This is part 17 but I think it doesn't require reading
any of the previous chapters by itself though some
parts may have more relevence later.  This and
previous parts are also availabel on the internet at:

http://briefcase.yahoo.com/rolfwind

In the unruly son folder, Chapter 17 would be second
page.

Here it is in email:

THE NILE'S EDGE PART I


CHAPTER 17 : THE BEGINNING : EONS AGO


(One side screen lighted up.)

Lights swirled and swirled in a hypnotic kaleidoscope,
the colors jarring together in a barrage of cascading
rivers flowing into a chaos that eventually shaped up
together into a complex pattern until the vision
blurred into a coherent picture.  This person was in a
large hall, without beginning nor end, nor a definable
ceiling.  The only thing solid was the floor, composed
of gold, its mirrored surface perfectly polished, the
superhuman sight could not detect a blemish nor smear
in its entirety.  Floating above the floor was a long
rectangular table, it's legs hidden or nonexistant,
for the creation was a gigantic structure composed of
a perfectly neutral gray that seemed that to reflect
light as much as it absorbed it.  Two chairs resided
on the ends, one crimson at the narrow end and a gray
one at the opposing end.

A hand came up to wipe at the eyes before looking up,
the owner of those eyes spotted a face that was
timeless, yet it had it's own aged quality to it. 
Every expression brought defining wrinkles to the
skin, however, it smoothed out when the face reverted
back to its normal neutral expression, patiently
waiting for this person to speak.

Speak, the possessor of this point of view did not. 
They continued examining, observing, taking in every
sight, looking past the surface to see the mechanism
beyond that made this strange world work.  The kind
man's eyes were aloof, not totally committed to the
sight in front of them, the only indication of
alertness was the specific angle and tilt towards the
silent spectator in front of it.  Those perfectly
neutral gray orbs of infinite depth and wisdom never
blinked nor would they ever need to. 

The observation went past the man's depthless eyes to
his personage, it appeared to be a man of average
height, sleek, almost feeble build, with gray hair and
beard whose shade matched that of his eyes and the now
forgotten table.  His simple robe, which modestly
circled his neck and went down to such a length that
they hid the fact whether he had feet or not.

The studious person lifted her head, and asked in her
majestic voice asked, "Who are you?"  Her rich and
deep voice made itself plainly heard in the
encompassing silence but the very vastness of the
chamber prevented an echo from forming.

She was answered back with the male voice of the elder
man, wizened beyond his aesthetic years, calm and the
tone would have seemed almost indifferent except for a
mere hint of warmth behind his words.  "I am your
creator, the All-Father."

She bowed her head instintively before greeting him
again, "Hello, All-Father."  Remaining silent for a
moment, she amended, "Hello All-Father, blessed be
Your name."  The proper protocol situated in the
expansive pre-existing database that composed her
mind.

The All-Father chuckled was a quiet symphony of
cheeriness.  "In private, call me Dad."

Unsure what to make of this development, her lips
curved gently upward.  "Yes..... Dad."  She blinked
twice in rapid succession, her fast acting mind having
just realized the fact that she didn't even know her
own identity.  "Dad?"

"Yes, my child?"

"Who...." she tried to form the words but trailed off,
not sure how to ask this omnipotent being for her own
name.

"Who you are?"

She inclined her head, announcing with that small
gesture that her mind was ready and eager to devour
that information.

"You shall be the progenitor of the Crimson essence. 
Eldest of the three primary megami.  Your name is
Washu."

"Three?" she asked confused.

"Your other siblings will be created in time."

The All-Father waved his hand, a small gesture that
incidently bought a mirror forth into existence. 
Washu looked into the mirror and saw herself as being
a plain being with no distinguishable features.  Her
nubile shoulders were formed with a mop of flat
translucent hair, her face and body were that of a
mannequin, devoid of personality or individuality at
all in all places.  "I seem incomplete." 

"Indeed.  Aren't we all?"  Washu frowned slightly at
the open ended, philosophical question, as far as she
determined it's answer was indeterminable nor could
any amount of evidence give one the correct answer. 
It wasn't long before the All-Father succumbed to the
scowl of his daughter.  "Alright, alright.  You may
take this moment to choose how you look.  Now, don't
pretend to be angry with me.  Children these days! 
Really!  I remember a time when I would have picked
out clothing for my other children, all I would have
heard were complaints, in fact I don't think I would
have heard the end of it, ever!  And when I do give
them a choice they want to scold me again.  Woe unto
this poor old man!"  The 'old man' exaggerated
reaching his arms toward the ceiling, and a spot light
appeared out of nowhere to shine on pitiful man's tear
stained face.

Heaving a sigh and confused by his threatrics, Washu
tapped her foot before watching her reflection and
changing her own form.  She decided that, being the
crimson goddess, only red hair was appropriate. 
Having the color down pat, she ran her fingers through
it and made it spiky, deciding the added body would
make her more impressive and regal in appearance. 
Working her way down, she shaped her face to something
more definitive before making a body she felt was
impressive.  Finally, she added clothing.  When all
was said and done, she bore the appearance of a woman
in her late twenties, her hair, glistening and
malleable, dripped like red candlewax over her
shoulders, past her neck and the goddess was outfitted
in a flowing white dress accented with red at the
edges.  She smiled, and emerald eyes replaced the grey
ones which contrasted perfectly with her crimson hair,
the image was complete.

"Is this the look you will stay with and abide by?"

"Yes."

The All-Father sat down in a chair that materialized
below him and he announced sadly, "First, there are
some rules that you have to agree to follow, my dear."

"What would those be?"

The All-Father coughed, an odd peculiarity for a being
theoretically so powerful.  "This area we are in will
exist in all dimensions.  Understood?"

Washu nodded, instintively knowing all that that
entailed.

The grayish man continued, "Therefore, you will never
bring violence into this place which we call the
conclave."

"I see... and the punishment for breaking the rules?"

"Whatever I see fit to mete out my dear, though I hope
I will be fair and just.  The second rule is more for
after your siblings arrive.  It is my wish for all of
you to work together in peace and harmony.  However, I
foresee certain occasions where trust will not be
enough.  Therefore I declare that anyone of essence
may initiate and enter into agreements with any other
party, this contract will be binding for all involved.
 There will be serious repercussions for those who
break the contract."

"You are wise All-Father," Washu uttered in humble
reverance.

Her creator hoarsely chuckled through his nose.  "If
you say so, my dear.  The third rule, to be coupled
with the second rule is that you will abide by the
consensus of the conclave, which you and your
spiritual siblings will form after their arrival.  It
can only be overridden by me."

"Any thing else?"

"Yes, one last rule for right now."  The creator of
all pointed down the long hallway and an outline of a
gigantic pair of double doors glimmered, an unnatural
light, undefinable in color emanated from behind that
forbidden entrance.  "Never, ever, proceed into that
doorway, the consequences of that action will be
immediate."

Her curiosity piqued, this was the one rule she did
not understand, therefore could not accept without
explanation, Washu blurted out in her ethereal voice,
"Why not?!  What is in there?"

The creator's lips curved gently upward while at the
same time a sadness filled his eyes.  "I will not
answer that question.  But know this, your existence,
like all others, will be filled with adversity and
tests.  How you overcome them is up to you.  What lies
beyond those doors is not so important as the test of
your heart in needing to know the answer.  That is why
I will give my children the greatest gift of all."

Washu bowed her head once again, "I hope to understand
your unreproachable wisdom one day, All-Father.  What
is this gift you refer to?"

