As Tao walked on the steps to his door he began to sense several energy signatures from inside his mansion, he knew that he was still a wanted man but Beach City was a rather isolated town it was even on the map.

But Tao knew how persistent the marines were, it was such a shame that Tao was going have to move again, he had actually hoped to stay here for at least a year or two; oh well he might as well get this over with.

Even if Tao didn't sense their energy his hearing wasn't half bad, he picked up some details on their plan.

One of the clearly less experienced soldiers was questioning his superior. "Are you sure about this? What if-"

His superior cut him off. "Don't soil yourself kid, you'll do just fine, there's a reason you lot were chosen."

Damn, if these soldiers were hand selected from the top then Tao was gonna have strike before they knew he was there.

Like a hot bullet, Tao zoomed into the mansion he had knocked down at least half of them before anyone even heard the door open.

Tao threw one over his shoulder into another soldier, he rammed his foot into another one and stroke another with his palm sending him flying into the wall.

A woman with blue hair that looked like an afro actually managed to dodge one of Tao's attacks (Albeit barely), she tried to strike a defensive pose but Tao quickly broke through it sending her flying into a wall as she tried to stand up Tao grabbed her by the throat and lifted her up.

"What do you want!" Tao loosened his iron-tight grip so his victim could talk without having them cough up their blood.

"To introduce you to your staff!"

The brief moment of silence allowed Tao to absorb the people he attacked, these were not soldiers or even bounty hunter they were butlers.

All except one.

The blue-haired woman was a former assassin who had once worked with Tao, it had been quite some time since the two talked, the last time Tao had seen her it was in a newspaper about her arrest.

"Sorry, Paula…" Any apology from Tao sounded unnatural and forced.

"What the hell is your problem!?" Shouted Paula.

"I said I was sorry."

"Oh yeah, what a gentleman, I thought you were a professional." Paula was rubbing her neck trying to get soothe her pain.

Tao walked passed Paula and her lackeys nonchalantly grabbing a bottle of wine along with two glasses.

"So what are you doing here? I hope you brought your own sleeping bags because I'm not ready for a sleepover." He poured himself and Paula a glass of wine in an attempt to bury the hatchet.

Paula begrudgingly accepted the drink.

"Hilarious as usual. No, I came to drop off some of Crocodiles servants."

"I told that bastard I don't wan-"

"Save it, Tao, Crocodile already paid these guys in advance for the next five years so you can't get rid of them." While Tao wanted to be undisturbed in his new home he had a dinner plan today and Tao's expertise in cooking doesn't far beyond boiling eggs.

He gave a somewhat relieved sigh and motioned for the servants to come to him. "I want you to prepare a dinner for four people, I'm not sure what they like so make an assortment of dinner courses." They each gave a humble but somewhat terrified bow while saying "yes sir".

A young Indian girl approached Tao she wore a business style suit with a gun holster, she had a ready for action smile on her face.

"It's nice to meet you, Tao!" Despite just earlier knocking her around the young woman held her hand out for a friendly handshake, which she eventually pulled back after Tao simply stared at it with an almost offended look.

"So what do you do?" Tao asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh right.. Um. My name is Rally and I'll be your personal driver from now on." While Tao was anyone at the idea of having a chauffeur at first he knew it wasn't sensible by always traveling by flying tree or pillar.

"Fine I'll need your help toro mow- wait what are you doing?" Rally was bringing some bags downstairs.

"Oh, you didn't know? I'm moving in!" She said in an upbeat voice.

Tao, however, didn't share the same upbeat attitude. "No, no, no, NO! This is my house, not a hotel inn, there is a perfectly good motel a few blocks down from here you can stay there."

Rally showed a contract that fully entitled her to a room downstairs; Tao rubbed his templates trying to sooth his new headache, as Paula walked out she turned gave Tao a little piece of helpful info. "Don't worry Tao she brought her own sleeping bag!"

The next day at 7 P.M the Maheswaran's was getting ready for dinner with Tao while they were skeptical at first the Maheswaran's have learned to be more flexible with their daughter and her more unique actives, Connie and her mother waited at the door for .Mr Maheswaran to retrieve his jacket.

"So what is this Tao like?" Priyanka asked her daughter.

