Page 48 of Whispers of the Dragon
“No, I don’t think so.” He thoughtfully shook his head. “Our people are peaceful. I know, with Kenshi and the old man, it might not seem like it, but we are.”
Only because Ryu was so certain did Eira relax. Everyone was much nicer here on Kasumi Island, that much was true.
Instead of pressing further, she wanted to move on from the depressing topic. “So, what’s the surpri—” The sound of yelling coming through the door made her pause.
“Fuck,” he exasperated before running off.
What the—
She ran after him, as it seemed his surprise was downstairs and, in fact, backfiring. The screaming got louder with each step she took down the giant staircase and toward the foyer, and she thought she recognized the voice for a moment.
Is that …?
No, it couldn’t be.
Could it?
“Who the hell are you?” Tatsu was heard screaming.
The old man spat back right at his face, “Well, who the hell are you?”
“Yeah, we know whowe are, but who are you?” the old lady backed her husband.
“This is my house!” Tatsu roared at the loons. “Now, for the last time, who the hell are yo—”
Oh my God—
“Grandmother!” Eira somehow got past Ryu and jumped into her grandmother’s arms to make sure it wasn’t an illusion.
“Hey, honey, nice to see you, but I’m kinda in the middle of something.” She patted her before squaring up with Tatsu again.
Ryu coughed, getting all their attention, while the regret on his face was visible. “These are Eira’s grandparents, and this is my father, Tatsu.”
“You have a lovely home, Tatsu.” Grandmother beamed, doing a full one-eighty now with the introductions that clearly sent Ryu’s father over the edge.
Grandfather didn’t help his attitude by picking up an expensive chachki.
Tatsu’s mouth dropped open at the audacity, then it thinned into a firm line before he snatched the item out of the grubby hands and set the precious item carefully back in its place. He then focused his frustrations on the source of his new problem. His son.
“How in the hell did you get them over here? It’s impossibl—” It was obvious the moment he said it, he figured out how. With anger and disgust, he cursed the name, “Itako.”
They all watched him storm off toward the front door.
“Where are you going?” Ryu dared to ask the obvious.
“She’s going to undo what she has done,” Tatsu promised.
His son scratched his head. “I don’t think it works like that.”
“Watch me,” his father said, slamming the door shut with finality.
Grandmother wasted no time once he was gone. “What’s up his butt?”
Ryu simply pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly debating his life choices.
Seeing his patience was wearing thin, Eira decided to change the subject. “How did you get here?” She was still so in shock at seeing them that it felt almost like a dream. The way Ryu had explained it, it was impossible, just like Tatsu had said.
“We got here by boat. A very small one, I might add,” Grandmother noted, displeased. “But how in the world did you get here?”