Her father wagged his ageless digits in her direction,
"I told you to call me Dad in private!  This gift is
free will.  You may do as you please, but in that
exact freedom you will be bound by the consequences of
your own actions.  I wish to guide my children,
however, they will not be enslaved to me.  In the end,
you and those who come after you may act as they
will."

Washu bowed her head one last time.  "If I don't
accept these terms?"

The inventor of space and time matter of factly
stated, "If you don't accept, I will make you mortal
and assign another to your place."

"I accept then.... Dad."

Their eyes met at her utterance of his unofficial
title and while she merely stared at him blankly while
he laughed before he suggested, "Now that that is over
with.... let us go and make a few dimensions, my
child, but first, please face me."  Washu turned
directly toward her creator and he smiled gently back
at her while twelve wings of bright light formed
before her corporeal form, swirling in a frenzied
dance before engulfing her in their entirety, lacing
her sides, front, and back.  For what seemed an
eternity they enveloped her in their brightness before
they vanished not leaving a trace.  He answered her
unasked question, "Those twelve wings are your power
that you are endowed with."

Restraining herself at the sudden rush of power, Washu
vowed to test their power at a later time as she
hooked her arm around the kind man's proffered elbow
and the two walked down the hallway, not in any hurry
to get to their destination.  Her father tapped his
foot down once and a circular structure of lava rock
built itself up, the dark porous material churned in
on itself going higher and higher until it bore a
strong semblance to an actual volcano.

The All-Father took his daughter's hand and they
floated above the now gigantic mountain of black rock,
which was at least ten times their height.  Washu
looked down into the mountain's top as her creator set
himself and her down at the edge.  She peered down
into the hole, it's diameter easily twice her godly
height and remarked, "Nothing exists here."

"You are correct."  He slipped his hand free and
touched the black surface, and it reacted as if it
were water or some other liquid, the obsidian pool
rippled in response while the older man announced,
"There."

"What happened?"  Washu strained forward, hoping to
clarify a vision that her divine eyes could not
interpret yet at that point.

"Space has just been bought into existence, now it
only waits to be filled."

The megami of the red essence clasped her hands
together, waiting for her superior to fulfill his own
implied prediction but he was the first to ask, "What
are you waiting for, my dear?"

She double-blinked, "I?"

The elder plopped down amid the rocks, chortling at
his daughter's naivete.  "Yes, you!  Do you think that
you were created to simply sit on your rump all day
and watch me shuffle for your amusement?  No!  My
children must earn their keep."

"What shall I do?"

His ancient gray orbs peered upward, timelessly
smoldering within the folder of his wrinkled eyelids,
their all-too-wise sight passed through her into the
dim distance beyond.  "I would suggest making
something simple.  I often started dimensions with a
single........"

The redheaded megami interjected, "Star?"

"No.... a big bang!"  the old man cheered and cackled
while a large ball grew ever expanding in his hands,
the swirling sphere crackled with electricity and as
it increased in girth, the old man wagged the ball of
energy dangerously close to his daughter's face
seemingly testing her reflexes.

Feeling the massive amount of energy to close to the
center of her being, Washu jumped back as her creator
recklessly released the sphere into the pool.  Her
caution and momentary fear was replaced by utter
disbelief, that monstronsity of energy went into the
obsidian pool and fizzled out of life, leaving her
sire scratching his silken beard in puzzlement.  She
leaned over the edge and seeing that absolutely
nothing happened, not a single reaction from the
result of that nearly disastrous energy explosion had
taken place, Washu angrily complained, "That's it?! 
Poof!"

He nodded and quickly shrugged it off, "Hmm.... well,
you were a lot to bother to make, my dear.... perhaps
I'm too tired but that doesn't mean you can't make
progress."

"That is...." she was about to begin confirming his
suggestion but then realized something, "I don't know
how......"

Annoyed he waved her hand away, "Oh now you stop that!
 It's easy..... you can make fill a dimension with
stars, planets, black holes, supernovas, anything you
like.... but a big bang is an easy way to do all the
work at once."

"And I should..." the redhead questioned while staring
at her hands, wondering whether she was capable of
such power.  "Do I even have the strength?"

"No my dear, you'll be using my power.  But don't try
to make everything at once.... too much fuss and muss
if you screw it up..... oh yes, I won't like cleaning
up after my children.  I say get going one thing at a
time.  No big messes now!"  He quieted down after his
excited announcement and calmly stated, "First, you
need to decide the most basic physical properties you
would like to use for your dimension."  He pulled out
a sheath of paper from beneath his robe and handed it
over to his daughter.

She studied the sheet and while her eyes made their
way through the swath of symbols, their meaning
clicked in her mind and finally she nodded in
acceptance of the entire system, which would become
the underpinnings of the universe she was about to
produce.

Concentrating on the pool, she cupped her perfectly
shaped hands and dipped them in, focusing on what she
needed to make.  A gas cloud of hydrogen is what she
needed, an extremely dense and large cloud, one that
was titanic in proportions and that could dwarf a
large planet many hundreds of times over.  With the
borrowed power, she created exactly what she needed
and the billowing cloud churned and spewed upon
itself, undulating relentlessly, the mass was
ultimately a collection of individual atoms that
mobbed together causing the nebula of gas to contract
by the force of the collective gravity and swell on
the pure friction of it all.  Washu watched the fiery
conflagaration for an indeterminable amount of time,
until her hands closed in on themselves which caused
an unseen force to compress the swarm of hydrogen,
over a span of a few minutes the jumble of atoms was
crushed in upon itself again and again into a mound,
it's size constantly decreasing but the fire kept
intensifying and building up into a suitably sized
inferno, a natural self-sustaining fusion bomb was
born.

The redheaded megami peered into the pool at her
handiwork but her reverie was broken by the sounds of
clapping and her begetter praised her heartily, "Well
done Washu!  On my first attempt, everything went up
in smoke..... literally.  You will be my finest child
yet!"

Her celestial emerald eyes beheld the old man,
grateful at his enthusiasm but perplexed by his
comments, "Dad.... you made stars?  Where are they? 
Who are your other children and when do I meet them?"

Sighing at the questioning he knew had to come sooner
or later, he sat down at the edge of the creation pool
and swung his legs over so that he became situated
side by side.  "Yes, they don't exist anymore, the
list is too long to mention now and they are all
dead."

Unsatisfied by the curt answer she recieved, Washu
pressed forward, she needed to know, needed to grasp
of all the knowledge this existence could hold, the
thought that something was beyond her or hidden from
her proved unbearable and her curiosity sought to
slake her insatiable thirst for truth.  "What can you
tell me.... *Dad.*" she queried, the last syllable
spoken harshly in admonishment.

The elder hung his head low and kicked the pool,
though the surface never did more than ripple.  "I
won't hide my folly, child, so there is no need to
scold the truth out of me.  Once, Washu, I was like
you in a way.  A normal god, that had children, though
none of them were gods like you, more like my avatars.
 I had many siblings and an All-Mother, blessed be Her
name."

She remained passive and dis-impassioned at his tale,
only hungry to hear what it was leading up to, "What
happened?"

After moments of pensive silence, "The tale is long
but the story can be short.... I sought the ultimate
power and in the end, caused a war whose burden falls
squarely on my shoulders, it took from me the
dimension that I cherished and reigned over, and my
beloved children.  The deaths of my siblings and the
All-Mother herself are on my hands."  Seeing the
crimson megami's disbelieving expression, the
All-Father wearily wiggled and settled closer to her
and morosely laughed, "Surprised to hear the
All-Father, your great creator, also bought forth the
destruction of everything at one point in time? 
Ironic, isn't it, my dear?"

