Chapter 20
The Summer, the Beach, Youth and Ghosts
Sora, Usagi, and their friends had now arrived at the station, and off boarded the train that would lead them to their next destination.
"We made it! We're finally here!" she said excitedly, as everyone glanced at her.
When the train car left, they could see the ocean in front of them. Usagi, Ami, and Rei, were excited about it, but Sora, and his friends felt a sense of nostalgia within their hearts.
"It's too bad we couldn't have brought Naru along with us," said Usagi.
"Don't worry Usagi. We'll let her know about it once we head back to Juban. This may be a summer training camp, but that doesn't mean we can't have a bit fun on the beach," assured Sora, making the others nod at him.
"How far is the pension house we're staying at?" asked Ami, as Usagi danced about excitedly.
"It's supposed to be pretty close by," replied Rei.
"Anywho, most of us are wondering if this hotel will be a swanky resort," said Riku.
"Well, I think it is," Rei said to him.
"Really?" asked Usagi.
"It says here: Blue seas surround you as yachts go gliding by. From our luxurious pension house, you can view gleaming sunset over our gleaming private beach," Rei said as she read the note.
"Our own Private Beach!" squealed Usagi.
She could almost imagine herself with most of the guys in their swimsuits, including, Sora, Axel, Riku, Roxas, Ventus, Terra, and Motoki. But she also knew that the other girls would also be wearing their own swimsuits, just as Rei, Ami and the others left her.
"We'd better get going," Sora said as he glanced back at her.
"Oh, right, sorry," she said, and raced after them.
They continued walking along the path through the forest, as Usagi asked if they had arrived.
"We'll be there soon, Usagi. We just gotta be patient," Sora assured her
"But we're lost, because that stupid Rei didn't plan ahead enough!" snapped Usagi.
"Will you quit with the accusations before you give me an excuse to inform Master Yen Sid of your infighting!?" shouted Axel.
"Sorry," Usagi said sheepishly.
"Geez, Axel, what's gotten into you?" asked Rei.
"Let's just say that I didn't get a good night's sleep yesterday," he said grumpily.
"Look, I get that you're grumpy, but that was no reason for you to take your frustration out on Usagi," she said.
Suddenly they heard the sound of thunder above their heads.
"Oh boy, it's gonna pour on us!" Rei said.
"We'd better get moving," added Ami.
Quickly they raced ahead, but Usagi was sprinting ahead of them due to her dislike of thunderstorms. A powerful clap of thunder illuminated the sky above, and revealed a little girl standing before them, which made Usagi scream like a banshee.
"Usagi, what's wrong?" asked Ami.
"Hey, kid, sorry about Miss Scardy Bunhead here," smirked Axel.
"Axel!" snapped Rei.
"What, that's what I'm gonna call her whenever she's in a state of panic," replied Axel, in his casual tone.
"No, I'm the one that should be sorry for scaring her," the little girl said.
"It's no big deal," replied Sora, who didn't seem to mind the thunderstorm.
But suddenly it started Raining hard on them.
"Uh, please, follow me," she said to them.
"Okay, let's go!" replied Sora, and he followed the little girl down the path.
Everyone followed Sora and the little girl to what looked like a mansion as the thunder rumbled over their heads, making poor Usagi cry out in terror. She then realized that this was the hotel everyone would be staying at, but deep down her fears were starting to take hold of her, as Sora looked at something on the front wall.
"It says: Adams," he said.
"This is the place, we've made it to the Pension," said Rei.
WHAT!? We're staying here?" asked Usagi.
"Yep. But, what's up with you Usagi?" replied Sora.
"This place looks haunted," she wailed softly.
"Thank you, you really helped us," said Ami.
"Most of us have been soaked to the bone, but how are your flowers?" asked Xion.
"Oh, they're alright," replied the little girl.
"Aw, isn't that sweet," quacked Donald.
Soon Rei knocked on the door, which made an ominous clanging sound that made Usagi squirm, but made Sora excited. Once it opened they could see three monsters appearing before them that looked like a wraith, Frankenstein's monster, and a werewolf.
"Welcome," they said.
"Hey there," replied Sora, while Usagi and Luna cringed in fear.
"Hi," said the little girl.
"Welcome back, Miss," the three ghouls said.
"So do you all have a reservation?" the wraith asked.
