Gee, I almost forgot to send this...heres 11, look for 12 later today.  12s 
the last instalment for a while. (at least till I write some more)  After 
I post it I'll start reposting Escape.

Again, all characters belong to Takahashi.  The voice of reason is played 
by our mystery guest for the fanfic.

Matthew Trotter, so is it Hikaro, or Hikaru? Damn spelling....
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A Long Period of Waiting of Several Months
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	A collection of short stories
		     by
	       Matthew Trotter
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Kasumi
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   There was always so much work to be done.  It was a relief really.  
Without the time to sit back and reflect, there was no time for sorrow.  
			(or fear) 
It had helped get her through when mother had passed away.  And she had 
helped everyone else.
		     (except Kasumi)
                       They were grateful.  They loved her.  It was the 
greatest reward in life to be loved.  You couldn't ask for anything better.
		    (except happiness)
If she asked them to do something, it would get done.  Not for fear, or 
duty, but out of love.  It was her only device.  
		    (what about pity)
                                                 They loved her and she 
loved them.  She took care of them out of love, and they did as she asked 
out of love.
		  (maybe they pity you)
	      That...that couldn't be true...
			  (oh)
                                               Kasumi took out the ticket 
and looked at it.  Ever since she had bought it she had been having these 
doubts.  Even when she was busy working.  They would creep up and disrupt 
her happy thoughts.  She didn't understand why they were coming.  It 
just didn't make sense.  She had bought the ticket on a whim.
			(really)
                                                               Well, to see 
what fate had to say for her.  If she won the ski vacation, then she 
supposed the gods would have given her a sign.  If not, well she was 
happy doing her work around the dojo.
			 (sure)
                                      It was satisfying to keep the dojo 
clean and running in spite of the odds.
	(yeah, that's why you bought the ticket)
                                        She wished the thoughts would stop.  
They weren't like her.  They were rude and aggressive.
      (rude?  Who's dumping their problems on who)
							Maybe she should ask 
Nabiki what to do about them.  Then again, it might worry her...
		(try making up your own mind)
There had to be someone to help her.  It wasn't fair that she helped 
everyone and had to suffer this alone.  She needed someone.
	  (yeah, I bet their all against you<THWACK>)
	 (don't listen to him he's rude and aggressive)
							     Now there were 
two voices.  That was definitely not good.  Maybe she should go see a 
doctor...
		(Dr. Tofu could help you)
                (Oh yeah, there's a great idea.  He can't even think strait 
around her, what good will that do?)
           This was even more distressing, what had she done to Dr. 
Tofu?  Why couldn't he think strait around her?  Had she offended him 
somehow?
  (great.  Never mind.  He feels the same way about you as everyone else)
          He thought of her as a sister?
		 (why don't you ask him)
                                          That probably meant no.  But 
how else did . . . every . ..one. ... .think. ...Kasumi smiled, and put 
the ticket back in her apron.  She only had one device.  She started to 
hum as she chopped carrots.  She promised herself to find out how Dr. 
Tofu felt, if she won.  
			  (...)
			And if there were no more rude aggressive voices to 
interrupt her day.