As the three MSTers entered the bridge, the red light on the
counter started flashing. As Mike hit the button, Dr. Forrester's
face appeared.
"I hope you have that invention of yours, Mike. Or am I going to
have to dig up a short, too?"
"Yeah, Dr. F. I made this up with a couple spare parts just lying
around..." Mike reached under the desk and came up with a small lump
of clear plastic. Inside was a long metal bar that stood suspended.
The bottom of the device was curved. Mike took the device and
strapped it to his head.
"Well, you see many people with magnetic bracelets anymore.
Magnets in jewelry seem to be all the rage now, and they have many
benefits. The last list of their myriad panacea effects is that it
prevents nausea, prevents headaches, can improve circulation, keeps
you regular, provides needed calcium for bones and teeth, and
moisturizes skin. Anyway, you can add 'increases IQ' with this
invention!"
Dr. F peered into the screen, and remarked, "Mike... you look like
a deformed Glenn Manning with that on."
"But just think... with our Magic Magnet Memory-builder, the magic
magnet fairies are massaging your brain, helping *anyone* soak in
more information!"
"That is one of the stupidest inventions I've ever heard of, Mike.
I think I know of a way to help your thinking processes up there.
Standby, the shock is in about half-an-hour or so... Mwahahaha!"
Tom looked at Crow and Mike. "What in heck do you think he's
talking about?"
Crow had a puzzled expression. "I haven't the slightest, Tommy..."
The screen, which had been left on, now showed Frank. "Hey guys,
think I could borrow that invention? I think I could really use
something like that, considering how much I screw up down here."
Mike tried to contain his laughter as he asked Frank, "Does the
Umbiliport work?"
"Oh, yes. We put that in while you were sleeping."
Mike went offscreen with the Magic Magnet Memory-builder, and came
back empty-handed. "There you go, Frank. Use it in good health."
Tom whispered, "Are you sure it's strong enough Nelson?"
Mike hissed back, "Yes! Now let's go before Dr. F notices
anything!"
Just then, the lights flashed again. "And we have fic sign!!"
_______________
(Door #7: the dog-bone raises and the doors separate)
(Door #6: a Dutch double-door. You open the top and fall over the
bottom)
(Door #5: Just to spite you, it's a window.)
(Door #4: it's a garage door. You have to open it manually)
(Door #3: "The Complete Works of David Eddings"... flame works well)
(Door #2: It's a wardrobe. You open the door... but no Narnia)
(Door #1: a vault door; after it shuts again, it effectively keeps
you inside)
(Mike enters the theater with Tom in his hands. After setting Tom
down on his left and sitting down, Crow comes in and sits in the far
right-hand seat)
Crow: It'll work, Mike?
Mike: If Frank gets close enough, yes.
The small talk was also...well, polite, but mostly unenlightening.
Mike: ...as previously described.
"Is this Wakaba-san a friend of yours?"
Tom: And as promised, back to the small talk...
Crow: Mike, is this "pad the fic" yet?
Mike: Well, wait for it to play out...
Crow: Can't the two aliens bust down the second wall for us again?
"I don't really know her too well. She's Utena-sama's best
friend, though.
Mike (Anthy): "They've been spending a lot of time together,
lately,...."
Crow (Skyler): "Uhh, Anthy, you can put the egg-beater down now...
you're scaring Chuchu..."
They lived together last semester, before Utena-sama had to move
here. They're such close friends."
Mike (Anthy): "Maybe *too* close...."
Tom (Chuchu): "AAAAAAAAHHHH!"
"I...see." [Is Utena...you know? Or have I just been reading
too much Chris Davies?]
Crow: Does that mean we've been reading too much Chris Davies, Tom?
Tom: No, we're naturally like this.
They walked together back to the second floor. It seemed Utena
and Anthy's room was right down the hall from Skyler's--21 to his
23. "You sure there's nothing more I can help with?"
Mike (Skyler): "I can help you turn the shower tap on."
