ELIXIR OF LIFE #14: This water is very refreshing.
byline: Anubis C. Soundwave
"Thank you for dropping us off, Seiji-san," says Makoto, blushing as she bows to Seiji. Usagi, Ami, Rei, and Minako follow suit.
"It's always my pleasure to help a lady in need," says Seiji.
Yamanouchi, seated on top of Nasuti's SUV, scowls as he studies the five girls.
Kuroda joins Yamanouchi atop the vehicle. "What is troubling you, old comrade?" he asks.
"The same damned dream," spits Yamanouchi, watching as Makoto leaves with her friends.
"The absurd recurring one where my kunoichi and her friends are the rulers of a kingdom made of crystals?" asks Kuroda.
"That isn't the problem," says Yamanouchi, grim. "It's what happens beforehand."
Seiji returns to the SUV. "I'm warning you two to enter the vehicle only once," he says as he enters the driver's side.
Kuroda smiles, then grips the handles on the SUV's roof. "An infant is murdered by an armored, red-faced oni, then buried like a seed by Enma-daiousama after being turned into a crystal," says Kuroda. "This seed sprouts into a crystal flower that kills us all."
Seiji drives off.
"Every recurring dream I've ever had," says Yamanouchi soberly, also gripping the SUV roof handles, "has come to pass."
"What about the dream you told me about once," chuckles Kuroda, "that you said you had when you were little?"
"Ah," says Yamanouchi. "The one where there's a six-armed naga yokai attacking Sanada-sama and poisoning the air, after jerking around Yagyu-sama like a puppet." He pulls out his yoroi bead. "I was the monster," he continues, "in that particular dream."
"You were only off by a few centuries," says Kuroda dryly.
"Mock me all you like," says Yamanouchi. "I know what the hell I'm talking about."
"I am not one to doubt premonitions, if presented with compelling evidence that your scenario could occur," says Kuroda. "Neither," he continues, "do I rely on them to govern my life. Why is this bothering you?"
"Because in this recent iteration of my dream, I saw the face of the infant who was slaughtered," says Yamanouchi. He pulls a photo out of his jacket pocket. "The child...looks a great deal like someone we know," he continues, handing the photo to Kuroda.
Kuroda's eye widens; he trembles. "If this is the case," he says, returning the photo to Yamanouchi, "then-if Urameshi-kun survives the Dark Tournament-you must report this to him immediately, and bring this to the attention of other gods with the power to compel Enma-daiousama to stay his hand."
"What good would any of that do?" snorts Yamanouchi. "The gods are not known for meddling in each other's affairs," he continues ruefully. "They look out for their own."
"Then we must, likewise, look out for our own interests," says Kuroda. "I will not be placed in the untenable position of having to kill my kunoichi."
"Who are we to defy the will of the gods?" shrugs Yamanouchi.
"I am Kuroda Jirogorou," says Kuroda. "My very existence is a living obscenity that spits at the mandate of heaven."
Yamanouchi gives Kuroda a quizzical look.
"Summon your courage, Yamanouchi-kun," continues Kuroda. "The gods are testing you once again," he continues.
"As futile as it is, I can wait for Urameshi," says Yamanouchi. "Or I suppose I could harass Kouma," he continues, "if I could get him to quit avoiding us."
Toshitada lands between Kuroda and Yamanouchi. "At the risk of breaking protocol," he says, "I will warn you that if the two of you do not enter this conveyance immediately, you both shall soon join me." He smirks at the pair of time-displaced samurai.
"It's cramped," mutters Yamanouchi as he slides himself through an open window at the back of the SUV.
Kuroda follows suit. "It also smells of cooked beef, curdled milk, and lard," he says.
"Whoever you're talking to," says Seiji, "I'm glad that person convinced the two of you to remain among the living."
Above the SUV, Toshitada shakes his head. My nakama, he says to himself. It appears that my business with you, he smiles sadly, is yet unfinished.
A week passes, as Team Urameshi survives the first leg of the Dark Tournament, defeating three yokai teams in a row.
Hiei and Kurama stand outside Kuwabara's room, the door shut.
"Hn. I didn't expect the idiot to last this long," says Hiei.
"Kuwabara-kun has the perplexing tendency of not doing what is expected of him," says Kurama.
"He could have defeated that first opponent from Rokuyukai," scoffs Hiei, "if he hadn't allowed himself to be distracted."
