A/N: It's really nice to know that, even with our common setting gone, you people still think I'm doing all right and playing with the characters in interesting ways. ^^ Well, the one question that didn't come up, that I didn't explain before was why the news anchors had English or even American names. Well, I just consider it to be a worldly news-station, kinda like CNN, only more… competitive, such as local channels. Anyway, recap. People have had about a week and a half apart from each other. We finally got to see a bit of Yamada Manor, but not so much of the goings-on there. (trying not to focus on pilots so much) Inez started doubting her relationship with Izumi and wondering about Erina. Ryoko started worrying about her talents again. Saburota made himself a general pain, Yukina got first contact with Ariko, and Hari doesn't know what's going on with him about Lapis and Ruri. I suppose that's a rather brief, yet detailed recap, ne? Well, this time, more people get into jobs, more people get into contact with others, and other things happen to some others. Basically, another one of last time, only more other stuff. Well, let's get a going now!

~*~

When Akito headed down to the kitchen to start breakfast, he had no idea that anyone would be up. Least of all, Hikaru still dressed in her white blouse and blue jumper from the day before, grabbing a banana out of the refrigerator. Peeling it, she smiled at Akito. "Hey, s'up? Gonna start breakfast already? Dude, it's like five in the morning!" Akito rolled his eyes. "I gotta cook all you people's assortment of food early today. I gotta be in Tokyo between seven and eight. And I know you haven't even gone to bed yet, have you Hikaru?"

The redhead shrugged and hopped onto one of the forest green counters. "Petty details. I'm a night owl. I'm cranky in the morning if it isn't directly connected to the night. So what're going to Tokyo for?"

"Going to go finally take up my job at Peaceful Days."

"Peaceful Days? Is that the name of Miss How Mei's restaurant?"

"Restaurant jointed with a coffee shop, actually. She and her husband run it, and I promised that I'd help out. I'm gonna get money of course…" Just at that moment, Gai entered the kitchen in his robe looking positively dead-tired. "The hell are YOU doing out of bed, Gai-chan? Hikaru being still awake at least makes sense."

Gai yawned and scratched the back of his head, ruffling his shaggy, shoulder-length hair. "Yeah, well, me and Itsuki set today for the interviews for the new secretaries. Our old ones got sick of our crap, so we set it up so people could apply for the job and all. Itsuki insisted we interview them personally, since we need people that can take a lot of annoyances. Besides, we need to get used to going into the office to do stuff, instead of hanging around here."

"So why the hell isn't Itsuki up?"

"She is. She's the one that woke me up. I'm getting some coffee before I go take a shower."

For the next hour or so, Akito continued to cook what would be considered an elaborate breakfast if the house didn't have seven people living in it, as Gai begged Hikaru to give him something, anything to read, as he would be bored stiff. When he interjected to tell Gai that he would be in Tokyo for the rest of the day, Gai nodded, scratching his chin. "I'll try to convince Itsuki to stop by for lunch or something. But now I must be off to make myself into a cleaner state," he said, glancing at his empty white mug. "Later 'Kito, Hikaru."

When his lover had left the room, Akito let out a sigh. "Maybe I was expecting too much out of him?"

Hikaru slapped herself in the forehead. "Dear Aer, give me the strength to not throttle this boy. Akito, he got up at five! He doesn't normally get up until nine at the earliest! And he has to do it to listen to idiots tell him and Itsuki why they would be good go-fors and not be weirded out by things stranger since the origin of the Jupiterians was public! What were you expecting, Jumping Jack Mack?"

"I don't know… maybe I'm just expecting more than this mundane life we've started to get used to since we left the ship." Hikaru sighed. "Akito, you're just hopeless. You'd think that, with all we've been through, we'd love mundane living, not wish for more explosions, shooting, and all that crap…"

Akito shrugged. "Well, I'm gonna go grab my coat and go. See ya."

"See you later, oh one of indecision."

~*~

Minato stepped into Miss How Mei's restaurant, she had no idea she'd see more than one familiar face. She had been a common patron over the last week or so, but she didn't think that he worked there. "Akito! What're you doing here?"

"Oh, I see, my presence has been noted, but in shock and a demanding to know why I am existing in this space. Miss How Mei, are you sure I can't throw customers out the window?"

Minato laughed, shaking her head as she headed for the counter. "Tell Hokashiro-san that it's me and I want the usual. He'll understand. So, really, I've been coming here almost everyday, and you haven't been here."

