Urusei Yatsura Fan Fiction ❯ The Senior Year ❯ Darling's Bad Day! Alternate Lum-san Revisited! ( Chapter 24 )

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

Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year: "Darling's Bad Day! Alternate Lum-san Revisited"
by Fred Herriot
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edited by E.B. Kushnir
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Twenty-second of a series of fan fiction stories based on "Urusei Yatsura,"
created by Rumiko Takahashi
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WRITER'S NOTES:

1) The story which originally was to follow immediately after "Time Curse"
was entitled "Horror of the Works." Both Mike and I felt at the time it was
written that it was a decent story. However, looking at it lately, we believe
that the story no longer serves a purpose. There were two possibilities to
replace it, both concerning Ataru visiting other dimensions. One was a sword-
and-sorcery type epic involving an Earth once conquered by the Seifukusu
Dominion, then liberated by the Yehisrites. Since I could not form a decent
storyline with that idea, I instead resorted to the story below. Please re-
consult "Alternate Lum-san" to understand what has occurred before.

2) "Te'a gagh math" (pronounced TE-A-GAH-MAH) is the summoning petition
used by Zephyrite monks when calling on the blessings of the *te'a*. While
this is more ritual than magic among Zephyrites, it has a more literal meaning
for one actually touched by that cosmic force's power.

3) "Coreside" is a direction leading to the centre of the galaxy, course
000. "Spinside" is the opposite of coreside, leading to the edge of the
galaxy (or course 180). Since the Milky Way galaxy spins clockwise when
viewed from above, "inspin" (in the direction of the spin) is course 270 while
"outspin" (away from the direction of the spin) is course 090.

4) Tanoshii Seiryokuteki first appeared in "Spirit-War Tomobiki." She will
next appear (the one native to Ataru's home timeline) in the twenty-seventh
story of this series, along with her classmates Aijooa Katsudooteki, Kenmei
Geijutsuteki and Yasashii Soozooteki.

5) Also pay attention to Nassur's new co-worker introduced in this story.
She will also make an appearance in a future story of this series...

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Ataru's eyes open.

Groaning, the teenager looks around. It is nighttime in what looks like
Tomobiki. What was he doing here?! Last time he checked, he was with Lum in
Tsuchiura visiting Chiezou Budou and his family. A celebration had been held
for Chie's daughter Aikyou as tribute to her appointment as a priestess in
Chiba. She had crafted a teleportation spell to demonstrate her abilities,
seeking Ataru's assistance as a guinea pig. Ataru did not mind that; he liked
Aikyou, even more so since she was Chie's child and no relation of Cherry's.
As soon as the spell embraced him, Ataru passed out...to find himself back
where he certainly did not want to be! Oh, well...no one was perfect. Rising
to his feet, he looks around, trying to gage his bearings, hoping that Aikyou
had teleported him near a subway station.

Strange. Something was...different. Way different.

Was this deja vu? He is surrounded by rows of houses. Many, however,
were abandoned. Some of their walls have caved in. Other damage indicates
war. Odd. Ataru did not remember hearing reports about the Mendous or the
Mizunokoji going on the rampage with their paramilitary forces. If so, then
who was responsible for this?! Quickly gaging his whereabouts...he was two
blocks from Tomobiki High School...Ataru then proceeds in the direction of the
Lower Tomobiki elevated train station.

Walking along, Ataru takes in more sights. The forest of telephone
poles are gone, cut down. Further, the few houses possessing signs of
inhabitation are missing their television antennae, not to mention other signs
of what he considered "normal" life in this most un-normal of districts: no
garbage cans, no cars save a few burnt hulks on the streets or in the
driveways of abandoned properties, no fences to mark property lines. What had
happened here? Had some people finally got a life? Impossible, Ataru quickly
concludes; most of the people of Tomobiki were not **that** smart!

"Hey, friend!" a curious accented voice coos. "Want some company?"

Ataru stops, looking right to see a figure stepping out of the darkness.
His eyes widen on seeing that her skin is Ipraedies green. However, her dress
is more reminiscent of a native of the red-light sections of Tokyo: a skimpy
halter-top over a short leather skirt and spiked high-heels, leaving very
little to the imagination. Ataru gulps, feeling his pulse quicken...then he
relaxes on seeing the *Dowe'on* raven tattoos exposed on her wrist. "Um,
maybe later!" he shrugs, giving her an off-smile.

Closing in on him, her eyes widen in recognition. "Ataru Moroboshi?!"
she gasps, then smiles. "What brings you out tonight?" she gently slips her
arm around his. "Not getting enough company from your servant?"

Servant? Where the hell was he?! "Um...no," he chuckles, gently taking
her arm away from him. "Actually, I just wanted to get some fresh air!"

"Oh," she looks genuinely disappointed...and not because she would make
some money from his private desires. "Pity. Well, if you do get tired of
her, come on down and see me. Here," she passes him a card. "After all," she
turns to leave, "...it's not every night that a girl gets to sleep with the
hero of Earth's liberation! 'Night."

Ataru remains in place as the Ipraedies returns to her street vigil.
Hero of Earth's liberation? What was going on here? Deciding he needed more
answers, Ataru spins around, running as fast as he can towards his old home...

* * *

The Moroboshi home is dark as Ataru arrives. He passed through several
zones of wrecked homes. There was no sign of habitation even in zones where
there was no war damage. He had not passed Tomobiki High School. He wondered
what stories he would find there. Looking at the place where he spent
seventeen years of his life, Ataru gulps. Everything seemed normal, despite
the odd changes. With metered strides, he makes his way to the door. That is
when he notices there is no door handle! Ataru's eyes see a touch-plate at
shoulder level. Pressing his hand on it, his eyes widen on hearing
servomotors activate. The door obediently opens. Ataru hesitantly walks in.
Once inside, the door closes. Ataru feels the wall for the light controls.
There are none. "Hey!!!" he gasps. "Where the hell are the lights?!!"

In response, the foyer lights snap on! Ataru yelps in fright, then
looks around. No one seemed to live here. Looking down, he notices shoes and
slippers for two people, one female. Slipping off his runners and putting on
slippers, Ataru steps into the foyer, glancing right into the living room.

What happened?!

The living room is quaint, just like the home he abandoned in the wake
of the Spirit War. However, lining one wall are several Buddhist memorials.
Remembering his experience from earlier, Ataru calls "Lights." The living
room lights activate in response. Once able to view his surroundings more
clearly, Ataru moves towards the shrines. The pictures on each cause his
blood to freeze...his parents...Tsubame...Ten-chan. All dead.

"How...?!!" Ataru tearfully drops to his knees. He resented his parents
for their long mistreatment, but he certainly did not wish their demise. Nor
did he wish Ten-chan dead! And what was a shrine to Sakura's fiance doing in
his house? The pictures and the urns spoke a different tale. The urn bearing
the young Oni's remains were tiger-striped. Was this a nightmare?!

"Darling, are you home?" a voice calls.

Ataru turns, expecting to see Lum float downstairs...then stops. The
voice was different, rougher, without the curious affliction which marked his
girlfriend's speech. His eyes widen on seeing someone else standing at the
foot of the stairs, her body draped in a large T-shirt. "Benten?!!"

"Hi!" the Fukunokami smiles, walking over to him. Ataru is appalled to
see that while there was no apparent physical damage, Benten's hair had been
cruelly shaved to a buzz-cut. He knew that Fukunokami did not like having
hair shorter than neck-length. Yet, Ataru sees that this Benten seemed to
accept her cosmetic disfigurement with ease...until he sees her eyes.

The Benten he knew was full of life, now more so since her marriage to
Nassur. This Benten's eyes seemed dead. Yet, a deep twinkle sparks briefly
in those black orbs. "Hi, yourself," he smiles.

Smiling, she kneels beside him...then to Ataru's total surprise, she
fiercely embraces him. "Where've you been?!" Benten stares at him, the
twinkle in her eye glowing. "Out touring the Ipraedies slut-houses again?!
Shit, Darling, I'm a woman! If you want to screw somebody, do me!! You don't
need some green-skinned whore to comfort you!"

Ataru leans back, surprised by her advance. That was the Benten he
knew, alright; aggressive, foul-mouthed, possessive...or was it? The Benten
he knew had never been interested in him. "Who said I wanted to see a
prostitute?" he gently cups her chin.

"Darling, I've got a nose!" she points to her face. "I can smell that
crap they spray themselves with!!"

"One wanted my company," he confesses. "If I wanted hers, I wouldn't be
here."

A touch of relief mixed with frustration crosses her face. "Shit,
Darling, don't you get it?!" she shakes her head. "I may have been forced to
be your servant by the World Court, but I love you! Can't you love me back?!"

Ataru turns away, feigning resistance to her advances. "Benten..."

"Do you want me to be like her?!" Benten points at Shinobu's picture,
hanging at another place on the wall. "I can't be like her, Darling! You
can't ask me to be like her, no matter how much you'd wish that damned day
never occurred!! I wish it never occurred either! Hell, I wish I never came
to this mudball in the first place!!"

"What day?!" he slips, staring at her.

The Fukunokami looks surprised. "You...don't remember?"

The Terran shakes his head. "Oh, shit!" she moans. "Amnesia, right?!"

Ataru blinks, thanking his lucky stars for this break. "Um, I don't
know...!" he shakes his head, looking away.

"Hell, you're suffering a memory lapse again!" Benten looks exasperated.
Clearly this was not the first time her boyfriend had undergone what Ataru was
pretending to suffer from.

"I guess so," Ataru chuckles, rubbing the back of his head.

She stands, nodding upstairs. "C'mon," she holds out her hand.

He smiles, standing and taking her hand. Could this Benten be the one
he always wanted to have as part of his harem? Did his haunting dreams
actually have some basis in reality? After his experiences with Otako,
Chigaiko Inu, Tadahitora and Yuki Mizu, Ataru was seriously questioning
whether or not he would marry Lum without the emotional baggage of hundreds of
other women hanging on his shoulders. *Idiot, stop thinking about that!!* he
mentally admonishes himself. *Now's not the time!!*

"Thinking dirty thoughts?!" Benten purrs, sensuously smiling at him.

"What do you think?" Ataru chuckles.

"Then think about *me*, willya!" she squeezes his hand.

They step into Ataru's bedroom. It is sparsely furnished. Pictures
line the walls, showing Ataru standing amidst many others, all in war gear.
Two futons lay on the floor. There seemed to be nothing which he would
associate with Benten. Once in the room, the Fukunokami sits at his desk,
turning herself towards him. "Well, Master?" she coos.

Ataru stares at her, feeling his pulse race; Benten had no underwear on!
"What'll it be?" she lustfully sighs. "A little strip-show, masturbation or
are you going to allow me to finally feel your love machine inside me?!"

Sitting down, he fights himself from leaping over and pawing her. He
needed answers. "How about turning off the seduction and giving me a simple
explanation?" he sighs, crossing his arms.

She looks surprised. "Shit, I don't even turn you on anymore!!" she
bolts to her feet. "Damn it all, Darling, are you that thick?!"

"Benten!!" he snaps.

Realization crosses the Fukunokami's face. "Sorry," she shamefully
looks away. "When you went through your memory lapses before, seeing me play
the playful hooker normally brought you back."

The Terran looks ashamed. "Hey, I want to treat you as something more
than a play-toy," he weakly smiles. "Don't you think you deserve that?"

Benten stares suspiciously at him, still unsure as to what was
happening. "Who are you?" she demands, standing.

"I'm Ataru Moroboshi," he replies. "I used to live in this loony bin,
but I don't anymore, nor do I want to! I got transported here by a
teleportation spell Chie's daughter Aikyou used on me...and instead of coming
to the Tomobiki I know, I came to this place!!"

She blinks. "I know Budou-sama has a daughter, but I heard she was
managing refugee resettlement in the Philippines for the United Nations!"

"What?!" Ataru cries. "She's a Shinto priestess about to be assigned to
Chiba prefecture!!"

"Chiba?" Benten looks incredulous. "Darling, Chiba's been uninhabitable
since the Urusians sanitized the place looking for the T.U.F.!"

Urusians? T.U.F.?! Ataru felt his blood chill. "What?!" he croaks,
sweat pouring down his face. "You mean the Urusians...?!"

"...invaded Earth," she shamefully nods.

