I considered doing a MST with Noble Scarlet, Rho-ohki and Kotatsu Neko,

but I'll save that for Zen.

From: "Thurston Sherman" <urdvar@hotmail.com>

Subject: [FFML][UY/VPM][dark/sad fic]THE JOURNEY HOME

The Journey Home

by

Thurston Sherman

Ataru walked upstairs to his room.  Even with the door closed, he could

still heard them arguing.

Quick, is this sentence now occurring or did its events happen in the

past?



Do you want to use past or present tense here?



It would have been much stronger to show the argument starting and then

have Ataru tune it out and walk unnoticed up to his room.

"Darling?  What's wrong?" Lum calls from her futon.

Try ending EVERY sentence Lum-chan speaks with t'cha.  It's a hoot. (Pun

intended.)

Atarus sighs.  He did not need this right now.  "Mom and dad are at it

again," he explains, frowning briefly.

Again a mix of present and past tense.  I advise using the past tense

consistently in actions and the present tense normally in dialogue.  When

a character talks about something that has already finished occuring they

will of course speak in the past tense, but this is rare.



I will not mention grammar again in this review, but this story needs

considerable work in this area.

Lum races across the room, hugging Ataru gently from behind.  Ataru

grimaces, feeling suffocated and trapped.  Pulling himself from Lum, he

gathers his stuff.  He had to get away and think.

She's lost the power of flight?



Is the last sentence in this paragragh a statement of Ataru's thoughts or

a statement of some objective fact?

With a pained expression on her face, Lum watches Ataru prepare to leave.

Hopefully, she asks, "where are we going, Darling?"

We all hope that she was the one who asked that, but maybe it was Megane?

Ataru frowns and turns to face Lum.  "We're not going anywhere.  I'm

leaving for a while.  I don't know where I'm going or when I'll be home.

I just need some time by myself," he explains.  Ataru sighs deeply.  When

had his life gotten out of control?  When had he ever had control of his

life?  He could not remember.

In episode one of the manga.  That was when somebody else moved in and

took over, remember?

Lum looks at Ataru with tear-filled eyes.  "D...Darling? Please don't

go!"  She hugs Ataru to herself tightly.  If she let go, she fears she

will lose him forever.  She feels her world falling apart as Ataru pulls

>from her embrace.

"Lum, if you've ever loved me, you must set me free," Ataru explains.  He

looks thoughtful for a moment and adds, "at least for now."

Couldn't she understand?  He had to regain control of his life in order

to determine where he wanted it to go.  Looking at Lum's pain and fear, a

pang went briefly through his heart.  Shaking his head, he steels his

resolve and heads out the door.

The voices of his mother and father carries to him from down the hall as

he walks down the stairs.  It was obvious from the restrained anger in

their voices that this could well spell the end of the so-called perfect

home life others chastised him for upsetting.  If only they knew the

truth.

"And just how long have you been carrying on with Ataru's teachers behind

my back?" demands Ataru's mother of his father.

I always knew, deep in my heart, that Onsen-Mark was that way.

"Don't act the wounded angel with me!  You were sleeping around with that

alien Rei while I sacrificed myself for you and your ungrateful son!"

counters Ataru's father.

"If you had been half the man I thought you were when I married you,

maybe I wouldn't have had to find love in another man's arms!" responds

Ataru's mother.  "You're as dishonorable as Ataru! But why should I be

surprised?  Like father, like son!"

Why would Rei sleep with Mrs Moroboshi?  It only took him a moment to

realise that she wasn't Lum last time.  Wait, maybe if she offered him

food in the right way...



Must suppress Hentai thoughts...

Ataru winced as his parents' words cut through him.  Maybe if he had

found love at home, he would never have had to hunt for it so desperately

elsewhere.  With a sigh, Ataru leaves the house he once mistakenly called

home.

>From the top of the stairs, Lum watches Ataru's reaction to his parents'

words.  She cries, feeling her beloved's pain and loss.  She barely

restrains herself from racing down to him.  However, she was afraid that

is she did go to his side, he would turn away from her in rejection.

Motioning to Ten, Lum tells him, "I made a promise to Darling, but I

never said you wouldn't keep an eye on him for me."  She smiles faintly.

Seeing his cousin and best friend in such pain, Ten nods his small head.

