pain when I have to leave my truck behind."
"Yea mom, one day hopefully you can leave it behind and know I will take good care of it."

Kazue grinned and Silk snorted a bit before sipping her tea. Her hand reached over and patted Kazue on the head. Her daughter would pout a bit but go back to playing with he siblings. It seemed the three of them were playing with the origami napkin animals and so Kazue made a Giraffe to join their animals and helped their hopping frog to hop around the table. She would smile at Mai and Ryu. If this was what it was like to play with your siblings, she felt very certain she would enjoy it.

The talk about where Kazue would stay at her siblings home made her blink. Share a room with Ryu!? Kazue's face turned a little red. Silk didn't seem to even notice that her daughter may have been uncomfortable with the idea. She smiled and patted Kazue's head.

"See sweety. Your siblings can't wait to spend time with you."
"H-hai..."

Both Kazue and Silk did as Kazuya and the other two did. Kazue picked up a clump of rice with her chopsticks and had it half way to her lips when Mai spoke and Kazue smiled at her.

"Hai hai imouto-chan. I actually have some board games we could all play together if you would like. Mom loves to play cards and stuff like that so we have a bunch of those games at my house. Would be fun to play with someone who doesn't cheat."

Kazue glanced over at her mom with a smirk. Silk blinked and tried to look as innocent as she could with a piece of her dinner in her mouth. She furrowed her brows as Kazue had caught her while she had food in her mouth. After she swallowed she scrunched up her nose at Kazue.

"I don't cheat, I just don't lose."

Silk said matter of fact, before sipping her tea. Kazue rolled her eyes.

"Dad, did you ever play games with mom?"

Kazue was interested in how her parents interacted when they were younger. She was sure Mai and Ryu were interested as well.

[Ryu Hikari]

"Oh yeah, you have a huge collection of katana's back at home, don't you dad? I wouldn't mind adding another one to the one you already gave me..."

"... As long as I don't end up seeing either of you on the six o'clock news, then yes, you may get another katana, Ryu."

Ryu giving a little two fist pump, Kazuya could tell Kazue was disappointed by his decision, and would reach out and gently pat her on her head, giving her a small, reassuring smile.

"Cheer up Kazue, I will try and convince your mother to let you go to pit fights. I do not think I will let Mai go, as she is too young, but you and Ryu are no younger than I was when I was thrown into a fight for my life. Besides, you are not into pit fights, are you, Mai?"

"No way daddy, I'd rather draw or sketch than watch other people beat each other up! Unless it's Ryu that is fighting, then maybe I'd watch."

"Oh thanks imouto-chan, you'd watch me get beaten up?"

"No, I'd watch you beat other people up! Oooh! I want to see your store, it sounds really interesting!"

Ryu patting the top of his little sister's head while Mai swatted playfully at his hand, their father would order their food. It was pretty much second nature for Ryu and Mai to understand Japanese, so unlike Kazue, they didn't really pay much attention to him. Then again, they had spent six years with their father, so they weren't starved for his presence like Kazue had been.

"... Just let me know what time your flight comes in Silk, and I will be there to pick you up from the airport... though not in as quite a big of a truck as your own."

Their table now beginning to turn into a mini-zoo, Ryu would send his origami napkin frog hopping back at Kazue, to catch her attention, before holding out a hibiscus he had folded using the red paper menu for takeout in the wooden holder on their table, Mai looking back and forth between her big brother and big half-sister, before smiling slightly.

Say what you will, but despite their initial awkwardness, it seemed like Ryu and Kazue were slowly returning to their old selves... until now. Ryu's arms folded across his chest, his head turned away from Kazue, was this their father's punishment for texting at the table? Not at all, this is just his player feeling cheeky.

Ryu politely eating his rice and teriyaki chicken while helping his little sister with her yakisoba by cutting the noddles into smaller and easier sizes for her to pick up with her chopsticks, she'd smile happily back at Kazue after eating a bit of her dinner.

"Yeah! I would like to play some board games with you and Ryu, all we played was the Japanese edition of Monopoly or chess, though that was always Ryu playing against dad. Ryu's beaten our dad a few times, but... your mom cheats?"

