Kinnikinnick: What's this? Another chapter!? Yes, I'm weak, I'm posting another chapter. I combined what are marked as 'Chapter 12' and 'Chapter 13' because they're really short. Again, I keep the chapter markers so you guys can see where we've been splitting it up.

Technicolor: Ah, purity. A rare thing in writing.

Kinnikinnick: How would you know? You doodle for a living.

Technicolor: Leave my doodles alone! And they're not doodles, they're ART!

Kinnikinnick: Sure, sure. Anyway, in this chapter, we find out what happens to Miranda. Will Renate have to travel on alone? Read on, fair scholar, read on!

Technicolor: You're in history class right now, aren't you?

Kinnikinnick: Can you tell? Apparently we really hated the Russians in the 80's. I don't understand. Russians are cool. And fun to go paintballing with.

Technicolor: I remember that. Dasha snippered you, remember?

Kinnikinnick: I only had an inch of my forehead above the log! I'm still boggled as to how he did it from WAY across the field!

Technicolor: Well, remember guys, we don't own Saiyuki. We don't own much, come to think of it…

Kinnikinnick: Actually, after class I shall own beer!

Technicolor: It's so sad that you're so proud of that…


Chapter 12

"Dumbass!" Renate cried, running forward. She tried to push the crab up with one hand, while still clutching at the orb. The crab was too heavy. Renate looked at the orb.

"Time to get the guys," she muttered, running from the room.

She burst into Hakkai's room first.

"Wake up," she said, kicking him awake.

"What is the meaning of this?" he asked coldly, glaring up at her.

"Snack time," Renate said, pushing the orb into his mouth. It was the only way she could think of to get it back inside him. Hakkai's eyes widened and he seemed to choke for a minute. Then, the cold look faded from his eyes.

"Renate? What happened?" he demanded, sitting up and examining the blood-drenched girl.

"Shua Ling. She's a crazy crab thing. Or was. Miranda killed her… it. But then she was crushed by the body of the crab thing, and I can't lift it by myself. She did not think it through," Renate said in a rush.

"Okay, you sit down. You look like you've got a pretty bad cut. I'll bandage it when we get back. I'll go and wake the others," Hakkai said, leaving the room. Renate leaned against the headboard, holding on just long enough to hear him rouse the rest of the group. Then, she let the wooziness of blood-loss carry her off, with a last thought of I've got to remember to hit Miranda for this.


Chapter 13

The others rushed downstairs and into Shua Ling's room. Sure enough, there was a gigantic crab carcass, accompanied by a horrendous stink.

"How did they do all this without waking us up?" Hakkai wondered as he looked at all the severed limbs and gushes of black crab blood.

"Oh, please, you practically had to dynamite Goku out of bed," Gojyo said.

"Anyway," Hakkai said, cutting off the argument before it could begin, "We have to hurry. Renate said that Miranda is under the crab. I'm not sure how much longer she can be under there before the weight crushes her."

"Guess it's up to us," Goku said, looking at Gojyo.

"Yeah, unless someone just wants to vaporize it," Gojyo said, looking hopefully at Hakkai.

"Gomen, but I might hurt Miranda if I do that," Hakkai said apologetically. Gojyo sighed and stepped up to the crab thing, Goku next to him. With a mighty grunt, the two pulled up on one of the edges of the crab's shell. Hakkai and Sanzo stepped forward, looking in the shadow of the crab.

"Hakkai, look, there are her fingertips," Sanzo said, pointing.

"Can you lift it more?" Hakkai called to the others.

"Sure… no… problem," Gojyo panted out. With another grunt, the two pushed the dead weight of the carcass further up. Sanzo and Hakkai each grabbed a hand, the only part visible. They pulled as hard as they could, and with a sickening squelching noise, Miranda slid out. She gasped for air as soon as she was free.

"OhmyfuckingGOD, that thing stinks," she said, coughing and choking.

"You're all right!" Goku said joyfully as he let the crab drop, making the whole floor shake with the force of the impact.

"In a manner of speaking, yes," Miranda said, trying to stand. Her legs felt numb from the pressure of the crab's body. Sanzo reached out and steadied her.

"Thanks. Now, I'm going to go take an eight hour shower. And then we can leave. If anyone interrupts me, I'll kill them," Miranda said, exiting from the room, leaving the four guys to stare after her.

"Those two… are so strange," Gojyo said, scratching the back of his head.


Gomen – Sorry

Kinnikinnick: Please, read and review! Because I lurve you all!

Technicolor: You are so sad…

Kinnikinnick: Well… I won't be after beer!

Technicolor: Actually, alcohol is a depressant. And it's not even past one o'clock.

Kinnikinnick: Quiet you! I've got class until two, and I plan to clean my room before beer time. It's gotten soooo messy. Good thing they have room checks, or it would never get clean.

Technicolor: Why don't you move off campus again?

Kinnikinnick: Please, I can barely keep that room clean, imagine a whole apartment. Although I'll have to get one once I'm done getting my law degree…

Technicolor: Scary thought. Both the apartment and the thought of YOU being a lawyer.

Kinnikinnick: Shuddap.