On my deathbed… maybe!
Rel1.2
By Pizzigri
The game would have ended with the Black checkmate.
But, in this game, She makes the rules. Instantly, in front of a fallen white king, the black queen turns white. And Her smile loses the veil of anguish, to shine brightly again… moving the white knight in.
Disclaimer: Urusei Yatsura and all regular characters from UY series are © copyright Rumiko Takahashi.
Death…
Lum.
Lum pauses, secretly in awestruck and loving admiration of her Darling, as she sees Ataru recover from her last attack, waiting patiently for him to regain proper stance.
Darling is so strong... Stronger and faster than I am! Only defending himself, and even allowing me openings on purpose to show me how strong he is...
She almost commits to an airborne combo attack, when Ataru slowly raises his left hand towards Lum, in a universal sign to stop.
He speaks with a strong and manly voice. Sure of himself, sweet and at the same time severe: "L-Lum. Let's end it here. OK?"
Lost at first, Lum confusedly tries to process his request.
In her totally altered state of conscience, Lum automatically discards the chance that Ataru may be giving up, admitting defeat.
Then, her twisted interpretation of the meaning of his words bring tears to her eyes.
He-he's asking me to give him my best, in a final demonstration of my full potential and power!
To prove to everyone, beyond any possible doubt, that he'll be more than able to withstand anything, to defend me and our brood against any and all threats, that he's willing to be the fortress around which our family will be built!
This, in the most ancient and primal way to choose a lifemate in the Oni race, is really what love is all about.
I shall prove myself worthy.
The Hannya steels herself, and focuses all her power, all her might, in one last explosive attack, adding the maximum acceleration her flight abilities can give to her already prodigiously powerful kick. Lum actually breaks through the sound barrier before contact.
Not even for a fraction of a second, thoughts that her actions may harm, or even slay, Ataru cross her mind.
At impact, Ataru's body receives the same energy a 105mm howitzer round would deliver downrange.
Propelled across the street, Ataru smashes against a hovercar, wrecking it. Lum's gaze follows his figure as he tears down the vehicle's door metal panels, trouncing the seats and metal structure inside, while the whole structure of the large van sized vehicle collapses around him, glass exploding in minute fragments and a cloud of dust, pink haze and glittering particles lazily escape the impact in a slow motion mighty blast. The whole vehicle is shoved on the sidewalk, then slammed, embedding itself against a building wall, steel paneling crumpling around the youth's shattered body like cardboard.
The windows and glass panels of nearby buildings all shatter from the sonic shockwave, raining down in a slow and dazzling shower of glittering glass fragments, while cracks appear on the wall all around the destroyed vehicle and the echo reverberates throughout the empty streets.
Then, Silence.
An unnatural and complete silence surrounds Lum, as she stares down to her, now finally still, opponent.
I did it! I proved we're worthy of each other!
So be it, a deep voice within her replies in her mind.
Satisfied at last, The Darkness releases Lum, the choice she made for a lifemate fully accepted by the Art, which accordingly starts to modify her inner biology for the Acquisition, at the same time increasing many times her sex drive. Like fog dissolving by a summer morning's sun, blinding light slowly replaces darkness in her psyche, as powerful endorphins flow in her veins, inducing a body wide exhilarating sense akin to climax.
Her eyes lustfully stare at the hovercar's wreck, expecting her Elected one to rise and spread his arms to her.
But, as Darkness fades, retreating possibly forever into the depths of her mind, the veil lifts, showing things as they really are, progressively dampening her elation.
In her mind, time seems to flutter, and stops.
Darling is hurt.
Badly.
And, she's the one that hurt him.
…
Mr. Invader.
Only a minute ago, Mr. Invader noticed Ionberindei and Rairale's running towards the battle, and cursing himself and the security for carelessly allowing them to slip out of the VIP stage, immediately leaped off to pursue them, followed by his wife, a very worried Benten, the obviously detached Princess Oyuki, a strangely quiet and cool Ran, and most of Oniboshi's delegation.
As the Oni Warlord makes eye contact with his daughter, Bara's excited voice crackles in his earpiece, while a gunshot echoes from behind him: "YES! Victory! Boss, we won!"
These words, uttered by his most trusted aide, manage to momentarily distract the usually keen, attentive and situation aware warlord, so he fails to notice Lum's unnaturally motionless state.
Mr. Invader slams into a stupefied Lum, like a screaming avalanche of happiness, hugging and kissing her.
"My precious! You won! We won! That's my girl, this is a grand day for Oniboshi, and for the whole of Uru!"
Finally taking the time to look into her daughter's stoned face makes him realize that something is wrong, out of place. Her eyes are dull, and she's not reacting to her father's attentions. She's totally petrified.
His tone changes to worried concern: "What's the matter, honey?"
Just about everyone else storm the site of Ataru's last stand.
