Aria (c) Kozue Amano, Mag Blade, Hal Film Maker.

Author's Note: Thank you for the reviews. And please forgive any pretensions I have towards knowing Italian. Or gondolas.

The Mask

Un inglesina, sul Canal Grande
guarda la luna, sospira e fa:

Gondola, gondola, gondolì,
gondola, gondole.

In another part of the city, a short-haired heir was sitting alone in front of the richly-carved hardwood desk in her office, located on the top of the palazzo which had been purchased by her company and converted. She had the run of most of the top floor, her office and small apartment located there; below it, the piano nobile had been converted into four-person dorm rooms for the undine and staff under her charge, complete with bathing facilities. The ground floor was dedicated dining, storage and reception. The building enclosed a small courtyard, the central feature of which was a stepped topiary, a wedding-cake arrangement of globe-trimmed plants whose flowers bloomed red and white in the autumn.
Aika S. Granzchesta sighed as she put down the papers she had been working on and stared out the floor-length windows on her right. Past the loggia outside she could see the Grand Canal, sparkling blue in the sun, heavily trafficked but eerily silent. She had closed all the windows a while ago so she could concentrate better on her work, but now she felt as if the room were stifling her.

Oh, what good is it being a Prima, she grumbled, when you're stuck inside an office the whole day? She stood up, walked to the loggia doors, and impetuously flung them open. Hearing the sounds of the city return, she closed her eyes, listening to them as well as basking in the warmth of the sunshine on her face.

Since the race with Al, various exigencies dictated that she remain away from her gondola. On Monday, she had a meeting with a tourist agency consortium. On Tuesday, with all her undine busy, she had to stay behind to babysit a bunch of architecture students who quite literally crawled all over the building, studying its every corner, including one hapless girl who accidentally wandered into her room while trying to see if the San Marco bell tower was visible from up here . . . .

The worst thing happened on Wednesday. That day she had to intervene between two of her Singles and send one of them back to the main office. She felt really bad doing it, but there was no other way. The Single herself was the one who requested the transfer, saying she just couldn't get along with another of her fellow undine, but Aika considered it a personal failure. Maybe if she had taken a different approach beforehand, been more attentive to the warning signs . . . she took a deep breath and sighed, her shoulders sagging. She couldn't understand it; everyone had been so friendly last Christmas . . . .

"Hey, Aika!" A hand touched her shoulder, and the Himeya heir leapt out of her skin and yelled. She turned around and saw who was standing behind her, and her expression changed from one of fright to annoyance.

"Senior Akira!" she said, placing a hand on her chest, her heart still thumping. "Don't do that! Make more noise when you walk, will you?"

The raven-haired beauty in the Himeya uniform looked down, then back at her former student, a slender eyebrow raised. "Can I help it if you had the floor carpeted? What are you doing out there?" Akira smiled. "Daydreaming about your boyfriend?"

Aika chuckled and realized how much her back ached. She stretched. "I wish. I was just finishing those reports." She nodded towards her table. "How are you, Miss Akira?"

"So formal?" Neo-Venezia's only remaining Water Fairy stepped around Aika's massive desk and took a cursory glance at the holo-sheets on it. "Property tax valuation? What in the world are you doing that for? Shouldn't the accounting firm handle that?"

Aika laughed sheepishly. "I just wanted to double check." She stepped back inside, closing the doors after her, and sidled up to the octagonal tea table at one corner of her office. "Please, have a seat. Camomile?"

"If you've got any cafe latte, I'll bless you," said Akira as she sat down in the amply stuffed iron-framed loveseat midway between the tea service and Aika's desk. She frowned, bouncing once or twice on the armless seat and exploring it with her hands. "Where are you going? Did you know this couch is lumpy?"

Aika, who had disappeared though an inner set of doors leading to her secretary's office, called out, "Oh, I keep forgetting you haven't been up here yet. My secretary has the day off, and we have a small kitchen over here. As for the couch . . . when I'm alone I usually lie down there and look out the windows. I've been doing that a lot lately . . . . I have another set of cushions, if you want me to change those."

"No, it's okay. Don't bother with the latte, tea will be fine."

"It's alright, Senior, I still need to get the hang of this espresso machine. Wait just a bit, please."

Akira was quiet as Aika finished making the latte, assembled a service and brought it to the low table in front of her former mentor. "Thanks," she said. "That doesn't sound like the go-getter Aika I know." She raised the small cup from the service, looked at it, and smiled. There was a Himeya logo in brown on top of the foamy surface. "Nice touch."

"Thanks."

"How'd you make it so quickly?"

