Summer Vacation III: Honeymoon in Japan, Part 2

by Geri ([email protected])

My homepage: http://www.geocities.com/geri_chans_fics/index.html

Rating: NC-17

Pairing: Aric/Takeshi, Snape/Lupin

Author's note: {} Indicates character's unspoken thoughts

Disclaimer: Based on the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling; no money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.

Warning: This is a continuation of the Always series, but the main focus is on Aric and Takeshi, and Snape and Lupin appear mainly as supporting characters.

Sequel to: Always, Summer Vacation, For Old Time's Sake, Three's a Crowd, Return of the Raven, Phoenix Reborn, Phoenix Rising, Aftermaths, The Revenant, and Ash's Story. Although it's not so much a sequel to the latter two stories as it is a companion piece. The Revenant, Ash's Story, and Summer Vacation III all begin at around the same time, a couple of days after the ending of "Aftermaths," and pretty much run concurrently.

Summary: Aric receives a language lesson from Takeshi, and has dinner with the in-laws.
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They were in the middle of having "dessert" when Aric suddenly paused and said, "You know, you were supposed to start teaching me Japanese..."

"You want a bloody language lesson NOW?" Takeshi asked incredulously.

"Yes," Aric said, grinning wickedly as nuzzled his Takeshi's neck, evoking a helpless little moan from his mate; it was a delightful sound. "You should be pleased that I want to learn your native language. Besides, you were saying that 'motto' thing again."

"Oh," Takeshi said, blushing furiously. "Well, what would you like to know?"

"Well..." Aric said, thinking it over, as Takeshi squirmed impatiently beneath him. "How do you say 'harder'?"

"Motto tsuyoku," Takeshi replied, then cried out as Aric obeyed with a swift, strong thrust.

"Tell me something else," Aric said, grinning again. "Your choice. Something you think will be useful for me to know."

"'Motto fukaku' means 'deeper,'" Takeshi gasped breathlessly. He moaned loudly as Aric obeyed, then whimpered in protest when Aric stopped after just a couple of strokes.

"Something else," Aric whispered, leaning in close, so that Takeshi could feel his breath on his face.

"Mo...motto yasashiku," Takeshi panted. "It means 'gentler'."

"As you wish," Aric whispered, and slowly pulled out of his lover, and just as slowly slid back in, moving with infinite gentleness and tenderness. He brushed his lips against Takeshi's in a gentle, feather-light kiss.

Takeshi whimpered, then began chanting softly, "Motto...motto...motto..." And soon Aric lost control of his inner wolf, and was growling and snarling, thrusting into his mate hard and fast, but Takeshi wasn't complaining. His body moved against Aric's with just as much urgency, his legs wrapped tightly around Aric's waist, his hands clawing at Aric's back. Loud, frantic cries and moans spilled from his mouth in a primal language that needed no words to be understood.

Takeshi's dark eyes were glazed over with desire, but he blinked and they came back into focus as the mediwizard struggled to regain control of himself, just long enough to gasp, "One...last lesson...for you...Aric. 'Kande' means...'bite me'."

He tilted his head back, and Aric snarled and bit down hard on his exposed throat. Takeshi cried out and Aric howled triumphantly as they both came, their bodies trembling and shuddering from the intensity of their climax.

As the haze of pleasure receded, Takeshi returned to full awareness to find Aric gently nuzzling his throat, as if to soothe the flesh he had just bitten and bruised. "Oohh," Takeshi groaned softly. "I can't believe how easily I can come, just from you biting me. It's a little embarrassing, actually."

"Oh, I think it's more than just the biting that does it," Aric said, grinning wolfishly, his lips pulling back to expose canine teeth that were just slightly longer and sharper than they used to be before he had been turned, giving the impression of fangs. "But shall we test that theory?" He pressed his lips against Takeshi's throat, then slowly bit down on the soft flesh, much more gently than he had just a little earlier. Takeshi moaned softly, a faint tremor running through his body, and Aric chuckled. "Nope, biting alone isn't enough. Although maybe we should test that theory again when you've...ah...recovered your strength. After all, you don't have a werewolf's stamina, although you do a pretty good job of keeping up with me, my lovely crane."

"Remus thinks that the wolf's desire is contagious," Takeshi murmured.

Aric shook his head and laughed, "I hate to say it, but maybe I ought to ask Lupin for a few pointers."

"I told him that he should give a sex-education class for werewolves," Takeshi said with a grin.

"Still, I bet I know something that he doesn't," Aric said.

