Urusei Yatsura Fan Fiction ❯ The Senior Year ❯ Shinobu's Best Friend ( Chapter 38 )

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

Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year: "Shinobu's Best Friend"
by Mike Smith
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edited by E.B. Kushnir
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Thirty-first of a series of fan-fiction stories based on
"Urusei Yatsura," written by Rumiko Takahashi
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WRITER'S NOTES:

1) Because the writers of this series are often physically
separated, stories released by Mike will be slower in coming
since they will have to be sent via air mail before editing and
transmission over the Net.

2) Since "SBF" was originally released in the wake of the
release of the next four stories in the UY-TSY timeline, all
applicable language and other notes will be contained in the
writer's notes of those stories.

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

Lecashuto, Vos.

In the town square of this ruined capital city, which once
was the hub of modern Vosian civilization, stands a tall
building. The building, constructed in the last century, is
heavily fortified and guarded by the elite troops the Vosian
Defense Force: the Mikado Marines. They are here for good
reason, for it is here that the Mikado and his chief of staff
live and govern the Vosian people.

Once, not so long ago, this section of Lecashuto was held
in high regard as both a political and spiritual centre of modern
Vosian life. Now, surrounded by abandoned and crumbing buildings
and near-empty streets, the respect is all but gone. A rebellion
against the century-long harsh rule of the Mikado has been forced
on the Vosian people. But, that is a story for another time...

On the fortieth floor of the building, in a room numbered
four hundred and forty-four, a middle-aged man dressed in a
military jumpsuit with stripes denoting the Vosian equivalent of
colonel sits behind his desk waiting for his next visitor to
arrive.

This is Colonel Furusur. Furusur is a mildly handsome man
with steel blue eyes and brownish, greying hair cut short and
covered by a naval-style officer's hat, which gives him a look of
cold efficiency. On his chest crowd the medals of his years of
service. His white kill-belt, symbol of his position within the
Vosian Defense Force, is tight around his slim waist and knotted
with the many years he has spent in the service of his nation.

The office itself is typical for such a high-ranking
officer: lavishly furnished with the blue and silver Vosian flag
hanging from a pole beside the desk. Military photographs and
paintings cover the darkly painted walls made of Vosian oak. The
office itself is lit rather sinisterly, to give someone entering
it an immediate sense of forbidding. This is both done to gain
respect and psychologically threaten...for not many people visit
the Colonel and hope to survive. Colonel Furusur, nicknamed 'the
Unreasonable,' is the head of the Special Hunter Corps.

The Mikado uses him to dispatch his hunters to assassinate
his enemies. Coming to his job over thirty years ago when the
previous commander, Colonel Osur the Mad, was killed, Furusur ran
his organization with a ruthless efficiency which would remind
Terrans of Italy under Mussolini. Few people questioned
Furusur's methods. Fewer still defied him...a far cry from Osur.

Since Furusur was assigned to this position, not a single
hunter has deserted. They were all too afraid of Furusur to bolt
from the Mikado's cause. Although the Hunter Corps were as
ruthlessly efficient as their leader, they could not keep up with
the resourcefulness of the rebel leaders. In recent months, the
Corps had taken crippling losses which demoralized the unit to
the point that the unthinkable has happened: a hunter deserted
her post.

*Luckily, the hunter in question was captured quickly
before she could make contact with the rebel forces,* Furusur
thought. *The knowledge she has about our techniques would
paralyze the Corps to say the least!* The colonel sighs to
himself. *It's too bad she's too valuable right now to get the
ultimate penalty. Still, she'll get her punishment when the
situation is over.* His eyes then flash a moment, then he turns
to the door. "Enter," he commands sternly.

The door bursts open and a pair of thuggish Mikado Marines
dressed in khaki jumpsuits enter dragging a young Vosian girl
inside the office. The girl gives no resistance to her captors,
as if she knows she is too small to fight such men directly. In
seconds, she is plopped down onto a waiting chair in front of
Colonel Furusur's desk. "Here is the deserter as ordered,
Colonel Furusur, sir!" one of the men, his face partially
obscured by the huge helmet and visor most of the enlisted
soldiers in the Mikado Marines wore on duty, salutes.

"Oh, yes," Furusur coldly studies the girl. "Huntress
Pamanba. Wanted for deserting your post three weeks ago. You
gave us a merry chase. Now it's over."

Pamanba stares at Furusur, her fear noticeable in her large
green eyes. Pamanba herself looks all of sixteen, but to the
naked eye looks as if she should be busy studying for exams
instead of killing people. With long sandy-brown hair to her
hips, Pamanba seemed more child than adult. Her uniform, orange
with silver trim further empathizes her slim, developing build.
Her kill-belt has only a dozen or so knots. "I-I only wanted to
find my parents," she shivers. "The rebel I captured on my last
mission said he knew who my parents were..."

Furusur ends Pamanba's explanation by standing up and
slapping her across the face with the back of his hand.
"Silence!" he orders, disgust crossing his face. "When I want an
explanation for your actions, I'll have it beaten out of you!
You know the penalties for desertion, don't you?!"

Pamanba shivers noticeably. "I don't wanna die," she
answers fretfully. "I'm only twenty-four...I have my whole life
ahead of me!"

Furusur turns away from her. "You should've thought of
that before you tried to dessert," he growls. "Fortunately,
since we are short of hunters, you'll get a reprieve...for now!"

Her face brightens. "Really?" she beams. "Oh, thank you!"

The smile on Pamanba's face does little to change Furusur's
mood towards the young huntress. "You are to be reassigned from
local duties to foreign surveillance," Furusur explains. "It
seems our small base on Earth is short a hunter. I want you to
go there."

"Earth?" Pamanba gasps. She has heard of this planet only
through rumour. It is a backward planet, just barely getting
into space. But despite that, it has caused problems with the
Galactic Federation. Pamanba wonders how such a primitive place
could bring the known Galaxy so much trouble.

Furusur stares at her. "It seems one of our agents," he
explains, "...Thanba, has recognized one of the natives. Her
supervisor has accepted her resignation. The job is simple...you
are to spy on the confidants of the renegade hunter Nassur."

"N-nassur?" Pamanba gasps again. She has heard about him
as well. A constant thorn in the side of the Mikado. He has
eluded every attempt to eliminate him. For over thirty years, he
has been a target...and no one has been able to knot their belt
in victory over him.

Furusur hands Pamanba a thick file from atop his desk.
"This file contains all you need to know about what you are to
do," Furusur explains. "Any questions?"

Pamanba takes the file. "No, sir," she nods quietly.
"When do I leave?"

"Immediately," Furusur says before he remembers something.
"But, remember, don't plan to dessert your post on Earth...the
man you serve is an expert in tracking and assassination and has
much experience."

Pamanba shivers again. "Y-yes, sir," she replies before
bowing low to her superior officer.

* * *

A week later in Tomobiki...

On an empty city street one late afternoon, Shinobu,
dressed in her school uniform and carrying her pack, walks
happily toward home. Her head full of romantic thoughts for the
coming spring. *Graduation's coming soon,* Shinobu thinks to
herself. *Hopefully another chance to get Nassur-kun to notice
me. How will I get his attention this time?*

As Shinobu stops to consider a plan of action, she barely
misses getting clobbered by a flying white body which crash-
lands into the pavement beside her! After the impact, Shinobu
notices the body is none other than Inaba. "I-Inaba-kun?" she
gasps as the rabbit-boy looks badly injured to her. "Are you
okay?"

Inaba stands up immediately, wiping the dust from his
rabbit-suit, then turns his handsome face towards Shinobu. "I'm
fine," he smiles. "A short fall like this can never harm me."

"But, you landed right here," Shinobu touches his side.

Inaba doubles over. "Ouch!" he groans. "Not so hard!"

"Where have you been?" Shinobu asks her semi-boyfriend. "I
haven't seen you since the start of this series."

"I've been busy finishing up all those futures that were
destroyed when we first met," Inaba scratches the back of his
head nervously. "I just finished the last of them today."

"Oh?" Shinobu smiles. "How nice!"

"Not really," a sad look appears on his face. "I've got
some bad news to tell you..."

A nearby bullet train then speeds by. Shinobu drops her
pack, horrorstruck by his words. "Y-you're...leaving?"

"I'm afraid so," Inaba sighs. "I've been transferred to
the new branch we're opening on Sagussa."

"What about us?" Shinobu asks anxiously.

"Well," Inaba scratches his head. "You can't live on
Sagussa right now...but maybe you can move there in another fifty
years."

"F-f-fifty years?!" Shinobu feels the strength go from her
legs. "But, I'll be an old woman by then."

"So you will," Inaba quips. "But, we'll still be friends,
right?"

"Well..." Shinobu thinks.

The destiny management worker then stares up. "I've got to
go now," Inaba sighs, then smiles. "But I've really enjoyed
myself. Take care!"

Inaba elevates into the air and disappears into a spacial
warp. Shinobu, her happy thoughts gone, looks depressed as she
watches him go. "Inaba-kun's going?" disbelief haunts her voice.
"What's going on? First, Ataru-kun goes, then Lum plans to go,
now Inaba? Who else will leave Tomobiki?"

Shinobu wanders off down the street looking as sad as she
was happy only a few moments ago. "Now, Nassur-kun's all I've
got left," she sighs aloud...

* * *

Further up the street, Pamanba walks alone carrying a large
green sack over her shoulder. She has shed her hunter's uniform
for a pair of blue jeans cut to her mid-calf, a pair of white
sneakers, a tube top and a plain blouse opened and tied to the
waist. Her long sandy-brown hair is tied in a ponytail. Except
for her pointed ears, Pamanba looks like any other teenaged girl
in Tomobiki. In her hands is a small note with a map. "I should
soon be coming up to this base we have here," she murmurs to
herself. "I wonder what kind of place it is."

She stops to check her bearings. "I think I'm a little
lost," she then groans. "You'd think these natives would get
some consistency in their building numbering systems!"

She then notices a bandana-clad man wearing a brown tunic,
black pants and carrying an umbrella and a large backpack.
"Excuse me," she asks the man, whom stops immediately. "Do you
know where this address is?"

The man sighs. "Miss," he groans, "I'm still trying to get
out of this series and back to 'Ranma 1/2' where I belong!"