"Secret," Aika giggled. "Only Ardelle and I know."

"Oh, I'll learn it myself. You know I can be very persuasive." The last was said with a suggestive lowering of the voice, and a hint of mischief in Akira's eyes.

"No doubt about it. Only you'll have to persuade Ardelle, since I know you too well."

"Hmph. We may have been together for quite a while, Aika, but don't assume you know all my tricks."

"Tricks?" repeated Aika with an air of disbelief, the expression on her face showing how much she enjoyed the exchange. "Who said anything about tricks? You break the rules themselves, Senior Akira. Mere tricks wouldn't delight you as much. Want some walnut bread?"

"Hmm? No, thanks. I just need something warm." Akira sipped the drink. "Hah, nutmeg. Perfect." Large, lustrous brown eyes, almost black in the sunlight coming in through the windows, looked up at Aika. "So how are you? Problems?"

The short-haired undine laughed out loud. "Oh, a dozen. But don't worry, I'm dealing with them."

"That's good to hear." Akira finished the coffee and set her cup down. "Won't you have some?"

"No thanks, I just had a snack a while ago."

"Well, sit down, will you?" Akira's voice, which had been quiet and conversational until that moment, regained some of the old fire her student knew so very well. "The way you're standing there is making me feel uptight. You look like a spring all wound up."

"Do I?" wondered Aika, immediately sliding into the nearest seat.

"Come on, I have an idea." Akira stood up, walked over to the tea table, and pulled out the stool under it. Bringing it to her junior, she patted it and said, "Sit here. Here! Turn to the window. That's it. Relax."

With the sunlight again on her face, Aika felt Akira's touch on the sides of her neck, on the curve where it met her shoulders.

"Yiii! Senior Akira, your hands are cold!"

"Oops. I've been in the Dogana all day, and they had the air conditioning really down low. Sorry about that." Aika heard a rustling noise behind her, then felt the touch return, brief squeezing her shoulders. "You're really tense. Let's do something about that, shall we?"

Aika closed her eyes as Akira began to knead her shoulders. "Ohh. That's nice."

Akira chuckled. She continued massaging Aika's shoulders for around five minutes, staying silent all the time, then moved down to just above the small of Aika's back, against which she rolled the knuckles of her balled-up hands repeatedly. She roved the region thoroughly, alternating between knuckle rolling and thumb presses. In the end Aika, swaying on the stool, could only groan "I wanna lie down."

"Be my guest." Akira helped her to the loveseat. "Do you want me to continue?"

"If it isn't trouble—too much trouble, I mean."

"Okay, then. Overshirt off."

"What?"

"You'll wrinkle it."

Aika clumsily yanked her uniform shirt off. This Akira carefully placed on a nearby seat. She came back to find her junior regarding her with glazed eyes from the couch.

"Senior Akira, why are . . . why are you being so nice to me?"

"Wondering about my actions is not allowed." Akira smiled and clapped her on the shoulder. "To be honest, you look like you could use a bit of relaxation. Consider it a reward for all your hard work. Now I believe you said you wanted me to continue . . . ."

Aika lay back down, on her stomach as directed, and Akira took both her shoes and Aika's off. Kneeling beside her sometime student, she continued her ministrations until she saw that the younger woman was relaxed and limp.

"Sleepy?"

"Mmm. Don't . . . shouldn't. Work."

"Later," Akira disagreed. "Go on, take a nap or you'll feel horrible." She laid a gentle hand on the back of Aika's head, and a ghost of a smile skittered across her lips as she brought her mouth close to a drowsy ear and whispered into it.

"Oh, and by the way, I'm your newest employee."

Aika twisted her head to look at her former mentor. "What?" A look of confusion passed over her features, changing into a frown.

"We'll talk about it later, okay?" Pale hand lighted on pale cheek. It felt warm, and the touch very comforting; the sensation made Aika lose what little focus she had gathered. "Go to sleep. I'll hold the fort."

Of course. Akira was here. She could sleep a little. Aika shut her eyes and slipped into slumber. "Thanks," she murmured just before her soul flung the dream-gates open and ran into the wild beyond.

Akira regarded the prone figure. Poor girl, she thought. She must've been very tired to fall asleep that fast. Brushing a strand of bluish hair away from the younger woman's face, the Crimson Rose slowly stood up. She laced her fingers together and stretched her arms in front of her, cracking her knuckles.

Try and beat that, Alicia, she thought smugly, looking at her callused hands. She wondered why she had never thought of learning massage before. The private Akira was finding that it fulfilled a need inside her, for physical intimacy. Not the kind that came with a full-blown relationship, for she felt entering one would be doing a disservice to the people of Neo-Venezia, of whom she was a highly visible and highly regarded symbol; just a caress once in a while, a squeeze on the hand to tell her everything would be alright.