"Hai, Lum-chan.  I'll keep an eye on him.  I just hope he deserves the

love and faith you have in him," Ten replies to her request.

Is he on pickled plums again?

Lum wipes a tear from her cheek as Ten floats out the bedroom window

after Ataru.  She whispers, "so do I, Ten, so do I."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Class, I have an announcement to make!" the principal declares to the

class.  Lum is looking concernedly at Ataru, who is dozing.  Mendo glares

at Ataru while Shinobu tries to ignore him.  The principal ignores their

inattentiveness as he continues, "you will have a new teacher this year.

Her name is Miss Hiraki.  Please make her feel welcome!"  He turns to the

attractive young woman beside him.  He whispers, "if these brats give you

any problems, please let me know."

Shinobu is ignoring Mendo, must be after the introduction of Ryuu-kun.

Miss Hiraki smiles enigmatically at the principal, replying, "oh, I don't

think that will be necessary."  She turns to the class.  "Good morning! I

am very pleased to be here.  I'm sure we will get along very well."  She

flashes a winning smile at the class.  At the sound of her voice, Ataru

wakes up with a start.  Seeing a beautiful young woman at the front of

the class, he leaps out of his seat.

"On behalf of my class, I would like to personally welcome you to our

school, ma'am!" Ataru reports.

Is he still the class president?

"Well, that's very nice of you, but don't you think you should return to

your seat?  And, please, no sleeping in class again," Miss Hiraki

instructs Ataru.  She flashes a brief smile at Ataru, which barely

conceals a glint of menace.

Ataru nods, swallowing, hard.  "Hai!" he answers promptly.  He sits back

down quickly, the strength suddenly leaving his legs.  Lum looks

concerned at Ataru while Shinobu flashes him a disapproving glance.

The object of Lum's concern is unknown, but she wanted Ataru to know that

she was concered about something.

Observing Ataru's behavior with a disdainful glare, Mendo snaps, "Ataru,

why must you constantly disgrace yourself?!"

Miss Hiraki looks up at Mendo inquiringly.  She flashes a smile at Mendo

similar to the one she gave Ataru.  Mendo swallows hard, a sweat bead on

his forehead.  He hangs his head in shame and a touch of fear.

She's looking up at him because she's lying on his desk, right?

Meanwhile, a young girl seated at the back of the class has been watching

the proceedings with interest.  She meets the teacher's gaze and smiles

briefly.  Miss Hiraki nods slightly, as if acknowledging a challenge.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Did you notice anything strange about the new teacher?" Ataru asks Lum

and Shinobu after school.

Shinobu looks at Ataru with a grin on her face.  "You mean because she

was able to resist your charms?"  She giggles.  Lum frowns at Shinobu.

"You should not make fun of Darling!" Lum protests.

Mendo catches up to the group from behind, having heard Ataru's question.

"For once, I agree with you, Ataru.  There is something strange about

Miss Hiraki." he notes.

Yeah, her name means opening and she won't.  Very strange.

Shinobu laughs mockingly.  "Don't tell me she's snared your heart too?"

she teases.

Mendo frowns.  "No, not that.  I mean, she's pretty, anyone can see that,

but there's something about her that makes me uneasy," he explains.

Ataru nods, agreeing, "you said it! Brrrr!"  Ataru frowns at the memory

of Miss Hiraki's smile.  Shinobu looks at Ataru and Mendo, perplexed.

Lum gives Ataru a concerned glance.

"Don't think about it, Darling?  We'll go home, and I'll cook you dinner.

That will take your mind off this," Lum announces with a smile.  Ataru

looks green and shudders.

Unbeknownst to them, a figure has been listening to them from the

shadows.  It looks down at the young girl beside it.  "Is this Miss

Hiraki the one?" it asks.

The girl looks up at the cloaked figure.  "Yes," she answers.

OK, Manga Miyu and she's much more on the ball than usual.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A short figure leaps out of the shadows of Ataru's house.  "DOOM!" it

yells into Ataru's face.

"Yaaaa!" Ataru screams, jumping back and falling over Lum.

"Doom!  I see your future in your face, and it is terrible!" the figure

declares.  The figure steps into the light, revealing its self to be

Cherry.

Visibly shaken, Ataru recovers upon recognizing Cherry.  "Terrible?!