"True, although in Kuwabara-kun's defense, he was cheated," says Kurama.
"Given his obnoxious durability," spits Hiei, "Kuwabara should have had the sense to anticipate a reasonable degree of cheating from his opponent."
"Indeed. Also, Kuwabara-kun's strong sense of justice and compassion can be a liability," he continues, "when we're all in a battle to survive. Even now, I simply don't think he realizes the seriousness of this situation."
"To be fair to the fool," says Hiei, "this tournament is an absurd way to kill an adversary: by granting him the opportunity to strike back."
Kurama sighs. "Let's rest," he says. "This next group, the Uraotogi Team, should be far easier."
"If Kuwabara doesn't let himself get distracted or overconfident," says Hiei. "He can't continue to lean on us." He and Kurama leave.
Inside his room, Kuwabara sits upright in his bed, waking from sleep in a shocked, cold sweat.
He looks around, seeing only an inky darkness around his bed. "Where the fuck am I?" he hisses. "This isn't my bedroom at the Kubikukuri Hotel."
"No," says a feminine voice. "It isn't...Kuwabara Kazuma..."
Kuwabara sighs, recognizing a familiar dark energy. "You must be one of Sanjouin's old flames," he says with a smirk, "or maybe you're some bitch that Saitou-sempai jilted. Is that why you killed his man Hanataro-sempai-who you called Zoisite?"
"It is true...that I killed Zoisite," says the voice.
"Would you mind coming out of the shadows and telling me what you want with me?" asks Kuwabara, slipping out of his bed. "I'm trying to rest for a fight tomorrow."
A figure emerges from the shadows, revealing herself as a tall, pale-skinned beauty with blood-red hair. "Why concern yourself with these small matters, Kazuma?" she asks.
Kuwabara stares at her. "Who are you," he asks, "and why the fuck should I care?"
"I will forgive your insolence," says the woman, "for I am Beryl, queen of the Dark Kingdom."
"Ah!" crows Kuwabara. "Let me guess, Beryl-sama," he continues dryly. "You're short on lieutenants to boss around and bitch at because you killed two of them and set the other one up for failure, so you're trying to recruit me?"
Beryl narrows her eyes at Kuwabara.
"I'll save you your time and breath, you wretched cunt," spits Kuwabara. "I despise people like you, and want nothing to do with them. A shame, really."
"It is indeed a pity," says Beryl coolly, "that you are too much of a hot-blooded fool to see reason."
"Reason!?" snorts Kuwabara. "Bitch, if you were a more reasonable and pragmatic villain," he continues, "then I might have had a harder time making my decision, because up until you killed Zoisite for the crime of trying to accomplish your fucked-up goals and eliminate an enemy, that fellow you call Kunzite was really swinging for the bleachers on your behalf."
Beryl raises an eyebrow.
"Those four wicked cocksuckers," says Kuwabara, a thin and rueful smile on his face. "As evil as they are, I actually have sympathy for them. They all worked their asses off for you: tormenting and manipulating the hearts of the innocent, draining people of their energy, and trying to locate magical crystals; yet all you can think to do, when they inevitably fail against opponents who rise to stop them-because no one on Earth is going to put up with that bullshit," he continues, "is to kill them...rather than do the fairer and far simpler thing: get off your sorry ass and do the shit you want done yourself if you're so fucking powerful."
"You dare!" seethes Beryl.
"Yeah, I dare," says Kuwabara. "You don't impress me, and considering your lethal turnover rate, I'd be a fucking idiot to take you up on your offer."
Beryl studies Kuwabara. "I take it then," she says, "that you have chosen to side with the senshi."
"I believe my chances of living are far stronger with five beautiful and charming women," says Kuwabara with a grin, "who are going to beat the shit out of you themselves."
"Doubtful," says Beryl, smirking as she causes four mystical screens to appear.
Kuwabara stares at the screens, horrified; he winces in despair as he sees Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Venus die. He extends his hand towards the screen with Mercury.
"Now do you realize who you are trifling with?" asks Beryl. "Behold: the senshi have suffered the fate of all who defy me," she continues, "especially that one who is dear to you."
Kuwabara clutches his chest, fighting back tears as he glowers at Beryl. "You heartless bitch..." he hisses.
Beryl laughs as she summons a fifth screen. "There is more!" she crows as the fifth screen depicts a battle between Sailor Moon and Kunzite. "For Kunzite himself will dispatch Sailor Moon, and then the earth will be-what!?"
