[FFML] [AYA] Wild, WIld East - Chapter 8 - Tokyo Cowgirl

[David McMillan]

	(Note:  Got about halfway through this before being dragged into
Abyssal Depths (ie, work) by Eldritch Horrors from Beyond Space and Time
(ie, my employer and customers).  Took me a while to get back to it, sorry)

GL Sandborn wrote:

> Apparently, I've had some time to write.  Here is the next chapter of 
> Wild, Wild East.

	dangit, I *told* his bosses laying him off was a bad idea.  What?
Waddaya mean, my mike's on?

> **********************************************************************
> 
> This story has been written without the knowledge or approval of Kou
> Fumizuki - Hakusensha/ AIAO Project and Pioneer Animation. It is for
> the enjoyment of Ai Yori Aoshi fans and written with respect for its
> original creators and copyright holders.
> 
> **********************************************************************
> 
> 
> 
>                       The Wild, Wild East
>                    Chapter 8 - Tokyo Cowgirl
>                                 
>                          by GL Sandborn
> 
> 
> 
>      Trapped in the basement of a burning and exploding building,
> Tina clung to her companion.  Each explosion caused her to turn,

	Sug:  "she flinched away from each explosion"  -- at least, I *think*
that's what you're going for, here.

> keeping Steven's body between her and the shower of debris that
> always followed.  Her eyes continually moved as she tried to
> anticipate from where and when the next explosion would come.
>      She squealed as an explosion directly overhead showered her
> with concrete, wood, and parts of the building's electrical
> system.  A long groan warned her of a large section of
> ventilation duct work tearing itself loose, one end dropping to
> the floor with a loud 'bang'.  Faint screams and the sound of
> running feet upstairs could be heard between explosions.

	In other words, not much different from the wilder parties she'd hung
out at Stateside.

>      Grabbing her arm, Steven pulled her to the fallen duct.  It
> appeared to be still attached at its other end leaving a thirty
> degree incline from the floor to another section that ran along
> the ceiling.

	Oh, he's NOT--

>      Steven bent over to look inside.  "Yeah, this will do.  Get
> in."

	He is.

>      Tina froze.  "What will do?"
>      "It's our ticket out," he said, pushing her towards its 
> opening.  

	Watch the hands, buddy.  You need to make it look *accidental.*

>      Instead of allowing herself to be pushed into the open end
> of the duct, she slammed both hands on its upper corners and

	got sliced to ribbons by the razor-edged sheet metal.

> braced her feet against its lower.  But it wasn't because the
> opening was too small.  At a meter wide and a little less tall,
> she could have easily crawled inside.  Instead, she went rigid
> and fought further attempts to push her inside.

	Claustrophobe?
	
>      "What's the problem?" Steven yelled.
>      "It's dark in there!"
>      "So?"
>      Tina swallowed.  She could feel her palms sweating as the
> duct opening looked like a giant mouth ready to swallow her in
> its darkness.  "I'm... I'm afraid of the dark."

	And she keeps telling dream-Kaoru to leave the lights on b/c she loves
watching him while he <ahem> works....

>      "Are you afraid of dying?"
>      Another explosion showered them with concrete bits and

	Just how many charges did Akai plant, anyway?  And frankly, her fuse
sequencing sucks.

> wiring.  Tina ignored it, keeping her eyes locked on the open
> duct in terror.  It was her worst nightmare - even worse than the
> one where she was trapped in the burning mansion.  She shook her
> head.  "I can't do this."
>      Steven grabbed her arms and turned her towards him.  Looking
> her in the eyes, his expression softened.  "I'll be right behind
> you.  You won't get hurt and you won't fall.  Just use the joints
> as hand and foot holds until you get to the level area at the
> top.  There's got to be an exhaust opening somewhere at the end
> of duct.  Just crawl towards it.  You'll be fine."

	of THE duct
	"Just go towards the light."
	I suppose I should point out that there'll be some kind of break at the
point where the slanting section meets the still-horizontal section.

>      She couldn't contain her trembling jaw as he tried to

	Yeah, her jaw needs a container.  Maybe "she couldn't keep her lips
from trembling / teeth from chattering"

> reassure her.  Another nearby explosion and she threw herself
> into his arms.  "I can't!"

	Note for future reference:  slowly-imploding buildings work better than
haunted houses or horror movies for getting scred-girl glomp time.

>      "Yes, you can," Steven insisted as he held her tight.  "You
> can do this, Tina Foster.  I know you can.  You're tough -
> probably, tougher than you know.  We'll get out of this
> together."

	Drop the comma after "probably".  It's redundant after the dash.

>      She certainly didn't want to die in the basement of some
> strange building, with or without that strange device that makes
> all your hair fall out only feet away.  "You won't leave me?" she
> asked into his chest.
>      "I'll tell you what.  When you start to climb, you can put
> your feet on my shoulders and just pull yourself up by your arms. 
> I'll follow and help you climb.  Okay?"

	You sure you wanna do that, Steve?  I mean, Tina's no lightw-- HEY!
Tina, Miyabi took that gun away from you back in Ch2!  No fair pulling
continuity violations!

>      Tina sniffed and rubbed her face against his shirt.  "You'll
> do that?"
>      He paused, looking down at the streak of tears and snot
> across his chest.  "I'll be right there with you."