["Hey, Hibiki," the writer of this series quips, "...your
cameo ended a dozen stories ago! G'wan back to your series!
This joke is getting old!"]

"I'm trying! I'm trying!" Ryooga nods, then tromps
away...in the wrong direction as usual.

Pamanba sighs and moves on. Finally, she arrives at the
secret base. "This is it?" she sighs. "It looks like a common
shop. Still, it wouldn't hurt to be sure if I'm right."

Pamanba enters the shop. Strangely, there seemed to be no
one around. She uses her tracking powers to locate someone
inside the building. "Hello?" she calls out. "Is anybody here?"

"Yes?" a man's voice suddenly booms from behind her.

Pamanba yelps with surprise and takes a swing with her free
arm towards the source of the voice. Something grabs her arm
before she can make contact. "Hey," the voice says. "That's no
way to greet an elder!"

Pamanba finds herself facing a middle-aged Vosian dressed
in a plain buttoned shirt, a black bow tie, black pants, and a
red and white striped apron. He looked to be a gentle sort of
man with wrinkles around his friendly-looking eyes and greying,
short hair beginning to thin on top. He is a bit on the pudgy
side but does not appear unhealthy. "You must be Pamanba," he
smiles. "Thanba's replacement."

"Y-you're my superior?" Pamanba relaxes.

The man lets go of Pamanba's arm and moves around her.
"That's right," the man says. "My name is Abraham Yitzhak
Shapiro. That's what you should learn to call me while on Earth.
It helps with the disguise."

Pamanba is unsure of Shapiro. He does not resemble the
commanding officers on Vos. There was something grandfatherly
about him, yet there was a sense around him that he was keeping
the biggest secret in the Galaxy and it was up to her to find out
what it was. "Come, sit down," Shapiro invites her inside as he
takes her bag. "You have several minutes to relax before we open
for customers."

"Customers?" she asks quizzically.

"Of course," Shapiro says taking her bag to a room behind
the counter. "Your job is to be a waitress in my ice cream shop
as well as spying."

"I see," Pamanba replies weakly. "Colonel Furusur never
said anything about being a waitress."

Disgust creeps into the vendor's features. "Colonel
Furusur is an old windbag whom should have retired years ago,"
Shapiro returns from the room carrying another apron which he
hands to Pamanba. "Don't worry, Thanba was a waitress too before
she recognized one of my regular patrons."

Pamanba takes the apron and puts it on. "What exactly do
you sell in this place?" she inquires while tying up the apron.

"Ice cream products," Shapiro smiles as he shows her a
menu. "Terrans have a taste for cold, sweet things. And this
shop is in a prime location...Tomobiki High School is only five
blocks away."

"Tomobiki High School?" Pamanba asks before remembering
what her intelligence said. "Oh, yeah, many of Nassur's allies
are students there."

"I see you read your orders carefully," Shapiro smiles as
he continues to get ready for customers. "Some of Nassur's
allies come here to relax after a long day at school," he adds.

"Really?" she smiles. "That'll make my job a little
easier."

"It certainly does," Shapiro smiles. "In the four months
since I opened, they haven't suspected the truth at all."

"But, what about these?" Pamanba points to her ears.

"Oh, I just say that I'm from Israel,"

"Israel? Where's that?"

"It's a country in the middle of a continent beside these
islands," Shapiro answers gleefully. "It's a most interesting
country to visit. Thanba took the name 'Thelma Shapiro' and
acted as my 'daughter.'"

"I see," Pamanba replies. "How do you explain me?"

"You are now Pamela Shapiro," Shapiro replies. "My niece
who has come to Japan to escape the ethnic tensions there."

"Okay," Pamanba replies with slight confusion in her voice.
"Is there anything else I should know?"

"Yes, there is," Shapiro says. "Don't eat any
pork...Israelis believe it's against their religion...and learn
to give guilt trips."

"Err...right," Pamanba looks more confused.

"Well, it's time to open up," Shapiro walks up to the door
and unlocks it. "Shapiro's Ice Cream Shop is open for business
today," the elder Vosian says brightly to the small crowd already
assembled at the front door. "Come in, come in, make yourselves
at home. We have a new waitress to replace Thelma. Her name is
Pamela Shapiro. She's my niece."

The group of patrons, mostly young teenagers from the local
high schools with a few salarymen and office ladies thrown in,
enter and take seats in booths and the tables. "Time to serve
our customers, Pamela," Shapiro turns to Pamanba as he takes his
place behind the counter.

Shinobu enters the shop. Everyone in the place notices the
sad look about her. Actually, it is in the form of a small rain
cloud which rains inches above her. <<Who's that sad girl?>>
Pamanba psi-links to Shapiro.

<<That's Shinobu Miyaki,>> Shapiro replies. <<She is one
of the people you're to spy on. She believes she's Nassur's
lover.>>

<<Why is she so sad?>>

<<Who knows?>> Shapiro pushes her towards Shinobu who sits
alone at a nearby table. <<Go and find out.>>

Before Pamanba gets to Shinobu's table, an umbrella hops
into the shop, up to Shinobu, and begins talking to the cloud
above her. "Honey," the umbrella admonishes the cloud. "You
know this joke is old...so why don't we just go home."

The cloud seems to sigh, stops raining, and floats out the
door. The umbrella follows. Pamanba looks in awe over this.
*What kind of place IS this?* she thinks before remembering her
job. "Can I take your order, please?" she inquires before
noticing how really sad Shinobu seems to look. "Are you okay?"
sympathy touches her voice.

Shinobu looks at Pamanba with sad eyes. "Who are you?" she
asks. "Where's Thelma?"

Shapiro appears beside them. "Thelma got married a few
days ago," the ice cream seller smiles. "This is Pamela, my
niece. She'll be a replacement for her."

"I see," Shinobu groans. "Another person leaving Tomobiki.
Who's next to go, I wonder?"

"The 'usual' today, Shinobu-san?" Shapiro asks.

"Yeah," Shinobu replies without looking at him.

"Okay," Shapiro leaves to return to his spot behind the
counter. "I shall go make my latest cold masterpiece."

Pamanba stays where she is and looks at Shinobu. *I've
never seen such a sad girl in all of my life,* she thinks to
herself. *What's made her like this?*

Shinobu looks at Pamanba. "You got a boyfriend, Pamela?"

"Err...no, I don't," Pamanba replies.

"Boyfriends can be a pain in the ass," Shinobu sighs.
"Especially when they're young. When they're grown up, they
settle down. Take my advice; don't date teenaged boys."

"Err...right," Pamanba replies then thinks to herself.
*So, she broke up with someone,* her thoughts begin. *That's
right. Terrans don't recognize their mates. How barbaric!*

Shapiro returns carrying a huge plate of chocolate ice
cream topped with white whipped cream and a red cherry. He
immediately sets it in front of Shinobu and hands her a spoon and
a napkin. "Here you go, Shinobu-san," he smiles. "A Mount
Fuji!"

"Thanks," Shinobu takes spoon in hand. "Itadakimasu!"

Shinobu then begins to eat with speed of a buzzsaw.
Pamanba, after noticing how much ice cream is in a Mount Fuji, is
in awe over how such a small girl can eat so much. <<This is her
'usual?'>> Pamanba psi-links to Shapiro. <<This is enough to
feed a whole family on Vos!>>

<<This is nothing,>> Shapiro replies. <<Another of
Nassur's friends can eat a DOZEN of these at a time and still
asks for more!>>

<<Really? That person must be a blimp!>>

<<Actually,>> Shapiro muses. <<She's quite slim.>>

Shinobu finishes the Mount Fuji and pushes the plate at
them. "Another one please," she announces.

Both Shapiro and Pamanba faint! "A-another?" Pamanba asks.

"She must be REALLY upset this time," Shapiro returns to
his station to make Shinobu's second Mount Fuji.

An hour...and four Mount Fujis...later, Shinobu prepares to
leave. "How much do I owe you?" she asks Pamanba at the checkout
counter.

"Four thousand yen," Pamanba replies after ringing up the
cash register. She immediately notices Shinobu's protruding
stomach. *Poor kid,* she thinks to herself. *She's gonna eat
herself to death if her mood doesn't improve.*

Shinobu pays for the Mount Fujis. Pamanba takes the money
and places it inside the cash register, but cannot stop feeling
sorry for Shinobu. "Are you okay? You look like you need a
friend."

"I do," Shinobu sighs.

Shapiro appears beside Pamanba. <<Go with her if you
want,>> he psi-links. <<It's your job, remember? I can look
after things here.>>

<<Okay,>> Pamanba removes her apron then joins Shinobu as
she goes out the door. "Wait, Shinobu-san!"

Shinobu stops on the outside of the shop. "What is it?"
the depressed Terran asks.

"Can I join you?" Pamanba asks. "I mean, I'm new in town
and haven't had the time to look around. Maybe you can show me
around and get your mind off things."

"Okay," Shinobu sighs. "I guess it won't hurt. Besides, I
need to work off those Mount Fujis I ate."

The two teens stroll along together. Shapiro watches them
leaving together. *If it wasn't for Furusur, I'd have told
Pamanba to never come back to the shop. That child is no older
than my granddaughter. Thanba was at least equal to someone in
her twenties. I guess things on Vos are coming to a
conclusion...*

* * *

A couple of hours pass. Shinobu and Pamanba spend the time
going to the various places where local teens hang out in
Tomobiki. They play pachinko at an arcade, listen to the bands
play at a nearby park, go shopping together, and spend time with
each other. Soon, Shinobu's depression over Inaba's leaving is
gone and both act like they were long-time friends. Finally, it
is time for Shinobu to go home. Pamanba escorts her all the way
there. "What a day!" Shinobu yawns. "I guess I'm over Inaba
now."

"I guess so," Pamanba yawns. "This city is so different
than back home. Everyone's so happy and carefree. While back
home, anyone who hasn't escaped where I lived or died, huddles in
fear."

"Really?" Shinobu asks. "Are things that bad in Israel,
Pamela?"

"Yeah, they are," Pamanba nods sadly. "There could be a
change of government soon where I'm from. The people are getting
fed up with all the fighting going on and want peace. The people
here are lucky. They don't know a thing about hardship like I
have."

"That makes me feel like a fat pig," Shinobu thinks a
moment. "Say, Pamela, how about having supper over at my house
tonight?"

