Experts/weirdowithcoffee: I am always happy to see my little attempts at writing interests some Peoples . As for the grammatical error I do my best to correct them but they are always some that pass the check, If anyone is interested in helping me on them I would be glad but those chapters are, as I said, short notice one.

Vein's Simply Tired : No and yes, The Miyanaga Family tree is as you describe but Saki and Teru don't have the same Father. The only reason she didn't divorce was because she couldn't bother.

Now on the story, Saki meets the Ryuumonbuchi Team and... Well you will see.

Disclaimer: I do not own Saki or her universe, but i still owe her a lot.

A Garden under the Moon

Withered flower's first blossom.

Saki couldn't believe how quick it had been.

The moment she had accepted Ryuumonbuchi's offer she was already packing her meager belonging. Her mother had been surprised too, but also relieved. Not because she had found someone to take care of her of course, Saki wasn't that hopeful, but because it meant she wouldn't have to wait the new term to get rid of her.

In all truth she knew her mother would ask if they could take her in if the butler, named Hagiyoshi if she had heard right, had not already explained it to her while she was packing the Mahjong table.

That last had surprised her new mistress (it was hard to think of some on as a mistress but she would have to get used to it). Ryuumonbuchi-Sama had said they had already plenty of tables but Saki had insisted on keeping it along with some photography it was the only thing that remind her of her father, and of the fact they had once been a happy family.

Along with her cloths she had also taken with her the few books she owned and of course the flower tubs she was gardening since she was a little girl. She had rarely changed them, even with the passing season, and there was no way she would go anywhere without them.

One day she would be "like the strong wild flower that bloom up the mountain" had said her Sister. Saki had no real hope of that ever happening but in the meantime she had taken to take care of the more fragile ones she had found as a child.

Once she was ready Hagiyoshi had helped her to put the table on the car's trunk of the their Car and they had gone, exchanging rather formal goodbye to her mother. When The car turned on the corner Saki looked back at her house and saw her mother hanging a sign on the door. That was the moment Saki understood she won't see her house ever again.

For the second time in a weak her life had taken a turn she had never imagined before.

...

Once she was far enough of her house Saki seemed to gathered herself and started asking Touka about her new Life.

"So.. hum Ryuumonbuchi...sama?" The girl was trembling , unsure if she had it right.

"That's my father. You should cold me Touka when my father is not here, He is the only one that mind. And he is never at home" She had already said those same words to her three other "maid" but she really made it a point.

"So, ...Touka..."Saki resumed her inquiry, still a little flustered" I know you took me in for so that I could play with your little cousin, but I don't know how to take care of a young child"

It seemed that she had taken Koromo for a grade-schooler , Touka had to make sure she didn't make that same blunder in front of said person."Ha.. Oh Koromo may seem childish but she is actually older than me. Please remember it well or she will get angry" Touka punctuated the last part. Other people could get a bad start with Koromo but she wouldn't take the chance with Saki.

"Eeeeeh!, bu.. but in this case, why would you even need me" The girl was lost, and as fun as it could be to play with her Touka had to quickly make sure she understood before meeting her cousin

"Because you are the only one who can play with her as an equal" Touka explained seriously, looking Saki in the eyes.

"An equal? I am not strong you know, the last time I play was in grade school and I lost"Amisted the surprise there was a hurt look on Saki's face as she remembered that time.

"I know that, but I also saw and heard about what really happened during that match , you should have won it easily?" She commented, trying at the same time to help and to confirm her though.

"But I still lost" Saki head slumped

"That's because you held back, right?"She didn't deny it, as she and Hajime had thought she had really done it. There was no sense of question in her phrase.

"... how? NO I assure you I...yeah, but how did you figure it out" Saki tried denying but it didn't last long before she understood she had been held. Touka glare made it clear she didn't believe it to be otherwise

"I must admit it was hard to pinpoint it with only the paper-records, but I know someone who was there in front of you that to her I could see it" Without Hajime testimony she would never have managed to pinpoint what was wrong.

"?"Saki cocked her head quizzically, Maybe it was not that hard for her, after all she was the one who did it.

"When you played you made discards that would seem normal errors for a child your age, but those errors were each time directly called by your adversary or permitted you to win with a lesser hand, one or two things like that would not get attention even when knowing you are searching for something but it happened every hand without exception."It had been half analysis and half wild guess but it seemed she was right.

"Hehe.." She was at the same time embarrassed and disheartened.

"I Would be embarrassed in your place too, And you should not do that when playing against Koromo or she will eat you" That was a warning Saki had to take heed of. Everyone that hadn't taken her seriously enough had burned. And Touka herself was of that number

"Is she that strong?"There was disbelief in her voice,And there was a point of fear too, but there was also a touch of excitement that she didn't so she would find after what she had learned of Saki.'Good'

Still she had to get it through "Yes she is, you know that you are to join the mahjong club starting next year right?"