As she gazed down at the peaceful Aika, she smiled. Besides, how could one not feel happy at being able to give pleasure to the people one cared about? She doubted Alicia or Athena would be better than her at this. Physical contact wasn't really Alicia's forte; she reserved most of that, along her innermost feelings, for very special people in her life. Athena, well . . . Athena was sensual, in touch with herself through body and song in a way that surpassed mere physical contact, but it carried her away to someplace where those didn't have much meaning. Only the song, only the voice of her soul, mattered to her. In a sense, it was her.

For a while the veteran undine sat on couch beside Aika, remembering the little jumper-suited girl who had made the rose-clover all those years ago. She wondered if the Rozen Queen had ever cottoned on.

Silently rising and making her way to the anteroom that served as Aika's secretary's office, she discovered an intercom on the table there. She crossed over to it and pressed the button.

"This is Akira. Can anyone hear me?"

"Miss Akira?" a tinny male voice responded.

"Yes. Who is this? Aldo?"

"Yes'm."

"Listen, if anyone comes to see Miss Aika, tell them to see me, okay? I'll be up here in the office. No one is to disturb her for whatever reason. She's resting."

"Got it."

"Could you get someone to take the things from my gondola? Leave them in reception; I'll bring them up to my room later."

"No worries, Miss Akira. I'll do that myself."

"Okay, then. Thanks a lot."

Akira switched off. Turning away, she started when she discovered President Hime, Aika's black cat, sitting motionless at the head of the spiral staircase leading down to the second floor, watching her.

"Hime, you startled me! Come here, will you?"

The feline let out a soft, cultured "Mew" and hopped into Akira's waiting arms.

"Dear lady, I'm glad to see you! I brought you something, but it's downstairs. You can wait a little, right? I need to take care of your master first. Behave yourself, she's asleep."

If the Earth cat could only speak, she would've asked Akira why she looked so serious now, when she was so devil-may-care a while ago. It was a game that all humans appeared to love playing, hiding behind masks. And not only during Carnival time.

----------oOo----------

That very day Aria Company was out on a trip, and this time Ai wore a smile almost the whole time, as everything went perfectly for her. She didn't oversleep, nor did she commit a faux pas with their guests. Having gone ashore at Campo Neo della Guerra, their customers—a stout young man and his spinster aunt—thanked them effusively. They were to leave on the morrow, returning to Man-Home.

Akari and her charge stood just inside the hotel lobby and watched the pair disappear into the elevator at the further end. "Well, I call that a good day's job," said the elder undine. "Do you mind taking us back to Aria Company, Ai dear?"

"Not at all."

Ai helped Akari aboard and carefully backed away from the landing. As they headed down the San Zulian, Akari suddenly asked, "Miss Undine, why did you choose this narrow canal?"

"Oh!" Ai slowed her sculling. "Did you have a preference, Signora?"

Akari looked back at her with a raised eyebrow and an amused expression.

"Signorina, forgive me," corrected the Pair. "The maturity of your poise led me to believe you were married. Surely no man would let someone like you pass them by."

"Nicely put," Akari commended, looking back at Ai and smiling. "But unless you know someone very well, be aware of what you're saying and the assumptions you put behind them. Like I always tell you."

"Yes, Akari-sensei." Ai grinned. "What would I do if the guest had liked women?"

"Ah." Akari nodded. "Your pardon, Miss Undine. I don't like men."

"Forgive my presumptuousness, Miss," Ai said. "May I ask why you don't like men?"

"Well . . . um, for one thing, they're sometimes loud and insensitive. They can also be very inconsiderate at times. Wouldn't you agree, Miss Undine?"

"I wouldn't know," Ai replied, ducking as they passed under a bridge. "You see, I've never had a boyfriend."

"Really?"

Ai nodded. "I work full time as an apprentice undine. You have a girlfriend, Miss?"

Akari smiled and nodded.

"Oh, it's a shame she isn't with you now. See, the Bridge of Sighs is coming up. It's said that if two lovers kiss under it at sunset, their love will last for eternity."

"Really? That sounds so romantic!"

"Puinyui!" agreed President Aria, who was sitting beside Akari.

Akari clasped her hands together. "What about you, Miss Undine? Do you regret not having the time for a boyfriend?"

Ai looked down at Akari. "I don't think so. In any case—" the Pair laughed uneasily "—I can't tell, because I don't know what I'm missing."

