Urusei Yatsura Fan Fiction ❯ The Senior Year ❯ Final Cinba ( Chapter 15 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year: "Final Cinba" Part 1
by Mike Smith
**** **** ****
edited by E.B. Kushnir
**** **** ****
Fifteenth of a series of fan fiction stories based on "Urusei
Yatsura," created by Rumiko Takahashi
**** **** ****

WRITER'S NOTES:

1) There is very little to comment about this time, other than to
explain that this story is both an ending and a beginning, not only
for Nassur and Benten, but for other characters in this series.

2) In Vosian, "jamie" means "he who devours your entrails and
thoroughly enjoys them." Consider this a little hit towards what is
coming in "UY Twenty Years Later."

3) A lesson in naming Sagussans:

a. First generation (the *daishi'cha*): Originally, the naming
was simple: "(name)-chan," i.e. Noa-chan, Honey-chan. In the future,
after the *daishi'cha* start having children, they will drop the
"-chan" part and adopt a family name. Usually, it would be either the
name of the person who gave them the name or else the name of a person
the *daishi'cha* considers a very close friend. Noa-chan, because she
was named by Lum, will eventually go by the name Noa Moroboshi.

b. Second generation (the *seirei'cha*):

first name: given name
second name: (number)+(mother's name)
last name: genetic father's family name

c. Third and successive generations:

first name: given name
second name: either follows the (number)+(mother's name) tradition,
but could also be a name without a number prefix
third name: "rei"+(ancestral *daishi'cha's* name)
fourth name: clan name (descent from use of the genetic father's
family name)

Notes:

1) All male Sagussans take their names from their father's
ancestry, all female Sagussans take their names from their mother's
ancestry.

2) All persons directly descended from Ataru and his interaction
with the *daishi'cha* take the clan name "Moroboshi." All persons
descended from Ataru's and Lum's children (including adopted children,
i.e. Reiko) will take the clan name "Moroboshi" with a number prefix
identifying the children in chronological order of birth/adoption. In
this case, the order goes Reiko ("dai"), Amora ("ei"), Koishii ("ii"),
Ainba ("oi"), etc, etc. Note that the next child after Ainba, Kokeru,
is a special case (but to avoid spoiling a future story, that will not
be explained here).

Therefore, Soyuha Airu (pronounced "aisle") reiMikan oMoroboshi is the
first daughter of someone named Elle (when the mother's name starts
with a vowel, the vowel is dropped), is maternally descended from
Mikan-chan (the leader of Ataru's bodyguards) and is paternally
descended from the tenth child of Ataru and Lum.

Likewise, Chamba Aokinba reiTenba Nassur is the sixth child of someone
named Cinba (in this case, the Japanese phonetic spelling is used), is
maternally descended from Tenba-chan (a clue as to who she is appears
in this story) and is paternally descended from Nassur.

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

Sabaku.

The name itself conjures up images of a hot desert wasteland,
which in fact it is. Discovered by the Vosians when Earth was barely
civilized, it has since then been one of the holiest sites in the
Confederation. The heat there is said to contribute to the seeing of
visions. Among those was the founder of modern Vos, Lecasur. Today,
it plays host to someone now considered an outcast by many of his
people. That person is Nassur.

For a month, Nassur has been on the *nicha* quest, one of the
most spiritually difficult Vosian ceremonies. Legend says even
Lecasur failed at achieving this quest. The *nicha* is a cleansing
period undergone five years after the death of a loved one. The
candidate is sent to wander the wastes of the planet without
sustenance, forced to survive while at the same time dwell on the life
of the lost loved one. Enduring that, many believe the healing
process would be complete. It is said that no one is the same after
the *nicha*...even those who failed to attain it.

Interestingly, this is Nassur's second *nicha* ceremony. The
first was fifteen years ago, one he performed with Cinba. *Nicha* was
achieved by both. For Cinba, that was her second time. She journeyed
alone thirty years ago in the wake of her parents' death. "A perfect
score," Nassur said when he told his partner and his adopted hybrids
of his intentions. "Cinba achieved it twice and I achieved it once.
I can do it again." That was six weeks ago. Now the ordeal is over.

Nassur returned to the doorway of the Shrine of Sabaku, his
naked body sunburned and dirty from the sun and the sand, to claim his
prize from the three aged priests awaiting him. After a bow which
seemed to border on collapse, the priests walk up, one carrying a
jewelled amulet in her aged hands. "Nassur," the priestess formally
intones. "You have spent a month in the wasteland of this planet.
Have you achieved *nicha*?"

Nassur does not respond verbally, his only action to kneel and
pray. The other two priests surround him. "*Nicha*," one intones.
"The final removal of grief for the death of a loved one."

"*Nicha*," the other adds. "End of the period of mourning."

Nassur continues to pray. The female priest moves to place
the amulet around his sunburnt neck. "Nassur," she chants, "This
amulet is proof of your victory over the forces of grief and sadness.
May you wear it with honour."

But as she is about to bestow the amulet, she is stopped by
Nassur's own hand! The priests are puzzled as they notice a small
tear flowing from one of Nassur's eyes. The priestess looks sternly
upon the hunter, placing her hand on his forehead. "Nassur," she
commands, "psi-link!"

In moments, the priestess frowns. "I see," disappointment is
heavy in her voice. "Something stirs up the sadness within you anew.
You have not achieved *nicha*." She ends the psychic link, then looks
at the other priests. "He is not ready," the priestess sighs,
dropping the amulet. "He must find his answers elsewhere."

The amulet shatters on impact. Then, with a howl of
sand-filled wind, the priests disappear. Nassur looks up to the
cloudless sky. *Why have I been forsaken...?*

* * *

Meanwhile, somewhere far, far away, a long, long time in the
future, scientists prepare to dispatch a football-sized object into
the past. The object soon disappears in a flash of golden energy.
Its destination: Tomobiki High School in the year 1983...

* * *

Five days later on Earth, the students of Tomobiki High School
are in an uproar. The female half of the student body are pleased to
hear that Nassur and Benten are visiting. The male half are pleased
to hear that Ataru Moroboshi is visiting the school for the first time
since the Spirit War. "It's payback time for us!" Shutaro Mendou
snarls, polishing his katana. "Moroboshi's blood will stain my sword
for all the hell he has given us and Lum-san!!"

"This time, what that moron has done is unforgivable!"
announces Aisuru Megane as he sharpens a butcher knife.

"Hear, hear!!" the other bodyguards roar as they clean AK-47s
loaned to them from the Mendou paramilitary voices.

"Nassur-kun will be here," Shinobu Miyaki dreamily declares to
herself. "This time I know I'll get him away from Benten!"

Lum and Koosei Ryooki observe the goings on apprehensively.
"Ryooki-sensei," the Oni gasps, "...are you sure you can't do anything
about this? I fear for Darling's life!"

"Unfortunately, Lum," the teacher sighs, "...when word arrived
that Ataru was going to be here, I couldn't stop it!"

"That mouthy Ten-chan," Lum snarls. "He couldn't keep his
mouth shut and had to tell everyone that Darling was coming to school
to make arrangements in getting tutors while he stays in Oshika."

"That's why I suggested you call Nassur and Benten in," Koosei
sighs. "A pity we couldn't get Dake-chan as well, but they'll do.
Nassur'll keep everyone honest."

"I hope so," Lum says.

Meanwhile, now arriving at the front gate is a solitary Ataru
Moroboshi. Dressed only in an orange T-shirt, blue jeans and running
shoes, Ataru hums without care or worry. "Just a short meeting with
the Principal and I can blow this ramen shop forever!" he snorts. "I
only wish I could take Lum with me." He then hears the sounds of
rocket motors. Looking up, he gasps at the sight of the boat-shaped
hull of "Renegade" landing. "What are **they** doing here?!" he
watches the ship land, then sees Nassur and Benten disembark.

"Morning, Moroboshi!" Benten smiles. "We knew we'd find you!"

"What do you two want?!" Ataru rudely intones, giving them a
stern glare which makes the Fukunokami hide behind Nassur.

"We came at Koosei's and Lum's request," the Vosian ignores
Ataru's vicious stare. "They're worried someone might get hurt should
you go to school alone."

"But, I don't need a bodyguard!" the Terran snarls.

"We're not here to keep **you** safe from **them**," Nassur
intones. "We're here to keep **them** safe from **you**!"

"Er...right," Ataru stutters. "In that case, no problem."

As the three people stroll to Tomobiki High School, in the
school foyer, almost the whole male student body waits with a forest
of guns, rifles, grenade launchers, swords, knives, bazookas, spears
and even a tank. "Here's the plan!" Mendou announces. "As soon as
Moroboshi enters the foyer, we let him have it with everything we got!
That should get rid of the lecherous fool once and for all!!"

"Poor Darling!" Lum quietly sniffs back fearful tears. "Not
even **he** as the Cyborg can survive this!"

Koosei appears beside the Oni. "If he does survive, will
*they* survive both the Cyborg **and** the *saikoo jinseijitsu?!*"

"I hope not!" Lum snickers.

The boys faint! Minutes pass. The tension increases by the
second. "Where is that moron?!" Megane growls, adjusting his battle
suit, eyes glowing and steam pouring out of his nose. "He's late! He
should've been here minutes ago!!"

Everyone then hears the door to the foyer open slowly. "He's
here!" Mendou commands. "Take your places!"

After the click of hundreds of guns and other weapons are
heard, silence falls over the scene, so deafening that one could hear
the sound of hearts beating. The door swings open. Light from
outside floods in. The shadow of a man is silhouetted against outside
light. Everyone blinks when they see...Ryouga Hibiki standing at the
door surprised to see so many weapons pointed at him! "I-is this
Furinkan High School...?" the eternally-lost martial artist gulps.

After the smoke clears from the explosion which occurred when
everyone fainted, Ryouga is then launched into orbit by a collection
of students!! "WILLYA GET IN THE RIGHT SERIES, YOU DORK!!!!!!"

Once the shameful cameo is over, Mendou takes his position as
leader of the Anti-Ataru Task Force. "Sorry, false alarm!" Mendou
announces. "Next time, it's definite! Remember, challenge not your
rivals, but yourself!!"

Before anyone could cheer, Mendou is hit by an explosion which
sends him flying!! Everyone then sees Nassur at the doorway, grenade
launcher in hand. Beside him are Benten and Ataru. "Okay!" the
Vosian coldly intones. "Playtime's over!!"

Lum and Koosei are relieved. "Darling, Nassur-chan, Benten,"
the Oni smiles. "You made it!"

"That's right," Benten embraces the Oni. "Another last-minute
rescue!"

The boys look nervous in Nassur's presence. The girls are
still quite in awe of him. "Nassur-kun," Shinobu romantically sighs.
"It's nice to see you again!"

The Terran is surprised as Nassur coldly steps around her,
without a response to her greeting. "Okay, you *da'caku*!" Nassur
snarls so viciously, even Ataru is intimidated. "You're lucky it
wasn't Dake-chan who came here today!! She would've just killed you
on the spot for threatening Ataru! Then again, it wouldn't be much of
a loss!! Now, I want every weapon in a pile in front of me...NOW!!!!"

As the boys immediately comply, Lum and Koosei are stunned.
"Nassur...acting so rude?" the Oni gasps. "What's got him so upset?"

"And to refer to everyone as *da'caku*?!" the teacher hums.
"Nassur never uses that term...even with other Vosians!"

"What's *da'caku*?!" Ataru looks confused.

"It makes the Nendo-katas' comment about them being Perveyors
of disUnity look *very* tame!" Benten sighs.

All turn to Shinobu. "H-he...he ignored me as if I was less
than nothing to him...!" Ataru's ex-girlfriend then bursts out
crying, falling to her knees. "He hates me!!! HE HATES ME!!!!"

Ataru snorts, a gleeful smile crossing his face. "Well, at
least that's happening according to plan!"

Incensed, Shinobu bolts up...but is stopped by laser-like
stares from Nassur and Mie. "Don't...even...think...about...it!!!"
both icily intone.

Shinobu quickly retreats. not willing to risk either's wrath.
Lum nervously turns to Benten. "And he's been like this since he
failed the *nicha* ceremony?"

"Unfortunately," the Fukunokami sighs. "But luckily, he's
been civil with the hybrids and myself...for the moment. It's like
something stirred up the grief he felt when Cinba died. He won't say
what's wrong. When I ask, he just shrugs me off."

"Wow!" Ataru whistles. "I'm glad I left Reiko-chan home
today. Nassur can be really scary when he wants to be."

* * *

Unseen by anyone, several hundred metres above Tomobiki, the
football-like object appears. Once it gets its bearings, the object
flies towards Tomobiki High, stopping to look into one of the windows.
It focuses its targeting device on Lum.

* * *

Meanwhile, Nassur supervises the disarming of Tomobiki High's
male student population. A huge pile of weapons of almost every make
and type is there. There is even a transformation wand Ultraman uses
to change himself. "Come on!! Come on!!!" Nassur urges. "Even my
patience has limits!! Move!!!"

Mendou resists placing his katana. "What is this?!" the scion
of the Mendou family snarls. "I, Shutaro Mendou, must go to school
defenceless?!! Impossible!!"

"You can get your toy back after school is over," Nassur
snarls. "Until then, why don't you go take a shower or something?"

"I will!" Mendou pouts as he sits on the floor.

Suddenly, the sky above him grows dark. A huge waterfall
drenches him for several seconds. Everyone is awed. After the water
stops, the soaked Mendou stands, yells, then dances away to the sound
of high-energy dance music. "It seems Mendou's been watching too much
'Gotsu And Kanji' again," Koosei sighs.

"Where did the waterfall come from?" Ataru wonders.

Finally, the last person to disarm is Urayamu Chibi, who gives
up a small sling-shot. "Here's my weapon, Nassur-san," he nervously
intones as he tries to slink away.

Unfortunately for the shortest member of the bodyguards,
Nassur grabs him. "I don't think so," the Vosian picks up Chibi,
holds him upside down, then shakes him violently. Out of his pockets
comes grenades, guns, rifles, knives, Sailor Moon's crescent wand, a
kendo stick, a rocket launcher and a bottle of Kirin beer!

"I knew something was wrong!" Koosei picks up the bottle of
beer. "Chibi, it's against the rules to carry **alcohol** on school
property! Get to the principal's office...now!!"

Koosei throws Chibi in the general direction of the
principal's office. "I hate when someone breaks school rules like
that!" the teacher sighs.

Nassur walks up to Lum, Benten and Koosei. "The building is
secure, Koosei," Nassur reports. "Ataru can go about his business."

"Er...right," Ataru nervously walks to the principal office.

"Nassur-chan," Lum looks at her tutor. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine!" Nassur snaps.

"It sounds like it," Koosei sighs, then turns to everyone
else. "All right, you morons, get to your classes!!! This is a
school, not street theatre!!! Mendou, clean up all that water!!!"

As everyone disperses, the object watching Lum crashes through
the window, gently landing in her hand. Benten and Nassur move to her
side. "*Tcha*," Lum scrutinizes the object. "What's this?"

Benten and Nassur also scrutinize the object. "It looks like
a football," the Fukunokami muses.

"I've never seen anything like this before," the Vosian hums.
"Lum, be careful! It could be dangerous."

