On Tue, 7 Apr 1998, Coutuva wrote:

Hell Hath No Fury - Part 3
------------------------------------------------------------------


	Hitomi just stared at the woman behind the till, blinking
in disbelief.

Obviously, some time has passed...

	"What do you mean, canceled?"  she finally asked, shaking
her head.
	"I'm sorry, ma'am, but it's coming back as canceled by
the company... there's no explanation given."  the salesgirl stated,
regarding the small Chinese woman suspiciously.
	"Kuso... How much was it again?"  Hitomi spat in disgust,
angry at the embarrassment, and at the fact that she had just paid
off that card a week ago.

	And how did she get a credit card in the first place?  Well, 
actually I know some of the companies will give them out to *anyone*, but 
Hitomi's an illegal immigrant with no credit history whatsoever...

	On the street, Kikyo and Shampoo noticed immediately that
she was not a happy camper.
	"Anata...?  What happened?  You look peeved."  Kikyo
observed, moving to walk beside her.
	"I dunno... that 'woman' in there told me my credit card
was canceled... and I just paid it off last week.  I still have
the statement in my purse."  she recounted, bitterly.  "And she
treated me like a thief on top of it all." she grumbled, shifting
the bags in her hand.

They do that to anyone whose credit card bounces...

	"I would too... that can ruin a reputation too quick."
Shampoo agreed, nodding.
	"Well, let's just forget about it and go get a coffee,
ne?   My feet are killing me."  Kikyo suggested, to the happy nods
of her friends.  Inwardly, however, she had a sinking feeling of
foreboding.

You should...

	The next week, as Hitomi opened the main doors of the
Centre to begin the day, she was surprised to see a vehicle parked
in the driveway.  As soon as she opened the inner doors, two men
in suits got out of the car and headed toward the entry, each
carrying a clipboard.

Uhoh.

	Hitomi could feel her hackles rise as they approached, but
forced herself to calm down and be pleasant as she greeted them.
	"Metro Department of Public Health, Ma'am.  We're here to
inspect your facility and speak to a miss Hitomi Seirei."  the

"Miss"

first man stated upon being admitted.
	"I am Hitomi Seirei.  What can I do for you?"  she asked,
smiling innocently.
	"We've been alerted to a possible violation, and would
like your permission to carry out our inspection.  If you choose
to refuse us, we can obtain a warrant." he responded, curtly.

Bureau speak.

	Hitomi's eyes widened, then narrowed.  "There's no need
to threaten me..." she replied, levelly.  "Right this way."  she
added, gesturing them in.
	"Your cooperation is appreciated."  the man responded,
reading the look in the Chinese woman's eyes.

He gets this a lot.

	"Miss Seirei, it appears as though the information we
received was erroneous.  Your facility exceeds every applicable
standard, and should be an example for all other private Daycares.

Your personal background, OTOH...

Our congratulations, and we apologize for the inconvenience."
he remarked, extending his hand after depositing the paper on her
desk.
	"Thank you.  I could have saved you the trouble if you had
only asked... we had our regular inspection two months ago, and
they said the same thing."  Hitomi noted, pleasantly.

A lot can happen in two months, especially if you knew the inspectors 
were coming...

	"Well, when we receive a complaint, we have to respond
immediately.  There are a number of these that we've had to close
because of violations so flagrant that they were literally making
people sick.  We do have to follow up." the same man responded,
almost apologetically.  His partner, the one who made the initial
comment, remained nervously silent.
	"Okay... well, if that's it, then I must get back to my
children... they're starting their break now.  May I see you to
the door?"

And make sure it doesn't hit you in the butt on the way out?

	"Anata.... what was that all about?"  she asked quietly,
not wanting the nearby children to overhear.
	"They were from the Health Department... somebody filed a
complaint against us, and those... guys were ready to shut us down."
the redhead growled, her eyes flashing.
	"Kuso... you're kidding!"  Kikyo breathed, covering her
gaping mouth.
	"Ya... they were serious.  Tried to bully me with a warrant,
too... like they were actually expecting to find something."  she
added, her voice controlled but still angry.

