This Story No Title
A School Rumble Fanfic

Chapter 9:    Spy vs. Spy

By John Biles

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

	
	"Play chess?  ON A DATE?" Nara's mother said.  
Kimiko was a brunette of medium height; her long hair was 
pulled back into a pony-tail right now, and she wore small 
reading glasses forever about to fall off her nose.  She was 
wearing one of her usual blue suit-dresses.  

	Nara shrank in on himself.  "It was her idea."

	Kimiko cocked her head curiously like an owl.  "I 
see."

	"Anyway, we have our plans, so you need not worry 
yourself," Nara said.  

	"Don't worry," she said.  "You know I would never 
meddle.  I will be busy with Andre."

	I am so dead, he thought.  

***********

	"Hmm.  Short of dating her myself, I can't think of 
much that I could do to distract her, and you're likely 
harder up," Tani-sensei said to Nara.

	He sighed.  "I just don't want her following me 
around."

	"And this date of hers likely won't keep her too busy?" 
Tani-sensei asked.

	"No," he said.  "Andre will likely help her."

	"Hmm.  Well, your best bet is a bait and switch.  Make 
her think you're going to X, then go to Y instead," Tani-
sensei said.

	"Oooh, good idea," Nara said.  "I'll need someone who 
can pass as me, which might be the hardest part..."

	"Pass as you?"

	"Well, if she sees someone she thinks is me AT X..."

	"Really, probably the only person here who could pass 
as you is Tenma," Tani-sensei said.  

	Hmm, she is a pretty good actor... Nara thought.  It's 
worth a shot.

*****************
	
	"Tsukamoto-san, I hate to ask, but I must ask you a 
favor," Nara said to Tenma.

	"Sure, Nara-kun," she said.  "What's up?"

	"I need you to impersonate me to fool my mother," he 
began.

	Eri, Harima, Mikoto, and Akira stared at him in 
unison.  Tenma looked flattered and confused at once.  
"Well, I can try, but do you really think I could fool her?"

	"She's likely to meddle in my date with Takano-san 
this Friday, and I was hoping to get her to follow a decoy 
for a while."

	"Put Karasuma in drag, have him imitate Akira-chan," 
Eri said.

	Tenma blushed.  "I don't know if he would do that."

	"Hmm, an interesting plan," Akira said.  "I...I expect 
that Megumi-san would be willing to...help."

	"I think she would think it hilarious," Nara said.  "If 
you'll give it a shot, Tsukamoto-san, then I will ask 
Karasuma-san."

	"Sure," Tenma said.  "It'll be fun."

	Nara went to ask Karasuma, who was eating quietly 
and staring out the window.  "Karasuma-kun, I..."  How 
can I ask this, he asked himself.

	"I can do it," Karasuma said.

	"But I didn't even..."

	Karasuma turned to look at him.  "I am not a great 
actor, but I will try."

	"Thank you," Nara said.

	"I'm sure, one day, you will get to repay me," 
Karasuma said.  

	"I'll try!"

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

	Megumi clapped her hands.  "I love a challenge," she 
said.  "When I'm done with you, your own mothers won't 
recognize you."

	"That is the idea," Akira pointed out.

	"True, true," Megumi said.  She clapped her hands.  
"Let us begin."

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

	It had taken Hanai some time to find a place that 
served Spanish food, but he hoped that Casa Tomas would 
be acceptable.  Deciding on a movie was harder.  He had 
finally decided to just ask her.  

	So it was seven, and here he was, knocking on her 
door.  An old lady came to the door and studied him.  
"You're not the boy from last week."

	"Yes," he said, a little warily.  She looked like an old 
woman leaning on a cane to the casual eye, but he knew a 
Seven Cranes Cane Stance when he saw one.  Having been 
beaten up by his grandfather that way several times.

	She studied him.  "You had better not get her into 
trouble like the last boy did."

	"I promise I won't cause any trouble," Hanai said.  "I 
am an honorable martial artist and student.  And class 
representative.  I have to be dignified in my behavior."

	"Good.  I won't be happy if men keep thinking they 
can take advantage of little Lala."

	Little?, he asked himself.  "I won't."

	Lala now emerged, wearing a long red dress, with a 
matching rose in her hair.  She strode forward, looking 
confident, and Hanai smiled at her.  "You look lovely," he 
said.  If not as pretty as Yakumo, he thought.  He reminded 
himself it was likely safer not to mention Yakumo.

	"Thank you," she said.  "Shall we go?"

	"Just remember," Takaishi-san whispered to Hanai, 
"You will regret if you cause her trouble."

	Hanai nodded to Takaishi-san, then offered Lala an 
arm.  "Let's go."

	They headed out, and Hanai said, "Unfortunately, 
we'll have to take public transport.  But I have a nice 
restaurant lined up, and you can pick the movie."

	"Can we do Chinese?" she asked.  

	"I found a Mexican restaurant, but if you prefer 
Chinese..." he said.

	She looked torn.  "So many people try and fail to do 
good Mexican food, but I haven't had anything decent in so 
long..."  She looked wistful.  "This isn't something like 
Taco Bell?"

	"It's a formal restaurant," he said.

	"Let's give it a try.  I want a place where they won't 
look at me funny when I ask for a fork," she said.  

	"Forks make eating too easy," Hanai said.  

	She paused and looked over at him curiously, then 
walked along quietly with him.

	He felt a need to make conversation, but wasn't sure 
what to say.  "Are you enjoying Japan?"

	"There are many strong fighters here," she said.  "But 
everything is so strange," she said, sighing a little.  "And 
meat costs too much.  It's hard to get enough protein."

	He nodded.  "Well, you certainly are impressively 
strong despite that."

	She smiled a little.  "Thank you.  You're not bad 
yourself." 

	They walked down the street quietly, while he tried to 
think of another angle.  She then said, "Your father is an 
impressive fighter."

	"He's extremely good," Hanai said.  "But like most 
great masters, he's also sometimes hard to deal with.  I'm 
very sorry about what he did to you and Imadori."

	She grunted.  "He'd better not do that again."

	"You just have to put up with it to get to the better 
things," Hanai said.

	"I'm not the sort to put up with things," she said as 
they reached the station.

	Hanai had to admit that was true.

	As they headed into the station, having bought tickets, 
they encountered Sara, coming out, holding a large box.  
"Hello, Hanai-sempai, Lala-sempai," Sara said cheerfully.  
"Out on your date?"

	"Yes," Hanai said.  "We're on our way to Casa 
Tomas."

	"Let me know if it's good, Sempai," Sara said, then 
waved her box around.  "Unfortunately, I have to work 
tonight."

	Lala sniffed the food and looked a little regretful, but 
said, "Should I know you?  You look vaguely familiar."

	"We both go to the same school, but I'm a year behind 
you, Sempai," Sara said.  "Also, we're both in the foreign 
exchange program.  I'm from Britain."

	Lala smiled at her.  "Oh yes, I remember.  You're 
Asou's fan."

	Sara blushed slightly.  "Am I that obvious?"

	"Yes," Lala said.

	Hanai nodded.

	"I was..."  She sighed.  "Well, things will come 
together in the end."

	"Don't count on things happening you want," Lala said 
to her, suddenly intense.  "You have to make them happen, 
or you'll spend your life waiting for a miracle.  You have to 
make your own miracle."

	Hanai nodded.  "He who hesitates is lost."

	Sara looked at Hanai curiously for a moment, then 
said, "It's just...things always seem to get in the way."

	"Destroy your obstacles," Lala said.  "You have to 
crush everything that gets in the way of what you want, or 
you will never get it."

	"I wouldn't go quite THAT far," Hanai said.

	"You are all too soft for your own good in 2-C," Lala 
said, looking a little irritated.

	"I'm much better at being bold for other people than I 
am for myself," Sara said.

	"Just don't be afraid," Hanai said.  "You have to be 
able to boldly tell someone you love them."

	"They don't always reciprocate," Sara said a little 
sadly.

	Hanai winced at that, then stared at the ground for a 
moment.  Sara started, looked embarrassed and stared down 
at the ground as well.  Lala looked back and forth between 
them, unsure what to say or what was passing between 
them.  Had he once confessed to her and been turned down, 
she wondered.  

Determinedly, Hanai lifted his gaze back to look at 
Sara.  "But God is on your side, right?  You are a nun, after 
all."

	Lala froze up and stared, then looked embarrassed.  
"Forgive me, Sister, I didn't realize..."

	Sara lifted her gaze, smiled and made the sign of the 
cross over Lala's forehead.  "Go with God's blessing," she 
said, then did the same for Hanai.  "God bless your date."

	Lala looked even more embarrassed, but smiled.  
"Thank you.  I didn't mean to..."

	"Don't fret yourself.  God loves honesty," Sara said.  
"Even if we don't always.  Anyway, I'd better deliver this, 
and I fear that's your train pulling out."

	"Dammit!" Lala shouted and ran after it.  Hanai 
sprinted alongside her; they were gaining on the train.  
Even as it reached the end of the platform, she grabbed 
Hanai and flung him onto the train; he reached back out to 
her and she leaped with everything she had, grabbing his 
hand.

	He pulled her up, and they rode the back of the train 
out of the station.

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

	"I can't believe you're going out with that boy," 
Mikoto's mother said to her.  "When you could be..."

	"He's out with Lala," Mikoto explained for the 
twentieth time, pacing.  She was wearing a simple blue 
dress, long and modest, so as to not give Imadori any funny 
ideas.  

	"Oh hoh, how many women does he HAVE?" her 
mother asked.

	The doorbell rang, and Mikoto went to answer it.

	Instead, her father suddenly appeared and scooted in 
to answer the door.  He towered over Imadori like a bull 
regarding a stag beetle.  Imadori wore a nice blue suit that 
matched Mikoto's dress and had a bouquet of flowers in his 
hands.

	"If you hurt my daughter, you will die," her father said 
bluntly.

	"Father, Imadori isn't here to hurt me," Mikoto said.  
Why are his panties in a bunch, she wondered.

	"If you grope my daughter, your hands will never be 
useful again," he thundered.  "Do you UNDERSTAND?"

	Imadori shrank to the size of a mouse.  "Yes, master."

	"Good.  Have a good time."

	Mikoto sighed.  "I can take care of myself, Daddy."

	"Sure you can.  Especially if he's too broken to stop 
you.  Have fun!"

	Mikoto swept out with Imadori.  This is why I can't 
take you to parent-teacher conferences any more, she 
thought.  "I won't let him really hurt you," she said, once 
out of earshot of the house.

	Imadori cocked his head.  "Harry and Karen are  
headed for Beppo Mi Boca, an Italian place."  	

	"Isn't that run by tranvestites?" Mikoto asked.

	"Yeah, I think so," Imadori said.  "However, Hanai 
and Lala are headed to Casa Tomas, so we'll be heading 
there."

	"Bet you wish you could be in two places at once," 
Mikoto teased.

	"It would help.  But I think Harry's going to wreck his 
own date, unless he has weirder tastes than I think..."