Mrs. Invader is the first to understand; instead of hugging her daughter, she follows her frozen stare to the devastated hovercar. Inside, a bloody and crumpled mass of beaten flesh that once was Ataru Moroboshi, hopelessly struggles to breath.
…
Lum.
The Darkness grants Lum a gift; a conscious, albeit temporary, telepathic bond with Darling.
Her mind flows freely, suddenly free of her physical body, expanding towards Ataru.
She can reach into him, read his thoughts, share his mind.
His voice unexpectedly echoes in her mind.
-Gods, it's so cold. Cold… I want so much to see you, one last time. To tell… you that… I… I…-
She instantly knows what he knows, what he really feels. His profound and unconfessed love for her, mixed with confusion, loathing and a deep sense of betrayal. And more, lots more. More than she's ever cared to learn.
Staggering from the tide of information, emotions and knowledge, Lum barely manages to form a coherent answer to his thought.
I know, Darling.
-What? Lum…?-
Yes. I can hear you, the Art allows me to. I love you so much. Help is on the way!
-Lum… help, help me, it's cold, don't leave me here… all by myself… alone…-
Darling, hold on! I'm here!
But, the instant she reaches in him, fully touching his mind, for the most intimate moment of their whole life, they almost don't even have time to bid each other farewell, as Ataru slips into nothingness.
Darling?
A sense of dread, of coldness and void, then the bond is abruptly broken…
…
…
He's gone.
…
…
"D-d-d-darling…"
Lum wakes, stuttering Ataru's pet name, in the arms of her father. Sparks start crawling on her skin, and she finally understands.
…
Rairale.
Only a few yards away from Lum, Rairale is emotionally swept into the tragedy, standing with a terrorized and cowering Ionberindei at her feet, all interest for the Famdoomi Leader gone and forgotten.
Her dagger slips from her numb fingers and falls to the ground, followed by a single tear.
She witnessed Ataru's fight, his last stand, and now she drinks in his last moments of life, utterly savoring the moment, shivering from the dark and almost sexual pleasure.
Perfectly aware that Lum's lusting craze is winding down, her mind reverting to her 'normal' self.
Only to discover what she really did to her lover….
And have her restored rationality be permanently replaced by utter madness.
Devil Lum took Moroboshi life, out of purest and most primal love!
The corners of her mouth curve up in a bitter smirk.
And Oni bitch is about to discover what it mean to lose all that matters… all you have. All your world…
Rairale knew. She suspected that Ataru had been chosen by Lum's Art…
It took years… Studying… spying… stealing information, all to finally discover her secret. THE secret.
The Art… And her love interest. Figuring out, against all odds, that the weird Earthling would be Devil Lum's Elected One… confirming what the subdued and unrelenting voice in her mind suggested all along.
And she did it… she managed to do it… force a Primal Courting, the Dance of Warrior Lovers, between them, knowing full well that the Earthling may not withstand Lum's fury, many times fold empowered by the Art.
Revenge is served, a plate so cold that it is foul.
So foul, in fact… that she almost regrets it, leaving a vile, bitter taste in her mouth.
She cannot help, but cry… Against her drive for revenge, Rairale even tried to warn Ataru. To reveal to him the truth… but the voice prevented it.
The vile, angry and sickeningly sweet voice constantly screaming in her head, after the disgrace and humiliation of losing Ruliu to the evil Oni whore, obsessing her with retaliation and vendetta, will be happy now… and finally leave her alone.
A strong hand seizes her wrists. A cold barrel presses against the back of her neck. She's forced on her knees, her arms painfully folded on her back.
She slowly turns her head to see a Famdoomi officer, a hard gaze boring down on her, and heavily armed Oni soldiers surrounding her.
"Commander Dago, UDF SISAS. I declare you under arrest."
…
Mrs. Invader.
UDF soldiers have established a perimeter moments later the judges' announcement of Lum's victory, and thousands of Oni and Famdoomi alike are kept at a safe distance.
Mrs. Invader follows closely the efforts of the doctors and paramedics frenetically working around the destroyed vehicle, while specialists from the local Fire Department are quickly cutting the twisted metal and polymer frames around the shattered body of Ataru Moroboshi.
She's silent, a hand covering her mouth. She would never have imagined that Son in Law could be this hurt. There's blood everywhere, and many bones are splintered, with exposed fractures, the white and pink of bone and ligaments a stark contrast to the overall dark red splattered around.
Blood. All this blood… the scent stings her nose, and tingles her throat. Normally she'd be lusting for it. And, despite herself, she does feel an attraction, a tinge of hunger, making her lick her lips, that shames her. She resists the urge to give in to her animal side, and taste it…
Divine Dragons, Woman, control yourself, this is son in law, she ashamedly thinks.
Trying to detach herself, Mrs. Invader summarily assesses Ataru's damages.
The only sign he's still alive is the faint wet gurgling sound coming from his mouth in his efforts to breathe.
