[Lights up on the living room.  Scott and Madoka are engaged in a
chess game, while Yuu sits on the sofa, nominally watching and
actually reading a magazine.]

Madoka:  Checkmate in twelve.

Scott:  What, already?

Yuu:  I warned you.

Scott:  You'd think my subconscious'd be able to beat a fictional
character, at least.  What's that make it?

Madoka:  One game for you, ninety-seven for me.

Scott:  At least I won one...

Yuu:  She felt sorry for you after the first forty.  (shrugs) Face it,
chess isn't your subconscious's game.

Scott:  Not against you two, anyway.  Maybe I should stick to poker.

Yuu:  Tell me again why we're doing this?

Scott:  It's exam time again.  (stands) Which means there's something
we should do.

Madoka:  Study?

Scott:  Nah, that's what we're avoiding.  Review fanfics.

Madoka:  It has been a while.  I suppose you have some in mind?

Scott:  Well, as a matter of fact... today we have a Marmalade Boy/
Evangelion crossover--

Yuu:  Good lord.

Scott:  --From Lara Bartram.  "Familial Impact."

Madoka:  Be afraid.  Be very afraid.

Yuu:  (tossing Madoka the remote) Push the button, Mads.

Madoka:  ...We're going to have to talk later.

[She points the remote at the TV and pushes the button.]

[1997]

Scott:  ...Bottles of beer on the wall, 1997 bottles of beer...

	  "Meiko, I'd like you to meet my younger brother, Gendo 
Rokobungi."

Madoka:  Now that's a good sentence to start a fanfic with.

Yuu:  Isn't it "Rokubungi," though?

	  Meiko smiled and bowed to Gendo.  "Pleased to meet you."

Scott:  (Meiko) Hope you've guessed my name.

Madoka:  No, no.  -Gendo- is the devil.

	  Gendo smiled crookedly, wondering how his brother managed 

Yuu:  Gendo does -everything- crookedly.

to bag such a cute girl.  As far as he was concerned, his older 
brother was a complete geek, going into teaching and all that.

All:  ...

Yuu:  You know, that could explain so much...

Madoka:  But actually, if Namura is already married, then he's gone
into real estate, not teaching.

	  "I don't know why you'd want to stay here, Little Brother.  
Won't this cramp your style with the women?" Shinichi joked.

Scott:  (Gendo) If anything, it'll help.  I'm hoping to seduce -your-
wife...

Yuu:  And armies of expressionless albino Meiko clones were set loose
to roam the countryside...

Madoka:  Don't be silly.  It's Arimi who's the template for the
clones, just look at her.

	  Still grinning, Gendo shook his head, his glasses sliding 
down his nose a little.  He pushed them up with one finger 
before speaking.  "I'm not really worried about it.  Things will 
happen in their own time.  No need to force them."

Yuu:  Nice bit of dialogue for Gendo...

Scott:  Yeah, you can see him saying something like that.  Lying
through his teeth.

	  "When did you get so sensible?  You disappoint me."  

Madoka:  So... Namura misses the bright, cheerful Gendo who's always a
riot at parties?

Shinichi slapped Gendo on the back.  "Come on.  I'll show you 
the guest room."

Scott:  Down the hall, past the dungeon, second door on your left.
Can't miss it.

	  The two receded down the hall, while Meiko went to 

Yuu:  Receded?  That sounds strange, given what (I think) you're
trying to convey.  Maybe "proceeded" would work better.

continue with the dishes.  She would have to ask Shinichi later 
why he and his brother had different family names.

Madoka:  Even Gendo didn't want anything to do with Namura?

	  Gendo tossed his stuff on the floor next to the desk.  
"You've got a nice place.  Must be cozy living here with..."
	  "Meiko."
	  "Yeah.  She seems like a nice little wife."

Scott:  Pedophilia runs in the family, I guess.

	  Shinichi nodded.  "She is.  How long do you plan on 
staying here?"
	  Gendo frowned.  "Until I get a job and I'm deemed 
"responsible".  What a bunch of crap."

Yuu:  I have trouble imagining Gendo speaking that way, but I suppose
when you're talking privately to close family...

Scott:  That and being nearly 20 years younger than in the series.

	  "Things were that bad?" Shinichi asked, opening the closet 
to reveal the bedding.

Madoka:  (gasps) It was the bedding all along!

