[FFML] [fanfic][UY/Ranma/SisPri] "Lonely Souls" Part 4 B Side (final draft)

[Frederick Herriot]

	"Lum-chan . . .?"

	*Konban wa, Ran-chan.  Sleep well?*

	"Strange."  The rose-haired teen stretched herself before gazing at the 
controls of her scoutship.  Twitching her extremities to ensure she had full 
control of her body, she yawned, and then she leaned over to adjust the 
flight controls.  "I did.  Weird that I can 'sleep' with you taking over my 
body.  Hmmm . . . "  She stared at the astrogator.  "Not so far from Earth 
now."

	*About another hour or so,* a familiar woman's voice echoed deep inside 
Ran's mind.  *No sign of any ships, especially Noukiite ones.*

	"Thank the Fates," Ran moaned as she rubbed her eyes, she trying not to let 
her own grief overwhelm her as she assumed manual control for the final leg 
of her -- of THEIR -- escape to Earth . . .

**    **    **

	It had been an annoyance at first.

	Two weeks after the Second Tag Race ended, she was visited one evening by 
two of the "Men in Black."  In the hands of one was an order declaring that 
Ran's residency visa had been rescinded and that she had no choice but to 
return home to Uru.  Naturally, Ran tried to protest, but that had died when 
she saw the fellows accompanying the SCAA agents.  Zephyrite Inquisitors.

	The next hour blurred past as Ran rolled up shop, turned over the lease on 
her property to the SCAA, and then, without being given a chance to say 
good-bye to her friends and classmates, she blasted off.  At first, she 
thought it had been one of Lum's dirty tricks that got her sent off Earth.  
But when Ran saw the tiger-striped scout beside hers -- along with the 
Zephyrite destroyer who paced them as far as Toshitto, the Oni colony world 
closest to Earth -- Ran then realised that from then on, NOTHING would be 
the same.

	Settling on Toshitto, Ran watched as Rei, who normally served as a 
deep-space sovereignty pilot covering Uru's frontier with Zephyrus, was 
ordered with his group to Machibusu, scene of the heaviest fighting against 
the Noukiites.  She wanted to go with him.  Military authorities wouldn't 
let her.  According to Rei's squadron commander, the Noukiites were using 
ships of a design that outmatched anything the Onis possessed.  It was but 
only a matter of time before Machibusu was overrun and the road to Uru would 
be wide open.  That frightened Ran.  The Noukiites were showing uncommon 
savagery against their foes.  The chance of victory, despite what the 
propaganda being churned out by the government said to the contrary, was 
becoming more unlikely by the day.

	Then . . .

	One night, she was struck down by a blinding headache.  Fainting on her 
bedroom floor, she remained unconscious for a day.  When she finally awoke, 
the newscast was on, reporting about an anti-matter bomb that just wiped out 
the heart of Onishuto, the Urusian capital city.  Where Lum, her family, 
Rei's family, Ten-chan and so many others lived.  Her videophone then rang.  
It was Rei's commander with more bad news.  The pilot had been killed in an 
ambush by Noukiite irregulars.  Overwhelmed by grief and nausea, Ran 
staggered into the bathroom to look at herself via her vanity mirror.

	Lum's image stared back . . .

**    **    **

	*Ran?*

	Ran's attention returned to the present.  She stared out the view port to 
see a familiar blue sphere looming before her ship, it accompanied by a 
large moon in the near distance.  "Home," she whispered as she programmed 
the ship's controls to begin atmospheric approach.

	*For the rest of our lives, no doubt,* Lum noted.

	"Hai, Lum-chan, for the rest of our lives."

*    *    *

	*Do you sense that, love?*

	*Yes . . . *  A weak grunt escaped from the being in the hollowed pit of 
one of the two small rocks presently pacing Ran's scoutship off its 
starboard quarter.  *It appears the Mother has brought us . . . here for a 
reason.*

	*You are in pain, beloved.*

	*I can last, my dearest . . . *  If the wounded Nendo-kata could do more to 
reassure her mate, she would.  *At least until we give the air-breathers in 
that small craft yonder a chance to be truly free of their current 
predicament.*

	*Agreed.*

**** **** ****
"Lonely Souls"
By Fred Herriot
pyeknu at hotmail.com OR fherriot at yahoo.com
**** **** ****
Plot elements/certain scenes here composed/written by Steve Cornett
**** **** ****
Based on "Urusei Yatsura" and "Ranma 1/2," created by Takahashi Rumiko; and 
"Sister Princess," created by Tenhiro Naoto and Kimino Sakurako.
**** **** ****

NOTE:  The writer's notes are in a separate text file.

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

THE FOURTH PART, "B" SIDE - FREEDOM FROM DREAMS

	"Here you go, Hibiki-san."

	"What's this?"  Ryouga opened the zip-up package to see a booklet of 
pictures inside.  "Oh, Yotsuba-san, you didn't have to . . .!"

	"It's checky," the detective assured him.  The party at the chapel had gone 
on much later than Ryouga initially hoped, forcing the wanderer to camp 
outside the rotunda overnight.  He had been offered a chance to stay at the 
cottage with Toshiko and Kumiko, but didn't want to risk spending a night 
close to Ranma's love-starved mirror-twins.  "After all, if it weren't for 
Hibiki-san, Ani-chama's and Ane-chama's wedding dress party wouldn't have 
gone well!  Hibiki-san deserves to remember it as much as everyone else!"

	"I . . .!"  Ryouga then nodded before he zipped up the package, slipping 
that into his pack.  "Thanks, Yotsuba-san.  I really appreciate that."

	"Ryouga-kun, are you ready to go?!"

	Both turned as Mamoru skated through the front gate after her daily inline 
skating run through town.  Ryouga nodded.  "Yeah, Mamoru-san, I'm set."

	"Okay!"  The athlete skidded to a halt beside him.  Slipping an arm around 
one of the wanderer's, she beckoned him towards the ferry dock.  "C'mon, 
I'll take you down there so you can catch the first trip to the mainland!"

	"Try not to get him lost, Mamoru-chan!" Yotsuba advised.

	"Right, right!"

	Partings were made, and then Mamoru and Ryouga raced off, the wanderer 
keeping pace with the athlete.  Yotsuba watched them, snapping a picture 
with her camera before heading in.  "He's a pretty okay guy even if he does 
have that big chip on his shoulder," she mused in her native English as she 
turned to head upstairs.  She then stopped.  A sly grin crossing her face, 
the would-be detective tiptoed to the door to Ataru's room.  Gingerly 
opening it -- Ataru never locked his door when he resided in Welcome House 
-- she peeked inside.

	Peacefully asleep, Ataru had a content smile on his face.  One arm was 
wrapped around Ranma, she leaning against his side.  One of her arms was 
draped on his chest.  Both were, to Yotsuba's relief, dressed in pyjamas.  
Even if Yotsuba, like the other sisters, wanted the day when their big 
brother would marry the martial artist to come soon, even she believed they 
should take their time in developing their relationship.  A glance to her 
right revealed Ranma's homemade wedding dress sitting on Ataru's work desk.

	A groan escaped Ranma, causing Yotsuba to tense.  The detective slipped 
into the hallway, gently closing the door behind her.

	"Ne, Ataru?"

	"What is it, Ranma?"

	"Does she always look in on you like that?"

	He gave her a warm squeeze.  "She's not the only one."  He opened his eyes. 
  "Not that I mind it in the long term. She does care."

	She returned his look.  "Big change from Nabiki."

	They gazed at each other.  "Well . . . " he mused.

	"I guess we have to have a good morning kiss," she proposed.

	Surprise crossed his face for a moment, and then he chuckled.  During the 
wedding dress party, they had shared a chaste kiss when Ryouga, acting as 
the preacher, had declared them "husband" and "wife."  "Good idea."

	They slid together, their lips caressing.  A camera went off, causing them 
to spin to the door.  "CHECKY!"  A madly grinning Yotsuba leapt up and down, 
holding her camera while her free hand flashed the "'V' for Victory" sign.

	"***YOTSUBA!  GET OUTTA HERE!***"

	Yotsuba cried out as a storm of pillows flew right at her face.  She 
scrambled clear as the door slammed closed behind her.  Sensing she was 
safe, she whooped as she raced off to her room.  "Ani-chama and Ane-chama 
just kissed!" she sang.  "Ani-chama and Ane-chama just kissed!"

	Back in the room, the "couple" in question moaned as Yotsuba's assertion 
rang through the hallways.  "Then again . . .!" Ataru added, rubbing his 
scalp.

	"Yeah, then again . . . "  Smiling, she tilted her face so they could gaze 
once more into the other's eyes.  "So where were we?" she coyly asked.

	"Right here."

	He leaned down so they could kiss.

*    *    *

	"Ye gods!  I can't believe it's THAT bad!"

	Ono Toofuu shook his head, he kneeling across the dining room table from 
Moroboshi Negako.  Before the chiropractor was a line diagram of Ranma's 
head, points marked out to indicate exactly what damage the young martial 
artist had accumulated since she was five.  "It is that bad."  The ninjutsu 
grandmaster nodded.  "Genma's basic purpose was, I admit, sound.  At the 
time this treatment was applied, Ranma was slipping toward developing a 
chronic form of autism.  What Genma did not realise when he applied this 
treatment is that the human brain needs to recycle its neurons periodically 
to ensure one's soul remains as intact as possible.  That could not happen 
once Genma conditioned Ranma's mind to focus on martial arts.  THEN add the 
damage from the Neko-ken . . .?"

	"It's a wonder he didn't become a mental vegetable," Toofuu finished for 
her.  "The only thing that ultimately kept him going in the long term . . . 
"

	"Was his overall intelligence and cognitive potential."

	The young doctor nodded.  "So what do you want to do with Ranma-kun?"

	"To permit the treatment to take effect in the shortest period possible -- 
given the problems his curse forces on him -- Ranma must remain in one body 
for the treatment period," Negako instructed.  "Since the curse's nature 
does not allow us to freeze Ranma as a boy, he must be a girl.  Therefore, I 
need you to write a medical note to the school authorities stating Ranma 
will be locked as a girl for the period of this treatment and explaining the 
medical necessity behind doing so.  If that requires Ranma to attend 
girl-only classes, so be it."  A sarcastic smile crossed her face.  Seeing 
that, Toofuu tried not to grin; Negako was not the type of person to express 
overt emotion to just anyone.  "I am sure Pauline would take personal 
delight in 'torturing' Ranma this way."

	"The principal, right?" Toofuu mused.

	"The same."

	"Negako-san, please tell me:  How did he get THAT name?"

	"If she was alive, all you would have to do is ask his mother."

	Toofuu chuckled before a concerned look crossed his face.  "There's 
something more to all this, isn't there, Negako-san?"

	"There is, but I will remain silent about that for a time . . . "

	Her voice trailed off as her head turned west-northwest.  In the direction 
of Tomobiki, Toofuu realised.  After a moment, he grasped her hand.  
"Negako?"

	The grandmaster's eyes widened.  "Lum . . .?"

*    *    *

	"Lum-sama . . .?"

	A tomboyish brunette with blue-grey eyes bolted out of bed.  Gazing around 
her room, Momose Tamako seemed lost for a moment.  Her body then deflated.  
She remained still as her mind rolled through what she just felt from the 
general direction of the Holy City.  Taking a determined breath, she then 
slipped out of bed.  Proceeding to the bathroom to perform morning 
ablutions, Tamako glanced at the closed door, canting her ears to determine 
if her "parents" were awake.  Detecting nothing but silence, she turned back 
to the business at hand.

	So, the day had finally come.  The mission she and four others had been 
specially built to perform was still valid.  The Goddess HAD survived what 
the news media reported had befallen her.  But with four of the Holy 
Apostles having been murdered on Monday, extraordinary measures had to be 
taken to ensure Lum's safety.  Momose Tamako, along with four others, would 
ensure that.

	Finishing, she returned to her bedroom to get dressed.  Well, all good 
things had to come to an end.  She had enjoyed a good life in Shimizu.  It 
bothered her at first that she was pretending to be the Momoses' daughter -- 
what happened to their real child, Tamako did not know and felt it prudent 
not to inquire (even if she was as free as an infiltration agent can be) -- 
but like others in her trade, she got into the swing of things and carried 
on from there.

	Now, it had to end.  Time to press on with her mission.

	Preparing an overnight bag, she slipped out of the house.  Her "parents," 
from what Tamako could tell, were asleep.  From the house, it was a quick 
trip to the train station.  She had rented a long-term storage locker there, 
it containing all the things she would need in the Holy City.  After that 
was emptied, she proceeded to the counter to get a train ticket to Tokyo.

	Unknown to the Terran-Avalonian spy, the emptying of her locker triggered a 
transmitter that fired a command to a receiver in the roof of the Momose 
home.  That activated explosives set throughout the building.  Soon, 
white-hot flames engulfed the whole house.  Tamako's "parents" had no chance 
to escape.

*    *    *

	"Tadaima!"

	"Welcome back, Akane-chan."  Kasumi looked up as Akane stepped into the 
living room.  "How was your run this morning, little sister?"

	Akane sat by the table.  "I'm a bit out of shape."  A glance around 
revealed they were alone.  "Where're Dad, Nabiki and the panda?"

	"Father and Uncle got very drunk, AGAIN!"  Kasumi sighed, her exasperation 
at Souun and Genma's antics evident.  "When I found them this morning in the 
doojou, all I could get out of them was Uncle saying 'She saw me!  She saw 
me!' and Father's 'The schools will never be joined now!' routine.  I put 
Father in his room and Uncle in the guest room.  I WAS tempted to dump him 
in the pond."

	"Idiots!"  Akane shook her head.  "What about Nabiki?"

	Footsteps.  "Right here."

	Both turned as Nabiki stepped into the sitting room, she dressed in a black 
martial arts jersey and hakama trousers, a white belt tying her top down.  
"Oh, my!" Kasumi gasped, shuddering delightedly.  "Nabiki, you look 
beautiful!"

	Nabiki smirked as she sat down.  "Thanks, Onee-chan."

	Akane blinked.  "Why a white belt?  You made it up to sixth-kyuu . . . "

	"True, but the Moroboshis' family Art is *ninjutsu,*" Nabiki reminded them. 
  "In Saikoo Jinseijitsu-ryuu, there're only three levels."  She pointed to 
her belt.  "White represents a 'genin.'  You don't know the forms.  A black 
belt represents a 'chuunin.'  You know the forms.  A black belt with kanji 
represents a 'joonin.'  You know the forms AND you can teach them.  And if 
your belt has 'chi' on it, then you're considered the grandmaster of the 
Art."

	Kasumi nodded.  "That being Negako-san."

	"That's pretty simple," Akane noted.

	"I only hope Father doesn't get angry at the idea of you taking on a new 
teacher," Kasumi warned.  "You ARE still seen as part of the Tendou-ryuu."

	Nabiki snorted, she making a dismissive wave.  "Too bad.  If Dad won't get 
off his duff and teach me, much less Akane, seriously, I'll go somewhere 
else.  Hell, I'd be tempted to ask Ranma-kun to teach me, to be honest with 
you."

	Akane sighed.  "Doubt he'll be in the mood to consider that."

