The sun had just peeked over the horizon, when the Ride of the Valkyries began to play. With a grumbling moan Tonya rolled over blindly groping the nightstand for her cell phone.

Not bothering to open her eyes or check the caller id, she flipped the phone open and held it to her ear. “’Lo?” she mumbled gruffly into the receiver.

“Well you sound cheerful,” Madame Vu drawled. Tonya only grunted in response. “What time is it there?”

“Early.” Tonya finally open one eye and turned her gaze to the windows. “Sun’s barely up.”

“As are you,” Madame Vu retorted. “I called to inform you that Tora’s coming to visit you for the summer.”

“Summer break? July?” Tonya asked as she rubbed her eyes.

“No, the whole summer. June, July, and August.”

Tonya blinked. “What about school?”

“We’re working out all the details, but she can getting her assignments online, study there, and email in her homework. There is a possibility of video taping her classes as well.”

A frown creased Tonya’s brow. “I’m not sure I understand the situation. Why are you going to so much trouble for her to visit me? What’s really going on?”

Madame Vu’s sigh was heavy. “Her powers are starting to manifest.”

Tonya sat up, her heart hammering against her ribs, and she swallowed hard. “But…”

“You knew this was coming,” Madame Vu said in a clipped tone. “She’ll be there in a month. Zo will call you with the travel details later. You can do this, Tonya.”

The phone disconnected with a loud click and Tonya stared at the device as the dial tone droned on. Flipping the phone shut, she got out of bed and began to pace as her panic rose higher and higher. I can’t do this! What the hell were they thinking?!? What the hell was I thinking, for that matter!?! What if she asks?!? Flipping open the phone, she started to press the speed dial button to call Madame Vu back. I’ll tell her this is crazy. I can’t do this. I was just a kid when I said I’d do it! She paused mid stride, the button half pressed, hesitating and staring at the phone once more. With a heavy sigh, she shut the phone and sank to the floor in defeat. I promised…Burying her face in her hands, she resigned herself to the task.

Zarbon had been awakened by the call and now watched his lover with worried eyes. He couldn’t recall when Tonya had ever looked so desperate and scared. Just who had that call been from and what had been said? Carefully, he slipped from the bed and moved toward her. “Luv,” he said softly as he knelt in front of her, “What’s wrong?”

She sighed into her hands. “Nothing.” She gave a heavier sigh and smooth her hair back. She gave her lover a sad, enigmatic smile. “Everything.” Standing abruptly, she walked towards the door. “I need to talk to Techno.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She had been at the Mansion for the weekend because Robert had asked her to come. There was a party Friday night and she felt awkward being the only child among so many adults. Introduced to more people than she could possibly hope to remember the names of later, her thirteen year old brain struggled to keep the data straight. The next day was much better as she was able to help with several small repairs and some yard work.

They were playing mahjong when Robert’s video phone buzzed. As per her usual manner, she ignored the call until she heard her name and Robert’s curse. She turned her wide eyes toward her great uncle, who in turn, glanced her way and shut the door. Without moving, Tonya could still hear every word through the heavy oak door, and her eyes widened further. The conversation lasted only a few minutes more, but Robert didn’t immediately open the door. When he finally emerged, he smiled at her cheerfully. “Sorry about that. It was just an old friend with a small problem,” he said as he reclaimed his seat. “Where were we?”

Tonya took a breath. “I want to help,” she said simply.

Robert’s smile faded and he shook his head. “It’s a difficult and dangerous mission. You’re not ready.”

“I want to help,” Tonya repeated. “It’s my fa…”

“No!” Robert snapped. Tonya flinched at Robert’s tone and shrank back into her chair. “It’s Not your fault,” Robert said in a calmer voice. “I don’t want you to even think that for one more second. If it’s anyone’s fault, it is mine. I thought that I had dealt with this problem for good.”

He sighed and studied the girl who was also studying him. Robert realized she probably would be an important part of this situation by the end, though it was going to be dangerous at first. He carefully placed his hand on the table, palm up and waited. Without hesitation, Tonya placed her hand on top of his and watched him close his eyes. She sat quietly, waiting for his answer, knowing that this would be his final answer. The minutes ticked by slowly, then Robert sighed and opened his eyes.

“Are you absolutely certain?” he asked. The girl nodded. “Alright, then here’s the plan…”

- - - - - -

Tonya knocked loudly on Techno’s door.

“What?” he yelled.

“I need to talk to you.”

“Later.”

“I don’t really think this can wait.”

“After breakfast.”

Tonya growled. “Put on your patch, I’m coming in.”

She opened the door, stepped into the room, and froze staring at the bed. Dee waved meekly, blushing darkly while Techno glared. Cursing her excellent night vision, Tonya slapped a hand over her eyes as her brain unjammed. “After breakfast then,” she said backing out of the room and shutting the door.

- - - - - -

After the last person had finally sat down for breakfast, Tonya cleared her throat. “We will have another roommate in about a month. Tora Kamiya will be coming from Japan to spend the summer with us.”

Techno’s scowl had briefly turned changed to a worried frown, but as all eyes were on Tonya, only she saw it. “Her powers are starting to show.”

Tonya nodded.

“So?” Sebastian asked. “Is there a school or something she can attend? Like the island?”

“It’s complicated,” Tonya said with a sigh. She put her head in her hands and stared at the table top. “She ten and she is like a little sister to me. Please just bare with me and it will be over soon.” She stood abruptly and left the room before anymore questions could be asked.

All eyes turned to Techno. “It’s her house,” was all he said.

