It's been seven years. I can't believe I'm given another chance to meet them again.

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For the record, this fic is a sequel to New Friends, New Boys, New Love. Since you're in this page, I'm under the impression you've already read the original story. So if you still haven't read that, then go and check it out first. But if you're already done with it, then feel free to start with this sequel. Just so you know, I didn't think I'd be publishing another fanfic, being so busy with my original novel. I stumbled upon a video of Shaman King ending them number two, "Omokage" while surfing the Web two nights ago, and it put me in such a nostalgic mood that I suddenly felt the urge to write a sequel to Takeshi's story. So, yeah. On with the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King. I don't have the intention to, anyway.

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Yoh sluggishly fell forward on his desk and gave a loud sigh. "Aww, man."

Anna, who was sitting right beside him, gave him a sideward glance and said, sounding a bit annoyed, "What now, Yoh?"

"I don't get why we still have to go to university and do stuff like these. We should be working right now!"

A reverberating, ringing sound suddenly filled the classroom. Students began to leave the room, while some just stayed behind. 24-year-olds Yoh and Anna Asakura were among the latter.

Anna rolled his eyes, as if frustrated to have to explain this to him again, over and over.

"Yoh, we both skipped school when Hana was born, remember? We can't go to work. We need college degrees to be able to land a job." Anna folded her arms reprovingly. "That's why we're here. To study and get a diploma, and then to get a job to support our son. What part of that don't you understand, Yoh?"

Yoh turned to his side and faced Anna, flashing a rather lopsided grin. "Well, we can always cook some fried noodles and sell them in front of the inn! Why can't we do that?"

Anna cocked an eyebrow. "You don't even know how to cook, Yoh."

"I so can!" Yoh gave a big huff and continued, "I can whip up instant noodles, easy peasy!"

"You said fried noodles not instant noodles. And besides, people don't waste their money buying instant noodles from the street when they can actually buy a cup in the nearby convenience store and prepare their own."

"But, Anna…" Yoh began to say, obviously trying to justify his suggestion.

"And fried noodles can't support a child," Anna continued, throwing Yoh an icy stare. "Face it, Yoh. All we have left financially is but a small portion of the Asakura fortune left to us. It will run out soon, and we need money to back it up." She subsequently jabbed a finger up front, towards the whiteboard, looking stern. "Now straighten up, face front, man up and take responsibility!"

Yoh groaned. "I hate responsibility…it tires me out…" He lazily gestured up front. "And anyway, Mr. Kaito's still not here yet."

"Who said that? I'm right here."

Like a bolt from the blue, their gray-haired history professor emerged from the door beside the whiteboard, carrying a thick, leather-bound book. He pushed his eyeglasses further up his nose and peered warily at Yoh.

"Watch your manners, Mr. Asakura," he said sharply. "I heard you."

Yoh immediately straightened up and brushed his unkempt bangs away from his face.

"I-I'm sorry, Mr. Kaito!" he stammered, forcing a half-hearted smile. Yoh gave a sideway glance towards Anna and saw her giving him a cold glare. He straightened up a bit more, also trying to avoid the stares of his classmates. "I mean…I promise it won't happen again."

Mr. Kaito raised a brow at Yoh and said, "Tell that to your new teacher."

"Uh…" Yoh's back slumped slightly, mouth open in wonder. "…what?"

The rest of the class were exchanging glances in wonder as well. What's he talking about? Anna turned his attention to the professor, frowning. Then, she raised her hand and asked, "Mr. Kaito? Are you leaving the class?"

Kaito paused, then smiled contentedly. "As a matter of fact, yes, I am."

Anna opened her mouth to press him for more explanation, when Kaito continued, "I'm an old man. My family thinks it prudent and timely for me to retire. I agree. I've contributed so much to the world of history, after all. And I've taught so much. I've no regrets in leaving." He paused before beaming at the class, saying, "Do you agree?"

Nods of agreement, satisfied smiles and shouts of "yes" filled the classroom. Pleased, Mr. Kaito opened the door beside him and stretched out his hand. "Well then, I suppose it would now be right for me to introduce your history professor."

Yoh and Anna craned their necks to see beyond the doorframe, but it was hard to see past it.

"He is a twenty-four-year-old history professor hailed as the brightest mind in the history department of the University of Oxford in England. I was impressed, I must say, the moment I laid eyes on his resume. Doctor of History at such a young age! Imagine that!" Dr. Kaito rubbed his palms together in excitement. "I believe he has just come back from a long journey. He is a bit tired, but is now ready to take my place all the same." He reached his hand out and nodded to this new teacher from inside the room. "You will learn a lot from him…Dr. Himura?"
At that moment, Yoh and Anna turned to look at each other with a curious look spread across their faces. They were thinking of the same thing, or rather, of the same person.

Anna smirked. "Now that sparks some memories…" she whispered.

The new history professor of Funbari University casually strode inside the room with his hands lightly tucked in his pockets. He was wearing a dark suit, with a red tie hanging comfortably around his neck. A spotless white shirt was evident underneath his polished black blazer. He had jet black hair that was neatly parted to one side, with some loose bangs brushing down on his forehead. He wore black, wire-rimmed eyeglasses that revealed a familiar pair of brown eyes.

Yoh's mouth fell open. His jaw was hanging dumbly, staring at their new teacher in utter disbelief. He could've believe what he was seeing. Likewise for Anna. She looked like she had frozen stiff on her seat, breathless with shock.

This was definitely unprecedented. After seven years, he was back.

The man, who looked to be the same age as Yoh and Anna, gave a friendly wave and smiled brightly. He casually took off his eyeglasses and shoved it gently inside his jacket.

Looking back at the class, he said pleasantly, "Nice meeting you all. My name is Dr. Takeshi Himura, and I'm going to be your new history teacher from now until you graduate from this university." He beamed at them cheerfully. "I think we're going to have a lot of fun. Whaddya guys think?"

The 24-year-old teacher was then met with joyous cheers from his students. Some got up and shook hands with him, while some patted him jovially on the back.

That is, except for the Asakura couple.

They were both seated, motionless, eyes shot open and dumbstruck.

Takeshi shifted his gaze and focused it on Yoh first, then Anna.

Then he gave them both a soft wave and grinned.

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Thanks for reading. My apologies that first chapter's so short--it's just a prologue, after all. So what do you think? Was that okay? Lemme in on your thoughts. Review. Please and thank you. ^_^