In Deep Kimchi (35 page)

“Get a room,” Takumijo said as he entered the kitchen.

Ichiro broke the kiss. “Mine is right upstairs,” he said to Shaundra as they watched Takumijo get a glass from a cabinet, rinse it and then walk over to the refrigerator and pour some juice.

“Nice move,” he told Ichiro.

“Forget both of you,” Shaundra replied. “There are too many people in this house to even attempt sneaking off to your bedroom.”

“We’ll be real quiet,” Ichiro told her.

“Speak for yourself. You’re twenty-five and hot. There’s no way I’m going to be quiet.”

Takumijo nearly choked on his juice. “I think I better leave you two alone.” He rinsed the glass and put it in the sink. “How long before dinner is ready?”

“Fifteen minutes,” Ichiro answered. “Or maybe an hour if I can get Shaundra to change her mind and follow me upstairs.”

“Fifteen minutes,” Shaundra answered. “There will be no hanky-panky while these guys are in ear range.”

Takumijo teased Ichiro about striking out and left.

“Why are you torturing me?” Ichiro asked her.

“Patience is a virtue.”

“I’ve been patient for twenty-five years.” He went over to the stove to check on the food. “There’s soda in the refrigerator.”

Shaundra got herself a soda. “Can I help you with something?”

“Have you ever prepared Japanese food before?”

“No,” she replied.

“Then no.” He pointed to the table. “Sit.”

Shaundra sat down, content to watch the master chef at work. She was also content to watch his butt since he had his back to her most of the time.

This kitchen was similar to the one in Tokyo but just a different color scheme. This one was red and white with red curtains at the two big windows. Ichiro’s cookware and small appliances matched. He looked so comfortable doing what he was doing. “Do you prepare all the meals?”

“Yes, it is my job in the family. I prepare the meals and keep the house.”

“I like a man who knows his way around the kitchen,” Shaundra replied honestly.

He turned to face her. “You do not think it is girly?”

“Hell no. Someone has to cook and clean, and I don’t think those other three would do a good job at it.”

“You got that right,” he said going back to his cooking.

“What made Mr. Niigata change his mind about allowing you to come home?”

“His wife,” Satoshi answered. “She missed him and demanded that he come home to see her before going to the United States. We were just going to hang around Tokyo for another two weeks practicing so in order to save face and his marriage, he came home.”

Shaundra laughed. “Well, I guess that explains who the boss in that family is.”

“Mrs. Niigata is a very nice woman, but she doesn’t like to travel. Like you, she’s afraid of flying.”

“Smart woman.”

“The food is ready,” he announced.

Shaundra rose from the chair and held out both hands. “Point me to the bathroom. I’d like to wash up first.”

“Do you want me to take you there? I have often fantasized about making love to a woman in that tiny room.”

Her heart did a flip flop. “No, just point it out,” she said with a chuckle. He was so cute. After finding her way to the immaculately cleaned and pristine white bathroom, she found her way back to the dining room where everyone had gathered, including Kenshin. Masaaki pointed to a seat and Shaundra sat down. Ichiro wheeled in the food a few minutes later, winked at her and served them.

* * * *

“Let’s go for a walk,” Ichiro suggested after the meal ended and he allowed her to help him wash the dishes and put them away.

Some exercise was exactly what she needed to walk down the filling meal, and it would give the two of them time to be alone.

“I’m taking Shaundra to see the gardens,” Ichiro announced to the others who were back in the den watching the rest of the soccer game.

Masaaki waved them off and cheered for his team at the same time.

Shaundra followed him through the house and out of the front door. Night had arrived and the stars looked close enough to touch as she gazed over the landscape of the rural community.

Ichiro took her hand and walked her down a path that led to a beautiful garden filled with mixed green foliage, lilies and irises. The setting was perfect for a romance novel.

“Are these cherry blossom trees?” Shaundra asked as they stopped for a moment.

“Yes, and during the spring they are beautiful with little pink and white petals.”

Shaundra signed contently. “It’s the first image I get when I think of Japan. Too bad it’s not spring. I would love to see the bright colors.”

He pulled her to him and kissed her gently. “I can just imagine you with the petals falling in your hair. Would make a beautiful picture.”

Shaundra smiled and snuggled into his warm arms. He skin smelled like cinnamon, probably from all the baking and cooking. She liked that. “Why, Ich, I think you’re quite the romantic.”

“I speak the truth, beautiful lady. Let me show you something.” He took her further into the grove of trees and then stopped by a tall one. “This is Aomori’s tree. Mr. Niigata planted it when we first came to live here. He said it would grow as we grew.”

Shaundra looked up. The tree stood above all the other trees. “That would explain why all of you are over six feet tall.” The area was tranquil, a lot like him.

He walked her over to an open field. “This is where we play soccer.”

