Modu annyoung,

And here's the last side of Part 6.  Nice to leave it
off on a cliffhanger, eh?  Enjoy!

Fred


=====
<P><STRONG><EM><FONT face="Courier New">Fred Herriot AKA P'yeknu OR Gorgo</FONT></EM></STRONG></P>
<P>**** **** ****</P>
<P><A href="mailto:fherriot@yahoo.com">fherriot@yahoo.com</A></P>
<P>**** **** ****</P>
<P><A href="http://www.livejournal.com/~pyeknu/">http://www.livejournal.com/~pyeknu/</A></P>

______________________________________________________________________ 
Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca

-- Attached file included as plaintext by Ecartis --
-- File: LoneS-06C.txt
-- Desc: LoneS-06C.txt

     "Bweee...?"

     "Oh, I do hope Ryouga-sama is alright," Akari Unryuu muses,
holding the parasol close to her as Katsunishiki lumbers down the 
street in the general direction of Nerima.  Seeing the pig, most 
passers-by stop and gawk; even for a haven of weirdness like 
Tomobiki, looking at such a massive animal dressed in the formal
loincloth of a sumotori was, simply, unique.  "I just can't BELIEVE
the others would do something like that to him!  And when he was a 
piglet himself?!  Can you, Katsunishiki?"

     The pig grunts an affirmative, inwardly grateful that he 
couldn't talk so he wouldn't be forced to explain his brothers'
actions to his beloved mistress.  Much that any of the rikibuta
belonging to the Unryuu beya would never think of intentionally
upsetting Akari, what some of the younger ones had sensed about their
mistress' mate some days back HAD to be redressed in the harshest
way possible.  It was simple logic, after all.

     A happy mistress meant a happy beya and happy rikibuta.

     An upset -- worse, a HEARTBROKEN! -- mistress...!

     Katsunishiki tries not to sigh as Akari guides him onto the main
street leading out of Tomobiki into Nerima.  Taking the turn, the 
giant pig deeply inhales, then stops, his eyes widening.  Akari 
jolts, then gazes down at her prized champion.  "Is there something
wrong?!"

     Katsunishiki lowers his head to the tarmac.  His snout flares
as a familiar scent registers deep in his mind.  Turning around -- an
impressive feat on a sidewalk framed by a busy street and someone's
fence line for an animal as big as a small truck -- the sumo pig 
begins to trace the scent down the street.  "Oh, you got 
Ryouga-sama's scent!" Akari beams, patting her champion's neck.  
"Must be recent, then!!  Find him, Katsunishiki!"

     He oinks in the affirmative as they head downtown...

*    *    *

"Lonely Souls"
by Fred Herriot
fherriot@yahoo.com
**** **** ****
Based on "Urusei Yatsura" and "Ranma 1/2" created by Rumiko 
Takahashi; and "Sister Princess," created by Naoto Tenhiro and 
Sakurako Kimino.  This story is set after the end of the "UY" and 
"Ranma" manga series.
**** **** ****

NOTE:  The writer's notes are at the end of the Prologue.

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

THE SIXTH PART, "C" SIDE - REALITY'S SURPRISES

     After school...

     "Eh?!  They used a neuralizer to make us stop chasing 
Ataru-kun?!"

     Shinobu stares wide-eyed at Minako Sawada as the two step 
through the front gates of Tomobiki High.  "Hai, they did," the 
rose-haired Avalonian nods.  "I can understand why, though.  From 
what I sensed, some of the *boys* in our class..." -- one could coat
a street with the scorn dripping from her voice -- "...were about
to ask some pretty ugly questions about that girl.  And in front of 
Ataru-kun's DAUGHTERS, too?!"

     Shinobu takes that in, then shudders.  "I suppose I could see 
that.  Most of the boys in our class can be such pigs at times!"

     "So I can sense whenever I'm close to any of them.  Tomomi-chan
and Kyooko-chan sense it as well," Minako's eyes roll, then a 
thoughtful look crosses her face.  "Still, I think this whole 
business with Lum might do some of those guys a load of good.  After
all, there ARE loads of nice girls in the school.  And with Lum 
'dead,' so to speak..."

     She makes finger-quotes with her hands.  "True," Shinobu nods,
then perks on seeing a familiar cat-ghost walking in her direction,
a small boy presently perched on his back.  "Ah, Kotatsuneko-san!!"
she waves.

     Minako looks, then slows down, a curious sensation surging
through her as her eyes lock on the boy.  "What the hell...?"

     "What is it?" Shinobu gazes on her new friend.

     "That's an Avalonian he's carrying!!"

     "WHAT?!!"

     "Ah, Shinobu-chan!!  Hi!!!"

     Shinobu spins back, peering intently at the boy.  Wait a 
minute...!  Why, didn't he look somewhat like...?  "Ten?!" she gapes.

     Kotatsuneko nods as he ducks his head, allowing Ten to leap off
his back and into Shinobu's outstretched arms.  Laughing, the two 
share a warm embrace before Ataru's former girlfriend gives the young
boy a careful once-over.  "So they had to disguise you, eh?!" she 
takes in Ten's black hair, brown eyes and lack of horn-bud, fanged
teeth and pointed ears.

     "Well, according to Lu-..." he quickly catches himself, 
blushing.  "Sorry!  According to Seiko-chan, my old body kinda was 
ready to bite the dust when I was teleported here.  Lucky for me that
Hinako-neechan had her Bou-san with her to give me this new body,"
he points to himself.

     Shinobu's eyes start to spiral.  "Wait, wait!  Slow down, Ten!!"
she cuts in.  "What are you talking about?!  What happened to you?!"

     "Oh, it was the Ip'ihu!" Ten waves her down.  "They're real bad
Noukiites who don't like Urusians at ALL!!  Anyhow, they attacked
my ship near Toshitto, but four friends of Nassur-chan rescued me, 
then brought me here to get Ataru's help to fix me up!  So we 
teleported here through the Tritonians' Central Warp Chamber, then
Seiko-chan and Sakiko-chan show up, then Ataru and some of his 
sisters show up, along with Jay-san and Kay-san, too!  Hinako-neechan
uses Bou-san to give me my new body and...!!"

     "Ten, Ten, stop for a moment!!" Shinobu laughs.

     The Urusian-turned-Avalonian/Terran
gazes nonplussed at her, then scratches the back of his head.  
"S-s-sorry about that, Shinobu-chan!" he flusters.  "I kinda forgot
that you don't know a lot of things!!"

     "Well, no matter what, you're here and you're safe," Minako
gives Ten a warm squeeze of the shoulder.  "That matters more, ne?"

     Ten gazes at her, then blinks.  "Hey, you're an Avalonian,
too!!"

     "Second-generation; my dad's Terran," Minako holds out her hand.

     "Uh...!  Oh, right!" Ten shakes her hand as introductions
are made.

     "How do you know about the Avalonians, Ten-chan?" Shinobu asks
as they make their way down the street, Kotatsuneko falling in behind
them.

     "Other than I am one now?" Ten asks, then giggles.  "Well, just
before the Ip'ihu attacked my ship, I met four of them.  They're
replicas of Lum-chan -- her name's Hensou -- Lan-chan -- she's Damasu
-- Benten-chan -- that's Kamen -- and Oyuki-chan -- she goes by 
Mienai.  That dork Oogi -- do you know about Oogi, Shinobu-chan?"
he asks.  Seeing her nod, he carries on.  "Well, Oogi made them on 
special order for Nassur-chan.  He's an old friend of Lum-chan's;
he taught her how to use her powers some years back.  Anyhow, they
were all mentally linked to their templates to ensure they could,
if they had to, step in and take their places in case one of 
Nassur-chan's enemies tried to go after them.  But after Oni-...!"

     "They were living TARGETS?!!" Minako gapes at him.

     Ten ducks.  "W-well, Nassur-chan didn't know they were 
bioroids!!" he waves his hands peacefully.  "He couldn't sense their
brainwaves and he couldn't scan 'em with a tricorder, so all he could
think of them was that they were androids, like the ones the 
Zeiwanites make...!"

     Shinobu gazes curiously at Minako.  The older Avalonian has an 
intent look on her face.  "Where are those girls now, Ten?" Minako
asks.

     "Oh, they're with Seiko-chan, Sakiko-chan and the others now at
their apartment," Ten points down the street.  "Everything's
okay with them, if that's what you're really worried about, 
Minako-chan.  Hinako-neechan used Bou-san to make them all look human
and all that."

     Minako gazes at him, then sensing his honesty, nods.  "That's
good."

     "I take it using Avalonians as expendable bodyguards was 
something the Niphentaxians did with your people," Shinobu notes.

     "Many times.  According to Mom, that is," Minako nods.

     "Gomen ne, Minako-chan," Shinobu squeezes her shoulder.

     "Oh, hey, it's cool!" Minako reaches up to give her friend's
hand a reassuring squeeze, then stares ahead.  "Let's just hope that
with the factory in orbit over Earth, my mom's people aren't 
suffering anymore."

     "With the Church of Lum all but gone?" Ten blinks.  "Count on 
it."

     Shinobu perks.  "What do you mean, Ten-chan?"

     "That's part of what Ataru's been doing since we left Tomobiki,"
the young boy assures her.  "Other than helping the Noukiites
fight our people, not to mention him adopting those two Noukiite
girls..."

     Ataru's former girlfriend gapes, then looks nowhere in 
particular.  "He actually FOUGHT with the Noukiites...?"
she whispers, then shakes her head in futile denial.  "I know he's
very sympathetic to their cause and all that -- he practically
told us that on Saturday, just after Lum and Lan came back to Earth!
-- but to actually FIGHT with the Noukiites...!!"

     "He had no choice."

     The girls look at Ten.  "What do you mean, Ten-chan?" Minako
asks.

     The young boy turns his eyes ashamedly away from the older 
women.  "Ataru's grandmamma was killed by an Urusian during the first
Tag Race."

     Silence.

     "Jesu Cristo...!" Shinobu pales.

     "Did he tell you that?!" Minako gapes.

     Ten sniffs.  "He told Seiko-chan.  Sakiko-chan overheard
him, then t-told me," he sniffs again, wiping his eyes.  "It's no 
wonder he's so mad now!  Why'd they go and do that to his grandmamma,
anyway...?"

     He curls in on himself, clinging close to Shinobu as gentle
sobs take away his voice.  Gazing on Ten, Ataru's ex-girlfriend
quakes, then offers a silent prayer to the soul of the late 
Nagaiwakai Moroboshi as she comforts the young boy.  A warm hand 
squeezes her shoulder.  She perks, then smiles at Minako as they turn
a corner towards a row of multi-floor townhouses.  Shinobu, like the
others who knew the truth about what happened to Lum and Lan, had 
been told where Yukimi Kitahara's apartment block was located.

     Speaking of which, the mistress of said apartment block is busy
emptying her mail box as Shinobu, Minako, Ten and Kotatsuneko
approach.  "Oh, Shinobu-sama, konnichi wa," Yukimi grins before her
dark hazel eyes lock on Minako.  "Who...?!" those eyes suddenly
widen as her psi-senses confirm what the rose-haired girl actually
is.  "Oh, Fates..."

     Minako tries not to burn with embarrassment as the other 
Avalonian gazes intently at her.  "Ah...!  Um, h-hello...!"
she faintly waves.

     Yukimi turns to Shinobu.  "Shinobu-sama, do you realize 
that...?!"

     "Minako-chan's an Avalonian," Shinobu chuckles.  "Hai, I learned
that when I met her yesterday morning.  Um, is Seiko here...?"

     In answer, one of the upper floor windows opens, revealing
a dark-haired Urusian-turned-Nendo-kata/Terran.
"Konnichi wa, Shinobu!" Seiko waves, leaning on the windowsill.
"Thanks for bringing Ten-chan back!"

     Shinobu sighs.  "Seiko, we've really GOT to have a long talk 
about Ataru-kun!" she returns the other girl's look...

*    *    *

     "AH-CHOO!!!"

     "Bless you, Onii-chan!  Are you alright?!"

     Ataru moans, rubbing his nose.  "Oh, someone's talking about
me, I bet," he mutters under his breath before nodding thanks to 
Karen, then he turns to Rinrin.  "Okay, Rinrin-chan, how're we going
to do all this?  And will it all be ready by Sunday afternoon
when we go back to the Island?"

     "Oh, this is easy stuff, Aniki!!" the teen inventor waves him 
down, then points to her computer screen.  "Here's what we'll do..."

     The others crowd around the table as Rinrin points out details.
"Now, Jonna-san and Orin-san don't want to take up too much room,
so we'll just expand Hinako-chan's and Aria-chan's rooms three metres
without adding the extra wings.  In Aria-chan's case..." she points
to the diagram of the second floor, "...all this'll do is fill in the
space right above Aniki's and Aneki's bedroom, counter-clockwise
from where Reiko-chan and Kaneko-chan'll be living.  Hinako-chan's
new space'll form a foundation for the expanded room on the third
floor connecting into Yotsuba-chan's space."

     "Are you sure that'll be more than enough room for the both of 
you?" Marie gazes concernedly at Jonna and Orin.

     Miree's daughters nod.  "We don't have much with us in the first
place, Marie-sama, so it'll do," Jonna answers.  "Besides, it keeps
us close to Hinako-sama and Aria-sama.  What more could we ask for?"

     The others smirk.  Rinrin slides her finger to the diagram
of the rotunda's third floor.  "Anyhow, for Himiko-san and 
Mikiko-san, what we'll do is take the spare bedroom beside mine, then
in part, repeat what we're now planning for Yotsuba-chan's
space.  The main floor'll wrap clockwise around the boy's furo room
and sit right atop Aria-chan's and Orin-san's expanded space, plus
part of the twins' bedroom.  As for Miree-san, we'll give her a new
bedroom on the fourth floor level, located right over the stairwell
to the main floor.  Is that okay with you, Miree-san?"

     "A private loft, you mean?" the Hollywoodite priestess blinks,
then nods.  "Yes, that sounds rather cozy, Rinrin-chan.  I'll take
it."

     "Are you sure we can do all these changes, Rinrin-chan?"
Ranma asks.  "I mean, even if this place is modular in 
construction...?"

     "Oh, relax, Aneki!" Rinrin waves her down.  "As long as we don't
go too far over the tip of the rotunda, we'll be fine.  Besides,
it keeps us all together IN the rotunda.  If we couldn't do this,
that means all of you..." her eyes fall on Miree, her daughters
and the two survivors of last week's bombing at Tomobiki High, 
"...would have to live in the commons."

     "That's the main part of Welcome House, right?" Himiko wonders.

     "Yeah, it is," Rinrin tries not to groan.  "Whoever built that
part of the place didn't really put some careful thought into things
like phone lines, the furos, kitchens and all that.  Ne, 
Shirayuki-chan, you remember the first time you went into the kitchen
by the lobby?"

     The mauve-haired chef blanches.  "Hime NEVER wants to think of 
that horrible place ever again!!" she pats her heart.

     "I remember seeing that shortly after I met you girls," Ataru
shakes his head, then glances at Ranma.  "Cripes, I was tempted
to knock the whole damn building down and have them rebuild the 
place."

     "That bad?" the martial artist asks.

     "Think of Kasumi-san's kitchen after Akane got through with it 
the first time she tried to cook for you..." -- a dramatic pause -- 
"...then magnify the damage to the tenth degree!  You'll get the idea
then."

     Ranma winces, then stares at Shirayuki.  "Shirayuki-chan,
you make VERY damn sure Akane doesn't go into your kitchen when those
guys move to the Island full-time, okay?" she wags a warning finger
at the chef.

     "Hime'll remember, Nee-sama," Shirayuki nods, then sighs.  
"Still, Hime is a little worried about Kasumi-san..."

     "Why's that?" Sakuya asks.

     "Well, Kasumi-san has been cooking for her family for all these
years, Sakuya-chan," Shirayuki shrugs.  "She might not like the idea
of being forced to sit in the dining room when Hime cooks..."

     "Whoa!  Hold on for a moment, Shirayuki-chan!" Ranma holds up a 
hand.  "First of all, we're doing this to help Kasumi BREAK AWAY from
slaving for her family all the time.  There's a big difference
between cooking because you love to cook and cooking because you feel
it's your duty to your family to cook!  Ever since her mom died, all
Kasumi's ever really done is cook and clean after the others in her
family.  She never really LIKED doing all that stuff, especially
when you figure out how lazy her stupid old man was!  YOU, on the 
other hand..." she points to the chef, "...cook because you enjoy
and LOVE to cook.  We all notice it, Shirayuki-chan."

     "Nee-sama...!" Shirayuki stares wide-eyed at the martial artist.

     "Ane-chama's sure right about that, Shirayuki-chan!"
Yotsuba cuts in.  "Yotsuba noticed it when Kasumi-anechama
made lunch and tea for Yotsuba and Shi-chama.  Even though 
Kasumi-anechama's lunch was pretty checky, Yotsuba thinks it wasn't
checky compared to ANYTHING Shirayuki-chan makes!"

     The chef's cheeks flame.  "Yotsuba-chan..."

     "Hey, hey, girls, go easy on her, huh?!" Ataru quickly cuts in 
to moderate.  "We don't want to butter her up too much now, do we?!"

     "Yes, we DEFINITELY must avoid kimch'i rice puddings in the 
future," Sakuya dramatically points to the ceiling.

     Shirayuki jolts, then sulks.  "Hime hates it whenever everyone
tells Hime about her kimch'i rice puddings!" she humphs.

