Well this is part two of The Game. While it is only a first draft I 
would look forward to any C+C little flames please.  Just stuff to help 
such as you see fit.  I like to Thank Donny for starting this fic series 
which inspired me.

Insert standard disclaimer.

Part 2 Family Reunions 

	The Planet Lictalon in quadrant Sixteen-Alpha-Zulu.  With the 
exception of a large valley surrounded by a stadium, it would not seem 
like it had nothing to offer anyone.  Oh sure it had the usual things a 
backwater planet possess, farms, tourist traps, gambling.  In fact 
gambling was the main source of income for this planet.  
	When the planet Lictalon was added to the Jurian Empire, it held 
little or no value at all to the empire.  If not for the sympathy of the 
Emperor of the Jurian, Lord Tenchi, the First, it would have been 
evacuated and then strip mined for its resources.  After long debate 
over a way to prove their worth to the Empire the people of Lictalon 
came upon the idea of tournaments.  Not just everyday tournament, but 
those of a scale that would draw the most powerful warriors in the 
Universe.  That was a major hindrance in their plans.  How to lure such 
fighters?  It was a known fact that most planets forbade blood sports.  
That and the fact that if warriors of that magnitude were to do battle 
on a planet, said planet had with every likely hood be destroyed by the 
confrontation.  What made Lictalon a prime candidate for such a 
tournament for it's gravity wells were irregular.  Causing great 
increases in the gravity field around certain points on the planet.  One 
place in particular was subject to said gravity wells.  A valley where 
fighters could hone their skills, what better place to hold a 
tournament.  A place where no matter how much destruction was caused, 
they could survive.  So finding investors and fight promoters, they 
started one of the galaxies most popular and dangerous fighting 
tournaments.  One, which every decade some of the most powerful 
individuals in the universe competed.  While there were regularly held 
yearly, the most spectacular ones were held every decade.
	The crowds were gathered before the ticket booth for the next 
Ginga Tonamento; or Galaxy Tournament.  Seat prices were skyrocketing, 
while closed circuit holo-viewers were waiting at home, paying a whole 
weeks wages just to view this fight.  The people of Lictalon would make 
enough capital from this tournament to last them for a long, long time. 
 Scalpers covered every street corner, though the prices of the tickets 
were practically tripled.  The rubes who bought them were more than 
happy enough to pay the price.  What they didn't know was that those 
said Scalpers were controlled by the government, who in turn handled all 
gambling and other criminal activities. 
	"Well? Have you got his scent?" an woman's impatient voice can 
be heard from the crowd.  
	"Miya! Miya!" a little creature shot back to the woman as it 
tracked down her quarry.  
	"Hmp! I should have known he would be here.  Where else would he 
be when not with me?"  
	*giggle* 
	"Who asked you anyway?" she shot back as the telepathic message 
that she received from her spaceship/pet.   
	The woman went toward the ticket booth, the teller had a bored 
expression on his face. 
	"5,000 credits for standing, 10,000 credits for......Huh? Ah, 
excuse me but have I seen you before?"  The teller's face crunched up in 
concentration for minute before going pasty white.  "Oh Kami!  I-I'm 
sorry Madame Ryoko!  Please excuse my stupidity."  The man practically 
prostrated himself before Ryoko.  To have a Concubine of the Royal house 
of Jurian come there was an honor, to insult that person could draw the 
wrath of the government.  Ryoko was specially well known for her bouts 
of violence.  The person who insulted her could expect to be in hospital 
if that person was lucky, the morgue if not so lucky.  	 
	"Well ya, you should be.  Anyway have the Royal booth prepared 
for me and my friend here."  With this Ryoko pointed at Ryo-Ohki who was 
sitting patiently at her feet. *Miya, purr.*  "Oh ya, and make sure 
there are plenty of carrots in the booth.  Ryo-Ohki needs to refuel."  
	"Yes Madame, very good Madame."  The teller humbled himself 
before her. When she turned away to leave, he called his manager to tell 
of the royal concubines arrival.   That caused new hysteria around the 
ring, as the spoiled rich brat who bribed someone so that he could show 
off in front of his new girlfriend, was dumped unceremoniously out of 
the Royal chamber. 

