Fu was walking into the kitchen when he saw Amaya making tea for Atsuko. "I made this for Ren during her pregnancy with Shen. It washes the sickness right away!" Atsuko gratefully took the tea and took a big gulp. "Thank you, Amaya. You are a life saver."

"I am happy to help." Amaya said. Atsuko turned to leave. "Morning, Fu Sheng I."

"I set your breakfast right there, Husband."

"Thank you." Fu said as he sat down and began to eat. Just then, Shen came running in. "Yeye!" Fu smiled at his granddaughter and pulled her up to his lab, nuzzling her head against his. "Morning, Shen." Shen giggled. "Yeye?"

"Yes, my dear?" Fu said as he began to take another bite of his food. "How come you never told me about my mama and papa?" Fu looked as if he were about to choke on his food while Amaya gasped and swiftly turned around. The couple both looked at each other with wide eyes then Fu looked at his granddaughter. He cleared his throat. "What made you ask such a thing?"

"Yoshi and Sakai have their mama and papa. So does all the kids at my school. I was just wondering where mine were." Amaya put her hands over her mouth and turned away, unable to be a part of this conversation. She and Fu both knew that one day Shen would ask about her parents, they just did not expect it to be so soon but maybe, that was just naive of them.

Fu struggled to find words to say. "W-Well, Shen...you...do not exactly have a mother and father." Fu regretted his words immediately when the hopeful glimmer in Shen's eyes faded into sadness. "FU!" Amaya scolded then looked at Shen. "No, sweetie, you did have parents."

"Where are they?" Shen asked, in the saddest voice they have ever heard. Fu hesitated. He hated this, he did not want to tell her this, but he knew it was only matter of time before she found out for herself. "They...are dead, Shen."

Shen's eyes began to fill with tears, and it just broke her grandparents' hearts. "How did they die?" Fu shook his head. "You are too young to know that Shen. Just know, that they both loved you very much."

Shen shook her head as she began to sob. Fu was about to hug her, but Shen hopped off his lap and ran out the door. "SHEN!" Fu and Amaya both yelled after. They both began to run after their granddaughter who ran out past Atsuko who was sitting on the porch watching the boys rough housing but stopped when she saw Shen run away. "Shen?!" She called but got no response, Fu and Amaya then showed up.

"What happened?" Atsuko asked, looking at them questionably. Fu frowned. "She asked about her parents and we..." Atsuko's eyes widened in understanding. "Do you know where Shen went?" Amaya asked. "She went that way." Atsuko pointed and the couple were about to go after her but- "Wait! Let me try talking to her."

"Oh, Atsuko, we can not ask you to-"

"I know what it is like to lose your parents and family. Let me talk to, Shen. I think I can help." Amaya looked at her husband and he nodded. Atsuko smiled and looked at the boys who looked very worried, but she gave them an assuring smile. "Boys, continue playing while I talk to Shen."

Atsuko then walked past Fu and Amaya as they watched her go until Fu felt a tug on his shirt. He looked down to see Yoshi. "Who made Shen cry?" He demanded; his face scrunched up in anger, causing Amaya to smile slightly at him. "I am afraid we are guilty for that, Yoshi."

Yoshi's face fell. "Why would you make Shen cry?"

"We did not mean to but...we just felt it was right for her to know what happened to her parents." Amaya explained. "Where are Shen's parents?" Yoshi asked curiously. He wondered the same thing too but never asked. Fu hesitated, his eyes going to the ground. "They are...gone, Yoshi."

"Gone where?" Yoshi asked, still confused. Fu did not answer, he just looked up into the sky and that's when Yoshi realized it, he already knew what death was. "Oh...sorry..."

"No. It is alright." Amaya assured. "We just worry for Shen. She does not have a single memory of her parents. I can not imagine what that must be like for her. I guess it makes it easier and harder. Easier because she will not have to miss them too much but harder because she is always going to wonder what they were like and try to connect with them somehow."

Yoshi did not know what to say, so he chose not to say anything at all. He frowned sadly and he looked to where his mother took off, hoping that she would be able to help Shen.

...

Atsuko found Shen in her garden that was filled with flowers, a small pond, and a single sakura tree that stood proudly in the middle of the garden. Shen was sitting on the ground, crying in her little hands but paused when Atsuko said, "You found my secret hiding place." Shen gasped in surprised and looked to see Atsuko smiling kindly at her. Shen did not respond to her like she had hoped, making Atsuko frown.

Shen had the biggest frown on her face which was unusual for her. Shen was always happy, always laughing and smiling, to see her look so sad was heartbreaking for the grown woman. Atsuko reached out and cupped her chin, making her meet her eyes. "What is with the sad face?"

Shen's beautiful gold eyes started to fill with tears again then she started to sob loudly and wrap her arms around Atsuko's neck. "My mama and papa are dead!" Atsuko hugged her back and picked her up, going over to sit in front of the sakura tree with Shen on her lap.

