CHAPTER 5

Leaving the pool building, Randy bowed to Kanae. "So, my Master, what do you wish of me?" he asked, holding the door open for her.

Grinning, Kanae held out her book bag. "Carry this fer me."

He took her bag and slung it over his shoulder. "As you wish, Master."

Having fun with this, Kanae raised an eyebrow. "Doan ya mean mistress?"

Randy beamed, "Yes! My Mistress fish herder!"

Lifting her hand towards him, she said, "Me hand is empty, hold it fer me."

Randy quickly clasped her hand. Their fingers intertwined. "I shall hold whatever you like, my beautiful mistress," he said with a mock formal tone.

"Ohh I doan think we should do that in public," she teased.

Randy eyed her hopefully. "Really?"

"Really," she replied firmly. "I do have some modesty, ya know."

"You're picking on me," he said.

"Aye, what's good fer the goose is good fer the gander."

"Ahhh OK. Whatever that means," Randy said tentatively.

Kanae replied, "This is fun."

"Walking to class?"

"Nay lad, being wit ya. Goin an doin things tagether. Ya even make studyin bearable."

Randy looked at Kanae a little more intently. "Yes, I love being with you too."

"Then kiss me."

They stopped to kiss. Then kiss a little more.

"Better git ta class," Kanae whispered.

"Yeah, darn class," he agreed.

Coming up to the classroom, a woman (they thought since the person had a brown skirt, stockings and high heels on) was outside the classroom holding an envelope and watching students go in. The woman focused on Kanae as they walked up.

"Kanae Kikumura?" she asked stiffly.

"Aye, that's me," Kanae replied.

The woman thrust the envelope at her. "This is for you."

"Wha'tis it?" Kanae asked and took it.

The woman turned and strode away from them.

"Not very friendly, was she?" Randy asked.

Kanae opened the envelope as they went in. She read the letter inside as Randy put their book bags down. "What a load'a trash," she grumbled with a frown. Frowning at Randy she showed him the letter as she said, "I'm being called ta the Dean's office fer violatin student's rights."

"Wow, so what rights did you violate?" he asked.

"Got no idea. But it says I kin bring witnesses for me defense. It sounds something like a trial."

Looking at the letter, Randy nodded, "Yeah, OK, down here it says you prevented two transsexuals from entering a locker room and assaulted them."

Frowning deeply, Kanae said, "I'm thinking it's time ta git serious with these people."

.

The play time Randy had been hoping to have with Kanae was dashed as they tracked down the girls, and the swimming coach who'd been there when those perverted men were at the women's locker room. After running around to let them know when and where this 'trial' was, Kanae called her mother and explained the situation to her. Kaede had Kanae also call David Gilbert to explain if she got kicked out of college, she was going home and neither her nor her mother would ever do work for the US again.

The next couple days, Kanae was in a sour mood. Randy did everything he could think of to help her feel a little better. She did appreciate him carrying her books, going through the line at the cafeteria to get her food for her, and being silly, trying to lift her mood.

Worse yet, the day and time Kanae had to see the Dean meant she missed a class. Of course Randy missed it also. He got a tape recorder to record the lecture. Monica, a girl from their class agreed to tape the lecture for them.

Going up to a waiting room near the Dean's office, Kanae and Randy met a man in a nice suit, carrying a briefcase. "Kanae Kikumura?" he asked.

"Aye."

He held out his hand. "I am Samuel Tanner, your defense attorney. I would like to go over the incidents in question with you and those who witnessed the events."

Kanae shook his hand. "Thank you sir. Randy, the coach over there and those two women were witnesses."

Mr. Tanner went over the incidents in detail, verifying that at no time did Kanae even touch either of the men who'd filed the complaint. He then went over the college 'policies' and campus rules. He was still going over them when the kinda woman in her brown jacket and skirt, Called Kanae in to see the Dean.

Standing up, Mr. Tanner announced, "Miss Kikumura is not yet ready to see the Dean. I am her defense lawyer, when I have all the facts, then we will enter."

"The Dean said now," the woman stated.

