Natsuko Fukazawa's Story

Morning at the Oyamada residence was quiet as usual. Koki woke up after his alarm clock went off for the third time after being placed on snooze. He jumped up, showered, and ran down to the kitchen after throwing on his school uniform. “I’m going to be late again!!” Koki yelled. His grandpa Katsuhito sat at the kitchen table not really fazed by Koki’s usual tardiness. Koki grabbed his lunch and headed for the door.

“Koki, don’t forget training after school!!” He called out in his scruffy voice.

The morning was most like all the others Koki had. His father had gone into the city office early. Koki’s grandpa was sitting at the breakfast table with green tea and his morning newspaper before going off to the shrine.. However he did happen to hear the loud crashing noise which seemed to be accompanied by the ground rumbling a bit. He wasn’t sure what it was but he was running late and didn’t have time to check things out.

“Ahh…. It’s hot today.” Koki complained to himself as he waited for the bus he usually took to school. “looks like I’m in luck. I didn’t have to wait longer than a couple of minutes!” Koki said to himself as he checked his watch.

He arrived at school after the 15 minute bus ride and to his class only a little later than the bell rang. He was scolded by Miss. Haruna and told to take his seat next to the new transfer student. Koki looked over to see a pretty and familiar face. “Natsuko…? That’s Natsuko!” Koki thought as he looked at the girl in confusion.

“Well… Oyamada-san hurry now and take your seat!! You’ve been enough of a distraction already.” Miss Haruna fussed. She was a pretty impatient teacher that always had to push Koki into putting pep in his step. Koki tended to loaf off in school. He jumped, startled, as Miss Haruna fussed and he hurried to his seat.

While seated and settled he looked over to the new girl who he thought to be his old friend. However he was nervous. He didn’t want to blatantly stare at her so he rolled his eyes as far as he could to their corners to access his peripheral vision. This hurt a bit so eventually he opted to turn and look at her instead. She caught him staring. “Oh, um…. Excuse me but, you wouldn’t happen to be Fukazawa Natsuko would you?” Koki whispered to the girl timidly.

"Natsuko! time to get up I need you to hurry I have to drop you off at school early so I can make it to the office in time" said a frantic female voice from the other side of the door.

Natsuko sat up in her bed and started rub the sleep from her eyes, morning were always like this in her house as far back as she could remember. She quickly swung her feet from the bed to the floor and started her usual morning routine of rushing. Natsuko had to maneuver around boxes that still hadn't been unpacked and she would probably have to work on once she got home and finished her homework. It was the first day of school and her mother's first day as the manager of the branch of her business here in Yokohama. They had only gotten moved in and it was time to get going, Natsuko sigh'ed as she dressed into her school uniform hoping her mother had picked up the right sizes.

The skirts was a little loose but that wasn't unusual for Natsuko her mother just told her that she hadn't "filled out" yet but Natsu felt that she might never look as pretty as other girls her age. As she went into the kitchen her mother was standing there hopping on one foot trying to slip on her shoe with one hand, piece of toast in her mouth, purse and briefcase in the other hand. A common sight in the morning for Natsuko.

"Natsuko there's some toast and juice if your hungry but we really need to get going. I think since this town is much smaller than Tokyo we might consider getting you a bicycle so you can just ride your bike to school" she said in a muffled tone since her mouth was full of toast.

She soon slipped on her shoe, Natsuko had grabbed a quick breakfast and they were out the door. As they drove Natsuko watched the scenery go by she had to admit that she was much more comfortable here in the country town of Yokohama instead of Tokyo. She sighed a little when she noticed the steps leading up to a shrine not to far from her home. Now Natsuko usually tried to avoid these places because many times there more spirits then she could handle at them. But if her memory served her right, her old childhood friend lived very close to one because his grandfather was a Shinto priest.

"Mama... do you think that's the shrine that Koki might live near that shrine?" she asked as the steps wizzed by the window.

Her mother turned and looked at her in the passenger seat, knowing what her daughter would go through if she tried to give into her curiosity. "Well dear that is entirely up to you it's not to far from our house so you could always stop there on your way home from school. But you might just run into Koki at school today so you might just want to wait on that trip" she said with a smile.

