Haru

It wasn't long when I found myself, along with Aiden, immersed in the hot spring after we had washed ourselves clean in the shower with the essentials provided. The water temperature was perfect, easing my aching muscles and joints from the days of traveling.

I sighed as I relaxed back against the side of the rocky pool on the opposite side of Aiden.

"Feeling better?" Aiden asked.

I nodded. "Hm. Much better."

I was just enjoying the peace and quiet, when suddenly, noises came from the sliding door of the suite.

"Whoa! Awesome." It was Isaac, and he sounded, as usual, excited. "Bro, Haru, you guys are already in? Why didn't you call me?"

"Isaac, you're so noisy." I heard Noah's voice next.

I turned to see Isaac, stark naked, rushing into the pool. "Jesus! It's cold out here." Then splash, which followed by a satisfied sigh. "Ahh… It feels so good in here."

Noah, also naked and with a tiny cloth covering his front, came into the pool as well. A few moments later, Mason, followed by Reo and Connor, joined us.

I had just only recently gotten used to this, bathing in a hot spring pool with all my brothers and Connor—naked—since we had stayed in a Japanese inn back in Kyoto a couple of days ago.

Noah sat beside Aiden, and both had their eyes closed, looking like they were simply enjoying the pool. Next to Noah was Connor, and then to the left was Mason and then Reo.

Isaac was heading my way on this side of the pool, and I knew he was up to something, like usual. When he was close, he started splashing water on me.

"Isaac!" Since I couldn't help myself, I splashed water back at him. "Take that!" I hauled a handful with all my might, throwing the mineral water his way. I thought I had gotten him good, but Isaac wasn't backing down. He did the same to me, and suddenly, we were tackling each other in the pool like a pair of pro boxers, laughing our heads off.

"They're still acting like kids," Noah said from the across the pool.

Isaac paused his attack and turned to Noah. "Who are you calling kids, Noah?" he said as he gathered water.

Noah stared, his gaze zeroed in on the water in Isaac cupped hands. "Don't you dare, Isaac, you rascal."

But it was too late. Isaac splashed water at Noah, who glared at him. Beside him, Connor cracked up laughing loudly, though that didn't last long because Isaac splashed water on the man, too.

Isaac's joy came to a sudden halt when he noticed the dark look on Connor's face. "Shit," he said.

Yep, shit was right, and it was about to hit the fan. I chose that moment to make my escape. A showdown was about to begin, after all, and I didn't want to be in the way.

I found myself sitting beside Aiden, whose eyes were twinkling. He had a big grin on his face, too.

He stroked back wet hair back from my face and said, "You having fun?"

I chuckled. "Yeah. Haven't done that for a long time."

He pulled me to him and kissed me on the lips. It was nice, and I melted in his arms. God, but I felt just so happy.

I heard Noah said, "You two, stop being lovey-dovey in front of us."

Aiden terminated the kiss and I reluctantly moved back.

Reo said, chuckling, "You sound jealous of the two of them, Noah."

Noah said, "They're the only two in our family who have somebody. Of course I'm jealous as hell."

Aiden raised a brow. "Jealous? I didn't know you were jealous of us, Noah. That's news to me."

"Me, too," I said.

Mason said, "It's not like you can't get yourself a girlfriend, Noah, considering your looks."

Reo nodded in agreement. "Most are only too willing to go out on a date with you."

Noah said, "A girlfriend is too much work."

Reo said, "Then a one-night stand?"

Noah waved Reo's suggestion aside. "A one-night stand is a pain in the ass, and I don't go and spend the night with just any random girl. That's not my style."

Mason said, "You're a lost cause."

Noah chuckled. "I am, aren't I? Though I don't mind that."

A loud scream suddenly erupted, and I turned to see Connor tackling Isaac in the pool, with the boy demanding Connor to let him go at the same time begging us for help.

I considered saving Isaac, but knew I'd only get tackled as well, brutally, by Connor's hands, and so decided to stay put, to save my own hide. Naturally, the others wisely did as well since they didn't want to ruin Connor's fun. Isaac was a hot mess and his skin was all red with bruise marks by the time Connor decided to let him go.

"You left me to die, didn't you, Haru?" he moaned to me some thirty minutes later when we left the pool, with small towels wrapped around our waists. "I begged for help and you wouldn't even save me from that bastard's brutal hands."

I scratched my head as I said, "Sorry, but I figured I'd only get in the way."

"Get in the way of what?" Isaac demanded. "Of Connor finishing me off?" He was seething now. "I swear I'll get him back for this. My skin is all bruised."

"Well, your skin does bruise easily," I said.

"How long are you going to continue bitching about Connor, Isaac?" Aiden said behind us. "Get dressed. Dinner is being served soon."

After rinsing ourselves off in the shower room, we changed into a dark green yukata provided by the hotel and headed into the living area. There, two Japanese male staff were already setting everything up, with three low tables being joined together, along with an array of delicious-looking food arriving behind us. This was definitely kaiseki to the finest, with the star ingredient being wagyu beef. Nice.

"Whoa! Looks awesome," Isaac said. "Wagyu beef. I'm in heaven."

"Me, too," I said, and we eagerly took our positions on the floor like two obedient little boys, waiting to be served. We must have amused Aiden because he cracked up laughing.

"What are you laughing about?" It was Noah who asked that question as he entered the room.

Aiden said, "Them."