Namo Nyamo stood waiting in the cold airport terminal as Keitarou Urashima checked in his baggage. She wore a blue-jeans coupled with a plain white tank top overlaid with a blue sailing coat. She had grown considerably within Keitarou's stay, so that she was now up to Keitarou's mouth. She had grown into a fine young woman, Beautiful by anyone's standards. Seta was smoking a cigarette nearby, defiantly ignoring many of the posted regulations hung through out Maui's Airport. She watched Keitarou, thinking about their relationship, the warmness of his presence, and slowly she began to realize the terrible longing for which she would wait for him as he left for an entire semester. Besides her grandfather, she had never been as close to anyone as she now was to Keitarou, not even Seta, her mentor. She wasn't sure if she could handle anything happening to him.

He seemed alright though, making small talk with a young flight stewardess. She felt a small pang of jealousy, but she brushed it from her perception. She couldn't start thinking like that if she was ever going to get through the coming six months.

He walked slowly over to her, smiling easily.

"Well, looks like this is goodbye," he said with a tone of artificial cheer.

Namo tried her best to smile back, "Don't stay there too long, Kei-kun. I'll... I'll miss you every moment your away."

Keitarou hugged her close to her, taking in her beautiful scent, warm brown hair, and cool green eyes, "I'll miss you too, Namo, I'll write back every day."

Namo found herself crying into his cool black overcoat, a steady stream of tears she could not explain, nor make any effort to hold back "Promise me, promise me you won't get into any trouble while you're gone.

Keitarou stroked her hair, doing his best to comfort her. Softly, He planted a soft kiss on the top of her head and muttered, "I promise."

Seta Stood watching from a distance, not wanting to disturb the pair's goodbyes. After a few moments of soft words, they reluctantly pulled away from each other's embrace. Namo wiped away her tears with the cuff of her jacket and nodded as Keitoarou said a last few parting words. She kissed his cheek, and he rubbed her hair affectionately before turning and walking towards Seta.

"Well, Looks like this is it," he said in a tone of resignation. He wore a collared white shirt, dress pants, and a thick black overcoat.

"You look almost respectable, now."

"You'll keep in touch?"

"As always."

"Well, don't fall too behind without me. I won't be gone too long."

"Bah, stop worrying about us. You just go out there and show the world what you've got. And don't let any of those punk kids give you any trouble."

"I know, I know. I guess I'll miss you Seta, you've been a good friend. I appreciate everything you've done for me." There was an awkward silence as the two men paused for a moment. Keitarou rocked on his heels until Seta Swept him up in a big hug.

"Be careful out there, Keit."

"I will."

The two men jerked back from the embrace clumsily. Thankfully, the final boarding call was issued, and Keitarou stepped back a bit, addressing his two friends.

"Goodbye, you two. Take care of yourselves."

"Have a good vacation, Keitarou."

"Knock 'em dead out there."

Keitarou Urashima swept down the boarding ramp with a final wave.

Namo Had moved closer to Seta, and he absently placed a comforting arm on her shoulder.

"He'll be ok, won't he Seta?"

"I sure hope so, Namo. I sure hope so."

Seta rembered something, he could have sworn he saw, just before they parted, Keitarou mouth something to Namo.

"I love you."

Naru Narusegawa was daydreaming again. She was supposed to be studying for an upcoming Literature exam, but she couldn't help thinking back over the years of the many changes that had taken place since she entered Tokyo University. So far, she had done quite well for her sophomore year, and had actually become quite popular, joining the tennis club with her old friend Mutsime.

For the most part, the rest of Hinata House had remained pretty much the same. They had a new resident manager, A woman named Kanoko Urashima who arrived with a letter of high recommendation from both her brother, Keitarou and her grandmother, Hina.

Motoko was now a freshman at Tokyo University, and had developed a penchant for writing esoteric love stories.

Besides that, everything was pretty much the same, except for the echoing lonliess that filled Naru's heart as well as the rest of the house. For some time, everyone had tried to pretend like everything was the same, but still they all felt it, like a heavy blanket enveloping their existence.

Once again, she found herself reading over his final words, opening the drawer in her desk where she housed his last envelope. She sniffed it deeply, trying to pick up some of his old scent, but none came. Only tears, which formed tiny puddles on the surface of her studying book. She was so deeply engrossed that she did not notice as Kitsune entered the room silently.

"You've been thinking about him again, haven't you?"

"Yes, you can always tell."

Kitsune moved closer to the other girl, and sat down next to her. She cradled Naru's head gently as she wiped away the tears.

"I can still remember everything, I... I try to forget him. I try to forget how stupid I was but... But I can't."

"You can't change the past Naru. I'm sorry but what's done is done."

Naru sat up straight, and look deeply into Kitsune's face.

"Your right, I can't change the past, but I'll tell you this..."

There was a rising intensity in her voice.

"If he ever comes back and forgives me, I swear I won't screw thing's up again. I swear I'll..."

Her voice quieted in a sort of anticlimax.

"I'll make him love me again."