Natsuko nodded not so sure that it would be as easy there were more than one high schools in the area, so the probability that they would be attending the same school was lessened because of that fact. As they pulled up to the front of the school Natsuko grabbed her book bag, put it over her shoulder and opened the door.

"I don't know if I'll be home late or not being my first day and all, from what I've been told I have my work cut out for me. The person before me was fired due to mismanagement so I don't know what kind of mess was left for me to clean up. So I'll see you when I get home" Natsu's mother leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. And Natsuko waved as she watched the car drive away.

Now nervousness began to set in there was just a handful of students there this early but the fact that Natsuko didn't know anyone was nerve wracking for her. She quickly found her locker, changed her shoes, and made her way to her home room class. She slid open the door and was happy to only find the teacher in the class, Natsuko bowed to her respectfully.

"Good morning you're a new face you must be the transfer student Fukazawa, Natsuko... right?" said the teacher as Natsu came up from her bow.

Natsu nodded "Yes, Mam that's me" she said in her typical shy tone of voice.

The teacher nodded "That's good my name is Miss Haruna if you could have a seat just over there the other students should be arriving soon" she said pointing at a seat.

Natsuko nodded and made her way over to her seat and sat down, the teacher was correct and it wasn't long before other students started milling into the classroom. Natsuko was busy trying not to make eye contact with people was they whispered to each other about the new girl in the room. Most had taken their seats when a boy walked into the room.

"Well look what the cat dragged in, be glad you weren't late I would have hated to give extra chores after school on the first day" said Miss Haruna.

Natsuko blinked as she looked at the boy he seemed so familiar to her, but that wasn't possible she thought to herself. The boy looked at her with wide eyes as well as if he was recollecting something. But Natsuko didn't want to feel foolish asking him who he was. Feeling embarrassed for staring she blushed and looked down at her desk once again.

“Well… Oyamada-san hurry now and take your seat!! You’ve been enough of a distraction already.” Miss Haruna grumbled.

This made her blush even more and confirmed who he was. "He turned out very handsome didn't he" she thought to herself.

She sat there for a moment trying not to make eye contact with him as he sat down at the desk right next to her. But it wasn't long before he leaned over and whispered to her.

“Oh, um…. Excuse me but, you wouldn’t happen to be Fukazawa Natsuko would you?” he asked.

Natsuko nodded to him, her face a vibrant shade of red.

"Well now that everyone is in the class, perhaps our new student should come up to the class and introduced herself" said Miss Haruna.

Natsuko's eyes had a hint of fear but she had never been the type to disobey a teacher when asked to do something. She nodded and made her way up to the front of the classroom. People whispered some even giggled quietly as she got up in front of the class.

She bowed to the class and started to talk in her usual quiet tone of voice "Ohayo gozaimasu, my name is..." she's cut off by snickers around the class, making her blush even more.

The teacher puts a comforting hand on her shoulder "You need to speak up a little more dear" said Miss Haruna.

Natsuko nods and swallows "My name is Fukazawa, Natsuko It's nnice to meet you all and I...I... hope we can have a good year" she said only slightly louder than she did the first time. She quickly made her way back to her seat embarrassed totally as another boy in the class laughed.

"What was that I though I heard a mouse squeak" he said out loud as other students began to laugh with him.

"Enough! Daichi just for that you can help me after school today and if the rest of you don't want to join him I suggest that you refrain from making rude comments" Miss Haruna said with a sharp tongue and a glare as Daichi moaned.

Natsuko nodded to him, her face a vibrant shade of red. Koki’s face became painted with a wide smile. He simply couldn’t control it. Here she was, his old friend. He wanted to say more but Miss Haruna cut in. "Well now that everyone is in the class, perhaps our new student should come up to the class and introduced herself"

She bowed to the class and started to talk in a quiet tone of voice "Ohayo gozaimasu, my name is..." she's cut off by snickers around the class. Hearing the snickers of his peers made Koki frown. He always took a protective attitude when it came to Natsuko.