No wonder this place was so familiar! This was the alternate time-line
he created before the Spirit War in a failed attempt to drive Lum out of his
life. But...could it still exist after he had reversed the damage he did to
create it? "Wait!!" he holds up his hand. "I remember something..."

"What?!" Benten looks anxious.

Ataru sighs. "I...I was part of a resistance force based here, right?!"
he points down. "The...Tomobiki Underground Force...?!"

"Yeah, you got it!" she nods encouragingly.

"And you...were Lum's security chief, weren't you?" he points at her.

"That's me," she sighs. "Do you remember what Lum was?!"

"She was...the Governor, right?!"

"Yeah," the Fukunokami sighs. "The Urusians came to Earth, challenging
your people to a tag race to stop them from invading. Actually, they came to
show the damn Ipraedies that the Galactic Federation wouldn't allow them to
come into Earth's space. Anyhow, the schmuck they chose to race Lum couldn't
tag her. Shit, she gave him enough chances to tag her! I saw the videos!!"

"That was Aisuru Megane, right?" the Terran muses.

"That's the jerk!!" Benten sighs.

A smile tugs his lips at his ex-classmate's failure to succeed at such a
simple task as tagging Lum, even if this was not the timeline he should be in.
"So you people moved in, right?" he looks at her.

"Yeah," she nods. "We didn't want to do too many things to disrupt your
lives. All we were really interested in was upgrading your technology so that
one day, you could stand alone in case the Ipraedies or the Dominion ever got
bit by the invasion bug. The U.N. and your national governments played along
with it. We didn't touch them. Things were going great...that is until we
found out how many private armies there were running lose!"

"The Mendous and the Mizunokoji?" he hums.

"Among others," she stands, moving to sit beside him. "Shit, they were
a pain in the ass! Always bitching about their rights to protect themselves!
Protect themselves, my ass!! They wanted to get in on the action all for
their own bloody profit! So Lum had to put them down...and we wound up
dealing with the goddamned T.U.F. instead!!"

"Yeah, I remember now," Ataru nods. "Shinobu and I were part of the
T.U.F. In fact, we were married and expecting a child, were we...?!"

"You got it," Benten nods...just as the house echoes with a baby's wail.
"Oh, shit!" she stands. "Look's like the kid's up!"

The two proceed to what was once his parents' bedroom. There, a crib
sits in the middle of the room. Now wailing from inside is a cherubic baby
boy dressed in a tiger-striped jumper. "There, there, Kokeru-chan," Benten
playfully smiles, picking the toddler up. "Mommy'll get you all changed!"

Quickly locating a new diaper and baby powder, Ataru lends a hand as
Kokeru is cleaned. In minutes, the baby is re-dressed and now cuddled in
Benten's arms as the two return to Ataru's room. "Kokeru-chan should be with
us here," he sighs as they sit.

She looks surprised. "You think so?"

"Yeah," Ataru gently grooms the child's brown hair. "And I think he's a
little hungry right now."

"I guess so," Benten hands Kokeru over. "Hold on to him a sec'."

Ataru takes his son as the Fukunokami pulls off her shirt. His breath
nearly stops on seeing scars marking the brutal use of a cat o'nine-tails on
her bust, abdomen and back. "Where did you...?!" he gags, pointing at her.

She looks down. "Courtesy of the guards who held onto us when we got
captured after the T.U.F. won the battle," Benten shrugs, then sits beside
him, taking Kokeru back. "There you go, sweetie," she sighs as the baby takes
in nourishment. "It's not your real mom's milk, but it'll have to do."

She feels herself being gently pulled into Ataru's arms. "There was a
battle," he sighs. "I took a spacializer from you people, then tried to use
it to change history. You captured me and took me to Tomobiki High. That's
when the others attacked. I remember up to the point where Lum and Mendou
fought in her office...but the rest is a blank."

"You're lucky," Benten sighs. "When Lum got cut down, that's when the
*saikoo jinseijitsu* came flying out of your head..."

Ataru's blood chilled when he realized where he was. Now it froze.

* * *

Kokeru's crib is moved into their bedroom. Benten sleeps in her futon.
Ataru stands by the window, looking at a Tomobiki he wished never existed. He
realized that because that alternate timeline he created actually existed, it
would still exist even after he had returned in time to correct the
alterations he made. He was glad he had left at that moment.

What happened after his departure was gruesome. When Lum was shot down
by the T.U.F. commander, she had not died. Overwhelmed by a fusillade of
bullets, she slipped into a coma. At that moment, a psychic bond neither he
nor the Oni knew existed between them snapped...which unleashed the sentient
ninjitsu database that had become the bane of Ataru's existence regardless of
which timeline he called his own. It then placed Lum in a curious state of
suspension, ensuring that she would neither perish...nor recover.

The possessed teen then turned his attention to eliminating those who
cared for either Lum or Ataru. In seconds, the defending Urusian forces and
the attacking Terran forces were besieged by a monster neither was prepared
for. Hundreds were slain as the *saikoo jinseijitsu* tore through them like a
scythe cutting wheat. Among the dead were Rei, Tobimaro, Tsubame, Paama,
Chibi, Kakugari, Ataru's parents...and Shinobu. Ataru's wife was cruelly cut
down by Benten, at that time possessed by a modified version of the *saikoo
jinseijitsu's* spirit-breaker fire-light mixed with a possession-type attack
called the two-person paranormal power-bomb. Ataru could understand why: if
Kokeru lived, that would provide another impetus to keep the ninjitsu database
at bay. Fortunately, Shinobu was cryofrozen by Benten soon after, saving the
unborn child's life long enough for the fetus to be transferred to a living
woman, that later being Benten.

Within an hour, the Urusian and T.U.F. forces had been decimated when
many spiritualists...Sakura, Cherry, Chie and Ashin Budou among them...came to
Tomobiki to suppress the *saikoo jinseijitsu*. The toll was immense...Ashin
was killed, Sakura permanently maimed...but the rampant ninjitsu database was
finally caged, having exhausted its supply of Ataru's pent-up negative
emotion. The few survivors of Lum's governing staff surrendered. Once
Tomobiki fell, the United Nations demanded the surrender of all remaining Oni
forces, threatening to unleash the *saikoo jinseijitsu* on them if they
resisted. In two days, Earth was liberated.

The surviving aliens were transported to maximum security prisons across
Earth to await trial by the World Court. The choice was simple: accept exile
on Earth or return to their native planets, never to return. To prevent a
future invasion, the U.N. signed a treaty with the Republic of Zephyrus,
making Earth a protectorate under the Zephyrites' Non-Interference Edict. For
the few accused of atrocities, life imprisonment in Berlin's Spandau Prison
was their fate. Lan, as Lum's interior minister, was one: she was found
guilty of illegal seizure of power and crimes against humanity, proven by such
acts of suppression as what nearly claimed Ataru's grandmother Nagaiwakai.

Benten had been given two choices: return to Fukunokami or remain on
Earth. She elected to remain, partially because her participation in Lum's
government made her a pariah among her own people, but mostly because she was
haunted by her vivid memories of murdering a pregnant woman trying to fight
for her planet's freedom...a parting "present" from the *saikoo jinseijitsu*.
Exile meant that Benten was technically Ataru's slave for life. At first
resentful, the girl once born to race the spaceways on an airbike found a way
to expunge her private demons by giving Ataru's son new life. That guaranteed
Benten's exile. Kokeru was a "transfer baby" in Fukunokami eyes. Those who
willingly bore one faced harsh discrimination, even violent hatred if their
act became known to the general public.

Ataru sighs. He did not belong here. Somehow, he had to find a way to
return to his native timeline. He needed the universe he knew. Benten needed
her Darling back. Or...was this the *real* universe in which he belonged?
Were the events he experienced since his first visit all his imagination? Was
it a clever ploy by the *saikoo jinseijitsu* to wear his guard down? Ataru
realized when he was hurtled into the past with Lum and Nassur that the
ninjitsu database was reworking its power over his life. Could have his life
been all some pipe dream? Was there no Reiko? Was there no...Lum?

Tears sting his eyes. What happened to him...?

* * *

"...he seems well," a broken female voice sighs.

"Thank the gods," Benten exhales in relief.

Ataru's eyes open. He looks around, then notices his companion in the
hallway outside the room. In front of the Fukunokami is a familiar woman in
the robes of a Shinto priestess. "Sakura...?" he sighs.

Benten looks inside. "Darling, you're awake!" she smiles.

Ataru's eyes widen on seeing the Shinto priestess. The left side of her
head is covered in a protective leather dressing. Little hair peeks out from
under the dressing. As she hobbles into the room, Ataru sees her supporting
herself on a cane. Her right leg is obviously mechanical. Finally, her left
arm is swathed in bandages. Ataru could only speculate on how much damage
remained unseen beneath the robes. "Sakura," he smiles.

"Hello, Darling," Sakura smiles, gently lowering herself beside him.

Ataru blinks. First Benten, now Sakura! Why was everyone calling him
"Darling?" Lum did it because his actual name was an insult in her native
language. What were the Fukunokami's reasons, much less the priestess'?! He
is quickly answered when the priestess leans into his side, reaching over to
caress his face. "Benten tells me you had another memory lapse again," Sakura
smiles. "Did you sleep well last night?"

"I tried," Ataru shrugs, chuckling. "I mean...well, I don't remember
anything after Lum fought Mendou...!!"

"That's understandable," Sakura relaxes herself on his shoulder. "But
don't worry, Darling. Benten and I are here to keep you company."

"Um...but what about Tsubame?" he looks confused.

Sakura stares at him. Her features blank out for a moment. "Who is
Tsubame?" she innocently asks.

Ataru faints! "Darling, wait a moment!" Benten interrupts, then looks
at Sakura. "Sakura, go to sleep."

To Ataru's disbelief, Sakura yawns "Good night..." then lays down. In
seconds, gentle snores flutter from her lips. Ataru angrily spins at Benten.
"What the hell happened to her?!!" he demands, pointing at Sakura.

"The *saikoo jinseijitsu*," she looks down.

"I can see the damage here!" Ataru points at the sleeping Sakura. "That
doesn't explain why she forgot her own fiance...!!!"

"No, no!!" Benten sobs. "You don't understand!!!"

Ataru stops, allowing Benten to cry. "It...it did more than just make
me kill Shinobu...!!" the Fukunokami gasps. "It...when Chie and the others
came to suppress it...it took me over again...and made me use a gun on
Sakura...she didn't realize what happened until it was too late...!!"

The Terran shudders. "It...it made me shoot...made deflection shots
that tore up part of her mind..." she tearfully moans. "It didn't kill
her...but it was that monster's way of getting back at Chie when he and Cherry
tried to suppress it...!!"

"How...?!" Ataru pales.

"The bullets...ripped into her mind...it gave her the equivalent of a
lobotomy...!" Benten slowly recovers. "It destroyed parts of her memory...and
at the same time, totally robbed her of her will. She's nothing more than a
goddamned robot now! She knows, she feels...but she has no conscious will!!
That thing robbed it from her...and used **me** to do it!!!"

With an anguished wail, the Fukunokami collapses into Ataru's side. The
Terran embraces the crying huntress, unable to comprehend the horror Benten
had faced that awful day. The Spirit War he knew of...what little he
remembered...was a trivial affair in comparison to what Benten had lived
through. No one had died or had been maimed. The property damage was there,
but property was replaceable. Lives were not, especially the huntress who had
been cruelly robbed of all innocence...not to mention a priestess now robbed
of all sense of what made her life worth living. "She still is...alive, isn't
she...?" Ataru looks at the sleeping Sakura.

"Yeah!" Benten nods. "Cherry couldn't stand seeing her like this, so he
moved to Rishiri-tou to watch over your grandmother's farm. Her mother died
of a broken heart. So...Chie and I got together and spent some time trying to
give her a semblance of life. We couldn't bring ourselves to mercy-kill her.
Besides, he couldn't hurt her anymore; he'd just lost his son and he always
saw her as a surrogate daughter! Her knowledge is intact, her powers are
still there...but she just doesn't have the will to make her own decisions."

They look at Sakura. "Can I try something?" he sighs.

"Sure," she nods.

Ataru licks his lips, then sighs. "Sakura, wake up."

Yawning, the priestess smiles. "Oh, I must have fallen asleep!" she
gingerly rises into a sitting position, then looks at Ataru. "Hello, Darling,
Benten-chan!" she smiles. "Are you feeling alright?"

Benten straightens herself. "Sakura, neutral!"

