Orion Saga

Part 1

Quest for the Orbs

Chapter 3: Welcome to Japan

On Saturday, everyone is in the living room when Zentora walks in quietly. "Good morning."

"Hi, mom." She looks at them as she sits on a chair.

"So, what are your plans for today?"

Zentora looks at her father. "I was going to go for a walk or something."

"Nowhere in particular?"

"Not really. No."

"Zentora, honey, maybe you should go to the mall or a movie?" She casts wary eyes in her mother's direction, waiting for the speech. "It's just that you don't seem to be enjoying yourself. You can't spend all of your time in your room. There's not that much homework in the world."

"I-"

"You should try to socialize, honey. I mean, well…"

"Maybe I will go to a movie."

"Good."

Sighing, Zentora stands as she looks at her parents. "I'll go get my jacket and go now." In her room, she picks up the light jacket and her tablet.

"See you later, Zentora."

"Try to have some fun, sweety."

Zentora nods as she walks out of the door. Do you think we were too hard on her, Martin?"

"No, She'll be fine."

Zentora walks around for a while with her hands in her pockets, head down. She looks up momentarily, leaving her own thoughts when she hears something. Across the street, she sees the zoo. 'Well, it's not like I have anything better to do.' She walks over and buys a ticket.

Taking in both the animals and the people, she walks around slowly. She suddenly feels a strange sensation and stops walking. She looks around, uncertain of what could be near her. After calming down, she finds herself in front of the tiger enclosure. She allows her muscles and her mind to relax as she leans on the bars and watches the regal animals. Noticing the crowd that has gradually begun to form around her, she leaves. Finding, a quiet spot under a tree, in a nearby park, she sits down and removes the tablet from her bag.

"Wow…that's a really good drawing."

"Uh!" The tablet is closed quickly.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

Zentora glances over to see a pair of legs. The person squats down next to her and Zentora holds her tablet close to her body. "Um…gomen. Sorry if I scared you. I probably should've introduced myself first. I'm Tenoh Haruka."

Zentora turns and sees a very good-looking young woman dressed in men's clothes. "It's okay. I was…"

"It really was good."

"Um, domo."

"No problem. Maybe you should check out the museum. I mean, if you're into that. It's not too far from here."

"Maybe I will."

"Sure. See ya around." Zentora watches the older girl walk off.

Another weekend approaches and Zentora is on her way to the museum. "Hey, sweety. Where are you off to?"

"I…was on my way to the museum."

"The museum?"

"Somebody recommended it to me."

"Really? You met someone?"

"Yes."

"Well, have fun."

As she reaches her destination, she notices the crowd. 'Maybe I should come back; but I'm already here now…' She swallows her nervousness and goes in. It is an enormous building and the throng on the inside is noticeably smaller. She walks around slowly taking in each painting. She feels the colors and reads the brushstrokes as though they were light and words.

One particular painting makes her stop walking. She stares at it for sometime as though she were lost within it. 'It's so beautiful.' She lifts her hand as if she were to touch it, but lowers her hand to her side.

"Wow, Michiru-san. I can't believe you have another painting on display here." Ami looks through her museum guidebook.

Michiru smiles as she and Haruka turn down the hall. "Hey look. I guess it's kind of popular already." Minako gestures to the girl standing in front of the painting.

"Hey, I know her."

The other three girls look at Haurka. Minako's bubbly voice answers. "Well, let's go say hi."

"Well, maybe I'd better go over there first. She's kind of shy." She leaves the other three standing there puzzled as she goes over to Zentora who seems to be transfixed on the painting. The deep voice is soft. "Zentora?"

The younger girl seems to jerk involuntarily. She blinks and turns to the side. "Hi...Haruka right?"

"Yeah. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. This painting…" Haruka looks up at her partner's latest work. "It's beautiful."

"How would you like to meet the artist?" The younger girl looks at her as she waves to a group of girls. They approach and Zentora looks at each of them quietly. "This is Ami, Minako, and this...is Kaioh Michiru."

Zentora dips her head slightly at the mention of each name and gives a shy hello. Michiru holds out her hand. "Hello, Zentora."

Taking the older girl's hand, Zentora shakes it quickly and a bit awkwardly. However, uncharacteristic to her previous actions, she looks the girl directly in the eyes. "Hi. I really like your painting."

"Arigatou. I noticed you looking at it. So what do you think?"

For a moment, they all look at the silent girl. "It's very beautiful, but I somehow feel that there is more to it."

Michiru nods as she looks at the canvas. Blue black space is covered with flecks of stars and a small planet is nestled among them. "You're right actually."

Zentora nods and looks at the other girls. Minako and Ami stare at the painting. Ami is reluctant to admit her view. "I don't get it."

"Yeah, it looks like a painting to me."

Michiru smiles and Zentora looks at all of them. Ami tries to change the subject. "Zentora, do you go to school around here?"

"Yes, I go to Juuban High."

"Really? We went there too. But we're in college now."

Zentora nods at Minako's statement, before glancing at her watch. "I'm sorry, but I have to go now."

"That's okay."

"It was nice meeting you all."

As she watches as the taller young girl walk off, Minako looks at Haruka. "Kind of shy. I'm surprised she even talked to us."

"Give her a break."

Michiru sides with her tall companion. "I think she's nice."

"I agree. There's something about her."

Zentora walks home slowly. 'Maybe I could've stayed a little longer.' She opens the door of the large apartment.

"Zentora, you're just in time for dinner. Wash up."

Within minutes she's back in the dining room sitting with her family. "So, you were at the museum?"

"Yes, daddy."

"Someone recommended it to her."

Martin nods his approval. "Did you enjoy yourself?"

"It was nice, yes."

"That's good. Louise, where were you all day?"

"With some friends. We were talking about the festival."

"When is it again?"

"The weekend after next. Then school is out for the spring holiday."

Zentora looks at her plate, knowing that one of her parents will address her about the festival.

"So, will you be wearing a kimono to this thing?"

Louise looks at his mother. "I kind of didn't want to. We were just going to wear regular clothes."

"Zentora, what about you?"

"I really didn't-"

"We've already talked about it. You're going." She looks at her father and says nothing. Jalise looks at her husband and then at her daughter.