'I didn't have that dream last night.' After ages, Kai had a good sleep, a normal sleep.
"Kai! Come downstairs." Called his mom.
Kai, rubbing his eyes and yawning, came downstairs. He saw his mother in front of the main door; the door was open, and she was talking to someone.
"Mom, you called?"
Emiko turned at Kai, her face gentle and sweet as always. "Ah yes. Kai, come here. Someone came for you."
"Who? Soooo early in the morning." Kai yawned as he walked to the door. Outside, a black car was parked in front of their house, and beside the car stood a long and slim man. Short and untidy hairs and, sharp calculating eyes. He was wearing a black suit with white gloves, most likely a butler. He also had a tattoo of an ankh under his left eye. The man raised his one hand to his chest and bowed politely with an equally polite smile on his face.
"Well, mister...may I know who you are?" Asked Kai, all his sleepiness gone.
"I'm Inpu Baket-Amun, a butler of Master Axarcus." His voice was very silky and polite.
'He doesn't look like he's from Japan.' Thought Kai. With a little curiosity, he asked, "And who might be this 'Axarcus'?"
"Why, he's the headmaster of Tenshikai Academy."
Kai froze in a funny way. His voice now more polite, "And why are you here?"
"I'm here to pick you."
'So do they send a car to every new student? ...But how the hell did that car come here? This town is on one island in the Izu Islands. Kai thought. He coughed, "I haven't packed yet; it will take some time."
"Certainly." Inpu bowed again.
Kai ran upstairs in a hurry to start his packing. He hasn't even brushed his teeth yet.
"Why don't you come and wait inside?" Asked Emiko.
"I'm good here."
It's been an hour. Townspeople gathered around Kai's house. After a while, Kai came out with a wooden trunk. Ren and Emiko were standing at the door waving Kai bye; they looked worried, but their smiles didn't fade.
"Congratulations!"
"I hope you'll remember us, Kai!"
"You'll do good there!"
All the short people of the town were waving him by and saying various encouraging things. Kai had a good relationship with all. From the crowd emerged Reien, a small wooden box in his hands.
"Kagutsuchi!" Kai was clearly very happy to see his best pal before departure.
"Kai—" Reien walked to him. "Here, take this, a small gift." He handed the small box to Kai.
"What's in it, Kagutsuchi?" Asked Kai enthusiastically.
"You'll know when you'll open it." Reien gently waved him bye. With a calm smile on his face, "You shouldn't make Impu wait."
"Right!" Kai turned toward Impu.
Impu's sharp eyes were observing him. "All ready?"
"Yes."
Impu opened the car's door and raised his other hand to chest level, welcoming him into the car. Kai walked near the open door.
Before going in, Kai asked, "What did you say your name was?"
"Inpu Baket-Amun."*
"You mean – Anubis, the servant of the hidden one?"
The end of Inpu's mouth curled in a small smirk; it was like he was very pleased with something. Kai sat in the car, and Inpu followed.
"Kai, why don't you take a nap till I drive to Tenshikai?"
"No, but thanks. It's still morning, and I woke just some hours ago." Kai said it, but his eyelids were growing heavy right after he entered the car. Soon it became unbearable, and he drifted to sleep.