"Yes we do. I'm Rei Hino, from Tokyo," replied Rei.
"I'm Sora. He's Donald, and that's Goofy. This is Riku, Kairi, my brother Roxas, my sister Xion, Axel, Kairi's sister Namine, King Mickey, Terra, Ventus, Aqua, Ami, Usagi, and Luna," added Sora.
"We've been expecting your arrival," the wraith said.
They soon beckoned them to enter.
"Thanks," said Rei.
"Thank you for having us," added Ami.
"Nice to meet you," squirmed Usagi, as she raced towards Rei and Sora.
"Listen Usagi, I know these guys may look scary, but they're people like us," said Sora, who placed a reassuring hand on Usagi's shoulder.
The little girl giggled, when a loud booming voice sounded nearby.
"Sakiko!" he said furiously.
Usagi shrieked fearfully, making her cling to Rei.
"Calm down, already," she said.
The lights flickered on, and a man stood towering over them. Sora could see that he didn't trust him one bit, and began to grow angry at him.
"So just where were you? Get over here!" the man barked.
"Yes father, right away," replied Sakiko.
Ami was sad, but Sora was furious as he glared at the man, who started to remind him of Jacques Schnee, Weiss' father. Soon they were shown their rooms, as Usagi sat down after drying herself off.
"Man, I'm really hungry, and so exhausted," moaned Usagi.
"Guess all that screaming wore you out," said Luna.
"Give it a rest, Luna. Usagi's been through enough. But, I'm also wondering what's for dinner tonight. Besides, I'm curious about the staff at the hotel, they looked kind of like the residents of Halloween Town," said Sora.
"Halloween Town?" asked Usagi and Luna.
"Yep, that's where Jack Skellington the Pumpkin King lives, along with Sally, Doctor Finklestein, and the Mayor himself. We fought off a dangerous bag of bugs who wanted to overthrow Jack and become Pumpkin King, and later, the Seven Holidays King. His name was Oogie Boogie, and he was without a doubt a being of pure darkness," explained Sora.
"But didn't the residents of Halloween Town frighten you and your friends?" asked Luna.
"Nope, they named us heroes after we stopped Oogie's plans of taking over the Holiday worlds. But, next time I visit Halloween Town, I want you all to meet my friend Jack. And believe me, he's actually quite nice, even if he looks like a skeleton," said Sora.
"Anyway, what kind of monster did you dress up as?" asked Usagi.
"A vampire, of course," replied Sora.
He quickly went into the washroom, changed out of his clothes and emerged in the costume he wore during his visit to Halloween Town.
"This is what I looked like when I visited Halloween Town," said Sora, showing them his costume.
"Wow, that's a really good vampire costume, Sora. I'm actually impressed," replied Luna.
Their thoughts were interrupted when they heard a knock on the door.
"Uh, yes?" asked Usagi.
"Hello," said the wraith.
"Hiya," replied Sora, making Usagi surprised that he wasn't scared.
"Why can't I be brave like Sora!?" she cried out to Luna.
When Rei and Ami heard Sora greeting one of the staff members, they were just as surprised as he was.
"What's going on?" asked Rei.
"Oh, one of the staff members in this hotel was actually working on one of the light bulbs," replied Sora.
"Right," said Ami.
"I see," added Rei.
"By the way, what do you think of Sora's costume?" asked Usagi, who was still upset by how Sora didn't flinch.
"I think it looks great. He looks just like a real vampire," said Ami.
"Yeah, that's a really neat costume," added Rei.
Soon the light turned on and the staff worker told them that it was now time for dinner.
"Now then, I'm gonna suck your blood, Usagi," Sora said in his best impression of Count Dracula, making Usagi scream with fright, while Ami and Rei giggled at him.
"No, not my blood! Guys help me!" cried Usagi.
"Sorry, Usagi, but this is too hilarious!" laughed Ami and Rei.
"What a bunch of noisy people," scoffed the caretaker.
"But, I bet they're nice people though," replied Sakiko.
"Sakiko! Don't you ever get involved with those people, do you understand!?" barked her father.
"Yes, I won't father," said Sakiko.
They soon came down to the dining hall, and began eating as much as they could. Then the frankenstein monster approached them, with a cart load of food.
"So, would you like seconds?" he asked.
