-1Hello everyone!

Well, I must say… With the release of the last Harry Potter novel, I have been spurred to return to fan to check out the new HP fics that have been written post - Deathly Hallows. And then, I remembered that I had an account, with stories that I vaguely remember putting into words. While these stories serve as solid evidence of my evolution as a writer, I have to admit… I am glad that I have had the opportunity to write them and share them with all the readers out there. Thank you so much for all of your continuing support!!! Seeing all of the reviews that I have received for this particular fic, I felt amazed.. And really happy:D I definitely plan on wrapping this up before I start college this fall.

My… how the years do fly by. I really do apologize! I do seem to have a tendency for updates every two or three years, but I will definitely try to put a stop to that.

Now… for the next chapter:D

(oh goshhh, and the next chapter of my life is hurdling towards me, also.. --;;)

Please enjoy!

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"Happy Birthday, you wanna-be cop!"

"Happy Birthday, Asuka…!"

"Yes! A very happy birthday to you, Asuka Jr.!"

Balloons - held captive in a very loose net. Colorful and distracting decorations lined the yellow walls. A cake sat in the corner on a lonely circular desk, being taunted by its neighbor, a large and rectangular angled table littered with beverages and presents alike. Streamers and glittering pieces of foil lined the floor as Asuka Jr. stepped into the brightly lit room, glancing around at his new surroundings.

His friends were running towards him, hurdling at each other, trying to grab his shirt, his neck collar, and his arm. They were yelling at him excitedly. But through all of this commotion, he could not hear a thing. He could only read their lips and form those motions into words in his head.

The only sound present was that of a twinkling bell, continuing its ring like raindrops on a lone hut on a rainy day.

After Asuka noticed the sound present, he saw that the faces of his "friends" were blurred. He could not see them so clearly as he could with the surroundings. The cake was a fine image, and so were the balloons that now fell on him. Green, blue, red, yellow, pink… They were all in-focused, but why couldn't he see his friends?

The commotion of his friends continued as he stepped away from their grasps. He saw a lone figure against the yellow plastered wall. The body was illuminated with a warm and comforting light. But when the figure saw that Asuka was looking at it...

The twinkling bells stopped.

The figured instantaneously disappeared as an unconscious Saint Tail replaced her spot.

"NO!!!!!"

Asuka Jr. screamed. He screamed himself awake as sweat poured from his weary body into his sheets. He looked around his room, and everything seemed to be in place. His window was on the right of his room, his books were on the shelf next to his closet… the computer set was off, and the annoying green light was still flashing next to his monitor. His father's watch was by the lamp beside his bed, and the photographs of he and his friends still decorated his room, along with the newspaper clippings that he had collected.

Everything was in place and in order, but why was he not? Why was his head spinning and his heart throbbing in his chest? The tingle of pain in his arms and legs?

Logic overruled his temporary confusion. Asuka mused to himself. The effects that a "good night's sleep" can have on a person is just ridiculously profound. He stretched up his arms and felt the already-warm summer air on his sweaty skin. As he scratched his hair and yawned, he glanced at the clock, noting the short amount of time he had to get ready for school.

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Okay. So that's it for now.

The question that looms is.. Does Asuka remember the events of the previous night?

And of course.. WILL HE EVER FIND OUT WHO SAINT TAIL REALLY IS?

Yes, we know what happens at the end of the manga, but HEY NOW!!! That usually IS the big question left after each short

Much love to all of you.

Nanachama