Forgotten...

 

"Hai,..... Hai...... Hai....... Hai, Ja." Shu sighed as he hung up the phone on his desk.  He looked up and around the huge room his desk occupied along with his colleges.  All eighty some of them.  Shaking his head he put his pen back to paper and started to fill out his forms again.  'Where has my life gone?' He wondered as he wrote the same words day after day, to the point he didn't have to think anymore. 'I don't really have friends anymore.. just hear at work.  Sure, we'll go out for a drink now and then, but it's not the same.  It's not like the guys.'
   

"Lei Fuan! Wake up!" Kenada exclaimed standing next to Shu.
   

"Ah, Gomenasai." Shu apologized bowing a bit.
   

"Ya ya... I just wanted to ask if you wanted to go out for a drink with a few of us tonight.  You don't have any plans do you?" Kenada asked leaning on his desk.
   

"Iiye.. I'd love to." Shu replied leaning back in his chair.
   

"Great, I'll see you at four." Kenada waved heading back to his own desk a few rows over.  Shu waved back and looked back down at the forms in front of him.  'I wonder what the other guys are doing right about now....'

   

"Table 15 is UP!" Shin yelled at the mess of waiters that ran throughout the kitchen.
   

"Shin-kun!  Check the soup!! You may need to add something to it!" The head cook Matsuda-sensei yelled from somewhere else in the kitchen.
   

"Hai, Sensei!" Shin yelled back making his way to the soup.  He tasted it and looked at his reflection in the deep pot. 'I'm doing what I've always wanted to do... but why am I not happy?' Shin thought as he tasted the soup and added what he thought it needed.
   

"Your shift is up Shin. Go home and rest, you look tired." Matsuda said walking up behind him.
   

"Arigatoo, Sensei, but I will stay.  I have nothing to rest up for. I am off tomorrow." Shin replied turning to face him.
   

"Ahh, What do you have planned?" Matsuda asked interested.
   

"Nothing, experimenting a bit, but that's all." Shin said sadly.
   

"That's all?  Don't you have a girlfriend or anything?" Matsuda asked very surprised.
   

"No, sir."
   

"No friends?"
   

"Not at the moment sir."
   

"What about family?"
   

"Only down in Hagi, Sir.  To far for a day trip."
   

"Hai, Hai... Hmm.. well, I know of some of the kids that are gonna hang out together.  Why don't you go with them?" Matsuda said trying to help.
   

"I don't want to be a burden, Sir."  Matsuda sighed and looked up at the ceiling,
   

"Well then,  I want you to report to my house tomorrow.  You will not spend you day off by yourself.. unless you really want to."
   

"Not really sir.." Shin replied, and Matsuda could see in his eyes just how sad he really was.
   

"Don't worry, I have a son, and I'm sure he'll love ya." Matsuda said grinning.  Shin let a small smile out but it didn't last for very long. "Go on home.  I have plenty on duty.  Get some sleep." Shin didn't argue this time and walked back to the lounge.
   

'Am I really this pathetic? I'm living out my dream! What is wrong with me...' Shin asked himself as he opened his locker.  On the back of the door was taped a picture of him and the others taken just after they defeated Arago, 'Why can't I be happy like I was then?  Will I ever see them again? If I do, will it be in another fight?' Shin refused to cry.  He'd dried out all his tears long ago, and he swore he wouldn't start again.

   

"ICH! NI! SAN! ICH!! NI!! SAN!!" Seiji yelled over the heads of the class before him, their shinais held high, "That's enough for today, your dismissed."
   

"Arigatoo Date-sensei!!" The class of youngsters yelled as they raised off for the dressing rooms.
   

"Seiji, are you well? You look pale." A woman asked walking up to him.
   

"Hai, Kaa-san, I'm fine." Seiji replied smiling at his mother.
   

"I just worry about you. Your grandfather put too much on your shoulders when he died. I don't know why he wouldn't let me help you.  And I don't understand why you won't let me help you either." His mother sighed, "I've been doing the paper work ever since I could read, and you know it."
   

"And you need a break.  It's okay, I can handle it.  It's no problem really." Seiji reassured her walking into the office.
   

