On Sun, 26 Jul 1998, Coutuva wrote:

My Apologies for taking a while to get this to the list,
but it was a very difficult write.  I'll be releasing

And we know you've been busy.  Hope your new place is working out.

heavily on events and situations from the preceeding
stories, which are available on my Web Site:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/9295

Along with "The Dusty Shelf", which shows the *brr* alternative versions 
of some of the stories...

The Death of a Dream - Part 1                   <WARNING - LIME>

This sounds unpleasant...

	Kikyo stood before the dining table, looking over the
array of handguns she had just laid out neatly on it.  Each one
shined like the day it was made, even though some of them were

"shone" would be better, I think.

	"Kiko-chan?  What's the matter...?"  Hitomi asked as she
walked over, noting her girlfriend's strange expression.
	"I guess there's no way to avoid it, ne Anata?" she
responded, absently doing an inspection of the weapon in her hand.

She's getting suicidal *again*?

	"Ano... avoid what?"
	"Letting these go..." she sighed sadly, starting to
feild-strip the Luger without even thinking about it.  "It won't
do to have them in the house once the baby is born, and it may
take time to get good prices for them... some of these are pretty
rare, and I wouldn't be just giving them away." she indicated, her
voice going quieter as she continued.

Nani?  Kikyo actually thinking ahead?  Expressing concern for others?  
Well, since it's her own baby, maybe.

	"Yappa!  Eight seconds!  You're geting better, Kiko-chan!"
Hitomi announced, throwing a hug around her girlfriend.

"Yappa!"?  "Yatta" or "yappari", one of the two...

	"Well, still not fast enough... there was a girl in my Unit

generally, "unit" would not be capitalized unless you used its name, as 
frex "Unit Six".

	"Sorta... I was confirming my suspicions.  You don't really
want to part with those, do you?"

She said so.

	"Ano... no, Hitomi-chan.  But I know how easy it is for
things to happen... and the best way to keep them from happening
is to get rid of the hardware."  Kikyo responded, sighing
resignedly again.  "I'll hate to do it... I spent a lot of years
building this collection..."  she added sadly, picking up and

Especially since it's even tougher to get them in Japan...

	"You don't have to give up on them, Kikyo-san... I know a
way you can keep them locked up safe and still use them easy."
Shampoo announced, walking over to the other girls.

sure you do.

	"Baka ne... like this!" the Amazon quipped, pulling out
one of her swords.  "These are not stuck to me... they are
actually in a safe place back in China... 'Hammerspace' lets me

define "safe"

	
	An hour and a half later, Kikyo stood eyeing the Amazon
in frustration, arms crossed in front of her.

apparently a tricky skill to teach, since we never see it being taught in 
manga.
 > 	"Don't *try* to make it happen... all you have to do is

think about what thing you are needing, and it will be in your
hand,"  Shampoo repeated earnestly, pulling one of her swords
from behind her again.

In fact it helps if you're not thinking at all.

	"Feh... I guess I'm just not supposed to be able to do
that, Lin-san."  Kikyo sighed resignedly, bending slowly to pick
up the gun at her feet.  "This 'hammerspace' thing must be unique
to Nerima,"  she added, crossing her arms in frustration.

No, but you do have to be a manga/anime character...

	"Ya... There are others who can use it, too.  Akane
started when she was very young...  soon after her mother passed.
I started after I became cursed, and I'm from China."

Actually, from the manga, it looks like Shampoo had the hammerspace 
ability to call up weapons *before* she got cursed.

	"Maybe it has to do 

with something big happening 
in a > person's life... you know, some kind of trauma." Hitomi mused
If that were the case, Kikyo would already have the ability.  Apparently 
her teflon ability to escape responsibility for her unethical (at best) 
actions is paid for by being subject to repeated bad things happening to 
her for reasons she has no control over.

 > from her seat on the couch, skritching her head 
thoughtfully. > "I can't use it either, so that might be it."  she added,

regarding Shampoo expectantly.

Neep!  Hitomi used hammerspace (or something just as good) in the "Plans" 
story to get hot water for Elysse.

	"Don't worry, Kikyo-san.  I'm sure we can get it to work
for you.  Maybe after you have the baby,"  Shampoo smiled
encouragingly, despite being very surprised that Kikyo didn't have
it already.

So much for Shampoo's sensei career.

	"Have you picked names yet?"  Shampoo chimed in, excitedly.
	"Ya... we haven't really even talked about it..."  Hitomi
indicated, looking into Kikyo's eyes briefly.  "Kiko-chan hasn't let
the Doc tell her what she's having, so we don't know where to start."

It's a girl...

	"Baka ne... You'll just have to wait.  I hate knowing what
a present is before I unwrap it, so I don't want to know what the
baby is.  I think it's more fun this way, too..."  Kikyo stated,
nodding.

She prefers not knowing thigs that might upset her plans...

	"You two sound like newlyweds..."  Shampoo observed, shaking
her head and smirking.  "Well, it's getting late, and I am going to
bed... Oyasumi, minna,"  she added, smiling and waving as she
walked down the hall.

Oh, that reminds me.  Kun-chan has pointed out to me that she did indeed 
make it very clear that the love potion wore off *before* anyone got 
married.  (There's a paragraph in "A Mother's Love", chapter seven, that 
states it explicitly...)

