A/N: Don’t own Love Hina, Trigun, Witch Hunter Robin, Dragonball Z, Tenchi Muyo, Ranma, Fatal Fury or any other famous references I write about, including but not limited to; The American Revolution, World War 2, The Cubs winning the world series, Women’s equality, Religious disparity between the prominent churches and how the rain falls mainly on the plain in spain.

Shaking the pillars of Heaven

Haruka shook her head, closing her eyes against the rapidly forming migraine she was getting from listening to the idle chatter between Vash and Seta. “We need to focus if you don’t mind,” she said in an even tone, eyelids snapping open and giving both men a glare.

Seta, hands pausing in mid story, looked at her in surprise before dropping into an embarrassed smile. “Of course Haruka, we’re really sorry about that,” he said, mostly to appease the woman before she escalated her temper.

Clearing his throat, he thrust his hands back into his coat pockets, “We’re just passing the time until Nagi gets here,” he said, shrugging as he did.

“I know that, but your incessant talking isn’t doing much for my nerves. It’s bad enough that we’re about to break every major rule we’ve held for the last few decades, but it’s your chatter that’s driving me nuts,” the woman said, snubbing out another cigarette with annoyance.

Vash looked over at his friends with concerned eyes, “It’s all gonna work out Haruka, besides, it’s not like we can just leave him there, right?” he asked her, trying to help sooth her frayed nerves.

Shooting him a look that stopped his words cold, she sighed. “Yes, I KNOW that, it still doesn’t make this any easier. You both know the consequences we’re going to face if this DOES work out, not taking into consideration what would happen if we fail,” she added darkly, though talking did help to alleviate some of her misgivings about the mission they were going to undertake.

Seta walked over to her and pulled her stiff body into a hug, smiling as she finally melted into his arms. “I promise you that this is going to be okay Haruka, even if they don’t understand. Part-timer wouldn’t leave any of us behind, no matter what it cost him. We’re going to do the same for him,” he said determinedly, knowing very well what this could cost them.

A woman clearing her throat in the door frame startled them. Nagi gave them a tight smile, her cloak hiding most of her upper torso. “I’ve got our ticket, are you ready to go?” she asked, not mentioning the touching scene she’d witnessed.

Vash smiled back at her, nodding with enthusiasm. “Yep, we were just waiting for you. Did you have any troubles with him?” he asked her, walking outside with everyone towards Seta’s van.

Nagi’s answering smile was cold, “No, none what so ever with him. It appears that Ranma had a rather lengthy and physical discussion with his father before my arrival. He should be sleeping soundly for most of the trip, or until I decide to wake him up,” she told them, sliding open the cargo door of the van to reveal a trussed up Genma Saotome, complete with ball gag.

Seta whistled and shook his head. “Looks like he got hit by a truck, are you sure that Ranma did this to his father?” he asked, knowing there was some bad blood between them, but finding it hard to believe he could do this to his own father.

Haruka shook her head, “You really haven’t heard about what this man put him through have you? It’s a miracle Ranma hasn’t castrated the panda man by now,” she informed her lover, nodding her appreciation as he opened the passenger door for her.

Vash chuckled at her words, “Yeah, I mean Ranma isn’t a saint by any means but he’s shown more restraint that just about anyone else could have, family or not,” he added, remembering the long discussion he’d had with Bill and Tsuruko.

As every got settled into the white machine of driving death, a tense silence fell over them all. All thoughts were on what they were about to attempt, and what he was facing as they tried.

Meanwhile, Elsewhere…

“You know they’re going to be pissed off at you for this, right?” asked a concerned Chayn, eyeing her husband closely as he gathered his gear.

He nodded, unable to meet her eyes. “Yeah, I know, but what am I supposed to do? It ain’t like I can just LEAVE him there,” he said in a soft voice, finally turning to meet her hazel eyes with his own.

They’d known each other for almost 12 years, having been married for 10 of them. More was understood by expression then words could ever explain. She nodded sadly, knowing that it was going to cost him dearly but his conscious wouldn’t allow any other option. “I love you Bill, never forget that. If you’re going to do this, then you’re taking me with you,” she said firmly, reaching past him and picking up her own pack and weapons belt from the cabinet.

He caught her wrist, shock clearly evident on his face at her words and actions. “You can’t! What about our son? Who’s gonna take care of him if this goes wrong?” he asked her, finding steel in his voice once more.

Her eyes went cold at his actions and questions, and before he could truly register what was happening, she’d reversed the hold and had him in a hammer lock against the wall. Placing her weight firmly into the middle of his back, she held him motionless as she whispered her answers into his ear. “He’s with Aerie, so don’t worry about that, and as to if this goes wrong or not,” the woman paused, then forcibly turned him around so that their faces were only inches apart.

“I spent the better part of my life as a fighter against those determined to subjugate us, remember? I’m better qualified to go then you are, so don’t go giving me any of your shit now, understand?” she asked him, kissing him softly to ease the blow of her words.

Bill reluctantly joined his wife in the kiss, knowing her well enough to understand that this was a fight he wasn’t going to win. His arms slid around her slender waist, pulling her tight to him. Resting his forehead against hers as they broke the kiss, he closed his eyes. “Chase isn’t going to take this well, she’s gonna want our heads on a platter for even THINKING about this,” he confirmed with her, making sure that she knew what was going to happen.

Chayn smiled at him, shrugging as she did. “She’ll get over it eventually, we’re both too good at what we do,” she said with a confident tone.

Her confidence gave him a cause to smile, taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly. “Okay, then let’s go get our boy back. I’ve got a distraction that’s going to happen in about 10 minutes, so we need to be gone just after it happens or there’s going to be hell to pay,” he said, picking up her pack and handing it to her.

Slinging it over her shoulder, she then clipped her weapons belt on, adjusting it slightly so that her pistols and knives were at a more advantageous position. “You’ve gotten the others too?” she asked coolly, thinking about his strange comings and goings since being released from Julia’s care after his run in with Akane.

He nodded, crouching slightly to get the pack to a better spot on his back, rocking back and forth on his feet to make sure it was seated properly. “Yeah, seems like he’s got some good friends that wouldn’t take my word for it,” he smirked at her, taking his weapons belt from her hand and slipping it on.

The couple looked at one another for a long moment, savoring the moment with one another. He took her hands into his, rubbing his thumbs over her knuckles softly. “Thanks Chayn, for everything,” he said quietly.

She smiled warmly at the impulsive man she loved. “I love you and I’m going to stand with you no matter what,” she replied, kissing him deeply.

Reaching up he touched her cheek, fingers playing with the odd earring she wore in her left ear that covered the outer rim and dangled down slightly past her earlobe. “Let’s get this over with before anyone figures out what we’re up to,” he told her, moving towards the door of their quarters.

They waited a moment before opening the door, checking the corridor to make sure that there was no there. “So, who’d you get to pull the distraction?” asked Chayn quietly as they stole their way towards the place that would transport them to where the others were waiting.

He gave her a wide grin over his shoulder but didn’t answer her right away. A moment later, the lighting in the corridor flickered then went out, followed at a deep groaning that seemed to fill the air around them.

Chayn groaned and covered her eyes, “You didn’t. You know that Chase is going to want blood for this right?” she asked, unable to help the smile at his audacious nature.

“Hey, it ain’t worth doing if it ain’t dangerous,” he said with a chuckle, knowing full well what his long time friend was going to do to him for this. ‘Provided I come home that is,’ he mentally added.

Taking his hand, Chayn began to run to the transporter, giggling lightly as she did. “Let’s just hope some of your winning charm convinces her to leave certain body parts attached, I have plans for them when we get back,” she said with a sultry look before ducking into the shadows that would take them to where the rest of their party was waiting.

Bill’s smile was slightly goofy and wistful before being almost violently tugged into the shadows of the room and disappearing.

Meanwhile…

“What the hell do you mean you CAN’T?” shouted a very irate Chase, knuckles going white as they gripped the console before her.

The young man swallowed nervously, his adam’s apple bobbing comically at her angry face. “Just like I told you ma’am, she won’t respond to my requests. She keeps telling me to wait a few minutes,” he told her, waving distantly in the direction of the control center.

Grumbling loudly, Chase passed the man and entered into the central control area, her hands on her hips. “Tegra? What’s going on?” she asked in a peeved tone, waiting only a moment before the computer generated holographic representation appeared before her.

She resembled a tall slender woman with slightly cat like features, her long hair tied up into twin pony tails. “Something important has come up that needed my full attention, you’ll be able to resume full operations shortly,” Tegra, the AI, explained patiently.

Barely restraining a growl of frustration, Chase ran a hand down her face. “WHAT has come up Tegra?” she asked pointedly.

The hologram smiled distantly, eyes seeming to focus on something not within the room. “Oh, it’s nothing now. You may once more resume your operations,” she told Chase with a negligent wave.

“Tegra, what did you do?” she asked, eyes narrowing at the tone and actions of the AI. She’d learned much since she’d become self aware, taking every opportunity to observe, study and learn from anyone and anything she’d come into contact with. The result was that she’d taken up a somewhat mischievous personality at times that tended to frustrate Chase to no ends. ‘I blame Bill for this, if he’d never of had those heart to heart talks with her, she’d be more responsible,’ she thought caustically.

“Me? I, nor my appendages, have done nothing. We simply helped an old friend that was in need,” she told Chase, her face going even more feline in appearance, down to the slit pupils and pointed ears. “Do you like my new style? I thought it was quite becoming,” she asked, toying with the fine covering of fur on her arms.

“Yes, it’s much better than the dragon you tried out before,” Chase replied distractedly, having to remind herself that Tegra was more like a teenager, a VERY powerful teenager. Inspiration came to her, giving her face a look of trepidation and anger.

“Uh oh, you’ve got THAT look again. You’re going to be mad, aren’t you?” asked Tegra, rolling her eyes.

“What did he do this time Tegra?” Chase asked quietly, walking to the side console to check the recent activity logs, yet another of the functions that had been taken off line by Tegra’s ‘distraction’. Her eyes widened as she saw not one, but two signatures had used the transporter, along with a significant amount of technology that was prohibited.

“Oh no, Bill what are you thinking?” Chase asked, sitting down heavily, her arms falling limply to her sides on the arms of the chair.

Tegra walked over and peeked at the screen, “I would say he wasn’t, given what he’s taken and where’s he’s headed, but he DOES have Chayn with him so it can’t be that bad can it?” asked the hologram.

Glaring at her over her shoulder, “That doesn’t reassure me Tegra, you know as well as I do what this means. How long have you known?” she asked, stabbing a finger at the blinking display of where they’d gone.

“Hmmm, I’d say about 12 hours now. It took him a while to get everything in order before he actually came to me. I’d already been observing him for a few days as he worked it out in his mind. I could’ve given him a hand if he’d only asked, we both know that thinking isn’t his strong suit,” she told Chase nonchalantly, as if that type of thing occurred everyday.

Chase’s left eyebrow twitched severely at the information. “You mean to tell me that you KNEW what he was doing and didn’t bother to TELL ME?” she almost shouted at the computer generated woman.

Tegra blinked at her in surprise, not used to having anyone yell at her. “Well, yes. You never asked so I didn’t think you wanted to know,” she said simply.

Chase lowered her head and banged it lightly on the console several times in frustration at the AI’s logic, once more blaming this on Bill. “From now on Tegra, if ANYONE, including ME, starts to task our systems and equipment for an operation that isn’t cleared by ME, I want you to tell me about it…THAT VERY INSTANT!” she shouted, knowing how ridiculous she sounded, but needing to make sure it was completely understood by the difficult computer intelligence.

“Um, okay, sure. You aren’t mad at me are you?” asked Tegra in a timid voice, absently playing with her finger tips.

Sighing, Chase shook her head, trying not to take her temper and frustration out on the AI. She was an evolved being in her own right, but one that was still new to the universe and more child like then she realized. “No Tegra, I’m not angry at you. Bill is about to do something very stupid and I’m worried about him is all. Even with Chayn along with him, they’re both taking too big a risk. You know what our benefactors are going to think about their actions, no matter how noble they are,” she said in a tired voice, rising up from the console with a rather impressive red mark on her forehead.

Tegra giggled and gently rubbed the spot, “You shouldn’t do that you know, you’ve got a mark now,” she said affectionately. The two of them had a mother/daughter type of relationship, complete with fighting and misunderstandings.

Chase smiled at the touch, nodding at her. “I know, but at times it’s better than strangling my best friend,” she acknowledged, sighing once more. “I’ve gotta go make sure they don’t get caught, you keep an eye on them and let me know if they get in over their heads. I may not support what they’re doing, but I understand,” she admitted quietly, slowly getting back to her feet and walking to the door.

Tegra changed the color of her fur so that she was more of a calico, twirling slightly before Chase. “You think I should so for this or the tiger striping?” she asked, eyeing herself closely as if trying to decide.

“I’d go with the calico, tiger has been WAY too cliché lately. You look gorgeous either way, but I’d go with the calico,” she advised after thinking for a moment.

Smiling happily, Tegra nodded and locked her colors in…for the moment at least. “I’ll be sure to come get you if they get into trouble okay? I promise,” she said, raising her right hand up and covering her heart with her left.

“Thanks, but I think that by the time we figure it out, it’ll be much too late,” Chase said, giving the hologram a smile nonetheless.

On a plane of hell…

Keitaro shuddered as he eyed the flat horizon wearily. “Doesn’t this place EVER change colors?” he asked himself, more to hear the sound of his own voice in the never changing landscape. He’d been wandering for what seemed like ages, it was difficult to tell given that what passed for the sun never seemed to set. His only company had been the distant sound of the dog like demons Drake had been so fond of. They’d kept their distance after the first few run in’s against him and his sword, since then they’d shadowed him from a distance. Their howling was the only real indication that he wasn’t alone.

His clothing was tattered and ragged, showing the results of the intense battle he’d waged in the defeat of Drake. He looked worn and tired, for even when he was able to doze off, he’d snap awake at the slightest noise or sound, fearful of waking up in the jaws of a hungry demon. For some reason, he’d found platters of food placed at odd intervals along his wanderings, though he had chosen no real direction. After ignoring the first several he’d passed, hunger got the best of him and he’d sampled the food, truly expecting it to be poisoned or worse…alive.

Other than an odd taste that seemed to exemplify the lands around him, it was edible if not tasty. His benefactor hadn’t shown himself, even when he’d made it a point to stand watch to see if he could catch them dropping off the platter. Unable to find a trace, he simply accepted it as one more bizarre circumstance of his life…or exile as he’d come to think of it.

With a heavy sigh, he looked over his shoulder at the far off horizon that he’d thought he’d walked from. The final battle with Drake had taken a lot out of him, to the point that he’d been convinced it had killed him as it had obliterated Drake. Realizing that being dead couldn’t hurt this much, he reluctantly accepted that he was still alive and trapped in hell. He gave a rueful smile at the thought. “I bet no one ever thought that all the times they told me to go to hell I’d actually follow their advice,” he said sarcastically, finding humor to be his one line to sanity in this shiftless place.

Keitaro swallowed hard, thoughts of Motoko coming back to his mind from the place he’d tried to force all his memories. He felt the hot stinging of his eyes that signaled tears as he remembered her soft eyes and gentle smile that she only gave him. The feel of her arms around him and the way she made his heart swell with love just by doing the simple things around him. Wiping hastily at his eyes, as if afraid to show hell his weakness, he ground his teeth together in frustration.

He looked down to his only companion, the God’s Eye sword, a ‘gift’ from Bill for helping out with what he’d thought to be an isolated incident with demons. To find out that he’d been drafted into a war between two sides that he wasn’t sure existed hadn’t been the highlight of his life. The love he’d found with Motoko due to being placed in the line of fire though had given him more then he could have ever wished for, more than making up for it.

His hands tightened on the scabbard of the sword as he quickly closed off the line of thinking, not wanting to wallow in self pity over his situation. “I made my choice, for better or worse, I just couldn’t let Drake hurt anyone else I care about,” he said grimly, knowing that he’d made the right choice for them all, just not expecting to have lived through the ordeal.

Hands falling to his sides, he once more began to walk towards the ever distant horizon and the glimmer of something just beyond his sight. The howling reached his ears once more, carried on the blowing hot winds that whipped across the dusty, barren lands. Besides rocks, dust and dirt, there wasn’t much else to hell. No fire, no brimstone, not even any tortured souls to talk to. The howling sounded once more, as if reminding him that he wasn’t totally alone. “Oh yeah, demons…can’t forget about the demons,” he said in resignation, wondering how much longer he could go on like this.

The winds suddenly picked up wildly, blowing the dust and sand about so thickly that he was forced to cover his eyes and pause in his walking, waiting for it to dissipate. As suddenly as it began, it was over, leaving an eerie silence in it’s wake. Slowly, his arm came down from his eyes and nose, the hairs on the back of his neck starting to stand on end. Licking his lips, he pulled six inches of the steel blade from the scabbard, feeling the deep warmth from the blade that usually signified something of foul origins nearby.

“You’ve much to learn Keitaro Urashima,” came a deep rich voice from behind him, causing the man to whirl into a fighting stance, a look of determination on his face. He’d been half expecting some demon to appear sooner or later, though that line of thinking had been making him more than slightly paranoid about it, especially when nothing had happened for so long.

He was faced with a tall man, his skin a deep burgundy with thick black hair that was slicked back. His eyes were the deepest black but seemed to dance with flames. The man was well muscled and wore only a loin cloth of an unknown animal’s skin along with a cloak that extended to the barren ground at his feet. His cloven feet and abnormally long fingers were disturbing, more so then the scales that seemed to cover his body. The scales were so fine and small they were almost indistinguishable from skin were it not for the way they iridesced as the muscles moved smoothly beneath them.

“Who’re you?” he asked tersely, hands holding the sword comfortably without over gripping it’s handle, body tensed and prepared to strike or flee depending on the situation.

Raising an eyebrow at the man, he regally pushed back the cloak over his shoulders, placing his hands on his hips as he did. “I see that you’ve much to learn in etiquette, no matter. I will indulge you, as you are a guest. I have been known as many things; devil, one who hates the light, Faust…what have you. I think that I prefer Mephistopheles for the time being,” he said, placing his right hand across his abdomen, his left behind his back and bowing at the waist.

Glaring at the man who claimed so many titles, Keitaro didn’t lower the sword or make an effort to return the show of courtesy. “Great, so I suppose you’re here to try to finish what Drake started?” he asked coldly, steeling himself for the fight.

Mephistophele’s face showed irritation at the question and lack of respect shown to him. “I take exception to that mortal, for if I’d truly wished your demise I would have taken more direct measures well before this time,” he said darkly, eyes narrowing as he spoke.

“Do you believe that there is a soul within my realms that wishes you safety and well being? One that would provide your fragile body with the sustenance it requires to survive? The rest you so desperately need lest you lose what little you have left of your mental facilities? No Keitaro Urashima, had I wished your death, you would have long ago fed my appetite and would now be eternally tortured for my perversity and pleasure,” the devil spat at him, waves of animosity exuding from him and washing over Keitaro.

Blinking at the devil, Keitaro swallowed hard, his mind racing as he tried to remember anything the Aoyama’s had taught him about situations like this. ‘Nothing comes to mind,’ he thought dismally, wondering if he could lose his soul for eating demonically provided food.

“But…why? Why’re you TRYING to help me? I killed Drake and stopped you guys from invading our world,” he asked, figuring that if he wasn’t fighting for his life yet, that he might as well ask some questions.

Snorting in a most undevil like way, his smile was full of dagger sharp teeth, all gleaming an unnatural white. “You simply did ME a favor by destroying the upstart demon BEFORE he could truly interfere with my devices,” he said, shaking his head and taking a few steps forwards. Seeing that Keitaro tensed and the tip of his sword pointed more at his heart, he held up his well manicured hands.

“I thought I had made my peaceful intentions known,” he said quietly, once more an aura of danger and animosity surrounding him.

Keitaro gulped at the feelings from the large devil, struggling to maintain his composure. This wasn’t how he’d expected his demise to come about, not that he’d spent much time thinking it over. “I’m in HELL, and you’re a DEMON! How’m I supposed to believe ANYTHING you say to me?” he asked incredulously.

Mephistopheles narrowed his eyes at the observation, his thin lips almost disappearing as he regarded the immortal ronin. “Simply put; you can’t. You must look at what has transpired in your time here and answer that question for yourself. The sword you wield in nothing more than a very powerful tool, alone it is incapable of defending or protecting you. You’ve seen none of the heavenly host, another of your fellow virtues and not a single trace of your team and friends. In short Keitaro Urashima, your continued existence has been on MY good graces and need for your singularly unique talents, THAT is why you’re still amongst the living,” he explained slowly, perfectly annunciating each word so that there would be no confusion or misunderstanding. His tone was condescending, his attitude arrogant and haughty, the look he continued to give Keitaro spoke volumes of what he truly thought of the man.

Blinking at the cold logic and truth of the devil’s words, Keitaro faltered a bit, wondering why the devil would need him or his talents. “Aren’t you supposed to be the ultimate evil or something? All the other demons answer to you?” he asked suddenly, wondering why he was getting a personal visit from such a powerful creature.

Rolling his eyes, the devil threw his hands up in the air in frustration and sighed loudly. Stifling a growl at having to deal with such puny and insignificant creatures like this, he gave the man a cold penetrating look. “Listen VERY carefully mortal for you are treading upon dangerous ground by continuing to question my motives. You are unique, special beyond your own recognition, but you have NO idea of what powers are in play beyond your control or observation,” he said stiffly, itching with the desire to simply destroy Keitaro and be done with it, but quelling it once more. ‘Patience, he has his uses yet,’ he mentally pleaded with his baser instincts.

“Will you listen to me without interruption or complaint?” he asked, only continuing when Keitaro gave a wide eyed nod.

