"Father, why did you bring me abroad with you this time?" asked Mei, as she and Shō were in a plane heading to Hong Kong. "Well, Mei, I thought it would be high time for you to see the world for the first time," her father replied with a smile, putting an arm around her. "I want you to see what lies beyond the Aihara Academy, so you can understand what made me want to be free from the school your Grandfather founded. Besides," he continued, his eyes growing sadder, "I don't want to repeat the mistakes I made in the past." Mei bowed her head. "Neither do I, Father," she replied. "Although, there's just been something troubling me these last few days, and I think you can quickly relate to it..." here she drifted into deep thought, stopping short at these words at her own allusion to Yuzu. "We'll worry about it when we get back," Shō responded. "I think, Mei, you shouldn't be locking yourself into your own reflections all the time like you've been doing your whole life." "That's something I don't want to repeat," said Mei, knitting her brows in deep regret. "I've hurt a lot of people close to my heart because of that." Shō looked lovingly into his daughter's eyes. "I hurt a lot of people, too. And of those who were most distraught, it was you and your Grandfather, Mei. Not that I didn't care for you, but that I unknowingly sacrificed my relationship with the entire Aihara family just to bring my ambitions to fruition." Mei's eyes widened. Her father had never told her his thoughts on that painful matter that she had tried to shut out of her mind. A knife went through her heart as she realized how unloving she had been to him by determining to follow Grandfather's wishes to the letter. But Mei was still confused. "But where does that leave me, Father?" she asked him. "What am I to do in my life?" For some minutes, Shō was silent, pondering his answer. At length, he spoke, putting his arm more tightly around his daughter. "You know, my dear," he replied, "I have been trying to get you to ask that question, but I can't answer it for you. However," he said to her surprise, "I've realized that I've failed as a father by not helping you find purpose in your life. For instance, why did you want to inherit the Academy?" Mei paused. "Because I wanted it to be ready for you when you came back, Father." "But did you really want to do it?" Shō asked. "Or did you just submit yourself to something that actually wasn't in your heart to do?" Mei couldn't answer out loud, struck to the heart by his question. But his next words brought her peace. "I know, Mei," he said. "You saw it as more of a destiny than your desire, didn't you?" She nodded. "Although I didn't realize that I did until I first met Yuzu," she reflected. "She opened my eyes to the fact that the beauty of this world is far beyond the Academy. She's the one who encouraged me to be myself with other people. In fact, she's the reason why we're talking right now." "Her mother changed my perspective on things, too," Shō added. "She made me see that I was not fulfilling my duty as a parent, and she cared so much for the two of you girls that she gleefully asked to be your new mother and for Yuzu to be your new sister, all for your good." They were both silent for some minutes as the flight stewardess brought them their beverages, which they quietly sipped while lost in thought. Shō broke the silence. "Oh, by the way, Mei," he began, "what was about that terrifying vision of Yuzu that we both saw? And why did we both see it?" Mei turned away, looking out the airplane window as they approached the coast of China. She feared her father's reaction to what she was about to say, and subsequently began to ponder her answer as the jet began the final descent. What do I say? Mei said to herself. I don't want to tell him just yet. Just then, the plane hit the runway with a jolt, and Mei's thoughts were briefly interrupted as the jet braked to a stop and headed toward the gate. As the passengers all paced their way through the narrow corridor to the terminal, she could hear a voice inside her head. I'm watching you, Aihara, whispered Zu. You know I am. Mei's eyes widened in shock, but thankfully Shō didn't notice. However, he once again pressed the question he had asked his daughter but a few minutes before. "Did you hear my question earlier, Mei?" he spoke. "What is this about a horrifying Yuzu entering our minds?" Mei's face turned pale, and her legs grew wobbly in her trepidation. With a scared look at her father, she opened her mouth to speak."I don't know, Father," she blurted out, immediately regretting her answer as the words escaped her lips. Zu's response was instantaneous. A wave of pitch-black horror smote Mei to the heart as she fell to the ground unconscious. Again the void of darkness enveloped her as she beheld those eyes of fire and those medusal tentacles. Zu spoke not, her scowl of anger flaring up to a seemingly unquenchable flame. But suddenly, the aura of darkness faded from Mei's vision, imploding upon itself into a dot of nothingness. The realm she had entered was a lovely meadow, with the blades of lush grass newly soaked by spring rains. In her mind, Mei turned around and saw a prostrate Yuzu, with her face upturned and tear-stained, her hands outstretched, and her beseeching eyes giving Mei the same message as that which flowed from her lips. "Mei," she whispered very faintly, " for the love of God, please come back." END OF ARC TWO