"It doesn't look dangerous," Lum replies...then unknowingly
touches a hidden button on the object's underside.

The object glows star-white! Surprised, Lum drops it.
"*TCHA*!!!!" Lum yells. "What's it doing?!!"

Before anyone can do anything, the object emits a wide beam of
energy, enveloping not only Lum, but Nassur and Benten. In a matter
of seconds, all three disappear! "Lum-san!!!" Mendou yells.

"Nassur-kun!!!" Shinobu gasps.

"Benten!!!" Lan yelps.

"They're gone," Megane stammers as he looks out the window,
quick to notice stars moving past them as if the school was a starship
travelling at warp speed!! "Look out of the window!" he points.

"The whole school looks like it's flying through space!"
Ryuunosuke yells.

"We gotta stop this!" Lan howls.

"How?!" Koosei snaps.

Everyone stares at Lan. "I don't know," the Seishin teen
weakly replies.

Everyone faints!

* * *

Uru.

In the spacious fields owned by the Invader family, Lum,
Nassur and Benten spend the early morning performing an alien version
of tai chi chuan. The Oni and the Fukunokami are eleven years old as
their bikinis demonstrate by covering more of their prepubescent
bodies. Nassur is beardless. His uniform, still blue trimmed with
silver, is more of a simple jumpsuit instead of the military-like
uniform he wears in 1983. After an hour of stretching, Nassur finally
faces them. "Sleep well, Lum?" the Vosian cheerfully smiles.

"*Datcha*, Sensei," the Oni nods.

"What torture do you have planned for Lum today?" the
Fukunokami completes her exercises.

"The usual," Nassur replies.

Lum looks disgusted. "Again?!"

Nassur is undisturbed by the Oni's mood. "Ready, Lum?"

"Do I have a choice?" she looks hopeful.

"I don't recall your father giving you one," the Vosian
sternly replies.

Nassur and Lum then bow to each other. Benten pulls out a
stopwatch. "The game is tag," the hunter intones. "I'm 'it.' To
stop me you must use your lightning blasts!"

"I know, I know," the Oni sighs.

"I'm ready," the Fukunokami declares.

Nassur walks back ten paces, then enters a defensive pose.
Lum takes an offensive position. Benten raises her hand, then presses
the go button. "Begin!!!"

"I'll zap you for sure **this** time, Sensei," Lum boasts.

With a banzai yell, Nassur leaps at his student. Lum waits,
then flies up into the sky at the last second. The Vosian hunter does
not come close to her. Airborne, Lum spins around, then fires a
couple of lightning bolts! Nassur hits the ground, then rolls away,
evading the bolts with ease. Lum lands a few paces away, continuing
her lightning attacks. Nassur evades every shot, using his momentum
to close the range to his target. Before the Oni realizes her
predicament and flies away to safety, Nassur grabs Lum's bikini top,
ripping it away. The Oni stops, noticing her topless state (Whoa,
must be chilly...M.S.), then bashfully covers herself. "Hey!!" Lum
yells. "Give that back!"

"I win," Nassur dangles Lum's top in front of her. "Time,
Benten?"

Benten looks at the time. "Thirty-seven point four-nine
seconds," the Fukunokami sighs. "A record...for Lum, that is."

"Not bad," Nassur muses.

Lum then rips the bikini top out of his fingers, almost taking
them with it! "Are you going to give that back or not?"

"Leave the fingers please," Nassur quietly intones.

"Honestly," Lum dresses herself. "If you weren't married or
Vosian, I'd think you were a pervert for all the times you've
undressed me! If it's not my top, it's my bikini bottoms you grab.
That makes it twenty straight tags for you and I haven't even zapped
you once!"

"You're getting better," Nassur smiles. "Each time, you're
making it harder and harder for me to get near you. Now if we can get
you to zap in a rapid-fire mode, you could..."

Suddenly, a bright orange light appears behind them. It is
followed by the sound of something heavy crashing to earth. All three
see Tomobiki High School standing where there was an empty field not a
few seconds ago. "W-what's that...?" Lum shivers.

"I-it's a building of some kind!" Benten shudders.

"Is this a common occurrence here?" Nassur looks at them.

"S-sure it is," Lum stammers. "Buildings just fall out of the
sky for no reason!!"

"A mystery, eh?" a churlish smile crosses his face. "Get your
airbike, Benten. I think we'd better investigate this."

"S-shouldn't we call the Creature Police first?" the
Fukunokami gulps.

"I can go alone if it's all right with you two," the Vosian
smiles as he proceeds towards the recently arrived school building.

"Wait!" Lum flies to catch up with him.

"Don't leave me alone!" Benten frets, then chases after them.

* * *

Meanwhile in the junkyard that was once Tomobiki High School,
the staff and students stunned by the landing slowly recover to get
their bearings. "Shit!" Koosei Ryooki groans, rubbing the back of his
skull. "What was that?!"

"What happened?" Mendou gasps.

"Where are we?" Shinobu staggers to her feet, then looks out
the window. Stunned recognition crosses her face. "We're on Uru?!"

"Uru?!" Lan rushes to the window to confirm Shinobu's
suspicions. "Shit, she's right!! It is Uru!"

"It is?!" Koosei looks out the window to give a third opinion.
"You're both right!!"

"What the hell are we doing on Lum's planet?" Ataru declares
as he carefully climbs down the stairs to the foyer.

"I don't know," the teacher shakes his head. "But first, Lum,
Benten and Nassur are missing. We'd better try to find them."

Before anyone could proceed on a search, out from under the
floorboards comes Sakura! Everyone leaps back in shock save Koosei.
The nurse is dressed in her Shinto priestess robes, spirit sensor in
hand. "It sounds like my cue," she hums.

"Quit doing that, Sakura-chan!" Koosei yells. "You're acting
too much like your creepy uncle!!"

"Sorry," the nurse looks undisturbed.

"If you pardon my yelling, Sakura!" Ataru snarls. "Shouldn't
you be busy looking after the injured?!"

"I will...but I sense my magical powers are going to be needed
to find Lum and the others," Sakura replies.

"But, how?" Shinobu looks around. "Some weird football thing
took them away before we even got here!"

Sakura considers that point, then looks outside. "I sense
they're not that far away."

"You mean Lum-san is nearby?!!" Megane snarls...then grabs
Ataru by the shirt. "Ataru!!! What have you done with Lum-san?!!"

A second later, the guards' leader is nearly crushed into the
shape of a pretzel! "Nothing!" the former student snarls. "Even if I
knew where Lum-chan was, I wouldn't tell you!"

Everyone looks intimidated, for Ataru moved with the blinding
speed he first demonstrated before the Spirit War. "Somebody's
looking for me?" a familiar Oni-accented female voice declares.

Everyone turns to see Lum, Benten and Nassur standing there at
the main door. "Well?" Lum looks around.

Before she could defend herself, Mendou grabs her by the hand,
looking into her green eyes. "Lum-san!" the scion of Japan's richest
family romantically intones. The sound of an orchestra is heard
playing in the background. "You had us very worried. You, Benten-san
and Nassur-san just disappeared and we found ourselves sent to your
planet. But now that I see you're fine, my heart is..."

A second later, Mendou is crushed in the same manner as
Megane! "Trying to steal *my* girl, you horse-thief?!" Ataru snarls.

Everyone save Mie and Koosei shudder, now wondering why they
would ever desire such an uncontrollable monster as Ataru. The
homeroom teacher and the Kyushu native are too busy observing Lum,
Benten and Nassur. "Do you notice that Nassur has no beard, a
different uniform and Lum and Benten look...younger?" Koosei muses.

"Now that you mention it," Sakura hums. "Yes."

Before anyone could react, Shinobu leaps in front of Nassur,
taking him by his hand! "Oh, Nassur-kun," her eyes shine with stars.
"I was so scared when you disappeared!! Where did you go?!"

"Um..." the Vosian stammers. "Excuse me. I don't want to
seem silly but...WHO IN LECASUR'S NAME ARE YOU GUYS?!?!?!"

Everyone faints! Lan angrily storms up to them. "Quit
fooling around, Nassur!" the Seishin girl snarls, fangs barred. "You
know who we are! I'm Lan, remember?!"

Lum glares at Lan. "The only Lan-chan we know is the same age
as I am!" the Oni protests. "Not an **old** woman like you!"

Lan faints! "Idiot!!!" she bolts up, steam billowing from her
neck. "I **am** the same age as you are...eep!"

Everyone turns to see an eleven year-old version of Lan
appear, dressed in a purple bikini and white boots. "Hello,
everyone!" the girl sweetly intones. "Gee, this is a weird place!"

Everyone faints! Ataru sighs, then stares at Lum. "What's
wrong?" the Oni looks self-conscious.

"Lum, what happened to your chest?" Ataru lightly touches her
bust. "You look like you're eleven years old."

The Oni gently moves his hands away. "But I **am** eleven
years old!"

Everyone faints!! "L-Lum-san's been made a child
again...?!!!" Megane gasps...then grabs Ataru by the shirt in an
attempt to throttle him. "Ataru!!! Return Lum-san to her normal
physical age this minute!!!"

"Sayonara, jerk," Ryuunosuke sighs. "You deserve this!"

The sounds of shattering bones are heard. Even Nassur is
awed. "Nice moves!" the Vosian whistles. "Who is that guy?!"

"He's a...former student of this place," Koosei adjusts his
glasses. "He doesn't get along with the other dipsticks who belong
here!"

Lum watches him in awe. "He's cute!" she giggles.

Finally, Megane has been punched, kicked and twisted into a
form so hideous, even the writers cannot describe him now. Koosei
kneels beside the guards' leader. "Ataru had nothing to do with this,
Megane...and you have a week's clean-up duty for harassing a visitor!"

"But what did happen?!" Shinobu cries.

Koosei retains his demeanour. "I think we just went back in
time!"

Mie nods in agreement. Everyone looks strangely at the
teacher. "Are you sure, Ryooki-sensei?" Ryuunosuke hums.

"Well, let's look at the facts," Koosei replies as he pulls
down a movie screen which effectively shows everything in perfect
super-deformed diagrams. "First, Lum, Benten and Nassur all disappear
when a strange football-sized object comes crashing through a window.
Then, the entire school and everyone else is transmitted through space
and time to Uru. Finally, Lum, Benten and Nassur are noticeably
younger and don't know us because...they haven't met us yet!"

"So that's it!" Ataru nods.

"Not quite," Shinobu turns again to Nassur. "Um, Nassur-kun,
you remember me, don't you?! We met when Lum was a baby!"

"We did?" Nassur muses to himself, then nods. "Oh, that's
right! You were with that older version of Benten!! You wanted to
save me from dying in the future!!"

"That's right," Ataru's ex-girlfriend smiles.

He stares at her. "Boy, you've put on weight since then."

Shinobu falls over! "I thought a certain reader didn't want
any more jokes about that?!!" she yells.

["Sorry," the writers reply. "It was too good a set-up to
pass up!"]

"You mean you've met each other already?" Mie hums. "How?!"

"Go read the fourth story," Shinobu replies.

"Is this true, Nassur-chan?" Lum faces her tutor. "Are they
really from our future?!"

"Well," the Vosian muses. "After sampling the brainwave
pattern of the people in this room...with a few notable exceptions..."
he looks at Ataru, Koosei and Mie, "...I can only conclude that THESE
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE BRAINS TO PICK THEIR NOSES SUCCESSFULLY, LET
ALONE LIE TO US!!!!!!"

Everyone save Ataru, Koosei and Mie are decked by an
explosion!! "Despite his youth," Sakura sighs, "...Nassur is still
pretty sharp!"

"True," Koosei nods. "But it begs the question: where are
**our** versions of Lum, Benten and Nassur?"

"And who took them?" Ataru adds...

* * *

Somewhere in a darkened room, Nassur awakens. He finds
himself sitting on a bed. "Wha...?" he grunts, believing he had been
asleep for a moment. "Where am I?"

Nassur sits up, noticing his uniform, kill-belt and gun-belt
neatly lying at the foot of the bed. As his eyes adjust to the
darkness, he notices two other beds. His tracking powers confirm one
holds Benten, the other Lum. "Weird," the Vosian hunter mutters.
"Here's my uniform with my kill-belt *and* my gun? I guess somebody's
not worried about an escape."

The sound of his voice awakens the two girls. They
immediately notice their current states of undress. "Eeep!!!" Lum
gasps, blushing as she covers her bare chest. "I'm naked?!
But...where's Darling?!"

"Yikes!!!" Benten gasps before noticing Nassur dressing
himself. "Why am I nude in bed?! Nassur, you didn't...?!"

Nassur points to Benten's battlesuit and chains at the foot of
her bed, freshly cleaned and folded. "No, I didn't!" he coldly
intones. "I just woke up myself."

After passing Benten's clothes to her, Nassur turns to Lum.
She has got over her shock of being nude but still holds her blankets
at modesty level. "Where are we?!" the Oni asks. "The last thing I
remember is that weird football zapping us!"

"We're in some sort of room," he takes in the details around
them. "But it doesn't seem to be any sort of prison."

The lights from the ceiling turn on automatically, allowing
the three to clearly see the whole room. Instead of a drab prison,
they are contained in a rather nice room which would not be out of
place in a five-star hotel. The furniture looks well-designed and
well-kept. The walls are subdued in colour. Small works of art hang
on the walls or sit on tables or dressers. Looking around, Nassur
notices there is an entrance leading to a small living room and
another entrance leading to the bathroom. A couple of windows are
covered by tiger-stripped drapes, daylight shining through them. The
only door is on the farthest side of the bedroom. It resembles a
sliding door found usually on starships. "Weird," Lum wraps herself
with her bed sheets, moving toward one of the windows. "This looks
like a window," she slides open the curtains. "I wonder if we can see
where we are through it?"

Lum opens the drapes...immediately beholding countless people
leering at her. Some of the crowd are humanoid, others are standard
bug-eyed monsters. One voyeur is Waldo from "Where's Waldo?" Shocked
at seeing so many people staring at her, Lum is frozen, then
accidentally dropping her bed sheets, exposing herself for all to see!
Before they can react, Lum immediately yanks the sheets to cover
herself, whipping the drapes shut. Now dressed, Nassur turns to his
former student, obviously curious as to what is happening. "What's
wrong, Lum?"

"I j-just gave thousands of beings a real thrill...!" she
stammers.

Nassur and Benten move to the drapes, opening them to behold
the crowd outside. The viewers respond with a cheer. "Who are these
people?!" Benten demands. "'Candid Camera?!'"

"I haven't a clue," Nassur shrugs. "Whoever they are, they
seem real glad to see us. I can't understand why!"

"Ahem..." a timid male voice coughs. "You are awake finally.
I apologize for such a display. The media got word of your arrival
and typically, they could not keep it a secret."

The three see a short, slim, pale-skinned man with brown hair,
wearing a black tuxedo complete with shirt and bow tie. "W-who are
you?" Lum points.

"I'm BR-88," the man bows low. "I am to be your escort for
your stay in our time period."

"Stay?! Time period?!!" Benten is understandably confused.
"What do you mean?! Did you bring us here?!!"

"No, I personally did not," BR-88 flatly replies. "I am only
a servant android...one of the most advanced currently in production."

"So, that's why I didn't pick up your brainwave pattern!"
Nassur snaps his fingers. "You're a machine."

