This Story No Title
A School Rumble Fanfic 

Chapter 23:  The Contractual Obligation Timewarp 
Episode

By John Biles

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

	Kurasuma stood at the window, looking at the dawn.  
There was just a hint of garnet in the sunrise.  Not today, 
then.  But soon, he thought.  She must be ready, he thought.  

	We're doomed, a tiny part of his brain said, but he 
tamped it down.  She might be flighty and irresponsible and 
wild and out of control, but...

	He decided it wisest to find another angle to approach 
in order to reassure himself.

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

	Michiru's hand flailed about, finding nothing.  She sat 
up and saw Haruka at the window, staring out across the 
gated community and the city.  "Worried because we didn't 
find anything?"

	"Exactly," Haruka said.  "All that energy and yet we 
couldn't find anything but a chalk circle."  She grimaced.  
"Someone got away with something."

	"Well, nothing we can do now but keep our eyes 
open," Michiru said.  "Though there is one thing..."

	"Yes?"

	"Honey, you're topless and staring out the window."

	"..."

	"Hopefully, no one is getting a view, but..."

	SWISH, the curtains closed.

	Michiru giggled.  "Come to bed, dear.  You can angst 
in a less embarrassing way later."

	They soon cuddled up and fell back into slumber.

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

	As her body shook, Sagano gripped Fuyuki and Yuuki 
more tightly, in the assumption this would anchor her 
down.  Somehow, it didn't work.

	Then it sank in that this was because someone was 
shaking her.  But weren't they supposed to be alone here?

	She cracked an eye open.  Tomo was shaking her with 
a worried Yoshidayama nearby.  It was only Tomo, who 
could be ignored.

	She tried to go back to sleep, but now Tomo began 
methodically hitting Sagano in the head with one of 
Fuyuki's photography manuals.  "Wake up!" Tomo said.

	Sagano groggily said, "Tomo, why are you invading 
my dreams?"  This couldn't be real.  Why would Tomo be 
here?

	"We need a loan so we can afford to get me home," 
Tomo said.  

	"Can't you just call Yoshidayama-san's mom for a 
ride?"

	"She's passed out drunk," Yoshidayama said.  "I swear 
I'll pay you back tomorrow."

	Sagano noticed his eyes kept straying over to Yuuki's 
body and she frowned.  "Stop looking at my girlfriend," she 
said to Yoshidayama.  "And you're not allowed the glorious 
sight of my naked boyfriend, Tomo."  Even if he was 
mostly covered by the sheets and technically wasn't naked 
due to having his socks on.

	"Sorry," Yoshidayama mumbled.

	Fuyuki and Yuuki both now stirred.  "What?" Fuyuki 
asked.

	"Go sit in the living room until we come out," Sagano 
said.  "And I'll loan Yoshi-san some money."

	"Thank you," Yoshidayama said, ushering Tomo out 
as she tried to protest.

	"Did I hear..." Yuuki said as she sat up.

	"Your hotness was tempting Yoshi-san," Sagano said, 
kissing her.  "I have to bribe my stupid cousin to go away."

	"How did they find us here?" Fuyuki asked in 
confusion.

	"Well, you do live here and date me," Sagano said, 
getting out of bed and hunting for clothing.  "Are we going 
to do anything cool today?"

	"Just studying, though we could go out for dinner, 
maybe," Fuyuki said, getting up and kissing Yuuki.  
"Yuuki, you can just stay in bed while we get rid of the 
invaders."

	"Okay," she said, smiling.  Let this last as long as it 
can, she thought.  It was nice to be loved.  

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

	Akira woke up with Nara splayed across her torso, 
half-asleep, idly playing with her hair.  "You like it?" she 
asked.

	"Yes," he said.

	Maybe I'll keep it this way a while for him, she 
thought.  "Do you think I'm pretty?" she asked softly.

	"I think you're beautiful," he said, continuing to play 
with her hair.  "I just wish I could be more handsome for 
you."

	"I think you're very handsome," Akira said.  
"Everyone with eyes to see can tell that."  Though she 
wouldn't mind if he was stronger.  But now that he was 
studying at Hanai's dojo, he'd get stronger, she knew.  

	"You don't mind..."

	"I think your figure is fine the way it is," he said.  
"You have a nice athletic figure."  He wouldn't mind if she 
had breasts the size of Mikoto's...he'd like it...but wishing 
couldn't make it so and he could hardly ask her to go get 
implants.  Even if he'd like it.

	Akira smiled a little.  He'd probably like it, she 
thought.  But she wasn't seriously thinking about it.  Just 
those idle morning thoughts.  "We should get up."

	"We're not going anywhere, right?  We can stay in bed 
a little longer," Nara said.

	Well, being a little lazy would be okay just this once, 
right?  

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

	Mikoto tried to figure out how to broach the topic on 
her mind.  She wasn't sure it was wise.  Why rock the boat 
when really, they had a year and a third to go on being free 
to do whatever they wanted?  Especially given their senior 
year would involve studying to the point of death.

	"You guys just have a year and a trimester left, right?" 
Miki said.

	"Yes," Hanai said, looking up from his fruit and bread.  
They were busy having breakfast.  "We're last trimester 
second years."

	"Yeah, I thought so," she said.  "So I might as well 
stay in student housing this next year and then we can all 
get an apartment once you guys get out of high school."  
She paused.  "If you want to."

	"Sounds great to me," Mikoto said.  "We...umm...will 
need a big bedroom."

	Everyone laughed nervously, picking at their food.

	"Hmm, that's the tricky part," Miki said.  "If we get a 
two bedroom place, then we could put a giant sized bed in 
one and then for group activities..."

	Masahiro laughed.  " ' Group Activities'," he said, 
smiling.  "But yes, I expect we'd want privacy for each 
couple some nights and enough room for...sharing...on 
others."

	"It feels like planning a marriage," Hanai mumbled 
into his food.

	Miki twirled a piece of fish about.  "Well, it is sort of 
like that.  However, the four of us together will be able to 
afford a nicer place than two couples separately.  All of our 
friends will be even more jealous of us than they already 
are."  Munch.

	Or more confused as to what's going on, Mikoto said, 
trying to steel herself to ask, to suggest...  But she couldn't 
quite do it.  "And a bigger house once we graduate," 
Mikoto said.

	"Yeah.  As eventually, we'll have kids and they'll need 
space," Miki said, looking a little dreamy.  "But I guess 
that's getting kind of ahead of ourselves."

	"We're not all married yet," Hanai said.  

	"I'm too young for marriage yet," Miki said.  "Though 
you'll make good...well, not exactly spouses, but..."  She 
laughed nervously.

	"Yeah, exactly," Masahiro said, finishing off his 
breakfast with one big bite.  "You all are good...yeah."

	There was an awkward silence, then Mikoto finally 
said, "What exactly are we to each other?  I mean, we're 
clearly more than just friends, but..."

	"I don't know a good word," Masahiro mumbled to his 
empty bowl.  

	"Intimate friends," Miki said.  "We'd be lovers if we 
tried partner-swapping, but we haven't tried that yet."  Her 
tone seemed to indicate she thought that was coming.

	"We shouldn't push them into anything," Masahiro 
said to Miki.

	Part of Mikoto wanted to try it, part was afraid of 
messing everything up.  The latter part was still stronger, 
but was still sort of glad to bring the question into the open.

	"I don't think we're ready for that yet," Hanai said.  
Mikoto wondered if that meant he expected they would in 
time.  She had a feeling she would be.  Once she felt more 
sure it wouldn't lead to catastrophe.  "I think intimate 
friends is a good way to put it."

	Perverts, maybe, Mikoto thought.  She was growing 
steadily more comfortable in that perversion, though.  

	"In which case, we need another kinky thing to try 
today," Miki said.  "Also, we need to fortify the doors so no 
one drops in unannounced this time!"

	"Amen to that," Hanai said.  "Maybe we should check 
out the karaoke machine again and use it to block the 
door."

	"Sounds good to me," Masahiro said.  "I'll go get it 
now."

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

	The smell of food woke up Lala at the same time as 
Usagi.  "Mmm, smells good," Lala said.

	"Waffles!  We're in luck," Usagi said.  "Few other 
things will get me up this early on a Saturday."

	"I hope you don't mind I slept here," Lala said, 
stumbling off the bed.

	"I was glad for the company," Usagi said.  "Just kick 
Shingo's worthless ass for me, and I'll be happy."

	"It definitely needs kicking; he's a brat," Lala said.

	"EXACTLY," Usagi said.  

	She and Lala stumbled downstairs together, where 
Usagi's father said, "Wow, you're out of bed without me 
using the shovel."

	"Daaaaad!"

	"I see you made a new friend," Usagi's mother said 
cheerfully as she put out food on the breakfast table.

	"I'm Gonzales Lala from Mexico," Lala said.  "Nice to 
meet you."

	"Didn't you see her at the party?" Usagi asked, 
surprised.

	"We were very busy," her mother said.  "Especially 
after those two girls both beat up Shingo at once."

	"Moooom!," Shingo protested.

	It's good to see I've taught the younger kids something 
useful, Lala thought.

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

	"You can't get through either?" Tougo said to his 
sister.

	"No," she said.  "Maybe the time tech broke."

	Tougo frowned.  "Well, Pluto will come and kick our 
asses soon, I expect.  She may have finally figured it out."

	"I'm sorry, I just...," his sister began.

	"I know.  I wanted to see what it was like too," he said 
to his sister.  "It's been fun while it lasted, though, right?"

	"Yes," she said.  "It's so strange and everything is so 
different.  Though school is harder."

	"Well, they don't have the advanced technomagic from 
back home, yet," Tougo said.  He sighed.  "Well, for now, 
we just have to wait.  Someone will notice and come get us 
and give us the beatdown, I'm sure."

	"Seeing father when he's young...," his sister began.

	"I know.  It boggles me too.  But we were both that 
age once too," he said to her.  "Anyway, for now, we just 
bunker down and wait.  I'm sure everything will be okay."

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

	"Aino-sensei," Tae said nervously at the door; Aino-
sensei was there in a nice kimono.

	"Your secret is safe with me," Aino-sensei said.  
"Your sister is a quite persuasive woman."

	Tae turned a little red.  "Did she..."

	"Mmmmm.  Anyway, the Principal probably won't 
actually care if he finds out, but I'd advise you to begin 
preparing a position paper on how your relationship 
advances communism, just in case.  And the other 
teachers...well, Kaitou-sensei won't take anything well with 
regard to Tani-sensei, but some won't be happy.  
Technically, though, you're not a teacher," Aino-sensei 
said.  "Anyway, don't have some noble breakup to try to 
protect him. That sort of thing never works right."

	"..."

	"Your sister spent a lot of time telling me what to tell 
you to not do.  Hold on, I have a list..."

	"..."

	Aino-sensei fumbled in her pockets.  "Here we go.  No 
breaking up with him to protect his job.  No assuming that 
it will all fall apart.  No telling yourself you're not worthy 
of love..."  Pause.  "Can I come in and sit down?  It's going 
to take us ten or twenty minutes to cover all this."

	"..."

	"I'll take that as a yes," she said, coming in.  "Now, 
let's see, where did I leave off..."

***************
	
	"Oh, it's fine with me," Tenma said to Eri over the 
phone.  "I can hardly believe your mom is kicking you out, 
though.  That's not nice."

	"It's that or continue to submit to her asinine contest," 
Eri said.  "I hate to ask, but..."

	"I'd be glad to help you move," Tenma said.  
"Karasuma and I will come right over."

	"Thanks."

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

	Shigeo finally woke up, lying in bed with Madoka, 
who was cuddled up to him, which made him smile.  I 
wonder if she's dreaming of me, he thought.

	"Oh, Clint, you're so handsome," she mumbled.

	He froze up in despair.

	"Just teasing," she said, opening her eyes.  "I only 
dreamed of you."

	He relaxed, then mumbled to himself.  

	"Just tease me back," she said.  "I can take it."

	"I...uh..."  He was short of good ideas.

	She kissed his cheek.  "Let's get some food.  You can 
tease me once you have a good idea."

	A good idea...this would take some thought.  One way 
or another, he would find a way to get a little payback.

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

	"I'll do my best to help pay for everything," Eri said.  
"I have some savings and I guess...I'll need to get a part-
time job."

	"You can work at my restaurant," Yakumo said.  

	"Or my cycle shop," Harima said.  "It's only open part-
time now, anyway."

	"The police always need help; I could put in a good 
word for you," Tenma said.

	"Hmm, I might make a good waitress," Eri said.  
"Okay, I guess we start boxing everything up."

	Tenma looked at all of Eri's stuff.  I hope there's room 
for anything else once we move it all...

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

	"I'm sorry to impose," Eri said to Akira.

	"It's fine," Akira said.  "We have plenty of space for 
your extra things, so you don't have to take over all of 
Tenma's house."

	"Thanks."

	"And you get the cheap storage fee, being a friend," 
Akira said to Eri.

	Eri twitched, then said, "Okay.  Thanks."

	"Itoko-sensei will be here with the van soon, then we 
can get things moving."

	"Okay," Eri said, and went back to work.

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

	Eri found Tenma napping and frowned.  Your sister is 
working hard, so why are you slacking off?  Then she 
reminded herself Tenma was a volunteer and she was going 
to be leeching off Tenma, so really, she couldn't complain.

	It still annoyed her, though, as she went back to work.

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

	Lala sighed.  "I should go home but everyone's gone."

	"Well, my friends all abandoned me too, so you can 
just stay here today if you want," Usagi said.  "I could use a 
study partner."

	"Thanks," Lala said.  "I could use some company.  
Sure."

	Surely she can't be worse than me, Usagi thought.  
She'll be a big help, I'm sure.

	She seems smart enough, Lala thought.  I could use 
some help from a smart person.  I'm not losing that contest.  
Not on my life!

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

	Tomo watched helplessly as her father launched 
Yoshidayama into the atmosphere in a home-made catapult.  
Wow, you really do turn into a twinkle just before you 
vanish.  It must be the sun on his shiny white teeth, she 
thought.

	"You are now grounded until 10,000 years after the 
end of time itself," her father said.

	"Oooh, a new landmark," she said.  "I win!"

	Later, Tomo's father asked her mother, "How did your 
parents keep you in line?"

	"They basically failed to do so," Tomo's mother said.  
"Give her until after college, then she'll stabilize."

	"She'll be barefoot and pregnant long before then," he 
grumbled.

	"I made it, so will she," Tomo's mother said.  "Though 
she could use a less skanky boyfriend."

	"Exactly," her father said.

	"But she'd likely get bored of a nice boy and dump 
him."

	Tomo's father winced.

	"Anyway, I have her on birth control," her mother 
said.  "It will have to do."

	"Maybe I can hire a minder for her," her father 
muttered.

	"The last one moved to another country, remember?"

	He cried.  "Yes."

	"Just be patient.  She means well and we were both 
young once, right?" Tomo's mother said.

	"I was never really young," her father mumbled.

	"But I love you anyway," she said, kissing him.  "I'm 
going to make dinner.  I'll make your favorite salmon, 
okay?"
	
	"Thank you," he said, then went off to brood.

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

	Harima was driving along on his cycle, escorting the 
van full of Eri stuff, when suddenly Yoshidayama fell on 
him from the heavens.  He swerved wildly, went off the 
road, and jumped into a fountain, dumping himself and 
Yoshidayama into the water.

	"You idiot!"  

	He was still whipping Yoshidayama's ass when Akira 
said, "You do realize you're dripping wet on a day close to 
freezing, right?"

	"My anger keeps me warm and defrosted!," Harima 
said, now trying to fold Yoshi-san into an origami duck.

	"Okay, I'll just tell Eri and Yakumo you snapped and 
are trying to get sick," Akira said, heading back to the van.

	Dammit, Harima thought, then tried unsuccessfully to 
use the wet Yoshidayama as a towel.  She's right, this is 
going to suck.

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

	"ACHOO," Harima said, feeling miserable.  He was 
starting to feel sick.

	"Don't worry, I will cure you with my special chicken 
soup," Tenma said.

	"Oneechan, maybe..." Yakumo began.

	"Can you wash his wet clothing and get him another 
blanket, Yakumo-chan?" Tenma asked her.