Have you looked in a mirror recently?!" he yells at Cherry.  Ataru bops

Cherry on top of the head and walks into the house.  Lum follows closely

behind.

Is he wearing his hat?  BTW: I haven't noticed much mention of any

clothing in this fic...

Cherry shakes his head, watching Ataru and Lum leave.  "When will they

ever listen?" he grumbles to himself before walking off.

"Mom? I'm home!" Ataru calls as he enters the house.

"Go up and do your homework!  Dinner will be late.  Your father's working

over....again!" calls Ataru's mother.  She seems very upset.

Ataru shrugs.  When aren't mom and dad upset anymore, he thinks.  He

heads upstairs.

Lum smiles.  "Don't worry, Darling!  I promised I'd make dinner!," she

reminds him.  Whistling happily, she begins pressing buttons on some

arcane machinery.  Ataru rolls his eyes and turns on the radio, avoiding

his homework.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cherry is walking by the high school when he senses something wrong.

Taking out his holy beads, he approaches the school.  The sound of

laughter draws him around the back of the building.  There he sees a

cloaked figure attacking the new teacher, Miss Hiraki.

"HA! You are not nearly strong enough to defeat me, Shinma!" she laughs,

exposing rows of barbed fangs.  Growling, she slashes out with

fingernails lengthened into claws.  The cloaked figure remains silent as

it avoids the attack.

Suddenly a young girl steps out of the shadows by the gymnasium.  In her

hands she carries a ball of fire.  "Then try me, Shinma!" she challenges,

throwing the flames at Miss Hiraki.  Turning at Miyu's voice, Miss Hiraki

barely leaps out of the path of the incoming missile.

"Be grateful that I must leave to feed, little one, or I would finish

this now!  Rest assured, I will return for you!" Miss Hiraki shouts

before suddenly disappearing.

Cherry rubs his head in confusion, unable to believe what he has seen

transpire.  When he looks back again, the girl and the cloaked figure

have left.  "I must tell Sakura.  This does not bode well!" he decides.

"I don't really think you should do that," warns an alluring female voice

>from behind him.  Two strong hands turn Cherry around to stare into Miss

Hiraki's red glowing eyes.  "You know too much, dwarf, and I must feed.

Know now why I am called Hiraki the Mind Stealer!" she hisses.  Hiraki's

face splits in half with a smile full of demonic menace and primal

hunger.

This question has been put to the test and nobody is desperate enough to

bite into the Cherry.



He should be considered one of the half-dozen most powerful characters

in UY.

As Cherry loses consciousness, his mind turns to his neice Sakura and

when he first took her under his care.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rage and pain course through Cherry's body, transforming his normally

homely face into a sight truly terrible to behold.  How could this have

happened?, he thinks.  He looks around at the decimated wreckage of the

family estate.

Renounce all worldly pleasures and ascend to enlightenment, he had been

taught.  He had left worldly ways behind after the war to become a

buddhist monk.  He foolishly thought that he could escape the cares of

the world.  Cherry looks at the razed house.  The fire had completely

gutted it, leaving only a hollow shell of his childhood home.  As second

oldest, his brother had inherited the family estate instead.  Now there

was nothing left...of his home or his family.

Cherry sat in the ashes, cradling his head in his hands as tears wracked

his body.  The world had caught up with him with a vengeance.

"Uncle Cherry?" calls a six-year old voice timidly.

Looking up, Cherry smiles as his niece Sakura throws herself into his

arms.  He holds the frail form as waves of grief wash over her.  Wiping

away his tears, Cherry looks lovingly at his niece.  Perhaps there was

hope for a foolish man, after all....

Sorry, but Sakura wasn't living with Cherry when she was in high school

and her mother, Cherry's sister, lives to this day.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hiraki laughs as the life essence drains from Cherry's cold body.

Dropping the lifeless shell onto the ground, Hiraki licks the blood off

her talons.  Smiling with exhiliration, she sets forth for further prey.

I like this story already, but he'll be back.  Sigh.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Did you hear the news?" Shinobu asks Ataru and Lum as they walk to class.

"What news?" Ataru yawns.  Lum looks at Ataru with a concerned

expression.  The way Darling's parents fight all night, he will never get

any rest, thinks Lum.