"Correct," the android smiles. "I hope that does not cause
you discomfort. If it does, an organic being can be assigned to be
your servant instead."

"No, we have no problems," Nassur looks diplomatic. "You said
we're in a different time period. When and where are we?"

"The year is 19992 C.E. The planet is Earth. This is the
historic Tomobiki," the android smiles. "Home to the Church of Lum."

The three faint! "'C-CHURCH OF **LUM**?!?!?!'" the Oni in
question gasps. "Oh, no!!! Don't tell me that Oogi...!!"

"The Niphentaxian sect was exterminated by the Sagussans under
the Great Emperor Kokeru eight millennia ago," BR-88 explains. "The
writings of our Church is based on the writings of the students of
Tomobiki High School...Class of 1984 C.E."

He presents a richly designed, thick black book trimmed in
gold, the title THE BOOK OF LUM emblazoned on the cover. Nassur
begins to leaf through it. "Interesting," the Vosian hunter hums.
"This **is** a bible based on Lum."

"How?!" Lum demands. "Why am I a goddess?! Why am I here?!!"

The android respectfully stares at Lum. "I understand this
will be difficult to comprehend at first. If you accompany me to the
Great Lum Church, you will then discover your answers."

Benten and Lum turn to Nassur. <<Do we trust him?>> Benten
psi-links. <<All of this seems a little too good to be true.>>

<<*Datcha*>>, Lum adds. <<This could be a trap by Oogi and
his planet of morons!>>

<<Until we know the full score about what's going on>>, Nassur
replies, <<...let's just play along for now.>>

Ending their psychic communication, they turn to the android.
"As soon as we're finished dressing," Lum states, "...we'll go!"

"Excellent," the android smiles. "When we arrive, a service
will be in progress. I shall arrange for use of the transmat,
Lum-sama. Please excuse me."

BR-88 quietly departs. Lum proceeds to dress herself.
Meanwhile, on the roof of a nearby tall building, a dark-skinned
Vosian-like woman with short-cut platinum-blond hair, wearing an
eye-catching, dark green, sleeveless jumpsuit trimmed in red with a
phoenix emblazoned on her chest observes the hotel room via a pair of
infra-red binoculars. "The Great Father's Revered Mate has arrived!!"
she gasps, "...as has my Revered Ancestor. So, my intelligence *is*
correct. Hopefully, I can save them from the heretic who has
infiltrated the Church of Lum." She extracts a device resembling a
ladies' make-up kit from a hidden pocket between her breasts. "I must
inform the Empress and the Great Kaluha about this at once!!"

* * *

Meanwhile, back on Uru in 1976 time, a delegation from
Tomobiki High School composed of Koosei, Sakura, Ataru, Shinobu and
Lan meet with Lum's father and his wife. Also present are this time
period's Nassur, Benten, Lum and Lan. "Time travellers?!" confusion
is etched on Invader's face.

"Right," Koosei earnestly replies. "We're from seven years in
the future from a planet called Earth, third of the Sol system."

"I know where that is," Lum holds up a hand. "That's the
solar system where Oyuki-chan lives."

"That backward place that can barely fly to their moon?!"
Invader blinks. "When did they develop time travel equipment?!"

"We haven't," Sakura looks annoyed. "However, someone took
the future versions of your daughter, Benten and Nassur from us. At
the same time, we were transported here."

"Why didn't they take my future version?" the younger Lan
protests. "I'm more of a friend to Lum-chan than Nassur is. It's so
cruel that I'm excluded!"

The younger Lan wails, her crocodile tears attracting the
incensed gaze from her older self. "WILLYA QUIT WITH THE TEAR FACTORY
ALREADY?!?!?!" the elder Seishin teen snarls, fangs barred.

"Could it be...?" Ataru gasps.

"...That Lan can't stand herself?" Shinobu muses.

"Well, if that's the case," Invader interrupts the
proceedings, "...the Defense Force Chronology Institute can construct
a spacializer large enough to return you to your proper time and
space. It will take some time, however."

"How long?" Koosei crosses his arms.

The captain computes the time. "About a week. We'll start
work right away! In the meantime, you'll be guests on my lands...as
long as you behave, that is."

"Don't worry!" Ataru snorts. "**I'll** behave! It's those
morons in the school you need to worry about!"

"Er...right," Invader sighs.

The videophone rings. Lum's mother answers it. After a brief
conversation, she calls to Nassur in Oni. "Cinba's on the phone?" the
Vosian muses before he walks over. "I'll take it right away!"

Lan and Koosei pale as everyone begins to disperse.
"Cinba?!!" Lan gasps. "But she's...!"

Her homeroom teacher quickly shushes her. It was not quickly
enough. "Something wrong?" Invader inquires suspiciously.

"It's nothing!" Lan blushes, shaking her head.

"Yeah, nothing!" Koosei nods.

"Well," Lum sighs, "...after Sensei's finished talking to his
wife, you can watch the training if you want."

"You mean watch him beat you up!" Benten giggles.

The young Oni fires her Fukunokami friend a stern stare.
"Well, at least I don't look at him like a love-sick puppy all the
time!!! Sensei's married!!!"

"At least," Benten counters, "...I don't have a scar in a
*very* sensitive area of **my** body!!"

Ataru glances down her bikini bottoms. "Oh, that's right," he
muses. "It was around this time that you got that scar!"

Lum blushes red as she playfully zaps Ataru away. "Hey!" she
giggles. "No peeking!"

"Oh, s-sorry!!!" he chuckles, rubbing the back of his skull.
"I forgot I hadn't met you yet!"

Seeing his embarrassed look, Lum smirks. "It's alright!!" she
waves her hand in a bye-bye gesture.

Both chuckle, then Lum, Benten and the younger Lan depart.
"Hey, everyone!! Huddle!!!" Koosei calls the remainder together.

The Tomobiki staff and students gather. "Lan," Koosei quietly
intones, "...you're an eggplant for that near-slip up about Cinba!"

"But you were shocked, too!!" the Seishin girl protests. "I
didn't think that she'd be still...!"

"It doesn't matter," the teacher admonishes her. "This isn't
the best time or place for our visit!! We must be on our guard
against changing history...***period!!!*** Understand?!!"

"But what about Mendou and the others?" Sakura muses.

Koosei sighs. "If they're too much trouble, we can always ask
Ataru to let loose the Cyborg!"

Sakura, Shinobu and Lan pale on comprehending the implications
of that suggestion. "Why wait?!" Ataru sneers. "Let's do it now so
we could be rid of five morons in a matter of seconds!!"

The former student laughs. Shinobu and Lan look apprehensive.
"H-he's j-joking, isn't h-he?" the latter stammers.

"I don't think so," Sakura shudders.

At Tomobiki High School, Mendou and the guards sneeze! "I
just hope wherever they are," Shinobu sighs, "...Lum, Benten and
Nassur-kun are okay..."

* * *

In 19992, Lum, Nassur, Benten and BR-88 materialize in front
of...Tomobiki High School! Now surrounded by futuristic buildings,
the rustic school is glaringly out of place. The building itself is
well-maintained, the main difference being the absence of a bordering
wall. At the front gate stands a sign declaring:

THE GREAT LUM CHURCH
Opened 1921 C.E. as Tomobiki High School
The Most Reverend Atoke, head priest

"*Tcha*!!" Lum gasps. "That's Tomobiki High School!!!"

"It was once, Lum-sama," BR-88 escorts his companions to the
entrance of the school-turned-shrine. "It ceased being an educational
institution in the late Thirtieth Century. It was at that time that
this became a shrine to yourself."

As they approach the door, the sound of people singing "Lum no
Love Song" becomes audible. "It sounds like the service is almost
over," BR-88 opens the door to lead everyone into the Church.

Once inside, they proceed to the site of the gymnasium. Lum,
Benten and Nassur notice the walls are now lined with art, their
subject either being Lum or most of Lum's classmates. "*Datcha*!" Lum
gasps, not knowing whether to be insulted or complimented.

"And then some!" Nassur muses.

Arriving at the gym doors, BR-88 notions for the doors to be
opened. As Lum is allowed inside, she beholds an actual shrine to
herself, not to mention most of her friends and classmates! Their
images usually appear in art or stained glass windows. At the altar
stands a youthful red-haired Vosian-like woman dressed in robe similar
to that of a Roman Catholic pontiff, the only difference being the
tiger-stripped colours. Every pew is jammed with worshippers from
hundreds of planets, all bowing reverently to Lum on noticing the Oni.
Once aware of her presence, the priestess motions the visitors to
approach. "Welcome to the Twentieth Millennium, Lum-sama," she bows.

"T-thanks!" the Oni is overwhelmed by the attention.

"I am Atoke," the priestess introduces herself. "High
Priestess of the Church of Lum. I apologize for the poor treatment,
but we desired that you join us for your anniversary."

Lum looks confused. "What anniversary?"

"The eighteen-thousandth and twelfth anniversary of your
arrival on Earth," Atoke smiles. "Without you, the Universal
Confederation would not exist!"

"'Universal Confederation?!'" Nassur looks at his student.
"My, Lum, you really get around!!"

The Oni flushes. "Flatterer!!"

"I can see Lum being here," Benten intercedes. "But why us?!
Why not Moroboshi or Lum's parents?!"

Atoke's brow tenses. "Well, the ceremony is for Lum-sama
only. You are unexpected. Still, you shall be looked after. BR-88,
please take Nassur-sama and Benten-sama to a suitable restaurant."

"Yes, Your Worship," the android bows.

"What about me?" Lum points to herself.

Atoke approaches her "goddess." Nassur is the only one to
notice that the priestess' eyes now burn with intense cruelty. "As
for you," Atoke is barely able to hide the contempt in her voice, "I
wish to...speak privately with you, to inform you on what you would be
asked to do during the ceremony."

"When is this ceremony?" the Oni hums.

"In a week," the priestess looks as if Lum spat at her. "But
still, there is much to plan for."

"Well, I guess so," Lum sighs.

Nassur secretly extracts a small box-like device with his
right hand. "Well, enjoy yourself, Lum-chan!" Nassur slaps her.

"Ouch!" Lum groans, nearly keeling over. "Easy on the ribs!!"

"Will you follow me, please?" BR-88 bows. "I am aware of a
restaurant close by which serves the ancient dish known as sukiyaki."

Benten's mouth waters. "Lead on then!!"

Nassur, Benten and BR-88 depart as Atoke escorts Lum through a
side door. Nassur glaces at his student as they depart. *I don't
trust that priest!*

Unbeknownst to them, the same girl who observed them before
watches them from a safe distance, now in a grey overcoat to cover her
uniform. Beside her is a taller, distinguished, older man, dressed
surprisingly in an English tweed suit complete with a black bowler
hat. "Must we enter this **bastardization** of the memory of one of
our planet's founders, sir?!" she looks apprehensive.

"Patience, Chamba," the man smiles. "What we are about to
witness is the completing of a circle which shall lead to the rebirth
of our world."

"But, the heretic is there!" Chamba snarls, pointing at the
Church of Lum. "What she plans to do will destroy everything here!!
Why can't I just go in there and bust her now?!"

"Because the law states we cannot interfere in the internal
affairs of developing cultures," he calmly replies.

"*Ki!*" Chamba snaps. "Mom always said never argue with a
computer!!"

Meanwhile, Atoke escorts Lum to a private room, the door
marked VESTRY: CONFESSIONS ALLOWED. The room is a grandly furnished
office. Like all vestries, there is a large oak desk used for the
routine business of the Church. Neatly stacked papers lie atop the
desk beside a flower vase. There is a painting of an angelic, haloed
Lum on one wall, a statue of Lum in a corner. "*Datcha*!" the Oni is
awed. "Such a nice office!!"

"Rank has its privileges," the priestess forces a smile.

Lum quickly notices the flowers. "Oh, such beautiful
flowers!" Lum takes a whiff. "What are they?"

"Oz poppies from the planet Nenone," Atoke smiles.

"What a strong scent they have. It's almost hypnotic..." the
Oni muses before turning to Atoke. "But, I didn't come here to smell
flowers, Atoke-sama. What do you want me to do for your ceremony...?"

"Oh, just be a sacrifice," the priestess hums.

Suddenly, Lum staggers. "W-what...?!" she gasps. "I
feel...so sleepy. Can't stay...!"

She drops to the floor. Pleased, Atoke stamps her foot a
metre from where Lum fell. A hidden door opens, allowing several
burly hominoid creatures dressed from head to toe in brown robes to
emerge. "Is she asleep?" one demands, his voice hollow.

"Yes, she is," Atoke smiles. "The oz poppies did their job.
She'll be asleep for hours! When she awakens, her annoying lightning
talent will be removed long enough for the sacrifice. None of those
fools know that I'm not the real Atoke and that we're going to destroy
this Church and the Universal Confederation once and for all!! Take
her away!!!"

Several creatures drag Lum through the trap door. As she
removes her robes, the "priestess" is approached by one. "What about
the others?" it demands.

"Watch them," "Atoke" orders. "Should they get suspicious,
kill them like we killed the other we transported from the past!"

Her features contorting with madness, the "priestess" laughs,
her mirth echoing through the halls of the Great Lum Church...

* * *

Back on Uru, Ataru, Mendou, Megane and the guards among others
observe Nassur and Lum performing a hand-to-hand combat exercise. All
save the former class president are impressed by the combatants' skill
and ferocity. "No wonder Lum-san is so good," Megane gasps.
"Nassur-san's a master trainer!"

"Ah, he's nothing compared to Dake-chan!" Ataru snorts.

Mendou pulls out his katana, swinging it at Ataru. The latter
promptly catches it! "How dare you say that machine's a better
teacher than Nassur?" Mendou growls. "I should make you a head
shorter for impinging the honour of Lum-san's teacher...!!"

A sledgehammer smashes Mendou down! "Hey!" Mie snidely growls
from some distance away. "Even Nassur admits that!!"

Ataru gives Mendou an elbow for extra measure!! "And the
*next* time you call Dake-chan a machine, robot or android, I'll make
**sure** there will be ***no*** male Mendou Clan heir!! Got me?!!"

The scion of Japan's richest family fearfully nods. They
return to observing Lum trying to electrocute Nassur at close range.
The Vosian leaps back a couple of steps, using his momentum to lunge
forward, delivering a clothesline to the Oni student. Both collapse
to the ground, Nassur atop Lum. "I win again, Lum," he smiles.

"Darn!!!" Lum hisses. "I thought I had you this time!"

"You're getting close," Nassur chuckles. "But not close
enough. You're starting to comprehend how to use your lightning in
rapid-fire mode."

"I'd knew you'd like that," Lum smiles.

Suddenly, the Vosian feels the tip of Mendou's katana blade
tapping his shoulder. "Let Lum-san up!!" Mendou snarls.

The Vosian sees Mendou and the guards standing there, all
glowing with rage. "What's your problem?!"

"We don't care if you *are* Lum-san's teacher," Mendou snarls,
"...but we will not approve of you taking such liberties on her
**person!!**"

Nassur stands, staring Mendou in the eye. "Put that toothpick
away," the Vosian coldly intones.

The guards tremble with fear. Mendou looks insulted.
"What?!! You dare insult the honoured katana of Shutaro Mendou?!!"

