~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The scene in the Nekohanten was tense; auras flared in rage and anger flowed through out the room. Akane stood staring at Ranma with mallet raised to strike as she screamed at him. Her voice grew shriller with each word; the occupants in the room winced as she hit a particular high note and follow it with a mallet swing that knocked Ranma into the wall.

Groaning he slid down the now dented wall, raising his hands to rub his head he glared at Akane. "Uncute tomboy." His eyes widened slightly as she came towards him mallet raised. Dodging out of the way at the last moment, he found himself on the other side of the room a good way from Akane. "Just go home and calm down."

Shampoo watched in slight amusement as Akane launched herself at Ranma again. Wincing as the mallet impacted the martial artists flesh she rushed to Ranma's side. "Aiya, husband okay?" Snorting in derision, she cast Akane a glare. "Kitchen wrecker hit hard."

Akane leveled Shampoo with a withering glare, after a moments thought she flicked her wrist and sent the mallet back into the inter-dimensional pocket she kept it in. "Hussy!" She turned and ran out the door of the wrecked café, on her way out she had the misfortune of running straight into a girl who was stepping in the door.

The two landed in a tumble of arms and legs, horrified Akane got up and immediately helped the girl sit up. Tearfully she looked at the young girl. "I'm so sorry! Are you alright?"

The girl raised her head and smiled weakly. "It's alright I've had worse happen to me than a little tumble."

An amused voice sounded from behind the two. "Not if she ran into you, she's built like a brick wall and uncute to boot."

Frowning slightly the petite girl picked her self up and watched in amazement as Akane whirled and glared at Ranma, her battle aura visible to the naked eye. It raged a bright blue as Akane fought tears. "I hate you!" She screamed and slapped him. Shaking her head she turned and ran out of the café, her sobs echoing down the street.

His head snapped to the side and the flesh where her hand connected was already swelling. Slowly he raised a hand to finger his tender cheek as he watched Akane run down the street. The sound of her sobbing finally pierced his subconscious and he took off after he, calling her name.

Shampoo stuck her purple head out the door and watched the retreating pair. Heaving a sad sigh she turned and smiled at the girl standing just inside of the door. "Nihao! Shampoo can help yes?"

The girl gave a relieved smile and held out the paper she had just picked up. "I'm here to inquire about the job." She handed the paper to Shampoo and continued. "I'm a very hard worker and I can work anytime I'm needed." On an after thought she bowed and introduced herself. "I'm Miko."

The Chinese amazon smiled brightly and started to walk into the kitchen. "Follow Shampoo, we talk grandmother."

Miko brushed her hair out of her face in a nervous gesture and followed the cheerful girl into kitchen. She stopped short at the sight of the girl talking animatedly to a small woman on a stick. They chattered to each other in Chinese before stopping as Miko entered the room. Pasting what she hoped was a bright smile she bowed formally to the old woman and introduced her self. "Good afternoon, I'm Miko. I came to inquire about the job."

"I'm Cologne." Smiling briefly at Miko's slight twitch of her lips at the sound of her name, she hopped over to the girl. "Have you had any experience with waiting tables or cooking?"

Miko's face fell slightly and she twisted her hands nervously. "No I haven't, but I do have experience waiting at my father's dinner parties. I prepare and host a lot of them, I'm used to dealing with a large amount of people." Biting her lip, she took a moment to think. She didn't want to admit weakness to people that she didn't know yet she needed the job badly so she would do what she had to, to get it. "I will work very hard, and I could really use the money."

Cologne looked at the girl thoughtfully. The repeated clasping of her hands meant she was incredibly nervous and the brief pause she had taken before she admitted she needed the job badly was interesting. As if she had to struggle with herself before she would admit a weakness. She liked that in a girl, proud but willing to do what she had to. Coming to a decision she favored the girl with a smile as she light her pipe and took a long drag on it. "Well, we do need a hard worker around here. When can you work?"

A brief light of hope flickered within Miko's eyes and she stopped clutching her hands fretfully. "I just moved here and I'm going to go to school at Furinkan but after school I can work as long as I'm needed and my Sundays are open completely."

Cologne felt her heart twinge as the hope filled the girls eyes and there was something about them that seemed so empty before. "Well that's fair." She smiled. "Can you come in tomorrow and start work?"

Miko literally lit up the room as she realized she had gotten the job. She had to restrain herself from jumping up and down in joy. She had finally landed a job and Cologne and Shampoo seemed so nice. Her heart swelled at the thought of being able to save up enough money to finally get what she needed. She graced Cologne and Shampoo with a bright smile. "Oh thank you so very much Cologne Sama. I shall not let you down!"

Cologne chuckled. "You can call me Cologne or great grandmother if you wish. There's no need to add Sama to the end." Pausing thoughtfully, she looked the girl up and down. The girl had generous curves and seemed to be proportioned almost the same as Shampoo and the girl was the same height. Though it was a bit hard to tell under the ugly baggy clothes, she wore. "You will need a pair of clothing like Shampoo's. That's the waitress uniform here." She looked at Shampoo who had until that moment been fidgeting in the background eagerly, apparently she liked the girl very much and was eager to have the extra help. "Shampoo can take you out and show you where to get some clothing."

Shampoo bounced forward and grabbed the girls arm, casting a smile back at her grandmother she dragged Miko out of the café and down the street chattering brightly.

Cologne smiled fondly after the two girls they almost looked like sisters as they walked along. Where as Shampoo had purple hair Miko's was of the deepest black, and the sun shined on it giving it a purple hue to it. It swayed slightly as she walked, the dark tresses reaching past her waist. Her eyes were very unusual, a smoky gray that was almost translucent; and when she looked at you, you entered her world. You were swallowed up by them. Cologne was knocked from her thoughts as Mousse came crashing in through the back door. Sighing she hopped back and knocked Mousse upside the head. "I've just hired on a new girl, she's starting tomorrow. Now get to that stove and start cooking." She gave him a shove and had to ignore the blind man's insults because customers walked through the door. Pasting on a smile, she walked out into the main room. "Nihao! How may I help you tonight?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko clutched the bags to her chest as she quietly walked in the front door. She sat the packages down on the cold tile and raised a hand to the door. Keeping the knob turned she silently shut the door and released the knob. She paused for a moment to listen for any movement and she sighed softly when she heard none. It took her a moment to remember but she realized her parents were out at a charity ball and her two older sisters had gone back to their colleges. The house was silent as she quickly raced up to her room and threw herself on her bed. She lay face down and gave a huge sigh accompanied by a small giggle.

Brightly she jumped up and dumped the bags of clothes onto her bed. The colors were bright and varied; reaching out a hand, she traced the patterns with a finger gently. The silk was soft to the touch and she smiled as she remembered the feeling of it on her skin. Spontaneously she pulled all her clothing off, leaving them in a pile at her feet. She paused for a moment deciding as her fingers rested on the waistband of her panties before she pulled them and her bra off too. She hadn't seen any lines on Shampoo and so she assumed she wouldn't need the under clothing. They would show any ways, she blushed as she remembered trying on the clothing.

She had stood in front of the mirror, her eyes blinking in confusion as she ran her hands over her body, smoothing the cloth out.

Shampoo had squealed and told her she looked stunning. The girl had darted forward and Miko had not been able to repress the small flinch she had given as Shampoo pulled Miko's hair away from her face and smiled brightly at her in the mirror.

Miko shook her head as the cold brought her back from her thoughts. She realized she was standing naked in the middle of her room so she quickly selected a bright blue set; carefully she pulled the tags off and slid the pants over her legs. Swiftly securing the buttons, she ran her hands over her hips, reveling in the feel of silk. She had never had clothing this nice or this soft. Brightly she pulled the shirt on and buttoned it. Taking a deep breath, she moved quietly to stand in front of her mirror. Letting out a girlish giggle, she turned and surveyed how she looked from each angle; and from each angle, it stayed the same. She looked beautiful.

Reverently she ran her hands through her hair and down her silk covered body. She was stunned; no one had ever called her beautiful. All she heard was that she was ugly, she had the hips of cows and that no one would ever be able to fall in love with a selfish ugly girl like her self. A tear slowly slid down her pale cheek as she recalled all the cruel things said to her, growling suddenly in frustration she wiped the tear away and quickly removed her clothes. She berated her self as she put her new clothes up and curled up in bed to sleep. Sighing softly she slowly slid into a wakeful sleep and tried not to think about tomorrow when she would start a new school, again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Akane glared at Ranma as he walked along the fence on their way to school. They had gotten into another fight and she had malleted him; he landed in the koi pond and they had to wait for the water to boil before they could go to school. At this rate they would be late again and end up holding buckets in the hall.

Twenty minutes later Akane stood outside of her classroom with her arms stretched out laden with two buckets of water. She fumed as she pointedly ignored Ranma. This was entirely his fault and she wasn't about to let him forget it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko stood in front of her closet and gnawed on her lip thoughtfully. She hadn't gotten her uniform yet so she had to wear her street clothes today. She cast two glances between her ugly clothes bought by her parents and the new Chinese sets that she had just bought. Steeling her back she snorted, damn what her parents thought any ways. She wanted to be beautiful; she was tired of being the ugly one that no one paid attention to. Tentatively she reached into her closet and selected a beautiful red silk outfit; it was covered in silver embroidery of dragons and water. She paused for a moment as she thought about gym class, but then it occurred to her that she didn't have a uniform for that either so they would have to let her wear her street clothes.

Quickly she shed her robe and pulled the clothes on, feeling slightly naughty as she enjoyed the feeling of silk. She grabbed a set of red matching shoes, picked up her backpack, cast a glance in the mirror, and smiling she bounced downstairs to make her way to her new school.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The teacher finally stuck her head out the door and motioned for Akane and Ranma to come inside. Akane walked inside while rubbing her arms gently. Casting a glare back at Ranma she slid into her seat and smiled at her friends.

Ranma rolled his eyes and made a face at her, after getting no reaction he shook his head and turned to look at the blackboard. Perking up slightly as he heard a soft knock on the door, he eyed it curiously.

The teacher smiled and opened it to reveal the girl they had saw yesterday, he looked over at Akane and saw that she recognized the girl too.

After reading a piece of paper, she gently pushed the girl forward. "This is Miko, she just transferred to Furinkan, say hello class." She gave a few gawking boys a glare and smiled at Miko after the class had said hello. "You can sit next to Akane."

Miko smiled and tried to ignore the whisperings of her classmates and succeeded quite well due to previous experience with it. She blinked slightly as she recognized Akane as the girl who had ran into her yesterday. She smiled slightly in relief; it was nice to see a familiar face even if she didn't know a name for it. She slid into her seat and smiled at Akane.

Akane gave the girl a smile and held out her hand. "I'm Akane."

"I'm Miko."

Akane smiled sheepishly and looked to see if the teacher was watching, but the woman had gotten caught up in her lecture once again, seeing that the coast was clear she scooted her desk closer to Miko's. "I'm really sorry about yesterday, I didn't mean to knock you over. Are you sure you're okay?"

Miko tried to restrain her giggle, but the earnest look on Akane's face was too sweet. "I'm fine, I'm just kind of glad to see a familiar face." She looked around and frowned slightly at a group of boys leering at her. "Why are they staring at me?"

Akane moved her head slightly and caught sight of the group, giving them her patented death glare that promised eternal pain if they didn't stop. She smiled as the boys let out a collective squeak and went back to listening to the lecture. Turning her attention to Miko, she smiled. "Ignore them, they're all perverts."

Miko's face took on a brief look of confusion as she looked at Akane. "But why would they leer at me?"

Akane blinked and looked at the girl closer, she had a body to kill for, gorgeous eyes and entirely too beautiful hair; she suddenly realized that the girl didn't realize how beautiful she was and gave Miko a gentle smile. "Probably because they think you're beautiful."

Miko blinked and remembered what she was wearing, looking down slightly a ghost of a smile crossed her face. "Strange." She murmured softly.

Akane smiled brightly as the lunch bell rang, she stood up quickly and gathered her things. "Would you like to eat lunch with me Miko?" At Miko's uncertain look, she smiled gently. "I owe you something, after all I did knock you down yesterday."

Miko's face lit up and she smiled happily. After she gathered up her stuff, she followed Akane through a maze of halls until they exited and came to a huge tree near the front wall of the school. They both settled down and started to chat about inane things as they ate their lunch.

Akane eyed Miko's bento appreciatively, the food looked beautiful and smelled incredible. After biting her lip she gave into her urge and asked Miko about it. "That's beautiful Miko, did you make it?"

Blinking at the question, she looked down at her lunch and smiled. "I just put together a little lunch this morning, it's nothing really."

About to comment, Akane was suddenly cut off by a rose flying at her head. Sighing in frustration she caught the rose and crushed it in her hand. She followed with a kick to an incoming Kuno's head.

Miko backed up against the tree as the young man fell at her feet in a daze. After a moment he jumped up and gave Akane a dashing smile. "Ah beauteous Akane Tendo, your smile lights up the day and your spirit lights up my life." He turned his head and cast his gaze upon Miko. "Ah fair maiden I do not believe we have met. I'm Kuno Tatewaki the blue thunder of Furinkan high." Lightening flickered in the background and was soon followed by a crash of thunder.

At a complete loss and unsure of what to do she stood and smiled weakly at Kuno. "Ano…I'm Miko." She screamed suddenly as Kuno threw himself at her and wrapped him arms around her, squeezing her tightly while screaming. "My priestess!"

Akane groaned as Kuno latched onto Miko; she didn't need him scaring off her new friend. She started to pull Kuno off of the poor girl when she got a good look at Miko's face. It was a mask of pure terror, her pupils were dilated and she was whimpering softly repeatedly whispering for help. Frowning she pulled out her mallet and sent Kuno packing on a one way trip to the schools roof. Pocketing her mallet, she caught the girl as she collapsed. Gently she shook her. "Miko, Miko are you alright?"

"Hey what's up?"

Akane turned to look at Ranma, a worried frown creasing her face. "Kuno latched onto Miko and she just flipped out. I can't reach her."

Crouching down Ranma shook the girls shoulder gently after getting no response he sighed. "We'd better take her to Dr. Tofu." Carefully he took Miko from Akane and they both headed to the clinic.

Kuno landed on the roof roughly, making a huge life size idiot dent in the concrete. "Ah my love Akane seeks to protect the fair attentions of my love Miko." Groaning he passed out into an oblivious daze.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko floated in the haze between wakefulness and dreams. She felt warm, her body caressed by mist as she lay drowsing. Her brain poked her body and tried to figure out why something felt wrong. After a few moments she reluctantly opened her eyes and tried to focus on something. She could make out a dark shape in front of her. Groaning she rubbed her eyes and tried again. This time they came into focus on a man wearing a gi, he was looking at her with concerned eyes. His soft voice flowed over her and then she realized how close he was. Shrieking she rolled off the bed, crouched near the ground, and looked around wildly all in one motion.

To say that the occupants of the room were surprised would be an understatement. They gawked at the spot she had been and where she actually was now. Akane walked forward and crouched down next to Miko. "Hey are you alright?"

Miko shook her head and she slowly stood up, embarrassment covering her face. "I'm sorry, I was just surprised."

Akane looked at Miko's eyes and saw a pleading there so she dropped the subject and smiled. Her curiosity at how she had gotten so fast still gnawed at her as she hugged the girl. "That's okay."

She looked warily at Ranma and Dr. Tofu, keeping them in sight she looked around the room in confusion. "Where am I?"

"Akane said that you flipped out when Kuno hugged you and you passed out so we brought you here." Ranma started to move forward but stopped when Miko nervously edged back. Shrugging her introduced him self. "I'm Ranma."

