Urusei Yatsura Fan Fiction ❯ The Senior Year ❯ Time Curse ( Chapter 23 )

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

Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year: "Time Curse" Part 1
by Mike Smith
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Thanks to J. Alan Septimus for pointing out a plot issue.
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edited by E.B. Kushnir
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Twenty-first of a series of fan-fiction stories based on "Urusei
Yatsura," created by Rumiko Takahashi.
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WRITER'S NOTES:

1) This story further elaborates on Nassur's past, concentrating
on the time after Cinba's death as portrayed in "Final Cinba."
Further exploration on this subject will continue in "Dakejinzou's
Story," the first part of the Endings and Beginnings quadrology.

2) The story of Judge Ooka Lum tells Nassur is an actual tale
well known among the Japanese. We believe that Judge Ooka was the
inspiration for one of our more favourite anime characters, Captain
Kiichi Gotoo of "Patlabor." We make note of this because Mike
believes the Japanese voice actor for Gotoo, Ryuunosuke Oobayashi,
would make a perfect Nassur. Write us and tell us what you think, or
if you have a voice actor or actress you believe would fit any other
roles in "UY-TSY."

3) The time stated by the monks uses the Judeo-Christian dating
system since we do not understand how the days, months and years were
marked in pre-Tokugawa Japan.

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Marriage. A common ritual through out the known Galaxy.

No matter what the cultural basis, the result is always the
same...two people united for most of the remainder of their natural
lives to mate, bear offspring and construct a family. Over a month
ago, after a dangerous adventure in the far future, Nassur and Benten
finally decided to tie the knot. For the Vosian hunter, it ended a
seven-year mourning period in tribute to his first wife, Cinba,
callously slain on the whim of a madman. For the Fukunokami huntress,
it is the beginning of a dream she has nurtured since childhood.

After an impromptu ceremony on a starbase officiated by a
Federation justice of the peace, Nassur and Benten were summoned for a
mission to locate a dangerous terrorist on Zeiwan. The mission took a
month to complete. During that time the hunters' relationship was
sealed. After the mission's completion, the newlyweds signalled Home
Base, informing their hybrid charges that they were going on a
honeymoon...on Earth in the Japanese town of Oshika. "Finally, on our
honeymoon," Benten sighs, admiring her wedding band. "I never thought
we were gonna find that Kryton."

"Yeah," Nassur nods, manning "Renegade's" helm. "He was
really hard to find...and catch."

The Fukunokami relaxes in the command chair. "I still can't
get used to the idea of being married to you."

"You will," he chuckles. "This is my second time, remember?"

"True," she smiles. "But how do we tell Lum and Moroboshi?
They'll be disappointed we didn't have a more formal ceremony."

"I don't think Lum or Ataru would've liked to participate in a
Vosian wedding ceremony," he quips. "Everyone involved must be nude."

"Well, at least we would've seen who the best man really was,"
she giggles...

* * *

In Tomobiki, Cherry busily cooks his dinner in a small copper
pot over an open fire. Like most nights, the monk's only companion is
a mangy old alley cat. "Supper will soon be ready," Cherry smiles.

The cat meows, pleased at that information...then growls as if
detecting a bird or a mouse. Cherry looks over his shoulder. "What
is it, kitty?" he asks. "Someone here?"

Suddenly, a wind flows past the old monk, nearly sending him
flying. As suddenly as it came, the air current dissipates. "Such a
foul wind," the old monk sighs. "It's full of evil."

"Cherry," a female voice inquires. "Can I talk to you?"

The monk sees a tall, beautiful, statuesque young woman, her
raven hair styled in the shape of crow's wings. She wears a black
leather bikini with thigh-high boots, a large tree leaf-like fan in
hand. "Oh, Kurama-sama," Cherry nods. "It's only you. I thought it
was someone truly evil."

Kurama is the crown princess of the Karasutengu, a planet
though ruled by humanoids, is nominally populated by crow-like beings
calling themselves "tengu." Born over eight centuries ago, Kurama has
been on a quest to locate the most suitable mate to ensure her
family's succession. Her search once took her to Earth where a
potential mate was located: Ataru Moroboshi! Following instructions
(not to mention his hyper-active libido), he bestowed a kiss on the
Tengu princess, then in cryo-stasis. By her race's laws, Ataru became
Kurama's mate. The Terran at the time had no problems with that.
Unfortunately for him, Lum had problems dealing with it, as did
Kurama. After several attempts in trying to "improve" Ataru from his
moronic sex-crazed habits, Kurama eventually released herself from her
bonds to him. She then sought the companionship of others, Rei and
Ryuunosuke Fujinami being two. Her luck with them was...expected.

The Tengu princess sits cross-legged beside the monk. "I am
looking for Ataru Moroboshi," she declares. "I went to the hovel
known to be his domicile. Neither he nor his Oni wife were present.
The sow which is his mother was useless in answering my inquiries on
his whereabouts as was his father. She did nothing but moo like a cow
and he only read the local newspaper."

"Oh, you haven't been here lately," Cherry smiles as he
continues to keep watch over his meal. "Ataru recently moved to
Oshika. Lum has gone to visit him for the weekend."

"Oshika?" Kurama looks confused. "Where is that?"

"I'll draw a map," Cherry pulls out paper and a pen...then
notices an upset look on the princess' face. "Is something wrong?"

"Well," she sniffs. "I just wish to know if I can train Ataru
to be a better person. I tried training him like a monkey before..."

"You'll find Ataru is a little...different now," he warns.
"He's no longer a sex-crazed idiot."

Kurama looks surprised. "He's not?"

"He's a paranoid sex-crazed idiot now!"

"I see," she stutters, not comprehending what Cherry means.
"But still, can you see into his future and see if I'll succeed?"

"Let's see," Cherry bares his chest, then begins to chant over
his cooking pot. "Nami da, Nami da, Nami da, Nami da..."

Images form in the broth of the cooking pot. A nervous look
crosses his face when he sees them. "Oh, no!!! This is terrible!!"

"Ataru's future?!!" she looks shocked.

"No," the monk deadpans. "I forgot to add salt!"

Kurama faints! "This is serious, you old fool!!!" she snaps.

Cherry adds salt to the broth. The images transform. "That's
better," he muses. "The symbols say Ataru is going to be fine...but
doom is coming to Lum and a friend of hers...Nassur."

Stunned at hearing the hunter's name, Kurama yanks Cherry
face-to-face. "Nassur?!! Something's going to happen to him?!!
What?!! What?!! WHAT?!?!"

"Y-you know Nassur?" he stammers.

"I met him years ago...shortly before I first came to Earth,"
she smiles. "What a man he is! Ataru can learn a lot from him!"

"Ataru does not trust Nassur," Cherry warns. "Nor, sadly,
anyone else he knew from Tomobiki. That's how paranoid he's become."

"Oh?" she looks surprised, then shakes her head. "Never mind!
I can learn for myself. But...what is going to happen to Nassur?!"

"The symbols say if he goes out alone with Lum and Ataru," he
warns. "An arrow from Heaven shall knock them down!"

Kurama releases Cherry. "Then I must ascertain that Nassur
does not go out alone with Lum or Ataru period!!" Standing, she waves
her leaf-fan south. "I shall go to Oshika!!!"

"Oshika's in the north," Cherry amends.

"Sorry," she blushes, then points north. "On to Oshika!!"

In a flash, the Tengu princess runs off. "How will she get
there without my map?" Cherry sighs.

Kurama rushes through the streets of Tomobiki...then slows
down as she realizes something. "I'm lost!!" she groans, then notices
a young man dressed in brown and black clothing, a bandanna wrapped
around his head and a backpack with umbrella on his back. "Excuse
me," she asks, "...could you direct me to Oshika?"

"Only if you can direct me to Furinkan High School," Ryouga
Hibiki sighs...

* * *

Later, Lum, Ataru and Reiko have lunch in their living room.
"I wonder why Nassur-chan and Benten-chan want to visit us," Lum
wonders as she chews on a sandwich.

"Well," Ataru bites into his sandwich, "...they said they had
a surprise for us."

"Maybe they're gonna get rid of all those dorks in Tomobiki
who hate Daddy?" Reiko snorts.

"I don't think we'd be so lucky," the Terran groans.

The doorbell rings. "I'll get it!" the Oni flies to the door.

"It's probably them now," Ataru sips his tea.

Lum returns with Nassur and Benten. "About time," Ataru
snorts. "We haven't seen you around for the last month or so."

"Well, we've been busy," Nassur chuckles, scratching the back
of his head as he sits across from Ataru and Reiko.

"Real busy," Benten adds, sitting beside her husband.

"Training the hybrids?" Ataru muses.

"Well," Nassur displays his wedding ring, "...not exactly."

"Where did you get that ring, Nassur-chan?!" Lum blinks.

"The same place I got mine," Benten shows her band. "At a
Justice of the Peace at a nearby starbase."

Everyone else faints! "You're...m-married...?!" Lum gasps.
"Y-you finally did it...?!"

"That's right," Benten smiles. "We did it a month ago."

Squealing, Lum embraces her friends. "How wonderful!! I'm so
happy for the both of you!" She turns to Ataru. "Isn't it great,
Darling?! Nassur and Benten eloped."

"It's great all right," Ataru looks deliriously happy.
"That's one down and at least a dozen to go!" A celebration ball then
explodes over Nassur and Benten, flashing the message CONGRATULATIONS,
NASSUR AND BENTEN!! THE FIRST TO FALL!!!

Everyone else are taken aback. "Well, at least he's happy,"
Lum sighs.

Unseen by anyone, Kurama hobbles towards the front door of the
house, leaning on a long stick. "I made it finally," she gasps,
remembering her long trek with Ryouga that took her all over Japan.
"I hope I'm not too late."

Inside, after Ataru is finished his celebration of Nassur and
Benten's marriage with a banzai cheer, things settle down. "So, what
brings you to Oshika?" Lum muses.

"Well," Nassur starts.

"...we wanted to know if we could have our honeymoon here?"
Benten jumps in.

"Well..." Lum looks at Ataru.

"Of course, you can!" he nods. "There's plenty of room.
Besides, nobody from Tomobiki can bother us here!"

"I'm glad you approve," the Vosian is surprised by Ataru's
generosity. "We'll only stay a couple of days and..."

The door flies open! "Demon!!! Ataru!!!" Kurama roars,
pointing her leaf-fan at them.

Ataru's *qu'f-piaqu'r* roars!! The solid-shot round nearly
takes the princess' head off! She is understandably taken aback by
this reception. "Wh-wh-wh-wh-what a b-b-b-big gun h-h-he has...!!!"
she stammers, now literally bent over backwards.

Seeing the Tengu, Reiko shrieks, leaping behind her father.
"It's a crow-demon!!! Daddy, blast it!!"

On recognizing their visitor, everyone gasps. "Kurama?!!"

"Oh, sorry!!" Ataru lowers his musket. "I thought it was
Mendou or some other fool!! You okay?!"

"You have to ask...?!" Kurama growls as she painfully rises.

"What are you doing here?!" Lum demands, lightning dancing
over her body. "I thought you forswore Darling!"

"I'm not here for Ataru," the Tengu hesitantly enters the
room. "I've come for one person."

In a flash, Kurama sits beside Nassur, taking him by the arm.
"Natsu-kun!!!" she joyfully kisses him.

Ataru, Lum and Reiko faint! Benten glares jealously at Kurama
while Nassur looks surprised. "You two **know** each other?!!" the
Fukunokami demands.

"Well," the Vosian gasps, realizing the trouble about to
start. "W-we met...years ago..."

"We mated with each other," the Tengu smiles.

"***YOU WHAT?!?!?!***" Benten deforms into a huge monster,
yelling loud enough to knock everyone over.

"Relax, Benten," Nassur retorts, rising. "That was years
ago...long before we came together!"

Kurama hugs Nassur closer, her actions angering Benten
further. "Oh, Natsu-kun, I've come to warn you that your life is in
danger!!" the former moans.

"Why is my life in danger?!" Nassur hums...

...before Benten pulls him away from Kurama. "Get away from
*my* husband or **your** life will be in danger!" she growls.

"Cherry said if you go out with the Oni and Ataru, you'll be
shot down by the Arrow of Heaven!" Kurama ignores Benten's rage.

"Arrow of Heaven?" Ataru gasps, then looks innocent. "Isn't
that a rock band?"

"Maybe I should get one to get rid of you!" Benten growls.

Kurama icily eyes Benten. "Listen, Chain Lady!" she snorts.
"I've known Natsu-kun a long time...!"

"Well, I'm his wife now!" Benten replies. "Beat it!!"

"Ladies..." Nassur tries to intercede...

...but finds himself facing two ugly monsters where his wife
and the Tengu once stood. "***KEEP OUT OF THIS, NASSUR!!!!!!***"

"R-right..." Nassur stammers.

With glowing battle auras framing them, Kurama and Benten
launch into a staring contest. "Darling!" Lum gasps. "Shouldn't you
do something?!"

"I can't," he shivers. "Those two are so enraged that neither
the Cyborg nor the *saikoo jinseijitsu* want to try to stop them!"

"You're not the only one!!" the Oni shivers.

"And **your** genes are compatible with Natsu-kun's?" Kurama
snarls, not impressed by what "replaced" her.

"You bet they are!" Benten growls.

"Funny," the princess snorts, her battle aura fading. "I for
one can not see you in bed with a man of Nassur's class!" Turning her
back on Benten, she continues. "I bet you don't even **know** what to
do! I still have the videotapes of our...encounter together! Maybe
then you could learn something **useful**!!!"

The Tengu laughs, which only further enrages Benten. Picking
up a table, the Fukunokami smashes it atop Kurama's head! Kurama is
out cold as soon as she hits the floor. The force of the blow is so
hard, the oak table breaks in half! Kurama lays on the floor, a huge
lump atop of her head. "She had **that** coming!!" Ataru whistles.

Lum readily nods. "I see Kurama's as unreasonable as ever!"
Nassur sighs.

"Of all the people to screw with," Benten turns on her
husband, "...why her?!!"

"Relax, Benten," the Vosian remains calm. "It's all over
between Kurama and me. Even if we were together, we couldn't've had
any children."

"No kids?!" Ataru looks surprised. "How come?!"

"Because Tengu humanoids and Vosians are not biologically
compatible," Nassur announces.

"I see," Ataru replies, then looks sick. "Oh, shit!! If
she's here, that means she'll try to come after me again!!!" he
remembers his previous encounters with Kurama. "That's just what I
need after what I went through with Chigaiko-chan and Tada-chan!!"

"Wonderful!" Lum rolls her eyes.

"Well, if things get really outta hand, why don't you give the
crow-slut a taste of the Cyborg...or better yet, the *saikoo
jinseijitsu*?!!" Benten snorts.

"Or call Great-grandma and have the Inquisition excommunicate
her," Reiko tugs her father's trousers, pointing at Kurama.

"**Don't...tempt...me!**" Ataru snarls.

"There, there, Darling," Lum pats his shoulder, then looks at
Nassur. "So, Nassur-chan...what do you want to do while you're here?"

"I'd really like to see more of this country of yours," the
Vosian muses.

"What about Cherry's warning?" the Oni gulps. "Cherry may be
senile and a constant pain in Darling's posterior, but even we must
admit that his predictions always have a way of coming true."

"If I was afraid of an old man's mumble-jumble," Nassur
snorts, remembering his past encounters with the monk, "...I'd
wouldn't be the man I am today."