"Seiji, you really need to get out more.  Your starting to act just like Father."
   

"Kaa-san, I said I'm fine." Seiji tried again
   

"What ever happened to you racing.  You loved your cars and bikes."
   

"You know I gave that up when Ojiisan died." Seiji said flatly, "Please don't bring it up again."  His mother gave him another worried glance and did as he said.
   

"I just wish you'd at least get a girlfriend.  Your Grandfather would be highly disappointed if the Date name died with you." With that she walked off.
   

'The Date name dying with me?' Seiji thought, 'That would never happen... would it?'  Seiji looked over onto the wall of the picture of the guys after they defeated the yojakai, 'I helped fight for this world, for the children, for the people, and for my dreams.  What happened to them?' Seiji looked along the wall at all the trophies from his races he had won since he was 12.  Win after win, till they stopped when he turned 20, and his grandfather died.  'His last wishes were for me to take over the dojo.. I did what he wanted without any thought to my own dreams.  Was I wrong?' Seiji asked himself.  To him there was no turning back.  he had sold his car and bike that year to help the dojo.  Who knows where they were now, all he could do was think that maybe some other kid was making his dream come true.  'Did the others follow their dreams as well?' Seiji wondered looking back up at the picture on the wall.

   

"CONGRATS!!!"
   

"Ah, Arigatoo.." Touma replied shaking the mans hand.
   

"This is a big break! You must be really happy!" Another man cheered shaking his other hand.
   

"It was a surprise," Touma replied laughing a bit.
   

"Well, it's time to party!! KAMPAI!!" yet another man cheered holding a glass above his head.
   

"KAMPAI!" The other cheered, Touma stood in the middle of the mess, the man of the hour.  It had just been announced that he would go into space in a year and live on the space station for six months.  'This is my dream! Beyond anything I had ever dreamed before, but something isn't right.' Touma thought to himself as his friends partied around him, 'Why aren't I happy? Maybe space isn't what I always dreamed it was.  Maybe I need to find another dream.' Touma wondered, he was knocked out of his thoughts as one of his companions knocked into him already drunk.  Touma decided to sneak out the back door while he had the chance.

   

"Touma-kun..." A woman said softly walking out the back door of the hall, "I thought you'd be out here."
   

"Okaa-san.." Touma replied taking a sip of his drink
   

"What's the matter? Aren't you excited?" She asked sitting down on the step next to him.
   

"I thought I was, but I don't know.  I mean, this is beyond anything I've ever dreamt about, but..."
   

"Something is missing isn't it?" Touma just nodded.
   

"In a since your like your father.  He couldn't come cause he's locked himself in the lab yet again.  And you were a lot like him till your little adventure when you were fourteen." His mother commented.
   

"What do you mean?"
   

"You didn't have any friends before that, and when you came back the four friends of yours was all you could talk about.  You changed schools so you could see them more, and you were happier.  But ever since you all split up you've tried to change back." His mother explained, "That's where you're like me.  You can't.  You want friends like that again, but you won't be able to find that in those people in there."
   

"Where can I find it?" Touma asked turning to his mother, his red swollen eyes proof that he was crying.
   

"The same place you fond it the last time." His mother said hugging him, "I'll leave you along now, think about it.  Remember you only have a few months till you have to leave for NASA." Touma grinned and looked back at his drink, he knew what he wanted to do, and he thought he might know where to start, but he wasn't too sure if it would work, or if it was just a crazy idea.

   

It was two in the morning before Shu stumbled into his small apartment.  He turned the lights and TV on and flopped down on the couch.
   

"Is this how my life is going to be? Day after day?" Shu asked himself.  His thoughts were interrupted when he saw some familiar blue hair appear on the RV.  "So, Touma is making something of himself.  He looks happy." The phone rang not long after and Shu was going ot ignore it like he usually did, but something told him to answer it this one time, so he did. "Nanda?"
   

"Anoo, Lei Fuan Shu?" The voice asked
   

"Hai, Dare?"
   

"Ah! Shu! It's me Touma!"
   