Washu searched the stretches of her consciousness to
find something to say but the only response she could
muster was to bleet out, "The actions you took don't
seem wholly logical to me at this point, was the
acquisition of ultimate power worth it to you?"

He smiled bravely but the mask over his eyes fell for
a brief moment, showing Washu only the surface of the
emotion of his loss and despair.  "No, you don't
understand the reasons I did it and there was nothing
logical about it, I was a fool.  The All-Mother,
blessed be Her name, told me at my creation the same
basic story and how she fell into the role, as did the
one before her, and so on ad infinitum, a vicious
cycle that never ceases, it appears." 

"I don't see any logical reason why it can't be
stopped, but if your mother was all powerful, why did
she not stop it?" the crimson megami demanded,
confused as to why such a simple thing would confound
entities as great as her ancestors.

"She stayed true to her role, the one I have assumed. 
You see, we don't intervene, just judge, guide, and
referee from time to time......"  He stood up and
surveyed his living eldest's craftmanship.  "Now, that
I really look at it, I see it is a fine star indeed. 
When I suceeded my mother's position.... I assumed
total power but the knowledge I had to gain for
myself.  I never made such a well-made star and
certainly not on the first try.... and you!  Young
lady, if I told you what and how long it took to me to
create someone such as you, we would sitting be here a
few millenia!"

"Is that flattery, Dad?"  Washu asked, feeling
confused, not sure why such a thing would be
necessary, her accomplishment nor her own self would
neither be elevated nor diminished regardless of what
others said.

"Not entirely dear.... one day you'll ke a parent and
know what I'm talking about."  He trudged behind his
only living child and slapped his daughter's butt. 
"Little Washu dear, we only have an eternity, please
get a move on.... I want around eleven dimensions
created and filled by the time I come back.  Of
course, if you want this tired, old, drained man to do
your chores......"

Rubbing her assaulted area, Washu narrowed her eyes at
the man and her endlessly ticking brain could not
write off the idea that he was trying to get some type
of base emotional response with his provocations.  "I
shall do your bidding, All-Father.  I bow myself
before your infinite wisdom....... but must you call
me Little Washu?"

"Of course, just like you have to call me Dad!" the
old man crowed back, pedantically asserting his
private chosen title.  On his way down the makeshift
mountain, he added, "Any fool who lives long enough
becomes wise Washu, any fool!  Make sure the 'poofs'
don't fizzle out on you."  His exit was overly
dramatized by an exaggerated limp in his right leg, he
staggered off into the distance all the while leaning
on a cane he materialized beforehand, perfectly
projecting to his audience of one the image of a
fragile senior citizen about to keel over into his
grave. 

Washu sighed and went back to her work, her father
seemed to be a bit of an eccentric, threatrics and
all, but he was nice enough.  She resettled back down
into the pond and rubbed her hands.  Creating that
star had been exciting and her brain reeled at the
different possibilities of things she could create and
the fact that she could create them at all and all of
them eventually, to her heart's desire.

She dipped her fingers into the creation pool, her
heart pounded at the possibilities, undaunted by the
amount work involved, that she was tasked with the
creation of billions of stars, solar systems filled
not only with their respective space furnace but also
with planets, moons, asteroids, Washu considered the
wisdom of her father using an automated process, a big
bang, for creating everything but she smiled and left
the thoughts of its use for the other dimensions, for
now she's going to have fun playing.  Besides, it
sounded so random, how could a universe be reliably
built from such a phenonema?  So she set to her 'work'
not to be disturbed for several hundred millenia......

The crimson Megami was working tirelessly on the last
demanded dimension, the eleventh, when she felt a
quick but soft tap on her shoulder and turned about,
expecting her creator.  Instead, meeting her gaze, was
blue hair, a beautiful delicate face, and large pink
eyes.  "Hello, who are you?"

Her younger sister bowed, wearing a dress not unlike
hers, except accented in shades of blue.  "Hello
Washu.  I am Tsunami, progenitor of the azure essence,
second of the three primary megami."

The two, on purely knowledge inbred into them, touched
foreheads and she saw two round circles brighten up on
her younger sister's forehead, the sign flared into a
bright neon blue before dying down.  Washu did not
need a mirror to know that she had had a single round
circle, symbolizing her position as first megami. 
"Hello Tsunami, I am pleased to meet you, sister.  For
what purpose do you come here?"  Washu adroitly asked,
displeased to be disrupted while in the pursuit of her
work. 

Not shaken by the elder goddess' displeasure, Tsunami
calmy stated, "Sister, the All-Father, wanted me to
help you with the dimensions.  He said that he had
checked up on your work from time to time, and while
your designs are excellent, that you haven't been
creating any lifeforms."

Washu bowed her head and considered the criticism.  It
was true that she kept herself busy with purely
celestial objects, but despite their massive girth and
the fact that in mass they were nearly infinitesmally
larger than most common lifeforms, many of the objects
were orders of a magnitude easier to design and
manufacture than the simplest plants, stars themselve
being composed of ony a few elements.

Washu turned her focus from the pool to her newly
arrived sister.  "Tsunami, do you have a plan?"

The pink-eyed goddess nodded once before seating
herself at the edge.  "Sister, the All-Father showed
me the majority of your work up to now.  Very few of
the planets are suitable for life....."

The crimson goddess riled at the implication and
explained, "Take into account that my objective wasn't
to make suitable planets with environments for life
but rather I wished to experiment with different
things.  Even if the ratio of suitability is one in a
thousand, I have created millions in every dimension. 
One can only logically conclude that it shall be
enough to support life throughout the dimensions,
sister." 

Tsunami pensively dipped her hand in the creation pool
and asked, "Let's start with some simple organisms and
we'll let them evolve themselves.  It will take
billions of years, but we have time, don't you agree
sister?"

Her older sister didn't so much as blink, time, a
nearly meaningless concept to one such as her, a few
billion years didn't come across as unreasonable. 
"Let's get started."

The two dipped their hands into the pool, to start
creating life in the barren dimensions, determining
what arrangement the entirety should have.  Tsunami
studied the situation more carefully, "I believe
lifeforms that feed off the stars would be the easiest
to create for now.  Is this your belief too, Washu?"

The crimson goddess considered the idea.  After
reviewing the fact that she already had power sources
manufactured, more or less, she concurred, "We shall
make these then....... these plants.  Logically, they
shall be the source of energy for all other living
things."

And so the two set to their work.

The two had been tirelessly plying their trade for
millions of millenia, focusing on various dimensions
alternately, in order to implement their creator's as
well as their own vision of what existence should be. 
Washu groaned in utmost annoyance at feeling another
tap on her shoulder, her irritation stemming from the
fact that her work was being interrupted in such a
relatively short time, considering her infinite
lifespan as a goddess.  Her attention turned back from
the pool and rested on the visage of a third lady in
their midst, roughly equalling their height though
with her light tan hair was noticeably shorter, her
choice of mane contrasted with Tsunami's long blue
twin ponytails and Washu's own spiky, wild mane.  Her
midnight blue eyes were broken by an oblong pupil in
the center giving this newcomer an exotic visage with
their grandor which was touched off by the regalness
of her exquisite robes, identical to her siblings save
the green accents.

Washu, being the eldest, addressed this unknown
foreigner.  "Who may you be?"

The ethereal voice of this one held the utmost
respect.  "Hello Washu.  I am Tokimi, progenitor of
the emerald essence, third of the three primary
megami."

Washu managed a small smile though her voice did not
hint at any mirth.  "I see you have been instructed by
the All-Father."

Tokimi bowed her head in agreement, "Blessed be his
name."

All three reiterated the short ritualistic phrase. 
"The All-Father.  Blessed be his name."

