Chapter 44: Unexpected Arrival.
"Hey, I got something for you." The driver said as he threw a small black box into the back of the car. Haru barely had time to catch it. He was kind of lost in thought as he saw it heading toward his face.
He held it in his hands for a second. "Well go on. Open it." The driver said as he looked in the rear view mirror making eye contact with him. "Okay..." Haru said as he opened the box slowly. He was kind of confused.
He opened the box up revealing a silver watch. "I've never seen you wear one so I thought why not get you one. You only turn eighteen once. Happy birthday." Haru was shocked. He had never been nice before. "Awe, I didn't know you cared so much." Haru made fun of him for a moment. "But thank you I appreciate it."
"You better. That wasn't cheap you know? Take good care of it!" The driver warned him as they pulled up outside Zen's house. Haru stepped out of the car and waved him goodbye as he drove off down the road.
He then pulled out his keys and struggled as he jammed them in the door. He managed to get it open almost ripping the door from the hinge in the process. The house was quiet. Almost too quiet. He listened closely and then sensed the Qi around him. There were four people in the house. Three in the kitchen and one was currently in the bathroom upstairs. There was also a baby?
Haru was confused as he made his way into the kitchen first spotting a pink coloured stroller. He then looked to his left to see Zen staring back at him with a smile on his face. "What's this about?" Haru asked as he was rushed from behind.
"You didn't think we wouldn't come to see you on your eighteenth birthday did you!?" A familiar voice he had known all his life rung out in his ear as she wrapped her arms around him. "Mom! It's been forever!" Haru shouted as he quickly turned around and hugged her back.
Haru looked to his right spotting his dad looking around confused. "Dad! You're here too!" Luke looked over at his son. "Yeah," He said as he looked around behind Haru like he was trying to find something.
"Are you okay?" Haru was a bit confused by his reaction. "Well... Where is she?" Luke said with a huge grin on his face. "Where is who?" Haru said as he tried to pry his mom off him.
"Well, the mystery girl your uncle has been telling us all about of course!" He laughed. "Give it a rest Luke. This is the first time you have seen your son in three years and you are excited about meeting his girlfriend? What kind of father are you?" Krista was quick to discipline him.
A cry came out from the stroller. "Um... Why is there a baby here?" Haru asked. He looked a Zen who shrugged his shoulders with a smile on his face. He looked down at his mom who was still hugging him.
"Oh, Yeah. Come with me." She grabbed his hand and walked over to the stroller. "Haru, Meet your little sister Saki. And Saki, This is your big brother Haru." Krista said as she picked up the baby.
"You had another kid? Wait when? Why didn't you tell me?" Haru was confused and angry at the same time. How could they keep this a secret from him? She looked to be a few months old. She definitely wasn't a newborn.
"It was your mother's idea. Don't blame me. I told her you would be mad." Luke said from the other side of the kitchen, Already backing away before Krista could hit him. "I'm sorry sweetie. I was going to tell you as soon as we found out I was pregnant but it didn't feel right not telling you in person. We actually planned a trip out here at the start of the year but we had to cancel because I got sick. I'm sorry to spring this on you right now." Krista explained everything to Haru.
"It's fine. It's not like you can change anything now." Haru sighed as he held out his arms. "Well, Are you going to let me hold my baby sister or what?" Haru said with a laugh. "Nope. Not before your next surprise."
"My next surprise?" Haru said as there was a bit of movement from upstairs. And footsteps came from the hallway. "Ahh... I was holding that in all day. He's not back yet is he?" A boy's voice called out from behind him.
Haru turned around to see a boy around his age with short blonde hair. "You... Oh, welcome home." The boy said nervously as he held out his hand for Haru to shake. "It's nice to see you again." He said with a smile.
Haru laughed. "You moron. It's only been three years." He said as he hugged him. "This is a surprise. I didn't expect you to be here Jake." This was indeed an unexpected surprise. He thought that all the friends he had made back in japan would have forgotten about him but here he was. Jake who had helped him out on his first day even if it was mediocre help at best.
"What are you doing here?" Haru asked as he backed away from him. "Your parents got in contact with me a few weeks ago and asked if I wanted to come and visit you. Honestly, I thought you would have forgotten me already."
"Ho could I forget you? Especially with all the trouble, you caused me on the first day of school." He felt nostalgic. It had been a long time since he thought about how he used to use magic but for some reason, he wanted to see how far Jake had progressed. "Did you keep up your practice with Mia after I left?" Haru asked.
"Um, That's a little... Oh, Nevermind I might as well just tell you. A few months after you left during one of our holidays Mia went home and healed her mom with the magic you taught her. Some drama ended up happening with her family and she decided to drop out of school and join the army directly after she turned sixteen. I haven't heard anything from her since. It's a pity really. I hope she is doing okay." Jake explained as best as he could.
"Me too. Hey since she isn't here lets drink for her health and a safe return." Haru said as he walked over to the alcohol cabinet and pulled out a bottle of vodka. "You don't mind if I open this do you?" Haru looked over to Zen.
"Go for it," Zen said with a chuckle. "What!? You have only just turned eighteen and you are going to drink? Zen what did you have my son doing while he was here? Did you turn him into an alcoholic? Put that bottle down now. It's only five o'clock." Krista began to shout.
"Come on... We aren't in Japan I'm old enough to drink here. And alcohol doesn't affect me. I'm a cultivator remember." Haru said in protest. "Oh yeah, You are a cultivator now aren't you? What stage are you at if you don't mind me asking?" Jake asked ignoring the rage in Krista's eyes as he spoke.
"I just reached the Qi creation stage. I'm still a long way from where I need to be though. Here drink with me." Haru said as he pulled out two cups.
"What don't you understand!? I told you no! You aren't drinking any alcohol!" Krista shouted, Handing the baby to Luke and beginning to glow red as her fire magic appeared from her body.
"Fine... We will have to save the drinking for later my old friend." Haru said. and turned around to put the cups back. "Ouch!" Krista yelled as her hand hit the back of Haru's head. "What is your head made out of? Have you filled it with concrete since the last time I saw you?" Krista complained as she tried to hit him again.
"Okay, mom calm down..." Haru yelled in protest. "Calm down! How can I calm down when I have a disobedient son!?" She yelled as she tried to attack him more and more.
"Dad, A little help please?" Haru called out. "Ha, Help from me? You know very well that I can't help when she gets like this." Luke laughed. "What is that supposed to mean!?" Krista yelled back at him. They were all interrupted as the doorbell rang.
"Oh, That must be Suyin," Haru said as he squeezed past his mother's defense and ran toward the door. "Oh, the girl is here?" Luke asked excitedly. Zen nodded. "The girl? Which girl?" Jake asked confused.
"Haru's girlfriend of course!" Luke yelled at him for not following the conversation. "Haru has a girlfriend? Why didn't anyone tell me?" Jake asked again. "Well if you would have been down here instead of going to the toilet then you would have known," Krista said as she took the baby back from luke.
Haru opened the door. "Please save me!" He whispered to Suyin. "Why what's going on!? Are you okay!?" She began to panic. "My mom is trying to kill me."
"You're mom is here? I thought you were actually in danger. You idiot." She said as she took a step back. She was wearing a purple dress the was cut at her knee. "Oh, You look beautiful. I didn't even realise."
"You didn't realise? And that is why you are an idiot." She laughed. "Are you going to introduce me to your mom?" She asked looking a little nervous. "Of course. Now come on in." Haru grabbed her hand and walked back inside.
"Hey, Suyin is here. I know you wanted to meet her, dad." Haru shouted through the hall into the kitchen.