Roughly a week or two after their arrival, Tori and Lena expected them to help keep the house tidy. By that time, out of a combination of boredom and responsibility, they were more than happy to make themselves useful, either cooking dinner (Kento and Sai), washing the dishes (Sai and Ryo), purchasing small things at the store (Sage and Ryo), or putting away groceries (Sai and Sage). Rowen always put up the books he finished reading exactly where he found them.

Once Tori noticed this, he began asking Rowen to do what he considered 'family-centric' duties. "Hey, Rowen, would you please feed Zaji? He's letting out his hungry-cry, and-"

Rowen interrupted, "My wife had always fed Mateo when he was a baby."

"Okay…"

"I am not suited for feeding infants."

Upon hearing Tori's request, Kento always offered, "I'll do it!"

And another instance, "Hey, Rowen, ah… Zaji needs his diaper changed, and I was wondering if you could do it."

"My wife had always done that."

Tori looked around the room, "…Sage?"

Sage was horrified. To everyone's relief, Kento offered to change the diaper.

Still later, "Rowen, the kitchen's awfully messy, and-"

"My wife had done that."

A couple months after they arrived, Tori commented, "Rowen, you look pretty bored. Would you like to have something to do?"

"I would love to have a productive activity."

"Great! I was wondering if you could take Zaji to the new play area in the park. If he gets too messy, I'd like for you to give him a bath once he's done." By that time, Tori and Lena felt comfortable with having the old warriors babysit; the couple began going out to eat by themselves.

Rowen sighed in exasperation. "My wife had been in complete charge of childrearing duties."

Kento boasted, "I'll take the little tyke!"

Over the phone Aiden was saying, "Ryo, I'm glad we're finally able to talk! Life has been so hectic, managing the ecological committee and organizing the rally for next year. Not to mention all the classes and exams!" There was a laugh. "So, you've been here for almost a month now. How are you enjoying everything so far?"

"Everything's fine. I think Tori's tired of us drinking chocolate milk. Sai went shopping with him a few days ago, and they bought some tea."

Another laugh. "Good. So, has Seito spoken with Sai often? I know he also has a busy schedule, but it shouldn't be as hectic as mine."

"Yeah, they get along great. We never thought they'd be such great friends since they seem like complete opposites, but they seem like they have a lot in common."

"Good." This time, the tone was more serious and a little uneasy. Sai and Seito had plenty of common ground for discussion, but what could Aiden and Ryo converse about? "So, um, what kind of entertainment do you enjoy? I like all kinds – Modern Opera, Classical Opera . . . Modern Opera didn't exist in your time. Have you seen a Classical Opera?"

"No, um . . . Sayoko and me and the kids – we weren't into that stuff." Ryo's tone was also uneasy, having the same thoughts as Aiden. The barrier wasn't merely time; it was geographic.

"Oh." A silence. "What about symphonies? Every country and culture has symphonies and concerts of its classical heritage. Maybe you've listened to traditional Japanese music? Or have you been to a kabuki performance?"

"Actually, yes! I have been to a kabuki, and I have listened to traditional music. When Hikaru and Bana-chan were in high school, they took art classes and had to attend some of the classics. Sage also plays a flute, and I've listened to him a few times."

"Good! Did you enjoy those?"

"Yeah, they were alright. We usually rented movies, though. Sometimes, we went to the theater."

"Ah."

Ryo sighed, "I know we're completely different. You were raised in a great big mansion with servants, and I grew up by myself in a small home in the woods and mountains."

"You were surrounded by nature all your life?"

"For the first part of it, yeah."

"I love nature! I love hiking through the fields and watching the birds and listening to the wildlife. When there are clouds overhead… and witnessing the fog descend into the valleys. At home, I only have Wordsworth, but that poet cannot capture the actual experience of nature."

"Isn't it amazing? Whenever it rained, I felt lazy and listened to the storm. The sound of the raindrops and the thunder – they seem to fill everything."

"I camped out in a storm once. Scared my mother and sister half to death, but I loved it. Then, I ran barefoot through all the large puddles."

"Did you swim in a stream?"

"Of course!"

"Me too! Dive in a slowly rushing stream and figure out where it'll take you."

*****

Sai and Seito over the phone. Sai was speaking, "I've been thinking about motorcycles. I think I'd like to ride one."