Tokimi bought her head back up to regard her two older
sisters as they all touched foreheads.  Tokimi's three
circles flared to life in her emerald green as they
parted, completing the ceremony.  She noted, "The
All-Father has seen your work and is pleased.  But he
has said that you have turned your attention to fauna.
 He remarked that he did not wish for his power to be
used to make dimensional greenhouses only."

Washu, without human ego, did not rile at the insult
as much as would be expected for one's life's work,
but merely nodded, wishing that the All-Father was
here to instruct her more succintly.  "I suppose we
are to make more sentient life?"

Tokimi small smile came into view.  "Yes, but he did
not instruct us how."

Washu went through her vast internal database, yet she
did not find the answer she was looking for on how to
begin to create these things.  She shrugged at her
sisters.  "I do not have the answer.  I cannot come to
a satisfying conclusion to this matter.  Did the
All-Father not give you more precise commands,
Tokimi."

Tokimi's midnight blue eyes darted between the two
before confessing, "No.  I told you all.  He said that
we are to make due on our own."

Washu focused back on the creation pool, her mind
wander over the different dimensions that she created
and co-created.  "I think it best that we experiment. 
We could put to use something that we previously
created as a foundation to expediate the matter."

Tsunami kneeled down and smacked the waters roughly,
causing the ripples to circle outward from her hand. 
The view of dimensions shifted, until it fell upon an
oceanic planet that was covered mostly by the seas but
interspersed between the great bodies of the clear
blue substance were patches of land, islands of green
among the blue.  She told the others, "This is the
most fertile planet in our dimensions so far.  Washu
and I have even built subspace connections among a
certain species of tree.  I think these trees are the
perfect candidates for rudimentary sentience.  Without
this planet's water and soil, they die."

Washu's mind had already grasped the implications. 
"On their own, these trees will not be able to
propagate further then their own planet, thus there is
no need to supervise them constantly.  Our first
mistakes, if we make any, will not spread."

Tokimi conceded to the plan.  "I think it is an
excellent idea, sister.  I approve as well."

Tsunami stood proudly on the precipice, "I'll call
this planet Jurai...."  The three sisters kneeled back
down to continue on the unending work.

Countless thousands of millenia had passed yet again. 
The three were standing about the pool when it along
with the volcanic-like mountain that contained it
suddenly disappeared on them.  All three looked on in
surprise but they quickly caught on and floated back
down to the neutral gray floor.  Looking around, they
saw the area was once again vacant save for the
monotone table the All-Father sat at the head of.

Washu was the first to speak, "All-Father.... our
work, it was not finished."

Her arched his bushy eyebrow, "Not finished, my dear?"

A chorus of 'yeses' arose from the three megami, "Yes,
All-Father."

Tsunami hastily added, "We still have many things to
attend to,  All-Father."

The creator sincerely contemplated their veiled
complaints before coming to his decision.  "No... no. 
I think that your projects are indeed finished, even
if you haven't completed them to your satisfaction. 
That is the nature of the beast,  no matter how long
you work at something, there's always something to
do."  He pointed over to the other side of the long
table.  "Sit, sit, my children.  I want to introduce
you to your brothers."

This snapped the groups attention and Washu, the de
facto leader, spoke up hesitantly, "Our brothers?  We
were not expecting more than ourselves, All-Father."

The old man shrugged it off, impatiently wanting his
sons to make their grand entrance.  Eight groups of
six Light Hawk Wings exploded into existence around
the table, near the trio.  As the conglomerage of
forty-eight Light Hawk Wings faded, there were eight
men standing in one line, of varying appearance and
age.  Six of them wore grey robes and were very
similiar to one another, but two stuck out like sore
thumbs from the group, their extremes plainly visible
against the backdrop of the plain clothed group.

(At this injuction two more screens flashed to life.)

The All-Father leaned back in his stool.  "I was busy
while you three girls were playing around."  The trio
silently agreed with the creator's self assessment
before he commanded, "Well my boys, will you introduce
yourselfs to your sisters or will my impending
oft-delayed retirement come first?  This old man does
not have eternity!"

One of the owners of the ancilliary points of view,
that recently appeared, snorted.  This Kami was
dressed in a loose hanging black robe, the garment of
perfect darkness like his long obsidian hair, which
hung like a theatre curtain around the sides of his
alabaster, lean face.  Only his jutting chin and
glaring ice-cold light creme orange eyes protruded
definitively through the mass while he stared
menacingly at everyone before snidely adding, "You
don't All-Father?  We would never have guessed by
those lengthy diatribes, I mean lessons, you bored,
again I meant to say enlightened, us with all those
years!"  All the other Kami hushly whispered while
visibly sliding away from this outcast who parted the
center like a sea.

The All-Father scratched his chin before another man
stepped forward to defend his creator.  The Kami who
stepped forward had obviously chosen to resemble the
All-Father in all ways featurewise.  He had the beard,
albeit a flowing white one instead of grey and his
dark gray eyes completed the look of his father.  This
one, one of the six grey, smartly admonished the
audacity of the orange-eyed Kami, "Maran!  To speak of
the All-Father's generous and helpful instructions and
guidance this way is blasphemy!  It would only be
proper to apologize at once.  Also......"

The addressed Kami turned his back at his berater and
mocked, "Thank you, Diderand, for your ever helpful
suggestions.  Perhaps you should wipe the brown off
your nose now.  I find it highly distracting."

Before the two started a full barrage of verbal
combat, the god whose experience filled third screen
stepped forward.  His robe of pure white served
shimmered, their eloquent folds drawing viewers in
with the hinted rainbow of colors.  Unlike the
confrontational Kami, his long corn yellow hair was
pulled back into a ponytail, leaving his gentle but
perfectly formed face open while his green emerald
eyes calmly looked upon the scene with detached
interest.  "Peace brothers.  What are we to do?  Fight
in front of our sisters, who we have waited so long to
meet?"

Diderand, the All-Father lookalike, backed away from
his aggressive position and agreed, "You are wise,
Jutsuko.  I hope Brother Maran will heed your advice,
as well."

Jutsuko held his hand out to his errant sibling,
"Come, brother.  Let's have this meeting in peace."

Maran softened his ever present sneer when his sight
fell upon Jutsuko and he turned to make a short bow
before the one he insulted.  "Please forgive me
All-Father, this cycle has been long and my burning
anticipation to meet my beautiful sisters has spurned
me to speak words I do not mean."

The old man sighed and tapped an exquisite marble cane
that appeared in his hand against the stone floor. 
"All is fine child, if words could break this frail
old man, I am in trouble indeed.  Well, go on all of
you and meet my little girls."

Washu watched in interest as the eight Kami politely
lined up to the trio, the barrage of introductions
undoubtedly coming like a nearing storm.  However, the
octuple of Kami did not break ranks and they
introduced themselves linearly with her youngest
sister receiving them first as she was on the left
most side.

Diderand bowed deeply before Tokimi and kissed her
hand before nearly exclaiming, "My lady, we have
studied your work in the dimensions as up to now. 
Even with what little time you have had comparatively,
the impact of your work is unmistakeable to even the
least discerning of eyes."  His enthusiasm died down
as he noticed that he hadn't even properly given out
his name.  "I am Diderand, composed of the grey. 
First of the six neutral kami."

Washu took every detail of the interaction, never
having observed her sisters interacting with anyone
else of importance before.  Tokimi withdrew her
proffered hand curtly before reciting, "I am Tokimi. 
Progenitor of the emerald essence.  Third of the three
primary megami."  She stood still while studying her
creator's lookalike before a half-smirk crossed her
lips while she quickly glanced in her sisters'
directions.  "You are quite acute and truthful. 
Without my intervention, the dimensions would have
merely been rocks and burning gas." 

