Meeting Her Family

Chapter 4

Ito Rei didn't get to meet her family properly during the wedding. Just took pictures with them for a moment and left so today, he came to her address, dressed in a simple shirt, brown cardigan on top and black trousers, to eat dinner with the family. Kana told him that her father wanted to speak to him so he came to see what it was all about.

He entered the front gate, her house was a two story house but it looked much smaller than his. The family looked like every other middle class family. He rang on the bell, hands in his pockets when a very older looking woman, with a deathly stare looked at him, her outfit was all black uniform with a white apron on, hair in a bun, without a single strand out of place. She didn't say anything so Rei immediately greeted her. "Hello… I'm Kana's husband. I came to meet her family today, do you mind if I come in?"

She stared at him some more before a basket rose up to his view. "What?"

Rei looked at the head maid curiously. She shook the basket a little, the phones inside clattered on top of each other. "No phones allowed in this household."

Rei looked around as if looking for someone to confirm it. There was nobody except them two. He pulled it out of uncertainty and slowly dropped in. The maid stared him up and down before she stepped aside. "Welcome."

He put his hand in his pockets and walked into the house. The maid followed him, showing him around the house. It was spacious and minimalistic. Right in front of the door, was a staircase leading upstairs.

She gestured for him to go left. "This is the living room."

It was plain. A large glass window showed their lawn and the trees, with a few white couches surrounding a coffee table.

"This is where you will be dining in." She then gestured to the right, bowed a little before she went ahead to the kitchen. On his right, led to the dining table. A grey rectangular table with six chairs, two on each side. A little deeper was one of those squared kitchens with a glass wall that showed the backyard.

But… What was with this mood? The place felt dead like his house. He went deeper in and caught his father in law, sitting on the table, reading a newspaper. Beside him were Kana and a younger teen, which he believed would be Haru since she only had one younger brother. "Thank you for the invitation, Fujiwara-san. I've wanted to meet you as well so I'm extremely pleased to be here."

Rei was a smooth talker. He didn't spend most of his years sweet talking people for nothing. Unfortunately for him, Fujiwara just grunted at him in response. Just giving him a small nod of approval of his existence.

Well… I guess that means he was part of the family if he is given this type of attitude? Rei decided to treat it like his home and went behind the counter.

"Excuse me, can I have water?" He raised a finger politely, thirsty. The same woman turned, her apron still on her as she stared at him. Why does she look so exhausted? She grabbed the jug and poured it on a cup, then handed it to him

"Thank you." He took it and sipped it a little as he took a seat next to his father-in-law since he didn't stand up to greet him. The mood was awkward and silent so Rei tried to make small talk. "You have such a nice maid. She showed me around the house and gave me a tour."

The man looked up from his newspaper, Kana's teeth started to show as her lips twisted open, on the side while Haru looked genuinely horrified.

"Umm Rei, that's my mother." Kana said

He spat the water on the father, blinking at his mistake. That was his mother-in-law? He quickly tried to get a tissue from the table and he handed it to the father to wipe. He took it aggressively, looking at him like he was trash. Fujiwara took off his glasses, his hair wet, ruining his side combed hairstyle.

"I didn't mean her, I meant the other one." He tried to cover up his mistake somehow.

"We don't have any maids." Kana facepalmed, unable to watch this.

"My apologies then…" Oh, this was awkward now. Rei went quiet because he wasn't making the situation any better.

The father opened the newspaper with the striking movement that made a sound, he went back to reading. The first impression wasn't good, that much he can tell. He looked at Kana for help and she put her index to her lips, asking him to shut up. It went on for three minutes before his mother in law started to serve meals on the table.

The moment they were served, she went back to the kitchen and started cleaning the dishes. Rei was waiting for her to comeback but the father started to eat, following by Kana and her younger brother. He hesitated to eat waiting for his mother in law but Kana signalled him with her head to eat.