"Yeah, because I just now got off my lazy ass and decided to help Miss How Mei. Oi! Hokashiro-san!" he called to the back, "Minato wants her usual!"

"You got it!" Akito turned back to the former helmswoman and propped his chin up with his hand. "So how's a Nadesico-free life treating you?"

"Not so good, I'm afraid. Oh, thanks, Hokashiro-san. 250?"

"250. Akito, take her money, would ya?" At the Martian's nod, Gareiru seemed to disappear into the kitchen. How Mei came out seconds later to speak with Minato. "You ever get that thing with Yukina fixed?"

Minato sighed. "No. Apparently the school's head thinks that there shouldn't be Jumpers at his school anyway. I'm considering just pulling her out of that and finding some academy to apply for."

"Whoa, what thing with Yukina?" asked Akito, confused. Minato pushed a piece of brown hair out of her face. "Yukina's being ridiculed and prejudged by students and teachers at the school because of her heritage and her abilities."

"You serious? I thought people wouldn't care all THAT much…" Minato nodded. "Luckily I may get this job today, so I can at least have more standing if I try to yank Yukina out of that school. Public high school was not nearly that bad when I went."

How Mei nodded in understanding. "So that's why you're all dressed up today, is it?" Minato nodded, blushing and picking invisible pieces of hair or lint off her purple dress. "I'm just hoping I get the job, all my other interviews thus far have been shot down."

"Shot down?" asked Akito. "Why?"

Minato shrugged. "They always came up with something. 'Your references to both Asuka and Nergal are suspicious.' 'We can't have a Jumper enthusiast in our company.' 'I don't think that an entry for former employment as Nadesico helmswoman counts unless you were in the army, and that ship wasn't.' Stupid stuff like that. I only hope that this company won't care." Minato glanced at her watch. "Oh, I better get going. Bye, Miss How Mei, Akito, Hokashiro-san!" She grabbed her paper cup and purse and walked out the door.

~*~

Minato was immediately worried when she entered the waiting room for the interviews. There were lots of people there; many dressed better than she and possibly waiting for hours. She just reported that she had arrived and picked a seat, letting the gossip of the other applicants flow over her ears. Rumors that she was Nadesico crew, a Jumper's mother, and a part-time stripper amused her greatly. But when the room started emptying and people left the room where the interviewer was with smiles, her worry began to grow again. Would she be turned away because of her previous job, or that she was the legal guardian of a Jumper?

Finally, her name was called, and she, shaking, stood and brushed off her dress before entering the interviewing room. And was hit with complete and total shock. "Kazamo-san? Yamada-san? You're the interviewers?"

Itsuki's face lit up and she stood up grinning. "Minato! Oh, if I had only known you applied I wouldn't have to those people we might call them back! Jiro, stick your head out the door and tell everyone to go home."

"Gladly." So Gai stood up from his near-sleeping position and opened the door a bit. "Um, I'm sorry to have wasted your time, but Itsuki and I have found who we needed." Groans radiated from the previous room until Gai closed the door. "So what's the deal, we both get her or something?"

"Whoa, did I just get the job because I'm me? Don't you have to ask me questions and such though? How do you know I'm the perfect person for, well, BOTH jobs?"

Gai rolled his eyes and leaned against a wall. "Well, it's obvious, isn't it? Not only do we already know what kind of person you are and that we already know we won't get any of that 'We won't work under Jumpers, we just can't' attitude from you-"

"Believe me," interrupted Itsuki, "we had to turn away like half the people in there because of that."

"But we also know you're the best of the best. Why else were you hired for the Nadesico?" finished Gai, glaring at Itsuki for interrupting him. She stuck her tongue out at him. "So, Minato, you think you can handle being our secretary?"

Minato laughed. "Oh, if you were anyone else I'd wonder. But sure. When do I start?"

"Immediately, if you want. We have a task that could wait, but it's better the earlier," answered Itsuki rubbing her chin.

Minato nodded. "Okay, do I have to run home and get anything, or can I just go in now?" Gai shook his head. "Nah, you can just go in now. We need you to get Uribatake on the line. We want his advice on something."

Minato scoffed. "Why is this seeming to be just one big Nadesico reunion today?"