- - - - - -

Tora pressed her nose to the glass, and stared at the tops of the clouds looking for a break in the fluffy whiteness. She hoped for a glimpse of the California coast line before the plane landed, to see if the maps in her school books were accurate. Excitement and a little bit of fear warned in her mind and she squirmed in her seat once again. This was her first trip out of Japan and on top of that she was solo! No parents for three whole months! All of her classmates were so jealous that she was skipping school and traveling aboard, alone. They didn’t believe that she would still have to do her assignment, tests, and study as normal. She frowned slightly at the thought. But she knew her neesan, older sister, would ensure that. But she was also going to get “Special training.” What that meant, she wasn’t sure, but Madame Vu had promised.

Half an hour later, the wheels of the plane touched the earth again. The stewardess handed her carry on to her and Tora disembarked into the strange, new land. Knowing she had only minutes before she had to be on the next plane, she hurried to find a quieter spot of the terminal, pulling out her cell phone as she ran. To her dismay, the screen read “No Service” and she hadn’t a single bar. Spinning around, she desperately looked for a landline and spotting a cluster of phones against the far wall. She started for them, but before she could even get close, the stewardess caught her with a frown.

“Time to go, Sweetie,” the tired looking red head said. “And you need to stay with me next time. Unaccompanied minors aren’t allowed to run around the airport unsupervised.”

“But I need to make a call,” Tora said, her emerald eyes desperate. Her mother had impressed upon her the importance of calling Tonya as soon as she arrived in the United States. “Neesan will not know to pick me up if I do not!”

“You’ve still got two plane rides to go before then,” the overworked woman replied as if Tora was a two year old. She took the phone from Tora and put it in the carry on bag as she drug her along towards the boarding line of the next plane.

- - - - - -

Tonya frowned at the late night sky spreading like a silvery gray blanket above her. Not a star could be seen, though no clouds marred the sky. Kansas City was so bright. And crowded. And loud. Sighing , she checked her watch again before returning her gaze to the heavens. Tora’s plane was running about two hours behind now, due to bad weather. Though she didn’t honestly believe in them, this seemed like another bad omen. First Daniel had left, and now Tora was late.

Tonya assumed that Tora hadn’t called because of the short time between planes. Though it was just as likely the girl had gotten distracted by something shiny or new and simply forgot. Checking her watch again, she slid off the hood and climbed back into the Jaguar. Laying the seat back, she tried to relax and not think about what might be.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tonya sat rigidly in the back seat of the large SUV. She knew that one of the three government agents that had gone into the building was an accomplish of Robert’s, but she didn’t know which one. Her instructions had been simple: Stay in the vehicle. Take care of the baby. When you are told, take the baby and run. Clothes will be waiting for you at the airport.

All too soon, the two nondescript men and severe looking woman returned. The woman was carrying a squirming bundle that she thrust at Tonya like it was a sack of garbage or something equally distasteful. “Keep IT quiet!” the woman snapped as the child fussed at the sudden move.

Tonya gingerly took the bundle and rocked it, cooing soothingly. Tiny hands reached up and grabbed at the curly strands of red hair, that Tonya hurrying pulled out of reach.

“Let’s go,” the sandy haired man told the dark haired driver as a pasty faced, balding man ran out of the building, yelling and waving his arms.

They drove off quickly, and soon arrived at the John F. Kennedy International Airport. The agents walked around Tonya like a dignitary escort, making the girl wonder how she was going to give them the slip went the time came. They checked in for their flight to Dallas and were escorted to a private lounge to wait for the boarding. Tonya paced in front of the windows, still rocking the infant, while the fanny pack full of tickets and passports hidden at her waist felt like a lead weight. The baby began to fuss again and Tonya wrinkled her nose at the smell.

“I’m going to change the baby,” she said heading for the lounge’s private bathroom.

“Wait for me,” the woman agent said. “We don’t want you to try anything funny.”

“Funny? While changing a baby?” Tonya stopped and looked at the angry woman. “Like what? Throwing the diaper at someone? I‘m thirteen years old!”

“Like running away? It‘s the perfect age for the kind of stunt,” the woman snapped, grabbed Tonya’s arm, and drug her into the restroom.

“Huh?” Tonya asked looking blank. “What the…heck? Seriously, we’re on the third floor and the that’s the only door,” she replied nodding at the lounge’s door. The sandy haired agent sat right next to it, looking vaguely amused by the woman’s outburst.

The woman paused, gave the man and Tonya a dirty look, then shoved Tonya toward the restroom. “Just move!”

It took only a few moments to change the diaper, but it felt like an eternity with “Bitchzilla the agent” standing right behind her. Tonya wanted to ask her if she would feel better if she had Tonya changing the kid at gunpoint, but didn’t as she suspected the woman would do so. As she began to snap the snaps of the jumper shut, she heard the sound of a large group of people running their way. A woman screamed, and the sound’s of panic and more running feet made Tonya look at the door.

“What the Hell?” the woman growled, and then there was a shot. The agent drew her gun and headed for the door as a multitude of gunshots began, the echoes reverberating around the terminal.

“Wait,” Tonya cried as the woman’s hand touched the knob. Tonya gave her a ‘terrified kid’ look as she trembled. “W-wouldn’t it be better to stay here?” she asked hopefully.

“You stay here,” the female agent snarled, then burst through the door.

Tonya stopped shaking and rolled her eyes. She calmly finished redressing the baby girl who cooed up at her, emerald eyes bright in her tiny face. Smoothing the baby’s chestnut locks, Tonya wrapped her back into her blanket. “Time to go, Kitten.” The window latch, out of reach for a normal person, was easy prey for one who could fly. Everyone below her was too busy with their own lives to even think of looking up. Carefully slipping out the tiny opening, she used a string and a wire to pull the window to pull the window shut and latch it.

Landed quickly, she sprinted around the building to another entrance and slipped inside. Slowing her pace, she calmly walked to the bank of lockers directly next to a red-haired young woman wearing a hot pink shirt. Tonya handed her the ticket the agents had given her and the woman handed her a locker key and walked off. Tonya quickly located the locker in the section directly across the way and opened it. She pulled out the diaper bag inside and headed for the restroom.

