The Updates Continue... Here I present to you the reader Chapter 17... I'm pretty sure I didn't skimp on content...but what do I know. Feedback read, and always appreciated...Enjoy...

Well it looks Like Kyosukes travels continue.. Hard to believe that he seems to have survived his ocean voyage...but what now? Well lets just see... -DjTenki

legal jargon:

I do not own Oriemo or any characters related to light novels, manga, or anime...but I love the story so here we are...

Chapter 17: Where one Journey ends.. Another Journey begins...

(3 weeks later Coast of California...)

Port of San Fransisco...

Kyousuke:

Hot... Actually really hot that's what I was feeling as we passed under and enormous red bridges that I knew from geography was the Golden gate bridge. The weather in southern California was pretty hot this time of year and the breeze coming in off the ocean at my back didn't help at all. It was a hot steamy day here and it was going to be sure that I lost five pounds before I was done today... The sheer size of Golden Gate Bridge boggled my mind. It made the cargo vessel we were dragging behind us the Clandestine look like a toy, before I could admire it any further Salty spoke up...

"Hey Greenhorn get your shit together we got to get this tub over to pier thirty four go watch the anchor chains.." Salty said with a grin as he headed around to the starboard side of the ship to check the landing ropes. The last three weeks hadn't been nearly as tough as the first two. While Salty continued to bust my balls I could tell that it wasn't really anything personal so I just took it with a calm sense of duty.. We had kind of fallen into a good work relationship and I wasn't going to mess that up here at the end of the trip that was for sure..

Sure we rescued around six ship with the one behind us being by far the largest but for the most part I was getting the hang of the work and I felt faster and stronger because of it. I think my grandfather would be proud of me for sticking with the physical part of the training that Cliff had enforce on me at the start of the trip. I could tell that my arms and chest were getting bigger because my shirt's were starting to feel a bit tighter and dare I say I had a solid six pack now...

I also couldn't believe the amount of tan I had gotten I was probably darker than any ganguro girls you might see running around back home in Japan. I wondered just what Kirino, Kanako or Ayase might have thought seeing me the way I was now compared to when I left... I really didn't have time to worry about it as Captain Cliff sounded the horns to make the dock workers aware that we were moving the huge cargo vessel into position to get it docked. Yet again I could see two other Tug boats helping along the side of ship pushing it into place under some huge yellow cranes that obviously would be used to offload all those containers.

Once we had moved the ship into position I saw the huge ship send out metal cords along with huge chains that traveled the cords to the shore where machines were anchoring it to the dock. "Hey Greenhorn we got it into place pull those anchor pins and lets get this tug out of the way were done here.." I nodded pulled the lever that released the the pins with a grind and a click they cut loose and Cliff blew the horns to motion that we were pulling away further down the port... Whew that was crazy I'm glad that's over..

I turned around to look at the Clandestine as they were locking it down into place. I saw the cranes already moving out over the ship to pull cargo containers and trucks pulling up..I thought that was really quick obviously things over on this side of the world moved really fast.. I just hoped I could figure it out... I moved up front and sat down on the pile of anchor chains infront of the wheel house. Salty had remained at the bow of the ship watching where we were headed.. I continued to watch the many ships traveling around the port. Honestly I had never seen a port this busy in all of my life. We made our way further down the piers once we got quite a way down Cliff Blew the docking signal on the horns again and I got up to help bring us in.

We turned into a smaller Pier where a few other tugboats were docked up Pier Forty-four. Nice even number I'm hoping that's a good omen for my future journey.. Once I tossed the main rear anchor line to the dock worker I pulled the lever starting the wench and Salty did the same and we moved into shore to Park the Bulldog. It wasn't more than five minutes and I heard the engine shut off and Cliff come out of the wheel house. Art and Carl came up from below decks. "Well you bunch of reprobates did good this trip give me a little bit to go check in with the office and Ill have all your pays for ya. Stay put till I get back alright guys?" Cliff said with a huge grin on his face. We all nodded and took seats around the deck.

