Goro Takemura x Reader

Four

Hanako was the link that held the family together. Her disposition was gentle and motherly, whenever she spoke and her pretty face allowed a smile you felt welcome with her.

It was she who had the power to bring Yorinobu and Saburo together without them having to take up their decades-old quarrel. With her, there was peace and negotiation.

That's why you hoped to talk to her in private. It was not often that she traveled farther than the borders of Japan, but it did happen.

You envied her freedom. Her golden cage opened now and then. Yours remained closed until something was completed that you didn't know what it should look like.

"Would you like some tea?", Hanako asked when you had taken a seat in the garden under the shade of a cherry tree.

It smelled sweet, although the plants were genetically bred in such a way that they could not have been further from real plants. They were made to withstand the sun and provide shade in the heat. Not to be natural.

But perhaps this tree had simply cost a fortune. This mansion was in the style of traditional Japan, with sliding walls of paper and floors of dark wood that felt soft under bare feet. Most of the materials of this construction were natural. Something special in a city of prosthetics and chrome.

Yorinobu had purchased the property after some time in Night City and built this house to give the two of you a place that felt homey.

He didn't like to admit it, but deep inside his heart longed for the wheat forests of Japan, the sound of small mountain rivers, and the shrines among which ghosts hid.

You wanted to put your feet in the salty sea without fear that the acidity would melt your flesh to the bone.

"Koi.", you murmured as you noticed the white-orange fish with black spots cavorting in a pond.

There were no animals in Night City. They had all disappeared. All except the rats. And sometimes one could still find a few pigeons.

"They are replicates.", Hanako explained and put a brown porcelain teacup without a handle on the table.

The tea did not steam. Green tea was drunk cold, or at most lukewarm. It was her favorite kind of tea, a special flavor of its own but also prosperous. Just as Hanako herself was.

"Of course.", you took a sip. "I would have been surprised if Yorinobu had spent so much money on something so trivial."

An amused huff made Hanako twist the corners of her mouth into a smirk.

"It was a gift.", she drank from her tea, closed her eyes and revelled in the blissful feeling for a moment. "Otōsan wants that he invites him."

A strained breath made your chest quiver.

"I tried to talk to him.", your gaze wandered down on you, over the new kimono. "He's still... not very positive towards the idea of reconciling."

All of a sudden the light linen fabric felt like it weighted you down. Your shoulders sank only to start burning as if your muscles were about to tear.

Understanding and yet dissatisfied, your sister nodded. She drank another sip. Her gaze was glued to the rosy leaves of the cherry blossoms.

Was she thinking of Japan?

At least, that's what you were thinking about. How much you wanted to ask her to take you back. But she would probably refuse. In the end, Hanako was loyal to her father's will.

"The family must not fall apart.", her dark eyes were searching for you, you could feel them.

Strangely, they were as heavy as the biggest burden you had ever had to carry.

"I'm working on it.", you said, and drank so you wouldn't have to answer her anymore. "He is stubborn."

"But we both knew that."

You frowned. A cherry blossom leaf had fallen into your cup. The delicate pink vessel floated calmly on the surface of your tea.

"I promised you that I would try to bring him closer to us again.", you said, your gaze still fixed on the leaf. "I did not promise that I would force him to come back to us."

"He doesn't have to come back to us.", she shook her head. "He has never been away. We are all Arasaka. He can't change that, no matter how much he wants to."

How calm she was. Almost frightening.

"Neechan.", you put your cup down. "Why do you insist so much? Yorinobu is still holding you close to his heart. You could visit him if you wanted to. He wouldn't turn you away."

For a moment there was silence.

A lukewarm breeze brushed through the leaves of the tree and drove waves across the lake.

The koi began to move. It apparently became cool enough for the machines to follow their programming and behave like fish. Your eyes wandered over your shoulder to watch them.

"It's not about me.", her voice was suddenly softer than before, possibly even a little resentful.

"Who then? Otōsan had decades to settle their disagreement. Why now?", you knew it was unwise to question your father.

And yet you couldn't hold back the question. It just didn't make sense.

But when you turned your head again and looked at her, you realised that it was definitely about Saburo.

But why?

With her red lips pressed together, she had to force herself to look confident. But despite her white dress, which made her look innocent along with her gold hardware, it failed to make her look more settled. Doubt was written all over her face.

"Otōsan is old.", she said, slowly, to keep her words from crumbling. "He will not live forever."

Your heart skipped a beat.

"I am working on it.", you tried to justify your lack of results. "I just need a few more months."

"It's been years.", her hand lay on yours to comfort you with gentleness. "And he will not have many left. It is only a matter of time now. Do you now understand why we need to make Yorinobu reconcile?"

Your heart pulled together as you had to swallow hard.

Of course you knew. Yorinobu was supposed to be the new body for Saburo's mind. Or at least a construct of it.

But you had hoped that it could be delayed just a little longer.

"I am working on it.", you assured her.

"I know.", Hanako smiled again, differently this time thought. "Do it faster. I beg of you."