FLCL Universe

Episode 1

A Reason to Find You

(It's been 8 years since she left…but 2 years since I left…)

A young man in a cloak sat in the corner of bar, in a booth, by himself. You couldn't see his face, all you could see were his dark figure and his Rickenbacker Bass Guitar laying up against the wall next to him.

Young Man: Hey Barkeep…

He signaled him to come over

Young Man: …Give me a drink, anything.

Barkeeper: You got it, sir.

The barkeeper observed the young man, and felt suspicious of him. While preparing his drink, the Barkeeper kept looking back at the booth, keeping an eye out. He noticed that the young man looked really depressed and listless, and was holding a photograph.

(…I'm Not A Kid Anymore…)

The Barkeeper came back with a mug and handed it to him, but continued to keep an eye on him.

Barkeeper: Is there a reason someone so young should have to make a trip?

The young man sighed again, still staring at the photograph. The barkeeper saw the photograph, and laughed to himself.

Barkeeper: Who's she? Wait, where are you from anyway?

Young Man: I am from Earth, in a different solar system.

Barkeeper: Wow, that's quite a trip you've made, well if you're looking for somebody…I don't suggest going blindly from planet to planet. Especially because most star systems only have 1 to 2, and maybe 3 neutral points, in which intelligent life can exist.

The young man smiled, evilly.

Young Man: Heh, Sometimes there's only one way to do things…

Barkeeper: Like finding a needle in the haystack right?

Young Man: Not quite.

The barkeeper mocked him with a sarcastic laugh.

Barkeeper: This is more like finding a needle in a billion haystacks! The universe is an awful place for a search party.

Young Man: ...I have my reasons.

Just then, a man busted in the entrance of the bar. The most noticeable feature on him was his eyebrows. Everyone in the bar, including the barkeeper and the Young man, were disrupted by the man's entrance.

Barkeeper (Thinking): …Those Eyebrows…

Man #2: Have you seen this boy? Errr, well, he's probably older now seeing how it's been about 8 years. But have you seen him?

He hands the barkeeper the photographs. The photos showed a short, young, boy in a light blue hoodie being hugged by a girl with pink hair.

Barkeeper: That boy doesn't look familiar but…hey! That girl!

Man #2: Wait, you know Haruko?

Barkeeper: No, but the guy in the cloak over there is looking for that girl. He has a photograph of her!

The barkeeper points at the young man in the cloak, the young man growls and acknowledges that he has been caught.

Young Man: Looks Like you caught me, finally, Commander Amarao!

Commander Amarao: Well of course, I did follow you here. You should learn to cover your tracks, Nandaba Naota!

The young man reveals his face from his booth in the corner. It was Naota, who now looks older and more mature, at his current age of 20-years old.

Naota: Did you come to stop me, Amarao?

Amarao has shown some signs of aging himself, as his once bright red hair has starting showing signs of gray.

Amarao: No, I'm trying to help you! She used you because she wanted the power of the pirate king! She doesn't love you, Naota! Head back to Earth, before you get stuck in the wrong corner of the galaxy!

Naota is angered by Amarao and begins to grit his teeth, his response almost sounded sadly naïve.

Naota: You don't know her!

His guitar breaks out of under the table, completely shattering that corner of the bar.

Amarao: Apparently, you don't know that conceited bitch, either!

Naota: What did you say?

The grip on his Rickenbacker hardened, he started to emit powerful sparks from his hands.

Amarao: I said…That you don't know the selfish whore, either!

Naota is completely lit up with anger.

Naota (Angrily): Shut up, you bastard! I'm going to find her, and there's no way you're going to stop me!

(I Promise…I Will Find Her…)

2 Years ago…

The alarm is heard on the dresser next to his bunk bed. Naota had only gotten three hours of sleep that night because he went to a party the night before. Naota had just graduated from high school, but his brother did not show up to the graduation. He tossed and turned trying to fall asleep again, but he couldn't. Finally, he got up, and made his way downstairs.

Naota (Monotoned): Hey, Dad, what's for breakfast...

Kamon: Fried eggs and rice, your favorite.

Naota (Dead Tired): Just don't make it spicy, I hate spicy and you know it.

Kamon: Right, Right…Oh, a letter came for you this morning!

Naota: Is it from the university?

Kamon: No…it actually doesn't have an address, it just says Naota.

Naota (Yawning): …Whatever...

Naota grabs envelope, and takes it up the stairs.

Naota: I'm hoping it's a graduation card from Tasuku...

He opens the envelope and pulls a piece of paper out of it, the paper was blank.

Naota: Well, that's what I get for taking an unmarked letter, nothing but trash…

The paper starts to hover before Naota could finish his sentence.

Naota (Freaked out): Ahh! What th-…Wha?

Naota was scared by this moving paper, until suddenly the paper started expanding.

Naota: What the hell is going on here? Ahhhh!

The paper then completely filled the room and left Naota no room to move.

Naota: Damn! What is up with this letter!

The Paper started to shrink and take form of a human.

Naota: Wait…Is that-!