"Touma?! AHH!!! I would ask how your doing but it seems your doing great.  Just heard the news on TV." Shu exclaimed.
   

"Eee.. not as exciting as I thought it would be." Touma replied.
   

"Oro? Are you feeling all right, Touma?" Shu asked a bit worried.
   

"Well, I'm just a bit lonely.  I was wondering if you and the guys wanted to get to gether or something..." Touma asked casually
   

"You know, I think that's just what the doctor ordered, I need the break from work too." Shu brighten up, "Do you know where they are?"
   

"Well, I figure Seiji's still at home, but I'm not sure about the others."
   

"well, I know Shin's working at one of the Mikado restaurants, but ( I don't know which one." Shu added.
   

"Well, why don't you get a hold of him and I'll try to find Seiji." Touma suggested.
   

"What about Nasuti and Ryo?"
   

"I don't know, maybe they know.  Why don't we meet the day after tomorrow, around noon." Touma suggested.
   

"Where at?"
   

"How about where it all started?" Shu nodded in agreement.

   

"I'm glad you could make it Shin." Matsuda exclaimed as he led him into the house.
   

"You have a lovely house Sensei." Shin commented looking around.
   

"It fits it's purpose." Matsuda laughed, "Come, I'd like you to meet my wife and son." Matsuda led Shin into the kitchen where a woman was over the stove cooking. "Dear, I'd like you to meet my star cook, Shin Mori."
   

"AH! It's an honor to meet you. Shi-chan has talked so much about you." his wife spoke up.
   

"Where's Shinji?" Matsuda asked looking around.
   

"He should be in the living room playing with his toys." Tasuko, his wife, stated adding some spice to the soup.  Matsuda took his leave of the kitchen to find his boy.
   

"Anoo.. it might taste better if you add some of this." Shin suggested holding up a spice.
   

"You think?" Tasuko asked looking at the small jar.
   

"If it doesn't I take full responsibility." Shin swore an honor.
   

"All right then." Tasuko said as she added the spice.
   

"Ahh.. here he is! Shin, I'd like you to meet Shinji!" Matsuda cheered walking into the room with the baby on his shoulders.
   

"Hi Shinji!  He looks just like you Sensei.." Shin said taking the baby from Matsuda.  The baby gurgled happily in Shin's arms.
   

"He seems to like you." Matsuda said tickling Shinji under the chin.
   

"All right, Supper is on, please wash your hands before sitting down at the table." Tasuko said taking Shinji from Shin.  The four sat at the table and ate their supper with the TV on in the background.
   

"Hmm.. Did you do something different to the soup honey?" Matsuda asked sipping the soup.
   

"Yes, how do you like it?" Tasuko asked glancing over at Shin.
   

"It's great! What ever you did, keep doing it." Matsuda exclaimed
   

"Don't thank me, Shin's the one that did it." Tasuko said nodding toward Shin.
   

"Is that so.  See, I told you he was a natural." Matsuda grinned.  Shin just blushed and hid behind his spoon.  In the other room the news had come on and they were talking about the new astronaut.  When Shin heard the name he excused himself from the table and practically ran to the TV.  Matsuda, worried, followed him. "Is something wrong Shin?"
   

"Touma... Hashiba Touma." Shin whispered.
   

"Ahh, the new astronaut... you know him?" Matsuda asked a bit surprised.
   

"Hai.  He was one of my best friends in High School.  I haven't seen him, since... well, for a while." Shin said sadly.
   

"You miss your friends don't you?" Matsuda asked kneeling down next to him, "From high school.."
   

"Hai, Sensei.." Shin said sadly.
   

"Don't you know where they are?"
   

"No, Sir.  Only one, and I'm not positive if he's still there or not." Shin replied.
   

"Shin, there's someone on the phone for you. He says his name is Lei Fuan Shu." Tasuko said in the doorway.
   

"SHU?!" Shin exclaimed jumping up and running for the phone, "SHU?!"

 

"Hey, buddy! What's up? You wouldn't believe what it took me to find you." Shu laughed, "You sucking up to your boss huh?"
   

"Shu, I am not. How are you doing?" Shin asked blushing and then grinning.
   