	"Yes, I..."

	"What should I do?" Eri asked, feeling frustrated.

	"Make sure Yoshi-san hasn't died in the bathroom and 
use your body heat to keep Kenji warm."

	Eri said, "But...he's a boy."

	"Yes, Kenji IS a boy.  I had noticed," Tenma said.

	"..."

	While Eri was trying to get her brain back in gear, 
Tenma ran off.

	"I will check on Yoshidayama," Akira said.

	"I will, since I'm a guy," Nara said, and headed out.

	Yakumo looked at Harima, looked frustrated, then 
made herself smile.  "Don't worry, Kenji-kun.  We'll take 
good care of you."	

	"Thanks, Yakumo-chan," he said.  

	She headed out to go do the laundry, leaving just Eri 
and Akira.  

	"Stupid Yoshidayama," Eri said, fists clenched in 
frustration.

	"It's not his fault," Akira said.  "He got shot out of a 
catapult.  It was just sheer chance.  You three will have 
plenty of time to jump each other later."

	Harima and Eri turned red.  

	"Nara and I could do a demonstration for you so you 
don't mess up your first time," Akira said, deadpan.

	Harima vibrated.  Eri mumbled, "No, really, that 
wouldn't be necessary.  We'll just...figure it out..."

	"Well, we did that, and really, it would be helpful to 
you to have someone show you," Akira said.

	Eri's ponytails were trying to flap fast enough to let 
her fly.  Harima's eyes had crossed and he was shivering 
fast enough to almost vibrate through the blankets he had 
on.

	Eri stared at Akira, trying to figure out if she was 
joking.  But she had her usual blank expression.  But surely 
it was a joke.  "Wouldn't you...need another woman?  To 
demonstrate fully?"

	"Well, I suppose I could ask Haruka to help...," Akira 
said thoughtfully.

	But Haruka is a guy, Eri thought, not knowing the 
truth.

	Harima's brain blew out, and now he toppled over.

	"Kenji!," Eri said frantically, running to him.  

	"Or Michiru...."

	Eri's brain would have blown out, but she was too 
worried about Harima, who she started shaking.

	I win again, Akira thought.

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

	"Man, now I want to try some of your foooood," Usagi 
mumbled.

	Somehow, trying to study history had turned into Lala 
talking about Mexican cuisine.

	"Well, if your mother doesn't mind, I could cook you 
something tonight," Lala said, flattered.

	"That would be great," Usagi said.  "I can always go 
for new kinds of food."

	"Well, let's go see what we can find, then," Lala said.  
They got up and headed downstairs.

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

	"I'm gonna take your clothing so Yakumo can wash it 
and dry it," Nara said to Yoshidayama, who as in the 
bathtub, soaking.

	"What do I wear until then?"

	"Uhh...I guess you stay in the hot water..."

	"..."

	"I'll see if I can find you something," Nara said.

	"Thanks."

	"Did you have a good time with Tomo?" Nara asked.

	"It was awesome, but now I owe Lala a favor," 
Yoshidayama said.

	"You should...umm...hmm, good question," Nara said.  
"Good luck."

	He headed out to take Yakumo the clothing, then 
returned to find Eri and Kenji both unconscious on 
Yakumo's bed, with Akira sitting in a chair, looking 
amused.

	"We need something for Yoshidayama to wear while 
his clothing gets clean," Nara said.

	"Hmm, no one here...well, maybe they have a kimono 
that would work.  Let's go ask Tenma."

	"What happened to them?" Nara asked, looking at Eri 
and Harima.

	"Too much humor."

	"..."

	They found Tenma hard at work cooking.  Nara was 
glad he wouldn't be eating the oddly sweet and melon-
smelling chicken soup.

	"Don't forget to add lots of garlic," Akira said to 
Tenma.

	"Oooh!"  GRAB SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE.  

	"Do you have some kimonos somewhere?  Otherwise, 
Yoshidayama has to share his naked body with us."

	Tenma wobbled.  "In the hall closet.  BE QUICK."

	Akira laughed softly.  "There you go," she said to 
Nara.  "Dress him up while I help Tenma."

	Definitely not having the soup, Nara thought.

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

	Yakumo leaned against the washing machine.  Be 
calm, she told herself.  We'll have plenty of chances to...do 
things.  Eri-sempai is going to need time to settle in.

	She was nonetheless pretty frustrated when she 
returned to her room in time to see Tenma feeding chicken 
soup to Harima.  Harima waved to her, turned green, and 
passed out.

	Eri blinked, took a taste, then slumped over.

	Yakumo raced over and sniffed it; her eyes crossed at 
the smell.  "What did you put in this?"

	"Garlic...cloves...nutmeg...black pepper...white 
pepper...this cheesy stuff..."

	"Parmesan cheese," Akira said helpfully.

	"Chicken, of course, celery, potatoes, brown sugar..."

	Yakumo began to shake, trying to hold herself back 
from doing something foolish.  "Oneechan, I will cook for 
Kenji until he is well."

	"But I..."  Tenma wilted.  "You're angry with me."

	"Yes," Yakumo said.

	Tenma's eyes widened and she ran out of the room.

	Akira frowned slightly.  "Yakumo-chan, she..."

	"You know she's a terrible cook.  Why didn't you stop 
her?" Yakumo snapped.

	Akira stepped back.  "It was just..."

	Yakumo pulled Eri and Kenji into sitting positions.  
"He's sick, you know."

	Akira frowned, then said, "I'll check on Tenma," and 
left with Nara trailing after her.

	It's going to be okay, Yakumo told herself.  Oneechan 
meant well.  It's not really poisonous, just badly made.

	She stayed with them until it was time to go check the 
laundry.

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

	Akira held Tenma as she cried; Nara, after a few 
seconds of this, decided to absent himself.

	"I just wanted to help," Tenma said, crying into 
Akira's shoulder.  "Can't I do anything right as me?"

	"It's partly my fault," Akira said.  "I should have 
corrected your mistakes, but I...I should have corrected 
them."  Sometimes, her sense of humor went too far.

	She held Tenma tightly for a good long time, until 
finally, Tenma mumbled, "Why can't I do anything right?  I 
have to pretend to be someone else or I just...I just goof it 
up."

	Akira was torn between honesty and the fact that it 
would just make Tenma cry again.  "You can't cook by 
instinct until you practice enough with following recipies.  
It's like martial arts--you drill until the moves become 
instinctive and THEN you are ready to move beyond 
katas."

	Tenma said, "But it's boring that way."

	"Almost everything good requires a lot of boring drill 
to get down the basics before you get to the good stuff.  
You're not stupid, Tenma.  But you get bored too easily.  If 
you don't buckle down, you won't get into college and 
you'll have to live off others all your life.  Is that what you 
want?" Akira asked.

	"No," Tenma said.  "But it's so hard."

	"Well, either you'll learn to do it, or you'll spend your 
life failing and messing up," Akira said, trying to make her 
tone kindly if her words were not.

	There had to be an easier way than hard work.  Tenma 
just didn't know what it was.

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

	"I'm fine," Harima said.  "I'm used to Tenma-chan's 
cooking.  Whatever doesn't kill me makes me stronger, 
right?"

	"You're going to be very strong if we stay here," Eri 
mumbled.  

	Yakumo frowned.  "I'll go cook you something nice.  
You can have the bed; Eri-sempai and I can sleep in the 
guest room until you get better."  She looked thoughtful.  
"We're going to need a bigger bed."

	Eri and Harima both looked embarrassed.

	"But we should wait until you're not sick," Yakumo 
said.  Even if she didn't WANT to wait.

	Eri nodded hastily.  "Yes."

	"I hate to make you...," Harima began.

	"It's okay," Yakumo said.  "Eri-sempai, tomorrow, we 
can start you at my restaurant as I have to work."

	"Okay," Eri said, a little nervous.  

	Yakumo took her hands.  "You'll be fine," she said 
reassuringly.

	"Of course," Eri said, getting her confidence back.  
Nothing could go wrong.  I'm beautiful, I'm smart, men 
love me.  I'll be swimming in tips.

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

	"Honey, eat slowly," Usagi's mother said.

	Usagi was trying to cram three tacos in her mouth at 
once.  "So good."

	Lala smiled.  "Thank you."

	"This sucks," Shingo said.  "I can't eat something 
made by a giant gorilla."  He slumped sullenly in his chair.  

	"Be nice," his father said sharply.  "I'm sorry, 
Gonzales-san, he's a bit of a brat."

	"This is very good, I should get the recipe," Usagi's 
mother said.

	Lala blushed a little, feeling flattered.  "Of course.  It's 
easy to make, really."

	This is the life, Lala thought.  Friends are better than 
boyfriends, anyway.  

	A thought hit her.  I could use some money...maybe I 
could ask Yakumo-san about her restaurant, do some part 
time cooking.  Yes, a good idea, she thought.  

	She felt proud of herself for that.  It was a smart idea 
and she wanted to get smarter.  This has been a really good 
day, she thought.  

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

	"So I am thinking," Raven Ninja Formorian Peach 
(AKA Rinko) said to Raven Ninja Formorian Purple.  
(AKA ZOD, AKA Yukari-sensei, you know.)

	"What's your color?" Purple asked.

	"Peach," RNF Peach said.

	"Peach is NOT a color, it's a fruit," Purple said.  "Also, 
I bet you can't say it in English like I can."

	"I have a Peach colored crayon, ergo, it is a color," 
Peach said.
	
	Their patron ravens looked at each other and decided 
that trying a teamup was maybe not so wise.

	"You based your ninja identity on a crayon?  What are 
you, a five year old who turns into an adult?"  Purple 
paused.  "You're not Chiyo-chan, are you?"

	"I am NOT a five year old who turns into an adult!," 
Peach said.  

	"You're still not as sexy as I am either," Purple said.

	"You?  I have a boyfriend, you old bag," Peach said.

	"Old bag?  My boyfriend is sexier than yours!", Purple 
said angrily, gesticulating wildly.

	"He's half your age," Peach's Raven pointed out 
helpfully.

	"Ahh, so you got him by raiding a kindergarden?" 
Peach asked.

	"I DO NOT HAVE A SHOUTA COMPLEX!," Purple 
said.  "I have had enough!  DIE!"

	Soon, the park began to explode.

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

	"We can't just zap cats," Orange's raven told her.

	"We can until I have enough energy to do my 
experiments.  I have a perfect plan...hmm, almost perfect," 
Orange said.

	"What?"

	"We're going to need a storefront," Orange said.

	"Oh, see, the standard operating procedure for such 
things is to find a nice place and just mind control the 
owner," the Raven said.  "I thought everyone knew that."

	"Hmm, if we take over a hair salon, we can drain the 
customers and then convert it...let's go.  That'll speed things 
up."

	Orange's raven gave a sigh of relief.  Sure, he didn't 
like cats, but it was like trying to collect a pile of shineys 
one shiney at a time, with the shineys scattered across the 
entire town.  TOO SLOW.  This would hopefully go 
quicker.

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

	"You must beat up all the sumos," Mrs. Hanai 
pronounced.  "I can't take it any more.  Huge fat disgusting 
naked people everywhere."

	"They're only mostly naked," Mr. Suou pointed out.

	"If we level this place, it's going to cost us a lot of 
money," Mr. Hanai said.  "We can't afford it."

	"And I don't want to afford it," Mr. Suou said.

	"I cannot take any more sumos!  Either put them all on 
an instant diet or else get rid of them," Mrs. Hanai said.  
"Before I snap."

	Mr. Hanai was still making payments on the last time 
his wife snapped.  But how to get rid of a bunch of sumos?  
Unless...

	"Gonzales-san," he began.

	"No," Mr. Gonzales said firmly.

	"You don't even..."

	"NO."

	"Would you do it...for a Scooby Snack?" Mr. Hanai 
asked, waving a fish cake in the air.

	"Do you have a death wish?" Mr. Gonzales asked.

	"Please, won't you help my husband help me?" Mrs. 
Hanai asked.  "Before I go mad?"

	Mr. Gonzales could never say no to women, which 
was how he'd lost a lot of his fortune.  "I..."

	"Please?" she asked, kneeling and bowing.

	He grimaced.  "Fine."

	"Excellent," Mr. Hanai said.  "Now come with me."

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

	Tae soaked in the hot water.  "I wish we could stay 
longer."

	"I have to work tomorrow and you two work 
Monday," Yuri said, cuddled up to her on one side.

	"Unfortunately," Tani said, cuddled up to her on the 
other side.

	"And I have to write a position paper," Tae mumbled.  
"But we can still enjoy today.  I feel much better."

	"It's nice and peaceful now," Yuri said.

	Distantly, they heard one of Minako's friends shout, "I 
wasn't peeping!"

	"Was nice and peaceful," Tani mumbled at the sounds 
of rioting breaking out.

	"I'll deal with it, dear," Yuri said, rising in her towel.  
"It's ninja time."

	She vanished off through the curtains and cries of 'MY 
SPLEEN' and 'Hey, you're not wearing any...aaaaaaaaaaaaa' 
ensued.

	Tani kissed Tae on the cheek.  "I can help you with the 
paper.  I'm used to spinning things for our Principal."

	"Thanks dear."

	'MY COMPUTER!'

	'WHAT KIND OF IDIOT BRINGS A COMPUTER 
TO A HOT SPRING?'

	'Fair lady, this is all a misunder....eeeeeee!'

	Then they heard Tae's sister.  "Now, now, let's not all 
fight when we could be admiring each other's bodies!"

	"EXACTLY," Kimura said.  "There is nothing so 
beautiful as the barely clad young ladies of...No, I don't 
want a BOY to jump on me AAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!  
PUT DOWN THE TEDDY BEAR!!!!"

	"Jump on me!," Tae's sister shouted.

	"Was she always...," Tani began.

	"She's mellowed a lot, thankfully," Tae said.  "Me 
too."

	He kissed her softly, drawing closer.  "I'm much less 
of a spaz than I was in high school."

	"Well, Yurippe loved you even then, so you couldn't 
have been too bad," Tae said, kissing him back.

	"The more naked she gets, the more ass she kicks!" 
someone shouted.

	Tani laughed softly.  "She sees the best in both of us."

	"Do you think..."

	"We'll get through it.  If worse comes to worse, we 
both have the skills to move to another school easily," Tani 
said.  "And it's not like we're dating the students."

	Tae blushed slightly.  "Yes."

	"Do they..."

	"Don't want to know."

************
	
	As he threw another sumo to the ground, Mr. 
Gonzales wished he didn't feel like either a baby or an old 
man with no bladder control in an adult diaper.  But at least 
no one can recognize me, he thought.  As I'm wearing my 
mask.

	As she snapped a photograph of another in the series 
of challenge matches, ace high school reporter Tsukiyama 
Minako was ecstatic.  Famous Mexican Wrestler the Silver 
Fox takes on an entire troupe of sumos and wins, she 
thought.  THERE is a headline.  And with her camera 
phone, she had pictures too.  

	This would earn some money for the school paper.

	Yes, this was a definite scoop!

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

	"I thought Ronin was that barbarian guy," Lala said.  
"The one who runs around mostly naked stabbing people."

	"That's 'Conehead', I think," Usagi said, saying his 
name in English.  

	"Oh.  This story about all these ronin makes a lot more 
sense now," Lala said.  

	Usagi giggled.  "It's a very famous story of honor and 
duty."

	"Important values," Lala said approvingly.  "Though 
they could have just worn masks so they didn't have to kill 
themselves afterwards."

	"Well, they knew they were breaking the law, so 
honor demanded the suicide," Usagi said.  "But it makes 
me sad, all those people dying."  She sighed.  "I don't want 
other people to die."

	"Neither do I.  I can imagine dying for your lord, but 
letting yourself be executed?  Surely he had other enemies 
that needed crushing too," Lala said.  "It's better to keep on 
fighting, not let yourself die."

	Usagi got a distant look, staring out the window and 
looking sad.  

	"I...did I say something wrong?" Lala asked, worried.

	"No, it's okay." Usagi said.  "So you would have just 
gone undercover and continued to fight evil?"

	"Yeah," Lala said.  "I mean, sometimes the honorable 
thing is to die to save someone, but I can't understand 
committing suicide like that."  She shook her head.  "When 
I die, I'm going to die fighting and take as many enemies 
with me as I can."

