Past, Meet Present [Jacob x Lenn]

The break after the car ride, where Yumi and Chiru went to the hotel desk for a few minutes, was a welcome one for Jacob. The four of them had not been together for very long and he was already feeling the pressure of intergrating his family with the new woman in his life. The problem was going to be difficult no matter what, but with no preparation time due to the surprise visit of Yumi he was playing the whole thing by ear. Thankfully, the reprieve was enough for seemingly everyone to get their bearings straight so they could all enjoy the time together.

Before Yumi had come up to them, Jacob had stolen a quick kiss from Lenn for his own courage, and held her hand as the four of them left the hotel to walk to the cafe. The group took up a good portion of the side walk as they all walked side-by-side, with Lenn and Jacob on one side, and Chiru and Yumi on the other.

Yumi was making an effort to hear Lenn out, literally. As Lenn spoke, Yumi silently mouthed the words to herself in an attempt to decipher what Lenn was saying through her thick accent. Chiru seemed to understand Lenn fine, and was enjoying the sunny walk.

"I just can't believe how nice this place is. I'm totally gonna take some pictures."

True to her word, before Chiru herself entered the cafe with everyone else, she took some time to snap some pictures and selfies out near the beach. As Yumi sat down with Lenn and Jacob, she looked out at Chiru and smiled warmly, then ordered herself some tea.

"It looks like Chiru has really fallen in love with the island, huh?"

Jacob had taken a seat at the small circular table between Lenn and Yumi, with Chiru sitting across from him. From under the table, he placed his hand on Lenn's thigh, for both his own comfort and possibly her's.

"I suppose she's earned it after all the work she's put in back in Japan. Have I mentioned that she's going to the National Archery Championships?"

There was that hint of smugness again, as if she was trying to impress both of them.

"Yeah! She said that in an e-mail awhile ago. Damn. She keeps getting better at that. Hey, maybe she can show you some of her skills, Lenn."

"Yes. Maybe Chiru could demonstrate the fine art of archery to you. It's a little different from handling a gun, but I get the feeling you could pick up on the basics pretty quickly."

Jacob actually did wonder if Lenn had experience in archery, or if her expertise was limited to just guns.

Yumi had still not grown familiar with Lenn's speech patterns. Even right there at the table, she continued to wordlessly repeat back everything Lenn said to herself, though her mouth movements were properly minute and difficult to see. After a second's delay, Yumi seemed to realize that Lenn was complimenting Chiru.

"You bet correctly, Lenn. Chiru is easily the best in her field. I expected no less from such a gifted and well-groomed young woman."

There was pride in her voice as she spoke about Chiru and her abilities.

"She's really somethin'. I still can't believe she's growin' and getting better so fast."

There was a hint of sadness in Jacob's voice to balance Yumi's tone. Obviously he loved his daughter, and everything she was becoming. But the separation was keeping him from seeing and experiencing it first hand, with her. Soon Chiru would be a grown woman, and would no longer have need of her father. Jacob hoped he could be there for the big events at least.

Chiru returned just in time to receive her own crepe order.

"First the beaches are awesome, and now this place a crepe shop like this? I might just end up moving here when I move out."

"That would be awesome, Chiru!"

"Not until you finish your studies and training at least."

For a split second, there was a palpable tension hanging in the air between Jacob and Yumi after their opinions on the matter had been made. No angry expressions were exchanged nor any other physical hint of disagreement between the two. But the less-than-a-second of icy silence spoke volumes about the divorced couple. Chiru did not seem to notice, or she was already used to it.

"Of course. Of course. I don't plan on leaving unfinished business behind.

"Thatta girl. Hey. We were just talkin' about your sick archery skills. The Academy has a range. You think you would be up to showin' Lenn and I some of your moves?"

"Mmm... Sure! But first, you gotta tell me, Miss Lenn. How'd you meet my dad?"

Both Yumi and Jacob seemed a little stunned at Chiru's forwardness.

A part of Jacob was really hoping that Lenn would make up some story of how they met, or at least fudge the truth of their meeting. But from the sideways look he was getting from Yumi, it seemed she was equally interested in hearing the tale. Realisitically, there was nothing too bad about how he and Lenn first met, but it was also not the most flattering story, given the circumstances.

So when Lenn actually gave the true, if not entirely complete, story, Jacob's face turned a few shades of red. Chiru's eyes widened and she glanced at her dad with a bit of a twisted grin. The corners of Yumi's mouth turned ever so slightly upward in what could be called her version of a shit-eating grin.

"You met. My dad. In a nightclub."

Chiru shot a look at her dad.

"What were you doing in a nightclub, dad? Were you trying to pick up women?"

Yumi spoke up before Jacob could get a word out.

"Of course not, Chiru..... You're father was trying to pick up girls."

"Eeeeewww! Really, dad?! Were you trying to hit on girls way too young for you? At club? You weren't buying them drinks were you?"

Judging by their expressions and tone, they were "playfully" teasing Jacob. But his face grew redder still until he spoke up, a little louder than he meant to and sounding a little more defensive than he intended to sound.

