El Hazard and it's characters are owned by AIC and Pioneer LDC.  The author 
owns only the writing.

Chapter 9: Mizuhara's Residence and Neighborhood 
 
The Hazardians, were too busy watching this technological miracle to notice. It 
was just a commercial, but the four women were entranced by the moving 
pictures. For a few seconds Shayla wondered if this was part of that 'sci-fi' of her 
husband's, but he wasn't even excited about it, so it wasn't. It made her all the 
more amazed. Something like this so common place it was taken for granted?! 
The commercial ended and another began, this one for detergent. Afura at the 
ease the blue power removed dirt. Lifted it right off the shirt. Earth may be 
advanced technologically, but she knew an exaggeration when she saw it. She has 
had enough. Kaluul was getting glassy eyed. If a few minutes of this can zombify 
a Great Priestess, what would a lifetime of it do to the average Earther? Afura 
shuddered at the thought. Still the Earthers she knew weren't too effected by it. 
Makoto even looked like he was ignoring the glowing box. His parents were 
staring at Afura and the other Hazardians, but tried not to. 
 
When the news finally came back on all they found was a casual mention about 
aftershocks from the quake earlier that week when Ifurita's chamber was 
uncovered. It could have been emerging Bugrom or it really could be aftershocks. 
"Guess we'll have to stick around the school until we know more about when 
they're coming." Makoto concluded. 
 
"Great. Why should I go? I already have a job. It's not like I plan to stay here." 
Hiashi complained. Afura noticed Shayla gave a brief sigh of relief. But she 
sharply inhaled again when the parents wanted to know why. 
 
"Why would I want to stay here? I have no family. None that cares anyway. No 
income which means no way to support myself. Back home I have 
responsibilities, friends, a wife. I can't leave all that behind. I'm happy there." 
Hiashi explained unconsciously reaching out and holding Shayla's hand. His last 
sentence was in a tone that seemed to explain everything. 
 
Mr.Jinnai grumbled something about losing another mind to foreign influences. 
He didn't know Afura, Priestess of the Wind and Air could hear him and was 
disgusted. Makoto continued. "Regardless that's where the Bugrom are most 
likely to occur. Besides, how do you expect to escape Mr.Uma?" 
 
Hiashi shook slightly. Mr.Uma the truant officer. There were rumors he and the 
vice-principle take summer vacations to America and goad marines into fights. 
Mr.Uma had no martial arts training, but he was an expert brawler. Several years 
ago the Kendo club won the national championships and decided to play hooky 
the next day to celebrate. Mr.Uma thrashed them all and dragged each one by the 
scruff of their necks back to school. It was part of how the principal kept order 
and his reputation. "Forgot about him." he admitted. 
 
"What about the rest of us? We're not students so why should we have to go to 
school?" Kuaul asked. 
 
"Well Miz and Ifurita are obviously past the age limit for school. You could 
probably pass as Miz's cousin. But that will mean you'll have to stay at Fujisawa-
sensei's place. But all of you are going to have to stay out of sight otherwise you'll 
draw too much attention to yourselves. Mr.Uba doesn't go after known problem 
students. If he thinks you're students of any school, he'll drag you in. I think he 
gets commission." 
 
"Yeah, like a raw t-bone steak for each new student he recruits." Nanami added 
sarcastically. 
 
"So what's the alternative? Pretend to be transfer students or something? You 
really think we can pull that off?" Shayla asked. 
 
"You might have to." Makoto answered with a forced smile. 
 
"Hey Hiashi. A twenty roshtals says your wife damages the school before third 
period." Nanami proposed. She liked betting on sure things. 
 
"What?!" Shayla said getting angry. 
 
"Don't count collateral damage done against the Bugs and you're on." Hiashi 
accepted as if Shayla wasn't there. They shook on the bet. 
 
"Sucker." Nanami taunted. "Hey, any of you want in on this? Damage or safe?" 
 
Shayla fumed at her so-called friends as they actually considered the bet. Ifurita 
spoke first, "Damage." 
 
"Sorry Shayla. Damage" Makoto admitted. 
 
"Well at least you're giving her a sporting chance, Nanami. I would have said 
fifth. Damage." Miz commented. 
 
"I'm staying out of this." Kaual said moving away from the group, hands raised. 
 
Afura thought to herself. While she doubted Shayla will keep a cool head, she 
couldn't bring herself to bet against her Sister. She betted in favor of Shayla for 
the same reason Hiashi did, they'd rather lose than win a wager against her. 
Maybe she could start accepting Hiashi as part of her family. Maybe she should 
have already. 
 
