"Now.. this.. is a date!" Sora grinned as he and Narina sat in the incredibly  fancy deserter known to all as the Cheesecake parlor.

Narina smiled. She was dressed in a red dress with a flower decorated near her neck. She had to admit.. she was getting girlier by the day. A week ago, she wouldn't even consider wearing anything like a dress.. now.. she just didn't mind..

Rebirthing.. whatever gender you became.. or whatever person you turned into.. it completely redefined the meaning of 'Being yourself'.

And right now.. Narina found herself in a place, where she was finally accepting that being a girl.. was never so bad.. 

"Hey.. you know that you're on a date with a dude right?" Narina said, sticking her tongue out teasingly.

"No I'm not.." said Sora. "Narin was probably a great guy.. but you're not him.. not anymore.. you're full blown female man! And I feel like you're okay with it!"

"I think I am."  said Narina with a chuckle.

"Well well.. look at you cuties! Aren't you adorable!!" Landry, Narina's mother walked over, accompanied by her father Jin. "I thought I'd come by to see how my bo- I mean my girl was doing!"

Jin looked around nervously. Obviously, being so much higher up in the trunk then where he usually was, was a little disconcerting, seeing such fancy technology and expensive food.

"Hey pop!" said Narina. "This is Sora! The guy who won a date with me."

"And the one who kissed my child." Jin growled.

"Oh come on! You still on about that!?" Narina roared. "GET OVER IT OLD MAN!!"

"I'M NOT GETTING OVER IT!! YOU'RE MY DAUGHTER!! SO IT'S THE FATHER'S JOB TO BE OVERPROTECTIVE!!!"

"I'LL SHOW YOU OVERPROTECTIVE!!" Narina roared, launching herself at Jin and grabbing him into a chokehold.

"NOT BAD!! BUT YOU'RE A THOUSAND YEARS LATE TO TAKE ME ON!!" Jin slammed Narina over his shoulder.

"Uhh.." Sora looked stunned.

"Oh don't worry.." said Landry cheerfully. "This is their bonding moment. They actually enjoy this a lot more than it looks."

"WHAAAMMM!!" Narina suddenly threw Jin into the wall, causing him to gasp with exhaustion and fall on his back.

Jin stood up slowly, breathing hard, then he chuckled. "I'm too old.. I can't wrestle with you like I used to.."

Narina grinned too. "Sorry Dad! I've got iron in my muscles now.. you were actually wrestling somebody with gorilla strength! heheh!"

"Excuse me.." a waiter walked over, looking disgruntled. "But I must ask your uncivilized father.. not to wrestle in the area.. you're disturbing the customers.."

"Hey!" Narina growled. "Nobody talks about my dad like that!"

"He's.. wearing.. a bathrobe ma'am.."

"It is called a Gi!" said Narina. "My father teaches Kendo! I come from the Roots! You disrespecting my dad?"

"Well.. a young uncivilized girl like you couldn't possibly.."

"HEY!" Sora stood up at the same time as Jin. The both of them glared at the waiter.

"You just disrespect my date!?" Sora growled.

"You just disrespect my daughter!?" Jin roared.

"Take a hike!" Sora yelled, kicking the man in the shin.

"GET OUT!!" Jin yelled punching the man in the gut.

Later.. after being kicked out of the restaurant.. Sora and Jin came out of the restaurant laughing.

"My! I had the wrong idea about you!" Jin exclaimed, a grin on his face.

"Hey! We Root Dwellers need to stick together!" said Sora, giving Jin a fist bump. "I give you props Sir!"

"Wow.. that.. didn't take long for them to get along.." Narina whispered to her mother..

"Well you know your father.. he has his own concepts of what defines a good man." said Landry. "And Sora passed his test. So.. you think this date of yours might become a regular thing?"

Narina stared at Sora for a minute, then smiled. "I.. think so.. "

Narina suddenly noticed somebody standing by the giant water fountain that stood in front of the Cheese Cake Parlor..  it was several somebodies actually..

Bella was waving at Narina cheerfully, accompanied by the ice android girl Yuki, Bombar, and Bartholomew..  and of course their masters Narina's friends stood there as well..

"Mom, Dad.. I'll be back in a moment."

Narina ran over to the fountain, and gave Nue a hug, which was then accompanied by the excited hugs of Zanna and Ezra. Greg on the other hand grinned, but then resumed jealously staring at Sora.

"Spring Break!" said Zanna cheerfully. "So you're going home for the week right?"

"Yeah." said Narina. "It's going to be great to get a break from homework and everything.. me and Stoor are planning on going by the old fishing hole to see if we can catch a few fish.."

"It's going to be great spending time with Narina-chan's parents!" Bella said happily.

"Mom's excited too, we never could afford an android.." said Narina.

