Just One of the Guise
Ep. Twelve of Cas of Blues Series
by Thom Keehn
zinyadel@hotmail.com

Ranma 1/2 characters and places belong to Rumiko Takahashi.  They are
used without permission throughout this work.  This is written without
the intent of monetary gain and shall not be distributed under such
pretenses.  This is meant for entertainment purposes only and shall
not be used in any way to harm animals.  This is and shall ever be the
last time I write a disclaimer of my own.  At least for this series.

The stories of both the Cas series and Wedding Aftermaths are on my
homepage in formatted text files.

http://ravenhale.anifics.com/fiction.html

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

Okay, now who did Ryuu call again?

Forewarning, this is not a fic with very many regular characters in it.

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

Opening Theme - "New Beginning"

Welcome stranger what is your name?
Will you be my friend?
Time brings people through our lives
Few stay to the end

Life can be so temperamental
Fickle in its ways
So humor me as I open up
We can make a page that says

This is a new beginning
We can take this bond between us, and make it something more
This is a new beginning
Hold on tight, don't let me go, feelings rise and soar

Turn to me and ask the question
The one I want to hear
Keep me high up on this cloud
Whenever you are near

Music blared through the speakers in the spacious garage of the
Kakuheki residence.  The cement floor was swept clean of debris.  Some
boxes were stored along the walls but nothing too important to take
notice of.  In the center of the room, hanging from a beam of the roof
on a chain, dangled a heavy punching bag.  It was covered with red
leather with small white patches to serve as targets.

The bag rocked under the assault of punches a short redhead was
delivering in rapid succession.  She was dressed in green shorts and a
cotton, white tank top.  The top was stained with an oval of sweet
diving down the front.  Her black sports bra was similarly soaked and
clearly visible through the white material.

Kiten grunted as she put all of her weight into an uppercut that
lifted the bag upwards.  She sidestepped the bag as a swung back in a
tight arc.  On impulse she snapped into a roundhouse that smashed the
bag harder down its path.

"You should be careful," a voice remarked from the other side of the
garage.  The man stood in the doorway that led into the house, arms
crossed.  He was wearing a blue, silk shirt that had small buttons in
the front.  His pants were loose fitting khakis were held up by a
nondescript belt.

"I don't want to talk, Gyosha," Kiten said, not looking over at her
guest.  "I need to train."

"It's over Kiten," Gyosha stated.  "Don't lose sleep over it.  There
was nothing more that you could do."

Kiten resumed her stance, taking a couple jabs at the bag.  "Easy for
you to say," she grunted.  "You're not a fighter.  I was supposed to
be ready for that."

Gyosha stepped down into the room.  "There was too many of them,
Kiten," Gyosha said softly.  "Even the best of fighters couldn't have
fared any better than you did."

Kiten punched the bag angrily.  "If Ryuu and Ukyou hadn't been there,
we'd all be dead," Kiten declared grimly.  "You expect me to be okay
with that?"

"It's not like you rushed to our aid," Gyosha said with a smirk.
"Fujiiro says you didn't even try to help until after he was thrown
out into the street."

"You two didn't last long enough for me to help," Kiten huffed,
rocking the bag with a hard shot with her elbow.  "I hesitated.  I
shouldn't have.  You happy?"

"I'd be happy if you dropped the issue," Gyosha said sternly.

Kiten stopped the bag's swing and steadied it.  She turned on Gyosha,
still holding on the bag.  "What did you come here for?" she demanded.

"You almost always keep your hair up like that don't you," Gyosha
noted, pointed at the triangle wedges of hair on Kiten's head.  It was
meant to resemble cat ears but the workout had done much to counteract
the effect.

Kiten sighed.  "Yes," she admitted.  "It's habit and my father loves
it."

"Your dad is weird," Gyosha said decisively.

"As if yours is any better," Kiten huffed.  "I think it is too much
exhaust fumes in the vent system of the plant."

"Whatever," Gyosha muttered.  He frowned, tilting his head.  "What the
hell are you listening to?"

"The Cure," Kiten answered.  "I had my father pick me up the latest
release when he was on his last business trip.  But you did come here
for a reason, I suspect?"

"Kosite is going abroad instead of staying in Osaka for college,"
Gyosha explained.

"So," Kiten remarked with a shrug.  "Good for him to get out of this
country for a little while."

"His parents are paying for him to go to some 'Ivy League' college,
whatever that is," Gyosha continued.  "Anyways, I was thinking that we
should induct a new member into our dwindling foursome."

"What's wrong with you, me and Ken?" Kiten asked, returning her
attention to the bag.  "We don't need a fourth."

"I was thinking Fujiiro might want to join up, I mean considering he's
always around you anyways," Gyosha reasoned.  "I understand that he'll
be attending Kansai just like us."

Kiten paused the bag.  "Fujiiro will be on a different campus due to
his choice of department," she informed Gyosha.  "Computer science
majors end up on Takatsuki campus, or did you forget that?"

"It's all the same school," Gyosha returned dismissively.  "I heard
you already took your tests?"

"Yea, I'm in," Kiten replied, irritated.  "My father insisted that I
take it early.  I still don't see the point, as I have no clue what
I'm going to do."

