Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

Chapter 7: Chickens.

The road leaving Tachibana's appeared freshly paved and was busy. Trucks and cars raced along passing fields, pastures, and the occasional farm house and associated buildings. Everything was fresh and new; all the old ruins from before the great upheaval were gone. The landscape teemed with life and prosperity. Only once had Kazuma ever experienced such a thing, when he had infiltrated HOLY and lived inside the city wall. What was this new world he had stumbled into?

Kazuma paused beneath a clinic sign with a large arrow pointing to the right. Up a head, a gravel road joined the main at a right angle. It seemed to cut a straight line through fields towards the sea, but he could make out the outline of buildings in the distance. That must be the place, he thought.

The gravel crunched with a satisfying sound underneath his feet as he walked up the drive. The scent of fresh cut hay and saltwater drifted on the breeze, and the mid-day sun pleasantly warmed his skin. As the outline of farm buildings drew steadily closer, the sounds of mooing cattle and clucking chickens reached his ears.

The gravel drive ended in a large turn about. To the right was a quaint farmhouse and a barn, to the left was one story L-shaped building with the international sign for medical care on its side. The doors and windows were open to the mild day.

Kazuma was about to make for the clinic when a bittersweet sound reached his ears, laughter and lively chatter. He changed his course immediately and followed the delightful sound. As he came around the side of the barn, he saw a chicken coop with birds rushing to gather around a woman who was casting a wide arc of seeds on the ground. Another woman was pitching hay over a fence to some bleating sheep. Both were wearing large straw hats that shaded and obscured their faces.

"Kaza-kun, don't be such a pig," an almost familiar voice admonished.

Kazuma's heart leapt at the endearment. "Kanami," he called out looking around for the girl.

The head of the woman feeding the chickens shot up, and green eyes met his. Kazuma felt the shock go all the way though him. She was older and taller, but her features were unmistakable. His little Kanami had grown up and he hadn't been there to see it. She must be fifteen now, and she looked every inch a proper young lady. The sharp sting of regret filled his heart.

"Kazuma!" she gasped.

"I wish you'd just kick that stupid bird," the woman with the pitchfork said as she hefted another load of hay, "He could use with a good dose of manners."

"Kazuma!" Kanami shouted. She dropped her bag of seeds carelessly on the ground, and her eyes shined with tears as she stumbled towards him. Arms that used to only be able to reach his waist now wrapped tightly around his neck.

Joy erupted within him as his arms closed around the young woman. He laughed carelessly and swung her around.

"Kanami, what is the matter with those chickens?" the other woman demanded pausing in her work.

Over Kanami's shoulder he watched the woman turn towards in the direction of the chickens clucking wildly over the fallen bag. Confused eyes rose from the madly swarming birds to the couple embracing across the yard. Her eyes widened and her face paled with shock as she recognized him. Kazuma was stunned to find he recognized her as well. She was that pretty little doctor who followed Ryuho around. What was her name?

"Mimori," Kanami cried pulling away from Kazuma, "He came back. Kazuma's come back." She rushed over to squeeze the other woman briefly before turning around and racing over to hug him again.

Kazuma stumbled at the impact and had barely regained his footing when he felt another body hit him. Mimori had thankfully dropped her pitchfork and rushed over to embrace both he and Kanami. Although he could barely breathe through the crush, Kazuma couldn't contain his laughter or his tears.

The three stood there for several minutes locked together, alternately crying and laughing. Kazuma could not remember a happier moment in his life. He was home.

When the three finally pulled apart, the two women pulled Kazuma towards the house. "Hey wait a minute," Kazuma said sharply stopping. He sounded rather insulted when he asked, "Did you name a chicken after me?"

"No," Kanami giggled, "Just a rather poorly behaved rooster."