Kuwabara stares at the screen along with Beryl, Beryl's eyes wide with disbelief. On the screen, Kunzite dies, impaled with his own energy boomerang.
"Impossible!" sputters Beryl. "Kunzite should not have failed so utterly-he is more than a match for the likes of her!"
Kuwabara grins, then snickers, then laughs raucously. "True enough," he says. "Saitou-sempai was loyal to you until the end, the poor bastard. He even had the decency to die at the hand of his enemy-to let you save face and spare you further embarrasment," continues Kuwabara.
Beryl glares at Kuwabara.
"What!? You thought he was going to continue to go all-out for you, you incompetent bitch?" Kuwabara sneers.
Beryl backhands Kuwabara.
Kuwabara rubs his cheek. "Even your backhand is shit. I've known ten-year old girls who could hit harder than you," he snorts.
"You are beginning to annoy me," says Beryl.
"And you've made the fatal mistake of pissing me off," spits Kuwabara, summoning his reiken. "I'm not in the habit of fighting women, not even detestable ones like you," he continues as he levels his sword, prepared to strike, "but you killed a dear friend of mine, and I intend to avenge her."
"Intentions are sweet, boy," counters Beryl. "But your sword of energy-indeed, all of your energy and your very soul-will bend to the will of the Dark Kingdom."
"Shut the fuck up!" snarls Kuwabara, charging at Beryl with his reiken drawn.
Endymion suddenly appears in front of Beryl to defend her, his own sword drawn.
Undeterred, Kuwabara bends his reiken around Endymion and strikes Beryl, cutting her cheek.
Beryl trembles, furious as she clutches her cheek. "Beat him!" she orders.
Endymion nods.
"Such a lack of talent, Beryl-sama," says Kuwabara, "trying to use Chiba as a human shield."
"The one you know as Chiba Mamoru is no more," says Beryl. "There is only Prince Endymion, my faithful servant."
"Somehow, Chiba," grins Kuwabara as he fends off Endymion's attacks and ignores Beryl, "I don't think you would have chosen to serve this stupid bitch."
Endymion silently swings his blade, which Kuwabara narrowly dodges.
"Isn't this shit fucked up!?" Kuwabara balks. "Chiba, if you're the prince, shouldn't you be rescuing the princess: that girl you said gave you the strongest and earliest memory you have?" he asks, trying to reason with Endymion.
Endymion slowly brings his attack to a halt, studying Kuwabara.
"At this rate, if you don't fight off that woman's influence," Kuwabara continues, "Tsukino-san will have to rescue you."
Endymion's eyes widen as they brighten with a glimmer of recognition.
"No, Endymion," hisses Beryl, her eyes glowing. "Do not heed the boy's lies. Your only duty, your only desire, is to serve me."
Endymion grimaces briefly as his eyes darken; he then scowls at Kuwabara and resumes his fierce attack.
Kuwabara summons a second reiken; he clumsily parries with Endymion as he attempts to attack Beryl.
"Your tenacity is admirable," says Beryl, "but ultimately pointless. I will bring your pitiful resistance to an end...now!" Beryl directs forks of blood-red energy at Kuwabara, forcing him to disperse his two reiken.
Kuwabara struggles to remain standing, spitting at Beryl. Endymion stares blankly at the spectacle.
"Kneel before me, Kazuma," cries Beryl, "and swear fealty to the Dark Kingdom!"
Kuwabara snickers even as he endures the searing pain of Beryl's assault. "I won't...kneel...to a puppet..." he chokes.
"What are you babbling about, you fool?" spits Beryl.
"You've been jerked around for so long that you don't even realize it," grins Kuwabara, blood trickling down his chin, "but you're just a wretched little finger puppet-like all the others..."
"You mock me!?" shrieks Beryl, increasing the strength of her attack.
"You are only worthy...of mockery..." says Kuwabara. "You toyed with those four men..." he continues, "not even aware that you yourself are...just a toy to...that formless thing behind your power..."
Beryl pauses a moment, studying Kuwabara. "You refer to Metallia," she says soberly. "You can sense her."
"Yeah..." says Kuwabara, smirking. "And 'Metallia' is just a small part...of something nasty...and really old...that's...stretching everywhere..."
