Away

Twenty-Two

"Kinda feel bad for you." I tell Shinso after he warned me about how his bitchy adoptive family tends to act. "I mean it's better than an orphanage or whatever." Shinso shrugs, rubbing the back of his neck "Just try not to murder them. Given that you'd probably would've fought those heckling heroes back at the Festival if you had the chance."

"Would've won too." I huff.

"I bet."

Gesuyarō-san calls us down along with her bio-son Asahi, who sounds just as bad as Muraku, Heaven forbid they ever meet. "So you must be the friend Sakura was telling me about." a midsize man greets me as we walk into the kitchen, he's a balding man with a large bronze mustache that is only worthy of Alex Louis Armstrong and should be deemed illegal for this guy to wear. At the table with him is a kid, maybe early teens, with a crew cut bearing a color that can only be described as burnt orange, this must be Asahi and the man must be Shinbaka.

"Yes I am," I smile, "it's a pleasure to meet you." So far so good.

"Xiao-san," Gesuyarō-san chimes, "would you be a dear and help me set the table."

"Of course." I reply, taking the empty plates from her an start placing them on the dining table, though not starting with Mr. Gesuyarō as I can assume he would like, based on what Shinso told me, and the look Gesuyarō starts to give makes it more apparent. Shinso's eyebrows twitch a little from my action, I only promised not to out right fight them. But it becomes self defense if they attack first.

"So Xiao, was it, tell us about yourself." Gesuyarō says mid dinner, which tastes good.

"What is there really to say?" I ask "I'm just your average High School First Year."

"Surely there's more to that." Asahi gives a smirk as he leans on his elbows towards me and I feel something slide down my shin. You little shit.

"Asahi," his mother chides "if she says there's nothing else then there is nothing else." and get your crusty ass foot off my leg or you'll lose it you horny shit.

"Watch how you talk to me, woman." Asahi growls.

"I think you should watch your fucking tone kid." I warn, heating my right leg up to burn his foot a little. Mr. Gesuyarō looks visibly pissed, considering what Shinso told me, I'm not surprised. This guy sounds a little than just more misogynistic. He doesn't say anything to me, but the mom does seem a little greatful.

Dinner continues in silence, which suits me just fine, I don't really care for awkward small talk with people that push my buttons.

Then there is a knock at the door "That must be Yamacho." Gesuyarō-san remarks, forcing me to bite the inside of my cheek to keep me from saying something. Why did the Universe curse us so? Shit, I'm pretty sure my voice has changed a bit, naturally, over the past five years; but for fuck sake!!

"Xiao, why don't you shower first and Hitoshi can get one of the futons ready for you." Mr. Gesuyarō suggests as his wife gets the door.

"Alright." I put my empty plate and chopsticks on the counter by the sink along with Shinso before following him back upstairs to his room.

"Now I feel twice as bad for you." I sigh, pulling out a pair of biker shorts.

"Why do you say that?" he asks, looking through his closet, going back in eh?

"Because you have to deal with that wannabe con artist Yamacho." I snort, though quietly so as not to cause him to hear, even with the door almost shut.

"Don't tell me you met him." Shinso groans before tossing a shirt and a pair of sweatpants at me "You can sleep in those."

"Thanks, and let's just say his mom taught me how to cook. Just to say the least." Yuki is amazing, a wonderful woman that is very tough, but gentle too ya know. I really miss her, but not having to deal with that fucktard's advances is barely worth it. "So where is the bathroom?"

"Oh I'll show you." Shinso leads me a couple doors down, also telling me who's room is who's, with the final stop being the bathroom.

"Asahi tends to put cameras in the bathroom when he knows there's a girl over." Shinso sighs "Usually in the vents or sometimes the shower head itself. Just a heads up."

"Low on creativity I see." I sigh "I'll check for them. Thanks for the warning."

The bathroom itself is pretty nice looking, especially compared to the main bathroom at the house that has decided to be rethemed to Murder Film, can't really be helped but I try.

I look around the bathroom, with the light off to look for the little light that the basic cameras have to use at night. And bingo, right in the vent. "Nice try, wanna be." I smirk quietly. I go over and check the shower head too, just to be safe and there was another one there too. I put the cameras under the sink before turning the light back on and then checking to make sure the mirror is an accrual one and not a two-way. It's safe, I undress, putting my wig in the sink filled with warm soapy water. Two birds with one stone. It does take me a hot minute to figure out how to turn the shower on, but after that it's smooth sailing.

About ten minutes into my shower there's a knock on the door "Hey, A-er Xiao," it's Shinso "did you grab a towel before you went in?" Shit did I? I mean, not that I really need one aside for my wig.

"I don't think so." I call back "Can you grab me one Shinso?"

"Uh, sure thing."

"Just make sure to not put it in the sink."

A few minutes go by and I hear another knock "Coming in to drop off the towel." Shinso says as I hear the door unlock and open before shutting again; glad the shower curtain isn't transparent in any way. I peek my head from behind it. "Just put it on top of my clothes." I tell Shinso, whose cheeks are showing a bit of color.

"Alright." he does so before rushing out, relocking the door behind him. Okay, whatever I guess.