"Really?" Pamanba smiles. "I guess it's all right with
Uncle Abraham...as long as I don't eat any pork."

"My family can't afford much meat," Shinobu replies then
smiles. "I only hope we don't have ice cream for dessert!"

Pamanba and Shinobu both laugh together. "Let's go!"
Shinobu leads on...

...and both run across Cherry standing on stilts in front
of them! "Soultaker!" the short, old monk points his cane at
Pamanba. "We don't need your kind here!"

Pamanba looks horrified by the creature before her. "What
IS that thing?" the Vosian teen screams in terror. "It's
horrible!"

Shinobu clobbers Cherry with a telephone pole. "Get lost,
you mentally-deranged monk!" she yells. "Pamela isn't a monster
or a demon or whatever! Go bug Ataru or somebody else!"

Cherry then appears in front of Shinobu totally unharmed.
"That's what you think," the old monk croaks. "This girl is NOT
whom she says she is! She'll bring doom to you and all of
Tomobiki if you don't send her away immediately!"

Both Pamanba and Shinobu clobber Cherry with several heavy
objects ranging from a fridge to a tanuki statue!! "Who told you
that?!" they both yell together.

"Damn you," the old monk groans.

"What is that creepy thing?" Pamanba shivers.

"That's Cherry," Shinobu replies. "He's a gluttonous,
annoying Buddhist monk. Stay away from him. He's more trouble
than he's worth." Shinobu then takes Pamanba by the hand and
leads her away to her house. "Come on, let's go to my home and
meet my family."

"S-sure," Pamanba says nervously.

Cherry watches them go and prays. "Oh, I'll pray that
nothing happens to Shinobu," the old monk groans. "Namu
da...Namu da...Namu da..."

* * *

Later, Pamanba and Shinobu finish dinner with Shinobu's
parents. All sit around a kotatsu in the living room. "That was
good," Pamanba burps happily. "It's been a while since I've
eaten this well."

"I'm glad you liked it," Shinobu's mother smiles. "It's
not often Shinobu brings a guest home from school...unless it's
that awful Ataru Moroboshi...or that snobbish Shutaro Mendou...or
the strange rabbit-boy Inaba."

"Well, I've always been told to behave on missions,"
Pamanba's eyes change colour for a moment. "There's an Oni at
the door."

Suddenly, the doorbell rings. Shinobu answers it. "An
Oni?" Shinobu thinks aloud. "How does she know about them?"

Shinobu opens the door and sees Lum hovering there. She is
dressed in Earth clothes of black stretch pants, a white knitted
sweater, and a pink blouse. Her green hair is tied into two
ponytails. "Oh, Shinobu," Lum smiles cautiously, "I heard about
what happened with Inaba and I just came to see if you wanted a
shoulder to cry on."

"Well..." Shinobu says.

Lum flies in. "Inaba popped in back at Darling's EX-
parents' house by accident and told me," the Oni teen starts.
"He's worried about how you're taking the news."

Lum then sees Pamanba sitting there. Pamanba notices Lum
as well. "That's Lum, one of Nassur's protegees," she whispers
to herself.

"Oh, who's this?" Lum asks Shinobu.

"This is a friend I just met today," Shinobu answers to
Lum. "Her name is Pamela Shapiro...she works at the new ice
cream shop near the school."

"Ice cream shop?" Lum asks. "Oh, you mean Shapiro's?!"

"Please to meet you," Pamanba bows to Lum. "You must be
the Lum I've heard so much about!"

"That's right," Lum giggles before she notices Pamanba's
ears. "P-pointed ears?" Lum gasps. "Are you a..."

"I'm from Israel," Pamanba interrupts.

"A likely story!" Lum points accusingly. "You're
definitely a Vosian with those ears! So, tell me, who's the
Mikado after now? Me? Dakejinzou?! Someone else?!!"

Pamanba looks nervous. *She's quick for an Oni,* she
thinks. "I'm not after anyone...honest!" Pamanba replies
sternly. "I'm just a waitress of an ice cream store...that's
all."

Shinobu, unhappy with the accusations Lum makes about her
newfound friend, glows with anger. "Hey, Lum," she snarls.
"Aren't you here on MY behalf?"

"*Tcha!*" Lum gulps. "And what I have to say is 'Don't
trust this strange girl! She isn't what she seems!"

"You're beginning to sound like Cherry," Shinobu begins to
glow with anger. "This girl..." Shinobu growls, "...has been
more sympathetic to ME in my moment of crisis than you've ever
been!"

An explosion occurs!! Lum finds herself flying into orbit
with a red outline of Shinobu's fist on her cheek. "She doesn't
believe me?" Lum continues to streak across the sky. "Still, a
Mikado hunter on Earth isn't something to take lightly. I'll
talk to Ryooki-sensei at school tomorrow and have him look into
it!"

In Shinobu's house, Pamanba looks in awe over what Shinobu
did to Lum. "M-maybe I should go home now."

"No, no," Shinobu relaxes. "Please stay for a while
longer."

*What kind of people are Terrans?!* Pamanba asks herself.

* * *

The next morning, Koosei pays a visit to Shapiro at his
shop. "Oh, Ryooki-san," Shapiro overdramatizes. "You make me
and my niece sound like we're monsters when we're only a refugee
family who are only trying to survive from harrowing experiences
in a war zone. We're only simple ice cream sellers..."

"...Who just happen to be Vosian," Koosei smirks. "You can
hide everything but your ears. Look, I know all the tricks of
the Mikado's special police...and the sudden appearance of you
and other Vosians on Earth are too much of a coincidence
considering Nassur has allies in this city and country. You may
be clean now," he produces a Saturn Five sledgehammer out of thin
air, "...but, I'll be watching both of you! If you even think of
harming Lum or any of my students and workmates, what I'll do to
you will make what Oogi did to Lecashuto look tame in
comparison!"

"I understand," Shapiro outwardly unfazed by the
intimidating threat given by Koosei.

Koosei leaves just as Pamanba steps out of the back room.
She wears stretch pants of black and a baggy t-shirt with the
word ME printed in neon orange on the front. "Who was that?"

"That was one of the Mikado's little 'experiments',
Pamanba," Shapiro says while cleaning up a nearby table. "A
failed one. Nothing to worry about."

"We're lucky he left," Pamanba sighs, "I was just ready to
transmit my first report to my superiors."

"Oh, you'll find my comm-link in the basement," Shapiro
smiles. "This is the right time to transmit to Vos. The
interference of Earth's sun is at its minimum and no one on Earth
has the technology to pick up the transmission and break the
code...unless, of course, Ataru Moroboshi's grandmother
Nagaiwakai is keeping a few things to herself. Go right ahead,
dear."

"Okay," Pamanba smiles and heads for the stairs...

* * *

Meanwhile at Tomobiki High School, Koosei talks to Lum.
"Whoever Abraham Shapiro really is," the teacher sighs, "he's one
smooth character. He doesn't sweat and isn't the least bit
intimidated by a Saturn Five."

"Did you see Pamela...or whatever her name is?" Lum asks.
"No, she was probably hiding somewhere in that store," Koosei
smells something from behind him. "What's that smell?"

"Smells like something burning," Lum sniffs.

They both turn to the source and see a VERY angry Shinobu
standing there. She is literally burning in anger as she tromps
up to them. Luckily, the flames of her anger have not set off
the sprinkler system. "What's this about you confronting Pamela
and her uncle, Ryooki-sensei?!!"

Lum ducks behind the teacher who looks at the enraged
student coolly. "Relax, Shinobu," Koosei answers back. "I was
only doing some investigating into their backgrounds."

"Who do you think you are?!" Shinobu snarls back. "Heiji
Zenigata?!"

Lum appears from behind Koosei. "We're only concerned
about a couple of Vosians being on Earth," she says defensively.
"That's all."

"Really?" Shinobu shouts at Lum. "Who gave you the
authority to do that?!"

Cherry suddenly appears in front of Shinobu! "It's fate."

The sudden appearance of Cherry has the usual
effect...startling everyone present. When the smoke clears,
Koosei clobbers Cherry with a sledgehammer. "Get out of here,
you monster!" he snarls. "You were right for once but don't push
your luck!"

Cherry turns to Shinobu. "Shinobu Miyaki," he points his
cane at her. "You must stay away from that girl or not even I
can save you!"

"Look," Shinobu says as everyone notices the rage building
within her, "I appreciate the concern...but...STAY OUT OF MY
BUSINESS!!!!"

An explosion occurs...and Cherry, Koosei, and Lum all find
themselves heading for orbit. "Boy," Koosei sighs, "She doesn't
take bad news well, does she?"

"We'll have to keep trying," Lum adds. "For her sake...a
Mikado hunter on Earth is dangerous."

"It's fate," Cherry adds.

* * *

Time passes...as Shinobu and Pamanba are inseparable,
acting like a pair of sisters. Lum manages to keep an eye on
Pamanba from afar, but the young huntress is smart enough to not
try anything remotely suspicious and blow her cover. Shinobu
refuses to believe a word of Cherry's dire warnings about
"Pamela" being an agent of death. Lum informs Ataru and Nassur
about her suspicions which are noted and logged. Since there is
no hard evidence, nothing can be done.

Finally, on a Saturday night, Shinobu and Pamanba are
invited to the Mendou mansion for a party celebrating the coming
end of the term for the class. "A party?" Shapiro asks Pamanba
with a raised eyebrow. "Since when did you become a part of the
class?"

"Well," Pamanba says as she finishes eating an ice cream
cone. "Everyone invited was to bring a friend as well. Shinobu
chose me to go with her."

"Oh," Shapiro says. "That means you'll be able to spy on
the other allies of Nassur as well?"

"Not exactly," Pamanba replies. "Lum won't be there.
She'll be up in a place called Sendai with her boyfriend Ataru
Moroboshi."

"I see," Shapiro nods. "Which is good. Ataru's sister
Nokoko, her life-mate Mal and their friends know about me and why
I'm here. Whatever you do, don't go up there if you can avoid
it."

"How's that possible?!" Pamanba wonders.

Shapiro fidgets. "I'd...rather not talk about it," he
sighs, then ushers her to the door. "Well, go on! Enjoy
yourself...and don't eat any pork."