Sakura freezes, all emotion gone from her face. "Wh-what did you do?!"
Ataru gasps, falling back.

"Well, to use an analogy," Benten looks ashamed, "...Sakura's mind is
like an android without self-programming controls. This state...is the state
we found her in when she recovered from the Battle. So Chie and I used it to
build a new series of personality programs for her to operate. Usually, she
runs on what Chie called her 'work-life' program. She's compelled to live her
life as normally as possible: getting up, bathing and caring for herself,
eating, conversing with people. Also, she does the things a priestess does:
prayers, helping with exorcisms, marrying people, blessing sites and baptisms.
In all intents and purposes, she as normal as she was before the Battle."

"But one slip of the tongue could change that," Ataru warns.

"Yeah, true," Benten nods. "So Chie and I slipped in a command which
makes Sakura respond only to three people: himself, me and..."

"Me," he concludes.

"Right," she nods.

Both stare at the unmoving priestess. "How bad is it?" Ataru points to
the left side of his face.

Benten gently slides off Sakura's dressing. Underneath it, a fine mat
of black hair covers the skin. Still, the red scars from the battle which
destroyed her life peek through the hair. Her left ear is mangled. Sakura's
face is surprisingly intact, though. "That's a mess!" Ataru whistles.

"Yeah," Benten slips the dressing back on. "Eventually when it grows
long enough, we'll cut the rest of it to match. Sakura, work-life."

Sakura's eyes blink. "Oh, I must've fallen asleep..." she stretches
herself, then slowly rises. "If you'll excuse me, Darling, Benten, I have to
be on my rounds. Call me if you need anything more."

The priestess turns to leave. "Dinner tonight?" Benten smiles.

"Wouldn't miss it," Sakura smiles as she departs...

Once Sakura is gone, Benten looks down. Ataru glares at her. "I don't
believe this!" he shakes his head. "You...I...we treat her like she was some
damn pet!! She's human, for Buddha's sake!!! How could you...?!"

"How could we?!" she tearfully spins at him. "Damn it all, Darling, do
you think if there was another solution, Chie and I would not use it?!!"

The Terran pauses as Benten strides out of the room, sobs wracking her.
As soon as she is gone, Ataru looks at Kokeru, who stares at his father wide-
eyed. "Some life, eh, Kokeru-chan?" Ataru gently strokes his son's head. The
boy burbles. Ataru rises, then looks to the sky. There was another solution,
one given to him at the end of the Spirit War he remembered. He had only
cause to use it once, when Chigaiko was about to die.

Time to use it again.

Ataru assumes a lotus position, then brings his hands together, palms to
him. He begins to chant as he moves his hands away from him, then parting the
hands until they were at forty-five degree angles from his body. "*Te'a gagh
math*...*te'a gagh math*...*te'a gagh math*..."

Suddenly, a giant phoenix forms in front of Ataru. ***YOU CALL UPON US,
DAIMON'CHA OF SAGUSSA?!*** a booming voice echoes in his mind.

"**Yes**," Ataru stares at the image, his left eye glowing. "**Why was
I transported here?! This is not my proper timeline!**"

***CORRECT!*** the phoenix's eyes narrow. ***HOWEVER, YOUR SURFACE
SELF, WHILE AFFECTED BY THE AGENT OF ENTROPY KNOWN AS THE SAIKOO JINSEIJITSU,
DID FORCE YOU TO AFFECT THIS TIMELINE WHEN YOU CROSSED INTO IT!!***

"**Didn't I *create* this timeline?!!**" Ataru looks incredulous.

***NO! THE DEVICE YOU USED MERELY PIERCED INTO A POSSIBILITY WHICH
COULD HAVE BEEN HAD THE URUSIANS CHOSE DIFFERENTLY!! HOWEVER, THE FACT THAT
YOU ONCE CAME HERE DID ALTER THE DESTINY OF THIS TIMELINE! YOUR PRESENCE HERE
HAD UNLEASHED THE TRAGIC EVENTS YOU NOW SEEK TO CORRECT!!***

"**Then how do you expect me to correct them now?!**" Ataru demands, his
eyebrow rising in curiosity. "**Time travel is certainly not an option since
that'll just revert me to my proper timeline!**"

***TRUE, BUT BEFORE YOU CAN CLAIM YOUR DESTINY, YOU MUST ELIMINATE ALL
REMINDERS OF YOUR PAST MISDEEDS!*** the phoenix begins to fade. ***THAT...AS
YOU NOW MUST REALIZE...INCLUDES THOSE WITHIN THIS TIMELINE...***

The fiery creature disappears. Ataru's eye returns to normal. "Oh,
just wonderful!" he moans. "How the hell am I supposed to do that?!"

* * *

"How was dinner?" Benten muses as she starts to gather plates.

Ataru and Sakura relax, patting their stuffed abdomens. It is later
that day, with the sun already set beyond the peaks of the Kantou-sanchi.
"Oh, I wish I could cook as good as this!" the priestess stretches herself.
"Where did you learn to be such a good cook, Benten?"

Ataru stares at Sakura, not believing that this woman complementing the
Fukunokami's cooking was incapable of conceiving her own thoughts without the
aid of some master bio-neural program not so different from the *saikoo
jinseijitsu*. "I learned with practice!" Benten smiles. "I got loads of
practice when I was in Alcatraz awaiting trial."

"Alcatraz?!" Ataru looks surprised. "I thought that place was closed!"

Embarrassment crosses Benten's face as she sits beside Ataru. "When we
invaded, the commander for western North America made use of the Rock as his
personal headquarters. When everyone surrendered, it was turned back to a
prison. Oyuki, Lan and I stayed there while we were awaiting our trials."

"Did you try to escape?" he smiles.

She shrugs. "Lan tried. The airhead went totally ballistic when Rei
got iced, but she lost what little brains she had at the same time! She
couldn't figure her way out of a toilet sometimes," Benten giggles. "Then
again, the jerk was asking for it after what she did to your grandma!"

Ataru looks around, remembering another thing about this timeline. "Is
Grandma still here or is she still living on Jiyuu?!"

"On Jiyuu," she sighs. "She didn't want to come back to Earth even
after the Battle. Fate knows, Earth owes her a lot because if it wasn't for
her, we wouldn't've been cut off from re-enforcements when the Zephyrite Navy
wiped out the Urusian fleet at Sakusei, then wrecked Phentax Two. If we had
backup, maybe we'd still be in control of Earth."

"Maybe not," Ataru looks at Sakura.

"Yes, Darling?" the priestess smiles.

"Sakura, companion," the Fukunokami whispers.

Sakura's features alter. A sensual sigh uttering from her lips, the
priestess slides over to gently embrace Ataru. "Darling, don't be sad," she
huskily whispers. "I'm here to make it better."

Ataru jolts as her lips caress his neck. "Hey!!" he gasps. "What are
you doing, Sakura?!!"

"I'm here to be your companion," the priestess purrs, moving to undress
herself. "Can't I be your companion, Darling?! Don't you love me?!"

"I...I...I...!" Ataru stammers, falling back as the robes begin to fall
away, exposing much of the body he once madly lusted for.

"Take me, Darling...!" Sakura playfully growls as she kneels atop him.

"No, stop it!!" he pushes her away. "Sakura, neutral!"

The priestess freezes, then pulls away, assuming a neutral stance, her
face emotionless. "Darling, why'd you stop her?!" Benten gasps. "You always
liked it when I made her do that!!"

"You idiot!!!" Ataru snaps, knocking the Fukunokami over. "I said it
before!!! She's a human being!!! Treat her like one!!"

"If I could, I would!!!" Benten gets back up, leaning at the Terran.
"Don't you get it?!! She has no control over her life!!!"

"Then at least let her live what life she has with a bit of dignity!!"
Ataru growls. "She's not a toy for you to play with!!!"

"You don't mind it when you play with her!!" Benten retorts.

Ataru stops, suddenly realizing that in this timeline, Ataru Moroboshi
might actually treat a lobotomized Sakura like a living sex doll. But why?
He has a live-in companion with Benten, who was more than willing and able to
fill the emotional gaps Shinobu's death left behind. "I...I'm sorry," he
looks down. "I guess I'm still recovering from this last memory lapse."

Benten stops, then shame crosses her face. "No, I should apologize,"
she walks over to lean into his side. "I keep forgetting that you practically
have no control over your life, too."

Ataru gently embraces her. "There, there, Benten-chan!" he kisses her
forehead. "We've been through hell to get to this point, but it doesn't mean
there's no hope for us."

They look at each other. "Are you the Darling I had a crush on, the one
who's baby I carried?" Benten stares into his eyes. "Your kiss is softer.
Your touch is softer. You treat me with such respect. Who are you?"

Ataru sighs. "I am Ataru...but not the Ataru you know."

Benten tenses. "Then who...?!"

"Both who...and when," he pulls away from her. "I'm from a different
quantum reality...a different timeline."

Hearing this, she relaxes. "How could you tell?"

"Simple," he shrugs. "The history of my life...from just before the Tag
Race to this moment...is different from what you experienced."

"In what way?"

He sighs. "The Urusians never invaded."

The Fukunokami blinks. "I can't see how that was possible! The jerk
the computer chose to be Earth's tag champ was supposed to be the best..."

"Because I was the one who ran the tag race against Lum," the Terran
continues. "And I won it, too," pride shines on his face.

"You?" she considers the possibility, then nods. "Yeah...even before we
knew of that beast, you were the slipperiest devil the T.U.F. had working for
them! That does make sense. Still, how the hell did you get here?"

"You...better sit down," Ataru sighs. "And get Sakura dressed and make
her normal, please!!"

"Okay," she sits, looking at Sakura. "Sakura, dress." After the
priestess slips on her robes, she commands, "Sakura, work-life."

The priestess blinks. "Oh, I passed out again," she yawns. "Well, I've
got to go back home."

"Come back tomorrow?" Benten escorts Sakura to the door.

"I will," the latter smiles. "Good night, Darling."

"'Night," Ataru waves as Sakura leaves.

* * *

The door closes, then Ataru and Benten return to the living room. "So,
you still didn't answer the question," she sits.

Ataru sighs. "Well...let me put it to you this way," he chuckles.
"What would you say could happen when I tagged Lum-chan's horns...and said at
the same time 'now I can be married?'"

Benten blinks, then falls over laughing. "Shit, you're kidding me!!!"
she howls with delight. "No way!!! You actually proposed to Lum?!!"

"It was actually Shinobu who proposed to me," Ataru blushes. "It was
the night before the last day and I hadn't barely got close to Lum.
Shinobu...promised to marry me if I tagged Lum. Well...I blurted out what I
did when I tagged Lum...and she thought I was talking about her."

"Oh, hell!!" she snickers. "That must've been a surprise!"

"Unfortunately," he moans. "Well, she moved in lock, stock and barrel
and in a short while, made a total disaster of my life. In retrospect, I can
understand why she was so...possessive. She dumped Rei and was feeling quite
lonely. It took me a long time to realize that. Meanwhile, I was doing
anything in my power to keep her at bay. One time, when I felt that she had
gotten totally out of hand, I decided that the best way to keep her at bay was
to get rid of her. That's when I found her spacializer...and used it to go
back in time to alter events so I didn't have to race Lum."

She considers his words. "Oh, I get it now!" she nods. "Fortunately, I
understand how those darn things work. You slipped out of your timeline, then
moved into one where Megane was the one who got selected to race Lum!"

"That's right," he nods, wariness entering his eyes. How would she
react to this?

To his surprise, Benten nods. "Well, I can understand that," she sighs.
"She bent herself backwards for that cow Rei and he never gave a shit about it
or her for that matter. I guess going into the Tag Race in your timeline, she
was determined that the next time someone came her way, she'd make sure that
he wouldn't run away. Luck of the draw, I guess."

"Thanks for understanding," Ataru mentally breathes a sigh of relief.
"I never realized how much you cared for Lum, much less knew her so well."

"Ah, we've been together since we were kids," she shrugs, sliding over
to his side. "I watched her back, she watched mine. It's simple. I tend to
think of her as the sister I never had."

"I guess so," he muses.

"So...what brings you back to this timeline?" she stares at him.

"An accident, mostly," he looks regretful. "A friend of mine...Chie's
daughter Aikyou...was demonstrating a teleportation spell on me. I guess I
wound up going a little farther than planned."

