The story so far:

* Nemesis, the Orochi Cult, and Seiryu have been destroyed.
* Mousse and Ukyo are dead; Kuno is reborn.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Aftermath

  Time... flows like a river.
  The pendulum swings back and forth. It rocks to one side... then
swings to the other... always passing the middle. Over time the
pendulum slows its pace as it swings back and forth, gently, slowly,
steadily coming to a stop.
  Time flows like a river... and history repeats.
  In the minds of a mortal... such as humanity... time can stretch
to infinity... boggling the mind. To humanity, time is eternal. To
humanity, time is beyond their understanding. To humanity... time is
a passing beyond reckoning.
  To humanity, love is eternal.
  To kami, time is a finite, transient value.
  To Orochi, who had nearly eighteen-thousand years to contemplate
his existence, time was the annoyance that reminded him that he could
not walk the earth.
  The pendulum reached its peak swing in the direction opposite the
eight-headed serpent, but now it was coming back.
  This time, the swing was much quicker than before.
  And soon, the pendulum would be at his side again.
  There was every reason to be excited; the Kami Plane was a bleak,
monotonous world. Earth was so... delicate, in motion... transient...
and beautiful. That same transience, however, allowed humanity to
threaten Earth's delicacy... that same transience will allow the kami
to reclaim Earth's former splendor at the cost of human blood.
  Susano-O would never appreciate that... but Orochi hardly cared.
Let the bastard support humanity in its dangerous wiles; he, along
with the other human-loving spawn, will be swept aside by the aligned
peoples. When humanity is destroyed, only the true shall survive.
  Time flows like a river, and history repeats... but beyond, there
be a falls.
  He knew it would be his last, best chance. He knew that neither he
nor his enemy would appreciate the falls. He knew, when the time came,
he would be powerless to stop them.
  But, Earth must have a future.
  The pendulum swings lower as time passes.
  And yet, the end of time was near.
  Time flows like a river, and history repeats, but beyond, there be a
falls... and only the strong survive.