Akari was quiet for a moment, then laid a hand on her apprentice's left shoe. "Ai-chan."

"I'm sorry, Senior Akari. Did I sound regretful? Because, you know, I–I just wonder what life would be like if I hadn't taken the chance and stayed on Man-Home . . . ."

"Do you feel . . ." Akari asked, her voice quiet, "do you feel there's something missing in your life?"

"Hmm? No! Not really. But I sometimes feel a bit lonely. I miss my family, I guess." Ai blinked rapidly, her eyes studiously on the low bridge ahead.

"It is said that love and hate, joy and sadness are next-door neighbors," said Akari. "I wish I could do something to make you feel less lonely."

"Ah, it's nothing, Akari-san. Don't worry about it. Does . . . does the Signorina also feel lonely at times?"

"Yeah. You know that. I sometimes wish Alicia was still at Aria Company. Before you came to Aqua again, I had no one but President Aria to share a beautiful sunset with. We were all so busy—the roads we traveled were getting further apart." Akari swiveled and sat back in her seat, softly stroking the fat cat's head. "But there's always something new to hope for, so don't get lost in those sad feelings."

Having negotiated the Canonica, the last span before the Bridge of Sighs, and within sight of the glinting lagoon, the Prima suddenly turned to her student and said, "Turn around."

Ai gazed longingly at the open water. "But Akari, I'm hungry."

"Turn around, please." Akari smiled up at her. "I forgot, we're almost out of bread. Let's get some of that soba sourdough and then we can fill that stomach of yours."

"Puinyu!"

"Okay. Don't laugh if you hear my stomach growling," Ai warned. She looked at the narrow canal and decided against trying to turn within its confines. Instead, she continued under the Ponte della Scaglia, went out into the lagoon, and maneuvered there before reentering the Rio de Palazzo. In her concentration, she missed the approving look on her mentor's face.

"Akari?" called the Pair just as they were about to pass under the Ponte de Sospiri again. "Signorina Akari?"

"Yes, Miss Undine?"

"Could you elaborate on your misgivings about men?"

"Hmm?" Puzzled, Akari nevertheless stayed in persona, holding forth on the subject for a minute. Not being an expert on it, much of what she said came from Aika's complaints and remarks about Akatsuki—those two were like cats and dogs whenever they met, squabbling so much, until the day when the normally quiet Alice decided to put her foot down, ended their bickering, and earned Akari's undying gratitude.

Having finished her impromptu speech, Akari turned back to Ai and asked, "Why? Is it important to you, Miss Undine?"

"Very." Ai grinned evilly. "I'll make sure Akatsuki-san is informed about your feelings."

"Wha–hey, no fair dropping out of character!"

Ai chuckled. "Just kidding. You get rattled so easily when I mention him, Akariii-saaan. I wonder why."

The Prima folded her arms and faced forward. "No comment."

----------oOo----------

After lunch, Akari was pouring herself a glass of cold water when she said, "Ai dear, I almost forgot, there's going to be a special lecture for Pairs at the Punta della Dogana later. Want to go?"

"Who's giving it?"

"The Gondola Association. It's sort of a primer to Neo-Venezia and being an undine. Might be a good place to meet new people," Akari suggested guardedly.

"If you think it'll be of help, I'll go. If President Aria will come along."

Aria Pokoteng stopped devouring his lunch and looked at Ai, then at Akari. "Puinyu."

"Oh, I think you'll find it interesting." Akari smiled. "I'll be in the office until you get back. Seems a good time to update the records."

----------oOo----------

So it was that by 2 PM Ai and Aria turned out of the Aria Company building. Ai wore her trademark black sleeveless shirt with white collar and short deep-red necktie, matching it with black capri pants and navy espadrilles. Because the weather was quite warm she decided to forego the white sleeves that she usually wore along with the rest of the outfit. She recommended that the President wear his cap with a snazzy blue bow tie flecked with tiny golden stars that Akari had made for him, and he agreed. Akari thoughtfully brushed Ai's hair and re-secured it with her red bow. Then the cat and the Pair hopped into Ai's black gondola and made their way to the Punta della Dogana, the old museum on the tip of Dorsoduro island, facing the San Marco basin.

Ai moored her gondola and made her way inside the low gray building. The original structure had served as Venice's customs authority, but in Neo-Venezia it was an art museum and contained multifunction rooms at the back.

She didn't need the various signs pointing her in the right direction. She and Aria just followed the stream of uniformed girls making their way to one of the double-doored rooms. Inside she registered herself and—to the attendant's amusement—President Aria, and found them empty seats.