"Really?"

"Yes, I used to have a similar vehicle in 1991. A bulky white thing."

"Would you like to ride mine sometime later? There's not much difference in how to ride them."

"Sure! Thanks!"

"Maybe we can go surfing next spring or summer?"

"I'd love that too! I haven't been surfing in… in… in 1993. Oh, I need a surfboard. I need a job. I need a lot of things, and I feel like I'm asking for too much."

"Don't worry, Sai. Until you're able to actually get back on your feet, we'll do what we can to make you guys feel comfortable. I don't mind getting you a surfboard, and I don't mind you riding my bike as long as you don't steal it."

They both laughed.

*****

Sage spoke to Reiji over the phone, "It's strange, but we now crave material objects. At first, food and shelter were our main concern, but we now have a possessive urge to obtain things. Nothing too big, however. Rowen wants a notebook for writing, Ryo wants a soccer ball, and even Sai is feeling somewhat possessive. Even I miss having my flute and training sword."

Silence on the other end.

Sage asked Reiji, "How are your classes?"

"They are well. I am a successful student."

Anyone who listened knew Sage was smiling. "Good. I am proud. I had also majored in art while I attended a college in Miyagi prefecture. I wish I had my flute. Tori and Lena are good people, but living here, not knowing what to do with my new life, is stressful, and the music would soothe me more than meditation."

Cold silence.

"Reiji?"

"Yes?"

"Have you also learned to play the flute?"

"Yes. I was taught at an early age to soothe my own feelings."

Another silence as Sage frowned in consternation and considered more questions to spark a bright response. His great-grandson's tone was too neutral and non-committal. "Reiji, you are the eldest in line to inherit the dojo. You must feel honored to be the one who can continue the family legacy. I remember how I honored I felt when I had inherited the dojo… but I digress. I want to hear about you."

"The dojo is my home."

"Good! As it should be!"

Again, silence. Sage sighed, "Well, I suppose I must leave now. I would enjoy more conversations with you. Good-bye."

"Good-bye."

*****

On a completely different day, Sai, Rowen, and Ryo waited on the couch for a commercial break to end. Rowen muted the channel. Then, they heard Tori and their Kento discussing Zaji's walking ability and potty-training in another room.

Sai commented, "It's kinda strange how well Tori and our Kento get along."

Rowen felt miserable. 'They're obsessed with families. What about a professional career? Colleges have daycare centers now. I should mention that to Tori. That could be an incentive to further his own education.'

Suddenly, the two voices grew louder as Kento and Tori entered the living room. Kento was pleading with him, "Aw, c'mon, Yuli would know everything by now! You said he's kept track of all our grandchildren and great-grandchildren."

Tori wailed, "As best as he could! Six kids are a lot."

"I'll be very quiet so he won't know we're here, and the others'll be quiet too. C'mon, I have 35 years missing here! That's a generation and a half's worth of family I'm missing!" He clasped his hands together in a praying beggar-like manner.

Tori sighed, "Alright."

"Thanks!" Kento ran off to get several sheets of paper.

When he returned, Ryo told them, "Sage is in the park, trying to find a quiet place to meditate. I don't know how long he'll be gone, but I thought you should know."

Kento wrote down dozens of names on the papers as Tori dialed the phone number. "Yamano-san! Hi, it's me, Tori Hashiba."

"Good afternoon, Tori. It's nice to hear from you."

The original warriors stared at the phone in shock. They heard an old man's voice. Ryo clasped his hands over his mouth.

"Well, Yamano-san, I was wondering about Kento-kun's family. Kento-kun's like a brother to me, and I want to make a family tree about him, and I think you know more than he does."

Yuli sighed, "I wish he would also start taking an interest in these things. Well, how far back would you want to go?"

"Back to Kento-sama, please. Kento-sama is… he's at the beginning."

"Lemme look through my calendar and other files. I know he has 22 grandchildren."

Tori stared at Kento-sama in alarm. Kento shrugged, grinning. The final tally ended as six kids, 22 grandkids, and 55 great-grandkids. There was undoubtedly more, but Yuli lost track of the descendents who left Japan. Kento's only biological child traveled all over the world, and not even he could keep track of her. Also, one of his adopted sons had moved to Australia.