"I'm fine, a bit worn from work, but hey, the reason I called.  Touma wants to get together, and I think I need the break too. How about you?"
   

"I don't know if I could get off from work." Shin said sadly.
   

"What's the matter Shin?" Matsuda asked from the door.
   

"Annoo... My friends from High School want to get together tomorrow." Shin explained.
   

"Shin, I've got plenty of help.  Go with your friends." Matsuda said grinning, glad to see Shin happy.
   

"Shu, I'll be there... umm.. where?"
   

"Where it all started." Shu replied
   

Shinjuku was bustling with people going to and from lunch.  In front of the train station stood a lone figure watching the people come and go.  he would of melted into the scenery if it wasn't for his bright blue hair.
   

"Touma" A slightly overweight man yelled as he emerged from the front of the station.
   

"Shu? Is that you?" Touma asked, surprised at the appearance of his friend.
   

"Hai, Hai, I'm afraid so.  Haven't had time to work out any. " Shu explained, "And getting drunk almost every night probably isn't helping either."
   

"Shu.." Touma sighed.
   

"Iya, Iya... Did you ge a hold of Seiji?" Shu asked.
   

"That he did." Seiji replied walking up to them.
   

"Ah, Seiji.. your hair... it.. it looks good." Touma grinned.
   

"What happened to your trademark style?" Shu asked joking.
   

"I got sick of it.  Let it grow out.  Mother was a bit upset, but she got used to it." Seiji explained, "Where's everyone else?"
   

"Seiji? Your hair!" Shin exclaimed as he walked up, "Shu... "
   

"Don't even say it. I know what I look like. I'm not happy with it either." Shu cut him off.
   

"Well, what about Ryo?" Shin asked dropping the subject.
   

"Well, the last I knew he was at his fathers." Seiji stated, "We could go there and see if he's there, of if anyone that is there knows where he is."
   

"Sounds good to me." Touma agreed.
   

"Okay, Anoo... who's driving?" Shu asked looking around.
   

"I will.  I think I still remember how to." Seiji laughed as they headed where he parked his mothers car.

   

They arrived at the cabin about an hour and five wrong turns later.
   

"See, I told you I could get us here." Seiji said triumphantly.
   

"Yea, after we got lost five times." Shu grumbled.
   

"Come on, lets see if anyone is home." Touma said walking up and knocking on the door.  They waited there for a bit but no one answered.  Touma knocked again and still no one came.  Shin walked up to the window and looked inside.
   

"Well, it's been lived in, just nobody's at home." Shin announced.
   

"Great. Now what?" Shu asked kicking some dirt.
   

"There's a path over here, why don't we follow it?" Touma suggested.
   

"You mean I have to walk?" Shu whined.
   

"Boy you really have gotten lazy." Shin commented, and Shu just gave him a dirty look.
   

"Come on, it should be too hard on you." Seiji said pushing Shu along.  They walked down the small worn path to a small creek witch led into a clearing.  In the middle of the clearing was a small shrine.
   

"I wonder who this is for?" Seiji wondered and kneeled down next to it.  The Shrine had no picture, nor writing on it.
   

"That's odd... maybe it's just not done yet." Shin reasoned.
   

"That could be, but they usually try to get it done as fast as one can." Shu stated.  They shrugged their shoulders and continued down the creek and back onto a path.  Just a few feet into the other side of the clearing Touma held out his hand to stop the others.  Shu started to ask what was going on when Seiji shushed him.
   

"Ryo!" Touma said loudly to get his attention.  On the bank of the creek not far ahead of them, the black haired man was sitting his head between his legs.  The black mop wasn't kept as well, as it used to be, but it was cut.  The man looked up at the person that had called his name, his blue eyes going wide.
   

"Touma?! Shu, Shin, Seiji! Your all here?" Ryo asked not believing what he was seeing.
   

"We're all here, We came to see you." Shin said walking forward.  Ryo roughly stood up using the tree for support.
   

"Are you okay?" Seiji asked noticing his stance.  Shin walked up a bit farther to help.
   

"Ryo, are you sick? You look awfully thin?" Shin asked helping him up to the bank.
   

