Nabiki - New Horizons
              Chapter 23 - Return of the Ice Queen
                        by G.L. Sandborn



     Her broom skimmed briskly over the stone and concrete of the
front sidewalk.  Every stroke was deliberate and thorough,
cleaning the debris of a freshly mowed lawn from the worn
surface.  The warmth of late spring aided the pleasant smells of
fresh vegetation that surrounded the Tendo household.  The young
woman paused occasionally to savor the aromas that greeted her
and appreciate the warm sun on her face.  An insect whizzed by,
its passing announced by a soft buzz reminding her summer wasn't
far away.
     She was idly going over the list of things that would have
to be done before the real heat of summer arrived when the sound
of the front gate opening drew her attention.  Expecting almost
anyone other than the person who stepped inside, she drew a sharp
breath and stopped her sweeping.
     "Mr Saotome?" she gasped, a hand finding its way to cover
her tiny mouth.
     The disheveled character that stepped through the gate and
shuffled towards the house barely acknowledged her presence.  His
gi looked like it had been slept in, his head bandana was smudged
and torn, and his glasses looked like they'd been broken and
taped back together.  But most of all, there was his unrelenting
stare, as if he were asleep and walking very much without his own
control.
     He stumbled up to the front door, ignoring Kasumi's
presence.  As he passed, another odor, this one much less
desirable, clashed with the spring atmosphere and caused Kasumi
to wrinkle her nose.
     She was about to ask him where he'd been when he jerked to a
halt, his hand reaching for the door knob.
     "Is *she* still here?" he asked in a hoarse voice.
     "Nodoka went home some time ago," she said politely.
     His body sagged in relief.  "Then I'm going in to take a
bath."  He didn't wait for a response.  Pushing open the door and
shedding worn shoes, he disappeared into the Tendo home as if it
were his own.
     "Yes, I think that would be best," she answered under her
breath.
     Before she could follow him, with hopes of directing the
disposal of his objectionable garments, the gate opened again. 
This time, a more familiar figure entered.
     "Daddy?" she said, more of a declaration than a true
question.  While having men around the house only complicated a
proper Japanese woman's life, she missed her father's presence.
     His appearance, however, wasn't much better than Genma's. 
Bending under the weight of two backpacks, he paused only long
enough to close and latch the gate before trailing up the walk
towards Kasumi.
     "Welcome home, Father," she said, remembering the
formalities appropriate for the head of the household.  She added
a respectful bow, further acknowledging his place in the family.
     He mumbled something and returned her greeting.  "You won't
believe where I found him," he said with a hint of fatigue in his
voice.  "The man was a mascot for some American military unit
down in Okinawa."  Soun shook his head.  "I can't believe he
would stoop so low."
     "Oh my," Kasumi exclaimed.  "Then he must have been a panda
all this time."
     "Daughter, they were feeding him Twinkies and beer."  Soun
rolled his eyes towards Kasumi.
     "I thought he looked a little heavier."
     Soun stared at his daughter like she still didn't
understand.  "The man lived as an animal to avoid his own wife. 
I can't believe he would go to such lengths."
     "Well, he did invent the Saotome Secret Run Away And Hide
technique.  Perhaps he was just practicing something new." 
Kasumi, as usual, tried to see the positive side of the
situation.
     "Daughter, he was living in a small room with newspaper on
the floor."
     "Americans can be most practical at times," Kasumi said with
a knowing nod.
     Soun gave up and sighed with a shake of his head.  Sometimes
it was more effort than it was worth trying to explain things to
his eldest daughter.  He turned to follow Genma.  Maybe Akane
would understand.
     He stopped with his hand on the door when he heard music
coming from his dojo.  Cocking his head, he frowned and looked at
Kasumi.  "Why is there music coming from my dojo?"
     "Oh that," Kasumi said with an embarrassed smile.  "It's
Akane's new aerobics class.  Since she started using the dojo
during the day to teach exercise classes for housewives, the dojo
has been turning a respectable profit.  You wouldn't believe how
popular its been."
     Soun frowned between his daughter and the dojo.  Akane was
using his family's martial arts dojo, a shrine to the manly art
of self defense, for a bunch of sweating women who only want to
jump around and lose a few pounds of well-earned body fat?  His
jaw set itself as a disgusted look crawled across his face. 
We'll just see about that, he thought.
     Kasumi made no attempt to stop her father, despite the look
of disapproval on his face.  Akane was simply using the empty
building to make money for the family.  What could he object to
in that?  She shook her head and went back to her sweeping.  He'd
understand once he got a look at what was going on.

     Soun silently mounted the stairs leading to the partially
open dojo doors.  The familiar odor of human perspiration
assaulted his senses as he reached the top step.  Whatever Akane
was doing in there had certainly stirred up the air, effusing it
with the essence of human endeavor, he thought with growing
satisfaction.  Maybe this 'aerobics' business wasn't so bad after
all.
     He carefully peeked inside and almost fell off the porch at
what he saw.  A dozen women, mostly young like his daughter, were
wiggling and gyrating in time to some pop music booming from a
portable tape machine.  Each was dressed in colorful skin tight
garments that resembled the kind worn by that crazy Kuno girl. 
Up front, his own daughter wiggled and jiggled as she bounced
along with the music.  Her voice rang through the dojo calling
out instructions and offering encouragement.  This was certainly
a side of his daughter he hadn't ever seen.
     If the mass of jiggling female flesh in his dojo didn't
immediately have the predictable effect him, what they did next
caused him to gasp, his eyes growing wide.  
     On command, all twelve women bent forward until their hands
were on the smooth wood floor.  A dozen female bottoms bounced
and made little circles his direction.  His eyes darted from one
candy-colored seat of female anatomy to another, each more
alluring than the next, until he couldn't take it anymore. 
Turning, he fled the scene, vowing to have a serious discussion
with his youngest daughter this evening after dinner.

     He passed Kasumi on his way inside.  He needed cold water -
lots of it.
     "Daddy?  Are you alright?" Kasumi asked as he sped past.  He
looked white as a ghost.  "Did you see Akane's class?"
     He paused in the doorway.  She couldn't help noticing how he
kept pulling down his gi, like he was trying to hide something. 
"I... I... I need a bath," he finally choked out.
     "Good," Kasumi said going back to her sweeping.  "And make
sure Mr Saotome doesn't put those disgusting clothes in the same
basket as the rest of our things.  Oh, and I guess he'll be
sleeping in your room tonight."
     "My room?"
     "Yes, on the spare futon."
     "I... think I'd rather sleep alone tonight.  Yes, I'm
certain of it."
     Kasumi never missed a beat.  "Very well.  He can stay in the
room at the end of the hall.  I'll bring up some fresh linen."
     "Fine," Soun gasped before disappearing into the house.
     Kasumi stared at the door for a few moments.  He was
certainly acting strange.  Maybe he didn't approve of Akane's
classes.  Well, she thought, she'd just explain it to him this
evening after dinner.  Besides, she checked her watch, it's
almost time for her own aerobics class.  She took a couple of
finishing swipes at the sidewalk with her broom and happily
bounded up the stairs.
     Maybe if her father watched her class he'd be more
supportive of the whole idea.  Yes, that's what she'd do, invite
her father to watch *her* class.  That'll have a positive effect
on him.

