I'm your Madness

by Tabby Phobos

As usual, rating for swearing and violence. Sequel to Love never Dies, Hatred never Sleeps With the world's leaders dropping like flies, the crew finds themselves in a knotted case they never imagined would take place.

26. Juggling plots to lead to one moment

A/N: Wow, this was quick. Not much to say… Other than I don't think I will be doing much in these author's notes anymore. Maybe warn you guys about a lack of updating in a while, but I'll let you guys recap yourselves… mostly because I don't want to give away stuff. Besides, I got no reviews in between these two chapters, so there's nothing to answer this time, at least. Anyway, we're coming closer to the turning point, and I want you guys to be shocked when it happens. But remember, things that may not seem like plot, actually probably are. Oh, and the song that Jun originally wrote and had Izumi look over in this chapter? "Thousand Words". You've all heard it by now.

~*~

Itsuki stretched her arms up as high as she could, sighing at the feel of her clenched muscles finally relaxing a bit in another position. She rolled her head on her shoulder, reveling in the loosened ball just between her shoulder blades. Then, she pulled off the uncomfortable red jacket, slinging it on her desk chair as she headed to the door conjoining her office to her associate's, if anyone would dare to relate them together that way. "Hey, Jiro, I'm going to head down to get something to eat, do you want anything, or do you want to come, or what?"

Gai had a hand threaded into his eternally messy hair, which was actually pulled back today, though it was already starting to fall out. Like Itsuki, he had quickly shed the stupid jacket that he had to wear to get past reception without any leers or comments, but he certainly wasn't going to leave the floor without it, unlike his near-sister. She had no problem walking around the building in the teeny little gray dress, and figured when they came in that morning that she had plans to drop by Security to see Ryoko. She normally did anyway. But he was busy pouring over the new plans that were in the inbox, courtesy of Uribatake Seiya. He hadn't heard a word Itsuki said.

"Hey? Jiro? Are you listening to me?" When it become obvious that he wasn't, Itsuki pouted, pushed a strand of violet hair behind her ear, and marched up to his mahogany desk, slapping both hands on it and bending down so that she could see him a little better. What she hadn't realized was that, when he looked up, he would probably have yet another image of her to burn from his memory: the line of cleavage the dress showed at this angle.

He glanced up for a moment, completely engrossed and shook his head. "I'm sorry, Minato, I didn't call you. You could check in with Itsuki, maybe it was her." Itsuki giggled, standing up straight and crossing her arms over her chest. "Jiro, I doubt I'll ever have boobs as big as Minato's."

"That never happened. This little conversation? I wasn't here." She giggled again, then looked over his shoulder. "I guess you weren't. Still looking those over? I thought we already told him it was okay and to start the next prototype immediately."

"Yes, we did, but I wanted to look it over a bit more. Just to make sure we're really developing the whole thing at once, instead of in pieces."

"We are. Magus, if anyone needs a break, it's you." Itsuki walked behind his chair and placed her hands on his shoulder muscles, massaging them hardly, enough to get him to sit up and not look at those infernal blueprints anymore. "You work too damn hard." She titled her head, watching his profile as her hair tumbled over her shoulder, obscuring her face from anyone else but him.

"We both work pretty hard, Itsuki."

"I suppose so… Maybe we should look into taking a vacation soon. Wouldn't that be nice? Just some days to lie around the house like Hikaru and Junny do… though Junny's looking into moving out and getting a job and all that…"

"Yeah… maybe we should wait until they actually do. I'd hate to be here when they leave. That guest house will never be an actual guest house ever again."

"It sure won't. But that'll be a good amount of time. We should at least wait for our vacation until after Akito's off his." Gai nodded slowly, solemnly, and Itsuki knew she had hit a bad subject. She knew that it was a bad subject to begin with. But they were never alone anymore, and chances to talk the way they used to were rare, and this was one of those times. She sighed, glancing up at the boring gray and white ceiling panels. "You used to be so happy with him, but not anymore. What happened, and when? I never even saw it coming… Hikaru, I'm sure, did, but I feel guilty, neglecting you a bit, Jiro."

Gai said nothing, but rather closed his eyes, bowing his head a bit. He looked sort of angry, but not at her. She stopped rubbing his shoulders and allowed her bare arms to slip around his neck, setting herself down onto her knees behind his chair. "It can't just be the sex, you know… I may be a lesbian, but it's usually a nice gesture to switch off once in a while. Akito would give his left hand to top you, just once, you know. It can't be too much of a problem, I wouldn't think."

"In the past, he also would have given his left hand to get half the girls chasing him off his back." He pushed Itsuki's arms away as he stood from the rolling chair and walked over to the window, leaning against a steel bar separating the panes of glass. He watched the sun glint off the other building around theirs. Itsuki did not make a move, but rather watched him from her crouch on the floor next to his desk, concerned. She did not say a word, allowing Gai to figure out his thoughts on his own, what he wanted to say. Finally, he spoke.

"Akito… he doesn't like being the object of affections, not the affections of people he doesn't care about. That's why he always ran from the girls on the Nadesico, you know? He… he resents those Martian pheromones of his, those things that attract so many people to him. He only wants that sort of closeness with those he chooses. He doesn't just accept attraction and affection blindly. I've known him longer than anyone, except for Yurika and maybe Jun. So I would know the most about him, right? I've been the closest to him in our time. And I know he doesn't play love games. He doesn't flirt around for fun like you do, Itsuki. So," Gai pulled his eyes away from the window and pointed them at Itsuki, who had begun to stand finally, glaring at her with an anger that was once again just directed at the world and not her, "why the hell did he start playing them with Jun?!"

"Oh, Jiro…"

"Whether I want to admit it or not, I know one thing. Akito feels something for Jun. I KNOW it. There's no other reason for Akito to flirt with him, get so close to him, hug him and kiss him and the like." Gai shook his head, then leaned it against his arm on the steel bar at the window. "I know you flirt around for fun, and that's just your social nature, Itsuki. You want to surround yourself with people, those that are fun and those that you love. Ryoko… Ryoko knows that and trusts you because she knows you're just playing, that it's just in your personality to be playful and stuff. She knows you love her and that you'll always go back to her. Akito… Akito isn't playful, or a social butterfly, or any of that. When he pursues someone like that, he's serious. He wants to make a relationship out of it."

"But… Jun's getting married. To Yurika."

Gai shook his head rubbing his forehead on the brown fabric on his arm. "Hey, I never said his choices had to make sense. I'm just saying what I know. And what I know is that Akito wants Jun and he wants him bad."

"If you're so sure, why don't you break it off with him? End it?"

"I love him too much."

"I'd hate to be a big cliché master, but if you loved him that much, you'd let him go."

Gai shook his head again, violently this time. He squeezed his gray-brown eyes shut. "I thought that he loved me. I… I just want to know, Itsuki. I don't think Akito loves me anymore, otherwise he wouldn't chase after Jun like this. I just want to know what I did wrong."

"I'd also hate to break it to you, Jiro, but it was probably not letting Akito have his sexual freedom and let have him top every now and again."

Gai shook his head violently once more, then broke away from the bar, his eyes welled up in tears as he held her arms out to her for an answer. "Don't you see, Itsuki? That's the only way I have any say whatsoever in our relationship! You can call me whipped or whatever you want, but Akito has most of the control. He knows how to manipulate me into getting him whatever he wants, no matter what I say or think! An absolute power corrupts absolutely…" Gai wrapped his arms around himself, but shook his head again. "That's why I'm losing trust in him. I'm scared of making him unhappy at any time, because I'm scared of losing him, scared that I'll drive him away from me. I can't lose him, Itsuki. He's my world."

"Well, that may be what you did wrong. You gave and gave and gave, and now he expects you to do so. But… that manipulating bit… How can you love someone like that? Is it even possible?"

"It wasn't like Fate gave me a choice!"

"Do you really believe that's true? Or are you placing the blame on someone else, anyone else, rather than fess up and admit that you fell for him on your own accord?"

"I don't know. I don't know anything. I just… I wish things were better."

"Well, I'll tell you one thing… He shouldn't have made you scared of your own freedoms. That was cruel. But you also shouldn't have let him. I will call you whipped, because you didn't just let him control you. You gave him the reins yourself. You forged that fear on your own." Itsuki crossed her arms and stared at what would have been like her kid brother if circumstances had been different. "Is that why you've been working so hard? You're afraid?"

