This Story No Title
A School Rumble Fanfic

Chapter 13:  The Real Harkenko Blues

By John Biles

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

 	Butler-san hummed to himself as he chopped wood for 
the fireplace.  If all went well, there was going to be a party 
tomorrow night at the mansion, and they would want a 
roaring fire for the fireplace as it was expected that it would 
be cold.  

	As he worked, he thought he heard footfalls in the 
forest.  Butler-san continued to chop, but carefully studied 
what he could see, while pretending to not see.  But he 
couldn't see anything and the footsteps faded.

	Probably kids playing in the woods again, he thought.  
As otherwise, it meant ninjas, and tonight would not be a 
very good time for a ninja attack.  Best to take precautions.

	Where did I put those ninja traps, he asked himself.  
Best to go check.

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

	Eri was working on homework when her father 
entered her room.  She started.  "Eri," he said.  "I have good 
news."

	"Did your deal go well?" Eri asked.

	"Things came together, and your mother is flying in 
for the party," he said.  "And staying a few days."

	"Really?" Eri asked in surprise.

	"I was going to go see her, but I can't afford to leave 
right now.  But she finally finished some important 
reorganization and can take the time off," he said.  "I will 
pick her up in the morning while you are in school.  Feel 
free to invite your friends to the party; your mother wishes 
to meet them."

	That surprised Eri too.  Her mother normally didn't 
pay much attention to Eri's friends, though in times past, 
this was partly due to a lack of close ones.  "I'll make sure 
they come."

	"She's especially curious about the mysterious 
Harkenko, who I would like to meet too," he said.

	Eri carefully hid her jangling nerves.  There was no 
real Harkenko, that was just her excuse for those times she 
went riding with Harima.  "I'll see if she can come."

	"Good.  It would make your mother very happy."  This 
was family code for 'You will wish you died if you fail'.  
Eri knew this.

	"I'll tell everyone."

	"Good."  He looked at her homework curiously.  
"Need help with anything?"

	She didn't, but she feigned idiocy to get him to stay 
and help; it was hard to get a piece of his time, so she 
seized the chances when she could.

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

	"Hey, Eri-chan, how are you?" Tenma asked as Eri 
came up to join Akira, Mikoto, and Tenma on the way to 
school.

	"I'm fine," Eri said.  "I have good news.  My mother 
wants all three of you to come to a party we're having 
tonight. She wants to meet you.  Dress is formal."

	"Can we bring a date?" Akira asked.  "And is it 
catered?"

	"Yes and of course.  I don't think Mother could cook if 
her life depended on it," Eri said.

	"Okay," Akira said.

	"That sounds fun," Mikoto said, then looked 
thoughtful.  "Yakumo isn't coming, is she?  I'll probably see 
if Hanai wants to come."

	"Mother didn't invite Yakumo," Eri said.  "Just you 
three."

	Akira looked at her curiously.  "You're hiding 
something."

	"I...well, there is a thing."  Eri tried to figure out how 
to explain this.

	"You made up some female friend to cover for your 
times you went riding with Harima, and now your mother 
wants to meet her and you don't know how to cover this," 
Akira said.

	Eri froze.  "How do you figure these things out?"

	"The spirits talk to me," Akira said.

	"..."

	"That's a joke," Akira said, giving a single brief laugh.

	"Right," Eri said.  "I don't know what to do.  I can't 
just tell them what I've been doing; they'll go crazy."

	"They'll probably think he's your boyfriend or 
something," Tenma said.  "That would get messy."

	"The traditional answer is to dress Harima up in drag," 
Akira said.

	Mikoto began laughing.  "Oh yeah, that would be a 
total disaster."

	"Maybe I should just tell them that she's sick," Eri 
said.

	"If you can't confess the truth, you can't hide her 
forever without them getting suspicious," Akira said.  
"They'll start following you or something."

	Eri sighed.  "Well, maybe I can get someone in the 
class to sub."

	"Could be trouble if they come to any school events," 
Akira said.  "You need someone they can't stumble on 
under another name."

	"Well, even if we do resort to a guy in drag...we need 
someone more effeminate than Harima.  He's too macho 
and muscular," Eri said.

	"Hey, I'm muscular," Mikoto said.

	"Hmm, Nara's probably the best one, but he would be 
Akira's date...Imadori?"  Tenma speculated.

	"He could pass as a woman with a little work, yeah," 
Mikoto said.

	"Tradition requires it to be Harima, though," Akira 
said.

	"You just want an excuse to put him in women's 
clothing," Eri said to her.

	"A woman must take her pleasures where she can," 
Akira said.

	Eri laughed softly.  "I'll think of something."

	Maybe Miki could stand in, Mikoto thought.  I'll give 
her a call later.

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

	Imadori couldn't focus.  Akira and Karen were both 
staring at him.  He at least knew Karen had the hots for 
him, but why was Akira looking so...amused...at him?

	He finally gave up and went over to her.  "Hey, 
beautiful, can't get enough of looking at me?"

	Akira blinked, then said, "I was imagining you in a 
dress."

	Man, does she make Nara cross-dress?  Wait, he cross 
dressed and came on to me that time...holy...  Imadori's  
mind tumbled and he backed up.  "That's just freaky."

	"If you wish a chance to make a good impression on 
Eri, she needs a woman to play a role for her at a party 
tonight.  I know you have many female friends," Akira 
said, "And might be able to recommend someone at short 
notice."

	"Hmm, I might at that," Imadori said.  "Wait, is this 
some kind of..."

	"No, not sex," Akira said quickly.

	"Did she make up some friend as a cover for..." 
Imadori began.

	Akira's eyes widened slightly.  "Very perceptive."

	"Can't you just dress up Nara?  He's got experience."

	"Nara is going to be my date," Akira said.  "Although 
we could dress you up."

	"No, no," he said, backing up.  "I'll find someone.  So 
it can't be someone from the class?"

	"No one they are likely to encounter elsewhere."

	"Hmm, a challenge," Imadori said.  "I could use some 
credit with Sawachika-san, so sure, I'll see if I can find 
someone."

	"Eri will be grateful."

	"No problem," Imadori said.  "I'll go talk to Eri, see 
what we can work out."  He had a few ideas already.

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

	"Been telling someone I'm a woman?" Harima asked 
Tenma in disbelief.

	"That she was with a female friend," Tenma said.  
"Her dad isn't quite mentally ready to deal with her having 
male friends, it sounds like."

	"Maybe Yakumo-san could do it?" Harima asked.

	"I think her dad's seen Yakumo before," Tenma said.  
"Or might run into her in the future if Eri and I keep being 
friends, which we will."

	"That is a problem," Harima said.  "I'd help Eri, but 
I'm not a woman."

	He could see Tenma looking at him thoughtfully, and 
for just a moment, he panicked, wondering if she could turn 
people into women somehow.  He pushed the ludicrous 
thought down.  

	"We could disguise you as one," Tenma said.  "I think 
it would be kind of cool."

	"..."

	"You are the real Harkenko, after all," Tenma said.

	"There is no REAL one," Harima said.  "I'd make a 
terrible woman."

	"Come on, it would be fun," Tenma said.

	Even for Tenma, it would be extremely hard for 
Harima to do anything like that without dying of shame.  
No way, he thought.  But the way she was looking at him 
so hopefully...how could he crush that hope?

	Sometimes, Harima hated being in love.  "Well, if you 
really want me to and she can't find any other way, I'll do 
it," he said.  "Otherwise, I'm staying home tonight and 
working on manga with Yakumo."

	Tenma smiled.  "You're so helpful."

	That made his heart sing.

	"Come by my house tonight after school."

	His heart sang more.  

	"And we'll get a dress ready, just in case."

	Shot through the heart, and she's to blame.  She didn't 
give love a bad name, but she did ask Harima to be a 
dame...

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

	"You busy tonight?" Mikoto asked.

	"I have more free time now that the contest is over," 
he said. 

	"Good.  We're going to a party at Eri's."

	"We are?" he asked.

	"Yes, I need a date," she said.  "And Miki may 
be...okay, let me explain it all."

	When she finished, Hanai said, "Sure.  I could use 
some nice quiet relaxation."

	"Thank you," she said.  "Dress nicely."

	"I will."

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

	Tenma nervously approached Karasuma as he sat and 
did math during lunch.  "Are you...busy tonight?"

	"No," he said.

	"Eri's family is having a party," Tenma said nervously.  
"Want to go with me?"

	"Sure," he said, still apparently focused on his math.

	"You should wear something nice."

	"Okay," he said.  Scribble, scribble.

	She tried to read him, but he was blank as ever.  Does 
he want to go, she wondered, or is he just humoring me?  
"Are you excited?" she asked.

	"Yes," he said very flatly, showing no enthusiasm.

	She licked her lips nervously.  "Eri is sending her 
Butler to pick us up, so you'll need to give me directions to 
your house."

	He explained how to get there to Tenma, who wrote it 
all down.

	"Okay," she said.  "I'll see you then."

	"See you."  Nothing could interrupt his work.

	She walked away, hoping it would all go well.

*********

	Eri spent the day screening possible candidates instead 
of paying attention in class.  She often didn't pay much 
attention anyway.

	Unfortunately, a lot of people couldn't be available at 
short notice, and others, she didn't find them someone she 
could easily fake being close friends with.  But she couldn't 
let it come down to Harima, whatever insanity might have 
come over Akira today.

	The last period of the day was for club activities; those 
not in any clubs got to go home.  Eri sat in the tea club 
room, making phone calls and drinking tea.  She was trying 
to get hold of Mikoto's friend Miki, who had left Mikoto a 
message saying she'd be willing to help.  

	As she made another call, she heard a knock at the 
door. Sara got it.  She heard her father's voice, "Is Eri here?  
Her mother and I have come to pick her up."

	"I'm curious to meet the mysterious Harkenko, if she's 
here," her mother said.  "Henry told me that Harkenko is in 
Tea Club with her."

	Doom had come upon Eri all unexpected.

	Akira tipped the table over, yelled loudly, then told Eri 
quietly, "Go hold them."

	Eri ran to the door.  "We've had a bit of an accident.  
Everyone will be out in just a minute."

	"Oh dear, no one is hurt, I hope," her mother said.  

	"Someone kneed the table," Eri said, then took her 
mother's hands.  "It's good to see you."

	Her mother squeezed her hands.  "And good to see 
you.  You've grown up so pretty."  Eri's mother was tall, 
slender, and ash-blonde.  She had the same eyes as her 
daughter, but her hair was very curly; the woman wore a 
nice blue dress-suit.  "Do you have a boyfriend yet?"

	"There's no one who really interests me," Eri said.  
"The boys are too young and immature here."

	"I know," her mother said sympathetically.  "They 
don't get very smart until college."

	"Now, now, the women weren't exactly too bright at 
this age either," her father said.

	Eri's mother sighed.  "True."  

	Eri wondered what Akira was going to do, but she had 
a sinking feeling.  "This is one of our kohai, Sara 
Adeimus."

	"I'm from England," Sara said.  "It's nice to meet you."  
She curtseyed.

	"Very nice," Henry said.  "It's nice to meet you."

	Eri's mother smiled.  "I am Ami Sawachika.  It's nice 
to meet you."

	Eri stalled desperately, playing for time...

***********

	Harima was not given the chance to protest.  Before he 
knew what was happening, he'd been bundled into a 
kimono, his nails trimmed and his facial hair removed.  
Fortunately, he was going clean-shaven these days anyway.  
Akira changed his hair style, applied makeup, and told him, 
"I am sorry, Kenji, but Eri needs you to cover for her."

	Harima stared at himself in horror.  "I look so utterly 
gay."

	"You look about as female as you ever will.  Go and 
fake a high pitched voice and try not to talk much," Akira 
said.

	"I don't want to fake being a woman."

	"She will likely end up grounded or worse if the truth 
comes out.  Do you want her to suffer that because you 
weren't man enough to sacrifice for her?" Akira asked 
flatly.

	Harima felt his mind tearing itself apart.  Being a 
woman was definitely unmanly, but so was leaving a 
woman out to dry like that.  It had been so much easier 
when he was a delinquent with no friends.  

	"She's going to owe me big," he said.

	"Fine, go make her owe you," Akira said.

	Still protesting, he was led out to meet the parents.  He 
did his best to titter.  "Tee hee, it's nice to meet you."  

	Henry cocked his head slightly, Ami smiled broadly.  
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Harkenko.  Eri never 
mentioned how big you are."

	"Tee hee, I'm just big boned," Harima said, not sure 
how else to explain it.

	Sara put a hand over her mouth to suppress laughter.  
Yakumo stared, then said, "She's from a tall family," trying 
to cover for her boyfriend.

	Eri introduced everyone, and Ami said, "I would like 
to do a tea ceremony.  I haven't done one in years, but it 
will help me feel I really am in Japan.  Harkenko, would 
you be kind enough to do it with me?"

	"Tee hee, me?  Akira's our real 
mistress...master...umm..."  Harima enjoyed the tea, but 
didn't pay enough attention to be sure he could do things 
right.  At least it wasn't noisy.

