The next day passed smoothly for every one. Well… almost everyone. Uriko was jolted awake by Alice jumping onto her bed and ripping the covers off of her and throwing open the blinds to let the blinding light of the morning sun hit Uriko's shocked face. All of this resulted in her once again transforming and launching her elder sister from the room. A dent was starting to form in the wall from where the rabbit's head would make contact. Luckily on the walk to school Yugo and Kenji had intercepted them only a short ways from the house. Apparently Kenji convinced the wolf to join him on the morning walk to school after hearing Alice yell into Uriko's room the previous night. For this Uriko was thankful because the odd couple kept each other occupied long enough for the youngsters to run ahead and well out of their sight.
"Do I even need to ask what happened to you last night?" Kenji laughed. Uriko blushed with embarrassment trying to remember just how much went on before her sister hung up the phone.
"Alice huh?" He asked lightly, and was answered with a nod from his girlfriend.
Uriko sighed out loud and faced began to stare off into the distance as they continued walking.
"You're lucky that you have an older brother Kenji." She looked up at passing clouds and kept in step with her boyfriend. "Alice can be so unbearable most of the time and my mom only adds to that flame. Its not that I don't love them, because I really do, but I could really use a break from time to time." She looked over at him for a response and perhaps some helpful advice.
"I didn't realize it was that bad Uriko. Wow. Isnt there anywhere you can go to escape for a little while?" he questioned.
"Ha, I wish!" She shouted throwing her hands into the air. "Remember when I stayed with you and Yugo over the spring break?"
"Yea… Oh yea. That didn't go so well. It was supposed to just be you, but Alice came along and made Yugo help her spy on us the entire break. We ended up sneaking back to your house and the old people had the house to themselves." Just thinking about it made his face turn sour. Then he remembered another time Uriko talked about getting away.
"Didn't you stay with Long over winter break before that?" He asked hoping to bring up a pleasant experience.
Uriko rubbed her head remembering the incident. "Yea, about that." She tried to make the most innocent face she could but Kenji saw through it easily.
"What did you do?" he asked playfully.
"Well, that didn't exactly go as planned. You see mom and Alice were being more obnoxious than usual so instead of coming home I went straight to Master Long's apartment. When I told him why I didn't want to go home, he immediately dragged me back to my mother." She said with a pitiful sigh.
"And to make things worst, the only reason she let me go back with him is because he told her I would go through intensive training with him in the mountain outside of the city." She said almost weeping.
"You mean up where the fog gets freakishly thick in the mornings? That's a little extreme. He's a tiger and a kung-fu master. Both of those spend a lot of time in mountains and forests on their own. It was probably a lot like my ninjutsu training." He said wide eyed remembering how he almost didn't survive the training his old master put him through.
"Wait… I remember seeing you a bunch of times that winter. What happened?" he pondered.
"We ran into Shenlong." She said uncertainly. "Actually I only saw him from a distance. I'm still not sure if Master Long ever talked to him. I just remember Master did not want to be on the same mountain as him and brought me back home. I actually didn't have to do any training the entire break. After that I didn't see him for about three weeks." She touched a finger to her chin and tried to figure out why her master hated Shenlong so much.
"I heard rumors that there is a water fall somewhere in those woods, but Master Long said he had never found it before, and mom will never let me go up there alone." Her mind shifting back to what she was actually looking forward to about being in the mountain. Besides the waterfall she was also looking forward to spending a lot of time in her beast mode. Aside from two or three small towns around the base of the mountain, no one was around to see them and they could basically run wild.
"Yea I head about that too. Yugo talked about going up to sniff it out at the end of summer. You want to tag along? Your sister is too much of girly girl to want to fallow us up there." He said gleaming a toothy smile.
"Sounds fun. I wonder if we will run into Shenlong up there, the last time someone came here from town they talked about a blue tiger in the morning mists. That's why humans avoid going very far into the forest or high into the mountain. She said hunters have tried to track it in the winter because the snow gets deep and prints are easy to follow but even though people still see it from time to time, there are never any tracks." She was puzzled by the idea of a blue tiger that left no tracks. She looked to Kenji for possible answers but he was just as lost as she was.
"That is weird." He said lightly.
"Do you think it could be Shenlong? His beast form is a blue tiger after all so it would make sense." She concluded.
"It could be but my brother told me Shenlong lives here in the city. They even work out together at the gym where he goes to box on weekends." This only deepened the pair's curiosity. Before they knew it, they were standing in front of Uriko's school. She was two years younger than Kenji, so while this would be her last year of middle school, it was his second year in high school.