"You will not distract me with nonsense," spits Beryl. "If you will not bend to my will," she continues as she unleashes a different attack, "then I will take your rich energy."
Kuwabara screams as he collapses to his hands and knees from the pain.
"Know as you die, Kuwabara Kazuma," says Beryl, "that all of your power will be made to serve Metallia and the Dark Kingdom!"
"I have some more energy for you," says a voice.
"Who speaks?" says Beryl, continuing to drain Kuwabara of his energy.
Genkai emerges from the shadows. "An old woman trying to sleep, but couldn't due to the noisy racket that boy you're trying to kill is making. Try me," she smirks, "and tell me if you like it." She fires a reihadou from each of her hands and strikes Beryl, knocking her away from Kuwabara.
Beryl struggles to regain her footing. "What is to stop me from draining both of your energies, woman?" she scoffs.
Kuwabara snickers, then falls unconscious.
Genkai smiles gently...kicks Endymion in the head to knock out the youth, then in a flash appears in front of Beryl and relentlessly pummels the dark queen with her fists.
Beryl crumples to the ground, writhing in pain.
"Hn. You're stronger than you look, I'll grant you that. Then again," says Genkai as she picks up Kuwabara and pulls the unconscious youth to his feet, "I'm an old bitch. I'll take this lummox back with me, and you won't fuck with us anymore." Genkai trudges off, half-dragging Kuwabara away with her.
After a moment, Beryl slowly rises to her feet. "After I kill Sailor Moon," she seethes, "that withered wretch will be the next to die."
"Kuwabara," says Genkai quietly as Kuwabara glares down at the carpet in his room, fuming. "You're refusing to take this seriously."
"Genkai-shihan," says Kuwabara. "I have already been thoroughly lectured and admonished about my stupidity against Team Uraotogi. And Team Rokuyukai. And Team Ichigaki. 'Kuwabara, you fool' seems to be Hiei's litany of choice."
Genkai remains silent.
"I wish everyone would knock it the fuck off!" Kuwabara seethes. "Unlike the rest of you, who are: yokai who have had to fight to survive their whole lives, decrepit martial artists who have been training to fight people with their spiritual power their whole lives, or fucking Urameshi-the bastard who gets his own damned category..." he continues, "I am just an ordinary asshole off the street with powers he doesn't understand."
"Do you expect me to express sympathy?" asks Genkai.
"No," snorts Kuwabara, "I don't expect any of you to give a shit about any matter outside your narrow spheres of experience."
"Our lives are at stake, Kuwabara," says Genkai. "It is your experience which has narrowed."
"No; I recognize that," counters Kuwabara. "If I don't perform well, my family and friends will all die-right along with me, at the hands of an angry mob baying for my blood for the crime of being human: which, admittedly," Kuwabara continues with a dark grin, "is a pretty damnable offense at times."
Genkai strips to her underwear.
Kuwabara stares at Genkai, confused.
"Oh," says Genkai, "you're wondering what I'm doing?"
Kuwabara nods.
Genkai drops to her knees and prostrates herself before Kuwabara. "Please," she says meekly, "do as you like with this unworthy one."
"Genkai-shihan," wonders Kuwabara, "what the fuck are you talking about?"
"Punish me," says Genkai, "and let me bear the sins of this world, so that you will relent, and fight for us."
"One," says Kuwabara balefully, "you are hardly Jesus Christ, who was tortured and crucified by members of the Roman Praetorian Guard according to the Bible's account. Two," he continues, "I've already admitted that I fucked up these fights-you don't have to be so melodramatic to belabor the point."
"No," counters Genkai, crawling over to Kuwabara and leaning against his knees, "we must atone for our sins, Kuwabara. We took you away from the woman you love."
"Genkai-shihan," snorts Kuwabara, "there's nothing to forgive. Ami-san and her friends died bravely, fighting against their enemies. There's no one to blame for that!"
"Indulge an old woman's whims," says Genkai, smiling impishly. "I am not so withered," she continues, "that I can't grant a young, inexperienced ass like you a degree of pleasure."
"W-what the fuck!?" balks Kuwabara.
"You think I can't do anything?" snickers Genkai.
"I don't doubt that you can," scoffs Kuwabara, blushing furiously, "because you aged people have strong memories of your faded youth, but I'm not interested."
"Please," says Genkai, climbing onto Kuwabara's lap, "give me a moment, so that I can make you forget about Ami-san."
