Urusei Yatsura Fan Fiction ❯ The Senior Year ❯ The Bodyguards' Denouement ( Chapter 33 )

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

Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year: "The Bodyguards' Denouement"
by Fred Herriot
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edited by E.B. Kushnir
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Twenty-seventh of a series based on "Urusei Yatsura," created by Rumiko Takahashi
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WRITER'S NOTES:

1) This is the first of the "Before You Go..." stories. These are stories which were formulated by Mike and myself to act as filler between the third Senior Year Special and the Endings and Beginnings quadrology. In addition, they permit us to look closely upon those characters who have not had plots centred on them in previous stories.

2) Originally, the ideas appearing in this story were meant to appear in "Dakejinzou's Story" and "Be Forever Nassur."

3) Mie's phrase "doom on the guards" comes from the English corruption of the Vietnamese "do-ma-nhieu." Since Nettiquette forbids me to translate it, may I recommend you consult Richard Marcinko's "Rouge Warrior" books.

4) For your information, a guide to character name translations:

Megane Aisuru - "glasses"/"to love"
Seiryokuteki Tanoshii - "energetic"/"delightful"
Chibi Urayamu - "runt"/"to be envious"
Katsudooteki Aijooa - "active"/"affection"
Kakugari Daremo - "crewcut"/"nobody"
Geijutsuteki Kenmei - "artistic"/"wise"
Paama Shitto - "perm"/"jealousy"
Soozooteki Yasashii - "creative"/"kind"

5) This story includes several characters created by other Yatsura fan fiction writers. Sugoi was created by Fred Lee Cain. Yedris and Yethis were created by Lew Burton. Be advised that in UY-TSY, the role of Sugoi is different than what her creator intended. Our apologies to those fans who prefer Sugoi in her original role, but when this storyline was first formulated, we never knew of Sugoi.

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Lum's Bodyguards.

Four men. Curious that four young men, could actively influence the destiny of a whole planet...and have done so time and time again. In the future, they would be viewed as apostles to the glory of a woman who, by then, had her basic humanity ripped away, replaced by religious veneration. That, fortunately, is another story, one the authors would actually prefer NOT to write.

We digress. Through thick and thin, through triumph and tragedy, these four had remained staunch allies. This isn't because they were true friends. Given the chance, the four would gladly destroy each other if such could aid them in achieving the personal goal they all share: the love, the devotion of the one who has eluded them despite their nearly superhuman efforts to the contrary.

Lum.

To others, they have many names. They have been referred to as Lum's Stormtroopers, reflecting their staunch loyalty akin to a member of the infamous SS taking their blood oath to the Fuhrer. Likewise, they have been insulted with the Little Hitler Club. To Ataru, they became the Peanut Gallery or the Boob Patrol, reflecting the reality which they have refused to accept with the blind fanaticism of a religious fundamentalist about to confront his moment with destiny. Mie knows them as the Four Tweedledees.

Presently, they have no use. The one they so dearly would see destroyed is gone, living behind the barriers of jurisprudence and sheer distance in a location where they couldn't easily pursue. The one they willingly serve has turned her back on them, openly wishing their demise. Ridiculed, scorned, spat upon. Useless, not relevant, obsolete, past news. Lost sheep in need of a shepherd. Yet given their past, no one would desire anything to do with them. Or would they, if they were the right sort of person?

The right sort of...girl?

And that is where our story begins.

* * *

"***MEGANE!!!! PAAMA!!!! CHIBI!!!! KAKUGARI!!!!***" Koosei's roar shakes Tomobiki High School to its foundations. "***TO THE VICE-PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE, YOU MINDLESS DORKS!!!!!! HAUL ASS!!!!!!***"

The guards scramble out of their seats, running out as fast as they could. It was rare to hear Koosei unleash his anger with such atomic fury. The remainder of class 3-4 remain obediently quiet, not wishing to risk their teacher's wrath. As Koosei marches out of the room, ordering everyone to study hall, Mie sounds the dread preamble nine bars of the "Dragnet" theme. The whole class breaks out in peals of laughter. "Doom on the guards!!" the Kyushu native laughs. "Time for them to meet their maker!"

"I wonder what the slobs are in for now!!" Ryuunosuke shakes her head.

"What did you expect from a quartet of brainless nerds?!" Shinobu yawns.

"There's an oxymoron if I ever heard one," Lum snorts.

Everyone nods in agreement. Meanwhile, the guards hesitantly shuffle into the vice-principal's office. "Ah, there you are," Onsen smiles, patting his bokan stick in the palm of his hand. "I wonder what you did today which upset Ryooki-sensei so much!"

Koosei enters. "Sorry to bother you, Mark," the teacher sighs.

"So, what did they do now?!"

Koosei faces the guards. "It came to my attention from Mie you four met in the clock tower this morning," he snarls. "Care to explain to me what that was about, Megane?!"

"M-meeting?!" the bespectacled student stammers. "Wh-what meeting?!"

"The meeting, dipstick, in which you idiots were conspiring anew to go to Oshika and take your 'vengeance' on Ataru because of his recent trip to Nagussa," Koosei crosses his arms. "The meeting where you once again stated that Ataru was, I quote, 'madly influencing our precious Lum-san to turn away from her true and only friends,' unquote."

"Not this again," Onsen shakes his head.

Megane moves to speak, but Koosei holds up a finger. "Ah-ah!! Not this time, Aisuru! I've suffered several nice earaches listening to your verbal diarrhea over your devotion to Lum!! As of now, that comes to an end! I just got off the phone with all your parents!"

"O-our p-parents...?" Chibi gulps.

"That's right!!" Koosei snarls. "I'm surprised the faculty never came down on you before this, but now that I'm here, it's going to get done! They are sick and tired of bailing you out of the Sendai jail every time you go to Oshika to pester Ataru!! They are sick and tired of you idiots putting your lives on hold when in a month's time, Lum will NO LONGER be in Tomobiki! They are sick and tired of your attempts to influence a woman who is practically engaged to marry another man to reject him for any of you! Therefore," a Cheshire cat grin crosses his face, "...your parents and I have come to an agreement."

"Wh-what's th-that?!" Kakugari shudders.

Koosei smiles. "As of this day, there will be no more bodyguards!"

The four are stunned silent. "Wh-what was that?!" Paama gasps.

The teacher looks incensed. "***LISTEN UP, YOU CLUELESS JERKS!!!!!!***" Koosei roars loud enough to make people in Chiba believe the Great Kantou Earthquake has revisited Tokyo. "***AS OF THIS DAY, THERE WILL BE NO MORE BODYGUARDS!!!! YOU FOUR ARE FORBIDDEN TO EVER AGAIN COME TOGETHER IN ANY WAY BECAUSE OF LUM OR ATARU MOROBOSHI!!!! THIS APPLIES ON CAMPUS, OFF CAMPUS AND EVERYWHERE ELSE I CAN THINK OF!!!! AND EVERY PERSON IN THIS SCHOOL HAS BEEN TOLD TO ACTIVELY ENSURE DAY IN AND DAY OUT THAT YOU JERKS NEVER AGAIN DISRUPT THIS SCHOOL WITH YOUR PATHETIC SCHEMING!!!! DO YOU HEAR ME?!?!?!***"

The guards are blasted out of the office! Koosei calms down, then adjusts his glasses. "By George, I think they've got it!"

"Wow!" Onsen admiringly gasps.

The four are too insensate to comment...

* * *

After school, students rush home. The guards shuffle out, devastated looks on their faces. They knew this was coming. However, they believed, they hoped, they could still control their lives, live on their dreams. Wishful thinking. "Hey, look, girls!!!" Mie taunts from the front gate. "The four nerds who can NO LONGER protect Lum-chan!!!"

Laughter howls from their classmates. What makes it really hurt is that Lum laughs at Mie's taunt. Megane icily sneers at the Kyushu native. She had been the second to oppose them. Mie was the first to demand their downfall, the first to urge Ataru to that end. Somehow, Megane vowed he'd avenge himself on that witch. Wishful thinking. Mie was stronger, faster and well-skilled at combat. She had come close to killing the guards when the chance offered itself. She made her hatred of them no secret.

And with Mie's example, others began to lash at them, culminating in their teacher actively punishing them every chance he got. And with Lum turning her back, the guards had no allies. The other boys had never developed a cohesiveness despite their devotion to the Oni. Mendou was more rival than friend. Sedoyama and the torture studies group was gone thanks to Koosei's efforts. And with students now actively pairing off, the guards' once sacrosanct support had evaporated.

The guards shuffle through the gate to the bus stop. Here, they parted. Kakugari rode the bus home. Megane and Paama went to the subway station. Chibi rode his bike home. They part with silent waves. Watching them go, the girls' mirth dries up. "Shit, now I feel sorry for the jerks!" Ryuunosuke snorts. "They look as if they've got nothing left!"

"Maybe now they can become real friends instead of so-called 'allies,'" Shinobu muses.

"Those idiots?!" Mie points down the street. "Not in a million years!!"

"True," Lum sighs. "But seeing them, I can understand why some in the Federation were concerned my presence was a danger to Earth."

"Don't worry," Mie hums. "They're not worth your attention. They weren't worth it before, they aren't worth it now!"

"Amen to that!" Shinobu nods. "Still, is Ataru-kun planning something?"

The girls smile, remembering that Ataru had promised he would avenge himself on the guards shortly after his faked death before the new year. "Darling's got something in mind," Lum reports. "But he hasn't told me any details. I can bet its bound to be good!"

"I can't wait!" Ryuunosuke grins.

Nagisa's voice echoes from the school. "Ryuu-chan!!! Dinner time!!"

"Ah, that's my cue to bid you good-night," the tomboy waves.

"'Night, Ryuunosuke!" Mie waves, then looks at Lum and Shinobu. "You two want to come to my place for dinner?!"

The Oni and Ataru's former girlfriend drool; Mie's mother was said to be the district's most outstanding cook. "You're on!!!" they cheer as the three proceed in the direction of the Seikou residence...

* * *

"Daremo Kakugari," Koosei reads his computer notes. "Age 18. Mark average B-minus. Excels in math, industrial arts and chemistry. Father: Hitomaro Kakugari, engineer. Mother: Junko Kakugari, housewife, former secretary. No brothers or sisters. Plans to enter Tokyo University, bachelor of engineering program. Cram school: Tomobiki High, special spring classes 1984. Interests: baseball, science fiction, architecture, starship design, Lum..."

The teacher snorts as he erases that line. "Not anymore."

* * *

Kakugari sneezes. "I wonder who's talking about me," he rubs his nose.

It's the same dreary ride home. Fifteen minutes depending on traffic from school to the stop nearest his home, then five minutes to his house. The stockiest of the guards welcomed this time alone. Being at school, in Megane's presence, always overwhelmed him. He was the strongest, but Megane's fanaticism truthfully scared Kakugari. If Megane wasn't the guards' leader, the whole alliance would have gone to dust a year ago. However, it didn't intrude on all parts of his life. While Kakugari had never admitted it to anyone outside his parents, there was someone he liked to see on his trips to school and home.

His girl.

His "creampuff" as he called her.

It was shameful that Kakugari didn't know her name. All he knew was that she was from Butsumetsu Girl's High, same grade as he. Like he, she would graduate this year. Would she go to cram school, he wondered? Where would she go to school? Would he ever see her again after February? It hurt enough that Lum was leaving for Oshika come graduation, but would Kakugari lose the girl he had a secret crush on for over a year, since Memory's first appearance once made them forget Lum?

After that incident, Megane forced the guards to put out of their minds the "wenches" whose fannies they chased. It was ridiculous; Megane had chased a girl himself. Kakugari had seen her. She was by far the prettiest of the lot. What was Megane bitching about? That girl had made Lum look like pond-scum! Kakugari blinks. If Megane didn't see a good thing in front of him, that was his problem. Koosei's cracking down on the guards had been a long-overdue thing. He had his own problems now. Such as how to meet his creampuff...

Kakugari nearly faints when the beauty in question sits in his seat! His blood pressure skyrockets as the fragrance of her perfume gently tingles his senses. His manhood rises to the challenge as he steals glances at her, wondering if he should introduce himself. Would she react? Would she accuse him of "chikan?" He wanted her. He felt himself mentally undressing her before his eyes. Say something?! He shakes. He would look like a total fool! It was no use if he wound up trying to make an awful first impression.

She was about his height, not slim but certainly not overweight. She had a classic beauty about her, something which would have been desirable a couple of centuries ago. Her face was gently sculptured. It was framed with neck-length brown hair parted in the centre, cascading in gentle bangs down her forehead. Her nose was pointed, hawkish. Her lips were full and round, demanding someone kiss her. Her breasts seemed not too bulky; it was hard to tell. Kakugari imagined she had small nipples. He always liked that in a girl. She was well exercised, but no star athlete. A solid, dependable girl...

...who was now staring at him!