Tom (Anthy): "No, Skylter, I think I can manage."
"No, nothing really. I have to get to sleep soon--I have to wake
up early to prepare Utena-sama's lunch and get ready for school."
"Okay. Say, will you please knock on my door when it's time to
get up tomorrow? I think I still have some jet lag."
Crow: I always thought one would have to be on a jet in order to
receive jet lag...
"Yes."
Mike (Anthy): "And is there anything else SIR would like?"
Crow (Skyler, in a small voice): "A beddy-bye story?"
"Oh, and thank you for all your help."
"It was nothing."
Crow (Anthy): "I *love* being your maid. Almost as fun as reblacking
the driveway. I live but to serve you, Spadler."
Tom (Skyler): "That's what I like to hear."
They walked to their rooms. Skyler inserted his key, turned it,
and opened the door--
Crow: ...finding a mysterious ticking package happily counting
towards his doom.
Mike: That's rather dark... are you okay, Crow?
Crow: This is so mind-numbing... it's the literary equivalent of
Prozac.
The question foremost in Skyler's mind was where Anthy had gotten
her hands on a crew of carpenters, plasterers, and glaziers this
late at night.
Mike: Skyler, haven't you heard about the sponsors?
Tom: "This episode of Shoujo Kakumei Utena brought to you by Glass
and Paint Etcetera. For nine years, the best in late-night
dojo repair."
Crow: "Ask about our Nabiki Tendo special!"
After all, she hadn't been gone for more than fifteen or twenty
minutes at the absolute outside. There was no way a single person
could have rebuilt the desk and beds, repaired the cracks in the
ceiling,
Crow: Did this mystery person get to the waxing of... Skyler's legs?
Tom: Ouch...
replaced the broken window panes, and still cleaned everything to
the point where he could see his face in the hardwood floor.
Mike: I'd have a hard time justifying this for *Skyler's* behalf...
Well, okay, maybe she could. This was an anime, after all. Still,
the contrast was a bit overwhelming. Even his crossbow had been
carefully polished and cleaned, and each individual bolt had been
buffed until it shone.
Crow: B-b-b-b-buff the bolts!
Mike: Crow... please, humanity can stand to be without Pauly Shore.
"Wow. Wonder if she does dojos?"
Crow: He's not really helping the sponsors out, is he?
Tom: "Skyler, you must give us a product mention, or we're going to
farm your role out!"
Mike (Skyler): "Oh, yeah? Who are you going to get that has my
acting ability and range?"
Tom: "Remember the Japanese kangaroo?"
Then a small paranoid thought entered his mind.
Crow (Skyler): "He's right... that kangaroo *is* better! I won't
work in this town again!"
Tom: And after that, a small paranoid android entered his mind
Mike: And because of lack of brain processing space, breathing was
temporarily discontinued.
"Wait a minute. I locked the door when I left...and I had to use
the key to get in now...so how'd Anthy get in? Shades of Jim
Rockford. Note to self: Do *not* leave secret journal in room."
Crow: Now playing the part of Harriet the Spy... Skyler.
He shut the door, and stripped down to his shorts.
Crow: "From the producers of 'Riverdance'..."
Tom (Skyler): "Be afraid, Ohtori... I'm about to do 'FlasherDance'!"
Mike: They might as well warm up the disco ball again...
"Better leave them on.
Mike (Skyler): "The authors want to keep their PG rating..."
Crow: ...and probably their lunch, too.
Tom: You know, maybe it's somewhat perverse... but I wonder what
the "Skyler treatment" would do in that situation...
Never know when something will happen in the middle of the
night." He folded his uniform neatly and laid it on the desk.
Crow: Never know when *something* will happen...
Mike: Yup... even if it has to be the middle of the night...
"Guess that `student guide' got delayed by the storm. Wonder who
it is?"
Mike: You don't think it is...
Tom: (the Guide): "And here, sir, we have Spring of Drowned
Lesbian... very popular spring around here, sir."
