Chapter 1

The office of Principal Derek Stevens was large and imposing, a stark contrast to the man behind the desk. Stevens was on the border of morbidly obese, and his chronic sweating added little to his near nonexistent charm. Having to deliver bad news to one of the school's most prominent donors did little to improve his mood. He cleared his throat.

"Thank you for coming in today, Mr. and Mrs. Masters."

Philip Masters, head of the multibillion dollar Masters corporation, nodded sternly, his piercing blue eyes reminding Stevens that the man was said to be a brilliant and intimidating negotiator. "Of course. Perhaps you could enlighten my wife and I as to why you wanted to see us?"

Wiping his brow, Stevens replied. "I regret to inform you that we've been having more problems with Ken. He recently set off the school's fire alarm in the middle of our pep rally, which caused pandemonium. Ms. Morris broke her hip trying to escape the nonexistent flames. There is talk of a lawsuit against the school."

Philip interjected. "And I can assure you, we will pay any and all fees. I'm sure we can arrive at an appropriate settlement."

"I'm... afraid it's not that simple. Xavier's Preparatory Academy is a very distinguished institution. And there is some worry that Kenneth is harming that reputation. Recall that he glued his old English teacher Mr. Adams to his seat, and tried to offer a bribe to his math teacher in order to pass a test."

Philip smiled, predatory. "So another donation to the school, then? Would five million take care of our little problem?"

"Again, I'm afraid not." Stevens explained, sighing as she wiped at his forehead with a handkerchief. "You see, many of the faculty simply refuse to teach Kenneth further. We've come to the conclusion that his... unique temperament might be better served elsewhere."

Megumi Masters spoke for the first time. "You're kicking Ken out? Expelling him?" Her tone was sharp, or perhaps her slight accent made Stevens receive the words that way. He didn't think so, though. The woman had a stare that could shatter glass.

The principal chuckled awkwardly. "Expelling is such a loaded word, Ms. Masters. We prefer to think of it as a parting of ways for the mutual benefit of both parties." He tensed, expecting more argument. Instead, the Masters looked at one another for a long moment, seemed to have a silent conversation, and then rose to their feet. "Thank you for your time, Principal Stevens." Philip said, offering his hand to the man. Stevens took it, shaking limply.

"Of course, of course. So sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Also, if you could perhaps find it in your hearts to make a small donation before you go..."

"Goodbye Principal Stevens." Philip replied, heading out the door with his wife.

Stevens sank back into his chair. The loss of the Masters annual donations (which some of the facility referred to only half jokingly as bribes) would hurt the school, and he did not relish having to explain its absence to the board. Yet, he knew that the faculty would gladly suffer that loss in order to not have to deal with Ken any longer.

###

The Masters retreated to their limo. With a gesture, Philip ordered the driver to put up the window in the divide between them. The man did so silently, and began to drive them home.

Philip poured his wife some champagne before preparing a glass for himself. It may have only been the middle of the afternoon, but they both needed it. Megumi broke the silence first.

"I can't believe Ken. Xavier's took us almost a decade of preparation to get him into. And he's been kicked out in a little under a year!"

Philip sipped his drink, nodding agreeably. "And I had to leave work and waste an afternoon hearing about Ken's latest screw-up. And finally, it's happened. A time where my money can't get him out of a mess. I suppose we should be glad it's now and not the time when he shoplifted from that store a few months ago. A candy bar, of all things! Something he could easily have afforded even without asking us." He sighed.

"We have to do something. You can't keep bailing him out."

Philip shook his head. "Dear, it's just a phase. Ken's only just turned fourteen,..."

"So? Do you remember what you were doing at fourteen?

"Ah yes." Philip smiled. " I was on the debate team at Rowney's Prep. The key part of it, if you'll forgive the show of vanity. We made it to nationals every year."

Megumi nodded. "And I was the top student in my school back in Japan, And was already preparing to become a lawyer."

"And you became a most effective one as well," her husband teased. "One of the only lawyers who was able to stop the development of a Masters property."

"You weren't offering enough. I remember thinking you were a greedy American, out only for yourself and your company."

"And has that view changed?"

"After our forth date." Her smile was wistful, and Philip recognized the slightest hint of his wife's anguish over giving up her career. On most days she seemed to slide easily into the rule of the society wife. But every now and then a bit of the fierce lawyer who had intimidated even him reemerged, and he found himself loving her a little more every time it did.

The smile disappeared as Megumi continued. "My point is that Ken is not like either of us. He is lazy and spoiled. I fear for my son's future. I don't wish him to become like some of our friend's children."

"It's true that he's a little immature for his age. But he's a kid. I'm confident he'll grow out of it."

"He was supposed to grow out of it at Xavier's," Megumi pointed out. "We both thought the institution would finally impress upon him the importance of hard work and perseverance. Instead he made no friends he didn't bribe and insisted on becoming the 'class clown.' "

Philip shuddered. "A Masters stooping so low. Grandfather would turn over in his grave." His voice turned resolute. "I must punish him. Perhaps... I'll ground him. Or send him to his room."