Kakugari tried to look away, but found his strength failing. Her eyes. Oh, those beautiful eyes! Brown as chocolate, shining like alien crystals. He felt himself melt. There was no anger in them. No embarrassment. Just intense curiosity. Kakugari had the sudden feeling that he was a lab rat in a science experiment. No, a loving pet. What was wrong with him? Say something! Introduce yourself, you fool! This was your chance!!

Suddenly, the bus stops. Regret crosses her face as her hand gently grasps his. "I'm sorry," she smiles. "I have to go."

Kakugari felt his passion gently release itself as the girl rises and walks to the door. That voice! Purest velvet. An accent. Shikoku? Where was she from? Who was she? Did she finally want to meet him?

At that moment, he finally registered something in his right hand, the hand she had grasped. Looking down, his eyes nearly shoot out of their sockets on recognizing something beige, soft and very intimate. Quickly scanning the other passengers to ensure no one was observing, he looks down, then unfolds the item. Panties! Lace see-through thong panties, something which could only have come from a lingerie specialty shop. Esmerelda's? Had to be; it was too exotic to be a locally produced pair of undergarments. Again scanning the passengers, Kakugari stretches the panties. They were hers! It had to be. The size was just about right...

...and there was a note. Message in panties? That was new. Gently, he pulls off the message, then opens it. Highly textured paper. This girl was from a well-off family. Even better, the paper was embossed with a name. Kenmei Geijutsuteki. Kakugari wanted to cry. After a year, he knew her name. Without a second's hesitation, he plunges into the note. What it states stops him dead:

"Daremo-kun,
"Oh, master of my heart, since the day I beheld you, I can't think of anything else **but** you. I wait for the day we'll meet. For the past two years, you've sought and failed to gain the love of a woman who would never give you the time of day, much less anything else! Oh, my sweet, to be given the strength and opportunity to break you of your mad, blinding lust...I would conquer a galaxy! I dream of the day your hands will caress me! If I die with your manliness splitting me in half, I die the happiest woman in the universe!! I shall dream of you day and night, my love.
"Your creampuff...Kenmei."

Kakugari gasps, remembering to breathe. She wanted him! It was him all along! How long did she desire him?! How did she know his name? How did she know his nickname for her?! Did it matter?! She wanted him!!

* * *

Next day, Koosei is busy with math. This was Kakugari's favourite subject. Never mind that Koosei was a good teacher, Kakugari loved to juggle the numbers. Numbers were simple, logical. Work them right, they did miracles. There was only one way to do an equation. Life at its simplest. However, this day, Kakugari found he couldn't concentrate on his work, for an all-too understandable reason.

*I'm sorry...I have to go.*

Go?! Why?! Idiot, she had to go home; classes were over! He wanted her to stay. He wanted to talk to her. Where was she this morning? Did she take an early bus? Was she sick? Did she...? No!! Kenmei wasn't dead! Kenmei wasn't sick! Kenmei would never leave him! Lum left him, but Kenmei wouldn't!! Never! It was him and only him!! She loved him! He loved her! End of statement.

Voices echo around him. People had noticed his inattentiveness. Koosei was saying something. What was his problem? He had a girlfriend, a solid relationship! Could he just back away for once, allow Kakugari to figure out the mess his life had just become?! The other guys were staring at him. What was their problem?! Go find your own girl!

A tap is felt on his forehead. "Hey!!" Koosei snaps. "You in there?!"

Kakugari's shout then blows the roof off!

"***IT'S ME SHE WANTS!!!!!!***"

* * *

After school, Kakugari sighs, walking to his bus stop. That had been a brilliant manoeuvre, allowing himself to daydream. Koosei had been sympathetic for a change. He proclaimed Kakugari had got an inoculation to something he called "Lum-itis." According to him, it is a mental illness which afflicts all who come into contact with, then lust for, Lum. Megane and Mendou launched into their usual tirades, stating Lum was no disease and that Koosei had insulted her. Lum zapped the pair, Mie clobbered them with a desk and Koosei slapped them with a week's detention for disturbing the class!! Idiots! They only had to keep their mouths shut. Kakugari wondered if the real bodyguards were Megane and Mendou. Those two really were a pair!

The ride home proceeds with a blur. Kenmei is nowhere in sight. Kakugari doesn't allow his personal morale to sink. There had to be a logical explanation. Stop complaining and find it. In fifteen minutes, he gets off, then traverses the five minute walk home. Arriving at the split-level bungalow where he lived, Kakugari opens the mail box to see if there is anything there. Bills, bills, junk mail...and a letter! Kakugari blinks. It was addressed to him, written in a flowing script. Opening the letter, he nearly passes out on seeing that lovely paper with its letterhead. He does faint on reading the message:

"Daremo-kun,
"Meet me at 9:00 PM tonight in front of 10-3 Yamamato Lane. Bring your school uniform. Don't be late.
"Your Kenmei-chan"

Kakugari stares at the letter. A date! Uniform?! What was he about to get into...?

* * *

That evening, Kakugari makes his way down the tenth block of Yamamato Lane, a secluded cul-de-sac ten minutes walk from Tomobiki High School. He has a gym bag with him carrying his uniform and toiletries, not to mention his briefcase. Once of the prettier sections of town, it is lined with oak trees which provide shade in daytime and a sense of seclusion at night. The third building was invisible from the street, enclosed by a tall brick fence and rows of tall trees. Arriving at the front gate, Kakugari confirms his location...then sees the plaque declaring the building's purpose: HOUSE OF APHRODITE. Staring at the structure beyond, he blinks. "This...this is a...oh, gods!" he gags.

"Hi," a voice gently tickles his ear.

Kakugari spins right to see Kenmei standing there. Now out of her uniform, she is dressed in a cotton button shirt, wool vest and thigh-length skirt. She also has a gym bag as well as her briefcase. He blinks as he takes in all the details. "H-hi..."

They gaze on the other for a moment. "Well, shall we go in?" she waves.

"D-do you really w-want t-to go there...?!" he stammers.

"I've got a reservation," she smiles.

He blinks. What was that old saying about getting what you wished for? "W-well...o-okay..." he hesitantly nods.

Kenmei gently grasps his hand. Kakugari blinks, then permits her to usher him towards the lobby. Once inside, they encounter an elderly woman manning the front desk. "Welcome to the House of Aphrodite," she bows. "Will it be one hour or a full night?"

"Reservation for Geijutsuteki," Kenmei announces, smiling.

"Ah, yes!" the elderly woman nods, then issues a room key. "Room Sixty-nine," she bows. "Have a pleasant stay."

"Thank you," Kenmei tows Kakugari down a hallway. In a minute, they arrive at Room Sixty-nine. Opening the door, Kenmei looks quite pleased. "Ah, just what I wanted!"

Kakugari is surprised to behold that the room is decorated to present the illusion of a normal family home. The room comes with a small kitchenette, a living room fitted with a television and, of course, a very comfortable bed. "Wow!!" he gasps. "This is nice!"

"Best room in the hotel," Kenmei lays her bags on the bed. "This is the place newlyweds make out on their wedding nights." She looks back. "Daremo-kun, are you alright?"

Kakugari steps inside. "This is wrong."

"What is?" she sits on the bed.

He looks at her. "This. You, me, here in this hotel. We've only just met, you know. Don't you think we should get to know each other first before we, um...well, you know..." he gestures towards the bed.

"Daremo-kun, don't be silly," Kenmei smiles. "We're both adults. Atop of that, you've been looking at me for over a year. I haven't passed the time without noticing my secret admirer. Besides, I've got two years of your silly attraction to Lum to chase out of your system. Nothing like a good bit of shock therapy to get the circulation flowing."

Kakugari blinks, then moves to sit beside her. "How do you know all those things? Like who I am, what my nickname for you is. How?"

"Easily explained," Kenmei tucks her legs between her arms. "I'm an orphan. My parents were killed in an earthquake when I was a baby. I was adopted by Komeru Moroboshi. He sent me to Butsumetsu because I got tired of being privately tutored in Sendai. When I noticed you, I got some help in finding out who you are. End of story."

They look at each other. "You mean, you knew all along who I was...that I was attracted to you...?" Kakugari points at her.

"That's right," she nods, a twinge of annoyance on her face. "But I had to wait until someone distracted Megane so I could come after you. I know how intimidating he is at times. I know that every attempt you, Shitto and Urayamu have made in dating girls has been quashed by that loud-mouthed jerk. So, much that it annoyed me, I had to wait until Ataru-chan came after you people with both barrels before I had my chance."

Kakugari blinks. What an idiot he was! Here he was chasing some other girl, a girl who obviously loved someone else, while this beautiful creature was waiting patiently for him, his for the taking! "Kenmei-chan...?"

"You know...it's a really screwed-up family I belong to," tears brim in her eyes.

"Who's?"

"Ataru-chan's," she sniffs. "I know I'm only partially a member since Komeru-onii-chan's my guardian, not my father. But before Lum came, we were all close. A nice, happy family. Ataru-chan, all of Komeru-onii-chan's wards...Nokoko-chan if we remembered her," she wipes her face clean. "Then that stupid Oni came and screwed everything up. I heard of what Ataru-chan had to do to keep her off his back. I heard all the insults, the accusations, the jokes. There were times I gladly wished her dead. There were times I wrote Nagaiwakai-sama pleading to her to get Lum's visa revoked. Maybe somehow get Muchi and Kinshou to be declared unfit parents to put the kibosh on Lum's so-called engagement. Anything to get rid of her. I missed the family there was before Lum came."

"You blame her?" he muses.

Kenmei shakes her head. "No. Now after understanding where she was coming from...and understanding what was going on with him...I'm not mad anymore. But I still resent what her presence here has done to people..." she looks at him. "Especially you."

They gaze upon the other, then drawn by their pain and desire, tenderly kiss. After a wonderful eternity, they part. "Do you live in the girls' dorm at Butsumetsu?" he muses.

"I have my own apartment," she smiles. "Komeru-onii-chan pays for it. I lived in the dorm, but I couldn't stand it. I wanted a place I called my own. That's it." An idea crosses her face. "So tell me, Daremo-kun...do you want to have breakfast with me?"

Kakugari blinks, joy crossing his face. "I'd love to. But...before we go to your place...I'd like for you to meet my parents."

"Really?" Kenmei gasps.

"Really," he nods. "My parents are the only ones who know of you. They're the only ones I could trust to tell them about you; I had to tell **someone** about my creampuff!"

She nods. Moments later, they depart the House of Aphrodite. The matron watches them go, quite satisfied. "Maybe I should rename this place 'the House of Hera,'" she muses.

* * *

"Kenmei Geijutsuteki," Koosei reads his notes after inputting a new file. "Age 18. Graduating Butsumetsu Girl's High School. Mark average B mid-range. Excels in math, physics and chemistry. Father and mother: deceased. Guardian: Komeru Moroboshi. No siblings. Plans to enter Tokyo University, bachelor of engineering program. Cram school: Tomobiki High, special spring classes 1984..."

* * *

Next morning, students make their way to classes. Arriving at school from Kenmei's apartment, Kakugari looks as if nothing could possible go wrong. His parents had never been more happy. They had always pestered him about his interest with Lum, hammering at him to find a nice girl to date who wasn't an alien. For two years, he ignored them, promising that he would consider another girl when the time came. When they met Kenmei, it was as if they had no concern over Lum! His parents immediately proposed contacting Kenmei's guardian to arrange a proper omiai. For once, Kakugari had no reason to object.

He blinks as he notices Lum standing nearby with Mie. Kakugari never considered the harsh impact the Oni's presence had on Ataru's family. Kenmei had really been close to Ataru. Once they were alone in her apartment, she pulled out photo albums showing life in Sendai whenever Ataru came up to visit. At that time, Komeru had been taking a couple years off his safaris to stay with his wards. Kenmei even had pictures of the time before Nokoko's departure to the Outland. There were even some pictures of the time Windy was staying with Ataru. All in all, despite Ataru's fractured relations with his parents, life for his former classmate before Lum's arrival had been quite peaceful. Now, after seeing Ataru's life in a new dimension, Kakugari understood where a lot of Ataru's resentment and buried anger came from.

Kakugari quickly catches himself as he notices Megane in class. The guards' leader was seething over Koosei's constantly levelling of discipline. Perhaps dreaming of some new ways to get back at everyone who had crossed him. For the first time, Kakugari didn't care. He'd been intimidated by his bespectacled classmate before, that was true. After meeting Kenmei, Kakugari felt as if Megane no longer mattered. Let the jerk rant and rave for all the good it will do him.

Another day drones on. Kakugari remains calm, forcing himself to concentrate on his work. However, his mind still drifts to the time he spent with Kenmei. They hadn't consummated their relationship the previous evening. There was time for that later. Still, he did get that breakfast. Whenever her image enters his mind, his hand begins to draw the kanji for her name. Soon, it changes from KENMEI GEIJUTSUTEKI to KENMEI KAKUGARI. Another version emerges: MRS. KENMEI KAKUGARI. Kakugari gulps when he notices Koosei staring at his book in math class. He is relieved when the teacher merely nods in approval, then proceeds with his lecture.

