Anna just put the letter in the mail when her Aunt called.
"Hey, Anna? You remember that foreign exchange student from Japan? I think his name was Shin," Aunt Karen started.
"Yeah, I just thought about him yesterday and sent off a letter," Anna replied twisting a lock of hair around her finger. She hoped her Aunt wasn't going to tell her some bad news, like he died in a terrible accident or something like that.
"Did you have a dream about him too?" Anna asked.
"No. A dream? Wow, that's strange," Aunt Karen said, "Anyway, his sister just called asking about you."
"Oh, really?" Anna asked breathing a sigh of relief, "What about?"
"She said she remembered him coming home happier than when he left. She was thinking of sending him back over to us," Aunt Karen replied, "I told her you were the reason he was happier. You guys spent the whole two weeks attached at the hip. I also told her you would be gone so there was no point sending him here. Anyway, she wants to know if you'd be willing to go there for the summer."
"Well, I was going to visit Gerald out in England, but I suppose I could visit Shin instead," Anna said pulling her finger out of the knot she just made and frowning, "It's a bit further away, but it should be fun. Then I'll have to start job hunting when I get back."
"Luckily all you're doing right now is interning. I'll see you at the graduation next month," Aunt Karen said happily, "Oh, and I'll tell Sayoko that you'll be able to go for the summer."
"That means I'll have to call Gerald and tell him the bad news. He'll be heartbroken," Anna said with a laugh.
"Oh you can't fool me I'm sure he'll be sad, but happy to have his alone time with Paul," Aunt Karen replied laughing with her. Gerald had been her exchange student a few years before Shin and was openly gay then. He still sent letters and called both of them.
Anna fixed her ponytail as the plane landed in Yamaguchi. She barely slept on the long flight over the water, and then the short flight to Yamaguchi from Tokyo. Her muscles were sore from sitting so long and she hated the smell of the older man sitting next to her. The seatbelts sign went off and Anna stood up and grabbed her bags. She couldn't wait to get back on solid ground. As she stepped out of the terminal she looked around for the familiar reddish brown hair and blue-green eyes of Shin. Then she saw her, Anna assumed it was Sayoko and her husband waving in her direction. Anna waved back and walked over to them.
"Are you Sayoko?" Anna asked as she neared. The woman nodded pulling Anna into a hug over her distended stomach.
"I'm so glad you could make it!" Sayoko said, "Shin will be sad he missed it. I wanted to surprise him but his friends took him off to Mia's and he just told me."
"Yeah, we'll have to drive you because Sayoko doesn't want to miss seeing his face when you show up. Of course at this point I wouldn't mind seeing any emotion cross his face," her husband said.
"Let's get going then," Sayoko said clapping her hands.
"Sweetheart, I believe she does need clothes. We have to wait for her luggage to come off," her husband said shaking his head. Sayoko frowned.
"Oh, I just can't wait. I really hope this works, Ryuusuke," Sayoko said looking up at her husband.
"I hope so, too," he replied putting his arm around her and hugging her to him.
"Is something wrong with Shin?" Anna asked tilting her head to the side, "He never wrote me back."
"You could say that. He just is completely void of emotion right now. He barely says anything," Sayoko said, "It's like something sucked the life right out of him."
"Was there a battle?" Anna whispered looking around to see if anyone was watching them, "Never mind, we'll talk about it in the car."
"He told you?" Ryuusuke asked looking surprised.
"Yeah, we talked about it at length," Anna replied, "I know it bothers him."
"Did he tell you about the others?" Sayoko asked. Anna nodded and then snagged her luggage from the belt.
"This is it. I didn't pack too much because I wanted to get some things here," Anna said shyly, "Ever since Shin came to visit I have been all into learning about Japan. I even know how to speak in Japanese fluently, at least I hope fluently enough."
"Let's go!" Sayoko said clapping. Ryuusuke took her bag and guided her to their small car.
"Shin won't say anything but I think either, they had a battle or might have one soon," Sayoko whispered as they got into the car, "He's distanced himself from everyone, even the other Ronin's. They don't know how to get him back either. He even stopped cooking, and he barely eats."
"Wow, it's worse than I thought," Anna said putting her seatbelt on.
"It's worse than last time. We really want to see him happy again. I remember how happy he was when he returned. All he talked about was water skiing and a girl," Sayoko said, "He even showed us the picture of you two."
Sayoko filled Anna in on all that had happened since the last time Anna saw Shin. She even mentioned that their mother passed away last year on top of all the other problems Shin had. Anna looked out the window as they came to a stop in front of a huge house. Anna sighed as she stepped out of the car and looked around her at the sun shimmering onto a lake. The trees surrounded everything and gave her a feeling of being secluded.
"This way," Sayoko said happily. A disgruntled blonde guy met her at the door. He stood leaning against the railing of the steps that led into the house.
"Sayoko I told you this was a stupid idea and asked you not to bring the American," he grumbled in Japanese.
"I think it will help, Date. At least let me try. I am his blood relative after all," Sayoko said folding her arms on top of her pregnant stomach.
"You might want to let her, she's been very moody during her pregnancy and I've learned not to mess with a pregnant woman," Ryuusuke said with a laugh.