**************
	
	Eri paced nervously.  She'd told her father she was off 
to meet Harkenko, then had Butler-san drop her off at Cafe 
Mercado to meet with Harima.  She suddenly wondered if 
Yakumo was working there tonight.  She hoped not.

	Harima's bike was there, but she didn't see him, so she 
went inside.  He was at the bar, sipping tea, so she came 
over nervously.  She'd thought about wearing a dress, but 
that wouldn't work well on the cycle especially if 
something went wrong and she knew it would.

	So, instead, she was wearing a very nice embroidered 
blue blouse with yellow and white flowers and long white 
pants.  She could feel her nerves jangling, like her flesh 
wanted to escape her body.  She wondered a moment if this 
was what the boys who asked her out felt like.

	He turned and smiled at her, and she wanted to die and 
ascend to Heaven all at once.  "Yo."

	She made herself walk over sedately, not run.  She had 
to keep her dignity, keep up appearances, so long as they 
were just...something more than friends.  Get a grip, she 
told herself.  "Yo," she replied, laughing a little.

	"Say something British," he said, and she stopped, 
nonplussed.

	"What?"

	"Anything," he said.

	"Uhh..."  She thought a moment, then said in English, 
"I'm thinking we could get some fish and chips, a few pints 
of lager, and go watch the Manchester United game before 
we drop in for tea with the Queen."  She switched back to 
Japanese.  "That stereotypical enough for you?"

	"Yes," he said.  Sagano was right, I didn't understand 
one word of that hardly at all, he thought.  "What is a 
'Manchester United'?"

	"It's a football team," she told him.  "Soccer, not the 
stupid American stuff."

	"Right," he said.  "I'm thinking of heading over to that 
Chinese place, if that's cool with you.  I could go for some 
egg rolls."

	That's Kenji, she thought.  Egg rolls on a date.  
Though it's not technically a date, even if we're going to do 
entirely date-like things.  "How about...the Grail Castle?  
You could try some good British food."

	"Sure," he said.  "What's a Grail?"

	"It's a long story," she said.  "Shall we go?  I can 
explain on the way."

	"Alright," he said, finishing his tea.  "Let's go."

***********
	
	"The Mother Unit is concealed on the roof opposite 
your home with binoculars," Buddha reported to Nara.  
"The Raven and the Robin have flown the coop; she's 
tracking them visually."

	"Is it working?" Nara asked.

	"She's calling Andre, and now she's heading down to 
her car."

	"Thanks a lot, Buddha," Nara said.

	"This plan is so insane that I had to help, just because 
I'll get a good laugh whether we win or lose," Buddha said.  

	"And now I owe you."

	"Yeah," Buddha said, smiling serenely.  "Man, I wish 
I could pipe you the live footage.  This is classic."

	"Okay, let me know once I'm clear."

	"Will do," Buddha said.  "You should be in about 3 
minutes."

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

	Mikoto rustled back and forth, waiting for the train.  
Imadori stood nearby, head slightly cocked.  As they 
waited, Sara ran up to them.  "Hello, sempais," she said.

	"Hey," Imadori said, dismissing her after a glance.

	"Hi," Mikoto said, smiling.  She noticed the box Sara 
was hauling.  "Busy night?"

	"I just made a long delivery," she said.  "Off on a 
date?"

	"Yeah," Imadori said.  He seemed slightly distracted 
to Sara.

	Mikoto stared at the ground.  "Yeah."

	Sara looked between them, wondering what was 
wrong.  They seemed so friendly, usually.  "Bored of 
waiting for the train?"

	"It does seem to be taking forever," Imadori said.

	"We're off to Casa Tomas," Mikoto said.  "You ever 
eaten there?"

	"I've heard it's good Mexican food.  Beyond that, I 
know nothing."

	"You're a priestess, right?" Imadori finally said.

	"Yes," she said.  "Technically, I'm in training, as I 
need to finish high school and turn eighteen, and a nun isn't 
quite the same thing as a priestess, but...well, it's close 
enough."

	"Can you smite evil and banish demons and whatnot?" 
Imadori asked.  He seemed a little livelier and more 
curious.

	"I'm not supposed to fight supernatural evil on my 
own without adult aid if I can help it, but I've had to, a few 
times," Sara said.  "Is something bothering you in that 
vein?"

	Now Mikoto looked over at him curiously.

	"Just a little envious," Imadori said.  "I've never been 
very spiritual," he said.  "I bet guys just fall into your arms 
after you save them from evil."  He sounded oddly wistful 
to Mikoto.

	Sara said, "I...I never even thought of it that way."

	The train arrived and they got on.

	"Look," Imadori said.  "I know you dig Asou.  I dunno 
what he digs, but he seems like the repressed type.  Could 
be an angle for you."

	Sara froze up.

	Mikoto stared in shock.  Is this real, she wondered.

	"Come on, I'm not blind," Imadori said.  "And you 
seem like a nice girl.  You just have to push a little more.  
Shy girls...shy guys need the other person to be the 
outgoing one.  So, you're going to have to take the lead, one 
way or another.  If you like someone, you can't wait for 
them to come to you."

	"It's not...I mean...girls aren't expected to take the 
lead," Sara said.  "We're supposed to be more subtle."

	"Well, you can be subtle and dateless on a Friday 
night if you want," Imadori said, "but it doesn't seem to be 
working for you.  And if something doesn't work, it's time 
to change it."

	Mikoto sat quietly, surprised that Imadori was giving 
relatively sane advice.

	Sara sighed.  "True.  Thank you, Sempai."

	"You're welcome," he said, then looked out.  "Our 
station is coming up, Miko-chin."

	She nodded and rose.  "Have a nice night, Sara-chan."

	"You too!" she said, waving enthusiastically as they 
left, then settling back for the rest of her ride.

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

	Most of the decorations at Beppo Mi Boca were fairly 
normal Italian art, so far as Karen could tell.  However, she 
immediately noticed the powerful microscope set into one 
end of the table.  So did Harry, who stared at it in 
confusion.

	Karen asked the waitress, "What exactly is that for?"

	"We've carved our menu onto single grains of rice; 
you will need the microscope to read the menu," the 
waitress said; she was short and auburn-haired, slender of 
figure and clad in a modest maid's uniform in blacks, greys, 
and whites.  She moved oddly, Karen noticed.

	Harry took off his sunglasses.  "No paper menus?"

	"We used to put it on the far wall in 4 point type with 
vines growing over it, but we got complaints it was too 
easy to read," the waitress said.

	Karen went over and began trying to adjust the 
microscope to the correct magnification.

	Harry took the waitress' hand and looked confidently 
into her eyes, grinning.  "Any way you could do me just a 
little favor and get me something larger?"

	She blushed slightly.  "Oh dear, well, maybe..."

	"I'd be VERY grateful," he said, continuing his smile.

	"I'll see what I can do."  She scampered off.

	Karen watched her go.  Definitely something odd 
here; all the waiters and waitresses seemed to walk a little 
strangely.  She gave up on the microscope for now.  "She 
forgot our drinks."

	"Well, without a menu, I'm not sure what I want, 
anyway," he said.  "You don't mind Italian again, do you?"

	"Hopefully, this time will be peaceful.  I don't see 
anyone following us," she said, sighing.

	"Yeah, I didn't see the guy on his scooter this time," he 
said.  He tried to read if she was glad or sad because 
Imadori wasn't trying to shadow them this time.  But he 
couldn't tell.

	It apparently took several waitresses and two waiters 
to smuggle out a large scale menu.  They hovered over 
Harry with an obvious appreciation of his appearance, 
coincidentally shielding the menus from easy notice by 
people at other tables.

	Karen placed her order, feeling a little jealous that no 
one was hovering over her appreciatively, and a little sad 
that Imadori hadn't felt enough to even bother following her 
this time.  

	Though really, it's probably better no one is spying on 
us, she thought.

***************
	
	Tenma-Nara walked down the street with Karasuma-
Akira, arm in arm.  She hoped this would be believable, as 
she wasn't sure how close the two had gotten.  Her pursuers 
seemed to find it believable, though.

	Should I call him Akira or Takano...Tenma racked her 
memory, then said, "I've decided we're going to get 
Chinese food tonight, then I think we'll go see Five Radiant 
Flowers."  She paused.  "If that's okay with you."  I have to 
remember to not be too bold as Nara, Tenma thought.

	"Chinese food is acceptable, as the cost to nutrition 
ratio is quite good," Karasuma-Akira said in a higher 
pitched but otherwise flat voice.

	Tenma-Nara elbowed him subtly, then whispered, 
"Akira, not robot.  She'd say something like 'I like Chinese 
food'."

	"I like Chinese food!" Karasuma-Akira said in a now 
high-pitched and bubbly voice.  His blonde hair wobbled as 
he bobbed his head slightly as he spoke.

	"Less bubbly," Tenma-Nara whispered.

	 "Five Radiant Flowers should be enjoyable," 
Karasuma-Akira said.  "Though I fear that, as often, the tea 
ceremonies will be depicted without adequate attention to 
detail.  Did you ever see The Sorrow Misfortune Club?"

	"No, I'm afraid not," Tenma-Nara said, doing her best 
to affect a male voice.

	"Spiked clubs were abandoned centuries ago for 
chastising those who misplace their pinkies when lifting the 
cup," Karasuma-Akira said, a tiny bit heatedly.  "They 
scratched the porcelain."

	Far behind them, Kimiko followed them in a hat and 
trenchcoat, with Andre pacing her in their car, in case they 
needed it.  She made a series of notes as she listened in on 
their conversation.  'Son needs to be more bold in 
conversation.'  'Takano is obsessed with tea trivia.'  'Nara's 
hair seems shinier than usual.'  'Going relatively well so 
far.'  A mother's work is never done.

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

	The large number of people in armor and with swords 
hanging around The Grail Castle made Harima a little 
nervous.  Eri seemed just fine with it.  "Man, this place is 
huge," he said.

	"I hadn't realized it was so big myself," she said.  It 
also had more of a medieval theme than she'd expected.  
But hopefully, it would be fun.

	They found a table on the balcony overlooking the 
central courtyard, which had a bunch of archery targets and 
jousting lists set up.  Harima looked down curiously as they 
sat down, with no idea what all this was for.  "Is this some 
kind of live show thing?"

	"My goodness," Eri said.  "They must have some kind 
of medieval show."

	"Knights and shit?" Harima asked.

	"Yes," she said, smiling a little.  Hopefully, he'll like 
this.

	Harima ordered himself a coke, while Eri ordered 
some tea, and then they studied the menu, looking for food.  
More precisely, Eri studied the menu, chosing food items, 
while Harima struggled with the fact that it was in English.  

	"If you have any trouble figuring out what things are, I 
can translate," Eri said.

	"I'm fine," Harima said.  'Haggis'.  That had a nice 
sound to it.  He also searched for fish and chips, as he had 
the vague idea that was a traditional British delicacy.  
Unfortunately, he wasn't sure how to spell either in English.  
Not that he was going to admit that.