The five then hear the sound of electricity fizzling. They
turn to see Lum angrily glaring at them, lightning dancing over her
body. "You **dare** threaten my teacher?!!" she snarls, then points.
"Why can't you be like that nice man?!"

Lum points to Ataru, now setting up equipment for her next
exercise. "HIM?!?!?!" the five exclaim as one. "THAT MORON?!?!"

"Where do you want the hoops put, Nassur?" Ataru asks.

"Over by the trees," Nassur points to a nearby grove.

"Gotcha," Ataru nods.

Lum angrily spins on Mendou and the guards, her lightning
reaching exploding point. The five look incapable of defending their
statements. "So he's an idiot, is he?!!" she growls. "At least he
knows how to help!!!"

Seconds later, Benten tunes her airbike as she hears the
sounds of five pained screams mixed with Lum's lightning! "I've heard
better screams," the Fukunokami sighs, then notices Shinobu standing
there. "What do you want?!"

"I was just watching you tune up your airbike," the Terran
shrugs.

"Big deal," Benten snorts. "Don't they have airbikes on
Earth?"

"No."

Incensed that Shinobu has not left, Benten angrily glares at
her. "Look, chick, you're bothering me!!" she snarls. "Why not go
elsewhere?!"

"How come you're not training with Lum?" Shinobu hums.

Shocked, Benten nearly faints. "W-what d-do y-you mean...?!"

"You love Nassur, don't you?! Why aren't you with him?"

The Fukunokami considers the question. "Well...it's because
Nassur said I don't need his help. Besides, Nassur's married."

"That's an excuse," Shinobu snaps, then gives her a haughty
stare. "I know for a fact that Nassur's in love with **me** in the
future!"

Benten is incredulous at the Terran's boast. "An
underdeveloped girl like you?!!" she laughs. "What about Cinba?!!"

Shinobu hesitates. "Cinba...no longer matters."

"Really?!" the Fukunokami snorts. "I'm glad! Without Cinba,
at least I'd have a chance with Nassur. She's the obstacle in my path
to happiness!"

Horrified, Shinobu then slaps Benten, knocking the latter
over! "What was that for?!" she demands, feeling her sore cheek.

"The Benten I know would never say such unlucky things!"
Shinobu snaps, then storms away.

The Fukunokami remains in place, understandably confused...

* * *

In the twentieth millennium, night falls in historic Tomobiki.
In their hotel room, Nassur and Benten return, tired and worn from
their busy day. "We've travelled around the known Galaxy in a few
hours by teleporter," Nassur sits on his bed. "Not even the
Zephyrites can do that."

"Yeah," Benten lays on her bed. "There's no crime, no
poverty, no strife. It's paradise!"

Nassur notices a copy of the Book of Lum on a bedside table.
He opens it to read it. "I wonder what they kept in their bible," he
muses.

Benten looks over his shoulder to read the holy book. Nassur
stops at a chapter. "Here's a chapter from 'Megane,'" he points, then
reads. "'I wanna (blank) her (blank)! And (blank) on her (blank)
(blank)! Ataru Moroboshi should (beep) himself (blank)!'"

"They teach that to the public?" the Fukunokami is stunned.

"Funny," the Vosian smiles. "I thought Megane was
well-educated. He should know men can't (beep) themselves (blank)."

"Besides that four-eyed nerd..." Benten shakes her head,
"...who else has written chapters in that thing?!"

"Let's see," Nassur leafs through the pages. "There's Mendou,
Shinobu, the other guards, Lan, Lum's parents, Oyuki, Jariten, even
us!" Confusion crosses his face as he realizes something. "But
there's nothing from Ataru!"

"That's weird," Benten scratches her head. "I know from Lum
that Moroboshi keeps a diary."

"And Ataru is the prime reason that Lum is living on Earth,"
Nassur adds. "But there's nothing directly from him." Glancing
through the chapters, he scratches his chin. "Still, he is mentioned
many times by others...usually in less glamorous terms."

"Weird," Benten returns to her bed, then lays down.

"Well," Nassur returns the holy book to its former location.
"At least these people seem legitimate...except for Atoke."

"What about her?" Benten tenses. "She's just a priestess."

"For someone who's meeting the inspiration for her religion,"
Nassur muses, "...she seems to look upon Lum like we would look on
someone who spat in our face!"

"Maybe Lum didn't come up to her specifications."

"Perhaps...but if I was going to meet someone who inspired a
religion, I'd be a little more in awe than anything."

"You know what I think, Nassur," Benten sighs. "I think you
need a vacation. After the *nicha* failure and everything, you've not
been the same. Why not relax?"

Nassur stands, moving to the window. "Perhaps you're right,"
he opens the curtains, noting the oglers have finally departed. "But
I have this feeling that Atoke isn't whom she says she is. When I see
her...I can't keep thinking back to the time Cinba died..."

The Vosian quickly notices Chamba and the strange man, both
looking at them while trying to be inconspicuous. *Who are they?*
Nassur's eyes widen. *I have a feeling I should know them...*

* * *

Somewhere in the sewers of historic Tomobiki, Lum awakens,
finding herself tied to a grotesque, rough-hewn red idol of stone
vaguely resembling a person. "W-where am I...?!" Lum moans, then
takes notice of the idol. "What an ugly statue!! It looks a little
like Darling in some way...!"

Someone slaps her! Lum sees that her attacker is Atoke. The
"priestess" has changed into a black dress trimmed with gold, a golden
phoenix insignia on her chest. Combined with the darkness of the
sewer, her dress makes Atoke look demonically evil. "You have no
right to call our lord by that name!!!"

"A-atoke...?!" Lum stammers, confused by the change of
demeanor. "What's the meaning of this?!!"

"I am not the heretic witch called Atoke!" her voice echoes
through the tunnels. "My real name is Soyuha Airu reiMikan
oMoroboshi!"

"Soyuha...Airu...reiMikan...oMoroboshi?!" Lum gasps. "Are you
related to Darling and me in some way?"

"I claim no genetic heritage to genetrash like you!" Soyuha
glares at Lum, causing the Oni to cower. "But, I **am** related to
the Great One you forced yourself on ages ago!!"

"You're related to Darling...but not me?" the Oni muses.
"But...why did you act like a priestess in my church?"

"I impersonated that bitch so I could draw you here."

"Why?!"

"So that you can be sacrificed to the glory of the Darkside!"
Soyuha howls. "A gathering which has long stood against the oxymoron
called the Church of Lum!! Because of you and your demented
followers, the people of the Universal Confederation are weak! Once
you are eliminated, the Darkside will eradicate the weak and make the
Universe strong!!"

"Not if I can help it!!!" Lum snarls as she moves to zap her
way free. Her powers do not respond. "My zaps are gone!!" the Oni
gasps, now feeling very alone.

"Foolish Oni!!" Soyuha laughs. "Do you think we didn't know
about your puny powers?! The flowers that knocked you out temporarily
removed your powers!! Now, nothing will prevent me from taking your
heart and performing the ritual that will cleanse the Universe!"

"Nassur and Benten will stop you!" Lum looks defiant.

"We have plans for them if they interfere!" Soyuha laughs.
"They will die!! My followers are trained in the arts of the sacred
devil-destroyer known as the *saikoo jinseijitsu*!!"

The Oni pales, remembering the amount of trouble she and her
friends underwent in subduing the original *saikoo jinseijitsu* in the
Spirit War. Soyuha laughs as she departs. "I leave you now, Lum. I
hope you will make peace with whatever gods *you* worship...because
the date we celebrate your coming to Earth will be your day of
death!!"

The priestess' laughter echoes through the tunnels as Lum
realizes the enormity of trouble she is now in. "Darling," she gulps,
"...please come help me!"

* * *

Back in time on Uru, the staff and students of Tomobiki High
School construct a tent city thanks to the assistance of the Urusian
Defence Force. As the sun sets, members of Class 3-4...along with
their infamous former classmate...relax. "What a day!" Shinobu sighs.

"I know what you mean, Shinobu," Lan sighs. "I literally
spent most of today talking to myself."

"Did you get any stimulating conversation?" Ataru snickers.

Lan looks miffed. "I don't see why you have to pick on me so
much, Darling!" the Seishin girl sniffs as she storms to her tent.

The other girls laugh. "I bet she didn't!" Ataru chuckles.

In one tent, Mendou, Megane and the guards hold a secret
meeting. "Gentlemen, this is the best opportunity for us to get rid
of that good-for-nothing Ataru forever and bring Lum-san closer to
those who really love her!" Megane announces.

"Hear, hear!!" the guards nod.

"What do you have planned?" Mendou hums.

"We'll begin by making Ataru look foolish in front of
Lum-san," Megane explains. "That should be easy enough. After that,
we'll start showing Lum the **real** Ataru...the sex-crazed moron that
everyone hates!"

"What about the Cyborg and the *saikoo jinseijitsu*?" Mendou
inquires.

Megane considers that problem. "If we plan our cards right,"
he finally states, "...Lum-san will be so afraid of those things,
she'll run away without a second's hesitation."

Then, to Mendou's surprise, Megane seizes his katana. "Lemme
borrow this for a sec'!" he points the blade to the sky. "Those who
are with me touch the end of this blade!!"

The others roar in approval. Unseen by them, Koosei Ryooki
has eavesdropped on their plans. "Those morons will **never** succeed
in breaking Lum away from Ataru," he chuckles. "I guarantee it!!"

* * *

Night falls an hour later. Most of the time-travellers are
asleep. Ataru quietly walks outside the perimeter, gazing to the
stars. *This is weird!* he sighs. *Why would someone grab Lum-chan,
Benten and Nassur, then send us into the past?! It doesn't make any
sense!*

Suddenly, he picks up the sound of someone approaching. Ataru
falls into a defensive karate mode, then yelling, launches his arm.
It is caught by another's hand...Nassur. "Whoa!!!" the Vosian jolts.
"There's no need to fight!!"

On recognizing him, Ataru relaxes. "You did sneak up on me,
you know!"

"Sorry," Nassur smiles. "I just wanted to thank you for
helping me train Lum by moving things around. Benten usually does
that, but she wanted to give her airbike a tune-up today."

"That's okay," Ataru smiles, scratching the back of his head.

Silence falls over them. "You love Lum, don't you?" Nassur
muses.

Ataru faints! "W-what gives you that idea?" he stammers.

"I can tell by your actions. Unlike those five morons who
claim to love her, you actually show your love in different
ways...ways that would make someone conclude that you're her husband."

"Well," Ataru smiles. "I always showed my friendship, my
affection in different ways...but Lum and I aren't married...yet."

"Oh?" Nassur looks amused.

"Well," Ataru starts. "Lum sort of barged into my life
without so much as a by-your-leave. She then tried to take control of
my life, but deep down, I knew her intentions were good. Then, she
practically became a religion to the guys in my hometown. It finally
got so bad that I moved out of my *ex*-parents' house to another town
to get control of my life. Right now, I'm trying to persuade Lum to
move to Oshika with me!"

"I see," the Vosian hums. "Well, the chase is still on then."

The Terran looks confused. "Chase? What chase?"

"The eternal chase of a young man and a young woman in love,"
Nassur looks to the stars. "I speak from experience. It takes so
long to find a person perfect enough for you that you wind up not
believing you've finally found her. Then, something happens which
makes you realize that you've made the right choice."

"Pardon me, but don't your people **recognize** their mates?!"

"Just because we genetically bond with our mates doesn't make
us instant couples," Nassur warns. "Like everywhere else, love must
be earned...and it is there that the chase lies."

Ataru scratches the back of his head. "I never thought of it
that way."

"Oh, by the way..." Nassur interrupts, "...what is your name?!
Koosei Ryooki keeps saying your name is Moroboshi-san."

"It's Ataru."

Stunned, Nassur looks ready to fall over laughing. "No
kidding?!!"

"Is something wrong?" Ataru gives him a curious stare.

"It's nothing," Nassur chuckles as he turns away. "Just be
glad you're not named 'Jamie.'"

As the Vosian hunter leaves, Ataru looks confused. "What did
he mean by that...?"

* * *

Nassur meets Cinba in a huge grassy field. She is dressed in
a lovely white dress with a floppy hat, something which would be not
out of place on an Earth beach. He is dressed in his typical uniform.
Nassur approaches his wife, a beautiful young woman of twenty-four
with long blond hair, vaguely resembling a Vosian version of Oyuki.
"At last!!" he looks delerious. "I found you again, Ci-chan!"

"I thought you loved me, Natsu-kun?" Cinba holds a dandelion.

The hunter stops, staring at his wife. "But I do!!"

"Then, why haven't you avenged me so I can finally rest?!"
Cinba demands, her eyes eerily glowing.

"Avenge you?!!" Nassur demands. "For what?!!"

"My murderer," Cinba replies...then disappears in a flash of
light...

* * *

Nassur yells as he sits up, then realizes what happened. "A
dream...?!" he gasps, regaining his composure.

His eyes glance right to see Benten asleep beside him. *How I
envy you being able to sleep soundly, Benten!* Nassur sadly shakes his
head. *It's something I've never been able to do since the day Cinba
died. I guess I'll never totally recover from her death.*

He leans over, lightly kissing her on the cheek. The
Fukunokami huntress mutters something under her breath. "Scram,
Moroboshi..."

Smiling, he carefully moves out of the bed. Glancing out the
window, he quickly notices Chamba and the man still standing there,
observing him. *Them again!! Who are they?! What do they want with
us?!!*

The Vosian's attention is distracted by Benten's moaning.
*Such a naive, innocent child she is*, Nassur muses as he looks upon
her. *Something I've never been. In a way she reminds me of Cinba
around the time she died...*

* * *

Over eighteen millennia before, the dawning sun shines over
Tomobiki High School. Lum and Benten carry out morning exercises
alone. "Nassur won't be here this morning," the Oni reports. "He's
gone to pick up Cinba at the spaceport."

"Big deal," Benten sighs. "That means you'll have some time
off for a while."

They notice Ataru jogging by. He is now dressed in a black
T-shirt with gold-trimmed black jogging shorts, both bearing
variations of the Moroboshi Clan tiger insignia. "Oh, there's
Moroboshi-san!" Lum points, then waves. "'Morning!!"

"'Morning!" Ataru waves as he joins them. "You're both up
early today!"

"Sensei's orders," Lum smiles. "Sleep four hours pass, sleep
five hours fail."

"That sounds familiar," Ataru moans.

Lum then closely inspects his clothes. "What a nice T-shirt,"
she hums. "Is that from an Earth sports team?" she points at the
insignia.

"No, it's actually my family's crest," Ataru explains. "A
tiger to symbolize strength and a chrysanthemum to symbolize Japan. I
was cleaning out my old gym locker when I found it. Wanna join me for
a jog?"

"Sure," the Oni readily nods.

"I still have to finish tuning my airbike," the Fukunokami
shrugs. "Maybe later?"

"Up to you," the Terran muses as Benten runs off.

"Let's go!" Lum states.

* * *

The couple jog through the countryside, avoiding most of the
places which Lum has been warned to avoid. As the mileage mounts, the
Oni quickly tires. Such is not the case for her boyfriend-to-be.
Mercifully, after an hour of straight jogging without rest, Lum
collapses to the ground, totally exhausted. "Can't run...anymore..."
she pants.

