I DON'T OWN ANY FLCL CHARACTERS... THOUGH I WOULD BE CONSEDERED A GENIUS WITHOUT MEASURE IF I DID. THIS FIC TAKES PLACE AFTER HARUKO LEAVES AND AS STATED COMES BACK. IN FACT SHE'S BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE IN THIS ONE.




"Look, I told you I don't like the sour ones!!" Naota screamed madly at his pink haired accomplice who seemed to be attempting to force a small tin soda can down his throat.

"Aww, is little Tak-kun gonna make a big fuss?" Said Haruko in a sickly fake sincere voice. "THEN DRINK THE DAMN SODA AND IT'LL BE FAST AND PAINLESS!!!" She added on with a new, vicious shriek in her tone.

Naota gargled down a few uneasy sips, heaving as they passed. Haruko was still holding the can to his lips, but now had him in a ferocious headlock. His arms and legs squirmed in all direction, flailing for something to grasp in attempts to pull himself out of those hell-spawned arms. Haruko's eyes were wide, with a horrific smile on her face as she watched the grade school boy squirm as he continued to forcibly drink the soda.

The can emptied and Haruko released her grip on him. Naota fell to the ground gasping and wrenching from the taste left in his mouth.

"See," Said Haruko slighly, "I knew you'd like 'em." She squatted down and looked at the 1975 Vespa moped that sat parked beside her.

Naota glared at her.

"I said I don't like , I never have and never will like the sour drinks!" He said through clenched teeth, not even looking at her anymore.

Haruko was silent.

Naota stood up and began to walk away towards the bridge.

"Where you think you're going?" Asked Haruko apathetically.

"Home." Naota replied shortly, without even glancing back.


The Medical Mechanica plant was visible on top of the hill in the middle of town. Mamimi sat under the bridge with her feet stuck in the industry-polluted water running through the river. Her shoes had floated away, but she didn't really care. She could go without shoes for awhile. It was summer. School wouldn't start for another two months. She had plenty of time to get new one's.

She looked at the iron shaped facility atop the hill. It had been six months since the giant red bird had appeared and saved them from it. But this new factory... It deemed more subtle than it's predecessor. There was no daily alarm that rang, and no smoke had shot out of the sides since it's installment. And that bird... She knew it. That bird had to have been the true form of Lord Kanchi. Yet the robot Kanchi that lives with Tak-kun is still around. None of this mattered anymore though. This town had gone back to normal. Nothing exciting happened here anymore.

That woman who rode the Vespa had come back. She had been around Naota for weeks, following him around.

She sighed and fell onto her back, arms stretched out.

"But, that's all in the past." She said.