	This is so darn romantic I could plotz.  *After* I find a rag.  Or a
new shirt.
	
>      Reluctantly, she released him.  With one last look his way,
> turned to the dark tube that was their only escape.

	"way, she turned"

>      Taking a deep breath, she ducked down and worked herself
> into the opening.  It was dark as anywhere she had ever been but
> once her eyes became accustomed to the gloom, she could make out
> the joints Steven had mentioned.
>      Reaching up, she was just getting a grip on the first joint
> in front of her when she felt Steven's hand on her butt.  The

	GOOD boy!  Carpe Hin-- er, diem!  Momentum?  Okay, so my Latin sucks....

> sudden feeling of someone touching her so intimately caused her
> to jerk, slamming her head on the unyielding metal duct overhead.

	Actually, they yield pretty well -- I remember sitting on one and...
um, nevermind.

>      "What are you doing?" she yelled, her voice echoing
> strangely in the metal tube.
>      "I was just helping you get started," Steven answered in
> protest.

	<snicker>

>      "Well... watch where you put your hands," she warned,
> rubbing her head.
>      "Right.  Sorry."
>      With a final warning look his direction, Tina slowly began
> to climb the duct's steep incline.
>      Her hands were sweating - as much from fear of the darkness
> as trepidation of the climb - while her fingers found the first
> inch wide joint.  Her feet, however, found it difficult to grip
> the slick metal surface of the duct.  The distance between joints
> being further than she could reach.

	"joints was further"

>      She was about to say something when she felt Steven take her
> ankles and direct her feet onto his shoulders.
>      "Keep going," he warned, his voice echoing in the confined
> space.  "I'll support your body on my shoulders.  All you have to
> do is worry about getting grip on the joints with your hands."

	"getting a grip"

>      Easy for him to say, she thought.  She could barely see
> inside the duct, having to feel her way from one joint to
> another.
>      She was just reaching for the next joint when the duct shook
> from another explosion.  With a groan, it began to sag - bending
> just below her.

	<vindicated expression>  See?

>      "Steven?" she whined.
>      "Keep going!"
>      "What if it breaks?"
>      "It won't.  Just keep climbing."
>      His urgency suggested he wasn't as sure as he sounded. 

	Eh-heh, yeah.  OTOH, it's *sure* to break if they just keep sitting there.

> Still, he was right behind her supporting her on his shoulders. 
> That gave her the courage to go on.
>      As she reached for the next joint, her hand found nothing
> but free air.  "Just a little higher," she yelled.
>      Steven obliged by dragging himself further up the duct until
> she found the lip of the horizontal section of duct work.

	Ah.  She found the break.

>      Banging her elbows and knees on the duct sides, she noisily
> tried to haul herself up.  Just a little further and she'd be
> past the worst of the climb.
>      Another explosion caused the entire duct to shake.  Smoke
> began to billow up from below.  In a panic, she kicked hard.  Her
> knees banged on the thin metal as she kicked.  Scrambling up the
> last few feet to relative safety, she heard a series of loud
> bangs behind her.

	She kicked Steve right to the bottom of the duct, didn't she?

>      The duct she had just climbed through thundered, groaned and
> began to sway.  More explosions, more smoke, and a loud crash
> from below taunted her temporary victory.

	The fuse sequencing *really* sucks.  They must have used those cheap
after-market Czech fuses.  I tell you, after the Iron Curtain fell, the
quality of Warsaw Pact military supplies just went *right* down the
toilet....

>      None of that mattered.  She'd made it!  Ahead she could see
> light.  It had to be the outside.  Just a few meters and she'd be
> free.

	A minute ago, she was thinking in feet.  But for an American in Japan,
I guess that's not odd.

>      Turning around in the duct, she peered back down the way she
> had come to give Steven a hand.

	Ehhh... seriously, does she have enough room for that?  Less than three
feet across....

>      Instead of the American, she saw only darkness.
>      "Steven?" she called.

	Oh, dear.  She's got the any-guy-who-falls-for-her-gets-killed curse,
doesn't she?

>      There was no answer.
>      "STEVEN!"
>      Her call was answered by a rumble from below, then flames
> shot up the broken duct accompanied by great balls of smoke.

	Jerry Lee Lewis's lawyer is on the phone.  I suggest "great billows of
smoke"

>      With a strangled cry, she threw herself away from the
> opening, covering her head with her hands.  After all she had
> been through to get to safety, she was about to be fried by a
> fire from the room she had just left.
>      Instead of racing her way, the flames flew upward, licking
> the duct above her before quickly receding.  Only the
> overpowering smoke remained, hovered over her head like a hungry
> demon.

	Hovering.

>      Despite concern for her own safety, she was even more
> worried about Steven.  Coughing on the thick smoke, she turned
> around and called down the shaft again.
>      Nothing answered this time - only more smoke and groans from
> the tortured metal duct that seemed to shake and weave about
> below her.
>      Gasping and coughing, she considered trying to climb back
> down and find him, but more explosions nearby caused the duct she
> was occupying to ripple and crack.  She could see it starting to
> part at the nearest seam.  If she didn't move soon, the whole
> thing would come down - taking her with it.
>      Checking her exit, it appeared to bob about.  The duct was
> about to collapse.  She couldn't wait for Steven, if she was
> going to get out alive.

	Crud.

