Kotomi's face grew hard as she fingered through her Wacbook PC and saw that a smear campaign, from both anonymous and known sources, was already building up in the US academe. "She Can't Take The Heat" was what one slogan read. Others were openly questioning her sanity and thus her right to participate in any academic or scientific endeavor, as well as urging her to quit any enterprise she already joined or sponsored. She even found a handful of critics from Keno.

Kyou held onto her friend's hand. "Kotomi, if they don't want you anymore, you can just stay with us for good. Teach at Hikarizaka."

The rest of the girls joined in a group hug. "Kotomi, we're here for you," said Ryou.

"Don't mind them, Kotomi-san, they don't know what they're losing," said Ushio.

Easy for you to say, Kotomi thought, sighing. They never got wind of the long years and effort she invested in her professional life. Then again they got a different set of life experiences.

Now that Kotomi was found the group decided to go next to Keno. Kotomi put all of the Hikarizaka students in the car with her while everybody else went on ahead in two taxis.

The crowd outside Keno had turned the place into a school festival of sorts. Students drew more banners for Doctor Ichinose and distributed tokens and souvenirs, even small food items, to passers-by and a performance of the Choir Club was set up. The crowd was really enjoying the publicity they got from Tokyo journalists and a few foreign media.

Later a hush rose from the crowd as three cars in a row were spotted arriving at the university parkway.

In a short while everybody was rushing toward the road and they enveloped the three cars in no time.

"Doctor Ichinose!"

"Long live!"

Chii put two hands over her hanging mouth. So this is what it feels like to be famous! I never got this sort treatment from my own school in my whole life!

However they could not get out now as the crowd threatened to squeeze them flat. It was like being surrounded by house-size storm waves.

Just then, they felt someone stand on the roof and heard a shout from a loud megaphone. That voice…

"Sunohara!" Kotomi exclaimed delightfully.

"Everybody turn back or we'll have you responsible if anything happens to Doctor Ichinose!"

Tomoyo grabbed the thing from her fiancé. "Please, calm down! We won't get anywhere with this!"

When the clamor had died down somewhat, the board and the principal pressed their way to the car and opened the door for Kotomi. They escorted her while Ushio and company trailed them, both providing her cover. They reached the stage they set up for the Choir Club.

Upon settling herself on stage, Kotomi looked out upon a vast sea of faces all looking at her.

The chairman of the board stood up and started to speak on the doctor's behalf, but he did not go far before Kotomi herself stood up and took the microphone from him.

"Everybody," she announced, teary-eyed, but in a calm, clear voice. "Welcome to Keno! Welcome everybody! I love you!"

And the crowd could not have enough of cheering for her.

That evening the whole gang, past and present, sat down in a hotel room as one big family.

Youhei and Tomoyo got a good part of the time to themselves. They were asked about their date, and why was it that they arrived so soon.

"We saw everything on the cable," said Sunohara, "and Tomoyo and I figured we can't let ourselves miss out on the fun if it involved one of our buddies."

"So Ushio," Tomoyo said ruffling the girl's hair, "you're already graduating this year?"

"Uh-huh. I'll be so glad if all of you here, including you and Uncle Youhei, would be there with me."

Tomoyo chuckled patronizingly. "Why should we ever forget?"

"Of course, girl!" said Sunohara. "We will be there, and we will have the grandest time! We will make it the best thing Hikarizaka has ever witnessed. That, and a toilet seat!"

And for that, he got Tomoyo's knee in his belly, again.

"You will excuse Youhei now, will you?" apologized Tomoyo. "He got so much free time he forgot he was human."

"Hehe," he managed to choke. When he could speak again, he said, "Boracay's just awesome, man."

"You didn't see Pacquiao there?" asked Tomoya.

"Nah. I hear he's in the States now to train. His last big fight, they say, before he retires."

Speaking of States, just then, Kotomi's phone rang. It was a direct call from a colleague in Berkeley. She was just a bit nervous as she answered. "Hello, Loskowitz? Dr. Ichinose."

"Good evening, there, Kotomi," a voice rang over the phone's loudspeaker as everybody in the room listened breathlessly. "I have seen what they're doing to you online."

"Yeah," she sighed, "I knew this would happen. Perhaps now I have a better perspective of who my friends and foes are."

"Ichinose. All is not lost. Blenheim and I have started a signature campaign to keep you in our research here. I have also contacted all of your known connections in the US and in Sweden, and I found that there are more than a few people who still believe in you. Just hang on there, will you?"

"This," she gasped, "is just unbelievable. I never thought—"

"Kotomi, don't underestimate yourself. We here were impressed with the support you got from your people there in Japan. Your breakdown may destroy a lesser person's career, but there are many who won't forget the contributions you made over the years. The Department of Energy has just expressed support for you this afternoon."

"I…I…" She was on the verge of tears.

"Still, your detractors are in a big camp of their own. We'll be facing a huge battle here, I can assure you that."