Gai nodded slowly, sinking to his knees and covering his face. "No. Maybe. Gods above, YES! When I'm working, he can't come in and criticize, I don't have to take it. Aer… I shouldn't have to take it. That's how it used to be when we first started sleeping together. But now… even our fucking is being manipulated by him. Akito. Aer, Itsuki, YOU'RE RIGHT! It is all my fault, isn't it?! I have been giving so much to him and now he just expects me to give him everything. I did it all. That's what I've done wrong. It is all my fault…"

"Well, no, I wouldn't call it all your fault. Akito… he tends to be unhappy with you, I'll be honest. Angrier. Maybe he has come to depend on you now. But I think maybe he feels a little out of control as well. Maybe his feelings that you control his life by giving and giving is making him want to control yours by taking until you have nothing left. I mean, listen to yourself. 'I love him too much.' He's learned to gain back control by taking advantage of you, Jiro!"

Gai sniffed loudly and let his hands fall into his lap. "So what do you suggest?"

"Well, first of all… remember what Flamma said, back on Ninlan? 'Love never dies.' Akito still loves you, Jiro. But it may have become subdued due to this problem of control you two share. But it will take work to bring it back to what it was before, you know. Trust me, I know all about working on a relationship to make it work. Ryoko and I would not be together to this day if we let problems like this rule our relationship."

"But you guys' relationship had all this tiny, little bumps in the road. Ours has this sudden huge mountain."

"Ah, but like little bumps, it takes effort to get over mountains, just more of it. And if you really love him too much to let him go…"

Gai looked up at Itsuki, his eyes red, yet determined as he made a fist and hit his leg. "I will do whatever it takes. He won't control me any longer. I'll do anything to bring it back to the equal, sharing, HAPPY bond it used to be."

Itsuki smiled. "I'm glad. He really did used to make you happy, you know. You're like my little brother, and I don't like bad things happening to you. I love you. I don't want to see you hurt. But I have a feeling that you and Akito could last a long time if you work at it a bit."

Gai nodded, a small smile forming on his own face. But it quickly dropped. "What am I gonna do about Akito and Jun?"

"Let it go. Jun will get married, and Akito will get over it. He got over Ryoko pretty quickly after you swept him up and I picked up Ryoko, now, didn't he?"

"I suppose so."

"Yes, he did have a… Wait, you already know that he wanted her?"

"Yeah. He told me a long time ago that if we hadn't been together and if you and Ryoko weren't together, he probably would have been chasing Ryoko."

"Dammit, am I always out of the loop?!" She threw her arms up in the air and turned around, crossing them quickly as she feigned anger. Gai knew what she was doing, and stood up, brushing the dust off his plum pants. "Thank you, Itsuki." He came up behind her and gave her a hug around the waist, kissing her cheek.

"Hey now, none of that. Ryoko will be pissed."

"I thought that was the idea."

"You suck cock, Jiro." Gai made a face and let go quickly, shuddering. "Well, I guess I'll have to start now, huh?"

"Jiro's finally getting it! We need cookies, want some cookies?"

"No, but coffee would be nice."

"Now that I've accomplished my initial mission, two coffees and bags of cookies, coming right up!" Itsuki tapped him on the nose and sauntered out his office door, waving hi to Minato as she left. Once in the hallway, her hyper grin fell back into just a happy smile. Gai really was one of her favorite people in the world, even if they pretended to hate each other a lot. He really was her little brother, after all, and she was glad to see that he and his boyfriend were finally going to be doing well. It made her happy to see him happy, after all. And he really was devoted to Akito.

'Maybe this is their defining moment. Ryoko and I had ours. I guess it's all sink or swim for them from now on.'

~*~

She opened the drapes to a rainy evening, glancing at the cars and streets below them. She smiled maliciously as the lightning and thunder rolled along the blanket of dark clouds that had descended upon the city. She glanced at the woman on the couch, expression as blank as ever. She frowned, then left the window to sit at the couch next to her. "What's wrong, darling?"

"I was thinking." She turned away, curling up and leaning on the arm of the couch.

"About what, sweet?"

"About all of this. All we're doing."

"Oh, don't tell me you're growing a conscience."

"I've always had one. I've just learned how to not use it."

"Yet you let it out now. You infuriate me!"

"So why don't you let me go?" She glared at her with tearful, dark eyes. "Let me out of this mess! I won't even go to the police, just let me be free!"

"You know I can't risk that, sweetheart. I apologize. You just make me angry sometimes. But you know that I need you."

"No you don't…"

"Yes. I need you for this. I can't do it without you."

"Why do we have to do it at all…"

"Well, you did suggest it."

"It was an off-hand comment, and you know it!"

Slap. She fell against the arm of the couch and the other woman got up, flipping her hair over her shoulders. "Don't talk back to me. You know I could rid the world of you just as easily. Certain people would rest easier. And isn't all that this is about?"

"No… You need me."

She turned back around, looking at her calmly, serenely. "You're right. I do. Without you, I cannot do this. So I cannot kill you. But you wanted that anyway, didn't you?"

"Yes! Gods, please just let me out…"

"No. How else are we supposed to cleanse our world? To mete out punishment for injustices? To stop civil crimes before they happen?" She bent her head down to hiss in her ear. "To get rid of those that have touched her and been touched by her?"

"Gods, we don't have to do this…"

"Which reminds me. Guess what, darling? I've chosen our next target." She walked over to a small bookcase in the darkened living room and pulled out a photo album. She turned several pages and sat on the couch next to the crying woman. "Look, darling. She is next. Look! She will suffer our punishment next."

"Oh Gods, not her… She was kind, nice, generous… Why would you want to kill HER?"

"Because. It is in my plans. I know what I'm doing, hon. I know specifically what I'm doing. And because of that… she's going to die just the others."

"Not tonight. I don't want to see it. No."

"You never want to see it. But I understand. It is too early. They are on the lookout after we took that old emperor. I will wait a while, but not too long."

"…Thank you."

"This won't happen often. You should be happy."

"I am."

"No you aren't. You still want out."

"…Can you blame me?"

"Not necessarily, but partially. But you are human. We both are. You're allowed to feel. But just know that I'm not letting you out until I am done with you."

"…Will you be done after her?"

A laugh. "We shall see, my sweet."

~*~

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Amber eyes opened slowly in darkness, squinting with grogginess. The small body turned slowly to face the small night table next to the bed, glancing at the clock. It wasn't very late, only a few minutes until midnight , but it was quite late considering that Lapis had been up since four that morning. She sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes to get used to the slightly light room. It was not lit to keep nightmares away, but rather to be functional in case she woke up in the middle of the night, such as now. It was her own mind that controlled the lights in the room, anyway.

'What was that sound…' Some sort of sound had awoken her, as if someone was tapping on the window in her room. But it was impossible. Even if her room was several floors up, it had no window, for fear of the sun somehow harming her pale skin. Nergal, no matter who ran it, had always been very protective of her. But the noise still remained a mystery. Could it have only been an attribute of her dream?

Tap. Tap.

No, there it was again. It was less like someone tapping a window now, and more like someone splashing. The sounds of moving water while underwater. Would could possibly make that sound? Lapis pulled her covers away, swinging her legs over the side of her bed. Before her feet began to feel around on the floor for her slippers, her senses lit on fire with alertness. There was only one thing that made that sound. Thank the Gods she had the sense to wire the digital alarm systems to her own mind. Disregarding her slippers themselves, the lights in her room flashed to full brightness, causing her eyes to narrow in pain. Still, she grabbed the laptop on her desk, sitting at the table and opened up the machine. It was instantly on and connected as she held her hands over the nanomachine interface, letting her eyes widen with her lack of use and the electronic lights to flow through them.

The vision of her room faded, and the next thing she knew, she was zooming along the edges of the firewall around Nergal's systems. It was only once she was reaching some rather familiar areas that she saw where the weakness was. Exactly where Ruri had attacked before. Squinting past the bright lights of the systems protections, she could see the attacker. Male, yet obviously not Hari. Light brown mop of hair, big blue eyes, thick dark glasses, choppy movements. It was almost as if it was…

"Omoikane," she whispered in disbelief. But there was no mistaking that robot anywhere. Omoikane smiled, giggled, and waved childishly, his eyes not bothered at all by the bright shields protecting Lapis's district. Then he dove back into the blinding fray, the protections nearly splitting like water to allow him in.

'How is this possible?' Lapis shook her head, reminding herself that it was her job to stop him, not standing around and asking how. She placed her hands on the inside lining of the shield, causing it to glow a brilliant gold. Omoikane was stopped in his tracks, suspended in the light as it surrounded him fully. Lapis smirked. "You're mine." She closed her eyes and took control of the protections, urging the programs to probe at Omoikane's systems and take them over so she could control him herself. He may have done this of his own accord, but Ruri would regret her last attack on Nergal, her last challenge with her. She was the best and always would be. She passed quickly through his information and thinking processes, barely noticing the halls and halls of books. Instead, she headed straight for the tree.