"Oh?" Takeshi asked, raising his eyebrows. "And what might that be, my wolf?"

"That language lessons can be real turn-on in bed," Aric growled softly into his ear.

"Then I have one more lesson for you," Takeshi said, wrapping his arms around Aric's neck. "Aishiteru."

"And what does that mean?"

"I love you," Takeshi whispered and kissed him tenderly.
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Later that evening, Aric nervously adjusted the collar of his robe and smoothed down a stray lock of hair as he gazed into the mirror. He was wearing a black robe of good quality, but not the formal dress robe he would have worn if Takeshi had not nixed that idea.

"No need to be so formal, my love," Takeshi said soothingly. "You would only look overdressed. It's just a family dinner, after all."

"Easy for you to say," Aric grumbled. "I bet you wouldn't be so nonchalant if you were meeting my parents."

"No, because your parents would regard our relationship as something shameful," Takeshi agreed calmly. "But my parents, on the other hand, are delighted that I've chosen a mate and are eager to welcome you into the family. So it is not really the same thing at all. You'll be fine, Aric." He patted his lover on the shoulder in a comforting manner. "My mother is a romantic like me, so she's happy that I've finally found true love, and it doesn't hurt that the whole thing sounds like one of the fairy tales she used to tell me and my brother when we were small: your dramatic rescue of Lukas, risking your life and sacrificing your humanity, and then bonding with me as a lifemate. She's actually quite pleased that you're a werewolf, because wolves mate for life like cranes do. So she feels that there's a certain affinity and compatibility between you and I."

"She's happy that I'm a werewolf," Aric repeated incredulously.

"That's right," Takeshi replied blithely. "As for my father, just tell him that you love his cooking, and ask for seconds; he'll be your friend for life. He loves it when people compliment his cooking. And he loves to see people enjoy a hearty meal; that's why he became a chef, after all. He says there's something wrong with people who don't enjoy eating, thinks it indicates a moral deficiency or something. Well, Father tends to be a bit obsessive on the subject of food...but anyway, just tell him everything tastes great, and you'll be fine."

"Well, that shouldn't be too hard," Aric said, although he was still a little nervous. "I had lunch at your parents' restaurant once, and I thought the food was great. So I won't have to fake it. Although I could if I had to." He smiled a little bitterly. "We purebloods are very good at faking things."

Takeshi reached out and gently took Aric's hands in his own. "Just be yourself, my love," he said softly. "Let them see the Aric that I know and love."

"Sorry," Aric said gruffly. "I'm okay, just a little nervous."

Takeshi brushed his lips against Aric's. "They will love you, I promise, my wolf," he said tenderly. "Are you ready to go?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," Aric sighed.

Aric had never been to the Kimuras' home, so he let Takeshi Apparate them both there, and was surprised when they appeared outside the entrance of the Sakura. "Are we having dinner at the restaurant?" he asked.

"No, my parents live in an apartment above the shop," Takeshi explained. "We'll be eating there. We could've just eaten in the restaurant, of course, but my mother wanted a nice, quiet family dinner, just the three of us."

Before Aric could start feeling nervous, Takeshi opened the door and they were immediately greeted by his mother Haruko, who was as usual clad in an elegant silk kimono. She gave them both a warm, welcoming smile and said, "I'm so glad that you're here!" She kissed Takeshi on the cheek. "Your father has been looking forward to this all day; he's been so excited, just like a little boy." She bowed to Aric, Japanese-style, then to his surprise, gently kissed him on the cheek as well. "We are both looking forward to getting to know you, Aric."

"Ah...me too," Aric said awkwardly, his smooth pureblood charm temporarily abandoning him, but Haruko just smiled at him fondly, like an indulgent mother.

"The two of you go on upstairs," she said. "I'll be up in a few minutes." Just then, a wizard and witch walked in, a young couple out on a date, it looked like, and Haruko bowed to them and said, "Welcome, let me show you to your table."

Takeshi led Aric through the restaurant to the kitchen, and he noticed that the Sakura seemed to be quite busy tonight. Most of the tables in the main dining area were filled, and the private rooms that they passed by seemed to be occupied as well; Aric could hear conversation and laughter, and see shadows moving behind the sliding paper doors. The kitchen was bustling, too. A serious-looking Japanese man who appeared to be in his late thirties was overseeing a few other cooks and assistants, including Aric's pack brother Kian, who was industriously chopping up vegetables.