	"Usagi!  I need you to go to the store!," her mother 
yelled upstairs.

	"Okay," Usagi yelled down.  "Want to come with 
me?"

	"Sure," Lala said.  She could use a break.

**************
	
	"Now, taste it," Akira said to Tenma.

	Tenma sipped the soup.  "Hey, this is good."
	
	"See?  You just have to be patient and follow the 
recipes," Akira said.  "Now, let's go bring everyone some.  
I'm sure they must be starving."

	"I hope she's not still mad at me," Tenma mumbled.

	"I'm sure she's okay."

	In fact, investigation showed Yakumo had fallen 
asleep with her head on Eri's lap; Eri sat next to the bed, 
napping as Harima slept on it.  

	"We'd best save it and warm it up later," Akira 
whispered.

	"She looks so cute," Tenma said, smiling.  

	They tiptoed out.

	Distantly, Yoshidayama sat in the bathroom, 
wondering if anyone was ever going to bring him some 
clothing.

***********

	Usagi could feel the faint prickling which usually 
meant there was about to be a monster attack.  Not now, not 
when I'm trying to buy groceries, she thought. 

	She glanced over at Lala, who was looking around 
warily.  "Trouble," Lala said.

	Usagi blinked.  "Trouble?"  Lala could sense it too?

	Lala suddenly leaped over the aisle divider, grabbing a 
raven perched on top of it.  Usagi ran around the end and 
saw Lala holding it.

	"Okay, where's your stupid master?" Lala asked.

	"I don't know what you're talking about," the raven 
said.  "I mean...caw, caw!"

	"Don't play dumb with me!  I'm an expert at dumb!," 
Lala said.  

	The raven began to laugh, pissing her off.

	"Lala-chan...what's going on?" Usagi asked, suddenly 
wondering if a new war was beginning and how Lala was 
connected.

	"This is one of the evil Irish ravens who have invaded 
Japan, turning people into ugly, stupid ninjas to serve 
them," Lala said, hoping this wasn't supposed to be kept 
secret.

	"I'm just an innocent talking raven who happens to be 
passing by!," the raven said.  "I'm not trying to help find 
King Balor's Eye AT ALL!"

	Usagi's hand went to her broach instinctively.  

	"HEY!  Put my raven down!" Raven Ninja Formorian 
Blue shouted at Lala.  "You're getting in the way of me 
turning this into a giant energy draining trap for that 
bastard, Harima!"

	"Hold the Raven," Lala said, shoving it into Usagi's 
hands.  "You want a fight?  COME AND GET SOME."

	"Drop him!" Blue said, firing a blast at Usagi.

	Lala flipped, grabbing Usagi and going over the aisle 
divider.  The raven got loose in the process.

	Then Lala kicked the aisle divider over on top of Blue 
and jumped up and down on it, hammering her into the 
floor.  "You could have hurt her, you idiot!  Fight me!"

	Usagi tried to decide whether to transform.  She could 
easily duck over an aisle...but Lala seemed on top of this 
menace.

	"Dammit, this isn't fair!  Let me stand up!," Blue 
shouted.

	"This isn't a formal match, so I MAKE THE 
RULES!," Lala shouted.  "And the rules say stupid people 
in raven outfits get to eat floor!"  JUMP JUMP JUMP 
WHAM WHAM WHAM.

	FWAKOOM, a massive blast blew the divider apart, 
covering Lala in tomato juice and pieces of tomato and bits 
of cardboard.

	"Lala-chan!"  Usagi started forwards.

	"Do you know how much this cost me?" Lala said, 
glowing red.  "This is NICE clothing.  Now you PAY."

	WHAM WHAM WHAM WHAM TELEPORT.

	Lala cursed as Blue fled by teleportation.  "I am so 
sick of this!"

	"What's going on?" Usagi asked hesitantly.

	"Sorry to drag you into this," Lala said, frowning.  "It's 
not your fight.  Stupid Irish ninjas."

	"Irish ninjas?"

	"Let's find the stuff we need and I'll tell you about it."

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

	Yoshidayama got dressed.  "Thanks, Nara-san."

	"You're welcome," Nara said.  

	"I'm heading home.  See you at school on Monday."

	"See you!"

***********

	"Sounds dangerous," Usagi said.  

	"I can handle it.  They have a lot of power, but none of 
them seem to know how to fight worth...anything," Lala 
said.  

	They were walking back to Usagi's house.  

	"Well, you do seem very strong," Usagi said.

	"Anyone could be as strong as me if they only work 
out and practice," Lala said.  "My friend Karen is extremely 
strong because she works very hard."

	Usagi imagined Karen as a tall amazon like Lala.  
They probably fight these ninjas together, she thought.  
"I'm not very strong."

	"Well, it's good to be smart too.  I'm training to 
become smarter now," Lala said.  

	"How do you do that?"

	"Takano-san gives me weird tasks then gets confused 
when I solve them."

	"..."

	Lala laughed softly.  "I think I keep doing things she 
didn't anticipate."

	"Is that good?" Usagi asked.

	"I think so.  Smart people are less predictable, right?" 
Lala asked.

	"My friend Ami is a genius, but she's pretty 
predictable," Usagi said.  "In any given situation, she 
studies until I MAKE her have fun."

	Lala thought about Hanai.  "I know someone like 
that."

	"Well, good luck," Usagi said.  "I could do with a little 
getting smarter myself."

	"Well, maybe your friend can help you," Lala said.  
"Takano-san has helped me a lot."

	Couldn't hurt to try, Usagi thought.  When she gets 
back.  I bet she's studying right now.

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

	"Sit still," Ami said to Makoto as she put disinfectant 
on a cut, then applied a bandaid to Makoto's leg.  "We're all 
going to get thrown out if people keep getting into brawls."

	"I seem to remember someone headbutting a teacher 
in the groin," Minako said, grinning.

	Ami blushed, muttering something incoherent about 
her computer.

	"There's some serious freaks at your mom's school," 
Makoto said to Minako.

	"Yeah, Mom likes freaks, though," Minako said.  "Just 
remember what Mom always tells me--Everyone is 
someone else's weirdo."

	Those people are everyone else's weirdo, Makoto 
thought.  And that other woman has a mean kick.  Let's 
hope there's no more fights.

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

	"How very strange," Mr. Gonzales said, now back to 
normal clothing.  AND GLAD TO BE SO.

	"Are the sumos all crying as they leave?" Mrs. Hanai 
asked hopefully.

	"Did a sumo wrestler scare you as a baby or 
something?" Mr. Suou asked.

	"You don't normally get aurora borealis in Japan, do 
you?" Mr. Gonzales asked.

	"What?" Mr. Hanai asked.

	"Northern lights.  This kind of aura in the sky.  I got to 
see it when I filmed 'The Silver Fox vs. Erik the Red' up in 
northern Sweden. Had to wrestle a four hundred pound man 
in a blizzard.  NEVER doing that again.  Look."

	They crowded around the window; they could see a 
curvy wave of garnet light hanging in the sky like a folded 
curtain, glittering against the darkness of the night sky and 
the stars.

	"Maybe it's global warming," Mrs. Suou speculated.

	Everyone stared at her.

	"I don't know," she mumbled.

	"Pretty, but not our problem," Mr. Hanai said.  
"Unless it's an electrical storm, in which case surely the 
news will say something."

	Turning on the radio, they were too busy talking about 
some idol singer's nude rampage to say anything about 
northern lights, so they decided to find some decent music 
and do some dancing instead.

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

	The next day, the 2-C class band got together to 
practice.  Lala joined them to sing with them, and they all 
noticed how cheerful she looked.  "Did you have a good 
Valentine's Day?" Sagano asked.

	"I had a good time with a new friend," Lala said.  
"And beat up some mobsters."

	"Double win," Fuyuki said, laughing a little.  "We had 
a great time."

	"And us," Karasuma said.

	"Harry and I had to fight some idiot," Karen said.  
"But he was mostly a good date."

	"A good fight gets the blood flowing, right?" Lala 
said.

	"I guess," Karen said.  "I was hoping for something 
more romantic.  Though we did go out to eat at a nice 
place."

	"You have to be firm with Harry; he's kind of 
arrogant," Yuuki said.  "Did he ever apologize to you 
properly?"

	"Yes," Karen said.  Well, sort of.  As well as he ever 
did, anyway.

	"Good.  Okay, let's try our version of Can't Help 
Falling in Love again," Yuuki said.  "We're still not quite 
getting it."

	They didn't quite get it this time either.

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

	Aino-sensei, her husband, and her four charges stood 
on the train station platform, listening to the radio and 
waiting for their train.

	"This just in, famous Idol Aino Minako apparently 
went on a drunken naked rampage with her roadies at the 
Fire Hope Hot Springs.  We have with us ace high school 
reporter Yamaguchi Mami, who got it all on her camera 
phone...," the newscaster said.  

	"Oh dear," Minako's father said.

	"Roa...eeeeee," Ami said.

	"Oh dear," Aino-sensei said.  I'm going to be writing a 
position paper showing how nudity advances communism 
when I get home, I think, she thought.

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

	"Did you have a good time?" Yakumo asked Yuri at 
the restaurant.

	"Well, getting up early to come back wasn't fun, but 
yes, I did," Yuri said.  "Did you?"

	"Well, not everything went according to plan, but we 
had fun, right, Eri-sempai?" Yakumo asked Eri.

	"Yes, we had a good time," Eri said.

	"But now Eri's going to work here, so I'm going to 
show her how to waitress," Yakumo said.

	"Okay," Yuri said.  "Good luck, Sawachika-san.  
Waitressing is hard, but fun.  I'm sure you'll do well."

	"Thank you," Eri said.

	"Let's go suit up," Yakumo said, taking Eri to the 
costume room.  She soon had herself in a catgirl outfit and 
put Eri in a bunny outfit.  

	"Won't this be cold?" Eri asked.

	"You'll be fine, we have heating, and it gets you more 
tips," Yakumo said.

	She now took Eri around for a while, showing her how 
everything was done.  Eri learned quickly, and soon was 
ready to go solo.

	This went well at first; Eri knew how to flirt and was 
smart enough not to screw up any orders.

	Until the pace picked up.  She could see Saeko and 
Yakumo flitting customer to customer, while she struggled 
to keep up with an increasing tide of customers as the 
dinner rush flowed in.  Everyone needed refills, people 
quibbled over orders, some of them apparently needed 
10,000 years to decide on their order, and some apparently 
just wanted her to go CRAZY.

	Eri rushed about frantically, trying to keep up.  
Yakumo and Saeko glided about cheerfully, seemingly able 
to rise above the crisis, which increasingly got on Eri's 
nerves.

	"Am I going to get my refill or not?" a customer 
demanded.

	Eri fought the urge to pour the tea on his head.  "Yes, 
sir," she spat out, pouring him a fresh glass.  "Anyone 
else?"

	"This bun has weird powder on it," another said.

	"That's sugar," Eri said.  "It's a sweet bun."

	"Are you sure?" the customer asked.

	"Taste it," Eri said, restraining herself from shouting.

	He tasted it.  "Oh, never mind."

	"You're welcome," Eri lied.  She rushed off to another 
table and another petty crisis.

	At the end of the day, she was totally exhausted.  
However, she also had close to four hundred dollars worth 
of tips, which she was pretty sure was a good sign.  

	As she changed back to her normal clothing, she 
looked over at Yakumo, who hardly seemed tired at all.  
"How do you do it?" she asked.

	"Do what?" Yakumo asked.

	"You're so...mellow through it all."

	"I'm used to it," Yakumo said.

	It couldn't be THAT easy.

	She felt a little better when, as they walked home 
together, Yakumo suddenly slumped over on her and fell 
asleep.

	She carried Yakumo home, greeted at the door by 
Tenma.  "Did you bring leftovers?" Tenma asked.

	"No, I didn't think to," Eri said.  

	"It's okay, I cooked."

	She wilted as Eri looked at her suspiciously.  "I 
followed the recipe!  It was just ham soup.  Kenji-san liked 
it."  Tenma took Yakumo in her arms.  "I'll put her to bed."

	"Then I'll check on Harima," Eri said.

	She was halfway to where he was when she heard a 
thump; Tenma had collapsed under Yakumo's weight.

	Eri helped her get Yakumo to bed, then went to see 
Kenji, only to find him asleep with his manga in his lap.  
She put it to one side, then sat down next to him on the bed 
and closed her eyes for a brief nap.

	One she would wake from the next morning.

*****************
	
	"That's a joke, right?" Akira said to Shigeo.

	"No, I just...I'm not good at teasing and you are, so..."  
He looked rather befuddled.

	She laughed.  "Well, I'll see if I can think of 
something.  Really, though, it would mean more if you 
think of it yourself."

	"I'm not good at it," he said mournfully.

	I'm so lucky I have a sane boyfriend with a sane fa...a 
sane boyfriend, Akira thought.

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

	"CHARLIE'S IN THE WALLS!," Nara's mother 
shouted as she laid on the couch with a compress on her 
head full of ice.

	"You're not fooling anyone," Nara said.  

	His father, laid out on the coffee table, mumbled 
something about expresso.

	"No more coffee for you," Nara said.  "Not until I get 
my homework."   

	His parents had bribed him to come take care of their 
post-Valentine's Day recovery by getting two of their 
lovers to do his homework for him.  In theory.  He had a 
bad feeling that somehow the homework would be 
mistaken for a love letter, make the usual rounds, and 
perish in fire.

	That was the best-case scenario, really.

	Nara's father mumbled, looked at his phone, then said, 
"Juri says she's almost done with the English."

	"Dad, I'm not blind.  You didn't even turn your phone 
on."

	"Noise makes my soul ache," he mumbled.

	You'd think they'd learn by now, Nara thought.  But 
then, he always forgot about the Vday aftermaths as well.  
You take the bad with the good, I guess.

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

	Karasuma found Tenma in the back yard, lifting and 
dropping logs with her telekinesis.  "Ten... eleven... 
twelve..." Tenma counted.

	He studied her curiously.  

	"Hi!" she said, dropping log thirteen, then lifting 
fourteen, brow furrowed.  "How are you?"

	"I'm fine.  Practicing?" he asked.
	
	She nodded.  "I've really gotten a lot stronger since I 
started practicing this.  I want to be ready if there's more 
trouble with those Raven Ninjas."

	He smiled a little smile.  "Good.  We should do some 
more practice with your cosplay powers too.  As you have 
some trouble keeping control."

	She suspended another log in the air and held it, brow 
furrowed.  It wobbled a little, then the wobbles gradually 
eased out.  "Karasuma-kun, do you know much about how 
my powers work?"

	"Not the telekinesis, other than that you got it from 
your parents, just like Yakumo-san got hers.  But as for the 
cosplay, I know a little more."

	"I can do things I normally can't, when I dress up," 
Tenma said.  "Is it...am I just..."  She frowned.  "I don't 
even know how to ask."

	"Some of both," Karasuma said, now coming over and 
taking one of her hands.  "You're not stupid, you're just 
lazy."

	Tenma winced at that and the log WOBBLED, then 
righted itself.

	"You could have much better grades if you studied 
more," he said, hesitantly.  He didn't like making her 
unhappy.  Which was why he'd not been good at pushing 
her to study.  "But when you do things like design a nuclear 
reactor that runs on soda and bubblegum, like Dr. Tenma 
can do, that's psychic.  You're tapping into higher level 
archetypes.  Which is tricky, because you can lose yourself 
in them."

	"Dad used to talk about archetypes when I was little, 
but I never understood," Tenma said, staring off across the 
yard.  "What is an archetype?"

	"Well, there's a lot of metaphysics and it's hard to 
explain, but there are higher levels of reality which you can 
tap into, where primal concepts dwell; you take on some of 
their power by donning garb appropriate to their roles, and 
drawing them into yourself.  Which can cause you to lose 
yourself unless your will is strong."

	"So it's like being possessed?"

	"Sort of," he said.  "There are mind exercises to help 
you handle it, but they only help if you do it regularly.  
Like you're doing with this."

	"Exercise is boring," Tenma mumbled.

	"Lots of things are boring until you get good enough 
for the good stuff," Karasuma said.