Hmm...

        "Ano... what was the complaint?  Nobody has ever said
anything..."
	"They didn't say... all I know is what they told me.  And
that wasn't much.  By the way, they didn't find anything wrong...
in fact, they even said we exceeded the standards." Hitomi
indicated, grinning wryly.

It might be worthwhile asking their office...

	Later, as Hitomi read to a group of fascinated children,
Kikyo sat nearby watching the show, and thinking about everything
that had happened.  She had a feeling that none of it was
coincidental, especially given that everything was happening to
Hitomi.  She knew for a fact that her girlfriend was utterly
efficient and conscientious about everything she did, particularly
if it involved the Centre.  Hitomi viewed it's operation as a
sacred trust, and wasn't about to let sloppy operations or
substandard care endanger that trust.

Despite her--you know.

	Sorting the delicate pink colored item out from the rest,
she noticed immediately that it was gently scented with fine
perfume, and the paper was a high-quality combed bond, like that
used by some calligraphy artists.

Bad news...

	Her face darkened as she thought of who might send such a
letter, especially after she turned it over and found out that it
was addressed to her.  Glancing up quickly, she noted that Hitomi

Yup, and now you have a clue...

	
		"Dearest Kikyo-chan:

	I know you have said that you were already 
	seeing someone,	but I still can not stop 
	thinking about you.  You are in my thoughts
	every day, and in my sweet dreams each night.
	I wish I could see you - just once.  Long 
	enough to tell you how I feel, and show you 
	that I am the only one worthy of your 
	attentions.
	Please call me - soon.  I miss you.

		Love, Anita."

Stalker alert!

	Kikyo sighed aloud, actually feeling sorry for the woman.
She recognized the desperate plea hidden in the words, but was
unmoved by the attempt.  She knew that if she called or spoke to
her now, then she would never give it up, and that could mean
trouble.

Ah, have been listening to good advice, but I'm afraid this is a Type II 
stalker...

	Kikyo looked at Hitomi and Shampoo with her mouth gaping.
"Are you serious?  They seized your account?"  she echoed,
covering her mouth.
	"Hai!  She tried to use her debit thing and the machine
took it... when she called the bank, they said there was a seize."
Shampoo responded, shrugging.
	"But why...?  There was lots in it, ne?"
	"I dunno... I don't get it.  It's like the world is out
to get me all of a sudden..."  Hitomi remarked, slumping into the
booth.  "That credit-card outfit won't talk to me, the Bank hung
up in my ear... "  she added, her voice drifting off.  "I don't
understand..."  she sniffed, wiping her face with her hand and
trying to compose herself.

The world is out to get you...

	"Kikyo...  I'm worried... the mortgage comes out of that
account, and if it doesn't get paid..."  Hitomi responded, sniffing
again.
	"Aiyah... your beautiful house..."  Shampoo breathed,
shaking her head.
	"I'll call them too, Anata... I can cover it until we get
this fixed.  I figure there must be a problem with their computers
somehow... you know how they're all linked together nowadays."
	"Hai... Okay."  Hitomi finally sniffed, resignedly.
"Kiko-chan, take me home... please?"  she added, clasping Kikyo's
hand and leaning on her shoulder.
	Over the next few days, Hitomi fretted incessantly about
the Bank problems, and making matters worse, the Bank itself had
refused to offer any explanation.  The Credit Bureau could only

Okay, this is highly damn suspicious.  Call your MP...oh, that's right, 
you're illegal aliens...
 > tell her that her credit was gone, and that they 
had no further

information.  Kikyo herself worried about Hitomi, afraid that the
blows to her honor and flawless reputation would create lasting
scars.

Possibly...

	As Kikyo watched her girlfriend cross the common room in
a daze, her attention was distracted by the appearance in the entry
of three men, again dressed in dark suits and reeking of trouble.
Hitomi was nearby, and Kikyo could see her face fall as she spotted
them herself.  Biting her lip, she quickly headed over to see what
it was this time.

