[AMS] [UY] "Urusei Megamisama!" (10/12)
"Urusei Megamisama!", Chapter Ten: "Traps and Stages"
By Henry J. Cobb
$Id: urusei_megamisama10.txt,v 1.19 1998/06/16 05:51:47 hcobb Exp $

The Ah! Megamisama! characters and situations are the creation of Kosuke
Fujishima.

The Urusei Yatsura characters and situations are the creation of Rumiko
Takahashi.

No infringement of their copyrights is intended.

Previous chapters are available at:
http://www.io.com/~hcobb/anime/fanfic/chaos.html

Special thanks to my taskmaster, James Holzhauer (aka Tobimaro [Ton-chan]).

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    No ordinary Fate,
    she's the future Norn.
    Shadows on her face,
    can't you see she's torn?
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"Are you sure that you want to go through with this?"  Skuld sat at the
desk in Ataru's room and watched as he tested the light on top of his helmet.

"Hey, I gave my word to visit her."  Ataru pulled his hiking boots out of
the closet then turned back to Skuld. "Well?"

"Well what?"

"Are you going to the Mendo's in your school dress?"

"I'm coming along on your date?"  The goddess raised one eyebrow.

"Of course, this is a mission of mercy, not a date.  There is a lonely
girl out there we need to comfort.  Now get dressed."

"You look like you're going spelunking and you complain about my outfit?"

"Well, you know the defenses they have at the Mendo fortress.  We'll
probably have to crawl through ditches or something to get in."

"Oh, I've got a feeling that it won't be that hard to get in."

"You'll teleport us in?"

"No need for that, but I'll change to match your style."  Skuld got up and
walked to the closet to change, to Ataru's obvious disappointment.

When she came out of the closet in her hiking outfit, she noticed that
Noble Scarlet had changed too, to a green outfit with leaf patterns.
"That's deliberate!"  Skuld accused her angel.

"Kokuhatsu?"(1) Scarlet looked down at Skuld from her perch on Ataru's
shoulder.

"What's wrong?"  Ataru asked.

"What's the power of Tinkerbell's dust?"  Skuld pointed at her angel.

"Uh, it keeps you young?"  Ataru guessed.

"No, it lets other people fly.  She's gloating again.  But guess what,
Tinkerbell has insect, not bird wings.  What sort of bird are those
supposed to be from anyway?"

"Koku!"(2)  Scarlet raised her arms over her head and turned slightly
towards Ataru so she could spread her wings.

"Vulture is more like it.  Come on Ataru."

"You've got a shortcut?"

"Not exactly."  Skuld grabbed Ataru's hand and pulled him from his room.

"This is it?"  Ataru looked around when Skuld stopped at the corner.

"Well, the schedule says we have five minutes."  Skuld handed Ataru a bus
schedule and pulled her history textbook from hyperspace.

As the bus pulled up, Skuld looked at her watch again.  "On time, I must
have set the wrong time."

"Is that under three?"  The bus driver looked at the tiny angel.

"Uh, yes,"  Skuld replied.

"She rides for free then."  The driver closed the door on the bus and
started off.

"So what is your plan?"  Ataru asked as he took the seat next to Skuld.

"You'll see."  She pulled out her pocket computer.

"What're doing?"

"Looking up Ryoko's file.  I've never met her before."

"Hey, can I see?"

"No."  Skuld turned the computer away from Ataru.

As they got off the bus, Ataru looked up at the gate of the Mendou
estate.  "Why is there a bus stop right here?  Shutaro never takes the
bus."

"No, but the staff does.  Speaking of which..."  Skuld waved to the man at
the gate.

"Well hello, miss Skuld.  I haven't seen you around here lately."  The man
in dark suit and glasses stepped out of the guard station.

"I've been busy.  Is the family in?"

"Yes, do you want me to call in?"

"No need.  We're expected.  Could you give us a ride in?"

"Certainly miss."  He waved to his partner at the gate as he got into the
driver's seat of a large golfcart.

"Well come on."  Skuld sat in the back seat and indicated the seat next to
herself for Ataru.

"Koku."  Scarlet dove under the cart's canopy and seated herself on
Ataru's shoulder.

"Uh miss, should I take you by the young master's private quarters?"

Ataru turned to Skuld in shock at that comment.

"No, the main house will do, thanks,"  Skuld replied.  "We're here to see
Ryoko."

"Uh, miss Ryoko doesn't get many visitors."

