clip to 1a
***

     Before anyone could say anything or protest Ranma's ill timed words
and actions, a guy of about average height with two slashes that almost
looked like a second set of eyebrows walked in out of a glowing hole in
the air.  "Hello, I've been elected to explain what's happened." he said
aloud, and then muttered low to himself, "Mainly because everyone else is
laughing so hard." 
     "Oh my, a guest."  Kasumi got up to get a tea set.  This was
something that was normal and that she could deal with. 
     "Well," Nabiki munched on a rice cracker and looked this new guy
over, wondering at the potential for profit on this.  "Are you here to
kill Ranma and marry Akane, or kill Akane and marry Ranko, or marry both
Akane and Ranko?" 
     "No, I'm..." 
     "Here to challenge Airen because he best in world?" 
     "Not at all, what..." 
     "You were promised something by Genma and now you've come to
collect." 
     "That's not it at all..." 
     "Let me guess, you're engaged to the Baka!!" 
     "NOW CUT THAT OUT!!!"  Screamed the enraged young man, desperately
trying to calm himself, and smiling a bit because Kasumi chose that moment
to pass him a cup of tea.
     "There now, I hope it isn't unpalatable."  Kasumi commented while she
presented the tray of rice cakes.
     Grey cleared his throat, "No, in fact I rather like it.  What blend
is this tea?"
     "Oh, it's a Darjeeling from India." 
     Nabiki raised an eyebrow, "Now I'm sure that's all rather
interesting, but how about we get back on the subject.  You were here to
explain something to us?"
     Grey blushed, "Ahh...Right." 
     He stood up.  "Actually, Saotome Ranma, this is your life!"  Grey
pointed to the wall where images began to appear.  Indicating a picture of
Genma entering a house, Grey also pointed out the woman hiding behind a
tree. 
     "Who's that?" 
     "Your mother, Saotome Nodoka!" Grey smiled, revealing fangs. "What
you're seeing here is your father cheating on your mother yet again.  She
managed to trace him to this house in Kyoto, and decided that enough was
enough.  Not willing to take the life of her husband, but tired of Genma
cheating on her, she decides to GET EVEN!"
     Ukyou blinked at the house in the image.  It couldn't be...if that
house was...it meant that she was...No.  That was impossible.  It _HAD_ to
be impossible. 
        The image changed to the same woman at a party.  It appeared to be
a VERY posh social event with a mixture of foreigners as well as Japanese. 
Some of the people were recognisable to Nabiki from the history books
since these people were financial giants and formulated the fiscal
policies affecting the Home Islands. 
        "So she goes to this party held in honour of the Prime Minister of
Japan, hoping to meet someone who she could respect."  Continued the
Demon, "Your mother can't hold her drink very well, and got more than a
little bit...well...to put it politely..." 
     "Smashed," supplied Akane. 
     "Tipsy," provided Nabiki. 
     "Drunk?" Ranma squeaked. 
     "Enter this fellow," Grey made a motion and the picture changed
again.
        "That's that gaijin maniac super-villain, the Joker!"  Nabiki
exclaimed in wonder.  It was the first time that the maniac had struck
anywhere outside of the US, and the first time the Batman had ever shown
himself in Japan.  The incident had led to some speculation that the Dark
Knight Detective was Japanese since he had spoken with a number of the
government officials without an accent.  Given the way he had appeared,
and later disappeared, there was also some speculation that he was a
renegade Shinobi, who operated away from the Clans.  "She was at _that_
party?" 
        "Indeed," Grey flicked his wrist and the central picture changed
again. It now showed a man and a woman, stripped bare and whose eyes were
slightly glazed, being thrown into a broom closet.  The door to said
closet being sealed with Joker Glue immediately thereafter.
        "Oh my,"  Kasumi covered her mouth with one hand, slightly
distressed at the sight before her.  "How long were they stuck there?" 
     Grey grew a bit uncomfortable at Kasumi's blush.  "A little over six
hours. During that time, Ranma was...well...conceived."
        "Well, Ranchan," Ukyou nudged the apparently paralysed Ranma in an
effort to forget her own dark thoughts.  "I always knew you couldn't be
related to that damn panda." 
     "So who is his daddy?" Nabiki took a deep drink of her own tea,
almost smirking at how messed up the wish was making Ranma's life.
        "This man."  Grey again changed the image, revealing a very
well-dressed young man standing in front of a recognizable corporate logo.
     <SPTHHHHHTHHHHHH> Nabiki drenched one wall with tea and immediately
started a coughing fit.
     /Wonderful!  I loved causing that reaction./ the Demon smirked to
himself.
     "Wayne Enterprises?" Ukyou thought about it. "Oh, yeah, I've heard of
them. One of the top 100 international megacorps, aren't they?"
     Nabiki was continuing to cough, her eyes tearing up, thinking about
what she had given up, the MILLIONS that could have been hers if she had
only taken Ranma as her fianc� that first day. 
     "Ah, Shampoo hear about them. They own mining company near village." 
     "Yes, and Bruce Wayne has just discovered evidence that his son is
alive and well and living in Nerima, Japan."
     Nabiki managed to stop coughing but was now looking at Ranma as if he
had grown horns.  That this uneducated, lazy, obnoxious, jackass was now
the heir to a financial fortune measured in...in...Nabiki had to think
about how much he would be worth... 
     "There's more, but you'll find that out after you go to live with
your father."  The image changed again.
        "Such a big house," Kasumi exclaimed pleased and excited.  It must
take a lot of time to clean.  Who knew what wonderful new things could be
found?  And the kitchen that must be in such a house...
        "That place bigger than entire village!"  Shampoo blinked in
surprise.  The concept of so much land for one house was alien to her, but
it didn't stop her from thinking of one thing.  "Airen could invite entire
village over for wedding." 
     Akane was still alternating between staring at the pictures, the
guest, and Ranma.  If he was willing to flirt with so many floozies now,
who knew how many he would be with so much at his disposal.  Her anger,
already at a slow burn, began to grow hotter. 
        "Damn, sugar.  Do you think Wayne Enterprises would be interested
in a merger with a little okonomiyaki shop? I've got some ideas for
advertising..."
     Nabiki looked at the house, the helicopter landing field, the car in
front of it, the various other buildings in the background.  A quick
estimate of the total value caused her eyes to roll up in the back of her
head.  Followed immediately thereafter by a crunch as her head impacted
the little tray of rice cakes in front of her.
     "Sorry, I couldn't stay longer, but the Rival Relief Office keeps me
on short notice and I don't exist in this particular timeline anyway." 
Grey smiled at Kasumi and handed a business card to Ukyou.  He wished he
could stay longer, That girl was certainly worth looking at. Waving, he
walked towards a wall and, quite abruptly, vanished.
     "Grey. Demon, fourth class, not affiliated with Hell. Rival Relief
Office, Asgard."  Ukyou blinked as she read the Meishi.  "It lists a pager
number for emergencies?" 
     "Ranma...you..." Akane began to get angry at Ranma for screwing up
everything once again, especially with Ukyou now hanging onto him and
discussing all her plans for expanding her business. "You're not even pure
Japanese!!!  YOU BAKA!" 
        Nabiki's eyes snapped open.  That's right.  Akane wasn't too fond
of Ranma, and in many ways was too traditional to consider marrying an "Ai
no ko."  And the same thing held true for Kasumi!  Images of bags of money
flying away from her seemed to fill the air.  There had to be something
that she could do, and it had to be quick.