>      Whining in frustration, she spun around and scrambled on all
> fours for the square light ahead - banging her head on seams,
> jamming her knees into other seams, and generally making a racket
> that rivaled the explosions that seemed to be coming from
> everywhere at once.  Smoke choked her, her eyes watered, and the
> heat made the duct feel like the inside of an oven.

	Given that the duct is probably drawing like a chimney, she's actually
pretty lucky.

>      Bouncing off the weaving sides, she slammed into a final

	Sug "bouncing between"

> obstruction, a square grating the blocked her exit to an alley
> way.  Pushing on it with all her might was fruitless.   It
> refused to yield.
>      In fear, frustration and anger, she spun around in the duct

	Okay, she's flexible.

> and began to kick the grate with both feet.  Once, twice, and
> then a third kick - each one accompanied by a shot of pain from
> her reinjured ankles.  She HAD to dislodge the grate or die when
> the duct finally collapsed.
>      Scooting closer, she gripped a joint with both hands and
> kicked as hard as she could.  She ignored her throbbing ankles as
> she kicked one corner over and over again.  "OPEN!" she yelled
> with each kick.
>      With a scream of anguish, she lashed out one last time.  The
> grate popped off and dropped away, clattering onto the surface
> below.
>      Crawling the last two feet, she hung her head over its edge

	She turned around again?

> and gulped lungfulls of fresh air.  Coughing from all the smoke
> she had inhaled, she painfully crawled over the edge and fell the
> last two meters.  Landing with a gasp, her fall broken by a pile
> of trash bags, her body rolled down to the concrete alleyway.

	A pile of garbage bags?  In an alley?  In TOKYO?  Not to mention, the
high-rent part of town.

>      Laying on her back, gasping for breath, she could hear the
> ductwork tearing free and falling to the basement.  She was safe
> but Steven was still somewhere inside.  She had to get back in
> there.

	I admit, she's more on her game than I would be, at this point.  I'd be
lying there for at least another few minutes, thinking about how
wonderful fresh air is and how nobody praises it nearly enough.

>      Painfully rolling to her knees, she heard sirens from the
> fire engines passing on the street at the end of the alley.  She
> couldn't go back in the way she got out.  If she could just make
> it around to the front, maybe she could get back in that way.
>      It took two tries to reach her feet.  The pain in her right
> ankle caused her to gasp and reach of the nearest wall.  As she
> steadied herself, she could feel the building trembling as more
> explosions wracked the structure.  She had to hurry.

	STILL exploding?  Must be Hollywood building codes...

>      Limping, she made it to the street, just in time to avoid

	Sug: "in time to barely avoid"

> being run over by a passing police car.  Its screaming siren was
> accompanied by a loud horn and squealing tires as it swerved
> around her.  She didn't care.  All she wanted now was to get back
> inside and find Steven.
>      She staggered down the block to the front of the building
> only to find complete bedlam.  People were milling about, looking
> for friends or gawking at the carnage, Police cordoned off the
> area with wooden barricades, pushing people further away from the
> fire.  Thick black smoke poured from the center's open doors that
> were at the top of a dozen or so shallow steps.

	Sug:  "the center's main doors, which stood open at the top of a dozen
or so shallow steps"

>      Still limping, she tried to push past the police.
>      "Hold it right there, young lady," one officer said.  "Where
> do you think you're going?"
>      "My friend is still inside," she replied, gesturing towards
> the smoking doors.
>      "Let the firemen worry about your friend.  You need to get
> clear of the building."
>      She could see the men he was referring to, standing together
> at the back of the crowd, putting on protective gear, but making
> no attempt to enter the still exploding building.
>      "Why don't they go in?" she whined.
>      "They'll go in when it's safe," the officer replied.  "They
> have to wait until the explosions stop."
>      With a angry cry of frustration, Tina spun around and
> plunged into the crowd.  Maybe if she told the firemen of the
> urgency, they'd do something - anything.

	Unfortunately, unlikely.  The first rule of rescuers is "don't turn
yourself into a rescuee."  Harsh, but vindicated by hard experience.

>      As she got close, her eye caught on something more
> promising.  At the far side of the crowd were a pair of white
> horses, all saddled and standing under a clump of trees.  Those
> police officers might be able to stop one little girl but there
> was no way they were going to stop a charging horse with a
> determined rider.

	...oh, dear.
	Of course, horses, being more sensible than lovestruck Texan blondes,
know better than to go anywhere *near* a burning building.

>      Slipping through the crowd, she cautiously approached the
> horses.  Looking around, she could see their riders - probably
> part of the opening ceremonies or something - lounging against a
> nearby tree and not paying attention.

	But did they leave the keys in the ignitions?  Wait, I'm a farm brat,
why am I making stupid city-kid jokes?

>      Keeping the horses between herself and the men, Tina got
> close enough to carefully unhitch the biggest one.  Slowly, she
> limped up to its left side and put her foot in the stirrup.
>      "HEY!  What are you doing?" came a yell from where the
> riders were.
>      Swinging herself into the saddle, Tina kicked the horse's
> flanks with her heels.  "Sorry, but I need to borrow him," she
> yelled back.  The men started towards her.  If she didn't move
> and move quickly, one of them would grab the reins and she'd be
> caught.
>      Spurring the horse again, it stumbled, hesitated before
> finally lunging towards the building.