	"That's what Akira told me," Tenma said, dropping the 
log.  "Okay, show me.  I'll do it."

	He looked at her.

	"I will.  You'll just have to remind me," she said.

	That was a start, at least, he thought.	

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

	Lala and Hanai were in the living room watching TV 
when Mr. Gonazales and Hanai's parents came in.  "Very 
clever," Mr. Hanai said.  "So where DID you go?"

	Hanai smiled.  "Did you have fun at the hot springs?"

	"Yes," Mr. Hanai said.  "We had a good time with the 
Suous."

	"What are you...," Mr. Gonzales began.

	"Now, in a breaking news report, famous Mexican 
wrestler, the Silver Fox, took on an entire army of sumos at 
the True Spirit Hot Springs," the reporter said.  "We have 
footage filmed by an ace high school reporter..."

	Lala stared.  Mr. Gonzales cringed.  Mrs. Hanai said, 
"SUMOS," then ran out of the room.

	Mr. Hanai said, "Well, any publicity is good publicity, 
right?" 

	Lala began to laugh.  "Father, you look so 
ridiculous..."

	"There is more footage available at 
www.MexicanSumo.com..."

	"Time to go piledrive the Internet," Mr. Gonazales 
said, wandering out because he couldn't stand to see more 
of this.

	"Well, at least none of our stuff ended up on TV," 
Hanai said.

	"In other news, a large number of naked teens and 
adults had a giant brawl at the Fire Hope Hot Spring, 
including famous Idol singer Aino Minako..."  Footage, 
censored, of a giant brawl, began to play.

	"Nice kick there on the big girl," Mr. Hanai said, then 
winced.  "Headbutt to the groin."

	"That short girl was vicious once she got going," 
Hanai mumbled.  "I was afraid she was going to bite me.  
Just because her computer got knocked into a pool...who 
brings a computer to a hot springs?"

	"See, you left yourself open for the elbow smash from 
the little kid when you were axe-kicking the big guy there," 
Mr. Hanai pointed out.

	"What the hell happened at that springs?" Lala asked.

	"There was a sort of fight for no reason," Hanai 
mumbled.

	Lala looked at him dubiously.  

	"It was all perfectly innocent violence," Hanai said.

	More dubious looking.

	"It was!"

	"Well, I'm going to go call Akira-san," Lala said.  "I 
expect your father wants to spank you now."  She left.

	"It was just...," Hanai began.

	"I know," his father said.  "You're only going to be 
punished for sneaking out while still grounded, not for the 
naked brawl."

	"Fair enough," Hanai said, relieved.  

	"I think it's time we practice you breaking stone."

	Hanai nodded.

	"With your head."

	Oh boy, Hanai thought.

	"Let's go."	

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

	"A grocery store in Juuban...well, I think it's time to 
deal with this Raven Ninja, assuming Kenji is right about 
her identity, but it makes sense.  We'll meet tomorrow and 
plan," Akira said over the phone to Lala.

	Lala nodded, then said over the phone, "Sounds good 
to me.  After class?"

	"After class," Akira said.  "Those of us who came 
through the weekend intact, anyway."

	"I'll be ready."

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

	Raven Ninja Formorian Purple walked out of the 
restaurant, leaving a trail of unconscious customers in her 
wake.  "Revenge is a dish best served immediately," she 
said.

	Her Raven said, "I'm thinking that you overreacted a 
little to the waitress wanting a tip."

	"I had to wait more than 30 seconds for my refill, 
ergo, bad service," Purple said.  "Hmm, I keep thinking I'm 
forgetting something."

	"We are supposed to be looking for King Balor's Eye."

	"How?" Purple asked.

	"What?"

	"This world is real big and King Balor's Eye is, well, 
eye-sized, right?"

	"It's about twice as big as a normal eye, but yes," the 
Raven said.

	"How do we find it?"

	"You just...um...uh..." the Raven mumbled.

	"See, I'm thinking the fact that it took thousands of 
years for you to get around to looking here doesn't bode 
well for finding it any time soon," Purple said.  "In the 
meantime, I'll gather energy and enjoy my revenges."

	Time to go see the boss, the Raven thought.

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

	Itoko opened the ceiling panel and Sasakura lowered 
her down on the cord.  Hanging in the air, Itoko began 
hacking the Principal's computer; there had to be something 
she could use as blackmail, just in case.

	Itoko believed in preparing for trouble in advance, 
when possible.

	She was nonetheless stunned by his giant porn stash.  
It was very carefully hidden away, but not well enough to 
keep Itoko from finding it.  It included a lot of pictures of 
students, staff, etc, and various files estimating people's 
measurements, etc.  She was utterly boggled, having 
believed him sexless, really.

	But this would do nicely, so she copied enough of it to 
use as evidence, removed all traces of her checking, and 
then left.

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

	Buddha hummed to himself as he sat and waited for 
his computer to finish compressing some files.

	"You sure hiding backups on computers at school is 
wise?" Imadori asked.  "Surely someone's going to notice."

	"After the way Itoko-sensei trashed one of our 
archives that time, we can't take any chances," Buddha 
said.  "Also, that way, if it's found, it won't be connected to 
us.  I even changed the record-keeping format so it won't be 
connectable to us by Itoko-sensei."

	"You sure you can fool her?" Imadori asked.

	"I learn from my mistakes," Buddha said.  

	"I bow to your expertise, then," Imadori said.  "You 
did make sure there's not any pictures of Yukari-chan in the 
stashes, right?"

	Buddha said, "Yes.  Which is a pity because..."

	"She's my girlfriend," he said.  "I don't want other 
people seeing her naked."

	Ahh, hypocrisy.  Is there nothing you can't justify, 
Buddha asked himself.

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

	Later, Tenma hummed to herself as she telekinesised 
Eri and Yakumo down the hallway to tuck them into bed in 
the guest room; they'd wake up all sore and out of sorts if 
they slept on the floor.  Her head was starting to hurt, but 
being able to move this much weight was really useful.

	Oh wow, I could finally clean out the garage, she 
thought.  I'd better get on that before I forget.

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

	The next morning, Yakumo looked out the window; 
the contents of the garage were scattered all over the front 
yard.  She stared, mouth open, then spotted Tenma's head 
sticking up out of a box; Tenma was asleep under a blanket.

	Yakumo went over and kissed Eri awake.

	Eri groggily said, "Yakumo-chan?"

	"Can you make breakfast?  Somehow the contents of 
our garage got all over the lawn and oneechan is asleep in 
the mess."

	"She is?  How'd she not freeze to death?" Eri asked.  
"Was it burglars?"  Now she was getting worried.

	"I don't know.  I'll take care of oneechan while you 
work on the food, okay?"

	"Okay," Eri said.

	Yakumo quickly changed into warmer clothing and 
went outside, shaking Tenma awake.  "Oneechan!"

	Tenma rubbed her eyes.  "Yakumo-chan, why is the 
ceiling of my room blue?  Did I leave the window open?"

	"You slept in a box in the front yard," Yakumo said.

	"..."

	Tenma stood and looked around.  "Oh no, I fell asleep 
in the middle of cleaning out the garage!"

	"..."

	Tenma said, "I'll stay home until I clean it all up, I'm 
really sorry about the mess."  She bowed frantically to 
Yakumo.

	"But why..."

	"I just wanted to practice my telekinesis and I wiped 
myself out," Tenma mumbled.

	"Okay, but make sure you clean this all up," Yakumo 
said.  Sleeping in a cardboard box for the night was 
punishment enough for making this mess, really.  "Eri-
sempai is making breakfast."

	"Oh, cool," Tenma said.  "Call me in when it's ready.  
I'll get right on this."  She concentrated and the box she 
slept in slid off next to the garage door.  

	Yakumo headed inside as objects flew about the yard.

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

	"Where is Tenma?" Akira asked Eri at school later 
that morning.

	"She's still picking up her mess.  She emptied the 
garage into the yard," Eri said.

	"That's big, even for Tenma," Akira said.

	"So she's staying home to clean it up and take care of 
Kenji."

	"He's still sick?"

	Eri sighed.  "Yes.  I'm going to sub for him at his shop 
tonight, with Haruka, since he can't work."

	"You're going to be pretty busy," Akira said.

	"Have you ever waitressed?" Eri asked.

	"Some, but they tend to prefer people who are 
more...charming than I am," Akira said.  "I could do it, but 
I didn't get good tips."

	"I got a lot of tips, but I felt totally exhausted 
afterwards."

	"Well, you're not used to working," Akira pointed out.  
"You'll get the hang of it with time."

	"I hope so," Eri said, wondering how she was going to 
find time for homework with two jobs.

***********

	"Naked interpretative combat dance.  I hadn't heard of 
this," the Principal said to Aino-sensei.

	"It's all the rage in the countryside with the youth," 
Aino-sensei said.  "You see, the older folk getting 
clobbered here represent the bourgeoise, while they are the 
rising socialist youth..."

	The principal nodded repeatedly as she carefully 
explained how the entire incident was symbolic of the 
ongoing socialist struggle against capitalism.  Aino-sensei 
was glad she'd mastered the art of making things up to play 
to the prejudices of her teachers in high school and college 
as it was a very useful skill in academia.

	"Hmm, yes, that's true, this concern for clothing really 
is a sign of a society clogged with bourgeois respectability, 
instead of socialist spirit," the principal said.  "I'll have to 
look into reducing clothing levels once the weather is warm 
enough for it not to be suicidal.  After all, you can't 
advance the revolution if you're suffering frostbite."

	Outside, Aino-sensei was smiling and gracious.  
Inside, she was already beginning to see the rioting army of 
parents when the principal decided everyone should wear 
bikinis to school or something.  But at least it gave her 
some time to minimize the damage...

	"Exactly," she said.  

	"Alright.  This should be fine, then," he said.  "We can 
discuss the uniform changes later this week."

	Twitch.

	"Yes, sir," she said, saluting and heading out before he 
could get any more bad ideas.

***********

	"A lot of women may say they can take teasing, but 
they can't really," Imadori said.  "So I'd be pretty careful."

	Shigeo, though, was already too good at being careful.

	Maybe someone else will have a good idea...

***********

	"You look cheerful," Tani-sensei said to Kaitou-
sensei.

	"I had a marvelous Valentine's Day," he said.

	"Worth what you paid?"  Tani asked.

	"Har, har.  I had a date with a highly intelligent 
college professor," he said.  

	"So you paid prime rate and got prime results?" 
another teacher asked.

	"It was just a normal date," Kaitou-sensei said.  

	His phone buzzed and he checked the message.

	'You busy this Friday?  I'd like to go out again.  --
Morgan'

	"Hah!  Look at this," he said, shoving the phone in 
everyone's face.

	"You sure you didn't send yourself that text 
message?," Itoko-sensei asked.  

	"Hell no."  He began typing out a reply.  This is going 
to be great, he thought.

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

	After a while of whispering and pointing, Mikoto had 
enough and strode over to Buddha and Imadori's gang, who 
hastilly began trying to hide their phones and close their 
laptops.  She grabbed one and found a blurry picture of 
herself axe-kicking...what was her name...Makoto.  Both of 
them were mostly naked, though you couldn't make out the 
details well as they were in motion.  "What the hell are you 
doing?"

	"It's all over the news," Shin said, trying to get his 
laptop back.

	Mikoto began hitting the delete key until she couldn't 
find anything else to delete.  "Would you like it if I passed 
naked pictures of you around?"

	"I'd be flattered if all the women in class wanted to see 
me naked," Shin said.

	"..."

	"So who is that girl you were fighting?  Without a 
name, we're having a hard time finding more pictures of 
her," Shin said.

	Mikoto made a 'come hither gesture'.  Shin leaned 
forward, then Mikoto yelled in his ear, "NONE OF YOUR 
BUSINESS."

	Shin blew across the room into the wall.

	At least they didn't get any pictures of...or did they?  
She felt extremely weird and decided to distract herself 
with her homework.  Or something.

	"I see you had a lively weekend," Akira said to Hanai 
as Mikoto was returning.

	"Yes," he mumbled.

	"We had a good time," Mikoto said quickly.

	"I got thrown out of the house," Eri mumbled.

	"What?" Mikoto asked.

	Eri explained it all, and now Mikoto didn't feel so bad.  
For herself.  She felt bad for Eri.  "Geez."

	"Well, I'm not going to give up," Eri said firmly.  "I 
can do this and I will."

	"Good for you," Mikoto said.  "I'll help you any way I 
can."

	"Thanks," Eri said.

	"That's what friends are for," Mikoto said.

	"So are you going to keep the blonde look for a 
while?" Eri asked Akira.

	Akira started, then said, "Yes.  It's probably vain, 
but..."

	"Oh, I think it looks nice.  And there's nothing wrong 
with looking pretty," Eri said.

	Mikoto nodded.  "I see you dyed Nara's hair too."

	"I like the red," Akira said.  

	"Good," Eri said.  "I like Kenji's hair the way it is, but 
I think it's good Nara will do that for you."

	"Mmmm," Akira made a happy noise.  "We're having 
an anti-ninja meeting tonight."

	"I have to work, so let me know what you figure out," 
Eri told her.

	"Will do," Akira said.

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

	"Ugh, school," Harima mumbled.

	"Don't worry about it.  Better you stay home and get 
well," Tenma said, handing him a plate and a glass as he 
lay in bed.  "Eat up, get strong.  You'll recover faster if you 
don't push yourself."

	"Have to work tonight," he mumbled.

	"Eri-chan is going to cover it for you.  Aren't you 
lucky?"

	"Yes," Harima mumbled.  Having two sources of 
income was a big help, especially if Eri was going to join 
them all.  

	"I've got work to do," Tenma said.  "Yell for me if you 
need me."

	"Okay," he said.  He ate the food and then tried calling 
Tenma to come for the dishes, but nothing happened.

	He got up and stumbled to the kitchen to put his dishes 
in the sink, then heard noises from the garage.

	He stumbled in and found Tenma asleep on top of a 
box; Iori was trying to drag a blanket over her.  Harima 
quietly pulled the blanket up, then stood there, leaning on 
the wall, watching her sleep.

	She's so cute like that, he thought.  

	But he shouldn't be thinking about such things, not 
now.  So he made himself turn and go back to bed, hoping 
she'd be okay.  

**********

	Minako saw Usagi approaching her at school and 
smiled confidently to hide the screaming inside her head 
from everyone whispering constantly about what had 
happened at the hot springs.  "Hey, Usagi, how was your 
weekend?"

	"I made a new friend," Usagi said.  "And possibly 
found a new set of enemies.  Did you enjoy your naked 
rampage?"

	"..."

	Usagi giggled.  "Now we're even."

	"The Tiki Gods didn't show up again, did they?" Ami 
asked.

	"Evil magical ninjas," Usagi said.  "It's like this..."

**********

	The front yard still had half the contents of the garage 
across it when Yakumo got home with Eri.  Yakumo was 
not pleased.  She headed into the garage and found Tenma 
asleep on a box again, which further irritated her.  

	Eri touched her forehead.  "Okay, good, I was afraid 
she'd gotten sick."

	Yakumo bit her tongue, telling herself not to get mad.  
But now...  She shook Tenma awake.

	"Buh...whu?" Tenma asked in confusion.

	"Oneechan," Yakumo said, just a touch harshly, 
"Everything is still scattered everywhere."

	"Ack, I'm sorry, I just needed a short nap and...iya!"  
Tenma ran off into the yard.

	Eri patted Yakumo's shoulder.  "I know," she said 
softly.  

	Boxes began flying into the garage now.

	Then Tenma said, "So hungry," and fell over.

	Yakumo sighed.  "I'll make you both some food before 
you go work."

	"Thank you," Eri said.

	They headed on inside, leaving Tenma faceplanted in 
the dirt.

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

	Akira walked up to Tenma's house with Lala and Nara 
in tow, only to find Tenma faceplanted in the dirt.  She 
picked up Tenma and shook her off.  "What are you 
doing?"

	"Hungry...mess...fooood," Tenma mumbled.

	"Wore yourself out with telekinesis?" Akira asked, 
studying the stuff strewn about.

	"Yes."

	"Lala, can you put this all in the garage while I 
prevent Tenma starving?" Akira asked.