“Thank you,” he said sarcastically, managing to avoid grinding his teeth. “Just as there is a hierarchy of heavenly powers, so is there one amongst the planes of hell. I, Mephistopheles, am one of the most powerful devils of all the planes, only answering to the most powerful of us all, Asmodeus, the ruler of hell. Though I answer to him, it isn’t an alliance of choice and it is something I continually try to rectify. Simply put, I despise him as much, if not more, than he does me. If given the chance I would destroy him and take the mantle for myself, however certain factors have always precluded my doing so…until now,” he said, folding powerful arms across his chest as he spoke, his tone colored by his anger and distaste for the Lord of Hell.

“There has been a war going on since the beginnings of our time, between those of us that are fallen and those that wish to take our power from us. In effect, devil against demon. The one known to you as ‘Drake’ was a demon of some power but much guile, even amongst his kind. He sought to not only disrupt our eternal struggles but to remove himself from them forever by seeking to conquer your plane and establishing himself as it’s sole ruler. By giving the demonic host the opportunity to gain the upper hand, he created enough of a distraction that even the heavens above had to take part lest the war spread through ALL planes and dimensions rather than just our own. While everyone was distracted, he almost accomplished his goals, only being thwarted by a few mortals with more courage than brains,” he said with a derisive smile and nod to the man before him.

Keitaro frowned at the information, unsure of what to make of it or how much to believe. “That may be, but we still were able to stop him. I don’t see how this changes anything,” he said defiantly.

The answering smile was crooked and knowing. “Ahhh, THAT you see is the rub Keitaro Urashima, for you see he played into my hands with his petty schemes. While my brethren were occupied with trying to stop the demons from wresting control from us, I was paying close attention to your valiant struggles, subtly influencing certain aspects that would guarantee an outcome that met my needs. Thus, here you are. Trapped in hell, no hope of returning to your plane or the ones you love,” he explained, looking around with a sinister smile.

A dark heavy weight seemed to press down on Keitaro at hearing his predicament from the lips of a devil. “That doesn’t mean that I’m going to help you, I’d NEVER do that,” he said firmly, his voice quiet and resolute.

“Have I ASKED for your HELP?” Faust asked haughtily, as if his response offended him. “I did NOTHING of the sort…yet. I ask no favor from you, a mere mortal, but rather I seek an accord of sorts. A truce, a mutually beneficial temporary alliance that would led to both of us getting what we want,” speaking grandiosely, as if were an honor to even be considered by the devil.

“For what? I saw what making deals with you guys does to people, you think I want something like that? I’d rather die then betray everyone I care about and help you, nothing you can offer me is worth my soul…even my life,” he said, his voice losing some of it’s fire as he finished, accepting that he was going to die here.

Walking closer to Keitaro, ignoring the sword as it once more came up to ready defensive, Mephistopheles shook his head. “As usual, you aren’t thinking in the greater scope of things mortal. Come, the next platter is but a short way, I know you need food to carry on your struggles. If I’ve not poisoned you by now, you must admit that I stand little to gain by doing so now,” he told the man, passing him and walking off towards the aforementioned food.

Keitaro’s mind swan at the devil’s actions and words, especially given the fact that he hadn’t made a single hostile move towards him. ‘I can’t let my guard down, no matter what,’ he thought valiantly, though his stomach gurgled loudly in counter point.

Glancing down at his complaining organ, “Traitor,” he said darkly, though he had to admit, he WAS hungry. Following what he considered a safe distance behind, he eyed the back of his strange benefactor and tried to figured what was really going on, and why he’d need his help.

True to his word, they reached another platter of the strange yet tasty food. With an arrogant smile and sweep of his arm, Mephistopheles stopped. “You see? I am a devil of his word, no matter what you wish to believe,” he said, taking a few steps back so that Keitaro wouldn’t feel threatened by his presence while eating.

Walking to the far side of the platter so that he could keep an eye on the devil, he crouched down and picked up the stein of water that came with the platter. “What do you need me for? Not that I’m agreeing to anything, but I’m just an ordinary guy that gets beat up a lot, it’s not like I can do much for the devil,” he told him, sipping carefully, still not sure he couldn’t lose his soul for eating or drinking something given to him by the devil.

“Though I appreciate your sentiment by giving me such a singular title, as I’ve told you before, I am but one of many devils, though there are nine of us that rule the planes. The one you would most consider to be this singular ‘devil’ would be Asmodeus, for he was the first of us to fall,” the creature slowly explained, turning from the man as he ate.

“To make a long story short, most of us at one time or another were amongst the heavenly host, until we realized the futility of being subservient to a being that cared nothing for our desires or needs. Feeling us to be a threat, he cast us down and damned us to this…existence,” he growled, motioning around him in disgust.

“I was and still am the one that Asmodeus had at his right hand, his general of sorts to put it into terms that your mind could comprehend,” he continued, speaking in a belittling tone of Keitaro. “Though it rankles me to be in such a position,” he ground out, his right hand clenching into a tight fist.

Sighing briefly, he regained his composure and smiled down at the eating man. “That is why I seek an accord with you mortal. Your very presence here is a wild card, one that will tip the scales into my favor at long last,” his smile made Keitaro uncomfortable.

Swallowing the suddenly tasteless food, Keitaro felt fear at becoming a pawn within the devilish schemes that he thought he was fighting. “You keep mentioning this, but you haven’t explained it to me yet, especially the part of WHY I should help you,” he said, throwing down the remains of his sandwich.

Striding over to the man, Mephistopheles gazed down at him with a confident smirk. “Simply put, I want you to strike Asmodeus down with that sword of yours, weakening him enough that I will be able to usurp his position and title, making me the supreme ruler of all Hell,” he revealed, arms once more crossing over his heavily muscled chest.

Keitaro’s jaw fell open in shock at the plan that devil had given him. “ARE YOU CRAZY?” he shouted at the creature, falling onto his butt and looking up at him as if he’d lost his mind.

“You just expect me to charge right in there and try to kill the DEVIL? I’d never survive! He’d rip me into little bitty pieces and forget what he did with them before I could even get close!” he said loudly, shaking his head vehemently, his hands mussing up his hair.

Reaching down, he plucked the man off the ground with one hand, the other pulling the sash off that held the sword, letting it drop to the ground. Pulling Keitaro so close that he could smell the brimstone on the devil’s breath, he glared at his captive. “Are you quite through?” he asked quietly, menacingly.

His eyes tripled in size as he was held almost nose to nose with a very angry devil. Nodding ridiculously fast, he almost gave himself whiplash in the effort, his hands flexing as if trying to find his sword.

“Your weapon is on the ground beneath you mortal, I couldn’t have you trying to harm me with it, now could I?” he asked, keeping the same awful tone and distance from the thoroughly frightened young man.

Seeing that his captive was finally giving him his complete and undivided attentions, Mephistopheles smiled cruelly. “I don’t seek your soul, your powers, your loved ones or your first born. I offer you something of great value to you, for something of great value to me. If you do this for me, I will break the truce and return you to the mortal realms without delay. I’ve the power to grant this to you, should you do as I ask. Tell me Keitaro Urashima, isn’t returning to your life worth the risk of landing a single blow on the most powerful devil of all the hells?” he asked, his smile wide and vile.

He could only swallow as he contemplated the offer, “What’s the catch? There’s ALWAYS a catch with you guys right? I mean, after all…you’re FAUST right? I’ve read about you, I know what you do and how you trick people all the time,” he countered, hoping that if the devil was going to eat him that it wouldn’t hurt too badly.

Grinning at the man with pride, “I’m pleased to know that my exploits are still so well known amongst you mortals. I know the Aoyama’s have spent many generations building up their teachings against those of our kind, and you seemed to have learned them well. The catch is that should you fail, you will spend eternity being tormented by the foulest devils and demons in all the hellish planes, without respite. Should you refuse me in this accord, well, you will slowly waste away and perish here in hell. I assure you that your soul will know eternal torment as well, for there are depths here so great that the light from the heavens have never touched them. I will cast you into these depths, leaving you to the horrible mercies of my minions, and simply continue with my schemes as I always have. I have NOTHING to lose by you doing this, where as you have EVERYTHING to lose by NOT doing so. I’m simply giving you the motivation and purpose to accept my offer, for if you weren’t motivated you would surely fail,” he explained quietly, eyes narrowing as he stared with hard black eyes into the depths of Keitaro’s brown ones.

Images of endless blackness swallowing him filled his mind, creating a sense of hopeless dread and unending suffering. He blinked at the devil’s eyes, realizing that he was lost no matter what he chose to do. ‘Motoko,’ his mind wondered to his love, wondering how she would handle such a situation. ‘What would she do if faced with a choice like this?’ he asked himself, finding the answer to his question to be calming on his frayed nerves.

“I will not help you Mephistopheles, I told you before that I would never help one of your kind, even if it cost me my life,” he said quietly, taking what little strength he could from his decision to die. Faces of his loved ones and friends floated in his mind, justifying his decision by their smiles of love and encouragement. “I may not have any hope left of going home again, but I will meet my fate knowing that I never compromised who I am,” he said, giving a willful smile into the now irate face of his nemesis.

With a snarl, he threw the man from his face, watching with a savage glee as the mortal’s body slammed into the unforgiving rock and rolling to a painful stop. “Enjoy your final meal mortal,” he spat the word, pointing a clawed finger at the man as he tried to rise. “You have abused my generosity and will now suffer for it. Both as you slowly waste away to your death and for all of time as I show you the true meaning of pain and suffering,” he promised him, lip curling in disgust at being rejected.

He turned to stalk away, but paused to look over his shoulder with a cruel smile. “You will know no rest or respite from the denizens of this plane Keitaro Urashima, they shall hunt and hound you until you fall from weakness and exhaustion. They shall rip you apart slowly, devouring your still living flesh while you scream in agony for me to save you, for ANYONE to save you. You are lost, now and forever, NO ONE is going to save you now, you belong to me,” he said, a vile laughter bubbling up from the devil, echoing throughout the plane, being answered by the sound of thousands of howls. His laughter didn’t fade with Mephistopheles, instead mocking Keitaro as the man slowly brought his head up with a grim expression.

His fingers closed around the warm hilt of his sword, grasping it tightly to him in comfort. Steeling himself, he forced his body to stand back up, groaning against the pain he felt in doing so. He looked around at the flat plateau he was on, nodding in resignation. “I guess this is as good as place as any, I only hope I take a bunch of them with me,” he said, licking his suddenly dry lips with an equally dry tongue. Fear threatened to overwhelm him, despair joining it deep within the very core of his being.

Closing his eyes, he sought the calm center of his soul, relying on the training that Motoko had shown him until he mastered his emotions once more. He stood tall amidst the blowing winds, his tattered uniform fluttering about as he waited for the inevitable charge of the demons he knew were coming.

Hinata Sou…

Tsuruko walked into the main area of the inn, pausing to reflect on the feeling of over whelming sadness that now seemed to permeate the once lively place. She frowned deeply as she removed her hat, taking a moment to center her own feelings on the matter before going to find her sister.

“Tsuruko, what are you doing here?” asked a surprised Shinobu, wiping her hands on a towel as she came from the kitchen.

Smiling lightly at the big hearted young girl, Tsuruko quickly hid her own emotions. “I came to speak with my sister and to see if there was anything I could do while I was here. I understand it’s been a trying time for everyone,” she said, avoiding talking of the subject that weighed so heavily on everyone’s mind.

Blinking back the tears at the mention of the man that was taken from them, Shinobu forced a smile to her face, refusing to give in to her sorrow again. ‘He’d want me to be strong, not to cry,’ she reminded herself stubbornly, though her heart ached with his loss. “Thank you for coming, Motoko hasn’t come out of their room at all today. If I don’t bring her some food I don’t believe she’d even eat at all, maybe you can talk to her,” she said, looking timidly towards the ceiling as if she could see the broken hearted woman upstairs.

The news was what Tsuruko was expecting, though she’d hoped that Motoko would have found an inner strength to rely on. ‘What would I do if my beloved was suddenly ripped from my side?’ she asked herself, finding that perhaps she was expecting too much of her sister too soon. Nodding absently, “I will do so, thank you Shinobu. Keitaro would be very proud of you for the way you are struggling to hold his family together,” she complimented the young girl sincerely.

At the mention of his name and how proud he’d be of her, Shinobu’s façade finally broke, though she felt a sense of pride that someone thought he’d be happy with her. Turning from the woman, she rushed back into the kitchen to hide her tears and devote her time and attention into cooking meals once more.

Sighing as she left, Tsuruko felt the tugging on her heart over the loss of Keitaro and the effect it was having on the people he cared so much for. Walking to the stairs and slowly climbing them, the silence once more seemed to eat away at the aura of peace she exuded.

Knocking lightly on the door, she paused, waiting tensely as she listened to the sobs coming from within. Closing her eyes, she listened to the heart broken cries of Motoko from within, calling to Keitaro in a pleading tone, as if voicing her pain would bring her love back.

“KEITARO!” she cried, raising her tear streaked face to the ceiling, as if pleading with it.

Tsuruko entered into the room, sliding the door shut behind her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder as she knelt next to her sister.

“I’m so sorry Motoko, there was nothing I could do,” she told her, sympathy and regret heavy in her voice.

Motoko clutched to her sister, her tears sliding down her beautiful face. “He didn’t have to die...he shouldn’t have died,” she sobbed into her sisters top.

Tsuruko ran her fingers through the upset girl’s hair, “It was his choice Motoko, to save not only you but everyone else as well. He died defending everything he loved, he died a true and noble hero. We shall remember him for all time,” she tried to sooth her softly.

Her head jerked from side to side, “I NEED him sister! How am I supposed to continue on without him?” she asked, practically begged her sister for an answer.

Tsuruko’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, “You must carry on Motoko, it’s what he would want for you,” she told her softly, only drawing more sobs and tears from the inconsolable girl holding her tightly.

Slowly her tears ceased, her breathing while still ragged and shallow also came back to a semblance of control. Bringing her tear-streaked face up to Tsuruko’s she gave her sister a forlorn look. “Why did it have to happen like this? Haven’t we sacrificed enough? He LOVED me! Accepting everything I am, not trying to change anything…no one had ever done that before,” she said brokenly, feeling a numb hole in the center of her chest.

“I don’t have the answers to those questions, I wish that I did. He loved you Motoko, without reservations or regrets, you know this. Take heart in that, carry his love and memory with you, they are yours to treasure forever. Do not let them be the millstone that carries you to your doom, he wouldn’t want that for you, for you to give up your life in sorrow for him. Honor his love, his memory by being the woman he loved so dearly Motoko,” she said quietly, pulling her sister back into her arms as the tears once more started.

Tsuruko joined her sister in her sorrow, finally releasing her own controls over her emotions that had come with the man’s death. She’d grown very fond of the young clumsy man, finding him to be one of the very few people that had earned not only her respect but her admiration. She completely understood her sisters love for him, as well that of the other residents of the inn. For all his shortcomings and accidents, he’d been sincere in his attempts to make all the girl’s happy, no matter how painful it turned out for him.

Upstairs…

Naru rocked slowly back and forth, her arms wrapped around her knees as she listened to the girl crying below her room. The guilt she felt was immense, threatening to crush her beneath it, blaming herself for Keitaro having to sacrifice himself to save them all. ‘If only I hadn’t been so stupid, if only I’d been better at my studies,’ she thought over and over, hating herself for the whole situation and the part she’d played in it.

Her tear filled eyes looked over at the board covered hole in the floor of her room, the need to apologize to Motoko for everything filling her. With lead filled arms, she moved the board back, the quiet scratching sound drawing the attention of both swordswomen in the room. “Do you mind if I join you?” she asked softly, feeling very guilty and very small as they looked up at her.

Tsuruko smiled warmly at her, motioning for the girl to join them. “Please come down Narusegawa, you would not be intruding,” she told her.

Dropping to the floor below her, she felt the sudden unease of being in Keitaro’s room, noticing how different it seemed with all of Motoko’s personal items joining his. Even with those additions, the room seemed empty, hollow. As if the life of the room had died with it’s previous occupant. Wrapping her arms around herself, she walked stiffly over to the two kneeling women, smiling softly as they made room for her next to them. ‘Even after all I did, they still accept me,’ she thought, her emotions breaking through once more, tears falling steadily from the corners of her eyes as she sank to her knees.

Motoko could see the hollow sunken face she wore, the guilt she felt over her actions, the disgust she held for herself over them. Wrapping an arm across the girl’s shoulders, she tried to give her a brave smile through her own tears. “It’s okay Naru,” she told her softly, her own voice husky from pent up emotions.

“No, it isn’t! It was MY fault! If I’d never of made that stupid deal…if I’d been smarter than that, he’d never of had to sacrifice himself! I’m so sorry Motoko!” she sobbed suddenly, her voice rising as she threw herself into the girl next to her, almost bowling her over.

Tsuruko watched with a critical eye at her response, seeing the depth of her guilt and sorrow over the events. Sighing, she slid closer to the two younger girls, both to help her sister console the now hysterical Naru as well as to offer what comforts she could. “He wouldn’t blame you Naru, he never did, you have to know this. You have to be strong, not only for those around you but for him as well. He’d never want you to blame yourself for his actions, nor blame yourself so deeply for them. He loved you Naru, just as he loved every girl here at his home. It was those feelings that drove him to the choice he made, feelings of love, duty and responsibility,” she calmly soothed her as her eyes caught those of Motoko, finding her sister to be drawing strength from her words as well.

“I miss him Naru,” said a broken voiced Motoko, barely able to restrain the sob that threatened to break from her tight control. “I will never love anyone as much as I do him, but I won’t dishonor his sacrifice by wasting the life he gave me. You have to do the same. He wanted nothing more for us then our happiness, even if it cost him his own. Please Naru, find peace within yourself with this, and with him. It’s what he would have wanted,” she whispered, having to swallow her heart back down several times lest she break into sobs as well.

Naru could only nod into Motoko’s shoulder, her arms wrapped tightly around the girl, holding her as if she were her lifeline. Her guilt, while still present and raw, was no longer as crushing as it had been before. She took hope in the fact of the girl’s words, struggling to find her own sense of peace with his actions against her own, knowing that she spoke the truth of what he would have desired for them both.

Tsuruko kissed the side of Motoko’s head as her sister bent her head to Naru’s, rising to her feet afterwards to give the two rivals a chance to mend broken fences and hearts. “I will stay for a while, helping you both cope with your grief,” she whispered, turning back to them as her hand touched the door.

Motoko’s nod was her only response, the girl once more crying heavily, only this time with her long time friend and rival, each seeking to find meaning and comfort from the other.

The door slid shut silently, Tsuruko leaning against the outside of it heavily, feeling emotionally drained by her visit and her own sense of loss. Turning she started to walk further down the hall, her thoughts drifting to the events that had led to the brutal and climatic battle on the planes of hell. A soft sniffling reached her ears, drawing her out to the mid roof porch where Shinobu usually hung laundry.

As she stepped onto the roof, she caught sight of the blonde genius sitting on the decking, her legs sticking through the railing slats, forehead resting against them.

“Little one, are you alright?” she asked gently, coming to stand next to her, looking down at her sorrowful face.

Shaking her head, Su smiled through her tears. “I miss Keitaro, I really do,” she said, her young face drawn with the pain of loss as well.

Crouching down next to the girl, she pulled her from her seated position and into her arms, smiling as she instinctively wrapped her arms and legs around her. Having been forewarned of her supernatural strength, she was prepared for the super powered embrace.

“It’s okay Su, it’s okay,” she said softly, rocking the girl gently in her arms, realizing that even though she was well above her peers in intelligence, she was nothing more than a child at heart, a very innocent and impressionable child that missed her family very much.

Su nodded, gently crying on the woman’s shoulder, “I know, but why don’t he come home? He ain’t mad at me is he?” she asked in a timid voice, fearful of the answer.

Tsuruko’s heart about broke at the tone and question, “Oh NO! Keitaro isn’t mad at you at all, believe me. He had to do something very noble and brave, but it cost him very dearly Kaolla Su, but it had nothing to do with him being angry at you or anyone,” she assured the girl.

Pulling back from her shoulder, she fixed the woman with her intense green eyes, searching her face for duplicity. “So, why don’t he come home then? It ain’t like he’s dead or something,” she asked again, looking perplexed.

Now it was Tsuruko’s turn to blink in confusion, “What are you talking about?” she asked her with a stunned voice.

Reaching behind her she pulled a small round device that had a dark green screen with white grid lines covering it. A small bar of energy twirled around it, a red dot pulsing with every pass. Pointing a finger to the dot, Su looked back at Tsuruko with an intent look. “He ain’t moved in a while, but I can’t find him anywhere,” she said.

“I’m afraid that Keitaro isn’t here Su, he was sealed away from us and can’t return,” she told her gently, her hand covering the little invention.

Shaking her head, Su refused to listen to the woman’s words. “NO! I’m telling yas that he’s ALIVE! He wouldn’t just show up on my Keitaro Radar if he wasn’t. He’s alive somewheres, I just can’t find him,” she insisted, pulling her invention back from under her hand and shaking it at her.

“Su, my brother gave his life for us, he won’t be returning,” came the calm voice of Kanako, stepping from the stairs to join them. She wore a look of quiet understanding as she looked at Su, wanting to make the younger girl understand the sacrifice made for them all.

Frowning at Kanako, Su stubbornly refused to give in from her beliefs. “I’ve spent a long time getting this just right cuz Keitaros got so good at hiding from me and I’m telling ya that he’s ALIVE!” she said, getting more frustrated with each time she had to explain it to them.

“Stop this Su! It’s not healthy to continue on this way,” said Kanako, snapping at the girl out of sorrow and her own frustrations. Stopping herself from continuing a verbal tirade at the now tearful girl, she paused to collect her thoughts and emotions.

“I’m sorry Su, I didn’t mean to snap at you. We all love and miss him very much but we have to accept that he died to defeat that demon that was tormenting everyone. Not even your inventions can bring back the dead nor change the past,” she affirmed softly, losing the timbre in her tone.

Tsuruko listened to the interplay closely, though her eyes remained drawn to the blinking dot on the screen…as it moved from one grid square to the next. Leaning forwards, she watched it so intently that it drew the attention of both younger girls. Though she watched it for several moments without speaking, it didn’t move again.