"No, thank you," says Kuwabara, gently pushing himself away from Genkai. "I have no need for that. Besides," continues Kuwabara, "how could I ever hate you, when you have twice saved my life?"
Genkai sighs, then stands. "What will it take, Kuwabara," she asks sternly, "for you to forgive us, and this world?"
"Forgive?" wonders Kuwabara. "There's nothing to forgive."
"Kuwabara," counters Genkai, "you don't take matters seriously, and that's because this world hasn't taken you seriously: it's treated you like a living joke."
"No," scowls Kuwabara, "it only seems that way because I don't take myself seriously."
"Why should you," asks Genkai, "when stupid people who don't know better don't take you seriously? The issue at hand, however, is that I'm someone who does know better than to trifle with you," she continues, "so I will only say one thing."
Kuwabara studies Genkai.
"No amount of good works and noble deeds, no amount of hard work and perseverance," says Genkai, locking her eyes onto Kuwabara, "will ever return your mother to you."
Kuwabara trembles.
"So don't bother with being virtuous, cheerful, and kind: none of that shit matters," Genkai continues. "Be yourself, and forgive us if you want, or hate us if you want: just quit fucking around with our lives."
Kuwabara shakes his head in disbelief.
"I don't give a fuck about anything else but winning this damned tournament," spits Genkai, hard and unrelenting, "because at the end of the day, nothing else matters if we lose." She picks up her clothing and leaves Kuwabara's room.
Kuwabara glowers at the ceiling. "That woman has a way of hitting someone without even throwing a punch," he mutters after a moment.
A few weeks later, the Dark Tournament ends; Team Urameshi, victorious yet subdued, leaves for home aboard a cruise liner.
Yukina enters Kuwabara's cabin, bringing Kuwabara a glass of ice water. "Kazuma-san," she says, handing Kuwabara the water, "I thought you'd be thirsty."
Kuwabara, sitting in his bed, accepts the water; he licks his lips as he stares at Yukina. "T-thank you...Yukina-san," he says. "This will suffice."
Yukina studies Kuwabara a moment, then sits next to him on the bed.
Kuwabara drinks some of the water. "Yukina-san," he says. "I'm more thirsty than you realize. This water is very refreshing," Kuwabara adds with a grin.
Yukina sighs. "Are you feeling lonely, Kazuma-san?" she asks after a moment, leaning on Kuwabara's shoulder.
Kuwabara blushes briefly, looking over Yukina. "I cannot ask you, Yukina-san," he says quietly, "for any more than this." Kuwabara drinks the rest of the water.
Yukina gives Kuwabara a puzzled expression.
"I've...lost a bit too much," Kuwabara continues, his tone quiet yet bitter. "I can't ask you to replenish it," he adds. "It would be too much for you."
"To bring you a glass of water?" asks Yukina.
"To be my glass of water," says Kuwabara, a gentle, despondent smile on his face.
"You're not quite making sense, Kazuma-san," says Yukina.
"What do you see when you look at me right now?" asks Kuwabara.
Yukina touches her chin. "A plant," she says, "that's wilting from lack of water."
Kuwabara nods.
"And you're saying that I can't give you the water you need," Yukina continues.
"I can't let you give that to me," says Kuwabara.
"Huh?" wonders Yukina.
"I'm like one of Kurama's Makai plants," says Kuwabara, a stony scowl on his face. "I'll drink, and drink, and drink from you: never letting you go until I suck you dry."
"Ah," says Yukina. "Would you say the same of Mizuno-san?" she asks.
Kuwabara grins, touching Yukina's nose. "You're saying that because of her name?" he asks.
"That must be it," says Yukina. "You're very lively when you talk about her."
"When it comes to Ami-san," says Kuwabara, "I would gorge myself on her until I burst, and die happily. That woman," he continues, "was a wellspring that never ran dry."
"But...she isn't here anymore," says Yukina, understanding in her eyes.
"And it would be wrong," says Kuwabara, "for me to ask you to take her place."
"I...think I see, Kazuma-san," says Yukina. She rises from her perch on the bed. "Please rest well."
"Thank you for listening, Yukina-san," says Kuwabara.
Yukina smiles, nodding at Kuwabara, then leaves Kuwabara's cabin.
A week later, Kuwabara sets a vase with a pair of single-stem roses onto the warehouse roof, in front of a photo of Saitou holding Hanataro.
