"So how did you do?"

Nozomi glanced up from where she was packing her pens away in her bag, shooting her friend a rueful smile.

"Not too bad, I hope." She said slowly. "What about you, Hana-chan? Did you manage to answer the last question? I stared at it blankly for a while, and I know Obaa-san will probably have my head if I got it wrong. She had me going over all the arithmetic rules last night while I was helping Yume to make dinner. But my mind just went blank and it's such a lovely day outside. I didn't want to think about studying."

"You never do." Hanako looked amused, sliding her arm through her companion's. "Well, and it's all done with now. That was our last paper - I do hate Maths, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. And now we're on holiday, Nozo-chan. Smile! We're free!"

"If we pass." Nozomi said pensively. "If I end up in summer school it won't just be Obaa-san who's mad at me. Father spent a lot of time going over things with me too, and I don't want to let him down."

"Your father is the most laid back guy in the universe. He'll deal with it...but I'm sure you were okay." Hanako said soothingly. "Come on. Let's get out of here, all right? Can I come back to yours for a while? I feel the urge to roam free around the mountainside and besides, noone's at home at my place till late tonight. Mother got called out to work a double shift and she won't be back till eleven. It sucks."

"Yeah, of course you can." Nozomi dimpled, glancing at her watch. "If we hurry, we can catch the next bus. You know Mother and Father never mind you coming to visit - it'll be fun."

"Well, weird as your family is, they're always very welcoming." Hanako's eyes twinkled with amusement as they made their way down the hallway towards the school's main exit, waving to various of their classmates as they headed out onto the road outside. "It's funny, but I never think of you as being part settler. But I generally only need a moment or two at your place to remind me."

"My family aren't that strange." Nozomi objected. "Sure, Obaa-san can be a bit eccentric, but she's lovely really. A true softie deep down. Mother can be intense, but she's just the same as Obaa-san, if I'm honest about it. Father is gentle and laid back, like you said. He works hard, just like any father you'd care to name. Jii-chan goes to the office and works long hours, and Great Grandpa is just your average shrine priest. There's nothing strange about us at all."

"Well, if you say so." Hanako grinned. "Hey, come on, Nozomi! That's our bus - move it, will you?"

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Nozomi set off at a run, her friend not far behind her, and they made the bus with seconds to spare, dropping breathlessly down onto a pair of empty seats.

"Whew, that was close." Hanako said with a grin. "An hour till the next one would've sucked. I've no money to go shopping round Kurashiki to kill time. I don't get paid till the end of the month."

"I know the feeling." Nozomi sighed. "My allowance has pretty much run out too...and I live so far from town it's hard to get a job. There's nothing much really to do when you live in the mountains...so I'm even worse off than you are. Father has big ideas on teaching me the value of money, or something of that nature."

"That's a bummer." Hanako looked sympathetic. "But at least when you can learn to drive, it might be different. Are you planning on going to college or are you going to get a job when you leave school?"

"Haven't even thought about it." Nozomi looked ashamed. "I think Father would like me to go to college. Obaa-san, too. Mother doesn't really...well, I think the whole idea of studying palls on her, if you want the truth. She's never been as bothered as anyone else when I bring home so-so report cards. Speaking of which, I probably wouldn't even get into college. They don't allow daydreamers to get degrees, do they? I'd fail the entrance exams and it'd be expensive as heck if I had to go through extra classes just to get to that point."

"You're not stupid, though. You just daydream." Hanako objected. "Besides, think of all the cute guys you might meet in college. Away from home, no parents to keep watch over you...you should think it over, Nozomi. I mean it. It'd be fun - even more so if we went to the same college. I mean, we've been friends for years, haven't we? It would be too cool to be room-mates at college, too."

"It would be cool, but you always get way better grades than I do, Hana-chan." Nozomi shrugged her shoulders philosophically. "Besides, there's a whole ton of classes and assignments in between us and graduation. We've only just finished this semestre's work...let's give it a rest till the new school term begins, okay?"