"Oh, you know I would," replied Sora, while Usagi sighed disappointedly to herself.
"No thanks, I'm already full," Usagi said nervously.
"Okay," replied the staff worker.
Then the werewolf appeared behind her.
"Did you save some room for desert?" he asked.
"Oh you betcha," replied Sora, as Ami glanced at him with a respectful smile.
Then Riku turned to Rei.
"So, what made you decide that we should stay here?" he asked.
"Well, I'm glad you asked. It was cheap," replied Rei, making Usagi look mildly annoyed.
"Even so, the food here is tasty, and I like the funny costumes they're wearing," said Ami.
"You do?" groaned Usagi.
"Nice to hear that," said the frankenstein monster.
"That's actually one of the selling points of the mansion," added the werewolf.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of someone crying, making them gasp, except for Sora and the others.
"What is that wailing?" whimpered Usagi.
"It must be the owner crying," said Rei.
"No that isn't me," assured the wraith.
"Then what could it be?" asked Sora.
"Only one way to find out, guys," said Riku.
Rei burst through the door, only to see a spectral image of someone in front of them. There was a powerful thunder followed by a flash of lightning that made the spectre vanish. USagi and the staff members were frightened, except for Rei, Ami, Sora, and the rest of their friends.
"Did you see all that?" asked Usagi.
"We-we didn't see anything," stuttered the wraith.
"I did, It looked like some kind of spectre," said Sora, who was growing suspicious.
"Did you hear that, it must have been what Sora said," Usagi said nervously to Luna.
"Do you think it was a monster?" asked Ami.
"I seriously doubt it," said Riku.
"I share Riku's sentiment. However, I did sense some kind of incredible power," agreed Rei.
But no one knew that Sakiko's father was hypnotizing her to sleep, with a medallion, until Sora sensed Sakiko's distress within his heart. The next day, everyone was now at the beach to have some fun. But Sora and the others decided to have a few sparring matches with each other, and to have a bit of fun with Usagi, Rei, and Ami at the same time.
"It's like the storm never happened," said Luna.
"Yeah, the weather feels great," agreed Ami.
"But something's missing," mused Rei.
"Actually, ladies. Rei might be onto something," said Axel.
"What's that?" asked Usagi.
"Well, this beach certainly is private, right?" said Rei.
"Yep, so private, that there's You, me, Usagi, Ami, Kairi, Riku, Namine, Roxas, Xion, Aqua, Terra, Ventus, and Axel," piped in Sora.
"That means we came prepared, and brought our own swimsuits along," said Riku.
Instantly the guardians of Kingdom Hearts cast aside their clothes, revealing their swimsuits underneath them.
"Holy cow!" gasped Usagi.
"Wow, I'm actually surprised that you guys came prepared to this beach," agreed Ami, as she blushed at Sora, Riku, Roxas, Axel, Terra, and Ventus.
"Even Kairi, Namine, Xion, and Aqua also have their own swimsuits," added Rei.
"Phew, there may not be any yachts, but at least we got some good guys with us. So who wants to play ball?" asked Usagi.
"Sure thing, Usagi," said Mickey.
"Wait, we never did see that girl, Sakiko, come out of her room this morning," piped in Ami.
"Now that you mentioned it, Ami, You're right. I haven't seen Sakiko anywhere today either," agreed Goofy.
"By the way, Ami. Why'd you bring some of your textbooks with you?" asked Kairi, making Usagi facefault onto the sand.
"Come on, Ami. I know that studying is very important, but you gotta learn to have a bit of fun. Getting some exercise is actually better for us, and it makes our bodies adapt to what happens around us," said Sora.
"Whoa, Sora said something that makes sense for once," Rei said looking stunned.
"Okay, you win. Let's go have some fun," Ami said with a light giggle.
Then everyone began playing ball, and having some sparring matches with their keyblades, while Mickey, Donald, and Goofy traveled across the ocean looking for fresh food to help Usagi's mother make some new and interesting sushi, but none of them noticed Sakiko watching from above. That night the werewolf was howling to the moon, but he was also making the other dogs bark into the moonlit sky as well.
"Night time's here again. I'm scared," he said.
"Luna, are you still there?" asked Usagi.
"Yeah, well, we're still here Usagi," Riku said in Luna's stead, making the black cat look respectfully at him.
"Why can't I be brave like Sora is!?" cried Usagi.
