Iczer-one Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Earth Child ❯ A Different Sort of Challenge ( Chapter 5 )

The Earthchild

 

(An Iczer/Ranma/Sailor Moon Crossover)

 

Written by

Jim Robert Bader

 

Proofread by

Shiva Barnwell

 

(Inspired by the works of Rumiko Takahashi,

Naoko Takeuchi, Toshihiro Hirano, & Hitoshi Okuda,

with ideas and suggestions by TH Tiger and Johannes Huber)

 

 

 

 

 

“You've all heard the news, you've read the reports, so…what is the decision of this council?”

 

The darkened faces around the dimly illuminated chamber all shifted uneasily, some shuffling the papers set before them, eyes moving to the three-dimensional holographic display of a Venomoid in full attack mode, and then one of these gray-suited men asked, “Is it a full scale invasion, or just the first opening volley to a major war that's coming?”

 

“That, Sir, is the question that we are in the process of determining,” replied a dark haired woman whose close-cropped style framed lovely Asian features of indeterminate age, conveying a very business like---if casual---manner, “We hope to learn more of what the enemy's goals are and how best to combat them, but we can all rest assured that they do not have our best interests at heart. The Venomoids are a ruthless, parasitic race who seek to subvert life as we know it, and they are the sworn enemy of the C'thuwulf people. You may take it on faith from me that we will do everything within our power to stop and eradicate their presence from this planet.”

 

“But so far they've only managed relatively minor raids,” another gray suited man noted in passing, “Largely hit and run affairs, easily dealt with. As yet we have no proof that they are massing in great numbers, and we have only your word that their ultimate goal is hostile.”

 

“Not just our word,” the short haired girl replied, “The Venomoids are the reason why the C'thuwulf originally fled their dying homeworld. They were driven away to begin their great exodus that culminated in their finding our planet. In another reality the Venomoids nearly succeeded in taking over our world and subverting it to their ends. Believe me, they are well beyond the scope of Terran technology and pose a clear and present danger to every living thing on this planet.”

 

“The chair recognizes that you and your companion have good reason to be concerned, Miss Kano, but are you certain that your adopted people have what it takes to resist a potential invasion? After all, these Venomoids did succeed in taking over their world…”

 

Nagisa Kano sensed her companion stirring in her chair long before the statuesque blonde came to full alert and said, “That is because we did not know what we were dealing with at the time, or how best to combat them. The Venomoid struck swiftly and without mercy, attacking us through our own machines and turning them against us. Believe me when I say that we have had many years to perfect our means of overcoming their evil, and my sisters stand united with me to defend this, our adopted world. The kindness you have shown us over the years will be returned in full measure as we stand ready to place our resources at your disposal for the defense of the Earth and all who live here.”

 

“You pledge yourself to this worthy end?” another gray suited man challenge.

 

“I do, Sir, with all my heart, soul and body.”

 

“But…please forgive me if I put this rather indelicately…you are not entirely human, and your people…”

 

“We are human enough in all the ways that truly matter,” the blonde woman replied, her sharply angular features, overly large slanted eyes and pointed ears denoting the very other-ness of her appearance, even as her blue-black, red and gold armor further set her apart from the men and women who sat around at this darkened table, “And as Protector of the C'thuwulf, I am prepared to lay down my very life, if necessary, in order to see that what happened on our world NEVER repeats itself on Earth. You may trust me when I say that the enemy will be stopped, and decisively, as soon as we have taken full measure of their strength and know the scope of their real intentions.”

 

“A pretty speech,” mused a plum-suited woman near the other end of the table, “But this council will be expecting results in good order. So far the incursions---though they happen worldwide---seem to be concentrated around the C'thuwulf base in the Tokyo area. It may be possible that your people are the likely targets of these most recent attacks…”

 

“That is our conclusion as well,” the blonde elf-woman responded, “The enemy obviously knows that we are the only ones equipped to deal with them in any decisive manner, so it would be logical for them to seek to destroy us as a first step to a larger invasion. We can spot their energy spikes whenever they make a move through subspace to attack us, and so we have a momentary advantage that we hope to exploit to good effect…”

 

“Then we will trust you to handle this, for now,” another figure at the table emphasized, “But be warned that---if you fail or this council determines that the infestation has gotten out of hand---then steps will be taken by other agencies to deal more decisively with the problem. Is this understood?”

 

“Implicitly,” the blonde replied, only to notice that her companion was signaling for her attention.