Both Ryu and Mai putting their heads together and looking over at Silk, a slight smirk on Kazuya's face, the two of them would once again look back and forth between Silk and Kazue.

"... I only played chess, though your mother never did. We did play strip poker though. So fair, my record against your mother is 10 wins, 5 losses, and 15 draws. I'm still winning overall though, Silk."

Giving two of his gyoza to Mai and two to Ryu, he'd take two for himself before holding out the rest of the gyoza to Silk and Kazue, for them to take, putting the empty plate back down on the table afterwards.

"You'd probably don't want to play chess against Ryu, nee-chan, you'd probably get bored right away! It's more fun watching Ryu play against dad! Daddy! Can you and Ryu play a game for us one day?"

"If Silk and Kazue don't fall asleep, then sure. Are you alright with that, Ryu?"

"... Huh? Oh, sure, no problem."

[kazue]

Silk huffed a little at Kazuya playfully.

"Kazuya you make it sound like I am inept at giving children weapons."

Silk would stop and think a moment at that sentence.

"Okay let me rephrase that... what I meant to say was, you make it sound like me giving Ryu a harmless decoration will some how end up with half the city burnt to a crisp. Please give me some credit. I am more mature now."

Kazue snickered and snorted with a bit of laughter at her mother. Silk, Mature? That was a riot even for her daughter to hear. Kazue smirked at her mother who now leveled the 'that wasn't meant to be laughed at' face on her daughter.

"Ne, mom remember when you gave me my first throwing star?"
"I uh... I have no idea what you are talking about."

Silk said looking away from Kazue and sipping at her tea.

"Mmhmm. Ryu, Mai... when my mom gave me a throwing star kit for my 7th birthday she wanted me to try it out. She told the other parents it was for decoration and to remind me of where I come from but later that day after the parents left their kids for a sleep over at my house, she let me use them."

Kazue started the story with a big grin.

"Oh Kazue, I don't think anyone wants to hear this."
"I think they do mom. I think they do. Specially dad, after you gave him that look for him letting Ryu go to the pit fights."

Kazue smirked devilishly at her mother and continued with her story.

"So mom had all the kids line up in the back yard and told me to aim at their chests and that the stars were dull and would just bounce right off. The first star I threw, got stuck in a tree about two inches from someone's head. Mom made those kids swear to secrecy and none of those kids came back for another party at my house."

Kazue giggled and Silk tried to maintain the look of an unconcerned parent.

"Kazue you exaggerate...The tree was at least a foot away from the little boy. He was perfectly safe."
"Uhuh, sure mom. Mai... Ryu a little advice. Mom throw's awesome parties... just don't let her have too much free reign. Limit what she gets to plan if you let her plan something for you."

Kazue giggled a bit more and smiled at her family. This is what it was supposed to look like right? Everyone happy at the same dinner table? Kazue had only seen pictures but she had hoped this was what it was really like. She smiled a little at her dad when he tried to comfort her and told her that he would speak to her mother. Kazue giggled a bit more hearing Ryu and Mai talk about if Ryu was fighting.

"I'd be okay with watching Ryu get beat up. Specially if I was the one doin' it."

Kazue said with the same smug smirk her father carried and the sarcasm dripped from her lips.

"I kinda beat him up already at the pool party, right Mai-chan?"

Silk blinked and looked over at Ryu and Kazue. She smiled and was glad to see Kazue was happy.

"I'll text you the time and the flight number so you can see if I get delayed."

Kazue and the other two were playing with their zoo animals when Ryu handed her a little folded flower. Kazue smiled at him and took it then put it on top of her head and made a silly face at Mai before setting it aside so it wouldn't be crushed. She would poke around her food a bit just watching everyone before she resumed eating. Silk and Kazue both took a bit of the Gyoza that was offered to them.

"No Kazuya, I just never played Chess with you. I play with Kazue all the time. I think you have your scores wrong anyway. I would say I won most of those games. Especially the poker ones."
"Mom is really terrible at Chess dad. You wouldn't want to play her anyway. I always win."
"Such lies from my pretty little daughter."
"Uhuh. I beat you lots of times mom. I'd like to see Ryu and dad play though. That sounds like fun."
"Actually, seeing your son win against you Kazuya does sound amusing."

