“Feeling strange?” Shiro asked Tsukiko, who was sitting elegantly in seiza in our living room, sipping some tea. Shiro oher hand was on a chair, legs zily crossed, and when she saw me looking at her slim legs her ary white jeans, she grinned, before zily uncrossing and recrossing her legs. “Bet you wish I was wearing a skirt now Aki. But anyway…” She turned her attention back to Tsukiko. “It must be difficult for you.”

  Tsukiko nodded slowly, her expression rather plicated, a mixture of joy and trepidation. “Yes, I leased to be able to talk to Yasuhide oelephone, but I did not expect that he would start to weep.” Her face was tinged slightly red at the memory. “I have always seen him as a parental figure, so…”

  “Yeah, the parents, huh? I get that.” Shiro let out a bitter sigh. “I have to do something about mine as well. Having shitty parents is hard. But even crappy parents are still parents.”

  “It’s not so bad as that.” I interjected. “Tsukiko’s parents didn’t treat her like yours did, Shiro. In fact… from the funeral I could tell they loved you, Tsukiko, but they never knew how to deal with you. Being sious and having a daughter that was effectively the Oracle of the Gods… there was no way they could have a normal retionship with you. But that’s over with. If you want it, you have it. You’re Tsukiko now, not just the Diviner.” I reiterated.

  “Yes.” She nodded politely. “Yasuhide is going to tact them. That will be a difficult versation, I imagine.”

  “I would think so.” I felt a bit bad for him, but the old man was always amusing himself at our expense, so it served him right. He’s the best person to do it anyway. He knows them, and expin it in religious terms, at least to gain their acceptance. We’ll have to ge the way they think of Tsukiko though… “If you need help or support, let me know. After all, your parents are my parents now too.”

  Tsukiko ducked her head, neow crimson. Shiro snickered nastily, joking that I had more parents than an average small town, and I waved off her joke. Tsukiko, when she had recovered from her embarrassment, a feeling she wasn’t used to, raised another issue, ohat ying on her mind. “I have a retainer, Etsuko. She has been serving and taking care of me ever since I was a child. My passing must have brought her great grief. She has no family of her own, so…”

  “I uand. You wao know you’re alive, and see if she still wants to look after yht?” At her nod, I tinued. “That’s no problem. So long as she’s happy to show the same sideration to Shiro and the others. We o recruit some loyal staff for the estate anyway. The timing is good.”

  “Yeah. It’s moving day.” Shiro grinned. “Eri’s totally losing her mind over it. She’s ready to prank your sister and her parents with her recovery. As for me…” Shiro was a little pale, and she turo Tsukiko for support. “…you’re in the same boat, girl. Meeting the parents is a big deal!”

  “Actually, I met some of his family briefly in Kyoto, such as his sister.” Tsukiko said, and Shiro sighed.

  “Damn, did you leave a good impression? Our boy here is a total sis, so if Aiko likes you, you’ve got a head start.”

  “We had little time together, merely a meeting in passing, but I believe I did not perform unfavourably.” Tsukiko said, but her white knuckles as she held her mug of tea gave away her hat’s sweet. A normal worry, that anyone could have, not about matters beyond mortal uanding.

  “So Eri’s getting ready.” I mused. “Kana, Hinata, Motoko and Natsumi will be at school for the m. You two are here…”

  “Daiyu’s tagging along with Hyath, Asha and Shaeu s out the events at the Spring this evening. She wao take a look at it before the pce was crowded, she thinks studying it will help her teiques.” Shiro tinued. “So everything’s pretty mu hand. All the stuff we wao furnish our rooms has been delivered, although…” she looked at Tsukiko. “...you’ll be wanting to have your stuff brought over, right? Anything you don’t have, Aki will pay for. You are staying with us, right?”

  There was a momentary embarrassed pause, before she agreed. “Yes, where else would I go? After all, if I am to discover the joys of being ordinary, of love, I must be with the one I want.”

  “That’s the spirit. Damn, all I think of is how pissed off and jealous certain other people will be. I think my brain is broken.” At that moment, Tan, who had been silent for a while, briefly agreed, her eyes fring red for a moment. As Shiro chided her for being rude, I looked at Tsukiko warmly.

