Chapter 1: Modern Day Ninja
*Brackets() are used when a person is speaking in a different language, in this case, Japanese.*
In the city of Dorado Bay, people were living their normal lives. Crowds were walking down the street minding their own business when a SUV came speeding around the corner. Inside of the SUV was a middle aged man driving the vehicle. The man looked in the rearview mirror and saw a blonde haired girl sitting in the very back watching over someone.
"How's he doing?" The man asked the girl.
"He's still bleeding," The girl said as she continued pressing a rag against an unconscious boy's shoulder.
"I told Jun to have a spot ready," The man said to the girl.
"Good," The girl said as she looked towards the front of the vehicle.
"First we make sure he lives," The man said to the girl. "Then we'll take a look at that sword,"
The man quickly turned the SUV into an alley next to an antique shop and parked the car.
"Alright Beth let's get him inside," The man said as he walked around to the back of the SUV and opened the back door.
Beth crawled out the back door and began helping the man pull the injured boy out of the car.
"Easy," The man said to Beth as the two of them pulled the boy out.
A door to the antique shop suddenly came open. A girl poked her head out and saw Beth helping the man carry the boy.
"What is that guy wearing?" The girl said in confusion.
"Some kind of gi, but he needs help fast," The man said to the girl.
"Don't worry dad, I have a place ready in the back," The girl told her father.
"Thanks sweetie," The man said to his daughter as he and Beth walked inside.
The man sat the boy down on a table and began putting pressure on the bloody rag covering the boy's wound.
"Where's the first-aid kit?" The man asked Beth and his daughter.
"Right here Mr. Hitoshi," Beth said as she grabbed a box off the desk behind her.
Beth handed the first-aid kit to Mr. Hitoshi and watched as he quickly opened it.
"Let me handle this," Mr. Hitoshi said to the girls.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Jun asked her father.
"Yes, I can do this on my own," Mr. Hitoshi said as he began cleaning the wound with peroxide.
"Alright, we'll be up front if you need us," Beth said as she and Jun walked out of the room.
Beth closed the door behind her and sighed.
"What's wrong with you?" Jun asked Beth as she sat down behind the counter.
"I wonder why someone like him was out on the beach," Beth said to Jun.
"Who knows," Jun said as she pulled out her phone. "We'll have to wait until he wakes up to find out,"
"Yeah, that's true," Beth said as she sat down in a chair against the wall.
Beth pulled out her phone and looked down at the time.
"You should go wash your hands," Jun said to Beth as she noticed the blood on Beth's hands.
Beth looked down at her hands and gasped when she saw the dried blood on her.
"I'll be right back," Beth said as she got up and walked away.
Jun turned her attention back to her phone as she began giggling.
"I'm surprised she could handle seeing a little bit of blood," Jun said to herself as she continued browsing on her phone.
Out in a foggy area, a teenaged boy was standing out in the middle of the fog looking around in confusion. The boy turned around and saw a shadowy figure walking towards him. The boy reached for his sword and gasped when he noticed it was gone.
"(Who's there?)" The boy said to the shadowy figure.
"(Jirou, it's me,)" An old man said as he stepped out of the fog.
"(Grandfather, how're you still here?)" Jirou asked his grandfather.
"(I'm not, I'm only in your heart,)" Jirou's grandfather told him.
"(Then where are we?)" Jirou asked his grandfather.
"(Somewhere you must not be,)" Jirou's grandfather told him. "(Norio has been released from his prison,)"
"(No, that's impossible!)" Jirou said in disbelief.
"(That means you're also free,)" His grandfather told him.
"(But, where am I?)" Jirou asked his grandfather.
"(You need to wake up to find out,)" His grandfather said as he began backing away into the fog.
"(Grandfather, don't leave me again!)" Jirou shouted as he began running towards his grandfather.
A bright light flashed in Jirou's eyes causing him to scream loudly. Jirou instantly leaned up in a bed as he screamed. Jirou placed his hand over his right shoulder and cringed in pain.
