El Hazard and it's characters are owned by AIC and Pioneer LDC. The author owns only the writing. Chapter 6: Shinonome High Fujisawa felt an instant of disorientation as he stepped through the portal. He felt a shade lighter since the gravity on El Hazard was about a twentieth greater than Earth's. It was like taking eleven steps up a ten step staircase. In the second it took his eyes to adjust he heard familiar voices say his name in surprise. Before him were the central members of the science fiction club. Every one of them was suspended above the central El Hazardian rune supported by beams of light. A purple Bugrom was trying to punch its way through the crack. Acting without thought to protect his students, the former history teacher leaped through the air. But he was thrown back when he hit the circumference of the rune. "Shit, what the hell was that?" he muttered. "Sensei, get us out of here." Gineu pleaded. "No, get rid of that monster first." corrected Voice since the Bugrom had just punched through the crack and was stepping through. But before he could do anything bits of the rubble flew up at the Bugrom like a shotgun. The creature tried to shield its face as it retreated. "Nobody threatens my club and gets away with it." Hiashi said walking away from the portal. Shayla, Afura, Kuaul followed. " Good job Kid. See about getting them down while I look into the school's bug problem." Fujisawa said moving out of the room. Hiashi reached out and touched the force field and it gave him a minor jolt. "What is this thing?" he asked to no one in particular. The space above the rune quickly became a column of light blocking out his friends. It lasted only a few seconds. Then he heard them drop to the ground with a collective "Ooof". The light vanished as Makoto, Miz, and Ifurita came through. Hiashi helped pick Mecha up. "How are you feeling?" he asked. "Fine Uncle Sam. Must have landed on my arm. It tingles a bit and feels a bit numb." he said rubbing his right arm. He was surprised at how much the club president had changed. Hiashi had a strange brass/gold device clamped over his right forearm. A black armband was partially hidden by the sleeve of his blue and red shirt. But the biggest surprised was the headband he wore and the opal-like red stone at the center. It could have been a trick of the light, but Mecha would swear there was something moving around inside the stone. But even discounting the change in clothes, he seemed different. He seemed happier, more confident and sure of himself. It looked like ten pounds were added to his previously frail frame. This new Hiashi was more alive than before and while Mecha was happy for him, he also wanted to know what could cause such a transformation. Mecha wasn't the only one who noticed. Voice looked impressed and came over to them. "'Uncle Sam', that's a name I haven't been called in a long time." Hiashi said remembering forgetting himself for a second. "Long time?" Voice said in surprise in a louder-than-usual voice, "But we just saw you a few days ago." "It's a long story." Makoto said. "Heads up!" came Nanami's voice from the portal giving everyone a split second warning before suitcases and packages began flying through. They came through one after another. Makoto and Hiashi managed to catch a few before effectively being buried under the luggage. As Shayla and Cyber pulled Hiashi from the pile, Cyber asked, "Hey Sam, who's the babe?" Shayla nearly dropped her husband in surprise. "The 'babe' is Fire Priestess Shayla Shayla and if you call me that again I'm going to torch your ass." "Trust me, she'll do it too." commented Makoto as the remainder of the group came through the portal. "Fire Priestess? Yeah right. So what's with the get-up and that funky arm band, Sam? Woah, is that a cat you're wearing? " Takaai asked excitedly. "Like Makoto said, it's a long story. And I don't think we have much time for it right now." "We have more time than we first thought, Kid." Fujisawa said coming back, "I can't find any of the bugs around here." "Did you try the basement room where the sci-fi club holds their meetings?" "Er.... I don't know where that is. One of you will have to check it out. Looks like the security cameras are still out so it looks like we're the only eye witnesses." "And we're not exactly the most creditable. They'll probably think this was some sort of stunt." Voice commented. "Look, why don't we just show 'em the portal and bring through. That outta convince them." Shayla suggested. Everyone looked at her kind of funny, except Hiashi who put his head in his hands to hide his expression at the thought. "Shayla, we have to keep the portal a secret. It's the only way to protect it so it will still be here when we go back." he tried to explain. "Hey, we can keep a secret." Gineu promised. "So what's on the other side?" He took two steps and was stopped by Ifurita and Afura. "That is none of your concern." Ifurita stated simply. Gineu backed off obviously disappointed. "Let's double check to be sure the Bugrom are gone and if there's any solid evidence." Makoto said. He placed his hand against the portal and the glow vanished. "I set it to only allow humans who are from El Hazard or those influenced by the Eye to activate it." "So we don't have to worry about the Bugrom army coming through the Stairway. Good thinking, Makoto." Fujisawa complimented. As the others began making their way to the hall, Voice tapped Hiashi on the shoulder, "Uncle Sam ... Hiashi, I just wanted to say it's nice to have you back. And ummm I was wondering if you were uhh busy this Sunday?" she said nervously. If Shayla's ears could twitch, they would have. She charged right between Hiashi and Voice. Giving Voice her hardest look, Shayla shouted, "He's already spoken for!" with fangs barred. Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed Hiashi by the arm and yanked him away. Metaphorically speaking, Voice turned to stone and crumbled from shock. "I can't believe she did that." Shayla grumbled, "And you! I saw how you looked at her. You were thinking about it!" Hiashi couldn't help but smirk. "You're jealous." "And why shouldn't I be?" Hiashi took her hands and looked her straight in the eye, "Shayla, you're the only one for me. I love you more than anything. I admit that I was flattered because I once had a crush on Voice. 'Once', as in 'not any more'. Now smooth your angry brow, my love, or do I have to remind you about Makoto ... or Fatora." Shayla turned away blushing, but still kept hold of his hands. He was right. He was never upset with Shayla for originally falling for Makoto, or when Fatora disguised herself as Makoto and kissed her. Still, Shayla remembered her old rivalry with Nanami and she wasn't going to risk losing Hiashi to one of his former classmates, even if she knew the chances of that were nil. "All right. But stay away from her." Hiashi smiled and led her to the hallway. His wife always wanted the last word and he was willing to give it to her. Deep down he was more flattered by Shayla's jealously than anything. It meant she still cared and loved him. Shayla still had some trouble expressing her true feelings verbally. But Hiashi knew her well enough to see through whatever disguise she used to mask them and see how she really felt. When everyone else reached the hall they began to the viewing room. The sci-fi club members preferring to stick with their friends, Nanami quietly asked Makoto how he planned to explain their disappearance to everyone? "I hadn't really thought about it. I guess it would be better if it was never necessary to explain." Mecha led everyone back to the club room and the hole in the floor. "There." he said pointing, "That's where they started coming up." Unfortunately the hole the Bugrom came from was pretty much filled in and could easily be mistaken for quake damage. Worse, the hole was only big enough for a few Bugrom contributing to the suspicion that this was just some stunt. Fujisawa knew it was true, but one teacher who had been missing for the better part of a week was not going to sway skeptical authorities. Gineu didn't really see the point in checking it out. Monsters rarely come back to the same place they were seen the first time and authorities never believe stories about creatures until it was too late. Makoto was concerned this one time the cliche could be right. "Oh thank goodness, they're still safe!" Hiashi said from a corner. A section of the wall panel was on the floor and the Rock Priest was crawling inside. "What's still safe?" Afura asked with a mix of apathy and curiousity. Hiashi pulled out of the hole cradling a box. It was packed with paperback books, manga, and magazines. Carefully he pulled each one out and inspected them. Shayla sat next to him to read over his shoulder. "What is that?" she asked. "A treasure. A treasure that has helped me through the most difficult times of my life." he said with glazed eyes that welcomed the sight of star ships, lasers, aliens; the very things he considered to be the ultimate in human expression. Anyone could write about what exists or fictions rooted in reality. But to put dreams into words and pictures was the highest form of art. To dream of a reality so different from what you exist in requires a special something in a person, a spark of imagination that can be inspired. His time in El Hazard only reinforced that fact. What Hiashi collected was what he considered to be the best examples in printed form, Heinlein, Clarke, art books, fanzines for movies; all showed signs of use that seemed to enhance the effect. Shayla caught a glimpse of a space ship gliding through the stars and was drawn closer. It was in English and the trip to Earth had not given her the ability to read it, but for now it was enough to see what before she thought was impossible. Afura was tempted to join them, but felt this was something best shared between husband and wife. The two looked content for a fleeting moment. Afura decided to wait before asking Shayla to see them. "I hate to break up your bonding, but we got a bug infestation." Nanami said breaking the silence. Everyone else was checking for footprints or had