A/N: Forgive me if I've made some errors. I'm still getting used to this.

Chapter One: The Punishment

Caitlin Sanders silently tip-toed through the house, trying to find the switch for the light, but to her dismay, she was having a pretty hard time.

She was too caught up with beating the living day lights out of her long time enemy to notice the time, and if her father caught her, she would be in heaps of trouble.

"Aha!" she quickly covered her mouth before anyone heard her.

Suddenly, the lights went on. Caitlin creased her eyebrows, wondering who else was in the room. Of course, she didn't need to wonder further. She smiled sheepishly as her father looked down at her from the staircase.

"I can't believe you!" Caitlin rolled her eyes at her father's reaction.

"But dad, I told you, I was over at Laura's."

'Okay, that was definitely a lie' Caitlin sighed inwardly. 'But he doesn't need to know that'

"And what were you doing over there?"

"We were doing some homework!"

"That still doesn't explain your bruises, Caitlin." her step-mother chipped in, glaring down at her.

Caitlin rolled her eyes once more and sighed exasperatedly. "Like I said, I got stuck while climbing their fence."

'Smooth excuse'

"Why were you climbing their fence anyway? You could've door belled,"

"But dad, it was late; I didn't want to bother her parents,"

"That's no excuse, Caitlin."

"Yes, that was pretty immature of you."

Caitlin growled at Beth, her step-mother.

'How dare she act like she's part of the family? Even if she was, she has no right to scold me. If my real mother were here, she would've bought my excuse' Caitlin thought to herself, suddenly feeling a pang in her heart. 'I miss mom'

"Dad, do you mind?" she gestured towards Beth, who looked over from her, to her father.

"Beth, honey," Caitlin snorted as her father glared. "Would you mind? I would like to talk to my daughter alone for a while,"

Caitlin sighed in relief once her step-mom left. Her dad shook his head at her, obviously disappointed.

"I've had enough of this, Caitlin," her dad started, sitting on the couch across from her. "I've made up my mind."

"About what?"

"About your punishment," her dad ran a hand through his hair before continuing. "I've made arrangements with my old friend, Mr. Mori Tanaka. You will be staying with him and his grandsons for the summer."

"Exactly how is that a punishment?" Caitlin raised an eyebrow at him. "Besides the fact that you're leaving me with complete strangers."

"They're not complete strangers, Caitlin. Mr. Tanaka happens to be one of my closest friends. You'll see what I'm trying to get out of this once the summer is over."