"A pity, isn't it."  Skuld pointed to the line of tanks going the other
way through the woods.  "What's up?"

"We're having an alert of some sort tonight."

"Oh, I hope it isn't a bad time."

"Don't worry miss, they have these alerts all the time to keep the
homeguard on their toes."

There was a distant explosion followed by a howl of pain.

"Sorry, they still haven't gotten all the defenses straightened out."
The man in the dark suit continued to drive.

Skuld and Ataru followed their guide into the living room of the main
house.

Skuld glanced at the huge octopus mask fountain that poured into an indoor
koi pool.  Water, as her aspect, always had a certain fascination for her,
even when in such a pompous display, but there wasn't any time for that
now.

"You see brother, he did make it!" Ryoko stood up from one of the couches
gathered around a large coffee table.  She wore a long blue dress with
white trim, her hair tied back with a blue ribbon.

"What?"  Shutaro turned away from a bank of monitors that had replaced one
of the walls Skuld remembered.  He was dressed in a military style camouflage
uniform with black gloves and boots.  "Skuld?  Why would you use your
powers to bring him here?"

"What powers?  We were escorted here from the front gate."

"You left standing orders that the young lady was always welcome, young
master."

"Skuld?  So you're that inventor we've heard so much about?  Please have a
seat."  The middle-aged man with a moustache gestured with his pipe to the
sofa next to him.  He wore a sweater and slacks.  His hair was
slicked back like Shutaro's.  Skuld figured he must be Shutaro's father.

"Uh thanks, Mr Mendo?"

"That's correct, nice to meet you."

Ataru sat on the couch next to Skuld.

Ryoko sat next to him and leaned ever so slightly against his shoulder.
Scarlet glared at her from her perch on his other shoulder.

"You're a classmate of Shutaro's, correct?  And these others are?"

"Yes Sir.  This is Ataru Moroboshi and my angel, Noble Scarlet, also
classmates."

"Hiya."

"Koku."

"This is my wife," Mr Mendo indicated a middle-aged woman who sat at the
far end of the table and continued to knit.  "and my children, Shutaro and
Ryoko, who you've already met.  An angel, you say?"

"Uh, yes sir."

Shutaro sat across the coffee table from Skuld, glared at Ataru and
fingered the sheath of his sword, as his father continued.

"I've seen some of the work you've done.  Very top-rate stuff and yet
you're still in high school.  Somebody of your caliber would make an
outstanding addition to our staff, at the highest levels."

"Uh, I already have a position, sir."

"With your father?"

"Yes, it's something of a family business."

"Well, I can understand that.  What do you think of my son Shutaro?  Not a
bad sort of fellow, is he?"

"Uh, father..."  A single drop of perspiration formed on Shutaro's
forehead and ran down to his eyebrow.

"What's next?"  Ataru interrupted.  "Rice cakes?"

"Why yes.  How rude of me not to offer refreshments, after you've come all
this way."  Mr Mendo waved some of the staff over.  "And some tea too?"

"I've heard enough."  Ataru stood.

"Yes Ataru."  Ryoko stood next to him.  "Clearly this doesn't concern us.
We can retire to my quarters and you can help me with my drama homework."

"What?"  Shutaro reached for his sword.

"Some other time, thank you Ryoko."  Ataru turned back to Skuld.  "Come on,
let's go."

"But you've just arrived?"  Mr Mendo held his pipe out, as if illustrating
a point.

"Uh, well it's a school night and we really do have to do our homework."
Skuld let Ataru pull her along.

"Hmm... Some other time then."  Mr Mendo put the pipe back in his mouth.
"Well Shutaro, there's always the Daitokuji girl."

"Father!"  Shutaro and Ryoko complained in unison.  Even Mrs Mendo seemed
to miss a stitch.

As they waited for the bus, Skuld turned to Ataru.  "You know you've just
insulted one of the richest and most powerful men on Earth."

"What do you care?"

"Huh?"

"Right, on Earth.  What's this little planet worth in the grand scheme of
things your father runs?  Not much I bet.  Me, I'm hopping the first UFO
out of here.  I bet the universe is full of hot babes."

"Uh," Skuld swallowed,  "Ataru, the Universe can be a very dangerous
place."

"At least Ryoko's not so bad."

"What?"

"Yeah, despite her name being ``Complete Trouble''(3), she's just an
ordinary girl.  I bet her dad's gonna try to force her into an arranged
marriage too."

