A/n- Sorry it took so long to update. I have been really busy with work and school. Anyways thanks for waiting. Enjoy.

Chapter 3

I had managed to avoid Yuki's question by telling her "Just some old friends of mine." Then telling her I was tired and she should get sleep too. She nodded and laid back. A few hours later the plane landed.

We were in the taxi on the way to the hotel when I saw a poster of him. Immediately I felt down I guess Julia noticed because she decided to start a conversation.

"So Mickey, what are we going to do first?"

"I don't know, maybe we could go to Harajuku and shop first, then try and look everyone up." When we arrived at the hotel and had checked in, and unpacked we then headed for the popular shopping district in Tokyo. We went to a lot of shops and bought tons of stuff. Near the end of the trip I heard a very familiar voice.

"Mizuki-chan is that you? I would know that face anywhere."

"Ah, it's the monkey boy!" I had to laugh at Julia's old nickname for an old friend of mine it had been a long time.

"Nakatsu!! I can't believe it!"

I guess Nakatsu decided to ignore her comment but he did glare at Julia. "I haven't seen you since you left"

"I know it's been to long." I was starting to feel nostalgic.

"It has been, wait who is this?" He asked looking at Yuki.

I hesitated, I didn't know how to explain, "This is Yuki. She's my, my… daughter."

"Really congratulations, sorry I didn't know. It's nice to meet you, Yuki. How old are you?"

"She's 9 an a half. She is very shy around new people. She's…" I wasn't sure if I should tell him but I decided it was better sooner rather then later. "She's also the reason I left ten years ago." I looked down at the ground; I didn't have to look at him to know he was shocked. I waited for him to be able to say something.

"D-d-does he know?" I shook my head. He looked shocked again. "How about we go and get something to eat and then we can all talk."

"Okay, let's go" Julia said, as she ushered us into a noodle shop. I had almost forgotten that's he was even there. We all sat down, ordered and then ate our food in silence.

"Okay, so what happened? Why doesn't Sano know? Do you know how heartbroken and depressed he was when he found out!?" He was starting to raise his voice, so he paused took a deep breath and then he continued. "At first he thought that something bad had happened to you but then he called your parents and they said they had just talked to you and you were fine and told him not to worry. He was relieved but then stopped going to classes and then the coach threatened to kick him off the team. So he started going back to class but he wasn't into it. He almost didn't graduate it was so bad."

I was shocked in more ways then one. "I didn't know. I didn't know it was that bad. I also didn't know it was that he called, my parents never told me if I had known I would have talked to him." I was feeling pretty bad about what I had done if I had known I think I would have come sooner. "Nakatsu, are you still in touch with Sano?"

"Yes, I am. I still talk to most of the people we knew in high school. Maybe we could get together while you're here. Everyone still lives close by. Okay, now I want to know what happened."

I paused and looked at Julia I wasn't sure I wanted Yuki to hear this. We had finished eating.

Julia looked at me and nodded. Then said, "Hey, Yuki do you want to go exploring with me?" Yuki's face lit up and she nodded and then ran off.

I looked at Julia and mouthed 'Thank you', in response she smiled then she went after her. We knew each other very well. Then I took a very deep breath and told him EVERYTHING! The full reason I left, why it took so long to return and why I just now came back. "Then Julia convinced me it was way past time to tell him. So here we are today in Japan. Now all we have to do is track him down. So I or really we can tell him."

Nakatsu just stared at me, with his jaw hanging open. When he finally spoke he exclaimed "WOW, I never, ever thought that was the reason you left. I tried to talk to Sano a few times but whenever you came up he clammed up."

"Okay, let's change the subject. So what have you been doing, Mizuki?"

"I own a dog training and grooming shop. I am a professional animal trainer. Speaking of animals what happened to Yuujirou?"

"Umm…he… after you left he was really upset. When we graduated Sano kept him. Then about 4 years ago he got really sick. He's doing better now but he is old and kind of sickly. He met a female dog Sano also has one of the puppies, though she isn't a puppy anymore."

"Poor Yuujirou." I felt really bad for him I really want to see him now. "So, what do you do now? Did you ever accomplish your dream of playing professionally for Japan?"

"Well, I never did fulfill my dream of playing for the J league. My sophomore year of college I tore my ACL and MCL and had to have surgery. They told me if I ever played again and got injured I might not be so lucky. Meaning I might not be able to play again. I played for a few years after but I stopped after college. But now I coach a kids soccer team and, and I work at the school as a coach."

I was flabbergasted "You work at Osaka?" HE nodded. Then I had an idea. "Do you think Dr. Umeda is still on campus?" HE nodded again. "Then let's go right now."

We paid for our meals and went to find Julia and Yuki.

An hour later

We were standing in front of the very school I left ten years ago. And I couldn't have been happier. Then I headed off to a very familiar place. I knocked on the door.

"What do you guys want now can't I ever get have a break around here?" He didn't sound too happy oh well.

I walked in and he was sitting at his desk facing the window. I disguised my voice. "I came here to get some advice."

"What do I look like t…?" He stopped short because he had turned around. "Well look who it is."

I smiled at him. "Hello Dr. Umeda, How are you today?" He was the only one I had kept in touch with throughout the years.

"Well if it isn't Mizuki Ashiya. The girl who caused one of the biggest uproars in an all-boys school. You look the same your hair is longer, you didn't age much over the years, but you sure do act different and I'm guessing it's because of this one." He pointed to Yuki.

"Dr. Umeda, this is my daughter, Yuki. She is 9 and half years old."

"Ya know she looks a lot like her father." Nakatsu and Julia agreed with him. Yuki looked confused. She still didn't know why we were here. "Do you know where he is?" I shook my head and when I did I saw Nakatsu and he was grimacing. But the doctor had an all-knowing smile on his face.

"What…what am I missing? What is it?" Neither of them answered my questions. So I started to assume things. "Is he here?"

"No, not today at least." Nakatsu finally answered. "He sometimes assists the coach. And motivates the athletes."

What?!?! I had followed Sano Izumi's career after I left and he had stopped for a few months but after that he did really good better than ever. But never had I read that he would go back to his old school and bean assistant coach!

Now I just wanted to get out. Sure I wanted Yuki to meet her father but I don't think I would be ready to see him again right now.

So we said our farewells to Dr. Umeda and right before I left I decided I would do it just for old time's sake.

"Good bye Ash--!" whoosh. He couldn't get the rest out because I had glomped him. Hehehe. "So I see you haven't change after all. Come back and visit soon, ten years was to long."

I laughed, "I will, I promise." Then I ran to catch up with everyone. I bumped into Julia who had stopped. "Oh sorry… Why'd you stop?"

She didn't need to answer me because I followed her gaze. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised because every time you don't want to see someone they always tend to show up.

"Hey Nakatsu, what are you doing here?" HE couldn't see me because I was standing behind a pillar. But then I stepped out and his jaw dropped "Mizuki is that you?"

"Hey Sano it's been awhile." I chuckled to try to ease some of the tension. You could cut through it with a knife.

"Awhile? It's been ten years! And I never heard anything from you. I didn't get a phone call, letter not even an email."

I panicked and tried to hide behind Julia and Nakatsu. When Yuki spoke up.

"Mommy, who is this man and how do you know him?"

I think I saw Sano's jaw drop 3 feet.

A/n- I finally got this chapter finished! I kind of feel bad for Julia because I kind of forgot about her in this chapter .whoops. Anyways tell me what you think.