Lunch period finally comes. Kakugari suddenly realizes that he had no lunch! Before he could proceed to the cafeteria to buy something, the door opens and to his total shock, Kenmei steps into the room, properly fitted in her school uniform, a large lunch basket in hand. "Excuse me!" she calls out.

Everyone looks surprised to see a Butsumetsu student standing there. "Can I help you, miss?" Koosei adjusts his glasses.

"Is this Class Three-four?" Kenmei bows. "I'm looking for Daremo-kun."

"You're looking for nobody?!"

"That's right!" she smiles, then looks left. "Oh, there he is! Thank you, sir!!" she then bows to Koosei.

"Strange girl," Megane muses...

...then is decked by an explosion when Kenmei leaps into Kakugari's lap!! "Daremo-kun!!!" she squeals.

Everyone faints! "SHE WANTS HIM?!?!?!"

Mendou leaps over to take her hand. "Miss, you must reject him..."

...then gets socked into orbit by Kakugari! "HANDS OFF *MY* CREAMPUFF, YOU TWO-TIMING ARROGANT ASS!!!!!!"

Suddenly, Kakugari finds himself facing a violently incensed Megane. "WHAT IS THIS?!?! HOW DARE YOU PURSUE...?!?!?!"

He then nearly gets killed by Kakugari and Kenmei!! "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, YOU LIFELESS TWIT!!!!!!" both scream.

Megane moans as Kenmei and Kakugari sit down to enjoy their picnic. Koosei observes this, then shrugs and returns to his paper...

* * *

With final exams, afternoon classes are converted to mass study halls to allow students to prepare for the year-end tests. This day, study has been put aside for Class 3-4 because of the success one of their number had in winning someone's love. Kenmei, free since her exams at Butsumetsu Girl's High School are complete, finds herself the centre of attention as Kakugari's classmates probe her for clues about their first date. "You actually went to a love hotel for your first date?" Mie gasps, leaning up to Kenmei.

Kenmei and Kakugari blush. "Yes we did," the former giggles, holding his hand. "But we realized we didn't want to rush into this, so Daremo-kun took me to see his parents."

"Brave!" Momoe gasps. "Introducing your girlfriend to your parents on day one?! I wasn't that fast with my fiance!"

Lum sniffs the air. "What's burning?!" her nose crinkles.

Everyone pursues the smell to the burning air around Megane, who sits several chairs away. "Just a lifeless dork who just realized how much he couldn't dominate those he thought were following him," Mie snorts.

Everyone giggles...

* * *

"Urayamu Chibi," Koosei reads his notes. "Age 18. Mark average C-plus/B-minus. Excels in language, history and geography. Father: Kikuo Chibi, property assessment officer. Mother: Hiroko Chibi, housewife. No brothers or sisters. Plans to enter Kanagawa University, bachelor of arts program, child studies. Cram school: Tomobiki High, special spring classes 1984. Interests: baseball, reading, writing, Lum..."

The teacher snorts as he erases the last word...

* * *

Chibi sneezes as he unlocks his bike. "Who's taking about me?" he rubs his nose as he guides his bike onto the street.

For the smallest of the guards, it's the same: a twenty minute cycle ride back to his apartment, more if he decided to stop. He stopped taking the bus, desiring the freedom and privacy of a bicycle. He'd always been a loner. He had joined the guards just to feel a sense of belonging, buddying up with somebody. His father was a loner; his job at the Tokyo Property Development Bureau was guaranteed to earn him few friends. Probably that's why his mother had urged him to follow a path into child studies, perhaps pursue a career as a special needs teacher. Given Earth's growing relations with other planets, not to mention the internationalization of Earth itself, special needs teachers would definitely be scarce in a couple of decades.

Chibi turns a corner, entering a long stretch towards the east end. This was a quiet area. It allowed him to think. Lucky Daremo! He had a girlfriend in the wings all this time. Unlike Paama, who had dated as often as Megane could be distracted, Chibi never had any experience with the opposite gender outside his crush on Lum. That was a no-sell these days. One more month and Lum was in Oshika with Ataru on their way to the nearest temple. He wished them well. If Kenmei was an example of what the Moroboshi Clan produced, then Chibi's thoughts towards Ataru's family needed some reconsideration.

Chibi blinks as he notices someone by a park fence looking at her bike. A Butsumetsu Girl's student, probably just out of exams. Slowing down, he dismounts his bike as he walks up to her. "Hey! You okay?"

"Oh, hi!" she smiles in relief, looking at him. "Yeah! My chain slipped!!"

Chibi stops, paling. It was her! Was this some mad coincidence? Kakugari coming together with his "creampuff"...and he now encountering his own dream girl, the one he first saw the day Memory temporarily removed his thoughts about Lum. She had been cute a year ago. Today, she was stunning. "Ah...r-right!" he hesitantly nods, regaining his decorum. "Let me see, here."

Chibi places down his bike, then moves to work the chain. The girl squats in front of him, watching him work. He could not help himself as he steals glances at her while he manipulates the links. "You don't seem like the type who likes to use these," he grunts.

"Personally, I walk whenever I can," she smiles. "But my apartment's over thirty minutes away by foot from the school. It's ten on a good day with this," she nods to the bike. "I'll be glad come March when I start going to Tomobiki High for cram school. To there, it'll be twenty minutes walk."

Chibi blinks. "You're going to Tomobiki for cram school? So am I! What class?"

"Class J-Four. Koosei Ryooki's teaching."

"He's my homeroom teacher," he reports. "He's okay, just don't shout around him. Watch the hammers, too. He loves throwing them. And don't moo. He hates cows..."

"And lives behind Kinshou Moroboshi," she concludes. "All of Tomobiki knows that."

Chibi stares at her. A year had breathed an unbelievable amount of maturity into this girl. She wasn't just cute, she was a goddess! Diminutive, about his height, she still wore her brown hair in side pigtails. Her eyes were large and round, dominating a cherubic face with a puggish nose and thin lips. Beneath her uniform, Chibi sensed that she was well exercised. Definitely a track-and-field type.

"Heptathalon," she reports.

"Huh?!!" he looks confused.

"You were wondering what sport I played," she taps his nose. "I'm in the heptathalon. I might go to Los Angeles this year. If not, there's always '88 in Seoul."

Chibi drops to the ground in shock. "No kidding!" he gasps, then blinks as realization dawns. "Hey!! That means you're..."

"Aijooa Katsudooteki," she nods.

The smallest of the guards shakes his head. That is what he got when he didn't pay attention to girls. He'd once been attracted to one of Japan's rising track stars! Unlike Kakugari with Kenmei, he had almost forgot her in the wake of the Mendou-Mizunokoji pseudo-war. That wouldn't happen again! He wouldn't allow it to happen again, no matter what others thought, especially Megane. Would that jerk be floored if he found out who Chibi's dream girl was. "I hope you make it to L.A.," he nods. "Think you'll beat Flo-Jo?"

"I'll give it the old Katsudooteki try!"

Finally, Chibi slips the chain in place, then stands the bike. "There you go, Aijooa-chan," he smiles. "Good as new."

"Oh, thanks!" she embraces him, placing a kiss on his lips.

Chibi blinks on feeling those soft lips. Aijooa didn't wear perfume, preferring simple underarm deodorant with conscientious cleaning. Without a second's hesitation, he embraces her. Her body was rock solid! He nearly feels his ribs give way as her arms embrace him. Their tongues play for a moment, then they part, gazing into the other's eyes. "I'll get the gold for you, Urayamu-kun," she huskily whispers, kissing his nose, then pulls away to mount her bike. "I promise!" she blows a kiss, then rides off.

Chibi is paralyzed. She knew his name! She even called him "Urayamu-kun!!" Catching his breath, he shakes his head. After a moment of wondering what to do, he mounts his bike, then races for home. He had to talk to his mother. Wait until she learned he had been close to Japan's number one track star! "HOO-YEAH!!!!!!" he screams as he rides off.

* * *

After dawn the next morning, Chibi races out of his house, mounts his bike, then tears down the street for school. He had never been up that early in his life! Then again, he did not have such an angel as Aijooa Katsudooteki waiting for him. Was she?! Oh, let this be the one! Within minutes, he is proceeding down the park lane where he had first crossed Aijooa's path. Noticing a breakfast yattai opening, he smiles, then stops his bike for a bite to eat. There was still time.

In minutes, the ringing of Aijooa's bike bell becomes audible. Chibi brightens, then hesitates on hearing more rings. Aijooa was with friends. No need to impose. Glancing over his shoulder, he notices Aijooa park beside a ramen shop with two fellow Butsumetsu students. "You shouldn't be eating this stuff in the morning, Aijo-chan!" a stocky girl muses as the three sit down. "You'll put on ten kilos if you're not careful!"

Chibi blinks. Aijooa was dressed not in uniform but in her school track gear: a pair of brown shorts embossed with "Aijooa" on one leg, a golden T-shirt with the Butsumetsu logo on front, the kanji for "Katsudooteki" on both arms, the number "10" on her back. Chibi takes a closer look. He had felt that Aijooa was strong. Seeing her whipcord-lean but highly muscular form confirmed it. Aijooa wasn't bodybuilder-bulky, but with more concentration, she would be Miss Olympia! Chibi believed that Aijooa could deck a professional bodybuilder with one blow.

Returning to his rice, he eavesdrops. "So, did you kiss him?" Aijooa's other friend, a tall girl with freckles, inquires.

"Yep!" Aijooa slurps her noodles, beaming. "Right on the lips."

Chibi pales. Did she have a boyfriend?! "Well?!" the first girl urges.

"He's a total dreamboat!!!" Aijooa squeals. "Oh, he's so cute!!!"

Chibi feels his heart drop. Aijooa has another guy. No way a girl'd consider him cute! "And?!!" the second girl urges.

"Well, I've got a problem getting close to him," Aijooa sighs.

"What's that?!" the second girl inquires.

A hiss enters Aijooa's lips. "My poor Urayamu-kun's in love with some alien...some alien..." she then howls, "...NEANDERTHAL IN A TIGER-STRIPED BIKINI!!!!!!"

Chibi faints! "Oh, you mean Lum!"

"Damn right I mean Lum!!" Aijooa snaps. Chibi glances over to see the track star twist a stool into the shape of a pretzel with greater ease than Shinobu! "Who gave that horn-headed bitch the right to take MY Urayamu Chibi away from me?!!" Aijooa thunders, unaware of her man only five metres away. "She doesn't care a damn about him!!!"

"According to a lot of people, all Lum cares about is Ataru," the first sighs.

Aijooa looks disgusted. "I can't believe Ataru-chan would give that jerk the time of day, much less allow her to sleep with him!!! If I was Nagaiwakai-sama, I'd've kicked her out of the house as soon as I could!!!"

"Damn straight!!!" the second girl nods.

Chibi blinks. Aijooa knew Ataru and Nagaiwakai?! What was going on?! Suddenly, Aijooa's voice turns from melting scorn to mad lust. "Oh, Urayamu-kun, Urayamu-kun!" she moans. "Wherefore art thou, Urayamu-kun?! Oh, I can see us now, alone, in bed..."

Her breath stops as she feels something happening. The girls panic as Aijooa gags, then lets out a passionate scream! Chibi faints again as Aijooa's classmates leap to their friend's side. "Aijooa-chan!!!"

The smallest of the guards climbs back into his seat, his face stained with blood which haemorrhaged from his nose. Aijooa has her own problems. "What is it, Aijooa-chan?!"

"I..." Aijooa shakes her head, blushing, "...I just had an orgasm...!"

Goodbye, world; Chibi passes out! Minutes later, the smallest of the guards is slapped awake by the breakfast shop owner. "Hey!! Hey, kid! Wake up!! You okay in there?!"

"I...I...oh, geez, sorry!" Chibi shakes his head as he sits up. "What happened?!"

"You nearly croaked on me, that's what! You okay?!"

"Y-yeah!" Chibi nods. "Wh-where's the girls who were there?" he points.

"They headed to school," the manager remembers something. "Oh, by the way. One of them dropped this off for you."

Chibi blinks as he takes a small note in hand. Opening it, he nearly faints on seeing that it's from Aijooa. Even better, it invites him to meet her that evening at the Nagumo Memorial Park in the south end of Tomobiki that evening at nine sharp. An extra change of school clothes was advised...

* * *

The rest of the day drags agonizingly slow for Chibi. Classes were boring as usual. Chibi hardly noticed. He did remember Koosei believing that he had been cured of Lum-itis. Kenmei visited Kakugari at school. That was nice. Finally, after returning home, he changes into civilians, bathes and prepares himself, packs his uniform and suitcase, then by eight-fifty that evening, had made his way into Lower Tomobiki and was now waiting by the front gate into the Nagumo Memorial Park.

The park is quiet and peaceful. Designed originally as a memorial to the slain of World War Two, it had laid unused since the 1960s. Chibi looks around as he notices couples entering the park's other entrances. They were young, some no older than he. Chibi blinks, realizing this was the district's popular making-out zone. Was **this** what Aijooa wanted to do?! He didn't know how to react. He remembered that Kakugari and Kenmei almost went at it on their date. They hadn't consummated their relationship, but he did stay with her at her apartment. Chibi wondered how Kenmei's parents reacted to that. What would Aijooa's parents say if they found out their track star was seeing a boy?!