  “Ordinary happiness, maybe. But none of us are ordinary. That just means we o grasp extraordinary happiness.” I remembered the feel of her lips and tongue, and her voluptuous body. No, that’s for ter. Today there’s just too much going on. Even now, my Astral body was attending to the many matters that required my input. “I’ll speak to Yasuhide a him to send over your things. He should have kept them safe because I promised you’d return. As for anything else… well, the estate is right in the heart of Tokyo, so shopping should be no problem.”

  “Great. We hit Akiba too.” She gri Tsukiko. “If yoing to get used to being out in publiight as well give the poor otaku there some beauties to gawk at. Don’t get jealous, Aki!”

  “Yeah, whatever” I ignored her usual teasing. “I’m fident enough you’ll never leave me.” I winked, and Shiro nearly fell off her chair as she ughed, shouting that this side of me was ohat she didn’t see often enough. Setting that aside, I took a look at my phohere was a message from father, saying they had started their journey. It won’t be long now. The whole family, together again. Once more I looked at Shiro and Tsukiko, p their circumstaheir families too… what do we do about them?

  ********

  “You nervous?” I said to Eri, who, quite unusually for her, was wearing a dress, with short sleeves and a rather high hemlihe skirt only draping down to her thighs. “And aren’t you cold?”

  Eri shook her head. “Not really. Aren’t you the same? With high stats we don’t really suffer from the temperature.”

  “That’s true.” I agreed. “I guess we’ll save a fortune oing bills this winter.”

  “You have the money. Don’t be stingy. Otherwise Hinata will freeze.” She smiled, and turned her attention to Tsukiko and Shiro, who were waiting with us. “There’s o be nervous. I expected this, ever since Akio was crushed by the guilt of failing to save your life. I only get angry over things that be ged. Otherwise I’d just be miserable and frustrated.”

  “That is a… mature… attitude.” Tsukiko said, a little surprised. “I know it ot be easy, a newer such as myself intruding in your lives, but…”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Eri cut her off. “Like I said, it’s iable. There’s four more I’m certain of too, I’m not an idiot. These other Princesses.” Eri sniffed. “What happens twice will happen again and again. But hopefully after that we stop expanding. I don’t want to have to pete for scraps of your affe, Akio.”

  I took her hand, ign her insinuation about Eleanor and Yukiko-san. It’s not like that. Though… I had to admit, since I had saved Eleanor in Londotitude towards me had thawed signifitly, but there was no way she’d ever sider polygamy, she was staunchly against it. Although… she did accept Tsukiko. No, that doesn’t matter right now… “I know I’m terrible, I hought I was so greedy. But I want to make Tsukiko smile, and…”

  “Yeah. Yreedy.” Eri sighed, squeezing my hand back. “And so am I. That just means you’ll have to make it up to me. You still owe me that trip, just the two of us.”

  “Eri’s in charge, supposedly.” Shiro advised Tsukiko, as with my keen eyes I could see a helicopter ing towards us, and soon it was audible as well. “You o get her approval before you’re in. Luckily, she’s extremely disho, so…”

  “That’s rude!” Eri pouted, insulted, and Shired.

  “Sorry, I meant tsundere. I’m just teasing you Eri, we’ve growy close, haven’t we? We’ve got a lot in on after all. Both Aki’s premiere friends, and we also had to look out for each other when we were injured. And now we’re both baaximum hotness! But you have to admit, you growl and bark like an angry dog, but when it es down to it, you’re quite the pushover.”

  “I’m not.” She de, but her onyx eyes were wavering.

  “Sure, if it makes you feel better. But…” she tinued advising Tsukiko. “…Eri here is a sucker firls with a sad past. I bme Aki, he’s obviously been influeng her in all the wrong ways.” She rolled her eyes, teasing us. “So she gets on well with me, Hyath, Daiyu, Asha and Shaeu, and even show sympathy with the noble girls. Her and Kana are like oil and water, but… they’ve settled into a truce.”