Itsuki laughed. "We get the same thought everyday at dinner at home. Trust me, a reunion isn't what we're aiming for, but if it happens, what are we to do to complain?"

~*~

But Gai and Itsuki weren't the only ones who wanted contact with Uribatake. Though her intentions were completely different, after getting up and officially being awake in the late afternoon that day, she had set her manga materials aside so she could do the one thing she wanted to do more: write an email to her best male friend.

Opening up the program, she tried to think of things she wanted to tell him. She wanted to tell him about how far she was getting with her idea, all the fun they had been having lately, but she also wanted to say some random things about their current events, ask him how the divorce was going-

And that was the kicker. How was she supposed to ask how it was going without sounding like she wanted it to happen? It's not as if she did, it's just that she knew that Uribatake wanted away from his wife. Of course she'd want to happen what he wanted to happen, right? But did she want to support the breaking of a marriage? What kind of a person was she becoming?

She shook her head, sweeping those bad thoughts away. 'I'll just start the email and if it comes up I'll just tell him I'm all for whatever he wants.' And so, she began to type.

"Hey Uri-P! Just touching base with you, and I don't remember if you got my email address, so here it is! So how have things been over there? Things here have been absolutely NUTS! I swear. Do you remember how wild and crazy we all could be? Dude, I'm asking as if it was fifteen years ago and we're both old fogeys in little rocking chairs, instead of just you! Just kidding. Anyway, yes, the wild and craziness. Well, that's like everyday. Dear Aer, it's a wonder Junny hasn't gone completely bonkers with trying to calm us down and dealing with us continuously questioning him. But he's bi, I know it! I have gaydar, dammit!

But things around here have started to become the usual mundane crap that we used to have before the Nadesico. Gai, Itsuki, and Akito have gone back to work. Izumi's coming up with new abstract poetry stuff. And I'm getting pretty far in figuring out my manga! Of course, I don't have an entire submission yet, but I know what I'm doing story-wise, and that's what's really important. Writing really is hard, and I don't care who says it isn't. Junny's been helping me when I need it though, since he's the resident actual writer and all.

But enough about that, let's talk about some random deep stuff now, ne? I'm starting to wonder about my future as a mangaka with this whole anti-Jumper attitude everyone seems to have. What if I get rejected just because of my nanomachines? That's horrible! I don't even know what I'll do if that happens. I mean, people on the colony used to hate me because I was a connection between two communities that hated each other. But I can't help that I'm Japanese-Irish. I really can't. But I chose to become a pilot. I didn't choose to be a Jumper or even a mage, but that's just added stuff. Oh well. But how can people want to automatically hate me because of a choice I made? It's not like I'm a teen pregnancy, a gang member, or even a drug dealer or anything like that. I help defend their asses during the war, dammit! What the hell is there problem? Aer!

But as I asked, how are things over there? I know you're probably going to get divorced from your wife right? Aer, I don't even know her name! What is her name? What's your son's name? I don't know so much about you all of a sudden! This is so sad! Well, I'd like to say, as a close friend, that I'm behind whatever you want out of this, whether you miss her or if you really do want out.

Well, dear Aer, I've written a lot and most of it is rambling. Aer. Well, I suppose I'll stop babbling like the idiot I am gonna let you go. But don't forget to write me back, you geek! Love, Amano Hikaru"

Hikaru bit her lip, but nodded, pushed send, and leaned back. It was just as if she was talking to him, after all, and hopefully he'd understand that she really does just want what he wants, and is not pressuring him or trying to cause awkward silence.

~*~

For what seemed like the millionth time that night, Saburota asked himself how he had gotten himself into this situation. And the night had barely started. 'How? How on Earth, Mars, and Jupiter did I get myself roped into going out to dinner with Akiyama-san, Misumaru-san, and the former captain of the Nadesico?'

The scenes flashed through his mind, mocking him as they reminded him exactly how and why he accepted Admiral Akiyama Genpachiro's offer to go have dinner and reminisce with one of his friends and his daughter. He never made the connection that Genpachiro was now friends with Admiral Misumaru Kouichiro and that his daughter was Yurika.

Genpachiro began twirling his glass of wine in his hand. "It's just too bad that Munetake couldn't join us, ne, Misumaru?" Yurika's blue-violet eyebrows shot up. "Munetake?" Koichiro nodded. "Not the one you're thinking of, Yurika dear, his father. Isn't Sadaaki dead?" Yurika nodded, glancing down at her plate of spaghetti that was just placed in front of her. Saburota gladly thanked the waiter for his lasagna and began eating immediately. Genpachiro elbowed Saburota's ribs. "You've tied yourself down, haven't you?"