Skyler laid down. "This has been one strange...zzz..."
Mike: And where did he lay the down?
Tom: One strange saw? One strange discharge of electricity?
He didn't dream that night...at least, not that he could remember.
Crow: However, all was explained in the morning as he removed bramble
and various grasses from his person.
A few fragments of images from real life--memories of friends
and family--danced across his brain before fading into oblivion.
Tom: Poor guy, they didn't take long...
Crow: So, Skyler *didn't remember* dreaming... theoretically, his
family and friends were present in his mind during the night...
does this mean they totally unremarkable like Skyler, or there
was nothing to remember?
Mike: Don't worry about it, Crow... it'll only end in ruin.
He awoke to the sound of a gentle but persistent tapping.
Crow: "Sssssskyler... Open the sssshadessss..."
For a moment he stared up at the ceiling. Then the events of
yesterday
Tom (Skyler): "Death from above? Naah, too predictable..."
came back rushing all at once.
Tom: Oh, okay... if the fic insists... SURGE!!
Crow: "Next stop... Juuban!"
Mike (Usagi): "I'm late! I'm late! I'm late for a very important
date! Outta my way!!!"
He gasped briefly, then realized he'd better answer the knocking.
Mike: ...with a good 92 octane.
"Be right with you!" Skyler shouted. Apparently, he'd had enough
sleep to get rested. He rolled out of the top bunk,
Crow: ...bounced twice, and ended up underneath kissing the dust
bunnies underneath the bed.
enjoying the sensation of landing lightly on his feet. He hadn't
done that in years! Still no other clothes, but the uniform still
looked clean...and pressed. Weird. Skyler pulled on the trousers and
shirt.
Tom: ...and nothing else.
Mike: Tom!
Tom: Well, the fic did have a chance to explain...
He walked over and opened the door.
Mike: "Hello, Skyler, have you thought about the benefits of letting
Our Church of St. Ukyou the Martyred into your life?"
Tom (Skyler): "NO!"
"Good morning!" Anthy was cheerful as always. Definitely a
morning person. "Did you sleep well?"
Crow (Skyler): "Well, the authors said I dreamt about my friends and
family... however, I don't remember a thing. I'm so
confused..."
"Ohayou! I slept fine, thanks. I appreciate your waking me.
And you?"
Tom (Anthy): "Once you finally finished raiding the refrigerator..."
"Oh, fine. Breakfast is ready downstairs if you want it. Oh, and
I left a towel and some soap and shampoo in your closet in case you
need them. The boys' bathroom is just down the hall."
Mike (Anthy): "Notice it's different than the girls' bathroom."
Crow (Skyler): "The 'Like-Me' attack won't help here, eh?"
Mike (Anthy): "If it helps any... Chuchu is trained to bite. Hard."
She bowed slightly. "I've got to finish Utena-sama's bentou now.
Call me if you need anything."
Tom (Skyler): "How about my back washed?"
Mike (Anthy): "Keep dreaming, Scapula"
Skyler found the bath supplies, and quickly determined where the
boys' bathroom was.
Tom: So therefore, progress has been made
Mike: Characters grow, and realize...
Crow: Uhh, Skyler, the sink doesn't double for a toilet.
Tom: Well, Lord knows we tried...
He luxuriated in a nice hot shower, with no interruptions. "Well,
of course, no other men in the building. Might as well enjoy it
while it lasts."
Crow: And I don't think he minds the girl that picks up after him
either...
As he toweled off, Skyler admired himself in the mirror. "Not bad
at all..."
Tom: You know Mike, I'm not sure I like the direction that this is
taking...
Then he noticed a small detail that had escaped him in the dim
reflection he'd studied yesterday.
Crow: Aaahhh! Bad mental images!!
Tom: Fic! Have you no decency?
Mike: He was actually looking at that *outside* yesterday?
Crow: Tom, there's your answer for the "Skyler Treatment"... applied
too far... *uggh*!