Meanwhile, Rei was plasing her Ofuda on the chairs and tables, so that their dinner would not be interrupted again, when she suddenly heard the tree staff workers talking about what was happening every single day and night, making Sora clench his fist in anger.
"Right, but whatever we do we can't let those people staying with us know about it," said the wraith.
"Right," agreed the werewolf and Frankenstein's monster.
After her shower, Ami noticed Sakiko looking sadly towards the ocean, just as Sora approached her. She decided to see what was up with the young girl.
"Hi Sakiko," she said, as she walked up to him.
"Hey there," added Sora.
"Oh, hello Sora. Hello Ami," replied Sakiko.
"Wow, you know our names? But we never told them to you," Ami said observantly.
"Well, I was up here all day and saw you playing. Then I noticed that your friends with those key shaped swords sparring with each other," said Sakiko.
"I see, so what else do you know about us?" asked Sora.
"Well, Rei's the mature and pretty, one, Usagi's the clumsy one, Riku's sensible, Kairi is radiant, Namine is innocent, Xion is different, Axel's a bit impulsive, Donald's the temperamental one, Goofy is the foolish one, Mickey's the king, Aqua's a master, Terra and Ven are her apprentices, and the cute little cat is Luna," said Sakiko, as she kicked a rock into the ocean below.
"And what about you, any close friends?" asked Ami.
Sakiko shook her head sadly.
"Well, let's change that," she said sweetly to the young girl,
Sora nodded in agreement with a confident smirk, as they approached her.
"You know, not so long ago, I was a bit of a loner. But now it's different," said Ami.
Sakiko glanced back at them.
"It's like this. When Usagi and I first met Ami, it was when she was about to get hurt. But, after what happened before, we became friends with her. That's why you can be our friend as well, Sakiko. Because, I too know what it's like to be friends with people I've met before. Friendship is not just an unseen force, it's a special kind of magic that binds us all together, creating an unbreakable bond between hearts," explained Sora.
"Really, are you sure?" Sakiko asked curiously.
Ami nodded, making her smile.
"SAKIKO! How many times have I told you not to talk to strangers!?" snapped her father, making Ami jump back as he took Sakiko's hand.
Finally, Sora had enough, and bravely stepped forward.
"HEY! Why don't you stop treating Sakiko as your slave, and let her be friends with us!?" he snapped.
"Who do you think you are, boy!?" demanded Sakiko's father.
"If you want to know who I am, I am Sora! And I won't sit back while you continue treating your daughter like a slave for your twisted ambitions!" replied Sora.
"I'd suggest you all leave this place right away! That is unless you want to see something terrifying!" barked the caretaker.
"If this is some kind of challenge, then we'll accept it!" said Sora, as he watched Sakiko being dragged back into the hotel, a look of fresh anger in his eyes.
"But father, Ami, Sora, and their friends are all really nice. She even told me that we could all be good-" Sakiko tried to say.
"SILENCE!" snapped Maleficent.
"Sakiko, you possess strong psychic powers, and I want you to gain full control of that power," said her father.
"But I can't do it, it's too hard," protested Sakiko.
"You will gain full control of your abilities, to transform Sora and his friends into Heartless! Or you shall prick your finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel, and perish!" said Maleficent.
"She's right Sakiko, if you let me continue to help you, you can do it. I have found that a great way to draw out your powers is by using Hypnosis," agreed Sakiko's father.
Sakiko sighed sadly.
"Are you trying to tell me that you're going to ignore your father who knows what's best for you!?" he snapped.
"But father," protested Sakiko.
"Enough! We must proceed immediately," said Maleficent, as the caretaker produced the coin.
"Now, just concentrate on the coin Sakiko," he said.
The coin swung back and forth as he began placing Sakiko under his spell, but the little girl suddenly began to weep tears of sorrow at being treated like a slave, as Ami watched in horror. Meanwhile, Usagi noticed Sora nearby with a look of pure rage on his face
"Sora, have you seen Ami and Rei?" she asked, clinging to her pillow.
"I don't know, Usagi. They must be upstairs with everyone else. But, I've been able to find out one thing about Sakiko. Her father is using her as a slave for his own ambitions," replied Sora.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of chanting, which made Sora curious as Usagi clung to him, and looked into another room with a makeshift shrine.