	Technically, she needs spurs in order to do any "spurring"...
	
>      "Get out of the way!" she yelled as the horse cut through
> the crowd.  People scrambled to avoid being run over, parting in
> front of Tina like the bow wave on a ship.  Snatching a shawl
> from the shoulders of a finely dressed woman as she passed, Tina
> waved it at her.  "I need to borrow this."

	Hold on, I need to cue up my "Indiana Jones" soundtrack.

>      Two policemen behind a wooden barricade waved for her to
> stop, but Tina wasn't about to let them stop her now.  She had
> her ride back inside and nobody was going to get in her way.

	Well, they *might*, but that doesn't mean she's not going to ride right
over them.

>      All the time she spent in California during high school,
> she'd taken riding lessons and was considered pretty good - even
> if she had to say so herself.  She loved cross country riding,
> with all the jumps and hills to navigate.  Back in the saddle
> again, it was just like old times - except for the crowd of
> people, the slippery concrete, and the approaching policemen.

	Music cue:  "Back In the Saddle Again."
	...y'know, this being *Tina,* I'm just a bit surprised that she
*hasn't* been in a similar position to this before.

>      Hoping the horse she had chosen was trained right, she aimed
> him towards the waist-high wooden obstruction and urged him
> forward.  As if it were in a show ring, the horse launched itself
> over the barricade and ducking officers, clearing them by inches,
> before landing on the hard concrete - its steel shoes sparking
> and clattering noisily as it landed.

	"...concrete, its..."

>      Horses don't usually do well on steps.  This one was no

	Yeah, they prefer elevators ("True Lies" ref for teh win!)

> exception.  It hesitated, dropping its head at the unfamiliar
> path Tina was demanding it take.  Snorting, it picked its way up
> the stairs.  She knew that if it hit a stair wrong, a broken leg
> was a real possibility - for both of them.

	Never tried my dad's old mare on stairs (though knowing her she would
have taken it the way Ranma Saotome takes challenges), but she had this
amazing trick for standing sideways on a 45deg slope with all four legs
straight without falling over... or at least that's how it felt just
before I fell off....

>      Slipping and sliding, the animal reached the top like a
> champ, coming to a stop in front of the smoking doors.  It spun
> around once - enough for Tina to see several police converging up
> the stairs.  Throwing the shawl over the horse's face, she turned
> him towards the open doors and urged him into the swirling smoke.

	Isn't that trick supposed to be for getting horses OUT of fires?

>      Tina ducked to avoid the door frame and silently thanked the
> building's designer for making the front doors larger than
> normal.  She clung desperately to the horse as the now panicked
> animal rushed further into the building.

	He's only panicking NOW?  If he had any <ahem!> horse sense, he'd've
panicked the first time she came near him....

>      Choking on the smoke, she almost slowed its headlong charge
> - not knowing exactly where to go now that she was inside. 

	"charge, not"

> Steven had to still be in the basement.  But where was the door
> to the basement?
>      Before she could act on her indecision, the smoke was
> suddenly gone.  She had ridden all the way through to the main
> hall.  

	Ah, higher ceilings, natch.

>      Pulling the horse to a stop, she looked around.  The room
> was much larger than she expected - almost three stories tall and
> bigger than any convention center she'd ever been in.  Most of
> the roof had collapsed or was blown away.  That probably
> accounted for the lack of smoke.

	...yeah, that works too.
	
>      Turning the horse in a complete circle, she jerked it to a
> halt when she saw movement across the room.  It looked like
> someone struggling with a section of the collapsed ceiling. 
>      She didn't have time for survivors and was about to abandon

	<blink>  That sounds *awful.*  But, Tina's a bit hyperfocussed at the
moment, not to mention probably a bit in shock, so it's probably
understandable.

> the lone figure to his fate when she heard a voice calling her.
>      "TINA?"
>      She spun the horse around once more before realizing who it
> was calling her.  She hesitated only a moment before heading
> towards Kaoru Hanabishi.

	NOOOOO!!!! She's going to abandon the guy who's really in love with her
for the hopeless crush she can't let go of!  Tina, stop being a soap
opera character!

>      "I need your help," Kaoru said, sounding more like himself
> with her presence.  "Aoi-chan is trapped."
>      Guiding the nervous horse around piles of rubble, Tina
> picked her way over to him.  
>      As she got close, on the other side of a rubble pile was Aoi
> Sakuraba, on the floor sitting up against a section of fallen
> ceiling with her legs trapped under some debris.  The whole mess
> appeared to be held in place by a large I-beam that jutted from
> the pile like a ship's cannon.
>      Sliding out of the saddle, Tina tethered the horse on
> section of rebar from the fallen ceiling.  She was there to find
> Steven, but the lure of Kaoru in distress reluctantly drew her
> like a moth to a flame.

	What, no thoughts for poor Landlady-chan, who's the one *really* in
distress here?

>      "I've got to find Steven," she said.
>      "Just help me get this beam off of Aoi-chan," Kaoru replied
> as he positioned himself for another attempt to lift the heavy
> girder.

	This sounds like a job for a little... HORSEPOWER!  Now if only they
had a rope....