"Well this is your stop my dear." Kenji said playfully as he motioned to the front door with his hand. Uriko giggled and kissed him on the cheek.
"Talk to ya later Kenji." She said with a wink, bounding up a few stairs and into the building. Kenji watched her as she disappeared in the crowd of students and didn't realize Alice and Yugo had caught up with him.
"Kenji you little perv." Alice giggled. "Are you staring at those middle school girls? I don't think Uriko would like that very much." She said with a wink.
Yugo laughed at his little brother's embarrassment, causeing him to pout.
"Oh calm down little brother. She's only teasing." He finished laughing. "Anyway, do want us to walk with you the rest of the way to your school or can you handle it from here?"
"Thanks bro, but I think I got it from here. I wouldn't want to distract you two from your puppy love." He said sarcasticly mocking his brother.
Yugo started to blush. "Why you little…" But before he could finish Kenji used his ninjutsu to teleport away to his school.
Alice laughed at Yugo's flushed face. "You two are so cute." She giggled and kissed him on the cheek making his blush vanish.
"It must be so much fun to have a little brother. Even though I spend a lot of time with Uriko our relationship is nothing like yours and Kenji's." She said with a light frown hugging herself to Yugo's arm.
"Yea its pretty fun, but Kenji and I are guys remember." He said with a sarcastic laugh. "So of course our we are going to be different from you and your sister. You are girls after all, so it does make sense." He patted her shoulder to reassure his lover.
"You're probably right. Uriko can be a little tomboyish sometimes, but she's a wonderful baby sister." She nuzzled Yugo's arm as they walked to the subway they both had work on opposite ends of the city. But much to their delight they could catch their trains at the same station. Occasionally Yugo would simply drive and drop Alice off but today that wasn't the case.
Everyone's day flew by pretty smoothly. Yugo had the W.O.C. far ahead of schedule on all of their projects.
Gado had a conference call with the United Nations concerning zoanthropes around the world and their impact on international relations. It could not be ignored that change was happening across the globe, and humans were proving to be more dangerous than any zoanthrope. In northern Europe abortion rates were on the rise, as families feared their child being born a zoanthroape. Violence was against zoanthropes was increasing in the east. North and South America had declared several protection laws for zoanthropes but their effectiveness varied across the continent. In some places zoanthropes were accepted, in others hated, in some parts of the world they were even worshiped. The world was in terrible state and Gado did everything in his power to ensure the safety and freedoms of both zoanthropes and humans.
Jenny monitored Shina who had gotten a job at a studio gym teaching self-defense classes. She used the position as a way to keep and shape and as a cover for occasional mercenary jobs she would take.
Long had gotten a quiet day job working at the city library and Mitsuko was working at the northend of the docks as a fish mounger. She was also the head manager in charge of a few docks used by fishing and crabbing vessels. She may have been strict at home but that was nothing compared to how she ran her docks. Sloppiness would not be tolerated and when a ship came in with cargo that needed to be moved, there was no hesitation. Mitsuko was as intimidating in her human form as the razor back boar she was inside, and infinitely more dangerous than any wild hog. She kept everyone safe and everything moving smoothly. Anyone who would threaten that was quickly thrown to the sea.
As the work and school day progressed, the day's pace slowed down for some. Uriko had passed her first exam with flying colors and was determined to keep things that way. So after a phone call to her mother she had gotten permission to spend a few hours after school studying with class mates.
Kenji went about his usual routine of practicing his ninjutsu before meeting his brother at the gym to see him box.
Shina left the studio and headed uptown to a coffeeshop where she would enjoy a variety of teas and meditate before going back down town for her next class.
Alice and Mitsuko were back home preparing dinner and awaiting Uriko's return. A knock came at the door and instantly Alice leapt to the door and through it open expecting to see her little sisters smiling face. But was quite surprised to see Long.
"Long? What are you doing here? We were expecting Uriko." She said still full of confusion. Long stared back for a moment but was snapped back into reality by the mention of his students name.
"Um, yes… my apologies. I was hoping to speak with Mitsuko about something." He said plainly.
"WHO'S AT THE DOOR SWEETY?" Mitsuko shouted for the kitchen.
"It's Uriko's teacher Long! He says he wants to talk to you about something." She yelled back to her mother, who walked to the door while drying her hands with a cloth.
"Oh hello there Long, please come in. Is everything alright with Uriko?" She asked politely. Alice stepped aside and Mitsuko lead them to the living room and offered him a seat.