"Yes, I suppose I will find her in it too if she is the same age as yourself" Saki guessed , still not seeing where Touka wanted to go with that

"I want you to get into the school team for our revenge in the National tournament,"Touka saw that her future teammate had been startled by her declaration but continued nonetheless, it was vital that she got it. "That is the other reason I want you to give it your all when playing"

"...You want me to play in the inter-high tournament!? Next year it would have been a maybe but..."Saki was not happy about it at all, and that's because she knew what lay behind that"... This year I would be useless" The last of her sentence had been said dimly,

"And why is that? If you are afraid of other's team strength don't be. Koromo managed to get the MVP title last year, and we only fell short of going into the final because of my own blunder" She was not proud of the last fact but it was the undeniable truth and that was why she had worked so much to get better. But even so she still needs someone with the potential she had foresaw in Saki if they were to get it.

"...So why do you need me?"Touka was starting to lose patience at the lack of self-confidence the girl was displaying but she reconsidered, remembering the way her mother was talking to her 'if her own mother treat her like this, no wonder she like self confidence' Even so it was something they would need to work on, And sooner was better.

"Even so this year the Moon is in our favor, We need to get more strength, The champion of last year, we still aren't on their level"Touka still shuddered thinking about what had transpired during the final."And that's why we need you"

"..nee-chan"Lost in her though Touka only heard a whisper, still she remarked Saki hadn't said anything on the comment about the moon. That was a first for her.

She had the instinct it could be important so she asked"... Did you say something?"

"Nothing important, I will try my best."Whatever it was, it seemed she was a little more motivated, and it was just at the good time, she could see her house.

"Good, ha here we are" Touka pointed to the mansion she lived in.

"But all I see is a... You live Here?" There was a long wood before the mansion , Saki not behind a stranger to this kind of place had taken time to see it. The look on her face was priceless and somehow cute. She would really make a great pair with Koromo.

"Yes, And from today on, you two."She started to say before remembering a detail." No that's wrong you would live on the house behind"

"There is a House behind?" The clarification made Saki disbelief even bigger. If she had not been such a reserved child she would probably open the windows to check if she could see it.

"Yes, my father insists she don't live with us so she live alone in a house behind ours" That was the truth of the matter. And on nights such as tomorrow would be, she could understand why.

"That's...kind of sad" Saki somehow knew how it was to be alone and ostracized , so she could empathize with 's bet half reposed on the girl's ability in mahjong but the other reposed precisely on this so she was solaced to see she had been right.

"Well, a little yes, but we see each other every day " She stated to reassure her new employee.

"Still she must be lonely at night" they could see the dependance from where the car had stopped and Saki's eyes were already glued on it.

Touka used this opportunity to spur Saki "You know this feeling too, right, And she won't be alone at night anymore if you can be here friend"

"That's what I will be there for after all" Saki nodded and smile gloomily, a small flame coming briefly to life in the one eye Touka could see at the time.

" Yes, but first we must prepare you" On those word the door of the car open and she got out, bore giving her hand to help Saki out."Here come I must present you to your future friend. Hagiyoshi, put Saki's belonging in her room"

"Understood"

"Now , come" She took Saki by the hand and together they got into the mansion.

...

They all had seen Touka's car coming down the alley and had regrouped in her office. The one that double as Ryuumonbuchi mahjong club training room. And they sited as they waited their mistress along with her new find.

"So how do you think the new kid is?" asked Jun while slumping down in her usual place on the sofa.

"I cannot say for sure, Touka showed me the records, interesting" Tomoki was once more going over those same records and each time she found new signs that they had made the best choice.

"She was pretty shy back then, and she just lost her father, so you should not browbeat her Jun." Hajime said worriedly, she was the only one of them that had ever seen her ad so felt a little protective of her.

"I know, I'm not the punk I was, and even then I was not that scary." Jun answered with a feigned hurt tone.

"Scary, Jun is scary.. Hihi" Hajime giggled.

They were Touka three maids and teammates. Along with Koromo and Touka herself they formed Ryummonbuchi's team. They liked to see themselves as a family even if the 'Younger child' was the oldest. And today, they would get a new 'Sister', one that had almost been handpicked to be Koromo's life friend and so they were all pretty anxious. Anxious about the girl would take in her new life but most off all anxious about how she would take to Koromo.

"Ah here she is." Tomoki said monotone while looking her screen.

"You should st..." Hajime stopped her phrase mid sentence as she felt an ominous feeling pass through her, cold sweat rolling on her back.