>      Reluctantly, Tina moved to the beam.  Weight lifting wasn't
> her strong suit.  With her damaged ankles, she didn't know just
> how much help she was going to be.  One glance at the trapped Aoi
> Sakuraba convinced her she had to try.
>      Wedging herself under the I-beam, she turned so her back was
> against it.  Gathering her legs under her, she prepared to give
> it her best shot.
>      "On three," Kaoru said.  "One-two-THREE."
>      Tina groaned as she pressed upward, her legs quivering in
> protest.  It was like trying to lift a car.  Her ankles burned. 

	Wonder how many times she's done that, for comparison.  :)

> Strong stabs of pain ran up her legs causing her to whimper but
> not enough to make her give up.
>      Suddenly, she felt something pop in her right ankle.  It
> felt like someone had stabbed her with a hot knife.  Crying in
> pain, she dropped to the floor clutching her ankle.
>      Kaoru was immediately by her side.  "Are you all right? 
> What happened?"  Intense concern was written all over his face.
>      Tina looked to him with tears in her eyes.  "I'm sorry,
> Kaoru."
>      "That's okay, Tina," he said.  "You rest and I'll try
> again."
>      Any other time she might have thrown her arms around his
> neck, trying to hold on to what she knew could never be hers. 
> Instead, she weakly nodded and shifted around to sit up.  Her
> ankle throbbed but she had to get to her feet.  Aoi Sakuraba
> needed them both, if she was to avoid death.
>      Kaoru positioned himself to try once more.  His grim
> expression told of his resolve.
>      "Kaoru-sama," came Aoi's voice from the other side of the
> rubble pile.  "Is Tina-chan okay?"
>      "She just needs to rest a minute," he replied before trying
> to lift the beam again.
>      With a loud groan, his face twisted into a painful grimace,
> he pushed as hard as he could against the immovable obstruction
> holding Aoi hostage.  It didn't budge.
>      "Kaoru-sama, please," came Aoi's calm voice.  "Please take
> Tina and leave before it's too late."
>      Gasping for breath, Kaoru slowly shook his head.  "Aoi-chan,
> if you can't leave, I won't either.  I love you, Aoi-chan."
>      Tina slowly slumped back to the floor.  It was finally out
> in the open now.  She might have loved him, but his heart had
> always belonged to Aoi Sakuraba.

	If Steve were currently conscious, he'd no doubt be suddenly feeling
very optimistic for no apparent reason right about now....

>      "Please, Kaoru-sama.  My spirit could never rest, if I died
> knowing I was the cause of your death, as well."
>      "I'll never leave you, Aoi-chan."
>      Kaoru's words struck Tina like a falling section of ceiling. 
> There was no doubt now, Kaoru would never - could never - love
> anyone but Aoi.
>      Tina painfully climbed to her feet, her right ankle making a
> grinding noise as she did.  The pain almost drove her back to the
> floor, but her will to see Aoi Sakuraba free drove her on.
>      "At least, get her highness out," Aoi said as calmly as if
> she were asking him to pick up something at the store on his way
> home.

	....WHAAAAAAAA--!?!?

>      Her highness?  Tina peered over the pile of rubble.  Nestled
> against Aoi's left side was a little girl, no more than six or
> seven.  Tina couldn't understand how she missed the girl in the
> first place.  Wearing a yellow and indigo kimono, the child
> appeared to be trying to hide behind Aoi.

	Yep, Aoi is to kids and basket cases what a magnet is to iron filings.
	Hmm... This ups the ante quite a bit for the traitorous Sakuraba group
members.  A little "business is war" is one thing, putting a member of
the Imperial Family at risk...

>      "Highness?" Tina finally gasped.
>      "Yes, she's the Emperor's granddaughter," Aoi said with a
> painful smile.
>      "Where's all her guards, her attendants?"
>      Aoi just looked to her left with a sad expression.  Tina
> followed where Aoi was looking to see a large pile of roof
> rubble.  A woman's arm hung limply from the mound.  A pool of
> blood flowed from the debris.  The little girl must have been the
> only survivor.  In all the confusion and rush for the exits, she
> must have been forgotten by anyone else who should have thought
> of her.

	Somebody in Imperial Security is going to be spilling his guts over this.

>      "Please, Kaoru-sama," Aoi begged.
>      "I'm not leaving you," he said again.
>      "I'll take her," Tina heard herself say.  She wasn't sure
> she really said it until she saw Aoi smile.

	Yeah, that'll do it.

>      Tina limped slowly around the other side of the rubble until
> she was next to Aoi.  The little girl stared at her with
> frightened eyes as she pressed herself tighter against Aoi's
> lithe body.
>      Certain her size must be further frightening the already
> terrified little girl, Tina painfully dropped to a knee.  "Let's
> you and me get out of here, okay?"
>      The trembling little girl tore her eyes from the blond and
> looked questioningly at Aoi.
>      "Tina-chan is a good friend," Aoi said softly to the girl. 
> "I know you can trust her."  She then looked at Tina with an
> expression that suggested this was the last time they would ever
> see each other.  "Just as I have always trusted her."

	Oh, just stick the knife in and TWIST it, Aoi!  Of course, she *means*
well....

>      Swallowing hard, Tina blinked to hold back a tear.  It
> wasn't easy.  "Come... come on, kid," she said to the little
> girl.  "We gotta go."
>      The little girl reluctantly released Aoi and took Tina's
> hand.  Together, they stood and turned to leave.
>      As if she had forgotten something, the girl stopped, turned,
> and bowed deeply to Aoi before allowing Tina to guide her away.