	Galaxy Police detective third-class Yutaka Harada sighed as her 
looked at the screen before her.  Once again there was a warrant out for 
the arrest of the human, Ranma Saotome.  She just wished that when the 
Royal Jurian Princess wanted her lover she wouldn't involve the Galaxy 
Police.  Still their word was law no matter how idiotic it was. *Where 
was I?* Known aliases; Ranko Tendo, along with numerous other names that 
in one way or another were linked to his/her past. *huh? His/her past?* 
reviewing her files on the subject she came upon Curse. "Damn, that'll 
make it harder to find him."  Now more than other the young leonine, 
regretted her telling off her superior officer.  That the reason she was 
given this assignment because nobody else wanted it.  And as the 
Earthers say ‘shit rolls down hill', she just happened to be at the 
bottom. *Well back to the hunt.*

	The catacombs beneath the Coliseum were thick with tension.  
Today was the day that many of the younger fighters were waiting for.  
To pit their abilities again the best in the galaxy.  Some of those that 
were fighting tonight were those of legends.  Heros or Villains that the 
young fighters grew up either idolizing or fearing. Either way, they 
were those that inspired them on in their lives. 
	This was Kiyone sat in a lotus meditation position, she wouldn't 
admit it to anyone but she was nervous.  This was her first 
intergalactic tournament.  Oh sure she's been in enough tournaments on 
other, smaller planets to be experienced in battle, but this was 
galactic.  She would be competing against Super-Aliens and Creatures of 
Magic.  Those with natural magical abilities combined with years at 
honing their skills to near perfection.  Opening her eyes she glanced 
down were two bracers adorned her arms.  They were a gift from her 
Master.  Her Master and her ancestor.  Her family were some of the few 
who left their mother planet, Earth, centuries ago.  They had colonized 
a planet just outside the Jurian/Earth border.  
	Life was good for the people.  While it took time and scientific 
experimentation for them to adapt to the planet's greater gravity and 
lower level of breathable atmosphere, like the true pioneers they were, 
they survived.  Over the centuries they even prospered. So much so that 
they drew the attention of those they could have done without.  Space 
Pirates, the scum of the galaxy.  They would find worlds abundant with 
wealth then pillage it.  Their ferocity were legend, so much so that the 
Galaxy Police itself, was hard put to capture them.    
	It was a night that she could never forget.  Living in the 
Capital, they were those that were hit first.  The Pirates uncloaked 
just outside the atmosphere before launching the carriers filled with 
the worst that the galaxy had to offer.  Long having been a place a 
peace, the capital was quickly taken.  After twenty-four hours of 
terror, the planet was taken. She was just a child at the time, barely 
three years old.  Almost not old enough to remember such things, but she 
could never forget.  The citizens were split up into groups that were 
given to separate captains.  She was fortunate that she was in a group 
that was given to a human captain.  For there were groups that never 
even made it to the Alien captain's ship.  For those aliens dined on 
them, a more grizzly sight she would never again witness in her life.  
Still there were those that did worse than eat the settlers, they 
crushed them, body and soul.  They were soon to join them when Kiyone's 
father tried something that most in an age of science would not.  Taking 
a family heirloom that had been in their possession for ages, he read 
aloud the plea for help for those of their line.  Then ripping open his 
finger and dripping blood onto the parchment, he then burnt it.  He had 
all those there hold hands while again he spoke aloud his plea.
	"Honored ancestor, you whose love transcends time and space.  I 
Masaka Kuten of the house of Kuonji cry for your aide in this our time 
of greatest need! Please help us!"
	The rest of the group added their voice to that, creating a 
chant.  "Please help us! Please help us!"  This went on for hours.  
Until just before the rise of the second moon, a slight glow began to 
grow around the flames of the parchment.  A few of those who were 
chanting were faulting at the sight.  Kiyone's father just spurred them 
on to continue.  The glow grew to the point that a human figure began to 
show.  Many were disappointed that this seemingly twenty-ish person came 
forth from the light.  With black hair tied up into a pigtail and 
muscles that seemed to dance upon his frame.  He looked even younger 
than her father.  It was when he opened his eyes of purest blue did one 
see the power that lie hidden in this person.  Her father, the strongest 
man she had ever known got down on his knees and cried tears of 
happiness.  He kept on thanking the man for coming to aide them.  After 
looking over the group assembled he bent down and put a hand on her 
father's shoulder.  When her father looked into the man's eyes his back 
suddenly straitened.  He knew that this was not someone who wished to be 
growled before. Masaka got to his knees and stared at the man as an 
equal does not as one who wished to thank his god.  
	The man and her father soon held a conference of war.  They 
would save their people no matter what the cost.  Kiyone fell asleep 
long before anything was decided.  She had awakened to the sounds of 
battle as the Man who came to save them along with the young men and 