That evening, Skuld stared up at the ceiling as Ataru snored next to her.
She turned and looked at Scarlet, sitting up and looking wide-eyed back at
her.

She's probably just waiting for me to let down my guard before she attacks
again, Skuld thought as she turned away and curled up under her blanket.

Tuesday afternoon as the students rushed from the high school, Noble
Scarlet leapt from Ataru's shoulder, pulling out her flaming golden sword
in place of her schoolbag.

"What is it?"  Skuld looked in the direction Scarlet stared and saw a
small tornado approaching.

"Our princess!", Megane, Chibi, Kakugari and Perm rushed forwards as a
space cleared in front of Skuld and Ataru.

The tornado touched down in the cleared space and dissipated, leaving
Kurama standing there in the rustle of tree branches.

Skuld did a quick sweep, but couldn't detect any Tengu in range.  There
might be some nearby, but the crowd of students cluttered up the mental
landscape, especially with the strong emotions the princess caused.

The physical silence was broken by Ataru.  "What do you want this time,
Kurama?"

The princess ignored him.  "Come, Skuld, we must talk."

"Koku!" Scarlet hovered in front of the goddess, her flaming sword at the
ready.

Skuld stood and held her hands together.  "What do you want to talk
about?"

"I came to say..."  The princess of the Tengu looked down for a moment and
then back into Skuld's eyes.  "I'm sorry for embarrassing you, Skuld.  Can
we start over?"

"Uh, there's nothing to start."

"But!"  Kurama took one step forwards.

Scarlet stood her ground.

"It's OK Scarlet."  Skuld waved her angel off to the side.

"We were meant to be."  Kurama grabbed Skuld's hands.  "Our Children will
be perfect angelic beings."

Skuld considered what sort of mecha she'd need to build to protect the
Earth against a flock of alien angels.  "Ugh, please don't mention
angels."

"Koku?"  Scarlet turned back towards Skuld.

"It's destiny that's brought us together, I see that now.  You were
destined to be my prince."

Skuld could hear the collective sharp intake of breath from the students
at Kurama's comment.

"I'm not a prince.  I'm a girl!"

"But we can fix that!  The ray doesn't even sting, right Ataru?"

Ataru just frowned.

"That doesn't make any difference."  Skuld stepped back and whispered a
spell.  She could tell from the shocked expressions around her that it had
worked.  "See, I can be a boy anytime I want to be.  But, I don't want to
be that way.  Please just leave me alone."  Skuld released her spell.
"Come along Ataru."  She grabbed his hand and turned away from Kurama.

"What's he got that I haven't got?"  Kurama stood and watched as Skuld
and Ataru walked off then summoned up a tornado to whisk herself away

The gang of four was waiting at the school gate.

"This is all your fault, Ataru!"  Megane accused him.

"What's my fault?  I haven't done anything!"  Ataru held up his palms.

"That's right.  If you had been a real man, Kurama wouldn't be chasing
after girls."

"I can see why she'd rather have a girl than any one of you four."

"Why you!"  Kakugari shook his fist.

"Stop it!  I really don't want to hear any of this!"  Skuld dragged Ataru
away from the other boys.

After they crossed the street, Ataru turned to look at Skuld, while
keeping hold of her hand.

"What is it?"  She asked.

"Why didn't you really turn into a boy back there?"

"Wh-- what do you mean?"

"Well you looked like a boy for a moment, but I could tell you were still
a girl."

"You certainly do have a nose for women.  Keep it out of my business!"
Skuld snatched her hand back.

"What!"  Ataru twisted around and clapped his hands together in front of
Skuld's face, trapping the head of an arrow between his palms before it
could strike her.

Skuld stopped and blinked.  "It... it's for you."

"What?"  Ataru grabbed the arrow with one hand and looked around.  "Who
could be such a bad shot?"

"No, the note is addressed to you."

"Huh?"  Ataru unwrapped the scroll from the arrow.  "Hey look, Ryoko is
inviting us over tonight."

"Putting a scar on the face of a goddess is an invitation?"  Skuld glanced
at the note Ataru was holding.  "A masked brawl?"

"No silly, you just don't understand Ryoko's delicate handwriting.  It's
a masked ball.  I'm sure she only meant to make a dramatic statement, not
hurt anybody.  She's been kept in the box so long she doesn't know any
better.  It's just that I don't have anything to wear to such a thing.
Hey, Skuld, could you magic me up a suit?"

"No."