	That'd be downright cute, if the situation weren't so grim.

>      "You're gonna have to help me," Tina said as she limped
> badly, every step agony.  "I think I really messed up my ankle
> this time."
>      She had only hobbled a few steps when she got an idea.  "Can
> you ride a horse?"
>      The little girl stopped and looked at her like she was
> talking nonsense.
>      "I'll bet you ride all the time at the palace," Tina said
> hopefully.
>      With wide eyes, the little girl scanned the horse from
> hooves to the top of its head.  It must have appeared to be a
> giant to her.

	I remember this exact experience -- going out to fill the grain bin in
the barn, and turning around to realize that my way out of the barn is
full of hungry (though harmless) horse.  She wouldn't have ever hurt me,
but all that *mass* is awfully intimidating at that age.

>      "You know, in America, I used to ride all the time," Tina
> said with a smile.  "I know horses and this is a good one, just
> made for a little girl like you."

	Errr... in a building that's full of smoke?  A horse that's already a
bit panicky?  Even if he's excellently trained, this sounds like a BAD IDEA.

>      The girl looked between the nervous animal and Tina before
> modestly nodding.
>      "Okay, then."  Tina picked up the girl and swung her into
> the saddle.  Her kimono was a bit of a problem, at first, but
> with a little effort, they got it parted enough for her to fit
> into the saddle.  It then became obvious the stirrups weren't
> going to work.  They were much too long.  Tina improvised by
> tucking the child's feet in the cinch loops.
>      Turning the animal towards the exit, Tina pointed to the
> wall of smoke.  "See that green sign over the door?"  The little
> girl nodded.  "Ride straight towards it and keep going.  It'll be
> a little smoky, but if you keep going straight, you'll be outside
> in a few seconds."

	Not to mention, isn't the horse still blindfolded?  The odds of a
really bad slip&fall here are really serious.

>      The little girl gripped the reins and stared at the sign
> with a determined expression.
>      "Here ya go," Tina said.  With a loud shout and a slap on
> the horse's rump, the animal launched itself towards the exit. 
> The girl settled into a natural riding posture, leaning slightly
> forward and letting her legs cushion the horses gait as it
> plunged onwards.  In a second, both rider and horse disappeared
> into the swirling smoke.

	So she *does* know how to keep her seat.  No bouncing-princess.

>      With a heavy sigh, Tina turned back to Kaoru and Aoi.
>      "Tina, why didn't you go with her?" Kaoru asked.
>      She lightly dropped a fist into her open hand.  "I guess I
> just don't have enough sense to git while the gittin's good."

	Just proves the horse is smarter than she is.

>      "Well, I'm glad you stayed," Kaoru said.
>      "Me, too," Aoi agreed with a nod.
>      Rubbing her hands together, Tina drew a deep breath.  "I
> guess we better figure out how to get Miss Landlord out of here."
>      Kaoru started to smile when his expression changed and he
> appeared to look past her.  Tina checked over her shoulder to see
> movement in the hallway.  Fearing it might be one of the Koreans
> still in the building, she slowly dropped down to let a pile of

	"Koreans, still in the building,"

> rubble screen her from being seen.
>      She was just about to disappear completely when the figure
> emerged from the smoke.

	<flipping coin>	

>      "STEVEN!" she yelled, struggling to get to her feet.  With
> the pain in her ankles stabbing her all the way, she scurried
> towards the reason she was back in the building.  He might be
> limping and showing an obvious head wound, but he looked great to
> her.

	Hey, soot stains and head wounds are Dead Sexy, don't'cha know.

>      Steven grunted as their bodies collided.  Wrapping her arms
> around him she buried her face in his chest.  "I knew I could
> find you," she said.  "I knew you were still alive."

	"Frankly my dear, I don't give a--"  wait, wrong movie.

>      Patting her shoulder, he chuckled.  "It'll take more than a
> kick in the head and a fall down a ventilator shaft."  When Tina
> lifted her head to look directly at him, he smiled.
>      "Kick in the head?" she asked.

	<R!O!T!F!L!M!A!O!>
	I KNEW it!  She probably came closer to killing him than the Koreans did!

>      "Yeah, somebody kicked me and I lost my grip," he flatly.
>      Tina hesitated.  "Did I do that?"

	I'm sorry, I just have to stop here and observe a moment of silence in
honor of just how... *fraught*... this is.

>      "Unless there was someone else in that duct," he replied
> with a wry smile.  "I bounced down the shaft to the floor. 
> Luckily, I rolled away just before all the duct work collapsed."
>      "How did you get out?" Tina asked, grateful he appeared
> willing to overlook her potentially fatal footwork.
>      "One of the explosions popped the door open.  I came up the
> stairs," he said.  Looking past her, he frowned.  "What's going
> on over there?"
>      Remembering Kaoru and Aoi, she took his hand and started to
> tow him towards the trapped pair.  "Miss Landlord is trapped.  We
> can't get her free."
>      As they reached the rubble where Aoi was pinned, Tina
> hesitantly introduced him to Kaoru.  It was awkward doing it,
> considering how she had felt about Kaoru.

	Lessee... building on fire, room filling with smoke, floor in danger of
collapsing, Aoi trapped, imminent death all 'round... yeah, this is the
time to feel awkward about THAT!