"I promise I won't bother him. He might not even remember me," Anna said in Japanese. The blondes eyes widened and he stood up.
"Fine," he grumbled, "But it won't work. We've been trying for weeks now to get him to do anything, even cook. She's not going to bring him around."
"Seiji, right?" Anna asked speaking Japanese and giving him a bow of respect, "I'm Anna."
Seiji gave a short nod and bow before turning and going inside.
"Shin told me he's normally like that. He said Seiji was brought up in the past," Anna whispered laughing and sliding her arm through Sayoko's, "He also said Seiji is the type that thinks women are only good for cooking and cleaning."
"Oh, that's him alright. He drives me crazy," Sayoko whispered and laughed, "I like you, Anna. I can see why Shin was so enthralled by you, and I've only known you a couple of hours."
They walked into the house and made their way to a sitting room where Shin sat staring off into space. Anna noticed the others around him; a larger guy who kept watching Shin with sad eyes. She could tell he was Shin's best friend, Shu. Next to Shin sat a guy with black hair and his arms crossed over his chest. Judging by his blue eyes and deep in thought/ worried look she had to guess that he was Ryo. Seiji sat next to Shin on the other side and lounging in a chair with his nose in a book must be Touma.
"Sayoko brought the American girl," Seiji stated. Shu and Ryo snapped out of their reverie and looked up at her. Anna knew she wasn't that pretty, more average girl next door type than anything special. She could feel them checking her out but couldn't stop looking at Shin who didn't even turn to face her.
"Shin, Anna's here to see you," Sayoko said, "Anna, from California?"
Shin didn't move, he just sat there gazing at the wall.
"I told you it wouldn't work," Seiji said shaking his head. Touma put the book down and watched Shin for a second.
"Sorry, Sayoko, but at least you tried, right?" Touma asked with a shrug. Ryo sighed and stood up abruptly.
"Shin, come on!" Ryo yelled throwing a vase of flowers that was sitting on the side table. It smashed against the wall spraying water and glass over the couch. Shu had jumped out of the way before it hit.
"Calm down, Ryo. He'll come back to us, he has to," Shu said frowning. Ryo stormed out of the house, Anna could hear the door slam as he left. She cringed.
"Sorry about that, Ryo always takes everything as his fault," Shu said scratching the back of his head. Sayoko sighed, left and came back with a small broom and dustpan. She started cleaning up the mess Ryo left behind.
"I'll do it," Ryuusuke said stopping her. He grabbed the broom and dustpan from her and took over the clean up. Sayoko sadly fell into a chair and cried.
"I don't know what to do anymore. I thought it would work to bring her here. Maybe I should have sent him there," Sayoko whispered. Anna frowned and walked over to Shin. He seemed so lifeless. Anna sat next to him and wrapped her arms around him. She pulled him against her and kissed the top of his head. She was surprised to feel his soft fingertips graze up her arm and then settle at her elbow.
"She died," he whispered, barely loud enough to hear. Everyone froze and stared at him. Shin closed his eyes as a tear escaped his eye and landed on her arm. Anna wanted to ask who but didn't want to stop him.
"Why? Why did she have to die?" Shin asked looking into Anna's big brown eyes. Anna was surprised to see them focused but there was still no spark to them.
"Your mom?" Anna asked kissing his cheek. Shin nodded and pushed himself further against her as if trying to meld his body with hers. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her onto his lap.
"Shin, it happens, life happens. People die and there is nothing we can do about it, but miss them. That doesn't mean we should stop living," Anna whispered. Seiji stared at her shocked; he had not expected Shin to open up to her. He didn't think Shin would even blink at this average girl, who Shin hadn't seen in years, but all she did was hug him and he cracked like an egg.
"Something bad is coming and I'm going to have to fight. I don't want to fight anymore. Why do I constantly have to fight?" Shin asked.
"You know why," Anna said running her fingers through his hair, "For moments like this; for time to relax, for your friends, and your family; your sister, your niece or nephew."
"Yes, you said that before," Shin said with a sigh, "I know I have to."
"Think about what would happen if you stopped. What would happen if you gave up?" Anna asked.
"We'd all perish," Shin replied his tears flowing freely, "Not just me."
"Don't even think that! We'll never give up! We'll die trying to beat this evil!" Shu shouted raising his fist in the air. Shin jumped and blinked his eyes. He looked around him and his jaw dropped. Everyone was watching him and Anna, his Anna was sitting on his lap.
"You're really here? This isn't a dream?" Shin asked, his blue-green eyes gazing into her brown eyes. He slid his fingers up her arm and to her neck.
"Yes, I'm here. Sayoko brought me," Anna said kissing his forehead.
"You're still so warm, like sunshine. Did you get to ski this summer?" Shin asked.
Anna laughed, "No, not yet."
"Oh, I was going to say you are looking pretty pale," Shin replied. Anna glared at him.
"Really? You don't see me in years and then you call me a vampire! Wow, thanks," Anna replied shaking her head. Shin laughed and Anna smacked his arm pulling herself out of his arms. Shin wouldn't have it though; he just pulled her back down onto his lap. Anna tried to get out of his grip but Shin laughed and held tight.