"Cherry was found dead this morning in the schoolyard," explains Shinobu

with a frown.  She never really cared for Cherry, but she never actually

wished him any ill.

She sure seemed eager enough to beat on him after that bikini theft.

Ataru looks stunned.  "What?!" he asks in shock.  "I saw him just last night!"

"Well...from what I've heard, he was walking across the schoolyard last

night and had a heart attack," Shinobu informs them.

"It's hard to imagine what it will be like without his ugly face around,"

muses Ataru.  Although Cherry could be irritating, he showed more concern

for him....more than his parents ever did.  Ataru frowns sadly.

"How is Sakura doing?" asks Lum, knowing that Sakura had no other family.

Please see above.

"She's not taking it too well.  Despite their fights, they apparently

were very close," Shinobu replies quietly.

The rest of the walk to school is spent in uneasy silence.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sakura is wracked with tears of grief.  "Why? Why did you have to go too,

Uncle?"  Many people misunderstood the fights between Cherry and Sakura.

They were primarily a game between the two.  Although their pride and

stubbornness could cause them to truly clash occassionally, they would

resolve their differences much the same way as a father and daughter.

Having been raised by her Uncle Cherry since she was six years old, she

felt closer to him than to her barely remembered father.  The loss of

Cherry was crushing her heart.

So, it was all playful fun when you intentionally infected him with an

unknown alien disease in order to test out your theory?



My bet remains that her misplaced self-hatred, after abuse at his hands,

left her open to the possessions, until Ataru saved her.

"Excuse me? Nurse Sakura?" Lum calls from the hallway reluctantly.

Sakura turns to look at Lum, wiping the tears from her eyes.  "Lum? What

can I do for you? Aren't you feeling well?" she asks.

Lum smiles reassuringly at Sakura.  "No.  I'm fine.  I was concerned

about you and wanted to see how you were doing," she replies.

Sakura smiles at Lum.  "I'm about as well as can be expected.  It hurts

,but it'll get better in time," she responds, sighing sadly.

Lum nods, smiling sympathetically.  How can I discuss Darling's problems

when she has so many herself now?, thinks Lum.

As Lum leaves, Sakura thinks, that lecherous Ataru does not deserve a

caring girly like Lum.

Girly?  Ms Sakura, are you sure that it's just schedule pressure that's

keeping you away from the Swallow?

When Lum slips past the nurse's window, Ataru slides up beside her.

"How's she doing?" he asks, genuinely concerned.

The windows are on the outside of the building.  This is no problem for

Lum, but Darling?

Lum sighs.  "In time, she'll be fine, Darling.  It was sweet for you to

be so concerned," she says, taking his arm.

Ataru shrugs.  "Hey! I'm not a total cad, despite what people think."

They head to class, arm in arm.

Ninety nine and 4/10ths percent pure, but not a total cad.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Miyu sits in the back of the class like normal.  She watches Miss Hiraki

closely.  "It's my fault that old man died.  If I'd been able to banish

her the first time, she wouldn't have been able to strike down another.

Now she's fed and is stronger.  I must banish her back to the darkness

before she strikes yet again! Miyu resolves to herself.  Miyu is so

focused upon her thoughts that she does not notice that class has let

out.

Hell, she's been sitting there all semester, but nobody ever noticed.



I guess even a vampire princess is pretty tame for this neighborhood.

"Hey, daydreamer! Class is over," call a teasing voice beside her.

Blinking, Miyu turns to see Shinobu.  Miyu smiles.

"Thank you.  I've got a lot on my mind," Miyu explains.

Shinobu returns the smile.  Nodding her head, she turns to catch up with

Mendo.

Miyu passes Miss Hiraki as she leaves.  "Today is your last day, Shinma!"

she hisses.

Miss Hiraki laughs.  Looking disdainfully at Miyu, she returns, "don't

make threats you cannot keep, child!"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shinobu, Ataru, Lum, and Mendo are walking home from a friend's house.

It is well after dark and the cold wind is gaining strength.  Ataru turns

to Shinobu and Mendo.

"Well, I better get home before they get too worried.  I'll see you

tomorrow!" Ataru says as he heads into his house.  Lum smiles and waves

as she follows Ataru.

As Ataru opens the door, the sounds of a heated argument carry out on the

wind.  Ataru tenses as if hit by the words.  After a moment's hesitation,

he enters the house.