There were fifty seats set up inside, facing a low stage with a lectern in the middle. Many of the seats were already taken by other Pairs. Most sported the red and white of Himeya, or the yellow trim of Orange Planet.

The buzz that was permeating the room suddenly died down, and everyone's attention was directed to a figure entering the front doors.

"Miss Alicia," the girl to Ai's left gushed.

Many in the audience repeated the name as the gold-braided woman made her way up to the lectern. Her attire was all business, comprising an umber-colored blazer, charcoal-gray pencil skirt, and wine-red heels. But there was little that was businesslike about the warm smile on her face, or her clear blue eyes, which sparkled as she looked out at the people in the room.

"Good afternoon, everyone. On behalf of the Gondola Association, I'd like to thank you all for coming and to welcome you to this short lecture. Some of you might already know me. I'm Alicia, and along with Signor Tadao here I'll be with you this afternoon as we try to explain what it means to be an undine in Neo-Venezia. We'll begin by asking you a question. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the phrase 'being an undine?'"

----------oOo----------

Alicia talked for about five minutes, after which Signor Tadao, jolly and crinkle-eyed, took over and led a brainstorming session which had all the Pairs divided into small groups. Each was given a topic to discuss, and to report to the rest of the gathering. The assembly discussed the results animatedly, with some generalizing that undine should first and foremost uphold the history and traditions of Neo-Venezia, whereas others favored adapting to the needs and desires of their visitors. Afterwards Alicia presented a video in which a cameraman followed a Prima through her typical day. Ai watched avidly because the Prima starring in the film was none other than Akira E. Ferrari herself, who had at Akari's request given Ai occasional lessons. The video ran for about thirty minutes, ending with the black-haired Prima standing on the stern of her gondola, framed by the bricola marking one of the main channels into Neo-Venezia. Her sweep lay lengthwise on the gondola, shaft resting on the oarlock, and the entire scene was burnished yellow by the setting sun. A low background strumming provided accompaniment.

"I won't kid you," she was saying in her low-pitched voice. "It's not always going to be easy. But look at this." She raised an arm and swept it over the cityscape in the background, turning away from the camera. "To me, being what I am, and working in a place like this, with the people of Neo-Venezia—it is beyond price. I hope you'll feel similarly as you continue your training, and I'll leave you with these words."

The music swelled, the strumming more urgent, accompanied by strings and woodwinds and horns. Akira's gaze never left the city as in one fluid motion she shed her red high heels, turned away from the camera, and stepped off her gondola and into the lagoon, splashing into the water up to mid-calf.

"Sempre dritto! Avanti dritto! Whatever happens, keep going forward!" The camera lifted higher and zoomed closer as she waded a few steps, removing the gondola from the scene.

The Prima turned around and looked up as the camera began to overtake her. The view pulled back, showing her standing in the water, skirt floating, strands of her long hair twisting in the wind.

"May you find happiness in your chosen vocation, my dear Pairs," she called, raising a hand. Ever faster the camera pulled away from her, in the general direction of the city, until Akira was nothing but a small white figure in the lagoon, the music urging, triumphant, cresting. Then the scene faded to black. The orchestra gave one last sonorous chord and disappeared into silence.

The vidscreen shrunk into nothing and the lights came back on. When they did, Ai found that the seat to President Aria's left had been occupied by a most unexpected person.

"Lucy?"

"Heh. You were so engrossed you didn't even notice me sit down." Like almost everyone else in the room, she was dressed in her short-sleeved uniform.

"What are you doing here?"

"Duties for the day," the Single said. "I've been assigned to help Snow White. It is such a dream." Lucy looked down at Aria. She extended a hand; he shook it. She smiled at him; he just sat there staring at her with those strange blue eyes of his.

"Hi. I sort of bumped into your friend yesterday. My name's a—Lucy. You must be her boss."

"Poipoi. Puinyu?"

"Oh, you look very much the part. Plus, the hat kind of gives it away." Lucy looked up. "Ai, you never told me he was adorable."

"Huh? You never asked."

"Why would I need to—"

"Shh." Ai signaled she was trying to listen.

"Spoilsport." Lucy looked at Aria and held out a hand. "May I?"

"Nyu."

Lucy started to scratch the back of the cat's neck, and shivers of delight ran up and down the President's spine.

"You probably know as much about your boats as anyone in this room," Alicia was saying on the stage. "There used to be thousands of gondolas, and thousands of gondoliers in old Venice. They were so common that we have even have reports of them being sailed into battle in the open sea. However, when motorcraft were introduced, their numbers declined until the art of making and sailing them was almost lost in the mid-twenty-first century. Please take a look at this." An old engraving appeared on the screen.