"Yes, Uriko is doing well. She and a few of her friends were studying in the library when I left. Mitsuko I wish to talk to you about something more personal. Alice you may also be able to offer more helpful insight." He adjusted his glasses and awaited a response from the women. The mother and daughter looked at each other puzzled and then back to Long and nodded.
"Well yes dear, we will help how ever we can. Now what seems to be the problem?" Mitsuko asked pleasantly.
"Thank you, I greatly appreciate it." He bowed his head.
"I suppose I should get straight to the point then. What would you say makes a family? Even though Alice is adopted she is no less family than she would be if there were actual blood ties between you." He asked plainly.
Mitsuko took some time to consider his words and come up with an answer.
"Well you're right Long. Alice is adopted, and she is just as much my daughter as Uriko is. What makes a family is love for one another and an unspoken bond that you all share. I hope you understand, because I just can't think of a better way to word it." She said looking softly at Alice.
Long looked down and pinched his chin in his thumb and index finger, processing Mitsuko's word's on one hand what she said was very true for the way he felt toward Uriko. But far from what he felt for Shenlong.
"Perhaps you are right. It would explain some things…" He said lightly, almost too quietly to be heard. His last statement intrigued both of the women.
"What kind of things?" Alice asked in a curious almost childish tone.
"Well Uriko wants me to advance her training more but I fear that by doing so, I will have only put her in line for more intense and dangerous battles." Long sighed and cupped his forehead in his hand.
"But when I try to explain that to her she only says I'm treating her like a child. Maybe she's right; maybe I am holding her back. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if something were to happen to her, she reminds me so much of…" He caught himself, realizing he was divulging too much. He cleared his throat.
"Never mind that. Do you have any suggestions as how I should go about training Uriko?" He asked in an attempt to shift the conversation.
"Awww, you've begun to think of her as a little sister haven't you?" Alice asked sweetly thinking it was nice that Long cared for her little sisters safety.
"I am not sure if it has gotten to that point just yet. For now I am asking as her teacher who is concerned for his students well being." He said flatly. Alice and Mitsuko shared a glance and a light smile.
"Well Long to tell you the truth, I never wanted my girls to fight in the first place, but they insisted and now Alice is a skilled fighter and a successful nurse. I'm sure Uriko will find her place soon enough. But for now I say do what you feel is best, and don't mind Uriko. Children her age are in such a hurry to grow up, she says the same things about Alice and me. She just doesn't realize we're looking out for her well being much like you are." The mother finished light heartedly. Feeling better about the situation, Long stood and excused himself.
"Thank you for all of your help ladies. It was most insightful." He closed the door behind him and began walking home in the light of the setting sun. About a block away he passed Uriko on her way home.
"Good evening Uriko." He patted her on the head, which made her pout a little.
"Good evening Master." She said pushing his hand away. "What brings you out here?" she asked.
"Nothing really, just looking to learn a few things. Anyway I must be off; see you this weekend for training." He patted her head again, which at this point was more than a little irritating. Then he just walked off toward his apartment.
"Yea, sure thing." She said sarcastically before turning to finish the walk home. She pouted and ranted to herself the rest of the way, forcing herself to calm down when she reached her front door.
"I'm home." She called into the house. Before she could even close the door, Alice had wrapped her arms around her.
"Welcome home Uriko! How was your exam? Long says you have been studying really hard, we know you're going to pass with flying colors." Alice cheered while smothering her sister in a hug.
"GET OFF ME RABBIT!" the girl shouted. "Wait… did you say Master Long was here?" She asked puzzled. Alice nodded in response.
"Oh you must have passed your big brother on the way home." Mitsuko said pleasantly. "He came to talk about your training."
"My training?" She began pondering why he would have to talk to her family about her training. Then she came to another realization. "Wait did you say brother?" She glared at Alice.
"ALICE HOW COULD YOU? You're supposed to be dating Yugo how could you play him like this, and with Master Long of all people. You're absolutely disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourself!" The young girl scolded her sister who only put waved her hands at the idea and tried to explain between Uriko's words.
"No, no, you don't understand. It's nothing like that. Let me explain." Alice tried but Uriko wouldn't let up.
"Uriko." Their mother called from across the room. "Let your sister explain, everything will be clear if you do."