He picked up the fork reluctantly, as he side glanced at the mother. Kana from under the table kicked him in the shin, making him jump a little but a smile was plastered in her face, mouthing, "Stop looking."

Rei's dread was becoming apparent. This is becoming suffocating.

"Ahem," Fujiwara cleared his throat after they were done eating as his wife picked up the plates. "Now that my daughter is married. I expect her to live with you on the weekend while she stays here on the weekdays."

What? On the weekends only? He had never been married before but he was sure that's not how marriage works. He was about to say something but was interrupted.

"In our household, we have strict rules, I expect two days should be enough for a married couple."

Kana on the side nodded as if he made sense except Rei didn't agree. This family made his family look more sane in comparison. A married couple spending eight days with each other in a MONTH? What is this insanity? "I don't agree."

The stare he got was icy. Time for his charm to come into play. "Oh father" He grabbed his hand. Kana on the back shook her head.

"I would love to let Kana stay with her family but we are newlyweds-" his eyes sparkled, stars in them as he stared at Fujiwara who sweatdropped at the display. "We should be spending time together."

He let go, with a finger, he twirled the table all shy and embarrassed, hands on his cheeks. "We are still in our honeymoon phase... we are still young and full of energy."

Kana and Haru jaw dropped.

"So I was thinking she should be with me for the weekdays-" Fujiwara's gaze hardened and Rei immediately read his miniscule change and changed tactics immediately. "BUT I don't want her to stay away from her precious family for too long so I'm thinking three days with me would be good."

He raised three fingers. The change didn't seem that big from two to three days but Rei was testing his luck for the future when.. he will ask for more than that. He wanted to remain on the good side of the family and leave a good impression.

He noticed Fujiwara was thinking it through before he responded. "I expect her to return on Monday."

Kana and Haru gasped as Rei grinned, his devil horns ears popping out. "Thank you father."

"It's Mr. Fujiwara-san for you." He muttered, offendedly.

"Father!" Rei sent him a hand heart and Fujiwara robotically turned to Kana.

"You are the one who suggested him for my marriage." Kana muttered, covering her mouth so only her father could hear.

"Hmph!" He pulled out a newspaper to focus.

________

At eight PM, Rei and Kana walked out the door, she rolled the travel bag from her house so she could spend her three days with him. They got both their phones from the basket. He thought it was strange that she also had her phone taken. He scratched his head and after a few steps, Kana bursted out, jumping and shrieking.

"I can't believe it! You actually talked my father out into giving me an extra day!" Kana's voice rose in higher octaves in excitement. She ran through her front lawn and spread her arms around as she twirled. "I can't believe it!"

Rei blinked, confused by her strange behaviour. Was she actually happy? This was the first time he saw her so happy and smiling a genuine smile. His own lips crept up, feeling good. "Is that good news?"

"You don't understand." Kana got closer to him as he walked towards his car while she walked sideways, still speaking animatedly. "Father never changes his mind easily so the fact you changed him on the first meeting... I never thought I would see the day. Thank you so much for giving me an extra day."

She hummed. "I'll grant you any wish you want since you don't know how big of a deal this is."

He stared at how happy she became over it. He didn't think what he did was anything but it clearly had more of an impact for Kana from how she was reacting. He didn't need her to grant him any wishes. He can get everything he wants. He decided to mess with her instead.

"Give me a kiss then for my hard work." He pushed his cheeks to her, pointing at it with his hand. Her face immediately turned into a mojo bizarre adventure character. "No."

She plays hard to get. There is no woman who refused him this much before. "You said you would grant me a wish."

She frowned, clearly conflicted. "Not that, something else. Like something better."

He stared at her deadpanned. Usually, he would have accepted as there were many things better but this feels like a challenge. He wants her to submit to him. "No, I want my kiss."

She stared at him like a tissue she used to wipe her ass. She turned around and strode inside his car.

"H-hey! You own me." He entered after her.