	He's staring at the menu so seriously, Eri thought.  She 
wondered why, and made her own choice.  "Baked beans, 
roast beef, mashed potatoes, boiled cabbage, and corn.  
With LOTS of gravy."  

	"I'll have the 'Haggis'," he said, "Along with 'bangers 
and mash' and a 'Yorkshire Pudding'."  He decided to try 
fish and chips another time.

	Eri stared at him intently, wondering if he actually 
knew what any of that was.  "Kenji, you do know..." she 
began.

	"Of course I know," he quickly asserted.  

	"Ooookay," she said.  It's his taste buds.

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

	Akira tried to decide if fake red hair was better than 
fake blonde.  It was well done; Megumi knew her business.  
It did help make her less recognizable.  Nara looked 
different too, as he was wearing a wig that gave him long 
green hair.  "So what's the briefcase for?" she asked him.

	"Assuming they'll let us, I brought a chess set so we 
can play at Maison Pierre," Nara said.  "Though we 
probably won't be able to finish unless you win quickly."  
Nara was hauling a briefcase with the chess set inside it; it 
was a folding set which held the pieces inside it when 
folded shut.  He'd also tucked a few things inside it, 
including some imported teas as a gift.  

	"Now, now, don't put yourself down.  Not a good 
thing to do on a date," Akira said.

	He got out a notepad and began scribbling.

	"Normally, also bad," she pointed out.  "But this being 
a training date, I'll accept it."

	He nodded, then looked back.  "No one on our trail?"

	"One of Buddha's spies is combing the area here to 
watch for any of your Father's women," Akira said.  
"Beyond that, no."

	This heightened Nara's general feeling he'd wandered 
into a spy novel.  Secret communications, hiding from 
enemy agents, it was all kind of cool.

	This time, nothing would go wrong.  

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

	"Are you sure Maison Pierre is a good place to make 
the swap?" Agent E asked Agent L.  

	"I'm sure," he said.  "And even if I wasn't, H is 
running this operation, and it was her choice," the shorter 
agent said to his taller partner.  It's not easy being an 
international superspy, he thought.  Not when my partner 
complains all the time, anyway.  

	"I think she just wants to eat French food," E 
grumbled.

	"Can you blame her?  I'm going crazy from eating 
wall to wall ramen," L said, rubbing his overlarge belly.

	"Well, we can't stay, but I saw a Chinese place that 
looked good around here," E said.

	"Well, we're free a while once we make the drop, so 
yeah, we can try that," L said.  "I could go for some roast 
duck."

	E made a face.  "How can you eat duck?"

	"It's not like a pet people keep in their house," L said.  
"It's like chicken, but better."

	"Chicken, mmmm.  Going to have to hit Colonel 
Chicken some time soon," E said.  "Well, ready to go?"

	"Let's go."

*************
	
	"Does your class fight these sorts of wars frequently?" 
Lala asked Hanai as they waited for their food.

	Casa Tomas turned out to be badly decorated, but the 
food smelled good.  Lala had pronounced the decorations 
more a parody of Mexico than the real thing.  They were 
seated in a wall booth.

	"No, thankfully," he said.  "Your help is appreciated, 
though.  It was good of you to help us after everything."

	"I couldn't let Karen show me up," Lala said.  "And it 
was a good test of skill."  Also, I was hideously drunk, she 
thought.  Which he'd better not bring up.

	"I'm just glad..." he began, then told himself, don't talk 
about Yakumo while on a date with someone else.  "That 
Harima and Sawachika didn't get hurt."

	"Going off to fight them all himself with just three 
assistants was crazy," Lala said with a tone of voice that 
sounded more appreciative than dismissive.  "That's what 
Father would have done," she said more softly.

	"Like when he took on the Martinez triplets and the 
Pederales Brothers all at once to get El Espiritu Blanco out 
of their hands?" Hanai asked.  Internet, you are my friend, 
he thought.  He hoped his research would pay off.

	She stared, her jaw dropping.  "You knew about that?  
But we were both only..."

	"About four at the time," he said.  "But it's a martial 
artist's job to study many forms of combat."

	Their food now arrived.  Hanai dug in politely, while 
Lala just stared.  "So you have studied his career?"

	"The highlights," Hanai said.  "My life is not long 
enough to study all three hundred and twenty two matches 
in detail."

	"I doubt Father remembers them all clearly," she said, 
sighing.  "I can tell you, rebounding off the ropes in Mesa 
Grande is not as easy as it looks."

	He fumbled a bit with his fork and knife.  "I must 
confess it's not a skill I've ever mastered.  Most of our 
tournaments tend to frown on it."

	"The art of wrestling requires the mastery of many 
skills," she said, taking on a slightly pedantic tone.  "The 
whole arena is your weapon.  Use it, or it will use you."  
She began slicing her food up into small squares.  "It's the 
little things which can sometimes provide that margin of 
victory."

	He listened quietly, eating as she launched into a long 
lecture about how to exploit the ropes around the ring.  
While she was doing this, however, he noticed something 
he hadn't seen before, which was Mikoto and Imadori, who 
had come in and gotten a booth with a good view of them.

	I can't believe she's going out with that idiot, he 
thought, frowning.  He's just an underwear and breast-
obsessed fool.  

	Lala paused in mid-lecture.  "Something wrong?"

	He pointed subtly and she glanced over, seeing 
Imadori trying to flip salsa into his mouth with his chips.  
Her hands clenched around her knife and fork.  "What is 
HE doing here?" she hissed.

	"Probably he's trying to wreck our date to annoy you," 
Hanai said, sighing.  Poor Mikoto, sucked into his evil plan.  
"The best thing is to pretend we don't notice."

	She nodded, forcing herself to smile.  "We'll have fun, 
more fun than they can possibly STAND."  She closed her 
eyes, breathing hard for a moment, then opened them and 
said softly, "I am mad at them, not you."  

	"Thank you," he said softly.  "Imadori isn't worth 
getting mad over."

	"He makes me crazy," she said.  "Staring at my breasts 
and trying to fondle me."  She wasn't sure if she was glad 
Hanai didn't stare at her chest or disappointed he didn't 
seem to notice.  This was the sort of time they were for.  
But he always looked her straight in the eyes and listened 
carefully to everything she said, always taking her 
seriously.  That was the kind of man she could respect.  
"Take my hand," she whispered.

	He blinked and did so, and she giggled girlishly; he 
found it a little disconcerting.  Loudly, she said, "Oh, 
Hanai-san, you know how to compliment a girl."

	Hanai could see Mikoto twitch and nearly raise her 
glass of tea to her chin instead of her lips.  Imadori was 
staring in confusion.  I'm on this date because you told me 
to go, Mikoto, he thought.  Though, actually, Lala's been a 
much better date than I expected.  

	I wonder what Yakumo is doing, he thought idly.

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

	Yakumo was trying to draw; she was putting together 
their scribbled notes into a story bible.  However, she was 
finding herself a little lonely.  

	When she found herself drawing a little witch chasing 
a blonde prince, she sighed and got up.  I need food, she 
thought.  

	She decided to head over to Sara's restaurant, as she 
didn't feel like cooking and eating alone.  To her surprise, 
she saw Nara was here with Akira (though Akira had her 
hair done up blonde again.)  She decided to go say hello to 
them.

	As she drew closer, however, she realized that Nara 
seemed to be fantasizing about kissing Karasuma.  Her eyes 
widened.  I didn't know he was like that, she thought.

	"Sempais," she said.  "Having fun on your date?"

	"Yes," Nara said, and giggled, then put a hand over his 
mouth.  With an oddly deep voice, he then said, "We are 
enjoying good food and having a good time."

	Something was definitely odd with Akira's voice, she 
realized, as Akira said, "It's a good thing Nara's mother isn't 
following us or anything.  We've thrown her off our trail."  
As she said this, however, Akira made a hand-sign to her, 
pointing off towards one of the central tables.

	Yakumo glanced and noticed a brunette woman who 
was sitting with a blonde man and carefully watching Nara 
and Akira.  "That's good.  Have you seen my sister and 
Karasuma?  She'd been talking about coming here."

	'Wow, I'm good,' Nara thought.  "I hear they went to 
Maison Perro."

	"Pierre," Akira said with her odd voice.  It seemed a 
little too deep to Yakumo.  

	"Yeah, that's it," Nara said.  'Karasuma is so smart!'

	How tacky, thinking about someone else while he's 
out with Akira, Yakumo thought.  Though they both seem a 
little odd.

	"Decided not to cook for yourself?" Nara asked.  'I 
hope she's not too bored, all on her own tonight.  But she'll 
have fun on her date tomorrow, right?'  

	"Kind of you to worry," Yakumo said.  Something 
definitely strange.  "Yes, I thought I'd come and see if Sara 
was busy."

	Sara now came out of the kitchen.  "Yakumo!"  She 
came over.  "Let me get you a table."

	"You could eat with us," Nara said, sounding a little 
guilty.  'Sorry, sister.'

	Sister...is that Tenma?  She's dating Akira?  Yakumo 
looked at them more closely.  That wasn't Akira.  Was it?  
Yakumo felt confused.  "No, have fun on your date," she 
said.

	"You too," Akira said.

	Sara took Yakumo over to a table.  "Asou and I get off 
at ten.  We could all go catch a movie if you want to."

	"I wouldn't want to get in the way," Yakumo said 
hesitantly.

	"I'm a little scared to ask him," Sara said.  "But if you 
come along, it'll be easier.  I just...need to build my 
confidence to ask for a real date."

	"I...okay," Yakumo said.  It would beat sitting around 
the house until she went crazy.

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

	Sagano waved to Karen from across the restaurant, 
then dragged Fuyuki and Yuuki over with her.  "Hey, guys, 
having fun?"

	Karen said, "I'm fine.  The waitresses have been 
hanging all over Harry all night, though," she said, fork 
stuck into what was left of her huge plate of pasta 
primavera.  

	"I'm just popular with the ladies," Harry said, 
grinning.

	Fuyuki leaned in and whispered, "You do know the 
entire staff is tranvestites, right?"

	Harry froze in place.

	Karen put a hand over her mouth so as to not laugh too 
hard at her date.

	Sagano grinned, while Yuuki looked a little worried.

	One of the waitresses now came up and leaned over 
Harry's shoulder.  "Anything I can do for you, hmmmm?"

	"I...I...I'm fine," he stammered out.

	I wonder how much it'll cost me to bribe them to hit 
on him some more, Sagano thought.  This should be fun.

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

	Harima stared at his food.  He glanced over at Eri, 
who looked quite pleased as she worked on her roast beef.  
His own food looked like it had been made by aliens.  He 
poked his haggis suspiciously, watching it wiggle at a 
touch.  Studying his bangers and mash, he wasn't sure what 
was banger and what was mash or whether he trusted any 
of it.  And the Yorkshire pudding...what exactly WAS this?  
Beyond yellowish.

	He doused everything in salt and pepper and hot 
sauce, then tried some of the bangers and mash.  It wasn't 
too bad like this.