*****

The few conversations Rowen and Tori did have were brief. "Did you know yout grandfather Mateo attended and later taught at the same college as I did?"

"No, but that's really cool." Tori focused intently on Rowen's words.

"Your father attended a more prestigious university and earned one of the best scholarships. I've always considered myself fortunate to have been there for that."

Tori grinned, excited at this little story.

"And I was told you were able to skip the entire freshmen year!"

Tori's grin widened. He was almost beaming. "That's how I met Lena. We took the same level classes. We were also in clubs together."

"Yes, I noticed she's a year older than you. I was wondering which scholarship you earned. I thought a literature scholarship since you write stories, but I noticed your chemistry set and your subscription to numerous astrological magazines, and I realized it could easily be a scholarship dealing with one of the chemistry fields or even physics."

"I got a basic general scholarship. There were way too many things for me to choose from."

"Oh. Unless scholarships have changed, a basic scholarship only pays for freshmen and sophomore level classes, and not much money at that."

"Yeah. Well, it could have paid for junior level classes since for me, first year and sophomore were the same thing, but you're right that it doesn't pay much. If I stayed in college, I would have eventually had to get a more specific scholarship tied to a major, and there was so many different majors I got a headache looking through all my options."

"Tori, perseverance is the key to getting what you want. The easy decisions are not always beneficial, and sometimes what is truly worth considering requires a great deal of time and mental energy."

Tori nodded. "In the end, my two choices came to staying in college or getting married. I figured if I married Lena, I'd have to drop out of college 'cause Lena knew what she was doing with her courses, but that was also a difficult decision."

On another occasion, Rowen noted the numerous books that arrived for Toriyama in the mail and commented, "The study of history is meant to improve a person – to learn from the mistakes of the past, to increase one's knowledge of humanity, and to learn how things came to be. I'm proud you've chosen to study these topics."

"Thanks. I think they're great."

"…do you agree with this reason why people should study history?"

Tori nodded, smiling.

Rowen frowned somberly, uncertain of how to interpret the response. "History can tell a man who he is and can give a man a sense of direction."

"That's cool." Feeling guilty at Rowen's expression, Tori added, "I know it's because of you and your actions with the armors that I am a Ronin Warrior today. You're a part of history now, Rowen."

The blue-haired man felt frustrated and let topic end peacefully. Although Tori displayed great intelligence when he wanted to, he often acted more like an immature little kid than a 21-year-old with an endless litany of "Did you know -"

Life was crowded in the household of Tori and Lena Hashiba. When Tori decided to grocery-shop one day, Rowen wanted to accompany him alone. Tori was excited to have Rowen with him. For nearly his entire life, Tori idolized Rowen as both an inspiration and as a loving ancestor. In fact, until he received his armor, he felt that Rowen was all he had in life.

"I am proud of you, Tori," said Rowen as Tori looked at the cereals.

Tori glanced away from a cereal box he was holding to say, "Thanks!" He smiled, beaming happily. Because of how crowded life had become in the new Hashiba household, he never had a chance to spend time with his former armor spirit.

"You are very intelligent, and you certainly know how to use your wisdom in battle. I made certain of that."

Tori continued to smile. He set the cereal box back on the shelf. There were better brands.

"Have you considered using your wisdom for other activities?"

Tori's smile dropped. He suddenly detected something in Rowen's tone beyond mere compliments or interest. "I don't do anything stupid."

"I never said that, but we need to think of all your talents. You are skilled in history, military strategy, ancient literature, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering… You have continued to study all of these in journals, books, and documentaries, but you never apply these in your daily life."

"Yeah." Tori knew then that Rowen had a direct purpose in mind for their conversation.

Rowen and Tori had been alternating; sometimes Rowen was behind Tori and sometimes by his side. Right now, Rowen was close by him. "Have you thought of what you can do?"

"Not really."

They went down to the adjacent pasta aisle. Rowen fell behind Tori again. Tori glanced at a few brands and types. Then, he pulled out a box of giant shell pasta and examined the ingredients. "Did you know that in 2041, several laws were passed in many countries that made certain pastas illegal? It was because of environmental legislation and the eggs used to make the pasta. Only chicken eggs are legal in those countries, but people began to experiment with different types of eggs…"

Tori stopped, seeing Rowen's expression. His expression was analytical and impassive. Tori had the distinct impression that Rowen was scrutinizing him and strategizing the entire conversation. It made him feel very uncomfortable. He set a few boxes of pasta in the cart and resumed down the aisle.

