AWAY FROM HOME

CHAPTER 4:

NEW FRIENDS

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PREVIOUSELY ON AWAY FROM HOME:

Rowen slumped to his bed. The day was hatic for him. All day, he was bragging with the teachers and he hasn't eaten a thing all day. Rowen heard his stomach rumble angrily at him. 'God. How bad can it get?' He asked himself. He then looked at the out side window, all the other kids in the school were all having a great time playing basket ball and volley ball. Rowen turned over and looked at the night table that held the pictures of his friends. 'When will this be over?' He thought. Then he felt a slight burn that came from one of his pockets. Taking out his armor orb, he looked at it with awe. The orb glowed with a bright blue shine. "Armor of Strata. Please help me to get through this." He said. Then a soft whisper was heard. 'Close your eyes' the voice said. Rowen did as he was told. Then all of the sudden, he felt himself flying in the air. 'Open your eyes' the voice said. Rowen opens his eyes to see himself flying in space. "Cool." He said. He then saw his armor of Strata in front of him. 'You will never be alone Rowen. I will always be here for you' Strata said. "Thank you Strata" Rowen said. Then all went white.

Rowen opens his eyes to see himself back in his room. He looked at the clock that was hanging on the wall. It was six at night all ready. "Time to eat." He said with a chuckle to hear his stomach grumbling in response. He got up from the bed and started his way to the cafeteria.

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TWO MONTHS LATER:

Rowen sighted as he turned the page of his American History book. The next day he was going to have an exam on the chapter of the Great Depression within President Roosevelt time. He hated history of all the classes. Mostly because it was due to talking about people who had passed away years ago. 'I hate this.' He thought. Just then, his watch alarm sounded. Rowen looked at the time. It was 6:30 of the evening. His stomach growled with anger from being ignored almost all afternoon. "Well, no better time to chow down ne?" He said with a small chuckle.

Rowen got up from his bed and headed to the cafeteria where everyone ate. Rowen knew he wasn't invited to sit in the cafeteria since he was the 'out cast' of the whole school. So he took is dinner in a bag and left. 'Maybe it won't hurt to go to the library and check my e-mail there' He thought. So on he went to the library. It was a muffling sound that made him stop his tracks. Rowen looked to where the sound came from. 'Where is that noise coming from?' He thought. He then saw a small bush rattle. Rowen placed his dinner on the ground and sneaked behind the bush. There lying on the ground was a guy his own age all wrapped up in a lasso and duck tape on his mouth and hands and feet.

"Hey, how long you've been here?" Rowen asked as he slowly removed the duck tape from the other boy's mouth. "Uhhh….like 3 hours. Maybe more." The boy said. "Who did this to you?" Rowen asked as he removed the lasso and the other duck tape from the boy. "You know Jerry and his gang?" The boy asked. Rowen nodded his head. "Yeah those skums beaten me up once." Rowen said as he helps the boy to stand up. "Well, they did this to me because I didn't gave them my lunch money." The boy said. "You didn't reported to Mrs. White." Rowen asked. "Any one who does that and he and his gang will kill that person." The boy said. "My name is Touma Hashiba. But I liked to be called Rowen." Rowen said. "My name is Andrew Chestnut. But I liked to be called Andy." Andy said as he gave his hand. Rowen took it and shook his hand. "Pleasure to meet you." He said. "The pleasure was all mine." Andy said.

"Hey, how about you hang around my room. I have dinner and extras. I guess you need to scarf down too." Rowen said. "Great!" Andy said. Rowen and Andy went on to Rowen's room where he sat with Andy on the soft carpet. "Geez. I don't know how you can kneel down and eat at the same time." Andy said as he shifted to the indian sitting style. "Customs of my Country." Rowen said as he digs in his Sushi. "Ewwww….groooooossssss….." Andy said as he looked away from Rowen who was eating a raw eel. "What?" Rowen asked as he gobbles down the eel. "That. How can you eat such thing? Every one here hates that." Andy said. "What? Sushi? Oh again, it's the customs of my Country." Rowen said as he chewed on a fish. "Where do you come from? China?" Andy asked as he nibble onto the potato chips that Rowen had. "Close. Japan." Rowen said.