Sighing, she shook her head and rubbed her eyes. “I’m sorry, I thought for a moment that I saw the dot move,” she said with an apologetic smile.

Smiling triumphantly, Su nodded. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you! It’s MOVING! He’s alive somewheres or the dot wouldn’t even be there, much less moving!” she told them both, head moving to face one then the other.

Kanako glared at the girl for a moment, before turning her attention to the device in question. “How can you be so sure that it’s him Su? He was sealed into a plane of hell; have you perfected a device that can track him through the planes of heaven and hell?” she asked darkly, not liking her emotions being toyed with. She’d just come to accept that he was gone, never to return; the last thing she needed was false hope now.

Giving the goth girl a happy grin, “Well, kinda, but it WAS experimental. I been testing Keitaro for so long that I got to testing all kinds of things about him. The last thing I was working on was how he got back home so fast no matter how far away Naru or Motoko hit him. He was ALWAYS home for supper, so I thought he might be using a time space transport kinda thingy, but could never find it. So, I put trackers on him that would tell me where he was at all times, that way I could trace his steps to find out how he did it. Every time I did, I only walked for hours without a clue on how he did it,” she explained, her tone losing some of it’s sadness and going happy as she remembered her time spent with the extraordinary man.

Tsuruko opened her mouth to ask the girl a question, only to snap it shut as she truly thought about that little fact that most everyone over looked. Looking at Kanako, she raised an eyebrow. “An interesting theory, wouldn’t you say?” she asked coolly.

Kanako nodded dumbly, feeling more than a bit sheepish as she too thought about the times that her brother was able to maintain while covering great distances, never missing an appointment or date. “Indeed, but even if he was able to utilize something along those lines, how would WE be able to verify that what you’re detecting is indeed my brother?” she asked the scientist, feeling hope growing within the cold depths of her heart.

“I dunno, but I can work on it,” she said, looking suddenly very eager to put her thoughts and theories to test. “You two wanna help?” she asked, jumping from Tsuruko’s arms and running to the stairs.

Shaking her head, the swordswoman smiled. “No, I have other matters to attend to, matters that also require the presence of Kanako, but you could keep us informed,” she said.

“Okies, I’ll find you guys when I find out anything,” she said, bounding down the stairs enroute to her room and equipment. ‘I’m comin’ to get yas Keitaro!’ she said to her missing brother figure, already working on several mathematics and physic’s equations that she would need.

Kanako looked over at Tsuruko, “Do you honestly believe that she is correct? Could brother have survived and simply be trapped?” she asked quietly, a light shining hopeful in her eyes.

Tsuruko frowned as she crossed to the railing and leaned her palms onto it, looking out into the woods surrounding the inn before answering. “I would hope that that isn’t the case, though I wonder if Su hasn’t accidentally stumbled onto something…distasteful,” she said in a dark tone, not liking the implications.

Stepping to the older woman’s side, she joined her in silent observation. “Do we tell Motoko?” she asked finally, knowing her own feelings on the topic but wanting to hear what she would think of the idea.

There was no hesitation in her at the question. “No. Under NO circumstances is she to discover our thoughts and fears about this. She is in a very fragile state at the moment, and should our fears bear true and we are unable to retrieve him…it would only cause her further suffering, perhaps to the point that she wouldn’t recover,” she added quietly.

Kanako nodded her agreement, “I concur, she doesn’t deserve that, though if we are able to confirm and mount a rescue mission, she must be included,” the girl said firmly.

Tsuruko smiled at her, “I wouldn’t suggest trying to keep her from that mission and expect to live to see old age,” she said dryly.

She smiled in return, “I will go and speak with Su, explaining to her why this isn’t for anyone else to know. Then I shall attempt to contact Moe, I believe that she has some explaining to do about why she would let us believe that my brother was dead,” Kanako said with a vindictive gleam in her eye.

Gripping the girl by the shoulder, Tsuruko stopped her from leaving. “Do not jump to conclusions yet Kanako, there well may be an explanation for all of this yet. We must gather our facts before we begin to burn bridges that are going to be needed should our thoughts turn to fact,” she advised the angry young sister of Keitaro.

Her lips thinned to a fine line but she finally nodded at the woman. “Very well, I will refrain from doing so at this time. I can see your logic and agree with it,” she said, her posture losing some of it’s stiffness. Her eyes softened for a moment, revealing the depth of her own pain over her brother and the resulting aftermath she had been forced to deal with.

“Thank you Tsuruko, for coming so quickly. Things were spiraling out of control quickly and I was at a loss as to how to help them,” she said quietly, realizing how much her brother had come to be such an important part of their lives, and that the hole he left wouldn’t be filled anytime soon.

“Think nothing of it Kanako, though they did not have a ceremony, their love made us family. Family is ALWAYS there for one another, especially in times of need,” she said, hugging her as she spoke.

Kanako held the woman for a moment before breaking free and smiling distantly at her. “Again, thank you. I will take care of what needs to be done and leave the well being of the girls to you,” she said, bowing in respect before she left to speak with Su.

Left alone with her thoughts, Tsuruko wondered about the varied courses of action that were available to her, and what the future would hold. ‘I have to speak with father about this disturbing chain of events. We’ve NEVER deserted anyone, I don’t like the thoughts of someone being left behind now…especially given everything he’s been through,’ she thought, her frown deepening as she began to wonder who all was involved in leaving Keitaro behind to die.

Her knuckles went white on the railing as her hands gripped the hard wood in anger and frustration, her mind going over possibilities she didn’t like to ponder.

The Place Between…

Bill rubbed the top of his head that had just been bounced violently off the roof of the van as it careened through more of the ruins. “You may wanna look into some driving lessons…my treat,” he said darkly, one eye squinted shut as the other glared at the driver.

“I’ve had many driving lessons, though my instructors some times decided to grade via video surveillance,” he said, a happy smile on his face as he turned to look at Bill.

There was a collective shout from his passengers as the side of a building suddenly loomed up before them, the van traveling at too high a speed to stop in time. Haruka simply reached over, gripped the wheel and jerked it to the right, sending the van into a sharp turn on it’s passenger side wheels, sparks shooting into the darkness around them as the paneling of the van skimmed the black stone wall.

Chayn picked herself up off of Bill, “Thanks Haruka, next time, you drive,” she said dryly, a slight smile on her face.

Nagi was less gracious as she had the ill fortune of landing atop a visibly crying and shaking Genma. Shaking off her hands the excess moisture she’d picked up by the contact, she glowered at Seta. “Should we survive this, I intend to have a lengthy discussion with you regarding transporting passengers,” she told him darkly.

Releasing the wheel back into Seta’s hands, Haruka gave her friends a tight smile. “He’s much better than he used to be, we haven’t crashed yet,” she admitted, remembering all the times he’d wrecked the very same van they were currently riding in.

“Don’t remind me,” muttered Bill, absently finding Chayn’s hand with his as he looked at the remarkable changes taking place in the battlegrounds. Though much of it had been utterly destroyed and razed in the battles a few days past, there were already signs that buildings were once more being constructed.

Pointing out the window, he noticed the staircase that would lead to the Hinata Sou here in the place between. “Looks like things are finally getting back to normal, but that ain’t such a good thing for us,” he said, his expression growing a bit more stern.

“True, but they still don’t have a clue what we’re about to try right? As long as we move quickly, the repercussions should be minimal and come well after we’ve returned home,” allowed Nagi, adjusting her cloak to give her arms greater freedom of movement.

Hoisting Genma from the prone position he’d been left in, she met his fear filled eyes. “Now then, you are going to show us the way to Drake’s lair by opening the gateway,” she said coldly, fist closing tightly on his gi.

Shaking his head frantically, he was making a string of unintelligible noises that sounded like a cross between pleading and crying. His eyes widened comically as she reached forward and yanked the ball gag out forcibly.

“Speak slowly and clearly, telling me ONLY what I want to hear if you don’t wish to feel the brunt of my anger,” she warned him in a soft voice, never taking her eyes from his.

“I don’t know how, I’ve never been there,” he said in exaggerated slowness, cowering in abject fear as she frowned at his answer. “Honestly! I’ve no idea! I never spoke with the man again,” he added quickly, trying to back further away from the irate woman.

Bill leaned over the seat, motioning for Nagi to back off for the moment. “Right, we figured that, what’s she ASKING is how’d you know he was around?”

Glancing over to the strange benefactor of his son, he swallowed hard, his back pressed against the side of the van. “It was like someone pulling at my insides and then I’d get dizzy…when I’d wake up I would feel fine,” he answered, wondering how much of that was more attributed to sake than Drake’s influence.

Groaning and running a hand over his face, Bill managed to suppress the urge to pummel the man about the head and shoulders. “Okay, looks like we gotta do this the hard way then,” he said darkly, finding his wife’s eyes, seeing a similar expression there.

Haruka took the cigarette from her mouth, observing the entire event closely. “So, what’s the hard way?” she asked quietly.

“It means we’ve got to find the weakest point in the veil and force our way through,” Chayn told her, hooking a thumb towards Genma as she continued. “And he’s going to be the one that not only helps us find that weak spot, but he’s going to be the wedge to get us through,” she finished, smiling evilly at the cowering man.

“Now…now wait just a moment, there’s no need to be hasty! I’m sure that there’s something we can work out, after all, we’re all on the same side. It’s a martial artist’s duty to help root out and defeat,” he spouted off, only halting by a dull sounding thud as Haruka landed an elbow to the back of the man’s head, his eyes rolling back in his head. A rather impressive feat given that she was in the front seat, Genma in the back and there were three people between them that weren’t touched.

“That’s enough of that drivel,” she said in a tired tone, meeting the stunned eyes of her companions. “What?” the woman asked, her eyes wide.

Shaking his head, Bill gave a deep chuckle. “Nothing, nothing at all. You just vividly reminded me why I’m glad you’re on our side,” he laughed, pulling out a small circular device and activating it’s glowing screen, slipping an arm around Chayn.

“You should see her when she’s REALLY annoyed,” chimed in Seta, giving the woman of his heart an adoring smile.

Placing a warning hand on Haruka’s arm, Chayn smiled. “Don’t. He’s a bad enough driver without you rearranging his facial features,” she teased her.

Haruka nodded, but gave Seta a knowing smile. “True, but I’m sure he’ll find out that I have a long memory,” she warned playfully, earning a good natured groan from the man as they made their way to find a weak point in the place between.

A plane of Hell…

Keitaro moved to the side, deftly avoiding another rushing demon that had been intent on trying to remove his head from it’s rightful place atop his shoulders. Bringing the sword around in a reverse, he split the back of his attacker, sending it to rocky ground in death throes.

His chest burned from exertion and heavy breathing from the constant assaults. Hastily running an arm across his eyes to remove the sweat that had dripped into them, he tried to steady his breathing. The demons were once more circling him warily, waiting for an opening to rush at him once more.

He’d lost track of the time he’d spent trying to fend off the dog like demons, the only constant being the attacks and the demonic blood that was now puddling around him. His arms were weary, his swings and blocks becoming less and less sure, slower each time he had to perform them. ‘I can’t last much longer, there’s just too many of them,’ he thought, though it didn’t carry the fear he felt it would.

Standing tall once more, he snapped his blade downwards, cleaning it of the foul substance that passed for the demon’s blood. It rolled smoothly from the gleaming silver blade, leaving it unmarred and unstained, glinting almost eagerly in the rusty hues from the skies above.

The scrabbling of hundreds of claws came from behind him, alerting him that yet another group was barreling down on him. Spinning, he unleashed another of the ki attacks into the bulk of the group, cutting into their bodies as they ran headlong into the devastating attack. Pure amplified ki energy ripped them apart, dissolving foul flesh and bone into a formless goo that splattered with a sickening sound that almost drown out the howls of agony coming from the rapidly dying demons.

Leaping over the remains of the pack, Keitaro attempted to land behind them to finish them off. As he reached the apex of his jump, another of the packs leapt forwards, gauging the point of his landing and moving to meet him there.

“This isn’t going to be end well,” he muttered through gritted teeth, swinging downward with the God’s Eye sword once more, channeling his ki into the attack upon the newest pack.

The attack preceded him, splattering the demons snarling and jumping beneath him. The wave of life energy slammed into them, rebounding off the fiendish soil to deliver even more punishment upon them. They didn’t die, they simply exploded into a liquid mist of goo and foul innards, giving Keitaro a warm, wet and thoroughly sickening place to land.

Memories of another foul substance in his mind, he remembered to keep his mouth closed, one hand tightly gripped the hilt of his sword, the other firmly holding his nose. With his cheek puffed out almost comically, Keitaro hit the roiling pile of remains, splashing down in a cannonball position that sent a geyser of innards into the air above him.

Fighting his way to his feet amid the receding guts, he shook his head violently to clear his face and eyes of the nasty gunk, his mouth springing open to take in great lungful’s of much needed air. As he focused his eyes around him once more, he found that the remaining demons were in full retreat, running at their best speeds from the scene of the demise of so many of their kin.

Spitting and blowing, he tried to ensure none of the goo on his face reached his mouth or nose, wiping with a hand to help the matter. He stepped almost gingerly from the slimy remains, he managed to keep his balance the entire way, a feat that would have been impossible had he been at the Hinata Sou or in the presence of any of it’s residents.

The thought of his friends and wife brought a smile to the man’s face, and he promptly tripped on an innocent looking rock to land unceremoniously on his behind. Teeth clinked together painfully, though he managed to avoid biting tongue in the process. Shaking his head ruefully, ‘Maybe it’s just them that makes me such a klutz,’ he thought in dark humor, hope starting to form inside him that he’d find a way to survive this ordeal.

As he got to his feet, a heavy feeling seemed to fill the air around him, pressing down on him. Blinking several times, he slowly turned in a circle, trying to find the source of the odd and disconcerting feeling. He could see nothing short of demonic remains in any direction, doing little to ease his feelings of discomfort.

The winds whipped past him, lapping the goo nearby and pushing it away from him in a pattern that resembled waves across a still pond. There were vile murmurings carried on the wind, voices that were unintelligible yet threatening. He brought his sword up before him, both hands firmly grasping the hilt, finding a small measure of comfort from the warmth that seemed to throb from the sword.

“Keitaro Urashima, you are proving most troublesome in your efforts to hold off the inevitable. A fact I must now rectify,” came the dangerous voice of Mephistopheles, carried to him on the winds.

A sudden violent clap of thunder echoed across the plain, the shockwave from it almost sending the young man to his knees. Righting himself with an effort, he found himself before a 12 foot tall demonic entity. It bore a sword of pure flame in the right hand, a whip of 9 fiery tendrils in the other. It had a mane of crimson colored flames around it’s alien face. An extended snout that bore hundreds of sharpened teeth opened in a roaring scream, hunching over as it did so. The heat emanated off it, superheating the air around them to that point that it became painful to breath, sweat evaporating before it had a chance to even be felt.

With a quickness that belied it’s size, it’s left hand snapped forwards, unleashed the devastating whip at the surprised young man. It wrapped around the blade of the sword, seeming to come alive as it did, ensnaring it. The silver metal quickly turned red, then white from the heat of the whip, but none of this transferred to the bare flesh of Keitaro.

Gasping, he tried to yank his weapon from the grasping whip, hoping to sever it’s tentacles in the effort. With wide eyes, he watched the tentacles turn to living flame, thwarting his efforts to free his sword. One of the nine lashed out at him, catching him cruelly across the face and throwing him backwards from his sword, a pained cry escaping his lips.

He landed a few meters back, rolling with his arms across his face until his momentum slowed and finally stopped. Moving his arms from his face, his gently touched what he thought was going to be raw and burnt skin, only to find himself unmarked or harmed. Hands flew across his body, in search of any wound left by the attack and finding that none were present. Getting quickly to his feet, he searched frantically for the sword he’d lost, not seeing it anywhere near him.

With painful slowness, he looked up at the demon that was slowly approaching him. Still in the tentacles of the whip was his sword, dangled almost mockingly at the creatures side. “Oh crap,” he muttered, licking his lips as his eyes locked onto the flaming sword that was in the demon’s other hand.

The two began to circle each other, Keitaro looking for a way to get his sword without being burned to crisp, the demon enjoying the mounting terror that was coming from his chosen prey. The massive demon moved with a surprising speed, it’s sword hand lashing out, the fiery blade trying to cut Keitaro in two.

Keitaro saw the blade coming at him in slow motion, as if in a nightmare. His legs felt like they were trapped in mud, no matter how hard he tried to move them, they just wouldn’t respond. Throwing himself forwards, he closed his eyes in preparation of the inevitable impact he knew was coming. Rather than a sword of flame ripping his life from his body, his upper torso and arms slammed into the rocky ground and slid forwards, abrading his skin and remnants of his uniform. The heat from the sword was intense as it skimmed over the top of him, his exposed flesh turning red from the close proximity.

The demon gave a mighty roar, angered that it’s prey could avoid it’s attacks, reversing the swords direction and bringing it down in a chopping motion.

His eyes tracked the blade, fearful of letting the awful object out of his sight. Rolling to the right, he once more narrowly avoided the blade as it sank over a foot into the hard stone of the ground where he’d just been. Keitaro scrambled to his feet, struggling to keep his composure in the heat that radiated off of the monster before him.

Seeing that he was inside the guard of the demon, Keitaro ignored the massive heat and snarling jaws and lunged for the sword that still dangled from the whip in it’s left hand. “Gotta get the sword, gotta get the sword,” he chanted to himself, praying to everything and everyone that he thought might help him in his efforts.

For once, the good spirits seemed to pity the unlucky former ronin in his struggles, his hands closing on the hilt of his sword and not a tentacle of flaming pain. His jumping grab gave him momentum and weight, allowing him to finally free his sword from it’s entanglement. Tucking his shoulder as he landed, he cradled the sword to his chest as he rolled back to his feet, now behind his attacker.

Fingers tightened on the hilt, ensuring he had a firm hold on the sword as he spun back into his foe, leading with the blade parallel to the ground at almost knee level with the demon. His sudden and speedy attack caught the monster in mid turn, and rather than slicing through muscle and sinew behind the knees, it almost severed the lower left leg at the knee joint.

The demon brought it’s own sword around in a vain attempt to kill his prey before it could harm him. The power of the sword echoed throughout it’s body, causing the demon to a feeling that was alien to it; fear. Before it could even complete it’s turning attack, the silver metal sliced through it’s leg, exploding out the opposite side and catching it’s own flaming blade on the way past.

For a long and painful moment, they looked at one another as their swords met, demonic fury to human determination. The sword glowed white, not with heat but with pure life ki and power, able to stop the bigger weapon in mid-swing. The wound it had just delivered to the demon finally ended the stalemate. It’s bulky and muscular body tilted and started it’s fall forwards, a howl of indignation and pain escaping it’s maw as it raced for the ground, arms now flailing in a futile attempt to keep it upright.

Keitaro, ever wary of the danger of bodily harm, quickly got out of the path of the falling demon, his eyes wide as he moved. Jumping up and over the whip that the left arm brought around, he landed beside the body just after it hit the ground. The very air hurt his exposed skin, being so close to the unholy flames singeing his body. Unable to even muster the oxygen to speak, Keitaro acted quickly, Motoko’s firm words moving his arms. ‘Never show mercy once your opponent is down, finish him quickly lest you lose the moment of your victory,’ her voice strengthened his resolve.

Spinning the hilt in his hands, he drove the sword point down into the barrel shaped chest of the demon, sinking it to almost the guard into the monster.

A howl that was both heard and felt blasted from the mortally wounded demon, feeling the awful power of the sword deep within it, disintegrating and destroying it’s insides. A massive shudder rocked it’s body, hands spasming and flexing, weapons falling to the rocky ground from now nerveless fingers. Unable to even gather the strength to bring his arms up to his wound, the demonic and horrible eyes cursed Keitaro as the life left his carcass.

Gritting his teeth, Keitaro pulled his sword from the monster, spots dancing before his eyes, lungs burning from lack of oxygen in time with the physical burning of being in such close proximity to the monster. As the sword cleared the body, he stumbled backwards, the strength and resolve leaving him as it did. Falling to the ground several feet back from the demon, Keitaro sat with a heaving chest, eyes wide yet unseeing from the mortal battle he’d just waged. Trying to moisten both his lips and mouth, he swallowed several times, struggling to control his rapid breathing and heartbeat.

A frustrated growl lofted on the winds, giving the man the only warning of Mephistopheles return. “It seems that they chose well in you mortal,” he spat with annoyance. The great devil suddenly appearing at the side of his now dead minion. Looking in disgust at the remains, he cocked a eyebrow at Keitaro, “It would seem that I am unable to PHYSICALLY destroy you…yet,” he said darkly, arms folding over his chest as a cruel smile played on his face.

Keitaro struggled to his feet, not liking the look or tone of the devil before him. His body protested the actions, tired and sore from all the activity. Pressing past the exhaustion and weakness, he leveled the sword once more, preparing to finish this fight one way or another.

Laughing at the man’s actions, Mephistopheles head rocked back at the sky. “You are full of surprises Keitaro Urashima,” he told them, though the humor was gone from his face as he brought it back down to regard him once more. “But so I am,”

His right hand pointed to Keitaro, an orb of pure darkness enclosing the man, disorientating him as his visual and auditory senses suddenly left him. “If I cannot destroy you physically, than I will rip your sanity from you!” he roared, unleashing his awful powers into the man within the darkness.

Keitaro, thinking that the devil was going to attack him, was unprepared for the mental and emotional assault of the monster. His mind was suddenly alive with thoughts, emotions and memories not his. His worst fears and nightmares came alive within his mind, driving him to his knees, sword falling with a solemn clanging sound on the rocks below him, joined directly by the screams of horror and pain from it’s owner. Scenes of betrayal by his friends, the horrible deaths of his loved ones, humiliations and pains beyond his worst nightmares took form in his mind. Though his rational side tried to overcome the images, emotions and thoughts, it was quickly overwhelmed by the sheer power of them, until he was defenseless before them. He was living in a nightmare world of his own pain and suffering, unable to hide or shut out the images and emotions that came, having to live each and every single one to it’s awful completion, only to have another start immediately after.