Ducking into a stall, she wrapped her tail around the baby. Tonya pulled off the wig, then her shirt, and pulled a fresh shirt and a short blond wig out of the bag. Carefully holding the little girl with her tail, Tonya managed to change her outfit as well, the baby cooing the whole time. The final items in the bag were another locker key and a baby sling. Pocketing the key, Tonya put on the sling and tucked the child into it, then stuffed all of the old clothes, the wig, and the baby blanket into the bag. Wrapping her tail around her waist, she smoothed her shirt over it and left the stall. She dropped the red contacts into the trash on her way out the door.

The second locker contained a fresh diaper bag which she exchanged with the first bag. She realized the gunshots had stopped and she briefly wondered who had won the exchange or if it was even related to her cargo. She check in at another gate, this one headed for France, then handed off the tickets to a green eyed blond near the Orange Julius. Taking a deep breath, she walked up to the final terminal, checked in, and was shortly on a plane headed for California.

From California, it was a fourteen hour trip to Japan. By the time she arrived at the tea house in Tokyo where is was to meet up with Robert, she was fully enamored with the little girl in her care. After she had given the girl to the happy couple who would become her parents, she had answered Robert’s query without a thought to the future or the consequences of her promise.

- - - - - -

As soon as she entered the Kansas City International Airport, her “Babysitter” had told her good bye and disappeared before Tora could protest. Not realizing she had been left in the care of another airline staff member, along with six other children, Tora ran to find a quiet spot to try to call Tonya again. Without realizing it, she lost the harried staff member without much of a chase. Digging in her bag as she ran, she found her phone and pulled it out. It was off, confirming the beeps she’d heard had been the “Low Battery” warning. She tried to turn it on, but the phone refused to work.

Walking quickly, she scanned the walls for a phone. The first and second kiosks of phones were out of service. The third was open, but as she reached for receiver, she realized she didn’t have any money. She couldn’t call collect as she didn’t know Tonya number, nor could she call home as she didn’t know the international number. Both had been carefully programmed into her phone by her father, but the phone was useless now. Clinging to her bag, she tried not to give in to the rising panic and racked her brain for an answer. Suddenly she remembered the phone’s charger was in her suitcase. Once she had her suitcase, she could plug in the phone, and call Tonya. She wheeled around, looking for a sign to point her way.

Finding the luggage collection area was easier than finding the phones. She waited patiently among the passengers, waiting for her bad to appear on the track. Ten minutes later, her nervousness had return as she was alone again and her bag had not appeared.

Maybe there is another pickup place. Or someone accidentally took it. She twisted the strap of her carry on anxiously. Finally, the giant, black bag lumbered out of the tunnel and she ran to it. Seizing the handled, she braced herself and pulled with all her might, but the bag refused to budge. Expecting Tonya to be there to help her, her mother had packed the biggest bag allowed as heavy as she could. And now Tora couldn’t do anything with the bag except tug futilely at the handle.

It was too much for the little girl and she began to sob, following her bag around the track, fruitlessly tugging at the impossible weight. Suddenly the bag stopped moving and Tora looked up through tear filled eyes.

“Need a hand?” Tonya asked, smiling softly.

“Neesan!” Tora cried as she threw herself at Tonya, hugging her tightly.

Tonya pulled the bag off the track easily with one hand, and patted Tora’s hair with the other. “It’s okay, Kitten. You’re safe now.”

Tora stepped back and wiped her eyes with the handkerchief Tonya offered her. “I tried to call, honest I did, neesan,” she said in a wavering voice. “But I did not have service and the stewardess would not let me use the public phone. She took my phone before I could turn it off and put it in my bag, and the battery died, so I could not call you now. And I did not know the number and …”

Tonya knelt and wrapped the girl in a tight hug. “It’s okay, Tora. I’m not upset at all. Let’s go find something to eat. Okay?”

Tora nodded and grabbed Tonya’s hand. “How did you know when to come if I did not call you?” she asked looking up at Tonya.

“Zo’s been tracking your flight. Other than the weather delay, and the airport changing your landing gate, she’s been pretty accurate.” Tonya smiled sheepishly. “I was standing at the wrong gate for probably thirty minutes before I realized the airport had changed the gates. By the time I’d found the right one, you were long gone. So I hurried to the baggage claim hoping to catch you there. Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Tora answered squeezing Tonya’s hand. “You found me.”

- - - - - -

Tora blinked awake and sat up rubbing her eyes. She had fallen asleep on the way to the Mansion and had barely awaken when Tonya had carried her to her room and put her to bed. Tora looked around the room slowly before she crawled out of bed and stretched. Opening her suitcase, she debated what she should put on to face the day. Would they start sword training right away, meaning the kimono hanging on the closet door should be her choice, or would school work be the first item of the day, meaning casual clothes? Or did Tonya have something entirely different planned? She fingered the Hello Kitty pajamas she wore and wondered if anyone would be offended if she went to find Tonya wearing them and a bathrobe.

Before she could decide, there was a yell from outside and the clash of metal on metal.. Running to the window, Tora yanked open the curtains and stared at the beautiful garden before her attention was caught by the two combatants slashing at each other with swords. Spying the blood as it ran freely down her sister’s arm, Tora grabbed her training sword from its rack and ran from the room.

* * * * * *

“We’re going to get chewed out again if you keep yelling like that,” Tonya growled as she parried the thrust to her chest.

“Swords cut better with a bit a yell,” Sally retorted as she dodged a strike to her legs. “Just like a yell in Karate.”

“I though we were practicing sword style and form, not Butchery 101.” Tonya hissed as Sally’s blade broke through her defense and opened her right shoulder. “Sadist.”

“If you’d keep your focus, you wouldn’t be bleeding. As much,” Sally said with a smirk.