     Two diminutive hands tug at her skirt.  "Ne, ne, Auntie 
Shirayuki, can we try them?!" Reiko asks as she and Kaneko stare 
hopefully at her.

     Gazing at her nieces, the chef nods.  "Hai desu no!!"

     Everyone laughs...

*    *    *

     "Who is he, Kanami-san?"

     "Ryouga Hibiki, a wandering martial artist from somewhere
close to Tokyo," Kanami Kurosu then holds up a finger.  "That is, I 
*think* he's from somewhere close to Tokyo, Shinobu-sama.
It's hard to tell."

     "Why's that?" Minako asks, then nods thanks as Namie Kashima
pours her a new glass of lemon tea.  "He's not roonin, is he?"

     "Oh, no, no, nothing like that!" Kanami shakes her head, waving
her hand peacefully.  "It's just that he's got the most horrible
sense of direction you could ever imagine.  And it seems to be linked
to some sort of metaphysical teleportational ability.  One minute,
he's visiting his friends in Nerima.  Next minute, he's in Chicago,
then Paris, then..."

     "Talk about being forced to become a Wanderer," Sakiko shudders,
exchanging a knowing look with Seiko before turning back to the 
dark-haired Avalonian.  "How long has this problem been affecting
him, Kanami-chan?"

     "His whole life, Sakiko-sama," Kanami replies.  "Even worse,
his mother and siblings also suffer from this 'directional
curse.'  He hasn't seen any of them, much less his father, for quite
some time now."

     "So why'd you and Tamako-san bring him here?" Shinobu asks.

     People spare a glance through the open door into one of the 
guest bedrooms.  There, lying on a futon, Ryouga sleeps, a damp cloth
folded neatly on his forehead.  His clothes and backpack are now 
undergoing a thorough wash in the apartment's laundry; Hiro Kodama
was keeping an eye on things there.  "I sensed him in the farmer's
market when I was doing some shopping for dinner," Tamako explains.
"I never sensed such levels of depression and loneliness in my life,
Shinobu-sama.  So when Kanami-chan and I gave him a brief mind-scan
to learn what happened to him, we decided the best thing to do was to
bring him here, give him a chance to rest."

     "Is he in trouble?" Seiko asks.

     "No, Seiko-sama, but some days ago, he got himself into a 
terrible fight with his girlfriend's sumo-trained pigs," Tamako 
shrugs.

     Everyone stares wide-eyed at the raven-haired Avalonian.
"Sumo-trained pigs?!" Minako gapes.  "Are you SURE about that?!"

     "Positive," Tamako nods.  "Even more strange, Ryouga-sama
himself has a metamorphic 'curse' that transforms him into a small
piglet when he's exposed to cold water.  Heated water transforms
him back to normal."

     "Can people DO that here?!" Ten asks.

     Recognition then flashes across Shinobu's face.  "Why, that 
sounds an awful lot like the curse Ranma Saotome has!" she declares.

     "Darling's girlfriend?" Sakiko asks, ignoring Seiko's pained
wince.

     Shinobu nods.  "In that case, Ranma-san was able to turn from
a boy to a girl.  Hey, maybe Hibiki-san might even know 
Ranma-sa-...!"

     The front doorbell peals.  Yukimi heads to the window to glance
towards the front gate, then she blinks a couple times.  "You said
that Hibiki-sama was attacked by sumo-trained pigs, Tamako-chan?"

     "Hai, Yukimi-chan, I did.  Why?" Tamako asks.

     "Well, there's a pig outside the front gate now who's about the
same size as Rei-sama's transformed self..." Yukimi points, "...and
it's wearing a sumotori's kesho-mawashi.  And there's a young lady
with it, too!"

     Tamako and Kanami walk over to look themselves.  "That's Akari
Unryuu!" the latter declares.  "She's Ryouga-sama's girlfriend!"

     "I'll let her in," the former heads out...

*    *    *

     Minutes later...

     "So you really have no idea why your pigs attacked Hibiki-san?"

     "Iie," Akari nurses a cup of tea as she sits at the kitchen
table.  Due to his girth, Katsunishiki is forced to remain outside,
though Kanami is now delivering a large salad for the sumo pig to 
snack on.  "I mean, beforehand, all the boys treated Ryouga-sama
so kindly.  It just took me by surprise to see them pounce all over
him when he was transformed..."

     She sips her tea, her voice failing her.  "Well, if what we 
sense of your companion outside is true, your charges love you very
much, Unryuu-san," Yukimi muses.  "Perhaps they got jealous of your
boyfriend...!"

     "JEALOUS?!!" Akari shrieks, bolting to her feet.

     "Many pets have been known to do that for their owners, 
Unryuu-san," Shinobu gives the pig farmer a sympathetic look.

     "I..." Akari stutters, then sighs.  "I never thought of that,
to be honest with you all.  I mean, I have trained them to be fierce
when they step into the dohyo.  It's what they have to do, after all.
But to..."

     Tamako gently squeezes the other woman's shoulders.  "It's 
alright, Akari-sama," the raven-haired Avalonian smiles as she moves
to refill Akari's cup.  "After all, this might be just an isolated
incident."

     Akari gazes on her, then nods.  "I hope so..."

     Kanami steps back into the kitchen.  "Is he hungry?" Yukimi
asks.

     "He's got an appetite," the taller woman chuckles.  "Then again,
I've never dealt with pigs before, especially one the size of a 
truck."  Taking her place at the table, she gazes on Akari.  "Much
that I hate to break this to you, Akari-sama, but there's a problem
with your stable."

     "A disease?" Seiko wonders.

     "Iie," Kanami shakes her head.  "I was just barely able to sense
some of Katsunishiki-san's thoughts when I fed him just now.  He 
knows what made his brothers attack Ryouga-sama.  In fact, he 
supported what happened."

     "What?!!" Akari shrieks, then sensing Tamako's supportive
hand on her shoulder, takes a deep breath before asking, "What 
happened, Kanami-san?!"

     "Simple," the Avalonian replies.  "When Ryouga-sama returned
to your farm some days ago, the pigs sensed the empathic auras of a 
considerable number of young women all over him.  They..." she 
pauses, then shrugs.  "Your stable concluded that those other women,
whoever they were, had tried to seduce Ryouga-sama away from you.  
Thus, they..." another pause.

     "Sought to defend Akari-san's honour from what they perceived
as a very serious threat to her continued happiness," Minako 
completes.

     "Hai."

     Akari pales.  "Ryouga-sama wouldn't..."

     "Oh, no!  Of course he wouldn't!!" Kanami chuckles, giving the
pig farmer a reassuring wave.  "You've got quite the gentleman
as a boyfriend, Akari-sama!  But..." she shrugs.  "Clearly, he 
recently ran into a group of women sometime recently whose empathic
auras are quite overwhelming.  It was feeling THAT which made all 
your rikibuta freak out like they did."

     "They assumed someone was trying to steal Ryouga-kun away from
Akari-chan, you mean," Sakiko then sips her tea before glancing
at Akari.  "I think you've got quite a loyal stable of would-be
samurai, Akari-chan!"

     Akari flusters.  "That's about it," Kanami nods, then perks.
"Eh?"

     "...where'm I...?"

     "Ryouga-sama!!" Akari gasps.

     Eyes turn to the bedroom as Ryouga slowly sits up, automatically
catching the cloth that had been sitting on his forehead.  
Fortunately for the wanderer, Yukimi and her sister Avalonians
had been able to locate some clean pyjamas for him while his clothes
went through the wash.  Opening his eyes, he looks around the strange
room, then turns to the door as Akari races in to glomp him with a 
tear-sprinkled embrace.  "RYOUGA-SAMA!!!"

     The wanderer acks, then stares in disbelief at his would-be
wife before finally sputtering out, "A-a-akari-ch-ch-chan...?!"

     "She just came in a few minutes ago looking for you, 
Ryouga-sama," Tamako stops by the doorway.  "Would you like some 
tea?"

     "I...!" Ryouga moves to answer, then shudders as Akari's 
relieved sobs tear his attention back to the pig farmer.  Staring
at her, the wanderer pauses, then gently wraps his arms around her.
Seeing this, Tamako smiles as she steps out, discretely closing
the door behind her...

*    *    *

     "So can this be done by the weekend?"

     "Oh, quite easy enough, Kasumi-san," Hayato Midorikawa nods as 
he gathers his papers, then loads them into his briefcase.  "I must
confess that it's a terrible shame things had to happen THIS way..."

     "You don't view this as a victory?" the Tendou matriarch
smiles.

     The fiftysomething real estate agent starts, then chuckles.
"Oh, please, don't think of this transaction as THAT, Kasumi-san!"
he closes his briefcase, then gazes at her.  "Yes, I've tried many
times to persuade your father to let go of this property, especially
after your mother's passing.  After all, maintaining a plot of land
like THIS would be a considerable drain on any family's budget,
especially here in Tokyo.  And, even though I am loath to speak of 
this to you, your sister Nabiki HAS engaged in some blatantly
illegal transactions to help your family keep this property..."

     "Well, she won't have to do that anymore," Kasumi notes.

     "Hai, true, true," the older man nods.  "So where exactly are 
you and your family moving to, if you don't mind my asking?"

     "As long as you don't allow this to fall unto the ears of 
Principal Kunou or his son," Kasumi holds up an objecting finger.

     "You have my silence," the real estate agent vows.

     The Tendou matriarch chuckles.  "Well, we'll all be moving to a 
youth hostel on Oomure-jima.  It's an island in the Sagami Sea, near
Odawara.  We've been invited there by the family of Ataru Moroboshi
-- and PLEASE, Midorikawa-san, don't tell anyone about Ataru-kun's
involvement in this!"

     "Well, I heard from a friend of mine that his family did 
purchase a desecrated Shinto shrine in Kasugachou to act as a home
for his sister Negako," Hayato notes.  "Believe me, my friend's
worked for years to get rid of that particular plot of land.  Then
Moroboshi-san shows up and..."

     He shrugs.  Kasumi grins.  "Ataru-kun recently befriended
my younger sister's former fiance.  After the falling out between
Ranma-kun..." -- the eldest Tendou daughter keeps to the more 
"masculine" honorific since few in Nerima knew the truth about what
befell Ranma -- "...and his parents, not to mention Father, he 
decided to join Ataru-kun and his family on Oomure-jima.  To show 
there are no bad feelings between himself and us, Ranma-kun persuaded
Ataru-kun's sisters to allow us to come to Oomure-jima after Father
was..." her voice trails off as a pained look crosses her face.

     "Hai, I understand," Hayato grimly nods.  "Well, I'll contact
the potential buyer and we'll have everything set up as quickly
as possible."

     "By this weekend?" Kasumi asks.

     "Certainly!  That'll please my client very much."

     "That's nice.  Oh, may I ask what'll happen here after we're
gone?"

     "Both the house and the dojo will be demolished to make way for
smaller townhouses.  Most likely, a convenience store might be added
since this part of Nerima doesn't have much in the way of quick-stop
shopping areas.  I..." the agent then looks apologetic.  "Well, I do
realize you have put in a lot of work to keep this place intact,
Kasumi-san, but..."

     "No, it's alright, Midorikawa-san," Kasumi shakes her head, then
takes a deep breath.  "Actually, to be frank, this is quite a relief
for my family and I.  I certainly wouldn't want to inflict anyone
else with the amount of responsibility maintaining a building like
this demands."

     "That's understandable," he nods.  "Much that this building
does have some history in it, it's not enough to see it declared
an historic property and turned over to the Culture Ministry to see
it preserved."

     "Personally, I think that after all that's happened under this
roof, this place would NEVER deserve something like that, 
Midorikawa-san," Kasumi shakes her head.  "So, when can you come by 
to finalize everything?"

     "Friday morning?" Hayato proposes.

     "That's fair enough."

     Quickly enough, the real estate agent is escorted off the 
property.  Kasumi returns to the sitting room to see Shinshi sitting
at the table, now appearing well-rested.  To the older sister's
appraising eye, her magic-born brother is dressed in stylish jeans
and a polo shirt.  *Yotsuba-chan certainly DOES possess a sharp eye
for detail,* Kasumi muses as she sits beside him.  "Konnichi wa, 
Shinshi-chan.  Do you feel a little better now?"

     "A lot better, Onee-chan.  Thanks," Shinshi nods.  "So how did
things go with Midorikawa-san?  No problems about selling the 
property?"

     "Hai.  It'll be finalized Friday and we'll be out of here by 
Saturday at the latest," Kasumi reports.  "Let's just hope that the
modifications to Welcome House'll be ready by then.  Rinrin-chan
warned me that the House's main building is a lot more run down than
the rotunda where they live."

     "It should be alright," Shinshi stretches, then glances around
the room.  "I guess everyone else is still asleep.  Where's 
Chieko-san?"

     "She left an hour ago.  I think her mother was worried about
her staying the whole day away from school," Kasumi muses.

     "That's good.  Let's hope she won't get into trouble with 
Hinako-sensei when she goes back to school tomorrow morning."

     "True..." Kasumi perks on hearing footsteps, then looks up as 
Nabiki and Akane step into the sitting room.  "Konnichi wa, minna."

     "Everything's all set?" Nabiki asks as the sisters sit down.

     "Hai, all ready to go," Kasumi nods.  "We'll be on the Island
full-time by Saturday night at the earliest."

     "Pity it couldn't happen sooner," Akane laments.

     "'Cause of Kunou-baby?" Nabiki asks.

     "Hai.  Wouldn't THAT blow the wind out of his sails?" a laconic
grin crosses Akane's face.  "His precious 'fierce tigress' moving
out of the city to another prefecture where he couldn't continue
chasing after her.  And add that to him losing his pig-tailed
goddess, too...?"

     "Especially losing Ranma-chan to a guy like Ataru?" Shinshi
smirks.

     "Oooh, THAT would hurt!" Nabiki chuckles, then sighs.  "Maybe
I should remind Kunou-baby about that sometime this week..."

     "Nabiki-chan, please don't," Kasumi calmly scolds.  "Ataru-kun
and his family are already doing a lot for us.  We shouldn't..."

     "Oh, RELAX, Onee-chan!  I was just kidding!" Nabiki waves her 
sister down, then perks as something seems to wash through her.  
"What the...?"

     "What...?" Shinshi gazes at his sister, then jolts.  "Hey..."

     "You guys alright?" Akane stares concernedly at them.

     "Oh, we have visitors," Kasumi gazes at the entrance, then rises
to see who was now standing at the front gate.

     Akane watches her go, then turns to her other sister and 
brother.  "What is it?" she places a concerned hand on Nabiki's
shoulder.

     "Avalonians..." Nabiki whispers.  "Two of them.  Both 
unbonded..."

     "They're just as surprised at our being here as we are about
them being here..." Shinshi adds, then turns as Kasumi steps back 
inside.

     Following the young Tendou matriarch are two girls dressed
in the dark blue seifuku of Tomobiki High School.  One is a girl with
long brown hair in a high ponytail while the other has electric
blue hair extending to her waist.  Akane watches as the visitors'
eyes dart over the room for a moment, then sharply focus on Nabiki
and Shinshi.  Once eye contact is made, the visitors then relax as 
they take their seats opposite Akane's sister and brother.  Silence
falls as they gaze on each other, then the blue-haired girl softly
declares, "You weren't born this way, were you?"

     "Ah..." Nabiki catches herself, then shakes her head.  "No.  My
brother and I were just converted very early this morning."

     "I don't recall Mom telling me that the factory was programmed
to create male bioroids," the ponytailed girl notes, gazing at her 
companion for a moment, then she turns back to Shinshi.  "Unless..."

     "Actually, it was because of a device called the Staff of Gihan
that this body was made for me," Shinshi points to himself.

     The visitors' eyes widen.  "Gihan's Staff?!" the blue-haired
girl gasps.  "How in Buddha's name did THAT damned thing get here?!"

     "Brought here by three refugees from Phentax Two who came here
via the factory itself," Nabiki reports, then catches herself.
"Oh, geez, I'm sorry about that," she waves to herself as 
introductions are quickly made.

     "So how did you girls come to be here?!" Kasumi asks.

     "We were born here," Tomomi Yoshino smiles.  "About twenty years
ago, a group of Avalonians came to Earth to make contact with a 
Zephyrite missionary colony somewhere in Japan.  Our mothers 
eventually scattered themselves from Hokkaido to Okinawa.  
Actually..." she blushes, pointing to herself, "...those on Hokkaido,
like my mother, were close to the mark; the colony was on Rishiri-tou
living with Ataru Moroboshi's grandmother."

     "So you've come here to look for Ataru-kun, right?" Nabiki 
wonders.

     "Hai," Kyooko Ikusawa nods.  "When the factory came into orbit
over Earth, all our mothers sensed it.  The mental link between
our mothers and the factory was pretty much broken when we..." she 
indicates herself, then Tomomi, "...were born, but our mothers could
still sense it."

     "Are you guys afraid the factory or whoever's in control of it 
now might take your mothers away, much less yourselves?" Shinshi
asks, sensing the flash of deep fear in the visiting Avalonians'
eyes.

     "Well, we doubt the factory can be able to lock in on us since
we ARE half-Terran," Tomomi notes, then sighs, nodding.  "And yes,
we are afraid that even now, whoever controls the factory might have
at his disposal some means that could take our mothers away from us.
And if that happens..."

     "It could easily kill our fathers since our mothers are 
psi-bonded to their husbands," Kyooko finishes.  "Not to mention
badly hurt us because a subtle mother-daughter bond exists between
ourselves and our mothers."

     "Oh, my!" Kasumi covers her mouth.

