A/N- Funny. I thought I already started this chapter. I finally beat Okami, as well! McKayla-chan told me everything I knew about Okami, and now I know EVERYTHING!! YYYYYAAAAYYY!!

Disclaimer- Okami~~~ it is not owned by me~~~! RA RAA RAAAA!! AND NIETHER ARE DA JAPANESE SONGS IN HERE!!! YEEEAAAHHHHYYYY!!!

"Is it true? Is it true?" Mai asked, grabbing Ai's arm.

"Eh? What?" Ai asked, although she already knew the answer.

"That your brother's case is being looked at by Detective Light?" Hana asked, taking Ai's other arm.

The eleven-year-looked down, then hesitantly nodded. Both girls began chattering loudly in her ears. Ai tried her best to ignore them.

It wasn't like they were trying to be mean. It was just that... that... no one except people who had lost family members really understood what she was going through. Mai and Hana just thought that it was a bad thing that her big brother was gone.

Ai wished they would understand.

She sighed. They kind of thought that life was like a game... carefree, innocent, and simple. But Ai knew that it wasn't quite that simple. It was not a game.

"Ne, Ai," Hana said, "Have fun on the train!"

See what Ai meant? All these two ever thought about was fun. Maybe... maybe if something bad happened to them, they would understand why she had been so... quiet, she supposed, for the past month or so. As Ai thought this, she gripped her arm tighter.

Her life hadn't been "easy" since Jin had disappeared. She was constantly questioned and annoyed and bothered. It seemed that people couldn't leave her alone.

Jin... her big brother. Her wonderful, sweet, patient, slightly perverted, piano-playing, rock-loving, tall big brother. The boy that had allowed her to bother him, that had always helped with homework, helped her get through the loss of their mother. He was... he was the greater brother a girl could hope for.

She looked forward, with a sudden renewed happiness that the train station was only about one hundred yards from her elementary school. She then stuffed her hands in her pockets, the early September chill already beginning to set in.

The young girl boarded the train, which was full of people. There wasn't a single place to sit down at, but Ai wasn't surprised. After all, Japan was a rather full place in the world.

Ai held on to a hook that hung from the cieling and slowly took out her iPod from her backpack. She quickly stuffed the buds into her ears and, almost immediately, Namida no Iro by ℃-ute began playing in her ears somewhat loudly.

Ai looked up into nothingness. "Color of Tears"... it was a somewhat fiting title. Even though it was a love song, it still was sad. It still made her miss Jin terribly. It still made her press the skip button because she didn't want to cry.

... and then Tokaikko Junjou came on.

Ai pouted at her iPod. She loved ℃-ute. She thought they were great. But they were starting to get on her nerves.

Ai skipped the song and came to HEART STATION, by Utada Hikaru. There was no way she could evade depressing songs, it seemed. Ai resigned herself to her fate and looked outside, watching the city speed by. Funny. When Utada did this video, it looked... like this.

On a day battered with unforgiving cold rain
There sits a couple who have reasoned everything out
In a car that now relies on the radio to pierce the silence

Well, at least it wasn't raining at that moment. Sure, it was overcast, but...

And something also bad? Jin was her big brother. What was with the "romantic" music?

There is no meaning to goodbye
Because if we were to meet again someday
Wouldn't that be just wonderful?

The train stopped and some people got off. Ai allowed other people to take a seat that could have easily been her own. She watched them silently as the words floated through her mind.

Utada's clear and beautiful voice pierced her very soul.

Were you able to hear my voice as I spoke?
The Heart Station broadcasting at one o'clock in the dead of night
Requires no tuning on the dial as it lies
On a secret frequency

Well, her iPod did seem to have a mind of its own now. And it was getting late.

Were the radio waves of my heart able to reach you?
It's broadcasting from the Heart Station of sinners
And only God knows
How much I miss you

Almost all of this was true. Was her love and great missing from her heart able to reach him? Every night she would send him a secret wish to come home. She had prayed for him every night, to the Shinto gods, to God, and to Buddha. Every night.

And no one knew how much she missed him except for the one above. God knew, but He wouldn't help the eleven-year-old.

Despite her trying, Ai felt a hot tear roll down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away, begging her eyes not to release any more water works until, at least, she was at home and on her bed where she could sob all that she liked and it wouldn't make a difference.

I can't go on without forgetting you,
That's how it seems at least... But why is it then
That only all the good memories of us remain?

Ai realized at the moment that Utada said it that she couldn't remember any bad times. She could only remember the times with Jin that were good. The times when he'd grin and pat her head. When he'd smile at her. The times when he would teach her notes on the piano.

She could only remember his warm smile.

Without a doubt, though I've separated from you, you're right here...
Right here at the center of my heart

Did Utada always know someone's soul like this? All of his or her pain? All of his or her hurt? Did Utada know?

Was she... some sort of angel, sent to help people with their problems? Because, to Ai, it was certainly feeling like it right then.