"I don't have any *pupils*?! How do I *see*?
Mike: Phew, just a false alarm guys...
Tom: You don't know how relieved this makes me.
Wait, if I remember my `Alien Biology' essays, it'd just filter
out light of the same color. No, then I'd see my eyes as entirely
black. Weird."
Mike: "'Alien Biology' essays"?
Tom: *chuckling* "And so the reason that Klingons have bony ridges
is that in ancient times, they had to evolve coathooks to please
their masters, the Ewoks..."
He looked a bit closer. "No, wait, there they are. Just a slightly
darker blue than the irises. Still weird."
Crow: o/~ "I don't want the world to see me.... cuz' I don't think
that they'd understand..." o/~
Mike: Sooner or later, it's over....
After finishing dressing
Mike: ...the sun was almost completely down, and the stars were
coming out for another fantastic night.
Crow: Another fantastic night of SOLID CONVERSATION!
Tom: At that point, I'd hire Cloud Strife to do more than 'bonk
on the head'...
(creases in the jacket as if it'd been freshly pressed, and he
didn't remember Anthy going near it...) Skyler went down to
breakfast.
Tom: Breakfast that day involved equal parts raw squid and Corn
Flakes
Crow (Anthy): "Tastes better with milk!"
It was as sumptuous as the supper the night before, a mixture of
Japanese and Western cuisine, including rice, toast, orange juice,
tea, some sort of soup, eggs
Mike: ...cold pizza, veal, green onions, sashimi, an assortment of
imported liquors and spirits,...
and a variety of other stuff. Far too much for two people and a
monkey-thing, though Chuchu was doing its level best to demolish its
meal.
Tom (Chuchu): "Okay good sir, put the bulldozer in gear."
Anthy appeared to have already eaten. [I guess Utena must be one
of those "bottomless pit" types.] Skyler had a prodigious appetite
(for a normal person), but he'd soon had his fill.
Mike: Hmm... well... prosaic, peaceful, all in all just another
day...
Tom: Yep... day after life-sucking day here in Higashi-kan...
Crow: Hey guys, check it out... Skyler's already hallucinating.
Mike: How?
Crow: He called himself "normal".
"My compliments to the chef."
Tom (Anthy): "My new helper C-Ko will be more than happy to hear
that!"
Mike (Skyler): "Uh-oh... do you have any ipecac?"
Tom (Anthy): "No, why?"
Mike (Skyler): "Well, it's coming up sooner or later..."
"Thank you," said Himemiya-san in her pleasant but inscrutable
tone. [I'll have to cook something nice for her sometime.
Crow (Skyler): "Maybe franks and beans..."
Wonder if rhubarb is in season?] thought Skyler as Anthy cleared the
table.
Tom: One good poisoning deserves another, eh?
Mike: No, Tom, that's still our plot.
Tom: Oh yeah...
Once again, he barely managed to help with the dishes.
Crow: Once again, Skyler escaped almost certain inevitability of
work! Give him a round of applause, folks!
"Do you mind if I walk with you to the school?"
"No, I don't mind. Everything is ready." She gathered up a book
bag and two bentou boxes, and they left.
Mike: And I was almost beginning to think that they ordered delivery
on some action...
Tom: Whew... How long was Skyler there?
Crow: According to the fic, or according to real time?
Tom: How about both?
Crow: Well, the fic says one day... but the clock on the wall says
it's now the thirteenth...
The morning air smelled fresh after the rain, and Skyler began
humming "Carolina in the Morning". Today should be fun.
Crow: Oh, he just can't wait to stick his grubby paws where they
don't belong, eh?
Tom: I wonder if he took his toys apart as a kid...
The city looked clean and even a bit beautiful after the rain,
Crow: But just a bit!
Tom (English peasant): "Well, she ha' got a wart..."
Mike: Just had to sneak that in there, eh?
with droplets of water still running off the trees and buildings
gleaming with the water trickling down them.
