The last time that Tsukune had been in this position, Tekeshi had been sitting next to him with his sword. Tekeshi was an intimidating sight regardless of whether he was armed or not, but he probably wouldn't have helped in this case.

Tsukune had not interacted with many people from America. Mainly some high ranking officials that were in the know about yokai, and some people that had attended school with him. None of them had been Native American, let alone one of the tribes best known for savagery, and ferocity. Also, apparently the Apache produced giants, because the man he was currently faced with was built far larger than his son was.

"Mr. Aono, I have tried to impress upon the administrator that has been contacting us, that me and my wife are more interested in having our daughter back, than having her attend school half-way across the planet," Daniel Ortega said, his face tired and haggard.

"I see. However given what we have heard from Nalin, and given the cultural stigma, it is difficult for us to see returning her as an appropriate course of action," Tsukune did his best to remember that this man would crumble if they actually came to blows, but that little bit of his human side was never completely gone.

"Me and my wife had a period of panic when we found out about what Nalin is. We grew up with our grandparents telling us stories about skinwalkers, and what they would do to indé who are caught unaware. Stories that were passed down by their grandparents. It is hard not to be afraid at first. I won't lie, and say that she is making up a story. For a moment such an idea did pass through our minds, and then we pulled ourselves together. Mr. Aono, we have been a wreck for the past five months. My wife is currently in a psychiatric hospital because of all of this. Please, just bring Nalin home," the man's eyes seemed genuine to Tsukune.

He took a breath to consider how best to proceed. While the man did seem genuine, he ethically had to consider whether what he had just said could constitute a threat to the girl's life. Of course he also had to consider to a degree what the legal ramifications could be, and how this could interfere with the ongoing integration of the two worlds. While he didn't hold it against the girl, this whole thing was a complete headache.

"Mr. Ortega, if it was found out by the rest of the reservation, how would they perceive her," Tsukune asked, curious as to what the answer would be.

The man sat there for several moments, as something seemed to occur to him, "I hadn't thought about it. I don't know. All this stuff with monsters being real, it has had people on edge. Uh, no offense meant. People are scared, and people do stupid things when they are scared. Like I said, I even considered murdering my own daughter out of fear, but I was able to overcome that because she was my daughter, and I love her. Other people might not have that kind of a hang up."

"I see. I, don't have a good understanding of what a skinwalker actually is. Is there anyway that you could give an explanation?"

Mr Ortega shook his head, "I'm sorry, but there are some parts of my culture, I will respect. It is something that we don't talk about with outsiders to the indé."

"You used that word before, what does that mean? If there isn't anything against answering that," Tsukune asked, looking for an opening.

"The best translation, is person, or people. It is how we tend to refer to ourselves, and others that are Apache. Look, regardless of what she is, Nalin is my daughter. She belongs home, not at this school of yours."

"Yet, if she came home, then she might have to fear for her life? Didn't you intimate that? Mr. Ortega, you do understand that she isn't human, at least not as you are? You understand what she is within your culture, but do you understand beyond that? I have to admit that I don't, and at the current time, you have given me reason to believe that she would not be safe if I returned her. Her school seemed to believe that she was better off with us, than she was to return," Tsukune's typical force of personality seemed to return as he became convinced that she wouldn't be safe there.

"Nalin, beyond being what is essentially a soul stealing demon in our folklore, is a bully, and troublemaker. It is something that we have struggled with for a long time. I have no doubt her school would take any chance to push her off on someone else. She doesn't have good grades, and barely speaks enough mescalero, and won't speak it if she doesn't have to, to keep from getting held back. Honestly, she acts like she should have been shoulder to shoulder with someone like Victorio. Mr. Aono, do you think that you could deal with a rabid Apache at your school," Mr. Ortega must have thought that this was an argument that he couldn't lose.

"When I attended this school, deaths were not uncommon. We had students literally eat each other in the past. I have managed to end those days. If Nalin has behavioral issues to that degree, she will quickly find that there are many other students, many degrees worse than she is. We can handle discipline. I have noticed that you haven't questioned how she came into my custody," Tsukune fixed the man with a stare.

The man stared back, "Because I don't care. I want my daughter home. How many times must I say this? I want her home, I want her mother to be able to think and function again. I want us to be a family, whole and complete, again."

"So you don't care that she was nearly raped by the son of the previous Sheriff of Otero County, New Mexico?"

"Come again," the blood seemed to momentarily leave Mr. Ortega's face, before violently rising back and him jumping from his seat, "THAT LITTLE BASTARD. I'LL TEAR HIS LIVER OUT."

"I don't think that will be necessary. I believe you know what happened to the Sheriff's department. That was the work of my son, according to your daughter. According to her, he also put a bullet between the son's eyes. So, if you have a deal with the coroner, or the embalmer, then that should not be an unobtainable goal," Tsukune could see that he had finally won.

Mr. Ortega sat down, suddenly realizing that Nalin been put in much greater danger by his acts, than he had previously realized. His little girl had nearly been raped by the son of that worthless wetback that had been terrorizing people for the last two and a half years under the auspices of a badge. What was he really worth as a father, if he couldn't protect her?

