Round Ten - Nakamura 3

The first thing Yuki did when she and her sister moved into their new apartment was call her girlfriend, Zara. Sure, she still had a few feelings for Ruth Knox, but Zara was her real love.


Junko didn't have any such distractions and was much more concerned with how bare the apartment was. Wasn't it supposed to be fully-furnished?! The landlady had... embroidered the truth a little.


Other things they had to get used to included the fact that their neighbours were a little... peculiar. More than one time they ran into James or Jill flirting with people right in front of their horrified daughters!


Junko appreciated the fact she was now a little more free to go clubbing. It was on one such outing she met Alvin Nott, and sparks flew instantly.


They went on a few dates and both became more and more sure of their feelings; they were in love, something neither of them had really expected.


It wasn't long before Alvin was visiting her at home. He wanted to get to know Yuki and Zara. The four of them had quite a few home-cooked meals together.


Things were going so well that Junko was even beginning to talk about moving in with him.

"Isn't that a bit sudden? I mean, you've gone on a few good dates, and he's come around for dinner a few times..."


"I know it might look a bit quick, but... it's the way he kisses me! It's like we were Meant To Be."

Yuki sighed. The sceptic in her was worried, but she didn't know how much of that was jealousy that she was going to lose her twin to some guy.


But she couldn't avoid the inevitable. Junko went to live with Alvin, and as she waved off the taxi Yuki tried to hide how upset she felt. She wasn't sure how to cope with living on her own. Maybe now it was time to bite the bullet and invite Zara to stay a little more permanently...

Round Ten - Straight

Cameron was taking his studies very seriously. In between that and his part-time job at a building site he had no time for romance.


Lisa and Taylor weren't about to let the fact they were old and grey get in the way of their lives. They spent every free minute painting or working on pottery.


Caitlyn also loved arts and crafts, and her creative abilities didn't end there. She was getting pretty good at playing the violin, too!


Douglas, on the other hand, preferred lazing around.


It wasn't long until Douglas and Caitlyn hit their teens. Douglas dragged Cameron out to a café to meet up with their big brother Ewan, but he seemed more interested in talking to Junko Nakamura than to them. It was worrying.


Caitlyn was just glad she was finally old enough to use the pottery wheel.


Note: One of Junko's turn-ons is fat, so thanks to Ewan's sudden weight-gain she's now got two bolts for him?!?! Stay away, Junko, stay away. There is already too much drama there...

Round Nine - Nakamura

Things were going well for Yuki. She asked Zara on an official date and it went amazingly well.


So well, in fact, that she asked her if they could go steady. It was more of a big deal than it would have been a few years ago - they were both graduating soon and would be adults. They were serious about each other.


Nobuo and Sachiko reaching elderhood hadn't curbed their amorousness, and Junko was more disgusted than ever. Old people! Old people KISSING! EW!


Sachiko had heard about Shiina's relationship with the handsome (and very rich) Gabe LeTorneau, and wasted no time in grilling her about it.

"So, when are you going to marry him?"

"MOM! He hasn't even proposed yet!"

"Well, you'd better make sure he does it soon. You're a single mother, you're lucky to have made such a catch..."


Junko and Yuki both graduated high school and grew into beautiful young ladies, but their boisterous and occasionally childish behaviour when together didn't die down. They still loved playing "Punch You, Punch Me."


But their childish dreams couldn't last forever. The house was far too crowded so they decided to move out together and find a snazzy apartment while Yuki made her way up the Oceonography career ladder and saved up for a proper house.


Hiro had reached the top of his chosen career - he was a sports superstar!


Unfortunately his efforts in the making-a-family area were not proving as successful as his efforts in his career. Destiny still wasn't pregnant and was getting a little upset about it. All she wanted to talk about was babies!


Thankfully, keeping on in their quest and trying for a baby was a lot of fun.

Round Eight - Nakamura

Sachiko may have been a mother of four and soon to be a grandmother and a mother-in-law, but that didn't mean her cooking skills had gotten any better over the years.


Destiny was integrating well into the Nakamura household. She had been worried that Yuki and Junko would resent her for taking up space but they were quick to dispel her worries.

"Are you SERIOUS?" laughed Junko. "Seriously, you are, like, the coolest sister in law ever. Plus it's not like me and Yuki are going to be hanging around here forever. As soon as we're done with school we're out of here. Nice apartment in the city and all that."


Destiny got on well with Sachiko, too. They shared important life goals like not wanting to get a job and hanging around the house all day in skimpy nightdresses.


Yuki was dealing with the failure of her "relationship" with Ruth Knox by throwing herself into work, as usual, but Junko had made a promise that she wasn't about to break. She was throwing a party, and it was going to be one to remember - for Yuki as much as for herself. Yuki wasn't unaware of what was going on. They were twins, after all, and she had seen Zara around and thought she was pretty.


The party wasn't BAD, as such, although Junko couldn't help noticing that Noah was more interested in playing pool than talking to her. Still, hanging out with her not-quite-boyfriend wasn't the point of the evening. She let things run their course - Zara knew what to do.


Yuki went outside away from the hustle-and-bustle of the party, hoping to do some gardening or just ANYTHING that would keep her mind off things, and Zara sensed the perfect opportunity to make her move, surprising her with a kiss. Yuki didn't object.


"I'm sorry," said Zara quickly. "That was rude of me. I - "

"No, it's fine." Yuki smiled widely for the first time in a while. "Shall we go back inside?" She held on to Zara's hand and squeezed tight.


