"It would've been better if we had just taken a bus or hitchhiked a ride or something," Taki mumbled with her back to her brother, giving him the privacy to get back to his normal self.
"What? You loved my back rides when we were kids," he chuckled teasingly.
"Exactly, when we were kids."
"I got us here faster than those man-made machines ever could so, you're welcome sis," he brushed her curly hair as he walked past her.
Taki groaned as she followed Naki the short distance into the city of Tokyo.
The moment they stepped deeper into the city, Taki was instantly blown away by all the buildings, speeding cars, the stores, the people, and everything!
"Wow!" She couldn't help but gape as she looked around, her head craning up to look at all the high buildings.
"Hey lady! Watch out!"
And just like that, she was knocked out of her trance as a wall of a man threw himself at her and they both went crashing down to the hard ground, and a mere second later, a big red bus went past them blaring its horns.
"Are you out of your mind? You almost got yourself killed!" The man had a mean frown on his face as he helped her up, "who stands in the middle of the road like that?"
Taki just stared at him stunned with her mouth agape, the reality that she did almost die shook her.
The mean man saved her life.
"What? Are you mute?" The man asked, his frown getting deeper as his eyes traveled down to the clothes she wore, "you're not from around here are you?" He asked when his eyes met hers again.
Taki wrapped her arms around herself suddenly feeling insecure, a feeling that was very new to her, it's not like she grew up around people to impress or look good for.
She had always thought she looked good in her long skirts and shirts, with her very comfortable flat shoes. It always worked for her.
She cleared her throat, realizing she was staring at the beautiful man for far too long, "I-"
"Taki! I turn my back on you for one second and you go wandering off, should I keep a leash on you?" Naki suddenly appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.
"You can try, I'll bite your arm off."
"Jeez and I'm the dog."
"Oh, she speaks!"
The twins turned to the stranger who now held a small grin on his face instead of the frown from earlier.
"And who are you?" Naki asked the man as he stepped in front of his sister, "is this man bothering you?"
"He saved my life, Naki," she shyly mumbled to her brother, resting her forehead on his back in embarrassment.
"That I did."
Naki turned to her sister, "we just got here, how are you getting yourself in danger already?"
The man looked the twins up and down agreeing with himself that they were newcomers, that too ones that were very new to city life.
"I'm not! I just- leave me alone okay?" She huffed as she turned away from him with her arms crossed.
"Thank you- whoever you are," Naki looked at the man challengingly, "Taki let's go, grandmother said our great aunt owns an apartment building about three streets down from here."
"Mh I'm tired," she yawned as they walked away from the man who still stared after them in curiosity, "Thank you very much, sir!" She called out to him with a wave.
"Are you going to sleep when we get there," Naki asked, his eyes watching his feet as he walked.
There was a brief moment of silence between the twins at the heavy question.
"I-" Taki sighed, "No."
Naki nodded to her answer although he did not agree with it.
Another brief moment of silence passed as they continued to walk.
"I can stay up to keep watch and you'll slee-"
"Naki please, just let it go."
"You haven't slept since the last one, I'm worried about you, I can see the bags under your eyes," he softly said, looking up to stare at her side profile.
"I just don't want to see… things anymore, I'm so tired of that horrible feeling," she shook her head.
As exhausted as she was, she just couldn't let herself fall asleep, it was very unhealthy but it was the only solution she had to her problem.
"I didn't mean it…when I called you a witch," Naki said out of the blue.
"I know you didn't," she smiled, "and I didn't mean it when I called you a dog."
"That's a straight lie."
"You know me so we'll dear brother," she laughed as he shook his head, a smile on his lips.
"Taki, please sleep tonight," he stopped her by holding onto her shoulders and looking into her eyes, "I'll be by your bedside holding your hand throughout the night if that helps, just please get some sleep."
"You're too old for those little brother puppy eyes," she spoke after a while, "and yet it still works like a charm," she sighed earning a victory 'Yes' from the other twin.
"Come on, I think we're almost there," she continued to walk with him following soon after.
After a couple of minutes of walking, they finally reached the apartment their grandmother promised they will get a roof over their heads.
"Well time to meet this great aunt we haven't heard of until now," Naki threw some shade at their grandmother as they stepped through the automatic sliding glass doors, "nice."
"Whoa, how do we find her?" Taki asked, getting caught in awe at the homey yet luxurious lobby.
"Let's ask her, she looks like she knows things," Naki pointed at a neatly dressed woman who sat behind a desk of some sort.
"Uh hello," Taki bowed, "we're looking for uh uhm-"
"Sarah Makato," Naki smiled at the woman who only returned a blank stare.
"And you are?" She looked them up and down.
"Starting to think the people of this city are not very fond of our clothes," Taki mumbled to Naki who faked a smile at the lady.
"Her great nephew and niece," she told her.
The lady scoffed, "yeah right, and I'm related to Beyoncé."
"Huh?" The twins were dumbfounded.
"Himari! What did I say about customer service? Smile!" An older lady waltzed in from the back door, she looked like a younger version of their grandmother.
'Himari' plastered on her fakest smile and Naki let out a boyish laugh at how ridiculous she looked.
"So, you two are the troublemakers my sister Rita finally settled down for?" She looked them up and down, making them feel highly intimidated.
"Uh hi! Great aunt Sarah, it's so nice to meet you." Naki stepped forward with a bow.
"Just call me Sarah, 'great aunt' makes me feel old," a smile grew on her face as she pulled them into a big hug, taking them by surprise.
"Oh it's so great to finally meet you wonderful kids, Rita has told me so much about you two," she cooed as her arms got tighter around them.
"Oh?" Taki choked out, finding it difficult to breathe when her airways were being blocked.
She let them go, tears threatening to fall from her eyes although her face held a bright smile.
"Miracle twins," she smiled.
Himari rolled her eyes from where she was.
"Come, I have your apartments polished and ready, I have been anticipating your arrival for months now, it gave me time to vacate two apartments directly across from each other for you two," she cheesed as she led them to the elevator, "I want you to be as comfortable here with me as you were on the farm with Rita, blood-related or not, Rita considers you family, so you're my family too."
Taki and Naki couldn't help the wide grins that spread across their faces, finally, someone in this city who wasn't so hostile towards them.
After they reached the fifth floor, Sarah showed them to their modern-day styled apartments, and like promised they were directly opposite one another, which worked out perfectly for the twins.
The apartments were very modern with a little Japanese touch to them, and they both loved the style.
"I will send you two a new wardrobe by dawn because this simply won't do here," Sarah shook her head at their outfits.
They were standing outside the doors of their apartments after Sarah gave them a quick tour of their living spaces.
"But for now, get some rest, Rita informed me that you did not take the bus," she winked at them as she walked away.
Finally alone again, the twins shared a look.
"We're here," Taki sighed, leaning back against her apartment door.
"I guess we are," Naki nodded with a soft smile, leaning back against his apartment door too.
"Are you going to sleep now?" He asked.
"Yes," she smiled opening her door, "I might need that hand you promised."