Jason pointedly ignored when Tomiko pulled Alexander close to her, even though he knew she was just helping him. He didn't have to like it.

"Four miles?" he asked, just to clarify. He didn't wait for an answer as he turned and made his way out to the path and started to run. He didn't care if he went more than four miles. He liked to run.

She saw him run past her and kept pace with the boys, just ahead of them. Everyone except Jason who was lapping her again and again. She caught his arm as she went into the curve and smiled. She was about a mile away from everyone else. "Slow it down for a minute or two." She said quietly and flushed, sliding hand in his and turned her jog into a fast paced walk and checked her watch. "It's about lunchtime. How about we piss off my brother even more and eat out on the terrace?" She said with a smile, looking at his eyes, light in the suns view.

Jason blinked when she caught his arm, coming out of his tight running focus. He wasn't sure how many times he'd lapped the others... Four? Maybe five? Obediently, he slowed down to her speed and stayed next to her.

"The terrace sounds good," he replied. He hadn't noticed how pretty her eyes were before now... They were a clear, dark gray-blue, rather than brown. He was surprised at how much he liked the color. Then she slipped her hand into his. That surprised him even more, he hadn't expected that, but he didn't drop her hand.

"Good. Did you enjoy your american breakfast?" She asked and then pulled him onto the training ground where they had exited the gym at. This wasn't the fun part of her castle, it was the hard work part. The fun part was the maze and the center of it. The beauty of the gardens. She blushed, biting her lower lip. "My parents would be so disappointed. I'm supposed to marry Miko when I come of age." Tomiko said and shook her head. "My parents are old fashioned in a way the bloodline should continue. There isn't any royalty in your blood is there?" She asked and rolled her eyes. "They probably don't know how close I am to being 18 so no biggie there."

She slid her hand out of his when she saw her brother and the boys coming around the corner. "Lunchtime in a few minutes." She called out then turned to go into the house. She went to the kitchens where the women of the small area bowed. "Ladies, me and my guest Jason will on the terrace for lunch, treat the others as normal." She said and they bowed again as she left after refilling her water bottle. She took a drink and headed into the hallway to meet Jason. "Come on, let's sneak out for lunch." She took his hand and grinned.

"There's definitely no royalty in my background, as far as I know," Jason replied. "My parents aren't all that old-fashioned. I mean, they were a bit shocked when Andy said she was pregnant, but they took it well enough, and now we're all just waiting for her to accept Nathaniel's proposal. I still don't like him much, but... I guess he's trying to take care of her."

He walked with her out to the terrace. He didn't notice that he had no issues with keeping to her pace, rather than his own. He didn't mind walking slower with her at all.

"Sneaking out?" he teased. "I'm sure your brother would be scandalized that you were sneaking out with an American."

"He..." She stopped and touched his cheek. "It's not all about you being American, he's just making stupid excuses for why not to like you, when he probably does. Marrying me isn't his goal, he has a wife and kids in Europe but I asked him to return to help you all. I can't be a trainer and train myself at the same time. I needed someone to help relieve the stress." She said and then bit her lip. "It's not all rainbows and butterflies, knowing what he has to do to get this territory. My parents have given it to me, so he marries me or he kills me. Not greeeeat options, but for now, as long as he's training you well I'm not going to exile him again." She said and then smiled as their food was brought out. "Thank you." She said and the waitress bowed her head and escaped back inside. "The castle means very little to me, but the people... As their princess I have to protect them. I hope they know I'm doing my best."

"I'm sure they know you're doing your best," Jason assured her. "It's obvious you are." Sitting down on the terrace next to her, he cautiously wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He didn't hold her too tightly, so she could push him away if she wanted, but he still wanted to comfort her. "I do think you're trying to do too much by yourself, though. It'll end up burning you out."

She nearly jumped at the arm around her. But after a few seconds she decided she liked it and leaned into him,, moving even closer. She peeked at his plate and frowned. "Is it good? Bacon?" She asked and poked it with her fork. It was all floppy and she shivered. "It was probably not happy at all when it died." She muttered and speared a shrimp and slipped it past her lips frowning at his 'American' food. She rolled her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder. "When the time comes, they'll know just how good I'm doing, whether it's a lot or too little. And why do you think I have you guys? You're supposed to make it easier on me... And this helps." She said quietly, leaning on the arm just a little.