left to search the rest of the school. Embarrassed, Hiashi carefully packed the box again and carried it with him as they left. Unfortunately there wasn't a shell nor antenna of the Bugrom on school grounds. They didn't have much time to look because the remainder of the sci-fi club had called for help. The principal, a few teachers, and several policemen met Fujisawa and the others in the hall by chance. "Mr.Fujisawa, you have a lot of nerve showing your face here like this. Would you mind explaining just what you are doing here and where you've been for the past few days?" Before Fujisawa could speak, the principal noticed Makoto and Nanami. "And what about you two? Did Kazuhiko threaten you? Why didn't you report it instead of hiding all week?" Makoto and Nanami studdered a bit trying to best explain things but the principal didn't give them the chance because his eyes wandered to Hiashi, "You?! ... Listen, son, I've got some bad news. I don't know if you've heard, but the police say your father has been murdered. They believe he offended a member of the yakuza at some dive and was killed then and there. The police also say it was your father who ran over your mother. Now I don't know how much of it is true, but they wouldn't tell me unless they were sure." Hiashi looked shocked, "Sir, you have as much tact as a Darth Vader." "I know you must be upset so I'll overlook that comment. But remember, do NOT speak to me in that tone of voice." the principal said in an intimidating manner. Any other student would cringe or at least wince when he did that. Fujisawa, Makoto, and Nanami sure did even though he wasn't speaking at them, even Ifurita who only knew the principal through Makoto's memories. But like Shayla would have, Hiashi stood in unmoveable defiance and said nothing. "Now what's this about 'monsters'?" the principal asked skeptically looking over the remainder of the sci-fi club. Everyone tried to speak at once describing what happened. Each one concentrated on a different aspect of the Bugrom. Voice kept blabbering about how scary they were. She talked the loudest but incoherently. Geniu was getting excited again hypnotizing out loud about their origins. Cyber tried talking for a moment then shut up when he realized he was not going to be heard. Sugyosha and Mecha were the only ones actually describing what happened. Fortunately no one mentioned the ruins or the portal to El Hazard. This went on for a minute before the principal shouted for them to be quiet. Everyone shut up immediately. "Do you think I'm stupid?" he thundered, "Do you really think I'll buy that crap about monsters? As far as I'm concerned this was nothing more than a prank to scare your club members. Now get out of my sight before I expel the lot of you." "Yes sir." everyone, Earther and Hazardian alike, said in unison and began charging up the stairs as fast as they can go. "Just hold it right there!" he continued causing everyone to stop in their tracks. "Would someone mind explaining to me just why the hell I have cats and non- Shininobe students in my basement?" "We're sorry sir. We're leaving right now." Fujisawa said bowing repeatedly. "You're still on the night shift you know." "Night shift? But sir--" "Shut up! Now I don't know where you've been this week and frankly, I don't care. You are this close to loosing your job. If your little trip embarrasses this institution, I'll throw you out onto the street myself!" The principal and his troop walked behind Makoto and the others, silently hurrying them along until they, save Fujisawa, was safely outside school grounds. It was Shayla who spoke first, "What a fucking bastard." "Is he always that bad?" Miz asked leaning against the gates as if her husband were locked away in prison. "When he thinks it would be good for public relations, he's the nicest guy in the world. Bring shame, even imagined shame, on the school and he'll come down on you like a ton of bricks." Nanami explained. " How did Fujisawa last that long?" Shayla muttered. Nanami heard her, "Despite his habits he is still the best history teacher for a hundred miles and one of the top mountaineers in the country. Talent like that brings prestige to any school where he works. Our principal would like to keep him working here even if he's not happy about it. I think he wants to make our Royal Champion quit so he doesn't look like the tyrant really he is." Everyone began to talk away from the campus to the nearby part to plan their next move. "Listen, this might be a little late to ask this, but what's going on?" Mecha asked still rubbing his arm. The stiffness was getting a little worse though he could feel no broken bones. "That is none of your concern." Afura said coldly. "Well I'm making it my concern. We've been chased by giant bugs, trapped above a rune, and now people we thought were missing are back again. We want to know." Mecha said again, this time with the rest of the sci-fi club. Those from El Hazard, either by birth or fate, looked at each other nervously. "Well, I guess if anyone's going to believe us, it's them." Makoto said.