"So do you want Fujiiro in?" Gyosha asked.

"I'll come up with something and if he goes through with it, then I'll
concede to letting him in our little group," she declared.  "We don't
want to give the impression that it's easy to get in with us."

Gyosha shrugged.  "It hardly matters," he remarked.  "I'm surprised
you're so adamant against just letting him in.  He is your boyfriend."

"Yea right," Kiten huffed, punching the bag.  "He's almost as bad as I
am, always flirting with the girls.  He doesn't even have the sense to
keep it out of my sight."

"Yea, he's just like you," Gyosha commented with a grin.

Kiten hit the bag with an uppercut that caused the chain to snap.  The
bag hurtled across the room into the boxes against the wall.
"Dammit!' she cursed.  "Stupid chain!"  She stalked over to the bag,
cursing other profanities under her breath.

"Told you to be careful," Gyosha chastised her.

"Look," she started, flashing him with her wild, greenish hazel eyes.
"People like Fujiiro and me don't go well together.  It'll be a fun
ride while it lasts but we'll find something more permanent elsewhere.
Fujiiro simply lacks something I want from a man.  He lacks the
ability to keep me on my toes, to keep me guessing what he's going to
do next.  Plus he can't fight worth crap.  Sure he might outdo the
common thug but he couldn't fight me and hope to last a minute."

"You're far too harsh on him," Gyosha reprimanded her.  "Fujiiro can
fight and he's a very nice guy.  You're just thinking of that Ryuu
guy."

Kiten crossed her arms, her face darkening with anger.  "That is not
true," she said coldly.  "I gave him my usual act and nothing more."

"You gave him your number," Gyosha remarked.

"It's not like he'd call," Kiten declared.  "He had two girls with him
that liked him.  Ukyou was protective and the cute blond kept talking
to me whenever I wanted to speak with him."

"I sense frustration," Gyosha noted with a wry grin.

Kiten stuck out her tongue.  "I should have hit on the blond and cut
my losses," she quipped.

Gyosha shook his head, still wearing the grin.  "You are truly a sick
and perverted woman, Kiten," he declared.  "It's why I like having you
around."

"This coming from a guy who almost has a harem of adorers," Kiten
countered curtly.  "I simply blame you for my mixed preferences
because of all the girls that hang on you all the time."

Kiten rolled the punching bag off the boxes and blinked.  "What
the..."

Gyosha peered over her shoulder.  A young man lay flattened on the
floor, eyes rolled back and limbs out akimbo.  "Looks like you found,
Tsubasa."

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

Kiten tensed her muscles as she faced off against her opponent.  He
was an old man, old enough to be her father's father, but she knew
better than to judge this one by his looks.  He was a formidable
opponent and possibly the best fighter in all of Osaka.

"What have I told you about that stance, Kiten?" the old man demanded.

Kiten frowned.  She stood with one foot towards the old man and both
of her arms were held up loosely in front of her.  Her hands were in
tight little fists with barely a foot of space between them.  "I like
my stance," she stated.  "It's comfortable."

"It's too forward," the old man criticized.  "You'll be overbalanced
easily if your opponent catches your arm in any of your attacks."

"Oh, just prove me wrong, sensei," Kiten shot back with a feral grin.
"I've been itching for a fight for days.  I'll try not to go too hard
on you."

The old man nodded, stepping back to take up his own open handed
stance.  He waved her forwards.  "Come," he ordered.

Kiten grinned.  "How 'bout you come and get me," she suggested.  "Or
are you too scared?"

The old man came in a rush, leading with an abrupt strike under her
arm.  Kiten twisted forward to avoid the jab and swung her arm down to
bat aside his.  The old man shot his other arm forward, over her
block.  Kiten had to bounce back to avoid the blow to her shoulder.

"See," the sensei said calmly.  He kicked out at the back of her knee,
which she aptly shot her knee up and over his intended strike.  "You
are too forward to hold your ground."

Kiten would have said something if the old man wasn't still pressing
the advantage.  He swung an open hand towards her chest.  She
recognized the trouble as her foot was still in the air.  She caught
his arm with a hand and snapped into a backbend.  She kicked up on her
stable foot, releasing his arm.  She flipped over to land on her feet
perfectly, her stance intact.

"Now that's a better stance," the old man noted.  True to his word her
fists were not nearly as high or close together.  Kiten frowned,
having been proved wrong so easily.

"Shut up and fight," she growled.  This time she launched the attack.
She jabbed down with her right.  The old man effortlessly pushed it
aside but did not counter, as she quickly punched out with a strong
left.  He snapped up a kick to push her arm aside.

This left her twisted so Kiten righted her stance by kicking out with
her left foot at his raised leg.  Her sensei twisted to bring his leg
back and change his stance.  Her foot found nothing but the air in
front of his chest.  Her sensei pivoted again, catching her ankle in
his right palm and pushing her leg up.

Kiten snapped her body backwards into a cartwheel to keep on her feet.
Her sensei followed punching and kicking low.  She pushed aside his
arm but his foot caught the back of her knee and pulled her leg up.
Somehow an open palm slipped through her guard, striking her ribs.
The attack pushed her in the opposite direction of her leg's path and
soon she was staring up at her sensei from the ground.

