A/N: Don't own.

Yuuki toweled his hair as he walked down the hall to his former room. "Onee-chan," he said as he opened the door, "the bath is–Ai!" He shrieked upon seeing Kotoko in a handstand, moving her legs rhythmically in the air.

She gracefully flipped herself upright and walked to him. "Are you okay, Yuuki-kun?"

"Wha-what were you doing?" he gasped, wide-eyed.

"Exercises to keep my muscles trained," she replied.

"I didn't know you participated in a sport." Naoki had rushed to the door when he heard his younger brother's cry. "Have you tried out for the school's team?"

"No," she sighed, "it is more of an individual endeavor."

"Whatever it is, it has to be cool for you to do something like that!" Yuuki's hands moved to indicate her previous position.

"'Cool'," she repeated with a half-smile.

"You should've seen her, Onii-chan. She was upside down!"

"Head-stand?" he asked. "Even Mother can do that."

"No, she was standing using her hands. Her head was hardly near the floor. And she had her legs moving and everything, and she still didn't lose her balance." He turned back to her, eyes eager. "What is it for?"

"Yes, Kotoko," Naoki added, "you have aroused even my curiosity."

She shrugged and wiped away perspiration with a damp cloth. "Very well. I need to pack my bag for tomorrow's session anyway." She opened a drawer and took out her neatly folded gi.

"Karate?" Yuuki asked.

"Yes," she nodded, "although I am trained in other forms to a lesser extent."

"That takes a great deal of dedication," Naomi said, admiringly. "Aihara-san must be very proud of you."

Kotoko sighed. "Proud he may be, but he will keep me from classes if I cannot get my grades up."

"You said you were having difficulties earlier," Naoki began, only to stop when his brother grabbed his arm.

"Onii-chan, Onii-chan!" he cried. "You can help Onee-chan. You're the bestest, smartest person in the whole school. The whole city, even." He paused to consider. "Maybe even the whole country."

Naoki laughed. "I wouldn't go that far. But," he turned to the girl, "I would be happy to help you get over your difficulties with the curriculum."

"I would not want to be a bother," she demurred.

"Not at all," he responded with a slight bow, "it would be my pleasure."

"Of course it would!" Yuuki scoffed. "And then Onee-chan can teach me her moves."

"Teach you?" Kotoko shook her head. "I am no sensei."

"Yuuki," his brother warned, "when you had mini-sessions at school last year, didn't you say that you hated karate?"

"Well," he stared at his feet, "I couldn't do the moves that well, and some of the others said I was too fat to do it right."

"Oh, Yuuki-kun!" Kotoko got on her knees and embraced him. "A few weeks is not enough to tell if one is capable. And I was a little butterball myself when I first started."

"Besides," Naoki added, "if you would stop sneaking cookies after school…"

"I know, I know," he admitted. "But if you can't teach me, Onee-chan, how about your sensei?"

"I'm not sure. He is rather busy. But," she said quickly, seeing his face fall, "I will see if one of his apprentices would have the time to work with you."

"Apprentice?" Naoki raised an eyebrow. "Are you not at that level by now?"

"No," she blushed, "I enjoy the activity and participating in matches. Besides," she sighed, "I don't have time with school, and if I cannot get good grades, I will not be able to go to college."

"What do you want to do then?" Yuuki asked.

"I would like to be a physical education teacher," she replied, hugging him, "so that I can help children find the best activity for themselves."

"In that case," Naoki said, "I insist that you allow me to help you. Now, shoo, Yuuki," he said to his brother. "Kotoko needs to show me where she is in her classwork."

"What's that you've got?" Jinko leaned across the aisle at the colorful folder on Kotoko's desk.

"This is an outline of the classes," she said. "Naoki-kun made these for me so that I can follow along better and perhaps understand more."

"Did you say 'Naoki'?" Satomi asked. "You call him 'Naoki'?"

"Yes. I do live with his family. Besides, he was very kind to offer his help."

"No, we get that he'll be able to help." Jinko waved away the explanation. "Shoot, we predicted it last week. What we're interested in is you calling him by his given name."

"Even his fellow classmates call him 'Irie'. "

"While we may call him 'Irie-kun', it doesn't mean that we know him."

"Yeah," Satomi snorted, "as if he'd ever be close enough to hear us saying that."

"So, girl, give!"

"What else should I call him?" Kotoko asked, frustrated. "We live together. His younger brother calls me 'Onee-chan'. It's like we were siblings."

"No," Satomi shook her head, "it is impossible for a red-blooded Japanese girl to live in the same household and not be attracted to Irie-kun."

"There is his mother…"

"Don't be silly! This is serious," Jinko said in a hushed tone. "You are the only non-related female that is allowed to be that familiar with him."

"He must feel something for you."

"He feels pity for someone who has received such a poor previous education, anger at the teachers who allowed it, and obligation to assist a person living in his household." She spread her hands. "That's all it is."

Unconvinced, the other girls stared at her. "If you say so, Aihara," Satomi said slowly. "But we'll keep an eye on things."

"Yeah," Jinko added. "For your own good."

And for mine, too, thought the unnoticed eavesdropper.

Despite his earlier eagerness, Yuuki's steps slowed as he and Kotoko neared the dojo. He followed her through the door with his eyes down.

"The boys' dressing room is to the left, Yuuki-kun, so you can–" She broke off upon seeing his expression. "What's wrong?"

"Um, ah…"

She set down her bag and placed an arm around his shoulder. "What is it?" she asked. "You can tell your Onee-chan."

"It's just… What if they make fun of me like they did before?" he asked, eyes shining. "I'm still not as skinny as those guys." He pointed at an advertising poster.

"I'm sure it won't happen," she stated, "and if it does, you just tell me and I'll take care of it."

"No, that will be my responsibility."

Kotoko quickly spun around and bowed. "Miyazawa-sensei! I beg pardon."

"Is this the young man who would like to take beginner lessons?" He smiled gently at the boy. "We here are all aware that everyone begins at different points in life and learns at different rates. And no one is a stronger advocate for the underdog than my apprentice Kenichi. Ken!" he called.

"Yes, sensei." A young man dropped from the pull-up rings. "Oh, excuse me, Aihara, I did not know that you had arrived. Is this the one to be my new padawan?"

Yuuki gave a small smile and nodded. "Irie Yuuki," he said in a low tone, "but I don't think I'm Force-sensitive."

"Well, that's okay, because we're forbidden to use the Force here. I'll get you trained up just fine to compensate. You can call me Ken-san. Come along with me and we'll get you kitted up."

"Bye-bye, Onee-chan." Yukki waved before he disappeared, his earlier anxiety forgotten.

"So," the master looked at Kotoko, "what has happened lately in your studies? I would hate to lose you, but you must honor your father's decision."

"Things are looking up," she said happily. "Yuuki-kun's older brother is helping me figure out what to study. Plus he's great at explaining things that I don't understand. I am optimistic that I will exceed even Otosan's expectations."

"Excellent." He rubbed his hands together. "I would hate for Nezumi to completely disappear from the martial arts field."

"Ssh, sensei," she glanced around anxiously, "once more, please do not call me that."

"Pshaw! The student does not dictate to the teacher. Besides, who would believe the truth? Now, get changed and warm up. I'm going to put you through your paces today."