The Paper took form of Haruhara Haruko.

Naota: Haruko! Where have you been all these years!?

Haruko: Naota! You jackass! You know I wouldn't leave you here for too long!

Haruko bear hugs Naota incredibly hard.

Naota (laughing and grunting): Ow!...haha!...that hurts!

She finally lets go of Naota and laughs.

Haruko: So first of all, I would just like to say I miss you so much!

Naota: I miss you too!

Haruko: But you do know, I'm on the other side of the Universe!

Naota: Wait…what?

Haruko: Someday, I'll see you again…I just know it.

Naota is starting to get confused.

Naota: What is wrong with you?

Haruko smiles and throws the peace-sign.

Haruko: Bye, Naota!

Naota: Huh, where you going? Aren't You staying?

Haruko fades out like a hologram, and disappears.

Naota: Wha?

His eye began to twitch.

Naota (Yelling): WHY HARUKO? WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME!

Kamon breaks the door down and runs in.

Kamon (Yelling): WILL YOU KEEP IT DOWN UP HERE? THE NEIGHBORS WILL CALL THE COPS IF YOU YELL LIKE THAT AGAIN!

Kamon's cell phone rings.

Kamon: Hold on, gotta take this.

He flips the phone open.

Kamon (On Phone): Hello?

Neighbor: WILL YOU KEEP IT DOWN OVER THERE? SOME OF US ARE TRYING TO WATCH SOAP OPERAS OVER HERE! AND MAYBE SOME OF US WANNA KNOW WHO THIS GIRL MARRIES BECAUSE THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME! *click*

Kamon falls over, unconscious.

Naota: Yo, dad, wake up!

Kamon is out cold, so Naota decides picks up his guitar, swings, and hits him with it. The impact takes him out the window and beyond the horizon.

Naota: That'll keep him busy for a while.

After that, Naota makes his way downstairs and sits on the sofa. He sat there thinking about Haruko and the thought of her killed him on the inside.

Naota: You know what? I'm going to go find her!

Meanwhile, Back to the present…

Suddenly the ground starts shaking as Naota and his guitar begin to glow red.

Amarao: Well, if you're not going to stop, then I guess I will have to stop you!

Amarao pulls out a guitar from his head, A Fender Stratocaster.

Amarao: Let's see what you got, Naota!

Just then the ground below them explodes and rises, the bar is completely destroyed. The ground continues to rise as Naota continues to rage.

Naota: I'll show you that getting in my way can do nothing but kill you!

Flashback Continued…

Naota went to the garage to find that old vespa waiting for him. He hopped on, and made an attempt to start it. He turned the key, but the only sign of life is some scraping sound coming from the engine.

Naota: Come on! Damn thing…Work!

He continued to attempt at starting it, but there was no sign of life.

Naota (Angered): Damn Scooter!

Naota kicks the scooter and growls.

Shigekuni: Here…

Naota looks up to see his grandpa giving him ten AA Batteries.

Naota: Wait, this scooter runs on AA Batteries?

Shigekuni: Yup.

Naota: How did you know that?

Shigekuni: Well, there was this one night when I had sex with Haruko, and my-oh-my can she satisfy an old man like me-

Naota (Angry): WHAT? You had sex with Haruko?

Shigekuni (Laughing): Haha…No. I just thought I'd joke with you for one last time.

Naota: Wait, how did you know I'm leaving?

Shigekuni: Because, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do, right?

Naota: Yeah…

Shigekuni: Not to mention I'm almost 90, and I'll probably give out before you get back. Plus, knowing Haruko, she's probably millions of light-years away from here.

Naota: Yeah, that's true.

Naota inserts the batteries and hops on the scooter.

Naota: I'll be back, someday. Please help everyone understand why I have to leave.

Shigekuni: I will, but your father will have a big fit once he finds out you're going to find Haruko-san.

Naota: He'll live.

Naota starts the scooter.

Naota: Goodbye, Grandfather!

Shigekuni: Take care, son!

Naota ascends into the sky taking nothing with him but his Guitar, a black guitar case, and a couple changes of underwear…

Right now…

Naota (Enraged): GRRRRAHHHH!

Amarao: Ah, I see you still have the power of the pirate king!

Naota: Damn Right, I do!

Naota dashes towards Amarao and hits him like a baseball.

Amarao (Flying away to the horizon): Ahhhhh! Motherrrrr!

Naota returns to normal and the ground falls back to its original height. Naota started to walk towards his scooter, when the barkeeper, with his lower half buried in the rubble, stops him.

Barkeeper: You…

Naota stopped walking.

Barkeeper: …Have the powers of the Pirate King, don't you?

Naota: Just a little bit leftover.

The Barkeeper crawls out of the rubble, and smiles.

Barkeeper: Then, go find who you are looking for.

Naota continued walking.

Barkeeper: Oh, and…

Naota stopped to listen.

Barkeeper: Always have an open ear. Don't forget to look for some new friends; they can be helpful on this galaxy.

Naota hopped onto his scooter, and then ascended back into space.

To Be Continued…