  "Ah, Shampoo," Cologne said in greeting, "I'm glad to see you have
returned."
  Shampoo said nothing as she entered the restaurant that served as
her home for the past year, using Seiryu's trident as a walking staff,
leaning against it wearily.
  "Child," the old matriarch asked, "where is the second of the pair
of weapons I bestowed upon you?"
  Again, the Chinese Amazon said nothing, barely remembering that she
left it stuck in Mousse's back. For a moment, she wondered if the
police have the weapon... probably as some kind of evidence. Shampoo
cursed herself silently, glad that she was going to leave the country
at the end of the week.
  "Nothing to say?" Cologne persisted, as Shampoo plodded past her.
"Well... that weapon was an heirloom. You will be punished."
  "I don't care," the younger woman answered in her native tongue.
  "I think you should," the old woman insisted, switching to Chinese.
"Because...."
  Shampoo's eyes widened in surprise as Cologne produced the second
of the pair of flamberge.
  "...there MUST be a reason why I have it!" Cologne finished.
  Shampoo's mind raced in panic, fervently wondering if the old
matriarch figured out what happened. "G... Great-grandmother!"
  Cologne shook her head. "Not this time, Child."
  Realizing the meaning, the Chinese Amazon, discarding the trident,
quickly dashed up the stairs. Stomping her way through the hallways,
Shampoo stopped at the entrance to the attic-- Mousse's room-- and
pushed her way in, through the door.
  Lying in the middle of the attic, in a seemingly-comfortable futon,
was the Master of Hidden Weapons, his thick-lens glasses lying folded
at his side, a heavy blanket thrown over him. He was obviously still
breathing, but he was also asleep.
  And helpless.
  Burning with anger and shock, Shampoo unsheathed her remaining
flamberge, intent on finishing her work.
  "That's enough!" commanded Cologne from behind Shampoo.
  Shampoo stood over Mousse, frozen as a statue, at her great-
grandmother's command, sweat dripping down her face. He was helpless,
down there, she knew. Totally at her mercy.
  And yet, years of Chinese Amazon conditioning forced her to stop.
  "I found him last night," the matriarch explained, "crumpled, and
helpless, at the step of the door. It was obvious he was bleeding to
death... WAS. For someone bound his wounds and left him to be found
by me." Cologne raised her flamberge in emphasis. "THIS, was found
next to him."
  That's not possible! Shampoo shouted in a mental scream. Who could
have helped him?!
  "By the looks of it, the Traitor's Death Blow," Cologne said simply.
"There are very few in Nerima who know such a strike: you, those twins,
Mousse, and myself. And, I entrusted this weapon to you."
  Shampoo said nothing in her defense, lowering her flamberge in
defeat.
  "When I gave you instruction to protect Ranma at all costs, none of
it said you could dispose of Mousse. You know as well as I we need
all the help we can get, and you destroyed one of them."
  Moving to Mousse's side, Cologne continued, "He will survive, but
he is not fit to travel. Not only that, but the death blow damaged
several nerves in his spine; Mousse has great difficulty moving, and,
in the worst case, he'll never walk, write, or fight, again. At this
point, he is WORSE than dead."
  "Finish him, then," Shampoo said contemptuously.
  Cologne shook her head. "Which brings us to YOUR punishment, Child.
Once before, I took you to Jusenkyo as punishment for returning home
without Ranma. This time, however... I will not be as lenient."
  As if Jusenkyo was lenient, the Chinese Amazon thought bitterly.
  "We will return home to China," continued the matriarch, "but you,
Child, will remain behind."
  "What?!" Shampoo cried out in surprise.
  "You will remain in Japan with Mousse. You will take care of him,
by waiting on him hand and foot, as his slave, until he recovers. IF
he recovers, because, if I'm not mistaken, Mousse would prefer to
end his misery, but you are not to give him that luxury. When and if
he recovers, THEN you may return home to China. I therefore invoke the
punishment of the Eternal Destiny Bond; if he dies, you will never see
home again."
  Shampoo bit back her tears. "The Elders will not tolerate that!"
she cried out defiantly. "You said so yourself, we needed all the
help we can get! What about me?!"
  "Hmph," Cologne responded. "They will approve, because I SAID so.
Despite what you think, you are still a child, and while you may be
a warrior, you are in no position of power. As such, you cannot defy
the wishes of your elders. Until then, if we ever see you anywhere
near home, the tribe will have authorization to hunt you down. You
will be dispatched the same way you attempted with Mousse. Do you
understand?"
  For a moment, Shampoo wanted to kill Mousse. HE was the cause of the
problems in the first place, he SHOULD die!!
  Yet, she did want to return home. The younger Chinese Amazon knew
that to defy her great-grandmother now would spell her own disaster;
the old one never did play favorites in matters of the tribe. And
thus, her threat may very well be serious-- both of them.
  Nodding slowly, Shampoo said dejectedly, "Yes, Great-grandmother."