Ataru stops, then walks up to her, shaking his legs free of
cramps. "You're not used to jogging, aren't you?"

"Well..." Lum sits up, still short of breath. "It's
easier...to fly..."

He kneels in front of her. "Are you alright?"

"I think so..." she nods. "*Datcha*...when you go on a
jog...you really do so...!!"

Ataru helps Lum to her feet. While doing so, their eyes make
contact. Both suddenly flush. Then, without visible hint of
invitation, they gently embrace, their lips lovingly caressing. The
kiss is short, yet neither feel embarrassed. "I don't know why..."
Lum finally admits, "...but, I just had this feeling that I **had** to
do that! Oh, Rei-chan will be furious if he finds out what I did
behind his back!!"

"Let **me** take care of that dumb tiger-cow," Ataru snots.
"I'm not afraid of him."

Suddenly, as if on cue, the transformed Rei appears! He drops
right atop Ataru, squashing the surprised teenager!! "Lum!!!" the
monster roars, then reverts to humanoid form.

"Oh, Rei-chan!!!" Lum stammers, unsure whether to be pleased
or sickened. "You're here!!!"

Ignoring his "girlfriend's" words, Rei grabs Ataru by his
collar. "Lum!!!" he coldly snarls. "Mine!!!"

Lum is unsure whether to accept such a state of affairs.
Ataru shakes his head, then icily glares at the handsome Oni teen.
"**No way**," he snarls, left eye glowing. "**Lum is MY Other!!**"

Before Rei can react, Ataru's body is consumed by psychic
fire. In a second, the Cyborg stands in his place. With one shove,
Ataru sends Rei flying a dozen metres, smashing into a tree trunk!
Lum is understandably intimidated by what has occured. "W-what is
he...?!!" Lum gasps. "A guyver?!!"

Surprised by Ataru's act, Rei shakes his head, then after
transforming into his tiger-bull self, rises to full height, pounding
his chest like Tarzan. "DIE!!!!!!" he howls, lunging at Ataru...

...then gets punched into orbit by the Cyborg's fist! "**GET
LOST, YOU BRAINLESS IDIOT!!!!!!**"

The tiger-bull disappears with a screaming moo! The Cyborg
turns to Lum, moving to her side. "What do you see in that walking
meat factory anyway?!!" he thumbs the sky, reverting to normal.

"I...I...I don't k-know really...!!" Lum fearfully shudders.
"But...w-what are y-you...?!"

"I don't know either," Ataru sighs. "Twelve years ago, some
brainless idiot put a ninja program into my head. Thanks to that, my
mind got split in half. What you just saw is my *nicer* side!" he
rolls his eyes. "If it wasn't for your future self, I would probably
be a guest in the nearest funny-farm by now!!"

Sensing the touch of real pain under his sarcasm, the Oni
looks sympathetic. "Well, it's not so bad if it keeps Rei-chan in
check. Even Sensei has trouble with him at times."

"Right," Ataru sighs. "Shall I walk you back to your house,
Lum-chan?"

Ataru offers his hand. "I guess so," Lum takes it. "But I
hope that you don't turn into that thing all the time!"

"Only when I suffer from idiots," he smiles.

Both laugh as they walk away, hand-in-hand...

* * *

In camp, everyone washes up. Despite their present temporal
mislocation, the students are still attending classes. Mendou, Megane
and the guards brush their teeth with Lan, Shinobu, Mie and
Ryuunosuke. "Today, we shall see the dawning of a new history!!!"
Megane boasts.

"What are you morons planning now?!" the Kyushu native snorts.
"Didn't you hear Ryooki-sensei?!! No trying to change history!!!"

"We're not trying to change history!!" Mendou shakes his head,
taking Mie by the hand. "We're only embellishing it!"

"Embellishing it?!!" Mie tries to yank her hand from Mendou's
grip. "Don't you mean **perverting** it?!!"

"How dare you accuse me of something so low, Seikou-san?!"
Mendou snarls, his grip on her tightening.

A loud slap echoes through the camp!! Students' and teachers'
heads snap around in confusion. Mendou crashes into the ground, his
face nearly caved in by Mie's hand. "I don't accuse you of anything
that isn't below you," the Kyushu native snarls, "...because nothing
**is** below you when it concerns Lum!!! I hope the gods strike you
dead for what you're planning!!!"

Almost in answer, a tiger-stripped object flies out of nowhere
to crush the scion of Japan's richest family like an anvil crushing
Wile E. Coyote!!! When the smoke clears, everyone is stunned to see
that the object in question is none other than an unconscious Rei.
"It's Rei-san!!!" Lan screams.

"Who did that?!!" Megane gasps, stunned to see the tiger-bull
so easily defeated. "Nassur?!!"

"Who do you think, stupid?!" Mie points to the imprint of a
fist on the side of Rei's head. "Looks like he tried to go a round
with the Cyborg!! Looks like he lost!!!"

"Darling did this to Rei-chan?!!" Lan growls, sullen heat
boiling from her. "I ought to suck his youth dry!!!"

"Do it and Dakejinzou Shogai will kill you...slowly and
painfully!" Mie snorts.

Lan faints! The others giggle with delight on seeing the
Seishin girl once again flummoxed. "Mendou!!!" Koosei appears.

"Y-yes, s-sir...?!" the wounded student crawls from under the
unmoving Rei.

He then gets a thousand tonne hammer from his homeroom
teacher!! "That's a **month's** detention for you harassing a girl!!"
Koosei turns and marches back to school.

Mendou moans, wondering what he did to deserve a day like
today. Everyone around him laughs...

* * *

Meanwhile, Ataru escorts Lum to the front door of her home.
"Here you go, Lum-chan," he smiles. "Home, sweet home."

"Thanks," he smiles. "Is it all right for you to come inside
for some tea?"

"I can't see why not," Ataru replies before they enter the
house. "I'm no longer a student at that looney bin!"

Inside, Ataru notices that Lum's parents are entertaining
guests. One is Benten. The other is a beautiful single-horned Oni
woman dressed in a form-fitting black and tiger-stripped outfit.
Noticeably pregnant, she resembles an older Lum. "My aunt's here!!!"
Lum smiles.

*Aunt?!* Ataru is surprised, quickly recognizing the young
fire-fighter. *Jariten's mom...or will be soon from the look of
things!*

Lum performs the introductions. "Pleased to meet you," Ataru
shakes her hand.

"Please to meet you," Ten-chan's mother smiles. "My sister
just told me about the Terrans who came from the future."

"I hope she's been warning you about most of them," he raises
a finger in caution. "They're not as trustworthy as some people I
know."

"My aunt works in the fire department," Lum explains.

"Why am I not surprised?" Ataru sighs.

"I'm currently on maternity leave," Ten-chan's mother pats her
abdomen. "It feels like I'll be a mother pretty soon."

"I guess so," Ataru nods. "You look it. I'm sure he'll be a
dutiful son when he grows up."

The Onis are surprised by his words. "How did you know the
baby's a boy?!" Lum stares at Ataru. "You've just met the mother!"

"Let's just say..." he intones, then claps his hands in
prayer. "It's fate!"

Acknowledging his words, Lum turns to her best friend, now
playing a video game hooked to the entertainment centre. "Oh, Benten!
Finished tuning your airbike already?!"

"Yep!!" the Fukunokami nods. "It's all ready to fly!"

"Can I join in the game?"

"Free planet," Benten replies, then looks at the clock.
"Where's Nassur? The shuttle should be in by now!"

"Oh, you know how shuttles can get delayed," Lum waves her
hand in dismissal as she sits beside Benten...

...when the front door opens! A noticably saddened Nassur
enters the house. Seeing him, everyone stops what they are doing.
"I'm back," the Vosian coldly intones.

"Nassur-kun!" Invader bolts to his feet. "What's wrong?!
Where's Cinba?!!"

Deathly silence falls over the room as Nassur tries to form
words, tears brimming in his eyes. "There's been...an accident aboard
the shuttle...Cinba was aboard," he slowly explains. "There
were...many causalities...Cinba...C-c-Cinba...was one of the dead..."

Everyone freezes, unable to speak on hearing that tragic news.
Ataru sadly shakes his head. Benten and Lum stop playing, looking at
each other in disbelief. Their characters are swiftly, almost cruelly
destroyed by the computer-generated opponents. The screen then
flashes one line:

GAME OVER

* * *

Eighteen millennia ahead, Nassur returns to bed. *Why did you
have to die, Cinba?!* he sighs, more depressed than ever. *It seemed
like your death wasn't supposed to happen! Yet...it did!! I've
always wondered what would've happened if you lived!! Would we have
had more children to replace Akisur?! Would we had stopped hunting,
migrating somewhere to peacefully lives out our lives?! Would you
have liked Hazel and the hybrids?! So many questions unanswered...all
because of fate...!*

The Vosian hunter then notices one empty bed. *Lum's not
back?!!* he sits up. *Then...why do I feel that Lum, Atoke and Cinba
are somehow bound by fate...?!*

* * *

In the bowels of Tomobiki, Lum remains lashed to the
Darkside's idol. *If only I could use my powers!!!* the Oni struggles
to loosen her bonds. *I'd be able to escape and warn Nassur and
Benten about Soyuha and her people!!*

Finally, she stops, exhausted by her frustrated exertions.
*Will I ever see Darling again?!* she looks to the ceiling. *Even
with the saikoo jinseijitsu and the Cyborg, Darling always took care
of me when I was sad...especially at the time Cinba died...*

* * *

Eighteen millennia before, several days after the tragic news
was learned, Lum sobs, sitting atop a fence near her home. Ataru
joins her. "Lum-chan! Are you alright?!"

Lum faces him, her berieved state explaining the state of her
distress. "M-moroboshi-san, it's you..." she moans. "I...I'm just so
sad that Cinba died..."

"I know," Ataru sits beside her. "It's sad when someone loses
a loved one. However, death is a part of life, Lum...and life must go
on."

"I know!" she painfully nods. "But if you had ever met Cinba,
you'd know that she wasn't supposed to die!! She was too nice and
caring to die this way!!!"

"Perhaps," he gently slips his arm around her shoulder.
"However, she's gone now. All you can do now is ensure that she's
remembered by all who love her...and help Nassur overcome his grief."

"How?"

"Whatever comes naturally, I guess."

They gaze into the other's eyes. Lum is quick to note his
sincerity. "I'll try," she nods. "You know, almost everyone at that
school of yours say you're a pervert. But, you're really very sweet!"

He sheepishly shrugs. "What did you expect from that place?!
Besides, it's *not* my school anymore!"

She nods. "What's your name?"

"It's Ataru."

Silence falls over him as she stares at him, incredulous at
his answer. "A-a-Ataru...?" she stammers...then falls over laughing!

"Is something wrong?!" he angrily demands.

"I...I...I'm sorry," the Oni waves him down, trying
desperately to regain her sense of demeanor. "But...in...in my
language," she snorts, "...'ataru' means 'sex-crazed idiot!!'"

Ataru faints! "What?!!" he cries, then considers the point.
*So that's why Lum calls me 'Darling!!!'"

In seconds, both are laughing...

* * *

Back in the future, Lum sighs. *Darling showed his true
colours that day...*

...then blinks as she realizes something. "Wait!!!" she
gasps. "How could Darling have been there to comfort me over Cinba's
death?!! I didn't meet him until the First Tag Race!!"

Considering possible answers, she shakes her head. "Weird..."

* * *

Morning dawns over Tomobiki. In the hotel room, Nassur and
Benten awaken. "'Morning, Nassur," Benten yawns.

"'Morning, Benten," he nods. "Sleep well last night?"

"Sort of," Benten hums. "I had this weird dream. I was
remembering the time we heard about Cinba's death. It was strange:
Moroboshi and the rest of those clowns at Tomobiki High School were
there!! That's impossible!!!"

"Strange," he muses. "I had the same type of dream! However,
I clearly recall Cinba's ghost demanding I find her murderer!!"

"Murder?!!" she gasps. "Impossible!!! The shuttle she died
in was damaged by an asteroid!! The inquiry proved so!"

Both notice the empty bed. "Lum's still gone?!" Nassur
scratches his head in bewilderment. "What are she and Atoke doing?!!"

Almost in answer, the door opens and BR-88 enters, pushing an
antigrav cart carrying two small boxes. "Breakfast is served," the
android announces.

"Just in time," Benten nods. "We both just woke up."

"Excellent," BR-88 hands both of them a bods. "These are
portable replicators. They are designed to create any meal from any
planet you desire. All you have to do is tell it what you want."

"I see," Nassur looks at the box. "Vosian miso soup and
rice."

The package glows a moment, then metamorphs into a bowl of
greenish soup with a bowl of rice complete with chopsticks.
Surprised, Benten then turns to her package. "Teriyaki with a glass
of orange juice."

Soon, both commence eating. "I wish we had something like
this in our time," the Fukunokami giggles. "These're quite handy!!"

"And delicious, too," the Vosian adds. "Where's Lum, BR-88?"

"She is probably still with Atoke-sama," the android looks
around. "Neither have been seen since the late hours yesterday. How
peculiar! Atoke-sama usually does not have audiences with anyone for
that long."

"Well," Nassur finishes his breakfast, then dresses, "...Lum
is a special case. I'm still worried. Can we visit the Great Lum
Church after we dress?"

"I cannot see why not," BR-88 replies.

"What are you thinking now?" Benten stares at her partner.

"If I told you," Nassur replies, "...it would spoil the
surprise!"

* * *

Nassur, Benten and BR-88 enter the Great Lum Church. Except
for a couple of laypersons, they find the shrine. "May I help you?"
an Ipraedies politely inquires.

"We're looking for Atoke-sama and Lum," the Vosian sighs.
"Have you seen them?"

"Not since they went into the vestry yesterday," he reports.
"I haven't seen them come out. They haven't asked for anything."

"Take us there, please."

"I'm sorry," the layperson bows. "That is against the rules."

The Fukunokami snap-draws her chains, giving the layperson a
threatening stare. "H-however..." he stammers.

Nassur, Benten and BR-88 are led to the vestry. The layperson
knocks on the door. "Atoke-sama," he nervously declares.
"Nassur-sama and Benten-sama wish to speak with you."

There is no response. The layperson tries again.
"Atoke-sama?"

Nassur's eyes glow. "Wait a minute!" he says before the
layperson opens the door. "There's nobody in there!"

One look into the vestry confirms that statement. "Strange!"
the layperson muses. "I never saw them leave...and I've been here all
night and morning."

"Well," Nassur scans for their psychic trail, "...they've been
gone a long time. Any idea of where they might have gone, BR-88?"

"The most logical place would be to the rectory," the android
replies. "Atoke-sama is not one for socializing."

"Can you take us there?" Nassur asks.

"It is highly unusual..." BR-88 protests.

Benten grabs the android by the collar. "Do you want to
**stay** in good repair?" she growls.

"W-well..." the android stammers.

* * *

The three teleport to the rectory, an eye-catching, two-storey
building of recent construction located a block from Lum's shrine.
"This is it," BR-88 announces.

"What a nice house," Benten whistles.

"Atoke-sama was prepared for something like this," BR-88 leads
the two hunters towards the front door. "She had her security access
code memorized in my software."

BR-88 turns to a small box...which presently hangs from the
wall with its wires exposed to the elements. "I don't think we need
to do that, BR-88," the Vosian sighs.