"Okay, lazy." Hanako laughed. "I give. I'll drop it."

As the bus pulled down the well worn, rocky path towards their stop, Nozomi glanced out of the window, a slight smile touching her face as the mountains hoved into view from beyond the trees.

"It's so beautiful, living here." She murmured. Hanako rolled her eyes.

"Please tell me you're not going to go off in one of those moods tonight." She scolded. "Nozomi, pay attention or you'll miss your stop. I'm not going to do the whole round trip just because you're sitting on my bag strap."

"Oh!" Nozomi looked startled, blushing as she got to her feet. "Sorry, Hana. I guess I was dreaming a little bit."

"Well, stop it and get off the bus already." Hanako's eyes danced with amusement. "Go on...before he decides we're just messing around and that we don't want this stop, after all."

Nozomi sent her friend a rueful grimace, but did as she was bidden, stepping off the ramshackle vehicle and onto the soft green turf. Hanako followed her example and, as the bus pulled away, she drew a deep breath of air into her lungs.

"I'll race you down to the shrine." She said with a twinkle in her eye. "Come on - let's see how fit you've gotten, since exams began. Knowing you, you've been stuffing your face with chocolate to keep you awake during your studying - let's see how unfit you are now!"

"Hey, no fair! Wait for me!" Hanako protested, as her friend darted off into the greenery. "You know you always beat me...Nozomi, wait up!"

Nozomi laughed, speeding between the trees and up the shrine steps towards the big old building where her Great Grandfather spent most of his days. She tripped over her feet on the top step, almost falling flat on her face as she did so, and as she tried to regain her composure, she heard the sound of amused laughter from somewhere behind her. She steadied herself, swinging around to face the speaker with a confused frown on her face.

A woman stood before her, long hair flitting around her face and shoulders in the slight afternoon breeze. She was dressed in unfamiliar clothing, and yet, as she looked at her, Nozomi felt that somehow she should know this woman. That, in some way, they had met before.

At her confused expression, the lady bowed her head, offering the girl a playful smile.

"Nozomi-chan." She said softly. "Oh, it's good to finally see you again, face to face."

"I...I'm sorry, I...I don't know who you are." Nozomi faltered, embarrassment flooding her expression as she returned the bow a little awkwardly. "I mean...I'm sorry, can I help you? Great Grandpa should be inside, if you want him, and..."

"I have already spoken to Yosho-dono. He's taken a walk into the mountains on an errand, but I thought I'd wait for you here." The woman's eyes danced at Nozomi's increasing bewilderment. "Apparently you come here a lot, for one reason or another, and I hoped I might have a chance to see you before the rest of the family descended."

"I...I..." Nozomi bit her lip, then, "What did you call Great Grandpa?"

"Yosho-dono." The woman's pretty features broke into a warm smile. "Oh, you can't tell me you don't know his true name, can you? I was sure that Tenchi and Ryoko would at least have told you something about your heritage - and his past, many years before you were born."

Nozomi's eyes widened with surprise and disbelief.

"You...you're from Jurai." She whispered. The woman's eyes lit up with pleasure, and she nodded.

"I am indeed." She agreed gently. "My name is Sasami Kamiki Jurai, and I'm pleased to meet you, Nozomi-chan."

"Sasami..." Nozomi faltered, then, "Father has a cousin called Sasami. Is...is that you, then? But I don't understand," As the woman nodded her head. "Why are you here? And...oh God, Hana..."

She turned, glancing back towards the trees as if expecting to see her friend appear at any moment. "Sasami-sama, please tell me there isn't some great big spaceship hovering over us somewhere near here? My friend is home with me from school, and I..."

"Nozomi, I swear you cheated!" At that moment Hanako broke through the greenery, casting her companion an accusing look. "You always manage to get here first, even though we've been doing this since we were little kids. You must know a short cut that I don't!"