  “Kana… she isn’t as bad as I thought. And it’s mostly your fault anyway.” Eri actually punched me gently in the side, surprising me. “You were always toying with her heart, so you had to take responsibility! So stop doing that. I just hope the two Princesses we haven’t see bitches. It hurts my stomach just thinking about it…”

  “All right, I get it. But Tsukiko ecial…” The girl iion redde my words, and I was happy to see her freely expressing her emotions. It’s actually very cute. Though I shouldn’t fet she’s actually quite a bit older than me, even if she’d pass for the same age easily enough. As Tsukiko’s eyes sharpened, I was once again shocked by women’s intuition, and hurriedly ged the subject. “…and now we safely say there’s nirls I’m ied in. Now, let’s greet our family, right Eri? You sure you want to tease them?”

  Eri nodded. “I do. It’s their fault for not believing in you! Besides…” she grinned. “I’ve not seen Aiko in a while, and she’s the oh a Divine Favour, so she deserves a bit of punishment.”

  “Jealous?” Shiro ughed, and Eri nodded.

  “Of course I am. Though I’ll work hard. I’m not going to be a liability again.” She looked at Tsukiko then, her expression pletely serious. “I know you uand. You carried the same burden as we did, no, maybe even more. I don’t want to know the future. I think that’s a curse. But… power is what matters. If you were strong enough, you wouldn’t have died. If we were strohen we could have preve. So… no more tears. No, that’s not practical. We’re going to suffer defeats abacks. I’m not a child, I know that. But we o make sure what we lose isn’t those we ’t live without!”

  “Those are wise words.” Tsukiko agreed, as the helicopter nded outside. “And now we know that with enough resolve, we ge any future we do not desire.” She paused, looking embarrassed. “I admit, I am desiring to not be here right now, or at least have my veil. This is a feeling I hought I would experience.”

  Shiro spped her on the back gently. “I’m feeling it too, don’t worry. Meeting the parents, it’s a big step in aionship…”

  As they soled each other, trying to keep calm I stepped out into the pale m sunlight, greeting the visitors who had left the helicopter. The first was my sister, who had raced over to me like an eager puppy. She then paused as she was about to go in for a hug, blinking as she saw Shiro and Tsukiko followi.

  “Wow, so who’s that? She’s as hot as you, Shiro!” my sis said, stunned. “Bro, you haven’t been snaring more beauties, have you? Mom’s going to flip out…” I could actually see my mother with a bright face watg on behihough auntie Hana didn’t look quite so happy, nor did her parents. I haven’t seen them in quite a while. Keepis from them didn’t feel good, but they’ve always been gossips…

  “You know it, dear sister.” Shiro smirked, and my sis flushed.

  “Dear sister, wow. I’ve only seen girls called that in manga. It feels kind of good though, especially from a hot irl like… no, no, losing tray thoughts!” my sis decred. “So, she’s one of my bro’s?”

  “You’ve met her before, actually.” I said cheerfully. “This is Matsumuro Tsukiko.” I raised my voice as the family caught up, all standing around us in a semi-circle. “She was known as the noble Lady Diviner, trepiece of Japan’s traditional faith. So she’s kind of a big deal.”

  “She was also kind of dead!” my sis said, with her usual ck of tact. “But then you did say your Kioration could work miracles. Damn… I’m happy for you bro.” A few tears glittered in Aiko’s blue eyes as she looked brightly at her. “And wow, keeping yourself covered up was a sin against humanity, Tsukiko-, you’re super stunning!”

  “You are very simir to your brother, I see.” Tsukiko said wryly, feeling a bit overwhelmed by her hurrie-force personality. “But yes, I shall hide myself no more. I accept I am a woman, as well as a Diviner.”

  “I see. Well, I always weleous daughters-in-w!” Mom grabbed her hand, shaking it, leaving Tsukiko a bit bemused. “I’m Emily, but you call me mom if you want! If not, Emi or Emily- is also fine!” She turo Shiro. “I’ve heard about you. My son’s uy friend, huh? If I’d have known my Aki was hanging out with girls as good as you, I’d have been bragging to the whole town!”

  “That’s all very well…It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” Auntie Hana said, though it clearly made her a little unfortable. “But where’s little Eri? Shouldn’t she be here to greet us? You aren’t ing her, are you?”

  Before anyone could answer, Eri’s voice rang out clearly. “Of course he isn’t, mother, don’t be absurd.” Everyourned, only to see Eri in her dress walking out fidently. On seeing that, everyone froze, and I realised why she was wearing such a revealing summery dress despite it being deep into autumn.