"Well, bacon is supposed to be crispy and delicious," Jason commented, poking the floppy, pathetic bacon as well. "When it's cooked right, it's good. Well, not necessarily good FOR you, but it tastes good." He noticed that she didn't pull away from him, and let her get comfortable. He moved his arm from around her shoulders to around her waist, so it was more comfortable for them both. "I'm glad I could help make things easier for you, then."

"You, personally, have made them hard and confusing though too. I'm not supposed to like men until I'm 18, or well, be intimate with them and now I have to practice resistance at the same time as teaching you how to fight, and keeping my brother away from you. Before he kills you. He can do it too, don't ask how." She said and then felt the warmth of his arm move from her shoulders to her waist and it was a good change. She liked it. "Alright, so, what do you want to know about me that has nothing to do about my small area of land or my family?"

"I'll just have to make sure he doesn't get me, then," Jason replied. He bought for a moment about what he could ask her. For a moment, he didn't have any ideas. Finally, he found one. "Why is it me you're interested in? Why not like Robert or something?"

"I've already thought about that." She said, taking a bite of her lettuce, after spearing a piece of shrimp with it. "I'm not sure why, but you intrigued me the most from the beginning. You didn't want to be here, I know you're almost brother-in-law and he told me you may be the one to watch for, and then he prophecized you here." She said quietly. "You're my kingdoms fate and let's face it, it's not like you're bad looking. If fact, I'd say quite the opposite."

"Not that you're stroking my ego or anything," Jason teased, though he had to fight back a blush. He was oddly plesed that she found him attractive. "I need to remind myself later to annoy my older cousin... He probably saw this coming as well, and didn't say anything about it." After a moment, he added, "Danny is a seer... And he's good at it."

"I must go to America someday, you all seem to be magical!" She said and slid hand across the one around her waist. "My parents adopted Miko and I. We... don't know where we came from, what family. For all we know, our families are the invaders, but we love who we love and I personally love my people. Japan's government won't touch us, they don't believe in old customs. So they just... ignore us. Oh well." She said and then turned towards him. "Thank you for not flaking out." She whispered and grinned. She'd managed to find the other side of him in just a day, she felt like she accomplished something great.

"I don't know why there are so many talented people in America," Jason said. "I come from a family of them, though it tends to skip a generation for us. There are other families where it's different, I'm sure." He pulled her a bit closer to him, but still gave her enough space to leave, if she wanted. "Neither of my parents have any powers, and none of my aunts and uncles do, but my cousins all do, and my grandparents do. I'm not entirely sure whether or not Andy's kid does or not, she hasn't said anything about it."

"Well that makes me proud to say I know something about your family that you don't." She said and as he finished his food she lifted his plate and lifted her naturally tanned legs over his. "The baby is a seer." She touched his cheek, hoping he was smart enough not to try something. "So... In America, is it as crazy as the movies show? Like car chases and bombs and... everything?" She asked, leaning in to rest her cheek on his shoulder.

"Great, more seers," Jason said dryly. "As if my family doesn't have enough already." He shook his head a bit and let her lay her head on his shoulder. "I think you've seen too many action movies," he said. "America isn't like that. Tokyo actually reminded me of home, when we flew in. It seemed about the same. Home might be a little less crowded, in most areas, but still. America has its cities and towns and everything else. There's not much difference between here and there."

Tomoki blushed and shrugged. "I've never seen Tokyo, I mean I've seen movies I've had imported." She whispered and frowned. "What's a movie that shows reality? I can get those, that's what we need! On Friday, the end of the first week you all have been there, what about a movie night?" She asked and pulled back slowly. "Hey... You're the lucky one, you don't have to know things, you're not expected to." She said and touched his cheek and was leaning in slowly. This was romantic for her. Calm and peaceful until someone coughed. She jumped and flushed, glancing over his shoulder to see Miko and Alexander. "Awh... Uhmmm." She swung her legs off the male and stood. "Drowning lessons?" How ironic.

