Alinea

"Accident?"

Aki looked hesitant, but with Ryuu's go-signal, he explained. "While you were gone, someone from that other world appeared. He caused quite a big commotion and many people got injured and some died. The police declared it as a train wreck since it happened near a railway and trains fell on the normal streets. But it's really caused by that guy."

Eh? Something like that happened? But how? 

"He must have used the normal portals to come here," Ivan's voice rang as he entered the room followed by Gin. 

"Normal portal?" Alinea asked and then she remembered that aside from Stribog's portal, there were two other ways to get to Earth from Ged. Those were the same portals that brought the two old continents of Earth to the other dimension to become Ged. "I remember now."

Ivan looked serious as he scowled. "That's Strahl, the crazy second prince of Dhahliah."

Dhahliah, the empire that was starting a war against Cilan back in Ged. Alinea couldn't help but have a bad taste in her mouth hearing the empire's name involved in a massacre back there in Japan. It most certainly had to do with politics. Something must be very important had escaped there from Ged and now the crazy second prince went on a rampage to deal with it. 

This was getting out of hand…

"Ali, no matter what you might be thinking right now, there's nothing you and anyone here can do about it. Our hands are tied," Ivan said. "All I can do is to make sure the other kingdoms won't be involved or that if Cilan asked us for help, then Kres will."

Alinea was unwilling but she nodded. 

"In any case, the incident caused some kids to be orphaned. Shiro took one of those children under his wing," Aki said. "Chiaki and I are thinking of adopting one too."

At his words, Alinea suddenly had an image of her brother, Chiaki and little children surrounding them. This picture made her feel warm and she smiled. 

"We already have Taka so we'll probably adopt a girl this time," he added making everyone smile, the issue with Dhahliah and Cilan finally forgotten. 

In the following week, things were very busy. Gin was making sure Shiro would be ready to permanently take over the company while Ivan was busy running after Rin. Although Alinea and her other friends were amused by it, they didn't really have time to ponder about it since they had so many things to arrange and do. One was to submit the first ten chapters of the comics Alinea that she finally signed with the publishing company with Midori. 

Two weeks after they returned from Ged, Aki, Chiaki, Alinea, and Ryuu finally had the chance to go back to the Old Suzuki House to visit their grandfather. This was the night before Chiaki and Aki registered their marriage. 

"Grandfather, we're back," Aki announced as soon as they stepped into the room where the servants led them. 

A man with a full head of white hair sat on a reclining chair in the middle of the room surrounded by middle aged people and some youth. The old man's obscure gaze brightened up considerably upon seeing them. However, not the same could be said about the others. Aside from their grandfather, no one else seemed to be pleased with their presence in the house. But it was to be expected. 

"Aki, Ara," the old man happily called out to them as he extended his hand. 

Aki and Alinea crossed the room to take their grandfather's hand while Chiaki and Ryuu stayed behind to give them a moment. None of the relatives paid them any attention as they knew who Chiaki was while Ryuu wore a casual black shirt with jeans and a pair of thick-rimmed eyeglasses. He purposely made sure to look ordinary as he didn't want to expose his identity to the relatives. 

He was aware that Daizo did not tell anyone about Aki's and his wife's connection to the Homura House to continue being able to manipulate the rest of the greedy bunch. It's because as soon as they found out that Ara was now a Homura, they would of course abandon Daizo and stand by Aki's side. Until the day Daizo died, the relatives remained in the dark. 

"Grandfather, have you been well?"Alinea asked, totally ignoring the others. 

She had no fond memories of the piranhas and she would pretend they didn't exist for the elderly man. Well, as long as they behaved… 

But obviously they didn't plan on being nice. 

"Hmph! What a question after neglecting their grandfather for months," a middle-aged man who looked similar to Daizo spoke in contempt and both Aki and Alinea finally looked at them.

He must be Fumito, the second oldest brother. Just like Daizo, he was extremely jealous of Akihito's luck in business. He was on Daizo's side when the latter tried to take over the siblings and the company before. The woman next to him must be his wife and the young lady was his daughter. As for the other men and women, they were cousins of their parents and their children. 

The parasites. It's about time to deflate the egos of this nasty bunch. 

Aki turned his attention back to the old man, ignoring Fumito's words. He beckoned to Chiaki and Alinea also extended her hand towards Ryuu. The two joined them in front of the old man. 

"Grandfather, you already know Chiaki, right?" Aki asked and the old man smiled and nodded as his weathered eyes studied the lady. 

"Are you here to tell grandpa you're getting married finally?" the old Suzuki sounded delighted as he held Chiaki's hand. 

"That's absurd!"Fumito suddenly yelled as he stood. He pointed an accusing finger at Aki. "You are not to marry a peasant! You cannot bring that woman in the house!"

His voice rang with malice and the others snickered as they all looked at Aki and Alinea, waiting for them to lose their temper. But the siblings were already expecting something like this. 

"Fumito— quiet!" the old man suddenly admonished his son, but as he was a spoiled one, he disregarded his father's warning. 

"I will not be quiet! You are spoiling these two too much!" Fumito yelled, and his wife, placed a hand on shoulder as if to placate him. But the eyes she had as she stared at the siblings were as malicious as her husband's or worse. 

"You do not have to be so mad at your nephew and niece. They just lacked in guidance after losing their parents at a young age. I'm sure if we introduce Aki to better families to find his mate, he will change his mind."

"Thank you for your concern but we won't be changing our minds. I'm only here to inform grandfather of my marriage and not to ask permission from anyone, most especially you," Aki countered with an equally mocking tone making Alinea grin. 

Atta bro!

Fumito was taken aback. Since it was Daizo who normally sparred words with Aki, he had never experienced being attacked like this. "You insolent fool! How dare you say something like that in this house?"

By this time, Alinea's heart was full of mischief. 

"Oh, of course, we dare. The last time I checked, this house was bought by my parents for my grandfather. In which capacity and role are you ordering us around in our own house? Parasites have no right to meddle in our business. If you have complaints you either shut up or leave. You're not welcome here in the first place. You're all just thick-faced to live and act like you own this house."

"Y-You!" Fumito sputtered but there was nothing he could say to rebut what was said. 

The old man sighed. As much as he wanted to hold on to his family, he had to admit that his sons were the ones who were out of line. "Aki, Ara, I'm sorry about what was said," he said apologetically as he squeezed Chiaki's hand. "Please ignore what that ignorant son of mine said. I am happy to have you as my granddaughter. Call me grandpa, alright?"

"Thank you grandpa," Chiaki agreed and the old man looked satisfied before turning his attention to Ryuu. 

"And this young man is?" he inquired and Alinea was more than happy to answer. 

"Grandpa, this is my husband," she announced, eliciting gasps in the room. 

"You unfilial trash! From now on, you're no longer part of this family!" Fumito declared and Alinea's eyes glittered in amus.e.m.e.nt. 

"Sure! We're totally not related."

Ryuu then took this cue to remove his glasses, revealing his blue eyes that made the parasites turn pale as their eyes recognized him. 

"Grandpa, I'm Homura Ryuu, Ara's husband…"