The Next Day

  Tatewaki Kuno stopped long enough in the doorway to note that his
sister was busying herself with scrubbing laundry. Curious, he stepped
outside, into the yard, where Kodachi sat busy, back turned, next to a
wooden tub of soapy water.
  "Pray tell, what are you doing?" he asked.
  Kodachi jumped in surprise, throwing a toothbrush in the air.
Turning around angrily, she cried, "What does it LOOK like, you
idiot?!"
  Tatewaki shook his head, pointing to the white smock his sister was
holding. "Is there a specific reason why you must do this yourself?"
  Picking up her discarded toothbrush, Kodachi continued scrubbing the
stain she was working on. "I need to keep busy. There is no time to
think of Mother's recovery at this time!"
  "She is fine, thank you very much," her brother said. "Resting, if
you will, in her former bed, in her former room." Tatewaki sighed
heavily. "I cannot imagine living with her, after all these years."
  "I could care less how you feel!" Kodachi snarled, although both
Kunos knew she did not mean it. Scrubbing hard, she added, "Beside
that, why should you care if these stains refuse to depart?!"
  "If you insist on staying alone, then that is what you shall receive,
then," Tatewaki decided, striding off.
  Kodachi shook her head. Damn blood stains.
  "Mistress Kodachi?"
  Once again, the toothbrush was sent into orbit.
  "SASUKE!!" she screamed. "What now?!"
  The diminutive man bent low. "Forgive me, Mistress!" he whimpered.
"But there is a young lady who wishes to see you."
  "Kodachi?"
  Kodachi jumped, noticing for the first time that Sasuke had taken the
liberty of letting this woman inside. Before venom reached her lips,
the gymnast recognized this woman, and all thoughts of feeding Sasuke
to the alligator were forgotten.
  "Chika," Kodachi said, forcing elation into her voice.
  The newcomer was attired in Western-style clothes, her long, dark hair
thrown back, cascading down her back. Chika was a fellow student at St.
Hebereke, who wished to study film production. Kodachi remembered first
meeting her during cooking class-- she was a mediocre cook, but she was
very good at what she did. In fact, the last time Kodachi retained her
for service was to doctor a series of photographs depicting Tatewaki
and his 'pig-tailed girl.' She did a fine job indeed.
  Which was probably why she was here today, Kodachi thought. She must
have found out something important.
  Sasuke risked a glance at Kodachi's face. "She insisted!"
  "It would have to be important?" she guessed.
  Chika nodded, a worried expression on her face. "Remember how you
said you wanted me to keep tabs on what the Board was doing?"
  Kodachi nodded impatiently. "I know that; do not waste words."
  "Sorry," the other girl replied. "Anyway, earlier this morning there
was a secret meeting, called by Mr. Nakamura, I think. Well, they've
finally done it."
  "Done WHAT?!" Kodachi screamed, anticipating the answer she dreaded to
hear.
  "Starting this year," Chika recited from memory, "all girls attending
St. Hebereke school must, by order of the Board of Advisors, and the
founders of the St. Hebereke Church, convert to the faith, or face
expulsion."
  Sasuke gasped, understanding fully the implications.
  Kodachi fumed with anger, tossing the stained smock in the wash tub.
"You," she warned, "do NOT want to be in my presence when the news sinks
all the way in...."
  "There's more," Chika cried, stepping back from her angry friend. "I
not only got the audio of the meeting, but also the video! There's
someone there, the instigator, who you should know about!"
  "WHO?!!" Kodachi demanded, her booming presence shaking the wash tub.
  Bursting out in tears from fright, Chika blurted, "ASUKA!!!"
  Chika flinched, expecting Kodachi to explode.
  But, all that passed was silence. Kodachi Kuno stood, feet spread,
arms at her sides, staring at Chika, a glazed look over her eyes.
  Sasuke tugged at Kodachi's skirt, the young Kuno seemingly oblivious
to the world around her.
  "Mistress Kodachi?" he whispered.
  "Asuka," Kodachi repeated to herself, in a barely audible tone.
  "Kodachi," Chika stammered, "I'm... sorry."
  "Asuka...."
  "For what it's worth, it affects me, too."
  "Asuka...!"
  "I mean, it'll affect ALL of us, somehow...."
  "ASSSSSSUUKKKKKAAAAA!!!" Kodachi screamed.
  "Kodachi...." Chika said, trying to find something of comfort to say.
  Unexpectedly, tears blinding her eyes, Kodachi ran toward the wall
at the end of the yard, and vaulted over in one startling leap.