Shinobu frowns.  "I've never known Ataru's parents to fight like that,"

she ponders.

"Whatever the problem is, you can be assured Ataru is to blame," Mendo

states dismissingly.  When Shinobu appears ready to go after Ataru, Mendo

gently but firmly places a restraining hand on her shoulder.  Shinobu

looks uncertain.  Biting her lip, she nods and walks on with Mendo.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After listening to his parents fight for a couple hours, Ataru gets out

of bed and heads outside.  He is careful not to wake Lum One of us might

as well get some sleep, he thinks.  After walking for a couple miles to

clear his mind, he spies Sakura.  What the?! he thinks, noticing her

staggered pace.  "She's drunk!" he whispers out loud in a surprised

voice.

"Hulloooo, Ataru!" she giggles.

"uh...konbanwa, Sakura-sama," he replies nervously.

"I'm lonely, Ataru.  Could you walk me home?" she smiles, brushing her

body against him.

Be afraid, be very afraid.

Ataru nods rapidly.  He had always been attracted to Sakura but thought

she couldn't stand him.  He wasn't about to let his golden opportunity

slip past him.

"I'm glad. I've been so lonely with my fiancee' gone," she replies,

smiling.  Brushing her hand against his cheek, she kisses him. Ataru

blushes, suddenly feeling very hot.  Sakura laughs.  Putting her arms

through Ataru's, she walks down the street with him.  Ataru is so lost in

ecstasy that he is oblivious to his surroundings.

Say, didn't this story get posted to the list a few months ago?

Suddenly Ataru is thrown through the air, his head hitting a rock.  As

his vision blurs, he can barely make out a figure grabbing Sakura.  Ataru

groggily gets to his feet.

Sakura stares numbly at the demonic countenance of Hiraki the Mind

Stealer.  She can feel her life force stealing away.  What does it

matter? she thinks, my fiancee' has left me... I have no friends...my

family is gone...only pain and loneliness remain.  She reaches for the

dark embrace of the void.

A sudden cry of pain and rage shakes the air as Sakura is flung from

Hiraki's grasp.  Ataru stumbles towards Sakura, slowly shaking off his

injury.

Sakura stares blankly in space.  Despite his best attempts, Ataru can get

no response from her.  Her body seemed undamaged, but what of her mind?

Ataru feels his desire drain away, to be replaced by a new

feeling...shame? guilt?  Ataru did not know, but he knew he didn't like

it.  Taking Sakura into his arms, Ataru barely notices Miss Hiraki

fighting off a dark-cloaked attacker.  Panicked, Ataru races off with

Sakura in his arms.

He's done that before.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hiraki laughed as she stalked her prey.  "The little bitch actually

believes she is a match for me?"  Hiraki could sense her duplicate

fighting Miyu and her pet Shinma, Larva.  "She does not expect all my

powers.  Good.  Very good." A predatory grin spreads across her face.

Leaping upon her chosen prey, she makes quick work of him.  As she

feasted, she knew it would soon be time for the final confrontation with

Miyu.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Miyu frowned at the retreating figure of her classmate.  She would have

some work ahead to prevent him spreading word of what had happened.  She

turned towards Hiraki with a glowing ball of flame in her hands.  "Now,

Larva!"  she directed.  The cloaked Shinma leaped free of Hiraki's grasp

in time to narrowly avoid the incoming fireball.

"Return to the darkness from where you came!" Miyu commands Hiraki.  The

Shinma's scream, however, sounded like amused laughter to Miyu.

"Miyu, there is another," Larva informs her.  Miyu knows Larva cannot be

mistaken as she too can sense the Shinma's presence.  There had been only

one earlier.  Had Hiraki received reinforcements? she thought.  Miyu nods

to Larva.  They step back into the shadows, preparing to stalk down their

new adversary.

And in the all-concealing shadows, they back up over the Batduck. "Qwack!"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lum awakens with a start.  "Darling?" she calls.  The nightmare had

scared her.  Her beloved must not be endangered!  Hearing no response

>from Ataru, she looks throughout the house but cannot find him.  Frowning

in fear and worry, she flies off to find him.

A half-mile from the house she spies a familiar figure running down the

street.  "Darling?" calls Lum.

Ataru looks toward the direction from which he had heard Lum's voice.

