Alternative Reality #2
Antithesis.
by Key

I've had so much trouble trying to capture my original writing style...  I
guess it's the problem with working on something, letting it rot for a
bit, and then after a long time, starting up again...  Well, sue me for
having limitations for inspiration :P

Draft #1: Just skimmed once without checks for spelling or grammar...
Draft #2, which should be out by next monday will have these basic things
done...

Chapter 12

    "Bye Aunty Natsuko!" shouted Ranko as she stopped in 
front of the train to give her dear aunt a vigorous wave, and 
quite coincidentally giving all the men around her more 
than an innocent glimpse at her body.  A few of the light-
hearted ones fainted.  

    Ryoga, one of the lucky few, managed to hang on and 
fend off a nosebleed, and sternly spoke to Ranko, his voice 
quite insistent.  "Ranko!  Please, not in public!"  He 
tentatively pointed towards her rather inconspicuous choice 
of clothing, a skin tight shirt and the usual slacks she wore.

    Unlike the flashy show his sister had put on, Ranma 
merely walked onto the train, drawing no attention from 
the other passengers.

    "So you didn't say bye to your Aunt?" asked Nabiki as 
she sat down next to Ranma.  Almost immediately, the cat 
that had been resting in Ranma's lap tensed up, looking at 
Nabiki with a tinge of malice.  He didn't notice, as he was 
staring out the window at Natsuko and Tadashi, both 
enthusiastically waving.

    "I did," said Ranma.  His answer was uncomfortably 
short and direct.

    Nabiki was even surprised at the brevity of Ranma's 
words.  She had an impression that Ranma wanted her to 
leave him alone, to just go away.  It was a mix up of 
feelings.  Only a day ago, he was quite engaging, in his own 
way.  He listened to her, didn't seem to mind her company 
at all, and now, he reverted back to his usual self.

    "What the hell is wrong with you?" asked Nabiki, 
somewhat angered by the fact that Ranma was trying his 
best to ignore her.  "Am I some plaything for you?  Do you 
think that you have every right to toy around with others?"  
She heard hissing from next to her.  It was Ranko, who sat 
across the aisle, shaking her head vigorously.

    Nabiki didn't care at all, as there was obviously 
something that Ranma was keeping from all of them.  
"Look here Ranma, you'll never be a man if you aren't true 
to yourself and your family.  Look at yourself, dragging 
your mother and sister on an emotional rollercoaster 
because you just want to.  You're just selfish."

    That evoked a strong response from Ranma, strong in his 
own sense.  Whether it was guilt or some other emotion, he 
had to respond.  "I do not mistreat my mother or sister," he 
said, his voice calm, level, twisted.

    "Oh really.  Just think about this, it's your attitude that 
makes them worry about you all the time."  She continued, 
as if making a pointed remark at Ranma  "No one would 
want to spend their whole life worrying for someone who 
decides to be stuck up."  Without another word, she stood 
up, and left, walking briskly to another car.

    Ranko looked at her brother and tried to say something 
encouraging, but she kept quiet.  Watching her brother 
stare intensely his hands, clenching them, releasing them, 
clenching them, releasing them, she didn't have the heart to 
say anything.  She knew that Nabiki was right.  Ranma 
knew that Nabiki was right, and that was unsettling for 
Ranma.
He was alone.

* * *

    "Great-grandmother, I still don't understand how you 
managed to get those people to sell you their restaurant for 
nothing." said Mousse in quiet Chinese as he carefully 
stapled a flyer to a fence.

    He felt a quick, sharp hit to the back of his head.  "It 
isn't good for those to question their elders.  Just hurry up 
with the flyers."  Cologne balanced perfectly on her 
walking stick while watching Mousse staple posters to 
anything, fences, telephone poles, trees.

    "So do you think Shampoo will come after seeing 
these?"  He seriously doubted such a simply plan would 
work to lure her back.  Recently, he had been realizing just 
how annoying she was, how different she was.  How could 
she disobey Great-grandmother's orders to stop interfering 
with the Saotomes?

    "She will," said Cologne, calmly.  "She'll do anything 
for us as soon as she sees these."

    Mousse sighed.  "So she's still in love with me?"  He felt 
another sharp hit to the back of his head.  Apparently, it 
seemed his great-grandmother's patience had been wearing 
thin recently.