Rowen hurried to be right next to him. "I am very concerned about you and about your knowledge not being applied."

Tori clenched the handle on the cart. Rowen wanted something specific and what determined to get what he wanted. Tori had simply wished for a pleasant visit. His armor spirit was not pleased with his heir's life.

"I am also concerned about Zaji and the example this is setting for him."

Tori rolled his eyes upward. Outrage and mournfulness came simultaneously. How could Rowen use Zaji in this discussion? A few weeks earlier, Tori had placed Zaji in Rowen's lap. Since being orphaned at the age of six, Tori had cherished Rowen as the sole family member and loving influence in his life; he wanted Rowen and Zaji to have a similar relationship. Unfortunately, when he placed Zaji in Rowen's lap, Rowen freaked out and all but shoved him to the ground. Whenever Zaji tried to show Rowen a new toy, Rowen was often irritated and disinterested. At least Sage was always respectful to the toddler; even though Sage never interacted much with Zaji, he always spoke respectfully with the same tone he used for everyone else. Tori now came to think that Rowen hated his family.

Rowen said, "If Zaji sees you applying your knowledge in a constructive manner, He will learn to apply his own knowledge."

"Please, let's not talk about Zaji, okay?"

"Very well."

Tori sighed. He pushed the cart closer to the cold beverage section. He needed more chocolate milk. He reached for a jug, but Rowen asked:

"I think you should select something else."

Tori scowled. So, this was it. Rowen was trying to control his life in every form possible. Rowen was trying to manipulate him.

Kento-sama's messages on his namesake's answering machine:

"Hey, how's everything going? Everything's going great over here. Tori's teaching us how to use the new computers. Did you know Tori's cooking is awesome?! I wonder who taught him how to cook. Heh. You don't have to answer that. I had already asked him. You're an awesome teacher."

A few days later with no reply. "Hey, how's everything going? How're all of your classes? Everyone tells me you're pretty busy. What classes are you taking? I couldn't handle the heavy workload. Well, I can't think of much to say. Call back soon!"

A few more days after that. "Hi! It's me wanting to talk again. I wish I could go back to Yokohama. I love Tori's place, but Yokohama…" A sigh. "We're all feeling pretty homesick right now. I bet you miss your home too. Did you know I went to a college in the United States? I went there for the easy classes, but, man, was I homesick! Well, call back soon. I'd love to hear from you."

A week after that. "Hey, what's going on? How come I haven't heard from you? I know you're busy, but you could at least call during lunch or on your way to another class. Aiden's also busy, but he manages to call Ryo while he's on his way to another building. They only talk 'bout three minutes and don't say much, but at least Ryo knows Aiden's thinking about him."

*****

Tori's message on the answering machine, "Um, hi, Kento. Haven't heard from you in a while and wondering how you're doing. I got another story published. I don't think Rowen liked it. He always wants me to watch baseball with him. Did you know professional baseball players have to be on a college baseball team first? Rowen's favorite team is Hanshin. He likes to insult the Kyodai team. I'm not sure why… I'm glad our armor spirits have come back. Zaji is always running all over the house, and they catch him before he gets into trouble. Zaji talks too fast for any of us to understand him, but I can tell it's intelligent babble."

At this point, Kento-kun picked up the phone, "Hi, Tori."

"Hi, Kento!"

"You say Zaji's pretty smart?"

"Yup! He loves pointing out all the names of the things he sees. A day or so ago, he grabbed a trinket box and started explaining all the symbols and shapes and patterns. I guess he knew this stuff all along, but he couldn't tell us what he knew 'cause he wasn't able to speak or walk properly. Oh, hey, there's someone who wants to speak with you."

And then, Kento-sama's voice was heard over the phone, "Hey, what's up?"

His namesake stuttered, "Well, uh, ah… Nothing much is going on at all."

"Even with all that class work? I keep hearing that you like to be busy."

"An education is very important to a person's success."

Kento-sama chuckled, "It's strange. You sounded just like Rowen there. Actually, you sounded like someone else I know…"

"Well, I was studying when Tori called. He wanted to talk about Zaji."

