The three adults and one duck aimlessly wandered aournd the plaza, buying flowers, pastries, and little trinkets. Today, Saturday, was the day where people would set up little stalls in the square and all around the plaza, selling all kinds of things.. They looked in each stall. Fakir bought himself a peacock feather quill, a packet of fine light blue linen writing paper, and a some midnight blue colore leather for his books. Rue bought a new pair of red toeshoes. Mytho finally bought himself a shield from Charon. It was light blue with two white swan silhouettes on the sides of a golden crown.They stopped my a jewel counter run by a young teen with light green hair and pale skin, winding an organ that played the theme of Swan Lake. A red ruby hung on a simple gold chain rested on a rich purple pillow. It had caught Ahiru's eye.

     "Look!" she exclaimed, pointing at the jewel. "It looks just like my pendant! Can I buy it, onegai?"

     "Hai, hai. Let's see what the owner wants for it." Fakir answered. The four of them walked to the stall.

     The girl smiled at them and picked up the jewel."Has this caught your eye?" she asked. They Fakir nodded his head. "This jewel's name is true love." she said, brandishing the red jewel. On the clasp, the tiny words "True Love" were delicately engraved.

     "True love..." Fakir murmured.

 

     "My, it seems wonderful." Rue said.

 

     "Yes, it's beautiful. It would make a lovely present for a lovely person." Mytho agreed.

 

     The girl smiled even more. "If you like it that much," she said, " I'll give it to you." She outstretched her hand for Fakir to take it.

     He put his hand over it, but hesitated "You sure?" he asked. "It's a very expensive piece."

     She smiled again. "Go ahead. It's something I don't need." she said.

     "Arigato Gozaimasu." Fakir said, gently taking the jewel from her hand and placing it safely in his jacket pocket.

 

THAT NIGHT
     Fakir walked to Ahiru's room and knocked on the door.

     "Come in!" she said. He opened the door. She was sitting on the bed, her sheets over her small duck body.

 

     "Ah, Ahiru, here is your necklace." he said, taking out the jewel from his pocket and handing to her.

 

     "Ano, Fakir? I don't exactly have fingers to put on the necklace." she said, wiggling her bright yellow wings.

     "Ah. Sit up, I'll put it on for you." he said, slightly blushing from his foolishness.

     "Arigato Fakir-kun!" she said, smiling brightly.

 

     He placed it on her neck and *POOF* Ahiru was now a red-headed seventeen year old girl. A naked red-headed seventeen year old girl.

     "AHHHHHHH!!!" Ahiru screamed, snatching the covers up from under Fakir to cover herself up, causing Fakir to fall on the wooden floor.

     He scrambled to his feet, covering his eyes with his hands, and turned his back towards her. "GOMEN! GOMEN! I DIDN"T KNOW THAT
WOULD HAPPEN!!!"

 

     "RUE-CHAN!" Ahiru screamed. Rue came running. She leaned against the doorframe, catching her breath, head down.

     "Nani Ahi-" She looked up. "AHIRU-CHAN!!!" she yelled. She ran up to Ahiru and hugged her. "You're a girl, Ahiru-chan! You're a girl!!!!!"

 

    Mytho walked into the room, rubbing away the sleep from his eyes. "What's going on? Why is everyone yel-" he stood next to Fakir. "Ahiru-chan, you're a-a-a-a human girl!" he cried. A second later, he was hugging her like a long lost sister.

     "R-R-Rue-chan, M-M-Mytho-kun. I c-c-c-can't b-b-breathe...." Ahiru choked out, still hugging the white sheets around herself. Rue and Mytho
released her from their vice grips, with tears in their eyes. "Ano, Rue-chan?" Rue nodded her head, wiping tears from her eyes. "Could I borrow some clothes?" she asked.

     "Hai!" she said running out of the room. Mytho followed her out, leaving Fakir and Ahiru alone.

 

     Fakir walked up to her, and hugged her. He held her as if he was dying, and that holding onto her would save him from death. He didn't care that
all she had on was a set of bed sheets. "Ahiru..." he whispered. He moved away, hands on her shoulders and looked at her. "Moron, now we have to go shopping for clothes for you with Rue tomorrow." he said.

     She playfully hit him on the arm, one hand still clutching the sheets. "Too bad!" she said, and stck out her tongue.

 

     He stood up. "All this excitement has worn me out. See you in the morning, Ahiru." He yawned, hugged her goodbye, and walked out.

