New Addition to the Family

[Hinata Nakayama]

After Azumi and Emi left, Hina felt a little sad. She couldn't explain it, but she knew she couldn't wait for her and her sister to come back. Ever since that day where Azumi held onto her to protect her, she didn't feel like she had to be shy or well, scared to be around her. Like her Uncle Ryouji, her mother, and everyone else, Azumi would keep her safe. Not to mention everything just seemed so quiet. Everyone was doing their own thing or resting and she was just there. She was just sitting on the couch, staring at the floor as she was kicking her legs in a slow manner.

A couple of minutes later, Hina looked up as she heard a door open and close. Instantly, she hopped down to go investigate the sound. When she saw Azumi, Emi, and Ryoko come into the room, she went up to them and gave Azumi a great big hug. She was close to crying, but was trying really hard not to.

"Welcome back, Auntie Azumi!You too, Emi!"

Then, she noticed Ryoko who was standing beside Azumi. She tilted her head to the side, looking confused. It wasn't often strangers were brought in. Though, in some way, the "stranger" looks a lot like Azumi. Not only that, Ryoko must be a good person if Azumi had brought her in herself! Hina then introduced herself.

"N..Nice to meet you.. I'm Hinata! Who are you?"

Emi was quite surprised on how quickly Hina adapted to meeting Ryoko. It usually takes her a very long time to warm up to people though there were a few exceptions being herself, the rest of their family, and Ryouji. Maybe she's finally growing out of her shy stage or so she hoped. It did take her a moment to notice how Hina was more or less clinging to Azumi. It reminded her how she would do the same with Ryouji when she was little. It made her giggle a little.

"Auntie 'Zumi, why don't you go ahead and introduce her?"

[Azumi Onigata]

When Emi asked her to introduce Ryoko, she wanted to but she was a little nervous. She was going to have to do it eventually. She called out to everyone, wanting them to meet with her and Ryoko in the living room. After a while they all gathered and sat down. Even Ryouji came from the bedroom. As they were all staring at her she took a deep breath and sighed.

"I asked you all to come here and meet with me because there is something I want to tell all of you. Its not exactlyt he easiest thing to admit to but...well. This is Ryoko...she is my daughter."

The collective looks she was receiving, mainly from her own children were shocking to say in the least. Even the future Shizune was flabbergasted. Instinctively they all looked to Ryouji who didn't even flinch. Was he...angry that she never told him? When Ryouji glanced around and noticed all the eyes on him, he rubbed the back of his head.

"What the hell are you all looking at me for? I already knew about Ryoko. Long before any of you were born."

Azumi glanced over to him, shocked to say in the least. How did he know, when did she tell him? She didn't even remember mentioning it because she was sort of embarrassed and afraid of what he might say or do.

"She told me one night. She was upset and had a little to much to drink and she spilled her guts about Ryoko. I've actually been wanting to meet her for quite some time. Welcome home Ryoko."

Future Shizune frowned up instantly upon staring at her. Not because of what was going on but merely because of who she was. There was a captain in her time with the same name and face and now she had to learn that she was related to her. All those years where she thought she was alone and that all of her family died and it wasn't true, sure she had Megumi and Lady Yuri, but it wasn't the same. Ami shared Future Shi's sentiment, well at least the angry part.

"Really daddy? You've got nothing to say to her about this. Fine, I'll say it because we're all thinking it...What the hell mom!? Not even a few days after Shiori was taken from us, you drop this bomb on us! How could you keep something like that from us?!"

Azumi turned to Ami and just lowered her head. She had nothing to say in her defense. She wasn't proud of keeping it from them all but...at the same time how could she possibly tell them that they had a sister. Ryouji walked over to Azumi and placed his hand on her shoulder to show some signs of support.

"Shiami, you know better than to speak to your mother that way. It was hard enough for her to get the courage to tell everyone rather than the lot of you finding out on your own. If I remember correctly you and Emi were keeping your little secret a secret as well. You have no right to judge your mother. Now apologize."

Ami scoffed and stood up and left the room, she wasn't going to apologize for anything that she said. Her mother was wrong and there was nothing anyone could say to change that fact. Ryoko just lowered her head, She felt so badly.

"I didn't mean to make anyone upset. I hope one day that we can all learn to be a family. Mother had no choice in what happened to me. I've grown to understand that they would not accept me because I wasn't born out of an arranged marriage. I never blamed her for anything. All I want to do is be with my family and I hope that you will accept me as such."

She stood up and bowed slowly before heading to the door to the backyard where she stepped out and slipped and tumbled to the ground.