"Lum?  Down here!" he calls, setting Sakura down gently.  He is breathing

hard.

Lum gets angry at seeing Ataru carrying another woman in his arms.

Getting closer, she sees the Sakura's condition.  "Ataru!  What

happened?!"  She runs to embrace him.

"I...I don't know.  I had to get out of the house.  Then I ran into

Sakura.  She was drunk,and I could almost swear she was trying to seduce

me!" Ataru tells her hurriedly.  Lum's face is dark with anger, her hair

flying up with the electrical energy she is building up.  Ataru notices

Lum's reaction to his last words.  He continues quickly.

"Before I knew it, we were attacked.  I hit my head on a rock.  When I

came to, some guy in a cloak was fighting Miss Hiraki and Sakura was like

this!" he states, pointing at the vacantly staring Shinto priestess.

Lum frowns at Sakura, a worried expression on her face.  "We'll take her

to my space ship.  I'll do what I can for her there," she declares.

Turning towards Ataru, she continues, "we have to find Miss Hiraki and

see if she's all right.  Where did you leave her?"  Wincing at the

implications of his cowardice, Ataru picks up Sakura and leads Lum back

to where he last saw Miss Hiraki.

After looking around the neighborhood for a few minutes, Lum states,

"well, she's not here.  Maybe she got away." Ataru looks relieved.

"We'll check on her after we take Sakura to my ship," Lum announces.

Thoughts and emotions flood through Ataru as he carries Sakura to Lum's

space ship.  Was he to blame for what had happened to Sakura?  What about

Miss Hiraki?  Where his parents correct in blaming him for their divorce?

Maybe he really was a bad person.  Ataru knew that he always drew

disaster regardless of his intentions.

Which are usually bad anyway.

Ataru sighs sadly, looking at Lum.  Didn't she realize he was no good for

her?  He kept trying to push her away , but she refused to leave his

side.  Regardless of what he did, she always supported and loved him.

Why?  No one else cared about him.  Eventually even Shinobu left him,

choosing Mendo over him.

Lum noticed Ataru's glance and the expression that crossed his face.  Did he still doubt her love, she thought.  She knew what others thought of him...his teachers....his family...his supposed friends.  She also knew what lay underneath the facade.  She sighed, knowing all the pain and doubt she could never erase.

Reaching Lum's space ship, Ataru placed Sakura in the medical bay while Lum adjusted sensors.  "Do you think she'll be all right?" he asked, fearing what the answer might be.  The guilt and shame washed over him again.  What if Sakura never recovers? he thought.  He felt responsible.

Lum looked up from her monitors.  "It may be too early to tell, Darling.  Why don't you get some rest while I work?" she said, smiling lovingly at her beloved.

Ataru nodded, knowing he would only be in Lum's way.  A warm smile crossed his face before being replaced with a frown.  Watching Ataru turn away, Lum frowned sadly.  When would he ever learn that it was safe to be close to her?  

Lum watched Ataru leave and slowly returned to the monitors.  The weak but steady patterns told her that Sakura would be able to recover in time.

He steps outside and falls twenty feet to the roof of his house.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Darling? Time to get ready for school!" Lum called wearily.  Ataru rubbed his eyes.  He had fallen asleep only half an hour ago but was surprised he had slept at all.  His mind was still reeling.  He yawned and turned to look at Lum.

Lum smiled at Ataru.  She did not want him to see how drained and exhausted she felt.  It would only make him feel even worse, she knew.  

Ataru was concerned at Lum's obvious lack of sleep.  He knew she was trying to hide it, but he knew her well enough to know how she was really feeling.  He swallowed hard.  What he was about to do was not easy for him.

"Lum?  Why don't you stay home today?  You can call in sick.  I'll take notes for both of us," he suggests.

Lum smiled.  He was concerned enough about her to show it?  She frowned.  She must really look bad.  She shook her head.  "No.  I'll be fine, Darling," she yawns. 

Ataru sighs, gently holding Lum in front of him.  "Please, Lum, take care of yourself.  I couldn't forgive myself if anything happened to you," he tells her.  Ataru pauses for a second, looking into Lum's eyes, and gives her a quick kiss on the cheek.

Lum blushes, smiling.  The exhilaration and joy that overcomes her erases all fatigue.  