	"Give him time, Akane-chan," Kasumi advised.  "Still . . . "

	"What?" the other sisters asked.

	"Why don't you ask Negako-san to teach you, Akane-chan?"

	Akane considered that, humming.  "There's an idea."

	"It's a good idea."  Nabiki then blinked before snapping her fingers as 
something came to her.  "Heck, why don't you come down to Negako-san's place 
today, Akane?  You have no plans to go out with Tokoro or Asano, do you?"

	Akane shook her head.  "Um, no!  Not really."

	"Great!  Get your gi!"

*    *    *

	Twenty minutes later, the Tendous stepped through the gate of the old 
shrine Negako resided in.  They stopped on seeing the grandmaster of Saikoo 
Jinseijitsu Ninjutsu-ryuu guiding Inu Chigaiko in a basic meditation kata.  
"Do not jerk your movements," Negako instructed, she not bothering to glance 
at the Tendous though she could sense their presence.  "Good morning, 
Nabiki, Akane."

	"Ohayou, Sen- . . .!"  Akane caught herself.  "Um, Negako-san."

	Negako lightly smirked.  "She can learn."

	Akane flustered.  "Ohayou, Nabiki-san."  Chigaiko then swept her hand in a 
gentle block.  "Like this, Negako-san?" she asked.

	"Yes.  Akane, you desire to seek instruction with me, do you not?"

	Akane bowed respectfully.  "Please?"

	"Very well.  Be warned:  You have MANY habits that require to be broken.  
If you seek my instruction, those habits WILL be broken.  Understood?"

	Akane nodded.  "Hai, I understand."

	The youngest Tendou sensed Negako's eyes rake over her, she immediately 
turning away from that gaze to stare at the ground.  Nabiki remained in her 
place, not moving to comfort Akane.  In a way, Akane was grateful.  Even if 
she found it quite difficult to contemplate taking over the doojou when she 
came of age, she was interested in the Art.  Oh, if only Ranma could have 
found some way to break past that damned chauvinism of his . . .!

	"That is the first lesson you must learn," Negako mused.

	Akane stared wide-eyed at her.  "Eh?!"

	"Your habit of blaming Ranma for your faults."  Negako crossed her arms as 
she gazed knowingly at Akane.  "Akane, you are aware of how Ranma became the 
way he is.  Why do you continue to take faith in such erroneous beliefs as 
that?"

	"I . . . "  The youngest Tendou sighed, she gazing anew at the ground.  
"I'm sorry, Negako-san.  It's a stupid habit of mine."

	"I am not the one you need to apologise to.  Further, I do not believe 
Ranma would receive an apology from you anytime soon, especially given 
Tuesday's events.  Chigaiko, stop."  She glanced at the Tomobiki native.  
"You need to catch your breath and have breakfast before continuing.  Do so 
now."

	"I . . . h-hai!  Excuse me, please!"  Chigaiko stopped.  Bowing 
respectfully to the grandmaster, she then headed into the old shrine.

	Negako then drew out a pair of clippers from her pocket.  Walking up to 
Akane, she took a lock of hair from behind one ear.  Akane blinked at her.  
"What's that for?!" she asked as she stared curiously at Negako.

	"Emergency purposes," Negako explained.  "Nabiki, take Akane and have her 
put on the shirt and hakama I laid out in my bedroom.  Her old gi will not 
be necessary here.  I will be with you to commence the lesson in ten 
minutes."

	"Right.  C'mon, Akane."

	Nabiki waved her sister inside.  "'Emergency purposes?'" Akane asked.

	Nabiki shrugged as they passed through the doors.  "Search me.  But 
Negako-san does strike me as the type who knows what she's doing."

	Akane nodded.  Negako watched them step inside, and then she looked up, her 
eyes narrowed.  "I know you can hear me.  Respond now."

	A small beacon of light appeared before her face.  *Oh, Most Blessed Angel 
of the Earth . . . * a weak, female voice responded.  *What commands do you, 
beloved adopted sister of the Saviour, have for my unworthy self?*

	Negako held up the hair.  "Prepare a body based on Akane's DNA," she then 
instructed.  "Transport it to Chikage's bedroom on Promised Island.  When 
the body is made, ensure all psionic abilities are sealed from conscious 
control.  I will unseal them when I deem it necessary."

	The hair disappeared in a sparkle of light.  *It will be done.*

	The light vanished.  Negako smiled.  *With that done, any ideas she might 
have about becoming the priestess of a 'faith' around Ataru and the others 
are dashed.*  She headed inside the shrine, pausing at the doorway to glance 
once more heavenward.  *Hopefully, her daughters will be of a better 
temperament.*

*    *    *

	Chikage looked up from her tarot cards to see a body materialise beyond her 
desk, it on a stretcher.  Standing, she walked around her table to give the 
new arrival a careful inspection.  "Yes, this will do," she declared.

	Sparkles of light shrouded the body from neck to toe before solidifying 
into a light brown, sunflower-embossed kimono.  Once that was done, Chikage 
nodded.  "Now for the final ingredient," she added, holding out her hands.

	A flash of light later, a certain doll rested in her arms.  *Where . . .?!* 
  The Noroi no Ningyou looked around in surprise -- as much as a doll could 
look surprised, of course -- and then she turned up.  *Chikage-sama?!*

	"Aria is out of her room, so we will do this now," the sorceress announced 
as she lowered the doll onto the body.  "I believe this will happen 
swiftly."

	*Wha- . . .?!*

	A bright aura shrouded both the doll and the unmoving body.  The body's 
eyes then opened, glowing briefly before reverting to their normal deep 
brown shade.  As the aura faded, the doll slumped, its resident 
consciousness having forever departed it.  Chikage lifted the doll from the 
young woman's body, and then she teleported the former back to Aria's 
bedroom.  A startled gasp escaped the woman as she sat up, looking 
confusedly around for a moment.  "What happened . . .?" she demanded before 
looking down on her hands.  "This body . . .?"  She blinked, the enormity of 
what just happened hitting her, and then she gazed on Chikage.  
"Chikage-sama, what have you done?!" she demanded.

	"Given you a body you may use as your own," the sorceress explained as the 
newcomer stood.  "Since Akane was the last person you 'possessed,' it seemed 
proper that a body for you be cloned from her.  Negako-anekun just 
facilitated that, though I'm unaware exactly HOW she did that.  Is it 
sufficient?"

	The girl shifted around, moving each joint to ensure each was functioning 
as it should.  A content smile then crossed her face.  "Yes, it is 
sufficient for me," she answered before she looked down at herself.  "I 
sense this is not a fully human body, though.  Where did Negako-sama acquire 
it?"

	"That, you will have to ask her."  Chikage then tilted her head to the 
doorway.  "Would you like to see Ane-kun?"

	The other girl nodded.  "Yes."

	They stepped out, heading to the stairway.  Proceeding to the first floor, 
they walked into the dining room.  "Oh, Chikage-chan, there you . . . "  
Sakuya then stuttered to a halt on seeing the newcomer.  "Who's this?"

	"An old acquaintance of Ane-kun's from a vacation she took with her father 
and the Tendous some months back.  Where is she?"

	"Right here," Ranma announced as she stepped in.  "Who are you talking . . 
.?"  She stopped as the girl turned to look on her.  "Akane?!  How the hell 
did you . . .?"  Her voice trailed off as her eyes took in the other girl's 
kimono.  "Oh, no . . .!" she then moaned as her hands automatically shifted 
up.

	Seeing the martial artist tense, the newcomer cried, "WAIT!"

	Ranma froze, fear and anger burning in her sapphire eyes.  Seeing she was 
still, the newcomer prostrated herself.  "Ranma-sama, I did you a terrible 
injustice when we met months before.  Please, I humbly beg your 
forgiveness."

	Silence fell over the dining room as the others watched this curious 
tableau.  Ranma looked first at the girl wearing Akane's face, and then she 
turned to Chikage.  "Um, can you tell me what's going on here, Chikage?"

	"That, Ane-kun, is a long story," the sorceress said.

*    *    *

	"***WHAT?!***"

	"It is true, Young Master."  A Kuromegane knelt before Mendou.  "Ran-sama's 
ship has returned to her lot near the Moroboshi home."

	Mendou Shuutarou sat back in his chair.  "Why would she be allowed to come 
back to Earth?  From what we learned, the United Nations was determined to 
ensure ALL aliens from Uru were to remain off-planet as long as the war . . 
. "

	A telephone rang.  Seconds later, another Kuromegane raced into the room.  
"Young Master!  Ran-sama is calling!" he announced.

	Mendou picked up his extension.  "Moshi-moshi.  Ran-san?!"

	"Ohayou, Shuutarou.  How are you today?"

	Mendou blinked, his face paling as that familiar voice came back to him.  
"L-l-Lum-san?!" he stammered as he dropped to his knees in shocked 
disbelief.

*    *    *

	"So your old owner was . . .?"

	"Violated and murdered by her brother."  The doll-turned-girl nodded, eyes 
downcast.  "And somehow -- though I don't understand how -- I gained the 
ability to project my spirit into my beloved owner's body so that I could . 
. .!"

	"Avenge her death?" Sakuya finished.

	"Hai."

	"And that's how you came to be known as the 'Noroi no Ningyou.'"  Marie 
shook her head.  "That's just awful!"

	"Why would her brother do something like that?" Mamoru asked.

	Ranma shuddered.  "I don't know, but I'll tell you this:  If he was still 
alive and if I had the chance, I would've killed him!"

	The others grimly nodded.  "It's a good thing that Hinako-chan, Aria-chan 
and Kaho-chan aren't here to listen to this," Karen mused.

	"Agreed.  So every time someone did something improper before you, you felt 
compelled to redress such transgressions?" Haruka asked.

	The newcomer nodded.  "I did.  Ranma-sama was the last 'infidel' I dealt 
with.  Though at the time . . . "  She glanced apologetically at Ranma.  "I 
didn't realise that it was your father who provoked that incident."

	"What did the jerk do *that* time?" Rinrin demanded.

	"He stole a bottle of milk from me after coming out of the onsen," Ranma 
replied.  "It was the last one they had there, too."

	A chorus of groans flowed from the sisters.  "That does not surprise Hime 
at all!"  Shirayuki shook her head.  "Not one bit!"

	"Anee, you're smart to dump the jerk!" Mamoru stated.

	"Agreed," Sakuya mused.

	The front door opened and closed.  "Tadaima!"

	"BIG BROTHER!" the sisters cheered as Ataru stepped in.  He carried a 
smiling Hinako piggyback, Aria and Kaho holding onto his arms.

	"Got your spices, Shirayuki-chan," Ataru announced as he lowered Hinako to 
the floor, and then he drew some bottles from his jacket.  He then noticed 
the newcomer beside Ranma.  "Tendou-san, what . . .?"  His eyes widened 
suddenly as his ki senses picked up something odd about her.  "Wait!  You're 
not . . .!"

	"Um . . . no, she's not," Ranma explained.  "You remember me telling you 
about that spirit-doll I bumped into some months back?"

	Ataru nodded, gazing at this replica of Akane before he turned to Chikage.  
"I take it Onee-chan has something to do with this, too?"

	The sorceress smiled.  "Somewhat."

	"Right . . . " he drawled.

	"Waaai!  Ningyou-san is a girl now!"

	Everyone watched as Aria walked into the newcomer's embrace.  She smiled as 
she drew the Parisian close.  "I am grateful, Aria-sama," she whispered.  
"You gave me the ability to love and trust again.  I am forever in your 
debt."

	The others smiled, save one.  "Aria-chan's awful!" Hinako whined, crossing 
her arms.  "Aria-chan got herself a new doll and she didn't tell Hina about 
it!"

	Laughter filled the room.  "I think the first thing we have to do is give 
our new friend a name to call her own," Chikage announced.

	"I know!" Ranma spoke up.  "Tendou Kimiko."

	The doll-turned-girl gazed on Ranma.  "'Kimiko?'"

	"Sure.  That's the name of Akane, Nabiki and Kasumi's mother.  Besides, 
it's better than 'Hey, you!' or 'Ningyou-san.'"  Ranma shrugged before 
leaning down to gaze into Aria's eyes.  "After all, she's not a doll now, is 
she?"

	Aria shook her head.  "No, Kimiko-neeya isn't."

	A blush crossed the newly named woman's cheeks on hearing Aria call her 
"big sister."  "Then Kimiko I shall be.  Aria-sama?"

	"Hai?"

	"My old body is in your room.  Promise me you'll take care of it?"

	Aria nodded.  "Hai, Aria promises!"

	The Rinrin Viewer beeped.  "Viewer on," Rinrin ordered.  She then blinked 
on seeing the man appearing on the screen.  "Oh, Reigi-san, ohayou!" she 
then called out.  "Is there something wrong?!"

	"Hi, everyone!  Ataru-kun, we've got a problem," Yumoa Reigi warned.

	Ataru tensed.  "Being?"

	Reigi quickly explained.  As the information sank in, the sisters moaned.  
They knew of Lum's "friend," especially concerning the times Ran tried to 
seek vengeance on Lum through Ataru.  They also knew of the problems Rei 
once brought into their big brother's life.  When Reigi was done, Ataru 
closed his eyes.  "Damn!  I thought they were going to make sure she didn't 
come back here!"

	"I don't understand it myself," Reigi admitted.  "I'm trying to get someone 
to contact the SCAA and find out what's happening.  Do you want me to call 
Brother Sunfire and get the Inquisition over here just in case?!"

	Ataru sighed.  He couldn't bludgeon even an idiot like Ran with the threat 
of the Holy Inquisition forever.  Maybe a personal confrontation would 
finally make her see she had no place on Earth.  "No, but have Brother 
Sunfire call the Inquisition anyway.  If Ran's decided to come here, 
something must've happened to Rei.  Let's find out what that's about before 
making decisions, okay?"

	"Alright.  I'm putting the clan's forces on alert just in case.  I'll also 
call Negako and give her a head's up as well."

	"Don't bother, man.  She'll already know.  Trust me!"

	Reigi chuckled.  "Yeah, you got a point."

	Everyone laughed.  Chikage moved to leave the dining room.  "I take it you 
need help getting to Tomobiki, Ani-kun?" she asked.

	Ataru nodded.  "Definitely."

	"Want some help?" Ranma asked.

	"No.  You don't know her like I do."  He indicated Kimiko.  "Besides, I 
think Kimiko-chan would like a chance to get re-acquainted with you."

	Ranma glanced at Kimiko, who smiled back.  "True."

*    *    *

	Ataru and Chikage took the latter's travelling rainbow to Tomobiki.  The 
sisters, Ranma and Kimiko watched them go from the lawn in front of the 
rotunda.  "Hina wishes Onii-tama would take everyone with him," Hinako 
lamented.

	Hands gently squeezed her shoulders.  "Hinako-sama, Ataru-sama is simply 
protecting you from those he feels present a grave threat to your general 
health and welfare," Kimiko told the youngest of the sisters.  "Don't be 
angry at him."

	Hinako blinked before turning around to hug Kimiko.  "Still, the sooner 
he's finished with those jerks, the better."  Sakuya then crossed her arms.  
"Especially the ones like Ran and Rei.  Who gave people like them the right 
to think we're no different than a pack of monkeys?"

