I'Nare It (I Know It)

Summary: Inara, her past effects her present. The secret in the vial and the deeper truth of her love for Mal.

Warning: If you have not seen Serenity or Firefly... I don't know of any particular spoilers I put in, but this just in case.

Disclaimer: Don't sue me, Fox, Universal or Mutant Enemy. Joss supports this (this as in fanfic).

Companion or Whore

"Mei Mei, you are coming of ages to be trained as companion, but a companion's business only last as long as her beauty. The men will stop choosing you and the guild retires you to teaching, even if you may still be great," her lips curled showing her sparkling white teeth, yet her eyes showed the worries that ran through her mind. The little girl felt a chill down her spine, she had seen her mother's work even when everyone said that it was a highly respected job, and she had never felt it true. She had met a whore before, the unlicensed companion. They had done the same thing, yet they were not respected. They were abused and were regarded as scum of society, but they did the same thing. Maybe not as strict or as a religion, but it was similar. Once, when she was younger she had asked her Lao Lao, what the difference between a whore and a companion.

"Ni shang ni ma ma yi yang," she teased, shaking her head.

"Lao Lao is there a difference?" she asked confused.

"Dang ran, Companions are trained and licensed. We are educated, well-rounded, and know lots about the universe. We are proper and we read our clients minds, helping them in their lives as psychologist, and helping the universe one person at a time. We are not the same as 'whores', and don't let anyone call you one. Ming Bai?" The little girl nodded, not truly understanding the difference. It also seemed to her that the lie of it all made it seem wrong, how her mother would pretend to be this man's amazing lover, who was paid to pretend, who was trained not to fall in love with anyone.

Her daughter had been forced into this and she knew she was going to go through the same thing. At the age of thirty-six, she had been forced into pregnancy by her house priestess it was precise and scientific ritual. The children must be gorgeous, preferably female, and raised by all the companions. A father was to be chosen, but he must never know. A companion was not to work for months and the child was to begin formal training at 12. It was a tradition in the Madrassa house, as they were known for the best companions. They were like horses being bred and only some of the other "wild" horses were allowed in, the rich, the beautiful, and the intelligent.
Chinese Translations

Lao Lao (Lou Lou like loud without the 'd' sound)- Mother's Mother

Ni shang ni ma ma yi yang (Knee shiang knee ma ma Yee Yiang) - Your just like your mother

Dang ran (Dan ran)- Of course, absolutely

Ming Bai (Meng Bei) - Understand