"Well Kyosuke did you enjoy your trip across the Pacific Ocean?" Carl asked. "Well Carl it was an experience that was for sure, I mean I wasn't sure what it would be like but yeah it was OK.." Carl smiled and laughed. "Well old Salty can be an asshat but really he means well, your the first Greenhorn we have had in a while that did the whole trip!" Art stated with a somewhat serious face as he looked at Salty then me. I raised an eyebrow at that... Huh so there are guys that quit midway through?" I thought...

"Sooo Kyosuke what do you plan to do now that you have made it to port?" Art asked. I sat there and thought about it.. Honestly now that I had arrived I had zero idea what I was going to do. I had planned out the beginning of my trip and so far things had turned out alright, but now that the job was over I wasn't sure where I would go.. "Well Art I don't know at the moment I think I'm going to look around this big city and see what it has to offer, I'll make due." I said trying to look more confident than I actually felt.

This whole time Salty was sitting across the way smoking a cigarette just listening to us.. "Oh yeah you going to see that sweet little thing in the picture you showed us Kyosuke? I bet shes going to be excited to see ya since you got that five o clock shadow, tan and all those muscles started!" Carl asked and both he and Carl laughed..

That hit home for me I could have lied and just shrugged it off but I wanted to be fair to this crew I at least owed them that. "No not really guys she is back where I came from, Here I do have a relative but I'm not sure where they are but I'll search for them I think when we leave here today." Carl frowned he could tell that something was bothering me. "Well sorry to hear that Kyosuke.. Chin up though man when you get home it'll be all the more reason for her to be excited!." he said with a grin. Oh shes going to be something alright..but excited is not what comes to mind.. as a feeling of intense dread fell over me thinking about Kirino back in Chiba.. "Aye Carl its true what they say absence makes the heart grow fonder..Right Salty?" Art said smirking at Salty.

Salty took the smoke out of his mouth, "You can go to hell Art, you know we don't talk about that.." His face was serious enough I didn't want to ask... Art just waved a hand at him and laughed.. "Well no matter what you do Kyosuke its been a hell of a time working with you and all three of us were glad to have you helping on deck." I grinned and looked at all three of them and all three nodded.. even salty... huh who would have thought that..

Right then Cliff walked back onto deck, "Alright guys we did four extra jobs so that four extra bonuses in your pay." He started handing out envelopes with our checks in them. we all got one but after he handed them out he turned to me. "Kyosuke, being the Greenhorn on the boat can be hell and you never complained, not once so me and the boys want to give a little extra you did a good job." Cliff smiled as he handed me an envelope and I looked inside and saw four one hundred dollar bills. I was shocked!

I didn't know what to think, "Well geez thanks guys I just wanted to do my part is all." I said. "Hey Kyosuke you did a fine ass job taking all my crap out here. I'd be happy to have you help me out anytime." everyone even Cliff just stood there looking over at Salty.. did he just call me by my name? He tossed his cigarette overboard and reached out a hand to shake mine.. I was so surprised I just stood there for a second before reaching out and taking his. "My real names Mike Sharp Kyosuke and its been good working with ya, take good care of yourself..." My mouth hung open as I shook Mikes hand. it was then he leaned in and whispered, "Just do me a favor Kyosuke, make sure to take that girly pink shirt of yours with ya OK?" With that comment , i was caught off guard and all I could do was scoffed at them all. They all started laughing at my surprised face. It figured he'd have to get one last jab in before I left.

With that the rest of the Crew disembarked waving a farewell to me and Cliff. I assumed that they all had ladies waiting on them to get home. It was then that Cliff and I walked off the boat. "Hey Kyosuke you going to be alright here man? I mean I can help ya find a place if you need one." I shook my head no. "I'm sure I can find my Uncle here in San Fransisco. Hes working as a movie set builder so I'm pretty sure I can find him."

Cliff smiled at me, "Well if you need work while your here the Bulldog will be home for about twelve months working in the port here so just drop by and well hire ya full time OK?" Wow that would be great if I need it but I need to find Uncle Kole first...

"I'll definitely keep that in mind Cliff, for now though Im going to go take a look around and try to find my uncle." "Suit yourself Kyosuke it was good to have you aboard, and I hope you find what it is your searching for. I'm sure its out there somewhere, Good Luck." and with that Cliff gave me a final wave and I stuffed my check and bonus in my bag..next to my pink shirt...sue me it smells like her.. I don't care if it seems weird!