     "What do you hope Ataru-kun could do to help you guys?" Nabiki
asks.

     "Well, our ultimate goal is to break the factory away from any
sort of control or influence by the Niphentaxians," Kyooko takes a 
deep breath.  "We learned from Ataru-kun's old classmates in Tomobiki
that he's already made some headway in dealing with the 
Niphentaxians..."

     "Oh, man, you've got that right, Kyooko-san," Shinshi rolls his
eyes.  "Ataru-kun was on Phentax Two itself when the Staff of Gihan
accidentally was set off and killed three billion people..."

     The visitors pale.  "Ataru-kun was THERE...?!" Tomomi gapes.

     The Tendous grimly nod.  "Do you think he'll want to go fight
the Niphentaxians again, especially after that, Onee-chan?"
Akane asks.

     "He'll really have no choice in the matter," Nabiki sighs.  
"Think about it.  This whole 'church of Lum' thing on Phentax Two 
declares that Ataru-kun is nothing more than the 'great evil.'  That
means that until the day comes when this whole church is done away
with, Ataru-kun's going to have to keep an eye out for potential
assassination attempts from people who think they're actually doing
their 'goddess'' bidding."

     "Just like what Ranma-chan went through after she got cursed
and was chased out of China by Shampoo," Shinshi frowns.

     "Saddening," Kasumi shakes her head.

     "And there's all of Ataru-kun's sisters to worry about, too,"
Nabiki holds up a knowing finger.  "What better way to target him?"

     "Would they do that?" Akane wonders.

     "Most likely."

     "Do you girls want to visit Ataru-kun today?" Kasumi turns to 
Kyooko and Tomomi.  "He doesn't live too far away from here."

     "Please?" both visitors nod.

     "I can take them over there, Onee-chan," Shinshi volunteers.

     Nabiki gives her brother a knowing look.  "Hell, you just want
to go over there to be with Yotsuba-chan!" her eyebrows wriggle.

     Shinshi gives her an even stare in response.  Kasumi tries not
to fall over laughing.  "I'll go with you," Akane volunteers,
standing.

     "Are you going to try to talk to Ranma-chan?" Kasumi asks.

     The youngest Tendou pauses, then sighs.  "Hai, Onee-chan,"
she nods, then gazes at the ceiling.  "Whether or not I'll succeed,
though..."

*    *    *

     "A wedding dress party?!"

     Everyone sitting around Yukimi Kitahara's coffee table gazes
on the pictures of the recent party Ryouga took part in when he 
visited Promised Island for the first time.  "Hai!" the wanderer
scratches the back of his head, blushing embarrassingly at the 
comments many of the people around him made about his playing the 
preacher.  "The girls came up with this idea just after they met 
their brother for the first time.  But the first time they did this,
Chikage-san wasn't involved."  He points to a picture of the 
sorceress standing by the altar, dressed in her dark-hued gown.

     "Chikage-oneechan..."

     Eyes lock on Ten.  The young boy is gazing on another picture
of Chikage, hearts glittering in his eyes.  "Uh-oh!" Sakiko grins,
gazing knowingly at Seiko.  "Looks like Ten-chan there's got another
girl he can chase around.  Remember what he was like around 
Sakura-sensei?"

     "I definitely remember that!" Shinobu shakes her head.

     The Izumo sisters laugh.  Ten ignores their mirth; his attention
is still taken away by the picture before him.  "Ryouga-sama,
I hope you're NOT considering the priesthood," Akari gazes 
concernedly on her fiance.

     Ryouga acks.  "No, no, no, no!!" he waves his hands to calm 
Akari down.  "Of course not!  B-but..." he stutters, then waves to 
the pictures.  "The girls needed someone to play the priest this time
since Ataru's older sister Negako was in Nerima when I went there.
They asked me to do it and..." he stops.  "Well, wh-what was I 
supposed to do?!  I mean..."

     "Well, at least you were being a gentleman about it, 
Hibiki-san," Shinobu gives him a sympathetic stare.

     "It's not just that, Miyaki-san," Ryouga shudders.  "It's Aria."

     "Aria-chan?" everyone blinks, then turn to gaze on the couple
of photos showing the young Parisian at the altar.

     "Yeah!" Ryouga nods.  "I mean, all she has to do is make that
sound..." he pauses, then softens his voice in a bad imitation
of Aria's soulful sob, "...'kusu!'"  His voice goes back to normal.
"Man, when you hear THAT, your guts just twist up and all you want
to do at that moment is just make her STOP crying!!  Not even Ranma
or Ataru are immune to it!"

     Seiko feels a painful chill warp through her as her eyes focus
on the pictures of Ataru with Ranma.  Sakiko stares at her sister,
then reaches over to give her a supportive squeeze.  Seiko starts,
then faintly smiles at Sakiko.  "Well, I suppose that clears up all
that!" Akari sighs as she helps Ryouga collect the pictures and stuff
them back into the small photo album Yotsuba had given the wanderer
before he left Promised Island.  "If you'll all pardon us, I want to
get back to the farm with Ryouga-sama."

     "Are his clothes all through the wash?" Yukimi wonders.

     "Last batch is going through the dryer now," Hiro Kodama 
reports.

     "Soo ka.  Would you like to stay for dinner, then?" the 
apartment block manager then turns back to Ryouga and Akari.

     "We don't want to impose..." the pig farmer blushes.

     "Oh, relax!  It's no imposition!" Yukimi waves her down.

     "Can't refuse free food, Akari-chan," Ryouga stares at Akari.

     Akari's blush deepens.  "W-well...!"

*    *    *

     As excited chatter picks up around the dinner table, Seiko 
rises, heading upstairs to her bedroom.  Shinobu watches the other
woman head off, then excusing herself, follows the 
Urusian-turned-Nendo-kata.  Reaching the doorway into Seiko's 
bedroom, Shinobu pauses on seeing her former rival sitting on her 
bed, gazing out the window at the darkening afternoon sky.  "Are you
okay, Seiko?" Shinobu walks it to sit at the other's work desk.

     "Should I be?" Seiko takes a deep breath.

     "I guess seeing those pictures must've hurt bad."

     "Hai, they did," the other woman nods.  "Even now..."

     "Is it true?"

     "About what?"

     "What Ten-chan told me?" Shinobu takes a deep breath.  "About
one of your people having killed Ataru-kun's grandmother?"

     Seiko stares at her, then slowly nods.  "Awful, isn't it?"

     "Hai.  Why did it happen?"

     "How much do you know about the Zephyrites?"

     Ataru's former girlfriend blinks, then shakes her head.  "Not
much."

     "Well..." Seiko breathes out.  "Think of them as a model 
theocracy.  I know...!" she pauses, then shrugs, giving the other
woman a knowing smile.  "I can sense that you're very passionate
about your particular faith.  Imagine a whole RACE like that!  A race
of nearly a trillion, spread over two hundred planets.  And to add 
onto that, they're also the most technologically advanced race in 
this part of the galaxy.  NO ONE can equal them, Shinobu.  No one..."
her voice trails off, then she points to the sky.  "Their closest
colony to Earth, Jiyuu, is only five light-years from here.  
Toshitto, Uru's closest colony to Earth, is over thirty."

     "And you guys..." Shinobu stops herself on seeing a flash of 
deep pain in Seiko's eyes.  "Excuse me, the Urusians tried to invade
us?"

     "I know," Seiko slowly nods.  "Well, on certain occasions,
people who are outside the accepted Zephyrite faiths can be given
a sort of honorary bishop-like status in one of their six main 
churches.  People like that are called 'righteous gentiles.'
Darling's grandmother was one of them."

     "The Jews do that," Shinobu notes.  "Especially when it came to
people who helped Jews avoid the Nazi death camps..."

     Seiko shakes her head.  "Not like that at all, Shinobu."

     "What do you mean?"

     "Well, if a Righteous Gentile -- especially if she's not 
Zephyrite and living on a world close to Zephyrite space -- feels
it necessary, she could call on the power of the Holy Republic
to defend her homeworld against outside aggression.  And that defence
could, if it has to, go all the way to what the Zephyrites call a 
'holy crusade.'"  A pause, then Seiko adds, "Which is their term for
religiously-sanctioned genocide."

     Silence.

     "That can't...!" Shinobu blurts out, then on seeing the deadly
serious look on her host's face, she pauses.  "Oh, God...!"

     "Hai, it's true.  It's only happened once according to 
historical record," Seiko nods.  "And that was against a people who
once conquered Uru, Neptune, Fukunokami and Karasutengu and held them
captive for almost three hundred years.  But the threat is still 
there..."

     "And Ataru-kun's grandmother had the authority to call that if 
she felt it necessary..." Shinobu's voice trails off, then she stares
at Seiko.  "So to make sure their planned invasion of Earth wouldn't
result in a total disaster..." she pauses again, then gapes.  "Did
your father know?!"

     Seiko nods.  Shinobu gapes at her before looking away, a hand
reaching up to rub her other arm.  "Oh, Jesu Cristo..."

     "The person who actually killed Darling's grandmother was an old
acquaintance of mine.  He..." Seiko grimaces, then spits out.  "The
stupid sub-creature practically BOASTED that I was his *friend!*
That he was damn proud of the fact that he killed Darling's 
grandmother to make sure that your people would eventually become
slaves of the Urusians!!"  Squeezing her eyes shut, she shakes her 
head.  "Right to Darling's face..."

     "And your dad knew..." Shinobu whispers.

     "Hai, he knew," Seiko nods, sniffing back fresh tears.

     "When did Ataru-kun find out?"

     "He bumped into Ando the second weekend after he left Tomobiki,"
Seiko explains.  "The whole part about the ruling council on Uru 
being in on what happened to Darling's grandmother..." a pause, then,
"...he found that out sometime later.  At that point, he chose to 
support the Noukiites against the Urusians since that would give him
the chance to locate all the people involved in what happened to his
grandmother..."

     "And take his revenge," Shinobu finishes.

     "Hai."

     Silence falls as Ataru's former girlfriend takes the time to 
think over what Seiko told her, then she asks, "What do we do now?"

     "Nothing really we can do," Seiko admits.  "Most of it's done.
The people who were involved are either dead, in the hands of the 
Noukiites to be tried for crimes against the Dominion or else they're
in the hands of the Zephyrite Holy Inquisition, facing murder and 
heresy charges..."

     "The Zephyrites even have an Inquisition?!!" Shinobu blanches.

     Seiko nods.  Hearing that, Shinobu gazes nowhere in particular,
then she folds her legs close to her, hugging them with her arms.
"God, I'm not sure I'd ever want to meet someone like that!" she 
hisses, then stares at her transformed former rival.  "This was part
of the thing Ataru-kun's mother had Negako-san erase from his mind,
right?"

     "Suppress, not erase," Seiko amends, nodding.  "And yes, that
was the big part about it.  I..." she shakes her head.  "You know,
Darling told me this morning that he LIKED my parents.  He was 
envious of me, Shinobu, because I had parents who really loved and 
cared for me.  But..."

     "Finding out your fiancee's father conspired in the murder of 
your own grandmother..." Shinobu quakes.  "I can see why he'd get 
angry."

     "Hai," Seiko's eyes turn to the ceiling.  "And even worse, 
Oogi's still out there," she points straight up.  "Atop making sure
that the Church of Lum could never harm his sisters, Darling went 
after Oogi to make damn sure that the Niphentaxians couldn't come to
the Urusians' aid against the Noukiites.  Now finding out about the
Avalonians..."

     "So what do we do?"

     Seiko senses Shinobu's concerned look, then she stands up.  "The
big thing we have to do is keep information about Darling's sisters
under wraps until the time comes when Darling'll finally deal with
Oogi," she looks out the window at the surrounding cityscape.
"Remember, Shinobu, if Darling was willing to do all *that* to avenge
the death of his grandmother, could you imagine what might happen
if any of his sisters came to harm?"

     Shinobu blinks as Seiko's warning sinks in, then blanches...

*    *    *

     "A little gift for a suffering friend."

     "Aw, Ku-chan!" Ukyou blushes as she takes the long-stemmed
rose from Kumiko Saotome.  The raven-haired, once-male, mirror-twin
of Ranma's came to Okonomiyaki U-chan's minutes after the proprietor
herself had returned from her meeting with Tampopo Kamekichi.
"Did Ran-chan call you?"

     "Hai, she did.  Told us everything about what happened between
you and that sack of refuse you once had to call a father.  After
hearing that, I felt that the sooner I got here, the better," Kumiko
takes a seat by the counter as Ukyou proceeds to place the rose in a 
water-filled flute.  "Did you have a chance to speak to anyone from
the Court of Special Appeals?"

     "Yeah.  Sensei called 'em over to talk to me at her shop," Ukyou
nods, then stops, gazing nowhere in particular.  Staring at her, 
Kumiko is quick to notice the sense of stunned bewilderment
deep in her friend's eyes.  "Damn..." she shakes her head, then leans
on her counter.  "I got up this morning thinking I was within a 
hair's breadth of losing everything that had meaning in my life!  And
now..." she tosses up a hand.

     "Stunned to see that things can actually go your way for a 
change?"

     "Damn right about that, sugar!" Ukyou admits, then stares at 
Kumiko.  "So how're things with you and To-chan on the Island?"

     "Settling in well," Kumiko admits.  "Toshiko and I'll do a 
special entrance exam on Friday to see if we can attend Stargazer
West College.  We should pass with little problems," she shrugs 
nonchalantly.

     "Be in the same class as Ran-chan when she goes there?"

     "Hard to predict," Kumiko shakes her head, then shrugs.  
"Probably wind up in the same class as Sakuya-chan, Haruka-chan
and Marie-chan, if not the one Chikage-chan is a part of.  Ranma's
and Ataru-kun's class is pretty well filled up according to the 
official class lists."

     "Who's with them?"

     "Only Karen-chan."

     "Karen?!" Ukyou's eyebrow arches.  "She's kinda young to be 
starting off in the second year of high school, isn't she?"

     "She skipped a grade because she did advanced studies when she
was living with her mother and step-father overseas," Kumiko 
explains.

     "Really?!  I thought Marie-chan was the smart one of that 
bunch."

     "She does seem that way, ne?" Kumiko chuckles.  "Then again,
from what I've heard from other kids, she spent a considerable
amount of time in the hospital during most of last year.  Not sure
of the exact illness, but I think the death of her step-father
had something to do with it."

     Ukyou sighs.  "Poor kid.  Oh, interested in something, Ku-chan?"

     "You," Kumiko smirks.

     "Oh, no prob-..."

     Silence.

     "Wh-what?" Ukyou gapes, staring wide-eyed at her friend.

     Kumiko reaches over to tap the chef's nose.  "Gotcha!"

     Ukyou flusters.  "Oh, you!!" she swats the other woman's hand
away, then moves to prepare some batter.  "Damn, you actually had me
going there for a moment!  I though you'd be more interested
in boys than girls!!"

     "Don't forget, U-chan, I WAS born a boy," Kumiko reminds her.

     "So was Ran-chan."

     "Hai, true, true.  Oh, I do happen to have something for you."

     Kumiko reaches into her bomber jacket to draw out a padded 
envelope, handing it to Ukyou.  The chef opens it, then draws out a 
small pile of papers.  Gazing at the covering sheet, her jaw nearly
drops to the floor in disbelief.  "Business application for Promised
Island?!!"

     "Toshiko and I figured that, regardless of what happened between
Ranma and yourself, you'd want to stay close even if she's moving
out of Nerima," Kumiko explains.  "I talked with one of the people
who help manage Welcome House.  Since you have been, in effect,
orphaned, that qualifies you under the founding laws of Promised
Island as a potential resident."  She then gazes at the table, cheeks
heating.  "Besides, you're our friend too, U-chan.  You helped us 
when we needed it.  Why shouldn't we help you when you need it?  I'm
sure Tampopo-san wouldn't mind at all."

     Ukyou gazes on the raven-haired mirror-twin, then a tearful
smile crosses her face.  Hopping over the counter, she drops into 
Kumiko's lap, then swamps her with a grateful embrace.  No words are
said as the two hold each other closely for what seems like a 
blissful eternity, then they pull apart to gaze into the other's
eyes.  "Thank you so much, Kumiko," Ukyou whispers before leaning
in to give the other woman a warm kiss.

     Kumiko shudders, then her hold on the chef stiffens as she tilts
her head.  Ukyou's eyes widen surprisedly as she feels the 
mirror-twin's tongue gently slink into her mouth, then she relaxes
as she pulls herself even closer to Kumiko.  They remain in that 
position for yet another blissful eternity before slowly, 
reluctantly, pulling apart.  Gazing once more into the other's eyes,
they take several deep breaths, then Kumiko quirkily smiles.  "I 
guess I wasn't kidding when I said I wanted you, U-chan."

     "Guess you weren't, Ku-chan," Ukyou lightly shrugs, then pauses
before she asks, "Are you doing this because...?"

     "Did Ranma ask me to do this?  No," Kumiko shakes her head.  "Am
I doing it out of some sense of obligation to you?  Well..." she 
shrugs, then reaches up to gently stroke Ukyou's cheek.  "As I said,
I am grateful for your help when Ranma and Jijii broke Toshiko and I 
out of that compact and sent us on our way.  There's no denying
that.  But..." a twinkle appears in her eye.  "I do love you, Ukyou.
You'll always have a special place in my life.  And because of that,
I want you to come to the Island.  Live with Toshiko and I at the 
cottage.  Set up U-chan's there.  You'll have loads of customers
there waiting for you.  Far as I can tell, there's not another 
okonomiyaki shop on the Island.  And as for what happens between
us..."