The red-headed goddess nearly corrected her
over-confident sister that Tsunami actually had been
the one that bought life into the dimensions but it
was too late.  "Yes." was the bearded kami's simple
answer before he moved on to Tsunami, letting another
introduce himself to Tokimi.  Diderand solemnly trod
before the blue-haired goddess.  "My lady, I would
like to congratulate you on Jurai, your plan with the
trees was simply brilliant."

Tsunami merely lowered her eyelids for a split second
as acknowledgement before the two went onto the formal
introduction and moved apart.  At the end of their
verbal transaction his beard swayed in Washu's
direction before he followed.  The kami prostrated at
her feet, displaying awe in great amount towards the
eldest of sisters.  "Washu!  The creator of the
dimension themselves.  There are no words that can
describe your accomplishment."

She quickly glanced alongside herself to whether her
sisters had taken offense but they gave no indication
of displeasure, possibly because they were totally
absorbed introducing themselves to the ones who came
directly after him.  The redhead had to resist a frown
forming on her divine face when her thoughts hit upon
her sister's words.  "Thank you Diderand, I would not
have thought that you would think so highly of
insignificant rocks and burning gas."

The kami pointedly put on a blank stare to show that
he did not mentally register the barb and instead,
pressed on with the formal introductions.  Even with
the span of billions years behind her, the crimson
megami found that these formalities inexplicably
dragged on forever.  As soon as Diderand finished his
introductions, she sighed when she took note that she
had to meet with five more of the greys and the white
and black.

Auriel, Tenion, Netika, Chasani, all four being greys
as well, had come and acquainted themselves with her. 
The last of the greys approached from her left and
bowed as deeply one could expect form someone in
humanoid form.  Like all the other greys, except
Diderand, his form was young and vibrant, and
muscular, they had taken the form of young males. 
Those five other greys, perhaps in an attempt to
emulate their father's simpleness in varying degrees
if not his style, all had simple brown hair and eyes,
in direct opposition to their sisters' form, who could
be considered peacocks of fashion in comparison. 

When this last kami's reverent bow lifted, he simply
smiled at her, waiting for her to make the
introduction.  Washu took the cue and started the
short rite.  "I am Washu.  Progenitor of the crimson
essence.  Eldest of the three primary megami." 

"Hello Washu.  I am Sethius, composed of the grey. 
Last of the six neutral kami."

"So you are the youngest?"  Washu questioned briefly
while eyeing the two kami she had yet to meet.

Sethius quickly affirmed her guess.  "Yes, Washu. 
Those two are our oldest brothers.  I hope that we
will have a pleasant working relationship, sister.  I
am most eager to see what the All-Father has in store
for us."

"I am sure we will."  She smiled at her youngest
brother and their foreheads met in the completion of
the ritual, his forehead lit in the same fashion of
her sister, his having six round dots placed in a
circle flash gray, denoting his position as the sixth
and youngest of the neutral kami.

Jutsuko, having just finished a candid talk with his
blue-haired sister, kneeled in front of her.  "Washu,
I pay you homage.  Your work has been of great benefit
to the conclave and to All-Father's plans.  I am
deeply honored by your presence.  I am Jutsuko,
progenitor of the Ivory essence.  First of the two
monochromatic kami."  As an aside, he added,
indicating his own green eyes, "I see we have similiar
taste."

"I believe they suit us.  Thank you Jutsuko.  I am
Washu.  Progenitor of the crimson essence.  Eldest of
the three primary megami."

The white robe stood up and they touched foreheads, as
she withdrew from the familial embrace she observed
his sign of power was that of a simplified diagram of
an eye.  "Washu, I am sure we all can talk later. 
Business does await.  Right brother?"  Jutsuko arched
an eyebrow at his dour sibling, Maran, who simply
stood off to the side, having coldly greeted his two
other older sisters.

Maran scowled but gently pushed the other male's arm,
forcing his brother off to the side.  "Jutsuko, please
let me make my own introductions, if I may?"

Jutsuko bowed before he joined his other siblings in a
group.  "Of course, little brother."

Maran stood tall and proud before the trio, defiantly
looking down his nose at the three.  The orange-eyed
kami, beforehand had decided on something, and this
meeting only reaffirmed his decision so he began
leveling his gaze toward the one he hasn't officially
met yet.  "Washu.  These other fools payed homage to
all, you and both your sisters, tossing their cheap
praise to the wind which is the putrid breeze that
unrelentingly wails from their throats, leaving though
their oft clapping jaws.  Their worthless flattery
knows no bounds, they would as soon praise a
bird...... or a dog, those filthy beasts, for merely
existing if it suited their needs!"

She did not know what to make of his speech but let
him move on after seeing that his remarks caused long
suffering groans among all his brothers, with the
exception of Jutsuko.  At first, she was confused,
before a tiny smile shone on her face..... he
was............. he was, she
decided...................... entertaining.  She
interrupted his antics though.  "I believe those
creatures were made under sister Tokimi's influence."

As if vindicated by her words, Maran stepped forward
and announced, "Of that I'm most glad, you did not
waste your time on petty animals.  I have truly seen
you for what you are, Lady Washu.  The architect of
all, a genius, pure and simple."

"By mortal definitions," she rebounded automatically. 
Ignoring her aside, he took great care to slowly step
up and lean into her, his damp burning lips landed
squarely on her cheek while his hand traced the
outline of her chin.  When he retreated, her hand
automatically went up to the target of his mouth's
affections.  <What was that for?>  She peeked sideways
at her sisters who appeared disinterested at the whole
scene.  Her brothers seemed to have politely ignored
the exchange, the All-Father himself grinned broadly
like a fool. 

"Sister, you are a genius and truly worthy of praise. 
I deem you to be my equal.  That is the highest of
compliments I can pay you with."

Her mind searched for the proper response but her
logic prevailed.  "I am not your equal but of higher
order than you..."  Not wishing to seem arrogant, she
quickly amended the statement with one word,
"technically."

He bowed one last time before returning to his male
brethren, "Do not worry, I won't hold that against
you."

"Thank you, Maran.  We have not completed the
introductions."  She noted that the black robe settled
comfortably around his white robed counterpart, while
the rest suddenly edged away from the duo.

The creator hoarsely coughed, interrupting any future
conversation.  "He is Maran, progenitor of the
obsidian essence.  He is very familiar with your name,
I assure you, Washu.  The formalities are unimportant
right now and can be dutifully completed in due time. 
Come children and gather around." 

He waved them to the table and everyone resounded,
"Yes, All-Father."

"Washu, as you noted earlier, you are the eldest of
the highest order.  You outrank all your siblings in
matters of the conclave.  You shall have the right of
first refusal."  The old man floated and settled down
comfortably at the other end of the rectangular table
while at the crimson megami's end appeared three
chairs.  "My dear, would you like to be the governing
chairwoman?"

Washu's eye travelled to the center seat.  Not wishing
to be burdened with administrative duties, she
immediately declined, "No, thank you."

"Little Tsunami, would you like to be chairwoman?"

The blue-haired goddess ignored her father's teasing
and declined as well.  "No, All-Father.  I have Jurai
to attend to.  The trees need special care."

"Little Tokimi, would you like to be chairman?" 

Tokimi's silence fell upon the hall like a
thundercloud as she glared daggers at her sisters. 
"Does it have to be me?"

Instead of answering, the All-Father baited her with
some more information.  "The time of dimension
creation and shaping have drawn to a close."  He
tapped his cane three times before adding, "In fact,
it's very likely that everyone else in the council
will have sovereign rule of one, at most two
dimensions.  The chairperson will have..........
special rights and will have much more influence over
the course of dimensions than any other."