"Hey, Aric," he said, looking up and grinning at them for a moment before resuming his work. "Hey, Takeshi. Your dad is really excited about seeing you. He's upstairs cooking up a storm."

The head cook smiled and said, "Takeshi-kun, it's good to see you again. Your mother is always complaining that you don't come by often enough."

"I'm sorry to take Otoosan out of the kitchen when it's so busy, Keijiro-san," Takeshi said apologetically.

"Nonsense," Keijiro said, waving off Takeshi's apology. "We're doing fine, and your friend is a good addition to the staff." He nodded at Kian. "He may not have much experience, but he's a quick learner."

"I don't know much about Japanese food except that I like eating it," Kian said cheerfully. "But Keijiro-san and the Master are teaching me. But I do know how to chop vegetables, at least. I worked in the kitchen of an inn once, before I got fired for being a werewolf."

"The Master?" Aric asked.

"My father," Takeshi explained. "The owner of a restaurant or bar is called 'Master' in Japan. My mother would be the Okami-san, or Proprietress."

"Except that everyone calls her 'Haruko-sama' or 'Lady Haruko,'" Kian interjected with a grin. "Because she's so beautiful and graceful."

"She is of the crane clan," Keijiro said. "They have a natural grace and nobility. Go on upstairs, Takeshi-kun. Your father is eager to see you." He smiled at Aric. "And your friend."

"Ah, sorry," Takeshi said apologetically. "Aric, this is Keijiro, my father's assistant, second-in-command of the kitchen. Keijiro-san, this is my mate, Aric."

The chef smiled and bowed, and Aric bowed back, flushing a little. He still wasn't used to being introduced as Takeshi's "mate," but he kind of liked it.

The kitchen staff were bustling around the kitchen in an almost hectic but still controlled manner, and a kimono-clad waitress was calling out new orders. "I'll introduce you to the rest of the staff sometime when it's not so busy," Takeshi murmured to Aric, then started to lead him towards a stairway at the back of the kitchen when Hannah Abbott walked into the room.

"Oh, hello Takeshi, Aric," she said. She was clad in a pale pink kimono decorated with a design of delicate white blossoms, and a darker pink sash wrapped around her waist. It seemed a bit unusual to see a kimono on a blonde-haired blue-eyed girl, but it complemented her fair complexion surprisingly well.

"Wow, you look really cute!" Aric blurted out, then grinned sheepishly as Takeshi elbowed him in the side and pretended to glare at him.

Hannah giggled, then Takeshi smiled and said, "You look very charming, Hannah."

"Thanks!" Hannah said, twirling around to show off the kimono. "I really love it; it's so pretty! Your mother loaned it to me. I'm helping to wait tables tonight since it's so busy."

"How is the delivery business going?" Takeshi asked politely.

"Oh, pretty well," Hannah replied. "Kai's out on a delivery right now, as a matter of fact. We're still trying to perfect the spells that keep the food from spilling, so we're only delivering within Diagon Alley right now. We're using a stasis spell to keep the food hot or cold, and we've been working on an immobility charm to keep the containers from moving around or spilling during transit. We're still fine-tuning the spell, but we should have it tested and worked out within a week, and then we can start expanding our delivery area. The delivery service has gotten a lot of interest; most of our customers say that they'd love to order take-out when they don't have time to dine in."

"Hannah-chan," Keijiro called, "the order for Table Six is up."

"Well, I've got to go!" Hannah said, waving at them cheerfully. "Enjoy your dinner! Master Isamu and Lady Haruko have really been looking forward to it; that's all they've talked about all day."

"Do they call your mother 'Lady' just because of her beauty, or is your family high-ranking in Japan like the pureblood elite are here in Britain?" Aric asked Takeshi curiously as they headed up the stairs.

"It depends on your point of view," Takeshi replied. "The human wizards in Japan regard the shapeshifter races as semi-divine, so it is considered a great badge of honor to possess the blood of a crane, tengu, kitsune, or tanuki. So in the eyes of the human wizards, our blood is considered noble, and we are about equivalent in status to the wealthy pureblood families here. In the eyes of the shapeshifters, however, we are nothing special, just a normal wizard family that can claim a crane maiden as a distant ancestor. As I told you before, some of the pureblooded cranes look down on those of us who are part-human. Not all of them, or even most of them, but let us say, a significant and vocal minority."

"So things aren't so different there than they are here," Aric observed.