While Sally’s skill with a sword was greater, Tonya had the advantage of greater strength and a higher pain threshold. Tonya also focused more on defense, attacking only when she saw the chance and often holding back too much when she did for fear of seriously injuring her friend. As Sally was the predominate user of the sword, this worked out well enough as she could bait Tonya into attacking and not worry to much if her sword met flesh instead of steel.

Focused on each other, they didn’t hear the backdoor open. But Sally did sense the attack from behind, and spun to block it with her sword, knocking it out of Tora’s hands. Sally blinked at the angry young girl, then looked at Tonya, a clear question in her eyes.

“Leave my sister alone!” Tora demanding glaring at Sally.

Sally continued to look at Tonya who shook her head and picked up the wooden sword to examine it for damage. “What are you doing out here, Tora?”

“You were under attack,” the girl replied. “I came to help.”

“Thank you,” Tonya answered offering the sword back to Tora. “But we were just sparring.”

“But you’re bleeding!”

Sally grinned. “Tonya has a tendency to do that.”

Tonya rolled her eyes. “Sally is a better swordwoman than I,” she explained. “You could learn a lot from her.” She met Sally’s gaze again. “Sally, this is Tora from Japan, my apprentice. Tora, this is Sally, one of my best friends and a housemate.”

“I’m going to assume that you’ve lost track of time again,” Techno called from the doorway. “It’s 7:30.”

Sally yelped and ran for the house, startling Tora.

“She has class at 8:00.” Tonya explained. “Shall we have breakfast?”

Tora eyed the numerous cuts on Tonya’s arms and legs, some of which still oozed blood. “You’re still bleeding.”

“Ah, maybe a shower first, then breakfast.”

- - - - - - - -

Taking a break from sword training, Tonya handed Tora a bottle of water before opening one herself. Tora waited until she was sure Tonya had swallowed, then asked the question she’d been dying to ask for months. Tonya on the other hand had been thinking about the next set of moves she wanted to show the girl, staring at the landscape before her lost in thought. She heard Tora speak, but did not register what was said.

“Hmm?” She turned toward the girl and tilted her head.

Tora hesitated, then repeated, “Are you my mother?”

Tonya just stared at her a moment, her expression clearly asking What the Hell? “No, Tora,” she replied. “Are you feeling okay? Did you hit your head?”

Tora shook her head and sighed in annoyance. “I’m fine.” She picked at the label of the bottle. “I know I’m adopted,” she said quietly. “Mom and Dad told me a couple months ago, after I had already figured it out.” She looked up at Tonya. “And you look just like me.”

Tonya smiled ruefully, secretly glad that girl hadn’t figured out the truth. “Sorry, Kitten, it’s not me. I would have been only thirteen at the time.”

“It’s possible.”

“And a bit insulting.”

“Sorry, neesan.” Tora gave her a hopeful look. “But you do know who is right? Mom said you were the one who brought me to them.”

Tonya studied the bottle in her hand, then looked at the garden again. “I will tell you, Tora,” she began and the girl’s heart beat quickened. Tonya met her gaze again. “But not today. I think you need to be older to hear this story.” Tora started to protest and Tonya caught her hands. “Kitten, I swear to you, I will tell you the whole story someday. But I don’t think you are ready yet. Just be patient. Okay?”

Tora squirmed a moment. “Alright, Tonya. I’ll wait.”

Tonya squeezed Tora’s hands gently and smiled. “Okay, now the next sequence is more difficult as it requires you to jump from stance to stance.”

“Jump?”

“Leap, spring, uh, like this.” Tonya did a quick, but complicated series of moves, fairly bouncing around the clearing. “Tada.” Tora was staring at her teacher in disbelief. “You start like this,” Tonya said moving into the first stance and Tora hurried to copy her.

- - - - - -

Tonya rolled to her back when she sensed the door open, but didn’t open her eyes. It shut again and she drifted back towards deep sleep. Suddenly a compact weigh pounced straight onto her stomach, jolting her awake.

“Scared you!” Tora crowed as she looked down at her sensei. “I am two days older, neesan. Will you tell me now?”

The dark look made Tora shiver, but Tonya didn’t speak. Instead, she grabbed Tora and rolled onto her side. “Go to sleep,” was the only thing she said.

Tora wiggle a bit to find a more comfortable position and felt the bed move as someone else changed position as well. As Tonya didn’t move, Tora realized there was a third body in the bed. She twisted in Tonya’s grasp and found herself looking up at Zarbon. Gold studied emerald a second before he smiled slightly.

“Do I need to leave?” he asked softly.

Tora blushed, but shook her head. “Gomen,” she whispered.

“What is she supposed to tell you?” Zarbon asked quietly.

“Sleep!” Tonya growled as Tora opened her mouth to answer. Zarbon dropped out of sight and Tora closed her eyes.

- - - - - -

Tora was hot, tired, and frustrated as dusk began to creep into the garden. She hadn’t gotten any “special training” in the two weeks she’d been in America and Tonya hadn’t mentioned anything about it at all. On top of that, the moves she was practicing now were more difficult and she had to wear the kimono, which restricted her movements. Every time she tripped over the hem, which was often, she had to start over. Finally, there was the look Tonya was giving her, the one that drove Tora nuts because she just couldn’t figure out what it meant.

She tripped again, fell to her knees and dropped the sword. “What?” she snapped at Tonya.

Tonya blinked, startled out of her thoughts. “What?” she echoed softly.

“What is that look for?”

“What look?”

Tora growled and stood up, balling her fists. “The look you were just giving me!”

“I’m sorry, Kitten. I didn’t realize that I…”

“You always give me that look!” Tora snapped again, her voice raised in frustration.

Tonya tilted her head. “I do?”

“Yes! What are you thinking?”

