*** Ishiyama household ***

Mr. Kamiya, Uncle to Hiroki and Yumi, was helping his wife set his own son and his niece to the month long summer camp.

“Yumi, Koji, both of you hurry up.” He called. His business partner Mr. Hopper was coming over for coffee this afternoon before the teens where send to the summer camp. He heard the pitter patter of people running down stairs before the two teens of the house came down the stairs.

“Hi dad.” Koji said as he laid his huge backpack on the couch. Koji wore blue jeans ripped at the knees, white and black tennis shoes, and a shirt with a flame design with the words ‘This is why I’m HOT’ written on it. He also wore goggles around his neck.

“Morning Uncle Takeru.” Yumi said laying her backpack next to Koji’s. Yumi wore black and red tennis shoes, black jeans ripped at the knees, and a black sleeveless shirt with a broken red heart on the chest, she also wore a red wrist band on her right wrist. “Did you hear from dad?”

“Your father, I’m sorry, but none of us have heard from him since Christmas.” The man said. “He spends so much time in Tokyo making money to support you and Hiroki, whether or not he comes back to France, I don’t know.” He watched Yumi’s expression turn to disappointment. He put a hand on her shoulder. “Your father, knows what he’s doing. I’m sure he’ll come back one day.”

“That’s what you always say. I’m 15 now and haven’t seen dad since mom died when Hiroki was born.” Yumi pointed out. Koji looked over at his father, then a pick-up could be heard in the driveway.

“That must be Franz and his daughter.” Takeru said as he opened the door as a middle-aged man and a pink haired girl came out of the pick-up. Takeru walked up to the middle aged man and shook hands with him.

“Thank you for dropping Yumi and Koji off. I would myself, but I have too much paper work.” Takeru said.

“Don’t worry, Yumi and Aelita get along fine.” Franz said.

“Hello Mr. Kamiya.” Aelita said shyly. She was wearing light blue shorts and a pink T-shirt.

“Say bye to Hiroki guys.” Takeru called.

Back in the house,

“Bye Squirt, see ya when we get back.” Koji said as pet Hiroki on his head.

“Bye Ototo(1)” Yumi said.

“Bye Aniki(2), Bye Ane(3)” Hiroki said running back upstairs.

“He took that too well.” Koji said.

“Come on.” Yumi told him picking up her backpack and throwing him his.

“It’s so weird how he calls me ‘Aniki’” Koji said.

“He thinks of you as a brother and not a cousin.” Yumi said as they walked out.

“Hop in kids, I’ll get you three on your bus in no time.” Franz said. The two go into the familiar pick-up and headed to the rec. center where the buses for the camp where picking up the students.

“Bye guys, sorry but I have to go so quickly but I have an important meeting, see you Aelita.” Franz said as he dropped the kids off.

“Come on Aelita.” Yumi said as they walked into the building and toward the front desk.

“Hey, we need round trip bus passes for The Ever Wood summer camp trip.” Koji said.

“Names.” The lady said.

“Koji Kamiya, Aelita Hopper, and Yumi Ishiyama.” Koji said as the lady typed up the names and checked them off the list.

“Here you are.” The lady said handing Koji the three passes.

“Thanks.” He said walking away.

“Have a safe trip.”

Aelita stopped to grab one of the brochures before following the other two into the waiting room. She sat next to Yumi as she skimmed through it.

“Bus 247, it leaves at noon.” Koji said. Yumi nodded, they still had ten minutes before the buses came.

“Aelita?” A voice asked. Aelita turned to see a blonde haired boy wearing tan caprise and a blue short sleeve shirt.

“Oh hi Jeremie.” Aelita said. “You remember Yumi and Koji right?”

“Yeah.” Jeremie said sitting next to her.

“What’s a computer nerd doing waiting for a bus to summer school?” Koji asked.

“My dad made me go.” Jeremie said. Soon the bus with the number 247 on it stopped outside as the person on the loudspeakers said.

“Bus 247 to Ever Wood is now loading.” The person said as Yumi, Koji, Aelita, and Jeremie grabbed their bags and headed toward the bus. Carry on bags where aloud on, but bigger bags had to be put in the under compartment. As soon as Yumi, Koji, Aelita, and Jeremie dropped their bags in the under compartment and took their seats on the bus two brown haired teens hurried to the bus.

“I said I was sorry Ulrich, how was I supposed to know the bus would be five minutes early?” The girl said. She wore blue jean shorts that ended below her knees, blue Nike sneakers, and a white short sleeve shirt and a black vest over it.

“Well Dani, maybe if you where a little faster, we wouldn’t have to run.” Ulrich said, he wore blue baggy jeans ripped at the knees, a white short sleeve shirt and a green urban jacket over it with the sleeve neatly rolled up to his elbows.

