Sign Here

We had stopped in a hotel for the night on the outskirts of Tokyo, closer to Saitama, a town or so ahead so we could catch the next stop for the train tomorrow. She insisted that we fly the rest of the way there but to me, it would just ruin the trip. There's something about riding the train that has never left me. I don't think it ever will. 

Once settled in the room, the tension started to creep up again. The last time this happened, well, I know how it ended and I don't know how much of a good idea it would be for it to end the same way. This time, she was in the chair across the other side of the room, near the dresser. Me, laying on the bed. I'm a king of course, that's how it should b-

"You've been quiet." She threw her comment at me. 

"Yeah."

"I assume you're a little mad at me, aren't you?"

"No, why would I be?" A little annoyed, but not mad. Who could hate her? I'm sure she has her story to tell like the rest of us. "We stopped for the night because you're tired. It's the least I could do since I invited you here after all." I still keep thinking back to the day when I had the conversation with the Devil, only in a cool suit with bodyguards. Who even thinks that's a viable solution, and moreover, how much does Rin know about all of this?

"Yeah, but you seemed like you were enjoying yourself. I didn't know you like riding the train so much."

"They have them in Canada, but the atmosphere, stillness, and character of the ones in Japan are the best."

Getting more comfortable, she walks over to the edge of the bed and sits right in front of me. "Did you always grow up in Canada?"

"No, but, well, kind of. Back and forth. My mother really wanted me to learn Japanese and so I came here every summer it feels like, but it was more than that. But this time is the first time I've been back in almost...10 years. Wow. It's hard to believe, but it's true."

"Oh."

"Just oh? After I've poured out my life story to you? How rude." I say, getting more comfortable myself laying my head closer to the bedframe.

"No, no, no, no! That's not what I me-you're messing with me again."

"Hahahahaha!"

"It's not funny. I never know if you're serious or not. Rin always used to do that. I hated it."

Woah, touchy subject. Let's find out more. "You grew up together?"

"Basically. She's practically my sister. We're both 'only childs' and our fathers always had business together until one day they didn't."

Well, she is your sister. How could she not know? Or even more questionable, why hasn't anyone told her? "But you're not involved like Rin is?"

"Hahhhh, no. And that's why she gets all the attention. Even from my own father. It's not good enough that she has one but takes mine too."

"But Rin seems to think of if it differently. Her father only has her around as a business aspect and your dad, well, kind of hates her for some reason. And take it from me, I don't think her dad would get 'Father of the Year award'. Not to me at least."

"You met him? Shindo-san?"

"Is he that informal?"

"No, but his wife, Rin's mother is a Westerner. They kind of embraced a lot of her values. But wh-wait-wait-wait. When did you two meet?"

I feel she's honest enough to get the truth. Especially since I want the truth from her. I'm going to need to be as honest as I can. Well..."Maybe a few weeks ago. We went out to dinner, the three of us. Her mom was supposed to join us, but she didn't."

"Figures." she sighed, but ironically. They both seem to agree about her mom at least. "Never liked her and truthfully, I don't think I will. She changed him. A lot. Maybe I shouldn't say so much. After all, this is family stuff."

No, please. Keep talking. I have no ulterior motive at all. "But what does that have to with Rin?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why do you two have two totally different perspectives on her upbringing?"

"It's cause, I don't know, to me, I don't know. She just seems ungrateful. I told you last time. All the paintings you saw in my house were hers."

"But they were only in your room."

"He called me that day to say that she may be coming by. He does that every time she comes, and it pisses me off."

"Does what?"

"Tell me to take down her photos and paintings. It's like he wants her to hate him."

Ah.

I get it.

"And every time, the moment she leaves, he puts them right back up again. I'm sure she sees it, she's not stupid. It's like, I don't know." She laid flat on the bed, her face pressing up against my shoulder. "Why does he act that way with her? But he barely says a word to me. It's cause she went to school to study business, learned a language or two and thinks she's something. She was the one interested in fruit, not me. I'm the one in fashion school, trying to start my own career and here she is a better artist than me! I admit, I envy her. I can't even speak English."

"It's not necessary to speak or learn it. But, well, I understand. It can be frustrating trying to vie for the attention from someone you expect to get it from."

"Right!"

"And it doesn't really seem like she tries to do it. Rin was just fortunate enough to have the same interests as your family. As strangely connected as it is. Did you make that?" I ask her, lightly tugging on her shirt.

"HEY-and yes! Be careful, I only have this one." she pouted.

"Well, I like it. You have your own talent, and so does she. Why not see each other for who each of you are."

"What did Rin tell you about me?"

"It doesn't matter."

"It must not be anything good."

"Not true. She thinks you're the only person she really cares about."

Her eyes widened, but she quickly turned away. Don't hide the affection!

"Really?"

"I think so. Based on what you've said tonight, you have a lot more in common than you think."

She turned towards me, dazing for a few seconds before she finally said something. "You know, I'll admit. I haven't always treated her the best and I've done some things I regret, some I don't. But above all, there's one thing that really makes me feel, strange."

"What's that?"

"The fact that she has you."

Oh shit. I knew it, but I didn't want her to say it. Sign here if you saw this coming. "Oh, well, you know. She doesn't "have me". No one does actually."

"It's obvious, you're in love with her. The other times I got with some of her boyfriends were to prove I could do it, but I just wanted her to talk to me. She was always on the road, with my dad or doing something that made him talk about her. Going to Russia, tending to the family business. It's sickening, but I was so proud of her. I love her so much that I can't stand her sometimes. If I had an older sister, I'd want it to be her." She whispered, putting a finger on my chest. "That being said..."

In that moment, she pressed her lips against mine, and shamefully, once again, I didn't stop her.

Love is complicated, okay?

***