	"Come with me," Akira said.  "I will help you find a 
suitable blend."

	She took Harima into the kitchen and put a radio 
receiver in his ear.  "I will walk you through this," she said.  
"Just follow my instructions."

	"Do I have to?" he asked.  "I don't want to be a 
woman."

	"Eri NEEDS you," Akira said.  "So be a woman, just 
for today."

	"She's gonna owe me the moon by the end of this," he 
grumbled.

	They found a nice blend, and Akira lurked in the 
kitchen, while Harima came out and performed the 
ceremony.  With Akira guiding him, it went smoothly until 
he tried to pour another glass, only to get hot water on his 
hand.

	"Oh shi..." he began, then caught himself.  "Oh shine.  
Shine.  Tee hee."

	Ami didn't seem to notice.  At the end, she said, "The 
tea was very good."

	"I'm not really that good at making tea," Harima 
confessed.

	"She's an expert taster," Sara said.  "She can tell who 
made the tea just by drinking a sip."

	"Very good," Ami said, rising.  "Eri, you'd better come 
home and we can get dressed up together.  I will be seeing 
Akira and Harkenko at the party, I expect."  She thought a 
moment.  "Are your other friends here, Eri?"

	"I think Tenma went home and I assume Mikoto's 
gone to teach martial arts."

	"I'll meet them there, then," Ami said.  "Come on 
honey, let's go."

	Once they left, Harima said, "You think we fooled 
her?"

	"Seems so," Akira said.  "Now, I'm going to have to 
pretty you up for tonight."

	"Pretty me up?  I'm already looking utterly gay!" 
Harima protested.  "I don't even want to do this."

	"Just do it," Akira said.  "Don't whine, it's unmanly."  
That shut him up.  "This is for Eri.  If you can risk death for 
her, you can cross-dress for her."

	Harima could not escape that logic, yet he hated it.

*************
	
	"Why doesn't he have to wear a dress?" Harima asked 
resentfully, looking at Nara in his suit as Akira dressed him 
up with the help of Nara and Magumi.  

	"He's going as a guy," Megumi said.  "Akira is his 
date."  She was busy refitting the blouse to fit on his body 
while looking feminine.  

	"I still think he'd make a better Harkenko than me."

	"Too late now," Akira said, measuring along one of 
Harima's legs.  "You're trapped for life."

	"FOR LIFE?"

	"Well, just for tonight.  Just remember, this is easier 
than dying," Akira said, working on hemming the dress.  

	"That's what you think," he mumbled.  At least 
Karasuma won't be there, he thought.  Or that punk Hanai.  
Ideally, no one he knew would be there and he'd get this 
over with quickly, before he had to kill himself.

	Though it would make Tenma smile, at least.

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

	Eri sat quietly, wearing an elaborate yellow silk dress.  
She had done up her hair in such a way that she couldn't 
afford to let anything touch it or to move it very fast; it 
looked nice, though.  She gently fanned herself with a fan 
her mother had brought her as a gift; she could always 
count on her mother to lavish her with gifts during visits.

	Her mother was busy greeting guests; she had a knack 
for throwing parties and for names.  Eri was a good 
organizer, but she couldn't remember people she hadn't 
seen in years without hesitation the way her mother could.

	Eri prayed that everything would go smoothly.  And 
that Harima wouldn't screw things up.  But she was sure he 
probably would and dreaded the likely apocalypse to come.

*****************
	
	Hanai got into Eri's limo as it came to pick him up.  
Mikoto was waiting there, her hair done up in a bun, 
wearing a nice pink dress; he thought it was very nice.  
Tenma was here, along with some girl he didn't recognize.  
"Hello," he said.  "I'm Hanai Haruki.  What's your name?"

	"Harkenko," the woman mumbled.  "Tee hee."  Her 
voice sounded rather deep, though she tried to sound 
feminine.  She was tall and muscular and a little dark, like 
Lala, wearing a very fancy blue and yellow dress with her 
hair elaborately done up.  She looked professionally 
decorated.

	Hanai smiled reassuringly at her.  "It's nice to meet 
you.  Do you go to our school?"

	The woman looked over at Akira, who nodded.  
"Yes," she squeaked out.  

	Hanai felt his suspicion sensors going off.  Something 
weird was going on here. "Which class?"

	"2-A," she said.

	"They're nice people," he said.  "Do you know their 
class rep, Hayashibara Kei?"

	"He's nice," Harkenko said, looking vaguely 
frustrated.

	She must be shy, Hanai thought.  "I'm one of 2-C's 
class reps.  So you're a friend of Eri's?"

	"Yes," Harkenko said, then looked over at Akira, who 
nodded.  

	Mikoto started to say something, then fell silent. 
Tenma looked very cheerful, almost amused.  Akira was 
almost smiling, while Nara stared at the floor.  Hanai had 
the increasing feeling he'd missed a joke.

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

	Eri stared at Harima in the dress.  You almost couldn't 
tell it was him, unless you studied how he moved, which 
was utterly unfeminine.  She was impressed with Akira's 
work.  Now let's hope he doesn't screw it up, she thought.

	She calmed her nerves with a cup of tea, then came 
forward as Akira brought Harima up to Eri's mother.  Ami 
said, "Hello again, Harkenko-chan.  I hope you will enjoy 
the party."

	"Tee hee, I like parties," falsettoed Harima, who 
resolved to find a quiet corner to lurk as quickly as 
possible.  

	"Hello, Harkenko-san," Eri said nervously, taking 
Harima by one hand.  "Let me show you around."

	"I'll come with you.  We can give you the tour," Ami 
said, and swept out with Eri and Harima.

	Eri's father, Henry, turned to the rest of her friends.  
"Welcome to our mansion.  I'm sure Ami will be back to 
say hello to everyone."

	He looked them all up and down, then said tentatively, 
"You must be Hanai Haruki," to Hanai and, "You must be 
Nara Kentarou."

	"It's a pleasure to meet you," Nara said, bowing.

	"I've done some business with your father; he's a 
shrewd investor," Henry said.

	"Father works very hard," Nara said, smiling a little.

	"And this is Karasuma Ouji, my date," Tenma said, 
when Eri's father didn't seem to notice him.

	Henry blinked, then said, "It's nice to meet you.  Why 
don't you all come sit down," Henry said.  "The rest of the 
guests will be arriving soon, I'm sure."

	They came in, sat down, and got comfortable.

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

	"This is the conservatory," Eri's mother said, sweeping 
her hands in an arc to point out the many instruments, 
music books and piano.  "Eri, perhaps you'd like to play 
something for your friend and I?"

	"Tee hee, that would be nice," Harima said.  As it 
would mean he didn't have to talk and could maybe try to 
sleep through some of this whole nightmare.  

	Eri looked nervously at Harima, then went over, sat 
down, and began to play one of her memorized pieces.  She 
was pretty good at it, if not one for the ages.  Her mother 
sat down, smiling, and soon Eri was smiling.  She'd learned 
all this in hopes of impressing her mother, and it seemed to 
have worked.  

	"It's so nice to see my daughter with so many friends," 
Ami said.  "So how did you two meet?"

	"Tea Club, tee hee," Harima said.  I'll be giggling for 
weeks, he thought gloomily.

	"Akira-chan introduced us," Eri said.

	"How are your studies going?  Do you like Sukuran?"

	"I like it very much, tee hee," Harima said, extracting 
a fan and fanning himself.  His outfit was hot inside the 
house, which had nice central heating.

	"Have you decided yet where you're going to college?  
Eri has been procrastinating on the subject," Ami said.

	"Mother!" Eri protested as she played.

	"Art school," Harima said.  "Tee hee," he added 
hastily.

	"Oh, thinking about commercial art?" Ami asked.  "I 
can hardly draw to save my life, I must confess."

	"Yes, tee hee," Harima said.  Stop talking to me, he 
thought.  I'll go crazy if I have to keep pitching my voice 
up.

	"It doesn't make a lot of money for most people, 
though," Ami pointed out.

	"Love is more important than money, tee hee," Harima 
said; he had to struggle to keep from putting his manliest 
manliness into that.

	"A champion of love, then.  Do you have a boyfriend?  
My daughter's procrastinating on that too," Ami said.

	Harima turned red, vibrating, as he had to desperately 
fight the urge to reveal all.

	"Mother!  You shouldn't pry.  And I am just waiting 
for a real man to come along, not some half-baked high 
school boy," Eri said heatedly.  

	Ami laughed softly.  "That's what I thought, but there 
was a boy who stole my heart.  Not that I could admit it to 
myself.  I used to be so proud and stubborn," Ami said.  
"Have you told him how you feel, Harkenko?"

	USED to be?, Eri thought.  Hah.

	"I..."  Harima struggled to get hold of his emotions; 
thinking about this just made it worse.  "I think...he..."  
Harima shook inside the dress, then forced himself to get 
cool.  Step back, detatch.  Play the role.    

	Ami waited patiently.

	"I don't understand how...he...really feels," Harima 
finally said, unable to muster a tee hee.  "There's this 
other...girl...after him, and yet, he seems to like being 
around me and he's very affectionate, but it's almost like 
I'm...his b...sister.  His sister."

	"Well, sometimes love is like that.  I knew a boy in 
high school who had a huge crush on me, and I didn't feel 
the same, but I did like him.  He was a good friend, maybe 
better than I deserved," Ami said, patting Harima on the 
shoulder.  "He runs the operation in France for me now."

	Briefly, all was silent.  

	Ami broke the silence, asking, "Do his parents seem 
favorable to you?"

	"They're always gone," Harima said.  "Tee hee."

	Ami looked away at that, staring off through the 
window as Eri continued to play.  "Sometimes, you can't be 
around as often as you would like," she said.  "I suppose 
you're right."

	Harima felt slightly confused, but said, "Anyway, this 
woman...is just this crazy weirdo.  All silent and creepy.  
And..."

	Eri listened carefully.  It sounded like...well, like he 
was talking about Karasuma, which would make Tenma the 
woman of Harima's dreams, but...why was he dating 
Yakumo then?  It made even less sense if Tenma was the 
one.

	"Some people like strong, silent types," Ami said.  
"But trying to second-guess someone's heart...it rarely 
works.  So who is he?  Is he here tonight?"

	Harima staring at the floor told her what she needed to 
know.

	"You should seize the chance while you can," Ami 
said softly.  "If you love someone, you have to let them 
know, so either they can say yes, or you can move on."

	"It's not that easy to confess," Harima said.  "Tee hee," 
he added weakly.

	Eri said, "You shouldn't badger her about her love life, 
mother."  Her playing faltered, until she refocused herself.

	"If love is really more important to you than money, 
then don't be afraid of it.  Or you'll miss out on a lot of 
chances," Ami's mother said a little sadly.  "Don't let your 
fear rule you."

	That's manly advice, Harima thought.  I don't let fear 
rule me in a fight.  Why am I letting it rule me now?

	Because love is scary, that's why, his mind told him.

	He shook his head.  No fear.  "You're right."

	"Well, if you can tell me who it is, I could maybe set 
up a romantic moment for you to confess," Ami said, 
smiling a little.

	"Mother!" Eri protested again.

	"I...not tonight...too many people," Harima mumbled, 
seeing a train heading for him.  "Tee hee."

	Eri could tell from the smile on her mother's face that 
this merely meant the operation would be carried out 
without Harima's aid.  She could hear the drums in the 
deep, coming for her.

	Dooooom.

**************
	  
	Tenma felt a little intimidated by all the elegant guests 
at the party.  It struck her that she and her friends were 
definitely at the low end of the totem pole as far as wealth 
went here; her nicest dress, which she was wearing, was 
probably something they'd wear to do yard work.  If they 
didn't have servants to do it, which they did.

	But even though sitting on the couch with Karasuma 
was nice, she didn't want to sit there all night.  "I'm going 
to mingle," she told him.

	"Okay," he said, quietly watching everyone. 

	This was supposed to be the cue for him to come with 
her, but apparently, he read the wrong script.  She sighed 
and wandered around, looking for an interesting 
conversation.  But everyone seemed to largely be talking 
about businesses or art.  

	As she ambled around, however, a short, thin man, 
with neat black hair, in glasses and a tuxedo, approached 
her.  "I see you feel as lost as I do," he said, smiling at her.  
He had a strange accent and looked European to Tenma.

	She smiled back.  "I'm not used to fancy parties."

	"Neither am I," he admitted.  "But I had to come for 
the meeting here in Japan to show off my new process, and 
Mrs. Sawachika was nice enough to invite me to the party 
so I wouldn't have to sit around my hotel.  So I'm grateful, 
but a little over my head."

	"Are you a scientist?"  Tenma asked curiously.

	"I'm Hans Anderson, from Denmark," he said.  "I 
work for Mrs. Sawachika's company in Europe.  We came 
with some others to show off a new process to the 
executives here.  So you're one of her daughter's school 
friends?"

	Tenma nodded.  "Eri-chan and I are good friends; we 
both go to the same school."