"(What's this?)" Jirou said in confusion as he saw the large bandage covering his shoulder.
Mr. Hitoshi hurried into the room and gasped when he saw Jirou sitting up in the bed.
"You're awake already?" Mr. Hitoshi said in amazement.
Jirou looked over and saw Mr. Hitoshi approaching him. Jirou jumped out of the bed and quickly wrapped his arms around Mr. Hitoshi's neck and began choking him.
"(Where am I?)" Jirou asked Mr. Hitoshi.
"You can't speak English?" Mr. Hitoshi said as he struggled to speak.
"(Who are you?)" Jirou asked Mr. Hitoshi.
"(My name is Hitoshi,)" Mr. Hitoshi said to Jirou as Jirou continued holding him tightly.
"(Where are my people?)" Jirou asked Mr. Hitoshi as he slowly began squeezing tighter.
"(I don't know,)" Mr. Hitoshi told Jirou. "(A worker found you on the beach,)"
Jirou let go of Mr. Hitoshi and backed away from him as he gasped for air. Jun and Beth ran into the room and saw Mr. Hitoshi leaned over gasping.
"What happened in here?" Jun asked her father.
Jirou turned around and saw Jun and Beth standing behind him. Jirou grabbed a vase off the counter and hurled it at the girls. Beth screamed in horror as Jun pulled her out of the way causing the vase to smash against the wall. Jirou ran off out of the room and left the others.
"He's trying to escape," Jun said to her father.
"Come on, we can't let him leave," Mr. Hitoshi said to his daughter as he walked by her.
Jun and Beth followed Mr. Hitoshi downstairs to the front of the store. Beth walked through a doorway and saw Jirou standing at the front door.
"(What is this?)" Jirou said in confusion as he saw cars driving by outside.
Jirou looked over his shoulder and saw Beth approaching him. Jirou quickly threw a shuriken towards Beth as he turned around. Beth gasped as Jun stepped in front of her with an antique shield causing the shuriken to stick into it.
"(Settle down, we're not your enemies!)" Mr. Hitoshi shouted as he walked into the room.
"(What are these monsters outside?)" Jirou asked Mr. Hitoshi.
"(Wait you don't know what a car is?)" Mr. Hitoshi asked Jirou.
"(Car?)" Jirou said in confusion.
"Does he only speak Japanese?" Beth asked Mr. Hitoshi.
"Yeah, and I'm really starting to wonder where he came from," Mr. Hitoshi said to Beth.
"(What is your name?)" Jun asked Jirou.
"(Jirou Takayama,)" Jirou told Jun.
Jun's eyes widened as her father stepped forward towards Jirou.
"(Wait, you're a Takayama?)" Mr. Hitoshi asked Jirou.
"(Yes, from the Takayama ninja clan,)" Jirou informed Mr. Hitoshi.
"Dad, is he related to us?" Jun asked her father.
"Wait, what's going on here?" Beth asked Jun.
"This guy has the same last name as me and my father," Jun told Beth.
"(Jirou, I'm also a Takayama,)" Mr. Hitoshi told Jirou. "(So is my daughter, Jun,)"
Jirou's eyes widened in disbelief as he backed into the front door.
"(Where are my father and brother?)" Jirou asked Hitoshi.
"(Jirou, where were you before you fainted?)" Hitoshi asked Jirou.
"(Protecting my village from Norio and his soldiers,)" Jirou told Hitoshi.
"Jun, go find our family books and search for Norio," Hitoshi told his daughter.
"I'm on it," Jun said as she left the room.
"Who's Norio?" Beth asked Hitoshi.
"Norio is an ancestor of mine and Jun's," Hitoshi told Beth. "He became corrupted by a demon spirit and became a Demon King,"
Jun walked back into the room carrying four large books and sat them on the front desk.
"This is going to take forever to look through," Jun said as she began searching through one of the books.