"I don't care what he says," Tanner stated. "Is or is not Miss Kikumura allowed a defense against these outrageous charges?"

"She is," the woman grated. "She doesn't need a lawyer."

"Are you ready for a civil suit stating you are denying Miss Kikumura her rights?" he asked.

The woman glowered and went back inside.

Once Mr. Tanner had all the information down and had everyone sign their written statements, he went over and knocked on the door. The brown clad woman opened it.

"We are ready to proceed," Mr. Tanner announced. He cautioned Kanae to let him speak for her, then they went in.

The setup was a mini court room, with the Dean behind his desk at the far end. A dozen chairs in the room were facing the Dean. The woman stood to the side of the Dean's desk. In two of the chairs were the men who had been 'wronged'.

Mr. Tanner had Kanae and everyone sit. He then faced the Dean. "Sir, I am Samuel Tanner, representing Kanae Kikumura in this matter. What are the chares against her?"

The Dean stated, "You don't need to be here, this is a college affair, not a legal one."

"I beg to disagreed," Tanner stated. "From what I am finding, Miss Kikumura is accused of violating civil rights, which is a legal affair. I ask what the charges and specifics are."

The Dean glowered at him, The woman on brown stated, "Ms. Kikumura violated the rights of these two men and assaulted them!"

"That is a general description, please inform me of the specifics." Tanner stated.

"She pushed these men, made Mr. Baker drive face first two times into a wall and rammed Mr. Gonzales into a wall! As for their rights, this college has the policy to allow men who wish to become women, entry into areas where only women are allowed!"

Mr. Tanner opened his case and pulled out the statements he collected. "I have here, signed legal statements from five people who witnessed the events that state Miss Kikumura never touched either of those men. I also have copies of this school's policies, which one of the policies state," he pulled a college brochure out and read, "We hold a high regard to women's rights an ensure their safety."

He then looked at the Dean and motioned to the two men sitting. "Have either of these men gone through the surgical requirements to become women?"

The Dean looked at the men. "Have you?"

"We plan to." one replied.

"No." the bigger one said flatly.

"Then why, since they are men, were the allowed to enter a room that was reserved for women?" Mr. Tanner asked. "That is contrary to your stated policy of protecting women and their rights. In this case, the right to expect their modesty is not thrown to the wind by men walking around in their locker room."

"All right, ENOUGH!" the Dean blasted out as his hands formed fists on his desk. Slowly, as if forced, he said, "The policy of who is allowed into women's only areas is now for women only. Any who wish to be transgendered must complete all surgeries required to become women before they will be allowed in any area restricted to women."

"What about these men's rights!" the brown clad woman cried.

"They are still men, so they cannot enter any area marked for women." the Dean stated firmly, looking defeated. "Miss Kikumura, you will have a warning in writing for harassment put in your file. I expect you will refrain from any further harassment."

"She should be expelled!" the woman in brown stated loudly.

The Dean eyed her. "I have given the warning for Miss Kikumura's behavior. Although you disagree, we do have a new policy regarding transgender that takes into account the safety and well being of female students. Follow it."

"This is an outrage!" the woman spat.

"Follow it or I will replace you with someone who will!" he barked. Turning to eye Kanae, he said, "With the exception of Miss Kikumura, clear the room."

"If you wish to speak to my client, I must stay also," Mr. Tanner stated.

The Dean eyed him. "Proceedings here are over. This is a private matter."

"I am Miss Kikumura's representative in all matters, public and private," Mr. Tanner stated.

The men who had been 'harassed' and the brown clad woman stormed out. The ones who came to bear witness for Kanae also left. Seeing Randy was staying seated beside her and Mr. Tanner was still standing immobile, looking at the Dean, Kanae said, "Randy, it's OK. Go on."

Randy nodded. "I'll be right outside the door."

"Mr. Tanner, please go as the Dean asked," Kanae said.

He turned to look at her, then nodded. "Just be advised, I will have no information on what is discussed in my absence."

"Aye."

He turned and left also. Kanae watched them leave then turned to the Dean.