"Yea, whatever."

"You promised."

"I'll decide when you deserve it."

He gasped. "Wow..."

"..."

She truly tested his patience.

"Don't take your words back."

"I won't! Just drive."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

"This is your room?" Ever since she entered his mansion, she been looking in amazement at the decor. His room was very spacious, as if five bedrooms are in one. The interior design was black, with a large glass window that led to his balcony, the black, sheer curtains covered the view. He had everything he needed, a couch, television, game console, gaming laptop, an extra desk for books and supplies and two doors leading to somewhere.

"You have quite the big bed." Kana noted as she sat ontop of it, bouncing on it.

"That's not my bed. My father replaced it for our marriage." Rei took off his coat, entering his walk-in closet to set it on a hanger and picking up some pajamas.

"Hmm, I put dibs onto the bed." Kana loudly shouted as she also opened her case. Rei wasn't going to let her have her way so he yelled back. "I put dibs first! I don't care where you sleep, it's my bed! You can sleep on the couch if you don't like it."

"Someone is not a gentleman."

"Nobody wants to sleep on the couch," he retorted. He unbuttoned, peeking out so she could hear him better.

"Fine, we can both share." Kana rolled her eyes and he quirked a brow. She was more bold than he imagined. He thought she would sleep on the couch or insist he sleep there.

"Didn't expect that from you. Are you that excited to sleep with me?" he teased.

"Keep your thoughts to yourself," Kana humorlessly replied. He grinned.

"If you need to change, the bathroom is over there." Let his bare hand out, covering himself from the view. "You can bring your case in my closet and tomorrow organise it? I help make space for you."

"Thanks!"

Thirty minutes later

Rei lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling for a while. He should have known. "Are you serious?"

He turned to look at her or the wall of pillows she made in between them. He lay his chin on the pillows to see her form in a fetus position.

"Shhh! I'm trying to sleep." As if she knew he was there, her hand pushed his face away. He lightly smacked her hand away. It's too early for him to sleep. "Are you a virgin? You were talking about that ex-boyfriend of yours for hours, was that all a lie?"

She didn't respond. He would have mistaken she was sleeping if her ears weren't so red. "Oooh? My dear Kana is actually pure?"

"Shut up!" She took the pillow out of her head and smacked him with it. He laughed, clutching his stomach, remembering that date. He KNEW something wasn't right."You are such a liar! Did you make Hiromi Kai up?"

Her face turned red as she hit him again with the pillow. "You still remember his name?"

"You talked about him for a very long time! I better remember his name after that." He held his arm in defence. He grabbed a pillow and hit her with it. She rolled but quickly recovered. She threw the pillow at him as she dived to grab another pillow from the wall. They fought playful as each of them got slammed around for a while. As she rose the pillow, he grabbed her hand and she toppled on top of him. They both breathed heavily as they stared at each other. She tried to get off but he brought her back to his chest.

"I'm still waiting for my kiss." He reminded her and in that moment, she blushed. Why... For some reason, his heart rattled a little and he let go as if he touched fire, taken aback by his own emotion. She quickly got off and showed his back to him.

"I said I'll give it to you another day, stop annoying me about it." She grabbed the straying pillows to recreate the wall back. "Don't cross the line!"

He pouted. "So stingy."

She rolled her eyes and brought the blanket on her body as she turned away from him. He lay back down. He usually doesn't sleep this early but it seemed like his wife did. As he stared at the ceiling, his thoughts were filled with his in-laws. The mood in that family during the hour he was there made him nervous beyond belief which rarely happens as he was very sociable.

"If you can't win people over, how do you expect to win my company?"

His dad's words rang over his head. He tightened his grip on the blanket as mused. Kana's father seemed very intimidating. He will visit them again. His in-laws may be a good test for him for the bigger fishes. He will prove to his family... how he can win people over. How much of an asset he is to them. He will get what he wants.