Tokimi's eyes lightened up and she proudly deferred to
him.  "With this new information, I think I shall
reconsider accepting the position.  I revere the life
that I created and nothing would please me more than
to be able to oversee all of the dimensions and
protect it.  If.... if my sisters still do not want
it, that is."

"Very well, does everyone agree?" 

Not one murmur escaped the lips of the assembly but
inside Maran cursed his luck, having anticipated that
Washu, his unknowing chosen ally, would have taken the
seat outright.  Not one to dwell on this minor setback
though he was forced to backpeddle his stance,
watching in amusement as two greys squabbled
momentarily for the right to pull out the head chair
for Tokimi.

Sethius shouted, "You would not seat Lady Tokimi
properly as I would!"

Diderand groaned, "That is utter nonsense and you know
it!"

Maran walked behind Tokimi and scornfully snarled at
the two, "I have an idea!  Sethius, you can kiss her
feet while Diderand kisses her ass!  That is fair, I
would think."  The other two kami ignored his
suggestion while he brushed against his tan haired
sister and patted her rump.  "And *it* is such a nice
one to kiss!"

Tokimi ignored his innuendo while Jutsuko hastily
mediated between the two quarrelers.  "Now brothers,
let's be reasonable.  Both of you can cooperate on
this issue and win, can you not?"

The two calmed down upon seeing that Tokimi had begun
seating herself and the two floated speedily forward
to helpfully push her seat in.  Washu stood by the
right hand seat, from her point of view, when Maran
pulled it out for you.  "Here sister, let me make you
comfortable."

After being slowly pushed in, she thanked the
blackrobe for his politeness before Jutsuko announced
excitedly and out loud, "I think brother Maran really
likes you, Washu.  Normally, he does not put up with
anyone else for long."

Chasani and Netika helped Tsunami in the last chair
while Auriel and Tenion snickered, "But Jutsuko, that
means must he likes you as well..... really likes
you."

Jutsuko smiled good naturedly at their ribbing while
Maran cursed them out, "The rest of you are too stupid
to figure out that I don't have the patience to put up
with fools.  It is not my fault that Jutsuko is the
only non-idiot among my brothers."  The blackrobe
snatched his arm around Jutsuko's arm.  "Brother,
let's get you seated seated and let these morons stew
in their own gossip, yipping and yapping over their
latest utter nonsense."

The whiterobe accepted the guidance without
hesistation, having been used to his brother's
constant fretting over his comfort.  Maran pulled out
a chair on the long end of the rectangular table,
directly to the left of Tsunami, herself being
situated to the left of Tokimi.  The blonde kami
seated himself comfortably in the chair while his
attentive brother gently pushed him forward.  The
blackrobe played with his monochromatic counterpart's
pale ponytail, twirling the hair between his fingers,
before sneering at Sethius, who had dashed over and
took the seat beside Jutsuko.

"What's the matter Maran, took your preferred spot
away?"

"No Sethius, that is quite all right."  The orange
eyed kami smirked, knowing he had a new person to
attend to, a new alliance to build up but that
expression instantly disapeared when he saw that the
All-Father lookalike had taken the seat next to Washu.
 He floated over and nonchalantly elbowed his younger
brother.  "Diderand, I think you *accidentally* sat
down here, I would appreciate it very much if you
corrected your oversight."

"No, this seems to be the exact spot I selected."

"I take precedence, I am of higher rank."

The All-Father had been sitting back, watching this
exchange before interjecting, "Which hardly extends to
seating arrangements beyond that of the chairwoman and
the conclave's decrees on the subject, which currently
number zero."

Diderand's triumphant smile disappeared when Maran
suggestedly threatened, "I really think you should
reconsider, *brother.*  I heard their is a spot for
you under the table, where you can lap at the in
between in Tokimi's lap."

"That is no way to speak of Lady Tokimi!" came the
grey kami's stern reprimand.

Maran ferally snarled before clutching at his younger
brother's beard and simply yanking the kami off the
chair onto the floor.  He seated himself before
returning, "I think you just found a much better
seat."

The creator disappeared for a second before
re-appearing behind the obsidian kami and conking him
soundly over the head with his cane's head, upon which
was ensconced a massive translucent orb in which an
electrical storm raged.  "Netika, tell this foolish
boy what rule he broke this time."

Netika, already sitting beside Sethius, recited,
"Brother has brought violence into your house,
All-Father."

The Father of all of them demanded, "What should his
punishment be, Jutsuko."

"It was but a minor infraction, I think brother Maran
should apologize to brother Diderand.  Forgive and
forget."

The grey-beard old man beamed at his eldest son, "You
are wise beyond your age.  All my children should
learn from you in this matter.  Tell me Auriel, do you
agree?"

The fourth grey submitted, "Yes.  You said it is wise
All-Father and so it is."

"Tell me Nekita, do you agree?"

The third grey answered, "Yes, All-Father."

"Tell me Chesani, do you agree?"

The second of greys whimpered, "Yes."

"Tell me your opinion, Tenion?"

The fifth grey readily agreed with the rest of his
brothers.

"Tell me Sethius, what do you think?"

"I don't agree with Jutsuko's assessment."

"So you dare disagree with me?"

Sethius pointed out, "You never minded disagreement
before, sir."

The All-Father nodded once more before bonking Maran
on the head again, whose response was to howl in rage
before quieting down to meekly rub his head. 
"Respectful disagreement is always permitted.  Why
don't you agree?"

"I think it invites others to wrong you, when they
expect that they can crawl back later on their hands
and knees and find welcoming arms waiting no matter
what."

"What do you think, Little Tsunami?"

"Your wisdom supercedes Sethius' argument,
All-Father."

"Why?"

"You are all wise and all knowing, whereby in
comparison, all of us are your apprentices."

"I would dispute that...... another day.  Little
Tokimi, have you any insights on this matter?"

"I agree with you, All-Father.  Why?  Because I expect
you to have good reason for your recconning."

"And what would that reason be, my dear?"

Tokimi cast her gaze among the crowd before replying,
"Perhaps it is too much bother to seek vengeance
against minor violations All-Father.  It would tax
one's strength."

"A good point but I would inform you that isn't my
main reason.  Little Washu, would you add your voice
to the discussion?"

"I normally defer to your wisdom All-Father but I must
admit my youngest brother's train of thought is the
most compelling argument.  It is a very rational
judgement."

The All-Father turned to the first grey, his third
oldest son who was still on the floor, waiting for his
turn.  "Diderand, what do you think?"

"As always All-Father, your wisdom is impeccable.  I
will not question it."

"So you will accept an apology?"  The interrogator of
the group queried while arching an eyebrow.

"Most humbly, All-Father."

Maran cut in, "I will not give up this seat!"

The creator solicited, "You will not?  Diderand might
not like this situation.  He was as eager to meet my
daughters, his sisters, as you were, he might not give
up what he claimed."

Diderand cut in before the blackrobe could answer,
"All-Father, I wish to take the seat next to yours, if
that is alright, sir.  I would like him to apologize,
though."

"Be thankful that you have such good natured brothers,
Maran."

The blackrobe grumbled before hissing out in a
mockingly high voice, like that of an eight year old
boy, "I'm sorry Diderand.  I hope I didn't hurt your
feelings.  Do you have any boo-boos that need
kissing?"

The first grey trudged by him and sat near the end of
the table and icily spit out.  "Thank you for your
consideration, Maran.  I don't need any such
assistance."