    "No!  If she were still in love with you, she wouldn't be 
wasting all her time near Ranma.  But, as an Amazon, she's 
been taught to respect honor more than love itself.  Believe 
me, she will do what we tell her to do."

* * *

    Nodoka smiled at Soun, who seemed to be fidgeting as 
usual.  He had that endearing trait of being quite nervous 
most of the time, even when there was no need.  Tugging 
impatiently at his mustache, he watched the train rush by, 
slowing down, coming to a stop.  The door opened, 
unleashing a torrent of people, all eager to leave the train.

    About 5 minutes, and still no sign of their children, Soun 
was beginning to have second doubts.  "Nodoka, perhaps 
this is the wrong train?  Maybe we should go around and 
look for them.  Maybe."

    "Oh just stop fussing.  Can't you just relax once in 
awhile?"  Nodoka reprimanded him jovially.  She pointed 
in the distance.  "See!  That's Ranko."

    Waving her arm enthusiastically, she cried out, trying to 
get their attention.  "Ranko!  Ryoga!  Nabiki!  Over here."  
Ranma, however, was no where to be seen.  As her 
daughter ran up, she asked.  "Ranko, have you seen Ranma 
at all?"  Her troubled face immediately forgot all joy.

    Ranko nodded, and looking embarrassed at Mr. Tendo, 
she whispered into her mother's ear.  Nodoka too seemed 
quite nervous, an unusual trait, as she turned to Soun, 
almost apologetically.  "I'm really sorry about Ranma.  I 
guess he already left the platform."  That was a half-truth, 
in reality, Ranma didn't want to see Mr. Tendo at all.

    Soun shook his head.  "But we were standing here.  We 
should have seen him walk by."

    Nabiki muttered under her breath. "Father, don't worry 
about him.  He's just like that."  That almost earned an 
angered glance from Ranko.  "Always looking for 
attention."  She grabbed her father's arm and pulled him 
quite forcefully.  "Let's go home."

    Nodoka watched surprised as Nabiki and Mr. Tendo left 
them at the platform.

* * *

    "So how was the trip?" asked Akane as she hefted a box 
of Nabiki's things into her room.  The marriage, due to 
strange conflicts and other occurrences, had been delayed a 
month, but Soun and Nodoka didn't seem to mind.  They 
were just happy in the fact that they were going to 
eventually marry no matter what.

    Nabiki dropped a box on her recently moved desk, her 
face quite amusing as it tried to conceal a multitude of 
things.  "It was pretty bad," she was finally able to answer.  
"I guess Ranma was more than able to destroy it."

    Akane smiled reassuringly as she placed the box on the 
floor.  "I understand.  Hey, like I always say, there are a 
few screws missing upstairs in that head of his.  Even he 
gives me the chills."  Both girls walked back to Nabiki's 
old room and picked up a couple more boxes.

    "He's so high on himself," added Nabiki as she strained 
to lift the heavy box, containing old ledgers since junior 
high.  "Doesn't care about anyone else except for himself."  
She walked down the hall, knowing very well her arms will 
be sore the next day.

    Akane shrugged her shoulders, amazed that Nabiki 
would make such a comment.  "Well, Nabiki, and who four 
months ago was selling photos of a family member to make 
a quick yen?"  She dropped a box on the floor.

    "Well, that's different." Nabiki started, giving up on 
the idea of carrying a box and pushing it across the floor 
instead.

    "Not in my book, and you are lucky that I care for my 
family."  Nabiki shuddered slightly as she saw Akane's 
worn out bokken in the corner.  "It could have been a 
different story."

    Silence, which didn't last too long as Akane asked again.  
"So, how was the beach?  I haven't been to one in a long 
time.  At least, ever since Mother."

    "It was fun, ok!" said Nabiki, surprised with how she 
was overreacting to such a simple question.  "I liked it, and 
I just wish life could be like that everyday.  But I guess that 
would be bad."

    She sat down in her chair and complained to no one in 
general.  "No one's moving in for a month, and we're 
already moving!"

* * *

    Ranko sighed as she sat down next to her mother.  
"Ranma's definitely out for a walk."  The sun was slowly 
setting in the west, and Ranma was nowhere near home.  
Even Ranko had gone out to look for him but to no avail.  
Telephone calls to Daisuke, Hiroshi, and even Gosenkugi 
turned up nothing.