"Well I guess this lets you know who you're friends are." Shayla humphed. "If 
you're done making wagers on me, we'll be going." Shayla said standing, pulling 
Hiashi with her. 
 
"You know where I am and the phone number just in case right?" Makoto called 
as Shayla led the way into a city she barely knew. 
 
"Yeah. You got mine. Your mom has everyone's number." Hiashi answered as he 
left. 
 
"Can you believe them?" Shayla muttered to her husband once they were a safe 
distance away, "Haven't they been paying attention this past year? You've been 
helping me control my temper and I think it's starting to show." 
 
She went on for a while, letting her frustrations out in words and the occasional 
brutal kick to any empty pop can she encountered on the sidewalk. Her husband 
kept silent and let her talk. He knew the unfortunate truth. When they were 
together, yes she did usually keep her famous fiery temper under control. He was 
around as a tragic reminder about what can happen when violent rages occur too 
often. More than once, he had to warn her when anger was about to take control 
of her actions. When they were apart, she had no real fail safes and in some ways 
her temper was worse. A fire can burn hotter when controlled and focused, but 
causes a wilder inferno when released. 
 
About half way between Makoto's and Hiashi's homes, Shayla finally got tired of 
complaining. The fact they were passing through a shopping area had no small 
influence on things. But by then most of the stores were closed so they could only 
window shop. They did find one department store open. "We will need to get you 
a uniform if you're going to fit in." Hiashi admitted as they entered. 
 
"Do they have them in red?" she asked as if no other color will do. Hiashi 
informed her about some of the unfair realities about school uniforms. Since he 
had only a few yen in cash, he had to use the in-store ATM to pay for it. 
Fortunately his card survived the past nine months in another universe. The 
purchase was necessary but he was still reluctant to do it. As they left, he waited 
for the question to be asked. 
 
"If you can use that card to get money for the uniform, how about using it so we 
can go to a bar or something?" 
 
First he tried to dodge the issue, "Well one, you don't have a government ID to 
say you're of legal age. Two, neither of us are of legal age for this city." 
 
"You were still a little stingy back there. I thought that shirt would look good on 
you." 
 
"I have a spare uniform at home. No need to get a new one." 
 
"So how about something simple like one of those ice creams Nanami mentioned 
once? Or do we need an ID for that too?" 
 
Hiashi was silent. 
 
"I saw your receipt. It's not like you're in danger of running out anytime soon. 
Unless you plan to stay longer than necessary." Shayla said getting annoyed at his 
evasive answers. 
 
He stopped suddenly, letting his wife pass him before she could react. "Do you 
know where that money came from?" he asked in a low voice. 
 
She didn't and wondered why it mattered, then said so. "Mother and I worked 
hard for that money. We had to do it in secret because if Father found out, he'd ... 
hit us both and take it. What you saw was the result of years of blood, sweat, and 
tears. It was meant to support Mother and I when we left Father. We were just 
about to when ... when. Please don't." he closed his mouth in a failed attempt to 
keep what happened out of his memory. 
 
Shayla looked down, ashamed about reviving bad memories. He rarely use that 
tone of voice. When he did, his position became as unmovable as the largest 
mountain in El Hazard. But money is meant to be used, if not today then in the 
future. What was the use of letting it sit idle? Unless ... unless he had plans for it, 
like staying. No, that couldn't be it. Could it? The money was just sentimental and 
symbolic. Wasn't it? But according to what Nanami told her about the banking 
system, the money existed in electronic form only. It had no physical substance, 
so what emotional value could it have? 
 
Hiashi tried to understand that his wife couldn't know about what the account 
meant. He remembered helping Nanami in her lunch box business, paid tutoring, 
helping old women for a 25 yen coin, using whatever scant moments of spare 
time to help make his future a happy one. This was the result. All of it summed up 
in a small piece of paper. But using that money now, for frivolous spending, 
would be like saying all their work and suffering was in vain. His happy future 
happened without ever needing that money. Would that mean all the time they 
spent earning that was wasted? He already felt guilty for buying the school 
uniform. He rationalized it by telling himself that he would have needed to get a 
new one anyway so it really didn't matter who it was for. Still, he felt like he just 
gave his mother's memory a proverbial slap in the face. 
 
They walked along the sidewalk in silence. Shayla continued to look at the closed 
stores. She wanted to take a closer look, but didn't want to revive the 
disagreement from earlier. Her mind still wandered back to it though as she tried 
to figure out why he was so attached to it. A cool fall breeze gusted along the 
street making Shayla shiver. Instinctively Hiashi put his arm around her and used 
some of the power from his headband jewel to keep her warm. The issue with 
money and shopping was forgotten, replaced by the remembering the reason why 
they got married. The thought warmed them better than any magic.