Urusei Yatsura - Tales of the Daishi'cha:  "Reunions, Remembrances
and Returnings" Part 1
by Robert Geiger
PHPN65A@prodigy.com
**** **** ****
Edited by Fred Herriot and E.B Kushnir
gorgo@kwangju.net and kush1@iaw.or.ca
**** **** ****
Based on the series "Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year," in turn
based on "Urusei Yatsura," created by Rumiko Takahashi
**** **** ****

WRITER'S NOTES...

     "Uh...there are no writer's notes."
     "There's gotta be writer's notes!" Fred insists.  "I always
put them in mine."
     "I can't think of anything," Robert rubs the back of his head.
     "Give it a try."
     "Err...OK.  I really hope you like this story.  Comments and
praise can be sent to PHPN65A@prodigy.com."
     "W-wonderful!" Fred mutters.
     "Flames go to gorgo@kwangju.net," Robert adds.
     "WHAT?!?!" flames erupt around Fred.
     "Just trying to inject some humour!"
     "Humour this!" Fred clobbers Robert with a Saturn Five, but he
snaps his fingers and the mallet splits in half!!!!
     "That's not cool dude!" Robert is now dressed in outrageous
70s style clothing.
     A large metal foot suddenly lands on Robert.  "Crush all
enemies, Giant Robo!" Fred says on his impressive perch.  "Now
then, ON WITH THE...URK!!!!"
     Fred and Robo go down as EVA-01 runs up and smacks them with
the Mallet of Longinus!  Noriko leans her head in. "Both Robert and
Fred are occupied at the moment, so I'll just fill in for the
moment.  Ahem, the list of children appearing:  Mine:  Jung-Freud
(F), Jarec (M); Kazumi:  Kocgh (M), Ajira (M); Mari:  Marian (F);
Kasua:  Irad (M).   This is a sequel to 'It Takes A Spark' and also
ties in with 'Penpals.'  The story starts about..." Noriko counts
on her fingers, "...one year after ITAS and ends way after UY20YL!"

**** **** ****

And now...ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!

**** **** ****

     "Everything is all set," the middle aged, rotund man in front
of Toren Smith said.  "There's going to be a banquet tonight in
celebration of the newly signed treaty.  But unfortunately, only
the higher ups are invited.  I hope you understand."

     "Of course Mr. Wujcik," Toren's eyes roll.  *Gophers and
grunts don't mix with royalty,* he mentally added.

     The ambassador nodded.  "But don't fret!  Arrangements have
been made at a local club to host you and your co-workers so you
can get some sorely needed R-and-R.  You deserve it!"

     "Thank you, sir," Toren said and took his leave of his
superior's office.  He exhaled and loosened his collar as he walked
down the hall.  *Sorely needed indeed!* he thought bitterly. 
*After busting my ass for weeks I can finally get around to doing
some touring!*

     The Topeka native stopped off in a restroom and studied
himself in the mirror while cleaning up.  Tired blue eyes gazed out
from a face burned by both Sol and Sen'a.  His sun-bleached brush-
cut blond hair was bleached towards an almost white-gold hue. 
Toren straightened his uniform and set out to enjoy his first free
night since coming to Tere'na City.

     Toren probably would have remained on Earth if he hadn't been
born with an incredible wanderlust.  His down-to-earth parents
encouraged him in his goal to become a teacher.  Imagine their
surprise when he decided instead to become a clerical assistant to
the ambassadors going to sign treaties with the governments of Uru,
Triton and Sagussa!  Toren has raged through many a heated argument
with his parents who thought he was throwing his future away.  He
had passionately spoken of his heartfelt desire to travel.  He
pointed out that he could be one of the first teachers on Earth to
teach about the history of other worlds.  In the end, his parents
had reluctantly given their approval, and so Toren found himself
given the most menial chores of the bureaucracy.

     Errand boy.

     He regretted his decision almost instantly.  He was usually
stuck in one building steadily working and hardly ever getting out
while everyone shuttled around from planet-to-planet and city-to-
city.  Thank goodness that Sagussa was the last stop for a while. 
His superiors had relaxed the workload a little and he was able to
look around some.  Although, again, not as much as he had liked.