Yuu:  And it would've gotten away with it, too, if it wasn't for you
kids.

	  He shrugged.  "I never thought so, but the court said it 
was being lenient by letting me come here.  It was just a bar 
fight..."
	  "Another one?  What's with you, Gendo?  Why don't you 
settle down?"

Scott:  (Gendo) I have no time to settle down!  I must remake the
world in my own image! (laughs)

	  "I've got nothing to settle down to.  Kyoto seems like a 
waste of time if they're going to be all over my case for being 
a regular college student.  What's the point?"

Yuu:  A regular college student?  If the courts are involved, he must
have either destroyed property or hurt people...

Madoka:  (Alex) Just the usual thing, a bit of the old
ultraviolence...

Scott:  Clockwork Genesis Evangelion.  Because you thought the future
couldn't possibly get any bleaker.

	  Looking critically at his brother, Shinichi nodded.  "I 
think being here's going to help.  I bet I can get you back to 
Kyoto in no time."

Madoka:  (Namura) I hope to god I can get you back to Kyoto in no
time...

	  "No way.  You're not getting me to go back.  Bunch of 
hypocrites is what they are," Gendo snorted.
	  Smiling, Shinichi patted Gendo on the shoulder.  "Just you 
wait, Little Brother."

Madoka:  (Namura) Soon, you'll be begging to go back...

Yuu:  (Namura) You'll be a hypocrite, too, some day...

Scott:  (Namura) The fools!  They called you mad... mad!  But you'll
show them!  You'll show them ALL!

	  Sighing Gendo shook his head.  "So what's with the name 
change?" he asked suddenly.
	  "I was wondering when you'd get to that.  I was actually 

Yuu:  So were we.

rather surprised when I got the call."
	  "Resentful?"
	  Chuckling, Shinichi shook his head.  "Not yet.  When 

Madoka:  Yet?  (strikes a gong) FORE-shadowing!

Yuu:  One Obscurity Point to the first person to name that
reference...

you're in rough times, you can count on me.  I just changed my 
name because...  Well, it's kind of hard to explain."  He 

Scott:  (Namura) The police were after me, and...

shifted uncomfortably.  "Why don't you settle in, and I'll tell 
you the whole story some other time.  Meiko'll have dinner 
started soon."
	  "Great.  I'm starved."
	  "And the bath's free."  The older brother grinned.  "I 
think you need it after your time in custody."

Yuu:  There's something very disturbing about this.

***

	  "Shini..."  Gendo paused in front of his brother's door.  
The noises coming from behind it were... intriguing.  He put his 

Yuu:  I take it back.  -This- is disturbing.

ear lightly to the surface of the door and listened with 
interest.

Scott:  (Namura, stage whisper) Then, once he falls asleep, you beat
him to death with the rubber chicken, then I'll hide the body.

Madoka:  (Meiko, stage whisper) Right, just make sure the refrigerator
and the feather duster are in place.

***
  
	  "Hey, Little Brother.  What are you up to?"
	  Gendo looked to his brother leaning in the doorway, and 
removed his headphones.  "Nothing much.  Something wrong?"
	  "On the contrary.  You interested in knowing why I changed 
my name?"  There was an odd look on his face, partially 

Yuu:  Hmm.  I wonder whether we'll find out, this time.

secretive, sort of playful, a trace of seriousness, and his eyes 
were dangerous.  Though they were hidden behind his glasses as 
the sunlight reflected off them.

Madoka:  And I thought that was Gendo's shtick.

Scott:  Guess that runs in the family, too.

	  "Sure.  What is..."

Yuu:  (Gendo) ...The matter with you?

	  "Come on."  Shinichi moved from the doorway and down the 
hall.
	  Gendo followed quickly, not sure at all about his 
brother's strange behavior.  "Shinichi, I don't get what you're 
being so secretive about," he said as his brother disappeared 
into his own room.

Scott:  (Namura) Let me show you my Lance of Longinus...

	  Gendo's breath caught in his throat as he stopped in the 
doorway.  "Shinichi..."

Yuu:  (Gendo) ...I've always loved you.

Madoka:  Cue sappy music.

	  "I did it for the family, Gendo.  Just in case...  To 
protect the family honor."

Yuu:  (Godfather) I look out for you, 'cause we're family, see?
That's what family does...