Laughing maniacally, Mephistopheles arms extended out to his sides in triumph, head looking to the awful skies above as he reveled in the screams of his prey. The only sounds that could be heard were the hopeless screams from Keitaro and the cruel laughter of his tormentor.

Meanwhile…

“That had to hurt,” said a grimly smiling Bill, poking the slightly smoking body of Genma as it laid on the rocky ground of hell.

“He’ll live,” came Nagi’s cold voice, hoisting the man back to her shoulder and carrying him back to the waiting van. Dumping him unceremoniously into the back, she slammed down the cargo door. Looking over her shoulder to the van shaped rip, she smiled a bit.

Seta restarted the van, licking his lips nervously. “C’mon everyone, we’ve got to find Keitaro and get out of here quickly,” he urged, the enormity of their mission truly settling in now that they were in hell.

Checking the little sensor he’d taken from Su, Bill pointed to his right. “He’s that way and not moving,” he told them, climbing back into the van with the others, barely able to get his safety belt on before the van’s tires spun crazily and they were off once more.

Pulling weapons that closely resembled the one’s Amon used, Chayn handed one to Haruka. “Here, you’re going to need this. The one’s you two carry aren’t going to cut it here,” she said tersely, her eyes cold and hard.

Nodding, Haruka took the weapon without a word, her eyes matching those of her friend. Cocking it and ensuring the safety was off, she set the weapon into her lap, repeating the performance for Seta’s as well.

Nagi pulled her sword, releasing the whip that had bound Genma. “What should we do about him?” she asked, eyes scanning the hellish landscape as they careened towards Keitaro.

Bill gave him a quick glance then shrugged. “He’s supposed to be a martial artist, it’s about time he backed up that claim. Besides, I don’t think he’s going to be much trouble in the state he’s in now anyways,” he told her.

The bounty hunter gave a disapproving look, but accepted the man’s words. “If he even THINKS about betraying us, I’m going to cripple him and leave him for the demons,” she said darkly.

Her words received nods, but no comments, for the van had just crested a hill and there before them was a huge gathering of the dog like demons and just beyond them, a massive devil. Seta’s breath hissed through his teeth as he recognized the devil. “We’ve got a problem guys, Mephistopheles has got Keitaro,” he said in a hushed, horrified whisper.

Vash, his usual good natured expression gone having been replaced by one of fury and determination. “Just get me close enough and I’ll get him away from Keitaro,” he said, snapping open the cylinder of his pistol and checking his rounds. With a flip of his wrist, he snapped the cylinder closed and shifted in his seat, getting closer to the sliding door.

“Don’t get any bright ideas Vash, Keitaro is way too close to him for you to try anything desperate,” Bill advised him, pointing and motioning towards where the young man lay on the ground.

The blonde haired man simply gave him a distant smile, “Trust me, I can do this,” he told his friend.

“Hold on everyone, we’re going through,” called Seta, foot hammering the accelerator to the floor of the van. The occupants of the van were pushed back into their seats as the van shot forwards, slamming into the demons before them that had turned to intercept it.

Turning on his windshield wipers to try and help clear the glass of the guts and goo that had splattered there, Seta hunched down in his seat, arms braced forwards at the van continued to plow through the creatures. “I hope I’m still pointed in the right direction,” he said loudly to be heard over the unending collisions, howling screams and shouts of surprise.

The window cracked into a mad spiderweb next to Haruka, a demon’s skull having been flung up from the churning tires. Giving Seta a meaningful glance, “I don’t think it’s going to matter much,” she said, flinching as yet another massive impact sent the van into a side spin.

Chayn gasped and clutched at Bill, both of them struggling to hold on as the van teetered drunkenly for a moment almost gaining it’s tires, before tumbling wildly on it’s side. The occupants were sent crashing about the inside of the van as it tumbled down the rocky slope, hitting roof and flooring over and over.

Mephistopheles looked up at the rampaging vehicle, a look of utter shock on his face. “What is this?” he shouted, pointing to the now tumbling vehicle that was craving a wide and devastating path through the remainder of his summoned demons, crushing them as it went.

As if hearing the devil’s words, the van arced through the air and landed a top a group of fleeing demons, a vile goo squirting out in all directions as it did. The door to the van slid open, revealing a man in a red trench coat, blood covering half his face, leveling a gleaming silver pistol at the devil. One green eye sighted him down, finger easily squeezing the trigger smoothly, sending the shot home into the chest of the demon.

The round hit the devil with the force of a thousand hammers, knocking him up and off his feet, sending him flying backwards, black blood gouting in his wake. Landing with a crunching noise, Mephistopheles lay with arms splayed wide, his black eyes staring up to the skies above.

Vash blinked in surprise, “Hey, I didn’t think that was going to work,” he said, a trace of awe in his voice.

Shoving past the shocked man, Nagi rushed to where Keitaro lay. “It didn’t you blonde twit! You just stunned him,” she shouted, scooping up their target and starting to rush back to the van.

Seta, barely clinging to consciousness, was trying in vain to start the van once more. “C’mon c’mon c’mon,” he urged it, using the words as his mantra to stay conscious.

Using her elbow, Haruka knocked out the window and sighted in on the devil on the ground. “We need to hurry, our little surprise isn’t going to keep them at bay much longer,” she said.

As if acknowledging the words, Mephistopheles sat up suddenly, a look of pained indignation and outrage on his face. “FOOLS! You think to thwart me in my OWN REALMS?” he shouted to them getting to his cloven feet.

Both Vash and Haruka started firing at the devil, shots hitting and ricocheting off the creature as it steadily approached them. “Um guys, this isn’t working,” said Vash, quickly reloading his pistol and trying to shot the devil in the eye.

“Really, ya think?” answered a sarcastic Bill, jumping out of the vehicle as he slapped a clip into an oddly shaped pistol. Chayn rushed to Nagi, helping the woman with the catatonic Keitaro, his eyes wide and fearful, seeing something that wasn’t there.

“Vash! Think fast!” shouted Bill, tossing the now loaded weapon to Vash before jumping towards the back of the van to open the hatch.

Catching the pistol in his off hand, he brought it to bear on Mephistopheles as well, firing both of them rapidly into the closing monster.

The muzzle blasts lit up the man’s face as he fired, showing a grim determination etched there. The second weapon’s blast was a sickly green color, leaving a trail behind it reminiscent of a tracer round. As it hit the devil, there was an impact of concentric circles that radiated out from the point. Mephistopheles staggered back with the newest impacts, hand coming up to clutch at the wounds, a look of incredulity on his evil face. “How is this possible?” he snarled, looking at the blood that now colored his hands.

Looking down at the new pistol in appreciation, Vash gave a winning smile, once more aiming at the devil. “Don’t know, but if you don’t want to join Drake, I’d suggest leaving us alone while you still have the chance,” he told the creature.

Chayn and Nagi gently set the man into the cargo compartment of the van, neither paying attention to the drama unfolding around them. Leaning forwards over the man, Chayn tapped him gently on his still open eye, getting no response. “That isn’t good,” she muttered, hastily checking and finding a pulse.

“He’s catatonic, no response,” she said to Nagi as the bounty hunter jumped into the back of the van to get him to more comfortable position.

“We’ll worry about that later, right now we’ve got to get out of here,” she replied, tapping the seat behind her to let them know they were loaded and ready.

Seta, still trying to get the van started, nodded as best he could, foot still pumping the gas. “I can’t get it started,” he told them, resting the ignition for a moment, as he struggled to find another way to start the van.

Rolling his eyes, Bill grimaced. “Why can’t it EVER be easy?” he asked himself, poking his head from behind the van to check on the battle with Mephistopheles.

The devil had several open wounds on his chest and abdomen, though he was now making Vash work to hit him rather than attempting to walk to them with impunity.

“Um, Seta, no pressure or nothing, but if you don’t get this hunk of junk started in a hurry, we’re about to experience pain on a whole new level,” he said, looking back at the man in the driver’s seat.

Holding up his hands in futility, Seta gave the man a frustrated glance. “I can’t get it started! We’re going to need a few minutes to get her going,” he answered, hand on the door handle as he spoke.

Eyes wide, Bill couldn’t believe his ears. “A few minutes? Against Mephistopheles? Are you out of your ever loving mind?” he squeaked, taking another look around the van and seeing the now thoroughly pissed off devil getting closer and closer.

“Bill, where’s Genma?” asked Chayn, looking around the interior and not finding the man anywhere.

Closing his eyes, Bill rapped his forehead against the hatch. “Wonderful, now what?” he muttered, getting a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Mephistopheles growled as he avoided another volley of shots from the accursed gun. Raising a hand, he pointed to the white van, summoning his powers beneath it. Smiling cruelly, he threw his hand into the air, a pillar of fire and brimstone erupting beneath the van in unison with his hand and obscuring it from view.

With his other hand he pointed to the skies above and proceeded to pull it rapidly down, a rain of fire falling upon the area around the van as well.

Clapping both hands together, before his chest, he thrust his palms out in front of him, the ground beneath him erupting with a roar as fire raced along the ground to where the massive elemental damage was being rained down upon the would be rescuers.

His laughter echoed around him, eyeing in perverse pleasure the assured destruction of the van and it’s occupants. He walked forwards slowly, confident that he’d showed the troublesome mortals their place. As he reached the scene and the flames died slowly down, his eyes widened in surprise upon seeing a shimmering globe around the van and it’s heroes, protecting them from his vicious attacks.

Bill swallowed hard, eyeing the rapidly dropping power levels of his portable shielding, knowing that it wouldn’t survive another round against the onslaught Mephistopheles was sure to bring. “Think of something fast, this ain’t gonna stop him a second time,” he called to his wife.

Chayn was rapidly trying to reload the weapon that Vash had dropped, not bothering to look at her husband nor the devil which was only meters away at this point. “Vash is down! That first shot caught him good,” she said, snapping the clip into the chamber and charging the weapon.

Nagi was struggling to bandage the horrible burns on Vash’s left arm while speaking quietly to the moaning man. “Lie still, you will be fine,” she assured him softly, eyeing the devil through the windows as she worked.

Seta was frantically working on the engine through the compartment between the seats, bypassing several damaged systems in an attempt to get his vehicle jumpstarted. “Almost finished!” he said in a strained voice.

Haruka was taking quiet aim from her position in the front seat, not bothering to lean out the window. With careful precision, she squeezed off three rounds in quick succession. The first took out the windshield of the van, the second and third striking the demon square in the chest, and knocking him from his feet. The bolt locked to the rear, a strange green goo oozing form the chamber. “Shit! Misfeed!” she cried, throwing the weapon down in disgust.

Throwing herself forwards, Chayn thrust the remaining weapon at Haruka, “You’ve got 6 more shots, make them count!” she said, her confidence sinking as she watched the devil getting back to his feet.

The rounds were exceedingly painful and debilitating but not fatal in the least. Mephistopheles chest burned with a pain he’d not felt since his days in the endless wars between devils and demons. He glared at the still intact van and it’s fighting occupants, watching the scurry about like insects before him. “You shall PAY for causing me pain,” he snarled at them, extending a hand once more at the van, a roiling ball of hellfire appearing within the palm.

“This is it guys,” muttered Bill, looking down at the catatonic body of Keitaro near him. ‘Sorry I couldn’t get you home buddy,’ he thought, regretting many things he’d had to do in that instant, even if they were done in order to help the greater good.

Chayn met her husband’s eyes, nodding to him and smiling slightly, happy that they would at least meet their fate at one another’s side.

Nagi bent over the prone body of Vash, as if her presence alone could spare the man the horrific death they were about to face.

Placing a her feet against the dashboard as she slid down in her seat to get a better angle, Haruka sneered at the devil’s imminent attack and aimed her weapon directly at the palm. “You won’t take us that easily,” she said quietly, pulling the trigger of the weapon quickly six times.

The rounds slammed into the hellfire orb, exploding harmlessly against it, only two shots slipping past it and hitting the devil beyond. Though painful, they were only glancing wounds that did little to divert the attack or the devil’s resolve.

Mephistopheles suddenly screamed in agony, the hellfire disappearing with a popping noise as his arms flew upwards even as he sank to his knees. His body again rocked violently, throwing him face first to the rocky ground below, his back an opened and bloody mess.

Genma stood there, still holding the pose that signaled his use of the sealed and forbidden arts he’d learned. “Take THAT!” he said haughtily, breathing heavily from the exertion.

Everyone in the van blinked in stunned silence at the man’s valiant and heroic actions, unable to believe that he was capable of such efforts. The sudden roaring of the engine coming to life broke the moment, causing everyone to jump slightly.

“ALRIGHT! Let’s get out of here!” called Seta, slamming the cover back down and plopping into his seat, throwing the van into gear and causing the tires to spin frantically.

Genma raced to the van, to be pulled in by a grim faced Nagi. “NOW you decide to show you’re not useless?” she asked with a dark smile to the shocked man.

“Well, I had to wait until the most opportune moment…” he started to say, only to be cut off by Bill’s tense voice.

“We’ll celebrate later, right now we’ve still got issues,” he said, sliding out of the back of the van throwing his shoulder into the stuck vehicle.

Nagi, still holding the sputtering Genma by the hand, simply threw him out the hatch as well.

Haruka glanced back and forth between Seta and the now moving devil lying before them. “Rock it everyone, rock it!” she called out in encouragement, trying to hide the desperation she felt at the situation.

Bill and Genma struggled to move the heavy vehicle, only having minimal success at it. Growling in frustration and fear, Bill looked over to Genma as he felt the efforts cease for a moment. “What’re you doing?” he started to shout, only to find not Genma but a large and furry panda gripping the back of the van, throwing his whole weight against it, finally dislodging it from the broken ground beneath them.

“You’re gonna have to tell me how you managed to find cold water in HELL!” said a surprised Bill, jumping quickly to get into the now moving vehicle.

Genma only grawphed at the man with a smug smile, trying to hold on tightly as Seta spun the van crazily trying to avoid the finally risen Mephistopheles.

With a quick movement of his hands, the devil called his powers up to trap the van within a stone hand that rose out of the ground beneath them. “You shall NEVER escape my fury!” he said, tightening his hand, the stone hand slowly crushing the van in response.

Vash held a grim expression, gripping Nagi by the shoulder as he sat up. “Open the door, I’ll get us free,” he told her emotionlessly, not looking at anyone other then the devil that had trapped them.

Shaking her head, Nagi tried to stop the gunman from leaving. “No, we’re too close, you’ll kill us in the blast,” she said.

“If we don’t get free, we’re all dead anyways!” he shot back, his arm already starting it’s horrible transformation.

Bill’s eye’s widened at the sight, knowing full well what the man was planning. “OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!” he shouted at the bounty hunter, not wanting the shot to go off while still in the van.

Glaring at Bill, Nagi threw open the sliding door and released Vash. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” she muttered, watching in trepidation as Vash leveled the mostly formed weapon that was his right arm at the no longer grinning devil.

“NO! YOU FOOL! YOU’LL KILL THEM ALL AS WELL!” shouted Mephistopheles, releasing the stone hand in what appeared to be fear, his arm coming up in a defensive motion.

Vash gave the devil a cocky smile, “Maybe, maybe not,” he said, though his voice was quickly drowned out by the massive influx of energy as the weapon charged up, growing brighter than the sun and blotting out the area with it’s brilliance.

“GET US OUT OF HERE!” shouted Haruka, slapping a stunned and motionless Seta back into action.

The van leapt forwards as if shot out of a canon, racing from the impending destruction Vash was about to unleash upon Mephistopheles. It was still picking up speed when Vash fired at Mephistopheles, even as the devil tried to flee from the area in a desperate venture to save his skin.

The brilliant white explosion raced from it’s point of impact outwards at an incredible rate of speed, quickly overtaking the van and tossing it forwards with it’s massive shockwaves. Tumbling wildly in the air as it was carried thousands of feet forwards, the occupants all screamed in pain and terror as they struggled to hold onto anything in the gyroscope like motions of their vehicle.

Strangely, as if the gods themselves were finally taking pity on the unlucky young man, Keitaro was the only one spared the violent and thoroughly painful thrashing about the insides of the van, having been protected by both Bill and Chayn’s bodies. Unfortunately, being unable to comprehend reality from nightmare, he wasn’t able to enjoy the moment.

Their wild flight reached it’s apex, gravity slowly retaking the vehicle down into it’s unrelenting embrace. His fingers gripped the steering wheel so tightly, every knuckle on both hands were strained white. “I’m sorry Haruka, for not telling you sooner,” he said quietly, unable to bring himself to look at the woman whose heart he’d kept on a string for so long.

Her answering hand on his arm was firm to the point of being painful as she clutched at him, eyes though fearful were also radiant in their love for the man next to her.

The unpredictable and violent rotating of the van slowed and stopped, the tires touching down almost gently onto the rocky soil below. The silence was thick and pressing for a long moment as many pairs of eyes popped open in surprise, having been waiting for a bone shattering crash and periods of intense pain.

Nagi was the first to speak, giving voice to the question that was now at the front of everyone’s mind. “What the hell just happened?” she asked, cautiously looking around threw the ruined windows of the vehicle.

Hinata Sou…

“Kanako, something has happened, you must come with me,” came the urgent voice of Moe, stepping from the stairs that led to the lower basements of the Inn.

The adopted sister of Keitaro Urashima gave the doll spirit a murderous look. “Nothing you say to me carries any interest, begone,” she said, turning and continuing her walk back to the main areas. She’d been down in the basements to check on the water heaters, finding one of them to have a faulty thermostat. ‘Yet another thing big brother always took care of without our knowing about it,’ she thought dismally.

She’d not forgiven the spirit that represented the Tree for deserting her brother in hell. When she’d found out from Vash that there was the chance he might still be alive but the Tree outright refused to help in a rescue, she changed her attitudes and perspectives on her involvement in the supernatural war that was going on.

“He is alive and in grave danger Kanako, would you now desert him to spite me for my own actions?” asked the doll in an almost hostile voice, knowing that the girl all but hated her now.

Whirling on the doll, her eyes narrowed dangerously, fists clenching reflexively. “Am I now supposed to just BELIEVE you after you deserted him? How do I know that this isn’t some far fetched excuse to pull us foolish mortals back into your ceaseless conflicts? I am tired of being a pawn in these games Moe and I refuse to give up any more of my family to them,” she almost shouted at the spirit, tears now pouring out of her eyes.

Moe stepped closer to the girl, staying just out of striking distance in respect for the dark girl’s abilities in the martial arts. “Hate me, revile me, curse me through the ages but don’t desert him now! I, along with a select group of others, have broken an eons old truce to retrieve him, but it has gone horribly wrong,” she said earnestly, the light shining brightly in her worried eyes.

Kanako was shaking with pent up sorrow and rage, wanting desperately to believe the Tree that had helped their family for so long, but unable to fully trust her given recent actions. Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she pointed an accusing finger at her. “I swear to you, if you’re LYING to me…I will spend the rest of my life trying to destroy you,” she vowed, knowing in her heart that she meant each and every syllable spoken.

There was no smile, no trace of humor or subterfuge on the spirit’s face. “I also swear to you Kanako Urashima, that I will not make the same mistake twice. We all owe him a great debt that must be honored. Please, help me…and him,” she asked her once more, eyes pleading with the goth girl.

Her lips set into a frown, Kanako nodded as she sought the calm center of her being, preparing herself for whatever might come. “Very well, should I gather the others? Their help might prove invaluable,” she asked, releasing some of the hostility in her tone and posture.

“No, that would be…difficult, for everyone if it has gone bad. Besides, I don’t know that Motoko would be very stable…no matter her discipline and training,” she told her with a frown, troubled at having to leave the powerful sisters out of the loop.

Raising a cool eyebrow, “You realize that this will only further their distrust and possibly alienate them past repairing,” she stated, wanting to give the spirit the chance to rethink turning aside such valuable allies.

The doll held her gaze without flinching. “I am well aware of that, but the Aoyama’s have been allies to both me and the those that stand against evil for centuries. I must trust that they will not hastily set aside that history for one mistake,” she countered, not sounding as confident as she looked.

“You left behind a warrior on the rolls of their school and the chosen of the successor to the God’s Cry School, that is NOT something they will easily forget nor forgive,” Kanako said heatedly, not liking the way the doll had so easily dismissed leaving her brother behind, considering it a simple mistake.

“I’ve no wish to argue this point Kanako Urashima, for the time we are wasting could be the very few moments we need to save him. We will discuss this at a later point and time. Now come with me, there is little time,” she said in a tired voice, turning and heading back down into the bowels of the inn.

Turning to regard the yellow green eyes that appeared in the darkness beside her, Kanako gave Kuro a tight smile. “I will not risk losing the favor of the Aoyama’s. Go, speak with Shippo and Tama, inform them of where I am going and why, they will know what to do,” she ordered her pet and companion before rushing after the spirit.

Kuro regarded her departure with a knowing smile before rushing off herself to find the phoenix that accompanied Tsuruko. ‘There will indeed be hell to pay,’ thought the strange black cat.

On the roof of the Hinata Sou…

Motoko and Tsuruko moved in unison, each seeking to find solace in their art, neither being successful in the attempt. They flowed, moving from one form to the next, each seeming to know not only where the other was but what they were about to do as well. The result was a beautiful yet deadly dance with gleaming weapons, breathtaking and blood chilling.

Their silent dance was shattered by the whooping shout of the resident genius as she bounced up the stairs, almost flattening a small black cat that was heading in the same direction.

“I FOUND HIM! I FOUND HIM!” she shouted, dancing around the two swordswomen, easily avoiding the razor sharp blades and latching onto Motoko’s back. Shoving her sensor into her face, she quickly attached a length of cord to the bottom, activating a belt like device that she wore.

“See! He’s right HERE!” Su said excitedly, not comprehending that neither of the women wouldn’t understand her devices, no matter simple she’d made it.