	Eri made a face.  "Hot sauce on your bangers and 
mash?"

	"Hot sauce makes everything better," he said, 
breathing out tiny tongues of flame.

	Several knights came out now and began riding 
around, waving at the crowd.  Harima could tell there was 
some sort of cosplaying going on, but since it was all in 
English, he couldn't follow it.

	But he had to pretend to.  He'd be damned if he had to 
ask for help in going to a restaurant.  Even a delinquent 
ought to be able to do that on his own.

	"The Arthurian stuff isn't true," Eri whispered.  "But 
it's kind of neat to see it here in Japan."

	Harima wondered what an Arthurian was.  "Yeah, I 
know, it's just a story for kids," he bluffed.

	She nodded.  I didn't even know he knew that, she 
thought.  There's so much about him I don't know, she 
thought.  But I ought to.  "Kenji-kun, can I ask you a 
question?"

	"Sure," he said as he ate.  The bangers and mash, if a 
little squishy from the potato being all mashed up, was 
tasty.  He tried to decide if he should risk the haggis.

	"Why do you live with your cousin instead of your 
parents?" she asked hesitantly, worried she was going too 
far in asking this.

	Harima stared silently at his food, then hesitantly 
attacked his haggis with knife and fork, cutting out a chunk 
and putting it in his mouth, chewing slowly.

	Eri frowned, then stared down at her own food, 
picking at the boiled cabbage and feeling guilty.

	"My folks had a hard time of it when I was little.  
When my little brother was born, Dad ran out on her, 
saying she'd gotten fat and ugly," he said slowly and 
painfully.  

	Eri regretted asking, and continued to slowly pick at 
her food.  

	"When I got into high school, I went to live with my 
cousin, as she lives closer to Sukuran than Mom does," 
Harima said, sighing.  "I think Mom was relieved; I was 
pretty out of control at that point."

	"Until you met the person who changed your life," Eri 
said softly.

	"Yeah," Harima said, then said, "Hmm, this 'Haggis' 
looks like crap, but it tastes pretty good."

	"I've never liked it," Eri confessed, then tried to decide 
if she should probe more.  She wanted to know who that 
person was, who had turned his life around.  Whoever it 
was, they must be incredible; she'd seen the kind of people 
he'd been once, and now he was so different.  

	He looked down, seeing the knights were now 
jousting.  "Someone's going to put their eye out," he said, 
sounding a little excited at the idea.

	She laughed.  "I'm sure they have safety precautions."  
She finished off her cabbage.  "My own mother is out of 
the country, running one of the family businesses, while 
Father is here running things in her absence.  Kind of 
funny, really."

	"I don't get the joke," Harima confessed, working on 
his haggis.

	"The non-Japanese one running things here, 
the...never mind," Eri said.

	"What's your dad like?"

	"He's very hard-working, smart, and dedicated.  He 
really throws everything he has into whatever he does, and 
he never gives up," Eri said.  "And between you and me, 
he's a little too competitive at times."

	"Hey, isn't that him?" Harima asked, pointing off 
across the place.

	Eri turned and looked.  She could see her father with 
two men in suits and a woman in a suitdress.  Oh shit, she 
thought.  I told Dad I was out with Harkenko!

	"Should we say hello?" Harima asked.

	"I told him I was out...aaaargh," Eri said.  "We can't 
let him see us.  See me, anyway."  She dropped down under 
the table.

	"How are you going to eat down there?" he asked.  
"Did you do something to piss your dad off?"

	"He doesn't know I'm out with a boy," Eri said.

	"What, did you tell him that you were with Tenma or 
something?" Harima asked.

	"I told him I was with Harkenko," Eri mumbled.

	"Who?"

	"She doesn't exist."

	"Why the hell did you tell your dad you're with 
someone imaginary?" he asked.

	"Because he starts to freak out at the idea of me going 
out with guys," Eri said.  

	"How did you go on the trip with us to the beach, 
then???" Harima asked.

	"I sort of didn't mention the guys," Eri mumbled.

	Harima looked around; a few people were staring.  
"People are looking at us, better get out from under the 
table."

	No way to quickly disguise Harima as a woman, she 
thought.  I have to do something...

	She carefully slinked up from under the table.  "Give 
me your hat and your jacket," she said.

	He looked at her in confusion, then did so.

	She tucked her hair up inside the hat, making it look 
strange, then donned the jacket and tried to turn her chair so 
as to keep her back to her father.  Then she prayed this 
would be enough to let them eat and get out unobserved.

	They got through the meal; unfortunately, they would 
have to walk past him in order to actually get out.  "Just 
cover your head with the jacket and let me lead you out," 
Harima said.

	"I'll look like a freak!" Eri protested.

	"You rather get caught?" Harima asked.

	She sighed and put the jacket over her head and let 
Harima lead her out.  As she passed the table her father was 
at, she heard him say, "What a strange person."

	She was ready to vibrate through walls by the time she 
got outside.

*****************	
	
	Maison Pierre turned out to be elegant and expensive.  
Nara could feel pieces of his soul dying as he looked at the 
menu.  He also had no idea what half the items were.  The 
place smelled good, at least.

	Akira had popped off to the bathroom to freshen up, 
leaving him at the table with the briefcase, struggling with 
the menu.  

	Their drinks were delivered and he gave up on the 
menu and turned to the briefcase, opening it.  Instead of a 
chess set, it was full of folders with blue prints and several 
CDs in very nice cases, labelled 'X-A', 'X-B', and 'XXXX'.  
Confused, he studied the blue-prints, but was unable to 
figure out what they were, beyond electronic devices.  
Maybe.

	Akira returned, then paused and looked at the 
blueprints in confusion.  "What is this?"

	"I don't know, they were in the briefcase instead of the 
chess set."

	Akira studied them in more detail.  "Well, this isn't 
good."

	"Isn't good as in 'this date is about to go down the 
hole'?" Nara asked.

	"I would expect some spies tried to conduct a 
document swap and someone screwed up and now we have 
their documents and they have your chess set," Akira said.

	"Dammit, that was a hand-carved chess set I bought 
on vacation in Mexico!  How am I supposed to replace it?" 
Nara asked.

	"That's the least of our worries, as someone's likely to 
be looking for this," Akira said.  She pulled out gloves from 
her purse.  "Put these on.  We've got to destroy our 
fingerprints.  Then we've got to vanish out of here and 
figure out what to do with these.  At least we're both  
disguised."  She sighed. 

	Nara put the gloves on, worried.  "Can't we just leave 
this here, let the people come back and find their thing?"

	"They may not figure it out for hours.  The fact that 
we're not seeing anyone coming to get this probably means 
something went wrong..."

*************
	
	E looked over at L.  "Short cut, huh?"

	"Dammit, where did all these cars come from?" L 
demanded, honking his horn.  "I thought everyone in Japan 
took public transport."

	A motorcycle now pulled around them; two teenagers 
were on it, wending their way between cars through the 
thick traffic; the female was laughing loudly.

	"Punk kids," L pronounced.

	"I hate kids," E said.  He sat back, ruffling his now 
long and green hair.  "H will wait for us, won't she?"

	"She can be a little impatient, I've heard," L said.  
"You did dye your hair the right color, right?"

	"Yeah.  Won't be hardly anyone around here with this 
shade," E said.  "Nothing can go wrong."

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

	Hanai couldn't decide if he was nervous because he 
was holding hands with Lala or if it was because Mikoto 
was holding hands with Imadori.  Or possibly both.  
	
	"Any idea what movie you'd like to see?" Hanai asked.

	"Kung Fu Hustle," she said.

	"That's fine with me," he said, half-glancing over to 
the other line where Mikoto and Imadori were.  I am acting 
like such an idiot, he told himself.  But he just couldn't 
stop.

	Once they got their tickets and got inside, they went 
over to the snack bar.  Hanai just wanted a drink, but Lala 
was apparently extra hungry tonight, as she got a large 
popcorn and two candy bars as well.  Noticing his surprised 
look, she said, "I get a lot of exercise," sounding defensive.

	He nodded.  "Alright.  Let's go in, then."

	He could almost feel Mikoto's gaze as she and Imadori 
followed them into the theatre.  I can't believe she's getting 
so worked up over this, he thought.  She seems like she's 
jealous.  But this was her idea!

	He sat down with Lala and the movie soon began; 
Imadori and Mikoto positioned themselves a few rows 
ahead and over where Lala and Hanai couldn't help but see 
them.  It was hard to watch the movie and keep an eye on 
them, though having seen the first half of the movie would 
help.  

	At least this isn't the sort of movie to give Imadori an 
excuse to do anything stupid, he thought.  Or so he hoped.

**********

	"Shouldn't she have approached us by now?" E asked 
L.

	"Who knows?  Stick to the plan," L said.

	"But I can't afford to eat anywhere this costly," E said.

	"So, I'll eat and you drink, then we can go to the 
Chinese place and you eat," L said.  

	"Maybe we should check in with the boss," E said.

	"Not here.  Someone might notice us.  We just wait 
and see," L said.

	H covertly observed them, wondering what exactly 
was going on.  I already made the swap, she thought.  Are 
these fakes set up to trick me?  They could be enemy 
agents.  I'd better check the transponder.

	The transponder indicated the briefcase she'd swapped 
in earlier was on its way away from here.  So they couldn't 
be the correct agents.  Someone had slipped in fakes to fool 
her.

	But she couldn't be fooled that easy.  She'd wait, take 
care of them later, once she could get some backup.

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

	"They do look odd to me," Asou said to Sara, 
frowning.  "Especially Takano, who is acting very 
strangely."

	"She isn't normally this perky," Sara said.  "And 
there's something odd about her."

	"Nara seems kind of perky too."

	"Yes, but that's normal," Sara said.  "Yakumo and I 
were going to go see a movie after we get off work.  You 
want to come with us?"

	Asou blinked.  "Sure.  Probably better you girls not be 
wandering around Tokyo at night without an escort," he 
said.

	SCORE, Sara thought.  "Alright."

	The owner poked Sara in the arm.  "Date later, work 
now."

	"Yes, sir!"  She went round to see if anyone needed 
anything, but she was floating on the inside.

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

	Akira patted the dog on the head.  "Good doggie," she 
said, then gently pushed it into motion.  It ran off yapping.

	"Is it safe for dogs to eat left over french food?" Nara 
asked.

	"Better safe than sorry," Akira said.

	They were outside the restaurant, at a nearby park.  A 
truck pulled up.  Sasakura-sensei said, "Hop in."

	They clambered into the back of the Tea Club truck; 
Itoko-sensei was here with a long table full of analysis 
equipment.  "Let's take a look at those plans."

	"Wow," Nara said, looking at everything.  "I don't 
suppose there's any way you could find my chess set with 
all this stuff?"

	"Unfortunately, wood is hard to scan for," Itoko said.  
"Akira-san can buy you a new chess set."

	"Sorry, Nara," Akira said, shaking her head.  "Maybe 
we'll have more luck next weekend."

	"Well, let's get down to work," Itoko said.