"Mr. Ortega, I don't mean to be rude or insulting, but your family isn't wealthy, is it," Tsukune was hoping this part might be the final nail.

"No, we aren't. I spent six years in the Marines. my truck got hit with an IED during a deployment in Yemen. I had done peacekeeping operations in Somalia, Sudan, and Syria. It was doing a logistical run in between an airbase, and the regional QRF station in a safe area, that I finally got hit. I spent two years learning how to walk again. The VA considers me eighty percent disabled, and no one wants to take on the liability of hiring me. My wife works for the mall as a custodian over in Alamogordo. We get by, but what does that have to do with anything?"

"I'm willing to take responsibility for the financial burden of her education. I would also appreciate the fact that she has lived among humans directly, and can interact with them in a way that might make it easier to help integrate the student body. She will have a world class education, that should allow her to apply for, and get any scholarship, to any college or trade school she desires. No burden on your family at all. I ask nothing of you, but to think about what would be the best for her."

The man sat forward in his chair and put his head in his hands, "Mr. Aono, as much as I understand where you are coming from, you must understand my position as a father yourself. How old is your son?"

"Seventeen," Tsukune replied.

"Nalin is going to turn sixteen in a few weeks. How many of his birthdays have you missed," Mr. Ortega never looked up.

Tsukune took a deep breath, one of his worst insecurities having been targeted, "Too many. I understand what you are trying to do, and I don't advise it. I tend to be a very cool headed individual, but I know my faults, and my anger at myself for choices I have made, is something I don't want to have surface."

"So you can understand. I missed four birthdays. I have never forgiven myself, even though I didn't have a choice. If I can't convince you any other way, can you at least bring her here, so that I can talk to her, and, make my decision from there," he finally looked up, his eyes even more tired than when he had started.

Tsukune grimaced as he considered this. It wasn't unreasonable, and he did have the right to talk to her as her father. At the same time, would the girl want to talk to him face to face? With her fear of being murdered simply because of what she was, would she have the courage to face him?

"Given her feelings, if she agrees I won't leave you two alone. She felt there was enough danger from you to run away, so I have to consider her as well. If you refuse to have me there, I can have someone else accompany her. It is all up to her," he finally replied.

"She is my daughter, my child. You have no right to dictate terms for me to talk to her like that. If need be I will go through the government, and have you tried for kidnapping. I have tried to be nice, I have tried to be calm. You will bring my daughter back, or you will understand how hard humans can fight back," Mr. Ortega stood back up, trying to use his height to intimidate Tsukune.

Tsukune never blinked, "You are right. She is your daughter, not your property. You keep giving me a good reason not to allow her to return. I have given my terms, and I think that you underestimate the consideration that the U.S. Government gives to the welfare of minors. Not to mention that technically, she is in a gray area currently. While she is an American citizen, there hasn't been any kind of decision made on how nonhumans fit into current law. Either you agree, or I will go through other channels."

The larger man looked livid. Like he had never been so disrespected. Tsukune followed his eyes as he briefly looked at a shotgun that was leaned in a corner next to the door of the house.

"It wouldn't be worth the effort. I would barely feel it, and despite the disparity in our sizes, I am the most dangerous person here. I don't want to hurt you. I don't like conflict, I have seen enough of it in my life, and I am tired of it. I have a daughter that is stuck between life and death because of it. If Nalin decides she wants to talk you, I will bring her here, and you can talk. There is no other way this will go," Tsukune let his face go blank as he spoke, hoping that the man wasn't going to force his hand.

"Fine. Can you give her something at least," Mr Ortega walked into a room off the living room, and returned with a hoop with a web of sinew inside it, "My Sergeant was Chippewa, and he, asked his wife to make this for Nalin. It has been over her bed since she was a toddler. I think she, might like to have it again."

Tsukune watched as tears started to run down his face. He was starting to understand a little more about the man. He was worried about his daughter, and he didn't know how to react when he was told that he couldn't just see her. If it wasn't for what his son had become, he might be as much of a wreck as this man was.

"I will give it to her. I will contact you when she makes a decision."

An hour later he sat with Nalin in his office. The girl simply held the dream catcher in her hands silently. He hadn't known the girl long enough to know what she might be thinking, but he could tell she was troubled.

"Mr. Aono, I, I don't know how to go on from this. They talked about killing me, for no other reason than I was something they were told to fear. I love my parents, but, I'm afraid of them. Yet, I've had this most of my life, and I, he...," she had tears welling in her eyes.

"Miss Ortega, I won't force you to talk to him. He doesn't seem to want me there, most likely due to the animosity that rose between us, but I can have Miss Shiraishi accompany you. Despite our differences in age, she is much stronger than I am, and you will not be in any danger," Tsukune watched the girl's face.

"I just don't know. He said, Mom is in a, nuthouse? I hope she doesn't lose her job over that, his check is not close enough to cover everything. She, I, what have I done? If I hadn't run away, she wouldn't be... I'm such a piece of work," the tears finally overcame the corners of her eyes, and rolled towards her chin.