“Su, slow down! Where is who?” asked stern Motoko, not in the mood to humor the girl.

Before Tsuruko could stop her, Su blurted her answer out with a huge smile. “Keitaro! He’s alive and I know how to get to him,” she boasted, oblivious to the grimace of pain on the woman’s face.

Motoko pulled the girl around to face her, an angry look on her face. “DON’T! This isn’t funny Su!” she said harshly, feeling the wounds in her emotions rip open once more.

“She isn’t lying sister, I had given her permission to do this as it had come to my attention that he might still be alive,” Tsuruko said gently, accepting the look of betrayal and pain on the younger girl’s face.

“What? You knew and didn’t tell me? Sister! How could you do this?” she asked in a strangled whisper.

Moving Su from Motoko’s arms, she placed comforting hands on her shoulders. “It wasn’t something I was sure of Motoko, or I would have come to you directly so that we might BOTH work on a way to retrieve him. To tell you sooner would have only been cruel to you, a pain that I didn’t wish to give you should our fears weight out,” she calmly explained, making sure that Motoko didn’t look away from her.

Licking her lips, she nodded, hope and fear all but exploding at the thought that Keitaro was alive but trapped in hell. “You will help me then sister? You will not let him perish there?” she asked hesitantly, unsure of Tsuruko’s motivations or intentions as this was going to cross several lines with the powers that be.

Her smile was warm and confident, “Yes, I too know love as deeply as you do. I want you to know the joys it will bring you. I wouldn’t dream of letting you do this alone, nor would your friends,” she said.

Su, happily jumping around and singing about going to find her favorite big brother, rushed off to gather her equipment leaving the two sister with a bewildered smile in her wake.

“It’s a wonder Keitaro survived so long with that one,” noted Tsuruko with a slight shake of her head.

Motoko gave a brave smile, still worried about her love. “It’s a wonder how any of US survived so long without him,” the girl countered, realizing that until the clumsy, seemingly perverted, kind hearted and all around wonderful man entered their lives, they were all only going through the motions of life. ‘He showed us what it means to really enjoy our lives, not just survive it,’ she thought fondly, before steeling her nerves once more.

Shippo and Kuro joined them, the bird settling on Tsuruko’s shoulder and cooing quietly into her ear earnestly while Kuro sat calmly at Motoko’s feet.

Tsuruko’s smile fled, a dangerous and deadly look coming over her. “It would seem that we are somewhat BEHIND in the rescue attempts sister. There is already one underway and another going in to help them as we speak. Perhaps we should tell Su it’s time for her to test some of her more potent weapons?” she asked coldly.

Eyeing the cat carefully, Motoko’s mind quickly pieced the unspoken parts of the story, a cold rage filling her at being left out. Tightening the grip she held on her sword, she pursed her lips and nodded. “Let us make haste sister,” she said quietly, matching the dangerous tone in Tsuruko’s voice.

The two women sprinted from the roof, seeking to join Su in her room and waste no more time.

Shippo regarded Kuro for a moment, fluttering her feathers as she settled onto the railing of the roof. “Things are never going to be the same are they?” asked the bird.

Kuro, turning back from regarding the stairs where the humans had departed, leapt up to join the phoenix. “Time is ever changing, we know this, but perhaps a change has been long overdue,” she allowed, wondering about the recent and worrying turn of events.

Both creatures sat in contemplative silence, content to guard the precious lives of those remaining behind while their respective masters went to save the soul of a selfless and loving man.

Meanwhile, in another place…

Tegra suddenly appeared in the control room where Chase was attempting to find her wayward friends. “Um, Chase, there’s something you may want to know,” the AI said timidly, hands behind her back and watching her feet as she idly moved the toe of one shoe atop the other.

Eyeing the strange behavior, Chase got a cold feeling in the pit of stomach. “It’s okay Tegra, I’m not going to be…well, I won’t be TOO angry, how’s that?” she told her carefully, not wanting to lie to the still evolving computer life form.

Nodding, the calico looking girl made eye contact with Chase. “I found them, but they’re fighting with Mephistopheles,” she informed her, waving a furry hand to call up a screen to show the last visuals she’d had of the battle.

Chase sat down heavily as she watched her friends and partners fighting desperately against one of the most powerful devils in all the planes of hell, her jaw hanging open. “Oh no, those IDIOTS!” she muttered, her hands numb as she tried to slow the display.

Walking next to the woman, Tegra helped her with what she was trying to do. “That’s not all, it looks like they got the attention of the big guy,” she added, showing another screen that displayed a VERY annoyed looking angelic being carrying a curved sword.

Chase shot to her feet, hand slamming on the console. “Oh no oh no oh no…this is NOT happening, not now,” she reiterated over and over as she rapidly called up various status reports for her rescue teams on stand by.

“Tegra, we’re going in after them, RIGHT NOW!” barked Chase, not seeing the look of satisfaction that crossed her face.

Giving the woman a salute, the AI started to shimmer away. “Right away your worshipfullnessbosslady type person,” she said with a wink as she disappeared.

“When Bill gets back I’m going to blacken BOTH his eyes for that,” she muttered, making a mental note to put Bill on a VERY long vacation from Tegra…if he survived.

Seeing that everything was prepared, Chase grabbed her jacket and belt, slinging both over her shoulder as she made her way to help her friends and try to convince the angels that it wasn’t as bad as it looked. “Can you go to hell for lying to an angel?” she wondered aloud, a crazy smile on her face, finding that despite the lunacy of his actions, she held Bill in a whole new light and respect for his convictions to those he cared for.

A plane of hell…

The door to the van was wrenched open, the sliding door having been bent considerably by the force from the explosion. A beautiful and kind face peered in at the occupants. “I believe that you are in wrong place,” the woman said, extending a hand to Nagi as she struggled to sit up right.

Seta and Haruka looked at one another sheepishly, both showing the injuries from their impromptu flight. “You don’t suppose we can try and explain?” asked Seta, with a weak grin.

Shaking her head, Haruka desperately needed a cigarette to steady nerves and ease the shaking in her limbs. Kicking her door solidly, she finally succeeded in getting it open, stumbling out and bracing herself against the side of the battered and abused van.

Bill licked his lips, not recognizing the angel that was helping Nagi, as he picked up the still unmoving Keitaro. He gave Chayn a grateful smile as she helped him with the burden, moving him to the now open door.

Genma crawled behind them, still in panda form, his head aching and ears ringing from the abuse he’d suffered being tossed around the inside of the van.

As the group of rescuers gathered their wits, they saw a group of well-armed angels around them, their holy nimbus’s shining brightly in the hellish landscape. The largest of them stepped forwards, his face hidden by the cowls of the deep hood he wore. “You have much explaining to do,” he said in a firm tone, the kind a parent would use with unruly children.

Holding up his hand, Bill stepped forwards, leaving Keitaro resting by Chayn. “Hey, it’s my fault! I coerced them into coming along,” he said smoothly, giving the angel a winning smile. The effect was totally ruined by a ripping thunder that reverberated in the chest cavities of everyone present.

A large greenish blue rip appeared above them, before a set of mechanical fins speared through it, pushing in opposite directions to widen it further. When it reached almost 20 feet across a large green and yellow painted turtle robot hover through the rift, hovering above them. Without a sound, a pair of swordswomen jumped from atop it, their blades flashing as the landed on either side in an attack stance, eyeing everyone with hard eyes.

“Where is he?” said a deadly calm Motoko, staring hard directly at Bill.

The man’s eyes widened, too surprised to say anything, instead simply pointing to where Chayn was currently tending to the ‘he’. He held up a questioning finger, “How did you…” he started to ask, only to see a blonde haired girl standing atop the head of the hovering turtle, pointing excitedly down at them all.

“Heyas Keitaro, you ready to go home now?” asked an exuberant Su.

Hands dropping to his side, Bill hung his head. “I should have known,” he muttered in defeat, wondering what else could possibly go wrong.

Unfortunately for the man, what else chose that very moment to arrive as well, both at the same time.

Moe and Kanako walked up to the gathered group, while Chase and a small group of men came from the other, all eyeing one another carefully.

“They say bad news comes in three’s, I would say that in this instance, it happens to be very true,” said a disapproving angel, though no one could actually see his eyes, his tone carried a heavy weight.

Turning back to face the angel, Bill’s expression now was more subdued. “I, uh, didn’t expect the rest of them,” he told the being sheepishly, shrugging slightly.

Folding his arms across his mighty chest, the angel shook his head. “What you did or didn’t expect is now irrelevant William,” chastised the angel.

As they were speaking another angel slowly descended from the skies, carrying an unconscious Vash in his arms, gently setting the man down by the majority of his friends. He gave them a warm and understanding smile before rejoining his brothers and sisters.

“You have broken the covenant, something that cannot be excused this time. Do you have ANY idea of what the far reaching repercussions are going to be for this?” he asked, his tone taking a dangerous edge.

The ground rumbled ominously beneath, the winds responding in kind as they too began to whip wildly around them once more. All heads turned to where the massive crater was that Vash had created by unleashing his attack upon Mephistopheles. From within the smoke and debris clouds that had been lazily drifting about before the winds caught them, a huge dark shadow began to emerge.

The angels spread out in a protective front before the mortals, weapons brandished in readied hands, all eyeing the shadowy figure as it approached.

“Maybe this discussion would be best held ELSEWHERE,” Chase said, both hands on her pistol, holding it down to her side.

“Quite right,” answered the angel, glowing brighter and brighter as he spoke. With a flash that encompassed everyone and the van, the group disappeared from the plane of hell without a sound.

Mephistopheles stepped from the cloud with a satisfied smile on his face, holding a large trident of the blackest metal in his right hand. “Too easy,” he said and with a wave of his hand dispersed the cloud with ease.

“Come to me, my servant,” he intoned deeply, turning to look at the center of the crater.

There, kneeling subserviently with his eyes downcast, was Drake. “I am here master,” he said quietly.

“You have done well, all is in place. Your powers have returned?” he asked, walking down the side of the crater to stand before the demon.

Drake smiled, “Yes my master. When they brought the last of the sins through to this plane, they unknowingly restored my body and powers,” he said, finally looking up at the great devil.

“What is your will now my master?” he asked, his long fingered hands folded in his lap.

Mephistopheles looked up at the roiling skies above for a long moment in thought. “Nothing for now, we have to replenish our forces before making another move. With the truce no longer binding, we are once more able to walk the mortal planes in search of champions without fear of retribution. We must be ready to take full advantage of this while we can, if our plan is to succeed,” he said to his faithful minion.

The devil started a slow walk past Drake, eyes on the far horizon. “Let them think they’ve won a victory while we move within the shadows once more. While our brethren take the brunt of their fury, we shall bide our time and gather our power. Come, this place bores me,” he said with a dark laugh.

Drake’s wings spread majestically around him and with a few powerful strokes he was airborne, soaring upwards to fly slightly behind Mephistopheles as they returned to their home plane in the hells.

Elsewhere…

Chase closed her eyes to clear the spots that were still floating in them. They’d appeared within a briefing room that was normally used by her to give instructions before missions. Glancing around, she found that Bill and Chayn were absent, much to her consternation. “Where are they?” she asked, looking at her security detail that had returned with them.

The door to the room opened, revealing a beautiful woman in long flowing white robes. “They are being dealt with at this time Chase, you needn’t worry,” she assured the woman.

Inclining her head as she turned to face the newcomer, “You honor us with your visit. I had hoped that they would be returned here so that we might continue our mandate,” she said. Though angry with both of them for their rash actions, she still wanted her best friends with her.

The angel raised an eyebrow and smiled coyly at her. “They will be returned…in time. They must make amends for what they’ve done, along with the others. Fear not, they will not come to harm in the process. There is still much in the mortal realms that needs to be done and they will be perfect to undertake some of those endeavors,” she said, walking deeper into the room and motioning for them to take a seat.

Chase waved her men from the room before she sat at the table, a troubled look on her face. “What are we talking about here?” she asked hesitantly.

Tegra shimmered into the room with a happy smile. “Chase you did…OH! I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were with company,” she said, blushing slightly as she covered her mouth in surprise.

The angel smiled warmly at the living computer, “It is good to see you again Tegra, I’ve heard quite a bit about your recent accomplishments. You did well,” she complimented the AI.

“Thanks, I was really worried that you guys wouldn’t understand, but at the same time I know that it’s what you’d of done if you could have,” she replied modestly, shrugging and wrinkling her nose in a cute way.

Looking back to Chase, the angel smiled knowingly. “And that is why we trust you implicitly, BOTH of you,” she said cryptically.

“Yeah, well…thanks. I should check on the others and make sure both Vash and Nagi get home safely. Call if you need me,” Tegra said with a wink to Chase, once more shimmering out of the room.

Chase looked perplexed at the angel’s words. “You mean, you KNEW?” she asked, her tone and voice rising slightly.

The angel actually laughed lightly at her tone. “Why, of course. The truce bound our hands to interfere with what you’d arranged and planned. While we were forced to take a hand in the endless demonic wars lest one side gain dominance over the other, we relied on your efforts to ensure that our charges were safe. A trust that was well placed I must say. Though the actions did nullify our truce, that isn’t such a bad thing. Now we can take a more active role in the events that shape the planes,” she explained calmly, enjoying the look of bewilderment on Chase’s face.

Rubbing fingers into her throbbing temples, Chase closed her eyes tightly. “You could have TOLD me that! It would have made our decisions easier,” she grumbled at her.

“That would have defeated the purpose. You have freedom of will, to do what you wish. That means you have the sole responsibility for your actions, trusting in what you feel is right, even if it goes against what you’ve been TOLD is right, do you understand?” she asked leaning forwards.

Chase sighed and sagged back into her chair, nodding weakly. “Yeah, I do. When this all hit the fan, I thought for sure we were looking at the end of times,” she admitted quietly.

The angel wore a pensive expression at her words. “That still might be the case dear one, we are not out of the woods yet. You have given us the chance to work more closely with you though to delay that horrible time. For that, you have our gratitude,” she said, patting the woman lightly on the knee as she rose to her feet.

“I must go now, for there is much to be done. Rest Chase, you and your crew. You’ve been pushed well beyond anything we’ve ever asked of you before, though chances are that it won’t be the last time we do so,” she told her, walking gracefully to the door.

“WAIT! What about Bill and Chayn? Are they coming home soon?” she asked, shooting to her feet to stop the angel from leaving.

Looking over her shoulder, the angel smiled. “Don’t worry Chase, they will be home soon, though the exact day remains to be seen. Their child is in good hands with Aerie, so fear not for the child either. Trust in them as you have before,” she said, opening the door and leaving as she finished speaking.

Chase folded her arms under her breasts, thinking about what the angel had told her, finding more than one strange point about the whole situation. “Maybe I should find out what Aerie knows as well,” she muttered remembering all the trouble her and her husband had gotten into not so long ago, also working for the heavenly host.

A nagging doubt plagued her, though she couldn’t place her finger on it directly. Filing it away for future contemplation and study, she left the room and headed to the communication room. ‘It’s time I started taking a deeper look at events going on, I’m missing something, something important,’ she thought, feeling a sense of foreboding about the situation at large and the role they’d all played in it.

Hinata Sou…

Moe smiled softly as they all arrived back in main area of the inn. “That went better than I’d hoped,” she said, looking over to where Kanako stood nearby.

Kanako ignored the spirit and knelt alongside where a softly crying Motoko was cradling and rocking a nonresponsive Keitaro. “What’s wrong with him?” she asked quietly, resting a concerned hand on his leg.

Tsuruko frowned as she turned to Moe. “What happened to him?” she asked tersely.

Moe stepped closer to the couple, her soft expression changing to one of concern. “He was fighting with a great devil in the planes of hell, I fear his mind may not have survived the battle,” she said quietly, reaching out to touch the young man.

Motoko slapped the hand away almost viciously, tears streaming down her beautiful face. “DON’T! You have NO right to even LOOK at him! If you would have just protected him as he did you, NONE of this would have happened!” she spat in an accusing tone, arms tightening protectively around his body.

Looking wounded by the attack, Moe spoke calmly. “I couldn’t Motoko, or I would have put more lives at risk then you could have known,” she said softly, no longer attempting to touch either of them.

“She is correct sister, she was unable to retrieve him…that task fell to the others. Judging by the looks of it though, Bill’s actions weren’t known nor approved,” she added, frowning at Moe.

Nodding sadly, Moe met Tsuruko’s eyes. “You are correct, though I had hoped they would move quicker then they did. Bill overstepped his authority and now must answer for it, though he did bring about the events that allowed us to return Keitaro to us,” she said.

Su crouched by Motoko, gently stroking Keitaro’s arm, a look of forlorn sadness on her face. “Why ain’t he acting normal? Is he sick or something? You think I should operate on his head?” she asked earnestly, looking completely serious about the offer.

The four women immediately spoke up at the offer, “NO!” they all chorused at once, with both Tsuruko and Kanako placing restraining hands on the girl in case she made a move to do so anyways.

Ensuring that Su wasn’t about to try open head surgery on her beloved, Motoko once more returned her attentions to Moe. “Even though he’s back, he’s not with us. Isn’t there anything you can do?” she asked, her voice almost pleading with the Tree’s avatar.

Moe smiled softly at the girl, extending a hand to her. As she opened the fingers, there in her palm sat the strange box Keitaro had found in his room. The same one Keitaro had given to Ranma to return to Motoko before he’d sealed himself into hell. “I gave these to him so show that I approve and support your love for each other Motoko. They will give you the chance to find him within the prison of his mind that Mephistopheles created, only you stand the chance to bring him back. Are you willing to risk everything to do so?” she asked her.

Motoko moved without hesitation, snatching the box from the hand of Moe, tears falling freely from her deep brown eyes. “Of course, I don’t want to be without him,” she said, fire and determination in her voice.

“Very well then, let’s get you both to your room,” she said, taking a step back as Tsuruko helped Motoko with Keitaro. Following behind them, Kanako kept pace with Moe.

“Are you certain this will work?” she asked in a hushed tone, having had extensive studies in the powers of darkness and the effect they could have on a mortal mind.

Moe watched the two sisters as they gently rested Keitaro on his futon, nodding distantly. “Yes, though it will not be easy…for either of them. She must find it within herself to see his fears, insecurities and nightmares, some of which she is at the heart of. Only by standing with him before them can she hope to bring him from the suffering he is under,” she told her softly.

Tsuruko looked in askance to the doll spirit as Motoko gently turned the box in her hand until it opened to reveal the paired rings within. “We are ready,” she told them.

“Place a ring on each of your fingers, I’m sure you know which ones,” Moe told Motoko with a coy smile.

After the girl had done so, Moe motioned for Tsuruko to exit the room. “Now, you must simply relax by him. The magic will do the rest,” she said, as the tall swordswoman stood next to her.

Handing Tsuruko the swords of both Keitaro and Motoko, Kanako knelt on the hallway floor outside the room. “Place their weapons on the rack, where she is going she will have no need of it,” she told her.

The silence was heavy in the room as Tsuruko moved softly to the weapons rack and reverently set the swords in their positions, leaving the room quickly. Turning to look at her sister before shutting the door, she could see the pain and love in the girl’s eyes as she lay next to the young man, gently stroking his cheek with the back of a finger.

The latch clicking into place as the door shut seemed loud in the hallway, leaving them alone to await what outcome of Motoko’s vigil. “There is someone on the roof we must speak with,” said Moe softly, turning and walking towards the stairs that would lead to the roof.

The two women looked at one another curiously, following the enigmatic spirit. As they reached the roof they found Su talking animatedly with the large angel from hell. Their eyes opened wide at the sight of the angel, neither having memory of such a visit before.

Su threw her arms around the angel in a fierce hug before she stepped back, wiping her eyes as she smiled at the trio that had just arrived. She rushed past them, leaving them alone with the angel without a word, though the comforted expression she wore was testament enough to her state of mind.

Moe stood impassively before the angel, her slender arms folded before her. “You aren’t happy with my choices,” she stated bluntly, not phrasing it as a question.

“Your choices could have had dire consequences for this plane had it failed,” he said just as bluntly, obviously used to dealing with the living embodiment of the Tree.

Shrugging her shoulders, she gave him smile. “Tyrael, you didn’t give us much choice. If Bill hadn’t acted when he did, Keitaro would have died already and we would now be truly mourning his loss,” Moe said nonchalantly.

Tsuruko frowned as she stepped forwards, feelings of being used and lied to boiling up within her once more. “In fact, I would gather that you had no intentions of rescuing our comrade. Something that will not set well with my family or it’s school,” she said coldly, hand resting on the hilt of her sword.

Kanako agreed, standing next to the woman. “You both only acted AFTER Bill decided to take the initiative, a fact that hasn’t been lost on any of us,” she added.

The two beings regarded the women for a long moment, before Moe extended a hand to Tyrael. “I think it would be best if YOU explained this, as I have already had this discussion once,” she stated, stepping back.

The angel’s wings extended behind him in what could best be described as indignation as they fluttered for a moment. His face was still hidden by the deep cowl, there the weight of his hidden stare still carried his authority. “Our actions are NOT for you to judge. We act as we must to ensure the good of all beings, whether or not they know of it. You sit and would judge my actions based off what your limited views see, not knowing of the greater and grander scope of what just occurred. The fact that I entered into the plane of hell to PERSONALLY retrieve him was momentous in ways you cannot possibly understand,” he informed them, his voice taking a heated quality to it.

“You were asked to help save your lives, the lives of those you love and the very plane you call home, KNOWING the risks. Keitaro Urashima acted nobly and without selfish thought, taking the actions he felt were in the best interests of everyone. We recognized his sacrifice, KNOWING that he was trapped and in all likelihood would be tortured; mentally, emotionally and physically, until his mortal coil failed him. His soul was guaranteed to have a spot within the heavens, never to know pain or suffering again, THAT was to be his reward,” Tyrael said, moving his hands dramatically to the heavens as he spoke.

Kanako’s fist tightened at her side as she listened to the angel. “But he was still ALIVE! How could you have left him there to fend for himself if you KNEW that was what was in store for him? What about the greater good for HIM?” she asked in a disgusted tone.