*****

     "Hey, girlfriend," Julie's cheery voice rang through the
Lawrence Inc office as she poked her head through the open door. 
"Ready for our morning coffee break?"
     Rachel Magnum leaned back in her chair and stretched.  It
had been a long morning.  First, she got all the weekly reports
collated for Jeffrey's morning digital-conference meeting with
his corporate CEO's and then had to handle a dozen minor fires
that included everything from a nasty divorce involving a company
officer in Australia to an outbreak of chickenpox amongst the
executive staff of a subsidiary in the Ukraine.  She was ready
for a break.
     "You get the donuts and I'll check on the coffee," she
offered with a tired smile.
     "Done.  I'll be right back."  Julie disappeared as quickly
as she'd arrived.
     Rachel checked her coffee maker.  Assured it contained
enough for two, she gathered their cups, the coffee carafe and
condiments.  She paused only momentarily when she heard Jeff's
voice through his office door.  He was yelling again.  This time
something about what one of the CEO's said being 'nuts'.  She
shook her head and sighed.  He still needed to learn how to act
in corporate meetings.
     She got back to her desk in time to see Julie returning with
a small box of donuts, one clamped between her teeth.
     "Couldn't wait?" Rachel chided while pouring the coffee.
     Julie plopped the box on Rachel's desk and removed the donut
from her mouth.  "You know I have a weakness for the ones with
sprinkles," she said, catching a few escaping crumbs with the
fingers of her other hand.
     All Rachel could do is chuckle and reach for the box. 
"Ooooh, you got the ones with powdered sugar.  I love those."
     "You said they were your favorite."
     "Yeah, ever since I was a little girl, Mom and I would get
up early Sunday morning and have powdered sugar donuts washed
down with a big glass of milk."  Rachel sat down holding a single
donut in her fingers, a tiny smile accompanied her glazed
expression.  "It was one of the few things we ever did together. 
Mom was always working, so we didn't get much time together."
     "Funny the little things we remember," Julie said taking her
own cup of coffee and caressing its warm surface.
     "Yeah.  Funny."  Rachel stared at her donut with glazed
eyes.  "I guess that's why I learned not to depend on others."
     They sat silent for a few moments, only the sound of Jeff
laughing in his office breaking the silence.
     "So, how's that writer husband of yours?" Rachel asked,
hoping to wash away bittersweet memories of an unhappy childhood
with something more immediate.
     Julie swallowed a big hunk of donut and rolled her eyes. 
"The big goof still thinks he's going to write the 'great
American novel'.  Frankly, I doubt we'll ever see enough finished
chapters to make the 'great American pamphlet'.  All he seems to
be able to do anymore is write fanfiction stories."
     "Well, that's writing too," Rachel offered picking up her
own cup.
     "I suppose.  Have you ever read any of his stuff?"
     "All the time.  I download his chapters off the Internet. 
The story about the Japanese girl is okay but the rest..." 
Rachel paused awkwardly before reaching for another donut.
     Julie knew what she meant.  "Yeah, some of it gives me the
creeps."  Her expression changed to hopeful.  "Hey, maybe he
could be another Stephen King?"
     The two stared at each other before wrinkling their noses
and shaking their heads.  "Naw," they said together before
breaking into giggles.
     Julie snatched another donut with sprinkles and leaned
forward conspiratorially.  "So, you getting anywhere with that
hunky security guy who's always hanging around?"
     Rachel's nervous chuckle preceded a big sigh.  "No,
Commander Wilde treats me like a little girl.  It's like he's
scared or something."
     "Maybe he has another girl somewhere," Julie suggested with
a concerned look.
     "I suppose," Rachel said with a sigh.  "What is it they say
about sailors: a girl in every port?"
     "She must be something out of this world to compete with
you, girl."  Julie leaned back in her chair with a satisfied
expression.
     Rachel frowned as the events of a certain rainy night a
couple of years ago surfaced in her mind.  She remembered
entertaining little Sodoshi at her apartment.  In the middle of a
thunderstorm they were visited by a certain spooky entity.  The
part that prominently stuck in her mind was when the ghost
mentioned something about a 'Jamie'.  Is it possible...?  Could
she have been referring to...?  Why on earth would she remember
that?  No, Rachel thought with a feeling of disgust at even
considering such a possibility.  The very thought of something
dead getting cozy with the living left her feeling... icky.
     Julie must have sensed her friend's discomfort and quickly
changed the subject.  "So, when's this week's 'Boys Club'
meeting?"
     "You mean the weekly staff meeting?" Rachel corrected with a
sly look.
     "Whatever."  Julie shrugged.  "From what I hear, it's
nothing but a lot of locker room talk.  You know, guys sitting
around trying to impress each other.  Guy stuff."
     Rachel chuckled at the thought of men who controlled one of
the richest international corporations in the world sitting
around talking like a bunch of construction workers in a bar.  It
was so unlike any of them.  Sure, Jeffrey was still a kid at
heart.  But he knew the importance of business meetings and took
them seriously, if not with all the proper elements of business
etiquette.  Sean Gaffney had earned his place at the top the hard
way; with endless hours of hard work and absolute dependability. 
He was certainly no frivolous towel snapper.  Jim Bateman, while
a little eccentric, no doubt due to being married to one of the
most destructive women in Hawaii, was a serious and well-respected 
attorney.  Even Commander Wilde, a hard-core veteran of
the US Navy SEAL program, while prone to bouts of 'hard play' at
times, certainly had a sense of the old Navy command seriousness
about him when it came to business.
     No, it wasn't possible to see these guys the way Julie
described them.  
     "Well, so much for the coffee break," Julie said wiping her
hands on a napkin.  "Gotta get back to work.  I'll help you clean
up before I go."
     Rachel was glad for the help.  She hated cleaning.  It
reminded her of domestic chores housewives were expected to do
and she certainly was determined to avoid being someone's
housewife.
     She and Julie were just putting away the cleaned coffee mugs
when Commander Wilde arrived.
     "Morning, Sunshine," he said to Rachel, adding the kind of
smile usually reserved for someone's younger sister.  He cast a
knowing look Julie's way.  "And how's the most beautiful
secretary at Mark Engels Engineering today?"
     Julie tried to hide her amusement at Jamie's remarks but
failed when a single giggle escaped before she could turn away. 
She liked the attention of the handsome ex-SEAL, despite his
flirtatious nature.  It made the 40-something secretary feel
young, if only for the duration of his visit.
     Rachel was her usual cordial self but added an expression
that made it clear she didn't share her friend's blushing
admiration for Jamie.  "The weekly data-conference should be
about over, Commander.  You can go right in."
     "Ah, still the Ice Queen, I see."  Jamie winked at Rachel
and smiled at her ambivalent response.  He enjoyed baiting the
beautiful Lawrence Inc secretary.  He wasn't sure why.  Maybe she
reminded him of a sister he never had; a younger sister.
     "You better go on in.  The boss is probably waiting," Rachel
said bluntly.  She and Julie pushed past the amused looking Jamie
on their way back to her desk.
     Jamie shook his head as he turned towards the door to Jeff's
office.  It was just as well she acted so coolly around him. 
Someone that attractive could make even the most disciplined male
do goofy things.  It wouldn't do to be acting goofy in the office
of Mr Lawrence.