Mike: I can't help but think this town was flooded last night.
Tom: "And now you can see the mass of boats navigating the streets.
Of course, fourteen inches of rain will do this..."
The school and the large hill it topped dominated the landscape--
Mike: "The hill has achieved *complete domination!* Will the
landscape survive?"
the central tower of the main building rose perhaps a full ten
Crow: Rose... because it's Utena... heehee, I crack me up.
stories above the school, maybe even more, making it the highest
landmark visible, perhaps even the highest part of the city.
Mike: And, coincidentally, where the ark that had mysteriously shown
up was precariously balanced...
More students started filtering in from the surrounding streets
as the school grew closer,
Tom: ...and closer, the school finally obliterating the sun and
making demands upon the people.
Crow: "MORE FUNDING! I NEED MORE FUNDING!!"
in twos and threes
Mike: o/~ "The ants were marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah..."
Crow: A musical interlude, but not of Dave Matthews.
most likely making their way from other dorms in the area. More
than a few, he realized, were
Tom: ...waiting for him to enter their range, as they had loaded
extra ammunition this morning...
looking surprisedly at him and Anthy, and staring a bit (until they
realized he noticed) or talking excitedly among themselves.
Mike: "How come we get all the freaks?"
Crow: "Let's snicker-snag on him!"
[Must be because I'm new, and probably obviously a foreigner.
New kids always get this kind of treatment.]
Crow: "Probably obviously a foreigner"?
Mike: Sort of like saying the ocean is probably wet...
"It's a beautiful morning, isn't it?" he prompted Anthy.
Tom (Skyler): "C'mon, learn your lines already! I don't want to
have to carry this whole production on my acting ability alone!"
"Yes, it is." There was a long silence.
Mike (Anthy): "There, I said it. Now it's your turn."
"I'm originally from Gunntown, Minnesota. It's a small town up
near the Canadian border. And yourself?"
"I've always lived around here," she replied. Another long
pause.
Tom: Wow... stuff they didn't cover last night?
Crow: Looks like Anthy cares about as much as we do...
Mike: Well, guys, when was the last time a self-insertist went out of
his way to blame a whole town for his misdeeds?
"What are the winters like?"
"They're nice." Pause.
Tom: I vote for *fast forward*.
Crow (Skyler): "Well, what are the summers like?"
Mike (Anthy): "Also nice."
Crow (Skyler): "How about springtime?"
Mike (Anthy): "It's okay."
Crow (Skyler): "For heaven's sake, woman, give me something to work
with!"
"At home it got down to fifty below Fahrenheit, not sure what
that is in Celcius..." Himemiya-san didn't take the bait.
Tom: Summarily dejected, Skyler decided that worms weren't
appropriate bait anymore, and he decided to move on to frogs...
[Okay, not a science enthusiast...]
Crow: I bet she'd *love* to hear your Alien Biology essay though...
"Do I talk too much?" he asked as they got to the school walls.
Mike: Sounds pretty obvious...
Crow: Zing!
There was no response. Skyler glanced over his shoulder towards
Anthy...only she wasn't there.
Crow: She was collapsed on the ground, thirty paces back... the sheer
boredom of dealing with Skyler Sands overwhelmed the poor
girl...
He blinked. He was doing a lot of that lately.
Tom: I would certainly hope so!
Crow: I wonder if it made that cool squishy sound that blinking in
anime seems to have...
[That's odd...I don't think I said anything to scare her off. Where
could she...?]
Crow (Skyler): o/~ "Where, oh where, could my little Anthy be?"
There.
Mike: Oh, of course... didn't look *there* yet...
Tom (Skyler): "Always in the *last place*..."
Three girls were standing around Himemiya-san, keeping her back to
one of the pillars of the wall of arches surrounding the school.
Tom (Girl): "If you're going to hang out with that loser, consider
yourself out of our club forever!"