"Thank the Gods you don't trust him either," Ataru looks
relieved. "You're even smarter than I thought."

"I'll try not to take that as an insult," Nassur mutters.

"I'll take you on my ship," Lum smiles, then turns to Benten
and Ataru. "You coming, Darling...Benten-chan?"

"Only if *one* of the stops is to visit Grandma," the Terran
replies. "Nassur hasn't met her yet."

"Will your old grandmother be interested in meeting me?" the
Vosian muses.

Ataru, Lum and Reiko laugh, earning them curious stares from
Nassur and his wife. "Don't worry!" Ataru pats the Vosian on the
back. "Grandma is many things...but *old* is not one of them!!"

"Well," Benten growls, standing over Kurama's unconscious
body, "I'd better stay behind to make sure Kurama behaves herself!"

"Okay," Ataru stands. "You can babysit Reiko-chan while we're
gone. Nokoko-chan or Mal-chan should be back soon."

"You want me to stay in the same house with that crow-demon?"
the young Noukiite gulps.

"Don't worry," the Fukunokami smiles. "**I'll** protect you
from her!"

Reiko remains close to Benten as the others move to depart.
"Let's get going!" Ataru sighs, then turns to give Benten last minute
instructions. "If Kurama's too much trouble, you can always give
Dake-chan a call!"

"Don't tempt me!" Benten snarls, then kisses Nassur goodbye.
"Just be careful, Nassur."

"I always am," Nassur smiles before he leaves...

* * *

Moments later, after Lum's scout has departed, Kurama slowly
rises. "W-where's Natsu-kun...?" she rubs the back of her skull.

"He's gone with Lum and Moroboshi," Benten snarls.

The Tengu angrily turns on the Fukunokami. "You **let** him
go?!!" she snarls, grabbing Benten by the arms. "Idiot!!! You may
become a widow soon!"

"Let me go, you crow-slut!" Benten tries to struggle out of
her grip.

"I don't know how you tricked Nassur into marrying the likes
of you!!!" Kurama icily growls. "You're nothing but a (blank) (blank)
(blank) aircycle goon-girl!!!"

"Well, you're just a (blank) (blank) (blank) (blank)
crow-bitch!!!" Benten counters with equal ferocity.

Reiko covers her ears, her face flushing. *Wow!!!* the
Noukiite gasps. *Even censored, their swearing sounds obscene!!*

* * *

Lum's scout tours around Japan. Nassur is shown many famous
sites: Mount Fuji, Kyoto, Ise, Hiroshima, Nagasaki among many others.
"You've have a lovely country," Nassur comments to Ataru.

"It would be even better without Tomobiki," Ataru smiles...

* * *

As Lum's scout moves toward Okinawa, on one of the smaller
islands in the Ryukyu chain, the United States Army is testing a new
rocket system. As one can expect from a military instillation,
security is very tight as technicians housed in an underground bunker
prepare to launch a rocket, emblazoned with the name THE ARROW OF
HEAVEN. "One minute to launch and counting!" a technician announces,
watching a digital clock.

The base commander, a bird-colonel, watches the procedure as a
lieutenant walks up. "Everything seems to be going well so far, sir,"
the junior officer reports.

"Seems to be," the colonel stares at the rocket. "This is an
important test. If it works, we'll have the edge on the Russians in
anti-ICBM technology."

"Thirty seconds to launch," a technician reports.

A radar technician detects a blip. "Colonel," he barks. "An
unidentified flying object is heading toward the missile launch site."

The colonel look upset. "What?!" he bangs his fist on a
paper-strewn desk. "But this air space has been cleared for our test!
Who's plane is it?!"

The radar officer looks confused. "There's no record of its
markings in any manual, sir!"

"Then it must be a Russki!!!" the colonel concludes. "Let's
give him something to report to his superior!"

In seconds, the rocket cleanly launches...directed straight
for Lum's ship!

"At least, it's quiet," Nassur muses as the tour continues...

...when, almost in response, Lum's scanners report a contact.
"What is it?" Ataru looks surprised as the Oni analyzes the data.

"I don't know," Lum shakes her head, then looks at the
readout. "*Tcha*!!!" she gasps. "There's a rocket headed straight
for us!!!"

"Shit!" the Terran panics. "Is it a Mendou Clan rocket?!!"

"No, it's not, Darling," Lum shakes her head.

"Where is it?" Ataru gulps.

In response, an explosion violently rocks the scout as the
rocket strikes!! The sudden force shorts out panels, sending the ship
spinning out of control. In the confusion, Lum accidentally hits the
warp drive switch...

Far below, everyone is taken aback by the explosion of colours
as Lum's scout disappears. "Pretty!" the lieutenant sighs.

"Funny," the colonel muses. "That didn't look like a Russki
plane to me..."

* * *

Hours later in Oshika, Benten and Reiko watch anime on
television. "At least Kurama is quiet!" Benten snorts, eyeing the
bound and gagged Tengu princess in one corner.

"True," Reiko nods.

The anime show is suddenly interrupted. "We interrupt regular
programming with an important news flash," a young female newsreader
with a high voice says as she reads off a teletype. "A UFO has been
reported shot down by accident near a American army rocket testing
ground near Okinawa. Here is an artist rendition of the UFO..."

A crude drawing of Lum's tiger-striped scout is displayed.
"According to witnesses," the newsreader continues, "...the ship
disappeared in a colourful flash of light. No debris or bodies have
been found so far!"

Total silence falls over the two women as the news hits home.
"Daddy...D-daddy's gone...?" the young Noukiite stammers.

"Nassur...d-dead...?" tears well in the Fukunokami's eyes.
"It's not possible...!! We just got married!!!"

* * *

A forest, somewhere.

Lum's ship lays smouldering at the end of a mile-long trench.
Any trees standing in the way were shattered when the scout barrelled
through. While the hull looks structurally sound outside, inside is
another story: everything looks as if a hurricane, tornado and a
nuclear bomb tore through at the same time. The quiet of the scene is
interrupted by a blown spark. From under some debris, Ataru rises.
Save for minor cuts and scrapes, the Terran is unharmed. "Oh, what a
ride!!" he groans. "What hit us?!"

He looks right, noticing Lum laying nearby, struggling to
regain consciousness. "Darling..." she groans, then shrieks with
blinding pain as she grasps her left leg. "*TCHA*!!!! M-my leg!!!"

"Lum!" Ataru leaps to her side.

"I think...I broke my leg..." Lum grimaces.

Ataru looks at Lum's injured leg. Touching it elicits a cry
of pain from the Oni. "Yep," Ataru grimly sighs. "Your leg is
definitely broken!"

"*Datcha*...!" Lum groans. "That's all I need!!"

Then they remember someone. "What about Nassur?!!" both gasp.

"L-lum...!" the Vosian's weak groan echoes from under a huge
pile of debris...some of which looks like the deckhead!

"Hold on, Nassur!!" Lum gasps.

"**I've got you!!!**" Ataru transforms into the Cyborg, easily
removing the debris as if it a box of styrofoam. "**There!!!**"

Lum crawls to Nassur, horrified to see her friend badly
injured from the debris collapsing on him. "Nassur...?!!" she gasps
as she manages to get close. "Are you okay?!! Speak to us!!!"

"I feel...broken inside...Lum..." the Vosian moans.

Lum touches Nassur's torn body, quickly confirming his
self-diagnosis. "Oh, *datcha*!!!" she gulps. "Hold on, Nassur!!!
Darling, get the first aid kit!!"

"**Right**," the machine-man tears anew into the wreckage.

"Hold on, Nassur-chan," the Oni moves to support Nassur.
"Darling's getting the first aid kit."

Ataru returns with a small dented box about the size of a
cereal box. "**Here!!**"

"Thanks, Darling," Lum opens it. "Oh, no!!!" she yells in
horror. "All the medical instruments are destroyed and the
pain-killers have leaked out!!"

Ataru confirms that fact, then eyes the Vosian. "**Nassur's
in serious condition!**" the machine-man reports as his sensor-eye
glows. "**I am the most logical choice**," he grimly notes. "**I'm
not injured. But I'll have to set your leg first**."

"There's no time! Nassur needs help!"

"**You won't be much use to Nassur with a broken leg**,"
Ataru points at her wounded extremity.

"I'll set it myself! Just get going already!"

"**How do you plan to do that**?" Ataru inquires. "**To
set a long bone, you need to apply traction in the direction of the
bone. I don't see how you can pull your own leg downwards, unless you
nail your boot to the wall**..."

The Oni frets, then realizes that her boyfriend has a very
valid point. "Oh, all right, but do it fast..." Lum sighs.

The Cyborg clears a space on the floor of the wreckage that
had accumulated there, then lays Lum down. He strokes her leg gently;
Lum stiffens, sucking air between her teeth. "**I'm not doing anything
yet**," Ataru sighs. "**Just trying to determine where the break is.
Try to relax**."

He wraps his arm around her thigh, grasping her lower leg
just below the knee. With his other hand, he grips her ankle and pulls
downward. Lum screams, kicking at him with her other foot. "**I
can't do this if you fight me**," he snaps. "**You'll have to
cooperate, or we won't get anywhere**."

"Sorry," Lum sniffles. "But that hurt."

Her skin is now lightly coated with perspiration. Ataru
places one hand on the side of her neck, feeling her pulse; her heart
was racing. "**If I had some sort of muscle relaxant here, this would
be lots easier**," he muses. "**But the drugs are all messed up and
with your alien physiology, I wouldn't even know what to use...**"
His voice trails off as he seems to consult some datafile in his mind,
then hums. "**There might be another way, though**."

He take her face between his hands and gazes into her eyes.
"**Do you trust me**?"

Lum gazes at him, staring unflinchingly into his eyes, one
human, the other mechanical. Her mind drifts back over the events of
the past few months; how they hurt each other, and become closer
despite it; about all the strange things Ataru had done to his
ex-friends, and his sometimes unpredictable behaviour.

"I'd trust you with my life, Darling," she softly replies.

"**I hope it won't come to that**...." the Cyborg's hands
slide up, his fingertips probing benmeath her hairline. "**Now relax.
Close your eyes. Think of wide open spaces. The prairies of
Saskatchewan, nothing but tall grass and an occasional buffalo**..."

"What's a buffalo?" she dreamily inquires, her eyelids
fluttering. "And where's Sask...what ever you said...?"

"**Never mind that**," he smiles. "**I don't know myself; it
just felt like the right thing to say. Think of a boat in the middle
of the ocean, rocking gently on the waves**..."

As his voice drones hypnotically on, his hands adjust
themselves slightly. "**Imagine you're floating in space, stars all
around you out to infinity**..."

Lum began to relax; her breathing becames deeper and slower.
"**A comet goes by, and you wave at it. It waves back. A pulsar
massages you with gentle bursts of electromagnetic energy, its photons
stroking you as the wave-fronts pass by**..."

Lum's body is almost entirely limp by now. Ataru moves his
hands one last time. "**Ah. That should do it.**" He closes his eye
in concentration, the sensor-eye dimming.

Lum, suddenly aroused, mumbles, "Darling...what are you...No!
Don't..."

Ataru whispers, "**Let me help you...don't fight me**..." His
fingers move imperceptibly. "**Trust me**..."

Lum relaxes with a visible effort. "**Excellent...hold that
thought**..."

Lum gasps, her body now completely limp. Ataru withdraws his
hands from her temples and strokes her in various places, testing her
muscle tone. She is as floppy as a marionette with its strings cut.
He nods in satisfaction. "**You'll keep**," he moves to check on
Nassur.

* * *

Lum floats in a grey void. It is very peaceful there; there
is no pain, no anxiety, no stress. No broken leg, no crashed ship.
No air either, but then she did not seem to need to breathe, so it
does not worry her.

She begins to remember things. Her ship had crashed...she did
not know where...and she had been injured. This did not seem
important enough to worry about, though, so she puts off deciding what
to do about it until later. Another thought begins to make its way
into her mind. She tries to ignore it, but it keeps oozing past her
barricades until she finally decides to think the thought and see what
it was.

*Nassur...!*

She remembers that she was not the only one who had been
injured in the crash. *Darling!! Where am I?! What happened to
Nassur?! How did I get here?! Where is *here*, anyhow?! What...?*

Suddenly she hears Ataru's voice; it seems to come from
everywhere, wrapping itself lovingly around her, making her feel
wonderfully secure. Briefly she wonders *what* it is wrapping itself
around, as she did not seem to have a body at the moment...

<<I see you've decided to rejoin the world of the sentient,>>
the voice hums.

Lum recognizes it as the Cyborg, thought it did not possess
the metallic overtones she had come to associate with that part of her
Darling's mind. <<It took you a few minutes to get used to thinking
with unfamiliar neurons and synapses, that's all.>>

*Darling!! What's happening?!*

<<The human brain is an interesting thing,>> the Cyborg's
voice hums. <<It has quite a bit of redundancy built in, you know.
It all gets used at one time or another, but at any given time, around
85% of it is idle.>>

Lum blinks. *You mean...I'm in your *head?**

<<Not physically,>> he answers. <<Your body is right where
you left it. I'm trying to pipe vision into your compartment...ah.>>

The grey fog clears. Lum sees Nassur. He has been covered
with a blanket, his head on a make-shift pillow that had started life
as the seat cushion of the pilot's chair. She tries to look around,
but all she saw was the grey mist. <<You're trying to see out of my
ears,>> Ataru tells her. <<All you can see is what I see. Imagine
you're watching a videotape.>>

*How's Nassur doing?*

<<He's got some internal injuries, but he seems stable for
now. Don't try to move him if you can help it.>> The scene shifts
around; Lum now saw herself. <<Now I'll try to fix that leg and then
I'll hit the road.>>

The Cyborg's right foot transforms back to a normal foot,
complete with the gold buccaneer boot typical of a Sagussan duty
jumpsuit. He sis facing Lum's body, grasping her ankle in his hands,
his foot now in her crotch. Inside his head, Lum giggles. *I wish I
was down there, so I could feel that...*

<<Believe me, you wouldn't appreciate what comes next...>>

He pulls hard on Lum's foot, twisting slightly. There is a
grinding crunch as the leg straightened out. *Ugh...* Lum winces on
hearing that. *That sounds gross!*

<<Yeah, didn't it...>> Ataru strokes her leg again. <<It
seems to be set properly. Now I've got to find something to splint it
with. How about this? Can I cut this off?>>

He looks at a segment of U-shaped piping that once contained a
wiring harness; it had been one of the supports of the control panel.
<<Your leg should fit nicely in there, if I pad it a little.>>

*Go ahead,* she nods. *The ship doesn't need it anymore.*

A bowie knife, like the one Lum used on the *saikoo
jinseijitsu* in the closing moments of the Spirit War, ejects from the
right armshield. The Cyborg slices the channel off level with the
deck. <<Hmm...sharp edges...>> he mutters, then heats the ends with
his eye-laser. When they glow a dull red, he jams first one end, then
the other, against the deck, mushrooming the ends and creating a lip.
Then he carries it into the still-intact galley, running water over
it. When it stops hissing, he feels the remoulded metal. <<Okay,
that's cool enough to touch; now for some padding...>>

He yanks some of the stuffing out of the back of the pilot's
chair and laid it in one end of the channel. <<Your leg's wider at
the top than at the bottom. This should fill up the extra space,>> he
muses. He lays Lum's leg into the channel, packed more seat stuffing
in on top, then wraps the works with tape from the first-aid kit.
<<As long as you don't put weight on it, that should hold,>> he warns.
<<All I've got to do now is put you back where you belong.>>

Lum saw her face getting closer as Ataru leaned over her.
*Wait a minute! Can't I just stay a little...Oh!!!*

She suddenly feels dizzy, whirling around in a great vortex;
she imagines water must feel this way as it swirls down the drain.
Her orientation keeps switching directions on her, as up became down,
then sideways...