A light-sign clock projects the time as nine. Chibi looks around. "She's late!"

"I've been here all the time, Urayamu-kun!" Aijooa's voice echoes from somewhere.

Chibi blinks. "Aijooa-chan? Where are you?" he looks around.

Suddenly, a hand reaches out from a bush, then yanks Chibi off the sidewalk! He gasps, then finds himself flat on the ground some metres from open space, Aijooa seated beside him. She was dressed in a pair of torn jeans, a T-shirt and a bomber jacket. "Surprise!"

"Aijooa-chan!" he gasps, sitting up.

They gaze at each other, then slide into each other's arms and kiss. Chibi lays back, allowing Aijooa to slide atop him. Now alone and allowing their passions to flow, Chibi realized Aijooa was, beneath her competitive exterior, a very gentile, passionate, caring woman. What had he been doing lusting after Lum? Chibi wished he had Kakugari's desire to stand up and actively lust after Aijooa like his friend lusted after Kenmei. Maybe this wouldn't be so awkward. Looking into the other's eyes, they remain silent for a moment before he blurts out, "I love you!"

"Are you sure?" she muses. "Or are you saying that because I wanted you and Lum didn't give you the time of day?"

Chibi shudders. Aijooa suspected he had eavesdropped on her. "I don't know. To be honest, I don't know what I feel for Lum now...or what I ever felt for Lum."

"Oh?"

"I mean...after listening to you this morning," he sighs, "...for the very first time, I realized that there was someone out there who wanted me, who desired me, who lusted after me like you did! I mean, that was a real orgasm you had when you were at that ramen shop, right?"

Aijooa sits up, pulling him up with her, then guides his hand towards her pants. "Want to feel me to find out?" she purrs.

"Hey!" he pulls his hand away.

She relaxes. "That's a relief! Given what I've heard about you, your stubbornness to stick beside Lum, I believed I had to go into overdrive to win you over," she smiles, still holding his hand. "You're more than I expected, Urayamu-kun...much more."

"How did you know about me?"

Aijooa explains her story. She was an orphan, born and raised in the mountains of Nagano before her parents were killed in a Yakuza gangland murder when she was four. Like Kenmei, she soon became one of Komeru's many wards, spending her youth under his care in Sendai before coming to Butsumetsu Girl's High School. "I don't remember the first time we passed each other," Aijooa sighs. "But when Ken-chan started telling me about this guy who was always looking at her on the bus, I got curious. We're as close as sisters. So, I started to sniff around, found out about Daremo, then learned about you. You might say seeing your picture again made me remember our first time by the park, so to speak."

"Our real first date," Chibi gently draws her into his arms.

"No, this is our first real date," Aijooa shakes her head as they kiss.

They caress the other for what seems an eternity. "Do you want to make love?" she probes, drawing his hand towards her breast.

He stares at her. Was it necessary? "No," he shakes his head, pulling his hand away. "Want to go see a movie instead?"

"I can do that. No popcorn, though."

"Oh, okay," he nods, sitting up. "After that, would you mind if I took you to my home for you to meet my parents? They didn't believe me when I told them who you were, so I have to take you home as proof!"

"I can do that," she laughs, then sits up. "Hey, want to play a joke?"

"On who?" he looks curious.

She thumbs the rest of the park. Chibi listens, hearing the varied verbal expressions of lovemaking in the distance, then nods. Aijooa whispers something into his ear. He snickers as he rises, sneaking out of the park. Leaning against the wall, he waits for her signal. Aijooa clears her throat, then sweetly calls out. "Rocky?! Is that you?!"

He bellows in a sufficient Sly Stallone imitation. "***ALRIGHT, YA CREEP!!!! WHERE'S MY WIFE?!?! YO, ADRIAN!!!!!!***"

The smallest of the guards is BARELY able to get out of the way in time as a storm of half-naked men and women stampede out of the park! As soon as the last has disappeared down the street, Chibi and Aijooa reunite by the gate, then proceed to the local multi-plex theatre, howling all the way...

* * *

"Aijooa Katsudooteki," Koosei reads his notes at home after inputting a new file. "Age 18. Graduation Butsumetsu Girl's High School. Mark average B-plus. Excels in history, literature and family studies. Parents: deceased. Guardian: Komeru Moroboshi. No known siblings. Plans to enter Kanagawa University, bachelor of arts program, child studies. Cram school: Tomobiki High, special spring classes 1984. Plans may be altered if permitted to participate in Olympic Team, track-and-field squad..."

* * *

The next day, Chibi is on Cloud Nine as he proceeds to school for a new day. His parents had been beside themselves when they met Aijooa. That of course was aided by the fact that both had been nearly scared out of their minds when they saw the only movie available at the multi-plex, "Barney Goes Psycho" (we'll let you guess the plot...F.H. & M.S.). After that, Aijooa offered to make him breakfast, so they slept at her apartment, which to his surprise, was in the same complex as Kenmei's. Chibi and Aijooa were pleased to see that Kakugari was now living full-time with his girl. Maybe there was something about finding a girl who loved you after all, instead of worshipping some unreachable icon.

And what was so special about Lum anyway? She might be able to fly and project lightning bolts, had worn a bikini, had access to great levels of alien technology and was considered a tag champion on Uru. Against a heptathalete like Aijooa, who had to do everything from hurtles to shotput to javelin to high jump (and in seven months' time, would be taking on the best from all of Earth), Lum was nobody! In their time-trip to 1976, Ataru had proved that while Lum was a good fighter, she had no real endurance. In the realm of physical fitness, Aijooa could probably give Nassur and Varanko a run for their money. Chibi had nothing to complain about. He loved Aijooa. She loved Chibi. How simple, how desirable, how enticing, how perfect could you want it?

Morning classes proceed with the same dull drone. Chibi found himself sketching Aijooa's portrait on a scrap of paper during classes. The teachers seemed not to mind. By lunchtime, everyone had moved outside to relax. It was a nice day. January seemed to be a mild month this year. Chibi stayed by himself. He had no desire to intrude on Kakugari, who was again spending lunch with Kenmei. She had brought some of her homemade brownies with her for the class to share. As usual, Megane tries to assert the guards' real role in life. He was ignored by Kakugari and Kenmei, now busy tasting her brownies and each other's lips. Turning to Paama and Chibi, the bespectacled student seems ready to explode. "Well?!! What are you sitting there for?!! How could you permit your friend, your comrade to lose his way like this...?!!"

Megane is answered by a shotput smashing into him!! He is sent careening into the wall as a familiar voice asks, "Hey, did anyone see my shotput land somewhere around here?!"

Everyone looks surprised as Aijooa walks up, in her track gear. "Aijo-chan!!" Kenmei waves at her classmate. "Hi!! Practicing?!"

"Yeah, not to mention shutting him up!!" Aijooa walks over to take her shotput out of the crater she made of Megane's skull.

"Who are you?!" Mendou looks surprised.

"I'm Aijooa Katsudooteki," she smiles.

Gasps of disbelief utter from Chibi's classmates as they gaze at Aijooa. "You're Aijooa?!!" Natsuko gasps.

"That's me!" Aijooa nods.

"S-so wh-what brings you here?!" Ryuunosuke stammers.

"Why, I came to see my Urayamu-kun!"

"We're all envious...!" Natsuko nods.

"No, no, no!!" Aijooa shakes her head...then leaps into Chibi's lap! "THIS Urayamu-kun!!!" she squeals, hugging him.

Everyone faints! "SHE WANTS HIM?!?!?!"

Kakugari blinks, then stares at Kenmei. "You **know** her?!!" he points at Aijooa.

"Of course, Daremo-kun, you dummy!!" Kenmei beams, lovingly embracing him. "Aijo-chan and I have the same legal guardian! What did you expect?! Besides," she purrs, rubbing her cheek against his, "...when I told her about you, guess who she decided to find?!"

Kakugari considers the point, then laughs. "Y-yeah! Right!!"

In a flash, Mendou appears to take Aijooa's hand. "Miss, you cannot possibly desire this fool!! Permit me to...!"

An explosion later sees him take an impromptu flying lesson!! "YOU GIRL-POACHING SNOB!!!!!!" Kakugari and Chibi scream. "HANDS OFF **OUR** GIRLFRIENDS!!!!!!"

Everyone chuckles save for Megane, who is trying to get back to his feet. However, a calculating look has appeared on his face.

TWO girls with the SAME guardian?!

This was interesting...

* * *

"Shitto Paama," Koosei reads his notes. "Age 18. Mark average C-plus. Excels in physical education and health studies. Father: Kooji Paama, sports store owner. Mother: Yayoi Paama, sports store clerk. No brothers or sisters. No current plans to enter university. Currently being scouted by various major league baseball clubs. No plans to enter cram school. Interests: baseball, volleyball, football, soccer, hockey, Lum..."

He moans as he deletes the last name. "Idiots've gotta get a life!"

* * *

"Hey, Miki-chan!" Paama smiles as he makes contact over the phone. "Listen, are you busy tonight?" Disappointment crosses his face. "Oh, busy, eh?! I was going to see the Carp and the Giants play exhibition tonight at Tokyo Dome." A pause, then he nods. "Yeah, I understand. Nice to hear from you, too, Miki-chan. Take care!" He hangs up the phone, then spits out. "Shit!"

Paama sighs as he makes his way off school grounds. His luck in dating girls had become awful. Too many girls were busy with other boys or getting ready for cram school. The few really lucky ones had fiances. This had never happened before he had joined the guards. Before Lum's arrival, he had been one of the more popular guys in the frosh class. Girls always didn't mind his asking for dates.

Then Lum came. Paama had been taken away by the Oni's innocence just as much as the others. As time progressed, he realized there had to be more to life than worshipping the Oni and trying to keep Ataru in line. Paama had been the first to try dating other girls, usually the nicer ones such as Momoe Marubeya, Kumiko Gekasawa and Miki Taberu. He had even considered trying dating either Natsuko or Shinobu if the chance offered itself.

Those plans were forever shattered the day Shutaro Mendou entered their lives. The rich snob oozed his own form of machismo; within minutes of parachuting into school, all the girls had gone bananas! It was bad enough that Paama was torn between his devotion to Lum and trying to live a normal life, but to compete with the likes of Mendou?! It was too much! At first, Paama tried to have regular dates. Miki, for example, was a student from another school, thus didn't have to tolerate Mendou trying to pick her up every ten seconds. Even Lan and Ryuunosuke looked good after a while. Finally, Paama's social life hit rock bottom and he found himself spending more and more time with the other guards.

Koosei's crashing down on them left Paama with one thing he loved: sports. He sunk all his aggression, frustration and lusts into volleyball, soccer, hockey...but especially baseball! That was his favourite. He was a better, more dedicated player by far than Mendou. Tobimaro Mizunokoji, an expert on America's national pastime if there ever was one, had told Paama exactly that in one of the annual Mendou-Mizunokoji baseball tournaments. "Let me help you get into the majors, Shitto!" Tobimaro urged him. "I guarantee you'll eventually outdo Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Pete Rose and Sadahara Oh all at once!!"

Paama'd been sorely tempted. Tobimaro's support would have really rubbed Mendou the wrong way. That would have stuck in the snob's craw for a long time. The ladies would have noticed too, probably deciding to turn away from the jerk, reject him like Mie did. That would have hurt more! Part of the reason Paama cared for Lum was that the Oni seemed above the migraines people gave themselves when they tried to out-do rivals in the game of courting mates. Paama had to tip his hat at Ataru. He had finally realized how good he had it, then turned around and secured it as fast as possible. Now, if that luck could only shine in Shitto Paama's direction.

Arriving at Tokyo Dome, Paama enters the lineup. The Carp-Giants game wouldn't be for a couple of hours, but already there was a considerable crowd. After getting his ticket, he noticed that the Hiroshima Toyo Carp were holding a batting demonstration. Paama bit his lip. He was a Tokyo Yomiuri Giants man. Then again, he needed a crack at the bat, needed to feel the adrenaline rush as bat struck fastball. Daremo's and Urayamu's luck in getting girlfriends irked him. He needed to get his jealousy out of his system. Without a second's hesitation, he proceeds into the lineup for the batting demonstration.

In minutes, he is on the field watching as the Carp run through the pitches, then demonstrate the various batting manoeuvres. *B-b-b-b-boring!* Paama sighs. He had learned that in basic batting practice!

After what seemed a dragged-out eternity, one of the pitchers comes up. "Anyone care to take a crack at the ball?"

Paama notices that most of the people seem below or above prime for baseball. He offers his hand, then notices it is in a forest of hands. "Oh, hell!" the pitcher spits, then looks over. "Hey, Yasashii! Come over here and pick one, will you?!"