"What are you guys doing?" asked Sora.
"Oh no, now you know," said the wraith who appeared behind them.
"What do you mean?" Sora asked her.
The wraith was about to explain, when Usagi panicked and made everyone else panic as well, forcing him to cast a silence spell on Usagi with his keyblade.
"Sorry about that, Rei. But take this echo screen after Usagi calms down," he said.
"Fair enough. I understand how you're brave enough to talk to ghouls thanks to your previous meeting with Jack Skellington at Halloween Town, but what's more important is that there's an incredible force behind this," replied Rei.
"Okay…?" asked Sora.
"Something is coming," said Rei.
Suddenly they heard the exorcism tablets tear, and the chairs and table rattle, making everyone quiver in fear, but made Sora grow even more suspicious. The hotel workers soon began chanting quickly as Sora sensed something that made his blood run cold, and ran to find Ami.
"Now, use your psychic powers to create a ghost. By now it should be an easy task for you. And once they see that, it will scare off those noisy people!" said the caretaker, laughing with evil triumph.
"STOP THAT!" called Ami and Sora.
"So it's you again!" he said furiously.
Then a light bulb shattered as Sakiko's eyes opened, revealing the spectre in it's full fury.
"Amazing Sakiko! Good, wonderfully done! Go scare those people out of their wits! Now we can have our revenge on all those people who laughed at us and said we were fakes!" laughed her father.
The ghost blasted Ami out of the window, making Sora's anger burst out.
"THAT'S IT!" he shouted, as the caretaker laughed maniacally.
"That's good! It's perfect!" he said proudly
"You fool, it was all a ruse to have this creature serve me! Now you and your daughter shall be transformed into Heartless!" Maleficent cried out triumphantly.
"No, you'd dare betray me!?" he demanded, as Ami recovered.
"Destroy them!" she shouted.
As a chair burst through one of the windows.
"Whoa!" gasped Rei.
"What's going on here?" asked Luna.
"Trouble," said Roxas.
They saw Sakiko's father be sent flying out and landed on the ground before them.
"We have to help him!" said Kairi as she jumped out the window.
"So it was a ghost!" added Axel, who was more angry than scared.
"Make this fool writhe! Make him cry out as he turns into a Heartless," commanded Maleficent.
"Maleficent," Riku said darkly.
Sakiko's father was aghast at what was happening, as the ghost closed in for the kill.
"This is all your fault Rei!" cried Usagi.
"Save the accusations for later! We have to beat that ghost, without giving in to fear!" said Terra.
"I have to agree with Terra on this one!" Rei said in acknowledgement.
"Usagi, Rei, transform! We have to save Sakiko's father!" called Ami.
Usagi shook her head fearfully, until Riku ran to her side.
"Pull it together, Usagi. They still have their hearts! But, we can't let them become Heartless," he said.
"All right, I'll transform," replied Usagi.
And so she did, along with Ami and Rei. In a flash of light they had now become Sailors Moon, Mercury, and Mars, while the Guardians of Kingdom Hearts readied their weapons and engaged the Heartless and Maleficent in battle.
"How dare you ruin our vacation!? I am Sailor Moon. And on behalf of the moon, we're punishing you!" Usagi, Ami, and Rei said together.
"You guys take care of Maleficent and the Heartless, I'll help Sailor Moon face her fears!" said Sora.
"Sakiko stop it! Stop it! Don't you recognize your own father?" asked the caretaker.
"Sailor Mercury, go help Sakiko!" called Riku.
Ami nodded and ran to Sakiko's side.
"Sakiko, come on wake up, you have to!" she said, as she gently shook her.
"No more, I can't take it anymore," whimpered Sakiko, as the ghost continued it's attack on her father.
Sailor Moon tried to use her Moon Tiara Action attack on the ghost, but the discus shot right through it without affecting it at all. Everyone was shocked.
"Fools! There's nothing you can do now! Soon the girl's father and the servants at this hotel will be transformed into Heartless, along with that pathetic child of his!" cackled Maleficent.
The ghost blasted them back, as Sora evaded the attack and rushed to Ami's side.
"Please Sakiko, we need you, you have to wake up!" Ami said desperately.
At last Sakiko awoke, but she heard her father cry out in pain as he was struck down yet again.
"Old man!" called Sora.
