"I see," Rei said a few minutes later. Both she and Kioshi sat on the wooden steps up one of the Hikawa Shrine's quarters. After the incident and slight bit of mix up, Rei regained her composure and helped the fallen and utterly frightened Kioshi up. "But you must be practical about these things. I don't normally remember the guys I've dated, much less the ones that did work out so well."

A small sweat drop appeared on Kioshi's head. Hearing those words practically made him feel even more of a loser in love than a Casanova. "I guess I assumed too much. I'm sorry Ms. Rei."

"Call me Rei," she replied. "I feel old when people attach a 'Miss' before my name. I'm only turning 19 anyway. How old are you?"

"I'm two years older than you I guess," Kioshi scratched his head. "But even though you don't remember me, how come you've gone berserk all of a sudden. Was I so rude when I interrupted your singing?"

"No," it was Rei's turn to be embarrassed. "You kind of remind me of someone I knew."

"Hmm. I'm glad I'm not that person you know." Rei corrected him that it was someone she knew before he continued, "I wouldn't want to be at the receiving end of that side of your personality."

"It's not that bad, was it?" Rei faked a laugh that sounded horribly like a witch's. She didn't know what came over her to react so violently. And she cannot blurt out her thoughts to this person anyway seeing as he's actually from this planet. Besides, she added to herself, this guy has no distinguishing aura whatsoever. He's clean as a whistle.

"Well for a moment there," Kioshi said, pulling Rei back to reality, "my whole life flashed before my eyes and I really thought I was going to die. Imagine that. You must be thinking how 'manly' I am now."

Laughing, Rei slapped Kioshi's back lightly but an impact that was harder than she intended and he fell face down on the ground. "Oh no, I'm sorry."

"I'm okay," said Kioshi, raising one hand to show that he really was okay and then pulled himself back up. "You just don't know your own strength I guess. Girls nowadays have gotten so strong. You must let us guys keep up with you once in a while."

"You think so?"

"Yeah. It will be hard for the nicer ones to catch you when you're all growing so fast and strong."

Rei didn't know what to say to that. It was a normal statement, coming from a guy. But it was as if to her, the words held some intimacy in them… as if it was a plea specifically dedicated to her and her alone… by this person… who you didn't even remember, whispered a voice in her head.

Kioshi opened his mouth to say something else but a beeping sound suddenly came out of nowhere like a ticking time bomb.

"Excuse me for a minute," said Rei as she pulled out what looked to Kioshi as a beeping wristwatch. Little did he know that it was Rei's communicator, a device she and her gang used to warn each other when trouble arises.

Rei stood up and turned to Kioshi with an apologetic smile. Then she left, giving him an excuse about totally forgetting her dentist appointment.

Kioshi was dumbfounded as his eyes followed Rei Hino disappear down the shrine's stairs. "Did I say something wrong," was all he uttered.

o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o – o

Hours later, Kioshi tossed in his bed can't seem to get his position right. He cannot think of anything else but Rei Hino. He tried going back to the arcade centre but it was even more filled with people than the last time he looked. He then tried to pick up several girls along the way but it seemed that his charms were on low that day, or else he just wasn't feeling any of them. Finally, he decided to call it a day and sleep. But he just can't!

"There's just something out-of-this-world about her," he thought loudly. "She's just so unique from all the girls I've seen so far. She's no dumb-dumb that's for sure, nor is she the type to be pushed over. I've already seen that side of her and I have no particular desire to see that again."

Once more, Kioshi turned over on his stomach and rested his head on both his hands. "So what is it? I mean, I've only seen her twice so far, thrice if I count today. And the gaps are so far a part, what—five years each? I can't even believe I remember those moments."

Could she be my soul mate? The thought popped out of nowhere and as soon as it registered in Kioshi's brain, he smashed it down with an imaginary anvil. "Soul mate, huh," he smirked. "That's a pretty lame excuse. Admit it Kioshi, you're just too damn smitten by that woman that right now, after really having a conversation with her, you cannot get her out of your mind. Soul mate? That's just plain stupid."

But she just might as well be, the other thought seemed to counter. Do you want to wait another five years to find out?

"Alright, fine!" Kioshi made up his mind and sat up, slapping his face with both hands. "I'll visit her again tomorrow and see if there really is something between us… at least potentially."

-ring-ring-ring-

Kioshi took his cellular phone from his nightstand and looked at the name calling: Anita. Shoot! He thought, I already forgot about her.