Scott:  On another note... Namura's father runs a real-estate business
in Hiroshima, and we assume that's no secret, since everyone at Toryo
seems to know about it, and he mentions it openly when he "retires"
from teaching.  So that explanation for changing his name doesn't fly.
Besides, his parents approved of the marriage, at least... so a good
part of the MB cast probably met them at the ceremony.

	  Meiko made muffled noises, the ball gag in her mouth 
preventing her from speaking.

All:  ...

Madoka:  Okay, I don't think any of us saw that one coming.

Scott:  I was joking about the dungeon...

	  "No one will know.  Meiko and I, we're already outcasts, 
but could you imagine if this ever got out?"

Yuu:  (Namura) We'd be outcast from the outcasts!

	  Gendo could only imagine one thing and continued to stare 
at his brother's wife, hung from the ceiling in an elaborate 
leather harness.  His eyes met hers, but instead of the fear he 
expected to find, there was a dark, manic glee in them.

Scott:  Actually, Meiko being a masochist would explain a lot.  Like
why she dumped Miwa.

	  "No one gets hurt this way, Gendo.  No one knows.  Except 
you."

Madoka:  (Namura) So now we have to kill you.  Damn, I should have
thought this out ahead of time.

	  While Gendo was staring, Shinichi took off the loose shirt 
and sweatpants he had been wearing to reveal a 
leather/rubber/vinyl ensemble underneath.

Scott:  You know, that's pretty near the top of my list of things I
never expected to see in a Marmalade Boy fic.

	  "We're different, Gendo, but we're happy.  You could be 

Scott:  I bet they are... okay, this is just twisted.  I like it.

happy too.  You don't need to get into bar fights, or even go 
out drinking.  You just need to find a different channel for 
your feelings."

Yuu:  Try VH-1, it's pretty mellow.

	  One part of Gendo wanted to flee in terror at his 
brother's perversion, but another wanted to dive in whole-
heartedly.  The internal struggle raged for a moment before 

Yuu:  ...He gave in and joined the orgy.

Gendo slowly shook his head.  "I... can't.  It's..."  He shook 
his head.  "I can't."

Madoka:  Then he shook his head some more.  Finally, shaking his head,
he shook his head.

	  Nodding, Shinichi nodded knowingly.  "It's okay, Gendo.  

Scott:  Redundant actions run in the family, too.

Yuu:  That, or neck problems.

Just as long as you don't tell anyone, it won't be an issue 
here.  You're still my brother, and that's not going to change 
because of what I've told you."

Madoka:  (Namura) But if you do tell anyone, I'll disown you, then
disembowel you with a rusty spork.

	  Gendo nodded absently, still staring at the nude and bound 
Meiko.

Scott:  I don't blame him...

	  "You could... watch, if you wanted."
	  As if on cue, Meiko began to struggle against her bonds.

Yuu:  Exactly as if on cue, in fact.

	  "Just a moment, Love.  Let him make up his mind," Shinichi 
said, running one gloved hand up her naked thigh.

Madoka:  Either he just got a glove out of nowhere, or that loose
shirt he was wearing had really long sleeves.

	  Now trembling, Gendo turned and fled the room.

Scott:  Again, I don't blame him.

***
  
	  Gendo emerged from his room slowly.  Breakfast was 
cooking, and the smell was irresistible.

Yuu:  It had all been just a dream.  The end.

Madoka:  Wouldn't that be a nightmare?

Yuu:  Details, details...

	  "Sleep well?" Shinichi asked as he walked by, surprising 
Gendo and making his jump.

Scott:  ...Setting a new record.

Yuu:  Making "him" jump.

	  "Um, sure."
	  "Great.  Meiko says breakfast in fifteen minutes.  You 
don't want to miss out."
	  Gendo nodded then retreated back into his room.  So it 
seemed his brother was bothered at all by his refusal.  It was 

Madoka:  Was "not" bothered.

just so strange because his older brother had always been so... 
perfect.  To discover he was some freaky child...

Scott:  ...Molester...

Madoka:  Okay, we get the picture.

	  But what difference did it make?  Meiko was obviously 
going along with it.  That look in her eye...  Gendo wouldn't 
have been surprised to discover she had initiated it.

Yuu:  Meiko's never had the courage to initiate -anything-.  Through
the entire series, the most initiative she took without being prodded
was when she ran out of her house to Namura's apartment after her
parents fought.

