Part 1: New beginning
Aiko watched the earth disappear into the void of space from her window. She didn't move until the last glimpse of her home was no more then a memory. After glancing around the nearly empty shuttle she reached into her bag for her electronic manga. After finding the unit and the disk she wanted, she moved around in her seat.
'Thank Kami-sama that they managed to save most of Naoko-san's manga and put it on MD' Aiko thought. She loved the sailor Moon and Sailor V stories the best. 'I wish I was a beautiful mythical Super heroin. Instead I'm stuck leaving my home for someplace I've never been.'
"Kitoko-san, would you like anything to eat for dinner?" the stewardess looked at Aiko while asking.
"I'll just have some water, thanks" Aiko sighed, 'even if they didn't look at seat numbers and tickets, anyone from Japan would probably know who I am. Why did Mother have to go into politics? I bet that's why she isn't here anymore. Oh well, at least no one on Virgo will know me except for Grandma and Grandpa. I wonder what they are like.'
"Ladies and gentlemen this is your captain speaking. We will be lading on Saturn 1 colony in five hours, then we will be continuing on to Virgo. Passengers headed for Virgo may stay on the shuttle. Their will be a twenty five minute layover on Saturn, so make sure that you are back on the shuttle if your destination is Virgo."
Aiko glanced around and could guess who was going to Saturn 1. It was one of the few colonies that had been started before Virgo was discovered. Since Virgo already had a livable environment the people of Earth thought it to be more desirable. They didn't have to spend years making artificial habitations. Work on the colonies slowed and at a basic maintenance level. Now scientists who found the different environments good for research inhabited them.
Aiko slowly opened her eyes as she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She looked up and saw the stewardess standing over her. She hadn't even realized when she had started to doze off.
"Kitoko-san, the shuttle will be landing in half an hour on Virgo. You can start getting your things together, and use the restroom if you have to before we land.."
"I'm fine, thanks. I didn't realize I had fallen asleep."
"That's Virgo over there. I tried waking you when we were landing on Saturn, but you were sound asleep"
"That's all right, I've been to some of the colonies before with my Mother."
"Ok. See you later, I have to get ready for landing."
"Ja"
"Ja Ne"
Aiko looked at the approaching planet out her window. 'It looks like satellite pictures of the 20th century Earth. Virgo is so green. It doesn't have that black-cloud like thing hanging round it like I saw today.'
Aiko slipped her manga player back into her bag and zipped it up. Once they had landed and docked, she pulled her other bag from the overhead compartment.
"Sayonara and good luck Kitoko-san" the stewardess bowed as Aiko walked into the terminal.
"Ja ne. By the way, where are you from?"
"Osaka, Japan."
"Oh. Sayonara"
"Sayonara Kitoko-san"
Aiko watched the researchers that had gotten on at Satun-1 meet up with colleges and family. Others left by themselves. 'It must be nice to have someone waiting for you all the time'
"Miss Kitoko?"
Aiko was too lost in thought to respond at first, and she was used to the Japanese name order and endings.
"Miss Aiko Kitoko, is that you?"
Aiko turned and looked at the middle age man and woman in front of her. She took a deep breath and remembered to use her English.
"Hai, I am Aiko Kitoko" 'phew, only one Japanese word'
The man spoke first. "I'm Jake Woods and this is my wife Ella. We live next to your Grandparents. They asked us to meet you at the spaceport since they couldn't make it."
"We have to get on a plane before we are home", Ella added. "It's to long of a trip for your Grandparents."
"Oh"
Jake picked up the larger of the two bags, the one that Aiko had set down. "We have to go to the other side of the spaceport. This side is for shuttles only. Did you have any checked baggage?"
"No. I was able to carry on both of my bags."
"Then we are all set," Jake added as they started walking. After a few turns and a few long corridors the three entered the gate for the plane. They only had to wait 10 minutes before boarding the plane and settling in their seats for the next stop on their journey.
"How much farther do we have to go before we are at my grandparents' house?"
Jake smiled at Aiko. "Our car is at the airport in Bon. We have about an hour car ride home after that."
"We could have taken the train, but the drive is lovely this time of year, especially with the leaves starting to change." Ella wanted to show off the area to Aiko.
Aiko smiled. The few tress left on earth were lucky to have leaves on them. She watched out her window in awe as the plane landed. She could just make out some of the trees in the distance as the plane taxied to the terminal.
When the steward gave the ok, the passengers got up from their seats and began to collect their belongings. Jake carried Aiko's larger bag again as the three left the plane. They made their way to the front entrance of the airport and Aiko took in the sights. The airport was modern, but it didn't seam to have the same technology as earth.
When they arrived at the main entrance, Jake made a quick stop at a nearby counter. The three of them walked out to the curb where a car was waiting. The airport employee walked out and handed the Keys to Jake after checking his ID. Ella took the keys from Jake and opened the trunk so he could put Aiko's bag inside.
Jake opened one of the backdoors for Aiko while Ella climbed into the drivers seat. After closing Aiko's door Jake slid into the front passenger seat. Aiko looked out her window and watched the people entering and leaving the airport. She barley noticed the dark-green haired young woman walking into the building.
"Aiko, if you get tired at all there are a pillow and blanket for you." Jake said as they pulled out of the airport.
"Thanks. I slept on the plane and the shuttle so I should be fine."
"Well, make yourself comfortable and enjoy the scenery then. Ella kept her eyes on the road as she spoke.
Aiko leaned against the pillow as she watched out her window. Trees and the occasional human buildings stood proudly as if they were there simply to be seen by Aiko. Red, yellow, and orange leaves were scattered throughout the canopy of green. The scenery continued on for most of the trip.
More houses and other buildings started springing up as they neared their destination. Ella exited the freeway and turned onto a small local road.
'Welcome to New hope township- founded July 9; 4348' a sign read noting their location. Ella turned the car into a long driveway a few blocks away from the sign.
"We are here," Ella proclaimed as she turned the car off.
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Character spot:
Kitoko Aiko (Name in Japanese format with family name first)
Name meaning: Beautiful beloved one
Age 14, attends New Hope Jr high, lives with maternal grandparents.
Blond hair, blue eyes
Favorite food, pretty much anything
Blood type: B
Hobbies: reading Manga, hanging out with friends
Weakness: sensitive about mother's death.
Strengths: sensitive for other's emotions
Necklace: orange stone with Kanji of "love"
Birthday: October 11 (Libra)
(not all the birthday's match the original Senshi, but the signs should)