It was so easy to find. Just following the main halls led directly to the sky blue sphere that held the large tree that was Omoikane's consciousness. But it was huge. Immensely so. Lapis wasn't even sure if she could take complete control of it or not. Could anyone? She could try. She floated down to a branch and stood upon it, shaking it, but not knocking any twigs or leaves off, let alone any flowers. She closed her eyes again and tried to enter the branch. Nothing. She tried again. Nothing. She floated up again, glaring at the tree. Well, if she couldn't control it, there was another way to hurt Ruri through him, to punish her. She smirked evilly as she floated down to the tree's base, intending on cutting through it with her own consciousness. 'I am human, though I hate it. I will prevail over machine.'

"I would think not," stated a booming voice from outside. Lapis was pulled out of Omoikane before she could even blink. She reopened her eyes and pulled her hands away from her security programs. Omoikane was still there, yes… but he was glowing just as bright as her programs, only a pure white that Lapis could almost see the colors of the rainbow in. He smiled at her again, almost as if he had no idea what was going on, before closing his own eyes. Before Lapis's gaze, Omoikane grew in size, keeping his slender body, yet bubbling up a bit in the rear and chest. His glasses faded from view, and his hair lightened to sparkling silver and cascaded to his waist, then pulling themselves up into ponytails. It was then that Lapis's shocked visage reverted into one of hate. Ruri opened her eyes, which were no longer blue but an amber that mirrored Lapis's. "I… would think not, Lapis Lazuli," she said slowly, proving that it was she that had stopped Lapis from hijacking Omoikane and destroying what was most important about him.

"Ruri!" she spat, her lips curled in angry sneer. "You've come to challenge me again, have you?"

"Not necessarily. I'm actually testing these new protections on Omoikane. However, I'm afraid they are not what I wanted. You were still able to nearly kill him."

"I would not have killed him. Just destroyed his human awareness."

"It is as bad. But you were not able to control him, yet I can, from this unit, even."

"This unit?"

"Scan me, Lapis. You might be shocked at what you'll find." Lapis watched her for a moment, then obliged, scanning her quickly for any immediate stats. What she found really WAS astounding. It was a unit much slower than expected, with much less learning capacity… no, NO learning capacity, and a smaller memory. There actually were other programs on it running, not just the Omoikane system. 'Well, it would make sense, as it isn't her Omoikane unit.' She raised her face to see Ruri. "How?"

"I'm connected to him through this bad computer, believe it or not."

"I thought it was only a nanomachine interface that could control him."

"No. As long as he knows it is me. And he does. He's learned the difference between me and you, finally. You will never be able to use him."

"It's a waste. What is a tool if no one else may use it?"

"He is no tool. He is a person."

"He will never be a person."

"He will be before you are. So hateful. Resentment toward your own kind. I declare this challenge over." With one final glare to the younger girl that shared her DNA, Ruri disappeared, leaving the damage down to Lapis's programs in her wake.

Lapis frowned, walking softly through her own programs, touching some of the damaged areas. It was painful, burning. She looked at her hands. They seemed red, but she knew they weren't really burnt. She felt an ache behind her eyes, and she closed them, both in her digital surroundings and in real life. She felt a tear bead on her pale pink eyelashes, and she instantly pulled out of her digital world. She touched her lashes with a finger, and stared at the moisture that collected on her fingers. She balled the hand into a fist, and slammed her laptop closed. With a simple thought, the lights instantly went out in her room, and she was plunged into darkness. She took a deep breath that shuddered, and she let it out with bottled up pressure, in attempts to will away the frustration. Instead, it came out as a sob, and she quickly covered her face with her hands.

All she ever wanted to do in life was become better than Ruri. She was created to be a copy, but she wanted to be different, better, more talented. But it seemed that she would never be so. Ruri found a problem and anticipated Lapis's moves. Ruri had even made it easy for Lapis to do the same, attacking the same place, working from a bad unit. But still Ruri had won this battle. What was Lapis, stupid? Couldn't she hold her own against the "great" Nadesico Computer Operator, Ruri? The perfect little Princess, the first Electronic Fairy, the donor of her genetic code? Was Lapis even human and capable of adaptation?

Lapis never wanted to be human. Not until now. Humans could change themselves to better themselves. Machines and computer depended on other things. They also couldn't change too greatly individually, either. They would then need a whole other unit, while humans had to make due with one body for their whole lives. And if they were incapable of changing… Gods, if she wasn't human, and not a machine, what was she?

~*~

Izumi strummed the last final notes on the strings, murmuring the last few words to herself. Jun sat next to her, watching and listening as she played nervously. Her mouth scrunched up as she thought, nodding another rhythm in her head as she read the words on paper. Then she sighed and handed the paper back to him. "It's pretty and all, Junny, but I'm afraid it's not really rock material. At least not what you're looking for."

"Damn." Junny glanced over the paper dejectedly, the crumbled it up, sighing dejectedly. "Back to the drawing board, I guess."

"Now, wait just a second. I told you it was pretty, just not for what you were looking at. I'm sure you could sell this thing off to some pop singer that can't think of any lyrics quick as lightning. It's just not exactly 'against the system', if you know what I mean."

"I know. It's not, at all. I never really intended it to be so."

"Okay then, I'll tell you. It's too damn lovey-dovey. I mean, you're going to the one of the few things where telling them you're a Jumper will benefit you. But if you tell them that, you got to have a lot more anger against society and government and all that, and none of this hippy stuff. Good for pop-heads, bad for rock-heads."

"I guess… but I don't feel any anger against society or anything."

"Are you serious? Not even the fact that people see you as an instant killer because of those little red marks on your hand?"

"Well, It is messed up… but people are entitled to their opinion. And I'm sure a lot of people do believe I am a killer. I killed Akatsuki, didn't I?"

"Junny, don't start. Okay, what would you say if someone said you did it for fun?"

"It was self-defense and I was defending Yurika from getting killed herself!"

"How about… 'helping myself'… and… Shoot, I'm in a brick."

"Help yourself, I'll do the same. Destruction of property is name of the game."

"Nice. That does work. You better use that."

"But what is it supposed to be about?"

"I don't know… just your own injustices in your life. Let it just be your song, Junny. The own you'll have on top in your portfolio. Like… your dad being a fucker, and your mom being a bitch… Yurika running off to be with Akito on the ship… Akatsuki dying… Akito flirting with you… Living in the ghetto…"

"I don't live in the ghetto!"

"You will when you move out. I drove you there, you know."

"Yeah, yeah… Maybe something Rumiko being an asswipe."

"There goes your anti-government part."

"I guess… I could write in something about you guys… Maybe finding solace in all of your injustices."

"I'm touched, Junny, and I'm sure the others will be too."

"You'll help me, right, Izumi?"

"Absolutely. No more dishwashing for Junny. Okay, let's right down these ideas."

"Fallen from heaven. The human race is imperfect. A disease, a virus, a plague to the planet. Self-absorbed and self-involved. Sustenance is death."

"I love it, Junny. Waste, carnage, destruction, and death."

"Help yourself, I'll do the same. Destruction of property is the name of the game. That can be, like, the refrain or something."

"Yes! That's awesome!" Izumi scribbled down all the ideas they had been coming up as fast as she could, having thrown her guitar on the floor a few minutes prior. Jun held his eyes half-lidded as he rubbed his hands on his pants and rambled as fast as he could. "Make yourself at home, put up your feet. What's that shit under your shoe? Your hospitality."

"Aqua, Junny, you look like you're in a trance or something. You okay?"

"Fine. Just write or I will. Infestation of the world, system, universe. God's mistake, Evolution's waste, Darwin 's folly. Dirty, diseased, dark forces we wield, destroying destruction, devilish death."

Izumi nodded, never stopping the movement of her pen. "Junny, why didn't you attempt to go for this sort of thing before?"

"On my own I think freely. Someone else helping me keeps me focused." Jun fell silent, his eyes closing entirely. He sighed, collapsing on the couch. "I've lost it."

"I'm sorry."

"No, it's not your fault. It was a burst. I should have enough to work with…"

"Yeah, you should."

"Thanks for your help, Izumi."

"No problem. Hey, Junny? Can I see that first song you brought me?"

Jun handed her the crumpled up paper from the floor. Izumi unrolled it, reading over the characters on the paper. "Rewrite this."

"I planned on it."

"No, don't change anything. Just write it on clean paper. And can I get another copy? I want to try it out on the crowd this weekend."

"Sure. Any reason why?"

"Oh, there are some interesting folks in there, and I might be able to get it out for you."

"No, I got that one. Why should I put it in my portfolio anyway?"

"Because if they read over this new one, and then that, they may think you the versatile one you are, and hire you on the spot."

"Wow, I never thought of that."

"I have. Trust me. Always have as many different things as possible, so that you can appeal to many instead of just one. Pop-ish songs are okay too as long as they aren't in excess."

"Oh, okay. Thanks so much for your help, Izumi."