"..."Both Jun and Tomkoi had also frozen for a moment but it was gone as soon as it had come.

".. You felt that too?" Hajime finished her word before asking the question her two friends were reflecting on.

"Yeah, that sure was scary, Do you think the Kid (Kodomo) is angry this evening too."

"It is almost Full Moon" Nodded Tomoki remarked, for once looking out of her computer.

"It happened the moment they entered, I fear it was not her, Not this early, even in winter" Hajime had a premonition she they would all soon suffer and looked nervously had the door.

"Don't tell me, you think it's that new girl" Jun followed Hajime eyes, She was doing her hardest to did miss the possibility as she would have to play her soon

"She is here for Koromo" Tomoki reminder crushed all hope they had to be wrong.

After minutes that seem not to want to pass Touka and her new guest finally showed up in the Office.

"Here we are, My friends I present you our new member" She tugged the arm on the girl behind her and sidestepped to show her off.

"Mynameis MiyanagaSakiandIwillbeworkingfromnowonpleasetakeca reofme!" The girl shouted nervously while bowing. From what they could see she was about the height of Hajime, maybe a little taller but she was still bowing and they couldn't see, she had brow hairs that went shoulder length styled in braids her eyes were hidden behind her was wearing the same maid uniform they all had to wear on the work, but strangely with a short skirt.

"Calm down, they won't eat you, and raise your head so they can see you" Touka invited her as she was already walking to her private chair. Hajime had already got up to go by her mistress side but for some reason she couldn't let her eyes from the girl.

"Hi, sorry" She shyly got her head up. And while they could see gentleness and sadness both in it, what struck them more was the sharpness of her eyes, along with that same feeling of power they had only witnessed during the national or against Koromo.

Apart from Hajime none had ever played against her but in that moment they all knew that she was one to be afraid of.

"My name is Kunihiro Hajime, Touka's personal maid, I guess you don't remember me but we already played once together" Hajime present herself, smiling gently. "If you have any trouble don't hesitate to ask me" Saki bowed and return the smile.

"Sawamura Tomoki, enchanted" the former hikikomori introduction was as short as ever.

"And I am is Inoue Jun, likewise Touka's maid, even if I am not as close to her as Hajime" The tall girl got up and bowed deeply while introducing herself, not resisting the opportunity to tease Hajime who blushed slightly "What did you said your name was again?"Jun asked again.

"Ah, sorry,.. I am Miyanaga Saki, please take care of me"She present herself again, a little startled.

"You can place that pot wherever you want in this room Saki, your others will have to be put on your room thought" Touka said earning a faint smile for the girl.

While she was concentrating on searching a place for her most precious flower Touka turned once more to her old friend."So, impressive right?"

"I must admit I didn't expect that, how did you find her? Or better how didn't you find her earlier?" Jun inquired in a whisper, so that Saki didn't hear.

"It seems she don't play for the win, people like that are hard to find" Touka said a little dismayed. "That's why I want her to play a little with us before meeting 'her'"

"So we are fed to the lion, he."Jun snarked , getting a hard glare from Hajime.

"Jun!"

"Calm Hajime, she is right in a sense" Touka declared "But she is also here so that we can help her, you should remember"

" If she can really help us and the Kid , I am ok with it. She seems a good child" Jun answered with a smile.

"She is like us" Tomoki summed up. They all nodded

"By the way, Touka, why do you let her put a flower-pot here I seem to recall your father don't like them." Hajime asked with a concerned looked.

"That's her treasury, knowing she will take most of her time in this room or in Koromo's it's only normal. As for Father, this is My room, so he can go see other where" Touka said saw Saki had finally found a place for her pot near the corner and decided it was time.

"Saki, come here, we will now test your competence" Touka called while Hajime and Jun got the Mahjong table out of Touka's desk.

"Right now?" Saki was not really surprised but she still did not know it would be so early.

"We don't have much Time," She declared "You will first play against those three, I want to see what you are able too from behind you"

"At your wish , But.." Saki stuttered.

"She is right Touka, I am happy to play with her but why the hurry?" Hajime asked as she sat on the table.

"I want her to be ready for tomorrow of course"

"HEEE?!" The voice of the three Ryumonbuchi's maids resonated in the Mansion.

"Toukaaaa. Are you sure? Tomorrow?" Hajime was starting to fear for Saki.

"You felt it right , I am sure she can make it" Touka was literally glowing confidence. "There Saki , come and show me"

"... understood" Saki said softly, the only in the piece not surprised. She New tomorrow was a Full-Moon and had made the link with what Touka said in the supposed, it had some importance to their performance and let it at that.

"Now, let roll those dices" Jun declared, launching the first game of the evening.