Kiten growled, springing back to her feet.  Just as quickly she was
back on the ground, this time on her face.  She punched the ground in
frustration.

"You need more practice," her sensei stated impassively.  "You are too
defensive.  You are spending too much time trying not to lose.  You
must try to win."

Kiten nodded and spun her legs out to catch his.  He hopped back as
she had expected but it gave her enough time to get to her feet
safely.  She charged in, letting him react first.  His stance shifted,
suggesting he was about to sidestep.  Kiten stopped the charge
abruptly, firing out a series of jabs.

"Much better," her sensei commented, blocking her strikes.  Kiten
pressed further in, forcing her sensei to give ground.  She kept on
him till he was nearly backed against the wall.

"Got you now... old man," she huffed.  He threw a fist out, his first
attack since she had last got up.  She pivoted and ducked under the
arm.  She then rapped two solid hits into her sensei's side before he
could right his stance.

The old man was in pain, but his eyes held a look of pure
determination.  He repeated his attack like before only this time his
stance prevented the same tactics she used last time.  Still Kiten
attempted the pivot only this time she kicked up into his gut with her
left knee.  Again her sensei was caught off guard.  He doubled over
and was promptly rewarded with a stiff open-handed strike to the back
of his head.

Her sensei held up his hand to ward off any further attacks as he
dropped to one knee.  He was gasping for air and clutching at his
chest.  Kiten knelt down beside him, touching his shoulders
tentatively.

"Seems like..." the old man wheezed, "my age... is catching up with
me."

"I was lucky," Kiten commented.  "You still are the best martial
artist in all of Osaka.  Are you feeling okay?"  She rubbed the old
man's back before he slowly straightened up.

"Not anymore," the old man declared.  "You have been keeping me on my
toes for at least a year now.  You have so much potential.  It is a
shame you started so late."

"Fourteen is hardly late," Kiten remarked.  "For all your praise,
Kuonji-sama, I still feel my success in our matches is pure luck,
nothing to do with skill."

"There is a fine line between luck and skill," her sensei said sagely.
"Trust me when I say it is skill, not luck, that has made you into a
respectable martial artist."

"Respectable?" Kiten echoed.  "Never thought I'd hear that word used
to describe me."

Her teacher frowned.  "Formidable then," he corrected.  "If
respectable is too far of a stretch for you to take seriously.  You
are the best student I have ever trained."

Kiten smirked.  'To think this all started out because my parents
wanted me to learn some self defense,' she thought wryly.  Her grin
faded though as she remembered a second reason for choosing the Kuonji
patriarch as her sensei.

"Excluding my Ukyou of course," he amended.  The old man sighed.  "It
truly is a shame that my son has been lying to me all these years.  If
Ukyou were a boy, I could think of no better suitor."

Kiten blushed.  "You still remember that?" she asked.  Her sensei
nodded.  "Well you have to admit she makes one hell of a handsome guy.
Sometimes I think the only reason why I'm with Fujiiro is to keep my
mind off her."

Her sensei chuckled.  "You really put my son and Ukyou to the test,"
he said amiably.  "You were always trying to get 'him' to notice you.
Though I still don't know why you didn't stop your pursuit when I
finally felt the need to tell you the truth.  Perhaps that's why Ukyou
doesn't like you much now."

"I had my reasons," Kiten returned vaguely.

"I can understand why you were upset, but you were punishing the wrong
person," her sensei consoled her.  "My son is to blame.  Not my
granddaughter."

"I was confused but not upset," Kiten clarified, offering a weak
smile.  She fidgeted with her hands nervously.  "I still wanted her.
Sometimes I think I still do."

"It was only your first crush," her sensei remarked dismissively.
"You will grow out of it in time.  You'll find a nice young man to
make you happy and this will be nothing but a memory long forgotten."

"Do you think she'll win this Ranma over?" Kiten asked bitterly.

Her sensei shrugged.  "I'm more concerned with what she does with her
life from here on," he admitted.  "She hasn't enrolled to take the
entrance exams.  I understand you did well."

"Lot of good it does me though," Kiten complained.  "It's not like I
know what I'm going to do with myself.  I like to fight and I like to
compete.  I don't think they have degrees for that."

"You'll be staying here I assume," her sensei ventured.  "I understand
the rest of your friends are attempting to get into Kansai."

Kiten hugged her arms tight as they began to make their way back to
the Kuonji household.  "Kosite isn't coming with us," she corrected
him.  "But yea, the rest of us are trying to get into Kansai.  Even
Fujiiro is going to be coming with us."  She paused.  "Sensei, do you
think I should be dating Fujiiro?  I can't help but feel bad for him
whenever I'm around him.  I treat him badly and I really don't know
why."

"That depends on what you mean in treating him badly," her sensei
answered simply.

"I feel like I am better than him," she replied bluntly.  "I'm a
better fighter and everything he can do I can do."

"Have you been intimate with him in any fashion?" he asked bluntly.

"No," she curtly replied.  "I know he wants to but I'm never... I just
don't allow it to happen."