"Someone has damaged the security system," the android is
surprised. "But that is against the law."

Moving to the circuit box, Nassur touches two wires together.
That action causes the door to open. "Apparently, someone doesn't
care about the law too much."

"I've got a bad feeling about this," Benten shivers.

The hunters draw weapons. "BR-88," Nassur warns, "...you'd
better call the police."

"At once!" the android proceeds to locate a phone.

Nassur and Benten cautiously enter. They notice the house is
filled with antiques and art, all Lum-inspired. While they have not
been disturbed, they are covered with a thin film of dust and dirt.
<<Nobody's been here for a while>>, Nassur muses.

<<Can you sense anyone around?>> Benten tenses.

<<Nobody>>, Nassur shakes his head, <<...but let's keep
hunting.>>

The Fukunokami shudders. <<I was afraid you'd say that!>>

Diligently, the hunters sweep the main floor, finding nothing
which could aid them. However, in the dining room, they notice a
plate of food half-consumed. <<Could it be the place was robbed?>>
Benten scratches her head.

<<Doubtful>>, Nassur shakes his head. <<If they did come to
steal, they left a lot of valuable stuff behind. Let's go upstairs.>>

Cautiously, they ascend the carpeted stairs. <<I'll go
left>>, Nassur points right at a T-junction. <<You go right.>>

<<O-okay...>> the Fukunokami nervously stammers.

Nassur cautiously moves to one door. He gently opens it,
looking in to see that he has found a small closet. After a quick
search which produces nothing, Nassur prepares to move on...when he
hears Benten's scream!

As fast as his legs can transport him, the Vosian rushes to
his partner's side, now crouching by an open door, looking ready to
vomit. <<Benten, what's wrong?!!>> Nassur kneels.

White-faced horror answers him. "Atoke's...in there..." she
verbally gasps. "She's...dead!"

* * *

Within the hour, the police have arrived and begun their
investigation. The section sergeant discusses the incident report
with the two hunters and BR-88. Nassur comforts Benten, now wrapped
in a blanket, still shocked by her grotesque discovery. "Apparently,
Atoke-sama has been dead nearly a week," the sergeant reports.

"A week?!!" Benten gasps. "But we just saw her yesterday
leading a church service!!"

"Then I was right," Nassur sighs. "The Atoke we saw was a
fake!"

"Whomever killed Atoke," the policeman continues, "...carved
out her heart. Actually, it almost looked as if it was ripped out by
brute physical force!"

The android servant looks surprised. "Why, that is the
Darkside style of execution."

Nassur and Benten stare at BR-88. "Darkside?!" the Vosian
intones. "Explain!"

"Over a century ago, an evil cult from Sagussa calling
themselves the Darkside tried to destroy the Church of Lum in a war
known as the Final Jihad," BR-88 explains. "Those priests from the
Church of Lum who were captured by the Darkside were slain in this
particular fashion."

"That's horrible!!" Benten shivers. "What happened to them?!"

"They were alleged to have been terminated by the Sagussan
Intelligence Ministry and their Defence Force," BR-88 reports.

"Apparently," Nassur shakes his head, "...some weren't. Let's
get back to the hotel and make plans. Still...there's something
familiar about the way Atoke died!"

* * *

As the three depart the scene, Chamba and her companion
observe from a distance. "Is it time soon to intervene?" she hums.

"Not yet," the man replies. "But soon."

"Soyuha's actions demand justice," Chamba snaps. "To hate a
religion is one thing, but to murder its followers is another!"

"I know," the man replies. "But, we can only interfere if
Soyuha is found by those looking for her."

"But, she's broken the law by tampering with history by
allegedly killing...!!" Chamba protests.

"Enough!" he barks. "We will only strike when I deem it
necessary!"

The young woman looks depressed. "Oh, you're no fun anymore."

* * *

Back in time on Uru, Invader reports to Koosei and Sakura in
the former's office. "The building of the spacializer is almost
complete, Ryooki-san," the large captain glances at a report displayed
on his computer terminal. "We estimate the final hook-ups will take
another twelve hours. I bet you're all anxious to get home."

"We are," Sakura nods. "But...some of the students and staff
wish to attend Cinba's funeral...if it's all right with Nassur, that
is."

"You'll have to ask Nassur yourselves," Invader sighs. "He's
aboard the Funeral Satellite right now."

* * *

In a high orbit over Uru is the Funeral Satellite. Remotely
located, the small orbital station is one of many deployed over the
worlds of the Galactic Federation. Most of the 'customers' are either
defense force personnel, ambassadors or foreign nationals who had died
on or near Uru. In the third launch bay, Nassur prays beside the
clear-plastic, torpedo-shaped coffin now bearing his slain wife. Red
flowers surround her body. The peaceful look on her face presents the
illusion of sleep despite her being dressed in a red jumpsuit trimmed
in black, a white, knotted kill-belt about her waist. A lone
spotlight shines on the scene. "Oh, Cinba..." he quietly exclaims,
the cold realization striking him at last like the proverbial ton of
bricks.

"May I join you?" a female voice softly inquires.

Nassur spins around, white-faced with shock, to see someone
approach. He had not sensed her via his powers nor was a teleport
beam heard. "I apologize," a soft, Celtic-accented voice speaks. "I
did not mean to startle you."

The Vosian hunter quickly notices that the woman is
Seishin-Urusian, with short-cut, shaggy chestnut-red hair and wide,
innocent yet seemingly all-knowing blue eyes. Hoop rings decorate her
ears. She is dressed in a full-sleeve black jumpsuit with puffed
lower sleeves, gold trimming, diamond cuts over the navel, the hips
and the small of the back and a golden stylized phoenix insignia
rimming a deep V-cut and gold buccaneer boots. "Who...?!" Nassur
demands.

The woman, her hands in splayed-finger prayer, bows to the
Vosian. "Please forgive me," she lightly smiles. "I have little
time. I know you desire to be alone with your wife...but she is
an...acquaintance of mine. May I join you?"

At first angry that someone would disturb his desire to be
alone, Nassur is overwhelmed by the stranger's sincerity. "Please,"
he notions to his side.

Relieved, the woman kneels beside her. Nassur searches
through his memory to try to locate her image. "You will not know of
me," she smiles as if clearly interpreting his thoughts. "I met Cinba
briefly seven years ago on Earth."

"I...see," the Vosian nods as they face the coffin.

Silence falls over them as they pray. Nassur's ears faintly
detect a haunting melody quietly uttering from the stranger's lips.
She makes a triangular notion with one hand, then looks at him. "My
people join you in your time of mourning, Nassur-san," she smiles.
"We pray that your wife has made the transition to those realms beyond
this one without difficulty. You see, without her, we would not have
located what we have long desired."

Realms beyond this one? Was she Zephyrite? Her chest
insignia was similar but not exactly the same. Then, who...? "What
did Cinba do for you?" he looks curious.

She stands, then backs away from the coffin. "That, I cannot
reveal at this time," she bows. "However, be assured you will be one
of the first to learn when the time comes. Until that time, I bid you
peace, logic and harmony, Nassur-san."

She disappears in a transporter beam. Nassur blinks once,
having never seen a teleportation device that advanced in his years of
space-travel. "Who was that woman...?" he hums, then returns to stare
once more upon his wife.

*So...this is how it ends for us...* Nassur sniffs, trying
desperately not to cry. *This scene has played itself out too many
times for me. A loved one dying while I live. Tenba...Akisur...your
parents...so many others are gone. Some died tragically, others
heroically, but you...to die in such a fashion...alone and by
accident...wasn't the way I had in mind...*

He gently opens the coffin to have a better view of his wife.
*I promised I wouldn't cry at your funeral...* he sniffs. *So...a
simple good-bye kiss for me...as I remember what could have been...*

Nassur kisses her cold lips. At the same time, his hand
brushes her still chest. A sound similar to someone touching a rotten
melon is heard. Nassur bolts up, clearly surprised, then stares at
Cinba's chest. Opening her tunic, he discovers something which makes
his blood run cold. "Her...heart's been carved to pieces...?!" he
stammers, wide-eyed. "But how...?! Who...?!"

Nassur drops away from her. "Could it be...?!" he shakes his
head in denial. "Cinba was murdered...?!"

* * *

Hours later, the funeral begins. As an Oni priestess
officiates the proceedings, Cinba's flag-draped coffin is moved to the
launch tube. Nassur stands by the controls with Lum and Benten, all
three adorned with black arm bands. In rows on both sides of the
launch tube, members of Tomobiki High School, Varanko and some of his
executioners, Lum's parents, Oyuki and a few other guests stand, all
rivetted on the proceedings. A younger Yehisrite executioner stands
near Nassur, a musical instrument in hand which resembles a cross
between a French horn and a bag pipe. After the coffin is lowered,
two Oni technicians remove the flag and fold it. The flag is blue
with the number "71" stencilled on it, a red cygnet in the canton.
Once folded, the technicians silently withdraw as Nassur commences the
eulogy.

"We are gathered here today to pay our respects to our fallen
comrade," Nassur begins, his stern voice belying the tears in his
eyes. "Words are not enough to express our sadness of a life cut down
before her time...except that it reminds us how frail we all are.
But, even though Cinba is dead...we will never forget the things she
did to make our lives...all our lives..." he remembers the red-haired
stranger who visited him earlier, "...happier and brighter. As for my
wife...I can say only this...of all the souls I've met in my
travels...hers was the most..."

Nassur allows a tear to flow down his cheek as he hoarsely
finishes. "...human."

"Company! Honours up!!" Invader orders his people.

"Comrades! Draw swords!!" Varanko commands his people.

Koosei silently notions his people to stand. With their
*lim'l*, the Yehisrites form a canopy of steel over the launching
tube. Everyone rises. Some, like Shinobu, are noticeably in tears.
Silence falls over the scene as Cinba's coffin makes its slow passage
towards the launcher. The Yehisrite musician performs a solemn
funeral march, sounding like a mix of "Amazing Grace," "Hallucination"
and "Ashokan Farewell." As the coffin passes each Yehisrite, they
gracefully lowers their *lim'l* to the deck, symbolically severing the
dead from the living.

Once in the launch bed, Cinba's coffin is immediately launched
into space in the direction of the Vosian Confederation...as she takes
her final voyage home...

* * *

"Cinba **was** murdered!" Nassur suddenly blurts out,
surprising Benten and BR-88.

"Cinba?!!" the Fukunokami is confused. "What's she got to do
with Atoke getting killed by a Darksider?!!"

"Simple," Nassur stands, pacing around the hotel room like a
caged tiger. "I was thinking back to when Cinba died. Shortly before
the funeral, I gave her a farewell kiss. That's when I found out what
I've denied ever since..."

"Which is?" the android sit in rapt attention.

"That Cinba was killed in the same manner as Atoke!" Nassur
replies.

Benten and BR-88 look at each other. "I think you're getting
a little too far-fetched, Nassur," his partner concludes.

"Am I?" Nassur looks at her. "Haven't we ourselves just
travelled through time?!"

"Yes," Benten nods.

"Then how's this for an explanation?!" Nassur sits beside her.
"Take someone from the past, kill them, then send them back to the
time where they originated, *then* make it look like an accident."

"Wouldn't that change history?!" Benten demands.

"Of course!" the Vosian nods. "However, no one could detect
it because all the records would have reported is that the person is
dead! Even the memories of the victim's loved ones and descendants
would change!! People who should have been born never were...!"

"But, if this is true," BR-88 gasps, "...where is your proof,
much less the miscreant's motive?"

"For motive, I don't know yet," Nassur shakes his head. "But
for proof, it's happening as we speak! The staff, students and
building of Tomobiki High School from the year 1983 C.E. are currently
on planet Uru seven years in their past...1976 C.E...when I was
training Lum, the time when Cinba died!! Whomever brought us here,
sent them there by accident! BR-88, talk to the people responsible
for bringing us here!! Ask for anything that might have gone wrong
with the transporting of Lum here!!"

"Well," BR-88 scoffs, "...I do not totally believe all of what
you have postulated, but I will do as you request. Excuse me."

The android bows, then departs...

* * *

As they speak, in the hotel room beside Nassur and Benten's
room, a Darksider psychically eavesdrops on the conversation. Once
interpreting what has been concluded, he immediately sends a coded
message to Soyuha via a special communicator located behind his ear.
"Thoughtmistress Soyuha, Nassur and Benten are becoming suspicious!
They are beginning to connect the death of Cinba of Vos to the death
of High Priestess Atoke."

"I see," Soyuha replies. "Observe them further."

"Understood," he nods...

* * *

Unbeknownst to either Soyuha and her follower, Chamba and her
companion have been tapping their communications. "You heard this?!!"
she demands.

"Quite clearly, Chamba," he nods. "It seems obvious what
Soyuha Airu reiMikan oMoroboshi's plans are. Eliminate Lum, thus
altering history so that **no** church in her name can arise."

"What do we do?!"

"I will send a message to the Little Kaluha to ask
Thoughtmaster-prime Aisuko Aitano reiTanoshii Megane to deploy the
Device to Earth if necessary."

Chamba shivers, eyes wide with fear. "The Device?!! Isn't
that a little...extreme?!!"

"What Soyuha plans will have grave consequences not only to
the Universal Confederation, but our world as well. Because without
Lum, our planet may not have existed!"

Her eyes widen at that revelation...

* * *

Eighteen millennia previously, Tomobiki High School is covered
with a makeshift web of metal. Technicians busy themselves on last
minute adjustments to their equipment from the safety of a temporary
bunker constructed near the Invader home. At the school, students and
staff file inside, hopeful that in the next few minutes, they will
return to their proper place in the space-time continuum. At the
front steps of the school, Lum and Benten notice Ataru about to enter.
"You're going?" Lum sighs, depressed as if it would be the last time
she will see him.

"Yep," Ataru nods. "You guys can get back to your lives again
without nearly a thousand unwanted visitors at your house."

An awkward silence falls over them. "Ataru," Lum finally
speaks, "...thanks for coming to Cinba's funeral. Even though
Ryooki-san says you don't like Nassur-chan that much, he appreciated
the gesture."

"Well," Ataru sighs, "...I really didn't go for Nassur's
benefit."

The young Oni is surprised. "I went for yours," Ataru smiles.

"You did?! Why?!"

"Well...I noticed how anguished you were over Cinba's death.
I had to make sure you were all right," he nervously smiles, trying to
disguise the true reason he came to Cinba's funeral.

Finally, Ataru pulls out a paper bag, handing it to Lum. "I
wanted to give you this," he smiles. "I don't need it any more."

Lum opens it. "Oh!!" she gasps on finding the same black
T-shirt Ataru wore when they were jogging the day Cinba died. "You're
giving me your T-shirt?!"

"Yeah," Ataru nervously scratches the back of his head. "It's
a little big for you now, but in a few years you'll fill it out quite
nicely."

Lum blushes. "Er...right."

The former student then turns to Benten. "And for you,
Benten," he gently kisses her forehead. "Never give up on your
dream!"

Winking, he joins the others entering the school.
"He...kissed me?" the Fukunokami gags, not knowing whether to be
sickened or embarrassed.

Lum giggles. "And here I thought you only dreamed of
Nassur-chan kissing you!"

Benten flushes. "That's my next challenge!"