	"Would you like to dance?" he asked; there was 
dancing over in the next room.

	She glanced back at Karasuma, who was talking to 
Mikoto and some businesswoman.  She frowned at that for 
a moment, shook her head, then turned back.  "Sure," she 
said, taking his arm.

	They danced together clumsily, but Tenma enjoyed it; 
she liked dancing and didn't get to do it often.  Hans was a 
good dancer, as far as she could tell, and he led well.  She 
quickly picked up on it and glided along with him.

	She felt disappointed that Karasuma didn't seem 
jealous at all; in fact, he was staring off at Mikoto and 
Hanai dancing.  For a moment, she wondered if maybe he 
liked Mikoto, but dismissed the thought.  He would be hers, 
even if she couldn't make him jealous.

	Akira danced past her with Nara; Akira was leading.  
To Tenma's eyes, she looked so relaxed and comfortable, 
and Tenma envied her that.  Why was it so easy for Akira 
to get a boyfriend and so hard for me?, Tenma asked 
herself.  

	Because she was brave.  Akira didn't fear anything.  
Tenma wished she could be that brave, like Mikoto and Eri 
and Akira.  

	Hans asked softly, "Are you alright?"

	She realized she'd been ignoring him and felt worse.  
"I'm sorry," she said.  "Don't mind me."

	"Feeling bad your boyfriend doesn't dance?" he asked.

	She blushed.  "You...can tell?"

	"I can see you staring at him as he watches people 
dance.  Is he always like that?" Hans asked curiously.

	Tenma sighed.  "A lot," she said.  "It's hard to tell 
what he likes.  Besides curry."

	As they talked, Harima entered with Eri and Ami.  
Seeing Tenma dancing with Hans filled his mind with blind 
rage.  He was about to storm over and turn Hans into kibble 
when Eri grabbed his shoulder.  "Dance with me," she 
hissed into his ear.

	"But I..."

	Eri took him by the arms and they began to dance; 
Harima was glad to let her lead; she could focus on staring 
intently at Tenma and Hans.  Maybe pure hatred could 
destroy this man who was touching his Tenma.

	Subtly, he began trying to scoot them over so they 
would end up dancing by Tenma and Hans.  He had just 
adjusted them so he could trip the man as he went past 
them, when he noticed Ami watching both of them, smiling 
benevolently.  Despite the apparent innocence of the smile, 
it looked just like the smile Itoko had before Harima buried 
himself deep.

	He missed his first chance, as a result.  On the second 
go-round, however, he stiffened his will.  Even a smiling 
woman would not deter him.  His leg slid out and he 
tripped Hans.  It looked like an accident, of course.

	Hans fell, and Tenma landed on him, filling Harima 
with horror.  But Eri held him tightly, preventing him 
turning loose to run to her.  He could feel himself being 
pulled away.

	Tenma got to her feet, and he gave in, letting Eri take 
him along.  Tenma bowed to Hans and went to sit by 
Karasuma gain.  

	Eri dragged Harima off the floor; to a casual observer, 
it would have looked like one friend leading another; to 
Harima, it was like being caught in a bear trap.  "What are 
you DOING?" she hissed.

	"He was harrassing Tenma-san," Harima said.

	"He was dancing with her.  I will throw you out of 
here if you attack other people during our party," Eri said 
angrily.

	"I don't want to be here!" Harima snapped back.  "Not 
when I have to pretend to be a woman because you lied to 
your parents!"

	"I lied to them in order to spend time with YOU," she 
said.  "You owe me."

	"What kind of crazy logic is that?" he demanded.  "I 
never told you to lie to them!"

	"They'd have gone crazy at me going out with some 
boy!  Especially a delinquent!" Eri yelled back at him.

	"At least I'm not a spoiled rich brat who makes people 
dress up as women!  If this gets out, I'll be mocked 
forever!"  Harima could imagine himself driven by the 
other men from the school as they laughed at him.

	"My parents will ground me until the end of time if 
this gets out!"  Eri shouted back.  "This is just for tonight!"

	"But there will be other times too.  Unless they think I 
died, they'll want to see me again!  I don't owe you that 
much!" Harima shouted.

	They heard footsteps and fell silent.  Ami came out.  
"Are you two okay?" she asked.

	"We're fine," Eri said.  "I was just showing her the 
gardens; she needed fresh air."  Staring at the ground, she 
said, "I'm going to get a drink," and stormed off.

	Ami waited until the footsteps faded, then said, 
"Tripping is so crude.  If you wish to eliminate a rival, you 
have to destroy their reputation.  Once no one wants 
anything to do with them, they virtually cease to exist.  
Also, it doesn't damage my expensive floor."

	Harima stared at the ground.  "I'm sorry," he said.

	"It wasn't too bad; just don't do it again."  Ami patted 
Harima on the fight.  "So did you two have a fight about 
it?"

	"I...no, no, not at all," Harima lied instinctively.

	"You can't fool a mother.  Don't worry; Eri gets mad 
easily, but then she calms down.  I'm sure she was worried 
you'd get in trouble."  Ami shook her head.  "You two 
looked very sweet dancing, but you should try and get your 
love to dance with you.  I could see him sitting all alone on 
the couch...maybe waiting for you, you know."

	Harima tried to figure out what she meant, then felt 
bits of his brain melt as it sank in.  She thinks I'm in love 
with Karasuma.  He began to laugh slightly hysterically.  "I 
just...he's not a great dancer...but..."

	"Don't worry," Ami said.  "I know just how to set you 
up."

	"But..."

	An impotently protesting Harima soon found himself 
dancing with Hanai of all people while Ami danced with 
Karasuma.  Tenma stared jealously at this, looking also a 
little confused.  The plan was for a partner switch at the end 
of the dance.

	Things did not go quite as planned.  Somehow, Akira 
and Nara buzzed right through the middle of it all, and 
Harima ended up dancing with Akira, Hanai with 
Karasuma, and Ami with Nara.  

	Hanai stared at Karasuma.  "Do you lead or do I?"

	"You," Karasuma said.

	Hanai felt a little relieved; he could see Mikoto 
dancing with some businessman, and he felt his stomach 
clench.  He told himself not to be silly.  She's not really my 
girlfriend and it's not like I'm not dancing with other 
people, he thought.  So there's no point in being ridiculous.  

	Harima whispered to Akira, "Where's Eri?"

	"Sulking," Akira said, sighing.  "I'll go roust her out 
later."

	"Dammit, she doesn't even appreciate what I'm doing 
for her," Harima grumbled.

	"I do," Akira said softly.  "I know this is hard on you."

	"You pushed me into this," Harima complained.

	"I owe you," Akira said simply as she piroutted under 
Harima's arm and swung back into position as they began 
to spiral counter clockwise.  "I will find a way to repay 
you."

	Harima was surprised, but pleased.  This was the sort 
of straightforward dealing he wished was more common 
with women.  "I dunno what to ask for."

	"When the time comes, ask, and I will aid," Akira 
said.  "Even if it means passing as a man."

	"You would make a good man," Harima said, meaning 
it a compliment.

	Akira's eyes narrowed a little and he felt confused.  
"Do you not think of me as a woman?" she asked.

	"Not particularly," he said.

	 "Fine," she said, now sounding a little petulant.  
"Well, you make a good woman."

	"No way," he said.

	"No one has noticed yet, I think," she said, her voice 
very calm, a little oddly so.  "Partner switch."

	There was a switching, and Harima found himself 
dancing with a huge blonde man who smelled faintly of 
turnips.  I'm in hell, Harima thought.  IN HELL.

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

	Eri leaned on the upper balcony, sipping from a glass 
of wine and brooding.  She felt frustrated.  Why was 
Harima being so obstinate?  Was one night of this too much 
to ask?  Why did men hate wearing dresses but wanted 
women to wear them, anyway?  She wore men's clothing 
without any trouble when she felt like that.

	Of course, it would have been nice to have him here as 
himself, but that wasn't possible.  Then again, making him 
be a woman meant he'd restrain himself.  He'd probably be 
wandering around naked in that case, having forgotten his 
clothing somehow.

	She had a flashback and her eyes crossed until she 
drank more wine.  Some thoughtful person had put out a 
bottle for her, so she drank another glass.

	Then Akira found her.  "Not going to dance?"

	"Not interested.  Don't know most of my parent's 
friends anyway," Eri said.

	"And you can't dance with Harima like you want," 
Akira said.

	"And I..."  She turned and glared at Akira.  "Are you 
insinuating something?"

	"Do I have to?" Akira asked.

	"I'm fine," Eri said, turning to stare at the stars and 
listening to the music.

	"Do you understand how hard this is on him?" Akira 
asked.

	"It was YOUR idea," Eri said.

	"Do what you must and pay for it, as mother says," 
Akira said.  "I will treasure this memory, but that doesn't..."

	"I'm the one having to pay," Eri grumbled.  "He's 
pissed at me, even though this was your idea."

	Akira looked out across the gardens.  "You are right," 
she said.  "But this would not be necessary if you had been 
honest with your parents."

	"Don't lecture me!" Eri snapped.  "I could have just 
claimed she was sick or something."

	"Are you going to tell them the truth?" Akira asked.

	Eri took another glass of wine.  "No.  I can't.  Not 
now."

	"Come dance, at least.  Otherwise, your mother will 
get suspicious."

	Eri sighed and, grasping her bottle, came down 
crankily with Akira.

	As a result, there was no one to see the movement in 
the forest which followed.

***************
	
	Deep inside his mind, Harima was screaming and 
rattling the walls; he was stuck dancing with Eri's father.  A 
tiny part of his brain admitted that Henry danced well, but 
most of his brain just wanted to die.  

	He noticed Tenma smiling at him as he danced past 
where she was sitting with Karasuma, sipping punch and 
talking about something.  It felt good and bad at once, like 
fine wine with a nasty vinegar aftertaste.  

	He almost got traded off to Hanai again, but he 
managed to steal Mikoto instead.  She smiled at him, and 
whispered, "You're being a really good sport about this."

	He felt a little better at that.  "Thank you."  At least 
someone appreciated him.

	They moved a little clumsily, trying to figure out who 
was leading.  Harima finally let Mikoto lead, as she knew 
what she was doing.  They danced silently, gradually 
becoming more comfortable.  When the music ended, 
Harima bowed to her and went to get a drink.

	There was, in fact, nothing to stop him from having, 
one, two, three, four drinks; they all tasted rather fancy and 
he liked them.  They were also potent, and he was just a 
little tipsy when Ami came up to him and said, "You need 
to go see something in the garden."

	He blinked in confusion and let himself be led off to 
the gardens.  Looking around, he couldn't see anything, so 
he sat down with his drink in a handy chair and finished it.  
He felt so much better now.

	And then he felt a presence.  He spun and saw 
Karasuma staring at him.

	Harima stared back, deciding he would make the 
bastard blink first.

	This was going to take a while.

**************
	
	Nara whirled Akira in a circle, then moved with her in 
a series of circles around the dance floor, showing off.  He 
was theoretically leading, but really, she was leading him.  
But he didn't mind, as watching her move was fascinating, 
and the admiring stares they got were very pleasing to him.

	They began to circle past Hanai and Mikoto, who 
began to speed up trying to compete with them.  They 
blurred past Eri, who was standing by the bar, having 
another glass of wine.  He had a bad feeling about that.  

	But for now, he could forget and just enjoy himself 
with Akira.  She looked...well, as happy as she ever looked, 
which was to say her lips quirked upwards a little and there 
was no hardness in her eyes.  He smiled back at her, 
wondering how he could be so lucky as to have stumbled 
into something like this.

	The feeling of doom kicked in when Mikoto swung in 
and swapped partners when the music changed.  He could 
see Akira dance off with Hanai, and could smell trouble in 
the air.  He wished he understood why she disliked him so 
much.

	Akira moved fluidly with Hanai; you had to look at 
their eyes to see the potential for trouble; they otherwise 
looked like a very adept couple.  For a while, both stayed 
silent and all was good.  As they passed Eri, however, 
Hanai asked, "Do you know why she is getting drunk?  She 
looks unhappy."  Maybe she's unhappy because Tougo isn't 
here and she misses him.  They seemed awfully...close..in 
the park.  Or maybe they had a fight.

	"That is none of your business," Akira said briskly.

	Hanai frowned.  "She's my classmate, and we're 
friendly enough for me to come to this party."  Akira 
knows, he thought.  But thinks I don't.

	"Mikoto brought you as her date, not as Eri's 
counsellor.  Keep your mind on her," Akira said, spinning 
outwards, then being snapped back in close by Hanai.

	He now swung her low and up and around, saying, "I 
don't like seeing a classmate in pain.  Why are you getting 
angry about it?"  His voice was a little heated.  Something 
was definitely funny here.

	"You should keep your attention focused on your 
girlfriend," Akira said.

	"Not to the neglect of everyone else in the world," 
Hanai said.  "And she's not my girlfriend."  He swung her 
low again.  

	"Because you have three," she said.  
	
