A/N: No spoilers, unless you don't know about Kuu and Kyoko's relationship. This is another short from the iPod shuffle challenge. The song: Postcards from Far Away by Coldplay

Kyoko didn't get a lot of mail. Most of the little she did receive was related to work. The postcard in today's meager stack was definitely not work-related. It showed the side of a green hill where giant white letters spelled out "Hollywood." Kyoko stared at the picture for a moment, confused. Who did she know was traveling in the United States? Flipping it over, she read: "Hope to see you here someday. -Dad"

"Sensei…" Kyoko said softly, smiling. She looked around her room and decided to place the card in a spot of honor next to her poster of Ren. It seemed at home there.

#

The next postcard came a week later. I think you'll like this… said the single written line on the back.

The picture made Kyoko squeal out loud. The photo was of a light pink castle with a tall tower (the princess's room! Kyoko thought ) and gold-rimmed windows. The caption on the back of the postcard proclaimed it the Sleeping Beauty's castle from Disney Land in California. Kyoko had, from a very young age, wanted to visit the Tokyo Disney theme park. But the tickets had always been out of her price range. She put this one up beside the Hollywood one and spent a little time gazing happily at them. Sensei was so thoughtful to send little things like this when she was sure he was busy. Briefly, she wondered what had inspired him to send the cards, but Hizuri Kuu was a nice person. Couldn't nice people do nice things without needing a reason?

#

A couple of weeks more saw a couple of other postcards, both of famous sights in California. She enjoyed each one that arrived, but she wondered why he was sending them. Surely he would stop soon?

That day came a month after the first one arrived. Kyoko had gotten used to seeing a new postcard once a week, usually every Wednesday. But Wednesday came and went and no new postcard. She knew it was bound to stop sooner or later, but she felt a bit down as she went into work on Thursday.

She rode her bike up to the stand at the side of the L.M.E. building, and was just starting to lock it up when a robed figure walked up to her: Sebastian, the President's secretary.

"Mogami-san, you are pardoned from your work for the rest of this week," he said in a smooth voice, his dark eyes peering at her over the cloth he wore across the lower half of his face.

"Eh?" Kyoko blinked at him. 'But I have Box R shooting today."

"The director has switched the schedule around. Natsu won't be needed. Now please, into the car, and…"

Somehow, Kyoko found herself being efficiently herded to the Rolls Royce idling a few feet away, her stuttered protests being utterly ignored. Was she being kidnapped?

She only blinked out of her daze when she saw that the car was stopping at the airport.

"No way," she said in a firm voice. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on." She gripped the door handles, prepared to hold on with her life.

Sebastian's calm eyes looked at her in the mirror. With a flick of his fingers, a postcard came soaring back to her. Kyoko picked it off the seat where it landed. It was a picture of the Tokyo airport. On the back, in sensei's light handwriting it read: Please excuse the theatrics. The Boss thought it would be more fun. You should be grateful that I was able to tone it down so much… If you are reading this, though, that means you are at the airport and are wondering what is going on. Ask your driver to give you your ticket…"

"Ticket?" Kyoko repeated out loud. A second paper missile came whirring past her, landing with a crackle beside her. It was an envelope containing a ticket for a two-way trip to Los Angeles International Airport, with the departure date a mere hour from now and the return date the following Sunday. Bewildered, Kyoko read on.

Those postcards are a sample of what we hope to do while you visit. And to keep you from denying us the pleasure of your company, we have both taken off work the rest of this week. My wife is longing to meet our second son and I miss you too. We'll see you soon.

Love,

Dad

"B-but… I don't even have my passport…" she said numbly, too shocked for words. This ticket must have been super expensive."I don't even have clothes."

Sebastian lifted a hand and Kyoko covered her face protectively as her passport came whizzing past her head.

"The okami at the restaurant where you live is a very helpful person," Sebastian said, then got out of the car and pulled a suitcase out of the trunk: her suitcase. Kyoko opened her door, mouth dropping open in astonishment. "She packed a bag for you."

Overwhelmed, Kyoko fought back tears of joy. She bowed low in gratitude.

"Please give the President my thanks!" she said, and then, blushing a little, "Also, could you please tell Tsuruga-san where I've gone? I… I don't want him to worry."

"It will be done, Mogami-san," Sebastian said in the same calm voice. "Have a pleasant journey."

"I think I will," Kyoko said with a brilliant smile, then she grabbed her suitcase and walked into the airport.

-end-