Pat Olsen wrote:
Mike, his expression placid, said. "Kasumi, does John
know? Was it his idea for you to... pop in on me like that?
Or did you ask him first and he agreed? If not..." He looked at
her helplessly. "Ah well, I will keep it quiet, if you promise me...
that you won't try something like that again." He blushed just
slightly, and shook his head. "If you and John did plan this...
I'm not saying that I didn't want too... I mean, you are very
beautiful, and you seem to be a very nice person. I wouldn't
say no."
Kasumi let him speak, having no idea how to reply.
< Well, of course he thinks I was trying to seduce him. He
just wants to know if I had Johnathon's permission, or if it was
my husband's idea.> She backed away slightly. "I am sorry
Micheal-chan, but I need to talk to Johnathon now."
How do you pronounce that name anyway? Same as "Michael"?
Mike blinked. "Oh. Alright... but I think... I do need to
know, he is my brother..." He sighed and nodded. "Please,
go talk to him."
Kasumi smiled a tiny bit. < He's very loyal to Johnathon.>
She quickly retreated inside, leaving him standing there with an
uncertain look on his face. She entered the family room and
spoke to Johnathon. "May I talk to you for a minute, dear?" He
nodded absently, so she whispered in his ear, "Privately?
Micheal-san just came to see me."
He looked at her. "Huh? Really?" She nodded. "Right."
He stood up. "Let's go to our room."
Ranma didn't really pay attention to the older couple's
departure, but Akane had looked up when Kasumi came back
in, and the concerned expression on her older sisters face, so
unlike her, had caught her attention immediately. < Kasumi
didn't look this worried even when we were going to fight youma.
What in the world can be so bad?> She nudged Ranma as
However she did look that worried when she thought that Ranma had taken
to sneaking into Akane's room for premarital nookie.
they left the room. "Ranma? Ranma!"
He snorted at the TV, then turned to look at her. "Yeah?
What, Akane, somethin up?"
She frowned at him. "I think something's wrong. When
Kasumi came back from answering the doorbell, she looked...
concerned."
Ranma shrugged. "Yeah, and?"
Akane fumed. "No, you dummy, it's got to be bad.
KASUMI looked concerned!"
Ranma blinked, then frowned in thought. "Really?" Akane
nodded. Ranma looked back at the guest rooms. "Wow, I hope
she's ok." Just then the doorbell rang again. Ranma got up. "I'll
get it."
Akane got up as well. "Maybe whoever it was came back?"
Ranma slapped a fist into his palm. "If they've hurt Kasumi
they'll get what's coming to them." The two headed to the door
and Ranma opened it quickly.
Standing outside with a blank expression, Mike blinked at
the door's rapid movement. "Ah. Hi you two. How was your
day today?"
Ranma and Akane glanced at each other then back at him.
"We had an... interesting day, Mike-san." Akane said.
Ranma snorted. "Yeah, it too bad you not come." Akane
elbowed him in the stomach.
Mike nodded absently. "Really." < I wouldn't have been
home alone then at least.> "Ah, is dinner ready yet?"
Ranma shook his head. "No, your father say it would be
ah... too long..." He made counting motions with his fingers."
Akane sighed. "About an hour, Mike-san." She shook her
head at Ranma. "You really have to study your English, Ranma."
Mike cocked his head. "Hmm, maybe I can help you a bit
Ranma? My Japanese isn't very good yet really. We could help
When addressing a person in dialogue, put a comma in front of the
name.
each other."
Ranma watched with increasing interest. < Huh, Ms.
Hinako would have some trouble with draining this guy, no battle
aura at all yet. His stance looks like Johnathon's... I wonder if
Comma after "all".
Akane sees the difference?> Akane attacked again with a punch.
Her second strike was faster, and she brushed Mike's shirt as
he again side stepped. This time Mike's dodge came around
"side-stepped"
behind Akane, and he almost casually slipped his trailing hand
around her throat, his other hand coming around to grasp his
wrist, he started to pull Akane back and down into his extended
knee.
Mike let her help him too his feet, concealing the huge
"to"
amount of pain he was feeling. "Ah, a few different styles really...
Though I guess I mainly used..."
"Tai-Chi," Ranma interrupted. "To counter Akane's
aggressive straight attacks, you used a passive, circular form.
You got some good potential there, Mike." He shook his
finger at Akane. "You shoulda known that. Don't try ta throw
a Tai Chi master... it don't work. You're just lucky Mike-san
lost his focus so fast."