  “Eri, you’re… you’re walking.” Uncle Junpei said, voice crag with emotion, as auntie burst into tears and rushed at her. Eri took the hug, pouting but clearly happy for the affe, and she patted her mother on the back gently.

  “There’s o fuss. I’m fine. See?” Eri’s bare arms and legs showed no traces of injury, her skin smooth and soft. “Akio promised you I’d recover, and so I have.”

  “I know.” uncle said, hardly daring to believe his eyes. “But you ’t bme us for w, you? You’re our precious daughter.”

  Eri let out a sigh. “I guess not. Now I feel a little bad about this.”

  “So, how long have you been deceiving us?” My sis butted in. “That’s so not cool!”

  “Only a few days.” Eri promised. As Hana finally released her hug, looking Eri over, even bending down to touch her legs, Eri sighed. “I was gettier slowly, but then the rest happened all at once. Akio thought I should tell you, but…” her smile was both apologetid wicked. “…I wao surprise you. And isn’t it a good one? Aren’t you happy?”

  “Wow, yeah, she’s definitely learning bad habits. That sounds like something Shaeu would do. Speaking of… where is she?” my sis asked.

  “Busy.” I expined briefly, before Tsukiko, rather unfortable at the scrutiny, but eager to make a good impression, invited everyone inside for tea…

  ********

  “We spent a few days t Japan. It was an iing experience. Especially with a guide.” Grandfather Jack was saying. “Fortuhe man was bilingual, so we didn’t have any difficulties.”

  “I told you dear, we’re going to have to learn more Japanese. We ’t be zy anymore.” Grandmother Evelyn said gently. “Still, I do want to thank that gentleman, he was so well-spoken and polite.”

  “He would be.” I ughed. “He’s surely one of Fujiwara Security’s best. So, what stood out the most?”

  “You o ask? Here of course.” Jack said, surprised. “I’ve seen many strahings since you came to visit with those girls. But doesn’t this trump all?” They had seen the Fae w around the shrine, and their jaws had nearly hit the floor in shock.

  “I’m more impressed by you, Eri dear.” Evelyn said to Eri, who nodded happily. “Our Emily was always bragging about you as if you were her own daughter. You’re adorable in photographs, but in person I think you’re prettier. Akio is a lucky boy, having such a childhood friend… oh, and a friend from uy as well.” Evelyn fi Shiro’s pleading look.

  “Yeah, Aki is friends with the best. e to think of it, perhaps he was destio be a protagonist from the momearted stag up the top-tier friends.” Shiro mused.

  “I don’t think our parents get it.” My sis said gently. “You might want to tone down the humour, Shiro.”

  As Shiro looked down, my mom piped up that she indeed did get it. “I also have another question.” mom said afterwards, looking at the guest ith us, sitting beside Tsukiko and drinking tea with us all, as though she belohere. “Why is Princess Mikasa, our Imperial Princess, in your house? Are you colleg Princesses or something?”

  At that Eri nearly spat out her drink as she snorted, and some got up her nose, choking her. As my sis spped her on the back, trying to help her breathe again, Tsukiko and Shiro exged gnces, before Shiro started snickering.

  “Do excuse me. I’ve been rude.” Yukiko-san put on her best manners. “Akio-san here is a colleague of mine, and a friend, I should say. Tsukiko is also my dearest friend. As for why I am here…” She me, and I expihat she was attending an importa in the Seelie Court with us this evening. Beside her, Azuki was sipping tea from a tiny cup, the size of a thimble, though how that worked with her doll body I wasn’t sure. Best not let Ixitt see or he’ll dissect her… It was handy having Azuki at the Shrine, si allowed easy unicatioween the Boundary and here, although the need for that has diminished with so many people able to e and go freely. It’ll be useful having her in our parents’ house for emergencies.

  “Wow, that’s so awesome. Bro, I go? Please?” My sis wheedled, and I found myself smiling. Nothing ever ges my sister, does it? I find that reassuring. I found myself staring at her face, my thoughts going to something I had been sidering for a while, and she flushed. “Hey, I know I’m pretty, but stare at Eri and the others, I’m not yirlfriend!”

  With a snort of derision and a shake of my head, I dismissed that. “You sure think highly of yourself, sis, that I’d be sidering a taboo a front of our parents. No, I was just thinking about a request you made of me…”

  “I requested something else? Uh… okay, I don’t remember, but… I go? I’ll be no trouble, I promise!”