"That is honorable," her sensei remarked.  "It is very kind of you not
to lead him on so badly if you are unsure of your feelings.  I take it
that you do not love him."

Kiten shrugged.  "I don't know," she answered honestly.  "It's nothing
like my first crush.  And Gyosha is trying to force Fujiiro into our
little clique because everyone believes I'm involved with Fujiiro."

"There is nothing wrong with that," her sensei said.  "Fujiiro is at
least a good friend of yours, if nothing more."

Kiten nodded.  "Yea, but I want him to earn his spot," Kiten declared.
"I want him to prove he wants to be with us no matter what happens
between him and me.  The last thing we need is a member that leaves us
the moment things go bad in our relationship."

"Perhaps you should host a tournament," her sensei suggested.
"Granting the victor a position in your group on the basis that the
victor has to fight you."

"What would that prove?" Kiten inquired.

"He would have to fight his way for his position," her sensei
explained.  "That is what you want.  And if he wins then he will have
to fight you to better respect you as a person instead of a
'girlfriend'."

"I suppose it is better than nothing," Kiten admitted grudgingly.  "I
doubt he'll win the tournament but no matter what happens, I won't let
you down by being defeated in the end."

"Of course you won't," her sensei chuckled.  "Just don't go too hard
on them."  Kiten smiled as she walked into the Kuonji household with
her sensei.

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

Tsubasa rested on his bed with a set of books open in front of him.
He scribbled the calculations of the economics problem on a notepad
next to the text.  He chewed on his eraser as he contemplated whether
or not the situation could be solved in this manner.  He wished there
weren't conditions for some of the equations in this class.  It made
things more difficult when you had more than one possible way to solve
the problem but only one method was approved as the correct approach.

He stretched on his bed, deciding he needed a break from the future
worth of investments that compounded quarterly.  He pushed the books
aside to stare at a picture on his dresser.  It was a shot of Ukyou
reaching for her spatula to swat the taker of the photo (which she
certainly had done but at least the film had survived).  He smiled
sadly.

He had been chasing after Ukyou for so many years.  'Perhaps it is
time to move on,' he thought.  He quickly subdued the unpleasant
thought.  'No.  Ukyou will be mine if I only wait,' he assured
himself.  'Once Saotome breaks her heart she will come to accept my
love.'

There was a knock at the door.  His mother opened the door and glared
at him angrily.  He matched her stare with his own anger.  "I see you
are studying," his mother declared.

"Yes, mother.  It is necessary if I want to go to Kansai like you
hope," he stated sarcastically.  He didn't want to go to college here
like his parents wanted him to.  He wanted to go back to Tokyo and be
there for Ukyou when the inevitable happened.

"Don't hold that tone of voice with me," she snapped angrily.  "You
are going to Kansai and that's final.  We will not tolerate you
chasing after that Kuonji boy anymore.  It's bad enough to be seen
with the son of such a disgraceful man."

"Again I tell you that Ukyou is a girl, always has been," Tsubasa
corrected his mother.  "It's her father that claims that she is a boy,
though I haven't a clue why."

"Boy or girl, it hardly matters," his mother declared.  "And for
Kami's sake take that damn dress off.  Your father may think that you
will grow out of... this!!   I don't care.  I want you to shape up
now.  If I was to raise a daughter, don't you think the Kami would
have given me one instead of a son!"

"Before you stress yourself into a heart attack, would you like to
tell my why you have interrupted my study to become the perfect man
for daddy and you?" he snidely asked.

His mother opened the door further to reveal a young man with dark
eyes and black hair.  Tsubasa recognized the man with the short, spiky
hair as Gyosha Zenkei.  Gyosha was very uncomfortable with the
situation but kept silent.

"You have a guest," his mother declared.  "He is the son of a
respectable family in Osaka.  I'd suggest you be on your best
behavior, son."

"I'll try," Tsubasa quipped.  His mother stormed down the hallway
without another word.  Gyosha shut the door and paced about the room
nervously.  The dark haired man picked up the photograph on the
dresser and gave it a glance.

"Amusing," Gyosha muttered.  "I didn't think you were really
interested in that 'girl'.  I was only jesting the day of the race."

"Please don't disparage my Ukyou in my presence," Tsubasa warned his
guest.  "Why have you come here today?"

Gyosha shrugged.  He jerked a thumb to the doorway.  "Is your mother
always like that?" Gyosha asked.  Tsubasa nodded.  Gyosha smiled.
"Here I thought she was only trying to put on a show for me."

"She was," Tsubasa stated.  "I'm certain the neighbors can hear her
voice on any other day she decides to tear into me for being the way I
am."

"Why do you dress like that?" Gyosha pried.

"It started when my mom thought I wasn't being a man and decided to
send me to an all boys school," Tsubasa explained.  "So I began
attending school in a neighboring girls' school uniform."

"They let you do that?" Gyosha asked, surprised.

"They knew I was a boy," Tsubasa stated.  "Sure everyone thought I was
weird but I didn't care.  I was trying to hurt my mother.  Or at least
that's what I told myself.  Eventually I just got used to it and
didn't care one way or the other anymore."  Tsubasa pointed at the
picture in Gyosha's hand.  "It was at that school that I first met my
Ukyou.  Her father had enrolled her in the same school, for whatever
reason that man has."