    Nodoka shook her head, somewhat tired of everything.  
"Why does Ranma have to be so difficult?  Why can't he 
just."  She stopped herself by drinking a cup of tea.

    "Don't worry, Mom.  He's just taking a walk.  I'm sure 
in the end he'll understand you.  It'll just take a long time 
for him to change his mind."  commented Ranko, 
thinking about the numerous times she had to go through 
extraordinary effort just to change her older brother's 
habits.

    "But." Nodoka stared again.  She couldn't understand 
what would upset her son so much that he wouldn't want to 
see her at all.

* * *

    "Damn them all," muttered Ranma as he sat at the bench 
winded, his cat beside him, cleaning herself as usual.  "This 
is not right, it's not working out," he continued, holding his 
head in his hands.  "This wouldn't all be happening if."  
He stopped talking as he heard a desolate meow from 
beside him.

    Ranma picked up his cat and sighed.  "I'm so sorry, 
trying to explain everything in my head right now."  He 
rested his head in his hands again, "But I can't help myself.  
If I don't talk, I think I'll just go insane."  His voice died 
off as the pressure in his skull turned up a bit.

    He felt his cat rub against him encouragingly.  He smiled 
briefly before resuming his gloomy demeanor.  "I know my 
father didn't have to die.  It's just a feeling I have.  I just 
know I'm right."

    "If I could have just seen the truth when I was younger.  
Then maybe my life will be better,"  he laughed bitterly as 
he took a deep breath.  "I wouldn't be so useless.  I guess 
Mom and Ranko wouldn't have to waste their lives for my 
sake."

    "Why does it have to be this way?  I've always respected 
others.  I've never cheated, did anything mean to my sister 
when I was young.  And look at me, I'm stuck here, messed 
up.  What the hell did I do to get this?"  He stood up, his 
legs somewhat tired from all the walking he did that 
afternoon, his back somewhat strained at best.

    Ranma thought about Nabiki and her words.  He knew 
that those harsh words she said were true.  But as much as 
he knew the validity of her statements, he just wanted to 
disprove them.  But he couldn't.  There was no way.  He 
just couldn't rationalize his point enough.

* * *   

    Ranma plodded home, his feet thumping as they hit the 
pavement, a constant, weary drumming.  He was tired.  He 
felt sick.  He just wanted to go home, lay in bed, close eyes, 
and wish for an end to existence.  Despite the loving 
attention his cat gave him, Nabiki's bitter truth had 
slaughtered his core, his confidence.

    He would have continued brooding, on and on, if it were 
not for a most peculiar feeling in his head.  It was 
something like a warning, something that bothered him as 
he passed a fence.

    Stopping and turning his head, he saw it, simple, 
innocence notice, roughly stapled to the wall, struggling 
about in the wind like a speared fish.  As Ranma 
approached it, that feeling in the back of his mind started 
growing and growing.  "It's only an advertisement," Ranma 
thought to himself, "for a restaurant."

    But there was a nagging voice in the back of his head, 
that made him cautious.  He looked at the flyer, trying to 
find some clue to tell him of the imminent danger.  To him, 
there was nothing to be found, except for a lingering 
premonition that only existed in his mind.  His cat didn't 
think the same way, and as soon as she saw the 
advertisement, she ran off.  He tried to follow, but the 
shadows cast out by the sun swallowed up his cat.

* * *

    Ranko tried her best to sleep, trying not to worry about 
her headstrong brother, when she heard the door to his 
room open and close almost imperceptibly.  She sat up in 
bed, not knowing whether to rush to her brother's room to 
give him a tongue lashing or to just ignore him.

    She had been tired just waiting anxiously for him, so she 
didn't quite know what to do.  But in the end as the soft 
pillows combined with relief that her brother hadn't gone 
out and done something stupid, allowed her the rest that her 
body had been craving.  She made a note to bug her brother 
tomorrow.

    Meanwhile, Ranma sighed as he lay on bed, now 
completely alone.  He stared at the ceiling, somewhat 
knowing that the night was going to be long.  Holding his 
breath to muffle the spasms of his chest, to soothe his 
beating heart, for he had run home without any reason 
other than feelings.

 * * *

    A lone cat ran through the empty streets, looking 
frantically for the address posted in the bottom of the 
message.  It was a strange thing, her feline eyes being more 
than capable of picking up things that her human eyes 
would have never noticed.  For one thing, there had been a 
message, scrawled into the paper in such a way that only a 
cat could notice it.