[Ryu Hikari]

"I will give you credit Silk, I would not say half the city ends up burnt to a crisp, but at the very least, I do ask you be very... discrete about giving the katana to Ryu. He can try the katana out at home in the dojo, because I do not need to see the other half a dozen police squad cars that you are not chums with swarming and barricading the store you are all in on TV."

Kazuya sighing in mild exasperation and methodically palming his own face while Ryu just smirked and Mai fell apart with laughter, she'd lean up against Ryu to prevent herself from falling over.

"I'll keep that in mind for the next party there is to throw, probably dad's, since mine is in April."

"You'll plan for my birthday too, won't you, okāsan? Mine is in May!"

Ryu patting the top of Mai's head, this time genuinely happy and not teasingly, Mai would happily latch onto her brother's arm while she continued to eat her bite-sized portions of yakisoba, though it was quite obvious she would not be able to finish the whole thing, they'd probably pack up the leftovers and take it home.

"Yeah. Right. If you call not watching where you were going and bouncing off of me a win. I barely even shifted from the supposed collision."

"Awww, don't worry onee-chan! We can double team Ryu and take him on! Though I think in an actual pit fight, he'd probably beat the both of us..."

"... You got that right, sister..."

While Ryu and Mai happily teased each other, occasionally Ryu teasing both Mai and Kazue, Kazuya would smile slightly at Ryu and Kazue returning to their old selves. He was happy to see all three of his children and Silk looking happy.

"... Very good then. I will make sure to keep a close eye on the flight, if the flight gets delayed, I'll be sure to bring a bottle of sake with me when I pick you up, Silk."

Ryu smiling slightly back at Kazue, Mai would giggle gleefully at Kazue, she was always impressed by Ryu's skill in origami, especially since her brother wasn't the artsy type like she was. Ryu resuming eating his chicken teriyaki and rice, he'd cut the two gyoza in half for Mai before taking a bite out of the gyoza his father gave him.

"... Yes well, there were more important things on our mind than playing chess. I'd beg to differ on the poker scores though, you did not win most of them, we won equally. Did you forgot those nights already?"

"Dad! We don't need to know what the result of your poker games were, seriously..."

Ryu palming his own face, he'd shake his head in mild exasperation while Mai would just giggle from the banter between Silk and Kazue.

"... She never played with me, so I never knew what her skill level was. You would like to see Ryu beat me, wouldn't you, Silk? I was not the chess master back in high school for nothing, I taught Ryu everything he knows."

"Not everything dad, mom taught me too."

"Well then, perhaps before I leave, we shall play a game then."

"Challenge Accepted."

Ryu even folded his arms like the stick figure from the meme, smirking at his father. Mai and Ryuhaving eaten as much as they could, with quite a bit left over, Kazuya would have the leftovers packed up to be taken home, and would sip at his tea.

"Ryu, have you shown Kazue your room yet?"

"Not yet dad, I only pointed it out to her, but I didn't show the inside."

"Perhaps after dinner, you can show her yours and Mai's room, let her get familiar with it."

"Sure... If she wants to..."

"Nee-chan! We should hang out in my room after dinner!"

[kazue]

"Okay okay, I'll make sure he only plays with it in the safety of his own home. Guess that means you don't want him to have a sword that can be set on fire huh?"

Silk asked with a teasing smile at Kazuya. She had been a mom for about 15 years now and she would like to think she did very well raising Kazue, even if in the start she was a little rough. Kazue liked watching her family laugh and giggle. It was like they had been this way all along. Silk would smile at Mai and nod softly.

"Mmhmm. I will do my best little one. You just name what you want and I'll make sure it happens. No boys sleep overs though. Last time I let Kazue have a sleep over with boys, she ended up fighting them and beating them all up. Ryu, you have never seen my little Kazue fight, and you might see her as a dainty little wall flower..."
"Mom please no..."

Kazue said covering her face to hide from her mother's bragging.