"No, I'm not sick.  I'm fine." Ryo grinned happy to see his friends again.
   

"When was the last time you ate?" Shu asked helping Shin with him.
   

"Anoo... I had a small rabbit the other day." Ryo said thinking back.
   

"And before that?" Seiji asked.
   

"I don't remember." Ryo confessed.
   

"Why haven't you taken care of yourself?" Touma asked his faced etched with concern
   

"I just forget to."
   

"Where's your father?" Shin asked as they got to the clearing.
   

"He's on another assignment."
   

"Byakuen would never let you get like this." Seiji scolded.
   

"No... he wouldn't of.." Ryo said sadly.
   

"Ryo, where is Byakuen?" Shu asked casually.  Ryo didn't say a word, but pointed to the small shrine in the middle of the clearing.
   

"You mean..." Shu trailed off.
   

"When?" Seiji asked wanting to believe it.
   

"Just after...  Just a couple of days after..." Ryo said not wanting to say it.
   

"After Jun's funeral?" Touma asked knowing it had to be said.
   

"Jun...  I still don't understand why he did it." Shu sighed.
   

"It's all my fault!" Ryo cried dropping to the ground.
   

"Ryo?" Shin asked sitting down next to him.
   

"Ryo, it's not your fault!" Touma exclaimed kneeling down in front of him.
   

"IT IS!! After his father died he looked to me to replace him and I failed!" Ryo cried.
   

"Ryo, you didn't fail.  Jun took his life cause of all the stress he put on himself. Not cause you failed as a role model." Shu explained.
   

"He worked himself too hard, cause I told him to work hard!" Ryo yelled
   

"Ryo, we all told him to work hard and to do his best.  How were any of us to know that he would sacrifice his health to be a leader like you," Shin started.
   

"A swords man like Seiji," Shu continued.
   

"Smart like Touma," Seiji went on.
   

"As Agile in the water as Shin, and a good cook.." Touma pointed out.
   

"And as strong as Shu." Shin finished, "He tried to be like all of us, and forgot to take care of himself."
   

"But why did I see it? Why did I realize what was going on??" Ryo asked looking at his friends.
   

"Why didn't any of us?  He became good at hiding it.  Nobody saw it coming, not his mother, his friends, or his teachers. Nobody." Touma pointed out.
   

"It was a shock to everybody." Seiji sighed, "It's not your fault."
   

"I.. I'm sorry... I..." Ryo stumbled in his thoughts
   

"Don't worry, you didn't have Byakuen like you were used to.  You kept it all bottled up." Touma explained.
   

"Ryo, I'm sorry, but how? Byakuen I mean." Shu asked looking over at the small shrine.
   

"Well, It's not that he's dead, I don't know.. He's just always been there for me, and then when Jun... he disappeared.  Usually he'd show up a couple of days later, but he didn't.  Soon it was a week, and still nothing.  I don't know what happened." Ryo sighed and walked over to the shrine, "I didn't finish it in hopes that he wasn't dead, that he would come back. One day."
   

"That's just like you, you haven't given up on Byakuen, so don't give up on Yourself." Shin said walking over to him.
   

"Thank you." Ryo grinned for the first time since they got there, "You don't know how much this means."
   

"I think we do." Shu grinned, "We all got together for some reason, probably the same reason we came to find you."

   

"The five armors have gathered..." Kayura stated as her and the four masho sat in a circle meditating.
   

"Does that mean they'll have to use the armor's again?" Anubisu asked looking over at the priestess.
   

"No, it just means that they've realized that they can not forget what has happened to them.  They can't forget that they are  part of this worlds history, whether anyone remembers it or not." Kayura replied.
   

"So the armor's brought them together?" Rajura asked cracking his one eye open.
   

"No, it was the bond that was created between them during the battle." Kayura answered.
   

"The bond the armor created?" Nazza tried to clear.
   

"No, though it may of played a small part in it.  It was the friendships and brotherhood that was created between them.  Just like in you four.  Even though you openly did not like Sh'ten, when he died, you mourned for a bit." Kayura explained.
   

"Yes, I did not like that brat. But, he was a good warrior." Rajura admitted.
   