Covered in glass fragments and dust, Ataru presents a terrifying open wound on his side, many inches deep. Most probably his spine is broken, as well. There's massive blood loss, a collapsed ribcage with extensive damage to internal organs, surely a traumatic pneumothorax with punctured lungs, according to the red froth on his chin and the breathing pattern; and who knows what else.
It's a miracle he's still alive.
She delicately places two fingers to his neck.
Ataru lost consciousness, slipping in a coma, and his heartbeat is fading by the minute, life rapidly leaving him.
She shakes her head slowly.
…
Mr. Invader.
A crowd of green haired people in tigerstriped jumpsuits joyfully run towards Lum, yelling and acclaiming her.
They all see their champion lifted to the sky by her immense father.
That same crowd freezes still and grows silent, as Lum's chilling scream overwhelms the commotion. In the arms of Mr. Invader, Lum shrieks, the instant she feels her Darling go, as they are mentally connected; a primal, broken scream of denial, incredibly loud, nerve shattering and so disturbing that even Mr. Invader feels goosebumps.
He unconsciously tightens his grip on her howling daughter, finally realizing what's going on, noting his wife hovering over the wrecked remains of a large hovercar.
"Holy shit! Is that Son in Law?"
Lum's scream dies in a gurgling breath. She tries to break free, releasing a terrifying quantity of electricity.
Squirming as a mad cat, Lum claws her father's face.
Mr. Invader pays no attention to the vicious cuts, and squeezes her even more, wondering since when did her daughter become so freakin' strong physically.
Facing her father, she desperately pleas him to let her see Ataru.
"Let me go! I want to see him!"
Again, Bara's voice through the earpiece updates Mr. Invader of the situation; he's flabbergasted at the information.
Lum ended Son in Law's life? That can't be! What the hell happened to my baby?
Her pent-up electric energy levels are almost unbearable, now.
Gritting his teeth, Mr. Invader tries to soothe Lum.
"Calm down girl! Please!"
Feeling he can't hold his daughter for much more without hurting her, he starts to lose his temper.
"Get a hold of yourself, damn!"
…
Lum.
Regaining complete control of her actions, after the Darkness swamped her mind to drive out of her psyche's most remote and deep recesses the primal urges of the Oni courting, Lum acknowledges how twisted her love has been in these last couple of days.
How much pain she unleashed on Ataru.
And, thanks to the psi bond she shared with him for barely a few moments, Ataru's confusion and sense of betrayal, an instant before embracing unconsciousness.
Before losing him.
Lum's mind swerves on the brink of complete madness, the amount of pain, grief and guilt immense, tremendous, impossible to bear.
Fighting to free herself, her bones creaking under the unbelievable pressure of Mr. Invader's arms, trying to control his daughter while lightning dances all around them, she stares into her father's steely eyes, tears veiling her vision.
"Poppa… I lost purpose. I… I killed the one, single reason I lived for," she brokenly whispers to him, in a small, childish voice.
Then, a simple thought, a logical consequence flashes in Lum's mind.
Ran.
Cause and effect. Ran lost her mind, when Lum abducted and mind raped Rei, Ran's only love, taking away, using and then dumping as trash, her redheaded friend's only anchor to sanity, after a lifetime suffering her own mother's abuse.
Now, it's Lum's turn, to lose Darling, and her right mind!
Ran.
Wailing, she turns to see a redhead, running towards her. The vision utterly terrorizes and relieves her, at the same time. It's only fair that she pay for her sins.
Lum shuts down all her powers and defenses, finally surrendering her sanity.
…
Ran.
Ran hurries towards her childhood 'enemy'.
She knows what to do. It's part of her nature.
"Lum-chan, please, look at me."
Ran's voice, for the first time in years, has a normal, extremely mature and controlled tone.
Lum does not answer. Her gaze is lost, all light of sanity fading rapidly from her reddened eyes. Shivers quake her now completely relaxed body, still in the arms of her father.
"Ran! Be careful, my baby's not safe right now! She could electrocute you!"
Ran looks in her childhood friend's dull eyes.
Lum is the living mask of desperation. In her eyes, recognition and, with her last flash of rationality, a silent plea to end the suffering… A moment later, it's gone.
"Don't worry Mr. Invader, she will not hurt me."
All remaining anger, vengeance and desire for payback, vanishes in Ran's mind. She turns again to whisper something to Lum's ears.
"Lum-chan… give me all your love."
Mr. Invader releases her daughter.
Ran embraces the shuddering body of her friend, her right hand behind Lum's head, and places her lips on the Oni's mouth.
A long, deep and passionate kiss.
Lum turns pale, her arms fall limp, and her eyes glaze before her eyelids close. She passes out.
Ran eases her on the ground, gently laying her head down.
She then hurries near Ataru's broken body, which the paramedics are gently heaving onto a levitating hypertechnological stretcher having successfully extracted him from the torn hovercar.
No one stops her.