Eyeing her angrily, the Dean asked in a heavy stilted voice. "Who. The. Hell. Are you?"

"I'm just me," Kanae replied.

"No, that's not right," he said firmly. "I got calls from people very high up that if you are expelled, the world is going to drop down and crush me. Not just from educators, but from people very high up in government. The government has gotten to you, haven't they? Are they making you do things?"

"I got a job, but it ain't like I was forced. I'm also allowed ta werk round me school schedule so's that's nay a problem. The first class I missed was taday, so I could be here," she explained.

He nodded. "Miss Kikumura, you must know I changed the school policy not to placate your lawyer, but to make you feel safer here. I want you to be very careful dealing with anyone from the government. They don't play fair nor if you anger them do they show any mercy in their treachery. Even if you're snow white clean, they will make dirt to drag you down. If anyone from the government threatens you with anything, I want you to let me know."

Kanae nodded slowly. "K, I get it. You're a middle man doin yer best ta keep the peace. Thank ya fer yer support. I'll do me best ta behave. If someone threatens me though, can't promise anything."

The Dean smirked. "I'm sure. Have a good day, Miss Kikumura."

She bowed to him. "You also, Sir."

.

That night when Kanae was in her dorm, the school newspaper came out. Kanae was in her room, listening to the lecture she missed and taking notes when Tracy burst in. Bouncing to sit on her bed, she said, "Kanae, you gotta read this!"

Kanae had to grin at Tracy's wide open face. "I take it's somethin good?"

"There's articles in here about you! First one, in an informal swim, you not only beat the school's fastest time, you shattered it! Then this other one, accused of assaulting 'transgender hopefuls' you went to the Dean's office to answer for your 'crime', and only got a 'warning' to not harass other students, and the Dean changed the school policy to allow only women into women only restricted areas."

Kanae chuckled. "Aye, I was there."

"You made the school change it's policy!" Tracy cried, "Don't you know how big that is? Women all over the campus are cheering you! You're their hero!"

"Glad they're happy. Tracy, I got studying ta do here. I really need ta finish this."

"It's nine thirty at night," Tracy stated.

"Then I better git at it."

Tracy came up behind Kanae, hugged her and kissed her temple. "So you know, you're my hero too. No more boys hanging out in the girl's room."
Tracy then left, leaving the paper on Kanae's bed.

.

The next day, Kanae and Randy passed men (some in women's clothing) protesting the college had taken away their rights as transgenders. A few they passed hurtled insults that Kanae was the 'Nazi' that made them do it.
Kanae ignored them until a bottle came sailing at her. She caught the bottle in a mind hand and looked at it. It was filled with frozen water. She eyed the direction it came from. One guy she saw gaped at her. Looking at him she shattered the bottle mid air and went on her way. Campus police were out, and the amount of protesters weren't that many. She and Randy got to the cafeteria without any further problems.

The day Kanae was looking forward to was fast approaching. Winter break was starting Friday after classes and her Mom was arriving Saturday. Kaede called her and let her know she had hotel rooms for them set up, and a driver would come for her and Randy.

Saturday morning, Kanae and Randy sat on a bench outside the women's dorm with their bags. Kanae notice Randy looked a little nervous.

"So, lad, yer'r gonna spend a couple days wit me an me family fore ya head home?"

"I am," he replied. Looking at her, he asked, "You sure your mom isn't gonna be mad at me?"

"Fer what?" Kanae asked. "Ever since I met ya, all ya done is support me. Randy, Mom's nay a monster."

He shifted in place. "I know, but we're talking the mo-bar bad ass of the planet here," he said weakly.

"Yer a bit overwhelmed."

"Scared is more like it," he admitted.

Kanae cuddled closer to him. "Doan be! Mom's just Mom, K? She's eager ta see ya, lad. Ya know what I am, an ya still really like me. That tells me an Mom that yer pretty set on me."

"I am," he agreed as he gazed at her. "You're awesome, in every way Kanae. I'm only praying your mom approves of me."

She giggled at him. "She will! Sides, what's important is we approve of each other, right?"