"(I was sealed away along with Norio,)" Jirou said to Hitoshi.
"(If you were sealed away, then that means Norio is free now,)" Hitoshi said to Jirou.
"(I need to go make sure he's stopped then,)" Jirou said as he went to open the door.
"(No, don't go out!)" Hitoshi said as he reached for Jirou.
Jirou opened the door and stepped outside. Jirou looked down the street and saw a group of women walking into a store down the road.
"(What's going on?)" Jirou said in confusion as he saw traffic lights up the road.
"I found something," Jun said to her father.
"Good, what does it say?" Beth asked Jun.
"It says that Norio was sealed away 444 years ago," Jun said to her father and Beth.
"Then that means Jirou is over 450 years old," Hitoshi said to Beth and Jun.
"No way!" Beth said as she looked over at Jirou standing outside. "He looks so young!"
"That's because he's been sealed away with Norio for 444 years," Hitoshi told Beth. "I guess you don't age when sealed away,"
"Then what do we do with him?" Jun asked Hitoshi.
Hitoshi sighed as he rubbed the back of his head.
"I guess we'll have to keep him here," Hitoshi said to Jun. "He can't go out into the modern world on his own,"
Jirou walked back inside with an astonished look on his face.
"(Where am I?)" Jirou asked Hitoshi.
"(The year 2017,)" Hitoshi told Jirou. "(You were sealed away for over 400 years,)"
Jirou screamed as he grasped his head with his hands.
"(No, that can't be true!)" Jirou shouted as his eyes began watering.
"(I'm sorry,)" Hitoshi said to Jirou as he looked down.
Jirou fell to his knees and began crying.
"(Then my father and my brother are gone!)" Jirou shouted as he cried. "(And Kiyomi too!)"
Jirou punched the ground as he screamed in frustration. Beth walked up to Jirou and placed her hand on his shoulder. Jirou looked up and saw Beth standing above him.
"Don't worry, we're here for you," Beth said to Jirou.
In a dark room, Norio was lying on a table unconscious. Norio slowly opened his eyes and saw a bright light turn on above him. Norio placed a hand on his head as he leaned up in pain.
"(Where am I?)" Norio said in confusion.
A door across the room slowly came open and revealed a pointy eared alien in a top hat standing on the other side.
"I see you have awoken," The alien said as he walked into the room with his cane in hand.
"(Who the hell are you?)" Norio asked the alien as he stepped off the table.
"Ah, I see you don't understand me," The alien said to Norio.
"(Answer me!)" Norio shouted as he went to grab the alien.
"Watch it!" The alien shouted as he jumped back. "I'm the one who freed you!"
A feminine laugh was suddenly heard coming from outside of the room causing Norio to stop going after the alien.
"(Norio, it's been centuries since I last saw you,)" A white creature with a fox-like face said as she walked into the room.
"Madame Odius!" The alien said in astonishment.
"Let me handle this Cosmo," Madame Odius said to Cosmo as she walked up to Norio.
"(What's going on here?)" Norio asked Madame Odius.
"(You were freed from you seal by Cosmo,)" Madame Odius told Norio.
"(Then where are we?)" Norio asked Madame Odius.
"(On board Cosmo's ship,)" Madame Odius informed Norio. "(We're not the only Yokai on this ship either,)"
Norio gasped as Madame Odius turned away from him.
"(We've all been renamed though,)" Madame Odius told Norio. "(I now go by the name Madame Odius,)"
"(What is the reason for that?)" Norio asked Madame Odius.
"(Just to get us more easily acquainted with the modern world,)" Madame Odius told Norio. "(Many things have changed in 444 years,)"
Cosmo walked back into the room and looked over at Norio.
"I want you to teach him to speak this earth language like the rest of us," Cosmo told Madame Odius.
"He does speak an Earth language you fool," Madame Odius told Cosmo. "Just a different one than the one we use,"
"Then teach him this language," Cosmo told Madame Odius.