"And I'm Dr. Tofu." Soft brown eyes looked at her with worry. "Are you okay?"

Miko rubbed her head and looked at the clock nervously. It said it was 2 in the afternoon. "I'm fine, thank you." Suddenly she looked at the clock again in horror, if she didn't hurry she was going to be late to her new job. "Oh my god! I'm going to be late." In one motion she grabbed her backpack, put her shoes on, said good bye and ran out the door and down the street.

Ranma blinked and looked at Miko's retreating. "Weird girl."

For once Akane didn't smack him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko came to a stop in front of the café and took a deep breath. While she was in good shape she had just fainted and was slightly out of breath. After getting a breather she put a smile on her face and walked into the café.

Shampoo heard the bell ring and she let out a cheerful greeting. "Nihao!" Her eyes lit up as she saw it was Miko. "Miko! Nihao!"

Miko smiled at Shampoo. "Good afternoon Shampoo."

Cologne stepped into the room followed by Mousse. Noting the curious glance, she cast at Mousse she motioned at the boy. "This lazy duck is Mousse." The old woman shoved Mousse forward. "This is Miko, our new waitress."

Mousse turned to a houseplant and cheerfully introduced him self.

Shampoo shook her head and picked up a glass of water, throwing it on him she turned him into a duck and punted him into the kitchen. "Idiot Mousse!"

Miko found her self at a loss for words. She had just seen something that couldn't have possibly happened. Her brain kick started her mouth and she let out a small squeak.

Cologne shook her head, sat Miko down at the table, and told the whole story of Jusenkyou, the cold water and of Shampoo's engagement to Ranma.

After the story, Miko looked at Cologne in disbelief. "That's impossible!"

Shampoo smiled sadly and picked up a glass of water, after pouring it over her head a small kitten crawled out of the heap of clothing. "Meow."

Miko reached down and picked up Shampoo. She looked at the kittens eyes and found intelligence lying there, sighing she cuddled Shampoo and scratched behind her ears. "Well apparently it's not impossible."

Cologne went into the kitchen and came out with an apron in her hands. She handed it to Miko and took Shampoo from her. "The dinner rush is about to start. Put that on and we'll get you start on work okay?"

Miko smiled and nodded brightly. All in all the day went well after that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shampoo yawned as she finished wiping the last table clean. Standing up she stretched and felt several bones in her back pop into place. Feeling slightly better she walked into the kitchen and found Cologne smoking her pipe. After placing the towel in the laundry basket, she walked up to her great grandmother. In soft Chinese, she asked if Cologne was all right.

Cologne smiled and patted Shampoo's hand, answering back in their native language she laughed. "I'm fine."

The girl smiled and sat down next to her grandmother. "Grandmother, what do you think about Miko?"

Tapping her pipe thoughtfully she brought it up and took a drag. "She's a very sweet girl, seems to be a bit absent minded though."

Shampoo nodded and sighed thoughtfully. "Do you think we could let her keep working here?" She smiled. "I really like her." A moment of silence passed before Shampoo continued. "I don't have many true friends, I'd like to keep this one."

Cologne gave Shampoo a long measuring look. It wasn't often that Shampoo told her inner feelings to her grandmother. Shampoo hated to reveal any weakness to the woman she loves dearly and looks up to. She knew what it took Shampoo to make the confession. So she nodded at the girl and cackled softly. "She'll work out fine, we'll keep her."

The young amazon's face lit up, jumping up she bowed respectfully as was called by Cologne's status and ran out of the room and up to her bedroom. After punting Mousse out of her room she cheerfully lay down on her bed and curled up around her pillow. She though back over the day as was her custom. Miko was so very nice, although for some reason she seemed rather sad. "Well." Shampoo thought. "I'll just give her no reason to be sad! I'll make her happy!"

~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko stood at the door of her house and took a deep breath. She could hear sounds inside and the lights were on which meant that her parents were home. She winced as she heard a scream and a crash, which meant that her parents were fighting again. She rested her head against the cool door and took a deep breath, holding it for a moment she let it out in a burst and mumbled softly to herself. "Miko, just go inside, don't let them see you and go to your room. It'll be alright."

Reluctantly she placed her hand on the doorknob, gave it a twist and pushed the door open. She faced her parents, who were locked in the middle of a vicious argument. It seemed her luck would not hold, they were fighting in the foyer and she couldn't sneak past. Wiping her face of all emotion, she walked softly into the hall and removed her shoes. They hadn't seen her yet, but she knew that if she tried to sneak past she'd get in even more trouble. So she clutched her bag nervously and called out. "Tadaima."

Her father turned angrily and stalked up to Miko. Roughly he grabbed her arm and shook her. "Where have you been?"

Miko winced and looked up at him. "I was working."

Her mother let out a snort of derision. "Your lazy ass was working? I sincerely doubt it." She walked up to Miko and got into her face. "You were off cavorting with some boys weren't you?"

Whimpering softly under the onslaught Miko shook her head vehemently. "I was working. I got a job!"

Her mother laughed cruelly. "I sincerely doubt it!" She snaked out a hand and grabbed the other arm. Squeezing her hand, she twisted the skin painfully. "If I find out that you're lying to me I will punish you."

Biting her lip so she wouldn't cry out, the small girl pulled her arm away from her mothers grasp. "I'm not lying." She gave her mother a glare. "What would it matter if I were? You don't care what I do!" Immediately she regretted slipping up, she saw her mothers eyes flare up and then look towards her father. Wincing at the increased pressure from her fathers fingers she turned to look at him. His eyes blazed and a low growl was coming from him.

"You shouldn't have said that." His voice was deadly calm as he pulled back a fist and slammed it into her stomach.

Miko clenched the muscles in her stomach immediately after she saw her father raise his hand. Tears slid down her face as she closed her eyes and tried to forget where she was, wanting to forget the pain. Slowly she retreated into her sheltered world and nothing existed there. Her father wasn't currently beating her. His hands weren't cruelly torturing her flesh, she couldn’t feel when he starting kicking her and she didn't realize when he left her on the floor crying mindlessly. Ever so slowly she came back from her world and her mind began to register the pain. She picked herself off of the floor and limped up the stairs to lose her self in the oblivion of sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Akane smiled brightly when Miko came walking up to the small group of people she was walking with on the way to school. Her face fell slightly when she saw the limp; she looked closer and thought she saw a flash of a bruise when Miko's skirt billowed in the wind. Then she realized something. "Miko! You got your uniform!"

Miko waved and tried to ignore the soreness of her muscles as she ran up to Akane. "I went and got it yesterday after I got off of work. They let me out early so I could pick it up." She looked curiously at the girl walking with Ranma and Akane. She had short brown hair and a cynical look in her eyes.

Noticing her looks the girl gave she held her hand out to Miko and introduced her self. "I'm Nabiki." Nabiki gave the girl a curious look, appraising her value. She was beautiful so she could probably make money off of her pictures. She frowned slightly, she would need it, lately Ranma had been dodging her pictures and she didn't have many to sell to Kuno. An idea took her, perhaps she could get Kuno obsessed with Miko, that was a sure way to earn enough money to keep the dojo in repair and running.

Miko shook her hand and smiled tentatively. "I'm Miko." She looked closer at Nabiki. "Oh are you two sisters?"

Akane laughed and nodded. "She's my older sister. Come on let's go or we'll be late."

Miko smiled and walked besides Akane, she tried to ignore the pain and keep from limping but as she had learned before her father knew where to kick. She looked up to see Ranma staring at her curiously. "Yes?"

Ranma crouched on the fence and looked at her legs. "Why ya limping?"

Miko's eyes took on a trapped look but she covered it with a nervous laugh and smiled. "I fell this morning, silly really. I'm such a klutz sometimes."

Akane glared at Ranma and punched him for being so insensitive, unfortunately they were by the canal and he fell in. "Oh great Ranma, now we're going to be even tardier than we already are!"

Ranma groaned and pulled himself out of the water. She pulled her pants up and cinched them tighter around her waist. "Oh shut up."

Miko looked at Ranma curiously. "You too?"

Ranma blinked at Miko's comment. "Whadda ya mean me too?"

"Your cursed aren't you?"

Ranma stopped in mid step and gawked at Miko. "You mean you know about Jusenkyou?"

Miko nodded and continued walking. "Shampoo and Cologne told me about it."

Akane growled slightly at the mentioning of their names. "That bimbo!"

Miko's beautiful face moved into a frown. "Akane please."

Blinking, Akane looked at Miko. "What?"

"Don't insult Shampoo like that, she's been very good to me."

Akane bit her lip and blushed a little. "I'm sorry, it's just she really gets to me."

Ranma finally hopped down from the fence and started to walk next to Miko. "How ya know them anyhow?"

"Oh I work for them now. I got a job at the Nekohanten." A mischievous glint lit up her eyes as she glanced at Akane. "That's what I was doing there when you knocked me over."

Akane had the grace to blush again. "I'm truly sorry about that."

Miko bit her lip, and tried to keep from laughing, really she tried. However, she couldn't help herself. The look on Akane's face was so remorseful. Finally she couldn't stand it and she spent the entire time walking to class laughing to her self.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three people stood outside of a classroom holding buckets full of water. One of them let out a small whimper as her arms started to tremble. Finally, Miko couldn't take it anymore so she sat the buckets down on the ground and started to rub some of the pain out of her arms.

Akane gave her a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry about this Miko, if the idiot hadn't made us late we wouldn't be out here."

Miko smiled wanly. "It's okay." She raised her arms over her head and stretched. "I'm really much more used to pain, but I fell earlier and I was already sore. I'm really not wimp, honestly."

Akane let a small giggle escape and sighed in relief as the lunch bell rang. Setting her buckets down she darted inside of the classroom, gathered her stuff and Miko's, then dragged Miko out to their tree all while ignoring Ranma.

Ranma snorted and looked at Akane's retreating form. "Uncute tomboy."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko smiled in contentment as she listened to Akane chatter with some other friends, she leaned back against the trunk of the tree and looked up at the sky. It was a beautiful blue today, filled with white puffy cloud, wispy translucent clouds, birds and a purple haired girl. Miko blinked suddenly. Purple hair? Miko sat up and smiled brightly. "Shampoo!"

Akane tensed at hearing the name and turned to see Shampoo cheerfully bearing her delivery box. Wrinkling her nose in distaste, she glared at the girl. "Ranma isn't here Shampoo."

Shampoo grinned and stuck her tongue out at Akane. "Shampoo not want husband now." She sat down next to Miko and opened the delivery box, she pulled a bowl out and handed it to Miko. "Grandmother try new recipe. Want know if good!" She looked at Akane and smiled sweetly. "Shampoo here to see Miko friend!"

Miko inhaled the scent of the ramen and smiled. She brought the bowl to her lips and sipped delicately. Warmth filled her belly and delicious tastes fill her mouth. "It's wonderful Shampoo!" Quickly she finished it off and handed the bowl back to the girl. "Tell Cologne it was wonderful!"

Shampoo smiled cheerfully and picked the delivery box up. "Shampoo see Miko later yes?"

Miko laughed and nodded. "I'll be at work as soon as school ends. I even brought my outfit with me!" She pointed at her slightly bulging bag.

Shampoo hopped back on her bicycle and waved. "Bye bye Miko friend!" The perpetually cheerful amazon hopped over the wall and headed back to the Nekohanten. She whistled cheerfully as she made her way to the restaurant, the smile on Miko's face had been worth ignoring the urge to find Ranma husband.

Akane shook her head and decided to keep all comments to herself. The rest of the lunch period was spent in comfortable company.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dr. Tofu graced the petite girl sitting on an examination table before him in concern. Over the past few weeks she had repeatedly come in with various injuries and an excuse that she had fallen. Each time when he was about to say something, she gave him a pleading look with her pale gray eyes and he decided to not ask about it. However, this time she had almost broken a bone and he knew it wasn't because she had fallen. Smoothing the bandage over her wrist he secured it with some tape and looked firmly at her. "You should try being more careful next time. You could really hurt yourself if this continues Miko." Giving her a meaningful look, he handed her a card with his personal phone number written on it. "If you need anything just call me."

Miko slid off the table and gave him a too bright smile. "I know, I really should have seen that cat coming." Picking up her school bag with her uninjured hand she took the card from him and ran out of the room. "Thanks! I've got to run to work. Goodbye Dr. Tofu."

Frowning he moved into his office and looked up the number of a friend. Sitting down in his chair he waited for the phone to connect. "Ah! Hello Shinji."

"Tofu! It's been a while. What can I do for you?"

"I need you to investigate about a patient of mine. Her name is Makimachi Miko."

"Should I look for the usual?"

"Yes. Also look for signs of abuse, I think she's being badly hurt by someone in her family."

"She hasn't admitted to it?"

"No. Typical signs actually. She's been coming in for the past few weeks with various injuries and a silly excuse for each one of them." Sighing he rubbed his head. "Can you hurry this one? I'm worried, the injuries keep getting worse."

"No problem. I'll have a report in a week."

"Thank you Shinji, I owe you one. Goodbye." Setting the phone down he stared out the window, thoughts full of the kind girl and someone hurting her badly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko leaned against a table she had just finished cleaning and took a brief rest during the lull in business. Her mind wandered back to the past few weeks. She had developed friends for the first time in her life, she had a job and if it continued like this, she just might start feeling as if she belonged. He thoughts soon took a left into dark avenues. Frowning slightly she thought back to last night and the fight she and her father had, she had ended up on the floor barely able to breathe and had ended up with a black eye. As she woke this morning she found her wrist swollen and bruised, and she had to pay another visit to Dr. Tofu. Absently she brought her hand up to her face and fingered the eye gently. Wincing she pulled her hand away, a tinkling from the door brought her back to herself and past pasted on a bright smile. "Welcome! How may I…" She trailed off when she saw Cologne smiling at her. "Cologne! Welcome back from your trip!" She rushed over and used her good hand to relieve the old woman of her bags. "Did you find the herbs you needed? How was your tribe?"

Cologne looked at Miko critically. "The tribe was great, and yes I found what I needed." She followed Miko into the kitchen and went over to the girl. "How on earth did you get that shiner Miko?" Casting a look over the rest of the girl, she noticed the bandage on her wrist. "And how did you hurt your wrist?"

Fear flickered briefly through Miko's eyes before she pasted on a smile and brought her hand up to her face. "Oh I was carrying a box to my room and I tripped and fell on it." Guilt flashed over her features as she told the lie.

Cologne saw the guilt and fear in Miko's eyes. She was starting to get worried. Over the past few weeks, Miko had come in with various bruises, and limping frequently all citing that she was a klutz, now she came in with a black eye. Deciding that she would look into it later she walked over to her herbal cabinet and came back with a salve. "Let's put this on so you can get that black eye on its way to being healed, and you should be careful about your wrist."

Miko obediently sat down and tried not to wince as Cologne's surprisingly gentle fingers rubbed the soothing salve onto the skin around her eye. She started suddenly as she felt a tingle in her head and felt a strong feeling of worry. Blinking she shrugged it off as a fluke and thanked Cologne when she was done. "Thank you Cologne, I'll have to learn to be more careful."

Cologne watched Miko try to hide a limp as she walked back into the main room of the restaurant to take care of some customers that had come in. She absently put the salve back in the cabinet as she thought some things through. She knew the girl didn't know how to defend herself, and she knew that no one was hitting her at school or Ranma and Akane would have done something about it. That left her home, and that disturbed Cologne. What type of environment had Miko grown up in and how in the world had the girl been able to feel the worry she had?