Chesani and Tenion sat next to Sethius while Auriel
and Nekita sat in the vacant areas between Diderand
and Maran.  Washu noted that their first session had a
few minutes before it was to start and shifted
uncomfortably under Maran's fervent gaze.  His
unblinking stare almost seemed to indicate that he
wanted to see right through her.  She stared down at
her knee in confusion when she felt him place his hand
there casually.  Wanting to know his general motives,
she had her upperbody incline forward so she could
hushly whisper her quesitons without disturbing the
others.  "Your actions do not make sense, Maran. 
Would it not make more sense if you tried to be on
friendly terms with all?"

"Sister, do not take me for a fool.  When it comes to
time to choose sides, it is better to have a few
strong bonds to depend on then to cast thin strands
everywhere only to have them easily break."

"Choose sides for what exactly?"

The blackrobe shrugged, "We're are in a group now
Washu.  We must make decisions.  We must live with one
another.  When things come up that are of concern to
us....... we can *accomodate* each other."

The crimson megami gave her analysis on that topic, "I
believe we should act for the greater good out of
principle and after considerable thought, it is only
logical.  Why would we do otherwise?"

He patted her hand and pointed to Tokimi, who was
anxious to start the session, adding one last item,
his grin broad enough to show his canines, "You know
Washu.  I would sit under the table and lap at the
inbetween in your lap anytime.  Only for you.  All
you'd have to do is ask."

Washu settled back in her chair, more confounded by
his responses than ever but knew exactly what he was
referring to.  "I have no such base physiological
needs, brother."  No later than when the last syllable
flowed out of her mouth, Washu could only look down
and back up as the black robe started playing footsie
with her while giving no indication of his flirtations
to the rest of the group.

Tokimi banged her a gavel, it effect on the table was
like that of an metallic object striking a tuning
fork, the resonance quieted and unsettled everyone. 
The emerald goddess spoke, "I would like to put forth
a resolution to make this seating arrangement
permanent.  Or would we rather fight like spoiled
brats on every gathering?"

Without hesitation, Washu seconded the motion and the
votes came unamiously for the idea.  Tokimi count
stopped at her creator.  "All-Father, won't you vote?"

"No my children.  I will only veto if the need
arises."

Tokimi addressed the council, "Are there any other
issues?"

A chorus of "No sister," circulated around the table."

The chairwoman asked, "All-Father, are we done now?"

"No."

"What is it we must accomplish All-Father?  Would you
guide us?"

"Of course.  All you must do is ask."

Washu looked askance at Maran who only increased his
hidden activities which she  found annoyingly
distracting to the matter at hand.  She stomped on his
invading foot, promptly putting an end to the
violation of her personal space.  The expression on
his face, however, remained as neutrally bored as it
ever was.  Together, the group begged, "Would you
guide us, All-Father?"

"Of course. little ones.  I think the council should
determine which dimensions will be watched over by
whom."

Washu's eye's nearly glazed over, "All-Father, with
all due respect, I have created these dimensions....."

"And they would not be what they are without the help
of your two sisters.... and my own power with which
you shaped and designed them."

"Yes, but administrating one seems rather simple."

Her creator's hearty laugh resounded throughout the
great hall, echoing off unseen walls, eerie in light
of the simple fact that any walls were at least light
years away from the council's present position. 
"Creating children is easy as well Washu, taking care
of them is a whole other matter, like herding cats, I
think.  Take care of a dimension for several cycles,
Washu and then tell me how easy such a task is.  Guide
its peoples toward your objectives, maintain order
throughout the galaxies for eons on end and then tell
me.  Any fool can make things, my dear, however, not
any fool has the patience for upkeep.  Again, Washu, I
say try it for some cycles, you might even find some
flaws in your designs that you would not otherwise. 
Such perspective comes only when you play different
roles."

Humbled, Washu bowed her head, "I, again, will heed
your words, All-Father."

Maran sneered, "All-Father, you mean each of us will
have such a dimension."

"Yes."

The blackrobe spat out, "So we have take care of
these..... these....... these mortal fools!  I, *a*
kami, will have to waste my time guiding these pitiful
nothings!  To what end will I play nursemaid to this
garbage, they all die sooner or later, the pathetic
trash."

Before the blackrobe could utter another insult, the
All-Father hit him once more on the head with the
simple cane.  "Maran, must I remind you that you could
have been mortal soul had you not accepted my terms. 
This 'garbage' are my children, too, in a way, as well
as your sisters'."

Not to be bowed over against his will, Maran rejected
his father's admonishment, "I will not do your
bidding, All-Father.  I have not agreed to this, I
will not babysit countless mortal trash, I will not be
the slave to your whim!  If you have changed the
agreement....."

Jutsuko had already floated over and placed his hands
on the quivering shoulders of his enraged sibling. 
"Brother, relax.  Perhaps we can come to some sort of
compromise."

The All-Father reflected on the two sadly.  "Do you
trust me so little, Maran?  I have not changed the
agreement.  Other than the rules you have agreed to
and what the conclave determines within reasonable
boundaries, all is voluntary."

The whiterobe patted his upset brother's shoulder
while Maran responded, "Then I will not participate in
this game, All-Father.  Mortals shall roam free and do
as they wish.  I will not interfere.  I do not want a
dimension to rule."

Washu voiced her opinion agreeingly.  "Even though I
will take charge of one dimension, I feel the same as
Brother Maran on this point, All-Father."

The All-Father hunched over and waddled slowly to his
seat.  When he settled down, he clapped.  "My son, I
thought you had everything to learn but I can see some
wisdom on this one point as well.  However, the way
you speak of mortals is highly distressing to me. 
These children are only differentiated from you
because they of lower rank in the eyes of the
council."

Through gritted teeth, the blackrobe affirmed, "Yes,
All-Father."

"I shall have a special job for you, in that case. 
Does anyone else care to forsake administering a
dimension?"

Jutsuko spoke up, "I, All-Father, wish to forfeit my
dimension as well, I agree with Maran on the issue."

Rhetorically, the All-Father asked, "How did I know?" 
Seeing his oldest son blush uncomfortably under his
gaze, the creator noted, "Jutsuko, it is not so
surprising.  I doubt you could make the simple choice
of a new color for this place within a millenium if
asked let alone decide the fate of an entire
universe."

Jutsuko squirmed and edged closer to his monochromatic
counterpart while he tapped his hands nervously. 
"Brother Maran, uh...., what do you think about this
color issue?"

Maran looked about as if in awe of the place before
caustically deriding it, "All-Father, this place is
practically all gray!  How imaginative!  I think this
prison needs some color, perhaps pink curtains could
balance things out."  He nudged Washu's knee, causing
her to lean forward only to hear him whisper, "Do you
like playing with pink, my sister?  I know I do."

She settled back quietly, while Jutsuko looked
nervously at his creator, anticipating the response of
such an answer.  "Pink?"

"Oh, how come did you have to rely on your brother for
the answer..... again?"

The whiterobe was about to defensively debate on that
point but Maran bit back, "All-Father, we can't help
it.  Great minds think alike, isn't that right
Jutsuko?"

"Y-yes.  Very much so."

For the Nth time that cycle, a cane smacked the
orange-eyed kami over the head.  "Your brother should
be able to answer my questions alone."

The cane's victim sneered, "Yes, sir."

"Very well, I do have an important job for you two. 
It is my wish that you fill it, perhaps the both of
you could learn some things."

Sethius, the youngest of sons and the sixth gray,
interrupted, "All-Father, may I take command of the
two dimensions they so ignorantly neglect?"

Diderand cut in, "Little brother, I think you forget
your station.  As the third eldest brother, I insist
that I take charge."