  As father told her off, I stopped him by raising a hand. “Fine. As celebration of the whole family being together again, even randparents, you e as a guest. I’m sure Shaeu won’t mind. Besides, you at least defend yourself long enough for us to e to your rescue if there’s any trouble.”

  “Are you expeg trouble?” Shiro asked, and I shook my head.

  “No. With all the powerful dignitaries like Shaeu’s father there, it should be very safe. For everyo me.” I said, a touervously.

  “Why is that?” father asked, and I expined.

  “It seems Shaeu’s father Shaetanao is … very… doting and overprotective of his daughter. It’s ironic, sideri himself be manoeuvred into nearly getting her killed by his enemies, so if he starts any crap I’ll fire back with that, but…”

  “Oh, if he’s anything like Shaeraggo, you’ll be fighting a duel.” My sis uood, ughing. “Don’t worry, your darling sister will cheer for you bro!”

  “Before that…” Eri’s grandmother, Haruyo-san spoke up, her voice frail. “Wataru and I were left out, even our daughter and son-in-w knew, but not us. Aren’t we family, Akio-kun? I remember babysitting you when you were young.”

  It did happen, though as soon as I was barely old enough to be responsible, I took over babysitting duties for my sis and Eri. To be fair to them, they’ve never beehy, and looking after eic kids is hard. “Sorry, a lot has been going on. We weren’t deliberately keeping you in the dark. Even my parents only knew for a couple of months. The gover wao keep things under s, so we’ve been erring on the side of caution, isn’t that right, Yukiko-san?”

  She gave me a why are you throwing this at me look, but she ha well. “That’s right. Other than some very important people, knowledge was kept restricted to prevent publiic. It’s only now after London those restris are lifted, and even now, keeping knowledge to those who is standard practice.”

  “That’s right, mother.” Auntie Hana was a bit flustered, but she supported us. “We went through all this. There’s no point holding grudges. We’re all together now. And… little Aki, you’ll be sure to help mother and father recover and be healthy again, won’t you?”

  “Of course. In fact, why don’t I do that right now? I’ll leave you all to chat.” Though you’ll regret it, at least in the short term. But then, there’s no gain without pain…

  ********

  I was now in another room, just with my father, uncle Junpei, and Jack. It was just us men, but Wataru-san was missing, as the Chirurgery was hard on him and his wife as I expected. There were a lot of areas of weakness and wear ahat needed regeing, and their lungs were especially weak. Fixing that was extremely painful for them. The two of them were lying down rec, while the girls were all chatting.

  Crag open the seal on a fitle of whiskey, I poured out some gsses of the amber liquid. “It’s a bit early in the day for booze, but I guess we’re celebrating. To the family, and to Eri’s recovery. I’d like to celebrate Tsukiko too.” I’m not going to expin that she was dead, but if I expin she was like Eri, in a bad way, they’ll uand.

  “She seems a good woman.” Jack said. We were all speaking English, so there were no problems with uanding. “But how many is that now, my boy? Ten?”

  “Eleven…” I admitted, and uncle flexed his fists.

  “I really get an urge to punch you now, Aki. But that wouldn’t do any good. And it’d just hurt my fists. I have to face facts. You kept your promise. Eri is healthy again. Seeing Hana fuss over her until she was red in the face, demanding she stop… I felt relief at st.”

  “As did I. Letting Eri suffer sujuries was a grave mistake, son.” My father said, and I nodded.

  “I know. But we learn from them. Iure, it might happen again to some of us, what we are going to face will be terrible, but… it won’t be for such a foolish, valueless reason, I promise.”

  “I don’t feel good about this, not at all, but…” uncle sighed, and Jack took over.

  “You’ve seen London on the news, I’m sure. Somebody has to step up. And I think you’d rather want your daughter to be strong.” He reached down ahe crucifix he had around his neck. “By God, I worry about the world. But… I’m happy to know my grandson is doing his best to protect it and the people who live here.”

  I agreed. “If we do nothing, then we ’t respond if we get caught up in something like Kyoto. That’s why we train and fight, so we aren’t just at the mercy of events, but choose our own path.”