     The rest of Jeff's 'staff' wandered in over the next half
hour.  Jim Bateman was the last to arrive, mumbling something
about 'that sneaky Dr Wiseman and his new graphite shaft, 
steel-head driver'.
     "Lost another bet on the golf course, I see," Jeff said
leaning back in his swivel chair and planting his feet on the
desk.
     "I can't help it if I don't have the time to practice," Jim
said with a flap of his arms.  "That's all that quack does
anymore."
     "You'd have time if you weren't representing everyone with a
sob story this side of the Golden Gate Bridge."  Sean yawned and
snuggled down comfortably in one of the overstuffed chairs.  He
sometimes nodded off during these meetings, especially when the
talk turned to golf or baseball.
     "Hey, they deserve justice too, ya know."
     Jim was about to launch into one of the long-winded speeches
about the poor and disadvantaged, when Jeff cut him off.  "We
really need to get started," he said checking his watch.  "I
promised Nabiki I'd take her out driving this afternoon."
     Jeff noticed the others exchanging glances.  "She passed her
driving test from the school," he said defensively.  "She's
already picked out the van she wants and everything.  I'm just
taking her out for some practice before she takes the state's
driving test."
     His protests left his three friends staring at him with
expressionless faces.  None of them ever *really* expected Nabiki
to drive in Hawaii, certainly not after what happened last month
with the kidnapping and all.
     Jim Bateman was the first to break the uncomfortable
silence.  "Well, speaking as the husband of a Japanese wife who
drives, I can offer only one bit of advice."
     "What's that?"
     "Make sure you're well insured."
     Everyone except Jeff shared a good laugh.  "Not funny, man,"
he warned.  "She's serious about this driving stuff."
     "So was Kai," Jim said, referring to his own Japanese-born
wife.  "She got impatient once, swerved out of traffic and took a
short cut along the beach."
     Sean raised the brim of his hat to frown at Jim.  "She drove
a Mercedes along the beach?"
     "Until she got stuck."  Jim leaned on Jeff's golf bag in the
corner and developed a whimsical little smile as he recalled the
events.  "She got a ticket, a tow truck, and watched as everyone
involved got stuck themselves.  Kept insisting it wasn't her
fault."
     "Didn't Nabiki do something like that in Japan?" Jamie
asked.
     "It was through a park, over a foot bridge, through a car
wash, up the Tokyo Tower - how should I know?  The story changes
every time she tells it."  Jeff flipped a baseball in the air and
caught it.
     "How'd she get away from the cops?" Sean asked with a little
smile.  He loved this part of the story.
     "Lost them in a herd of Sumo pigs."
     "Sumo pigs?" Jim asked, fishing around in the golf bag for
balls.
     "Yeah, big pigs with attitude."
     Sean chuckled uncontrollably.  He loved the 'pigs with
attitude' description.
     "So what did you do about Kai?" Jeff asked, trying to ignore
Sean's slow giggling slide to the floor.
     "Got her an SUV," Jim replied while plugging in Jeff's putt-back.
     "An SUV?"
     "Sure.  It didn't help her driving but she doesn't get stuck
as much."

     The general conversation soon dissolved into business-related 
items interspersed with Sean baiting Jim about his
golfing and Jamie needling Sean about headhunters, jungle
survival techniques, and the nutritional value of Amazon Stink
Beetles.  The usual relaxed nature of the group prevailed.  Sean
slumped down in his chair like he was on the verge of taking a
nap, his black fedora pulled over his eyes, Jamie on his back on
the sofa shooting rubber bands at the ceiling and just about
everything else in the room, and Jim using Jeff's putter to
practice his putting on the lush carpeting.
     "I've about given up trying to find a restaurant for that
hotel we're renovating downtown," Sean said adding an exasperated
sigh to show his resignation.
     "I'm surprised no one has expressed an interest.  It's a
prime location."  Jeff tapped a few keys on his computer to bring
up the status report on the hotel project.  "Maybe our terms are
too tough."
     "I doubt it," Sean said with another yawn.  "We're well
under our competitors.  What bothers me is the last Request for
Bids we sent out only netted us a few fast food offers and a
French consortium who's demands were outrageous."
     "Well, somebody must want a chance at running a restaurant
in a four star facility," Jeff groused as he reviewed the
numbers.  There was just no reason he could see for the
reluctance on the part of the major players in the restaurant
business.  
     "Maybe it has to do with the fact the last three groups that
owned the property each gave up in less than a year."  Jim
corralled a dozen new golf balls with the putter.  
     "Our Marketing people swear the problem was they didn't
promote it right, our Business Analysis group is sure they didn't
appeal to the right income level, and out Accountants claim the
problem was bad fiscal management," Jeff said while rechecking
his notes on the computer.  "These are all things we've
corrected."
     "Gave it a fancy face-lift as well," Sean noted from his
scrunched-down position.
     "Well, something's got the big boys spooked."
     Jamie rolled over on the couch.  "Everyone's already
committed, Jeff.  They're not going to break their leases to move
into an untried new venture, no matter who's behind it."
     Jeff sighed.  "I guess you're right.  We just need to look a
little harder."