She pauses, evaluating the damage he presents. Slowly shaking her head, she comments "Good gracious, Darling, maybe I should have kissed Mr. Invader too… too late to do that, now."
Ataru's face seems at peace, his eyes closed. His skin is incredibly pale, slightly sweated, and cold. Automated IV packs are already working, trying to alleviate hypovolemia. There's also a blue regen fluid pumped in.
Tachycardia, 135 bpm, with rapid, short and very shallow breaths; the system's medical AI switches to 100% pure oxygen. Suddenly, a beeper whines.
Cardiogenic shock! Ataru lost over 40% of his total blood volume.
The automated IV injects Dobutamine! There's no way to replace enough plasma in time.
Another buzzer: cardiopulmonary arrest! No more time.
A cussing paramedic franticly sets the integrated defibrillator/reanimator medical subsystem in his stretcher, another cauterizes the wound on his side, after a herd of nanosurgical drones, resembling incredibly small metal spiders, climbed inside Ataru's body through the large cut.
A medic screams, "Call emergency reanimator personnel! We need lifeforce volunteers, now!"
Ran pushes the medic away whispering "No more time, dear", and kneeling in front of the stretcher, removes Ataru's oxygen mask and tubing, to gently kiss him on the lips.
No one dares to interfere, as Princess Oyuki strategically moves herself between Ran and everyone else.
Ran kisses Ataru for minutes. She generously bestows her lifeforce as well; Oyuki briskly intervenes, as she knows what is happening. She rests a hand as light as a feather on Ran's shoulder.
Her soft voice is monotone and colorless as ever, but the words convey a sense of warmth and respect without precedent for the redhead.
"Honorable Ran-sama, what you did is enough. I am in absolute admiration for this act of immense generosity. Please, do refrain from sacrificing yourself"
Ran collapses to the ground, doctors storming in to take care of the now pale as death redhead.
"Did… did I save Darling…"
"Do not be concerned, Honorable Ran-sama. Rest, now, since I will take responsibility from this moment on"
The Ice Princess finger touches Ataru's chest. After a moment that seems eternal, a smile forms on her lips.
No living being ever saw Her Highness Princess Oyuki fully smile before.
She picked up a heartbeat.
…
… and Rebirth.
…
Obscurity
Lum stares at the bare silvery metal ceiling of the claustrophobic cubicle she's floating in. She woke up five minutes ago to the gentle feeling of atomized warm water spray cleansing her naked body from the slimy gel out of the regen chamber. A very soft golden glow illuminates the cubicle, absorbing the dampness and making her floating hair glitter with every color of the spectrum.
Lum's eyes are dry.
She does not feel sad. No sorrow, desperation or grief. She doesn't feel anything... Only complete and resigned numbness.
Darling is no more, she calmly thinks.
He's gone...
How strange. I haven't gone crazy, after all. And I'm not in pain... Why am I still alive? Maybe someone stopped Ran before she could claim all my lifeforce, she coldly reasons. I hope they haven't hurt her.
Not a problem, she mentally shrugs her shoulders -her body is completely paralyzed, and all she can move is her eyes- as soon as I'm out of the regen chambers and this damn damping field, I'll finish the job and join you, Darling.
Her mind replays the last minutes of the challenge.
The attack… her foot traveling so fast, forming a Mach cone around it and finally plunging deep inside Ataru's midsection, feeling it cleaving flesh, destroying ribs, organs and finally reaching his spine, his body folding unto itself under the immense thrust.
The surprised and heartrending expression of his face, blasted away by the power of the blow, towards a parked vehicle across the street, would be forever etched in her nightmares. As are the dark blood stains covering her skin and hands.
More memories, the experience of sharing his mind, of feeling him… die.
But still, no agonizing pain clutches her chest, no tears come to her eyes. Not even remorse; nothing, but peaceful numbness.
All she can feel is a calm resolve building up. And a longing…
There's no place for madness or guilt, now. Only cold, calculating rationality.
The Darkness. Nothing more than a construct, a fictional entity that my mind conjured to be able to communicate with myself. A part of my mind, my evil and dark side… she naively deduces, coming close to the truth but unaware of the mind boggling complexity of the power the Darkness held in its rule over her, …hardwired to force me into doing things I would not do otherwise… a program, which I mindlessly executed. I cannot blame anyone else but myself.
The golden light all around her turns to pale green, as a plane of blue luminescence scans her whole body from end to end; then, a chime sounds, while a section of the cubicle folds into itself and she feels herself moving towards a large and blindingly bright rectangle of white light. Lum closes her eyes on reflex, as sensibility returns and millions of needles idly prick every inch of her skin.
Moments –or hours?- later, she hears a warm and very familiar voice.
"Welcome back, honey. You really got us worried, you know!"
Lum blinks her eyes open.
Getting used to the harsh illumination of the ship's medicare room, and finding herself lying in a bed with only a sheet covering her, Lum realizes that she's now allowed to move, even if with great effort.