Paama is surprised that Yasashii is a beautiful, athletic young girl of eighteen dressed in a Carp jersey with the number "40." Paama blinks. He did not know much about Carp traditions, but he knew Number 40 had been retired the year after Shinzou Soozooteki died. Was it right for the girl to wear the number of the Shogun of Rookie Shortstops?

He then blinks as he gets a better look. Yasashii is stunning! With shoulder-length red hair and green eyes, she looked more Caucasian. She seemed in excellent shape, but nowhere near Aijooa's level. The best of Natsuko, Lum and Sakura combined, he hums...

...then looks surprised as Yasashii's emerald eyes lock on his. "That one," she points at him, giving him a celestial smile which could out-do Elle's any day of the week! "The high school fellow with the curly hair."

Paama finds himself ushered to the field. "Hi, there, kid!" the pitcher shakes his hand. "I'm Yutaka Enatsu. What's your name?"

"Shitto Paama. I'm from Tomobiki High."

"That's nice," Enatsu nods. "Okay, take a bat and let's do it!"

Paama nods, then makes his way to the batboy. Scanning the pile of bats, he selects a highly polished black aluminum bat. Seeing this, the batboy moves to stop him. "Um, Paama-san, you can't use..."

"It's okay," Yasashii interrupts.

The batboy looks ready to protest, then stops. Paama sighs. He needed no grief from some snobby kid. Taking his stance, he nods at Enatsu. "Give me your Number One."

The pitcher is surprised by Paama's request. "Shit, kid, you've got balls!" he laughs. "Okay! Here it comes."

Taking the stance, he winds up and lets it fly. Number One was his fastball, the "Cannon," so named for its speed. Paama smiles at it comes down the slot. The bat makes impact, sending the baseball on an ascending trajectory!

"Pop fly!!" an outfielder predicts.

"No!" the shortstop gasps. "A homer!!"

The crowd gasps in awe as Paama marks the ball. It soars clear over the left field bleachers into the parking lot beyond! He blinks. He had NEVER hit that good! Looking at the bat, not believing this had been the instrument which allowed him to make the best home run hit in his life, he then stares at Yasashii. "Hey, who's bat is this, anyway?!"

"My father's. We don't use that bat."

"Your father?" Paama looks confused.

Yasashii touches her jersey. "Shinzou Soozooteki. I'm his daughter, Yasashii."

Paama gags. THIS was the daughter of the Shogun of Rookie Shortstops?! He had used Shinzou's bat to make a home run the Babe himself would admire, not knowing who it belonged to...who Yasashii really was.

He does the logical thing: faint!

"Shitto-kun!!!" Yasashii gasps...

* * *

"Oh, man," Paama moans. "Where am I...?"

He looks up to see Yasashii staring at him, concern rampant on her face. "Shitto-kun!!" she gasps in relief. "Oh, thank the Blessed Virgin! You're okay!!"

Paama blinks, then her name comes back to him. "Ya-...sa-...shii...?!"

"That's right," she nods. "You scared us! Yutaka-kun thought you had a heart attack when you hit that homer with Dad's bat!"

The tallest of the guards shakes his head as he sits up. He is in the Carp's dugout. Several hours had passed. The Carp and the Giants were in the bottom of the fifth. "Oh, man, I must've passed out," Paama rubs the back of his head. "You didn't have to call the ambulance on me, did you?"

"We were tempted," Yasashii relaxes as she stares at the game. "C'mon, Yutaka-kun!!!" she yells. "Strike this creep out!!!"

Enatsu looks at Yasashii, nods, then turns his attention to the batter. "That's Cromartie," Paama warns, noticing the Giants player. "He's nasty when he wants to be!"

"I know," Yasashii gazes at him. "You're a real Giants man, aren't you, Shitto-kun?!"

"Well..." he chuckles, remembering whose company he presently is with.

"It's okay," she smiles.

Paama nods. "You better watch it with the encouragement, Yasashii-chan. People'll think you've got a lot of nerve coming to this game cheering for the visiting team."

"If I didn't come to these games, a lot of people in Hiroshima would be even MORE upset, Shitto-kun," she winks. "Including the Carp!"

They return their attention to the game. "Many think the Carp are a bunch of upstarts," he muses. "They won one championship...but a lot of people believed that was by pure luck!"

"That's what you get when you influence the media like the Giants," she amends. "Not to mention gobble up the best players."

He'd never thought of that. "True."

Enatsu forces Cromartie to hit a pop-fly. The inning ends as the sides shift positions. Walking into the dugout, the pitcher notices who's now conscious. "Hey!" he pats Paama's shoulder. "That was a hell of a hit you made there! You thought of going professional?!"

"Well, I..." Paama muses.

He is interrupted by the stadium emcee. "At this time, ladies and gentlemen, this day, we have with us this day the daughter of a major sporting legend. Wearing Carp jersey Number Forty, please give a round of applause for Yasashii Soozooteki!"

"Excuse me!" Yasashii smiles as she runs onto the field, faces the crowd with a wave, then bows, doffing her cap.

Paama listens as the crowd roars. He knew the sad story of Yasashii's father too well; what fan of Japanese baseball didn't?! Shinzou Soozooteki was from Kumamoto, a hot shortstop who never allowed any ball to pass him. He caught the attention of the daughter of an American air force general. At first upset that his child would stoop so low as to date a native, the general was won over by Soozooteki's insane playing. The general learned that Soozooteki was as familiar with America's baseball legends as he was of Japan's. Within the year, while Soozooteki was studying at Nagasaki University, he and the general's daughter were married.

Tragedy struck when Yasashii was born. Her mother suffered terrible complications from the birth, then died despite the best efforts of American and Japanese doctors to save her. Heartbroken, Soozooteki quit university when the scouts came by, vowing to raise his newborn daughter whatever way he could. His passion for the game multiplied because of his wife's loss. No player could challenge him in the infield! He was a demon at bat, hitting .302 his rookie year. His success at catching pop flies and infield hits earned him the nickname "the Shogun of Rookie Shortstops" by the press. People loudly predicted that Soozooteki would, given time and experience, excel beyond the heights reached by legends such as Ruth and Oh.

Others predicted differently. They saw in his playing a disintegrating soul. The death of his wife had torn his heart in half, some said. Could you imagine what would happen if Soozooteki was playing with Jennifer watching from the stands holding Yasashii? Forget Sadahara Oh! The other players noticed. Soozooteki was burning out, they warned. Let him go to the minors...or better, try the American leagues. The coaches didn't take heed, assuming Soozooteki would eventually work his grief out of his system, then emerge a strong sophomore the next season.

It didn't happen. Come the playoffs, Soozooteki had won all the rookie player awards, not to mention rewrote the record book. It was in the bottom of the fifth. Two out, bases loaded. One hit would put the Carp ahead. Soozooteki was at bat. He madly swung at the first two balls. The batting coach called time out, then calmed the shortstop. Regaining his breath, Soozooteki stepped into the batter's box. A fastball. WHACK!!!! Sayonara into the right field bleachers! The others laughed as Soozooteki made the circuit. Just as he hit the home run stretch, something happened. Gripping his chest, he slowed. Just metres shy from home plate, he faltered, then collapsed. The crowd went wild as he touched the plate, then lay still. Dead.

Heart attack, the doctors concluded.

Broken heart, his teammates knew.

Paama is shaken out of his contemplation when Yasashii sits beside him. "Ah, that was fun!" she sighs. "Shitto-kun, are you okay?"

"Huh?!" he shakes his head, then looks at her. "I was just thinking about what happened to your dad." At the flash of pain crossing Yasashii's face from his statement, Paama kicks himself. *Nice thing to say, dork!!*

She then sadly smiles. "It's okay. A lot of people saw that game. My guardian was one of them."

Paama blinks. "What happened to you after your dad passed away?"

"Well, there was talk about my going to America to live with my mother's family," she shrugs. "Grandpa was broken-hearted over losing Mom, then Dad dying two years after. My guardian came along and took custody of me. I think you know him: Komeru Moroboshi."

"Ataru's uncle?!! No way!!"

"Way!" she laughs. "Well, to make a long story short, I lived in Sendai until I came to Butsumetsu Girl's High School. As much as I can, I visit Carp games, even the exhibition matches. I knew who you were right away. We recognize anyone who hangs around Ataru-chan and Lum. That's how Ken-chan got to know Daremo, then Aijo-chan learned about Urayamu."

What a small world this is! The guards falling in love with three of Komeru's wards almost in one week. Megane would have a bird. He reaches over to gently grasp her hands. "They're two of the best, Kenmei and Aijooa," he smiles. "But...how come I never saw you around? I'm sure people would've spoken about you if you went to Butsumetsu."

"Komeru-onii-chan asked the headmistress to keep it down," she shrugs, not pulling her hands away. "The other girls understood and left us alone. Actually, it's been pretty peaceful for me in Tomobiki."

"I'm glad," he nods.

She beams. He feels like he is about to melt. "Hey, Paama!!" the batting coach lumbers over to him.

Paama quickly withdraws his hands. How would the Carp take his interest in their most famous rookie's only daughter? However, the coach slaps him in the back, toothily grinning at him. "That has to have been the best home room hit I've ever seen!! Shinzou-kun himself would've been proud of you, kid! I'm going to talk to the general manager about you!! Get some scouts your way to scoop you up before the Giants or the Fighters grab you!"

The tallest of the guards nearly gags. He was being recruited by the Carp?! Giants? Who were the Giants?! "Th-thank you, sir!"

"What position you play?" Enatsu asks.

"Third base," Paama reports.

The coach considers that. "Oh! Like to make the last-second kills, eh?! That's good! You hang around Yasashii here," he points to the lady in question. "She'll make sure you won't get away on us!" Laughing, he turns his attention to the other players.

Paama shakes his head, then stares at Yasashii. He feels her hand tenderly grasp his.

Lum?

Who was Lum?!

The game passes by. The Carp win, 5-3. The teams cheer each other, then Yasashii goes along the Giants' line to congratulate the local team on their playing, then returns to the Carp's dugout where Paama was waiting for her. "C'mon!!" she nods. "This way!"

He falls in beside her as she proceeds to a private room. Paama stops when he sees that it is a room set aside for her. He quickly turns away as she moves to undress. She stops, noticing his modesty. "I'm don't mind you looking at me, Shitto-kun," she giggles.

"Um...Dad'll think I'm some sort of pervert," he chuckles.

"Oh, okay!" she smiles, then quickly disrobes. A minute later, she calls out. "Okay, you can turn around now."

He sighs as he turns...then freezes on seeing Yasashii sitting on a chair, her body bashfully covered by her jersey! "Eeep!!!"

"Well?" she gives him an intimate gaze. "Care to hit a home run for me, Shitto-kun? I always dreamt of doing it in a stadium."

He is tempted. She had no visible fat. Well exercised, slim with sturdy hips and a bountiful bosom. Her lips seem more fuller now, her emerald eyes bashfully gazing at him from a well-sculptured face. Who would reject this?! Before he gets too far, he stops. "Um...if you don't mind," he chuckles, rubbing his collar, "...I don't think this is right." Truthfully, he had never done it in his life!

Yasashii smiles, then stands, turning around to begin dressing. Paama nearly faints. She was exquisite coming AND going! "I'm glad to hear that," she smiles, slipping on a lace camisole briefer. "I thought with the way you lusted for Lum, I'd have to really pour it on to get you into my infield."

He blinks. Incredible! Yasashii wanted him as much as Aijooa wanted Urayamu and Kenmei wanted Daremo. What was he doing chasing after a girl who had eyes for someone else, someone who was in all intents and purposes Yasashii's cousin? Like he said: Lum? Lum who?! "Well, I haven't spend all my time with the guards, you know," he laughs.

"Oh?" she slips on a pair of slacks, then throws on a sweater.

"I've dated," he sit. "I've had to keep it down to make sure Aisuru didn't get wind of it. He'd go ballistic if he found out."

"Spoilsport," she sits in his lap.

They gaze at each other, then start to kiss. Warmly embracing the other, their tenderness continues for a wonderful eternity. Finally, they part. "I fell in love with you the day I first knew of you, Shitto-kun," Yasashii purrs. "And I'll never let you go."

Paama smiles as they kiss again. "I've got to take you home to meet my parents. They'll go nuts when they meet you."

"Deal!" she nods. "But no autographs!"

Both laugh, then stare at the other. "Tell me," he muses. "Do you live in the apartments where Aijooa and Kenmei live?"

"Of course I do," she gives him a knowing glance. "Why?"

He gently strokes her chin. "How do you like your mizo soup?" he sighs. "I've had to cook for myself often."

"I can't wait to try it," she meows...

* * *

"Yasashii Soozooteki," Koosei reads his computer notes at home after inputting a new file. "Age 18. Graduating Butsumetsu Girl's High School. Mark average B-plus. Excels in physical education and mathematics. Father and mother: deceased. Guardian: Komeru Moroboshi. No known siblings. Plans to enter Hiroshima University, bachelor of recreation arts program. Cram school: Tomobiki High, special spring classes 1984..."