"You can do me a favor."

"What?"

"Bring me any pop-ish songs you write. I mean it."

"Okay. I can do that."

"Thanks, Jun."

"No problem… Izumi." Jun stopped at the door into her sitting room, clutching the new paper.

"Yeah?"

"You… aren't upset I chose Akito over you to be my Fellow Assist, are you? I could have had a Maiden Assist, you know, like Yurika…"

"No big deal. I see it as saving me embarrassment. I don't have to kiss Ryoko. Besides, I know how you and Akito are. You're really close. I would've popped you in the head if you asked me before him." Jun smiled at that.

"You always get it, Izumi."

"I've seen a lot of life."

"I guess. Well, I'm going to go work on this."

"Come and see me again if you have problems." Jun nodded and was gone. Izumi took a deep breath and sighed, leaning on the couch herself.

'Jun was right, all he really needs is some direction to get something done.' She glanced at her guitar, the melody and song that Jun had brought her still playing in her head. "A thousand words have never been spoken…" Izumi reached down and pulled it back into her lap, strumming the strings. She didn't want to make Jun mad, but that song really wasn't for what he was looking for. She knew who it was for though. Junko would have appreciated it very much.

'If he has no luck, he may have to owe me another favor.' She smiled to herself, not in anticipation for his favor he would have to owe her, but rather in how he came to her instead of Itsuki. 'Itsuki is more melody, less lyrics. Ryoko as well. But he didn't seem to go to Hikaru either… Maybe he really did feel bad about getting Akito to be his Assist… No, he was probably just worried Akito will grope him during the ceremony. Akito may be crude, but he isn't that crude. And if he is, he's dead. He may not like Yurika, and he just might have a thing for Jun, and he also may have held a candle for Ryoko once, but if he messes up there ceremony, so help me, Aqua, I will kill him. He will not do that to two of my best friends and his own childhood friend.'

Izumi sat on her couch, fuming for apparently no reason when she heard quick footsteps down the stairs. Hikaru. She couldn't really hear what was being said, but there was a lot of yelling and shrieking. It sounded like Ryoko, Itsuki, and Gai were home. Izumi found her unfounded anger dissipating with a smile. 'Those sillies.'

~*~

Itsuki rubbed her face against Ryoko's lower neck, her arms wrapping tighter around her girlfriend's waist. A smile grew on her face as she snuggled closer to her tomboy, feeling each breath Ryoko took against her chest. Her eyes were closed tight, but with no intentions of sleeping yet. Suddenly, she felt some jarring in Ryoko's body; she was clearing her throat. Then she spoke, "So, what did you find out?"

"From Jiro? Oh… Akito has basically made him scared of doing anything that might make him mad, for fear of leaving him. Jiro's scared as it is with Akito flirting with Jun all the time. He says Akito only flirts when he's serious."

"Really? Akito told me that he was all a game. But, then again, I think that he could possibly see Jun as a good rebound if they ever do split. Which it looks like may happen."

"Not necessarily… Jiro already told me he's willing to do whatever it takes to make their relationship better."

"Well, that's good. Every couple needs that at some point."

"Yes, they do." Itsuki and Ryoko both fell silent, and Itsuki began to frown. She had already done her best to make things wonderful between Ryoko and her. Things were wonderful now, weren't they? 'Of course, don't be silly, Itsuki.' But something still troubled her. She loosened her arms from Ryoko's waist, feeling confusion tense Ryoko's neck as she rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling. Ryoko rolled from one side to her other, laying a hand on Itsuki's bare arm. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Itsuki shook her head.

"Liar. Tell me what's wrong." Itsuki turned and saw the outline of her lover's face in the dark, the almost shoulder-length hair completely dark in the lack of light, rather than the two-tones it normally was. She couldn't see Ryoko's expression, but she could just imagine it. Ryoko's black eyebrows knit in confusion and concern, her lips pursed into a frown that was almost a pout, but was actually when she was trying her hardest to develop psychic powers and hear Itsuki's thoughts. Itsuki smiled slightly, sadly, at the image in her head. "I was just thinking about us."

"What about us?"

"Well… just how serious are you about me?" Itsuki felt Ryoko sit up, and could see her looking off at the distant wall. Ryoko was most definitely not naked. If she had been, they may have been too busy to even think of discussing this. No, Itsuki could see the outlines of Ryoko's white tank top covering her top half as, it appeared, she glared at the wall on the other side of the room. Itsuki suddenly felt some slight fear, almost as if she had put Ryoko off by her question. Ryoko's temper was something that Itsuki was learning to control, but still, the thought that it may one day ever be placed towards herself frightened her.

"Gods damn you to the five layers of hell," swore Ryoko, causing Itsuki to suck in her breath, "Tenkawa and Yamada. How they could even make you question… Gods, damn them both!" Itsuki let her air out in a relieved sigh, almost smiling and laughing at her own misplaced fright. But it was a question she wanted an answer to. "Could you please answer my question?"

Ryoko pulled a knee up to her chest, then rested her elbow on it, holding her head up as she turned to face Itsuki. "I'm very, very serious about you. More serious than I ever have been in my life." Itsuki smiled, though she knew Ryoko couldn't see it. She too sat up and draped her arms around Ryoko's neck, leaning her face on Ryoko's shoulder. She snuggled closer, like she was before, her eyes shut tight in comfort. "..I'm glad," she whispered.

Ryoko raised an arm and place a hand on Itsuki's arm again. "What about you, Itsuki?" When Itsuki opened her eyes and looked at her, incredulous, she smiled. "After all, you are the player in this outfit."

Itsuki frowned and let her arms drop to Ryoko's, which was relaxed next to her body. "That wasn't very funny." She glared at her, knowing that Ryoko couldn't see it. Then she relaxed her face, biting her lip in anticipation. "But I'm as serious about you as a heart attack. Do you think I would try so hard to keep you close to me if I wasn't? Trying so hard to keep us together while we were on Ninlan, having you come and live with me, even getting you a job as Head of Security at Mugendai, just so you will be as close to me as I can have you." She placed her hands on Ryoko's cheeks, kneeling so she could see her better. Not that she could. "I'm in love with you, Ryoko. You're what I've always been looking for. You make me happy."

Ryoko covered Itsuki's hands with her own, curling her fingers around them to get them off her face. "You make me happy too. Very happy." Itsuki felt tears welling up in her eyes. "You don't believe me."

"No, I do! I believe you."

"What, do you want me to prove it to you, Ryoko? I love you!"

"Dammit, I said I believe you, for Terra's sakes!" Itsuki shook her head. Even she couldn't believe it. So how could Ryoko? Itsuki was not one to fall in love, but she had fallen for Ryoko. And Ryoko was accepting it so blindly?

"Ryoko… Let's get married. Right now. Tonight."

"Wait, what? What are you talking about?"

"I'm going to prove that I love you!"

"I told you I freaking believe you!"

"But I don't believe it myself. I'm going to prove it to myself. Let's get married, tonight. Right now. Pentakami allows gay couples to marry. Let's do it."

"No." Ryoko pulled Itsuki's hands down to the blankets that pooled between them, holding them there. Itsuki felt a tear track down her face. "We're not going to get married tonight. Not tonight, not now. You're out of your mind if you want to, Itsuki."

"But… I thought you were serious about me? That you… you want to spend the rest of your life with me?"

"I am, and I do. Trust me. But this isn't what we need right now, Itsuki. Especially if you're questioning whether or not I really do love you as much as I do. See, if we were to get married… we would be locking ourselves to this."

Itsuki's eyes widened. "Do… you really think of it like that?"

"Well, marriage kind of seals the deal, right? I just happen to think that a relationship like ours loses meaning after that."

"How so?"

"See, marriage takes a lot of work to get out of. So much work, that it kind of discourages anyone from leaving it. I just… think it means so much more when it is so easy to get out of it, like now. We're just girlfriends. Either one of us could leave it at any time, and it is probably much easier to do so than to stick with it. But even if leaving would be much easier than staying together, we still have this." Ryoko laced her fingers with Itsuki's and held the two of them up between them. "We still both want to work and be together, no matter how hard it is. This can be symbolized by marriage, maybe… but never defined by it. Marriage would only prove it to others. And I don't know about you, but I don't want to ruin this just to prove something to other people. To hell with them."

Tears freely flowed down Itsuki's face, but not because of sadness. Because Ryoko knew exactly how serious they were about each other, even though Itsuki wasn't even sure herself. Letting go of Ryoko's fingers, she threw her arms around Ryoko's neck, pressing her lips against those of her girlfriend. This force pushed Ryoko on her back on the bed, where Itsuki could easily straddle her, sitting on her hips. She bent down, her hair creating a curtain around them. Placing feather kisses around Ryoko's face, she whispered sweetly, "You are so profound sometimes, Ryoko."

