Checking in.

[mythreemothers]

Her father's annual visit had actually be pretty recent, but that didn't stop the need to check up on everyone. Amiko put down her paperwork on her fledgling team long enough to call Misha.

"So what do you think of the Mets' chances in the coming season?"

Comments

[brother_bear]

"Excellent as always," Misha said, as always. His beloved Mets would always be the greatest, and every loss was a game stolen from them. "How are you doing, 'Miko? Still keeping Godzilla in check?"

[mythreemothers]

"Yes, yes, and even though Gojira is the only public threat in Japan, we are for some reason relaunching Big Hero Six. Almost Big Heroine Six, but that doesn't scan as well, and besides I did get us one guy. How are the littles?"

[brother_bear]

"One guy in a sea of estrogen. I feel sorry for the guy, I really do." He sat back and propped his feet up. "They're doing fine. Rose is raising hell. David's raising his eyebrows. Emmy is wanting to know why she has to go to school."

[mythreemothers]

"Oh, I bet you can feel his pain. And tell her somebody needs to be the brains in this family."

[brother_bear]

"His pain is a sad, sad thing," Misha said in his most sympathetic voice. "Tell him to be strong and take one for the team."

"Em really is the smart one. You can tell by the way her brain works. David kind of looks at you blankly, and Rose is instinct smart. Emily is brain smart. She'd love you to come for a visit when you can."

[mythreemothers]

"I'll try. I really will this time; I mean it." Amiko loved her family fiercely, but she just didn't like New York, or leaving her job for anyone else to do. But she'd do what she could this time.

[brother_bear]

"Dad won't let her out of his sight," Misha said, sober voiced now that they were on a Serious Subject. "She and David don't leave the country without him. He doesn't want me taking my two out of the country without him, and Hana's folks have been residents there for years. Maybe we can compromise. Somewhere in between for the holidays. An island maybe?"

[mythreemothers]

"Of course they shouldn't come here." Far too dangerous for far too many reasons. She didn't even put anything past Takeshi at this point; sure, he said it was just Misha, but any of of Logan's 'real' children might be tempting. "I can make it there ... although Hawaii would be appreciated if more things come up."

[brother_bear]

"A trip to Hawaii is always good. I'd even hit up Stark to borrow his place in the islands. Being a stepson has to have a few perks and he still likes me enough to keep me in the will." And load him down with a decent portfolio, stock in the company, gifts to the boys and Hana that are guaranteed to annoy him.

[mythreemothers]

"Someone finds it difficult to stop liking you. I'm shocked. Shocked, I say."

[brother_bear]

"What can I say? The fact that Takeshi doesn't like me proves just how likeable I am." He spoke cheerfully, but he was worried about her. She was so busy, worked so hard, and didn't take care of herself. Logan was both enormously proud and worried about the eldest of their hodge podge family. "What crazy thing does the government want you to do now? Are you going to endorse a line of action figures? I want one signed!"

[mythreemothers]

"Yes, well, when I take him down -- and I swear I will -- Doctors can study what causes horrible judgment."

But worrying fell to nervous giggles.

"...Action figures are unfortunately conceivable, especially with Kazumi on the team. Right now, they want face-time for the cameras, but training is still the real order of the day. I've got six people who are all better at working alone, all for very different reasons. A spotlight hog, a secret agent, a kid, a doctor, and quite possibly the world's second-greatest samurai." The greatest, with Amiko, was always settled. Forever. "Just praying I've got them more used to coordinating effort by the time the next big emergency hits."

[brother_bear]

"Any chance I can get some combat time with the second greatest?" Because adding to his store of muscle memory was always a priority. The /greatest/ had been added, and the wound had healed within an hour. "I need all I can get with Takeshi still breathing."

[mythreemothers]

"Next time you can make it over here, I can definitely arrange it."

[brother_bear]

"I'll sneak in and out. Emmy and boys won't forgive me, and Rose will try to strangle me with my own intestines, but I'll manage it."

[mythreemothers]

Amiko laughs. "Rose'll only do that because you didn't bring her. But certainly. You two can have a good workout and I'll break out my stash of German beer."

[brother_bear]

"Rose wants to visit so bad she's willing to put on Hana's suit and fly at Mach 8 to get there."

[mythreemothers]

Another laugh. It was nice to, really. "Oh, I'm sure. How soon do you think you can steal away?"

[brother_bear]

As long as she laughed, it was all right. He liked to hear Amiko laugh. It meant that whatever the reason she was calling, she was getting something she needed from it.

"I can get away by the end of the week. I may not be alone."

