Meeting Old Friends

"There is nothing wrong with this infirmary so why do you want to rearrange it?" Yoko asked, a demon fox thief by the way. Yoko looked at Nakada as if she were crazy about rearranging the neat infirmary.

Nakada gave a slight smile and said, "Yoko there is barely any room to get some of the new things for the infirmary put in here. We need more space," Nakada held up a finger at him seeing he was going to argue with her, "You said you would do anything if I stopped bothering you with that question and you didn't see all the new things for the infirmary. This whole place is going to be cramped if we don't rearrange it," Yoko winced as he remembered when the first came to the Sign home. It was under water and it was so huge. Nakada had kept on asking him if he was alright from a fall and it was driving him insane and he had said he would do anything to stop her. He had meant that but he wasn't expecting to help out clean and rearrange an entire infirmary.

"Well the faster we do this the faster it will get done. What do you want to do first?" he asked as he watched Nakada take a stack of files from a table and turn around.

"Across the hall the is an empty room. Can you help me take these files over to it? I've already started cleaning this place out but I have only made sure the files were in the right order." Nakada said as she looked toward the other files on the table. Yoko went over to the files and took a stack himself and followed Nakada out of the room to the empty one across from it. Nakada showed where to put the files and they went back to the infirmary and did it all over again.

In an hour all the files were neatly stacked in the empty room and in proper order, "What else?" Yoko asked looking at Nakada she went over to a cooler opened it and threw a bottle over to him. He caught it and saw Nakada take another out and start to drink from it.

When she had taken a few drinks and so had he, she looked at him and smiled, "There are a lot of things that has to be done Yoko. That would have taken me more than an hour," Nakada saw him turn a bit pink. He walked over and gave the bottle back to her. She took it and put both of their bottles back into the cooler, "Maybe we should try moving the tables out of here and then move the beds."

Yoko looked at Nakada and gave a slight nod. In half an hour they had taken all of the tables out into the hall, "You know I'm surprised the other Signs aren't here," Yoko said as he helped Nakada move a bed to another wall.

"They are out swimming trying to find some special kind of stones that give the person who holds it enough air to breath under water for about ten hours. Those are very rare," she said as she began to undo and put up her long silver blue tinted hair. She was wearing blue shorts and a blue sleeveless T-shirt. He watched as she began to put up her hair again. Nakada saw him staring and said, "What are you staring at?"

"Nothing," he answerd and looked away from her, "What do the stones look like?" he asked going to another stripped bed.

"That's the thing," Nakada said as she went over to the bed and pulled it up and Yoko went in between the bed and the wall, "They look like other stones so it is really hard to find them. You have to keep senses alert to magical energy. People who can sense such things know the difference from a normal rock and a rock that can give you air. It is much like the air stones back in Final Fantasy but those stones don't let you breath under water."

Yoko looked at her as they went to another bed, "Final Fantasy?" he asked as they put the bed against a different wall.

"Final Fantasy is another world where Signs are always born. It is like a tradition. When some one in the Sign family is going to have a child they go to Final Fantasy and have it there. All the Signs here have been born in Final Fantasy. Back then when the Signs weren't immortal they could feel that the day they were going to die was close. So they went to Final Fantasy and lived the rest of their days and were buried there. Then we were born," Nakada had a far away look in her eyes as they moved the last bed. When they had moved it Nakada sat on it and began to talk again, "I'm not saying that, that certain tradition is done. I'm just saying that it is a bit different now," She looked at Yoko who had sat next to her and smiled, "The only way a Sign can die now is if his or her heart crystal is destroyed. If Sign's heart crystal is destroyed completely it is killed and cannot be brought back to life. If a Sign is killed their spirit just goes to where all it's elements are and grow. That takes about a year for the whole thing to happen. But if it is the heart crystal that is destroyed and their love or some one they care about and knows that person cares about them as well doesn't catch them before they hit the ground then the Sign dies. When they are dead the rest of the Signs take its body back to Final Fantasy to be buried there. It's the same tradition only changed," Nakada went to the cooler and brought out the bottles, "Final Fantasy is actually in numbers like Final Fantasy eight where we were born but we don't care we just call it Final Fantasy," she threw Yoko's bottle to him and he caught it.