Images of him as a little boy running around in the area made her happy. It made her heart feel good to know he wasn’t too traumatized about being separated from his family. “Are you good at sports?”

“Soccer is my favorite, but I’m a pretty fast runner too.” His eyes lit up as he described matches between he and the others when they had been younger. “Yori is an excellent swimmer.” He pointed. “We have a pool over on the other side of the farmhouse, but we hardly have time to use it anymore.” They stopped at a bench and sat down. “Sometimes, I come out here and sit down when I need a little peace and quiet.”

Shaundra looked around. “It is peaceful. It’s a shame you don’t get to take advantage of it more often.” She inhaled. “What was it like growing up here?” She snuggled up in his arms.

“Aren’t you supposed to save those types of questions for the interview?” Ichiro asked, kissing the top of her head.

“The interview has already started. It began the minute I arrived in Osaka.”

“But you’re not writing.”

She pointed to her forehead. “Good memory. I’ll jot it all down later. Usually, paper and pen make people uncomfortable and less talkative.” She touched her heart. “I’m also writing it here.”

He chuckled warmly. “To answer your questions, it was wonderful growing up here. Well, eventually it was after we got over being separated from our families at such a young age. We do everything together and everything is for the group.”

“Is it hard being the youngest?”

“Yes. In the beginning, it was pretty nice. They’d make sure I had enough to eat and would protect me when others made fun of me for not talking. Then, one morning, I woke up and I was just as tall as they were, but they still see me as a small child with a pretty face and a soft voice. And they still think they need to protect me.”

“I can vouch that you’re very much grown up,” Shaundra replied.

Ichiro blushed so sweetly under the starry sky and moonlight.

“You keep doing that and I’m going to forget all about all those people in the house and sneak you up those stairs and have my way with you.”

He sighed. “With my luck, we’d get caught.”

Shaundra chuckled. “You’re probably right.”

He pulled her onto his lap. “Would you settle for a kiss?”

Shaundra nodded. “Oh, yes, please.”

* * * *

Yori watched as Ichiro gently brushed a lock of bang away from Shaundra’s face and heard her giggle. The sound went straight to his heart.

“What are you watching?” Satoshi asked as he approached.

“Ichiro,” Yori announced. He pointed. “He’s over there on the bench with Shaundra.”

“When are you going to give this up?”

“Don’t think I haven’t tried. I keep trying to walk away and get her out of my system. I was brought up to do the right thing, and by that, I mean marry the girl I’m engaged to. But the harder I try to convince myself to do the right thing, I see her smiling face and hear that husky deep voice.”

Satoshi leaned against the tree Yori hid behind. “Maybe inviting her to Osaka was not one of Mr. Niigata’s most brilliant ideas.”

Yori walked away from the tree and Satoshi followed. “Maybe not, but we’ll have to make the best of it.”

“What does Amaya think about her being here in Osaka?”

“I haven’t told her yet. In fact, Amaya does not know I have returned. I thought I should take this opportunity to make a decision about my future.”

“The answer is simple…marry Amaya. Shaundra will be gone soon and nothing but a sweet memory. There are too many obstacles in your way preventing you from having a future with her. Not to mention the fact that her life would always been in danger.”

“You’re right. I got a very nasty fan email yesterday. The writer threatened to kill her if I didn’t break up with her.”

Satoshi gasped. “What did you do?”

“I wrote back that there was no relationship and then gave it to Masaaki to handle.”

They arrived back at the front porch and sat down. “Do you think that Ichiro is receiving similar threats?”

“It’s possible since they attended the concert and the after-party together. And who knows who saw them together the night he snuck away with her on their first date. But you know how he is. He likes to keep things to himself.”

“We both know that something like this is too much for him to handle.”

“I know,” Yori replied. “But until he’s ready to share it with us, there’s nothing much we can do.”

“You are the leader. Talk to him.”

Ichiro and Shaundra approached. “What are you two doing out here?” Ichiro asked.

“Spying on you,” Satoshi answered honestly with a little smile. He turned to Shaundra. “Did you enjoy the tour?”

“Yes, it was very nice. You have a lovely place.”

“But you’ve only seen a small part of it. Ichiro needs to show you where we work and play.”

“I offered to show her my room, but she declined,” Ichiro said with a little pout.

Yori cleared his throat as Satoshi laughed. “Maybe she shouldn’t have refused. It’s the cleanest room and the house and has the loveliest furniture.”

Shaundra eyed him suspiciously. “Why are you being so nice to Ichiro all of a sudden?”

“Ichiro is my little brother whether or not he believes it at the moment. I like the effect you have on him. I’ve never seen him so happy.”

“Me too,” Satoshi replied. He took her hand. “Allow me to show you the rest of the place while the two of them try to patch things up.”