"I will, it will just take a few months to do so," Madame Odius told Cosmo as she walked by him.
Madame Odius walked up to the doorway and turned back towards Norio.
"(Cosmo wants you to now be known as Galvanax,)" Madame Odius said to Norio.
"Galvanax?" Norio said in confusion.
"(Yes, that will be your name for now own,)" Madame Odius said as she walked out of the room.
Norio screamed in anger as Cosmo closed the door.
"(I will not change my name because of a weak little yokai!)" Norio shouted angrily as he punched the wall.
Norio suddenly gasped as he backed away from the wall.
"(Wait, if I'm free, then that means that brat is as well!)" Norio said in astonishment.
Norio clenched his fist as he began snickering.
"(Once I'm free of this place, I will make sure the Takayama clan burns to the ground!)" Norio said to himself.
Later that night, Jun walked into the backroom and saw her father changing the bandage on Jirou's shoulder. Hitoshi placed the new bandage over Jirou's wound and stepped back away from him. Hitoshi turned around and saw Jun standing at the door behind him.
"Beth just left," Jun told her father.
"Well it is getting late," Hitoshi said as he looked over at an old clock on the wall.
"Yeah, I was about to head upstairs and get to bed," Jun said to her father.
"We need somewhere for Jirou to sleep too," Hitoshi said as Jirou rose from his seat.
"There are only two beds in the house," Jun informed her father.
"Oh I know," Hitoshi said as he chuckled. "I'll just sleep on the couch,"
"Alright old man," Jun said as she smiled and walked out of the room.
"(Jirou, follow me,)" Hitoshi said to Jirou as he headed towards the door.
Jirou followed Hitoshi out of the backroom and up the stairs in the next room. Hitoshi and Jirou came up to a living room once they reached the top of the stairs.
"(What is this?)" Jirou asked Hitoshi as he walked up to the TV.
"(We'll discuss that tomorrow,)" Hitoshi told Jirou as walked towards a hallway.
Jirou followed Hitoshi into the hall and watched Hitoshi open a door. Jirou walked up to the door and looked inside the room and saw a bed and a dresser inside.
"(You can sleep in my bed for now,)" Hitoshi said to Jirou.
Jirou walked up to the bed and slowly sat down on it.
"(It's very soft,)" Jirou said as he placed his hands on the bed. "(Much softer than mine,)"
Jirou slowly lied down as Hitoshi turned off the lights.
"(If you need anything, I'll be in the living room,)" Hitoshi said as he went to close the door.
Hitoshi quietly closed the door and left Jirou in his room. Jirou blankly stared up at the ceiling and sighed.
"(Norio is out there somewhere,)" Jirou said quietly to himself. "(But who broke the seal?)"
Jirou pulled the cover over his body and began dozing off to sleep. Out in the Living Room, Hitoshi walked back downstairs into the backroom. Hitoshi walked up to Jirou's sword lying on a table and picked it up.
"Whoa, this thing feels heavy!" Hitoshi said in amazement.
Hitoshi pulled the sword out of its sheath and gasped when he saw the shine on it.
"Incredible, it's in such a good condition!" Hitoshi said as he examined the sword.
Hitoshi ran his fingers over something on the blade that caught his attention.
"What's this?" Hitoshi said as he looked at the blade.
Japanese writing ran along the blade as Hitoshi continued feeling the blade.
"What could this stuff mean?" Hitoshi wondered.
Hitoshi began yawning as he put the sword back in its sheath.
"It'll have to wait until tomorrow though," Hitoshi said as he sat the sword back on the table.
Hitoshi walked over to a light switch and turned off the lights.
"I better get to bed so I can get up early," Hitoshi said as he left the room.
The next morning at the high school Beth was grabbing books out of her locker as the bell began ringing. A book fell out of her locker and caused her to groan in frustration. Beth knelt down and picked the book up off the floor.
"Ah, Geometry, it's always you," Beth said as she put her book back in her locker.