"You two became friends?" Gyosha pried.

"Well... sorta," Tsubasa admitted.  "I wanted more because she was the
coolest girl I had ever met at that age.  She still is the most
intriguing girl that I have ever met.  But I admit that I made a
mistake in thinking we were kindred spirits.  I was rebelling because
I wanted to spite my parents.  She was doing it because her father
demanded it, not because she wanted to."

"And now you both do it out of habit," Gyosha concluded, setting the
picture down.  "Well at least your parents didn't ask my parents for
an arranged marriage."

Tsubasa frowned.  "You shouldn't have turned down the offer," he said
softly.  "My parents won't even consider doing the same for me.  You
heard my mother.  She hates Ukyou's father."

Gyosha grinned, sitting down on the bed next to the economics
textbook.  "I can't help it," Gyosha declared.  "I'm a shallow guy.
Girls are like presents to me.  I won't consider opening one that
looks damaged and nondescript."

Tsubasa snorted.  "At least you're honest," he admitted.  "So are you
going to get around to why you came here so I can get back to my
study?"

"Kiten is arranging a tourney of sorts to admit a new member into our
group," Gyosha explained.  "I want to keep our group at four and it
looks like Kosite will be leaving us for good.  Considering you have
already raced with us once, I'd certainly like to extend you an
invitation into a more permanent position with us on the condition
that you win of course."

Tsubasa bobbed his crossed ankles up and down in thought.  "Knowing
Kiten this will be a fight," Tsubasa surmised.  "I'm really not that
good at fighting.  I'm a master of disguise, not of martial arts."

"So you won't be entering the tournament then?" Gyosha ventured.  "I
am also willing to pay for the first year at Kansai for the winner."

"Look, Gyosha," Tsubasa said evenly.  "Kansai is a backup plan for me.
It's what I'm doing if I can't find anything better to do and the only
reason why it is even an option at all is because my parents are
already willing to pay for my way there."

"If you won, you'd be able to break free of your parents," Gyosha
declared.  "You should at least come to see if it is worth your time."

Tsubasa shrugged.  "I guess I can come, but I'm not going to fight or
join your group," he declared.  "I know Ken won't like me and I have
my doubts as to whether or not Kiten would want my company in your
group."

"What else are you planning on doing if you're not going to Kansai?"
Gyosha asked.

Tsubasa looked away, knowing his plan was not even well thought out.
"I was hoping that Saotome would break up with Ukyou once and for all
and that she would finally realize that I am the one that loves her,"
Tsubasa admitted.  "I know it sounds stupid but I'm willing to wait
the summer out."

Gyosha gestured to the assorted books.  "It looks like you are going
to take the entrance exams anyways," Gyosha noted.  "But I suppose
getting accepted isn't as binding as joining our group would be.  You
could always back out of the college but you are right that Kiten
wouldn't be happy if you backed out of our group for Ukyou.  Kiten
would be on my case for starting this whole nonsense if that
happened."

"She is a forceful one," Tsubasa admitted.  "But you have my answer.
I trust you know your way out."  Tsubasa gestured to the door.

Gyosha clapped him gently on the back and smiled.  "I'll see you in
Kansai, Tsubasa," Gyosha said warmly.  "But I think your mother is
right." Gyosha stood up and crossed the room to the door.  Gyosha
paused and turned around to face him.  "You should drop Ukyou.  Stick
with me.  I know lots of girls.  Some that would probably like you no
matter how you dress."

Tsubasa rolled his eyes.  He waved Gyosha to leave.  The door opened
and closed, leaving Tsubasa alone with his dreams, hopes and backup
plans.

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

The ringing of the phone demanded his attention.  He pushed aside the
programming book he had been trying to understand and picked up the
offensive device.  "Forosuro residence," he answered in a dull voice.
"Fujiiro speaking."

"What's up, buddy?" a cheery and annoying voice blared over the
receiver.  Fujiiro winced, temporarily moving the receiver aside.  He
hated it when she was excited and called him before calming down.
'And just when I was about to figure out how to do that program,' he
thought ruefully.

"Hey, Kiten," he greeted.  "I was just studying for the entrance
exams.  I suppose I could use a break though.  What are you up to
that's got you all hyped?"

"Gyosha wants to induct a new member into the group since Kosite is
taking off for the rest of his life," Kiten explained.  "I'm arranging
for some kind of tournament tomorrow to determine who is the most
worthy would-be member to join our group.  You want to join up?"

"Tomorrow's Thursday," Fujiiro pointed out.  "How many competitors are
we talking about here?  I don't want to lose an entire day to this
nonsense because you are too insecure to just let me into your group
without proving to the community that your decision wasn't biased."

"That's not what this is about," Kiten protested.  "This wasn't my
idea to have a new member.  Get this straight, Fujiiro.  I don't want
you in our group because you won't even be on the same campus, but I'm
letting you know because I don't think it would be fair to you if I
didn't tell you personally about what we are planning.  So come if you
like or not.  It doesn't matter to me."