 

“We better wrap this up,” Nagisa murmured at a level that only she and her partner could overhear, “I've just got word from headquarters that we have another incident, and it involves Iczer Two and Sayoko.”

 

“I am on it,” replied Iczer One, turning and addressing herself to the table, “Gentlemen, ladies, I have just been informed that we are needed back at headquarters. So…if you have no further need for us…?”

 

“The chair recognizes that you and your partner have other duties to attend, Lady Protector,” the man at the far end of the table replied, “You may go for now, but we will call upon you again if there is a need.”

 

“Understood,” Iczer One replied, then took her companion's hand as the both of them vanished from the chamber.

 

There was silence for several long seconds, and then one of the shadowy figures remarked, “Do you think we ought to invest to much trust in her? After all, she is an alien…”

 

“But her partner is human.”

 

“So what? She has gone completely native. She even talks as though she were born a C'thuwulf and not merely adopted.”

 

“I don't think we have to worry about her. In fact, as our liaison with these C'thuwulf she has been very helpful over the years, very helpful indeed.”

 

“I still don't like this, what happens if their base is overrun? They're the only ones who truly have any idea what we may be up against. They should be sharing more of their knowledge with us…we should have insisted…”

 

“It was the decision of this council to grant asylum to the C'thuwulf in exchange for some of their technology and secrets, and so far they had lived up to both the word and the spirit of their vow.”

 

“But these Venomoid attacks may change everything, it could spread out into the larger field, we may not be able to contain this one through our media spin doctors and misinformation agencies…”

 

“We will have to prepare contingency plans just in case that does happen. What are your views on this, `M'?”

 

“My agency is prepared to mobilize in case we are needed. We, too, have access to advanced alien technology that could prove useful should this shadow war move out into the public.”

 

“That's comforting to know. And what about Shield?”

 

“We're always ready to deal with any trouble that comes our way, Sir…but this is Japan we are talking about here, and without local authority to give us access to the potentially infected areas…”

 

“You will have that authority, Colonel Rogers, just as soon as this council has had time to consult with our representative and figurehead leaders. Expect to be given the orders to mobilize at any time we deem necessary.”

 

“Understood, Sir,” the blonde haired Shield officer grimly replied, thinking privately to herself (My husband is going to freak when he hears about this one…)

 

 

 

 

“Okay, I'm in subspace and am approaching the infected area,” Troi remarked, “But no sign as yet of either Sayoko or my sister.”

 

“Stand by,” came the response on the subspace channel frequency that she was using, “We're using you to get a sharper reading, Troi…so…head off to your right by about five clicks, then report what you see.”

 

“Sure enough, Magenta,” Troi replied as she flew off the requisite distance, then hovered to get a better reading, “Over the target area…still no sign of---wait! I'm…picking up on a resonance…”

 

“Confirmed,” the lieutenant at the monitor station back on base responded, “We make out a strong reading…in fact, you're right on top of them. Do a visual sweep and see if you can nail them down this time.”

 

“Roger that,” Troi replied, casting her gaze down at the ground, only to have her gaze shift focus to a particular area, and with a little adjustment of her vision she saw the rounded globe that stood out like a neon beacon, “Well…what do you know? Looks like someone got themselves snatched up somehow. Stand by, I'm going in for a closer look.”

 

“Be careful,” the operator cautioned, even as Troi dropped down to ground level right beside the glowing pink energy globe that contained Sayoko and her crimson haired partner.

 

“Well, well, well,” Troi clucked, “What have we here? Looks like somebody got themselves booby trapped, and guess who the booby is this time around, eh?”

 

“I figured it would be you,” came Iczer Two's muffled response, “The Gods must be punishing me for my long list of past transgressions.”

 

“Bad karma beat by clean living, huh?” Troi beamed, “Now who's the rank amateur in the family, huh? You don't look so hot and on top of it this time, Two…in fact, I'd say you and Sayoko look awfully chummy in there.”

 

“If you think this is recreational, why don't come inside and join us?” Iczer Two retorted.

 

“No thanks,” Troi grinned, “I just wanna relish the memory of this for a while to come. After all, you're always riding me for going off half-cocked, how's it feel to be the one who gets herself caught up in the butterfly net, huh?”

 

“It figures that you would seek to gloat at a time like this when you should be on your guard against…”

 

“ALL RIGHT!” Sayoko shouted to get some attention, “Enough with this sibling rivalry stuff already! You've both made your points, so Troi…could you PLEASE put a sock in it and get us the heck out of this trap before we're toasted?”