     Rue walked in, holding a bundle of clothes in her arms. "Here are some night clothes and underwear." she gave the bundle to Ahiru."Tomorrow, we shop for your clothes!" she excitedly exclaimed. Two male groans of misery could be heard from down the hallway. The girls giggled.

     "Goodnight!" they yelled. They were answered with grumpy grunts.

 

     "Goodnight Ahiru-chan. Sweet dreams." Rue said as she hugged her friend and walked to her room.

     Ahiru put on the silky clothes and snuggled in her sheets. "Goodnight everyone...."

 

The Next Day
     Rue and Ahiru were waiting at the front door. Rue was wearing a red peasant blouse and jeans. Ahiru wore Rue's red miniskirt and white blouse.
She had left three of the topmost buttons undone.

 

     "FAKIR! MYTHO! HURRY UP! WE"RE LEAVING!" Rue yelled. She was tapping her foot impatiently, which wasn't a good sign. It meant she was
gonna be mad for the rest of day, unless they did what she wanted that very minute. Suddenly, a cloud of dust came to the door. Ahiru and Rue fanned the air around them, trying to get rid of the dust. When the cloud disappeared, it revealed Fakir and Mytho. Fakir wore a black shirt with a blue jacket and a pair of black pants. Mytho had a white button up collared shirt and gray slacks. The two topmost buttons were left unbuttoned.

     "Yay! Let's go!" Ahiru cheered. The group walked to the plaza once again, this time to find clothes for Ahiru. They walked into Rachael's garment shop. She became a tailor after she married Hans.

     "Fakir, Rue, Mytho! Good to see you!" Rachael said, waving to them. She looked at Ahiru. "Ah, have I met you before?" she thought for a minute, then suddenly hugged Ahiru. "Ahiru! I missed you! I haven't seen you in four years! Where have you been???" (A/N: Let's pretend that everyone didn't forget about Ahiru.)

     "Ano, I've been, er, traveling the world, and now I've come back to Kinkan!" she answered.

     "How exciting! Oh! Silly me I forgot to ask you, what would you like to buy today?" she said.
 

    Rue excitedly answered. "We would like you to make some clothes for Ahiru. I've seen you designs and I absolutely love them. I'm sure Ahiru
would enjoy wearig your masterpieces!"
 

     "Great! Come this way!" Rachel called over her shoulder while leading them to her "studio". It was a circular white platform, about two feet high, in the middle of a room with wall to wall mirrors. A simple chandelier suspended on the ceiling of the dome lit up the room. Lavender silk curtains went all around the room, and the opening acted as a door.

     "Ahiru, please stand here while I take measurements." Rachael told her. Ahiru stepped onto the platform while Rachael whipped out a tape measure. She pushed the other three people out of the studio. "Rue, Mytho, Fakir, I want you all to be suprised when you see her! You can't stay in here!" With that, she grabbed the ends of the curtains and shut them.

 

5 HOURS LATER
    Fakir, Mytho, and Rue were still waiting. They went out to get lunch, but that was that only time they left. Fakir was sleeping in an armchair propped against the wall. Mytho and Rue sat on a loveseat playing with a pack of cards they found under the seat. Suddenly Rachael's voice echoed throughout the room, waking up Fakir and alerting Rue and Mytho.

     "Lady and gentlemen! Presenting, the Ahiru clothing line!!!!!" Rachael said. Ahiru emerged from the pale purple curtains, sporting a tight black off-the-shoulder shirt with a pink rose by the shoulder. A black beret and black capris completed the look. "This is, 'Ahiru in Paris!'" Ahiru went back behind the curtains once again, and came back out, now sporting a different outfit. She was wearing a white halter sundress and straw wide-brim hat. On the straw hat were two sunflowers. On her feet were yellow sandals. "This is, 'Ahiru at the Beach!'"

 

     Thirteen outfits later, the finale came. "And now, the moment everyone has been waiting for! For the fire festival, I've made something special! Ahiru, show yourself!" Ahiru came out, wearing a one-strapped forest green silk gown that reached the floor. Her hair was left down and the ruby necklace hung around her neck and delicate teardrop shaped diamond earrings were on her ears. Green silk stilettos adorned her small feet. Fakir, Rue and Mytho all softly gasped. Ahiru twirled around in merriment, obviously pleased with their reactions. She graciously hugged Fakir (who blushed), then Rue and Mytho.  

 

     Before they left, she changed into a pair of yellow shorts and a plain white t-shirt and returned Rue's clothes. They laughed and played for the rest of the day.