"NO! *ahem* I mean..."

He still had a little smile beneath the red, so maybe he was still in on the joke.

"I was just lookin' for a place to relax that evenin', y'know? I had finally felt like I had settled myself here so I wanted to take a load off. I just chose a club at random cause I thought that maybe I could still enjoy it."

"You're too old for the club, dad."

"I know that now, angel. I was going to leave but then I saw Lenn and I thought it would be cool to strike up a conversation with someone who also seemed out of place there."

"... That does sound like you."

"Exactly. And then we just kinda... hit it off."

"That sounds so cute~ So what happened after that? I assume you got a few drinks in and then things got.... unmentionable?"

Chiru was wearing a toothy, wry smile even as Yumi shot her a blushing and disapproving look, and Jacob could only look away.

"I'm kidding! I'm sure dad treated you nicely, even IF he did get some drinks in both of you."

Chiru thought that Lenn's addition to the story of how she and her father met put a cute spin on the whole thing. Even though she had been teasing the two of them about whatever hypothetical sexual shenanigans they had gotten into that night long ago, she preferred to think that her father was a good guy in the end. Knowing that Lenn was still treated well even after she had hit her limit was sweet. But she got the distinct feeling that, as sweet and cute as it was, Jacob would have still felt a little cheated. Chiru was more or less aware of how much of a horn dog her dad was.

Yumi was even more so. Obviously she knew just as well as Lenn how Jacob's sexual appetite had not been dulled in the slightest by age. When Lenn gave her spin on the story, Yumi finally found herself becoming more accostomed to Lenn and the idea that she was dating her ex-husband. Jacob was a good man. He was not without his fault, but he was still a good man who could see the good in other people too.

"I had to tuck you in and everything. While I passed out on the couch."

"I see you learned yourself some manners then, Jacob. I don't remember you being so noble when we first met."

Both Jacob and Chiru glanced at Yumi, at first thinking that she was digging up some skeletons from their break up. However, Yumi was wearing the most subtle, sly grin ever as she sipped her tea, and there was a twinkle in her eye giving away the true teasing nature of her statement. Jacob personally recognized the look. It was the hidden side of Yumi, buried deep beneath all the layers of etiquette, that only managed to sneak out on rare occasions.

"Well, uh, I got better."

Lenn's suggestion to head to the Academy was followed by vocal agreements from everyone else. Yumi and Chiru were eager to see Jacob's place of work, and Jacob was excited to just hang out more with everyone else.

The car ride to the school, however, was an adventure unto itself. Chiru dominated the conversation as she bombarded Lenn with questions about her work and what she did. Apparently Lenn was pushed for so many details that she ended up just taking out her phone and showing Chiru, and Yumi, some of her cover pictures. To which Chiru squealed in envy and Yumi audibly gasped in surprise.

"Holy hell, dad! You're dating a suprermodel!"

"O-Oh my! This is the extent to which you undress, right? Nothing more. Right?"

Jacob sped up the drive.

Yumi was appeased for the most part after Lenn clarified her responsibilities as a lingerie model. Now to be clear, Yumi really had nothing against Lenn's chosen line of work. As far as she knew, it was honest and on the level. However, it was just so racy by Yumi's standards, to the point where it almost boggled her mind. She knew that underwear models, and other "models", existed. But knowing one personally was a big difference, and she was slightly worried about the influence it would have on Jacob and Chiru.

"I-I see. Well, um, that's good to hear. About your belief regarding nudity! Not about how Jacob can see you naked. Not that I'm afraid that he doesn't appreciate that."

"I think it's super sexy. Maybe you could do this too, mom.

"I-I... No, Chiru."

They arrived at the Academy in record time and Jacob only too happy to usher everyone onto the grounds so he could give a tour, with Lenn's substantial help. The tour was a great distraction from the sexy awkwardness of the car ride. Both Yumi and Chiru were enraptured by the beautiful campus. Even Yumi had to admire how clean and expensive everything looked.

"This place looks even better than the private school back home.

But Chiru was most impressed with the range. When they arrived, she had to run off and look at everything, including the provided bows.

"Yooooo! This place has everything! Look at these bows... This is some top of the line stuff."

Jacob was over by Chiru, with Yumi, looking at the bows when Lenn sprung her surprise at them. Looking up, it took a moment for all three of them to register what she was saying. Jacob was the first to realize that she was going to be a teacher at the Academy, and his face lit up.

"That's awesome, honey!"

He immediately ran over to her and gave her a big hug, and a kiss. It was amazing to hear that Lenn was going to start working with the kids. Teaching was an honest passion of his, and to hear Lenn taking part in it warmed his heart. His kiss lingered on her lips until Yumi cleared her throat behind them, and he broke apart with a gasp and a chuckle.

"Oh. Sorry. But seriously. That's great to hear, Lenn! When do you start?"

"Yes. That sounds like a great step-up for you."

"Yeah. Now you can spend more time with my dad. Though I hope I don't hear about any incidents of you two 'getting caught' while on the clock. You hear?"