***

     In an area just outside the normal parameters of the space-time
continuum...

     Grey reappeared and walked up to the small crowd of beings looking at
the timeline.  "So what happens?"
        "Ah," Toltiir smirked.  "Look at what happens when Ranma discovers
Bruce Wayne's 'hobby' and decides to indulge himself as well..." 
        "Ah," Bast purred.  "Look at what happens when Ranma meets
Catwoman for the first time!"
        "Heh," laughed Loki.  "Look at poor Ranma trying to explain how
Spatgirl and Chinagirl ended up at the mansion."
        "Akane must care on some level," pointed out Susano.  "Look at her
trying to get to Stately Wayne Manor."
     "Nabiki's already there and is explaining to Bruce about how Ranma
has to marry a Tendo."  Isis shook her head. 
     "Look at Genma trying to sneak in and getting run off again." 
     "What's Ryouga doing in Gotham City?  Oh, lost and looking for Akane
again."
     "Oh my." 
        Everyone's heads snapped up at the unexpected voice and they
turned to see Kasumi standing behind them.  She held up a familiar looking
business card.  "I just wanted to get hold of my sisters, and I thought
this was an emergency..." 
        "Call forwarding," groaned Toltiir as he looked over at Grey who
was now blushing at Kasumi's presence.  The kid managed to screw up again,
permitting a mortal to see what was happening, before it happened. 
     Kasumi let a little sad look pass over her face. "You know, I wish
that I could help..."
        Toltiir laughed.  Perfect.  This was a way to get rid of her, add
some chaos and disruption, and make her be more than totally useless. 
"GRANTED!" 
     Grey whirled towards Toltiir when Kasumi vanished, "HEY!!!  SHE WAS
HERE TO SEE ME NOT YOU!!!"
     Toltiir grinned, "Then you're going to have to follow her, won't
you?"
     Grumbling, Grey walked off to where Toltiir had sent Kasumi into the
timeline...
     Loki grinned, "Nice bit of manipulation shorty, but instead of
looking at different sections that interest us in particular, lets take a
look at how things turn out.  After all, it's only a century or two of
entertainment, and then we can watch the reruns."
     The remaining Deities smirked and sat down to watch the fun. 

