The sun was still low in the sky. The six friends were still siting sipping their hot chocolate.
    "I don't think I'll ever forget that." Cye said putting his arm around Katie.
    "You, I'm the one that thought you all were dead." Katie replied smiling.
    "Well, I'm just glad that what happend after that was resolved..." Cye said looking into the sky.
    "Yea, At one point I thought that I'd never see you again." Katie replied leaning into Cye.
 

Mia was in the den on the computer. She desided to check her e-mail before she got off for the day. She typed in her password and several new messages came up. One was from a friend that had moved away before everything had started. A couple were from various places trying to sell stuff, cause Rowen had gotten on and ordered some books. There were a couple of newsletters that Mia mentaly reminded herself to read. Then the final message was for Katie, from home. Mia looked out the window and saw Katie, Cye, and Kento messing around out side. She walked out onto the balconey,
    "Katie!!! You have E-MAIL!!" Mia yelled.
    "From home?" Katie asked looking up at Mia. Mia nodded and Katie walked up to the den. Sitting down at the computer she brought up the message:

Hi, Katie, how are you. Is everything alright there. We all miss you. When are you comming home? You realize that you need to sign up for college her in a little bit. Please call tonight. We really need to talk.

Love Mom and Dad
 

A week later....

Cye sat in the cafiteria at school looking our the window. The others were at another table in the back of the room in their own conversation talking about the test they were about to have. Ryo glanced to the end of the table at Cye. He sat there and wondered if the hurt would ever go away. They had just gotten together when she had to leave.
    "Hey, Ryo," Rowen said trying to get his attention.
    "Uh, Oh, sorry Rowen." Ryo replied looking back at the others, "When do you think he get over her?" Keno and Rowen turned to look at Cye still looking out the window.
    "I don't know, but ever since she left he hasn't been the same." Kento commented, "I'm worried about him."
    "We all are. He won't go anywhere. He stays cooped up in his room alway looking at her picture." Sage said sighing.
    "When was the last time any of you seen him eat?" Rowen asked turning back around.
    "Not all week, unless he's sneaking down in the middle of the night." Ryo commented. The bell rang and they all left to go to there next class.

Later after school they were all heading to the van. Cye was at the back of the group his head hangins. Kento hung back and started walking with him.
    "Hey, Cye, you wanna come into town with me and the guys later?" Kento asked
    "No, Thanks." Cye replied.
    "Come on Cye, you've gotta get out."
    "Maybe I don't want to." Cye replied coldly.
    "Cye, I'm worried. I know how much Katie ment to you, but she's all right. She'll be back as soon as she can. She promised remeber." Kento said stopping Cye.
    "I know. But.... I never knew I'd miss somebody so much." Cye said looking up into Kento blue eyes. His own blue-green ones dull.
    "We all miss her Cye. Maybe, if she can't get the money to come back, maybe we can get the money to go see her." Sage suggested.
    "Do you know how much five round trip tickets to America would cost?: Cye asked not beleiving him.
    "We could  find a way." Sage replied.
    "Whatever." Cye said as she lowered his head again, and they continued their walk to the van in silence.

Katie sat on a swing in the small park in her town. When she had gotten home she had nothing to do. No work, school doesn't even start yet. She found herself thinking more and  more about what she had left in Japan, Cye.  I figure walked up behind Kaite and cleared their throught.
    "Hi, Your mom told me you were here." A girl said as she sat down next to her.
    "Yea, I couldn't find anywhere else to go." Katie replied.
    "Are you still upset that your mom made you come home?" The girl asked siting in a swing next to her.
    "Kinda I guess. I just miss the guys... espessaly Cye." Katie replied.
    "Katie, they're halfway across the world. You need to forget about them."
    "Crystal, why would I want to forget about them?" Katie asked shocked.
    "The odds of you making it back to Japan are increadible. You even said so." Crystal replied.
    "But I can't forget about them." Katie stated.
    "You need to move on. So, you liked this Cye, but he's not the only fish in the sea..." Crystal started and Katie started to laugh, "Why are you laughing?"
    "Inside Joke, sorry." Kaite said as she sombered up.
    "As I was saying, You need to find someone around here. Someone that is more realistic."
    "Cye is realistic."
    "Cye is halfway across the world."
    "So?"
    "Katie, Cye was a crush that's all. Get over him. Keep your sights in the US, in Connersville!"
    "He was not a crush!" Katie yelled, "There is no one in Connersville that I would be interested in!"
    "Katie, get your head out of the clouds! You knew him for what? 5 months? How can you get a serious relationship in that amount of time!" Crystal yelled back.
    "How would you know you couldn't? It's not like you've ever had a boyfriend!"
    "So I don't know! But I do know that there is hardly a chance in hell that you'll be back there any time soon. You need to stop sulking and get on with your life!"
    "You'll see! I swear I will be back there!!!" Katie screamed as she stormed off to her car and drove away.  Katie drove into the country.She didn't know where she was going or why. She thought about everything everybody has said....

