To my Reviewers:

SinxEnvvy: I hope this is a soon enough update for you. Sorry, but I've been really busy doing the boring mundane life of a college student.

Deh Vap: Here's another chapter I hoep you like it.

FlamingMoons: Thanks, for the kind words. Fooly Cooly!

Revan297: Yea, it has taken me awhile to think of anything, and I hope this chapter turns out as well as the first. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own FLCL or anything related to it. I am; however, left-handed.

The Quest for Haruko

Chapter 2: Meeting some friends?

Scene: Open Space the camera is pulled far back showing various stars, and nebulas. Shining silver "star" is seen moving across the vastness of space. The camera cuts into a close up of Haruko's face. She is driving Naota's Vespa while he sits asleep on the back.

Haruko gets a mischievous grin on her face and she suddenly veers the Vespa into a hard right turn. The Vespa seems to be heading towards a shiny green world with lots of orbiting communication satellites, and a couple of small moons. A static voice comes over the Vespa's radio...

"Incoming Hyper flight Vespa, identify yourself."

Haruko puts on the most serious face she can manage, and in the calmest voice replies.

"Superior Haruha."

"Haruha, why didn't you file a flight plan? sigh Okay, I'll let you off this time, but don't let it happen again, okay?"

"Sure thing, chief."

Haruko smiles as she banks the Vespa and readies it to enter the atmosphere. There's a slight bump as the vehicle displaces air molecules, and slows down speed. This slight bump seems to have been enough to wake Naota. He wakes up groggily.

"Hey, where are we?"

"Home."

Naota seems to have perked up, and he begins looking around, but his excitement fades as he realizes this isn't Earth.

"No, we're not."

He says rather depressed.

"Well, I meant that I'm home."

"Oh, whatever."

"Don't whatever me Tak-kun!"

Haruko begins weaving the Vespa into a series of tight nauseating turns. Naota begins screaming as he has trouble holding onto Haruko.

"Okay, I'm sorry! I take it back!"

Haruko stops weaving the Vespa around in the sky.

"That's better Tak-kun. I hope you're not this way when we visit my family."

"Your family! Why are we visiting them?"

"I want to show them my new toy."

She says with a wicked smile. Haruko zooms the Vespa around some large buildings and other flying traffic before landing on a street. She stops the puttering Vespa in front of a convenience store, and puts down the kickstand. Except for the flying traffic and green sky this town looks like any town on earth. The buildings look the same, the language is the same, and except for flying vehicles this planet could pose as Earth. Naota looks at the sign of the building they've stopped outside of.

"What are we doing here? I thought we were going to meet your family."

"We will, but I need to get a few things first."

Naota follow Haruko into the store, but he quickly looses sight of her. He begins looking around.

"Haruk...Ash!"

Naota is slammed in the side by a cart and he falls into its basket.

"Miss me Tak-kun?''

"Owl, why'd you hit me? Can't you just say 'Over here?' Like a normal person?"

"Now, where's the fun in that Tak-kun?"

Naota opens his mouth to say something, but no sounds come out. She was right in some way, and if she did act like a normal person he wouldn't be here with her. Haruko madly pushes the cart through the store hitting displays of cans and a few other shoppers. Haruko rake sheer arm across an entire shelf, and dumps about 30 boxes of something into the cart, and on top of Naota.

"Hey at least let me get out first!"

Haruko stops shoveling boxes into the cart and she lets Naota climb out.

"What is this stuff anyways?"

Naota picks up a box and reads it, surprisingly enough the box is in English.

"Super spicy Curry? You guys have Super Spicy Curry out here?"

"Yeah. What did you think Earth was the only place to get it? Ha! Who do you think opened the first Curry business on your planet?"

"You mean you guys have been there before?"

"Yea, but I'll tell ya about it later."

Haruko rakes about 30 more boxes into the cart before heading off to another isle. Naota runs to stay with her, and is shocked to see her picking up some pink hair dye, the same color as her hair.

"Ha! I knew you dyed your hair!"

Haruko turns to face Naota.

"I'd think after last night you'd know that I don't."

She smiles, and Naota blushes

"So...if you don't dye your hair then who's it for?"

"My sister."

"But, her hair was the same as yours when I saw her."

"I betcha it wasn't. She can't get the shade right so I'm picking her up a box. Just in case."

"But why?"

"You'll find out."

Haruko runs to another isle, and stuffs something in the cart under the boxes of Curry that Naota can't see. She winks at him, and then runs off to pay for her purchases. By the time Naota catches up with her all the items are already bagged up.

"Okay, miss that'll be 30 quints."

Haruko gives Naota a sad puppy dog look.

"I don't have any money."

Haruko doesn't let up, Naota sighs and pulls some money out of his pocket. The cashier looks at the money in his hand, and takes it. Haruko has a bewildered look on her face.

"Where'd you get all that money?"

"From some jobs."

"It was porn wasn't it? Ha! I knew it."

"No, no it wasn't. It was just from some jobs I had to pick up out here so I could find you."

"Oh."

Naota looks at what must be around fifty bags of groceries, and stands there shocked that Haruko could buy so much stuff. Haruko grabs a single bag containing only two items leaving Naota with the task of carrying out around sixty boxes of Curry. Naota is slightly steamed at having to carry so much stuff and he intends to let Haruko have it later.

Haruko is sitting on the Vespa, head on the handle bars. The sack she was carrying is now gone, and Naota can see the hair dye sticking out of her pocket, and the other thing, well he doesn't see it. In fact he's completely forgotten about it. Naota drops the bags of Curry next to the Vespa.

"Haruko, how are we supposed to carry all this stuff?"

"What'd ya mean we? You're going to carry it."

"The hell I am!"

Naota kicks one bag of Curry, sending its contents flying into the street. Haruko screams bloody murder and rushes to pick up the spilt boxes.

"What'd ya do that for?"

"I'm not your slave."

"Yes, you are, but only in the..."

"Shut-up."

"Aw, is little Naoty embarrassed?"

"No."

"Aw, you are. That's so cute. Anyways, we've only got a few blocks to go, and I even got us a cab."

Naota notices a cab driver snickering at the little argument he just witnessed. Naota sighs in disgust, but he helps Haruko load up the Curry. Haruko opens up one door and Naota the other. They both sit next to each other in the back.

"So, where to?"

"Unit 238. Complex B."

"Alright."

The cab speeds off down the road, and within five minutes it stops seemingly arriving at its destination.

"That'll be 174.50."

Haruko says something to the cab driver as Naota stares in awe at the large building in front of him. The cab driver pops the trunk, and Haruko unloads the Curry, and then he speeds off.

"Come on."

Haruko brushes past Naota, and heads into the building. Naota picks up as much to the Curie as he can and rushes to catch Haruko.