Shampoo bounded down the stairs and eagerly went over to her grandmother. "Nihao grandmother! Trip good yes?"

Cologne patted the girls hand and smiled at her. She was incredibly fond of her great granddaughter. The girl had so much potential now if only she would get over Ranma. Cologne had finally realized that Ranma would never love Shampoo. Yet, she could not deny tribal law. She would have to figure something out, but Shampoo would not be pleased. "Yes the trip was enjoyable, your father sends his love." She gave Shampoo a chastising look. "Now go help Miko with the customers." Making a decision, Cologne waited until the restaurant was closed and followed Miko home.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko stopped at her front door and leaned her head against it; she took a deep breath and steeled her self. She smiled wryly as she thought about how this had become a habit. Shivering suddenly, she rubbed her arms as she turned to look around her. The street was dark and she could see nothing. Yet still, it felt as if someone was watching her. Shrugging it off she opened the door and quietly called. "Tadaima."

Cologne crawled over the back wall as Miko walked through the house desperately trying to avoid a fight with her father who was trailing her. She landed softly in the backyard and took to a shadow where she could see perfectly. She watched as Miko's father raised his fist and struck her face, landing a blow on the same eye that was already bruised. She felt herself fill with rage as her father beat her and then left her sobbing in limp pile on the floor.

She hadn't wanted it to be true, yet here it was. Undeniable proof that her father was the one doing this to her. She let out a small growl as Miko gingerly picked herself up off the floor and walked outside with a sad look on her face. The worst thing though was the resigned look in her eyes, as if she had come to expect it. She cut off a curse as the battered girl walked outside and into a small grove that was hidden from site in the garden. The heartbreaking sobs that echoed throughout the perfumed area pierced Cologne's soul. Something had to be done, and had to be done soon. Sadly Cologne picked herself up and went home.

Cologne was ready to pounce when Miko came to work the next day with a limp and a worse shiner than the night before. She took one look at the haunted look in the girls eye and came to her decision. "Miko may I talk to you?"

Noting the serious tone of the matriarchs voice she got a wary look in her eyes. Cautiously she followed Cologne into the kitchen. It was empty save for a pot of water waiting to be boiled. She edged over to a counter and leaned against it. She almost whimpered in relief as the strain was taken off of her leg. "Yes Cologne?"

Cologne noted the way the girls eyes darted around, as if she was looking for escape routes. Frowning slightly she moved to stand in front of the girl. "It looks as if that shiner is worse."

Miko took one look into Cologne's eyes and realized she knew about her father. Fear swarmed over her heart. She didn't know if she could lie when Cologne knew the truth. "I...I guess the salve…Ano..." She stuttered as she fought with herself.

"I was wondering if you would like to take some martial art instructions from me."

An astonished look came over her face. She had prayed for a way out, and last night she had sworn that she wasn't going to let this keep happening. She was going to learn to protect herself, and here Cologne was offering what she needed. However, she had learned a hard lesson from experience that nothing came free and promises were rarely kept. "What is the catch?"

Cologne cursed Miko's father, she could see the war in her eyes and the girl was projecting her emotions so loudly they echoed in her head. She had finally figured out, after a night of long thought, what Miko's talent is. She was an empath, and you just don't go and do that to an empath. You shouldn't do it to anyone, but an empath is worse. "There's no catch, I would just like you to be able to stop being such a klutz." Cologne gave the girl a warm smile. "You'd learn to be more graceful if you had better balance, which you can learn through the art."

Relief poured into Miko's eyes. Cologne wasn't going to confront her about her father, she was instead giving her some dignity and a way out. She could just kiss the old woman. "I'd love to."

Cologne smiled at the girl and her mind worked swiftly as thoughts came to her. Miko wasn't going to be able to learn if her father kept hurting her. Then an idea struck her. "Summer vacation is coming up soon isn't it?"

"Yes, actually at the end of tomorrow."

Nodding Cologne pulled her pipe out and lit it. "Why don't you come live here for the summer? While I train you. That way you'll be able to train any time I see fit."

Miko's eye filled with tears, she knew there was an underlying conversation going on. Cologne was giving her a safe haven away from her father, for the entire summer, and it was all given freely. "I don't know if my parents will agree but I'll ask them."

"Good I'll send Shampoo over tomorrow to help you move your things." She smiled. "Now why don't you get to work?"

Tears that had been threatening to overflow did and on impulse Miko darted out and caught the woman in a hug. She didn't say anything as she broke it off just as quickly and ran into the main room.

Cologne stared at the girl in shock. No one had touched her in a very long time and the hug came as a complete shock. Her face softened as she spoke to her self. "You're getting soft old woman."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shampoo cheerfully skidded to a halt in front of Miko's house. She checked the address to make sure she had the right house and then stared at it in awe. The house was the size of the Kuno mansion and just as impressive. It was a traditional Japanese ancestral home, the yard was huge and she heard koi jumping in a pond in the back. She frowned slightly as the sounds of screaming reached her ears. Curiously she leapt over the stone wall and walked to the back door, peeking through it she saw something that she would remember forever.

Miko was in a pile on the floor, tears streaming down her face as she screamed at her father. Defiance filled her eyes and to Shampoo's sight she could see the girl faintly glowing with a white light. She couldn't take it anymore and darted through the door, yelling at the man in fluent Japanese. She kicked him and he went flying into the wall. She heard Miko scream and turned to see if she was all right. "Miko, are you alright?"

Miko covered her mouth and stared at her father who was pulling himself out of the wall and then at Shampoo. "Oh god Shampoo…"

Miko's father glared at the two girls, his eyebrow arching as Shampoo took a defensive stance in front of Miko. "I see you had your little friend protect you."

Shampoo fumed as she stared at the man who had been beating her best friend. "If you touch her again I will kill you, I swear on my honor as an Amazon." Her voice was soft and deadly.

The man had the gall to laugh at her; it was cruel and ugly. "I don't even want the little slut." He cast his glance at Miko. "Get out, I never want to see you again. You are not my daughter." With that he turned and walked out of the room.

Miko burst into tears and dropped her head into her hands. She felt a pair of warm arms wrap around her and she knew it was Shampoo but she couldn't stop her body from flinching. "I'm so sorry Shampoo, I'm sorry."

Shampoo cooed quietly and rocked Miko. "It's not your fault, it's his. You didn't do anything wrong."

Miko looked up at Shampoo with a sad look in her eyes, it occurred to her that Shampoo was speaking fluent Japanese with no trace of an accent. "Shampoo…"

"Yes?"

"When did you learn Japanese?"

Shampoo blinked and then started to giggle. "I decided that I liked it better when people didn't expect much from me. It gave me an edge." A wicked smile crossed her beautiful face. "But…now we have to get your things and leave this wretched place."

Miko's bottom lip started to tremble as tears filled her eyes again. "He doesn't want me."

The plaintive cry tore at Shampoo's heart. How could anyone do this to their child? "Come on, show me your room."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko wandered aimlessly around her room picking up the few trinkets that she had collected over the years and her family hadn't broken. She wrapped them in cloth and placed them in her bag.

Shampoo sighed as she watched Miko collect the pieces of her life and place them into a black bag. She stood and went over to the closet, sliding the doors open she pulled out the Chinese clothing folded them and placed them into another bag. "You can stay with us as long as you need." She murmured softly. Questions tore at her, she was dying to ask them, yet she could see that Miko wasn't ready to answer. Sighing softly at the lack of response she closed the two bags, picked them up and walked out of the house.

Miko stood in front of her ancestral home, the home she had grown up in, the home that she had been broken in. Yet she didn't want to leave, even if they did treat her horribly they were her family. No matter how she tried she couldn't hate them, she had tried but she didn't have it in her. Filling her heart with resolve, she turned to face Shampoo. Her eyes were filled with sadness and love. Somehow, Miko knew she had finally gained a true friend for all of her life. Taking a deep breath, she gave her a weak smile. "Let's go home."

Shampoo led Miko up the stairs and to the extra room she had prepared yesterday. She walked in and sat the bags on the bed. "It's a bit sparse, but I'm sure you can fill it out."

Miko stood in the doorway of her new home and soaked it all in. In the space of a few hours her father had beaten her, Shampoo found out, then her father had disowned her and cast her out of her home. Now she was standing in the doorway of her new home. It was just all too much to take. Whimpering softly she slid down the doorway and started to cry hysterically. She pulled her knees up and dropped her forehead on them as she babbled softly.