Ryoko shrugged, wrapping her arms around Itsuki's waist to pull her closer to her. "I was just saying what I believe. What I think." Itsuki rested her head on Ryoko's pillow, her hand ghosting Ryoko's breasts before coming to rest on Ryoko's side. "And what you think is sometimes what I really need to hear." She smiled, then closed her eyes softly, intending to fall asleep.

Ryoko sighed deeply, the moved a lock of Itsuki's hair away from her face. Sometimes Itsuki could be so insecure. But it was this that really made Ryoko happy. That, after all they had happen between them, she could still say she had this. She squeezed Itsuki tight before letting herself fall into sleep as well.

~*~

Yurika leaned her ear against the door in the kitchen that led to the entertainment room. Surprisingly, the room got very little use, and Itsuki even defined it as a type of ballroom, though it did have bookshelves, a couch, a television and some other assorted chairs and tables. In all the time she had been living at Yamada Manor, she though that the bar even got more use than the entertainment room. But, never the less, there were lights on in there, and she was pretty sure that Gai was the one in there, as Akito, Ryoko, Itsuki, Jun, and Izumi had all gone to bed already, and Ruri and Hikaru were playing Fighting Kanji in the parlor. Besides, she needed to talk to him in the first place. She knocked on the door, hoping she wasn't being a bothering him.

"What are you knocking for?" he shouted, and Yurika blushed. It was overly polite of her to do so. She opened the door to see Gai sitting on the neon green couch, his eyes fixed on something on TV. She walked over and sat next to him, cocking her head at the television. Listening to it, she found that it was some sort of history documentary on religion. Gai shrugged and picked the remote back up. "There's almost nothing on TV tonight. I wanted to veg out, and there's nothing good on." He turned it to another channel. "Any preferences?"

"Huh?" It took Yurika a moment to realize that he thought she had come in to watch television too, as the one in the parlor was being used, and Jun and Izumi were both asleep, so their TVs were almost out of the question. She shook her head, her loose long bangs shaking feverishly. "No, I didn't come in here to watch TV. I actually… wanted to talk to you, Yamada-san."

"uh-oh, this sounds bad." He switched the TV off and turned to listen to her. "What is it?"

"Oh, I… I just wanted to thank you. For letting me come and stay here for so long."

"Knock it off, Misumaru-san. It was no trouble, none at all. It's nice to have guests once in a while, even ones that stay longer than expected. It was nice to have you around."

Yurika blushed again and bit her lip, turning away, embarrassed. "No, I mean… I know I arrived here rather suddenly and without warning… And that it was everyone else's votes that let me stay here, and not yours. I'm just thanking you for letting me stay anyway."

"Hey, I never said half the choices I make are good ones. In fact, I'm glad I was outvoted."

Yurika turned her head quickly to see him again. "Really?"

"Yeah. The others usually can figure out what's best together. That, and it was house business. House business is for all of us to figure out, not just me, even if it is sort in my name."

"But… I thought you would have resented me staying here, been angry, something! After all, I did sort of take Akito away from you…"

"Wait, what? Misumaru-san, that's bull right there. You didn't take him away or even drive him away when we first broke up. I made a mistake, and that was how I was to pay for it, with our breakup. My mistake, not you. In fact, you and him going out gave me a little time to think things over, you know?" Gai stood up, shoving his hands into his pockets. He watched the floor not move for a bit, and didn't speak for so long that Yurika was about to say something or leave, but then his voice came back. "You see, Junny is trying so hard to not make the same mistakes as last time when you two were engaged. To learn from those mistakes. I think… I think I've been trying to do the same thing with Akito. But… it's not the same. I don't think it ever will be."

Yurika frowned, feeling a little sad for Gai and a little mad at Akito. "I'm sorry, Yamada-san. I… I didn't mean to bring up any bad feelings. Make you sad."

"No, it's all right. I've been thinking about this sort of thing for a while anyway."

"Well, if you say it's okay… But I still wish I could do something in return for your hospitality to me."

"Oh, you are, and you will be for a while, I expect."

"What do you mean?" Gai looked at her, and smiled his little half grin that Yurika knew used to make Akito melt. It just made Yurika want to smile too. "You're making Junny a very happy person. He hasn't been happy in ages. As long as he's happy, I don't think debts or anything matter, do you? Especially since staying here is what made you two become so close and all…"

Yurika's smile grew big and she jumped up from the couch, trapping Gai in a hug that pinned his arms to his sides. She squeezed very tight, shocking for someone her size, and nodded. "Thank you so much, so very, very much… Gai-san." At the use of his nickname, Gai blinked, a little shocked. Then he smiled too, hugging her back as he worked his arms out from under hers. "You're very welcome, Rika-chan. Anytime."

~*~

Rumiko pushed his glasses up his nose as he glanced over the latest reports from those investigating Mythos's murder. It appeared that they had found proof that it was only two Jumps, but when they had happened was still a mystery. Another important fact was that they found it was not just one person in the Jump, but rather two. Who they were, other than at least one Jumper, was also still a mystery. But still, it was a breakthrough that Rumiko had not expected from the mail carrier that afternoon. He found himself smiling a little in satisfaction as he closed the report. He didn't get to place it back in it's envelope, however, before the large doors leading into the palace opened, a slim figure in a long black cloak walking into the throne room. Rumiko narrowed his eyes, not knowing who it was until the figure pulled the hood off her head, showing a long cascade of purple hair laced with ribbons, flowers, and beads. She pulled her hair out as she waved to him, nodding to the guardsmen to close the door once again. She walked toward the chairs in the room, one of the more decorated among them, and unbuttoned the black cloak, throwing it upon it nonchalantly.

Rumiko half-lidded his eyes, looking over her apparel. "Megan, don't you think that it is somewhat inappropriate for someone of your stature to be wearing such commonplace clothing?"

Megumi looked at him, confused, then looked down at herself, holding her shirt out so she could see what was on it, as if she couldn't remember what she was wearing. She was wearing her old Nergal off-duty shirt, a blue mini-skirt, and a pair of sandals. Her hair had been done up before she had gotten dressed by her maid, but she chosen something of her own to wear other than her big, puffy white dress. She shook her head though, holding it up to see him again and letting go of her shirt. "Well, you are always paranoid about people coming up to me."

"That's what the cloak is for."

"Yeah, I wore it though. Rumiko, it is extremely hot outside, and I think I should be able to choose what I want to wear. Besides," she smiled at him evilly, full of intent, "I am a common girl after all, taken in by the illustrious emperor of Ninlan. I cannot become used to this sort of lifestyle overnight."

"Not now, Meg. I'm busy." Megumi rolled her eyes and gathered up her black cloak, intending to either hang it up herself or find someone else to do so. "And I was just escorting Igadosu to the train station so he could go home. No big deal… Except that you didn't come along, like you really should have."

"I was busy." Rumiko picked the report up and began to put it back in the envelope it came in.

"Doing what?"

"I got another update on the investigation. They found out there were two people, and only two Jumps. At least one of them was a Jumper, of course, but they don't know who they were or when the Jumps came from or went to."

"Gods above, Rumiko, you're obsessed! Why can't you just let those people do their job and get on with your life?"

Rumiko watched his wife suddenly paced, incredulous. "Aren't you? You held Mythos is high esteem, just as I."

"Yes, of course, and I miss him, but I try not to let it rule ever waking moment of my life. I mean, look at you! It's pushing everything else out of your head. Look, you've done what you could, Rumiko. You've given them more than enough information, and I'm sure they'll figure it out soon enough. But you've got to move on, Rumiko. Your people…" Megumi shook her head and pulled a newspaper out of one of the pockets in the black cloak still in her arms. "Your people are starting to wonder if you care more about yourself them you do your own empire." She walked up to his throne and dropped it into his lap, going behind it to reread it over his shoulder. Rumiko held it up so he could see the headline, not that he couldn't before.

"Lennon Rebellion: Pentakami Rule Too Much for Citizens?" Rumiko's jaw dropped. He never knew anything about anyone having problem with his or the church's rule of the planet until Igadosu had planted the seeds of the idea the other day while playing Neptune 's Victory. Could it possibly have been that he knew about this?

Rumiko scanned the article quickly. Lennon was a tourist city in the middle of the Cendivo continent, to the Northeast of Carmina. It also had two towns there were very, very close to it, close enough to even be considered the same town. East Lennon specialized in mining various resources, while South Lennon was more for the gamblers and criminals, with one of the highest crime rates in the nation. But it was also mostly populated by non-Jumpers. According to the article, they resented the Pentakami rule of the entire planet, stating that no religion should have such complete control of a nation. They desired to break away from the Empire, create their own government and be their own nation.

