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  “I suppose,” Shaundra said. “But I’m not really feeling it.” Though some Japanese celebrated Christmas, it wasn’t as popular as it was in the United States. Ich was a Christian, so he’d have a tree for the boys. Honestly, her biggest concern at the moment was hoping the activities later would go off without a hitch. She loved Aomori to death, but trouble followed them like a shadow.

  “But you do plan to celebrate Christmas?” Dae-Hyun asked.

  He’d asked for that time off so he could go back to Korea to visit his family.

  “Maybe,” Shaundra said. “Truthfully, she hadn’t given it much thought since the babies were too small to appreciate a tree and decorations. And she’d promised Ichiro he could have the boys for Christmas. He had this wacky plan on spending their first Christmas at the farmhouse. “I promised Ichiro he could have the boys for Christmas.”

  “Is that wise?” Dae-Hyun asked. “What if he starts drinking? How can he get up in the middle of the night and tend to them.”

  “Despite what I might say in anger, Ichiro can handle the boys. He’s been taking care of Aomori since he was a child. And I have to let him try. Also, he’ll have Satoshi to help him.”

  “But not Takumijo,” Dae-Hyun said.

  Her bodyguard was still a little furious at the way Takumijo had spoken to her. “I don’t know. I supposed he can be counted on to hold one of the babies, but I’m not betting he’ll be any help when it comes to changing a diaper. Big dummy.”

  Dae-Hyun gripped the steering wheel tighter. “I don’t know. The babies are so used to me.”

  “You’re going home for the holidays,” Shaundra told him. “No buts. We need a break. We deserve at least one night off, and Ich needs to experience this part of fatherhood.”

  “What if he can’t do it?” Dae-Hyun asked.

  “I’m ten minutes away. If the babies are too much for him to handle, he’ll call. Then I’ll go get them.”

  “My sister just had a baby,” Dae-Hyun said. “She will be glad to see me.”

  Shaundra reached over and tapped him on the arm. “I’m going to miss you. But you deserve a break. We’ll be fine. I have to let Ichiro try. He needs to know what to do in case something happens to me.”

  “Don’t talk like that,” Dae-Hyun said solemnly. “You’re going to be around for a long time.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Shaundra said. “But it’s best to make sure he’s prepared.”

  The scenery changed around them. They passed through a town. There were posters of Aomori everywhere and announcements about the festivities. “I don’t know if it’s such a good idea for them to be here,” Dae-Hyun said. “Maybe Mr. Niigata and Daichi should not have mentioned Aomori’s name.”

  Shaundra agreed with him. “They are famous, and they usually have droves of fans waiting to meet them wherever they go. But it will be okay. These are the first posters I’ve seen since we came over on the ferry.”

  Dae-Hyun continued to drive for a few minutes and then the voice on the GPS came on announcing that they’d reached their destination.

  Shaundra looked out the window again. “This is not a farm,” she said. “This is a freaking palace.”

  The GPS directed them to the center house. It had the typical Japanese low-sloping roofs and quaint shutters on the windows, but everything else looked recently constructed.

  Dae-Hun found a spot to park the car and they got out.

  The door to the main house opened and Daichi and his sisters appeared. They came down to greet them and to help get the babies out of the car. Hana eyed Dae-Hyun up like a steak dinner, but Shaundra failed to respond. Dae-Hyun didn’t seem to notice.

  Daichi took her arm while Estuke and Hana followed with the babies. Dae-Hyun brought up the rear with the diaper bags and the babies’ christening outfits. The first ceremony was scheduled to begin in less than an hour, and Shaundra still had to feed the babies and get dressed.

  “Welcome,” Daichi said as they stepped inside the palatial mansion.

  It wasn’t exactly what she expected. To be honest, this style of life didn’t impress her. She kind of hoped to see a little weathering home so she could get the feel of where Ichiro came from. This place was lavishly decorated from wall to wall in paintings and big, opulent furniture. This either meant the restaurant supply and catering businesses were doing exceptionally well, or all of it had been funded with illegal Yakuza money.

  Daichi led them down the hall and opened a door to a room. He stepped inside first and the rest of them followed.

