Earth.

"This is where we're landing? There's nothing here!" Ibara complained throwing her hands up dramatically in the air. "What're we doing here?"

"We're stopping here," Hotarou said. "We may be here a while so go look around for some food."

"We have food on the ship though!"

"Earth has some of the best produce in the galaxy. It's not artificial like it is on other planets and especially since the volcanic explosions the soil has become good for growing fruits and vegetables," Satohsi explained, bounding out of the ship after Hotarou. "It's certainly better than canned or bagged food!" He stretched his spindly arms. "I feel like I could run for a mile!"

"Yeah! And get lost while you're at it!" Ibara called as he started to jog away.

"Shall we go look around?" Eru asked kindly as she stepped off the plank.

"Might as well," Ibara sighed. "Are you coming?" She asked Irisu who stood nonchalantly in the doorway.

"No, go ahead and have your fun."

"Suit yourself." The two girls wandered off and disappeared around the corner of the ship.

This landscape was bleak to say the least. Prairie grass stretched for miles and miles all around, but in the distance a tiny green mass could be seen. The blob, of course, were trees that had grown fairly close to where the lava flow had stopped many years ago. These trees sprouted quickly and took advantage of the fecund soil creating a surprisingly young, but tall forest. Though because it was so close to the lava flows, there were occasional fires. Only fools tried to inhabit that forest.

Conversely, the human population lived parallel to the forest 12 miles away. Compared to the rest of the galaxy, they worked with relatively un-advanced technology (about equivalent with that of the poor folk on the moons - the leftovers). Most modern technology had either been taken with the masses as they left, or had been buried under the lava and ash. But these people still steadily advanced where needed.

Hotarou wandered to this town (at half-way, he was certain the little jet cruisers on the ship would be very nice) to buy some supplies and work some information out of the people. He finally reached the town after about two hours and stepped inside its gates. It appeared similar to how a modern city suffering from urban sprawl might look in our time, but comparatively, it was tiny next to those complexes on the moons with layers and layers of the rich folks sections built one on top of another.

Hotarou found the nearest person and spoke to them a broken dialect, they directed him to the market center to the best of their ability. The market center was a vast area with cobblestone pathways, a fountain in the center, and benches along the way that held many large stores, rather than open-air booths like the olden days. He wandered into one store and looked for certain supplies, but with his limited knowledge of the language, he made slow progress. Once he completed his shopping Hotarou decided to teak a break and sit on a bench. He received many confused glances, but rather than being hostile they were curious.

He heard his watch beep at him so he opened it to find Ibara, with Eru standing next to her. "Where are you?" Ibara barked. "You've been gone for hours! It'll be lunch soon!" Hotarou's stomach growled to reinforce the concept.

"I know, I know," he replied. "I'm going to pick something up to eat here in town."

"You're in the town?!" Ibara and Eru chimed. "How far is it?!"

"A couple hours' walk," he informed the two. "It's a little late today to come out here; we can come back tomorrow if you must."

"Yes!" the girls exclaimed. "Do they have clothing stores?"

Hotarou nodded confirmation which excited the girls even more. He noticed a person walking towards him. "I'll call you later." He closed his watch shut to the protest of the girls and stood as the stranger stepped forward.

"Do ya speak Japanese?" the man asked with a strong Osakan accent. Hotarou nodded slowly. "Oh! It's been too long I tell ya! Nice ta meet ya, the name's Yamato Ken'ichi, ya can call me Ken-san!"

"No one uses endings anymore, you know that, right?"

"Wha~? Tha's impossible! So ya go 'round callin' people by their first names?"

"Or by their last names."

"Okay! So the world hasn't gone crazy yet! So what's yet name?"

"Oreki Hotarou. What are you doing in a place like this? You stand out pretty bad."

"Yeah, I know that," he said with a shrug. "How's about I buy ya some lunch and we can talk about it?" Hotarou did enjoy free food so he agreed.

"I came here 'bout 40 some years ago with my parents," the man explained as they both ate. "Could've been longer though, social norms like name endin's don't fade too easily. So anyway, I've lived here with the natives. They're a real nice people. They always wonder though why I have narrow eyes and aren't as dark-skinned as they are. I tells 'em that I try reel hard to tan, but I burn instead! So they jist accepted it. Learnin' their language was a bit 'o a challenge too, 'cos at first I didn't even know which language to learn! But I figured out that down here the majority of 'em speaks English 'cos a long time ago English speakers used ta rule down here. They're not reel fond of English, but it's the best way they can communicate especially with them there across the ocean." He jabbed his thumb in the general direction of the ocean. "But 'nough 'bout me, where're you from?"

"We're from one of the moons off Saturn."

"Oh! do tell, but ya said 'we'?"

"Yes, a couple of others decided to come along with me. They're a couple of miles out. I just came into town to pick up a few necessities. You know."

"I see," Ken'ichi said with a jolly countenance. Hotarou was glad he didn't pry about the specifics he left out. "Y'all should come over for dinner sometime. My wife makes a wonderful Bredie."

"Perhaps we will," Hotarou gave a light smile then stood. "It's getting pretty late, I need to head back or else I'll be walking in the dark."

"Very true, my friend," Ken'ichi said. "Do ya want a ride? I can go get my car and drive ya!"

"You have a car?"

"Don't they use cars on the moons?"

Hotarou shook his head. "They really don't even exist on the planets; they're almost the stuff of legends."

"Well, then how about I give ya a ride so ya can see what it's like!"

"I appreciate the thought," Hotarou replied sincerely. "But after being cooped up in the ship for a couple of weeks, I'm very glad to walk. Maybe next time."

"Alrighty then, if yer sure." Hotarou liked the open personality this man had. It was refreshing after the secretiveness of every activity for the past months. He felt slightly guilty that he was hiding things, but if Ken'ichi could prove himself to be trustworthy, Hotarou decided, he would tell him more and hopefully gain him as an ally.

The sun was setting fast as he arrived back at the ship. He walked inside to see everyone relaxing after having eaten dinner. Hotarou frowned at the group as he walked in and smelled the once existing food.

"Don't worry, we saved some for you," Ibara said moving to the kitchen to retrieve it.

"You couldn't eve wait for me," Hotarou said scornfully.

"It was practically 7 and you still hadn't shown up," Satoshi said with a shrug.

"Whatever," Hotarou brushed off the offense then sat on the couch. "What would you guys think of staying here for a while?"

"On Earth?" the group exclaimed. Hotarou dipped his head in acknowledgement. "Why?"

He shrugged. "I have some things that can accomplish by staying here for a while, if you'd like. It'd save energy that way."

The group looked amongst each other and when no disagreement was voiced the decision was confirmed.

YESH! I actually wrote 2 chapterssssss! Applaud me! two in one day! Be happy you guys. I paid my debt.