	"Sure," Lala said.  "Shouldn't she clean up her own 
mess, though?"

	Akira looked thoughtful, then said, "Yes, but she's too 
weak to do it and it's going to be dark soon."

	"Hmm," Lala said, then got her phone.  "Yoshidayama 
owes me a favor; this will do."

	Akira smiled a little.  That's the way to do it, she 
thought.  Now I wonder if he'll pass it off to someone too...

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

	"Hmm, do you think maybe  you could make us some 
kind of searching item?" Mai asked Sagano.  

	"Hmmm.  I'm not even sure how I made the flying 
wands or our transformation pens, but I can try," Sagano 
said.

	Mai, Sagano, Akira, Mikoto, Hanai, Nara, Tenma, 
Karasuma, Michiru, Lala, Yuuki, Fuyuki, a sick Harima, 
and Tougo had all assembled to try to make some plans at 
Tenma's house.

	"It could be useful.  However, we need to lay a trap 
for Kaorin, as I think she's our best lead," Akira said.  
"Given this eye of Balor has been lost thousands of years, I 
doubt they will find it any time soon.  It's probably buried 
in some underground cave or something.  Not where just 
anyone can find it quickly."

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

	The vampire matron of the house next door to Akira's 
said to her older daughter, "Honey, please don't use your 
grandmother's jewelry to kill the cockroaches.  God gave us 
shoes for a reason."

	Her daughter, a purple haired teenager named Karin 
said, "But then I'd have to touch them."  She squirmed, 
holding a silver necklace with a huge red gem set in it. 

	A cockroach ran across the floor and Karin pointed the 
gem at it and concentrated.  ZAAAAP.  A massive beam 
came out of the gem, destroying the cockroach.  "Why do 
we get all these roaches?"

	"They feed on the restless dead next door and we can't 
bring an exterminator in here," her mother said, then 
grabbed the necklace.  "This is for real threats, not for 
cockroaches.  USE A SHOE."

	"But..."

	"SHOE."

	"Fine," Karin grumbled, going to get a spare shoe.

	Her mother sighed.  The last thing we need is 
throwing a lot of mystic energy around that might wake up 
my husband's mother.   Time to go lock this up better than 
before.  

	The way this thing ends up lying around the house, 
you'd think it was trying to be found, Karin's mother 
thought.  But she knew better than that.

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

	Eri felt somewhat embarrassed by her outfit, which 
was pretty much a black bikini top, high black boots, and a 
short black skirt.  With black sunglasses.  "Is this really 
necessary?" she asked Haruka.

	"You've noticed how good the sales have been, right?  
You're getting a cut of the sales, so the more doo-dads and 
services we sell, the better," Haruka said.  "Once we close 
the front end and I work on custom jobs, you can put on 
something else."

	"I do look pretty sexy in this," Eri said, studying 
herself in the mirror.  "It's just..."

	"Well, I can dress up like that if you want me to," 
Haruka said.  "To be fair."

	"Well, a guy wouldn't look too good in this," Eri said.

	Haruka grinned.  "I could pass as a woman if I had to."

	"Not in this, though maybe in a nice formal dress...," 
Eri said.  "So unless I turned you into a woman, I don't 
think you'll be wearing this."

	"Save that for turning Kenji into a woman," Haruka 
teased.

	Eri's eyes crossed, she mumbled something, then said, 
"No magic unless I can't help it.  Too dangerous."

	"Seriously, if you can do magic, you probably should 
try to learn to use it right," Haruka said, voice serious.  

	"I'd need proper training and I don't know anyone who 
could," Eri said.  "I'll stick to things I know won't get me 
stuck as a boy, like guns."

	"I'm kind of curious what boy you looked like," 
Haruka said.

	"Kind of bishonen, taller, thin, but stronger than I 
normally am," Eri said.  "I..."

	More customers came in and Eri went to work; her 
long experience with both arousing and fending off 
romantic interest came in pretty useful for getting people to 
buy things.  The pace was slower than waitressing, which 
was nice.

	Eventually, the tide slacked off, leaving them alone 
again.  "We should put you in something sexy," Eri said.  
"If I have to wear this."

	"Fair enough.  I'll figure out something for next time," 
Haruka said.  

	Eri began trying to think of something as she 
continued to work.

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

	"Alright," Akira said.  "So we have our plan."

	"And I'll work on a scrying...ahah!," Sagano said.

	"This had better not be...," Yuuki began.

	"G-rated idea this time," Sagano said.  "I'll just craft a 
dousing rod!"

	"Isn't that for water?," Harima asked.

	"It's for whatever I tell it to be for," Sagano said 
confidently.  "So when is the raid?"

	"Tonight, I will scout," Akira said.  "And tomorrow, 
we revise as needed, then Wednesday, we strike."

	Tenma said, "Wait...was I doing something earlier?"

	"You were putting things back in the garage," Harima 
said.

	"Why am I hearing noises from the garage?" Tenma 
asked.

	"Because Yoshidayama is putting everything up while 
you stuffed your face," Lala said a little harshly.

	"Ack!"

	Tenma ran out to the garage and found Tomo and 
Yoshidayama busy hauling in boxes.  "Let me help!," she 
said, feeling guilty.

	"Okay," Yoshidayama said.

	Tenma began whizzing in boxes and restacking things 
while Tomo and Yoshidayama dove for cover.

	"How'd you do that?" Tomo asked, afterwards.

	"It's a knack," Tenma said.  With some food in her, it 
had been easy.  Though now she was hungry again.  "Come 
on in and I'll make you some food."

	"Thanks," Yoshidayama said.

	They went in and Tenma started cooking.	

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

	Meeting over, Harima ambled back to Yakumo's room 
to do some manga drawing.  He found Yakumo busy doing 
the same math problem over and over.  "What's wrong?" he 
asked softly.

	"Kiss me," she said.

	"But I'm sick, I might..."

	"Kiss me," she said firmly.

	He pulled her up to standing, embraced her, and kissed 
her deeply, praying he wasn't infecting her.  But it was nice 
to kiss her and he wanted her to feel better.

	Finally, she relaxed against him.  "Is the garage 
done?"

	"Yes," Harima said.

	"Did Tenma do it?"

	"Not all of it."

	Yakumo's grip on him tightened, then loosened.  
Yakumo sighed.  "She's so..."

	"I know.  But it's just her nature," Harima said.  "It's 
hard to make people change."

	"I can't...I have you and Eri to take care of now.  I 
can't take care of her all the time too," Yakumo said softly.  
"She...I wish Mother was here."

	"When are they coming back?" Harima asked.

	"Whenever they find the pirate treasure Dad's looking 
for," Yakumo said.  "I'm not being selfish, am I?"

	"No," Harima said, kissing her forehead.  "She does 
have Karasuma to take care of her, though."  He didn't like 
saying that, but it was getting easier.  He was letting go of 
Tenma, gradually.  He wouldn't have even been thinking of 
her at all, here holding Yakumo, if Yakumo hadn't brought 
her up.  

	"But if he goes to America...," Yakumo said.

	"I think that changed or something," Harima said.  "As 
they seemed to me to be acting like he'll be here next year.  
But maybe she'll go with him."

	"I love oneechan so much, but I think...I think I've 
been too easy on her."

	"Everyone is easy on the people they care about," 
Harima said.  "I can't...I don't like to criticize her either."

	"Kenji, you love me, don't you?" she asked softly.

	"Yes," he said softly, kissing her forehead again.  
Hopefully that would be less a gift of germs.  "Are you 
sure..."

	"I don't get sick easy," Yakumo said.  "I'll take the 
chance.  Because I love you and Eri-sempai."

	Harima smiled and held her tight.  "I wish...but not 
until I'm well."

	"I know," she said softly.  "That would definitely 
make us all sick.  I have the supplies so no one gets 
pregnant, but I don't think they'll stop this kind of thing."

	"The...oh.  Condoms and stuff," Harima asked.

	"Yes," Yakumo said softly, still holding him.

	"Okay," Harima said.  I'd better find out how to use 
those.  Maybe Haruka will know...

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

	Haruka hummed to herself, ringing up another sale, 
then answered her phone when it rang.  "Yo, Kenji."

	"Hey, Haruka.  I...umm...you ever...oh wait, you 
wouldn't need those...or do women use them too?" Harima 
asked.

	"Uh, what?" Haruka asked.

	"Ummm..."

	"Is this about birth control?" Haruka asked.

	Eri turned and stared.

	"I...no...yes."

	"It's just like a sock, but you put it on your manhood," 
Haruka said.  "Or are you talking about the pill?  That's for 
women."

	"Yes, condom.  Just like a sock?  Sounds easy."

	"Yeah.  I'd imagine getting it off once it's full could be 
a little messy, though," Haruka said.

	Eri stared, slowly turning red.

	"But you shouldn't..."

	"I know, I'm sick, just planning ahead."

	Haruka nodded, not that Harima could see her.  "I 
expect Hanai could tell you more than I could, though.  But 
I think it's that simple.  Hmm, also, he knows about being 
with two women at once..."

	Eri's eyes crossed.  

	"True," Harima said.  "Okay.  Thanks."

	Haruka glanced at Eri, then said, "Oh, you want 
Michiru and I to join you three?  We'd be happy to show 
you how it's done your first time."

	"WHAT?" Harima said.

	Eri turned red.  "Say what?"

	"Really, it's best to have an expert on hand when you 
try something new," Haruka teased.

	"But...we..."  Harima's brain blew out.

	"You...I mean, you are...but..." Eri babbled.

	"Man, you two are SO easy to tease," Haruka said.  
"It's like stealing candy from babies."

	"..."  Eri stared.

	"Though I could probably convince Michiru to try it 
if..."

	"I'm too sick and not insane enough," Harima 
mumbled.  "This is more than I know how to handle 
already.  Anyway, thanks for the advice."  

	"You're welcome," Haruka said to Harima.  "I'll bring 
Eri home when we close."

	"Michiru is still here, I think, so she may need a ride," 
Harima said.

	"Okay.  See ya."  Click.

	"I...you..."

	"I'm just teasing," Haruka said.  

	"We haven't even...I mean..."

	"Not until Kenji gets well, I know.  Just make sure he 
doesn't forget to use a condom; you know how flighty he 
can be."

	"Yes," Eri mumbled.  

	"Okay, back to work."

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

	"This is good," Michiru said.  She and Tomo and 
Yoshidayama were all eating the food Tenma had made.  
Akira and Nara were just having a snack.  Everyone else 
had taken off.

	"Thank you," Tenma said.  "I followed the recipe as 
closely as I could."  She glanced at Akira.

	Akira nodded approvingly.  "Good."

	"It seemed kind of bland but..."

	"Not everything has to be fancy," Michiru said 
reassuringly, then ate more of her soup.

	"It needs more nutmeg," Tomo said.  Not that she 
knew what nutmeg tasted like, but she had to say 
SOMETHING.

	"Fine with me, thank you," Yoshidayama said.  

	"Well, you did some of my work, so I owed you," 
Tenma said.

	Yakumo, who had been quietly listening from the 
hallway, felt a little better.  Good for you, oneechan, she 
thought.  She coughed, then decided to bundle up a little.  I 
must be cold.

***********

	"So you didn't tell them yet?" Haruka asked Harima 
when she came to pick up Michiru, taking him aside.

	"Not yet," he said, coughing.  "They might guess the 
other stuff."

	"Well, probably best to wait on it for now, then.  Just 
make sure when you sleep with them that you use a 
condom."

	"I will, I will," Harima said, a little aggravated.  

	"Unless Eri turns you into a woman, in which case, 
call me to come over and help," Haruka teased.

	"If Eri turns me into a woman, I'll be sure to call you," 
Harima said.

	Haruka's eyes crossed and Harima laughed.  "Thanks 
for running the shop while I'm sick," he said to Haruka.

	"It's fine, I need money too.  Don't forget to thank Eri.  
She let herself play the fool to get us more business," 
Haruka said.

	"I will," Harima said.  

	"Okay, gotta run."

	"Wait, we worked out a plan for dealing with the 
Raven Ninja we have a lead on and we might need your 
Sailor Self," Harima said.  "Here's the plan..."

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

	"Are you sure you're okay?" Michiru asked Eri while 
Harima and Haruka talked.

	"I'm fine," Eri said.  "I have to learn to stand on my 
own feet, so you don't need to give me money."  Surely two 
part-time jobs would be enough, anyway.  "Does Haruka 
ever...ummm..."

	"Dress me up in sexy outfits to make more money?" 
Michiru asked.

	"Yeah," Eri mumbled.

	"Not often.  I inherited a lot of money and my albums 
keep me well off and you wouldn't do a concert like that.  
Not classical, anyway," Michiru said.  "If you don't want to 
wear it, just beat Haruka up until you don't get asked any 
more.  Or ask me, and I'll beat up Haruka for you."  She 
smiled.  "But if there's anything..."

	"No, I really want to be as independent as I can be," 
Eri said.  "But thank you for offering."  She glanced over at 
Haruka and Harima.  She wanted to ask for advice about 
sex, but didn't want to come off as some naive, 
inexperienced person like she really was.  "Although if you 
have any experience with...umm...I'm not really clear on 
how you do it with three people," she said quickly.  "Two, 
yes, but three..."

	Neither did Michiru, but she wasn't going to admit 
that, either.  For that matter, she'd never had sex with a man 
at all, or indeed, anyone but Haruka.  But she was, 
however, good at making things up if she had to.  And then 
pretending she knew all along.

	Then it hit her.  "The key thing here is that there is 
more to sex than just the conventional 'put it in' you are 
likely expecting.  So, start with this..."

	As she spoke, Eri turned more and more red, which 
made her more and more certain that she'd be curious to see 
how it all worked out.

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

 	"Thanks for helping Haruka out," Harima mumbled.

	"You're welcome.  Get well soon," Eri said, kissing 
Harima's forehead as she and Yakumo tucked him into bed.

	"I hope so," he mumbled.

	Yakumo kissed his forehead, then took Eri by the 
waist and led her out, then once they were in the hallway, 
grabbed her and kissed her fervently.  Eri turned red, then 
began kissing her back, her hands roaming about Yakumo's 
back, trying to figure out where they were supposed to be.  
Yakumo had put one of her hands on Eri's butt, the other in 
the middle of her back, both pulling her tight.

	When Yakumo finally released her, Eri mumbled 
incoherently.

	"I know," Yakumo said.  "We have to wait to be fair."  
She coughed.

	"Are you okay?" Eri asked, worried.

	"I'm fine," Yakumo said.  "We should take a bath, then 
go to bed."  She licked her lips nervously.  "I'd like to bathe 
with you, but..."

	"I know," Eri said.  "Best not to tempt ourselves when 
we need to wait for Kenji."

	Yakumo nodded.  "But we can sleep together, so long 
as we keep our clothing on."  She smiled.  She was going to 
enjoy that, anyway.

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

	"You're kidding," Haruka said to Michiru as they got 
home.

	"No.  It should be interesting to see if it works," she 
said.

	"That's one way of putting it," Haruka said.  "I wonder 
if they'll try to...hmm."

	"She still doesn't know.  About you."

	Haruka smiled a little, then said, "Kenji kept his 
mouth shut because they might make the same leap he did 
if they knew."

	Michiru nodded, sitting down in a nice chair as 
Haruka leaned over the back.  "Well..."

	"Hmm?"

	"Nothing.  Just hoping my advice works well," 
Michiru thought.

	"Well, we'll see."

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

	Akira reached for the zipper, only to have Nara grab it 
and zip it up the front of her work outfit.  Rather slowly, as 
he kissed her neck.  She fought temptation and simply 
turned and kissed him.  "I had it," she said softly.

	"Yes, but I enjoyed helping," he whispered into her 
ear.

	"Have you got the sound equipment?" she asked, 
quickly switching subjects.  

	"Yes.  It's out in the van."

	"Good.  Everyone here?"

	"Yes," he said.

	"Then let's get going."

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

	Lala sat on the roof in her long coat, watching Akira 
pick the lock on the side door of the house.  She could see 
the van with the monitoring equipment parked nearby, but 
she'd volunteered to be up on the roof to watch for ravens 
and to be ready to reinforce Akira in an emergency.  