"Not really," Takeshi admitted. "Although we are better at setting aside our differences and cooperating in times of need. However, during times of peace and prosperity, my people can indulge in petty quarrels and prejudices just as readily as the British wizards. And we are ruled by a wizards' council of representatives from the various human and shapeshifter clans, which means that a single incompetent ruler cannot come to power as Cornelius Fudge did. On the other hand, with so many people on the Council, it often means that it takes a long time for them to reach decisions if there is no clear majority on an issue."

"Politics," Aric sighed. "I guess it's pretty much the same, no matter where you go."

"It's human nature, I suppose," Takeshi said with a smile.

And then they reached the living quarters of the Kimura family. The stairway landing opened up into a combination living room/kitchen divided by a counter, much like the general layout of Takeshi's flat. Takeshi's father Isamu had apparently just finished cooking, and was setting platters of food out on the dining room table.

"Otoosan," Takeshi laughed, "are you expecting any other guests besides Aric and myself? A small army, perhaps?"

"You exaggerate, Takeshi," his father replied cheerfully. "I'm sure that two healthy young men such as yourselves can make short work of this meal. Especially young Aric; I do recall that most of your werewolf friends have a very good appetite." He gave Aric a friendly smile. "Isn't that right, Aric?"

"Everything looks delicious, sir," Aric said, and he must have sounded properly enthusiastic because Isamu beamed at him. And the food did indeed look and smell wonderful, although Aric was so nervous, his stomach close to tying itself into knots, that he worried that he wouldn't be able to eat any of it. Still, Takeshi's parents had welcomed him warmly, which made him feel slightly better, and for once he was glad of his wolf instincts, which seemed to be taking control at the scent of freshly-grilled meat, the knots in his stomach beginning to loosen as the wolf's hunger asserted itself.

"You're just in time, dear," Isamu said as Haruko entered the room. "Everything is just about ready."

"Oh, good," Haruko said. "I'm glad that I didn't keep you waiting. It's a little busy tonight; many families and young couples celebrating the end of the school year, I believe. Business always picks up during the holidays."

"I hope we're not causing an inconvenience, taking you away from the restaurant on a busy night," Aric said nervously.

"Not at all," Haruko reassured him with a gentle smile. "Keijiro is more than capable of running the kitchen by himself, and it's also fortunate that we have four new workers. Hannah, Ernie, Kian, and Kai are working out very well. They'll be a big help when we go on vacation this summer."

"Well then, shall we eat?" Isamu asked cheerfully, and they all sat down at the table. Takeshi hadn't been exaggerating by much when he had joked about his father cooking enough for an army; a veritable feast was laid out on the table. There were platters of sushi, noodles, grilled meat and fish and chicken, batter-coated fried shrimp, and a few other dishes that Aric couldn't readily identify.

"Please help yourself," Haruko told Aric with a smile, and the Kimuras began serving themselves from the communal platters, so Aric did likewise, taking a little of everything, which still left him with a plate heaped high with food. Isamu nodded approvingly and poured him a glass of sake. It tasted quite good, although it didn't have the same bite as Firewhiskey, but then again, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to get drunk during his first dinner with the in-laws. The sake wasn't nearly as strong as Firewhiskey, but Aric resolved to partake of it sparingly nevertheless.

"This is delicious, Mr. Kimura," Aric said after he had taken a few bites, and it wasn't just shameless flattery.

"Thank you, Aric," Isamu said, beaming at him happily. "But please, you must call us 'Father' and 'Mother'."

Aric's jaw dropped in shock, and Takeshi leaned over and murmured, "In Japan, it is customary to call the parents of your spouse 'Mother' and 'Father'."

"Yeah, people do that here sometimes too," Aric said, trying to regain his composure. "But we aren't married...I mean, even if we wanted to, British wizarding law doesn't allow two people of the same gender to get married."

"But you and Takeshi are lifemates, are you not?" Haruko asked gently, and Aric nodded. There was no doubt in his mind that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Takeshi. "Well then," Haruko continued, "in our eyes, at least, that makes you Takeshi's spouse, and therefore, our son."

"So please call us 'Father' and 'Mother,' son," Isamu repeated.

Aric felt tears sting his eyes. He had expected Takeshi's parents to be polite, even friendly towards him for the sake of their son, but they had gone far beyond that and accepted him wholeheartedly as part of the family. While his real family, except for Erika and Theo, had turned their backs on him without much sign of remorse that Aric could see. His mother had wept and said that she still loved him, but neither she nor his father nor his grandparents had bothered to visit him either in the hospital or at Hogwarts since the day of the attack. They hadn't even so much as owled him a letter...

