As the next day passed by, giant vehicles would pass by Kazune's house, and tall men dressed in the same jumpsuits would come and bring Rika's things inside.

Kazune called Rika's belongings "junk." Apparently because she had so many boxes that he was afraid she'd re-decorate the whole house...And she really did bring a bunch of things that weren't necessary at all. But I was so happy I didn't care!

Rika and I were going to be good friends, after all, and we'd be spending a lot of time together now that she was moving in with us. The other day, the both of us had cleaned out Kazune's basement!

"You see? All we have to do is throw out all of Kazune's old junk and we now have room for the both of us to sleep!"

"Wow!" I was amazed, there was enough room for 2 huge beds, and since the space would be ours, we would be decorating once she arrived with all of her paint tools and bed spreads.

"I can't believe she's doing this - it's so unfair," I heard Kazune mutter as we watched Rika's car pull up in the driveway.

"Well, I think it's exciting! We're going to decorate the basement today! Isn't that great?!" I clasped my hands together, watching Rika practically jump out of her car and dart over to hug me, jumping up and down.

"Waaah! Athena, I found the perfect shade of paint for the basement! And yesterday, I found this totally cute bedspread! We can have an underwater theme for our bedroom! It'll feel like home!"

My heart leaped with excitement and I couldn't help but smile, "Really! That's so cool! I can't wait to start!"

Rika turned to Kazune, "Sorry about all of that stuff we had to throw out... you didn't need it, though. It was just junk."

"They were memories." Kazune frequently hit his head on the wall. "From when I was in elementary school! Ugh, I don't think I can do this... living in a small house with 2 other girls... I'm going to suffocate and die..."

I laughed and grabbed Rika's hand, "Let's get started on painting! I've never done it before and it looks exciting!"

"Right!"

"Waah, Rika-san, it's so pretty!" I gasped. We had come to an agreement that we didn't want to use the underwater themed idea, since it really did bring back too many memories of home that filled us with regret. Instead, we painted the walls of the basement a soft, pearl pink.

Rika brought 2 soft queen beds and the moving men came to place each bed side by side with enough space to place a white nightstand in between. We decorated the walls with picture frames that were yet to be filled with pictures of us both, but there was one picture hanging on the door of Rika and Kazune when they were little.

"Aah, I'm so jealous, you guys knew each other for a long time, huh? Aw, Kazune was so cute.."
"Hey, hey, Athena? Does this mean you're going to be my love rival?"

"Love rival? What's that?" I asked, turning around to look at her.

"You like Kazune, too, don't you?"
"Like...? You mean as a boyfriend?"

I took a second to imagine Kazune and I holding hands and sharing secret kisses and going on dates. Then the baby making process that couples went through...

I haven't found out how sex works with humans yet...

"Hmm, well... I think Kazune is very kind and considerate, but I'm not sure I understand love enough yet.."
"Hmph! You say that now, but I have no idea how long you've been here or what you guys have been doing in secret."
Hearing this, I blushed a little.

"U-um... I've only been here for 2 days.. We haven't done anything.."

"..YET!"

"I'm telling you, it's not like that between us."
"I'm just teasing!" Rika laughed and turned to the mirror with the desk in front of it.

"i guess I'll have to lend you some more clothes. How long have you been wearing that?" she looked down at me and frowned.

I looked at the tee shirt Kazune had leant me and the big, baggy shorts.

"Since yesterday.."

"You haven't taken a bath yet, have you?"

"No... I was scared I'd turn back into a mermaid.."

"Well, of course, you'll turn back into a mermaid, it's water! Come, I need to pamper you."

"Are you sure I'll change back when I'm dry?" I asked, clutching the towel around my body and rubbing the back of my leg with my foot. I looked down at the tile floor of the bathroom. It was freezing, and the big, hot bath in front of me looked tempting.

Rika pointed toward the stool next to the bath after stripping off all of her clothes. She seemed to be very confident with her body. I've never taken a bath with anyone before. Fascinated, I let my eyes wander.

"Hey, where are you looking!" Rika covered up her chest and began to turn red.

"Oh, um, I'm sorry, I've just never taken a bath with anyone before and you seem so confident."
"It's very normal to take a bath with others in Japan." Rika explained.

"Do you take baths with boys, too?" I asked, suddenly wondering if we should invite Kazune in with us.
Rika laughed, "Um, it's better to do that when you're younger, since it doesn't matter then."

"Oh."
"Come and sit down on the stool so I can wash your back."

"Okay." Slowly, I took off my towel and set it on the hanger on the wall and sat down on the stool she pointed to.