"I don't even know if I can come," Fujiiro stated.  "Somehow my
parents found about my involvement in that poolhouse brothel.  They
don't want me out of their sight and they definitely don't want me
hanging around Gyosha and you."

"Yea I know," Kiten said gleefully.  "I'm such a bad influence on you.
I have half a mind to tell them that if it wasn't for me they'd
probably be grandparents by now."

Fujiiro smirked.  "I'm not that bad," he said defensively.  "I'm sure
many people think the same about you."

"Get real," Kiten quipped.  "Everybody knows I'm perfectly capable of
taking care of myself, well except my parents but parents' opinions
never count when it concerns the abilities of their children."

"Anyways," he started with a pause, "I'll be lucky if I'm able to show
up at all so don't take it personally if I'm not there.  Good luck in
finding a new member."

"Come on, don't give up like that," Kiten whined.  "I know somewhere
beneath that skinny body of yours there is a rebel dying to come out
tomorrow to kick some ass."

"Yea well he died when he got his ass thrown threw a window in Kyoto,"
Fujiiro countered without a thought.  "Seriously Kiten.  There's more
to life than being able to throw a punch.  Have you even begun to look
at what you are going to do once you get into college?  I was told you
have already been accepted to Kansai."

"No I haven't given much thought to it," Kiten admitted.  "I'll just
start out with the basics and hopefully in a year or two I'll know
which way to take my education.  If all else fails I'll go with a
business degree.  I could always find a use for that kind of
education."

"Yea I suppose," Fujiiro agreed.  "I need to get back to my books
now."  He looked at a math text that was awaiting him after his
programming book was finished.  He shuddered involuntarily.  "Looks
like I'll be doing math after I finish the programming."

"Let me know when you start," Kiten warbled happily.  "I'll be glad to
show you how to do it if you get stuck."

"You just like rubbing it in my face that I don't know how to do it,"
Fujiiro accused.

"That too," Kiten admitted.

"Good night, Kiten," Fujiiro said softly.  "See you tomorrow."

"Good night!" Kiten squeaked.  The phone was hung up abruptly to leave
Fujiiro with a moment of dead air.  He hung up the phone and turned
back to the page in his programming booklet.

He stared at the words but he could not concentrate.  Fujiiro sighed.
"I'll be there," he muttered to himself.  "Even if I shouldn't be."

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

Kiten sat on top of the steel mesh fence that enclosed the lot behind
the arcade.  She paid little attention to the handful of would-be
members had gathered in the lot below her.  She didn't know most of
them and doubted any of them had any clue how serious she was about
this competition.

Finally her fellow comrades came walking down the street.  Gyosha was
wearing a dark green, silk shirt.  This particular shirt was short
sleeved and collarless.  His dress pants were a dark blue, nearly
black and his shoes were black with white laces.  Gyosha never failed
to appear as anything less than a wealthy man's son.

Beside the dark haired youth towered a tall, muscular man wearing a
white tank top and loose fitting, denim jeans.  The man had a strong,
chiseled jaw and was peering at the assembly with hard brown eyes.
His hair was short with the exception of a long rat tail thatran down
his well defined back.  In contrast to his black hair, the tail was
dyed red.

Kiten waved at them.  Gyosha gave a simple salute back before leaning
against the fence to study the applicants.  The larger man crossed his
arms disinterested.

"We don't need another fighter," the man said, his voice deep and
resonant.  "I can best most of these whelps with one hand behind my
back."

Kiten cocked her head and smiled down at him.  "Well it's Gyosha's
idea to replace Kosite-san, not mine," she stated matter-of-factly.
"In my opinion we don't need another member, period."

"I agree," the large man said with a nod.

"You'd be surprised at what some people can do," a voice spoke up from
beside her.

Despite her surprise, Kiten's balance did not waver.  After a pause
she turned on the new speaker to find none other than a young woman
wearing a simple white dress with small red flowers with green leaves
patterened about the material.  At least, it would have been a woman
had she not known better.

"I see you have come, Tsubasa," Gyosha noted with a raised eyebrow.

"I was bored and needed to get away from my mother," Tsubasa explained
lightly.

"He's not here to compete," the big man stated.  "If he is, this is
even more of a joke than I thought."

"What's wrong, Kyouko-san?" Tsubasa asked snidely.  "Afraid that I
might actually want to join your miserable lot?"

Kiten yawned, tuning out the inevitable argument that broke out
between Ken and Tsubasa.  It didn't take long before Ken decided words
were not enough and started chasing Tsubasa about the lot.  The
assembled applicants gave the pair a wide berth, not wanting to get
involved in a fight that didn't concern them.

"It's too bad he won't be joining us," Kiten quipped.  "He certainly
makes things more interesting around here."

"He's in love with Ukyou," Gyosha said.  "You can't expect much from
someone who's daft enough to fall for that girl."

Kiten winced at the unintentional insult.  Gyosha had been too intent
on the developing fight between Tsubasa and Ken to notice her
reaction.  Kiten rolled backwards off the fence to land on her feet
facing Gyosha.  Behind him a familiar figure was approaching.

"Fujiiro has come to play," she declared, pointing to the young man
coming down the street.  Gyosha cast a glance over his shoulder and
gave a single nod.  Gyosha returned his attention to the more amusing
sight of Ken swatting the empty air where Tsubasa had just been
moments before.