[mythreemothers]

"It'll be good to see you. Don't break any rules, of course. Laws, okay, if you really need to, but not rules."

[brother_bear]

"Yes ma'am. No Rules of Logan Spawn will be broken in the execution of this plot."

[mythreemothers]

"Good." Sure, she was a senior law enforcement official and all, but sometimes being a big sister came first.

[brother_bear]

"Especially since I'll be arriving without the aid of a passport."

[mythreemothers]

"Darn right you will. Have to minimize the warning flags flying up gods-know where."

[brother_bear]

"Heh, yeah. Stark just finished some upgrades on my stealth suit. I could sneak into your office without you knowing I'm there, it's that good. Not that I would," he hastened to assure her. Because that? Would not only be bad, it would be putting a sizable dent into Amiko's security.

[mythreemothers]

"Yes. Thank you. Once you can give me an ETA, I'd just suit up -- in my paltry, state-of-the-art government issue suit -- and wait for you somewhere conspicuous, so we can land somewhere inconspicuous."

[brother_bear]

"Yes ma'am," he said again. Because he liked to remind her that she was the big sister. "I'm serious about those signed action figures. I need a set, and the boys each need a set, and Emily. Probably David. And Hana's little brother."

[mythreemothers]

"You'll all be among the first to get them. My word as a daimyo." Sure, one didn't give such things lightly, but sometimes, being less stern about it didn't have to be a problem.

[brother_bear]

"Yes, Lady." Another smile, because it was such a cool thing to have a sister who was lord of her clan.

"I'll start Hana planning a family holiday in Hawaii and have her coordinate the dates for us. Unless New York goes to Hell, our schedule is pretty open. Yours will be the deciding vote."

[mythreemothers]

A lord whose idea of aristocratic excess was Swallows tickets, but being bad at the archaic stereotype didn't mean being bad at the job.

"Thanks, Misha. You're the best. Give everyone my love, and I'll see you here -- just not in my office -- in a few days."

[brother_bear]

"I will. We miss and love you. Take care of yourself, 'Miko. You're the only Amiko we have."

[mythreemothers]

"I'll remember that. You do the same. Goodbye, Misha."

[mythreemothers]

When she got off the phone, Amiko went looking for that second-greatest samurai. This time of the morning... still in the practice rooms. Definitely.

"Hajime-san?"

[getmedieval]

Good guess. Practice, and more practice.

"Yes, Amiko-sama?" he asks, immediately pausing from his drills.

[mythreemothers]

"Please excuse my interruptio; I wanted to talk to you," she says as she comes in. "I have a request, for a few days from now, and I hope you will have the time, barring unforeseen circumstances." Because in her job, and the one she was dragging all of them into, there were often unforseen circumstances.

[getmedieval]

"My job and my life are to serve, and given current circumstance, you are my daimyo. As such, it is not possible to interrupt, and if you require something, let me know. I will have time."

[mythreemothers]

"My younger brother is coming to visit in a few days. I may have gotten slightly... boastful." Amiko blushes just a little. "He'd appreciate some combat practice with you, to add to his collection of educational experiences."

[getmedieval]

"It would be an honor. I will try not to shame you."

[mythreemothers]

"Of course. I entirely trust you to handle him to the best of your ability -- without, of course, cutting his head off. That is one of the few things I am not confident my brother could survive." Her voice is the same, though there's a slight flicker of worry across her face. There are so many people, some so close to home, interested in testing Amiko's heartfelt belief that Logan and Misha are immortal. "Thank you, Hajime-san."

[getmedieval]

"It is a sparring match, I will be using a bokken, or fighting unarmed, as he chooses. He will be in no danger."

[mythreemothers]

"Oh, yes. Of course. While I am being unnecessarily paranoid, should somehow anyone outside this building ask, my brother's visit is not to be discussed." As extremely doubtful as it is that this needed saying, better safe than sorry.

[getmedieval]

"Understood." He doesn't ask why. He trusts she has her reasons, and it is to him to obey. "No one will hear a word of it from me."

[mythreemothers]

"Thank you. I'll let you return to your practice."

[getmedieval]

He bows. "Thank you, Amiko-sama. Before you go, is there anything else I can do to help prepare for your guest? And does he speak Japanese?"

[mythreemothers]

"He speaks it well enough. You two might have a bit of trouble understanding each other, but not much more so than most people these days. But," she frowns. "If he acts like a stupid American, he doesn't mean any insult by it. Just habit; he likes being underestimated."

[getmedieval]

"That is not a problem. One cannot expect perfect manners from gaijin. I am sure we can get some help in translation if needed."

[mythreemothers]

She nods. "I'd certainly be happy to."