"Yeah, the little tyke's certainly keeping my friends busy. Taking care of him is nothing, though, compared to having six kids of my own. Kousei and me thought about having more, but Jari was twelve years older than our youngest, and we didn't like the idea of a bigger age gap."

"Um… well, I need to get back to studying. I have a test next week, and –"

"Hey, it's Monday! Can you study later? I've been waiting weeks to talk to you."

"Well… keeping up with all these grades is difficult. I don't even talk to Tori that much."

Kento-sama sighed, "Alright. Have fun!"

And then, Kento-kun hung up the phone in disbelief. Did his great-grandfather really try to convince him to slack off on his education? Then, he thought with strange amusement: Did his grandmother really want to marry into the Rei Faun family?

*****

"Tori, you do have a great mind and a brilliant intellect, but I do not see it being applied to its fullest, and I am worried about this."

"Rowen, I do apply my intellect. Remember how I discovered all the sealed points of power in our first adventure and how I helped out Kento-kun? Also, remember that I discovered that mirrors were being used as weapons to deflect our attacks, and that I knew exactly how to counter them?"

Rowen frowned. All those applications involved his duties as a Ronin Warrior. Nothing for himself. "You need to start thinking more about yourself. Think about what your parents would have wanted. I doubt they would have wanted you to waste your talents."

Tori's jaw dropped. He immediately appeared ready to cry. His life as he viewed it was not a waste, yet Rowen who he admired and cherished throughout his life certainly seemed to think so.

----------------

Irritated that Sage mentioned the three things he hated most (the dojo, Miyagi prefecture, and the Date family), Reiji called Kento-kun. "Kento, have you stayed in contact with your armor spirit?"

"No, not really. He keeps leaving messages on my answering machine, but I've never called him back. A week ago, he used Tori to talk to me. I hung up as fast as I could."

"Kento-sama is your great-grandfather."

"We're not blood-related! My grandfather was adopted."

"Did your grandfather acknowledge Kento-sama as his father? Did your own father acknowledge him as his grandfather? If so, then you should acknowledge Kento-sama as your great-grandfather, your elder, and your superior. He is worthy of your respect."

"Reiji Date, shut up! You oughta speak for yourself. How can you tell me about respect when you hate your entire family history! You hate everything your family believes in. As for me, I'd rather just forget about them and let bygones be bygones."

An icy growl. "Because I fail and stumble in my duties does not mean you should abandon your duties entirely! Kento-sama is your great-grandfather, and he deserves your respect! I never ignored my great-grandfather."

Kento-kun sighed, defeated. "Alright, next time he calls, I'll talk to him."

Reiji felt better after that conversation.

*****

Aiden to Ryo over the phone, "Ryo, have you seen White Blaze recently?"

"No, have you?"

"No. I usually don't unless something strange is happening or unless he finds me strolling through a forest. I thought we might see him since you've returned. Oh, well. I'll probably see him when I return to the Hideosanada residence. He likes to stay there over the winter."

"I wonder if White Blaze knows we're even missing in the spirit world. He came by to visit us there a lot. If he comes and sees us missing –"

Aiden laughed, "He'll certainly be in for a surprise!"

Ryo also laughed. "I guess we'll need to keep on a lookout for him, then."

"You're right."

*****

The month following the conversation with Reiji was one of the worst in Kento-kun's life. He would listen to the answering machine and feel angry with his great-grandfather yet also guilty for that anger. The man hadn't really done anything wrong, after all. Then, he would pick up the phone to assuage his guilt and feel nauseated and furious all over again.

Kento-sama had said, "You have sisters! I remember you said you had an older sister and a twin sister. What's it like to be the youngest? What's it like to have a twin? I was the oldest in my family, and I didn't have a twin."

At which point, Kento-kun slammed the phone down into its holder. The phone rang again, and the answering machine picked up with his great-grandfather worrying, "What's wrong? Did something bad happen? Is everything alright?"

Those questions prompted Kento-kun to hate himself instead of the elder Kento. He couldn't understand why he loathed his great-grandfather. Then, he thought of Hardrock.

*****

Seito to Sai over the phone, "I can't believe Kento-kun is treating Kento-sama that way! I gave him a good talking-to a few days ago. I think everyone lectured him about his behavior. He acted like he had heard what I was saying before."