"But I think she could give you a run for your money. Your father already knows spanish women are dangerous. Kazue may be only half spanish but she still has the same *fuego!"
"Mom mom enough with the spanish. We are trying to behave here."

Silk smiled at Kazue.

"She beat up every boy in her Karate class once. I was so proud."
"Mom..."
"It was all that little Tommy's fault too. Shoving you down."
"Mom..."
"And then you know when you punched Tommy in the face and his dad got all mad, then I had to punch his dad in the face."
"Mom, shush already..."
"His dad just wasn't right yellin' at my baby like that. That punch was totally legal."
"Mom we are so not revisiting my karate years okay? Look, rice, here... eat it."

Kazue picked up her mother's chop sticks and pushed some rise into her mother's mouth. Silk looked less than pleased and just raised a brow at Kazue who smirked like her father. Kazue just shook her head and looked at her siblings.

"See, you guys got the sane parent. Oh don't worry Mai if Ryu ever gets on your nerves, I'll teach you the special skills we have as little sisters. Little sisters are infamous for being annoying."

Kazue stuck her tongue out at Ryu and smirked before going back to her meal. Occasionally she would lean over and help Mai keep clean, since she wanted to help in some way.

"Oh that sounds like a plan to me. You remembered how much I hated to fly. That is sweet."

Silk said with a smile to Kazuya. She really did hate being in planes and giving her Sake right after she landed would be the best idea she had ever heard. She smirked at his comments about chess and poker.

"I'm wondering if you are remembering those nights correctly. You had Sake too..."
"Seriously mom, I'm totally in with Ryu on this one. Those are nights we don't need to know about."

Kazue and Silk giggled at Ryu and Kazuya making their challenges. Silk and Kazue would have quite a bit of their food left over as well when they stopped eating. Instead both women just sipped at their tea.

"Of course Mai-chan. You can show me all your drawings too. I'd like to see them. Ryu, do you think sometime you can teach me how to use a sword? Mom teaches me small stuff like knives and daggers but I haven't learned swords yet."
"I taught you how to use a fire whip Kazue."
"Mom... you taught me how to put fire on any weapon. I'm lucky my pigtails evened out after the disaster with the baseball bat."
"I told you to duck, not stand still like a stone."
"...I thought you said look at the duck. Your spanish needs work woman."

*Fuego - Fire.

[Ryu Hikari]

"... No... But that is because I am the only one that owns a katana that can be set on fire..."

It was true, he did have a katana with the blade being able to be engulfed in flames. Returning Silk's teasing smile with his own infamous smirk, much like her, Kazuya had been a father for six years now and he would like to believe he did well in raising Ryu and Mai, even though it had been a bit of a rough start at the beginning, and for the first nine years, it had been Emily raising them when they were babies and then later on, Ryu taking care of his adoptive little sister and himself.

"Yay! That's perfectly fine with me, most of my friends are girls anyways. I only have a couple friends that are boys, but they come over mostly to play video games... or when it's my birthday."

"... I don't see Kazue as a dainty little wall... flower..."

His sentence drifting off, Ryu would just give up talking and let Silk go off on her little bragging session, resting the palm of his hand against his cheek while Mai would take a piece of Ryu's teriyaki chicken and happily eat it. He wasn't sure if Silk was 100% correct and Kazue could give him a run for his money, seeing as the two of them never actually sparred or fought against each other before.

Both brother and little sister snickering a little at Kazue shoving a bit of rice into her mother's mouth, even Kazuya smirked slightly at his daughter's means of shutting her mother up. Ryu and Mai fighting hard to keep their laughter contained, Ryu managed to control it just as Kazue looked over at them, his smile instantly disappearing and replaced with a frown, while Mai would just give in and burst out in laughter.

"We're going to have so much fun heckling you, nii-san!"

"The both of you are already starting to annoy me. That's it, no more gyūdon and katsudon for the both of you, I refuse to cook for either of you anymore."

Ryu even wound his arms so tightly after Kazue stuck her tongue out at him, not even the Jaws of Life could pry them apart. Unlike Kazue, whom he wasn't sure about, Mai on the other hand, knew that if her brother threatened to never cook for her again, he really meant it. The horrified look on Mai's face would've been hilarious, if not for the fact Ryu was deadly serious with his threat.

