Hopeless. That's how Kiara Miura feels whilst life and her family beat her while she's down. When a sudden house fire suddenly kills the only family she knows, she finds herself shipped off to Japan where her biological father and brothers she did n...
"Like stars are to the sky, so are the children to our world. They deserve to shine!"
― Chinonye J. Chidolue
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I sat in our living room, my eyes on my younger brothers as they spoke about their day. This would be the only time we saw each other. Father had us busy daily with the Yakuza and our roles. As his successor, I took on more responsibilities than m brothers ever would. They'd have ranks within the orginization, if they so choose, but none would hold my place.
Unless I died.
Our father was not known for how he behaved at home. Outside he was a cruel master, barking orders left and right. His way had to be done to his vision at all times.
At home, while not the most affectionate, he was a gentle soul.
Well... now he is.
He wasn't before Mother left. He struck her more often than he spoke to her, and she would spend days holed up in bed after encountering Father while drunk. She left when he nearly killed her and we never saw her since. Father had received divorce papers, and that was it. He got control of his drinking and became a much better father in the process.
But still, we all felt like something was missing.
"Please, Nakumura-kun would never try out for baseball," Kenzi said, scoffing about his old friend. They were attending the same college. "He hated it in high school."
[Honorfic meant to show how close you are with someone. -san is used for people of the same rank as you/older than you. It's the equivalent of Mr. or Mrs. -kun is for males of the same rank. -chan is for someone you are very close to. If you are able to say their first name, more than likely, you'd add -chan after their first name. Note: This is an oversimplification of the system. Most of it is innate and when speaking Japanese, you won't even realize you're doing it/]
Minato laughed. "Didn't he get into college with a baseball scholarship?"
"Yeah, in the United States. He's not going there. He's going to Tokyo U."
I took a sip of my sake as they continued to bicker. After a few moments, I cleared my throat.
"Kenzi, Minato."
Both of my brothers sat up straight, turning to give me their full attention. I couldn't help my smile.
"School. How is it?"
Kenzi relaxed instantly, running a hand through his short, black hair. "It's going. I'm trying to shove all my prerequisites in this year so I can start focusing."
I chuckled. "Still trying to get into med school early, Otouto-san?"
[Little brother.]
He nodded. Minato was looking everywhere except my face.
"Minato."
My youngest brother sighed. "I'm failing English."
I tsked.
"I don't understand why I need it. We're in Japan for fuck's sake!"
I was about to correct him on his language when Father stepped out of his office. His cell phone was clutched in one hand, cufflinks already removed for the night. His top three buttons were undone and his tie removed. I adjusted my own cufflinks as I watched him carefully. He ran his hand through his shoulder length hair, usually kept in a ponytail at the base of his skull, but he pulled it out once he got home.
"Otou-san?" I inquired. Father seemed to stumble to the sofa before lowering himself to a futon beside it.
[Father.]
"I have just received word, watashi no musuko-tachi. Your mother passed away in the early morning yesterday," he said, leaning forward on his knees. He wet his lips before continuing. "You have a sister."
[My sons.]
"What?" I asked, shock radiating through me. "We have a what?"
Father visibly swallows. "Ami was apparently pregnant when we divorced. I... I thought we hadn't been able to conceive... I have a daughter." His face grew determined and he stood, brushing his palms off on his trousers. It's the most unnerved I've ever seen him. "She'll be here in about ten weeks, give or take."
"Give or take, what, Otou-san?" I asked.
"On her passport. Sooner if we can get it expedited and set up since this is an emergency situation," Kenzi said, phone in his hand.
Of course he googled it.
"Where is she coming from?" I asked quietly. My father gave a small smile.