"I guess," she sighs, sliding an arm around him. "Any hope of her or
your Lum coming to rescue you?"

"I guess we'll have to wait and see," Ataru notices her snuggling up to
him. "Um, Benten...would you stop that, please."

"What's wrong?" Benten looks at him.

"Well...in my timeline, you're married...to Nassur."

The Fukunokami recoils as if Ataru had slapped her. Standing, she backs
away, tears flowing down her face. "N-nassur...?!" she stammers.

The Terran looks regretful. "Sorry," he looks down.

Benten blinks, then regains her composure. "Shit, that proved it to
me!!" she sighs, kneeling in front of him. "The Darling I know would never
breach the subject of Nassur to me."

"Is he...dead?"

"No," she shakes her head, reaching up to wipe her face clean. Fresh
tears appear. "But...when the Urusians invaded and Lum and I came to run the
show here, Nassur...turned his back on us. He went back to Vos, found a
master Silent One...and had the *pe'cha* bonds we had with him broken!"

Ataru blinks. "*Pe'cha*?! What's that?!"

"You don't know?" Benten stares at him, tears staining her cheek anew.
"Well...it's a low-level psychic bond Vosians can establish sometimes with
people they really like. Once...Lum and I were as close as sisters to him.
But...when we came to administer Earth...and especially after we started to
crack down on people...he just turned around and ended it! As far as he's
concerned now, we don't even exist!" she sobs, leaning towards him. "It was
like having our hearts clawed out...and an empty hole is all that's left...!!"

Ataru embraces her, looking to the stars...

* * *

The next morning, Ataru is awakened by the smell of breakfast. "Gods,
I'm hungry!" he bolts to his feet as he moves downstairs. "'Morning!"

"'Morning, Darling!" Benten calls from the kitchen. "Breakfast is on!"

Ataru immediately attacks his food. The Fukunokami whistles as she
watches him demolish the rice and miso soup. "Boy, no one's ever appreciated
my cooking **this** much!!" she sighs, then begins to eat.

"Are you kidding me?!" the Terran laughs. "Your cooking's just as good
as Lum's!"

Benten snorts in disbelief, then sighs. Ataru stops, noticing her
faraway look. "What is it?"

"You know, I was thinking about how life must be like in your timeline,"
she smiles. "I mean...I know I can't follow you when you go back...but you
have to admit the temptation is there."

"I understand that," he gently grasps her hand.

"So what is it like?" she leans on her elbows.

"Well," he sighs, "...it's not all fun and games. In fact, it seems
never to have been fun and games now that I think about it. You and Nassur
work as bounty hunters. Lum and I wound up going to school in Tomobiki. It
wouldn't've been so bad if all the guys hadn't become her instant fan club,
just like those lifeless morons on Phentax Two. In fact, many of the guys
formed a club called 'Lum's bodyguards' so they could protect her innocence by
keeping me in chains, so to speak."

Benten shakes her head. "Believe me, Darling, I can't imagine that!
Here, she's seen as the worst criminal to come down the pike since this Hitler
character ran loose in Europe a half-century ago. The day she comes out of a
coma, she'll be in the trial of the century!"

"I thought O.J. Simpson's was the trial of the century," Ataru muses.
"So, she's still in a coma?"

"Yeah," Benten stands. "C'mon. Let's go see her."

To the Terran's confusion, the Fukunokami moves upstairs. "Where are
you going?" he stands.

"To see Lum," Benten smiles. "This way."

Ataru shrugs, then follows her. In minutes, both are in the attic. He
is totally shocked to see two cryosleep chambers located there. He is stunned
when he sees their occupants. "Lum!!!" he gasps. "Shinobu?!!"

Both the Oni ex-governor and the Terran resistance fighter are swathed
in a sleeved opaque suit, both of which nearly hide the crimson points on
their chests and abdomens marking where bullets had so viciously cut their
lives short. Life support units are connected to many points on their bodies.
Blood and oxygen are continuously circulated through artificial hearts and
lungs attached to the machines. Intravenous links provide nourishment. Ataru
walks up to stare at the pale faces, then looks at Benten, now kneeling beside
her best friend. "Are...are they alive?"

"Yeah," the Fukunokami nods. "That damn thing went and nearly killed
them...but, like Sakura, wanted them to stay alive, make them suffer! So...I
keep an eye on them here. At least here, they're somewhat safe from any creep
who'd want to kill Lum when she's so weak."

The Terran kneels beside her, reaching over to touch the chilled glass.
"Do they know...?" he looks at Benten.

"They know," she nods. "At least...I believe they know."

Ataru looks at the complex controls. "Can you open this?"

"What?!" Benten gasps. "Darling, are you crazy?! You'll kill them!"

"What if they're dying of loneliness in these damn ice-prisons?!" he
points to the cryosleep chambers. "Benten, you're treating them just like you
treat Sakura! They're human beings!! They need friends, they need to know
someone cares for them! You can expect them to realize that if they're
sanitized from the rest of the world!!"

"I...if I let them out, they'll die...!!" Benten stammers. "Damn it,
Darling, Lum's my best friend! I carried Shinobu's baby after I nearly
stitched her with a magazine full of lead!! I won't let them die again, not
if I can help it!!! I won't!!!"

"Benten," he stares into her eyes. "Trust me."

The Fukunokami blinks, then slowly nods. Ataru stands, then walks over
to Shinobu's chamber. Activating the temperature controls, he engages the
life-support functions to gently increase their feed so Shinobu would not be
shocked back into consciousness. Watching what he is doing, Benten mimics his
actions with Lum's chamber. By an hour, the two wounded warriors are
theoretically able to stand room temperature. Once that is done, Ataru slowly
opens Shinobu's chamber. Cryogenic gasses dissipate as he looks at her still
face. Suddenly, her eyes twitch. They slowly flutter open. Her mouth opens
as she looks over, her eyes focusing on Ataru. A twinkle of joy crosses her
face as she comprehends who is with her. "A-...ta-...ru-...ku-...n...?!"

"Hi," he leans down and kisses her forehead. "How do you feel?"

"Lousy..." she moans. "Whole...body...aches..."

"Relax," he gently touches her lips. "If the pain increases, we'll have
to put you under again. Understand?"

"Yes..." she nods. "Where's...our...baby...?"

"Shinobu?" Benten moves to Ataru's side. "You okay?"

The Terran blinks as she stares at the Fukunokami. Images of the time
she was caught by the possessed Benten rush past. Then, her eyes focus on the
tears of shame and regret in the alien's eyes. "Benten...what are...you
doing...here?" Shinobu hesitantly inquires.

"I got tried and convicted," Benten shrugs. "I get to stay with him the
rest of my life," she nods to Ataru.

Shinobu shakes her head. "What did they...do to you...hair?"

"You should've seen what they did to Lan's!" Benten snorts.

The Terran smiles, a faint chuckle escaping her lips. Her hands then
move across her abdomen. "My baby...?" she gasps. "Where's my baby...?"

"He's alive!" Benten grabs Shinobu's other hand. "He's safe! He
survived!"

"How...?"

"I carried him the rest of the way," the Fukunokami smiles.

Shinobu blinks, then nods. "Where are we?"

"In the attic of my house," Ataru replies. "The war's over, Shinobu.
Earth's a free planet now."

"Thank the gods," she smiles. "But, where's Lum?"

"Look left," Ataru nods.

Shinobu hesitantly looks over, her eyes widening on seeing the unmoving
Lum. "Lum...?" she gasps, looking back. "What happened?"

"I got to her in her office," Ataru sighs. "She...was willing to give
the spacializer to me...in hopes of my going back in time and changing history
so that the Urusians never invaded. But...Mendou caught us together. He
thought I had betrayed Earth...and when he was about to shoot me, Lum got in
the way...and took the bullets he meant for me."

Shinobu blinks, then sighs. "He was such an idiot, wasn't he?"

"You can say that again," Ataru moans. "Benten, you stay with her.
I'll see if Lum can be revived."

"Gotcha," Benten nods.

As Ataru moves to open Lum's chamber, the Fukunokami kneels beside her
Darling's wife. "How is he?" Shinobu smiles. "Our baby?"

"He's wonderful," Benten smiles. "He looks like you."

"You're saying that just to make me feel good."

"I mean it."

"I know," Shinobu sighs. "You love him, don't you?"

The Fukunokami blinks, realizing that Shinobu was speaking of her
husband. "Yeah. But...I can't take your place. Lum can't, either."

"But it was to Lum that he was bonded," Shinobu sniffs. "Maybe it's
better if I died..."

"No!" Benten hisses, a wounded fury in her eyes. "Damn you, Shinobu
Moroboshi, don't you **ever** think that! I nearly killed you once! I'll
live with that for the rest of my life! And I'll be damned if I allow you to
die again before you're very old!"

Shinobu flushes with embarrassment. "So you're going to be my bodyguard
now, right?" she muses.

Benten looks angry, then smiles. "I guess you're stuck with me."

"I don't mind," the Terran sighs.

Meanwhile, Lum's chamber is opened. Ataru looks at her, a mix of
sadness and relief on his face; sadness because Lum had suffered so much in
this timeline, relief that it was not his Lum who had suffered. In seconds,
the Oni's eyes open as a low moan pushes past her lips. The Terran leans down
and gently kisses her forehead. Lum looks surprised, then shifts slightly to
stare at Ataru. "Hi, Lum," he smiles.

Confusion crosses her face as she tries to remember who he was. It soon
transforms to delight. "Ataru..." she smiles. "Darling...it's you..."

"Yeah," he nods. "Welcome back."

A tear is in Lum's eye. "I knew...you'd rescue me..." she sighs. "I
knew you'd...come back and...save me. I love you, Darling..."

Ataru gently caresses her forehead. "I love you too, Lum..." he sighs,
then mentally adds, *...no matter which dimension I'm in!*

* * *

"Oh, look at us!" Shinobu stares at herself. "How could we still be in
one piece after this?!"

She and Lum lay covered on the futons in Ataru's bedroom, having finally
been explained what has happened to them in the wake of the latter's injury.
Both presently have portable oxygen canisters strapped to one side, heart
regulators on the other and an intravenous feeder on one arm. Both women have
rows of red sores all over their chest and abdomen. Surprisingly, both seem
in good shape despite wounds which would normally be fatal in other
circumstances. "Yeah!" the Oni stares at herself. "After Mendou got done
with me, I wondered if I'd be able to walk even if I did survive!"

"Hey, cry-babies, stop complaining!" Benten yells as she walks into the
bedroom, fresh blankets and two night gowns in hand. "Just be glad you're
alive enough to be able to complain!"

Lum gasps on seeing her friend's cut hair. "Benten, what did they do to
you?!!" she points.

"Ah, this is courtesy of my new position as Darling's permanent servant
girl," the Fukunokami shrugs, then kneels between the Terran and the Oni to
help them dress. "You'll get a taste of it when you face the World Court."

"What?!" Shinobu gasps as Benten gently slides the housecoat over her.
"Lum has to go to trial?! Didn't you say she was forced to do what she did,
Benten!"

"Try explaining that to a bunch of judges!" Benten grunts, then moves to
dress Lum. "Like it or not, there are a lot of people who want Lum's blood
even if she's proven innocent by the court!!"

"Then she has to leave Earth!" Shinobu sighs. "She has to go home."

"I hate to say it, Shinobu...but **what** home?!" Benten sighs.

Lum shudders. "What?!" she stares at her friend. "But...the Zephyrites
promised they wouldn't do anything if we withdrew from Earth...!"

"They did," the Fukunokami nods. "When our forces surrendered, the
Zephyrites honoured their pledge. After they ensured there was no way your
dad could come rescue you when the United Nations put us on trial, they left."

"We had no defence force left," the Oni shakes her head. "What could
Dad've used to help us, especially if Earth became a Zephyrite protectorate?"

"True," Benten nods. "But right after the Zephyrites withdrew, Uru was
attacked...by the Ipraedies!"

Lum pales. "What...?" she hoarsely gasps.

The Fukunokami looks sad. "The Zephyrites cleaned house, ensuring that
there was no way an Urusian would come try bother Earth again," she gently
wraps an arm around her friend's shoulder. "It would've been okay if it was
just the Galactic Federation around us. They were willing to respect what had
happened. Hell, they never went along with this in the first place! But, old
man Schwartz was seeing green because we'd stolen his prize planet away. So,
when the Zephyrites had their backs turned, the Ipraedies stormed in!"

