This Story No Title
A School Rumble Fanfic

Chapter 12:  Sara's Counterattack

By John Biles

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

	Hanai was a man of his word.  Despite the many 
snickers he got on his way to school, he walked along in 
the girl's uniform, doing his best to keep his dignity as he 
walked with Mikoto, Akira, Tenma, and Eri.  Akira looked 
about as amused as she ever got.  Eri kept nearly 
snickering, and Tenma...well, she would laugh over 
anything.  Mikoto smiled, but she didn't say anything for 
which he was grateful.

	He got a sinking pit feeling when he spotted Lala in 
the distance, though.  I don't need her and Mikoto fighting, 
he thought.  

	Lala stared at him, putting a hand over her mouth.  
Mikoto glared at her.  As they approached, Hanai said, 
"Good morning, Gonzales-san.  How are you?"

	"Why?" she asked, simply.

	"It was necessary to pay a debt," Hanai said.

	"Doesn't he look pretty, Gonzales-san?" Akira said 
with a great deal of amusement in her voice.

	Lala frowned at her; she didn't trust Akira very much.  
The woman always seemed to be up to something.  "He 
looks just fine," she said, lying on the assumption Akira 
hoped she would mock him.  

	To her surprise, Mikoto nodded approvingly.  Akira, 
on the other hand, didn't seem too pleased.

	She was rather more pleased when lots of people 
pointed, laughed, and mocked as they approached the 
school.  This perked Akira right up and made Hanai 
increasingly self-aware.  

	The last straw was when he ran into Harima, who 
began laughing his head off.  
"HAHHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!!"

	Hanai wasn't going to stand for that.  "I got into this 
because you couldn't keep your eyes off the cheerleaders!  
You were busy looking at them the whole time!  Yakumo 
must love you a lot to put up with THAT!"

	Tenma's eyes widened.  "Is that true, Kenji-kun?"

	"For shame," Akira said solemnly.

	"Kenji-kun, don't be a monkey," Eri said, feeling 
irritated at that revelation herself.

	"I wasn't...I mean..."  Harima didn't know what to say.  
He could only justify himself by confessing his love for 
Tenma and he couldn't do that with everyone looking...but 
now she was mad at him.  He'd lose, no matter what he did.

	"It's all your fault!" he yelled, attacking Hanai for lack 
of a better idea of what to do.

	To his surprise, Mikoto swooped in and between the 
two of them, Harima was soon subdued.  "You have to 
confess your sins to Yakumo," Tenma told him.  "It's up to 
her to punish you.  And don't blame Hanai when he's 
having to embarrass himself because of you."

	Harima wanted to crumple up into a ball and die.  But 
it wasn't his time to go, yet.

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

	"So she likes Asou-sempai too?" Yakumo asked Sara, 
glancing over at Satsuki, who was chattering away with 
some friends.

	"Yes.  I wish I was bolder.  She's...I don't think she's 
afraid of anything.  If she has an interest in Asou-sempai..."

	"You're bolder than I am," Yakumo said.

	Suddenly, the class president loomed over them.  
Himeko had to stand on a chair to loom; she was short and 
sturdily built, with short blond hair.  She had a bit of a 
reputation for being a tomboy.  "So, you and Satsuki both 
have an interest in the same man?"

	"I..." Sara said, suddenly nervous.

	"Yes, she does," Yakumo said quickly.

	"Well.  I can't allow that sort of squabbling.  We'll 
have to have a contest to see who gets to date him."

	"..."

	Himeko's right hand man, Daiichi, dragged Satsuki 
over, ignoring her protests.

	"I have decided you two will settle your rivalry with a 
contest.  Each of you will choose one event, and I will 
choose a tiebreaker event."

	"Basketball," Satsuki said cheerfully.

	"Cooking," Sara said grimly.

	"Hmm.  The tiebreaker event will be food delivery.  
That taps into both your experiences," Himeko said.  "You 
have two weeks to get ready."

	"Doesn't basketball require a team?" Yakumo asked.

	"Yes.  You'll each need to assemble your own team.  I 
will referee the match."

	Sara nodded.  

	"Cool," Satsuki said.  

	"I will inform Asou-sempai of how this will be 
handled," Himeko said.  "Be back soon."

************
	
	Tani-sensei was getting ready to start class when 1-C's 
president walked in, and headed for Asou, who was busy 
discussing professional basketball with Suga and some 
others of the 2-C boys.  "Asou-sempai, I'm Nanasawa 
Himeko," she said to him.  "I've come to inform you that 
we've decided to settle the rivalry for your hand with a 
contest."

	"You...what???" Asou asked.

	Suga snickered.

	"Satsuki and Sara will have three contests.  The 
winner of two gets to date you," Himeko continued.

	"But...don't I get a voice in this?" Asou asked.

	"No," Himeko said flatly.  "Your failure to actively 
pursue one or the other means you can't be trusted to make 
your own decision."

	"But I didn't even know Satsuki liked me until 
yesterday!  I barely knew she existed!" Asou protested.

	"Ignorance of the law is no excuse," Himeko said.

	By now, a large, curious crowd was gathering.

	Himeko continued, "In two weeks, we'll have a 
cooking contest, a basketball game, and a delivery 
competition to settle the matter.  Wear something nice and 
remember to use breath freshener.  The prize needs to be 
worth having."

	"I am not a prize!" Asou protested.

	"I don't think you're much of a prize," Himeko said.  
"Compared to my Daiichi.  But this is their contest and you 
are their prize.  So, be ready."

	Suga punched Asou lightly in the arm.  "Man, you are 
so lucky."

	"You're crazy, Suga," Asou said.  "And you can't 
make me do anything, I'm your sempai, not the other way 
around."

	Mai said, "She's right.  I order you to participate, 
Asou.  You've been waffling around far too long."

	"..."

	"You didn't even give Sara her rightful kiss after 
winning the game."

	"I didn't promise anyone anything!" Asou protested.

	"It's settled," Mai said.  "May the best woman win."

	Next year, I'm transferring to another school, Asou 
thought.

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

	At lunch time, Tenma shoved Harima.  "Go apologize 
to Yakumo."

	"But...I..."

	"GO," she said.

	He sighed and slowly made his way to 1-C's room.  
All heads turned as he walked in and came over to 
Yakumo.  "Yo, let's go eat lunch."

	"Sara needs to ask you a favor," Yakumo said.  "Can 
she come?"

	"Sure," he said.  It would be a good excuse to not 
bring things up.

	They went outside and sat down under a tree and 
started eating.  It was clear to Harima that Sara was almost 
as nervous as he was.  Yakumo was quiet as usual, just 
sitting next to him and eating.

	Finally, however, Sara said, "Harima-san, I need your 
help.  I have to assemble a basketball team to defeat 
Satsuki."

	"..."  Harima stared at her in confusion.  "What?"

	"Satsuki," Sara said.  "She's my...she kissed Asou-
sempai."

	Yakumo said, "You'll help her, won't you?"

	"Sure," Harima said.  That would make up for looking 
at the cheerleaders.  He'd get off easy.  And basketball was 
fun.

	"Thank you," Sara said, relieved.

	"I owe Yakumo one anyway, for...uh...not watching 
her cheerlead."

	"You were playing," Yakumo said.  "I couldn't really 
watch you very well either."

	Harima gave a great sigh of relief.  Slid out of that one 
smoothly.

	"You never did give him his kiss," Sara pointed out.  
"I can turn around if you want to do it now."

	"Not here," Yakumo said.  "There's probably people 
watching."  Her eyes were wide and she stared at the 
ground.

	"We're not watching!" Tenma shouted from behind a 
nearby bush.

	Harima turned and saw Tenma, Eri, Mikoto, Akira, 
and Hanai all hidden behind a bush, spying.  Akira had her 
hands over Hanai's eyes, though.

	"Don't spy on us!" Harima said.  "I don't peep on any 
of you!"

	Tenma turned red.  Akira said, "See, Hanai, nothing 
bad is happening."

	"I can't SEE anything!"

	"But since you're here...and guilty..."  Harima was 
relishing this.  "I'm gonna commit three of you to helping 
Sara win her basketball game.  Mikoto, Eri, Tenma, you get 
to be players three through five."

	"Oh, would you, please?" Sara asked.  "All the good 
players in our class are going to back Satsuki."

	"Hey, I can play basketball," Hanai said.

	"We already have enough girls on this team," Harima 
said.

	That was too much, and Hanai broke loose and 
charged at Harima.

	Yakumo rose and interposed herself.  "Leave him 
alone!"

	Hanai tried to stop his charge; he ended up sprawled 
on the ground in front of her, his skirt riding up.  
"Yakumo..." he mumbled.  She could see his thoughts 
about her; he still couldn't stop thinking about her when he 
had two girlfriends.

	"Your girlfriend is watching you, you know," Yakumo 
said.  "You should be thinking about her."

	Mikoto mumbled, "I'm not his girlfriend."

	"But you knew who she was thinking of," Eri said, 
smiling a little.

	"She's not my girlfriend!" Hanai protested.

	"So you prefer Gonzales-san?" Akira asked Hanai.

	"I didn't say that!" he said.

	"Two-timer," Yakumo said, then turned back to 
Harima.  "You only care about one woman, right?"

	"Right," Harima said, thinking of Tenma.  Though if 
he stretched the definition of care a bit further, there were a 
few more women...

	"Yakumo..." Hanai mumbled.

	Yakumo ignored him, sat down by Harima, and began 
eating.  

	The others eventually dragged Hanai away.  Tenma 
lingered to say to Harima, "That's exactly right.  Just focus 
on Yakumo, and everything will be okay."

	I will focus on Yakumo until she teaches me 
everything you want me to learn, Harima thought.  
Anything for you, Tenma.  And, really, Yakumo did make 
a pretty good teacher, so feminine and graceful.  "Of 
course," he said.

	"Good."  And then she left.

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

	Eri's instincts to meddle got the better of her, and she 
approached Karasuma after class was over.  "So, do you 
like Tenma?"

	"Yes," he said.

	"I mean...like like," Eri said.

	"Yes," he said to her.

	"Better than curry?" Eri asked.

	"Nothing is better than curry," Karasuma said.

	What a whacko, Eri thought.  "But better than other 
girls?"

	"Yes," he said.

	That was easy, Eri thought.  You'd think he would 
have told her this.  "You ought to tell her," she said.

	"It is easier to tell you than her," he said.

	Eri could appreciate that.

	"Well, don't wait too long."

	"I am good at waiting," he said.

	"No, DO NOT WAIT too long."

	"I won't," he said.

	She wasn't sure if she could believe that.

	"When will you tell Harima you like him?"

	Eri turned red.  "What gives you that idea?"

	"I have eyes," he said.

	She looked around frantically, but no one was near 
them.  "I...don't say crazy things," she said.  "He's got a 
girlfriend and I like sophisticated men.  Which are lacking 
here."

	Karasuma just stared at her with his blank eyes and 
flat expression.

	Eri decided it was time to leave. 

	Quickly.

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

	"He owes you a kiss," Sagano told Yuuki as they 
changed into their gis for their martial arts practice.  

	"I...I don't know..." Yuuki said, waffling.

	"I can tell him if you want me to," Sagano said.

	"No, no, I'll claim it myself," Yuuki said.

	"Just don't wait too long."

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

	Harima had gone off on his own to think.  This was 
the sort of time where he regretted not having any close 
guy friends.  Hanai was the closest thing he had to that.  
And Haruka, but Haruka was more like an older brother, 
really.

	So he was sitting by himself at the fifties-style diner, 
getting some food before the first basketball practice, and 
doodling on the napkins.

	"Hey there," Haruka said, making Harima jump out of 
his skin.  "Who's the pretty blonde chick in your doodle?"

	Harima suddenly realized he'd been drawing Eri in a 
bikini.  "Just a character for a manga."  Aaargh, I didn't 
mean to mention that, he thought.

	"Mmm, hot," Haruka said.  "You here alone?"

	"I meet with the basketball team later, but I needed a 
little time alone."

	"Your woman getting too clingy?" Haruka asked.  
"And mind if I sit down?"

	"Go right ahead," Harima said.  "I just needed a little 
time alone, before I plunge into sports."

	"Who are you up against?" Haruka asked, sitting down 
opposite Harima.

	"My...My girlfriend's best friend...this just sounds 
really stupid when I say it."

	"Yeah, but that's just you," Haruka said, grinning a 
little.  

	"Okay, my girlfriend's best friend has to win this 
contest so she can date this guy in my class," Harima said.  
"Basketball, cooking, delivery," he continued.  "I'm one of 
the teammates for the b-ball game."

	"Huh," Haruka said, sipping a coke.  "The guy is 
making her do this?"  This didn't seem to make Haruka 
happy.

	"No, it's her class president.  She has to beat her rival 
in two out of three, to date Asou."

	Haruka made a face.  "And he's willing to leave it to a 
game?"

	"He wasn't really given any choice," Harima said.  
"But since he and Sara have been waffling around, they 
probably need a kick in the pants like this."

	Haruka leaned back, working on the coke some more 
and looking thoughtful.  "So is this all rigged to basically 
get them off their butt?"

	"That's my impression," Harima said.  "I wouldn't let 
anyone do this to me, but I thought...it was a good idea to 
help out Yakumo."  He hoped it was.

	"Yeah, the ladies get mad if you don't go along with 
their mad schemes," Haruka said.  "It'll get you credit for 
what you really want."

	Harima nodded.  Tenma was really excited about this, 
so he was making her happy.  "You ever..."  He shook his 
head.  There were things that were too embarrassing to 
bring up.

	"So, how close are you two?" Haruka asked.

	"Pretty close," Harima said.  He wanted to talk about 
the manga some, but he wasn't sure what Haruka would 
think.

	"Lost your virginity yet, hmm?"

	Harima said, "You know I'm a love machine."  He 
couldn't bring himself to admit to Haruka he had yet to 
even have a practice kiss with his girlfriend.  Practice 
girlfriend.  Though had Eri...

	No, don't think about Eri, he told himself.  I can't have 
two practice girlfriends at once.  Not when I plan to just 
have Tenma, one day.  She doesn't want me to be a 
monkey.

	Haruka grinned.  "So you and Yakumo..."

	"Of course," Harima said a little desperately.

	"She good?" Haruka asked.

	"She's great," Harima said.  "A man couldn't ask for 
more."  He carefully avoided looking Haruka in the eye.

	"You're lying," Haruka said, voice more serious.  
"You two having trouble?  Or just not ready?"

	Harima froze.  "I...you...can tell?"

	"I know the look of a man getting laid.  It's my look," 
Haruka said, grinning, then turning serious again.  "You 
want advice?"

	Harima sighed.  I can't explain it all.  He wouldn't 
understand.  "She's shy and..."

	"You're shy with women.  Don't sweat it.  It's fun, but 
it's not the be-all and end-all of everything.  That being 
said, the longer you wait, the sweeter it'll be when you get 
it.  She seems the type to wait for you to start things, 
though," Haruka said.  "So start something, and see where 
she tells you to stop.  Just kind of nudge gently, and when 
she's ready..."  Haruka grinned wide, then finished off the 
coke.  "You'll enjoy it.  Trust me."

	Maybe...I mean, I do need to practice kissing and 
stuff, he thought.  And Tenma wouldn't want Yakumo to 
skip over an important topic in my training like that, right?  
Even a practice girlfriend...well, we have to practice it all, 
right?  His eyes crossed at the thought.

	Haruka leaned back in the booth.  "You could always 
practice with me..."

	Harima laughed.  "You won't fool me like that twice.  
It was a good joke, though."

	"Or I could come and kiss your girlfriend for you, 
show how it's done," Haruka said, smiling broadly.

	"We'll be fine," Harima said firmly.  Haruka had too 
much of a winning way with women.  Even if having 
someone to show them how it's done would be helpful.  But 
maybe Yakumo was already trained in that.

	"Well, good luck, then," Haruka said, rising.  "When's 
the game?  I might come watch you."

	"Two weeks from Saturday, I think."

	"Right.  I'll be seeing you."

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

	Hanai was glad to be out of the dress.  The whole day 
had been a disaster.  But finally, he could wear men's 
clothing again and not be humiliated.

	"Sure you don't want to keep the uniform on?" his Dad 
asked, snickering.

	Not completely humiliated, anyway.

	"I'm fine," he said, heading out into the dojo.  Yuuki 
and Sagano were there, along with Mikoto, and to his 
surprise, Masahiro, who was chatting with Mikoto.

	"It's good to see you," Masahiro said.  

	"Hi, what brings you here?" Hanai asked.

	"Just wanted to ask you about some stuff afterwards, 
though I might get a little practice in while I'm at it," 
Masahiro said.

	"Okay, good to have you here," Hanai said, smiling.  

	He spent the time trying to figure out what was up 
with Yuuki.  Had she wanted to kiss him?  Or had she just 
been caught up with everything?  He didn't know if he 
should say something or not.

	After lessons were over, Yuuki came up to him.  
"Hanai-san, I..."  She stared at the floor in silence.

	He could see Mikoto talking to Masahiro; she looked 
rather jumpy.  "Do we need to talk in private?" he asked 
softly.

	"I...we...is it safe?" she asked.

	"I rarely bite," he said.

	She laughed far more than it warranted, then jumped 
slightly, then took him off down the hallway.  "Go on," he 
said.

	"I...we..."

	"Is this about the kiss?" he asked.

	She turned red.

	"Don't worry about it," he said.  "I'm sure you were 
just caught up in the whole frenzy; I'm surprised I didn't 
yell anything."

	He couldn't tell from her stunned expression if this 
relieved her or made her less happy.  "And...you really 
don't want to get in the middle between Mikoto and Lala," 
he continued.

	"But...what do you want?" she asked softly.

	"I can't have what I want," he said, staring at the floor 
in frustration.  "She loves someone else.  I ought to accept 
it, but I just...I don't know how to let go."  He could feel his 
fists clenching.

	"Hanai-san..." she said softly.  "Yakumo, right?" she 
asked.

	"I can't understand what she sees in Harima," Hanai 
said.  "At ALL."

	"Some girls go for delinquents; they want some guy 
with wild confidence," Yuuki said, putting a hand on his 
shoulder.  This was not how she'd expected this to go at all.  

	He put a hand on hers, and she nearly jumped out of 
her skin.  "Is that the kind of guy you like?" he asked.

	"No," she said.  "I want a nice steady, dependable guy.  
Though him being handsome and strong is good too."

	"Well, I hope you find a guy like that," Hanai said.  
"You're a kind and helpful person and you're working hard 
on your martial arts, which should help you get the sort of 
nice, strong body guys like," he said.

	"I...you think so?" she asked weakly.  "I don't get a lot 
of compliments on my looks."

	"Well, you're in fairly good shape," Hanai said.  "And 
soon, you'll be in better.  Plus...well, I hate to bring up the 
topic, but if a guy does get too...forward...you'll be able to 
make sure he can't...you know."

	"You'd never do anything like that," she said.

	"No, not me.  Delinquents and wild boys," he said.  
"You know I'd never try anything like that to you."

	"So you can't really think about anyone else until 
Yakumo is out of your head?" Yuuki said softly.

	"Not really," he said.  

	"Good luck," she said, then stepped a little closer.  
"You interested in maybe seeing a movie with Sagano-san 
and I tonight?"

	"Hmm?  Sure, lemme just change, and talk to 
Masahiro-san.  He came all the way here to see me."

	"I'll go get cleaned up, then," she said.  "See you 
soon!"  She ran away, looking perky.

	Masahiro now approached and took Hanai back to his 
bedroom.  "I hate to ask you about this, but I've never done 
this before and I know you have, so..."  he began.

	Hanai's brain spun around several circles, trying to 
figure out what he meant.  "Is this some martial arts 
maneuver?"

	"I...what...no, I mean...you know.  Miki and I 
have...well, we've gotten close, but I'm not very forward 
and she sort of tends to think it's my job to push things, 
and...well..."  He laughed nervously.  "Anyway, I 
just...wanted your advice."

	"Close..."  Hanai's brain circled around, then suddenly 
hit the target, his eyes widening.

	"We almost did it a few weeks ago, but her roommate 
showed up.  We're probably going to go to a love hotel, just 
to make sure no one can walk in on us, turn off our phones, 
everything," Masahiro said.

	"You didn't tell Mikoto-kun about this, did you?" 
Hanai asked.

	"I think Miki is going to ask her for advice," Masahiro 
said, laughing nervously.

	Hanai began laughing nervously himself.  "Well."  He 
had to feign good advice, as he didn't even know where to 
start.  He sort of thought he had a basic understanding of 
the whole thing, but...

	"Bring your own food," Hanai said.  "Wine or snacks 
or whatever; the love hotel will over charge you for them."

	Masahiro got out a notepad and began taking notes.  
Hanai began to sweat.

	"Warm up first; it's easy to pull a muscle or worse if 
you get into vigorous exercise without a warmup," Hanai 
said.  "Massage to relax can be good too.  Most women like 
a good massage."

	"I learned a lot about that here, right," Masahiro said, 
scribbling.

	"Don't drink too much; you can't perform if you're 
drunk," Hanai said.  At least, that applied to exercise.  "But 
having just a little to help you past your inhibitions might 
help.  Just limit yourself to maybe a glass or so."

	Scribble, scribble.

	Hanai thought desperately.  "Be gentle, take it slow, 
keep it simple.  Trying to go straight to fancy things is the 
kind of impatience that will only get people hurt."

	Scribble, scribble.

	I wish Imadori was here, Hanai thought.  He must 
know all this stuff.  He racked his brain.  "Women prefer 
for you to stick around afterwards; don't run off."

	Scribble, scribble.

	The thought suddenly hit him that Mikoto might give 
Miki bad advice out of jealousy.  Though more likely it 
would be out of ignorance.  But she wouldn't do that, would 
she, he asked himself.

	She might.  But what could he do about it?

	"Talk to her about what she wants," Hanai said.  
"Embarrassing as it might be."  He was pouring sweat 
himself out of nerves.  "That way, you're both on the same 
page.  Save spontaneity for when you both have enough 
skill to improvise."

	"Like with martial arts, right," Masahiro said.  "Are 
there...umm...katas...for this?"

	Hanai forced himself to not laugh.  "Well, you'll have 
to work them out for yourself, as each woman likes 
different things."  Or at least, they seemed to in other 
matters.

	Masahiro nodded.  "Anything else?"

	"Find out what kind of clothes she finds you most 
attractive in, and wear them," Hanai said.  "Be on your best 
manners.  Watch out for people following you."

	Masahiro blinked.  "Following me?"

	Hanai caught himself in time.  "Well, you don't have 
enemies like we do."

	Masahiro nodded.  "I'm grateful for the advice," he 
said.

	"You're welcome," Hanai said.  "I should go change 
now."

	"You look really sweaty," Masahiro said.  "See you 
later!"

	Hanai went and took a bath.  He needed it.

***********

	When he came out, Mikoto was gone.  "Where did she 
go?" he asked his father.

	"She said she had basketball practice."

	He grimaced at that.  "Well, I'm going to go see a 
movie and get some dinner with Sagano-san and Yuuki-
san."

	His father gave him the look.

	"We're just friends!" Hanai protested.

	"So, utterly, dead."

	Hanai grumbled.  "See you tomorrow, father."

	"Will they be staying in your room?"

	"No.  Goodnight, Father," Hanai said, leaving in 
exasperation.

	Mr. Hanai decided to put the futon out, just in case.

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

	Harima tried to decide how best to approach the issue 
of kissing practice while trying to play basketball at the 
same time.  Yakumo had pitched in to join them so they 
could practice three vs. three.  He'd chosen Yakumo, 
Tenma, and himself for one team, Sara, Eri, and Mikoto for 
the other.

	Things weren't going well.  Yakumo and Sara weren't 
very aggressive, but at least they kept each other busy.  
He'd hoped Tenma could cover Eri, but this proved to be 
like hoping a handkerchief could cover his bike.  Eri must 
be really awesome to beat Tenma-chan that badly, he 
thought.

	He was sure he would have been owning Mikoto, if 
not for the drifting of kissing thoughts into his head.  Part 
of it was that he was unsure whether she was already an 
expert or not; was she supposed to teach him, or did they 
have to experiment?  And could he do it in the same house 
that Tenma was in without dying of embarrassment?  Was 
this really the right thing to do?  But Tenma did want him 
to train with Yakumo and that did normally entail kissing...

	While he thought about kissing Yakumo, Yakumo 
noticed him thinking about it.  She fumbled the ball and 
Sara stole it, only to find her charge intercepted by Tenma.  
"DUWA!" Tenma shouted, startling Sara, who lost the ball.

	As Harima recovered and moved for it, though, Eri 
swooped down, stole the ball, drove down the court, then 
leaped up and took a shot in the air.  Score.  

	The practice was not going too well at all, Harima 
thought.  Well, not for his team.  Eri and Mikoto were 
definite assets; he was glad he picked them.

	They took a break to have some gatorade before 
resuming.  He said, "You two ain't half-bad."

	"You're pretty good yourself," Mikoto said. 

	Yakumo nervously sat down by Harima.  Had he 
really been thinking about kissing her?  And if so, what 
should she do about it?	

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

	Karen sat and worked on her homework, feeling 
vaguely depressed.  She had matches tomorrow, and had to 
try to push to get it all done now, as she usually didn't feel 
like homework for a while after her matches.

	She'd just finished math when her mother came in.  
"There's a boy to see you."

	Her eyes widened.  "Blond?"

	"Yes."

	Maybe Imadori came to apologize, she thought.

	Instead, it was Harry, sitting on the couch and 
drinking tea.  "Hey," he said.

	"Hello, Mackenzie-san," she said, sitting down 
nervously.

	Her mother flitted off to the kitchen.

	"Look, I just wanted to apologize for pushing you too 
hard," Harry said.  "I like you, but I know how you feel 
about Imadori and I should have been more considerate."  
He had that smile, Imadori's smile.  It made her want to 
forgive him everything.  But it also made her wary.

	"Apology accepted," she said, though she wasn't sure 
if she should.  

	"I kind of hoped I could make you forget about 
Imadori, but it's clearly not working," Harry said.  "In 
which case, I think you need to get serious about trying to 
pursue him, instead of just waiting for him to break your 
heart some more.  You need to go after him, actively."

	Karen stared at the floor.  "I don't even know how."

	"Well, maybe I can help.  I brought a movie," he said, 
producing a videotape, "which illustrates the sort of thing 
you need to be willing to do to go after a guy like him."

	Karen stared curiously at the movie.  'Grease'.  She 
recognized the English word, but had never heard of the 
movie.  It certainly didn't sound like a movie about 
romance to her.  "Okay," she said.