* * *

Lum awakens in the middle of a kiss. She pulls her head
back, seeing that Ataru had reverted to normal. After a *very* long
time, she finally gasps. "Thank you, Darling. That was wonderful,"
she moans. "All of it, I mean, not just the kiss."

"How's the leg?"

"I wish you hadn't asked that," she grimaces, dull pain now
shooting up from her leg. "I can live with it."

"And how did you like your visit?" he muses.

"It was marvelous...but don't *ever* do that again...unless
I'm dying and you don't have a choice."

"Why not?"

"Because if you do, I'll never want to leave!"

"*Oh*...?!" he smiles. "Well, *tre'cha* is meant for very
dire emergencies. Still, that *was* the closest we've ever been."

"Yeah..." a dreamy smile crosses her face.

"I'd better get moving," he stands. "You keep an eye on
Nassur."

"I'll try to psi-link to blunt some of his pain," Lum nods.
"Good luck!"

As Lum moves to aid her teacher, Ataru leaves the ship through
one of the hull fractures. "Hold on, Nassur," she urges the
semi-conscious hunter. "Darling's getting help as fast as he can!"

* * *

As soon as Ataru is clear of Lum's ship, he immediately runs
into the forest. He quickly notices the old growth of the trees,
unlike the well-kept forests that he has usually encountered. *This
is an old forest*, he muses as he runs, avoiding low branches as he
passes through them. *I've been to a lot of parks in Japan and I've
never seen one **this** dense before!* Ataru turns at a huge tree,
fallen long ago in some storm. *I hope Nassur will be okay*, he
pants. *I just want to get rid of all the possible competition
between myself and Lum so we can marry **without** any interruptions!
May the gods strike me dead if he dies!!*

Fortunately for Ataru, he comes to a small stream snaking
through the forest. *A stream*, he looks relieved. *That means
people're somewhere around nearby with a phone...I hope!*

Ataru notices that further down the river, there is a young
girl dressed in a flowery kimono of pink and white. She looks as if
she is gathering wood. *Perfect!* Ataru nods. *She's my saviour!!*

As Ataru rushes towards the girl, he fails to notice a
handsome young Japanese man dressed in the full armour of a samurai,
complete with two swords, hiding in the trees near the stream. He
spies on the girl as she continues to gather wood. A closer
inspection of this girl reveals that she is around the same age as
Ataru, possessing long, shiny, straight, black hair to her hips, tied
in a ponytail from the base of her skull with a cute, colourful ribbon
of flower patterns. She has a pretty face, the envy of any woman.
Physically, she is very well-proportioned for a girl her age. Coming
to a large branch, the girl immediately tries to pick it up without
much success. That is when the samurai goes into action. With his
long sword drawn, the young warrior leaps from his hiding place,
running at the girl with a yell of attack. As Ataru closes in on the
girl, he cannot fail to notice. *A samurai?!!* he gasps. *Are they
shooting a movie near here or something?! Whatever it is, he's being
**very** ungentlemanly with that katana!!* "Hey, lady," Ataru warns
the unsuspecting girl. "LOOK OUT!!!!"

The girl turns in the direction of Ataru's yell, then spots
the samurai bearing down on her, his sword raised to kill. The girl
steps back a couple of steps as the samurai swings down with his
sword, cleaving the large branch in two pieces which then fly into the
air! One of the pieces lands into the girl's waiting arms. The other
one flies up into the sky...and lands on the top of Ataru's head with
the force of a baseball bat hitting a ball!! Both the samurai and the
girl notice Ataru as he loses consciousness, falling face first into
the stream. "Who is that weirdo?" the girl inquires.

"I don't know," he shrugs. "I've never seen him before."

* * *

Minutes later, Ataru wakes up with his head on the lap of the
girl, now placing a wet cloth made from her own kimono on his head.
"M head..." Ataru groans as he sits up. "What happened? Where am I?"

"You got hit in the head with a flying piece of wood cut by my
friend here," the girl smiles. "I am Yuki Mizu."

Ataru notices the samurai sitting cross-legged beside Yuki.
His helmet is off, his katana sheathed. The young man vaguely
resembles Shutaro Mendou. "I am Jiro Mendou," he snorts,
contemptfully staring at Ataru. "Who are you?"

"I...can't remember!" he gasps as he tries to remember his
name, acting as if something is withholding that information.

"Oh, dear," Yuki gasps. "He's lost him memory!"

"How convenient," Jiro sneers.

"Jiro, be nice," she icily glares. "It's not his fault that
he's lost his memory. It's up to us to help him get it back."

"But, Yuki-san," Jiro snaps, "...he could be a fox or a
raccoon...or maybe a bandit."

"He's a man in trouble and we must help him," Yuki retorts.
"Besides, he doesn't look that dangerous."

"I **don't** think I'm dangerous," Ataru nods. "Yet, I've got
this feeling I should be doing something very important..."

"Maybe you'll find out after we take you to our village," Yuki
takes Ataru by the hand and leads him away, much to Jiro's surprise.

"I just hope that his motivations are honourable...or else!"
the samurai's hand threateningly falls on his sword hilt.

"I'm honourable, I'm honourable, I'm honourable!" he stammers.

"Let's go," Yuki sighs.

As they leave, Ataru's comb drops from his pocket, bounces off
the small stones, lands on the stream and is carried by the current...

* * *

Meanwhile in the ship, Lum finishes the painful task of
setting her own leg in a makeshift splint as Nassur, now covered in a
tiger-stripped blanket, lays quietly unmoving. "There," Lum groans,
"...that's better. At least, I can function."

She turns to Nassur. Despite all that Lum has done for him to
sooth the pain, he is still in critical condition. "Hang on,
Nassur-chan," she quietly whispers. "Darling won't fail us...I hope."

* * *

Later, Yuki, Jiro and Ataru arrive at a small village which
would not look out of place in a Kurosawa epic. Hidden in a grove
with rice paddies in the distance now flooded with water and planted,
the village probably has about one hundred people. Most are either
young children or the elderly. The villagers themselves are
reasonably well-taken care of. No one is either in extreme poverty
or extremely rich. "This is strange," Ataru muses. "I have a
feeling that I shouldn't be here."

"That makes **two** of us," Jiro snarls.

Ataru's appearance shocks the villagers, especially his
clothes, bright and more body hugging in style in contrast to the sea
of bland, flowing kimonos. Pretty soon, a whole parade of curious
villagers follow them. Finally, Ataru is led to a small mill powered
by the stream's own current. "Is this where you live?" he asks.

"No," she giggles. "This is where the old healer lives. We
call him Oji-san."

After entering the mill, Ataru discovers Oji-san to be an old
man of between sixty and seventy. He is dressed in a simple man's
kimono, hunched over almost double. Because of this, Oji-san is
barely taller than Ataru's belt buckle. Aided by a cane in walking,
Oji-san is assisted by a couple of younger women. One is plump,
carrying a baby in a backpack. The other looks barely into puberty.
Although his face is heavily lined with age and ringed with grey hair
and a beard, his eyes are still full of life. "So, he has lost his
memory, eh?" Oji-san muses after Yuki and Jiro inform him of Ataru's
problem. "Do you have any means of identifying yourself?"

"I don't know," Ataru says as he begins to search his pockets,
quickly finding his wallet. "Here's something."

Oji-san rudely grabs the wallet. His old eyes attempt to read
the printed writing on all of Ataru's cards. Inside the billfold is a
birth certificate, social insurance card, a library card, a video
rental card, a credit card from a local store, a phone card with a
picture of a girl in a bikini with a sexual pose, an identity card
from Tomobiki High School marked CANCELLED, and a card that declares
"When in trouble write 'XYZ' on the schedule board of Shinjuku train
station...City Hunter," as well as some modern-day cash and coins.
"It says your name is Ataru Moroboshi and you once lived in Tomobiki
in Tokyo-to," Oji-san finally declares after some consideration. "But
now live in Oshika in Miyagi-ken."

Jiro pulls out his sword. Ataru catches it with his hands.
"So, you're not of the domain, eh?" the samurai growls. "What are you
really?! A bandit? A roonin? Or an exile?!"

"If I knew that," he snaps, "don't you think I'd tell you?!"

"Now, now, Jiro," Yuki intervenes. "It's bad manners to
behead an injured guest...even if you were the one who hurt him in the
first place."

He relents. "I'll stop...for now." he icily glares at Ataru.

"Well," Oji-san sighs. "Moroboshi-san will stay here with me
until his memory returns."

The samurai is not satisfied. "Oji-san," he bows low in front
of the old man, "...I don't trust this fool. He has a look about him
I don't like."

"I can trust him," Yuki slips her arm around Ataru's.
"Besides, I don't think he's dangerous."

Spontaneously, the amnesiac teen suddenly gropes Yuki on the
hip. "Animal!!!" she clobbers Ataru with a sledgehammer! "How dare
you touch me that way?!!"

"I think I know why this man is no longer welcomed in his
community," Oji-san sighs. "I notice he has the Mark of Doom on his
face."

"Now that sounds familiar," the amnesiac muses.

"You're haunted by a spirit so powerful that **nothing** can
save you!!" Oji-san declares, pointing at Ataru.

Ataru faints! "That sounds familiar as well," he sighs.

* * *

Meanwhile, Lum continues to look after Nassur, increasingly
worried that Ataru has not returned. "Darling," she mournfully cries,
"...where are you?! Nassur's gonna die if you don't hurry!!" Lum
turns to the injured hunter, now in a state of semi-consciousness on
the shattered floor. Bandages snugly cover his forehead to keep some
protection to his wounds. "Nassur," she quietly sighs, "...I'm sorry
this had to happen when you were getting your life back together after
Cinba's death. I hope Darling can get help soon for us."

"T-tell me...a story," he painfully moans.

Lum looks at him strangely. "A story?! Why?!!"

"To help me...relax."

"Okay," Lum thinks a moment. "This is an Earth story I once
read in school a few weeks ago. There once lived in Japan this judge
named Ooka who was known far and wide as a fair and impartial judge.
One day, two young women came to his courtroom with a little boy and
whom they both claimed was their son."

"W-why did...they claim both...claim him?"

"Well," Lum tries to remember, "...one of the mothers couldn't
nurse the child so the other did so with her own. But, the nursing
mother's child died suddenly and there lay the problem."

"I..see."

"Well," Lum continues, "...Judge Ooka heard both their claims
and then made his judgement. They were to each take the child by the
arm and pull until a winner is announced."

"Sounds painful," the Vosian muses.

"It was," the Oni nods. "Finally, after a few minutes of
pulling one of the mothers let go of the child. The other gloated
over her victory. But, that wasn't the end of it. The mother that
let go of the boy said she did so because she loved the child too much
to see him harmed."

"S-so what happened?"

"The judge awarded the child not to the mother who won the
pulling contest but to the other instead!" Lum smiles.

A weak smile crosses his pained face. "Tell me more about
this Judge Ooka. He sounds like someone I ought to have known."

"Okay..."

* * *

Night has fallen. In the mill, Ataru has a bowl of rice for
his supper with Oji-san and his two helpers. "I never realized how
hungry I was," Ataru gulps down the last of his bowl of rice. "I'm
not used to eating just plain rice."

"We're used to it," Oji-san muses.

Yuki enters carrying two men's kimonos. "Here you are,
Moroboshi-san," she smiles. "These are some old clothes I gathered
from the other villagers. They're more modest than what you're
wearing now."

He eagerly accepts the gifts. "Thanks, Yuki," he says.
"Hopefully, when I get my memory back, I'll be able to pay you back
for your kindness."

Ataru takes her by the hand. They stare at each other
lovingly. The lights of the candles seems to turn dim. The sound of
a piano is heard in the background. Oji-san and his helpers are awed.
"My, he works quick," Oji-san gasps. "Just like when I was his age."

"You still are his age," the mother slaps his hand after he
had grasped her backside. "How do you think I got this child?!"

"Age does not end desire," Oji-san muses.

"I must go home," stars sparkle in Yuki's eyes. "My folks are
waiting for me."

"I see," Ataru nods. "But seeing your face makes my head
swim."

Suddenly, a Buddhist bell slams Ataru in the head! "Leave my
betrothed alone!!" Jiro appears in front of Ataru, his katana flying
down.

The katana is caught. "My...head is swimming..." Ataru moans.

"Did that jog your memory?!" the samurai snarls.

"It jogged something," the amnesiac shakes his head.

"Well, leave Yuki alone, stranger," Jiro snarls, grabbing Yuki
by the arm and dragging her away. "Or else you shall be a head
shorter!"

"Bye, Ataru," Yuki waves.

After the couple have departed, Ataru turns to Oji-san.
"What's his problem?" Ataru points to the door they departed through.

"Oh, he's the village protector," Oji-san replies. "Plus, he
has been promised to Yuki."

"Promised?!!" Ataru snaps. "To that loud-mouthed schnook?!
Yuki's got to have someone else to choose from...and it should be me!"

An ominous sparkle appears in Ataru's eye...

* * *

Meanwhile, news of Ataru's, Lum's and Nassur's disappearance
reaches Tomobiki. Ataru's Oshika home is presently besieged by people
from Tomobiki. Ataru's parents are there, as is Komeru. So is
Koosei, Sakura, Lan, Ryuunosuke, Mendou, Megane, the bodyguards,
Ten-chan, Mie and Cherry. Benten attempts to keep everyone happy.
Reiko still cowers from Kurama, still tied up in the corner. "That's
all I know," the Fukunokami snarls. "They haven't found any bodies or
wreckage. For all I know, they could still be alive."

"Nassur's dead!!" Kurama snorts. "And it's all your fault,
Chain Lady."

Benten angrily spins on the Tengu. "Listen, crow-slut...!!"

"I see," Sakura intercedes. "It was pre-ordained. Who told
you about this, Kurama?"

All eyes turn to Cherry. The monk suddenly looks nervous. "I
suddenly remembered I must make a pilgrimage to Tibet...or
Jusenkyou...or Ikkoku-kan..." he tries to make a hasty retreat...

...but is snared by his niece's lasso. "Oh, no, you don't!"
Sakura snarls, pulling Cherry towards her until his hangs like a carp.
"Why did you tell Kurama about that stupid prophecy?!"

"I saw the signs in my cooking pot," Cherry replies.

The students are shocked. "You mean you actually use your
cooking pot for other things besides cooking?" Mendou gasps.

"How do you think he gets his screwed up visions?" Sakura
groans.

"But, anyway," Koosei interrupts, "...what about Ataru, Lum
and Nassur?"

"Well," the Fukunokami muses, "...Nassur and I are married."

Everyone except Kurama faints! "MARRIED?!?!?!"

"Y-you married Nassur...?!" Lan gulps.

"What's it to you, Lan?!" Benten snarls. "Afraid both of
us'll use you and that pig you love as target practice?!!"

"You should," Mie smiles.

The Seishin girl fires the Kyushu native an ugly stare.
"Well, despite what's happened now, it's about time," Koosei pats
Benten on the back. "Nassur always was better with a partner."

"I just thought of something!" Megane exclaims.