     They were still discussing potential solutions when Rachel
buzzed on the intercom.  "Mr Lawrence, there's someone here to
see you."
     Jeff shot questioning looks at the others.  He wasn't
expecting anyone.  "Who is it?" he asked his intercom.
     "He says his name is Mr Sao."
     Jeff hesitated.  "Jade's father?"
     "I believe so."
     Jeff released the intercom switch.  "Why would her father be
here?" he asked his friends.
     "Maybe he's going to sue you for putting his daughter in
danger," Jim said stroking a golf ball towards the putt-back
machine.  The ball looked like it was going to make it until a
rubber band bounced off its side.  He sighed heavily and reached
for another ball.
     "I doubt that," Sean said under his hat.  "More likely
looking for a raise for his daughter."
     "Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to talk to him."  
     Jeff asked Rachel to show Mr Sao in.  Moments later, the
door opened to reveal a barrel-chested man with a big, bushy
mustache.  Dressed in worn jeans of a man who worked with his
hands and carrying a large box, Mr Sao nervously entered.
     "Please forgive intrusion," he said, his eyes rapidly
jumping from person to person in the room.  "I come to thank Mr
Lawrence for saving daughter's life."
     Jeff looked questioningly at Jamie who just shrugged.
     "Uh, okay," Jeff said, glancing at Jim and Sean.  They were
no help either.  "Mr Sao, I'm curious.  Just how did you arrive
at the conclusion that I saved your daughter?"
     "She told me."  Mr Sao blinked along with his confused
expression.
     "I see," Jeff said while rubbing the back of his head.  "You
know, sometimes in all the excitement things appear different
than they really are.  Perhaps your daughter... exaggerated my...
contribution to her rescue."
     Mr Sao's confused look slowly dissolved into a wide grin. 
"Ah, Mr Lawrence.  You are truly a hero.  Only hero be so
modest."  He bowed a couple of times.  "I thank you."
     "Does this mean I have to incorporate you again," Jim asked.
     "Oh, and don't forget another set of books.  This one for
Hero Incorporated," Sean said peeking out from under his hat. 
"Daring rescues our specialty."
     "Will you guys knock it off," Jeff groused, trying to keep
his voice down.  "You all know the real story."
     Undaunted, Mr Sao continued to smile and bob grateful bows. 
"I bring lunch to show aprea... apresee..."
     "Appreciation?" Jamie guessed.
     "Yes.  Thank you," the nervous gardener said adding another
couple of bows.
     "That's very thoughtful but..."  Jeff sat up in his chair,
his feet sliding off the desk and hitting the floor with a
noticeable 'thump'.  "Did you say: Lunch?"
     "Food?" Sean asked, raising the brim of his hat with a
finger.
     "Yes.  Make myself."  Mr Sao's eyes reflected his
apprehension at possibly saying the wrong thing.
     Even Jamie sat up at the announcement of lunch.  "I thought
I smelled something good."
     "In here."  Mr Sao anxiously pulled the lid off the box
filling the room with a pleasant aroma.  Stomachs growled
approval.
     Jeff stabbed the intercom button.  "Rachel --?"
     "I've got my chopsticks and on my way," came her voice
through the intercom.
     "Smart girl," Jim said, putting the putter back in Jeff's
golf bag.
     "I always thought so," Jeff agreed.  "Of course, all I
really wanted was for her to hold my calls."
     Covered plastic plates of food appeared out of Mr Sao's box
and were quickly passed among the men.  Rachel joined them in
time to snag a plate as well.  True to her word, she produced a
pair of chopsticks which she deftly manipulated like a veteran. 
Even Mr Sao noticed and nodded with a satisfied smile before
going to help Sean who was having a little trouble, decorating
his shirt with bits of food.
     "This is first rate chow," Jamie observed between bites.
     "Absolutely," Jeff agreed before turning to Mr Sao.  "Where
did you learn to cook like this?"
     "Before I come to America, I own restaurant in Hong Kong. 
Very fine restaurant."  The man's voice betrayed an underlying
sense of pride in his former occupation.
     "It must have been."  Jeff grinned and scooped more of the
tasty food with his own chopsticks.
     "How come you're a gardener if you can cook like this?" Jim
asked.  Unlike his companions, he'd chosen to stand while eating,
manipulating his chopsticks like a veteran of too many quick
Asian meals on the run.
     "When I left Hong Kong, I have to sell quickly.  Not get
much for restaurant.  Just enough to come here.  No one hire me
for restaurant so I take job available; cutting grass, trimming
bushes, that sort of thing."  Mr Sao stood near the door without
a plate of his own.  Apparently, he'd only brought enough for
everyone else.
     "That's too bad," Jeff noted, savoring the pleasant
aftertaste his meal provided.  "This would certainly generate
repeat business, probably make the restaurant well known to
tourists."  He looked at Sean who quickly caught his meaning.
     "Yes, maybe we should see if there isn't a way to do just
that," Sean said.  You could see his concentration as he ran the
potential numbers in his head.
     "These all from my wife's recipes," Mr Sao noted with a
reverent voice.
     "Ah, yes, Jade mentioned something about her.  Wasn't she
from somewhere deeper in China?" Jeff asked innocently.
     "Wife from place you never hear of," Mr Sao said with an
apologetic smile.  "She come from village called Josetsuzoku.
     The room froze in complete silence at the mention of the
infamous home of Shampoo and Cologne.  Mr Sao glanced nervously
at his hosts.
     "I say something wrong?" he asked.
     Jeff cleared his throat.  "No, it's just we've heard stories
about an ancient training location now forbidden to all and even
wilder tales of a nearby village of Amazon warriors that goes by
that name."
     Mr Sao's eyes dropped to the carpet and he licked his lips
in a nervous manner.  "There are many tales in old China.  Most
are just that; tales."
     "Think there's any truth to them?" Jamie asked eyeing the
uncomfortable-looking gardener.
     "Who is to say?  Sao not live anywhere but Hong Kong.  Many
wild stories circulate in such a place."  Mr Sao looked between
Jeff and Jamie before smiling nervously.  "China have many
secrets, even from Sao."
     Jeff looked over at the suspicious Jamie before smiling at
Mr Sao.  "Yes, I've heard that as well."  He paused, not certain
he really wanted to continue.  He switched to Japanese and
thanked Mr Sao for bringing such a delicious lunch.
     To his surprise, Mr Sao bowed and said: "It was the least I
could do for saving daughter's life."
     Jamie's reaction was like a cat toying with a mouse, leaning
back on the sofa and linking his fingers around a raised knee. 
"You understand Japanese?"
     Mr Sao's smile quickly faded, as if he'd just given away a
secret.  It reappeared almost as quickly.  "Many people come to
Sao's restaurant in Hong Kong.  Many Japanese come enjoy food. 
Sao learn Japanese from customers."  He looked at Jeff, a sliver
of anxiousness showing.  "Also, daughter work for Japanese wife
of Mr Lawrence.  She learn very fast and sometimes share with
Sao."
     "I see," Jeff said smiling with a nod Jamie's way.  He knew
what Jamie was trying to establish.  Like Nabiki, both were
becoming curious about Mr Sao and his family.  There were many
gaps and errors in Jade's story of her life in Hong Kong.  There
were even bigger gaps when it came to information about her
parents.  Mr Sao's story concerning his restaurant sounded
plausible enough but even there Jeff got the feeling he wasn't
being told everything.
     "In any case, I think we need to talk more about this food,"
Sean said setting his empty plate on Jeff's desk.  "If Mr Sao has
experience running a restaurant and the recipes for food like
this, I'm wondering if we might be able to help each other."
     Mr Sao's curious expression suggested he didn't fully
understand the proposition.
     "What Mr Gaffney is saying is that we have a hotel we're
remodeling downtown and haven't been able to secure a commitment
for a restaurant yet.  I think he's suggesting that you might be
interested in getting back into the restaurant business."  Jeff
looked directly at Mr Sao.  
     The gardener shifted his weight in a nervous manner.  "It...
It has been a long time...  Not sure I can anymore," he said to
the carpet.
     "Well, you certainly can cook.  That's be big plus right
there," Sean said with a growing smile.  "If it's the books
you're worried about, I can find someone acceptable to help
there."
     "Always work with wife and daughters," Mr Sao said almost as
a protest.
     "So long as you don't violate the child labor laws, I see no
problem with your daughters working with you."  Jeff sat upright
in his chair and looked for an answer from Mr Sao.  He really
liked the idea of helping someone so obviously talented as Mr
Sao.  He especially liked helping someone when he could also
profit; a little something he learned from his wife.
     The object of his benevolence, however, seemed strangely
reluctant. "I... I will consider it," the gardener finally said.
     "Fair enough," Jeff answered.  He didn't understand Mr Sao's
reluctance.  Such an offer should have appeared like a miracle to
the Chinese refugee, one to be grabbed with both hands.  Instead,
the gardener gave an non-committal answer and proceeded to calmly
gather the used plates.  
     "Well, I think it's a wonderful idea," Rachel said with a
big smile.  "You have a talent that should be shared."
     Mr Sao only nodded his response, never breaking his rhythm
of stacking and storing used plates in his box.  Moments later,
he gathered his box, bowed and departed.  Rachel followed to
resume her duties out front.
     With full stomachs, the weekly meeting returned to its
relaxed atmosphere.  If possible, it even slid even further into
irrelevancies.
     "So, just what were you and our resident webbed warrior
looking for in that clumsy interrogation of our lunch provider?"
Jim said calmly while resuming his putting.
     Jamie bounced a rubber band off of a light fixture, striking
Jim in the side of his head and causing another putt to curl wide
left.  "We're just trying to gather some information."
     "On Mr Sao, I presume?"  Jim calmly lined up another putt.
     "The problem is, Mr Sao bears a striking resemblance to
someone Nabiki and I know in Japan; her brother-in-law's father." 
Jeff rebooted his computer and resumed monitoring the latest
stock market reports.
     "So?" Jim asked as another rubber band bounced off the ball
he'd just stroked towards the putt-back.
     "So, his daughter also looks exactly like a Chinese Amazon
named Shampoo."
     "She looks like a hair care product?"
     "Shampoo is our pitiful Western attempt to say her real
name; Xu'an Pu," Jamie replied, aiming another rubber band.
     Jim surprised the ex-SEAL by suddenly chipping the ball
towards him.  "Big deal.  Lots of people look like other people. 
I understand there's all sorts of people who make their living
looking like other, more famous people.  Go to Vegas sometime. 
You'll encounter more Elvis's than you stand."
     "That's not the point," Jeff said leaning back in his chair. 
"The people we're talking about are not nice.  The Chinese
Amazons seem to have a vendetta against Nabiki's family."
     "Objection overruled," Jim said using the putter to flick
rubber bands out of his putting path.  "What you have here is
circumstantial evidence.  Yes, the man's from China.  Yes, he
looks like someone you know.  Yes, his daughter also looks like
some unpleasant person from back home.  This all adds up to
exactly... nothing."  Another rubber band bounced off his latest
putt, causing the ball to roll to the side.  "Damn it, Jamie.  I
would have made that one."
     "Granted," Jeff said leaning forward and frowning at his
attorney.  "But consider this: The man's wife is from the very
heart of the Amazon territories; Josetsuzoku.  I think *that*
gives us sufficient cause to investigate further."
     Jim sighed.  "Don't you guys have anything better to do?  Mr
Sao and his family are ref-u-gees, not badly disguised villains. 
Get over it."
     Jeff and Jamie exchanged wary glances.
     "One more thing," Jim said, giving up putting and returning
the club to Jeff's golf bag.  "Mr Sao and his family are entitled
to just as much privacy in their own lives as you.  So don't go
screwing around with them."
     Sean, who'd remained as inconspicuous as possible throughout
the recent exchange, quietly reminded Mr Bateman that they were
entitled to investigate potential business partners.
     "Fine.  Just don't let it get personal."
     "Us?" Jamie asked incredulously.  "No way."
     "No problem," Jeff echoed.
     Jim looked between Jeff and Jamie before sighing.  "Why is
it I get the feeling you two are going to do something stupid?"
     Sean pulled his hat over his eyes and settled deeper in his
chair.  "Probably because you know them too well."