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

	Tenma-Nara finished her food and looked over at 
Karasuma-Akira.  "Ready to go?" she asked.

	"Yes," Karasuma-Akira said crisply.  "Let's go."

	As they rose to go, Asou came over.  "Nara, this is for 
you."  He passed a small box to Tenma-Nara, looking at her 
curiously.  "Have a nice night."

	Tenma-Nara blinked and peeked inside it; it looked 
like cologne, so she said to Karasuma-Akira, "I think I'll go 
put some on before we leave."

	"I'll wait here," he said.

	Tenma-Nara had just finished putting on the cologne 
when three women entered the ladies' room.  Most nights, 
this would not have been a problem, except that right now, 
she looked like a he.  

	"AAAHHH!!!!  PERVERT IN THE BATHROOM!" 
one of the women yelled.

	Tenma-Nara panicked.  "Pervert?  Where?"

	They began hurling things at her from their purses, 
and she fled the bathroom under a hail of objects.  Akira-
Karasuma rose from their table and joined her, running 
along with her without asking any questions, deflecting the 
thrown objects.

	They fled into the night, sprinting for about a block.  
Finally, Tenma-Nara leaned against a building, spent.  
"That was embarrassing."

	"But you didn't break cover," Akira-Karasuma told 
her.  "Good job."

	She smiled a little at that, then headed to the movie 
theatre with him.  "Really, I'm not sure what to do if I have 
to go at the theatre."

	"Me neither," Akira-Karasuma confessed.

	She felt a little better at that.

	As they reached the theatre, they spotted Eri and 
Harima approaching the theatre.  Eri waved.  "Hi, guys."

	"Hello, Sawachika-san, Harima-san," Tenma-Nara 
said, trying to stay in character, as she could see Kimiko  
carefully observing them from across the street.  

	Harima took off his sunglasses and stared at them.  
What the hell?  They both look so weird tonight.

	"Good evening, Eri-chan, Kenji-kun," Akira-
Karasuma said.  "What movie are you here for?"

	"Revenge of the Wombatlords," Harima said.  
"Hoping to see Koala Knights get stacked like cordwood."

	"Hmm, that sounds good," Akira-Karasuma said.  

	"Okay, we could see that too," Tenma-Nara said.  
"You guys want to sit with us?"

	"Sure," Harima said.

	Eri was cut off; she wanted to try and have Harima 
alone.  But it was too late now.  And she wasn't sure what 
she would do if she did.  

	They were both acting strange and looked strange.  
Someone wasn't impersonating them, were they?  But why 
would anyone want to impersonate Nara and Akira?

	They got their tickets and went in; Eri was surprised to 
see Akira and Nara getting all snuggly.  They weren't like 
that at school, anyway.  It made her feel jealous that she 
couldn't do the same with Kenji.

	Revenge of the Wombatlords wasn't a good movie for 
getting all snuggly, unfortunately.  Unless seeing 
explosions and lightsabre battles made you snuggly.  
Though they seemed to make Nara and Akira snuggly, as 
far as she could tell; Nara had an arm around her shoulders 
and they kept whispering to each other.

	Harima seemed oblivious to the snuggling, fixed on 
the action on-screen, sometimes giving excited advice on 
how best to sever heads or rip droids apart.  Eri tried to lose 
herself in the movie, but she kept looking over at Nara and 
Akira, even though every glance gave her a burst of 
jealousy.

	I'm going to turn to the Dark Side myself by the end of 
this movie, she thought.

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

	Slowly, Harry moved his arm into place, preparing to 
to bring it down around Karen's shoulders as the movie 
(Hearts Lost in Tokyo) began to move towards one of its 
romantic moments.  

	If he'd been alert, he would have noticed her body 
subconsciously tensing.  But he was focused on making 
time.

	His arm came down.

	Her hand came up.

	He went flying, telling himself to remember to brace 
next time.

**************
	
	H frowned.  She had the wrong briefcase with a chess 
set belonging to someone named 'Nara'.  And the 
transponder she'd planted now seemed to be inside a dog.  

	Time to track the two imposters and deal with them.

***************
	
	Hanai could feel Lala's grip on his hand growing 
tighter.  "Why doesn't anyone think to get out of the line of 
fire of that instrument?" she mumbled.

	"It's a wide arc, leaving less room for manuever," 
Hanai whispered.

	"Will you two be QUIET?" someone shouted behind 
them.

	Lala started to rise and turn in her seat, but Hanai 
pulled her down, whispering, "We may get thrown out if 
you give him a thrashing."

	She pouted and resumed watching the movie.  "True 
martial artists shouldn't wear flip-flops."

	Father's in trouble, then, Hanai thought, munching on 
popcorn.

	He glanced ahead and saw Mikoto whispering to 
Imadori.  She seemed to have forgotten about Hanai and 
Lala and was just enjoying herself.  He wasn't sure whether 
to be glad or frustrated by that.

	Lala gradually lightened up as the movie progressed, 
then stared in shock at the climactic battle.  "Now, see, this 
is what that Matrix fight should have been more like," she 
whispered to Hanai, who had to agree.

	Hanai now spotted Imadori's wiggling arm.  It seemed 
to be moving in such a way that it was suspiciously close to 
dropping around Mikoto's shoulders.  Hanai took a popcorn 
bud and carefully flicked it at Imadori's ear.  His hand came 
up to shield his ear.

	As Imadori began to lower his arm, Hanai flicked 
another popcorn at Imadori's ear.  Up went the hand again.  
After the third time, Imadori whispered to Mikoto, who 
turned and looked back.  Hanai did his best to look 
innocent.

	Then Mikoto suddenly put a hand up to her left ear 
and Hanai saw Lala grin.  Mikoto started to rise, but 
Imadori pulled her down.  

	Hanai realized this was going to escalate hideously if 
it kept up.  Thankfully, the movie was dying down, and he 
quickly took Lala's arm and steered her out of the theatre, 
heading for the train station.  He could see Mikoto and 
Imadori, arm in arm, following them.  Mikoto looked 
extremely annoyed.  Which was to be expected of anyone 
going on a date with Imadori, in Hanai's opinion.

	They caught the train without any trouble, and headed 
for home.

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

	"Are you sure we should have left?" E asked as he sat 
down at the table in the Chinese place.

	"She took too long, so we aborted.  Let's feed you, 
then we can report to HQ and find out what's wrong," L 
said.  "I may get a few eggrolls."

	Their waiter was a somber man with raven hair.  
"What would you like to drink?"

	"We'll have..."  E paused.  "Is that girl over there 
drawing on the tablecloth?"

	"Don't ask," the young man said.  "You really don't 
want to know."

	"Right.  Anyway, I'll have some green tea."

	"Dr. Pepper for me," L said.  

	"I'll get right on it," the young man said.

	Asou went back to the kitchen and poured the two 
drinks, only to find himself face to face with a red-haired 
woman.  "Where's my drinks?" she demanded.

	He blinked.  "Are you at one of Sara's tables?"

	"I don't know anyone's name," she said.  "I just want 
my tea."

	He put the tray down and turned and got her a glass of 
tea.  "Sorry, ma'am." 

	She nodded angrily and stalked off.  He took the 
customers their drinks, got their orders and went off to 
place them.

	A little later, he asked Sara about the woman.

	"She's one of mine, but I thought I got her a drink," 
Sara said. 

	"Maybe not."  Asou frowned.  He had a bad feeling 
about this.

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

	Seducing Karen was definitely going to be hard if she 
kept throwing him every time he touched her.  He decided 
to go for hand holding.  

	Slowly, his hand crept towards hers as she watched the 
movie.  He couldn't see her body tensing, so he went for it.

	Ever.

	So.

	Slowly.

	Finally, his hand slid into touching hers and gently 
closed around it.  She started, but didn't throw him.  She 
looked over at him, and he smiled confidently.

	She blushed slightly, but didn't say anything.

	For a moment, just a moment, he felt a twinge of 
danger.  But he didn't know why.  Looking around, all was 
safe, so he decided it was just nerves.

	As the movie moved towards a romantic climax, he 
leaned over slowly, ever so slowly, and whispered to her, 
"Kinda makes you jealous, seeing a relationship like that 
one, eh?"

	Karen sighed.  "Yes, it does," she whispered.  

	"Well, don't worry, I'm sure Mikoto is more likely 
beating up Imadori than making out with him."

	The look on Karen's face told him she feared he was 
wrong, so he moved in just a little closer.  "I mean, it's not 
like they're close or anything, right?"

	Another torpedo hit.

	"He's just obsessed with her breasts, that's all," Harry 
whispered.  "Probably can't tell anything else about a 
woman, or he'd be all over you."  He tightened the grip on 
her hands just a little, feeling her own grip tighten.  "I like a 
gentle, feminine woman like you."

	Her breath caught, and she said softly, "You really 
think I'm feminine?"

	"Of course," he said.  "You are kind and gentle and 
dress like a woman.  You are modest and a little shy and 
very cute."

	She smiled gratefully at him.  "You flatter me, 
Mackenzie-san," she said.  "I am a wrestler, after all."

	"That just makes you more attractive; all that strength, 
but you have such perfect control of it," he said, mking his 
words drip with honey.  

	She shivered slightly, but still smiled, then mumbled 
something about Imadori.

	Yes, he thought, this is going to go well this time.  No 
more judo throws for me.  I hope.  

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

	Hanai walked hand in hand with Lala down the street.  
She's almost as pretty as Yakumo, he thought.  If she wasn't 
so tall...

	"What was that?" Lala asked.

	"I...nothing, just my brain wandering a moment," he 
said.  "Certainly not thinking about..."  He made himself 
stop.

	She studied him curiously, turning to face him.  
"Trying to decide whether to go for a kiss when we get 
home?" she asked.

	He froze up, now catching sight of Mikoto and 
Imadori behind them, trying to hide and spy on them.  This 
made him even more tense.  "Yes," he blurted out, even 
though it wasn't true.  But she would definitely clobber him 
for thinking about Yakumo.

	She glanced back at the pursuit, then smiled.  
"Honesty is good."  She now put a hand on his other 
shoulder.  "This has probably been my best date ever.  You 
may kiss me if you like."

	He couldn't back out now.  I would rather kiss 
Yakumo, he thought.  But what else can I do?  He took a 
deep breath and leaned forwards to kiss her, closing his 
eyes.

	He could hear Mikoto drawing breath, could hear the 
murmur of Imadori's voice, could almost feel Lala's body 
moving closer to his, felt her power approaching him, her 
arms drawing around him as he clumsily drew his around 
her, felt her breasts pressing into his chest, heard the sound 
of her breath, smelled her perfume, then tasted her lips.

	She drew him in close, lips pressed to his; he could 
hear something breaking off in Mikoto's direction, then 
heard Imadori give a brief cry that went silent.

	He wasn't sure how long they kissed, but to his 
surprise, it was rather pleasant.  He could feel his brain 
fogging up as it tried to fantasize he was kissing Yakumo.  
Guilt warred with pleasure and fear; pleasure held the 
upper hand for the moment; kissing Lala was a lot more 
pleasant than he'd ever expected.