Shampoo was across the room in an instant. She pulled Miko into her arms and rocked her back and forth. She turned her head to see Cologne and Mousse standing in the hall looking sadly at her, Cologne with understanding and Mousse with confusion. She gave Mousse a glare that could kill and he backed off for once in his life, going back into his room muttering to himself. It was just the three of them, Cologne standing in the hall silently, Shampoo cradling a sobbing Miko cooing softly as she tried to calm her. After a while Miko went limp in her arms. She looked down and saw Miko was asleep, and stood. She walked over to the bed and tucked Miko into it. Shampoo gazed sadly at her sleeping face she leaned down and gave her soft kiss on the forehead. "Sleep well."

~~~~~~~~~

Miko woke that morning to yelling, that wasn't unusual. In fact she was quite used to it, what she wasn't used to was the softness of the bed and a feeling of wrong filling the room. She opened her eyes to find the reason why it felt wrong. She wasn't in her room and she wasn't at home. She took a moment to remember why she was here and let out a sob when she remembered. She had been disowned. She was at home after all; wearily she stood ignoring the pain. She was very familiar with that too. Limping over to the closet, she found that someone had unpacked her clothing and hung them up. She looked at the selection a little in surprise. It was only of the new Chinese garb she had bought, there was no trace of the hideous clothing bought by her family, and a smile crept over her face. Shampoo had packed her bag. She pulled out a green one and pulled it on. Curiously she crept down the stairs and entered the main room. It became apparent why there was yelling. Ranma and Akane were in the room with a cheerfully smiling Shampoo.

She stepped off the stairs and Shampoo realized she was in the room. Immediately she rushed to her side and whispered to her. "Miko are you all right?"

Miko smiled weakly and nodded. "Just a bit sore." She answered in the same whisper. She hugged Shampoo and moved to greet her two friends. "Morning! What brings you two here?"

Akane smiled and hugged her friend. "I was following the idiot, he's probably here to get free food." She frowned. "Kasumi was letting me cook breakfast, more bridal training."

Miko giggled as she remembered the feeling of horror that came over her when she first tried Akane's cooking. She had improved slightly but it was still toxic. "It's okay you'll get better eventually Akane." She patted Akane's hand and smiled at Ranma. "Here to get in trouble?" she teased.

Ranma rolled his eyes at her and smiled. "Nah Akane was cooking breakfast, decided I didn't want to die today."

Miko giggled and held onto Akane as she tried to leap forward and smack Ranma. "Like I said, getting in trouble."

Ranma snorted and sat down at a table. "What are you doing here so early anyhow?"

A shadow crossed Miko's face. "I'm living here while Cologne gives me training."

Ranma shot Cologne a look. "She's training you in martial arts?" he asked incredulously.

Miko playfully pouted. "What don't think I can learn?"

Ranma knew that tone of voice and decided to keep his mouth shut before he could get himself into more trouble.

Laughing the girl motioned Akane to sit across from Ranma. "Would you like for me to cook breakfast?" She laughed as Ranma crushed her into a hug and cried joyfully.

Ranma frowned as Miko flinched away from him again; he was starting to get curious about that habit. What in the world had been done to her so that she'd start flinching away from men? "Thank you so much Miko! You've saved my life!"

Akane grumbled from the table. "My cooking isn't that bad."

Shampoo who had been watching chose this moment to cheerfully speak. "Akane kitchen wrecker. Uncute tomboy!"

Shaking her head Miko dragged Shampoo into the kitchen before Akane could kill her. "Come on you, stop being so mischievous. You know her temper."

Shampoo smiled impishly as she pulled out the rice cooker and filled it with water and rice. Shutting the lid, she set it to cook. "That's why I do it."

Miko looked around and saw the ever present Mousse missing. "Hey where'd Mousse go?"

Shampoo grinned and pointed at a cage sitting out back. "He got grandmother angry and she banished him to the cage outside."

Miko smiled knowingly as she pulled some scallions out and started to chop them. "So that's why you're speaking proper Japanese?"

The Amazon smiled and nodded. They fell into an uncomfortable silence as they cooked. Shampoo helped prepared the fish and Miko made the miso. After a while Shampoo couldn't stand it anymore, she dropped the knife and turned to look at Miko.

Miko stopped stirring the soup as she felt Shampoo intent gaze on her. Softly she whispered. "I won't break."

Shampoo's face crumpled. "Miko why didn't you tell me?"

Miko turned the heat on the miso to low and turned to look at Shampoo. "What could you have done Shampoo? I would have just caused you unnecessary pain."

"I would have done something. How could you let him do that to you?"

Sadly, she answered. "He's my father."

Frowning, the disgruntled girl arranged the fish on a plate. "He is a man, he has no right to hit you."

Miko sighed softly. "Xian Pu, I grew up differently than you. To me he was my father, the man who ruled my life. I hated it but I couldn't do anything about it." She took the miso off of the stove and poured it into bowls. "Who would believe me?" She scattered decoration over the soup. "He's an influential man, a rich man, a man of power. No one would believe me. He reminded me of that repeatedly."

Shampoo knew she was serious. She always was when she used her correct name. "Miko, that doesn't matter. He still had no right to do that to you."

Miko sighed softly and put the bowls on a serving tray, she turned to retrieve the water she had set boiling earlier and prepared the tea. "But he did and I couldn't stop him." She pulled the tea bags out and poured the tea into a beautiful teapot. After setting the teapot on the tray she retrieved teacups and set them on another tray. "It doesn't matter anymore, I'm not there. He disowned me, this is my home now." She tensed as she felt the other girls arms wrap around her. Sighing softly she relaxed slowly and rested her head against Shampoo's arm. "What would I do without you?" Gently she moved from the warm embrace and picked up a tray. "Time for breakfast." She gave her a brave smile. "Let's go."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko breathed heavily and wiped the sweat dripping from her brow. Her muscles screamed at her as she repeated the movement she had been practicing all day. She saw Cologne nod in approval as she passed in front of Miko.

"You're improving." She adjusted the placement of Miko's leg and nodded. "Try it again, this time relax and let it flow. It's an art, not torture."

Miko sighed. "That's what she thinks." Shaking herself mentally she took a deep breath and tried to ignore her aching muscles. Slowly she retreated and she found herself in a calm place. She moved smoothly and gracefully through the kata, for the brief time that she moved she was in peace.

Cologne saw the look on the girls face and smiled slightly. She was deep within the art its self. She had found that place of peace, which was good. It was the second month that Cologne had been training the girl. She had talent. She was already quick and with the right training, she could become much quicker. She was learning very fast for a beginner, in another few months she would let her spar with Shampoo. By then, she should be properly conditioned and the movements would be instinctive so she wouldn't be hurt too badly. Cologne smiled wryly as she remembered something Miko had said to her one time. "I've got a high threshold for pain, it takes a lot for me to break." The memory of her father still angered Cologne. She had tried to get the girl to stop flinching any time someone moved quickly and she was making some progress, but it was slow.

Miko came to a graceful halt as she finished the kata; she came back to herself and regretted leaving the peaceful feeling behind. Her muscles started to scream at her again and she turned to look at Cologne. "Sensei?"

Cologne smiled at her. "Very good, you can go take a bath now." The look of relief on the girls face made her grin. She knew her muscles were killing her right now, well they'd get better and she'd get in better shape as they went. "I'm sure Shampoo would be willing to give you a massage if you need it."

Miko's eyes lit up at the idea of a warm soak in the furo and a massage by Shampoo. Miko had discovered a hidden talent. The girl was incredible with her hands, she could search out all the muscles that were in pain and soothe them. "Thank you sensei." She bowed again and moved out of the room slowly. Not wanting to hurry or show any weakness. She ran into Mousse in the hall and he grabbed her into a hug. Shuddering she kicked him and knocked him into the wall. "I keep telling you silly, wear your glasses. I'm not Shampoo!"

Shampoo walked up the stairs yawning. She looked at Mousse who was embedded in the wall and grinned at Miko. "Miko's kicks improve!"

Miko laughed and walked into the bathroom. She heard Shampoo enter and smiled gratefully. She was going to get her massage. She pulled her clothing off and threw them in the hamper. "God my muscles are killing me."

Shampoo laughed and shed her clothes, dropping them in the hamper as well. "I remember grandmother's training. I thought I was going to die." She sat down next to Miko on the other stool and they washed themselves off. Shampoo turning into a cat at the touch of the cold water, meowing pitifully she jumped into the furo. A beautiful young woman appeared where the cat had been. "I'm never going to get used to that."

Miko picked up a bucket and rinsed the shampoo from her hair. "You're such a cute cat though." Smiling she climbed into the furo with Shampoo. Sighing in pleasure she leaned back against the wall and let her muscles relax. "God this feels good."

The two girls soaked in silence for a while before Shampoo got out and wrapped a towel around her body. "Sit up you and get out of there. I'll give you the massage you've been dying to ask me for all night." Shampoo smiled impishly at Miko's sheepish blush.

They peeked out their heads to make sure Mousse was in his room before they darted into Miko's. She had filled it up slightly, with trinkets everyone had given her on her birthday in June and with things she had bought at the summer festival. She smiled at Shampoo and sat down at her vanity and pulled the towel from her dry body, she bent over and wrapped her hair in the towel so it would dry. Securing it she stretched and smiled. "The massage?"

Shampoo laughed. "You're incorrigible sometimes." She pointed at the bed. "Lay down you!"

Miko laughingly complied, crawling onto her bed she laid on her stomach and snuggled her pillow. The bed was incredibly soft and she loved it dearly. She turned her head and grinned at Shampoo.

Shampoo grabbed the lotion off of Miko's vanity before she sat down on the bed next to the girls prone body. She lightly felt around the girls back and wrinkled her nose. "No wonder you're in pain all your muscles are in knots!" She poked a muscle experimentally and got a mewling sound from Miko. "Serves you right for not asking me for a massage sooner!" She opened the bottle and poured vanilla scented lotion into her hand. Rubbing them together to get the lotion warmed she started to work the knots out of Miko's back.

Miko moaned in pleasure as Shampoo's hands worked magic on her muscles. They slowly relaxed and soon she was floating in a dreamy world of happiness. Stretching languidly, she felt Shampoo lift her hands. She turned and granted the girl with a pleased smile. "You are incredible at that."

Shampoo laughed and curled up next to Miko. "It's a gift I guess." Snuggling closer she wrapped her arms around Miko and laid her head against the girls back. "Miko?"

Miko yawned and turned around in Shampoo's arms. "What?"

She looked at Miko with sad eyes. "When are you going to stop flinching?"

Miko let out a sigh. "I don't know…I try to stop myself but it's an automatic reaction."

"You didn't flinch a moment ago…"

Miko smiled. "Hey you're right. I must have been too relaxed to flinch."

Shampoo smiled and curled against Miko. "I'm glad. I hate when you flinch. I feel as if I did something wrong."

"Shampoo you didn't do anything wrong, you never do." She hugged the girl. "You're my best friend, I wouldn't have survived any of this without you!"

Shampoo smiled softly and kissed Miko's forehead, gently she started to get up from the bed when Miko's hand shot out and stopped her. "Miko?" she questioned softly.

"Don't go, I'm tired of being alone. Stay?"

Miko's plea melted Shampoo's heart. This was a girl she loved dearly, she was her best friend. The dearest person to her heart, she couldn't resist her. "Oh Miko." She sighed softly; reaching over she turned off the lamp and curled back up in bed with her dearest friend. She wrapped her arms around the girl who started to shake, she realized that Miko had started to cry. Rocking her gently, she pulled a blanket over the two of them and cradled Miko against her. Running her hand gently up and down Miko's back, she despaired at ever getting Miko to calm down. Looking down she gently put a finger under Miko's chin and lifted her head. She wiped the tears off and leaned down to gently place a kiss on Miko's trembling lips.

She felt Miko tense for a moment before she gave into the kiss. Something in Shampoo screamed at her to stop, that this was her best friend, but she couldn't. All that mattered was making the sadness in Miko's eyes go away. When they broke apart, their breathing was uneven. They stared at each other in shock.

Miko raised a hand to her lips and gently touched them. They were slightly swollen from the kissed and a rosy red. "Xian Pu…" she whispered softly.

Shampoo felt terror seize her heart in a tight grip as Miko spoke her true name. Was she going to run from her now? She didn't know what was going to happen and she didn't want to ruin her relationship with Miko. "Miko…I'm sorry…I…"

A smile spread slowly over Miko's face, gently she placed a finger over Shampoo's face. "Shh…it's okay." Tentatively she leaned forward and kissed the girl with all the love she felt for her. Shampoo's lips trembled under hers and then she gave a happy little sigh and leaned into the kiss.

The kiss turned more passionate and their hands roamed over each other's body in searching and gentle caresses. Carefully they unwrapped the towels from the others body. They broke apart from the embrace and Shampoo looked at Miko. "Are you sure?" she asked quietly.

Miko smiled and nodded her head. When Shampoo continued to look concerned, she decided to assure the girl that she was completely sure she wanted to do this. It just felt so good to be held and loved, and she loved Shampoo dearly. It couldn't be wrong. Gently she ran her hand down the girls sides, over her hip and up her stomach. Shifting slightly she placed an open mouth kiss on the hollow of Shampoo's throat tasting her skin. She was rewarded with a soft moan. Smiling she left a gentle trail of kisses down her chest, when she reached the cleft between her breasts she nuzzled it gently with her nose.

Shampoo shivered as Miko nuzzled her, her body was tingling and she could feel warmth filling her lower stomach. Moaning softly, she arched her breasts up towards Miko's face.

The raven-haired girl smiled in wonderment at her lovers moan. Shivering slightly she kissed a gentle path up on breast, avoiding the nipple she teased the moaning girl slightly. She laughed softly at Shampoo's impatient moan, deciding to give in she took the nipple in her mouth and teased it with her tongue.

Gasping Shampoo arched her back further into Miko's mouth. Aching for more she ran her fingers through Miko's hair and gently pushed her head against her chest, crying out in pleasure she rubbed her body against Miko's.

Smiling softly, she moved to the other breast, giving it the same treatment. Her skin tingled each time Shampoo made soft sounds of pleasure. Releasing the breast, she placed a soft kiss over each nipple before moving southwards. She placed an open-mouthed kiss above her navel and then blew softly on it. Her reward was a deep shudder that ran through her lovers body.

Moaning, Shampoo made a small impatient sound. She knew what was coming, she had talked about it before, but actually feeling it left her lightheaded. She wanted more, she could feel the edge of pleasure as it slowly built in her body. Impatiently she wriggled her hips and arched them up slightly.

Exhaling softly, Miko let her hair trail over the pale sensitive skin of Shampoo's body. She knew from the conversations she had with the girl, that her body was incredibly sensitive. A touch could make her shiver. She kissed lower until she reached the junction of her thighs. Gently she trailed a fingertip over the swollen folds, at Shampoo's shudder; she parted them and gently ran a finger over her clit.

Shampoo convulsed as she let out a loud moan, she reached up and grasped at the sheets above her head. Rolling her hips, she pushed them up against Miko's finger, seeking the pleasure that was promised.

Miko knew from experience where to touch and how and so she used that knowledge on Shampoo. Slowly she traced a feather touch over the sensitive nub of nerves nestled between her thighs, each time she did it a little lighter. Leaning forward, she inhaled the scent of her lover. It was rich and intoxicating, she shuddered slightly as she felt her nipples harden into little pebbles. Each moan of pleasure, the feeling of Shampoo's body and her scent were arousing her, as she had never been before. Filled with a sudden need to please she darted her tongue out and traced it over the nerves.

Grasping she caught at Shampoo's bucking hips and kept her still, she continued her onslaught. Relentlessly driving her higher in pleasure, she moved one hand and slid a finger into Shampoo's entrance. She was rewarded with a groan and a buck of the hips. Slowly at first she moved her finger in and out till she added another, together with her tongue they plagued Shampoo. Bringing her close and then stopping, then repeating the process, she waited until the amazon's thighs were quivering and her moans had turned into pleading whimpers. Then she lashed her tongue over the nub, gently sucking it into her mouth she quickened the pace of her fingers until the combined motions brought Shampoo to a screaming climax. She kept sucking after she crested the wave and brought to another before she stopped and gently kissed the area lovingly.

Shampoo felt her breathing slowly going back to normal as Miko moved up her body, kissing gently and reverently. She reached languidly for Miko and they kissed passionately. She licked her raven lovers lips, tasting herself on them and finding that she enjoyed the taste immensely. After catching her second wind she eyed Miko with a predatory air, a wicked smile spread over her face as she pushed Miko down and straddled her lap. "My turn." She crooned laughing as Miko's eyes widened. She leaned down and then they were lost in each other.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shampoo woke slowly, her mind drifting in and out of clouds of sleep, opening her eyes she looked around a soft smile gracing her face as her gaze falls upon her bedmate. Stretching, she turned over on her side her fingers gently caressing Miko's slender back. Thoughts bubbling through her head about last night. "I love Ranma, why did I sleep with Miko?" Another part of her answered that, telling her that she loves Miko too. "But I don't love Miko the same way, she's the dearest in my heart other than Ranma. Isn't she…?" She quietly asked herself if she regretted it. "No." She heard a small moan from Miko and she shook herself out of her thoughts. Refocusing her eyes, she saw Miko looking at her with a timid smile. Her heart twisted as she realized how vulnerable the girl must be feeling, so with a soft smile she kissed the girl gently. "Morning."

Miko felt relief flood through her. When she had woken and remembered last night she had been shocked. She hadn't known she had any lesbian tendencies, although with her general fear of men she supposed it was to be expected. Then worries about how Shampoo would feel filled her mind, she knew Shampoo was in love with Ranma and she knew she wasn't in love with Shampoo. She loved the girl dearly but she wasn't in love with her, yet she was very comforted by being around her and she had never felt so relaxed as she did last night. "Good morning." Sitting up she crawled out of bed and stretched. "I'm so glad Cologne gave me today off of training." Giggling she grabbed some clothes and pulled Shampoo out of bed. "I would have been so sore during the picnic if she hadn't."

Shampoo laughed and followed Miko into the furo. They washed each other down and curled up in the furo together. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Shampoo spoke up. "I still love Ranma."

Miko lifted her head and looked into Shampoo's worried face. "I know that."

"I'm not in love with you Miko…"

Smiling she hugged the amazon. "I'm not in love with you either." She leaned up and kissed Shampoo gently. "But I do love you, you're my heart sister and my lover."

Shampoo's smile lit up the room. "And you are that to me." She gave Miko a huge hug. "Now come on, we've got to get ready and cook if we don't want to die by eating Akane's cooking."

Miko laughed all the way down to the kitchen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A shout rang out through the empty house as a man answered his doorbell and was confronted by some police officers. After a brief scuffled the man was carted downtown to be questioned, only to be released hours later.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko and Shampoo met everyone at the park. Everyone greeted the pair and the rest of the afternoon descended into chaos. Ranma and Ryouga spent the afternoon fighting and then Ryouga got turned into P chan. Akane squealed happily at finding her lost pig and malleted Ranma for picking on him. Mousse glomped onto Shampoo and got sent into the lake and turned into a duck. After being turned back into human he glomped onto Miko thinking it was Shampoo and got kicked into the lake again.

Miko fumed and glared in Mousse's direction. "You'd think he'd learn to put his glasses on!"

Shampoo laughed and teased Miko happily. "At least I don't get glomped as often as I did before, you take half of it now."

Miko laughed and stuck her tongue out at Shampoo. Her face fell into blankness as she caught a glimpse of a person stalking towards her over Shampoo's shoulder. "Shampoo stay here, whatever you hear just stay here. Don't let the others follow either. I'll be back in a bit." She gave the girl a hug and walked off to meet the person half way.

Shampoo blinked in confusion and turned around to see Miko walking towards her father. A scowl came over her face as Miko lead him off into a secluded part of the park. Standing up she started to follow when Ranma popped up in front of her. Instinct to glomp onto him warred with instinct to follow Miko. So she did neither and tried to dodge Akane's mallet. Shampoo turned and glared at Akane, her voice slipping into proper Japanese as she caught sounds of yelling from Miko's direction. "Stop it Akane!" She grabbed Akane's mallet and tossed it into the bushes before heading towards the alcove Miko and her father resided in.

Akane stared at Shampoo in shock. "Did she just speak in proper Japanese?"

Ranma shook his head and headed after Shampoo. His ears just now were picking up the sounds of yelling too. "Come on Akane." He grabbed onto her arm and dragged her towards Shampoo. "Something is going on."

Seeing Ranma and Akane head off the rest of the group naturally followed in their odd chaotic way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko lead her father into a secluded part of the park, after a few minutes she stopped and looked at him. "What do you want?"

Her father's hand shot out quickly and grabbed onto her wrist. Jerking her towards him, he squeezed cruelly. "I got a visit from the police today." He shook her. "What did I say about telling people?"

Miko winced as he shook her, defiance filled her eyes as she growled at him. "I didn't tell anyone you asshole!"

Her father's eyes widened at the insult and tone of her voice, and raged filled him. Screaming he let go of her arm and punched her, watching her crumple to the ground he kicked her in the stomach. "Don't talk back to me you little slut!"

Wincing, Miko fell to the ground in pain, her mind flashing back to all the times he had beaten her before; her martial training suddenly took over and she rolled out of the way of another kick. Jumping up into ready position, she glared at him.

Letting out a laugh, he stared at her. "What, are you going to try and hurt me?" Walking slowly forward she cupped her face in his hands and smiled sweetly at her. "You couldn't ever hurt me, I'm your father."

Miko's eyes watched his movements, she stood still yet poised as he came near her. Her muscles screamed in readiness as she watched him raise his hand she started to dodge out of the way when she heard someone scream from behind her. Whipping her head around she turned to see Shampoo and never saw the fist impact and send her flying. Immediately she loosened her muscles and went into a roll, unfortunately she rolled right into a tree.

Shampoo ignored the gasps of the people behind her and ran towards Miko. She kneeled next to the girl and shook her, she sighed in relief as Miko opened her eyes and gave her a weak smile. "You idiot, why did you let him do this to you?" She chided softly as tears filled her eyes. She felt someone come up behind her and she turned around to see Akane looking at them worriedly.

"Is she alright?"