*****

     Across town, at Chaminade University, Nabiki was holding her
own meeting.  In a borrowed seminar room she conned the
administration into allowing her to use for a few hours, she and
her two American cohorts were discussing how to best launch their
own investment organization.
     Sandi was at the white board busily diagraming the potential
of her upscale dance club idea.  She figured they could build
three exclusive clubs at different places in the islands and
really make a killing on the tourist trade.  The others listened
politely but one could sense a degree of boredom in them.
     Nabiki leaned on her fist and doodled on a notepad as she
reassessed her new business associates.  Sandi and Summer were
totally different than Yuka and Sayuri back home.  To begin with,
they were not simply followers taking orders from Nabiki and
doing little or nothing unless directed.  These girls were
college graduates, strong willed and sure of their own abilities.
     Sandi, the daughter of a very successful mainland insurance
executive, had the wealth, the looks, and a killer instinct that
even Nabiki admired.  Time after time, she proved Nabiki's equal
when it came to business ruthlessness.  She could outmaneuver,
trap, and gut a corporate rival with the best.  Nabiki was glad
the girl was on her side.
     Summer, a life long Hawaii resident, understood all the
government red tape they would encounter doing business in the
islands.  It always fascinated Nabiki how the girl also seemed to
know or was related to just about everyone on the island.  She
had contacts everywhere.  She was also insufferably cute.  With
just the right mixture of Polynesian, Asian, and Western blood,
she represented a knockout little bundle of energy that knew no
bounds.  Where Sandi would use up and discard boyfriends, Summer
wore them out.
     Sandi finished her presentation and looked to her companions
for their reaction.  Summer nodded and agreed that given the
current economy, tourist trends, and zoning regulations, it was
doable.  She worried though, about the profitability.
     "Twenty seven percent in the first three years," Sandi said
confidently. "With proper use of the tax code, return on
investment would be over one hundred percent by then."
     Summer ran the numbers on her laptop and nodded at the
results.  They confirmed Sandi's claim.  There was, however, the
question of location.  She turned to Nabiki.  "Do you think your
husband would consider leasing us space in that new resort hotel
he's working on?"
     Nabiki stopped doodling, her eyes searching the table as she
considered Summer's question.  "Possibly.  The last time he
mentioned the place, he still hadn't found a tenant.  However, I
must mention that I think he was looking more for a restaurant
than a night club."
     "What about the penthouse?" Sandi asked, shuffling through
her research papers.  "Penthouse night clubs are usually very
successful."
     "That's more likely but there would be the question of
traffic.  He might not like clogging up the elevators with dance
club traffic."  Nabiki tried to sound encouraging even while
raising objections.  This 'working together' stuff was new to
her.  She wasn't used to having to get a consensus even though
such was her heritage.  Flying solo in a business deal was always
easier.
     "Well, I vote we do some more research before making a
decision," Summer said.  "While I agree with Sandi that it would
be a good investment, it still needs some work."
     Nabiki nodded, more agreeing to spend time checking it out
than agreeing to go ahead with the investment.
     Summer was next to present her idea.  She had a cousin who
was good friends with a member of the Chinese military industrial
corporation.  He said that the Chinese had just completed
building a special factory to produce a new line of beachwear for
the French.  Unfortunately, at the last minute the French company
pulled out of the deal and the Chinese were anxious to find some
way of making the plant profitable.
     "So what are you suggesting?" Nabiki asked.  "I'm not sure
we're ready to go into the clothing business."
     "I was thinking of contracting them to make popular design
knock-offs.  You know, super cheap imitations of really expensive
items sold in this country."
     "Don't they use slave labor there?" Sandi asked, her pretty
face screwed into a disgusted look.
     "Not this place," Summer replied with a shake of her head. 
"They'd rely on all the unemployed rural people who are just
dying to get factory jobs."
     "I don't know, Summer," Nabiki said hesitantly.  She didn't
want to insult her friend and new business partner with too
strong an objection.  "Jeffrey won't go into any kind of foreign
investment, especially one he knows nothing about, unless he
could partner with a third party who had a track record in the
business."
     "I have to agree with Nabiki," Sandi said.  "This is a
really big step.  I think it's too dangerous and too soon.  I
vote we first search for someone who is experienced in the
business and team up with them."
     "Absolutely," Nabiki agreed.
     "Well, Aunt Amelia has a cousin who's in the business in San
Francisco.  I'll talk to her and see if they'd be interested."
     They all agreed to further study this idea as well.  It was
now Nabiki's turn.
     She remained seated and pulled a large folder out of her
briefcase.  Placing it on the table she waited until Sandi and
Summer had time to admire its sheer size.
     "Jeffrey delivered these papers to me last night."  She
opened the folder and showed the signed documents and accounting
projections.  "However, you'll note this is only good for Japan."
     "Why Japan?" Sandi asked, not certain she wanted to get
involved in anything that had nothing to do with the American
marketplace she was so familiar with.
     "Because it will only work in Japan.  The agreements are for
the Japanese market and expire in 90 days if we don't present a
business plan to implement them.  I'm scheduled to fly there for
a Monday meeting to make the final arrangements.  If everything
goes well, we'll be in business before Autumn."
     Summer industriously tapped in the figures Nabiki provided
and stared at the graph they produced.  "Is this for real?" she
asked, slightly bug-eyed.
     "Let me see."  Sandi moved around to look over her friend's
shoulder.  "Wow.  That's some profit."
     "Jeffrey's research department confirmed the projections and
I think you'll appreciate the minimal investment part of the
plan.  If we combine with the local Konosawa Group.  We can't
lose."  Nabiki leaned back in her seat and smiled her crooked
little smile.  Things were going her way.  Her partners were
certainly interested.
     "If this is such a good deal, why isn't your husband doing
it," Sandi asked with a hint of suspicion.  She was a little more
wary of strange ideas than Summer.
     "Jeffrey and I have an agreement," Nabiki answered in off-hand 
manner.  "Whoever get's an idea first has the right to
develop it without interference."  She paused to gauge her
friends' expressions.  They didn't seem to totally accept her
answer.  "Besides, I think he really wants me to succeed.  He
already has so many profitable ventures going.  I think he's
letting me have this one as a favor."
     Sandi's sly look drifted Nabiki's way.  "And just what
'favors' do you have to give in return for this opportunity?"
     Nabiki answered her friend's leer with a raised eyebrow. 
"Honey, I don't have to give anything for 'favors'.  I already
have him wrapped around my little finger."
     The girls giggled at Nabiki's suggestion of spousel control
- especially control of someone as rich and powerful as Jeffrey
Lawrence.
     "Well, the numbers are impressive," Summer said wistfully. 
"If you can pull this off, we're going to be *rich*."
     "I've been planning on a deal like this all my life.  It's -
how do you say - in the bag."  Nabiki grinned at her partners.
     "I'm in," Summer chirped.
     "Yeah, me too.  I can always start my dance clubs after I'm
loaded."
     Everyone laughed at Sandi's little dance of victory.  Nabiki
sagged contentedly into her chair.  She was getting her way,
again.  With the help of her husband, she had snatched a plum
investment that couldn't fail.  All she had to do now, was the
hard part; go back to Japan and pull all the loose ends together. 
She deliberately withheld that little tidbit from her proposal. 
If her friends even suspected how difficult the next step was
going to be, they'd have vetoed the idea at the outset.  Nabiki
forced a smile.  Yes, this was the easy part.  The toughest was
yet to come.

