as ever."
"Good. Did you guys ever find out why she left in the first place?"
"She and Ich were having some problems but they seem to have worked things out."
"I'm afraid to ask about our other married couple."
"They're adjusting to married life and their new home,"
Takumijo said. "But we do get to see Yori about once a day.
He claims he's just coming over to check on us but we know he's taking a break from Amaya."
"I bet," Cristal said. "How is he taking Shaundra's return?"
"Pretty good since he drove us to Tokyo to get her,"
Satoshi answered.
"What? And Amaya didn't complain?"
Takumijo laughed. "He didn't tell her. She was at work."
Cristal laughed. "I don't understand him. He's married but for some reason he drops everything to go to Shaundra's rescue."
"We would do the same thing for you," Takumijo replied.
"We protect our womenfolk."
Cristal smirked. "I'll remember that if I ever get into a fistfight in a bar."
"We didn't interfere that time because it was common sense," Takumijo explained. "We had to let Yori fix things since he screwed them up."
"And the fans have forgiven him?" Cristal asked.
Satoshi nodded. "He's lucky and none of them expects his marriage to Amaya to last. So there is always hope that he will get with one of them."
"And Ichiro's marriage?"
"Holding its own for the moment," Satoshi replied.
"But our poor maknae is suffering. Shaundra has cut him off in the bedroom," Takumijo explained.
"What? That is so uncharacteristic of her. Usually she's all over him."
"Don't be surprised if he tries to take you up on your kind offer to be the center of our cookie."
Cristal blushed at Satoshi's words.
"What are you talking about?" Takumijo asked.
"Cristal once volunteered to be the female in our menage if Ich and I decide to take our relationship to the next level,"
Satoshi explained.
"What? When did this happen and why wasn't I informed?"
Takumijo asked playfully. "You know I've been after Ichiro for year. Heck I was even thinking about taking him out on a date this weekend."
Cristal started to laugh. "I missed you guys so much with your joking."
"Who's joking?" Takumijo asked pushing back in his seat.
Cristal continued to laugh. These guys were incorrigible.
"So that brings me to you two. Have you been staying out of trouble?"
"Yes," Satoshi said.
"No," Takumijo answered. "We came to the airport without security. Masaaki is bound to get hysterical."
"I don't know," Satoshi said. "He's been pretty busy since he has someone special in his life. He's mellowed some now that he's dating."
"She's really pretty too," Kenshin replied from the front seat.
"Spill it, Kenny," Takumijo told him.
"She's a little older than he is and the daughter of an important CEO of some electronics company. He takes her to dinner and dancing and occasionally to the movies."
"I wonder if he's getting any," Takumijo said rudely.
"I can vouch that Masaaki stays at her place at least once a week and get this, he doesn't wear a suit on those nights,"
Kenshin told them.
"Definitely getting some," Satoshi replied. "This means he's serious about her. I don't think I've seen him without a suit since we were younger."
"Looks like we'll be making room for another female in the farmhouse," Takumijo said.
"Speaking of that aren't you guys supposed to be moving out?" Cristal asked.
"The matter has been broached a couple of times but it will have to wait for a while. Ich needs us there," Satoshi told her.
"To help care for Shaundra?" Cristal asked.
"Yes, for the time being. And we don't mind because we like cramping Ich's style."
Cristal smiled. Unfortunately her plans did not include camping out at the farmhouse permanently. She wanted her own place, and she needed her privacy. She'd find an apartment first and then tell Mr. Niigata.
Kenshin drove up to the gate. A security guard walked up to the window and checked them all out.
"Why the drama?" Cristal asked Satoshi.
"I told you earlier. They're protecting precious cargo."
"Aren't these the same guys who let Shaundra and Amaya fight without stopping them?"
"Yes," Takumijo answered. "They knew Shaundra could protect herself and they didn't want to have to deal with Ichiro. You saw what he did when he entered that club. Our baby is a trained assassin when it comes to martial arts. None of the security is foolish enough to mess with him or Shaundra. Plus their main priority is to watch over my delicate form."
"You don't need any protecting," Cristal replied. "Not with all those muscles."
"You'd be surprised," Satoshi said as the security allowed Kenshin to continue on into the compound. He stopped the limousine