Rika grabbed something next to her and moved behind me. I didn't have a chance to ask what she was doing when warm water fell on my head and covered my body. I gasped when the scales on my legs broke through my skin and my legs were pulled together as my tail covered me from my hips down to my feet.

"Don't worry, when you dry off after your bath, your legs will come back. Just make sure you're sitting down somewhere so you don't hurt yourself."

"Okay."

Rika opened a bottle and began to smear shampoo in my hair.

"You have such pretty blonde hair, Athena."

"Thank you."

As Rika hummed while spreading the shampoo deep into my roots, I closed my eyes and savored the feeling of being taken care of like this for the first time. It reminded me of when Himeka used to brush my hair morning and night.

"Hey, Athena?"

"Yes?"
"I was thinking.. now that you're going to be a human for a while, you should pick a name to hide your identity."
"I should? But why?"
Rika dumped the bucket of water over my head again to get the shampoo out.

"My father's soldiers have been searching for me for years now. I finally decided to change my name once they came too close to finding me. If you change yours, you should be safe."

"You may be right.. I sort of think there was something suspicious about how easily my father agreed to let me become a human in the first place." I sighed, "He could be planning something.."
Rika tossed my hair over my shoulder and began to wash my back for me.

"So, what name would you like? Azusa? Yui? Usagi? Momoko? There are so many that could suit you.."

I thought back to the names I'd always thought would sound better answering to. Then I thought of my mother's name.

"Suzuka was my mother's name. She always told me that it was the name Karin spelled backwards."
"Ah! Karin, huh? That means 'pure.' That suits you perfectly. How about it, Karin?"
"Yeah, I like that name, too."
Karin.

"Hey, Karin, wash my back for me."
"Okay!"

"Alrighty! I'm finished!"

I opened my eyes and looked in the mirror. I watched my green eyes widen as I looked at my reflection in shock.

I allowed Rika to cut my hair to my waist so I didn't step on it when I was walking around, and a few minutes ago, she pulled it into a high ponytail with a white ribbon. I stared at the neat bow atop my head in fascination.

My hair looked healthy and bright and soft and curly. I looked at my lips that were covered with soft pink lipstick. I'd only worn coral lipstick before, but the texture was different on Earth.

Rika also put on this stuff called eyeliner and mascara that made my eyelashes look thicker and darker.

"Waah, it's pretty." I batted my eyelashes, like she taught me.

"You look beautiful!" Rika giggled excitedly, then helped me into one of her outfits - a loose white tee shirt with a faded blue jean jacket and a frilly pink skirt. I slipped my feet into sandals for the first time, too.

"Come on, let's go show Kazune!"

Rika grabbed me and pulled me upstairs to the main level of the house, then to Kazune's library, where he was currently sitting down to read a book. I stared at him for a moment.

He was wearing glasses. And they looked nice on him.

I felt my cheeks turn red when I remembered Rika ask if I liked him. He really was handsome and kind..

Something in my chest began to pound against my ribcage as Rika pushed me through the doorway and I found I had nothing to hide behind. Embarrassed, I looked down at my feet for a second.

"Kazune!" Rika yelled.

"Hm?" Kazune replied without looking up from his book.

"Look, I pampered Karin and she doesn't look like a homeless person anymore because you didn't take proper care of her."
Kazune sighed and glanced up at me for a second before his cheeks turned red when looking me up and down.

"How does she look? Super cute, right?"

"Ah, I'm not super cute..." I blushed from being under Kazune's gaze.

He's gotten quiet.. Isn't this what they call an awkward silence?

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I was about to turn on my heel and run away when Kazune cleared his throat.

"Uh, um, yes, you look very nice.." he stammered.

Beaming, I sighed in relief, "You really think so? Thank you, Kazune!"

"Wait, you called her Karin.."Kazune glanced over at Rika.

"That's her new name now since she's going to be a human!" Rika slid her hand into mine.

"We're going out so Rika-san can show me around." I said.

"Well, you two be careful and don't stay out to late." Kazune returned back to his book.

"Hey, aren't you going with us?" Rika frowned.

"Why would I?"

"Because you're Karin's guardian, too!"

"Guardian? Don't decide things on your own."

"You picked her up, didn't you?!" Rika crossed her arms.

"Please, Kazune?" I interrupted them so they wouldn't fight. "I want you to come, to.."

There was a longer silence as Kazune blushed and stared down at me, and then he sighed in defeat.

"Geez, I'm helpless against girls.."
And so both of my new friends took me outside of the house to reveal to me what happened in the human world.

Review, please!