-Chapter 13-

Xander stayed for dinner that night. It’s been two weeks. We got an A on the project. Nothing has happened. My sentences are short and clipped. Why? Because it’s Christmas break, it’s cold and I’m missing my daily dose of Xander.

And now my parents surprise me with the fact that we’re going to Japan to visit Akuma’s grandmother. Everyone knew this would probably be her last Christmas so they wanted everyone she was close to, to be there.

So that’s what we were doing. We had just got off the plane and were grabbing our bags as we stood in the Kansai International Airport since Kyoto didn’t have one of its own. Then we got on the Haruka Express and traveled towards the Kyoto Station which would take about seventy-three minutes.

I dozed off pretty quick seeing as how it was a thirteen hour difference, I didn’t sleep on the plane and it would be two in the morning over there.

So that means it’s about three in the afternoon here. Yay.

But soon enough Akuma shook me awake and I grumbled, gripping the back of his shirt so I wouldn’t lose him in the throng of people as he followed our parents and sisters. He smiled over his shoulder at me but it was a sad one. He and his grandmother were really close.

Within due time we arrived at his uncles house where everyone would be staying seeing as he had about ten bedrooms in his house. Why? Well, when you’re the owner of a multi-billion record label company, why not?

I swear the architecture here in Japan was so weird. But it was certainly cool.

>{[A/N: Uh….from now on, everyone is speaking in Japanese. I’m not going to translate it into Japanese since that will be a bother on my part and yours. And yes, Skylar, Izzy and their parents are fluent in Japanese. Alright, continue. :3 ]}<

“Akuma! Yuki! Hanī! Yoroi! It’s been a while!” Akuma’s uncle-Burēdo-came from one of the rooms dressed in a dark green kimono that had a dark green dragon pattern on it.

He hugged Akuma, Yuki, Akuma’s mom and then his dad, smiling. His entire family had a cross between Japanese and American when it came to mannerisms.

“Ah, and Sukai, Izabera, Emerarudo and Shadou! It’s nice to see you guys!” He hugged me then my mom and dad. My mom’s name was Emerald-hence the translation-and my dad’s was Shadow. Mine was just shortened to Sky while in Japan seeing as there wasn’t a translation for Skylar….plus Sukai sounded cooler. Then Izzy had the closest name when it came to spelling. Izabella and Izabera….scary, it was.

“Hey Burēdo, it’s nice to see you again.” I smiled at him and he grinned then frowned.

“I just wish it was under better conditions, my friend.” I nodded solemnly and looked around. Then I got tackled to the ground as several children and two dogs attacked me.

“Ow! What the hell?!” I looked down to see four people of varying ages of ten to fifteen on top of me and two Akita Inu. One was red and brindle and the other pure white. I huffed as they all got shooed off by Burēdo and I sat up, putting my arms on my knees and huffed, trying to catch the breath they knocked out of me.

“Izaya!” Izzy said, hugging the fourteen year old boy. Ooh, this should be interesting. Izaya was Akuma’s brother and Yuki’s twin. He lived here since last year, deciding to stay closer to their Sobo since her husband died. He was even closer to them than Akuma. And trust me, that was close. Another fact: Izzy liked him. A lot.

I chuckled and looked at the ten, twelve and fifteen year olds that were sitting cross-legged in front of me. They were Akuma’s cousins, the ten and twelve year old Burēdo’s kids and the fifteen year old Burēdo’s and Yoroi’s sister’s kid.

“Hey guys, you want a present, don’t ya?” I questioned, smiling at them and they all nodded.

I chuckled, looking up at my dad and he looked behind him, grabbing my suitcase and handing it to me. I sat it in front of me, unzipping it and pulled out four one gallon Ziploc bags. I gave them to the kid that named match with the one written.

There was Sakura-the ten year old-who had thin black hair going to the small of her back, had dark brown eyes and the tan skin and narrowed eyes you imagine when you think of Japanese people. She gave me a cute grin, got up, hugged me then scurried off after a quick bow and thanks. She always was shy.

Next was Shizou. He had gotten his hair dyed blond and he had a few….anger problems. But for some reason he really liked animals….and me. Which was weird. Anyway, I handed him his bag of candy mostly filled with chocolate and he grinned at me and scampered off after his sister.

I tossed one over to Izaya who was catching up with Izzy and Yuki. He tossed me a quick thank you before slinging his arm around both the girls’ shoulders and leading them away.