	"They were that bad?" Ranma asked.

	"Don't you know, Anee?" Mamoru wondered.

	The martial artist shook his head.  "Not really.  Until I met Tampopo-chan, 
I only knew the general basics about all that went on in Tomobiki.  Not that 
it wasn't really important in the grand scheme of things, but to me . . . "

	"If it wasn't martial arts, it ultimately didn't matter?" Karen asked.

	"Hai."

	"Ranma, where did Ataru-kun and Chikage-chan go just now?"

	Everyone turned.  "Ah, Kumiko-san, Toshiko-san!  Ohayou!" Karen greeted.

	"Ohayou, everyone . . .!" Toshiko replied as the mirror-twins came up.  
Both then stopped on seeing the elegantly dressed Kimiko standing beside 
Ranma.  "Ranma, what is SHE doing here?!" she snarled, her eyes flashing 
dangerously.

	Kimiko winced at that hateful look, she moving to slip behind Ranma.  
"Relax," the latter declared.  "Kimiko isn't Akane.  She's the spirit of 
that antique doll I ran across sometime before I went to Mirror Mansion."

	"Her body got cloned from Akane's by Negako-aneki," Rinrin added.

	"I . . .!"  Toshiko then chuckled.  "Oh, I'm sorry!  Um . . . "  She then 
stopped.  "Wait a second!  If she's here, what does she want?"

	A hand tugged Toshiko's arm.  The crimson-haired mirror-twin looked into 
Aria's sorrowful face.  "Toshiko-neeya, don't be mad at Kimiko-neeya.  
Kimiko-neeya likes Nee-ya very much.  Toshiko-neeya should like 
Kimiko-neeya, too."

	Toshiko shuddered -- even in her short time on Promised Island, she had 
learned the most important rule:  "DON'T make Aria upset and ESPECIALLY 
don't make Aria CRY!" -- and then she relaxed.  "It's alright, Aria-chan.  I 
didn't mean to make you cry.  I'm just concerned for Ranma's safety."

	"That is something we all share."  Kimiko lightly smiled before humming.  
"Speaking of which, there is something I'd like to do.  With your permission 
of course, Ranma-sama?"  She gazed in amusement on Ranma.

	Ranma smirked.  "Does that include beating the tar out of Oyaji?"

	Kimiko's smile turned to pure ice.  "What do you think?"

	"Well, it's certainly rude to deny a lady a request, especially one such as 
that."  Kumiko then walked over to tenderly grasp Kimiko's hand.  
"Kimiko-himesama, may my sister and I have the honour of escorting you to 
your duel against the honourless lout Ranma must call a father?"

	Kimiko's cheeks reddened.  Before she could reply, however, the ominous 
growl of an empty stomach made its own statement.  "Ah!  Hime thinks 
Kimiko-chan needs to have some breakfast first!" Shirayuki then declared.

	Everyone else laughed.

*    *    *

	The command car came to a halt before the front gateway of Ran's property.  
The driver opened the door, saluting as Mendou Shuutarou disembarked.  
Beyond the gate, Ran's scoutship sat in its usual place, steam billowing 
from the retro-thrusters.  The main gangway was deployed, ready to welcome 
visitors.

	"Remain here," Mendou ordered.

	The driver saluted again.  "Hai!"

	Mendou approached the ship, his heart turning over as his mind replayed the 
phone-call he received at the mansion.  Lum was ALIVE.  Yet she was without 
a body, her soul having somehow taken up residence in Ran's mind.  How did 
that happen?  Was there a way to restore Lum, allow her to live her own 
life?  If so, what then?  Would the United Nations allow Lum and Ran to 
remain this time?

	What was going on?!

	"Shuutarou."

	He spun around to see a well-built, tomboyish woman, she possessing short 
cut, dark brown hair and milk-chocolate eyes, gazing at him.  She was 
dressed in a black martial arts gi, a black belt wrapped around her waist.  
On the end of the belt was stitched the kanji CHI.  Gazing into her eyes, 
Mendou was quickly reminded of Moroboshi Ataru.  The similarity was 
striking.  Who was this . . .?

	"Negako-san?  Is that you?"

	Mendou turned as someone appeared at the top of the gangway.  At first, he 
thought he saw the long, flowing green hair and twin horn-buds that had 
haunted his fantasies for two years.  Yet, though she spoke with Lum's 
voice, the body was Ran's.  "Lum-san . . .?" he hesitantly ventured.

	Negako walked past Mendou, she stopping at the bottom of the stairwell.  
"Welcome back, Lum, Ran.  It seems you both are in quite a spot of trouble."

	Ran descended, she gazing into the other woman's eyes.  Then, to Mendou's 
surprise, Ran leaned into Negako, wrapping her arms around the latter.  
Negako seemed to think about it before returning the hug.  "Where's Darling, 
Negako-san?" Ran wondered, her voice strongly tinged with Lum's accent.

	"Ataru is not here now, but he will come in the next several minutes.  He 
has been told of Ran's return.  I dare say he will be as shocked as 
Shuutarou is about your present state of joint-ness," Negako said.  "Much 
has changed, Lum."

	Ran pulled back, a hurt look crossing her face.  "How bad . . .?"

	"Ran?!"

	Everyone turned to see a crowd at the gate.  Shinobu, Ryuunosuke, Sakura, 
Cherry, Kotatsuneko.  "Hi!" Ran's voice returned to normal as she waved.  
"I'm back!"  She stopped before her voice shifted.  "Er . . . rather, WE'RE 
back."

	Ryuunosuke's jaw dropped.  "Wha- . . .?!"

	Sakura approached, drawing her spirit-sensor as she waved it before Ran.  
The vanes rustled, causing the priestess to pause.  "I see."  She nodded.  
"The gods truly must have a strange sense of humour.  Welcome back to Earth, 
Lum."

	"Um, Sakura-sensei, that's Ran . . .!" Shinobu protested.

	"With Lum's spirit within her as well, Shinobu," Sakura amended before she 
sighed, turning to Mendou.  "Given Monday's events, we should move this 
discussion to a more secure location.  Your estate is the best place."

	"But of course, Sakura-sensei."  Mendou bowed, grinning, and then he turned 
to Ran, offering his arm.  "Lum-san . . . er, Ran-san!"

	Ran wrapped an arm around Negako's.  "No offence, but we feel a lot safer 
around Negako-san here than anyone else," Ran/Lum said.

	The ninjutsu grandmaster nodded.  "If you insi- . . . "

	"**EVIL SPIRIT!  BEGONE!**"

	Everyone turned as Cherry and Sakura, they both alerted to Negako's nature 
by their spiritual training, lunged at her, beads and spirit-sensor out to 
battle this -- in the clerics' eyes -- ultimate enemy of humankind.  Before 
they could get close, someone dived at them from out of the sun.  The 
attacker's feet caught the monk and the priestess in their necks, sending 
them to kiss the walkway!  Everyone jolted, turning away for a split-second. 
  Then on looking back, they gaped on seeing that it was Ataru who just 
intercepted them!  "Darling!" Ran gasped, her voice a melodic blend of hers 
and Lum's.

	Ataru stepped off Cherry and Sakura before gazing at the clerics who had 
been the bane of his life since the day he and Lum were "engaged."  
"Regardless if she is a thousand years old, she is STILL my sister!  Got me, 
dorks?!"  He winked before a pink-haired typhoon slammed into him.  "He- . . 
. wwhoulf!"

	"DARLING!" Ran, speaking clearly with Lum's voice, sobbed as she showered 
Ataru with a rainstorm of kisses.  "Oh, Darling!  I knew you'd come!"

	Ataru grunted.  Then, after tapping places on the alien's body to loosen 
the barnacle-tight glomp holding him down, he shoved Ran away.  "Lum, would 
you MIND, please?!  I'd like to breathe, you know!" he panted, feeling his 
chest.

	"MOROBOSHI, HOW DARE YOU . . .?!"

	"***SHINZOU BAKUHATSU SHOKU!***"

	*BOOM!*

	Everyone save Ataru, Negako and Mendou hit the deck.  The latter was frozen 
stiff, stunned beyond belief after seeing his katana literally EXPLODE in 
his face after Ataru tapped it with the Heart Blast Touch.  "DARLING!" 
Ran/Lum gasped.  She then breathed out on seeing that Mendou was okay.  
"Darling, be careful when you do that!" she then scolded.  "You could've 
taken his head off!"

	"I was tempted to do that," he said to the alien teen before gazing into 
Mendou's face.  "Next time, Sword-for-brains, I aim for your head!  Got 
me?!"

	"H-h-h-hai . . . " the scion of the Mendou clan stammered.

	He fainted.  Ataru glanced at him before turning to look at Shinobu and 
Ryuunosuke.  "If it hasn't sunk into your heads by now, let this be a 
warning:  the game has CHANGED.  I'm in NO MOOD to put up to all the 
garbage!  Okay?!"

	They fearfully nodded, wondering what sort of trick Ataru might decide to 
pull out of his hat next.  "Darling!" Ran/Lum huffed.  "Honestly!  They're 
not like those dorks you had to live with all your life!  Stop picking on 
them!"

	Ataru sighed before turning to look at her.  The possessed alien teen 
blinked.  Then, on seeing the pain flashing deep in his brown eyes, she 
paled.  "Wha- . . .!"  She covered her mouth, her eyes widening.  "What 
happened?!"

	"It's a very long story," Ataru flatly announced.

*    *    *

	"EH?!"

	The sisters were gathered around the telephone by the kitchen to hear the 
update from Negako.  Kimiko was finishing breakfast in the dining room.  
Ranma was in her room making arrangements to purchase new clothes and other 
personal items for the latest person to come to Promised Island.  "Are you 
sure, Aneki?!" Rinrin demanded.  She then blinked as the answer came.  "Oh, 
man!" she gasped.  "How'd that happen?!"  A longer pause.  "Okay, I got you. 
  Thanks for telling us."  Another pause.  "Hai, I'll pass it on to 
Ranma-aneki.  Right, 'bye!"

	She hung up.  "So who else came back?!" Kaho demanded.

	"Lum did."

	"But . . .!"  Karen blinked confusedly.  "Lum's dead!  Isn't she . . .?!"

	Rinrin shook her head.  "Somehow, Lum's spirit got sucked into Ran's head.  
And since the Noukiites would LOVE to get their hands on Lum, they had no 
choice but to come to Earth.  Anyhow, I'm going to tell Aneki, okay?"

	The others nodded as the Island's resident super-genius headed up to 
Ranma's room.  Knocking on the door, she called out, "Aneki?"

	"C'mon in, Rinrin," Ranma called back.

	Rinrin stepped in.  Toshiko was now pocketing a bankbook.  "We'll make sure 
the panda doesn't take advantage of Kimiko-chan," she assured her sibling.

	"Great," Ranma replied with a nod.  "Be careful, okay?"

	"We'll be fine," Kumiko vowed.

	The mirror-twins then headed out.  Rinrin walked up to place a warm hand on 
Ranma's shoulder.  "Lum's come back too, Aneki," she announced.

	Ranma blinked as she took that in before she sighed.  "Well, isn't that 
crazy?" she mused.  "Shit, you'd think that I'd be used to weird things 
happening around my friends, especially with the crap I've been through.  
But that . . .?"  She whistled before staring at Rinrin.  "How?"

	Rinrin explained, finishing with, "I hope Lum won't end up making things 
worse, like making Aniki stay in Tomobiki.  That's where all Federation 
aliens stay when they live on Earth.  It's been that way since the first Tag 
Race."

	Silence fell as they stared out the windows.  Ranma took a deep breath.  
"Do you think he'll go back to her, Rinrin?" she asked.

	Rinrin stared down at the martial artist.  "Aneki?"

	"Do you think Ataru would go back to Lum?"

	She considered that, and then she shook her head.  "Nah!  I don't think so. 
  I mean, were this before Aniki went to Sanctuary the last time, Lum would 
have a chance.  But too much has changed now.  WAY too much.  I've noticed 
it.  We all have.  Something really hurt Aniki when he went there."  She 
then asked, "What did Aniki tell you about that?  Did he say anything?"

	Ranma shuddered.  "Three billion . . . "

	"Eh?!"

	She started.  Ranma then noticed Rinrin gazing quizzically at her.  
Catching herself, the martial artist took a deep breath before gently 
squeezing her visitor's hand.  "I can't say anything about it now, 
Rinrin-chan.  Gomen."

	Rinrin blinked before nodding understandingly.

*    *    *

	"***WERE YOU TOTALLY OUT OF YOUR MIND?!***"

	Everyone winced as Sakura railed at Ataru, she gesturing as she waved her 
spirit-sensor in the direction of Negako.  The ninjutsu grandmaster, 
standing near Ran, had a bemused expression on her face.  Nearby, Cherry was 
performing every exorcism spell he knew to remove the Saikoo Jinseijitsu 
from Negako's body.  He didn't realise, of course, that if he actually 
succeeded, he would end up killing her since she was the only spirit 
inhabiting that body.  Ran watched the nurse/priestess scream at Ataru.  
Within the possessed alien, Lum seethed.  She was tempted to find the 
biggest book she could, and then drop it on Sakura's head to make her stop 
shouting at Darling.  Seated across from Ataru in one of the sitting rooms 
on the Mendou estate, Mendou, Shinobu and Ryuunosuke listened in, they 
trying to understand what Sakura was so nervous about.

	And Ataru . . .?

	He almost looked ready to go to sleep.

	After Sakura lost her voice for a second, Ataru stifled a yawn, he 
reclining back in his chair.  "Are you finished now?" he then asked.

	Sakura balked.  Shuddering, she swung back her spirit-sensor to knock some 
sense into him.  Wrong move.  His hand caught her wrist, and then he sent it 
into HER head.  "Ataru-kun!" Shinobu gasped as Sakura dropped to the floor.

	He sighed, a finger going into his ear.  "I'm sorry, but she gave me a nice 
earache from all that verbal diarrhoea," he explained before glancing at 
Ran.  "Right now, the priority is getting Lum a body of her own . . . "

	"I am attempting to do that, lad!" Cherry announced, drawing out some 
incense to scatter over Negako.  "As soon as this dark ka- . . .!"

	*WHAM!*

	A vase smashed into the monk's jaw, sending him sprawling on the floor.  
Negako caught it before it crashed into the floor, and then she tossed it 
back to Ataru.  "Moroboshi!" Mendou snapped.  "That's a priceless Ming . . 
.!"

	"It is a fake."

	Mendou stopped, spinning on Negako.  "What did you say?"

	"It was created twenty years ago," she reported.  "I have seen REAL Ming 
Dynasty vases, Shuutarou.  I know what I speak of.  THAT is not real."

	"Well, it was good enough to shut THAT fake up."  Ataru pointed at a dazed 
Cherry before he placed the vase back where he found it.

	"Amen to that!" Ran muttered, the Seishin teen once again in control of her 
body.  "All his muttering and moaning was giving ME an earache!"

	Shinobu and Ryuunosuke exchanged a look.  The former then marched up to 
Ataru.  "What's going on here?!" she then demanded.  "If Sakura-sensei and 
Cherry have problems with her, why aren't you listening to them, 
Ataru-kun?!"