"I understand," Pamanba leaves the store. "I'll be back in
a few hours."

"I'll leave a light on," Shapiro finishes wiping off some
dishes. "And I'll keep Furusur at bay," he sarcastically adds.

Pamanba walks alone towards Shinobu's house dressed in her
calf-high blue jeans and tube top, her hair up in a long pony
tail, and wearing white sneakers, she thinks to herself.
*Shinobu's such a good person...*

Then she runs into someone on the street! It is another
woman, dressed in flowing clothing and with medium-length black
hair. She is strikingly beautiful...but Pamanba notices one
thing about her. "Y-you're Vosian!" Pamanba asks the woman.

The woman looks at Pamanba. "You're Vosian, too!" she
gasps. "You must be my replacement!"

"You're Thanba?" Pamanba asks.

"That's right," Thanba nods. "I used to be Thelma
Shapiro...now I'm Thelma Yoshida."

"I'm Pamanba," Pamanba introduces herself. "Pamela Shapiro
is my cover name."

"I see. You're young."

"I was the only hunter available for this job. Colonel
Furusur said you left to marry a Terran."

"That's right," Thanba pats her stomach. "I recognized
Toshio shortly after I came here. Then, we...consummated our
relationship. I'll be a mother soon."

"So that's why you resigned," Pamanba says.

"That's right," Thanba smiles. "And for the first time in
my life, I feel happy."

"Really?"

"Let's go have some tea and talk a little."

Minutes later, Thanba and Pamanba are having tea with each
other at a nearby tea shop. "You don't know anything about
Shapiro either?" the latter gasps.

"That's right," Thanba nods while taking a sip of tea.
"He's a real man of mystery. I don't think even Furusur knows
who he is. He's been on Earth a long time...living in a place
called Israel."

Pamanba sighs. "So, how are the people where you live?"

"Well," Thanba muses. "They were cautious of me at
first...it seems the ears really set them off...but when I got to
know them, Terrans aren't so bad. Oh, there's bad people in
every race...so Terrans are like everyone else."

"I know what you mean," Pamanba nods. "I'm good friends
with one of your old targets...Shinobu Miyaki."

Thanba looks a little surprised. "Really?" she hides a
gasp. "That's interesting. But it's not smart in the game
you're playing and what I used to play to make friends with
targets."

"What?" Pamanba asks.

"Stockholm Syndrome, the Terrans call it," Thanba explains.
"Furusur wouldn't want you to be too close to any of your
targets...just in case."

"In case of what?" Pamanba naively blinks.

"Boy, are you naive," Thanba laughs. "How long have you
been a hunter?" "Eight years."

"I was a hunter for twenty years," Thanba explains. "There
are times when you have to give the ultimate punishment to your
target. Have you ever killed anyone, Pamanba?"

"N-no..."

"Well, I have once," Thanba sighs. "It's not easy. We're
trained to kill, but a hunter who doesn't want to kill is a
hunter who should retire before she end up dead herself."

"Really?"

"Really," Thanba finishes her tea. "But, that kind of life
is over for me. I'm going to be a mother and live the rest of my
life as a normal Terran housewife...if a Vosian can live that way
on Earth...giving life not taking it. I want to raise children
and grandchildren and great-grandchildren and see them grow.
That's the life for me...not being a spy and an assassin. I'm
through with that other life forever."

There is a tense pause between the two Vosian women before
Pamanba speaks. "I've got to go somewhere, Thanba," Pamanba
smiles tensely. "It was nice meeting you."

"Anytime," Thanba smiles.

Pamanba rushes out of the tea shop and immediately heads
over to Shinobu's place where she finds Shinobu waiting for her.
Shinobu is wearing a blue knit dress over a white t-shirt and
carrying a handbag over one shoulder. She is wearing hip-length
white socks and running shoes to match. "Oh, there you are,
Pamela," Shinobu says as she stands to greet her. "I was
thinking you weren't coming. Let's get going."

"Sure..." Pamanba replies meekly.

Shinobu notices the lack of enthusiasm in her friend's
voice. "Is something wrong? You seem sad."

"Oh," Pamanba says faking a smile. "I just had a surprise
visit from a friend of mine from Israel...I guess I'm just sad
that I had to leave her."

"Well," Shinobu says leading the way. "I guess we have to
do that sometimes. Let's get going. Shutaro doesn't like to
wait."

Pamanba watches Shinobu walk ahead of her and in her mind
Thanba's voice echoes what she told her. "A hunter who doesn't
want to kill is a hunter who should retire before she end up dead
herself..."

* * *

A few days pass and Shinobu and Pamanba go to a nearby
swimming pool. In the change room, Shinobu and Pamanba are
changing from their street clothes into bathing suits. "You
usually swim in the nude?" Shinobu adjusts her bathing suit
straps over her shoulders. "I thought Israel was more
conservative in stuff like that."

Pamanba looks nervous as she tries to think up a lie to
cover her faux pas. "Well," she finishes putting on her bathing
suit. "Israel is mostly desert, you know! Plus, I lived in the
boonies."

"Really?" Shinobu takes a towel and leads the way out of
the change room. "So, nobody was around to look."

"Yeah, that's right," Pamanba nods.

Shinobu wears a one-piece bathing suit of jet black with a
yellow stripe in the front. On her figure, it balances her bosom
and hips. Pamanba, on the other hand wears a one-pick suit of
pink and white with a frill which makes her look younger than she
is. "Wow!" Shinobu comments. "That suit makes you look like a
little kid."

"Er..." Pamanba nods. "Well, I am only sixteen, you know."

The indoor pool itself is reasonably busy for the off-
season. Most of the swimmers are young people from the local
area as well as a few older people trying to stay in shape.
After placing their towels on a nearby bench, Shinobu and Pamanba
leap into the pool and begin to swim around. An hour passes and
the two friends enjoy themselves together both in and out of the
pool. Resting on a bench for a moment, Shinobu and Pamanba have
a drink of cola together. "That was great!" Shinobu takes a
swig of cola. "You're a great swimmer for being from a desert
country, Pamela."

"Thanks," Pamanba smiles. "You'd be surprised by how much
swimming I've done in my life."

Shinobu smiles after taking another sip of cola. "You
know, Pamela," she sighs. "I wish you were a boy. We get along
so well that we're practically best friends."

"Unfortunately, we're both girls," Pamanba nods. "And I
don't crave to have a sexual relationship with women. Where I'm
from, same sex couples are seen as a waste of time."

"Don't let Ataru's sister hear you say that," Shinobu
quips.

"Still, I haven't had a boyfriend," Pamanba sighs. "How
about you?"

Shinobu frowns. "I've had several of them, I afraid.
First, there was Ataru Moroboshi...whom I knew since
childhood...but, he was taken by Lum. Then, came Shutaro Mendou
He's insanely rich, cultured, and handsome...all the things I
thought Ataru not to be. But, he was promised to another girl as
well. A girl who's afraid of men, if you can believe that."

"Weird," Pamanba comments.

"Then came Inaba," Shinobu continues. "A rabbit-boy who
works in the Destiny Management Corporation. He was the cutest,
most loyal guy I ever known."

"What happened to him?"

"He got transferred to another planet," Shinobu sniffs. "A
place called Sagussa."

Pamanba looks disbelievingly at Shinobu. "Right..."

"But, now there's Nassur-kun!"

Shinobu blurts out. "N-nassur?"

Pamanba nearly chokes on her cola.

"You know him?" Shinobu innocently

inquires. "I've...heard of him."

"Nassur's my current flame." Hearts appear in Shinobu's
eyes. "He's more mature, more handsome, and romantic than any
other guy I've met in the world. I'm glad that Lum invited him
to Earth."

"Really?"

Shinobu stands up, holds her hands over her heart and looks
teary-eyed into the sky. A spotlight shines on her. "If only he
would recognize me," a microphone appears in her hand. "Then,
I'd be set for the rest of my life. But there's another girl who
seems to have his attention...Benten! What does she have that I
don't?!"

"I thought Terrans didn't recognize their mates," Pamanba
muses. "She seems to have do so!"

Shinobu ends her little soliloquy and returns to normal.
"That's the first soliloquy I've had that nobody has either
ignored or interrupted," she sits down happily.

"Well," Pamanba scratches the back of her head. "I'm new
here, remember? So, why do you like him so much?"

Shinobu thinks a minute before she speaks again. "He
reminds me of a little boy I once met shortly before I started
school," she starts. "It was during Setsubun and I was only
four. He was lost and looking for a little girl who looked like
an Oni. Well, some very strange girl found her. But before we
could do anything more, his mother came and took both him and the
Oni girl away. The only thing I remember is his
name...Aki-chan...and he promised he would come back some day to
thank me. But, like every other man in my life, he disappeared
as soon as he was out of my sight. Who knows, maybe Nassur's
that little boy."

*I don't think so,* Pamanba thinks to herself. *She's in
love with Nassur? My superior must know about this. And to
think that Lum was my biggest target.* Pamanba stands up to
leave. "I'm sorry, Shinobu-san," she bows. "I've got to go
now."

Shinobu looks surprised by Pamanba's sudden retreat.
"Already?" the Terran teen gasps. "But we've only started
swimming."

"I still have to work in the ice cream shop, remember?"

"Oh, right."

Pamanba turns to leave just as a young woman screams in
horror. Both teens stop to see a crowd gathering around the
edges of the pool to see a five-year-old girl wearing a black
one-piece bathing suit hanging for dear life on the highest
diving board in the pool. Her mother, a chubby twentysomething
wearing a bathing suit with a floral pattern, looks horrified to
see the danger her daughter is in. "Please help me!" the mother
grabs Pamanba. "My daughter climbed up to that diving board
without my knowledge! She can barely swim! If she falls in,
she'll drown!!"

Pamanba and Shinobu both feel dizzy looking at the height
of the diving board yet both feel sympathetic for the mother
who's child dangles from there. "That's so high!" Shinobu gasps.
"I've never gone off that board before."

"Neither have I," Pamanba then moves to the ladder leading
up to the board in question.

Shinobu is surprised when she sees Pamanba beginning to
climb up to there. "Pamela," she frets. "That diving board is
for professional divers only! The pool is barely deep enough for
it!"

Pamanba stops a second to turn to Shinobu. "That's why
I've got to stop that kid before she falls in!"