Megumi arched an eyebrow. "Darling, his room is full of the latest in electronics. I don't think he'd mind all that much."

"Perhaps. Still, I'm confident the boy will shape up. He promised me as much."

"Yes, he has. Several times."

By now they had reached the front of their home. The wide gate opened, allowing them into the perfectly manicured grounds and up the marbled path towards their massive mansion. Once they arrived in front, the vehicle's doors were opened by the servants and both of the Masters were helped out of the vehicle.

"Pierce, why did you stop so far from the..." Philip's words died out as he took in the sight before him.

A delivery truck was parked in front of the house. A team of a dozen men unloaded it, taking various boxes into the mansion. The elder Masters turned to one of the servants.

"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded.

"Master Kenneth desired some new amusements." The servant explained. "He used his credit card and bought out one of the high end stores inventory's. I ah, tried to dissuade him but he proved most... persuasive."

"Oh, this is ridiculous." Megumi said, and started towards the house. Philip followed behind, attempting to talk her down.

"It's not ideal, but try and remember. Ken's just a kid."

She ignored him and entered into the house. Reaching the front of the gleaming white marble stairs Megumi leaned against the stairway and screamed. "KEN!" And after a moment of no response, "KEN! Get down here right now!"

"Yeah mom?" Ken appeared at the top of the stairs, making no attempt to further close the distance. The young teen was a good looking kid. His originally raven colored hair had been dyed blonde since he was ten, after he had insisted that he felt his original color was "lame" and the new one helped him to stand out more among his peers. Of average height and slender build, he was dressed in a red designer shirt and pants. Often called angelic by those who didn't know him, spending even five minutes in his company would dissuade anyone of that notion. Presently he wore a smirk that sent his mother's blood pressure through the roof. Which, knowing Ken, may have been the intended effect.

"It's bad enough you were expelled! Now you insist on spending God knows how much on toys?"

Ken shrugged. "I was bored. I'm not in school now, so I needed something to do. Better than me just lazing about, right?"

Philip came up to his wife, and gently placed a hand on her back. "Ken sport, remember that you promised us you were going to try to stick to your allowance of fifty thousand a month?" That had been his own idea, an attempt to teach the boy responsibility.

"I did try dad, really." The youth explained. coming halfway down the stairs. But it's hard. Fifty thousand can't even buy me half of the stuff I need, you know? Besides, I didn't go that much over it. This all cost like...300k or so? Which even isn't my total yearly allowance."

Philip looked at his wife and offered a forced smile. "Well, Xavier's taught him something."

Megumi let out a choked sound of rage, and her husband stepped forward to try and prevent an explosion. He adopted a stern look.

"Ahem... Kenneth, look, we've been very lenient with you. But this behavior... I cannot allow it to stand. Go to your room, immediately!"

Ken's eyes widened in what Megumi knew to be mock horror. "Please dad, anything but that!"

Philip smiled sadly, apparently buying into his son's deception. "I'm sorry Ken, but I'm afraid so. Go to your room and think about what you've done."

"Fine. Bye!" Ken rushed off, unable to hide his gleeful laughter. Philip smiled at his wife. "See? This whole discipline thing's not so hard."

"Oh yeah, mom?" Ken appeared at the top of the stairs again. "I broke one of your vases a little earlier."

"Which vase?" Megumi asked, feeling the color drain from her face.

"Um, I dunno. The Satsumi one, I think?"

"THE SATSUMI VASE!" Megumi yelled, surprising everyone, especially her son. "That one was priceless. It's a genuine article. It took me five years of searching to find it!"

Ken looked at her, uncomprehending. "Chill. I said I was sorry." He turned around and left.

For a long moment Megumi was silent. Then she turned to address her husband, her tone eerily calm.

"I think it is time for Ken to pay a visit to an old friend of mine."

And like all good husbands, one look at her stare convinced Philip that it was best not to argue.

###

That night, a letter was sent to Japan. Megumi had not seen Gouken in decades, not since she was a young lawyer and he a man in his early thirties. But they had exchanged the occasional letter over the years, and from them she had learned that the promising pupil she had known in her youth was now the master of his former sensei's dojo. A long while ago the man had offered her a favor in gratitude for her advocacy on his behalf, and now she saw fit to call it in.

A week and a half later, she received a response. Gouken's writing was simple yet elegant, his calligraphy more beautiful than that of the Masters wedding coordinator, and they had hired the best. It impressed Megumi that someone who was such an expert in the martial arts could be so skilled at the finer ones as well.

As for the text of the letter, it was straight and to the point, a simple reply to her long appeal. But Megumi expected nothing else. The Gouken she had known never used more words than necessary.

I will teach him. Send him to me.

###

A/N: Hello and welcome to my first fanfic. I've been toying with this idea awhile and have posted it on another site, but thought I'd publish it here as well. Hopefully you all enjoy reading it as much as I have writing it. This first chapter was more a prologue. Next chapter is when things start heating up. Leave a review if you enjoy, it's greatly appreciated.