    She couldn't help but feel fearful, but with her Amazon 
heritage at stake, nothing else mattered, and she ran on into 
the night, to find the place described into the flyer.  
Eventually, after some long, unknown length of time, 
Shampoo-neko breathed a sigh of relief, that is if cats are 
capable of sighing, and made her way through a tiny door 
that seemed just perfect for her.

    "Well, Shampoo, I'm surprised that you've actually 
showed up," said Cologne as she stared critically little cat 
that had walked timidly into the empty restaurant.  
"Considering how you've been ignoring your elders, you 
should be thankful that I'll consider making you a waitress 
here."  The old, wizened woman walked into the kitchen 
and returned with a steaming pot of hot water.

    A naked Shampoo unwillingly bowed her head down.  
"Very well, you can start by tidying up this room.  Sweep 
the floor and wipe down the tables."  The purple haired 
Amazon didn't argue as she started to work, grabbing a 
mop and pail in the corner.  "And here, wear these 
clothes."  Shampoo caught whatever the old woman had 
tossed at her and quickly put them on.

    As Cologne turned to leave, she added.  "I do not want 
you to visit Ranma or Ranko any more.  Remember 
Shampoo, your honor is at stake here."  There was a 
muffled crunching sound as the handle of the mop 
permanently was indented by a hand.

    "Yes, matriarch," said Shampoo, adding an unholy string 
of curses, silent in her head.  She wanted to return to 
Ranma, but she knew that she could not destroy her honor 
and had to follow the will of Cologne.

    As soon she was sure the old hag had left, she resumed 
mopping, her tears immediately swept away by the mop.

* * *

    Nabiki sighed as she could take any more of the stress of 
her home.  It seemed that even though the postponed 
wedding was still a long time away, everyone, with the 
exception of her, was gradually getting more and more 
stressed out.  Soun was wailing every morning, trying to 
explain to his first wife in heaven, why he wanted to marry 
Nodoka so badly.

    Kasumi, as calm as she was, she seemed a little 
obsessive as she started to clean the entire home on a daily 
basis, still managed to churn out three meals a day, and on 
occasion went out on a date with Tofu.  And Akane, well, 
she managed to involve her boyfriend, and the two of them 
were doting on this and that.

    It was absolutely frustrating for her to see what she had 
considered home for all her life slowly decompose and 
rearrange itself.  And the noise was just unbearable.  She 
slammed her summer reading shut, and decided that 
perhaps the library was a good place to resume her work.

    Without word to the others, she inconspicuously left.  
Fortunately, it was a short distance to the library, but it 
seemed a long time since she was last there.  She could 
almost remember that day.  It had been a rainy day, and she 
somewhat had been stranded at the library.

    Anyhow, she had made a point to listen to the forecast, 
and there was absolutely no chance for rain, at all.  Not that 
she would have appreciated some.

* * *

    It was rather close to the library, only some 4 blocks 
distance.  But fickle the fates, the entire library was 
crowded.  Weaving her way through the crowds of people 
searching for something to do during the boring summer or 
those just seeking self improvement, she spied an empty 
chair at a table that seemed unoccupied.

    Pushing a bit and giving at the same time, she was 
surprised when she finally made it to the seat, and greedily 
sat down, lest someone else shared her same thoughts.  
With a sigh, she opened her satchel and brought out her 
textbook to read.  It was strange though, being able to read 
in such a crowded place, while not being able to read at 
home.

    She had read a chapter, when her senses started to warn 
her, warn her of something bizarre, even strange.  Looking 
up from her book, she looked about, as if trying to dispel a 
strange feeling.  It wasn't until she looked across the table 
at the person sitting there, reading and avidly taking notes 
in a small book.

    Nabiki looked at Ranma who sat passively across from 
her in the library.  What strange fate that both of them had 
decided to go to the library at the same time, and sit down 
at the same table.  At first, she feigned not noticing him, 
somewhat amazed in the fact that she hadn't seen him 
before.  Periodically, she looked up from her book to 
glance at Ranma, who seemed to be engrossed in his 
material that he didn't even bother to see her.  He had that 
look, a look of intense focus.

    Unconsciously, she cleared her throat, and Ranma 
responded immediately by looking up.  He didn't seem that 
surprised that she was sitting across from him, and after 
staring at her for a moment, he looked back at his book.  
Nabiki almost sighed in relief that she wouldn't need to 
speak with him.