  “A man should be bold, yet always think of caution.” My father said. “I used to think you were too timid, son. It seems I was wrong.” At the distant, reminisg look in his eyes, we let him gather his thoughts. As he took a swig of the whiskey, rolling it around his tongue, he reached a clusion. “Son, Akio. I have always felt it is the role of a man to provide for his family. Juoo.” At his nod, my father tinued. “Now, such views are likely seen as old-fashioned, especially in the West.” Jack agreed with that.

  “Our families have always been poor, but we’ve raised three good childreween us.” Father tinued, and Junpei sighed.

  “I would have said so, but Eri has learned some bad habits. W us like that just to make a se…”

  “She depends on you too much, Akio.” Father tinued. “That is a heavy burden.”

  “I know. And one I wasn’t prepared for. I was damn immature, I admit it. But I ’t afford to be any longer. As for providing for my family, I know. I ’t just rely on Hinata’s money, I have to earn to make us all happy and prosperous.”

  “It’s not just financial, the man, the head of the household, he has to provide emotionally. And that’s going to be hard for you now.”

  “He’s right, Aki.” Junpei agreed. “Even keeping Hana happy is a full-time job, and you have eleven. If you don’t give everyone proper care and attention… your life and theirs will be miserable.”

  “I think it’s more nuahan simple numbers.” I objected. “Though I do uand and worry about it a lot. It’s like when you had us, father, you and mom had to split your love between each other, Aiko and me. Love’s not fihough time is. All I say is, I’m going to do my best, and I’m lucky…” I gri uncle. “…Eri’s a good girl, they all are. She’s e a long way, from her tantrums with Shaeu, to being a girl who extends a hand to the others who have had a tough, sad time. I’m not alone. I have to be the anchor, just as it’s the tre of a Territory, but an anchor ’t protect a Territory alone. Besides…” my smile turned wry. “…I have a big family now to lean on.” Hell, with Shaeu’s family alo already gets plicated…

  “I see. In that case, all I do is hope you hold to your resolve, and do not backslide.” Father said, raising his gss. “A toast them. To family.”

  “To family!” we echoed, and I took a swig of the rich whiskey, feeling a warm glow that wasirely the alcohol…

  ********

  “…so bro, I know you’re worried about Nishimorioka and Chairoakitara shrine, but… I kind of solved the problem, I think?” She tilted her head cutely, and I sighed.

  “Why don’t you sound sure?” Beside me, Shaeu was ughing, while my mother was talking to Daiyu, Hyath transting for her, Asha listening silently. We were in the back of one of several limousines Hinata had sent for us, and we were being transported to the Jonan hills, to formally move to our new homes, although I would be uting back to Shirohebizumi shrine most days and staying there sometimes. Although my Astral body is in the Boundary there at the moment, which gives us greater security.

  “No, I have.” She corrected. “I was taking Rika- and Yae- for a st tour, when I ran into an Oni. She was tough as hell, bro, she was wreg my golden sister army like they were toy soldiers. I was a bit scared, to be ho…” She shuddered theatrically, before tinuing. “Anyway, luckily that pendant you gave me seemed to do the trick, bro, and she stopped fighting. Turns out she’s impressed by you, and she wants to meet you. She hopes you introduce her to some Oni called Red, from the Night Parade? I think she’s got a crush on him…”

  On that big guy? Great… I wonder what Blue would do about that. I’m not sure if they are brother and sister, or lovers, but the way Blue spoke about Red’s brother we killed, it didn’t seem like he was her brother too… As if agreeing with me, Shaeu chortled happily. “A fortuitous meeting indeed-ihat I would dearly like to see. We shall have te it. Far be it for us to miss-miss su eaining spectacle.” She then peered at Aiko, serious. “Do you think this Oni is trustworthy? I would not-not have Chairoakitara destroyed, nor have Rika and Yae harmed.”

  “I think so. Until she gets bored, anyway. She doesn’t strike me as the patient type. So best make the trip over in good time, bro.” my sis warned. “As for her, all she o do is keep the area around the shrine free of troubles, and I did say to Rika- and Yae- they could see if she’ll escort them to the source of fire element to train. I warhem not to go alone.” She paused, before smiling slyly. “Yae-’s still pining for you bro, you sinful man. Why not snatch her up?”