	She indicated Negako.  "Why is it you care, Miyake-san?" Ataru asked as his 
eyebrow arched, and then he gazed at Ryuunosuke.  "Much less you, 
Fujinami-san?  Why do you care about what happens to me, much less anyone 
around me?"

	"I . . . "  Shinobu blinked, her eyes widening.  That was the second time 
EVER that Ataru had addressed her, much less Ryuunosuke, so formally; the 
first time was yesterday afternoon after the memorial service for Monday's 
bombing victims.  Before that, it had always been "Shinobu-chan" and 
"Ryuu-chan" even when both girls were pounding him into the ground for some 
idiot act or another.  "I . . . " she started again before her voice caught 
in her throat.  "I've always cared for you, Ataru-kun!" she then declared.

	Ataru gazed at her.  Shinobu shuddered.  He had NEVER looked at her like 
THAT in the years she had known him.  It was the look of someone who had 
clearly gained wisdom, but had been forced to pay a hideous price for that 
wisdom.  He blinked before gazing at Ryuunosuke the same way, that causing 
the tomboy to tense.  Ataru then stared at Ran.  Only then did his look 
soften.  He stepped away from Shinobu, and then took a breath.  "You will 
forgive me, Miyake-san . . . "  He gazed once more at her.  "For not 
accepting that explanation at all."

	Shinobu blinked, blinked again, and then she staggered as if Ataru just 
slapped her.  "Wh-why . . .?" she rasped, her eyes tearing.

	"Why?"  He looked away before taking a deep breath.  "Not long ago -- for 
me, that is -- I managed to visit a planet that Lum-san and Ran-san both 
know of."  He gazed on Ran.  "A planet that reminded me a LOT of Tomobiki 
here.  Oh, yeah!"  He then started to pace around the coffee table in the 
middle of the room.  "Especially, Lum, when it comes to how they look on 
you."

	The alien blinked, and then she paled.  "You went to Phentax Two?"

	"Yeah, I did!  Boy, was THAT a load of laughs!  Oh, what do they call you?  
The 'Sinful Doubter,' I believe?  The same title they give Shinobu!"  He 
waved to Shinobu before turning to Ryuunosuke.  "You, Ryuunosuke, are just a 
'Holy Friend,' I'm afraid, just like these two fakes yonder."  He pointed to 
Cherry and Sakura, and then he turned to Mendou.  "But YOU, my dear sir!  
You are just going to LOVE what they call you.  Oh, what was it again?!  Ah, 
yeah!  The 'Fifth Holy Apostle to the Goddess Lum!'  You see, Satoshi is -- 
pardon me, WAS -- the 'First' Apostle.  Then Hiroyuki, Koosuke and Akira.  I 
don't know which way.  I guess it was ordered by whoever met the 'Goddess' 
first.

	"You really want to know something, Shuutarou?"  He then looked directly 
into his rival's eyes.  "It turns out that the President of the Niphentaxian 
Union, a guy named Oogi, admired you SO much, he actually went and got 
COSMETIC SURGERY to turn himself into a NEAR-DOUBLE of you!"  Seeing 
Mendou's eyes widen, Ataru smirked as he leaned closer.  "You might say, ol' 
boy, I was actually pretty impressed by his devotion.  And . . . "  The 
humour vanished from his eyes as he added, "I took great pleasure in killing 
him."

	"What . . .?" Shinobu gasped.

	Ataru shrugged.  "Why not?  After all, we know how proud our friend is 
here."  He waved to Mendou.  "He wouldn't TOLERATE such an INSULT on his 
very IMAGE!  He confirmed it when Rei came to have a mid-morning snack in 
class one day.  'Man is Face!'  Remember that?!"  He stared at Mendou.  
"Well, since I was sure that you wouldn't really want this guy to run around 
with your looks, I decided to do it the old-fashioned samurai way and took 
his head off with one clean blow from my grandfather's sword.  Quite 
painless, I assure you.  'S funny."  He sighed as a contemplative look 
crossed his face.  "Folks on Phentax Two would write then that Oogi was a 
martyr in Lum's service.  He died for his faith.  Just like Satoshi, 
Koosuke, Hiroyuki and Akira could be said to have died for their 'faith' on 
Monday morning.  Jeez!  That is something, isn't it?"

	"Ataru-kun . . . " Shinobu whispered.

	"What can I say?"  He moved towards her.  "I AM the 'Great Evil,' after 
all.  Everything I've done, as they see it, was against the Goddess' wishes. 
  Since I wasn't just going to lie down and let Lum take control of my life, 
I was doing evil.  She IS the Goddess, after all.  And all of you loved and 
cared for her, so that means you were ALWAYS right and I was ALWAYS wrong!"  
He pointed to Shinobu, and then himself.  "Even a 'sinful doubter' like you 
and Ran were more inclined to support Lum than me.  It said it in the Book 
itself."

	Ran blanched.  "You read it . . .?" Lum's voice nearly broke.

	"From front to back."  Ataru reached into his top to draw out a 
velvet-lined hardcover book about the size of the average hotel-room Bible.  
On it was THE BOOK OF LUM.  "Whoo!  I gotta admit that I've never been 
insulted to my face like I'm insulted here!"  He opened it to the index.  
"Here we are.  The Books of the Holy Apostles.  The Book of Jariten.  The 
Books of the Holy Friends.  Benten, Oyuki, Nassur . . . "  He shook his 
head.  "I haven't met him yet, but from what I've heard, I might not want to 
meet him.  Let's see . . . ah!  The book of Cherry.  The Book of Sakura.  
The Book of Ryuunosuke.  No book of Rei.  The Books of the Sinful Doubters, 
Ran and Shinobu.  They're in the back . . . "

	"So where's your book?!" Ryuunosuke wondered, inwardly asking herself when 
Rod Serling was going to show up and tell them all that they had just taken 
a trip into the Twilight Zone.  "I know you keep a diary of your own."

	"Well . . . "  Ataru sighed.  "You gotta remember.  I'm the Great Evil.  
Who in their right mind would allow the words of a DEVIL to get into their 
holy text?!  I mean, do you see Satan's writings in the Bible?"  He gazed at 
Shinobu.  "Also, after I discovered Lum's habit of using her spacializers to 
jump ahead in time to read my diary, I decided the smart thing to do was to 
keep the diary at Tampopo's and leave a FAKE in the open to distract Lum so 
I can have at least SOME privacy with my thoughts.  And Tampopo's was the 
one place in Tomobiki where Lum knew she wasn't welcome.  I guess getting 
brained by Tampopo-chan's spatula finally made her realise I was entitled to 
some time to myself.

	"Of course, it says here . . . "  He pointed to the Book of Lum before 
flipping it open to a section near the start.  "The fact that she did THAT 
to the Goddess made the Niphentaxians call her 'the Great Evil's Most 
Powerful and Loyal.'  Wonder what they meant by calling Tampopo-chan THAT?!  
Anyhow . . . 'So villainous in her contempt of the Blessed Goddess, so 
passionate in defending the Vile One within the bounds of her dark 
establishment, that . . . ' -- this is Satoshi writing, by the way -- 'I can 
but pray that the One Above even the Most Holy of Holies . . . ' -- that's 
another way of addressing Lum, I believe -- 'Will strike the Beast down with 
Divine Retribution.'"

	He put the Book on a table.  "Darling . . . " Ran/Lum pleaded, hoping to 
turn him away from WHATEVER madness he was charging into.  "Please!  You've 
got to believe me!  You can't accept what those monsters say as the truth!"

	"Well, then, what the hell was I SUPPOSED to accept, Lum?!" he snapped.

	"Lum, why have you never told us about these people?" Shinobu asked.

	Ran/Lum shuddered before looking down.  "I hate them . . . "

	"Yeah."  Ataru then gazed at Shinobu.  "You see, Shinobu, five years ago, 
some dictator somewhere -- Vos, was it? -- decided he was going to 
assassinate Lum and her family as an example to one of his enemies.  Matter 
of fact, I think it might've been Nassur he was trying to send a 'message' 
to.  Oogi got wind of it.  Being the faithful man he is, he turned around 
and DID something!  Wanna know what he did?!  He sent an interplanetary 
ballistic missile to this place's capital city.  It was laden with a stew of 
stuff.  Um, let's see . . . "  He hummed.  "Oh, yeah!  There was anthrax, 
influenza, hepatitis, Hifuto syndrome -- that's the outer-space version of 
Ebola, I think -- plus lead oxide dust.  Vosians, you see, are VERY 
vulnerable to lead.  And, well, the missile hit the city . . . "  Ataru 
leaned close to Shinobu.  "And five million people died."

	"Five million . . .?" Shinobu hoarsely exclaimed.

	"Yeah."  Ataru waved his hand before his face.  "You know, I wonder what 
the smell must've been like in Lecashuto.  All those dead and decaying 
bodies.  The old, the young, all the people in between, what animals 
might've died . . .!  Whoo, that must've been ripe!"  He then glanced at 
Ran, all emotion draining from his eyes.  "But not, I believe, as ripe as 
what I smelled on Okusei.  And Tunchusei.  And Kurrusei.  And Noukiios 
itself."

	Ran turned sheet-white.  "You went to . . .?"

	"Hai.  My trip to Phentax Two was informative.  But I'm sure you'll agree 
with me that going to the Dominion and seeing how much your people FUCKED 
them over -- well, that was MORE informative."  He shook his head as he 
glared Ran down.  "You people.  You just couldn't swallow your pride.  You 
took advantage of a culture FIVE times older than yours in a moment of 
weakness, and THEN you subjugated them for a CENTURY on their own home 
planet!  THEN, when they threw you off, you just couldn't stand the FACT 
that they rejected the GREAT Oni Empire for . . . "  He gasped in 
exaggeration, clapping his cheeks.  "Horrors!  Their OWN way of governing?!  
Not for ONCE accepting what the 'smarter' Onis taught them in their century 
of so-called 'benevolent rule?!'  How TERRIBLE!"  He then pointed an 
accusing finger at her.  "So you tried to starve them out!  And you slapped 
on who knows what sort of trade sanctions to force them to give up those 
colony planets -- which were Noukiios' BY RIGHT OF TREATY, by the way! -- 
and even persuaded your friends in the Galactic Federation that the 
Noukiites were the bad guys, no different than the Ipraedies or the 
Seifukusu themselves!

	"And you WONDER why is it they finally decided to lash back at you when 
they finally got the chance?!" he snarled.  "You WONDER why they decided to 
detonate an anti-matter bomb in the middle of Onishuto to wipe out your 
leaders?!  You WONDER why ALL the citizens' militias on Machibusu and 
elsewhere are being slaughtered wholesale, even the CHILDREN?!"

	Everyone stared dumbstruck at Ataru.  Ran -- or was it Lum? -- tried to say 
SOMETHING to counter what he just revealed.  Ataru blinked before taking on 
that detached look as he backed away from her.  "Well, what do you really 
care?  You showed you were no better than the rest of your people at the 
Second Tag Race, you and the floozy airhead whose body you're borrowing.  
And you now wonder why is it someone in the Middle East decided to issue a 
fatwâ that demanded you DIE for what happened in that garbage with the 
space-taxi all those months ago?!  The fatwâ that saw four guys who loved 
you DIE?!  The fatwâ that killed Ryuunosuke's dad and Nagisa, not to mention 
two others . . . "

	"And your parents."

	Ataru turned on Shinobu.  She jolted, sensing a cyclone of rage appear in 
his eyes.  She found herself rooted in place, realising she just said 
something VERY stupid.  He stared at her before his face softened.  "Yeah.  
Them, too."  He turned to Ryuunosuke, his eyebrow arching.  "You want to 
know why I came on Monday to help out with the mess Ibrahim-san made?  You 
really want to know?"

	"W-well . . . " the tomboy stammered, shrugging.  "Um, yeah!  Sure!"

	He gave her an "Aw, shucks!" gesture.  "I guess I disappointed you.  After 
all, if I *didn't* show up, you would've AUTOMATICALLY turned around and 
blamed that on ME.  Just like you've blamed EVERYTHING ELSE on me, too!  It 
says it right in the Book, there."  He pointed to the Book of Lum.  "I 
figured that if I did show up, use the skills Onee-chan taught me . . . "  
He waved at Negako.  "Then you wouldn't blame me.  Oh!"  He then shook his 
head.  "How stupid I was!  You don't want to blame yourselves.  It's not 
Tomobiki's way.  It's always gotta be MY fault!  Well, then . . . "  He 
shrugged.  "Knowing you guys, you'll probably get around to putting the 
blame on me sooner or later."

	He walked towards the door, Negako moving to follow.  The others watched 
him go, they rooted in place.  Ataru stopped, he turning to stare at them.  
"If, on the VERY rare chance you decide I don't deserve blame for what 
happened, don't come looking for me to apologise.  I will not accept it.  
You'll be turned away every time by whatever force is needed.  For you see, 
I am now of the opinion that the sooner you all DIE, the sooner EVERYONE in 
this hellhole DIES, the better off the human race will be."  His eyes fell 
on Ran, they narrowing.

	"Especially you, Lum."

	"Darling . . . "

	"Let's go, Onee-chan."

	They walked through the doors.  The doors closed.  Mendou raced to pursue.  
Flinging open the doors, he stopped on seeing nothing but the outer atrium 
of the Mendou mansion, no sign that Ataru or Negako had been there.  "Gone . 
. . "

	Twin screams of heart-shattering pain then diverted his attention back as 
Ran and Shinobu collapsed to their knees, they wailing as the finality of 
what just happened sank in.  Ryuunosuke and Mendou immediately moved to 
comfort them.  Sakura stared at the place Ataru had just been before turning 
to look on Cherry.  "What could have happened to make him be like THAT, 
Uncle?!" she wondered.

	"I cannot begin to guess, my niece."  He shook his head, and then lowered 
his eyes.  "But even if he would reject it, we must pray for him."

*    *    *

	"Mistress . . . "

	"Ye gods!" Mendou Ryooko gasped as Ataru's harsh words echoed again and 
again through her mind.  She had heard everything that had been in the 
sitting room thanks to a Kuroko who had a portable microphone/receiver 
attached to a transmitter that had beamed those words straight into her 
study.  "Moroboshi-sama, what's happened to you?" she wondered as she sank 
into her chair.

	"Your orders, Mistress?" a Kuroko gently inquired.

	She considered that question, and then she breathed out, "As soon as 
possible, I wish to see that book Moroboshi-sama mentioned."  Disbelief 
flashed across her face as the true meat of Ataru's words roiled deep in her 
mind.  "Imagine that!" she exclaimed.  "A RELIGION based on things Onii-san, 
Lum-san's friends and others wrote about her?!  And they believed so much in 
it that they were willing to slaughter five million people just to protect 
their 'goddess?!'"

	"Truly disturbing, Mistress," another Kuroko noted.

	"We shall retrieve the Book of Lum immediately," the first vowed.

	"Thank you," Ryooko acknowledged that with a nod.

*    *    *

	"So where the hell did you go, Negako-san?"