	Everything seemed to be going smoothly, so she 
huddled up and waited to see how things would go, 
listening for screaming.

	Then she felt her phone vibrate.  Quickly, she got it 
out.  "Hello?"

	"Hi, Lala, this is Usagi," Usagi said.  "You busy?"

	"Kinda," Lala said.

	"I kinda totally bombed a quiz today and I'm thinking 
I'd like to meet your friend you mentioned, as I need a tutor 
and I think I've driven Ami to the brink of insanity on 
studying."

	"Okay, I'll come get you tomorrow.  Busy right now," 
Lala whispered.

	"Thanks," Usagi said.  "I was afraid you'd be in bed."

	"It is late," Lala whispered.

	"Okay, see you!"  Click.

	Lala settled back to watching for trouble.

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

	The family dog had gone down, being foolish enough 
to eat drugged meat.  This made Akira's job easier.  
Thankfully, there was no sign of any serious security.

	She reached Kaorin's room, then carefully threw a tiny 
piece of wire onto the doorknob; nothing happened.  A 
longer one came next, trailing to the ground; no sign of any 
current.  Not that she expected any.  It seemed that Kaorin 
was trusting too much to her secret identity.

	Akira studied the door, wishing her heat vision 
goggles could sense magic.  This thing could turn her into a 
kumquat or something and she wouldn't know until too 
late.

	She took a pair of tongs and tapped the doorknob 
gently.  Nothing.

	Slowly, she turned the knob; it was unlocked.  Inside, 
Kaorin was snoozing away on a bed half-covered in stuffed 
animals.  There were a bunch of framed pictures of Sakaki 
on the wall.

	Easy, Akira thought.  TOO easy.  

	She sprayed a little more scent neutralizer on herself 
and studied the room.  If only I had some way to block 
teleportation, I could just grab her now, Akira thought.  But 
not now, too risky.

	She headed off, found the air conditioning unit, and 
studied it.  It would be important to her plans; if they could 
drug the air, keep her knocked out...but they still needed 
something to block teleportation.  Still, it would have to do 
for a start...

	Mission accomplished for now, she crept out.  

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

	Tenma awoke the next morning, starving.  And it was 
9 AM.  "I AM SO LATE!," she shouted, rushing out of bed 
into the hallway, only to hear the sound of coughing 
everywhere.

	A quick check showed her that Harima, Eri and 
Yakumo were all very sick now.  "Oh no!," she said.  

	A quick change later, Nurse Tenma took everyone's 
temperature and pronounced, "You're all sick."

	"Wow, I wouldn't have...cough...guessed...," Eri said 
crankily.  

	"Looks like I skip school to take care of you.  Also, 
I'm going to call Osaka so she can do a diagnosis."

	"Is that wise?" Eri mumbled.

	"Doctor Osaka Watson is an expert sidekick and 
medical doctor.  She fought in the Cola Wars, you know," 
Nurse Tenma said.  "But for now, I'm going to make you 
all a nice warm breakfast, then call her."

	Eri gurgled.

	"Thank you, oneechan," Yakumo said.  "You shouldn't 
have to..."

	"It's fine," Nurse Tenma said.  "I'm glad to be of 
help!"

	She flitted off.

	"Can Nurse Tenma cook?" Eri mumbled, feeling very 
ill.

	Yakumo coughed.  "I don't know."

	Eri didn't want to hear that.

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

	"Cough," Dr. Osaka said, holding a stethoscope to 
Harima's chest.

	He coughed up a storm.

	"Hmm, yes, it's definitely coughing."

	Harima gurgled.

	"You ran around too much yesterday and now you're 
worse," she said.  "Stay in this bed unless you have to go to 
the bathroom.  Nurse Tenma and I will see to your needs."

	"But..."

	"Don't make me order deployment of a bedpan too," 
Dr. Osaka said, pointing at Harima.

	"Yes, sir," Harima mumbled, collapsing in on himself.

	Nurse Tenma came in with a plate of toast, fruit, and a 
big glass of orange juice.  "Here we go."

	Harima studied it suspiciously, but it looked good.  
Then again, even Tenma couldn't screw up toast and fruit, 
right?

	To his surprise, it really was good.  "Thank you."

	"You're welcome," Nurse Tenma said.

	"Now, let's take care of the others," Doctor Osaka 
said.

	They went and got the rest of the food and headed to 
the guest room where Eri and Yakumo were.

	Eri looked up and saw Osaka in the doorway, wearing 
a labcoat and carrying a butcher knife; the sun glinted off it.  
She froze up and stared as Osaka began to stab and stab and 
stab and...

	And then all the melon was cut.  

	"Here's some food," Nurse Tenma said, setting it down 
for them.

	They began to eat as Doctor Osaka checked them 
over.  She finally pronounced, "Flu.  Rest, eat well, no 
kissing to pass germs, and you'll get better.  Lots of vitamin 
C."

	"Don't worry, I'll take care of you!," Nurse Tenma 
said.

	She'll pass out before lunch, I expect, Eri thought.  
Tenma was a kind person, but it was hard to rely on her.

*********

	"I'm quarantining the house," Nurse Tenma said on the 
phone to Akira.  "It's a plague pit and they need to rest."

	"Okay, we'll meet at my house," Akira said.  "Thank 
you for the warning."

	"You're welcome."

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

	"Hmm, I'm going to have a small army of disciples at 
this rate," Akira said to Lala.

	"She's a very kind person," Lala said.  "But not very 
good at studying.  Reminds me of Tsukamoto."

	Akira nodded.  "Well, she can come by tonight.  I 
think with several of our best people sick, we're going to 
have to wait on striking at Kaorin."

	Lala nodded.  "Makes sense."

	Going to have to make sure Tenma didn't get 
distracted and let everyone starve to death too, Akira 
thought.

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

	"Lunch time!," Nurse Tenma said cheerfully.  Eri and 
Yakumo had moved to Yakumo's room to pretend to study 
with Harima.  Mostly they all napped.  "Soup for 
everyone!"

	It was quite good, to their surprise.  They felt better 
after having some.  "Thank you," Eri said.

	"No problem.  If you need Dr. Osaka or I, we're in the 
living room, playing video games," Nurse Tenma said.  "I'll 
be back for the dishes in a little bit."

	"She really has it all together," Harima said, surprised.

	"I just hope it lasts all the time we're sick," Eri 
mumbled.

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

	Hanai finally called Harima back, who had called him 
during class earlier.  "Hello, Harima-san.  Feeling any 
better?"

	"Sorta.  I was just...I mean..."

	Hanai scratched his head.  "What?"

	"There's this...you've...never mind," Harima said.

	"What?" Hanai asked.

	"Nothing, nothing.  Better to figure out my own way 
to do it.  Thanks," Harima said.  "See you."  He then hung 
up.

	What was that about, Hanai wondered.

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

	The sky was changing color as the sun started to set; 
there was an odd garnet tinge to the air, which made Akira 
wonder what was going on.  But the sky was beyond her 
power to affect.

	As she and Nara walked along, she got a loud whistle 
from a group of guys they walked past.  Nara frowned, 
while she smiled goofily for just a second before 
suppressing it.  It was nice to be appreciated...but vanity 
was bad, she reminded herself.

	Nara's grip on her hand tightened a little and she 
squeezed his hand back, then pulled him around for a kiss.  
That got lots of people to gasp.

	Now Nara smiled goofily and she smiled just a little.  

	Then there was a flyer nailed to a telephone pole-- 'all-
natural breast and muscle augmentation, cheap.'  Details 
ensued.  It has to be a scam, Akira thought.  Though...

	She dismissed the thought though her brain 
memorized the address.  Not that she'd do anything like 
that.  It would be totally vain.  

	Totally.

	I have too much vanity with my fake blonde hair, 
anyway, she thought.  

	Nara now looked over curiously.  "That's got to be a 
scam."

	She smiled with a little pride.  "Of course."  My 
boyfriend is very smart, she thought.  "If it was that easy, 
lots more women would have large breasts."

	"Well, I have heard they're developing augments they 
make out of your own body tissue and a kind 
of...thing...anyway, they suction out some of your body fat 
and put it in this natural-like framework and implant that, 
so it's all natural.  So I suppose this might be that," Nara 
said.  "But it seems awfully cheap for that."

	They started to walk, and Akira said, "You seem to 
know a lot about such things."

	Nara mumbled incoherently and she touseled his hair.  
"I'm just teasing," she said.

	He tried flexing and felt his arm muscle.  "I can't tell if 
I'm stronger or not."

	"It takes time and patience," Akira said.  "You feel 
stronger to me at night, though."

	He smiled a little.  "Good."

	"It's good for you to be in better shape," Akira said.  
"Good health is important and we get into enough fights, 
you need more skills," she said.  I don't want you to end up 
like Father.  She winced inside at the thought.

	"I've got a ways to catch up with you," he said.

	"Well, I've got a ways to catch up with you on some 
things," she said.  "So we're even."

	He wished he felt even.

*********

	Lala had grown so used to fighting off zombies around 
Akira's house, that when Usagi screamed, it caught her by 
surprise.  "Don't worry, I can handle them," Lala said, 
proceeding to grab one and using him as a club to harry the 
rest back into the open graves.

	Then she came back to Usagi.  "You okay?"

	"Fine," Usagi mumbled.  "Does this happen often?"

	"Yeah, you get used to it."

	"..."

	They went up and knocked and Akira let them in.  
"Come in."

	"This is Usagi-san, Takano-san," Lala said.  "Usagi-
san, this is Takano-san."

	"Nice to meet you," Akira said, shaking her hand; 
Usagi's grip was stronger than she expected.  The huge 
gaudy broach she wore on her blouse caught Akira's eye.  
Something about that...

	"Lala-chan says you're very smart," Usagi said.

	"I am," Akira said.  "So you wish to learn from the 
master?"

	Usagi nodded.  "Yes."

	"You can study with us today, but you'll have to 
complete three tasks to be my disciple," Akira said.

	"Okay," Usagi said.  "Why are there undead next to 
your house?"

	"Ancient Ainu Burial Ground," Akira said.  "It meant 
the house was cheap."

	"Wow, so your whole family lives here?" Usagi said, 
looking around as they went into the living room.  "It's so 
big!"

	"Just my boyfriend and I," Akira said.

	"You get to live with your boyfriend?" Usagi said in 
surprise.  "I AM SO JEALOUS."

	"Na...actually, it's a long story," Akira said, but she 
smiled a little.  "KENTARO-KUN, CAN YOU GET US 
SOME TEA?" she shouted.

	Soon, he brought them some tea.  Usagi was slightly 
disappointed; Nara reminded her of Umino and didn't seem 
as cool as she expected a boyfriend of Akira to be.  But 
maybe the sum of the coolness of any couple was limited.  

	Which is why my boyfriend is cooler than me, she 
thought.  I'm getting smarter already!

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

	"I'm thinking drawing a doodle instead of doing your 
math isn't going to help you pass the quiz tomorrow," 
Hanai said.  

	Mikoto sighed.  "Math is boring.  We should go spar."

	Hanai steeled himself.  "No, we have to study.  You 
need to get your grades up, or you'll lose the contest and 
possibly have trouble getting into college with me."

	Mikoto grumbled.  "Boring, boring."

	"Too bad.  I thought martial arts was boring too, but 
you made me do it until I got good at it," Hanai said.  Don't 
back down, he told himself.  "Now I'm going to return the 
favor."

	Mikoto stared at him, then smiled a little.  "So this is 
revenge, hmm?"

	"It's my way of showing my gratitude," he said.

	"I'll never catch up to you," Mikoto said, staring at her 
notebook.

	"You won't if you don't try," he said.  Don't relent, 
don't relent, he told himself.

	"Well, I would hate to lose the bet," she said.  "Show 
me how this works."

	He began instructing her, feeling good he'd managed 
to stick to his guns and not give in.  This was for her own 
good, after all.  Studying, like anything, required discipline.

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

	Eri told herself to relax as she ate the tasty fish and 
rice and vegetables dinner which Nurse Tenma had made 
for her three sick patients.  All of the meals had been 
good...which just made her feel the world must be saving 
up for some BIG disaster.

	Yakumo and Harima seemed unconcerned with that, 
working on their manga (sort of), while also eating.  She'd 
been doing homework, and feeling slightly left out.  But 
manga...that really wasn't her talent.  Plus, they ought to be 
doing THEIR homework, really.  

	Which reminded her that she needed to call Akira to 
keep up on homework.  

	So what is Tenma messing up, she wondered.  If she's 
doing all this right...

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

	Tenma's schoolbooks and homework sat forgotten in 
Tenma's room, waiting for a day of being done that would 
never come...

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

	Sasakura-sensei swept furiously, trying to get the dust 
in the subterranean chambers under control.  "What is 
this?"

	"The Tea Club prison complex.  Doesn't get used 
much, and I think we forgot to clean it at all this year," 
Itoko-sensei said, scrubbing the furniture.

	"..."

	"I just wish we had some way to lock down 
teleportation, but we don't," Itoko said.  "Magic can be very 
annoying."

	"..."

	"Don't give me that look, you saw the Raven ninja," 
Itoko said.

	"..."

	"You can't say you didn't know what you were getting 
into, girlfriend," Itoko said, laughed softly, then went back 
to scrubbing and checking security systems.

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

	Sagano studied her dowsing rod.  "Here we go," she 
said.  "This should do the trick."

	Fuyuki looked at the long wooden rod, which forked 
at one end, forming a y-shape.  Sagano held it by the 
double prongs.  "How does it work?"
	
	"Well...umm...assuming these runes I thought of 
actually do anything...."  Sagano began concentrating.

	The rod jerked about and pointed at Fuyuki.

	"Dammit," Sagano said.  "Lead me to the Eye of 
Balor, NOT to my boyfriend!"

	It jerked about, pointing out the door, and they began 
to follow.  

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

	WHAM!  WHAM!  

	The zombies were ramming into the side of Akira's 
house again.

	Akira sighed.  "Jan-ken-po for it?"

	"Right," Lala said.

	"What?" Usagi asked.

	"Jan!  Ken!  PO!"

	Akira threw paper, Lala threw paper and Nara threw a 
rock.  "Aaargh, time to freeze my butt off," Nara said, 
rising.

	Akira returned to explaining a math problem to Usagi, 
who said, "Is he going to be okay?"

	Akira smiled a little smile and led Usagi to the 
window, where she saw Nara topless and running about 
with a tree limb, beating up zombies.  

	"Why is he...," Usagi began.

	"He gets tougher the less clothing he wears," Akira 
said.  "It's a long story."

	"..."

	"I'll go make him some hot tea," Lala said.

	"Thank you," Akira said to her.

	Usagi stared at the zombie-apocalypse.  "Does this 
happen often?"

	"They only actually attack the house maybe once a 
week," Akira said.  

	Usagi's eyes crossed.  "And you can't get rid of them 
permanently?"

	"Not by any means I've found.  No matter how many 
we kill, more show up."  Akira shrugged.  "It's like roaches, 
I guess."

	No wonder they're all so tough, Usagi thought.  
Though maybe with my powers I could do 
something...Yeah, that would be a nice thing to do for 
Takano-san.

	Akira now took Usagi back to mathland.  

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

	Sagano hummed cheerfully to herself as the rod lead 
towards the front door of a house.  "Hmm, some family 
must have it in their jewelry box," she said.

	"Maybe we should get the others," Fuyuki said.

	"Not yet, this may not be right," she said.  She walked 
up to the front door and knocked.

	To her surprise, Asou answered and the rod pointed 
right at him, vibrating gently.  He blinked.  "What?"

	"Hmmm, maybe this thing just finds cute guys," 
Sagano mumbled.

	"Are you dousing for water or something?" Asou 
asked.

	Suga came out.  "Humans are 95% water, right?  So 
none of those rods should do anything but find humans, 
anyway."

	Sagano said, "You wouldn't happen to have 
accidentally eaten a dead Irish king-god's eyeball, would 
you?"

	"Do I even want to know?" Asou asked.

	"Not really," Fuyuki said, dragging her away.  "Back 
to the drawing board, honey."

	"It must be a hunk detector, that's why it didn't detect 
Suga."

	"I HEARD THAT!"

