After the statues appeared, other things had risen to fight. Much like the clothes from the statues, skeletons with old military uniforms started to fight. Donn by this time had left. So had Lir and the twins, Conn and Fiacha.

"There's so many." Shin called out.

"Hold on, troopers." Aed yelled, "My father and brothers are going to try and seal Donn away. As soon as that happens, we will be able to stop fighting. We cannot let any of these beings disturb them."

Taking advantage of the room's height, Touma was able to shoot the beings trying to exit the room before they got to the door. The skeletons were starting to pile up against the door.

A white light flashed into the room. Fionnuala appeared, and used the white light to cause the skeletons to fall apart and the statues to stop. Naturally, Shin got defensive when she appeared and came to him.

"Sister, what are you doing here?" Aed asked.

"I have someone to apologize to. It would not be much of one if he is busy fighting." She said before turning to Shin, "Suiko, all the Samurai Troopers here, I must apologize for my actions. Had I known what Donn was planning, you would not have had to leave home. All I can do now is take you all out before my father seals the place."

"What's going to happen to you?" Seiji asked.

"For my punishment, I am leading the dead here to this room before going to Donn."

The room then started to fill up with water. As if on cue, the troopers swam down like before. The breath of air when they surfaced was refreshing from being underground.

"Why is it always water that gets us out of places?" Shu asked.

"Because if it was sand or rock, we'd all be stuck." Touma answered, laughing at the warrior of stone.

"Or in Touma's positioned, stoned." Seiji teased.

"Hey, I told you I did that once." He fought back, "So now that we're done here. Can we make like a book and skip to the ending?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ryo asked.

"In every story, the good guys never take a nine hour flight back home. They just end up there."

"Unfortunately Touma, we're not book characters, and we do have to take long flights home." Seiji said.

"Anyone think Lir is going to come back and send us home?" Shu asked, "Because I don't want to swim."

Bringing his hand to his face, Seiji sighed, "So much complaining."

"Let's just get out of the water." Ryo said.

The other four agreed. Shin brought his trident around to the back to make a jet steam to push everyone towards the Irish coast. They were met by Aed on the coast.

"So are we flying home?" Shu asked.

The younger man laughed, "No, you are home."

"Haha, yes!" Shu jumped in the air, "No long flights for us."

"Damn, that means I still have to get back to California." Touma mumbled, "No book ending for me."

"That's what you get for your dumb analogy." Seiji laughed.

"I can make sure you get home in a timely manner." Aed said, "Thank you all again for helping. It might not have been how you expected it, but keeping those things from interrupting my father helped greatly."

"It was an honor." Seiji said.

"Besides, I now know not to eat English food again." Shu added.

"You never complained about my mother's."

"Not to her face." Shu responded quietly. Shin refrained himself from punching his friend.

"Guys." Ryo interrupted.

"Well, I guess it is good bye for a while." Touma said.

After good-byes, and reminders of Seiji's wedding in a month, they broke off into three directions.

Not wanting to face the fire of the Maritime Agency yet, Shin stayed at the Date dojo in Sendai. He regretted it when Yayoi laid into Seiji and himself. She yelled at her brother for bringing Shin over, and Shin got slapped in the face.

"She took that well." Seiji said after his older sister left for her room.

"Not so much for my face. She knows how to hit." Shin said, rubbing his face, "And the beard didn't help."

"Why don't you call your mother? She's probably worried sick."

"Alright." Shin said, heading to the office.

His call with his sick mother was a long one, both of interest and disappointment. She told him that he could have called before taking off, but at the same time asked about London. When asked about what the Agency was going to say, Shin was quiet. He didn't know what was going to happen. He could come clean about what happened with the armors or say that he deserted for a few months. Either way, it wasn't going to be good.

When he and Seiji woke up in the morning, they were feeling the pains from fighting. They decided to eat breakfast outside in the sun with Satsuki. She was laughing at their every groans and moans from the day before.

"You two look like you both went through a blender."

Seiji glared at her, "Don't you have school today?"

"It's Saturday, and you should call Nasuti. Her birthday was yesterday." Satsuki smiled.

"Damn, it was." He looked at his watch, "I might still catch her in time."

Shin and Satsuki held her laugh.

"It's seven in the afternoon there." His sister said.

"Aren't you smart today?" he said, giving her a quick noogie.

"Hey!"

Shin and the younger sister sat in silence.

"Lilies and sushi." She said random.

"Huh?" Shin picked his head back up, "Oh, yeah, Seiji already told me."

"If you still like her, you better hurry and prove it. She has a date tonight with some doctor from Tokyo tonight."

Shin sighed, "I'm not going to interrupt her night, if that's what you're saying."

"Then you better go to the hospital and talk to her."

"Has she talked about me then?"

"No, not lately. She's been trying to play it off like it's nothing."

"Last night it wasn't nothing." Shin sighed.

"No, Grandfather's been hard on her for dating a sailor, when she could date someone who will take care of her."

"Is that what he said?"

"Yep." The eighteen year old sighed, "He's been so strict on Yayoi and Seiji about who to marry. This old fashioned family thing seems so silly to me."