  Shampoo finished breakfast just as Ling-ling and Lung-lung, the
twin Amazons, enter the closed restaurant. Behind them, the two
dragged a large bell, almost as large as they were-- a bell Shampoo
recognized, despite the numerous wards pasted on it.
  "What are you doing with that?" asked Shampoo in Chinese.
  Ling-ling looked up to her elder with contempt. "Cleaning up your
messes."
  "We need to take back everything brought over here," added Lung-
lung. "We spent all night trying to catch Bakeneko."
  The girl pointed toward the wards attached to the bell meaningfully.
"If it weren't for the priests, he would've been too hard to catch
and contain."
  Shampoo, seething with anger, grabbed Ling-ling by the throat.
"Tell me the truth!!" she demanded. "DID YOU SAVE MOUSSE'S LIFE???"
  Ling-ling kicked Shampoo in the stomach, forcing the elder Amazon
to release her hold. "Of course not!!" she answered. "What's wrong
with YOU??!"
  The other girl whispered in her twin's ear. Ling-ling nodded,
remembering what happened. "What, you think that because we stick
around Mousse that WE did it?"
  "Who ELSE?!" demanded Shampoo in frustration. "There IS NO ONE
ELSE!!!"
  "We're sorry about what happened," Lung-lung said. "But, you have
no one to blame but yourself. In the meantime, we've still got to
finish cleaning up."
  "YOUR messes," Ling-ling added with contempt.
  Screaming at the top of her lungs, Shampoo said, "THIS IS GOD'S
FAULT!!"