     They share another long kiss.  "I guess we gotta find that out
for ourselves, ne?" Ukyou smiles, straightening herself in Kumiko's
lap.

     "I guess so..."

     A telephone rings.  Both wince, then gaze at the offending
object.  "Don't you just HATE that sort of thing, Ku-chan?!"
Ukyou mutters as she slips off Kumiko's lap, then heads over to pick
up the receiver.  "Moshi-moshi, Okonomiyaki U-chan's," she holds it 
close to her ear.

     "They DO ruin the mood, I guess," Kumiko mutters to herself
as she rests her elbows on the counter, chin in her palms...

     ...then she jolts on hearing Ukyou's surprised voice cry out,
"WHAT?!!  Sensei, are you SURE about this?!!"

     Silence falls over the restaurant as Ukyou takes in the message
from Tampopo, then the chef shakily nods.  "R-right!  Did you pass
it on...?" her voice trails off, then she nods again.  "Okay, I 
understand.  Look, Kumiko Saotome's here.  She brought in some papers
I'd have to fill out if I want to move the restaurant to Promised
Island.  Are you...?"  She is cut off by Tampopo's quick reply, then
nods.  "Okay, I appreciate that, Sensei.  How soon can you find out
more about this?"  Another pause, then Ukyou nods again.  "Sure,
I'll come by tomorrow after school to talk to you about it."  Another
nod.  "Right, I'll see you later.  'Bye, Sensei."

     She hangs up.  "What is it?" Kumiko wonders.

     Ukyou walks back to the counter, the bewildered look Kumiko
saw in her eyes earlier now back with a vengeance.  "Sensei...!
Well, she just got a call from a friend of hers," she begins, then
leans on the counter to steady herself.  "This guy works for a bank
that's affiliated to the group Ataru-kun's uncle owns.  And..."
she gulps.  "Jeez, my grandfather..."

     Kumiko stands.  Ukyou doesn't resist as the other woman boosts
her over the counter, then plants her in the seat beside hers.  
Gently holding the chef's hands in support, Kumiko gazes into Ukyou's
eyes.  "What about your grandfather, U-chan?" she gently probes.
"Tell me."

     "Well, it's..." Ukyou bites her lip.  "It's my mom's dad, 
really.  I..." she stops, then barks out a shaky laugh before rubbing
one of her eyes.  "I never knew much about Mom's relatives.  And 
after Dad sent me off to go after Ran-chan and Genma, well..."
she throws up her hands.

     "You lost all contact with your mother."

     "Y-yeah!" Ukyou sputters, then takes several deep breaths to 
steady herself.  Silence falls, Kumiko keeping her peace as her 
friend marshals her thoughts, then the chef gazes at her.  "Well,
Mom's dad didn't like Dad at all.  He didn't approve of them getting
together and all that.  But he wasn't going to just leave it all be,
you know.  So..." a shudder races through her.  "When he died, he 
bequeathed all his property to me!"

     Kumiko blinks, then one of her eyebrows arch.  "How much money
are we talking about here, U-chan?  Is it a lot?"  Seeing a wary look
flash in the chef's eyes, the raven-haired girl quickly moves to 
moderate.  "U-chan, I'm sorry!  I didn't mean it THAT way!  But if 
it's a lot of money..."

     "About two hundred million yen after taxes."

     Silence.

     Kumiko stares wide-eyed at her friend, then a delighted smile
crosses her face.  "U-chan, that's...!" she suddenly stops herself
as realization dawns.  "Oh, damn!!" she covers her mouth.  "Your dad
was trying to...?"

     "Sensei thinks so," Ukyou nods.  "According to Grandad's
will, I can get the inheritance when I turn twenty.  No strings
attached.  It'd be my money and property, regardless of what happens
between my family and I.  Guess Grandad figured Dad out a long time
ago.  However, the only way I can get it ahead of time is when I..."
she turns to Kumiko, shrugging.

     "Get married?" the other woman's eyebrow arches.

     "Yeah!  Of course, because I'd be underage..."

     "Your legal guardian -- namely, your father -- would have 
nominal control of the money," Kumiko quickly concludes, then shakes
her head.  "Damn!  And I thought Genma was a backstabbing thief at 
times?!"

     "Tell me about it," Ukyou snorts, then leans her head on her 
hand, elbow on the counter.  "Well, that's something to look forward
to, ne?"

     "I'll say.  What do you plan to do?"

     "Well, talk to Sensei about it, then find some way to make sure
Dad can never lay his hands on my inheritance," Ukyou heads behind
the counter to continue preparing the batter.  "Then I'll just sit 
back and wait for things to happen.  After all, I can support myself
with the restaurant.  And if the Island doesn't have another 
okonomiyaki shop -- bizarre as I find THAT to be!  Doesn't everyone
like okonomiyaki?! -- then I'll be able to make a handsome profit
even before I get hold of Grandad's money, ne?"

     "True," Kumiko nods.  "Lucky for you Genma never got wind of 
that before Ranma did him in.  If he did...?" her voice rises in 
warning.

     "Yeah, he would've dumped the Tendous like hot potatoes and 
Ran-chan and I'd've been married in a flash," Ukyou smirks, then a 
thoughtful look crosses her face.  "Then again, would it've helped
him in the end?"

     "What do you mean?"

     "Well, if he tried to get some of my inheritance from my 
dad...?"

     Both women gaze on each other, then laugh...

*    *    *

     "WHAT?!?!  What do you mean, Sasuke?!!"

     "What I mean, Master, is that Ranma Saotome no longer appears
on the family register for the Saotomes of Nerima," Sasuke proclaims.
"As near as I can discover, this happened on Sunday afternoon,
just before the fight you and Mistress Kodachi were involved with at
the sch-..."

     "Enough!" Kunou snaps, rising from his chair to stand by the 
window.  Gazing on the front yard of the estate, the kendoist hums
in contemplation as he mentally reviews the information Sasuke just
gave him.  "So, he has made himself roonin, has he...?" a mirthless
chuckle escapes him.

     "It appears so, Master."

     "What of the pig-tailed girl and her mirror-twin replica?"

     Sasuke perks.  "Oh, there is good news concerning them, Master,"
he smiles.  "Mistress Ranma and Mistress Toshiko were granted the 
right to form their own autonomous branch of the Saotome family by 
the Court of Special Appeals.  Also part of their group is a Mistress
Kumiko Saotome.  I've yet to ascertain who she might be, Master,"
he bows his head.

     "The Court of Special Appeals?!" Kunou perks.

     "The very same, Master."

     "I see..." the kendoist chuckles, then it turns into a 
full-blown maniacal laugh.  "Oh, the sheer JOY of it all!!!  The 
pig-tailed girl and her sisters FREED from that honourless wizard's
clutches!!!  At LAST can I finally go forth and claim their hearts
and ensure the victory against that monster who dared think himself
BETTER than the Blue Thunder...!!"

     "Um, Master, there's a problem..." Sasuke holds up a finger.

     Kunou spins on him.  "SILENCE!!!!  Wretched cur, how DARE you 
interrupt me when I seek to proclaim my victory?!!"

     "But Mistress Ranma won't be living in Nerima anymore, Master!!"

     Silence.

     "***WHAT?!?!***" Kunou thunders.

     Sasuke ducks his scream, then flusters.  "It's true, sir.  You
see, Mistress Ranma and her sisters have elected to move to a 
district of the city of Odawara in Kanagawa-ken, Master..."

     Kunou shudders, then bellows, "***WHAT MADNESS IS THIS?!!  THE
LOVELY PIG-TAILED GIRL IS ACTUALLY LEAVING?!!  I WILL NOT HAVE 
IT!!!!***"

     The older ninja sighs as his employer rails on.  *This is just
NOT worth it...* he tries not to lash out at Kunou for his stupidity.
*This is just simply NOT worth it!  Wait until the Master learns
of what Mistress Akane and her sisters are planning to do this 
weekend...!!*

*    *    *

     "Dear brother, you are SUCH an idiot at times!" Kodachi mutters
to herself as she slips on her leotard.  Even given the sturdy 
construction and thick walls of the Kunou mansion, it was normally
impossible to ignore her brother's thunderous ranting, especially
when it came to the subjects of Akane Tendou and Ranma Saotome.
Shaking her head, she quickly checks herself over to see if anything
is missing, then with a graceful spring to her open window, Kodachi
is off!  Another bounding stride and she lands on a telephone
pole just outside the mansion's walls.  With that, she is on her way,
racing in the general direction of Saint Hebereke Girl's School.

     As the wind whips past her, Kodachi takes several deep breaths
to calm herself.  A package from the Court of Special Appeals,
just like the one Ranma's other would-be suitors received over the 
last couple of days, had arrived at the mansion this morning.  Since
all the members of the family were off at school when it came, Sasuke
had received the package, then examined it.  Realizing the full 
gravity of what the Court's decision concerning Ranma would mean to 
everyone who associated with her, the ninja had raced off to Saint
Hebereke to allow Kodachi to see the package first.

     While she outwardly cringed at the idea of Ranma officially
declaring herself a girl, the martial arts gymnast had to admit that
using such a strategy was prudent.  That, tacked onto the move to 
officially shatter every tie to her birth family, plus establish
their new family in a place outside Tokyo, should have even forced
Akane's father to take pause.  Not that the fool could possibly
hurt dear Ranma-sama now; after what happened very early this 
morning, it would be a long time before Souun Tendou would ever be 
able to force his will -- *Did the idiot even HAVE one?!* Kodachi
smirks as she does a spinning pirouette atop a telephone pole, then
heads towards Hikarigaoka Park -- on Ranma, much less his daughters,
ever again.

     Reflecting on what just happened to Ranma, Kodachi tries not to
frown as she makes a perfect bound to a street light located by the
front gate of Hikarigaoka, then daintily drops to the ground.  
Personally, once she finally forced herself to accept that her 
Ranma-sama and the pig-tailed girl were indeed one and the same 
person, Kodachi realized that she didn't care a bit about that awful
curse.  Still, she had to know if Ranma's decision about his legally
becoming a woman was either farce or truth.

     If it was the former...?

     What?

     And if it was the latter...?

     What then?

     Kodachi stops, then noisily exhales before her eyes focus on the
yatai located some metres away.  "Konban wa, Kodachi-san,"
Fred Yamada smiles as the gymnast comes up.  "Your usual?"

     "Hai, Fred-san, please," Kodachi slips onto a stool.

     He gets to work preparing an order of poutine, a French-Canadian
dish he learned about over the Internet.  "Aren't you getting cold
prancing around town in just a leotard tonight, Kodachi-san?"
he wonders.

     "I can certainly keep myself warm with exercise, but right now,
I need to get some calories into me," she flashes him a delighted
smile.

     "Hai, hai, quick as I can."

     He gets to work.  Kodachi watches as he dumps raw french fries
into a frier, then he draws out a can of cold gravy and a bag of 
cheese curds.  She then perks on hearing footsteps echo from behind
her.  Fred looks up, then smiles.  "Konban wa, Ranma-san..."
his voice suddenly trails off as confusion crosses his face.  "Wait
a minute!  You're not..."

     "Iie, not really," a lovely redhead slips into the stool beside
Kodachi.  "Didn't U-chan tell you about Ranma's mirror-twins."

     The hamburger yatai vender blinks, then snaps his fingers before
pointing at her.  "Oh, I remember now!  Toshiko, right?!"

     "The same!  A Ranma Special if you don't mind."

     "Hai, right away."

     As Fred gets to work, Kodachi takes the chance to give Toshiko
a detailed look-over.  Like her brother, the gymnast learned of 
Ranma's mirror-twins almost the instant both of them emerged from 
Mirror Mansion.  Knowing one of them was male had sent jolts of 
anticipation through Kodachi.  After all, if she couldn't have the 
original -- this had pretty much sunk into her around the time of her
battle with the White Lily -- then why not go after a replica?
Of course, if Ranma's insane father had even the barest flicker
of intelligence, he should have used that magic mirror to clone his
son enough times to satisfy all those who wanted him.  Sadly, 
Nabiki's announcement that the mirror-twins had been disposed of 
crashed any hopes Kodachi might have had towards claiming even a 
small part of the sheer, awe-inspiring magnificence that was Ranma
Saotome...

     *Stop that, 'Dachi!* Kodachi catches herself.

     She then relaxes as Fred places a plate of poutine before her.
"Here you go, Kodachi-san," he smiles.  "Enjoy!"

     "Arigatou!" she picks up a fork.  "Itadakimasu!"

     She digs in.  "Oi, Yamada-san, what is that, anyway?" Toshiko
asks.

     "Poutine.  French fries, gravy and melted cheese.  Care to try
some?"

     "Hmmm...!  Sounds great.  Okay."

     "Here," Kodachi picks up some cheese-coated fries, then dangles
it before Toshiko's mouth, giving her a friendly smile.  "Try it."

     "Aaaah!" Toshiko opens her mouth, then munches the sample down.
"Hey, this IS good!!" she nods in approval.  "Thanks, Kodachi."

     "I take it you want that with your order?" Fred asks.

     "You bet!" the crimson-haired mirror-twin nods.

     "Hai, right away."

     He gets to work.  As she eats, Kodachi watches Fred prepare
a huge pile of beef, complete with sizzling onions, tomatoes and 
lettice, on his grill.  "This is normally what Ranma-sama eats?!"
she asks.

     "Yep, that it is!" Fred chuckles.  "Had to craft it up myself
when he decided he needed something of a break from U-chan's and the
Nekohanten.  Not that I'd personally knock Ukyou-san or Elder Cologne
down; they're both very good.  But limiting your choices to 
okonomiyaki or Chinese...?"

     "Hai, that is true, isn't it?" Kodachi smiles.  "Believe me, 
Yamada-san, I truly rejoiced when I heard you'd established
your yatai here."

     "Everyone did, I guess," Toshiko smirks, then reaches into her
jacket to draw out an envelope.  "And speaking of which, Fred-san,
Ranma asked me to pass this on to you for your personal 
consideration."

     "What's this?" he takes the envelope, then opens it to scan the
contents.  "Business application for...?" he gapes, then stares 
quizzically at Toshiko.  "Where the heck's Promised Island, 
anyway...?"

     "It's real name's Oomure-jima.  It's located in the Sagami-nada
just off the coast of Odawara," Toshiko explains.  "It's where 
Ranma'll be living full-time, starting this weekend.  My other sister
Kumiko and I're there already.  And I know they don't have anything
like this place."

     She indicates the yatai.  "Ranma asked you to do this?!" Fred
asks, then chuckles, setting the envelope aside as he turns back to 
preparing Toshiko's meal.  "Man, much that I really appreciate
how much business he brings to me, but for him to do something
like THAT...?!"

     "Well, if you want to stay here, that's no problem.  This IS 
your place, after all," Toshiko chuckles.  "But I'll tell you this,
Yamada-san.  Given how bad the hamburger joint on the Island is, 
having you come over to demonstrate what REAL hamburgers are all 
about..." she holds up a finger.

     "Oh, one of *those* places, huh?!" Fred wonders.  On seeing
Toshiko nod, he smirks.  "Tell Ranma-san I'll consider it.  How big's
the island?"

     "About six thousand full-time residents, plus the usual amount
of fishermen who dock by the place from time to time.  Very few 
tourists, but there's a small staff of scientists from Kanagawa
University who come by throughout the year to make use of the 
telescope on Stargazer Hill."

     "Hmmm...!" Fred scratches his chin, then flips the patty on the
grill.  "Sounds like a pretty interesting place.  Okay..."

     Quickly enough, a very big burger complete with all the 
trimmings is placed before Toshiko.  In lieu of a regular order of 
fries, the crimson-haired mirror-twin gets an order of poutine.
Seeing the amount of food a "Ranma Special" takes, Kodachi whistles,
turning back to her meal.  "My, is Ranma-sama capable of eating ALL
THAT as a girl as well as a boy?"

     "You bet," Toshiko winks at her, then smiles as she pulls up a 
hunk of poutine, dangling it before the gymnast.  "'Dachi, say 
'aahh!'"

     Kodachi perks, then opens her mouth.  "Aaahhh..."

     The poutine is slipped into her mouth.  As the gymnast starts
to munch it down, Toshiko uses her chopsticks to flick off the bits
of melted cheese that got caught on the skin around Kodachi's
lips.  Seeing that, the raven-haired woman opens her mouth again to 
accept the morsels of food still on the other woman's chopsticks.
Once they are clean, Toshiko swings the wooden sticks around, then
sensuously draws them through her lips as if to give them an extra
cleaning.  Kodachi watches this, her heart suddenly picking up in 
speed as Toshiko's beautiful sapphire eyes lock with hers.

     Her eyes...

     Ranma-sama's eyes...

     The same...

     Kodachi's cheeks start to heat, then she ducks away from 
Toshiko's penetrating stare.  Smiling, the mirror-twin turns back to
her meal...

*    *    *

     Minutes later, two young women step away from Fred Yamada's
yatai, heading deeper into Hikarigaoka Park.  As soon as they are 
relatively out of sight from potential eavesdroppers -- it is a quiet
night in the park this evening -- Toshiko reaches over to gently
grasp Kodachi's hand.  The gymnast perks on feeling that warm grip,
then shudders as her cheeks start to flame.  "I hope I'm not 
embarrassing you too much," Toshiko chuckles.

     Kodachi blinks, then sighs.  "If Ranma-sama had been this direct
and forward with me anytime before that so-called 'wedding,'
I would have gladly done a lot more than simply pursue him, 
Toshiko-san..."