"Help me, Momma!" the frightened child screams at the top
of her lungs, her tiny hands begin to slip from the wet board.

Pamanba, as fast as she can, climbs the ladder. It is not
easy due to her wet feet and water wetting the ladder makes
climbing difficult. Everyone else watches anxiously as the
Vosian girl reaches the top and makes her way towards the
terrified child. It is just in time, too. The girl's hand slips
off the board just as Pamanba gets there to the end of the board.
With a scream the child starts to fall down to the pool...but
Pamanba catches her by the arm before she can fall very far.
"Got you!" Pamanba yells triumphantly, noticing that catching the
child is one thing, pulling her up to safety is another thing
entirely. *Now what?* she thinks before a plan comes into her
mind.

Pamanba tries to stand on the board and for a few agonizing
seconds, succeeds. Unfortunately, fate...in form of an unnoticed
puddle of water...causes one of Pamanba's feet to slip...

...causing both Pamanba and the child fall screaming
towards the water below. Everyone freezes in shock. Shinobu
manages to hide her eyes. "I can't look!" she yells aloud.

A horribly loud explosion of water is heard...then the cry
of a child. Shinobu looks and sees the little girl floating
safely above water. Her mother leaps in immediately to swim up
to her. "Kozuko!" her mother screams in relief, swimming up to
find her daughter is uninjured.

In fact, Kozuko's bathing suit has inflated enough to cause
her to bob up and down in the water safely. "That experimental
swim suit your daddy made really works!" the mother cries
happily, noticing her daughter is more scared than hurt. "I
didn't think it would inflate fast enough after hitting the water
with such force!"

Shinobu swims up to the mother. "Inflatable bathing suit?"

"That's right," the mother shows Shinobu her daughter, the
bathing suit gives the daughter the look of being overweight.
"My husband designs bathing suits for young children to prevent
drowning. This suit inflates as soon as it gets wet then
deflates when it dries."

"Then there wasn't any real cause for alarm," Shinobu
muses...before she remembers there has been no sign of Pamanba
since she and Kozuko both hit the water. "Oh, no! Where's
Pamela?!"

Shinobu looks around and sees Pamanba floating face down in
the water nearby. "Oh, gods!" she swims immediately up to her.
"Pamela!" Shoving her ashore, Shinobu turns Pamanba over and
notices she is unconscious. "She must've hit stomach first!"
Shinobu gasps anxiously. "And at this height, that could be
fatal! I can't let her die!"

As fast as she can, Shinobu gets out of the pool carrying
Pamanba's unconscious body with her. Placing her gently on the
side of the pool, Shinobu begins to do cardiopulmonary
respiration on the Vosian huntress. At first, not much happens
but after a few minutes, Pamanba's eyes flutter open and she
coughs up some water. "S-shinobu?" Pamanba gasps before she
remembers the child. "The child..."

"She's okay!" Shinobu looks relieved as she notices the
mother deflating her daughter's swim suit. "It seems she floated
to safety."

"My stomach aches," Pamanba groans, noticing the child is
unharmed. "But, I guess it was worth it. Thanks for saving my
life."

"You're welcome," Shinobu smiles... before fainting from
all the excitement. "I'm going now..."

* * *

A hour or so later, Shinobu and Pamanba make their way
toward Sakura's shrine. Both are dressed in their street clothes
and carry their swimming stuff in plastic bags. Pamanba still
looks sore. "Oh!" the huntress groans. "I feel as if I dove
into concrete!"

"I'll take you to Sakura's shrine," Shinobu looks
concerned. "Maybe she can give you something for the pain."

"Why a shrine?" Pamanba asks, although she knows the
answer.

"Sakura's my school's nurse," Shinobu replies. "She's real
good."

Inside Sakura's shrine, the shrine maiden is busy
meditating and chanting. "Exorcise! Purify!" she mumbles aloud,
waving her spirit-sensor around in front of the altar fire.

"Evening, Sakura-sensei," Shinobu calls in, interrupting
the school nurse.

"Who is it?" Sakura troops to the door to see Shinobu and
Pamanba there removing their shoes. "Oh, Shinobu...who is this?"

"This is my friend, Pamela Shapiro," Shinobu introduces the
huntress to Sakura.

"Pleased to meet you," Pamanba bows.

Sakura bows in return before she notices Pamanba's ears.
"You have pointed ears."

"A family trait," Pamanba smiles anxiously. "My uncle runs
the new ice cream store near Tomobiki High School where I work."

"Oh, yes," Sakura nods. "They're the ones that have the
Mount Fuji sundae."

"That's right."

"I can eat a dozen at once," Sakura smiles.

Pamanba faints! "A dozen?!" she gasps. "But you're so
slim."

"We're not sure how she does it," Shinobu explains.

"So, what can I do for you?" Sakura asks.

"Pamela took a bad landing from the diving board at the
pool," Shinobu says. "Take a look at her for anything hurt."

"Sure," Sakura leads to the altar. "I was only beginning
to make out my New Year oracles."

"New Year oracles?" Shinobu gasps as they sit down. "In
February?! Isn't that early?"

"What's an oracle?" Pamanba asks.

Sakura produces a small box of scrolls. "They're
prediction of the coming year, Pamela," she nods. "Would you
like to chose one?"

"Is it alright?"

"Sure," Sakura smiles. "My oracles are known for their
accuracy."

Pamanba takes one of the oracles. "Can I take one too?"
Shinobu asks shyly.

"Sure," Sakura offers her box to Shinobu.

After drawing their oracles, Pamanba and Shinobu separate
to read them privately. While Pamanba is reading Sakura is
giving her a quick physical exam. "Let's see," Pamanba hums.
She reads what the paper says to herself:

"You are from a mysterious background and are playing a
role which can be dangerous. Beware, the secrets that you keep
hidden from your friends may destroy you and those you love most!
You will be making a life-threatening decision soon. Be wise,
for it is not only YOUR life that will depend on this but others
as well! The correct choice will end all of your sufferings for
all time."

*This is an accurate oracle!* Pamanba gulps nervously to
herself.

Shinobu reads her oracle:

"You have been carrying on a one-way love
affair...your side. Be cautious, for the one you
love has already decided whom he will spend his life
with...and it won't be you! Still, there is coming
an opportunity where you will realize your dream for
a short time.
Unfortunately, it will be very brief. The bond
between you two will begin as adversarial, then
develop into a close friendship. Romance is
certainly possible. But, this friendship will come
with an unexpected surprise!"

Shinobu looks so upset that she tears the oracle in her
hands angrily. "WHAT THE (BLANK)!!!!" she screams to the
surprise of both Sakura and Pamanba.

"B-bad future?" Sakura asks nervously.

Shinobu gives Sakura a withering glance. "Where's your
sacred bush so I can tie this stupid thing to so it doesn't come
true?"

"It's out front," Sakura points.

Shinobu stomps out. Pamanba looks at Sakura with
confusion. "What's that all about?"

"According to legend," Sakura goes back to looking Pamanba
over, "if the future foretold is bad, then tie it to a bush so it
won't come true. Shinobu's oracle must've been terrible."

"Mine didn't seem to be," Pamanba hums.

Sakura finishes her examination. "You seem to be fine,
Pamela," Sakura smiles. "Except for some bruising. You may go."

"Thanks, Sakura-sensei," Pamanba smiles. "I'd better go
home. Uncle is waiting for me to work for him."

Pamanba leaves. "Just leave an offering in the box at the
door," Sakura smiles.

"Right," Pamanba calls from the front door.

Once Pamanba leaves, Sakura thinks aloud. "That poor child
is cursed by something so terrible," her long black hair seems to
sway in a slight breeze, "...but only she can save herself from
it."

* * *

The next day, Pamanba wakes up from a restful night's sleep
in her futon. Her body has developed some bruises from her
impromptu high dive and belly-flop overnight...but looks fine
nevertheless. Shapiro enters her room carrying a tray of food
for breakfast. "I see that you have awakened finally," the older
Vosian places the tray of food beside Pamanba with a quaint
smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Oh, thanks, Uncle Abraham," Pamanba smiles before she
checks herself. "A little sore and bruised but I seem to be
fine."

"I hope what happened yesterday, won't be a common
occurrence," Shapiro teases. "You may not survive long enough to
perform your duties if it does."

"That makes two of us," Pamanba eats a bowl of rice. "But,
I had to do something for that child. All those people were just
standing around as if they were made out of stone...not flesh."

"Unfortunately, few Terrans possess our training in quick
thinking," Shapiro smiles. "You'd better get yourself ready."

"Why?"

"It seems your revered commanding officer," Shapiro
answers, opening a drape, "Colonel Furusur, is coming to Earth."

"What?"

"There's something important he wants to say to you in
person," Shapiro snorts. "It must be important if he's leaving
the security of his office to come into the field."

"I can't see what it could be," Pamanba shivers. "I've
been as accurate as possible in my reports to him."

"It's hard to say," Shapiro shrugs. "The Unreasonable One
is coming. You'll find out why later today!"

Shapiro walks out and Pamanba looks nervous...

* * *

Meanwhile, at Ataru's home in Oshika, Ataru is busy getting
his adopted daughter ready for school. "Now be good today,
Reiko-chan," Ataru admonishes her. "The headmistress is getting
upset over you using your powers on campus."

"Yes, Daddy," Reiko nods, taking her lunch and her pack
before giving Ataru a kiss on the cheek. "See you later!"

"Bye, Reiko-chan!" Ataru waves goodbye. *Alone again!*
Ataru thinks as Reiko leaves and he shuts the door. Nokoko and
her school left for their shop earlier in the day to open up and
Lum went back to Tomobiki last night for school. He was alone in
the house until his tutor arrived. Then, the doorbell rings.
"Now, what?" he snorts before opening the door. "What is it?!"

He looks surprised to see Nassur and Benten standing at the
door, the "Renegade" parked near Nicole's crystal palace. "Yo,
Ataru," Benten smiles immediately as if still trying to head off
Ataru's normal first reaction...getting his gun out.

"What do you want?" he blinks. "Lum went home last night!"

"I want to talk with you," Nassur says in such a sad tone
that Ataru cannot help but respond sympathetically...