Andy coughs up his chips and looked at Rowen. "You look nothing like a Japanese person." He said. "Well my best friend looks nothing at all. He's half-American and Japanese. I'm pure Japanese." Rowen said. "Oh well, that doesn't matter now." Andy said as he dug into his chips. "How can you eat such greasy food." Rowen asked as he winced to how Andy ate. "Well…it's all salty and fatty. But it taste good." Andy said as he gave one chip to Rowen. "Try it." He said. Rowen looked at it and then at Andy. "How about I make a deal with you, You eat a piece of Sushi and I eat a chip. Deal?" He asked as he raised an eyebrow. Andy sighted. "I knew something like this would happen." He mutters. Andy took a piece of red fish and Rowen to a chip. "Okay, when I count to three, we eat." Rowen said. Andy nodded his head. "One…two…three!" He said.

Andy and Rowen ate onto the fish and chip. Their eyes were shut closed as their taste buds tasted the food. Rowen looked at Andy who still had trouble in eating the fish. "Not bad Andy. How about you?" He asked. Andy looked at Rowen unbelief. "That was delicious." He said as he tried to grab more of the plate of Sushi. However, Rowen took it away. "No you don't. This is my dish." He said "Aww…C'mon, just one more bite." Andy said with begging brown eyes. Rowen couldn't resist it that he gave his unfavorite part of the Sushi. Andy took it and gobbles it up. "Not bad as the other one. What was it?" Andy asked. "Which, the first or last?" "Both" "Well.. The first was a king fish and the other one was a octopus." Andy's eyes were wide. "OCTOPUS!!" He asked. "Hai." Rowen said with a nod. Andy raced to the bathroom and promptly threw-up.

Rowen sat there feeling bad for him. Minutes later, Andy return and looked pale. "Was it that bad?" Rowen asked. "You knew it all along that it doesn't taste good huh?" Andy asked. "I don't like octopus either. I thought you'll like it." Rowen said. "That's the problem, I did. But I'm kind of allergic to octopus." Andy said. "Gomen Andy. I never meant to hurt you." Rowen said with a slight bow. "Nah it's okay man. I know you didn't meant it." Andy said. Rowen then looked at Andy with a sparkle in his eyes that Andy could have sworn he saw the cosmos.

"So I guess it's late now. Tomorrow we have class and that American History exam." Andy said as he got up and started to the door. "Right. I'm having trouble with American History." Rowen said. "Ah no sweat man. Most answers rely on the date and the famous dead people. Mr. Green is easy with the exam. Mostly it's multiple choice so with genius like you, it will be a breeze to get an A+." Andy explained. "Guess so." Rowen said as he looked at his textbook. "Hey Question Andy." He said. "Yes?" Andy asked. "What is up with Niki and that picture she has all the time?" Rowen asked. "Well, she been here for about a year now. The photo is the picture of her son, Stephen. After his birth, Niki's parents took her here and sended her son to an adoption center. All I know is that her folks are filthy rich. And that kid represents her first boyfriend name Stephen. She was madly in love with that guy. Everyone feels sorry for her." Andy said. "That's sad man." Rowen said.

"Yes it's sad. Well anyway, I'll see you in class Ro. I have to get some rest before the test. C-you tomorrow." Andy said as he left the dorm. Rowen sighted and lay down on his bed. He indeed felt sorry for Niki and her kid. 'Hopefully they meet up one day. ' Rowen thought as a tear slipped down his cheek.

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JAPAN:

"And so, the president of America by the name, Franklin Roosevelt, build the treaty of the New Deal that help the Americans to do better during the Great Depression Era." The teacher explained to the class. Sage looked onto his binder lost in thought of what Rowen had e-mail him. "Date-san. Is everything all right?" The teacher asked. Sage snapped out of his trance. "Hai Sensai. I just dozed off." He said. "Well I hope it's about our topic of the day and not about tonight's date with a cheerleader." The teacher said. "Iie on that ma'am." Sage said as his face turned beet red.

Then the bell rang. Sage walked out the classroom as though he was in a funeral. "Hey Sage!" Ryo called out. Sage turned to him. "Hi Ryo." He said. "What's up with the gloom face man. It's like something bad happen." Ryo asked as he walked to the side Sage. "I received Rowen's e-mail Ryo." Sage said. Ryo's face turned pale white to here something like that especially if it comes out of a glommed Sage.

"What's up?" He asked. "I'll show it to you once the other's gets here." Sage said. Minutes later after a long silence, Cye and Kento arrived spooked on Sage's and Ryo's expression. "I don't have to ask if there is something wrong. Spill it out." Cye said. Sage nodded his head. "There is something wrong. It's about Rowen. He e-mailed me." He said. "So what is it about?" Kento asked as he digs in his food. "Here it his so that you can read." Sage said as he took out a printed white page with a letter on it. Ryo took it and began to read it out loud.