     Toren rather liked Sagussa.  It reminded him a bit of Kansas
with its dusty plains and bright sun.  A world that was populated
by the *daishi'cha,* women who were brought back to life by the
Gatherer to start a new society and who avoided the mistakes which
destroyed the Fourth Republic.  One thing bothered him though.  Not
long after he had arrived, he had this feeling that he was being
watched.  This persisted even though he had travelled with his
group to other cities.  He kept looking about for someone who was
staring directly at him.  Nothing.  The feeling persisted.  He
couldn't see any reason why though.  He was basically a Dilbert,
one of the faceless cubicle workers that populated nearly every
company.   Finally, he passed it off as a overworked mind imagining
things.  Besides, on a world where temperatures could easily reach
the triple-digit range on the Fahrenheit scale, mirages and
illusions were probably common.

     "Hey, Smith!!"

     The voice brought him out of his musings.  He saw a group of
his co-workers gathered in the lobby.  No doubt ready to enjoy
their time off as well.  "You ready, Smith?" a rather sharply
dressed Oriental wonders.

     "Sure thing, Keisuke!" Toren grinned.

     And the group headed out...

                           *    *    *

     "Are you sure you two don't mind?"

     "Of course not, Oshoi'cha," a calm voice assures her.  "I can
find lodging elsewhere for awhile.  Follow your heart."

     "Do the others know?" a high-pitched voice muses.

     "Well...no," the first admits.

     "I think this is how you two got into trouble the first time."

     "I'm absolutely certain that everything thing will go
smoothly!  Just be sure you don't mess up!"

     "Not a chance!" the third chuckled.  "A certain someone needs
to be taken down a few notches."

                           *    *    *

     "Touring?" Keisuke sniffed.

     "Hey!" Toren was slightly offended.  "That's the prime reason
I signed onto this outfit."

     "Ya, ya!" Keisuke waved his hands.  "But you got to fully
immerse yourself when you visit distant lands.  To fully appreciate
what there is to be offered."

     The rest of the group, all young men since the women had
decided for "a certain reason" to go to a different club, groaned. 
Keisuke's idea of "immersing oneself in the culture" was to chase
anything that vaguely resembled a female.  He had hardly stopped
drooling since arriving on Sagussa!

     "You better watch yourself, Keisuke," a rather chunky co-
worker named Steven warned.  "A society that was started by women
no doubt has ways of dealing with people like you.  One hundred
thousand to one...not good odds."

     Keisuke was unperturbed.  "I never resist a challenge!"

     "I like a good challenge myself," a high-pitched voice said
from behind them.  "I trust you won't disappoint me."

     Everyone turned around...and looked up...and up...and up! 
Standing behind them was a very LARGE husky-skinned woman. 
Towering over the group, she was dressed in a standard Sagussan
uniform, the red and gold of an engineer.  She leaned down a bit
and they saw glittering brown eyes peering out from a thick
featured face that was framed in dark hair tied into two pigtails. 
Bright white teeth flashed as she gave the group a predatory grin.

     She was...formidable to say the least.

     "Uhmm..." Keisuke stammers.  "Who might you be?"

     "My name is Mari, *daishi'cha* Fifty-eight-seventy-five."

     "*Daishi'cha*...?" Keisuke stammered.

     "Couldn't you tell?" Mari angled her shoulder down to show a
series of numbers on the uniform along with a badge showing that
she worked as a architect.

     "Well, I...!"

     "Expecting someone smaller?" Mari grinned.  "Not all of us are
little folk.  We come from many races.  I was a Gophentaxian.  As
you can see, we are a bit taller than most other races...though I
am considered on the SHORT side for my parent race."

     "That's...very enlightening!" Keisuke was sweating profusely. 
"Um...it's been nice meeting you, but I have to leave now!"

     He turned as if to walk off, but a large hand snagged his
collar and reeled him in, pressing him up against Mari's expansive
chest.  "Leaving so soon?" Mari leered.  "I thought you wanted to
immerse yourself in our culture.  And what better way then one of
those who you wanted to immerse yourself in show you around?"

     Keisuke's eyes bugged out from his head.  "Err...Excuse me,"
Toren said.

     Mari leaned down so that she was face to face with Toren. 
"You have something to say?"

     "Not really!" Toren squeaked.

     Mari smirked.  "Thought not," her face suddenly turned
appreciative.  "Say!  You're not too bad looking," she prodded
Toren's chest.  "Care to join us?"