Miss Haruna put a comforting hand on her shoulder "You need to speak up a little more dear" she said.

When Daichi teased Natsuko Koki had enough. While Miss Haruna scolded Daichi Koki hit his desktop with his hands and shot up from his seat. He glared at Daichi without speaking. Everyone in the class was shocked and Miss Haruna paused before saying anything to Koki. Miss Haruna finally addressed Koki, “Oyamada-san what on earth are you doing? Take your seat at once!”

Koki finally came to his senses and peered around him to see that his classmates all stared at him oddly and a few looked scared. Koki never had outbursts like this before. “Hontou ni Gomenasai!!” he apologized as he bowed three times then quickly sat down. Class continued normally after that.

After school Koki waited around to walk home with Natsuko. He couldn’t wait to catch up on how she was doing. She looked so pretty and he had to realize that looking at her caused him to get nervous a little. He saw Natsuko exiting the school building. Koki took a deep breath and ran up to talk to her.

“Hey Natsuko! Long time no see!! What are you doing here and Yokohama?! Gosh it’s been too long!” Koki rattled off questions anxiously. He was so excited to see her.
“Perhaps we could go home together? OH WAIT!! I Mean…. Perhaps I could walk you to your home, where ever that is?” Koki was behaving like a bumbling idiot but he knew Natsuko of all people would not judge him, she just wasn’t that type of person.

Natsuko was leaving her last class for the day, she had managed to stay off the radar of other bullies like Daichi for the rest of the day and was grateful for it. As she made her way out the front door of the school, she knew she was in for a long walk home.

“Hey Natsuko! Long time no see!! What are you doing here and Yokohama?! Gosh it’s been too long!” Koki rattled off questions anxiously.

Natsuko smiled at him he really hadn't changed much over the years.

"It is good to see you as well Koki I wondered when I might run into you. My mother's work just transferred her here to the office in Yokohama, and well she's manager there now so we'll be here for sometime, perhaps even for good" she said in a natural tone of voice. Koki had always been the only one she didn't feel terribly shy around which is one of the reasons she had missed him so much.

“Perhaps we could go home together? OH WAIT!! I Mean…. Perhaps I could walk you to your home, where ever that is?” he asked.

She blinked "Koki it's a very long walk are you sure... and what if it's in the opposite direction that you live" she said with concern for him. She didn't want him to exert himself because of her. But on the other hand she would love for him to walk with her, just so they could talk and catch up.

"There's a shrine not to far from where I live perhaps it is the one you live near?" she describes the area to him hoping they might live close to each other. As the walk along she wonders what his life has been like since he moved. How his father was and how he felt about living with his grandfather. So many questions running through her head.

She smiled at him he really had turned out to be a handsome young man, the thought made her blush slightly, her attraction to boys had been few and far between. But Koki was someone she knew wouldn't hurt her, perhaps they might... she shook the thought from her head becuase it was making her heart pound in her ears.

---

"Ahhh Dammit!, just stay in the air a little bit longer Ryu-Ohiki" hollered the space pirate as he tried to keep his ship from crash landing. It was no use though the fight had just damaged the ship too much and it was on it's way down.

"Meow... meeow" said a sad little voice that filled the cockpit.

"I know your tired and hurt but crashing down somewhere isn't going to help especially if I get hurt" he grumbled as he accessed the control panels all around him.

Soon the ship was knocking over trees and in a heavily wooded area and then impacted with the ground. Ryuichi head hit the panel in front of him and he fell unconscious.

After a short while he sat up rubbing his forehead "Ow that hurt, I'm gonna feel that in the morning" he said trying to un-befuddle his head. Looking around he finally got up and exited the ship. Looking around he realized he had crash landed in a heavily wooded area.

"Where the hell am I?" he asked himself.

Koki Oyamada

"It is good to see you as well Koki I wondered when I might run into you. My mother's work just transferred her here to the office in Yokohama, and well she's manager there now so we'll be here for sometime, perhaps even for good" Natsuko said.

“Perhaps we could go home together? OH WAIT!! I Mean…. Perhaps I could walk you to your home, where ever that is?” Koki asked asked.