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Miyu was shocked to see Miss Hiraki in class.  I know I banished her last night, Miyu thinks.  "Why is she here?  I've got to talk to Larva, maybe he knows something I don't about here," Miyu whispers to herself.

Ataru and Lum smiled to see Miss Hiraki in class.  They knew she was fine now.  They shared a brief smile at one another.  Shinobu felt a pang of jealousy before noticing Mendo looking at her.  She smiles at him and hangs her head in shame.

Miss Hiraki conducted the class as normal but was laughing inside to see Miyu's confusion.  Seeing Ataru, she recognized him as the boy who had escaped from her the night before.  She vowed that he would not be quite so lucky a second time.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Larva, I thought we had banished Hiraki, but she was at school today.  I do not understand how this can be," Miyu tells her friend and guardian.

Lava thinks for a few moments.  "I have heard of such a power before.  You know that Hiraki, like all Shinma, feeds upon the life force of others.  However, it appears that Hiraki can utilize this energy to create duplicates of herself," Larva informs her.

Miyu considers this.  "We prevented her from feeding last night and killed her duplicate.  There is only the true  Hiraki left to banish," she states.

"Not so, Miyu.  We prevented her duplicate from feeding, but not her.  It

does take time for her to create a duplicate, however.  Time which she

has not yet had," Larva explains.

"Then tonight she returns to the void...forever," Miyu declares.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After school, Miss Hiraki halts Ataru.  "Ataru?  I need to see you for a

few minutes," she says.  At seeing Lum's hesitation to leave without

Ataru, Miss Hiraki adds, "alone."  Ataru returns Lum's perplexed

expression but does as he has been ordered.

Ataru sits down at his desk as Lum leaves the room to wait outside.  "I have noticed your lack of participation in class.  You have repeatedly fallen asleep in class and have been continually late to school.," she notes.  "Perhaps you would like to explain this to me?"  Ataru nervously thinks of an excuse but can offer none.  

"I should report this behavior," she declares.  A large sweat bead breaks out on Ataru's forehead.  "Instead, I am going to give you an extra assignment.  I want you to report back here tonight to commence this assignment," she states firmly.

Miss Hiraki flashes a smile at Ataru, while her eyes bore a hole right through him.  "Do I make myself clear?!" she asks in a soft yet firm voice.  Ataru nods.

"Hai!" he answers simply, swallowing hard.

Miss Hiraki smiles.  "Good.  You ae dismissed."  Ataru leaves to meet Lum in the hallway.

"What's wrong, Darling?" she asks, a concerned look on her face.

"Oh, nothing, really.  I just have to come back tonight for an extra

assignment," he answers.

Lum casts a suspicious glance back at Miss Hiraki and puts her arm around

Ataru protectively as they walk home.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Miyu and Larva near the school building.  "She is here.  Hiraki will not

end another human life," Miyu vows.  Ataru's and Lum's voices carry down

the street as they walk to the school.  Miyu and Larva hide in the

shadows as they watch Ataru and Lum pass.

"Can I help you, Darling?" Lum asks.

"I think I can handle it, Lum," Ataru replies testily.  When would she

ever give him some room?  Part of him was looking forward to being alone

with the attractive young teacher.  His mind raced at the possibilities

of what her "extra assignment" could entail.

Some sort of "Opening"?

"Why don't you go home and get some rest?  I shouldn't be too long,"

Ataru prompts.  When Lum hesitates, he begins making shooing motions at

her.  Seeing that her beloved was determined to be alone, Lum leaves.

However, she stops after turning around the corner of the school

building.  She watches Ataru enter the school.  After a few moments she

slips into the school, as well.  What Darling does not know won't hurt

him, she thinks.

Miyu and Larva step back out of the shadows of the school building.  Miyu

frowns.  This could complicate matters, she thinks.  "This changes

nothing.  We must banish Hiraki before she has the chance to strike," she

states.  Miyu and Larva quietly enter the school.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Miss Hiraki?  I'm here for my private lessons!" Ataru shouts

enthusiastically.  Upon entering the dark classroom, Ataru reaches for

the light switch.  He is stopped by Miss Hiraki's voice.

"Good.  Why don't we just leave the lights off.  We won't need them for

this assignment," Hiraki informs Ataru.  Seeing Ataru, Hiraki smiles in

anticipation.  So much life!  Best to make this quick before that

interfering whelp interferes, Hiraki thinks.  Hiraki had sensed Miyu's

presence since she had entered the school.