	"I was thinking we could watch it and I could try to 
give you some pointers," Harry said.

	He really does want to help, Karen thought.  Well, it 
can't hurt.  "Okay," she said.  "Let's give it a try."

	"I'm going over to Tenjou-san's," her mother said.  
"We're going to watch movies and make fun of people.  
You two have fun.  I'll be back around eleven or twelve.  
And your father won't be home until Monday, remember."

	"So I have to remember to feed the fish tonight," 
Karen said.

	"Your father is gone?" Harry asked.

	"Off wrestling," Karen said.  "He's gone a fair 
amount."

	"That's too bad," Harry said.

	"Actually, he'd probably go crazy at me leaving you 
two alone, but I trust Karen not to do anything foolish," her 
mother said.  "Have fun watching your movie.  It's pretty 
good."

	"You've seen it, Mother?" Karen asked.

	"It's very strange, but fun.  The music was good.  Even 
with subtitles it was a little hard to understand all the odd 
behavior.  But I liked the singing and dancing."  Mrs. 
Ichijou had a taste for musicals.

	"Okay," Karen said.  She tended to share her mother's 
tastes, so maybe this would be good.  "See you later, 
Mom."

	"Bye, dear," her mother said, and headed out.

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

	Sagano had had to go home, so Hanai found himself 
just going to dinner with Yuuki.  They went to a seafood 
place, where he got some boiled shrimp and rice, while she 
had carp and noodles.  

	"So, enjoying your lessons?" he asked.

	"They're fun," she said, smiling nervously.  "You're a 
good teacher."

	"Thank you," he said.  "I hope all the little kids don't 
bother you."

	"Oh, I like children," she said. She was so busy 
looking at him that she didn't notice how much salt she'd 
put on her carp.  Until she bit into it and her mouth went 
bone dry.

	She tried to grab a glass of water, but she spilled some 
of it on herself as she tried to drink.  Hanai reached over to 
dry her off with a napkin, then realized halfway into it that 
he was rubbing her left breast.

	They both froze, then spun away from each other in 
embarrassed silence.

	Finally, Yuuki slowly turned around and managed to 
stammer out, "I'm not mad.  But I'm going to go to the 
bathroom and try and dry myself off."

	"Okay," Hanai mumbled.  At least things weren't 
likely to get any worse.

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

	Eri could see that Harima and Yakumo weren't 
focused on the game, which pissed her off.  Either focus on 
the game or don't play at all; that was Eri's motto.  She had 
to do something to get them in the game.  She could see 
Tenma was going to be a problem too; she had enthusiasm 
but no skill at all.

	That wouldn't do.  She broke past Harima, passed to 
Mikoto, who foolishly passed to Sara.  Sara managed to at 
least dribble the ball, but Tenma was able to actually steal it 
from her.  Sure, Eri stole the ball back two seconds later, 
but it gave Eri a tiny bit more hope.  Tenma could at least 
handle someone at her own level.

	Eri made the shot, then took the ball and said, "Kenji, 
Yakumo, you two are out of it."

	"What?" Harima said, coming out of his reverie.

	"You two need to focus!" Eri said.  "Sara is your 
friend!" she said, pointing at Yakumo.  "And YOU 
recruited me," she said, pointing at Harima.  "Either play 
like you mean it, or I will quit."

	"Sawachika-san," Sara began.

	"Doesn't she deserve better than this from you two?" 
Eri demanded angrily.

	"Eri-chan..." Tenma said in surprise.

	"If we play like this, they will eat us alive," Eri said.

	Mikoto nodded.

	"It's not my strongpoint," Sara mumbled.  

	"We'll make it your strongpoint," Eri said, eyes 
flashing.  "You will get game, or I will die trying to give it 
to you."

	Harima stared.  Her fire was rather attractive and 
frightening at the same time.  Not that he showed fear.  He 
adjusted his sunglasses.  "You're right.  We've got to train 
up, if we're going to beat them.  Let's get serious."

	Eri grinned.  "Perfect."

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

	Harry was both impressed by how fast Karen could 
pick up a song and amused by her desire to rewind scenes, 
then sing along with them the second time.

Guess mine is not the first heart broken
My eyes are not the first to cry
I'm not the first to know there's
Just no getting over you

You know I'm just a fool who's willing
To sit around and wait for you
But baby can't you see there's nothing else for me to 
do
I'm hopelessly devoted to you

	A good song for her, Harry thought.  And she knew it; 
he could hear the pain in her voice as she sang and the 
hopeless longing.  It was hard for him to understand that 
kind of attitude.  But she had real talent in her singing.  It 
made him wish he had some kind of musical skills himself.  
He could dance, but he wasn't anything special as a singer.

	She finally finished the song and settled back into the 
couch with a look almost of relief.  But there was a little 
joy in it too.

	"You should find some songs to sing to him," Harry 
said.  "That will really get to him."  Maybe it would.  In 
which case all this would backfire.  But he had to push her 
to the point where she really could say she'd tried 
everything, so she could give up on him.  Part of him 
worried that Tougo's advice would simply hook Karen and 
Imadori up successfully.  But he was pretty sure he could 
count on Imadori being a total jerk.

	"You think?" she asked.

	"You're a great singer, and you can let it all out when 
you sing," Harry said.  "Makes my motor run."

	She blushed at that, then started the movie forwards 
again.

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

	Yuuki prayed as they stood in line at the movies that 
nothing else would go wrong.  It wasn't exactly a date, but 
at least it was date-like.  Sort of.

	Hopefully, The Caterpillar Affect would prove to be a 
good movie.  The lead was cute, anyway.  

	An hour later, Hanai had fallen asleep, and Yuuki was 
staring at the screen; it had been an hour of people driving 
around on tractors, plowing fields and baling hay.  There 
was something vaguely resembling a plot about a 
competitive tractor pull, but only the uncomfortableness of 
the seats could keep her awake.

	Glancing across the theatre, she could see Imadori 
with some blonde woman; at first she thought they were 
making out, but then she realized they'd passed out and the 
woman had simply slumped over onto him.

	She thought about waking Hanai and leaving, but the 
tedium was slowly sapping her strength; she could hardly 
muster the energy to even try eating some of her popcorn.

	Finally, she slid into a zombie-like slumber that 
seemed to never end.

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

	Tenma fell down.  "Can't run more."

	"Sure you can," Eri said, dragging her to her feet.  
"You're going to have to give 150%."

	"It's getting late," Sara said.  "We probably should go 
home."

	Eri cracked her whip in the air.  "We can go home 
when we do 20 more laps."

	Mikoto said, "Eri-chan, I think we've done enough for 
one night.  Sara, Tenma, and Yakumo are wiped out."

	Eri looked over at Yakumo, who was curled up, 
asleep, then said, "Not wiped out enough."

	Harima looked at Yakumo, then said, "We're done.  I 
think we got some good practice in, but they can't take it 
like we can."

	"Can't take it?" Tenma said defiantly as she wobbled.  
"I can take it!"  She took off and started running.  She got 
about 50 yards, tripped, fell down, and passed out.

	That's why I love you, Harima thought, looking at 
Tenma.  You never give up.  He went and picked up Tenma 
over one shoulder and Yakumo over the other.  "We're 
going home.  Sara, I'd carry you, but I'm out of shoulders."

	"I'll make sure she gets home okay," Mikoto said.

	Harima turned to Eri.  "They've had enough."  He 
could tell she was going all hardcore, but it was time to 
chill.  "I'm gonna need you to drive while I carry them."

	Mikoto looked at him dubiously.  "You think you can 
carry them both while riding your cycle?"

	"If Eri drives," Harima said.

	Eri grumbled, but said, "Okay."

	Mikoto frowned.  "You sure that's safe?"

	"We'll be fine."

	"Okay, but if they get hurt, I'm going to get mad," 
Mikoto said.

	"Fair enough," Harima said.  "Goodnight, Suou-san."

	"Goodnight."

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

	Harry had a vastly increased respect for the power of 
film as the night progressed.  And for Tougo's power of 
movie selection.  He was a little stunned at the degree to 
which Karen had gotten into the film.  It was almost like 
watching someone be possessed.

	It must be the entertainer in her, he thought.  He'd seen 
her sing after the play her class had put on; her voice had a 
great deal of power when she let her emotions out and sang 
from the heart.  

	She watched the finale three times, then said softly, "Is 
that what he wants?"

	"It seems that way to me," Harry said.  "Think about 
the women he goes out with."  Hopefully, she'll look that in 
the face and decide she doesn't want to change that much 
and give up on him, Harry thought.

	Karen breathed in and breathed out.  "I...alright."  Her 
voice was strangely still and calm.

	Harry had a sudden feeling of doom. 

	She turned to look at Harry with an intense look that 
made him suddenly nervous, though he did his best to look 
back at her intensely.  "I knew," she said softly.  "I just 
didn't think...but I can see it's possible."

	"To change who you are?" Harry asked softly.

	"I have to try.  I have to know if it's at all possible for 
him to love me, one way or another," Karen said.  "You're 
going to have to help me."

	"Is he worth that much to you?" Harry asked.  "I 
mean...you have to be sure."

	"I can't get him out of my head.  I just...I can't just 
wait around.  I have to do something.  Gonzales-san was 
right.  And you too, MacKenzie-san.  And if this doesn't 
work, if I know I've given it my all and he still doesn't love 
me, then I can give up on him," Karen said.

	Harry tried to sort out the layers of thought in his 
head.  He'd started dating her in part with the hopes of 
subverting one of 2-C's biggest assets, but also because 
she'd impressed him with her skills.  He tended to like his 
women a little less deadly, but she had this weird mix of 
femininity and strength he'd come to like quite a bit.  

	His pride couldn't stand the idea of losing her to 
Imadori, but his common sense told him this probably 
wouldn't work.  People can't radically change their own 
behavior.  Not easily, anyway.  And Imadori definitely 
wanted different things in a woman.  

	"This would be easier if I had Mother's body," Karen 
said.

	"Your mother doesn't wrestle," Harry said.

	"Well, I'll just have to do the best I can," Karen said.  
"The movie showed clothing and attitude and a little hair 
and makeup work go a long way."

	"Everything else is just decoration on the attitude.  
You have to change what you do in order to change what 
you are seen as," Harry said.  "I'm cool, whatever I wear."  
He grinned to cover his own nerves, as he had a bad feeling 
about what he'd pushed Karen towards.

	"I'll be back," Karen said, rising and vanishing off into 
the depths of the house.

	Harry wondered what she would come back as, and 
whether he would be happy with it.

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

	Harima put Yakumo on her bed.  He was starting to 
get used to doing this all the time.  Carefully, he brushed 
her hair off her face with her fingertips; she looked quite 
pretty as she slept.  

 	He could hear Eri carefully laying Tenma down; he 
envied her getting to do that.

	Iori ran in, hopped up on the bed, laid down by 
Yakumo and fell asleep.  He petted Iori gently, then 
reached over and gently ruffled Yakumo's hair.  She was 
almost as cute as Tenma when she was asleep.

	Eri was in the hallway when he stepped out.  "I'm 
surprised they haven't woken up yet," she said.

	"Tenma-chan's not as tough as us, though her heart's 
stronger than ours," Harima said.  "I know you want to win, 
but you don't win basketball by wiping out half the team."

	Eri sighed, leaning against the wall.  "I can't stand to 
lose."

	"Me either," Harima said, leaning next to her.  "I'm 
expecting we'll kick the ass of a bunch of underclassmen, 
though."

	"Well, from what I hear, Satsuki is pretty good.  But I 
don't even know who her team is."

	"Something we have to find out," Harima said.  
"Know your enemy and all that shit."

	Eri tried to steel herself to ask Harima who he truly 
loved.  But she couldn't quite bring herself to ask, for fear 
of the answer.

	"You wanna watch a movie or something?" Harima 
asked.  "I figure Tenma will snap out of it in fifteen or so, 
and Yakumo, maybe the same time, maybe the morning."

	"Sure," Eri said.

	The Twenty Samurai of Mount Chiba turned out to be 
pretty amusing; it was one of the huge pile of samurai 
movies that Tenma had.  Eri made herself relax; watching it 
with Harima was pretty fun, as he really got into it, the way 
Tenma did.  

	Not exactly a date, but a start, perhaps.

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

	Mikoto sat in the cafe, wondering why Miki had called 
her.  She sounded really nervous.  She'd gotten Sara home 
without any trouble, then headed to the cafe, where she was 
having some cake as Miki arrived.

	"Sorry I took so long.  It takes a while to get over 
here," Miki said.  "I just..."  She gulped.  "Well...Did 
Masahiro ask Hanai-san about this?"

	"About what?  You guys are going out for your 
anniversary tomorrow, right?" Mikoto asked, forcing 
herself to stay calm.

	"Yes," Miki said.  "I just...well, we're not very 
experienced at this, and I just..."  She stared intently into 
her cup of tea.  "Wondered if I could ask you any advice, 
though really, it is awfully forward of me to pry."

	Mikoto felt her brain spiraling into the pit.  How can 
she ask me something like this?  How can I answer?  The 
horrible temptation was to give terrible advice, to try to 
wreck it all.

	But she couldn't do that to her sempai.  And not to 
Miki.  She wanted to hate her, but Miki was so...Mikoto 
couldn't betray a trust like that.  Though the urge was 
strong.  But I'm something better than that, she told herself.  
That's what Lala would do.

	"Well, it's...I mean, I've never done anything sexy with 
sempai," Mikoto said.  "So I don't know what he likes.  I 
just know...what Haruki-kun likes."

	"Well, men are men.  There may...I mean, at least, it'll 
give me ideas."

	Haruki-kun, forgive me, Mikoto thought.  I can't back 
out now.  "Well, for one thing, he kind of likes to see me in 
a hakama."  Or at least, it's how he wants to see Yakumo.  
She forced herself to smile.  "So you might think about if 
there's anything unusual you could wear...think about what 
posters he has of women or paintings or what kinds of 
shows he likes.  It can be fun to pretend."

	Miki nodded.  "Hmm, cosplay.  I can figure something 
out."

	"Sempai needs a firm hand, so don't be afraid to tell 
him what you want him to do," Mikoto said.  "And he 
learns quickly."  She thought about it.  "Make sure 
he...knows what he's doing.  The, umm, geography."

	They both laughed nervously.

	"A lot of guys go for fancy underwear.  I just wear the 
plain stuff because it's comfortable, but for a special time, 
you might think about it," Mikoto said.  For once, she 
wished Imadori was here.  He'd know more about this, not 
that he wouldn't be biased in his weird way...

	Miki nodded.  "Perfume?  Good?"

	"If he likes it, yes," Mikoto said.  That was reasonably 
non-committal.  She sighed inside her head.  This was 
going to be difficult.

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

	Hanai wasn't entirely surprised to wake up with Yuuki 
leaning on him.  What surprised him was that it was 
Imadori shaking him.  "Hanai-san, we're locked in."

	"What?" Hanai asked.

	"I don't understand it, but the movie is over and the 
theatre is locked," Imadori said.  

	A blonde woman stood next to him.  "Hello," she said.

	"Oh yes, this is Aiko.  Matsuhara Aiko.  Aiko-chan, 
this is Hanai Haruki and Yuuki Tsumugi."

	Yuuki woke up groggily now, staring at Imadori.  
"Are you real?"

	"In the flesh," Imadori said.  "I can't imagine why they 
didn't wake us up when cleaning the place."

	Hanai's foot stuck to the floor until he put more force 
into it.  "I think it's due to a lack of actual cleaning."

	"We're not stuck here all night, are we?" Yuuki asked.  
Though she wouldn't mind being trapped with Hanai too 
much.

	"I'll get us out, one way or another," Hanai said, 
heading to the doors.  They were sturdily locked.

	This couldn't be an accident, Hanai thought.  Could it?

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

	Hikaru whistled a cheerful tune to herself as she 
walked home.  It was a petty little revenge, but you had to 
take all the petty little revenge you could get.

	Just another side perk of a part time job at the movie 
theatre, after all.

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

	Harry tried to figure out how Karen had curled her 
hair so quickly.  Or where she'd gotten the clothing she was 
wearing.  Tight black pants, and a midriff baring dark blue 
shirt that would have shown off her cleavage to good affect 
as well if she had much, though she did look to have more 
than usual.  Which he guessed must be some kind of push-
up bra.

	He thought she looked pretty hot, but it was kind of 
surreal to see her in that outfit.  "You look great."

	She slinked over to him, moving like Olivia Newton-
John had in the movie.  Her ability to pick something like 
that up so quickly amazed him.  She came up to him, then 
half-kneeled, one leg folded up onto his leg on the couch, 
the other leg down to the floor.  She put a hand on his 
shoulder and the other posed on her hip.  "You think he'll 
like it?"

	"A man who says no to that is no man at all," Harry 
said.  He fought the urge to pull her down onto himself; 
impatience had to be fought.  

	She licked her lips nervously.  

	Harry's conscience nagged at him.  Part of his brain 
had a strong feeling he was about to get some.  Part of him 
thought she would never go that far to practice for 
Kyousuke.  And part of him had a feeling he was now 
pushing her into making a mistake.  He wobbled in his 
mind, though, unfortunately, the 'pleasure now' part of his 
brain was often stronger than any other part of it.

	"I'm going to have to be a bad girl to get him," she 
whispered.

	"There's nothing wrong with wanting sex, really," 
Harry said.  "The movie reflects the way everyone in the 
fifties was all repressed."  Part of his brain nagged at him, 
but he shut it up.

	"I want him so bad," she whispered, sounding 
embarrassed and guilty.

	"There's nothing wrong with that," he said.  "Other 
than that he doesn't want you."  The guilty part of his brain 
had seized the driver's seat for a moment.

	"I have to make him want me," Karen said, her voice 
turning more determined.  "If you can't win one way, you 
have to change tactics.  That's what Father always taught 
me."  She licked her lips.  "I shouldn't do this, but I just...I 
can't get him out of my heart, Harry."

	"What do you need me to do?" he asked softly.

	"Make me bad like you," she whispered, and then she 
pounced on him.

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

	"So, then you..." Mikoto began.  Thankfully, her 
cellphone rang.  "Hold on," she said to Miki, picking it up.

	"Mikoto-kun, I'm glad you're there.  We got locked 
into the movie theatre," Hanai said.  "Can you look up the 
number of the...oh wait, they must have gone home by 
now."

	Mikoto looked at the clock; it was nearly midnight.  
How long have I been here, spewing made up stuff, she 
wondered.  "I could call the police."

	"Not unless we have to.  Can you come over, see if 
you can get someone's attention?  We can call the cops if 
we have to," Hanai said.

	"Okay.  Miki's with me, I'll be there soon."

	"Thanks.  You're a lifesaver."

	Mikoto hung up and told Miki, "Hanai's gotten locked 
in the movie theatre.  I have to see if I can get him out."

	"Oh dear," Miki said.  "Can I help?"

	"I dunno what he expects us to do, but sure, come on.  
Let's go."

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

	Tenma came out to the living room; Harima and Eri 
had fallen asleep next to each other.  She went and got a 
blanket and threw it over them.  Best I'd make sure 
Yakumo is okay, then put on my pajamas and go to sleep.  

	I guess they brought us home, she thought.  I'm lucky 
to have such good friends.  

	Her muscles ached, so she decided to take a nice hot 
bath, and then go to bed.  She needed it.

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

	"So, what's the sitch?" Satsuki asked her spy, Kumada 
Meimi.

	Meimi adjusted her glasses, then said, "Three very 
good players, one mediocre, two terrible.  Sara and Tenma 
can't dribble their way out of a paper bag.  Yakumo has 
potential, but has yet to fulfill it, and she tires easily.  
Harima, Sawachika, and Suou, on the other hand, may well 
rip us apart.  They're good."

	Satsuki felt that recruiting upperclassmen for this was 
cheating.  But if Sara was going to cheat, so would she.  
"We're going to have to find counteragents.  People who 
can negate their strengths.  Much as I don't want to cut 
anyone, we have to be able to beat them."

	"Because your cooking is wretched," Sonada Minami 
said.  Minami was a softball player more than a basketball 
player, but where Satsuki led, she usually followed.  

	Satsuki grumbled.  "So, who can best counter those 
three?"

	Meimi adjusted her glasses again and brushed back 
her long red hair.  "My recommendations are Gonzales 
Lala to counter Suou, Hanai Haruki to counter Harima, and 
Imadori Kyousuke to counter Sawachika.  And Suou, as his 
mere presence will reduce her efficiency."

	"What about Ichijou Karen?" Satsuki asked.

	"She's not very aggressive...except when she flips out 
and wrestles people after physical contact.  Too likely to 
lead to fouls, I think."

	"Good point."

	"Well, too late to recruit people now, but tomorrow, 
we get on it," Satsuki said.  She yawned.  "We'd better go 
home before the parents can kill us."

	"Good idea," Meimi said.

	So they left.

***************
	
	The manager groggily unlocked the doors and Hanai, 
Aiko, Yuuki, and Imadori came out.  "What were you kids 
doing?"

	"We got locked in!"  Imadori protested.

	"We have people to prevent that," he said, aware the 
cops were watching.

	Mikoto came over to Hanai.  Aware that Miki was 
watching, she nervously leaned over and kissed his cheek.  
"You okay?"

	"I'm fine," he said.  He could see Miki watching them; 
she definitely looked jealous.  He felt a little guilty, but for 
Mikoto's sake, he now swept her around to walk with an 
arm around her.  

	"The stupid movie put us to sleep and we woke up 
locked in!" Imadori protested.

	"It's true, he's telling the truth for once," Yuuki said, 
looking at Mikoto and Hanai and frowning.

	"No refunds," the manager said.

	"We just want out!" Imadori said.

	"Honest mistake, I'm sure," the nearby cop said.  
"Come on, kids, I'll give you all a ride home."

	"I'm going to walk with Mikoto," Hanai said.  "And 
Miki."

	Yuuki started to say she wanted to go with him, but 
got bundled off with Imadori and Aiko before she could 
protest.

	Mikoto could feel her heart beat a little faster as she 
walked along with Miki and Hanai.  "Anyway, good luck 
tomorrow," Mikoto said.  "I...umm...hope my advice 
helps."

	"I'm sure it will," Miki said.  She half-danced as she 
walked.  "It's going to be great."

	Mikoto fought the urge to hope it would be a disaster.  
"I wish you well," she said.  Or at least, she knew she 
should.

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

	"Man, what a player," Imadori said.  "So he's dating 
you too now, Yuuki?"

	"We're not dating, just friends," Yuuki said, feeling 
increasingly irritated.  First he tells me he only has eyes for 
Yakumo, then he's all over Mikoto as soon as she shows 
up.  He wasn't like that with ME.  What's going on?

	"How many women is he dating?" Aiko asked.

	"Three if we count Yuuki.  Maybe more," Imadori 
said enviously.

	"You sound like you admire that," Aiko said 
suspiciously.

	"You know I only have eyes for you," he said.

	"When you're not kissing Ichijou-san, anyway," Yuuki 
said.  "Or making her cry."  She was feeling frustrated and 
bitter.

	The ensuing beating of Imadori made her feel much 
better.

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

	Karen was half-way to ecstasy when the trouble 
started.  She and Harry were mostly naked and enjoying 
themselves, everything else forgotten, when the front door 
opened and her mother shouted, "Honey, I'm home."

	For one, awful moment, time stopped.  It seemed an 
eternity that she laid there, forcing herself not to breathe so 
she couldn't cry out with pleasure.  One.  Awful.  Moment.

	And then she moved, her body a finely honed 
machine, scooping her and Harry's clothing with her feet, 
tossing it into her bedroom, then lithely grabbing Harry and 
shoving him under the couch, while she then darted to the 
hallway with the bathroom in it, even as her mother came 
into the living room.

	"I'm about to shower," she shouted from the bathroom, 
blushing hugely and trembling with nerves.

	"Okay, honey.  I'm taking one after you, then going to 
bed.  Did you and your boyfriend have fun?"

	Karen wasn't sure what to say.  "We had fun," she 
shouted.

	"Good.  Oop, he forgot his tape.  And it needs to be 
rewound."  Mrs. Ichijou sat down on the couch and got the 
remote control.  

	Karen got the water started.

	Harry tried desperately to hold his breath.

	"Did you make out while I was gone?" Mrs. Ichijou 
shouted.

	Karen wanted to just die right then and there.   

	"What makes you think that?" she shouted.

	"It's what teenagers do.  Honey, you have to be 
careful.  There's a lot of guys at your age who just want 
sex.  They'll tell you they love you, then forget it once you 
get in bed with them.  So I think you shouldn't let them 
have it.  Not now in high school.  You're not ready."

	I have to, Karen thought.  It's the only way.  There was 
still a chance, this way, if only she could be bold.  She felt 
a little bolder already, just seeing how much Harry had 
enjoyed being with her.  Like that.

	"I know, Mother," she shouted.  "We didn't get too 
intimate."  Sort of.

	"And your father will bust your ass and his, you know 
that, right?" her mother shouted.

	"I know, Mother," she said, feeling the water touching 
her all over.  This was going to be one of those showers, 
she could tell already.

	"I just say this because I love you and I don't want you 
to make my mistakes.  I had sex with several of my high 
school boyfriends, and I regretted it all," her mother said 
sadly.  

	The tape finished rewinding and she decided to watch 
some of the movie; she'd loved the music.

	Harry was glad the music would drown out his 
breathing and unhappy he was going to be there a long 
time.

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

	"You wanna do something tomorrow?" Mikoto asked 
Hanai when they reached his house.  They'd already seen 
Miki off.

	"Sure.  I have a bunch of homework, so we could 
study together, maybe watch a movie afterwards or 
something," Hanai said.

	"Yeah, homework, ugh.  I just need to not think about 
what's going down with Miki and Sempai," Mikoto said.

	"Fine with me," Hanai said.  "See you then."

	"See ya."

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

	Harry slowly crawled out from under the couch, once 
it sounded like Mrs. Ichijou had gone to bed.  He got up 
and stretched.  Maybe if I'm lucky, she'll want to finish, he 
thought.  Though after so long in hiding, he wasn't sure if 
he could do anything but ache.  

	He snuck into Karen's room.  "You'd better get dressed 
and go," she whispered.  "Mom's a light sleeper."

	He nodded and quickly got dressed.  "Karen, I..."

	"I'm sorry," she said.  "I shouldn't have left you under 
the couch so long, I shouldn't have just jumped on you, I 
didn't even..."

	"Don't sweat it," he said.  "I enjoyed it.  And I won't 
say no if you do it again."

	She blushed, mumbled about how it felt good, then 
said, "I just...Harry, I want Imadori-kun and I shouldn't use 
you like that and..."