Gazing at each other, they came together in a kiss.

A car horn blew right at the curb. A middle aged man got out. "Kanae, I come ta pick ya up."

Breaking the kiss, Kanae grew a smile. "Mike! Why ya here?"

"Ta come git ya and yer fellow." Moving around to the back of the car, he opened the trunk. "Gotta watch yer Mom anyway, so I had ta come. May as well be useful."

"Watch her?" Randy asked Kanae.

"Aye, it's his job." Kanae explained.

Randy asked Mike, "So you're like a guard or something?"

Mike raised a hand, "Nay, I kin never interfere. Only watch an record."

That struck Randy as odd. "If you can't do anything, why bother?"

Mike chuckled. "I am, I'm recording history." He took Kanae and Randy's bags and put them in the trunk. He then opened the rear passenger door for them.

Kanae got in, Randy got in beside her. "He's recording your mother's history?"

"Aye, She's The One, so Mike there is assigned ta follow her round an record what she does."

"You mentioned that before. What's this 'One' thing?" he asked.

Mike got in the driver's seat and said, "We'll be about an hour gittin there. Doan worry, Kanae, I got used ta drivin on the right side-o the road."

"That's a good thing," Kanae said with a snort.

"Aye, steerin wheel on the wrong side helps me ta remember."

"Yeah, in Scotland you drive on the left side," Randy said.

"At home, left is right and right is wrong," Mike stated.

Randy chuckled. "That sounds so wrong."

"But it's right!" Mike announced.

.

When Kanae was told 'hotel', she was thinking an average hotel. From the long driveway up to the mansion looking place with lights everywhere a fancy facade and a large open foyer beyond the glass doors, this place was anything but average.

Mike pulled up to the front and a bell boy in uniform came out with a cart. The bell boy opened the door for Randy and Kanae as Mike opened the trunk.

Looking up at the sprawling building, Randy asked Kanae, "Should we be singing 'Puttin on the Ritz'?"

"This place is rather grand," Kanae agreed.

"Miss Kikumura, Mr. Wilson, follow me, please. You rooms await you." the bell boy said.

"Aye, lets'go, Mr. Wilson," Kanae said and wrapped his arm in hers.

Kanae and Randy took in the finery as the followed to bell boy to a silver elevator. They went up to the fourth floor. The bell boy led them down a wide, fancy hallway to a set of double doors. He used a card to open the doors and ushered them into a suite.

"Wow," Kanae and Randy chorused as they gazed at the gold light fixtures and the gold rimmed dark wood table that sat on the middle of the room. There was also a balcony outside the glass doors at the other end. The bell boy pushed the cart into another room on the right. It was a bedroom with a huge bed, a large dresser that had a full mirror over it and a few closets on the inside wall.

"This is like a Honeymoon suite," Randy said vacantly.

The bell boy picked the bags off the cart. "It is a Honeymoon suite. Where would you like your bags, sir?"

"Ahh, just on top of the dresser for now." Randy said.

After he placed the bags, the bell boy opened a narrow closet to the side and pulled out a long rack that held men's dark blue suits, Then another narrow closet on the other side of the wide one that held a long rack full of women's dresses of various sizes and colors. The Bell boy explained, "There are men's formal dinner wear of various sizes on this rack, and women's formal dresses of various sizes and styles on this rack. The center closet is for your own clothing. Mrs. Kikumura has brought some of your clothing for you, Ma'am."

"I will thank her," Kanae said vacantly, stunned by how fancy their rooms were.

The Bell boy handed Kanae and Randy the cards for their room. "If there is nothing else, then I shall be going."

"We're fine, thank you," Randy replied.

"Do you know where Kaede Kikumura is?" Kanae asked.

"Down by the pool. You can see it from your balcony," the Bell boy said. He then bowed and left.

"We are seriously under dressed," Randy said vacantly.

Kanae was focused on the bed. "Randy, ya doan mind sleepin wit me, do ya?"

"Not in the slightest, I'd prefer it," he replied automatically. He then looked at Kanae. "I mean, if that's OK with you."

