Ok. So I am as disapointed as you are in myself for the lack of updates. This story is my baby. I feel like a horrible parent :'(

I can give you a list of my stresses like me finding my dad dead, going through grief, moving from my hometown in Indiana to NYC, missing my family and friends, stressing about finding the right kinda job for my income and my career to support me, bills, ect.

But all in all, that's all I got. I've had a lot going on and I hope you all understand. I truly cherish this story and my children because I love these kids and want so badly for more people to cross them over but alas I guess I hold the mantel. (I know this all sounds depressing. To be honest I don't admit any of this with a light heart. I basically feel like I'm in the same position as Zak and Jade are. Wondering how I'm going to manage, waiting and striving to have better things happen, being scared that things won't work out the way I need them to but instead will go off the rails. It's not the easiest stuff, and I'm 24 and these kids are 12.)

But I'm here! I'm back! I'm Alive! And I will continue this story to it's end no matter how long it takes me!

I promise there really is an entire plot developed, (beginning, middle, and end) and ready for me to finish. I've just got to buck up and write the chapters.

Zak: Do you want to sit with us for a bit? We could talk if you want.

Sailorlyoko4life: Yeah, that would be nice. Thank you.

Disclaimer: I don't own either shows.

Normal?

It had been another day and a half before Jade finally felt like telling Zak what had happened back in their secret place. He felt bad that he had accidentally triggered it, but he understood her concerns about Jackie sending her back.

"My life with Jackie feels more right then my life with my parents ever did. I get to had adventures and go to cool places and fight bad guys and … meet new people." She glanced at him for a second. "I just don't want that to end, you know. At least your family will always be able to have cool stuff happening." She stated with a sigh.

"Yeah well apparently my families "cool stuff" has always been apart of the also "not so cool" stuff. "

Zak got a questioning glance from her so he continued. "Most of my life has been about protecting cryptids and secrets. I guess part of me has always wondered what it would be like to not have secrets and to just walk among people without knowing your different." He subconsciously rubbed his arm and looked at the floor. He had never talked about it with anyone before, but ever since this Tarakudo demon hit him and Jade and caused these memories of Kur to keep resurfacing he has been longing for a sense of normalcy.

"Is this about Argost?" She asked. Zak never seemed like the kinda person to want to be plain, so he must be regretting his most recent bad decision. It was only thing she could think of at least.

"Not entirely. I mean yes, I wish I didn't have to deal with keeping it a secret from my parents but..." he sighed heavily and leaned forward with his hands pressed against his knees, he really didn't want to point this out to Jade in fear of making her own fear worse. "But ever since you know who blasted us we have both been keeping secrets from everyone. I have Argost already and now you and me both have the Nagas, the mirror, and the stone as yet another secret. I really don't want to alarm you... but I feel like things are going to keep getting worse." He dared to glance up at her face to see how she was going to react. Her face was simply contorted with mixed feelings. "I – I mean our dreams aren't getting better and your having more troubles then before as well. It just feels like bad signs that's all. And I'm still dealing with being on the most wanted list from the secret scientists and the Kur stuff as it is. I feel like this would be easier to handle if we at least talk to my parents."

"I hear you." Jade stated. Zak was shocked she wasn't upset. "What? You don't think I want to tell Jackie too?!" She threw her arms up in exasperation. Now there was the reaction he was expecting. " I totally get that you want to tell them. I want to tell all of them too. You know you will have them no matter what happens. And with the way your family works I believe that too. Even with the Kur stuff at least you have that. But I don't!" She got a little quieter. "Jackie is only my uncle. He will always think it's better for me to go back home to them no matter what I say. I will be forced to go to school and be a perfect little girl forever and then get a normal boring job and- I don't want that. I like this life style. It makes me feel important and like I can make a difference. Jackie doesn't understand how important that is to me. No one in my family does!" She sighed and got off the bed. Her and Zak may be very similar personality wise, but they came from VERY different families. She sat down at his desk in his room and just started to draw whatever came to mind, seemingly done with this conversation. But Zak wasn't.

"Well, what about asking your parents to move to America for a year? Then they can see how much you love it here and maybe they will stay, or let your stay with Jackie again." Zak suggested.

Jade kept drawing subconsciously, but she responded.

"Yeah like they would give up their fancy jobs to move to somewhere unfamiliar to them just for me."

Zak blinked a few times. Was she... angry?

"Jade I don't think I have ever heard you talk about what your parents do. Actually I don't think I've ever heard you talk about them up until a couple of days ago. But I feel like you're mad at them."

She kept drawing.

"They don't understand me. It's all about being 'perfect' to them. I'm not what they want me to be so they try to send me to Jackie to 'fix' me. Heh, if only they knew that being with Jackie has made me even more sure I don't want to be like everyone else." She was getting more aggressive with her pencil the more she spoke. "Despite their efforts, despite Jackies efforts, I don't want to be normal. They just want to make me like everyone else, to trap me end a box of expectations that I don't meet." She was nearly growling now and Zak was getting worried. Until finally she burst. "I JUST WANT TO BE ME! WHY CAN'T ANYONE UNDERSTAND THAT?!" She stood up and slammed down the pencil flat against the desk and ended up shattering it in the process. They were both surprised by all the pencil pieces flying everywhere. Jade was frozen in shock, staring at the paper now covered in wood splinters.

"I- I didn't mean to.. I mean I didn't know that..." She tried to say while she backed away from the desk.