She blinked "Koki it's a very long walk are you sure... and what if it's in the opposite direction that you live"

“Hmm… Well no worries. You’re new here and I’m sure you could use an escort home. Besides it’ll be great catching up with you Natsuko. I know Yokohama pretty well so I can always find my way home. If I get lucky we’d live nearby each other.” Koki chuckled. He wouldn’t, not walk Natsuko home had she paid him not to. He was very excited. Koki had friends at school but he generally didn’t hang out with anyone. He simply kept to himself after separating from Natsuko.

"There's a shrine not too far from where I live perhaps it is the one you live near?" Natsuko inquired.

Koki scratched his head and it was tilted to the side, “Hmm… It just might be my Grandpa’s shine. I guess we’ll see.” Koki replied with a chuckle. The two walked along and it seemed as if she indeed lived in Koki’s direction.

“Well since moving here things became much quieter than they were in Tokyo. I was glad to see Grandpa more often. Dad is doing fine. He’s still at the architecture firm however now he works in the Yokohama branch. And he’s still single. I’ve been training with my grandpa daily and it’s tough however I really enjoy it. It kinda makes me feel like I’m doing something outside of the usual mundane. But it’s still a part of my routine so I hope that feeling still makes since hahaha…” Koki was excited to fill Natsuko in on his life in Yokohama, and he was even happier to know that she would now be a part of it.

The two walked past Koki’s Grandpa’s shrine. “It looks like the shrine you mentioned is my Grandpa’s shrine after all! Wow I guess we don’t live that far off from each other! What a coincidence huh!” Koki exclaimed. “Well I’ll have to have you by so you can see my Dad and meet my Grandpa sometime soon!” Koki couldn’t help smiling. He continued down the road with Natsuko and eventually the two reached her home. “Is this the place Natsuko?”

Aiba Masaki Jurai

[In Space]

The Jurai Royal Space ship Ryu-oh, belonging to Prince Aiba Masaki Jurai, traveled toward the Planet Earth. “I will track that Devil person down no matter how long it takes. Hopefully I can also locate my long lost Lord Yosho…” Prince Aiba thought aloud. His guardians Azaka and kamidake stood behind him affixed to the ship.

“Prince Aiba, shouldn’t we wait for the Galaxy Police escort before we apprehend the dangerous space pirate Ryuichi?” Kamidake asked the Prince.

“Oh… why bother? He was so incompetent and besides I could do a better job by myself.” Prince Aiba replied in an annoyed tone.

“But Prince Aiba, If we go after the space pirate Ryuichi without assisting a Galaxy police officer we will be acting as vigilantes which would be against the law. Please, let us wait for the Galaxy Police officer to catch up to us before we proceed.” Azaka pleaded.

“Oh… Alright. We shall give the Galaxy Policeman one hour to catch up to us. If he does not arrive by then, we shall go forward and I will deal with anyone who tries to penalize our actions.” Aiba replied. He wanted more than anything to find his lost fiancé Yosho and capture the criminal Ryuichi.

“Well since moving here things became much quieter than they were in Tokyo. I was glad to see Grandpa more often. Dad is doing fine. He’s still at the architecture firm however now he works in the Yokohama branch. And he’s still single. I’ve been training with my grandpa daily and it’s tough however I really enjoy it. It kinda makes me feel like I’m doing something outside of the usual mundane. But it’s still a part of my routine so I hope that feeling still makes since hahaha…”

Natsuko listened intently to his story, "Well since you left..." she stopped herself becuase she felt she might say something embarrassing. "Well it just asn't been the same... Mama works so much and Papa left right before you moved away, so I spent allot of time with the neighbor... you remember Mrs. Fugimoto the little old lady who always tried to get us to eat the sweets she would make but they always tasted horrible" Natsuko shuddered at the thought. The old lady was kind to her but her cooking was abysmal. Natsuko decided to keep the development of her ability to see spirits to herself, she didn't want to frighten Koki away so soon after getting him back.