	He now swung her up and they spun out away from 
each other to where only a single finger connected them, 
then spun around a fixed point, leaning.  "Yakumo is the 
one I..." he began.

	"The one who won't put up with it.  She has a 
boyfriend, forget her," Akira said sharply.

	He pulled her in close and whispered, "Shouldn't you 
be focusing on YOUR boyfriend, instead of me?"  His 
voice was hissing.

	Akira fell silent at that, and danced without further 
comment, then let herself be swept away by Shinohara Kei, 
whose family ran a robotics and vehicle research firm.  He 
made more money in a month than Hanai would likely ever 
make in a year.  But he couldn't break her out of her funk.

	Hanai found himself dancing with Eri's mother, Ami.  
She said, "You're her class representative, right?"

	"Yes," he said.  "I am Mai's lieutenant."

	"I've tried to interest her in student government, like I 
did, but she's not interested," Ami said.  "Until she joined 
Tea Club, she wasn't in any clubs, either."

	"I think she spends too much time with Tsukamoto, 
Suou, and Takano to have time for clubs or student 
government."  He paused.  "And Harkenko."  And Tougo, 
he thought.  

	"She's a nice girl, but so shy," Ami said.  "But 
hopefully, she'll get her chance to confess tonight."

	Confess?, Hanai thought.  What is going on?  Confess 
to who?

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

	Silently, Harima and Karasuma continued to stare at 
each other.

	Harima's eyes were starting to water, but he ignored 
that, unwilling to surrender.  

	Unseen by either, Tenma kneeled behind a chair, 
peeping on them in confusion.  She'd come out to find 
Karasuma, who had vanished while she was dancing with 
someone.  And now...it looked like he was having some 
moment of passionate staring with...HARIMA???

	Her imagination unfolded an image of Karasuma 
sweeping 'Harkenko' into his arms and kissing 'her' 
passionately.  Tenma nosebled and fainted at the thought.  

	As she slept, the staring continued.

***********

	Mikoto couldn't see Tenma, Karasuma, or Harima, 
and Eri was working on getting drunk.  She had a bad 
feeling something was going down.  She glided over to Eri.  
"Is it a good idea to drink this much?"

	"It's a party!  Eat, drink, and be merry!" Eri 
proclaimed loudly, then poured Mikoto a glass.  "Drink."

	"But I..."

	"DRINK."

	Mikoto downed it with one shot; her parent's co-
workers had built up her alcohol tolerance, so it didn't do 
much for her, though it was strong.  "Eri, what's wrong?" 
she asked.  "Did you have a fight with...Harkenko?"

	"Even Mother wants to arrange his love life, maybe 
she's Tenma in disguise," Eri babbled, then took another 
drink.

	"What?" Mikoto asked in confusion.

	"She thinks Harima loves Karasuma."  Eri began to 
laugh, tinged with a little bitterness.  "I expect they've 
leveled the gardens by now."

	Mikoto sighed.  "We'd better go break it up."

	"Break what up?" Hanai asked, looming over them.

	"You two go kiss and make out, I'll handle it," Eri 
said, shoving them together, then stormed off.

	They followed her, just to be sure.

************
	
	Harima and Karasuma were still staring when they 
arrived, though Harima's eyes were watering, making him 
look like he was crying.  Karasuma just stood silently, 
waiting, staring.

	Eri stormed out.  "Stop fi..."  She paused and looked at 
them.  WHAT THE HELL???  Why was Harima crying?  
What the hell had Karasuma done to him?  

	Suddenly she wondered if Karasuma even knew that 
was really Harima.

	What if...

	Her head spun and she stormed over.  "How dare you 
make her cry!" she shouted at Karasuma, which caused 
Tenma to wake up.

	Hanai and Mikoto crept out to watch, kneeling near 
Tenma.  "What's going on?" Hanai asked.

	"I don't understand...I think they kissed..." Tenma 
babbled.  

	Hanai and Mikoto facefaulted.

	"Or maybe I imagined it."

	They did it again.

	Karasuma says, "I was told she had something to tell 
me, so I was waiting for her."

	"Men ought to be honest with their feelings without 
making women always take the lead!" Eri shouted.  She 
turned and pulled a handkerchief and wiped Harima's eyes.  
"Come with me, and leave this idiot behind."

	Harima stared in confusion, then said, "I can't leave 
unless he blinks first!"

	Karasuma slowly, deliberately blinked.

	"There, you win, come with me," Eri said, dragging 
Harima away from him.  "You should stay away from 
Tenma's boyfriend."

	"They're not dating!" Harima insisted.

	"They would be if Tenma was braver and he was 
less...waiting for God to tell him what to do or whatever 
makes him so passive," Eri said.  "We both know they love 
each other.  Only a blind man couldn't see."

	"I am not blind!" Harima protested.

	"You can't even tell who really loves you!" Eri 
shouted.  "Why can't you tell?"

	"I..."  Harima could see Tenma watching, and he froze 
up, half-grappled, half-embraced by Eri.  "She's watching 
us," he mumbled.  

	Eri slapped her forehead.  "She told you to date 
Yakumo," she hissed to Harima.  Mikoto and Hanai and 
Tenma couldn't quite hear what Eri was saying, though 
they tried.  "Would she do that if she loved you?"

	"But...I..."  Harima tried to get his mental focus.

	"There is someone who loves you," Eri said, slowly, 
almost menacingly.  Her voice was growing louder.  "Do 
you wear those sunglasses because you're blind?"

	"Who?" Harima asked.  "Wait, do you mean Tae-
Oneesan?"

	Eri half crushed him.  "Me, you idiot.  I love you 
enough to risk my life for you and you can't even tell how I 
really feel."  And then she pulled him into an embrace and 
kissed him passionately and drunkenly.

	A glass plummeted from the balcony, shattering on the 
ground below and spilling wine.  Eri's mother stared in 
absolute shock, then fainted as her wine went to her head.

	Tenma fainted again, and Mikoto and Hanai bumped 
heads trying to catch her and fell down on top of her.  
Hanai couldn't believe it.  Tougo AND Harkenko.  She was 
dating both of them?  A guy AND a girl.  And people yell 
at me, he thought.  

	Harima kissed her back on instinct, content to keep 
smooching at first, as it felt so much better than anything 
else had tonight.  When the first surge of hormones began 
to wear off, he began to feel very guilty; he was making 
Tenma watch him kiss someone else when he was practice 
dating her sister and she...

	He could see Karasuma helping Tenma up, and it sank 
into his brain what everyone would think of this.  Eri was 
pretty and clever and strong and brave but they all knew 
about him going out with Yakumo and Yakumo would kill 
him but this did feel good and she was drunk, so maybe 
that would...

	And then he saw Akira come flipping out of the house 
across the garden.  He knew an all out martial arts 
onslaught when he saw one.  He tried to run with Eri, but 
he could hardly move, she had hold of him, kissing him so 
sweetly, and she wasn't going ANYWHERE.

	So he did the only thing he could do, which was to dip 
Eri low so Akira went over them.  But that was exactly 
what Akira wanted, because what she was doing was 
launching an attack on a ninja who had been about to stab 
right through Harima's body into Eri's.  Instead, Akira 
landed on the blade, kicked him in the face, then spun and 
kicked him to the ground.

	More ninjas poured out of hiding, even as Karasuma 
grabbed Tenma and leaped up onto the balcony.  "Run," he 
said.  "Warn the others."

	Tenma could see Hanai and Mikoto grabbing chairs.  
Folding chairs, one of the top seven martial arts weapons, 
her mind told her.  And no one can arrest you for having a 
folding chair.

	Ninjas were converging on Harima and the drunken 
Eri now clinging to him.  

	"I can't abandon Eri!" Tenma said.  "Let me help."

	"Eri's family needs to know," Karasuma said urgently.

	"But..."

	"Go," he said.

	She ran, but she was determined to come back.

	Akira moved back to back with Harima / Eri.  "Head 
for the house," she said.

	"I can hardly move with her clinging to me!" Harima 
said.

	"A real man could," Akira said, kicking a ninja in the 
groin, then grabbing his shoulder and turning to throw him 
at three more.  

	Harima growled.  "I'm all man!  This was your idea!"

	"Then save her!"

	Eri snapped out of her haze enough to look around, 
then her eyes narrowed.  "Ninjas."

	"You know them?" Akira asked.

	"The Sawatoo clan.  They once served my ancestors.  
But they left when grandmother married a European," Eri 
spat out.  "Karasuma, throw me a sword!  And wake 
mother!"

	Karasuma went to one of the weapon displays on 
either side of the doors and grabbed a sword and hurled it 
to her.  She caught it, gliding into a fencing stance.  He then 
began trying to wake her mother.

	Ami awoke to the sound of combat, with Karasuma 
kneeling over her, staring at her intently.  She could feel his 
eyes burn into her soul.  Weakly, she said, "My husband is 
in the house," blushing a little.

	"Ninjas," he said, handing her a sword and rising, 
offering her a hand.  

	She took his hand up then looked down at the ninjas, 
her eyes hardening.  "Sawatoo traitors.  They'll pay for this.  
Tell the others."

	"Tenma will," he said.  "Will you fight?"

	"YES," she said.

	Karasuma lifted her and leaped off the balcony, 
coming down on a knot of ninjas.  Ami began to lay about 
her with her blade as Karasuma begin delivering a wave of 
punches.

	Between them, Ami, Karasuma, Hanai, Akira, Eri, and 
Harima drove back the first wave of ninjas, though Eri 
leaned over a chair and puked afterwards.

	"That was a fight," Hanai said.  "Who was that?"

	"Too easy," Akira said, looking around warily.  "They 
may wish us to grow overconfident."

	Butler-san charged out, armed with a staff, then came 
over to Ami.  "I see you have triumphed without me, 
Madame."  He grimaced at the fleeing ninjas, then began 
plucking unconscious ones out of the ninja traps he'd put at 
the perimeter of the garden.  "Shall I have them shipped to 
Uganda like the last lot?" he asked.

	"You're right," Ami said.  "This was too easy."

	"Where is father?" Eri asked.

	"He's busy entertaining the guests," Ami said.  She 
looked nervously at her daughter and Harima.  "I...umm..."

	Eri realized what had happened and now she turned 
red and felt her drunkenness clawing at her again as her 
adrenaline faded.  "I...uh..."

	Harima stared at the ground, trying to figure out what 
he could say.

	"Now I know why you turned down all those boys," 
Ami mumbled.

	"MOTHER!"

	"Tenma," Harima babbled.  "Is she safe?  Is she 
inside?"

	"I sent her in," Karasuma said.  "For safety."

	Harima gave a sigh of relief.  He was sure he would 
die tonight from all this, but at least Tenma was okay.

**************
	
	Tenma ran up to Henry at the same time Nara found 
him.  "Ninjas!" she said urgently.

	"Ninjas?  Dammit," he said.  "Did they already kill our 
security?"

	"Probably," Tenma said, wincing at the thought.

	"Double dammit.  This is going to be a disaster for the 
clan," he mumbled.  "Are Eri and Ami alright?"

	"Your daughter and wife are fine," Nara said.  "But 
your daughter is somewhat sloshed."  He sounded 
apologetic.

	He sighed.  "Let's call the police, then and..."

	That's when the gas grenades went off.  Henry 
whipped out a handkerchief and covered his mouth and 
nose; Tenma did likewise.  She knew all about ninja tricks 
from watching samurai vs. ninja movies.  Nara took a big 
breath of gas and passed out.

	Guests dropped like flies, and now they could see the 
ninjas stalking forwards through the clouds of gas, 
advancing in a silent tide of impending death.

	"Take Nara, get out of here and call the police," 
Tenma said tensely.  "I will hold them off."

	"YOU will hold them off?" Mr. Sawachika said 
dubiously, though he picked up Nara as the ninjas crept 
forwards.

	She hustled him towards a door, only to have a ninja 
rise up silently in the doorway.  "There is only one thing 
that ninjas fear," Tenma said.

	"What?" Henry asked.

	Tenma suddenly ripped off her dress, hurling it 
skywards.  It hit a ceiling fan and flipped into the face of 
the ninja in the doorway.  Tenma was now clad in a blue 
kimono with white hakama, wearing a blue haori coat over 
it, a bandana around her hair, which was tied back into a 
long pony-tail.  She held a katana in her hands.  "A 
SAMURAI," she shouted, then turned and waved her 
sword at the now dress-befuddled ninja; the force of her 
stroke against the air generated a wave that sent him flying 
in disbelief.

	"I am the Eldest child of House Tsukamoto!" Tenma 
bellowed.  "Who wishes to be the first to die upon my 
blade?"  Her voice had become older, her accent archaic.  
"Dishonorable dogs, you will rue this day."

	Henry stared in shock, and then she said to him, 
"Run."

	And he ran.

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

	"I'm not gay!" Eri protested.

	"You just kissed her and told her you love her!" Ami 
protested.  "How is that NOT gay?"

	"It's NOT!" Eri insisted.

	Harima said, "You two argue, I'm going to go and..."