  Despite being closed, Ranma entered Ucchan's Okonomiyaki, with the
keys Ukyo had given him long before for emergencies.
  He almost expected Ukyo to be standing behind the grill, flipping
several okonomiyaki on the grill. He almost expected the scent-
stabbing smell of sizzling okonomiyaki to assail his nostrils. He
almost expected the same smile.
  Almost.
  In a flash, Kenzan Konatsu appeared in the doorway leading to the
back room, dressed in plain working clothes, a drastic change from
his waitress uniform, Ranma noted. His hair hung loosely down his
back, as if the kunoichi gave up tying his hair.
  "Ranma," greeted Konatsu, bowing despite himself.
  "How's it goin'?" Ranma replied noncommittally.
  Konatsu ran to the other side of the grill, offering Ranma a stool.
"You don't look so well."
  Ranma accepted the seat, planting an elbow on the counter to prop
his head up. He barely noticed the kunoichi taking his own seat.
  "Well," the young Saotome began, "I... I don't know what to do."
  "I told myself the same thing yesterday," Konatsu admitted, shaking
his head. "But I remembered what Ukyo-sama told me long before, and
I have to accept that and move on."
  "What'd she say?" Ranma asked, almost uncaring.
  "Death happens," the kunoichi answered dryly. "If not today, perhaps
tomorrow... or the day after that.... But, when it does happen, you
can't dwell on it, or let it consume you."
  Ranma shook his head, defeated. "Ain't gonna happen."
  "Ukyo-sama has kept me busy with her instructions," explained
Konatsu. "Instructions she gave me in the event that she would not
come back, one way or another."
  Quickly, the kunoichi produced a folded set of papers from within
his shirt, and held them out for Ranma. "I admit, I wasn't supposed to
look at these, but... I think you should see them, before I carry out
Ukyo-sama's instructions."
  Taking the papers from Konatsu's hand, Ranma lazily scanned the
headers of the pages. His eyes widened in surprise. The martial artist
glanced at Konatsu, then back at the papers, before speaking.
  "These... these are Ukyo's adoption papers!" Ranma exclaimed. "How'd
she get these?!"
  Konatsu nodded with a sigh. "She told me your mother gave them to
her, telling her that she'd file them herself. Ukyo-sama gave them to
me following Ryoga and Akari's wedding, and instructed me to guard
them. Recently, as of about two weeks ago, Ukyo-sama gave me the
rest of her instructions."
  Grabbing the papers from Ranma's hands, Konatsu finished, "I'm
supposed to burn them."
  Ranma's jaw dropped in surprise, unsure what to think. "U... Ukyo
did... what was she thinking?!"
  "She left her instructions in this note," the kunoichi volunteered,
producing another paper for Ranma.
  The young Saotome accepted the paper, nodding to himself as he
recognized Ukyo's handwriting.
  Ranma never noticed Konatsu lighting up a match as he read aloud:
"Konatsu, you are to follow these instructions to the letter in the
event that I can no longer return to you. I am truly sorry that I
took advantage of you the day I took you in; however, I must ask you
to do me this last favor before parting ways for good."
  Konatsu tossed the flaming adoption papers on the grill as Ranma
continued. "Remember the papers I gave you back at the wedding? If,
by the time you carry out these instructions, I have not come to a
decision upon it, you are to assume that I have rejected Auntie
Saotome's offer for adoption. I'm sure you've read them by now, even
though you weren't supposed to... that's okay. In this event, you may
wonder why I am doing this. Well, kid, I don't think circumventing
an arranged marriage really works that way. Even though I know I
can't marry Ranma, the arrangement still stands. My failure to marry
him results in dishonor-- Auntie Saotome's suggestion was an attempt
to rend the arrangement null in the first place. Yet... how CAN I
ignore it? I simply can't live lying to myself; I'll always remember
the arrangement, and I'll always remember what happened after Ranchan
and his father ran out. It's something you just can't forget with any
piece of paper. Therefore, you are to destroy the papers-- burn them,
shred them, eat them... do whatever you like, but destroy them. I
couldn't rest easy if Auntie Saotome figured out what I'd done and the
papers still existed."
  "I'm proud Ukyo-sama trusted me so," Konatsu said proudly, the
burning papers reduced to a pile of ashes.
  Ranma continued, "Secondly, you are to close down the restaurant."
These words forced a shocked realization in Ranma's eyes. "If I'm not
coming back, and I've left my restaurant open, then it has to be
closed. There will be no Ucchan's Okonomiyaki without Ucchan. I want
you to send my personal belongings to my father in Kyoto-- there
should be more than enough money left in the safe... assuming someone
didn't come and rob the place. After everything's been moved, you are
to sell the restaurant, and use whatever money you get off it to make
your own way in life... do whatever you want. I release you from
servitude."
  "Thirdly, if they're still around, I want you to express my wishes
to the following people." Ranma scratched his head, wondering already
what Ukyo had in mind. Too impatient, he scanned down the list,
running past many familiar names, until he came to the section he
was looking for. "Akane-- I wrote down a couple recipes down in a
book you'll find in the bottom drawer of my dresser... under the
socks. Hopefully, if I wrote it right, an impatient cook like her can
whip up a basic okonomiyaki... but I might be asking for too much.
Anyway, in the best scenario Ranma will still enjoy my okonomiyaki."
  Ranma shook his head. Nobody can replace Ucchan's okonomiyaki.
  "Ranma-- if he doesn't take my abrupt leaving well, I want you to
tell him this: 'Cherish those moments we had together, and run with
them. I've learned, from facing my own disasters, that there's not
enough time to dwell on the disaster, but more than enough time to
move on from that. There is plenty of room to look at the bright side
of things; those are the things to dwell on. There is a time and a
place for the bad things... but you can't make that your main focus
in life.... How else do you think I got along in the years before we
met again? Anyway... I sure as hell don't deserve a guy like you...
not with the childhood crush I've got! Take care of Akane, or the big
bad spatula monster'll get ya!'"
  "I continually wonder why Ukyo-sama continues to belittle herself
so," Konatsu said as soon as Ranma finished the passage. "She did
love you."
  "Yeah, I know," Ranma said, handing the paper back to Konatsu. "How
I know...." He buried his head in his hands, rubbing his eyes. "Was
she right?"
  "What?" asked the kunoichi.
  "Was she right," explained the young Saotome, "about how I didn't
really love her? Just before she died, Ucchan told me that I didn't
really love her... that it was always friends for me. But now... now,
I don't know anymore."
  "I believe it is as such when one mourns a loved one," Konatsu
said, attempting to comfort Ranma. "When both my parents died I was
quite young... and although I cried for both of them, I did not really
know either of them. They were the attention at the time... as is
Ukyo-sama is now."
  "I loved her," continued the kunoichi. "I loved her with all my
heart; that I don't doubt. She didn't love me; that I don't doubt. If
you truly love Ukyo-sama, you will know, because you can tell yourself
so, with one bare foot resting on the table."
  "I don't think so," Ranma replied, sulking. "Not in the mood."
  Konatsu nodded. "Perhaps now is not the time, but I'm asking you
to do a favor for me."
  Ranma silently listened.
  "Please go to Kyoto," the kunoichi posed, "and bring the news to
Ukyo-sama's father. He doesn't know yet, and I believe it's proper
that you, her closest friend, bring him the news. I am nothing but
a lowly servant; it is not my place to be the bearer of such news."
  Again, Ranma said nothing. The old coot'll probably flog me, he
thought, if he remembers who I am.
  "The train I got a ticket for won't leave for another day...
enough time to make your decision. I'll be here."
  Before Konatsu turned to leave, Ranma raised his head, and called,
"Hey, Konatsu...."
  "Yes?" the kunoichi replied.
  "Thanks," finished Ranma.