* * *

Meanwhile, at the front gates at Tomobiki High School, Lum
and Shinobu happen to meet each other. "Oh!" they both respond
in surprise as bystanders feel the anger they emit from their
bodies.

"Good morning," Shinobu says in a civil tone which barely
contains her anger.

"Good morning," Lum replies in the same tone, then adds.
"So how are you and that spy getting along?"

Shinobu gives her an icy glance. "Pamela is NOT a spy,
Lum!" she snarls. "I wish you, Cherry, and Ryooki-sensei would
get that through your thick heads! She's a nice person! In
fact, she saved a life of a little girl yesterday at the pool!"

"I heard of that!" Lum snarls back. "That kid wasn't in
any danger...she was wearing a bathing suit which inflated as
soon as she hit the water!"

"So," Shinobu strikes back. "At least she tried! If she
was who you thought she was, she wouldn't have acted in such a
way!"

"You're naive," Lum replies venomously. "Almost as naive
as Mie-chan!"

At her home, ill in bed, Mie sneezes!

"What's gotten into you, Lum?" Shinobu screams back.
"What's the matter? Jealous?"

Lum's face turns red as a picked plum. "Fine," she bares
her fangs. "When that spy reveals her true intentions, see if I
care!! I hope that she takes you to Vos to be personally
interrogated by the Mikado himself! That'll teach you!"

Lum then flies into the school. Shinobu yells at her.
"Oh, yeah?! Well, I hope Nassur-kun will throw you out into space
some day...WITHOUT a space suit!"

Shinobu rushes to the front door of the school. Standing
there is Sakura, dressed in her lab coat and wearing one of her
body-con dresses. "Good morning, Shinobu," Sakura says while
leaning against the wall. "You're taking a chance coming here
today."

"I am?" Shinobu gasps in confusion.

"Yes," Sakura looks at the teen grimly. "Something REALLY
bad is going to happen here. If I were you, I'd get out of here
while the getting is good!"

An angry look appears on Shinobu's round face and she turns
into a huge monster. "DID RYOOKI-SENSEI HAVE A HAND IN THIS?!?!
BECAUSE IF HE DID, HE'LL BE THE FIRST PATIENT YOU HAVE
TODAY!!!!!!"

Shinobu returns to normal, then tromps inside the school.
Sakura sighs, watching her go to her homeroom. "It's fate."

* * *

Later, Pamanba and Shapiro wait anxiously for Furusur to
arrive. "What's taking him so long?" Pamanba moans.

"Perhaps the dear Colonel got lost," Shapiro quips to
relieve the tension a little, "...and asked directions from that
strange guy with the bandana who is always looking for Furinkan
High School or the Tendou Dojo."

"I think I remember him," Pamanba remembers her earlier
encounter with Ryooga Hibiki.

Then the door opens and the imposing form of Colonel
Furusur enters the shop...minus his dress uniform. The Colonel
has chosen to wear a plain grey suit with a white shirt and red
tie instead. He also carries a briefcase making him look like a
normal salaryman...save for the ears. "I am here," Furusur
announces coldly.

"Well, well," Shapiro whistles. "Nice to see you out of
uniform for once. Don't tell me the Mikado had you finally
drummed out of the Corps!"

Furusur give a cold glance at the ice cream seller. They
had never been friendly with each other. If it were up to either
of them, one would gladly kill the other. "I came disguised to
keep our cover from being blown," the Colonel replies noticeably
annoyed. "The people here may be morons but they're not stupid."

Pamanba stands at attention and salutes her commanding
officer. "What brings you here, sir?"

"At ease, Huntress Pamanba," the Colonel returns the
salute. "We don't wish to draw suspicion on our true
nature...not with Koosei Ryooki around." A serious look appears
in his face. "We attempted an assassination on the renegade
Nassur."

"Again?" Shapiro interrupts with a snort. "Doesn't the
Mikado know he'll never get him in this life?"

Furusur gives him another withering glance. "The attempt
was unsuccessful," he continues. "The hunter sent was killed by
him."

"I see," Pamanba nods. "But, what does that have to do
with me?"

"The Mikado, in interest of equality," Furusur replies,
"has ordered that you assassinate one of Nassur's allies on
Earth!"

Pamanba pales. "WHAT?!?! But, I can't do that!!!"

Furusur marches up towards Pamanba. To the young huntress,
the officer looks as frightening as the Frankenstein monster does
to a villager. "You will!" the Colonel snarls, slapping her in
the face hard enough for her to fall to the floor, "...or you
will die!"

Shapiro looks surprised by what has just happened. He knew
through rumour how abusive Furusur was to his own underlings,
almost as much as his predecessor Osur was. He also knows that
Pamanba is no killer and never would be. Pamanba looks at
Furusur, her large eyes filling with both tears and fear.
"B-but," she sobs. "One of them is my friend. She saved my life
only yesterday!"

Hearing this only serves to anger Furusur even more. "WHAT
IS THIS?!?!" the very air around him seems to burn with his
anger. "You call yourself a hunter?!" Furusur kicks Pamanba in
the side with his foot. "You were to spy on the allies Nassur
has on this planet NOT make friends with them yourself!! You're
a disgrace to your uniform and to the corps! I should have had
you executed instead of assigning you here!"

Furusur kicks at Pamanba again. Pamanba luckily rolls
herself into a ball. "All right," she yelps in pain and fear.
"I'll do it! I'll do it! I'll kill one of them! Just please let
me live! I just wanted to live!"

Furusur relents on his physical and verbal attack enough
and looks silently at the young huntress. He then turns to his
briefcase and opens it. He pulls out a small handgun-shaped
object out of it. "Take this gun," Furusur sneers, handing it to
the trembling girl's hand. "And go immediately to Tomobiki High
School and to Room 337 and kill one of Nassur's allies there. I
don't care who. If you fail, don't come back alive!"

Pamanba takes the gun slowly then stands up. "Y-yes, sir,"
she says, walking out the door.

"And don't think of running away!" Furusur adds. "We'll
find you no matter where you go!"

Pamanba slowly walks towards Tomobiki High School,
concealing the gun within her clothing. *I'm sorry,
Shinobu-chan...*

Shapiro watches her leave, a tear comes to his eye.
*Furusur is an ass, isn't he?* he sighs. *Maybe I should call
Mujanba and have her come down here to settle scores with him!*

* * *

Fateful minutes later in Room 337, things are quiet as
everyone is in the middle of yet another study period run by
Koosei Ryooki. "Shit!" Paama yawns. "It's so dull around here
today I feel as if I'm going to fall asleep right in the room."

"I know how you feel, man," Kakugari nods. "I'd wish
something exciting would happen right now."

Lum and Shinobu are sitting beside each other, studying for
their exams and ignoring each other. Then, the door slides open
and a seemingly cheerful Pamanba enters the room. The forced
smile does little to hide her eyes which are red from crying and
the reddened cheek from the slap Furusur gave her. "I'm here to
make a delivery!" she announces to the surprise of Koosei and the
class.

"Who's the chick?" Chibi gulps in awe.

"Isn't she the waitress at that new ice cream shop nearby?"
Megane whispers to him. "She's a babe!"

"Pamela?" Shinobu stands up from her desk and walks up to
the frightened girl. "What are you doing here?"

Koosei appears. "That's what I like to know!"

"Me, too!" Lum adds, floating above them.

"As I said, I came to make a delivery," she then pulls out
the gun Furusur gave her earlier. "Hands up!!"

The whole class including Lum and Koosei are too surprised
by what Pamanba has done but to obey. Only Shinobu does not
because she is more shocked than anything. "P-pamela?" she gasps
in astonishment.

Pamanba points to the gun at Shinobu. Tears form in her
large eyes. "I'm sorry about this," Pamanba sobs. "But, Lum and
Koosei are right...my name is Pamanba and I'm a spy for an enemy
of your friend Nassur."

"I knew it!" Lum smiles. "I knew you were what I thought
you were!"

"I have been ordered by my superiors to kill one of
Nassur's allies on Earth in retaliation for his killing one of my
superior's agents," Pamanba adds regretfully.

"If Nassur-chan killed a supporter of the Mikado," Lum
snorts, "...then he should be commended!"

Pamanba turns and shoots Lum with a orange beam from her
gun! Lum is hurled across the room, landing hard on the tiled
floor. The cloth of her blouse is burned near her heart, but Lum
still breathes albeit with difficulty. "She's only stunned,"
Pamanba announces coldly, adjusting the setting on her gun before
turning to Koosei. "The next fool to cross me gets atomized. I
want Nassur here to witness this. You call him...NOW!!!!"

*She means it!* Koosei leaves immediately. *I only hope
he's not on a training mission!!*

Once Koosei leaves, Shinobu glances at Pamanba. She
notices how sad the girl is. This young person took pity on her
sadness over her break up with Inaba and who nearly died saving a
child from drowning, is, in reality, a remorseless killer. It
did not fit. *Is Pamanba really what she says she is...or was
she an innocent pawn in some battle only Nassur-kun and her
supposed superior have been fighting for gods knows how long?*
Shinobu wracks through her brain and finds out how little she
does know about the Vosian she has a crush on.

Suddenly, dozens of classmates appear behind Mendou and
push him towards Pamanba. Girls are behind him because in the
past, Mendou has shown bravery in front of them for their sakes.
Boys are behind him because Lum has been injured. "We outnumber
this girl forty to one," one of them announces. "Stop her,
Mendou-sama!"

Mendou pulls out his katana. "I see," he grimly notes.
"It is up to me to save the class again. Even though this girl
is beyond beautiful, I must do battle with her! I am Shutaro
Mendou, son of the head of the Mendou family and the heir to the
corporation. Prepare yourself!"

Pamanba responds by vaporizing a nearby desk with her gun.
"One more step and YOU'LL be the one I'll execute," she snarls
coldly.

Mendou calmly sheaths his katana, returns to his desk,
opens a book on octopus mating, and begins to read it. "I
understand," he nervously gulps. "I'll just wait patiently for
Nassur-san to arrive."

He is then subsequently buried under a ton of large, heavy
objects one usually does not find in a normal classroom!!
"COWARD!!!" is the common cry heard from the collective voices of
the students.

