When Shizuru woke up that morning she knew something was different. It wasn't just because she had finally got Natsuki shirtless the night before but there was something different, she just couldn't say why. Natsuki must have been a little rough because she ached in odd places. She cradled her tender ribs with a smile as she got dressed for school. Erstin was already up and eating breakfast. When she had brought the other girl home she had went straight to bed and Shizuru in her elation didn't pay much attention to her. Now that she wasn't preoccupied she saw the bright bruise at the corner of the blonde girls eye. "What happened?" She asked wondering if she needed to be concerned.

"Stupid ninja woman hit me for calling Takumi a wimp," Erstin muttered finishing her cereal. She shifted so that her shiner wasn't as obvious.

"That's all?" Shizuru frowned highly doubting Takumi's girlfriend would hit her for that.

"Yes," Erstin growled and it was obvious she wouldn't talk any more about the subject.

"Okay," Shizuru shrugged and ate her own cereal in silence. "You ready?"

Erstin just stormed off to get her backpack. Shizuru sighed, she remembered a time when the blonde was extremely shy. Damn hormones. They met up with the others just outside the dorm building. Natsuki was loudly arguing with a newspaper seller while Mai and Nao where puzzling out a sign near the bus stop. Nina was sitting with Mikoto and playing hand games. All around them people where either arguing or confused. Shizuru decided to approach Mai and Nao first. "What's going on?"

"We were going to go into town after school but Mai said the bus was a 1 while I told her it was a 4 but when we went to check it out on the timetable, well," Nao waved at the time table that was in English. Shizuru raised her eyebrow not seeing why they would be so confused.

"I can read it to you if you like?" She offered thinking the translation was the problem.

"No, we took enough English to manage to read a bus time table, it's just that it was in Japanese yesterday," Mai said frowning.

"Maybe they changed it," Shizuru shrugged "there are probably more English speakers on the island…"

Mai and Nao looked at each other in confusion. "Have you met any?" Mai asked and Shizuru frowned. She hadn't actually, everyone she had talked to spoke her language fluently which was odd.

"I thought we were just in the Japanese part of the city," she shrugged.

"The island isn't big enough to have divided into ethnic groups yet," Nao said then looked at the posters around the wall "isn't that Spanish?" She waved to a bright yellow poster for a band. "And look, that poster beside the window that's French, they were in Japanese yesterday. I remember looking at that one and checking the price of tickets."

"Are you sure?" Mai asked.

"Positive," Nao nodded "it was that acoustic rock crap that you like so I thought you might want to go."

"Aw," Mai hugged her and Nao rolled her eyes "see I like it better when you're sweet instead of jealous."

Nao pushed Mai away at arms length and glared "jealous? When was I jealous? I certainly wasn't jealous when you where talking to that gangly idiot."

Shizuru sense a brewing argument and quietly slipped away. Natsuki was standing with her arms folded and a grumpy expression on her face. Shizuru felt herself smiling at the sight involuntary. "Stupid newspaper guy," she muttered "wouldn't give me a Japanese paper. He said he doesn't sell them or speak it but we were talking about motorcycles yesterday and he fully understood me then."

"Really?" Shizuru said and her mind turned with possibilities.

There was an elated yell and they both turned to find a dyed blonde running towards them with a smile on her face. Shizuru only just managed to stay on her feet as the blonde leaped into her arms and started to babble excitedly and kiss her face while laughing.

"Do you know her?" Natsuki glared.

"No," Shizuru said quickly pushing the girl away. The girl continued on and poked Shizuru in her ribs and laughed again when she winced. She clapped her on the back all the while babbling in a language Shizuru couldn't understand. "I don't understand you," she said.

The girl frowned and drew back a little. She then smiled and seemed to think Shizuru was only joking. Shizuru shook her head and pulled her over to a poster with Japanese writing on it. She tapped the poster and then herself. The other girl nodded and seemed to understand. She frowned then pronounced slowly "see, you, later," in English before disappearing.

"Why does that girl seem to think that you took her to a strip club and bought her a lap dance?" Yukino raised her eyebrow as Shizuru turned to face her.

"You could understand her?" Shizuru asked.

"She was speaking Dutch," Yukino shrugged "I'm fluent in multiple languages and I can say 'hound' in every possible way including Latin. My father was big on learning languages and I had to travel a lot for SEARRs."

"Oh," Shizuru said slightly impressed. She could only speak three languages. She went to turn away when Yukino stopped her.

"So why does that girl think that you're a pimp?" Yukino asked again with a smile.

"I have no idea," Shizuru shrugged genuinely confused.

"Maybe Natsuki does," Yukino smiled tilting her head to the side. She enjoyed the Shizuru's reaction of mild panic.

