HARU

Parting ways. Fuck, just thinking about it made me feel sick.

Yeah, I knew it had been me six months ago who had wanted to move out, away from everyone else simply because of my stupid angst, my forbidden love and desire for Aiden, thinking that it was just too complicated and that I couldn't tell anyone, let alone confess to Aiden. But, of course, deep down, I knew that I couldn't move out, didn't want to move out, away from them. I had just been arrogant. Now all that had changed. Aiden had accepted me and my love for him. Everyone else had accepted us and our relationship.

Damn, but it was all Uncle Jin's fault. He had brought it upon us. Why did he have to want Reo and me back in Japan?

"Have you calmed down yet?" Aiden asked.

I hadn't, but I nodded my head anyway. After all, I didn't want to worry the others.

"Then let's head back."

"Okay," I said.

The moment we returned to the living room, Isaac asked, "You okay, Haru?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry about before."

After taking my seat again, with Aiden beside me, Noah said, "If Uncle Jin is taking Reo and Haru back, then where does that leave us?"

Aiden said, "It's not like we have anything to do with that, Noah."

I noticed Noah flashing Aiden a dark stare, which was rare. He said, "It has everything to do with us. Reo and Haru are our family. What? He's hardly in contact with the boys and now he wants them back?"

Isaac agreed by nodding his head. "That's right. It's so unfair. We literally raised Reo and Haru." He turned to me, a big grin on his face. "Isn't that right, Haru?"

Well, he was right on the money there. They had raised Reo and me after Mom and Stepdad passed away.

Mason said, "Reo, why did you agree to move back here? I know Uncle Jin said he'd give you and Haru the company but you don't have any work experience yet."

Reo shook his head. "Haru and I will be inheriting the company but we won't be the ones running it until we're ready."

Connor asked, "Then why rush things?"

Reo said, "Like Mason said, I have no work experience, so after university, I'll be training here, working my way up properly, learning the ropes."

Isaac said, "You're gonna work here like the staff?"

Reo nodded. "I need to understand every aspect of the business, naturally." He grinned. "Aren't I great?" He even did a thumbs-up.

Well, I guess that was just Reo. He'd want to know everything there was to know about the business before plunging in.

He turned to me. "You take your time, Haru. There's no need to rush. You tell Uncle what you want. I'm sure he'll understand."

Once in a blue moon, Reo decided to behave like a proper brother, and this, surprisingly enough, was one of those times.

I nodded.

I spent the afternoon just lazing around, thinking, working on a solution to this unwelcome problem that had popped up so suddenly this morning. How should I tell Uncle Jin what I wanted? I wanted to be with Aiden, and yes, the others, but at the same time, I didn't want to disappoint Uncle Jin because he was the only blood relative we had left. He's old and frail, and he'd need Reo and me.

Shit! The more I searched for a solution, the more complicated it got.

It felt like time passed so quickly when you needed it to slow down, but alas, the afternoon grew late and Isaac called out to me, "Haru! Haru! Are you ready yet?"

"Yes," I said, rushing out the bedroom door.

I came into the corridor to see everyone, Connor included, was ready and wearing their new kimonos. Damn, but these guys were a bunch of hotties in those.

Isaac wrapped his arm around my shoulders as he said, "Let's have a great Christmas party!"

Noah said, "He's acting like a kid."

Isaac said, as we headed out the door, "You act like a sour old man, Noah. What's gotten into you?"

"Shut up," Noah snapped.

"Jesus!" Isaac turned to me. "You know what's wrong with him?"

I shrugged my shoulders. But perhaps, like me, he was affected by the news of Reo moving out next year?

Higa-san once again met us at the foyer and then took us up to the penthouse, since we didn't have access to the rooftop as we weren't part of the staff.

Uncle Jin's penthouse was lively the moment we stepped in, mainly due to Isaac being so loud in shouting "Merry Christmas, everyone."

In the living room, I noted a Christmas tree, which wasn't there before. In the dining room, there was an array of food on offer, which made my stomach grumble and my mouth water.

Obviously, Patricia Steel was present, along with a few other people I didn't know. Once we entered the living room, Higa-san made us line up near the Christmas tree like a bunch of elementary school students, which was rather embarrassing. What were we doing? Made to stand in front of everyone else like this?

Uncle Jin came in then and said, "Everyone, I would like to introduce you to my nephews, Ono Reo and Ono Haru."

Loud clapping ensued, and Isaac looked pleased at the attention we were receiving.

Uncle Jin then said, nodding to the others, "My VIP guests from America, Aiden, Noah, Mason, Isaac Davis, and of course, Connor Mathews."

Once the introduction was out of the way, Uncle Jin then proceed to make a speech, telling everyone that he was sorry for the late notice in inviting them to the Christmas party, as it wasn't planned. He also thanked them for their hard work for the company, and that was when I realized they were the staff, probably the heads of departments and managers of the company.

After his speech, Uncle Jin told everyone to enjoy the buffet in the dining room. Isaac yelled "Yay!" causing everybody to laugh.

I was about to follow Isaac to the dining room when Uncle Jin said, "Haru, will you come with me for a bit?"

Shit. So, it was that time, was it?

I nodded and followed him out the door.