* * *

Luckily for Koosei and his class, Nassur is very close
by...in Oshika with Benten, still visiting Ataru in his home.
The mood in the living room is somber but civil. Tea has just
been served as Ataru plays psychologist to someone he had NEVER
expected to be doing that to...Nassur himself. "I never knew you
felt that way about those things, Nassur," Ataru sips some tea.
"I always thought things like that were an accepted part of the
job."

"Part of the job perhaps," Nassur sighs. "But, when
they're that young...unacceptable...at least by me."

"Well," Ataru rubs the back of his head coolly. "I wish
there was something more I can do for you. Let me tell you the
first thing that strikes my mind."

If anything strikes Ataru's mind, it is NOT a thought...but
none other than Megumi, the oldest member of the Moroboshi Clan
standing on top of Ataru's head, forcing him lay face down on the
floor! "Young Master!" the old man pants, then he looks around
for Ataru, seemingly unable to understand the fact that he is
standing on Ataru's head. "Young Master?! Where is the Young
Master?!"

"Get off my head!" Ataru snarls, summoning up his strength
to push the old man of his head. "What are you doing here?"

The old man look at the point of tears. "Oh, Young Master,
it's terrible!" he sobs. "Just terrible! Lum-sama's class has
just been taken hostage!"

Ataru looks upset...not because of the news the old man has
given...because he is talking to a nearby painting instead of
him. "TALK TO ME, NOT THE PAINTING!!!!" he screams. "Why would
I care about the eggplants who say they're Lum's classmates?!"

The old man looks at Ataru. "Young Master," he cries.
"You don't understand...Lum-sama is AMONG the hostages!"

The air around Ataru darkens. Tears rim his eyes. "LUM'S
A HOSTAGE?!?!?!" he screams, doing a perfect imitation of Souun
Tendou when one of his daughters is trouble. "LUM!!!! LUM!!!!
LUM!!!!"

Nassur looks to Benten as everyone in the room ignores
Ataru as he runs all over the house wailing. "What's worse," the
old man adds. "The hostage taker has demanded Nassur to appear
in the classroom. She will execute one of the students in front
of him."

"This is serious," Nassur hums. "Let's go!"

"Right," Benten nods.

As the two stand and prepare to leave, the old man looks
horrified. "Hold it, you two!" he snarls, then leaps into the
air. "Don't you aliens know any manners? Bow to Young Master!
Bow to the Young Master!! Bow!! Bow!! Bow!!!"

Unfortunately, the old man is forcing Ataru to bow to the
floor at Nassur's and Benten's feet. "I AM Ataru, you senile old
goat!" he screams.

* * *

Meanwhile, back at Tomobiki High School, the school is
surrounded by dozens of armoured riot police. Most of the
building has been evacuated once word of the hostage taking
spread through the staff and students. In fact, there was no
trouble getting anyone out of the place...they literally ran over
anyone unlucky to be standing in front of the exits.

Negotiations are at a stand-still, with Pamanba sticking to
her main demand...Nassur coming to Tomobiki High to witness her
executing one of his friends. The tension in the room is
enormous. Lum regains consciousness, and immediately showered
with tears of relief from the boys. Even Lan was
worried...although she was still angry over Pamanba threatening
Lum while her revenge was incomplete.

The greatest area of tension in the room is between Pamanba
and Shinobu. Since the incident began, the shock of Pamanba's
betrayal has begun to sink in. *What kind of person is Pamanba?
She never let on that she was so bloodthirsty. Maybe Lum and
Ryooki-sensei were right. Maybe I should've stayed away from her
from the beginning...*

Pamanba's thoughts are also in chaos. *Why did I come here
in the first place? Why didn't Colonel Furusur execute me? I
don't hate Shinobu or any of Nassur's allies. I don't even hate
Nassur...I've never met him. I'm such a coward!*

Shinobu notices tears forming in Pamanba's eyes.
"Pamanba..." she begins.

"Please, Shinobu," Pamanba savagely wipes her tears away.
"I must do this. If I don't, then I'll be hunted for the rest of
my life."

"Who will hunt you?" Shinobu asks.

"The people who sent me here," Pamanba answers. "Please,
on my homeworld, I'm a hunter trained to kill mercilessly when
ordered. If I don't, my life is as worthless as the desk I
destroyed. I can't escape them and they'll hunt me down no
matter where I go! I'll never have a moment's peace for the rest
of my life!"

Pamanba begins to cry. Some of the other students in the
room feel sad for the huntress. Shinobu looks sympathetic
towards her friend as well. "Then there's no choice," she points
to herself. "The one you execute must be me!"

The whole room goes silent. "Y-you?" Pamanba looks
shocked. "But, you saved my life! W-we're friends!"

"That's right," Shinobu adds, kneeling in front of Pamanba
to surrender. "And friends sacrifice themselves for each other."

"But, why?"

"Because you've been the best friend I've had."

Lum appears. "Shinobu, don't do it!" the Oni girl pleads
with Shinobu. "This girl could be handing you a line!"

"Enough!" Shinobu shouts Lum down before turning back to
Pamanba. "Now that the decision's made...let the others go."

"Okay," Pamanba nods in agreement. "Everyone else can go!"

Immediately, everyone else in the classroom crushes through
the door. As expected, among the first to leave is Mendou.
"Don't worry, Shinobu-san," Megane waves as he runs out the door.
"We'll have a great funeral for you!"

In a matter of minutes, only Lum, Shinobu, and Pamanba
remain in the classroom. "Shinobu!" Lum bares her fangs in
anger. "What are you thinking?! Don't you want to live?!"

"Go, Lum!" Shinobu snarls back at her, then a peaceful look
appears on her face. "Please, Lum...I'll be all right. I
promise."

The anger leaves Lum's face as she realizes Shinobu is very
earnest in what she is doing. "Be careful...Darling would never
forgive me if I let something bad happened to you."

Lum flies out of the room. At the front door of the
school, Lum's class meets with the members of the riot squad
stationed there. "Don't shoot!" Lan yells, waving her arms in
the air. "I'm unarmed!"

Koosei suddenly appears behind the vindictive Seishin girl.
"Unarmed, eh?" he snorts, looking down the back of Lan's uniform
skirt, and pulling out her bazooka which was hidden underneath.
"This is unarmed?" the teacher says, dangling the bazooka like it
was a toy in front of her.

"Do you want to find out where I hid the shells?" Lan
snarls back at Koosei. "I dare you to...pervert!"

Lum is the last one to come out of the school and lands in
front of Koosei. One look at her face by Koosei confirms his
worse suspicions. "Ryooki-sensei," Lum sniffs. "Shinobu's still
a hostage in there with Pamanba. She bargained her life for our
freedom!"

"Shit!" Koosei sighs. "Does Shinobu have a death wish or
something?"

Before anyone can answer the question, landing rockets are
heard. "It's the 'Renegade,'" Megane gasps. "Nassur-san's
here!"

"He'll make that girl pay for what she did to Lum-san!"
Kakugari adds.

Minutes later, Nassur and Benten disembark from their ship
and walk up the commanding officer, Koosei, and Lum. "What's the
story?" the hunter asks before noticing Lum is among the people
standing around. "Lum? You're free? Don't tell me the
situation's over? Ataru'll be happy that you're safe, Lum, he's
on his way here...as the Cyborg."

"We may need him, I'm afraid," Lum nervously frets. "The
huntress in question let everyone go except for Shinobu."

"Why Shinobu?" Benten asks.

"Because Shinobu volunteered to be the person she's going
to execute," Lum adds.

Silence rules for a few moments. "I didn't know Shinobu
had a death wish!" Nassur sighs regretfully. "If that hunter is
as well-trained as the others I've faced over time, she's in
trouble."

"You don't sound too optimistic," Megane asks. "How do you
know so much about people like Pamanba?"

"I was once like her," Nassur replies immediately. "I'll
do my best to bring Shinobu back alive...that's all I can say."

"What about Pamanba?" Lum asks.

"I can't make any guarantees for her," Nassur adds before
disappearing as soon as he enters the building.

* * *

Inside room 337, silence reigns anew as Pamanba and Shinobu
play a waiting game to see who is going to make the next move.
"Pamanba," Shinobu finally breaks the silence. "Why are you
doing this?"

Pamanba is a little surprised by the question. "W-why do
you ask?"

"You don't seem to be what you say you are," Shinobu
replies.

"I see," Pamanba looks down to the floor. "Ever since I
was a baby, I've been trained to be a killer and a spy. When you
were being taught how to read, I was being trained how to kill
people and make it look like an accident. While you were playing
with friends, I was being trained how to sabotage vehicles. I
lived in a school for hunters secluded from any contact with the
outside world."

"Your parents allowed that?"

"I have never even KNOWN my parents!"

Shinobu feels a twinge of guilt in her heart after hearing
that statement. Shinobu has lived a normal life in Tomobiki.
She has had few problems that could even come close to what
Pamanba might have faced while she was growing up. Shinobu looks
at Pamanba again. To her, the young huntress is not a monster.
She is a person like her in some ways. Losing boyfriends is one
thing; as Ataru's own life proved so well, one can never get back
their childhood. "Y-you never known your parents?" Shinobu
finally gets the strength to ask.

"That's right," Pamanba nods. "Like many people on my
homeworld, I was taken away from my parents shortly after I was
born to be raised in the horrors of that school!" Pamanba turns
to look out the window. "I was beaten, raped, tortured,
humiliated, degraded, and assaulted in ways you can't imagine. I
tried to hide the pain as all the other students there did, but I
just couldn't anymore! When I came to Earth, this was the first
time I had been accepted on my own merits! I was happy for the
first time in my life! Then my superior ordered me to kill
someone," Pamanba turns to Shinobu, her eyes full of tears.
"But, I couldn't!!"

Shinobu puts her hand on her shoulder. "You can resist if
you tried." "I can't," Pamanba replies. "I'm a coward! I'm not
strong as you are." Suddenly, the floor begins to rumble.
"Earthquake?" Shinobu hums. Pamanba's eyes flash colour. "No,
it's him!" she looks horrified. Then the floor between Shinobu
and Pamanba seems to explode and when the dust settles, Nassur
appears between them!! "I'm here," his eyes glow like fire
before he turns to Shinobu. "Get out of here, Shinobu. This
won't be nice!"

"Nassur-kun!" Shinobu gulps.

