And he's done it! This chapter and the next sort of go hand in hand since they take place on the same day, but wanted to break them apart due to the length.

CHAPTER 4: GOALS

"You're moving out?" Mis Moroboshi's hands fled to her chest.

Crowded around her stood the rest of her family; Lum, Ten, and Mr. Moroboshi – their surprise manifested in various ways. The subject of their attention, Ataru, was standing in the genkan accompanied by two large duffle bags with another against his back held by a strap drawn across his chest. Before then it had been a Sunday like any other, unremarkable in its beginning. That was until Ataru vanished suspiciously after breakfast, appearing a short while later to summon them for an announcement at the door. Nobody expected this! Nobody but Ataru, who was glowing with repressed eagerness. For at last, the day he'd been dreaming about was here!

Moving day!

"That's right." Ataru locked eyes with his mother and registered the shock within them, finding it only added to his joy. After years spent lamenting his birth, seeing her fawn and swoon over him now was extremely satisfying, and all of his pride flamed up in his chest. "I've got an apartment in the next town so it's closer to work."

Senshoo, the town in question, was similar to Tomobiki in many ways, with a tranquility and peace to the quiet streets, abundant nature, and old shops that merited its ancient roots. Given that, he felt fortunate to find a place that was both affordable, and in good condition. Better still it was only two blocks from Hashirimawaru Railway station, which would be taking him to work going forward. None of this had been easily won, and Ataru wore his success with a supercilious smirk and sparkling eyes.

"Oh I dreamed of this day!" Mrs. Moroboshi crooned as she fell back into her husband, who continued to stare vacantly forward, as though trying to decide if this were, in fact, a dream. Ten was more open with his astonishment, looking on Ataru with disbelieving eyes. Really? That hapless fool actually managed to accomplish something befitting his age? Who would have thought! And Lum, as expected, did not take the news well. Somehow, despite sharing a room with him, she hadn't noticed he was preparing to leave. Worse still, he hadn't even said anything to her! With a pulse of electricity her shock fell away, and anger arose in its place.

"Why didn't you say anything sooner I haven't even packed yet!" Did he have no sense of foresight!? Lum's fists balled beside her as she floated up to him, ready to deliver a scathing review of his poor character and lack of consideration. Ataru faced her without a lick of fear; he'd done his due diligence and come prepared for the inevitable argument.

"Who said you were coming?" He clapped back airily, even as sparks danced around them.

"Oh!" Mrs. Moroboshi was absorbed with motherly worry and impervious to the growing tension between Lum and Ataru. "I'll get some things together for you, you'll need -" And down the hall she went, muttering a laundry list of items she was sure her son had forgotten, and would most definitely need, on his pioneer journey into adulthood. Mr. Moroboshi, wisely, chose to follow her, leaving Ten alone as a reluctant witness to yet another lover's quarrel.

Lum was still hanging midair, rigid with anger, and boring into him a troubled glare that was direct, piercing, questioning, and searching. Did he do this on purpose? Wouldn't surprise her if he did, honestly. Ataru rarely considered her feelings, especially if they stood opposite of something he wanted. Which was often.

"Darling-"

Ataru cut her off with a deprecatory wave that came up so abruptly she involuntarily froze.

"Listen Lum," he interjected resolutely, "we may be married in Oni culture, but here on Earth things are different. There has to be a proposal, a wedding, and only then can two adults live together." he explained with false regret in his voice. "Otherwise, it's just taboo. I'm sorry but you can't come with me." Ataru lowered his head, an imperceptible smile playing on his mouth as he feigned remorse. Unsurprisingly, Lum maintained her rigid stance, not a line on her face softening.

Just then his mother returned carrying a small bag of items she'd fetched around the house, her husband tagging along behind her.

"That's ridiculous! Then just propose!" Again Lum's temper flared, sparks scattering through the air around her. How could he not see such an obvious solution? Clearly he loved her, he'd proven as much, so what was the hold up? What better time to propose than now?

Sadly, love was not part of Ataru's decision, and any thoughts of marriage were relegated to the back of his mind as an eventuality rather than a priority. How could he focus on marriage when his youth was coming to an end? If he wasn't going to get the traditional college experience, then at the very least he could enjoy the independent life of a bachelor. Lum was the one who wanted to rush into things, not him, and he'd been very clear about that from the beginning. If after all this time she still didn't understand how he felt, then it was her fault, not his.