Miko smiled and slowly stood up. "I'm fine Akane, it's nothing." She turned her head slightly and caught sight of Ranma standing in front of her father about to attack him. "No!" she shouted and threw herself between the two people.

Ranma came to a halt in a few inches in front of Miko, worry in his eyes. "Why?"

Miko sighed and started to hug Ranma when she felt her father grab her from behind. She shook her head at Ranma as he lunged forward to grab her. Looking around the area, she saw shock, anger, and worries on everyone's faces. Suddenly she realized just how much these people cared about her. Steeling her self, she spoke softly to her father. "Let go of me."

He just laughed and wrapped his hand around her arm and dug his nails into her flesh, their sharpness drawing blood.

Shampoo shook her head, she couldn't take just standing around watching this man hurt his daughter. Growling softly she stalked up to Miko's father, after giving Miko a reassuring look she looked at the man. "I promised last time to kill you if you touched her again." She took out her bonbori. "I always keep my promises."

Miko's eye widened as Shampoo got a determined look in her eyes. "She'll actually kill him!" she thought in horror. She couldn't let that happen, she let her body relax and in one move she wrenched her self from his grasp, whirled around with a kick and sent him flying. Without giving him an option to get up she jumped and landed gently on his chest. Using her foot she kept his neck pushed onto the ground, grinding her heel slightly. She glared down at him. "You already disowned me, you have no business here. If you come near me again I will kill you myself." Leaning down she pressed a pressure point on his neck and rendered him unconscious. With a soft sigh she got off him and slowly walked back towards her friends. She paused for a moment and looked at them, they were all looking at her as if she'd break. Putting a brave smile on her face, she walked back into the warm embraces of her friends.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko sat on her bed with a pillow in her lap as she explained things to the small group in her room. Mousse sat on the floor a few feet away from Shampoo, Akane sat on her window seat and Ranma was perched on the end of her bed. They all listened with attentive looks on their faces as she explained her life to them and how she had come to live in the Nekohanten. "And so he found me in the park. I'm not sure what he was talking about when he mentioned police but my guess is that someone guessed what was going on and notified the authorities." Sighing she hugged her pillow close.

Ranma frowned. "So that's why you flinch away from everyone."

Miko gave him a wry smile. "Can you blame me?"

Cologne who was standing just outside of the door during the explanation came in the door. "Since you don't have a family anymore I've decided to offer you a place in our Amazon tribe."

Miko's eye widened. "Me? Why would you want me?"

Cologne smiled. "You've got talent, and I believe you would be a strong addition to the tribe. We don't have much outside blood and we need to strengthen the bloodline." She cast a look at Shampoo. "Besides Shampoo has gotten attached to you, she'd never forgive me if I left you here."

Shampoo smiled and glomped onto her grandmother. Then before the woman could smack her she bounded over to Miko. "Miko! We can be real sisters!"

Akane shook her head and mumbled something about bimbo amazons. She looked at Miko. "You should do it if it makes you happy."

Ranma sat down on the end of the bed and grinned. "Just don't expect me to fight you, I don’t need another fiancée."

Miko laughed and stuck her tongue out at Ranma. "Yeah but I'd be the cutest." She smiled at Akane and ducked Shampoo's mock punch. "I'd love to join the tribe."

Cologne smiled and nodded. "I'll contact the elders, in order for you to join you must go to China and pass some tests. They'll also want to know what you will bring to the tribe."

Miko frowned a bit. "But I don't know what I'll bring."

Cologne patted Miko's hand. "You'll be able to find something I'm sure." With that, she hopped out of the room.

Miko leaned back against her headboard. "Can you believe that? She wants me!"

Shampoo laughed and hugged Miko happily. "Welcome to the tribe sister!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko gathered up some dishes, made her way into the kitchen and sat them in the sink. She saw Mousse cooking some ramen and she smiled at him. Deciding she would take a small break, she pulled up a stool so she could sit and talk to Mousse. "Hey you, what's up?"

Mousse turned and smiled at Miko. "Not much." He reached up and rubbed a sore spot on his cheek.

Miko smiled sympathetically. "Shampoo get you again?"

The boy nodded.

"Why do you glomp her all the time any ways?"

Mousse sighed thoughtfully. "I love her."

Shaking her head, Miko leaned forward and rested her chin in her hand. "Well you know, you're going about it the wrong way."

"What do you mean?"

Miko laughed and pushed some hair out of her face. "Think about it this way, Shampoo fell in love with Ranma because he defeated her in battle." She poked Mousse gently. "You simply glomp her and you never fight her, she has no respect for you so she cannot love you."

"I suppose." His face fell as he took the ramen out and poured it into a bowl and set it on the counter for Shampoo to pick up. "But I cannot bring myself to hit her."

Miko smiled at Shampoo and giggled at her slightly suspicious look, waving her off she turned back to Mousse. "You're never going to win her if you cannot beat her." She gave him a chastising look. "You know the rules, whoever beats her wins her. Ranma beat her and he won her, even if he doesn't want her."

Mousse growled again at the mentioning of Ranma's name. "That scoundrel."

Miko facefaulted; after picking her self up she sat down in the stool again and smacked Mousse upside the head. "Will you stop that? He's been nothing but kind to me!"

Mousse sighed and nodded. "Sorry Miko, but he really gets to me. How can he not want her?"

"Well that's an easy one, he's in love with Akane."

Mousse blinked and looked at Miko. "Has he admitted it?"

Laughing, Miko shook her head. "As if he'd admit to anything, it's fairly obvious though." She sat up straighter and gave Mousse a serious look. "Look honey, I know you're a good person. If you weren't I wouldn't have anything to do with you, so look. Work something out with Ranma if you truly want to get Shampoo." She looked at the increasing amount of customers and wrinkled her nose. "Now I've got to get back to helping Shampoo, think about what I said okay?" Giving him a bright smile, she walked out into the main room.

Mousse stared thoughtfully at the boiling water. "Work something out with Ranma hmm?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shampoo looked up from her magazine as Cologne walked into the room. She looked at Miko and poked her, motioning towards the matriarch. "Miko!" she hissed.

Blinking Miko looked up from painting her toenails, she smiled brightly as she caught sight of Cologne. "Cologne! You're back from China!" Fanning her toenails dry, she shut the bottle of polish and sat it down on her nightstand. She started to stand before Cologne motioned for her to keep sitting.

"I've just finished talking with the matriarchs of the clan."

Shampoo's eyes lit up and she sat up eagerly. "What'd they say great grandmother?"

Cologne cackled softly. "They are willing to consider letting Miko join the clan. She must come to China and stand trial in front of them first."

Miko ignored her wet nail polish, jumped up, and hugged Shampoo. "We're going to China! You can finally go home and visit!"

Cologne frowned slightly. "Shampoo will not be coming."

Miko and Shampoo stared at the old woman. "What do you mean Cologne?"

"She cannot go back with out a husband, it would disgrace her again. So she cannot go."

Miko's face fell and she turned to see Shampoo with a sad resigned look on her face. "Shampoo?"

"I'm fine Miko. I would just be a distraction any ways."

Miko sighed and looked at Cologne. "When do we leave?"

"We will be leaving in two days. I have already arranged for some transportation for us." She looked seriously at Miko. "They will likely put you through the seven trials of combat, so we will need to train intensively until we reach China."

"She cannot great grandmother. She's not ready!"

Cologne frowned at her granddaughter. "She will be ready, they know she is a beginner. She will have to prove her self worthy to them." She looked at Miko and then back at Shampoo. "If you are so afraid for her, then you can help train her. Come Miko, its time to begin your training today."

Miko gave Shampoo a slightly worried look and followed Cologne out of the room.

Shampoo sighed. What if Miko was not able to pass the tests? Getting up she followed Cologne and Miko to help with the girls training. She would make sure she was ready.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko groaned as she walked with Shampoo to the last delivery of the day. For the past two days, she had spent every waking moment training. While she was waiting on tables, she was constantly dodging attacks and Cologne had not let up until she had mastered the chestnut fist. She looked at her hands woefully, they were still slightly singed. Flocks of people had come into the Nekohanten to see the beautiful girl doing acrobatic tricks. She remembered Mousse helping her at night with a few techniques she was having trouble mastering. She would have to thank him after she got back from China, she made a mental note of it as they came up to the house. "Shampoo did the Tendo's order dinner again?" She sniffed the air and caught the scent of burned rubber and it all came clear to her. "Oh I see Akane tried cooking again."

Shampoo knocked on the door and waited for Kasumi to answer. The moment the door opened a small black pig shot out and ran right into Miko. Shampoo shook her head and moved out of the way, as Ranma came barreling out after it.

Miko groaned and picked her self up from the ground. Angrily she took hold of the collar of the pig and glared at it. Suddenly something click in her mind, the pig was Ryouga. She had seen the same bandana on his head. She fumed angrily. "Why you little sneak!" she growled at him as she started to glow. She'd had it, she was tired and sore and this little pig had been seeing one of her good friends naked. Oh yes, this was going to end now.

Ranma edged towards Shampoo as Miko started to glow. "Hey Shampoo. Why is she doing that?"

Shampoo looked thoughtfully at Miko and noticed the girls gaze on the pigs bandana. Her eyes widened as Miko came stomping past the small group of people and into the house. "I think she's figured out about Ryouga."

Ranma's eyes widened and he quickly followed Miko into the house. "Miko wait!"

Shampoo sighed and handed Kasumi the ramen. "Here you go Kasumi, compliments of the house. Oh and you might want to call Dr. Tofu."

Kasumi blinked and smiled in that way she has and went off to make the phone call.

Shampoo quickly raced after Miko and ran right into Ranma's back. She knocked the both over and they slid down the hall in a tangle of limbs, unfortunately they slid to a halt in front of an angry Akane. Shampoo smiled weakly at Akane. "Nihao."

Miko grabbed Akane's arm and dragged her upstairs into the bathroom, muttering angrily to her self the whole time. "Akane, come here."

Akane blinked in shock and allowed Miko to drag her into the bathroom. "Miko, what's going on?" She looked at the black pig clutched tightly in Miko's hand. "P chan! Miko why do you have P chan?"

Miko snarled at the mentioning of the name and kicked the door of the furo open. "I'll show you why!"

Shampoo and Ranma looked at each other in horror as the two disappeared into the bathroom. The amazon shook her head and pulled her self up from the floor. "Perhaps you should disappear for a bit Ranma…"

Ranma shook his head. "No, I'm just glad someone is going to tell her." He winced as he heard a crashing and screaming sound echo out from the room. "Oh that's gotta hurt."

Miko sat Akane down on the stool and moved over to the furo. "So Akane, how long have you had P chan?" She cast a cruel smile at the small pig trying desperately to get out of her grasp.

Ryouga looked at Miko in horror. Some how he knew things were going to be bad today, and he knew it had to be Ranma's fault some how. He just couldn't figure it out. He thought about biting her but honor kept him from doing it, he couldn't hurt a girl. So instead, he was reduced to staring at the hot water in horror and screaming which came out in little terrified bweeing sounds.

Akane frowned at Miko. "Miko what are you doing to P chan?"

Miko shook her head. "What some one should have done a long time ago." She looked at the pig. "If you even consider blaming Ranma for what I'm going to do I will personally kill you." With that she shoved the pig under the water and stood back as a screaming naked Ryouga came up from the hot water.

Ryouga covered his privates and looked fearfully at Akane. "I can explain!"

Akane blinked and looked at Ryouga and back at the water, suspicions began to grow in her mind as things clicked into place. Quietly she whispered. "Ryouga you're p chan."

Ryouga's eyes widened as Miko moved to stand next to a suddenly glowing Akane. He closed his eyes as a fist and a mallet came towards his face. Oh this was going to really hurt.

After thoroughly trashing Ryouga the two blazingly angry girls stalked downstairs and confront Ranma. Both of them wanted to know why he hadn't said anything before, and then they were going to hurt him badly. Miko moved to stand on one side of Ranma while Akane moved to the other side.

"Why didn't you tell me that Ryouga was p chan?!"

"Why didn't you tell Akane that Ryouga was p chan!?"

Ranma held up his hands. "I couldn't!"

Shampoo dropped her head into her hands as Ranma was sent flying through a new hole in the roof by two angry girls. "Miko calm down." She winced as Miko turned the angry gaze upon her. "Miko. Calm. Down."

Miko deflated as she realized who she was looking at. "Sorry Shampoo. It's just; I'm so mad at Ryouga for doing that. I thought he had honor."

Akane suddenly fell to the ground as the implications sunk in and started to sob. "Damn you Ryouga!"

Miko rushed over to Akane and hugged her. "It's okay." She soothed and made plans to torture Ryouga if he showed his face anywhere near here any time soon. She picked up Akane, carried her up to her room, and sat her on her bed. "I'm sorry to do this Akane but I've got to go. I leave for China tonight with Cologne."

Akane stopped crying and looked at Miko then at Shampoo. "You're leaving for China? Both of you? Why?"

Miko sighed at the sad look on Shampoo's face. "No only Cologne and I are going, I have to pass a trial to before I get to join the Amazon clan."

"When are you coming back?"

Miko shrugged. "I don't know. It might be a week, it might be a month. Cologne couldn't tell me." She gathered the girl up and gave her a hug. "I'll miss you."

Akane sniffled and hugged Miko tightly. "Good luck."

Miko grinned impishly and she handed Akane a tissue. "Make sure Ranma begs for forgiveness." After Akane laughed at that, she left with Shampoo.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko stood against the rail of the ship and looked into the black waters. She had always heard they were blue, but as the moonlight lit up the sea, it was a deep black. She had lived near the ocean once, she had vague memories of playing in the sea but she was too young to really remember more. She smiled softly and turned around as she heard Cologne come up behind her. "Nihao."

Cologne smiled. "You've picked up Chinese very quickly for an outsider."

"I won't be an outsider for long. Besides Shampoo has been teaching me since I started working for you."

"Come it's time to test you so I know how far along you are." Cologne led Miko to a secluded part of the ship where there was plenty of room and proceeded to give Miko the test.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shampoo tossed and turned in her bed, she kept remembering the look in Ranma's eyes when he said he wasn't going to run from Akane. "He loves her." Tears fell down her face as she let out a small sob. She sat up and made her way down to the kitchen, she looked around the dark room and went over to light some candles that were always kept there. Gently she pulled the teakettle out of the cupboard and set it on to boil. Morosely she found herself standing in front of her great grandmothers medicine cabinet. Slowly she opened the doors and looked at the herbs labeled in Chinese, reaching up she picked up a random bottle and looked at it. It was so tempting, she knew she should just let Akane have Ranma, but it was so very tempting to trap him and take him back to China.

Oh how she missed China, the rolling hills in the valley, the smell of the fresh air, the warmth of her fathers arms. She knew she wasn't exactly all that popular, mostly because people were jealous of her talent. Her only true friend as she was growing up was a half-blind boy who loved her. Her thoughts darkened slightly. Mousse, what was she going to do about him? She loved him, he was her friend, but she didn't love him, as he wanted her to. She should just send him away. Her heart gave a slight twinge at the thought of that; startled she arched an eyebrow. Perhaps she could love him after all. The whistle of the kettle pulled her from her thoughts; guiltily she replaced the bottle and went over to prepare some tea.

Mousse stood quietly in the shadows and watched the emotions flicker over his beloved's face. The conversation with Miko floated back to him as he saw tears slide down Shampoo's face. He would have to do something, and soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko sat in a crouch on the deck of the boat, she was covered in scratches and bruises and she was having trouble breathing.

Cologne looked at the girl appraisingly, she had passed all of the tests. Barely with the last one, but she had passed. She knew that she hadn't gone easy on the girl, and she was the best warrior of her generation. Whoever gave her the test would be surprised, if she could pass with Cologne she could pass with anyone. "You passed."

Miko's face flooded with relief, and in a small voice she asked. "Can I go sleep now?"

The plaintive note in Miko's voice amused Cologne. "Yes, go sleep child. We will reach China tomorrow, it will be a long day."

Gratefully, Miko picked herself up and made her way to her room. She fell down on her bed and immediately slipped into a deep sleep.

Cologne came into the room and sat down a bowl of incense, after lighting it she turned towards Miko and smiled softly. "Sleep well." She whispered. The incense wafted up through the room, soothing Miko's nightmares as she slept.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Akane sat at her desk, her chin resting in her hands as she stared blankly out the window. For the past week she had been ignoring everything, she only spoke when she was spoken to, she was quiet, she didn't try to poison anyone with her food and most of all she didn't get mad at Ranma. Thoughts filled her head, of when she had undressed in front of P chan, when she had held him and told him her thoughts, when she had cried, when she had snuggled him in her sleep. She felt so violated, and most of all she felt bad about yelling at Ranma for messing with P chan. She was always so convinced that he was mean and perverted, but after calming down and listening to Ranma's explanation she had realized that he had tried numerable times to make he realize who P chan was but she didn't want to see. She hadn't wanted to see, and now she was a fool.

Ranma stood outside Akane's door, staring at the nameplate as he listened to the girl cry quietly. He could just kill Ryouga. He had taken all the life out of Akane, had betrayed her trust and friendship and he had made her cry. Growling he cracked his knuckles, vowing to make Ryouga suffer next time, he saw the pig. Biting his lip he reached up and knocked on the door. "Akane?"

"Yes?"

"Can I come in?" He waited with his heart in his throat, the silence after his question was tearing him in knots. After a few minutes, she answered.

"Yes."

He pushed the door open and stepped inside, leaning against it nervously as he shut it he looked at Akane. She was just sitting at her desk looking out the window at nothing. He was going to have to apologize; he hated apologizing. Steeling him self he moved forward until he was standing directly behind her. "Akane. I'm sorry."

Akane turned around and looked at him blankly. "For?"

Ranma blinked, it hadn't occurred to him that he'd have to explain what he was sorry for. "For not telling you about Ryouga."

Her face fell at the mentioning of that name and she felt anger flare up inside of her. She wanted to lash out at something, at Ranma, but she knew she couldn't. She had spent the week thinking, about the promise she broke to Kasumi, about how she had treated Ranma when he came, how she had betrayed him. "No."

"No?" Ranma was confused by now, wasn't she supposed to accept his apology and go back to normal?

"No." She reaffirmed. Taking a deep breath, she gestured to her bed. "Sit."

Too confused to put up a fight he sat down heavily on the bed and stared at the girl in front of him.

Akane moved her chair slightly until she was sitting in front of him, their knees almost touching. She brushed her hair out of her face and sighed. "I want to tell you some things."

Ranma knew it; he was going to get in trouble now. Nervously he looked around for any sign of her mallet. When finding none he turned his attention back to Akane. "Okay…"

"Don't say anything until I'm done." Waiting for his nod, she continued. "I've been thinking a lot lately." Nervously she toyed with her necklace. "I want to apologize for how I've been acting since you got here. I was unfair to you, I felt betrayed when you turned out to be a guy, so I took it out on you. I've never given you a chance, I've always believed the worst of you and I never told you how I felt about you."

Ranma stared at Akane. His brain was fogged over as every thing she was saying tried to sink in. She's apologizing to him? Wasn't it supposed to go the other way around? Things weren't going back to the way they were, and he was uncomfortable with this new ground. He didn't know what to say she was sitting there looking at him with those beautiful eyes of her as if she was expecting something. "I…"

Akane's lips twitched slightly as they turned up in a brief smile. She realized Ranma didn't know what to say the best martial artist in Japan didn't know what to do. God he was cute. The other part of her smacked her for thinking that, she wasn't supposed to like him. Akane quickly shoved it down and replied that she didn't like him. She loved him. Suddenly she slapped her hands over her mouth and stared in horror at a shocked Ranma. She had said it out loud.

"You love me?"

Akane bit her lip and nodded. She looked at him, he was so handsome and she could see he was nervous and that he was preparing to say something. Her heart twisted in two as she imagined him rejecting her. She couldn't deal with his rejection.

To say he was shocked would be an understatement. He had come in here to apologize and instead she apologized to him and confessed that she loved him. That meant something, and as soon as his brain would start working, he'd figure it out. After kick starting it, he realized what he wanted to say. "I love you too." The joy that lit up his fiancée's face made him smile. She was so beautiful when she smiled.

Akane smiled and launched herself into his arms. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she covered his face in kisses, tears sliding down her face in happiness. "I'm so sorry for being mean!"

Hardly believing that the girl he loved was kissing him he wrapped his arms around her and cuddled her close. Whispering softly, he reassured her that it was okay and kissed her gently and lost himself in her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nabiki stood outside of Akane's room and gave the rest of the family her best glare. "Leave them alone."

Soun burst into tears and raved at his daughter. "Nabiki! How can you keep a father from his daughter!"

"Quite easily." She gave him an unaffected look. "Go downstairs daddy and leave them alone. They don't need your interference right now."

Grumbling the group of people made their way downstairs. Smiling at them Nabiki turned and placed a hand on the door, smiling softly at the sounds coming from inside. "There's my wedding present guys."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko walked down the gangplank and waved good bye to the people on the ship. They had been so nice to her. Cheerfully she adjusted her backpack and smiled at Cologne. "I'm ready."

Cologne shook her head in amusement, how Miko attracted people to her and how they immediately took her under their wing she would never figure out. "Let's go, it's a long hike to the village."

Miko followed Cologne and after several hours of walking and shifting her backpack, she begged a break. Sighing in relief when Cologne agreed to it, she sat down heavily on a log. "Thank god."

Cologne grinned. "We're going to work on your stamina during the hike. You've had a brief rest so let's get going." She poked Miko with her stick and forced her up, cheerfully smiling at the girls groans. "Follow me." Taking off at a fast run, she bounded through the forest. Periodically she paused to see if Miko was keeping up with her, surprisingly the girl was fast; with that knowledge, she kicked up her speed to near amiguriken. She snickered at Miko's accompanying groan.

Miko glared at Cologne's back as she kicked up her speed and was hard pressed to keep up with the woman. Apparently, she was serious about the conditioning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Akane and Ranma came down the stairs holding hands. Their family immediately jumped up and congratulated them, then they started to plan the wedding.

"Wait!"