*****

     Jade finished wiping down the kitchen counter.  Everything
in the kitchen shined like new.  She liked clean kitchens.  They
made for easier cooking.  At least, that was what her mother
always said.
     Thoughts of her mother clung to her as she wrung out the
damp cloth and hung it neatly over the hump between the twin
sinks.  Since the episode with the bank robber, she'd felt guilty
about her slip, almost revealing her secret.  Her mother had
warned her about such revelation, fearing it would cause her
great trouble in the less tolerant Western world.  Despite the
warning, she was certain she'd done only what was necessary, yet
it continued to tormented her.  She'd revealed her training to
outsiders, worse yet, to Japanese outsiders.  She knew it was
wrong but just couldn't see how she had any other choice.
     There was also the matter of that ghost.  She was certain
there had been a ghost in the room at the time she dealt with the
bad guy.  What was most interesting, however, was that her
employer appeared to have actually summoned the spirit.  That
part bothered her more than her own indiscretion.  How was it
possible that her Japanese employer could summon spirits?  She
thought only elders from her mother's village could do that. 
Maybe Nabiki wasn't really Japanese at all.  Maybe she was really
Chinese acting Japanese.  Maybe she was really from...  Jade
swallowed hard.  So that was why Nabiki seemed so interested in
her.  Like her mother, Nabiki had to be an outcast from
Josetsuzoku, possibly the daughter of an elder.  Her mother had
told her tales of how elders sometimes quarreled and the loser
had to leave.  Yes, that was it.  Nabiki must be the daughter of
a Chinese Amazon elder, like her mother.  Nabiki's mother must
have been exiled from the village and unable to return.  Changing
her name would present no problem.  Getting to Japan would
present even fewer problems.
     A wave of disgust swept over her as her mind countered point
after point with cold, hard logic.  No, that couldn't be right. 
It would be almost impossible for Nabiki and her entire family to
pass themselves off as Japanese if they weren't really.  Besides,
Nabiki said her ancestors had been living on the same spot in
Nerima since before Tokyo was Tokyo.  There had to be another
solution.
     Her silent meditation on the problem was interrupted by the
diminutive cries of a person engaging in some form of martial
arts deeper in the house.  She filed the problem of Nabiki's
abilities away while she investigated.
     She knew the only other person home at the time was Nabiki's
daughter, Sodoshi.  Creeping down the hall, she reminded herself
how different things were since the carjacking incident.  Nabiki
had begun to treat Jade more like a family member than a refugee
Chinese girl.  That probably explained why Nabiki was willing to
trust her alone with the child.
     Further down the hall, the sounds grew louder.  They
appeared to be coming from the oversized exercise room.  She
frowned.  The child was supposed to be practicing her gymnastics
for Saturday's contest.  Jade didn't really understand about
gymnastics meets and all but knew it was something the child was
very good at and was curious about what all it entailed.  Maybe
it was something like a martial arts competition.
     The door to the exercise room was open and Jade peeked
inside.  There in the middle of the room with her back to the
door was little Sodoshi in an unmistakable fighting stance.  She
was facing down a large, water-filled punching bag.  What Jade
found so curious was the way the girl confronted the bag.  Her
stance was one Jade had never seen before.  Sideways to the bag,
her weight almost totally on the leg farthest away from her
target, the child's rear arm hung gracefully over her head, her
other arm stretched out towards the target, palm forward.  It
looked odd to Jade.  It also looked quite deadly.
     Without warning, Sodoshi spun like a tiny top, her rear leg
snapping around repeatedly striking the bag with a tiny 'pop'. 
The bag barely moved with each blow.  The child grunted something
under her breath and resumed her martial stance.
     There was something familiar in all the unfamiliarity of the
girl's actions.  Jade probed her memory for something similar.  


     It must have been ten or twelve years ago, in the basement
of her parents' restaurant.  Jade confronted a bagged opponent of
her own, only hers contained fat mushrooms and hung from the
rafters.  Using a technique taught to her by her mother, she
practiced for hours.  She remembered how her mother would come
down the stairs and watch her practice when there was a gap in
customers.  Sometimes, when things were really slow, her mother
would join her.  She remembered how impressed she was at her
mother's speed and power.  Wearing only a pair of sweat pants she
kept in the basement, her mother demonstrated the intricacies of
her martial art.  The look on her mother's face when she
practiced was that of sheer joy.  She was a person doing what she
was born to do; fight and fight well.  Quite a change from the
shy, obedient woman who greeted guests at their restaurant.
     Over the years, she taught Jade how to fight.  But this
training came with a warning to be careful.  Their technique was
special and not to be used unless absolutely necessary.  Jade
remembered this and rarely used her skills.