The central one he recognized--it was the girl with the two
ponytails he'd seen at the kangaroo incident the day before.
Crow: Yes, the kangaroo 'incident'...
Tom: Poor man... already trying to block the memories out...
After a moment he placed the other two as the girls who'd been with
her cleaning up the recording equipment yesterday.
Tom: Her whom? Anthy, or the girl with two ponytails?
"You've caused a lot of trouble, do you know that?" the girl with
the ponytails said indignantly.
Mike (Girl): "You're not supposed to be nice to SI's! They're only
going to mess your life up!"
"I'm sorry..." Anthy said quietly, looking at the ground in
humility and shame.
Tom: ...and fear and personal reticence and...
"Sorry? Sorry? You think saying you're sorry can make up for
nearly getting Touga-sama killed?
Mike: Killed? Gee, it certainly didn't look like he was in danger...
Crow: What, is the Japanese kangaroo poisonous?
Tom: Maybe its BO knocks more out than its punches...
For making his sister miserable?" The girl glared at Anthy for a
moment, and then...
Crow: ...burst into song!
Mike (Swamp Castle lord): "No, you're not going to do that while I'm
here! No singing!"
Tom: Mike!
Mike: I gave in. So sue me.
*SLAP*
Mike (Genma): "I'd say that she has spunk. That makes a fiancee even
more cute."
Crow (Ranma): "Cute is not the word... Aaah!"
Anthy fell to the ground, clutching her cheek. The three girls
looked down on her with vicious satisfaction.
Crow: And then they started kicking her while she was down! Beating
her to within an inch of her life, taking breaths away with
each and every kick, over and over, and...
Mike: Okay little buddy, I think that's about enough...
Bile rose in Skyler's throat.
Tom (Skyler): "If only Anthy had told me that C-ko made today's
breakfast... yuck..."
This kind of scene was all too familiar to him, though he'd usually
played the victim's role.
Mike: Skyler was repeatedly slapped by girls and laughed over?
Crow: "What a pansy! I don't even need my older brother for this
job!"
Tom: "This guy's a waste of time... and he was even in the military,
too... boy, they let *anyone* sign up, don't they?"
He choked back his first impulse.
Mike (Skyler): "I will keep breakfast down... I will keep
breakfast down..."
[I will *not* hit a girl. I will *not*.]
"She *said* that she was sorry. Violence was uncalled for," he
said, in as level a voice as he could manage.
Crow (Girl): "Oh, yeah? Well, you're next!"
Mike (Skyler): "Aaaah! Ouch, that hurts!"
'Bots (as girls): "Hahaha! That was almost too easy!"
"Who--?" replied the pony-tailed girl.
"Skyler Gregory Sands, at your service." He made a slight bow.
Tom: Then, taking that same piece of silk, made a knot with it.
"It seems to me that Touga-sempai had matters well in hand
yesterday. I don't think he'd like hearing that you have so little
faith in his abilities."
Mike (Girl): "Oh yeah? Well, Japanese kangaroos beat up his folks
and took his house!"
Joel: Rogue gangs of kangaroos, canvassing the land known as Japan...
The girls smirked as they all turned to face him. "Well,
`Sukairaa Guregorii Sanzu'," the pony-tailed girl replied, stressing
the name mockingly, "it seems to *me* that
Crow (girl): "...you should choose another consonant, and be quick
about it!"
you'd do better to stay out of things that don't concern you." She
looked at his face critically.
Tom (girl): "Don't you think you should Oxy-cute them?"
Crow (girl): "Hey! Skyler, we're up *here*! Hentai!"
"I haven't seen you around here before. You don't even have any
idea who you're dealing with, do you?"
Mike: Three girls, with massive attitude problems... hmm...
Tom: Maybe Charlie's Angels? Japanese division?
Crow: With all the pratfalls, you'd have thought they were the female
"Three Stooges"...
"I'm just dying to be enlightened," he growled.
Tom (Skyler): "Grr-rowlf! Ruff ruff!"