Mike and Akane blinked. Mike suddenly looked back
at the fence Akane had thrown him from, measuring the
distance to the tree with his eyes. Akane just looked at
Mike. "So that's why you were so heavy..."
Mike looked back at her, a mildly amazed look on his
face. "Wow. You're strong Akane! I didn't think my centering
Comma after "strong"
had worked."
From the patio door, Clara Dwire's voice rang out.
"Dinner time everyone!" Ranma was halfway to the door
before the other two even started moving.
Akane followed after, glancing back at Mike. "Are you
coming, Mike-san?"
He nodded. "Yes, be there in a minute." He watched
them go and carefully modified his breathing before walking
slowly towards the door. < Oww, oww, oww. Ah, pain my old
enemy.> Slowly his pace increased as he mastered the new
aches he had just acquired. < Boy was that a mistake. If that's
sparring, I really better not make her mad! Oh well, at least I
think I learned something..> He was inside before it occurred to
him. < Ack! What if she finds out what happened between
Kasumi and me? I'll be lucky if she just kills me quick!> He
sighed. < I shouldn't let it bother me that much. What will
happen... will happen. God grant me the serenity to accept
what I cannot change.>
As Akane sat down at the table she reflected. < I
wonder if that how Ranma feels when he spars with me.
I had to really hold back to avoid hurting Mike-san... though
I think I did get a little too enthusiastic back there. At least
he doesn't look hurt. I guess he's at least as tough as his
brother... though Johnathon's stronger and a bit faster I think.>
Johnathon and Kasumi came last to the table. Akane
noticed Johnathon's nervousness, though he was trying hard
to hide it. Kasumi however looked relieved about something, if
a trifle nervous. < What's going on?> Akane wondered. Her
curiosity hard to wait however, as he started a conversation with
his brother about the current situation of several old friends.
Ranma barely restrained his usually voracious appetite and he
ate in an almost civilized fashion for once. The meal passed
quickly, and Akane thanked the Dwire's for the food, for it had
"Dwires"
been quite good, even though her preoccupation had kept her
from enjoying it fully. Mike excused himself as the meal ended.
Akane sat in stunned silence. "You... Michael... the
bath? How in the world...? It was an ACCIDENT?"
Kasumi nodded quickly, her head still turned away. "I
would never have... done that on purpose... I... I...."
Akane spoke up. "I believe you Kasumi. Of course I
do! It's just... oh my."
Kasumi smiled faintly. "Isn't that my line? Anyway, I
told Johnathon, but he doesn't know what to do any more than
I do. Michael's eyes were covered when I fell on him, so he
doesn't know about the curse, and I can't think of any other
explanation that makes sense."
Kasumi: I'm actually a goddess, and my teleportation technique
requires nudity and warm water.
Michael: Oh. Well that makes sense.
Akane frowned. "But... can't you just tell him the truth,
Kasumi?"
Kasumi shook her head. "No. Even if Johnathon were
willing, I am not. To tell Michael about the curse... knowing that
he could do nothing... it would hurt him, Akane. I don't want to
I'm not exactly following this line of reasoning.
hurt anyone." She sighed lightly. "My reputation is not such a
big price to pay, really."
Akane decided to ask. "Well, why can't you tell him it was
just a mistake? That you thought he was Johnathon or
something?"
Kasumi shook her head. "We thought of that, but I'm afraid
Michael knew that Johnathon was with you two at the time."
Akane shook her head helplessly, trying to come up with
another reason. "Oh... but...." She pondered. "Maybe..." She
shook her head as something occurred to her. "Kasumi, do
you... well, want to sleep with him?"
Kasumi: Twins? Yeah, baby, yeah!
********************************
Driving back to his apartment that night, Michael Dwire
wrestled with his confusion. < One thing is clear.> He told
himself. < John was lying to me tonight. If I'm not badly
mistaken, Kasumi was too. They are sharing a secret of some
kind, and don't want me to know.> Michael shook his head.
"Why doesn't John trust me? He's never lied to me before...
at least, not about anything important...." Michael frowned.
He's also never been married before.
< Except for last year, when he wouldn't talk to me for months,
while he wandered around China for no apparent reason....
He wouldn't even tell me that much! I had to find out that much
from another source.>
Michael gripped his steering wheel tight in frustration.