Weakly propping herself up against the pillow, she turns to see her mother sitting at the side of her bed, a concerned expression on her face, her smile quite not reaching her eyes; they're alone in the small white room, stripped of any furniture except for her bed and her mother's chair.
Mrs. Invader smile withers as she trades glances with her daughter in the awkward silence that surrounds them.
Wincing, she recognizes in horror the dark fire of relentless determination now burning in her daughter's eyes.
Mrs. Invader slowly stands up, whispering "That is not a solution", a trace of fear in her voice.
Am I so transparent? Lum thinks, frowning. Her voice is soft but cold, formal and devoid of any emotion, carrying steel with it.
"Mother. I am not going to allow myself to survive him", she states, matter of factly, "and nothing, not even you or Father, will stand in my way. Please forgive m-"
Mrs. Invader's finger presses on Lum's lips, hushing her.
"Please, little lady. Allow me to speak, before you foolishly pledge yourself to such dire commitments", Mrs. Invader very formally intones, her voice again firm.
She places her hand on her daughter's lap, gently squeezing the young girl's stiff and cold fingers; Lum winces, and does not return the gesture.
The older woman sits at her side once again, forcing herself to smile nervously.
T-this is so hard… Psi Services were right to worry, she thinks. She's like unexploded ordnance. One wrong word and…
Lum's piercing stare locks on her mother's shimmering eyes, her emotionless face set in a granite mask.
"You have nothing to regret, my Precious. Son in law... 'Darling'… is alive."
She pauses, looking for any reaction in her daughter's face.
"He... He's unconscious, and may still have to recover, and as we speak is undergoing extensive surgery, but I have the honor word of our best Healer that he won't suffer any physical consequence from your... t-the experience. As soon as you fully recover, I will take you to him."
For many minutes more, Lum just stares dumbfounded at her mom.
She wants so much to believe it.
But, there's no deceit in her mother's eyes… so maybe…
Could it be? Is it true…? Darling…
Slowly, she relaxes her iron discipline, allowing her deep buried emotions to freely surface, the tension in her face loosening.
Lum starts quietly sniffling, until tears finally appear at the corners of her eyes, her lip and chin shivering.
She looks up again at the older woman, biting her lower lip, her mask of steel and determination finally crumbling.
"M... mommy..."
Lum's voice fails her as she lunges forward to weakly embrace her mother, sobbing uncontrollably, while the older woman releases a breath she wasn't aware she was holding.
…
Light.
A tiny, extremely brilliant, point of light.
Slowly expanding, in the absolute silence of a sea of incredible darkness.
Light overwhelms the void, permeating everything, as coldness also develops.
Noise, distant sounds, begin to be perceived, and numbness dissolves in steady, oppressing pain.
Freezing cold mixes with pain, producing a bone chilling sensation; light morphs into shapes, while the first coherent shady images form in a mind that only now becomes aware of its conscience.
The dancing images grow to be recognizable, familiar, and an initially machine - like rational mind experiences its first rush of emotions.
Fear.
The primal emotion.
Then surprise, and concern, rage, sadness, ecstasy, and lust… no.
Love.
Lum!
You fucking BITCH!
I'm alive!
What happened? Ohh… oooh this HURTS.
Pain, throughout the body, and tingling… everywhere.
Thirst.
A struggle, to open his sandy eyes.
The light is so blindingly strong, it hurts.
It takes a moment to get used to the light. Slowly, dark patterns form in the uniform white background.
Shapes and colors come into focus. A mound of a green something rests at his right side.
He really can't move, but in a supreme effort Ataru slightly manages to inch his head towards the green mass.
He's lying in a very large bed, in what looks like a hospital room.
Unquenchable thirst…
Gods, I'd kill for some water.
Curious and quite alien looking machinery is connected to him.
It's morning, probably very early in the morning, who knows where. A complete wall of this room, the one on his right, is actually transparent, and a magnificent view to a landscape of low hills covered in grass and occasional patches of trees, with far white topped mountains, can be seen.
Patches of misty haze puddle next to a small stream of water.
The only part of his body he can easily move are his eyes.
Ataru closes his eyes again. A chaotic tide of memories flood his mind, broken by flashes of light and momentary loss; Lum sprawled on a street under the rain. Lum confronting him in the restaurant. Rairale kidnapping him on Earth, Berindei threatening him, Lum crying in the challenge… the dreams, a little, green haired girl kissing him on the cheek…
Ojii-san.
Lum's fighting and unexplainable final attack.
Practically executing him.
Lum fuckin' killed me!, he thinks, quite incensed.
I died!
I… am sure!
But, then, how…?
Weakness.
Gods, I can't even move my hand…
Fear grips him.
Am I… Paralyzed?
No. I can feel my fingers and I can feel my feet. There! I can move a toe. Thank the Gods.
His attention is again captured by the green hair.
His lazy heartbeat slightly accelerates.