After Shen calmed down in her sobbing, she looked up at Atsuko but she did not look back, only looking at the tree deep in thought. "I lost my mother too." She said, startling Shen a bit but she said nothing as Atsuko continued. "And my father. I was 10 years old when it happened. We grew up in a poor village and both my parents got sick. I tried to take care of them and get them better as best as I could but...my efforts weren't enough. I ended up having to take care of my four younger siblings who all died as well after assassins attacked our village. After that...I was alone for a long time but then Yuuta found me and brought me into his family. It took a while for me to feel like I was part of the Hamato family but eventually I did."

Atsuko then looked down at Shen whose eyes were starting to fill with new tears, feeling bad for Atsuko but the woman wiped them away, giving Shen a smile. "I know nothing could fill the hole inside your heart but I want you to know that you are family to us Tang Shen, you and your grandparents and you always will be."

Shen felt warm hearing those words, but she was still a bit sad as she leaned her head to Atsuko's chest. "I just miss my mama and papa. I wish they were alive."

"They are." Atsuko suddenly said and Shen looked up at her in confusion. Atsuko smiled and put a hand over her chest. "In here. They live in you, just as my parents and siblings live in me. Your parents are always going to be with you, no matter what."

When Atsuko moved her hand, Shen put her own hands over her heart and smiled slightly. "Thank you, Atsuko...I am still sad though." Atsuko lifted up her chin with her finger. "Let me tell you what Okaasan told me when I first became part of the family. Whenever you feel alone, just remember these words, 'anata wa hitori janai.'"

Shen smiled and hugged Atsuko who gladly hugged her in return. Once Shen released her, she looked around the garden. "I love your garden. How come I have never seen it before?"

"This is, what I like to call, my quiet place. Where I can escape from my irritating husband and obnoxious children. I normally do not take anyone here." Atsuko chuckled. "Though I have taken Yoshi here a few times when he is upset. Nature seems to calm him a bit."

Shen giggled. "Did you grow all of them yourself?"

"Yes."

"Even the tree?"

"Hm-hmm." An idea then came to Atsuko's head. "Would you like to help me with it?" Shen gasped in excitement. "Can I?!"

"If you promise to be very careful and not disturb my quiet time then yes."

"I won't, I promise!" Shen beamed as Atsuko grinned, happy to see the little girl going back to her happy self.

...

"Come on, Yoshi!" Saki whined to his brother who was sitting on the porch waiting for Shen. "Leave me alone, Saki!" Yoshi said, making Saki pout. Without a word, Saki threw a ball at Yoshi who barely had any time to dodge but managed anyway. He growled. "Stop it Saki!"

"I want to play!"

"We will play later!"

"Why not now?!" Saki huffed with crossed arms. "Because I want to wait for Shen!" Yoshi snapped. "She's sad because her parents died."

"So?"

Yoshi looked at his brother livid. "What do you mean "So"?!!"

"So what if they are dead? It's not like Shen has ever met them."

"It's still her parents!!" Yoshi yelled while raising to his feet. "Boys!" A strict voice called and the boys looked up to see their father. Yuuta looked right at Yoshi. "Yoshi, you do not yell at your brother like that! Apologize!"

"But I didn't do anything wrong, he's the one who-!"

"Apologize now, Yoshi or I will further your punishment!" Yuuta warned and Yoshi scowled at him. "Sorry." He muttered angrily and Saki gave him a smug smile which made him growl.

"What is going on here?" A voice asked and Yoshi whipped his head to see his mother coming back with a happier looking Shen. "Tang Shen!" Yoshi called with a smile before running to her. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine, Yoyo." Shen replied with a sweet smile. "Atsuko is going to let me help out with her garden!"

"That's good."

"Hey, do you want to play tag?!" Shen asked excitedly. Yoshi grinned. "Ok!" The two then ran off as Atsuko went over to her husband. "Were the boys fighting again?" She asked. "Yes but do not worry I handled it." He said as the two went inside, not noticing the jealousy on Saki's face as he watched Yoshi and Tang Shen play without him.

Couple weeks later, word got out about Shen's sadness over her parents' death. The Hamato family and Clan did everything they could to show their support and make Tang Shen feel part of the family. Shen was so grateful to have so many people who care about her. She had her grandparents who was always there for her. She had Yoshi and Saki, two of her bestest friends who she loves very much. She also had Atsuko who she would turn to every time she needed to talk and Yuuta who became rather protective of her. She had Yumi who would teach her all kinds of things and Tadashi who liked to spoil her. Even some of the ninjas at the clan gave their support, giving Shen flowers or toys or candy and Shen couldn't be more grateful. Even though she will forever miss her parents, she knew with their support that she would get through this.