"Johnathon NEVER lies to me! Except he did today. He won't
admit it, but I know it. There is more to this than I can see,
and John will not admit it." Michael tapped his steering wheel
thoughtfully. "I wonder if I can find out more the same way I
found out Johnathon was going to China...." He nodded grimly
to himself. "It's expensive, but...." Determined now to his
course, Michael Dwire accelerated his small car, anxious to
get back to his apartment to get started.
Oh geez, not the N.I.S...
*****************************
Setsuna Meiou was starting to get annoyed. For the third
time in as many weeks she had been surprised by something.
Mrs. Tsukino had just called her at home, to inform her that she
didn't need to pick up Usagi for her martial arts class. The
Senshi of time suddenly found herself about to say something
"Senshi of Time" I'd say. You're making it sound like a title
after all.
she hadn't had reason to for longer than recorded history.
Setsuna should stop peeking so much.
"Why?" Setsuna asked, trying not to let her wince travel
across the phone lines too audibly. "Is Usagi-chan ill?"
Setsuna could hear Mrs. Tsukino's breath catch slightly
before she answered. "No, Usagi isn't sick. She simply will be
staying home this week." The barely noticeable stress in her
voice made Setsuna guess that there was a lot more to it than
that, but guessing wasn't something she enjoyed doing.
"Thank you for calling me." Setsuna hesitated then
continued. "I'm sorry to hear Usagi can't make it. She really
seems to be benefiting from the class."
The silence on the other end of the line was maddening.
"Yes...." Mrs. Tsukino finally answered. "Well, I'll call you if
things change. Thank you for your help." Setsuna could hear
the dismissal in Mrs. Tsukino's tone and said her good-byes.
After she had hung up, she sat down on the couch to think.
Hotaru Tomoe was standing in the doorway with a
concerned expression on her young face. "Is Usagi alright?
Why isn't she coming to class?"
Setsuna looked up distractedly. "Hmm? I don't know...."
She paled slightly for a moment before grimacing.
Hotaru was looking at her as if she had just grown a pair
of antenna. "Pu... I've never heard you say that before."
Setsuna frowned. "I've never claimed to be omnisentient,
Hotaru-chan."
"omniscient"
Hotaru blinked. "Omni... what?"
Setsuna shook her head. "I don't know everything, Hotaru.
That would be a bit much." < But I should have know about
whatever effects the princess.... What could possibly....> She
blinked. "Of course... the Jusenkyo curse must be throwing off
my sight! But which curse caused the change?"
Hotaru looked thoughtful. "Maybe Luna's Jusenkyo curse.
She lives with Usagi, after all."
Setsuna blinked and glanced back at the young girl, not
having realized she had been speaking aloud. < These events
are throwing me off more than I thought. I can't let myself get
this distracted. Still, Hotaru-chan has a point.> "You are most
likely correct. I will have to investigate."
Hotaru looked pleased. "I am? Pu... can I help you
investigate?"
Setsuna looked at the Senshi of Silence with a slight
smile. "I don't see why not."
****************************
Usagi lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. It had been
two days since her parents had grounded her. Two days since
they had found her and Luna "Diana" in such a compromising
position. She had run out of tears on the first day. Now she
was just numb. Not being allowed to see Luna, being grounded
for an entire month, seemed so completely unreal that it was
hard to sustain her grief.
Usagi sighed. <If only mother didn't take away my manga
collection again!> She turned over on her stomach. <Not only
am I a prisoner in my room, but I'm going to go stark raving mad
from boredom as well!> Burying her head in her pilliow, Usagi
sighed again, more dramatically. <Setsuna would be coming by
to pick me up for class in a few minutes, except I'm grounded!
There's no way mother is going to let me out of the house.
No way at all...."
Usagi found herself being shaken awake by her mother.
"Usagi, Usagi, wake up! Its time for you to go to class."
Usagi blinked blearally. "What? Huh? Wait... class?
"blearily"
Aren't I grounded?"
Ikuko looked down at her rumbled looking daughter and
sighed. "Your father and I desided you should keep going.
Its a good idea for you to learn some martial arts, what with
"It's"
all the monster attacks that seem to happen around here."
Good heavens what a terrible idea. Running away has a much better
chance of working than trying to punch one of those critters out,
unless you happen to be Ranma-class.
The older woman frowned. "Not that I'd want you to get involved,
but it is best to be prepared. Besides, if you stopped going for
a month you'd be so behind that you would never catch up."