"That's a start," Koosei snorts.

Megane fires an insulted glare at his teacher. "Who's going
to tell Shinobu that Benten's finally married Nassur?" he demands.

Horror crosses the faces of the other students save Mie.
"That's right!!" Mendou gasps. "Shinobu-san's on vacation with her
parents in Florida. She'll be heartbroken when she hears the news."

"She may even take it out on us," Chibi gulps.

"Nowhere will be safe from her wrath," Kakugari stammers.

"We're doomed! Doomed!!" Paama cries.

"Goods riddance to bad rubbish!!" Mie snorts. "For once,
Miyaki'll be doing us a favour!"

They faint! "So *are* we gonna tell Shinobu?!" Lan muses.

Everyone considers the question. "Nope," Megane nods. "Let
her find out for herself."

* * *

At that moment, on one of Florida's beaches, Shinobu, sunning
herself on a beach towel, suddenly sneezes. "Why did I sneeze?!" she
sits up. "Is someone thinking of me?!" An ecstatic look crosses her
face. "I hope it was Nassur-kun!" she romantically sighs...

* * *

Elsewhere, morning dawns on the crash scene. Lum wakes from
under the same tiger-stripped blanket Nassur is using. It was an
intimidating night for the Oni. There is still no sign of Ataru or a
rescue squad. Her voice is now hoarse after hours of storytelling.
Finally, sleep could no longer be put off and she decided to sleep
beside Nassur, keeping the wounded Vosian warm. "It's morning
already?" Lum gasps, not expecting an answer. "Where's Darling and
the rescue squad?!" She gently jostles her mentor. "Nassur?" she
hopefully inquires. "Are you awake?"

After a few jiggles, Nassur's eyes flutter open. He painfully
glances at his former student. "I...think so..."

"How do you feel?!"

"Well," a painful smile crosses his face, "...I've been
better." He laughs before the pain seizes him anew. "Has...Ataru
returned...?!" he gasps after a coughing spasm.

"Not yet," she shakes her head. "I'm thinking of trying to
find him...or at least getting us some food since the replicators are
out. But I don't want to leave you alone."

"I'll be fine," he nods. "I've fought off death long before
you were born."

"But, I've never seen you so badly injured before," she frets.

"Food is your priority, Lum," he insists. "Go ahead."

"Okay," she hesitantly nods. "But stay in bed!"

"I will."

Lum flies through a nearby breech and into the sky. It is a
nice sunny day, cloudless and warm. The Oni tries to fly as high as
she can, but the weight and awkwardness of the splint hampers her
mobility. Lum eyes scan for any sigh of habitation. *Where did we
crash?!* Lum stops in mid-air. "There's nothing anywhere!! I can't
even find Darling!!!"

Finally, Lum rests at the same stream where Ataru first
encountered Yuki and Jiro. "Flying with a splint on your leg is
hard," she gasps, bending over to the rushing water to take a drink.

Then she sees it: Ataru's comb is stuck on a pair of rocks
nearby. "What's this?!" Lum inquires, picking up the comb.
Recognition crosses her face as she sees the initials "A.M." "This is
Darling's comb!!" she gasps. "But how could he have lost it?!
Unless...!"

Lum gets a horrible vision of Ataru being swept away in the
current. "D-darling...dead...?!" she gasps. "He must have fallen in
and...?!" A wail shake the Oni as she drops to her knees. "Darling's
dead!!!" she bellows. "Oh, Darling!!! Just when we were actually
coming together, this happens!!! Darling!!! DARLING!!!!!!"

For an hour, she weeps before her growling stomach reminds her
of more pressing matters. "Nassur-chan needs help...!" she recovers.
"He'll protect me...!"

Placing the comb into a pocket, she tearfully flies away...

* * *

In the village mill, Ataru sleeps. His slumber is troubled as
his mind fills of images of a teenaged Oni girl who states that she
loves him...and a disembodied being that places the Oni girl into a
cage, drawing her into a black pit. Ataru tries to help her, but is
rendered helpless by some unseen force. Finally, Ataru wakes. "Get
away from me!!!"

He then sees Oji-san staring at him. "Oh, awake finally."

Ataru, shocked by the old man's sudden appearance, does what
comes natural...he clobbers him with a sledgehammer! "No need to get
violent...!" Oji-san groans.

"Sorry," Ataru relaxes. "I had a bad dream."

"So I heard," Oji-san is lifted to his feet by the mother.
"It must have been a horrible dream to make you cry out like that."

"It was," Ataru nods. "I dreamt that a cute Oni girl was
being dragged into a pit. I tried to help her...but something was
holding me back. Then there was this voice saying I was next."

"Really?!" Oji-san muses. "Then this dream is trying to tell
you something."

"Which is?"

A serious look appears on Oji-san's face. "What the dream is
telling you..." he gestures for a cup of tea. The young girl fetches
it.

Ataru nods, anxiously awaiting the answer. "It's telling
you..." the old man hums. "Telling you..."

Everyone stares at Oji-san, who then takes a deep breath.
"Something that we don't know about," he declares.

An explosion occurs!! When the smoke clears, the three
angrily glare at Oji-san. "Don't look so upset," the old man warns.
"Until Ataru's memory improves we can only guess what his dreams mean.
But I know this much: there is something very onimous within Ataru."

"Don't say such unlucky things," Ataru cringes.

"You have the ability to do great evil...or great good,"
Oji-san continues. "Only the gods know which."

*'The ability to do great evil or great good?'* Ataru gulps.
*What does this old man mean by that? What type of person am I...?!*

* * *

Lum flies towards the village. "Oh, a village," the Oni looks
relieved as she lands secretly on a rooftop. "I might be able to find
Darling...or at least a telephone to get a rescue squad together."
Then she notices the clothing, not to mention the glaring lack of
technology. "What?!!" she gasps. "The people here look like they're
dressed in one of those samurai films on television. But, why?!" she
looks up, "...unless...?!" Lum remembers accidental pressing the
button activating the warp drive. *That's right*, she gulps. *If you
warp near a planet, you go back into time. Does that mean...?!*

The Oni then notices a nearby house bearing several barrels
and sacks heaping with food. *Can't think about that now*, she muses
as her stomach growls. *Nassur-chan and I gotta eat. And I hope they
don't mind me helping myself...*

Lum waits until the street is empty of people before she lands
in front of the house. *No one's here*, she smiles as she begins to
look through the sacks and barrels. *Let's see...*

Unseen by Lum, Jiro performs his daily patrol. "It's a quiet
shift today," he cheerfully smiles. "Perhaps I shall visit my dearly
beloved Yuki...eh?!" he stops on noticing Lum filling a sack with
food. He quickly hides behind a nearby house. "An Oni?!!" he gasps.
"I've never seen on up close before!!" Glancing around the corner, he
nods. "She's stealing food, eh?! I'll put a stop to that!"

Lum finishes getting supplies. "That should be enough," she
nods. "And I did it without witnesses."

Lum turns to fly away...but is stopped when Jiro's hand
appears on her shoulder. The Oni spins around to face the samurai as
he draws his katana. "Hey!!" he snaps. "How dare you steal our food,
Oni?!! Die!!"

Lum panics, delivering a vicious bolt of electricity which
sends the samurai flying with a pained yell! Lum then grabs her sack
and departs. Jiro's scream is heard by everyone in the village and
the neighbouring fields. "Somebody let the cat out," Ataru mumbles as
the young girl wakes him.

"That sounded like Jiro-san," she gasps.

"What happened?" he groans. "He commit seppuku or something?"

Moments later, Ataru, hastily dressed in a kimono, joins the
rush of villagers to the source of Jiro's scream. The young samurai
has recovered from the lightning bolt. Among the first to arrive is
Yuki, now at Jiro's side when Ataru and the others arrive. "What
happened, Jiro?" she gasps.

"An Oni!!!" Jiro stammers. "An Oni hit me with lightning when
I tried to stop her from stealing food!!"

"An Oni?" a tall, thin man muses. "What did she look like?"

"What is going on here?" Oji-san demands as he and his helpers
arrive.

"Oji-san," a mother with a dozen toddlers faces him,
"...Mendou-san says that an Oni attacked him and stole some food."

"An Oni?" he turns to Jiro. "What did she look like?"

"She was a beautiful woman with long green hair and dressed in
a tiger-striped dress," the samurai muses. "She had two horns on her
head and pointed ears." He presses his index fingers on his temples
to illustrate his description. "What is frightening is that she hit
me with a lightning bolt and then flew away!"

"Oji-san," an old, thin man with a pained demeanour faces the
village elder, "...I looked through the sacks and the barrels. There
is some food missing...not a lot, but enough to notice."

"I see," Oji-san hums. "We have a thieving Oni."

"I don't think there's an Oni," Ataru disbelievingly shakes
his head. "Onis don't fly or throw lightning!"

Jiro swings his katana at Ataru, who promptly catches it.
"Bastard!" the samurai growls. "I saw it with my own eyes!"

"Now, now, Jiro," Yuki calms her fiance down.

"Regardless of whoever is stealing our food," Oji-san muses,
"...we'd better be more cautious. We don't want to starve before our
crops are ready."

"I only hope the thief is nearby so we may find her and punish
her," Jiro growls...

* * *

Lum sneezes before she re-enters her wrecked ship. *Who's
thinking of me?* she muses. *I hope it's Darling in heaven!*

Inside, Lum notices Nassur is awake. His eyes are noticeably
clearer, evidence of the Vosian's own healing factor starting to work.
"Oh, you're back finally," he smiles. "Find Ataru?"

"Er...no," she nervously smiles. "But I found some food at a
local village."

"Oh," he looks pleased. "Did they have a phone that you could
call a rescue squad?"

"Well," she scratches the back of her head. "Not exactly,"
tears stain her cheeks. "They didn't have any phones because...they
aren't invented yet!"

"What do you mean?"

The Oni tearfully stares at the Vosian. "We're in the past of
Darling's planet! I accidentally touched the warp drive when we were
hit and we went into the past!!" Lum wails.

"I see," Nassur sighs. "Well, we'll just have to make do with
what we have. Hopefully, Ataru will be back soon." That comment
elicits another wail. "Now what?" he looks confused.

"It's nothing," she sobs. "I'm just upset that we didn't
listen to Cherry's warning!"

"That's okay," he gently places an arm around her. "We all
make mistakes. When we don't learn from them, that's when we're in
trouble."

* * *

In the present day, most of the people from Tomobiki have left
when Nokoko and her friends return home from working at the Tiger Cub.
They notice Benten, Sakura, Koosei and Reiko having dinner, the
teachers consoling the Fukunokami and the Noukiite over their loss.
Kurama is **still** tied in a corner, now gagged as well. "Oh,
Benten, Koosei, Sakura," Nokoko sits beside them. "what are you doing
here? Where's my brother and Lum?"

"Well..." Koosei looks nervous.

Osooko notices Kurama tied up in the corner, then turns to
Sakura. "Um...Sakura-chan," she blushes, "...who is she?!" she points
to the Tengu.

"That's Princess Kurama of Karasutengu," the nurse explains.
"She's an...early acquaintance of Ataru."

"I see," Osooko notices Kurama's confinement. "Why is she
tied up?"

"Because she's a (blank)ing [wnjrnjr]!" Benten snarls.

"Don't bother asking her to be your mate, Osooko-oba-chan,"
Reiko empathically shakes her head. "She's racist, sexist and a crow
demon! Asuka-oba-chan is a million times better!!"

Osooko stares at the Tengu, then sighs. "Pity."

Kurama breathes out in relief. Nokoko then turns to Koosei.
"So where's Ataru-chan and Lum-chan?"

Everyone looks apprehensively, knowing well how phenomenal
Nokoko's temper can be when aroused. "Well, it's like this..." Koosei
looks embarrassed.

A second later, Nokoko's scream blows the roof off the house.
"***THEY WHAT?!?!?!***"

* * *

Back in time, three days have passed. By this time, Nassur
has recovered enough to move about with a makeshift cane. Despite his
apparent progress, Lum continues to mother him. "Nassur," Lum serves
a breakfast of radishes and rice, "...how are you feeling today?"

"I'm feeling better," Nassur eats. "Maybe when I'm strong
enough, I'll go look for Ataru."

Lum falls over! "Why do you want to do that for?!"

"Well, Ataru hasn't come back yet, right?" he shrugs.

"But, you should rest, Nassur-chan!!" she admonishes, turning
away for a second. "You were badly hurt only three days ago!!"

Lum turns back...to see that Nassur has left a idol of Jizo
where he was sitting just a second ago! "Nassur!" she snarls. "Why
doesn't he listen?!"

At a nearby giant pine tree, Nassur rests. *Sorry about that,
Lum*, he pants. *But I have to make sure I'm recovering.* He looks
up to the top of the tree. Its height is enough to make him
momentarily feel dizzy. *Looks like a good enough test*, he
concludes, then, after a deep breath, Nassur leaps onto the trunk. In
a matter of seconds, he has scaled the tree with ease. Reaching the
uppermost safe point, Nassur stops long enough to look at the
seemingly endless forest around him, the vista marred by where Lum's
ship had crashed. *Nice view*, Nassur muses, then notices another
stout pine tree close by. *I think I can get it from here*, the
Vosian readies himself to leap from his tree. Like a squirrel, Nassur
leaps, gracefully gliding towards the lower tree. He reaches out for
a nearby branch and...misses! Nassur gasps as gravity takes over. He
tries to command his weakened body to prepare to land safety on the
ground. Timing is off. Noticing he will be landing head first,
Nassur closes his eyes and braces for the impact.

It does not come. Nassur suddenly feels his body stop as if
something or someone caught him in mid-air. Opening his eyes, Nassur
sees he is only a few centimetres from landing head-first on the hard
ground. Then he hears the sound of sparking electricity. He looks up
his body, quickly noticing a **very** annoyed Lum hovering there,
holding his legs. "Oh, hi, Lum," he nervously grimaces.

"I ought to let you fall on your head, Nassur!" the Oni
growls, fangs barred. "Maybe that will knock some sense into it!"

Lum gently sets him down. He limps to a nearby rock to sit
while Lum hovers nearby. "You nearly died three days ago!!!" the Oni
snaps. "Now you're climbing trees?!! What are you trying to do?!!
Kill yourself?!!"

"I was only trying that Earth game called bungee jumping," the
Vosian deadpans.

Lum replies with a lightning bolt which barely misses him by
inches! The bolt shatters a tree. "I ought to zap you into next
week!!!" she yells. "You're still hurt!! And if I didn't see you
heading for a fall, you'd be history!!!"

He notices tears in her eyes. "We've lost Darling!" she sobs.
"But I don't want to lose you, too!!"

"I understand," he nods. "I need time to heal before I can do
anything."

"Good," Lum takes Nassur by the arm to drag him off. "Let's
get back to the ship!"

* * *

In Oshika years in the future, it is midnight. Benten sits
alone in the living room. The moon shines through the sky light,
gently illuminating the scene. Everyone has gone to bed. Benten
wears only a housecoat dyed in the Moroboshi clan colours. *So, this
is how Nassur felt when Cinba died*, she looks at the moon. *I feel
as if my heart has been carved out!*

Kurama steps in. "Hello, Benten," the Tengu ventures. "Can
we talk?"

Benten freezes Kurama with an icy stare. "I've got nothing to
say to you, crow-slut!!" she snarls.

"But, I just want to help," she shivers.

"Why not go off with Osooko?!" the Fukunokami growls.