"When the victory did not go to his head." Nazza pointed out.
   

"And it never went to you head?" Anubisu asked grinning.
   

"That's not the point." Nazza spat back.
   

"That is exactly the point, Nazza." Kayura chortled.  Nazza just gave her a disgusted look and went back to meditating.
   

"Well, he go back?" Anubisu asked looking over in a dark corner.
   

"More then likely yes.  If the armors call for him, he will go." Kayura replied and then went back to her meditation.

   

"Do you think she's home?" Seiji asked as he looked for his turn off.
   

"When I last heard from her, she went to visit her parents in France." Shin stated trying to see past the trees.
   

"Yea, but that's been several years, Shin.  You don't think she sold the house do you?" Shu asked watching the trees go by the side window.
   

"I don't think she would.   She has too many memories there." Ryo replied snacking on a sandwich they picked up for him.
   

"He's right... " Touma agreed.  They all turned to the front when the trees disappeared and the lake appeared.  They could still see the house in the sid of the mountain, looking the same as it did when they were there last.  Seiji pulled up the drive to the front door.  In the driveway was a small compact car, nothing they would of thought Nasuti to drive.  Seiji looked worriedly at the car as they passed by it.
   

"Don't worry, Seiji, I'm sure she's still here." Touma reassured him, knowing how he used to have a crush on the older woman.  The five walked into the back yard and looked down toward the lake.
   

"Brings back a lot of memories, doesn't it?" Shu commented.
   

"Yea, Remember how we'd practice all the time..." Seiji commented.
   

"Or, get to gather to wash your   car." Touma grinned.
   

"Or just sit and watch the sun set." Ryo frowned, "I miss those days." They stood there for a moment silently agreeing to Ryo's words.  Up on the balcony Nasuti peeked out from the den and saw these five men standing in the yard.  She started to yell at them when she noticed who they were.
   

"Seiji? Ryo, Shin, Shu, Touma?!" She asked hoping it was them.
   

"Hai!" Shu nodded turning around.
   

"We came to visit." Touma grinned.
   

"I can't believe your actually here!" Nasuti exclaimed, "Come on in! I'll meet you in the living room!" The guys did as she said and made their way inside.  As they walked into the house, they found their old slippers still waiting on them, and that not much has changed over the years.  They made their way to the living room and took their seats.  Nasuti made her way not long after with some tea and cookies. "How are you all doing??! I heard about you, Touma, on the news.. how about the rest of you??"
   

"Well, I'm working at Dainichi." Shu voiced, "It's just a desk job, but they always tell me that I'm gonna go through the ranks fast."
   

"Not to be mean, but.. you've gained a bit of weight haven't' you?" Nasuti asked eyeing his waist.
   

"Hai, not enough good food, and too much alcohol." Shu explained.
   

"Well, you'll have to fix that won't you?" Nasuti joked, "How about you Shin?"
   

"Well, I'm working as a cook at the main Makado restaurant." Shin stated.
   

"That's great!! And you Seiji?"
   

"I'm still running the dojo." Seiji said simply.
   

"That's good, and I love your hair!" Nasuti exclaimed, Seiji just blushed.
   

"And you Ryo?"
   

"Nothing much... feeling sorry for myself, wrote a couple of books that didn't sell well. Been living with my father."
   

"And Byakuen?"
   

"He disappeared one day, several years ago.. haven't seen him since.." Ryo said sadly.
   

"Oh, I'm sorry.." Nasuti frowned, "I'm sure he's okay, he probably just had something to do." Ryo looked up and smiled at her attempt to lighten the mood.
   

"I'm sure that all." Ryo agreed taking a bite of the cookie.

   

"Kenada-san!" The supervisor exclaimed walking up to his desk.
   

"Hai!?" Kenada asked standing and bowing.
   

"Have you seen Shu-san? He's been gone for quite a while. Do you know where he is?"
   

"Unfortunately, No sir.  He went out with us to drink a few weeks ago, but I haven't seen him after he went home that night.  I tried calling him several times but he's never home." Kenada explained.
   