Usagi shot up. "I can go?" She glanced at the clock. "Oh
my god I'm going to be late! Setsuna will be here any minute!"
Ikuko got up off the bed and stood. "You have a few minutes.
Oh, and Setsuna won't be driving you today. Naru's mother
offered to drive you, since they live so close."
Usagi blinked. "Naru's mother?"
Ikuko nodded. "Yes, Naru-chan is going to be joining your
class starting today. I was talking with her mother and she
desided that martial arts classes were a wonderful idea. Won't
that be nice, having your best friend come along?"
Usagi nodded automatically, smiling weakly. <Naru-chan?
Oh god, it has been ages since we've hung out together. Ever
since I became Sailor Moon, I've spent less and less time with
her. She's never said anything, but....>
Ikuko went to the door. "Now you'd better get ready. Come
down when you're dressed."
Her mind whirling, Usagi dressed rapidly and rushed downstairs.
As she arrived, her mother was talking with Naru's mother, while
Naru stood to the side, waiting.
Upon seeing Usagi, Naru's face brightened into a pleasent smile.
"Hi Usagi!"
Usagi smiled back happily. <Perhaps Naru isn't sore at me after
all.> "Hi Naru-chan! You're coming to martial arts class with me?"
Naru nodded, looking wryly at Usagi. "Yeah, mom got a urge to
protect me all of a sudden. I suppose it couldn't hurt though. With
everything that's happened to me in the last few years, I could swear
I'm a magnet for monster attacks." She sighed. "At least I haven't
been attacked in the last year."
Usagi chewed on her lip, trying to hide her nervousness.
<Most of those monster attacks were my fault. You haven't
been attacked in the last year, Naru, because I haven't been
hanging out with you.> She smiled, trying to get rid of her
worry. <At least there aren't any more monsters around now.>
Naru's mother turned to them. "Shall we go, girls? We
don't want to be late."
Usagi was surprised to find Umino sitting in Naru's mother's
car. "Hi Usagi!" The young man squinted at her through his
Comma after "Hi"
huge glasses. "When I heard Naru was going to a self defence
Setsuna nodded to herself in satisfaction. "Accidentally"
bumping into Naru's mother in the supermarket and encuraging
"encouraging"
her to enroll Naru in martial arts classes had worked as
predicted. Usagi's mother would be reasured enough by Naru's
presence with Usagi to allow her to continue training, and the
slight risk of Naru discovering the Senshi's secret was negligible,
especially now that the Dojo's classes were gathering plenty of
other students. Having as many of the Dojo's students as friends
and allies of the Senshi as possible wasn't a bad bonus at all,
either.
Setsuna let her "Sight" fade and opened the front door for
Hotaru, who was about to knock.
Hotaru blinked, then walked in the house. "Thank you,
Sestuna-san." She paused. "I went around and asked all
Artemis: Did someone say "tuna"?
the other Senshi if they knew what happened to Usagi, but no
one did. Now what?"
Setsuna smiled. "Why, we just ask Usagi herself. Its time
to go to the Tendo's for class."
"It's"
Hotaru looked confused. "I thought Usagi couldn't make it.
You didn't...." Hotaru wiggled her fingers. "You know, mess
with time or anything, did you?"
Setsuna shook her head. "Nothing so vugar. Sometimes
much more subtle methods are just as effective."
"vulgar"
*******************************
Nabiki checked her email before getting ready for Ryoga's
class. There was something new from an old, and profitable
source.
"Hmm...." Nabiki murmered to herself. "This is facinating."
"fascinating"
Around 6 months before, an anonmous sourse had been asking
"anonymous source", and he wasn't a source.
around the net for information on Johnathon Dwire. Nabiki had
seen a source for some easy money, and had made contact.
After feeding the sourse some information about Johnathon's
possible wherabouts, for a nice fee, of course, she hadn't seen
"whereabouts".
any more from that address until just now. "Well, my mysterious
stranger wants to know more about Johnathon Dwire, eh?
Anything unusual that happened to him in the last eight months?
Now, what do I tell him?" Nabiki pondered the matter for several
minutes. "I wonder how much I could get?" She frowned. "No,
Kasumi would never forgive me. I don't sell out family... without a
very good reason, anyway." She started to type out a noncommital
responce. "I'll just lead whoever it is on for awhile, and see if I
"response"
can't
find out who this really is."