***

     Alfred Pennyworth, foremost butler in the world, brought up in the
old school of how to keep the master happy in every way, trained never to
show surprise and to hold in his emotions as any proper Englishman, stated
his worry over the upcoming changes to the household.  "Are you sure this
is the proper thing to do, Master Bruce?  After all, the lad has already
made quite a name for himself, and if any of these activities follow him
here there could be some unwanted scrutiny towards the affairs here at
Wayne Manor."
     Bruce Wayne, dilettante playboy, acknowledged womaniser, layabout,
and generous business person smirked as he looked over the file on his
son, Saotome Ranma, or as he would be called in America, Ranma Saotome. 
In the thick file folder, the entire life of the young man he had sired
was laid out in photographs, rumour and innuendo, and confirmed facts.  So
much had happened in his young life that Bruce had had enough and decided
it was finally time to bring his son and his mother home, and allow them
to live the lives they deserved to live. 
     If only Nodoka hadn't agreed to go back to a marriage that was no
longer filled with love, no longer pleasurable, and hardly tolerable.  He
had argued with her then, as he had when they had first met years before,
hoping that she would finally see reason.  Bruce had told her that honour,
even the system he and Nodoka believed in, could only go so far before it
became detrimental to oneself.  Nodoka had replied that since he refused
to carry out the Art in an open manner, only practising in an idle' manner
and not carrying out the school, she still had no choice.  A promise was
made that day that their child would be a fighter in the true sense of the
word, and carry out the traditions of her ancestors as protectors and
teachers.  A Sensei that could be entrusted with some of the worlds
greatest secrets. 
     Leaving Nodoka again had been the third time he died'. 
     Unfortunately, honour had also allowed Genma to take his child, HIS
son, away from her mother, causing untold amounts of damage to his young
life and virtually disappearing off the face of the earth.  Admittedly the
boy had become a fighter, having spent many years training in various
places and in numerous Martial Arts, including some of the places that he
had trained himself.  Ranma had been given the opportunity to learn same
way he had learned of the ancient secrets, the delicate understandings,
and the ancient flows of energy, by passing the test of the Sensei and
then being thought as one of the few with true potential. 
     With this intense training beginning so early, Ranma had already
surpassed him in many areas, easily being the equal of Bruce in the pure
skill of the Arts.  No doubt the young man could teach Bruce many tricks
and techniques, but he still had a long way to go if he wanted to survive
to see his twenties, especially on a social level.  If not, then his
inability to function in society would become an unenviable trap. 
     What Alfred had been referring to, however, was that Ranma was linked
in many incidents, having made the newspapers several times in both Japan
and China.  One of the facts that had been gleaned from these journals was
that apparently his son had several suitors, all of whom wanted to marry
him despite his being virtually penniless.  It appeared, from all the
reports that Bruce had been able to get from his people, that the girls
and people who surrounded his son were the cause of most of his troubles. 
He chuckled a bit.  "I'm sure that he'll be fine Alfred.  Besides, when he
comes here, such activities will seem to be normal, and the son of a rich
socialite millionaire, sowing a few wild oats which his father has to take
care of now and then will make a lot more people ignore what goes on here
rather than attract attention."
     Tim heard all of this from the doorway.  "I guess you won't want me
around anymore then." 
     Bruce's chair whirled around at that, "What do you mean by that Tim?" 
     "Well, with your son coming, I wouldn't think there'd be any room
around here for me."
     Bruce frowned, "What gave you that idea.  If anything, he would be
more like an older brother to you, just like Dick.  I already consider you
one of my sons."
     Tim blinked.  "You mean that?" 
     Bruce nodded slightly.  "Besides, what would I do without Robin?" 
     Tim Drake jumped, happier than ever, "Yeah!" 
     "But as of right now," Bruce continued in his command tone of voice,
"You have some training to do with Batgirl in the Simulation area.  Get to
it." 
     Tim nodded and then went to get his uniform.  The one thing in his
life that he was most proud of. 
     "Alfred, make arrangements to have a company jet ready to take off
for Tokyo, Japan in 30 hours.  And pack suitcases for Barbara and Tim.  I
want them to accompany me."  Bruce said as he pulled on his cowl and went
towards the Batmobile. 
     "Of course sir.  And happy hunting."  Alfred said as he watched
Batman take off into the night.  Cleaning up, he looked over the folder on
the young man coming to live here.  After all, as a Gentleman's gentleman,
it was required that he know the complete life story of his employers, and
as such had to be able and willing to help whenever and wherever possible. 
And it was apparent that this young man would need tutoring in a proper
language.  Ranma's English marks were not all that good, despite his
having travelled to countries where the language was necessary.
     He stopped suddenly and reread the passage to make sure that it was
correct.  "Oh my.  This may cause a problem in making arrangements for the
young master.  I wonder if Miss Barbara will be doing anything tomorrow. 
She may be the best one to ask how to properly prepare his chambers and to
which school he should attend."
     He started back up the stairs to the Manor proper, taking the silver
tea service with him. "Master Timothy will be in for a rather large
surprise when he finds out about Ranma's abilities. I do so hope he will
not be rude about it." 