     The resulting dust cloud and Toren's rapidly vanishing figure
gave her a definite "NO!!!!"  "Humph!" Mari grunted.  "Some people
have no sense of adventure!"  She turned to where the rest of the
group had been standing.  "And how about...now, where did they run
off to?"

     Other then the noise of chirping crickets, Mari and Keisuke
were the only ones remaining on the sidewalk!  "Oh, well," Mari
shrugged, then looked down at Keisuke.  "Well, at least we can give
each other our UNDIVIDED attention."

     Keisuke whimpered as Mari carried him down the street. 
*Mother!*

                           *    *    *

     Toren leaned up against a lightpost as he stopped to catch his
breath.  His flight has taken him a good way across the city and
now he was experiencing the unpleasant sensation of the adrenaline
wearing off.  "Had to happen!" he muttered.  Keisuke had defiantly
bitten off more then he could chew.  He only hoped there would be
enough left to learn something from his experience.

     Toren looked around the street, recognizing that he was in
Kyonggh-Tere'na district.  It wouldn't be to hard to find his way
back but right now he just wanted to find a place to wind down and
to get slightly blottoed.  He turned his head and saw the bright
lights of a sign that said SAKU'S, deciding that this was just what
the doctor ordered.  Going inside, Toren saw a rather empty pub
with only a group in one of the cubicles and a rather bored-looking
Tofunokoibito woman sitting behind the bar listening to the soft
music wafting from the CD system.  Toren walked up as the woman
brightened on seeing him.  She placed a coaster on the bar and
nodded her head.  "Good evening.  How may I serve you?"

     "I'm in dire need of a drink," Toren grinned.  "I hope you're
well stocked."

     "Of course!" she replied.  "Would you like something from
Earth, or perhaps something more exotic?"  She held a small
selection of menus out like playing cards.

     "Hmmm...I'll play it safe this time," Toren drew out one that
had several Earth beverages on it.  "I'll take some Samuel Adams."

     "Excellent choice!" the bartender swiftly uncapped a bottle
and filled a frosted mug for him.  "Just tell me when you need
anything else." 

     "Thank you," Toren eased back in his stool and took a sip,
letting the tensions of the day ease away.

     The sudden opening of the door and the loud group of voices
signalled to him that the day wasn't over yet.  He glanced over and
saw a large group of *daishi'cha* enter, nearly all with the
markings of the Sagussan military.  *Urg!* Toren thought as he
focused back on his drink.  *So much for peace and quiet!*

     The sudden changing of the music to a loud blare drove the
point home.  He raised the glass to his lips for another drink when
suddenly that same feeling of being watched passed over him.  He
knew it had to be someone in the newly arrived crowd, but still
didn't know why he had that feeling.

     A pair of well-formed arms leaned on the bar next to him. 
"Oi, Mrs. Saku!" the new voice said.  "I'll take my usual!"

     "Sure thing, Noriko," the Tofunokoibito woman replied and set
a rather large snifter down on the bar and proceeded to fill it
with a bright reddish-gold liquid.

     "Your with the ambassadors from Earth, aren't you?"

     Toren turned his head and saw a beautiful full-figured woman
standing next to him with the sigils of a Warsuit troop commander
emblazoned on her duty uniform.  "Umm...yes," Toren nodded.  "Just
an errand boy, actually.  I finally got some free time after all
the negotiations were completed."

     "I saw that on the Webscape Three-D News," Noriko said.  "I
bet you're worn right out."

     "Definitely," Toren gazed a bit forlornly at his now empty
mug.

     "Let me buy you a drink to celebrate!" Noriko called over to
the other end of the bar.  "Mrs. Saku!  We need a refill here!"

     "Sure thing.  What would you like?" she asked Toren.

     Toren looked at his mug and then Noriko's snifter.  *Oh, what
the heck!* he thought.  "Let me have what she's having."

     Both women blinked.  "You sure about that?" Mrs. Saku asked
cautiously.  "Ran-jugh is quite strong.  It was made with the
*daishi'cha* in mind."

     Toren measured the size of Noriko's snifter.  "Well, just a
little couldn't hurt."

     "A little then," Mrs. Saku put a shotglass in front of Toren
and poured out a measure.

     *Beg for mercy,* Toren told his liver.

     As he started to bring the glass up, he heard a snickering
behind him.  "Hey, you!" a new voice said.  "You better think twice
about drinking that.  Next thing you know, you'll be chained to
Noriko's bed and wearing a dress!"