Tsukune took a deep breath. He wasn't good at this part, he could deal with troublemakers and delinquents, but he didn't have any idea how to deal with a girl who felt betrayed by her family. Even having gone through it before. He didn't know how to really advise her.

"I want to talk to him. I want to at least know what he wants to say in his defense," she said finally.

A week later her and Utsuki sat in the living room of Nalin's home. Her father sat across from them, silent. He looked at his daughter, and he couldn't come up with anything to say.

"Dad, why?"

The man took a breath, "Fear. That was the only reason. Generations of being told that we were supposed to fear skinwalkers. That they would harm us, corrupt us. I won't talk more about it with her here. It isn't something to be talked about with one not of the indé present. You won't speak mescalero to discuss it."

"I can't even do anything. I've not met anyone to tell me how to. I'm still me, not an evil spirit, not a monster. Ok, maybe I am technically a monster, but you get the idea. Why would you be afraid of me," Nalin looked her father in the face as she spoke.

"Because we were being stupid. We didn't think about what it really meant. We were just reacting. I'm so sorry for what we said, that you heard it, and that it hurt you. It's, oh God, how do I even make up for this? We want you to come home, and to forget this," he looked up, hoping that she would forgive him.

"How could you even expect me to forget this? You were talking of murdering me, and making it look like I died in my sleep, or fell off a cliff. That isn't something that you just put behind you, that you just forgive. Dad, I was so scared that I spent five months living in the back of a diner and working my ass off, because I was afraid of dying. I hid every time I saw a cop walk in the place, because I was afraid they were going to bring me back, and then you were going to kill me. The guy that saved me from getting publicly raped, I thought you hired him to come after me, and kill me, because I was becoming completely paranoid. How could you expect me to come back, and just live like it never happened," she laid into him.

"Mr. Ortega, my parents abandoned me to the school due to the effects of a curse. They were afraid of me, and they cared enough about me, to try to make sure that I was going to have some way of being cared for, and never considered harming me. While I have some remaining anger, I have had so many good things happen because of it. I still don't agree with what they did. However, I would never have forgiven them if they had thought about killing me though. The fact you can sit there and even think of asking her to, is so narcissistic, and cruel," Utsuki had not said anything in the entire time she had sat there, until then.

Mr. Ortega seemed to explode, "You, who the hell do you think you are. I only agreed to let you sit there since that was the only way I could speak to my daughter. You should sit there and shut up," and made a move that came close to costing him his life.

He drew back his hand, his anger overriding any of his better sense. He typically wouldn't have raised his hand to any woman, not even his daughter, but he couldn't even think. That anger became fear though, as the girl had disappeared, and he could see a foot of steel that was resting on top of his shoulder.

"I no longer allow anyone to threaten me. Not anymore. If you want to harm me, then losing body parts, would be the lightest of the results," her voice dropped several octaves, and ice seemed to form in the air.

"Utsuki, please. I can handle my old man, you don't have to interfere right now. If he puts his hand on either of us, then you have free reign. Just please don't antagonize him, please. Even if I am afraid of what he might do to me, I still love him, and I don't want him to die," panic filled Nalin's voice as she realized what had happened.

Utsuki looked over, a cold and evil look on her face. For a second the two Apaches thought that the Japanese girl was about to dice the man, but she eventually withdrew her sword, and sheathed it.

In forty years of life, Daniel Ortega had done many things. He had been the guy to step up and interfere when bullies picked on someone who couldn't defend themselves. He had married the love of his life. He had fathered the most perfect little girl. He had graduated college, and been commissioned a Lt. in the Marine Corps. He had participated in peacekeeping operations in the worst of the fighting. He had to come to terms with the fact he was no longer able to be the man he had wanted to be, because of the hatred of men.

Nearly dying at the girl's hand, had woken him up to how weak he had let himself become. How had he let this happen?

"Nalin, I'm sorry. I was so wrong," he said quietly.

"Dad?"

"Tell Mr. Aono, I agree to his offer. I was being selfish, and thought that only me and your mother knew what was best for you. I want you stay at this school, and make yourself better, than you could become with someone like me around you," he sat down, and rested his forehead in his hands.

"Dad, why would I consider you wanting me to be with you and Mom selfish. I love you, and I love Mom dearly. I ran away out of fear. Like you said, it makes people do stupid things," she dropped down to her knees next to him and hugged him tight.

"Well, I guess I should apologize for threatening to take pieces off you," Utsuki said as she sat her hand on his head.

Something, changed. He couldn't quite describe it, but it was like something changed in his body. He had multiple ruptured discs in his back, and screws holding together his right knee. He could barely stand up for more than ten or fifteen minutes without it feeling like someone was pouring molten lead on his lower back.

He flexed his knee, and the typical grating feel from the one misaligned screw wasn't there. Standing he pushed on his lower back, and it didn't hurt. He didn't feel any pain at all.

"What did you just do?"

Utsuki shrugged, "I made you better. Did you not want to be, I can reverse it if so."

"Nalin, I like your new friend, but please don't bring her around to often."