Mother: "I don't want my daughter living half way around the world"
Grandfather: "If your so content about going there, I'm not talking to you. But mind me, those Japs are trouble."
Sister: "I don't want to see you end up like me. Stay and go to collage. Then you can go all over the worlk if you like."
Friend: "Katie, Cye was a crush that's all. Get over him. Keep your sights in the US, in Connersville!"

Sage walked down the hall and peeked into the dark room. Cye was there on his bed staring at the celing like so many times before. Sage shook his head and walked into the next door down. Mia was behind the computer doing her normal work.
    "Any news from Kaite?" Sage asked walking over to the computer.
    "Yes, and it seems that her whole family is aainsyt her comming back now." Mia replied looking up. Sage leaned up aginst the wall.
    "Mia, did you ever look into thtat idea Kento accually had?" Sage asked
    "Yes I did." Mia said as she picked up her breifcase and pulled out  two peices of paper, "If she fills both of these out she can go to my collage and it would cost the same as going to a collage in her own state."
    "That's great! So when are you going to mail it to her?" Sage asked pushing himself off the wall.
    "I'm not." Mia stated  flatly.
    "What?! But, why?" Sage asked shocked.
    "Because you five are going to hand it to her." Mia explained.
    "You mean....." Sage started.

Katie was floating on her back in her uncles pool. Everything that has happened the past 6 months flashed through her mind. She wondered what she was going to do, how she was going to get back to them. Katie closed ehr eyes to try and hold back the tears when suddenly something blocked the sun. THe sky was cloudless, what coul be......

Katie opened her eyes and saw a pair of sea-green ones looking down at her. She forgot what she was doing and started to sink in the water. The body that belonged to the eyes grabed her and kept her from going under. His red-brown hair shined in the sun. Katie touched his face to see if he was truly here.
    "I'm here, and I'm never going to let you leave again." He replied as he held her hand to his face.
    "And I promise I'll never leave." Katie replied. They both leaned together and kissed. As they were kissing they slowly sunk down untill they were both underwater. They bust up to the surface gasping for air. By the side of the pool Kento was laughing his head off, while the others just smiled.
    "Hold on a sec" Cye said as he started towared were Kento stood.
    "No, allow me." Katie said stoping him and going ahead. Kento was laughing so hard he didn't see Katie. She came up to the edge of the pool, the others backed away, She lifted herself up and out far enough that she was able to grab his shirt and then leaned back into the pool pulling Kento with her. Kento surprised yelped as he entered the water. Once he found his way up he spit out a mouthfull of water. Everybody there cracked up laughing.
    "So, are you boys going to swim?" Katie's Uncle, Pat, asked as he and his girlfriend, Donna, stood on the deck.
    "If you don't mind." Ryo said looking away form them.
    "No, go ahead." He replied motening to the pool. The guys then stripped their shirts off and took their shoes off and jumped in..... right on top of Katie, Cye, and Kento.

Kaite's mom watched as the six played. She walked over to the other two adults and started talking.
    "Hmm. I must say, those boys are really good looking." Donna said looking at the five boys.
    "Yes, they are." Katie's mom replied.
    "You still against her going back?" Pat asked
    "Yes, I don't have the money to support her all the way over there." Katie's mom replied
    "But she seems to have some really good friends." Donna said looking at the group in the pool.
    "Yes, They brought with them a plan on taking her back."
    "Oh, really? What is it?" Pat asked getting interested.
    "They brought some forms for her to fill out. She'll be accepted to a university over there and it'll cost about what it would for us to send her to collage here in the state."
    "That's sounds like a bargen." Donna commented.
    "Yes, but I worry about her so much."
    "Why?" Donna asked
    "I dont' know. I guess I'm just like my mother." She says shuddering, "But it's up to her. She's 18. I can't tell her what to do anymore."
    "That is true." Pat commented.

A week later at the airport...

    "Mom..Dad..." Katie said as she looked at her mother and father.
    "I can't tell you what to do. It's your choice..." Her mom started
    "Your 18 and here thats an adult...." Her father added,
    "You know how I feel. Just don't forget." Her mom finished.
    "Mom, I love you. This is an oppertunity of a lifetime. I'll e-mail you everyday. I promise. I really want to go. I wish I could tell you why I love it, but It's something you would just have to see for yourself." Kaite said as she kissed and hugged both good bye.
    "Come on Kaite, we've got to go." Cye said as he walked up next to her.
    "I promice I won't let anything happen to her." Cye said as he bowed politely. That made her mom crack a smile. They both nodded and Cye led Katie to the others.  They walked through the gate and Katie looked back once more before they lost sight of them.
    "Am  I doing the right thing?" Katie asked Cye as they walked through the gate.
    "If you don't want to...." Cye started looking her in the eyes.
    "No, I want to go....  I just don't want to be on bad terms with my family." Katie stated.
    "I'm sure once you start school and show them that you can make it. they'll change their minds.. or at least be close." Cye replied.
    "Yea, your right." Katie said as they kissed lightly and then caught up to the others.
    "Something wrong?" Kento asked when they caught up.
    "No, nothing at all." Katie replied as they borded the plane.