  I shook my head. “Yae’s a niough girl, but I barely know her.” Sure, I barely know Tsukiko too, but the situation is different. We’ve been through life ah together, carry the same burdens. Yae is an ordinary girl. “She’d be better off with any number of uys.”

  “Wow, poor Yae crashing and burning. Oh well, if she gets up her ce to ask you out properly, don’t be a l bro moonstone and fob her off to spare here feelings. Give it to her straight, either way. It’s better to know and not have false hope, although of course, it’s eveer to be accepted. Wow, been a while since I was able to call you a moonstone.”

  “Well, my little sis sapphire…” I shot back. “Your brother, believe it or not, is quite good at handling girls now…” I ignored Shaeu’s noise of disbelief beside me. “I’ve sorted the Kana and Asha situations, and I didn’t have any problems with Tsukiko. Your brother learn, you know.” I said dryly. “Anyway, good job, but she sounds a bit votile, so we’ll take a trip out there and sort the mess as soon as we . As for you now…” I ruffled my sister’s hair, and she pouted, though she made no move to escape. “…you have to finish your schooling and do your exams, but other than that, you help us in the Boundary, and we’ll look for the perfect spot for your Territory.”

  “Great bro! You’re the best!” she flung her arms around me, and I had to listen thter from my mom and Shaeu, as the limousine pulled ever closer to our destination…

  ********

  “Wow, it’s better than the photos! It’s like some super-secret fortress!” My sis excimed, looking out of the window as the voy of limousines pulled up into the estate. We first passed through a very secure gate, the massive posite structure, looking like bck metal yet made from the most advanced impad cuttiant materials, was set into an impressive wall, which was scattered with cameras, infra-red sensors and more.

  “That’s right, Ai!” Mom was also glued to the window, blue eyes wide. “You mom is finally going to live a life of luxury! Surrounded by aire football team of daughters-in-w!” Azuki, who was held in her p, mom having taken a liking to the doll, rolled her red eyes at her enthusiasm.

  “Yeah, but doesn’t a team have substitutes?” My sis said unhelpfully. “You’re allowed five, right? Bro had better try harder!”

  Once past the gate, we were greeted by a number of beautiful gardens, full of trees and bushes. Due to the season, they were a little threadbare, but Asha seemed ied, her yellow eyes taking them in. It was hard for a Dryad to be too far from her Tree for long, though the strohe Tree and the Dryad, the further and lohey could be separated, so Asha would be returning to Shirohebizumi frequently, but she had no wish to be apart from me all the time.

  Past the gardens were a number of smaller houses, though to call them small was doing them a disservice, as they could quite easily hold an average family in some luxury, and they were rger than our home in Nishimorioka. Finally, the limousine pulled to a stop, and I could see that father and the others had got out of their own vehicles aaking in the view of a multi-story mansion of great elegance, with an even rger footprint tharaining school, which for tral Tokyo was obsely rge. No, this whole estate must be worth many billions of yen. I think we o get Ixitt’s factory rolling, or I o heal some more wealthy businessmen…

  Further down the hill, I could see a smaller, two-story mansion, which was where our families were going to live, just a few hundred metres away. Seeing my gaze, Aiked. “Don’t worry bro, your darling sister will be just a mere moment away. I’ll e over to py often!”

  As Shaeu cackled that she was sure Aiko would, our door ened by some of the Fujiwara Security persohat were present. Waiting for us was Hinata, there with her grandfather, Motoko and Natsumi behind them, wearing training hakama in blue and white, as well as Kana, who was looking around in a daze.

  “Well then.” Hinata bounded over to us. “Mother-in-w, wele to your new home. I hope you look kindly on me, as I am eager to be a daughter you be proud of.”

  “You’re so well-mannered Hinata-. You two as well. Motoko-, Natsumi-, don’t be shy.” Mom opened her arms, a hug, being rather more tactile than the Japanese. Hinata, currying favour, cheekily reciprocated, and seeing that, even the more reserved martial arts duo joined in. My mom was glowing with happiness, and my sis and I exged embarrassed looks, before bursting out ughing. Damn, mom be such a free spirit at the most inappropriate times. What made me ugh harder was Azuki, who mao slip away, falling to the ground, after nearly being smothered by the hug. But still, everyone being together at st, that’s surely something to celebrate…

  ShipTeaser