He looked at Nakada for a while before he took a drink from the bottle. He noticed that Nakada had seemed a bit weak but when she started to drink the water she looked strong again, "Do you get your power from drinking water?" he asked before he had taken a drink.

She looked startled when Yoko asked this question, "In away yes. Earth does give me some energy because it is an element some what controlled by the moon because since the moon controls the water and the water helps to feed plants I can get some energy from plants. But water gives me all of my energy. I don't have to drink water I can draw my energy from it but sometimes it is a bit more comfortable and normal when I drink it," Nakada said with a smile, "I think that is enough work for today I have to work on my dancing," she turned around and put the bottle back into to the cooler.

"Dancing?" he asked as he put his bottle in the cooler as well and followed her.

"Yeah dancing. Believe it or not that's how we fight and defend most of the time," Nakada couldn't help but to laugh at the look on his face. It looked like he had been slapped in the face or some thing.

"How on earth do you fight and defend your self with dancing?" he asked in a confused voice.

"Well you can try to go against me to see for your self." she suggested as they reached the gym. It had everything a gym needed and even some things it didn't like a skating rink at the end of the room and a pool at the other side of the room.

"I guess but I don't see the point." Yoko said as they went to a little place in the gym where they were supposed to fight.

"Oh there is no point. I just want to show you how the Signs fight with dancing. The Dark Signs do the same thing as well. You can go first I'll be easy on you." Nakada said with a smile, "You can use any one of your abilities."

"Are you mocking me?" he asked as he stared hard at her.

"No I'm just telling you to be careful," she said, as she looked hard at Yoko as well.

"I am always careful," and with a smile thorned vines grew from his wrists and they went straight toward Nakada. She twirled to one side jumped into the air and did a somersault in the air and landed behind him with out bending her knees. Yoko looked behind him and sent his vines after her in all directions. Nakada closed her eyes and then she jumped backwards while doing a back flip in the air and brought her arms and one leg up into the air to dodge another vine attack when she landed. She then jumped forward did a twirl when she landed on the ground and twirled in a circle around Yoko and then did a backwards flip in the air and escaped a narrow hole in the vines. When the vines went after her they pulled tightly and Yoko found himself tied up by his own vines.

Nakada went over to the tied up fox and said with a smile, "Always careful?"

"Most of the time," he grunted. He had to hold his breath so the thorned vines couldn't seriously hurt him. Nakada smiled and touched the vines and they went lose and fell off of him. He had some scrapes on his arms but that was about it. Nakada put her hand on his arm and began to rub it. The scrapes were instantly gone and she did the same thing with the other arm, "Why did you heal me? I could have healed well enough they were just silly scratches."

"Yoko I have found that in my life the most simplest things can also be the most dangerous. My dancing for an example, Hiei and your love for Caralama are simple things yet look at you and him. You and Hiei have changed a lot ever since you meet Caralama and for the better," Yoko couldn't but help to smile. Nakada was right they had changed ever since they had meet Caralama.

Yoko thought back to when they had first saw Caralama. Him, Hiei and some of their demon followers were stealing some of her uncle's magic charms and she had caught them. They stole her and Hiei had fallen in love with her. Though Caralama wasn't exactly happy with them kidnapping her and had thrown a fireball at them. A week later Caralama had woken up and healed them. There were other things that happened but his thoughts were interrupted by a loud squeal,

"NAKADA! I'M HERE!" A rather perky girl with dark violet waist length hair, milky white skin and deep violet eyes ran right towards her. She had white skin and was rather skinny.

"Jennah I thought you wouldn't make it. You haven't changed that much!" Nakada said as she and the new girl hugged each other.

"No I've just been every where doing everything! And who is this handsome fox demon!" Jennah said pointing toward Yoko with a smile on her face and a glint in her eyes.

He gave a slight blush and looked toward Nakada uncertain what to do, "That is Yoko Kurama the demon thief." Nakada said.

"Wow! I always knew there was some good in him somewhere. Pleased to meet you Yoko Kurama," Jennah said holding out her hand.

"Just Yoko please I'm called that around here," he said taking the hand with a slight shake. Nakada was instantly at Jennah's side.

"So has your dancing improved or better yet has your singing?" Nakada said with hopeful eyes.

"You'll happy to know that I took lessons in both area's so my voice wont squeak any more. Only if I want it to," she answered wrapping an arm around Nakada's shoulder.

