Free Down and Dirty by Imari Jade Page A

memories and looked out the window. Osaka-Nanko had certainly changed since the first time he’d seen it. He remembered moving around excitedly when Mr. Niigata’s driver drove through the town on the way to the farmhouse. Takumijo had never seen a modern town and was impressed by what he saw.
    The traffic was starting to pick up as Kenshin drove toward the ferry landing. Once they arrived, they would drive onto the ferry to be taken over to Shikoku and then go northeast to Kagawa.
    Takumijo glanced over at Amaterasu. She had dozed off and had her head on his shoulder. He smiled. The scent of her hair made up for the numbing feeling in his arm. She’d been so excited last night before they went to bed. Maybe it had something to do with the trip, or maybe she was just happy to be with him. He’d never been in a serious relationship this long before, and hoped he wouldn’t screw it up. Amaterasu moved around, lifted her head from his shoulder, and placed it against the headrest.
    “She’s a very nice young lady,” Yori said from his seat across from them. “You did well this time.”
    Takumijo nodded.
    “Shaundra is also a nice lady,” Yori added.
    Takumijo’s happiness and memories faded. He felt bad for what he’d said to Ichiro’s wife the other night, but he’d meant every word of it. He liked Shaundra, but he didn’t like the way she’d been treating Ichiro. True, it wasn’t any of his business, but he couldn’t stand to see Ichiro sad. It reminded him too much of when they were younger. Of the four, Ich had suffered from homesickness, especially after his precious grandmother died. Takumijo remembered how Ich had cried for days after the elderly woman’s funeral. He didn’t do it publicly, just late at night in the kitchen when he thought no one could hear him. It just broke Takumijo’s heart. He wished Shaundra would forgive Ichiro so life could go on for him. “I know. I’ll apologize to her the next time I see her.”
    “Make sure that you do,” Yori said. “Or Raiden will grow up and kick your ass.”
    The mention of his handsome soon-to-be godson’s name made Takumijo happy. He’d never been responsible for a life before. He planned to do well by the kid…buying him things and taking him places. “I will try to keep my opinions to myself,” he told Yori.
    Yori nodded and settled back in his seat.
    They reached the ferry landing and Kenshin maneuvered the van onto the boat and found a spot to park.
    Takumijo looked out the window again. Beautiful blue water lay ahead of them. He always loved the sea, and some of his happiest memories were of fishing and swimming with Osamu. They were two young boys having fun with no idea about what the future had in store for them.
    The cell phone in his pocket vibrated with a text. Takumijo eased it out of his pocket. The message was from Terrie. The message simply stated, “I miss you.”
    “I miss you too,” Takumijo wrote back. “I’ll see you in a couple of days.” He sent the message and put the phone back into his pocket. He looked up to find Yori staring at him curiously.
    Takumijo just smiled and ignored Yori. Like before, he still had no clue what the future had in store for him.
     
    ****
     
    “What a gorgeous day for a trip,” Harper announced to the inhabitants of the van as they wove their way through traffic toward the Osaka-Nanko ferry landing.
    Cristal looked out the window. All she saw was traffic and snow. This had to be one of the coldest winters in Japan and she couldn’t wait until it was over.
    Joining them were Damien, Mr. Niigata, and Masaaki. She’d been expecting Mr. Niigata’s wife and Masaaki’s girlfriend to accompany them, but both women stayed home because of other obligations. Fine , she thought. It wasn’t like this was the first time she’d been the lone female on a trip with the men.
    Someone kicked the back of her seat.
    Oh yeah, Saburo and his demons were also with them. Kioshi Yamashita sat directly