"Do you think a dojo is an overkill?" I asked my kids. Miya shrugs.
"Lets just make it. At the east side and be done with it. I want to finish this fast, Lulu had been itching to spread its wing and fly around. I'm teaching her how to track things" I'm quite thankful that my kids can help me with things around this house and I know I'm already taking part of their childhood time because of my own inability, so when I heard that I quickly nodded.
"Well, I guess that we just had to do it then. We're almost done anyway"
Everything went smoothly and surprisingly I was grinning from ear to ear. I never felt this anxious before. As I never had a husband nor his family visiting us. It's a new feeling that I like, and would surely cherish it.
Ailee felt the disturbance of the barrier and scouted it from the window of her room.
"Mom! They are here!" I don't know how she know its them and not an enemy. But I anxiously walk to the front door and push Kuro in front of me.
He raised both of his hands and let himself being pushed.
"Am I a meat shield now?"
"Can't you?" I pouted. He pinched my nose and smile.
"Anything for my dearest wifey"
"Shut up. Don't call me that in front of your family. We hadn't had an official marriage ceremony yet and don't tell them we sleep in the same room" I gritted my teeth and slightly pinched his arm.
He laughed. Seriously, I don't know how their perception about unmarried couple in under one room and I would avoid anything that could cause unnecessary trouble that comes to our way.
"Why? Are you worried the way they look at you?"
"I worried what my action will bring to my kids"
"You mean, our kids. Tsk. You keep on forgetting that tiny bit, wifey."
I growl and gave him light punch.
"Come on, greet them."
"Oh, you wont get away from your responsibility as the host." He wrapped his arm around my waist and opened the door.
We were greeted with a group of ten people. Four of them had white hairs and long bearded, I had to say they totally look like hundreds years. Two men that look like in their prime years and two in their late forty's, another two are woman in their middle thirty. I can understand why Ailee was so sure that they were Kuro's family.
Unlike those people we saw at the town, these people had the characteristic of asian looking ones. They wore hakama, and kimono, complete with their japanese heritage regalia. Not to mention, their resemblance was nothing to scoff at.
Except for the hairs, They had similar cheek bones, eyes and body build…in a nutshell, they are marvellous specimen of family, if I had to say so myself.
"Welcome to my new family humble abode."
"Your manners is impeccable as ever." Said one of the elder man wearing blue hakama with blue inner robe, looking at Kuro with a sigh.
"Oh, shush. He's doing fine and we all know that he is not tied to our family tradition. Nobody can force him to do anything" said another elder that had white hakama on.
"I doubt that" another one of the elder, this one wearing green hakama, touched his beard and looking at us with a sudden interest.
I pinched Kuro's arm as its awkward to not invite them in. But it seems he is not moving at all and was completely giving me free reign to be the host.
I smiled but I can feel some of my blood vessel bulging out, in anger. I stepped on Kuro's feet before stepping forward to greet them all.
"Oh, where is my manner? I am Iiana, I'm uh.. Kuro's future wife." Then remembering their tradition, I winged it and do a bow at them.
"Hajimemashite" after a bow, I raised my head again, only to see both sides looking at me like I was some kind of ghost.
"Oh, Kuro. Did you teach her that?" Asked one of the woman with red kimono.
"No." But he was still looking at me with undisguised interest.
"What?" I raised my eyebrow and stare back at him. He wrapped his arm around me again and brought me inside.
"Come." He look over his shoulder and it seems his family was used to his 'talking manner'. Aren't him being rude with his family?
"Just so you know. Even if we're not officially married nor did the ceremony yet, she is my wife. And we have two daughters. They are part of Shoa whether you like it or not." It was as if Kuro was talking especially to the one lone Elder at the back, who was wearing a black hakama.
"I think that's the longest speech he ever made, don't you think so?" Asked the green hakama to the blue one. He nodded.
Oh. So he doesn't show much of his side to his own family? M
I wonder which one is his father? Seeing me watching with interest, they introduce themselves one by one.