* * *

Inside the school's foyer, Ataru finds himself among the last
to embark. "Okay, that's it!" Koosei nods, then looks at his class'
former president. "Did you give Lum what you said you were going to
give her?"

"Of course," Ataru smiles. "I gave her something to really
remember me by!"

Enraged, Mendou immediately swings his katana at Ataru. "What
horror have you done to Lum-san **this** time, Moroboshi...?!!"

Before Ataru could catch the blade, Mendou gets the Saturn
Five atop his forehead!!! "He just made sure that Lum **will** be his
when the time comes!!!" Koosei snarls.

The boys explode in murderous fury. "***WHAT?!?!?! WE WILL
NEVER PERMIT THIS OUTRAGE...!!!!***" they howl...

...before finding themselves facing the Cyborg, cracking his
neutronium-dense knuckles! "**You were saying?!!**" the machine-man
icily glares, his sensory eye glowing and mayhem in his good eye.

No one dares answer...

* * *

As the final preparations are made, Invader coordinates
everything from the command bunker. Technicians sit behind consoles,
ensuring the spacializer's controls properly carry out their
functions. A huge digital clock counts down past one minute.
"Attention all students and staff of Tomobiki High School!!" the
mission controller announces over loudspeakers. "We are entering the
final minute of the countdown. Please prepare for take off and..."

Before the instructions can be relayed, a bright yellow light
appears around Tomobiki High School! In a moment, the building and
all within vanish!! Everyone is momentarily blinded by the light.
"It's gone!!!" Invader nods when his vision clears. "We did it!!!
Well, that was a good job!!"

A stupefied technician looks up from his console. "But, sir,"
he gasps. "We didn't **do** anything!"

Silence falls over the bunker...

* * *

"So much for a warning before they sent us to gods knows
where," Sakura complains as Tomobiki High School rockets through the
space-time continuum, this ride more rougher than the one which took
them from 1983 to 1976.

Mie's skin turns a sickly green. "I think I'm gonna be
sick...!"

Mendou innocently stares at her. "Do you feel like you're
going to throw up?"

Mie answers by vomiting...on Mendou! "Now that's what I call
constructive criticism!" Ataru laughs.

That is when the ride stops...

* * *

...just as suddenly as it began. "At least the landing was
better," Koosei sighs before looking out of the window...

...to see the school inside a huge white room! "***WHERE THE
HELL ARE WE NOW?!?!?!***" he howls, yanking on his hair.

Other students join Koosei. "This doesn't look like Tomobiki
to me," Shinobu looks around.

"This is almost as large as the main hangar on the Gatherer,"
the teacher quips.

"What's the Gatherer?" Sakura looks confused.

"Go read the next two dozen stories," Koosei replies.

"Hey in there!" a familiar male voice yells from below.

Everyone stares down to recognize Nassur, Benten and BR-88
standing there. "It's Nassur and Benten," Sakura notes. "But where's
Lum and who's the guy in the tuxedo?"

Ataru and other male students zip towards the window, nearly
crushing Sakura, Shinobu and Koosei. "***NO LUM?!?!?!***" they
murderously exclaim.

"Hey, Nassur!!!" Ataru yells. "Where are we and where's
Lum?!!"

"I'll tell you everything in a few minutes," the Vosian
replies. "Until then, get a small group to join us at our hotel
room!!!"

"Okay," Koosei replies. "We'll be there!"

* * *

Meanwhile, in the sewers under Tomobiki, Soyuha Airu reiMikan
oMoroboshi, now meditating in the middle of a chalked phoenix-shaped
outline drawn on the floor, awakens with a start. "Thoughtmistress,"
one of her followers seems concerned. "Are you well?!"

"I can sense the Great One!" a twisted smile crosses her face.
"He's here!! My Revered Ancestor is here!!!"

"But, Thoughtmistress," the follower gasps, "...he isn't
supposed to be here. Lum is the only one who was supposed to come!"

"Do you dispute my findings?" the woman angrily snarls.

"No, no, no, Thoughtmistress!!!" the creature nervously
relents. "But, we didn't know he was coming!!"

"I will allow no questioning of my powers!!!" Soyuha snarls.
"Do it again, and you shall die with the false goddess!!!"

"I shan't!" the follower looks relieved.

"Fine," Soyuha snorts. "Now our doings shall have Heaven's
Own Blessing. How those fools on the Homeworld scoffed at what I
planned to do! They won't scoff now!!"

* * *

In the streets above Soyuha's head, the man suddenly turns to
Chamba. "I believe the time has come that we revealed ourselves to
Nassur and Benten."

"You mean it?" the woman looks surprised.

"The *daimon'cha* is here now," he replies. "He is one of the
keys in saving the Universe..."

* * *

"***LUM'S A GOD?!?!?!***"

Ataru, a small band of students from Tomobiki High School plus
Sakura and Koosei stare in disbelief at the Vosian hunter after he has
explained the reason by which they travelled to the twentieth
millennium. "That's right," the Vosian hunter nods. "They brought
her into this time to celebrate the anniversary of Lum's first coming
to Earth. Unfortunately, Benten and I were brought with her by
accident."

"Nassur-kun!" Koosei looks sick. "Please, don't tell me that
Oogi and his lunatics finally succeeded in...?!!"

"No, they didn't!" Benten interrupts. "Fortunately!!"

"Who's Oogi?!" Shinobu looks curious.

"Read two stories ahead," Nassur sighs.

"So how come we got sent into the past?" Ataru demands.

"Well," BR-88 speaks, "...the extra strain of carrying Nassur
and Benten caused a temporary overload of the time-mat beam, thus
transporting everything and everyone nearby...yourselves and your
school...somewhere else. It was quite a fortunate occurrence. You
could have rematerialized within a sun or materialized at the time of
the Big Bang."

"So why don't I feel so lucky?" Ataru shudders.

"So where's Lum in all of this?" Koosei asks.

"That's where it gets complicated," Nassur sighs. "We think
Lum has been kidnapped by a group of religious terrorists calling
themselves the Darkside. We're not sure why, but we believe that they
want to destroy the Church of Lum before it has a chance to form."

Everyone looks horrorstruck. "Kill Lum-san?!!" Mendou gasps.
"That's something not even Moroboshi would stoop to!!!"

Ataru sends Mendou into the nearest wall! "Who says that
**I'd** hurt Lum?!!" the former student snarls.

Mendou moans. As his rival recovers, the former class
president of Class 3-4 faces his ex-classmates. "Personally, I find a
church in Lum's name sickening, but as far as I'm concerned, anyone
who thinks of hurting her is cruising for a terminal bruising!!!
Who's with me?!!"

The other students roar their approval. "If you're so
prepared to find Lum," Nassur interrupts, "...do you know where she
is?!" he holds up a finger in objection.

Ataru stops, remembering one particular detail. "I don't
know!" he squeaks.

Everyone else faints! "I know!" a woman's voice announces.

Everyone faces the speaker. "Who are you?" Shinobu asks.

"My name is Chamba Aokinba reiTenba Nassur," Chamba states,
entering the room, then bows, her hands in a splayed-finger prayer.
"I'm an agent of the Sagussan Intelligence Ministry. I bid you all
peace, logic and harmony."

"Chamba...Ao-...kinba...?" Nassur gasps.

"...reiTenba...*NASSUR*?!?!?!" Benten howls.

"That is correct," Chamba nods, not realizing what effect her
words have.

"Nassur!!!" Benten grabs her partner by his collar. "Kindly
explain...NOW!!!! Since when did you have other girlfriends beyond
Cinba and *me*?!!"

The Vosian is too mortified to answer. "Hey!!!" Shinobu moves
to yank Benten away. "Who says Nassur-kun's going to have kids with
**you**?!!"

Incensed, Chamba nerve-pinches Shinobu. "No one gave **you**
the right to approach my Revered Ancestor, nor his chosen child-mate,
you seductress!!!"

Ataru's ex-girlfriend drops like a marionette with her strings
cut! "I like her already!!" Ataru muses.

Benten looks surprised, then lets Nassur go. "Well, I suppose
that's okay," the Fukunokami sighs, calming herself.

"Thank Lecasur!" Nassur pants.

"So why is a Sagussan intelligence operative here on Earth?!"
Koosei looks curious.

"Easily explained," Chamba smiles. "I am here tracking Soyuha
Airu reiMikan oMoroboshi...Cinba's murderer."

Everyone looks more confused. "Soyuha Airu...oMoroboshi?!"
Ataru gasps.

"That's the real name of the woman who killed High Priestess
Atoke," the Sagussan smiles. "But before I continue, there is someone
listening in on us next door."

Nassur's eyes glow a moment. "I got him!!!" he yells, drawing
his gun and firing several times into the wall behind him!

The shots blast a huge hole into the wall, revealing Soyuha's
follower slain on the bed. His body immediately disintegrates. "A
Darksider!" BR-88 gasps.

"He's falling apart!" Megane gags, pointing.

"Soyuha's followers are artificial lifeforms created of
inorganic materials," Chamba reports. "They are considered as alive
as the wall Nassur shot through."

"So, what's the story about Soyuha?" Koosei demands.

Chamba explains that Soyuha Airu reiMikan oMoroboshi was a
Thoughtmistress on Sagussa, the only planet in the Universe that is
neither a full member of the Universal Confederation, nor allows the
Church of Lum to seek believers there. One day several years before,
she suffered a serious head injury in an accident involving a
sledgehammer and a banana peel. Soyuha become paranoid. She began a
study on the Church of Lum, finally concluding that the Church should
not follow Lum but her Beloved Darling...Ataru. From there, she
planned to rid the Universe of Lum by any means possible, in hopes of
destroying the Church of Lum in the process. Luckily, Soyuha was
incarcerated in a mental institution. She promptly escaped using a
banana peel and a sack of potatoes. Chamba has been tracking her ever
since.

"It sounds like a classic cast of banana dementia," Ataru
quips at the tale's conclusion.

Everyone winces. "Now that's a bad pun!" Mendou groans.

"For once I agree, Mendou," Koosei adds.

"So, where's Lum-san?" Megane asks.

"I don't know," Chamba shakes her head. "But I'll bet she's
hidden in the Great Lum Church."

"I slipped a tracer on Lum's bikini before Soyuha took her
away," Nassur reports. "But, it's too far way for me to track it
accurately."

"It's a help," Chamba sighs. "Let's proceed to the Church of
Lum..."

Before she could complete her statement, the intelligence
officer is trampled by everyone save Mie, Koosei and Nassur. "You
okay?" the homeroom teacher kneels beside Chamba.

"I'm fine," she groans. "I see the legends written about
those Purveyors of Entropy who plagued the lives of the *daimon'cha*
and his Other are true!"

"Tell us something we didn't know," Nassur's eyes roll to the
ceiling.

As she stands, Chamba notices Mie. "It's you!!!" she gasps
before bowing. "The Missing One of the First One Hundred Thousand
*Daishi'cha*!!! How am I honoured to stand in your presence!!"

Koosei blinks once. Nassur is understandably confused. "What
one hundred thousand?!" Mie appears equally confused. "What's a
*daishi'cha*?!"

"Oh, you don't know the glorious future which awaits you,"
Chamba remembers. "Don't worry...all your questions will have answers
soon."

The intelligence officer then departs. Nassur and Koosei
stare at each other while Mie shrugs. "I guess I'll have to find out
for myself," the Kyushu native muses.

"It appears there's more to Mie than meets the eye," Nassur
quips.

"Indeed," Koosei adds.

* * *

The Tomobiki gang, BR-88 and Chamba soon materialize in front
of the Great Lum Church. "Tomobiki High School is a church?!!" Megane
gasps.

"That's right," BR-88 hands Megane the Book of Lum. "And most
of the people here have chapters in Lum's bible."

Megane nearly rips the android's hand off taking the holy book
in hand. Mendou and the guards look over his shoulder to read it.
"The android's right!" Megane smiles. "We've got all got entries in
here! Let's see...'I wanna (blank) her little (blank) and (blank) on
her (blank) (blank)'...It's all here!"

"How juvenile," Mendou snorts. "You'll never catch me writing
that way about Lum-san!"

Megane turns the pages to Mendou's chapter. "Oh, here's the
first chapter of Mendou, verse one," the be-speckled teen chuckles.
"'I'd <beep> Lum in a moment if Moroboshi wasn't such a [ukguk]head!'"

Mendou turns red. "Obviously, something got lost in the
translation," he nervously concludes.

"What do I know?" Ataru snorts. "I'm just a [ukguk]head."

"Can we get on with this?!" Nassur snaps.

"Everyone's getting tired of these dumb (blank) jokes," Benten
adds.

The group rushes through the empty halls of the Great Lum
Church. Everyone save Chamba looks in awe of the place. "There's
representations of all of us," Lan gasps. "Except Darling."

"Please!!!" Chamba groans, feeling her stomach. "I just had
lunch!! If I had my way, I'd nuke this building into atoms!!!"

Mendou and the guards loon incensed. "WHAT?!?!?!" the scion
of Japan's richest family roars, drawing his katana. "How **dare**
you impinge Lum-san's honour by spitting on her church, you
heretic?!!"

Ataru, Mie and Koosei beat all five senseless! "Who'd want a
church of Lum which has **you** swine directing it?!!" the homeroom
teacher snarls.

"I agree!!" Ataru snaps. "I should've got **all** the credit
for bringing Lum to Earth!!!"

"Do you really want credit for that, Ataru-chan?" Mie hums.

He considers the question. "Good point," Ataru muses.

Everyone faints! Moments later, the group enters the vestry,
still devoid of any signs of life. "This is the last place that Lum
was seen with Soyuha," Nassur reports.

"Nobody's seen them leave," Benten adds. "That means there's
a hidden doorway around here somewhere."

"Let's go find it!" Chamba nods.

* * *

At that moment, in the bowels of Tomobiki, Lum struggles to
free herself. "I must get free!!!" she gasps.

Meanwhile, the Darksiders meet in the next chamber.
"Thoughtmistress," one panics. "The friends of Lum are searching for
the way in here with the Great One **and** Chamba Aokinba reiTenba
Nassur of the Sagussan Intelligence Ministry!"

"Chamba?!" Soyuha gasps before laughing. "That weak fool will
be too late to save that obscenity Lum from meeting her deserved
fate!! Prepare the execution immediately!!!"

As her followers move to obey, Soyuha moves to face Lum.
"Prepare to meet whatever gods you worship, Lum!" she snarls. "You'll
soon be joining them!!"

Soyuha returns to her chambers to prepare herself. "Oh,
Darling!!" Lum pales. "Hurry!!!"

* * *

"Still nothing," Chamba sighs. "Time's running out."

Everyone looks defeated. Suddenly, a strange look appears on
Ataru's face, his left eye glowing. "**I'm coming, Lum!!!**" he
declares as psychic fire melts his skin to reveal the Cyborg's armour.

Before anyone can speculate, the Cyborg grabs Mendou, then
rams his rival head-first into the floor! Mendou disappears as
everyone looks overjoyed. "The hidden passage!!!" Benten gulps.
"He's found it!!"

Mendou's howls are then heard. "***SHADDUP!!!!!!***" the
Cyborg yells as he leaps into the hole, using Mendou's body as a
cushion for his landing before running off into the darkness!