"I try not to worry, but he had such potential.  I can only wonder what happened." The supervisor said looking at his desk, "I kept his position open as long as I could, but I can't any longer.  Today, I'm going to find a replacement."
   

"Sir, Just a couple more days.. please. I'm sure he'll show up! I mean, he's gotta get his stuff.. right?" Kenada begged.
   

"He's got till I can find someone. But no later." The supervisor sighed, "Trust me, this is not my decision. If it was, I'd be sending the police out to find him."
   

"Ha.... i ....." Kenada tailed off. The supervisor looked at him a bit surprised and then turned to where he was looking.  Just walking into the door was Shu.  He was wearing just casual clothes, but there was something else different about him.  Kenada and the supervisor have ran to him.
   

"Ah, Gomenkudasai, Sir.  I should of called." Shu apologized bowing.
   

"Where have you been?" Kenada asked looking him over, "And what have you been doing? You look great!"
   

"Yes, what has happened to you the past few weeks?" The supervisor backed up.
   

"Gomen, I saw some old friends the other day, and really rethought my life up to now." Shu explained.
   

"And?" They both asked.
   

"Well, I'm sorry, but I'm quitting. I'm moving back in with my friends." Shu announced.
   

"Shu, I'll warn you, you won't get a chance like this again." The supervisor explained.
   

"I know sir.  I have a friend that is an excellent cook.  We're going to open a restaurant" Shu announced.
   

"Your joking!" Kenada exclaimed.
   

"No, I'm serious." Shu said with the straightest of faces.
   

"Where will you be living?" The supervisor asked out of curiosity.
   

"Oh, at the Yagyu estate." Shu announced a grinned appearing on his face.
   

"You've got to be joking." Kenada said in shock
   

"Nope.  i'm sorry, I'd like to stay and chat, but I've gotta get going. They're waiting on me." Shu walked past them.  Picked up his few but precious belongings and walked out without another word.

   

In the dojo, Seiji's mother paced up and down the floor wondering where her son had disappeared off to.  He had called her to let her know he was fine, and not to worry, but didn't say where he was.  Classes in the dojo had been canceled the entire time for lack of instructor, the first and longest time classes had been canceled.  She was making her way across the floor for the ten millionth time, when the door slid open and Seiji stood in the doorway.
   

"Seiji!" his mother exclaimed running to him, "Did something happen?  Did you..."
   

"No, Nothing happened." Seiji reassured her, knowing she was talking about the armors, "We just all felt like we needed to look at our lives again."
   

"I knew you weren't happy here." His mother announced looking up at him.
   

"No, I am not.  I love to teach, but not forever." Seiji announced, "I'd like your help.  You can teach, ne?"
   

"Yes, I can, And I will help." His mother agreed, "We will share the responsibilities."
   

"Right, and I can go back to my racing." Seiji announced, "I got my car back the other day."
   

"You did?! That's great! I'm happy for you." His mother hugged him again.
   

"Oh, and i have another announcement." Seiji said pulling her away. His mother looked up at him a little worried at what he might say, "I'm getting married."
   

"What?!" His mother exclaimed, "That was fast, you sure about this? Who is she?"
   

"Mother, It's Nasuti Yagyu.  You've met her before." Seiji explained.
   

"AH! Her, she is a sweet girl. You know, I always thought she'd be the one, and then when you left, Well, I didn't know what to think."
   

"You're just like Grandma." Seiji smiled.

   

"Where is SHIN!!" Matsuda yelled through the kitchen.
   

"We don't know sir, He just called that one day saying he didn't know when he'd be back." Another cook replied
   

"I know, I know.." Matsuda sighed, "I'm just worried about him"
   

"We all are sir. The soups never been the same. We've had some complaints even."  the cook replied.
   

"Hai, I know.  I'm hoping he's all right. He reminded me of myself when I was his age." Matsuda admitted.
   

"Do I really?" Shin asked appearing right behind him.  Matsuda turned on his heel.
   

"SHIN!" He yelled hugging him, "Where the hell have you been?"
   

"Gomen, Sensei.  I've been with my friends looking at my life." Shin explained.
   

"I do admit you look a lot happier." Matsuda said, "What have you decided, I'm guessing that you did decide something."
   

