Disclaimer:I don't own the rights to Love Hina or the 4400
Beta Reader: Kyon-Is-Haruhi's-Slave00
Starting Over: Reconnection
It's been a week and a half since Keitaro and the rest of the returnees have stayed in the NTAC building. Life for him has been rather dull, only able to do a few things like play cards or watch TV. If it weren't for his two friends, Daisuke and Shogo, he would be bored out of his mind.
Between his two friends, Keitaro is more close to Shogo Ohka, as he is more open to tell about himself. He is twenty-years old and was abducted on December thirty-first, nineteen sixty-nine, on his way home after picking up a doll for his nine-year old sister, Riko. Before his abduction, he lived in Kobe with his sister and parents. He was saving money to attend the Kyoto City University of Arts so he could become a drawing artist.
Keitaro doesn't know much on Daisuke Wakazashi. He doesn't speak much and when he does, it's never about himself. What he has mention about himself is that he's eighteen and was abducted eighteen years ago. But what Keitaro has observed is an entirely different case. With a deck of cards, they have played many games from buta no shippo to poker to go fish. But when they don't play, he sees him exercising. Since there is no workout area, Daisuke does it where they're not many people around him. Besides the usually push-ups and sit-ups, he also sees him shadowboxing. But instead of throwing punches or even kicks, he mainly uses he elbows and knees, leaving Keitaro wondering what kind of fighting style that is.
In the late afternoon, Keitaro watches his two friends playing two-ten-jack. The game is interesting to watch since he doesn't know how to play. Suddenly, he hears the TV getting louder. Looking up, he sees a lot more people then usually glued to the TV, seeing one of the news reporters on-screen that have been bad-mouthing the returnees.
"The ninth circuit court of appeals has upheld the lawsuit filed by the ACLU on behalf of the families of the returnees. Although the suit passed, the returnees will have to wait a few days before they are released…" At that moment, everyone listening to the TV cheers. Even Keitaro gets up and claps.
"What's going on?" Shogo asked.
"Yeah. How come you and nearly everyone in here are jumping for joy?" Daisuke adds. Keitaro looks at his two friends with a huge smile on his face.
"They're announcing our release." Both of Keitaro's friends jump out of their seats.
"What?" They say together. "You're kidding me?"
"Not at all. It will take a few days, but we're all being released."
"This is great news!" Shogo acclaims, throwing his arms in the air as he seats back down. "I can go back home and find my sister. I hope she's doing okay."
Keitaro smiles at Shogo's enthusiasm, taking the seat next to his two friends. But when he looks at Daisuke, he's not happy in the least bit about this news.
"What's wrong Daisuke?" Keitaro ask, seeing him finally seating down. "You look a bit gloomy."
"What makes you say that?"
"Because you don't look happy at all. What's wrong?"
"It's nothing."
"But we're going to be released from this place!" Shogo says. "How can you not be happy about that?"
"Because Mr. Optimism, I don't know what my girlfriend is up to."
"You…have ago girlfriend?" Shogo and Keitaro say together with a bewildered tone.
"Yes. I…" After realizing what he just told his friends, Daisuke begins to blush.
"You shouldn't be gloomy about leaving." Shogo exclaims. "You should be excited!"
"But like I said, I don't know what she's up to. I don't know if she's engaged to some guy or married with a kid or two or has even forgotten about me all together since it's been so long."
Both Keitaro and Shogo listen to Daisuke's story. He grew up in the town of Kiho in the Mie Prefecture. He didn't have any friends, as he had a bad rep in school because of his short fuse and demeanor, always getting into fights with just about anybody. In reality, he learned and studied Muay Thai, wanting to be a champion. As no one in school wanted to hang out with him, the only person he ever truly considered a friend was he's master daughter, Sukhon Photirat. Since they were the same age, they were always seen hanging out with each other in the gym. But once they reach high school, they began to see a lot more of each other outside the gym.
"We kept it secret from her father, my master," Daisuke tells. "We both knew he wouldn't approve of this. And we actually hid it from him for years until a few days after we graduated high school."
"What happen?" Shogo asked.
"In the gym, Sukhon was talking to me about living together and finding a Muay Thai gym near Mie University, where she was going to attend college. Her father overheard this and asked if we were dating. I told him we were and ordered me in the ring, where he pretty much kicked my ass in front of everybody."
"My gosh!" Keitaro exclaim. "What did he do afterwards?"
"He told me to leave and never come back."
"That's really harsh of him" Shogo expressed.