I felt like I heard your voice back there
Coming from the Heart Station that broadcasts at 1 in the night.
Wherever I am, there always seems to be
This beating of two pulses

Two pulses? Like knowing someone was alive... but not knowing where they truly were? A love that could transend space and time?

A love that felt like more than the feelings between a brother and sister? Like the bond between God and his children? The great love that one can't feel without knowing that the person is out there somewhere, smiling for you?

Because Ai now knew that feeling.

Were the radio signals of my heart able to get to you?
It broadcasts from the Heart Station of lovers
And tonight's requests also flood in with myriads of
"I Love You"

Lover? Um, no. It wasn't like that.

But... she did love Jin.

This voice of mine, were you able to hear it?
It's broadcasting in the small hours of the night from that Heart Station...
Even now, we are still connected
On this secret frequency

It just occured to Ai that her compartment was almost empty, except for her and one man. He was tall and wore a hood. But... but... that slight smile on his face, the simple slacks, the gray sweatshirt. It was all him. All... all...

Ai could only cover her mouth and allow the tears to start following. She managed out, "Ji... Jin..."

Were you able to receive these transmissions from my heart?
They come from the Heart Station of sinners
And only God knows.... this secret I keep.

The man stood up. It was obviously Jin, but... he was older. Like, mid-twenties. He pulled off his hood and gave her and awkward smile and wave. Ai merely stood there, staring at her older brother.

"Ai..." he said softly. "I guess... hey."

"How... how did you get older?" Ai began, trying to make her voice work again. "And... Jin... how did you get here?"

"I'm not the Jin of this time," he said, grabbing a hook. "I'm a different, Jin, I guess. I'm Jin from the future. I'm, uh, twenty-four there. So, that's like..." He scratched his head, frowning. "Like, almost ten years, right? Ugh, I'm not good at math and this is just addition..."

"What do you mean?" Ai asked.

"Well, I bombed math for three years straight in junior high and-" Future Jin began, but Ai cut him off.

"No, no, I meant how did you get here? Did they make time-traveling things? And where's the present you? Even Detective Light can't find you," Ai said, tugging on his sleeve, her large dark red (almost black) eyes pleading.

"I'm always impressed when I heard that Detective Light was looking for me," Jin stated.

"Stop screwing around!" Ai snapped. "You've been gone for more than a month and then you suddenly decide to show up from the future?! I have been sobbing my eyes out ever night, missing you like crazy and you don't care! Jin, just tell me where you are!"

Ai began sobbing into her older brother's arm, shaking. Jin brought his arm around the eleven-year-old and pulled her tightly to him. Ai sat there for a moment, clutching his sweatshirt tightly and keeping her eyes tightly shut.

"I'm in the past, Ai," he said softly. "I have to save the world."

"Why?" she asked. "Why... why do you of all people have to save the world, Jin?"

"Because... I know you won't believe what I am, Ai, but I need to tell you anyway," Jin said, taking a deep breath afterwords. "I'm not really your big brother. I wasn't born unto your dad. Or your mom. I'm... I'm the God of Time."

Ai stared into his shirt, unbelieving. The young adult chuckled softly. "I know. I didn't believe it until I could stop time, tell the future, see when people were born, when they'll die, and when I could see the future. When I found out that I could win."

"Do... you win?" Ai asked into him.

"In my time I do," Jin replied. "But it's split. I might win. I might lose. I come from a peaceful time, but... don't be too hopeful about the future."

For a moment, they were both silent. The only sounds that could be heard were the noises of the train, Jin's soft breathing, and occassional noises from the ear buds that Ai had taken out of her ears and were now hanging a centimeter above the ground.

"Who knows besides me?" Ai suddenly asked.

"Your dad," Jin answered, slowly letting go. "And... I don't mean to be mean or make you sob all night, every night, but... but... my wife's waiting for me at home. And, also, your stop is coming up. When you get off this bus, you'll be on another. Just get off that bus, it'll be at your stop."

Ai was confused, but nodded. He gently peeled her from him.

"I love you, Ai. You are the best fake little sister a guy could ask for," Jin said earnestly, hands on her shoulders.

Ai sniffed and nodded. "Jin... I'll miss you. But... in your time, you have a family, huh? A new family. All that stuff. So... can you please tell your family that I hope they're very happy. Really. No sarcasm or anything. Jin, be good to them..."

Jin nodded and the train stopped. He turned from Ai. "Yeah, I'll tell Yuuki that... G'bye."

And then he was gone, just like that.

Ai turned quickly and went out the other door, hasty in case it would close on her. It felt odd stepping back into the real world. Ironic, even. She pushed past the crowds, even while thinking this, and managed to get out the door onto her platform.

She hesitated before deciding to run home to ask her father if she was crazy, or if all this was true.


"What?" he asked, looking up from his work.

Ai sighed before repeating to her father, "Is Jin really my brother?"