Rumiko let the newspaper fall back onto his lap. He stared off into the wood of the floor as Metallo, the little puppy they had received as a wedding gift from the former Nadesico captain and pilots, bounded across it, skidding to a halt as he realized that Megumi, the one that accepted responsibility for his needs, was over by the scary man and his chair. He ran over to behind the throne for a good scratch. Rumiko didn't watch this lightly though. He suddenly had the weight of a thousand men on his shoulders. Instead, Megumi spoke as she bent down to pick the little dog up.

"You've been so focused on finding out what happened you've been neglecting your duties. All I've been able to tell reporters is that you have no comment." Rumiko looked behind his chair and glared at her, turning in his seat. "Well, you could have said something on your own, you know! You are the Empress of Ninlan."

"You and I both know that the people won't accept something like that from me, someone from another nation, and another planet, for that matter. They could easily just say I married into power, and that wouldn't exactly go well with them either if I have this little dictation session where I made statements about stuff like this. They need your word on this, as emperor. You were the one born and raised here, the one chosen by the Gods to rule. But now people are starting to think that the Gods really are just clouds of retrospect particles, no matter what we know about them or not. They are ready to refute your position of power on that notion. You've got to prove that you can actually be a leader, that you will be their emperor in times of need, not just the head of some church. You've got to come up with your own view of this, whether I say it publicly for you or not. Besides, I'm your public relations advisor before I am Empress, and I'm telling you that you will take control of this situation."

Rumiko crossed his arms and bowed his head, thinking hard on the problem. But he didn't have any sort of idea what to do to fix this. "So what do you suggest I do?"

Megumi smiled, knowing she had finally gotten through to her husband. She set Metallo down on the floor, patting his rear to get him to get going somewhere. Obedient, or perhaps in search of some toy, he walked out of the room, wagging his little fuzzy tail. She walked around to her own throne, sitting and balancing her body on one of the arms. "Let me give you a quick Earth History lesson. The War for Lunar Autonomy started two years after the Lunar Republic began seeking independence from Earth. The Moon was attacked, and the survivors of the battles that followed moved to Mars, where they set up a complete colony. Two years later, the colony was destroyed by nuclear warheads sent from Earth to finally silence them for good. The survivors of THAT attack moved on to Jupiter, her satellites, and the nearest asteroids in the asteroid belt to the planet. They found an old factory there, one capable of creating unmanned weapons, from the Ancient Jupiterian Empire. That, a hundred years later, leads the good people of Earth, that knew nothing of the War for Lunar Autonomy mind you, into the Lizard War, the war with Jupiter that eventually led to great amounts of death and destruction for something that happened a hundred years prior." She let herself fall backward into her seat, her legs dangling over the arm. "The lesson in this is obvious, I would think. A little bit of cooperation with some individuals' ideals and desires for independence would have saved everyone a whole lot of anguish and problems. And what does this apply to now?" She twisted in her seat so that she was facing forward in her own throne, fixing her skirt so she wasn't flashing anyone. "You should allow Lennon, and maybe even all of Cendivo, to have independence and separate from the Ninlandish Empire."

"But wouldn't that lessen our own government's impact and power if we just let anyone run off as they please?"

"Logically, yes. Theoretically, however, it proves that your rule is the most prone to allowing freedom of all peoples, even those that disagree with you. Even if your entire basis of power is based on the establishment of a certain religion, you could easily turn it to your favor and say that Pentakami teaches tolerance for all people and ideas, no matter what. You could easily say that it inspired your decision to allow Cendivo to separate from the Empire's rule. The people will have a better understanding of how you run the place and more trust in you as their emperor, if you refuse to impede on freedoms like that. Hell, Rumiko, they might not even separate at all if you say that."

"But what about those idiots that think basing a government on a religion is a bad idea? Those that think the Gods are, as you say, 'just clouds of retrospect particles'?"

"Actually, that was going to be my thing. I have that covered myself. I was going to be your little public speaker again anyway, with you just kind of hanging around and adding little things in as usual, anyway. I can just say that the Pentakami Church part is all on you. Then I can give a quick little lesson, like I just gave you. I would say that we would give Cendivo its independence as it is a human right, not something the Empire will ever deny its people. That, and it would also prevent conflict in this wonderful time of peace. And I do think that I know how precious peace is, don't you think?"

Rumiko stayed silent as his wife glanced in his direction. He opened his eyes however, and let his arms fall slack. "Meg, you are a genius."

"Yes, I know. That's why I handle public relations and speaking. But you being obsessed with Mythos's death…" She shook her head and wrapped her arms around herself, looking away. "I accepted your offer to be married because I love you, not because I wanted any type of political power. I… I want to spend the rest of my life with you. But…" She shook her head again and turned back to him, looking positively saddened by the thought, "If you're going to be so focused on other things and not your duties and responsibilities… not even thinking about me..." She looked down, almost as if she was too ashamed of him to look at him. "I'm just wondering why I married you, the person I'm so in love with, if you don't love me and you are so easily distracted from me and… and your goal for the planet. Advancing Ninlan to the level of Earth and Jupiter, remember? And… if your desire for answers regarding Mythos's murder is causing you to neglect what was important in the first place…" A tear tracked down Megumi's cheek, and fell onto the floor. She turned away, embarrassed.

Rumiko frowned, yet stood, kneeling before Megumi's throne and taking her hands in his. "Megan, I don't want to fail Mythos. You know that. But… I don't want to fail my empire, or my empress, either. Mythos did marry us. But… I cannot ignore the fact that I had been deceived."

"I know. I was tricked too, you know? But…" She looked up, showing that that lone tear really was as alone as it seemed, "the answers will come out in time. The authorities will find the answers soon enough. After all, you are the emperor, and you should let people do some of these types of things for you, sometimes. And when it comes to finding Mythos's murderer… This is one of those times."

"Megan, I'm so sorry."

"It is all right. You had to learn this eventually. I had to learn it for myself when I first came here with you. I'm just glad I could walk you through it." She pulled their hands up to her cheek, rubbing her cheek on them like a cat.

Rumiko shook his head, his own cheeks bursting in flame, ashamed of himself. "Will I ever be forgiven, Meg?"

"I don't know. That is something you'll have to take up with Magus… and the people of Ninlan."

~*~

Ryoko ran her hand through her green-and-black bangs, trying to wipe the sweat away. It was a small gesture toward fatigue, one that was quickly refuted as she landed a quick roundhouse kick at the poor and innocent punching bag she usually assaulted. A couple of hops before she punched it from the bottom up, then, with light feet, padded away from it and to another side. She had no real idea what she was doing. She just knew that it was going to die at her hands as fast as she could possibly do it. It was a human, not a bag in her clouded blue eyes. It got rid of her constant worry of knocking it down, and made it more efficient for real-life situations. She was Head of Security at Mugendai for a reason.

But it also meant that her senses were at an all time high, listening and feeling for anyone, anything that could possibly be sneaking up on her. Which is how she could hear the steps in the parlor of someone that was not in there to begin with. Someone walking into that room conjoined to the gym. She stopped the swinging bag to quiet the chains rubbing together. Yes, someone was definitely walking into the parlor and towards the room she was in. She quickly ran over to hide on the other side of the door, so anyone coming it would have to answer to her first. She heard a hand wrap around the doorknob, and watched it jiggle then turn, the world running much slower than her mind. As soon as the door actually opened, though, she reached out with tight, wound-up precision, her taped-up hand closed around the intruder's throat and pushing them against the door they had just opened and entered. Ryoko held her eyes closed for a moment after this, smiling at her success. But once she opened her eyes, she made a face and let go immediately.

"Junny, what the hell are you doing? Knock next time, shit! I could have killed you, and then Yurika would have to murder me in my sleep…"

Jun touched his throat with his own hands and coughed, glad to realize that it was still there. "Just what the hell was that for?!?"

"Well, I didn't know it was YOU! I thought it was Hikaru! She's been bugging me all morning to play Lovey-Dovey Hard-Boiled Battle with her, and I didn't come home early today to play video games, I came home to work off some anger." Ryoko walked back over to the gray punching bag and hit it once more, but realized that her adrenaline high had left her and she just didn't feel like it anymore. She sighed, unwrapped the tape from her hands and stretching her fingers out. Then she reached up to the back of her head and pulled the hair-tie holding her small ponytail still out.

Jun sat down on one of the few chairs in the room. "Flamma, Ryoko, your hair's getting pretty long. You planning to grow it out?" Ryoko turned and glared at him. "Do I look like a girly-girl to you? No, I'm just waiting until the green grows away before I cut it to my normal length." She grabbed her own chair and pulled it over next to her stepbrother's. "But I'm sure you didn't just risk both of our lives to talk about my hair." She sat down in it, uncapping a water bottle and taking a long drink from it, showing yet another sign of fatigue.