Tonya hesitated, trying to sort out her feelings and decide how much to say. “I guess it’s mostly pride in how good you’ve gotten.” Tora frowned. “And…maybe a bit of envy at your normal life.”

“Normal?” Tora asked quietly.

“Yeah, school and friends, and normal preteen worries,” Tonya added with a smile.

“Normal?” Tora asked again. The anger that had been building all day finally overflowed. “Can normal kids do this?” she asked as levitated off the ground. “Or this?” she asked as she dropped back to the earth and changed into a small brown panther. “How is this normal?” she snarled. Taking some satisfaction from Tonya’s wide eyed expression, Tora opened her mouth to say something nasty and froze.

No one knew she could do those things, and she knew what had to people who were “different.” She had seen enough movies to know she had screwed up big time. Her sister wouldn’t hurt her, but other people wouldn’t be so kind. But then again, she thought, Tonya wasn’t really her sister. Tora had just started calling her that as a child and never stopped. This woman before her could just as easily be waiting for her to do something like this, and then whisk Tora off to some facility never to be heard from again. Crouching low, she trembled in fear, then sprang over Tonya’s head and broke into a run, streaking through the undergrowth as fast as she could.

She cleared the tall limestone wall in one bound and darted into the road. Headlights blinded her and she froze in the middle of the road as the deafening semi truck horn blew. Strong hands grabbed her and pulled her out of the way and off the road into the deep brush on the side of the road. As her rescuer crouched in the tall weeds, Tora felt one hand grasp her muzzle as the other held her immobile against her rescuer’s body.

The truck groan to a lurching halt and she felt her rescuer tense. Tora heard the truck driver open the his door and the crunch of the man’s boots as he searched the road. She squirmed, and felt the grip on her body tighten as her rescuer hissed, “Shh.” Tora froze as she heard another vehicle arrive.

“Problems?” a voice asked and Tora felt the tension leave her rescuer.

“Nah,” a second voice answered. “Something ran out in the road. Thought I hit it, but I don’t see nothing. Looked like a cat or a dog.”

“Well, I don’t see any blood, so you must have missed it,” the first voice replied. “Tell you what, I’ll keep looking for a bit, why don’t you head on.”

“Alright, Officer. Thanks,” the second voice answered. “I just didn’t want some kid to find their pet flat on the road..” The driver climbed back into his truck and drove off.

A few moments passed, then the first voice called, “Hello? Are you okay?”

Tora felt her stomach lurch as her rescuer stood and released her muzzle. “We’re fine, Alec. Thanks for the assist.” Tora twisted her head this way and that as she tried to look up at her sister.

Alec noticed the panther cub and smirked. “You shrink Zarbon again?”

Tonya laughed and shook her head as she walked back to the road. “Apparently Tora’s a shape shifter.”

“Welcome to the fold, then,” Alec said with a slight bow. “Would you like a lift to the main gate?”

“Actually, I think we’ll just go back over the wall. Thanks anyway. Have fun at work.”

“See you later then,” Alec said as he got into his car. He waved and drove off.

Adjusting her grip on Tora as she crossed the road, Tonya jumped the wall with ease. “Now,” Tonya said dryly, “Can I put you down so we can talk, or are you going to freak out and run away again?”

“You can put me down,” Tora said quietly. She blinked at Tonya’s tail as the tip flicked slightly. Then she just stared as her brain caught up with the facts. Tonya had a tail and she just jumped a ten foot wall with ease! Further more, Tonya didn’t seem the least bit surprised by the fact Tora had powers. Tora shifted back into her human form and looked up at her sister apologetically.

“I was going to cal Vu tonight and tell her she was wrong about your powers starting to show. After all it had been two weeks with a sign…” Tonya continued as Tora blushed. “What else can you do?”

Tora fidgeted slightly. “Umm, I do not think I can do anything else. Should I be able to?”

Tonya opened her mouth, then shook her head slightly. “No, what you have is fine. Shall we pick up our things, and then find Zarbon?”

“Niisan? Why?” Tora asked as she followed Tonya.

“Well, he’s a shifter and he can fly,” Tonya replied. “I can only fly.”

Tora gaped at her sister for a moment, then shook her head to clear it and ran to catch up. “How did Madame Vu know that I had powers?” Tora asked after a moment of silence. “Or that they were starting to show?” She thought she saw Tonya’s tail grow fluffier for a moment, but it passed so quickly she wasn’t sure.

“Madame Vu is special,” Tonya replied slowly. “I don’t know how much I should tell you about her, so I will leave it at that. You can ask her yourself when you get back to Japan.”

Tora blinked and frowned. “You do not like to give much information, do you?”

Tonya laughed. “You’re just picking the wrong subjects, Tora. I’m just as talkative as you on most things.” Her look turned serious. “Secrets are hard to keep, Kitten. The fewer you have, the easier it is. Secrets about other people are even harder. And only those people should have the right to chose who knows their secrets.” Then she smiled and hugged Tora to her side. “Now, let’s go scare Zarbon!”

- - - - - -

“The sun is not even awake!” Tora grumbled in protest.

Tonya pulled the sleepy girl along, trying not to laugh. “You wanted to come with me to work, Kitten. I told you I started early.”

“I did not think it would be this early.”

“I could call and have Zarbon come get you,” Tonya offered slyly. “He could bring you back out later.” She watched her little sister out of the corner of her eye as the girl blushed a deep red.

“No, that’s fine,” Tora replied quickly. Her body felt funny when he was near, making it hard to concentrate when Zarbon was trying to tell her something, and she was well aware that her sister had noticed her behavior. Zarbon on the other hand, seemed oblivious to her little crush and Tora had decided that was a good thing, as it would only make it more embarrassing.