Her father hesitated, pushed up his glasses, and said, rather loudly, "Go get Yume and Michiru. No, not you, Mr. Hayaru... my daughter. Yes. No. No, I need to go. I have to call you back. Yes. No, the online conference will happen tomorrow. Okay. Ai, go get your siblings."

Ai nodded quickly and left. Yume and Michiru were both on the couch, watching, as they did every time Michiru came home, Death Note. They both looked up at the same time. Ai pursed her lips, then bit the bottom one. Her father was serious about this, wasn't he?

"Um, Dad wants us," Ai said quickly.

"Seriously?" Michiru asked, sitting up while nibbling on some Pocky. "But I have to pack so I can get back to Tokyo, and we're almost to the part where L dies!"

"It's about Jin," Ai then said quietly. Michiru and Yume both stood up silently and followed her to their father's room. The middle-aged man was putting away his laptop when they walked in, and he quickly motioned for them to sit on his bed.

"Ai asked me something I thought I'd never hear out of her lips," he began hesitantly. "I wished it wouldn't come out of anyone's lips, actually. But... since it did, I guess I ought to tell you. Since Ai's old enough to ask, that means you're all old enough to hear."

"Hear what?" Michiru asked in confusion.

"Jin isn't related to any of us," Ai's father said softly. "Your mother found him when he was a baby."

"A baby?" Yume questioned, unbelieving.

"Yes. With Jin, there was a scroll... a very old scroll, it seemed. It told his story. Where he was born, when, everything..." Their father sighed. "After he was born, I started drilling the Shinto religion into you guys for a reason. I wanted you to know about his past."

"What do you mean?" Michiru asked blankly.

"Jin... his real name is unknown. He is most well-known by the name of Kouin."

"Father time," Yume repeated, seeming even more unbelieving than before. "Dad, you're being ridiculous. That's not real."

"Jin is a God," their father insisted. "Ai... you believe me, don't you?"

Ai looked up. Her silence was starting to be unnerving to the family. "Yes."

"What?!" Yume demanded, standing up. "Ai, how can you be so stupid?! None of this crap is true! Dad's just pulling our legs. I don't understand why you can go along with this idiotic thing... this... this thing that insults our memory of Jin! It's pure idiocy!"

Ai stood up and looked into her sister's eyes, and Yume saw that infinite pain. The look in her sister's eyes wasn't the same as two months ago. It was a look of pain, wisdom, understanding, hurt, guilt, and knowledge. Yume took a step back without even realizing it.

"Do you think that I'm an idiot?" Ai asked, her voice dreadfully calm. "Do you think Jin's an idiot? Because I saw him today. I can make him come to me if I really want it. You don't love him nearly as much as I do. And why? Because you still think he's a little boy who can barely take care of himself. But me... I know that he's a God. I know that he's watching patiently over me. I know what he is. I know who he is. Do you, Yume?"

Silence erupted from the room.


Ethan sat up, rubbing his head. What happened? Where was he? What was going on?

In a gutteral tongue that barely sounded like Japanese, he heard something say, "It woke up. What should we do with it?"

"His Majesty says it doesn't know what it is," another voice replied.

"It?" Ethan managed to question, trying hesitantly to stand up. He shook a little and sat back down. He felt very weak at the moment for some reason.

"Gah! It talks! What do we do?" The first one cried.

"Get an imp to tell King Lee!" The second answered quickly.

"Okay!" The first cried again.

King Lee...? Ethan thought dizzily. It sounded vaguely familiar to him. Did he know someone named Lee? Like, in his history class or something...?

"Say there," the second said to Ethan quickly. "Don't move."

Ethan suddenly had a great want to move around and bother the little... whatever it was. And didn't it mention an imp? Did they mean in ranks or... or... an actual imp? No, that was silly. There was no such thing as imps.

"I sent one!" The first voice said proudly, getting closer. His footsteps echoed loudly and a soft dripping came from somewhere. Were they, maybe, in some sort of cave of sorts?

"Where am I?" Ethan managed to ask.

The second and first replied at the same time. "The Moon Cave."

The first reacted first. "Ohhh nooo!! We weren't supposed to tell the prisoner that it's in the Moon Cave! We might as well have told it that it's in Shinshu Field, right near Kamiki Village and that King Lee is planning on bringing Orochi back and-"

A noise like a hand smacking a face reached Ethan's ears. "Don't tell it everything! I should kill you!"

The first voice wailed, "Nooooo!! Please!! I wanna livvvveee!"

Ethan listened to this blankly. He was a prisoner? In the Moon Cave? In Shinshu Field? Near Kamiki Village? King Lee was planning on bringing back Orochi? Okay, Ethan was no expert or anything but this sounded a lot like those old myths that his dad told him.

Could he be... in the past?!

A/N- DUN DUN DUUUUNNNN!! Also, happy more than 40,000 words! 3 This'll be my longest story when I'm finished with it.