To Pamanba, who had never seen Nassur in anything but a
photo before, he is the scariest thing she has seen since Colonel
Furusur. She had heard the renegade hunter was the highest level
hunter known with knowledge of the fighting styles of several
cultures to assist in his Vosian training. No hunter had ever
been able to kill him, even those trained by the legendary Osur
himself.

And here she was, a scared little girl with a gun, fighting
a man who was running renegade since before even her parents were
born. Like most young people, Pamanba froze. It was only a few
seconds in our time, but those seconds were long enough for
Nassur to relieve the frightened girl of the only weapon she had.
Before she could react, Nassur had her on the floor with the
ease of martial arts master testing a novice. "An opening!" is
Nassur's only words of warning.

Strangely, to Nassur's surprise, Shinobu is still in the
room. "Shinobu," he yells at the Terran. "Get out of here!
This won't be one of those mock battles on television! Move!!"

Shinobu's heart refuses to allow her legs to move out of
the room and to safety. *I can't let this happen,* she thinks to
herself.

Pamanba uses Nassur's momentary lapse and tries to counter,
but, Nassur uses her own momentum to throw her on the floor.
Pamanba tries again...and again...and again...but still, Nassur
is too much for her. Finally, Shinobu can wait on the sidelines
no longer. "Stop it!" she yells as Shinobu leaps in front of
Pamanba. "Please, stop it!"

"Shinobu?" Nassur is surprised to see Shinobu acting in
such a way. "What are you doing?! This girl is going to kill
you! Why are you defending her?"

"She's my friend," Shinobu says. "I won't let you kill
her."

"Who said I was going to kill her?!" Nassur replies.

"But, you must kill me," Pamanba pleads sobbing. "Colonel
Furusur said I was not to return until I killed one of your
allies on Earth in response to killing one of his hunters."

"I see," Nassur nods.

"Is this true?" Shinobu snaps. "You killed someone?"

"It's true, Shinobu," Nassur replies, tears forming in his
eyes. "A hunter attacked Home Base and was going to kill some of
the hybrids. I had no choice but to kill the hunter to save
them. He was the same age as Pamanba is. Only a kid who's only
crime was that he was forced to do what Furusur wanted. If I
could, I would have let him live."

Shinobu is speechless...as is Pamanba. "I only burst in
here to save Shinobu," Nassur continues. "I didn't come here to
kill this girl."

"Why won't you kill me?" Pamanba asks.

Nassur is silent for a moment, as if he was rehearsing his
answer before actually saying it. "Because you remind me of me
when I was your age."

Shinobu turns to Pamanba. "Pamanba," she says silently.
"You can stop it. Nassur did, you can, too."

Pamanba does not answer...

* * *

Minutes later, Ataru, now as Cyborg, is running up the
steps to room 337. Lum flies behind him as fast as she can.
"Darling!" Lum pleads with him. "Nassur-chan can handle this
girl and save Shinobu! There's no need to be so upset!"

"**Shaddup!!!**" Ataru snarls. "**She DARED hurt you?!! I
hope Nassur left enough for a decent workout for me!!!**"

They come to the door...and hear crying. "Who's crying?"
Lum asks.

Whipping out the door, Ataru and Lum are there to
see...Shinobu and Pamanba hugging each other and crying. Nassur
is there at the door getting ready to leave. "Oh, you finally
got here, Ataru," Nassur coolly smiles. "Sorry, the situation's
under control."

Nassur walks out of the room. "**Wait!**" Ataru yells to
him. "**What happened? Why is she still alive?!**"

Nassur walks out of the room. Suddenly, tons of reporters
appear out of nowhere and surround Shinobu and Pamanba. Cameras
take pictures and the silent air is destroyed by dozens of voices
asking hundreds of questions. Ataru and Lum watch with confusion
and get out of the way...

* * *

At Shapiro's Ice Cream Parlour, Shapiro and Furusur are
watching as events unfold on television. "...The hostage taker
has surrendered peacefully," a relieved reporter states to the
camera. "All the hostages are unharmed thanks to the quick
thinking of student Shinobu Miyaki, who volunteered to stay
behind while the others released."

"So, she survives," Furusur snorts. "Not for long! I can
send another hunter to finish her off before any trial can
begin."

"After police interviewed the suspect," the reporter
continues. "They have agreed to drop all charges and are looking
for this man in connection with forcing the suspect to commit
this crime. Here is a sketch!"

A sketch of Furusur appears on the screen to the surprise
of the colonel in question. "What?!" he yells. "I've got to get
off this planet! The Mikado will NOT be pleased about this turn
of events!"

Furusur immediately runs out of the shop to the relief of
Abraham Shapiro. "Well," he chuckles. "It seems that the Mikado
will get a little message about his underling Furusur that will
end Pamanba's problems forever! I won't even miss him!"

The door bursts open and Koosei tromps in. "Oh, hello,
Ryooki-sensei," he smiles. "You're early! We haven't opened
yet!"

"Furusur was here, wasn't he?" Koosei growls.

"That's right," Shapiro smiles without showing any
nervousness. "But he's gone now. I see that my niece caused
some problems at your school today! I'm sorry about that. It
won't happen again."

Silence for a moment. "Four months ago, you told me that
you were totally neutral on the question of the Civil War,
right?" Koosei crosses his arms.

"That's right," the vendor nods.

"Which means you have to coddle the Mikado's goons as long
as he's still in power," the teacher muses. "As far as I'm
concerned, this situation is over. But if there's a repeat...!"
a warning tone crosses his voice.

"I understand," Shapiro nods.

Koosei sighs, then walks out of the parlour. "He's still
naive, but he's learning," the observer chuckles as he turns back
to the television.

"I have just heard that the head of the Moroboshi Clan,"
the reporter on screen continues, "the mysterious Nagaiwakai
Moroboshi, has petitioned the Diet that Shinobu Miyaki be given a
special medal for heroism for her efforts in saving all the lives
here in Tomobiki High School."

Suddenly, Ataru appears out of nowhere and grabs the
reporter by the shirt. "What's this?!" he yells. "Grandma's
giving Shinobu a medal for saving these jerks?!"

Lum appears. "Hey, Darling! Shinobu saved me, too."

"Oh, I forgot," Ataru remembers...

...then gets clobbered by Megumi! "Young Master! Young
Master!" he pants, looking for Ataru again. "Where's the Young
Master?!"

"You're standing on him," Lum points to the ground.

"Sorry," the old man sighs then forces Ataru to bow to the
reporter. "Bow to the Young Master! Bow! Bow! Bow!"

"I AM ATARU, YOU SENILE OLD GOAT!!!!" Ataru screams.

"Darling," Lum sighs. "I wish Uncle would retire this
guy."

* * *

A day later, Shinobu comes to Shapiro's Ice Cream Parlour
after school. "Hello, Shapiro-san," Shinobu smiles to the
Vosian.

"Oh, Shinobu-san," Shapiro smiles. "Come right in. We
have your special waiting for you."

"Okay," she enters the shop and takes a seat at a nearby
table.

A Mount Fuji is delivered to her table ...by Pamanba.
"Here you go," Pamanba smiles. "Enjoy!"

"Pamanba?!!" Shinobu smiles. "You're still working here?!"

"Of course," Pamanba nods. "I've got nowhere else to go
since I defected from the Mikado's cause."

"I thought you'd have gone to Nassur-kun," Shinobu looks
puzzled.

"No way," Pamanba nods. "I'm not cut out to be a hunter.
From now on, the only hunting I'll do is for a mate to marry and
have children with. Until then, I'll stay here and be a waitress
for Uncle Abraham."

"I see," Shinobu nods. "Care to join me."

"Of course," Pamanba takes a spoon, sits beside Shinobu,
and helps her eat the Mount Fuji.

Nearby, Shapiro watches his waitress with Shinobu while
wiping a table clean. "I guess it's a happy ending after all,"
he chuckles to himself.

Suddenly, he feels intense heat from behind him. "Oh,
Abraham," a snarling voice intones.

He screams, spinning around to see Nokoko and Mal Moroboshi
standing behind him, literally ablaze with anger. "N-
n-nokoko-san!!! M-m-mal-san!!!" he stammers, backing fearfully
away.

Everyone else dives for cover as both women glare at him.
"Abraham, what did I tell you about what would happen to you if
you or your friends assaulted a member of our school?!!" Nokoko
snarls.

"Which includes my sister?!!" Mal adds.

The parlour then explodes as everyone hears Shapiro's
scream!!

* * *

Meanwhile, on Vos, Furusur walks toward an auditorium in
the lower sections of the Mikado's headquarters. His adjutant
tries to keep up with him. "Curse that bastard!" the colonel
snarls as he turns to head inside. "If it wasn't for the fact
that the Mikado hardly knew of him, I'd be a dead man right now!
He'll get his soon enough!!"

The adjutant opens the door to allow Furusur to step
inside. Standing at attention awaiting their commanding officer
are over two hundred hunters bearing ranks ranging from
lieutenant to major. "At ease!!!" Furusur barks as he moves to
the centre of the stage...

...just as a missile crashes through the window to impact
the base of the podium the colonel now stands by. In a split
second, a fistsized ball of hydrogen-impregnated baulximite, a
very unstable and deadly explosive found on a half-dozen worlds
throughout the local cluster, explodes!! The resultant atomizing
blast turns Furusur and all his officers into dust as the room
literally disintegrates!!

* * *

"There you go!" Lufy snorts as she pulls back her missile
launcher, now standing fifty kilometres from the target point.
"Two hundred and sixty officers, all now dust!!"

Noa lowers her field binoculars from her eyes, glaring at
the distant spires of Lecashuto. Not an ounce of regret appears
on her face at what she asked her friend to do. "Send the note."

Lufy reloads her weapon, takes aim and fires! Another
missile, this one with a note attached to it, streaks off toward
the Mikado's palace. "It's there!" the pilot confirms.

"Thanks," Noa sighs as she and Lufy return to the beam-
down point. "I'm going to head to Earth to see Lum-chan. After
this little incident, I think it's time we took stronger security
measures when it comes to her and Ataru, don't you think?"

"You want me to tag along?" Lufy wonders.

"No, thanks," Noa smiles. "Besides, I'm trying to help you
*win* Catty, remember?!"

Both Sagussans laugh as they are transported away...

*** The End ***