	"Use me all you want," he said.  It wasn't quite his 
plan, but...  "If you need to be a bad girl to get Imadori, 
well, I can teach you."

	She stared at the floor, mumbled another apology, then 
said, "You'd better get going before we wake Mother."

	He left, wondering what he had unleashed.

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

	The weekend went by peacefully, and on Sunday 
afternoon, Imadori found himself in the park.  He was 
supposed to meet Aiko, but she hadn't shown up and he 
feared she might not, after Yuuki's Friday night crack.

	He sighed.  It's not easy, being a player.  Lot of player-
haters out there.  But they just don't understand.

	"You're Imadori Kyousuke, right?" a girl said to him.

	He turned, grinning confidently, looking her up and 
down.  Red-haired, glasses, a little mousy looking, but he 
noticed she was more muscular than he expected in a nerd.  
"Yes, I am.  Who do I have the pleasure to meet?"

	"Kumada Meimi."  She smiled at him, seeming to 
appreciate his looks.  "I'm here on behalf of a friend, to 
recruit you for a basketball game.  We heard you were 
really good."  He could see her checking out his arms and 
legs, so he flexed.  "Have you heard about the Asou 
tournament?"

	He laughed.  "Yeah.  Is he really gonna go along with 
it?"

	"He's been ordered to by his president," Meimi said.  
"Anyway, we were hoping you could help us poor girls 
play basketball; we need some nice strong men to help us."

	He grinned widely.  "Sure thing."  He got up and 
stretched.  "I'm not doing anything, anyway."

	"Thank you," she said, smiling broadly at him.  Then 
she unbuttoned the top button of her shirt and shook the 
shirt to get some air into it.  "Strangely warm for a fall 
day."

	He found her clumsy flirting to be cute.  It was only 
natural for an underclassman to be overwhelmed by his 
charms.  "Well, why don't we go get some ice cream to 
cool off and you can tell me all about it?"

	She smiled nervously.  "Really?  Okay."

	They headed off together.  

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

	Hanai wasn't sure why he recognized the girl he was 
clobbering.  He'd been rather surprised to be challenged by 
a pink-haired girl in a baseball uniform.  Or at least, it 
looked like one to him.

	She fought bravely, and he could tell she had some 
training, but as he kicked her in the stomach and she went 
down, he moved in to finish things, aiming a kick at her 
head, which he stopped just short of her face.  "You ready 
to give up?" he asked.

	To his surprise and embarrassment, she started crying.  
He jumped back from her, trying to figure out what to say.

	"Knew I couldn't win...but I had to try..." she sobbed 
into her hat.

	"I still don't understand what is going on," Hanai 
asked.  "Who are you, anyway?"

	"I'm one of Tsukamoto Yakumo's classmates, Sonada 
Minami," she said.  "I was hoping, if I beat you, that I 
could get you to be on our basketball team."

	"Basketball team?" Hanai asked in confusion.  "Wait, 
is this about that contest over Asou?"

	"Yes.  Tsukamoto got her boyfriend to be on her team 
and we're afraid none of us can stop him, but we 
heard...you're as good as he is."

	So, he's not content to meddle in my love life, Hanai 
thought.  He has to meddle in other people's as well.  I can't 
allow that.  He offered her a hand.  "I'll be glad to help.  
Are you sure a mixed team is allowed, though?"

	"Well, the other team has boys..."

	"Right.  I'll help you, then."

	She smiled, getting up and wiping her face.  "You're a 
sweetie, thank you."

	"Glad to be of help," he said.  

	"If you'll just come with me..."

	They headed out.

**************
	
	"A basketball game?" Lala asked again, to make sure 
she understood.

	"Yes," Tawaraya Satsuki said.  "The other team 
recruited Suou Mikoto and we think only you could 
possibly stop her on the court."

	Lala crushed the paper cup in her hand, oblivious to 
the tea spilling on her fingers.  "Miko-chin...I will CRUSH 
her."

	"Then you will help?" Satsuki asked.

	"Yes," Lala said.  "When do we start?"

	"Well, we're hoping to practice later today, if you can 
come."

	"I will come and I will triumph," Lala said.  "You 
have my word."

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

	Hanai tried to figure out if Minami was flirting with 
him.  It certainly seemed like it.  They were at a park, 
waiting for everyone to assemble; it was just the two of 
them so far.

	For now, they were just playing one on one; she was a 
much better basketball player than fighter, and though he 
thought he was better, she kept him on his toes.  Ultimately, 
though, her height disadvantage made it easy for him to 
keep taking shots over her.

	Right as she stole the ball and made a drive for the 
hoop, Hanai turned to chase her, only to get his shoulder 
grabbed.  "Haruki-kun," Lala said, pulling him around to 
face her.  "Satsuki-chan tells me that you're on this team."

	"You too?" he asked.

	She smiled at him, then said, "Good.  We will crush 
Miko-chin and show her that her crazed pursuit of you is 
doomed."

	His eyes widened.  "What?"

	Satsuki came up.  "Well, she's on Sara's team.  Is that 
a problem?"

	"I..."

	"I will crush her," Lala said.  "You can focus on 
handling Harima, Haruki-kun."

	Hanai decided Mikoto would be mature enough to 
handle this.  Even if Lala might not be.  "So who is our 
fifth player?"

	"He's coming.  My friend Meimi will be our coach and 
advisor and a sub if we need one, and she's getting our last 
person."

	"Anyone I know?" Hanai asked.

	"Hey, everyone!" Imadori said, waving widely.  

	Tiny tufts of smoke came from Lala's ears.  "Him?  
You want HIM for this team?"

	"He's good," Satsuki said.  "And he'll rattle Suou."

	Lala pointed at Imadori.  "You and me.  Right now."

	Imadori said, "With all these people watching?"  He 
sounded surprised.

	"BASKETBALL!"

	"That's what we're here for," he said.  "But if someone 
will give me a ball, I'll be happy to crush you."

	Minami tossed the ball to Imadori.  "Let's see what 
you're made of."

	What followed was the battle of talent versus skill.  
Lala was stronger and faster than Imadori.  But he had 
more actual skill at basketball, taking more accurate shots 
and carefully avoiding fouls, while Lala tended to rack up 
fouls the way some people eat potato chips.  As a result, he 
made up in free throws for all the times he lost the ball to 
her.

	Finally, once the score was up to twenty five to twenty 
three, favoring Lala, she stopped, saying, "It would seem 
you are less wretched than I expected."

	Imadori grinned.  "You're pretty good for a girl."

	She stuffed him into a trashcan, but didn't demand he 
be thrown off the team.

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

	"Good, you're here," the manager said to Sara, when 
she arrived at work.  "Maybe you can get Asou-san to perk 
up."

	She looked over at him; he was even more glowery 
than usual.  "I'll try," she said.

	She headed over to Asou as he came back from a 
table.  "Hi, Asou," she said, smiling brightly.

	To her surprise, he glared at her, then turned and 
walked past silently.

	She kept trying, but she couldn't get a word out of him 
the whole evening.  Finally, once they were done working, 
she asked him, "Are you mad at me?"

	"Of course I'm mad at you," he said, then went to go 
change to go home.

	She got changed, and when he came out, she asked, 
"Is it about..."

	"Of course it is," he said hotly.  "I would have thought 
better of you."

	And then he stormed off, leaving her feeling bleak.  

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

	One of the biggest challenges to a would-be hussy in a 
Japanese school is the necessity of wearing exactly the 
same uniform as everyone else, a uniform which is usually 
not sufficiently risque, except, perhaps, for a very short 
skirt.  But since every other girl is wearing the same skirt, 
you have to improvise.

	Body language, on the other hand, is not covered by 
the school code.  Thus, Karen steeled herself to approach 
Imadori.  Her curled hair, at least, brought some attention.  
She did her best to look determined, as she at least knew 
how to convey that, if not quite how to look sufficiently 
wanton.

	Imadori was busy rambling on about giant robots to 
Nara as she approached him, and leaned over him from 
behind.  Inside, she was feeling a bundle of nerves and 
terror as she pressed her body against him, but she made 
herself look calm, saying, "Hey, lover-boy, how's it going?"  
She slid her hands around and down his arms, and then 
rested them on the back of his hands.

	Imadori froze up like a statue while Nara stared in 
shock.  "You busy this Friday?" she asked.

	"I...uh...basketball...touching me..." he mumbled.

	"Is that a yes or a no?" she asked.

	"Umm...no.  I think," he said.

	"Good.  You're taking me out," she said.

	She could feel him vibrate.  "I am?"

	"Yes."

	"I may have basketball..." he began.

	"Cancel it," she said firmly.  Can't back down, she told 
herself.

	"Okay," he mumbled.

	She stood back up.  "Good," then quickly went to her 
seat before she could panic.

	"Made up after your fight?" Sagano asked her.

	"I'm taking a firmer hand," Karen said nervously.

	Sagano gave her a thumbs up.   "Guy like that, you 
have to lead him around.  He's not bad at heart, just no 
focus.  Good luck."

	"Thanks."  Karen smiled.  This would go well.  She 
was sure of it.

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

	"Well, that was rude of him," Tenma said at lunch the 
next day.  Sara and Yakumo had joined her usual crew for 
lunch.  Asou had left when Sara came in, ignoring her. 

	Sara was feeling kind of depressed about that.  "I 
guess he feels kind of put on the spot."

	"I wouldn't put up with something like that," Harima 
said.  

	"Then why are you helping me?" Sara asked.

	"Yakumo-chan asked me to," he said.  "Gotta help out 
the girlfriend."

	Yakumo smiled a tiny smile at that as she ate.

	"Don't worry, we'll definitely win," Eri said.  "We 
should tear Satsuki's people apart."

	Imadori now leaned in over Mikoto's shoulder.  "Don't 
be so sure.  I think we'll take you apart."

	"W...you're playing for Satsuki???" Eri asked in 
surprise.

	"She's cute," Imadori said.  "Will you go out with me 
if I beat you at basketball, Miko-chin?"  Suddenly, he felt 
an attack of nerves and glanced over to where Karen was 
eating with Karasuma, Sagano, and Fuyuki.  Is this a good 
idea, he wondered.

	Mikoto frowned.  "No.  So who else is on her team, 
Imadori-kun?"

	"Well, I don't know if I should say..."  He wasn't sure 
if he should stay or run for his own good.  What had gotten 
into Karen, anyway?  It was...different.

	"Please?" Mikoto asked.

	"Well, I can't say no to you.  It's me, Satsuki, a girl 
named Minami, Lala, and Hanai."

	Mikoto turned and stared off at Hanai, who was 
lunching with Mai and the 2-B president.  "Hanai-kun is 
helping your team?"

	"Yes," Imadori said.  "I guess his girlfriend talked him 
into it."

	"She is NOT his girlfriend," Mikoto said firmly.

	Akira looked at her, as close to showing amusement as 
she ever got.  

	"So you both are?"

	"Hanai does not have a girlfriend!" Mikoto said very 
loudly.

	"He has three," Imadori said.

	"He does not have three!" Mikoto said.

	"You two looked awfully snug the other day," Yuuki 
said, suddenly looming over Mikoto like death, the light on 
her glasses hiding her eyes.

	"We're old friends.  We can be affectionate if we want 
to," Mikoto said stubbornly, though she moved back away 
from Yuuki a little nervously.  

	"Oooh, were they making out?" Tenma asked.

	"Making...out..." Yuuki said with a voice like death.

	"They had mad smoochies at my house the other day 
and..." Tenma began.

	Eri put a hand over Tenma's mouth.  "She dreamed 
that."

	Akira said, "So vividly, I remember it happening."

	Lightning crackled behind Yuuki.  A cold and terrible 
wind began to blow.

	Hanai felt the hairs on his arms stand up and wondered 
what doom was coming.  He looked around and saw Yuuki, 
then said to Mai, "I'll be right back."  He decided to go hide 
in the bathroom for the rest of lunch.  

	Instead Sagano suddenly dragged him over.  Seeing 
him approach, Yakumo slid to mostly hide behind Harima.

	"Hanai, did you kiss Mikoto the other day?" Yuuki 
asked.

	"I haven't kissed Mikoto in a while," Hanai said, his 
honesty overwhelming sense.

	"You told me you weren't seeing anyone!" Yuuki said.

	"Well, I'm not really dating anyone seriously," Hanai 
said.  Hanai glanced over at Yakumo and sighed.  "We all 
know..."

	"He dates them humorously, for the laughs," Akira 
said, deadpan.

	"So you kiss women you're not even dating?" Yuuki 
said.

	"I...uh..."  Hanai tried to figure out how to get out of 
this.

	"Yeah, he kissed Lala too," Harima pointed out 
helpfully.  "I bet she kisses kinda rough."

	"He likes it rough," Akira said.

	Hanai glared at Akira.  "At least someone WANTS to 
kiss me, unlike you."

	Akira froze up for a moment, blinking, then turned 
and stared at the floor.

	Tenma realized now this was starting to escalate out of 
control.  She had to do something.

	"Well, if you'll just kiss anyone..."  Yuuki grabbed 
Hanai and made with the mad smooching.  Tiny tufts of 
smoke came out of his and Mikoto's ears.  Yakumo was 
torn between envy of how easily she did that and the desire 
to not see Hanai kissing anyone.  Though she noticed his 
thoughts vanished while Yuuki was kissing him.  So maybe 
this was good.

	Mikoto pried them apart.  "Don't go forcing yourself 
on Hanai!"

	Sara said, lamely, "Can't we all just get along?"

	"Just because you have big breasts doesn't make you 
Queen!" Yuuki said.

	Mai strode over.  "That's enough fighting."

	"Stay out of this, your Flatness!" Yuuki said.

	"Flat?  I'm as big as you are!"

	Hanai was quite relieved when the whole thing turned 
into a giant chest-size argument.  He took the chance to 
quietly sneak out.

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

	Harima could feel his brain clearing, or maybe just his 
stress going away, as he rode with Eri.  In theory, this was 
supposed to be a lesson, but she'd learned most of what he 
thought was safe to teach her so far; they'd have to work on 
racing stuff eventually, but right now, she just needed 
practice, so he was letting her drive on the way to the 
basketball practice.

	"You're quiet," Eri observed.

	"Yeah, thinking," he said.

	"About what?" she asked.

	"Kissing," he said, sounding a little nervous.

	Kissing me?  Or kissing Yakumo?  Or maybe 
kissing...whoever he loves.  Eri wasn't sure.  

	"It's fun," she said, though she'd never had a serious 
kiss.  She'd never admit that.

	"You got experience?" he asked.

	"Yeah," she lied smoothly.

	They roared around a corner.  He said, "Just trying to 
think which of my many techniques to use on her."  He 
couldn't admit he'd never kissed someone either.

	"Well, I know a few tricks myself," she bragged.

	"Not as many as me," Harima said.

	"Ha!  I can outkiss you by a mile," she said.

	"I can outkiss you by a hundred miles," he replied.

	"You don't believe me?" she said, fire in her eyes.

	"Ain't no way you kiss better than me," Harima said 
flatly.  "I am a god among men."

	Eri began to laugh, and Harima felt a twinge of fear.  
He crushed it; fear wasn't manly.

	They pulled into the park where the others were, and 
Eri hopped off the bike.  "I'll show you how well I kiss!" 
she said.

	Harima hopped off.  "No way you're better than I am!"

	Yakumo approached a little nervously; Tenma and 
Sara were playing one on one badly under Mikoto's 
watchful eye nearby.  Far across the park, Yoshidayama 
was slowly making his way towards them.  "What are you 
talking about?"

	"He doesn't kiss better than me, does he?" Eri 
demanded of Yakumo.

	"I...uh...we've never kissed," Yakumo said weakly.

	Mikoto looked over at them.  "Eri, what are you 
babbling about?"

	"The only way to settle this is for us both to kiss the 
same person," Eri said to Harima.

	"How are we going to do that?" Harima said.  "You 
like guys, I like girls."  He paused.  "Right?"

	Tenma came over.  "Are you arguing over who is the 
better kisser?"

	"Yes," Harima said.

	"But we don't have a good way to settle it," Eri said 
hotly.

	"Well, Yakumo could kiss both of you and judge..." 
Tenma said thoughtfully.

	"I don't want to kiss a girl," Yakumo protested, staring 
at the ground and blushing

	"Well, it may not be settleable," Tenma said.  "As 
Kenji shouldn't kiss anyone but Yakumo, so she'd have to 
be the judge."

	"Well, if that's the only way to settle this," Eri said, 
her competitive spirit overriding all other instincts, "then 
we both kiss Yakumo and she judges."

	"But..." Yakumo protested weakly.

	"Get a grip, Eri-chan," Mikoto said.

	"Dammit!  I NEED TO KISS SOMEONE TO PROVE 
MY KISSES ARE BEST!"

	Yoshidayama heard this and sped up his advance.  
Maybe this is my lucky day, he thought.

	"My kisses are better anyway," Mikoto said.

	"YOUR kisses?  You can't even keep your boyfriend 
away from Lala Gonzales!" Eri said.

	"He's not my boyfriend!" Mikoto protested.  "But he 
likes my kisses better than hers."

	Sara couldn't help but giggle, though they glared at 
her.  All this ridiculousness made her feel better.

	"My kisses are better than either of you," Harima said, 
arms folded. 

	"We...we should show them..." Yakumo said 
hesitantly.

	"Fine!  I will!" he said, grabbing Yakumo and 
sweeping her into an embrace and going for a passionate 
kiss.  

	It was, of course, the nature of things that somehow 
her nose ended up in his mouth.  She felt a sudden rush of 
emotion from him, not so much reading his mind as 
suddenly feeling it wash over her like a tide, a mixture of 
pride and excitement and fear all at once.  Her eyes 
widened and she gave a cry of surprise into his chin.  Then 
she fainted; it was too much for her.

	Harima prayed no one could actually see what he'd 
done.

	Tenma said, "Wow, now that's a kiss!"

	Sara, who saw it in full detail, fell down laughing, 
though she tried to cover her mouth.

	Mikoto stared.  Did he just kiss her nose?  She wasn't 
sure.

	"You think that's a kiss???" Eri shouted.  "Yakumo 
faints from just getting out of bed!  But I will turn the next 
guy who shows up into my love slave with a single 
kiss!!!!!"

	Yoshidayama ran up to her.  "How about me?  I'll be 
your love slave any day!"

	"THE NEXT GUY WHO ISN'T A BROOMHEAD!"

	Harima laughed, then realized he was still holding the 
unconscious Yakumo in his arms; he gently set her down, 
back resting up against a tree. 

	"Broomhead?  This hairstyle is just more hip than you 
can handle!" Yoshidayama snapped back.

	Eri began to laugh.  This pissed Yoshidayama off, as 
he'd shown up to offer to help them out.  Sure, he'd mainly 
come to offer to help in order to be around Eri, but having 
her laughing at him...  "Tenma's a much better kisser than 
you are," Yoshidayama said.

	"WHAT?" Eri said.

	"WHAT?" Harima said.

	"Infinitely," Yoshidayama said.  

	Tenma blushed.  "But I...we...did we kiss and I forgot 
it?"

	"My kiss was so good, it gave her amnesia!" 
Yoshidayama said.

	Tenma turned red and stared at the ground.  "You 
kissed me and I forgot?  I'm sorry, I shouldn't forget 
something like that!"

	Sara tried to do something, but all she could do was to 
lie on the ground and laugh.

	"You think that's impressive?" Mikoto said.  "I can 
change people's chi flows with MY kisses."

	Harima shook with anger.  "You stole Tenma-chan's 
memories with kisses???  YOU FIEND!"

	"I...uh..." Yoshidayama said.

	"I WILL PUNISH YOU!" Harima shouted and 
charged.

	"Enemy of all women!" Eri shouted.

	The two of them chased the hapless Yoshidayama off 
into the sunset.

	Mikoto rubbed her forehead.  "That got out of 
control."

	"When did I go out with Yoshidayama?  Why can't I 
remember anything?  Miko-chin, when did I date 
Yoshidayama?" Tenma asked frantically.

	"Tenma-chan, he was just telling a tall tale," Mikoto 
said.

	"Really?" Tenma asked.

	"I'm pretty sure his kisses can't cause amnesia," 
Mikoto assured her.

	"Good.  I want...to give Karasuma my first kiss."  She 
looked up at Mikoto.  "Is Hanai a good kisser?"

	"Yes," she said.  

	"I don't think I could play ball against my boyfriend," 
Tenma said.

	"He's not my boyfriend," Mikoto said.

	"But you two kiss all the time and go on dates and 
take baths together and..." Tenma said.

	"How did you know about the baths?" Mikoto asked, 
blushing.

	"Haven't you done that since you were little?" Tenma 
asked.

	"Not in a long time.  Except recently," Mikoto 
mumbled.

	"If he's not your boyfriend, what is he?" Tenma asked.

	"We're just good friends."

	"So it's okay to kiss good friends?" Tenma asked.

	"Yes," Mikoto said.  She looked nervous.

	Tenma looked thoughtful.  "So, you or I or Eri or 
Akira could kiss Kenji if we wanted to?  Or does it only 
count if the boy doesn't have a girlfriend?  And what about 
Lala?"

	"Hanai doesn't have a boyfriend, so I suppose you 
could kiss him," Mikoto said.  "But you shouldn't, since 
you like Karasuma.  And you shouldn't kiss your sister's 
boyfriend."  Her voice was getting somewhat fervent.

	"I'm just trying to understand this.  So you and Lala 
can both kiss Hanai since he isn't seeing anyone?  How 
does Yuuki figure in?  Could Eri kiss him?  She needs 
someone to kiss, and if he's free game for everyone..."

	Sara finally peeled herself off the ground and went 
over to make sure Yakumo was okay.  Yakumo seemed to 
be sleeping soundly.

	"He's not just free game.  It's all..." Mikoto began.  
She shook, trying to figure out how to overcome Tenma's 
fit of semi-logic.

	"Suou-san!" Miki said, appearing from seemingly 
nowhere.  "Your boyfriend told me you were here, 
practicing for a basketball contest?"

	"Bo..." Tenma began.

	Mikoto put her hand over Tenma's mouth.  "It's nice to 
see you.  This is my friend Tsukamoto Tenma.  She's taken 
an oath of silence until this conversation is over."  She 
looked meaningfully at Tenma.

	Tenma looked confused but nodded.

	Miki looked confused but said, "Everything went 
wonderfully.  Your advice was great.  I just wanted to let 
you know.  But we can talk about it more later, when you're 
not busy.  I just had to tell you.  Thank you!"

	"You're welcome," Mikoto said nervously.

	"I bet you two have the most incredible..." Miki 
began.

	"Yes," Mikoto lied, then mouthed the word 'Virgin' at 
Miki, then nodded towards Tenma.  

	Miki glanced at Tenma, then at Mikoto, and nodded.  
"Anyway, thank you for helping us with our anniversary 
'party'.  I'll leave you to your friends!  See you!"  And she 
scampered off.

	Tenma asked, "What was that about?"

	"I had to give her love advice," Mikoto said.

	"But isn't she...she looks like a college student," 
Tenma said.

	"Yes, she is," Mikoto said.

	"Wow, even college students come to you."  Tenma 
gulped nervously.  "Will you help me with Karasuma?"

	"Of course I will," Mikoto said.  "We can brainstorm 
later."

	Tenma smiled.  "Thank you."

	Sara rose.  "I guess we should practice."

	Mikoto couldn't see Eri or Harima at all.  She sighed.  
"Yeah, let's practice."

****************
	
	Nara looked over at Akira, worried.  She'd been 
staring at the chessboard for the last twenty minutes, in 
silence, her hands on a bishop.  They were playing at her 
house, in the living room.  "Akira-san, are you okay?" he 
asked.

	She finally looked up at him.  "Do you want to kiss 
me?"

	Nara jumped in surprise.  "I...kiss you?" he asked in 
surprise.  He wasn't sure what his relationship with Akira 
was.  She was very friendly to him now, more than any girl 
had been, but she'd never...she didn't seem to be after 
physical contact.  And he wasn't sure what he wanted.  She 
wasn't quite his feminine ideal, but being with her was...she 
was good company.

	"Do you want to?" she asked, her voice very flat and 
calm.

	"Sure," he said, feeling his heart speed up.  He'd never 
kissed a girl before.  "Right now?"

	"Yes," she said, staring at the board again.

	He came around the table.  "Your mother won't 
mind?"

	"She's gone to get dinner," Akira said.  

	He kneeled down beside her, and turned her head.  Her 
eyes looked a little wet and her expression was rigid instead 
of calm.  "What's wrong?" he asked softly.

	"Nothing's wrong," she said.  "Are you going to kiss 
me or not?"  Her voice was frozen as stiff as her face.

	So he leaned forward, closed his eyes, and planted his 
lips on hers.  They kissed in silence, and then he embraced 
her; it was traditional, right?

	Her arms latched around him like a vise, pulling him 
in close; he could feel her breasts pressed into his chest, her 
body all around his, her lips pressing to his fervently.  His 
whole body felt strange and excited and now they both fell 
over from their kneeling position, still kissing.

	Akira's leg hit the table and the chess set and pieces 
went flying.  Nara half-flailed as if to try to stop it, but soon 
forgot about it.

	They were still kissing when Akira's mother walked 
in, groceries in hand.  "Ahh, good, a slave.  Nara, come get 
the rest of the groceries."

	He got up reluctantly, and he could see Akira looked 
more flustered than he'd ever seen her, though she was 
recovering her composure before his eyes.  "Was I good?" 
he asked.

	"Yes, very," Akira said.

	Nara went and helped bring in the groceries; by the 
time he finished, Akira had the chess set back up.  Akira's 
mother stuck her head out.  "You staying for dinner, Nara?"

	"If you want me to," he said.

	"I see Akira does, anyway," her mother said.

	Akira carefully studied the board.

	"Then I'll stay," he said.

	"You're a good boy," Akira's mother said.  "Now come 
help me cook."

	"Yes, ma'am."

	By the time the evening was over, he'd helped to move 
the furniture, compared homework with Akira, and helped 
change the oil in Akira's mother's car.  They never did 
finish the chess.  

	As he stood at the door, he tried to decide if he should 
kiss her or not.  Akira said softly, "I think Mother likes 
you."

	"She likes my labor," Nara mumbled.

	"All the same for Mother," Akira said.  She stood, 
staring at him.  

	He stared back, then leaned forward, closing his eyes.

	She closed hers and kissed him softly.  

	"If Nara's still there, I could use someone to help me 
move this stupid chest," her mother shouted from upstairs.

	"He's gone home, Mother!" Akira shouted.  She waved 
at Nara.

	He smiled nervously, waved, and skipped off home.