"I'm...scared..." Mendou groans...

...before Nassur, Benten, Aokinba and the rest of the group
use his body as a cushion before running into the darkness after the
Cyborg!! "Hold it, Ataru!!!" Nassur yells.

"Don't go alone!!!" Benten adds.

"Hey, wait for me!!!" Chamba yells. "I want to see the Cyborg
in action!!!"

Mendou groans as Koosei kneels beside him. "You hurt,
Mendou?"

"Yes...I'm hurt..."

A devilish grin crosses the teacher's face as he leaps on
Mendou, then runs after the others. "Good!!!"

* * *

Nearby, Soyuha leads her followers towards Lum. The
thoughtmistress holds a long dagger with a jagged blade. The
Darksiders chant in some sort of untranslatable tongue as they march
slowly around Lum, akin to vultures hovering over a dead corpse. Lum,
to say the least, is **very** intimidated. *Darling*, she gulps.
*I'm sorry for all that I did to you to make your life miserable! If
you rescue me now, I swear I'll try to make things better for you!!*

Soyuha turns toward Lum, lifting the blade as high as
possible. "Soon, Lum," madness gleams in the Sagussan's eye. "You
will be less than a memory for the Universe and they will worship the
one true God."

The Oni looks away, eyes fused shut as Soyuha thrusts the
dagger towards her heart...

...but before she makes contact, the Cyborg lands on top of
her, squashing her into okonomiyaki!! "**No sacrificing naive Oni
girls today!**" the machine-man snarls.

"Darling!!!" Lum cries.

The Darksiders stare at the armoured monstrosity in their
midst. "It's the Great One!!!" one exclaims.

Before the Cyborg can do anything, he notices all of Airu's
followers *bowing* low to **him**!! "**Now what?!!**" Ataru scratches
his head.

Soyuha suddenly appears, causing the machine-man to faint!
"Oh, Great One, Revered Father of All Sagussa!!!" she bows as the
Cyborg recovers, "...you have come to watch as we rid the Galaxy of
that pretender!!!"

"**Actually,**" Ataru amends, "**...I came to *save* that
so-called pretender!!**"

Soyuha looks horrified. "Did my ears hear you correctly?!!"
she gasps. "You want to save this genetrash?!!"

"**That's right. I do!**"

She looks shocked. "But...we have made so much in tribute
towards you!" she screams, pointing to the idol Lum is secured
against.

Ataru looks. "**That ugly thing is supposed to be *me?***" he
points, clearly not impressed.

"It was the best we could do in the short time we were setting
up," Soyuha chuckles, scratching her head.

Ataru faints! "**Maybe I should clobber her first!!**"

"Darling!!!" Lum yells. "Stop her before she kills me!!!"

"**I will, Lum, don't worry,**" Ataru stands, before turning
to Soyuha. "**Look, Soyuha-chan, in the future, Lum is going to be my
wife. And even though the people of this time don't even know who I
am, I don't care about the Church. In fact, a church constructed by
dorks like Mendou and Megane's boob-patrol really turns my stomach!!
Still, I can't let you kill Lum!**"

Silence falls over the scene as the thoughtmistress considers
her ancestor's words. "So," Soyuha coldly intones. "I made a
mistake! You aren't the real Great One!! You're only a trick forged
by Chamba and the Great Kaluha to stop me from taking the necessary
action against the slut who dares think herself worthy to be the
chosen child-mate of the Great Father of the Fifth Republic of
Sagussa!!!"

She stares at her followers. "My friends, for the glory of
Sagussa...slay the false Great One!!!"

The Cyborg is then set upon by two dozen creatures, not acting
immediately to save himself. "**Sheesh!**" Ataru sighs. "**She's as
thick as Mendou, Megane and the bodyguards!**"

An explosion later sees the Darksiders smashed into the walls
around the Cyborg!! "**That's better!**" the machine-man snarls.

Mortally afraid, the thoughtmistress makes a hasty retreat.
The Darksiders re-engage Ataru. Nassur and the others arrive. "Oh,
Ataru," the Vosian is wide-eyed as he watches Ataru clean house!
"Um...need a hand?"

"**No, thank you**," the Cyborg sighs. "**I'm almost
finished.**"

In seconds, the Darksiders fall, disintegrating as they hit
the rock. As everyone watches them depart from this realm of
existence, Mendou moves to free his favourite classmate. "Oh,
Lum-san! Are you alright?! I'll save you!!"

The Cyborg's eye-laser cuts him down!! "**Forget it, de'ne!!!
If I've said it once, I'll say it again!!! Lum is *my* Other!!!**"

Mendou faints! The guards leap at Ataru. "SAYS WHO?!?!?!"
the four demand as one...

...just as the Cyborg's energy beam slices them down!!!
Everyone shakes their head in disgust. "I see things are back to
normal already," Koosei sighs.

"Not quite," Chamba looks around. "Where's Soyuha?"

"We'd better find her," Nassur growls, "...or else this could
happen all over again!"

"Soyuha's very dangerous," the intelligence officer warns.
"She's a proven killer!"

"I know she nearly killed me!" Lum gasps as Ataru frees her.

"There's no need for all of us to go," Koosei suggests. "Any
volunteers?"

"I'm going," Nassur growls. "Soyuha has a lot of questions I
want answered."

"I'll go," Benten nods.

"As will I!" Chamba adds.

Ataru embraces Lum as he reverts to normal. "Lum and I better
stay here," the former student sighs. "You never know what that
lunatic might try to do if she caught us alone."

"I'll watch over Ataru-chan and Lum-chan," Mie adds. "Not to
mention keep these five dorks in line!!" she icily glares at Mendou
and the guards.

"No problem," Nassur replies.

* * *

Minutes later, Nassur, Benten and Chamba enter a series of
caves beyond the sewers. Long since forgotten, some of the caverns
resemble Second World War-era air raid shelters. Nassur tries to us
his powers to find Soyuha. "It's sure dark in here," Benten gulps.

Chamba pulls out two pairs of infrared goggles. "Take these,"
she smiles. "They'll help you see better."

"Thanks," Nassur slips on his eyewear. "There's too much lead
around for me to get an accurate fix on Soyuha."

"Unfortunately, a Sagussan can consciously block her mind from
a Vosian's tracking powers," the intelligence agent notes.

"Like a Yehisrite?" Benten gulps, realizing that their
problems in locating the insane thoughtmistress are quickly
multiplying.

"Very much so," Chamba nods. "Our predecessors, the Fourth
Republic of Sagussa, bestowed the tracking abilities on the Vosians
via selective genetic experiments thirty-two millennia ago, back when
Vos was inhabited by a race of cannibalistic scavengers. They knew
how to defeat that power and passed their knowledge to our ancestors."

"That's not good," Nassur muses.

The three then stop as they notice the cave dividing into
three parts ahead. "Looks like it splits off," Chamba muses. "Do we
split up?"

"I guess so," Nassur nods. "Although I don't want to be alone
with that crazed lunatic around."

Reluctantly, they part company, Chamba going left, Benten
going right and Nassur moving up the slot. <<Keep in contact by
psi-link>>, the Vosian warns.

He notices that the caves are as dark and creepy as one might
expect under a city. Nassur notices light at the end of his tunnel.
As he approaches, the surrounding temperature increases dramatically.
A vein of lava? Ignoring the heat, Nassur continues his approach. As
he nears the end of the cave, Nassur hears Soyuha's voice chanting in
the same tongue she used in her near-execution of Lum.

Reaching the tunnel's end, Nassur sees the insane
thoughtmistress praying at the foot of a cliff. The lava seems to lap
up like water as she prays. "It's over, Soyuha!" Nassur cautiously
approaches her. "Give it up!"

"Darksiders never surrender!" the Sagussan spins to face him.
"I should have known that the legendary Nassur would soon figure out
my plan, then come to that bitch's aid."

"Lum is my student and friend," Nassur replies as he closes
the range. "She and Benten helped me over the death of Cinba."

"So," Soyuha laughs, "...another of my actions comes to haunt
me."

"What do you mean?!"

"Isn't it obvious?" she coldly smiles. "**I** killed Cinba."

The Vosian is stunned. "You did?!" he growls. "Why?!!"

"Originally," she starts, the glitter of her insane mind
becoming more obvious to the Vosian, "...I planned to take someone
from the past and brainwash them into killing Lum when that Oni was
weak enough to be defeated. Lum has always cared for Cinba. I
thought your child-mate was a natural for the job. However, she
resisted the brainwashing. She died in the struggle. So I sent her
body back to make it look like she died in an accident."

"You monster!" Nassur hoarsely gasps.

"If things had been let alone," Airu muses, "...you and Cinba
would have grown old and had many children, not to mention adopting
those genetrash hybrids! In fact, when she died, Cinba was pregnant
with your child! But, history has given you another wife."

"And who might that be?!" Nassur asks.

"Nassur?!" Benten's voices echoes from nearby. "Are you
there?"

"There she is now!" Soyuha muses.

Nassur looks like he has been hit by a torpedo. "Benten's
going to be my wife?" he gasps.

*An opening!* Soyuha snarls as she swiftly draws her dagger,
then throws it at Nassur.

It imbeds into the Vosian's left shoulder!! Soyuha leaps at
him and the two wrestle, rolling towards the edge of the cliff.
Soyuha's mania fuels her strength as she keeps Nassur at bay. After
several minutes of fighting, Soyuha shoves Nassur's head over the
cliff, trying to push him off. "Die!!!"

Nassur gets a mental image of Cinba urging him to fight on for
Benten's sake, then with a burst of strength, lifts Soyuha up,
spinning himself towards the edge. "I've had enough of you!!!"

Soyuha falls towards the burning lava! "NO!!!!!!
Ataru-sama!!! Save me!!! SAVE ME!!!!"

Mercifully, the screams cease. Nassur stands there, mind and
body fatigued. "That was for you, Cinba..." he gasps as his strength
finally gives out, allowing him to teeter over the cliff...

...as someone grabs him by the kill-belt! "Hey!!!" a female
voice yells. "No diving into unknown depths!!!"

Nassur sees Benten yanking him back. Suddenly...a curious
twinkle comes to his eye. "What took you so long?" he smiles.

"Hey," she smiles, "...hunters specialize in last-minute
rescues!"

Nassur collapses into Benten's arms. "I love you, Benten
Shigaten!" he mumbles into her ear.

The Fukunokami freezes, disbelief crossing her face. "Y-you
do...?!"

Nassur nods. A tear comes to Benten's eye. "It's about
time!" she cries, hugging him tightly...

* * *

Nearby, Chamba and the strange man who accompanied her quietly
watch as the two embrace, madly kissing. "So, the Great Father's
plans for them became reality...thanks in part to us," the former
muses. "How strange, the way the universe works."

"I've been travelling through this universe for thirty
millennia and it still boggles my mind," the man chuckles as he turns
away.

Chamba stares at the lava pool where Soyuha had fallen. She
then blinks as a beautiful point of light ascends from the molten rock
towards her. A voice tickles her mind. <<Chamba-chan...>>

<<Soyuha-chan!>> the intelligence agent mentally gasps.
<<How?>>

<<That does not matter>>, the thoughtmistress laughs, her
voice no longer haunted by the mad rage which had possessed her for so
long...not to mention carving a hole in her pursuer's heart. <<I'm
free, my love. And now...I finally understand.>>

<<I'm glad>>, Chamba smiles, tears flowing down her face.

The point of light touches Chamba's mind as Soyuha presents
her with a parting gift; her memories and the oath of love Sagussans
have used for millennia. <<For our children, my love...do vanan'cha,
marei'cha-Chamba>>, Soyuha's voice fades.

<<They shall have it, my darling>>, Chamba vows, her eyes
closing as the thoughtmistress' *mei'na* finally pulls away from her.
<<Do vanan'cha, marei'cha-Soyuha.>>

The point of light disappears. Sighing, Chamba turns to
leave...then finds herself facing Lum. "Lum-sama," she blinks.

"Soyuha was your bond-mate, wasn't she?" Lum smiles.

Chamba nods, wiping her face. "Yes. She is also descent of
your tenth child with the *daimon'cha.* I assume now that you're
bonded with the Great Elder Mother Noa."

"Yes," Lum nods. "It's...coming to me, slowly. I just hope
this didn't do anything which could destroy Darling's future."

The intelligence agent considers the unspoken question Lum put
forth. "Actually, Lum-sama...you might say this *guaranteed* the
future...for yourself, the Great Elder Mother and the Great Father."

Lum beams as she escorts Chamba away...

* * *

Finally, after all is said and done, everyone is restored to
their proper place in the space-time continuum. The time-travellers
are memory-suppressed of any vital information which may alter
history. At the Moroboshi house, Lum and Ataru sit in his old
bedroom, staring at the stars. "Well," the Oni sighs, "...even though
I was nearly sacrificed, that still was a nice future, wasn't it,
Darling?"

"Well," Ataru sighs. "I wonder why there was no listing for
me in your holy book! I do keep a diary, remember!"

"That is strange," she muses. "As was Benten and Nassur
rushing away like that after we got home. I wonder why?"

"Me, too," Ataru sighs. "But, I guess we'll find out
later...we always do. In the meantime," he rises, "...I'm back to
Oshika!"

Lum looks hurt. "Do you have to go back?!"

"Why should I stay here?" he growls as he walks downstairs.
"I've got a home and a caring family up there! What else could a man
ask for?!"

Slipping on his shoes, he moves to leave...but is halted by
someone embracing his leg. "Don't leave your poor, suffering mother
to grow old and die alone, Ataru!!!" a voice wails.

A second later, Ataru's mother is smashed into the
floorboards! "Idiot, if it hasn't got into you yet, YOU'RE NOT MY
MOTHER ANY MORE!!!!"

Kinshou moans as Ataru storms out of the home. "Boy, he's
really mad, isn't he?!" Ten-chan watches from the living room.

"Yes...oh!" Lum remembers something.

A second later, her lightning is heard mixed with Ten-chan's
scream! "Yeowch!!!" the young Oni howls. "What was that for,
Lum-chan?!!"

"**That** was for you opening your big mouth and telling
everyone Darling was visiting!!!" his cousin roars. "How **dare** you
make Darling's life miserable, you naughty little boy!!!"

"But I'm a *good* boy, Lum-chan!!" Ten-chan defensively
wails...

...then gets another blast!! "A likely story!!!" Lum snaps.

*** The End ***

Epilogue...

In space, "Renegade" soars to another planet. Nassur mans the
helm while Benten sits in the command chair. "On course to
coordinates 875-020-079," the Vosian reports.

"Wait!" Benten stands. "Those aren't the coordinates to Home
Base! Where are we going now?!"

Nassur smiles. "Just a little mission before we return home."

The Fukunokami is not pleased. "All you ever think of is
duty!! What's this mission about?!"

"A visit to the Justice of the Peace for a quiet marriage
ceremony for ourselves," the Vosian deadpans.

Benten faints! "Marriage?!! You?!! Me?!! NOW?!?!?!"

"Unless you want to wait for a bit," Nassur muses.

They look at each other. Joyfully, Benten slips her arms
around Nassur. "If you even **think** of changing course," she
playfully purrs, "...I'll make you wish you died in the future!!"

The two laugh as "Renegade" warps away on its most joyous
mission to date...

*** The Beginning ***