"When Venice was still being built on the Rivo Alto, there weren't a lot of prepared landings. So the gondolas then were built in consideration of this. The one you see here had a fixed canopy and was rowed by two people." The image dissolved into a photograph of a white gondola without markings, supported by a wheeled dolly in what appeared to be a boatyard.

"Today the gondolas we use have some differences compared to older gondolas. They are built to take the stresses of air transport, for example. Also, many of the building techniques had to be relearned by our builders here in Neo-Venezia. The materials used in construction are also somewhat different, out of necessity."

"You'll also notice that our gondolas are allowed greater variation in design." Alicia flashed several pictures on the vidscreen. "In the distant past gondoliers were only allowed to paint their craft black, which wasn't a problem as pitch was used to make the boats watertight anyway. We basically have two main color schemes, black for private and working gondolas, like the ones that you're probably using now, and white gondolas, which are the sole province of—you guessed it, Primas. You already know you may use a white gondola as well, but only with your mentor on board, and may not take on paying passengers.

"Another thing about our gondolas. As gondoliers began to share the waterways of Man-Home's Venice with motorized craft, they had to find a way to deal with the wakes these left behind. In answer, the sides and the tail were raised, putting the gondolier higher and providing better resistance to wave action. Here's one video clip of a gondolier and his customers being caught in the wake of a police launch. Watch how calm he remains. Do you think you can remain as composed as he was, if you were in the same situation?" A short film flashed onstage, degraded somewhat by color bloom, a fascinating glimpse of a time and place that were no more. "Now, since we here in Neo-Venezia don't have much of the same problem, due to our strict laws and the easy availability of services by air, our designers are free to lower the tail as well as the freeboard. It makes it easier to duck under bridges, doesn't it?" There was a wave of appreciative chuckling.

"Most of you have probably already noticed that some gondolas are more symmetrical than the older designs. This has its advantages when rowing outside the Neo-Venezia limits, in open water, or if you ever decide to participate in the Vogare Longa or similar races, which I strongly encourage you to do. However, a straight design also has its disadvantages, in that it becomes harder for a single undine to control the gondola. But that is why you're all training hard, right? So it isn't a real handicap at all."

Nods and murmurs of assent, some matter-of-fact, some acquiescing, some determined.

A Q & A portion took up the next hour, with Alicia and Mr. Tadao fielding all sorts of questions from the eager Pairs. These ran the gamut from uniforms to companies, and at the end the smiling old man thanked everyone for coming and Alicia gave some parting words of encouragement, which stuck in Ai's mind for a long time afterward.

"You know that being an undine also requires the use of many other skills. Most people call them skills, but I like to call them graces. Each of us is gifted with a set of graces that we must discover and nurture. Then we can grow in our craft and return the blessings given to us, and give our guests a glimpse of something beyond themselves, whether it be the glory of a vanished era, the beauty of a single day here on Aqua, or the admiration for what the people of this world have accomplished in so short a time. On behalf of the Gondola Association, I wish you good luck, and thank you for being here with us today."

People applauded and began to stand up. As Signor Tadao had announced that there were snacks waiting for the Pairs in the foyer, about half the assembled crowd left the room. The other half, however, made a beeline for Alicia, besieging her with personal introductions, requests for autographs, and questions. Lucy stopped playing with President Aria, and Ai could almost see her ears prick up like a wolfhound's as she said, "Whoops, it looks like I might be needed. Excuse me. And excuse me, President Aria." The redhead rose from her seat and began to make her way to the blond woman at the center of the milling crowd.

----------oOo----------

In a minute or two Lucy was back, bending down and whispering to Ai.

"She told me to tell you not to leave. She wants to talk to you."

"Huh? O-okay."

It was a full ten minutes before Alicia could break free from the crowd and approach Ai. Lucy, meanwhile, had gone to help to tidy the place up and was nowhere to be seen.

"My my," went Alicia. "I hope I didn't make you wait too long, Ai dearest."

Ai shot to her feet. "Of course not, Miss Alicia! You were great up there."

"Thank you. Are you going back to Aria Company?" Alicia bent down and scooped the cat up, putting him forehead-to-forehead with her. "President Aria, how are you? Haven't seen you in quite a while!"

"Puinyuu!" the cat squealed with delight. Alicia hugged him and Aria rubbed his face against her cheek.

Ai nodded. "Yes, ma'am. We don't have any more guests for today. Senior Akari's waiting for us to come back."

"Oh, good! Would it be a great bother if I came along? I'd like to surprise her."

"Not at all! I'd be honored to bring you to Aria Company, Miss Alicia!"