"Sempai," says Kuwabara, praying, "I've heard from Tsukino-san that the bitch Beryl is dead, so you can rest a little easier knowing that you have your revenge."
Kuwabara walks away from the vase, only to meet Yusuke and Ken atop the roof.
"Why, exactly, are you mourning Kunzite?" asks Ken. "He tried to turn you against your friends, and wanted to use you as a tool to destroy the world."
"I know," says Kuwabara. "I knew all along. I just didn't care."
Ken stares at Kuwabara, confused.
"Kunzite-Saitou-sempai...it didn't matter," continues Kuwabara. "When you're dying of thirst, even poison can be refreshing."
Yusuke grins. "Nobody ever told you that you had to be a pillar of strength and moral rectitude, dumbass," he says. "You imposed that crap onto yourself."
"Urameshi," says Kuwabara, a sad expression in his eyes, "I used to envy you. But now," he continues, "I don't begrudge you Genkai-shihan's return anymore. The pain I feel: I don't want you to understand it." Kuwabara leaves the roof.
"I don't get it," says Ken, scowling. "He ain't making sense."
"I think I've got an idea," says Yusuke. "I know I felt like shit when Toguro killed Baa-san. And when I thought that the same bastard had killed Kuwabara..." Yusuke trembles. "I...something snapped inside me."
"Yeah," sighs Ken. "Even so, Kuwabara smells like he's ready to write a death poem."
"Ah," says Yusuke. "Kuwabara is a jackass like that. Then again, this world doesn't give a shit about him, as far as he's concerned."
"The world doesn't have to care," says Ken.
"It took away everything that ever mattered to him," says Yusuke. "Why should he give a fuck about the world?"
Ken rolls his eyes.
"Mizuno was Kuwabara's consolation," says Yusuke, "his hard-earned prize for putting up with this stupid world and its bullshit, and the world yanked her away. Kuwabara's a graceful loser," he continues, "but he hates being cheated above all else." Yusuke leaves.
In his office at Reikai, Koenma: in his teenage form, nurses his pacifier as he closes a manila folder; he studies Ami, Minako, Mamoru, Rei, and Makoto.
"For the record, everyone," he says after a moment, irritated, "I hate it when some human develops causality-altering powers. It really makes record-keeping complicated, you understand," he continues.
"I don't understand what you're talking about," says Makoto.
"The five of you have basically been revived by Tsukino Usagi," explains Koenma. "When you return to Ningenkai," he continues, "you will lose all memory of this meeting. In fact, the five of you will lose all memory of the events that happened in your lives after you each met Usagi."
"Why?" wonders Rei. "Genkai-shihan is being revived as well."
"Those are the stipulations of Usagi's wish on the ginzuishou," says Koenma. "She wants the lot of you, along with herself, to lead normal lives."
Minako sighs. "Koenma-sama," she says soberly. "That is not a luxury I can accept."
The other three girls stare at Minako, wondering at her cool, businesslike tone.
"As captain of the Lunar Imperial Guard," Minako continues, "I must have complete awareness, to ensure no other forces can threaten my princess...no, my queen."
"Also," adds Ami, "Minako has been at this business the longest of us."
"She regained her powers before Usagi did," continues Rei.
"Along with my memories," says Minako.
"Yet you didn't know Higashi-kun and Kunzite were the same individual," teases Ami, "in spite of the fact that Kunzite's entire disguise was basically his hat."
"Oh, shut up," pouts Minako. "You still should have told me before he visited my home."
"Not only that," says Rei, poking Ami's arm, "but you were just as fooled."
"To be fair," says Ami, briefly sticking out her tongue, "Kunzite's behavior and manner as 'Saitou' was completely unlike Kunzite himself."
Minako sighs. "You never knew him on a personal level," she says, "so all that you can recall of him is the serious, intense soldier. And any jokes about me knowing him too well," Minako adds with a smirk, "will be met with severe reprisals."
"...you're no fun," pouts Makoto.
Mamoru is quiet.
"All of my memories...from before I met Usagi...?" asks Ami after a moment. "Are they intact...?"
"Yes," says Koenma, smiling. "All of your happy childhood memories with Kuwabara and his friends will remain."
"I...see..." says Ami, a subdued frown on her face as she absently touches her hair.