Beth closed her locker as two boys came walking up to her at her locker.
"Beth Tolbert is running late?" One of the boys said sarcastically.
"Hey Mason," Beth said as she walked by Mason and his friend.
"Just hey?" Mason said as he leaned against the lockers.
Beth stopped and turned towards the boys.
"Oh, you too Logan," Beth said as she smiled.
Beth turned back away and continued on down the hall.
"Thanks," Logan said as he waved while Beth walked away.
Mason elbowed Logan in the shoulder.
"What?" Logan said in confusion.
"Good luck with your exam!" Mason shouted to Beth down the hall.
Mason sighed as he turned around.
"What is it with her?" Mason asked Logan.
"She's just not into you," Logan told Mason.
"Bull crap," Mason said as he gently shoved Logan aside. "All the girls dig me,"
"Yeah, they sure do," Logan said as he rolled his eyes.
Mason looked up ahead and saw Jun walking towards him and Logan.
"What's up?" Mason asked Jun as she walked by.
"Eat trash," Jun said as she continued walking.
"Geez, what crawled up her pants?" Mason asked Logan.
"She's always grumpy," Logan told Mason.
"Come on let's get to class before Mr. Douglas gets unstable," Mason said as he walked away.
Logan began chuckling as he followed Mason down the hall.
Back at the antique shop, Hitoshi was polishing a vas as Jirou was sitting at a table reading a book. Hitoshi looked back at Jirou as he continued polishing the vas.
"I'm surprised that old English-Japanese dictionary is working," Hitoshi said to himself. "It's still going to be awhile before he gets used to being over 400 years in the future,"
Hitoshi sat the vas down on a stand and smiled as the sun's rays glared on it through the window.
"(Are you learning anything?)" Hitoshi asked Jirou.
Jirou nodded as he continued reading. Hitoshi picked up a feather duster off the nearby table and left the room as Jirou continued reading the book.
"Yes," Jirou said as he smiled and continued reading.
A bell at the door suddenly rung as the door came open. Jirou lowered the book and saw a delivery man carrying a box.
"I've got a package for Hitoshi Takayama," The delivery man said as he sat the box down on the counter.
"Eh?" Jirou said in confusion.
Jirou rose from his seat and silently walked into the back room.
"Hello?" The delivery man said in confusion as he waited for Jirou to return.
"(What is it?)" Hitoshi asked Jirou as he came through a door.
"(There's an odd man with a box out there,)" Jirou told Hitoshi.
Hitoshi walked past Jirou and walked into the front room.
"Hey, sorry about that," Hitoshi said to the delivery man.
"Is he shy or something?" The delivery man asked Hitoshi as Jirou walked back into the front room.
"No, he's just now learning how to speak English," Hitoshi told the delivery man as he signed a paper.
"Well, good luck with that," The delivery man said to Jirou as Hitoshi handed the clipboard back to him.
"Goodbye!" Jirou shouted as the delivery man exited the building.
Hitoshi turned towards Jirou and saw him waving.
"That was quick," Hitoshi said with an astounded look on his face.
Jirou sat back down at the front desk and went back to reading as Hitoshi chuckled.
"Maybe it won't take so long after all," Hitoshi said to himself.
On board Cosmo's ship, Norio was sitting in his room alone as the doors came open. Norio turned around and saw Madame Odius walk into the room with another monster right behind her. The monster moved in front of Madame Odius and gasped when he saw Norio.
"(Norio, it really is you!)" The monster said in disbelief.
"(You,)" Norio said as he rose to his feet.
"(Ripcon will assist you in learning about everything that has changed since you were sealed,)" Madame Odius said to Norio.
"(I will make sure you dominate this world as you did centuries ago,)" Ripcon said as he knelt down in front of Norio.
"(I have decided to use the name,)" Norio informed Madame Odius.
"(Ah, so you want to go by Galvanax now?)" Odius asked Norio.
"(That is correct,)" Norio said as he nodded.