	Ami caught his arm.  "No, I think it's best we settle 
this.  She kissed you and..."

	Akira frowned.  "Nara's not answering his cell."

	"Maybe he has it turned off," Hanai pointed out.

	Butler-san was still busy stacking ninjas.

	Mikoto was leaning on Hanai.  "Want us to go look 
for him?"

	Then they saw strangely colored gas escaping from the 
house windows.

	Akira's eyes widened.  "The attack out here was a 
diversion."

	"What?" Harima said.  "Isn't Tenma-san inside?"

	"And Father!" Eri said.

	Ami frowned and reached for her phone.

	"And Kentarou-kun," Akira said, one hand clenching a 
chair tightly.  "They suckered me like I was a five year 
old."

	"They suckered all of us," Eri said.

	"You were drunk," Akira said.  Her voice was 
growing louder and tighter at once, her grip tightening.  "I 
sent him back in there.  I sent him back in."  The chair top 
snapped in her hands.  

	Eri had never seen Akira look so angry.  "Akira-chan, 
you couldn't know."

	Instead of replying, Akira ran for the house at top 
speed, whipping out two pistols.  Eri stared in shock, then 
ran after her with everyone else in tow.

	Eri's mother retreated as she realized it was knockout 
gas.  Eri put a handkerchief over her mouth and ran after 
Akira, who seemed impervious somehow.  Harima ran after 
her, feeling woozy until he pulled off a tablecloth and used 
it as a gas mask.  Hanai and Mikoto improvised likewise.

	Akira found a pile of ninjas with a note on them.  It 
read 'These miserable failures were defeated by Lord 
Tsukamoto.  Please kill them for their failure.'

	She couldn't see any sign of Nara or Eri's father or 
Tenma, but no sign of death, either.

	Eri caught up to her, but couldn't say anything through 
her mask.  Eri looked woozy from exercise plus alcohol 
plus the gas.  Akira was starting to feel lightheaded.

	The others caught up, but no one could say anything 
coherent.  Akira stared at the ninjas, her hands trembling on 
her pistols, and then she hid her guns again.  They might 
know something useful, she told herself.  

	She felt the urge to cry, but suppressed it.  Not now.  
No tears until Kentarou was safe again.

	Eri ran and turned the AC all the way up, letting the 
gas be sucked out of the house, and fresh air sucked in.

	Harima was about to rip off his dress in frustration 
when it sank in this would leave him naked in Eri's house, 
which could only lead to apocalyptic disaster.  He said, 
"Where have they taken her?"

	"I don't know," Eri said.  "But maybe we can track 
them."  She shivered.  Father...

	  "We should look for where they came in, look for 
footprints," Hanai said.  "Move in pairs for safety."

	Eri took Harima, Akira took Karasuma, Hanai took 
Mikoto and Butler-san moved out with Mrs. Sawachika.  
**************

	Harima didn't know what to say, what to do.  He 
wanted to find Tenma, so he loped along in the dress, 
wishing he had some men's clothing.  But Eri...did she 
really love him?  Or was she just drunk as a skunk and 
babbling?

	But if she did...why didn't she ever say it?  Eri never 
struck him as being shy about her feelings.  On the other 
hand, maybe that was why she turned all those guys down.

	"Eri-san," he began.

	"Later," she said.  "We have to find them."  She 
moved along, staring at the ground.

	"You just..."  Harima was staring at her.  

	"Later," she said dully.  "We can fight later."

	He grimaced.  "You kissed me."

	"I'm drunk," she said.  "And you love Tenma."  She 
stumbled into a bush for emphasis.

	"I...what makes you think that?" he said, desperately.

	"I listened to you talk to Mother.  Why the hell are you 
dating Yakumo if you're in love with her sister?"  Eri 
turned and jabbed an angry finger at Harima.

	"She told me to!" Harima protested.  "That way I can 
become a good enough boyfriend for her when I'm done 
learning from Yakumo!"

	"And Yakumo agreed to this?" Eri asked dubiously.  

	"Why else would she be going out with me?" Harima 
asked.

	Eri kicked over a garden gnome.  "You are SO 
BLIND," she shouted.  Why do I find such a moron 
attractive, she asked herself.  "Haven't you considered that 
she might love you?"

	"Love me?" he asked.  "You think she loves me?"

	"Yes," Eri said.

	"But..."  Harima stared at the ground.  She thinks I'm 
really her boyfriend, not just for practice?  But I don't...  He 
liked Yakumo; she was pretty and sweet and kind like her 
sister, and a really good artist and a good confidante.  But 
Tenma was the one he loved, right?

	"Tenma loves Karasuma.  You have to give up and 
move on," Eri said, hands on her hips.  "With a woman 
who can love you."

	"Karasuma is..." Harima began.

	"Don't blame him for this.  He's a good guy who is 
going to help save Tenma from danger.  Would a bad guy 
risk himself with us?" Eri demanded.

	"I don't trust him."

	"So you think Tenma is too stupid to know what's 
good for her?" Eri demanded, hands on her hips again.

	"No, she's much more clever than me," Harima said.  

	"But you think she'd love someone evil.  What does 
that say about her?" Eri demanded.

	Harima felt like he'd been impaled on a stake.  He 
writhed, trying to get free.  Did she really love Karasuma?  
Was he really not evil?  Harima couldn't accept that, and 
yet...

	Only one way out.

	"We can fight later," Harima said.  "We have to find 
the trail."  He didn't want to think about this.

	Eri snorted and they went searching.

*************  
	
	Akira looked over at Karasuma, who was ambling 
along, almost idly looking at the plants and ground.  "How 
can you be so calm," she asked.

	"Aren't you?" he asked curiously, looking up.

	"I'm always calm," she said, screaming on the inside at 
herself.

	"And I," he said, studying a footprint and dismissing it 
with a shrug.

	"What do you think about Tenma?" Akira asked as 
they stalked along.  She was getting frustrated by the lack 
of footprints, and looked up, wondering if they'd taken to 
the trees.

	Karasuma looked up at the trees also.  "Many things."

	"Do you like her?" Akira asked.

	"Very much," he replied, leaping into a tree and 
looking around.

	Akira leaped up after him.  "You don't show it much."

	"You neither," he replied.

	She felt even guiltier at that.  "He knows how I feel."

	"So does she."

	"But she doesn't know," Akira said, her voice getting a 
touch louder.  She spotted a shuriken stuck in a tree, but it 
was probably a false lead...what would the ninja have been 
throwing it at?

	He was silent at that, and she wondered again what 
went on inside his head.  Cautiously, she said, "You should 
let her know."

	He nodded, then pointed.  "A trail?"

	She squinted.  "Maybe.  We'd best get the others."

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

	"What a mess," Mikoto said.

	"I know.  Tougo won't be happy," Hanai said, studying 
the ground as they circled the perimeter.

	"Tougo?" Mikoto asked, leaning against a tree.

	"Nothing," Hanai said, realizing he'd just blabbed.

	"Does he have a crush on her?" Mikoto asked.

	"I...well, I saw her and Tougo making out a ways 
back," Hanai said.  "But maybe it was just because she was 
really in love with Harima, who she couldn't have."

	"I think she does love Harima," Mikoto said, getting 
moving again, watching the ground for clues.  
"Drunkenness only brings out what you really feel deep 
down."

	Hanai kicked a toadstool, aggravated at lack of clues.  
"If that's right, we'd better not get drunk near your old 
sempai."

	Mikoto sighed.  "It's worse now.  They have such an 
inflated idea of our relationship, I think it would shatter 
them to find out the truth."

	"I think you're right," Hanai said, sighing as well.  He 
studied a patch of ground.  "Footprints?"

	"I think so," Mikoto said.  "Let's call the others."

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

	Confabulation showed that everyone but Eri and 
Harima had found a trail; further examination showed 
they'd gone right past one while arguing.  

	"We could split up and explore each one," Harima 
said.  He wanted to be on his own a while.

	"Splitting up usually gets everyone picked off and 
killed by the ninjas," Akira said.  "Probably most of these 
lead into traps, false trails set up."

	"But how do we tell which one?" Eri asked, frustrated.

	"I know," Harima said.  He couldn't leave Tenma in 
torment one second longer.  He strode to the edge of the 
trees and whistled.  A raven flew down.  "Which way did 
the ninjas take Tenma?"

	The raven cawed at him and flew over to one of the 
paths.  "This way," Harima said.

	"She can talk to animals?" Ami asked in shock.

	"Yes," Eri said.

	"You two can hold hands if you want to; I don't mind," 
Ami said weakly.

	"What?" Harima said in confusion.

	"I mean...I never expected..."  Ami stared at the 
ground.

	"You think...but I'm..." Harima began.

	Eri took his hand, squeezing it hard enough to make 
him jump a bit.  "Let's go, Harkenko."

	"But I...we..."

	His protests were overridden as Eri led him away.  

***********

	"We should kill him," one of the ninjas said as he 
guarded the three captives.

	"They're bait.  We can kill Europeans any time, but we 
need to lure in the true members of the house to wipe it 
out," a second one said.

	"Can we kill the samurai?" the first one asked almost 
pleadingly.  "They're always trouble."

	"Only a samurai can kill a samurai," the second said.  
"Everyone knows that."

	Tenma, who was feigning sleep, hoped this was true.

	"You watch too many movies," the first one said.

	"Says the man who memorized every word of 
Drunken Master II," the second said.

	"Can you idiots shut up?" the third asked.

	Tenma assessed the situation.  She and Nara and Mr. 
Sawachika were tied back to back, with five ninjas 
watching them.  And bickering.  If it was possible to get 
them to turn on each other...

	"He's right," Tenma said.  "Only a samurai can stop a 
samurai."

	"If that's so, why are you tied up here?" the fourth 
guard asked.

	"It was easier than fighting my way in," Tenma 
bluffed.

	"We'd better kill her before she's trouble!" the first 
said frantically.

	"She's bluffing," the second said.

	"I expect our master will not be pleased if we kill the 
captives without his consent," the third said.

	"You can't kidnap a man like me and expect to get 
away with it," Mr. Sawachika said.

	"Silence.  You're nothing but a European breeding 
cow, and not worthy to speak to us, just a gigolo," the fifth 
said.

	"If you kill me, my wife will hunt you all to the ends 
of the earth," he said.

	"Your wife's family is too weak to stop us; it was 
child's play for us to take you," the fourth said.

	"Except for all the people we had to leave behind to 
die...DUE TO THE SAMURAI," the first said, jumpily.

	"She sure doesn't look like a samurai," the second 
said.

	"I am the true heir of House Tsukamoto," Tenma said.  
"Heir to its techniques and battle secrets.  Untie me and I 
will show you."  She sounded gruff and confident.

	"Not that stupid," the third said to her, shaking his 
head.  

	Nara kept silent, trying to think of a plan, but not 
having one.

	The door opened and a short ninja in red entered.  The 
guards bowed.  "Master," they all said.

	The Master Ninja studied them, pausing to examine 
Tenma.  "Are you a cosplayer?"

	"I am Tsukamoto Tenma, heir of the line of 
Tsukamoto, privy to the secrets and legacies of our house.  
I am a samurai."

	He laughed.  "Truly drunk."  He turned to Nara as 
Tenma fumed.  

	"Who are you?"

	"Nara Kentarou, son of a stockbroker."

	"Hmm, you may be valuable," the Master Ninja said.

	He turned now to Mr. Sawachika.  "Until we have his 
wife, keep him alive.  We need a live hostage."

	The guard ninjas nodded.  The first one said, "Are you 
sure the samurai isn't real?"

	"The samurai are dead, and she is too young and 
female.  Clearly fake," the Master Ninja said.  

	"She took out seven of us," the first pointed out.

	"Clearly this shows we need more training and more 
beatings," the Master Ninja said.  

	"And more busty women," the third ninja said. 

	"Leave Mikoto alone!" Tenma said.

	"Not flatties like this one," the third ninja said.

	"I am NOT FLAT!" Tenma howled, getting angry.

	"You look like an eight year old playing dressup," the 
third ninja said.

	"Ten," the fourth said.  "Too tall for an eight year old."

	Tenma glowed radioactively.  A samurai would never 
put up with insults about chest-size.  "You will pay for 
that."

	He tossed her a five yen coin.  "Here you go.  Call 
someone who cares."

	Tenma gave a great cry, focusing her chi through her 
memory of hundreds of samurai movies.  She burst her 
bonds and seized one of the ninja's sword.  With one swipe, 
she sent all five guards flying.  "YOU CANNOT 
DEFEAT..."

	Before she could finish her monologue, the master 
ninja flicked his sword at her and she flew into a wall and 
passed out.

	"Hmm, possibly a real samurai after all.  This has 
potential," the Master Ninja said.  He shouted loudly, 
"PREPARE THE DRUGS!"

	A ninja stuck his head in.  "Drugs?"

	"THE drugs."

	"We got rid of the drugs," the ninja said.

	"What?"

	"Drugs are bad.  Just say no, Master," the ninja said.  
He posed dramatically while doing so.