* * *

Next day is Saturday. First exams for Tomobiki High. Paama grunts through the mathematics finals as Koosei paces through the class. It wasn't so hard, even though math was one of his more difficult subjects. Koosei had been an excellent teacher. Maybe cram school and university wasn't such a bad idea. Yasashii was coming to Tomobiki High along with Aijooa and Kenmei. He would have to get his application in. Yasashii would be going to Hiroshima for undergraduate studies. Nice city. He hoped he could make it. Still, while he was working the equations, he felt his mind wander. Koosei obviously noticed. A second later, Paama has a note placed on his desk: SHE'LL BE HERE AT LUNCH. RELAX. DO THE QUESTIONS ONE AT A TIME LIKE I SHOWED YOU.

He looks up to Koosei, who winks, then returns to supervising the others. Paama sighs, then attacks his next question. Koosei seemed to know everything about what was going on with his students. The guy must have spent time with Nassur or Dakejinzou. The rest of the exam passes in a near blur.

Afterward, Paama emerges from class, looking quite relieved. "Whoo!" he gasps as Chibi emerges. "That dragged on, didn't it?!"

"I couldn't concentrate," he shakes his head as they proceed to sit under a tree. "I was trying to do the relations questions and all I could think of was that Aijooa-chan wanted to take a shower with me this morning!"

"Ditto! I couldn't study last night! I was too busy introducing Yasashii-chan to my parents, then sleeping over at her place!"

They sit down just as the tallest of the guards receives a playful punch from Kakugari. "You slime!" he laughs. "Landing Yasashii Soozooteki!! You two are the lucky ones! Kenmei's so ordinary compared to yours!"

"So what?!" Chibi head-locks him, then delivers a noogie to Kakugari. "You're the one who started it, you traitor!"

The three howl as they consider the point. It seemed so nice now. Before, they would really panic if they felt themselves attracted to someone other than Lum or Sakura. Now, it seemed so silly! Both the Oni and the priestess were engaged. "Yasashii's coming to school today, is she?" Chibi hums.

"Yeah, she'll be here," Paama yawns. "Shit, I've got to get my application to cram school in ASAP. I never considered it before. Yasashii-chan's coming to school here."

"Right on!" Kakugari nods. "We can do the town together! Where's she going?!"

"Hiroshima," Paama sighs. "It's to be expected. They offered her a scholarship. Komeru-san doesn't have to pay for a thing!"

"Hold it!" Chibi hisses. "Aisuru!"

The guards clam up as their leader storms out, then quickly notices where his companions are. "There you are!!" he storms up to them. "What's this I hear about you sleeping with another girl, Shitto-kun?!!" he leans at Paama. "What about Lum-san?!"

"Lum?!" Paama blinks. "Shit, who's Lum, Aisuru?! Beside, I've been dating other girls since long before Lum came to Earth!"

Megane explodes!! "***WHAT...?!?!?!***"

Before Paama could reply, an arrow streaks out of nowhere, catching Megane in the jacket collar! He is sent flying into the principal's office, crashing into the inside wall with the force of the blow!! The Principal and Kotatsuneko pay it no mind as they have noon tea. Outside, Paama looks stunned by what happened to Megane, then sees the person responsible. "Yasashii-chan!!!"

Yasashii walks up, bow in hand and quiver slung over her back. Kenmei and Aijooa, dressed casually like their friend, stand by her. "I didn't think you'd want to put up to that dummy, Shitto-kun!" she leaps into his lap, delivering a loving kiss to his lips.

Everyone else laugh as they pair up to greet their lovers...

* * *

"Aisuru Megane," Koosei reads his notes. "Age 18. Mark average A-minus. Excels in math, literature, history and geography. Father: Shinjiroo Megane, deceased. Mother: Rui Megane, financial advisor. Older brother: Heiyo Megane, married, no children, university student. Plans to enter Tokyo University, bachelor of arts program, visual arts and theatre. Cram school: Tomobiki High, special spring classes 1984. Interests: Lum, theatre, Lum, film, Lum, writing..."

The teacher shakes his head, then deletes the notations about the Oni...

* * *

"Have you ever felt the world closing around you?" Megane sips his tea. "Like everything suddenly made no sense anymore?"

Mendou considers the question. The two relax in the latter's private study. "I've felt that for some time," he muses, placing his cup down. "Ever since the revelations about Moroboshi's family arose before the Spirit War. It was insane, I felt. I still feel it. Moroboshi, heir of the country's most powerful family, possessing intergalactic influence...and yet not once did he resort to that power to eliminate his foes."

Of which they were the last standing, the guards' leader quickly remembers. "He lulled us into a sense of false security," Megane concludes. "He made us believe he was weak, uncaring, ours to dominate. In truth, he was biding his time, drawing the plans to make the moves against us. Everything from before the Spirit War on has been to his design."

"We knew that," Mendou nods. "However, we did make one error. We underestimated his resolve. His will to win, regardless of the psychological toll he mercilessly extracted from Lum-san, was absolute."

Megane nods, then sips the rest of the tea. "Thanks for letting me come by," he stands. "I guess we need the chance to regain our bearings. Everything depends on us now."

"Indeed," Mendou escorts his guest to the door. A Kuromegane waited to escort Megane out. "Still, we shall be victorious."

Within minutes, a jeep arrives at the front gate. Megane disembarks, telling the driver that he wanted to walk home. Taking a couple of steps, he looks back at the estate. "Idiot!" he snarls, then heads off.

Megane wondered how his life could have come to this point. He had held the guards together through sheer force of will for more than two years. Someone had taken them apart in a week! Megane was sure it was Ataru. Questions about the guards' girlfriends were being investigated. Once that was resolved, then what? For the first time in his life, Megane found himself without a plan of action!

Life had been so simple before the Spirit War. But within a month of the Icarus fiasco, everything went to hell in a handbasket! Ataru thoroughly mocked Tomobiki's sense of security. His actions painfully revealed to his classmates that their lives were NOT secure, that Ataru could destroy them at will. He had the power backing him up. An uncle with a financial stranglehold on Mendou. A grandmother who hated Lum with a passion and who possessed the will and the connections to make the Oni's life hell. A daughter whose placement in Ishinomaki guaranteed Ataru's departure. A sister who became the family Ataru needed. Friends who never cared about what the people of Tomobiki desired: Mie, Koosei, Dakejinzou. That, of course, didn't count the monsters WITHIN Ataru.

Despite what was arrayed against them, victory had always seemed possible. Despite the horrible power the *saikoo jinseijitsu* held over Ataru, everyone believed that the monster would go away, that Ataru would revert to normal and things would go back to the way they were. Wrong assumption. Ataru strove for new goals every step of the way, running his plans with military precision. First, leave Tomobiki and make a secure base elsewhere. Second, persuade Lum to leave Tomobiki. Third, acquire friends, relatives and allies to maintain Oshika's security. Fourth, disorientate those left behind. Fifth, psychologically destroy Tomobiki. Simple, possible...and an unqualified success.

Megane sighs. Mendou was right; they'd sorely underestimated Ataru's will to win. Oh, sure, let the others speak about Ataru's desire to mature. Megane knew his former classmate better. This was all a perfect ploy to keep Lum to himself! What better way than to make Oshika a more welcome place, a real home to live in, than Tomobiki. There was a cosy house, a daughter, a sister and sister-in-law. Ataru had even thrown in some extras: new friends, controlled access whenever Lum wanted friends to come to Oshika, plus a place where she could lay back and relax.

Megane considered Ataru's plans from the beginning. He knew all along that the key to defeating Ataru lay in destroying what he was using to entice Lum away from Tomobiki. At first, they had to block Ataru from making all the changes without their knowledge. That failed. Once Ataru was in Oshika, the court injunction had to be overturned. No success there. Nokoko and her weird friends had to be eliminated. Good luck! Ataru had to be dragged to a location where he could not access his grandmother's power. The Kuromoroboshi were around to prevent that.

Then came the pre-nuptial agreement. He forced Lum into a showdown, a no-surrender position the Oni was guaranteed to lose. When she was defeated, he showed a generous side, enticing Lum with promises of a future marriage if she would just turn her back on Tomobiki. And she agreed! Over all their pleas, she turned her back on the people who had loyally stood by her for two years!! Once Lum's attention was turned away, her power to interfere caged by the agreement, Ataru proceeded forth and destroyed his enemies.

Megane stops beside a park, sitting down. It was over. His life seemed at an end. Where once Lum appreciated the guards' help in controlling Ataru, she now considered them beneath her. Could she not see he loved her? Was she truly blinded by her lust for Ataru?! Did she not understand that a leopard could never change its spots?! Ataru was still the same. Given the chance, he would revert back to his old self once he believed that no one could interfere. Could Lum not see that she was setting herself up for a heartbreak by staying with the two-timing idiot...

...or was it himself Megane was seeing?

The bespectacled student blinks, feeling tears stinging his eyes. Had he so deceived himself all this time? Was it his love for Lum that blinded him to the truth of what happened around him? Daremo, Shitto and Urayamu had girlfriends. He should be happy for their luck, happy they had finally found true love. And...what about him? Would luck finally come his way, too? Could he ever hope that a girl would be interested in him?

Megane shudders as he takes off his glasses, then wipes his eyes. Had he lusted for Lum all this time just because he felt so inferior, he needed ANY excuse to dominate someone? He ruled over the guards, dominated over them...and it felt good! He swore himself to Lum so he could show everyone else that they were inferior because their love for the Oni wasn't true. He punished Ataru...he BULLIED Ataru...so he could make Lum's Darling look like the lowest form of slime! He strived to prove time and time again that Ataru wasn't fit to be Lum's true love.

Megane feels shame flowing from his soul. He had acted like the perfect bully, picking on everyone so he could feel perfect, whole, atop his game. In truth, he was running away, avoiding the realization that he was nobody. Not to Ataru, not to his classmates, not to Lum. He was at the bottom of the barrel. He had nothing to depend on. His brother was married, he and his wife trying to have a child. His mother rode him day after day to find a real girl, a decent girl to marry. But, who in their right mind would care for a total jerk like him?! He looks up...

...and sees her.

Megane blinks. Far ahead was a young woman proceeding in the direction of Sakura's shrine. He would not have noticed before, but the uniform caught his attention. Butsumetsu Girl's High School. The same school where Aijooa, Kenmei, Yasashii came from...not to mention a girl he now remembers from the time Memory tried to take his memories of Lum away.

His "Venus."

He didn't know her name. He had truly never cared as to who she was. But looking now, Megane strains to see details. All he could detect now was the mass of long black hair. Luck comes to him as she stops at a corner, turns and crosses the street. Megane blinks. It IS her! The same sculptured face. The same combed back black hair, part of which was secured by a hair locket. The same aristocratic nose. The glittering brown eyes. The very bosomy figure. The girl made Lum and Sakura BOTH look like pond-scum! What was she doing? Where was she going? Should he stay in his place and leave her alone, or go forth and at least introduce himself.

Perhaps state on introduction, "Hi, I'm Aisuru Megane and you're the only girl whose ever made me not think of Lum!"

Oh, brilliant, Aisuru!

He then notices something in her hand. Given the distance, Megane wasn't sure what it was, but it soon becomes glaringly familiar. A spirit-sensor! Why, that would mean...she was a Shinto priestess! An apprentice, no doubt, but still a priestess! What was she doing in Tomobiki? Did Sakura know her? Did she live here? Oh, so many questions to ask! Well, no time like the present to find out...

...when Cherry appears! "Good evening, Aisuru! Nice night, isn't it?"

Megane bashes the monk over the head with a sledgehammer! "Do you mind?!!" he snaps. "Don't you realize how many people you annoy when you pop up out of nowhere like that?!!"

"Sorry," Cherry rubs his skull. "But I couldn't help notice that you seemed in deep contemplation. Do you need to talk about it?"

Megane sighs. Yes, he did need to talk. "I do, but not to you!!" he stands, turning away. "I've got things to do! See ya!"

"Not that way," Cherry barks.

Megane stops, looking curiously at the old monk. He had never heard Cherry sound so forceful. Something had to be really bugging the old man. "Proceed in that direction," Cherry nods to the park. "I can...understand your unwillingness to open up to me. However, in that direction lies someone who has...also felt a revelation of sorts this evening. Shared pain means shared comfort, Aisuru. Don't worry; the one you eventually seek will make her way to you in due time. Another needs more imminent assistance."

Megane blinks. Cherry knew something about the girl. Was this a test the monk was running? Did he know the girl in question? "Okay," he nods. "'Night, Sakurambou."

"Good night, Aisuru," Cherry nods.

Megane proceeds into the park. This was weird. Was this some side affect to his self-rapprochement? He was actually willing to take the old glutton's advice! Then again, Cherry did have a way of coming true with his predictions. And he sounded really forceful. Further, he never asked for food. It HAD to be serious. Megane's assumption is soon answered by the sounds of a woman sobbing. Quickening his pace, he enters a clearing, then looks right. A woman sat on a park bench, crying into her hands. To Megane's total shock, it was a classmate. "Lan?!!"