"My my, so enthusiastic," Alicia smiled. "Not this time."

"I'm sorry?"

"Lucy has been doing an admirable job bringing me here and there all day," explained Alicia. "This time I'm going to bring you to Aria Company. No complaints, please. Give me a chance to feel like an undine again."

The last was said somewhat quietly, and Ai thought a faint pink flush stained the older woman's cheeks as she continued cooing at Aria and stroking his fur.

----------oOo----------

Alicia disappeared into a restroom at the back of the Dogana, and when she came out she had changed into slacks, pumps, and discarded her blazer. Under it she had been wearing a sleeveless black sweater. A gold pendant with a perfectly round violet gemstone hung twinkling around her neck.

"So, let's go."

Lucy stretched a hand out. "Madam, your bag."

"It's alright, Lucy, I can—"

"Your husband gave me strict instructions, Miss Alicia," said Lucy, adamant. "Your bag, please."

Alicia chuckled. "Okay, okay, here it is," she said in surrender. Handing it over to Lucy, she shrugged helplessly at Ai. "Take us to your gondola, Miss Undine."

Ai led the way out the door, holding it open for Alicia and President Aria. Behind them, Lucy staggered at the weight of her burde, trying very hard to make light of her difficulty. When she reached the glass-paneled exit, her venom-filled glare doused Ai's spirit of inquiry and helpfulness.

"I don't know what she keeps in here," the Single grumbled sotto voce, "and I've been carrying it all day. But don't say a word. Just don't."

----------oOo----------

Akari was waiting for them, standing at the rail. She had been waving vigorously for the last minute or so, ever since she had apparently recognized who was rowing Ai's boat. Where she got her boundless energy, Ai had no idea. Or rather, Ai had an idea, but didn't want to admit it to herself because it made her feel mousy in comparison.

"Aliciaaaaaa! Hi!"

"Long time no see, Akari!" The gondola glided to a stop, positioned perfectly at the ramp of Aria Company. Alicia helped the junior undine off, moored the craft, and gave the sweep to Akari.

"Please step carefully . . . it's so good to see you!"

They made their way up the ramp. "Same here. How are you?"

"Oh, same old. I was a bit surprised to see you at the helm." Akari's glance caught Ai.

Alicia giggled. "Oh, I asked her if I could do that. I haven't held an oar for the longest time. Please don't scold her, Akari."

"Huh? I wasn't going to." Akari took a step back and looked Alicia up and down. "You're more beautiful than ever."

"Really, you're embarrassing me." The one-time Prima motioned to Lucy. "I'd like to introduce you to Lucy—"

Human beings are curious things. Just when Alicia was introducing her to the current Prima of the famous Aria Company—the one who was well known for being able to instill a sense of wonder and awe in all of her guests—and just when Akari had turned her gaze on her, an attack of shyness overcame Lucy. She timorously took a step forward, smiling sheepishly.

"Evonridge," someone finished, but it wasn't Alicia. "She and I met yesterday," Ai revealed, placing a hand at the small of the Single's back and pushing her towards Akari. "We were practicing together."

"P-pleased to m-meet you," stammered the object of their attention, bowing at the waist.

Alicia smiled. "Oh, so that's why you seemed to know each other already."

"Y-yes, well, the truth is . . ." Lucy swallowed. "I accidentally hit her gondola yesterday and almost made her fall into a canal."

Akari's raised a brow. She turned to Ai. "I was wondering where that dent came from." Her voice became gentle. "Ai-chan, I was waiting for you to tell me."

Ai flinched. "I'm sorry! I was going to tell you . . . I was afraid you were going to get mad at me."

"Well, I was sort of disappointed when you didn't say anything about it yesterday." Akari placed a hand on her apprentice's shoulder. "But did you really think I'd get mad about such a small bump?"

Slowly Ai shook her head.

"I've already looked it over," said Akari, "and it's nothing a little filler and sanding won't cure. Senior Alicia, Lucy, care for some snacks? Jelly cookies and mint tea."

"Don't mind if I do. Actually . . . Akari, are you busy?"

The ponytailed Prima shook her head. "No, I was just doing the records and waiting for Ai to come back."

"If you have the time, I'd like to talk to you about something."

"Mm, sure! Food first, we mustn't keep the President waiting. This way, everybody!" Akari turned around and herded the junior undine inside the building. "This way! Up the stairs and sit down please!" Then she paused at the door for Alicia.

"Oh, Akari," Alicia commented, smiling. "Some things don't really change."

"What do you mean?"

Alicia laughed softly. "Nothing, nothing. What flavor are those jelly cookies?"