“It looks like the shrine you mentioned is my Grandpa’s shrine after all! Wow I guess we don’t live that far off from each other! What a coincidence huh!” Koki exclaimed. “Well I’ll have to have you by so you can see my Dad and meet my Grandpa sometime soon!” he said smiling.

Natsuko gave a nervous smile it would be quite a feat for her to got to his grandfathers shrine, but the thought of seeing Koki's home and his father again was and exciting thought to her. "Yes, I think that might be lovely perhaps I could catch my mother on a day off and bring her as well" she said with a smile. If her mother was with her perhaps it wouldn't be so frightening being around so many spirits that liked to linger around shrines.

“Is this the place Natsuko?” Koki asked as the began to walk up the path to Natsuko's house.

Natsuko smiled "Yes it is the house is old and needs a little fixing up but I like it. Tokyo was just so busy all the time it's a nice change of pace to be somewhere quiet" she said as they made it to the front door of her home. She knew that inside awaited lots of unpacking and and trying to prepare dinner, she looked at Koki not really wanting to be away from him. It felt as though they just got back together, and she hated to see him part again.

"Why don't you come in Koki... it's a bit disorganized right now becuase we haven't gotten a chance to totally unpack yet, but I could at least make you some tea for walking me home" she said with a gentle smile. She hoped that he didn't think wrongly of her for inviting him in when her mother wasn't home. But she didn't want him to leave so soon.

Natsuko smiled "Yes it is the house is old and needs a little fixing up but I like it. Tokyo was just so busy all the time it's a nice change of pace to be somewhere quiet" she said as they made it to the front door of her home.

“I like it. It looks like one could make a lot of nice memories here. Perhaps my dad could draw up a few plans for repairs if your mom would like. He would love to do it, I’m sure of it.” Koki said brightly.

"Why don't you come in Koki... it's a bit disorganized right now because we haven't gotten a chance to totally unpack yet, but I could at least make you some tea for walking me home" she said with a gentle smile.

“Sure Natsuko I’d love to! I just can’t stay for too long or I’ll be late for training with Grandpa. He’ll get me for sure if I leave him hanging!” Koki said as he smiled and scratched the back of his head in an embarrassed manner. He was glad to be able to spend more time with Natsuko. Koki’s grandpa was generally pretty laid back about most things but tended to be strict with Koki, knowing that Koki took a lackadaisical attitude about things when left to his own devices.

Kohoshi Kuramitsu

Kohoshi flew his space ship, Yukinojo, about the special district of the Solar System looking for the Jurai Royal Prince Aiba. Prince Aiba had rushed ahead of Detective Kohoshi in his pursuit of the space pirate Ryuichi. “Oh…. Where did he go…. I’ll be in soooo much TROUBLE if I don’t find him!!” Kohoshi whined.

Yukinojo’s AI unit lowered down in front of Kohoshi and began to speak. “Kohoshi. You are receiving a call from section seven. It’s the commander Kohoshi. What will you tell him?” Yukinojo spoke in a robotic proper sounding voice.

“Oh no…. Um, I guess I’ll just have to tell him that I lost the prince…?” Kohoshi replied sheepishly.

“NO Kohoshi you can’t!! You will be in a blackhole of trouble!! Tell him that you are surveying the area ahead of the Prince to make sure all is safe before he proceeds. If the Commander asks to be patched through to the Prince’s ship, tell him that the Prince said that he wishes not to be disturbed. Understand Kohoshi?” Yukinojo was used to bailing Kohoshi out of tight spots with section 7 and central command.

“Um… I guess? hehe” Kohoshi replied in a ditzy manner. He really had difficulty focusing on directions.

Yukinojo sighed and then patched Kohoshi through to the commander. “First Class Detective Kohoshi, this is Commader Davenport. What do you report? How is the escort mission?” The commander spoke sternly.

“Yes, First Class Detective Kohoshi Kuramitsu reporting sir. The Prince got a…. um, a bit, tired and decided to halt our advance for a bit. So I um… went on patrol of the area to make sure no harm reaches Prince Aiba.” Kohoshi spoke nervously at first. But once got the hang of his lie he became more perky in intonation.