     Before the gymnast could react, Toshiko spins herself so they
are face-to-face.  Kodachi slips into the other woman's arms as their
eyes lock on the other.  "My friends call me 'To-chan,' Kodachi-san."

     A smile crosses the dark-haired girl's face.  "And you can call
me 'Dachi,' To-chan," she gently glides a finger over Toshiko's
nose.  "But do tell me, please.  Does Ranma-sama consider me her 
friend?"

     Silence falls as Toshiko considers what to say, then she slowly
exhales.  "I think she can let herself accept you as a friend, 
'Dachi," the mirror-twin admits.  "But you have to admit, there are
some problems."

     "My witless brother being the primary one, I believe."

     "Hai," Toshiko nods as they proceed to walk to a nearby bench
set in a hollow clearing surrounded by a grove of trees.  "Much that
we'd all wish that your brother -- much that he IS a prime physical
specimen of beefcake, I do confess! -- would finally get a life and
stop chasing people who want nothing at all to do with him, the 
chances are there that even if Ranma does come to Promised Island,
your brother will try to follow."

     "Indeed, he will," Kodachi nods as they sit down, then she 
smiles as Toshiko slides an arm around her.  Sinking into that warm
embrace, she gazes on her companion.  "Indeed, even now with the 
potential embarrassment of his drawing live steel at the wedding
hanging over him, he charges ahead without a single care in the 
world.  Akane Tendou, not yesterday morning, proclaimed that she 
would no longer acknowledge his desires for her and swore same on the
memory of her late mother.  Tell Tatewaki that..."

     She shrugs.  "Well, I've got no use for Miss Mallets myself,
so even if your brother did go after her, I wouldn't care," Toshiko
snorts.

     "Are you the girl-born mirror-twin?"

     "Hai.  Kumiko was a boy up to when he fell into the Nyanniichuan
when we visited Jusenkyou.  This was probably just days before that
whole mess with Saffron began, I think," the crimson-haired
woman nods.

     "Ah, so that's why you're so venomous towards Akane."

     "We both are," Toshiko admits.

     Kodachi laughs, then sighs.  "May I ask you something, To-chan?"

     "About Ranma?"

     "Hai."

     Silence, then, "She's a girl in heart as well as body.  That's
thanks to Jusenkyou, but the full effects of that part of the curse
was delayed because of the damage the Neko-ken training did to 
Ranma's mind."

     "And that has, I assume, now been dealt with?"

     "On Sunday, just before the big fight with the panda."

     "Ah!" the gymnast nods, then she gazes quizzically at her new 
friend.  "So what does bring you to Nerima this evening, To-chan?
Other than seeing Fred-san, of course..." a sly grin crosses her 
face.

     "Well, seeing Yamada-san was the main reason I did come, though
I must confess, meeting you at last is a delightful bonus," Toshiko
winks, eliciting another delighted laugh from the gymnast.  "Kumiko's
with U-chan right now trying to persuade her to move to the Island
herself.  U-chan had a big falling out with her dad this morning.
Turns out that U-chan was due to receive a pretty big inheritance
from her mom's dad, but if she wanted to get her hands on it earlier,
she had to marry..."

     "And, by the sounds of it, Kuonji-san's father planned to 
embezzle that inheritance from his daughter," Kodachi finishes,
frowning.

     "Hai.  Well, hopefully, he won't be much of a bother anymore.
After all the crap she's been through, U-chan doesn't deserve that."

     Kodachi blinks.  "Bad?"

     "Very.  Almost as bad as what Ranma herself went through because
of the panda," Toshiko sighs, then stares knowingly at the gymnast.
"Not to mention what things you yourself might've lived through.
Ne, 'Dachi?"

     The other woman pales, then quickly composes herself before
feeling both of Toshiko's hands warmly squeeze her shoulders.
Staring into the crimson-haired woman's eyes, Kodachi pauses, then
lightly smiles.  "How, may I ask, did you come to assume something
like that, To-chan?"

     "Well, even with all the swear words and curses she heaped over
you, U-chan was pretty explicit when she described you to Kumiko
and I after we got busted out of that compact," Toshiko draws her 
hands down to gently grip Kodachi's.  "There's been no talk about
your mother whatsoever, so I assume she sadly is no longer with us.
Your behaviour is quite..." a wry grin crosses her face, "...well,
*eccentric* to say the least of it.  Ditto with your brother, though
I think he's a lot worse than you in certain aspects.  And I don't
think we need to mention your father, ne?"

     "Certainly not," Kodachi shakes her head, then shrugs.  "I admit
that I've stepped over the bounds many times in the past when it 
comes to Ranma-sam-..." she catches herself, then shrugs.  "With 
Ranma-san, I mean," a light smile crosses her face.  "In spite of all
that, I will also admit that your bro-..." she catches herself again.
"Gomen.  'Sister,' I mean -- was the first person in a long while
who did treat me with kindness and concern.  And who wasn't a doctor
or a nurse, I should add."

     "Or your mother, I assume," Toshiko notes.

     Kodachi blinks, then nods.  "Hai, Okaa-san as well," she reaches
up to gently wipe her eyes, then sniffs.  "I miss her so much."

     "I grieve with you," Toshiko draws her close.

     They hold each other for a while, then pull apart, Kodachi
shifting herself to lean against Toshiko again.  "Well, it seems that
you seem to be on your way to getting some control over your life,"
the latter notes.

     "Hopefully, given what the Moroboshis and the Court of Special
Appeals did for Ranma-san, she will soon enjoy the same," Kodachi
sighs.

     Toshiko gives her a curious look.  "Does this got something
to do with you showing up at that farce of a wedding in a wedding
dress?"

     "Pretty much so," the gymnast admits.  "Sasuke was spying on 
everyone in the Tendou compound right from the moment Ranma-san
and the others came back from China.  When he relayed to me that 
Ranma-san's fool father was trying to force him into marrying Akane,
well..." she shrugs.

     "And doing it in a wedding dress was just your way of 
safeguarding your 'eccentric' reputation, ne?" Toshiko quips.

     A wince shudders Kodachi's body, then she nearly freezes in 
place as Toshiko leans over to gently kiss her cheek.  "Sorry."

     Silence falls as the gymnast's mind rolls over what just 
happened, then she gazes into the other woman's eyes before leaning
up to return the kiss on Toshiko's lips.  "It's alright, To-chan.
I believe I do deserve that," she leans back, then gazes nowhere
in particular.  "Still..."

     "What is it, 'Dachi?"

     "I wouldn't mind being rid of that reputation, to be truthful."

     Toshiko considers that, then smiles.  "I think I know how to 
help you towards that end, 'Dachi," she slips her arm away from the
other woman, then rises, helping Kodachi to her feet.  "C'mon."

     "Where are we going?" the gymnast asks.

     "To see a movie, plus do some shopping.  ONCE we get you into
more decent clothes," Toshiko waves Kodachi with her.

     Kodachi stares wide-eyed at the other woman before a smile 
crosses her face.  "Hai!" she nods, then races off after her new 
friend...

*    *    *

     Later...

     "I can understand your concerns very well, Ikusawa-san."

     "So will you help us?" Kyooko wonders as she and Tomomi relax.

     Ataru stares at them, then nods.  "Yes, I will.  After all,"
a smile crosses his face, "...it's not the least bit fair that your
mothers' people are forced to serve a pack of lifeless fools like 
Oogi."

     "It is fortunate that your desires now mesh so well with 
Ataru's," Miree, sitting to the left of the visiting Avalonians,
chuckles.

     "How can we do this?" Tomomi then asks.  "I only know the basics
about what goes on between the Avalonians and the Niphentaxians.
Atop that, our mothers don't have much knowledge when it comes to the
factory itself.  How can we fight Oogi if he's up in orbit and we're
down here?"

     "We will need to take time to ascertain what is exactly going
on aboard the factory before determining a proper course of action
against Oogi, Tomomi," Negako, seated between Ataru and Sakuya,
states.  "We..." she indicates the members of Ataru's family plus all
the hangers-on, they seated in a circle around the old shrine's
living room table, "...were in the process of commencing a proper
investigation when you and Kyooko came to speak to us.  I see no 
reason to alter that plan at this time."

     "Funny way to start an investigation," Yotsuba chuckles.
"We're all planning to go to a hot spring up north until this 
weekend!"

     Surprise crosses the visiting women's faces until Tomomi's
eyes widen in understanding.  "Oh, you mean act normal for the time
being, right?!"

     "Exactly," Negako nods.  "Now, your mothers currently possess
no active link to the factory.  To ensure there might not be any 
passive link, we can have Hinako use the Staff of Gihan to sever such
links and thus impede any search launched against your parents,
and thus, yourselves.  With that done, all you two and Minako have
to do is what you have always done:  strongly control any urge to 
make use of your powers until such time as the threat from Oogi has
been dealt with, then proceed from there."

     Akane, sitting close to Kyooko, perks as she remembers the 
weekend incident when she first learned of the Niphentaxians.
"Negako-san, if these people've bugged the whole of Tomobiki with 
those listening devices Chikage-san found in Mendou's sitting room,
wouldn't the girls' apartment block be likewise bugged?" she 
indicates Kyooko and Tomomi.

     "A reasonable point, Akane," Negako nods, turning to Chikage.
"When the girls return to their domicile this evening, ensure their
apartment block, plus the immediate area around it, is swept clean."

     The sorceress nods.  "Might want to do more than that, 
Onee-chan," Ataru warns.  "If a single blank spot appears in their
coverage, it'll be a red flag to these idiots.  Random blank spots
all over town'd work better."

     "You won't mind this?" Kyooko stares at Chikage.

     "It's no matter.  Those things are ridiculously easy to locate
and eliminate," Chikage lightly smiles, crossing her arms.

     "Even more, what of the morale of those observers in Tomobiki?"
Miree muses.  "After all, the chances are very good that most of 
their relatives back on the Homeworld are dead.  How have they been
taking all of this?"

     "We should, for now, assume the worst," Ataru sighs.

     "Why not find all these jokers now and get rid of them as soon
as we can?" Mamoru asks, tucking her legs into her arms.

     "Not a smart idea, Mamoru-chan," Ranma shakes her head.

     "Why'd you say that, Anee?"

     "Simple.  We don't know where they all are.  We don't even know
how many of them there are in Tomobiki.  If we hit one group, the 
rest'll all scatter and that makes it worse for us.  What if they 
have people living in the neighbouring areas, like here in Nerima?
We have to figure all that out before doing anything against them,"
Ranma ticks off the points on her fingers, then she indicates
Miree.  "And Miree-san has a very good point, too.  What's their 
morale now that so many of their fellow believers are all dead?  Will
they want to fight on or lay down arms?  If the latter, it makes this
a lot easier for all of us, but the chances are there..."

     "There'll be some fanatic holdouts who won't want to surrender,"
Shinshi, now with one arm wrapped around Yotsuba, finishes.

     "And unfortunately, they're living in a fair-sized town which
could provide loads of potential hostages for them to use," Ataru
adds.  "Not to mention the very faint possibility that some of them
might want to tag up with some of Lum's would-be fans, trick them 
into falling into the Church's side as a way of 'avenging' what 
happened to their 'goddess' on me."

     "Onii-sama, you can't believe that even now...?" Sakuya blurts.

     "Sakuya-chan, I'm NOT taking that chance," Ataru cuts her off.

     The eldest of the sisters gazes on him, then slowly nods.  
"Ataru-kun has a very good point, Sakuya-san," Tomomi steps in, 
holding up a finger.  "At school today, after Ataru-kun and 
Hinako-chan met up with Reiko-chan and Kaneko-chan, some of the guys,
especially in our class, were grousing a blue streak about all the 
'good luck' Ataru-kun's had recently.  And this was even AFTER that
MiB guy zapped them with a neuralizer!"

     "Goes to show what idiots they are!" Mamoru snorts.

     "They were conspiring against Anigimi-sama?" Haruka tenses.

     "No, nothing specific, but you can be pretty darn sure that if 
the chance comes that might provide them an opportunity to hurt 
Ataru-kun badly, they'll take it," Tomomi warns, lowering her hand.

     "Why?!" Akane gapes.

     "That's how much Lum's presence affected them," Ataru smirks.

     "There's also the matter of Mendou-san," Kyooko warns.

     Ataru tenses.  "What about him?"

     "Well, the girls in class noted that he was absent today,"
Kyooko reports.  "I took a quick look at the nominal roll and saw 
that he'd been scratched off the list.  The teachers are being quiet
about it, but you can bet that his removal from school'll become
public knowledge before long."

     "Wait until they find out about Mendou-san finally getting
married to that man-phobe Mizunokoji," Himiko Kawamura mutters under
her breath.

     "He's getting married?" Tomomi blinks.

     "Yoshino-san, PLEASE don't spread that around!" Ataru holds up 
an objecting hand.  "If the girls at school get wind of that..."

     "It could be as bad as when Rudolph Valentino died?" Kyooko
asks.

     "Partially," Ataru nods.  "But the bigger problem is the girls
trying to crash the wedding.  As Himiko just hinted, the idea of 
Sword-for-brains marrying Asuka Mizunokoji -- even given the fact 
that Asuka ISN'T afraid of Mendou -- doesn't sit well at ALL with 
most of the girls at Tomobiki High."

     "And if they DO get married, those idiots at school'd turn 
around and blame it all on you, right?" Ranma stares knowingly
at him.

     "Hai," Ataru nods, his eyes rolling.

     "So when's the happy day, anyway?" Tomomi asks, then noting
the warning look from Ataru, waves her hand.  "I'm not going to ruin
it!"

     "You better not," he winks, grinning.

     "It's Saturday after lunch," Sakuya provides, her eyes 
glittering.  "A nice, quiet, private ceremony.  It's SO romantic!"

     "Sakuya-san, PLEASE don't rub it in!" Mikiko Serizawa moans.

     Laughter fills the living room...

*    *    *

     "My diary?"

     "Hai," Shinobu nods.  She and Ryuunosuke relax in the living
room of the Miyaki home, their homework spread out before them.  "I 
was wondering if you've added anything to it since Ataru-kun told us
about the Church of Lum on Saturday, just after Lum and Lan came 
back."

     The tomboy blinks as she considers her friend's question,
then shakes her head.  "No, I haven't.  Then again, I haven't really
had much to write about since Oyaji and Nagisa died.  Why are you 
asking?"

     Shinobu takes a deep breath.  "It's because of the 
Niphentaxians, Ryuu-chan."  A pause, then, "And Ataru-kun, too.  
He..."

     "What about Moroboshi?!" Ryuunosuke snaps, cutting Shinobu
off.  "Why the hell should I care one damned bit about him after all
he's done to you, for heaven's sake?!  Especially since he left this
place...!"

     "Ryuu-chan, you don't understand!!" Shinobu shakes her head.
"It's not about Ataru-kun directly!  It's about his sisters!!"

     That causes the tomboy to stop.  "His sisters?!" she blinks.

     "Yes," Shinobu nods.  "Could you imagine what might happen if 
those people find out about Ataru-kun's sisters?  Especially
about the real young ones?  They're sitting targets for those 
monsters to go after just because they're related to Ataru-kun!
Do you want to see any of them hurt?!"

     "I..." Ryuunosuke pauses, then shakes her head.  "Oh, hell, no!
Of course not!  But..." she stops, then sighs.  "Shinobu, I really
don't think it matters any which way!  You heard what Saki-chan
said about them on Sunday!  Three billion of them are dead!!  I don't
think they're going to be in any sort of shape to go chase after 
Moroboshi now..."

     "How can we be sure, Ryuu-chan?" Shinobu holds up an objecting
hand.

     Silence falls as the two women consider that, then Ryuunosuke
sighs.  "He hurt you, Shinobu-chan," she hisses.  "He's hurt you 
since before Lum came into your lives, then when she left, he 
basically told you to go screw yourself for all he ever cared!  I 
hate that, Shinobu-chan!  I really do!!  And he's got the fuckin'
gall to demand things of you..."

     "He hasn't demanded anything of us save to leave him alone,
Ryuu-chan!" Shinobu cuts in, shaking her head.  "And he's got pretty
damned good reason to want us to leave him alone!  Twelve good 
reasons, in fact!!"

     Ryuunosuke stops, staring quizzically at her friend for a 
moment, then she blinks.  "Because of the diaries, right?"

     "Right!" Shinobu nods.  "Now, I don't know how is it those 
people are able to get copies of our diaries to make new chapters
for their so-called 'holy book.'  But we happen to know how they just
LOVE to twist our words around to make sure their damned party line's
kept, don't we?  And we both know how much they hate Ataru-kun!
Could you imagine what might happen if news of the sisters got to 
them?!  What those people might view them as?!"

     The tomboy shudders.  "That's true, ain't it...?"

     "Yes, it is.  And..." Shinobu stops.  "Ryuu-chan, I don't know
what my real feelings for Ataru-kun are.  There are days I want to 
strangle him for all of the stupid things he's done -- Even now! -- 
yet..." she pauses, then sighs.  "There are days I wish I could take
him somewhere safe and isolated, then live with him forever.  I don't
know!" she shrugs.  "But right now, Ryuu-chan, he sees US as a threat
to his family because of the Niphentaxians and what they do with our
most private WORDS!  And like it or not, he's got every right in the
world to see us that way!  You heard what he told us on Saturday!
Just because some dictator somewhere tried to have Lum and her family
killed, those monsters turned around and murdered five million 
innocent people!  Could you imagine what could happen if they went
after Ataru-kun's sisters, not to mention those girls he adopted?!"