 

“Well, since it's you asking this and not your sour-puss partner, lovely lady,” Troi grinned, “I'd be only too happy to give YOU a hand…”

 

“Don't bother trying to blast the sphere,” Two said, “We have already determined that it is quite impervious to that sort of an attack.”

 

“Give me a little credit for brains, Two,” Troi snorted, “I already figured that much out for myself. In fact…scanning this thing tells me a lot about the energy resonance pattern it generates. I think it's mostly keyed to contain energy bursts…but a quick burst of kinetic flow ought to disrupt the pattern.”

 

“So do it already,” Sayoko urged, “It's getting a bit stuffy in here…no reflection on the company, of course.”

 

“Of course,” Iczer Two nodded, “Anytime you're ready, Half Pint.”

 

“Don't call me that,” Troi sneered, “I haven't been that little in ages! Now…just hang tight and watch me do my stuff…”

 

With that she reared back and formed a globe of energy about one fist, preparing to unleash a massive punch, only to sense a rumbling in the ground beneath her feet that momentarily distracted her, causing Troi to ask, “What the heck was that?”

 

“That would be the other problem which we are facing,” Iczer Two replied, turning her expression to nod at a nearby rocky formation.

 

Troi turned in time to see the rocky formation dissolve, to be replaced by a huge armored figure, which same rose up from its place of concealment to its full towering height, looming over them all like a living skyscraper.

 

“HUH?” Troi gasped, “Isn't that---?”

 

“WATCH OUT!” Sayoko cried as a massive hand came down and swatted Troi where she was standing.

 

“Ouch,” Iczer Two winced in sympathy, “Now that had to have hurt…”

 

True enough, no sooner did the giant remove its hand then it revealed a hand-shaped impression in the ground, and an Iczer-shaped impression in the center. Troi lay quite still for several seconds, then in a small voice she murmured, “Ouchie…!”

 

“Are you all right?” Sayoko called out.

 

“Oh fine,” Troi said as she pushed herself up out of her hole, “Now I know what a bug feels like…”

 

“Then you'd better start moving if you don't want to be swatted like that again,” Iczer Two cautioned.

 

“Tell me something I don't already know,” Iczer two groaned as she felt along the side of her head, only to glance up over her shoulder at the looming giant with a dismayed reaction, “Hooboy…is that what I think it is?”

 

“If you mean is it an Iczer Robo,” Sayoko replied, “I'd say that was a pretty fair impression.”

 

“You like it?” another voice asked, causing heads to turn to see the outstretched palm of the giant robot, upon which was standing a slender girl in black and crimson armor, a girl with features nearly identical to those of Iczer One and Troi, only her hair was a thick mane of cherry pink coloration that hung down well below her waist, “I call it Omega, just as you can call me Nova.”

 

“Nova?” Iczer-Two reacted.

 

“She's an Iczer?” Sayoko said with a start.

 

“You've got to be kidding me!” Troi said as she stood up, “Who the hell are you?”

 

“I'm your sparring partner,” the pink haired Nova replied with a very unpleasant leer upon her lips, “Sorry for the rude introduction, but you made me wait, and I hate to be kept waiting.”

 

“Waiting for what?” Troi asked as she adopted a combat stance, her long mane of silver hair stirred slightly by a phantom breeze that blew up from out of nowhere, “For me to rearrange your features?”

 

“Not at all,” Nova replied, leaping to the attack without warning and delivering a smashing kick that sent Troi flying, even as the new arrival raised a hand and gestured, causing a massive energy burst to leap from her hand towards Troi, who barely dodged it.

 

“I've been waiting here to kill you, of course,” the enemy construct replied with an insanely eager expression on her face, “But I expect you to put up a good show, enough to make this interesting.”

 

“That's a laugh!” Troi sneered as she came flying at the other woman like a living bullet, only to have Nova side-step her at the last second with a downward chop to the back of the silver haired Iczer's neck.

 

Iczer Two covered her eyes and winced as she watched her fellow Iczer hit the ground and dig up a long trough of dirt, “How many times have I warned her about rushing a foe before she knows their capabilities?”

 

“But still…why does she look so much like you?” Sayoko asked in amazement.

 

“I should think the answer to that one would be obvious enough,” Nova replied, fixing Iczer Two with detached amusement, “Wouldn't you agree on that…Mother?”

 

“Mother?” Iczer Two blanched, “But…!”

 

“Is there something you've been meaning to tell me…darling?” Sayoko growled with particular meaning.