     Toren sputtered.  Noriko's face turned red.  Mrs. Saku just
sighed and began putting the breakables away.  "Mind your own
business, Plastic Nipple!" Noriko snapped without turning around.

     Toren heard outraged sputtering behind him.  "It's Plastic
LITTLE!!!!" the voice growled.

     Toren swivelled around and saw another beautiful woman wearing
a low-cut tight-fitting bodysuit, realizing this was Tita, the
Fourth Fleet's ace of aces.  She was indeed quite well endowed. 
"And you're the last to comment on anyone's size, Miss Bouncing
Bustline!" Tita barbs.

     "Oh, sure!!" Noriko span around.  "I may be big..." she hefted
the objects in question.  "But at least I can keep mine under
control!!  Yours look like their about to leap off and make a break
for it down the street!"

     Loud laughter erupted around the room as Tita's face turned
crimson.  "YOU BITCH!!!!" she hefted a chair and lobbed it.

     Noriko easily dodged, but Toren wasn't so lucky.  He collapsed
as it bounced off his head!!  "NOW YOU DID IT!!!!" Noriko launched
herself at Tita, knocking over the table and ending up in a
snarling heap.

     "BAR BRAWL!!!!" everyone yelled and piled into the fray.

                           *    *    *

     The door to the apartment Noriko and Kazumi shared opened and
Noriko walked in with Toren draped overher shoulder.  She flipped
on the lights and strode into the bedroom with her senseless cargo.

     Noriko hadn't stayed 'till the end of the brawl; only dallying
long enough to stuff Tita headfirst into a trashcan before throwing
Toren over her shoulder and heading up to the bar.  "Can I use the
back door?!" she asked Mrs. Saku, pausing with a hand on the
kitchen door.

     "Leaving so soon?" the Tofunokoibito growled disgustedly.

     "Places to go, people to meet!" Noriko grinned and motioned to
Toren with her head.

     Mrs. Saku sighed and shook her head.  "Git!"

     Noriko hurried out for the mag-lev to Kyre'sha while Mrs. Saku
pulled a large mallet out from under the bar and proceeded to bring
order to her establishment.

     Noriko's room was rather simple, with a double bed, desk,
bookshelf and a few items that she had collected over the years. 
A door led off to the bathroom which had a rather impressive tub
sitting directly under a skylight that Noriko liked to look up
through at the stars while she bathed in the darkness with a
slightly wistful and sad expression on her face.  Kazumi's was the
same although she was content with bright lights and flowers that
chased away the gloom.

     Noriko tossed the covers off and carefully laid Toren down. 
She noticed as she undressed him that he had a rather nasty bump on
his head and vanished into the bathroom, emerging soon after
changed to a robe and carrying a small water filled bowl and cloth.

     Noriko sat on the edge of the bed, dabbing the cloth on his
head.  "Why do I feel I know you?" she softly inquires.  "Something
has been whispering at the edges of my mind ever since I saw
you...and I've felt even lonelier when I look up at the stars,"
Noriko's fingers lightly traced Toren's features.

     A small smile appears on Noriko's face as she stands up.  "In
any event, Toren Smith..." she lets her robe drop to the floor.  "I
have a feeling that we are going to have plenty of time to solve
this little mystery."

     Noriko then slips into bed with him and then shuts off the
light.  As she snuggles up against him, her fingers brush against
his battered forehead...

                           *    *    *

     Toren's eyes fluttered open and he blinked and the unfamiliar
ceiling.  *Where am I?!!* was his first thought, his last one being
of a chair that was on a collision course with his head.

     *Still alive after that?!* Toren reached up with his left hand
and felt his forehead.  Instead of a very sore spot, he felt just
an unblemished surface.  He was going to rub his head with his
right hand but found it to be rather occupied.

     Toren's eyes widened as he saw the woman...Noriko?...dozing in
the crook of his right arm.  She had a somewhat mischievous grin
playing around her lips and had her arm around his bare midsection. 
*I only thought this happens when you drink too much!* Toren
grimaced and tried to ease out of Noriko's grasp.

     Noriko's eyes promptly opened and her grip tightened around
him.  "Good morning!" she said cheerfully.