"But you don't have to, if you don't feel comfortable with that," Haruko said kindly, as Takeshi stared at Aric with a concerned look on his face.

"It's not that," Aric said, swiping at his eyes with the back of his hand. "I am honored..." He had to swallow hard to speak past the lump that seemed to have formed in his throat. "...that you consider me part of your family. It's just...that's what I call my own parents, or used to call them, anyway. They...they aren't as understanding as you and Mr. Kimura are. They haven't spoken to me since they found out I'd become a werewolf."

"Aric," Takeshi said softly, laying his hand on Aric's arm.

Haruko smiled at Aric in a compassionate and understanding manner. "Then perhaps you could call us 'Otoosan' and 'Okaasan' like Takeshi does. It means the same thing, but perhaps it wouldn't have the same..." She hesitated. "...painful association that calling us 'Father' and 'Mother' would." She hastened to add, "But you don't have to if that makes you feel uncomfortable, dear. You can just call us by our names, if you prefer."

"No, I think I would like that...Okaasan," Aric said hesitantly. The foreign word felt a bit strange on his tongue, but the Kimuras were gazing at him with genuine love and concern, and even though it brought tears to his eyes again, it made him feel good to once more be part of a family. And of course he had Lukas and the pack, and Erika, and Theo and Lupin and Snape and Dylan. So it wasn't like he was totally bereft of family even though it hurt that his parents had rejected him. If he'd been a daughter instead of a son, he would have married into another pureblood family anyway, so maybe he should think of it less like he was no longer part of the the Dietrich family, but more like he was marrying into Takeshi's family.

"Thank you, Okaasan," Aric said, with more confidence this time, blinking away his tears. He turned to Isamu and said with a smile, "The food is excellent, Otoosan."

All three of the Kimuras smiled with relief, and the conversation turned to safer, more trivial topics--business at the restaurant and the upcoming trip to Japan.

"I'm looking forward to it," Aric said, which was true now that he no longer had to worry about whether Takeshi's parents approved of him or not.

"I'm glad," Haruko said. "No one will expect you to be fluent in Japanese, of course, and most of the people you'll meet speak at least a little English, but it would be polite for you to learn a few simple phrases of greeting and thanks."

"Oh, Takeshi's already started giving me Japanese lessons," Aric said innocently.

Haruko gave her son a concerned look as he began choking on his food. "Are you all right, Takeshi?"

"Yes," he gasped, when he finally stopped choking and coughing. His face still red, he gave Aric a brief glare; Aric just gave him an innocent, "what did I do?" look in response.

"I'll get you back for that," Takeshi whispered, in a voice so soft that only a werewolf could have overheard it. Then he said sweetly, "Oh yes, Aric has been a most diligent pupil."

"And what have you learned so far, Aric?" Isamu asked.

And then it was Aric's turn to blush and splutter. "Um...er...ah...well..."

Isamu chuckled and Haruko smiled indulgently. "It's all very well to teach him lover's talk, dear, but do try and teach him some practical things as well," she told her son.

"I will, Okaasan," Takeshi promised, and Aric's face turned even redder as he slid down in his chair, wishing he could sink right through the floor in humiliation. He would have to remember to be more careful about teasing Takeshi in the future; his beautiful Ravenclaw lover could be as cunning and devious as a Slytherin when it came to taking revenge.

He bent his head down over his plate in an attempt to hide his blush, and concentrated intently on eating as the Kimuras made cheerful small talk around him. The result was that he had soon polished his plate clean, and remembering Takeshi's advice, he asked, "Is it all right if I have seconds, Otoosan?"

"Of course!" Isamu said heartily, clapping Aric on the back. "Eat up; there's plenty!" He nodded approvingly at his son. "I like to see a young man with a good appetite. Too many young people these days just pick at their food...worried about watching their weight and such. Personally, I think that there's something wrong with someone who can't take pleasure in good food and drink..."

Takeshi smiled and rolled his eyes slightly at Aric, an "I told you so" look on his face as they listened to the elder Kimura wax on about how a lack of appreciation for food indicated a lack of moral character and fiber. Aric didn't mind; he just kept eating and nodded in agreement whenever Isamu paused briefly during his lecture. And his "father-in-law" would pat him on the back and say what a fine young man he was.

The wolf had a large appetite, and Aric ate much more than he would have before he had been turned, but finally even he was stuffed after having not just seconds but thirds. Fortunately, that seemed to be enough to please Isamu, and the family relaxed, sipping cups of hot tea after the dishes had been cleared away.

