Saiyuu no Ryokou: The Continuing Adventures of Yuriko
The Story So Far: Yuriko and Midori have escaped from a very unpleasant experience.
Theyve decided to treat themselves to a hot bath and a nice meal with the family for
fun.
Volume 2, Issue 14
"Dinner for Eighteen"
"Old movies." Yuriko said, rather abruptly. She finished drying her hair and
cast a look over at Midori. The writer stood by the bedroom door in terry robe, with her
hair piled on her head. "Baths free, I think unless someone got there
first."
"Thank you and, what?" Midori moved past the blonde with an appreciative
glance at her long linen-clad legs.
"Old movies," Yuriko repeated, combing her fingers through her hair.
"Thats what you were into in high school." She watched a smile break out
on Midoris face. "Im right, arent I?"
"Not even a little close...ice cold in fact." Midori slid the door open.
Yuriko made a face. "Cooking?" She called out as the door began to close.
"No!" Midoris laughter disappeared down the hall.
***
Hayao was waiting for them when the two women joined the rest of the family for dinner.
"Its a veritable feast!" he said happily. "I cant wait
as the only bachelor in this crowd, its not often I get home cooking."
"Oh please," Midori protested, "you come home all the time!"
"True, but Aoi doesnt cook and Dad....well, you remember what happens when
he gets it into his head that hell cook."
Midori rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes I do."
"Why? Is it bad?"
"Oh, no!" Hayao laughed. "Dad can cook like no ones business
he was an assistant chef a long time ago, but hes temperamental, a real prima
donna. Wed be cleaning up his mess for days." Midori and her brother shared a
laugh at the memory.
Yuriko watched her lover, pleased at the change from this afternoon. Midoris
outburst had, apparently, been cathartic. Whatever had been eating at her for the last day
seemed to be gone or had taken a back seat for the moment. Yuriko felt herself
relaxing a little at the thought of dinner. She hadnt been looking forward to
shepherding a tense Midori through a family meal.
"You coming?" Hayao looked over his shoulder at the singer. "Youd
better hurry with all us hungry guys at the table, you women might have trouble
scoring some food."
Grinning, Yuriko said, "I dont know Im pretty fast at grabbing
at a platter myself."
The three entered the large, formal dining room together. Yuriko whistled at the sight
that greeted them. Platters of food covered the table until there was little tablecloth
visible.
"I feel like Ive just entered a novel," Yuri breathed to Midori.
The writer grinned up at the blonde. "Funny, I was about to say that I feel like
Ive just walked into a television show." They both laughed and headed for the
seats reserved for them. They could tell which seats these were, since they were
conspicuously located near Mishima, and several pairs of hands waved them in that
direction.
"Please dont tell me were Guests of Honor," Yuriko whispered into
Midoris ear. "Please."
"I dont think I can," Midori replied without moving her lips much.
"Just pray they dont actually want a speech."
In fact, dinner was delightful. Mishima was an excellent host, keeping the conversation
light and lively. The food was unreasonably delicious; almost everyone in the family had
contributed to some portion of the feast. Yuriko ate until she thought she would burst,
then managed to have just a little more of the fresh fruit pie that was pressed upon her.
They sat over coffee and brandy, sharing stories of their day. Yuriko found herself
watching herself, as she enjoyed the warm, homey atmosphere. A year ago, she might have
run from this terrified by her own family memories. Even now, when she allowed
herself the leisure to think about it, to realize that this was what a family could be,
she found her eyes beginning to smart.
Dinner in her home growing up had never felt like this. There was no intimacy between
herself and her parents. They had always been cold to her, to Take and Fumie. As children,
they had all learned that stories of their day should be confined to listing achievements
in school, or to remain silent. The silence had surrounded them each day, cutting
themselves off from each other, filling up the spaces where other families had warmth and
love.
But for all that, this didnt feel strange. Yuriko did not feel out of place, or
awkward...and she knew perfectly well that this was not just her polished social skills in
play. These people were different from any shed ever known. They were a family - a
thing she had never really had, even when her parents had been alive. She watched Midori,
eyes sparkling, head thrown back with laughter at something Masaki had said and her heart
practically hurt from being overfull with joy. It was more than she could have ever asked
for, or imagined.
"Yuriko-san," Mishima refilled her glass as he addressed her. "I was
going to ask you to make a speech," he grinned as panic flared in her eyes, "but
Ive been told that Id be divorced if I did."
Aoi glowered from her place at the table. Yuriko covered the smile that sprang to her
lips. Aoi looked exactly like a child trying to stare down a bully.
"No speeches," Aoi slapped her palm on the table for emphasis.
"Including you," she pointed a stern finger at Mishima. "Lets just
all drink and relax and not bother with formalities."
A hearty "yea" of announced the younger generations agreement with the
sentiment.
Dinner wound down with Gin and Mihoshi announcing their desire to retire for the
evening.
"Its been a long day," Mihoshi apologized, "and were all
worn out with sun and activity."
"Kirika and Akane challenged Mom to a sandcastle building contest," Misono
joked. "She lost."
"Its been a long time since Ive built a sand castle, you know,"
Mihoshi protested good-naturedly.
"Well," Yuriko announced, "since we werent here to help make this
fabulous meal, I hereby volunteer myself and Midori for cleanup detail."
"Hey!" Midori complained. "You cant do that!"
"Yes, I can." Yuriko grinned crookedly. "And I have."
"Well help too!" Sakura jumped from her seat. "Misono and I want
to hear all about the interview today."
"Absolutely!" Misono agreed, grabbing platters at random. "We heard that
you two cause quite a stir..."
Yuriko blinked at the girl. "You heard? How on earth...?"
Misono offered a toothy grin in the idols direction. "My secret network of
informants, of course!" She skipped off to the kitchen, eminently pleased with
herself.
"Shes got a friend whos got a summer job at the studio," Sakura
informed Midori and Yuri, as they followed Misono, with arms full of dirty dishes.
Cleanup took very little time with so many helping hands. In no time at all, Yuriko
found herself alone with Midori and her two nieces. She had successfully put off the topic
of their interview until now, hoping to avoid it entirely.
"Spill the dirt," Misono said remorselessly. "Himi-chan tells me that
your interview caused total chaos on the set today."
The four walked out the back of the house and strolled in the cool evening air.
"It was awful," Midori said. "That woman was unpeakably rude, and
Im amazed anyone watches her show."
Sakura snorted in derision. "Auntie Midori, you might want to find yourself
another manger...Osaka Teruo is *known* for being rude."
"Really?" Yuriko couldnt imagine people watching someone like that at
all.
"Absolutely!" Misonos voice was full of glee. "Himi-chan tells me
the most horrible stories about guests being ripped to pieces by Osaka-san, and the
audience. Shes seen people leave in tears...broken shadows of the people they were
when they came in."
"You dont have to sound so happy about it," Midori said sternly.
"Its not so much fun to be on the other end of that kind of disrespect."
"But thats what makes this so delicious!" Misono would not be quashed,
"Himi-chan called me up to tell me that whatever you said had Osaka-san in absolute
panic today! After the show, she stormed off the stage in tears, and screamed bloody
murder at her Producer for thirty minutes." The girl was clearly relishing this as
she recounted the after effects of their appearance. "So youve got to tell me,
what was it that you said to her?"
Continued
Saiyuu no Ryokou, all characters and situations copyright E. Friedman and Yurikon LLC. All Rights Reserved.