     "Uh, 'morning," Toren tried to gently pry her fingers off but
she just twined them around his.  Desperately trying to regain
control of the situation, Toren tried talking his way out.  "Did
anything happen last night?"

     "Lots of things happened," Noriko answered.

     She was no help at all.  "No, I mean after I had a chair hit
me upside the head," Toren started getting a little irritated.

     "After you went down, I spirited you away to my apartment and
gave you some first aid.  Your head is now in perfect shape," she
pressed a finger against his forehead.

     "That's it?"

     "That's all."

     "Then why did you get into bed with me?"

     "Well, I can't sleep in my sister's bed," Noriko grinned. 
"Plus I had to make sure you stayed warm."

     "You don't use blankets?"

     "Blankets?" Noriko looked over the side of the bed at the
objects in question now scattered on the floor.  "My goodness!  I
completely forgot about them."

     A bead of sweat crept down Toren's head.  "Well, thanks for
helping me out," he started to get up.  "But I really have to..."

     Noriko suddenly swung a leg over him.  "Leaving so soon?" she
said as Toren found himself pressed back down into the bed.

     Normally the idea of a beautiful nude woman straddling him was
quite arousing.  However, Noriko's particular choice of words and
his current position made an image of Mari and a terrified Keisuke
flash through his head.  And since his eyes wern't on Noriko's
face, he missed the arched eyebrow and knowing look cross over it. 
"Erk!" a trickle of blood crept out his nose.

     Noriko darted her head in and licked it off.  "I don't think
this is proper!" Toren stammered.

     It had to be his imagination, but he could swear that Noriko's
body was heating up even though there wasn't a drop of sweat on
her.  "Not proper?" Noriko asked.  "Not a proper way for an
assistant of an ambassadorial entourage to act?"

     "I am fairly certain of that!" Toren wriggled a bit, trying to
get a bit of leverage.  "I can't stay."

     "You could leave," Noriko slid her hands from his shoulders to
his chest in a heated path.  "But then you couldn't do your job."

     "My job?" Toren's face was one large question mark.

     "Isn't that part of what an ambassador does?" Noriko asked. 
"To find out what the other party wants and can offer?  And how
both can come to an agreement?"

     Toren looked at her warily.  "And just what do you want?  And
what can you offer?"

     "I want many things," Noriko said slyly.  "But I can offer you
something right now."  She leaned her head down and whispered into
his ear.  "I know who's been watching you."

     She then licked his ear.  Toren's toes curled.  "Who?"

     "Someone somewhat important," Noriko said as she began eagerly
nibbling on his ear.

     Noriko pressed her body into Toren's and he found rational
thought becoming increasingly more difficult.  Especially since his
other 'brain' was determined to take over running things.  "Why are
they watching me?" Toren clenched his teeth as Noriko rubbed her
body against him, her hardened nipples scraping a burning path
across his chest.

     "Because they want to know about you," Noriko started lightly
biting Toren's neck, licking where her teeth made indentations. 
"Ever since you were seen here.  They wanted to know everything
about you.  They want you to tell them all about your life."

     Toren gasped as Noriko's teeth sent electric shocks through
his body.  "I just can't tell everything without knowing about who
they are."

     "But of course," Noriko leaned back and lifted herself up. 
She reached down and gently grasped Toren, who cried out slightly. 
"We are most accommodating."  And slowly sat down upon him.

     Toren's eyes screwed shut and he arched his back as he felt
himself sink into her.  His entire lower body was engulfed in a
burning wave of pleasure that started sweeping up his body.  It was
almost painful to move, and he lay there gripping her legs as she
rose up and down, sending the wave surging further up his body.

     <<Can you see?>>

     Toren opened his eyes as the voice and wave reached his head. 
His vision seemed to swim as he saw everything but Noriko being
blocked out by a corona of flame racing around her body.  The fire
originated from where they where joined and crept up his body with
a lover's caress.

     <<Can you see how much I'm willing to show you?>>

     Noriko opened her eyes and Toren found himself looking into
twin stars.

     <<How much I'm willing to let you past my defenses?>>

     Flame danced around her lips which were still even though he
heard her words.

     "Yes!" Toren felt as if he was going to explode.  "You have
nothing to hide from me.  Nothing at all."

     Noriko leaned down until her face was a hair's breath away
from his.  "No secrets?" she asked, speaking this time, with flame
licking at his lips.

     "No secrets," he answered.