Fujiiro was dressed in a lavender, sleeveless vest, white sweatpants
tied at the waist with a drawstring, and a pair of black slippers.  He
carried a staff as tall as himself at his side.  Kiten gestured for
him to hurry over to the fence.

Taking his time, Fujiiro approached the fence, studying the other
applicants with his dark brown eyes.  His eyes stopped at the sight of
Tsubasa bouncing off the head of an enraged Ken.  Ken shouted
profanities as the chase resumed.  Kiten rapped the fence in front of
him to get his attention.

"I thought you weren't going to come," she teased.  "Looks like the
competition will be light but remember that the winner gets to face
off with me.  I've got a special surprise."  She held up a cassette to
him and grinned fiercely.

He showed the tape to Gyosha who merely shrugged.  Fujiiro turned back
to her frowning.  "Who the hell is NIN?" he asked.

"A new band, sheesh, get with the times, Fujiiro," Kiten admonished
him.  "This is their second album, Pretty Hate Machine."

"Describes someone we know," Gyosha remarked offhandedly.  Kiten stuck
out her tongue at him.  Gyosha returned the gesture, his black bangs
bouncing down to hide his eyes.

"They have another album that came out recently but it's just a
remix," Kiten added.

"I see thirteen people here not including myself that aren't in your
little troop," Fujiiro stated, changing the subject.  "Not a huge
turnout for a supposedly popular group."

"Many people have plans to go to different schools," Gyosha spoke up.
"The only people here are those that are willing to transfer to Kansai
or already planning on going to Kansai."

"Don't count Tsubasa," Kiten piped in.  "He's just here to annoy Ken
it seems."

"I'm going to take the names and start making the brackets," Gyosha
announced.  "We should get this thing underway before Ken kills
Tsubasa."

Kiten nodded as their leader went over to the assembly for names.
Fujiiro's eyes were still busy looking at other people.  Kiten was
getting slightly annoyed.  She grabbed onto the fence and stood
directly in front of him.

"Not much for competition," she said, disliking the silence.  "I'm
betting it will be you and me in the end.  What do you think?"

"Maybe," he answered noncommittally.  "I assume there is a point
system to determine the winner of a match."

"No weapons and victory by knock out or yield," Kiten replied.
"Though you can have your weapon with me if you do win.  I need the
practice."

"Looks like Gyosha has already started a match," Fujiiro said, nodding
towards the lot.

Sure enough, Ken was overseeing a pair fight.  Gyosha waved over to
Kiten and Fujiiro.  The couple made their way over to him.  In the
short time it took to get there, a second fight was already
commencing.

Kiten gave the contest little attention.  She wouldn't bother studying
any opponents until the semifinals.  It was only a waste of time and
effort to worry about these first round matches.  Fujiiro separated
from her to sit with the other contestants while she took her place
next to Gyosha.  By the time she sat down the second match was over.

"I was going to have you officiate another duel but it doesn't look
like that will be necessary," Gyosha declared, as he crossed out the
name of the second eliminated participant.  "Four more first round
bouts and then I'll give them all a treat before continuing."

"How'd you figure the brackets?" Kiten asked, touching the sheet in
his hands.  It was a simple diagram with names that connected to each
other.  She noted that Fujiiro wasn't connected to any presently and
that for some reason Tsubasa was on the list.  She glanced around but
saw no sign of the crossdresser.  "Why did you put Tsubasa in?"

"He wanted to be in," Gyosha answered curtly.  "I gave him the other
bye.  He went home to get something for the fight since he has time."
Gyosha crossed out a third name.  He called out two names from the
list to Ken for the next fight to begin.  "Why don't you officiate one
of these last two matches so we can get this done with quickly?"

"I suppose," she sighed.  As Gyosha had said, the first round went
quickly.  Six would-be members trudged their separate ways back to
their homes, each regretting ever having considered Gyosha's wild
offer.  The rest went out to eat a light lunch, compliments of
Gyosha's hospitality to all the winners of the first bout.

Two hours later proved to be quite the disappointment.  Two winners of
the previous round and Tsubasa did not show up for the fights.  The
two winners, having likely found out whom they would be facing next
round, had decided the free meal was more than enough for them and had
not come back.  Whatever reason Tsubasa had didn't matter as Ken was
all too happy to count the crossdresser out.

Feeling that it would be unfair to give Fujiiro another bye, Fujiiro
had to fight the only match of the second round.  Kiten was unable to
watch the match, as she was busy overseeing the first match of the
third round.  It was a long drawn out fight as neither one knew how to
properly fight.  Eventually one of the two simply yielded, claiming
that the whole thing was stupid and not worth the trouble.

Apparently Fujiiro hadn't needed any rest after his successful bout
and was fending off the next opponent with ease.  In moments Kiten
already knew who would win the bout and the tournament.  Fujiiro
simply wore down his opponents with blocks and dodges.

Gyosha nudged her from behind.  "I think he'll win," he stated evenly.
"The last guy didn't land a single punch and this guy isn't doing any 
better."

