Amber showed the three girls to their room and just managed to return to deck when she saw the final group get on the ship. The two women shared so many physical distinctions, it was easy to guess they were related. They were Japanese, had long black hair and were dressed rather conservatively in silk kimonos. The only difference was the approximately 20-year age difference. Amber had to do a double-take at first; it felt like she had suddenly gone back in time.
She recovered, put on big smile, and approached them. "Hi there!" Amber said with a grin. "Welcome aboard the Gemini!"
"A pleasure to meet you." The younger woman, about eighteen, bowed slightly. "Thank you for having-"
"Is this yacht pest-free?" The elder woman interrupted rudely. "I won't abide by any rodents in my room."
"Um?" Amber replied, caught a little off-guard. "Of-of course not! This yacht is of the highest quality!"
"Hmmmph." The older woman sniffed. "We shall see about that."
"I apologize." The younger woman stepped closer. "My mother is very set in her ways and abhores change. She has been expressing nervousness about this trip for a week. I assure you she won't be this crabby the whole time." The mother snorted again, but said nothing. "My name is Azuri Hotaru, but please just call me Hotaru. My mother is Azuri Fuuka."
"Well, I can promise you will both have a wonderful time aboard my fine ship!" Amber beamed, radiating more of her natural charisma. Hotaru smiled back, but Fuuka did not.
"Well, let me see my room!" She said impatiently. Hotaru gavce Amber an apologetic smile, but Amber was already in good spirits.
"Okay, then! Let's go!" She said and led them below deck as they passed by one of the other rooms, the door opened and the two scruffy boys poked their heads out. Fuuka looked disgusted at their appearance, and turned her nose away. Hotaru looked back, got red in the face, then turned around and scuttled after Amber and her mother quickly.
"Oh ho ho, man." Scott said, laughing. "Did you see that girl there? Hot damn! I call dibs!"
"Dibs?" Dirk asked. "What the hell, man? She is not a car seat or favorite game controller. You cannot call dibs on a girl!"
"Why? Do you want her?" Scott asked slyly. Dirk grumbled and turned away. "See? What did I tell ya? You just needed to get a good look at the choices before you'd be drooling all over yourself."
"Forget it." Dirk said. "Did you see she was dressed in a kimono?"
"I couldn't tear my eyes away, dude." Scott grinned.
"She is most likely a traditional girl who would not be interested in some week-long fling." Dirk waved his hand. "Besides, she is with her mother and she did not seem to be the most amiable matriarch."
"Yeah, that was one mean mama. But that makes it more excitin', don't ya think?" Scott asked.
"I give you four days before you are thrown overboard." Dirk crossed his arms.
"It's a bet. Now let's go meet this other group of girls. Then we can decide who's gettin' who." He saw Dirk's exhasperated look and shrugged. "What? Broken heart or not, I'm not just going to sit back and let you lay claim to all the fine ladies here. Don't worry, you can have first picks." With that, Scott left the room. Dirk sighed and followed behind him. |