     "Is this gymnastics practice?" Jade asked.
     Sodoshi spun around, suddenly a frightened little girl
again.
     "Donno," Sodoshi mumbled as she frowned at the mat beneath
her feet.
     Jade smiled and stepped into the room.  "You fight very
well.  Your mother teach?"
     Sodoshi grimaced and shook her head.
     "Daddy teach?"
     Sodoshi hesitated before nodding abruptly.  "Please don't
tell Mommy," she begged.
     "Why?"  Jade's head tilted as she regarded the girl.  Why
shouldn't the child practice what was second nature to Jade?
     "Mommy says I shouldn't fight."  Sodoshi spared only a
single glance at the Chinese girl's face before going back to
frowning at the floor.
     "Well, usually mother right.  Girls in this country not
fight."  Jade moved closer to the little girl and was relieved
that the child didn't retreat further away.  "But sometimes girl
have to fight."
     Sodoshi's eyes crept up to examine Jade's face.  She
appeared to be searching for signs of deception.  Jade smiled as
supportingly as she could.  It was her version of the smile her
mother gave her when she was young.
     "You get more power when kick from hips," Jade said feigning
like she was going to kick the bag.  "Like this."  She slowly
showed how to properly rotate her body with her kick.
     The little girl nodded and studied the technique from
several angles.  "Show me," she finally demanded.
     Jade hesitated.  It was one thing to make a friendly
suggestion but quite another to actually demonstrate a particular
move using her mother's technique.  She was not supposed to
reveal her true skills, even to a child.  It was a secret she
swore her dying mother she would keep.  Yet, one look in little
Sodoshi's eyes caused her to long for any reason to break that
vow.
     "Please," Sodoshi said, her eyes blinking innocently.
     The internal struggle raged until Jade remembered something
her mother said.  Her mother felt compelled to search out and
help females who needed protection, showing them simple things to
protect themselves.  Nothing as advanced as her mother's
techniques but sufficient to discourage any would-be attacker.
Surely, this little child would qualify.  Jade glanced one more
time at Sodoshi before nodding.  Both backed away from the
punching bag.
     Jade dropped into her fighting stance, one quite different
from Sodoshi's.  With a sharp cry to release her ki, Jade's leg
snapped forward, striking the bag explosively.
     "Cool," Sodoshi gasped.
     Spurred on by the child's open admiration, Jade struck the
bag again and again, each time she caught Sodoshi analyzing every
aspect of her style.  Soon, the demonstration became a full
workout, with repeated blows from her hands as well as her feet. 
It felt good to be working out in a nice facility for a change.
For a grand finale, she vaulted over the bag and finished with a
thundering kick that caused the water-filled bag to waver on its
base.
     Gasping for breath, she felt a nudge at her shoulder.  It
was Sodoshi holding out a fresh towel.
     "You're good," the girl said in awe.  "Can you teach me to
do that?"
     "Can teach to kick," Jade said between gasps, dabbing the
sweat from around her neck.  "Mother must agree for Jade to teach
other things."
     Sodoshi frowned at the mat.  In a sign of resignation, she
turned away like she'd just been grounded.  "That's okay.  Forget
it."
     Jade hesitated before following.  There was something wrong
here.  The little girl obviously had been trained by her father
and had the skills to prove it but any mention of her mother's
involvement made the girl to retreat into a shell.  This was not
right, whatever it was.  No girl deserved to be at the mercy of
another person because she didn't know how to protect herself. 
That was one of her mother's guiding principles.  It took Jade
only a moment to make up her mind.  "Sodoshi?" she called softly.
     The little girl paused and looked back over her shoulder,
her apprehension obvious.
     "Mother teach Jade because Jade daughter.  Sodoshi need...
deserve same."  Jade straightened up to her full height.  "Jade
teach Sodoshi but Sodoshi must keep secret."
     Sodoshi's joy spread to her smile.  "Even from Daddy?" she
asked.
     Jade swallowed.  "Yes.  Even from father."
     Sodoshi stared at the floor before nodding.  "Okay, but we
gotta do a special promise," she finally said approaching the
taller Chinese girl.
     Holding out her right hand, she took Jade's hand and
extended her little finger.  Linking fingers, Sodoshi looked
deeply into Jade's eyes.  "We 'pinky promise' to keep our secret
- even from our parents," she said solemnly.  She'd obviously
done this before.
     Jade tightened her finger around the child's and nodded. 
"Jade promise too."
     "Good," the little girl said with a broad grin.  
     "Is bag part of gymnastics meet?" Jade asked.
     "Naw, that's fighting.  Gymnastics is different.  Hey, you
wanna watch me on the beam?  I'm gonna win a prize Saturday and
give it to Mommy."
     "Mother be very proud," Jade agreed as she followed the
little girl over to the practice balance beam Jeff had installed
in the oversized room.  Despite completely surrounded by thick
mats, it still looked imposing.
     "Daddy said I shouldn't practice on this unless an adult was
here to watch me."  Sodoshi walked around to the far side of the
beam and placed her hands on its surface.  "You're an adult."
     Jade nodded.  "What Jade do?"
     "Just watch.  That's all."  Sodoshi took a deep breath,
running her hands lightly over the beam until she was satisfied
with their placement.
     Jade moved a little closer, just in case the girl fell, and
watched as Sodoshi did her mount.  It looked like a little girl
climbing onto a high kitchen counter, first she pressed down with
her hands until her feet were off the floor, then swung one of
her legs up on the beam.  With a surprising amount of grace, she
turned on her hands until the knee of her other leg was able to
climb up and join the rest of her body on the surface.  Jade
clapped.
     "Not done yet," Sodoshi gasped with a frown.  It was obvious
to Jade she'd interrupted the girls rhythm.  She stepped back and
watched with interest.
     For a little girl, Sodoshi displayed an uncommon amount of
comfort and balance on the beam, moving effortlessly from one end
to the other, adding little flourishes with her hands and doing
occasional springs into the air.  Each time she landed in perfect
balance.  Even a couple of gallop springs that covered the length
of the beam looked graceful and totally in control.
     Sodoshi finished her routine by moving to the end of the
beam and jumping off, adding a squat between the leap and the
landing.  Her feet slapped on the thick pad as she landed, her
legs absorbing the impact before straightening and leaving her
standing.  She added a final arch of her back, her hands held
high to announce the completion of her routine.
     Jade took that as her clue and applauded with enthusiasm. 
"You very good," she gushed while clapping.  "Jade certain you
win Saturday."
     "Really?" Sodoshi said with a giggle.  "Hey, you wanna come
watch.  It's free."  She scurried over to a pile of books and
papers on the floor in the corner.  It took her only a moment to
locate the desired item.  Snatching a bright pink paper from all
the other stuff, she held it out for Jade.
     Jade read the document carefully.  It was an announcement
for a gymnastics meet for beginning gymnasts.  "Jade not sure. 
Saturday is day to clean at home."
     "Please," Sodoshi begged.  "I want you and Mommy and Daddy
to be there."
     "Well..."  Jade frowned at the paper.  In addition to
cleaning her family's apartment, she was supposed to watch her
siblings and make sure they did their homework before going out
to play.  Still, her father was always in favor of field trips
for his kids and she couldn't think of a better place for a field
trip than a gymnastics center.  Her brothers might be bored but
she was certain her sisters would find it interesting.  Besides,
her father had that big job planting new bushes down at the
library.  It would probably take him all day.  He could drop them
off in the morning and pick them up after work.  "Jade ask.  If
okay with Father, we come," she said with a smile.
     Sodoshi squealed with glee.  Taking Jade's hand, she towed
the taller girl towards the large open area covered with a single
mat.  "Let me show you my floor routine.  Everybody does a floor
routine.  I'm not so good as I am on the beam."
     There was no denying the little girl.  She had so much
energy and was so persistent.  Jade simply had to put on hold the
rest of her cleaning until Sodoshi was exhausted enough to end
her one-girl gymnastics exhibition.  Not that Jade really cared
about the delay in her cleaning.  She was almost done anyway.
     As she watched Nabiki's daughter tumble and leap about on
the thickly padded floor, she wondered if she was doing the right
thing agreeing to teach her how to fight.  Sure it met with her
own mother's rules but judging by the girl's reaction, Nabiki
could not be counted on to agree.  That would be a problem.  She
didn't like hiding things and hiding something from Nabiki would
most certainly be a detriment to their developing friendship. 
Most of all, she needed Nabiki's friendship.
     She had to think this through.  There was also the little
problem of her promise to Sodoshi.  She couldn't break that.  Her
mother taught her to NEVER break a promise.  It would be an
unforgivable blot on her honor.  Yes, this one was going to take
a little more time to figure out.