	Negako glanced at Nabiki, Akane and Chigaiko; she had just been teleported 
to the old shrine in Nerima a minute before.  "There was a matter in 
Tomobiki that required my attention," she stated, and then her eyes fixed on 
the Tomobiki native.  "If you desire to know, Chigaiko, Ran has returned."

	Chigaiko's eyes narrowed.  "What the hell is THAT bitch doing here?!  I 
thought the United Nations made sure they'd never come back!"

	"Who IS Ran, anyway?" Akane asked.

	"Aruka Ran.  A former classmate of Lum's," Nabiki automatically provided; 
this was information Marubeya Momoe had given her long ago.  "Acts like Miss 
Sweet-and-Nice most of the time, but she's got a mean streak a kilometre 
wide and she loves using bazookas and doll-bombs.  Don't know why, but she 
came to Earth originally to seek revenge on Lum.  I also know that one of 
the ways she loved to antagonize Lum was to flirt with Ataru-kun."

	"I doubt she will be as much a 'pain' as she was before, Nabiki," Negako 
reported.  Seeing Nabiki gaze curiously at her, she added, "Rei is dead."

	Akane stared at Nabiki.  "Who's Rei?"

	"Seq Rei, Lum's old boyfriend.  He later came to be very close to Ran," the 
middle Tendou daughter explained.  "He was even more gorgeous than 
Kunou-chan, but dumber than a brick.  He was a metamorph, too; turned into a 
tiger-striped bull as big as a pick-up truck.  Even more, he had an appetite 
that put Ranma-kun's AND his father's TOGETHER to shame."

	Akane weakly nodded.  "Oh!"  *Someone whose appetite was bigger than 
Ranma's AND Genma's put together?!*  She boggled.  *Impossible!*

	Chigaiko shook her head, crossing her arms.  "All the food vendors in 
Tomobiki will jump for joy on hearing that one."

	Akane stared at her.  "You really don't like them, do you?"

	"Nope.  And . . . "  Chigaiko took a deep breath before she shrugged.  "I 
really don't know, Akane-san.  I wish they'd be gone forever from our lives, 
but I wouldn't wish them dead.  What's going to happen to Ran, Negako-san?"

	"Since she clearly has no home on Uru, Ran could be accorded war refugee 
status on Earth," Negako explained.  "She will be denied the chance to 
access elements of Urusian technology.  The Special Committee on Alien 
Activities can assist, as can the Holy Inquisition of Zephyrus.  Since Ran 
could easily pass as a normal Terran girl if she had to, the disguise is 
further enhanced."

	Chigaiko tensed.  "Would she think of going after Ataru-kun?"

	"No.  With Lum dead, Ran's need for revenge is nullified.  Further, Ran's 
grief at Rei's death is too overwhelming to allow her to seek Ataru.  Even 
if Ataru learned of the level of abuse Ran's mother unleashed on her when 
she was a child, I do not believe he would desire to have anything more to 
do with her."

	"Not that what Ani-kun told those fools in Tomobiki wouldn't deter her 
enough.  Eh, Ane-kun?" a voice echoed from the shadows.

	Chigaiko and the Tendou sisters screamed out, they spinning around as the 
shadows melted into a purple-haired girl dressed in dark clothes, a white 
cape draped over her shoulders.  "Was it difficult, Chikage?" Negako asked.

	"Not really."  The newcomer held up several spheroid devices, each pierced 
by a pointed cross-like weapon shaped like the crosses on her cape.  "From 
what I could tell, the grounds were littered with these things.  I only 
retrieved those in the room where you and Ani-kun met the others, plus those 
in the surrounding rooms.  Who placed them there in the first place, 
Ane-kun?"

	"A group of people who do not like Ataru," Negako replied.

	"Oh."

*    *    *

	"LOST?!"

	"Yes, sir," the technician reported.  "I tried to tap into our listening 
devices at the Fifth Holy Apostle's mansion in hopes of hearing what the 
Great Evil and his companion had to say to the Holy Company, but . . . "  He 
waved helplessly at the readout on the screen.  "The devices in the Fifth 
Apostle's private atrium went off-line as soon as they arrived!"

	Blinking, the senior officer then sighed.  "How's that possible?"

	The technician shook his head.  "I can't say, sir."

*    *    *

	A knock.  "Nii-sama, are you there?  Nii-sama?"

	The door opened, revealing Shirayuki.  She looked in to see Ataru on his 
bed; he had returned to the Island fifteen minutes before.  He was gazing 
out the window, a lost look on his face.  Tears glistened in his eyes.  The 
chef walked in to place a hand on his shoulder.  "What's wrong?!  Are you 
okay?!"

	Ataru started before staring quizzically at his sister.  A hand absently 
slipped up to give hers a thankful squeeze.  "Y-yeah, I'm okay," he assured 
her before turning to gaze out the window again.  "Is lunch ready, 
Shirayuki-chan?"

	"I . . . "  Shirayuki blinked, a chill racing through her.  "In about an 
hour or so, Nii-sama.  Do you want some tea?" she then asked.

	He looked at her with a wan smile.  "Yeah, that'd be nice.  Thanks."

	She withdrew, closing the door behind her.  Turning around, Shirayuki 
nearly leapt out of her dress on seeing Yotsuba standing there, an intent 
look on the detective's face.  "What's with Ani-chama?" Yotsuba demanded.

	Taking several breaths to calm herself, Shirayuki then glared Yotsuba down. 
  "Yotsuba-chan, stop doing that to Hime!" she snapped.

	"What's going on?"

	Both turned to see Ranma standing by the doors to the dining room.  "Oh, 
Nee-sama!  There you are!" Shirayuki called out as she walked up to her.  
"Will you PLEASE have a talk with Nii-sama?  Something's really bothering 
him!"

	Seeing the panic in her eyes, Ranma placed her hands on the chef's 
shoulders.  "Okay, I'll look in on him, Shirayuki-chan."

	"Oh!  Arigatou desu no, Nee-sama!"

	"And YOU!"  Ranma spun on Yotsuba, pointing a warning finger her way.  
"Don't you DARE eavesdrop on us!  Got me?!"

	The detective rapidly nodded.  "H-h-hai!"

	"Good!"

	Ranma walked past them to Ataru's room.  Shirayuki and Yotsuba watched her 
go, and then the former grabbed the latter by the arm.  "C'mon!" she called 
out as she pulled Yotsuba towards the kitchen.  "You can help Hime in the 
kitchen!"

	"Hey!" Yotsuba yelped as she was dragged off.

*    *    *

	Ranma walked into Ataru's bedroom.  She then stopped on seeing him sitting 
on his bed.  She gazed on him a moment before striding over.  As he turned 
to look at her, her hand lashed out to slam into his cheek, the blow nearly 
sending him into the wall.  "***YOU IDIOT!***" she snapped as he collapsed, 
and then she grabbed him by the collar to yank him up.  "What's the hell's 
wrong with you?!"

	He stared at her, and then his head drooped, tears streaming down his 
cheeks.  The hot flash of anger that just exploded from Ranma's heart 
quickly faded.  She lowered him to the bed.  "Ataru, please!  I'm sorry, but 
will you freakin' WAKE UP and see what you're doing to your own FAMILY?!"  
She shook his shoulders before kneeling in front of him.  "Ataru, what . . 
.?"

	Her voice halted on seeing the helpless look cross his face.  "I have no 
choice, Ranma . . . " escaped from his lips.  "I'm trapped . . . "

	"Trapped?!" she demanded.  "How?"

	He wiped his eyes.  "I . . . "  He looked at his hands.  "I didn't know 
what to do, Ranma . . .!  I just didn't know what to do . . .!  Onee-chan 
got there before me.  Sakura and Cherry freaked out when they sensed what 
Onee-chan was.  I dropped them both, and then Lum nearly broke my back when 
she hugged me.  I pried her off.  Mendou went crazy, so I blew up his damned 
sword and I . . . "

	His voice faded as a whimper escaped him.  Ranma stared at him.  Shifting 
herself onto the bed, she drew him close.  As muffled sobs escaped from him, 
she reached up to gently stroke his hair.  "You hate them, don't you?"

	A minute passed before he pulled away to gaze into her eyes.  "I really 
don't know what to feel about them now," he admitted, turning away from her. 
  Slowly rising, he walked to the window to stare outside.  "On the one 
hand, I . . . I know I did a lot of stupid things when I was living in 
Tomobiki.  I can accept that, Ranma.  I really can.  But . . . "  He quaked 
before turning back to her.  "I got there and they started laying into me 
about Onee-chan and . . . and I . . . "  He lowered his head, looking away.

	"Did they all do that to you?"

	"No, no . . . "  He shook his head.  "It was just Sakura and Cherry.  And 
deep down, I understand why.  They . . . "  He bit his lip.  "They know most 
of the story behind the Saikoo Jinseijitsu, but they never knew what 
happened five years ago.  Instant they learned, Sakura went on a bend, 
wondering if I'd totally lost my mind letting Onee-chan free out of my head 
to live her own life.  And there's Cherry trying to 'exorcise' Onee-chan's 
spirit out of her body.  Shinobu was wondering why I wasn't listening to 
Sakura and . . . "

	He threw up his hands.  Ranma slowly nodded.  "You cut loose on them?"

	"Oh, yeah.  That I did."  Ataru wryly chuckled as he leaned his head on the 
window.  "I told them about the Niphentaxians.  I told them about what I saw 
on Noukiios and elsewhere.  Tore into Lum, tore into Ran, tore into every 
last one of them.  And then . . . "  He sniffed before a pained chuckle 
escaped him.  "I told them that I wanted them all to die, to stay out of my 
life.  And just when Chikage teleported Onee-chan and I out of there, I 
heard Lum and Shinobu scream out . . . "  He squeezed his eyes shut.  "Damn 
me . . . "

	Silence fell as Ataru walked back to the bed.  Sitting, he reached into his 
nightstand to draw out some tissue.  "Why?" Ranma asked.

	He shrugged.  "I don't know.  I . . . "  He paused before sighing, gazing 
at the door to his bedroom.  "It was because of them, I guess."

	"The sisters?"

	"Yeah."  He sucked in his breath before staring once more at her.  "I don't 
want to lose them, Ranma.  I never, EVER, in a million years want to lose 
them.  But . . . "  He looked away.  "I'm afraid, Ranma.  I really am . . . 
"

	She reached over to squeeze his shoulders.  "That the folks in Tomobiki are 
gonna do something to make the girls turn away from you?"

	He slowly nodded.  "Yeah.  And what's worse, it's . . . "  He took in 
another deep breath.  "It's *Lum,* Ranma.  If Lum wasn't involved in this, I 
wouldn't be so scared.  At least, I hope I wouldn't be so scared.  But . . . 
"  He shuddered.  "Even as she is now, without her own body, stuck in the 
back of Ran's mind . . . what does she want, Ranma?  Does she still want to 
be with me?  If that happens to us, what about the girls?  We . . . "

	He buried his face in his hands, a moan drifting through his fingers.  She 
gazed on him before moving to draw him into her arms.  They remained in 
place for a few minutes, and then Ranma reached up to draw his hands away 
from his face.  "Ataru?  Do you still love Lum?"

	Ataru sighed, shaking his head.  "Not anymore."

	"So you're afraid she'll press you like she did before, right?  Do anything 
she can to make you come back to her, right?"

	He slowly nodded.  "Yeah."

	Ranma considered that.  "I can see why you're scared."

	He nodded again.  "Yeah.  The last few weeks . . . especially the week 
before I met you . . . "  A pause.  "Well, it was more than just a week to 
me.  I went to a place called 'Sanctuary.'  It's a time-space nexus, where 
the normal rules of time don't apply.  I . . . "  He took a breath, wiping 
his eyes with the palm of his hand.  "I lost track of the time I stayed 
there, Ranma.  It was . . . "  Another pause.  "Quite a while, I confess."  
A wry chuckle.  "And while I was there, I learned things.  About me, about 
Lum and her people, about Grandma.  And I . . . "  He squeezed his eyes 
shut.  "I don't know what to do now, Ranma.  What do I say to them?"  He 
nodded to the doorway.  "What do I keep quiet about?  This . . . oh, gods!  
It's so damned complicated!  It's . . . "

	His voice failed, and then he leaned his forehead into his hands.  She 
gazed on him before breathing out, "You gotta tell someone.  And if this 
affects the girls, you HAVE to tell them everything," she whispered, 
reaching over to squeeze his shoulders.  "Look, if you're uncomfortable 
telling them some things, tell ME about it.  Maybe I can help you deal with 
them.  Please?"

	Silence fell as he considered that, and then he looked up at her.  His 
mouth twitched slightly into a smile.  "I did tell you the worst of it," he 
admitted.  "But . . . it's a matter of degrees, isn't it?" he then asked.

	"I'm not going anywhere," she vowed.

*    *    *

	"Sokomade!"

	Akane jolted on hearing Negako's voice.  Pausing for a moment to bring 
herself down from the adrenaline high sparring gave her, she lowered her 
arms, a deep breath escaping her as Nabiki took a step back.  Watching the 
sisters relax, the ninjutsu grandmaster stepped up to stand between them.  
"You need to work harder on controlling your temper."  Negako gazed 
clinically at Akane.  "Allowing your emotions to influence your actions, 
especially in a battle situation, can guarantee you a very quick defeat.  
Remember that."

	"H-h-hai," Akane stuttered, her head bobbing in acknowledgement.

	Negako turned to the middle Tendou daughter.  "Refrain from employing what 
demonstration katas you designed in a free spar.  It makes you predictable 
in the long term.  That is a habit that hurt you gravely in the past.  
Understood?"

	Realising her teacher was referring to the incident five years before that 
initially forced her out of martial arts, Nabiki nodded.  "Hai, I 
understand."

	The front gate then opened, causing them to turn and look.  "This the 
place?" a familiar voice heralded the arrival of Hiroshi.  He then noticed 
who was standing on the lawn.  "Hey!  This must be the place!"  He pushed 
the door open further, allowing Daisuke, Sayuri and Yuka to follow him 
inside.

	Akane beamed on seeing her friends.  "Hi, everyone!"

	The new arrivals boggled on seeing Akane whole and intact from what Ranma 
did to her.  "Akane-chan, what happened?!" Sayuri cried, jogging over to 
give Akane's once-broken arm an inspection.  "How'd you get the cast off so 
fast?!"

	"Thanks to Negako-san."  Akane waved to the ninjutsu grandmaster.

	She proceeded to do introductions.  Daisuke and Hiroshi both perked on 
remembering to whom Negako was related to.  "You're Ataru-kun's sister?!"  
The former shifted to give their host a close inspection.  "So we hear he 
might be coming to Fuurinkan next week!  Does he still have those black bo- 
. . . urk!"

	He dropped to the ground thanks to a punch from Sayuri.  "Ataru no longer 
possesses his collection of notes concerning his female acquaintances from 
Tomobiki," Negako replied.  "He burned them shortly after he departed 
Tomobiki."

	Nabiki blinked, stunned to hear THIS titbit about Ataru.  "Why?!"