Jun looked away, a little embarrassed. "No, I didn't." Ryoko smirked and recapped the bottle. "Surprise, surprise."

"Well… I was just worried. We don't have times to bond anymore, you know, brother and sister that we are. I just wanted to make sure that… we're okay."

"Ah, I see. You want to make sure your wedding plans go as expected. Don't try mind games, Junny. I may lack a certain sense of femininity, but I am still a woman." At Jun's blush, Ryoko laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "Of course we're okay, Junny. I never would have accepted Yurika's offer to be her Maiden Assist if we weren't, you know. After all," she crossed her arms behind her head and leaned back, "it's like I'm both Assist at once, you know? Yurika's asked me to publicly give my consent for one of my best friends to marry my older stepbrother. Yeah, I'd think it's obvious I'm ready to smooch with whoever you throw at me as your own Assist."

Jun laughed, covering his mouth with a hand politely. "Oh, then you might sense the sweet irony in my choice."

"Oh, you already made it? Who is it? Bring it on."

"Akito."

Ryoko sat up, coming out of her relaxed position, giving Jun a look of horror. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me, Jun." When Jun shook his head with a smile, Ryoko covered her face, which was growing redder by the second, with her hands. "Good God of Earth, you are the most sadistic man in the world! And I just told him a couple days ago that I could have seen the two of us fucking had the circumstances been different. Terra, Yamada will skin me alive!"

"Oh, don't give me that. Gai's a remarkably good sport. As long as you don't actually have sex with Akito, I would say you're out of the frying pan with him and Itsuki. Besides, if anyone is going to get in trouble, it's me! I'm the one setting up all this trouble for myself, anyhow."

"What makes you think so?"

"Well, look at it like this. Akito once had a thing for both Yurika and you at one point. He now currently has a thing for me, if I'm not mistaken."

"Wait, how did you find out about that? I mean, you know?!?"

"I'm insulted, Ryoko. You think me so dumb? It's as clear as the nose on my face." Jun touched his nose, indicating that the expression was used well, as he knew very clearly where it was.

"But how did you figure it out? It's been taking the rest of us lots of work to determine whether he did or not!"

Jun turned away again, his amused smile falling down. "well… let's just say that there have been some more… tender moments we've shared where he wouldn't have flirted with me if he was just joking around, that he only would have done so in if he really felt something for me."

"Terra, Jun. Your whole wedding ceremony is looking to turn into some preempted, bad talk show that features hardcore wrestling. Hell, at this point, it looks like I'll have to hold Akito down on the ground and kiss him to make him give consent! Junny, why couldn't you have just picked Izumi for your Maiden Assist? Avoid all this inevitable drama?"

"Because I want there to be drama. I want all of us to get over as soon as possible. I want to get all of the issues and stuff out of the way. I want this wedding… when Yurika and I finally get married… I want it to be the beginning of a new life for me, for us. I want to rid all of our pasts together of bad things like this, so that I can look back and not worry about how things could have been different. Besides, things may even blow over before we actually have it. We're waiting until at least November. Things can change a lot before then."

"In five months? Shit, the whole world could stand on its head by then. But I see what you're saying. I mean, you do have a right to pick your own best friend for this thing. Yurika picked hers, though I don't see where she thinks I'm her best friend, but whatever."

"But the point of all this was… After knowing all of this, will you still do it? I mean, Yurika just might kill me if you say no, but I really wanted you to be informed in your choice. Besides… I hate to say it, but Yurika just isn't one of us. She doesn't seem to realize that something like this can cause unfixable problems among us."

"No, she probably doesn't understand that, that knowing stuff like this is important. She doesn't get all of our bonds, otherwise she would be in on it herself. But hey. I'll still do it. I don't care if I have to lay him out on the floor and knock him unconscious. I will kiss Akito, I will be Yurika's Assist, and I will give my consent. You and Yurika will get married if it's the last thing I ever do. I mean, you've been in love with her for ages, and if marrying her will make you happy, so be it. Hey, our parents may suck, but I got some familial instincts. I can help my big brother out if it helps him."

Jun's smile returned, and he held his arms out for Ryoko to hug him. "Thanks, Ryoko." Ryoko got up, groaning, and bent down to his him a little awkward hug. "It's no trouble for me." She ruffled his hair. "I love ya, after all, even if it's only been in the past five months that we realized that we really were legally siblings."

Jun's smile fell again as he realized what Ryoko meant. "Five months… Ryoko, what if Yurika doesn't want to marry me after that time goes by?"

"She will, don't panic. She's the one that proposed, after all. And this time… she loves you. Not just as a best friend, either. She's serious about you guys this time."

Jun nodded. "You're right, Ryoko. I can't thank you enough. And I love you too. I wish I got to you before Yurika when I was looking for an Assist."

"No you don't, you loser. You love all this trouble you're causing for everyone."

Jun grinned. "Yes, yes I do."

"And you suck." Jun giggled a little bit. "Yes, yes I do."

"Holy shit, Junny. I didn't need to know THAT particular gem of information, thanks."

"What? What's the matter? Being submissive is my nature, Ryoko, you should know that. Don't you even know that I'm taking up Yurika's name when we get hitched?"

"Dear Gods, you're sacrificing everything for her!"

Jun nodded, relaxing into his own chair and looking up at the ceiling. "As it should be," he whispered, closing his eyes and smiling. "As it should be."

~*~

Hikaru wasn't even awake yet, and Ruri was even in their shower, it was so early. Yet Izumi came in anyway, covering the phone receiver she carried. In her other hand would be Hikaru's demise. With a quick push of the button on the top of the little bottle in her other hand, a deafening honk roared out of the small horn attached to it. Hikaru jumped sky high, and had it not been for her sudden anger at Izumi, the yellow lines that had suddenly covered her body probably would have taken her somewhere that wasn't there, whether it was the past, the future, to Ninlan or even just downstairs. But the lines faded quickly and Hikaru screamed at the top of her lungs, "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT FOR, IZUMI?!?" Those that could actually hear it over Hikaru's screaming and the sound of water in the bathroom would be treated to a small voice saying quite plainly, "Hontou, baka baka," as was characteristic of the one that said it.

Izumi was not fazed by Hikaru's outburst, only blinked her visible eye. Then she set the foghorn down on the nightstand separating Hikaru and Ruri's beds and dropped the cordless phone onto Hikaru's lap. "Phone for you." With that, Izumi spun on her heel and left the room, intending on getting a drink before she, Yurika, and Akito had to leave.

Hikaru yawned and, rubbing her eyes, picked up the phone and put it to her ear, mustering up enough energy to mumble, "Moshi-moshi, Amano Hikaru speaking," before yawning again. A glance at the clock proved that it was four in the morning. Four in the morning? Who could possibly be calling for her at four in the morning? Her editors didn't even think about coming into their workplaces until nine!

"I'm sorry I woke you up, Hikaru. Forgive me?" Hikaru's groggy expression brightened immediately at the sound of the person's voice on the other end. "Yes, but only because it's you, Uri-P. What's up? Why're you calling so damnably early, though?"

"I've been meaning to call you for a couple days, but I get so freaking busy in the evenings that I just tend to forget. I figure that if I called you in the morning, I would actually get around to it."

"Sounds good… just don't make it a common practice thing, okay?"

"No problem. And me? The usual. Slave-driving housemates of yours got me working. What's up with you?"

"Oh, Ruri's come to stay with us, but you knew that, I guess… I've just been hanging with her a lot lately. Nothing else better to do. I suppose I should really follow Jun's example and eventually get a real job, but you know me… I'm lazy. Oh, did you hear that Jun and Yurika are going to get married?"

"That rumor did reach my eager ears, yes."

"I think it's the sweetest thing ever." Hikaru fell back so that she was lying down on her bed again. "So, obviously you had a reason for calling in the first place, or you wouldn't have risked calling so early. Proposing to take me somewhere?"

"Yeah, actually, but no where really fun. My crappy furniture is depressing me, especially when I can easily go get new stuff. So this Sunday, you wanna go look for new furniture with me?"

"Sure, not like I have anything else to do. Oh, hey, can Yurika and Jun come with? They're looking into moving out into their own place, and they will need something to sit on and eat off of."

"Sure, I have no problem with that. Is seven-thirty okay?"

"In the morning? I suppose I could arrange it. I'll hate you forever, but I suppose I could work it all out with them."