"It's not for myself you understand.  I just don't want to embarrass
Ryoko."

"If you don't have anything to wear then don't go."

Skuld hadn't budged on the issue by the time they got back to his house.

"Alright, be that way."  Ataru turned on the television in his room.

"What do you see in that show?"  Skuld asked.

"Hey, it's obvious, Marine Moon has cute girls in short skirts with
big..."

"Koku!"  Scarlet raised an eyebrow.

"...guns.  Got you!"  Ataru reached over to tickle Scarlet on her wings.

Skuld wriggled. "Stop that!"

"Huh, you feel this?"

Scarlet had collapsed giggling.

"Of course I do.  We may be partitioned, but we're still the same person."

"But you don't have wings?"

"Yes, that's what makes it feel so weird.  It's like a phantom itch."

At that point the TV screen interrupted a commercial for the Marine Moon
Beach House and Island Fortress for a special announcement.

Shutaro appeared on the screen.  "Tonight at the Mendo estate we are
having a special function, open to the general public.  You may be
especially interested in attending if you hold a grudge against this
person..."

A window popped up on the screen showing Ataru's face.

"...Ataru Moroboshi.  All should arrive in costume and mask, so that no
enmities shall remain.  And please, hand-held weapons only, no firearms.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled show, and Ataru..."

"Yeah?"  Ataru replied to the TV.

"...I wouldn't want to spoil anything, but Prince Dorkian buys the farm
today."

"What!"

"Koku!"  Scarlet crossed her hands over her mouth.

"Just kidding.  Enjoy your show, while you can."

"It certainly sounds like a masked brawl to me."  Skuld raised her voice
slightly, to be heard over the opening sequence of the television series.
"Are you sure you want to go?"

"Gotta, it's a question of honor now."  Ataru waved Skuld away as the show
started.

Scarlet sat on his shoulder and leaned against his head.

"Humph!"  Skuld sat at Ataru's desk and pulled out her homework.

Skuld was startled by a hand on her shoulder and sat upright.  "Nara
Period!  Kamakura Shogunate!  Late Cretaceous!"

"I'm sorry Skuld, I didn't know you were asleep."  Ataru pulled his hand
back.  "But, I gotta go now."

"OK, give me a moment."

"You don't have to come if you don't want to."

"It's my job to protect you, even if you don't deserve it."  Skuld turned
around in the chair then pointed at her angel.  "And what is that supposed
to be?"

"It's Sailor Delta-V."  Ataru turned his head towards the angel on his
shoulder.  "You know, from the show."

"I thought they were marines?"  Skuld walked to the closet.

"She's the assault-boat pilot."

Skuld came out of the closet, in her white and red goddess dress and
raised an eyebrow at Ataru.  "Why don't you at least wear your spelunking
outfit?"

Ataru looked down at his jeans and striped t-shit.  "Mom hasn't washed it
yet.  Besides, this is my lucky shirt."

"Have you ever been lucky?"

"Hey, I met a goddess while wearing this."

"Lucky you."  Skuld followed after Ataru.

When they got off the bus, Skuld noticed that the gate was open, but the
guardhouse was locked and vacant.  "I guess they really don't want any
records of anybody visiting tonight."

"Kuroko!"

Skuld and Ataru looked in the direction that Scarlet pointed.

A pair of Kuroko stood next to two boxes in the darkness.  "Please make
your selections here."

Ataru pulled a large mallet out of one of the boxes and a cat mask out of
the other.

"And you, young lady?"  One of the Kuroko asked.

"Very well."  Skuld pulled a red halfmask to match her uniform out of
hyperspace and summoned her hammer.  Scarlet's costume already included a
mask.

"Isn't that the same cat mask as when Tsubame enchanted you?"  Skuld asked
Ataru as they walked towards the mansion.

"Yeah, it's almost the same, except for the eyes."

"Don't you hate being reminded of that?"

"Naw, it was a blast."

"You are a creature of chaos, aren't you?"

Thunk!  Ataru had turned around to block a sword with his mallet.  "Hey
Shutaro, where's your sister?"

"The first rule of the Masked Brawl is that you do not call by names those
wearing masks, wretch!"  Shutaro pulled back to probe for an opening.  He
was wearing his standard white suit with a white octopus mask crafted to
look like the Mendo family crest.

"Why not?"  Ataru simply blocked Shutaro's strikes without giving up
ground.

"So that the vanquished shall not feel ashamed before their betters."

"I guess you're not worried about besting anybody then?"