“I see… Report your findings as new developments arise. And Remember Detective Kohoshi, you are NOT, I repeat, ARE NOT to apprehend the space pirate if you find him. Simply report back to Central command and we will handle the pirate from there. I will not stand for any harm coming to the Jurai Royal Prince. Understand?” The commander seriously didn’t want Kohoshi on this job in the first place but he is the Marshal’s grandson and a First Class detective so he was an ideal choice for anyone in central command that was unfamiliar with Kohoshi’s recent and ever increasing blunders.

“Yes Sir! I am to apprehend the Space Pirate Ryuichi immediately if I sight him and protect the Jurai royal prince Aiba as well. Don’t worry sir, First Class Detective Kohoshi Kuramitsu is on the job!!” Kohoshi responded enthusiastically. He had completely misunderstood the directions/ orders given to him.

“NO NO NO Kohoshi!!! I said DO NO…!” The commander started to reiterate himself but Kohoshi interrupted.

“First Class Detective Kohoshi Kuramitsu signing out sir!!” Kohoshi then cut the transmission and kicked Yukinojo in gear. “Yukinojo, send out a search signal for the Prince’s ship and we’ll head right over to find him and then the space pirate as soon as possible!” Kohoshi felt re-energized now.
“Yes Kohoshi…” Yukinojo answered with a sigh. Working with Kohoshi was truly one of the galaxies most difficult jobs.

Ryuichi wandered around the forest for awhile trying to get his barrings, he really wasn't sure what planet he crash landed on. And if he could avoid a run in with the "locals" that would be exceptional. But his problem now was how he was going to get off this podunk planet.

"Damn I've never seen a planet with so many trees" he cursed as he hiked along thats when he heard rustling coming down the mossy trail he was following.

The sound of footsteps were coming right for him, deciding to take cover behind a group of clustered trees he watched the trail from his hiding spot. A young woman soon cam along, she was walking along side something that appeared to be some sort of vehicle. Ryuichi watched the girl pass on the path and then hop on the vehicle and continue on.

He blinked a few times puzzled by what he had saw "Curious I wonder why she didn't just fly to wherever she was going?" deciding to move on again on the path he finally made his way to a group of stone steps leading up the side of a steep hill side.

"Perhaps I can get to the top of these steps and get a better view of my surroundings, and maybe I can find a way to get Ryu-Ohiki off this god forsaken little mud hole I crash landed on" he began to ascend the steps not sure of where it was taking him.

---

As they entered the house Natsuko set her keys down on the table next to the door, ritualistically removed her shoes, and put on a pair of house slippers. She motioned Koki in as she maneuvered around some boxes on her way to the kitchen.

"Go ahead and have a seat in the living room and I'll bring the tea out once it's done" she called to him as she began to mill around in the kitchen.

There were still boxes stacked up in various places around the living room but still some how the family shrine had made it up in a small corner of the room. Pictures of grandparents, and great-grandparents that had passed on, decorated the small kamidana.

Natsuko hummed to herself as she started the pot for tea.

Koki Oyamada

Koki took a set at the small living room table. Natsuko and her mother had not finished getting settled in. “It must be tough having just the two of them to move so much… Not to mention how busy they probably are.” Koki thought as he looked around.

He turned toward the Kamidana and examined the photos placed there. He smiled and quickly came to remember that it would be a good idea to honor the spirits of the house by saying a quick prayer at the Kamidana. He had a small wet napkin and used it to wipe his hands before he prayed. Koki quietly clapped his hands together twice and thanked the spirits for allowing him into the home. He took his seat again and asked, “Um, Natsuko, are those your grandparents at the Kamidana? They look very gentle.” Koki smiled.

Aiba Masaki Jurai

Prince Aiba’s patience was rapidly growing thin. “Where IS.... that incompetent Galaxy Police Detective? Another 20 years would pass before he catches up! Azaka, Kamidake! We are going down to that planet immediately. If Detective Kuramitsu catches up with us then good, however I refuse to wait any longer.” Aiba said impatiently. The two guardians began to lower the ship down toward the Earth.

“Um, Natsuko, are those your grandparents at the Kamidana? They look very gentle.”