Soun turned to look at his youngest daughter with innocent eyes.

"We're not getting married yet."

He broke into tears and started to sob about how his daughter was talking back to him.

Nodoka gave Ranma an icy look. "It is your duty to marry her."

Ranma winced, but the pressure of Akane's hand gave him courage. "I will marry her."

Akane moved forward slightly and kneeled before Nodoka. "But not yet, we want to wait till we get out of school."

Nodoka frowned and started to say something when Kasumi spoke up.

"Why I believe that is a good idea."

Everyone turned to look at an innocently smiling Kasumi.

"They really are too young to get married yet, they get out of school in a year. Nabiki has already graduated so I think it only appropriate to wait until Akane can legally accept the responsibility of being an adult." Kasumi smiled sweetly during all this and poured everyone some tea. She looked at everyone expectantly. "Don't you think so father?"

"Yes of course dear."

"Good father."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mousse sat at the table with Ranma and Akane looking at him nervously. Apparently, they didn't trust him. "I'd like to talk to you about your engagement to Shampoo."

Akane frowned slightly and looked at Ranma. The engagements were still a sore point with them. "What about Shampoo?" she asked warily.

"I know you two have decided to go through with your engagement but it still stands that by tribal law Shampoo is engaged to Ranma." He took a deep breath. "I'd like to end that."

Ranma arched an eyebrow. "How?"

"It goes like this." He sat his tea down gently on the table. "I have to defeat you."

Ranma doubled over laughing. "You beat me?"

Akane glared at Ranma and smacked him upside the head. "Listen to his plan stupid!" She sniffled. "Don't you want to get rid of Shampoo?"

Ranma immediately sat up and hugged Akane. "Of course I do."

"Then listen to Mousse."

Mousse cleared his throat and smiled at the two. "Cute. It still stands like this though." He pulled out a rulebook. "Either I beat you, or you marry Akane right now and get her pregnant. Amazon's are not allowed to kill women with children. It goes against our laws."

Akane blushed deeply and stared down at her hands.

Mousse grinned. "I see you aren't ready to be married so the other way is for me to beat Ranma. I cannot do that normally so he has to throw the fight."

Ranma got a wounded look on his face. "I never throw a fight."

"Do you want to marry my Shampoo then? Because this is the only way."

Ranma sighed and shook his head, he looked at Akane and nodded. "Okay, what's the plan?"

"Okay, here's what you do."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shampoo sang to her self as she swept the front porch. The song was a lullaby from her childhood, something that had always comforted her. She needed it now, she couldn't get the feeling that something was going to happen today out of her head. Mousse had spent the morning walking on eggshells around her and she hadn't seen Ranma around. At that thought Ranma appeared in front of her as if by magic. Her face lit up and she smiled brightly. "Husband!" She looked next to Ranma and frowned at the girl, Akane was standing close to her husband and holding his hand. "What is this about?" She backed up slightly at their pitying looks. She hated it. Turning, she walked into the restaurant with a false cheer. "Can I get husband something to eat?"

Ranma shook his head. "I'm here to answer Mousse's formal challenge." He held up a letter and showed it to Shampoo.

Shampoo's aura flared slightly as she turned to level Mousse with a withering glare. In Chinese, she asked him. "What is this about Mousse?"

"I know the law, Ranma has decided to marry Akane, so I am making a formal challenge for your hand."

Shampoo's face fell as she heard the news. "I will not allow it!"

"You must, it is law. If you do not follow it, you are not an amazon." He stood in front of her with a sad look. "Do you really wish to continue chasing him while he loves someone else?"

Shampoo burst into tears. "But I love him!" She looked at Mousse's sad face and sighed. "I will allow it, but I will not watch." With out casting a glance at Ranma she started to leave but Mousse stopped her.

"You have to watch, you know that, its law."

"Very well."

Mousse led the group to the abandoned lot across from the café and the fight commenced.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ranma groaned and sat up, he had lost the fight, sadly he watched Shampoo give him a longing look and then run into the café. He really hadn't wanted to hurt her, she had been a good friend. He stood up and wrapped his arms around Akane.

She reached up and patted his hand gently. "It's okay, leave her to Mousse. Let's go home."

Nodding he picked Akane up and took off across the rooftops for the house.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cologne led a nervous Miko into the village. It was a beautiful village, nestled in a lush valley; homes dotted the landscape, briefly interrupted by training grounds, gardens, fields and other such things. In the center of the village was a dome shaped building, it was by far the largest in the village; it was the council building. "Come girl."

Miko was far too nervous to see the change in Cologne's attitude towards her. She followed the old woman into the middle of the village. Cries of welcome surrounded them; women came from their houses and greeted the matriarch. Those women looked curiously at the outsider.

An old woman with dark green hair laced with silver strands, looking to be around 60, came up to Cologne and welcomed her in heavily accented Chinese. "Welcome Cologne." She cast her gaze upon Miko. "Is this the child?"

Cologne nodded towards Miko and motioned her to come forward. "This is Miko."

Miko came forward and bowed deeply. She had no way to judge how important this woman was, but she gave off an aura of knowledge. "Nihao."

The woman gave Miko an appraising look before smiling and clapping her on the shoulder. Turning towards Cologne she gestured towards a near by home. "Come, rest while we wait for the council to convene."

Miko gratefully followed the two women into the house. The stares of the village folk were making her uneasy. Curiously, she looked around as they entered the house. It was well furnished; lush carpets and gorgeous pottery graced the home. As they entered the dining room, a smiling man came into the room bearing tea and snacks. She sat down at the table with wide eyes; gingerly she picked up a cookie only after the other two women had been served. She idly listened to Cologne and the other women discuss various subjects, the trip up here and the up coming trial. She was shoved out of her thoughts as the other woman addressed her. Shaking her head to clear it, she gave the woman a bright smile. "I'm afraid I was lost in my thoughts, can you repeat your question elder?"

Laughing the woman cast a glance at Cologne before giving Miko a reassuring smile. "I asked if you enjoyed the trip."

"Oh yes! It was beautiful, this is my first time to be in China."

She nodded. "Cologne tells me that you are living with her. How did that come to be?" She watched a shadow fall over the girls pretty face and her eyes became haunted. It was a look she knew quite well from women who wandered into their village.

"My father beat me. Cologne gave me sanctuary after he disowned me." She carefully kept her voice neutral. She had a feeling she would be asked more intense questions during the trial, and she would not break down through it.

"Why did you let him?"

"Where I was born, a man has complete control over women. I could do nothing." She took a sip of her tea. "He was an influential man, a powerful man."

"Are you happy with Cologne?"

Miko smiled softly as she looked at the elder woman. "I have never been happier. Cologne has been kind to me as no one else has."

The woman cast a grin towards Cologne and patted Miko's hand gently. She turned to whisper to a man who had just walked in. "Ah. It appears the council is prepared to receive you." She stood. "Let me lead you there, it would be an honor."

Miko smiled at the woman and looked at Cologne. She seemed warm but she realized that she was acting differently now. She would have to think on that. "Thank you, I am grateful elder."

She led Miko and Cologne through a group of gossiping village women. For all that, they were warriors they were also curious. The group fell in behind the three women and followed them into the council room. Miko was led into a secluded room where she would wait while Cologne spoke.

Miko looked at the closing door and felt a wave of doubt over come her. She sat down her pack and decided to wash quickly and change before she was called in. It would not do to be introduced to the village matriarchs while looking dirty and travel worn. She shed her clothes and quickly washed at the sink in the room. Rummaging through her pack, she pulled out her best set of clothing. It was a pure white, with gold trim; the material was expensive. She smiled to her self. It had been a gift from Shampoo for her birthday. She hugged it to her body and quickly put it on; on an after thought she pulled out a new set of shoes and slid them on her feet. Pulling out her hairbrush, she ran it through her hair till it gleamed. Looking at her reflection in the water of the sink, she smiled. It would have to do. She looked up at a knock on the door. "Yes?"

It opened to reveal the woman from before. She came into the room and smiled at Miko. "It is time for you to meet the village." She laughed softly at the terrified look that crossed the girls face. "Chin up, meet them with pride and honor and you cannot fail."

Miko bit her lip and nodded. "I don't mean to be presumptuous." She trailed off for a moment. "But what is your name elder?"

She threw back her head and laughed. "I like you, you're honest." She smiled. "It's Loh xion." She gestured towards the door. "Now get going, it's not good to keep the elders waiting."

Miko looked at the door in fear. Squashing it she took a deep breath, straightened her back and walked through the door into the main council room. She ignored the murmuring as she walked and as she came in front of the council, she bowed deeply. As she righted herself, she stood quietly until she was spoken to.

A withered woman in the middle of the table spoke up first. "Have you come here of your own free will?"

"Yes elder."

Another one spoke up. "Why have you come before us today?"

"To petition to become a member of the Amazon clan."

It continued like this until the questions came to her father. Warily she spoke evenly and slowly when questioned.

"Why were you living with Cologne?"

"My father beat me."

A ripple ran through the crowd. It was unheard of for a man to touch a woman in anger; they had heard rumors of outsider men who beat women in anger and lust. Miko stood her ground and held her head high.

The withered woman in the middle arched an eyebrow. "Why did you let him?"

"Where I come from a man has complete control over a woman."

"Continue."

"He was my father, so I had to obey him. He was a powerful man and reminded me constantly that if I told anyone no one would believe me." Miko stopped her lip from trembling before it even began, as the pain got worse her back got straighter. "He disowned me, and Cologne took me in."

"Will you ever let a man do this to you again?"

Miko's eyes blazed as she answered with a voice full of defiance. "Never."

The old woman's face spread into a smile before she went back to being stern. "Why do you wish to join our clan?"

"Because I believe that a woman should never have to bow to anyone, least of all a man." She paused, as she thought a little. "And I care very much for Cologne, she has offered me a chance to have a loving family. Something I have never had, and I wish to have that."

A woman who had not spoken previously spoke up. "What can you bring to our clan?"

Miko froze slightly for a moment; it was the question she had not been able to figure out. She searched with in herself and found an answer. "I bring new blood, I bring an understanding of the outside world. I bring a desire to help women who are in the same situation I was." She turned slightly and looked at the immense amount of women gathered in the building. "I bring the ability to cry and still be strong, I bring the ability to feel what others feel and I bring the ability to heal."

The woman, who had asked the question looked at Miko carefully, a quiet spread over the room as the woman searched for something. After a while she spoke, having apparently found what she was looking for. "You seem so sure of yourself."

"I believe in myself."

"Cologne tells us she has been training you in the art. Are you ready to face the seven trials of combat?"

"Yes elder."

The withered woman looked into the crowd of women and her gaze rested upon a girl about Miko's age with short blue hair. "Rouge. Come forward."

The girl got up and wound her way through the crowd, she came to stand beside Miko and bowed deeply to the woman. "Yes elder?"

"Give this girl the trial of combat."

She turned her head and looked at Miko, she stuck out her hand and shook Miko's. "No hard feelings?"

"None."

She moved back and pulled out a staff, sinking into ready position she waited until Miko was prepared with her own staff.

The old woman surveyed the two girls. "Start."

The girl with blue hair launched herself at Miko and the fight began.

Cologne watched the fight from the back of the room. A ghost of a smile flittering over her face every time Miko scored. Satisfaction filled her as Miko passed the last test successfully. She had beaten the second best fighter of Shampoo's generation.

Miko stuck out her hand to help the other girl up. "No hard feelings?"

Rouge looked at Miko's out stretched hand warily; she looked at Miko and smiled suddenly. "No hard feelings." With Miko's aid she stood and bowed to the elders. "She has passed the trial elders."

"Stand in front of us Miko."

Miko moved to do so and bowed deeply as she came to stand in front of the withered crone. Her heart sang she had passed the trial with out a hardship. She was going to become an amazon.

The woman gave Miko a smile. "You have passed the trial by combat, and your answers to our questions have pleased us. Do you still wish to join our clan?"

"Yes."

"Cologne, come forward."

Cologne moved forward to stand slightly in front of Miko.

"Are you willing to adopt this girl into your family and love her as your own?"

"Yes."

The woman smiled at both of them. "Then be welcome child of the other world." She took out a dagger and handed it to Cologne. "Be joined by blood and become one with our clan."

Cologne took the dagger and sliced a cut in her palm. She handed Miko the dagger.

Miko straightened her back with pride and took the dagger, ignoring the pain she sliced open her palm and held out her hand.

Cologne placed her hand in Miko's and squeezed it. Their blood mingled and Miko became a part of the clan.

The withered old woman came forward and kissed Miko on the cheek. "You are here by known as Ai Xiado. Your eyes are deep and haunted, this name gives you pride and depth. Welcome."

Miko smiled happily as cheers erupted throughout the building, she was finally part of a family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shampoo looked at the calendar on the wall and sighed softly. It had been a month and a half since Miko went to the clan. That meant she was accepted and was probably getting intense martial training so she would be able to catch up with other girls her age. She looked up at Mousse came into the kitchen. She was still slightly upset with him, but things were slowly but surely getting better between them. Her heart still yearned for Ranma but he was madly in love with Akane. "Nihao Mousse."

Mousse smiled and glomped onto a near by plant. "Shampoo!"

Shampoo shook her head and smacked Mousse upside the head. As he slid to the ground in a daze, she pushed the glasses down onto his nose. "Idiot, wear your glasses." Smiling fondly, she walked over to the stove to continue making dinner. "I wonder how Miko is doing."

Mousse stood up and went over to start some tea. "I'm sure she's part of the clan now."

Shampoo sighed. "I miss her."

Mousse nodded in agreement and the night passed in relative silence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Akane sighed as she sat on the rocks bordering the pond. She watched Ranma do his kata's as the sun set. "I wonder what Miko is doing."

Ranma finished his kata before dropping down on a rock next to Akane. "I don't know, but school starts in two weeks so she'd better get back soon."

Akane laughed and poked Ranma gently. "You worried about school? Who are you and what have you done with my fiancée?"

Ranma laughed and pounced Akane, after a brief wrestling match Akane sat on Ranma's lap. "I miss her."

Ranma nodded. "Me too." His head came up as he heard some one come up from behind him. Thinking it was Ryouga he gently moved Akane off of his lap and leapt at the attacker. The evening sun was shining in his eyes so he was unable to tell who it was. Growling he let a flurry of kicks loose, his eyes widened in surprise as every one of them were blocked. Annoyed he punched at the person, only to have the attacker move out of the way and trip him so he landed in the pond. Ranma surfaced to see two laughing girls. Pouting; she dragged herself out of the pond and sat on the rock to wring her shirt out.

"If you missed me so much why did you attack me silly?" Twinkling eyes laughed at him.

"Miko!" his eyes widened. "You look different."

"Really?" Miko twirled and gave Akane a wink. Her hair had several small braids pulled back into a bun on the back of her head while the rest of her hair cascaded down her back. "Miss me?"

Akane squealed happily and gave her friend a bone-crushing hug. "Miko!"

Ranma grinned and caught Miko up in a hug, he happily noted that she did not flinch away from him this time. "How'd you catch me off guard? You weren't that good when you left."

Miko laughed. "Its called Amazon intensive training. In other words, I had three matriarchs training me; I didn't have a moment to spend alone. The entire month and a half was spent dodging and learning."

Ranma grinned, he knew what it was like to be trained by Cologne, and he could only imagine what it was like to have three women like her training a person. "Poor girl."

Miko smiled and gave them both a hug. "I've missed you two." She looked at the sky. "But I've got to get home now, I only stopped by because I heard you two talking about me." Giving them an impish grin she leapt up and took the rooftops to the Nekohanten.

Akane stared at the retreating Miko and pouted. "You know what this means right?"

Ranma looked at Akane in confusion. "No what?"

Akane sighed. "There's another martial artist better than me, I've got to start training again."

Ranma smiled and gave her a hug. "I'll train you."

Her eyes lit up. "Really?" She launched herself at him and covered his face in kisses. "Thank you!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko quietly crept into the café, she was hoping to catch Shampoo off guard. Hearing soft noises from the kitchen she sat her pack down and stuck her head through the door. Blinking she rubbed her eyes and looked at the scene before her. Mousse and Shampoo were having a quiet meal and they were not fighting. Shaking her head, she decided to watch for a moment before announcing her presence. It suddenly clicked, Mousse must have convinced Ranma to throw the fight; that meant that Shampoo was engaged to Mousse. Cheerfully she walked into the room. "Nihao!"

Shampoo whipped her head around sharply at the sound of a voice. Her eyes lighted upon the girl standing smiling in the doorway. "Miko!"

Mousse smiled. "Welcome home Miko."

Shampoo jumped up and glomped into Miko. "I missed you!" She looked up at her eagerly. "Did they accept you into the clan?"

Miko laughed and returned Miko's hug. "Yes." Her eyes twinkled happily. "My amazon name is Ai Xiado."

Mousse doubled over laughing. "Eye shadow?"

Miko stopped Shampoo from kicking him. "Let me." She walked over and cuffed him upside the head affectionately. "Silly!" She gave him a big hug.

Shampoo looked into the main room with a confused look on her face. "Where is great grandmother?"

"Oh, she had to stay in the village."

Mousse shrugged and got up to get some tea for Miko. "Sit down, tell us about what happened."

Miko cheerfully sat down and accepted the tea from Mousse gratefully. Waiting until they had both seated; she launched into her tale. "I got there and after questioning me, they put me through the trial by combat."

Shampoo smiled. "Who did you fight?"

"Rouge."

Shampoo arched an eyebrow. "She's the second best fighter of our generation after me. Did you struggle to win?"

Miko happily shook her head. "Surprisingly enough no. It was almost easy, I think I shocked the poor girl."

Mousse grinned. "You were certainty quiet as you came into the room."

She wrinkled her nose. "I was put through intensive training by Cologne and two other members of the council."

Shampoo giggled. "I pity you, I remember intensive training by just great grandmother."

Miko smiled and stifled a yawn. "Yeah, it was really difficult. Also, several girls of the village decided that they wanted to help too. So whenever I was alone they attacked me, it got to where I was constantly looking for threats. Which I suppose is what they wanted."

Shampoo grinned. "Did you kick their asses?"

Miko laughed. "Eventually I did, I got a lot better." She smiled teasingly at Shampoo. "I bet I could beat you now!" She stifled another yawn. "But now I think I need to go to sleep."

Shampoo looked at the clock on the wall and groaned. It was after midnight and they had to get up in the morning for the early rush. "I think we'd all better go to sleep."

The three made their way up to their separate rooms and curled up in their beds to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The two weeks until school passed quickly, and as it came to be the Monday of school Miko groaned unhappily as she looked at her uniform. She hadn't worn a skirt in a while and it wasn't going to be easy to be jumping around in it. Woefully she wished she could dress like Ranma, but she didn't feel like dealing with the teachers. So she put the uniform on and walked down the stairs to get some breakfast.

Shampoo grinned as Miko walked unhappily into the kitchen. "Good morning school girl."

Miko stuck her tongue out at Shampoo and tossed her book bag at her. "Be quiet you."

Shampoo laughed and caught the book bag in mid flight. She handed it to Miko along with her breakfast. "I'm glad I don't have to go to school."

Miko snorted and devoured her breakfast. "Aren't you here on a student visa?"

"Yup!" Shampoo cheerfully grinned. "I still don't have to go to school though."

Miko caught sight of the clock and jumped up in horror. "I'm going to be late!" Grabbing her book bag, she rushed out of the door to school.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko walked in the gate of Furinkan and found that she had at least 10 minutes before she would be late. "Wow. I'm faster than I thought." Her sense prickled and she turned around to see Kuno standing before her with a bouquet of roses. She groaned. "What do you want Kuno?"

"Ah my darling fiancée! I have broke with your father and he's agreed to let me have you!" He glomped onto the shocked girl standing before him. "Isn't it wonderful?"

Miko shuddered and punched Kuno off of her. "You what?" She shrieked. She couldn't believe it, her father who didn't want her had promised her to Kuno. "I don't think so!"

Kuno recovered and handed her the roses. "But my love! We're meant to be together!"

"The hell we are!"

Ranma hopped off the fence, stood inside the gate of the school, and looked at Kuno in disgust. "He's bothering Miko again."

Akane shook her head and walked over to an enraged Miko. She watched appreciatively as Miko beat Kuno into a pulp and then sent him flying. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Miko trembled with rage, she couldn't believe her father had done that. Angrily she turned and looked at Akane. "My father promised me to Kuno."

Akane's eyes widened. "He did what?"

"I thought he disowned you." Ranma threw in his own two cents as he walked up to the girls.

Miko frowned. "He did."

"Then why did he promise you to Kuno?" Akane shuddered. "I feel sorry for you, I'd hate to be engaged to that idiot."

Miko shook her head. "I don't know, but I'm going to find out." Angrily she stalked out of the gate and towards the Nekohanten.

Akane looked at Miko and then at the school. With a sigh she pulled Ranma with her and went to catch up with Miko.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shampoo stood in Miko's room and listened to Miko's story while the girl changed into a deep red outfit. "He disowned you though."

"I know."

Shampoo frowned. "Are you going to see him?"

"Yes."

"I'm coming with you."

Miko paused and looked at Shampoo gratefully. "Thank you." She pulled her hair out of the ponytail she had put it in and made her way into the weapons room.

Shampoo cast a worried glance at Akane before following Miko into the room. "Miko, don't do anything rash."

Ranma stuck his head into the room and winced as Miko picked up two sharp swords and swung them angrily. "Miko, Akane and I are going with you."

Miko sighed and took a deep breath, turning; she gave her friends a weary smile. "Thank you."

The small group of people followed Miko down the stairs into the main room. Miko stopped to talk to Mousse. "Mousse, I'm going to talk to my father, the others are coming with me. Can you stay here with the restaurant?"

Mousse frowned slightly, he wanted to be with Miko when she saw her father. He knew though, that if they shut it down Cologne would know some how and be angry. "Yes, be careful Miko."

Miko gave a wry smile. "I've got some of the best martial artist with me, I don't think that he can get through them to get to me." She hugged him and they set off to Miko's old house.