Sai replied, "Everyone's really worried about him."

"I don't know what's wrong with him. I know he's had some trouble with his family before, and he doesn't like being a Ronin Warrior, but he… I had talked him over with Aiden, and we both agree he held Kento-sama in high regard. They both have a strong sense of Justice, so I don't know what's wrong."

An awkward silence.

Seito sighed. "Well, Kento-kun'll prob'ly come over to visit before winter sets in. He always visits Tori, and I don't think he'll stop. I might stop by on my way to Hagi for winter."

*****

Sage to Reiji over the phone, "Tori has informed me that 'security days' do not exist near winter, so I can travel freely without identification. I wish to visit Miyagi prefecture before winter. Since everyone is returning home, I assume you will be traveling with Ashida."

"Yes, you are correct."

"Will your younger brother know who I am?"

"No."

"Good. Our identities must be kept secret. I will enjoy meeting your younger bother. After I have seen Miyagi, I shall return to the Hashiba residence."

"Tori or Aiden can pay for your ride until you meet me. Then, I shall pay for the remainder."

"Good. Now, we must find a place for us to meet."

*****

Kento paced across the living room. He lost his appetite. "I don't know how to get through to him. Maybe when he comes over here, but if he won't talk to me over the phone, I don't know if he'll talk to me here."

"I'm sorry," Tori said, cleaning the kitchen with Sai.

"It's not your fault. It's just –" Kento sighed. "When was the last time he talked with his family? I get the feeling that's not a good topic with him."

"Um, as far as I know, he hasn't seen them since high school, but I wouldn't know. He might talk to them, but he certainly doesn't talk about them."

Kento sighed again. "And nothing went wrong?" He had a good family, his son had a good family, and his grandson probably had a good family, so what was going wrong?

"Nope. Not as far as I know. He was angry at not getting the restaurant, but…"

"Has he been back to Yokohama?"

Tori winced. "He's been back once, but he hates that place. I doubt he'll want to return to Yokohama unless he absolutely has to."

"But his mother and older sister live there. Didn't you tell me his older sister got the restaurant?"

Tori shrugged. "Yeah, but… I doubt he'll ever visit. When I was worried 'bout whether or not to visit Kuroda-san, he told me its alright not to see him again 'cause he'll never return to Yokohama."

All the original warriors stopped in what they were doing and stared at him.

Tori said, "I was using an analogy. Two similar yet different circumstances…"

*****

Ryo to Aiden over the phone, "Would you mind if I visited you before you leave? Seito told us we wouldn't be able to talk to each other over the winter, and I'd really like see you again."

"I suppose that'll be fine. My brother's coming, and –"

"I'd like to meet him too!"

"Oh, okay."

*****

Hearing a knock on the door, Kento-kun hoped the person wasn't Katsuo. They had passed their exams in their Ronin Legend class, but that man wanted to know and understand more. "There's still next semester," Katsuo had said, "and if Rowen Hashiba didn't have to write and make everything so complicated… we'd only have two or three semesters. Let's be grateful he'd dead and not writing to make things more difficult for us."

Kento-kun left his half-packed suitcase and approached the door. "Who is it?"

"Reiji Date!"

Kento opened the door, letting his comrade enter. "Are you alright, Reiji? You look kinda sick."

"I have agreed to let Sage visit." He sat on the couch, leaned his head back, and ran his hands through his hair.

"And you're not too happy about that."

"He is ignorant of everything Japanese! He is ignorant of Sendai, of Miyagi prefecture, of his family…"

"Well, he went away in, um, 2045, wasn't it?"

Reiji glared. "His kind – his generation with their antique beliefs – is responsible for modern Miyagi."

"Have you wondered that maybe we were better Ronin Warriors before our armor spirits came back to life? I know I'm not being nice to Kento-sama, and you sounded downright volatile towards your family right there. Shouldn't you respect and obey your elders, Reiji?"

Reiji's glare deepened, his eyes resembling ice so densely-packed it could shatter. "As I had said, their generation is responsible for our troubles, and if I were to obey my grandparents' wishes, I would kill you for what you are."

Offended, Kento wanted to protest, 'I can't believe that. Your grandfather is your armor spirit's son.' Instead, he said, "Listen, I have to get ready to leave. Toriyama's expecting me, and I don't wanna let him down."