	"You threw out my collection of poisons, 
hallucinogens, herbal medicines, love potions and mind 
control pills?"  The Master Ninja vibrated with shock.

	"Yes, sir, flushed it all," he said.  "This base is now 
100% Drug-Free.  Nancy Reagan will be proud."  He 
entertained his favorite Nancy fantasy in his mind.

	"It is a pity you don't work for Nancy Reagan.  GO 
BUY ME MORE DRUGS."  The Master Ninja quivered 
with rage.

	"But...drugs are bad!"

	It was time to extend the mandatory beatings policy, 
the Master Ninja could see.

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

	All Harima could be sure of was that somehow, he 
would end this evening naked.  He could feel this in his 
bones.  And it wasn't going to be a good kind of naked.  
No, this would be the sort of naked that results in 
permanent exile from all you had ever loved.

	He lurked in the woods with the others, peering out 
into a clearing where arose a large, beautiful wooden 
building, a relic of Japan's past.  Harima could feel the 
weight of ages on it, almost see endless generations of 
Japanese who lived and worked around it.

 	It would no doubt be ash by evening's end.

	But first, he was going to steal some ninja garb so he 
could get out of the dress.  Hopefully.

	Akira said, "There are eight guards watching the 
approaches.  There are six of us.  Karasuma and I will each 
take out two; each of you gets one."

	"I can handle two," Harima said.

	"You're going to need to be ready in case 
reinforcements arrive," Akira said.  "We have to prevent 
them sounding the alarm.  Or they'll ninja-swarm us."

	Hanai nodded.  "I'll secure the entrance on this side 
once my foe falls."

	"I'll take the back door," Harima said.

	Eri put a hand over her mouth to avoid snickering.

	"What?"

	More snickering.

	He would have slugged her if she'd been a guy.  As it 
was, he just grumbled.

	Ami's phone rang, so she answered it.  "Hello?"

	"Hello, I am Sawatoo Kiyoharu.  If you do not 
surrender yourself to us, I will have your husband killed at 
dawn."

	"So how much do you want to turn him back over?" 
she asked.

	"We don't want money, we want you."

	"And the other hostages?"

	"The boy is useless to us; we'll throw him in with your 
husband if you surrender to us," Kiyoharu said.

	"And Tsukamoto?"

	"Is that her real name?  She seems to be delusional, 
though she's not bad for a child of her age," he said.  "I 
have other plans for her."

	"We want her."

	"Throw in your daughter with yourself, and I'll turn 
her loose," he said.

	"Fine," she said.  Hopefully, they could set up an 
ambush of some kind and recover the hostages.  At least it 
would keep them alive.

	"Meet us at Tokyo Tower in 2 hours, then.  And do 
not call the police, or you will never see them alive again."

	"I won't," she said.  "See you then."

	She hung up and explained to everyone.

	"Good," Akira said.  "We can jump them as they come 
out with the hostages.  Now, this is my plan..."

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

	The Master Ninja and his minions loaded their 
captives into a box; it was easier to haul them around that 
way, in his opinion.  They couldn't walk well, tied up so 
much.  

	He walked along confidently; they would have to walk 
a fair distance to get to their garage; they kept the cars a 
good ways from the house, so as to avoid being followed 
back to their house if anyone followed their cars.  He had 
put a few sentries out; you didn't live to be Master Ninja by 
being reckless.

	Soon, the vengeance of his ancestors would be 
complete.  Then he would have to decide on a new goal for 
the clan; he was leaning towards 'make a huge pile of 
money'.  Starting with looting the Sawachika house once all 
three of them were eliminated.

	"Sir," one ninja said, and pointed to a tree.  

	He looked.  It had the words 'Ninja Hunting Season 
Has Commenced' on it.  

	Not being a fool, he knew what this must mean.  The 
park and game service had been bribed to deal with his 
clan.  That would never do.  Defeat at the hands of park 
rangers would be a humiliation his ancestors would never 
live down.  "Men, prepare for..."

	The sign, however, had done its work.  His sentries on 
the other side of his line had gone down and now Akira was 
shooting the people carrying the box.  Harima plowed into 
the middle of the ninjas, seizing the box, while Eri, Ami, 
and Hanai covered his flanks.  

	"So, you seek to cheat me!  KILL THEM ALL!" he 
shouted, leaping into a tree and heading for Akira, who 
fired away at him, retreating, as he gave chase.

	Ninjas rushed at Eri, Ami, and Hanai, who covered 
Harima's rear as he hauled the box back and tried to open it.  
Ami ducked under a slash, stabbing a ninja in the leg, only 
to get cut on her left arm by yet another before she could 
stab his hand and disarm him.

	Eri moved back to back with Harima, holding off on-
rushing ninjas with her sabre, parrying two of them and 
kicking a third, then cutting off his hood, which forced him 
to flee, hiding his face.  

	Hanai grabbed two ninjas by the arms and swung them 
around as clubs to hold off his foes.  "Your skills are as 
nothing before the power of the Hanai school!" he shouted.

	The Master Ninja pursued Akira, noticing where 
Mikoto had hidden herself.  Clearly they planned for her to 
ambush him.  Instead, he leaped down at her, knowing 
Akira couldn't risk shooting at close quarters.  

	To his surprise, Mikoto deflected his initial kick, 
grabbed his foot and swung him into a tree.  He twisted 
loose and lunged at her with his sword.  She gave ground, 
dodging some attacks and deflecting others with blows to 
the flat of his blade.  She was good; he would give her that.  
Better than most of his followers.

	Just not as good as him, and a sword against bare arms 
is not a very fair fight.  He began slowly to score some 
blows, even if he was only able to inflict minor wounds.

	But then the second arm of the trap was sprung, as 
Karasuma glided silently out of the darkness to kick the 
Master Ninja in the back.  He went for a hold, but the 
Master Ninja rolled and began running back to his men, 
with Karasuma and Mikoto now in pursuit.

	Akira, meanwhile, had rejoined the others, laying 
down covering fire as they tried to disengage from the 
ninjas.  They were not succeeding, unfortunately, and more 
ninjas were coming a-running from the ninja base.

	To make matters worse, the night fog was rolling in, 
making it hard to see.  Ninjas at times seemed to just 
appear from nowhere.  And there were strange engine 
noises high above, as if some aerial vehicle had joined into 
the assault.

	Akira called Itoko.  "Is that you in the chopper or are 
we screwed?"

	"It's me, I think.  It's hard to see you all."

	Akira fired a flare round, enabling Itoko to come in 
more accurately.  She lowered a ladder and they began 
scrambling up it with the hostages.  Hanai went last, 
holding off ninjas trying to grab the ladder, kicking wildly 
as they rose up through the fog.

	"Where to?" Itoko asked.  "Back to the Sachikawa 
mansion?"	

	"Yes," Ami said.  "Butler-san should have assembled 
some mercenaries for us by now."

	"Mercenaries cannot defeat ninjas.  Only true samurai 
can destroy ninjas," Tenma said solemnly.

	Harima thought she looked very cute in her 
Shinsengumi outfit.  He was a total disaster, on the other 
hand, wearing the torn remains of a dress.  I can't wait to 
get out of this thing, he thought.

	He glanced over at Eri, who looked somewhat dazed.  
Too much exercise when drunk, he was sure.

	He wondered if she'd meant what she said.  Or was it 
just the alcohol talking?  He glanced over at Mikoto and 
Hanai, who sat close together, and at Karasuma sitting by 
Tenma.  He wanted to kick Karasuma's ass, but it was too 
dangerous in a moving helicopter.

	And he wondered what Tenma felt and what exactly 
was going on with him and Yakumo. 

	But mostly, he wanted to go home and go to bed.

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

	"Only four?" Ami asked.

	"I couldn't find more on short notice, but these guys 
had fled to Japan to escape people pursuing them in the 
US," Butler-san said.

	Ami looked over at the four men busy turning one of 
the family limousines into a tank.  "Do they know what 
they're doing?"

	"They scare me too much for me to question them," 
Butler-san said.

	Ami strode over to them; one of them, a white haired 
man chomping on a cigar, came over and said, "I hear you 
have a little ninja problem."

	"Yes.  The Sawatoo clan who served my ancestors and 
later betrayed us, they have returned to strike at us," she 
said.  

	"Ninjas.  We're gonna need some samurai," the man 
said.  "Everyone knows only a samurai can defeat a ninja."

	"So you can't do it?" Ami asked.

	"We're effectively the American equivalent of a group 
of ronin samurai," the man said.  "But we could use a better 
Samurai to Ninja ratio."

	"And a helicopter," another of the men said, a short-
haired brunet, wearing a baseball cap. 

	"And more limos to turn into tanks," the third said; he 
was a muscular black man with a mohawk.  

	"We could call the police," Henry pointed out.

	"The police cannot stop ninjas," the white haired man 
said.

	"I can get us more Samurai," Tenma said.  "Or at least, 
something good enough for government work."

	"Then get to it," Ami said.  "Please."

	"There is something else ninjas fear," Karasuma said.  
"I will secure it."  And he vanished off into the night.

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

	The master ninja assessed his options.  He could try to 
strike again, before they could get more help.  Or they 
could withdraw, go into hiding, and wait until the 
Sawachika family's guard was down.  But likely, it would 
not go down enough. 

	Best to try now, he decided.  They would likely never 
be more vulnerable than they are now.  

	And if that failed...then they would flee to fight 
another day.

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

	Sagano was bored beyond boredom.  There was 
nothing good on TV, it was too late to go out, and she 
couldn't sleep, knowing other people were at a beautiful 
party she'd not been invited to.

	So she was reduced to playing with her old dolls and 
her brother's old action figures.  He-Man was just about to 
die at the hands of Fluffy the Plush Bunny when there was 
a knock on her window.

	She blinked and went over, seeing Karasuma perched 
on the ledge.  "We need you," he said.

	She blushed slightly.  "I always thought you liked 
Tsukamoto."

	"For a fight," he said.

	"Oh," she said, disappointed.  "Sure, I'm in.  Who are 
we up against?"

	"Ninjas.  Come with me."

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

	It would take months and millions of yen to fix the 
damage to the yard.  The four mercenaries had turned it 
into a highly fortified position with multiple trenches, 
barbed wire, mines, and two limousine tanks providing 
artillery fire and a last stage of defense.  

	It would have been more impressive if they'd actually 
had enough manpower to man it all instead of a handful of 
kids and adults.  As it was, the defenses would likely leak 
like a sieve unless all the ninjas came from one direction.

	It helped a little when Tenma showed up with twenty 
people in Shinsengumi uniforms.  Mai led the squadron, 
and came over to Hanai for a briefing.

	"Where are the others?" Hanai asked; much, but not 
all of 2-C had arrived.

	"I don't know," Mai said.  "They're not answering 
calls.  Buddha and his assistants are hidden in a van, 
monitoring everything.  They should warn us when the 
ninjas arrive."

	"Good. Karasuma went to get something; he may have 
the others."

	"I hope so."  She cocked her head.  "You should call 
Lala."

	"I'm not sure that's wise," Hanai said.  "But we can use 
every hand we can get."

	She turned out to be not answering her phone either.

	Tenma conferred with the white-haired man, then they 
arranged their forces, keeping the helicopter in the rear, 
where hopefully it could be used to evac if necessary.

	And then they had to wait, lurking in the darkness of 
the cold night, waiting for a ninja attack that might never 
come.  The river that ran through the property burbled 
nearby, covering up many of the night noises.

	Harima went and finally got out of the dress, getting 
into a Shinsengumi uniform; he felt much better afterwards, 
even if he was still hiding from Eri and Tenma, as he didn't 
know what to say to either of them.  

	He was grateful when the first wave of ninjas poured 
out of the woods with wire cutters and began attacking the 
barbed wire; Tenma's samurai charged them and began 
attacking those trying to cut the wires while the rest of the 
brigade laid down fire to cover the samurais' flanks.  

	Unfortunately, a second group got through the wall 
while the first group was being repulsed.  They charged the 
ranged unit.  Harima rose up out of his trench and charged 
into the middle of them.  "I AM SO SICK OF NINJAS!" he 
shouted as bodies began to fly everywhere.  Hanai and 
Mikoto rose out of the trenches and charged in to assist 
him.  

	Akira kept watch for the Master Ninja.  She wanted 
him for herself, even though she knew she probably 
couldn't defeat him alone.  But she was going to make him 
pay.

	Nara crouched by her in the trenches, armed with a 
paintball gun; the paint had been replaced with skin-
absorbable knockout drugs, part of the tea club's armament.  
He sniped away at stray ninjas when he had a clear shot.

	She wanted to say so much to him, but she couldn't 
find the words for it.  He had just hugged her silently on 
their reunion; no words of accusation or failure, and that 
hurt more than if he had gotten mad at her.  

	He looked over at her and smiled nervously, then said, 
"Don't worry, it's gonna be alright."

	She hoped he was right, but she had a bad feeling 
about this.

	It was soon shown to be truth when a third ninja squad 
broke through on the far left and began dodging limo-tank 
fire as it made its way towards the central command post.