	Lala finally broke off the kiss.  "Hmm, not a bad start, 
but you need to be firmer."

	Breathing hard, he said, "Right, firmer."

	She glanced over and saw Imadori and Mikoto were 
very close to each other; it was hard for her to tell if they 
had just kissed or if they were bluffing.  But she smiled a 
little smile of triumph.

	There was something reassuring about being able to 
make people jealous.  The Suou girl clearly liked Hanai, 
and would likely fight for him.

	Lala didn't mind.  She liked a good fight.

	She took Hanai's hand again.  "Let's walk a while; 
Takaishi-san isn't expect me until later."

	"Alright," he said.  "Let's go."

***********
	  	
	Nara listened to a lot of technical jargon and sighed.  
Another date down the tubes.

	"Well, at this point," Itoko said, "I suggest you two 
lose the disguises and go have a little fun.   They shouldn't 
recognize you with your real appearances and I'm going to 
have to do some more investigating to figure out who we 
got this from and what all it does.  Just stay away from that 
section of town for now."

	"Alright," Nara said.  "Are you sure it'll be okay?"

	"It should be fine."

	"I could go for some quick Chinese, then go hit a 
movie," Nara said.

	"Sounds good to me," Akira said.  

****************
	
	"Hungry again already?" Sara asked Nara in 
confusion.

	"What?" he said.  "We haven't been here tonight."

	"You haven't?"

	Akira cocked an eyebrow, then realized what was 
going on.  "Robot decoys," she said deadpan.

	"Wow."

	"Keeping Nara's mother from following us."

	"Pretty impressive," Sara said.  "I didn't know robots 
were that good."

	Nara thought that Karasuma would make a good 
robot.  He then noticed a woman leaving the place, 
following two groggy looking guys, carrying a briefcase 
which looked rather like his.  He elbowed Akira.

	Akira looked over, eyes widening; one of the guys 
looked somewhat like Nara's disguise.  "I'll be right back," 
she said, slipping to the bathroom, out a window, and 
around the building.  She slipped on a head-concealing ski 
mask and followed the woman.

	The two guys soon collapsed, and the woman 
approached them with Akira stalking after her.  The woman 
swapped her briefcase for theirs and slipped off.

	Akira crept up and checked their wallets.  They had 
badges indicating they worked for US Robots and 
Mechanical Men.  Akira frowned.  The last we need is 
these fools introducing their mad machines into Japan.  We 
don't want to end up cyberpunk, she thought.  I hate 
crashing through plate glass windows.

	She carefully opened the briefcase and secured Nara's 
chess set.  Best not to take them captive, she decided.  If I 
just take their wallets and the chess set, they'll assume they 
were mugged.

	She quietly slipped off, back into the restaurant.  
Hopefully, the rest of the night would be quiet.

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

	Eri glanced over at Nara again, wondering if he was 
always so giggly on a date.  The movie was almost over, 
and she wanted to do something else with Harima, but she 
wasn't sure what.

	When the movie was over, Nara asked them, "You 
guys want to come walk with us for a while?"

	Harima looked over at Eri, who hesitated, then said, 
"Sure."

	Once they started down the street, Harima realized 
some woman was following them, along with some guy in 
a car.  "We're being followed," Harima whispered to Akira.

	Akira whispered back, "It's Nara's mother, following 
us.  Thankfully, she hasn't done much meddling yet."

	Definitely something very strange about Akira's voice, 
he thought.  Also, her height wasn't quite right.

	These aren't alien imposters, I hope, he thought.  
Surely not.

	Harima got more nervous when the people following 
them vanished.  That couldn't be a good sign.

	They came around a corner and found, of all things, a 
gypsy set up to tell fortunes, a short woman heavily 
swathed in many layers of colorful clothing.  "Ho, ho, ho, 
young ones, would you like to have your fortune told?"

	"Sure!" Tenma-Nara said.  

	"Fortunes are..." Karasuma-Akira began, then fell 
silent, looking thoughtful.

	"Sure," Harima said.

	"Okay," Eri replied.

	She bent over and peered into her crystal ball.  "I 
see...trouble for you, young man," she said, pointing to 
Tenma-Nara.

	Tenma-Nara's eyes widened.  "Why?"

	"You didn't clean your room before you left on your 
date.  Your mother will be cross."

	Tenma-Nara laughed nervously.  "I meant to."

	The gypsy shook her head sadly.  "But I have good 
news as well."

	"Go on?" he asked.

	"The spirits, they tell me that the omens are good for 
you and your girlfriend's relationship," the gypsy 
continued.

	"Oooooh!" Tenma-Nara said, bouncing happily.

	Karasuma-Akira smiled and squeezed Tenma-Nara's 
hand gently.

	They aren't that close, are they?, Eri asked herself.  

	Definitely an imposter, Harima thought.  Nara is way 
too bouncy.  

	"What about my future?" Harima asked.

	The gypsy looked thoughtful and peered into her ball.  
"Your motorcycle will be stolen by a gang of punks..."

	"MY CYCLE!" he shouted, and turned and ran.

	Eri said, "Sorry, guys!" and ran after Harima.

	"Any fortune for me?" Karasuma-Akira asked 
curiously.

	The gypsy studied the swirling mists inside her ball.  
"I see...I see...the omens of your future are bright; you will 
soon find great wealth."

	"Money is good," Karasuma-Akira said crisply.  

	"Cool, thank you!" Tenma-Nara said, tossing some 
money onto the table to pay for the fortune, then heading 
off with Karasuma-Akira.

	They rounded another corner and found a 5000 yen 
bill lying conveniently close to a still open ice cream shop.  
Tenma-Nara picked it up.  "Cool, now we can have some 
ice cream."

	"Great wealth indeed," Karasuma-Akira said, noting a 
man darting off into an alleyway out of the corner of his 
eye.

	They headed in to pig out.

************
	
	Harry and Karen came out of the theatre just as Eri 
and Harima came running up.  Harima hugged his cycle, 
which was not stolen.  "Whew," he said.

	Harry looked at him curiously.  "Were you expecting 
it to run away from home?"

	"No, this gypsy claimed it was stolen," Harima said.

	"It's not wise to listen to gypsies," Harry said.  

	Karen nodded.  "Harry is right."

	Eri looked at them and felt frustrated.  "Stupid gypsy.  
We should..."

	"Eh, I shouldn't have left my cycle here, anyway.  
Let's ride," Harima said.

	"Hmm, interested in a little race?" Harry asked.

	"Yeah," Harima said, grinning.  "We'll kick your ass."

	Karen's eyes widened.  "A race?"

	"Just hold on tight to me and you'll be fine," Harry 
said.  "I've never wiped out."

	"Just get ready to LOSE," Eri said.  "Let's go, Kenji-
kun."

	They mounted up; Harry could feel Karen gripping his 
waist very strongly, and worried a little over whether she 
might suddenly panic enough to throw him, but he hoped 
not.

	Harima took off like a rocket, and Harry let him take 
the lead to start with; he wanted to study how Harima 
drove.

	The answer:  like a bat out of hell.  Harima bobbed 
and wove through traffic with little regard for his own 
safety or that of his passenger as far as Harry could tell.  
Harry was able to keep up with him, at the cost of Karen's 
grip around his waist slowly growing ever tighter.

	Harima roared around a corner, with Eri laughing 
gleefully as they leaned to one side, and then took off like a 
rocket down the mostly empty side street.  Harry sped up to 
pull up alongside him.  Harima looked determined to 
Harry, while Eri seemed to be hugely enjoying this.  She 
looked over at him and grinned a winner's grin.

	Karen, on the other hand, felt tense to him, and was 
clutching him ever harder.  He began to get the feeling he 
might lose by means of her crushing him.  "Harima!" he 
shouted.  "We need to name a finishing point!"

	"Let's race to the school," Harima said.  

	Eri laughed.  "Never thought I'd see YOU racing to 
school."

	Karen nodded.

	"There's a first time for everything," Harima said, 
pressing his engine as hard as he could, and starting to pull 
ahead.

	Harry let him take the lead for the moment as they 
whizzed through the streets.  If Karen tightened her grip too 
much more, he might just rip in half, he feared.

	Karen mumbled something, but he couldn't hear it 
with the wind whipping past him.  He roared around a car 
and she mumbled again.

	Man, I hope she isn't getting motion sickness, he 
suddenly thought.  He sped up, hoping to pull ahead and 
get this over with faster.

	His highly tuned bike pulled ahead of Harima, who 
then swung and turned off down a side street, too late for 
Harry to follow him.  He frowned, fearing that Harima was 
about to use his knowledge of the area to find a shortcut.  
"Know any shortcuts?" he asked Karen.

	As he waited for her reply, he had to dodge around a 
long black limo.

	"I usually come another way," she said.  "If we were 
on foot, we could take to the roofs and save some time."

	"Were you saying something earlier?" he asked as 
they roared around a corner.

	"Just praying."

	He laughed.  "Well, this should impress the gods."

	"Or something," she mumbled.

	"Come on," he said.  "Isn't this fun?"

	"It's kind of dangerous," she said as he squeezed 
between cars and raced into an open stretch of road.

	"Yeah, but that's where the fun comes in," he said.  
"Overcoming the danger.  Isn't that why you wrestle?"

	"It makes Daddy smile," she said softly.

	"What, you don't like it?" he asked, surprised.

	She sighed.  "I like it, most of the time, but it makes it 
hard...a lot of people think I'm strange."

	"Well, I think you're cool," Harry said.  He pulled 
around another corner and spotted Eri and Harima far 
ahead of him.  He gave it everything he had to try and catch 
up to them.

	He began to close the distance.  Unfortunately, a cop 
car now pulled into traffic, saw them, and its lights came 
on.

	"Thank you," Karen said.  "But you're unusual."

	"It's my job as a foreigner," he said, laughing.  "Tell 
me you don't have any cop relatives."

	"I don't," she said.

	He sped up, the cop car now in hot pursuit.  A ways 
ahead of them, Eri and Harima turned off onto a side street; 
he arced and followed them, hoping to pass them and let 
the cop take them instead.  

	They roared right past Hanai and Lala and Mikoto and 
Imadori, walking in two pairs, down the street.  Harry 
waved, and Karen did likewise, staring at Imadori as he 
walked hand in hand with Mikoto.  "Circle back," she 
urged Harry.

	"I can't, there's a cop after us!  I gotta pass him off to 
our competition," Harry said.

	"I..."  She couldn't argue with that.

	"Sorry, babe," Harry said.  "In for a dollar and all 
that."

	She had no idea what he could possibly mean.

	He caught up to Eri and Harima, then peeled around a 
corner, then quickly made another turn into an alleyway, 
his bike skidding badly.  He managed to get out of sight, 
and the cop raced past the entrance.

	Bingo, he thought.

	"Now can we go back?" Karen asked softly.