***

     Nabiki was dazed, looking over the books that she had.  Saotome Ranma
would leave. There was no question of that in her mind, especially since
Genma no longer had a hold on his life.  Ranma Wayne could now declare all
the engagements made on his behalf by Saotome Genma null and void.  She
would lose _BILLIONS OF YEN_ because her sister was so insistent on _not_
marrying her chosen fianc�. 
        Nabiki opened up her ledgers and took a look at the amount that
she had stashed away.  If she was careful, she would be able to afford a
fairly good apartment, enough for her to finish high school and complete
an American university program.  And if Nabiki just happened to be in
Gotham City, where she could claim her family's honour would be ruined
since Ranma was assumed to have been Genma's son...Well if Akane didn't
want him, then she would marry him.
     Now, it was just a matter of making some arrangement with people she
knew and checking for apartments over the Internet...

***

     Ukyou had a couple of problems to contend with because of what Grey
had shown her at the Tendos.
     The first dealt with Ranma.  If everything went right for him, then
he would be moving with his natural father to America, leaving everything
he knew, and all his problems behind him. He would be leaving her.  Again. 
     She wasn't about to allow that. 
     Already, Ukyou had packed up almost everything that she needed, with
only the large items left to go.  The big question now was should she sell
her restaurant, rent it out to someone to operate, or make it into one
shop in a chain?  Ukyou had enough money to get to Gotham City, and enough
money to operate for a while, but not forever.  Another consideration in
her musings was that it was a lot harder to buy land in Japan than it
looked.  If Ukyou sold her restaurant, the centre of her life, would she
ever be able to regain it? 
     Was she willing to regain it? 
     Because if she left for America, and if she was to acknowledge who
Ranma really was, then it was time that she should acknowledge whose
daughter she could really be. 
     Ukyou shuddered, trying hard to erase the memory of seeing HER house,
HER home, as the one Genma had entered for his little affair.  To be
related to that lazy, no-good, cowardly furball would be a nightmare come
true.  In her dreams, she had always taken Ranma AWAY from that panda.  If
she was related to him by blood...
     That was too scary a thought to contemplate. 
     At that moment, someone walked in through the door, and it wasn't a
person she was expecting to see.  "Hello Shampoo.  What do you want?" 
     Shampoo came up to the counter, in a rather dejected state, "Great
Grandmother say Shampoo no can go to America.  Say Wayne-san and any him
children not bound by laws. Shampoo no care!  Shampoo want Airen." 
     Ukyou shook her head.  "Well, what are you going to do then?  You
don't expect me to help do you?"
     Shampoo looked up, even more dejected than before.  "Shampoo not know
what to do. Shampoo no want to disobey great grandmother, but also cannot
give up Airen.  Am not expecting spatula-girl to help, but wish to know if
know solution.  Shampoo willing to help if want."
     Ukyou grimaced.  It was hard enough for her to stay mad at everyone,
even harder to deny the feelings of others, but she had to.  It was for
Ranma's own good.  She was the one who deserved him, the one who gave up
the most, the one...the...one...../Oh to heck with it all!/
     "Shampoo, what if the two of us just happen to apply for school in
America, say in Gotham City.  We both have experience with restaurants,
and we _could_ open a konzern in that city..."
     Shampoo's face lit up as Ukyou started to make a few Okonomiyaki,
"Aiya!!  Shampoo understand!  We help other and be close to Ranma! 
Shampoo willing, but if do, must agree Ranma make choice, not us." 
     Ukyou winked, "Well sugar, I think we should talk about this quite a
bit.  After all, as partners, we should plan for contingencies, and for
what may happen to Ranma.  We both can't take off from the restaurant at
the same time, and if we want Ranma to be better, we need to leave him
alone with his father more.  What we should do now is dis..." 