Shin didn't have any words for her. His family wasn't as strict, but kept certain traditions alive. He was deep in thought until Satsuke brought him back.

"Shin?"

"Huh," he blushed, "Sorry. I was deep in thought."

"I asked if your family was as strict."

"No. My mother just wants me to marry someone and have grandkids to give her. As she gets older, she asks more. Heart problems and other stuff."

"Sad." Satsuki stood, "I better give you a haircut today."

"You don't have to."

"Hey, I have the cheapest prices in Sendai. Free."

Shin laughed, "Then I guess I have no choice."

The choice he picked wasn't the best. Satsuki had shaven his entire head bald, including the beard. Seiji had peeked into the washroom, wondering about the giggling, and even laughed himself as Shin was rubbing his bald head.

"Fell for one of Satsuki's tricks I see." He laughed, "Touma had it happen to him once."

Shin gave the blonde warrior a look.

"You two look like a yin and yang; Fluff ball and baldy." Satsuki teased.

Shin and Seiji both rolled their eyes.

"All right," Shin said, fixing his shirt, "I have to report to work and tell them I'm not a deserter."

"Good luck." Seiji gave him a sad smile.

Deciding to take his time to think, Shin walked. It was probably the longest hour walk he'd ever done. The spring heat was making him more nervous. It became worse when he saw the gate. Then he knew he was at his worse when the guards had him on his stomach, handcuffed, and a knee in the small of his back. He was in pain from being grabbed and yanked to the ground to complain about the handcuffs.

Shin felt like a little boy as he was yelled at by his commander. All his excuses went away.

"What do you have to say about yourself?"

Shin couldn't say anything. He didn't know what to say. He was about to lose rank and a job, possibly jail time.

"I don't have anything sir." He spoke softly.

"Well," the shorter man said, "We're going to have to put you in a cell for the night. I'll figure out what to do with you tomorrow."

"Yes sir." Shin said.

The holding cells were full of smugglers and arsonists. Shin felt uncomfortable being near them, knowing that if they found out who he was, he'd probably die. It slowly became a long sleepless night. The morning wasn't any better. He was taken out of the cell, only to be told to put his uniform on and see the commander.

"Sit Mori." The man said, "I called around for advice on what to do to you. I can take all rank and pay, and send you to prison. I can take all rank and find a shitty assignment further north. Or, after talking to an American commander, I can leave you with all rank and send you to Somalia for a U.N. Peacekeeping mission. You will be working with the Pakistani army."

He paused to let the choices sink in. Shin knew that he didn't want to go to jail. He would be disowned by his family. The other two choices were hard. He didn't know much about what was going on in Somalia, and cold weather was already horrible in Sendai during the winter.

"So I came to a conclusion." The short man spoke, "You're proficient in English and emergency aid enough to go help in Somalia. So then, you are hereby ordered to report to North Army Training Brigade here in Sendai for weapons training. You have two hours to report. Dismissed."

Shin walked out of the office with his new orders disappointed that his choice didn't matter. And weapons training? What was he getting into?

He met Ichiro at his locker. The other diver was happy to see him.

"Where are you going?" he asked as Shin was cleaning what was left of his locker.

"Weapons training and then Somalia."

"Ooh," Ichiro took a step back, "It was nice knowing you then."

"Why?" Shin frowned.

"Man, the news reported how nasty the fighting is over there. You might as well let your mother know that you won't be coming home."

"Thanks for being positive for me."

"No problem. Can I have your jacket? I ripped mine in training."

Shin glared at the other man, and then handed it over, "Enjoy."

"Thanks. Be careful over there."

"I'll try." Was it really as bad as Ichiro was making it out to be?

Shin met with the driver assigned to get him the to Self-Defense base. It didn't take long to get there. He grabbing his things and was met by an officer. He was escorted like a prisoner to receive new uniforms, and a borrowed M-16. He was rushed around so much, that he felt like he was back in basic training for the Maritime Agency again. Boarding another truck, he was taken out with a few other members of the Self-Defense army.

That night, Shin was able to call home. Sayoko was home with Taro as Ryuusuke was still at work. His mother was in bed, still recovering from illness. Although he wanted to catch up with them, he had to tell them the bad news. If she was in front of Shin, he would have seen Sayoko roll her eyes. She already had three people to take care of. She didn't want to worry about her brother as well.

"How much longer do you have until you can get out?" she asked.

"Next June." Shin answered.

"Are you going to be able to come home before leaving? Because one day wasn't enough."

"I'm not sure yet. All I know is I'm going to be there for nine months." Shin sighed.

"Just," Sayoko paused, "Just be careful. I don't think mom could handle another scare or death in the family. And please don't disappear again."

"I won't." he too, paused, "I'll make sure to call home when I can."

"When's Seiji's wedding?"

"Later this month. I'll probably miss it." Shin sighed.

"Sorry to hear that."

Hearing his name called, Shin hurried up, "Yeah. I have to go. I'll try to call before leaving the country."

"Ok little brother. Be safe."

Shin hung up the phone to head to bed. Tomorrow, he was able to go back into town.