~~~~~~~~~~

A servant answered the knock on the door and came face to face with her mistress' unruly daughter. "Miss Miko!"

"I'd like to speak to my father."

Shuddering slightly at Miko's cold tone, the woman led the group of people into the study and then went to alert her master that his daughter was here.

Kenji looked up from his paper with arched eyebrows. "My daughter is here?"

The woman nodded. "She's got friends with her."

"You're dismissed." He looked down at the paper thoughtfully, wondering why his daughter would come home. Then he remembered the contract her had made with a certain Kuno. "So she's come home to join the family again." He got up and walked into the study. "Darling. Welcome home."

Miko gave her father a wary look when he greeted her happily. "Why did you engage me to Kuno?"

"Why he seemed so enamoured with you I couldn't help myself."

Snorting at the innocent tone, she leveled him with a withering glare. "He offered you money didn't he?"

"Well yes, but that had nothing to do with it. I simply wanted to best for my little girl"

She arched an eyebrow. "Crafty aren't you? Now that I'm worth a monetary amount you treat me wonderfully." She slowly walked up to him. "Well I'm not going to marry him, you disowned me so I am no longer part of this family."

He smiled sweetly. "Actually you are a part of this family again, so be a dear and go up to your room."

"I'm not going anywhere."

His face fell into a frown. "You will do as I say, and you will do it now."

Miko took a step back as he grabbed for her, she felt Ranma and Shampoo step up beside her. "No, I will not."

He looked at the group of people glaring at him angrily. He had researched them and he knew they were dangerous. Well he'd just give her one more chance to change her mind. "You have one more chance to change your mind my sweet, and I recommend that you think about it carefully."

Miko laughed softly. "I don't have to think. I already know what you are; you're a cruel corrupted piece of flesh that isn't even fit to be called a man. You have no honor and I would rather die than ever let you touch me again."

Rage flooded through him. How dare she talk to him that way, he would teach her. He cast a wary glance at the other people with her and decided he would find another way to bring her pain later. He felt his control thin out as she gave him a condescending smile. "Get out."

Miko smiled. "Gladly." She nodded to the others and they followed her out of the room.

He stared at the retreating group and growled. After he heard the front door shut he picked up a glass and threw it at the wall. It shattered into pieces as the door opened. He turned to see his middle daughter standing before him. His prized daughter, who was worth so much to the school she was going to. "What do you want Keiko?"

Keiko edged into the room and looked at the glass on the floor. Nervously she bit her lip. "I'm quitting school to move in with my boyfriend."

He stared at her before breaking out laughing hysterically. His control snapped and he could see the fear in her eyes as he advanced on her. Yes let her be afraid. He would make her pay, he would make them all pay.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Akane, Ranma, Shampoo, Miko, Mousse and Ukyou looked at each other appraisingly. Trying to judge their opponents cards by their reactions, Ranma who couldn't lie to save his life sighed and threw his cards down.

"I fold."

Miko looked at her cards and pouted. She had nothing, again. This was the fourth time she didn't have anything, she was as bad as Ranma. She tossed her cards on the table. "I fold."

