Author’s Note: 2006 is almost over, and 2007 is about to begin. I know I started writing this story again, but sadly, I’m going to be on hiatus again. There’s another project that I’m working on. Actually it’s a joint project between me and my girlfriend. I truly hope that we can get published. She truly is the best.
-Ryu Ematsu, 2006

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Character(s) Debut(s) & Tagline(s)
Tanaka 田中 Aoi 青い (tə-nä-kə·au-ē; tuh-nah-kuh·ou-ee): A girl who wants to learn Martial Arts. Her and her family own a restaurant.

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Arrival arc
訪れ円弧

Episode 14: Lei’s rescue: A deal for the ages
挿話14 雷救済… 跡扱う対してザ一昔!

Everyone was in the lower part of the house. Lei walked down the stairs. “Mai-chan, I’m going for a walk.”

Kaze looked at him. “Want me to join you? We can talk and stuff.”

“Thanks, but I’ll pass,” he said, a bit coldly. “I need to clear my head. And I usually clear my head alone.”

He opened the sliding door and walked out.

“Someone’s mad,” said Asuka.

“Not mad,” replied Mai. “He’s accepting…”

“You lost me,” said Kaze.

“He’s finally accepted that you two are brethren,” explained Mai. She smiled. “Welcome to the family.” She turned slightly, and sighed. “There was something in his eyes. Something dark…”

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Lei walked along the roadside. “I need to release some of my stress. What’s better way than a street fight..?” He smiled, then ran into the distance. A fight was what he needed to take his mind off of his situation.

He stopped. In front of his were two boys picking on a girl. She had brown hair in pigtails. The boys were tossing her book bag around.

“Give it back!” she yelled.

The boy just snickered as they continued.

“Please stop!”

“No,” said one of the boys. “If you want it back so badly, give us all your money.”

He laughed and was about to through it at his comrade. Before his partner could catch it, Lei intervened.

“Leave her alone,” he said with a cold voice. “If you don’t, then feel my wrath!”

Without hesitation, the two got into fighting stances.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He ran to one of them and did a series of punches. Then, he kicked the second one. The two laid unconscious on the group. “Serves you right.”

“Thank you very much,” the girl said as she bowed. She looked closer at his face. “Hey! I know you! You’re that guy from yesterday; the one who fought at the carnival.”

“Oh that? That was nothing.”

“But it was so amazing.”

Lei looked down; then looked at the two boys he’d defeat. “I better get going.”

“No, wait!” she yelled. “I still want to talk to you!”

Lei remained silent.

“I got it,” she said cheerfully. “Since you helped me, I’m going to take you to a restaurant; my treat.”

He looked down at the two again; then smiled. “Thanks for the offer, but I’ll have to decline. I only helped you because I needed to relieve some stress. So if I went with you, I’d only feel guilty.”

“I’m sure if you weren’t trying to relieve stress, then you’d still have helped me. Am I right?”

“I guess, but…” he said.

“Then it’s settled!” she yelled cutting his off. “I’m taking you out now.”

Lei sighed. “I guess I have no choice. So where is this restaurant?”

She reached into backpack and grabbed a bandana. “No peaking.” She put it around his eyes and led him to a location in the town. Lei felt her soft hands touch his back of the head gently, as she took it off. “Here, welcome to Tanaka’s.” Lei stared at her. “My name is Tanaka Aoi. I’m the daughter of the owner, so anything you need is on the house. Okay?”

He decided to go along with her jester of kindness. He was starving. “Do you have any beef flavored ramen.”

“Yup,” she said cheerfully. “I think we already have some made. Let me check.” She ran to the back.

She began to look around. She turned to the side of the door and saw a huge, bulky man.

“What did you mean by everything’s on the house?” he said a little irritated.

She just smiled. “He saved me from some bullies earlier. So I want to repay him.”

He grunted. “If you’d sign up for a karate class like your mother and I had suggested; you wouldn’t need to be rescued by strangers.”

“Oh dad,” she said with a little chuckle. “I plan on asking him about his experience as a fighter, as well as repay my debt with his meal.”

He grunted again; then smiled. “Do as you please.”

Her grin grew huge. “Thanks daddy!” she yelled as she hugged him and kissed his cheek. She looked at the kitchen counter and saw a bowl of ramen. “Is that his beef ramen?”

Her father nodded. “I guess I should bring it to him.”

She grabbed the bowl and walked toward his table. “Here. May I join you?”

“Sure,” Lei said.

“So what’s your name, anyway?”

“It’s Lei; Nagasaki Lei,” he said as he began to eat his ramen.

His name rang like a bell. “Do you have any relation to Nagasaki Mai?”

“Yeah. She’s my sister.”

“That’s so cool. She’s such a brilliant fighter, isn’t she?”

“I guess. Why?”

“Do you think she’ll take anymore students?”

“Who knows. I guess.”

“Did you like the ramen?”

“Yup. It was very tasty! Thanks.” He slurped he rest of the water from the bowl. “The chef is very talented.”

“My dad made it,” she said happily.

“Get his to give me cooking lessons and I’ll get Mai to give you lessons for free.”

“It’s a deal,” she said with a smile.

“I’ll be back!” he rose up and ran out the door.

“That Lei-kun is so cute!”

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Character Biography (9)

Full Name: Tanaka Aoi
Japanese: 田中青い
Alias: N/A
Age: 15
Ethnicity: Japanese
Height: 5’ 3”
Weight: 100 lbs.
Eye Color: Brown (appear Black)
Hair Color: Brown
Hair Style: Pigtails
Fighting Style: N/A

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Behind the Scenes: This was an easy episode to write. I wanted to introduce Aoi, a cute girl who likes to smile. Lei rescuing her was a last minute thought. So was her family owning a restaurant. The conversation was random too.