women fought the crew of the Space Rapture those that held their leases 
or so they thought.  The fight was quick and fierce, the group worked 
with an efficiency that bordered on the lines of those desperate to 
survive.  When the Space Rapture's captain had been taken.  Rather than 
loose face before their fellow scum the captains of the remain ships 
challenged the Man who came to save them.  He accepted their challenges 
stating that should he win their men would leave this world.  They 
agreed. 
	It was in the center square of the capital that the battle took 
place.  All the captains of the ships were there waiting for our 
champion.  They laughed at what they would do with him.  They claimed 
that they would make it slow and painful.  Some of the younger captains 
still laughed when he appeared on the field.  A Human would fight them? 
It was to laugh.  Those that have seen more experience knew the trouble 
they were in.  If not for the lose of face that they would receive if 
they declined to do battle, they would have fled right there and then.  
To command a crew of cutthroats you had to be more of a cutthroat or 
else they would tare them apart.   Energy swords, blasters, disruptors, 
if it was portable and a weapon they had one.   The champion? He had 
nothing.  He just stood there and observed his opponents, looking for 
any kind of weaknesses.  
	As soon as the start of the fight was signaled, the champion 
reacted instantly.  
	"Tsumetei Arashi!" He shouted.  As a glacier of ice flew from 
his hands, instantly freezing a dozen of the captains.  The group as a 
whole let loose on the champion, but he was no longer there.  Looking 
around they finally noticed him on the other side of the clearing.  A 
huge grin on his face, as again let loose a loud cry. 
	"HiroShoten Ha!" He shot his fist into the air as if he were 
doing an uppercut.  A tornado sized wind rocketed at the Space captains. 
 Lifting all but the two Iwa hito or stone men, whose granite like mass 
saved them the fate of the others.  After the wind died down, those that 
were frozen in the first attack, crashed to the ground, shattering in a 
million pieces.  Those that were not, slowly raised themselves to their 
feet.  With just two attacks Ranma had reduced his opponents numbers by 
half.  Waiting for them to regain their feet, Ranma surveyed his 
handiwork.  When the group seemed as if they would attack, he blurred.  
To Kiyone's young untrained eyes she could not see Ranma as he brought 
the battle up close and personal.  
	"BAKUSAI TENKETSU Force wave!" with that shout both of the stone 
men exploded.  Next four more fell before Ranma's fists and feet of 
justice.  By then only six remained standing.  Seeing the efficiency by 
which  their comrades were defeated, they quickly threw down their 
weapons and begged for mercy.  Ranma being one who valued life in all 
its forms, let them leave in one of their ships, keeping the rest as 
victory spoils.  Taking their men with them, they left the planet.  We 
all cheered at our salvation, unfortunately it was short lived.  For the 
pirates could not let us live while they possessed such shame.  They 
powered up their main batteries and fired upon the city, creating a 
great crater, killing hundreds more.  Before they could fire another 
shot again. Ranma who was enraged at their dishonor, let loose a blast 
that seared the heavens.
	"Okii Moko Tabisha!" A column of yellow energy was released from 
Ranma's hands as he let loose this powerful and deadly technique.  Soon 
after the energy trail dissipated a large explosion could be seen in the 
sky above.  It was the pirate's ship.  Every Pirate who invaded Kiyone's 
home world was destroyed.
	Both of her parents died in that final blast from the pirate's 
ship.  But the bonds of blood are strong in Ranma Saotome, for he knew 
one of his own when he saw them.  Kiyone was a descendant of his by 
Ukyou Kuonji, his best childhood friend.  He took her under his wing and 
raised her, for no one else could.  All had suffered greatly from the 
attack and it would take some time before order could be restored.  
	For fifteen long years Kiyone trained under ‘Uncle Ranma'.  She 
grew into a beautiful young woman, with long red hair which she bound up 
in a pigtail like her uncles.  From a distance it would be hard to tell 
Ranma-chan and Kiyone apart.  When getting closer a person would have 
noticed the differences.  Kiyone's eyes were green where Ranma's were 
blue.  Kiyone also had a light sprinkling of freckles.
	Ranma always commented on how great it was training on that 
planet with it's greater gravity and lower atmospheric conditions.  It 
was all she ever knew, so that when Ranma brought her to another planet 
she had to be careful not to needlessly destroy anything. As her 
genetically enhanced body let her learn the Art at a greater pace.  
While Ranma did not always stay with her, he always came back to be with 
her.  He was the only constant in her life, the one thing she could 
count on.  But now she had to set her own way.  Giving her his gauntlets 
that he had possessed for a lifetime, Ranma left her to her ways.  
Although he would not admit it, he kept on hinting to her that she 
should enter into the Ginga Tonamento. He told such tales of battle and 
comradship in such tournament that her eye's sparkled when he told them. 
 So that when it finally came around, she entered though she was only 
twenty-two.  To prove to herself that she could go the distance and to 
make her ‘Uncle' proud.
  