Shinobu gasps, easily imagining what could have happened. "They tore
into every colony, wiping out people wholesale," Benten shakes her head. "In
a day, everything was so much stardust! Uru was devastated. A lot of people
escaped, fled to Fukunokami, Noukiios or Triton, eventually coming to Earth.
But...so many died." Tears in her eyes, she looks at Lum, delivering the most
tragic news of all. "Your parents...and Ten-chan...they're gone..."

Lum shudders, not wanting to believe what Benten was telling her. "I'm
so sorry, Lum," the Fukunokami finally allows her grief to flow.

"No, no, no...not Daddy...not Mommy...not Ten-chan, too...!!" the Oni
gasps, feeling her strength fade as she wails. "No!! It's not fair!!!"

Both aliens weep. Shinobu shakes her head, sympathetic tears flowing
down her face. "Gods, all this death...all because of us?" Shinobu tearfully
looks at Benten and Lum. "Why?! In the name of Mercy, why?!!"

"Hell, who knows anymore," Benten shrugs.

"What happened next?" a voice quietly inquires.

The three girls see Ataru at the door, Kokeru asleep in his arms.
"Darling!!" Lum and Benten gasps.

"Ataru-kun!!" Shinobu sighs.

Ataru walks in, kneeling beside his counterpart's wife. "What happened
next?" he looks at Benten. "I can't believe the Republic'd allow Schwartz to
get away with that!"

"They didn't," Benten nods. "When the Holy Mother got wind of what
happened, she immediately ordered a Holy Crusade on Ipraedos." At Shinobu's
questioning glace, the Fukunokami elaborates. "The Zephyrites are people who
make some of your fanatic religious sects look quite tame. When a call goes
out for a Holy Crusade, it means complete and total destruction to the poor
bastards targeted."

"More death," Shinobu numbly shakes her head. The destruction she saw
in her two years as a resistance fighter was enough for one lifetime. The
former occupation security minister was speaking of death in an interplanetary
scale, where millions, even billions could die in a wink of an eye. "What
type of insane galaxy do you people come from?!" she stares at Benten and Lum.

"An...unforgiving, uncaring galaxy, unfortunately," the Oni replies.
"Believe it or not, when we came, your people faced two bad choices: submit
to our rule or risk invasion from the Ipraedies."

"Neither choice is good," the Terran woman stammers.

"Unless Megane could've won the Tag Race," the Fukunokami projects a
knowing stare at Ataru.

The Terran man nods. "So the Ipraedies are finally out of our hair,"
Lum sighs, then looks at Benten. "I suppose that's a consolidation prize
given what they did to all of us in return."

"Could these Zephyrites have conquered these Ipraedies alone?" Shinobu
looks curious.

"They could...but this time, they had help," Benten sighs. "When the
Zephyrites crashed down at them from coreside, the Yehisrites plunged in from
spinside. Old Schwartz was caught between the proverbial hammer and anvil.
In a week, it was all over."

"Then...they're extinct?!" the Terran woman pales.

"No, fortunately," the Fukunokami sighs. "Not even the worst Yehisrite
is **that** bloodthirsty. But, most of the *Asan'on*...the racist part of
Ipraedos...was wiped out. Schwartz was tried and executed for a shit stunt he
pulled on a Yehisrite colony. Ipraedos itself, so I hear, is a radioactive
wasteland now. A lot of conquered Ipraedies worlds were liberated. Right
now, the Galactic Federation is squabbling over the rights to claim them. The
Ipraedies who survived the war are now refugees. A lot made their way to
Earth. They're now settling in places where a lot of hard labour is needed to
rebuild after the mess we made of this place."

"So we couldn't escape no matter which way it could have occurred?"
Shinobu looks sad.

"Not really," Ataru shakes his head.

"But, there's some good news, I guess," Benten looks at Lum. "With the
Ipraedies gone, the Vosians realized they didn't need to put up to the Mikado
anymore. He was overthrown a couple of weeks after Schwartz got his head
taken off on Cademus."

"Oh!" Lum looks surprised, then sadness crosses her face. "I guess
Nassur-chan must feel safe now."

"Yeah," Benten numbly nods.

Shinobu and Ataru watch this, then the former stares at the latter.
"Ataru-kun, who is this...Nassur?"

"He was...a close friend of theirs," he looks sympathetic. "Until they
came here. He...turned his back on them. They've hurt because of it since.
It's...hard to explain."

Shinobu hums, nodding...

* * *

"I hated doing that," Benten sighs as she secures Lum's cryosleep
chamber. "It was only a couple of hours for them!"

Ataru sighs as Shinobu's chamber is closed. "Don't be upset, Benten,"
he walks over to gently embrace the Fukunokami. "Even a little bit of freedom
from this prison is better than no freedom at all."

"Yeah, I guess," Benten nods.

They hear the front door open and close. "Ataru!!! Benten!!!" a high-
pitched female voice calls out. "Are you here?!!"

"Hey, there's Tanoshii!!" the Fukunokami smiles as she and Ataru descend
from the attic.

"Tanoshii?!" the Terran looks surprised. "As in Tanoshii Seiryokuteki?!
My uncle's ward?!"

"That's her," she nods as they proceed to the main floor. "She became a
Shinto priestess so she can help Sakura whenever she gets in trouble!"

Arriving in the foyer, Ataru is quick to see not only the beautiful
apprentice priestess, but Aisuru Megane. Tanoshii, a stunning brunette with
brown eyes and part of her hair tied in a ponytail, is dressed in the proper
robes of a Shinto shrine maiden. Her boyfriend possesses the maniacal looks
Ataru remembers from his brief time in the prison located below Tomobiki High
School, the words OUT OF ORDER still stamped on his forehead. His brown hair
has been trimmed short with a beard and moustache. He is dressed in a plain
man's kimono. "Tan-chan!!" Ataru beams as he embraces Tanoshii.

"Ataru-chan!!" she squeals, kissing his cheek. "How are you?! Still
suffering those memory lapses?!"

"Unfortunately," Ataru chuckles, glancing at Benten. "Benten's helping
me on that end!"

"Oh, that's good!" Tanoshii nods.

"How's Komeru-oji-chan?!" Benten probes.

Ataru looks surprised, although he is relieved; he was about to ask that
without knowing whether his uncle would still be alive in this timeline. "Oh,
still on his safari!" the priestess moans. "He has no interest in dealing
with this madcap world we live in today, not that I don't blame him!!"

"Um...what happened to Aijooa, Kenmei and Yasashii?" Ataru muses,
remembering that in his timeline, Tanoshii was a student at Butsumetsu Girls'
High School alongside Komeru's three other female wards. "Forgive me, but I
forgot a lot this time."

"Oh, that's too bad," Tanoshii looks sympathetic. "Well, Aijooa is
running the reconstruction of northern Japan's school systems. Kenmei is on
the design bureau trying to amalgamate the abandoned Urusian technology for
Earth's uses. And Yasashii's helping revive Japan's baseball leagues. After
all, her father was a favourite draft choice for the Carp."

"That's right," Ataru nods, then walks over to Megane. "Yo, Aisuru!
You and Tan-chan finally tied the knot yet or what?!"

"Ataru-chan, honestly!!" the priestess giggles, flushing. "I'm still
trying to keep him down enough so I can do it with him!"

"I wish I had that much luck!" the Fukunokami sighs.

"Oh, give Ataru-chan time, Benten!" Tanoshii snickers. "After all, he
still has to get over nearly losing Shinobu, not to mention the relationship
he could have had with Lum."

"That's true," Benten nods.

"You...!" a gravely voice utters.

Ataru turns, noticing that Megane is glaring at him. "Um...what's up,
Aisuru?!" the former shudders. "You don't look so good."

"It's you...!" Megane's hands reach for Ataru's face. "You came back to
haunt me, did you!! You came back to gloat that you could defeat that alien
whore Lum in your universe and I couldn't do the same here!! You slime,
prepare for the divine retribution you long deserve...!!!"

"That's enough!!!" Tanoshii suddenly appears between Megane and Ataru.
"Aisuru-kun, back off!! Now!!!"

The fanatic look on Megane's face vanishes, replaced by a calm peace.
"Tan-chan?"

"Now, go sit down and behave yourself!" the priestess points into the
living room. "Go on!!"

"O-okay," the former tag race competitor shuffles into the living room.

Ataru, Benten and Tanoshii watch him move. "Shit, he's still totally
bonkers, isn't he?!" the Fukunokami crosses her arms.

"What did you expect?" the priestess sighs. "Now he's been babbling
about meeting some other version of Ataru-chan who came to this reality
gloating that he actually was the one who raced Lum, winning on top of that!"

Ataru and Benten pale momentarily, but quickly recompose themselves
before Tanoshii could notice. "Well, I'll bet there's many more stress cases
out there who're still untended," the alternate timeline tag champion places a
hand on Tanoshii's shoulder.

"True," Tanoshii nods. "I thank the gods every day that there were a
lot of *Dowe'on* spiritualists who came with that flux of refugees from
Ipraedos. Even though many people still look on aliens with disgust and
hatred, they still go out to try to tend to the sick and destitute."

"Yeah, I remember the prostitutes working the streets here," Ataru
thumbs outside as the three finally move into the living room to sit beside a
still Megane. "Is that all they can do while they're here?"

"Well, they don't seem to mind it," Tanoshii sits, gently bringing
Megane into her arms. "I try to help whenever I can, but many of them believe
that their exile on Earth is their race's penitence for their crimes against
other alien races. Another curious thing is that a lot of Urusian refugees
are beginning to live with many of the Ipraedies refugees. So strange, isn't
it? They were once blood enemies or so I hear."

"Well, the *Dowe'on* weren't so bad," Benten sighs. "They believed in
the interaction between separate races, tried to promulgate it whenever and
wherever they could. Unfortunately, they still had much in the way of trouble
when it came to political power. The *Asan'on* had control over that."

"Too bad," Ataru muses, then stands. "Well, I want to go for a walk."

"Are you sure, Ataru-chan?" Tanoshii looks concerned.

"No, I'll be fine," Ataru smiles. "I've got work to do. I'll be back a
bit later, Benten."

"Okay, Darling," the Fukunokami looks concerned. "Be careful."

"Always am," the Terran winks at her as he goes.

Benten looks afraid. "I hate it when he says that!"

* * *

Later, as night falls over Tomobiki, Ataru makes his way through the
streets. He had just passed what was left of Tomobiki High School. Save for
a small house built for Ryuunosuke Fujinami and her father, the school has
remained a ruin after the climatic battle. Visiting them, Ataru learned that
Ryuunosuke's father has been busy trying to promulgate the school as a tourist
attraction. So far, there have been little in the way of public interest.
Too many people dead, too many lives disrupted, too many bad memories about a
time Ataru thanked the gods never occurred in his timeline. Ataru was at
least relieved that because of Ryuunosuke's personal bravery in that final
battle, her father finally allowed her to dress and begin to learn what being
a woman was about. Further, Ryuunosuke was united with her fiance, Nagisa
Shinowataru, who, like his tomboy ex-classmate, was at last permitted to dress
as he was born. At least some things were "normal" in this timeline.

Soon enough, Ataru arrives in the part of the district populated by
alien refugees. During the Occupation, this district had been cleared out so
that officials in Lum's government could have decent housing. In the wake of
the Liberation, the government of Japan had yet to reclaim the area for Terran
refugees. Ataru had learned from Benten that in the wake of the war crime
trials in the Hague, many dislocated Terrans had simply moved out of the big
cities, places where the Urusian concentration was strongest. *In their
minds, they're still under occupation*, Ataru muses. *If they don't recover
soon, Earth will never think itself a free planet!*

The houses show a mix of Urusian tiger-striping with Ipraedies charcoal
green. Prostitutes line both sides of the street, a mix of Ipraedies, Seishin
and Oni, all working together. Some are quick to notice the Terran's arrival.
"Hey, sweetie!" a brown-haired Seishin teen walks up. "Want some fun?"

"Um...not tonight, love," Ataru gently strokes the girl's earlobe.

The Seishin girl gasps in shock as Ataru passes her. "Whoo!" she
deliriously sighs. "Come back soon, eh?!"