The Tengu looks incensed. "I am **not** that type of girl,"
Kurama snaps. "Besides, I'm here to express my condolences to you for
what happened to Natsu-kun."

"Oh, really?" Benten snorts.

Ignoring the lethal stare, Kurama sits. "Yes," she nods.
"Nassur was a friend of mine. He was one of a kind."

"I'll have to agree with that," Benten sighs. "So how did you
and Nassur meet? He never told me about you...not that I really wanna
know."

"Well, it's like this..." Kurama begins...as a sign appears
behind her declaring EVERY DAY, MY MEMORY IMPROVES...

Nassur met Kurama two years before on the backwater planet of
Telesar. Telesar once rivalled Gomiana in crime and seediness until
Nassur, almost single-handedly, cleaned it up. There, he encountered
the Old One, the leader of the Tengu in charge of finding mates for
Kurama. Old One tricked Nassur into coming to Kurama's starship and
giving her the requisite wake-up kiss. When Nassur learned of what he
was supposed to do, he tried to escape. But, Kurama managed to
convince him to stay by telling him that once the mating was finished,
his part of the affair was complete. But, unfortunately, one of
Kurama's genetic technicians discovered that Vosian and Tengu
humanoids are genetically incompatible. So, no matter how much
pillowing they could do, no children would result. Nassur again tried
to leave, but Kurama asked him to stay for the night...

"Since that day," Kurama sighs, "...I have not seen
Natsu-kun...until a couple of days ago."

Benten does not look impressed. "I suppose we're lucky that
Nassur wasn't compatible with you!" she snorts. "We wouldn't want to
have to sell any of the **puppies**!!"

Kurama looks speechlessly insulted. "Don't get personal,
Chain Lady!" she snarls. "So, why are **you** with Natsu-kun?!"

"Well," she sighs, "...I met Nassur when I was about three.
He and Cinba were tracking some crook in Bensaikyou. The crook took
me and a couple of other kids hostage. Nassur rescued me even though
the creep had a gun to my head. He could've been killed...I could've
been killed...yet Nassur risked it all so I could live."

The Tengu looks interested. "Then what happened?"

"I became his biggest fan," Benten sighs. "I even assisted
him in training Lum."

"So that's where the Oni got her training from," Kurama muses.

"Then he asked me to be his partner a few months ago," Benten
continues, "..and the rest was history." Pride enters her voice.
"He's even recognized me! Something **you** can't even claim!"

"Recognized?!" Kurama growls. "I didn't think Natsu-kun's
standards were so low!! First, it was that robot Dakejinzou Shogai,
now it's you!"

Benten makes a move to the coffee table. "You wanna test how
strong this table is with your head?!" she snarls.

Kurama gets up to leave. "There's no need," the crow princess
sniffs.

"And you're lucky Ataru wasn't here to hear that crack you
made about Dakejinzou!!" Benten adds. "He would've shot you dead for
it!"

Kurama allows that to pass. "I'm leaving," she proceeds to
the door. "See you at Natsu-kun's funeral."

The Tengu leaves, allowing the Fukunokami's anger to fester.
*That crow-slut!!* she snarls, sitting down. *I'll break her skinny
neck like a twig...!*

Benten's train of thought is broken by the sound of wood
breaking! She notices that she has broken the coffee table in two
with her bare hands. "Oops!!" she meekly gulps...

* * *

Back in the past, a couple of days have gone by. Morning has
broken and Nassur wakes up...alone. "Lum?!" he slowly climbs out of
his futon, then stands. "Where are you?"

He hobbles around in search of the Oni. *Now, where did she
go?* he hums as he tries to locate his former pupil. *I sense she's
not far away. Where...?* Nassur looks out the exit to see a tired,
dirty Lum moving to enter. "Lum?!"

"Oh, Nassur-chan," Lum smiles. "You're awake already." She
takes Nassur by the arm and gently leads him outside. "Come with me!
I've got a surprise to show you."

"You do?" Nassur asks. "What is it?"

"If I told you," Lum giggles, "...it wouldn't be a surprise."

* * *

In the village, Ataru is quietly enjoying a leisurely walk.
Since his arrival, Ataru has slowly gained the trust of everyone
there...except Jiro Mendou. Despite Yuki's best attempts, Ataru and
Jiro have become bitter enemies. *There's the jerk!* Ataru sneers as
he sees Jiro on his rounds.

*There's the moron!* Jiro sneers as Ataru passes by.

Luckily, no fight occurs. As Ataru continues his walk, he
tries to remember who and what he is. Still tormented by dreams of an
Oni girl in peril and a disembodied voice threatening both her and
himself, Ataru's memory is almost as blank as a sheet of paper which
has yet to have something written on it. *I wish I knew who I am and
why I get these weird dreams...* he wanders out of the village into
the surrounding forest.

Wild flowers are in bloom. He notices Yuki among them. She
is picking the wild flowers while the sunlight filters through the
canopy of leaves above her. A romantic hue seems to cloak the maiden.
Ataru stops, staring at Yuki for a moment. It seems as if the image
of his dream Oni has superimposed itself over her. "Yuki...is the
Oni...I dream of?" he mutters aloud.

"Huh?!" Yuki stops picking flowers, turning in the direction
of his voice. The superimposition fades. "Is something wrong,
Moroboshi-san?" she notices the curious stare on his face.

"It's nothing," Ataru laughs nervously, scratching the back of
his head. "For a moment, I thought you looked like the Oni I keep
seeing in my dream."

"Oh," she looks disappointed. "I look like an Oni, do I?"

"No! No!!" Ataru waves his arms wildly as he moves to her
side. "Only in this light, you do."

"I wonder," she muses, "...are you always so bold with girls?"

"Seems so. Strangely, you remind me of someone I know."

"Your mother, perhaps?"

"No," he sighs. "I don't even know if I have a mother.
You're just someone who is very caring. Yet...you've got a real loser
trying to marry you."

"Who? Jiro?" she is surprised to hear Ataru referring to
anyone in that manner.

"Of course," Ataru gently grasps her hands. "I feel we're
bound by fate to be together. I'm a lot better than that arrogant
samurai Mendou is, too."

"Well...!"

"Let's not keep away from the truth," Ataru gently draws Yuki
close to him. "Let's run away and have a long life together."

Yuki tries to pull herself away. "But, Jiro would be
furious," she protests. "I'm promised to him! I can't just elope
with someone else. It would shame my family."

"Forget Mendou," he moves to kiss her. "Let's make this a
night to remember!"

Their lips meet as they fall over thanks to his forceful
approach. After landing, Yuki's bouquet soars into the air...

* * *

About a kilometre from the crash site, Lum leads Nassur to a
small shack built out of wreckage. "Here's my surprise!" Lum points.

"Oh, you built a shelter!" Nassur smiles. "That's nice!"

"I used some of the wreckage as building material," the Oni
gently guides the Vosian closer. "And to weld it together, I used my
own zaps. There should be room for both of us...and anyone else."

The shelter is very well-constructed. Sticking out like a
sore thumb in the green of the clearing and forest, it is a square box
with windows, doors, a chimney and a triangular roof. Nassur looks
impressed. "Looks fine," he nods. "Let's look inside."

Moving inside, Nassur notices the shelter has one space. The
floor and ceiling are metal. There are enough windows to let heat
escape. A cooking pit sits in the middle of the floor, the chimney
located directly above to vent smoke. "We can move in today," Lum
muses. "If you're up to it."

"I think so," Nassur places his arm on her shoulder.
"Besides, it's better than living in a wrecked starship."

"*Datcha*," she beams.

* * *

A few hours later, Ataru and Yuki return to the village
hand-in-hand. Their clothing is dishelved. "Now, how can
sword-for-brains do better than that?" he muses.

Yuki smiles. Jiro appears out of nowhere, katana drawn. He
swings it at Ataru, whom immediately catches it! "How dare you try to
seduce my betrothed, you horse thief?" the samurai snarls.

"I didn't seduce anybody!" Ataru snaps.

"That's right," Yuki replies. "He only..."

She flushes. "Only what?" Jiro looks nervous.

"Well, it's a little embarrassing," she giggles. "So, I'll
whisper it in your ear."

Yuki whispers into Jiro's ear. A shocked look appears on his
face. "You did *that*?!!" he gasps, then faces Ataru. "You beast!!!"

"We only played strip poker!" Ataru snaps. "And she won!"

"Yes," Yuki nods. "But he had me down to my underwear."

Steam billows from the samurai's nose. "Women wear
underwear?!" he gasps. "I didn't know that!"

Yuki clobbers him with a sledgehammer! "Pervert!" she growls,
then turns. "Let's go, Ataru. I want you to meet my parents."

"Er...right," Ataru nods as Yuki leads him away.

Jiro is shocked. "Have I been dumped?" he stammers...as the
characters for DUMPED crash on his head!

* * *

Later, Nassur and Lum have moved all salvageable equipment
into the shelter. "That's the last of it," Lum exclaims as she places
a box in a corner. "Maybe we can fix someone this stuff so we can
live a little better."

"Perhaps," he starts a cooking fire. "I got the fire going."

"*Datcha*!" Lum sits beside him. "It's getting dark."

"We'll decide where to put everything tomorrow," Nassur
replies. "Then see what I can fix....plus I've got an idea of how to
get a message to Benten and the others."

"How?" she looks surprised.

"We'll use your spacializers," the Vosian sighs. "And create
a warp to send a message into the future...our present."

"Can it work?"

"We'll only have one chance to do it," Nassur replies. "So,
we'll have to be careful."

"I understand," the Oni nods. "I'm at your disposal."

"Okay," Nassur smiles.

* * *

Back in the future, Benten has dinner with Reiko, Mal and
Nokoko. "I hope this is enough," Nokoko serves the food. "I'm not
used to cooking for more than Mal-chan and I."

"Who does the cooking usually around here?" Benten asks.

"Ataru, normally. Lum does when she's here," Nokoko replies.

Benten faints! "Lum?!!" she gasps. "But, she's one of the
worst cooks on Uru!!!"

"She is?" Mal blinks. "But, my sister's very good!" A
thoughtful look crosses her face. "Then again, Ataru-kun reacted the
same as you when she first took up cooking."

"I can see that!" Benten snorts. "He's been a victim of Lum's
cooking several times. Lum's food once turned him into twins...then
into a werewolf. Then there was the time..."

"I get the idea," Nokoko snorts. "But this is one of Lum's
recipes. Try it...it's great."

Benten reluctantly digs in...a mixture of rice, tofu and sushi
with a side dish of tempura. One taste is all that is necessary.
"Lum made the recipe for this?" the Fukunokami gasps as she digs in.

"That's right," Nokoko smiles. "I've been trying to get Lum
to be a cook at the Tiger Cub. We'd make a mint with her on staff."

"Yeah, Lum can sure cook now," Reiko pats a full stomach.
"When she moves up here, Daddy and I are gonna be blimps."

Soon enough, Benten finishes her meal with a burp. "Lum's a
good cook? I'd never would have guessed it..."

* * *

Long ago, more time has passed. Lum and Nassur have settled
into a routine of building a rocket using one of the Oni's escape pods
and a thruster which weathered the crash. The work is slow due to the
Vosian's injuries. Their hair grows as they shift into new clothes
thanks to another piece of equipment which survived. A food
replicator is undamaged, but it is programmed for drinks and snacks.
For better fare, there remains Lum's nightly raids in the village.

Meanwhile, Ataru continues to suffer both from amnesia and the
weird dreams. His relationship with Yuki has blossomed to the point
where they now date regularly, much to Jiro's ire. Jiro himself
attacks Ataru whenever the latter comes in range. Everything remains
peaceful...save for the raids on their food supply by Lum.

One day, Nassur decides to remove Lum's splint. "There, it's
off," he nods as the last of the bandages fall away.

Lum relaxes, still unnerved by having the splint removed.
"*Datcha*," she sighs, then gently moves her leg. "It's a little
stiff, but there doesn't seem to be any pain."

"That's to be expected," he nods. "Ataru did a damn good job
splinting it. Where did he learn how to do that?!"

"I guess there are things the Cyborg can do which Darling
still hadn't figured out yet," she sighs.

He nods, not noticing her use of past tense when referring to
Ataru. "Now try to walk on it."

Since she broke her leg, the Oni relied on her flying powers
to get around. Save for the rare times she needed to walk, she always
made sure she did not put much weight on the shattered limb. Lum
slowly, carefully stands on her both of her legs. "It's a little
weak," Lum reports. "But I guess that's to be expected."

"Take a step," Nassur urges.

Lum moves her wounded leg forward. Like a baby, her walking
strides are a bit awkward. "It seems strong enough to take my
weight," Lum smiles, moving around...

...then she trips over something, falling over Nassur! The
force of Lum's body causes them to spill onto the floor. In the
suddenness of the accident, their lips caress in an accidental kiss.
As soon as they notice what has happened, they break away and stand,
clearly embarrassed. "Oops!" she looks down. "Sorry, Nassur-chan. I
guess I'm not used to walking any more."

"It's all right, Lum-chan," he smiles. "I've had more nastier
things dropped on top of me!"

Both laugh. "Now you'll be able to find Ataru," Nassur sighs.

Her smile fades as she looks down. "What's wrong?" he prods.

"Nassur-chan," she stammers, tears flowing down her cheeks,
"...I think Darling's...dead!"

The Oni wails. "Are you sure?" disbelief crosses his face.

Lum produces Ataru's comb. "I found this in a river near
here," she sniffs. "It was shortly before I found that village and
found out we're in the past."

"Did you find his body?" he inquires.

"No," she shakes her head. "But he hasn't come back yet. So,
he must be dead!" With another wail, she slumps into his embrace.
"Just when Darling and I were getting together!!" she sobs, "...this
happens! Oh, what about Noa?!"

Surprise crosses his face. "Who's Noa?"

Lum rises. "She...she's been trying to keep Darling and I
together. I...met her after the Spirit War...I think. She's...from
another planet...a place whose people are interested in Darling."

"Curious," he muses. "Then again, what makes this woman
different from anyone else?"

"Well...in our dreams...she and her friends...they made it
clear that while they're interested in Darling...they don't mind
Darling and I being together," her lips tremble. "She...she was the
first person who had any connection to Darling...who didn't mind my
interest in him," sobs start to shake her again. "Now, that's the
only thing that's left!! Our dreams!"

Lum wails. "Listen, Lum," Nassur gently jostles her out of
her mourning. "Get a hold of yourself! We need to keep out heads if
we're to get back to our own time. Ataru would want us to continue to
find a way back."

The Oni slowly regains her decorum. "I'll try," she moans.
"But what do you want to do?"

"First," he considers. "Disguise yourself and find out where
and when we are in Japan. I don't care who you ask, just do it."

"*Datcha*," she nods...

* * *

Meanwhile, Jiro is on his rounds. He notices Ataru with Yuki
harvesting rice. *Bastard!* he snarls on seeing his most hated rival
with his betrothed. *He's stealing my girl. He's a horse thief who
will break her heart in a moment...while I, Jiro Mendou, will treat
her with the respect she deserve. I'm the greatest samurai in my
family...* embarrassment flashes across his face as he remembers
something, *...um, the only samurai in my family...* he reminds
himself, then steel determination returns, *...but still this village
respects me as its protector!* He then sees a group of children
staring. "Oh, hello there, little ones," Jiro smiles. "Out playing?"