     Then Noriko kissed him and his mind erupted in novafire...

                           *    *    *

     Toren's feet made a brisk clicking on the sidewalk as he
walked up the street to the apartment he shared with Noriko and
Kasumi.  His face was etched with a wide grin that spoke of the
happiness in his heart and his hands were protectively wrapped
around a bundle of flowers and a small box.  Toren's friends were
still amazed at the grin that was almost always on his face in one
form or another.  He seemed more alive as well, practically
bursting with energy.

     Toren was a little surprised at this as well.  Ever since that
morning with Noriko...of which he could never clearly remember...he
felt like a powerful car humming with a well tuned engine.  He
spent the entire day with her and returned to his office to get a
chewing out for getting involved in a bar-brawl.  Toren didn't mind
and started making plans to quit his job once he could arrange
something for himself on Sagussa.  He mentioned this to his co-
workers and got a round of chuckles and winks.  Keisuke had been
sitting around with a stunned expression on his face.  When prodded
for details on what happened, he just muttered something under his
breath and wobbled off.  Perhaps he would learn a little
sensitivity after his ordeal.

     Toren's parents had been distraught that he had elected to
stay on Sagussa.  He had assured them that he had signed up to take
teaching courses with the Kyre'sha Province Education Department
right after he quit his job and had been given their blessing to
stay.  His father, ever the observant one, had made a comment on
hoping he would at last be settling down now that he had found what
he wanted in life.

     Indeed he had.

     He had moved in with Noriko the very next day.  He couldn't
explain really why.  Except that his heart was completely captured
by her.  He had never met a woman like her that made him act like
that and cheerfully accepted his fate.

     Noriko explained later that she had been watching him ever
since she first saw him.  Her elder sister Kazumi and their friend
Mari had been in on the plot to separate him from the others,
something easily forgiven especially when there was so much gained.

     Like Jung.

     He had been stunned when Noriko had curled up in his lap and
whispered that she was going to have his child.  The thought of
being a father had entered his mind at times but for it to be
almost literally dropped in his lap was almost overpowering.  His
hands shook and sweat beaded up from his skin and all he could do
was hold Noriko to him and revel in the pride swelling in his
heart.

     Jung was born naturally rather then via the gestation
chambers.  Noriko named Jung in the tradition of taking Earth names
of famous characters for themselves and their children.  Although
Toren had found Jung-Freud to be a bit odd, he found 'Jung' to be
more then acceptable.

     Toren's life seemed to be complete.  A loving companion, a
child, a promising career.  He looked down at the small box in his
hand.  All that was needed was the icing on the cake.

     Toren opened the door to the apartment.  As he entered, he saw
Kazumi reading on the couch.  "Is Noriko around?"

     "Taking a nap with Jung-chan," Kazumi answered.

     She looked up from the book and noticed the box.  Her eyes
widened and she was going to say something when Toren held a finger
to his lips.  "I want to surprise her," he said.

     Kazumi nodded.  "I hope this works out for both of you," she
said to herself as she left to give them some privacy.

     Toren entered the bedroom and saw Noriko lying on the bed with
Jung next to her.  He grinned at their sleeping forms and crept up
quietly and knelt at the edge of the bed.  He kissed Noriko softly
on the forehead.  Her eyes fluttered open, a grin spread across her
face as she saw him.  "How are you both doing?" Toren asked as he
slipped a finger into Jung's tiny hand.

     "Just fine," Noriko murmured.  "Jung-chan went to sleep right
after I fed her.  How was your day?"

     "Excellent," Toren replied.  "My classes went well.  And I
managed to do a little shopping."

     Toren brought the flowers up and Noriko inhaled their sweet
scent.  "Fire blossoms!  My favourite!!" a sly grin appeared.  "Is
there some special event going on?"

     "Defiantly.  There's been something I've been wanting to ask
you," Toren brought out the small box.

     "What?" Noriko asked as she leaned up.

     Toren opened the box.  Inside was a ring with a fire opal
surrounded by small diamonds on it.  The gems caught a sliver of
light coming through the shades and sparkled.  "Noriko-chan, will
you marry me?"

     Noriko's breath caught in her throat as she looked at the
ring.  She looked up at Toren and her reply was a whisper.

     "Marry...?"

                           *    *    *

     "...him?!!" Kasua grinned over the videophone at Noriko.

