"Reirin!"

Chiharu called for the third time, but nothing responded except her fat old cat who yowled from the grass.

"No, not you. Where is my daughter?"

The cat gave a feline smile and frolicked away to roll in the grass. Finally a little girl came running uphill to the back entrance of the house where her mother stood.

"I'm right here mom!"

Her black hair was wet like a used mom as well as her clothing.

"What have you been doing?"

Chiharu demanded. All she wanted to do today was practice pole climbing with her weighted anklets and bracelets without having to keep an eye on her child.

"I'm just playing with Nihoko."

Reirin reported innocently despite her clothes being soaked through. Clearly she was up to something that made Chihoko's motherly instincts tingle like crazy.

"Oh really? So where are my two pupils right now? They ran off after our break from practice."

"Uh...they're throwing Nihoko into the lake."

"What! Reirin!"

"We're only having fun!"

Chiharu shook her head with a stern look and walked past her daughter, to the lake at the foot of the hill as Reirin followed trying to explain herself.

"Mom-"

"If those two hurt your brother you'll be doing chin-ups until your little heart gives out."

"But...well I guess that does sound reasonable." _'

At the lake, Chiharu reached the area just in time to see her two students holding her youngest child by his ankles and wrists. They swung his body once...twice...

"Hey Mom! Look!"

Nihoko had a big grin across his face as he was heaved into the water with a splash. Reirin was on dry land shaking her hair dry.

"See? He wants to be thrown in, it's fun."

"You two have got to be kidding. I don't know what to say."

Her students realized that Chiharu Sensei caught them and they swiftly folded their arms behind their backs.

"Sensei! We're-"

"Nihoko asked us to throw him!"

"It's alright students. As long as my son is not drowning, that is."

She told them as calmly as she could muster. Nihoko's dripping hand popped out of the water shortly before his head.

"Mom! Did you see me? They tossed me so high!"

"I see you've made a friend or two."

She pointed at a little toad that hopped up onto Nihoko's hair. When the boy felt the sensation he squealed and fell into the water. Reirin was having a god time laughing at her sibling.

"Wow, what a wuss."

"Reirin. Don't call him such names. Get him out of the water."

Chiharu sighed.

"What? He can swim!"

"He's panicking. And splashing."

"That's because you always baby him Mom! I mean he only has to wear twenty pounds of weighted clothing, and at his age that's pathetic!"

Chiharu's hands landed on her hips in a disapproving manner, which was a sign that Reirin was in for it.

"Okay, I'll go get him. If you insist mother..."

The girl sauntered over to the water to grab her flailing brother.

"Come on Nihoko, I know for a fact you can swim."

Once out, he shook to free himself of the water. His hair was thin and delicate unlike his sister's even though they both had the same shade of dark brown.

"Well, it's deeper than it looks."

He coughed, embarrassed. Then once he looked to his mother his eyes glowed.

"Do you want jump in too? It's fun!"

Chiharu had to laugh at the offer, shaking her head.

"Sorry Nihoko, we have work to do. Besides I can't get my training clothes wet."

The two of her students stiffened in preparation to be punished.

"You two. Since you have time to play with Nihoko so much, how about he counts as you do two-finger push ups?"

"Yes sensei!"

They headed uphill so they could work on even ground, Nihoko on their tails. Reirin noticed how her mother was staring at the building that was the dojo, and the full-time home for their family.

"Mom? What is it?"

"I'm just thinking..Reirin, you're growing up and I think it's about time that you can start helping me make decisions around here."

"Really?"

Reirin started to glow with excitement. Her whole life she had been just a little more mature than most kids her age, but now was it finally her chance to be considered an adult?

"Like what?"

"About the dojo." I think I'll get rid of the training fee, and we can have more students."

"You want to stop charging?"

Reirin found a spot on the grass to sit cross-legged and her mother lowered herself to sit next to her. Both of them had their eyes on the dojo.

"We have far more money than we truly need. Maybe without a fee more people will be signed up."

"But I thought we were saving to expand the dojo and get more equipment? Some of it is worn. And if you allow anyone to join, we'll be filled with kids who don't know anything!"

Reirin objected..

"The point is for me to teach them."

"Things are fine right now aren't they?"

Chiharu didn't know how to explain this to her daughter.

"I have this dilemma. You see, I've been practicing the five basic fighting styles my life."

"I know, the Crane, the Snake, Tiger, Mantis, the Monkey.."

Chiharu nodded.

"I have chosen a pupil to dedicate to Crane style, Snake, Mantis and Monkey. Before soon I must choose someone to inherit the style of Tiger."

"Why so soon?"

"I have been having this strange feeling. And dreams every night that make me feel even more strange. As if I don't have much time left to choose."

Reirin knew that when her mother had a 'feeling' something was going to change. Normally it was something small occurrences. Often her mother could tell when a storm was brewing.

"And it's too bad that you don't want to learn the Tiger form."

Chiharu said.

"I know, you've mentioned that. Nihoko is your boy. He'll make a good Tiger in a few years don't you think? Besides I want to grow up and try different things, like being a doctor, maybe a teacher?"

Reirin never wanted to disappoint her mother. She just wanted to try new things in the big world. To see if she had potential.

"That's far too bad. You would make the perfect Tiger. And your brother is only..."

Chiharu stopped abruptly.

"Only..?"

"Only...he's only nine years old. And you could probably handle it better is what I mean."

"Oh. I see what you mean."

Reirin stood and started to go uphill to join the boys, and Chiharu reached to grab something. In the grass sat a thick cinderblock that was halfway wedged in dirt, Chiharu tugged it free.

"Reirin."

When the girl turned, Chiharu and swung to throw the block right at her. Reirin's body turned immediately and she thrust an arm out. Her fist smashed the block to pieces that bounced off of her.

When the dust was gone her two fists were still positioned like paws, with fingers curled tight against her palm; form of the Tiger. Chiharu smiled at the way her daughter appeared surprised.

"You see? I told you, you have the heart of a Tiger."

"Whatever you say mom.."