"Well…I shown up the next day and he, once again, kicked my ass. He asked why I came back, in which I answered 'I want you to teach me how to be a strong champion'. He was surprised by that and within a week, accepted my relationship with Sukhon. I stayed at the gym while she was off to college, but she did make it a habit of visiting me every other week. That lasted three months before I was abducted."
"And since eighteen years have passed, you're just fearing the worst?" Keitaro ask.
"I can't help it. I mean, at some point during that time, she had to move on with her life. I would like to know what she's been doing, but it's been far too long since I was in her life."
"Cheer up. Maybe she remembers you, always looking for you," Shogo says.
"That would be something. But I highly doubt it. Even if I did find her, would she believe that I am one of the returnees and not some punk kid that looks like me?"
Keitaro couldn't help feel bad when he saw Daisuke's fragile expression.
The next day, Keitaro is sitting in Dr. Yamanaka's office, watching her looking at his recent test results.
"Well, everything appears to be normal with you," she says. "And you haven't gotten any headaches since you left the hospital ward?"
"Yes doctor. Everything's okay with me."
"That's good to hear."
"So doctor, what have you heard about the returnees release?" Dr. Yamanaka turns away from her papers, slyfully looking at Keitaro.
"I take it you heard the news about your release?" Keitaro nods. "Well, from what I hear, there is going to be a lot of paperwork before you're all released. Not only that, but a few political problems."
"Political problems? Like what?"
"Well, some countries won't repatriate their citizens, like Egypt and Chile. China and Philippines are on the fence on this." Dr. Yamanaka sees the concern in Keitaro's eyes. "But don't worry. Japan will repatriate its citizens, so you will be able to go home."
"That's great, but what about the people who can't or have no families to go home to?"
"We're not kicking anyone out. Anybody that wants to stay here can and get the help they need."
"That's nice of the U.S. government."
"Well, you guys are our responsibly. Which reminds me, is there anybody you want me to contact to let them know of your return?" Keitaro thinks for a moment, then gets an idea.
"I do, but can I ask you for a favor?"
Later that night, Keitaro is finishing up his dinner, hearing his two friends talking.
"I'm so nervous about going back home," Shogo says. "It's going to be scary to see all the changes in Kobe since nearly two weeks have only passed for me, but I want to see my little sister again."
"You're a very determine big brother, you know," Daisuke replies, taking a sip of his milk carton.
"I promised her I would get her that Scarlet doll when I came back from the market. Who would have known it would take this long to give it to her."
"I wish I had your determination. I'm probably going to stay here."
"What? How come? What about your girlfriend?"
"By now, she's probably an ex-girlfriend. And I have no one to return to. So what's the point of going home?"
Before Shogo or even Keitaro so reply, a tall man in a military uniform stands over them.
"Are you Daisuke Wakazashi, Keitaro Urashima and Shogo Ohka?"
"We are," Keitaro says, being the only one of the three that understands English.
"Please come with me." The military man walks away from the group, heading towards the door.
"Come on guys. We have to follow him."
Keitaro gets up from his seat, following the military man, with his friends following behind. For Shogo and Daisuke, they're heading to unfamiliar territory, not knowing where they're going. But when they all make their way to a long white washed hallway, Keitaro knows exactly what's waiting for them. When they pass the hallway, they enter a smaller hallway, where a woman in a white lab coat awaits them.
"Thank you private. You may return to your post now," the woman says.
"Yes madam." The military man turns around, walking out of the hallway.
"Hello Keitaro. Surprised to see me this soon?"
"A little Dr. Yamanaka."
"You know this woman?"
"I do Shogo. Dr Yamanaka has been treating me since I got here."
"Indeed. So you must be Shogo?"
"I…I am madam." Dr. Yamanaka walks up to Shogo and hands him a slip of paper. "What is this for doctor?"
"You may use this room to call that number." Leading him to the door on the right, Shogo enters the room. "If that is Shogo, you must be Daisuke."
"That I am." Like Shogo, she too walks up to Daisuke, handing him a slip of paper.
"You may use this room to call that number." Leading him to the door on the left, Daisuke enters the room.
"So you found them?" Keitaro ask.
"It was tricky, but I have."
"Thank you so much." Keitaro bows. "I don't know how to thank you."
"Well, you may use my office to call your loved ones." He gives out a bewildered expression.
"What? Are you sure?"
"You don't want to let you loved one know where you are?"
"It's not that. I just…wanted to surprise them. That's all."
"But they waited a long time to know what happened to you. You sure you want to make them wait a little longer?" Keitaro thinks about what Dr. Yamanaka has told him.
"You're right. I should give them a call."