     Noriko sighed at the beaming face of her penpal.  She had been
corresponding with the Kagamasei for a while.  Exchanging e-mail,
videophone conversations and recordings.  Kasua was well aware of
the affection Noriko and Toren had for each other.  She didn't mind
at all and had started making not so subtle hints that she wished
to come to Sagussa and live with them as *marei'cha* to Noriko.

     Wanting *marei'cha* was jokingly referred to as "that time of
month" among the *daishi'cha.*  A feeling as inevitable as the sun
coming up in the morning.  Noriko and Toren had discussed Sagussan
mores, and while he had some disagreements on how the *daishi'cha*
lived he accepted Noriko's beliefs and lifestyle.  Loving her was
more important.

     The *marei'cha* topic was going to become a problem.  Toren,
knowing about this form of bonding, had believed his relationship
with Noriko was "safe" since she had chosen him before she felt the
urge to find a *marei'cha.*  But it was never that easy.  The
feeling came whether you were involved with someone or not.  Noriko
had felt the stirring of love soon after meeting Kasua and it
wasn't just a physical attraction.  Kasua was intelligent and had
incredible potential even though she was virtually uneducated
thanks to that damned Kagamasei law making her little more then
chattel.  Kasua had told her that several of her friends were
trying to arrange a way to flee Kagamasei and come to Sagussa to
find their bond-mates.  Something Noriko also wanted.

     "It's not as simple as that, Kasua-chan," Noriko said.

     "Of course not.  There's guests to invite, reservations to
make and you have to make sure to register those gifts."

     Noriko groaned and leaned her head against the side of the
vidphone booth.  She suddenly knew how Toren had felt when she had
teased him in bed that day.  "Kasua-chan...the Terran way of
bonding is so different then the Sagussan way.  I know he can
accept how we live, but to be married and then find out that your
wife still wants another...and to be with only one person for the
rest of your life is so against the Sagussan way."

     "I'm completely aware how culture can be so wonderful and so
horrible at the same time," Kasua lay her head down on her arms. 
"To be a twin of your brother was once seen to be divine.  I should
have lead a blessed life.  But I live in silent terror that I could
be cut down at any moment if my brother falls ill.  I can leave my
world behind with no regrets.  And Toren was willing to change his
life for you.  If he wasn't, he wouldn't've proposed to you.  And
I'm sure he can accept me becoming your *marei'cha* if you just
talk to him about it."

     "But..." Noriko toyed confusedly with the ends of her hair.

     "Noriko!" Kasua's eyes suddenly filled the screen.  "If you
don't marry Toren, I'll never talk to you again."

     "Kasua!!!" Noriko clutched her chest.  "Don't be cruel!!"

     "I'm not cruel!  I'm someone who loves you and someone who
wants to see you happy.  Toren loves you and I can love both of
you.  We mustn't let our differences spoil our love."

     Noriko silently nodded.  Kasua grinned.  "So what do you plan
to do?" she asked.

     "I..."

                           *    *    *

     "...do!" Noriko said to the priest.

     "And so by the power invested in me by God," the priest
finishes, "I now declare you husband and wife.  You may kiss the
bride."

     Toren lifted Noriko's veil and placed a passionate kiss on her
lips which Noriko responded to eagerly.  Loud whoops and claps came
from among the audience as Noriko's squadron-mates cheered them on. 
More subdued clapping came from where Toren's friends and relatives
were sitting as the first Terran wedding on Sagussa was completed.

     Noriko's squadron-mates were stunned when she announced that
she and Toren were getting married.  They knew that Toren was her
child-mate, but to MARRY him was something they'd never considered
doing with theirs.  They thought that telling each other that you
loved them...and PROVING it...was enough.  Actually going through
a complicated ritual was seen as almost regressive considering that
many marriages fell short of "'till death do us part."

     She had heard of some of the reactions...

                           *    *    *

     "What's this?" Tita asked as Mrs. Saku put some fancy
envelopes in front of her and her friends.

     "Just a little surprise from one of your friends" Mrs. Saku
grinned as she went over to another table.

     Tita opened the envelope curiously and saw a decorative card
with the words, 'You are cordially invited to..." Tita opened the
card...

     "***THE WEDDING OF NORIKO AND TOREN SMITH?!?!***"

     The entire building shook as everyone fainted in shock!

                           *    *    *

To be concluded...