Mixed feelings, immense love and spurn, resentment for her betrayal, for all the pain and damage.
Why?
He closes his sandy eyes.
Why did you do it, you idiot? I gave up! I surrendered! I told you to stop! And, this time ya got no excuse, no lame amnesia to call in.
Ataru bitterly recalls his thoughts, before losing consciousness, those last instants of the challenge.
So, I'm positive you wanted to friggin' waste me. Gods, I felt so alone… so alone. Fading away… alone…
But, he's alive, and she's here, at his side. He looks at the green mass of hair once again.
Remembering Lum's mind inside him, in his last moments.
But… but you were with me! And, you're here, now. Here, with me…
She's resting with her face on the sheets, her golden horns just visible in the green hair.
Ahhh… Lum. How is it possible, to hate you so much, and love you at the same time…
She stirs in her sleep, and turns her face towards his.
His heart misses a beat.
Lum's face, a perfect oval with a dream like skin, incredibly smooth and faultless, like a goddess. Her lips! She's… beautiful, perfect. He remembers clearly, at school, a quote he read on a book:
'Perfection is not of this world'.
How true this quote can be, he thinks.
She is not from his world. She can be perfect.
A new emotion overwhelms his mind.
Love… beyond life and death. Beyond pain and ecstasy… beyond loyalty and betrayal.
Minutes pass, and Ataru's mind tenses.
Sure… but that doesn't change the basic fact that you're still an overly jealous, violent, fucking bloody mad and manic monster, all out hunting my hide, Lum.
He tries to move his hand again. Struggling to cover the scant couple inches that separates him from her left hand.
Hopelessly weak. It is of sheer strength of will that he finally reaches his goal.
Her skin is so warm, and soft.
At his touch, Lum knits her brow. She stirs, and slowly wakes up.
She focuses her sleepy gaze on his hand, imperceptibly trying to squeeze hers.
Totally awake, Lum stands up so fast that the chair flies backwards crashing on the wall, and she snaps her gaze to focus on his face.
Her fanged smile is so luminous that Ataru wants to cry, but can't.
The flow of time seems suspended, as everything is frozen while their eyes are locked.
Words form on her lips, initially unspoken, and then yelled on top of her lungs, tears freely falling.
"Daaarling!"
A crowd of green haired people storm the room, answering her screams. A doctor flashes something in his eyes, another injects some stuff into a machine connected to him.
Pain! White spots dance wildly in his eyes, and a sensation on his skin that could be best described as jumping and rolling totally naked in an immense cactus field overwhelms him.
A whisper escapes Ataru's lips.
"…ouch…"
Hearing his own voice, and feeling liquid fire flowing through his veins from the tubes connected to the machines, he realizes that he can almost instantly, but weakly move much better, albeit with lots more pain. Some drug must be injecting him strength.
He looks at her.
"…L… um, we… really should stop dating… each other like this…"
The croaked whisper makes her laugh loudly, the reference to his waking up at Nerima's hospital all too obvious.
Lum is hysterical, while the nurses push her outside the intensive care room, where all her family awaits.
"Oh, Darling! Darling!" Her voice cuts off, once the doors are shut.
Gods, I'm back. Backfromthedead! I AM a human cockroach, after all! Ataru thinks, slightly amused.
He then looks at one of the nurses, the one checking his IV connections on his left arm…
A very sexy looking Oni, a single horn on her head, very short crew cut grass green hair… he's captured.
"H… hey, there… wow, you've got the touch… of a princess… W-would you give me your name… and address? And a glass of water, please…"
…
Wrap up
Interstellar Subspace Broadcast News Network – a week after the end of the challenge.
"From ISB News Network'sheadquarters in Urusei Capital City, welcome again to this week's special edition of The Dossier Report Show, with Lu Ka Xiaolong."
Applauses and trademark background music announce the anchorman's appearance and walk to his desk, in front of a giant screen displaying silent footage of the significant moments in the tag race.
"Thank you."
The anchorman's bust now dominates the scene, while characters in Uruseian and Standard Galactic roll on the bottom of the image.
"After our sponsor's messages, we return to the third, and final, detail of today's story: The 'Famdom Crisis'.
We all witnessed Miss Lum Invader's victory, and Mr. Ataru Moroboshi's defeat at her hands.
A very narrow victory, since the most respected Onigokko challenge analysts all agree that the Oni champion, Miss Lum, has gone way beyond all safe levels in her defense of the game's goal - her horns - , since one of the fundamental rules state that the challenging competitor must survive the end of the game."
Lum's final attack is shown in slow motion and from every possible angle, and all official footage stops with the end of the race; a message appears on screen stating that all remote cameras had been turned off at this point.
"In this case, real time telemetry of Mr. Moroboshi's vitals at the instant the game ended allowed the judges to declare Famdom's champion still within the acceptable parameters to consider him 'alive': still breathing, a measurable heartbeat, and his mind awake and conscious. Therefore, the judging panel's decision to award victory to Uru's champion, Miss Lum Invader.