     An icy chill warps through Ryuunosuke as images of Sakuya,
Chikage, Haruka, Hinako, Reiko and Kaneko pass through her mind.  
While the three older women seemed the type who could readily take
care of themselves, the younger ones were pretty vulnerable.
And if these Niphentaxians were as fanatic as Seiko herself asserted
before the Crossing Over...!  "Yeah, you got a point..." she 
whispers, then stares at Shinobu.  "Damn, why can't we get Seiko to 
try to find these people and let her deal with them?  After all, when
she was Lum, she was their 'goddess.'  Won't they listen to her?"

     Shinobu shakes her head.  "I don't think it'll work, Ryuu-chan.
If they're so willing to blind themselves to the truth when it comes
to our diaries, I doubt Seiko'll be able to make some headway with
them.  And look how much she's changed, for God's sake!  Would they
even BELIEVE her to be Lum even if she telepathically linked with any
of them?"

     "If she ever WANTED to link with them, that is," Ryuunosuke
notes.

     The other girl perks, then nods.  "Hai, even if she did!  She 
did say she hated them," Shinobu sighs, turning back to her 
homework...

*    *    *

     "Sisters...?"

     Fungi sits in the listening room, gazing absently at the 
computer which was now linked to listening devices positioned
in the domicile of the Sinful Doubter Shinobu (now also serving
as the home of the Holy Friend Ryuunosuke).  Running a hand through
his sandy hair, the observer, a man appearing to be in his late 
teens, grimaces as the words Shinobu Miyaki and Ryuunosuke Fujinami
exchanged now echo through his mind.

     And those words were troublesome indeed.

     Not for him personally, of course.  He was a member of the 
Church of Lum in name only.  Having Vosian ancestry through his 
mother's side, Fungi is blessed (or cursed, depending on one's 
viewpoint) with a blatant independent streak in his personality.
He joined the Church out of peer pressure, not to mention an 
understandably profound fear of being labelled an apostate, a capital
crime in the Niphentaxian Union.  And while being part of the Church
allowed him to travel off-planet, he could gladly do without some of
-- hell, "some?!"  Try ALL! -- the rituals his brother and sister
worshippers engaged in every day, from dawn unto dusk.

     Still, even now, he had to be careful.  The tragic news of the
Cataclysm had smashed morale among almost all the Holy City's 
observers right to the sub-strata.  Fungi's relatives, as far as he 
could tell, were alright; he wasn't from Phentax Two but one of the
colony worlds.  None of them had been on the Homeworld when the 
Cataclysm struck.  The same was true with those other observers
hailing from the colonies, regardless of personal viewpoints.
Fungi wasn't the only one who just paid lip-service to the Church.
As for those who DID hail from the Homeworld...!

     He sighs, tapping controls on his machine.  While he did grieve
for his co-workers' terrible loss, the fact that there now existed
a dangerous power vacuum in the Union had to be kept VERY prominently
in mind.  As communications between Earth and Phentax Two were being
restored, news flowing from the Homeworld wasn't good.  Emergency
councils were being established in all the provinces as the sheer
scale of the Cataclysm began to sink in.  Without direction from the
Church, those believers in the colonies, not to mention the 
Niphentaxian Fleet, were without any sort of firm spiritual guide.
Even more, the heretics from the old churches, all of whom survived
the Cataclysm unscathed, were hard at work undermining the Lumites'
authority.  Civil war in the Union was a clear possibility.

     And sadly, there was only one surefire way to avert such a 
calamity.

     Kill Ataru Moroboshi.  Destroy the "Great Evil."

     Fungi takes a deep breath as he taps controls, taking the files
of the audio recordings from the Miyaki home and putting them into
a secure folder accessible only to him.  It was the constant in all
civil conflicts:  find some way to bring outsiders into it.  And with
the hatred many Lumites felt towards Moroboshi, it wouldn't take much
for someone to rally the troops in a crusade against the "great 
evil," then obliterate him once and for all.  Of course, that many
innocent people here on Earth would get killed along the way was 
totally irrelevant to the issue at hand.

     Including these sisters...

     Finishing his work, Fungi closes down the computer, then 
stretches himself before heading out of the listening room.  
Returning to his living quarters, the observer prepares to retire
for the evening.  If Shinobu and Ryuunosuke were now forewarned
about their diaries, chances were good that the others in the "holy
company" might soon similarly be warned.  If those diaries were 
sealed off from Niphentaxian observation, it could result in a 
potential panic among those surviving Church leaders in the colonies
and the Fleet.  And if any one of them decided it was the Great Evil
himself who was at fault for the silence from the Holy Company -- 
which it actually WAS, Fungi bitterly muses, though for very good 
reasons...!

     "Damn mess," he mutters, slipping under the covers.

     Wait until everyone heard what happened to the Goddess 
herself...

*    *    *

     "Interesting..."

     Chikage gazes tranquilly at the image in her crystal ball, that
giving her a metaphysical bird's eye view of a dozing Fungi.  While
the young sorceress had yet to discern an easy way to magically
pick out all the Niphentaxian agents in and around Tomobiki, it was
possible for her to lock her mystical vision on those possessing
a very strong will.  And this Fungi certainly had THAT, a cryptic
smile crosses Chikage's face.

     "Hey, who's the cutie?"

     Chikage's eyes turn up as Sakuya steps into the spare bedroom
the former had temporarily taken over as her personal scrying 
chambers.  The latter slips into the chair across from her sister,
her eyes locked on Fungi's softly-chiselled face.  "Yes, he is quite
handsome, isn't he?" the sorceress chuckles, holding up a finger.
"But of course..."

     "He's not Onii-sama," Sakuya finishes.

     "Naturally," Chikage nods.

     Both gaze on each other, then chuckle for a moment.  "So who is
this guy, anyway?" Sakuya quickly recovers.  "I can tell he's not a 
local."

     "He's Niphentaxian, though not from Phentax Two itself, I 
believe," Chikage reports.  "His name's Fungi dai-Jaedeen.
As Miree-san warned us, those who are members of the Church of Lum 
rarely if ever make use of their family names these days.  Some 
non-Niphentaxian ancestry in this one, I think.  He's not a hardcore
member of the Church.  He only joined because of peer pressure
and a desire to avoid being labelled an apostate..."

     "That's bad?"

     "People are put to death on Phentax Two for being such."

     Sakuya winces.  "Ouch!  Perfect incentive to join the church,
huh?"

     "Hai," Chikage nods.  "He one of the observers in charge of 
keeping a close eye on Shinobu Miyaki.  Just before turning in for 
the evening, he overheard Shinobu and Ryuunosuke Fujinami talk about
their diaries."

     An eyebrow arches.  "Diaries?"

     "The Church's holy book is based on distorted copies of the 
diaries of those people who closely associated with Lum," the 
sorceress explains.  "Even if Ani-kun's former classmates wrote 
positively about him, the people who make the Church's holy book 
would rewrite the text to ensure that Ani-kun's image as their 'great
evil' is maintained.  Shinobu warned Ryuunosuke that if she were to 
make new diary entries, she should avoid making any mention of any of
Ani-kun's relations.  Fungi overheard that."

     Hearing that, Sakuya moans.  "Oh, terrific..."

     "However, after reading that, Fungi sealed the audio file of 
that conversation.  From what I could divine, no one will be able to
get into that file and retrieve the information within," Chikage
adds.

     Sakuya considers that, then smiles.  "So he's on our side?"

     "Not firmly," the sorceress shakes her head.  "Being what he is,
Fungi must walk a very fine line for the next while.  Without any 
firm control from Phentax Two, the observers here on Earth are unsure
as to what they should do.  Continue their mission knowing that three
billion of those they once served are dead?  Abandon their mission
and return home, thus potentially risking grave punishment for 
failing their duty?  Abandon their mission and simply fade into the
masses, ending all contact with their compatriots back home?  What
happens in that case, Sakuya?  Will more of them come, this time 
acting more *overt* in serving their 'goddess?'"

     A groan escapes the eldest of the sisters.  "In other words,
it's a big mess and resolving it's going to be really, really hard."

     "Exactly."

     "Oh, cute..."

     A knock is heard at the door.  "Come!" Chikage calls out.

     The door opens, revealing Miree.  "I apologize for..." her voice
trails off as she takes in the darkened space, lit only by the square
of candles fencing in Chikage's work table.  "...bothering
you," she sighs, gingerly stepping over the candles to stand beside
Sakuya's chair.  "But I wanted a chance to speak to both of you on a 
vital matter."

     "Is there something wrong, Miree-san?" Sakuya asks.

     "Yes," Miree nods, then glances quizzically at the crystal
ball before gazing on Chikage.  "One of the Lumite observers?"

     "Yes, but not a firmly loyal one, fortunately," the sorceress
replies.  "I believe if he's approached right, he could become an 
ally."

     "I see," the Hollywoodite chief priestess takes that in, then
smiles.  "Well, there are those sects in the Church of Lum who look
upon your brother in a much more positive light.  Instead of the 
'great evil' as the dai-Zkuhsbagh calls him, he is seen as the 
'Goddess' Beloved Darling.'"

     "Amazing," Sakuya wryly smirks.

     "Indeed, it is, Sakuya-san," Miree nods.  "And that difference
of opinion will give us ample opportunity to ensure that whatever
backlash events in Lumukyou produced will not be felt here on Earth."

     "Could you actually speak to these people, Miree?" Chikage
asks.  "Even if they are more sympathetic to Ani-kun, you are still
the nominal leader of a 'heretic' faith.  Will they listen to what
you have to say?"

     "Not if I have one of you with me when I speak to them."

     "Do you have anyone specific in mind?" Sakuya asks.

     "Aria."

     Silence.

     "ARIA-CHAN?!?!" Sakuya shrieks.  "Are you out of your mind?!!"
She advances on Miree, wagging her finger.  "Uh-uh, lady!  There's
no way in hell that I'd let you put Aria-chan in THAT sort of 
situation!!  And you can be assured that Onii-sama won't go for it,
either!!"

     The chief priestess remains calm.  "But what if Aria-chan
is armed with a device similar to what Hinako-chan now possesses,
Sakuya-san?"

     The younger women gaze wide-eyed at Miree, then Chikage asks,
"Is there such a device available at this time, Miree?"

     "Yes, there is.  It is called the Genesis Wand of Paran."

     "Where is it?" Sakuya demands.

     "On the other side of the galaxy," Miree immediately holds up a 
hand to cut off Sakuya's angry retort.  "But, thanks to the Staff,
it is easily accessible to us.  All we have to do is properly 
convince Hinako-chan to go retrieve the Genesis Wand and bring it 
back here for Aria-chan to use."

     "And you would go with Hinako to ensure her safety?" Chikage
asks.

     "Yes.  Jonna as well," Miree nods.

     Sakuya and Chikage exchange a look.  Silence falls over the room
for a moment, then the elder sister turns back to Miree.  "You better
make DAMN sure that Hinako-chan isn't hurt when you go find this 
thing, Miree-san," her voice turns very cold as she glares at the 
older woman.

     "The Staff will guarantee that, Sakuya-san," Miree lightly
smiles...

*    *    *

     "Is that checky, Shi-chama?"

     Shinshi grunts appreciatively as Yotsuba's fingers pull and 
knead his shoulder muscles.  "Oh, that's DEFINITELY checky, Yo-chan,"
he leans back into her, resting his head in the crook of her neck.
Both now sit on the front porch, gazing at the dark sky overhead.
"If I die right now, lying in your arms, I die in ultimate bliss,"
he closes his eyes.

     Yotsuba stares at him, then smiles, sliding her arms under his
armpits to rest her hands on his stomach.  Shinshi quakes slightly
as her fingers gently tug up his T-shirt, then begin to dance around
his navel.  "Yotsuba definitely won't like it one bit if Shi-chama
suddenly took the Big Checky to Saint Peter's Gate," she playfully
purrs into his ear.

     "No, I guess you wouldn't," he grins, then turns to gaze into
her eyes.  "Oh, Kami-sama!  You're so beautiful, Yo-chan."

     Yotsuba's cheeks redden, then she leans in to give him a tender
kiss.  "You're the most perfect man I've ever met," she whispers
in English, then flips back to Japanese.  "Except Ani-chama,
of course!" she winks.

     Shinshi smirks.  Okay, if Yotsuba wanted to play language
roulette, he would go along with it.  "My dear Miss Dunn, why is it 
you're always putting your own brother on such a high pedestal?"
he flips to English, grateful that Nabiki was fluent in the language
of would communications (not to mention world business!).  "After
all, much that he HAS done a lot to keep our planet safe from all the
idiots out yonder..." he points up to the starry night, "...he isn't
perfect, you know.  Not by far."

     Yotsuba blinks, then slides her hands up to his chest.  
"Shinshi, what on Earth makes you think I want a perfect boyfriend,
much less a perfect big brother?" she returns to her native tongue.

     Silence.  Shinshi gazes nowhere in particular for a moment as he
absorbs her words, then he gazes on his girlfriend.  "Yotsuba..."

     "Nobody's perfect, Shinshi," she leans her chin on his shoulder,
then patting his chest, moves to stand.  Stepping onto the lawn, she
gazes into the evening sky, then turns back to him.  "Do you want to
know what Ani-chama's best attribute is?" she walks back to sit into
his lap.

     Shinshi blinks, then draws her close.  "What is it?"

     "He's willing to admit that he's nowhere close to being perfect.
And that he doesn't want to become someone's idea of being 
'perfect.'"

     His eyebrow arches.  "That's an attribute?"

     "In my mind, yes," Yotsuba nods, then sighs.  "I found out the
truth about my real father -- and my relation to Ani-chama -- six 
months ago when Negako-anechama came to England to find me.  Dad -- 
my step-dad, that is -- and Mom had always been honest with each 
other about where I exactly came from.  I still keep in touch with
them, even now.  And at first..."

     She pauses.  "You didn't want to be associated with someone
like Ataru, right?" Shinshi gazes knowingly at her.

     "Yeah," Yotsuba nods.  "Of course, when Ane-chama told me about
what Ani-chama had been made to forget, much less what was going on 
between Ani-chama and those twits he called parents..." she rolls
her eyes in disgust, "...well, I've never been one who could accept
something like *that!*  So I decided Ani-chama NEEDED a sister,
someone who'd be willing to give him a chance, give him the benefit
of the doubt.  So I moved to the Island, then when the chance came,
I visited Tomobiki.  Guess when I was there?"

     Shinshi considers that, then blinks.  "Not the Tag Race; that
was only three months ago."  A pause, then, "The Pseudo-War?"

     "Yep," Yotsuba chuckles, then crosses her arms.  "Oh, man, was
THAT weird!!"  A pause, then, "Well, I had some of the Kuromoroboshi
with me to help out with my investigation.  I got there while 
Ani-chama and those goofs were making some sort of school movie in 
and around Mendou's cherry tree.  And there was one time..." her eyes
narrow as she recalls those events, "...just before things started
going really weird."  She nods, then carries on with the narration.
"They were filming a scene and Ani-chama didn't do something right.
Right away, Megane -- you know about him, don't you?" she looks at 
Shinshi.  At his nod, she goes on.  "Well, Megane starts berating
Ani-chama about being such an idiot.  He told him Ani-chama wasn't
living up to what being Japanese was all about.  And Ani-chama..."
a smile crosses her face.  "You want to know what he said in return?"

     "What?"

     "He told Megane that he just didn't care about all that 
nonsense.  That he knew he wasn't perfect and..." Yotsuba stops.
"I don't really recall what else he said, but when I was hearing
that, I realized that Ani-chama wasn't ashamed or embarrassed
by what he said.  And I sensed that he really, really HATED all the
things Megane and Mendou and the rest of those clods were grousing
about, Shinshi.  And..." she points to some spot on the lawn, 
"...there was Lum sitting there and she said NOTHING!"

     "Well, she was an alien," Shinshi shrugs.  "She lived under very
different social circumstances than from what you or I'd know."

     "Yeah, true, but the way I saw it, Lum supported Ani-chama
in what he believed in," Yotsuba nods.  "And I knew that with Lum 
supporting him, even with just silence, there was just no way in hell
that those stupid dorks in Tomobiki could ever try to make Ani-chama
into something he didn't want to be.  And then..." she pauses, gazing
nowhere in particular.

     "What?"

     "Well, Negako-anechama told me soon after that chances were 
pretty good that if Ani-chama got his memories back, things'd happen
that'd see Lum sent back to her planet," she closes her eyes, 
clasping her arms in her lap.  "And hearing that, I realized that if
he was left all alone in Tomobiki, without Lum's support, that 
Ani-chama would've eventually been smashed down by those creeps.
And I didn't want that, Shinshi.  I didn't want it at all!"  She 
nods.  "Yeah, I know Ani-chama's done some pretty stupid things when
he was living in Tomobiki.  But after I watched the whole Pseudo-War
go down, then stayed around for a bit afterward, I..."

     She pauses, then blinks as Shinshi squeezes her shoulders.
"You decided it wasn't fair that he had next to no one supporting
him," he draws her close to him.  "And you decided that no matter
what, you'd stand by him and give him a real home when he came to the
Island, right?"

     She nods.  "Yeah.  You know..." she leans her head into the 
crook of his neck.  "I've watched people in Tomobiki, Nerima and a 
few other places.  You want to know something?  So many people hide
themselves behind these masks they project to everyone else.  To 
their friends, schoolmates...!  And even to their family, too.  And
all these masks create this..." she pauses, struggling to find the 
right words to describe what she feels.