She came in with a tray set with a small china teapot and two tea cups, she nodded to Koki as she set the tray down at the table.

"Yes, the pictures on the right are my mother's parents they passed away a few years ago, and the one on the left is her grandmother, my great-grandmother. She was a priestess in Okinawa where my mother is from... I never understood why my mother didn't go back to Okinawa after my father left" she shrugged and began to pour tea for Koki and then for herself.

"It's not as good as my mother's tea but it's not horrible either" she said with a gentle smile.

That's when the door was heard sliding open "I'm home Natsuko" was heard as Akiko walked in and found her daughter at the living room table with a young man. She was very surprised at first, her daughter wasn't typically very social and it was her first day of school in Yokohama she wouldn't have made a friend so quickly. She blinked a few times and then it dawned on her...

"My goodness Koki is that you?" she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, he had grown to be a very handsome young man. In fact he reminded her allot of his father Nobuyuki, "I barely recognized you when I first saw you... my goodness you've grown up to be so handsome" she said with a smile.

"Mo...om you're embarrassing me" said Natsuko her face ten shades of red.

Akiko laughed a bit walked over and patted her daughter on the shoulder "I'm your mother it's my job to embarrass you. So I guess you were right about the shrine down the road who knew we'd end up moving so close to Koki without even knowing it" she turned back to Koki. "So Koki how is your father doing?" she asked.

---

Ryuichi found himself in front of a large old building It reminded him allot of the houses on Jurai, he may have hated the planet and despised the royal family. But they new how to make a nice house... not that he cared about living in a house he was just as happy flying around in space. He never liked staying in one place too long that usually got him in trouble anyway.

There was an old man standing out in front of the building and Ryuichi raised an eyebrow "Hey old guy can you tell me where I am" he said with a mocking tone of voice.

Koki

"It's not as good as my mother's tea but it's not horrible either" Natsuko said with a gentle smile.

“Oh I’m sure it tastes just great!” Koki smiled. He was very excited, almost nervous. He wasn’t quite sure why. It wasn’t regarding Natsuko’s tea, but about being reunited with her again. He somewhat felt as if he needed to try to ‘pull up’ in front of her, like he needed to give her a good impression. He was most always comfortable with her but now he felt a tad fluttery.

Natsuko’s mother entered the house and Koki looked up in surprise. She was just as pretty as the last day he had saw her. Mrs. Fukazawa was always a very pretty lady in Koki’s eyes. Koki blushed as she complemented him. "So Koki how is your father doing?" she asked.

“It’s very nice to see you again Mrs. Fukazawa! My dad is doing pretty good! He’s been working a lot. He’s complained about all of the vacation time he’s racked up but never really has the opportunity to use.” Koki said with a chuckle. “I apologize for popping over unexpectedly. Natsuko and I are in the same class. I was blown away to see her in my class today!” Koki smiled brightly his face was beaming embarrassingly with joy. “Oh you and Natsuko should definitely come visit my Grandpa’s place sometime! My dad would love to see you and my Grandpa would love to meet you!”

Katsuhito Oyamada

Katsuhito Oyamada was standing in front of the Oyamada Shrine waiting for Koki to come home for training. “He’s late… that’s unlike him. I could call his cell phone, but then again I’d rather not let him know I actually know how to use the thing.” Katsuhito said with a chuckle.

A silver hair young man ascended the stairs of the shrine and Katsuhito recognized him immediately. It was the space pirate Ryuichi. He looked exactly the same as the day they fought, only this time he didn’t look possessed and as vicious as before. Katsuhito was in disguise so the space pirate definitely wouldn’t have recognized him. Katsuhito grinned and then put on a pleasant smile.

"Hey old guy can you tell me where I am" Ryuichi said with a mocking tone of voice.

“This place is the Oyamada shrine. You look young and able. Would you by any chance need a part time job young man? Many girls flock to the shrine to buy good luck charms if a handsome young man is the one selling and wishing them good luck.” Katsuhito chuckled. He wondered what brought Ryuichi to the edge of the galaxy again. He was actually somewhat glad to see the space pirate, it was quite nostalgic.