“Hey we made it didn’t we?” Dani said. Ulrich didn’t say anything, he throw his big bag into the compartment and hurried on. “Hey wait up.” Danni also throw her bag in the compartment and got on the bus. Dani took a seat in the seat across form Koji next to Ulrich. Before the doors on the bus shut, another boy with spiky blonde hair with a purple spot in the middle wearing purple jean shorts and a purple short sleeve shirt with dark purple sleeves.

“Sorry I’m late.” He said as he walked down the aisle and sat in the seat in front of Ulrich as the bus started up and headed down the street.

“Hey, you’re the guy on the soccer team.” Koji said. “Stern right?”

“Yeah, Ulrich.” Ulrich said.

“And his loving sister Dani.” Dani said. “I might have been held back, but I rock at B-Ball.”

“You play point-guard right?” Aelita asked.

“Yup!” Dani said proudly. Jeremie was already on his computer and the spiky blonde noticed.

“You’ve gotta be new to camping, you’re the only one who would take a laptop with you.” He said.

“Yeah, I’m very new to camping.” Jeremie said.

“Your in luck, I’m a great camper. My name’s Odd.” He said.

“What is it, we won’t laugh.” Ulrich said.

“It’s Odd!” Odd said.

“It might be a strange name but we said we wouldn’t laugh.” Aelita said.

“MY NAME IS ODD DELLA-ROBBIA!” Odd yelled clearly.

“Oh, I get it, your name is Odd.” Yumi said.

“Sorry. I’m Aelita, this is Yumi, her cousin Koji, and the computer wiz is Jeremie.” Aelita said.

“Is this all your first times here?” Odd asked.

“No me and Yumes have been hear before.” Koji said. “Aelita normally tags-a-long.”

“Della-Robbia, your also on the soccer team, spiker right?” Koji asked.

“YUP!” Odd said. “What do you do?”

“Me and Yumi run track, and martial arts. But I myself do Kendo.” Koji said. “Yumi’s also a full back on the girls soccer team.”

“And your talking for me because?” Yumi asked.

“Your stubborn and don’t talk much.” Koji said. Yumi just shrugged. Soon the bus pulled to a stop.

“OK, everyone leave the bus in an orderly fashion.” The driver said as Yumi picked up her carry on backpack before Aelita accidentally stepped on it. The group took their heavier bags and went to the bullet board in the middle of the camp to see what cabins they’ll be in.

“Hey Yumi! You me and Dani are together.” Aelita called. “Cabin 212.”

“Gotcha.” Dani called.

“Hey, Me, Ulrich, Odd, and Jeremie are also all together in Cabin 215” Koji said as he reached the group.

“ULRICH!” I high pitched voice called. (You get one hint who that is)

“Oh no! Sissi what are you doing here?” Ulrich asked in an annoyed voice.

“I came to spend some of my summer with you Ulrich Dear.” Sissi said. Ulrich looked very annoyed.

“There goes my vacation.” Ulrich murmured.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends?” Sissi asked.

“No, so beat it.” Ulrich said harshly.

“See you later Ulrich Darling.” Sissi called as she left.

“What a pain.” Aelita said. “She really can’t take a hint.”

“Let’s just hurry to the cabins, this stuff is heavy.” Yumi said. But before they could go too far.

“Hey Yumi.” A Familiar voice called.

“Damn, there goes my vacation too.” Yumi murmured. “William when I said I hate you, I meant it.”

“I know you didn’t. Who could hate someone they went out with?” William said.

“Me, Now get lost.” Yumi said.

“Hey, I’m just surprised you came. Your nut job of a grandfather tells you horror stories about when he went bear hunting for some stupid bear.” William said.

“Oh, you’re gonna regret what you just said.” Koji said.

“MY GRANDFATHER WAS NOT A NUT JOB! And those are real stories when he went hunting for Akakabuto.” Yumi said with anger.

“So that’s what he named that bear? Akakabuto?” William asked. “What a weirdo.”

“GET. LOST.” Yumi demanded as William walked away.

“As much as I lose pride in saying this, but William’s kinda right. Grandfather tried to make his dog eat his flesh so the dog would live, but his dog didn’t do it.” Koji said.

“Gin(4) was the name of his dog.” Yumi said. “Gin was the best bear hound Grandfather could ask for.”

“You have dog?” Odd asked.

“Yeah, a red and white Tora-Ge(5) Akita Inu.” Yumi said.

“Yumi and her Tora-Ge, I swear that is the single thing she will talk about.” Koji said “With anyone, her Tora-Ge.”

“I own a terrier myself.” Odd said. “His name’s Kiwi.”

“Me and Ulrich have a chocolate lab.” Dani said. “His name’s Wolf.”

“And Aside from Yumi’s Tora-Ge, I have a Tosa Inu named Cross.” Koji said. “And Hiroki, our little bro, owns a silver Akita Inu named Weed.”

“Weed? Who names a dog Weed?” Odd asked.

“Who name’s a kid Odd?” Aelita asked.

“Point taken.” Odd said.