"(I will not let you down Galvanax,)" Ripcon said as he bowed.
"(Then you better start teaching me everything,)" Galvanax said as he kicked Ripcon aside.
Ripcon jumped back to his feet and dusted off his coat.
"(With pleasure,)" Ripcon said as he nodded.
Madame Oidus began chuckling as Ripcon left the room with Galvanax.
"Once Galvanax is ready, we will go after what he was wanting centuries ago," Madame Odius said to herself as she left the room.
Back at the antique store, Jirou was still sitting at the front desk reading the English-Japanese dictionary as the front door came open. Jirou looked up and saw Beth and Jun walk inside.
"Goodbye!" Jirou said to the girls as he smiled.
"I think you got that backwards," Beth said as she giggled.
"At least he learned a word," Jun said as she tossed her bag onto a nearby table.
"Has he been reading that thing all day?" Beth asked Jun.
"He was reading it when I left for school this morning," Jun told Beth as she sat down.
"Let's see how much he has down," Beth said as she pulled out her phone.
Beth walked up to the front desk as she typed on her phone. Beth turned the phone towards Jirou and caught his attention.
"What're you doing?" Jun asked Beth.
"Dog!" Jirou said as he pointed at the image of a small brown puppy on Beth's phone.
Beth turned the phone towards Jun as she smirked.
"He still has a long way to go," Jun said as she crossed her legs.
"Oh, I forgot to ask you something," Beth said as she put her phone away and walked over to Jun.
"What?" Jun asked Beth.
"Did Mason seem weird to you today?" Beth asked Jun.
"He was as dense as he's ever been," Jun told Beth as she messed with her phone.
"Hi," Jirou said to himself as he continued reading.
Beth looked over at Jirou and chuckled.
"That's what you say when someone walks in here," Beth said to Jirou.
"And I bet he didn't understand a single word you just said to him," Jun said to Beth.
Hitoshi walked into the front room and saw that Jun and Beth were there.
"Hi," Jirou said to Hitoshi.
"Hey Jirou," Hitoshi said as he walked by him.
"What is it?" Jun asked her father.
"I wanted to talk to you about something I found last night," Hitoshi said to Jun.
"Alright?" Jun said in confusion as she rose from her seat.
"Come with me up stairs," Hitoshi said to Jun.
Beth sat down at the table as Jun followed her father up stairs. Beth looked over at Jirou and saw him reading the dictionary.
"He's a quick learner," Beth said as she smirked.
Beth's phone suddenly began ringing startling her. Beth answered the phone and put it up to her ear.
"Mom, what's going on?" Beth said as she rose from her seat.
Jirou lowered the book as he heard screaming coming from Beth's phone from across the room.
"Wait, slow down!" Beth said as her mother continued screaming through the phone.
Beth's eyes began watering as she continued listening to her mother over the phone.
"Mom, please don't do this," Beth said to her mother as she began crying.
Jirou rose from his seat and sat the dictionary aside.
"Please, don't kick him out!" Beth said to her mother. "I'm sure it was just an accident,"
Beth's mother continued screaming through the phone as Beth lowered the phone from her ear.
"I knew this was going to happen," Beth said as she hung up on her mother.
Beth began sobbing as tears ran from her eyes. Jirou walked up to Beth and hugged her. Beth suddenly gasped as she felt someone wrap their arms around her.
"What're you doing?" Beth said in confusion.
"It's okay," Jirou said slowly to Beth.
Beth pushed Jirou away as she sniffled.
"I don't need comfort right now," Beth told Jirou.
"Smile," Jirou said to Beth.
Beth looked up at Jirou and saw him smiling at her.
"What?" Beth said in confusion.
Beth suddenly stopped crying as she began giggling.
"Man, you really know how to cheer someone up," Beth said to Jirou as she wiped the tears from her face. "I bet you don't understand a single word I'm saying either,"
Beth walked back over to her seat and sat down.