I waved back as I shouldered my bag and headed up the pier to make the long walk to the security gate because I could see a bus stopping across the street. I was sure if I headed downtown that would be the place to start to find my uncle and possibly a place to stay...

Cliff:

Cliff watched as Kyosukes turned and walked away, it was hard to believe that someone so young could be so dedicated. It wasn't hard to know why. His friend Diasuke was a hard man but a fair man all the same. It was probably that reason alone that made Cliff want to help his life long friend. Lord only knew though what might happen if the little lady in Kyosukes picture ever found out where he was at.. Cliff shivered at the though. He had heard many a tail from Diasuke about his high maintenance daughter and she seemed to only have eyes for the Greenhorn.. speaking of which... time to make that call Cliff thought as he pulled out his cell phone...

"Hey its me..Yeah were here in San Fransisco now. Yes he made it just fine and seems to be a bit better than when we met in Japan... Hmmm really? Well you should be proud of him he took all of Mikes shit and never complained once. Hehe yeah really... The guys even offered up a little for his bonus you raised a good kid there Daisuke...

Yeah I have a small idea of where he is headed, he said something about his uncle and finding him... Oh really.. good to know. Well hes making his way up to the security gate right now. How's the golden haired little lady doing? Hmmmm I'm sorry to hear you and Yoshino are having a hard time there.. Yeah I'll keep tabs on him.. Six months right? Yeah I'll be here if you need me Diasuke... Sure... Yeah, that's what friends are for. I just hope he can settle his mind in that time.. I'm sure he will figure it out.. Yeah it might get bad if that happens.. Alright man sorry to have called you so late sleep well and call anytime.." Cliff shut his phone and took one final look at Kyosuke.. Well I did my part.. I just hope you do yours... it seems she is really missing you...

Kyosuke:

I was just about to the the security gate when a blue pick-up truck pulled up and parked. I was surprised as heck when the very person i was going to look for opened the door and got out with a big grin on his face. All I could do was shake my head as I made my way over to my uncle Kole Kosaka. "Well it looks like you survived an ass whoopin from the sea I guess Kyosuke. Welcome to San Fransisco son." All I could do was stand there.

"Uncle Kole? How in the hell did you find me? I was just about to go search for you.." I wondered if there were spy's out there.. I could only imagine the network my Father had, and yet again he was proving to me there really was no escaping him was there... great...

Well it wasn't all bad at least I would have to search all over the city to find my uncle Kole with no idea where to start. "Well as to how I found you.. I have my ways hehe." he said with a smirk.. "Why don't you give me your bag and well head back to my place and you can explain to me your very good reason as to why you just vanished from Chiba right?" my uncle said with a smile but I could tell it was one of his stern I want answer smiles... what have I gotten into here...

We left the port and drove out of downtown but oh man the traffic I couldn't believe how bad it was. After about thirty minutes we arrived at some apartments in a more suburban area of the city, uncle Kole and I talked all the way about everything from the trip over to how his job at the movie studio had been going. "So what kind of movie are you working on this time uncle Kole?" he smiled as his eye lit up he was a real movie junky back home.. "Ah its the next installment of the the secret agent Ritz.. and man they have been working us to death.." I was familiar with the title and it was a big hit back home as well.

"Wow that's crazy that's a pretty huge film man I am impressed!" he laughed as we pulled up to his place. It sort of reminded me of home back in Japan. two stories with what looked like a rock garden with a flower garden on the side. The paint looked old but you could tell it had a lived in feeling and in the distance I could see the ocean.. this is pretty nice...

Kole and I got out and he grabbed my bag and we headed inside his rental house and I sat down in the living room as he went to get us drinks.. As he came back and sat down he handed me a soda which I took gratefully. He took a drink and sat back and I knew then that the interrogation had started...

"Well I think its pretty obvious to me you must have had a good reason and I am almost sure it has to do with Kirino right?" he said with a frown. I raised my eyebrows.. did everyone know this secret but me? "Look Kyosuke before you say anything let me tell you a few things. First...yes all the adults in our family knew the secret about Kirino, it was your father who wanted it kept that way.. I never agreed with it, said they should have just told you all of it when you were very young so you could figure it out." his frown deepened as he took another drink of his soda..

