Here we are, prologue to a new crossover.  If you like the idea, hate
it, or have some burning suggestion that just needs to get out, write me
back, neh?  (There's a story coming after this, so I'm really looking
for some feedback ya'll)  Don't worry about "A Different Viewpoint"  I'm
not the Author!  I just edit and give feedback and ideas to my brother.
This story will likely (If he likes it) crossover with that one at some
point.


    Ayukawa Toshio was worried.  An old friend had died too young.
Noriko had been a classmate and close friend all these years.  They had
kept in touch even after they had both gotten married around the same
time.  Fortunately the couples had gotten along very well.  He enjoyed
Tendo Soun's adventurous stories, (though he found some hard to believe)
and Soun had a fine ear for music.  Noriko was always exchanging stories
about their children with his wife, and they always had a recipe to
swap.  The last year had been a sad one though.  Tendo Noriko had
slipped slowly away from life.  It had been heartbreaking talking to
Soun as if nothing was wrong.  Now she was dead, leaving behind her
three young daughters and a grief crippled Soun.

    Toshio could still remember when his music career had seemed
hopeless.  Noriko and her husband had been supportive, even when his own
relatives were telling him he should look for a 'real' job.  Now Soun
was the one who needed his support, but the man was so caught up in his
past, Toshio didn't think he would be able to reach him.  The man was
too too proud to accept charity, but over the last year he had lost all
the students at his dojo.

    Over the next few weeks Toshio pondered this dilemma.  Every time he
had spoken with Soun, the man seemed unstable.  It was hard seeing the
once proud martial artist break down in tears over the smallest
problem.  He only seemed to perk up a bit when speaking of his
daughters.

    Unfortunately another problem also divided Toshio's time.  Lately,
the neighborhood had been degenerating.  The schools nearby had several
gangs starting up, and he was worried about his youngest daughter.
Though the gangs hadn't yet appeared at her school, Madoka had to walk
through a fairly bad section of town.  He thought perhaps he should move
to Nerima.  The gangs there were much less of a problem, and Soun's
youngest daughters were about Madoka's age.

    He smiled at the thought.  His wife and Noriko's favorite hobby had
seemed to be chatting about their daughters.  It seemed that Madoka and
Soun's youngest daughter had a lot in common.  The were both quite
independent and tomboyish.  They both excelled at whatever school sport
they had taken up.  Soun had confided to him recently in a relatively
somber moment that he felt that he would train his youngest daughter to
take over the Dojo someday, seeing that he would never have a son now.

    Soun had of course broken down in tears at that point, and Toshio
had quickly changed the subject.  The newest concert series he had
planned with his wife had been a safe topic.  Once he got home, tired
from the latest attempt to cheer up his friend, his daughters arrived
home later than usual.  His oldest had been out with her new boyfriend.
Toshio actually found himself liking the young man she had been seeing.
She was a good daughter to him, he mused, always taking care of the
house, and her younger sister when his wife and his career got in the
way.  He wished Madoka would be more like her older sister, she seemed
to be going through a rather prickly phase.  She was always dressing up
so boyishly and talking 'tough'.  Today though, she had come home
wearing one of her few dresses and a large red hat, that looked very
cute on her.

    It was also very out of character, so he called her over.
"Madoka-chan, what have you been up to today?"

    His daughter, seemed unusually embarrassed about something, but was
as tightlipped as ever.  "Oh nothing."

    He looked her over carefully.  Her dress seemed a bit rumpled.  He
took her by the hand and led her to the sofa, noting the rust stains on
the back of the dress, the slight abrasions and bruises on her arms.  He
sat down next to her and asked her softly.  "Where did you get those
Madoka?"  She squirmed under his gaze.  He prodded a bit louder.  "Was
it those boys from Soccer again?"

    He face hardened, and she looked at him, eyes flashing.  "They got
what was coming to them!"  He looked at her, surprised at her fierce
attitude almost as much as her request.  "Daddy, I want to learn how to
protect myself."  He started to immediately respond in the negative, but
her eyes pleaded with him.  "Please?"  She said a bit more timidly.

    It suddenly occurred to him that his daughter would never be a meek
girl.  Her parents had been too strong an example.  Perhaps a
self-defense class would be a good way to strengthen her best features.
He wouldn't worry so much when he was away either.  Or perhaps not a
standard defense course, this might be a way to help out his old friend
as well!  He grinned at his daughter who had been watching him think
with her full attention.  "Madoka-chan, how would you like to take Kempo
lessons with the Tendos?  You can practice with Kasumi, Nabiki, and
Akane.  Would that be to your liking?"

    He was rewarded by a warm smile, and a rare treasure, a hug.