***

     The Nekohanten was closed to the public, something that had happened
many times before and would doubtlessly happen again.  Despite being one
of the best places in Nerima to eat, anyone in the know knew that it was a
place frequented by Ranma, and therefore subject to the unusual.  It was
actually expected.
        Inside, an older woman known as Cologne sighed and smoked her pipe
calmly, wondering at this revelation that came from divine sources.  It
was not hard to imagine that Ranma could be Wayne's offspring.  Quite the
opposite really.  Now that she knew this fact, so much that had been a
mystery made sense.  And there was so much more that she could end up
teaching the boy since he had as much potential as his father.  If Ranma
asked, which was doubtful considering the many things that she had done to
him in the past.  Ranma would learn a lot from his natural father,
however, and the boy was worthy of taking over his fathers role in the
world. 
        She snorted suddenly, as if Wayne was really fooling anyone with
his act.  Anyone who knew him, who trained with him, would be able to
recognise him instantly.  His way was too obvious to anyone who was
observant, such as all of his teachers. 
     Hopping down from her perch, she went over to a table and poured
herself some wine. Not the Sake which the Japanese numbed their senses
with, but a proper Mongolian red whose body was much richer and more
delicate than anything suited to the Japanese palate.  Besides, it was
time to reflect, celebrate, and give up at the same time, and what better
way than in mankind's oldest tradition, the toast, even if it was to
oneself. 
     She raised her glass of warmed wine into the air, appreciating it's
colour, "Here's to you Ranma, and to your father, Bruce Wayne.  May you
find the peace you desire, and the family you need.  May the sins of the
past be eased, and the safety and the future of the planet be bettered.
And may the Knight of Darkness teach the Knight of Confusion."
     As she drank, the wine burning it's way down to an appropriately
empty stomach, she thought of all the new adventures that Ranma would be
having, and all of the villains that would be in for a shock as Batman's
son...eh...child, went into his fathers line of work.

***

     "Nightwing." 
     Nightwing didn't turn from his task as he acknowledge the other
person on the roof with him.  "Batman." 
     "I'll need you to watch over things for a few days, perhaps as long
as a week." came the gravelly voice.
     The young man with the long pigtail smiled grimly, "Where." 
     Batman smiled slightly, "Japan, I'm bringing your younger brother
home."
     Nightwing didn't turn his eyes away from his target, he had been too
well trained for that, but he did stiffen.  There wasn't any point in
asking questions however, especially since Batman was long gone.  Although
he and the others had acquired that ability as well, it was annoying when
it was applied to himself.