She wiped away her nascent tears. "I don't care," she returned in her typical calm, level voice. "I have seen this already, it's the same. Though the scale is bigger now, I won't mind expending a little more effort than usual."

"Excellent. I will call you later. Maybe I'll have Johnston talk to you, so hold on." And the line was hung.

Ushio leaped at Kotomi squealing with delight in tight embrace. "Kotomi-san, I knew you would make it!"

Everybody was almost crying tears of joy. Even Sunohara had to turn his back on them.

"Kotomi," said Tomoya , holding her hand, "We will never leave you. If the stress builds up, just voice call us, we will always have Ushio to receive you."

She was blushing from the gesture. Even after he knew her intentions, just being touched by him fired her up so.

Then again, speaking of intentions, there was one little matter she wanted to break before everybody.

"Kyou," she began, "I just can't stay behind. I have already done too much in America for me to leave it all just like that. I could not help but return and try to pick up the pieces of what remains. But this does not mean I have forgotten my hometown. Today I have been reminded just how much I owe my countrymen."

"Kotomi..." Kyou whispered.

"Perhaps," she said looking at her directly, "staying here, you can do more for Tomoya than I ever could."

Kyou's expression visibly stiffened and for a while Kotomi thought she saw her blushing.

"Tomoya," she said, musing on how she must say it, "I…know that Ushio is precious to you all. But I want you to know that I still want to bring her to America.

"If any university there will not accept my recommendation, I will always have colleagues who will support Ushio on my behalf.

"I still believe this will do wonders for her. Having received these blessings, I still don't think it right that I should not share it with the people I love.

"Though now, Ushio, I am not forcing you, or even urging you, to come with me. I'm just asking you. Please. You guys have given me all of the companionship a forlorn child like me could ever dream of. You may be contented in your state, and you may not desire the things that I have. Yet, I could hardly think of anything else to give of my own. Please, think of it as something shared by a friend.

"Ushio. You told me that you and Tomoya measure people by what you have done for them. So now, I will do this for you, just to show how much…" Her voice started to break. "…how much you mean to me." And she embraced the girl. "Nagisa…thank you…thank you…for being there for us."

"Kotomi," Tomoya said, also in a breaking voice, also hugging, "you were always too kind."

The joyful waterworks were such that toughie Tomoyo, shaking herself off of all this, said, "Well! I just heard something about Nagisa being being with us. While we were in Manila, Youhei and I chanced upon a cultural performance and we got a piece here for you." She took out a card on which were inscribed lyrics. "It is a ballad about the River Pasig," she continued, "This river was a classic in Manila. Back in the day, it was fresh and clear, the pride and joy of the city.

"Sadly, today it is very much befouled. I would have loved to see it return to its pristine condition.

"The last lines fit Nagisa very well. If you don't mind, I'll read the translation for you."

"The Muse of the River Pasig

"I was once a fair maiden

In love's wondrous realm.

Once the love had perished

So had the kingdom vanished.

"My life and strength have passed on

Unto the breasts, the hearts of every one.

If you shall have me living

My love you will be giving.

"If you shall have me living

My love you will be giving."

They all smiled and bowed their heads in silent remembrance. Her life, and everybody else's, surely did not stop with her grave. There was no need to mourn and cling to her so tightly now, for she was with them all along.

Kotomi and Ushio looked at each other significantly, smiling like little children. It was the way of little children to look forward to every new adventure life brought. To Ushio, going abroad was a new horizon. To Kotomi, living with Ushio abroad was a brand new beginning as well.

Shortly after she graduated, Ushio and her father went on an excursion to a certain beach which her mother also visited with him back when she was pregnant with her.

It was a very windy day and the clouds lumbered along visibly across the gold-tinted sky. The girl took into herself the fresh sea breeze and tasted the salt sprays on her lips.

"Ushio, did you know your mother broke at least one promise in her life?"

She looked at him, but not to await any answer, for she figured she already knew. "Maybe she said you both would come here again?"

He smiled."No, that's not it."

Still, it was close. So the logical next step was, "It would have been awesome to sit here, us three, you know, papa?"

He smiled warmly at her daughter as he watched her wade into the water. The waves were strong that afternoon and their crests lapped at the fringes of her skirt.

He waded into the water with her. "Don't venture too far, dear."

Far ahead, the horizon was inviting. It was but a flat line, but it held its own secrets just beyond that line. Ushio peered excitedly away to where it merged with where the glow was the brightest. That was where the sea met the sky.

"You know, papa, you can still feel the beach under you even here. The shore never leaves you." A gust blew at her and she had to clear the hair out of her head. "But out there, where there is no more beach, the tides continue. Encircling the world. Papa, someday I can also take you there."

"Yes, I know," he said, holding her hand. "I will be waiting for you."

"I will bring home to you all the treasures I could carry. I will make our family proud. And I will find a man. And I know," she finished, looking across the vast expanse of the heavens, "you will also be proud of him."

The End.