She followed Tonya around the Refuge and helped her with some of the chores. Checking her watch again, Tonya opened the door to into backroom filled with toys, ledges, and things to climb. Tora blinked in surprise when Tonya shut the door behind them and opened the doors to the three of the large cat enclosures. She flatten against the wall as several young cats, all about her size when she transformed, gamboled into the room followed by their much larger mothers.

“Okay, we have about 45 minutes before anyone else…arrives…What are you doing cowering against the wall?” Tonya asked as she turned to look at Tora.

“You just let a bunch of tigers and lions into the room,” Tora replied. “I am trying to look big and uneatable.”

“Oh,” Tonya tilted her head. “That makes sense. But I was thinking more along the lines of you playing with the cubs.”

“And you were going to tell me when?”

“In the truck on the way here, but you must have been asleep at that point,” Tonya replied watching the cubs flock around Tora. The three mother cats gave her a cautious sniff, looked at Tonya, and then chose a ledge to nap on.

“You’re wasting time, Tora,” Tonya said. “The moms don’t care. So have fun.”

“If you say so,” Tora replied and changed into her panther form.

The cubs studied each other a moment before a little tigress pounced on Tora and a giant free for all wrestling match mixed with a bit of tag started. Tonya leaned against the wall, eyes on the fray watching for any behavior that was too rough for the combatants, just like the supposedly sleeping mothers. A lion cub broke from the group with Tora hot on his heels. They sparred and chased each other as the other cubs began to play more with the toys than with each other.

Tonya smirked as Tora had pinned the lion down and was about to declare her victory with a roar, the girl completely unaware a third party had joined the game. The little tigress that had initiated the first attack had been stalking the duo and broke from cover to pounce on the pair. The trio scrambled and wrestle a bit, before the group tumbled off the ledge and onto a dozing tigress. The mother tiger looked at the three cubs, none of which belonged to her, and growled softly, causing the trio to notice where they had landed.

The other two cubs bolted, but Tora who had been on the bottom of the pile, froze in fear. The tigress bared her fangs and opened her mouth, and Tora knew she was going to die. The big cat breathed in, then made a face like she had smelled something unpleasant before she gave Tora a lick and a nudge. Tora took this as a sign to go and trotted over to Tonya, and pressed against her leg.

“I thought she was going to eat me,” Tora said wide eyed.

Tonya snorted. “That’s one of the reasons I brought you in here. To learn to be a cat.” She gestured to the tigress. “That was move and the accompanying face is called a flehmen reaction. Cats do it when they want to know a bit more about a smell than the information their nose is giving them.”

“I’ve heard about that on TV,” Tora said. “Why do I need to know how to be a cat?”

“There might come a time in your life where you want to use this form, or need a disguise. If you don’t know what a cat does in certain situations, you’ll be recognized fairly quickly. This will also develop your senses so you are less likely to say, run out into the road in front of a truck?”

“Oh.”

“But it’s time to move on now. We’ll come back tomorrow.”

“Okay.” Tora shifted back to her human form.

Tonya called to the mother cats, who in turn called to the cubs and the group disappeared back into the separate enclosures. Tora skipped through the door as Tonya held it open, her fear totally dissipated. “That was so much fun!” she crowed as she spun and bounced around the room. “What else can we…oof!”

Tonya turned from the door just in time to see Tora run smack into Steve. He caught the girl by the shoulders to keep her from falling, but almost dropped her as her got a good look at her face.

Tora blushed in embarrassment , then blushed deeper as she stared up at the handsome man who was staring at her. “Gomen.”

Steve steadied her and let go. “Sorry ‘bout that. My name’s Steve.”

“Tora.” The girl bowed, her cheeks still a flame. “Excuse me.” Quick as she could she darted around the bewildered man and out of the building.

Steve turned his gaze to Tonya, who looked incredibly amused. “Tora?”

“A friend from Japan. She’s like a little sister to me,” Tonya replied.

“I can see the family resemblance,” Steve replied. “She looks just like you. In fact, I actually thought it was you, shrank or something for a second.”

Tonya frowned. “Please don’t mention that in front of her,” she said.

Steve started to say something, then nodded. “Shall I to pretend that I don’t see this, just the way I usually do?”

Tonya tilted her head. “Us being in that room or the way Tora looks?”

“Both.”

“If you wouldn‘t mind. Will you help me track her down?”

“Okay.” They walked in silence for a few moments, before he spoke again. “You do realize that someday I am going to ask you, right?”

“Why?” she replied. “You already know. If you pretend not too, it just makes life a little easier.” Steve chuckled. “Oh, and I’m hoping that the blush on her face means that she going to crush on you. So if you could pretend to not see that as well…”

“Should I ask why, or am I pretending on that part as well?”

“She got a major crush on Zarbon. I’m hoping that having another hot guy in her life will cool it down a bit.”

“Sometimes, it seems that you really do have things planned out,” Steve said after a moment.

“No, I’m just pretending.”

- - - - - -

Weeks had passed and Tora was slowly getting use to the fact that almost everyone in the Mansion had powers. Her training sessions, both sword and paw, as she like to call them, had intensified as the school break had began.

While Tonya and Sally were lifting weighs, Tora wandered the mansion looking for prime hiding places. Tonya, Zarbon, and even Bowie were teaching her how to avoid detection and how to track via long games of hide and seek. She paused outside a door that was usually shut and locked, but today it stood wide open. Tonya had told her this was Great Uncle Robert’s office, and that there was nothing interesting in there.

She poked her head into the room and spotted Techno behind the large oak desk, reading some papers spread in front of him. After her initial introduction in the garden, she had only seen him for meals, but Tonya had warned her he wasn‘t very social. “Hello.”

Techno glanced up briefly. “Hello.”

“What are you doing?”

“Reading.”