...

It was now the Fourth match of the day. Saki at finished 2nd the first and 4th time and third the 3rd. Saki was playing like usual and the matches were fun as she had to really get her head back into it. Jun could disturb the flow of the game and put it in her advantage and Hajime had really good sense. The both of them had mange to shake her a little but it was still nowhere from the worse she had gotten into.

But still Touka had not seemed happy with her play, She had replaced Tomoki in the Third game and had managed to get first. She was really about her mother's level.

Then just before the fourth game she had secretly said something to the two other players, maybe something she had found about her playstyle Saki did not know.

Since then the three of them had ganged up on her and now, on the South Fourth, she only had 6000 to play. But her hand was a good one.

'Look like I should use it for this hand. If not I won't be able to make it' Saki thought looking at her and.

And just here Jun had dropped what she needed. "Pon". She called a pon of West, her own wind, The three others did not really paid attention to it more that a normal pon. They were wrong.

Like Saki thought, Jun called the two of bamboo she dealt away as a Pon, getting the flow back on the track they both needed. Then, During her next turn Saki picked up the last West and the game was sealed.

"Kan". Her hand plunged to get her beloved, but oh so long missed Rinshan .And as she withdrew it she felt like reunited with an old friend. "Tsumo"she returned her hand under the unbelieving and defeated gaze of the three others. The tile she had plucked completed her pair.

"Toitoi, Honitsu, Sha, Nan, Honrontou, 2 Dora , Rinshan Kaiho, Sanbaiman 12000/6000" Saki announced her score, her favorite Yaku posed at the end.

"Rahhhh , this is so frustrating" Grumbled Touka, Losing her lady's manner for a moment. There were joy and disapprobation at the same time in her voice.

"Rinshan? I don't think I ever so that Yaku at our table" Said Jun, as frustrated as Touka, but with a wide grin on is face. Thank to that last one she had just passed Touka while Saki placed Second.

"You were right Touka, again a +/-0, I can believe she managed it even with the three of us on her" Hajime had already faced Saki one but it looked like while her winning will had not got up since that time, Her talent at manipulating the score had.

"And that's why I am frustrated, Not even Koromo can manipulate the score to this point. But you Saki, Why do you use that Talent and skill to break even? If I look right at your hand and discards, that West you picked up would have sealed your Yakuman, it's like you purposefully avoided it."

She glared at Saki who cowered in her chair." It's... an old habit of mine... I break even as a mean to not lose, but also as mean not to win too much either"

The answer left both Jun and Touka speechless, letting Hajime to ask the next question." Why, winning it the goal at mahjong you know, weren't you sad when you lost in the grade school tournament?".

"Of course I was, because of me my teammates couldn't go to the national." Saki answered sternly" And I know you are supposed to win in mahjong, but this is the only way I am any good at playing it."

"Why?" Tomoki had from behind , getting herself curious as to what could drive a heavenly player like Saki to stop winning.

Saki hesitated, Was she to tell them? Then looking into each of their eyes she decided that yes, After all she would live with them for the next 4 year at least."When I win too much, Bad thing happens.."She then told them of a tale that happen nine years ago, while she was in grade school, and that ended a little before the grade school tournament.

...

Touka couldn't believe what she had heard. How could a family be worse than her own to that point. She doubted that even she would still be playing after what had happened to Saki .The girl was strong indeed.

After Saki's had finished her tale she had dismissed her and the other before going bad to her own too, giving them appointment tomorrow morning to try and see what they could do.

She just had to do something or all her effort would be in vain. Saki was mostly over her trauma but the problem was making her see she could win without bad thing happening. And for that she had to force her to win. But how? She would have to find out by the time she sees her again or thing would go downhill really quickly.

"Even I want to knock on heaven's door" She said in English, Looking back at a box where one of here favorite anime was stored.

And then she knew, it was a mad gamble but it was the only way she saw it would be fixable. And for that she had a call to make.

"Hagiyoshi" she called the man of all situations.

"Could you do something to the automatic table for me?" She then explained her plan to her butler , fixing issues that might plague the plan.

In the end , the table would have to be half remade and she would have to let the three other in , but it would work, She was sure of it.

"Tomorrow, will be a wonderful day" She said while looking and the almost Full Moon.

"Yes it will be Touka-oujo-sama"Answer the butler before disappearing in the dark of the night. He had a job to do and probably the most important one since Touka own birth.

...

until next time

Please review, it gives me the spirit to fight off laziness.

Sorry for the bad pun at the end but it was the only way I could thing to put any logic behind what happen in the next chapter.

If you find grammatical errors tell me , I am putting my best to make them disappear but it is not really my forte

Fragment of Ring