The kids all make faces at Jiro. "Bleah!!! Mendou-san is a
dork!!!" they chant as one. "All he sees are Onis!!!"

The samurai then draws his katana. "Why, you little..." he
snarls, causing them to flee.

"Mendou-san is a dork!!!" they taunt as they run away.
"Moroboshi-san's much better!!!"

Fury clouds his face. *So!!* he snarls, *...he has turned the
village against me?!! I shall get back the respect I deserve!! I
shall find that Oni and bring her back to the village to face trial!*

He does not notice a flock of crows overhead. "I shall bring
that Oni to justice!!!" he roars to the heavens. "And the Gods
Themselves shall be my witnesses!!"

In answer, some crow droppings fall on his face! "I see I
need to convince even the Gods of the honesty of my quest!" he
sputters as he returns home to get his armour...

* * *

Later, Nassur sees Lum dressed in a tiger-striped kimono.
"How do I look?" she smiles. "The clothing replicator made this up."
Her hair is arranged to cover her horns and pointed ears just enough
to, except for her hair, allow the Oni to pass for a local girl.

"Looks fine," he nods. "Except for the hair colour."

"I know," she inspects herself with a mirror. "But I don't
have any hair dye."

"It'll have to do," he sighs. "Maybe if you smile cute
enough, no one will notice."

"I'll try," she giggles, moving to depart.

"Good luck," he nods.

"See you later," Lum waves as she flies away.

Once she is out of sight, Nassur feels weak. He grips his
heart, sinking to his knees. "My c-chest..." he groans. "I guess I
did a little too much today."

* * *

Hours pass. Lum searches the forest for any sign of life.
However, the only living things noticeable are trees and animals.
"Where are the people?" she sighs while resting under a tree. "I
should have found somebody by now." Voices then become audible.
"Oh," she looks hopeful. "Someone's coming now!"

Lum sees three Buddhist monks approaching. All are dressed in
orange robes similar to Cherry's, using canes to help them walk.
Small sacks are over their shoulder. "It's a lovely day for a
pilgrimage," an elderly monk comments.

"Aye," a middle-aged monk nods. "Even Buddha himself would
tarry on a day like today."

"Let's quicken our pace," a young, tall, slim and energetic
monk urges. "We have many a mile to make up before the night comes."

Lum appears in front of them! "STOP!!!!!!"

The Oni's appearance causes them to all embarrassingly collide
into each other, falling into a pile of holiness. "S-sorry about
that," Lum stammers, sweat pouring down her hair.

"That's all right, my daughter," the young monk stands. "What
is the problem?"

"I'd like to ask you a few questions," Lum relaxes.

"Then ask, my daughter," the elderly monk muses.

"Do you happen to know today's date and the names of the
nearby towns?" the Oni looks nervous. "I'm a little lost."

The monks consider the question. "It's the year 1496," the
middle-aged monk responds. "It's July 20. We're headed for Osaka
from Shizuoka which is a walk of fifty miles south of here. Do you
wish to accompany us until you get your bearings?"

"No thanks," Lum bows. "I must be going,"

The Oni quickly retreats. The three monks stare as she
departs. "Strange girl," the young monk muses.

"Aye," the elderly one says. "There is something different
about her. But I guess all green-haired girls are..."

It hits them! "G-green-HAIRED girl?!!" they stammers.

They notice Lum flying away. Her hair is now loose, her horn
buds and pointed ears displayed for all to see. The monks are
awestruck. "An Oni?!!" they stammer.

The three laugh...until the middle-aged one barks "This is
**not** a laughing matter!!!" He then relaxes. "Next time, we won't
bring any sake on our pilgrimage!! It's making us see weird things!"

The other two readily nod as they depart...

* * *

At the village mill, Ataru has afternoon tea with Oji-san and
his assistants. "Still can't remember anything?" the elder muses.

"Not a thing," Ataru sips his tea. "It's like something is
deliberately blocking my memory. Every time I try to remember, my
mind gets foggy."

"Curious," the old man hums. "You've been here over a month
and still you can't remember a thing."

"It's a pain in the ass, that's for sure," Ataru quips.

A panicked Yuki rushes into the mill. "Ataru!!! Oji-san!!!"
she yells, kneeling beside them. "It's terrible!!! Just terrible!!!"

"What is, Yuki-san?" Ataru looks anxious.

Yuki pulls out a piece of paper, handing it to Oji-san. "I
went to Jiro's house," she begins, "...but his parents said he had
gone to find that Oni girl who he said has been stealing our food."

Oji-san reads the paper. Ataru looks over the old man's
shoulder. "I see," Oji-san hums.

"Is this for real?" Ataru muses. "Is he serious?"

"He went out in his full armour," Yuki replies. "And he even
took his arrow target board with him."

"It *is* serious," Ataru quips.

Yuki bows low to Ataru. "Please. You must go find him."

"Why me?!" Ataru points to himself.

"Because Jiro will respond more to your pleading than mine,"
Yuki adds.

"Oh, he responds all right," Ataru sighs. "I just don't wanna
get a head shorter. But, all right; I'll end his little fantasy." He
picks up a wok and a chopping knife, moving to leave. "Fear not,
young Yuki," Ataru points his knife to the sky. "I shall save Jiro
from the Oni girl. Lo, I shall enter the rapture of battle...!"

He gets clobbered by a hammer welded by the mother! "Not with
*my* wok and chopping knife!" she snarls, taking her utensils back.

"Have you entered the rapture of battle yet?" Oji-san muses.

"Lo, I've been ruptured..." Ataru moans.

* * *

By the next morning, the time messenger machine is complete.
Nassur places a rolled piece of paper inside the escape pod and closes
it. "It's too bad there isn't enough thrust to carry passengers," Lum
sighs. "Maybe we could have saved ourselves."

"Perhaps," Nassur nods. "Now let's move this thing out of the
shelter."

Slowly, Nassur and Lum shift the huge machine as far from the
shelter as possible. To the Oni, this is only routine. However, to
the Vosian, thanks to his injuries, this is quite an onerous task.
Finally, an hour later, the two stop, having moved the machine some
distance from the shelter. Stopping to rest, Lum notices Nassur
gripping his chest. "Is something wrong?" she nervously inquires.
"You seem in pain."

"I'm fine," Nassur tries to hide his pain with a forced smile.

She does not believe his words, but does not dispute the
matter. "Okay," she nods. "Let's get this started."

Lum and Nassur walk around the machine, activating its
controls. "Spacializer One activated," Nassur reports.

"Spacializer Two activated," Lum replies.

He breathes deep as he activates another control. "Throwing
the switch to the thruster...now!"

As soon as Nassur throws the switch, he and Lum quickly
retreat to a safe distance. The machine glows as it levitates, smoke
billowing from the thruster unit. Above the machine, a spacial warp
forms. "It's working," Lum yips in delight.

The thruster fires, flinging the entire machine flies into the
warp. Once through, the warp disappears. "There is goes," the Oni
sighs. "Now all we can do is wait, right, Nassur-chan?"

Nassur does not respond. Lum turns, horrified to see that has
passed out! "Nassur-chan!!!" the Oni cries...

* * *

Nassur awakens later, now in the shelter. Lum nervously sits
beside him. "Nassur-chan," she gasps. "Are you alright?"

"I think so," Nassur tries to sit up...but is forced down by a
bout of dizziness. "Then again..."

"Oh, you're strained yourself carrying the machine out of
here," Lum sighs. "Lay down for a while, Nassur."

"I can't," he tries to sit up again. "I have to help you."

Lum forces him down. "No, *you* listen!!!" she snarls.
"You're badly hurt!! I won't have you dying on me!"

"O-okay," Nassur nods, surprised by Lum's forcefulness.

"Now," Lum moves to the door. "I'm gonna go get some firewood!
I don't want to come back and see you up and doing *anything* or else
I'll make you wish that you **did** die in the crash!"

"Right," he nervously nods. "Say, Lum, how come you sound so
much like me?"

"I guess I've been hanging around you too much," she smiles
before leaving.

Lum flies out of the shelter to a nearby wood pile. She takes
a piece of wood, then using her lightning, she splits it. Unseen by
her, Lum is being watched from a nearby bush. It is Jiro, analysing
her every move. Finally, after Lum finishes cutting a large armful of
wood and carries them back to the shelter, he withdraws. *I found
her!* the samurai smiles. *But, I need help to capture her...*

Elsewhere, Ataru looks for Jiro. "Where's sword-for-brains?"

He is answered immediately when Jiro leaps out of the bush
beside him, soaring high into the air as if attacking. "ATARU!!!!"

He lands right into a waiting fist! "Why did you do that?"
the samurai groans as he falls to the ground, holding his nose.

"Conditioned response," Ataru replies. "Yuki's worried about
you, Jiro. Forget the Oni and come back home."

Jiro swings his katana at Ataru, who catches it once again.
"I can't go home yet," he snarls. "I just found that Oni's lair!"

"You don't look like you're drunk!" Ataru sighs.

"WHO SAYS I'M DRUNK?!?!?!" Jiro yells, then drags Ataru into
the forest. "Come on!!! I'll show you!!"

In moments, Jiro takes Ataru to his observation point. He is
quick to notice the shelter. "A tiger-striped shack?" he blinks.

"There's more!" Jiro hisses. "Watch!"

They notice Lum emerge with a water jug. "I'm just going to
get some water, Nassur-chan," she calls out. "Stay out of trouble!!"

Lum then flies away. Ataru nearly falls down, awestruck.
"Now, what were you saying about this Oni not existing?" Jiro muses.

"So she exists," Ataru snaps. "Sue me!"

"Let's get back to the village and get every available man to
capture that Oni so she can be tried and executed for her crimes
against us," Jiro turns to withdraw.

Ataru watches Lum fly away. *She looks familiar!* he gasps.

Jiro grabs Ataru by his kimono. "Get moving, Moroboshi!!"

* * *

Centuries in the future, Benten sits alone in Oshika. It is
mid-afternoon. Reiko and the others have gone to either school or the
Tiger Cub. Benten stares at a wedding photo of her and Nassur in her
hand. *Over a month...* she sighs. *A month and then you're
gone...and all I'm left with is my ring, this wedding photo, and the
memories. I know in my heart that you and the others are alive,
Nassur. I can feel it in my heart...*

Sakura appears! "Benten. Can we talk?"

Benten faints, then clobbers Sakura with a sledgehammer!
"Shit! Where did you come from?!"

Sakura sits beside Benten, taking a banana from a bowl of
fruit. "The door was open," she starts to eat, "...so I came in."

"You're lucky Nokoko wasn't here or you'd've been turfed out
on your ear!" Benten growls, then relaxes. "So, what's on your mind?"

"I want to talk to you about what happened to Nassur, Lum and
Ataru," Sakura starts on an apple. "It's been three days. There's
been no sign of any wreckage or bodies. It looks like you'll have to
face the fact that Nassur and the others may not come back."

"Stop it!!!" Benten snaps. "Stop saying Nassur's dead!! He's
not dead...and neither is Lum or Ataru!"

"How do you know?" Sakura starts on an orange.

The huntress considers the question. "I don't know," she
sniffs. "But I have this feeling something is going to happen that
will settle this...eh?" Benten notices Sakura staring out the picture
window. "Am I boring you?!" she snaps.

"I was just looking at that glowing object headed straight for
us!" Sakura points outside.

Benten turns...just as the window explodes and the entire room
is showered with broken glass and machinery parts! Luckily, the two
women take cover behind the furniture, thus are protected from injury.
When the smoke clears, Benten and Sakura notice the room now looks as
if a bomb had exploded. "W-what was that...?!" the former stammers.

"I don't know," Sakura muses, then notices Nassur's message
sitting on the newly repaired living room table. "What's this?!"

Benten looks over Sakura's shoulder to read. "It's from
Nassur," she smiles, recognizing the hand-writing.

"It's a note stating that they're lost in the year 1496 and
they need help to get back to our time," Sakura muses.

"Does it give a location?" Benten asks.

"Yes, it does," Sakura says. "But how do we get back nearly
five centuries in time?!"

"The 'Renegade' can do it," Benten muses. "We just go around
the sun at full warp speed, making a slingshot manoeuvre, then break
away at the last second. It should do it."

"I see," Sakura nods, still not comprehending the physics of
time-travel. "But, you'll need help."

Benten nods. "Okay. I'll get Lan, Mendou, Megane and his
nerd squad, Koosei..."

"And myself," Sakura volunteers.

"Of course," Benten smiles. "Let's get them together."

"At once."

Once the door closes, a transmitted on a small electronic bug
located by the door flashes. The bug belongs to Kurama, who has
eavesdropped on what has happened from her ship, now in low orbit over
Japan. "So," Kurama growls. "Benten **thinks** she's going to rescue
Nassur?! Not without me, she won't!"

* * *

In the fifteenth century, Jiro and Ataru meet with Oji-san.
The sky is clouding over. The distant rumble of thunder can be heard.
With them are other village representatives. "So, this Oni does
exist, eh?" Oji-san muses.

"We both saw her," Ataru nods.

"But she has lightning powers and can fly," Jiro reports.
"Her lightning is very powerful. Do you know of a way to stop her
powers without having us killed first?"

The elder muses. "Do I know of a way to stop her powers?" he
laughs. "Do I know of a way to stop her powers?"

"Do you?" Ataru asks.

"Nope."

Everyone faints! "Just kidding," Oji-san laughs. "I think
I've got something that will do the trick!"

He hobbles to a large trunk. After several minutes of rifling
through its contents, he returns carrying to long yellow ribbons.
"Here you go?" Oji-san smiles, handing the ribbons to Jiro.

"Ribbons?" the samurai looks confused.

"Not just any ribbons, boy," Oji-san smiles. "These are magic
ribbons. Tie them on the Oni's horns and she shall lose all her
powers...or so the Buddhist monk who sold them to me said."

"Magic ribbons?" Ataru hums, crossing his arms. "Won't she be
able to remove them."

"Only the person who puts them on can remove them," Oji-san
reports.

"I see," Jiro says. "We'll try them. But still we'll need a
lot of luck to skin that cat."

Thunder roars, startling everyone. "But, first we must
prepare for the storm," Oji-san looks up.

* * *

Hours later, the thunderstorm is at its height. In their
shelter, Lum and Nassur are in bed as the thunder echoes and rainwater
drips through the cracks in the seams. Nassur ignores the storm while
Lum shivers in fear. *W-what a violent storm...!!* she stammers.

"Is it raining, Lum?" Nassur moans.

"*D-datcha*," Lum stammers as another blast is heard.

"You sound scared, Lum."

"W-who? M-me?" she miserably fails to hide her fright.
"Scared of a little thunder and lightning? N-never."

Another blast of thunder then sends the Oni trying to crawl
into the Vosian's futon! "M-m-move over!!" she gasps. "I-I'm
sleeping with you."

"I thought you weren't scared?" he grins.

"W-who, m-me?" she gulps. "I-I just wanna keep you company."

"Okay," he lifts the covers. Lum immediately dives in, laying
as close to her former teacher as possible. "Just don't snore."

"Th-thanks," she nods.

"I thought you conquered your fear of thunderstorms."

"I never did," Lum replies. "Hold me, please?"

"Okay, okay," Nassur slips an arm around her. "It reminds me
of the time we went camping with Benten. You were so scared of the
storm you nearly smothered Benten with your own body."

"Well, you scared me," Lum retorts. "You came into our tent
with the flashlight pointed to your face. How else could I react?"