	"Yeah, but do you really want to look at Suou and 
Imadori holding hands?"  Wait, he thought.  It looked like 
Hanai and Lala were holding hands too.  When did they 
start dating?

	"I...uh..."  Karen didn't know what she wanted.

	"Unless you want to kiss in front of him to show him 
two can play at that game, and so on," he said, now 
emerging from the alley into one of the side streets.

	He could feel her grip tighten.  "Ease up a little, 
please," he said.

	She tried to do so.  "I just...I can't...I should..."

	"Well, whatever you like, babe.  We can go look cool, 
see if he gets jealous or go try and win the race or 
whatever."

	She waffled a little longer, then said, "I guess it would 
be too obvious if we went past them again."

	"Do you want to?" he asked.

	"Yes," she said softly.

	"Okay, one race forfeited.  Assuming Eri and Harima 
didn't get busted, anyway."

**********

	"That BASTARD," Harima shouted as the police car 
drew closer.

	"What a punk," Eri said.  "Can't we find an alley to cut 
through or something?"

	"Yeah, hopefully," he said, looking around.  Spotting 
an alleyway, he made a sharp turn into it, then scooted 
down the middle of it, dodging debris.

	Pulling out onto another street, he began to wend his 
way through various side streets and alleys until he was 
sure he'd lost them, then headed for the school.

	They got there first, pulling into the empty parking lot.  
There was a single light on, in one of the classrooms.

	Eri stared.  "Who'd be here this late on a Friday 
night?"

	"That's our class room, it must be Tani-sensei," 
Harima said.

	Eri looked up at the window.  "Someone's making out 
up there."

	"Oh, MAN," Harima said.  "Hmm, trying to see 
who..."

	"It's not Tani-sensei, is it?" Eri asked, trying to make 
out vague shadows from a distance.

	"Kind of short...they both seem to have fairly short 
hair...there goes the shirt..." Harima said.

	Eri felt jealous and curious at once.  "Hmm.  Well, 
isn't the school locked at night?  They'd need a key."

	"That's teachers...the class reps...janitorial staff..." 
Harima said speculatively.

	"I doubt Hanai or Mai is up there making out," Eri 
said.

	"Ooooooooo...."  They could hear a woman moaning.  
Neither of them was familiar with this moan, and it was 
soft and far away.

	Eri turned red.  "What kind of pervs go to school to 
make out?"

	"I dunno, I think it would be kinda sexy; you'd have to 
push the desks together, though," Harima said thoughtfully.  
He could imagine himself and Tenma, accidentally locked 
in after staying for late studying due to both of them taking 
a nap at the wrong time...

	"What is taking Ichijou and Mackenzie so long?" Eri 
asked, turning away.  Her brain began conjuring various 
embarrassing scenarios.

	"Probably got cold busted by the cops," Harima said.  
"Or else got busy on a moving motorcycle."

	"Is that even possible?" Eri asked.

	"You know how nimble Ichijou is," Harima said.  "I 
think if she decided to do it with Harry while he was 
driving, she wouldn't have the slightest difficulty."  He 
could imagine it in his mind's eye.  Not that he wanted to; 
he substituted Tenma for Ichijou and himself for Harry in 
his mind.  Much better.  Though probably, he thought idly, 
Eri would handle it better on a cycle since she has more 
driving skill.  

	WHAT AM I THINKING?  He made himself stop 
thinking that.

	"But wouldn't he, like, wreck?" Eri asked 
incredulously.

	"I could do it.  I wouldn't wreck," Harima said 
confidently.  He could just see it in his mind's eye, even if it 
was hard to keep it all straight, what with Tenma disguising 
herself as other people in his mind and her hair whipping 
about in the wind.  Long black hair, those stunning red 
eyes...no, wait, they weren't red.

	"You are full of it," Eri said.  "There is no way you 
could do that."

	"Hah!  Any time!" Harima said.

	"The motorcycle itself would get in the way unless..."  
Eri's brain raced through embarrasing scenarios.  "I mean, 
don't you..."  She could feel her brain overheating.

	"Well, obviously, the woman would need to face 
backwards," Harima said.  As he thought it about it, he 
became quite sure Tenma would probably fall off the cycle 
and die if they ever tried anything like that.  "Not every 
woman has what it takes for something like that, though."

	"What, and you're saying I don't?" Eri asked angrily.

	"No, you probably do," Harima said, feeling deep 
regret he would never be able to do that with Tenma.  

	"That had better not be our final lesson," she 
mumbled.

	"Hmm, I should call them," Harima said.  "They 
should be here by now."

	They'd better show up before I embarrass myself to 
death, Eri thought.

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

	Mikoto wished she could think of an excuse to beat 
someone up, but she couldn't.  She'd dug herself into this 
hole.  It suddenly hit her that she might run into her old 
tutor while doing this, in which case, she would have no 
choice but to drop dead.

	As it was, Karen and Harry had roared past earlier, 
which had made Imadori act even stranger than before.  He 
couldn't quite seem to decide if he was hitting on her or 
trying to make Lala jealous or what.

	I've done enough making a fool of myself for one 
night, Mikoto thought.  If Lala and Haruki want to go make 
out or whatever, let them.  

	"Let's go home," she said to Imadori.

	"The night is still young," he said hopefully.

	"I'm tired," she said, faking a yawn.  "Let's go sleep."

	His eyes widened.

	"NOT TOGETHER!" she shouted so loudly that 
Hanai and Lala jumped.

	"Aww..."  

	Harry and Karen chose this moment to pull up.  "Hey 
guys," Harry said.  "Enjoying your date?"

	"It's been fun," Imadori said, grinning.

	Karen tried to figure out what to say, but she just had 
no idea.

	"More fun than the human mind can imagine," Mikoto 
said, tiredly.  

	"Interested in going dancing?" Harry asked.

	Mikoto glanced off at Lala and Hanai, now fading into 
the distance.  "I think I'm ready to go home."

	"Aww, Miko-chin," Imadori said.

	I'm going out again tomorrow anyway, Mikoto 
thought.  "Let's go home."

	Imadori sighed.  "Oh well.  See you guys around!"

	Harry looked over at Karen.

	Karen stared at the ground.

	And Imadori and Mikoto headed off.

**************
	
	E looked in the briefcase.  "Dammit, we've been 
robbed.  We are so dead."

	"Dead beyond dead," L said.  "Time to report in that 
everything's gone wrong."

	"Ugh."

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

	Sara stood nervously with Asou and Yakumo in line at 
the movie theatre.  "You guys have any preferences?"

	"Well, I was going to go see Revenge of the 
Wombatlords," Asou said.  

	"Sure," Yakumo said.

	Sara would have preferred something romantic, but 
since they had Yakumo with them...well, this was a start, 
right?

	She hoped so.
	
**************

	As they walked together, starting off for home, 
Tenma-Nara whispered to Karasuma-Akira, "I just thought 
of a problem."

	"What problem?" Karasuma-Akira whispered back.  

	"How are we going to go home?  Nara's mom is going 
to expect us to go home to Nara and Akira's houses."

	"Let's call them."

	Tenma-Nara called Akira and explained the situation.

	"Why don't we meet at your house, and then we can 
all change back to normal clothing where Nara's mother 
can't spy on us, and then Nara and I can leave."

	"Sounds good," Tenma-Nara said.  

	She hung up and explained to Karasuma-Akira, who 
said, "I'm surprised she hasn't meddled more."

	"Well, we both get along well," Tenma-Nara said.  

	"I'm almost tempted to do something disastrous to see 
if she'll step in," Karasuma-Akira said.

	Tenma-Nara laughed, then shook her head.  "Not 
tonight, okay?"

	"Okay," Karasuma-Akira said.

***********

	"I can't believe they're still at it," Harima said, 
studying the shadows playing across the classroom 
window.

	Eri was carefully not looking.  It was best not to think 
about things she couldn't have.  The fact of her drifting 
slowly closer to Harima as she waited was merely her 
subconscious at work.  "I'm thinking they're not going to 
show."

	"I guess not.  Well, you wanna go embarrass those 
two, or should we head out for a ride or what?"

	Harry and Karen finally pulled into the lot.  "Hey 
guys," Harry said.  "Looks like you won."

	"What happened?" Eri asked.

	"We saw some people, went to say hi," Harry said.  
"Wanna try again?"

	Harima looked over at Eri.  Eri said, "I should 
probably head home."  She didn't want to, but she didn't 
know what to do.  She wanted to do something to...to get a 
leg up on Yakumo, so to speak.  But she didn't know what.

	"Damn," Harry said.

	"I should probably get home too," Karen said.

	"Okay, then," Harry said, sighing.  "See you guys 
later."  He roared off with Karen.

	"Take me to Tenma's," Eri said.  "I can have Butler-
san pick me up there."

	"Cool," Harima said.  They hopped on the bike and 
rode.

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

	Kimiko watched the house intently.  So far, three 
couples had shown up here.  Was this some sort of love 
hotel for the high school set?  She didn't know whether to 
be happy for her son or worried he was about to be rolled 
for dough.

	"Andre," she said softly.  "I need you to infiltrate."

	"Megs, dear, I am a rock climber and classical pianist, 
not a gentleman-thief," Andre whispered back.

	"Do your best."

	Andre knew he was doomed, but what could he do?  
He crept towards the house, looking for rooms with the 
lights off.  It was easy enough to get a window open and 
get inside the kitchen.

	Immediately, he heard footsteps and hid in the pantry.

	"Did she fall for it?" one woman asked.

	"I think so," he heard another woman answer.  "It was 
kind of fun."

	"Good.  Hopefully, this won't be necessary EVERY 
time."

	Andre prayed it would not be.

	"Hmm, can't find any tea," the second woman said.  
"Let me get some from the pantry."

	Andre scrambled up, using his skills to basically press 
himself between the narrow walls of the pantry, just below 
the ceiling.

	A short black haired woman entered and rustled 
around.  "Akira, did you hear something rustle in here?"

	"Probably rats," Akira answered.

	"AAAAHH!!!"  the short woman backtracked.

	Akira said, "I'll get some."  She walked into the pantry 
and looked up at Andre, who did his best to smile.  To his 
surprise, she didn't say anything; instead she got the tea and 
went out, then closed the door.

	He heard scraping noises in the kitchen.

	"Akira, why are you blocking the door?"

	"Rats," she said.  "Trying to seal them in until we can 
get an exterminator."

	I am so dead, Andre thought.

	They left him trapped in the pantry once they had their 
tea.

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

	"Well, I had a good time," Lala said to Hanai.

	"So did I," he said honestly, though he was still pretty 
nervous about the kiss.  

	She smiled at him, then glanced off across the 
landscape.  "I think we lost our followers."

	He looked around.  "I think you're right."

	"Well, I think it's time for..."  She started to lean in, 
probably for another kiss, only to have the door open.  

Takaishi-san grabbed her and pulled her in.

The door closed.

Then it opened again and Takaishi-san said, "Thank 
you for showing her a good time, goodnight."

	For a few minutes, Hanai stared blankly at the door in 
surprise, then quietly walked away.