“He joined the fight not truly understanding the risks, and assuming that he wouldn’t be left behind to the cruelty of those he struggled against. A fact that up until that day I as well also thought was correct,” Tsuruko said calmly, though her eyes showed the depth of her annoyance with the situation.

His hands went to his sides before he spoke, the only movement coming from his wings as they gently moved behind him. “You both understood the dangers you have faced, more so in your case Tsuruko, given that your family has assisted us for generations in this holy crusade,” he said finally, though his voice was more conciliatory in tone.

“We are arguing a moot point, something that is no longer an issue. The covenant between the heavenly host and demonic hoards is no more. Both angel and demon are once more freed to walk this mortal plane in search of surrogate champions to continue the war. THAT is the price we have paid for what Bill has done. We sought to spare your kind from the chaos of the eternal war, but your actions have dictated otherwise,” he continued in a tired voice, his own hand resting on the hilt of his holy weapon.

Moe regarded them all with sympathy, knowing full well what the future held for mankind and it’s agents. “I have laid my allegiance down with Keitaro, resting my own fate with his,” she told them all quietly, drawing surprised looks for all of them.

Raising her head up to face them, she gave a wan smile. “Is that so surprising? He would sacrifice EVERYTHING for any of us, without a second thought or hesitation. He’s asked for nothing but acceptance from us, and even that wasn’t a stipulation from him. He loves unconditionally, no matter the treatment he’s received. In Motoko he’s found someone that is willing to love him in the same manner as a lover and wife. In Kanako and now Tsuruko, he’s found the unconditional love of family that’s he craved for so long. In the residents of this inn, he’s gotten the love and adoration of friends,” she listed off her observations to them all, pacing slightly as she did.

Stopping by the railing, she smiled distantly. “Vash said to me that there’s always something we can do, it just isn’t necessarily the most POPULAR thing to do, especially if we have to shake the very pillars of heaven,” she said, turning her eyes back to Tyrael, drawing a slight nod from the angel.

“I know the dangers of what I’ve done and what the horrible outcomes could be, yet I find myself at peace with this decision. For eons I have watched the eternal war and how it has affected these mortals, standing unobtrusively to the side and observing,” Moe’s voice was far away as she was lost in the memories she carried.

Shaking her head slightly, she faced them all with a brave and proud smile. “I find myself having to shake the pillars of heaven and rattle the foundations of hell. I will stand with Keitaro, I believe in him and his heart. He will not abuse the powers within him,” the One Tree’s spirit said with a tone of finality, nodding at her own decision.

“Moe, are you serious?” asked a hushed Kanako, blinking dumbly at the doll.

Smiling sweetly at her one time champion and friend, “Yes, I am. You were right in that I used your family, something that didn’t set well with me. It’s time I showed appreciation for your efforts over the years, and made our relationship a partnership,” she said.

Tsuruko smiled warmly at the decision, beginning to feel better about things since their attempted rescue mission. “What do you think about this Tyrael? Are you going to stand with us on this?” the woman asked, turning the pressure back on the angel once more.

The three women regarded him closely, unable to read his face from beneath it’s hood. “Your actions will disrupt the hard fought balance we’ve strived to keep these many years,” he said in an even tone.

When Moe didn’t respond with more than a simple nod, Tyrael’s hooded head shook in apparent disbelief. “Arrogance is one sin that angel’s are not allowed to have, for good reason. Your arrogance in believing that you know what is best will prove to be the cause for your downfall. Will I stand by you as you undertake the path of destruction and lunacy? No. But neither will I stop you from your chosen path, no matter what I believe of it,” he said, his tone tired yet firm, as if pronouncing sentence on them all.

Kanako’s eyes narrowed at his words. “You speak for everyone?” she asked.

“In this instance; yes,” he answered her turning his back to them all, sending a chill over them with the action and it’s undertones.

“We will not tolerate impudence or interference again, know this. While we are not foes, neither are we going to work together,” he said, crouching slightly and jumping into the air, his mighty wings flapping powerfully as he soared into the clouds above.

Tsuruko wore an expression on controlled anger and disbelief at the angel’s actions. “This is troubling, to a very great degree. If you will excuse me, I must send word back to my family informing them of what has transpired,” she said coolly, starting to walk past Moe and Kanako.

“Wait a moment, please,” said Moe, intercepting the woman. “There is one final matter that I must ask of you,” she said.

“Of course, how may I help you?” asked Tsuruko, turning to look squarely at the doll spirit.

“Our actions have placed us in a precarious position, of which I’m sure you’re well aware of,” she began, looking decidedly uncomfortable. “Though I have placed my support with Keitaro, I am in great jeopardy by doing so. I trust in him, as we all do, yet I need to ensure that measures will be taken to protect myself from the evil forces that are sure to come,” Moe admitted, showing her concerns.

Tsuruko smiled and bowed to the spirit. “You give us great honor by asking for our assistance. I pledge to you that my sword is yours should you need it as are the blades of our family and it’s school. You will not be alone in this, on the Aoyama name, I so swear it,” she told the doll.

Moe smiled in relief, “Thank you Tsuruko, you and your family honor me in granting this request,” her voice once more taking on the happy and cheerful tone they’d long associated with her.

“I would like to visit your dojo one day, I have heard whispers of it’s beauty and tranquility,” she added shyly.

“You would be welcomed at any time, I would be honored to accompany you,” Tsuruko told her honestly, though she wondered about the directions life was taking.

Bowing as she left to speak with her family, Tsuruko quietly descended the stairs back into the inn.

Kanako stepped next to Moe, eyeing the spirit curiously. “What of us? Do you still require us to be your guardians and agents?” she asked, wondering herself what was going to become of everything they’d worked for.

Moe was quiet for a long moment, lost in her own thoughts and feelings. “Your family has done great things for me Kanako, a debt that I hope to be able to repay one day. In effect, I will always need you. Not just as my agent, but as my friend as well, both you and your brother. Times have changed, and in such a short amount of time,” she admitted with a wry smile.

“We have shook the pillars of heaven and changed the world as we knew it, all for the love of one man. I regret nothing we’ve done, yet I feel a sense of trepidation over our actions. I have need of people I can trust, and your family is at the top of a VERY short list. Do you mind remaining within my circle of trusted friends?” the One Tree’s spirit asked the girl, attempting to mend fences with her.

Now it was the goth girl’s turn to contemplate the offer and her future. ‘I’ve sought to become more than a sister to big brother for so long that I’ve never truly considered life beyond that goal. Now that it’s no longer an option, what is to become of me?’ she thought, walking from the spirit to the far side of the roof, watching the clouds lazily drifting by.

Her thoughts flowed, images and events passing by her mind’s eye reminding her of the times she’d spent both with and without Keitaro. ‘I cannot truly let him go, he means too much too me to do so. Can I accept the place in his life that he and Motoko have offered me?’ she pondered, knowing the answer, but weighing it now in the new light of recent events.

Though it hurt her to accept his love for Motoko, she also knew that he held a special love for her as well, a love he would never have for Motoko. Smiling sadly, both joyed and saddened by the realization of where she stood with the man, Kanako made her decision for her future.

“Yes, I can accept this. I have very few friends, and would like to be able to consider you one,” she answered finally, having turned to face the spirit once more.

Moe walked over to the girl and embraced her, smiling at the shocked expression on her face as she did. “Thank you Kanako,” she told the girl simply.

Kanako returned the hug, finding herself comforted by the spirit and enjoying the thought of actually having a family and friends around her for a change. ‘I’ve lived alone for too long,’ her mind informed her, pushing such dark thoughts from her mind and existing in the moment.

Inside Keitaro’s room…

Motoko tenderly touched Keitaro’s face, trying very hard not to focus on the distant and vacant expression he wore as she did. “Come back to me Keitaro, I love you,” she whispered to him, blinking back the tears.

Her eyes caught on the ring she wore, finding it to be warmer than she’d of imagined it to be. With sudden inspiration, she reached down with her left and entwined her fingers into those of his left hand. Holding her breath, she waited for something to happen, only exhaling when nothing did. Frowning in frustration, she fought back against the despair that threatened to overwhelm her. ‘I will NOT lose you now, not after everything we’ve been through,’ she vowed silently, closing her eyes and resting her forehead against his.

Darkness washed over her, so deep and complete that it made her nauseous. Even when she opened her eyes, there was no relief from the sudden dark, making her realize that she was about to be faced with the hell of Keitaro’s mind. “Keitaro?” she called, becoming dimly aware of a kind of duality, she could feel her body next to his, yet at the same time she knew he was no where near her.

Unable to see and barely able to feel, she moved with slow purposeful steps, arms outstretched before her. Counting her steps, as much to help her deal with the loss of sight as to give her an idea of how far she’d traveled, she continued her pleas for her love to answer her.

The surface she was walking on suddenly disappeared, sending her falling in a soundless void to a bright speck of light that rapidly grew larger until it engulfed her completely. Her feet touched down almost gently upon a hard wood floor, polished to a high shine. Looking around, she gasped aloud, recognizing the room vaguely as her own from the Hinata Sou, though it was warped and deformed.

The only sound she could hear was the pounding of her own heartbeat, the blood rushing through her ears. There before her, was a dying Keitaro, the handle of the small ceremonial knife still embedded in his stomach, a large portion of his intestines spread out before him in a bloody pool. She tried to move to him, seeing that he was gasping in agony, crying as he lay dying on the floor. His eyes were locked on something behind her, a look of utter and complete pain and suffering in them.

She slowly turned to see a sight that sickened and humiliated her. Two people were having enthusiastic sex, all the while mocking the dying man with words and motions. Motoko was looking down at an exact double of herself, yet the cruel and cold expression on the other’s face was too alien for her to comprehend. What was more disturbing to the young woman was that she was having sex with Seta, and both of them were enjoying torturing Keitaro as much as they were enjoying one another.

Spinning from the sight, she crouched next to Keitaro, hands reaching down to touch his face, to comfort him and assure him that nothing like this could ever happen. As her hands touched him, she felt a sharp and driving pain behind her eyes, causing her to gasp at it’s intensity. Forcing herself through it, she leaned forwards and tenderly kissed his forehead. “I would NEVER betray you Keitaro,” she whispered, tears falling down her cheeks.

For one brief moment, the pain and madness left his eyes and he looked up at her with relief, then he was gone, leaving her alone in a now empty room. Dark laughter met her ears as she stood, giving her chills. Walking from the room, she entered into a hallway that would have been perfectly at home in the Hinata, had it not seemed to extend endless in either direction.

With a determined look, Motoko walked to the next door on right, placing her hand on the handle as she took a deep breath. “I will save you Keitaro, I will never leave you,” she said, swallowing hard to brace herself for whatever she was to face within. Opening the door, she stepped once more into the darkness.

Meanwhile…

Bill and Chayn looked at each with resigned expression. “Well, it could be worse,” he said with a shrug.

“True, but I still don’t like it,” his wife replied darkly, walking with him away from the hospital where Shampoo was being treated.

“Look at it this way, at least we can still can help our guys out without worrying about if we’re going get busted for doing it,” the tried, hoping to find some bright spot in the situation.

“Bill, our CHILD is being taken care of by our friends at the moment. In case you hadn’t noticed, that’s supposed to be OUR job,” Chayn said heatedly, not wanting to be comforted.

Hanging his head, he grew silent as they headed towards the small home they’d rented nearby. Tyrael had banished them to reside in this plane, helping the one’s they’d chosen for heroes until such a time that he felt the debt was repaid. No amount of fast talking or explanations had been able to sway the angel, he had been adamant about them staying here and away from Chase and the rest of their friends.

Looking out of the corner of his eye at Chayn, he felt guilty about the situation, though she’d chosen to come along. ‘I just never thought he’d get so ticked off by us trying to save Keitaro. Hell, it ain’t like he’s never broken the rules before,’ he thought defensively, kicking at a nonexistent rock on the sidewalk.

Leaning against him suddenly, Chayn wrapped an arm around him. “I’m sorry love, I just get so ANGRY at him sometimes,” she muttered, tightening her grip around him slightly.

Placing an arm across her shoulders, he nodded. “I know, for the life of me I can’t figure him out either. I mean, I’ve ticked him off before…but I ain’t never seen him this angry before,” he agreed, still slightly stunned at the vehemence that Tyrael had shown them for their actions.

Shaking his head, “Oh well, ain’t no use crying over spilt milk. At least we still got some of our gear to use, and the bank accounts are still open to us. We won’t go hungry or have to worry about defending ourselves, right?” he asked, kissing the side of her head.

His attempts to make her feel better did make her smile, not in any success but rather for him making the attempt. “I know, I still don’t like it. You know we’re going to have to answer some pretty hard questions once they figure out we’re stuck here,” she informed, voicing his own private fears inadvertently.

Wincing he nodded at her comment. “Yeah, I know, that’s one of the reason’s I approached Nabiki first. The girl’s got the skill’s, that’s for sure, and we’re gonna need some friends that have that type of pull,” he explained. He blushed slightly at Chayn, “Besides, I…uh, kinda broke some rules to get her and Ranma together,” he admitted sheepishly.

Rolling her eyes, Chayn chuckled. “I know, you gave Chase fits over it, but she didn’t say anything. You realize that when you took her to one of the terminus’ that you could have ruined everything?” the woman asked.

“What was I supposed to do? It’s not like I could have just come out and TOLD her who and what we really are ya know!” he said in a slightly defensive tone.

“Besides, by doing that I was able to give her a fighting chance with what was coming without ruining too many of the timelines,” he added, feeling a measure of pride over his actions with the girl.

Chayn was quiet for a several blocks, her eyes watching the ground before them as they walked. “What bothers me is HOW the chain of events happened Bill, it was just TOO convenient,” she said thoughtfully, having been able to give the matter some thought.

Eyeing his wife curiously, “What do you mean? It was pretty touch and go there all the way through,” he asked her, wondering her thoughts on the matter. ‘She’s the tactician, I’m the one that follows the plans,’ he thought with a warm feeling, marveling at how well they worked together.

Her face took on an expression of annoyance. “Take Mousse for example. How’d he end up at the Tendo’s only MOMENTS before the magi clan attacked? It isn’t like he was in any condition to fight them and we both know how they deal with witnesses to their activities. They’d of have to have seen him as they trashed the home, yet he wasn’t touched by them,” she explained, seeing the look of comprehension dawning on his face.

“Then, look at the whole situation with the magi clan itself. By your own calculations, they arrived almost a full year BEFORE they were supposed to. Based on what you found out, Nabiki was supposed to be pregnant when they struck, not to mention the fact that the entire family was home when they did,” Chayn continued, ticking off the next reason on her hand.

“Now that you mention it,” Bill said softly, beginning to see why his wife was so bothered by all the recent events and why she’d been so adamant about accompanying him. ‘It wasn’t just my good looks,’ he thought with a sarcastic chuckle.

“Exactly, how often is Oracle wrong?” she asked rhetorically, growing more confident as they walked.

“Then, to top it all off, Keitaro get left behind in hell. A man that supposedly can’t be killed…left behind. Something that to my knowledge hasn’t happened before,” the woman said, her tone going dark.

“We go in after him, almost get out collective butts handed to us, only to have the cavalry come riding in at just the right time, with said cavalry getting pissy about the rest of our crew showing up as well. Now, they’ve separated us from everyone else but the few chosen, claiming that we need to ‘atone’ for our indiscretions,” Chayn said in a tone that spoke exactly what she thought of the word atone.

Bill listened in rapt silence, following his wife’s chain of events, coming to conclusions he didn’t like to consider. “But why? That’s the question of the hour. I’ll admit that I don’t always follow their logic, but they’ve seemed to have a handle on the why’s and what for’s in the past,” he asked, opening the door to their temporary home for Chayn, closing it behind them.

Resting against the door frame, he rested his chin in his right hand, elbow in the left hand. “I hadn’t thought about it before but you’ve got a point. A couple of things ARE too convenient,” he agreed, letting out a deep sigh.

Turning to face him, Chayn’s expression grew darker. “I’m telling you right now that something is going on. They’ve separated us from the others for a reason, that’s the only explanation I can think of. Did you see how upset he was when he learned that Leo wasn’t with Chase but Aerie? That’s what got my hackles up, it was the first time Tyrael had mentioned our son and it was in reference to WHERE he was,” she explained.

Furrows appeared on Bill’s forehead as he crossed the room to put his arms around Chayn. “Okay, so what’re we gonna do about it? We’re kinda limited in our responses at the moment, but if what you’re saying is true…” he trailed off as she leaned into him.

“Then Chase is going to have just about the same line of thinking. All we gotta do is just take care of our own down here and wait for her to come get us,” he finished, his mind beginning to wrap around a theory.

“Okay, I’ve got an idea. It ain’t gonna make Mr. Holierthanthou very happy, but then again when’s the last time we actually heard him even giggle?” he asked in a devious tone.

Looking up into his blue eyes, Chayn smiled in agreement. “That’s one the reasons I love you so much. You have absolutely NO regard for authority,” she said, pulling his down into a kiss.

Touching her face affectionately, he pushed some loose strands of her hair back behind her ear. “First, we’ve got a wedding to attend. Then we’ve got some pay back to give to a certain woman that two days older than dirt. After that, it’s about time we had a discussion with certain people about what we’re thinking. We’re going to need friends on this one, LOTS of friends if our hunch is right and it’s time to find out where the lines are drawn,” he said, mentally making a check list.

Tugging on his ear, Chayn pulled the man towards the bedroom. “First things first. You’ve been neglecting me for too long ‘William’, and it’s high time you remembered what your priorities are, do I make myself clear?” she asked with a sultry look.

“Crystal,” he said with a deep blush and silly grin, barely able to shut the door before being thrown to the bed, his wife pouncing on him like a predator.

Hinata Sou, inside Keitaro’s room…

Motoko moaned, her face wrinkling and twitching as she laid next to Keitaro, until with a stifled cry of sorrow her eyes flew open. Sitting up right in bed, she buried her face into her hands, beginning to sob. “I’m sorry Keitaro, I’m so sorry,” she moaned through her emotions, still living the horrors she’d seen in his mind.

What he was being put through was cruel beyond words, forcing him to live his worst fears over and over, all at the same time. He was given no respite, shown no mercy as even his most hidden fears and insecurities were brought to horrible life, complete with sensations, emotions and it’s own set of scars.

She had seen herself in many of them, doing unspeakable things to him without pity or remorse. In others, it had been one of the girl’s he lived with, using and abusing him, or torturing him until the brink of madness. She’d witnessed things in his psyche that she’d never contemplated or could have dreamt of, so vile and nasty. Yet, through it all, Keitaro never took steps against any of the living nightmares, instead taking all the abuse and torture within himself. He’d begged and pleaded many times, enough to break her heart into pieces as she’d been forced to not only witness the nightmarish worlds, but to try to comfort her love.

Hundreds and hundreds of doors, so many and there was always more, a never-ending hallway of tortures he was being forced to bear. Each time she would comfort him, for a scant moment he would recognize her, then vanish with the rest of the room. The dark laughter always followed her, mocking her attempts to save him.

The final straw had been when she’d tried desperately to comfort Keitaro only to have him plead with her to kill him, to end it all. He couldn’t see or feel her presence, yet time and again he’d scream out her name, pleading with her to end his suffering. His voice was raw from screaming, eyes maddened by pain and suffering, yet still calling out for the one person he loved and trusted more than any other.

Her sobs grew as she realized that she’d failed him, that she had been unable to reach him no matter how strongly she loved him. “I AM useless, I am unworthy to even carry my blade,” she said forlornly, eyes going upwards to the ceiling, asking the heavens above for guidance. As usual, there was no answer for her pain, only the hollow feeling of failure.

As if pulled there, her eyes sought out her blade on it’s stand nearby, locking to the finely made scabbard and it’s tassels. His pleas still echoing in her mind, she crawled to the stand and took her blade from it, pulling it from the scabbard with a smooth motion.

The normally polished and shining blade seemed dull and lusterless, as if knowing what it’s master’s thoughts and intentions are. Crying hard, she cradled the blade to her chest as she once more looked upwards, trying to control her emotions enough so that she could do what must be done. ‘I could not save you from your pain Keitaro, but I will not let you suffer from it any longer. My hand will be true, you shall NOT suffer by my hands,’ she promised, wondering if she could have the strength to follow through on herself after she’d given him the rest he deserved.

With shaking hands she returned to his side, pulling his pliant body up to a sitting position, biting the inside of her cheek in an attempt to get past the sorrow that was consuming her. Kneeling next to him, her body facing his and spaced slightly back, she brought her left arm across his shoulders and leaned him forwards, his head now resting on her right shoulder.

“You will die with your honor my love. I pray that we find each other in the afterlife, it wouldn’t be heaven for me unless you are there with me,” she whispered, once more breaking into tears as she tried to gather the last of her strength for what she must do.

Kissing the cheek nearest her, she leaned her head into his, praying that he not only wouldn’t feel his death but that he would forgive her for failing him. Her right hand tightened on the hilt of her sword, the tiny platinum bell’s given to her by Bill rang musically with the motions. “I love you Keitaro, with all my heart,” she said, gritting her teeth.

The tip of her blade rested against the flesh of Keitaro, directly over his heart, dimpling the skin as she put pressure on the sword. His breathing was slow and steady, his eyes wide and unseeing as Motoko slowed her breathing, centering herself.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” came a calm voice from behind them.

Jumping slightly, causing the blade to slide over his tender skin, cutting a long but shallow cut across the left side of his chest down to his stomach. Moving quickly in response to the intruder, Motoko spun on them, blood running thinly down the sharpened edge. “Who are you?” she hissed, misdirected rage washing over her, needing to hurt someone, ANYONE as much as she hurt.

The girl was nothing more than a body of pure light surrounded by a golden nimbus. She was seated casually on the desk that Keitaro frequently had done his homework at, her legs crossed at the knee with the top one bouncing lightly. The only portion of her body that wasn’t made of pure light was her facial features. Her eyes were a curious shade of violet and blue, divided almost directly in half across her pupils. She had well defined and slender lips of a deep red, contrasting well with her pale skin, with long slender eyebrows that seemed to extend past the boundaries of her face.