"Let me bring out some of the family photo albums for you to look at, Aric," Haruko said.

"Oh no, Okaasan, not my baby pictures!" Takeshi wailed plaintively, but his mother ignored him and hurried into one of the back rooms. "She does this with every guy I bring home," Takeshi complained good-naturedly.

"You're the one who wanted me to meet your family," Aric reminded him with a heartless grin. He was still a little jealous of those past boyfriends, and he didn't mind seeing Takeshi suffer just a little bit of embarrassment. Besides, he was curious to see what his lover had looked like as a child.

"Here we go," Haruko said cheerfully, returning with the photo albums. There were pictures of a chubby, dark-haired baby that Aric assumed was Takeshi, and some of the baby posing with his parents and a young boy, about five or six years older that Aric assumed was Takeshi's brother Ichiro. And there was one of Ichiro cradling a large, gangly chick covered with downy, light brown feathers in his lap.

"Um...is that you?" Aric asked Takeshi, pointing to the chick.

Takeshi grinned sheepishly, and Haruko laughed. "He transformed for the first time when he was just a little short of two years old. Everyone was quite stunned, because no one in my family had been able to take crane form for the last few generations. He and Ichiro were playing in the yard, and something startled him--the neighbor's dog suddenly barking and running up to him, I believe. Poor Ichiro fell over in surprise when his baby brother suddenly turned into a bird right in front of his eyes!"

She laughed again, and so did Isamu. "Even the dog was shocked! He never came near Takeshi again after that."

"I thought cranes were white," Aric said.

"The chicks are born looking like this," Takeshi said, pointing to his "baby" picture. "The feathers gradually change to white and black as they mature."

"So, are crane babies born like normal babies, or are they...um...hatched?" Aric asked.

"It depends on what form the mother takes when she gives birth," Takeshi laughed. "A pureblooded crane woman could remain in bird form and lay an egg and hatch it, but most choose to give birth as women in the normal human fashion. The children usually learn how to shapeshift as toddlers, around ages three to four, but apparently I was a bit precocious."

Aric continued to flip through the photo albums. "Aw, that's really cute," he said, pointing to a picture of a five-year-old Takeshi and eleven-year-old Ichiro in kimonos. There were also several pictures of Takeshi at various ages in his Hogwarts uniform. "Your hair didn't used to be so long," Aric observed. In most of the pictures, Takeshi had shoulder-length hair pulled back in a ponytail.

"Most of the crane folk like to wear their hair long--waist-length or longer," Takeshi replied. "But the other boys at Hogwarts made fun of me, saying that I looked liked a girl, so I cut it. But I grew it out again after I graduated." He grinned. "The crane folk also tend to be a little vain."

"Well, I guess I can't blame you," Aric laughed, smiling affectionately at his mate. But he also thought to himself that it was a good thing for those kids who had picked on Takeshi that Aric hadn't been going to Hogwarts back then, because he would have beaten them to a pulp. Stupid gits had probably just been jealous that Takeshi was obviously so much handsomer than them.

"Oh, let's take a picture together, all four of us, since Aric is part of the family now!" Haruko exclaimed. She hurried out of the room again and returned with a camera. She set it up on a stand, set the timer on it, then hurried over to pose with Isamu, Takeshi, and Aric before the flash went off. "There," she said happily, "we'll add that to the album after it's developed. And we'll take more pictures in Japan."

"My mother is a bit of a shutterbug, as you might have guessed," Takeshi whispered to Aric.

"It's okay," Aric whispered back, blinking back tears again. "I'm glad that she wants me to be part of your family."

Not long after that, Takeshi and Aric left, but not before Haruko filled several containers with leftovers for them to take home; it looked like they wouldn't have to cook for the next few days. "And you must come back and have dinner with us again soon," she urged.

"We will," Aric promised, and Takeshi smiled at him.

"I told you there was nothing to worry about," Takeshi whispered.

"You were right," Aric admitted, and he reached out and took Takeshi's hand, and they Apparated back home together.
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Afterword: Aric's language lesson comes from a very handy little book called "Making Out in Japanese" by Todd and Erika Geers. (It's just a coincidence that one of the authors has the same name as Aric's sister.) It doesn't just contain sex talk, but covers Japanese slang in general. And it really does tell you how to say, "Bite me!" I laughed when I saw that; I hadn't planned to use that phrase, but it fit the story so well that I had to include it.
 

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