	Negako lightly shrugged.  "He had his reasons, Nabiki.  One of them is that 
the girls of Tomobiki no longer gave him any emotional satisfaction, even 
the ones said to have been 'very close' to him such as Miyake Shinobu."  
Sensing Chigaiko step out of the old shrine with a pitcher of ice tea and 
some glasses, the grandmaster moved to make the Tomobiki native's presence 
known.  "As a matter of fact, the only person from Tomobiki whom Ataru likes 
without reservation is Chigaiko here.  Like he, Chigaiko wisely chose to 
move out of Tomobiki when the opportunity presented itself."  She glanced at 
Ataru's old classmate, who blushed in return, before performing 
introductions.

	Everyone then headed into the living room.  "How come you're using an old 
shrine as your house, Moroboshi-sensei?" Sayuri asked, glancing around the 
bare walls.  "There are other properties for sale around Nerima, after all."

	"Do not call me 'Sensei,' Sayuri," Negako instructed, that causing the 
newcomers' eyes to widen.  The grandmaster continued, "The shrine offers as 
much land as the Tendou property for training, plus possesses enough 
interior space to house our siblings when they come to visit Tokyo for 
shopping trips."

	Hiroshi perked.  "Ataru-kun has other sisters?"

	"Twelve of them."  Negako gave him a knowing stare.  "And no, they are not 
interested in dating anyone, Hiroshi."

	That comment sent Hiroshi and Daisuke's heads slamming into the coffee 
table.  Akane, Sayuri and Yuka fell over laughing while Nabiki and Chigaiko 
exchanged a knowing look and grin.  As conversation then picked up between 
the soon-to-be Fuurinkan sophomores, Negako headed into the kitchen.  Nabiki 
followed her, stopping at the doorway to see Negako preparing tea with what 
appeared to be hand-made bags.  Stepping closer, she took a sniff of the 
strange brew before recoiling.  "Eeew!  What is that stuff, anyway?!"

	"A special Zephyrite herbal solution mixed with Essiac tea.  It is for 
Chigaiko," Negako explained.

	Nabiki's eyes widened.  "Why?"

	"Near-terminal acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia."

	Silence.

	"Ye gods . . . "  Nabiki's hand covered her mouth, and then she leaned 
closer to the grandmaster.  "Does she know?" she hissed.

	"No," Negako explained.  "Chigaiko knows she possesses anaemia, but she 
does not realise it has progressed to that stage.  I would desire her to not 
know the truth.  I am progressing with a remedy that will restore her to a 
nominal level of health within several weeks.  However, such cannot succeed 
if she is informed of the severity of her condition.  Understood?"

	The middle Tendou daughter considered that before nodding.  "Gotcha."

	"Sufficient."  Negako finished her preparations.  Placing the teacup on a 
tray, she then gazed curiously on Nabiki.  "Nabiki, why was Akane never 
informed of the three times she accidentally struck Yuka with her ki-mallet 
during the month before Ranma and Genma came to your home?"

	The whole room, to Nabiki, went dark as Negako's tonally flat question 
punched right into the depths of her heart.  The middle Tendou daughter 
stared in dumbfounded shock at her host, she stunned on realising Negako's 
ability to discern a person's past through her body's ki signature had told 
her THAT.  In a flash, Nabiki scrambled to the kitchen door to close it, and 
then she zipped back to stare into Negako's eyes.  "How the hell did you 
know THAT?!" she hissed, barely containing her urge to scream.

	Negako sighed.  "Nabiki, you know the answer to that question."

	Nabiki jerked.  Negako remained in place, an amused smirk crossing her face 
as she watched the other's antics.  Finally, Nabiki straightened herself.  
"Alright, I know about that!" she said.  "But those times were 
**accidents!**  They happened when Kunou-chan was being more of a jerk than 
usual when it came to trying to 'win' Akane-chan over.  I know that.  Tokoro 
knows that.  She never once felt it necessary to come after Akane-chan 
because of that!"

	"Most likely because she was a relatively new student at Fuurinkan at the 
time of these 'accidents' and desired to be part of what she perceived as 
the 'in' crowd.  Further, with Ranma's arrival on the scene, Akane's anger 
was redirected onto a new target.  It appears I will have to do some more 
work to ensure Akane breaks free of that particular habit of hers once and 
for all."

	With that, she picked up Chigaiko's tea, and then headed back into the 
living room.  Nabiki watched her go, a wary look on her face.

*    *    *

	"Juhzi?"

	"Huh?"  A hunky, dull-looking teenager with tapered ears looked up from the 
manga he was reading.  "What is it, Makasai?"

	"Have you seen my copy of the Book?" a plain-looking girl, also possessing 
tapered ears, asked.  She was standing at the doorway of her fellow 
observer's bedroom.  That was located in a nondescript apartment block 
located in the west part of Tomobiki not three blocks from the main entrance 
of the Mendou estate.  "I left it on my nightstand last night and it's not 
there now," she then added.

	Juhzi shook his head.  "I didn't see anyone go into your room, Makasai," he 
admitted, rising to head over to his nightstand, where a copy of the Book of 
Lum lay.  "You sure you left it there?" he asked as he handed the Book to 
her.

	"I'll look for it later," she vowed, nodding as she took it from him.

*    *    *

	"Ohayou, Ryooko-san."

	Mendou Ryooko gasped as that soft voice tickled her ear.  She spun around 
in her chair to see a woman draped in a hooded white cape with stylized 
crosses standing at the entrance to her private study.  The half-dozen 
Kuroko nearly leapt out of their costumes and masks on seeing the newcomer, 
who hadn't been there a second before.  Ryooko blinked, instantly impressed 
by the visitor's sense of the dramatic.  Her eyes then widened as 
recognition dawned on her.

	"Hirosaki Chikage, I presume," she declared, rising to give the visitor a 
nod.  A hand-gesture from the younger Mendou made the Kuroko relax.  "One 
day soon to become Moroboshi Chikage," she then added.

	"The same," Chikage acknowledged with a smile as she reached into her cape 
to draw out a book.  "I believe you're looking for a copy of this."

	Ryooko's eyes widened automatically on seeing the title, written in stylish 
kana and kanji, on the cover.  "How . . .?" she gasped.

	Chikage held up a hand.  "Just a moment."

	The sorceress then drew out a handful of her favoured cross-shaped 
pendants.  A flick of the wrist later, they flew off to insert themselves in 
various nooks and crannies all over the study.  Seconds later, they returned 
to Chikage's hand, each now impaled on a spheroid-shaped device, the latter 
making Ryooko's eyes go VERY wide.   "What . . .?" the younger Mendou 
gasped.

	"To ensure our words remain private," Chikage asserted as she slipped her 
pendants into her cape.  She handed Makasai's copy of the Book of Lum to her 
host.  "Almost everyone in Tomobiki has been spied on via devices like this 
by Ani-kun's recent 'acquaintances' since after Lum came to live here 
full-time."

	Ryooko blinked, her mind nearly coming to a complete stop on hearing that 
assertion.  Chikage tried not to smirk too much on seeing her reaction; no 
doubt, learning that her own private sanctum had been so easily invaded -- 
and by people whose very existence had been totally unknown to her until 
this very day! -- had just hit the poor girl hard.  "You best take some time 
to read that," Chikage advised as she turned to leave, her finger indicating 
the Book.  "I suspect you have ways to look in on your own brother's diary 
if you so desired to do so.  Take note of the differences between what your 
brother's written and what's written there.  Once you understand that, 
you'll understand a lot of what's happened to Ani-kun since he came to the 
Island to live with us."

	"Er . . .!"  Ryooko then cleared her throat.  "Thank you, Chikage-san."

	"You're welcome."  Chikage then stopped before she glanced over her 
shoulder at the younger Mendou.  "A word of advice, Ryooko-san:  Don't think 
of drawing Ani-kun into your silly little games from this day on.  Speaking 
for my sisters, we WILL hold a grudge if you do."

	In a blink, she was gone.  Ryooko stared at the empty space Chikage just 
occupied before her eyes turned to gaze on the Book of Lum.

*    *    *

	The door to Ataru's room opened.  Ranma closed the door behind her before 
walking into the dining room.  She stopped on seeing the sisters save 
Chikage there, worry etched on all their faces.  A glance at the clock 
mounted on one wall indicated that it had been an hour since Ranma had gone 
in to see Ataru.

	"Onee-sama . . .?"  Sakuya rose.  "Is he alright?"

	Ranma sighed.  "He's getting there."

	Hinako sniffed.  "Why won't Onii-tama tell us what's wrong?"

	Ranma gazed on the youngest of the sisters, and then she walked over to sit 
beside her.  Gently grasping Hinako's hands, the martial artist drew them 
close.  "Hinako-chan, it's not that Ataru doesn't want to tell you what's 
happened."  She took a deep breath.  "It's just that he's afraid you all 
would take it the wrong way and come to hate him . . .!"

	"NO!" Hinako screamed, shaking her head as she swamped Ranma with an 
embrace.  "HINA'LL NEVER HATE ONII-TAMA!  Onii-tama . . .!"

	Sobs stole her voice.  Karen walked over to draw Hinako away from Ranma, 
taking her to a nearby couch so she could cry.  "Anegimi-sama, you HAVE to 
tell us SOMETHING!" Haruka pleaded.  "Anything!  Tell us something, please!"

	Looking at their pleading faces, Ranma took a deep breath.  "Alright . . . 
"  She nodded.  "I'll give you the basics, but that's as far as I'll go 
right now.  Hopefully, what hurt Ataru won't come back to hurt you.  That's 
the biggest thing he's worried about.  And with Lum back . . . "  She paused 
before looking down.  "He's afraid that Lum or one of those people in 
Tomobiki will do something that'll hurt you.  And if that happens . . . "  
Her voice faded, and then she shook her head.  "I don't know how he'll 
react."

	Silence fell as the sisters considered that.  Sakuya walked over to kneel 
beside Ranma.  "Onee-sama, what can you tell us?"

	Sighing, Ranma began.

*    *    *

	"I can't begin to believe it was THAT bad!"

	"Believe it."  Negako placed a cup of Marie's favoured cherry tea before 
Chikage, and then she sat across from her.  Chigaiko was at Tampopo's 
enjoying lunch.  The Tendou sisters and their friends had gone home for the 
day.

	The sorceress grimaced.  "I suspected a lot of what Ani-kun went through," 
she admitted.  "But to be proven right so much . . . "  Her voice trailed 
off, and then she drank her tea.  "Lum's return is not the thing Ani-kun 
needs now."

	"Yes, she is the primary chink in Ataru's emotional armour," the ninjitsu 
grandmaster mused, glancing heavenward.  "Still . . . "

	"You believe something will make this situation better?"

	"Yes.  It must be done delicately, but I believe we can endure this."  
Negako sighed.  "Ataru understands that very much.  He wants to tell all of 
you.  But how could Hinako, Aria or Kaho, much less the others, truly 
understand it?"

	"You have a point, Ane-kun."  Chikage rose to leave, keeping her teacup in 
hand.  "And yes, our relationship to Ani-kun might prove a source of trouble 
to all of us.  That I certainly foresee, especially given what these 
Niphentaxians are supposedly like.  But . . . "  She paused before a smile 
crossed her face.  "Ani-kun needs to understand that we will never turn away 
from him."

	"I do not believe I can help there."

	"Ranma-anekun could."

	Both gazed on the other.  Negako's eyebrow arched.  "Sanctuary?"

	Chikage grimly nodded.  "The sooner Ane-kun can truly look on herself in 
the mirror and understand who and what she is, the better for her AND 
Ani-kun.  In the meantime, I believe Sakuya and I can do something to derail 
Lum until such time as whatever you just sensed can help."

	She teleported away.  Negako lightly smiled.

*    *    *

	"Onii-chan . . .!"

	A chorus of stunned looks fell on Ranma.  Hinako sat in her lap.  "He 
FOUGHT with the Noukiites against the Onis?!" Rinrin demanded.

	"But Aniue-sama said the Noukiites practised slavery!" Marie stated.  "Why 
in the name of Heaven would he support THEM?!"

	Ranma took in a deep breath.  "Ataru found out that in the greater scheme 
of things, they're the lesser of two evils, Marie-chan."

	Mamoru crossed her arms.  "I'd sure like that proven."

	Haruka shook her head.  "Did Anigimi-sama learn of things that would cast 
Lum-san's people in such a light, Anegimi-sama?"

	"Yes, he did.  A lot of things."  Ranma nodded before noisily exhaling.  
"And in finding out those things, whatever feelings he had for Lum 
ultimately took a BIG hit.  And it just piled on and on and on until . . . "

	She shrugged.  "Onii-tama said Lum-san wasn't bad!" Hinako protested.

	"Yeah.  And he believes, even now, that she never got directly involved in 
any of that stuff, Hinako-chan.  But . . . "  Ranma paused before staring at 
the others.  "Look at it from Lum's direction.  She nearly gets killed when 
one of her people's oldest enemies blows up her planet's capital.  She loses 
her family and a lot of friends.  Along the way, Ran loses her boyfriend to 
that very same enemy.  So they came here to seek refuge and escape.  Neither 
Lum nor Ran had any idea about what Ataru's been through.  Suddenly, they 
get back together and . . . "  She shrugged.  "What do you think might 
happen if Lum finds out that her 'Darling' had sided with the Noukiites, a 
race the Urusians have been brainwashed to believe were barbarians, against 
her own people?  Well?"

	The sisters considered that.  Kaho sniffed.  "Onii-chama . . . "

	"So what do we do?" Yotsuba wondered.

	A stony grimace crossed Sakuya's face.  "I know what we can do," she 
announced, turning to leave before seeing Chikage by the door enjoying tea.  
"Chikage . . .!" she hissed, and then she looked at Haruka.  "You, too!"

	Haruka nodded.  "Hai!"

*    *    *

	"You feeling okay now, Lum-chan?"

	*N-n-no . . . * a trembling voice echoed inside Ran's mind as the Seishin 
teen relaxed in her living room, a cup of tea in hand.  *H-how could 
D-darling say those a-awful things . . .?  H-how could D-d-darling believe 
all that g-g-garbage Oogi put out in that st-st-stupid book . . .?!*

	Ran sighed.  "Maybe you should've told him about those idiots . . . "

	"Agreed.  Honest communication would have helped, Aruka-san."

	Gasping, Ran spun out of her chair, shocked on seeing a hooded figure 
standing behind her, the newcomer's dark eyes glaring her down.  Fear 
quickly vanished as righteous anger took over, the alien teen grabbing her 
bazooka out of a handy warp-space pocket.  Before it could be put to use, a 
flash of light saw the weapon sliced in half.  Ran then cried out as the 
sharp edge of a naginata pressed against her neck.  Glancing right, she 
gargled on seeing a raven-haired girl in a pink-and-black hakama standing 
there, she holding the bladed halberd pressing against Ran's throat in one 
hand, a glittering war fan in the other.  "I suggest you don't move," the 
armed girl warned with a smile.

	A third girl, this one with stringy ponytails, then stepped into view.  "I 
believe we have their attention," she mused before she stared at the girl 
with the cape.  "Chikage, there some way you can block this bitch's powers?"

	Chikage chuckled.  "I doubt she would survive if she tried to use them on 
any of us, Sakuya.  Especially with Haruka's naginata at her throat."  She 
then stepped up to gaze knowingly into Ran's eyes.  "And especially given 
our relationship with Ani-kun," she added with an icy smile.