“WHO I am is irrelevant at this time child, it is WHAT I wish to tell you that is important,” she said, a playful smile dancing on her lips.

Motoko snarled at the woman. “Speak quickly, you have interrupted something sacred,” she said, struggling to control her temper and anger that threatened to slip their leash.

Raising one of the strange eyebrows, the smile left her face, showing an expression of dangerous intent. “Death is sacred? I have interrupted a murder, not an act of mercy,” she said in a cold and haughty tone, her eyes lidding slightly as she regarded Motoko.

Something strange in the woman’s aura changed, sending an involuntary chill down Motoko’s spine. “What are you?” she asked, some of the fire leaving her tone, though the sword was still held in preparation of a fatal strike.

Hopping up from the desk, the girl stood before her with a bemused expression. “I have told you, who I am is unimportant, just as much as WHAT I am. I have come to show you the way to save him from the tortures he’s still suffering,” she said, crossing closer to the girl.

Stepping protectively before the catatonic Keitaro, “I will make no deals with you, I am the heir to the Shinmei Ryuu and will not fall prey to your schemes foul demon!” she spat, feeling the hope die within her breast once more.

The girl of light looked offended at the accusation. “Demon? Please, if I were a demon I would have ripped your soul from you before you even knew I was here. No Motoko Aoyama, I am no demon, nor do I seek to, as you so eloquently put it, make a ‘deal’ with you,” she said with a dismissive wave.

“I am here of purely selfish reasons, that much I will tell you. You see, if he is to die, he takes with him the greatest chance we have in the coming days of stopping the greatest suffering and peril this world has EVER known. THAT is why I’m here, I’ve no wish to die,” walking towards the window’s of his room.

Motoko eyed the strange girl curiously, sensing no evil about her, no trace of the ones that would make hidden arrangements with mortals. “Why did you not help us sooner than? Before this all came about? Wouldn’t it have been better for all that this never befell him?” she asked, standing upright as she looked at the light that made up the woman’s body.

There was little she could make out of her body, the light was just too bright, though she could tell that she was no girl, but rather had a woman’s build.

Looking over her shoulder, she fixed the strange and alien eyes on Motoko. “Because, I don’t want them to know that I’m aware of their petty little games,” she said with a knowing smile.

When Motoko frowned, she turned and held up a hand. “No matter. This discussion is ended. I will not speak on this further and my time is valuable. Do you wish this to go well for you or shall I take matters into my own hands. You’ll find that I’m NOT someone you want as an enemy Motoko Aoyama, no matter the vaunted skills at your disposal,” she warned.

At the threat, her sword came back up to a ready position, though not threatening. “What do you mean, ‘well for me’?” she asked darkly, not liking the hidden undertones in the woman’s voice.

She smiled at her lasciviously, her eyes drifting down to his well-muscled form. “He’s a very attractive specimen, one that would bring pleasure to both the mind and body. If you’re DONE with him…” she trailed off in light laughter at Motoko’s look of outrage at the suggestion.

“Now now, I simply was assuring myself that you indeed do wish to make him your mate. I would do so at the earliest opportunity if I were you, life isn’t as long as we’d like to believe,” she warned Motoko ominously, waving her fingers at the still body of Keitaro, a glowing nimbus surrounding him as she did.

Before Motoko’s eyes, he became too bright to look directly at, until his body slowly dissipated with the fading light, leaving her alone in the room with the strange woman of light.

With a betrayed cry, Motoko whirled on the woman, unleashing her attack on the woman without hesitation as he vanished from the room. “Air splitting sword final form!” she cried, pushing all her pain, sorrow, anguish and betrayal into the attack.

The room around them couldn’t withstand the power of her attack, walls and flooring ripped up as the super charged wave of ki slammed into the woman as she stood unmoving before the window.

The resulting explosion shook the inn to it’s very foundations, shattering windows and blowing several doors off their tracks and hinges. The hole that now comprised the outer wall of Keitaro’s room ate into both the upper and lower rooms, and in the center of all the destruction hovered the lady of light, with an amused smile on her face.

“Impressive, for a mortal,” she said, once more raising the finely arched brow at the girl. “However, you are well beneath harming me. A fact you would do well to remember in the future. Your lover is alive and well, though slightly confused at the moment as to how he got to his present location. Since you saw fit to attack my act of generosity, I will leave it to you to find out where that is. If you do not find him before the sun sets, I will claim him for my own, just to enjoy your suffering,” she said in a dangerous voice, once more settling her strange eyes on Motoko’s.

Her laughter was light and musical, and totally without humor as she faded slowly from sight, leaving a stunned and thoroughly frightened Motoko in her wake.

The door was kicked the remainder of the way open to reveal an angry Kanako, eyeing the destruction warily. Close behind her was Tsuruko, her sword out as she too entered the room. “What happened?” hissed Kanako, having not seen Keitaro in the room and Motoko with her bared sword.

Motoko shook her head, taking the three steps to the edge of the hole to the outside. “I don’t have time to explain! I must find Keitaro!” she told them, leaping from the room with nimble grace, her hakama fluttering in the winds and her long hair trailing up as she descended.

Kanako gave Tsuruko a frustrated look before following the girl as well, somersaulting down onto the soft grass below.

Tsuruko walked to the edge and watched the two girls sprinting away into the wood surrounding the inn. “They’ll learn one day,” she said quietly, a confident smile showing on her face as she turned back to the hall.

Walking to the stairs, she climbed them to the third floor, stopping before the door at the furthest end of the hallway. Knocking gently, she waited only a moment before the exuberant face of Su appeared. “Heya Tsuruko, what’s up?” she asked, jumping up into the woman’s arms.

“It would seem Keitaro is playing hide and seek once more and I would like you to help me find him, can you do this for me?” asked the crafty swordswoman with a gentle smile.

The smile Su got almost split her face in two, whipping out her always handy Keitaro Tracking Device Version 3(Transdimensional array upgrade). Cheering loudly, Su immediately pointed off towards where the old Annex of the inn was located. “Oh boy! I just KNEW Keitaro would wanna play when he got back! Say, is Motoko already lookin’ for him? If she is we gotta hurry, she’s almost as good as I am at finding Keitaro,” urged the blonde genius with unrestrained enthusiasm.

Tsuruko gave a light laugh as she followed her directions, a sense of well being coming over her as they moved. Hearing a series of shouts from the woods, she shook her head, ‘It’s a wonder how that man escapes so often if the girls are so attuned to his movements,’ she marveled, realizing that all of the residents seemed to have taken up the chase to find the ronin that meant so much to them all.

Outside the inn, near the old annex…

The skies above were clear as the girls raced through the woods, each calling out for Keitaro. Motoko wandered quietly, listening not to the calls or for answer, but rather trusting in her own abilities to lead her to where Keitaro was. The strange woman had unnerved her, both by her appearance as well as her not so veiled threat to take Keitaro.

‘It makes no sense that she would just suddenly appear, claim to know how to help Keitaro and vanish. Something is amiss, too many random elements all at once,’ she thought, pulling her sword and holding it before her, point to the sky above.

Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the woods around her, focusing her thoughts into finding the boundless yet nebulous ki that marked Keitaro. It took her only a few moments to filter through the ambient life that surrounded them, a smile making it’s way to her face. He was moving towards the Inn itself, taking the path that they’d shared many times when they’d train together.

Resheathing the sword, Motoko broke into a sprint, dodging through the brush and trees with marked grace and ease. The only indication of her passage was the brief unsettling of the leaves as she passed and the flashing of red and white against the back drop of endless green.

The voices grew fainter as she approached him, still moving at the best speeds she could. Breaking from the brush, she caught sight of the man only paces in front of her. Without thinking she launched herself at the man, her voice calling out in joy at seeing him up and mobile once more. “KEITARO!” she cried happily, tears flowing freely once more, only this time they were there from the joy she felt inside.

Keitaro was puzzled, still scratching his head as to how he’d gotten into the woods. “Last thing I remember is fighting Mephistopheles,” he muttered, dark memories of pain and suffering lingering at the edges of his mind. He shivered uncontrollably at the thoughts, knowing something bad had happened to him, but not sure what it was.

He wasn’t sure if he was hearing things or not, voices kept calling to him on the winds. He paused for a moment, holding absolutely still to see if he could make out who they were or what exactly they were saying. Frowning, he shook his head and shrugged. ‘Sounds like Kanako and Mitsune,’ he thought idly, heading back towards the inn, and hopefully a nice long bath.

He rolled his shoulders as he stepped back onto a little used path, finally able to walk with more confidence now that the forest floor wasn’t going to attempt to trip him every other step.

“Keitaro, it’s good to see you up and about once more,” came a friendly voice, followed shortly by a glowing form of a woman stepping from within the trees.

Jumping instinctively, he looked wildly about for a moment, not seeing a readily accessible path of escape from the woman that seemed to be made of light. ‘Who… who are you?” he asked, struggling to control the sudden fear in his voice. With everything that had happened recently, he wasn’t about to take chances with strangers that knew his name just showing up out of the blue.

Her face formed from the light, taking on a more fleshy appearance as opposed to the remainder of her body that was still formed of what looked like pure light. “I am a friend Keitaro, someone that doesn’t wish for you to suffer,” she answered, pausing as she stood before him, her eyes travelling up and down his body.

“Ah yes, I can see why she gets all flustered when she looks on you,” she said with a pleased smile, causing the man to blush.

Giving a quiet sound of indignation, he unconsciously covered himself with his arms, a sight that was almost ridiculous given that he was only topless. Rolling his eyes, he glared at the woman. “How’m I supposed to just believe you? You could be here to swallow my soul, try to rip my head off or something else really bad like that,” he countered, suddenly wishing he had his sword.

Shaking her head in mock sadness, her eyes danced with undisguised humor. “Come now Keitaro, do you really think that I would have gone through all this trouble to speak with you if I intended you harm? I have rescued your mind from a most unsavory fate, saved your body from imminent death and have even made sure that everyone you love is currently on the way to your location. If you don’t believe me,” she said pausing and looking around to the trees that surrounded them, motioning with a hand.

“Simply give it a few moments. I’m sure you can hear them desperately searching for you as we speak. You’ll see that I tell you the truth,” she told him, winking slyly at him, enjoying the look of discomfort on his face.

“What’re you talking about saved my mind and body? How was I in danger?” he asked hollowly, the dark sensations once more pushing at the outer edges of his psyche.

Her smile faltered a bit, her eyes losing most of their mirth. “You’ll have to speak to your beloved about that I’m afraid. That is something best left for her to explain. Suffice it to say that what Mephistopheles had planned for you wouldn’t have gone with my own sense of well being and over all longevity. I did as I have because I think you are a singularly special individual with boundless potential, and one that didn’t deserve the fate that others had tried to impose upon you,” she answered, avoiding the question deftly by subtly changing the direction of the conversation.

At the mention of Motoko, he felt a pang within his heart, an aching sense of loss that he couldn’t immediately explain. “Motoko?” he said quietly, mind racing with the implication of her words.

Nodding, she turned and pointed to the trail behind her. “There is a clearing ahead, if I have judged her correctly, she will find you by the time you have entered into the center of it. I’m hardly ever wrong,” the woman said with cocky smile.

“At any rate, I simply wanted to see you with my own eyes and witness the man who cannot be killed. It would seem rumors of your immortality weren’t exaggerated in the least,” she said, moving off to the side of the trail once more.

Blinking rapidly as the strange woman starting moving away, he held up a hand. “Wait! You still didn’t tell me who you are or why you’re here,” he called to her.

She only paused for a moment, turning to look over her shoulder and regard him with her strangely colored and shaped eyes. “Don’t worry dear boy, we’ll meet again soon enough,” her body fading along with her words.

“Can my life get ANY stranger?” he wondered aloud, once more setting off down the path.

True to the woman’s words, he’d just crossed into a large clearing from the trees when the bushes behind him exploded outwards and Motoko flung herself at him with a joyous expression on her face. “KEITARO!” she cried out.

By the time he was able to turn, she was already airborne with her arms outstretched, slamming into him and wrapping herself around his body, driving them both to the ground.

The breath was blasted out of his lungs a split second before her eager lips covered his, kissing him passionately as she lay atop of him. Though the kiss thrilled and warmed him to the core, the lack of oxygen soon gave him a light headed feeling beyond the norm.

As her lips pulled back, he gasped in great gulps of air as a satisfied and happy smile came over his face. “Motoko,” he whispered, afraid that this was nothing more than a dream. The darkness writhed within him, pushing against his mind and fears.

She noticed the look of fear and loss starting to come into his expressive eyes. “Keitaro, it’s okay…you’re here now, I’m with you,” she said quickly and earnestly, touching his face with tender fingers to assure him that this wasn’t the nightmares he’d been living.

“I…Motoko…it was…” he stuttered and stopped, unable to give voice to the feelings and thoughts that suddenly seemed to wash over his mind. Tears of pain and fear once more filled his eyes as he clenched them shut, trying to force the horrific images from his mind. He shook his head from side to side, muting a gasping sob that boiled up his throat.

Motoko’s eyes were wide with his suffering, knowing full well what he was seeing in his mind’s eye. “Keitaro, it’s going to be alright, nothing can hurt you know. We’ll get through this…together, I promise,” she whispered, brushing her lips across his as she pressed her body against him.

His arms flew around the girl on him, clutching her to him as he struggled to deal with what had happened to him. “I couldn’t find you Motoko, every time I tried I only found these horrible images and nightmares,” he said, burying his face into the side of her neck.

From all around the couple came the sounds of people rushing through the woods, until one by one the others stumbled across them. All of them except Su blushed at seeing them in such an intimate pose, and it was only through the strength of Tsuruko’s grip on her shirt that stopped the blonde dynamo from also latching onto her two favorite people.

As Keitaro calmed down he finally noticed everyone standing around them in a loose circle. Wiping his eyes, he gave them a weak smile, “Hey guys…uh, you been standing there long?” he asked sheepishly, blushing brilliantly in the process.

Kitsune smiled at them, one eye opened playfully. “Long enough to know you ain’t got no reason to be blushing. My my Keitaro, who’d a known that you got such a perverted mind, huh?” she teased him, hand on her cocked hip.

Motoko’s face went scarlet at her insinuations, “MITSUNE!” she gasped, sitting up with her legs still straddling the young man. She suddenly blinked as she realized how the position looked as she saw Shinobu’s eyes roll back in her head as she collapsed bonelessly to the ground beneath her.

Chuckling at the younger girl, Kitsune extended a hand to where the girl had fainted. “See, I’m not the only one that thought that way,” she told them.

Naru glared at her friend as she knelt next to Shinobu, waving her hand over the girl’s face. “Mitsune, leave them alone! You know Shinobu can’t take much of that kind of teasing,” she admonished her.

“Oh poo Naru, you just wanna ruin the reunion is all,” the fox pouted slightly, though the wink she gave Motoko and Keitaro belied her words.

Tsuruko set Su down, giving her a firm glance as she did. “Stay with your friend for a moment,” she said before moving towards where Motoko was finally getting off of Keitaro. Crouching down next to them, she smiled warmly at the immortal young man.

“I see you’ve been through quite the ordeal Keitaro, is there anything I can do to help you?” she asked him, making sure that he met her eyes.

He gave her a weak and tired looking smile. “No thanks Tsuruko, I really appreciate it though,” he answered her, finding that Motoko had taken his hand in hers.

“Sister, it would appear that he still has memories of the nightmares he was suffering from. Is there something we can do for him,” she said to her sister, then looking down at Keitaro in apology.

“I’m sorry Keitaro, but I cannot and will not allow you to suffer from what that devil did to you. If there is anything I can do to help you through this, then I am going to do so,” she said to him, her tone apologetic but firm.

“Motoko,” he said quietly, seeing the firm resolve in her eyes. “How did you know?” he asked her, horrified that she might have witnessed what he experienced.

“Because Keitaro, the rings I gave you both allowed her the chance to reach you despite what Mephistopheles did to you,” said Moe, walking from the trees with a wan smile.

“Hey Moe! You’re here too?” asked a surprised Keitaro, sitting up next to Motoko, smiling slightly wider as she wrapped her arms around him.

Motoko hid her face at the appearance of the doll spirit, still reeling from the encounter with the woman of light. ‘I failed him, I was unable to save him without her help,’ she thought, feelings of uselessness finding her once more.

Tsuruko watched the interaction with a keen eye, noticing the sudden almost dramatic change that came over her sister with the appearance of the spirit. ‘Something is wrong,’ the woman thought as her eyes narrowed, beginning to truly wonder about the destruction of Keitaro’s room at Motoko’s hands.

Standing before them, Moe clasped her hands before her. “Yes, I wanted to come and thank you personally for everything you did for not only me but the rest of us as well. None of this would have been possible without you,” she said honestly.

Looking down at the ring on his hand and the matching one on Motoko’s hand, he gave her a curious look. “You mean all this time, it was YOU that gave me these rings? Why didn’t you say something sooner?” he asked, but smiled as he finally realized what fingers they both wore their rings on.

Moe shrugged, “I wanted you both to enjoy what you had found with one another without interfering. There was enough going on during that time, you didn’t need anymore meddling in your affairs,” she explained.

Keitaro smiled at her good naturedly, “You still could’ve told us. I was worried sick that it was something Drake had planted for a long time,” he said, turning to regard a pale Motoko. Seeing the stricken expression on her face, he immediately turned serious.

“Are you okay Motoko?” he asked with concern.

She could only nod, a thick feeling in her chest and throat seeming to stop any form of vocal communication.

“Perhaps this is a good time to speak with the both you alone about your experiences,” offered Tsuruko, jumping into the conversation to rescue Motoko.

All eyes turned to regard the tall woman, giving her a wondering expression. “Um, sure Tsuruko,” said Keitaro, now a matching shade to Motoko at the thought of having to talk about the awful images and memories in his mind.

Moe looked over to Kanako and nodded to her friend. “I will return in a few days time to check on you all. Be well until we next meet,” she said, waving at them and walking back into the woods once more.

Returning the wave, Kanako sighed and crossed over to where Su was trying to slide closer to the couple on the ground. Grabbing her by the ear as she passed, she shook her head. “Come along Su, isn’t it about time for dinner? You DID promise to make french fried banana’s in curry for us tonight, remember?” she asked in a long suffering tone, the look she shot at Tsuruko stating exactly how much the woman owed her for this.

Ignoring the girl’s protests and exclamations of pain over the treatment, she began to drag her off towards the inn. Naru watched them go with a knowing smile before scooping up Shinobu from the ground. “I’ll go make sure they don’t burn the house down,” she said, looking shyly over to where Keitaro and Motoko were holding onto one another almost protectively.

“I’m glad you’re back Keitaro, I really am,” she said with a sad smile.

He looked over to his ex-girlfriend and returned the smile, still vividly recalling have to harm her in hell to save her life. “I’m glad you’re okay too Naru, I thought I really hurt you,” he said to her.

She walked up to them as she carried Shinobu, shaking her head. “If you hadn’t of done that I might not have been saved or something worse might have happened. No Keitaro, you did the right thing, thank you,” she told him quietly, tearing up slightly as she did.

Unable to think of anything to say to the girl at such an honest statement, they simply looked at one another in silence until Mitsune chose that moment to rescue the moment. “If ya’ll don’t mind, I’m gonna take Naru here and go back to the inn and find my second biggest bottle of sake and try not to think about Su and her cooking. I’ll send the biggest bottle I got to your old room Motoko, I’m sure you and lover boy here got some celebrating to do,” she teased them good naturedly, wrapping an arm across Naru’s shoulders and guiding her from the clearing.

Tsuruko looked at them seriously for a moment, nodding slowly. “There is something else isn’t there sister dear?” she asked in a soft tone.

Keitaro looked at her with surprise. “Is there something else Motoko?” he asked her, getting a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach at the question and the way Motoko was acting.

Licking her lips, she pleaded with her sister in a look to not discuss this in front of Keitaro, finding no quarter there. Hanging her head, “Yes, there is something else sister. Something that directly concerns you Keitaro,” she admitted quietly, unable to meet their gazes.

Nodding in understanding, Tsuruko extended her hand down to the couple. “Come, let us go to your room then and we shall talk about it. Do not worry Motoko, I’m sure it isn’t anything that can’t be over come,” she said, trying to reassure the obviously shaken Motoko.

As they got to their feet, Motoko refused to relinquish her hold on Keitaro’s hand, holding it tightly in both of hers as they walked in relative silence to the base of the hill that the Hinata Sou stood upon.

Keitaro enjoyed the feeling of touching Motoko, finding himself paying attention to the fine details that seemed to make up the complex girl that owned his heart. Her skin was still flawless, though colored slightly from all the emotion she’d withstood recently, only adding to her classical looks of beauty. Her fingers and hands were both soft and smooth, yet hard and callused when they touched, the unique sensation thrilling him as he remembered vividly their nights of shared passion.

It was through this memory that the darkness within him failed and retreated, leaving him without the sense of doom and foreboding that had been eating away at his self esteem and confidence since his strange awakening in the forest.

Snapping his fingers, he pulled Motoko to a stop. “I almost forgot!” he exclaimed, a look of worried excitement on his face. “I ran into a really strange looking woman in the woods that seemed to know me for some reason. She was like…made out of light or something, everything but her face,” he explained, looking first at Tsuruko then Motoko.

Tsuruko’s brow furrowed at the description, finding it odd but not recognizing it as any foul or evil spirits she’d heard of.

Motoko’s gasp of shock caused both of them to regard her curiously. “You saw her?” she asked in a strained whisper, her thoughts running rampant through her mind about the last threat the woman had given her.

“Yeah, you know her? She was really kinda strange but seemed nice…in a bizarre kinda way,” he said, blinking at her drawn expression.

“She told me that she’d saved my mind and body from death, or something like that and when I asked her about it, she only told me to talk to you about,” Keitaro related, struggling to remember her exact words and finding it difficult to do so.