	Neo-Queen Serenity watched on with humor as her honor guard and 
best friends squabbled in front of her.  Their forever youthful faces, 
darkened with anger.  One especially upset individual, Rei's tongue 
flashed like the sharpest blade.  Her voice rising with every word.  
	"But it was supposed to be my turn this month!"  Not one of her 
friends/rivals backed down from her stare, having long learned to deal 
with it.
	"Well in all fairness, he has been gone for a while.  Not to 
mention the others who try to have claim on him."  Amy put in.  Her face 
was also flushed with anger.  Still it did not mean that she had to act 
like a shrew about it like the others.
	"Your Majesty!" Rei whined to her Queen.  "We had long ago 
decided on a schedule for the time-sharing.  It's not my fault that he 
wasn't here when the other's turn were up.  Now that he has returned to 
Earth, I think I should have my turn."
	"Oh? And how did you know he had returned?" Serenity asked, 
humor can be heard in her voice.	Rei blushed, then mumbled 
something.   
	"What was that?" Makoto asked.
	"I said.  That I did a fire reading. OK?"  Rei practically 
shouted at the girl. 
	"And when were you going to tell us that?"  Minako asked. 
	Serenity barely stifled a giggle.  This was the most fun she had 
in almost a decade.  She looked up as she heard laughter coming from the 
entrance to the main hall.  There Michiru and Hakura stood.  Having each 
other, they did not contribute to the melee in progress.  That didn't 
mean they couldn't enjoy it though. 
	"Your Majesty! Please!  It's been quiet lately. Please tell me 
where he is.  I know you know." Rei asked.
	"Oh? and how come you can't find him with your fire?" Minako 
teased her.
	"You know that I can't find him when he's in his cursed form." 
Rei shot back acidly.
	"That just proves that he's hiding.  If he wanted to be found he 
wouldn't be using it."  Ami tried to reason with the group.  "Obviously 
he is keeping to the letter of the agreement with the others."
	"He's still upset we didn't discuss it with him when we made up 
the game."  Makoto put in.  
	"Well it seems that we're one step ahead the others.  We all 
thought he was at that tournament."  Hotaru put in her two cents.  "You 
know how he lives to test himself against others."  Everyone in the room 
sighed at that.  They all knew Ranma to well for their own good.
	"This way we'll get a head start on the others.  Kami knows 
we'll need it."  The last part Makoto mumbled.
	"Your Majesty, Serenity, please can you at least give us a 
hint?"  Minako pleaded.
	Serenity made as if it was scandalous to even ask that.  That 
was until she burst out laughing. It was to much, Hakura and Michiru 
joined in with their Queen, laughing so much their sides hurt.
	"When I talked to Ranma last month, oops!"  Serenity made as if 
she had just blurted out the world's greatest secret.
	"Last Month!" the four girls practically shouted at her, then 
remembering themselves blushed deeply murmuring apologies.
	"What a minute.  If he was here last month then that means he's 
still in the country!" Rei exclaimed.  The whole group made as if to 
begin speaking at once, but were cut off by Serenity.
	"Yes I give you all permission to search for him.  You all need 
a vacation anyway." she laughed as the group bowed before her and 
quickly exited the audience hall.  Makoto practically knocking the 
others out of the way in her haste.  They would check in with their 
children before running off, that Serenity was sure of.  If anything was 
said about Ranma, he sure wasn't sterile.  Ranma has at latest count 
thirty-four children, all of them girls.  Though he would not say 
anything Ranma, everyone was sure he wanted a son.  Not that he didn't 
love any of his children any less, it was just his sexist attitude.