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

	Tenma frowned.  "Eri and Kenji still haven't come 
back."

	Mikoto shook her head.  "They were both kind of 
acting weird anyway."  She looked over at the still sleeping 
Yakumo.  "Is this normal?"

	"Oh, she does this all the time," Tenma said.  "Can 
you help me carry her?"  She tried to lift Yakumo without 
much luck.

	"No problem," Mikoto said.  She turned to Sara.  
"You're getting better."

	"Thank you," Sara said.  "But I think I have a long 
way to go."

	"Just don't give up," Mikoto said.  "I don't know if we 
can win, but I'll give it my best."

	"Thank you," Sara said again, smiling.  She bowed 
and took off.

	Mikoto picked up Yakumo, arranging Yakumo on her 
back, with Tenma keeping a hand on her.  Then she and 
Tenma began ambling home.  "So, have you tried just 
asking the man out on a date?"

	"We've dated some, but...it never ends up as romantic 
as I'd like," Tenma said.

	Mikoto, feeling pretty confident after her luck with 
Miki, said, "Well, we can beat that.  What would you find 
romantic?"

	"I'd like to go somewhere really nice, in nice clothing.  
Then maybe go dancing somewhere, and have a nice kiss at 
the end of it," Tenma said.

	"Doesn't get too much more traditional than that.  So 
what is usually missing from that?"

	"Well, we end up eating some weird place, and then 
we end up at a wrestling match or a ninja kabuki show or 
something and then wild dogs show up," Tenma said.  "Or 
something else wrecks it."

	"Ahh, so you need someone to run interference, and 
you need to pick the events yourself," Mikoto said.  
Yakumo flopped a bit on her back and Tenma adjusted her.

	"I don't want to be bossy," Tenma said.  "I mean, I like 
being with him, but I can't ever...tell him how I feel."

	"Well, it's never easy to admit you love someone," 
Mikoto said.

	"Like you and Hanai," Tenma said.

	"I am not in love with Hanai!" Mikoto protested.  
Yakumo shook a bit more, mumbling in her sleep.  

	"You just make out with him regularly," Tenma said.

	"We don't do it regularly!" Mikoto protested.  "We're 
just friends."  She was starting to look a little red in the 
face.

	Tenma gave Mikoto a dubious look.  

	"Let's get back to you and Karasuma.  We should 
work out all the details, then you can ask him out.  And I'll 
run interference for you that night," Mikoto said.

	Tenma said, "I'd be really grateful.  And you could 
bring Hanai and make out with him while you watch over 
us, so you don't get bored."

	"Fine, I'll bring Hanai and we'll make out," Mikoto 
said, giving up.

	After that, they got down to details.

***********

	"Why are we floating down a river?" Eri asked, 
awakening to find herself clinging to Harima's back, water 
all around them, concrete walls rising up steeply on both 
sides of the watercourse.

	"We fell over the retaining wall trying to grab 
Yoshidayama," Harima said.  "You couldn't swim, and I 
saved you, but you took on a lot of water."

	"Why are we still in the river?"

	"Because it's down in a gulley with concrete walls I 
can't get up," Harima said.  "And it's kind of peaceful here."

	"Where's that idiot Yoshi?" Eri asked.

	"He was laughing at us, after you missed grabbing him 
and went over the wall instead," Harima said.  "Do you 
have your phone?"

	She checked.  "Dammit, it's wet and ruined."

	"We'll hit Tokyo Bay eventually," Harima said.  "We 
can get out there."

	"We need to get out of here now," Eri said.

	"Feel free to try," Harima said.

	After falling off the wall a few times, Eri gave up and 
let Harima carry her.  It was kind of nice, being that close 
to him.  "Any chance he'll get us help?"

	"About the same as the odds that Akira will descend 
from a helicopter and pull us out," Harima said.

	Then they heard the helicopter overhead.  They stared 
at each other, then looked up and saw Itoko piloting it, with 
Tae-sensei hanging down upside down from the bottom of 
the ladder by her legs.  "Grab my hands!"

	"..."  Eri stared.  

	"Hold on," Harima said.  He grabbed her hands, while 
Eri clung to him.

	The helicopter began to rise.  "How do we get up to 
the ladder?" Harima asked.

	"Oh dear, I didn't think of that," Tae-sensei said.

	"..."

	Eri slapped her forehead, then frantically had to 
fumble to get her grip on Harima again, ending up with her 
face shoved into his back just above his butt.  "DAMMIT."

	"Language," Tae-sensei said.  "You shouldn't curse."

	People pointed, stared and laughed at all this, making 
Eri's ears burn.  

	"Pull us up!" Tae-sensei shouted.

	"We should have gotten Sasakura-sensei," Tae-sensei 
said.

	"She was busy and I couldn't let this fool and his 
girlfriend drown themselves," Itoko said.

	"She's not my girlfriend!" Harima protested.

	But he's certainly a fool, Eri thought.  

	"As members of Tea Club, I couldn't let you two 
drown.  So try not to fall to your death; the gas for this 
thing isn't cheap," Itoko said.

	"How'd you find out we were in trouble?" Harima 
asked.

	"Yoshidayama asked me to save Eri.  But of course, I 
wouldn't let my cousin drown.  Much.  So where's your 
other girlfriend?"

	"Practicing basketball," Harima said.

	Eri grumbled into Harima's butt.

	"So, are you and Hanai competing for number of 
girlfriends?  Unless you've seduced Tenma too, he's ahead 
of you," Itoko-sensei said.

	"Now, now, you have to count me too," Tae-sensei 
said.  "Hario lived in my house, after all."

	Eri twitched and almost lost her grip.

	"True, that makes you even, or a lead if he seduces 
Tenma.  Or maybe Akira," Itoko said.

	"She might go along with it to spite Hanai," Tae-
sensei said.  

	"Are you two always like this?" Eri snapped.

	"Yes," Tae-sensei said.

	"Pretty much," Itoko said.  "Well, we might as well 
buzz something while we have this thing out and about."

	"Tokyo Tower!  If we use the chaff, someone will 
probably think they're about to be whisked to another 
world," Tae-sensei said.

	"The chaff is only for serious work," Itoko-sensei said.

	"Awww," Tae-sensei said.

	Harima simply wished someone would whisk him to 
another world.  Where his arms didn't hurt.

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

	Yakumo woke up at home, thinking about the kiss and 
how she'd felt during it.  It had been almost like his mind 
had flowed into hers.  Had he felt it?  She wished she hadn't 
fainted.

	She found Tenma and Mikoto in the living room, 
creating a timetable.  "Where is Kenji-kun?"

	"He and Eri went to beat up Yoshidayama and didn't 
come back," Tenma said.  "He's not answering his phone."

	"And Sawachika-san?"

	"Ditto," Mikoto said.  "They must have chased him a 
long ways."

	"I hope he's alright," Yakumo said.

	"I'm sure he's fine," Tenma said.

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

	"You going to go join her?" Itoko asked Harima as he 
sat on the couch in her and his apartment; Eri was 
showering.  

	"No!  That wouldn't be right," Harima said.

	"He never would shower with me, no matter how 
much I asked," Tae-sensei said.  "Holding out for your 
special one?"

	Harima stared at the coffee table.  "People, uh, 
shouldn't do things like that."

	"You have to make up your mind and focus," Itoko 
said to Harima.  "Not chase all these women at once."

	"I was chasing a man!" Harima protested.

	"Oh my," Tae-sensei said, putting a hand to her 
mouth.

	"Well, that puts it in another perspective," Itoko said.

	"NOT LIKE THAT!!!!"

	"It will only bring you trouble," Itoko said.

	"I'm fine, and I will be fine," Harima said stubbornly.

	Tae-sensei patted Harima's shoulder.  "Just focus on 
the one you love.  That's all you need, right?"

	They wouldn't understand, he thought.  It was all 
getting so complicated.  Was it like this for everyone?  It 
had been simpler when he was on his own.  But he couldn't 
go back to that, not anymore.

	And I think I proved I'm the best kisser, he thought.  
Let's see Eri top THAT.

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

	Imadori half-jumped out of his flesh as he felt Karen 
embracing him from behind before class the next morning.  
"I wasn't thinking about Mikoto's breasts at all!" he said in 
a panic.

	She whispered in his ear, "I'll make you forget about 
those soon enough."  Then she scampered off.

	He felt confused.  What had gotten into her?  It scared 
and intrigued him at the same time.  Maybe this was her 
way of getting revenge over the kiss and bet thing.

	It was weird.  She'd come on to him, then quickly run 
away, like she was scared.  Was she out to rip off his 
clothing or what?  He'd find out that Friday, he knew, but...

	He glanced over at Hanai, who was busy chatting with 
Mai, probably about class activities.  How does he do it, 
Imadori wondered.  He's got all these women, nice and 
bosomy...how does he do it?

	Then he saw Nara come in; Imadori waved to him.

	Nara ambled over.  "Hey," he said.  He had an odd 
look, which Imadori couldn't quite figure out.  

	"How's it going?" Imadori asked.  "Any luck with the 
ice maiden?"

	"Well...uh..."  Nara suddenly looked very nervous.

	"Did you challenge her to strip chess like I told you?" 
Imadori asked.

	"No," Nara mumbled, staring out the window.

	"Man, if I give you advice, take it.  I go crazy when 
people waste..."

	Imadori's advice was cut off when Akira walked up to 
Nara, turned him around and kissed him in full view of 
everyone.  Imadori could see jaws dropping, saw Hanai 
staring in shock.  Imadori boggled; he hadn't expected to 
ever see either of them getting a kiss.  

	Tenma applauded.  

	"Sorry to interrupt," Akira said, then said, loudly, 
"Coming over to my house again tonight, Nara?"

	More stares.

	"I...yes," he said, looking very nervous and excited.  
"Yes, I am."

	"Good.  I like a man who knows what he wants," 
Akira said.

	Hanai twitched. 

	"Who doesn't need to kiss, two, three, four women in 
order to feel important," Akira said.  "Not that I know 
anyone like that, if I don't count our class rep."

	"Hey!" Mai said.

	"She means me," Hanai said to Mai.  "At least I don't 
go around making people kiss me in public just to score 
debating points."  

	Nara stared at the floor, wondering if he was right.

	"There's Yakumo," Akira said, pointing to the door.

	Hanai spun.  "Y...yakumo?"

	But no one was there.

	"You can't even keep your mind on the ones you're 
kissing," Akira said, then swept over to her seat, taking 
Nara along.

	Hanai had no answer to that.

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

	"So, you're going out with Imadori-kun this Friday?" 
Sagano asked Karen as they got ready for band practice.

	"Yes," she said nervously.

	"You seem bolder," Sagano said.  "And I like your 
new hair."

	Yuuki tugged her own hair as she stood by her 
keyboard.  Maybe I should change hair styles, she thought.  

	"Thank you.  Harry helped me see what I...have to 
do."

	Sagano blinked.  "Really?  I thought he was after 
you."

	"He just wants what's best for me," Karen said, 
blushing.  "He's a good friend."

	"Did you kiss him?"

	"Yes," Karen mumbled.

	"Woot!"  She turned to Karasuma, who was tuning his 
guitar.  "Someone could take some lessons," she said 
pointedly.

	"I don't need Harry to teach me to kiss," Karasuma 
said.

	Karen tried to imagine them kissing, and found it 
impossible.  Yuuki felt the very idea killing her brain cells.

	"NEXT TOPIC," Fuyuki said.

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

	Nara sat in the Tea Club room with Akira, who had 
put on a formal kimono.  She was carefully pouring him 
tea.

	He wished he knew more about the tea ceremonies 
and such things; he had this feeling of the weight of ritual, 
ritual he just didn't know.  "Shouldn't Tsukamoto-san and 
Sara-san be here?"

	"Everyone in the club but me was invited to join Sara's 
basketball team for the contest," Akira said flatly.

	Nara's eyes widened.  "I..."

	Akira finished pouring his cup, then poured herself 
one.  "I am a terrible athlete.  Sara is my kohai, but this is 
not an area where I would be much help to her."  Her voice 
was very calm, but Nara could see she wasn't meeting his 
gaze.

	He took his tea and sipped it.  "Very good, thank you," 
he said.  "You're an excellent tea maker."

	She sat and drank her tea quietly; he wasn't sure what 
to say.  He still wasn't sure exactly what was going on with 
them.  

	"Tea calms the soul and soothes the passions," she 
said, finally, sounding like she was trying to convince 
herself.

	"Do you want to calm your passions?" Nara asked.  

	She looked up at him, hard to read as always.  
"Control is everything," she said softly.  "If you can't 
control yourself, others will control you."

	"I can't do that," he said.  "I can't just...you don't really 
want to shut yourself off, do you?"

	She carefully examined her teacup, then sipped.  She 
breathed in and out slowly, savoring it.  "If you're not in 
control, you get hurt," she said softly.

	He rose and came over to her, feeling his legs shake.  
"Akira, do you like me?" he asked.

	She took another sip of tea.  "Yes," she said.

	"Isn't that a loss of control?  To like someone...gives 
them power," Nara said.

	"I know," she said, staring into her cup.  "But I can't 
live without friends."

	He took her hand now.  "Are we friends?" he asked.  

	"Yes," she said with sudden heat.  "Kiss me."

	He kneeled down by her, taking her head with his 
hands, turning it to face him, and kissing her softly.  She 
brought her hands up to his shoulders, then down his back, 
pulling him closer.  He responded to that by reaching 
around behind her and embracing her, forgetting his doubts 
for the moment.

	Finally, she broke off the kiss and said, "I should 
change.  You're coming home with me, right?"

	"Right," he said.  

	"Good," she said, rising and helping him up.  "Be back 
soon."

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

	"What about cooking?" Meimi asked Satsuki as they 
got ready for basketball practice.

	"I'm not going to bother," Satsuki said.  "No way I can 
catch up to her in two weeks.  Not unless she's more 
terrible than I think."

	"According to my intel report, Sara-san is not an awe-
inspiring cook, but she's good," Meimi said.

	"Exactly.  I'm just going to count on this and the 
delivery race," Satsuki said.

	"Do you know the area well enough for that?" Imadori 
asked.

	"Well...I know it kind of well."

	"We should probably practice that too.  Running fast 
won't help if you don't know where you're going," Imadori 
said.

	"That's true," Satsuki said.

	"I'd be happy to help you," Imadori said.

	Lala shook her head.  "You just hit on everyone, 
Imadori."

	"I'm not hitting, I'm trying to ensure our team wins!" 
he said with sudden passion, which took her aback.  "I have 
to show Miko-chin how serious I can be!"

	Lala frowned.  "And Karen?"

	"Not an issue here," Imadori said.  He paused.  "We're 
not practicing Friday, right?"

	"We should," Satsuki said.

	"I have a date," Imadori said.

	"So much for ensuring victory," Lala said, folding her 
arms under her breasts.

	"I can't say no!" Imadori shivered a little.  "Not to 
Karen."

	"Let's practice, before I have to kill him."  Lala was 
glaring at him hard.

	"We need Hanai."

	Hanai now ran up.  "Sorry I'm late.  Class rep duties."

	"Is another big event coming up?" Imadori asked.  

	"Just the usual round of school business."

	"You and Mai aren't snogging yet, are you?" Imadori 
asked.

	"He is NOT snogging Mai," Lala said, wondering 
what 'snogging' was.  "Which reminds me.  Since this idiot 
will be blocking practice by going out, we should go out 
too."

	"Okay," Hanai said.  "I'm free."  I need a chance to get 
privacy with her and set things straight, he thought.  Before 
things spiral more out of control.

	"Perfect.  Let's play."

*************
		
	Nara tried to figure out how exactly he'd ended up 
working on painting the back porch.  Akira was hanging 
down the back of the house upside down, scrubbing the 
trim over the porch and getting it clean enough for painting.  
Her mother was inside, on the phone, making deals.  

	He took a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow.  
This was hard work, though thankfully, they were into the 
cooler part of the year.  He took a moment to stretch, and to 
his surprise, Akira popped down on her wire and quickly 
kissed him, then sprang back up to the roof.

	He laughed.  That made the work feel better.  She'd 
done that with...why had she kissed Harima, anyway?  I 
should ask her about that, he thought.

	"Dinner will arrive in 30 minutes," Akira's mother 
said, sticking her head out.  "So be ready to take a food 
break then."

	"We really ought to do homework," Nara mumbled.

	"You can do that later.  The porch needs fixing up for 
Friday's party," Akira's mother said.  "Anyway, you did 
want sausage and pepperoni, right?"

	"Yes."

	"Good.  Better eat it all, then.  Pizzas cost a lot these 
days and money doesn't grow on trees."  She went back 
inside.

	Well, at least I get fed, he thought.

*************
	
	Asou sat in the backyard, sprawled on a lawn chair, 
watching the birds fly.  Suga sat in a chair near him, half 
asleep with a towel over his face.  "Suga, you awake?"

	"Uuuuhh..." Suga mumbled.  "Sort of."

	"So what would you do?"

	"I'd tell them both to date me," Suga said.  "They're 
cute.  You want me to take one of them?"

	"You think they'd go for that?" Asou asked, not really 
believing it.

	"Man, I can't believe you don't think this is cool."

	"I'm a PRIZE," Asou said.  "Who wants to be a 
prize?"

	"Me," Suga said.  "I'll take your place if you want."

	"Somehow, I don't think you can fool them."

	"Let me try."

	Asou looked at him dubiously.  "You sure about this?"

	"If you won't go for the gusto, someone has to."

	"Fine.  Give it your best shot," Asou said.

	"So, you rooting for either of them?  You do seem to 
kinda like the English girl."

	"She's a kind person and a good co-worker," Asou 
said.  "But I really haven't gotten the chance to know her 
well.  I wouldn't have thought she'd go along with a farce 
like this."  He grimaced.  

	"You certainly got embarrassed enough when she 
cheered you in public," Suga pointed out.

	"Well, she is kind of cute," Asou said.  "But I refuse to 
be party to this farce."

	"That's fine," Suga said.  "I like to party.  This should 
be entertaining."

	"If you say so."

***********

	Nara laid exhausted on the porch.  There was still so 
much to do, although he'd made good progress.  Akira 
came out and sat down by him, silently handing him a glass 
of tea.  He tried to drink it without sitting up, staring up at 
the stars.  This was semi-successful, as he only spilled a 
little on himself.  

	"We should finish this tomorrow, I hope," Akira said.  
"Might take one more day."

	Nara groaned.  

	"You can handle it," Akira said, sipping her tea and 
looking at the stars.

	Akira's mother stuck her head out.  "You going or 
staying, Nara?"

	"I guess I should go home soon."

	"Are you good at cooking pancakes?" Akira's mother 
asked.

	"I'm okay," he said.

	"Good, you're staying.  I haven't had decent pancakes 
in a long time," Akira's mother said.

	"I make pancakes," Akira said.

	"I haven't had decent pancakes in a long time.  I'll 
make sure we have everything."  Akira's mother went back 
inside.

	"You'd better call home, make sure your folks don't 
mind," Akira said.

	Nara called home; his mother got the phone.  "Hello, 
dear.  You caught me right as I was about to head out with 
Alphonse.  Do you need a ride home?"

	"I'm staying here at Akira's.  Her mom wants me to 
make them pancakes in the morning," Nara said.  "If that's 
okay with you and Dad."

	"That's fine, dear.  Do you need me to bring you a 
fresh uniform?"  

	"I'd appreciate it," Nara said.  "You sure you don't 
mind?"

	"My little boy is growing up.  Just be gentle with her 
and...I'd better get you some condoms."

	"..."

	"I really should have gotten you some already, but 
your father keeps forgetting and it's embarrassing to buy 
men's birth control," his mother said.  

	"I...uh..."

	"You do know how to use it, right?" his mother asked.

	"Of course I do," he lied.  

	"I can get Alphonse to demonstrate..." she began.

	"I'll be fine if you just bring me some," he said.

	"Okay," she said.  "I could ask your father..."

	"I'll be fine!" Nara insisted.

	"Oh...pajamas.  And toothpaste.  And floss.  Don't 
forget, brush your teeth before major kissing," his mother 
told him.  "It's very important.  Women like fresh breath.  
Hmm, ask her if she likes mint or orange better."

	"What?" Nara asked.

	"Ask her."

	Nara turned to Akira.  "Umm, do you prefer mint or 
orange?"

	"Orange," Akira said.

	"Orange," he said to his mother.

	"I'll loan you my orange gel breath freshening 
toothpaste, then," she said.

	"Thank you."

	"You're welcome dear.  See you soon."

	"See you, Mother."

	Nara turned to Akira.  "Mom's going to drop some 
stuff off for me."

	"Okay," she said, rising and stretching.  "I'll get a 
room ready for you."

	"I'll be here," he said, and tried to calm his nerves.  
He'd never done this before.  Though it sounded like it 
wouldn't be...that...but even so...cool.

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

	Harima clumsily dropped his pencil and stretched his 
fingers.  "Can't draw any more," he mumbled.

	Yakumo said, "I'm tired too.  You heading home?"

	"I'd better, while I can still drive," Harima said, getting 
up.

	Yakumo rose and followed him towards the front 
door.  "Goodnight, Tenma-san," Harima said as he went 
past her room.  

	"Goodnight, Kenji-kun.  Don't forget to give Yakumo 
a goodnight kiss."  She was hard at work on her homework 
with Mikoto.

	He wished, again, he could kiss her.  But kissing 
Yakumo was enjoyable, and he needed to practice so he 
could kiss Tenma well when the time came.

	Yakumo followed him, licking her lips nervously.  
She'd gotten a flash of him thinking about kissing her, 
which made her excited.  She felt like they were growing 
closer, though she still couldn't see his mind all the time, 
like with Tenma or Sara. 

	He stopped at the door, and turned to her, hands on her 
shoulders.  "Ready?" he asked.

	She nodded.  "Un."

	He leaned forwards and kissed her; the rush of 
emotions was less potent this time, but that made it more 
enjoyable, like riding a water slide instead of being caught 
in the Jonestown Flood.  His affection carried her on a wild 
ride as her own emotions surged.  She hoped he could feel 
how she felt, the fluttering of her heart, the pounding of 
blood in her veins, but he looked less flustered than her 
when it was over.

	He smiled at her.  "Goodnight, Yakumo-chan."

	"Goodnight, Kenji-kun," she said softly.    "I..."  She 
couldn't ask.  "Goodnight."

	And he headed out into the night.

**************
	
	Nara laid down on the futon.  His body ached, but he 
felt good.  I wonder if she's my girlfriend now, he thought.  
He smiled at the thought.  Something like that, anyway.

	The door opened and then shut.  He looked confused, 
not having seen anyone.  Thus, he was taken by surprise 
when suddenly, as if from nowhere, Akira was under the 
covers with him in a long white shirt that went down to her 
knees.  She wrapped her arms around him and whispered, 
"Don't worry, I'll make sure you wake up in time to make 
the pancakes."

	"Akira-san, I..." he began.

	"Just hold me," she whispered.

	He moved his arms to do so and she quickly fell 
asleep with her head on his chest.  It took him a lot longer 
to fall asleep.

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

	Tenma walked towards school with Mikoto.  They 
could see Nara and Akira walking up ahead, holding hands.  
"They're so cute," Tenma said.

	"I'm kind of surprised, but happy for her," Mikoto 
said.  She sped up a bit so they could catch up to them.

	As they caught up, Tenma said, "Hello, lovebirds."

	Akira's eyes widened a moment, and returned to 
normal.  "Hello, Tenma-chan, Mikoto-chan.  How are 
you?"

	"Hi, guys...gals," Nara said, laughing nervously.  

	"You look pretty today," Tenma said to Akira.  
Mikoto looked at Akira.  There was something different; 
Akira seemed more cheerful than usual.

	"She's always pretty," Nara said firmly.

	Akira stumbled a moment, then said, "Not as pretty as 
you, Tenma-chan."

	"At least you have a boyfriend, unlike me."  Tenma 
sighed.

	"You can do it, Tenma.  No one can resist your charm 
and friendliness," Akira said.

	Nara nodded.  "Everyone likes you, Tsukamoto-san."

	"Just believe in yourself," Mikoto said.  

	"I'll do it," Tenma said, pumping her fists in the air.  
"Today, I will definitely make Karasuma MINE."

	"Go for it," Nara said.

	"Hello, everyone," Eri said, joining them.  She glanced 
over at Akira and Nara and smiled.  "Going to flaunt at 
Hanai again?"

	"The thought has crossed my mind," Akira said.  

	Nara didn't want to see another fight, but didn't know 
what to say.  

	Mikoto frowned.  "You shouldn't snipe at him, Akira-
chan."

	"What, you're happy with how he treats you?" Akira 
asked.

	"He doesn't treat me badly!" Mikoto protested.  I'm the 
one who dragged him into the whole mess with Masahiro-
sempai.

	"He runs around on you," Akira said.

	"We're not dating!  He can do whatever he likes."

	"But you won't let him date Lala," Akira said.

	"She's evil," Mikoto said firmly.

	"She doesn't seem that bad to me," Tenma said.

	"You're very forgiving," Eri said.  "I don't think she's 
evil, just a brat, myself."

	"So did you and Kenji ever settle who kisses better, 
Eri-chan?" Tenma asked.

	"No way to settle it, but I'm better," Eri said.  "That's 
just the way it is."

	"I'm sure Nara is better than either of you," Akira said.

	Nara suddenly felt very put on the spot, especially 
when Eri looked curiously at him.  

	"I doubt it," Eri said.  

	"Hey, I'm not bad myself," Mikoto said.

	"Akira-san is very good," Nara said.

	"Have you kissed anyone beyond Hanai, who will kiss 
anyone?" Akira asked.

	Mikoto frowned at that.  "He does not just kiss 
anyone!  Why are you always so hard on him?"

	"He needs it," Akira said.  "You should find yourself a 
better boyfriend."

	"We're not dating!" Mikoto protested again.

	"He's probably off with another one of them," Akira 
said.

	"I'm sure he isn't," Mikoto said.

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

	Hanai was in the music room with Yuuki, having 
gotten a text message to come there.  Best to settle things 
with her, anyway.  He entered warily. 

	Despite his precautions, Karasuma seemed to step out 
of nowhere, then closed and locked the door.  Having done 
this, he took the key and scampered out the window, while 
Hanai stared in confusion.

	Yuuki was here, practicing with her keyboard, playing 
melancholy music.  She looked up at him.  "No one leaves 
until I get some answers," she said gloomily.

	"What?"

	"What is going on with you and Suou?  Are you dating 
or not?"

	"We're not dating," he said.

	"Then why do you get all snuggly and kissing?" Yuuki 
asked mournfully.

	"I can't talk about that," Hanai said regretfully.