  Kodachi's feet crashed against the hard wood floor with each step,
generating a great boom throughout the room. Staring intently at the
one seated at the opposite end of the room, behind a desk, the
gymnast girl raised her fists in anger, ignoring the outcries and
shocked expressions of the other men and women in the chamber.
  "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!" demanded Kodachi, slamming her
palms down on the headmaster's desk. The gathered members of the
board stepped backward, as if a powerful field surrounded the angry
girl.
  The headmaster of Saint Hebereke school, a man dressed in a black
business suit, leaned back in his chair. "I have no idea what you're
talking about, Miss Kuno."
  "You KNOW VERY WELL!" screamed Kodachi. "Where is Asuka?!"
  "She's not here at the moment," replied the headmaster. Sighing
deeply, he added, "I see she was right, after all."
  "You'd BETTER repeal your decision!!"
  The headmaster shook his head. "I'm afraid you no longer hold any
lasting power in this school anymore, Miss Kuno." He leaned forward,
resting his chin on his hands. "Unless, of course, you'd like to
convert...."
  "Why, you...!!" The female Kuno could no longer contain herself as
she reached up her sleeve.
  "Tell me, Miss Kuno," continued the headmaster, "do you really
believe that taking your anger out at me would help? Especially with
Spencer and Sakurai in the room?"
  Kodachi's anger grew, but discretion overcame her as she remembered
the headmaster's two pet bodyguards. She could not remember seeing
the two men when she entered... then again, that could only mean
they were standing in the shadows... as usual.
  "I've always wanted to put you in your place," admitted the seated
man. "You always were the troublemaker... but your brother made sure
you would exist comfortably. Well, your brother ain't here to save
you now. This time, the school is in charge!"
  Curse you, Kodachi thought to herself, for everything!
  "The students here are the key to the future," continued the
headmaster. "We intend to make our students the best in Japan, and
we will do so by instilling a new sense of purpose and discipline!
One which you, sadly, will not be a part of."
  I bet Asuka told you that, the gymnast thought bitterly.
  "A shame; you were one of our most promising students."
  Loosening herself, taking a deep breath, Kodachi said finally, "Well,
HEADMASTER, it seems you win this round."
  The seated man raised an eyebrow, not expecting things to go so
easily.
  Folding her arms, the Kuno girl added, "You were so easy to control
before; perhaps your new concubine put some spine in you?"
  Before the headmaster could protest, she continued, "There was a
time when I hated this place. There was a time, so long ago, I
would gladly rid myself of you, and this school. Ironic, that today
I struggle to maintain position in that which I despise."
  Turning to leave, Kodachi yelled over her shoulder, "Give this
message to Asuka... when and if she decides to come out of hiding."
  "What'll that be?" asked the headmaster, genuinely curious.
  "Two things," answered Kodachi. "One: this is far from over. And
two: I will be back!"
  Silently, Kodachi exited the room, defeated, yet determined.
  There exist more than one method by which I may exact my revenge,
brooded the gymnast quietly. Asuka... darling, you will never see
it coming.
  It was only then, when the storm had passed, that the occupants
of the room realized they were holding their breaths.