The Seishin teen looks up, revealing a tear-stained face. Megane is dumbfounded to see Lan as she really is. With her ears tapered and her canines fanged, she proved to all she wasn't Terran. "A-aisuru...?!" she stammers, then covers her face for a second.

Pulling her hands away, Megane is astounded to see Lan was back to her "cute" self. How did she do that?! "You okay?" he ventures, approaching. "I heard you crying."

"C-crying?!" she gasps, then laughs. "Oh, don't be silly..."

"Don't lie to me, Lan," he firmly intones, crossing his arms.

Lan stops, startled by her classmate's words. "Look," Megane moderates his voice as he sits beside her. "I just spent some time ripping myself to pieces after getting over the shock of my friends rejecting Lum and getting girls on their own. If...there's anything I can do to help, please let me?"

The Seishin girl blinks as she considers his words. She had long been used to Megane's bragging, his fanatic determination to see Lum happy and pure. She had never liked him. Other than the jerk reminded him of Oogi, he also felt it was his sacrosanct right to butt his nose into her business. However, this was a different Aisuru Megane she just heard. Could she trust him after all the times they fought because of Lum? Concentrating, she faces him, displaying the features she was born with. Sadness crosses her faces. "I don't think you can help me with this problem, Aisuru. No one can help me this time."

Megane is stunned. Lan hadn't spoken with her girlish lilt nor with the hoarse rasp when she got angry. Her voice was firm. This was serious. "How can I not help you if I don't know what's wrong? Forgive me. I know we haven't been friends. But...now, I've just come to realize that everything I've strived for has been one hell of a big, hollow lie. By the looks of it, you seem to have come to that point. Maybe...somehow, I could try to help you. Believe me, it would help me."

Lan looks surprised, then giggles. The giggles turn to pained sobs as she leans against him. "Oh, Aisuru!" she moans. "Hold me! Please hold me!"

He gently embraces her. "What is it?"

"I...I think I'm going to lose Rei..."

Megane blinks. This was bad...

* * *

"What's this about?" Megane asks. "Why do you say that you're going to lose Rei?"

He and Lan walk towards her scout. The Seishin girl tries miserably to maintain some sense of decorum. As she tries to form words, Megane maintains his silence. He had never before seen Lan so unstrung. She either flew into a psychotic rage over someone's offenses, or played the cute innocent girl in an attempt to avoid retaliation. As they proceed through the boarding hatchway into the living room, the two are surprised to see someone waiting for them. "Lan-chan!" a young voice gasps.

Lan blinks. "Sugoi-chan?!"

Approaching them is a single-horned Oni of fifteen. She is dressed in a sleeveless tiger-striped bodysuit, accentuating her maturing features. Her face is stained with tears as she runs into Lan's embrace. "Oh, Lan-chan, it's horrible! Just horrible!!"

"I know, I know," Lan warmly embraces her visitor, then remembers her other guest. "Oh, Sugoi," she pulls the Oni away, then begins the introductions. "This is Aisuru Megane. He's a classmate of mine from Tomobiki High. Aisuru, this is Sugoi, Rei-chan's sister."

Megane blinks, then takes a hesitant step back. "Don't worry," Sugoi smiles. "I don't transform like my brother does."

Megane looks at Lan. "Is she...?"

"Relax," Lan smiles.

Megane sighs. "Sorry. You have to understand that your brother's developed a pretty bad reputation here on Earth."

"I understand," Sugoi nods. "With the way he chased after Lum-chan's Darling all the time...that is before Lum-chan's Darling put him in his place. My brother is an idiot!"

"Go relax," Lan ushers them into the living room. "I'll make some snacks and tea."

They sit as Lan enters the kitchen. Megane and Sugoi gaze at each other. "Why've you never come to Earth before?" he muses.

"I really have no business here. Then again, my uncle tells me that I shouldn't get acquainted with 'primitive monkeys.'"

"Is that how they think of us on Uru?"

"Not everyone," she sighs. "But there are bigots. My uncle's one. He was one of the leaders who drove the Tribal Council into launching the Tag Race against your people."

He considers that information. "But...he would've preferred it if there was no escape clause in case Ataru won, right?"

"Exactly," she nods, a twitch of shame in her eyes. "My uncle's the President's Chief of Staff. He has great influence in the Council. Further, he has...personal reasons not to trust aliens...any alien."

"That's too bad," he sighs.

Lan returns with a tray of brownies and some tea. She serves everyone, then sits beside Megane. The Terran looks at Sugoi, then Lan. "So, what's this about Lan losing the chance to marry your brother?"

Sugoi looks ashamed. "Well, my uncle's seen to it that Rei-chan has been placed on deep space solitary patrol."

"Isn't that what he normally does?"

The Seishin teen sadly nods. "Yes. But until a month ago, Rei-chan was assigned to our sectors bordering the Earth-Triton system. He's now assigned to patrol sectors bordering the Noukiite systems. That's...pretty far away from here," she sobs.

Megane blinks. "Couldn't Rei be reassigned back to Earth?" he stares at Sugoi. "Or at least get a chance to go on leave?"

Sugoi sadly shakes her head. "Not if Uncle has his way. He's the one who doesn't approve of my brother marrying Lan-chan."

"What about your mother?"

"Oh, Mother loves the idea," the young Oni smiles. "But, she can't help Rei now that he's in the Defence Force."

"Couldn't Rei just resign?"

"Rei-chan wouldn't do that," Lan sighs.

"Why not?"

The Seishin teen pauses to consider her words. "I know everyone in school likes to put Rei-chan down, call him an idiot for trying to take Lum-chan away from Darling, affirm he doesn't learn from his past encounters with Darling, laugh that he's a pig and that all he cares about is food. But, truthfully...there are people who really, truly understand him, who can see past his lack of education. I'm one," she points to herself, then indicates Sugoi. "Sugoi-chan and her mother are the other."

Megane remains silent. "There are other things Rei-chan likes. I know he loves me, that he wants to be with me. As you notice, he hasn't been on Earth recently trying to pester Darling because of Lum-chan. The few times he's visited, he's come straight to me."

"That's a good sign," Megane muses.

"It was good," Lan nods, then grits her teeth. "Until that slime Yethis decided to stick his nose where it didn't belong!"

"Rei's uncle, right?" he looks at Sugoi.

She nods. "Doesn't Rei work for Lum's dad?" Megane wonders.

"No, he's never worked for Lum-chan's father," Lan shakes her head. "Rei-chan's is officially addressed as a 'deep-space sovereignty patrol officer.' In other words, he takes a warp-equipped fighter and runs patrols along our frontiers."

"I see," Megane nods. "And?"

"Well," Lan smiles. "Rei-chan's greatest passion is flying. Because he transforms into a tiger-bull, he doesn't have the ability to fly like other Onis. That made him a hazing target when he was with other boys. After all, an Oni who can't fly is seen as crippled, like blind or deaf people here."

"I never knew that. Please, go on."

"Well, after Rei-chan got pretty badly beat up several times when he was a boy, his mother and uncle took him in and began to tutor him. His uncle introduced him to flying fighters. He joined the Defence Force when he was fourteen, Aisuru! Rei-chan was already a qualified pilot, one of the best. So, when they prepared duty rosters, Rei-chan took sovereignty patrol." She shrugs. "It was the place where he never heard people insult him."

Megane blinks. This story presented a whole new dimension to the mentally challenged Oni pilot. He, like everyone at Tomobiki High School, assumed that Rei had no interests outside of eating. "But," Lan continues, "...despite his wanting to be alone, Rei-chan needed a place he could call home. First, that was his mother. Then Rei-chan and Lum-chan met. That didn't last long thanks to Lum meeting Darling, so Rei-chan eventually..."

"Came to you," Megane completes.

"Exactly," Lan nods. "Rei-chan's really not a violent man. He just wants to feel he's safe and that his home is safe. When Lum-chan went after Darling, Rei-chan felt that he had no home anymore. That's the reason he's never liked Darling. Darling took his home away."

"I see," the bespectacled teen muses. "So...why is it Rei's uncle doesn't want the marriage between you two to happen?"

"Well, it's not me he has objections to," Lan takes a handkerchief and blows her nose. "It's where I live that's the problem."

"He doesn't want Rei to live here?"

"That's right," the Seishin teen nods.

Megane looks at Sugoi. "Why?!"

"Because as I told you before, Uncle has a...problem when it comes to aliens," the Oni teen sighs. "He can't stand being in the presence of even Fukunokami and Zeiwanites. Aisuru, both races have been our closet allies for almost a century! Thinking like that's become so out of style, why...it's unheard of on Uru these days, Aisuru!"

"Prejudice, racism and homophobia are rampant here on Earth," Megane sighs. "We still see ourselves as an advanced culture. Just because you people've been in deep space for a long time doesn't mean those demons go away. Just because you're 'advanced' doesn't mean you don't stop fighting those demons."

"You're right," Lan nods. "But, still...Yethis is a hard man..."

Megane explodes!! "To hell with Yethis!!!" he bolts up, slamming his fists into the table, scaring the wits out of both women! "Lan, if you let this sleeze get away with what he's doing, you're LETTING him win!!! I fought for two years to try to win Lum's love!!! Two YEARS, Lan!!! I failed!!! I admit it now, I failed!!! But that doesn't mean I didn't try!!! The gods only know, I sure as hell gave it everything I had!!!"

Lan is dumbfounded. "Aisuru...?!"

Megane leans up, fixing her with his sneer. "I can't believe you're giving in that easily!!! What happened to the Lan I knew?!! You pulled every dirty trick in the book to ensure there was no chance that Lum could ever get Rei back!!! Are you going to let two years go down the drain just like that?!!"

She stares at him, realizing the truth of his words. For longer than she could imagine, Lan kept herself tense, on edge, watching everywhere for every attempt at ruining her happiness. Just when she thought she had it, when she could let her guard down, old Yethis appears, proving the greatest threat ever to her peace of mind. What WAS she doing sitting around acting like a baby?! What would her father say?! "You're right," she snarls. "But...just fighting for fighting's sake won't do me any good. I need an edge...and in this sort of fight, against the likes of Yethis, I don't know where to find it!"

Megane stops. He just inspired Lan to fight for her love. Alright, now what?! "Oh, boy!" he slaps his forehead. "I can't believe I went after you like that! Going off half-cocked like that's gonna get me hurt one day!"

Lan blinks, then giggles. "M-maybe!!"

"Hey, am I the only one with a level head here?!" Sugoi looks nervous.

They stare at their younger companion, then fall over laughing. "Oh, gods, we WERE crazy, weren't we?!" Megane howls.

"Somebody should've had a camera!!" Lan snickers, rolling on the floor.

The laughter echoes through the scout for a moment, then everyone regains their decorum. "You know what we need?" Lan hums.

"What?" Megane stares at his classmate.

"Darling," Lan sighs. "He's got a good mind for this. Look what he's been doing to all of us! Did you see how easy it was for him to hurt us, really put the screws on us?!"

"Yeah!" Megane nods. "He was really subtle about all his plans. He never came at us head on! Shit, we'd expect him to fight us Kuromoroboshi to Kuromegane! Instead, he always found back doors to come at us!!"

"So call him," Sugoi urges.

"Forget that," Megane sighs. "Ataru has no love for us, not to mention your brother."

"That'll automatically exclude Lum-chan," Lan adds. "Koosei won't help us. He loathes us both and would gladly see Rei dead!!"

"What if I asked Lum-chan?" Sugoi offers. "She knows me."

Megane shakes his head. "Lum's in Oshika with Ataru. Even if you go up there and explain it, the instant Ataru gets wind that you're Rei's kid sister, he'll do everything to keep Lum back. That of course, as Lan noted, doesn't consider the fact that Lum could refuse to help because it's Rei and Lan. Old friendships don't apply here anymore."

Lan blinks. "Sakura."

"What?" Megane and Sugoi look curious.

"Ask Sakura," she elaborates. "She might know what to do."

Megane blinks. Talk about killing two birds with one stone! "I'll go ask her tomorrow," he stands. "Look, Lan, don't give up," he places a hand on her shoulder. "Just because he may have clout doesn't mean he can't be beat. We've taken on a lot of nasty customers in our time. We beat them all. We'll beat Rei's uncle! You just wait."

"I hope so," she nods.

He moves to leave. "Aisuru?" Lan stands.

"What?" he looks back.

She smiles. "Thanks for caring."

The bespectacled teen shrugs. "Hey, now that I really can't care much for Lum anymore, what did you expect me to do?!"

The Seishin teen laughs as Megane leaves. Sugoi moves to stand beside her would-be sister-in-law. "He's cute!" she blushes, clapping her cheeks. "Why couldn't he tag my horn?! I'd take him in an instant!!"

* * *

The next morning, Megane makes his way to Sakura's shrine. She isn't home, but Cherry directs him to a new shrine at 3-7-1 Heiwa Drive. After breaking all speed records for long distance running, Megane comes to a halt by the front gate of a Shinto shrine. Catching his breath, he looks up at the gate, then sighs and walks onto the property. He then stops, his eyes wide with disbelief. "This is a Shinto shrine?!" he gasps.

