"Do you know who I am?" The question was asked from several feet away. Amarao could not tell exactly what had happened. He had feinted shortly after the wild-eyed motorcycle driver had grabbed him.
"I don't know who you are. I don't want to know. I work for the Intergalactic Immigration Agency. We have connections to any government, and with the Medical Mechanica. They'll pay a huge reward for me. Maybe..."

"Shut up" the voice was right on top of him this time. The tape that was covering his eyes was violently torn away. Amarao kept his eyes shut tight in fear. "Open your eyes and look at me."
"I don't wanna" Amarao said in a most whiny voice.
"You just said you work for the Intergalactic Immigration Agency. This concerns your job. Now, open your eyes, or I'll have to staple your eyelids to those oversized eyebrows of yours."
He looked most frightful to Amarao. He was dressed all in black. His purple hair was spiked, looking almost as if someone had run an electric current though him. His yellow eyes were a twisted version of Haruko's own green ones. They were every bit as crazy looking, but they did not have the same mischievousness, instead they had a streak of sadistic wickedness.
"What...what do you want?" Amarao asked up at him.
"The same thing you want, I suspect. Haruko."
"Haruko! She is back on Earth! I knew it! I knew..."
"Shut up" Jakun said, interrupting once again. "Yes, she's back on Earth. She is shacking up with that little shit-faced brat that you were talking to earlier. She was probably inside listening while you talked, did you know that? No, of course you didn't. You're head doesn't work like his does." He leaned down closer, and sniffed, as if he were trying to get an idea of Amarao's cologne. "You have the stink of Haruko on you too, and I've been tracking that scent for months. She worked her magic on you once, didn't she?' Before Amarao could answer, Jakun turned away and walked a few feet, pacing. "I know what she did last time was here. All the trouble she caused. Embarrassed you, didn't it? Want to make that up? Want to pay back what you owe her? Want to look good in front of your superiors, save the world?"
"Boy, do I ever" Amarao said as he straightened up. Jakun strode back over. He planted his hands on the sides of the chair he had tied Amarao too, and brought his face closer to Amarao's.
"Then you tell me everything you know. And then you do exactly what I say."

Eri sighed as she read the nutrition label on the box of cereal she was considering. She decided against it, and put it back on the shelf. She needed something with less sugar. As she reached for another box, she caught sight of a person down at the end of the aisle. She narrowed her eyes until she was sure, and then approached him.
"Naota?" He looked up from the grocery list he was examining, and his eyes widened as he recognized the woman in front of him.
"E-Eri? Is that you?" He could hardly believe his eyes! He had not seen Eri in years, in the past couple of days he had almost forgotten she existed. What's more, she was no longer the bright-eyed girl he had known. She had grown up into an absolutely gorgeous woman. Even now, he could not help but feel a few butterflies when he talked to her. Lord, those eyes.
"Yeah, its me, in the flesh." She flashed him a warm smile that added a few more butterflies. "You're looking good. What are you up to now?"
"I'm a student. Studying art." How about you?"
"Well, I sort of own my own company..."
"Really? Wow! I always knew you'd do big things."
"Well, you know how it works. You start in the mailroom and work your way up..." she said, giving a slightly embarrassed laugh. They looked at each other for a moment, admiring how the other had grown. For a moment Naota considered saying something about how pretty she looked, but then a familiar voice tore those thoughts down.
"Oooh, look Takun, 'ribbed for her pleasure.' We should try these!" Haruko said as she came up behind Naota. She wrapped one arm around his neck, the other held out a package of full sized condoms in front of his face. Naota suddenly felt as if his stomach had been pumped with liquid nitrogen. Eri made a curios face and cocked an eyebrow.
"Naota?"
"Um...Eri, I can explain..." Naota stuttered as Haruko nuzzled her face against his.
"No need..." she said, giving a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "Going to introduce me?"
"Eri, this is..."
"Takun's girlfriend" Haruko said, giving Eri a rather nasty glare. "Besides, you know who I am."
Eri looked confused for a moment, but then her eyes widened with recognition.
"Miss Haruko? Is that you?"
"The one and only!" Haruko struck a pose.
"Wow! You look fantastic! Like you haven't aged a day." Her eyes flicked back and forth between Naota and Haruko. "So...you and Haruko, huh Naota?"
"No, no, its not what it looks like!" Naota held his hands up in front of him, as if trying to ward off an attack.
"What do you mean, Takun? You said you loved me, remember?" Naota turned, his eyes full of anger at Haruko.
"Its okay, Naota. Its no concern of mine." Eri glanced around, as if she suddenly felt uncomfortable. "Um...I have to finish my grocery shopping. I'll try giving you a call sometime, okay? Maybe the three of us can get together for dinner sometime."
"We'll have to clear our schedule. We might be busy at night..." Haruko drew a small circle on Naota's chest with her finger. Naota clenched his teeth and struggled for something to say.
"Well, I'll see you later, Naota."
"Eri, wait!" Naota said once she had gone on into the next aisle. He said it loudly, causing several other shoppers to stop and stare at him. He for a moment, frozen. Then he turned to look at Haruko, who was now picking up a box of high-sugar breakfast cereal. She saw his expression, and titled her head.
"What? Something I said?"

"Thank you for all the information, commander. You've been most helpful." Jakun had his back turned to Amarao again. He was scribbling on a notepad.
"You're sure you can handle her? I mean, she took out whole squads of my people last time..."
"I am quite capable of handling Haruko. You just follow the instructions I gave you, and everything will work out fine."
"Will you let me go now...please?" Amarao felt his sense of terror reach levels he had not imagined possible when Jakun moved back in front of him.
"Yes, you will be set free now, commander. But there is one more thing you can do to help me." He pounced on Amarao, sitting on his lap. He leaned down to the hapless commander as if he were going to kiss him, and bit Amarao's eyebrows off.