****************
	
	Nurse Tenma tucked Eri into bed next to Yakumo.  
"Sleep well, Eri-chan, Yakumo-chan."

	"Maybe Kenji should come sleep with us," Eri 
mumbled, tired.

	"Well, since you're all sick, probably no reason not to 
share a big futon, but he's already tucked in," Nurse Tenma 
said.  "Maybe tomorrow.  Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let 
the bacteria bite."

	"I don't think bacteria have teeth, oneechan," Yakumo 
mumbled.

	"I know, it's figurative," Nurse Tenma said.  She then 
scampered off to let them sleep.

	"Does she normally tuck you in?" Eri mumbled to 
Yakumo.

	"Usually the opposite," Yakumo mumbled.  "But it's 
nice to be cared for sometimes, right?"

	"Yeah," Eri said softly, and slid into pleasant dreams.

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

	"So what is my first test, Akira-san?" Usagi asked her.

	"We'll administer it tomorrow," Akira said.  "You will 
have to study continuously for an hour without taking a 
break."

	"That...is that even possible?" Usagi asked.

	"It needs to be possible for you.  Discipline is 
everything."

	Oh boy, Usagi thought.

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

	Sagano decided to bed down for the night; dowsing 
rod mark two had proven it could only find sugar and she 
just didn't want to do more woodworking.

	She still wasn't sure what dowsing rod mark one had 
detected, but she'd kept it, just in case she needed to find 
Asou some time.

	Maybe I'll dream something useful, she thought.

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

	Akira awoke from her slumber to the sound of 
explosions.  She stumbled to the window and saw a horde 
of Sailor Senshi running wild over the undead.  She rubbed 
her eyes and tried to figure out if this was real or a dream.

	Finally, she decided to let them try and stumbled back 
to bed and laid there holding Nara until the racket quieted 
down enough to sleep.

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

	In the morning, the grounds were thoroughly blasted 
and no undead disturbed her and Nara's commute to school.  

	Well, maybe that settled things, Akira thought.  She 
certainly hoped so.

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

	Tani-sensei began handing out the quiz.  "Where is 
Tsukamoto-san?  And Harima-san and Sawachika-san?"

	"They're sick and Tenma is taking care of them," 
Mikoto said.

	"She really can't afford to miss much school," Tani-
sensei said.

	"Well, there's no one else who can do it," Akira said.

	Tani-sensei frowned, but that was true.  It was going 
to be hard for her to make up what she was missing, 
though.

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

	It was around 10:30 that Harima finally drug himself 
out of bed to go try and get some food.  He found Tenma 
and Osaka passed out in front of the TV, which was playing 
the standby screen over and over while they slept with 
videogame controllers clutched in their hands.  

	"Wake up," Harima said, nudging Tenma.

	Tenma sat up groggily.  "Uh wuh?"

	"I'll make breakfast," he mumbled.

	"Okay."  THUNK.

	I hope she isn't sick too, Harima thought.  

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

	A little while later, as he was measuring rice, Tenma 
came in.  "You can go rest.  I'll handle it."

	"You sure?" he asked.

	"Yes," she said.

**************
 
	An hour later, he came out to find out what happened 
to breakfast after drowsing a while and found Tenma busy 
playing video games with Osaka.  "Where is the food?"

	"Ack!  I ate it all!," Tenma said.  "I'll make more."

	"..."

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

	Yakumo was about to stagger off to make food when 
Tenma brought everyone some rice, fish, and fruit.  
"Sorry!," she said.  "I got distracted."

	"We're starving," Eri complained, sounding bitter, but 
then grabbing the food and eating hungrily.

	Harima began wolfing it down as Yakumo ate more 
delicately.

	"Sorry, guys.  I overslept," Tenma said.  "Then forgot 
to make enough.  But things will go better for dinner."

	Yakumo fought the urge to complain.  Neechan was 
doing her best, even if it wasn't all that good.  No, no, don't 
complain, she told herself.  It was hard not to, though.

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

	Harima felt his stomach trying to consume itself when 
there was a knock.  He looked up from slowly poking away 
at his math homework (told to them over the phone by 
Akira).  

	It was Haruka and Michiru with several plates of food.  
"We thought we'd share some food with you," Michiru 
said.

	"You're a lifesaver," Eri said, putting aside her history 
reading and grabbing a plate.  "Tenma was supposed to 
cook, but she's probably off playing video games again."

	"The odd thing is we didn't see her," Haruka said.  
"We knocked, but no one answered."

	"Oh dear," Yakumo said.  "Where is she?"

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

	Tenma frowned at the endless profusion of vegetables 
at the supermarket.  She still couldn't find the chives...they 
were a vegetable, right?  Not a spice?  She'd spent 
FOREVER in the spice section.  But she couldn't find the 
chives and everything was in random order.

	This place is so frustrating, Tenma thought.  It's a 
wonder Yakumo keeps her sanity.  It's like having a 
vampire slowly draining me...

	She spun, suddenly brandishing two carrots to form a 
cross.

	No vampires at all.  And her neck felt normal.

	I'm probably just imagining things, she thought, then 
checked her list.  Celery...at least I can find that, she 
thought.  She grabbed some, then resumed the Quest for 
Chives.

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

	Usagi stared at the clock covertly.  Twenty 
minutes...done.  Forty to go.  She made herself turn back to 
her book, made her hand move to do another math problem.  
A boring math problem.

	She caught herself starting to doodle and scratched it 
out.  Cosine...Cousin...how is Cousin Eiko doing...no, 
STUDY, she told herself.

	Was Akira looking at her?  Everyone seemed to be 
studying, but they were watching her, waiting, waiting for 
her to snap...it was so hard...

	NO, I HAVE TO DO THIS, she told herself.  Even if 
I'm tired from fighting monsters all night.  Even if...

	Her face was trying to lower itself to the book.  She 
fought the urge to sleep and did the problem over...this 
time, she had it right.  Maybe.

	NEXT problem.  Twenty three minutes.

	I'm in HELL, she thought.  But she'd been to hell 
before and kicked some ass.  So no giving up now.  At least 
this can't devour my soul, right?

***********	

	Michiru returned, worried.  "She's not answering her 
phone and she's not here."

	Harima staggered to his feet.  "I'll..."

	"Sit," Haruka said, pushing him down.  "Michiru, you 
tend to the wounded, I'll go see if she fell asleep outside or 
something."

	"We...," Yakumo began.

	"You're sick, it's cold, best you stay here.  I can help 
you all with your homework," Michiru said.

	"Thank you," Eri mumbled.  "She had Osaka with her 
earlier."

	"No sign of her either," Haruka said, heading out.  
"But I'll look for her."

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

	"I'm fine," the butcher said.

	"But I'd like to help," Osaka said, studying his knives.

	From the look in her eyes, he knew better than that.  "I 
can cut you the mutton myself."

	"But..."

	"It's fine," he said.  "You can watch," he said 
grudgingly.

	He carefully made the requested cuts of mutton, 
watching her with one eye; she stood so still and stared so 
vacantly, what could she be thinking?

	I wonder if you could count cuts of mutton to help you 
sleep, Osaka thought.

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

	Hmm, cookbook is open in the kitchen...maybe she 
went to the grocery store, Haruka deduced.  A quick check 
showed Tenma's bike was missing.

	She went and got directions to the nearest grocery 
store and headed out.

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

	Usagi stared in surprise.  Her math was done?  She 
had seventeen minutes left to go.  Normally, her math took 
her hours to do.  How strange.

	She gritted her teeth and got out her chemistry reading 
and let the words burn into her brain without actually 
registering, as she didn't understand a word.  But if she 
could only make it seventeen more minutes...

	Moles of sulfur...those would be some very stinky 
moles...no, unit of measurement, which 
means...means...uh...something...  Usagi began digging 
backwards through the book.

	'A mole is the amount of substance of a system which 
contains a number of elementary entities equal to 
Avogadro's Constant,' she read.
	
	Well, of course, she thought, feeling brain cells die.  

	She looked up Avogadro's Constant.

	This proved to be the number of atoms in 12 grams of 
carbon-12.  

	She stared at this suspiciously.  Was this a 
coincidence?  What about 11 grams of carbon-11?  Was 
there a carbon-11?  What about catch-22?  Was that some 
sort of code for nearly but not quite twice the Avocado 
Constant?

	What about Kellog's 13?  What kind of element was 
Kellog's?

	Wait...Ocean's 11...Ocean's 12...

	She could feel her brain starting to revolt.  Seven 
minutes...only seven...

	NITROGEN. She had Nitrogen minutes left.

	Scribble, scribble.  Chemistry, so much to learn...

************
	
	"I can't find any sweet potatoes," Tenma said to 
Osaka.

	"Can't you just add sugar to a normal potato?  Or 
maybe buy some yams," Osaka said.

	"Don't yams hunger for the flesh of the living?" 
Tenma asked.

	"That was just an old cartoon," Osaka said.

	"Are you sure?" Tenma asked.

	"Let's just go with normal potatoes and sugar."

	"Which kind of normal potato?"

	"The one that looks more like a yam," Osaka said.

	"But what if..."

	Osaka said, "We must cure you of your yam fear."

	She dragged Tenma over and snagged several baking 
potatos.  "Now, touch the yam, it won't bite you," Osaka 
said.

	Soon, Tenma saw that her fears were unjustified.  
"This place is making me crazy," she said.  

	"It's just a grocery store with nice, shiny, sharp knives.  
Shiny, shiny..."

	"YAM ATTACK," Haruka said.

	Tenma nearly vaulted over the vegetable racks.

	Osaka laughed.  "Do it again!"

	"There you are.  Everyone's worried about you," 
Haruka said.

	"We're shopping to get things to make dinner, but this 
place is a hideous maze," Tenma said.  "I feel so tired."

	"You need more exercise," Haruka said.  "Michiru 
brought everyone some food, but you can make this 
tomorrow, right?"

	"She did?  How late is it?" Tenma asked.

	"Around sevenish."

	"ACK!  But we left for here at like four!"

	"Not used to shopping?"

	"Yakumo-chan usually handles it," Tenma mumbled.

	"Well, I'll help and we'll get you home soon."

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

	Akira glanced over at Usagi, who was now scribbling 
furiously in her notebook and had been for the last twenty 
minutes.  She tried to read it, but it was a strange rant about 
a gang of sodium, riding on moles, had robbed a casino in 
Vegas and then turned into magnesium and now this was 
all the fault of avocados.

	Akira tried to decide if deranged ranting counted as 
studying.  On the other hand, Usagi was so focused, she 
was reluctant to interrupt her.  And this would likely be 
very funny to read in the end.

	So she left Usagi in studying overload mode for now.

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

	"There you are," Yakumo said, relieved, as Haruka, 
Osaka, and Tenma hauled groceries through the living 
room to the kitchen.

	"Hey," Harima said, looking up from drawing.

	"Where were you?" Eri asked.

	"Grocery store, took a long time," Tenma said.  "I'm 
very sorry!  I'll do better tomorrow!"

	Yakumo said, "It took you this long?"

	"I'm not used to it," Tenma mumbled, embarrassed.

	"Well, all's well that ends well, right?" Harima said.

	"Yes," Eri said.

	Going to have to show her around the store when I get 
well, Yakumo thought.

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

	Akira finished laughing.  "Well, not perfect, but you 
did stay focused."  Sort of.  It was a start.

	Usagi gave a great sigh of relief.  

	"I'll figure out another test tomorrow.  For now, we 
just study," Akira said.

	"Okay."  Usagi started her chemistry over, this time 
with help.

***********

	"You want me to check in on you guys tomorrow?" 
Haruka asked Eri, Yakumo, and Harima.

	"It's fine," Harima said.  "If you can just run the 
shop...I hate to ask you to run it by yourself, but..."

	"I can probably get Michiru to help," Haruka said.  
"Or someone.  Has Tenma always been like this?"

	"Yes," Eri said.

	"Neechan never changes," Yakumo said.  It was hard 
to tell if this was good or bad.

	"She's still...she doesn't really change much," Harima 
said.

	"Where is Kai'ou-san?" Eri asked, looking around.

	"Probably macking on Tenma," Haruka said.

	Everyone stared, and Haruka laughed.  "Man, I wish I 
had a camera."

	They would have clobbered her, but they were too 
sick.

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

	Michiru dried the bowl and put it in the rack.  "You've 
got to be more reliable.  They're counting on you."

	Tenma slowly scrubbed the large pot she was holding.  
"I'm trying."

	"Don't try, do," Michiru said.  "They're all sick and 
you can't afford to flake out on them."  Her voice was a 
little harsh and Tenma cringed.

	Michiru did not relent.  "Do you plan to get your sister 
to come do all the work for you when you get married to 
Karasuma-san?"

	There was no reply; Michiru looked over and saw 
Tenma drop the pot into the soapy water, zoning out in a 
fantasy.  Michiru frowned, then whispered into her ear, 
"While you're too distracted to notice, something just ate 
Karasuma-san."

	"ACK!," Tenma said, jumping.  "No, Oogi...oh."  She 
deflated.

	"Do you want to be a burden on your sister all your 
life?" Michiru asked.

	"No, of course not," Tenma said, beginning to wash 
the pot again.

	"Then you need to get your act together," Michiru 
said.  "Sooner, rather than later."

	"I'm not very focused," Tenma mumbled, rinsing off 
the pot and then telekinesing it over to Michiru.

	Michiru froze up and stared, then said, "Impressive.  
How much can you move?"

	Michiru rose into the air, then tumbled end to end 
once, then settled to the ground.  

	Michiru looked thoughtful.  "Can you scrub the next 
pot with it?"

	Tenma concentrated.  "This is easy, now."  The pot 
was scrubbed quickly; faster than by hand.

	"Hmm, can you do two at once?"

	Tenma sweated bullets and they wobbled, but the two 
large plates which came next got scrubbed at once, each by 
its own dishrag.

	"Been practicing?"

	"Yes," Tenma said, relieved to pass them on.  

	"Good.  You can focus on something."

	Tenma felt a little relieved and kept on washing with 
her TK.  "I'm trying to get stronger."

	"Good," Michiru said.  "You need to get stronger at 
taking care of yourself too."

	"I'm trying," Tenma mumbled, passing another plate 
to Michiru by TK.

	"Try harder."

	I'm doing the best I can, Tenma told herself.

	But really, she knew better than that.

**************
	
	Usagi tried to focus, but Nara and Akira were kissing 
again, making her acutely aware of how her own boyfriend 
was far away.  She glanced over at Lala, who was staring 
mindlessly at her homework, drawing a little doodle of 
some cartoon character jumping up and down on a teacher.

	"Is that history?" Usagi asked Lala.

	"Yes, sort of," Lala said.

	Akira broke liplock and looked.  "Yes, I'm thinking 
best not to turn that in to the teacher you drew."

	Lala grimaced.  "Japanese history is totally 
confusing."

	"It's all about samurai and ninjas," Usagi said.

	"It most certainly is not," Akira said to Lala.  "Is this 
the essay on how the Shogunate kept the Samurai in 
check?"

	"SEE?" Usagi asked.

	Lala nodded.  

	"Here, I'll help you," Nara said to Lala.

	"Thanks," she said, and they went to work.  She tried 
to figure out if he was flirting with Lala or if they always 
stood so close.

	But it didn't seem to bother Akira, who asked Usagi, 
"Do you need help?"

	"I'm sort of good," she said.  "I'm better with things 
like poetry than math or science."

	"I'm not good with poems, but I can try to help," Akira 
said.

	"Sure," Usagi said.  They started working on it, and 
Usagi was sure she felt smarter already.

***********

	Yuuki tapped her pencil thoughtfully as she tried to 
puzzle out the math problem she was working on.  Sagano 
and Fuyuki were busy kissing instead of working, which 
aggravated her.  Since she couldn't join them in front of 
Sagano's parents.

	If I had bigger breasts...  She shook her head.  
Whatever that advertisement for that place had said, it was 
probably a scam.  And having bigger breasts wouldn't let 
her kiss them in front of Sagano's parents.

	Though knowing her parents, they might not care.

	She started working on the math problem, but the 
smooch noises were distracting.  Enough that she realized 
she'd drawn a picture of herself kissing Sagano.