With a smile, he walks pass the doctor and enters her room. He looks around before finding the phone on the desk. He makes his way towards the desk and picks up the phone before seating down on a nearby chair. Dialing the numbers, he can hardly contain himself, wondering who's going to pickup and how their reaction is going to be.
After punching the numbers, he waits patiently, hearing the ring tone. He feels very nervous, wondering if Dr. Yamanaka's advise was a good idea. The ring tone finally stops, hearing a voice on the other side. A voice that Keitaro didn't except to hear.
"I still can't believe it!" Shogo exclaims as he, Keitaro and Daisuke are together in the sleeping quarters. "My little sister is married with four kids! And her first-born is the same age as me! Man! This is so surreal. But I'm happy that she's doing well."
"Was she skeptical about who you were?" Daisuke asked.
"She was. I mean, it's been so long. But I told her about the Scarlet doll I was going to get her for New Years and a few other things. She began to cry, saying that it really was me." A tear runs down Shogo's right eye. "She said she blames herself for my disappearance, knowing I was getting the doll for her. She can't wait to see me again and show off her family. What about you Daisuke? Did you talk to your girlfriend?"
"No. Wish I did though."
"Who's number did you call then?"
"Oh, it was my girlfriend's number. But it was my master who I talked to. Still can't believe what he told me."
"What was that?" Daisuke hesitates for a moment before cracking a smile.
"For starters, Suhkon is still single and is a math teacher at Yamazaki High School in Tsu. She also has a daughter, which I'm the father too." Shogo nearly falls off his bed.
"A daughter? You? When did that happen?"
"The night before I was taken, I was over at Suhkon's place where we…got a little personal; if you know what I mean." Shogo gives a blank expression.
"Actually, I don't know what you mean."
"Huh…never mind then. You're from the old time and probably won't understand. Anyway, since I was the only man in her life, my master knew it was mine. But with no one knowing that I was abducted, there were rumors of me going to Thailand to train at another gym or hearing about her pregnancy and taking off."
"What about your daughter?"
"From what my master has told me, her name is Miyu and she is seventeen. It's a bit weird to hear that you're older then your child by a year, but that's the hand I been dealt with. I really can't wait to see them again. And meet my daughter for the first time." Daisuke notices that Keitaro has been quite since he left Dr. Yamanaka's office. "How about you Keitaro-Sempai?"
"It…" He keeps looking away, expressing embarrassment and a bit shame. "I didn't have a good conversation." He drops his head in disappointment, not seeing his friends looking at him with concern.
"What did they say?" Shogo asked.
Keitaro looks at his friends, giving a depressing expression. He doesn't want to tell them since it'll put a downer on their conversational reunions, but with concern and worry in their eyes, he can't help but tell them.
"The number you have dialed is no longer in service. Please check that this is the correct number you are dialing and try again."
"What?" Shogo exclaims.
"Did you check that it was the right number?" Daisuke ask.
"I did," Keitaro answers, letting a tear come out of his eye. "I tried two more times and got the same message." Keitaro looks down, covering his face with his hands.
"Did you ask Dr. Yamanaka about helping you get the new number of your place?" Shogo ask.
"I did. But she told me something strange."
"Strange? Like what?"
"Well, she found the building, but there's no phone number to it."
"No number? What does that mean?"
"She doesn't know. She did mention that it could mean that the building is condemn." Keitaro gets up and makes his way to his bed.
"Then… what are you going to do?" Shogo ask, watching his friend flop onto his bed. Keitaro manages to turn to him, breathing out a sigh of uncomfortable.
"I really don't know. But the only thing that makes sense for me is to stay here."
"Stay here? Why don't you just go back? Maybe they're there and haven't paid their phone bill?"
"But if I go back and the building is condemn, where am I going to stay?" Neither Shogo nor Daisuke could answer, looking at each other in disbelief. "There's no telling what's back there. So, until I know, I think it's better that I stay here."
"I guess." Shogo sadly agrees.
"That seems like the right choice," Daisuke adds. "But I wish you could go back to Japan."
"I know. But with my situation, what can you do?" Keitaro turns away from his friends, wondering what can he do as he drifts off to sleep.
Author's Note: Sorry for the year & a half delay. Without telling much about my personal life, I've had a mental breakdown for the past year. I been slowly getting my life back on track, but writing had been one of the things I let slip away. As much as I got this chapter up, I can't guarantee when I'll finish this or any of my other stories. The best thing I can guarantee is that when I upload a new chapter of a story, I am halfway finished with the next. Also, I'll probably let you know more about my stories, like a behind-the-scenes look, in my head. Until then...
Besides grammar mistakes, please review