AN: Hey all! Many thanks to Stardog252 and NobleAngel015 for reviewing! Please continue, I totally feed off of reviews! On a more personal note I just got volume two yesterday! Yay! Volume three comes out April 1. If anyone wants to get that for me for a super early birthday present…lol, just kidding! Enjoy the next chapter!

Oh, by the way, remember Ai's present is our future. Tokyo Majin came out in 2007 so that's the year Ai goes back to. Ai is from further in the future, so that's why she thinks Tatsuma's jacket is 'old-fashioned.'

Disclaimer- Don't own Tokyo Majin. I do own Ai. She is mine. Wish I owned Kyouichi.

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Ai opened her eyes. She coughed slightly. She tried to stand, but the blinding pain in her head nearly staggered her. She groaned. What had happened?

In a blurry haze, Ai remembered the kendo meet, the demon attack…the creature's claws slicing into her parents…she shuddered. She stood up, wincing at the pain in her temples. She was holding her bokuto, which didn't make sense to her, because she had seen her father plunge it into the demon.

"Dad?" She called out. "Mom? Atsushi?" Her heart froze in her chest. Where was her family?

She shivered. It was completely dark. She saw the outline of the Ramen Hut, but the sky was pitch black, with only a few streetlights glowing. She frowned. How long had she been unconscious? When her dad and she had left the Ramen Hut, it had only been sunset.

"Hello?" She cried. "Anyone?"

A garbage can fell over with a clunk. Ai whipped around, and ran towards the source of the noise. "Atsushi? Mom? Dad?"

Something growled.

Ai stifled a cry. She stepped away from whatever it was, planning on running. Before she could do so, it came out of the alley.

It was another demon, though this one looked more like a stork-like bear. It clomped towards her clumsily, flashing beak-like teeth in her direction.

"Another one?" Ai yelled. "Where's my family?"

The creature simply click-clicked, and started towards her again.

"Back off!" Ai shouted, wielding her bokuto threateningly. The demon paid her no heed.

For a full two seconds, the demon cocked its head in an almost bird-like manner, and then it struck. It went for her legs and nearly snapped her ankle clean off. It would have, in fact, had Ai not shrieked and clobbered the thing haphazardly with her bokuto.

The demon did not expect a fight out of Ai, so it backed off two steps, and eyed her carefully. Ai screamed again, and scrambled up, trying to run. The thing leapt clean over her head and blocked off her mode of escape.

I'm dead. Ai thought frantically. Tears of hopelessness started to leak out of her eyes. "HELP!" She howled as loudly as she could.

The demon leapt at her.

And then something pummeled into the demon.

Ai's mouth dropped open.

It was a boy, perhaps a year or two older than Ai, and he had kicked the monster clean off its feet. The creature jerked around, trying to fumble back onto its stork-like legs. Before it could, the boy slammed his fist into the creature's beak. It wailed loudly, and snapped in half. It was dead.

All this took place in the space of two heartbeats.

Ai's mind swam as the boy brushed himself off. He glanced at her questioningly.

"Are you okay?"

Ai swallowed hard as she stared at the boy. He looked her age, with short dark hair and a serene-looking face. He wore an old-fashioned blue jacket, one with a hood peeking out from under his shirt. He had fingerless gloves, and Ai stared at him in astonishment. He looked…friendly. Not the type to take down a full-grown demon. Yet he'd killed the monster with almost ease.

"Where—" she croaked. She swallowed again. "Where are my parents?"

"Were they with you?" The boy asked, helping her to her feet.

"My parents—" Ai stuttered. "And my little brother—the demon—" Ai choked, shaking violently.

The boy pulled her forward. "Come on," he said gently. "You need to calm down."

He herded her away. Ai barely noticed. She walked in a daze, the image of her parents being attacked by the creature was burned into her retinas. She vaguely noted that the boy told her to wait outside as he went inside a coffeehouse. She shivered as she stared ahead.

Wait.

Something was different. Ai peered ahead of her again, trying to figure out what was niggling at her.

The door to the coffeehouse opened, and the boy came out, holding a Styrofoam cup. Ai smelled a caramel mocha, and took it gratefully.

"Thanks," she said shakily, taking a sip. "Has this coffeehouse always been here?"

"I think so," The boy replied. He held a cup too, but whatever he was drinking was pink.

"Thank you…" She said staring at the lid of her cup. "For…saving me."

The boy nodded in a friendly way and smiled. "Your parents might still be alive," He told her. "I didn't see any…remains."

Ai shuddered. "I hope so," She said taking another comforting sip. "What's your name? What school do you go to?"

"Magami High," He answered. "I'm a senior. My name's Tatsuma Hiyuu."

Ai gave a faint smile. "That's where I go. I guess you're my senpai. I'm a sophomore, my name is Ai Houraiji."

Tatsuma blinked. "Did you say 'Houraiji'?"

"Yeah," Ai watched him hopefully.

"Are you related to Kyouichi Houraiji?" Tatsuma asked curiously.

Ai gasped. "Yes, yes I am! He's my dad!"

Silence.

Tatsuma blinked. "I think we're talking about two different Kyouichi Houraiji's," He coughed.

"Yeah, right!" Ai scoffed. "How many Kyouichi Houraiji's could there be? You must know my dad!"

"I reeeally think we're talking about two different people," Tatsuma said, smothering a chuckle.