The rest of the group showed the cards and Ukyou ended up winning again. Gleefully the girl gathered up her winnings and dealt out more cards.

Miko held up her hand and shook her head. "I'll stay out of this round. I can't afford to lose anymore money."

Ukyou grinned and looked Ranma. "What about you Ranma honey?"

Ranma shook his head. "You ain't getting anymore money out of me!"

Akane grinned. "Wimp!"

He stuck his tongue out at her and followed Miko into the living room. He flopped down beside her. "Whatcha watching?"

Miko flipped the channel again and pouted. "Well nothing is on so apparently the news." She shrugged and settled down to see what was going on with Tokyo.

"And today tragedy struck in the prefecture of Nerima. A man was found with his family, all of them dead. Police say that it looks like this man went on a rampage, killing his family and then himself." A picture of Miko's father came up on the screen. "His name was Makimachi Kenji, a wealthy man of 46. He had close relations with many people in the government." A picture of Miko came up on the screen. "It is said he has on remaining daughter who was not at the house when this happened. Her name is Makimachi Miko, police will not comment, but it appears that his daughter is unable to be found."

Miko stared at the television screen in shock. It couldn't be true, her father didn't kill all of her family.

"All of Makimachi sans estates and money is willed to his only living daughter. He has a large mansion in Nerima and several vacation homes in Japan. The amount of the money inheritance is not available to us. Let's us take a moment to say a prayer for their souls, and the one remaining daughter."

Ranma looked at Miko in worry. "Miko?" He got no answer; she was just sitting there her mouth open staring at the screen in shock. He shook her gently. "Miko?" He turned looked in the other room. "Akane!"

Akane grumbled about having to miss the game, she walked in the room and gave Ranma an irritated look. "What is it Ranma?"

"I can't reach Miko!"

"What do you mean she's sitting right there…" She trailed off as she got a good look at Miko. She knelt down and shook Miko. "Miko! Miko!" She glared at Ranma. "Damnit Ranma what did you do?"

"Miko's family is dead."

"They're what?!" Akane looked at Miko and shook her again. "I think you'd better call Dr. Tofu."

While Ranma jumped up to go, call the doctor the rest of the group came in the room and surrounded Miko in worry. Shampoo looked at Akane. "Akane what happened?"

Akane sadly picked up the changer and turned it to another news station that was airing the same report. "That."

They turned and looked at Miko again. Ukyou waved her hand in front of Miko's face. "Honey? Miko wake up."

Mousse shook his head. "She's go into shock you're not going to get to her." He looked at the couch. "We need to get her to lay down."

Shampoo gently picked up Miko and put her on the couch. She looked at Akane. "Where does Kasumi keep the extra blankets?"

Akane jumped up. "In the hall closet, I'll go get one." She came back in the room to find Dr. Tofu leaning over Miko speaking to her quietly trying to get a reaction. "Here." She handed him the towel and looked at the girl sadly.

Dr. Tofu took out some smelling salts and waved them under Miko's nose. "Miko?"

Miko woke from her shock and let out a keening wail. Her father had killed her family and it was all her fault. She curled into a ball on the couch and sobbed. "It's my fault. It's my fault. It's my fault."

"No! It's not." Shampoo sat down on the couch and hugged Miko. "It's not your fault."

Dr. Tofu looked at Ukyou. "Can you make some tea? I think we're going to need it."

Miko sobbed. "It is! I made him mad and he killed my family!"

Ukyou thanked the gods for whatever mercy let the rest of Akane's family be out that night. They did not need an idiot Dr. Tofu. She hurried into the kitchen, glad to be doing something at least. She felt so useless at times like these. She set the kettle onto boil and tried not to be happy that the bastard was dead.

Shampoo cooed soothingly and stroked her hair. "It's not your fault. He chose to do it, he was a very sick man."

Ukyou came in with the tea on the tray, poured a cup and handed it to Dr. Tofu. She poured everyone else a cup and distributed the cups to the depressed group. She sipped at her tea while Shampoo tried to calm Miko down.

Dr. Tofu took the cup and put a sedative in it, he handed it to Miko and had her drink it down. Slowly the drugs took effect and Miko stopped claiming it was her fault. "I think you should take her home now."

Shampoo nodded and looked at Mousse. Some sort of communication passed between them and Mousse gently picked Miko up in his arms. The girl curled up against his chest and started to cry quietly again.

Dr. Tofu handed Shampoo a medicine packet. "This is to help her sleep, put it in some tea and give it to her."

"Thank you." She somberly led Mousse out of the house.

"Poor girl." Sighing Dr. Tofu packed his bag up and walked out of the house.

Ranma looked at Akane and Ukyou and sighed. "I suppose it's time to end the night."

Akane smiled weakly and nodded. "Yeah, I'm tired."

Ukyou gathered up her things. "I'll let myself out. Good night."

Ranma watched Ukyou go and then turned to look at Akane. "Akane?"

Akane burst into tears and sank to the floor.

Sighing he gathered Akane up in his arms and took her upstairs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shampoo covered Miko with a blanket and kissed her forehead gently. She looked at Mousse who was standing in the doorway sadly looking at the girl on the bed. She could feel her heart breaking, she didn't know Miko still loved her family that much. The amazon thought that Miko hated her father, but in light of her reaction, she realized she had indeed loved her father very much, despite what he had done to her. Shaking her head, she pulled Mousse out of the room to let Miko sleep. "Come, I have to send news to great grandmother."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko opened her eyes slowly, pain shot through them and she knew they had to be swollen and blood shot. She lay in bed for a while and just stared at the wall, disbelieving everything. Anger filled her as she thought of her father. He had killed her family. If he weren't dead, she would have killed him herself. "Bastard." She muttered softly before breaking into tears. She couldn't help it; she still loved him. Slowly she put some clothes on and made her way down the stairs to see Shampoo arguing with some people in the main room.

Shampoo growled at the reporters and again told them to leave before she forced them to leave. She heard Miko come down the stairs, frustrated she looked at Mousse and motioned for him to take care of the reporters.

The reporters strained against the girl as they caught sight of their prey coming down the stairs. "Makimachi san! A statement please!" The offending reporter found himself dangling off the ground and staring at a very angry man.

"You will leave. Now." Mousse threw the man out the door and shot the other a withering glare. Finally taking a hint the reporters left while grumbling about losing a story. He kicked a straggler out of the café and shut the door, making sure the closed sign was up he turned back to the main room.

Shampoo looked at Miko. "Are you alright?"

Shaking her head, Miko made her way into the kitchen. "Not really."

Biting her lip, she looked at Mousse before following. "I'm sorry about this Miko." She heard someone knock on the door; giving a frustrated growl she stalked over to the front door and jerked it open. "We're not open!"

"Understandable, but I'm here to discuss private matters with Makimachi san." He handed her a card. "I'm her father's lawyer."

"Oh." Shampoo looked at the card and then stepped aside to let him in. "Would you like some tea?"

"That would be very nice." He looked around the restaurant and spotted Miko standing in the doorway of the kitchen. "Makimachi san, I offer my condolences."

"Why? My father was not a good man." Miko waved a hand at a table. "Have a seat."

"Perhaps not, but I'm still sorry." He sat down and opened his brief case. "I have the matter of your inheritance to deal with."

Shampoo came back in the room with Mousse and sat the tea down on the table. She served them all tea and sat down next to Miko, giving the lawyer a hard look.

He arched an eyebrow and nodded towards the two amazons. "Perhaps we can speak privately?"

"I will end up telling them about this later, so let's just make this easy and let them stay."

"If you wish." He pulled out a piece of paper. "This is your father's last will and testament." He looked down at the paper. "The benefactors were to be your mother and your other sisters first, but since they are unable to receive it you are the sole heir."

Miko took a drink of her tea and looked into it thoughtfully. "How much is left after the taxes are paid off?"

The lawyer looked down at the paper and made a few calculations in his head. "About 100 million yen."

Miko dropped her teacup in shock. "How much?" she croaked.

"Well give or take a few million." He looked at Miko in surprise. "Didn't you know your father was a millionaire?" He scanned over the paper. "He didn't earn most of this lifetime, most of it was earned over the years by your ancestors and invested each time it passed hands." He read a bit more of the will. "Last time it was invested in some stocks and your father earned about 20 million." He gazed at Miko seriously. "You're one very rich young lady."

Miko gave a hollow laugh. "And look at what had to happen before I inherited."

Pursing his lips, he pulled out some papers and a pen. "I need you to sign these before the estate and money can be put into your name."

Miko read over the papers and then signed them. She slid the papers over to the lawyer and handed him the pen. "I will be consulting an expert and then changing lawyers."

The man looked at her in surprise. "Why on earth would you do that?"

"Because you covered up for my father when people started to notice his treatment of me." She sneered. "You do not deserve my business. I will be contacting you at the end of the week. I suggest that you do not try to siphon any money off of me. I will grind your firm into the ground." She stood up. "Now you may leave."

The lawyer gathered up his things and left the restaurant in a huff. His boss was not going to like him losing an account this big.

Miko sank into a chair and rest her head in her hands after the infuriating man was gone. She felt a soft hand on her shoulder, looking up she smiled weakly at Shampoo. "I'm fine. Well I will be." Standing up she looked around the room. "I'm going to take a walk. Go ahead and open the café if you want. I'll be fine." She hugged her friends and walked out of the door.

Shampoo bit her lip and tried to stop from crying. It was killing her seeing her best friend like this, and there was nothing she could do. She felt warm arms wrap around her and she looked up to see Mousse looking at her with love and worry. Sighing softly and leaned into his arms and closed her eyes. Perhaps she could get used to having him as a husband.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko sat on a swing in the park, swinging idly as she thought. Sensing someone looking at her, she raised her head to see Nabiki standing in front of her. While most people wouldn't be happy to see Nabiki, Miko was in fact very happy to see her. She needed her assistance with the lawyers. "Nabiki, you're just the person I wanted to talk to."

Nabiki arched an eyebrow, she had heard on the news this morning about Miko's father and the news about the inheritance part especially interested her. "Really? I'm just popular today aren't I?"

Miko suppressed a smile at the girls droll tone and hopped off the swing. "Come on, I'll treat you to lunch, we need to talk."

Nabiki followed Miko to an expensive restaurant, slightly impressed she waited until they were seated to bring up the subject. "I offer my condolences."

Miko's face fell. "Well that's what I need to speak to you about." She outlined what the lawyer told her this morning. "I don't want to keep them and I need a recommendation of a good lawyer."

"You realize there will be a service fee."

Miko smiled wryly. "I expected as much." She sipped at her drink thoughtfully as she looked at Nabiki. They ordered when the waiter came up to them and the conversation turned to idly chitchat until the lunches arrived. After taking a bite of her lunch, she sat her fork down. "Actually I have an idea."

Nabiki arched an eyebrow. "Oh? What's that?"

"Would you like to help me invest some money?"

Nabiki carefully sat her silverware down and gave Miko a level look. "How much money?"

Miko shrugged. "There's about 100 million yen of it, I don't really care. Say about 10 million?"

Nabiki nearly fell over as Miko casually tossed that amount at her. She could feel her heart thrumming with excitement at the possibilities. "There will be an agent fee naturally."

"I wouldn't have it any other way, if you're going to work for me you'll get paid."

Nabiki smiled slowly, things were finally looking up for her. She had been trying to earn enough money to get into college since she graduated and was almost there. With what she was going to get paid she'd had more than enough and the reputation she'd earn working on an account as big as this one would have companies begging for her. "I believe this is the start of a beautiful relationship."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko wandered into the Nekohanten just in time to catch a view of Mousse and Shampoo locked in a passionate embrace. The first true smile of the day spread over her face and she let out a low appreciative whistle.

The two broke apart and looked at Miko with blushes on their faces.

"Don't stop on my account." She teased gently.

Shampoo stuck her tongue out at Miko. "Enjoy your walk?"

Miko nodded. "Actually yes. I had some time to think and I employed Nabiki to help me with the lawyers and with some investments."

"A woman called today for you, she said she was your grandmother."

Miko blinked, she had almost forgotten she had a grandmother. Her father never let the woman see her; she had at most seen the woman twice in her lifetime. "Did she leave a number?"

Shampoo handed her a piece of paper and dragged Mousse out of the room to give Miko some privacy, also to grab a little more privacy of their own.

Miko dialed the phone number and waited for the other line to pick up. A soft voice answered the phone. Startled at the emptiness she heard she spoke up. "This is Miko."

Warmth flooded the voice on the other line. "Miko. How have you been?"

Leaning against the counter, she sighed. "As well as can be expected I suppose."

"I'm sorry about my son."

"He's dead."

"That's not what I meant, I'm sorry about what he did to you."

"Why did you do anything if you knew?"

"I tried, he wouldn't let me." The woman paused. "When is the funeral?"

Miko cursed softly, she hadn't thought of that. She was going to have to get Nabiki to make arrangements. "I haven't made arrangements yet. I just found out yesterday."

"Can I see you?"

Sighing she rubbed her eyes, she wasn't sure she wanted to even see this woman. She didn't know her and felt resentment towards her for not trying to help her granddaughter. "Yes." She gave her the address for the Nekohanten. "Do I need to make arrangements so you can stay some place?"

"No I can make them myself." She trailed off. "Miko I truly am sorry, perhaps you can forgive me one day."

"Perhaps." She hung the phone up gently and slid down the wall, sinking to the floor in a heap. She felt numb, empty, all of it was happening too soon. Sighing she picked the phone up again to call Nabiki.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miko stood next to her grandmother in front of four graves. She was dressed in a formal white kimono, she could feel her friends worried gazes on her backs. She didn't want to turn around though, that meant she'd have to deal with them; and she couldn't deal with anything right now with out breaking. She placed a white rose on her mother and her sisters coffins. On her fathers she placed a blood red rose. Ignoring the looks, the people were giving her she leaned forward to whisper to her father. "I don't hate you." She bit her lip. "I wish I could. How could you daddy?" Shaking her head she stepped back and looked at her crying grandmother.

The priest finished his speech and looked at Miko expectantly. He stood aside as she stepped forward and looked at the mixed group of people her family had known. The only faces she was happy to see were the ones of her friends.

"My father was not a great man." A murmur ran through the crowd, all his friends had thought he was perfect. "He was sick, and he took it out on me and then eventually the rest of my family." She paused for a moment to let it sink in. She wanted these people to know what he was. "But he was not truly a bad man, greed and power corrupted him until that was all he cared about. Now he and the rest of my family are lying here dead, their souls gone. I do not regret them being dead, they are in a better place now. Perhaps in their next lives they will be happier than they were in this one." With that she stepped down and took her place next to her mother, pleased that she had shocked them into silence she let a little smile slide over her face. Perhaps these people would learn. Startled she felt a hand take hers in a gentle grasp, she turned her head to see her grandmother looking at the coffins blankly.

The priest cleared his throat, finished the ritual for burial, and dismissed everyone. The groups of people wandered away silently looking anywhere but at the small girl and her grandmother. When the crowd had cleared, all that remained were her friends.

She squeezed her grandmother's hand gently. "Stay, for as long as you'd like. You can live in the house."

"Will you live there?"

"I cannot, there are too many memories. I am happy where I am now."

The old woman looked up at her granddaughter. "Will you be happy with me in your life?"

"I don't know, I can try." She hugged her grandmother. "There are lots of things to catch up on. Perhaps I will cook dinner for you soon and we will talk."

"I would enjoy that."

Miko smiled softly and turned to her friends. Happily, she walked towards them. She finally belonged.