"Huh?"

"Don't give me 'huh'. Ever since the end of the war you've been one of the largest girl-chasers I know, and you have a beautiful one sitting in front of you, and you haven't said a word!" Kouichiro cleared his throat, signaling to his friend that he was perfectly capable of hearing. Genpachiro lowered his voice. "So obviously you've become tied down, haven't you?"

"No, I haven't, sir, and why are you digging into my personal business?" Genpachiro didn't get to answer, as Yurika stopped eating to ask Saburota a question. "So tell me, Takasugi-san, why he that called me a man thinks I'm a beautiful young girl?" Genpachiro's jaw dropped. "M-M-Misumaru, you didn't tell me your daughter was the captain of the Nadesico!"

"I knew," answered Saburota, and he could feel the rift form immediately between him and Yurika. This was why he wasn't trying to come on to her. That one battle as the Gardenia was escorting the Nadesico had made deep cuts between the crew of the Gardenia and the Nadesico. But Saburota still called Ryoko because he believed Ryoko understood what he had to do as a soldier and a crewmember. Yurika wouldn't understand, especially since she was the one that had inspired feelings of kindness toward humanity in her crew.

Genpachiro raised his eyebrows to her former Executive Officer. "How did you know? Is it a Nergal thing?" Yurika shook her head. "No, the Gardenia escorted us back to Earth from L2."

Kouichiro began to play with his moustache. "Isn't L2 being rebuilt?" Genpachiro nodded. "It's said to be done within the next year or so." Yurika nodded, agreeing, but looked right at Saburota as she said, "If they can get all the debris from the area out of the way so it doesn't damage it on the way up."

Yes, this was the million-and-first time Saburota asked himself why he came to dinner with Genpachiro, Kouichiro, and his daughter Yurika.

~*~

Ariko was glaring at his history textbook when Omoikane knocked on the door and entered. "Ariko, mail for you!"

"Who's it from, Omoikane?"

"Yukina!" Ariko threw his book to the floor and raced to the door, nearly snatching his letter from Yukina out of his sister's robot's hands. "Thanks, Omoikane. Okaasama and Otousama didn't see it, did they?"

"Nope! But Alfred asked what it was, so I just told him that you got a letter from a friend and he said it was okay-"

"No, Omoikane! You idiot! He's gonna tell Okaasama and Otousama that I'm in correspondence with a girl older than me! I'm going to have your head if I get in trouble, Omoikane!" Omoikane took this moment to leave the room as quickly as possible. It was always a game between the normally timid Ariko and the oblivious Omoikane. Ariko needed to get Omoikane out of his room and to get him to still do things for him, and this was the best way. Closing his door, he plopped onto his bed and opened the letter.

"Dear Ariko,

Well, it's about time you wrote to me! I was starting to wonder if you'd forgotten that I exist all the way on the other side of Earth. Hee hee. But I should have written to you too, but I've just been busy doing back work for school, so I hadn't had the chance. I'm procrastinating on my homework this minute, too. But don't tell Minato if you write her, okay?

Oh, so you heard about the great 'Jumper going to Itachi High' incidents from my dear sister-in-law, have you? Well, I guess that there isn't much to say there. Kids are being taught by their parents that I'm a demon and unnatural and all that (as if I ASKED to be born Jupiterian) deciding that my life isn't hell enough with me being behind in school and have commenced in making it even worse. It's gotten so bad that I've started wearing little gloves to school so that more people don't find out that I'm the only non-Earthling at the school. And I'm serious; I really am the only non-Earthling at that school. But some of the teachers suck and say I have to take them off in their classroom, which really doesn't help the situation any. Minato says she might pull me out of that school and try to get me into an academy, which will most likely suck because I'm in typical classes now, and I'm still trying really really hard to catch up.

But other things going on here… Minato finally got another secretarial job! And you'll never guess who it's for. Kazamo Itsuki and Yamada Jiro! Those two pilots on the Nadesico! Makes me wonder how small this world really is. But it's great because she's been bouncing around everywhere in search of a job. As if we need the money or something, which we don't.