     "A country filled with lies," Shinshi proposes.

     "Yeah!" she nods.  "And because of all these lies, people end up
getting hurt.  You have people like me, born outside the bounds of a 
legal wedding.  A lot of people in Japan wouldn't have anything
to do with me because of that.  Why?  Just because my real dad was 
horny one night and my real mom was willing to have fun in the sack
with him without taking any sort of precaution?  And people turn 
around and act as if it's MY fault that I was born that way?!"  
Another pause, then, "Then there're all the Koreans living in Japan.
Look what happens to them, Shinshi?  They're denied even the basic
rights of citizens today because their grandparents and 
great-grandparents were shipped here during the first part of the 
last century to be no better than slave labourers.  Then there're
all the burakumin descendants out there.  And the Ainu.  And..."

     She shakes her head.  "It'll take a lot to make any sort of real
changes here, Yotsuba," Shinshi warns, gently rubbing her shoulder.

     "Yeah, I know," she leans against him, resting a hand on his 
heart.  "What about you, Shinshi?  What happens when people find out
the truth about you?  Or Kimiko for that matter?  You both weren't
born 'naturally' but because of magic and alien technology.
Wouldn't that make you as much of an outsider as I am?  Or the other
girls?  Or Ani-chama?"

     "Yeah, I guess it would," he nods, then grins.  "Well, lucky
for us, one wonderful aspect about our so-called 'country of lies'
is that there're ways to make those who'd condemn us look the other
way when that's needed.  I guess that'll have to stay that way for a 
while yet."  A smirk crosses his face as he stares bemusedly at her.
"So, Miss Dunn, you're ultimately saying to me is that you fell in 
love with me because I'm as much an 'outsider' as you.  Right?"
he gives her a soft stare.

     Yotsuba stiffens for a second, then relaxes on seeing the amused
look on his face.  "Well, Mister Tendou, I could admit that was part
of it," she shrugs.  "After all, when I saw you in that room this 
morning, being tended to by Chikage, Ane-chama and Ani-chama's
friend, it didn't take me long to realize that SOMETHING bad was 
wrong with you."  She sits up to gaze warmly in his eyes.  "I guess
I was right, eh?" she winks before kissing him.

     "Hmmm..." he moans through their kiss, then as they pull apart,
he leans up to gently bat his nose on hers.  "Guess you were right."

     They slip into another mouth-watering kiss, that being 
interrupted a minute later by the front door flying open.  Both watch
as a shivering Akane storms out of the old shrine, racing for the 
front gate.  "Akane?!" Shinshi rises as soon as Yotsuba gets off his
lap.  "Akane, what's wrong?!"

     Akane stops, giving her brother a teary-eyed look before racing
off.  Shinshi is quick to notice the flaming skin on her right cheek,
something only a well-aimed slap or punch would leave behind.  As the
youngest of the Tendous races away, the door opens again, revealing
Marie, Michael at her side.  "Akane-san!!" the bespectacled
teen calls out.  "Come back!"

     "Marie-chan, what happened?!" Yotsuba walks over to her.

     The other woman takes a deep breath, then returns her sister's
look.  "Oh, it was just awful, Yotsuba-chan!  Akane-san tried to have
a talk with Aneue-sama, but..." she shakes her head, waving to the 
gate.

     "Let me guess," Shinshi slides up beside Yotsuba.  "Akane tried
to talk nice to Ranma, but their mouths got out of control and it 
became one of their usual shouting matches.  Sans Mallet-sama,
of course," he winks.

     "Almost right, I admit."

     "Ani-chama!"

     "Aniue-sama!"

     "What happened?" Shinshi turns as Ataru joins them on the porch.

     The Moroboshi patriarch-in-waiting shakes his head.  "She asked
if she could talk to us both," he crosses his arms.  "I went along
with it because, regardless of what happened yesterday, Akane and 
Ranma DO need and deserve the chance to set things straight between
them.  But..."

     "What happened?" Yotsuba prods.

     Ataru closes his eyes.  "As soon as we were alone, Akane started
to beg and plead for Ranma to move back with her family."

     "Oh, good grief!" Shinshi shakes his head, pinching the bridge
of his nose.  "That's the LAST thing Ranma needs to hear right now!"

     "Why would she ask that?" Yotsuba wonders.  "Come this weekend,
they're gonna be living with us at the rotunda at Welcome House!"

     "True," Ataru nods, holding up a finger.  "She did try to 
apologize for some of the stunts she pulled with Ranma when they were
engaged.  But when Ranma said she didn't want to live anymore with
them, Akane got pretty upset, then tried to blame everything
on me," he points to himself.

     "WHAT?!!" Marie and Yotsuba shriek together.

     "Did she try to hit you?" Shinshi asks.

     "Not while I had my Lawgiver sitting on my lap and one of my 
eunuch swords within reach," Ataru conspiratorially winks.  "Much
that I'd prefer to solve things without fighting, I do know about
your sister's problematic control over her temper, Shinshi.  I wasn't
going to just stand there and let her try to beat me down just to 
make her feel better!"

     Shinshi nods.  "So what did Ane-chama do?" Yotsuba wonders.

     Ataru deeply exhales.  "She slapped Akane and told her to get 
out of her life once and for all time," he hoarsely whispers,
glancing knowingly at Shinshi.  "This time, Ranma made it VERY clear
that she won't tolerate any further attempts by Akane to force 
herself all over her."

     "Akane's pretty stubborn, Ataru," Shinshi warns.

     "Even against what Ranma used Sunday night against Genma?"

     Maria and Yotsuba blink confusedly, then turn to see Shinshi's
face visibly pale as the unspoken message in Ataru's words sinks into
his mind.  "Right..." he shakily nods, then turns to head off.  
"Look, I'll check up on her.  I guess Akane's taking what's happened
to Ranma a lot worse than we first suspected.  You..." he stops,
then sighs.  "Tell Ranma-chan that Onee-chan, Nabiki and I understand
what she's going through now."

     He races off.  "Shi-chama..." Yotsuba whispers.

     Ataru takes a deep breath, then turns to head inside.  "Are you
going to be alright, Aniue-sama?" Marie gazes worriedly at him.

     He stops, then lightly smiles.  "Even if we're not..." he 
pauses, then shrugs.  "Fully ready to say it in public, we are 
feeling it, Marie-chan."  The smile slips.  "But believe me, neither
Ranma or I wanted our coming together to cause anyone pain.  
Especially like this."

     "Wishful thinking, Ani-chama," Yotsuba smirks.

     "Yeah.  Guess so," Ataru nods, then heads inside.

     Marie remains still for a moment, then steps back inside to get
her coat and outdoor shoes.  As she moves to exit, Yotsuba's 
surprised voice stops her.  "Hey, Marie-chan, where the heck are you
going?!"

     The look her bespectacled sister gives the would-be detective
sends chills down Yotsuba's back.  "To have a discussion with that
selfish woman about the way she's been treating Aneue-sama!
Come on, Michael!!"

     Marie and Michael race off.  "Marie..." Yotsuba whispers,
then jolts, remembering all of Ranma's tales about Akane's temper
tantrums.  Put Marie Susumu, a girl who wasn't anywhere near the best
of shape when it came to anything of a physical nature, in a 
situation like that, then...!

     "Hey, wait for Yotsuba!!" she screams out, racing after her 
sister...

*    *    *

     A half-hour later...

     Shinshi stops, standing at the front entrance of Hikarigaoka
Park.  His eyes are narrow as he peers into the wooded space.  Fred
Yamada's yatai is folded up and covered for the night, it parked
in an alcove to ensure it wasn't damaged or didn't become the target
of thieves.  Relaxing himself as he reaches out with his chi sense,
he then nods, heading inside.

     In two minutes, he stands beside a wading pool.  Glancing
at one lit area, Shinshi is quick to spot the lone woman seated on a 
bench, her back to the pool.  Taking a deep breath, he walks over.
As he approaches his sister, Shinshi winces on seeing the tears 
flowing from Akane's eyes.  The sound of his footfalls cause her to 
jolt, then she looks his way, eyes wide.  He stops, gazing intently
at her, inwardly hoping his face didn't imitate Nabiki's "ice queen"
look.  Akane blinks as she recognizes who came to join her, then 
looks nowhere in particular before closing her eyes.

     "What happened?" Shinshi asks.

     Silence responds from his sister, though he sees Akane's hands
clenching and unclenching.  Her lips quiver, as if trying to decide
whether to twist into an incensed sneer or frown in sorrow.  Shinshi
watches her, then sighs, moving to sit beside her.  Akane tenses
slightly, then her hands relax as her head droops.  He stays quiet,
giving her a chance to compose herself.  Finally, she sniffs.  "He 
hates me..." she whispers.

     "Who?" he gazes on her.  "Ataru?"

     Akane jolts, then spins on him.  "Baka!!!  I meant Ranma!!!"

     Shinshi winces, then sighs.  "Akane, you know Ranma's a girl 
now."

     Hearing that, she pauses, then shakes her head.  "N-no..."
she sputters, the lack of forceful conviction in her voice telling
Shinshi a lot more than what Akane would want him to know.  "N-no,
he can't...!"

     "She is," he whispers, slipping a comforting arm around her.  
Akane stiffens, then finds herself relaxing as Shinshi draws her 
close.  "She is, Akane-chan.  There's no getting away from that now,
sis..."

     "B-but..."

     He shushes her.  "No, sis.  You can't deny this anymore.  If you
keep on doing that, you'll only hurt yourself.  Let it go..."

     Akane tries to mutter something, then her strength fails as she
sinks into her brother's embrace.  Shinshi holds her close as Akane
sobs into his shirt, she gripping his jacket as if it was the only
thing holding her to a time and world, a way of life, she never 
wanted to be free of.  Time fades away as they remain in that 
position, then Shinshi perks on sensing a very familiar presence
approach from his left.  Turning, he relaxes on seeing Nabiki and 
Kasumi walk up, the worry on both their faces speaking volumes.

     Without verbal bidding, Kasumi sits behind Akane, then draws
her arms around her sobbing sister.  As Akane reciprocates
her sister's embrace, Nabiki walks behind the bench, placing her 
hands on Akane's shoulders in an extra show of support.  No words
are said between any of them as Akane continues to weep.  Finally,
after another eternity, Akane's sobs melt into a string of sniffles,
then she pulls herself away from Kasumi.  Wiping her eyes, she gazes
on her sister.  "Wh-what are you doing here...?"

     "Sakuya-san called and told us what happened between you, 
Ranma-chan and Ataru-kun," Kasumi draws a handkerchief to help wipe
Akane's cheeks.

     The youngest Tendou's eyes widen.  "S-s-Sakuya...?!"

     "Yes," Kasumi nods.  "Right now, there are a group of very angry
people at that shrine, Akane-chan.  They didn't take well to the idea
of you accusing their brother of acting improperly towards 
Ranma-chan..."

     "SO WHAT?!!" Akane snaps, bolting to her feet, the sorrow in her
eyes instantly vanishing.  "Whose business is it of theirs when to 
comes to what happens between Ranma and us?!  They're not part of 
Ranma's family, Onee-chan!!  WE'RE Ranma's family!!" she points to 
herself.  "They've...!!"

     The park instantly echoes with the loud *crack!* of flesh 
slamming hard into flesh.  Akane's voice is cut off, her eyes 
widening in shock as she reaches up to feel the fresh bruise Kasumi's
hand left on her cheek.  Nabiki's and Shinshi's faces remain neutral
as the elder of the Tendou sisters lowers her arm, a pained look 
crossing her face.  "O-onee-chan..." Akane stammers, stunned that 
*Kasumi* of all people just slapped her.

     "That is enough, Akane-chan," Kasumi takes a deep breath.  
"You've been given every opportunity in the world to fully make up 
with Ranma-chan, to finally stop all this pointless bickering
you engage in, to correct all the misunderstandings that've cropped
up between you two.  But every time you've tried to speak to 
Ranma-chan since she met Ataru-kun and his family, all you've ended
up doing is throwing accusation after accusation into her face.  No 
different whatsoever from the time when you were actually engaged.
And NOW, you turn around and start accusing Ataru-kun of some of the
same STUPID things you once accused Ranma-chan of doing?!"

     "WHY NOT?!!" Akane roars.  "You KNOW what that perverted
jerk...!!"

     *CRACK!*

     Akane nearly drops to her knees in the wake of Kasumi's hand 
hitting the very spot Ranma hit her not thirty minutes before.  "That
is ENOUGH, Akane!!" Kasumi snaps, making Akane instantly wilt.  "Yes,
I am aware of what Ataru-kun's reputation was like when he still 
lived with his 'parents' in Tomobiki!  That is not the issue here,
Akane!  How DARE you try to paint Ataru-kun with the same sloppy
brush those IDIOTS in Tomobiki once used on him after all he's been
through in the last six weeks?!"

     She points in the direction of the Moroboshi home.  "You were
there this morning when Ataru-kun told everyone about what he went
through on Miree-sama's home planet.  How can you possibly THINK that
he'd revert back to the way he was after seeing three billion people
DIE before his very eyes?!  How can you possibly THINK that he'd try
to manipulate Ranma-chan against her will after all the things that
Oni girl forced him through when they were living together?!
Especially AFTER all the insane things all of Ranma-chan's
would-be suitors -- INCLUDING YOU, Akane-chan! -- tried to force HER
through before the wedding?!  HOW, Akane-chan?!"

     Akane shudders, then hugs herself.  "Ranma killed for me..."
she hisses, turning away from Kasumi.  "He fought for me every chance
he could, even after I told him again and again that I didn't want
him to do that for me!  He gave up a chance at a cure on Toma's 
island to save me from being CURSED!!  He stayed with us even with
all the times I tried to cook for him, even after all the times I 
hurt him, even after all the times I tried to chase off all those
other girls..." her voice breaks, then she staggers up against a 
lamppost.  "And NOW he wants to leave us?!  NOW he wants to forget
I even existed?!  Forget the last year and more even happened?!
WHY, Onee-chan?!" she gazes pleadingly at Kasumi.  "Why...?"

     Kasumi walks over to place a supportive hand on Akane's 
shoulder.  "Akane-chan, you've got to stop thinking of Ranma-chan
as a boy," she shakes her head.  "Negako-sensei explained it to you
last night..."

     "SO WHAT?!!" Akane spins on her, bashing Kasumi's hand away.

     They remain frozen for a moment, then Akane slowly collapses
against the lamppost, her arms folding against her.  "He just gave
up..." her voice drops to a stunned whisper.  "After all those times
he yelled to everyone around him 'I'm a boy!' -- after all the times
people like Herb and Cologne froze him as a girl -- after the times
he was forced to act as 'Ranko Tendou' to hide from that damned bitch
he called a mother -- even after the times we forced him to wear 
girl's clothes...!" she sniffs, then bellows to the heavens, "***HE
JUST GAVE UP!!!***  WHY, Onee-chan?!!"

     Silence falls as Akane's voice once again disintegrates
into a litany of moans.  Kasumi walks over to draw her sister into
another comforting embrace.  Akane holds tight onto her sister,
then her wailing turns into muttered words.  "He's my fiance...!
I want my fiance back...!  Ranma..."

     "Akane-san?!  Is that you?!"

     The Tendous perk on seeing two people and a very large animal
step into the light.  "Oh, Ryouga-kun, Akari-san, konban wa!!" Kasumi
blushes on recognizing them, then she moves to help Akane back to the
park bench.

     Seeing the sobbing girl he once loved deeply, Ryouga jolts,
then walks over to place a comforting hand on her shoulder.  
"Akane-san, what happened?!" he demands, then stares at Kasumi.
"Kasumi-san...?!"

     Kasumi sighs.  "Gomen nasai, Ryouga-kun.  Akane-chan just had 
another big fight with Ranma-chan..." her voice suddenly trails off
as she realizes something.  "Oh, I'm sorry.  You haven't been around
here for some time.  Recently, we've discovered something very 
shocking about Ranma-chan..."

     "About him actually being a 'her?'"

     Everyone stares at the wanderer.  "You KNOW?!" Nabiki gapes.

     Ryouga tenses, then sighs.  "Hai, I do," he straightens
up, pulling his hand away from Akane.  "I bumped into Ranma some days
ago at a place called Promised Island.  Incredible as this'll sound,
I met Ataru Moroboshi and all his sisters; that's where they live 
now.  Ranma..." he pauses for a moment.  "Just found out the night
before about what Jusenkyou really should've done to her, plus how 
the brain damage from the Neko-ken stopped it from fully happening.
Um..." he turns to Kasumi, though he is quick to notice the tall 
fellow standing beside Nabiki.  Who was he?  "How is Ranma now, 
anyway?  Is she still being treated for what happened...?"

     "All finally taken care of thanks to Negako-san and a place 
called 'Sanctuary,' Ryouga-kun," Nabiki explains.  "Ranma-chan's
a girl in her heart and her head as much as her body.  Problem is..."

     She gazes at Akane.  Ryouga notes that, then nods.  "Right."

     "Poor Ranma-sama," Akari shakes her head sympathetically.
"Do his..." she stops, then blushes.  "Gomen ne.  Do *her* parents
know?"

     "They are no longer of any concern, Akari-chan," Kasumi 
announces.  "Ranma-chan legally severed herself from her parents
on Sunday.  As of now, she is the head of her own branch of the 
Saotome clan, free of any duty or responsibility Genma or Nodoka
could demand of her.  Further, Genma is dead.  He died in a fight
with riot police on Sunday night after Ranma-chan decided it was time
for that beast to face up to his crimes."

