"Niko-kun?"
Gaga was shocked. Not only was he face to face with someone he hadn't seen in 50 years, but the little boy he remembered had grown up. A fine man in his latter middle years, he was still in fine health; the only sign of his age was the silvering at his temples, although his wavy black hair was still thick. 'He'd be 58 now.' Gaga thought. 'That's old enough to have some young grandchildren, for humans.'
"No, it's Nomasdina-san now, isn't it?" he corrected himself.
Niko laughed, "I may be grown up, but you're still my elder Gaga-san. Niko-san is good enough." Just then, Niko noticed Yuushi and Cube. "And who might these be?"
"Oh! I'm Yuushi, and this is Cube. Pleased to meet you, Niko-san!" Yuushi smiled up at him. "Gaga just told us about how you two met!" Niko smiled back down at her. "That was a good time." He turned to Gaga "You look just like you did then; maybe a bit more careworn, but still good."
"Thank you, but how are you doing? Did you ever master the Sight?"
"I'm doing very well! I'm now the Caravan Boss, and while I haven't completely mastered the Sight, I can accurately gauge potential and see through any deceit."
"Hmph!" Said Grenda, miffed at being overlooked. "That's not so special, any magician could do the same!"
"Really? And I suppose you could do it, couldn't you?" Niko smiled still, but there was an edge of sarcasm to his reply.
"Actually, Princess, a magician can't do those things. Or, if he can, he can't do them nearly so well or so quickly. It would take a great deal of time and effort, and it's doubtful that he would succeed in time to be useful." Gaga didn't want to offend the princess, but he didn't want her to offend Niko-kun, Niko-san, either.
"Shut up Gaga!"
"My apologies, Princess"
"Princess?" Niko raised one eyebrow skeptically.
"That's right! I'm the Princess of Hell, with radiant beauty and fantastic magical powers!"
Niko looked at Gaga. "My respect for you has doubled. To be able to put up with a brat like this must truly be a challenge."
"Niko-san!" Gaga was aghast, this was going so badly…
"How dare you!" Grenda exclaimed, enraged. "I'm the Princess of Hell! You should show more respect!"
'Ah, but you see, Princess," he made the word an insult, "I cannot respect you. If you want to gain the respect of others, you must first show them respect." Niko's smile was not at all pleasant.
"Really Papa, you could be a bit nicer."
They all turned to see a young woman standing a few feet away. She had silky black hair which she had braided, then coiled into a bun at the back of her head. She had left two long locks framing her face, falling in front of her shoulders. She had large, lovely green eyes that sparkled with amusement, long, curling lashes, high cheekbones, and a mouth shaped with a gem-cutter's precision. A wry smile made her human, rather than inhumanly beautiful.
"Papa?" asked Cube, who had been ignored all this time. Niko looked at him, smiling normally again. "Onua is my daughter, the one prophesied to be the most talented of her type. Those talents lie in music, dance, and gymnastics." He grinned proudly, "She's also as beautiful as her mother once was; that's a bonus."
"So the prophesy was fulfilled. I was wondering about that." Gaga was relieved to be on a safer subject. He also couldn't help thinking that Onua was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. He looked at her again, and felt his face grow warm when she smiled at him.
"You must be Gaga-san," she said. "Papa told me all about you. It's nice to finally meet you."
She curtsied gracefully. Hastily remembering his manners, Gaga bowed in return and said, I'm pleased to meet you too, how long will you be in town?"
"A few weeks at least, so we'll see each other again. But it's getting dark, we should return to the caravan, Papa." This last was directed to Niko.
"True, true, and I'm sure you four will need to get home as well. So I'll bid you goodnight."
"Good night."
"So long!"
"See you again!
Grenda, still sulking, said nothing. Instead she turned away in a huff.
Niko and Onua turned and left; he with long, casual strides; she with a sedate, swaying walk. Yuushi and Cube waved goodbye to Grenda and Gaga, then ran up the path towards their house. Inside Yuushi's adoptive father, Gunberd, was awaiting them, a huge meal spread over the table. "Welcome home Yuushi!"
Yuushi sighed, looking at the table, "Papa, you didn't have to make so much! You'd think I had been gone for a month, instead of just a day!"
"But, Yuushi…"
"Sigh…its okay, Papa."
Scene switches to the outside of the house.
"Itadakimasu!"