"Hello." Sasami eyed the newcomer with interest. "You must be a friend of Nozomi's - am I right?"

"Oh! I didn't realise you had company." Hanako looked sheepish, hesitating, then bowing her head. "I'm very sorry. I hope I didn't interrupt anything."

"No, it's quite all right." Sasami's eyes twinkled once more. "I'm pleased to meet any friend of Nozomi's. What's your name?"

"Hanako Tetsuyama." Hanako offered a slight smile. "Are you part of Nozomi's family or something?"

"This is...is Father's cousin. Sasami Kamiki." Nozomi explained quickly, apprehension in her golden eyes as she assessed Sasami's clothing. "She...she's come to visit, although I didn't know she was. I...I guess Father must have invited her, and forgot to tell me about it."

"No, I think that my appearance is going to surprise him as much as it did you, Nozomi-chan." Sasami looked amused. "It was something of a spur of the moment decision to visit, you might say."

"If you've got family visiting, Nozo-chan, I don't want to intrude." Hanako began, but Sasami shook her head.

"No...please don't leave on my account." She said gently. "I've been curious to meet Nozomi's friends for a long time. I haven't seen her since she was just a tiny baby,and that was a long time ago now. It must be sixteen years at least - you are sixteen, aren't you, Nozomi?"

"Yes." Nozomi blushed again. "I didn't realise you knew me when I was a baby, though. In fact, I didn't know we'd ever met at all."

"Oh yes." Sasami seemed entertained by this. "I held you when you received your first blessing, in fact."

She smiled.

"It's still the same, the house, as it was when I was here as a girl?" She asked. "I mean, it hasn't moved or been rebuilt or anything like that?"

"No...the path down there is still the same and even though Obaa-san likes to plot extensions, well, it's pretty much as it's always been." Nozomi responded. "Will you come with us to the house, Cousin Sasami? If Father doesn't know you're here, I'm sure he'd like to see you."

"Yes, I hope so." Sasami's eyes sparkled and for a moment Nozomi had the impression that her companion was little older than she was in spirit and in mind. "I'm very fond of your parents, Nozomi. It will be nice to see them again."

"Then we'll take you there, Sasami-san." Hanako suggested. "We were going that way ourselves - at least, I think we were. I'm starving, and Yume makes amazing carrot cake...that is, if we get there before their darn cat does."

"Cat?" Sasami blinked, and then a broad smile spread across her features.

"Ryo Ohki." She murmured. "Oh, another old friend who I've missed seeing a whole lot. She's still as mischievous as ever, then? Still getting into everything that involves carrots and still stalking insects that she can't catch?"

"Yes. She's still just like a little kid, even though she's older than me." Nozomi agreed. "So you know Ryo Ohki as well? Oh, but you said you stayed here...I think Father did mention once or twice that his cousins Ayeka and Sasami lived at the house for a while, when he was younger. That must be why."

"In a manner of speaking." Sasami nodded her head. "It was a fun time, staying on the...mountainside."

She faltered, checking herself just in time and offering Nozomi a wink.

 "But sadly all holidays come to an end eventually. And so ours did and we went home. Having said that, though, it really doesn't seem to have changed much at all."

She headed off down the path ahead of them, humming a vague tune under her breath, and exchanging looks, the two schoolgirls followed on behind her.

"That's your father's cousin?" Hanako murmured, just low enough so that Sasami could not hear her, and Nozomi shrugged, nodding her head.

"I guess so. Dad does have a cousin called Sasami, so it must be her." She agreed. "I don't know, though. I've never really met that side of the family."

"She's dressed kinda funny." Hanako eyed their companion critically. "And you tell me your family isn't weird, Nozomi. Where do you suppose she picked that outfit out?"

"I have a couple of ideas about that." Nozomi said ruefully. "Don't you think she's pretty, though? I mean, even if you do think she's dressed up strange. She doesn't seem like, well, like she's all that much older than us in some ways."