     "Dead?!" Ryouga jolts, then thinking about it for a moment,
sighs.  "Well, perhaps that was for the best.  All Genma ever seemed
to do for Ranma was screw her life up more and more every step of the
way."

     "How can you SAY that, Ryouga-kun?!" Akane pleads.

     Ryouga returns her look, a wry smirk crossing his face.  "C'mon,
Akane-san, you should've realized it when we all found out about the
Neko-ken!  What type of father'd dump a boy into a pit of starving
cats just to teach him a supposedly 'invincible' martial arts 
manoeuvre?"

     "He did that to Ranma-sama?!" Akari pales.

     "That was the worst of it," Shinshi shakes his head.

     Ryouga stares at Nabiki's magically-born twin brother, then 
turns back to the middle Tendou daughter.  "Um, who...?" he indicates
Shinshi.

     Nabiki and Shinshi exchange a look, then chuckle.  "Say hello
to the latest result of Dad's attempt at forcing Ranma-chan into 
marrying into our family AFTER he learned the truth about what 
Jusenkyou DID to Ranma-chan," the former waves to the latter.  "This
is my brother Shinshi, Ryouga-kun.  He got created after Dad hit me 
with that cask of Nanniichuan the Jusenkyou guide sent Ranma-chan."
Seeing the shocked disbelief cross the wanderer's face, she adds,
"The cask Ojii-chan drank was ordinary spring water.  Dad hid the 
real cask to make sure he could keep Ranma-chan under his thumb."

     "WHAT?!?!" Ryouga nearly explodes.  "You dad cursed YOU just to
force you to marry Ranma?!!  Who the hell does he...?!"

     Kasumi places a hand on the ranting wanderer's shoulder.
"It's alright now, Ryouga-kun," she smiles.  "Father's been dealt
with."

     Ryouga stops, then chuckles.  "S-s-sorry..."

     "Oh, it's alright.  It's good that you do care, even if you're
not capable of being in Nerima as much as you want to," Kasumi nods,
then perks as she remembers something the wanderer told everyone
when he and Akari appeared.  "You've been to Promised Island already,
Ryouga-kun?"

     "Eh?!  Oh, y-yeah, I did!" Ryouga flusters, exchanging a knowing
look with Akari.  "Real nice place to visit!  And the people are 
something else, especially Ataru-san's sisters!"  He then holds up a 
finger.  "Only thing I didn't like about it was that statue atop 
Stargazer Hill!  Ugliest thing you ever laid eyes on!  Whoever the 
heck built it..." he shudders.

     "Well, we'll be moving there this weekend," Shinshi announces.

     "Don't bet on that, brother dear."

     Eyes lock on Nabiki.  "What do you mean?" Akane tenses.

     Nabiki sighs.  "Like it or not, sis, you screwed up BIG TIME 
when you started throwing insults Ataru-kun's way," she crosses
her arms.  "Sakuya-chan says that if we want to feel at home in 
Welcome House, YOU..." she points to Akane, "...will have to 
apologize to Ataru-kun for what you tried to accuse him of tonight
AND vow, now and forever more, that you'll do NOTHING to interfere
with his relationship with Ranma-chan!"

     Akane jerks, her eyes going wide as Nabiki's words sink in, then
she bolts to her feet, spinning on her sister.  "SAY WHAT?!?!  They
have...!!"

     Nabiki's knuckles rap lightly on Akane's forehead to silence
her.  "Uh-uh, sis!" the former holds up a warning finger.  "Not THIS
time!  And yes, they've got every right in the world to demand that,
you know!!" she points at Akane's heart.  "Remember, they're the ones
who invited us to come live with them at Welcome House!  If they can
do something like that out of the blue, they can RESCIND it just as 
quickly, Akane-chan!"

     "And they have threatened to do just that," Kasumi adds.

     Akane spins on Kasumi.  "B-but..."

     "Sorry, sis," Nabiki shakes her head.  "Take it or leave it."

     "B-b-but..."

     "No, Akane-chan," Kasumi sighs.  "You cannot object.  If you 
continue to believe you can interfere in Ranma-chan's life without
acknowledging that she has the unquestionable right to decide what
to do with her life, especially when it comes to whom she desires
to love, you are no better than Father, Genma and Nodoka.  And if you
do..." she takes a deep breath, then turns away, "...I will not 
acknowledge you as my sister anymore."

     Silence.

     "O-onee-chan...!" Akane gapes, wide-eyed at Kasumi's 
declaration.

     Shinshi and Nabiki remain silent.  Ryouga moves to say 
something, then jolts on feeling Akari's hand touch his arm.  He 
looks at her, then on seeing her shake her head, reluctantly
nods, taking a step away from Akane.  Akane herself doesn't notice,
her eyes locked on her sister's back as her mind rolls over what 
Kasumi just told her.  Finally, the look on Akane's face slowly melts
into an icy neutrality.  She straightens herself, then turns to 
leave.  "Suit yourself then, Kasumi," her voice is hoarse.

     She walks away.  Kasumi shudders, then moves to follow Akane
when a strange woman's voice calls out, "So she won't accept defeat!"

     Eyes snap over to a shadowed figure standing near another 
lamppost down the walkway, the shape of a large dog sitting at her 
feet.  "Marie-chan!!" Shinshi and Ryouga call out on recognizing
her, then the former's eyes lock on another woman standing near a 
tree to Marie's right.  *Yo-chan,* Shinshi shudders, then slips away
from Nabiki to join Yotsuba.

     Akane stops, her eyes locking on the bespectacled teenager
now standing in her path.  "What the hell do YOU want?" she snarls.

     Marie is unperturbed by the growl in Akane's voice, a reaction
that causes everyone to focus their attention on her.  Very few could
stand in the path of Akane Tendou's wrath and NOT be affected,
even emotionally.  None of the Nerimians expected that a girl like
Marie Susumu would be one of them.  "I came to see for myself what
sort of spoiled, selfish *brat* Aneue-sama was forced to call a 
fiancee," she tonelessly replies.

     Akane jolts, her skin sallowing as Marie's words cut deep into
her heart, then her fists clench.  "How dare you...?!" she advances
on Marie, then jolts as Michael arches up, a warning growl escaping
him.

     "How dare I, you ask?!" Marie smirks.  "A blind man couldn't
help but notice what you really are, Tendou-san!  It's a sheer, utter
MIRACLE to me that Aneue-sama was able to survive over a year of your
self-possessed, cowardly abuse with as much of her sanity and good
nature intact!"

     The older girl's skin then flames as insulted rage roars up her
spine, her fingers curling around an invisible mallet shaft.  
"You..."

     Again, Marie is unaffected.  "Ah, yes!  Akane Tendou's first
defence against facing reality!  Simply mallet the person trying
to demonstrate her shortfalls into the dirt, then insult the poor 
fool whose skull she nearly crushed to the point that permanent
BRAIN DAMAGE sets in!"  She takes a step towards Akane, Michael
remaining at her side.  That sudden manoeuvre makes Akane balk, 
though she tries to disguise her surprise with a mask of righteous
outrage.  "I have to really wonder, Tendou-san.  How did it feel when
you hit Aneue-sama?  Did you actually LIKE it, knowing deep in your
heart that Aneue-sama couldn't bring herself to fight back?"

     Another step on Akane, this one making the youngest Tendou 
visibly wince as Marie's words slice right into her heart.  "Did you,
perchance, get a THRILL knowing you had total POWER over Aneue-sama's
very LIFE?!" Marie asks.  "After all, there was your lazy father
and that child-abusing MONSTER Aneue-sama called a father, ready to 
jump on your side every time Aneue-sama showed even a HINT of 
resistance to their plans for you!"

     She takes another step, Michael's growl picking up in intensity.
That makes Akane stagger back yet again.  "And even if those two 
total fools couldn't do something about Aneue-sama, there were your
sisters to go HIDE behind!" Marie indicates Kasumi and Nabiki, then
a condemning smirk crosses her face.  "Oh, how wonderful it must've
felt for you!" she claps her hands in mock-delight.  "After all, 
Nabiki-san there was having the time of her life twisting poor 
Aneue-sama around her baby finger and making all that MONEY!  Even
better, Nabiki-san felt JUSTIFIED in making Aneue-sama's life total
HELL!!" her eyes lock on Nabiki, causing the middle Tendou daughter
to wilt on herself, then she turns on Kasumi.  "And worst of all,"
Marie's voice drips with scorn as Michael moves to place herself
in front of his mistress.  "There was sweet, wonderful, 'Oh, all's
well with the whole world!' Kasumi-san.  One of the two people 
Aneue-sama readily declared was her 'friend' to all of us."  A 
disgusted sneer crosses her face.  "Who, in truth, became the worst
type of HYPOCRITE when it came to dealing with Aneue-sama!  A 
'friend?!'  Not very likely!"

     Kasumi stares wide-eyed at the bespectacled young woman now 
facing Akane down.  Akane herself shudders as Marie's eyes lock once
more on her.  "Oh, yes," the latter nods.  "After all, Kasumi could
make friends with everyone she encountered.  And that ESPECIALLY
included someone as starved for real, trusting friends as Aneue-sama
was the day she first walked into your home.  And by doing so, Kasumi
could help SHIELD you from learning what the world is really all 
about!  She's your older sister, after all.  That's what older 
sisters do for younger sisters, especially when it comes to 
disruptive, barbaric, so-called 'perverted jerks' like Aneue-sama!"

     Akane's fists clench as Marie throws up her hands in an "Oh, 
well!" gesture.  "And what happens now?" her voice lilts to a mocking
tone.  "When Kasumi-san and Nabiki-san both have to come to realize
their mistakes and are willing to fully reconcile with Aneue-sama?
YOU HATE IT!!!" she points accusingly at Akane.  "You hate it because
you KNOW that if your sisters aren't there to shield you anymore,
you'll never have ANY chance to force your will on your so-called
'property!'"  Seeing Akane about to retort, Marie wags her finger.
"Oh, no, PLEASE!!  Don't bother trying to make up excuses!  You might
as well just come out and admit it, Tendou-san!  Aneue-sama was NEVER
a real person to you!!  All she ever was..." she lowers her arm, her
voice dropping to a disgusted whisper, "...was your TOY!!"

     "You...!" Akane hisses.  "You have no right..."

     "About what?!" Marie snorts, her eyes narrow.  "I've no right
to judge you?  I strongly suggest you think again, Tendou-san.
Rinrin-chan offered your family the chance to relocate to the Island
so that you can finally break clean from your past and start over 
again.  And here you are, bound, bet and determined to drag that past
with you to the Island!  Why?!  Just because the person who was 
literally GIVEN to you as a fiance decided to take control of her 
life and was forced to come together with my brother to help her do 
just that!"  She takes another step towards Akane.  "Are you so 
afraid of admitting defeat finally that you'll gladly turn around
and ruin the lives of EVERYONE around you just to get your way?!  
WELL?!!"

     Silence falls as Akane's fists quiver.  Marie remains icily 
still, her eyes boring into the other woman's like twin daggers.
Sensing that she wasn't going to make any sort of reply, the 
bespectacled teen then sighs.  "I see then," she crosses her arms,
then gazes at Kasumi.  "I'm sorry to say this now, Kasumi-san,
but after what this THING you call a sister did to my brother and 
future sister-in-law this evening, not to mention her unwillingness
to finally see the light about a lot of things, I cannot, in all good
conscience, support her coming to Promised Island.  The invitation
to come live with us still stands for yourself, Nabiki-san and 
Shinshi-kun.  As to what you can do with this spoiled brat..."
she indicates Akane, then turns to leave.  "I leave to you to decide.
Have a good evening."

     She walks off, Michael following her.  Akane jolts as Marie 
walks off, then screams out as Mallet-sama appears in her hand.  "YOU
BITCH!!!"

     "MARIE-CHAN, LOOK OUT!!!!" Yotsuba cries out.

     Marie turns as Akane lunges at her...

     ...then an orange-and-black blur surges between them, melting
into Ryouga, an open umbrella at the ready.  With one sweep of the 
umbrella's sharp edge, Akane's mallet is shredded, the pieces 
dropping into the wading pool to the youngest Tendou's right.  Akane
screams, collapsing on her backside as Ryouga closes up his umbrella.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, AKANE?!?!" the wanderer
demands, glaring her down.

     Silence falls as everyone takes in what Ryouga did.  Akane 
stares wide-eyed at him, then staggers back up.  "Ry-ryouga-kun..."
she sputters, her mind rolling over what just happened.  "Wh-why
did you...?"

     "I think you would understand why, Akane-san," a neutral look
crosses his face as Marie gazes impassionately at her would-be
attacker.  "You were about to hit someone in the BACK with that 
damned mallet of yours!  Someone who wasn't even a martial artist,
for heaven's sake!!" he points at Marie.  "Damn it all, Akane-san,
you should KNOW better than that!"

     Akane gazes at him, then screams out, "RYOUGA NO BAKA!!!!"

     The wanderer is caught by surprise as Akane's fist smashes
into his cheek.  The blow sends him flying into the pond.  
"RYOUGA-SAMA!!!!" Akari cries as he hits, sinking immediately
into the shallow water.

     Akane turns, then gasps as Marie's hand slams into her cheek.
Given the latter's lack of physical strength, the strike does nothing
more than cause the former's head to jolt slightly.  Akane then spins
on the smaller woman, a new surge of outrage boiling up her spine.
Then, as Shinshi and Nabiki lunge over to yank their sister away from
Marie, a piglet's squeal echoes from the pond.  "What...?" Akane 
turns right...

     ...to see P-chan float up to the surface, his forepaws 
helplessly slapping the water before him as he tries to stay afloat.
Michael leaps into the pond, snaring the struggling Ryouga by the 
bandanna, then he wades ashore, depositing the piglet on the edge of
the pond before leaping back in to retrieve Ryouga's clothes.  
"Hibiki-san, are you alright?!" Marie walks over, drawing a 
handkerchief from her skirt to help dry him off.

     "'Hibiki'...?!"

     Marie stops, staring at Nabiki, Shinshi and Akane.  The shocked
looks on their faces causes her to pause.  "Didn't any of you know
about Hibiki-san's curse?!" she asks, then moves to cradle the 
transformed Ryouga in her handkerchief as Akari joins her, a larger
towel in hand for her fiance.

     Shinshi and Nabiki exchange a stunned look.  Akane is 
white-faced as memories of her spending time with her pet flash 
through her mind.  Nabiki spins on Kasumi, quickly noting the 
saddened look on the latter's face.  "You KNEW?!!" she demands,
letting go of Akane as she moves to confront her other sister.  "Did
you know about this?!!" she points back at P-chan.

     "I..." Kasumi pauses, then nods.  "Hai, I did.  So did Father."

     Nabiki blinks, then crosses her arms.  "When did all this 
happen?  Hell, when did Ranma find out about this, anyway?"

     "It..." another pause, then she takes a deep breath.  
"Ranma-chan learned of Ryouga-kun's curse the night he first came to
the house.  This was before, I should add, Akane adopted 'P-chan'
as her pet."

     Silence falls as that information rolls through Nabiki's mind,
then she takes another step closer to Kasumi.  "And how is it this
pervert here managed to convince Ranma to keep this whole mess a 
SECRET?!"

     "It was because Ranma-chan was the one who cursed him," Kasumi
closes her eyes.  "By accident, I should add.  Ryouga-kun just had 
the ill-luck to wander into Jusenkyou the day Ranma-chan and Genma
trained there."

     Nabiki takes that in, then sighs.  "So the idiot played up on 
Ranma's sense of honour to keep it quiet, then turned around and took
advantage of that silence to press on his vendetta, right?!"  On 
seeing Kasumi nod, the middle Tendou daughter shakes her head.  "I 
can guess Dad decided to keep silent about this as a way to motivate
Ranma into admitting her feelings for Akane.  I assume the panda knew
about this, too.  Right?"

     "Yes."

     "You..."

     Eyes lock on Akane.  The blank look on her face has now melted
into a virtual typhoon of outrage.  "I thought you were my friend..."
she yanks her arm away from Shinshi, her eyes locked on the piglet
in Akari's hand.  "I thought I could TRUST you!" an accusing finger
rises to point at P-chan.  "But you...!" her breathing becomes 
laboured as chi starts to coalesce in her hand.  "You...!!" she grabs
Mallet-sama with both hands as she prepares to dish out some VERY 
overdue punishment, regardless of the fact that two innocent women
were now in her field of fire.  "***YOU BASTARD!!!!***"

     "BWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII...!!!!"

     A giant shadow drapes over Akane.  Before the enraged girl could
react, much less dodge, a ton of rikibuta lands on her.  
Katsunishiki's paws force Akane's shoulders to smash into the cement
fenceline ringing the pool.  As her body crashes down, the 
sickeningly grinding sound of bones shattering is nearly muffled
out by her attacker's sheer bulk.  What isn't muffled out is a loud
*crack!* as Akane's head bounces off the cement, the whiplash effect
enough to snap her spine like an old twig right at the base of her 
skull!  In a flash, Katsunishiki bounds back, moving to protect
his mistress, thus allowing everyone else to see what he has done.

     "AKANE!!!!"

     "Oh, MY!!!"

     "Oh, shit!!" Yotsuba pales on seeing the blood now flowing
from Akane's nose and lips, not to mention a throat ripped open by 
dislocated bones.  Realizing instantly that the youngest Tendou was
about to hop onto the Last Checky, the would-be detective screams
out...

     "***HINAKO-CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!***"

*    *    *

To be continued...


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