Shizuru sighed heavily and said mildly "we're going to go back to hating each other again, aren't we?"

"Did we ever really stop?" Yukino asked honestly. Shizuru nodded conceding the point.

XxXx

"We need a way to promote tourism," Mashiro said as she stared down the long table at her most trusted advisers. To her left sat Fumi and to her right her sister. Fumi was diligently taking notes while Alyssa was playing mind games with the telepath in the corner. Mashiro tried her best to ignore her sisters little jerks and motions that implied her attention was held elsewhere. She knew Alyssa loved Sunrise and on matters of foreign policy, human rights and military defense she was keenly focused but economic and internal government tended to bore her. "That's why I've decided to commission a series of advertising campaigns. We'll have various crews taping the natural wonders of the country and cities over the coming months in order to release to the rest of the world. We've already successfully released a brochure about the school willing to take mutant students at low cost."

That jarred Alyssa from her dreamscape and with some effort she tugged herself away from the telepathic game of chess she was in "we're letting normals come here?!"

"They're people too," Mashiro gaze a long suffering sigh "need I remind you that we have political, social and economic ties with countries that's majorities are 'normal'."

"How are they going to get here?" Alyssa demanded "the island is hidden."

"That's another thing that is on the agenda," Mashiro glared "do you ever read them? I send one to you every day before meetings and I swear you use them as decorations!"

"I use them as airplanes to distract me from the crazy ideas you come up with!" Alyssa shot back "we are not taking this land public so it can become a giant target for any country with nuclear weapons and a grudge against mutants!"

"We're a democracy it'll be put to the vote," Marshiro said with finality knowing full well Alyssa would not let it go. When she seemed like she was about to push the subject further Mashiro shot her a look that only those with older siblings could give and only those with younger siblings could understand; We'll talk about this later, when we're alone, and if you try to push it now I'll sit on you.

"Speaking off normals," Fumi rescued the room from the sibling fight "it seems that the terrorist group known as 'The Carnival' has been attacking more non-powered people."

Mashiro felt a headache coming on "have the media got a hold of this yet?"

"No, the telepaths are on it but in the interest of free speech we're going to have to do something," Fumi said.

"I can look into," Alyssa volunteered sweetly. You moved my knight she accused the telepath as she surveyed the chess board. It was on G9 about to take your bishop.

Did not the telepath denied.

Mashiro didn't even consider it before refusing. Her sisters prejudice would not allow her to remain unbiased. "Have the police double patrols and create a real presence on the street so the people feel safe."

"We don't have the money for the over time," Fumi grimaced as Mashiro hung her head. Everything came back to money. "We really need tourists and to get exporting," she sighed.

"On the bright side at least the farming and agriculture are on the raise," Fumi forced a smile "we won't have to pay over the barrel for necessities." Mashiro swirled her finger in a tired display of victory.

The telepath that had been playing with Alyssa suddenly stood up just as the blonde moved into check. She glared at the interruption to her victory. "Excuse me Madame President," he said urgently. Both Fumi and Mashiro turned to look at him before sharing a wry grin with each other.

"I think he means you," Fumi said sitting back and relinquishing control. Mashiro smiled.

"I've just received a message from the communications tower. Edith is sick and can't come to work today," the telepath reported.

Mashiro knew today was just not a good day to get out of bed. She should have just listened to her instinct. "How long has her power been inactive?"

"The report doesn't say mam, but it's not working right now," the telepath answered.

Edith had a job that made running the country much easier. Her mutant power was being able to understand all languages and allow those in her vicinity to do the same. When she was paired up with Tom a mutant who's power was to amplify other mutant powers this allowed the whole country to speak with one voice. Just imagining the commotion that would be taking place on the streets right now was adding to her already throbbing headache. "Send out the message to explain what's going on in all languages," her mind worked in containing the annoyance "schools should probably close for the day but workplaces should be able to function as normal. It will be down to the companies discretion whether or not they can work around the communication barrier. Fumi I'll have to do a press release for this afternoons news. Anything else?" She looked at her trusted aides.

"Oh, we could turn this into a PR spin," an enthusiastic suit said gleefully "Sunrise needs its own national holiday and this could be it. We can show how alone and unorganised we all were before coming here and being united! It'll be a wonderful show of unity."

"That's actually not a bad idea," Mashiro said thoughtfully.

"We wouldn't be able to organise fireworks or entertainment on such short notice," Fumi argued.

"We need a way to calm the masses since they'll be panicking and we don't even have work to occupy them," Mashiro countered.

"I have dancers on retainer and I'm owed a few favours by mutants how's power could be seen as light show like," the PR said happily.