 

“Phaw!” Troi literally spat dirt out of her mouth as she pushed herself out of the trench and growled, “I'd say---tieu!---it was more than a passing resemblance…but that still means I'm gonna clear your clocks for that one…whoever the heck you are!”

 

“You're more than welcome to try,” Nova beamed broadly, “Just try not to be so pathetic in your next attack, will you?”

 

“Count on it, you…imposter!” Troi said as she got to her feet once again and resumed a ready stance.

 

“Oh yeah,” Sayoko growled, “It looks like this is turning into one peach of a day…”

 

“My thoughts exactly,” Iczer Two murmured with a highly dismayed expression…

 

 

 

 

“All right, I'm here…so…you guys gonna show yourselves or what?”

 

Muku surveyed the open field with wary eyes for several long seconds before her challenge was answered by the sly form of Gel Kuno, who stepped out from the concealment of a nearby tree looking as sly and predatory as was her usual manner. Immediately following this, Godai---her older brother---also put in his customary appearance, dressed in a samurai-styled hakama with his trademark bokken resting lightly on his shoulder.

 

“Ah…Senzenen-chan,” he said with his usual flourish, “As timely as ever, I see…and punctuality is but one of your many virtues. Have you come at last to accept your prize, my blushing White Starling?”

 

“Oh puh-lease,” Muku rolled her eyes, “Why can't the two of you get it through your heads that I want nothing to do with either one of you? Do we have to keep going through this same routine every week? Bad enough you're so hot to date me, Godai-senpai, but you, Gel…what sick and twisted things have gotten into your head lately?”

 

“Only this,” said the purple haired girl as she unfurled her ribbon, “Revenge for the many humiliations that you have visited upon me since taking away my rightful title. I will extract my pound of flesh from you this day, after which you can have my idiot brother, for all I care about the matter. I just want my…satisfaction to be complete.”

 

“Yeah, right,” Muku snorted, “You lost our match fair and square…why can't you just accept that and train harder for next year? You think I even want to have anything to do with a poetry-spouting idiot and a certified loon who thinks she's living back in the wilds of China? Think again!”

 

“I do wish that she would at least attempt to do that much,” another voice spoke at her side, causing Muku to turn her expression in order to take in the other lavender-haired girl who was standing meekly beside her, “My sister can be such a trial sometimes…but do try and be gentle with her, and our misguided brother.”

 

“Perm?” Muku blinked as she took in the twin sister of her arch rival, “What are you doing here?”

 

“Playing referee, I fear,” Perm sighed, “I figure if my siblings have to behave like barbarians that at least one member of the Kuno clan should try and represent a level of sanity and decorum. I am sorry about this, Muku-chan…I have tried to talk them out of this many times, but you know how obsessed they can be…”

 

“Stop selling out your own flesh and blood, you…traitor!” Gel demanded of her twin, “You know the law as well as I do! When an outsider female defeats a warrior in battle…”

 

“Yes, I know,” Perm sighed, “Then she either has to hunt down and kill that outsider or marry her…that's the problem with you, Sister of mine…you are sooo old fashioned.”

 

“'Tis not the fashion alone that has merit but the reason why the law was adopted in the first place, Sweet Sister of mine,” Godai retorted, “An outsider as strong and worthy of praise as Senzenen is worthy also of marrying into the noble line of Kuno, thus strengthening the Amazon blood that flows through our veins. How else can each generation improve itself to yield the strongest warriors of our noble bloodline? Indeed, fair Muku Dori is the Starling of White who belongs upon our mantle…”

 

“Frankly it is just her head that would interests me,” Gel remarked, “I would dearly love to see it mounted over the fireplace, a fitting tribute to my inevitable triumph.”

 

“Yeah, whatever,” Muku rolled her eyes, “Can we get this over with already? I'm running a bit late and I promised my folks that I'd be back in time for dinner.”

 

“Very funny,” Gel replied, already twirling her ribbon, “How about I serve your head on a platter instead of a placard?”

 

“Now Sister dearest,” Godai chided, “There is no need for you to talk so rough with her. Muku is our friend as well as a friendly rival, and the mere fact that she plays hard to get is no cause for such soaring resentments.”

 

“But unlike you, Brother dear, I am not trying to get into her pants or force her to marry me,” Gel replied, “I am seeking to avenge myself and the pride of our family.”

 

“You ask me, there's too much pride in this family and not enough of sense,” Perm sighed, turning once again to Muku and saying at the level of a stage whisper, “As I said before, be gentle, and watch out for the ribbon, it's laced with a new batch of muscle relaxant.”

