"Back home, Takahiro-san." Goemon's smile stretched wide as he bowed, standing to one side of the ramp leading down towards the Tokyo docks.

"Good to be home." Daisuke's face remained neutral as he bowed as well, standing opposite Goemon as Souma stepped between them.

"We are, and it is." Souma grinned at the familiar sight of his homeland, Voice and Fist falling in behind as he made his way down. It had been far too long since he was last home, his efforts in America seeming to always require more time than he had to spare. But now, finally, he had the opportunity to take. The foundations were in place, building upon themselves with only minor direction from the heir to the Takahiro clan as they wormed their way further into the framework of American life. Money and knowledge were beginning to flow like rivers now, and within only a few years it might even begin to rival the connections his father held in Japan. A more worthy accomplishment couldn't be found, the true testament of Souma's desire to see his family flourish, and to prove his competence as heir.

It was a good day. A very good day to be home.

[i]"Otōto!"[/i]

...And a very good day to see his sister...

[i]"Ane-sama."[/i] Grinning wider, Souma bowed deeply to Takahiro Ai, his elder sister who parted from the crowds to stand before him now. She moved gracefully within a rich blue kimono, an ebony sash helping to cause no small amount of concern among passerby, unaccustomed to a lady wearing dark -morose, almost- gowns in public. Her skin fair as porcelain and dark hair well restrained, she smiled with warmth and welcome towards her younger brother, who returned both in kind.

[i]"I didn't expect you to meet me here, sister."[/i] Souma fell in step beside Ai, the two moving as one towards her waiting cart as Goemon and Daisuke dutifully followed. [i]"You are not needed at the castle today?"[/i]

[i]"Well my good brother has done much for the Lord, hasn't he?"[/i] Ai offered him a quiet wink as he helped her into the cart. Closed from the outside world within, the siblings soon felt the subtle bumps and jostles of travel as Ai and Souma's followers took up the task of running the cart to the Takahiro compound. [i]"He couldn't refuse my request to see my brother for a day, could he?"[/i]

[i]"I imagine he couldn't."[/i] Souma chuckled at the thought, wondering how much progress Ai had made over the years he had been gone. Her charms had been instrumental in gaining favor with the nobility from the start, and while Souma and his father worked to further improve the standing of the clan, she worked to ensure their patron remained convinced to help them. [i]"No guards, though? He let you come alone?"[/i]

[i]"Why, my brother has capable guards of his own, does he not?"[/i]

[i]"That he does."[/i] Souma found himself enjoying the conversation more and more as time passed, remembering all the times they had spoken like this before. He was home again, well and truly. And it was good.

They passed the rest of their trip in casual conversation, trading questions for questions and needling one another as it was deemed appropriate. Something seemed off to Souma, however, as if Ai was hiding some delicious secret she desperately wanted to both tell her brother of, and withhold from him completely. 

[i]"It looks like we're here, brother, doesn't it?"[/i] Ai smiled wider than ever as the cart settled down, Souma already moving to step out, though with a sidelong glance that did not go unnoticed. [i]"What is it?"[/i]

[i]"My sister wouldn't be keeping secrets from me, would she?"[/i] Souma's mimicry of Ai's speech was met with crystal mirth from the older sibling. She gave her brother a light pat on the shoulder as he helped her down, Goemon and Daisuke falling in behind her -as was appropriate- as she led the way into the compound proper.

[i]"Just a surprise for you, brother."[/i] Her jovial laughter served as an announcement to the clan that Souma had finally returned, her words doing as much to intrigue her younger brother as they concerned him. [i]"You wouldn't want me to spoil it, would you?"[/i]