"Too bad Tsubasa didn't show," Kiten remarked just as Fujiiro's
opponent yielded.  "Tsubasa probably would have made it to the finals
simply by doing the same thing."

Fujiiro was given a break before the final match, mostly for his
opponent's sake.  It hardly mattered.  Before four, Fujiiro was the
official new member of Gyosha's team.  There was only one last task to
be done, and Kiten was eager for a fight.

Taking advantage of her offer, Fujiiro retrieved his staff and faced
her.  Kiten turned her back to slip the cassette into a player.  The
tape was already set to go on the song she wanted.  She turned the
volume knob all the way up and pressed play.

"Ready," she said, the sounds of Head Like a Hole blaring from the
small box in the open lot.  Fujiiro nodded.  She took up her stance
and pranced cautiously up to him.

He struck out with his staff only for her to roll and twist into him.
She elbowed him in the gut and flipped back out of his reach.  Fujiiro
held up a hand, shaking his head.

Kiten dropped her guard.  "What?" she demanded.

Fujiiro threw his staff down and stalked off.  "I'm not fighting you,"
he said.  "I'm too tired from today, and honestly, I'm tired of you."

"What?" she repeated, gaping.  "Hey, I'm sorry.  We don't have to
fight if you don't want to."  Fujiiro kept on walking, not looking
back.  Kiten took a couple steps forward, reaching out to his
retreating figure.  "What the hell?  Come back here, Fujiiro."

"You don't need me," Fujiiro called over his shoulder.  She could
barely hear his voice as he was so far away now.  "You're better at
everything I can do."

"Come back, Fujiiro!" Kiten shouted.  "Come back!  I'll let you hit me
if you want to."  He disappeared around the corner.  She growled
angrily and shattered the cassette player with a solid kick.  She
turned to see both Ken and Gyosha regarding her warily.  "Shut up!
Both of you!"  Kiten kicked the remnants of the player and gloomily
went home.

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

Kiten whipped her tail across the garage, slamming the door behind
her.  There were tears in her eyes as she balled up her fists and tore
into the punching bag with a fevered frenzy.  It took her a couple
minutes to realize the punching bag was screaming in agony.

She spun the bag on the chain to reveal a familiar face.  "What the
hell are you doing here, Tsubasa?" she demanded, considering renewing
her attack.

Tsubasa groaned and fell to the floor.  Kiten paced around him like a
caged tiger, waiting for him to answer her question.  "I saw the
fight," he wheezed.  "I came to help."

"How?  By being my punching bag?" Kiten shot back sarcastically.
"Where were you for your fight?  Why did you back out?"

"My mother caught me and forced me to dress normal," Tsubasa stated.
"It took me some time to get back out of the house without her
knowing."

"So why are you here?" she repeated.

The door swung open with her mother's voice.  "Kiten, telephone," her
mother said.  Her mother paused in the doorway and blinked.  The sight
of a punching bag with arms and legs was probably too much to
comprehend at the time so her mother quietly shut the door and left
without another word.

"Wait here," Kiten ordered.  "I'll be right back."  Kiten dashed out
of the garage into the kitchen.  She picked up the phone hoping it was
Fujiiro.  If it was she was certainly going to let him have it for
standing her up like that.  'Nobody walks out on a fight with me.'

"Hello," she said.  She brightened at the sound of a voice.  "Ryuu?!
Why are you calling me?  What happened?  You want me to come down
there?"  'Anything has got to be better than staying here,' she
thought, considering the recent development between her and Fujiiro.
"Sure thing.  I'll tell my parents that I'm staying with Ukyou.  They
know her or rather him.  I'll be there as soon as I can.  Bai."

She hung up the phone and dashed back into the garage.  Tsubasa was
patting himself off now in his usual dress and free of the punching
bag disguise he had been wearing.  She grabbed Tsubasa by the collar
and hauled him up into a hug.

"What the..." he managed, the breath being crushed out of him.

"We're going to Nerima!"

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

Closing Theme - "Dizzy"

Waiting
Watch the clock pass time
The words I want to say to you
Can't escape my mind

Wondering
Someday will you realize?
The feelings that I hide behind
The fury of my eyes

Please dizzy up this girl
Spin around my world
Tell me that you love me more than anyone you knew
Dizzy up this girl
Give my life a twirl
Wait and see what happens next when you do

How long will your indecision
Bring heartache in my life
Whether wrong or right
It keeps me up at night

Letting go of a childhood dream
Was never my intent
But if you don't say yes
My life will be a mess

So dizzy up this girl
Watch her wings unfurl
As you say you love her more than anyone you knew
Dizzy up this girl
What was sand is now a pearl
As every girl needs love to get her through

Please someday soon

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

Well that's a wrap.  Please email any comments to zinyadel@hotmail.com.
I don't mind flames.  Sometimes good ideas come from them.  I'll be sure
to torment all once again with the last addition of this series.

Ciaow


_________________________________________________________________
Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8. 
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail


             .---Anime/Manga Fanfiction Mailing List----.
             | Administrators - ffml-admins@anifics.com |
             | Unsubscribing - ffml-request@anifics.com |
             |     Put 'unsubscribe' in the subject     |
             `---- http://ffml.anifics.com/faq.txt -----'