Jason jumped slightly, and turned to glare at Alexander. He understood Miko being angry, but why Alexander? He sighed a bit. Time to turn on the asshole again.

"What took you?" he asked, glancing at Miko. "I thought you'd find us a while ago. Or are you starting to get soft?" It was probably a bad idea to provoke him, but he couldn't help jabbing a little. He interrupted their talking, after all, and now he was going to make them go to drowning practice again. Briefly, Jason wondered what deity he pissed off in a past life to have to deal with courting a girl AND her brother at the same time.

Tomiko grabbed the boys arm and pulled him back. "Shut up before he kills you." She said and covered his mouth. She kissed his cheek. "Fine, drowning practice. We can do it out here though." She checked for the water basins around her. "Rules, no kissing me. And turn around. Miko, do your job." She was duplicated multiple times. "Turn around." They all said and she rose her hands and put a ball of water over their heads. "3, 2, 1..." They all said their hands lowered. "Which one am I?" She asked, or they all did. They all started moving, some in the back stayed focused, some talked to each other. She was one of the one's who stayed on the outside edge talking to herself quietly.

Jason shook himself out of the prison like he had the day before. He looked around at the duplicates and started to dash around, trying to trip or shove them. After the first two or three failed attempts, he noticed that the illusions seemed more static than a real person would be. Once he'd noticed that, he looked around quickly for the real Tomiko. Coming up behind her, he tickled her sides.

"Found you," he teased her softly.

She laughed as he tickled her and looked at the other boys. She released them from their bubbles. "Deep breaths boys." Her clones disappeared and she spun to look at Jason. "5 laps, superman." She said and then walked to Alexander to work with him on how to get out of the bubble. She cupped it over Miko and he showed how to cup air and bring it to his mouth. Then dip out of the bubble before it could reform. "Go join Jason." She said after he'd mastered it and then she turned to Miko.

"I like him, you got it? So back the hell off."

"He's making you soft." Miko said and water started rising and he rolled his eyes. "Stop the tricks Tomi!"

"I. Like. Him..." She said and moved to choke him as she pushed him against a wall with the water. "Don't fuck with him, or me. And maybe I am becoming soft, but give me a rest, I've been a big girl for far too long. I will get the enemy off my territory, you'll go back to Europe, Mom will come home, and I'm going to--"

"Don't you dare say America to be with those slobs!"

"--go wherever the hell I want, as long as it's nowhere near you or this idiocy. You will not have my territory, and you need me and them for it to be safe, and then you will have to kill me. Because I will NEVER marry you." She said and moved back, releasing him from the hold. "Go. Laps. Now." She said, tears welling in her eyes, turned away from him.

It didn't take Jason long to run his five laps. He vaguely hoped that they would gradually move to longer routes, so it would take him longer to run the laps. Somewhere around his third or fourth lap, he passed both Alexander and Miko. He didn't say anything to them, figuring he wouldn't try to make things worse. Miko seemed to hate him as it was. He blinked when he realized that this must be the way he treated Nathaniel. Weird. He finished his laps a few minutes later, having passed the two once more before he did.

"This way." She whispered as she grabbed his hand, pulling him into her home. She pulled him into her room and rose the water wall. She pointed to his shoes. "Off." She said before tears finally slipped out. She moved to pull off her shorts, putting her in her bikini bottoms and she went into the closet, and changed out of her sports bra into the bikini top then put on a light, see-through dress but it made her feel more comfortable. She slid onto her floating bed then bit her lip. "Come here." She said and hoped he knew she just wanted him to hold her.

Jason toed off his shoes and left them where she pointed. She definitely looked upset... Carefully, he vaulted over the moat-like bit and onto the bed, wobbling for a second before he got his balance. He hadn't realized it was a waterbed, though in hindsight, he didn't know how he hadn't thought about it beforehand. Moving closer to her, he wrapped his arms around her gently.

"Now what's got you so worked up?" he asked softly. He definitely didn't like seeing her so upset. It made him angry, she shouldn't have to deal with even more on top of what she already had to.