	Ran blinked, confusion slowly overcoming her.  "Wh-who . . .?"

	"We want to talk to the one inside you, Aruka-san," Sakuya warned.  "Feel 
free to listen in since what we have to say affects you, too."

	Silence fell.  Ran's facial demeanour then changed.  "How do you know . . 
.?" she asked in Lum's voice.  "Who are you people . . .?"

	"I'm sure this starship comes equipped with internal sensors, so when we 
finally leave, you can do a DNA scan and then do a parental comparison with 
your precious 'Darling,' Redet-san."  Sakuya smiled.  "Our half-brother."

	Ran's jaw opened.  She blinked, blinked again, and then stammered out in 
Lum's voice, "Y-y-you're Darling's s-s-sisters . . .?"

	"We are," Chikage stated.  "And we have come to give you a warning, 
Redet-san.  To you, to Aruka-san, to anyone else who might come from beyond 
Earth in your wake AND to those here in Tomobiki who might wish to support 
you."  She glared intently into Ran's eyes, causing the possessed Seishin 
teen to sink away from those burning orbs.  "It is this:  **Leave -- Ani-kun 
-- ALONE!**"

	"B-b-but . . .!" Ran/Lum stammered.

	"Are you hard of hearing?" Sakuya wondered.

	"I . . .!"

	Haruka smiled.  "Perhaps we should ask the Holy Inquisition to turn this 
thing over to the Noukiites and let them have their way with her."

	Ran paled.  "N-n-no . . .!"

	"Scares you, doesn't it?"  Sakuya smirked on seeing Ran look away.  "Good.  
After hearing of all the crap both of you heaped on Onii-sama, it's about 
time you got a taste of it in return.  Maybe it might teach you something."

	"B-but . . .!"

	"Shut up!" Sakuya barked, the snap in her voice causing Ran to duck.  "Let 
me make this VERY clear to the BOTH of you.  If you so much as even THINK of 
trying to hurt Onii-sama again -- either by yourself, your pals from outer 
space or running to the clods in this place and getting their help in this 
-- you'll be gift-wrapped and sent to the Holy Inquisition so fast, your 
head will spin!"

	"But Darling's . . .!"

	"Your husband?" Haruka wondered.  "Your fiancé?  There, you are VERY wrong, 
Redet-san.  Anigimi-sama was NEVER your fiancé!"

	"THAT'S NOT TRUE!" Ran/Lum screamed.

	"It is," Chikage countered.  "The leadership of our family passes from 
GRANDMOTHER to GRANDDAUGHTER.  In other words, from Nagaiwakai to Sakuya."  
She pointed to her sister.  "Sakuya is head-of-clan.  She has the right to 
decide to whom Ani-kun will marry.  Not you.  Further, you do not have Muchi 
or Kinshou to hide behind anymore.  You do not have Megane and his fools to 
hide behind.  Mendou Shuutarou is no longer relevant and I don't believe 
either Miyake Shinobu or Fujinami Ryuunosuke will be willing to help you, 
either.  AND you do not have your father . . . "  She leaned up.  "Much less 
Oogi and the Niphentaxians . . . "  She grinned on seeing Ran's eyes go VERY 
wide on hearing that.  "To hide behind, either!  You are alone.  And this 
time, Ani-kun is no longer interested in you!  His destiny . . . "  She 
backed away.  "Belongs now to another."

	Ran jolted before another shudder rocked her as the pressure of Haruka's 
naginata increased.  "Since it's inhumane to force you to leave while your 
planet is in the midst of war, you can stay," Sakuya stated.  "But if you 
screw up even ONCE, you're out of here.  For GOOD!  Believe me, Onii-sama 
will not shed a TEAR for you!"  She turned away from her.  "Let's go, 
girls!"

	Chikage waved her cape.  Ran automatically squeezed her eyes shut as the 
cape blanked out her vision.  She then opened them to find herself alone in 
her living room.  The panic she felt from facing the sisters quickly drained 
as she sank to her knees, she taking in ragged breaths to try to calm 
herself.  "L-Lum . . .?" she whispered, sensing herself back in control over 
her body.

	Silence answered.  Ran staggered to her feet, and then made her way into 
the ship's pilotage.  Sitting at the command chair, she tapped controls to 
draw up the ship's internal sensor logs.  The image of her and the sisters 
in the living room appeared on the screen before her.  She tapped commands 
to do a DNA scan of the three women.  The readouts came up.  Drawing up a 
memory file of Ataru's DNA, she did a comparison.  Ten seconds later, her 
eyes widened.  "Oh, Fates . . . "  She covered her mouth.  "It's all true . 
. .?"

	A *beep!* echoed from her communications board.  Ran tapped controls.  She 
then blinked before calling out, "Lum-chan, it's Benten."

	Silence.

	"Lum . . .?"

	A pained moan echoed in her mind.  *He hates me, Ran . . .!*

	Ran closed her eyes.  "Benten's calling, Lum."

	The moan faded.  *What do I do now?*

	Ran bit her lip.  "I don't know, Lum-chan."

*    *    *

	"WHAT?!"

	Nabiki and Akane leaned back from Souun as everyone relaxed in the sitting 
room of the Tendou home.  "Well, what did you expect us to do, Dad?" the 
former demanded as she crossed her arms.  "Just keep on waiting until 
doomsday?"

	Souun shuddered as her explanation sank in before he wailed, "Oh, 
Nabiki-chan!  How could you do this to your suffering father?!  To seek 
instruction from another master?!  Oh, the shame of it all!  The SHAME of it 
. . .!"

	*WHAP!*

	He was slammed into the table thanks to Happoosai.  "Quiet, boy!" the aged 
grandmaster snapped as he turned back to his tea.  "Considering how right 
she is about how LAZY you've become as of late, you've got no place to 
complain!"

	Kasumi came in, placing a plate of fruit on the table.  "I trust you girls 
enjoyed yourselves with Negako-san," the elder daughter said.

	Nabiki took up a watermelon slice to nibble on it.  "It was great."

	Akane picked up a slice of cantaloupe.  "It was instructive," she then 
admitted.  "I can't believe how many holes I've got in my basic defence 
stance.  That girl's a whirlwind!"  She then glared witheringly at Souun.  
"And I thought for all this time my defence WAS perfect!"

	Souun shuddered before sitting up and crossing his arms, assuming the 
demeanour of the sage teacher.  "Your defence IS perfect, Akane.  Besides, 
you were facing an entity that's a thousand years old.  Surely in all that 
time, that woman would learn all sorts of deception . . . "

	He gargled as Happoosai's battle aura flared.  "Are you saying that my 
friend is a LIAR, Souun?" the aged grandmaster growled.

	The Tendou patriarch prostrated himself before Happoosai, wailing a storm 
of profuse apologies.  Seeing this, Nabiki and Akane giggled.  "Actually, I 
think Negako-san could really pull a fast one on anybody," the former said 
before sipping her tea.  "She just doesn't see the need for it."

	The front gate then opened.  Kasumi rose.  "Oh, we have guests!"

	"Hello!" a familiar voice called out.  "Is anyone home?!"

	Akane stood up.  "Oh, it's Ranma!"

	Before his daughter could answer it, Souun was there, going into the Demon 
Head.  "***RANMA, HOW DARE YOU . . .?!***" he bellowed.

	To an empty courtyard.  "Eh?!"  Souun relaxed, glancing around in shocked 
surprise.  "Where did Ranma go . . .?!"

	"Boo!"

	He screamed, stumbling off the patio on sensing someone BEHIND him.  
Spinning around, he quickly sensed someone he assumed was Ranma standing 
there.  "***RANMA, HOW DARE YOU . . .?!***" he roared, going back into Demon 
Head.

	And then he screamed in disbelief as a wall of condensed air sent him into 
the pond just as "Ranma" faded from view.  "Holy!" Nabiki gasped, having 
seen it all.  "Toshiko-chan's converted the Umisen-ken cloak into an 
attack!"

	"Oh, my!" Kasumi gasped.

	"Who's Toshiko?!" Akane demanded.

	Happoosai shrugged.  "Oh, that's one of Ranma's mirror-twins."

	"WHAT?!" bellowed from outside.

	Everyone turned as a soaked Souun stormed inside, glaring around.  "They've 
come back?!" he demanded before spinning on Nabiki.  "Nabiki!  I thought you 
were to get rid of those meddlesome troublemakers . . .!"

	"I wouldn't say that if I were you, Souun," Happoosai warned.

	"***HAKU DATO SHINSHOU!***"

	Souun's body jerked several times as invisible ki blows punched through his 
body, sending him face-first into the floor!  As he fell, the air over and 
behind him then warped, revealing Saotome Toshiko.  Akane was quick to 
notice the hair style.  She paled on seeing the incensed look on the 
newcomer's face.  "I HEARD that, Tendou-san," Toshiko snarled, her voice 
dripping with malice.

	"Indeed, Father, that was VERY rude!" Kasumi scolded, and then she smiled 
at Toshiko.  "Toshiko-chan, would you like some tea?"

	"Please."  Toshiko stepped over Souun to sit down before she gave Happoosai 
a sweet look.  "I have a present for you, Jijii!"

	The aged grandmaster perked.  "Eh?!  Present?!  Where?!"

	"Where do you think?" Toshiko asked with a wink, she pointing at her 
cleavage.  To the others' surprise, she was wearing a leather bustier that 
did WONDERS for her looks, that over biker's trousers.  "But you have to 
fetch!"

	Happoosai was quick to accept the invitation.  "HOT-CHA!"

	Squeals echoed through the Tendou home as Toshiko tried to fend off the 
dodging grandmaster.  Akane tried to swallow her disgust at the display.  
Kasumi ignored the antics.  And Nabiki was quick to see what was REALLY 
happening.  Finally, after thirty seconds, Happoosai leapt clear, a lacy 
black bra in hand.  "A well-earned prize!" he crooned before rubbing his 
face into a bra cup.

	Toshiko sighed, staring at her hands.  "Needs some work."

	Nabiki snapped her fingers.  "Oh, I get it now!"  She laughed.  "You're 
trying to perfect some sort of anti-chikan form, right?!"

	Toshiko winked.  "Hai!"  She then waved to Happoosai.  "And who better to 
practice it on than the greatest bra-fetishist in all of Japan?!"

	She smiled at him.  "Yes!  Yes!  She's improving!" he declared as he hugged 
his treasure, and then he looked around.  "Eh?!  Where's Kumiko-chan?!  Oh!" 
  A sly look crossed his face.  "She's hiding, is she?!  I'll find her!"

	He bounded off.  By then, Souun had recovered from Toshiko's White Snake 
Fist attack.  "How did you escape the compact?!" he demanded.

	Toshiko shrugged.  "Ranma didn't like the idea of seeing us placed back in 
the mirror, so he stole the compact, then let us free!"

	"WHAT?!" Souun screamed, his battle aura flaring.  "How DARE Ranma-kun 
steal from Nabiki-chan!  Why, I ought to . . .!"

	"***HIRYUU SHOOTEN-HA KITEI!  KIJIN RAISHUU DAN TAIFUN!***"

	Souun wailed fearfully as a swirling storm of vacuum blades slammed into 
him, sending him flying out of the house and into the property wall by the 
front gate.  Toshiko remained seated, a relaxed look on her face.  The 
Tendou sisters were speechless.  "By the way, Tendou-san, our fate was none 
of *your* business, much less your daughter's," the crimson-haired 
mirror-twin added with a smirk.

	"B-b-b- . . .!" Akane sputtered.

	Toshiko glared at her.  "What's your problem, Miss Mallets?"

	Hearing that, Akane's face flushed with rage.  "HEY!  Who the heck are you 
to call me that?!" she demanded, rising.

	*WHUMP!*

	And down she went courtesy of Toshiko's own mallet, marked with ULTIMATE 
IDIOT BASHER in katakana on the flanks.  "After what you did to Ranma, what 
did you expect me to do, Miss Mallets?" Toshiko wondered as she stowed the 
mallet.

	"Itte . . .!" Akane grunted.  *So THAT'S what it feels like . . .!*

	Unconsciousness then mercifully overtook her.  "Toshiko-chan, though I 
sympathise with your concern for Ranma-kun, that was not nice!" Kasumi 
scolded.

	"Kasumi-san, when your sister decides to be a real martial artist instead 
of a bully, I'll lay off her," Toshiko retorted.

	Kasumi nodded.  "That's agreeable."

	"Kasumi-chan, how could you possibly side with this thing against your very 
own flesh-and-blood?!" a voice demanded out of nowhere.

	The Tendou sisters looked around the room.  "Oh, my!  The great hypocrite 
just arrived!" Toshiko muttered before vanishing.

	Genma then appeared near Kasumi.  "Hah!" he barked triumphantly.  "What's 
the matter, demon?!  Scared of a REAL martial artist?!"

	"How soon we forget," a voice mused, "There are TWO of us!"

	Genma's eyes widened.  "Wha . . .?"  He tensed too late . . .

	"***MOUKO TAKABISHA KITEI!  HAKU DATO SHINSHOU ARASHI!***"

	Bolts of energy lashed out to slam into Genma's back, sending him flying 
out of the house into the tree by the koi pond.  As he dropped to the 
ground, the air by the far wall fizzled, revealing a black-haired version of 
Toshiko in a white bustier and biker's pants.  Kasumi looked at her.  "Oh, 
my!" she gasped, remembering Ranma also had a MALE twin.  "Did you fell into 
the Nyanniichuan?"

	"Hai, I did!"  Kumiko chuckled before yodelling, "Jijii!"

	Happoosai bounded out of nowhere to leap at her bust.  "HOT-CHA!"

	Another fast whirl of hand blocks.  Kumiko lasted fifty seconds before 
Happoosai snared her bra.  "Hah!"  The grandmaster leapt down to the table, 
holding up his silky prize.  "By George, I think they got it!" he declared.

	Toshiko de-cloaked as Kumiko moved to sit beside her.  By then, Akane had 
begun to recover.  "Oooh . . .!" she moaned, and then she blinked on seeing 
TWO copies of Ranma.  Screaming, she bolted to her feet, her arms poised to 
fight.

	"Akane!" Kasumi snapped, causing her to falter.  "What are you doing?!"

	"I . . . I . . .!" Akane sputtered.

	"I do believe Miss Mallets isn't used to the idea of receiving her own 
medicine."  Kumiko then blinked as she sensed something.  "Ah . . .!"

	"What . . .?"  Kasumi then tensed.  "Oh, another guest . . . "

	"Stay here, Kasumi-san."  Toshiko waved her down before she took a sip of 
her tea.  "That one has business with the panda.  It's not nice to interrupt 
a lady when she wishes to soundly thrash an honourless dullard like him, 
ne?"

	She winked.  "Is this because of a skipped food bill?" Nabiki wondered.  
"Or another fiancée Ranma-kun might've overlooked?"

	Kumiko winked.  "No.  This concerns a trip you all took to a certain ryokan 
in the mountains before we came out of the mirror."

	Silence.

	Nabiki paled.  "The Ryokan Ningyou-yakata?"

	Kasumi covered her mouth.  "Oh, my!"