 

“Right,” Muku murmured back, “I'll try and be mindful about that.”

 

“What's this?” Gel asked, “Telling secrets out of class, Sister dear? Again you disappoint me…”

 

“Not half as disappointed as Mom will be if you don't fight fairly and stop using so many tricks to try and win your battles, Sister,” Perm replied, “Even she won't condone using cowardly tricks that were taught to you by our Aunt Kodachi.”

 

“You do have a point, Sister dear,” Godai remarked, “I, for one, do not need to resort to any cheap gimmicks to win my battles. I fight with my skill, my heart and my own good two hands…”

 

“So why do you keep losing?” Muku sighed, “Can we get on with it already? Your spiels last way longer than our fights, and I'm getting bored already!”

 

“You need convincing?” Gel remarked, “Then let this do my talking for me!”

 

With that she whipped out her ribbon at Muku, who stood alert and ready to avoid its deadly slice, only to see said ribbon fall apart as a number of mini-throwing spatulas cut it into evenly divided sections.

 

“What?” Gel reacted, seeing her favorite weapon reduced to a mere fraction of its true length.

 

Sakura dropped down from the branches, mega-spatula in hand and at the ready, “Surprised? Think you could slip one past me by issuing a challenge letter on the sly? I'm onto your tricks, Kuno, and that goes double for your halfwit brother.”

 

“We're here to see to it that you fight fair this time without your tricks and deceptions,” said Yui Hibiki as she, too, stepped out form concealment, dressed now in the robes of a Shrine maiden, even as Sakura had switched out of her school clothing and was now dressed in the customary outfit of an okonomiyaki chef.

 

“How did you guys find out about the match?” Muku wondered, surprised at having unexpected reinforcements.

 

“Hey, you don't really think you can keep secrets from a ninja, did you?” Sakura smiled, “And besides…a little birdie told us you might need help.”

 

“A little birdie?” Gel frowned then growled sourly, “Sister---!”

 

“What?” Perm asked, “You thought I'd stand aside and watch the two of you team up against my friend? I may not want to fight with either of you, Sister and Brother dearest, but that doesn't mean I can't get someone else to do my fighting for me.”

 

“But we told you specifically not to tell anyone what we were planning,” Godai declared with a cross expression.

 

“You told me not to inform Yui and Sakura,” Perm replied, “So I told Yumi instead and she told them.”

 

“Hi!” said Yumi from where she stepped out of hiding, “Don't mind me, I'm just here as a strictly neutral observer…well…semi-neutral…I'm actually here to watch Muku kick your snobby buts from here to China, but I don't plan to do any fighting.”

 

“Neither do we,” Sakura remarked, “Just as long as it's a fair fight, Muku can hold her own. I'm here to see to it that this fight is fair and completely above-board.”

 

“That's my reasoning also,” Yui reluctantly agreed, “But if I see any hint of foul play from either one of you, then all bets are off!” and she flashed her umbrella to emphasize her meaning.

 

“Did I hear someone mention a bet?” remarked Ken Ono as he also stepped out from concealment, “That's the magic word I was waiting to hear…”

 

“What?” Muku blinked, turning to glance at Yumi, “You contacted all of them?”

 

“Well, there wasn't enough time to get anybody else,” her friend shrugged, “But I suppose we'll have to do with the usual suspects…unless you're thinking of calling in your phantom girlfriend.”

 

“Um…” Muku thought about the bracelet that she was wearing then colored abruptly, “No thanks…I want to do this by myself, guys. I'm happy for the support and all that, but I'd much rather fight my own battles.”

 

“Oh, we're not worried,” Sakura replied with a smile, “We know you can take both Kunos with one hand tied behind your back while wearing a blindfold. We just wanted to see you do it.”

 

“And to ward against any possible cheating,” Yui further noted.

 

“Cheating?” Gel sniffed in an aristocratic manner, “As if I need to cheat to defeat the likes of you!”

 

With that the purple haired girl leaped high into the air and hurled a ball with great force, which Muku naturally dodged, even as it hit the ground and burst out into a puff of smoke that billowed out in all directions.

 

“No cheating, huh?” Sakura coughed as she and Yui backed away from the cloud.

 

“What the heck do you call that?” Yui coughed as she covered her eyes and tried to keep away from the smoke cloud.

 

“My dear Yumi-san,” Gel smiled as she came down holding up a hoop, which same she spun around one wrist, then produced a second about the other, “I knew full well that Muku would dodge that simple attack...the gas is for you to keep you meddlers from interfering in my vengeance.”