Scott:  It's Gendo's thought, though.  And he barely knows her.

	  He dressed slowly, not sure just how he should act.  It 
would have been easiest to just be like the others and pretend 
nothing had happened.  It was hard to act like he hadn't seen 

Yuu:  This could be a little clearer.  It sounds like he's thinking
that the same thing would be easy and hard.

Meiko, two years younger than he, hanging there at his brother's 
mercy.
	  Shuddering, he waited for a bit after he was dressed to 
try and clear the images from his mind.

Madoka:  It's scary that Gendo is the most "normal" character in this
fic.

	  "Good morning.  I hope you slept well."  Meiko smiled 
brightly at him and set a bowl of rice down.
	  "Yeah, just fine.  I hope you..."  He realized the 
absurdity of saying the same thing back considering...

Scott:  Comma before considering.

Yuu:  What, that's your comment?

Scott:  I'm not touching the other part.

	  "Just fine.  So Ken tells me you went to Kyoto.  What did 
you study?" she asked pleasantly, not missing a beat.
	  "Oh, well I was in engineering, but..."  He shrugged, 
embarrassed by his forced withdrawal from the semester.
	  "Don't worry about it.  Everyone makes mistakes in life; 
it's what you do after that that's really important."  She 
smiled again, and Gendo smiled back.

Madoka:  That's sort of an odd thing for Meiko to say, but I guess
married life might have changed her a bit...

Scott:  More than a bit, I'd say...

	  "Don't let her quiet demeanor fool you," Kenichi said, 
sitting down at the table.  "She could have gone into any 
program she wanted at the university."  He winked at Meiko, who 
giggled in return.

Yuu:  So she didn't go to college?

	  Gendo nodded, the smile on his face thoughtful, then began 
to eat with gusto.

Scott:  Yes, Gusto, Gendo's other brother, who was also visiting...

Madoka:  (Gendo) When in Hiroshima...

***
  
	  It was late, later than he should have been up.  Yet, 
Gendo had remained wide awake ever since he had retired to his 
room for the night.  He just couldn't get to sleep.  His older 
brother's happiness gnawed at him, held up to his own guilt for 
comparison...

Yuu:  Wow.  Gendo feels guilt?

Madoka:  It may just be indigestion.

	  He wasn't ashamed of getting in the fight; he was far more 
ashamed of getting caught, along with the public humiliation.  
But his brother was happy.
	  His brother wasn't a struggling college student though.  
His brother had a cozy life, with his nice wife, and his easy 
job.

Scott:  Anyone who thinks teaching is an easy job has never done it.
Assuming he's not talking about real estate, but the rest of the
chapter makes it sound like he doesn't know about that.

	  He had none of that.
	  He wanted to be happy.
	  Getting out of bed, dressed in his pajamas, he left his 
room.  He stood in front of his brother's door, the sounds 
coming from behind it again, and lifted his hand to it.

Madoka:  A green door?

Yuu:  Don't go there.

	  "I'm not running away from this," he said aloud.  "I want 
to be happy too."

Madoka:  And, as we all know, embracing S&M is the first step to a
successful and rewarding career and a happy life.

Yuu:  Is anyone else imagining Gendo standing in the hall chanting "I
mustn't run away, I mustn't run away..."?

	  He knocked lightly, then opened the door and entered.

Scott:  Well.  That was... different.

Madoka:  It sort of matches the flavor of Evangelion.  Though
Marmalade Boy seems like a really -weird- choice to cross it with.

Yuu:  There are some clever touches with Namura in this one.  Bonus
points for relating Arimi and Rei in future chapters.

Scott:  This take on Meiko is strange.  I'm interested in seeing where
the series will lead, though.  At least, I hope it's a series.  It's
too weird to leave to a one-shot.  I'm looking forward to the next
part.

Yuu:  And that concludes this commentary.  Madoka, if you will...?

Madoka:  Sure.  (to Scott) Rematch?

Scott:  Well... I guess it couldn't hurt...

[Madoka points the remote toward the camera, grins, and pushes a
button.  All goes dark.]


Scott Schimmel                http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~schimmel/
Ex ignorantia ad sapientium;  "You really aren't normal, are you?"
ex luce ad tenebras.              -- Miki Koishikawa