"Well, uh, let's see…. I guess he's pretty secluded for the most part but he says he's been trying to get along with people more often; he's pretty strong too Steven said he even beat the gems in a fight."

"Great that's just what this city needs, another super-powered troublemaker." The tired doctor said in a sarcastic tone.

Mr. Mahensen came downstairs adjusting his jacket. "Alright let's head out."

Before they opened the door Connie tried to remind her own parents of manners.

"Mom, Dad, please be nice to Mr. Tao; he doesn't seem to have many friends and he was polite enough to invite us to dinner." Connie was always afraid that people would be put off by her family's somewhat uptight attitude.

Priyanka gave a light chuckle. "Don't worry dear we'll be fine, let's just hope he doesn't order dinner from Citywalk Fries!" Her snorting laughter was silenced when she opened the door and saw a limousine waiting for them.

Ms. Mahnwesen looked down at her daughter in shock. "What did you say this man does again?"

Later that night the Maheswaran felt overwhelmed at Tao's dining table not only was it nearly the same size of the limousine that picked them but it had a wide assortment of foods; half of which they couldn't even pronounce.

"How are you enjoying your chicken piccata Priyanka?"

"It's really good thanks." In truth, it was the most delicious meal she had ever had but she didn't want to come off as a simple-minded guest so she tried to play it cool.

Connie was the only one of the Maheswarans who gave any open acknowledgment of how much she enjoyed the food.

"So um *cough* what exactly do you do Mr. Tao?" Doug sheepishly asked

"As of now I'm retired but I was once an accomplished martial arts teacher." This was the safest explanation he could the Maheswarans.

"Oh, Connie has been doing some sword training under Pearl." Pynika may of been hesitant at first at letting Connie run around with a sword but after an eventful confrontation at the hospital, as she felt at ease with Connie going on her adventures with the Gems.

Tao put down his glass of wine. "That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about."

"I once ran a private martial arts school for some rather wealthy members of society alongside my brother many years ago, recently I've been thinking of reopening my dojo for certain individuals who have potential to become a great martial artist, and I believe Connie would be just perfect."

While Connie was more than ecstatic, Doug and Priyanka were more than confused, Doug never thought of Connie as a fighter even when he heard Connie was getting sword lessons he thought it was more like fencing lessons from a school instructor not field combat, while his wife had more mixed feelings.

"Well Mr. Tao, uh that is a very generous offer but Connie is already very busy with her piano recital, band practice, and she's already has her fencing lessons with Pearl so-" She was quickly cut off by the assassin.

"Really, when was the last time Connie had a one on one with Pearl?" Due to keeping a heavy eye on Connie's schedule she knew it had been months since her last training session.

"Well, it had been awhile since Pearl and I have had a good training session…" Tao could also tell from the tone of Connie's voice that there was something else bothering her.

"And do you think you are at your best with Pearl?"

"What do you mean?" A part of Connie knew what he had meant.

"Do you feel challenged with Pearl?" Tao could sense Connie's latent ki which the Crystal Gem was restricting through her soft training, if Tao was training her she would be at least ten times stronger than she is now.

Connie normally would of said "Yes, absolutely!" or something like "Pearl is the best!", but something about how Tao asked her the question made her really evaluate where she stood with Pearl.

"No." A part of Connie felt like she was betraying Pearl when that two letter word escaped her lips but another part felt relieved she got this off her chest.

"If you train under me it will not be easy but the pay off will be momentous."

Not wanting to be rude and interrupt Tao, Priyanka raised her hand like a student.

"Uh, yes?" Tao gave her reluctant permission for her to speak.

"This is all very kind of you Mr. Tao but I believe Connie needs to focus on her studies so she can get into the best college she can and I don't see how lifting up a bunch of weight would help her-" She was quickly cut off by Tao who had seemed to anticipate this.

"There is a junior martial arts tournament held every year children can only enter if they are represented by a recognized sensi, the winner of this tournament will receive forty thousand dollars."

The Mahwesans jaws nearly hit the ground upon hearing the price, with this money they could help fund Connie's future, she could be a famed doctor, or a honored political official, and Doug and Priyanka would have some left over for themselves.

"So what do you say?" Tao took a sip from his wine already knowing there answer.

"Well uh mr Tao, we will have to review Connie's schedule but after that…."

Priyanka raised her own glass.

"Yes."