"Second I would hope that you don't think to harshly of me and your aunt as well and your grandparents.. I mean we just had to respect the wishes of your father Kyosuke I mean they meant well. Your mother really wanted to let the cat out of the bag so many times... but she held it in somehow.." I looked at him with a stunned face we both knew mom couldn't keep a secret to save her life...so why did she in this case...

"Lastly Kyosuke I want to hear your thoughts on this whole thing.. What is it your feeling and I'd like to know where you stand on what you now know about Kirino and your thoughts on this situation.. Obviously you were mad enough to disappear but how are you know... You know I worried about you until today I was so glad to see you were alright man." he said with an exasperated sigh and started to drink again as he watched me..

Geez he just layed it all out there from the start. No how you doing? Glad your safe no I had no idea that you were lied to for the last 16 years of your life.. just boom and there it is...wow...

Well it is good to know that at least I wont have to retell the story for the most part... so I guess its fair since Uncle Kole is going to let me stay with him that he know whats up.. "Well I think you know that dad and mom told me the truth a few weeks back about who Kirino really is.. and I guess you know that some promises were made right..?" he nodded knowing full well what I was talking about..

"Well it really wasn't the fact that I had been lied to that to pissed me off Uncle Kole, no it was the fact that part of my grown life seemed to have been decided for me.. that's what really upset me and made me want to take off for a while..." he looked at me skeptically... "You know Kyosuke that's only part of it what are you not telling me?" geez now I remembered why I hated this guy sometimes..always the busy body...

"Alright alright. Its the fact that I started to have some unhealthy designs on Kirino before I knew we weren't related.. sick I know you don't have to tell me..I thought I was losing my mind over it.. I mean she was my sister.. deplorable I tell you.. and then its like hey just kidding shes your future wife?" I said exasperated. Uncle Kole eyebrows had disappeared from the shock..

"Hmm I can see where that defiantly would have thrown you for a loop..my god that's rough I had no idea you were wrestling with those feelings...but then there is the here and the now.. have you come to terms with it?" I sighed and shook my head.. I had come to terms with part of it.. but the thought of marrying Kirino still freaked me out...

"Honestly uncle Kole Ive come to terms with the fact that shes not my sister... but the whole shes my fiance? Well Im still working that out..." he nodded.. "Fair enough I guess... Well you have the run of the place consider my home your own. I have a sand training square out back and a dummy as well.. kitchens over there and you can use the room upstairs as your own." I smiled and he did as well. "Drop your stuff off up stairs and Ill meet you out back for a bit of training before dinner... oh I think you'll love the surprise too." he said with a laugh as he headed out the back sliding glass door... surprise?

I shrugged it away and took my stuff upstairs and dropped my bag on the bed.. I looked out the window and could see we were a street or to above and away from the ocean.. what a view.. I didn't want to keep uncle Kole waiting so I went back down stairs and outside to meet him on the training ground, it reminded me of grandpa's with one exception.. off in the distance and above the house was a huge digital billboard..and...great...just great...

Uncle Kole began laughing at the face I was making he knew exactly what I was thinking as he grinned at me.. "Yeah Yeah Kyosuke I know what your thinking.. How can this be real..but it is ha! Shes even more popular over here than back home and you get to see her everyday funny huh.. she wont let you forget her at all.."

The image was of Kirino in flashing set of Eternal Blue clothing strutting her modeling stuff and giving that oh so model smile.. Yep this was going to be a loooong six months and training just took on a whole new meaning.. I thought I had it handled.. I thought I was doing OK..but I think in the end I was wrong... I most certainly missed Kirino.. and it seems it only has gotten worse but no way I'll give uncle Kole the satisfaction, and as a matter of fact I think its time to work out some of this longing... as we both took up our stances.. "I'm not going easy on you Kyosuke even if you did work all day.." I smirked and stared up at the billboard one more time.. "Oh you need to pay for this little prank uncle Kole not funny man not funny." He laughed again as he began to rush me.. "Well... Welcome to San Francisco Kyosuke I'm sure it will be interesting your adventure here has just begun..."