	"We may be in here a long time," Yuuki said.

	"Look...we just...it's kind of like..."

	Stare of doom.

	He sighed.  "It's kind of like practicing for the real 
thing.  We trust each other, so we can do things like that 
and enjoy it and forget other people on our mind."

	She rose and came over to him.  "I can help you forget 
Yakumo," she said.  "If that's what you want."

	"I should want it," he said.  "I just don't know how to 
make myself forget."

	Nervously, she put her hands on his shoulders.  "I can 
help," she said softly.  "If you let me.  Just give me a 
chance."

	"Yuuki, I..."  

	His words were interrupted by a kiss.  When Yuuki 
broke it off, she said, "At least let me practice with you, 
like Suou does."

	What could he say to that?  His lips said, "Okay," 
though his brain could hear the drums of doom.  "But class 
will start soon."

	"I know," she said, going to the window.  "Karasuma-
kun, we need the key."    

	He didn't come, and she couldn't see him anywhere.  
"Oh dear."

**************
	 
	Despite his efforts to escape, Vice Principal Moto 
hauled Karasuma off across campus.  "Climbing on the 
buildings is strictly forbidden.  All day detention for you."

	"But..." Karasuma began.

	"No buts.  You're going into the Pit and staying there 
until school ends.  And no lunch, either."

	"I..."

	"SILENCE."

	Karasuma apologized to Yuuki in his head; it was all 
he could do.

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

	"Where is Hanai?" Tani-sensei asked.

	"Last I saw, he went to the music room with Yuuki," 
Sagano said.  "I'm sure he'll be here soon."

	"I suppose so.  Well, school business often takes him 
away.  Let us begin."

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

	Katou-sensei frowned.  "Where is Hanai?"

	"He and Yuuki seem to have skipped out," Sagano 
said.

	Mikoto frowned at that.

	"And Karasuma, too," Tenma pointed out.

	"Threesome?" Sagano speculated.

	Mikoto stared at Sagano, as did Tenma.

	"Harima," Katou-sensei said.  "You'll just sleep 
through class, ignore me, and flunk even if you stay.  Go 
find those three."

	Harima was too busy sleeping to take offense.

	Katou walked over and yelled in Harima's ears.  
"WAKE UP."

	Harima leaped out of his chair.  "I'm sorry, Tenma-
san!"

	Tenma laughed a little.

	"Man, you need to have your eyes checked," Eri said 
to Harima.  

	"Harima.  Yuuki, Karasuma, and Hanai are missing.  
Find them, bring them back."

	"Me?" Harima asked in confusion.

	"If you never make it back alive, little will be lost."

	Harima frowned but rose.  "Come on, Eri-san."

	"Me?" Eri asked in confusion.

	"Yeah.  In case we have to kick some ass."

	Eri felt flattered at that and got up and headed out with 
Harima.  "We should check the music club room."

	It turned out to be locked.  Also, they could hear weird 
noises inside.  It sounded like a keyboard and a very badly 
played flute in disharmony.

	"Hey, is someone there?" Hanai asked.

	"Why are you locked in?" Harima asked.

	"Karasuma has the key."

	"So he kidnapped you?" Harima asked.  "I knew he 
was evil!"

	"He didn't kidnap us, he just locked us in," Yuuki said.

	"Brainwashing too.  EVIL," Harima said.

	Eri shook her head.  "Yuuki, where is he?"

	"I don't know.  He stepped out to give us privacy and 
never came back," Yuuki said.

	"Privacy?" Eri asked suspiciously.

	"To talk," Hanai said.

	"Uh huh."  Eri looked over at Harima.  Maybe I 
should take this chance for a little privacy with him, she 
thought.

	"We will find Karasuma, crush him, get the key, and 
free you from your prison," Harima said.

	"It's not really a prison," Yuuki said.  "Please don't 
hurt him."

	"I will go straight to killing, bypassing hurting," 
Harima said.

	"Come on, killer," Eri said. "Let's go see if he's locked 
in somewhere or maybe in detention."

	They wandered around, asking questions.  They 
finally found Vice Principal Moto.  "Yes, he was climbing 
all over the building.  Not allowed, so I locked him up."

	"We need a key; he locked Yuuki and Hanai in the 
music room," Harima said.  "Then we have to break him."

	"I can let them out," Moto said.  "So why are you 
wandering the halls?"

	"Katou-sensei sent us to find them," Harima said.

	Moto looked at Harima suspiciously.  "He would 
never choose a delinquent like you for this.  Detention for 
both of you."

	"WHAT?" Eri said as Moto hauled them both off.  
"He did send us!"

	"Tell it to the marines," Moto said as he threw them in 
lock-up.

	Karasuma looked up at them.  "Hello."

	"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" Harima shouted, 
leaping at Karasuma.

	Eri just sat down and watched; at least it would keep 
her entertained a while.

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

	Mizuno-sensei pushed her glasses up and frowned.  
"We have a fair number of absences," she said.

	"Everyone who goes looking for them never comes 
back," Sagano said.  "Never."

	"I see.  And where are they?"

	"Wandering the halls, I guess," Sagano said.

	Mai cut in.  "Sawachika and Harima were sent to find 
Yuuki, Hanai, and Karasuma by Katou-sensei.  Yuuki and 
Hanai were reported as being in the music room."

	"I see.  Well, Sagano, go find them, bring them back."

	"Me?" Sagano asked.

	"Yes."

	"I'M FREE!" Sagano said, rising and running out of 
the room.

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

	Karasuma and Harima were still fighting when Sagano 
got thrown in The Pit, which was the slightly lowered 
concrete room full of desks used for detention.  There was 
normally nothing to do but to sit and stare at the walls and 
swelter due to the lack of air conditioning.  That was pretty 
much what Hanai and Yuuki were doing, having been 
thrown in shortly after Harima and Eri.  Eri had pulled the 
seats into a ring around the walls so that Harima and 
Karasuma wouldn't keep crashing into them and flinging 
them about.  "Sweet, prison entertainment," she said.

	Karasuma ran up the wall and bounced off the ceiling, 
aiming for Harima's head, but he spun to one side, grabbing 
Karasuma's foot and spinning him around to crash into 
another wall.

	Hanai sighed.  "Sorry, Sagano."  Yuuki was snoozing, 
leaning against him.

	"So...you two get it on yet?" Sagano asked.

	"No," Hanai said.

	"Did you slap-fight?"

	"No."

	"Boooring."

	Karasuma ducked under one of Harima's punches, 
swept his feet, then kicked Harima in the butt as he fell.

	"I'd go to detention more often if I knew we got pit-
fighting."

	At least things can't get much worse, Hanai thought.

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

	"You want me to find them?" Imadori asked Kaichou-
sensei in confusion.  

	"Someone has to.  And you were napping."

	"I'll help him," Karen said.

	"Good idea," Kaichou-sensei said.  "I know you'll 
keep him focused."

	Imadori said, "It'll be much faster if..."

	Karen took him by the arm.  "We'll be back soon!"

	Imadori was dragged down the hallway.  "I can handle 
this."

	"Forget about finding them; we can go make out," 
Karen said; he could see her vibrating nervously.

	"What has gotten into you?" Imadori asked.  He was 
feeling nervous himself.

	"As Gonzales-san told me, a woman has to take what 
she wants," Karen said.  "And I want you."

	Imadori gulped as she gazed at him with intensity, 
then blinked as she suddenly, shyly turned that gaze away.  
It clicked.  She's trying to be bold, but she's not good at it 
yet, he thought.

	He liked outgoing women better than shy ones, even 
though they were usually harder to seduce than the shy 
ones.  Her efforts to be bold were kind of a turn-on.  

	But deep down, he feared her monster strength.  

	But if they made out...they didn't have to go back to 
class.

	That was worth a small risk, anyway.

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

	Go-Sensei looked around the class in confusion.  
"Where is everyone?"

	"One by one, we're being picked off by teachers 
sending us to find the people who went to find the people 
who went to find," Yoshidayama said.  "I bet that cat's 
stalking people in the hallways again."

	Go-sensei frowned.  "Well, since you know so much 
about it..."

	"No, I don't wanna die!  Send Buddha, he's big and 
tough!"

	Buddha sat, looking placid and harmless despite his 
size.

	"I will send both of you, then," Go-sensei said.  

	"I'm not going!  I'm not going!" Yoshidayama 
shouted.  Buddha had to peel him off his desk and carry 
him out, still yowling.

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

	Overly confined rats go crazy and turn on each other.

	The same applies to high school students.

	The door opened and Fuyuki and Shigeo were thrown 
in.  

	"Did you bring food?" Yoshidayama asked, 
desperately.

	"Uhh...we already ate lunch."

	"BASTARDS!" the cry went up.  

	They were shaken down for every stray crumb to feed 
the hungry, desperate members of their class.

	It didn't help that Harima and Karasuma were still 
beating the crap out of each other; you could hardly move 
without risking being punched.  Hanai had joined in after 
getting punched.  

	Desperate, Yuuki said, "Is there even anyone left?"

	"Maybe Akira will figure out something," Buddha 
speculated.  "She may be our last hope."

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

	The final period of the day, Aino-sensei walked in, 
shaking her blond hair.  She looked around.  "Where is 
everyone?"

	Only Tenma, Mikoto, Akira, and Nara were left.  They 
were huddled in the back of the class.

	"No one who leaves ever comes back," Tenma said.

	"Our class is cursed," Mikoto said sadly.

	"They're probably all making out somewhere," Akira 
said.

	"People aren't faking injuries to go see the nurse, are 
they?" Aino-sensei asked.

	"We don't know what happened to them," Mikoto said.  
"Really."

	"Well, in that case...let's just skip out and go to my 
daughter's concert.  I can't teach class with this few 
people."

	"Sweet," Tenma said.

	"Any idea where they may be?" Mikoto asked Akira.

	"Not a clue," she said.  "No doubt Hanai's trying to 
kiss all the women."

	Mikoto grimaced.  "Sensei, shouldn't we look for the 
others?"

	"No, clearly something horrible has them; we'd only 
doom ourselves.  Let's go to the concert."

	"But Karasuma..." Tenma said, suddenly realizing that 
he was still missing.

	"Well, you can go if you want.  I'm heading to the 
concert.  Who's with me?"

	"We'll go," Akira said.

	"We have to find out," Mikoto said.

	Aino-sensei sighed.  "Okay, we find out, then we go to 
the concert.  Okay?"

	"Okay."

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

	"You can't put me in detention!  I'm a teacher!" Aino-
sensei protested.

	"Wandering the halls is wandering the halls," the vice 
principal said.

	"What monkey crawled up your butt today?" Aino-
sensei demanded.

	Tenma, Akira, Nara, and Mikoto stared in surprise, 
having never seen one of their teachers say something like 
that.

	"Our discipline has grown too lax, leading to things 
like women's sports playing with no shirts," he said.  "Only 
a crackdown can save this school's discipline."

	Then he shoved them all into lockdown.

	He clapped his hands cheerfully.  That should teach 
them some lessons in self-control, he thought.

***********	

	Mikoto finally had to punch out Karasuma, Harima 
and Hanai, just to get some peace to think.  No choice, 
really.

	Lala now came to the door and peered in the tiny 
window, smirking.  "All of 2-C in lockup.  Appropriate, 
really."

	Akira looked at her and said, "Don't you care what the 
vice-principal did to your boyfriend?"  She pointed to the 
knocked out Hanai.

	Lala's eyes flared and she snarled.  "How could an old 
man like that possibly defeat Haruki-kun?"

	"A cowardly blow from behind," Akira said.

	Mikoto winced.

	"We'll see about that," Lala said, storming off.

	A few minutes later, a knocked out Lala was thrown 
inside.  "I wasn't the Judo champion of my division for 
nothing!" the vice-principal announced.

	"You can't lock me up, my daughter's an idol!" Aino-
sensei shouted.

	"That's worth double detention," he said.

	Aino-sensei grumbled.

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

	"Maybe Sara will ride to your rescue," Suga said to 
Asou as they sat in detention with everyone.  It was starting 
to get dark."

	"Aren't we supposed to get to go home at the end of 
the day?" Sagano complained.

	"What could she do, anyway?" Asou said.  
"Underclassmen have even less pull than we do."

	"I dunno.  Stage a daring rescue or something."

	"Yeah, right," Asou said.  Though as he thought about 
it, they might try...

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

	"Vice Principal Moto has freaked out again," Meimi 
said.  "Asou is in detention, and apparently he's just going 
to keep them all night.  If you rescue him..."

	Satsuki's eyes widened.  "Can he do that?"

	"Who can stop him?" Meimi asked.

	"Couldn't the Principal step in?"

	"If he cared," Meimi said.  "I think he's too busy 
sliding into senility."

	"Well, we should try," Satsuki said.  "As just breaking 
in would just land us all in detention."

	"Alright, we'll try it that way," Meimi said.

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

	"He's in detention?" Sara asked Yakumo.

	Yakumo nodded.  "And my Kenji too."  She shivered 
slightly, wondering how he was suffering.

	"Maybe we can appeal to the Principal," Sara said.

	"It wouldn't hurt to try."

	They went looking for him and spotted Meimi, 
Satsuki, and Minami being hauled by Moto and thrown into 
detention.  Several students lurked nearby, watching.  Sara 
asked, "What happened?"

	"They tried to go over his head to the principal.  He 
hates that."

	Sara shivered. "We need another plan."

	"Follow me."

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

	Itoko shook her head.  "We can't deploy our hardware 
against the school authorities.  The club might get shut 
down."

	"But he's locked up our boyfriends," Yakumo said.

	Itoko gave them both a look that made Yakumo feel 
very nervous.  Then she sighed.  "2-C is Tani-sensei's 
responsibility.  I will get him, and then we will see what we 
can do."

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

	One class down, five to go.  Moto wished he'd thought 
of this long ago.  Once all the troublemakers were locked 
up, they couldn't cause any more trouble.  They might even 
wipe each other out. 

	Selling it to the Principal as a 'Gulag' had been the 
way to go; the man's strange obsessions made him easy to 
manipulate if you knew how.

	He sat in his office, making plans, when there was a 
knock.  Three nuns and a priest were there; the priest 
looked somewhat familiar.  "I am Father Terrance Blake 
Worthington III," the man announced in English.  "I have 
come to minister to the prisoners.  You must admit me 
immediately, under the Geneva convention."

	Moto struggled to understand him.  Something priests 
and conventions and prisoners...  He'd never bothered to 
keep his English up, but he couldn't admit that...a vice-
principal who neglected a second language?  Unheard of.  
"Yes, of course," he said.  "Jesus bless you."  He was pretty 
sure that was the right greeting.

	"You will need to let us in."

	"Hmm, what?" Moto said, feigning deafness.

	The man mimed keys.  "We require the use of your 
keys."

	"So we may pass in and spread the blessings of 
Christ," the head nun said.  Her voice sounded oddly 
familiar, but he couldn't see her face under her hood.

	"Oh, yes," Moto said.  He went and unlocked the 
doors.  Best to just go along with the gaijin, so they 
wouldn't start hiding pamphlets everywhere.  Missionaries 
did that when threatened, he was pretty sure.

	They began preaching loudly in English, and he found 
himself unable to keep up.  The students looked confused, 
so he decided this would be a good punishment for them.  
And at the same time, it would improve their English.  He 
said, "Keep up the work good," and headed back to his 
office.

	Eventually, the priest and the nuns came back to his 
office.  "God sent his angels to free them.  We could not 
oppose the will of God," the priest said.

	Angels?  God...that was their god...free...costing what?  
Stupid English, Moto thought.  "That's fine, thank you."  
Probably some blessing or something.

	They nodded and left.

	Later, when he went to check on the prisoners, they 
were all gone.  Fake priests!  They had broken out his 
prisoners!  

	He went back to his office, ready to write them all up 
and begin a manhunt when Tsukamoto Tenma showed up 
in a police uniform, leading two men and two women in 
police uniforms.  "There he is!  He's the one who locked me 
up!"

	"What?" Moto said.

	"Arresting an officer of the law.  How low can you 
sink?" one of the woman officers said.  "You're gonna be in 
jail a loooong time, buddy."

	"She's not a real cop, she's a high school student!" 
Moto protested.

	"You think we can't tell who is and isn't a cop?  That's 
probably why you thought you could set up your own 
gulag."

	The Principal stepped out, shaking his head sadly.  
"Comrade Moto overstepped his authority by arresting a 
teacher."

	"Traitor!  I'll get you all!" Moto announced as the cops 
took him away.

	"Comrade Tsukamoto, your quick thinking has saved 
our educational revolution from private gulags," the 
Principal said.  "I'm putting you in charge of keeping order 
in our halls."

	Officer Tsukamoto Tenma saluted.  "I will do my best, 
sir."

	"I'm sure you will.  Let me know how the revolution 
proceeds."

	And he ambled off as they hauled Moto away.

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

	"Are you okay?" Sara asked Asou.  She was still 
wearing her nun's outfit.

	"Yeah, I'm fine, just bored and hungry," he said.

	"Can I...I could take you somewhere for food," Sara 
said nervously.

	Asou looked at her a little warily, and then his 
stomach rumbled.

	"I'll get you food!" Satsuki said.  "I know lots of 
places."  She tugged on his arm.  Sara tugged on the other 
arm.  Asou made a face as they tried to wishbone him.

	Suga said, "Satsuki, I think we can say Sara won this 
round."

	Satsuki suddenly looked very embarrassed and backed 
off.

	Asou said, "What, all of our life is part of this insane 
game now?"

	"Sounds good to me," Suga said.  "Satsuki, I'm afraid 
you have to take me out now.  I'm designated surrogate 
Asou."

	"What kind of crazy logic is that?" Meimi demanded.

	"Man logic," Suga said, taking Satsuki by the arm and 
escorting her off.

	Asou watched, a little envious at Suga's ability to take 
charge of the situation.  "Well, let's go, then," he said to 
Sara.  He could put up with this for a free meal.

************
	
	Meanwhile, Yakumo checked Harima's pulse.  "What 
happened?"

	"Triple knockout," Akira said.  "This is what 
machismo leads to."

	"Akira-chan, can you help Yakumo carry Kenji-kun?" 
Officer Tenma asked Akira.

	"Nara, help Yakumo," Akira said.  "I will carry 
Karasuma for Tenma and Mikoto can handle her own 
boyfriend."

	"HE IS NOT MY BOYFRIEND," Mikoto said.

	"I'll take him home," Yuuki offered.  

	"Can you even move him?" Mikoto asked dubiously.

	Yuuki tried and ended up bouncing Hanai's torso and 
head up and down on the ground.  

	"Perfect," Akira said.

	"I've got him," Lala said, hefting him.  "I'll take him 
home."  And she ran before she could be denied.

	"Kidnapper!"  Mikoto ran after her.

	"HEY!" Yuuki shouted and ran after them.

	Mai watched them run and comforted herself that 
though her relationship was secret and in violation of 
school rules and might get her lynched by her class, at least 
no one else had a thing for Togo but her, so she had no 
rivals.

	And really, the Sailor Moon outfit wasn't THAT bad...

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

	Sara scarfed down another burrito; Asou was packing 
them in like he was eating for twelve.  Nervously, she said, 
"Was it really bad in there?"

	"It stank, we were all hungry and thirsty, no one got to 
go to the bathroom and idiots beat each other up all day," 
Asou said.  "It was pretty wretched."  Scarf, munch, gulp.

	Sara said, "I came as soon as I could."

	"Thank you," he said stiffly.  

	"Are you mad at me?" she asked.

	"I'm glad you saved us.  And not glad about the 
contest."

	"I can't back out now," she said.  

	"You can do whatever you want to do," he said.  

	She sighed.  She couldn't just step back and let Satsuki 
have him, but if she didn't, he wouldn't want to be with her 
anyway.  What could she do?  She just didn't know.

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

	Buddha was a little confused as to why Karen wanted 
a private conference, but he was willing to help her out, as 
she was always nice to him.  "How can I help?"

	"I need to find a movie for my date with Imadori that 
he will find romantic.  And you know those things," Karen 
said.

	"Anything where his date has large breasts puts 
Imadori in the mood," Buddha said.  "Beyond that, I'm not 
sure...he tends to respond to traditional romantic movies by 
falling asleep unless he's making out with someone."

	"Ideally, with me," Karen said very nervously.

	"Well, giant robot movies are best for fun.  Trying to 
get him in the mood...Maybe a horror movie so you can 
pretend to be scared, then make out with him," Buddha 
said.

	Karen nodded.  "Any good ones?"

	"Freddy Kruger vs. Freddy Prinze vs. Freddy Freeman 
looks to have a lot of scare potential."

	"That works," Karen said.  "Thank you."

	"You're welcome.  Good luck."

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

	Hanai stared nervously at the bubbling pot.  Satsuki 
had decided she ought to do at least some cooking practice 
so as to not completely humiliate herself.  Which meant he 
and Imadori had been turned into guinea pigs for it.  

	Imadori seemed excited about it; Hanai felt the icy 
grip of doom.  But sometimes, you just have to take one for 
the team.  That's what duty is about.  Eating stuff that 
scares you.

	Scares you at a deep and fundamental level where 
spiders are crawling on your spine and laying eggs in your 
skin while you sleep.  

	Imadori got the first bowl of the stew.  He carefully 
added large amounts of salt, because he never thought his 
food was salty enough.  Until now.  Within seconds, 
Imadori dehydrated, crumpling into a small, parched ball.

	Hanai was canny enough to ask for a large glass of tea 
and to NOT add salt.  Thus, he had only to cope with the 
strange mixture of spices and the fact that the meat had 
been cooked to the 'apocalyptic' level.

	"What do you think?" Satsuki asked urgently, looming 
over him.  Minami made 'run now' gestures.  Meimi studied 
the food warily.

	Lala said, "You added too much nutmeg."

	"What, you can tell this just by looking?"

	"The smell.  Don't eat it, Haruki.  We'll have to throw 
this out and start over.  And this time, I will show you what 
to do."

	The stew was purged; Imadori continued to wimper on 
the ground until Minami took enough pity on him to 
administer large amounts of tea, enabling his mouth to 
recover.

	Lala hovered over Satsuki like a hawk, directing her 
efforts.  The final result, though not awe-inspiring, was 
tasty enough for Hanai.  "Good," he said.

	"Really?" Satsuki asked.  "Great!"

	"Better than Sara?" Meimi asked curiously.

	"Not yet.  But closer."  Hanai looked thoughtful.  
"You should find out what Asou likes.  Play to his tastes."

	"Hmm, Meimi, can you find out?" Satsuki asked her.

	"Spying is my specialty," Meimi said.  

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

	"Man, this contest is great," Suga said.

	"Great?" Asou asked.  They were chilling in his 
backyard again.

	"I have extorted enough free food and drink for an 
army from them in return for information," Suga said.

	Asou grimaced.  "Nice to see you're making a profit."

	Suga passed a box over.  "Here's your share of the 
donuts."

	Asou ate a donut grimly.  "Please don't tell them 
more."

	"But...the food."

	Asou glared.

	"Okay, I won't tell them any more secrets."

	"Good," Asou said.  "I just want this to be over."

	"Long way to go."

	"Unfortunately."

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

	Yakumo had spent several days doing research.  She 
and Kenji were going out, and this time, she was going to 
choose a movie that could not possibly be a disaster.  The 
Four Leaf Clover Club had no monsters, no death, no 
monster trucks, no nothing but people playing dominos and 
having love affairs.  That would be safe and fun.

	This time, the date would be without flaw.

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

	"So where are we going?" Hanai asked.  Lala had won 
the coinflip.  

	"We're going to see The Four Leaf Clover Club.  
Mitoko recommended it," Lala said.

	They were heading down the street to the train station.

	"You let Mikoto advise you?" Hanai asked, surprised.

	"Mitoko, not Suou," Lala said.  "Not a girl named 
Suou."

	Hanai couldn't hear the drumroll.  Badump bump.  

	Hanai said, "Fair enough.  What's it about?"

	"A mad assassin who kills people with dominos," Lala 
said.

	"What's a domino?" Hanai asked.

	"I think it's an American style pizza type," Lala said.

	"Well, this should be interesting, then," Hanai said.  
"It's not easy to kill with pizza."

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

	Mikoto and Tenma settled down with their pizza and 
notepads in front of the TV for the Samurais vs. Pirates 
marathon.  They were going to rot their brains and 
brainstorm for Tenma's perfect date.  

	"You know, it might be easier for you if you...well, 
this sounds silly...but you are pretty good at vanishing into 
characters you cosplay, right?  So maybe you can confess 
to him easier if you dress up as something," Mikoto said.

	"Oooh, that's a great idea," Tenma said.  "But what if 
he doesn't realize it's me?"

	"If he loves you, no disguise will fool him," Mikoto 
said confidently.  

	"Oooh, I could dress up in my cop uniform and arrest 
him for stealing my heart," Tenma said.

	"Perfect," Mikoto said.  She could never do something 
like that, but for Tenma...perfect.

	"Hmm, let's see if there's any prison theme 
restaurants..."

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

	"It just doesn't sound like a fair fight," Imadori said to 
Karen as they stood in line for tickets.  "Kruger has a 
clawed glove and is mostly omnipotent.  Prinze just has a 
stupid grin, and Freeman is on crutches.  You'd think it 
would end quickly."

	"Well..."  Karen racked her brain.  What would 
Imadori-kun say if he was me... "Perhaps Prinze takes his 
shirt off and is too good looking to kill."

	"You think he's good-looking?" Imadori asked, a little 
jealous.

	"Yes," she said.  

	Imadori took his shirt off.  "I'm not bad myself."

	"Not bad at all," she said appreciatively, pushing 
herself to reach out and run her hands up and down his 
chest.  She shook with excitement as her nerves jangled and 
his eyes widened.  He stumbled back in shock, knocking 
down a woman standing in line.

	"THERE'S A MAD GROPER AFTER ME!" she 
shouted, as he had, inevitably, ended up with his face in her 
chest.

	The beating of Imadori commenced, until Karen 
barreled in, grabbed him, and bounced away at high speed.

	They got a fair ways towards another theatre before 
they realized they'd left his shirt behind.

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

	Hanai had decided to do the movie first, then dinner, 
just in case the date exploded atomically, he'd at least get to 
see the movie.  Lala was holding his hand; people kept 
looking at him jealously.

	She is good looking, he thought, looking over at her, 
and catching her looking at him.  They both turned away, 
slightly embarrassed.

	It would help if he was sure what to tell her.  Under 
better circumstances, she might make a good girlfriend, 
though he wasn't sure.  He had mixed feelings.  He found 
her rather attractive, and kissing her was certainly fun, but 
it wouldn't be fair to her to go too far.  Not when he still 
had Yakumo on the brain and was tangled up with this 
whole mess with Mikoto and her old tutor.

