Chapter 1: Homecoming

"Priss, this isn't a good idea." Nene said.

Sighing Priss looked up at the girl, all three of them who had become her family. She loved them dearly but they didn't know the truth, what and who Priss really was. Priss was a lie, a lie that she should have never been stupid enough to try and pull off. Now someone demanded that she come back to the Tendo Dojo, or whatever was left of it in the Old Tokyo District of Nerima. A district that has never been repaired and was said to have nothing but lowlifes and thugs inhabiting it now. In short it was dangerous to go for most anyone alone from Neo Tokyo since the small populace of Old Nerima hated them for writing them off.

The letter had simply said, "I know who and what you are Priscilla Saotome Asagiri. If you want to keep your old life secret come to the Tendo Dojo within the next forty-eight hours." She didn't have much of a choice, she didn't want her family finding out what she once was…She didn't want Leon finding out either.

"I have to go, Nene so please stop it." Priss said crossing her arms and staring down at the girl sitting on the couch next to Sylia. Lina was leaning against the back of the couch sitting slightly on it.

"At least let us come with you." Lina urged though Priss just shook her head and started pacing again.

"I said no, it's my problem and I intend to deal with it." Priss said.

"Priss…Why exactly do you have to go back to Nerima for?" Sylia asked, "Please…tell us what's wrong."

"I can't…It's something I have to deal with…Something from a past I thought was long dead." Priss said. She knew she should have tried to go back to Nerima long ago but after being told everyone was dead she couldn't do it. It had always been one of her greatest shames…She was too weak to go look at how a place that was once called home had become so devastated.

"Priss…We are your friends." Sylia said.

"Your family." Nene said.

"There isn't anything you can't tell us." Lina said.

"I…Just stop it damn it! I can't talk about." Priss said grabbing her helmet and jacket and stalking out of the office of the Silky Doll. She wanted so much to just tell them but she knew that either they would think that she was either lying or a freak. She couldn't take either one…She couldn't take losing anymore people.

Getting on the bike she slipped on her helmet, started it and peeled out and took off down the street almost doubling the speed limit. Pulling up the maps in the holo display on her bike she quickly plotted the best way to Nerima. She wanted to talk to Leon first before she left and actually leave in the morning but after the ways things went with the other Knight Sabers she wasn't about to try and talk to Leon. By the time he found out that she left it would be too late.

It was a long ride while so many possibilities running through her head of who or what could have sent that e-mail and why they wanted to meet at the dojo. The dojo was probably just all ruins now and the only people she could think of that would be doing this was people who just wanted to extort money from her or…Someone from her past. Maybe Happosai or Taro. Taro probably survived what happened and the old goat could survive anything. The man was like a cockroach on steroids.

Dwelling on it wasn't going to help though, she would have to wait until she got to Nerima and find out. As she left Neo Tokyo and started to enter Old Tokyo Priss noticed so many homeless people and so much devastation which tugged at her heart. She hated seeing people like this which was why she donated almost all of the money she made from being a Knight Saber to them.

As she closed in on Nerima though she was surprised, it was nothing like Neo Tokyo but it wasn't like the devastation that she had passed earlier. There were many buildings old and worn and damage down in sections but it was clear that many places had signs of repair and lived in. It wasn't anything like most of the rest of Old Tokyo.

Slowing down to drive through the streets she noticed a few people who was out looking at her curiously but something was wrong. It took her a few moments to figure out what it was but she finally noticed the lack of lights except from candles or flashlights. It was like there wasn't any power anywhere. As she drove at the slower pace she noticed a few homes that looked like they may have power but why wouldn't the others?

Turning the corner she almost fell off of her bike when she noticed the dojo, it wasn't in as good a condition when she was there, in fact it looked kind of dilapidated but it was standing and seemed to be in good condition. Pulling up to the back entrance where the challenger's gate used to be caused an even bigger shock in her. It was replaced with a normal door with a sign that said "Health Clinic: After Hours Emergencies Please Ring Bell."

It was dark out and was actually getting kind of late so it was most likely past hours. There were some lights on in the compound though which made Priss worry. Did Doctor Tofu survive and move into the dojo and opened the clinic or could someone else have done it. She wasn't sure but she was praying to anyone who would listen for it to not be Doctor Tofu…She just couldn't believe that he would be threatening her like this.

"Are you okay miss?" a vaguely familiar voice asked from behind Priss as she climbed off of the bike.

"Wha…" Priss asked turning to see who was talking to her and almost fainted, there was Kasumi standing holding several shopping bags with what looked like mostly medical supplies and a little bit of food.

"I'm sorry, my name is Kasumi Tendo. My husband and myself run the clinic here." Kasumi said with a soft smile, "We know pretty much everyone around here…Are you new here?"

"Y-Yeah." Priss stammered in shock, shaking her head to clear it. Surely it wasn't Kasumi who sent it, she was never like that and Priss was sure she wasn't now. She was very happy though to see her still alive and a part of her was hoping that more of her family was still alive but wouldn't recognize her since she dyed her hair and did look a lot different unless…Was it one of her family threatening her? "I…I got an e-mail to meet someone here but…I don't know who. My name is Priss."

"Hmmm…I know that name…That's it, you are that singer that Tatewaki and Akane like to listen to but what are you doing all the way out here?" Kasumi asked.

"Yeah…Like I said though someone wanted to meet me here." Priss said sadly, realizing that her hopes were true as in Akane was still alive. Her very first love who she long ago thought dead and had spent so long mourning over had actually survived. What could have happened if Priss searched more, would her life be any different? Priss realized that it most likely would be different than now but there were still no way Akane and her could have had anything with the curse permanently locked.

"I know my sister loves listening to your music but I hope she didn't ask you to come all the way here. We…We don't have much and couldn't offer you anything really. Most of the work we do here is free for the people around here." Kasumi sighed, her smile disappearing and a sad look taking its place.

"I…I thought there were hardly any survivors in Nerima." Priss said.

"There…There wasn't. Most here now are from surrounding districts that came here. My family is from here though…We were gone though when the quake hit since we went after someone we loved to help them…" Kasumi said, "I'm sorry but…I don't know if I want to go into much detail about it right now. It's getting late, why don't you come in and have some tea and stay here tonight. It's dangerous outside right now."

"I…Thank you, I would appreciate that." Priss said.

"Please use the side gate and push your bike inside the wall so no one will mess with it though. It should be unlocked and I'll meet you there in a few moments." Kasumi said.

"Okay, thank you." Priss said kicking the stand back up and pushing the bike to the gate and pushing it open. It took her a few more minutes to get inside before she sat the bike back up and closed the gate. The yard's layout didn't change much but the koi pond that was once there had long since dried out which saddened Priss even more.

"Who are you?" demanded a male voice breaking into her thought. Looking up she was surprised to see Tatewaki Kuno standing there wielding a real sword.

"Kasumi offered to let me stay the night." Priss said taking a step back.

"I must apologize then for my rudeness, my name is Tatewaki Kuno." Tatewaki said sheathing the sword on his side then looking closer at Priss. "Do I know you miss?"

"I…My name is…Call me Priss." Priss said.

"Oh…You are that singer my wife likes so much. I must admit that I'm not as big a fan as her but I do enjoy many of your songs." Tatewaki said.

"I see our guest of honor has finally arrived." An angry voice said from the house. Looking up Priss came face to face with a hateful looking Nabiki. "So how has your homecoming been so far?"