  "Just as you predicted," Nakamura commented, watching Kodachi
leave the school grounds through the upper story window. He stood
with his back turned to Asuka and the black-coat man, sipping a
slender glass of wine in his lips.
  Asuka poured herself more tea, then lifted her cup as if ready
to drink. "Kodachi always did rely more on her brother more than she
was willing to admit. Sever that link, and there be a sick puppy."
  "Yet, she has great potential... so sorry to see it go to waste,"
mused the priest.
  The black-coat man voiced, "It doesn't matter. Remember, she's far
from the only martial artists in town. In Japan, even. There are many
more much powerful than she."
  "I'm concerned about what this Kodachi girl may try next," admitted
Nakamura. He turned to Asuka. "You know her. What'll she do?"
  Asuka chuckled, slowly taking a sip of tea. "It appears that she
believes that the headmaster is my link to the school." She eyed the
black-coat man conspiratorially. "She may try to... 'persuade' him
to persuade the board to change their minds."
  "Foolish gesture," Nakamura noted. "Because we did it."
  "As long as she doesn't know that, we're fine," the black-coat man
said. "Now, if that matter's settled, on to other business."
  "Yes," agreed the priest. Addressing Asuka, he said, "I'll ask
you to leave us for a moment."
  "Certainly," Asuka replied, bowing. "Matters such as this concern
me not!"
  As the White Lily exited quietly, the black-coat man lead Nakamura
toward an empty wall. He reached over to his right, where a small
statue rest on a pedestal, and turned it a quarter to the right. As
expected the wall before the man slid open, revealing a dark flight
of stairs. Flipping on the light switch near the top of the stairs,
both men descended the steps.
  He whispered, "She is quite lovely. So is Kodachi."
  "Lucky you," agreed Nakamura, nodding. "A good bride for your
preparation for the Judgement."
  "Indeed," the other man admitted. "Love is a transient thing...
earthly love, that is."
  The two men reached the bottom of the stairs, where the man in black
opened yet another door. The two stepped into a control chamber,
decorated wall-to-wall with large, portrait-sized monitors hanging
on each of the five walls other than the wall where the doorway
existed. As soon as both Nakamura and his fellow stepped to the center
of the hexagonal chamber, four monitors lit up, revealing men and
women shrouded in darkness. Only the monitor opposite the door remained
dark.
  "I trust everything went according to plan," the man in black
said, his voice echoing throughout the chamber.
  "You saw it," one man said.
  "The Saint be praised!" voiced another, a woman.
  "Enough chatter," ordered Nakamura. "Though the school may be ours,
and ours alone, there is still much work to be done. We need you to
recruit more warriors for our cause. We need them by the end of the
month."
  "We're not enough?" asked a man.
  "Shut up, Sakurai," chastised the first man.
  "But, Lord Amakusa," said a second woman, addressing the man in
black. "Why are we acting so soon?"
  "The timetable is being moved up," Amakusa said. "If we are to
succeed, I need you to find more warriors... and fast. What the saint
demands, we shall deliver!"


----------------------------------------------------------
If you're [un]lucky, you earn a place in my .sig!

* "[Y]ou're lamer than your signature and screen name indicate."--Chris 
Davies
* "There was a recent case where a fanfic author put together his work with 
only another fanfic serving as his primary resource.  *I* started writing 
fanfiction that way, and consequently I never grew attached to this whole 
idea of remaining true to the original.  I call it "correction."--Reverend 
Prez

--Razorclaw X
Author: "The Wheel of Fire", "The World's Worst Ranma Fanfic!", "The 
Geometry of Shattered Souls", "The Balance of Power".
"I sold my soul to buy a copy of the dubbed 'Ukyo Can Cook'"
"Decepticons Forever!"


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