Thunder roars, causing the Oni to fiercely embrace her
teacher. "*TCHA!!!!*"

"Easy, Lum. It's only thunder. It won't hurt you!"

"S-sorry," she mutters. "I'm not as brave as I let on."

"Only a fool is without fear," he sighs. "Now go to sleep."

"I'll try," Lum replies...

* * *

In the twentieth century, Benten and Sakura has finished
"recruiting" their rescue squad. Everyone meets on the bridge of the
"Renegade." "Okay, troops," the Fukunokami sighs. "We're going back
in time to rescue Nassur, Lum and Ataru. It'll be dangerous."

"You're right that it's dangerous," a familiar voice declares.

Everyone sees Kurama entering the bridge flanked by her
attendants. "Going to save Natsu-kun and the others without my
help?!" Kurama snarls at Benten, moving towards the command chair. "I
can tell you that you cannot make it with a crew such as this!!"

"How did you find out about this?" Benten snaps.

"Never mind how I found out," Kurama smirks, sitting on the
command chair. "But, do you or any of the morons you picked to crew
this ship know anything of travelling through time?!"

"Well," Benten muses, then shrugs. "I don't think so."

"I thought so," Kurama snorts in triumph. "Why not all of you
come aboard my ship and we'll take you into the past with us."

"What's the catch?" the Fukunokami glares.

"What catch?" the Tengu replies.

"You know," Benten snaps. "What price do you want me to pay
so we can go rescue Nassur and the others?!"

"Why, *I'm* not that spiteful," Kurama sniffs.

Benten looks ill. "Easy, stomach...don't turn over now."

Kurama and Benten launch another spat of **very** obscene
words (even I was offended...M.S.). Everyone else glares in shock.
"These two are worse than Mendou and Ataru!!" Megane sighs.

"I agree," Mendou nods.

The fight is ended when Sakura belts them both with two big
paper fans. "ENOUGH!!!!!!" the priestess transforms into the Scornful
Buddha. "WILL YOU TWO END THE POSTURING AND LETS GET GOING!!!!!!"

The two aliens are understandably intimidated. "Well, I guess
we could," Benten stammers.

"I think so," Kurama nods. "We are in a state of truce until
our return to our time."

"That's better," Sakura reverts to normal. "Let's do it."

As everyone moves to head off the "Renegade," Old One flutters
to his mistress. "Princess K., Princess K.!!!" he exclaims, pointing
to Kurama's cruiser. "There's an intruder preparing to hijack the
ship!!!" he stammers.

"What?!!" Kurama looks surprised. "What's going on?!!"

Everyone runs out the "Renegade" to board the princess'
cruiser. Racing onto the bridge, they stop, gaping in shock as a
familiar voice barks. "Will you idiots get out of my way so I can
work this damn tub!!!"

"***MIE?!?!?!***" everyone not of Tengu exclaims.

Mie looks back from the helm controls, one hand programming
the ship for its mission, the other holding Ataru's *qu'f-piaqu'r* to
keep the bridge crew from interfering. "Oh, there you are!!" she
snorts. "Trying to launch a rescue mission without me, eh?!!"

"Who are you?!!" Kurama demands. "Who gives you the right to
take over this vessel?!!"

The princess finds herself facing the business end of Ataru's
musket. "I'm Mie Seikou!!" the Kyushu native snaps. "I'm Lum-chan's
and Ataru-chan's friend and as long as **those** six useless
dingbats," she nods to Lan, Mendou and the guards, "...are on this
rescue mission, **I** come along to ensure they don't do anything
stupid, like try to kill Ataru-chan!!!"

"'USELESS DINGBATS?!?!?!'" the six dingbats in question cry.

"What makes an amateur like you think you can do this?!"
Kurama demands.

Her vision is then filled with what to her looks like a gaping
black hole! "This and my friendship with Ataru-chan gives me all the
right in the galaxy!!!" Mie icily growls. "You got any more stupid
questions, Wings?!!"

"N-no...!" Kurama stammers, backing away. "Pl-please point
that s-somewhere else!!"

Mie hands the musket to Koosei, then sits at helm. "Then
shaddup and let me fly!" she growls, then fires the retrothrusters.

Everyone else is nearly squashed into the aft bulkhead as the
cruiser rockets into the sky! "Hang on!!!" Mie maniacally cackles.

In minutes, the effect of Earth's gravity dissipates, allowing
everyone to peel themselves off the wall. The Tengu immediately
flutter around Mie. "By the Eternal Nest!" Old One exclaims. "The
course to commence the slingshot has already been programmed in!!"

Kurama blinks. "Do the computations check out?!"

"Yes!" the scannery officer happily nods. "Perfectly
calculated to the twentieth decimal place!! Confirmed three times!"

The princess stares at Mie. "But...how?" she looks at Koosei.

"That's what we'd like to know," the teacher chuckles.

"You all better sit!" Mie warns. "Here comes the rough part!"

Everyone quickly strap themselves in as the cruiser races at
the Sun...

* * *

In the past, a sunny, cloudless day dawns with the chirp of
birds. In their shelter, Nassur and Lum find themselves in each
others arms. "Oh, it's morning already," Lum yawns, sitting up and
stretching. "How are you feeling this morning, Nassur?"

"Fine," he weakly moans as he rises. "All things considered."

"Did you sleep well?" she muses as she prepares breakfast.

"Yeah," he watches her get some fruit. "Especially after that
storm stopped."

"That's good," Lum starts to carve the fruit. "I went to
sleep as soon as I was in your arms."

As she works, he gazes at her as if she was his wife instead
of just a good friend. "I hope you'll like this," the Oni smiles.

"I'm sure I will," he rises, stealthily moving behind her.

As Nassur closes the range, a mischievous look appears on his
face. In seconds, he gently shifts Lum's hip length green hair aside
and kisses the base of her neck. The Oni jolts, understandably
surprised. "N-nassur-chan, is that you?" she stammers, flushing.

"Yeah."

"Y-you kissed me on the back of the neck?" Lum faces him.

"That's the sexiest part of the body to a Vosian," Nassur
replies. "You have the cutest neck I've ever seen on an Oni."

"I see," she blushes...

...then her lips caress his. At first, they are awkward. As
time progresses, they becomes more and more passionate. After what
seems an eternity, both move on the other's clothes. "Let's do it,"
Lum purrs, unzipping his tunic.

"Okay," Nassur nods, unzipping her dress...

...then all motion stops. "What are we doing?!" Nassur gasps,
pulling his hand away as the other zips his tunic. "I'm married!!!"

"*Tcha*!" Lum stammers as she pulls away, buttoning her dress.
"What am I thinking?!! I nearly seduced my best friend's husband!!"

Apologetic looks cross their faces. "I'm sorry," they sigh.

Silence falls over the shelter as they stare at the other. "I
don't know what I was thinking," Nassur shakes his head, "...but I
just couldn't keep my hands off of you."

"So, did I," Lum nods, a pained look crossing her face. "I
guess we miss our loved ones...but you have something I don't. You
can return to Benten's arms...and I'll never see Darling again!"

"I know," he nods. "Once Benten gets here, we'll tear this
country apart looking for him. We'll find him...or his body."

"Thanks," Lum nods, tears staining her cheek. "I'm sure
Grandma'll appreciate that. Wherever Darling is, I hope he's happy."

* * *

In the village, Jiro and Ataru coordinate every able-bodied
men for an attack on Lum. "Do we have enough rope?" Jiro asks.

"Yes!!!" the villagers roar in unison.

"Do we have enough bandages?" Ataru asks.

"Yeah," an elderly man nods. "We got everything. Pitchforks,
sledgehammers, torches, ropes, popcorn, peanuts, programs, pennants."

"Er...right," Ataru sighs, sweat pouring down his forehead.

Jiro draws his katana, gesturing to the crowd of men.
"Everyone!!" he yells. "Over the last month, we've been bothered by a
flying Oni who's been stealing the food from our own families'
mouths!! Will we allow that to go unpunished?!"

"NO!!!!!!" the villagers yell in unison.

"Will you help catch that Oni and be rid of her once and for
all?!!"

"YES!!!!!!"

"Will you follow and help me get rid of that Oni?!!"

"YES!!!!!!"

"Will you appoint **me** to be the new village protector
should Jiro get killed?!!" Ataru then demands.

"YES!!!!!!"

Jiro swings his katana at Ataru, who as usual catches it
between his hands. "Who said **you** were leading this attack?!!"

"Hey!!!" Ataru snaps. "Ever heard of being prepared?!!"

Jiro turns to the villagers. "Let's go then!"

Everyone roars as the party departs the village. In the sky,
one can see the characters for THE STRENGTH OF YOUTH.

* * *

The unsuspecting Lum and Nassur finish their breakfast. The
tension between them is noticeable after their close encounter.
Neither have spoken since almost surrendering to their carnal desires.
Finally, Lum finishes her breakfast. "That hit the spot," a nervous
smile tweaks her mouth. "How do you feel, Nassur-chan?"

"I've been better," Nassur sighs, finishing his breakfast,
then handing his bowl to Lum.

"We're getting low on food again," the Oni sighs as she turns
to clean up. "I'll have to go get some."

"That's fine," the Vosian removes his kill-belt. "Take this
with you." he then hands the knotted white belt to his former student.

"Y-your kill-belt...?!!" she stammers, hesitantly taking his
offering. "B-but...I can't take this!!"

"In Vosian tradition," he explains, "...the kill-belt always
go to the warrior of the household. Since I can't be the warrior of
this household for obvious reasons, you'll have to wear it for now."

Still surprised by his action, she slips the chichi bear
fur-rope around her waist. However, since the kill-belt is fashioned
to be worn by a man, it hangs limp around Lum's hips. "I'm too skinny
to wear it," she sighs. "It'll come off when I fly or walk."

Nassur stands, adjusting the kill-belt until one loop is over
Lum's shoulders. "Where it like this," he sighs. "Then you won't
have any problems."

"Okay," she hesitantly nods, noticing that his kill-belt
easily clashes with her tiger-striped dress. "I'll leave now to get
some more food," she adds, taking a couple of empty sacks with her
before she flies out.

As soon as the Oni is out of the door, the Vosian doubles over
in pain. *I-I didn't wanna tell her the real reason I gave her my
kill-belt...!!* he painfully moans. *I might not be around when Lum
comes back...*

Nassur staggers to his hands and knees...just as his tracking
powers sense someone entering. He looks up to see several of the
villagers standing there, all armed with anything which could possibly
be used as a weapon. They look grimly at the hunter, who stares at
them like a cornered, wounded animal...

* * *

An hour later, Lum returns to the shelter carrying a couple of
sacks of food she has collected from the village and the surrounding
forest. "I didn't expect to be gone so long," the Oni sighs as she
lands. "I hope I didn't worry Nassur-chan too much."

Once she places her feet on the ground in front of the
shelter's door, she immediately stops, an ill feeling crossing her
heart. *There's something wrong!* her eyes shift left and right.
*It's **too** quiet! I hope nothing happened when I was gone.*

Lum moves to step inside and...

...is promptly jumped by a dozen villagers with heavy ropes!
Before she can mount any form of defense, the Oni is immediately
rendered helpless. "W-what is this?!!" she demands, trying
desperately to free herself.

Jiro approaches her. "Oni," the samurai threatens the captive
alien with his katana, "...you and your companion have raided your
last village in **this** life."

Horror crosses her face. "Nassur-chan?!!" she gasps. "What
have you done with him?!!"

A couple of villagers produce Nassur, now unconscious and
severely beaten, from behind the shack. "Your companion gave us a
fine battle," Jiro smiles, admiration in his voice as he remembers
what occurred after her departure. "But we were the better this day!"

"*Datcha!*" the Oni is horrified, then a pleading look crosses
her face. "Leave him alone!!! He's badly hurt!!! Do what you want
to me, but please leave Nassur alone!!!"

Her pleas fall on deaf ears. "Enough pleading!!!" Jiro
snarls. "We have one last thing to tie on you before we take you back
to our village for trial!!"

The samurai snaps his fingers. Ataru emerges from hiding,
holding the two golden magical ribbons. "I have them right here!!" he
giggles. "Two power-removing ribbons!"

Disbelief crosses the Oni's face on seeing the LAST person she
believed she would encounter in this situation. "D-darling...?!!" she
gasps, then tearfully gasps. "DARLING!!!!!!"

Surprise crosses everyone's face. "'Darling?!'" Ataru gasps.
"Who's Darling?!"

"'Darling?!'" Jiro gasps, then swings his katana at Ataru.
"You **know** this Oni?!!"

Ataru catches the katana between his hands. "I never saw her
before in my life!!!" the amnesiac protests before shoving Jiro away,
returning to the task of tying the ribbons on Lum's horns. "Now,
sword-for-brains, if you don't mind, let me finish this!!!"

"Darling, no...!!" Lum vainly protests.

Ataru finishes tying the horns. The Oni feels her powers
disappear. "Don't you recognize me?!!" she hopefully stares at her
boyfriend. "I'm Lum!!! I'm your lover!!!"

Everyone faints! "'Lover?!!'" Ataru yells, shaking his head.
"I would never pair with an Oni...especially ones who would allow
innocents to starve by stealing their food!!!"

"Take them away," Jiro orders.

The villagers quickly move the aliens away. "Darling!!!" Lum
pleads. "Please!! You must remember me!!! Darling!!!"

As her pleas fade, the samurai and the amnesiac stare at the
other. "She claims you are her lover!!" Jiro snarls.

"Hey, she's a crook!!" Ataru shrugs. "She'd say anything to
get out of getting punished...I guess!"

Ataru then follows the parade of villagers. *That Oni must be
joking!!* the Oshika teen hisses. *I can't be her lover!! I'd know
if I was married or engaged or had a girlfriend...wouldn't I?!! If
only I could remember!! But every time I try, my head hurts...*

Jiro snorts to himself. "He doesn't know that he has been
talking his thoughts aloud all this time!!!"

* * *

An hour later, Lum and the still unconscious Nassur are
dragged into the village like prized stags killed by hunters.
Expectantly, the villagers jeer and hurl abuse towards the aliens as
they are paraded through the streets for all to see. Oji-san's
assistants watch from the mill, both impressed by the impromptu party
which has resulted from the villagers' adventure. "Isn't this
nice?!!" the mother sighs. "Everyone's so happy now!!"

"Yeah!!" the younger girl nods. "We should have something
like this again **every** year!"

Lum and Nassur are roughly shoved into a cage built in an open
field of bamboo, the beams tied with rope. "There!" Jiro snarls
triumphantly. "You're in jail now!! You will be tried and **when**
found guilty, you will be both burned at the stake!!!"

The samurai returns to the celebrating villagers. The Oni
shakes her head, more frightened than ever. "Now what do we do?!!"
she moans. "Darling doesn't know us and we're gonna get tried and
executed!! I hope a rescue happens soon!"

* * *

Over a hundred million kilometres away, a speck of light
emerges from the Sun's corona. That light becomes Kurama's cruiser as
it emerges from its time-warp. On the bridge, everyone recovers from
the rough ride they have just undergone. "Report!" Kurama orders.

The sensory officer looks at his readouts. "I believe we've
been successful, Princess K.!" he happily exclaims.

"Ship's integrity is intact," the engineer officer adds. "We
may proceed at our leisure!"

"Very well, then," Kurama stares at Mie. "It seems we owe you
our thanks, Seikou-san. Do you do this often?!"

Mie smiles. "Actually, that was my first time."

Everyone faints! "Er...right!!" Koosei stammers.