"My parents have been fighting for the past few months," Beth said to Jirou as he stood in front of her. "Today mom finally snapped and kicked dad out,"
Beth looked out the front window and saw the sun setting in the distance.
"I never wanted this to happen," Beth told Jirou. "But some things just can't be prevented,"
"Smile," Jirou said to Beth.
Beth looked back over at Jirou and saw him smiling again.
"What is it with you and smiling?" Beth asked Jirou.
Jirou ran over to the front desk and grabbed his dictionary. He quickly opened the book and began going through the pages.
"Family still loves you," Jirou said slowly to Beth as he read from the dictionary.
Jirou looked back towards Beth and saw her beginning to crack up.
"Thanks Jirou," Beth said as she calmed down.
Upstairs in Hitoshi's living room, Jun was sitting by herself on the couch waiting for her father. Jun sighed as she leaned back in the couch as Hitoshi walked up holding Jirou's sword.
"What're you doing with Jirou's sword?" Jun asked her father.
"I was curious," Hitoshi said as he pulled the sword out of the sheath.
Hitoshi leaned over towards Jun and showed her the inscriptions on the blade.
"Look at this," Hitoshi said to Jun.
"What does it say?" Jun asked her father.
"I'm not sure, it's ancient," Hitoshi told Jun. "Jirou might know what it says, but I don't want him to know I've been messing with this,"
"Then go put it back," Jun said as she handed the sheath to her father. "We can discuss this some other time,"
"But this could be something huge!" Hitoshi said to his daughter.
"Is it worth having that sword shoved through your gut?" Jun asked her father. "Now go put that thing back before Jirou sees you with it,"
Hitoshi sighed as he took the sheath from Jun. Hitoshi placed the sword back in the sheath and walked away.
"Idiot," Jun said as she crossed her arms.
Laughter was suddenly heard coming from downstairs. Jun rose to her feet and quietly walked up to the stairs.
"What're those two doing?" Jun asked herself as she walked down the stairs.
Jun walked down into the front room and saw Beth helping Jirou with the dictionary.
"Have a nice day," Jirou said as he slowly read from the dictionary.
"Good job!" Beth said as she clapped her hands.
"What're you two doing?" Jun asked Beth and Jirou.
"I'm just helping him with his English," Beth told Jun.
Jun walked over to Beth and Jirou and sat down with them.
"My dad has gone insane since Jirou got here," Jun told Beth.
"What do you mean?" Beth asked Jun.
"Let's just say he's digging too deep," Jun said to Beth as she crossed her arms.
On board Cosmo's ship, Galvanax stormed into the control room with Ripcon and Madame Odius behind him. Cosmo jumped from his seat startled when he saw Galvanax walking towards him.
"What's going on?" Cosmo said in confusion.
"Galvanax is taking over," Madame Odius told Cosmo.
"You can't do that!" Cosmo said to Madame Odius.
"He can and he will," Ripcon said as he pulled out one of his swords. "Unless you want things to get rough,"
"No thank you; getting physical is not my style," Cosmo said as he slowly pushed Ripcon's sword away.
"Then step aside!" Ripcon shouted at Cosmo.
Cosmo gasped and quickly stepped away from his seat. Galvanax sat down in Cosmo's seat as he sighed in relief.
"Find the boy," Galvanax said slowly to everyone.
"What boy?" Cosmo asked Galvanax.
"The boy that was locked away with him," Madame Odius told Cosmo.
"Wait, was he important or something?" Cosmo asked Madame Odius.
"Yes, he possesses the key to the ultimate power," Ripcon told Cosmo.
Cosmo gulped nervously as he began sweating.
"You ditched the boy, didn't you?" Madame Odius asked Cosmo.
"I guess you could say that," Cosmo said as he chuckled.
Galvanax rose from his seat and grabbed Cosmo by the neck.
"Find the boy!" Galvanax shouted at Cosmo.
Galvanax tossed Cosmo and sent him crashing into a wall.
"It could take months to find him!" Cosmo said as he scurried to his feet.