Immigration, I'll bet.

	The men looked both women over carefully before uttering a
word.  Finally, one of them spoke, gruffly and to the point.
	"Is there a Lin Shan Pu working here?"  he said, regarding
both women suspiciously over  his wire-framed glasses.

Yup.

	At that moment, the remaining man reached into his pocket
and produced an ID wallet, flipping it open to display his
credentials.
	"Department of Immigration, Ma'am.  We have reason to
believe that one Lin Shan Pu is in this country under false
pretenses, and is now under arrest for being an illegal alien."
he announced, curtly.

Well, it's true.

	Hitomi's eyes flared, and Kikyo swore she could see a
faint aura building around her body.  "Is this sort of brutality
necessary?  She's only visiting us for a few months... not living
here!"  the redhead snarled, glaring at the badge-holding agent.

Umm, it sure seemed to me like she was staying on and on...

	"Policy, Ma'am... you can file an affidavit with the
bureau if you wish.  What is your name?" he responded, flatly.

And your name, sir?

	Shampoo only smiled weakly.  "Not to worry, Hitomi-san...
I'll be back soon.  I've done nothing wrong."  she noted, her face
showing her defiance.

Lie.

	In the car, Shampoo sat quietly between the two large men,
deliberately maintaining a frightened puppy look.  Behind her back,
she slowly worked her hands until the cuffs slipped off, and
immediately smirked to herself.  The handcuffs were similar to the
ones her Great Grandmother used to train her with, and just as she
figured, they were equally as easy to get out of.  Inwardly, she
was glad they hadn't used leg shackles as well, since they took a
bit longer.
	Silently, and with barely perceptible movements, she worked
her arms above and behind the men on either side of her.  When
they were in position, she coughed nervously and uncrossed her legs,
then slowly re-crossed them.  Both men, predictably, glanced down at
her thighs, and as they did, Shampoo drove her thumbs into certain
pressure points on the backs of their necks, and they both slumped
forward soundlessly.

Escaping is *not* going to help anyone, Shampoo...

	She was worried sick about Hitomi, having never seen the
normally happy, carefree redhead so depressed and angry.  As well,
she still couldn't believe the run of bad luck they were having...
she compared it to having an oni loose in the building, even
though she knew that wasn't possible.

Hah!  Kikyo, you should Know Better.

	Suddenly, a thought struck her like a slap in the face.
Gasping, she ran into the main office, and dug the letter from a
few days ago of the wastebasket.  Wide eyed, she reread it,
looking for a certain phrase.  Her jaw dropped when she found it.
	"... and show you that I am the only one worthy of your
attentions."  she repeated to herself, the true meaning of the
line finally becoming clear to her.
	"You miserable bitch..!  she snarled, shredding the letter
and firing the pieces back into the can.  "It's been you all
along!"  she spat, then turned and stormed out the door.

Yup.

	Arriving in the kitchen, she quickly rinsed out the cloth
in the sink, intent on getting back to Hitomi and telling her what
she had discovered.  She felt a sudden twitch in her tummy as she
did, then winced from a painful cramp.  Ignoring it, she wrung the
cloth and turned to head back, only to manage two steps before
getting hit with another cramp, easily twice as powerful as the
first.  The pain forced a cry from her lips, despite her best
efforts to hide it from Hitomi.  As she tried to calm herself to
continue, she was hit again, only this time the pain doubled her
over, sending her to the floor.

Umm, she's still only in her sixth month, Yes?  Timetable!

	As she watched the love of her life sleeping peacefully, she
sighed sadly to herself.  She couldn't get past the idea that it was
her fault that Kikyo had ended up like this, and she felt horribly
guilty for having subjected her to it.
	Somehow, she reasoned that she must be attracting bad luck
to the two of them, as it seemed that anything and everything
connected to her personally was falling apart or being destroyed.

No, Kikyo is attracting the bad luck.  You're just in the path...
	And just about now, Joy should be putting in an appearance...


SKJAM!