"Sakiko, you have to use your power and make that ghost disappear!" Sailor Mercury said to her.
"But it should have disappeared completely, right after I woke up! Why is it still here!?" cried Sakiko.
"Look out!" cried Sora and Sailor Mercury, dodging to the side.
Rei and Usagi were shocked, as they saw Sakiko, Ami and Sora rush to the caretaker's side.
"Sakiko, quickly run away from here. That ghost is now under Maleficent's control!" her father said.
"I knew it, that ghost must be a representation of Sakiko's free will, because her father treated her like a slave to his twisted ambition," said Sora.
"That feeling was so strong, that when it was let out, it lost control," added Ami.
Sora quickly braced himself, as it blasted Ami back, next to her friends.
"Go, run away now!" her father said in desperation.
"No father!" protested Sakiko.
"My daughter, you wanted to live a normal life, but instead I forced you to do what I want, I'm sorry," he admitted.
"Spare us your apologies! We got a ghost to bust!" Sora said as he brandished his Keyblade.
The ghost charged right at them, as Sora stood his ground, making everyone worried.
"You guys, watch out!" called Sailor Mercury.
But neither or them flinched, as they stood their ground.
"Now Sakiko!" shouted Sora, as he transformed into his final form.
They took each other's hands as Sora pointed his keyblade at the ghost, and fired a beam of light upon it.
"SHADOW CREATURE! BEGONE! WE COMMAND YOU! RETURN TO THE DARK REALM FROM WHENCE YOU CAME!" they cried out together.
Everyone was surprised, as the wounded Maleficent quickly retreated, until the ghost faded away forever.
"Sakiko!" Ami and the caretaker said.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I am," replied her father.
Then he turned to the others.
"Everyone, I want to apologize for being so single minded and only caring about showing the world Sakiko's powers. I forced her to train, even though I was going against her will in developing her unique abilities. I even started using this hotel, and the patrons who stayed here to test her power," explained her father.
"You know, I have also been where your daughter was before. And by that, I did terrible things in the past," said Riku, making everyone glance at him.
"What do you mean, Riku?" asked Sakiko.
"Sora and I walked down different roads. But I walked down the path of darkness, just as Sunset Shimmer, Starlight Glimmer, and the other Twilight Sparkle once did. I felt as if my best friend turned his back on me, all because he found new friends. I gave in to the darkness once, and ever since, it's chased me around in one form or another. The Seeker of Darkness who stole my body. He tried to use it to hurt Sora, and everyone I held most dear. And to tell you the truth, there was no way I could ever forgive myself. Of course it wasn't just him, I did some of them of my own volition. I brought nothing but trouble to Sora and his friends. I'm the reason why they went through a lot of hardship, after becoming Maleficent and Xehanort's slave," explained Riku.
"No Riku, it wasn't your fault. This Seeker of Darkness, and Maleficent may have made you do those terrible things. And even though you did some of those things of your own accord, you shouldn't blame yourself for your past sins," Sakiko said to him.
"You're right. I can't remain trapped in the shadow of my past anymore. I'm going to fight, not just for my friends, but for Sunny's sake," replied Riku.
"By the way, what were the staff up to Rei?" asked Ventus.
"They were probably trying to perform an exorcism," replied Rei.
"Oh, right," said Sora.
He knelt down before Sakiko, his eyes meeting her's.
"Listen Sakiko, I know your father wanted you to try and control your special power. But, just thinking about the stuff he did makes me so mad. But, you stopped that ghost from hurting him, so I have to be grateful for that," he explained.
Then he turned to Sakiko's father, and bowed his head to him.
"Hey, old timer. Sorry for yelling at you. I know you wanted Sakiko to train hard under your tutelage. But, what you did made me think about another person who was also a terrible father to another girl I know called Weiss Schnee," said Sora.
"I understand, young man. And I am sorry, for the way I treated my daughter," replied Sakiko's father.
The next day, everyone was now at the beach, and were now playing and having a few sparring matches with each other, as Sakiko's father and the hotel staff watched them.
"Are you sure the ghosts won't show up here?" asked the werewolf.
"I mean we like working here, but we're really timid. And ghosts and monsters what scare us the most," added the wrath.
"Don't you worry, you won't see them, ever again" replied Sakiko's father, as he watched his daughter happily playing with her friends.