The two were about to enter a stare down contest when
Tokimi righteously pointed out, "Brothers, I think you
forget who has seniority here."

Tsunami announced, "And you, sister, only have it in
matters of operating the council, for I come before
you as has Washu, though I'm sure, she has no such
desire to head another dimension."

Washu reaffirmed her pink eyed sister's statement,
"No, I don't.  One is quite enough."

Tokimi banged that attention-inducing gavel once more,
"Fine, we shall vote on who shall be charged with
these dimensions."

Five of the six grays: Auriel, Tenion, Netika, and
Chasani, unsurprisingly, all voted themselves as the
appropriate rulers of the extraneous dimensions.  The
only gray who stood out was Diderand, who cast his
decision for Tokimi.

Tokimi lowered her eyes in acknowledgement to him
before voting for herself.  Tsunami, predictably, also
seen herself solely in the role.  Tokimi queried,
"Washu, where is your voice?"

Having no wish to enter a useless quarrel with her
siblings, Washu simple stated the truth, "I abstain,
sister."

"And you, Jutsuko, what is does your *conscience*
say?"

The whiterobe saw past the megami's pleading midnight
blue eyes and paused before resolving himself, knowing
he could not choose between any of his brothers or
sisters in such a matter.  "My conscience tells me to
abstain as well."

Tokimi's eyes flashed upon the last remaining kami and
smiled, smelling her imminent victory.  "Maran, what
have you to say in this?"

The blackrobe's gaze drifted from the redheaded megami
to the bluehaired one.  "I would have chosen the only
one I believe truly competent for such an endeavor but
I will not go against Washu's personal wishes out of
my everlasting respect for her.  Thus I will endorse
the second sister, Tsunami."

Tokimi's mouth constricted upon that answer before
announcing, "The rules of the conclave are such that
we can take two roads.  We can cast our votes again,
time after time for I see none of us changing our
minds or we can ask the All-Father to arbitrate."

Eventually agreement arose from the population
residing at the table with Diderand the last to speak.
 "I for one think it's an excellent idea, Lady Tokimi.
 My concerns are only that of the conclave and welfare
of the peoples of the dimensions and I would never
doubt the All-Father's wisdom in such matters."

After his lookalike stopped speaking, the creator
sighed.  "Isn't it obvious?  Tokimi and Tsunami have
recieved the most number of votes each, their count
equal, their experience is extensive, unlike their
brothers, and they have undisputed knowledge of each
dimension.  Tokimi, though, has her obligations as
chairwoman.  Tsunami, I believe, has said that Jurai
prevented her from being chairwoman.  This is a
quandary."

Tsunami took his sudden silence to qualify her earlier
argument, "All-Father.  In hindsight, I believe that I
have overestimated the burden of that obligation.  I
will do what is good for the conclave, which is always
my first obligation."

"Indeed."

Tokimi pointed out, "And I have not made any qualms
about my duties.  I do not think my burdens are
overbearing."

The All-Father spread his hands in a gesture of
defeat.  "So it is decided.  You both win.  Each has
one more dimension to administer."

His two younger daughters inclined their heads in
respect.  "Thank you, All-Father."

"Yes, yes, your welcome.  I believe we have almost
finished.  But before we assign the actual dimensions,
Jutsuko and Maran, could you two wait in my chambers?"

The duo accepted the order, "Yes, All-Father."

Everyone got up just as the monochromatic pair did and
all the kami gathered around Jutsuko to wish him well,
all shaking his hand and patting him on the back
before he went to his sisters to bid them goodbye as
all three were friendly to him.

The blackrobe scornfully eyed the group of grey kami
before trodding up to them.  "Does anyone want to wish
their dear, dear brother goodbye?  I'm sure we won't
be long.  I'll miss all of you idiots.  Be sure to
visit me."

As he came closer, all the others involuntarily
cringed away.  Diderand came forward and held out his
hand and cringed when his older brother clasped it, as
if he was touching a poisonous snake that undoubtedly
meant to bite him.  "I wish you the best of luck,
brother."

"Thank you, Diderand.  Here is a napkin...... to clean
off your nose.  I just hope my sisters wash that area
of themselves well enough.  Should I leave cleaning
instructions...... as you will certainly need to use
it often enough."  The eldest of the grey kamis
frowned but took the proffered gift wordlessly as
Maran marched off next to Jutsuko.  Tsunami and Tokimi
had offered their best wishes to the whiterobe before
he appeared while Washu was the last say her goodbyes.
 Maran ignored the two younger sisters and in turn,
they ignored him as well.  His natural smile returned
when he saw Washu standing before him.  In a
respectful gesture, he bent his knees.  "My sister, I
hope these fools don't torment you with their
inanities.  It was my deepest honor meeting you."

She offered him her hand and he kissed it tenderly,
going so far to gently guide it back to her side
before daring to release it.  "Thank you brother.  I
hope to..... visit you in the future."

"Please do."

Jutsuko grinned broadly as he comfortable slung his
arm around Maran's shoulders.  "Sister, I told you we
have the same taste."

The crimson megami felt a slight blush rise to her
cheeks, a sensation she never felt before in all her
existene and she immediately fought it down,
voluntarily killing the sensation.  "I do not know
what you mean Jutsuko."

The kami tapped under his eyelids, indicating his
emerald orbs, "We both chose the same here and in now
in our hearts.  We both did not want to lead a
dimension.  Unfortunately it seems you are destined
to, while I may follow my heart.  I have no desire to
determine the fates of others either."

Realizing what he meant, Washu lamely 'ohhed' while
the All-Father stared sadly at his eldest son.  "I'm
afraid you have unknowingly misspoke, Jutsuko."

"How so, All-Father?"

"Please, go to my chamber now.  I will explain all
shortly after the meeting."

Three doors shimmered in existence before the pair as
the whiterobe looked on in confusion.  "Which one do I
pick?"

The creator shrugged, "You and you alone should
choose."

Jutsuko was lost as his sight went from one of the
identical double doors to the second set to finally
the third set.  At least several minutes have passed,
before Maran tapped his foot.  Gaining his
monochromatic counterpart's attention he subtly shook
his head, indicating that sibling should pick the
center set.  Jutsuko caught on and smiled, happily
taking his brother's implied advice but the All-Father
sighed and a pair of heads felt the wrath of his cane.
 Maran's black haired noggin got a triple dosing, and
he shouted, "What was that for, All-Father?!"

"The first was for not letting your brother decide
alone, as usual.  The second was advance payment for
future infractions which I'm sure won't be long in
coming."

"And the third?"

"For asking stupid questions when you know the answer
perfectly well."

The whiterobed kami shook his head, swaying the long
blonde hair, in an effort to assuage the stinging pain
while he cheerily ordered and chuckled, "Let's go
brother!  Before All-Father's cane gets even busier
today!"

The blackrobe's orange eye's fixed and narrowed upon
the grinning old man one last time before he went
along into the double doors.  Despite his groaning, he
cheerily noted that he had accomplished his two
objectives.  He met Washu and hopefully made the
biggest impression out of all of his fool brothers. 
He wished and assumed Washu was impressed by Jutsuko
as well.  Secondly, he kept his naive brother under
his thumb and within his sphere of influence. 
Internally, Maran laughed at all the greys, those
idiots were futilely seeking the favor of all while
trying to favor none, but he knew better.  Stronger
bonds with a few are more secure than a few weak bonds
with all.  He vowed that he will *not* be the pawn of
that foolish senile old man forever.

(As they entered the chambers, all three side screens
went dark.)

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


Authors Note: 
I appreciate any feed back, by email or review, good
or bad.  Thank you!

Email: 
rolfwind@yahoo.com




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