"Kyouichi Houraiji, we live in Tanemura apartments, he's married to Aoi Houraiji—my mom!" Ai cried.

Tatsuma choked on his pink drink, spraying strawberry milk. "D-did you just say Aoi?" He wheezed.

"Yeah…" Ai said, puzzled at his reaction. He continued to laugh. "What's so funny?"

Tatsuma wiped his eyes. "I'm sorry, Ai, but we must be talking about two different people. I have a friend named Kyouichi Houraiji, and another friend named Aoi, so that's why I laughed. I'm sure it's just a coincidence. But don't worry, we'll find your parents, okay?"

"No!" Ai said desperately, clinging to straws. "It could be my dad! Just take me to him, please!"

Tatsuma shrugged. "He's coming already, you'll see for yourself," He answered.

"Oi! Tatsuma!"

Both teenagers turned as Tatsuma's friend Kyouichi Houraiji walked forward. Ai stared at him blankly. He had a bokuto slung across his shoulders, and looked about Tatsuma's age. As he reached them, Ai could stare at him fully.

"Who the hell is this?" He asked Tatsuma. "Did you find that demon?"

"Yeah," Tatsuma replied. "But this girl…I think she's a bit confused."

Ai could not stop staring at him. "Are you…Kyouichi Houraiji?" She asked feebly.

"Yeah, who's asking?" He demanded brusquely.

Ai blinked. "You're…you're not my dad…"

Kyouichi arched an eyebrow. He glanced at Tatsuma who merely shrugged.

The thing was, this Kyouichi Houraiji looked like Ai's dad. He was shorter and lankier, and he had a lot of product in his hair…but his eyes were the same as her dad's…the same as Ai's. His voice was familiar too. But what disconcerted Ai most was his bokuto. Her arms tightened around her own. The bokutos were more than similar, they were…the same.

"Tatsuma, who is this chick?" Kyouichi demanded again.

"She says her name is Ai Ho—" Tatsuma started.

"—shiko! Ai Hoshiko!" Ai interrupted frantically. She looked at the two boys, feeling hopelessly lost. But one thing ground against her. She couldn't tell these people too much.

To her surprise, Tatsuma followed her lead. "Ai Hoshiko," He agreed, though he threw her an odd glance.

Ai blinked hazily. She suddenly stared around her with a new perspective. Nothing looked familiar to her, the buildings were different…this wasn't the Tokyo she knew.

Ai turned from both boys and ran. Tatsuma yelled after her but she ignored him. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her.

And eventually tripped over a garbage can. Ai grimaced, shoving away pieces of rubbish until she came across something that startled her. A crumpled up newspaper lay before her. Ai snatched at it her mind swimming frantically. What was the date? She remembered her kendo meet was on August 13, 2028. She stared at the date on the newspaper.

August 13, 2007.

2007?

Ai felt dizzy. She collapsed in a heap and promptly fell unconscious.

XXXXXX

Cold rain droplets woke Ai up as she slowly stood. She was in an alley, and the sun seemed to have just risen, though it was hard to tell with the dirty gray clouds blanketing the sky. She glanced around her, recalling the past night's events. She felt sick to her stomach.

She tried to brush herself off. She was filthy. Her school uniform had ripped and her hair stuck up everywhere from falling asleep in an alley. Ai also was willing to bet that she stunk like high heaven. She'd just go home, and take a shower, and…

She swallowed. She didn't have a home. Not in 2007. She didn't exist.

"This can't be happening," She muttered, starting to walk down the alleyway. Thunder crashed. She jumped.

It began to pour. Ai swore, and started to run down the street, splashing messily into various puddles. Her knee-socks were completely soaked, and sagging down by her ankles. She shivered.

The 2007 Tokyo pedestrians ignored her as they went about their business, opening umbrellas to shield from the downpour. Lightning flashed, and Ai winced. She needed to find shelter.

She ran down several streets, randomly scanning various stores to find a place she could dry off for a bit. She wanted a quiet place, somewhere she could think clearly.

Ah! An antique store! Perfect! Ai ran towards it. She blinked, recognizing it. This wasn't just any antique store, this was…her mom's. She shivered. Not in this time, it wasn't. A crooked sign hung over it, proclaiming that it was "Kisaragi Antiques." The name sounded vaguely familiar to Ai. She shook away her thoughts, and entered the store.

She nearly smacked into someone who was exiting. "I'm sorry," Ai apologized automatically.

"Don't worry about it," the girl said smiling. Ai watched the girl's eyes travel over her dirty appearance. "Looks like it's raining pretty hard, huh?"

"Yeah," Ai sighed walking inside. She shivered again.

"Well, see you," The girl said, beginning to open an umbrella.

"Lady Misato!"

Ai turned, and watched a young man stride towards her. He had long, dark hair, tied in a single braid that swept over his shoulder.

"Your father wanted…" The young man glanced at Ai. "I'm sorry, miss, but the store's closed right now."

Ai sighed exasperatedly.

"Kisaragi-kun, let her stay for five minutes or so, she's soaked to the bone," The girl scolded gently.

The young man bowed. "As you wish, Lady Misato."

"Yeah, thanks…Misato…" Ai sighed.

Misato smiled. "It's Aoi, Aoi Misato," She waved cheerfully. She turned to leave but paused hearing Ai gasp.

"Is something wrong?" She asked curiously.

"Mom?"