	Akane shuddered, clutching a hand over her heart.  "Her . . .?"

	A scream filled the air.  The Tendou sisters and Happoosai were quick to 
recognise the shout as Genma's.  "My, Kimiko-san seems very upset, doesn't 
she?" Kumiko mused before nodding thanks as Kasumi handed her a cup of tea.

	The Tendou sisters gaped.  "'Kimiko?!'"

	"Hai.  Ranma felt it was only proper to name her after your mother, 
especially since Kimiko now has a body cloned from Miss Mallets."

	Akane raced out of the sitting room.  Nabiki and Kasumi quickly followed.  
The twins and Happoosai remained in place, they exchanging knowing looks.  
"Negako-chan is SO evil at times," he said as he filled Toshiko's teacup.

*    *    *

	Genma wondered if he shouldn't take a long vacation.

	That is, of course, if he could spare brain cells from the waved of pain 
this double of Akane was delivering him to actually THINK!

	A fist slammed into his chest with the force of a runaway wrecking ball, 
sending him rocketing across the lawn to hit one of the cherry trees by the 
doojou.  As the breath exploded from his lungs, he blearily watched as that 
demon raced at him.  Trying to recover, he managed to get his chin up to 
knee level.  That was enough for Kimiko to give him a leaping two-knee blow 
to the jaw.  Using her momentum to front-flip onto his back, she pivoted her 
weight to her feet, flipping Genma upside-down.  Before he could get clear 
of her, she vaulted him back across the yard to slam into the cherry tree by 
the koi pond.  A pained moan escaped Genma as he slid to the ground.

	"That . . . "  Kimiko wiped her hands as she walked over to stand across 
the pond from Genma.  "Was for stealing Ranma-sama's milk."

	Watching this from the patio, the Tendou sisters blinked.  "'Milk?!'" 
Nabiki demanded.  "What the hell's this all about?!"

	"Easily explained," Toshiko announced as she and Kumiko stepped onto the 
patio, teacups in hand.  "The panda stole milk from Ranma when you were at 
that ryokan, thus provoking the fight that wound up with Ranma crashing into 
the table where Kimiko-san was resting.  THAT'S what made her possess Miss 
Mallets."  She took a sip of her tea before giving Akane a look.  "Not that 
Miss Mallets would actually ACCEPT the truth in the first place given how 
much she loves to blame Ranma for EVERYTHING that happens to her!"

	Akane winced as if Toshiko just slapped her.  "Oh, my!" Kasumi declared 
with a shake of her head, and then she gave Genma a reproachful look, 
putting hands to hips.  "Uncle, HONESTLY!  When will you learn to behave 
yourself?!"

	"Should I call the zoo, Onee-chan?" Nabiki wondered.

	"Don't TEMPT me!"

	Kasumi marched back inside.  By then, a pained moan escaped Genma.  Hearing 
that, Kimiko sighed.  "I best finish up with him."

	She walked around the koi pond.  Akane watched as her twin grabbed him by 
one arm to drag him up.  She then gasped on seeing an evil smile suddenly 
appear on Genma's face.  "KIMIKO, LOOK OUT!" she cried out.

	Genma's fist flew at Kimiko.  To the latter, his movements were snail-like. 
  She ducked the shot as her free hand smashed into his ribs.  He screamed 
as the *cracks!* of bones snapping sent chills down the onlookers' spines.  
Kimiko then twirled away from the cherry tree, dragging Genma through the 
air like a doll.  Akane hit the dirt as her twin wound up before she sent 
Ranma's father into and THROUGH the property wall, some distance from where 
Souun knelt, he having recovered just as Kimiko had begun her attack on his 
best friend.

	"Oooh!"  Nabiki winced.  "THAT, Uncle, you had coming to you!"

	Once Ranma's father was stilled, Kimiko reached into her top to draw out a 
sheet of paper.  Scanning the diagram, she nodded. Tossing the paper aside, 
she walked over to Genma.  Akane then walked over and picked the paper up, 
opening it to read.  "A shiatsu attack?"  She blinked as Kimiko grabbed 
Genma to pull him out of the wall.  "Meant to destroy the part of Uncle's 
mind . . . "

	Kimiko cocked two fingers.  "Containing the sealed knowledge of . . . "

	"***SHINZOU BAKUHATSU SHOKU KITEI!***"

	They slammed into his head.  "The Umisen-ken and the Yamasen-ken . . . "

	Genma quaked as the ki bolt ripped through his mind to do as Akane read.  
Kimiko then let him go.  "Thus guaranteeing that Saotome Ranma, Saotome 
Kumiko and Saotome Toshiko are the only people who can practice them," Akane 
finished.

	Genma collapsed into the dirt.  Kimiko wiped her hands clean before walking 
to the patio.  Stopping before Nabiki, she bowed.  "I apologise for bringing 
such disharmony upon your household, Nabiki-sama," she said.  "However, I do 
sense you and your sisters wouldn't mind if that honourless lout was truly 
and thoroughly thrashed for his many crimes and misdemeanours."

	Nabiki bowed in return.  "Oh, that's alright, Kimiko-san."

	"'Kimiko?!'"

	Everyone turned as Souun walked up.  "Hai," Nabiki replied.  "Ranma-kun 
named her after Mom.  He felt it was the right thing to do."

	Silence.

	Souun turned on Kimiko.  "Ranma-kun named you . . .?"

	She nodded.  "Hai, Tendou-dono, he did."

	"Oh, please, dear, call me 'father!'"

	"As you wish, Otou-sama."

	Kumiko and Toshiko tensed on seeing the look on Souun's face.  *Uh-oh!*

	Souun shuddered as he turned from Kimiko and Nabiki, a smile crossing his 
face.  Such SPEED!  Such POWER!  Such GRACE!  And it was clearly obvious 
that Kimiko liked Ranma!  Even if she didn't have any training, her 
potential outstripped Akane's and Nabiki's COMBINED!  Yes!  Yes!  It was 
PERFECT!

	"Otou-sama . . .?" Kimiko prodded.

	"Yes!"  Souun nodded, placing a hand on her shoulder.  "It is decided!  
Ranma-kun will marry Kimiko-chan and unite the schools!"

	Silence.

	More silence.

	Still more silence.

	Then . . .

	"***WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!***"

	Souun screamed as Akane's mallet sent him flying into the Shakujii River!  
Kumiko and Toshiko watched him disappear before exchanging a nod.  "That, he 
DEFINITELY had coming to him!" the former muttered under her breath.

	The latter shook her head.  "He's as stupid as the panda."

	Akane lowered Mallet-sama before she spun on Kimiko, her eyes burning with 
wounded rage and heartbreaking sadness.  Sensing what she was thinking, 
Kimiko moved to moderate.  "Akane-sama, you don't understand!"  She 
approached her in hopes of calming her down.  "I have no . . .!"

	"NO!" Akane screamed, racing into the house.

	" . . . interest in Ranma-sama."  Kimiko then sighed.  "Oh, dear."

*    *    *

	"So THAT'S what happened to you!  Thank Bensaiten for that!"

	Ran sighed as she stared at Benten's image on her pilotage's view screen.  
Lum was speaking for them both.  "Hai!  Sorry I didn't get back to you, but 
we believed that the sooner we got away, the better.  How's Nassur-chan?!"

	"Sends his apologies for not tellin' you about those bio-transmitters we 
got."  Benten pointed to the side of her head.  "Oyuki and I've got 'em, 
too.  Turns out he did somethin' more, but he wants to surprise us about 
that."  She then held up a finger to emphasise her point.  "It's a good 
surprise, too!"

	Ran/Lum giggled.  "From Nassur-chan, it's ALWAYS a good surprise!"

	*Yeah, suuuuuuuuure!* Ran droned from inside her brain.

	*Ran!* Lum scolded.  Nassur and Ran had been enemies for some time.  That 
had started when Ran's youth-sucking powers went out of control one day and 
the expat Vosian bounty hunter found himself being the closest possible 
target.  Knowing that, it honestly surprised Lum that Nassur had done unto 
Ran what he did to Lum, Benten and Oyuki, all of whom cared very deeply for 
the Vosian.

	"So, you met up with Moroboshi yet?" Benten asked.

	Hearing that question, Ran's eyes became hooded as tears spilled down her 
cheeks.  She shuddered as the two souls within her switched places.  The 
Seishin teen sighed.  "Darling wasn't very nice to Lum-chan today, Benten," 
she said, automatically wiping her cheeks.  "He found out about Oogi's 
planet of morons.  A little TOO much, unfortunately.  And he's been to 
Noukiios and the colonies."

	The Fukunokami blinked.  Benten's home planet, which never truly enjoyed 
cordial relations with the old Urusian Empire, was neutral in the 
long-running Oni-Noukiite dispute, not to mention the present conflict.  
Benten knew few Noukiites would view her with kindness if they knew she was 
close friends with an Oni.  "Fuck!" she hissed.  "That explains this titbit 
Nassur sent me.  He got it off the Home Base computer."  Home Base, an 
asteroid near Uru, was Nassur's home.  "Where that thing got it from, I got 
NO idea, but you GOTTA see it!"

	Benten tapped controls to draw up a sub-screen on Ran's screen.  The 
Seishin teen tapped controls to blow up the image.  She then hummed.  "This 
is Lumukyou?!" she wondered, remarking on the capital city of Phentax Two.

	"Yep.  Watch."

	Ran's eyes widened as an exploding wave of light burst from the Great Lum 
Church, an exact replica of Tomobiki High School.  It expanded to cover the 
whole screen, obliterating everything.  Seconds later, the light faded, 
revealing a sea of apocalyptic devastation.  "Gods!"  Ran covered her mouth, 
her eyes tearing. Like Lum and those who closely associated with her, she 
had no love for Oogi or the Church of Lum.  But to see an entire city of 
five million sentient beings vaporised in an instant was too much even for 
her.

	"Watch the blow up," Benten advised.

	A target icon fell over the Great Lum Church.  The screen magnified to show 
the image of a man.  The image cleared.  With the lens' distance -- *What 
sort of probe could get pictures like THIS?!* Ran wondered -- facial details 
were obscure, but over half the body . . .!  "A cyborg?!" she then demanded.

	*Who is that?!* Lum demanded.

	"Okay, I'm blowin' up the face," Benten advised.  "Tell Lum to brace 
herself, Ran.  She AIN'T gonna like seein' this!"

	Target icon appeared again, this time locked on the machine-man's head.  
The image blew up, hazing immediately.  It then cleared up as the entity 
seemed to turn and face the camera's eye.  Seeing that image, Ran gagged, 
she covering her mouth as nausea overwhelmed her.  The hair.  The general 
facial shape.  The still-organic right eye, matched to a glowing orb, 
ruby-red.

	"Gods . . .!" Ran gasped, she trying not to choke on her bile.

	*DARLING?!* Lum exclaimed.

	"Watch what comes next," Benten warned.

	The camera fell back as something burst from a pile of wreckage behind the 
transformed Ataru.  He spun to gaze on a vaguely humanoid shape in the robes 
of a monk.  In the figure's hand was a tall staff topped with a glowing 
ruby.  Ataru braced himself as the figure pointed at him.  She -- a woman? 
-- levelled the staff.  The ruby flared, a blast of energy hitting Ataru.  
No effect.  He lunged, one hand grabbing the staff.  The gem then flared, 
this time creating another nuclear blast wave.  The camera fell back to 
near-orbital space.  An explosion of light burst from Lumukyou, followed by 
a concussion wave that spread over all of Phentax Two.  "What is that . . 
.?!" Ran demanded.

	The wave vanished.  The camera lens then zoomed up again on Lumukyou.  
Standing alone in the wreckage of the Great Lum Church, the cyborg Ataru was 
looking about.  A close-up of his face revealed that his human eye was wide 
with shock and horror.  He dropped the strange staff like it was a poisonous 
snake or worse before falling to his knees and screaming to the heavens.

	*Darling . . . * Lum sobbed.

	"What happened, Benten?!" Ran demanded.

	"Way Nassur thinks it happened, that staff-thing must've been some 
high-tech power conduit."  Benten sighed as the sub-screen vanishes, 
revealing the Fukunokami scratching the side of her face, a tired look on 
her face.  "As ta what sorta power that thing drew from, he has NO idea 
whatsoever.  Some sort of doomsday device Oogi's morons created one day?!  I 
dunno!"

	Ran shuddered.  "What about that woman who confronted Darling?" she then 
wondered, Lum once again in control of the body.

	"According to what Nassur has, she must've been a Guardian.  They're a 
pre-Lumite sect that's been around since the Niphentaxians first got inta 
space.  According to what the Home Base computer says, the Guardians are 
like the Inquisition's Special Enforcement Teams.  They handle the REALLY 
nasty problems.  Atop that, they also kinda believed that if something bad 
happened to the one faith that attracted the worship of almost EVERYONE on 
Phentax Two, then *BOOM!*  They all get wiped out."  A pause.  "I guess it 
came true."

	Ran/Lum blinked.  "When Darling left Tomobiki and we were all sent back to 
Uru . . . " she mused before paling.  "Do you think Oogi or one of his 
people might've captured Darling?!  Tried to kill him or something like 
that?!"

	Benten shrugged.  "Hard ta say, Lum.  Anyhow, about that big blast wave 
that covered the planet:  Wanna know what it did?  It terminally cooked 
three BILLION people.  Nothin' left to bury!  Nothin' at ALL!  Near as 
Nassur can figure out now, the ones who died were the hard-core Oogi 
supporters, the ones who hated Moroboshi's guts and all that."

	Ran sank back in her chair.  "*Tcha* . . .!"

	A nod from the Fukunokami.  "Yeah.  Look, Nassur doesn't believe that 
Moroboshi woulda intentionally killed three billion people even IF any one 
of 'em would've killed him if they got the chance!  I agree!  He just ain't 
that type of guy!  But . . . "  She shrugged.  "If the Church leaders who 
survived that mess, the ones with the Niphentaxian Fleet and the colonies, 
ever saw that . . .!  Hell, you can sure guess what they'll all end up 
concluding!"

	Ran then looked down.  "Oh, Darling . . .!"

	"Right.  Don't worry about it, though.  Nassur's keeping totally mum about 
it, at least until he can come to Earth and have a chat with Moroboshi about 
this."  Benten then smirked.  "'Sides, with Oogi and all the top idiots all 
ashes now, the non-Lumites might decide to finally do away with that 
nonsense and finish off the rest of those clowns!"

	Ran/Lum nodded.  "I hope so, Benten.  Still, I don't think Darling would be 
in ANY mood to meet any more of my friends, even Nassur-chan, after what he 
just went through.  And there's Negako-san to worry about, too.  Nassur-chan 
might be good, but he's nowhere in Negako-san's league.  And if she thinks 
Nassur-chan might be threatening Darling . . . "

	Benten snorted.  "Find that damn hard to believe."

	Lum and Ran both knew that the Fukunokami held a long crush on the expat 
Vosian, her feelings for him worlds deeper than what any Tomobiki High girl 
might hold for Mendou Shuutarou.  "Well, anyhow, I gotta get back to Home 
Base."  Benten was calling from her parents' home in Bensaikyou, 
Fukunokami's capital city.  "I'll call you g