	She tore up the page and ate it, then told herself not to 
think about the shop.

	Though it was clear Fuyuki did like them big...

	No kissing, no breasts, no anything, she thought.  
FOCUS ON THE MATH.

	"Are you two trying to write your homework inside 
each other's mouths with your tongues?" Yuuki snapped.

	"Ack, sorry!," Sagano said.

	"I'm sorry," Fuyuki said, then came over and kissed 
her.  

	She leaned into it for a little, then broke it off.  
"Megumi's parents could...," Yuuki began.

	"It's not fair of us...when you can only watch," he said 
softly.  Then he kissed her again and sat down.  "How are 
you?"

	"I'm fine," she said.  "Just wishing...nothing."

	"Well, I wish I was as smart as you," Sagano said.  
"And that my math homework would magically do itself."

	"I wouldn't count on it," Fuyuki said.  "Let's get to 
work."

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

	"Don't worry, I'll take good care of you all tomorrow," 
Tenma said to Eri, Yakumo and Harima as she helped them 
get ready for bed.  "Akira's going to skip with me and help 
me run things."

	"Thank you, oneechan," Yakumo said.

	That should do it, Eri thought.

	Harima nodded approvingly.  "See you in the 
morning."

	"See you."

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

	"There she is!  GET HER!"

	Lala was walking Usagi home.  But now a bunch of 
men in ill-fitting suits with knives rushed at them out of a 
bar.

	"Hold on," Lala said, throwing Usagi into the air.

	As Usagi yelped, Lala grabbed one of them and used 
him to knock all the others down.  Then she dropped him 
and caught Usagi and ambled off.

	"..." Usagi said.

	"Sorry about that, probably Yakuza," Lala said.

	Usagi leaned comfortably against Lala.  She liked 
being carried.  "You're so strong."

	"You should come to our dojo.  We'll toughen you 
up."

	"Okay," Usagi said.  It wouldn't hurt to be stronger, 
she thought.  Probably more interesting than studying, 
anyway.  Body, mind...spirit.  That was it.  I have spirit 
down, she thought.  I just need the rest.

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

	A bugle woke Tenma at 7 AM.  She leaped out of bed, 
right through the ceiling, getting her head stuck.  "ACK!"

	Akira pulled her out.  "Now, go make breakfast for 
everyone."

	"Everyone's still asleep," Tenma mumbled.

	A whip cracked over her head.  "Now."

	Tenma ran to the kitchen and started cooking.  Akira 
ambled in and began making coffee, observing her.  Tenma 
worked hard and fast, unable to stop with Akira watching 
her so intently.  "But what about..."

	"This is why we have microwaves," Akira said.

	Tenma fell silent and went back to work.

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

	At school, Kozue rubbed her eyes as Kinugawa Ayano 
walked in, yawning.  Imadori's gang turned and stared.  

	I must be going crazy, Kozue thought.  She looks as 
big as Mikoto, which can't be right.  Surely she wouldn't 
stuff her bra that blatantly.  

	Ayano soon had most of Imadori's gang around her, as 
Imadori himself studied her curiously, looking confused.  

	Kozue tried to decide if approaching Imadori was 
wise; her curiosity finally got the better of her.  "Is it just 
me..."

	"Something is wrong," Imadori said.  "I feel a 
disturbance the likes of which I have not felt since I got 
punched out by a trans-sexual."

	"Wait, you're not saying..."

	"No, no, she was a girl before, just a small-chested one 
and thus irrelevant," Imadori said.  "Your breasts aren't 
quite big enough, yet they are purely natural.  Something is 
wrong here."

	"Hey, I have perfectly nice breasts!  My boyfriend 
likes them," Kozue said.  "Most guys aren't obsess..."  She 
couldn't finish it in the face of so many guys flocking 
around Ayano, who looked half-flattered and half-groggy.

	"Their senses are not strong enough.  There will be 
trouble of this, mark my words," Imadori said.

	"I'm certainly as big as your girlfriend," Kozue 
mumbled.

	"You don't have her shining, innocent spirit," Imadori 
said.

	"Hmph."

***********

	"Wow, this is really good," Eri said as she ate 
breakfast.

	"Yeah," Harima said.

	"Thank you, oneechan," Yakumo said as she slowly 
ate her nice warm breakfast.

	"You're welcome," Tenma said, not mentioning this 
was her fifth attempt and that it was warm because she'd 
spent two hours trying to make breakfast and they had 
woken up right as she finished her fifth try.

	Akira nodded.  All had gone as was foreseen.

***********
	
	Karen told herself not to stare at Ayano, who was half-
eating, half-talking to some boys, and half-nodding off.  
Large breasts would only get in my way, she told herself.  
And her boyfriend liked her just the way she was.

	Although...

	She glanced at Imadori and shook her head.  Don't be 
stupid, she told herself.  He has a girlfriend, I have a 
boyfriend and that's it.

	"Has he been bugging you?" Sagano asked.

	"What, no, no," Karen said.  "I'm fine."

	"Man, maybe they filled her chest with sleep gas," 
Sagano mused.  "She's been kind of out of it all day."

	"Maybe she has to take anaesthetic until the surgery 
stuff heals," Fuyuki said.

	"Good point," Sagano said.  "It looks so natural, 
though."

	Yuuki told herself not to think about it.  It probably 
cost too much.  "I expect it costs too much, anyway."

	"Yes," Karen said.  "I'm sure it does."  Though...no, 
no, don't think about it, she told herself.  With our class' 
luck, it probably ends in disaster somehow.

************
	
	Tenma could hear the roar of the crowd as she played 
her guitar solo.  They were going crazy for her, and...

	And there were ice cubes in her clothing.

	"AAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!"  Tenma snapped back to 
reality.

	"You just burned the bread to ash again," Akira 
observed, drying her hands.

	"No, my precious bread!," Tenma wailed.  "Why 
didn't you tell me?"

	"I can't always be here," Akira said.  "If you can't stay 
focused for three minutes, how are you ever going to be 
able to live on your own?"  Her voice was calm, but stern.

	"I just..."

	"No excuses, you blew it," Akira said flatly.

	Tenma began to cry, while Akira turned and went to 
go make herself some tea.

	I'm sorry, Tenma-chan, Akira thought.  I don't like to 
hurt you, but this is for your own good.

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

	Mikoto covertly checked her phone; she'd felt it 
vibrate.  She had a text message from Tenma.  
"WAAAAAAAH."

	Maybe I'd better check in on them after school, 
Mikoto thought.

**************
	
	Akira brought in the food to the sick room, where 
Yakumo was busy inking manga, Harima was trying to 
write an outline, and Eri was painfully trying to write some 
poetry.

	"Am I allowed to use the word potato in a haiku?" Eri 
asked.

	"I don't see why not," Akira said.  

	"I found it over there / So I ate the potato / And then I 
was full," Eri said.  "Correct form?"

	"Yes," Akira said.  I suppose it does capture a moment 
in time, she thought as she laid out the food and everyone 
grabbed it.

	"Where is oneechan?" Yakumo asked.

	"Being a five year old," Akira said.

	Harima frowned, mouth too full to speak.

	"I was wondering what took so long," Eri said.

	Yakumo sighed.  "Oneechan is so kind, but..."

	"But also childish," Akira said.  "I cannot change her 
in one day.  You will have to push her if she's ever to stop 
being like this."

	Harima, mouth still full from another load of food, 
mumbled incoherently.

	Eri nodded.  "I know."

	Yakumo felt very torn.  She loved her sister very 
much, but really, it would be for her own good and it would 
be nice if she didn't have to do all the work around here...

	"Anyway, here's your food.  I'm going to go give 
Tenma her beating," Akira said.

	Yakumo stared.

	"That's a joke," Akira said, then headed out.

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

	Akira blinked at the door when Mikoto said, "Hi, can I 
come in?"

	"Sure, but doesn't Kentaro-kun have lessons with you 
today?"

	"Not until five," Mikoto said.  "I got a panic message 
from Tenma, and I thought I should come check on her."

	"She's pouting under her bed, proclaiming everyone 
hates her," Akira said.  "It's rather annoying."

	Mikoto came in and headed to the living room with 
Akira.  "What happened?"

	"I think she sees the end of childhood approaching and 
is hiding from it," Akira said.

	"Uh...what?" Mikoto asked.

	"She's unhappy because I won't do her work for her or 
let her slack off when she's supposed to be taking care of 
sick people," Akira said.

	"You can be a little harsh," Mikoto said.

	"I have not even come close to getting harsh yet," 
Akira said.  

	Mikoto felt a bit dubious of that.  "Well, I'll go check 
on her."

	Akira nodded.  "I'll be here doing my homework if 
you need me."

	"Thanks."  Mikoto went and knocked on Tenma's 
door.

	The wailing beyond modulated slightly, so she went 
in.  She found Tenma under the bed, trying to stop wailing.

	She pulled Tenma out.  "Come on, don't be silly," 
Mikoto said.  "How's the day been going?"

	"Akira hates me," Tenma said mournfully, sitting on 
the edge of the bed.  "And everyone's going to starve to 
death because I can't think straight."

	Mikoto sat down with her.  "Now, now," she said, 
patting Tenma's shoulder.  "Akira doesn't hate you.  She's 
harshest to those she likes the most because she wants us to 
be better."

	Tenma turned and buried her face in Mikoto's chest.  
"I try so hard, but it just doesn't work."

	"You just have to keep trying.  Martial Arts is all 
about drilling in things until you can do them instinctively 
correctly.  And lots of other things are like that too.  Just 
don't give up, no matter how many times you fail," Mikoto 
said kindly, patting Tenma's back.

	"FAIL!!!! WWWWAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!"

	Mikoto held her until Tenma calmed down again.  "It's 
probably about time for dinner," Mikoto said to Tenma.  
"So it's time to go out and cook."

	"Can you help me?" Tenma asked piteously.

	"I have to go teach," Mikoto said.  "But I'm sure Akira 
will help you if you ask nicely."

	"She hates me now," Tenma said mournfully.

	"She does not hate you.  We both like you very much, 
Tenma-chan.  Now, come on, I have to go and you have to 
cook."

	She got Tenma on her feet and ushered her out to the 
living room, where Akira was constructing chemistry 
equations.  "I'm so sorry, please forgive me, I suck!" 
Tenma wailed, throwing herself flat before Akira.

	"Actions, not words, are the true measure of sorrow," 
Akira said calmly.

	"What?" Tenma asked in confusion, rising to her 
knees.

	"If you're really sorry, you should get to work on 
dinner."

	"Yes, ma'am!"  Tenma ran into the kitchen.  

	Mikoto slinked over to Akira.  "Please be kind to her, 
she's really shaken up."

	"It's for her own good," Akira said.  "I don't like 
seeing her unhappy, but she has to learn she can't get others 
to do her work for her.  Being kind to her when she's 
screwing up will only make her continue to screw up and 
thus isn't kind at all."

	Mikoto frowned, unable to defeat Akira's logic, but 
not liking it.  "Just don't be mean."

	"I am stern, but fair," Akira said.  

	Stern, at least, Mikoto thought.

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

	Karen glanced over at Harry, who was struggling with 
their literature assignment.  Maybe I should ask if he needs 
help, she thought.  Sometimes he did and sometimes he was 
too proud to take any help.

	"You keep looking at me," Harry said, looking down 
at himself.  "I didn't spill something on me somewhere, did 
I?"

	They were studying in Karen's family's living room.  

	"I just...There's...nothing," she said.

	He looked confused.  "What?"

	What if he did...what if...  She was afraid to ask; he 
seemed to be happy with her figure, but if he wanted...  But 
I shouldn't do it just for him.  Bigger breasts would get in 
the way of her wrestling, anyway.  But it would make...no, 
no, no.

	But maybe it wouldn't hurt to check the prices 
tomorrow.

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

	"Hmm, not as much business as I expected," Raven 
Ninja Formorian Orange said to her raven.

	"Give it time," he said.  "Lots of people are probably 
still mulling it over.  Also, we may have made it too cheap, 
making people skeptical," he said.

	"Well, we did make an energy profit, so let's give this 
a go for a while," Orange said.  

	He nodded.  At least there had been no sign of the 
Senshi or the Harem Warriors or that crazy ketchup 
woman.

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

	"I wasn't even doing anything evil, just trying to get 
the latest Cosmo!," Raven Ninja Formorian Purple shouted 
as Lyrical Magical Princess Condiment chased her down 
the street, hurling exploding ketchup bottles at her.  

	"I don't even want to think about how a foul beast like 
you would use this month's 50 ways to make a man scream 
for evil!," Condiment said, now nailing Purple's raven with 
a honey container, gumming him up so he couldn't fly.

	"You leave me only one choice," Purple said and 
blasted a nearby balcony, which began to collapse.  "Save 
the people or catch me, HAH!"

	"Dammit!," Condiment said, flying over to save 
everyone while Purple escaped down an alleyway.  
"Sucker.  She felt right into my..."

	Then she realized two things.  

	First, this was a dead end.

	Second, the Sailor Senshi had just dropped down 
behind her, boxing her in.

	"I am the Lovely Sailor Suited Warrior Sailor 
Venus!," Sailor Venus began to say.

	Purple decided to take her raven and teleport out.

	"Dammit, you have to listen to the whole speech 
before you run!" Venus shouted.  "I didn't get to love OR 
justice!"

	There was no reply.

	"Usagi always gets to finish her speeches," Venus 
moped.

	"Let's go get some ice cream," Jupiter said. And that 
was that.


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

	Hanai grabbed Nara, spun on one foot and threw him 
into Yuuki's stomach, then ducked under Sagano's punch, 
bringing a foot up to knock her off her feet.  Fuyuki 
managed to nail him with a punch, only to have Hanai grab 
him and flip, throwing him into the air; as he came down, 
he got punted onto Yuuki and Nara as they got up.  

	"We'd be winning if these gis weren't so modest," 
Sagano mumbled.

	"Skill will trump power, though you need both," Hanai 
said.  "It matters not how strong you are if you can't hit 
anyone."

	Yuuki rose, pushing her glasses up her nose with a 
finger.  "The problem is coming at him kung-fu movie 
style."  She dragged her compatriots off into a huddle, 
while Hanai looked over at the other students.  His father 
was busy teaching the little kids since Mikoto wasn't here 
yet (and Mr. Hanai's usual top students had been set to 
practice on their own for now), but the older kids...where 
was Mr. Gonzales with the middle class?

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

	Mrs. Hanai was hard at working cooking dinner when 
it struck her that the sewing machine was running.

	Which was a nice trick as she was the only person in 
the house who normally used it.

	Also, there were an awful lot of rustling noises, 
sounds suspiciously like a herd of children rampaging 
through her cloth rolls and scraps.

	She stomped up into the sewing room and found a 
half-dozen children wearing colorful headmasks and 
another two dozen milling about trying to find pieces of 
cloth the color and texture they wanted, while Mr. 
Gonzales operated the sewing machine to make more 
masks.

	"..."

	"Hello, Senora," Mr. Gonzales said.  "We can't do 
wrestling without proper masks, so I decided to show them 
how to make your own mask."

	"..."

	"Don't worry, I'll make them clean up," he said.

	"Some of this cloth is very valuable!"

	"Well, you can bill their parents, right?"

	Someone was certainly going to get billed.

***********

	"This garnet sky makes me worry," Raven Ninja 
Formorian Peach said to the Morrigan, reporting in.

	"And I as well, but unless we find Balor's Eye quickly, 
I think it is beyond our power to change," the Morrigan 
said, frowning.

	"But I...there has to be something we can do," Peach 
said, starting to feel a little frantic.  "I took this job so I 
could protect those I care about."

	"I will summon you if I think of something, but I don't 
know...I must go and try to commune with our sleeping 
king," the Morrigan said, frowning.  "I will see you later."  

	If we still exist when it's time to come back, she 
thought.

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

	Iron Chef Tenma had only twenty minutes to fix 
something combining crab, jello, and Cheerios.  This would 
be...

	Tenma stomped on her foot.  No fantasizing, she told 
herself as she winced.  What she actually had was shrimp, 
noodles, garlic powder, parmesan cheese parsley, cream 
cheese, season salt and the distinct feeling there had been a 
recipe she was