Tora walked carefully around the office, looking at everything, but touching nothing. She knew most of these interesting looking things were antiques because of her grandmother’s shop. She also knew that people didn’t like others touching things in their offices, especially little kids, from a day at her father’s office. But a photograph on the corner table made her break that rule as soon as she saw it. She picked it up wide eyed, stared a minute, then walked to the desk and set it in front of the one eyed man.

“Who’s this?” she asked as Techno blinked at the picture that had invaded his paperwork.

“Robert MacMickle. Put it back,” Techno replied trying to push the photo out of his way.

Tora held it firm. “Why am I in the picture with him?”

Techno sighed. “You’re not.”

“Yes, I am. Right there.” Tora pointed at the young girl who stood next to Robert. She could have been Tora’s twin.

Growling under his breath, Techno pulled the picture toward him to examine closer. “This picture is over ten years old, so it can’t be you. That’s Tonya in the green dress. Probably one of the few of her in a dress…”

Tora eyes widened as did Techno’s, but hers narrowed in rage, while his didn’t. She dashed out of the room while Techno stared after her, picture still in hand. Literally flying through the house, Tora made it to the weigh room in record time. Sally and Tonya had just finished training when she burst into the room.

“Liar!” Tora shouted at Tonya before she lunged across the room to attack her sister physically as well as verbally.

Dropping the dumbbells she held, the older girl avoided the attack, frowning as Tora lunged at her again. Tonya grabbed her as she swung and threw her over her shoulder. Tora lapsed into Japanese as she beat futilely on Tonya’s back as the Tonya went up the stairs. Tonya walked past the rest of her startled housemates as Tora’s screams grew in volume. She walked into Zarbon’s room, shut the door, and dropped the still struggling girl on the bed. Tora sucked in a fresh breath to continue her verbal assault, but the words died in her throat at the cold look on Tonya’s face.

“What is this about?” Tonya asked and ice practically dripped off of her words.

“There was a picture of you when you where young…” Tora began.

“Why were you looking for such a thing?”

“I…I…I wasn’t. I went into Robert’s office and …”

“What were you doing in there?”

“Techno was in there. And there was this picture…”

“A picture.” Tora shrank into the bedclothes at the disappointment on Tonya face, the anger burning in her chest quickly being replaced by shame and guilt. “So you’re calling me a liar based on a photograph?”

“Umm…”

“Tora, as I stand here, I swear to you again, I will tell you about your past. But I think this little outburst has proven that you are not capable of handling that information now.”

Tonya turned on her heel, the tip of her braid cracking like a whip as she did so. Without hesitation or a glance back, she left the room, slamming the door behind her. Tora sat there a moment and just stared at the door, feeling lower than bug. The door started to open and she leapt from the bed, with full intention to beg for her sister’s forgiveness.

“Neesan, I…”

The words caught in her throat as the door revealed not Tonya, but Zarbon. She sank to her knees and Zarbon was forcibly reminded of Tonya being in the same position with a similar look not so long ago. He dropped to his knees beside her and wrapped her in a hug.

“What’s wrong, Kitten?” he asked gently as the girl began to cry.

“Neesan hates me,” Tora sobbed. “She really hates me.”

“No, I don’t think that she hates you,” Zarbon started, remembering the look on his lover’s face as she had left his room. “She’s just a little stressed.”

Tora shook her head. “No,” she hiccupped and through her tears, she laid out her whole life story as she knew it, including the look Tonya had always given her. “She been around my whole life, as far back as I can remember. She knows who my real parent are. Neesan says she is not my mother, but she looks so much like me…”

Zarbon nodded slightly. The rest of the group had discussed that very fact at great length while Tora had slept, but neither Tonya nor Techno would comment on it. “I still don’t think Tonya hates you. Let’s dry these tears and have a snack. Then you can go talk to her.”

“Will you come with me?” Tora asked shyly.

“Of course I will.” Zarbon kissed her forehead and the girl blushed, confused by the feelings that coursed through her. The blush remained as Zarbon took her hand and helped her to her feet, but he didn’t seem to notice.

- - - - - -

Tonya lay in the soft grass, chin on her hands as she stared with unfocused eyes at the grass in front of her nose. She felt the cold anger that still rolled around her stomach, which further irked her. Despite Tora’s thoughts, Tonya wasn’t mad at her…well maybe just a tiny bit. Tonya was, however, angry that Uncle Robert had left her alone in this situation, and angry at herself for how poorly she had handled it thus far.

What do I do now? she thought as she closed her eyes.

She felt a presence enter the clearing and settle in front of her in the grass. The entity was downwind and silent which gave no clues as to its identity. Tonya finally opened her eyes and blinked at Tora who was laying as flat to the ground as was physically possible. When Tonya didn’t move or speak, Tora faced the ground and began to apologize.

“It’s okay.” Tonya said after a long moment. She reached out and ruffled the girl’s hair with a smile. “I’m not mad at you. And I‘m sorry for handling this so badly.”

“It’s okay,” Tora chirruped as she jumped up to pounce on her sister. She playful growled and pulled Tonya’s braid before she relaxed on her back on top of Tonya. She batted and growled at Tonya’s tail as it flicked at her. Tora finally caught the furry assailant and hugged it to her chest with a sigh. After a moment she spoke again. “I’m Harry Potter and you’re Dumbledore.”

Tonya blinked as she tried to sort that statement out. “I’m a crazy old man with a beard?”

Tora laughed. “No. You know practically everything about me, you care for me, and you’re trying to protect me. Just like Dumbledore did for Harry.”

Tonya smiled and softly scoffed at the thought, and then closed her eyes again. The anger still simmered, but it was tolerable again. “Dumbledore,” she murmured. Her thoughts drifted as she started to doze, and she remembered something else. “Is eleven better than ten?” she asked out loud. “Or twelve better than eleven? Thirteen or fourteen? At what age should the truth be told?”

Tora turned her head slightly, confused. “Huh?”