	A lone figure walked the fields just north of Crystal Tokyo.  
She paused to observe her surroundings.  She was close, she could tell. 
 Nuku-Nuku scanned the region, though it was faint, there was still 
slight traces of her quarry.  Almost too faint, the previous storm 
almost washed away any traces of him.   
	"Yeah!!" she squealed aloud.  She then sent her sensors to full 
scan before continuing her search.    Soon she would find Ranma, and 
then show him the modifications that she had received from Washu.  She 
practically glowed with happiness. 

	From her dimensional pocket, Washu kept tabs on Ryoko and 
Nuku-Nuku.  Not that they knew it, but she had planted tracking devices 
in them.  Now all she had to do was wait until they got near enough for 
her to detect Ranma, then she would get there before they did.   She had 
many tests she wanted to perform on Ranma, that and she didn't want to 
lose to those other women.  With that thought, she laughed her mad 
scientist diabolical laugh.  "Hahaha........."

 	   "One, two, three, shoot!" called out two women.  They were 
both shaking their fists at each other.  They then threw out fingers, as 
they called out "SHOOT!"  The taller of the two put out two fingers, 
while the shorter one put out three.
	"Ha! Odds, I win!"  Skuld shouted joyfully, then preceded to do 
a short dance of joy. While she was no longer a child anymore, she still 
looked very young and mature at the same time.  
	"Hmmp!"  Was all Urd said as she went off to sulk and get drunk. 
 She hated losing to her little sister. *I wonder what Balder is doing* 
She then went off to find comfort elsewhere.
	Skuld then went to her computer terminal and proceeded to hack 
into Yggdrasill.  She entered in [Ranma Saotome] what was read back: 
status [Ultra-powerful human] location [Japan] coordinates [43.2..] 
"Wha?" *I was cut off!*
	"SKULD!"  She cringed as a voice spoke into her head. 
	"Yes, Kami-sama?"  She asked guiltily.
	"YOUR CHEATING AGAIN AREN'T YOU." It was a statement not a 
question.
	"Uhmm. I'm just giving myself a ace in the hole." she answered 
quietly.
	"YOU HAVE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU NEED."
	"Yes Sir." she replied meekly.  At least she had what 
information she did.  She was sure she was one up on the competition.  
With that she went to check up with Belldandy and her husband, telling 
them she would be Earth-side for a while.  Ranma would be all hers this 
time.
 
	 Kato grunted in the effort it took to try to lift the boulder 
from its resting place.  While being much smaller than some that he 
lifted in the past, the boulder still refused to move.  It was if the 
boulder itself did not wish to be removed from this spot.    
	"Damn!" he muttered under his breath.  For the last hour he had 
tried to move this head- sized boulder from it's centuries long resting 
spot.  He just couldn't understand why the thing refused to move.  Kato 
was sure that he was the strongest fighter in his generation.  He had 
proved it time and time again by destroying boulders many time larger 
than this one.  Still no matter how hard he tried, he could not destroy 
this one.  Heck he couldn't even move it.  It was very discouraging. 
	"How long are you going to do that?" An exasperated voice called 
from behind me.
	"Do what?" he shot back innocently.  He wouldn't admit it, but 
he loved to get a rise out of that particular person behind him. 
	"Play with that infuriating rock?!" the girl exclaimed.  Anger 
causing her to raise her voice.  She didn't know how he did it, but it 
seemed like everything time he did something, he did it to irritate her.
	"Heh!" With that Kato raised from his crouched position at the 
boulder and turned to look at his friend and rival, Natsiko.
	Like everyone else who resided in the Anything Goes compound.  
Natsiko was a martial artist.  While Kato relied heavily on his strength 
and constitution, Natsiko used her speed and agility to win her matches. 
  
	"I know its around here somewhere." Kato kicked the rock.  "This 
is the only clue that I could find."
	"Well I think its just a myth." Natsiko tried to taunt Kato, 
knowing full well that she would fail.  Kato not only had the strength 
of the earth spirits, he also had the patience and stability of it to.  
Still, it was Natsiko's life long goal get a rise out of him.  "It's 
just something Grandfather made up to impress the children."
	Kato sighed, this was an old conversation for them.  Natsiko was 
like the wind spirit.  Fast and flowing, with a personality to match.  
One minute calm and gentle as a spring breeze, and then without warning 
can be as hostile as a tornado.  Though at times she can be aggravating, 
he wouldn't change her for anything.  It was what made her, her.
	Before either one of them could continue, the dinner gong 
sounded.  As if a starting gun was fired off the two young people took 
off.  As martial artists they burned a lot of calories.  They had to 
constantly consume nutrients to keep up their high performance levels.  
And in a compound with at any time there could be twenty to fifty such 
martial artists in the compound, you had to be quick to get the best 
seats in the dinner hall.  So they had hurry to get to it.