"Its ok! It was just a pencil. I'm more worried about you." He got up and took her hand to check it for splinters or any other injuries. He could feel her trembling slightly.

"Look I'm sorry I made you talk about it. I didn't realize it was such a sore topic. I guess I've never had that problem so I never considered being 'normal' to be anything but, well normal." He apologized.

"Zak I..." She started while moving to the other side of the room, away from the desk. "You couldn't have known. You are home schooled, and you know the American ways but you've never been in a Chinese family so of course you don't know." She sighed and sat on the bed side next to the door. "And maybe you are right. Maybe they would try America if I asked... or if maybe Jackie asked. But I feel like I can't... I mean I'm scared I can't... trust them." Jade only lied on her back, turning her eyes towards the desk.

"Well maybe it would be easier if I run it by Jackie instead? I could ask him theoretically. That way he won't contact them right away and I can see his reaction before you bring it up yourself. What do you say?" She just nodded, still staring at the desk as if it might come to life any minute.

"Ok seriously, It was just a pencil! I've got like 10 more." He was getting a little annoyed at her acting so weird. She finally looked at him directly so that he could see the apprehension on her face. He got up and went to clean up the desk before she could say anything. Once he brushed the wood splinters off the paper he finally saw why Jade was freaked out by what she had done.

It wasn't the pencil, though that was off putting, it was the drawing.

While she had been getting angry she had ended up drawing an older looking him, only his eyes had the Kur symbols in them, and he was holding out the claw like he was warning someone to stay down 'or else'. It seemed like they were surrounded by smoke or shadows, he couldn't tell which one. He thought he could see a Naga in the background and he couldn't see who he was so angrily pointing his claw at. But the worst part was that Tarakudo was right behind him and was scowling at the same person he was.

"Wha- what is this." He asked hesitantly while picking it up.

"Other then the obvious, I don't know." Was all she said, hoping he could shed some more light on it.

All he could think of was his vision and what Tarakudo and him had talked about Jades family betraying her. In the vision he was so angry, just like in the picture he now held. He looked like he could have matched the age with his voice from the picture too. It felt like they were attacking someone for hurting Jade. He was eerily sure of it.

"This, looks like what me and him were talking about in my vision from the rock." She curled up in a ball and nodded in agreement on his bed, seeming to not want to look his direction.

"You so angry in the vision and in the picture." She stated, and he could tell she was holding back tears. She knew why. So did he.

"It doesn't matter." He stated confidently. He crumpled up the paper and threw it in the trash can. Jade sat up straight on the bed looking at him like he was crazy. "It doesn't matter because it's not going to happen. I will talk to Jackie, we will figure things out. But I know your Uncles would never do anything to hurt you!"

"Yeah but what about my parents!" She asked. He froze. "What if they tell them to? What if..." She stopped. It pained her too much to think about it.

"I thought we agreed this was just a mind game they were playing on us. It's not real Jade." He said as he sat next to her. She calmed down again.

"I know. But this," she gestured to the trash can. "And what happened the other day with Her, it's making that harder to believe." She felt his hand grab hers and squeeze. She looked at him and he gave her another determined look.

"It's not the future, and even if it is, we will change it. I promise." With all the assurance he could muster he got up and opened the door. "Now do you want to see where my parents are taking us next, because you're gonna love the view we have from the ship." She nodded and smiled. He knew she loved a good aerial view.

-Later with the villians-

"We should consider it. He sounds like he could be a great help."

"But he hasss hisss own plansss. I feel we must be very cautioussss. One can never be to careful when it comesss to dealing with V.V. Argossst."

The dark hand were really getting sick of being in this cave with these snake people. They were uncomfortable being around beings who seemingly wanted to eat them, they couldn't find anything to eat, and it stunk. Oh and there were sledded skins everywhere too, which didn't help with the smell. They just wanted to leave. Right now they were just listening to the king and queen debate about some crazy lunatic that could be a problem for them or something like that.

"Do you think we will smell still when we get out of here?" Ratso asked.

"Probably. But we will be swimming so it shouldn't stay too long." Fin said.

"Yeah but this stuff is potent. I doubt a little swim to the boat will wash it off. We should probably steal new clothes when we leave. This time." Chow replied. They had been here longer then usual this time around. So far they had never heard their boss argue with anyone, though this was more like a tatical debate getting a little heated. But they definitely didn't want to get in the middle of it regardless. It had nearly been 4 hours this time and the dark hand didn't know how much longer they could take the stench and hissing. Of all the weirdo's they have served they have never encountered anyone or anything quite like the Naga's.

Finally it ended and they could go get something to eat and maybe even change their wardrobe. They debated on what place to eat at. It was between Ratso's love for taco's or Chow's insistence on pizza, but all Fin really wanted was to change clothes and go to the pub. Tarakudo had just flown back to the hide out close by for the night.

"What? But I want some real food!" Chow stated.

"They have salads and fried food too! You can both still get what you want!" Fin argued.

"But-" Ratso was going to but in but Fin had had it.

"Listen sometimes a guy just needs a drink ok!" Fin shouted surprising them both. They both knew Finn's childhood had been filled with parental fighting and a few divorces for his mother when he was young. It made sense that tonight had gotten to him more then normal. They stayed quite for the rest of the trip back to the pier.

Chow finally spoke up.

"Alright, so where is that bar again?" Fin gave a thankful smile and led the way.

Jade: Alright guys, we are hopefully back in business again! Except now I owe Zak a new pencil.

Zak: *rolls his eyes* Yes we are moving forward now. It's about time. Let us know your thoughts!