Kanae blushed. "It's something I been hopin fer."

"Me too," he agreed.

They plowed together, hugging and kissing. Clothes loosened and dropped free as the wandered over and fell onto the bed.

Breaking their breath-stealing kiss, Kanae gazed up at Randy. A tear dripped from her liquid eyes. "I feel like I'm in a dream. I always wanted me first time ta be special. Here wit ya, I feel very special. A lit'le nervous, but special."

Gazing into her lovely eyes, Randy wiped the tear from her cheek. "I feel special too, just being with you like I've dreamed about. Yeah, this place makes it very special. Kanae, I do love you. You are awesome in every way. I am very humbled and happy that you are choosing to be with me. And yeah, I'm a bit nervous here too. I want to make you happy."

Kanae smiled and petted his cheek. "I love ya, Randy. I ain't saying that cause we're half naked here. I'm sayin it cause you've been beside me, nay mat'er what. Ya do yer best fer me."

"As I always will," he replied firmly.

They kissed again and began to slowly explore, relishing in every touch. Randy was quaking in want as he explored every part of her body. When he finally suckled on a nipple, Kanae held his head in place and kissed him on the head. She assured him he could do that as long as he wanted.

Kanae clasped his dark red throbbing member. It was as hard as a rock. She stroked it and it twitched. Randy gasped and gripped her tight, the line of white liquid shot over her in pulses, some landed on her belly.

In gasps, Randy croaked, "I … I didn't mean…"

"Doan worry my sweet, Kin ya pet me down there?"

Randy touched the pink fur between her legs. "So pretty," he breathed. He started petting and reached down to explore.

"OH yes," Kanae cried softly.

.

Kanae has lost complete track of time. She didn't want get up to find out what it was, either. Buzzing with happiness, she lay in Randy's arms. Sex seemed such a normal word for what they did. It was like a dulled down, politically correct word for the wonderful sensations that took her breath and enveloping him within her. It was more than just sex. It felt more like a combing of their souls. She wanted Randy around her and in her. She wanted to do that again, but they were spent.

Feeling a kiss on her shoulder from behind as she reveled in their affection, she heard Randy ask, "Sweetie, getting hungry?"

"I am," she said in a purr, "but I wanna stay here wit ya ferever."

Randy chuckled and hugged her a bit tighter. "Me too, but if we don't get up some time, someone will eventually find our emaciated bodies."

Kanae burst out laughing. She turned to him and kissed him. "Aye, we gotta keep up our strength," she said with a wide grin.

"Absolutely!" he beamed back.

A few more minutes of making out and they decided to get up, shower and dress. Their shower was longer and filled with more kissing and petting than actual cleaning. Kanae had Randy hold her as she leaned back to wash her hair out. Feeling him suckle a nipple and his member becoming hard, she had enough concentration to lift herself up and bit and wrapped her legs around him. OK, sex in the shower was good too. She figured sex anywhere was good.

Another good thing their joyous bout of lovemaking did, was Randy wasn't as nervous about meeting her mother as they went to go find her. Hand in hand, they headed for the dinning room where Kanae felt her mother at.

Seeing Kaede and Amanda having lunch at a table, Kanae waved and brought Randy over with her. "This is Randy," Kanae beamed, all smiles.

"Hi," Randy offered . Seeing the young looking women, one looked identical to Kanae, even age wise. "Are you Kanae's sister?" he asked.

Kaede looked up and him and laughed. "Oh I think I like this boy!" she announced.

Kanae giggled. "Randy, this is me Mom, that's her friend, Amanda."

Randy stared, "You're Kaede?" he asked in a squeak. "You can't be much older than Kanae is."

Kaede waved them down to sit. "I think ya picked a good one, lass," she said with a wink.

"Aye, I think so too," Kanae agreed with a blush.

"So what are you studying?" Amanda asked, watching the couple.

"We're in the medical field," Kanae told her. "I ain't sure if I wanna be a doctor, er do things in research."

Seeing Amanda shift her eyes to him, Randy said, "I was thinking about paramedic, or a doctor."

