I stepped off the train for the first time in two hours. It was already sunset, which still gave me that Twilight Town residue feeling. I could already feel the tropical air of Destiny Island the instant I was outside. It has been so many years since my last visit that nothing seemed familiar to me anymore. Aside from the average palm trees, there were new buildings that were not like the brick and roof tile style like the traditional buildings. Even though I may not recognize the place, the scent of the salty sea was nostalgic.

I walked down the steps of the train station with my roller suit case making abrupt bumps behind me. I stayed on the solid dirt road so that it wouldn't feel more of a drag rolling my belongings on the sand. I could already feel some of the coastline grains grinding inside of my sneakers. How uncomfortable.

I pulled out the folded paper which contained my uncle's home address. Before I could read it, the wind blew the sheet out of my hand. "Hey!" I yelped, attempting to catch it but failed. The wind was carrying it all the way down to the beach. "You've gotta be kidding me!" When I first get here, the wind decided to make me go for a run.

I kept my eyes locked on the flying paper as I paced myself after it. It was aggravating having to march with sand between my toes and socks. It finally stopped when it landed in the wet sand of the beach. I bent down to pluck it out of the mud and wiggled it a little to shake the sand off. It was a good thing it didn't land in the water.

When I straightened up, I was captivated by the sight of a small island laid out in front of me, only a couple of miles off this beach. It had a large tree with tropical vegetation and wooden construction all around it. A few shacks, ladders, and a bridge connecting that island to an adjacent fragmented island. When I saw it, I felt this sensation from the wind as if it was calling out to me. "Why does that island seem so... familiar?" I did used to come here as a kid, so it wouldn't be a surprise that I've seen that tiny island around here before. I mean, it wasn't like it was new since I left.

"Naminé?" I heard a man's low voice call out to me. I turned around to the higher ground to see a middle-aged man with blond hair and a beard, wearing a red scarf, holding two grocery bags.

"Uncle Ansem," I said. My uncle smiled.

"It's been such a long time," he said. "Come over here." I walked up the slope which served as a boarder line of the beach, and gave my uncle a hug. "You've grown so tall, and beautiful."

"Thanks, uncle," I giggled. "You're not looking too bad yourself."

He laughed. "I was just on my way to pick you up. What are you doing out here?"

"I just... wanted to walk around a little, that's all." Did mom and dad forget to tell me that Uncle Ansem was going to pick me up? Then chasing after the address paper was completely pointless!

"I didn't want you to walk to my house all by yourself or get lost, so I thought I might surprise you if I pick you up myself."

"Oh. Okay," I laughed half-heartedly. Sorry for doubting you, mom and dad. "Well I know how you can be busy with your work and all..."

"None sense. I am looking after you so it is my responsibility to take care of you as much as I can."

"Thanks for having me, Uncle Ansem," I said, lightly bowing my head."

"Here, let me get that for you." He tried reaching for my suit case, but I pulled back.

"It's okay. I got it." He already had his hands full that I didn't want to give him more to handle.

As we walked away, I looked back at that mysterious island one more time. For some reason, I was strangely drawn to it. Perhaps it was an artistic inspiration for the next page of my sketch book. I could probably come back tomorrow to sketch it.

We walked all the way to his house, which was at the outskirts of the suburbs on top of a hill. His house was a mansion compared to all the other smaller houses. When he opened the door, the first thing I saw were columns of books and files stacked around the stair case. Inside were a lot more. Some filing cabinets were left half opened, and photographs of aquatic organisms were pinned across the walls. There were even tanks along the walls filled with fish and coral life. Uncle Ansem was a Marine Biologist, so I could understand that he would have his research and studies in his house, but not laid out disorganized around the house like this.

"Sorry about the mess. My office had gotten a little full."

"This isn't your office?" I inquired sarcastically, eyeing the stack of folders that reached over my height.

Uncle Ansem chuckled at my remark. "The guest room is up stairs, second to the right. Your school uniform is already in there on your bed."

"Already?" I asked while walking up the stairs, dragging my bag along the steps. When I reached the top floor, I took a break and leaned against the wall, catching my breath. I felt exhausted, but not enough to use my inhaler just yet. I continued to advance down the wooden hallway and pushed the door open. When I entered, the first thing I did was drop my suit case and laid down on the soft bed. I laid there for a minute, taking in and out large amounts of air. The bed had a nice scent to it, almost like flowers.

Right next to me was a flat long box. I sat up and took a deep breath. "Please don't let it be too formal," I prayed, preparing myself to see the outfit I would be wearing until graduation. I tore off the duck tape and opened both flaps at the same time. Inside was a white, short-sleeved dress shirt with the Destiny High crest on it. Below the shirt was the ocean blue plaid skirt with the same patterned tie. All clothing were sealed in a clear plastic. "Okay. Not bad." I pulled out the shirt from the package to feel it's fabric. It felt cold, but soft and smooth. At least one of the perks about wearing a school uniform is that you don't have to compare your outfit with other girls. No one's clothes are better, and no one's is ugly. Then again, it's the pretty face that makes it count. I sighed, dropping the garment back in the box.

"Naminé, are you hungry? I got dinner," I heard Uncle Ansem call out from down stairs.

"Coming!" I replied back. I went back down stairs, being careful not to step over his research, and made my way into his kitchen. His kitchen was so clean, only because it was the only place I've seen so far other than my bedroom without his biology work scattered around. We settled down with a quiet small dinner of sushi he just bought from the market.

"So what grade will you be starting?" Uncle Ansem asked while dipping his California Roll in a side dish of soy sauce.

"Eleventh," I replied.

"Do you like your new uniform?"

"It's okay, I guess." I took a bite of a whole sushi roll, tasting the mixture of raw fish, cold sticky rice and cream cheese. After I swallowed, I remembered that island that was distant from the beach. "Hey, uncle. What's that tiny island earlier with the tree house and bridge and everything? Does anyone live there?"

"That used to be a play area for children. Parents would drop their kids off there when they go to work."

"Hm, I see." That was probably why that place felt nostalgic. Maybe I played there before as a kid with a bunch of other kids I don't remember. I wondered if kids still play there today. It's funny how that is a smart and terrible way for parents to save on day care munny.

"It's probably best if you don't go there, Naminé," he said solemnly before taking another bite of a tuna roll.

"Huh? Why?" I asked curiously.

"About seven years ago, a boy almost died in a fire there, and it took a while for help to reach him. Had he not been alone, he would've perished. That island is isolated from the main land. Even though it may not seem far away, I don't want you to exert yourself rowing there and back. And what would happen if something happened to you there and no one knows where you are?"

"Okay, I get it." I know Uncle Ansem was just looking out for me, but I couldn't help but feel annoyed with him treating me like a kid. I was old enough to know how to take care of myself. I knew my limitations. What does he know? "Thanks for concerning about me, uncle."

"Of course I'm concerned about you. You're my beloved niece."

I probably wasn't planning on going to that island anyway, let alone feel like it. Although, it would be nice to visit that beach with its view again so that I could draw it. I have a feeling that staying here wouldn't be as bad and boring as I expected it to be.