 

“A bit excessive, don't you think?” asked Ken, who had the foresight to cover his face with a gas mask

 

“Why you---!” Muku cried as she tried rushing the other girl, only to have both hoops get tossed her way with wires still leading back to a set of rings held in Gel's two hands, which same she then used to contract the rings by pulling the wires tightly.

 

“Now then,” Gel said as she stood a good distance away tugging on the wires that held Muku immobile, “Those rings should prove sufficient to hold you…long enough for me to do…this!”

 

With that the purple haired gymnast tugged on the wires, yanking Muku off her feet and drawing her like a fish on a line as Gel moved rapidly to spin her about, gradually building up momentum until Muku felt like a rag doll on the spin cycle.

 

“Oh my!” Yumi exclaimed as she successfully completed the task of moving upwind from the paralyzing cloud that was holding Sakura and Yui immobile.

 

“I tend to agree with friend Ken,” Godai remarked, “This is a bit excessive, Sister dear. The idea is to defeat fair Muku-chan, not turn her into guacamole.”

 

Perm just covered her eyes and groaned, “And people wonder why I hate admitting that they're my siblings…”

 

Gel tired of the game that she was playing and chose the appropriate moment to release the wires binding the hoops, sending Muku soaring across the intervening space separating her from a rude impact with a tree trunk. Before impact could happen, however, a streak of blue-green and gold shot out from seeming nowhere and caused Muku to abruptly vanish.

 

“What the…?” Ken exclaimed as he and everyone else reacted to the sudden disappearance of Muku Dori, only to see her appear once more in the arms of a fiery-haired armored vision.

 

“Are you all right?” Rhea asked, having wasted not time in reacting to the sense of distress that had drawn her to the side of her chosen partner, “Are you hurt in any way?”

 

“Gah…wha…?” Muku responded, her mind spinning so much like a top that she could barely even register the question.

 

“Take it easy,” Rhea said as she set Muku down, then stared into her partner's eyes while holding her face in both hands to determine if there had been neurological damage. To her immense relief she found that Muku's disoriented state was only temporary, the product of inertia and vectoring G-forces.

 

“Who in the name of our blessed ancestors is that?” Godai remarked, leaning forward on his bokken.

 

“That's what I was going to say,” mused Ken in tones that caused the immobilized Sakura to eye him crossly.

 

Muku's vision began to clear at last, and then her eyes looked up to see the concern expressed in Rhea's expression. The elvish girl was clearly and deeply worried about Muku's welfare, and as that thought began to register in her mind, the next thought that came was, “What happened to the fight? What about Gel…?”

 

“Yes, what about Gel?” the person in question demanded, “Who are you and why do you interfere in a personal quarrel that I was in the process of winning?”

 

Muku looked up with amazement, seeing the expression of her new companion go from concern to irritation, and then darken with a look of genuine anger. All at once Rhea straightened out and confronted her accuser, her gentle face taking on an aspect that was almost positively…scary!

 

“You are Gel Kuno?” Rhea asked in tones that made it plain that it was not a question.

 

“I am she,” the lavender hair aristocrat replied, “And you are?”

 

The armored blonde fell into a combat stance and said, “I am Rhea Kano, and Senzenen Muku Dori is my companion. If you wish to harm her you must go through me, for I will not allow this.”

 

“Say what?” Yumi blinked.

 

“Her…companion?” Ken repeated blandly.

 

“How curious,” Godai mused, “I believe that she wishes to give you battle, sweet sister.”

 

“Indeed?” Gel sniffed, “How amusing.”

 

“I don't think that is the word that I would use,” Perm noted warily, “This one looks as if she could be a problem for you, Sister.”

 

“A…problem…huh?” Sakura grated, frustrated that her paralysis was keeping her and Yui off-balance.

 

“Explain yourself,” Gel demanded imperiously, “Why are you standing up for Senzenen? What is she to you that you would defend her?”

 

“That is none of your concern,” Rhea replied, “But know this…no one may touch or harm Muku Dori while I still live. If you persist in annoying her, then you will be punished. She belongs to me and no one else, and if anyone seeks to challenge me on this, then they will be dealt with.”

 

Muku stared up at the girl, having heard this declaration, and---even more disturbing---feeling the sincerity of these words as though she implicitly knew their meaning in her very bones, which prompted her to say, “Nani…?” knowing that her already complicated life was about to take a turn for the truly bizarre, and wondering just how she had so completely lost control over the whole process, and whether or not she would be able to survive it…

 

 

 

Continued

 

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