"Do it," Mashiro said decisively. "And free up some room in the budget, we're definitely going to need extra patrols of police tonight."

"And while you're at it, try to get some blood out of a stone," Alyssa said sweetly. Mashiro hadn't hit her sister in years but she was seriously considering it. Alyssa glared at her as she read her mind but ignored her as she used her queen to knock down the king. Victory.

XxXx

"I suppose that makes sense," Nao allowed as she heard the explanation over the radio. She stood in her waitress uniform "I mean our manager certainly doesn't look Japanese to be speaking it so fluently when he's yelling at us."

"He wouldn't yell if you didn't loiter," Mai said as she passed Nao with a tray of drinks. Just because they took the day off school didn't mean that they could take the evening off work. Their menus had pictures so all the hungry patrons had to do was point. It was fairly simple.

"Chatting with the customers is good business," Nao defended herself absently. Their manager was shouting something at them in Swahili and she just waved. The oddly furry mutant gave up and just grumbled to himself as he worked the till.

"You can hardly chat to them today," Mai rolled her eyes. She hadn't heard anyone else speak Japanese which was the only language she and Nao knew.

"Flirting is universal," Nao tossed back and Mai stopped picking up glasses to turn and glare at her "flirting?" She said dangerously.

"You're not the only one that can do it," Nao shot back.

"Oh get over it already! I wasn't flirting, I have a friend that's male and isn't Kazu or Reito!" Mai huffed slamming her tray down on the counter and rattling the glasses. "It's not a crime!"

Nao picked up the empty glasses and smiled intently at the passing boys that were on their way to the till. Seeing the attention they jostled each other and teased in a different language. Mai fumed at the display "you want to play like that?" She didn't wait for a response before she unbuttoned her shirt and went to take more orders.

Nao became alarmed at her actions and growled as she saw the increased attention her girlfriend was getting.

"There's going to be trouble," Kazu said watching from the large kitchen window.

"At least you have a counter for protection," Akane frowned "need any help in there?"

XxXx

Nina didn't really understand much language. Or she hadn't before Erstin. She had understood feelings and intentions long before words and pictures ever entered her mind. She understood that the man that would peek into her dark room was interested in her and intended to keep her alive. Just like she knew that when the door opened and other men, with smelly uniforms and heavy boots entered and beat her, they intended to do her harm. She could read instinct a lot better than squiggles on a page. So didn't really mind when no one could understand her at school. It was just like when she had first got out of the dark room.

Erstin on the other hand really hated it. Nina could see the flushed and angry hues of her skin as she tried to find Natsuki. School was over and while they had had a fun day running around the grounds it was time to go home and eat something.

Nina thought Erstin was being really silly as she mimed trying to find somebody to a grown up. All she really had to do was go in their mind and talk to them like that. It was what she had done with her when they first met. Alone and in the dark she may have been able to sense that Erstin didn't mean her any harm but she had no idea that she wanted other things like hugs and feelings.

Nina looked around for Mikoto. Mikoto understood her a lot better than most people and if she didn't it usually didn't matter they found a way around the issue. Like her, part of Mikoto didn't communicate with words. It understood feelings and intentions. She liked when Mikoto listened to that side of her, things where much simpler when you said them with actions instead of words.

Eventually she grew bored and trailed Erstin away from the confused teacher. Erstin tried to protest and storm away but Nina didn't let her. "Nina I'm trying to find Natsuki so we can get out of here!" Erstin protested verbally and Nina rolled her eyes at the words. She pushed Erstin down the steps and out to the well kept lawn of the school. She sat Erstin down and tapped her head.

Erstin rolled her eyes "I can't scan so many people I've already thought of that."

"Natsuki can't scan me but we talk," Nina said.

"Yes but you're like a whirl wind, she just throws a thought out there and you pick it-oh" Erstin's eyes widened "I've never tried doing that with her before," she closed her eyes and Nina contented herself with lying on the grass. The great thing about Mikoto was that she could appreciate grass. She never took it for granted the way other people did. She had been locked in the dark just like Nina and so they discovered things together that they wouldn't have found in the shadows.

The smell, the feel, the bright colours after so many years of darkness never stopped amazing Nina. The grass of this place was different from the island before. The island grass was light and nearly yellow some days while this lawn was a deep green like Natsuki's eyes and nearly as pretty as Erstin. She loved the grass.

"I can't believe that worked," she looked up to find Natsuki standing over them. Shizuru, Natsuki's Erstin standing at her side. Natsuki was talking to Erstin. "How far do you think we can do that?"