"HI GUYS,

HOW ARE YOU ALL? I'M FINE HERE IN ARIZONA BUT IT IS LONESOME. THE TEACHERS HERE ARE REAL STRICT AND IT'S QUITE HARD FOR ME TO MAKE FRIENDS. BUT I'M A MAGNET TO THE BULLIES HERE IN THE SCHOOL. ONE THING FOR SURE, STRATA HELPS ME OUT EVERY DAY IN ORDER FOR ME TO KEEP ON IN THIS STRUGGLE. I MISS YOU ALL VERY MUCH. IT'S HARD FOR ME TO THINK STRAIGHT WITHOUT WORRING ABOUT YOU ALL. HOPEFULLY NO DYNASTY OR WARLORDS WILL POP OUT AND THEN GOD KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS.

HOPEFULLY MY FOLKS WILL CHANGE THEIR MIND IN KEEPING ME HERE AND HAVE ME RETURN TO JAPAN SOON. I HATE IT HERE. THE SUN IS SO HOT THAT IT IS MOST OF THE DAYS 100 DEGREES. AT NIGHT, YOU COULD HEAR THE WOLVES HOWL AND THE OWLS HOOT. IT'S HARD TO SLEEP IN LATE CAUSE THEN THE PRINCIPLE IS ON YOUR BACK.

ANYHOW, I HAVE TO SIGN OUT SOON. I PRAY THAT YOU ALL ARE IN BETTER SHAPE THAN ME. TALK TO YOU SOON GUYS. DON'T LOOSE HOPE. I WILL COME HOME SOME DAY. MISS YOU ALL

~ROWEN"

Ryo looked at his comrades as they all look in a sad expression. "That ain't fair you guys!!" Kento said as he rose from his seat. "We know Kento. But what can we do?" Cye asked. "I'll tell you what we are going to do. We will go to Rowen's dad and show him this letter to him. I bet that he can get the principle from over there to have him removed from that psycho place and back here." Kento said. "It's worth a try Kento. Let's do it this afternoon." Sage said. "It is?" Kento asked. "Yes dufuse. It is." Cye said as he rolled his eyes.

"All right. Today afternoon. Right after school. Sounds good?" Ryo asked. "Yes." Cye said. "Sounds good." Sage said. "Good." Kento said. "All right then. After school it is." Ryo said.

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LATER:

"I can't believe he denies it!" Kento said as he slammed the wall of the laboratory. "'Oh that's just Rowen playing a practical joke on you all. I bet he's having a blast over there.' What was that all about! I guess not being with Rowen most of his life makes him dull." Sage said. "Look, Rowen's parent's are not going to help us on this. We have to do it on our own and get Rowen back here." Ryo said. "You got that right." Kento said.

As they walk south to the main street, they weren't aware of the shadow of someone looking at them from the laboratory. "You four don't know how much I miss my son. You may think that I don't care, but I do. Some day I will bring my son back. But it have to be with time itself." Mr. Hashiba said before shutting the curtains and going back to work.

END OF CHAPTER 4

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AUTHORS NOTE:

Rowen: Are we on? Yes. Okay then, umm..Well that's it of chapter four for all viewers. Keep in mind that no ronins belong to Manika. Kay. Oh and the character 'Andy' is one of Manika's buds she hangs out with. Well..the name was taken only. The dude is from Europe man.

Manika: Rowen, they don't want to know about my school friends okay. *Glare*

Rowen: You mean chat friend.

Manika: Oh boy. Maybe in the next chapter, I should have to eliminate you huh??

Rowen: NO please don't do that.

Manika: Well, I'll think of it. Anyway review and tell me if I should kill Rowen or what.

Rowen: Please everyone say 'have pity of Rowen Hashiba.'

*Touma Enters*

Touma: Nah, I think it's better to have you eliminated. That way I get full attention from mom and dad.

Rowen: WWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! I thought you love me!! *runs off *

Manika: *sweat drops* Ehh..No comment on that. Anyway, Review and tell me on what I should do to Rowen in the next chapter. Should I have bullies beating him up along with Andy or should I get the principle on him. Your review is important so check in and let me know. Bye.

Touma: Ja-Ne everyone. Vote!!