  Oh, my gawd, look at the aunties. Shaundra’s worse nightmare had come to life. The room was filled with many gray-haired women, all dressed in white and looking at her strangely.

  “Everyone, this is Shaundra. Ichiro’s wife.”

  There was a bit of quick talk in Japanese.

  “And this is Dae-Hyun, Shaundra’s bodyguard and the nanny to her and Ichiro’s boys.”

  Still more quick talk.

  “And these are the boys,” Daichi announced.

  Hana and Estuke brought in the infants, and the old biddies went wild. Raiden and Ryoto were passed around like chips and dip, receiving kisses and blessings from the women, while Daichi did his best to keep them in order.

  Another woman approached.

  “This is my aunt Kameyo, your hostess,” Daichi told her.

  Shaundra bowed. “It is an honor to meet you, Mrs. Yoshida.”

  The other woman was very petite, but carried herself proudly. Shaundra guessed her age to be around fifty, but she had youthful brown eyes. She wore white, like everyone else, but her hair was beautifully groomed in a long, brown plait. She had just a sprinkling of gray at the temples.

  “Youkoso,” she said in Japanese. “Welcome to my home.” She bowed to Shaundra and then straightened up. “I have heard so many good things about you from Ichiro.” The woman walked slowly around her. “And you are every bit as beautiful as he said.” The woman’s English was superb. “Ichiro has done well.”

  Shaundra felt like a side of beef. “Arigatou,” she said, bowing again.

  “And who is this?” she asked, now circling Dae-Hyun.

  “He is the babies’ nanny,” Daichi said.

  “Those are some lucky babies,” she said. She bowed to Dae-Hyun and then spoke to him in Korean.

  Dae-Hyun bowed to her and answered her back.

  Shaundra didn’t know what they said, but both ended up smiling at each other.

  “Can I see the babies?” Kameyo asked.

  Shaundra looked around for them. Hana and Estuke retrieved the infants and brought them to their aunt. Another older woman appeared.

  “This is my great-aunt Jun,” Daichi told them.

  Both Shaundra and Dae-Hyun bowed to the older woman.

  Shaundra never saw a broader smile than the ones on both the women’s faces when they looked down at the two blue-eyed Yoshidas. The older auntie said something in very rapid Japanese to Kameyo.

  “Our family is doubly blessed,” Kameyo said. “I can’t wait for Mashuu to see them. He’s been so excited since Daichi and Ichiro have come home.”

  “Ichiro is here?” Shaundra asked in Japanese.

  Kameyo nodded. “He’s next door getting dressed at one of the other houses. He’s got the other pretty boys with him too.”

  The rest of the women chuckled.

  “But they don’t hold a candle to this one,” Jun said, turning her attention on Dae-Hyun. “I feel a good aura coming from you,” she told him. “I am told you are the nanny to my great-nephews.”

  Dae-Hyun bowed again. “Yes, Obason.”

  Jun took one of the boys into her arms. “He feels solid and looks very healthy.”

  Ryoto snuggled in Kameyo’s arms. “Makes me want another one,” she said.

  The rest of the women in the room laughed.

  “None of that, old woman,” a man said, entering the room.

  Shaundra looked up to find a tall, distinguishing-looking
Japanese gentleman headed their way. The flawless skin and the handsome face led her to believe that he was Mashuu Yoshida, Ichiro’s gangster uncle. There was no mistaking the high cheekbones or that straight nose.

  The rest of the women, including Jun and Kameyo, lowered their eyes as Mashuu continued into the room.

  The atmosphere in the room changed. What is this? It’s like something from ancient Japan. Did women still act this way in the presence of a man?

  Mashuu wore a white suit cut to fit his muscular shoulders and broad back. He’d accented the look with lots of jewelry, including pinkie rings. A diamond stud twinkled in his left ear. Smarmy. She knew men and this one had trouble written all over him. He smiled at her as he approached,but a trained eye could see the arrogance beneath the warm and welcoming gesture.

  Shaundra watched the humor leave his eyes when Daichi introduced Dae-Hyun to him. Mashuu’s smile never wavered. He reminded her of a corrupt politician. The humor returned to his eyes when Daichi introduced her to him.

