Down and Dirty (12 page)

“Like I had a choice,” she told him. “Did you not hear Ryoto smacking? That’s baby for ‘Give me milk now.’”

Ichiro smiled at her, but his eyes reverted to the group of vultures circling.

“Your uncle is the biggest wolf,” she told him.

“Yeah,” Ichiro said. “So I’ve noticed.”

“I’ll promise to be discreet next time.” She leaned over and whispered, “Your sons are greedy.”

Ichiro bent from the waist and kissed Ryoto on the head. “Save some for Daddy. He’s starving too.”

Shaundra couldn’t help but chuckle.

The little jokester Ryoto released the nipple and actually smiled at Ichiro like he understood, and then he went back to work on sucking with a vengeance.

“He’s very aggressive,” Ichiro said.

“Yes,” Shaundra said. “He is.”

Ichiro rose and left her to the nursing. Moments later, Ryoto went off to get dressed.

“Let me show you where to change,” Kameyo told her.

“Do you need any help?” Satoshi asked Shaundra playfully.

Ichiro punched him on the arm. “No, she does not need any help, wise guy.”

Shaundra shook her head. Things were slowly getting back to normal.

Chapter Six

Shaundra was quite surprised to see a young lady accompanying Takumijo. She’d seen her once or twice before.
Oh, what is her name? Oh, yes, Amaterasu
.
She’s a dancer
. Shaundra shrugged, glad Takumijo had someone in his life so he could stay out of hers.

The morning began with a walk to a nearby shrine. Harper and the others had finally arrived. It was a quick walk to the shrine since it was still cold outside. No one told her she had to walk up a damn mountain to get to it. And why were there so many steps? The ancient building had a garbled roof and sliding doors that led to the
honden
. Daichi tried to explain the shrine history to her as they walked, but it all sounded so confusing. The shrine was protected by gates, fences, and ropes. Shaundra admired the Japanese architectural design of the shine and its compound. They entered through the Japanese gate, or
tori
, constructed of two crossbars, which denoted the separation between common space and sacred space. Inside the compound was a
haiden
…a public place of worship, and a heiden….a hall for offerings, and the honden…the most sacred building at the shrine.

They found other families inside the haiden when they arrived. There were also about a dozen other babies who had reached their one-month birthday. The parents and the babies sat facing an altar. She held one baby while Ichiro held the other. A Shinto priest, known as a
kannushi
, appeared wearing a unique Shinto costume and headgear. The costume…a turquoise
kariginu
and the black
eboshi
hat caught her attention since everyone else present wore white. The kannushi recited a prayer while swinging a
tamaguishi
…a sprig of
orchnacca
with attached strips of white paper. He cited the name and birth date of each child while he moved around. This continued for about ten minutes, and then each parent carried their baby to the altar and bowed to it. At the end, a cup of sake was given to each parent to drink. Shaundra grimaced when she tasted it, and Ichiro just smirked at her reaction.

Once they returned to the house, Buddhist monks showed up to perform the
Shichiya
, commonly known as the baby naming ceremony. Shaundra had to stop for a moment to nurse and change the babies before the ceremony began and then she rejoined the family. The naming ceremony was supposed to occur when the twins were seven days old, but of course, that hadn’t happened. During the ceremony, the twins’ names were written in calligraphy on scrolls and posters along with their footprints. Two of the scrolls, or
meimesho
, were taken to the Yoshida family’s private shine and the posters were given to her and Ichiro. Another set of scrolls were given to Ichiro to display prominently at the farmhouse. Both she and Ichiro had to make a speech to welcome their babies into the world. Shaundra had hers down pat since Daichi made her practice it over and over again until she could say it correctly in Japanese.

There was also an astrologer on hand to draw horoscopes using the first letter of the boys’ names. And friends and family made offerings of candles and incense. The monks blessed each child and announced their names. They tied sacred threads around Raiden’s and Ryoto’s wrists to welcome
Khwan
, a spirit that looked after birthdays.

Everyone left the house again. This time, they headed into town for the Christian baptism. Shaundra and Ichiro were separated along the way. She and Dae-Hyun rode together, tending to the babies, while Ichiro rode in the limo van with Aomori.