Minako briefly glares at Koenma, then places a hand on Ami's shoulder. "Your memories won't really be lost or erased," she says, "just suppressed. It's basically excess information you four don't need right now to live your lives."
Koenma nods. "If-though this is unlikely-you senshi are needed once again to perform your duties," he says, "Luna and Artemis will be able to unlock your memories, as they once unlocked your powers."
"Do I have any say in this?" asks Mamoru curtly.
"Are you the reincarnation of a captain of a royal guard?" asks Koenma.
"No," says Mamoru, sullen, "I'm only the prince...no, the king, of the Earth. Are you trying to say that my will is irrelevant?"
"I don't understand," says Koenma.
"Every lasting memory I have starts with Usagi," says Mamoru, trembling. "If my memories are reset to where they were before Usagi," he continues, "then I'll be a blank slate: I won't remember any of my friends. I might not even remember my own name."
Koenma briefly studies a manila folder. "Yes...your amnesia from that accident of yours makes this complicated," he muses.
"I don't want to forget Usagi," says Mamoru, resolute. "I will never forget Usagi," he continues, "or be made to let go of her ever again."
"With all due respect, Your Majesty," says Koenma flatly, "the matter is out of your hands and mine: the stipulations are clear."
Mamoru drops to his haunches. "Usako is the woman I love," he mutters, "and I will allow nothing to separate us."
Koenma rolls his eyes. "In any event," he says, rubber-stamping documents, "please return to your lives."
The four girls and Mamoru vanish from Koenma's office.
Two weeks pass.
Outside Juuban Middle during lunch, Ami leads Kuwabara to a secluded area.
"I take it you like to study here, Ami-san," grins Kuwabara.
Ami nods.
Kuwabara unbuttons and removes his school jacket, then sets it on the grass. "Are we alone?" he asks.
"Yes," says Ami. She starts to sit on the grass, but Kuwabara takes her hand and pulls her toward his jacket.
"I don't want you to mess up your uniform," says Kuwabara.
Ami sits on the jacket. "Thank you, Kazuma-san," she says. Ami opens a book and begins reading.
Kuwabara gazes at Ami a moment, then sits next to her.
Ami trembles, glancing at Kuwabara as she reads; she unconsciously moistens her lips.
What would happen if I licked her ear, wonders Kuwabara silently as he looks over Ami, or kissed her neck right where her pulse is...? Would she like it, he continues, or would she slap me?
Ami shakes her head, her mind and body nervous. "The words..." she whispers. "I can't concentrate-it's as though they're floating off the page, like butterflies..."
"It's hard to think clearly," says Kuwabara aloud, leaning back onto a tree, "on a lovely spring day."
Ami glances at Kuwabara again, noting the youth's Adam's apple. "Kazuma-san," she asks, touching the back of Kuwabara's hand, "have you eaten?"
"Yeah," says Kuwabara, looking into Ami's eyes, "but I'm still hungry." He touches Ami's chin, then kisses Ami.
Ami drops her book, then slides her hands beneath Kuwabara's tank top as she returns Kuwabara's kiss.
Kuwabara breaks the kiss, then gently removes Ami's school shirt. "It looks like I may get a few grass stains on your uniform after all, Ami-san," he says. Kuwabara then kisses Ami's neck.
"I...I don't mind...at all, Kazuma-san..." moans Ami. Her hands glide down Kuwabara's back.
Kuwabara undoes the clasp of Ami's bra, then tastes one of Ami's exposed breasts.
"Kazu..." Ami pants as her loins brush against Kuwabara's. "Kazuma..."
Kuwabara's eyes widen, his body wild with lust. He abruptly pulls away from Ami, licks his lips, then kisses her fiercely as he leans back onto the tree.
Ami, savoring the kiss, straddles Kuwabara's waist.
"Since when are you late to class?" hisses Usagi.
"I was...really getting into a good book," says Ami. "It was so tantalizing," she continues, her cheeks tinged with red, "I couldn't pull myself away."
"Why do I have the feeling that this 'book' of yours wears a Sarayashiki Middle uniform?" Usagi asks cannily.
"I don't know which josei manga gave you such perverse ideas, Usagi," counters Ami curtly, "but you should quit reading them." Ami absently picks a few blades of grass out of her hair.
Usagi rolls her eyes at Ami, then smiles gently as Ami sits at her desk. It doesn't seem, she says to herself, a wistful expression in her eyes, that anything could keep them apart.