    "So, studying for advanced biology next semester?" 
asked Ranma as he flipped through a book.

    "And if you were correct, how would you know?" asked 
Nabiki as she closed her book and placed it flat on the 
table.  Right now, considering the staleness between them, 
she wasn't too eager to speak with Ranma.  

    "Principles of Biology," said Ranma, pointing at the 
textbook without quite looking at her.  "It's required 
reading over the summer for people who want to go into 
the advanced course."

    Nabiki had to admit, it was quite true.  She did need to 
take a science class in order to graduate, and she decided 
that it might as well be biology.  "And you're taking 
psychology?" she asked.

    "No, I'm pretty much fucked up in the head, this is for 
myself," said Ranma as he dropped the book in front of 
him.  Then, he stood up without a word spoken, and left.

    As soon as Ranma walked out the door, all confidence, 
all the cool that had been in his demeanor was cast off to 
reveal his true self.  Slinging his bag over his heavy, weary 
shoulders, he walked off, slowly, as if not willing to contest 
his existence in the world, simply plodding on and on.

* * *

    Ranko sighed as she sat with Ryoga.  "We were so close 
to giving Ranma happiness, and he had to mess up at the 
last moment."  She shook her head as she thought about 
how Nabiki and Ranma were now quite disinterested in 
each other.

    "Well, you do have to admit, you wouldn't like me either 
if I ignored you every time we were together," said Ryoga, 
as he did notice that Ranma had some problems associating 
with people he didn't care for.  Even he had problems 
communicating with his family.  It seemed as if he simply 
wanted to keep to himself, isolated from others.

    "But that's a different story, because I'm your girlfriend.  
I deserve lots of attention," said Ranko matter of factly.  
"But I was surprised when Nabiki just left him like that.  
And I thought they would have made a good match."

    "Well, for a person who sure knows a lot about bending 
others to his will, he sure doesn't know a thing about 
women," commented Ryoga as he stretched to take an 
opportunity to place his arm around Ranko's back.

    Ranko snickered.  "And what do you know a lot about 
women?"

    "Not much," admitted Ryoga.  "I only know a lot about 
one particular woman."  Ranko was about to giggle, when 
she heard her brother's almost silent footsteps in the hall 
just outside her room.  She sat there silently for a moment, 
trying to debate whether to run out, intercept her brother 
before he locked himself into his room, or whether to just 
forget about it.

    However, she couldn't just sit their easily as her 
suffering brother walked past.  She walked up to the door, 
yanked it open to confront him.  For once, her brother 
seemed surprised.  This in itself was strange as Ranko 
could remember since the beginning of her time, that she 
could never sneak up on her brother.

    "Ranko!" he seemed to be in a negative disposition, his 
hand on his chest, as if trying to quell his pumping heart.

    "What's wrong?" asked Ranko.

    Ranma looked at his sister, his calm voice somewhat 
strange considering the angry force within him that 
threatened to explode.  "Everything Ranko, everything.  
Everything that I've cherished is destined to be taken away 
from me.  Father, my cat, me, maybe you and Mom, soon."

    Without another word, he walked into this room and 
slammed the door.  Ryoga stood up and walked next to 
Ranko.  "Perhaps now isn't a good time to talk to Ranma."

    Ranma walked into this room, tossed everything on the 
floor and sat in his chair and slowly rotated around.  
However, even as he say down, an uneasy feeling settled 
onto him.  It was a strange feeling, as if his room had been 
invaded by something from the outside.

    He immediately had the insight to look at his window, 
which was open, and from the window, he mentally traced 
a random trail to his bed, on which a sheet of paper lay.

    Walking over to the bed, a familiar feeling came over 
him and picking up the sheet of paper, he realized it was a 
copy of the flyer he had seen the other day.  On the back of 
the paper was a hasty message scrawled.  "Meet me here, 
today.  I want to talk with you 
- Cologne."

* * *

    It was strange how Cologne usual had a good idea of 
who was about to walk into the restaurant.  But she hadn't 
expected Ranma when he walked it.  He didn't quite walk 
in, more appropriately, he slinked in such a way that even 
she notice him until the moment he walked up to Shampoo 
and asked her, "Where is Cologne?"

    The matriarch almost cursed when she saw Shampoo 
immediately became nervous nervous and almost dropped 
the tray filled with ramen in her hand.