"Hai, Sensei. I've loved working here, and it's given me a lot of experience, but I'm going to have to quit." Shin announced.
   

"I see. If you really must.  But you will be missed." Matsuda said sadly, "What do you plan to do?"
   

"I'm going to open my own restaurant, Called Kikottei." Shin said proudly.
   

"Kikottei? Why that?"
   

"It's a dedication to my friends." Shin said grinning, "They are my life, and I can't live without them."
   

"I'm glad you've finally found what was missing." Matsuda grinned, "I just hope you become a competitor.  I would be nice to have some competition."
   

"I hope to become that one day, sir." Shin grinned, "Now I must be leaving, my friends are waiting on me." Matsuda nodded and all the cooks and servers had stopped to listen to the conversation cheered and waved by to their old friend.

   

"Did you all get everything taken care of?" Nasuti asked as the five pulled back into the driveway.
   

"Yep, got the rest of our stuff, and quit our jobs" Shu grinned.
   

"Are you sure about all this?" Nasuti asked for about the ten millionth time.
   

"We're positive, unless you don't want us." Shin asked, this same conversation went on since they started the move.
   

"Yes, It'll be great to have you back." Nasuti cheered.
   

"It won't be the same." Ryo admitted, "But it'll be better then our lives were." Everyone nodded and picked up their stuff from the back of Seiji's car.  They headed into the house, Nasuti and Seiji holding hands, the sun setting behind them.  New lives starting.  Ryo looked one more time at the setting sun.
   

"Byakuen, I wish you could be here now." He looked to the ground and then turned to go into the house.  In the distance he heard a roar.  For an instant he could of sworn it was Byakuen, but he refused to look, not wanting to be disappointed.  The animal roared again, closer this time.  Ryo looked, and kept telling himself that it wouldn't be him.  Down the path bound a huge white tiger.  Ryo's jaw dropped and he rubbed his eyes sure it was just his imagination.  The apparition he thought he saw ran right up to him and pounded on him bringing him to the ground.
   

"BYAKUEN!" Ryo yelled happily, the other's hearing his yell rushed to the door to see the huge white tiger licking Ryo's face.
   

"Is it really him?" Shin asked walking a bit closer. Byakuen let off Ryo and onto each of the others giving them his versions of kisses.
   

"It looks like everybody's come home." Nasuti smiled as she petted the huge cat.
   

"All but one." Ryo stated sadly.  Byakuen padded over to him and rubbed his leg.
   

"That's one thing that won't change." Nasuti stated looking down.
   

"It will be a bit different with out a kid running around the house." Shin admitted.
   

"But you never know how long that'll last." Shu grinned looking at Seiji and Nasuti who were holding each other.  Seiji and Nasuti looked up and blushed rekka red at the comment.
   

"Well, this is a new beginning.  Let's start all over." Nasute suggested.
   

"Right.  Hajimemashite, Sanada Ryo.  Bearer of the Rekka yoroi." Ryo nodded, "This is my friend, Byakuen.  I love to play soccer, and I've written two not to good selling books, and I'm now ready to try again."
   

"I'm Date Seiji.  Bearer of the Korin yoroi. I teach Kendo at my grandfathers dojo, and I love to race cars.  I just got engaged to this wonderful girl here."
   

"I'm Nasuti Yagyu, This is my home, I was left a lot of money when my grandfather died. I am half French, and my parents live in France."
   

"I'm Touma Hashiba, bearer of the Tenku yoroi.  I have an IQ of 250, a doctorate in physics, and I will be going ot America in a few months and then to space in a year.  I found I cannot live without my friends and am happy to announce I will not end up like my father!"
   

"Mouri Shin.  Bearer of the Suiko Yoroi.  I love to cook and am getting ready to open my new restaurant.  Swimming is my hobby.  I was to be heir of the Mouri pottery business, but my sister took over when I accepted the yoroi."
   

"Shu Lei Fuan.  I just quit my boring desk job at the number one company in the world and I'm going into business with my best friend Shin.  I love to show off my strength, eat, and joke around.  And I just quit drinking for good!!"