	And the master ninja still hadn't shown himself.  

	Eri looked at the third squad of ninjas.  No choice but 
to try and counterattack, she thought.  If she died, at least it 
would get her out of having to explain her actions today.

	"UP AND ARMS!" she shouted, then rose out of the 
trench and charged.  

	"Come back here!" her mother shouted, then gave up 
and ran after her.  

	Akira began laying down fire to try and cover them, 
while still watching for the master ninja.

	To her surprise, Eri and her mother began driving back 
the ninja squadron.  Ninjas were being knocked down all 
over, and the rest turned and ran with Eri and Ami shouting 
battle cries.

	Too easy, Akira thought, then realized.  "IT'S A 
TRAP!" she shouted at them.

	But they'd fallen into it.  Another squad rose out of the 
grass and double-teamed them, other fallen ninjas rising.

	"Kenji!" Akira shouted.  "Eri needs you!"

	Harima turned and saw the ninjas closing in on Eri and 
her mother from all sides.  For a moment, he was tempted 
to just leave them to their fate; he'd gone through hell 
tonight because of her.  But he couldn't leave them.  He had 
to save her.  Had to.

	So he told Hanai, "I leave these fuckers to you!" and 
he turned and charged alone across the field as Mikoto and 
Hanai struggled to hold back the squad they were fighting.

	He got halfway to Eri when the Master Ninja finally 
appeared, dropping down from a tree and downing Tenma 
with a single blow.  Her forces began to come apart as he 
laid into them.

	Harima hesitated, torn between them.  He desperately 
wanted to avenge Tenma and he desperately wanted to save 
Eri.  

	As he hesitated, Mai threw Tenma over one shoulder 
and led the samurai in a fighting withdrawal, while the 
Master Ninja pressed his assault against them all.  
	
	Eri, all alone, was about to go down under the hail of 
blows; there was no one to help her but her equally 
beleagured mother.  

	Forgive me, Tenma, Harima thought.  She needs me 
more than you.

	And he turned and charged into the fray, kicking every 
ninja he could find in the groin and striking them in the 
back of the head once they keeled over.  He plowed 
through the ninjas to reach Eri, slugging one ninja in the 
face as he prepared to cut her down from behind.  

	"Who are you?" Ami asked, looking at him in 
confusion.

	"A bad ass," he said, then threw each of them over a 
shoulder and ran.

	"I can fight, dammit!" Eri said.

	"Too many ninjas," he said.  

	As if summoned, yet more ninjas now broke through 
the outer perimeter, heading for the limo-tanks, throwing 
smoke grenades to advance without being easy targets.

	It was too much.  The samurai were falling back; the 
ninjas fell on the mercenaries in the limo-tanks, forcing 
them into hand to hand combat, and the master ninja 
advanced inexorably.

	It was then that there was a boom on the river and a 
shell fell among the master ninja's squadron's ranks, 
scattering them.  A ship was coming up the river, an old 
style man-of-war with wooden walls and hull, cloth sails, 
and old style cannon.  It flew the black flag with the white 
skull and crossbones, and its female captain took off her 
plumed hat and waved it in the air.  "DEATH TO 
NINJAS!" Sagano shouted.

	The cannon began to boom, shelling the ninja 
squadrons, which began to break up into fragments and flee 
under the onslaught of cannonballs.  Another cannon 
boomed and Karasuma was fired into the ranks of the main 
squadron, knocking the Master Ninja to the ground.  
Karasuma stomped on his face, twisting the heel of his 
boot, then brought his other foot down at the man's groin, 
only to have the Master Ninja grab his foot and toss him to 
one side.

	He stared at Karasuma, who now wore a mostly 
unbuttoned white frilly shirt, a pirate hat, an eyepatch, and 
black pants.  Karasuma rose, drawing a cutlass, and said 
flatly, "Have at ye."

	They fought sword to sword as the ninjas began to be 
driven from the field as the Samurai counterattacked and 
Harima, Eri, and Ami drove the ninjas back from the tank 
in a counter-attack.  Karasuma took a swipe at the Master 
Ninja's legs, only to have him hop over the attack and aim 
to cut off Karasuma's left arm.  Karasuma pivoted, parrying 
the blow and kicking the Master Ninja in the gut, only to 
have his foot grabbed and himself tossed against a tree.

	He lost his sword, and now the Master Ninja closed in 
on him.  

	Unfortunately for the Master Ninja, Eri saw this.  She 
seized a rifle from one of the mercenaries and cracked off a 
shot, putting a bullet in the Master Ninja's right shoulder 
and another in his side.

	He cursed and threw down a smoke bomb and fled 
into the night.

	The mercenary said to Eri, "Wow, you actually hit 
him."

	"That's the idea, you know," she said.

	"Man, we must fire thousands of rounds on a mission 
and I don't think we've ever actually hit someone directly," 
he said.

	"I'm just that good," Eri said, grinning.

	"But we did kill a lot of cars, trucks, and buses," the 
man continued.

	"You get attacked by cars a lot?" Eri asked.

	"That's what we somehow always hit when we shoot 
at people," he said, shrugging.  "Anyway, I'm going to go 
see your mother about our pay."

	"No problem," Eri said.  "I have people to talk to 
myself."  Not that she knew what to say.

*****************
	
	Mai stared off across the field.  She'd had to ditch 
Tougo to come to this; she hoped he wouldn't be too mad.  
Hanai stood by her.  "All in all, another successful 
operation," Hanai said.

	"Yes," Mai said.  "Though they'll likely eventually 
come back."

	"Unfortunately, school gets in the way of finishing the 
job," Hanai said.  "There's an essay contest next week, 
right?"

	"Yes.  I'm hoping we'll do well," Mai said.  "Or at 
least better than 2-D."

	Mikoto came over to them, leaning on Hanai from 
behind, feeling tired.  "Are we done?" she asked.  "I need to 
go home."

	Hanai shifted to support her better.  "I think so.  
Sawachika's love life isn't our problem, so..."

	Mai blinked.  "What?"

	"Well, it looks like she's been seeing a guy and a girl 
at the same time," Hanai said.

	"Oh my," Mai said, eyes widening.

	"That was Harima in drag, actually," Mikoto told 
Hanai.

	"WHAT?" Hanai said.  "He's cheating on 
YAKUMO????  What a terrible dog!  I should crush him!"

	"You're in no position to talk," Mai told Hanai, poking 
his chest with an accusing finger.

	"I'm not dating anyone!" Hanai protested.

	"Remind me tomorrow to go over the funeral 
arrangements I made for you, Hanai-san," Mai said.  "I'm 
thinking a burial at sea, so no one can find your body to 
desecrate it."

	"Suou-kun, tell her we're not dating," Hanai said.

	Mikoto leaned forward and teasingly kissed his cheek, 
then said, " Haruki-chan aren't really dating."

	Hanai blushed.  "Miko-chan...I mean..."

	Mai began to laugh and Hanai wished he could die on 
cue.

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

	Harima had decided to slip off quietly.  He was tired 
and just wanted to rest and figure out what to do about Eri's 
confession and Yakumo and everything.  

	However, as he was about to slip out, he found himself 
face to face with Ami.  "Have you seen Harkenko?" she 
asked.  "I can't find her anywhere."

	He sighed.  "That was me, in drag.  It's a long story, 
but there never was a Harkenko."

	"But she kissed her...you..."

	"I'm one of her classmates; she's been telling your 
husband she's with Harkenko when we're hanging out 
together, as she thought you two wouldn't be too happy 
about it," Harima said.  "But I can't go through with that 
any more."

	Ami laughed softly.  "That's so my daughter.  So was 
everything you told me..."

	Harima stared at the ground.  "It's a big mess, and I'm 
too tired to think about it."

	"Eri won't give up easily if she has her eyes on you," 
Ami said.

	"I know.  She's very stubborn," Harima said.  "I 
just...it's a mess."

	"Well, all I can tell you is to follow your heart.  And 
remember, if it all goes wrong, there will be other chances.  
Love doesn't just strike once."  She glanced around.  "And 
you'd better get out of here before Henry figures this out, as 
he'll want to crush both of you."

	"Thank you," Harima said softly.

	"Good luck," she said, as he headed off.  She felt he 
would need it.

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

	Samurai Tenma was pleased.  The enemy had been 
crushed, driven from the field.  All was well.  Now she 
would return home to her manor and sleep.  

	She sensed a presence and spun, sword ready, only to 
see Karasuma standing there in pirate garb.  She sheathed 
her sword and bowed to him.  "Thank you for your aid."

	He stepped in closer and put a hand on her shoulder.  
"Anything for you, Tsukamoto-san."

	She blushed.  "Karasuma-kun, I..."

	"I will stand with you, when the time comes," he said.  
"I will not abandon you."

	She felt confused and pleased at once.  "I know, in a 
few months, you'll be going to America..."

	"I can't stay forever, but I won't leave forever either," 
he said.  "I'll be back when I finish there."

	She felt a great upwelling of hope.  "I won't forget 
you, I swear."

	"I could never forget you," he said.  "You shine too 
brightly for me to forget."

	She blushed even more at that, stepping closer to him.  
He leaned in and...

	Sagano came up, still pirate-clad, oblivious to her shirt 
being mostly open.  "Hey, Karasuma, what are we going to 
do with the ship?"

	"I know a cove we can store it in.  We'll need it later," 
he said to her.

	Samurai Tenma fumed at the wanton pirate moving in 
on her man.  "Button your shirt, woman!"

	She looked down at herself, blinking.  "Hey, if you've 
got it, flaunt it," she said.  "And I've definitely got it."  
Turning back to Karasuma, she said, "We'd better get it 
moving then."

	He nodded and turned back to Tenma.  "See you 
tomorrow," he said, patting her shoulder.

	Dammit, the pirate stole my kiss, Tenma thought.  
Now she'll bury it somewhere.  But maybe I can steal the 
map...

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

	"You've been sneaking off with a BOY?" Henry 
bellowed.

	"Well, not exactly sneaking, as you usually don't even 
pay attention..." Eri said weakly.

	"How far have you two gone?" Henry demanded.

	"He's not my boyfriend," Eri said.  "We've never 
even..."

	"You kissed him in public!" Henry shouted angrily.  
"Don't lie to me."

	"I'm not lying!  That's the only time we've kissed.  We 
just ride on his motorcycle and..."

	"That's not even legal in Japan!" Henry said.

	"We could get her an international driver's license," 
Ami said.  "Are you good enough to pass a driver's test, 
Eri?"

	"Yes," she said.

	"We can't just condone this!" Henry said.

	"Yes, dear," Ami said, trying to calm him down.  "We 
won't condone it, but if she's going to be driving anyway..."

	"I'm not going to let her drive!" Henry shouted.

	"Given she will inevitably defy us..." Ami said.

	"Whose side are you on?"  Henry looked pretty angry.

	Eri tried very hard not to laugh.

	"The pragmatic one.  I think we should ground her a 
while for lying to us, but if she's already learned to ride a 
motorcycle, we might as well make sure she won't be 
arrested for it, since you can't count on teenagers to do 
what they ought to," Ami said.

	"Mother, I'm very reliable!" Eri protested.

	"You lied to us, dear.  He's a cute boy, seems like a 
nice fellow, and clearly devoted to you if he'd fake being a 
girl for you.  But you went about this the dishonest way and 
showed I can't rely on you to be honest," Ami said sadly.

	Eri winced at that.

	"I'd say ground her for a month, and then we can see if 
this boy is someone suitable for her to date," Ami said.

	"That's reasonable," Henry said.  "You'll come straight 
home from school and go straight there and that's all for a 
month."

	"A MONTH?" Eri said.

	"We can make it two if you like."

	Sulking, Eri said, "Fine, a month."

	"Okay, punishment time is over.  Eri, you and I need 
to have a Mother-Daughter talk."

	"I already know about sex," Eri grumbled.

	"WHAT?" Henry demanded.

	"Not from experience!" Eri added frantically.

	Ami laughed softly and led her away.

	They soon reached Eri's bedroom, where Eri fell down 
on the bed and her mother plopped into a padded chair.  "I 
wish I could be here more often for you," Ami said.  "My 
mother was never here for this sort of thing, either.  It's the 
price of our wealth."

	"I enjoyed having you here," Eri said softly.

	"I enjoyed seeing you.  I'll be here tomorrow, too, and 
then the next day I leave.  So before we ground you, I may 
take you out tomorrow so we can spend some time 
together, as I may not be back for weeks or months."  Ami 
sighed.

	"How can you and Father stand being apart so much?" 
Eri asked.

	"It's not easy," Ami said.  "But we like each other 
enough to work through the problems as they come up.  We 
both learned a lot from our previous love failures."

	Eri stared at the ceiling.  "Is this your way of telling 
me I'm doomed?"

	"I don't know," Ami said.  "Though it seems like he's 
in love with someone else."

	"Yes, a friend of mine," Eri said, sighing.  "He's such a 
big idiot."