Crow: Oh, no! It must be the full moon! Get the silver bullets!
The girl rested one hand on her hip arrogantly. "Sonoda Keiko."
Mike: Uh oh, they're getting into the posing...
Tom: So this one kicks...
"Wakiya Aiko," the tallest one, with long black hair that curled
outwards at the end, added as she folded her arms.
Crow: Make it stop, Mike!
Mike: Sorry little buddy... gotta stick with it.
Tom: And this one is wacky...
"Oose Yuuko." This one's auburn hair reminded him a little of
Nabiki's, only with more body and curving in a bit more.
Mike (Skyler): "There's more body on this... fourteen-year-old..."
Tom: And this one oozes! Okay, I think I got they're powers
straight!
"Together," Keiko went on, "we are the darlings of the junior high
and high school social scenes,
Crow (Keiko): "The ones who get elected representative in Student
Councils, decorate for the dances, and always get punch first!"
Tom (Keiko): "The ones who get drunk at the frat parties and wake up
with a screaming hangover and... oh, wait. That's our secret...
tee hee!"
the face of terror to those who oppose us, the undisputed masters of
all we survey..."
Mike (Keiko): "We are the terrors that flap in the night! We are
the sales taxes that never are accounted for! We are..."
Crow: Okay, Mike...
[Must...restrain...urge to giggle...Guess they have Sailor Moon
cartoons in this reality too.]
Tom: But does this reality run concurrently with Sailor Moon? In
which continuity would it be in? How would the characters know
each other! I WANT TO KNOW!
"Really?"
The three girls froze with terror at the deceptively mild-
sounding voice. Their heads slowly swiveled around, as if afraid of
what they might see.
'Bots (girls): "Oh, hello Incredible... ah, She-Hulk... perchance,
did you see which way Anthy went?"
Nanami's violet gaze met theirs coolly and impassively.
"Why, pray tell, was I never informed of this?"
Mike (Keiko): "You didn't get the memo yet! Now get my homework
done!"
Crow: Yes, the new "popularity by incoherent business practices"
phase...
she continued in the sort of quiet, restrainedly pleasant tone that
strongly implies that you *don't* want to see the speaker grow
unpleasant.
Crow: Would that be the same voice that implies forceps and pain at
the same time?
"N-n-nanami-sama!" Keiko stammered. "I-I'm so sorry! We didn't
mean...!"
"I'm sure you didn't," Nanami replied evenly. "Be *glad* I'm
sure. Now, don't you three have to get to class now?"
Tom (Oose): "No, actually we'd prefer to stick around here and keep
having fun with our friend Anthy here..."
Mike (Keiko): "Shut *up*, Oose..."
The girls barely needed prompting.
Tom: I thought they were just prompted.
Crow: No, Tom... if they were prompted, it'd look like this. 'c:\'
Tom: Oh. Got it.
They were racing off in equal parts terror and relief almost before
she'd finished the sentence.
Crow (Keiko): "Uhh, we have to... find another kangaroo! For Touga
to beat up! Yeah, that's it! Later!"
Skyler watched them go for a moment, then turned back to Anthy.
Mike (Skyler): "Wanna start where we left off?"
Crow (Anthy): "Oose... Keiko... Wakiya! Wait for me!"
Nanami was already crouching beside her, helping gather her bentous
and the books. "I'm *so* sorry about that," Nanami said
apologetically, though with a bright smile. "You aren't hurt, are
you?"
Tom (Anthy): "Well, they didn't have to snicker-snag on me *quite*
that hard..."
"No, I'm fine," Anthy replied with a soft smile as Nanami helped
her to her feet.
Crow (Nanami): "Now, let me check you thoroughly for any injuries.
We can't be too careful..."
Skyler bowed again. "Thank you for defusing that...scene. I'm
Skyler Sands, a transfer student."
Tom (Nanami): "Oh! Hey, I think Anthy warned me about you earlier
this morning!"