Only a few seconds later, Mr. Moroboshi slipped into a coma and approximately thirty second later still, ceased all vital bodily functions, and would have been declared clinically dead, if nothing short of a miracle happened at that point, thanks to a one not yet identified female Q'aari planet native with lifeforce transfer abilities."
Shaky and grainy images of Ran kissing Ataru, shot from a distance over a crowd of onlookers, roll on the screen.
A note specifies the footage has been obtained through a local witness' private phone camera.
"The Q'aari native managed to bestow just enough lifeforce into Mr. Moroboshi's critically wounded body to restart vital organs, and allow the Medical Emergency Response team to stabilize and supply basic life support to Mr. Moroboshi, an Earth, Sol system native human being, during the transfer to medical facilities onboard the orbiting Third Fleet's main space battleship, UDFS Kanabo."
An image of the seven mile long tigerstriped spaceship appear in the background.
"Of course, all this remained classified for the following 24 hours, as the news that Mr. Moroboshi actually did die were instead broadcast throughout the Galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the race. To this day, Mr. Moroboshi's condition is unknown, although it is widely believed he survived; officials declined to disclose any information."
Again the Anchorman's bust dominates the screen, as still photographs of a smiling Lum and a smug faced Ataru appear on the screen.
"An official statement from Urusei's Circle of Elders had been broadcast as well, immediately after the news of Mr. Moroboshi's passing. It praised Miss Lum's behavior and actions in the challenge, emphasizing her honor and duty, choosing to personally slaughter her loved fiancée, rather than yield before the illegal claim of a rogue government. It also warned all federated planets against any future such threats and claims, pledging an immediate and overwhelming response – a zero tolerance policy."
Archive footing of Uruseian Elders heatedly discussing some issue in the Senate appear on the screen, followed by an official image of Mr. invader in his high uniform.
"Analysts believe this to be one of Oniboshi's native UDF Warlord, Mr. Invader's most conclusive military and political victories of the last three years, and more than outweigh Miss Lum's fiasco in Earth's invasion, two years ago, de facto elevating the Warlord's Next in Line to unprecedented levels of popularity."
The screen switches to mugshots of Rairale and Ionberindei.
"The former leader of the terrorist group known as Famdoomi Falangist Front and former despot of the rogue Famdom government, Mr. Ionberindei, has been arrested by an undisclosed elite antiterrorist team while he was preparing to flee the planet with his personal bodyguard, Mrs. Rairale.
Local law enforcement operators, flanked by UDF military units, also have arrested selected executives from the illegal administration; once relieved of their official positions, many have been released without prosecution, following the rules agreed upon by both parties before the challenge.
However, Mr. Ionberindei and Mrs. Rairale have been arrested and kept under custody for the kidnapping, torture and battering of a Japanese, Earth (Sol system) citizen; therefore, will be prosecuted for that crime, following interplanetary law."
A short clip of Rairale and Ionberindei in a green suit and chains, transferring from a tigerstriped armored vehicle to a Government building rolls in a frame.
"Law and order have been reestablished on Famdom without a blood bath, thanks to the efforts of our Warlord and our military Expeditionary forces. An Uruseian Federal special investigation team has been sent to understand what went wrong with the previous government, and is uncovering many instances of corruption and nepotism, that may have caused the disorders that ultimately lead to FFF's coup d'état. Fresh troops from Fifth fleet are still being transferred to the UDF military bases on the planet to reorganize and replace the current military structure.
The largely peaceful population on Famdom welcome the change; a provisional government has been set up, and elections will be held, under the scrutiny and protection of the UDF. Candidates will all be selected by the Uruseian Federation Circle of Elders."
Footage of tigerstriped military personnel stopping a hovercar on a roadblock roll on the screen, followed by obviously archival images of generic reconstruction of roads, bridges, and spaceports. Then, the screen presents a stellar map, on which Famzine system is highlighted; the image of a largely green and violet world replaces the map.
"Famdom, in Famzine System, Omicron Lambda 123734, Third Quadrant: this small planet has been the focus of the Galaxy's attention for the duration of ten local days. Countless worlds and hundreds of different races have thrived on what we can define as one of the most captivating galactic reality show to date, complete with the inevitable romantic twist and tragic ending.
An unprecedented broadcasting entertainment event: shares have never been so high for the last 60 plus standard Galactic time units; some 70% of the known sentient beings in the Galaxy, including Mr. Moroboshi's home planet, Earth, followed the events almost in real time.
We will be talking of the Famdom Crisis for many years to come. "
Background music increases in volume, and titles roll beneath the screen.
The Anchorman gather a few sheets of paper on the desk and stands.
"Thank you for your time watching this week's special edition of The Dossier Report Show. I am Lu Ka Xiaolong and this is ISB News Network!"
Click!