	"Tenma, then, not the boy."

	"No, not the boy," Eri said, sighing.

	Her mother picked up one of Eri's old dolls and began 
to tumble it in her hands as she talked.  "But Tsukamoto 
and Karasuma are in love?"

	"She loves him, and I think...I think he at least likes 
her a lot, but he's very...hard to read," Eri said, hugging her 
teddy bear to her chest.

	"You need to get them to commit," Ami said.  "Then 
he'll have to look elsewhere and you'll have your chance."

	"We've been trying to help Tenma, but she gets 
panicky and he's just strange," Eri said.

	"Well, you can get your friends to help her too.  As 
you'll be limited by being grounded.  But once those two 
are together, then you can make your play."

	Eri tried to decide if she should try to explain the 
Yakumo situation.  But she wasn't even sure what was 
going on there.  And this, at least, would be a start.  "Thank 
you, Mother."

	She rose, dropping the doll, then came over and kissed 
Eri's forehead.  "Goodnight, dear."

	"Goodnight, Mother."

	Ami headed off to find her husband.  This would no 
doubt end in disaster, she was sure.  But Eri would 
hopefully learn something useful from it.  First loves rarely 
worked out, in Ami's experience.  But they taught you a lot.

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

	Akira hopped out of the limo and offered Nara a hand.  
"You want to stay with me tonight?" she asked softly.

	"Sure," he said, taking her hand and waving goodbye 
to Mikoto and Hanai.  

	"Be good to her," Akira said to Hanai.  "While there's 
still time."  

	Before Hanai could respond, she pulled Nara out and 
walked off with him, into her house.  Once they were inside 
and the door closed, she pulled him into a crushing bear 
hug.

	"Can't...breathe..."

	She loosened her grip a little.  But only a little.  "I'm 
so glad you're safe," she breathed.  "I'm so sorry."

	"You couldn't have known," he said.  "I'm just sorry I 
couldn't be more help."  Keeping up with Akira wasn't 
easy.  She was just so good at everything, and it sometimes 
made him feel he wasn't much good at anything.

	She drew him into a very long kiss, by the end of 
which, he had one hand on her shoulders and the other 
down on her butt.  Her hands were roaming up and down 
his back.  

	When she finally released the kiss, she said softly, 
"Nara, do you want to do it tonight?"

	His brain took a few seconds to figure out what she 
meant.  He felt a sudden wave of fear and doubt of himself.  
Did she really want to...with him?  He wasn't exactly the 
sexiest man alive despite his efforts to overcome it.  "Do 
you really want to do that...with me?" he asked nervously.

	"Yes," she said.  "I want..."  She stared at him 
urgently, at a loss for words.  "I want to know you, every 
piece of you."  She sounded almost desperate.  "While I 
still can."

	"While you still can?" he asked, a little confused.

	"You never know when one of us might die," she said 
softly.  "You could have died, you know."

	"But I didn't," he said, taking her hands.  "And I 
won't."

	"I will do my best not to die," she said.  "But my life is 
sometimes dangerous."  Then she stepped in close and 
kissed him.  "Love...is never perfect or eternal.  But I will 
give you what I can, while I am around to give it."

"And I will do the same for you," he said, feeling his 
body becoming excited at the thought of what they would 
soon do.  "Your mother won't kick our ass, will she?"

	"She's asleep," Akira said.  "We may get extra work 
tomorrow, though."

	"It's worth it," he said, feeling his heart pound.  "But I 
don't have any..."

	"We have some in the house," Akira said, leading him 
deeper in.  "I...I've never done this before."

	"Me neither," he said.  "But we'll figure it out."

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

	Hanai could feel his heartbeat speeding up as he and 
Mikoto kissed at her front door.  For the moment, he could 
forget everything else and just enjoy himself.  And it was 
definitely enjoyable. 

	Finally, Mikoto broke off the kiss, then said, "Do you 
have any idea what Akira meant?"

	"About being good to you while I still can?" Hanai 
asked, scrunching up his face with thought.

	"Yeah."

	"Hopefully that isn't a veiled threat," he said, 
frowning.

	"I wish I knew why she's so mean to you," Mikoto 
said, frowning herself.  

	"Probably just her putting pressure on me again," 
Hanai said, sighing.  "You're okay with everything, aren't 
you?" he asked nervously.

	She moved a little closer to him.  "I'm just fine," she 
said, feeling her body getting excited again.  "You 
wanna...uh oh," she suddenly said.  

	"Uh oh?" he asked, looking around.

	"You'd better get going before my parents see you," 
Mikoto said.  She could hear movement inside.

	He nodded, resisting the urge to give her one more 
kiss.  "See you tomorrow, Mikoto-kun."

	"See you, Haruki-kun," she said, smiling.

	She went inside as he walked away, feeling her own 
heartbeat pounding.  Kissing him felt so good; no wonder 
some people took boyfriends just for the making out part, 
she thought.  I wonder if I make him feel like this, she 
thought.  Or if the others do.

	She frowned at that.  She knew she shouldn't be 
jealous, but she didn't like the idea of them kissing him at 
all.  She was his childhood friend, not them.  They didn't 
really know him like she did.

	Lala's probably just after him to spite me, she thought.  
Yuuki...Yuuki was probably sincere, but what did she and 
Haruki have in common?  It would never work.  Just a 
crush on how handsome he is.

	Which he was.

	Her phone rang; it was Miki.  "Hey, how did the party 
go?  Did your friend find the imposter she needed?"

	"Yeah.  But it all went crazy when ninjas attacked," 
Mikoto said.

	Miki laughed.  "Hey, you guys want to go out with us 
next weekend?  Dinner, a movie, some dancing?"

	"Sure," Mikoto said, though she knew she shouldn't.  
But it would get Hanai away from the others and she could 
give her sempai and Miki some support.  She had grown to 
like Miki enough that she felt a lot less bad about losing her 
sempai to Miki.  She could still feel a twinge, sometimes, 
but she felt she was getting over him.  But he was still a 
good friend, and so was Miki.

	"Your friends won't tease you for hanging out with 
high schoolers, I hope," Mikoto said.

	"Well, some of them are kind of curious to meet you, 
if you'd like to meet them," Miki said.  "We could make it a 
big group thing."

	"That would be cool," Mikoto said.  

	"Have you decided where you're going to college 
yet?" Miki asked.  "Our school's pretty good."

	"Not yet.  I'm still waffling on my future."

	"Well...hmm.  Unfortunately, you have school during 
the times when the professors are around, or I could show 
you around some time."

	"Winter Break's coming up," Mikoto said.  "Maybe 
then."

	"Yeah," Miki said.  "Keep your options open for this 
next weekend, okay?"

	"I will," Mikoto said.  

	"See you then!  I'd better let you get to bed," Miki 
said.

	"Goodnight!"

	Mikoto headed up to bed, wondering if this would be 
fun or disastrous.

***********

	Harima knew he should say something to Yakumo, 
but didn't know what.  How did she really feel?  Maybe 
she'd said yes because she really loved him.  What the hell 
could he do in that case?  Dump her?  That would break her 
heart.  Stay with her?  That wouldn't be honest when he 
loved Tenma.  Though he was increasingly coming to 
worry that he'd never have a chance with her.  She and 
Karasuma...

	He grimaced in frustration.  What did she see in that 
zombie?  How could she love a man like that?  

	He looked over at Tenma as they rode in the limo 
together; the weapons added to it made it a tight fit for 
them.  Thankfully, the mercenary driving them home was a 
sane driver.  

	And Yakumo...if they broke up, it would ruin their 
manga project.  She was so helpful; he needed a partner for 
that.  He couldn't do it alone.  But how do I feel about her, 
he asked himself.  

	He wasn't sure.  He liked her a lot; she was a good 
partner and friend.  But was it love?  Could it become love?  
The easiest thing would be just to keep on dating her, let 
Tenma date Karasuma, and let Eri find someone else.  
Assuming Eri actually meant what she said.  People could 
say all sorts of crazy stuff when drunk.  Did she even know 
who she was really kissing?

	For a moment, he envied Hanai, who seemed able to 
manage three women at once with ease.  How does he do it, 
Harima wondered.  

	And how did he feel about Eri?  He'd never meant to 
confess to her that time, but she was...He remembered how 
he'd felt when the gang had taken her.  If that wasn't 
love...but how could I love two women at once?  Surely 
that wasn't possible.

	And yet...for all that she was stubborn and selfish and 
made him wear a dress and was bossy as hell, the thought 
of breaking her heart made him sick.  He didn't want to 
break anyone's heart.

	He had to see Yakumo.  If she heard about the kiss 
from someone else, it would all explode.  But what could 
he tell her?  She'd want to know his real feelings, and he 
wasn't sure, now, what they were.  He'd loved Tenma...he 
still loved Tenma.  And yet, they both had a hold on him.

	He couldn't face Yakumo.  Even though he should.  
She was likely in bed, anyway. 

	"Okay, here you are," the merc said.

	"Thanks," Harima said, getting out with Tenma.  His 
motorcycle was here, so no avoiding it.

	As the limo pulled away, Tenma said to him, "You 
staying tonight?"

	"I don't know," he said.

	She took off her bandanna; she seemed to have finally 
snapped out of samurai mode.  "About Eri..."

	He stared at the ground.  "I don't know what to say."

	"She thought...I thought...you two were dating, before 
I found out you were seeing Yakumo," Tenma said.  "The 
way she looked at you..."  She stared at the ground too.  "I 
think she only said what she really feels."

	"Then why did she deny it before?" he asked.

	"I...I don't know," Tenma said, shuffling her feet.  
"But...you should talk to her."

	"She's grounded," Harima said.  

	"Well, at school.  Lunch or something.  I just..."  
Tenma hesitated.  "You have to tell Yakumo about this.  
And...Kenji-kun, you're not going to dump Yakumo, are 
you?"  She sounded very nervous.  

	It wouldn't just hurt Yakumo, it would hurt Tenma 
too, if he dumped her, Harima realized.

	"Did you...You didn't just go out with her because Eri 
told you to, did you?" Tenma asked, almost shivering.

	"Eri did not tell me to go out with Yakumo," Harima 
said.  "Did she tell Yakumo to go out with me?"

	"I..."  Suddenly Tenma wasn't sure.  "Maybe we 
should ask Yakumo."

	He had to talk to her, but he was terrified to do so.  
"Right," he said a little numbly.

	They both went inside and found...

	Yakumo was asleep.  Tenma fretted; Harima was 
relieved.  Off the hook a little longer.  

	"Well, it'll wait for the morning," Tenma said.

	Harima nodded.  "I'm gonna go crash, then."

	"Goodnight," Tenma said.  She came over and hugged 
him.  "Thank you for fighting for Eri."

	"Anything for a friend," he said gruffly, feeling 
embarrassed and wishing that she would kiss him.

	But she didn't.  Instead, she let go, and headed off to 
bed, and so did he.

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

	Akira went to brush her teeth after Nara had fallen 
asleep.  She'd thrown a shirt on, as the house was cold, and 
was glad of this when her mother stepped into the 
bathroom.  "I hope we didn't wake you," Akira said.

	"Nightmares," her mother said, yawning.  "If you use  
a little baking soda, it helps to get the taste out."

	"Thank you," Akira said, then paused, and looked at 
her mother, eyes narrowing slightly.  "Are you insinuating 
something?"

	"The fact that you are brushing your teeth at two in the 
morning makes me suspect your mouth is feeling unclean, 
that's all," Akira's mother said.  "Also, you smell like sex."

	Akira winced.

	"It feels so much better afterwards, doesn't it?" Akira's 
mother asked softly.  "Like you could forget everything 
else, like there really is good in the world?"

	"Yes," Akira said softly.  

	"The hard part is when the first rushes of enjoying all 
the physicality begins to fade.  That's when you find out if 
it's real love or just desire.  Of course, lots of high school 
loves fall apart before even getting to that," Akira's mother 
said, staring off into the shower for no clear reason.

	I can forget him, when I'm with Nara, Akira thought.  
At least for a while.  She sighed and brushed her teeth a 
little more, then spat.  "We used birth control."

	"Good.  You're too young for babies," Akira's mother 
said, then kissed her on the forehead.  "You might open 
your window a little, let the funk out."

	"I'll do that," Akira said.

	Her mother stepped back to the doorway.  "Love you, 
Akira."

	Akira felt her eyes almost tear up.  Her mother didn't 
say that often, and it often was a sign she was worried 
about something.  "Is there a problem, Mother?"

	"Just my little girl growing up.  You'll be 
overthrowing governments and having your own babies 
soon.  It just...well, I'm maudlin while sober.  I'm going to 
bed," Akira's mother said.

	"Goodnight, Mother."

	"Goodnight, Daughter."
	
	She left, and Akira brushed her teeth, then went back 
to bed, resolving to make sure to get up early and take a 
shower with Nara so no evidence would show at school.    

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

	Tenma woke up with the feeling she'd forgotten 
something.  But what?

	Oh well, if it was really important, she'd remember 
later.

	Right?