Oh, poor Ruri! I've never been close to her, but I wouldn't wish that on anybody! You better spend lots of time with her and get her to write to people so she doesn't feel so alone. We don't need her going postal and running away or blowing something up or worse, you know? Remind her that at least somebody remembers that's she's a genius.

Wow, that ball thing sounds really really fun… Magus, Ariko, now I'm extremely excited about it! A few weeks till we get the invitation! I'M GONNA DIE! I just can't wait to go and see EVERYBODY again, instead of just Tenkawa-san and Miss How Mei and Minato.

Well, now I'm reminding you that it's now your turn to write back, and you better!

Your Friend, Yukina"

In folding the letter back up, Ariko began to wonder at exactly why people were so against Jumpers. Sure, they could pretty much time travel, but only under certain conditions, and sure they could use magic, but many people's magic was not as great as others, like Yukina with her low level Copy magic. Even Ruri was a bigger threat that Yukina, but it's not as if she'd really do anything in her right mind. Ariko decided that the whole debate was stupid as he put the letter in his drawer so he could read it again.

~*~

But what Ariko didn't remember at that moment was the Ruri was NOT in her right mind. In fact, she was going absolutely crazy. Once Omoikane was ejected from Ariko's room, he rushed to Ruri's, who promptly reminded him that Ariko was just trying to get him out of his room. "However, Omoikane, I have something that we can do right now, if you don't mind letting me into your mind."

Omoikane never minded going under the control of Ruri, so he nodded furiously. "What is it, Ruri-sama? Are you going to look something up? Or maybe you're going to see if I can figure out what the Nadesico people are doing?"

Ruri smiled slightly, almost a little scarily. "Something like that Omoikane. If you would lie down on my bed, please." Omoikane complied immediately, and Ruri pulled her wooden desk chair over to the side of the bed. As she slowly placed her hands on Omoikane's head and chest, the robot's eyes slid closed and the user's went out of focus.

Sinking into the library that was Omoikane's consciousness had become as easy as breathing for the girl, and she knew exactly where she wanted to go. "Omoikane, I want access to Nergal's network in Hiratsuka, Japan."

"But, Ruri-sama, isn't that-"

"Just do it." Omoikane dejectedly connected her up until it asked for a password. "Would you like me to hack it, Ruri-sama?"

"Absolutely. Scramble our presence, if you will." Omoikane suddenly was worried. What if they got caught?

"We won't. Scramble our connection so they can't read it and go. Go as far as you can before you hit a block." Ruri and Omoikane rode along the wires and machines in the building on the other side of the planet until they both hit something that felt like a brick wall.

"Blocked, Ruri-sama. Are we stopping now?" Before Ruri could answer, both robot and user heard another voice. A light, monotonous ring that Ruri had committed to memory not too long ago. "I'd think it's a good choice if you do, Sarutahiko Omoikane, Your Highness."

"Lapis," growled the Princess of Peaceland. She let her fury at being stopped be very apparent to the girl that was created to be like her. But Lapis hadn't flinched. Ruri sighed. "Okay. Omoikane, let's go home."

Once they had pulled out of the trance, Omoikane sat up on Ruri's bed as Ruri pulled her hands back from his body. "Why did you have us do that, Ruri-sama?"

Ruri took a deep, ragged breath, feeling more tired than she ever had after hacking anything. "I just wanted to know I could still do it. But… SHE stopped me. She stopped me, Omoikane, and she could." Ruri barely felt the tear track it's way down her cheek. "She could, Omoikane. She's beaten me."

~*~

Megumi Reinard didn't think that when the messenger arrived at the Ecclesiastical Palace that night that she'd be getting a letter from her best friend, Minato. She didn't even know that the Nadesico had landed, let alone that she was receiving letters. She entered the bedroom she shared with her consort, Emperor Rumiko Adagio of Ninlan. "Hey, Rumiko, did you know the Nadesico made it back to Earth?" Rumiko was cleaning his teeth in their simple bathroom, as running water was still considered a luxury on the obscure planet.