A beautiful Oni woman in a transparent sundress with a sad expression sits on a porch with a sunset over a magnificent ocean as backdrop.
"I always sit here… waiting for someone to confess their love to me…"
Hatoya Sennendo's Millennium Carrier Pigeon – Messager of Love.
A white dove flies towards her. The camera shows multiple viewpoints.
"Oh, what is that?"
Hatoya Sennendo's Millennium Carrier Pigeon – Messager of Love.
The dove delivers a small scroll. The scene switches to a close up of the scroll and the odd characters written on it. The translation reads "I Love You".
A magnificent smile shines on the Oni woman's face reading the scroll.
"My precious harbinger of love… thank you", she purrs to the white dove.
- Hatoya Sennendo's online Millenium Pidgeon Store promises to help your romance too.
Hatoya Sennendo's Millennium Carrier Pigeon – Messager of Love…
- Guaranteed results within one week! Call now to res-
Click!
Two Oni sitting in the middle of a large TV studio, heatedly debating, while a third standing Oni remains silent with a notepad in his hands, audience just as silent while the two just slug it against each other.
"…energy. The whole point is that Miss Lum was barred from using her best weapon, bioelectrogeneration!"
"But, but then, how do you explain the immense kinetic power Miss Lum expressed in the last twelve minutes of the race?"
"I believe she has managed to convert her electrical power into physical force, just check the recorded data!"
"Come on! The reported power levels are way above scale, and our medical experts have ruled out direct energy bioconversion in a Raijin race Oni, especially that young! Besides, her last kick is simply impossible to explain, even counting in complete energy conversion! You must admit-"
"Are you implying external interference or manipulation? Finally, you show us your true colors, suggesting the conspiracy theory- yet again!"
"Of course I do! The Uruseian Intelligen- uh, the, the Government is perfectly capable and willing to do so, especially in a Onigokko challenge over which- "
"You're an idiot! That is NOT the point! We have NO BASELINE of Miss Lum's actual power levels, capabilities and performance-"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING AN IDIO-"
Click!
Ataru turns off the tridimensional holographic image that covered almost two thirds of the wall in front of him, then drops the alarmingly familiar remote on the stool beside his bed, sighing. He still feels incredibly weak, and is allowed only forty-five minutes of conscience every eight hours of rest and therapy, and over half hour already passed, wasted watching terrible reality shows, newschannels and crappy advertising, eons worse that the utter crap broadcast in Japan.
A whole day and a night have elapsed since Ataru regained consciousness. He passed this time mostly sleeping, with Lum allowed to only visit for very brief moments behind a shielded glass panel, without contact or communication, since a special stimulating machine employing electromagnetic fields has been used to rehab Ataru's condition. Nanomachines worked from inside his body. Drugs that inhibit completely his pain sensitivity have been used to help him cope with the strain of compressing a rehab program that would take several months on Earth, in 24 hours!
Feeling not only weak but also very groggy, Ataru lies down on the bed, his head rested on his hands. Just as he starts dozing, a chime sounds and the door slides neatly in the wall.
A nurse walks in.
"Mr. Moroboshi, there's a visit for you."
…
Notes.
Now, this was as hard to write as last chapter. Maybe even harder. Not much happening, I know, but this whole fic is essentially about exploring what is going on in Ataru and Lum's minds. I always had a knack for developing character psychology, that is NOT to say I'm good at it, just that I like it! And, yes, we're going a bit OOC here, but I'm trying to make these two evolve into a real –if totally otherworldly and improbable- relationship, for crying out loud! Remember… this is supposed to be an "Action packed love story"!
Oyuki and Ran. Ran is utterly terrified of Oyuki in Canon, and the Ice Princess regards Ran in a very ambiguous way, I believe more out of respect for her friendship with Lum and Benten than anything else. So, her words of praise for Ran in this chapter are to be considered as some form of recognition and acknowledge of Ran's "redemption".
I hope you like it! Remember to review, to voice your appreciation, or even more important, your critique. If you reeeeeally don't want to leave a review, you can always send me a PM with your suggestions! Thank you for your time reading my work.
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Piccola nota per i miei lettori italiani... siete un botto! Nessuno però, lascia mai una recensione... mi va bene anche via PM, eh! ciao e un Grazie Grande!
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A few terms glossary.
Hypovolemia: low volume of total blood in the body owing to massive blood loss. In Ataru's case, he's a stage 4, leading to shock and death.
Pneumothorax: presence of air in the chest, in this case due to extensive lung damage, most likely from blast injury and ribs puncturing the lung itself.
Dobutamine: a sympathomimetic drug used in the treatment of heart failure and cardiogenic shock. Oniboshi's medicine would have a much better alternative, since it is a quite dangerous drug, but, hey!
Uruseian Intelligence Agency (UIA): Well, a parallel agency, in good and especially in BAD, of the CIA… whenever a conspiracy surfaces, you can always blame it on them…