Finally there was Taru. He was the fifteen year old and a prodigy. He and I always played Shogi whenever he came to America or I came here. When it came to strategy and tricking an opponent, he was a master. He and I also collaborated when it came to creating challenging video games.

“What’ve you been up to Taru?” I asked him as I handed him a bag full of Lindt Truffles of several flavors. I had a bag myself. Trust me, we loved these things.

“Nothing much. I have some thoughts on that Xbox game you and I thought about last time.” He stated, unwrapping a Milk Chocolate one. I nodded, getting up after I zipped up my bag-getting my own truffles out first-and put it where I saw everyone else put theirs.

The house was big, meaning everyone had already disappeared. We padded across the tatami, Taru leading. He pushed aside a door and headed inside. I followed him, pushing it closed after the two Akita followed us in. The brindle named Ish-a boy-and the pure white one-a girl-Aiko.

The room was small and rectangular. A closet on one side, a bed in one corner and a desk beside it with a laptop, a single lamp and organized papers in a file cabinet beside that with a trashcan under it.

“So, what’ve you been thinking?” I questioned, lying on his bed as he opened up his laptop. He turned to me as we waited for it to start up.

“Well, you know how we were deciding on mythical crap and stuff?”

I nodded.

“Well, I started researching all the different types and crap and I decided that maybe we could do something like this.” He opened his filing cabinet, searching through the manila folders until he found the one he wanted and handed it to me.

I opened it and blinked at the carefully drawn out characters. I shifted through them as I sat up, crossing my legs. Damn this boy could draw.

“Holy shit man, you can draw.” I muttered and he smiled before doing something on his computer. I paused at a cat boy. This was the one I suggested. He would be like the ordinary Neko figure except there would be something odd about him. He would have wings. Black massive wings with white tips on the feathers and teal spots. His ears would be black with white tabby stripes and teal tips while his tail matched. His hair would be black, one of his eyes teal and the other sliver. He had tan skin and his clothing consisted of black skinny jeans, black combat boots, several studded belts around his waist and a dark blue muscle shirt with a black trench coat over it that had blue fuzz around the hood and sleeves that resembled Kiba Inuzuka’s old jacket in a way. Except the bottom wasn’t fuzzed.

I had named him Rex and I absolutely loved him. He didn’t carry weapons, only using his clawed hands and pointed teeth as weapons. If he went around in a cyclone with his wings extended it cut everything around him and he had very good agility and balance.

“So, you want to come to America some time so we can work on this? I’ll get an extra bed in my room.” I asked him and he frowned and stopped typing, looking down in thought for a second before sighing.

“Nah, I have school and then with Sobo getting worse I don’t want to leave. Izaya either. Maybe during spring break.” He muttered in English and my eyebrows rose in surprise.

“Dude, you’re getting better at English!”

“This language in confusing but yeah.” He shrugged and I smiled at him before eating a white chocolate truffle.

“Don’t worry, everything will be okay.” I mumbled quietly, my eyes going back to the pages in front of me.

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Authors Note

Ehehehehehehe short chapter :P I like Izaya, Shizou and Taru. Who wants his point of view? I’m starting to get IDEAS! Oh, and by the way, in the next chapter which will be Taru’s POV but it will be a little bit before Skylar and company arrives.
Alex better watch out ;]
Xander: Wha? *looks up from Xbox*
Me: *eye twitch* I really should have made Skylar a better boyfriend *sigh*
Xander: HEY!
Me: Shut up. Taru could be a better boyfriend.
Xander: O-O *glares* -.- you wouldn’t.
Me: Try me babe ;P
Skylar: Hey, are we getting more candy before we leave Japan?
Me: *shrugs* sure.
Sky: YAY! \(o.o)/
Xander: Skylar, I’m better than Taru, right?
Skylar: o.o
Alex: WELL?!?!

Songs of the Chapter  ~|14|~

Like We Used To-A Rocket To The Moon

Perfect Situation-Weezer

The Alamo Is No Place For Dancing-The Scene Aesthetic

Sacrilegious-Never Shout Never

I Must Be Dreaming-The Maine

The Best Deceptions-Dashboard Confessional

Becky Starz-Forever The Sickest Kids

Time After Time-Quietdrive

Unwell-Matchbox Twenty

Break Out! Break Out!-All Time Low

Kids In Love-Mayday Parade

All Time Lows-Hellogoodbye

Animal I Have Become-Three Days Grace

For A Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic-Paramore