"I'm not sure. I didn't think it would work at all, maybe we could test it out, I've been thinking about how to build bridges into minds…" Erstin continued to talk but Nina tuned out the sounds because she was pretty to look at but not always interested in the same things as her. She noticed that Shizuru was doing the same thing with Natuski, looking at her talk rather than listening.

Shizuru caught her looking and smiled. She ruffled her hair and went back to watching Natsuki. She and Natsuki's Erstin had some things in common too, but she was glad that she couldn't sense the same dark room, although just like Mikoto Natsuki's Erstin was split two and wasn't without her won shadows.

XxXx

The storm sent torrential rain slashing down on the village. Large nearly white sheets of water thundered down on the roves and beat against the window as lightning flared and thunder boomed throughout the island. Midori pulled her coat tighter as the wind struggled to drag it from her. She cursed as the shudder she was fixing over the children's room fell down against her. Eventually she got the damn thing on and hurried back inside. "Hoo!" she cried shaking the water off herself as she closed the door and left her soaking coat in the hall.

"Shoes!" Youko yelled as Midori went to walk inside with the sodden muddy trainers.

Midori rolled her eyes feeling the extra weight of the water slowing her down and making her annoyance work harder to be aroused. "Not a 'thank you' or 'heres a fresh pair of clothes'" she grumbled taking of her shoes socks and then shrugging and stripping down further.

"Midori!" Youko yelled annoyed as she covered the children's eyes.

"Tough," Midori replied but was guilted into keeping her underwear on as she gathered the soaking mess. She crossed into the bedroom followed by Youko's glower. She stopped off at the bathroom to dump the wet clothes in the bath before drying off and changing into her pyjamas. She then took her seat on Vera's side on the couch. Youko was forced to sit in the middle because both the little brats wanted to sit beside her. "What are we watching?"

"Batman and Robin," Youko said as she pressed play. Midori smiled brightly and wiggled to get comfortable. "Vera likes Poisen Ivy."

"Me too," Midori agreed with a salacious grin. Youko stared at her archly and she moved closer to Vera for protection.

"And they then talked out their differences and became the best of friends," Youko said as she got up and turned off the tv before the final fight scene.

Midori looked up in protest but Youko was ushering the kids into bed. She grumbled and followed. The shutter in the kids room helped to block out the sounds of thunder and the flashing lightening. She scooped up Nick and held him at arms length "did you brush your teeth?"

"Yes," he lied with chocolate breath.

"Hmph," Midori tossed him over her shoulder and took Vera's hand to bring them into the bathroom. She sat Vera on the sink edge as she put tooth paste on the brushes. She handed the pink brush over her shoulder to Nick who giggled as he tried to brush his teeth as he dangled from her shoulder. She grinned around her own superman toothbrush at Vera who was slowing brushing with great dignity. She let the toothpaste foam out of her mouth and started to bark as she wiggled closer to the little blonde. Vera giggled and pushed her face away smearing her toothpaste all over Midori's cheek. Midori grinned and turned so that Nick could spit into the bowl.

"You're worse than the children," Youko rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her fond smile. Midori picked Vera up with a wink and then threw the blonde into her bed as Nick crawled down her back and into his own.

"Goodnight," Youko said lovingly leaning over to kiss each child "sweet dreams."

"Night kiddies!" Midori waved then dropped her voice so Youko didn't hear "remember our deal?"

"You got us ice cream so we're not allowed to get into bed with you and mum," Nick whispered conspirator like.

"That's the one," Midori nodded and ruffled his hair as she rejoined Youko.

"Now remember if the storm scares you, you guys can sleep with us," Youko reassured them as she was about to close the door.

Midori was shaking her head furiously at that then stopped as Youko turned. "So why didn't we get to see batman beating up Mr Freeze and Poison Ivy?"

"I didn't want Vera to see Poison Ivy get beat up since she's the only role model with vines that she has," Youko said as she walked into the living room.

"I hardly think Poison Ivy is the best role model for her," Midori pointed out.

"Yeah well Batgirl doesn't use vines or a bra so she's out," Youko rolled her eyes. "Except for when Cassandra Cain took over."

Midori smiled at the horrified look on Youko's face as she realised all her years of bullying had finally paid off, Youko now knew about her second-no third, she had to include the kids now, love of all, comics and manga. "I love you," she said dreamily.

Later Midori was woken up by a constant tug at the collar of her nightdress. She opened a bleary eye to see Nick standing in his pyjamas holding hands with Vera who was slightly behind him. "Little brats," she muttered unsurprised "I thought we had a deal," she grumbled moving over and holding the blanket up to let them in.

"What's wrong honey? Did the storm waken you?" Youko asked sleepily as she turned towards them.

"It wasn't the storm. It was the baby on the front step," Nick said.

XxXx