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

Chapter 11: Jinnai Residence 
 
During the ride, Afura and Nanami were grilled by Nanami's parents about what 
Katuhiko had done in El-Hazard. Well for the first five minutes anyway. After 
that it was too clear their son was evil. It was still hard for them to accept. Nanami 
anticipated having this conversation again several times in the near future. Then 
the subject was switched to Hiashi. They were curious about how he had changed 
and about his choice of a wife. Nanami was surprised that Afura defended 
Hiashi's actions and behavior. She said in no uncertain terms about what a good 
priest and husband he turned out to be. What Nanami found more surprising was 
how Afura credited him with improving Shayla's behavior. From what Afura was 
telling them, Nanami thought the Wind Priestess felt the two were almost made 
for each other. "I always thought you were jealous of him since Shayla doesn't go 
on many shopping trips with you anymore." she commented. 
 
"I was." Afura admitted, "But I decided to start trying to include him as family. 
Regardless of how I feel, it does not change the fact Hiashi is a good man and one 
I'd trust with my life." 
 
"Family?" Mrs.Jinnai asked. 
 
"Shayla, myself, and many of the acolytes at our temples grew up together at the 
Academy. There are those who know one another better than their own parents. 
We may argue often amongst ourselves, even have rivalries, but one of the first 
things we learned is that every student is part of our new family. It's a tradition 
stemming from the fact a sizeable number of students are orphans." 
 
"So is he the first man to be admitted ever?" Mr.Jinnai asked. He wasn't paying 
much attention to Makoto's story by the time he got to what happened after he 
rescued Ifurita. At the time his thoughts were still on his son and how impossible 
it all sounded. 
 
"The first for so long he might as well be. Even though the gender barrier is 
technically gone, there have been no male applicants for the Academy and frankly 
I don't think there ever will be. I'm sure some people will be disappointed, but the 
tradition has gone on too long to be broken." 
 
"But your not one of them." Mrs.Jinnai said. 
 
There was a pause. "No I'm not. Hiashi is an exception. He recovered the Lamp of 
Rock after a long and hard ordeal. It was a feat which would be difficult to equal. 
He earned the right to join us. The next male will have to prove himself just as 
much; and the next one; and the next until males are finally accepted. Frankly it's 
an impossible task." 
 
"Too many people who can't accept changing gender roles eh?" Nanami added 
sarcastically. She was miffed that her father was more concerned about that stupid 
brother of hers than her own successful business. In the time since the Eye of God 
blinked, Nanami had been working her fingers to the bone to maker her restaurant 
the famous place it was today. And there was her father ignoring it. Worse, he 
almost seemed to belittle her efforts by his neglect. She immediately turned the 
conversation to her own business. This time mentioning the advice her parents 
gave her, even if it was actually as useful as magnets to a computer. It got their 
attention at least and for a while they beamed with pride. 
 
Then she asked about her friends on Earth. She forgot that it was only a week 
since she vanished. Nanami remembered her classmates, friends, teachers and 
everyone else who was part of her life on Earth. She missed them. She forgot how 
much they meant to her. Her best friend, Ryoko would just flip over the gift 
Nanami got her. She looked so forward to giving it to her. Live on Earth, work in 
El-Hazard. That would be perfect! She talked about her plans, inviting her parents 
over to see her place. Makoto's wishes to restrict portal use was brushed aside. 
She asked her father if import tariffs could be applied to extra-dimensional goods. 
It started a good discussion about economics between father and daughter. He 
remembered which of his children would be the most successful and how much 
he loved her. 
 
It would have lasted longer except Kaluul saw something in an alley they were 
passing by. She said it looked like a Bugrom. Afura led the newer Priestess while 
Nanami and her parents stayed with the car. "What do we do if it comes here?" 
her mother asked terrified out of her wits. 
 
"Run to Afura." Nanami answered. She had been through her share of fights, but 
without any combat abilities her usual tactic was to run to someone who did for 
protection. The Bugrom are really here! She hoped Makoto was wrong but then 
she saw it. It was a huge red one, knocking trash cans about in pure rage. 
 
"Is it me or is that bug disappearing and reappearing?" Kaluul asked in a confused 
tone. 
 