  “Oh my,” he said clearly in English. Mashuu took her hand into his. He said something rapidly in Japanese, but Shaundra picked up a bit of it. He mentioned something about her big breasts.

  Shaundra tried to pull her hand away, but Mashuu held her hand tightly. “Welcome to our family, Shaundra.” He squeezed her hand gently then ran a finger over the top of her hand.

  Not good, Shaundra thought. Apparently, he had no problem flirting with his new niece. “Arigatou,” she said.

  “You have such a sultry voice. No wonder Ichiro has defied tradition and chosen you.”

  She knew a slight to her character when she heard it. Fuck him and fuck Takumijo too. “Believe me, the voice had nothing to do with it.”

  Mashuu chuckled warmly, but there was a bit of anger to it. She hoped he didn’t expect her to be docile and look adoringly at him like the other women in the room. She’d been keeping her eye on them too. They looked upon him as a god.

  Mashuu ran his eyes over the rest of her. “Yes, my nephew may have had some good reasons for choosing you. I don’t find you lacking in any area, even though I can’t get a good look at you with that coat on. But he needs to teach you a few things about being a Japanese wife. Right now I find you full of attitude with the temperament of a male.”

  This time, she did manage to get her hand away from his. “Well, I’ve never been one to adhere to tradition,” she said. “I’m old enough to do and say just about anything I want to.”

  “Ooh, do you hear that, ladies? She’s a powerful woman. Ich will get you in line shortly.”

  “I doubt that,” another man said.

  Shaundra looked up. Aomori had arrived. The cavalry entered dressed and looking sensational in white. Satoshi, bless his dear heart, had been the one to speak up for her. He walked over and kissed her gently on the cheek, ignoring Dae-Hyun and Mashuu.

  “Hey, Ryoto,” he said to his namesake.

  Ichiro approached next.

  Dae-Hyun’s stance changed.

  “Cool it,” Ichiro told him. “I just want to greet my wife properly.”

  Dae-Hyun relaxed slightly.

  Ichiro kissed her on the lips. “Now what were you saying about my wife, Uncle?”

  “Nothing, forget it,” Mashuu said. “I was only teasing.”

  Shaundra frowned. Teasing my ass. Fat head.

  “They’re fine boys,” he told Ichiro.

  Raiden started to cry and then her milk acted like it heard him and weighed heavy in her breasts. “Time to feed him,” Shaundra said.

  The other women said something in Japanese, and then made a path for her to the sofa. One actually took her hand and led her over to it. Satoshi followed and helped her out of her coat. He walked away but stayed near.

  One of the ladies helped her drape a blanket over her shoulder while some of the others gathered around to watch.

  She would have preferred to go off somewhere to nurse her son, but every culture had its own view on breastfeeding. She exposed her nipple and Raiden latched on to it. Shaundra looked up to find every man in the room watching.

  Ichiro smiled at her. She smiled back before she realized what she had done.

  “They’re so in love,” one of the aunties said. “She will bear Ichiro many more fine sons.”

  Shaundra kept her expression neutral. Like hell. If Ichiro wanted any more sons, he’d better find a way to have them himself.

  Dae-Hyun took Ryoto and sat down. He gently rocked the baby who was wide awake and smacking his lips. Some of the women started talking to Dae-Hyun like he was relative. Some were even giving him advice on raising a baby.

  Shaundra smiled at him.

  The next time she looked up, Mashuu stared at her. He said something and the other men looked in her direction.

  Ichiro just looked puzzled, but Satoshi and Yori smiled. Takumijo had not said one word to her and tried not to make eye contact. Good, she didn’t want to talk to him anyway.

  Ten minutes later, Shaundra handed Raiden over to Hana so she could take him away to another room to dress him while she reached for her wide-eyed youngest son, who was still making those smacking sounds. This time, Ichiro joined her on the sofa. He moved the blanket back to help cover her exposed flesh. He gently rubbed the tip of his finger over the top of her breast while his hand was beneath the blanket.

  “Maybe next time you shouldn’t do this in front of an audience,” he said. “The wolves are checking you out.”

  “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.