"Thank goodness. Even when my hearing was turned off she gave me a headache. You'll get used to her though," Nakada told Yoko through telepathy.

"I hope your right. She seems a bit too energetic," he replied with a little look on his face showing that he was a bit uncomfortable with being here.

"Yes she can be but when we're on a mission she can be equally fierce, dangerous, cunning and serious. Another thing is she can easily lose is her temper and you know what happened when I lost my temper."

Yoko shuddered as he remembered when Nakada had burst a huge boulder into pieces with just her bare fist, "Then I will try to stay on her good side."

"Good idea,"

"So Jennah how long are you going to stay this time?" Nakada said as she saw her friend going toward the rink.

"Oh about four weeks. You don't mind do you?" Jennah asked leaning her back against the wall.

"Of course not Jennah," Nakada said as she looked toward Yoko and he just shrugged, So how is Batman doing?" she asked with a wink.

"Just fine but I feel like I'm hogging him and taking advantage of him. Hey want to go swimming?" she asked Nakada as if to change the subject, "Maybe we could show Yoko what we look like as mermaids."

Nakada winced and closed her eyes, "Sometimes she can easily give me a headache. Well what do think?"

"I don't care. Personally I wouldn't mind," he answered.

"All right Jennah, but just for a little while," Nakada said going up to the pool and over to the diving board with Yoko following. Jennah was the first one there and she jumped off the diving bored and did a few flips in the air with her legs straight and arms out and did a perfect dive into the water. There was a flash of bright light and Jennah came out of the water on her back and a violet fish tail flicked out of water.

"Nakada come on the water is great. Do one of your favorite tricky dives please," she asked as she swam over to the other side of the pool. Yoko could only stare at Jennah from the side of the pool then he heard Nakada get on the ramp.

"Shouldn't get into a bathing suit or something?" he asked a bit confused .

"It will just come of when I turn into a mermaid," Nakada said as she took a breath and jumped off the diving board. She jumped higher then Jennah did the same flips as Jennah but then she made her body go straight crossed her arms over her chest did a few turns that way and then did a backward flip and dived into the water with barely any splashing. There was another flash of light and she jumped out of the water with her hair full of sea shells and it looked like she had an icy blue sea shell bra and the scales on her tail glistened a shiny icy blue colour the same as her hair and she dived into the water again.

Yoko was so stunned by what he saw all he could do was stare and he almost forgot how to breathe, "That was perfect Nakada!" came Jennah's voice from the other side of the pool as she surfaced. Yoko noticed that her ears were more pointed and there were gills at both sides of her neck.

She and Jennah swam up to him and he finally got out of the trance like state he was in, "What did you think of it Yoko?" Nakada asked as she put a arm on the walk way of the pool showing she had a slanted fin on both of her arms and that her hands were webbed and they were icy blue.

Yoko tried to say something but as he opened his mouth but found he couldn't say anything, "I think that means he liked it Nakada," Jennah giggled with her webbed hand over her mouth.

Yoko blinked and cleared his throat and began to say, "That was very, very good Nakada," he said while sitting on the side of pool.

Yoko heard Jennah giggle again and he was beginning to get a bit embarrassed. "Owe! Hey why did you hit me Nakada?" Jennah asked looking at Nakada accusingly.

"Even the other boy Signs act that way so you shouldn't make a big deal out of it!" Nakada said a bit angry. Yoko looked at her and saw that she was starting to get a bit weak from her anger. He reached out to grab her hand before she let go of the wall, "Like I said Yoko even the most simplest things can make the most biggest difference," she said in a tired voice and a little smile on her face.

"Oh Nakada I didn't mean to get you upset. Quick draw some energy from the water," all of a sudden the water around Nakada started to glow an icy blue and so did Nakada. Then when the light was gone Nakada looked a lot stronger.

"It's alright Jennah but you can't go around doing things like that he is new here and so is his friend. So I don't want you to poke fun at either of them alright?" she asked in a calm voice looking at her.

Jennah looked down as if she did something horrible and said, "I'm sorry Yoko she's right. You should see the other Sign boys when they look at her when she does this. They usually stay entranced longer then you even with our help," Jennah said with a small smile.