Inside the church, the godparents came forward. Cristal and Hana stood in as godmothers while Satoshi and Takumijo served as godfathers. The priest said the prayer and then blessed the babies by pouring water on their heads. Raiden cried, but Ryoto took it like a soldier. Godfather Satoshi was very proud of him. The priests then called the boys’ names and welcomed them into the Christian community. The christening was then recorded in the church registry. Later, the godparents presented the boys with silver spoons and rattles for luck.

The festival began shortly afterward. Shaundra had noticed the crowds of people forming in town when they arrived. She had no idea how it happened, but the streets were now crammed with merrymakers, streamers, and dragon dancers.

Teenage girls and young women screamed and tried to get at Aomori, who walked through the streets accompanied by security. Shaundra didn’t think it was normal security since all the guys were dressed in brightly colored suits and dark sunglasses.

The fireworks display began as soon as the sun went down. It was a beautiful sight, but it was still too cold to be outside and Shaundra and the babies were getting tired. Dae-Hyun took both the boys from her when they returned to the main house and put them to bed in one of the upstairs bedrooms.

Auntie Jun and some of the other aunties had stayed behind to prepare the traditional one hundred day old first meal of
sekihan
(red beans), sticky rice, clear soup (
jiru
), sea bream, and pickled vegetables. After the meal, more guests arrived at the house bringing envelopes of money as gifts for the twins. The party moved to the big building at the back of the main house. Aomori took the stage to perform some of their songs and Shaundra was reduced to tears during Ichiro’s song, “A Father’s Prayer,” an original song he’d written to commemorate the birth of their sons.

Aomori ended their act and Ichiro came to sit in the audience next to her. Cristal sat at her left. Mr. Niigata took the stage. “I have a special surprise for everyone,” he announced.

That got everyone’s attention.

“As a special treat for the Yoshida family, I’d like to introduce the newest members of the Niigata Entertainment family.”

“What’s going on?” Shaundra asked Ichiro.

Ichiro shrugged and then shook his head.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Distraction.” He quickly left the stage.

Three young Japanese men appeared on stage wearing black-and-white outfits.

Shaundra leaned toward Cristal. “Do you know anything about this?”

“Yes,” Cristal answered. “It’s a surprise. Listen.”

Shaundra turned her attention back to the stage just as the music began. The young men started singing in both Japanese and English.

“They’re good,” Shaundra said.

The young men finished the first number and began a second one. This one was slower, like a ballad. One of the singers, a blond one, took the mike and started to sing.

“Oh, it’s a love song,” Shaundra said. “He’s cute and really good. I like his hair.”

The blond walked the stage singing his heart out to the audience and then he stopped in front of them, dropped to his knees, and appeared to being singing to someone in the front row by them.

Shaundra looked to her left. Cristal moved around nervously in her seat. Shaundra looked back at the singer and then back at Cristal.
Hmm
.

The singer brought the song to an end, rose to his feet, and then blew a kiss to Cristal. He waved and left the stage with the other two while the audience applauded wildly.

Shaundra leaned over toward Cristal again. “Girlfriend, we need to talk.”

****

After the festivities ended, Shaundra found herself left alone with Ichiro. Daichi and Mashuu had taken Mr. Niigata and Harper into town with him to show them around. Distraction and Damien had gone back to the hotel with Distraction’s manager. Aomori, Cristal, and Amaterasu had gone clubbing. Dae-Hyun resumed his nanny duties and told her to take some time off to enjoy the evening.
I wonder if everyone had this planned
.

Ichiro stood over her while she sat on the sofa. He held out his hand to her. “Come. I want to show you where I grew up.”

“I thought you grew up here,” Shaundra said, rising.

“No, my grandmother moved here after my grandfather died.”

“What about the babies?” Shaundra asked, trying to make up an excuse.

“I’ve taken care of that,” Ichiro said. “You won’t be able to pry them away from their aunties or that big, burly bodyguard of yours for a long time.”

“But…”

“No buts, Shaundra. Please come with me.”

Shaundra sighed. She’d run out of excuses. “Okay.”