***

     Batgirl smiled at the young man in front of her, practising the same
manoeuvres that she had been forced to do so long ago.  "So, how's school
going?"
     Robin huffed, "Aww.  It's OK, I guess.  I still can't understand that
stuff on Civil Government, I mean, WE break the law every day, don't we?"
     The redhead rolled her eyes, "How many times do I have to tell you. 
We don't break the law, we may bend it a little, but we don't break it." 
     "Yeah, right.  Tell me another one." 
     Batgirl fumed a bit and then turned up the TASER trainer up a couple
of levels.  "I admit what we do tends to intimidate some of the creeps,
but then it's better to intimidate them, put the scare of superstition
into them, rather than let them off the hook.  Our guises, the martial
abilities that we train in, the knowledge of our bodies that allows us to
seem to be 'supernatural' or 'super-powered' are our advantages."
     "Huh."  Robin replied as he avoided a needle to his back, "I suppose
the fact that none of us never seem to die adds to the illusion." 
     "Given the number of times Batman has been presumed dead from one
threat or another, or the fact that we always seem to escape does lend
itself to the illusion." 
        "Well, I hope my new big brother won't be this much of a
'practiser.' I wanna do something, like take some villains or something
out."
     Batgirl, also known as Barbara Gordon, the daughter of the
Commissioner of Police of Gotham City, called a halt to the practice. 
"Look, I know you want to do everything right away, but when Ranma
arrives, he's not going to be able to know about this immediately.  I
don't want you to tell him about the cave, about what we do in our spare
time, or what dangers we face." 
        Adjusting the controls to try and trap the young man, she
continued, "He's already going to be facing certain...challenges, this
being a completely new country and all.  It's going to take a while for
him to be able to speak English, get used to America, and relax for the
first time. Ranma hasn't had the easiest of lives you know, and we don't
want to scare him off." 
     Robin shook his head, "His dad's the greatest guy on earth, and you
say he might be scared off?  Get off it, he's gonna love doing this as
much as I do."
        Barbara groaned, stopped the simulator, grabbed the boy by the
arm, and led him towards the main part of the cave.
     "HEY!" 
     "You know, kid.  I think it's time you learned how I became Batgirl. 
It all started when my dad was accused of being in league with..."

***

     Nodoka was prepared to lose her son once more, perhaps permanently. 
     Ranma's father was coming back to Japan, to reclaim his son as Genma
failed to take care of him.  Of the young man he had promised to make a
Man Among Men.  She had failed in her duty to her family by allowing Genma
to take Ranma with him. 
     Thanks to Bruce-kun's resources, she managed to read up on all of the
adventures and troubles that her son had been in since Genma had taken him
away.  The Neko-ken, all of the fiancees, the challengers, and the
dangers.  She had even read up on Jusenkyu, and the problems that had
created for her son.  After Bruce-kun took her son to America, she planned
to regain her honour for failing so miserably. 
     But there were some things that needed to be taken care of first. 
Mainly dealing with Saotome Genma.  Dealing with the betrayal of her trust
in him, and the way he had harmed her son.  Most of all, dealing with a
young girl named Ranko and her pet Panda.
     She could not hold Ranma to the promise made so long ago, but Genma
would be held to it, and he would pay for the trivialities that he had
made of their lives.  He would pay for all of the broken promises, the
pain and suffering, and for endangering her child without cause.  He would
fulfil his promise or she would chase him to the ends of the earth.
     Holding up her Katana and checking the surface, she decided that it's
polish was complete.  She placed it down and then powdered the length,
knowing that it would drink it's fill of blood before her task was
complete.  Unless something happened, Genma would pay with his life.

*** To be continued... 

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the following

Gregg for allowing me to do this. 

Hitomi, for the favour of doing a preread, and making amazing suggestions
which changed this from something less than mediocre to great.  Having
sent her a mere six pages, she sent back about twenty two pages of writing
and suggestions for plots and so on in less than three hours.  I was a fan
of her writing before, but now I'm in awe.  This is more her work than
mine, although I contributed some of the idea.  After some thought, I
decided to add Hitomi's name to the credits because I only added twenty
five sentences, and she made it into this. 

Hitomi again for the disclaimer, probably the best that I've ever seen in
any fan fiction. 

Hitomi's Comments: 

     It's strange to be writing again, knowing that this will eventually
be posted somewhere by someone other than Nicholas.  Most of what I write
these days is only for personal enjoyment, and the only reason I
originally responded to Jessica's mail was because she took a lot of
effort and expense in finding where I am physically.  She's a good kid in
my book, and has potential as a writer, so please give her time and
advice. 
     I will help her with this when I can, but my time these days is taken
with a lot of other projects that would have no meaning to most of you. 
     As for the title of the story, I read what Jessica sent me of your
responses, and came up with a pun of sorts.  It has seven different
references, so if people can come up with them, as well as the reasons
behind it, e-mail Jessica.  I have not told her the references, or the
reasoning that permits them.  It's a puzzle to help her out in figuring
the roles of the various characters involved. 
     Good luck with the story Jessica, and good luck with this 'bet' idea
Gregg. 

Hitomi

Ichinohei Hitomi
The Beginnings of Wisdom is the Ability to Always Ask Questions
        reposted via Metroanime, who just wanted to add that his AOL
is gonna go pfffft soon and is still looking for a replacement carrier. so if
e-mail messages start going bounce, you know why. i have gotten copies
of the Thanksgiving Turkey i promised to a safe party for release if i'm not
here then...

ja ne,
gregg