The Terran looks down at his hands as other girls greet him. Thanks to
the *te'a*, he knew exactly how to arouse a woman regardless of their race of
origin. What did this have to do with his destiny, a destiny he was working
now to ensure would happen? "Hi, handsome," a non-aligned Ipraedies leans on
a lamppost. "Care for something a little more spicy?"

Ataru stares at her. "Why don't you save those exquisite green eyes for
someone more worthy than me," he grasps her hand and gently kisses her
knuckle, then winks as he lets her go.

The Ipraedies gasps in disbelief as Ataru heads on. "Wow!!" she turns
to a couple of Onis. "Where's he been all my life?!!"

Many girls howl with delight as Ataru continues. The familiar rush of
adrenaline thunders through his system at the chorus of attention. The old
dreams, the old desires were returning. He could stay in this timeline as
long as he wanted. Given his grandmother's enormous financial backing...and
the total ruin which befell the Mendous and the Mizunokoji when the Urusians
invaded Earth...Ataru Moroboshi could seize control of Tomobiki and turn it
into his private playground. He already had four girls willing and able to do
whatever he bid, despite that two of whom were now in near-comas and the third
a living robot. Ataru wondered why his counterpart did not give in to his
rage and lash out in vengeance against the cruel world which turned against
him the day Lum entered his life, just like he did in his timeline.

Approaching the end of the street, Ataru locates a bench, then sits
down. The Ataru of this timeline had watched many of his friends and family
perish before his eyes. While the Spirit War of that peaceful timeline had
been harsh beyond reason, it was a cakewalk compared to the battle fought here
to liberate Earth. Too many people died, Ataru's parents among them. In this
timeline, Ataru probably cared more, had been closer to his parents, had
deeply mourned them when they died, when other friends and former classmates
had perished or had been permanently disfigured by the Battle. Ataru himself
had been spared that horror in the wake of the Spirit War, had continued to
spare himself that by living in a seashore villa beside the Pacific Ocean,
where the *saikoo jinseijitsu* was just too intimidated by the presence of so
much water, not to mention those who were powerful enough to keep the rampant
ninjitsu databank in check, to attempt another breakout.

Ataru sighs, waving at the odd girl who passes him by. This was a nice
timeline despite the horrible problems...but this was not his timeline. He
had a daughter, a girlfriend in perfect health and a whole set of problems
partially of his own creation which needed solving. It was time to get back
to work. Sighing, Ataru stands...then is stopped. "Hello, there," an Oni-
accented voice speaks. "Do you want some company?"

Ataru moves to refuse her...then halts. The voice was mature and so
horrifyingly familiar. But...did not Benten say she was dead? Turning
around, his eyes widen on seeing a familiar silhouette in the tree shadows
behind him. "Mrs. Invader?!!" he gasps.

The woman gasps as she steps out of shadow. Despite a liberal
application of dark makeup and her usual sleeveless China-like dress being
substituted for a lace tiger-striped nightie over bikini bottoms and high-
heeled shoes, Lum's mother was still all too recognizable. "How...do you know
who I am?" she points at herself, a touch of fear on her face.

Ataru gently moves towards her, trying not to frighten her away.
"You're Lum's mother," he gently whispers. "In her office when we liberated
the town, I saw your picture."

Mrs. Invader looks away. "I don't have a daughter!" she gasps, tears in
her eyes. "Not anymore! She's dead! Your people killed her!"

"Everyone thought you were dead, too," Ataru gently takes her hands in
his. "How did you survive?"

"I don't know," she tearfully shakes her head. "I watched our house
destroyed, my husband, sister, brother-in-law and nephew gone. I asked myself
why?! Why did I survive and everyone I loved and cared for die?! Why?!"

Ataru gently allows her to collapse into his embrace as she cries. "I
know where Lum is," he gently whispers. "Do you want to see her?"

She looks at him. "Y-you're not lying...!" she firmly grasps his
shoulders, wondering if she was dreaming. "Who are you?!"

"Ataru Moroboshi," he firmly answers.

Mrs. Invader shudders. "The grandson of the demoness who stripped us
bare and left us naked when the Ipraedies came," she looks away, an ironic
chuckle uttering from her lips. "Strange. The first night I'm on this job
and I wind up dating the man who's grandmother was the death of my people."

"You're not fit for this job," Ataru smiles. "C'mon...I'll take you to
see Lum-chan. She'll be so pleased to see you."

"I don't want to see Lum," her mother stops.

"What?! Why?!"

"Because I lost her the day the damn Tribal Council made her Earth's
governor," Mrs. Invader shakes her head. "I never wanted her to be forced
into something like that! I never wanted our people to take such a risk as
attacking a planet so close to Zephyrite space. I never wanted anything more
for my daughter than to be a happy girl."

"She wanted the same thing," Ataru sighs.

"Eh?!"

He firmly grasps her hands, giving them a reassuring squeeze. "When I
confronted Lum in her office the day the T.U.F. attacked...just before Mendou
shot her and all hell broke loose...she willingly gave me the spacializer in
hopes of my returning back in time and trying some way to change it so that
her people would have lost the Tag Race. She never wanted to be Governor,
ma'am. She wanted so much just to be back on Uru and live with her family and
be with her friends. No one can really change time...but at least I can try
to find some way where you and Lum could be together again."

Silence falls over them as they stare at each other. The gloom which
seems to have haunted Mrs. Invader for so long finally lifts away. Years
drain from her face as she smiles. Ataru suddenly realizes what a beautiful
woman she must have been when she was his age, understanding how easy it was
for someone like Invader to desire her. "Do you mean that?" she sniffs.

"I said it," Ataru nods. "C'mon."

She nods. Hand-in-hand, they walk out from under the trees. Seeing the
success the Oni had, many other girls let out wild wolf-calls and cheers,
applauding her on her first night success. Mrs. Invader flushes as she stares
at Ataru. "If they only knew, eh?" he chuckles.

"Yeah," she smiles, shaking her head.

As they proceed down the street, Ataru nor Lum's mother fail to notice a
small group of teenagers shuffling some distance behind them. All are dressed
in what look like familiar Tomobiki High School uniforms. Whispering among
themselves, they move to shadow the Terran and the Oni. Seeing this from some
distance away, an Ipraedies woman who would be even more familiar to Ataru had
he seen her looks suspiciously at the Terran's followers. "Uh-oh!" she hums.
"Looks like poor Shinrya-chan's about to get some unwelcome company!"

"Bushi-sempai, are you sure you want to step in their way?" a Seishin
girl looks nervous. "I mean, we don't have weapons."

"I don't need weapons," the ex-intelligence officer sighs. "Stay here."

The woman races down the street...

* * *

Meanwhile, Ataru and Mrs. Invader innocently proceed in the general
direction of Sakura's shrine. "We're just going to pick someone up, then head
over to see Lum, okay?" the Terran looks at her...then feels his eyes stare at
her nearly exposed bust.

The Oni flushes. "Well, if you're still interested in my company, I
wouldn't mind," she chuckles.

"Um...s-sorry about that!!" Ataru slaps his forehead. *Gods, what am I
thinking?!!*

Mrs. Invader laughs. Arriving at the front gate of Sakura's shrine,
both find the resident priestess in question sweeping her front steps.
"Sakura-chan," Ataru calls out.

"Darling!" Sakura smiles, then hobbles over to embrace him. "Oh, I
missed you so much!" she kisses him, then notices Lum's mother. "Who's this?"

"This is Lum's mom, Sakura-chan," Ataru smiles.

The two women bow. "Oh, she's as pretty as her daughter," Sakura sighs
as she gently strokes the older woman's unlined face. "Even prettier."

Mrs. Invader flushes. "My, she's...friendly," she looks at Ataru.

"It's a little hard to explain," Ataru stammers. "Sakura-chan, I'm
taking Lum's mother to see her. Want to come along?"

"I'd love to," Sakura nods, placing her broom aside and taking her cane
in hand. "Let's go!"

Ataru finds himself escorting two women towards his home. Watching him,
his pursuers look incensed. "He is the one responsible for our goddess'
fall!" a woman hisses. "Look at him! Enslaving the Great Mother and an
innocent, defenseless priestess! He must be slain!"

The others growl in agreement. *I was afraid of this!* Bushi sighs,
watching from nearby. *They'll be the death of that poor man yet!!*

* * *

Later, as the three head down the street, Ataru finds himself tensing,
his hair standing on end. "What the...?" his eyes glance left and right.

"Darling, I think we're being followed," Sakura firmly grips his hand.

Mrs. Invader turns to look behind them. "Don't look back," Ataru urges,
then glances at the priestess. "Where, Sakura?" he hisses.

"About ten metres back," her eyes narrow. "There's about a half-dozen
of them, I think. Darling, if they attack, order me to combat mode. It's
something Benten slipped into me when she and Sensei tried to cure me."

Ataru is surprised. "You know what happened...?"

"I live with it day after day, Darling," Sakura smiles. "If this is the
way my life must continue, then I'll take it without hesitation."

He looks sad. "I'll try to cure you, Sakura-chan. That's a promise."

"I know you will," she nods, gently squeezing his hand.

The Oni glances back. "Oh, no!" she gulps. "They're Niphentaxians!"

Ataru stops. "Niphentaxians?!!" he snaps, then spins around. "What the
hell are you lifeless slime doing here?!! Shouldn't you be all dead?!!"

The people now in front of him stop, surprised by his challenge. "You
are the Great Evil!!!" a woman snarls, pointing at Ataru. "You are the one
who destroyed our Goddess, then saw to it our Goddess' home was destroyed in
turn!!! Prepare for your divine punishment, devil of devils!!!"

Ataru snarls, his left eye glowing star-white. "**That's what you
think!!!**" he roars as psychic fire consumes him, revealing the Cyborg's
armour beneath! "**Prepare for *YOUR* divine punishment!!!**"

The Niphentaxians howl in fright as Ataru tackles them, sending them
flying into a wall! "No, Darling!!" Sakura shudders, unable to move. "Why
didn't you order me to protect you?!"

"What is he?!!" Mrs. Invader gasps. "A guyver?!!"

An explosion occurs!! The Niphentaxians are scattered from Ataru as he
assumes a ready stance, a stun-stick in hand. "**Care to make my day,
jerks?!!**" the machine-man cackles as he awaits the next move.

"What manner of demon is he?!!" a man exclaims.

"No matter!!!" a woman howls, rising to her feet, a particle blaster in
hand. "Our Goddess' humiliation cries for vengeance!!!"

"**Oh, put the peashooters away!**" Ataru mirthlessly cackles. "**Those
things might work on a normal person, but I'm beyond normal!!**"

"And for that, you will die, demon!!!" a man growls. "CHARGE!!!!!!"

Before the Niphentaxians could lunge to dog-pile Ataru, several bolts of
stun lasers belt them, knocking them down! Ataru freezes, then looks left to
see Bushi standing there...with two other familiar faces. "**Bushi?!!
Koosei?!! Nassur?!!**"

"Nassur?!!" Mrs. Invader gasps.

Ataru reverts to normal as Nassur, Koosei Ryooki and Bushi emerge from
the shadows. Accompanying them is a blonde-haired Vosian woman dressed in a
green sleeved form-fitting hunter's uniform. Seeing her, Lum's mother blinks
in disbelief. "C-cinba...?!" she gasps, pointing. "B-but, y-you're dead...!"

"No," the woman replies. Ataru recognizes that while the woman is an
exact physical double of Nassur's deceased first wife, she also bears a brutal
diagonal scar across her face. Further, her hair is worn loose, extending far
past her waist. "My name's is Junba, ma'am. I'm Cinba's sister."

"Oh," Lum's mother nods.

"Thanks, Nassur," Bushi hands a blaster back to the Vosian hunter.

"No problem, Commander," the Vosian muses, then stares at Ataru. "And
you must be Ataru Moroboshi, right?"

"That's me," the Terran student nods. "What are you doing here?"

"I came at the request of the Zephyrite government," the Vosian hunter
sighs, crossing his arms. "Unfortunately, the intergalactic war which
resulted when Uru invaded Earth is not yet over."

"What?!" Ataru looks surprised, then glances at the unconscious
Niphentaxians. "You mean them?!!" he points. "But I've always heard that
Phentax Two had been destroyed by the Zephyrites before they moved in on
Uru!!"