"What?"  Shutaro paused in his probes of Ataru's defense.

"You're wearing your school suit.  Aren't you worried about getting it
dirty?"

"I have many copies of this Italian suit."

"I was worried for a moment there, that the market had collapsed, leaving
you with only the shirt on your back."  Ataru glanced behind Shutaro and
Skuld.  "Delta-V Kick!"

Skuld turned around as she heard a thump.

Chibi, in a Mr Spock mask had landed on his rear and held a hand to his
forehead.  "How does something so small hit so hard?"

"She's a telekinetic projection."  Skuld explained as she blocked Megane's
boken with her hammer.

"Why are you guys attacking Skuld?"  Ataru asked.

"It's the fault of you two that Kurama is the way she is!"  Megane wore a
Moonlight Mask costume.

"Koku!"(4) Scarlet had drawn her flaming sword and was forcing Kakugari
and Perm back.  Kakugari was wearing a young girl mask and Perm was in a
uniform that Skuld didn't recognise.

"You will not hurt the goddess!"  Shutaro stepped forwards, but Ataru
malleted him down.

"OK, sure,"  Ataru held his mallet at guard.  "Me and Skuld will put in a
good word for you.  Just one question, which of you do we suggest she
invite into her flying love hotel?"

"Why, me of course."  Megane backed away from Skuld.

"No way dude, it's gotta be me!"  Perm turned to Megane.

"It's my turn."  Chibi complained.

"The princess needs a real man."  Kakugari held up one of his boxing gloves.

Skuld followed when Ataru grabbed her arm.  "That was dirty."  She
whispered to him.

"Which part?"

"All of it.  I've never seen such a display of underhanded dirty dealing."

"You don't get out much, do you?"  Ataru grinned at her, then looked at
Scarlet.  "Put that thing out, OK?"

"Koku."  Scarlet banished her sword.

As they got to the edge of the trees, Ataru held a hand out to Skuld,
"Night vision goggles."

Skuld summoned her pair from hyperspace and handed them over.  "How did
you know I have a pair?"

"They're techy and trendy, just your style."

"You think you know all about me, don't you Mr Moroboshi?"

"I know enough.  Say, how do you work these things."

"Here you go."  Skuld flipped the on switch.

"Yeah, there's a big crowd waiting in the clearing."

"I could have told you that."

"That's right, you're telepathic, aren't you?  So how far ahead is Ryoko?"

"No idea."

"Too many people around?"

"Well, that and I can't scan her."

"Huh?"  Ataru took the goggles off.  "She's human, isn't she?"

"Yes, but she has a telepathic shield.  What makes you so sure that she's
this way?"

"Her big brother glanced this way when I mentioned her."

"So, you're really just following a hunch?"

"Hey, it always works in the movies.  The mansion is as good a place to
search anyway.  Plus, we're invited, see?"  Ataru pointed at a Kuroko who
was beckoning them to follow him into the trees.

As they approached, the Kuroko reached down and swung open a patch of
ground, revealing a passageway under the ground.  "If you would follow
please?"

The Kuroko waited for the goddess, angel and boy to enter, before lighting
a wooden torch and letting the hatchway close behind him.

"We're going to see Ryoko?"  Ataru asked as he lead the way.

"Yes,"  Their guide replied.  "Please watch your step."

"Waah!"  The edge of the cave floor gave way in the darkness and Skuld
fell about a foot before Ataru grabbed her.  She scrambled up close and
held tightly to him.

"Are you OK?"  Ataru asked.

"Yeah, no problem."

"Kokusho!"(5)  Scarlet pulled out her flaming sword and looked over the
edge by it's light.

"If you will kindly keep to the right."  The Kuroko suggested.

Skuld pulled a flashlight out of hyperspace and handed it to Ataru, then
took hold of his free hand.

Skuld could mentally sense the combat above them at ground level, while
their footsteps echoed from the fitted stone walls.

Finally they came to a crude wooden door.

Ataru handed the flashlight to Skuld and then he carefully opened the
door.

Skuld shined the flashlight into the darkened room and the beam bounced
off pieces of polished metal.

Ataru flipped a light switch and the room was flooded with florescent
light, reflecting off a no-wax floor.

Skuld blinked and then noticed that the metal objects were various floor
cleaning machines.

The Kuroko extinguished his torch and sealed the door they had come
through, leaving no trace of it on this side of the wall.

Ataru turned back to their guide.  "Where is miss Ryoko?"