Instead of the imposing, foreboding feel Sakura's residence presents, this shrine is basked in morning sunlight. The grounds are very well kept. The trees are trimmed and spaced in such a way that frightening shadows do not exist. The shrine itself is freshly painted and clean. Blinking, Megane emits a whistle as he approaches the front door. "Wow!! Now **this** is what I'd call a shrine! I wonder who lives here..."

Walking to the door, he looks right to see a freshly-mounted name post proclaiming the name of the shrine's cleric: TANOSHII SEIRYOKUTEKI. "I hope this person's worth it," Megane sighs as he rings the doorbell.

"Who is it?!!" a female voice inquires.

"Seiryokuteki-san?!" Megane calls out. "I've got a serious problem! Old man Cherry sent me here! He said you can help!"

"Just a minute, please! You caught me in the shower!!"

"Okay!" Megane nods, then lowers his voice. "Sounds friendly enough."

The door slides open. "Hi!" the cleric smiles, then turns white on seeing who is visiting her. "Come on in...eh?!!"

Megane blinks. "It's you!!!" he gasps.

"It's you!!!" she echoes, pointing at him...using the hand that was holding her towel up to cover herself. The towel naturally falls away. When he gets an intimate look at Tanoshii's exposed features, Megane does the natural thing: faint, his nose projecting blood like Old Faithful!

"Ooops!" the priestess chuckles at her predicament. "Hell of a way to introduce yourself to your would-be boyfriend...!"

* * *

"Oh, man...!" Megane shakes his head, trying desperately to understand what just happened. "I saw the body of a goddess..."

His vision clears, presenting a portrait of Tanoshii Seiryokuteki staring at him. "Sorry about that, Aisuru-kun. I thought I wouldn't get visitors today. I especially didn't consider you of all people visiting!"

Megane is relieved to see that Tanoshii is wearing her robes. Some of her hair is tied in decorative pigtails, now wrapped around the rest of the sable mass. Her familiar hair locket is still in place. "Oh, man!" he rubs his forehead. "Do you always parade yourself around nude like that?!"

"Unfortunately," she nods. "Let's just say I came from a rotten family who didn't care one bit about what happened to their daughter. Some habits are hard to lose."

"I'm sorry, Seiryokuteki-san."

"Aisuru-kun, don't be that formal! Everyone calls me Tanoshii. My friends call me Tan-chan. I'd wish you call me that, too."

He gulps. This was too much of a coincidence. "Um...how long have you known about me?" he gently prods.

"About a year," she sighs. "Unlike Aijo-chan, Ken-chan and Yasa-chan, I've been too busy graduating a term ahead of schedule, then proceeding to Kyoto to train under one of Budou-sensei's friends to worry much about how I'd drag you from Lum. You and I are forceful people. I knew that when I was done with my training, I'd still find you here."

"Am I that predictable?" he chuckles, rubbing the back of his skull.

Megane looks up to see Tanoshii leaning towards him. "Until Sakura-sensei's friend came down on you, yes. You were one of the most predictable people around, Aisuru-kun. It was because of that predictability, Ataru-chan was able to beat you. Now," she sighs, "...you're not. I like that."

He blushes. If this was a dream, he hoped nobody would pinch him. Her words told him something else. Tanoshii was another of Komeru's wards. Did it matter? "I...I'm glad I'm y-you're type," he stammers. "After Shitto-kun got together with his girl, I was afraid that no one'd care much about me."

"Don't say that," she sighs. "Everyone has a place, Aisuru-kun. Everyone has that special somebody to turn to when the time comes. If you were that snob Mendou, then yes, I'd worry about no one caring for you! But you're different, better than Mendou."

"Everyone always says that Mendou and I were the same."

"No," she shakes her head. "The difference between you and Mendou is that you really did care for Lum. Mendou didn't. He wanted Lum because she was interested in Ataru-chan. His pride couldn't take the fact that a normal person could possess such a beautiful woman, so he did everything to take her away from Ataru-chan. That's all his game was: possession. He never really loved her, Aisuru-kun. He's so hollow, he can't bring himself to understand what love really means."

Megane looks surprised. No one had dissected his classmate like that. "But you wanted to see Lum safe, Aisuru-kun," Tanoshii continues. "You wanted to see her happy. There were times you accepted Lum's interest in Ataru-chan, so you strove to ensure that's what happened, knowing that you'd never earn her love. You really were her friend. In your own way, you ensured that Ataru-chan would still have Lum by his side when the time came for the demons in his mind to be put down. You may have hurt him, Aisuru-kun...but in your own way, you saved Ataru-chan's life."

The bespectacled student blushes. He believed Tanoshii would've lashed out at him because of his abuse of Ataru. He never considered his past attempts to force Ataru to stay with Lum a way of saving him from the *saikoo jinseijitsu*. Strange how other people's views of the same event differ. "But you didn't come here expecting to run into me," she hums. "You said you have a problem."

Megane looks confused, then remembers his purpose. Quickly, he explains the problem with Rei and Lan, emphasizing the details about Rei's uncle trying to force the pilot away from the place his would-be fiancee had chose to be their permanent home. "I really can't figure out how to solve this, Tan-chan," he sighs, concluding his story. "Ataru would figure this out in a second. I guess I'm not used to thinking like he does."

"That's because Ataru-chan comes from a family of ninjas," Tanoshii smiles. "They're used to thinking of less troublesome ways of doing business. Let me put it to you this way: if you wanted to kill someone, would you prefer to do it head-on or slit his throat?"

"Head-on. Let him know you're coming!"

"That's the samurai's way," she nods. "There's risk. The risk is that you'll end up just as dead. However, the ninja doesn't do things that way. The concept of ninjitsu is to do the task with minimal cost to yourself, physically and psychologically. Why do you think ninjas were so terrifying back during the Shogunate? They took their time, Aisuru-kun. They scouted the terrain, learned all they could learn about their targets...their habits, their friends, their interests, their homes! *Then*, they moved in for the kill! Ataru-chan used the same tactics. He didn't come at you head-on. He knew you could've defeated him if he challenged you in a way you were comfortable with. Hence, he hit you in places where you didn't expect him to strike." She leans up to tap his knee. "And THAT is how you can defeat this Yethis character."

"I still don't see it."

"Look for the back door," she emphasizes. "Don't worry about Yethis. He's just Rei's military commander. He may be Rei's uncle, but he has no real influence when it comes to Rei's personal life. The real target for Lan has to be Yedris, Rei's mother. She's the one who would be the most concerned about Rei...and she is the one who would have the most influence, the ONLY influence, about what happens to her son! You get the idea now?"

Megane blinks, then nods...

* * *

"This is insane!" Lan mutters for the fiftieth time. "There's no way Aunt Yedris would want to come visit me here! I'm insulting her by insisting she see me! I should go to Onishuto instead!!"

Two days later, Lan is preparing to receive guests. Tanoshii and Megane, the former dressed in her robes, the latter in his school uniform, relax in the living room. Sugoi is also there. The Seishin teen is dressed in her purple uniform and boots. "Will you stop panicking, Lan," Megane sighs. "She's going to be your mother-in-law. She might as well see where you live."

"It's different when you're dealing with Aunt Yedris!" Lan groans. "Would you ask your own Emperor to visit your house?!"

"That's not the same, Lan," Megane sighs. "She's no empress. She's Rei's mother! That's all you have to be concerned about."

"Yes, she's Rei-chan's mother. She is ALSO one of the most socially influential people on Uru," Lan corrects him.

"Lan," Tanoshii sighs, standing up to steady her. "You've worked for a long time to earn Rei's love, haven't you? Five years, was it? Don't you think you're entitled to some respect from Rei's family?"

"Well..." Lan hesitates.

Suddenly, the town is flooded by shadow. Sugoi leaps to the window, then looks up to see a large Urusian family cruiser hovering over Tomobiki. "Mom's here!" she gasps.

Lan is ready to bolt under the bed. The doorbell rings. "Answer it," Tanoshii urges.

The Seishin girl nods, walking to the door. Opening it, she blinks, then smiles. "Aunt Yedris! Rei-chan!! Come in!!"

Megane and Tanoshii watch Rei enter, followed by Yedris, dressed in a long sleeved tiger-striped skirt with pumps. "Lan!" she embraces the Seishin teen. "Heaven take us all, you're more beautiful than ever!"

"Aunt Yedris!" Lan blushes. After releasing her future daughter-in-law, Yedris greets her daughter. Lan looks around. "Is Uncle Yethis here?"

"No, dear, he's on Uru," Yedris smiles. "I don't think he needs to concern himself about where his nephew will be living."

Surprised, Megane and Tanoshii stare at the other. Yedris is quick to notice the Terrans. "Why, Megane-san," the matriarch smiles, then quizzically stares at the priestess. "Who's this?"

"Oh!" Lan remembers. "Aunt Yedris, Rei-chan, this is Aisuru's girlfriend Tanoshii Seiryokuteki," she indicates the person in question. "Tanoshii is a Shinto priestess."

Yedris stares at them, then projects a knowing glance. "I see, now. You believed my brother was going to intimidate you, so you got some friends to give you support, eh?"

Lan blinks. "I don't understand..."

Yedris gently guides the Seishin teen to a chair, then sits beside her. Rei and Sugoi automatically sit beside their mother. "Lan, dear, did you actually believe I would permit Yethis to try to drag his future niece-in-law to a place where she didn't want to live?" the elder Oni smiles. "You made your choice of residence quite clear when you left your mother. I approved highly of you coming to Earth. I certainly didn't want you, much less Rei, to live near that child abuser! I at least owe your father that much, Lan!"

Lan blinks. Megane and Tanoshii exchange looks. Yedris gazes at them. "I'm sure you're curious as to how I know Lan so well."

"You...might say that," Megane stammers.

The Oni matriarch smiles. "You see, when I was younger, before I met my husband, I met Lan's father, Mamoko. I was quite taken by him. I would have married him had he asked me. However, he was taken by Lan's mother, Chena. She wasn't the abusive, hyper-tempered creature she became after Lan's father died. I was heartbroken, but then resolved that if the chance came, one of my children would marry one of Mamoko's children."

To everyone's surprise, Rei has moved himself to sit beside Lan, now lovingly holding her hand. "As you see, Rei has no complaints," Yedris nods.

"But what about your brother?" Tanoshii muses. "He still is Rei's commander. He can try to keep Rei away long enough to drag Lan to a place where she doesn't want to live. And if Lan's mother is still around and still wanting to dominate her daughter's life, that won't do them much good."

Yedris trembles, still having trouble accepting that another woman had stolen her first love. "I have had people looking for that witch since Shingetsu was destroyed. They've yet to find her. Believe me, I will **not** permit that creature to ruin my son's life, nor will I permit my brother to do the same. As for Rei's present inconvenience, that can be changed in due course."

Everyone sighs. "In the meantime," Yedris smiles at Megane and Tanoshii, "...it really does please me that Lan does have good friends to depend upon in her time of need."

The Terrans chuckle at her compliment...

* * *

After a sumptuous meal, Yedris and Sugoi return to the former's ship for the voyage back to Uru. Rei is spending the night with Lan before returning to his patrol. Megane and Tanoshii now relax by the door to her shrine. "It was that easy," the former sighs. "Gods, we really didn't have to be there, did we? We didn't do anything."

"Don't be too sure about that, Aisuru-kun," the latter smiles. "Most of my job is providing spiritual comfort to people in need. You did that when you urged Lan to take a stand for her future against Rei's uncle. You gave her the intestinal fortitude to persevere, Aisuru-kun. That's my job."

Megane consider the point. "I hope you didn't mind my stealing your job, Tan-chan."

Tanoshii smiles. "No, I didn't mind. I actually wanted to see you in action, see how good you were doing this job. Did you know that Budou-sensei was considering asking you to become a priest?"

He faints! "WHAT?!?!?! You mean...?!!"

"That's right," she helps him sit up. "Not only be my personal partner-in-life...but my professional partner, too."

Megane blinks. He had never considered taking a priest's vows, to become a spiritual leader. To this point, he really had no idea where he was going. He never considered the matter in the years he vainly pursued Lum. Now that he had someone who wanted to love him, care for him, an option had made itself apparent, a very inviting option considering who was asking. "Aisuru-kun, you've got the right stuff to become a priest," Tanoshii holds his hands. "You've got leadership skills. You're determined. You're incredibly creative. In a sense, you've spiritually kept this town together, preserved everyone's personal dreams about Lum. All you need is a reorientation of your priorities and some training. You'll be one of the best priests Tokyo has seen in a long time!"

They gaze at each other. Megane is quick to see the truth in Tanoshii's eyes. "And that's the reason I fell in love with you," she concludes.

He smiles as he draws her into his embrace. "I pray I'm worthy of your love, Tan-chan," he cups her chin on his finger.

"You are, Aisuru-kun," she whispers. "Oh, my love, you are."

They kiss...

*** The Beginning ***