“Dumbledore was trying to protect Harry, but he admitted that he himself had fallen into the trap of those who are capable of love. He should have told Harry the whole story when Harry asked him that first year after waking up in the hospital wing,” Tonya explain. “But he thought that Harry shouldn’t be burden with the truth just yet.”

Silence reined a moment. “I don’t remember that…”

“Book five, in Dumbledore’s office after Sirius’s death when they are discussing the prophecy and Harry’s connection to Voldemort.”

“Oh.”

Tonya shifted and Tora rolled off of her back into the grass. “I’ve been hesitating to answer your question because I care for you and want to protect you. I keep asking myself if I could have handled such information at your age, and answering myself with a firm No. But you are not me, Tora. No matter how similar we look or quirks that we share, you are you.” She took Tora’s hand and squeezed it. “It’s your choice, Tora. If you really think you are ready, I will tell you now. Just remember that Vu and I have known this whole time, I will not treat you any differently. You are my sister.”

Tora hesitated. She desperately wanted to know, but Tonya was scaring her a bit. “Can Zarbon know?” she asked in a soft voice.

“If you want,” Tonya said. “You can tell who ever you want or never speak of this again. It’s your secret.”

Tora set up. “Why don’t my parents know? Who else knows?”

Tonya also shifted to a kneeling position. “Vu told them only that there was a baby that needed a loving home and needed to leave the USA. And as they know Vu’s secret, she also warned them that you may have some powers. They didn’t ask any other questions.” Tonya tilted her head and shifted to a crossed leg position. “As for ‘who else knows?’ Far as I‘m aware only Robert, Vu, Techno, and myself know the whole story. All others who had a hand in your tale, think your dead by now, thanks to a few well staged accidents.”

Tora stared at her sister in silence, then climbed into her lap. Tonya wrapped he arms around the girl and pressed a kiss to her hair. “You don’t want to tell me,” Tora said.

“Not particularly.”

“But you think I should know.”

“I think it’s going to bug you until you find out, but it probably won’t matter much after that.”

Tora sighed. “Zarbon?” she called softly.

He stood from his hiding place and moved to sit next to the pair. “Yes?” he asked.

“I want you to know, too,” Tora said. “Neesan, please tell me my story.”

“When I was seven,” Tonya began. “I was severely injured. When I was at the hospital, the doctors’ discovered that I had a metallic skeleton. It was already known by some…shady, government groups that I had super strength and a tail. Apparently I was under surveillance due to the policy of reporting tails to the FDA or CDC or whoever and the fact that Robert was my Great Uncle. I was seized by one of these groups, but I hardly remember anything from those few days I was with them.”

“Apparently the group, knowing that Robert would never allow me to remain in their hands, took tissue and blood samples from me. The group was wanting to perfect super powered soldiers and other than the tail, I guess I was a perfect example, or could be. They attempted to clone me, but something about my skeleton and DNA had them stumped and they couldn’t produce a viable clone. Robert figure out what they had done and what they were attempting to do. He organized a group and took out the facility and managed to get some laws passed that would hamper future attempts of that nature.”

“Six years passed and it was discovered that not all the samples had been destroyed when that lab had been raided. Two scientists had taken some of the samples and left the building weeks before the attack. They waited for Robert and his friends to forget about the incident and for technology to advance further. What tipped off Robert‘s spies so many years later, was a rumor that a ‘super solider‘ had been born. When they investigated the claim, they found you, Tora.”

Tora looked up a Tonya in shock. “I…I am a clone?” she asked and trembled. Tonya nodded and Tora pulled away. “But that’s not possible,” Tora started, “I broke my arm last year.”

“And you can shift forms,” Tonya added. “You’re not a perfect clone. You don’t possess my metallic skeleton or the strength that comes with it. You’re probably what I would have been if certain circumstances had been different.”

Tora started to reply, then paused and looked at Tonya strangely for a moment. “You’re jealous of me,” she said in an awed voice.

Zarbon cocked an eyebrow. “How do you come up with that idea?”

Tonya smiled and chuckled. “Because it’s true,” she admitted with a sigh. “One part pride, one part worry, and one part envy. The look that you hate so much and that I give you without meaning to.”

Tora jumped at Tonya suddenly and wrapped her arms around her neck and Tonya returned the hug as she fell over. The pair tussled in the grass as they laughed and tickled each other. Zarbon watched the pair with a confused frown, and shook his head.

“So all this drama is was for naught, and has been resolved now?” he asked dryly.

The duo paused and looked at him before they shared a look and replied as one. “Yup!”

Tonya pounced on her lover. “You know I over think things when given the opportunity. That’s why I prefer going with instinct.”

Tora cocked her head. “I’m glad I’m a clone.” Tonya and Zarbon looked at her in surprise. “I was worried that my real parents would be horrible people or that they would want to take me away from my family. But I just needed to know.”

“Tonya’s like that, too,” Zarbon replied and pulled the little girl into a hug.

The group began to walk back to the mansion and Tora smirked. “I’m going to be prettier than you when I grow up,” she declared with a smirk.

“Oh,” Tonya said playfully and raised an eyebrow. “How do you figure that?”

“Because I’m not a perfect clone,” Tora replied walking a bit faster. “And you’re not perfect either. So two negatives equal a positive, so I will be perfect.” She broke into a run as Tonya stopped to try and work out the logic.

Zarbon bit back a laugh and smirked at his lover who was frowning. He caught her arm as she started to chase the little girl and pulled her to him for a kiss. “She got your sense of humor as well,” he said afterwards.

“Just you wait,” Tonya said with a grin as she slipped from his grasp. “Our kids will be just as bad. Probably worse.” She ran after Tora with a laugh.

Zarbon shook his head ahead and briefly wondered at a world that could hold two such females. “At least they live on opposite sides of the planet…Most of the time.”