"... Of course I remembered, I would be a very poor... boyfriend, if I did not remember how much you abhorred flying..."

Smiling slightly back at Silk, he'd make sure to bring the best sake he had with him, when he picked up Silk from the airport. Lord knows it'd be necessary, especially if the flight was delayed, which would make for a very unhappy Silk.

"Mai's a very talented artist, you should see her still-life works Kazue, they look very realistic and lifelike."

"I'm not that good, nii-san!"

"I'd beg to differ on that..."

"Your brother is right, Mai, you are very talented, just as talented as my older sister, our aunt, was when she was in high school, and still is."

"... Sure, I can teach you how to wield a katana, Kazue. Just... don't set the blade on fire, you might melt it..."

"Not to mention possibly burn the dojo down... Check please!"

Waving to one of the waitresses, she would bring the bill over to Kazue, who would pull out a bunch of bills and pay for the entire meal. After he got his change back and left a tip, he would rise up from the table, Ryu grabbing the bag containing the leftover food in Styrofoam containers, all clearly marked in Japanese, what was inside each container, while helping his little sister get up, Mai grabbing the origami napkin crane and giraffe, leaving Kazue to grab the swan, frog, and hibiscus, as they headed out of the restaurant, John already waiting for them in the limousine in the restaurant parking lot.

"Thank you for dinner, daddy!"

"Yeah, thanks for dinner dad."

"You are very welcome, did you two enjoy the meal?"

"Yup!"

"Yeah."

"Did you enjoy the meal too, Silk? Kazue?"

[kazue]

You would think, just watching from the sidelines that Kazue and her family had been like this all along. Mai even had the same hair color as Silk and although Ryu didn't look exactly like them, it was clear to see he was still part of their family. When Ryu threatened to not cook for his sisters, Kazue crossed her arms across her chest, turned up her nose and said with the utmost confidence...

"Fine Nii-san, no Katsudon.... then I will have to stuff Mai-chan with home made candies and ramen."

She nodded. Silk had tried to teach Kazue a wide range of talents so should anything happen to her mother... Kazue always had a way to provide for her self. Silk looked at Kazue and gasped.

"Oh that is mean Kazue, cutting him off before he gets any...Your candies and Ramen are my favorite. I don't know what I'd do if you didn't make any for me."

Silk would smile at Kazuya and nod in agreement with his words.

"Though it would be understandable considering the years."

Silk had just given Kazuya the ultimate out. Every man wished they had one for when they forgot something. So if Kazuya ever needed to he could always mention that it has been a long time. Though the excuse came with an expiration date so he would have to be smart on when to use it. Kazue liked how well everyone was getting along and she was happy her mother hadn't been drinking. Silk got a bit silly when drunk and she wasn't sure Ryu and Mai were ready for that yet.

"Really? Mom used to paint and draw too. She only sews things now, but she is really good at it. I promise dad, I wont set the dojo on fire. Mom keeps all her fire weapons locked up."

Silk had been used to being on her own so much and paying for her and Kazue that when Kazuya did it for her she blinked. Honestly the silver haired woman felt a little lost in this moment. She would smile and get up, as Kazue picked up the origami creatures and flower.

"So, Kazuya are we going to be watching you boys play chess tonight? Of course we liked dinner, right Kazue."

Kazue would nod happily. Dinner had been really good actually. She was a bit hesitant about eating around her family but that was because she was worried her mom hadn't taught her something. The dinner went fine though and it seemed that Ryu and Mai both accepted her. It was a relief for her because she didn't want her brother and sister to dislike her.

"Mmhmm. Mom, we need to eat at places like this more often."

Once outside, now the question was, who would ride with who. Would Kazue and Silk follow the limo or did the kids want to all ride together?

"Ne, mom... dad... can I ride with Mai and Ryu?"

Kazue asked and Silk nodded knowing that it was probably better for Kazue to get to know them more. So, Kazue had her mother's approval now for her father's.