"She is pretty, and so is her outfit. Somehow it suits her, but it's still strange." Hanako spread her hands, offering her companion a resigned smile. "Just more weirdness from the Masaki family. You already have a Grandmother who spends half her life in the store cupboard, and who doesn't look old enough to be your mother, let alone your gran. You have a mother who was born God knows where in the Universe - and I swear to God I've seen her fly on more than one occasion. And now you have a cousin who appears out of nowhere wearing the weirdest outfit you ever did see...just seems usual for your clan, if you ask me."

"Stop it." Nozomi ordered, but a smile played around the corners of her mouth. "My family are not weird, and Mother isn't the only settler on the Earth, you know. And just because she is one - and Obaa-san has her mad moments - it doesn't mean that I'm any different from anyone else, does it? I mean, you know me better than anyone, Hana-chan. Do you think I'm weird?"

"No, but I do think you're a daydreamer and you're way too shy when it comes to boys." Hanako said critically, causing her friend to flush to the roots of her thick wavy hair. "You never take your opportunities. That's something that's always bugged me about you, Nozo-chan. You could be one of the prettiest girls in our class, if you made the effort. But you don't. I can count the number of words you say to guys on the fingers of one hand. Seriously."

"I'm not interested in boys." Nozomi objected. "The boys in our class are idiots and they spend all their time worrying about sports or wrestling or working out ways of seeing up our skirts using a ruler and someone's compact mirror. Why would I waste my time on those cretins? There's just no point."

She pulled a face.

"You know that Suzuki-sensei confiscated magazines from Honda-san's locker the other week." She added. "You really think we should be interested in guys like that?"

"Guess guys will be guys, but I take your point." Hanako grinned. "They are pretty stupid, aren't they?"

"That's an understatement." Nozomi said with feeling, as they reached the Masaki home. "And here we are. Sasami-sama, can I get you some tea? I don't know if anyone else is home, but..."

"Please don't go to any trouble on my account." Sasami dimpled, her crimson eyes sparkling with youth once more. "In fact, I'd quite like to make it myself, if you don't mind. It's been a while, and I want to be sure I still have the knack."

"Uh...sure. If you like." Nozomi looked nonplussed, slipping her key into the lock and pushing open the door of the house. "Although I'm sure you don't have to. I was going to make something for Hana and I anyway."

She paused in the hallway, raising her voice.

"Mother? Father? Obaa-san? Yume? Is anyone home? We have company!"

"Company?" The door of the store-cupboard swung open to reveal Washu, who stopped dead at the sight of the younger princess. She smiled.

"Well, well. That sort of company. Hello, Sasami-chan. Is your sister with you, or did you make this trip alone?"

"Ayeka is still at home, but I brought Seiryo-dono and Kamidake-san with me." Sasami said warmly. "Although Kamidake is keeping an eye on the...on my transport, and Seiryo seems less than enthusiastic about visiting the Masaki family home this afternoon. They're both still with Tsunami-fune, some way to the south. Hello, Washu. It's good to see you - it's been far too long."

"I see you've met my grand-daughter." Washu observed. Sasami nodded her head.

"Yes. In fact, it was Nozomi we came all this way to see." She agreed. "Is Ryoko not here? Or Tenchi?"

"Tenchi is still in the city, and Ryoko took a walk down to buy some more sake since we're completely out." Washu shook her head. "Yume went with her, to make sure that...well, you know what I mean."

"Yes, I do." Humour sparkled in Sasami's eyes and Nozomi wondered what secret joke had just passed between the two women. "I was going to make tea - Nozomi-chan said noone would mind if I did. Would you like some?"

"I would, if you're making it." Washu nodded her head. "And then, when you're done, please, come and join me, Sasami-chan. I suspect we have a lot of things to catch up on."

"Yes, we do." Sasami looked thoughtful. "And I might well need your advice and help, also. All right. If it's no trouble, that's exactly what I'll do."