Sure enough it was flickering in and out of existence like a ghost. Sometimes it's 
claw passed through an object, others it bashed it. Then it noticed the Priestesses 
and knew them to be the enemy. It charged giving a chirping battle cry. Afura's 
Badger's Slash had the bad timing of being where the Bugrom was when the 
Bugrom wasn't. Kaluul was luckier with her streaming water attack. The Bugrom 
soldier reappeared in the middle of the airborne creek and cried in pain. It was 
pure chance it did not materialize within a solid object yet. Afura noted that and 
concluded it only just appeared on Earth. 
 
The magic from El Hazard appeared to end the Bugrom's shifting. It recovered 
just in time to receive a Badger's Slash. It's cry of pain faded out of existence 
matching the Bugrom itself. This time it did not reappear. 
 
"Is it dead?" Nanami asked being the only one in her family with the courage to 
leave the car. 
 
"I believe so. It's like when Miz killed that member of the Phantom Tribe. Just 
vanished leaving no trace." Afura replied. 
 
"Well that's just great. How are we going to prove their existence if they vanish 
the second we kill them?" 
 
"Well I'm glad they do. Makoto wants to keep as much of this secret as possible. 
I'd think that if there's no evidence left behind, people will be less likely to 
believe." Kaluul said. 
 
The shock over the battle ended when they got home. Afura and Kaluul were 
showed to the guest room. Nanami took the opportunity to teach them about 
Shininobe and how to act there. Her mother managed to find some of her old 
uniforms for the two Priestesses. The fit was, needless to say, less than perfect. 
But it was better than nothing. Kaluul whispered to Afura about how the 
Academy had less rules than Japanese schools. 
 
Nanami soon reverted from the official rules to gossiping. She claimed her job 
selling boxed lunches got her the scoop on all the juicy rumors and such. Kaluul 
was drafted into helping Nanami with making and selling the lunches tomorrow. 
Afura managed to escape that fate. Nanami was about to suggest it when Afura 
gave her a hard cold stare that said, "Don't. Even. Think about it." 
 
After the Lamp of Rock was recovered and Kazusa destroyed, Afura took a leave 
of absence to spiritually recover from the ordeal. Part of it was spent working as a 
waitress at Nanami's restaurant. It was meant to be a week where she could forget 
what had happened and take a break from being a Priestess. It did not work out. 
Afura was still a bit of a snob and let the occasional sarcastic remark about the 
customer's choice of food slip. If the job wasn't temporary, Afura would have 
been the first person Nanami would have to fire. She was just not meant to be 
working at a job where the customer came first. 
 
Kaluul was different. While secure in her powers and skills, she was a bit 
submissive around others. Nanami guessed her less-than-average height 
contributed to that. When she first came to Floristica she had lunch at Nanami's 
Lunch Box but didn't have enough for the bill. She had assumed that being the 
next High Priestess, she wouldn't have to pay. It would have been the correct 
assumption except she never mentioned she was the next High Priestess. Nanami 
had her working for two days before Kaluul got the nerve to mention the work 
was delaying the ceremony. Nanami was sad to lose her. Her politeness gained a 
few new customers, the kind that came often and were generous with the tips. 
Nanami hoped to cash in on Kaluul again. 
 
Afura gradually lost interest with Nanami's gossiping. She heard it all before. It 
was fun for a while, more so since none of it effected her. But now it might, even 
though she was not sure how. A few days, a week on the outside and they would 
be back home. "Whichever home it winds up being." she realized. "How many 
would want to stay here?" was her next thought. 
 
Afura mentally went through each of the Earthers and tried to figure out which 
ones would choose to stay. Nothing was definite. Fujisawa might want to get back 
to his old job. He was of the opinion that children had more possibilities on Earth. 
At the least, health care was better. All that was weighed against his wife's 
wishes, a secure job, the respect he has earned, and how he was reinventing 
himself. Nanami had her business in Floristica, but if her gossip was any 
indication, she missed being a student. Makoto had Ifurita. Which could go either 
way. He might want to stay so they could have a fresh start away from her past. 
Or return to help in the subtitle changes in the demon Afura's sharp eyes noticed. 
Hiashi she was most concerned about. Only because of Shayla though. Afura was 
pretty sure he would return to El-Hazard. He was the only Earther who traveled 
across worlds willingly. However he fled Earth to escape his father, who he later 
learned was dead. Would he try to restart his life? Then Afura remembered 
Hiashi's love of sci-fi. If he went back, there would be no more new books, 
movies, TV, magazines, and so on for him to read. His hobby, no, a major part of 
his personality, would have to stay behind. Afura asked herself a simple question, 
"Would I give up my library and research for love?" She couldn't, wouldn't 
answer it and suddenly there was doubt.