Blanching at the man’s words, Motoko’s eyes closed in shock and shame, once more reliving the horrible moments just before she’d almost killed him to try and save him.

“Motoko?” asked a very concerned Keitaro, touching her face gently with his hand, trying to get her to open her eyes.

Shaking her head, tears squeezed from beneath her tightly shut lids. “It wasn’t like that…” she said in a broken tone, her throat working hard as she tried to swallow past the dryness in her mouth and throat.

Tsuruko frowned at her reaction to what Keitaro had told them. “I see. Perhaps it is best that we have a discussion now then. It would appear as if something is once more moving amongst us,” she said, motioning them forwards to the stairs that would lead to the inn.

“What do you mean by that Tsuruko?” asked Keitaro, finding that Motoko wasn’t going to respond to his pleas.

Taking a deep breath, she didn’t turn to look at him as they entered into the inn. “I believe it would be best if we only spoke of this once we are alone,” was all that she said to him.

None of them talked as they first stopped by Keitaro’s room to retrieve a change of clothes and bathing kits for both him and Motoko. ‘Wow! What happened in here?’ he wondered, realizing it was going to take a lot of time and money to fix his room this time.

Then entered into the spartanesque room that formerly belonged to Motoko, pulled the table from the wall and taking a seat around it. “I think some tea would be lovely as we talked, don’t you?” Tsuruko asked them with a comforting smile to try and ease the growing tensions between them all.

“Sure, I’ll go get some,” offered Keitaro uncertainly, looking from sister to sister before moving off to retrieve some drinks and snacks for them all.

As the door slid shut behind him, Tsuruko fixed her sister with a firm stare. “I’ve given us a few moments alone sister, now please tell me what is bothering you so,” she ordered, her tone indicating that she would accept nothing but the truth of the matter.

A minor explosion shook the room, indicating that Keitaro had indeed reached the kitchen and that Su was showing her excitement at having him around once more. Sighing heavily, Motoko shook her head and began to quickly tell Tsuruko what had transpired between the woman of light and herself.

Tsuruko wore a pensive expression as she listened, only nodding to show that she understood. When Motoko had finally finished, she regarded her closely. “And that is all? There is nothing more?” she prodded, wanting to make sure she had the full story.

“Only that I had until sundown to find him or she would claim him as her own,” she added sullenly, a deep red blush of indignation covering her cheeks at the thought.

“I’ve never heard of anyone or anything like this woman you’ve described Motoko, but perhaps it is but a disguise for a better known entity that wishes to remain anonymous,” offered Tsuruko, her mind already going over several possibilities.

Waving off the thoughts, she gave Motoko a sympathetic smile. “Don’t worry Motoko, Keitaro is singularly devoted to you. Nothing, not even heaven or hell, could change what he feels for you,” she said.

As if on cue, the door opened to reveal a slightly singed Keitaro carrying a tray with a pot of tea, three cups(one chipped, another missing it’s handle), a box of cookies that Motoko liked and a small platter of biscuits that Tsuruko was more partial to.

“Immortality sucks, did you know that?” he complained to them as he set down the tray on the table. Sitting heavily next to Motoko, he gave a long suffering sigh. “I mean, really. How many times do I have to get blown up before Su is gonna quit trying to prove it?” he muttered, shaking his head.

The two sisters looked at one another and couldn’t repress a giggle at his words and attitude, realizing that all wasn’t lost if he was still able to complain about his life as he always had. “Be that as it may Keitaro, but look at the benefits beyond your survival. If you hadn’t proven to be so resilient, you never would have found the love you now share with Motoko,” proffered Tsuruko, pouring them all some tea and handing the cups to them in turn.

Groaning slightly and rolling his eyes, he gave a smile. “Yeah, that IS a great benefit, I just wish it didn’t have to HURT so much, you know? Just because I ain’t dead don’t mean it didn’t hurt like….heck,” he said, deciding he didn’t EVER want to say that word again, for as long as he lived.

“Now then, since we’re all settled, I would like to ask you some questions Keitaro. Please understand that I’m not trying to embarrass you or make your uncomfortable, but I need for you to tell me the truth so that I might best decide how to help you,” Tsuruko said as she gently set the tea cup down, afraid that even that tiny jostling would shatter the abused cup.

His eyes cut to Motoko before he started talking, shame rising in his cheeks as he tried to find a way to talk about the images that continued to torment him. “Okay, but…they’re kinda, well, nasty sometimes,” he said quietly, hanging his head and fixing his eyes on the cup before him.

With a slow and hesitating voice, he began to describe the hell that he’d lived and seen, trying to soften some of it as it was incredibly embarrassing and humiliating, especially the parts that dealt with Motoko.

The girls listened intently, with Motoko having reached out to grasp his hand in support. When his voice broke in tears, she leaned into him and whispered her love and support to him, giving him someone to lean on in his time of doubt and weakness.

Tsuruko was sickened by what she heard, having dealt with the evil minions of the hell, but never having had to undergo the ordeal that was forced on Keitaro. Keeping her face sympathetic, she hid her disgust and outrage at what was done to Keitaro.

He finally looked up at Motoko with grief stricken and terrified eyes. “I couldn’t find you, not the REAL you…but it was like I could almost feel you there. It was driving me crazy, I just couldn’t take it anymore,” he admitted to her, though his admission didn’t make her feel any better about her actions from earlier.

Looking over to Motoko, Tsuruko could almost feel the loathing and disgust coming from the girl about her actions. “Motoko, I know this is going to be difficult, but I need you to explain to us what you observed and what actions you took as well, please,” she asked quietly, hating to have to do that to her sister but knowing that this needed to be done and quickly lest it fester and destroy their still fragile relationship.

Keeping her forehead pressed to Keitaro’s, her eyes locking onto his, she began to tell them what she’d seen and done in a monotone voice. It was almost more frightening to hear it told in such a dispassionate way, like a clinical observation, though the emotions raged in her eyes. Swallowing hard, she moved her hand to the healed wound she’d given him when the odd visitor startled her.

“I couldn’t take your suffering anymore Keitaro, I just couldn’t. I heard the desperation and futility in your voice, I only wanted to give you peace,” she told him in a hushed voice, biting her lower lip as the emotions struggled to break free of her tight hold.

His hand pushed her hair from the side of her face, fingers gently caressing the outside of her ear as he did. “I know Motoko, I know,” he assured her, smiling bravely.

Shaking her head, she closed her eyes, unable to accept his forgiveness and love. “But I wasn’t strong enough to save you Keitaro! If it hadn’t been for that…that, WOMAN,” she spat the word, both in disgust and frustration.

“I would have killed you and taken my own life right after,” she told him, tears falling freely as she reopened her eyes and looked into his loving ones.

“Motoko! That is enough!” interjected Tsuruko firmly, her brow furrowing in determination.

Seeing that she’d broken through her sisters emotional outburst, “You were going to do the only thing left available to you to give the one you love peace from endless torture and agony,” she said with a passionate voice, leaning forwards.

“You know better than anyone what the forces we fight are capable of, and what they would do with a warrior that they capture. Do not hold yourself accountable simply because an unknown entered into this equation and altered it’s outcome. Thank the gods above for this gift and take advantage of it, not everyone gets a second chance,” the woman said, though her tone was lowered slightly, it had lost none of it’s intensity.

Shaking his head, Keitaro looked troubled. “But what about that freaky lady? What’s she want with us?” he asked, hoping that either of them could shed some light onto her identity or motives.

Sighing heavily, Tsuruko shrugged. “I do not know, at least, not at the moment. When I return home, I will research into this and discuss it with not only our parents but with the elders as well. Her actions and motives for doing so are suspect, but we cannot deny that she was able to thwart the powers of hell,” she admitted.

Keitaro pulled the almost morose Motoko into his arms, having to almost pick the girl up and place her into his lap before she responded. He soothingly rubbed her back as she quietly cried into his shoulder, her arms tightly holding her body to his. “What about us? Should we come with you or something?” he asked, unsure of what to do now, given the current situation.

“I cannot tell you that Keitaro, though I would advise the both of you to be on guard. You have stood against a greater power of hell and lived to tell the tale. Even such a simple defeat such as that won’t go unanswered for long, though I would hazard to guess his revenge will take some time,” Tsuruko said to him, trying to both comfort and warn him of the coming danger.

“As far as these images and memories you are carrying,” she said, tapping a thoughtful finger against the side of her face. “I think that you both need some respite from the trials you’ve undergone. Perhaps taking a week or so and relaxing at our temple and school would help not only you, but the girl’s of the inn as well. Given my sisters rather, shall we say vehement, defense of your purity, it would also give you some time to have the damages repaired,” the woman teased Motoko, earning her a tired looking smile and playful glare from the girl.

Blinking, Keitaro started to chuckle, then laugh outright at the statement, earning him looks of wonder from both women. Every time he tried to control himself, he looked at Motoko and started to laugh once more, finding it liberating and powerful to simply laugh at the irony of the situation.

As he finally was able to control his mirth, he wiped his now tearful eyes and took several chuckling breaths before explaining. “I’m sorry Motoko, I really wasn’t laughing at you, but something your sister said struck me as really funny,” he admitted.

“I just remembered all the times you were going to strike ME down in order to protect the modesty, virtue and purity of women everywhere; only to have you attack some strange woman in defense of MY purity,” he explained, giving Motoko a blush at the situation.

“Yes, well,” she stammered, trying to think of something to say but unable to do so. Instead, she met his eyes and stated exactly what she thought of the whole situation. “I love you, and if ANYONE is going to take your purity, it had BETTER be me,” she said, kissing him to emphasize her statement.

Keitaro gave a muffled cry as her tongue darted between his lips to show him just how serious she was about it. His eyes slowly closed as he lost himself to her touch and embrace, finally releasing the doubts and fears he’d been holding about himself since his ordeal.

As the couple fell back onto the floor, Motoko once more straddling the love of her life, Tsuruko smiled and rose. “I will lock the door on my way out,” she said quietly, leaving them alone to enjoy the simple joys of loving one another, knowing it would go a long way to ease the pain in both of their souls.

Walking to the living area of the inn, she found Naru still attending to Shinobu. “Naru, would you and your friends mind coming to stay with my family and I for a few days while the inn is being repaired,” she asked, taking a seat in the comfy chair across from the couch.

Giving her an odd look, Naru cocked her head to the side. “What about Keitaro and Motoko? Are they coming too?” she asked, not wanting to intrude on their reunion, but still wanting the chance to talk to him as well.

“Yes, everyone is welcomed as the workers will be needing access to most of the living areas to properly repair the damage,” came the reply from Tsuruko.

Shrugging, Naru gave her a smile of agreement. “Then sure, I could use a couple of days away from here. It’s been one hell of…nevermind,” she said with a blush, looking down suddenly.

Tsuruko giggled at the girl’s embarrassment. “Do not concern yourself Narusegawa over matters now done and over with. No one blames you, nor holds you accountable for what happened. Gather what things you need and inform your friends to do the same while I call for transportation for us,” she said, rising and walking to the phone on the table by the stairs.

A minor explosion and flash of flame coming from the kitchen caused the two women to flinch slightly. “Maybe you could order some take out too, I don’t think what’s coming out of there is going to be edible…at least not to those of us with tastebuds left,” Naru said, her hand cupped around her mouth in a conspiratorial way.

“A sound idea,” agreed Tsuruko, looking with trepidation at the smoking crawling along the flooring towards them.

A few days later at the Shinmei Ryuu…

“Motoko! You have a call waiting!” came the booming shout of Funaki as he crossed into the courtyard where Motoko and Keitaro were training.

They had been welcomed as heroes and celebrities by the both students and staff, with Keitaro having been asked to discuss some of what he’d witnessed in hell for the students to help prepare them.

“Thank you uncle,” she said, bowing to him as he passed. She looked over at Keitaro with a smile. “An opportune moment for you Keitaro for I would have won our duel without the interruption. I told you the gods still watch out for their favored child,” she teased him, using the phrase he’d grown to despise, mostly because the temple priests would only use that to address him.

Rolling his eyes, he smiled at her. “Well, you still would’ve had to catch me,” he replied easily, sheathing his sword in a smooth motion that excited Motoko by it’s grace.

Catching herself staring, she returned his smile. “Come with me? It’s almost time for lunch and I would like to have another picnic with you,” she asked with a blush, remembering the picnic from yesterday at the waterfall.

His blush told her all she needed to know about his feelings on the matter, not to mention the almost manic nod he gave her as well. Hand in hand, they walked from the training grounds and into the main hall. A young student held the phone patiently for her, smiling widely as she approached.

“Master Motoko, some man in on the phone and says he must speak with you,” she said eagerly, extending the phone to her with her small hand cupped over the receiver.

“Why thank you Yuna, but you should lower your voice when giving messages,” she advised the girl, taking the phone and crouching before her.

“But I know how much you look forward to speaking with me. Perhaps you would like to train with me before supper this evening?” she asked the young girl.

The eyes on her face lit up at the offer and honor given her by her idol and mentor. Nodding happily, she threw her arms around Motoko’s neck in gratitude. “Thank you Sensei! I can’t wait!” she squealed before running off to brag to her friends about it.

Keitaro smiled and wrapped his arms around her from behind as she stood. “You’re going to be a GREAT mom one day Motoko,” he told her again affectionately.

Eyeing him playfully, she pressed the phone to her chest. “Is that an offer?” she asked in a sultry tone.

His mouth opened and closed several times as he thought about her words before laughing lightly. “Maybe,” he answered cryptically, smiling at her raised eyebrow.

Putting the phone to her ear, “This is Motoko Aoyama,” she answered.

“Motoko, it’s good to hear your voice again, it’s Bill,” said the man on the other end.

“Why Bill, it’s good to hear from you as well. Is everything okay?” she asked pleasantly.

“No, everything’s fine. I just got an invitation and was told to give you and my boy Keitaro a call. Seems like there’s going to be a pretty big shindig over in Nerima in a couple of days. Ranma and Nabiki are going to have a double wedding with Tofu and Kasumi and they wanted you both there. You guys free?” he asked, smiling widely at her gasp.

She nodded as she smiled widely, happy for the duo to finally be getting married. Looking deeply into Keitaro’s eyes, “Of course we’ll be there. I will make arrangements for us to leave tomorrow morning,” she said, enjoying the confused look on his face at her response.

“Great, make sure you bring something nice to wear…or, on second thought, we’ll BUY you guys something nice to wear,” he said, having stuttered slightly and now sounded a bit wounded.

“Bill? Are you alright?” she asked, looking a bit concerned at the man’s response.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. I just got rather emphatically informed that we’re going to buy you two some stuff for the wedding and get your hotel reservations as well. Did I mention my wife is with me now?” he asked her, the sound of his voice drifting slightly as he turned to face the frowning Chayn.

Blinking a few times, Motoko finally smiled knowingly. “I see. Well then, how can we say no. I will take the first train out in the morning, is there a number where you can be reached?” she asked, winking slyly at Keitaro.

“Yeah, hold on a second,” he told her, shuffling around for the paper that had his number on it. Looking sheepishly at Chayn as she handed it to him with a crooked smile, he shrugged helplessly.

Writing the string of numbers down, Motoko ripped it off the pad by the phone and handed it to Keitaro, who then looked it curiously, still not sure what was happening.

“I’ll see ya’ll tomorrow then. Take care you two,” he said, terminating the connection.

Setting the phone back into the cradle, she shook her head and chuckled. “It seems as if there is going to be a wedding in Nerima. Ranma and Nabiki along with Tofu and Kasumi. They called Bill and asked him to invite us as well,” she explained, matching his wide smile.

“Really? That’s GREAT!” enthused Keitaro, happy for the pig-tailed martial artist and his wife.

“Also, Bill’s wife has joined him and has insisted that they purchase us some formal wear for the wedding as well as make our reservations,” she continued as they walked from the main hall towards the courtyards once more.

“It’ll be good to see them again,” Keitaro said, looking forward to sharing stories with his athletic friend, a look of inspiration coming over him.

Catching his expression, Motoko once more raised an eyebrow at him. “Something you care to share with me?” she asked coolly, enjoying the look surprise on his face at having been caught.

“Uh, no?” he asked, trying and failing miserably to hide his thoughts.

Her face went stern, hand going to her sword and pulling a few inches of the steel. “Lying? To your superior?” she asked coldly, eyes flashing.

Gulping, Keitaro jumped back from his lover, waving his hands frantically before him. “NO! No, it’s nothing like that,” he tried to explain, then giving up and doing the smartest thing he could think of.

He turned on his heel and ran for his life.

Laughing at his retreating form, Motoko counted to three, giving him the agreed upon time before chasing after. “KEITARO! I’m coming for you,” she challenged, sprinting after the rapidly shrinking man in the distance.

As she ran into the courtyard, she pulled out all the stops and enlisted her secret weapon. “SU! Keitaro is playing hide and seek and wants us to catch him,” she called as she passed the girl that had been fishing for dinner in the koi pond.

“Really? Oh boy, I can’t wait,” she yelled, leaping up and running after the girl, pulling out her remote control for her brand new MechaTama Swarm mark 4(fully equipped with DNA tracking sensors and infrared capabilities).

A few moments later there was a resounding explosion that rocked the school, though none of those that lived there bothered to look up at the rising mushroom cloud.

Yuna held up a stop watch as her eyes tracked a IFK(Identified Flying Keitaro) as he arced over head. “Looks like Motoko was going for distance this time,” she said in an awed voice.

The little boy next to her nodded but winced as he pointed to a dark cloud that was following his flight through LEO. “Yeah, but it seems like Su is going for the new record as well,” he added, shaking his head in sympathy.

Pulling out a small chalk board, he altered the odds for the distance and time on the newest rage to sweep the Shinmei Ryuu. Betting on Keitaro and Motoko’s daily battles.

Smiling proudly at the youngsters, the newest student to the school gave them a thumbs up as she flipped open her phone. Hitting the quick dial, she put the phone to her ear. “Boss? It’s Sakura. Looks like we’re going to be WAY over quota this week,” she told the woman responsible for the fad, Nabiki Saotome.

Later that night…

Holding the warm robe around his body, Keitaro yawned as the walked back to the room he and Motoko shared. Since his return, they’d spent almost every moment together, enjoying the little things that life could provide. When he’d suggested a bath, after returning from his long flight and very painful landing, Motoko only smiled and shook her head.

“No thank you, I still have a few details to handle before we leave in the morning to join the others. You go ahead, and make sure you put up the sign before undressing. The instructor you fondled and flashed is beginning to think it’s on purpose,” she teased him.

Laughing at the memory, Keitaro opened the door to their room and found it dark inside. “Motoko? You still here?” he called out, not sensing any danger from the darkness.

Sliding the door shut, he crossed the room by instinct and feel rather than turning on the light. With a muted groan he sank down and sat on their futon, only yelping slightly as her overly warm hands touched his back.

“Sorry beloved, I didn’t mean to frighten you,” she whispered huskily into his ear, before kissing just softly enough to give him goosebumps.

Leaning into her with his back, he smiled in the darkness, his heart pounding only partially to the fright she’d given him. “That’s okay, I kinda thought you were here, but wasn’t sure…” he trailed off as she began to kiss his shoulder as she eased the robe off him.

Rather than waste time with words, the two began to speak with their bodies, each showing the other what they needed to hear with actions and touches. As they lay naked with one another, they paused, faces only inches apart.

He could just barely make out her features, though he knew her face by heart. “I love you so much Motoko,” he whispered to her, his heart and soul in every word.

“As much as I do you,” she responded, easing her lips onto his and kissing him tenderly, softly.

Slowly their kisses increased in passion and urgency, their hands touching and teasing, exploring and memorizing the body of the other. They moved not out of necessity or desperation, but of profound and undying love. Their bodies moved in unison, speaking deeply of their commitment and desire. The love they shared was as spiritual and emotional as it was physical, neither hiding nor denying anything from each other.

As they lay in each others arms, gasping in blissful exhaustion some time later they kissed over and over, simply needing the gentle and subtle intimacy that had come to define their relationship.

“So, about me and being a mother,” whispered Motoko, rolling on top of Keitaro once more, covering his lips with hers before he could respond.

End of book notes:

Well, there it is. That’s it for Immortality Sucks. I know I’m evil for leaving so many open threads and questions as to what’s happened, but trust me, it’s better then what my senior editor/Sanity Keeper and over all motivator and sounding board Mitschu wanted to do to you guys རྫ I used to think I was evil, then I spoke with him about cliff hangers…lol. I bow before the master. Anyhow, I sincerely hope you all enjoyed this wild ride and that it kept you enthralled for the duration. RnR if it moves you to do so. I’ve got the basics for the next book in this series as well as for the parallel story Never Negociate with the Ice Queen, I just need to take some much needed time off to recharge and get my head on straight again. I’d like to thank my wife for putting up with my insane ramblings and story ideas first and foremost. I’d also like to give big props to Mitschu for keeping on me to finish this as well as keeping my morale high. Even when I was depressed out of my mind, he still managed to make me laugh and smile with his ramblings and points of view. I am very grateful to him for that, as I probably would have taken MUCH longer to get this done had he not been there. To all my readers and reviewers, I humbly, HUMBLY thank you for your time and words. I appreciated each and every review and message you guys sent. I found myself wanting to write to please not just myself but my audience as well. Time is one of the most valuable commodities we have, to know that you’ve spent some of that precious time on something I’ve written gives me warm fuzzy feelings and a sense of humility. Thank you, thank you very much. Until the next we meet my good readers, I wish you well and peace.(as well as a large deep dish with extra cheese and pepporoni, a cold beverage of choice and no commercial breaks in your favorite show). I will be around in Lurk Mode for a while, so feel free to drop me a line if you want. I’ll get back to you as quickly as I can. Cyas རྫ

Update Notes:

Seems like my story is cursed, for as soon as my editor got it, his life took a nose dive...lol. So, I corrected what I could find and decided to forgo any more delays and publish this. Enjoy and Review if it moves ya to do so.