"So, ya playin 'Doctor'?" Kaede asked Kanae with a smirk.

Kanae's face colored. "Mom!" she cried.

Amanda laughed. "Come on Kanae, ya gotta expect that. Yer Gramma ain't here, so yer Mom's gotta pick on ya." Randy was lost for a moment, then flushed.

Kaede pointed at him and laughed, "Ya are!" Calming herself she added, "Just take care, college ain't the place ta go havin babies."

"Mom, how's Uzuki doing?" Kanae asked in a serious tone.

"She's getting through it. Never though bout what the news that Karen had been her real mom would do if she found out. I admitted that was my fault, due to the circumstances. She's just upset she never knew and never had a chance to talk ta Karen bout it. I kin see her point." Kaede then brightened up and said, "She's doin good in school, gonna graduate next year and she ain't got the baggage behind'er some of us got."

In a complete change of topic, Kaede motioned to Kanae and Randy. "So what ya kids want fer lunch? Bet yer a bit famished." She waved waitress over.

"We are kinda hungry," Kanae admitted.

The waitress came over and handed them menus. Kaede told her, "Whatever they're having, bring a bottle of the 14 year old Glen Finnen when ya come back."

The waitress eyed her. "A whole bottle?"

"Aye lass, doan worry, t'wont go ta waste," Kaede assured her.

The waitress leaned over and quietly said, "Ma'am, that will be four hundred dollars."

Kaede eyed her. "Didn ask how much it was. I asked ya ta git one. This here's Randy, me daughter's first real boyfriend, an we're gonna celebrate properly."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Randy's sat with his jaw hanging down. Four hundred bucks for a bottle of that scotch? No wonder he'd been told only rich people drink it!

"Mom, we kin get that at home fer 30 pounds a bottle," Kanae said.

"Aye, but this ain't home," Kaede reminded her. "Speakin-o that, I let it be known yer going to Medical school. There's four hospitals that already asked about ya comin ta werk fer'em once ya graduate. Got a feelin by the time ya graduate, ya kin pretty much write yer own ticket anywhere."

"Kanae's gotta be rich and she don't even have to go stealin," Amanda said with a grin.

"Yer doing OK investin wit Dad, ain't ya?" Kaede asked, eyeing her.

Amanda nodded slowly. "True. Still I miss the excitement or a good caper." Shifting her eyes to Kaede, she added, "But I doan wanna take another dirt nap, either."

"Dirt nap?" Randy asked.

Amanda replied, "Kaede was upset I'd stolen again and caused trouble for Duncan, so she buried me alive for the day. That was miserable."

"I dug ya up. And it woulda been worse for ya if I hadn't found ya," Kaede reminded her.

"True," Amanda admitted. She then looked at Randy and pointed a finger at Kaede. "Don't ever get her mad at you. Trust me on this."

"Ahh yeah," Randy said weakly. Buried alive. He shuddered at the thought of being in a coffin, under ground and not knowing if anyone would come rescue him before he suffocated. That was tortuous punishment.

Their drinks came along with the bottle of scotch. Kaede got up and said, "Come on, Randy, we're gonna walk an talk a bit. Doan worry, we'll be back fore the food comes."

"Mom?" Kanae asked, eyeing her cautiously.

"Doan worry lass, we'll be back shortly." Kaede assured her with a pat on her shoulder.

Randy got up and followed Kaede out the back and into a garden area that was full of flowering plants and trees. Seeing him following behind, Kaede stopped and motioned him to walk beside her. He waited nervously for what she wanted.

"Ya serious bout Kanae?" Kaede asked.

"I am," he replied. "Kanae is amazing. She's smart and intelligent, a good friend and she's not stuck on herself as many real pretty girls are."

"You said smart and intelligent," Kaede noted. "There's a difference?"

"The way I see it, there is. Smart is the ability to learn and remember things. Intelligent is the ability to use the information you have most effectively. Kanae is very good with both," he explained.

