I stand outside the gates of Furinkan, my new school.  The gates loom
forbiddingly before me, like the teeth of an immense hound.  My
heartbeat quickens.  I reach into my purse and find my lunchtime dose. 
Two caplets, in a small plastic vial.  I shake them, and they rattle.  
	I wish I could return to my old school, but I could not face them.  My
classmates, my teammates.  I was their captain, and they followed me,
even as my tactics grew more and more bizarre.  �It�s not against the
rules!� I would say.  �Show me the rules against it!�  And I browbeat
them, and they fell in line.  Except Eriko.  I spat on her and called
her traitor, even as they took me away, but she was my only true friend
among them all.  I am terrified by the thought of what she saved me
from.  No, I cannot return to St. Hebereke.
	My spittle, clinging to her cheekbone, mixing with her tears.
	These are shameful thoughts, and I must banish them.  Dr. Nakajima told
me to think on the future, and my future is in this building.  My
brother is in here, and he will protect me.
	Oh, Tatchi.  So strong and so noble.  How I regret all the names I
called you, all the things I accused you of.  It was so wonderful to be
home with you again and hear you talk of your new girlfriend... and
talk, and talk!  She must be a wonderful girl for you to be so crazy
about her.
	I must stop using that word so freely.
	Thoughts of my brother make the gates smile, and I push them open.  I
must hurry; school has started, and I am already late.  
	Inside, boys lie scattered like straws scattered by a cruel wind.  As I
watch, one rises painfully to his feet and staggers towards the door.  I
move to intercept him.
	�What happened?� I ask.  �Who did this to you?�
	He smiles.  His cheek is scraped open and his eye is dark and
swelling.  I think he is missing a tooth.  �Akane Tendo,� he replies,
and turns toward the door again.
	Akane Tendo?  My brother�s girlfriend?
	What madness is this?



	O Rose, thou art sick.
	The invisible worm
	That flies in the night
	In the howling storm
	
	Has found out thy bed
	Of crimson joy,
	And his dark secret love
	Does thy life destroy.
		-- William Blake


I'll leave it up to you people.  Would you rather see:

[1] more of this
[2] more Missy Foxglove, or
[3] more of that Ranma/spellsinger thing I put up some time back but
never returned to?

-- David