Mike (Skyler): "Word must be spreading fast about my 'suaveness'..."
Tom (Nanami): "Heehee... no, acutally, she said you'd talk our ears
off with such mundane drivel we'll want to hire mercenaries
too!"
Mike (Skyler): "Oh. I'm supposed to have a sweatdrop now, right?"
Tom (Nanami): "Well, it is convention..."
Nanami made sure that Anthy was able to stand on her own, then
returned the bow.
Crow (Nanami): "It's okay, Skyler. I already have a bow."
"I'm Kiryuu Nanami, Junior High First Year. Pleased to meet you!"
She was quite cute, Skyler noted as he really looked at her for the
first time,
Tom: So first he was noticing the 'body' on a fourteen-year-old, now
he is judging the pulchritude of a twelve-year-old?
Mike: Say what you want, but it looks like he is a natural at this
self-insertion thing now...
Crow: He's trying to pick the woman he wants to rule 'Utena' with...
Tom: Girl, you mean.
Crow: Of course.
with a brilliant smile and a curious hairstyle-- a braid wrapped
around the top of her head like a headband, lightly restraining her
long blonde locks.
Mike (Nanami): "Uhh, Skyler, I'm down here..."
Tom (Skyler): "Oh, okay..."
Mike (Nanami): "Not that far. Hentai."
"Nanami...I think I know that one, it means `Seven Beauties',
right?" He traced the kanji in the air with his finger. [Thank
you, El Hazard.]
She smiled fetchingly, with just a hint of a blush.
Mike: I wonder if anyone's tried to flirt with her before...
Crow: Either that or Skyler's 'Like-Me' attack is working
swimmingly...
"Yes, it does. You seem to know your kanji quite well, Sands-
sempai."
He felt a bit of a burn in his own cheeks. "The s-simple ones,
anyway.
Tom (Anthy): "Hey! What about me! You know, the girl who was
getting tortured before?"
"And that would make your brother Kiryuu Touga, yes?" He was
rewarded with a nod.
Mike: As Skyler felt his blush deepen, and finally turned even his
nose fully red...
Tom: At this point, he fully resembles a fire hydrant... doesn't he?
Crow (Skyler): "Huh, she's nodding... she must like me!"
"A very impressive fellow, from what I saw yesterday. I'm not
surprised he has a fan club. A little too enthusiastic, though."
Tom: Who's he to pass judgment on Touga?!
Crow: I have a feeling Skyler's angling to be the next on the fight
card...
Nanami nodded, the smile slipping slightly. "Yes, indeed. I
have to apologize for their behavior...
Mike (Nanami): "By this time, I thought they'd be competent enough to
just go after lunch money..."
Tom (Nanami): "And I told them that the first line they say is 'Is
it not the custom to give one's own name first?'..."
they really should know better by now."
"Are they always like that?"
Mike (Nanami): "Well, on good days they remember their
Shakespeare..."
Nanami sighed wistfully. "They're really very nice girls
underneath--
Crow: ...all their clothes?
Mike: And the sexual orientations of another character are
revealed...
Tom (Skyler): "Is the whole school like this? It was bad enough
when I had to compete with the jocks, but against other girls?"
it's just that they seem to have this strange urge to prove
themselves by picking on the weak from time to time.
Tom (Nanami): "Why in hell they didn't go after you I haven't the
slightest idea..."
And Himemiya-sempai is such a sweet person, she wouldn't even hurt a
fly, much less try to stand up for herself..." She shook her head
sadly, then glanced up towards the school suddenly.
Mike (Nanami): "Well, ready for some fast times at Ohtori High?"
"Oh, we'd better get moving if we want to get to class," Nanami
reminded.
Mike: And we'd better get going, this has been a long haul...
Crow: Take us away, Nel-sahn!
_______
Three parts down, one to go! Stay tuned to see how Skyler does at
school, and the hijinks that ensue! Check it out, you made it this
far! ^_^
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