"No, I didn't," he said around his toothbrush, "How'd you find out?" Megumi grabbed a letter opener from her nightstand and tore open the envelope. "Because Minato sent me a letter, that's how. Want me to read it aloud? Looks like she has news from Earth, and you know how slow it is to get good news from those idiots, especially with them hating us and all…"

"Yes, read it, Miss Talkative." Megumi stuck her tongue out at him. "Tight-ass. Okay. 'Dear Meg,

Well, I finally got off my big butt and wrote to you! I know, it may seem soon since the Nadesico only landed about three weeks ago, but trust me; it's been a lot longer. That and the fact that you might not be getting this letter for months because Ninlan is way out there…'"

"Wait, now that's odd," interrupted Rumiko. "It SHOULD have taken months. How did it get here so soon?" Megumi shrugged and continued.

"'Well, rumor has it that it takes ages for news to get out there, and though you may have heard about this by the time this letter gets here, but Miss Fressange has done something that probably has changed our world. First of all, guess who Jumped us here? Ryoko! But she wasn't capable of Jumping until Inez did something to the computer long before we even arrived on Ninlan so that everyone that had nanomachines implanted into their blood, and not from birth like Martians, Jupiterians, and Ninlandish mages, can now Jump. Which of course, throws the whole "we hate Jumpers" attitude around here for a loop.'"

"Yeah, thank the Gods that attitude's only on Earth and those damn colonies. We don't take that kind of crap in the outer sect, do we, Meg?"

"'And speaking of that attitude, it's running Yukina out of school, almost. She's the only Jumper at her school, so she's being ridiculed and taunted to no end, and the teachers there refuse to do anything about it. I'm considering taking her out and putting her into an academy, but she's having enough problems keeping up in regular classes. I'm worried how she would be in more accelerated classes. So I think I may just move to another zoning and send her to another school. This whole thing has been wearing her down, I can tell. Just about the only time I saw a smile on her face, a genuine one, was when Ariko's letter came in the mail. Oh, Meg, don't you remember when you were that age when you got your first crush? I think it's so cute.'"

Rumiko snorted. "She would." Megumi sighed. "Shut up, Rumiko! Gods!" She took a sip of water from her cup before continuing.

"'Well, we've settled in Tokyo, so if you guys are ever on Earth, visit! Please! Well, we may be moving somewhere else in the area, but we can't exactly move far out of the area either. See, I got a job at Mugendai. Yes, Mugendai, the company that Itsuki and Yamada-san own! I'm their shared secretary now, and the entire thing makes me wonder exactly how small the world, or universe, is. After all, I started going to Miss How Mei's new restaurant and now Akito works there! Oh, wipe that sneer off your face, Megumi-' Hey! I'm not sneering!"

"Yes you are. Keep reading."

"'And don't deny it either. I know how much you LOVE hearing about your first kiss. Which reminds me, oh partner in gossiping crime. If you're reading this out loud, you might want to stop-' Oh, I suppose… OH! Maybe it is a good idea I stopped!"

"Why, what did she ask?"

"Never mind, Rumiko. Skipping that part… 'Anyway, Not only did I run into Akito, but my first order of business at work was to call Uribatake to see if he would come down to Kawasaki and give Yamada-san and Itsuki some advice about their new project. I'm assuming it's some kind of new Aestivalis, or something that Uribatake would really like to see, because once he got off the phone, Yamada-san was laughing at how excited he sounded.

"'Yukina let me read Ariko's letter to her. Poor Ruri-ruri, she's going crazy because she's being taught basic subjects for her age, things that were below her when she was a baby! I almost want to go visit her and make sure she doesn't do anything drastic, but with that ball coming up, I'm sure she'll want to have some time to herself before she gets bombarded by Nadesico crew again.

"'Yes, that was in Ariko's letter too. I want to tell you now and hope it gets there in time. They're going to be having a ball in Peaceland to celebrate the end of the war and our safe return, but they aren't sending invitations out for a little while yet. Oh, I hope this gets there in time for you to come! It would be a wonderful way to get back in touch.

"'Well, believe it our not, I think this is all I have to tell you. But you've been in normal space when we have not, so maybe your letter back (if you write one that is) will be twice the size. Or you could just visit, since we do have a shopping date that we still need to do. Hope you're doing well and that Rumiko is treating you well too. Love ya, Minato.'" Megumi folded up the letter and smiled softly. "Gods, I miss her. She was my best friend, you know."

"I know."

"Don't give me that tone like I've said it to no end!"

"I didn't give you a tone! I just said I know! Sheesh… So what did she ask?"

"None of your business, Rumiko!"

