Chapter 120 - Family Ties (1/2)

Yurika looked at Gray with a confused expression. She saw that he was glancing down as he picked up his pant legs slightly. Yurika followed his looks and saw the Super Mario socks Gray had worn.

”…” Yurika's silence scared Gray as he watched her anger build, but instead of yelling at him, she slowly calmed herself down.

”I should've expected this… this is just who he is… they won't know we're together yet. Yes, it'll be ok.” Yurika chanted to herself.

”Um… sorry?” Gray said sheepishly.

”If this was the real world I'd burn them as punishment. Now put the slippers on and let's go, follow behind me, try not to stare at my butt or anything.”

”It'll be hard not to…” Gray said with a grin.

”I know” Yurika smiled then glanced around to see that nobody was looking and gave Gray a quick kiss.

Yurika and Gray moved to what Gray figured was a reception room of sorts. Once inside, Gray looked around at the tatami room with amazement. The simple 10 tile room came with a black coffee table and several pillows for kneeling around it. The paper thin walls managed to prevent light from passing through them and had solid wood borders around each wall 'tile' adding a very pleasing accent the tatami tiles.

”Yurika! Welcome home!” a loud man's voice boomed as Yurika walked through the open panel door.

”Dad! I'm home!” Yurika ran up and gave the large man a hug.

Yurika's dad stood a little taller than Gray, but he was much wider than Gray and you could tell just from looking at him that he has had a lot of martial training. He wore a simple suit without a tie that one would probably wear to work on a casual day.

”Yurika, it is good to see you home again!” a soft spoken female was standing next to Yurika's father and greeted Yurika with a sweet smile but didn't open her arms like Yurika's father did.

”Mom, I see you are well, how has it been taking caring of Dad?” Yurika said with a grin to her mother.

Her mother smiled and Gray felt a little uncomfortable as he could see where Yurika got her looks. She wore a traditional Yukata with a pink flowery design and a thick waist band that made her look innocent and pure. As Yurika said earlier, her mother was of Japanese origin so she had jet black hair, which she kept tied up neatly behind her head.

Yurika seemed to be a little more reserved around her mother. This surprised Gray a little bit, as normally the best word to describe Yurika would be loud. Still, Yurika didn't appear to look at her mother badly, just without her usual energy.

”Your Father is a handful as always, but that's part of what I love about him.” Yurika's mother smiled affectionately at her husband and Gray could feel them getting lost in their own little world as they looked at each other.

”Same as always I see… Mom, Dad, this is Gray Wilhelm, a friend and captain of our team, I pointed him out from the promotional video if you can still remember that.” Yurika introduced Gray politely.

”A pleasure to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Winchester!” Gray said politely, he bowed slightly as he felt like he should try and mimic Japanese culture.

”Good to meet you as well!” Yurika's Dad gave Gray a warm greeting and offered him a firm handshake that made Gray think he was shaking hands with a bear. ”We've heard a bit about you and your team from our little Yurika here, I'd recommend her to you since you sound like a good man but she already has a fiancé.”

”Against my will…” Yurika muttered.

”Now now sweetie, we all needed to make sacrifices for the family.” Yurika's mother said softly, and then glanced at her husband.

”Come now my love, it turned out quite well you have to admit!” Yurika's father said happily then gave Yurika's mother a hug.

”True, it didn't happen right away, but I do admit we fell deeply in love over time. So it's not going to be the end of the world for you, Yurika” Yurika's mother said softly as she moved closer to her husband squeezed his arm.

Yurika pouted and crossed her arms then said, ”I'd still rather have it be my own choice.”

Both Yurika's mom and dad sighed, as if they've had this discussion before. Yurika's Dad apologized to Gray and said, ”Sorry about that Gray-san, the Winchester family had nearly been destroyed during the last great war so they imported men with desirable traits to try and restore the family.”

”Dear, don't tell him that! That makes it sound like my family discriminated to create designer offspring!” Yurika's mom squeezed Yurika's father's hand firmly to gently reprimand him.

”Ah, sorry my love, don't take what I said at face value Gray-san, the intention was to try and restore the family to its former glory. I guess you could say I lucked out since I would normally never get such a perfect woman!” Yurika's father said with a big smile as he looked affectionately at Yurika's mother.

”And don't you forget it…” Yurika's mom said with a soft smile as she patted her husband's hand.

”Well, regardless of the circ.u.mstances, you two seem very happy together so I see nothing wrong with it.” Gray said diplomatically.