"I'm going to miss you Narina!" said Ezra, hugging her friend tightly. "You're like a sister to me! Or.. er.. a used to be a brother kind of sister! Eheh! Give my best to Mizo!"

"Plop!" Nue immediately slapped her face into Narina's chest and began sniffing.

"Eh? Nue?" said Narina. "Wh-what are you doing now?"

"It'll be a while before I sniff you again.." Nue said.. sounding forlorn. "I.. will take the time I can get.."

Narina laughed. "Not quite true.. Nue.. you.. well.. you're the most loyal, tender and loving friend I've ever had.. and given the friends I've made over my time in this school, that's saying a bunch.. Nue.. I know because of your.. well.. secret.. that you don't have anywhere to stay over the spring.. so... I... I talked it over with my parents.. and we want you to stay over for the Spring!"

Nue's eyes widened. She let out a rare smile. "That's... well.. th-thank you.."

There was just one last order of business to take care of..

Narina looked at the one girl that had remained silent in the group. Standing there slightly isolated.. her goth clothing visible in the bright setting, her parasol at her side..

"Hey." said Violet.

"Hey." said Narina.

"You.. wanted to meet me here." Violet said nervously, eying Zanna, who was still looking rather distrustful of the infamous Cirque Le Dead.

"Yes.. and not just me." said Narina.

As if on cue.. Narina's parents walked over..

"Hello Violet-chan." said Landry. "It's nice to meet you again.. remember me?"

"Yes.. I stayed at your house sometimes.. whenever me and Narin used to play together.." said Violet, blushing. "Auntie Landry and Uncle Jin.."

"Hmmm.." Jin said. "You dress oddly, but not to worry, I have a yukata in your size.."

Violet gave Narina a confused look. "What.. is this?"

"You've never had real parents to look after you.." Narina said. "Your.. mother was always leaving.. and.. well.. we both know how your dad was... but.. I felt.. if I could give you a little of what it's like to be in a normal family... I should.. "

Narina handed Violet a piece of paper. "These are adoption papers.. and.. you don't have to if you don't want to.. but it just needs your signature.."

Violet took the piece of paper with trembling hands.. her shadow seemed to shimmer slightly, then tears of joy began to trickle down her cheek.  "You.. would do this for me?"

"Eheh." said Narina. "You'll have to get to know Mizo of course..  but.. I know you two would get along great.."

Violet needed no words.. adoption form in hand.. she hugged Narina..

_______________

The final days before the Spring Break were quiet..

Narina spent her times studying for her midterms.. this time in the accompaniment of Sora much more often..

Astralis, spent more time sleeping, now peaceful since there was no more chaos..

Throughout this time.. Narina only gave sparing thoughts to the issue of who her Grandmother was.. she felt all, it might just might cause Violet a little unneeded reminder to what had happened...

The mystery of the Silent Circle hung in her head of course.. but it wasn't the time..

Many of the girls in the dorms spent time discussing what they were doing over the break.. but Narina never joined in on these discussions. Instead she stayed at a quiet table with Nue and Mizo and played checkers.

It was everything Narina could've wished for.. peace.. quiet.. and no drama..

But all the while.. Narina began to feel a coming doom.

She was going back home.. and when she returned.. Stoor and Nina weren't the only ones she would be meeting again.. all of her old friends from the Roots.. were expecting a boy..  Would she have to tell them about the weird mistake? Or.. could she avoid all the awkwardness and pretended that Narin Jousuke disappeared to Alaska to study and left his  hot sister Narina in his stead?

Eh.. she'd figure it out.. somehow.. and besides.. even if people reacted badly, she had Nue, Nina, and Stoor, and that was enough for her to survive the Spring.

Finally, on the last day of school.. Narina stood in front of her dorm.. holding a suitcase.. Bella, Violet, Mizo, and Nue stood with her.. Violet now officially Narina's foster sister..

"Hmmm.." said. Narina. "Well.. I don't know how I did it.. but.. I survived this long... "

"Yep.." said Nue. "mmm.."

"It was a challenge.." said Mizo. "But you did it.."

At this moment of silence.. Narina began to come to a revelation.. Gender had never mattered for heroes who studied here..  they all studied here for one reason..  to become heroes.. Narina had to learn it the hard way.. having to live with becoming a whole new kind of person.. but.. it was true.. a hero.. was a hero.. boy, girl, black, white, human, half human..

And she would be back here.. to join them.... to be among heroes.. and she would do it proudly.. with her head held high...

yes.. even if it was the head of a female..

Narina smiled at this thought.. and turned to face the Shuttle that would take her home.. "Come on.. let's not dally... "

Of course.. they couldn't just stand there and dally...

The world was moving.. and this End.. was only just the beginning..

End of Book one in the Shock Therapy series..

Look for Book Two: Dead Royalty.