~*~

The first letter to arrive at Yamada Manor was in fact, not for the Yamada that owned the house, nor was it for his near sister. It, in fact, came for the resident of the guesthouse, who had been raiding his living room and trying to clean it all week. It was Jun's own near sister that came to deliver it to him, on account of who it was from. "Junny, congratulations, for you have received the first letter!"

Jun was finally finished and readjusting the pillows on the couch when Ryoko walked in. "Really? Who's it from?"

"As if you didn't know… Yurika." Jun's heart stopped. He looked back up slowly to Ryoko and held his hand out, a little afraid of the letter in her hand, considering how he had said goodbye to his best female friend. Ryoko handed it to him nonchalantly. "Do you want me to leave the room, Junny?"

"Please," was the only word that escaped his mouth. Ryoko nodded her two-colored head and left the living room of the guesthouse, leaving Jun alone with the letter. He opened it with his finger and reluctantly began to read.

"Dear Jun,

I'm so sorry that we could not say our goodbyes on a good note. There was nothing I could do about that, except stop being such a pain about it, I suppose. Well, I'm sorry. I know you were just trying to look out for me as usual. But really, there was nothing to worry about.

So yeah, I've been spending my time being a test subject at Nergal. Kaguya's been here too, but I'm really starting to become annoyed with her. But that's all right. Most of this stuff is just getting us to be better Jumpers. It's really funny the system that Erina and Miss Fressange set up for us. It's a whole bunch of outside childhood games like Tag and Hide-and-Seek and we just bop around the compound chasing each other while they monitor our movements. It's really funny, but it's really good to know that there won't be any poking and prodding like you got me worried there would be.

So I'm living with 'Tousan in Sasebo again. I think he really misses you living with us Jun! I think he really was looking forward to us getting married and all. Sucks to be him. But really, I think he's feeling old or something and wanted grandkids or something, because just the other night we went out to dinner with one of his pals, Admiral Akiyama. That was the guy that thought I was a 'dashing man of action' way back during the war, do you remember that, Jun? Well, anyway, he brought his former executive along and guess who it was? Takasugi Saburota, of all people! It was obvious then that 'Tousan was just trying to set me up, the asshole. Anyway, I started this whole awkward silence thing about what the Gardenia did and he got really quiet. I scared off a playboy! Cheer for me, because I am! Yippee!

Oh, you know what? I heard that Ruri and Omoikane tried to hack into Nergal's network here in Hiratsuka. Lapis stopped them of course, since she's like second-in-charge of the computers around here, but what surprises me is that Lapis COULD stop those two. And I haven't gotten a letter from Ruri at all! I think I may have to call her sometime really soon and find out what's up. Hopefully she's not hitting a stage and wanting to be an international terrorist (we all have those stages as teenagers, don't we Jun?), because she actually has the intelligence to do so! Oh, I hope she's all right!

So how are things in Kawasaki? I would have thought you'd have moved back here, since this is your hometown and all, but I guess with your mother you really wouldn't want to live here, would you? Magus knows I wouldn't if 'Tousan was as mean as your mom! Oh, don't get upset, Jun! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to bring her up, really!

Okay, before I make much more of a fool of myself in front of you, write me back, tell me how things are over there, what's happening, all of that. Meanwhile, I'll try to figure out what's wrong with Ruri, okay? Later!

Love, Yurika."

Jun suddenly felt bad for yelling at her and for getting so upset. Why ever did he think that it would be so horrible for her? It was proven that she could Jump because she was Martian. So why had he been worried in the first place?

Maybe it was because Akito had always refused, adamantly, to Erina's efforts to study him. But why would Jun trust Akito when it came to that anyway? Of course, Akito was supposed to be Jun's best male friend, but why didn't he trust his own logic over Akito's?

The things Yurika had written about Ruri worried Jun, though he was never really close to the girl as opposed to Uribatake, Minato, Megumi, Akito, and Yurika. But why would someone as smart as her do something as stupid as attempt the hack into the Nergal network? For kicks?

Jun ran a hand through his dark blue hair. Sometimes he wondered if he worried too much about everything.

~*~

TBC…

~*~

A/N: Okay, that took one day to write! WOW! The entire thing. One day. W00t! Anyway, stuff happened that may be raising hell, it might not. I'll let you speculate, hehe. Well, next time, we get to see Ryoko and Izumi in working action, random shopping, and some more letter action. All next time! Until then, remember that giving the author questions comments and concerns is not always a bad thing. Ciao!