The next day, Junko decided to try and get a straight answer out of Noah.

"Look, are we boyfriend and girlfriend or not? 'Cause I like you, but if you're just going to be a cold fish - "


"I'm sorry, Jun... I like you, but I don't love you. Not like that. We can still be friends - "


"No we can't. Jeez, Noah, you don't understand girls at all, do you?"

"I - "

"Save it. I'll call you when I feel like it."


Despite all the teenage angst, Hiro and Destiny's wedding went ahead as planned. They got married overlooking the sea and both their families were there, although little Adam seemed slightly judgmental about his half-brother's choice in formal wear.


It was a happy affair. Ewan was best man, of course, and Junko and Yuki were bridesmaids in matching dresses of contrasting colours - all very fitting for everyone involved.


Hiro's treatment of the wedding cake was slightly unchivalrous, but that was Hiro and Destiny for you - playful til the end, perfect for each other even if other people didn't quite get them.


But even a wedding couldn't keep Sachiko and Junko away from the pool table for long...


Note: Sorry for this seeming so disjointed, a lot happened and it was hard to keep up! I can't wait until the twins are old enough to move out, I hate having this many people around but it would have been just as crowded in the Davies/Knox house if Destiny had stayed :(

Round Eight - Knox

The years were catching up with Kaylynn and soon she couldn't hide her wrinkles anymore. She'd been covering up the stray greys in her hair with dye for a while but it seemed like a lost cause so she gave up. She'd never been a vain person, always much more concerned with family, but it was still a shock to her to see an old lady looking out at her from the mirror.


Thankfully getting older hadn't hindered her quest to find love again. She was casually dating a man her age; she didn't expect it to lead to marriage, but it was nice to have the company now the twins were getting older.


Noah wasn't quite as lucky romantically. Sure, he liked Junko... but he wasn't sure he loved her. He wasn't even sure he was all that attracted to her. It seemed like they were just together because they'd been friends as children. He had no idea how to tell her, though, and she took his indecisiveness as just him being his usual shy, studious self.


Another problem was that his mother was very keen on her. Noah could tell what she was thinking - "my little boy should marry her!" Noah didn't know if he ever wanted to marry anyone - maybe he was more suited to the bachelor life of a scholar. But he knew his mother would be heartbroken if she thought her son wasn't going to get married and carry on the family name, so he kept quiet.


Ruth was considerably more perceptive.

"Look, if you don't like Junko like that you should just admit it and get on with your life! It's a big world out there with loads of different people for you to date."

"Yeah, you'd know all about that," muttered Noah into his cornflakes.


Ruth DID know all about that. She hadn't been going out with Yuki at all lately - instead she'd moved on to the paper girl, Amy. She didn't see this relationship going anywhere either but she was only a teenager - why did she have to settle down?!


Ruth took frequent trips down-town, attempting to get into clubs despite being underage. It was on one such trip she met a very interesting lady indeed. She was quite a bit older, much too old for Ruth, but there was something about her that lingered in Ruth's mind...


...even if she did have a few weird habits.


Yuki had finally accepted that Ruth wasn't going to be her girlfriend, and could even almost stand it when she flaunted Amy at parties. She grinned and bore it, and strutted her stuff with Noah. It was a shame he wasn't a girl, really - they had a lot more in common.


Note: OMG A VAMPIRE that is all.

Round Seven - Nakamura

Life continued at the usual fun-loving pace for the Nakamuras. The pool table was getting a lot of use.


Thanks to Sachiko and Junko's sociable attitudes to life the house was almost always crowded to bursting point, and Junko's schoolwork suffered a little as she much preferred chatting to studying. But Yuki kept her on the straight and narrow, as ever. Junko wished she could spend more time with Noah and maybe make their dating official but it didn't seem like that was happening any time soon - he was so busy working!


"So, how are things with you and Ruth?" asked Junko. Yuki feigned ignorance for a moment but one look from her twin got her to admit it.

"We've... been seeing each other. I think I might be in love with her." She smiled. "But she hasn't called lately."

Junko frowned. She liked Ruth, but she knew her type. Yuki wanted someone stable and reliable who would want to stick around, and Ruth was NOT that kind of girl. She resolved to find someone better.


As it turned out, her friend Zara swung that way and had seen Yuki around. Junko wasn't entirely sure at first - Zara wore an awful lot of makeup and was a bit of a party girl.

"I don't know. I mean, what do you want to do with your life?"

"I want to be a doctor. Or a super-scientist. I haven't decided yet," said Zara enthusiastically. "Bet you didn't see that coming. Don't judge a book by its cover, missy."

Junko grinned. A smart girl would be perfect for her sister. She promised Zara she would throw a party soon and slyly introduce them.


Meanwhile, Hiro had decided to take the plunge, and proposed to Destiny while on a romantic dinner date at the most expensive restaurant in town. She was a little hesitant at first, not wanting to leave her family, but then she decided it was now or never. Plus, it wasn't as if she couldn't call, email and visit her parents and half-siblings whenever she wanted!


So Destiny moved in with the Nakamuras. Things were going to be more than a little crowded with four adults and two teenagers in the house...


Note: There isn't a photo of the actual proposal because I was waiting for Destiny to do the whole examining-the-ring thing, or at least look happy, but she looked MISERABLE. But she accepted anyway and got a good memory from it, so I guess she did want to get engaged after all.