	As she stripped for her bath, she found herself absently
wondering about the events of the night previous, particularly why
Kikyo couldn't make Hammerspace work.  Everyone she knew could use
it, right from Akane on down to Ukyou, the only common denominator
seeming to be contact with Ranma.

Hmm, and Ranma has "left the house" so to speak...

	As she stepped into the bath, Hitomi's words came back to
her as well, making her think about the possible connection.  She
smirked as she wondered just how much of a trauma was required,
especially given what had happened to Kikyo since she met Hitomi.

Or maybe it will require Kikyo actually having to face up to her actions.

muscles loosen and her head clear.
	Suddenly, she had the distinct feeling that it was going
to be a good day.

Shampoo is doomed, isn't she?

	Soon, she was close enough to tell that it was a man she
had been watching.  He was dressed only in the bottom half of a
black gi, and working out intensely with a bokken.  She felt her
face get warm as she noted that his well muscled chest, damp with
perspiration, seemed to shine in the mid-morning sun.
	Upon studying him intently for a few minutes, a wry grin
spread across her face as she thought of the perfect ice-breaker.
Eyes narrowing, she pulled out her swords, and while she was
still able to use the element of surprise, launched herself at
him.

Don't forget the Amazon war cry...

	With only a bokken and his skill, he managed to defend
himself admirably, never once uttering a word.  Shampoo smiled
happily as she fought, not only enjoying the contest, but pleased
that her opponent had risen to the challenge.

And if he'd been some poor schmuck who couldn't sense you coming, it 
would've too bad if you lopped off his head, huh?

	Shampoo's jaw dropped.  "How did you know I was an Amazon?"
she asked, shocked.
	"Your fighting style... your hair ornaments... and now,
your accent.  It's definitely Northern,"  he replied, casually.

This guy is too good to be true...

	"A very nice house...  and large,"  Shampoo noted,
unconsciously looking for signs of 'other family'.

Nah, he's gonna be a lonely bachelor with no girlfriend...

	Shampoo smiled and nodded, the full impact of what had just
occurred finally sinking in.  She had just met a fine example of a
man, and he was perfect... almost as perfect as... Ailen.

Danger!  Danger, Lin Shan Pu!  And you're not legally divorced until you 
*tell* Mousse you are.  (at a bare minimum...)

	As he passed a large, ornate mirror on the hallway wall,
it suddenly distorted the image it bore, and the glass turned a
menacing shade of black.  From within the blackness, two yellow
spots appeared, and took on the shape of angry eyes.
	"You have succeeded,"  a deep, powerful voice stated,
flatly.

Knew it!

	"Yes, I have... she seems interested,"  Phil replied,
distantly.
	"Proceed then... you know what you must do,"  the voice
instructed, curtly.
	"Does this really have to be done?  There must be
another..."  he began, but was interrupted by the voice.
	"You have your instructions... they will be carried out,
or the penalty will be exacted.  There is no option,"  the voice
ordered, and the mirror instantly returned to normal.
	"Bastards,"  he spat in response, regarding the mirror
angrily.

This does not bode well for Shampoo...

	Hitomi and Kikyo arrived home fairly late from their
shopping trip, and were quite surprised to see Shampoo virtually
floating about the house, her large eyes bright with excitement.

She's turned into Lum!

	Shampoo, thinking somehow that she was the joke, stepped
forward and eyed the pair accusingly.
	"What is so funny about that?"  she asked, setting her
hands on her hips.
	"Gomen, Lin-san... we were just talking about you on the
way home.  We thought that you might be interested in a little
male company, and then we find out that you already found some,"
Hitomi explained, smiling.

We were going to hire you a stripper....

	Over the next few days, Shampoo made it a point to meet
Phil on the beach after work for their now-ritual sparring session.
Hitomi and Kikyo couldn't believe the change in her, and were both
extremely happy that she seemed to have finally found someone.

Love at first sight is always a bad thing in Takahashiverse...just look 
at Hitomi and Kikyo.

	"Hai... you're ready, all right.  If he can concentrate on
the show, he must be inhuman,"  Kikyo observed, winking at Hitomi.

Possibly.

	"You look gorgeous, Lin-san.  Thank the Fates that dress

No, don't thank them.  They're bastards.

	"You mean I missed him?  Kuso, I wanted to see who this
pagan god was,"  she pouted, disappointedly.

Interesting choice of words...

nodding.  "Well, I really hope it goes well for her.  Seeing how
she reacted after we told her about the baby,  I was worried about
her. She had a big hole in her life... up until she met this
'Phil'," she continued, her tone becoming more serious.

uh-oh/

	"Judging by what I saw, there's no need for concern,"  Kikyo
replied, suggestively.  "I'll be surprised if she comes home
tonight."

As opposed to being found in an alley somewhere...

	"She's my friend, Kiko-chan... I want her to have some real
happiness her life.  I get the feeling somehow that she hasn't had

"in her life"

	Kikyo sighed resignedly and smiled, her eyes shimmering
slightly.  "Anata, I love you," she abruptly stated, walking up
and hugging Hitomi lovingly.  "I think it's wonderful how you care
about everyone so much," she added, kissing her cheek.

"Because I don't..."

	"Hai!" they chorussed, and the door slowly swung open to
admit a surprisingly upset Shampoo.  As the girls looked at her in
confusion, she sighed and walked in the room slowly, finally sitting
heavily on the edge of the bed beside Kikyo.

No sex, huh?

SKJAM!