	There were murmurs of conversation as members of the household 
and students sat at the long table in the center of the dinner hall.  
One table at the end helped to make a ‘T' formation.  The longer part 
being were the students and junior members of the household ate.  Where 
at the head table those of respect, masters, Grandparents, etc.  Those 
that had earned the honor to position themselves there.  
	As two of the finest students of the school, Kato and Natsiko 
were placed close to the head table, though not at it.  As usual the 
places were already set, as Yoshihiro's staff were very efficient, he 
wouldn't have them any other way. For Yoshihiro prided himself on 
maintaining the household and living arrangements, and he kept a tight 
ship.  Not only were that places neat, they were also eye appealing as 
well.
	After a few minutes the gong sounded a second time.  The two 
rivals looked to the doorway to watch for the stragglers to arrive.  
Most of them being the younger students.  They were directed to the 
kitchens to help in serving the meal.  The two senior students laughed 
silently at their misfortune.  They would learn to be faster when the 
meal gong sounded.
	They waited until the elders were seated before helping 
themselves to the meal.  While many made a pretense of having manners 
while some just stuffed their faces as if they would never have another 
meal.  Natsiko being one of them.  Kato just watched her from the corner 
of his eyes, having long gotten use to her eating habits.  He also knew 
that if he did not pay attention, she would help herself to his 
servings.  
	Kato was interrupted from his vigilance by another one of his 
rivals/friends, Misuteri.  Like her name implied she was a mystery.  
Relying mainly on the art of misdirection when it came to battle.  You 
never knew when or where she would strike during a duel.  Soft spoken 
and quiet as a church mouse, she shocked him when she touched Kato's arm 
to get his attention.  Glancing her way, he was distracted long enough 
for Natsiko take choice pieces of his meal.  Looking at his plate then 
at Natsiko's grin, he scowled at Misuteri.
	"Thanks a lot."  He muttered sarcastically.  Then knowing that 
she wouldn't have interrupted him if it wasn't important.  "What is it?"
	Misuteri just pointed to the head table.  After quickly scarfing 
down his meal so Natsiko wouldn't steal it.  He looked when she had 
indicated.  As far as he could tell, nothing was different.  It looked 
like grandpa Sioki was missing but that wasn't anything new.  He was 
probably still recovering from a hangover.
	"What? I don't see anything." Glancing her way for her to 
explain. 
	"There.  Next to Master Kasumi.  The girl."  She tended to use 
as few words as possible to get her point across.  
	"Huh." Kato looked closer.  There.  How could he have missed 
her?  It seemed that if you didn't look directly at her you wouldn't 
even notice her.  Red hair. Blue eyes.  Two definite family traits.  He 
leaned over to Natsiko to get her attention away from her meal.
	"What do think Nat?  An amazon?" Which wouldn't have been 
strange for the Saotome family had a few members still in the Chinese 
tribes.  Ranko, great-granddaughter of Shampoo's great-granddaughter, 
Chia-lao should have had a child by now.  Maybe that was her.  They 
sometimes sent their children over to Japan so that she could witness 
her heritage.  And get a husband.  After a couple generations the 
bloodline is thin enough to allow breeding with other distant family 
members.
	Around a mouth full of rice. "I dom mow." Those around her just 
looked at her in discuss.  "Don't forget to breath Natsiko."
	"Say it don't spray it."
	"She better not chock again, the last time she did we were all 
scrubbing the floor from her mess."
	These comments received a dark glance from Natsiko, which caused 
the taunters to look back into their plates to avoid looking directly at 
her.  She swallowed before continuing on.
	"Why looking to get hitched?" While she was curious as the next 
person she still couldn't resist putting in a barb.
	It was not their place to interrupt the meal by asking 
questions.  Still, the Master wouldn't deny them any questions.  She was 
always telling them to come to her or one of the other masters when ever 
they had any questions.  So until after the meal they would just have to 
wait.