"I'd love to, but I spent all my money to get this apartment." He lied expertly. "I don't have anything left for a ring or a wedding. I might not for a long time." Ataru was careful to keep things vague so she couldn't measure out a timeline to hold against him.

"I don't believe you..." Lum looked askance at his flimsy excuses. Well, he couldn't blame her for being suspicious. She knew him well and she was clever. About the only thing he had on her was commitment to the lie. And there was the added advantage of social norms, which he'd heard an earful of from his mother over the years. So it was to her he deferred next.

"Mom! Right? An unmarried couple living together and all that?"

Mrs. Moroboshi hesitated as she placed her parcel in one of his bags, zipping it shut. Now she knew what he was playing at and would have called him out, except his excuses just happened to align with her principles. Whispers of an unmarried couple cohabitating was indeed not something she wanted spreading around the neighborhood. Any neighborhood. Their family dealt with enough gossip already.

"Well...it is frowned upon." She supplemented gravely, avoiding Lum's scrutinizing stare. Ataru folded his arms and nodded in agreement, drawing her ire back to him.

"I don't care!" She didn't. And it was stupid that anyone would! Traditions on Earth rarely made sense to her, and every decision seemed wrapped with red tape. Honestly it was beyond frustrating. No wonder earthlings were so primitive!

"So you don't care if I end up getting fired because my lifestyle would hurt the company image?" Ataru drew his argument out so quickly Lum felt a breeze whoosh past her. Now that his goal was within reach, he wasn't about to back down, and her resistance did nothing but arouse all the dogged stubbornness within him.

"I..." Her husband's words smote the fire from her face and the air around her was still. Privately she wrestled between her desires – one to be with him, the other to see him succeed. That her presence could somehow impede his progress through the milestones of human life wasn't something she expected. And, she thought glumly, what sort of wife would she be if she held him back? Humans were strange, bizarre even, and nothing they did made sense to her...yet these were the rules they all lived by. Reluctantly she dropped her gaze and conceded to his argument.

"I know it's not easy." Ataru rested a hand on her shoulder, his relief masked with a resigned expression. "We need to be strong Lum. Trust me I'll be working hard every day." Which wasn't a lie. He would indeed be working hard, as he'd said. Just...not exclusively toward the end she was picturing. "We all have to make sacrifices sometimes. Please understand." Please please please please please understand.

Lum looked at his hand briefly before answering.

"Fine." What more could be said? The fight was over. All she could do now was put her trust in him. Over the course of their relationship Ataru always came out shining in the end. She didn't have any reason to believe this would be different. It might take him some time, but he'd come through for her. He had to, or what was it all for?

"That's my girl." Ataru added to sweeten her mood, but it had no effect.

Again his family gathered before the genkan to see him off, his mother looking teary-eyed and wistful, while his father smiled politely, clearly glad the fighting stopped. Ten had long dropped his earlier astonishment and was now staring unimpressed at this joke of a rival. He didn't buy any of what Ataru was selling and seriously wished his cousin would wise up to his stupid games. Lum ventured one last beseeching glance at her husband, which he dodged to preserve his willpower.

"Well I'm off!" Ataru turned sharply, an eager hand reaching for the door. "I want to settle in before it gets too late. Got to get up bright and early you know!" To a chorus of goodbyes from his parents and a sarcastic 'good riddance' from Ten, he slipped beyond the door and closed it behind him.

Relief came over Ataru on the instant, followed by an exultancy that washed away any lingering feelings of guilt Lum's despondent eyes imparted. At last, he was free! Free from the apron strings of his mother, from the devilry of Ten, and the persistent nitpicking of his capricious alien wife. Step one was complete, now onto step two: take the train to Senshoo to meet with his new landlord. Ataru sucked in a breath of crisp morning air and charged triumphantly forward, leaving his cares and worries on the welcome mat of a home that was no longer his.

Mrs. Moroboshi was still riding high with her husband following suit in his approval. Granted he still had his doubts, but that didn't keep him from enjoying the moment for what it was. When was the last time his wife was this happy? With Ataru gone he felt as if he'd gained back some of his home, some of his sanity. No more weird shenanigans or surprise visitors to keep them up at all hours, guessing what sort of misfortune would fall (sometimes literally) into their laps. Even if it wasn't forever, he intended to enjoy whatever reprieve fate granted him.