Angry and hurt at Ataru's imminent philandering, Lum seethes, building

electrical energy.  However, before she can act, a tall cloaked figure

leaps through the doorway to attack Hiraki.  Lum and Ataru are both

stunned.

"No more, Hiraki!  Tonight you return to the darkness!" cries Miyu as she

steps into the classroom.  Miyu launches a fireball at Hiraki.

Remembering the cloaked figure as Sakura's attacker, Ataru leaps at Larva

in hopes of saving Miss Hiraki.  As the fireball closes upon Hiraki,

Ataru pushes her out of the way, only to be grazed by the flames.

Seeing her beloved lying injured on the floor, Lum unleashes all her

electrical energy at Ataru's attacker, Miyu.  So great is Lum's rage and

pain that the blast propels Miyu off her feet and down the hallway.

Lum streaks to Ataru's side, cradling his head in her lap.  "Darling,

speak to me! Please!" she pleads, crying.  Ataru's eyes flutter open in

time to see an enraged Larva attack Lum from behind.  Weakly, he tries to

warn her of the approaching fireball but loses consciousness.  The last

sound he hears is Lum's scream.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shaking her head, Miyu rises from the floor.  Seeing Hiraki trying to

escape, Miyu concentrates and releases a second fireball.  Miyu watches

as Hiraki turns around at the sound of the approaches flames before she

is engulfed by them.  A few moments later, Larva and Miyu stand over the

ashes of what had been Hiraki the Mind Stealer.

Larva looks at Miyu.  "It appears our work here is done," he notes.  He

turns to leave but is restrained by Miyu.

Miyu glances into the devastated classroom to see Ataru cradling Lum's

limp form in his arms.  Tears are pouring down his face as he mourns a

love denied....forever.

"No, not all our work," Miyu states.  She quietly walks into the class

room.

"Lum! Oh, Kami! Why didn't you go home?!" Atarue mourns.  Waves of grief,

pain, and loss wash over him.  He had tried to save her by pushing her

away.  Yet she had always refused to leave.  Ataru had always known he

was a bad person.  Had not his own parents repeatedly told him as much?

What was the point in behaving otherwise?  And yet Lum had always stayed

faithfully by his side.  Her love was the one light in his life, and he

had extinguished it.  Had he finally found the love for which he had

always sought, only to lose it to his foolishness?

"Oh, Kami! Lum, I would give anything to have you back by my side!" Ataru

moans.

"Anything?" asks an ageless voice from behind Ataru.  Looking around the

room, he spies a young girl walking towards him.  He recognizes her as

one of his classmates, Miyu.  "Would you share your heart? Your life?

Your ver soul to be with her?" she continues.

"Anything!  I...love her!" Ataru responds.  Looking down at Lum's still

form, he sheds new tears.

"Then so be it," declares Miyu.  She gently grabs hold of Ataru's and

Lum's hands.  Miyu can feel the life force drain from Ataru and enter

Lum.  She can hear Lum's heart begin beating in time with Ataru's.  As

Miyu's eyes flutter open, Miyu releases their hands, stepping back into

the shadows.

"Treasure what was lost and has been returned," she instructes Ataru and

Lum.  A small sad smile pulls at Miyu's lips as she recalls all that she

has lost.  Feeling a strong hand gently placed on her shoulder, Miyu

looks up into Larva's face.  She nods.  It was time to continue their

quest.

Seeing Lum open her eyes and gaze into his, Ataru smiles and kisses her

upon the lips.  Tears of joy dance in Ataru's and Lum's eyes.  Slowly

Ataru breaks the embrace to gather her into his arms, beginning the long

journey home.

As Lum rests her head against Ataru's shoulder, she sighs in contentment.

The pain, fear, and loneliness had been erased.  In their stead was an

inexplicable joy.  Smiling into Lum's eyes, he knew he had finally come

home.

Um, that's not what Miyu usually does when somebody loses a loved one to

the Shinma.  After all, she hasn't fed herself yet, right?



	Henry J. Cobb	hcobb@slip.net          http://www.io.com/~hcobb

    I really should repost "The Vamp and the Letch", but that

    would really be cruel.