"She is right ahead, young sir."

Skuld sensed nobody else nearby and decided to try the other exit to the
room, which seemed to be an ordinary internal door.  As she opened the
door, she saw a blur of motion in front of her face and then she was
shoved to the side.

"Ryoko!"  Thump!  "Ow!"

Skuld blinked, Ataru had just stuck his face into a nunchaku blow, meant
for Skuld herself.

"Ataru, don't interfere!"  Ryoko wore a yellow Chinese-style suit with a
white ghoul mask, her hair was tied off in twin pigtails by purple
ribbons.  She brought her nunchaku up for another blow, but Ataru blocked
it with his right arm while holding his left hand to his bruised cheek.

"Mistress, your brother has fallen!"  Two of the Mendo lackeys, in black
suits and matching glasses carried Shutaro on a door into the room, which
was styled like a Dojo.

"So.  Goddess, you will say exactly what favors my late brother paid you
for, even if I must beat the truth out of you."  Ryoko attempted to edge
around Ataru, but he held his ground.

"You will not harm the goddess!"  Shutaro suddenly stood up.

"Oh brother, I'm so happy you're alive!"  Ryoko ran over and hugged him,
while Kuroko wielding various ninja weapons stepped into the room.

"Do you really mean that?"  Shutaro adjusted his mask.

"Yes, truly.  Now answer the question."

"I paid her only for certain patents."

"What is she, a great inventor?  Or perhaps an industrial spy?"

"The former."

"Prove it."

An hour later, Ryoko stabbed yet again at the papers scattered over the
floor.  "And what is this?"

"A compact non-linear amplifier."  Skuld yawned.

"And what does it do?"

"It filters out high frequency transients."

"To what effect?"

"The packet radio has a five decibel advantage over conventional designs,
while using 10 percent less power."

"That doesn't sound like much of an advantage."

"Not for one radio, but if mass produced in many designs it can make a
noticeable difference.  Should save 10 cents or so per unit produced.
Anything else?"

"No.  It's clear that my brother paid too much for this junk, but he's a
fool anyway."

"Hey!"  Shutaro stood up from the chair were he had been nodding off.

"Begone you two."  Ryoko turned and left the room.

"How do you like that."  Ataru stared after Ryoko.  "And after we came all
this way to see her too."

Skuld noticed that Ataru was paying too close attention to Ryoko's rear,
in her tight outfit.  "Come on you."  She grabbed him by the ear.

"See that they are escorted safely home."  Shutaro pointed at one of the
flunkies then stooped down to pick up the patents.

Later, in Ataru's room, Skuld sat on her futon and frowned at her angel.

"What's the matter?"  Ataru lay with his hands clasped behind his head.

"I'm worried that she'll attack me again."

"How can she?  She is you, isn't she?"

"She's done it before.  Come on you, merge back in."  Skuld held up her
palm.

"Kokuun!"(6)  The angel stared at the offered hand with wide eyes.

"Come here and do it or I'll re-egg you, you little twit."

"Koku."  The angel flew over to give Ataru a kiss on the cheek, shifted
back to her basic wrap and cross-top, fluttered over to Skuld's palm and
swirled down into it.

"She didn't have to make such a big production off it."  Skuld lay down
and drifted off to sleep, while Ataru held a hand to his cheek.

Skuld fell herself falling down into darkness.  In the far distance she
heard Ataru's faint cry of "Skuld!", then she felt a warm breeze on her
face.

Skuld opened her eyes and sat up.  She was in a 10 meter square yard with a
fountain in the center.  All around was a tall thick hedge with openings on
passageways through the hedge.

"A maze?"  Skuld stood and brushed herself off.  "What's next, a
Minotaur?"

A familiar deep roar sounded nearby and Skuld's face lit up, then turned
sullen.  "That's not funny!"  She screamed to the heavens.

A heavy padded object landed behind Skuld and she turned to stare at a huge
tiger-stripped paw at the edge of the maze.  "It can't be.  You're dead!"

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Notes:

(1) Kokuhatsu-suru: accuse.
(2) Koku: Swan.
(3) Ryoko Mendo: Is not ``Complete Trouble'', when the proper Kanji are
used.
(4) Koku: Victory.
(5) Kokusho: Intense heat.
(6) Kokuun: Dark clouds.

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	Henry J. Cobb	hcobb@slip.net          http://www.io.com/~hcobb
    Next: "Nightmares and Villains"