	Not to mention Yuuki.

	But he had no idea how to say it.  Or what exactly he 
was saying.  He just knew he had to say something before 
they all started knifing each other.

	If he could figure out what.

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

	"You sure this is going to be good?" Harima asked 
Yakumo as they filed into their seats in the theatre.  He was 
carrying a large popcorn and soda despite Yakumo 
reminding him they'd be having dinner later, and he 
shouldn't spoil it.

	Spoiling dinner was what Harima lived for.

	Music was playing and a slideshow of ads and movie 
trivia went by while they waited for the movie.  Harima 
found this intensely annoying.  But not worth the violence 
it would take to end it.

	
	As they waited, he noticed Yakumo was craning her 
neck and staring off across the theatre; he looked and saw 
Hanai and Lala come in and sit down behind them.  Harima 
waved; Yakumo turned and resolutely faced forwards.

	"You okay?" Harima asked softly.

	"I'm fine," she said, though he wasn't sure if she meant 
it.

	He'd better not start yelling 'Yakumo' while I'm trying 
to watch a movie, Harima thought.  Though with my luck, 
Suou will show up and kick his ass in the middle of this 
and wreck another date.

	But at least for now, he was keeping to himself.

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

	Imadori had to admit his new shirt looked nice.  And 
they'd gotten into the theatre without any trouble.  But 
would the movie suck?  That was the question.

	To his surprise, the movie didn't suck.  Freddie Prinze 
had died horribly early on, but now a bunch of his co-stars 
from the Scoobie Doo movies were trying to avenge him; 
watching them die was quite satisfying.

	As for Freddy Freeman...the ads hadn't made it clear 
he was actually a transforming superhero.  Just not a very 
well-dressed one.  

	Karen seemed quite scared and kept turning and 
burying her face in his chest.  He found it oddly calming, 
though part of his brain kept worrying she'd suddenly 
squeeze and snap him in half.  It was reassuring to see there 
was something that scared someone as invincible as her.

	It looked like this would be a better date than he'd 
been afraid of.

***************
	
	Don't think about Yakumo, don't think about Yakumo, 
Hanai told himself.

	"What was that?" Lala whispered to him.  She was 
feeling fairly aggravated because the movie turned out to 
be some sort of boring romance with stupid people and a 
weird tile game.

	On screen, two of the characters were busy playing 
some sort of incomprehensible Mah Jong variant, throwing 
around terms with no Japanese equivalent, and clumsily 
flirting.  Hanai had given up on trying to follow the movie 
and was focusing on not thinking about Yakumo.

	"I am not thinking about...potatoes," he made himself 
say.

	Lala looked at him quizzically.

	"Not thinking about...potatoes...at all."

	"I was not born yesterday," Lala said, feeling her rage 
ignite.  "It would fool me better if you didn't stare at 
Yakumo while saying that."

	Hanai would have replied, but the headlock cut off 
enough oxygen that he couldn't speak.

**************
	
	Yakumo sighed.  She could hear violence behind her, 
and Harima had fallen asleep.  Him leaning on her as he 
slept was kind of cute, but it also meant she'd picked a 
movie that bored him.

	She was greatly enjoying herself, so she did her best to 
ignore the fighting and focus on how Pam and Sam were 
trying to make moves on each other in the middle of the 
Dominos Grand Championship.

	Which wasn't easy with all the grunting and thudding 
and people yelling at Hanai and Lala to be quiet.

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

	"Maybe we should ask Akira-chan and Eri-chan to 
help us," Tenma said thoughtfully.

	"Well, they might enjoy the movie, anyway.  Give 
them a call," Mikoto said.  

	Tenma called Akira on the phone.  "Hey, can you 
come over and help us brainstorm?"

	"Nara-kun and I were going to go out.  But Mother 
decided it was time to finally deal with the plumbing.  Wish 
me luck."

	"But...does your mother know how to fix plumbing?" 
Tenma asked.

	"Will it stop her?" Akira asked.  "She knows so much 
that she can't admit the things she doesn't know.  If you 
don't see me on Monday, it's because I'm still trying to get 
clean."

	"Okay.  But you're welcome to come over if you want 
to, whenever you get free."  Tenma was feeling worried 
now.

	"Maybe later.  See you."

	"Okay, bye!"

***********

	Lala had finally gotten the upper hand and had Hanai 
pinned when they both got thrown out of the theatre.

	They both collapsed against the alley wall and she 
said, "That wasn't fair.  I was winning."

	He sighed.  "Gonzales-san, it just...I can't get her out 
of my head.  It's not fair to you.  There are times...it's only 
really bad when she's around, but I can't...I can't devote 
myself to someone else while she's still in my head."

	"Do you think of her when we're kissing?" Lala asked.

	"Generally not as you don't kiss like I'd imag..."  He 
never finished as she leaned over and kissed him.

	He ended up on his back in the alleyway with her 
kneeling over him, kissing him.  He embraced her, trying to 
will Yakumo out of his head.  He couldn't be a decent 
boyfriend to anyone while she was there and he didn't 
know how to forget her.  But right now, he could.

	Finally, she rose, dusting herself and him off.  "I will 
make you forget her.  Beatings can cure anything."  Except 
her father, but maybe if she'd pounded him more often...

	"Violence isn't always the answer."

	"Well, rewards too.  Carrot and stick, as they say."  
She dusted him off a little more, then took his hand.  
"You're worth training to forget her."

	There was also the Mikoto fake boyfriend business, 
which he didn't know how to explain to Lala and which he 
could only explain by saying things which Mikoto wouldn't 
want told.  

	"I just..."

	"I know," she said.  "I am used to dealing with hard 
cases.  Let's go get dinner."

	He let himself be tugged along, unsure if he was doing 
the right thing, but not able to resist her.

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

	The movie was approaching its exciting climax.  
Freddie Kruger had wiped out Freddie Freeman by killing 
the Wizard who granted him powers.  But a bunch of 
hobbits had retaliated by stabbing Kruger in the back of 
both knees with elfblades, and now he had to crawl 
everywhere.

	This made it difficult to evade an angry Sarah 
Michelle Gellar armed with an axe.  She hacked off his 
head, then gave a long speech on how she really will have a 
career without Buffy the Vampire Slayer on the air any 
more.

	But even Karen knew that wasn't true.  She didn't care, 
though, as she was snuggled up to Imadori.  The movie 
ended, and she held onto him, as if expecting him to run 
away.

	Thanks to the strength of it, he could not.

	"Where do you want to eat?" he managed to say.

	"Jasmine Restaurant, I think."

	Well, it was cheap, he thought.  "Alright, alright, we 
go there," he said.  He was still trying to decide what to do 
afterwards.  He had the feeling she was trying to win him 
by being more aggressive.

	But he preferred being the more aggressive one; he 
found this a little scary.  Part of him wondered how far 
she'd be willing to go.  

	And whether it would be wise to go there.

***********

	Yakumo shook Harima gently, trying to wake him.

	He suddenly started to his feet.  "Are we there yet?"

	"The movie is over," she said, feeling a little down.  
She'd enjoyed the movie, but he clearly hadn't.

	But he smiled at her anyway, and she got a flicker of 
his thoughts, even if it was only about eating with her.  
"Let's get some food," he said.  "How about the Cat Cafe?"

	"I normally get my Chinese at Sara's place," Yakumo 
said.

	"Yes, but we might run into Hanai there, anticipating 
you going there.  But he won't be at the Cat Cafe."

	That was true, Yakumo thought.  "Okay."

	They headed out of the theatre.  She asked hesitantly, 
"Did you like the movie?"

	"It sucked.  Abundantly," Harima said bluntly.

	Yakumo shrank in on herself.

	"But I got a good nap.  And now I need food," he said.

	She glanced at him; he didn't seem angry.  That was 
good, right?

	They headed for the Cat Cafe.

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

	"Yakumo's place has cosplaying waitresses.  Maybe 
she could set something up for you," Eri said.

	"Good idea," Mikoto said.

	"Yeah.  Okay, that'll work."  Tenma sipped her coffee 
as, on the TV, a horde of Chinese pirates poured off boats 
to attack a small castle in the southern islands defended by 
a handful of valiant samurai.  "Hmm, we need to get Eri a 
boyfriend."

	"I'm just fine," Eri said.  "When the right guy stops 
thinking about someone...I mean, when I find the right guy, 
I'll just sweep him off his feet."

	Mikoto looked Eri suspiciously.  "Are you crushing on 
someone who has a girlfriend?"

	"Certainly not," Eri said.  "I would NEVER waste my 
time like that.  No late night fant...no, nothing."

	Tenma said, "You don't have a thing for Nara, do 
you?"

	"No," Eri said.

	"That's good," Tenma said.  "I couldn't bear to see a 
man come between any of us."

	Eri winced at that, wondering what Tenma would do if 
she took Harima for herself.  I could have had him, if I'd 
only not...dammit.  She willed herself to forget he was out 
with Yakumo.

	"Shigeo?"

	"I'm not going to let you guessing-game me," Eri said.  
"Let's talk about Mikoto's torrid affair with Hanai."

	"I am not having an affair with him!" Mikoto 
protested.

	"You just kiss and embrace him," Tenma said.

	"Been here, had this argument, let's just watch TV," 
Mikoto said.

	"Of course, he is out with Lala right now," Eri said, 
grinning a little.  She shouldn't revel in other's misfortune, 
she knew, but it made her feel better about her own.

	"TV!"

	"Sounds good to me," Tenma said.

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

	The meal was going well for Yakumo, until she 
noticed Hanai and Lala in a corner booth.  Lala could see 
her; Hanai could not.  But she'd already ordered and started 
eating; it was too late to flee.  

	"Kenji-kun," she said, "We're going to need to work 
out our second story arc soon."

	"Do we really need to get ahead so much?" he asked.

	"Best we be ahead so if school heats up, we don't lose 
ground.  I just hope they like what we sent them."  She 
sipped her tea.  "And it's hard to keep up with everything 
with the practices."

	"It will be worth it," Harima said confidently.  "You 
do very good work."

	She smiled.  "Thank you."

	"So, you think we'll win the contest?"

	"If we can take basketball, yes.  But I don't know if we 
will, and delivery...I don't know," Yakumo said.

	Harima nodded.  "Well, I'll do my best."

	"We will crush you," Lala said, looming over them.  
"We will bury you.  With my secret recipe techniques, we'll 
take Cooking too."

	"MY secret techniques are stronger," Yakumo said, 
forcing herself to act bold.

	Lala laughed into her hand.  "Try not to faint while 
cooking."

	Then she dragged Hanai off; he waved apologetically.  
Yakumo could see him trailing thoughts of her.  Not very 
nice of him, she thought.  To think of me while being with 
her.

	Yakumo finished her eggrolls now, eating 
thoughtfully.

	"You have secret techniques?" Harima asked 
curiously.

	"Sort of."

	"Sort of?"

	"I have Mother's recipe cards.  They're sort of secret.  
And techniques."  Yakumo was talking to her cup of tea 
instead of Harima.  

	"Are we dead?" Harima asked, worried.

	"I don't know," Yakumo said.  "But I'll do my best."  
She tried to look up at him and smile.

	"We can go to your house and search after this," 
Harima said.

	Yakumo smiled.  "Okay."

***********
	
	"Asou-kun!" Imadori said cheerfully as he walked in.  
"Can you get us a table?"

	Asou studied how Karen was clinging to Imadori.  
"You sure you don't want a curtained booth?"

	Imadori's good cheer suddenly turned into a very 
nervous laugh.  "No, no, we'll be fine with a table."

	"Smoking or non-smoking?"

	"Non," Karen said.

	"You'll be on Sara's side, then," Asou said, taking 
them to a table.  "She'll be here soon if she's not busy 
looking up the right combo for her final battle."  He  
sounded somewhat annoyed.

	"What?" Karen asked in confusion.  

	"Wait, there's a video game component?  I'm GREAT 
at video games," Imadori said.

	"Here she comes," Asou said, quickly departing.

	Sara came up.  "Ichijou-sempai, Imadori-sempai, 
welcome to Jasmine Restaurant.  Would you like 
something to drink?"

	"Coke," Imadori said.

	"Black Tea," Karen said.  

	Sara gave them menus and went to get the tea.  But 
once she had the tea, her good and bad angels appeared on 
her shoulders.  The bad angel said, "Sara, this is your 
chance to eliminate one of Satsuki's teammates.  Or at least 
inconvenience him.  Put some laxative in the tea."

	The good angel shook her head.  "That would be 
unrighteous."

	"But I don't have any laxatives," Sara said.

	"Vomit drugs," the bad angel said.

	"What vomit drugs?"

	"How about good old strychnine?"

	"Since when did nuns carry poison?" the good angel 
demanded.  "Also, he didn't order the tea."

	"Dammit, I'm weak and underpaid!" the bad angel 
said.  "She's such a goody goodie, I gave up and stopped 
trying very hard and now I'm rusty," the bad angel said, 
grumbling and taking out a cigarette to smoke.

	"You'll get cancer," Sara pointed out helpfully.  "Why 
don't you think while I take them the tea and Coke?"

	"It'll be too late!" the bad angel protested.  "How about 
if you pour salt in the Coke?"

	"He could suffer lethal dehydration!" the good Angel 
protested.

	"But he's a playboy who uses and disposes of women.  
Shouldn't you be holy wrathing all over him?" the bad 
Angel demanded.

	"I'm just in charge of helping Sara to hunt monsters 
and exorcise ghosts," the good Angel said.  "Not punishing 
everyone."

	"C'mon, God burned Sodom...surely he'd want salt in 
Imadori's tea."

	"Coke," Sara pointed out.

	"Whatever," the bad angel said, looking impatient.  
"You gonna be naughty or not?"

	"You two argue, I'm going to deliver these drinks," 
Sara said.

	The good angel stuck out her tongue at the bad one, 
who went off to sulk.

	As Sara approached, she could hear Imadori say, 
"Well, Sara-san sucks at basketball, and I doubt she can run 
fast enough to win the delivery contest, so she's doomed.  
And Satsuki's better looking than her, anyway."

	You'd be amazed how much salt can go into a glass of 
Coke without being easy to notice with the eye.

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

	Hanai knew he shouldn't be sitting on a park bench, 
with Lala in his lap, kissing.  He knew this.  But he couldn't 
stop himself, as he could forget about all his troubles so 
long as he was doing this.

	Even though deep in his brain, he could feel the doom-
meter cranking up.  

**************	
	
	Eri could feel the explode-o-meter rising in her brain; 
watching Harima and Yakumo be all couple-y in the 
kitchen while they searched for some pile of recipe cards 
was making her insane.  She tried to focus on the continued 
planning of Tenma / Karasuma snuggling, but that just 
made her depressed.

	Harima now drifted over, asking, "What are you all 
planning?"  He'd given up on searching, though Yakumo 
still was.

	Tenma laughed nervously.

	"Her big romantic date with Karasuma."

	Harima could feel his heart pound at that.  He couldn't 
let this come to pass.  He couldn't let Tenma fall into 
Karasuma's evil clutches.  "He tried to set up Hanai with 
Yuuki, you know.  Locked them in the music room."

	Mikoto's eyes widened; she didn't look too happy.

	"Why do you want to go out with a wrecker of 
romances like that?" Harima asked Tenma.

	She stared at him.  "He is not a wrecker of romance!  
He's kind and sweet and gentle."

	"He's just jealous because he couldn't beat Karasuma 
today, even after fighting all day," Eri said.  "Don't listen to 
him, Tenma."  

	"I am not jealous!  I'm just looking out for Tenma-
kun's best interests!" Harima protested.  "He's creepy and 
weird.  You shouldn't like him."

	"I love him!  I'm just...too scared to tell him."  Tenma 
began to cry.  Eri and Mikoto both gave Harima baleful 
looks.  

	"Apologize," Eri demanded.

	Harima was utterly torn.  He couldn't bear to see her 
cry, but he really did think Karasuma was bad for her.  "I'm 
sorry I made you cry," he told Tenma weakly.

	"Pathetic," Eri snapped.  "Try again, with feeling.  
And tell her it's okay for her to like Karasuma."

	"It's NOT OKAY," Harima said.

	Tenma began to wail, and Harima winced as if 
slapped.

	Yakumo now ran over to Tenma and embraced her, 
patting her head and whispering to her.

	"He's kind of odd, but he's a nice guy," Mikoto said.  
"Why do you hate him so much?"

	"He's sly and tricky and evil," Harima said.  "Can't 
you just look into his eyes and see they're dead?"  He 
couldn't admit that he hated the man because Tenma liked 
him.  Not in front of everyone.  

	"He's not any weirder than you are," Eri said, hovering 
next to Tenma.  "Yakumo, you should make your boyfriend 
apologize to your sister."

	Yakumo looked up at Harima warily.  She could tell 
he was angry, but she couldn't read his mind.  "I...please, 
she's so sad."  She could read Tenma's mind; Tenma was 
feeling devastated.  She thinks so much of him, Yakumo 
thought.  "Please?"

	Yakumo looked sad and desperate to Harima, and Eri 
was glaring at him angrily and Tenma was crying.  Mikoto 
didn't look happy, but he didn't care so much about Mikoto.  
Harima stepped back, feeling as if his own heart had been 
stabbed.  "I'm sorry I hurt you, Tenma," he mumbled, then 
turned and ran in a panic.

	Yakumo stretched out a hand to him, but he couldn't 
see it.

	Eri rose, even as Yakumo started to.  "Stay with 
Tenma.  I'll deal with him."

	Eri chased Harima through the house.  He ran for his 
bike, but she jumped off the front porch onto his shoulders, 
knocking him to the ground.  "Dammit, why do you have to 
be so jealous of Karasuma?  She's loved him for months 
now!  Can't you let them be happy?"

	"He's bad for her!" Harima shouted, trying to get Eri 
off his shoulders and back.  They rolled around in the front 
yard.  "He'll only hurt her!"

	"You don't even have any reason to think that!" Eri 
said.  "He's just a weirdo!"  She continued to hold him 
tightly so he couldn't escape. 

	"He's an alien!  Or a demon!  Or a kappa or 
something!  I'm sure he's done something to her to steal her 
heart!" Harima said, trying to get loose, but unable to find 
his footing.  "And he doesn't even show her any affection!"

	"Some people just can't help loving people who don't 
show affection very well!"  Eri clung to Harima like a leech 
to a wound.  "At least he isn't treating her as a 'practice' 
girlfriend!"

	Harima winced at that.  "It was Tenma's idea!"

	"Why can't you just confess to the one you really 
love?" Eri shouted, shaking him.

	He went limp and collapsed in on himself.  "She's not 
ready for it."

	"You're afraid," Eri said sharply.  "You can get 
yourself nearly killed for me, but you can't even tell her 
how you feel?"

	"I couldn't view myself as a man if I let you get hurt 
by people wanting to hurt me," Harima said softly.  "I'd do 
it again, if I had to."

	Eri could feel her anger draining, leaving frustration in 
its place.  "Harima, if you don't confess soon, the woman 
you love, whoever she is, she may find someone else."

	"I know," he said.  "But I'm not good at that.  I know 
you wouldn't be afraid to tell a guy how you feel."  Eri 
winced at that.  "I've tried, but I just freeze up.  I 
just...maybe if I get more practice at having a girlfriend, I'll 
be able to."

	"Or maybe she'll see you with Yakumo and move on," 
Eri said.  "And are you sure Yakumo understands?"

	"Of course she does.  Why would she go out with me 
if she didn't?" Harima asked.

	So blind, Eri thought.  She sighed and got up.  "Look, 
you really hurt Tenma's feelings.  She really likes you, you 
know.  Please, try and forgive Karasuma for her sake, won't 
you?  She'll be much happier if you do."

	He stared at the ground.  "I don't want to lie to her."

	"Lying's not good, but at least try to be quiet about it, 
okay?" Eri asked.  "Tenma needs your approval.  You 
know how she is."

	"I approve of her, of course," Harima said.  "Just not 
him."

	"But she wants him.  Maybe it will flop.  But she 
needs us behind her, or she'll never find the courage to tell 
him how she feels."  Eri licked her lips nervously.  "If 
you...Nothing."  She sighed.  He'll need our help too, but he 
can't even admit who it is.  She wondered again if maybe, 
somehow, she really was the one.  She wanted to be.  But 
surely he wouldn't have reneged on the confession if she 
had been the one.  But maybe he panicked.  Maybe...

	She hit herself mentally.  Too much waffling.

	Harima surprised her by putting an arm around her 
and giving her an almost lightning-quick hug, after which, 
he said, "Thank you.  I guess I should go see Tenma now."

	"Yeah," she said softly, following him back into the 
house, telling herself not to get too excited over that.

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

	Imadori was wobbling.  His food had all been terrible, 
he was feeling dehydrated, and for a moment, he thought 
he'd seen Sara poking a doll with pins.  But he was pretty 
sure she wasn't a voodoo priestess.  Right?

	Karen felt worried.  "Maybe we should take you to a 
doctor."

	"Food poisoning," he mumbled.  "Has to be it.  Can 
you take me home?"

	She sighed.  Her plans would have to wait.  "Of course 
I will," she said.  "You can count on me."

	"Thanks."

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

	Sara felt a little guilty about what she'd done 
afterwards.  Asou found her moping about.  "You having 
trouble?"

	She sighed.  "I did something wrong and petty."

	"What did you do?"

	"Imadori was being insulting, and I put stuff in his 
food and drink."  She stared at the floor.

	"Well, you should apologize to him," Asou said.  "You 
are a Priestess, right?"

	"I'm a Nun," Sara said.  "Very junior, but, yes, you're 
right.  I'll apologize to him at school on Monday."

	"Good," Asou said.  "Never, ever take out frustrations 
on customers.  So how did he insult you?"

	"He said I was ugly and slow," Sara said.

	Asou frowned, and asked, "He's one of Satsuki's 
flunkies now?"

	"Yes."

	"Please don't drag all that into our workplace," Asou 
said.  "Okay?"  But he seemed a little bothered, which 
made Sara feel better.

	She sighed.  "Okay."

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

	Nara listened to the sound of gunfire down the pipe.  
"But what is she shooting?" he asked Akira's mother.

	"You don't want to know," she said, slapping on 
another bandolier of ammo.  "Okay, lower me in.  We'll 
radio you on the headsets if we need to be pulled up."

	He gulped and readied the winch.  "Yes, ma'am."

	She smiled at him.  "You're a good boy.  We can 
deliver twice as much firepower with you to operate the 
rope instead of Akira.  See you soon."

	He lowered her out of sight, wondering what he'd 
gotten into.  

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

	Hanai's doom-meter was still filling up when he and 
Lala became distracted by the sound of another couple 
moaning.

	They both turned and looked; it was hard to be sure, 
but it looked like some guy in a tuxedo and a blonde with 
hair like Eri's in the process of making out against a tree.  
The woman was wearing an odd outfit with a rather short 
skirt and a heavily accessorized leotard top.  "That's Togo!" 
Lala said in a sudden moment of recognition.

	"Is that Eri?" Hanai whispered.

	"Sweet Virgin of Guadalupe, I think it is," Lala said in 
shock.

	They watched a few seconds in a kind of horrified 
fascination, and then Togo said, "Do you hear someone out 
there?"

	Lala and Hanai threw themselves to the ground and 
hid, instinctively.

	The woman mumbled something they couldn't hear, 
and now the man began to take her top off.

	"If we crawl, we can escape without being seen," 
Hanai mumbled.

	"Or seeing anything?"

	"Yes," Hanai mumbled.

	"Let's go."

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

	Harima knelt by Tenma and touched his forehead to 
the ground.  "I'm sorry," he said.  "I didn't mean to make 
you cry.  I don't like or trust Karasuma, but I shouldn't yell 
at you."

	She put a hand on his shoulder.  "It's okay.  Even 
families fight sometimes."  She sighed.  "I need your 
support, Kenji-kun.  I need everyone's."

	He couldn't say no to her; it wasn't in his nature.  But 
he couldn't endorse her love for Karasuma either.  But right 
now, the former was stronger than the latter.  "I can't lie to 
you.  But I want you to be happy."

	She sighed, but nodded.  "Okay.  You should help 
Yakumo find those recipes."

	"Okay," he said, feeling drained.  He rose and went 
with Yakumo to resume searching.

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

	Hanai couldn't get the image of Eri and Togo out of 
his mind; it hung before him like an evil ghost, leaving him 
unable to do anything but cringe.  

	Lala sighed.  "I'm sorry, Hanai.  I have to go home and 
get so drunk that I will forget what we saw."

	"I understand," he said.  "I'm going to go home and 
practice until I pass out."

	Lala shivered, then kissed his cheek.  "Good night, 
Haruki-kun."

	"Goodnight, Gonzales-kun."

	And they went home to try to forget.

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

	Nara sat at the kitchen table, finishing his lemonade.  
Akira was in the bathroom, showering.

	Akira's mother came in.  "Not going to take a 
shower?" she asked.

	"Akira's in the shower," Nara said.

	"Not even going to peep?  You must be a saint among 
men," Akira's mother said.

	He hadn't even thought of peeping until now.  He felt 
himself flush at the thought.  "Yes, my holy powers can 
exorcise spirits too."

	Akira's mother laughed.  "Good."  She rustled about in 
the refrigerator and got out a bottle of vodka, then some 
orange juice and other supplies and began mixing herself a 
drink.  "You want some?"

	"No thank you," he said.  He'd be drunk as a skunk, he 
knew, and you don't do that with parents watching.

	Akira's mother shook her head.  "Well, just try to keep 
it quiet if you have sex tonight.  I have birth-control 
supplies if you need some."

	"..."

	Akira's mother's lips quirked gently.  "You sure you 
don't want a drink?"

	"No, I'm fine."

	"I just need to relax a little before I bathe."  She sat 
down at the table.  "You're Akira's first real boyfriend, you 
know."

	" 'Real'?"

	"I had sort of suspected my bad love life drove her off 
men, really."  She sighed, then got a cigarette and started 
smoking, waving it about in the air more than she puffed.  
"Although some of her trips, there were some things which 
I think were her way of not saying she met someone and it 
didn't work out."

	Trips, Nara wondered.  Where had she gone?  "Well, 
I'm kind of surprised myself," he said.  "I'm not exactly 
attractive to women."

	"Certainly not at your age," she said.  "Most of us are 
too busy chasing bad boys.  Or fawning over rock stars.  Or 
lurking quietly in the back, too scared even to fawn."  She 
took a swig of her drink.  "Just remember, she doesn't show 
her emotions easily.  So it can be hard to read her."