	Inside, Takaishi-san said, "Never give a goodbye kiss 
on the first date.  You have to keep them hungry."

	"But we already kissed earlier," Lala said.

	"You fool!" Takaishi-san said, burying her face in her 
hands.  "You have to keep them wanting more."

	"Oh, I think he wants more all right," Lala smiled 
confidently.  "Suou-san was grinding her teeth all night.  
All in all, it went well."

	"Never mess with a boy named Sue," Takaishi-san 
said.  "This is very important."

	"Suou, not Sue, and she's a girl."

	"Even worse," Takaishi-san said, shaking her head.  
"Just remember, once you do something, a man will start to 
expect it.  So be careful not to move too fast."

	Lala said, "Oba-san, I have dated before."

	"Yes, but I have much more experience.  Still, this one 
is more a dog than a wolf like the last one."  She sighed.  "I 
am too easily flattered, even at my age.  You must be 
careful about giving your heart away."

	"Oh, I think, in the end, Imadori will pay."  Oh yes, he 
would.

**********
	
	"Well, how did it go?" Mikoto's mother asked her 
when she dragged in.

	"Better than I feared," she said.  "Tonight had better be 
better than this."

	"You have another date?" Mikoto's mother asked.

	Mikoto sat down at the living room table with her 
mother.

	"Yes, with Hanai."

	"He's much nicer," Mikoto said.  

	"Is Father..."

	"He was staying up, but he fell asleep at the window 
and I tucked him in an hour ago," she said.  "I, on the other 
hand, have drunk enough tea to never sleep again."

	Mikoto said, "You didn't have to wait up for me."

	"Mothers worry," Mikoto's mother said.  "Have fun 
with Hanai tomorrow.  He's a good boy."

	That's why he's vulnerable to someone like Lala, 
Mikoto thought.  I can't let her have him.

***********

	Harry was determined to get a kiss this time.  He'd 
walked her up to the door, making small talk, and now he 
said, "Well, I had a good time.  How about you?"

	"The dinner and movie was nice," Karen said.  He 
could hear that waffle factor in her voice, the one he'd 
heard in many Japanese people when they didn't want to 
make any explicit criticisms, but were unhappy about 
something.  He resolved that he was going to have to work 
harder.  I'm relying too much on my charm and good looks 
alone, he thought.  

	"So when's your next match?" he asked.

	"Tomorrow," she said.  "We're up against Torio."

	"You'll crush them.  Is it here or at Torio?"

	"There," she said.

	"Well, I'll come cheer you on, then," he said.

	"You don't have to," she replied, looking a little 
embarrassed.

	"But I want to," he said.  "I'd like to see how you fight 
some more."

	She blushed at that.  "You're...I...thank you."

	He grinned, moving a little closer.  

	The door suddenly flew open and a short haired man 
suddenly grabbed him.  He'd never felt such power in his 
life.  "No one touches my daughter!" he shouted.

	"Sir, I didn't..." he began.

	"Daddy!"

	Suddenly, he was airborne, moving without any 
control of his own limbs.  There might have been someone 
else with him, but it was all a haze.  He was somehow on 
his cycle and driving away by the time full consciousness 
resumed itself.

	What the hell was that?, he asked himself.  

	But he didn't go back.

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

	"Oh, that wasn't the Imadori boy?" Mr. Ichijou asked 
his daughter a few minutes later.

	"No, Daddy, that was Harry."

	"Oh.  Well, he's probably just after sex, also," Mr. 
Ichijou said.

	Karen sighed and stared at the floor.

	He patted her on the head.  "Boys at that age just want 
one thing.  That's part of why I wanted you to learn how to 
fight, to give them the thrashing they deserve."

	Karen decided to just let her father rant; arguing with 
him was like arguing with a wall.  But she didn't agree.

*************
		
	Tenma had clonked out in front of the TV when Akira 
whispered to Karasuma, Nara, Eri and Harima that "There's 
a man locked in the pantry.  He's probably one of Nara's 
mother's boyfriends.  I wasn't sure what to do with him, so I 
just locked him in."

	"We could tar and feather him," Harima suggested.

	"I expect that she's probably wondering what 
happened to him or possibly already snuck into the house," 
Nara said, sighing.  "I can just drag him out of the house.  I 
should probably go home and get some sleep, anyway."

	"I don't want to throw you to the lions, Nara-kun," 
Akira said.

	"I'll be fine," he said.  Hopefully.

	They went and unblocked the pantry.  Nara came in.  
"Hello, Andre.  Taking up burglary in your spare time?"

	"I...no!  I...got lost," he said.

	"Inside someone else's house?" Nara asked.

	"Japan confuses me sometimes."

	Nara shook his head.  "Well, I'll let you go, but you'll 
owe me.  Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll have to give you to 
Harima-kun."

	Harima picked up a loaf of bread and ripped it in half 
to try and look intimidating.

	Andre shivered.  "I'll take the favor."

	Nara escorted him outside, waving bye to everyone.  
"Tell Mother she really doesn't need to follow me."

	"You could tell?" Andre asked in surprise.

	"Have her bring the car around," Nara said.  "Might as 
well ride home."  He shook his head.

	Andre peered at Nara.  "You look so different up 
close, out of the formalwear."

	"Doesn't everyone?" Nara asked.

	"So true."

	Andre called Kimiko, who drove up and let them in.  
"Did you have fun, son?"

	"Yes," Nara said.  "Did you?"

	"Oh, Andre and I had a grand time," Kimiko said.  
"Though I see you're getting better at noticing things."  She 
looked at him curiously.  "Megumi made you up rather 
strangely tonight."

	"It's her job," Nara said, relieved the master plan had 
worked.

	"True.  Let's go home, dear, and I'll tell you all about 
handling women on the way."

*************
	
	"Well, I should head home myself before my parents 
wonder if I've run off to Hawaii again or something," Akira 
said.  "Are you going to stay here or go home, Karasuma?"

	"I should go," he said.  "Once I tuck Tenma into bed."

	Tiny streams of steam came out of Harima's ears.  "I 
should wait here until Yakumo-san makes it home," 
Harima said.  "Her sister can tuck her in if she doesn't wake 
up by then."  He stared at Karasuma with the heat of 10,000 
suns.

	"I'll tuck her in," Eri said, going over and hefting 
Tenma.  "Goodnight, Akira-chan, Karasuma-kun."

	Karasuma headed on home.

 	Tenma half-roused as Eri was carrying her into the 
bedroom.  "You're so sweet, Karasuma-kun.  But do you 
think we're old enough for this?"

	"It's me, Eri," Eri said.

	"Oooh, kinky," Tenma mumbled.  "I've never tried 
anything like that."

	"No, it really is," Eri said, a little embarrassed.

	Tenma leaned up and kissed Eri's cheek, mumbled 
about love and fell asleep.

	Eri blushed slightly, then carefully laid Tenma down 
in bed and pulled the covers over her.  "Good night my 
friend," she said softly.

	Then she went back downstairs.  "You going to stay 
here?" Eri asked.

	"Just in case Yakumo-san needs a ride or something," 
Harima said.  "It is getting kind of late."

	"I'll hang out with you, then," Eri said.

	"Cool," he said.

	Late night TV was full of very whacked out shows; 
they began flipping channels, looking for something to 
watch.  "So, are you gonna crash here?" Eri asked as 
Harima flipped channel to channel.

	"Probably," he said.  "No point in driving home this 
late."

	Eri tried to think of an excuse to crash at Tenma's.  
Well, if I stay late enough...

	"You staying?" he asked.

	"I might," she said.

	"Cool."

	She prayed that was a good omen.

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

	Yakumo lurked quietly down the walkway, letting 
Sara get sort of semi-private with Asou at the front door of 
the church she lived at.  If only semi-private.

	Sara shuffled back and forth, wanting to say 
something, but not sure what.  "That was fun," she finally 
said lamely.

	"Good movie," he said, then yawned.  "I'm gonna head 
home.  Goodnight, Sara-san."

	"Goodnight," she said.  I...aaaaah...  She just couldn't 
think of what to do.

	He turned and walked away, leaving her feeling 
frustrated.  

	Once he got down the street a bit, he asked Yakumo, 
"Is Sara alright?  She seems a little agitated."

	Yakumo tried to figure out what to say.  "She's 
thinking about asking someone out," she blurted out.

	"Ahh," he said.  "Anyone I know?"

	"Yes," Yakumo said, wishing she hadn't said that 
earlier.  "But I shouldn't talk about it."

	"Well, maybe I can help her out," Asou said.  "She's a 
nice girl."

	"Do you like her?" Yakumo asked.

	"We get along pretty well," he said, looking around as 
they walked.  "So..." He quickly cut himself off.  

	"Hmm?" Yakumo asked.

	"I...uh..."  He stared at the ground.

	She walked along with him, waiting patiently.  She'd 
never been able to read his mind.  

	"Never mind," he said.

	She never did find out what exactly was on his mind.

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

	Eri continued to slowly drift towards Harima like a 
glacier.  He didn't move away, or even seem to notice, 
wrapped up in watching some strange anime about a JSDF 
Aegis Cruiser and its crew, flung through time and space to 
Valhalla to fight in Ragnarok.  Though some of it was that 
he was starting to wear out, yawning every so often.

	As Loki got shot in the face with a Stinger Missile and 
fell burning off a cliff, Eri began to reach for Harima's 
hand.

	"Hello," Yakumo said.

	She started away from Harima, who turned and said, 
"Yo.  Your sister's gone to bed, but we stayed up to make 
sure you wouldn't need to be picked up or anything."

	"I got home fine," Yakumo said, yawning, then looked 
over at Eri nervously.  "Are you watching Ragnarok and 
Roll?"

	"Yeah, you wanna watch?" Harima asked.  "It 
is...uh...your TV, after all."  He laughed nervously.

	"Sure," Yakumo said, sitting down on the other side of 
him.  

	Harima flopped out on the floor, spreading his arms 
out.  He didn't notice, but he basically ended up with Eri 
inside one arc and Yakumo in the other.  He was starting to 
zonk out after a long day.

	He vaguely noticed when Eri and Yakumo each laid 
back, using his arms for a pillow.  But only vaguely.  Lying 
down made things worse, as his body now slid towards 
sleeping.  

	They were both tired as well, and neither of them quite 
noticed what the other was doing.  Yakumo could feel 
herself sliding swiftly into sleep.  She shifted around a bit, 
then without even thinking about it, she collapsed, 
sprawling her arms out; one of them extended across 
Harima's chest.

	Eri groggily saw a hand extending towards her.  In her 
tiredness, she didn't stop to look at it very hard.  Clearly, 
Kenji wanted to hold her hand.  So she reached up and took 
it with hers, resting her hand on Harima's chest.  

	Harima glanced down his chest at the two girls 
holding hands.  Man, I'm zonked, he thought.  What a 
weird dream.  But if I'm dreaming, why am I dreaming of 
them and not of Tenma-chan?  I'm unfaithful!

	He cried himself to sleep as the two girls slept in his 
arms.

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