"Mom!" Uriko ran over to her mother. "How long have you known about this? I mean I know Yugo's a wolf and the two of you would normally be on his menu but you've said it yourself he's not a mindless animal. He treats Alice like a princess and you like a queen. And THIS is how she repays his faithfulness? By two –timing him with Master Long, who by the way is a tiger. That's just as bad if not worst than a wolf! I can't believe that you support this madness or that you let me train with that creep! Not to mention…"
"URIKO! SIT DOWN, BE QUIET, AND LET YOUR SISTER TALK!" Mitsuko thundered, causing Uriko to fall back on her bottom and give her sister a sharp look.
"Fine I'll hear what she has to say." The young girl scoffed.
"Well you see, it's like this…" Alice told Uriko of the brief discussion with her teacher.
"So… you're not two-timing Yugo?" She asked making sure she heard everything right.
"Nope, I'm still head over heels for Yugo." Alice beamed a smile at her sister.
"And the reason Master Long wont advance my training is because he doesn't want me to get into dangerous fights?" She looked down to consider his reasoning.
"Yep, that's pretty much it." Alice giggled. Uriko took a second to process all of it, and then came to an abrupt conclusion.
"Well that's just stupid!" She said bluntly. Both Mitsuko and Alice's smile dropped and Mitsuko was angry at her daughters disrespect for her teachers concerns.
"Uriko! You will not disrespect your teacher like that!" Her mother said sternly making Uriko flinch.
"Sorry mom but its true." Uriko said plainly. "I don't learn martial arts so I can go looking for fights. You've raised me much better than that. We are zoanthropes and because of that, and nothing else there is no shortage of people who would want to hurt us. Mom you know that even better than I do. That's why you only transform in emergencies and teach me and Alice to do the same." She said looking directly at her mother.
Alice only dropped her head because what Uriko was saying was true but wished it things didn't have to be that way. Mitsuko was becoming irritated by Uriko's tone.
"I learn Kenpo so I can defend myself and handle any problem that I might come up against. But I won't be able to do that if all of you keep treating me like such a child!" Uriko said forcefully.
"That's enough young lady!" Mitsuko said in a stern and cold tone. "You will not talk down to me or your sister. Do you understand me?" Mitsuko was furious at this point. Never before had Uriko acted like this. One thing was certain; Mitsuko would not tolerate this kind of attitude from her own child.
"Go to your room, do your homework, get cleaned up and go to bed. If you have enough energy to behave this way then you don't need supper keeping you up all night. Now, GO!" She ordered pointing a finger up the stairs.
Uriko did as she was told and sat quietly in her room texting Kenji in an attempt to distract herself when there was a knock at her door.
"Uriko. Can I talk to you?" Alice asked shyly, standing at the door.
"No. I don't want to hear it. I finally try to explain to you guys that I'm not a baby anymore and this is what happens." Uriko scoffed Alice walked in and sat at the foot of her sister's bed.
"Uriko try to understand. We're all just looking out for you, that's all." Alice said trying t sound comforting.
"If that's so then why don't any of you ever listen? I just told you don't come in and yet here you are." She motioned to where her sister was sitting to prove her point.
"Oh Uriko, why can't you understand that…" Alice was cut off by her sisters continued rant.
"No! Why can't YOU understand that I'm not a baby anymore? It's like none of you understand me at all." Uriko was on the verge of tears when her phone battery suddenly died when she tried to open Kenji's txt message.
"Gosh, Kenji really has it made. I wish I had a brother! The way he has Yugo. I bet then things would be different." She said burying her head in her pillow.
"Well you know…." Alice giggled remembering what Long was saying a little while ago. "Your teacher Long can be like a big brother if you need him to be." She finished with a smile.
"Master Long?" She said sternly sitting up from her pillow. "Not a chance! He is no brother to me! He's just my teacher. How could he be a brother when he doesn't try to understand me anymore than you and mom do?" She folded her arms and turned to face out the window.
"I want a brother who will encourage me and be there for me, but still give me enough space to grow and become my own person. A real brother would at least make an effort to understand his sibling. Just look at Kenji and Yugo. For a long time, all they had was each other and they never have this kind of problem with each other." Her tone was sad and low. Alice patted her back and stood from the bed.
"I'm sure they have their own set of problems Uriko." She giggled.
"Why do I even bother? You wouldn't understand. You're the older sibling so you didn't have someone bothering you all the time. Since I'm the youngest I have both you and mom babying me every chance you get. And then there's master Long." She laid back down and covered herself with a blanket
"Just go. I'll see you tomorrow." She said closing her eyes, still not facing her sister.
"What no cat powered escort from your room tonight?" Alice joked. She kissed her sister on the head and walked out of the room turning off the light when she left.