"Then you better get to work before Galvanax does something worse than throwing you," Ripcon told Cosmo.
"Right on it!" Cosmo shouted as he ran over to one of the computers.
"(I will rule this planet just as I planned to do centuries ago,)" Galvanax said as he clenched his fist. "(Be prepared boy, I'm coming for you,)"
Out in front of her house, Beth was helping her father load boxes into his car. After Beth sat a box down in the back of the car, she noticed her brother moping up front. Beth walked up to the passenger window and looked inside at her brother.
"I'm going to miss you Gage," Beth said to her brother.
"Whatever," Gage said as he looked away.
"He's still mad," Beth's dad said as he closed the back door on the car.
Beth's father walked up to the front of the car and hugged Beth.
"I'm going to miss you most of all," Beth's father said to her.
"Bye daddy," Beth said as she hugged her father.
Beth's father got into the car as Beth looked over at a window and saw her mother staring outside.
"Take care of your mother for me," Beth's father said as he closed the door.
"I will, don't worry," Beth said to her father as he started the car.
"Bye sweetheart," Beth's father said as the car began backing away.
Beth waved goodbye to her father and brother as she watched them drive off into the distance.
"I need to get used to this," Beth said as her eyes began watering.
Beth quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and sniffled.
"I need to stay positive," Beth said to herself. "I still have my friends,"
Beth walked back to her house and walked inside.
"I'm sorry, but it had to be done," Beth's mother said to her.
"I know, but let's just try and move on," Beth said to her mother as she walked away.
Beth walked up the stairs and came up to a door. Beth opened the door and entered her bedroom. Beth walked up to her dresser and saw a picture of her and her father hanging on the wall.
"Here's to a good future," Beth said to herself as she looked at her reflection in her mirror.
Later that night at the antique shop, Hitoshi was sitting in his room holding Jirou's sword in his hands. Jirou entered the room and froze when he saw Hitoshi holding his sword. Hitoshi looked up at Jirou and rose to his feet.
"(It's a nice sword,)" Hitoshi said to Jirou.
"(It's one of a kind,)" Jirou told Hitoshi as Hitoshi pulled the sword out of its sheath.
"(Do you know what these inscriptions are?)" Hitoshi asked Jirou.
Jirou leaned in closer to the sword and saw the inscriptions along the blade.
"(I never noticed them before!)" Jirou said in astonishment.
Jirou took the sword from Hitoshi and began looking closer at the inscriptions.
"(It's ancient writing,)" Jirou said to Hitoshi. "(I can't read a single word,)"
"(Then I'll try and decipher it,)" Hitoshi said to Jirou.
Jirou looked up at Hitoshi and nodded.
"(Please do,)" Jirou said as he handed the sword back to Hitoshi. "(I want to know everything about my family,)"
"(Our family,)" Hitoshi said as he took the sword from Jirou.
Hitoshi placed the sword back in its sheath and walked over to the door.
"(Get some rest,)" Hitoshi said to Jirou. "(Tomorrow we'll both be busy studying,)"
Jirou sat down on the bed as Hitoshi closed the door behind him.
"(Grandfather, you're hiding something from me, I know it,)" Jirou said to himself as he lied down.
Jirou covered up in the cover and sighed as he stared up at the ceiling.
"(I still have family even today,)" Jirou said to himself. "(And friends too,)"
Jirou slowly closed his eyes and dozed off to sleep. Outside of the bedroom, Hitoshi walked down stairs to his office. Hitoshi sat the sword down on his desk and quickly walked over to a bookshelf.
"I hope I have a book that will help with this," Hitoshi said as he continued searching. "If not, then I might need to take a trip back to Japan,"
Hitoshi pulled a book off the shelf and opened it.
"Maybe this will work," Hitoshi said as he walked back to his desk.
Hitoshi sat down and pulled the sword out of its sheath.
"Alright, let's get started," Hitoshi said as he began reading the book.