	Looking at her mother, Nara couldn't read her either.  
"She's a good kisser."

	"Comes by it from me," Nara's mother said.  Swig, 
puff.  She put the glass down and swirled her cigarette, 
drawing kanji in the air with the smoke.  "There are times, I 
wonder if she got any of her father's genes at all.  But I 
think he had to give fifty percent, right?"

	"Where is he now?" Nara asked a little nervously.

	"Dead," Nara's mother said, sighing and taking a swig.  
Her cigarette bobbed up and down, creating waves of 
smoke.

	"Oh."  Nara stared into his lemonade.

	She stared out the window.  "But that was a long time 
ago."  She cocked her head.  "Shower's stopped.  If you go 
now, you can probably see her in a towel."

	Nara said, "Women hit people who see them in 
towels."

	"Yeah, but it's kind of flattering when someone wants 
to," Nara's mother said.  "And she doesn't hit people.  
That's what words are for."

	He got up.  "I'm going to go bathe."

	"I'll throw your clothes in the washing machine, get 
you something to throw on when you come out.  Unless 
you just want to flaunt it."  The cigarette got stubbed out, 
having mostly been used to smoke up the air; the drink rode 
with her.

	Nara found Akira loitering, wrapped in a towel, by the 
bathroom door.  "Bathroom's open," Akira said.

	Nara tried not to stare, but he stared.  Akira stared 
back, then they both looked away.  "I'll go bathe," he said.

	"Want me to...help?" she asked softly.

	"I am listening, you know," her mother said, but her 
voice was cheerful.

	Akira jumped, then ran off to her room.

	"She's a good girl," Akira's mother said.  "She'll take 
good care of you if you take care of her."  Swig.  "I'll wait 
here for the clothing."

	"Okay."  Nara went in and bathed.

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

	Eri had never quite been able to figure out why 
sleeping over at Tenma's tended to be so comforting to her.  
It felt more like home at those times, than her own house.  
Her mother was usually gone and her father frequently so; 
Butler-san did his best, but it was so often cold and empty 
at home.

	Tenma's house was cosy, and Tenma always so kind.  
She was so childish to Eri's eyes, but sweetly endearing, 
and very brave in her own way.  It took more courage for 
someone as puny as Tenma to be brave than it did for 
someone as strong as Eri was.

	She tried not to think about Yakumo, her rival of sorts.  
She didn't want to blot out that good feeling she was getting 
from being here; she forced herself to not think of Yakumo.  
Focusing on Tenma, she closed her eyes and tried to sleep.

	They'd all set up bedrolls together; Tenma was pretty 
good about not making everyone else sleep on the floor 
while she stayed in her bed.  Tenma had fallen asleep 
instantly and rolled over on Eri, and was now snuggling in 
her sleep, mumbling about Karasuma.

	Eri gently ruffled her hair and put an arm around her.  
She looked but Mikoto was too far away for her to put an 
arm around Mikoto as well.  The two of them and Akira 
were her closest friends; they were the best friends she had 
ever had.

	Even if they were all crazy in their own way.

	But so was she.

	She glanced over at Mikoto, also asleep, and 
wondered how Mikoto could keep from going insane under 
the circumstances.  What exactly was going on with her 
and Hanai, anyway?  

	Eri decided to bug her about it later.  But for 
now...sleep.

****************
	
	Nara tried to figure out if he should ask Akira about 
her father or not.  He was curious as to what happened, but 
he didn't want to pry.  

	He could faintly hear Akira and her mother talking, 
and he wondered what about.  He couldn't help trying to 
listen, but other than 'pipes', he couldn't make it out.  He 
wondered again what they'd been shooting and why the 
neighbors didn't notice.

	Akira now came in, wearing a long blue shirt down to 
her knees.  She looked around, as if expecting to find 
something, but instead just came over to him and crawled 
under the sheets, turning to embrace him, as he embraced 
her.

	"I'm surprised your mother doesn't mind," Nara said.

	"I think that if Mother thought your parents would 
agree, she'd have you move in with us so she could use 
your labor," Akira said, sighing.  "But this is her way of 
paying us back for working ourselves so hard for her."

	Nara shifted slightly, tangling his legs with Akira's, 
then moved in close and kissed her softly, then said, his 
face to hers, "Does she work you this hard all the time?"

	"Mother thinks it's important to keep busy.  Which is 
right, but makes it hard to have friends over, if Mother's 
home."  Akira sighed.  "But she's gone a fair amount."

	"I guess that's why you're so hard-working and smart," 
Nara said, kissing her again, a little longer.

	"I had to learn to out-smart her.  Part of the time.    
Though sometimes I wonder if she just lets me win enough 
so I won't give up."  Akira sighed.  "She's a difficult 
woman, sometimes."

	Her hands roamed up and down Nara's back.  "Do you 
think Eri is pretty?"

	"Not half so pretty as you," he told her, though he did 
think Eri was very pretty.  But he knew better than to say 
that.

	"Liar," she said affectionately, kissing his cheek, then 
his soft lips.  She rolled him onto his back and let herself 
roll up to half-lie on top of him.  "You're not bad looking 
yourself," she said.

	He ran a finger up and down her spine, and she 
suddenly shivered.  He kissed her again, feeling himself 
grow more excited.  "But your mind will stay sharp, even 
when the body betrays us with age," he said.  

	"Even the mind fades in the end," Akira said a little 
sadly.  One of her hands slid down to the base of his back, 
and she rolled again, now pulling him on top of her, kissing 
him again.  "I'm the only woman on your mind, right?" she 
asked hesitantly.

	"Of course," he said.  That was true; he couldn't think 
of any woman but her while she held him.  

	She kissed him with tongue this time, her grip on him 
tightening, one hand on his shoulders the other sliding 
down onto his butt, pulling him close.  He started as she did 
this, enjoying it but also surprised by it.  When she finally 
broke that off, rolling them onto their sides, she said softly, 
"That makes you different from most boys."  She sighed.  
"Or girls."  She kissed him quickly.

	"Anything..." she began.  "If you.."  Instead, she just 
kissed him again.  "Are you sure you want to be here?" she 
asked softly.

	"Of course I do.  There's nowhere else I'd rather be," 
he said.  It was strange to him, to see her so hesitant, her 
voice so soft and vulnerable.  A little scary, almost.  But it 
made him instinctively desire to assuage her fears.

	Akira's mother stuck her head in the doorway.  "Hope 
you aren't naked yet.  I need you two to run to the store in 
the morning, get us more supplies so we can have 
pancakes."

	"Yes, ma'am," Nara said.

	"Also, I need more whiskey, cigarettes, and we 
desperately need more fruit.  And fish.  Hmm, I'll just write 
a list and stick it on the refrigerator."

	"We already have a list," Akira said.

	"Ahh, I'll just add to that.  Okay, you can get back to 
snogging; I'm going to write my list, then sleep.  I'll be up 
at 9, so make sure you get everything bought by then."

	"Yes, ma'am," Nara said.

	Akira's mother studied them a moment, then wandered 
over.  Nara could feel Akira get rigid.  Akira's mother 
leaned down and kissed Akira's forehead; Nara could sense  
the faint mingled smells of whiskey and cigarettes.  
"Goodnight, dear."

	Akira's mother wandered off.

	Akira now relaxed, looking confused.  "She hasn't 
done that in years."

	"What did you expect?" Nara asked.

	"For her to noogie both of us," Akira said.  She shook 
her head.  "We'd better get to sleep, so we can get up in 
time."  She kissed his forehead.  "Goodnight, Kentarou-
kun."

	He started, then smiled.  "Goodnight, Akira-kun," he 
said softly, kissed her, then fell asleep in her arms.
	 
***************

	Hanai sat at his desk, scribbling in his calendar, trying 
to figure out how to get everything done.  He had 
basketball practice every day, and homework, and he had to 
help teach and study martial arts.  Also, he had his class rep 
duties. Yuuki wanted to go out on Tuesday.  Gonzales 
wanted to go out Wednesday.  Yuuki's band had a 
performance on Thursday, Mikoto wanted to go shopping 
for something or another Monday night...

	This is insane, he thought.  But he'd tried to stop it, 
and he couldn't.  Doom-meter ticked up one tick.

	Akira loomed over his shoulder.  "Pencilling in your 
girlfriends to your busy day?"

	"None of your business," he said curtly.  Akira was 
beginning to drive him crazy.  "Go away."

	"Wouldn't you be happier with just Mikoto?" she said.

	"Wouldn't you be happier if you didn't stick your nose 
in my business?" he snapped.

	"Come on," Nara said, tugging her arm.  "There's no 
point in having a fight with the class rep."

	"I'd be happier if you weren't just using Mikoto for 
your own pleasure," Akira said.  "I don't like seeing my 
friends mistreated."

	"I AM NOT USING MIKOTO FOR MY OWN 
PLEASURE!" Hanai shouted.

	Then he realized the entire class was staring at him.  
Passersby stuck their heads in the door to stare.

	Mai said, "That's good, Hanai, but did you need to tell 
the whole universe?"

	Mikoto came over now.  "I'll kick his ass myself if I 
need to, Akira," she said to Akira.  

	"How can you put up with this?" Akira asked.

	"It's a complicated story and I won't tell it in the 
middle of class," Mikoto said.  "Just, please, lay off Hanai.  
I can fight my own battles."

	"I just..." Akira began.

	"I know.  Thank you.  But I'll handle him."

	"Okay," Akira said.  She let Nara take her away.

	An observer might have noted she carefully made sure 
she and Nara were in Hanai's field of vision, hanging on 
each other, though.

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

	Sara was extremely nervous.  She'd carefully baked 
muffins as an apology gift, and she just hoped that he 
would accept her apology.  It really had not been nice of 
her at all.

	She walked into his class at lunchtime; Imadori was 
with Fuyuki, Buddha, and some other boys, having lunch 
and gossiping.  

	Sara walked up to Imadori, who said, "Yo, come to 
surrender?"

	She held out the box to him.  "This is an apology for 
my poor service," she said.

	"Wasn't your fault the food sucked ass," Imadori said.  
"But I accept it."

	"I'm very sorry," Sara said.

	"Don't worry about it," Imadori said.  "You're too cute 
for me to stay mad at you."

	Sara blushed.  "You flatter me."

	He opened the box and munched on a muffin.  "Very 
good.  Feel free to give me food any time."

	She smiled at him.  "You're welcome.  Goodbye!"

	She now took her second box over to Asou, who was 
having a nice looking spaghetti lunch.  Suga had one as 
well. "Wow, that smells great," Sara said to Asou.  

	"It's a bribe from Satsuki," Suga said.  "Asou got his 
cut, of course."

	Asou rolled his eyes.

	"I made you some muffins," Sara said, holding out the 
box.

	"Thank you," Asou said, taking them.  "I saw you 
giving Imadori some too."

	"I had to apologize, so I thought a gift would be 
appropriate."

	Asou nodded approvingly.

	Suga asked, "Apology for what?"

	Sara blushed and stared at the floor.

	"There was trouble with the food she served Imadori 
on Saturday at work," Asou said.

	"Well, that's very nice of you," Suga said.  "I wish 
waitresses tracked me down and gave me their muffins 
when I got bad service from them."

	"You just like free food," Asou said.

	"Who doesn't?" Suga asked.

	Asou couldn't argue with that.

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

	"It's the weirdest thing," Mikoto said to Hanai after 
they'd finished their martial arts lessons for the day and 
were cooling off by the pond in the dojo's yard.

	"What is?" Hanai asked.

	"I somehow never thought I'd end up friends with my 
sempai's girlfriend," Mikoto said.  "She's a nice girl.  
Probably better for him than I ever could have been."  She 
sighed, staring up at the evening sky as she laid sprawled in 
the glass.

	Hanai sprawled next to her.  "You'd have been a great 
girlfriend for him, Mikoto-kun."

	"He pretty clearly wants someone more feminine than 
I am," Mikoto said.

	"You're plenty feminine," Hanai said.

	"You think so?" Mikoto asked, rolling onto her side to 
face him.

	"Only an insane person would ever mistake you for a 
boy," he said.  "Though you can hit like one."

	She smiled.  "Thanks, Haruki-kun.  You're a sweetie."  
She scooted a little closer to him.  "I don't know what to do 
about my sempai and his girlfriend.  I think...I dunno.  We 
shouldn't lie to them forever, but I think...I think Miki 
would be pretty demoralized if she found out we're faking 
it."

	"Yeah, same for Katawa-kun," Hanai said.  "It would 
be funny if it wasn't going to be worse when it all comes 
out."

	"I just...it's flattering," Mikoto said.  She rolled onto 
her back.  "It's kind of nice to have someone think I'm a red 
hot lover."

	Hanai laughed.  "I know.  So where are we going 
shopping?"

	"Shopp...oh, SHOPPING," she said, springing to her 
feet.  "I almost forgot.  Let's get cleaned up so we can go 
while stores are still open."

	"Where are we going?"

	"I'll tell you on the way.  Dress nice."

	"Right."

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

	Tenma stared at the piles of desserts and drooled.  "Is 
this all for us?"  She, Eri, and Akira were studying together, 
while Yakumo and Sara were in the kitchen, cooking.  In 
bulk.  

	"Yes," Yakumo said.  "It's just cooking practice for 
Sara."

	"You're really working hard," Eri said.

	"I won't lose," Sara said firmly.  

	Eri smiled.  "That's the only way to play.  Play to win 
or don't play."

	"So where's your boyfriend?" Tenma asked Akira.

	"His mom took him to a concert," Akira said.  "I had 
to work earlier, so I couldn't go."

	"Still working at the grocery store?" Tenma asked.

	"And the jewelry store."

	"You just work all the time," Tenma said, shaking her 
head.

	"You should get a job, bring in some money, not let 
Yakumo do all the earning," Akira said.

	Tenma looked guilty.

	Yakumo said, "Don't worry about it, onee-chan."

	"No, she's right, I should," Tenma said.  Maybe I 
could be a cop for real, she thought.  I am on good terms 
with them.

	"Do your folks send you money?" Eri asked, curious.

	"They deposit money in a bank account for us," 
Tenma said.  

	Eri nodded.  "Well, we should work on math."

	"Do we have to?" Tenma asked.

	"Yes," Akira said.

	So they got to work.

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

	"Why are we buying me clothing?" Hanai asked as 
Mikoto held various outfits up to him.

	"We're going dancing with sempai and Miki-san in 
two weeks," Mikoto said.  "She wanted to go this weekend, 
but I explained the contest and told them we'd likely be 
wiped out from that."

	"Are they going to come watch it?"

	"They may," Mikoto said, holding another outfit by 
him.

	"Isn't it going to be hard to keep the act up if they 
come?"

	Mikoto sighed, leaning against the rack nearby.  
"We'll have to see."  She looked at the jacket she was 
holding.  "I'm causing you too much trouble."

	"It's fine," he said.  "I'm glad to help you out, so long 
as you want it.  But we can't do this forever."

	To his surprise, she slung the jacket over the rack, 
came over, and embraced him, resting her head on his 
shoulder.  "You're a good friend, Haruki-kun," she said 
softly.  "I wish I could do something for you which would 
make it up to you."

	"Well, you come and help teach at our dojo all the 
time, so really, we're even," he said.  "I owe you more than 
you owe me."  He thought about she had inspired him to 
make something of himself, to become a stronger person 
like her.  How could he ever repay that?  He embraced her 
back, holding her tightly.

	She clung to him a few seconds longer and let go.  
"Well, let's get you dressed up.  If we're going to be fake, 
we can be fake in style."  She sounded a little guilty about 
that.

	Hanai put his mind to work trying to plan against 
imminent disaster while his body became a clotheshorse.

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

	Later, Hanai said, "I'd better go home and do my 
homework."

	"Okay," Mikoto said, passing him his clothing.  Then 
she leaned over and kissed him.  She leaned her forehead 
against his, and said softly, "Thanks for helping me out." 

	He shivered a little; he thought about kissing her back, 
but...no, he was doing too much kissing too many women 
already.  Though the others would probably want to make 
out and...

	I am so dead, he thought, then kissed her back.  "You 
could come do your homework with me," he said, knowing 
he shouldn't say this.

	She smiled.  "Okay, let's."

*************   
	
	The next morning, Hanai was a little groggy as he and 
Mai headed to a student council meeting.  She looked 
groggy herself.  "Long night?" he asked.

	"I had to finish this report.  It needed polishing," she 
said.  "Or else Togo will point out the flaws in it."  She 
frowned at that.

	Hanai resolutely told himself not to gossip about 
Togo.  

	"You made a weird noise," Mai said.

	"That wasn't a noise," he said.

	"Did Togo do something you didn't like?" Mai asked.

	"I really shouldn't gossip about it," Hanai said.

	Mai tried to think of some clever way to winkle it out 
of him without being obvious.  "He's not out to challenge 
us again, is he?"

	"Hmm, he may be trying to turn Eri into his spy," 
Hanai said, then realized he was speaking out loud.

	"What?" Mai asked in confusion.

	"I saw him making out in the park with her over the 
weekend," Hanai blurted out.

	Mai's eyes widened.  "You did?"

	"Yeah.  She was...I shouldn't talk about it."

	Mai desperately forced herself to show little emotion.  
"So you saw them yesterday?"

	"Saturday night."

	But he was with me, she thought.  And then it hit 
her...the wig...looked like one of Eri's hair styles.  
Suddenly, she was glad to have worn the costume.

	"It would be best not to speak of it; what Togo and Eri 
do is their business.  I would not be surprised if she is 
exploiting male weaknesses to get information," Mai said.  
That was where her and Togo's affair had started.  

	He nodded.  "I will do my best to not speak of it."

	"Thank you."

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

	The rest of the week went by peacefully and the day of 
competition came.  The two teams assembled at the school 
to use its basketball court to start off with.  A fair sized 
crowd had shown up to watch.

	Suga was the chosen referee.  He'd dragged Asou 
there, but Asou simply sat and watched, looking 
understandably disgruntled.

	 Sara rubbed her hands nervously, assessing her team.  
Mikoto was ready.  Eri was ready to conquer the world, it 
looked like.  Harima was looking confident.  Tenma smiled 
and flashed a v for victory.

	Looking over at the other team, Hanai looked groggy 
and exhausted, while Satsuki and Lala looked ready to 
conquer the world.  Imadori was pacing about, looking 
fairly ready, while Minami did stretching exercises, her 
pink hair fluttering about.

	Suga dribbled the ball out to the middle of the court, 
where Sara and Satsuki faced off.  Sara looked nervous; 
Satsuki looked confident.  "Ready, and...go!"

	In the first quarter, Mikoto and Lala largely kept each 
other busy, taking the lead in the game by right of strength 
and speed, both able to easily pass over the heads of many 
of the other players.  Harima matched off against Hanai and 
largely trampled all over him, as he was too tired to do 
much good.  Most of the actual points scored outside of 
free throws by his team came from Harima's drives past 
Hanai.  

	Eri found herself faced by Imadori; she was a superior 
player, but he irritated her so much she kept ending up 
fouling him, giving him free throws.  This left Sara facing 
Satsuki and Tenma facing Minami.  They tried hard, but 
they couldn't stop them; sometimes Harima was able to step 
in, since Hanai could hardly stop him.

	The end result of this was that Satsuki's team had a 
narrow lead at the start of the second quarter.  Hanai grew 
more exhausted as the game continued; Harima was able to 
detach Tenma to cover him with a disturbing level of 
success, while he took over covering Minami.  The result of 
that was a swing of the score over to favor Sara's team.

	At half-time, Satsuki sat down with her team.  
"Gonzales-san, you're doing great.  Minami, you too.  
Imadori-san, I'm impressed with your ability to keep 
Sawachika-san out of action.  Hanai-san, I think we'd better 
have Meimi come in; you're too tired to play."

	"Can't...stop...don't want to let you all...down..." Hanai 
said, panting.  "I'm good."

	"You are not good," Lala said.  "Didn't you sleep last 
night?"

	"Been a busy...week..." he panted.

	"Look, rest this quarter, and let Meimi play.  Maybe 
you'll be up to it last quarter."  Satsuki sounded skeptical.

	Hanai could see Yakumo handing Harima a drink, 
could see him smiling at her.  He felt his gut clench.  "I 
can't give up now.  There's no way Meimi can stop 
Harima."

	"Neither can you right now," Satsuki said sharply.

	Hanai winced as if struck.   

	Meimi put a hand on Hanai's shoulder.  "Rest, sempai.  
Get your strength back for the last quarter, when it will all 
be decided."

	"But...I..."

	She pushed him over and sat him down on the bench.  
"I will do my best to ensure we are not crushed too much 
while you rest."

	Meimi turned back to the others.  "I will do my best, 
but you know I'm not great, Satsuki."

	"I'll take on Harima," Satsuki said.  "You cover Sara."

	Meimi nodded.

	Across the way, Sara's team was drinking lemonade 
and trying to get a little rest before resuming.  Tenma was 
feeling frustrated.  "I'm not doing well," she confessed.  
"I'm sorry, Sara.  Maybe I should bow out and let Yakumo 
take over for me."

	"I'm not a great basketball player either," Yakumo 
confessed.

	Tenma looked around at the crowd.  "They're 
swapping someone; maybe we can ask someone to step in 
with us."

	Harima shook his head.  "I won't let you quit.  You 
can win.  You just have to want it."

	"I do want it," Tenma said, sighing.  "But wanting isn't 
enough."

	"It HAS to be enough," Harima said.  "You must want 
like you never wanted before."

	Eri looked at Tenma thoughtfully, then went over to 
the watching crowd where Karasuma was and whispered to 
him.  

	What followed was, perhaps, the worst cheerleading 
routine in human history.  Karasuma began shaking 
pompoms slowly and methodically.  "Go.  Tenma.  Go."  
One might compare his routine to a Veritech in heat.

	But Tenma's eyes widened and glittered.  "He's 
cheering for me."

	Harima frowned darkly.

	"You can do it, Tenma, if you try," Eri said to her.  

	"Just imagine you're a great basketball player," Mikoto 
advised her.  

	Tenma closed her eyes and imagined.  She could see 
the stadium around her, herself coming out onto the court 
with her teammates, the crowd going wild for them.  
Karasuma was there, cheerleading with Harima and 
Imadori and Hanai, urging them on to victory.  She could 
feel her body, strong and tough, ready for a competitive 
game, limber and quick for a sport that required speed and 
precision.  The ball was in her hands, ready for action, and 
she casually spun it on one finger, then made a three point 
shot.

	She opened her eyes, seeing Karasuma staring right at 
her.  Her mind's eye flickered and in the game, he met her 
gaze as well, smiling deeply.  She felt her heart pound and 
she made a confident fist.  "Alright!"

	Harima glared at Karasuma, then smiled at Tenma.  
"That's the spirit!"

	The game now resumed.  Lala won the tip-off, but 
fumbled the ball which bounced over to Satsuki.  Satsuki 
drove past Sara, headed for the goal.  But as she went up 
for a shot, Tenma leaped in the way and stole the ball, then 
drove down the court.  As Minami closed on her, she 
passed to Eri, who slipped under Imadori's arms and passed 
to Mikoto who drove for the goal.  Lala moved in, stole the 
ball and made a long pass to Minami, who took three steps 
and Tenma stole the ball from her, drove down the court, 
and found herself blocked by Lala and Imadori at once.  
She spun on one foot and tossed it to Harima, who took a 
long shot and scored, driving the score to Sara 58, Satsuki 
49.  

	As the quarter continued, Tenma buzzed about at high 
speed, playing at a much higher level of skill than before.  
Lala began getting mad.  She's been holding out on us, Lala 
thought.  Bluffing all this time and waiting for us to lose 
Hanai, and then she showed her true skill.  Like Karen, she 
hides her real powers.

	Lala was determined to turn things around.  She would 
have to face Tenma herself.  She called a time out.  "Look, 
we're going to need someone better to deal with Tsukamoto  
suddenly showing her true strength.  I think I'd best deal 
with her, while Imadori keeps on harassing Sawachika, 
Satsuki deals with Mikoto, Minami covers Harima and 
Meimi deals with Sara."

	Satsuki said, "I will do my best, though maybe 
Imadori should switch to Mikoto and..."

	"Yes!  I will happily play with Miko-chin," Imadori 
said.

	"Fine," Lala said.  "I think you can take Sawachika, 
Satsuki-san."

	"Okay, then, let's go."

	Lala vs. Tenma was like Goliath and David, if they 
both were female.  Lala could easily pass the ball if she got 
it, but Tenma zipped about so quickly that she had a hard 
time keeping Tenma from stealing the ball, much to her 
surprise.  And it was harder for her to steal because Tenma 
dribbled so close to the floor.

	Satsuki had to push herself to keep up with Mikoto, 
but she enjoyed that.  As Mikoto made a break past her, she 
ran after her, saying, "You're really good, sempai."

	"You too," Mikoto said, driving in and taking a shot 
over Imadori's head as he crouched, ready to block her 
before she got to the half-circle around the net.    
Unfortunately, this drove her cleavage into his face, and he 
gave a cry of ecstasy which made her wince and push him 
away.  Then a shoe flew from the audience watching and 
clocked him in the head.  He fell to the ground.  She looked 
over and saw Karen, now down to one shoe, and looking 
suddenly very embarrassed and staring at her bare foot.

	"Charging foul on Mikoto.  Again," Suga said.

	"He keeps getting in the way in hopes my breasts will 
hit him!" Mikoto protested.

	"He stopped moving.  Charging foul.  Couldn't you 
just leap over him?"

	"Too much risk I'd kick him in the face," Mikoto said.

	"You do like me!" Imadori proclaimed.

	"He's an ass, but that's not a fouling offense," Asou 
said.

	She sighed and Imadori got his free shot, which went 
in.  Then he took another and missed, and gameplay 
resumed.

	Meimi found it easy to cover Sara, who was looking 
pretty frustrated.  She felt some sympathy, but didn't show 
it.  When Tenma passed to Sara, Meimi blocked her 
without mercy, then stole the ball and made a quick run, 
passing to Minami, who, confronted by Harima, now lost 
the ball.  Harima drove down the court, then passed to Eri 
once he got stopped by Imadori and Lala.  Eri then went in 
for the score and got it, only to have Imadori seize the 
rebound and drive off down the court, using his advanced 
fondling hand to get the women out of his way.  Harima 
almost stopped him, but not quite.

	Harima was able to jump in, then, and grab the ball 
and began running back down the court with the ball.  Lala 
ran to stop him, only to have him pass to Tenma, who then 
passed to Sara as Lala closed in on her.  Sara made a 
desperate bolt, but Meimi stole the ball and made a short 
run, then passed to Satsuki, who poured on the speed, 
dodging around Eri and making it to the hoop.  She shot, 
she scored.