    Shampoo seemed to stutter a bit, which wasn't aided by 
the fact that Ranma seemed to be in a negative disposition 
right now.  He ignored her attempts at babbling and looked 
around the room, until Shampoo was able to collect her 
thoughts and direct him to the booth that Cologne had been 
waiting in.

    Cologne smiled winningly at the boy who sat uneasily 
across from her in the tiny booth.  He had that quality of 
distrusting everything, making him a little paranoid, but a 
good trait in this deceitful world.  "So what do you want?" 
asked Ranma as he eyed the cup of tea Shampoo left him 
with slight skepticism.

    But the extent of his paranoid behavior made Cologne 
impatient.  It wasn't as if she had been trying to trap him.  
She wanted to at least get on his good side, and perhaps 
then, Ranma could use his influence on Ranko.  "If I had 
wanted you dead or drugged, believe me, I would have 
done so before."  She grabbed Ranma's tea, stuck a finger 
into it, and licked it.  "See, I didn't die, so don't worry."

    "And if I didn't worry, you'd have complete advantage 
of this situation," said Ranma, as he helped himself to the 
tea.  "And that is something, I never intend to lose."

    Cologne had to admit a few times in her life that she had 
been wrong, and this was one such time.  She had been 
completely wrong about Ranma, who seemed to have a 
mental grasp of the situation, and his potential.  Even she, 
with her infinite wisdom and power, could not even begin 
to guess what was on Ranma's mind.  That in a way, came 
as a shock to her.

    "I've called you here with a proposition.  I may be able 
to offer a cure for you." said Cologne, waiting for a 
reaction from Ranma.  His rock solid demeanor of 
indifference cracked ever so slightly, his eyes looked at her 
in anticipation. 

    "In exchange for my sister's hand in marriage to Mousse, 
right?" surmised Ranma.  He seemed intrigued with the 
idea, to finally be able to fulfill his father's dreams, an end 
to his suffering.  As much as he wanted to be a real man, 
there was a limit to his desire, and his heart ceased his 
dreaming.  He thought of his sister, who had protected him, 
comforted him in times of need.

    Anger consumed him, anger at himself, for even 
considering the possibility of sacrificing his own sister for 
his gain, anger at Cologne, for tempting him to betray his 
family.  His fist hit the table, upsetting the cup of tea, 
which laid on its side, explosively dumping its contents 
over the table.  "No.  You will not involve my sister."

    Ranma stood up and tried to leave the restaurant.  "How 
about a woman to love you?" added Cologne.  "A woman 
to love and cherish you, despite your impediment."  He 
stopped, as if intrigued with the idea, but his loyalty to his 
family stopped him.  He turned around and stared at 
Cologne, his face filled with such fury that even the 
formidable matriarch took a small step back.

    "Believe me when I say this, I'd prefer to die before 
betraying my family.  I'd prefer to die before marrying an 
Amazon," Ranma hissed through his teeth, as if trying to 
maintain a semblance of self control.  "If you don't stop 
meddling in business that is not your own, I will make sure 
the rest of my miserable life, however short it is, will be 
spent destroying the Amazons."

    Without another word, he left the restaurant.

* * *

    Cologne stood there, knowing all well that Ranma meant 
every word that he said.  With a sigh, she surveyed the 
room, just in case the clientele were disturbed.  She heard a 
tray clatter on a table nearby, and feet pounding the stairs 
as Shampoo ran to her room upstairs.

    She sighed, and stared at Mousse, who hadn't moved 
since Ranma made his profound statement moments ago.  
"Mousse, could you please go get that disrespectful fellow?  
Perhaps I need to tell him the importance of respecting an 
elder."  Mousse nodded and briskly stepped out of the 
restaurant, following Ranma.

    Ranma didn't quite make four blocks from the 
restaurant, when he felt a premonition and rolled to the 
side.  His paranoid behavior had been correct again, as the 
pavement he had been standing on was reduced to rubble.  
He tumbled away, and used the momentum to bring 
himself back to his feet.

    He saw Mousse, with a confident, smug look on his face, 
whirling a length of chain.

Chapter 13


Credits.

Chiaki Nakaike for Japanese names. (This is her real name!  
She has no relation to Chiaki Eno. (Thank god!) )

Andrew Huang, Keener, Mike.  For being rather helpful 
with comments.