"So they did," Nassur nods. "Phentax Two itself was destroyed, as were
the System Destroyers protecting it. However, the Niphentaxian battlefleet
and their mobile Planet Destroyers managed to escape, despite the fact that
the Zephyrites got help from the Kamahanites in trying to locate them. Right
now, they've been spotted massing near Barsoom. In a matter of days, they
could be plunging down on Earth, hell bent on destroying this planet for their
humiliation of Lum and her people!"

Ataru gulps, remembering what he had learned about the Niphentaxians'
power during his brief visit to Phentax Twelve in "What Price For Love?" "L-
looks like we're in for it n-now..." he stammers.

"Can we expect any sort of help from anyone?" Mrs. Invader walks up to
Nassur's side.

The Vosian stares at the Oni, a touch of betrayal and disgust crossing
his face as he remembers what her people had done to his student. "It looks
as if they don't like each other anymore," Sakura whispers to Ataru.

"Given what happened sometime back, I can understand that," he nods.

Nassur relaxes. "Well, the Zephyrites, as part of their treaty
obligations with Earth, have posted a crusade fleet in orbit over your fourth
planet...Mars, I believe you call it...which could be strong enough to take
out the Niphentaxian fleet, as long as the Niphentaxians are caught in
concentration. However, Oogi's been on the run for almost a half-year. It
doesn't take them long to understand that they have to disperse their forces
to make their greater numbers work for them."

"Not good," Ataru shakes his head, then glaces at the Niphentaxians at
their feet. "Hey, wait a second...!" he hums.

"What is it, Darling?" Sakura looks curious.

A conspiratorial grin crosses his face. "I've just got a wicked idea as
to how to put that bastard Oogi back into his place!" he chuckles, then points
to the unconscious assassins. "Help us bring these lifeless dorks to my
house! We've got work to do!"

"What sort of work?!" Junba looks curious.

Ataru looks at Mrs. Invader. "If they want their goddess alive and
whole again, we'll just *give* them their goddess!!" he smiles.

Lum's mother looks nervous...

* * *

"Darling, you're back!!!" Benten looks pleased when Ataru steps into the
house, having walked out of the kitchen when she was washing dishes. "Oh, hi,
Sakura...eh?!!" she gasps when she sees who else came with Ataru.

The Fukunokami's face pales on seeing Nassur for the first time in over
three years. Koosei Ryooki is well known to her because of his relationship
with Oyuki. Bushi's fame is almost as great as Nassur's. The presence of
Junba sends a cold shiver down Benten's spine. Finally, she is nearly driven
to tears on seeing Lum's mother. "Oba-chan!!!" Benten cries as she embraces
Mrs. Invader. "You're alive!!"

"Yes, I am," Lum's mother sighs. "I wish I could have come under better
circumstances, though."

"Hey, that's okay!!" Benten smiles. "Come in, come in!" she waves
everyone inside...then stops. "What the hell...?!!" she gasps on seeing the
half-dozen unconscious Niphentaxians now laid in a pile in the foyer. "What
the hell are these jerks doing here?!!"

"They're the vanguard of Oogi's fleet," Ataru shakes his head. "You can
guess what could happen next!"

"Oh, shit, that's not good!!" Benten shudders, then looks at Nassur.

The Vosian does not see her. "So, what's your plan?" he looks at Ataru.

"Lum's in cryostasis in the attic, along with Shinobu," the Terran
thumbs upstairs. "Both are still recovering from the wounds they took when
the T.U.F. overwhelmed the occupation forces. Bring them down here."

"Right!" Junba nods as she runs upstairs with Koosei. "C'mon, Koosei!"

"Coming!" the Terran smiles as he follows the Vosian huntress upstairs.

Benten is surprised, then looks at Nassur. "Nassur...who is that?" she
points up. "Is she some relation of Cinba?"

The Vosian remains silent. "Hey!!!" the Fukunokami growls. "I'm
talking to you!! At least answer me!!!"

Nassur gives her an even stare. "After what you've done to these poor
people, do you expect me to show you **any** respect?!" he icily hisses.

Benten stands her ground. "Damn you to hell, Nassur, don't you **dare**
think you've got the right to judge me!!!" she points a finger at him. "You
weren't here!!! You acted as if what we did wasn't up to your impeccable
standards, then turned your back on us!!! I'm going to have to live with
those nightmares for the rest of my life!! At least respect that!!"

"If you expect me to respect you after the amount of lives you ruined,
think again!!!" he retorts. "You have a lot of gall believing that what you
did was **proper**!! As far as anyone believes, Lum and her accomplices
deserved what they got at the hands of brave people like him!!!" he nods to
Ataru. "I heard that at the end of their Second World War, the victorious
powers of Earth **hanged** the leaders of the defeated powers!!! A pity they
didn't consider that when you, Oyuki and Lan faced their World Court!!!"

"Why, you...!!!" Benten moves to slap him...

...but the two are separated by Ataru. "That's enough, both of you!!!"
the Terran growls. "Anyone does any hitting in this house, it's **me**!!!
Got that?!!"

Benten and Nassur falter, then relent. "Sorry, Darling," the Fukunokami
sighs.

"My apologies," the Vosian curtly nods.

"Better!!" Ataru snarls.

"Hey!!!" Junba's grunt is heard from upstairs. "Give us a hand with
these damn things!!"

In minutes, Shinobu's and Lum's cryostasis chambers are brought into the
living room. "Alright, let's get them out of there!" Ataru moves to open
Lum's chamber. "Bushi, can you get some blankets for them to lie on!!"

"Right!" the Ipraedies runs upstairs.

Benten helps Ataru lift Lum out of her chamber. Nassur watches, a sense
of failure crossing his face. "Lum," he sighs. "I hoped she would be the
first one I ever trained who'd succeed in life..."

"Hey!" Junba lightly squeezes her brother-in-law's arm. "Now's not the
time to think about that, Natsu-chan!"

"Oh, right!!" the Vosian nods.

He helps Junba lift Shinobu out of her chamber. "Lecasur's Soul, what
happened to her?!" the huntress numbly stares at the many bullet wounds in the
Terran woman's chest.

"That's courtesy of me when I got possessed by a monster inside his
head," Benten points at herself, then gestures to Ataru, now laying Lum on a
blanket with the help of Bushi and Mrs. Invader.

Nassur whistles. "And she's still alive?!"

"That's courtesy of the *saikoo jinseijitsu*," Ataru sighs as he helps
lay Shinobu down beside the Oni.

"I'd love to hear that story!" Junba grunts.

"You'll get the chance when this is over with, I hope!" Ataru sighs,
then looks at Sakura. "Sakura-chan, lay here," he points beside Shinobu.

"Okay, Darling," the priestess lies down.

"Now, clear these things out of here!!" Ataru gestures to the cryostasis
chambers, then looks to the foyer. "And bring them in here!! Put them by the
butsudans, will you?!"

"Got it!" Benten nods as she runs into the foyer.

The cryostasis chambers are moved out of the house. The Niphentaxians,
recovering, stir beside the memorials to Ataru's parents. "Wh-where...where
am I...?!" their leader moans, reaching for her head.

"**Hello, there!**" a metallic voice echoes.

The woman yelps in horror as she finds herself facing the Cyborg, now
kneeling in front of her. A two-metre long staff is in the machine-man's
hand. "YEOWCH!!!!!!" she shrieks. "Get away from me, you devil!!!"

"**Now, is that the way to greet someone about to help you aid your
goddess?!**" Ataru muses.

"What does that mean?!!"

"**Look there!**" Ataru nods to behind the woman's right side.

She spins around...then shrieks in fright on seeing the unconscious Lum.
"LUM-SAMA!!!!!!" she wails, leaping over to prostrate herself at the Oni's
feet. "Oh, Lum-sama, how did you come to fall so low?!!"

"**Never mind!!!**" the Cyborg rises, moving to kneel beside her.
"**Tell me...um, what's your name?!**"

"Uh...Ikeniko..." she stammers.

"**Well, Ike-chan**," Ataru sighs, "...**would you be willing to
sacrifice your life to see Lum there and her two friends live again?!**"

The Niphentaxian stares at Lum, then looks at Ataru. "Of course!!!" she
readily nods. "Without a second's hesitation!!!"

"**I thought as much!**" the machine-man nods approvingly. "**Now,
would your friends be willing to do the same?!**"

"Happily!!!" she nods.

"**Confirm it with them!!**" Ataru's good eye narrows. "**I don't allow
people to sacrifice themselves unless they're willing to do so!!**"

"At once!!!" she bows, then turns to awaken her fellow assassins.

The others watch this with confusion. "Benten, how the hell is it that
he can change himself into that?!!" Koosei points to Ataru.

"Search me!" the Fukunokami shrugs. "He's from another timeline!"

"How'd he get here?!" Junba looks curious.

"An accident, so he says!" Benten hugs herself. "Oh, gods, I hope he
knows what he's doing! Too many lives are at risk now!"

"Somehow, I think he does know what he's doing," Bushi muses.

In minutes, the six Niphentaxians look prepared. "We are in agreement,"
Ikeniko announces. "We stand ready to aid the Great Lum!"

"**Good!!**" Ataru hands the staff to her. "**All of you, grasp this!
It'll do the rest!!**"

"Thank you," she bows, taking the staff in hand. "Maybe you're not such
a devil after all!"

Ataru declines to respond. Ikeniko lifts the staff into the air, then
lowers it to point at Lum. "I am Ikeniko of Phentax Two, of the Inochi Sect
of the Holy Church of Lum!! I and my noble companions enter Heaven today with
our hearts full of joy, knowing the Great Lum Redet no Midorinokaminoke-oni,
the Chosen of Heaven, the Living Representation of Creation Itself, may once
again walk among the world of mortals!!! May our blood fuel Her continued
drive to bring the Holy Light of Truth to those unworthy to stand in her
presence!!! May our belief drive Her to convert those to bless Her Holy
Lightning...!!!"

"**I hate long good-bye speeches!**" Ataru mutters, snapping his
fingers.

Before the Niphentaxian could continue, the staff glows bright white!
Energy is literally sucked out of the six aliens as it is absorbed into the
staff, then projects forward, dividing into three parts as they feed into Lum,
Shinobu and Sakura. The Niphentaxians fade out of this plane of existence as
the wounds covering the three women's bodies miraculously heal. Seeing this,
Benten is awestruck. "They're gonna be okay!!!"

The others blink as the light fades. The staff disappears as Ataru
reverts to human form. A second later, Lum's eyes open. "Oh...*datcha*,
where am I...?!" she moans, reaching for her forehead.

"Lum-chan!!!" her mother cries, running to her side.

"Mommy?!!" the younger Oni gasps, then wails as she is fiercely embraced
by Mrs. Invader. "You're alive!!!"

"So are you!!!" her mother sobs.

Sakura's eyes then open as she sits up. "Where am I?!!" she shakes her
head...then looks up, her eyes widening in shock as she recognizes the man now
looking at her. "Koosei-kun?!!"

"Hiya, Thunderthighs!!!" he smiles as she leaps up to hug him.

"You've come back!!!" she wails, laughing and crying at the same time.

"Ataru...?!" Shinobu's voice weakly moans.

"Shinobu!" Ataru kneels to help her to her feet. "You okay?!"

Shinobu stares at her "husband," then shivers. "Y-you're not
Ataru...not the Ataru I remember...!"

"No," he shakes his head. "I'm from another timeline...a place where
there never was an invasion or occupation. I came here by accident."

"Th-then where's my Ataru-kun...?!" tears well in her eyes.

Ataru sighs. "He's probably in my timeline as we speak. I'm sure that
as soon as this mess is over, he'll come back."

Shinobu looks down, then gently moves her hand away. "In your dimension
or wherever you come from...are you and I married?"

Silence for a moment, then he shakes his head. "No. Truthfully, we're
hardly even friends anymore," he sighs.

"Then...who are you married to?" she looks at him.

"No one at present," Ataru shakes his head. "But to her very soon," he
nods to Lum. "At least...my Lum, that is."

"She's allowed to live on Earth?!" Shinobu blinks her eyes. "How?!"

"Simple," he shrugs. "I was the one who raced her in the Tag Race. I
won, too."

Shinobu looks down, tears in her eyes. "I see," she shakes her head.
"So...I never could have had you no matter which timeline existed."

"Shinobu..." Ataru looks surprised.

"It's better if I remain dead," she whispers as she runs out of the
house.

"Shinobu!!" Ataru gasps, then looks over. "Hey, someone keep an eye on
her, willya?!"

"No problem," Junba nods.