"Strawberry, lemon, chocolate. I was experimenting with different kinds of honey."

"Ah."

When they came upstairs they found the younger women standing around the dining table, waiting for them despite having been told to sit.

"Senior Akari, how'd you know there were going to be five of us?" asked Ai, looking mightily mystified at the five settings placed on the table. "Unless—you knew all along that Miss Alicia and Lucy were coming!"

Akari grinned. "Woman's intuition, as they say. I knew Alicia was the one conducting the seminar and had a feeling she might drop by. I also knew it was highly unlikely that she'd be alone. I kept it to myself because I wanted to surprise you—and her, too." Akari motioned with her hands. "Please, sit down. Let's eat!"

As they ate, Ai thought how amusing it was that both Akari and Alicia thought of surprising each other on the same occasion. Was it also a coincidence that both were Primas of Aria Company? She wondered if Grandma knew how special the company she started was. It felt so nice to live in a place of such serendipitous wonder.

----------oOo----------

"Those weren't cookies and cakes we just ate," said Lucy, leaning back in her chair and rubbing her tummy. In front of her sprawled a silent ruin of empty plates and used cutlery.

"What are you talking about?" Ai asked from across the table.

"Miss Akari fed us clouds. Little sweet clouds with lemon and strawberry fillings."

Ai smiled. "Here, have some tea to wash it down."

Reaching over, Lucy accepted the proffered cup. "Thanks." She blew on the brownish liquid. "Sweet things are a weakness of mine. And because I'm feeling so pleasant now, I'm not going to stay angry at you for laughing at me at the Dogana and almost giving me away to Miss Alicia."

"Sorry, but you were just so funny back there," Ai chuckled. "You were acting like her bag weighed a ton, when it was just a bit heavy."

"I beg to differ. There must be something about Aria Company that turns its undine into weightlifters. But I don't want to argue with you. Truth is, I do have a tendency to clown around when I'm among friends," Lucy confessed.

"I have a tendency to be a wallflower in a large group," returned Ai. "Oh, and returning to sweet things, are sweet boys also included?"

"Why, yes. Roses, chocolates, a serenade, the works. If I knew anyone who'd do that in the first place." Lucy laughed and leaned forward. "There are some juicy tidbits I've seen walking around your school, Ai. Seeing any of them?"

"Nope. Too busy." Ai looked to where Alicia and Akari were standing outside on the second-floor walkway, framed by one of the full-length glass doors and lit the reflections off the water. They were talking quietly to each other. President Aria was there as well, sitting on the deck between the two, looking up at them and listening.

Beyond them the day was ending. The sky was golden yellow, just beginning to turn orange; the sea was blue-green and shining with innumerable ripples. One of the departing SSSA liners formed an irregular black dot in the sky, a twinkling particle headed back to Man-Home far, far away.

"I'm starting to think boyfriends and 'being an undine' aren't compatible with each other," Ai remarked. "Oh, wait. There's Senior Aika, who's seeing Uncle Al. But she doesn't seem to be the norm."

"Aika?"

"She's the daughter of the family that owns Himeya."

"Oh, her! The one who runs the Himeya office near—where was that—Santa Lucia?"

"The very one."

"I see her often around those parts." Lucy sipped at her drink. "But she's in a rather different position, don't you think? She can't leave Himeya. There'd be no one else in their family to run it."

"Well, I can't just leave Aria Company either, can I?"

"I suppose not. Heh, but if that ever happens—" Lucy's tone of voice indicated her disbelief "—Miss Akari could find another apprentice. Same with me. But the Granzchestas are Himeya. They practically founded the whole undine industry in Neo-Venezia. I don't think I'd like to be in Miss Aika's shoes and retire. Then I'd be—"

"The one who caused their house to come tumbling down," Ai continued for her. She looked thoughtful. "You know, I never really realized how hard it must be for Senior Aika, being in her position and having to prove herself worthy of her family. Whenever she visits, she's always so upbeat."

"Maybe she loves her work."

"Or maybe Uncle Albert inspires her so."

"Could be. One thing's for sure—they're very rich. I wonder what it'd be like to live that kind of life—being waited on hand and foot, owning a fleet of gondolas, going around in a private yacht, that stuff."

"Hmm. Senior Aika never gave me the impression that she was rich. To me she's more like, you know, just Miss Akari's friend. They help each other, share secrets, gossip, that sort of thing."

Whatever Lucy was going to say was interrupted by a shriek from outside. The two looked up in time to see Akari hug Alicia.

"Congratulations!" they heard her shouting, her voice muffled by the glass. "Congratulations!"