The regular helm officer relieves Mie so she can take a break
after being forcefully confined in the Tengu-scale chair. She leaves
the bridge for the cafeteria and a coffee. Kurama orders the ship
towards Earth. "I'd normally swear that was beginner's luck," Old One
muses, whispering to Benten. "But that woman is too skilled to be
considered an amateur. I'd personally conclude that she's been
piloting for many years...a century or more, even!"

"So would Nassur and I," the Fukunokami nods in agreement.
"When Ataru's kid was kidnapped by the Masters of Noukiios, Mie got us
there a hell of a lot faster than if he or I were driving! There've
been other times, too...!"

"Really?!" the elderly Tengu muses, then lowers his voice.
"Oh, speaking of which, we heard of what Moroboshi-san did to those
slavers. Given the...obvious changes which seem to have befallen him,
would you still believe him...willing to mate with the Princess?"

Benten considers the question. "If I were you," she hisses,
"...go find someone else. Ataru strikes me as the type who wouldn't
want to father a child unless he had a personal hand in raising him."

Old One considers that information. "Princess!" the sensory
officer notes as the image of Earth grows on the front viewscreen,
"...we are now approaching Earth. A detailed analysis of the existing
technology indicates that we have reached the target era."

"Excellent," Kurama nods. "Commence scanning for Vosian and
Oni lifesigns! Be quick about it!!"

"Yes, Your Highness!" the Tengu returns to his watch.

"Getting a little anxious?!" Benten sneers at the Tengu
princess. "Or should I say a little *horny*?!!"

"I want to **help** Natsu-kun!!" Kurama returns the Fukunokami
huntress' incensed glare. "If I could, I'd help him get away from the
likes of *you*!"

"Oh, yeah?!!" Benten snarls.

Both are then separated by Koosei's Saturn Five! "I believed
you two declared a truce before you came on this trip!" he snaps.

The two women are understandably intimidated...

* * *

In the village mill, Ataru, Jiro and Yuki meet with Oji-san,
his assistants and the rest of the village council to discuss what to
do with Nassur and Lum. "As you can see," the samurai announces.
"The case is air-tight. The Oni and her companion are guilty of
crimes against our village. They should be executed immediately."

"But shouldn't we wait for the judge to arrive?" a middle-aged
man inquires. "He will be here in a few days."

"A few days will leave too much time for them to escape," Jiro
insists. "Besides, their crimes are so heinous that execution is the
only punishment. When you look at..."

As Jiro goes into a long-winded speech about why Lum and
Nassur should be immediately disposed of, Ataru considers what Lum had
said to him when she was captured. *She said I was her lover...but
she's an Oni!!* he sighs. *How could I marry an Oni and not know it?!
I mean I never even **knew** Oni even existed except in legends! She
doesn't look like a legend to me!* He then considers Lum's teacher.
*It took almost **all** of us to take him down and **he** was injured.
I'd hate to be his enemy when he was healthy! But...I can't shake
this feeling that I should be pleading their case!*

"Do you have anything to add, Moroboshi-san?" Jiro's inquiry
breaks his train of thought.

He looks surprised. "Er...no! Nothing!" he shakes his head.

Yuki notices his lack of attention. "Is something wrong,
Ataru?" she gently inquires. "You look distracted."

"It must have been the excitement," Ataru scratches the back
of his head. "The fact that the Oni said I was her lover threw me for
a loop for a minute."

"She must be lying," Yuki snorts. "I mean what type of man
would marry an Oni?! He'd have to be very stupid or very strange to
do so!!"

Ataru sneezes!

* * *

Night falls. Lum, still hopelessly bound in her cage, stares
helplessly at the still-unconscious Nassur. <<Nassur!!>> she
psi-links to her former tutor. <<Can you hear me?! Are you
alright?!! Please respond!!!>>

Nothing. Sadness crosses the Oni's face. <<I'm sorry things
had to turn out this way>>, she sniffs. <<I only hope our message got
to Benten and she's on her way here.>>

By that time, the village meeting has ended. Council members,
Jiro and Yuki return to their homes. "Looks like the meeting's over."

She notices Jiro approaching. Once he is within range, Jiro
draws his katana and threateningly gestures towards Lum. "It has been
decided," the samurai announces. "We have found you guilty of
stealing food from our village. The sentence is death. It will be
carried out tomorrow night! You and your companion have that long to
make peace with your creators before we send you to meet them!!"

"What about Darling?!" Lum protests.

"He will supervise your execution!" Jiro sheathes his weapon,
then returns to his home.

Tears spill down her cheeks. "It can't end like this...!"

* * *

Later that evening in the mill, Ataru tries to sleep. His
sleep is very troubled. He dreams again of the disembodied voice. In
it, it burns the Oni girl now bound to a stake. "*ONCE THE ONI IS
EXECUTED, I FINALLY WIN!!!!*" the dirge-like voice cackles with
victorious glee. "*WHEN THAT OCCURS, **YOU**, ATARU MOROBOSHI, WILL
BE **MINE**...BODY AND SOUL!!!!!!*"

"Darling!!!" the Oni girl pleads as flames consume her.
"Help!!! For your sake as well as mine...!!!"

Ataru yells, bolting from his bed. He notices that his
painful exclamation has not awakened Oji-san or his helpers. "What a
dream!!" Ataru gasps. "The Oni in it looked like the Oni we caught!!"

Ataru stares out a window to behold the cage containing Lum
and Nassur. "I'd better get to the bottom of this," he rises.

Minutes later, Ataru leaves the mill, proceeding to the cage.
"Maybe she'll know the meaning of these dreams," he growls.

Seeing him approach, Lum's sad look clears up. "Darling!!!"
she smiles, a touch of hope in her voice.

It is quickly dashed. "Quiet, Oni!!!" he demands. "Why have
you been giving me bad dreams?!!"

"Bad dreams?!" confusion crosses her face. "What dreams?!"

"Dreams of you being executed and a disembodied voice stating
that I'm to be next!" Ataru replies.

Still confused, Lum's face then pales as comprehension dawns.
Of course it had to be *that*! Once separated from any possible hope
of assistance, it would move quickly to eliminate both the Oni and her
teacher...and what better way than to keep its host separated from the
ones who could protect him. "D-disembodied voice...?!" she stammers.
"Oh, no!! Not that!!!"

"What?!" Ataru demands.

"Darling," Lum gulps. "It's the *saikoo jinseijitsu*!! It's
causing you to lose your memory!"

"What's the *saikoo jinsei*-whatever?!" he blinks confusedly.

"It's a dangerous ninja program your uncle's people had put
into your mind when you were a child!!" the Oni explains. "It's
responsible for most of your behavioural problems!"

"I see," Ataru sighs, disbelief still in his voice. "Look,
Oni, if you're going to lie at least make it believable!!"

"It's the truth!!!" Lum protests. "Look, if I was lying, why
would you dream of **me** when you don't remember ever meeting me?!!"

"Well," Ataru hums, "...maybe I'm psychic."

Lum faints! "That's not it!!" she snaps. "Darling, think!!
You can't remember anything about your life, right?!"

"Yeah!"

"What happens why you try to?!"

"Something stops me."

"That's because the *saikoo jinseijitsu* is stopping you!!"
Lum declares. "It hates you!! It wants to take over your body!! But
it can't because of the *te'a* and the Cyborg! Whatever caused you to
lose your memory originally must've given it a chance to take control
of your memory!! Please Darling, remember me!!"

Ataru then tries to think...then a spasm seizes him! "It
hurts!!!" he painfully wails before dropping to his knees.

"Darling!!!" Lum helplessly gasps.

Then Ataru's left eye glows red...then as psychic fire
consumes him, his skin and clothing rips away to reveal metal parts!
In seconds, the Cyborg straightens himself. "**I'm free!!**"

"Darling!" Lum smiles. "You did it!"

The Cyborg turns to Lum. "**Lum?!!**" confusion tinges his
voice. "**What happened?! Why are you and Nassur in a cage?! Why
are you tied up and have ribbons on your horns?!!**"

"It's a long story, Darling," the Oni looks relieved now that
something seems to be going right. "Please, can you get us out of
here and free me?"

"**No problem,**" Ataru replies, ripping the cage door off its
hinges with the ease of someone moving a chair. He then snaps the
ropes off Lum with the ease of someone tearing paper. He also removes
the ribbons. "**There,**" the Cyborg nods. "**You're free.**"

"Thanks, Darling," Lum smiles as she shakes her limbs to
restore the circulation. "Can you please carry Nassur? Be gentle
with him...he's in a bad way."

"**I can detect that!**" Ataru replies, gently lifting the
unconscious Vosian into his arms. "**Where to?**"

"Back to the crash site," Lum indicates the forest.

Unfortunately, a villager just happens to be walking by and
notices them trying to escape. Horror crosses his face. "Hey,
everyone!!" he yells. "The Oni is escaping!! The Oni is escaping!!!"

"Oh, *ki'shi*!!!" Lum utters a particularly vile and degrading
Sagussan curse she learned from Noa-chan. "Let's go, Darling!!"

In seconds, villagers awaken and emerge from their homes,
carrying anything they could quickly seize. Among them is Jiro, who
was just about to go to bed. He rushes out putting on his samurai
armour and swords. "I will not rest until that Oni's blood stains my
katana!!" he secretly hisses.

At the Mizu house, Yuki and her parents are awakened by the
yells of the other villagers trying to stop Lum, Ataru and Nassur from
escaping. "What is all the shouting about?!" Yuki's mother asks.

"Oh, just ignore it!" Yuki's dad sighs. "It's probably just
cats fighting!"

"I TELL YOU!!!!" a villager yells from under a nearby window.
"IT'S ATARU MOROBOSHI WHO IS LEADING THE ESCAPE!!!!!!"

Yuki nearly leaps through the thatched roof in shock.
"Ataru?!!" she gasps. "He is leading the Oni's escape?!!" In
seconds, she has dressed and gone to investigate the matter...

* * *

Meanwhile, the escapees are not having a good time.
Everywhere they turn, they see more and more villagers coming after
them. Finally, they are trapped. "We're surrounded!!" Lum gasps.

"Give it up, Oni!" Jiro yells. "You may have enchanted
Moroboshi, but you won't enchant me!"

Ataru turns to Lum. "**I know this idiot?!**" he blinks.

"Apparently," Lum sighs.

The Cyborg shutters. "**I MUST'VE been out of my mind!**"

Jiro walks up to Ataru. "I don't know where you got that
armour," the samurai snorts. "But, if you don't explain why you tried
to help in the Oni's escape...it will help you not!"

"**Surely you jest,**" Ataru snorts, knowing that Jiro's sword
would only break on the Cyborg's neutronium armour.

"You dare mock me?" Jiro says as he takes a club from another
villager and whacks Ataru on the head!

The result is Jiro shaking from the reverberation caused from
the club bouncing off the metal. The rest of the villagers are
awestruck. "What type of man is he?" Yuki gasps

"**Well...**" Ataru sighs...

...until a bright light from the sky shines upon the whole
village! "W-what is that?" one points to the sky.

Ataru and Lum look up, recognizing the light coming from
Kurama's ship. A hatch opens and an away team lead by Benten and
Kurama ride a laser-gangway to the ground. "Benten!!! Kurama!!!" the
Oni exclaims. "You made it!"

"**It's about time,**" Ataru sighs. "**But, I'm afraid
Nassur's seen better days!**"

Sakura then appears, passing a tricorder over Nassur's
unconscious body. "He's been badly injured," Sakura reports. "He
needs some decent care."

"He'll get it aboard **my** ship," Kurama snorts.

Ignoring the Tengu princess' barb, Benten tries to wake
Nassur. "Nassur, Nassur, can you hear me?!" the Fukunokami pleads.

Slowly, Nassur's eyes painfully open. "Y-you finally made
it," he groans. "W-what took you so long?"

"Traffic," his wife is on the verge of tears.

"Okay," Sakura takes Nassur from Ataru. "Let's fix him up."

"Right," Benten smiles as she accompanies Sakura and her
husband and they are sucked back into the ship.

"Well," Mie smiles. "Looks like we got here just in time!!
Are you two ready to go?!"

"Wait!!!" Jiro demands. "What *are* you?!! Gods?!"

"Nope," Ataru smile, transforming back into his normal self.
"We're normal people." His arm slips around his girlfriend. "This is
Lum. She will be my wife someday. We're actually from your future."

"About five hundred years," Lum adds.

"But, what about the food you stole?" the samurai demands.

"Well," regret crosses her face, "...I sincerely apologize for
stealing your food...but I had to keep myself and Nassur alive until
rescue came."

She gratefully bows to Jiro. Ataru turns to Yuki. "I'm
sorry, Yuki," he gently gives her hand a farewell squeeze. "But, I've
got to go now. I guess we'll never see each other in this life again.
Take care."

"Goodbye, Ataru," Yuki smiles. "You are a nice guy even
though you are a bit of a pervert."

"Let's go!" Kurama orders as everyone not of the fifteenth
century is elevated aboard the Tengu cruiser. It soars into the sky
as soon as they are aboard and the hatch is secured.

The villagers watch in awe, having never even conceived of
what has just happened. "They're gone!" Jiro sighs.

"Yeah," Yuki nods. "I guess we're back together again."

"You mean it?!" he looks surprised.

"Of course," Yuki nods.

Jiro puts his arm around Yuki, draws his katana and points it
to the sky. "Let there be a marriage tomorrow!!!" he boasts.

* * *

After a quick mission to clean up the crash site, Kurama's
ship then returns to the present. The trip back to the present is
fast, bumpy and, fortunately for Nassur, uneventful. Returning to
Oshika, Nassur, healed of his injuries and resting in a
hastily-prepared guest room at Ataru's home, remains bed-ridden.
Kurama and her crew depart as soon as Nassur is out of
danger...although Old One wants to hire Mie as a special tutor in
starship navigation! Benten spends her time nursing her husband back
to health. "What a honeymoon!" she sighs. "We can't even pillow!"

"We'll have more than enough time to do that," Nassur smiles.

Lum holds an impromptu party in celebration of her friends'
marriage in Oshika as soon as Benten and Nassur were healthy enough to
attend. Ataru begrudgingly allows it to happen. Near the end of the
party, Mendou turns to Ataru. "Moroboshi, who was that man and woman
you were talking to in the past?"

"Oh, them?" Ataru replies. "The guy was Jiro Mendou and the
girl was Yuki Mizu. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, Yuki Mizu and Jiro Mendou?" he smiles...until he
recognizes the names. "WHAT?!?!?!" he yells, swinging his katana at
Ataru. "You bastard!!! You tried to wreck **my** family?!!"

Ataru bashes him with the Ultimate Idiot Basher! "You
arrogant jerk, I didn't even **know** they were your family!!!"

Mendou angrily glows, as usual not accepting the explanation.
Yamadas appear in his eyes! "THIS IS UNFORGIVABLE!!!!!!" they chant.

Sighing with disgust, Ataru covers Mendou's with a Buddhist
bell! The results are predictable. "IT'S DARK!!!!!!" he wails as he
runs out of the house, making a bee-line for Tomobiki. "IT'S DARK!!!!
I'M CLAUSTROPHOBIC!!!! LUM-SAN, HELP ME!!!!!! HELP ME!!!!!!"

"That will keep him busy for a few hours...or days...or
weeks!" Ataru's eyes roll. "I hope!"

"*Datcha*!" Lum nods.

*** The End ***