	By the end of the third quarter, the score was 87 for 
Sara's team and 80 for Satsuki.  Sara was feeling pretty 
frustrated.  Even Tenma was doing well now, but she just 
couldn't manage it.  She looked over at Asou and Suga.  
Suga was watching the players and looked cheerful; Asou 
looked as grim as she felt, which made her feel a little 
better.  It was nice to not feel alone.

	"I'm ready," Hanai said to Satsuki.

	He still looked zonked to her.  "Are you sure?" she 
asked.

	"I'm fine."

	Meimi said, "I think you need more rest."

	"You need my skills," Hanai insisted.

	"They won't do much good if you're too tired to play," 
Lala said.  "I admire your fighting spirit, but we all have 
limits."

	"Can't afford limits," Hanai said.  "I don't want to let 
you all down."

	Satsuki felt very guilty.  This isn't really his fight, she 
thought.  But he's thrown himself into it with everything he 
has.  "Alright," she said.  "Let's go."

	Meimi asked, "Are you sure?"

	He won't be able to live with himself if he has to sit 
there and watch us lose, Meimi thought.  And I think we 
will unless something changes.

	That something wasn't Hanai playing, however.  Hanai 
tried to face off with Harima, but he was tired, and Harima 
kept shooting over him, passing past him, and running 
around him.  Minami could better cover Sara than Harima, 
but it didn't make enough of a difference.  Yuuki cheering 
for him made Hanai feel a little better, but not enough.  

	In the end, much to her surprise, Satsuki's team went 
down, 112 to 103.  This was a heavy blow to her 
confidence, as she feared the cooking contest would go 
poorly for her, though she'd carefully written down all of 
Lala's cache of recipes.  She didn't know much about 
Mexican food, but maybe Asou and Suga wouldn't know 
enough to tell if it was bad.

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

	They adjourned to the Home Ec rooms to conduct the 
cooking; Sara went to work with renewed confidence, 
assisted by Yakumo and Mikoto, while Eri kept Tenma 
away from being able to help, for Sara's sake.

	Tenma clung to a basketball like a lifeline, doing 
tricks as she watched.  As usual, having assumed a role, she 
couldn't easily let go of it.  Harima finally took her outside 
for some one-on-one, which turned into two on two when 
Eri and Karasuma tagged along.  

	Hanai, depressed, tried to assist Lala and Satsuki in 
the cooking, while Meimi and Minami ran minor errands.  
Imadori ran back and forth between the two groups, trying 
to steal food for himself and being repeatedly repulsed.

	Sara could feel her confidence rising as she cooked; 
her spaghetti would carry the day, she was sure, along with 
the cake she was baking for dessert.  Garlic bread and a 
caesar salad accompanied it.  

	Satsuki was preparing chile relleno, some savory 
gorditas stuffed with lamb casserole, and some enchiladas.  
She also prepared some cinnamon flavored churros for 
desert.  Lala bustled about, testing everything, looking 
grumpy, after having lost the basketball game.  Hanai 
seemed to collapse in on himself a little more each time he 
looked at her, though she didn't yell at him.   
	
	Imadori crept over to Sara's side again.  Mikoto's hand 
caught his as he reached for some garlic bread.  "No," she 
said.

	"Oooh, you're holding my...AAAAAH."  Karen came 
over and seized Imadori's other hand and dragged him 
away.  

	"If you need something to do, you can come sit with 
me," Karen said.

	"But..."

	"Please?" Karen asked nervously.

	He sighed.  "Okay."

	More time passed, and Sara tasted her sauce to see if it 
was ready.  Her lips pursed up; somehow, a large amount 
of lemon and salt had gotten added.  But she didn't have 
time to make more, not now.  She'd have to add other 
spices to try to drown that out.

	How had the...Sara looked suspiciously over at 
Imadori, squirming in Karen's embrace.  Had he sabotaged 
the food?  But she had no proof.  She sighed.  Karma was 
coming round, it seemed.  But I apologized, she thought.  
That should count for something.

	Perhaps it ensured the salad and garlic bread were 
alright.

	Sara pointed out the problem to Yakumo, who looked 
over at Imadori.  Unfortunately, he didn't have enough 
interest in her for her to read his mind.  "He may have," 
Yakumo told her, frowning.  "I hope he didn't cheat."

	"I'll talk to Asou for you," Mikoto said, going over to 
him and explaining things had gone wrong.

	Asou frowned and had Imadori called over.  "Imadori, 
did you put lemon and salt in Sara's food?"

	Imadori said, "Perhaps it was the same evil spirits that 
sabotaged my food the other day." 

	Karen said, "Imadori-kun, did you sabotage the food?"

	"Are you going to mangle me if I say yes?" Imadori 
asked.

	That was enough for Asou.  He sighed.  "Remake the 
sauce, since Imadori sabotaged it."

	"I did not sabotage it!" Imadori protested.

	"Thank you," Sara said to Asou.

	"I'm just being fair," he said.  "Though he probably 
wouldn't have done that if you hadn't sabotaged his food 
the other night."

	She sighed.  "I know.  I'll get down to work."

	She fixed up her food and finally served everything.  
Asou and Suga dug into the food with gusto, but Sara soon 
realized Asou was eating more of Satsuki's food.  She 
flashed back to him packing in the burritos the other day.  
He must really like Mexican food, she thought.

	The final verdict from Asou came down.  "Victory to 
Satsuki," he said.

	Satsuki jumped up and down excitedly, clapping her 
hands.  Hanai smiled as he leaned, tired, against the 
cooking table.  Lala shook her fist in the air.  "Mexican 
food always wins!"

	"Well, it looks like we go to a tie-breaker," Suga said.  
"This is a solo contest, with your teammates simply waiting 
for you at the drop-off points.  Each of you will have to 
deliver five items of food, one to each of your assistants, 
who will be dispersed around the neighborhood."

	He read off a list of locations and scattered the support 
teams to them, then loaded Satsuki and Sara down with 
food and sent them forth on bicycles.

	Sara made the first stage of her run with ease, 
delivering a box of ramen to Tenma at her house; Tenma 
gave her a thumbs-up between attempts to use a peach 
basket for a little basketball practice.

	She made the second and third in good time, bringing 
several boxes of egg rolls to Mikoto at her house and two 
boxes of pork fried rice to Eri at a park.  She just had to 
deliver to Yakumo at another park, then return to the school 
and deliver the last box to Harima, who was supposed to be 
waiting there after taking Yakumo to her waiting place.

	By now, the sun had gone down and Sara was 
pedaling under a sky beginning to fill with stars.  The cool 
night air was rather refreshing after all the exercise and hot 
cooking.  Yakumo was asleep when Sara arrived.  She 
hopped off her bike and dropped off the box in Yakumo's 
lap.  
	
	Sara turned to go when she heard a quickly silenced 
scream of fear across the park.  Yakumo started awake.  
"What was that?"

	"I don't know," Sara said.  "But I'm going to take a 
look, see if the police need to be called."

	"I'll come with you," Yakumo said, hopping on behind 
her; the bike was not really suited for two, but Sara pedaled 
as fast as she could.

	What they found was a vampire attack in progress.  
Some girl who Sara vaguely recognized from 2-C was 
standing paralyzed, staring into the eyes of a man in a suit 
and cape with slicked back black hair and fangs.  He was 
advancing on her.  Yakumo stared in shock.  "It's...is that 
real?"

	"I chased one away from our class the other day," Sara 
said.  "Stay here, I'll deal with this."

	"Shouldn't we get help?" Yakumo asked, fretting.

	"There isn't time," Sara said.  She yanked and her 
civilian clothing flew off, revealing her nun's uniform.  
Yakumo stared at this process in confusion, then caught the 
clothes.  She pulled a cross and holy water out of her purse 
and advanced.
	
	Yakumo had never seen Sara engaged in exorcism 
before, and she watched, curious and nervous at once.  Sara 
advanced.  "In the name of God, I abjure thee!  Get thee 
hence!" she shouted, brandishing the cross and throwing 
the vial.  

	It shattered on the vampire's shoulder, spraying holy 
water everywhere.  The vampire gave a great cry of 
surprise and shock, then turned into a bat and fled.  The 
woman touched her neck in shock, then sat down hard on a 
bench.  

	Sara ran up.  "Are you okay?"

	"I...that wasn't Fuyuki, was it?" the woman asked in 
confusion.

	"He has lighter hair and glasses, right.  Are you from 
2-C?"

	"I'm Kozue," she said.  "From 2-C.  Was that..."

	"I think it was a real vampire," Sara said.  "Unless 
Fuyuki turns into a bat as a hobby."

	Kozue's eyes widened.  "But it...he...we were 
supposed to fake an attack, to see if you would help or 
ignore us in favor of winning the contest."

	Sara frowned.  "Did Satsuki send you to do this?"

	"No, Asou did.  I guess he was trying to complicate 
things a little," Kozue said, though she sounded uncertain.

	Sara frowned more.  "We'd better find Fuyuki."

	They searched for a while and found him stuffed into a 
bush with the words 'Keep Out Of My Territory' on a note 
taped to his butt.  He was unconscious; it took a while for 
the three of them to pull him out of the bush.

	"Fuyuki-sempai, are you okay?" Sara asked.

	"I'm fine," he said.  "Just a little the worse for wear."  
He was dressed in a pretty good vampire costume, 
complete with fake fangs.  "Did anyone see the guy who 
mugged me?"

	"He was a real vampire, thought you were poaching 
on his land," Sara said.

	"..."

	Sara sighed.  "I'm going to have to hunt him down 
now; so much for the contest."  

	"He's really real?" Fuyuki asked.  "Did you get him on 
film?"

	"No," Sara said.

	"Dammit.  I'll come with you.  I have to get this on 
film."

	"I think vampires don't show up on film," Kozue said.

	Fuyuki ground his teeth.  "There has to be something."

	"It's too dangerous for civilians," Sara said.  "Go tell 
Asou-sempai and everyone I'm going vampire hunting."

	"I'm going with you," Yakumo said to her.  

	Sara turned to her.  "It's going to be dangerous."

	"I can fight if I have to," Yakumo said.  She picked up 
a stick and broke it, turning it into a stake.  

	Sara licked her lips nervously, then nodded.  "Alright.  
Let's make some stakes and go."

	"This isn't some big practical joke on me, is it?" 
Fuyuki asked.  "I mean, this..."

	"It's not," Kozue said softly.  She took him by the arm.  
"Come on, let's go find the others."

	Sara breathed deeply.  "Let's go."

*************** 
	
	Harima shook Fuyuki by the throat like a man who 
had caught a rabbit.  "You let Sara and Yakumo go after a 
vampire by themselves?????"

	Fuyuki couldn't breathe enough to reply.  Kozue said, 
"They insisted on us coming back!"

	"A vampire?  Oh come on," Eri said.  "Everyone 
knows..."

	"How dangerous they are," Akira said, frowning.  "It's 
a good thing I've been keeping the club's stock of holy 
water up."

	"She...it's real?" Eri asked in surprise.

	"There are things hidden in the shadows which are 
very dangerous," Karasuma said.  

	Asou frowned.  "So it is real?"

	Karasuma said, "Yes.  We will have to go swiftly."  
Asou stared at the ground, feeling pretty terrible at having 
ended up putting Sara in real danger.  Karasuma turned to 
Tenma, looking more serious and focused than usual.  
"Don't worry, I will make sure Yakumo is safe."

	Tenma felt her heart speed up.  "I should go with 
you."

	He shook his head.  "You don't have the right training, 
Tenma."  He turned to Akira, "Can you arm us?"

	"Yes," she said.  "Asou, Harima, Karasuma, come 
with me."

	"Hey, I want to help," Mikoto said.

	"I can't let Yakumo go into danger!" Hanai said.  
Some rest and food had brought him up to where he was 
only somewhat tired.

	"Your presence will hamper Yakumo's functionality," 
Karasuma said bluntly.

	"Not going will hamper MY functionality," Hanai 
said.  "Please."

	"I don't know anything about fighting vampires," Asou 
said.  "And I'm not really a top notch fighter like Hanai is.  
I want to help, but..."  He had to help, but he didn't know if 
he really could.  

	"If you do not come, it will hurt Sara's functionality," 
Karasuma said.

	Asou winced at that.

	Satsuki, looking guilty, said, "Shouldn't we take as 
large a group as possible?"

	"I can take a half dozen of them at once," Lala said.  
"El Santo could fight dozens of these at once."

	"We can move faster with a smaller group and we 
don't have enough equipment," Karasuma said.

	Akira nodded.  "I'm thinking myself, you, Harima and 
Asou.  That should be enough, with them, for one 
vampire."

	Harima stuck out his tongue at Hanai, in the mistaken 
belief no one was looking, then turned and said, "I'm 
ready."

	"Be careful," Nara said urgently to Akira.  He was 
glad he didn't have to go; Nara had never liked danger.

	She kissed his cheek.  "I will be."

	"I demand you take me," Hanai said.  "I cannot just sit 
back and..."

	"And me," Lala said.

	"No," Akira said.  "We have to move swiftly and I 
don't have infinite stakes and holy water.  Team, let's go."

	They marched off for Tea Club's base, leaving the 
others to fret.  After a little bit, Hanai said, "Whatever she 
says, I'm going."

	"And I," Lala said.

	"Do either of you actually know where to find them?" 
Fuyuki asked.

	"..."

	"I should go," Satsuki said.  "It's not fair that she got 
in a fight and I didn't."  She paused.  "That didn't come out 
right."

	"We'll take an army," Lala said.  "They won't know 
what hit them."

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

	Having gone by her church to arm up, Sara and 
Yakumo were on the trail of the vampire.  Sara tried to 
track it with her spiritual senses.  But this seemed to 
basically send them wandering all over the neighborhood 
near the park.  "Maybe he's moving around," Yakumo 
speculated.

	Or I'm lost, Sara thought, frowning.  "Well, he has to 
stop moving some time."

	"Well, let's keep searching."

	They pedaled onwards.

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

	Far away, Lala and Hanai led a search party in 
wandering all over the park, trying to find a trail; 
unfortunately there was not one.

	"We need a better plan," Hanai said.

	"The thing saw Fuyuki as a poacher," Lala said.  "Let's 
use him as bait."

	"HEY!!!!!"

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

	Harima told himself that his motorcycle was cooler 
than the one Karasuma was driving.  It belonged to Tea 
Club; he'd seen Itoko driving it.  

	Akira rode with Harima; Asou rode with Karasuma.  
Akira said, "Head west here."

	They roared around a corner and Harima asked, "How 
do you know where to go?"

	"Tracking her cellphone," Akira said.

	"I didn't think people could do that," Asou said.

	"I can," Akira said.  "Now turn left."

	They headed on their way.

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

	"We can neck," Sagano said.  "If you tie him up, the 
vampire will get suspicious."  She turned to Fuyuki.  "Just 
don't give me a hickey."

	Fuyuki looked rather nervous, gulping, but then 
seemed to calm himself and said confidently, "Let's do it."  

	They soon set them up to look like a vampire at work, 
while everyone else carefully lurked in the bushes.  

	Surely this would work.

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

	Sara helped Yakumo in the window.  They'd followed 
the trail to an old, crumbling mansion, which they 
suspected must be his base.

	Sara followed her instincts into the dining room, 
where the vampire sat at a long table.  "Ahh, the nun and 
her apprentice," he said over steepled hands.  "Come, sit 
down and have some tea before we fight.  I'm sure you 
are...thirsty."

	Warily, Sara came over with Yakumo, sniffing the air.  
Blood in the tea; very clever, but not clever enough.  
Yakumo sat down; Sara stumbled and knocked into the 
table, knocking the tea over.

	"How clumsy of me.  Let me make you some fresh 
tea," Sara said.

	"I would appreciate that," the vampire said, frowning a 
little.

	"I'll get right on it."

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

	The Lala-Hanai mob lurked in hiding, watching 
Sagano and Fuyuki make out.  And make out.  And make 
out some more.  Which was entertaining for some of them, 
but left Lala and Hanai feeling aggravated because no one 
was attacking them.  

	It also made Lala want to spend some time making out 
herself while she waited.  Unfortunately, Yuuki and Mikoto 
were both here and IN THE WAY.  She couldn't afford a 
fight; not when a vampire might show up at any time.

	So she settled for watching, as she had no choice.

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

	Sara carefully poured tea for everyone.  "Sugar?" she 
asked.

	"Yes, please," he said.

	She carefully added sugar to his tea and passed it to 
him, then added a little lemon to her own.

	He took a large sip of tea.  "Very good," he said, 
"though it has a strange warmth to it."

	"I made it with holy water," Sara said.

	"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!"  The 
vampire burst into flames, turned to dust, and drifted away 
as a cloud.

	"Follow him!" Sara said.

	They chased him through the house down to the 
basement, where they found his coffin.  He reformed in the 
coffin, but Yakumo and Sara drove stakes into his heart.  
He crumbled to dust again.  

	"And that is that," Sara said.

	"That was easy," Yakumo said.

	"Only because he drank the tea," Sara said, heading 
for the door and wending her way through the many boxes 
and crates in the room.

	The boxes and crates began to rattle, and Sara said, 
"Uh oh.  RUN!"

	They ran for the stairs; vampires burst out of every 
container in the room; it seemed like dozens of them rushed 
at Sara and Yakumo at once.  "I CAN SMELL YOUR 
BLOOD," one shouted.

	They ran for their lives.

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

	"Has there always been a big creepy mansion here?" 
Asou asked.

	"You will only come to regret asking those questions," 
Akira said, striding forward.  "Take the adventure as it 
comes, Mother always says."  

	Karasuma nodded, then jumped onto the roof.  "Come 
on, Harima."

	Harima frowned.  "Is it wise to split up?"

	"It's obligatory for this sort of thing," Akira said.  

	"Right.  Do I have to go with him?"

	"Yes," Akira said.

	Harima grumbled and jumped onto the roof.  He and 
Karasuma clambered in a window and vanished from 
Asou's sight.

	Asou stuck close to Akira.  "Is this sort of thing 
common?"

	"More than you think.  The more you encounter this 
sort of thing, the more you will encounter it in the future," 
Akira said.

	"Joy," Asou grumbled.

	"If you say so."  Akira kicked the front door open and 
darted in to the left; Asou fanned out to the right.

	They could hear the sound of running feet up ahead, 
so Akira took off at high speed.  Asou easily matched her 
with his running skills.  "Do we want to run towards the 
noise?"

	"Yes."

	Yakumo and Sara rounded a corner; Akira and Asou 
could hear the mob after them.  

	"Get ready," she told him.

	He wasn't sure exactly how he could 'get ready' 
beyond holding his stake in one hand and a bottle of holy 
water in the other, which he was already doing.

	But he tried.

************
	
	Lala was about to break down and just drag Hanai off 
when policemen swarmed across the park and surrounded 
Sagano and Fuyuki.

	"You're under arrest for public indecency," one of the 
cops said.

	"But my shirt is only half unbuttoned!  You can't even 
see anything naughty unless your face is in it!" Sagano 
protested as they cuffed her.

	"Also, vampirism is illegal," they said as they 
handcuffed Fuyuki.

	"I'm not really a vampire!"

	"That's what they all say."

	Hanai strode out to help.  "Officers, we were just 
trying to set a trap for a vampire that attacked a friend here 
earlier."

	"Do you have a license?" the cop asked.

	"Uhh...no," Hanai said.

	"Hunting vampires out of season without a license.  
You're busted, boy."

	"But..."  Hanai didn't even know there were hunting 
licenses for vampires.  

	"Cuff him and stuff him."

	Lala was about to charge out and attack the police 
when Yuuki took her hand.  "We'll just be arrested."

	"I can't let them take Hanai."

	"Tenma, can you..." Mikoto began.

	"I didn't think to bring my police uniform," Tenma 
said.  "But if I go get it, hopefully, I can get them out of 
trouble."

	"I'll go with Tenma to get her uniform; you guys 
should start hunting for Sara and Yakumo again," Mikoto 
said.

	"I'll go with Tsukamoto," Yuuki said.  "I'm not much 
use against a vampire if the rest of us find one."

	"I should go with Tsukamoto," Lala said.  "She might 
be attacked by the vampire on her way home."

	"I have money and a car," Eri said.  "I'll take her while 
you three argue."  She took off with Tenma, leaving them 
non-plussed.

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

	As the horde of vampires came around the corner, 
Asou interposed himself between them and Sara, throwing 
the holy water onto the head of the charge, then stabbing 
with his stake.  He managed to stick it into a vampire, but 
he found out that stabbing a vampire through the spleen 
simply means it is in your face and on your case.

	Akira leaped high, kicking another vampire in the 
head and driving it into the onrushing pack, throwing them 
all back, following up with a flip to come down and stake 
another.  She began to dance through the pack, stabbing 
away.

	Yakumo and Sara turned and saw one of the vampires 
had Asou down on the ground.  Sara stabbed it in the back 
and it crumbled to dust.  "Sempai!"

	"You okay?" he asked as he got up.  

	Yakumo charged in with her staff to support Akira.  
The built up pressure of vampires was getting too intense, 
though, for her to hold them back for too much longer.

	"I'm fine," she said.  "Thank you for coming."

	"You wouldn't be here if I had just kept out of this like 
I planned."  He sighed.  "Let's get out of here."

	A ghostly voice said, "None of you may leave alive, 
until the sun rises."

	"Great," Asou said.  "Just great."

	"Well, maybe the others will find us," Sara said.

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

	"Still not answering her phone," Yuuki said.

	Lala sighed.  "We're going to have to split into teams 
and search the neighborhoods, then."

	Mai said, "Right.  Okay, this is how we'll divide..."

************
	
	"Hanai's a good boy, even if he needs to learn to not 
two-time his girlfriend," Officer Tsukamoto said.

	"I am not two-timing!" Hanai protested, wishing he 
could go back in time and change all this.

	"They're just a bunch of silly teenagers fooling 
around," Officer Tsukamoto continued.  "I'm sure they've 
learned better."

	"I learned Fuyuki's a pretty good kisser," Sagano said, 
grinning.

	"I learned to never wear a costume in public," Fuyuki 
said, looking both embarrassed and cranky at once.

	"I learned there's a vampire hunting season," Hanai 
said, sighing.

	"Alright, we'll let them go this time," the officer on 
duty said.  "Keep them on the straight and narrow, 
Tsukamoto-san."

	She saluted him.  "I will."

	As they left, Sagano said, "He treats you with a lot of 
respect."

	"I am a fellow officer."

	"You're a cop?  For real?" Sagano asked.

	"Do I look imaginary?" Tenma asked.

	"Wow."

	"She arrested us the other day," Fuyuki grumbled. 

	"You were guilty," Tenma said.  "The law is the law.  
But this time, you meant well."

	Eri hustled everyone out as quickly as she could, 
before Tenma found some reason to lock them all up.

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

	"Where's Harima, anyway?" Asou asked as they 
retreated, barricading the door of the room they had fled 
into.

	"Upstairs," Akira said.

	"Hopefully, he and Karasuma aren't fighting again," 
Asou said.

	"We'd hear it."

	There was shouting at the rear of the line, and 
vampires began scattering under the ferocious onslaught.  
The worst part of it was that Karasuma and Harima were 
actually fighting each other; any vampire injuries were just 
gravy.  

	The vampires fled for the windows and doors, but 
couldn't open them.  A ghostly voice said, "It's not 
supposed to work like this."

	"That's 'cause you didn't count on me!" Harima 
shouted.

	Karasuma just shook his head.

	Asou stood protectively between Sara and the chaos; it 
was both comforting to her and a little annoying, as she felt 
she ought to be helping.  She was a nun, after all.  "Let's get 
them," she said.

	"You want to get into the middle of that?" he asked in 
surprise.  

	"It's my job," she said.  "God calls on us to smite the 
darkness."

	Everyone in this school but me is crazy, he thought, as 
Harima aimed a kick at Karasuma, who ducked behind a 
vampire; its head flew off.  "Okay, then," he said.  "Here 
we go."

	And he charged into the fray with Sara.

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

	"Can you arrest vampires?" Hanai asked.

	"Of course you can.  Vampiric activities are illegal.  
You just need a license to hunt them," Officer Tenma said.

	They looked at the house; the sounds of mortal combat 
racked the building.  "This must be it," Eri said.

	Officer Tenma pulled a whistle and walked up the hill 
to the door and opened it.  She blew the whistle at the riot 
inside.  "Cease this violence!  Or else you're under arrest!"

	"Save us officer!" one of the vampires begged, falling 
at her feet.

	Pretty soon, all the vampires surrendered to her in 
order to avoid being clobbered by Harima and Karasuma.  
Officer Tenma scratched her head.  "I'd better call for 
backup; we can't fit you all in the limo."

	It took a while to sort everything out, though Harima 
and Karasuma finally stopped fighting, which helped.

	Asou said to Sara, "I'm sorry.  I just had to know."

	"Had to know?" she asked.

	"I just had to know where your priorities are," Asou 
said.

	"You wanted to see if I would put you ahead of 
others?"

	"I wanted to see if you'd do the right thing and accept 
losing the contest to do it," he said.  "Or if winning was 
more important than helping other people."  He sighed, 
staring at the ground.  "I didn't realize I'd make a huge mess 
like this.  And it's really not my place to judge people.  I 
was just mad because of being treated like a prize."

	"You're right," she said.  "I should have just been 
more honest with you.  I...I like you, sempai.  A lot."  She 
stared past him, half at him, half not.

	"I can't say I know you enough to know what I feel 
about you," he said, and she winced.  "But I'm willing to 
get to know you better and see what develops."

	She felt her heart jump.  She had a chance.  "What 
about Satsuki?" she asked.

	"Oh, I've taken care of her."

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

	"What?" Satsuki asked.

	"Asou deputized Suga to assume any boyfriend duties 
won in this contest," Himeko explained.  "Ergo, you now 
have him as your boyfriend, and this contest is settled."

	"But..." Satsuki began.

	Suga grinned.  "I'm sure we'll have fun."

	Satsuki decided to never enter any more contests, ever 
again.

**********

	"Thank you," Yakumo said to Harima as she rode 
home on his motorcycle.

	"For what?"

	"Coming to help me," she said.

	"No problem, Yakumo-san," he said.  

	She pressed herself to him, feeling his heart beat.  She 
could feel the outline of his thoughts dimly, though she 
could just tell it had to do with motorcycles and driving.  
But he was driving after all.

	"You're a good boyfriend," she murmured as she 
started to slide into sleep.

	"You're a good girlfriend," he replied.  She could feel 
him smile.

	"Goodnight," she murmured and slid into sleep.