The Shining Prince p1

When Tamiko first met the shining prince, he was sitting at her kitchen table and stood out as being entirely out of place in the room, or rather, in the whole country. At first, she even thought he was a she, his medium-length, red-brown dyed, spiky hair layered and cut to shape his smooth Asian, feminine face. His fashion was odd; he wore a white tank top with a green and white checkered button-up shirt over that was rolled up to his elbows, and washed out blue jeans that couldn't even fit her.He stood, scrapping their hard-wood floor and alerting her parents.
When he bowed his head slightly, she knew he was Japanese.
Despite being a rational person, Tamiko felt her pulse accelerate, especially since a glance her mom's way confirmed that she had been crying. Tamiko's mom never cried. She was a business woman who was never off the clock, hell, even as she stood beside the sink pretending to wash dishes, she was still wearing a grey pencil skirt and white blouse that was rolled up to her elbows. Upon seeing her daughter, though, she turned off the sink and wiped her hands on her skirt, turning to Tamiko. This action in itself scared Tamiko even more; didn't they have a maid to do that? Her mom would only do such things under extreme stress.
"Tami," her mom mumbled, giving a nervous glance to her husband with bright hazel eyes; wisps of her strawberry blonde hair were caught in her red lips, but she didn't seem to mind.
Tamiko followed her mom's gaze to her tall, all-Japanese businessman father. He was still in his navy-blue business suit, buttons done up and tie straight. Her dad's compsure was solid, his youthful face and short-clipped hair contrasted by his sharp, masculine features. There was no waver in his gaze towards his daughter, but he did not smile.
"Tamiko," he told her slowly, "this is Akihiko, you're older brother by two years."
Akihiko didn't say anything when Tamiko looked his way, and in that solid, hard-eyed gaze she saw her father and knew this was no lie.
"I see," she replied, lowering her gaze.
"You didn't have to say it so bluntly," her mother said slowly, her eyes shining.
"It's alright, mother," Tamiko told her, "let's all sit and discuss this?"
Her father nodded approvingly, "Let us move into the lounge so that the help can prepare dinner."
And being the well-put together family that they were, that's just what they did.
Their modern styled lounge left Akihiko with many things to look at, Tamiko noticed. He sat with a straight back on the couch beside her, while her parents sat in two arm-chairs in from of them, with a coffee table in-between. Coffee was served unobtrusively, and thank-yous and cups were exchanged before the conversation actually started. Neither Akihiko nor her father touched the cups, but her mom took to it like a deprived druggie.
"Would you prefer tea?" her father asked Akihiko.
"No, thank you."
"Very well," and he dismissed the help.
"Alright," Tamiko had been thinking for a while, watching her brother from the corner of her eye, she didn't exactly know how to feel, but she wanted to at least know the story. "I think I'm ready to hear this."
Her father cleared his throat. "Before I met your mother, I was married to a woman in Japan. We had a son, and due to certain personal circumstances I left Japan and married your mother."
"Don't forget to mention that you are still technically married to that other woman," her mother added, eyes like daggers.
"Yes," he replied, eyes closing for a moment, "you see, things are different there, if I had divorced Akihiko's mother, then they would have been disgraced and lived a horrible life."
"I understand," Tamiko said with a nod. It made sense to her, and what her father didn't want to say is that love had driven him away from Japan.
"How do you feel about this?" she made sure to ask her mom, because in all, it would affect her the most.
"I feel lied to, and hurt, but don't worry Tami because your father and I will work through this."
They were both rational people, Tamiko knew, but to hear her mother's reassurance calmed her down. Now all there was left to wonder was what to do about Akihiko. Her father had named him shining prince, and had continued to worry about him even after leaving Japan, probably even sending them money.
Her father opened his eyes, determination in his expression. "I will send divorce papers to your mother, Akihiko, since it seems she's giving up on trying to make a life there. And for my wife's sake, of course."
Akihiko merely nodded slowly.
"But why did she send him here?" she asked, eyes hard-set on her father.
To this question, her father actually looked ashamed, whether towards himself or Akihiko, she wasn't sure.
"It seems like Akihiko has been having trouble in university. She emails me frequently, especially to complain about him. But she is not a good mother, so I do not blame him. If anything, the fault is all mine."
A silence fell between the four of them, to which Tamiko again couldn't help but watch her brother. The only feelings she got from him were strange and foreign. From then on out she knew her life would never be the same.
To break the silence help came in, instructing them that dinner was ready.
"We will be there shortly," her mother instructed, and the almost invisible figure disappeared.
"There is something you should both know," she added, "and it is that your father and I have not had a chance to properly discuss what Akihiko will be doing. But I think it is safe to say that you, Akihiko, may find a home here, and we all will do our best to make sure you feel welcome."
To that, Tamiko saw him smile for the first time. "Thank you."