He gave a little smile as well and then he noticed he was still holding Nakada's hand and he let go, "That's all right no harm done. Can all Signs do that?" Yoko asked now a bit curious.

"Yes, even Caralama can do it. You know I sometimes wonder how Nakada can put up with her brothers and sisters. They are such a handful have you meet them yet?" Jennah asked looking at Yoko.

"Yes I have and it was right at this pool as well, or in the pool which ever comes first. They are grown up yet they act like children." Yoko remembered the day the Signs had gone swimming. Caralama had some how gotten Hiei into the pool but Yoko had stayed out. Then he was pushed in by the youngest of Nakada's family, Alexandra and her twin brother Abba. Nakada had scolded them but he still ended up staying in the pool. Though the Signs hadn't turned into mer-people so he wasn't exactly prepared for it now.

"I'm going to get out of pool now so Yoko can you please turn around you to Jennah," Nakada asked as she swam over to the towels on the other side of the pool. Yoko turned around then there was a flash of light and awhile later he heard Nakada say, "You can turn around now," Yoko turned around and saw Nakada fully clothed and her hair wrapped neatly in a towel.

Her skin was so pale that Yoko asked, "Are you sure you got enough energy you look so pale," Jennah giggled a bit.

"This is the natural colour of my skin Yoko so you don't have to worry. I usually put some make up on to change the colour but I hate make-up," Nakada went over to Jennah and gave her a nasty look, "You thought the same thing so don't even start," Nakada said and Jennah instantly stopped.

"It's alright I don't mind. I read some where in your library that you should laugh at your mistakes," Jennah looked at Yoko as if saying 'You don't have to bail me out but thanks,' Yoko gave a little smile and a shrug.

Nakada just smiled and went out of the gym, "She doesn't laugh that much any more," Yoko looked at Jennah with a puzzled look, "Ever since Caralama was born it is like she shut her self from everyone. Caralama has always been able to put a smile on her face and make her laugh sometimes her cousin Rury is the same. But when we try she always forces a smile in appreciation. Her mother does it the wrong thing though," again he looked at Jennah with a questionable look, "She always teases Nakada and does things that makes her uncomfortable with out meaning to cause her discomfort. Susan that's her mother does get her laugh and smile but after words she gets mad at her and goes to her room. That's why she is always weak when her parents come here. Her father is even worse. He makes her mad with their fights and she ends up sometimes crying. Ops," Jennah said when she covered her hand with one hand and looked at Yoko and saw the startle meant in his eyes, "Don't tell her I said that she doesn't even know that I know that."

He gave a slight nod and then said, "I couldn't help but notice that Caralama looks a lot like Nakada. Are they some how related?"

Jennah looked startled by the question, "You know we have noticed similarities between those two as well. Caralama could easily pass off as being Nakada's daughter instead of April's. Their eyes, cheekbones and voice are the same, sometimes their attitudes are as well. But as far as we know they aren't related," Jennah swam over to the towels and Yoko turned around. There was a flash of light and Jennah appeared beside him with her hair wrapped neatly in a towel like Nakada's hair had been.

"Well I had better get going and get known here. Do you know where everyone might be?" Jennah asked him.

"Well last I heard they were looking for some kind of stone out side that lets you breath under water for certain amount of time," he answered her but his eyes looked like he was far away in deep thought.

"Thanks well see you later," Jennah was instantly running out of the door leaving Yoko in the room alone in his thoughts.

Yoko watched as Jennah ran out of the gym, I bet I know why Nakada has shut her self out from everyone. I wonder if the other Signs know what she did. Oh darn it I'm not helping with what I just did! he said putting a hand over his eyes and remembered what he was doing when Nakada had gotten into the pool. He also remembered when she tried to cool down his face when he started to blush back at the hideout. The Signs have very good hearing. Did she hear my heart when it started to go at a faster beat when she touched my face? I hope not, I don't want to be the cause of my daug... I mean Caralama's death.

Lately Yoko and Caralama had been doing something when they were alone. Caralama thought of Yoko as her father and he had thought of her as his daughter, so secretly when they were alone they would call each other just that. Yoko gave a little smile and went to his room to think a bit.

Hey just started rewriting this and I hope you like it but I wont know if you don't readreview. The second time I post this up no one did so PLEASE R&R. so I know what you think about it!