*****

     That evening, Sodoshi busied herself in her bedroom.  Her
parents were down the hall in their room but that was okay. 
Whatever they were doing was keeping them busy enough that they
left her alone.  She had plans to make and things to prepare. 
Tomorrow was her big day, the day she was going to participate in
her first gymnastics meet.  
     She almost missed the pizza her father brought home by
talking on the phone with her gymnastics friends.  They excitedly
discussed of how they were going to win a particular event or
beat the Rainbow Gym team in every event.  They traded
condolences for how the opposing team was going to feel bad at
having to face the best beginning gymnasts in the whole islands -
maybe even the entire country.
     After dinner, she skipped her favorite Friday evening TV
shows to prepare things down in her room.  It was going to be a
big surprise for her Mommy.
     Putting on her new competition leotard, she paused in front
of her full-length mirror.  Closing her eyes for a moment, she
could imagine being in a gym full of people.  There was Jade with
her brothers and sisters sitting in a row, right next to Rachel. 
They all cheered and clapped for the routines of her teammates. 
In the front row sat her Mommy and Daddy.  She could see them
smile as she did her balance beam routine.  Her mother's look of
pride was especially vivid.
     Sodoshi did a little hop in front of the mirror and bent her
back, throwing her hands up in the air like she'd just finished
her routine.  The applause was deafening.
     Then came the awards.  Naturally, she won for her balance
beam routine.  It was as perfect as an Olympic gymnast.  She felt
the little medal go around her neck and heard her name announced
over the loud speaker.  Casting a glance at her parents, she saw
her mother hugging her dad.  They both looked so proud.
     Excitedly, she giggled to herself and gathered the few
things she'd brought home for her parents; an official
announcement, an event program, a letter from the coach to the
parents, and a big club t-shirt for her Daddy.  He liked t-shirts
with sports things on them.  She started for the door when a
thought occurred to her.  Reaching into her little backpack, she
pulled out a new pencil with a nice sharp point on it.  The
program had a place where people could keep score.  She'd give
that and the pencil to her mother.  Mommy liked to do things with
numbers.
     Satisfied, she skipped down the hall towards her parents
bedroom.  This was going to be a great surprise, she thought.
     The wisdom of her young age was reflected in the way she
paused outside the door before entering.  She knew her Mommy and
Daddy sometimes did things behind closed doors that were secret. 
She certainly didn't want to interrupt that.
     Listening carefully, she heard them talking.
     "I just don't think this is such a good idea," her father
said.  "The timing is terrible."
     "Jeffrey," her mother's irritated voice cut through the
closed door like a knife.  "You know how time-dependant this deal
is.  I have less than ninety days to pull everything together or
the agreement papers and government permits expire."
     "I know, Nabs, and I understand.  I just don't think you
should leave until Sunday."
     "The only flight I can get out of here on Sunday would put
me in Tokyo on Monday, too late for my meeting with the Konosawa
Group.  You know how Japanese firms are about punctuality.  If I
ask for a delay in the meeting or show up late, they'll think I'm
an unreliable business partner.  I can't afford that.  The only
reason they agreed to meet with me in the first place is..."  Her
voice trailed off.
     "It's because of who you're married to," Jeff finished for
his wife.  He didn't sound too happy saying it either.
     "I guess so.  If I can only get in to talk with them, I know
I can convince them the partnership is a good idea," Nabiki said. 
"I really need their cooperation in this."
     "They're not the only people you need," Jeff said, his voice
sounding tired.  "You can't stay there and run the operation by
yourself."
     "I know and I'm working on that," Nabiki snapped back.  "If
I can convince the Konosawa Group to join my group in a
partnership, we'll double our exposure at half the cost.  I have
an idea about in-country help but it's not going to be easy."
     Sodoshi frowned at the door.  They certainly weren't doing
the thing they normally did in there.  Her mother usually wasn't
this talkative.
     "What about Sodoshi?" her father asked.  She slid closer to
the door at the sound of her name.
     "What about her?  I'll bring her a gift from Japan."
     Jeff sighed loud enough to be heard from the hallway. 
"That's not what I'm talking about.  What about tomorrow?  I'm
sure she's counting on you being there."
     "Jeffrey, it's just one time.  I won't miss her next...
whatever you call it."
     "Gymnastics meet," he corrected.
     "Yeah, I'm sure she'll understand this one time.  It can't
be helped.  It's business.  I promise I'll go to all the other
ones."
     Sodoshi's eyes dropped to the floor.  All the planning, all
the preparation was going to waste.  Her mother wasn't coming.
     She drifted back to her room, the sound of her parents
continuing their discussion echoing down the empty hall.  She
could tell her mother was becoming frustrated with the
discussion.  She'd slipped into Japanese again.
     Just inside her room, she got an idea.  Taking a blue
crayon, she pulled out the hot pink gymnastics meet announcement
and wrote something on the bottom.  It wasn't as good as her
mother being there but it would have to do.  Even if her mother
couldn't be there, she'd still win tomorrow and make her proud.
     Sneaking back out into the hall, she padded into the kitchen
and found her mother's brief case sitting open on the table. 
Climbing up on a chair, she slipped the announcement in a thick
folder under a copy of the Wall Street Journal.  Her mother was
sure to find it there.
     Returning to her room, she pulled off her leotard and got
ready for bed.  It was still early but she didn't want to stay up
any more.  She didn't want to hear her parents discussing
business stuff instead of talking about her.  Besides, they were
starting to get loud.  She wondered if Daddy was going to throw
Mommy in the pool again.
     She crawled into bed and turned off the light.  In a pool of
moonlight, she stared out the window at the trees swaying gently
in the cool island breeze.  Her mother would probably be gone
before she got up.  By the time she got to the gymnastics center,
her mother would be somewhere over the Pacific.  All the other
girls would have their mommies there.  She'd have to do with her
father, Rachel, and Jade.  She'd probably have more people there
than anyone else.  It didn't matter.  Her mommy wouldn't be among
them.
     She sniffed and rubbed her nose.  True to her Shinobi
training, she refused to cry.  Gritting her teeth, the girl
forced back a black wave of self-pity.  
     "Maybe Daddy is wrong.  Maybe Mommy really does love being
in Japan more than here with me."