>      "Oh, you're the guy from the couch," Kaoru said.
>      "And you must be the dream guy," Steven replied

	...I swear, if they start bristling at each other, I'm gonna climb into
the story and plug them both.

>      "Huh?"  Kaoru blinked between Steven and Tina. 
>      "I'll explain later," Tina said.  "Right now, we need you to
> help lift this beam."
>      Steven eyed the pile and examined the I-beam.  Shaking his
> head, he dropped to the floor next to the pile opposite Aoi and
> started to burrow in.

	THERMITE SHOELACES!!!!!!!

>      "What are you doing?" Tina asked.  "We don't have time to
> explore."
>      Steven sat back and pointed above.  "You have less time than
> you know."
>      Everyone looked where Steven was pointing.  A section of the
> roof remained in place, hanging like a giant fist directly
> overhead.  Small chunks of concrete fell as they watched.  There
> was little doubt that one good shake from the building and it
> would come tumbling down.  They had their own Sword of Damocles.

	Ceiling of Damocles, technically.

>      Not waiting for anyone to comment, Steven burrowed back into
> the pile - pulling out chunks of concrete, rebar, and an
> occasional folding chair part.
>      Pausing a moment, Tina saw him reach into the pile.  She was
> about to ask what he was doing when Aoi's eyes went wide and gave
> a little squeak of surprise.

	...oh, dear.
	And, since I *just* read the final volume of the manga, I *really* need
to wash my brain out now.

>      "Sorry, Ma'am," Steven said, his voice muffled by the
> rubble.  "I'm just checking to see if your leg's broken."
>      Aoi covered her face with her hands as if not looking at his
> hands gently probing her lower leg would preserve her modesty. 
> Tina bent over to get a better look.  A chunk of cement was
> launched out of the pile where Steven was digging.  It missed her
> head by inches.

	Nah, that couldn't *possibly* have been deliberate...

>      "Hey, watch it!" she growled.
>      "Sorry," came Steven's voice from the pile.  "I think I've
> got it now."
>      Crawling out of the pile, Tina helped him to his feet.
>      "Lifting that beam won't do anything," he said wiping his
> hands on his jacket.  "That just presses it harder against the
> folding chair that's holding her."
>      "So what do we do?" Kaoru asked.
>      "We need to get rid of some of that weight," Steven replied
> as he began to undo his belt.
>      Everyone watched as Steven pulled his belt free.  Turning it
> around, he stripped off the belt's inner lining.  Inside was a
> thin strip of what looked like putty.

	But... WHAT ABOUT THE SHOELACES???
	<ahem>  Kidding aside, I really thought he was going to use them to
slice the beam or something.  But this looks more... boomy.

>      He carefully removed the substance and tossed the belt
> aside.  Moving to the beam, he wrapped the putty around it and
> began to gently press it so that it touched every millimeter of
> its surface.
>      "What's that stuff?" Tina asked.
>      "It's got a fancy chemical name but to put it simply, it is
> supposed to be able to cut through anything."  Steven checked his

	Um... why didn't he use it on the door downstairs?

> work before nodding.  "You... uh, Kaoru, throw your jacket over
> the lady's head and cover her with your body.  When I ignite this
> stuff, don't look.  It'll blind you like an arc welder."

	...wait.  That sounds like thermite.  But I thought it was his
*shoelaces* that were thermite, not his belt....

>      Kaoru did as he was directed.  Tina limped to the opposite
> side of the pile and crouched down.
>      "Here we go," Steven said.  She heard a 'pop' and then a
> loud hiss - like an angry giant serpent.
>      The room was illuminated like a sun was being born.  The
> hiss grew in volume until it included snapping and a long wail of
> metal being melted.

	Now I'm having 'Terminator II' flashbacks.  Seriously, I've never heard
steel 'wail' while being melted.  The Oxy jet of an oxyacetalene cutting
torch makes a sound sort of like that, but not the steel itself.

>      In seconds, it was over.  The light faded and Tina chanced a
> look around the pile.  Steven launched a few kicks at the still
> glowing end of the beam.  On his third kick, the beam broke and
> slammed into the floor with a loud 'thunk'.
>      "Okay, you two get hold of her.  Tina, you get her legs." 
> Steven crawled back into the rubble and wiggled around to get in
> as far as he could.  "One more chunk of concrete should do it,"
> he said.  
>      Part of the rubble seemed to shift slightly.  "Pull!"
>      Kaoru and Tina eased Aoi's legs from the rubble.  "She's
> free," Tina said.  There were angry abrasions on her left ankle
> and a few cuts, but nothing that looked permanent.
>      "Let's get out of here!" Steven yelled as he crawled back
> out of the rubble and got to his feet.

	"MARINES!  We are LEAVING!!!!"

>      A sudden string of explosions shook the building as Tina and

	Oh, NOW what?  This building must be constructed to Hollywood zoning
codes or something...

> Kaoru guided Aoi away from the pile.  They had only gone a few
> steps when Tina heard the section of roof above them begin to
> give way.  They had only gone a few more feet when it finally
> fell.

	And everything went into slo-mo, to boot.