"I'm glad ya consider those as her top qualities," Kaede said with a nod. Most lads only look at the outside. If yer gonna be tagether fer a long time, ya gotta see the inside as well. Same as ya see her as a good friend. That's very important also. I doan gotta fear yer gonna break'er heart."

"If I did, you'd break me." Randy understood.

"Aye, in a heartbeat. Me children are precious ta me. Do ya got questions fer me?"

"I … you won't mind?" he asked cautiously.

Kaede grinned at him briefly. "Nay lad, if yer eventually gonna be in the family, there's things ya should know. So ask."

"What does being 'The One' mean?"

"Ah! Figured that was comin up," Kaede said with a smirk. "How old ya think I am?"

"I honestly have no idea. You look the same age as Kanae."

"That's cause when I was bout her age, I was blown up in Mexico," Kaede said watching him closely. "I was dumb enough to back up against a bomb an it went off. When I woke up, I thought I'd been knocked out, but a couple people said, no, I was dead on the ground. There was blood everywhere ta prove'em right. I haven't aged a single day since. This was when Kanae was bout a year old."

"You were blown up?" Randy asked weakly.

"Aye. A few years later, had me a motorcycle. It was night an rainin. Took a corner a bit too fast and wiped out ta kiss a tree. When I woke up, I was in the morgue. Stripped naked on a steel table with a sheet over me. Dad let the paramedics find me wrapped around a tree, dead as a doornail, and take me to the morgue ta teach me ta be a bit more careful. That was really embarrassin, but I learned me lesson."

"How did you not die?" Randy asked, only partially believing her story.

"I'm an immortal," Kaede stated. "Kill me, wait a bit an I get back up again. Doan know why, but there's a few of us. Dad's pushing 500 years old. Some read about the Jacobite revolt an Bonny Prince Charlie. Dad was there. Amanda was there during the Black Plague in Europe. A friend of Dad's was around in the Bronze Age. No telling fer sure how old he is, but he kin read Egyptian Hieroglyphics and Cuneiform the Summerians used like most read the newspaper. Fer a long time, immortals battled each other, wanting to be The One. Most thought The One was the last one alive, and would get a prize, though none'of'em had any idea what the prize was. I tried ta find out what this 'One' thing was really about. No one knew. After I kilt four immortals at once wit me power, and suffered through the lightning storm from hell. I decided none of'em could ever beat me, so I announced I was 'The One'. Nay the only immortal, but the one with power. A couple more challenged me an lost. The rest realize they can't stand a chance against me, so they agreed I was The One. I got the fightin stopped, an even git some ta help me with jobs now an then."

Randy looked at her with a dazed expression. "You're making my head spin," he said vacantly. "My Mom told me you were wanted in Japan for murder."

"Aye. When I was a little lass, they grabbed me an put me in a big steel vault. I got away with Amanda's help. Later, they captured me family, Kouta, Mayu,Nana and Yuka, and planned on sterilizin'em so they couldn't have kids. Dad, Amanda an me went back there and kilt everyone of'em we needed ta rescue me family. Once me family were out and away, I personally kilt the man in charge an many others. I imagine the government there wasn't too happy wit me."

"So it wasn't really murder," Randy offered.

"Most cases, nay. Some i'twas, I wern't gonna let that pompous bastard live after he was gonna strip me family of the ability to have kids. They'd already kilt over a hundred babies. I saw'em as evil and slaughtered'em."

Kaede motioned to the path back to the hotel. "We best git started back."

Randy nodded vacantly. "You've fought wars."

"Aye, and now me youngins kin have families of their own and nay havta fight. I'm also well known enough that none dare ta defy me. Like that Dean at yer college. Doan care if they hate me, me kids are safer from bad men and aliens. That is me goal."

"Mrs. Kikumura, I think you're a hero," Randy said firmly. "If anyone has the right to be immortal, it's you."

Kaede chuckled. "Keep that under yer hat, lad. It ain't common knowledge. I only told ya bout me so ya woan be bugging Kanae bout it."

"Yeah, we want to focus on our studies," Randy agreed.

They got back right after the food was put down. Kaede grinned at Kanae and said, "See I brought'im back in one piece."