For the rest of the family, for Lum and Ten, feelings were different. Despite Ten's lingering suspicions regarding Ataru's true motives, there was a small, secret part of him deep down that would miss his foolhardy playmate. Mostly though he was worried about Lum, who hung limp in the air just staring at the front door. Oh, she may have put up a brave front and fought with valiance, but Ten knew she was hurting inside. Ready with comforting words he floated closer, only for Lum to whirl around him and up the stairs. By the time he reached her she was stripping Ataru's old room of her belongings and stuffing them into a small travel bag she kept in the closet.

"Lum," Ten tested the atmosphere with her name, and when she didn't immediately yell at him, he continued, "it's not that big-a deal." Clearly she was pissed, and while he understood, Ten hoped to reassure her by laying out the situation in a positive light. "We'll actually get some peace and quiet around here." Suddenly Lum stopped and Ten, anticipating a shock, winced.

Truthfully Lum hadn't heard him through the many thoughts turning over in her mind. What Ten witnessed in her pause was merely the fraying of her last nerve. In place of the predictable rage her husband so often inspired there was only exhaustion. These last few weeks a little voice in her subconscious warned her something was off. Something she didn't know how to describe or identify. It was just a feeling. And she'd ignored that feeling, expending plenty of mental energy in the process. No matter how much she loved Ataru, being with him was tiring.

"Doesn't he get what an important step this is?" Lum thought it was obvious that a couple starts their life in tandem, and she'd often fantasized about the day they took this step together. But that damn husband of hers, he'd only been thinking of himself yet again. For once she just wanted him to consider her feelings, was that truly so much to ask? After everything they went through how could he still be so selfish! Light flashed as a pulse of electricity blazed through the room, and Lum cried out with a resurgence of anger, "That idiot!"

Ten immediately fled into the hallway, waiting a few tense moments before popping his head back in.

"Lum." Tentatively he drifted closer, pausing when Lum dashed for the window and flung it open with a sweep of her hand. "What're you-" Before he could even finish, she broke in with her reply.

"We're leaving too." Conviction flamed on her face and in her words. Lum didn't look sad or angry, just determined. Ten gasped and a flicker of hope lit his eyes.

"We're going home?" Back to Oniboshi!? Had she finally given up on Ataru?

"To the UFO." Ah, it was too much to hope, he supposed. Lum ignored his disappointment and pulled the drawstring of her bag to close it. "We'll live there. But don't worry, we can park it over the school so you're not too far away." Ten grimaced; ugh, school, he'd nearly forgotten.

"Besides," Lum looked out over the room they'd shared with moody affection, knowing this was probably the last time she'd ever see it again. So many memories hung in the air, playing out before her eyes as they roamed - games of shogi, hanafuda, reversi; playful (and not so playful) arguments over his wandering eye; long evenings reclining in each other's company, reading or drinking tea; late night conversations about anything, everything, from here to the stars she came from. For years this room had been their home. And now... "I don't wanna stay here without Darling." Lum whimpered. "It doesn't feel like home without him." Her sadness filled the room and Ten lost all appetite for arguing.

"Okay." If he were being honest, beneath his standoffish demeanor, Ten felt the same way. Good or bad, this place just wasn't the same without Ataru.

Lum reached for her younger cousin while her free hand pulled the straps of her bag over her shoulder. Obediently Ten fluttered into her arms and together they turned to face the world beyond Ataru's window. A shaft of golden light parted through the clouds, as if marking the way, and Lum lifted into the sky, leaving the room empty but for the gentle hush of wind billowing in the curtains.

Gonna be honest the ending here gave me a bit of a chill to write, considering the finality of it all.

Anyways, there goes Ataru, off on a new adventure of living the good life on his own in a new town! As some of us know, becoming an adult is never quite as fun as we believe it'll be, and the next chapters will follow Ataru as he learns those lessons the long, boring, and hard way. We also say goodbye to Lum and Ten for a period of time. They'll be off doing their own thing, which we'll learn about the same way Ataru will. I know that might suck for people who don't particularly like Ataru (and there's plenty of them lol) but this story has him as the focal character so yeah :p