She runs out of the house. By that time, Lum has finished hearing
everything from her mother. Standing, she looks at Ataru. "Darling, why was
I revived now?!" she looks curious.

"We've got unwanted visitors coming our way, Lum," he sighs. "Oogi's
about to pay us a visit!"

The Oni blanches. "That's not good..." she moans.

* * *

Meanwhile, a crying Shinobu runs towards her family's old home. "Why
did this happen?!!" she sobs. "Why is my husband bonded to some alien?!! Why
am I the one who always suffers when weird things happen?!!"

She arrives at the house...only to find it dark and abandoned. "My
home!" she gasps. "No!!! My home's gone, too!!"

"Shinobu!" someone calls from the darkness.

Shinobu spins around to see Junba standing there. "Who are you?!!" she
cries.

"Relax, Shinobu," the Vosian walks up, gently gripping the sobbing
Terran's shoulders. "I won't bite!"

"How can I trust you?!" she hisses. "After all this, after all I've
lived through, all I've seen, how could I trust any alien?! Why don't you go
away?!! Go back to your planet!! Go away!!!"

"I can't, Shinobu," she sighs.

"What?!" she looks confused.

"I have no home planet to go to," she shakes his head.

The Terran stops, the flow of her tears slowing down. "What do you
mean?" she wipes her face clean.

The Vosian sighs. "I'm a clone of Nassur's first wife. I was created
thirty-five years ago for reasons I don't understand; I don't have memories
which go back that far. I was later used by one of Nassur's enemies to try to
destroy him, but I rebelled and joined forces with Nassur. Even though I'm
living on an asteroid now with Nassur, Koosei and Dakejinzou Shogai, plus a
group of orphaned hybrid children...and even though the dictator who used me
is dead and my people are, after so long, finally free...I'm still looking."

Shinobu blinks, then hesitantly moves towards her. "Could you...help me
find a place...I can call home...?" she looks down, her face flushing at the
earnest attention she is getting from Junba.

"I can try," she smiles.

They stare at each other. Junba feels her heart flutter as her eyes
flash green. "What's wrong with your eyes?!" Shinobu gasps.

"N-nothing..." she stammers, a touch of relief crossing her heart.
"It's...natural with my people."

Shinobu is quick to denote the change of tone in her voice. "I see,"
she hums, sliding her arms around her neck. "Tell me...are there other
interesting abilities I might have to know of?!"

"I guess you'll have to stick around and find out," she smiles.

They drift together, their lips caressing...just as Nassur appears.
"My, Ju-chan!!" the hunter hums, staring at Shinobu. "Recognizing short-
lives, are we now?!"

The hunter is then caked by the icy, dirty stare Junba and Shinobu fire
at her. "**Go...away...Nassur!!!**" both growl.

"N-never m-mind...!" he stammers, retreating to bathe herself...

* * *

An hour later, the old "Renegade"-B rises from Earth, rocketing at the
fastest impulse speed towards Mars. On the bridge of the cramped ship, Junba
guides Shinobu in manning the helm while Koosei is at sensory, Sakura standing
beside her old boyfriend. Ataru and Lum stand beside Nassur in his command
chair. To befit her new status, Shinobu sports a pink-and-black jumpsuit
similar to Junba's, an unknotted kill-belt around her waist. "ETA to
Zephyrite Naval Station Olympus Mons in...twenty minutes," Shinobu looks at
the readout, then up to Junba. "Is that right?"

"That's good, Shi-chan," Junba rubs the Terran's shoulder, nodding
approvingly. "Relax. You'll get the hang of it soon enough."

"Thanks, Ju-chan," Shinobu beams as the Vosian huntress leaves her.

Junba walks over to join Nassur. "Do you think this crazy plan will
work, Natsu-chan?" she crosses her arms.

"I hope it does, sis," he nods. "Oogi's probably low on supplies right
now, given that no place in the local cluster has offered his fleet a safe
port to replenish themselves."

"Understandable," Lum moans. "Gods, I'll be glad to be rid of them."
She then looks to Ataru. "Darling, do you think I can persuade Oogi to go
away?"

"I've got faith in you," he winks. "So does Benten."

The Oni blushes. "At least someone still cares," she sighs, then moves
to the side portals to view the passing starfield.

Nassur looks at her, then to Ataru. "You of course realize that I'll
have to arrest her and take her to the Hague for trial," the Vosian whispers.
"If she's found guilty, she'll be joining the others in Spandau for the rest
of her life."

"Oh, I think she'll have a better option than that," the Terran crosses
his arms. "Especially if this day goes our way."

"Famous last words," Junba muses.

In minutes, Mars appears in front of "Renegade." As the red planet
looms over the small frigate's prow, a Zephyrite battlecruiser moves towards
Nassur's ship. "Incoming contact!" Koosei barks. "Zephyrite Type Fifteen
battlecruiser off the starboard bow!!"

"I see it," Nassur nods. "Open hailing frequencies, Junba."

"Got it," his sister-in-law walks over to the communications panel and
presses the necessary controls.

To Ataru's surprised, a second later, Sunhair Windrider herself appears
on the screen. "This is the Republic of Zephyrus Starship 'Windrider Dreams,'
Captain Sunhair Windrider PRCZ speaking," she announces. "State your business
here, 'Renegade.' We've got a bunch of errant Niphentaxians on their way here
and they're not coming for a social call."

"I know that, Captain," Nassur stands. "I've come at the behest of your
government to try to find some way to defuse this situation."

"I'm afraid that the only thing that will make a Niphentaxian listen to
reason is have a bomb dropped on their heads!!" Windy growls. "I'm sure Lum
there will agree with me!"

"I do," the Oni nods.

"As a matter of fact," Nassur smiles, "...I believe Lum's presence could
be the factor which will make Oogi withdraw."

Windy considers that for a moment, then nods. "Very well then. You can
try...but be warned. If you fail, we won't wait for you to get clear!"

"I understand," Nassur nods. "Thank you, Captain."

Windy then notices who else stands on the "Renegade's" bridge. "Ataru-
chan, what are you doing there?!!" the Zephyrite gasps.

"Hi, Windy-chan!" Ataru waves. "Actually, this is my show!"

"I see," Windy muses. "Okay, then! We'll escort you to where they are!
Follow us!!"

"Thanks," Ataru nods as the screen goes blank.

Junba moves to replace Shinobu at the helm, the Terran apprentice
huntress sitting at the communications station. In minutes, the "Renegade"
and the "Windrider Dreams" fly out of Martian space towards distant Saturn.
An hour later, the two starships slip into orbit over Titan. "There!!" Koosei
points. "I've got them all! Son-of-a-bitch!!!" he whistles.

"I see them," Nassur grimly nods as the image of hundreds of Kashin-
class battlewagons appear on "Renegade's" viewscreen. "Open hailing
frequencies, Shinobu."

"O-okay," the Terran fearfully stammers as she sends a hail.

A second later, Oogi appears on the forward viewscreen. To Ataru's
surprise, he does not look like a pointed-eared version of Shutaro Mendou.
However, he has obtained something of a facelift which gives him a more
roguish demeanor, similar to...Rei! Ataru is not surprised, seeing who now
stands beside the Niphentaxian. "LAN?!?!?!" Lum gasps.

Like Benten, Lan had heir hair cut short, although now it was curling as
it regrew. Further, she is dressed in what appears to be a maternity outfit.
"Lum-chan?!!" the Seishin girl gasps. "You're alright!!!"

"Lum-sama, are you hurt?!!" Oogi demands.

Time to get with the plan. "I'm fine, Oogi," the Oni moves to the front
viewscreen. "As you notice, I'm not even touched," she spins around, showing
her unmarked body. "Not a scratch on me!"

"Oh, thank the Fates!!" the Niphentaxians sighs in relief. "If you had
died, we would've lost all hope!!!"

"Lifeless jerks," Ataru mutters.

Nassur chuckles. "Now," Oogi regains control over himself. "Where is
the devil who would so humiliate our goddess?!!" he growls.

"You mean me?!" Ataru walks over, sliding his arm around the Oni.

"You slime!!!" Oogi roars. "How dare you be intimate with Lum-sama?!!"

"Oogi, stop acting like a jerk!!!" Lum snarls.

The Niphentaxian relents. "Darling saved my life," Lum gently embraces
the Terran. "And, just as I see Lan now bears your child, I now bear his."

Oogi blinks, then stares at Ataru. "You saved Lum-sama's life?!"

"With the willing help of six of your people who...sacrificed their
life-forces so Lum could be restored," the Terran waves a list. "Here're
their names!"

Oogi shakes his head. "They shall be remembered as martyrs to the glory
of Lum!!!" he declares.

Lum releases herself of Ataru, then stares at Oogi. "Oogi, I have a job
for you!" she crosses her arms.

"Anything!!" the president looks eager.

"I want you to turn your fleet around and go back to your space!" Lum
points at him. "You've got the knowledge of terraforming available to you!!
Either make Phentax Two a more habitable place again, or locate another planet
in the same system which can suit your needs!!! I want you people to re-
dedicate yourselves in reclaiming what you lost!! I ***DO NOT*** want you to
come out of your system until you have a new home!!! Understand?!!"

"Yes, Lum-sama!!!" Oogi readily nods.

"But, what about what that creep did to Rei-chan?!" Lan snarls, pointing
an accusing finger at Ataru.

Lum's eyes narrow. "Oh, another thing," she hisses. "Lan-chan, why did
you leave Spandau?"

"What did you expect?!" the Seishin girl crosses her arms, looking away.
"The only other creep there was this goose-stepping old dork named Hess!! He
bored me!"

"Strange, hearing that from you," Ataru snorts.

"What was that?!!" Lan growls.

"I see," Lum looks at Oogi. "Oogi?!"

"Yes, Lum-sama?!" the president snaps to attention.

"You will also consider this a direct order from me, **never** to be
disobeyed!!" she points to Lan. "Your wife will **never** be permitted access
to a spaceship, a space-telephone or anything else by which she can use to
cause trouble!! Understand?!!"

"What?!!" Lan cries, wide-eyed.

"Of course, Lum-sama!!!" Oogi grabs his wife, bear-hugging her. "We
shall save her from her sinful thoughts against Your Glory!!"

"Hey, I didn't agree to this...!!!" Lan gasps.

Her words are ignored. "Then what are you still doing in this solar
system, Oogi?!!" the Oni growls, fangs barred. "GET GOING!!!!!!"

The Niphentaxians nearly cause an interstellar traffic jam as they race
away from the Sol system! Watching them go, Shinobu visibly shakes. "And
they actually **worship** Lum?!!" she stammers.

"They're even worse in my timeline!" Ataru sighs.

"Well, that's enough of that," Nassur stands, then walks over, a pair of
handcuffs out. "Lum," he sighs, "...by order of the United Nations, I hereby
place you under arrest on charges of crimes against humanity..."

Then, Ataru's consciousness fades as he feels something seize him...

* * *

"...and that was that," Ataru stirs his tea as he relaxes, once again in
Oshika with Lum, Nokoko and Mal.

The three girls look stunned. "Wow!!" his sister sighs. "I'm glad your
people never invaded Earth, Lum-chan!"

"So am I!!" the Oni nods. "I hope that other me makes it."

"I'm sure she will," Ataru nods, gently embracing his girlfriend. "I
mean, she may have been an occupation force governor, but she also helped save
Earth from being turned to stardust by a bunch of fanatic icon-worshippers!
At least anything I might've done in that timeline is corrected...I hope!!"

"I hope so, too," Mal nods.

Lum looks angry. "Oh, so **that's** what you used my spacializer for!!"
she leaps to her feet, glaring at Ataru. "Darling, you idiot!!! What were
you trying to do?!! Get me out of your life?!!"

"Back then, yes," Ataru nods.

"Why, you...!!" the Oni snarls as lightning dances over her body.

Before she could zap him for something he did so long ago, she is
instantly beseige by a mass of feathers from Ataru, Nokoko and Mal. "Look
who's talking!!!" Ataru's sister laughs.

"Hey!!!" Lum gasps as she is nearly overwhelmed by the ticklish feeling
assaulting her from all sides. "Three against one!!! No fair!!!"

"Now you know how I feel sometimes!!" Ataru laughs as he playfully
shoves Lum to the floor, swamping her with a kiss.

"Oh, Darling!!!" the Oni lustfully sighs as Mal and Nokoko laugh...

*** The End ***