Ichiro helped her back into her coat and then took her outside. “I’ve always wanted to take you there.”

He helped her into a white car parked out front.

“Is this yours?” Shaundra asked.

“No, it belongs to my uncle. I’m just borrowing it.”

It was a very nice town car, Shaundra noted. She hoped there wasn’t a body in the trunk.

Ichiro closed the door and entered the driver’s side while she fastened her seatbelt. Moments later, they were heading north away from the compound.

They kept the conversation light, just discussing the babies and Distraction.

“I never saw that coming,” Ichiro told her. “I guess Mr. Niigata has decided we’re getting too old to manage.”

“He has always managed other groups,” Shaundra reminded him. She looked out the window and watched the scenery change.

“But not like this. He kept them hidden like he did with us when we were young.”

“It doesn’t mean he’s lost faith in you guys.”

“I know that. I want to retire anyway,” Ichiro said. “I’m tired of touring, and I’m missing out on important events in my family’s lives.”

Ichiro wants to retire
? She didn’t know that. She supposed he could be tired.

They reached a rural area with houses spaced far apart from each other and centered amongst crops.

Ichiro drove up to one of the houses and parked. “This is where I grew up.”

Shaundra got out. There was just enough light in front for her to get a good look at the place. Rustic and quaint and everything she expected.

Ichiro opened the door and turned on the light.

It was everything she imagined, bamboo floors, pocket doors, a kitchen with a built in wok, three bedrooms divided by sliding walls, and one bathroom. “I love it,” Shaundra said as he took her out back to see the gardens. Someone still kept the place up and took care of the crops.

“We had some good times here,” Ichiro said as he walked her over to a bench beneath a cherry blossom tree.

Shaundra sat down, remembering a similar time when they first met and she first went to the farmhouse for a visit. He’d taken her out to the garden and they sat and spent time on a bench beneath a cherry tree. It was the moment she realized she was in love with him.

Ichiro sat down beside her and took her hand. “I’m sorry,” he began. “I know I hurt you. I know I was wrong. I should not have allowed Eri to kiss me.” He sighed. “Shaundra, baby, I love you more than life itself.”

“I love you too, Ich,” Shaundra said. “And I’ve long forgiven you for kissing that woman.” The truth was, she and Satoshi had been doing quite a bit of harmless kissing lately and she felt like a hypocrite for holding something so petty over Ichiro’s head.

“Then why won’t you come back home?”

“I don’t know,” Shaundra said. “I’m trying to get myself together. I’ve been through a lot these last two years, and I can’t be there for you if I haven’t gotten my own life together.”

“But I miss you so much,” he whined. “I’m lonely.”

“You have Satoshi and Takumijo to keep you company.”

“That’s not the same. I miss waking up next to you.”

Shaundra raised an eyebrow. “You miss the sex.”

“That too,” he admitted with a smile. “I’m tired of taking cold showers.”

Shaundra smiled at him. “I know, baby. I miss you too.”

“Then come back to me.”

“I can’t,” she said, turning serious again. “I just need a little more time.” She rose. “But I can help you out with your problem.”

Ichiro rose. “What are you talking about?”

Shaundra wrapped her arms around his waist. “What do you think?”

“You mean…?”

Shaundra nodded. “I saw a very comfortable-looking bed in one of those rooms inside.”

“But it’s probably covered in dust,” Ichiro protested.

Shaundra led him back into the house. “What’s a little dust between lovers?”

****

“It is nice of you to join us,” Yori said to Cristal as they sat at a table in a nightclub.

“It has been a while,” Cristal said. “Do you think you can keep the others in line tonight? I’m not in the mood for going to jail.”

Yori smiled at her. “It’s safe to say everything is going to be okay. Satoshi is only drinking soda, and Takumijo is trying to be on his best behavior for Amaterasu.”

Satoshi had gone to the men’s room, giving her some quality time with the leader of Aomori.

“How’s Amaya?”

“Still recovering,” Yori said.

“I’m glad you answered that way. It lets me know there’s still hope for her.”

“She’s been doing well with her fashions. She has her own line now.”