>      The whole building shook as massive blocks of concrete and
> ceiling beams slammed into the wood floor.  Some punched straight
> through to the basement.  Kaoru grunted and fell as a chunk of
> concrete bounced off his head.  His grip must have tightened
> because as he fell, he pulled Aoi and Tina with him.
>      Tina landed hard on the floor.  In a flash, she wiggled
> free.  Steven appeared at her side.  "You okay?" he asked.
>      Nodding, she allowed him to gently pick her up.
>      "No, you're not," he added as she flinched when her weight
> settled onto her ankles.  "You've hurt your ankles again."

	Does seem to be a chronic thing with her, don't it?

>      "It's nothing.  I can make it," she insisted.
>      Giving her a hug, he turned to the stricken Kaoru.  "You get
> the girl and I'll take him."
>      Tina helped Aoi up.  Wrapping her arm around the other
> girl's waist, they started for the exit.

	3-legged RACE FOR YOUR LIFE!!!
	
>      Steven struggled a bit, but eventually got Kaoru over his
> shoulders in a fireman's carry.
>      "Is he all right?" Tina called, having gotten a sizeable
> lead in their escape.
>      "Just dazed," came Steven's reply as he started towards the
> exit.
>      Despite Kaoru's weight, Steven quickly passed the two girls. 
> Having only one good ankle between them, their progress was
> significantly slower.  Tina pressed harder to catch up, but could
> only shuffle along as Aoi slowed them both.
>      Steven reached the relative safety of the hallway first,
> lowering the now reviving Kaoru to the floor.  "Hurry up!" he
> called anxiously.
>      The rumble of more explosions below was suddenly overtaken
> by a strange and much louder sound.  The two girls hesitated as
> the sound grew, much like a jet engine starting up.

	Oh, crud.  One of those blasts ruptured a gas main, didn't it?

>      "The damn thing rebooted!" Steven yelled.

	<!>  I completely forgot about that thing!  Heck, it *survived*?  Coors
must make darn tough kegs.

>      "We're not going to make it."  Tina looked into Aoi's placid
> face.  Smudged and gritty from all she had been through, the
> Sakuraba girl seemed oblivious to what was unfolding.
>      Together, there was no chance of them making it to safety. 
> Perhaps alone, Aoi stood a chance.
>      Without saying anything, Tina dropped to her knees, pulling
> Aoi with her.  Spinning her around until she faced the hallway,
> Tina muttered her apologies and gave Aoi a hard push.
>      The combination of a slick polished floor and Aoi's silk
> kimono did the rest.  Like a shuffleboard puck, Aoi slid quickly
> to the hallway where Steven snatched her from the floor and
> placed her next to Kaoru.
>      Like a giant weight had been lifted from her, Tina smiled. 
> Miss Landlord was safe.  Kaoru was safe.  Even Steven was safe. 
> With a sigh of resignation, she slumped to the floor and waited.  
> Her ankles were were unable to bear her weight and she was

	I thought Tina had the one good ankle between her and Aoi.

> exhausted. It no longer mattered what happened to her.  There was
> no way she could crawl fast enough to make it to safety.  At
> least, the others would get out alive.

	If she's still got one good (or at least decent) ankle, she ought to be
able to pogo at a decent walking pace.  Worth trying, anyway.
	...hm.  I guess this is Steve's chance to do something stupid and heroic.

>      To the accompanying howl of the evil device in the basement,
> Tina felt her hair starting to stand on end.  Her bare legs began
> to feel hot, like she was standing in a hot springs.  It wouldn't
> be long now.
>      To her surprise, Steven appeared at her side.  What was he
> doing here?  Didn't he know how dangerous it was?

	He's got more body hair, for one thing.

>      "We're getting out of here!" he yelled.
>      Grabbing her wrists, he started to drag her quickly over the
> smooth floor.  The burning sensation got worse the further they
> went.  She tried to tell him to forget about her and save
> himself, but all that came out was a tortured squeak as a more
> sensitive region on her body began to burn.

	I think I predicted something like that, last chapter.

>      The pain increased, now burning her arm pits and threatening

	armpits

> the hair on her head and face.  It had to be effecting Steven as
> well.  How he was able to endure such torture was a mystery she
> had no time to consider.

	Because he's SAVING THE GIRL -- standard situational powerups apply.
	That, and adrenaline.

>      Just as the pain became unbearable, they were at the edge of
> the hallway.  That was when the worst of it hit.

	Sug: "they reached the edge of the hallway"

>      She barely heard Steven's body hit the floor and felt him
> pull her up into his arms.  On her back, with his arms around
> her, she felt the pain strike the junction between her legs. 
> Inside that pain, she felt a strange pressure.  The pressure
> increased until the pain was replaced by a wave of sheer pleasure
> that wracked her body.  The pulsing waves of energy surging
> through the floor caused her to convulse as the strongest orgasm
> of her young life shook her.  Then a second - and a third
> contraction caused her to writhe in Steven's arms.  Flashes of

	O_O

> light seemed to spark in front of her closed eyes.  Her whole
> body chilled suddenly before another orgasm struck with greater
> force than the ones before.
>      Somewhere around the fifth climax, her world went black.

	...oooookay.  I think somebody in the NK's Department Of Bond-ish
Villainy dropped a decimal point somewhere....
	Although I can't help but wonder what the effect on *males* is.  And
whether Kaoru and/or Aoi are catching any of the spillover....

	What?  That's the END?!?  Dangit, GL, how can you work us up like this
and then leave us hanging?!?