"Uhh...I'm okay! no need to worry about me!"

After she gathered herself from her rather embarrassing fall. She slid the door closed and sat down on the ground, she looked around noticing all the training dummies and a wooden sword thing. She grabbed it and looked at it before putting it down and sighing. This day was already getting off to a bad start and it was all because of her.

[Hinata Nakayama]

Poor little Hina was confused. She had no idea why everyone was getting upset and didn't understand why Ami was so angry. The only thing she did understand was that Azumi looked so sad and she didn't want that! She went to Azumi and tugged lightly on her hand. Once she had her attention, she made a gesture that indicated she wanted to be picked up. When Azumi did, Hina gave her a great, big hug.

"Auntie Azumi.. Why are you so sad? I..I don't like it when you're all sad.. I know when Emi and the others hug you.. it makes you happy so.. I'll hug and hug until you're happy again!"

When Ami had left, Emi had to follow right behind her. She had to talk to her in order to calm her down. Probably what hurt the most was what Ami said. With Shiori gone and just finding out they have another sibling, it was something too big to comprehend at the moment. Emi gave a light tap on the door and even though there wasn't an answer, she let herself in and closed the door behind her.

"Up for a small chat?"

"I just can't believe Mom would hide something that big from everyone. You went with her to meet her, right? Weren't you angry or upset when you found out?"

"It wouldn't be fair if I was. Uncle 'Ouji did bring up a good point. Just like Auntie 'Zumi, we hid a pretty important secret when it was clear to everyone what was going on. "

"How can you even compare that to what she did? They're completely two different things!"

In a way, perhaps Ami was right. Still, a secret was a secret. Azumi thought she was doing the right thing at the time and by keeping that secret, she was paying a hefty price by having to live with the fact that she had to give Ryoko up because of her family's wishes.

"Maybe, maybe not. We all have secrets that we are scared to tell. We're afraid that if we tell them, people we care about are going to judge us. Although we had the intentions of telling everyone about us, we still hid it because a part of us feared how they would take it. That's how Auntie 'Zumi feels. With something like this, is there truly a right time to tell? Regardless if Shiori was taken or not, it would have been something hard to comprehend."

"I just feel angry because it felt like she didn't trust us. That's why she had to keep it a secret. Because of that, so many people were hurt. Take Future Shi, for example! I remember her saying that all she had was the future version of you and Auntie Yuri. For Ryoko to be there without saying a word.. It infuriates me! It's as if they didn't care who they hurt by this!"

"That's not true! If Ryoko does exist in Big Shi's time, what was she to do? How could she approach her? "Hey, you're not alone after all. I'm your big sister." Not only would it be insensitive, but it would be hurtful. Shi may have seen it as a sick joke and could have made things more difficult than it needed to be. It doesn't matter what reasons why they kept it a secret or when it happened. Nothing will change the fact that she's your big sister."

"I'm not sure if I can acknowledge her or accept her as that."

"No one is forcing you to, Ami. Still, maybe you should get to know her before coming to any assumptions. She's a nice person from what I've seen. C'mon, even Hina has warmed up to her!"

"That's because Hina is a child. She doesn't understand what's going on."

"Even so, you know how shy she is around strangers. From what I've heard from Auntie 'Zumi, Hina was able to somehow sense that the woman who took away Shiori wasn't who she claimed to be. I believe we should not only trust in Hina's judgement, but Auntie 'Zumi's as well. We make mistakes when we're trying to do the best for everyone. After all,no one is perfect. We have to stay together during these hard times. You don't have to like the decisions others make..You have to respect them."

Emi then went to Ami, hugging onto her. She couldn't begin to imagine what she was going through. All she knew is that she had to help her get through this rough patch. Same for everyone else. After Ami returned the Embrace, Emi could only stand there, trying to think of what to say next. Then, Ami broke the silence.

"How do you stay strong, Emi? Everyone is angry or upset over the past few events, and yet.. You're your usual self. I don't understand."

"I believe we can make everything the way it was before but mostly.. I believe in everyone. Mama told me how when she was in trouble, Uncle 'Ouji would save her. She told me how both him and Auntie Mei-Mei fought to protect Soul Society. Papa would do his best as well. Same for Mama! We can't give up, you know! Also.."

Though reluctant, she had to tell Ami about her Kido research. She was going to do everything in her power to make things right again. She just wasn't sure of the outcome.

"I've been doing some research on some kido that might be able to save Shiori and get rid of the bad guys once and for all! I'm getting close to finding what I need. For now.. Let's just support Auntie 'Zumi, Uncle 'Ouji, and everyone else. They need us now instead of us needing them."