"So, you said Jun and Yurika are going to move out? I didn't know that. How is that? I mean, I know you guys were close and all…"

Hikaru frowned, rolled onto her stomach, and propped her head up with a hand. "I don't know. It does make me at least sort of sad. It made me sad when Yurika stopped living in my room and started raping Junny in his sleep. But I think it might make me sadder when they aren't here. I mean… Yurika's made her self fit in best she could, though she isn't really with them all the time. But Jun… he's been living with us since we got off the ship, you know? And we made plans to live together before the ship even landed. I don't know, it just… feels like I'm losing a friend. I know we never planned to live here forever, but it feels like I'm losing a friend, not just a housemate. But, over the past few months, it's almost meant the same thing, you know?" Hikaru bit her lip and noticed that Uribatake was being very quiet. She went over her last words and swore to herself. "Oh, dammit. Uri-P, that's not what I meant…"

"No, don't worry, I understand. All those guys in your house, you're much closer to them. Some sort of connection you guys have… I can't explain it or describe it. But it's a connection I don't think we'll ever have, and I don't know why. I don't know… maybe it's a Jumper thing and I wouldn't understand or something."

Hikaru frowned deeper. "Seiya… are you okay?" She knew that she probably had just given him a shock, using his real name, but she felt it was necessary, that a childish nickname wasn't called for here. He sounded depressed, like he really did want in on that connection, but he never really would get in on it.

"Hikaru, I've got to admit it. You're so much closer to them and I'm jealous. I want to be close to you because I really do like you. I have for a while. But you knew that. It's just… I know you don't like me to the same extent."

"Hey now, I wouldn't say that so quickly! I really like you too! I'm just… ashamed. You see, I haven't been completely honest with you. I mean, um, I haven't told you everything."

"That doesn't matter. You've told me that you're a compulsive liar before. But I knew that before you told me. And I can see the truth hidden in those fibs of yours. It's not like I resent them or anything. I told you, I like you a lot. And I know that chronic lying is something you're just not going to give up. It's part of you, who you are. And I'm not going to ask you to stop on my count. Liking you means accepting everything about you."

Hikaru knit her eyebrows and stared into the wood of her headboard. "So… what are you saying, Seiya. Are you… asking me out?"

"If you want to call it that, sure."

"Well, this was an interesting thing to get foghorned awake to." Hikaru rolled onto her back, resting her free hand on her forehead. "I suppose I could be evil and say no… but I don't feel up to evil today." She grinned, going against her statement. "So, sure. Let's be going out. Why the hell not? Besides, being your girlfriend would be fun. We can talk about models and comics and all sorts of crazy things like that a be generally geeky like that! It'll be great!"

"You think so?"

"Yep! Thanks for asking Uri-P, or should I say, 'lovely little boyfriend-poo'?" She sat up, a shit-eating grin plastered to her face.

"Uh… no, you shouldn't say that."

"Bah, you suck. But yay! Hikaru is no longer single! Hugs!"

"You'll get lots of them on Sunday, you brat!"

"Yay! I'm a brat!"

"Good Lord, Hikaru, you're such a cute little kid."

"Makes you feel like you're cradle-robbin' now, doesn't it?"

"Surprisingly, yes. I'm glad you hate the smell of alcohol, or I could have a real demon on my hands."

"Oh, stop." Hikaru pulled the blankets away from her body, and just as she was slipping her feet into her slippers, the bathroom door opened to a fully-dressed Ruri carrying her laundry. "Oh, my turn already?"

"Yes," said the stoic girl, not being able to bite back a smile.

"Oh, well, Uri-P, I'd hate to cut this chat close, but the shower has now been opened up for me. I'll see you on Sunday."

"See you too." Hikaru hung up the phone and set it on the nightstand. "Ruri, it looks like you're the only single one left in this house. I just hooked up with Uri-P!"

"I know. I could hear you. Bragging will do no good, as I believe everyone in Kawasaki heard you."

"You suck, Ruri. Okay, what to wear, what to wear…"

~*~

Itsuki sighed as she finally made it all the way up the stairs, feeling very tired indeed. Ryoko had already headed off, along with most of the rest of the house. Thus, the entire house was fairly dark, including the upstairs hall, save for the usual striking light coming out of Hikaru's room along with the strings of music that trickled out of the room before Ruri had finally made Hikaru head off to sleep. But this time there was someone obscuring the light by leaving the room and closing the door. Itsuki noticed that it wasn't Hikaru, the person being several inches shorter than she would have been had she been the redhead. No, definitely not Hikaru. The hair was longer and, in the light that did escape the door, much lighter. Itsuki squinted into the darkness, and, realizing it was Ruri, turned the light on in the hallway, probably to the anger of more than one housemate. "Ruri? What're you doing out here? Getting something to drink?"

"No, in fact, I came to talk to you." Itsuki's mind reels. What could Ruri possibly have to talk to her about? Then she remembered that Gai had a conversation similar to this one a couple days ago with Yurika. "Oh, I see. Look, don't worry about thanking us for letting you stay here…"

"No, that's not what I came out here to say. I am grateful for your hospitality and generosity, but I came out here to tell you that I will be going back home tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? Damn, Ruri, you do love throwing plans for a loop, don't you?" Ruri knit her eyebrows in confusion. "What do you mean? I plan on going to the Kawasaki Jump Shuttle Station myself."

"Are you nuts? What, you think after staying here for two weeks, we'd let you go back to the station alone? By yourself? With no one to wave goodbye to you? Preposterous." At Ruri's frown, Itsuki looked at her as if she had just said that the world was actually just a stack of gooey pancakes. "Unless… you have something against us? Is that why you're leaving, and planning on going alone? Do you think we're sick of having you here or something? You're welcome to stay here as long as you please, you know…"

"No, it has nothing to do with you, any of you. I have my reasons for leaving."

"Like? Name me one."

"Well… the last time I talked to my brother, he informed me that he brought Rachiku over to our side when it comes to what separates and divides our house. Rachiku has been the worst of our brothers when it came to siding with my mother, and if Ariko is successful in switching Rachiku over to us, the lines may swing totally in our favor."

Itsuki clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth. "You know, Ruri, the politics in your house are truly disgusting. Why can't you all get along?"

"That is our point entirely."

"But that's it? Some progress for tolerance in your family and you're heading back already? I don't think I'm quite convinced that it isn't us that is driving you away."

"I need to go back."

"Why?"

"Well… I think… you'll understand in a few years, Kazamo-san. It's about Omoikane. I need to go back… back to him."

"Ooooh, I see now."

"Yes. Tenkawa-san made it clear to me exactly why I have been longing for Omoikane's presence while I have resided here." Itsuki nodded. "I understand." Ruri shook her head. "No, I don't think you do. I have had near-constant connection with Omoikane for nine years. After that extended amount of time, you either hate the person to death, or you become very, very attached to them."

Itsuki looked over the young girl in from of her. Despite being only fourteen, Ruri seemed to have the maturity of even Inez at that moment. She knew what it was like to never leave someone. Most people didn't learn that until several years of marriage. "Don't say anymore, Ruri. I know what you're talking about. It's cute. Absolutely adorable. And I am willing to let you go home, for the sake of electronic love."

Ruri bowed her head and began to blush. "Please stop, Kazamo-san." Itsuki bent at her knees to see Ruri's face, which she quickly turned away. "Wow, I've never seen you blush before, Ruri. I do wonder what it means, don't you?" Ruri's cheeks grew hotter, and she squeezed her eyes shut at Itsuki's teasing. "I mean, Good God of Spirit, you didn't even blush when Yurika was running around the house gloating about having sex with Junny."

"I've become used to it now. After being on the Nadesico and staying here, it is required to become used to the subject."

Itsuki laughed and stood back up. "Hanging around Hikaru didn't help it all, did it?"

"No, it didn't." Itsuki shrugged. "Well, at the very least, it's nice to know that it wasn't our rather… questionable conversational topics that is sending you home."

"No. In fact, I think I will miss them."

"You know, you can always come back and visit any time you want."

"I know. Thank you. I appreciate it. Everything you've done for me as well."

"Aw, come here." Itsuki knelt down and hugged the Electronic Fairy. "It's only because we love you so. Everyone on the ship did and still does." Itsuki felt hotness on Ruri's cheeks, and she knew she was blushing again. "Kazamo-san, please don't give me an inflated ego. I am just a teenage girl."

"Yes, yes, but you're still our little Ruri, you know. And I'll miss you, and so will everyone else." She glanced at her watch and realized that it was already after ten. "But you better head off to bed, especially if you want to get up early so you can beat the shuttle rush at the station."

"Yes. Good night, Kazamo-san."

"Good night, Ruri-chan."

~*~

Yurika blinked her eyes slowly open as she realized that nothing had woken up her up save for herself. A glance at the clock showed that it was nearly seven in the morning. Probably a good time to get up. She looked up as she squeezed her living teddy bear; Jun was so cute when he was sleeping. Like he didn't have a care in the world, and also like nothing would make him happy. She closed her eyes and wiggled her right-hand fingers a bit, letting herself fall into his dream, the way he usual woke up.

She found herself in a car with some other, much older woman holding Jun's eyes closed. The car was screaming away from some store, and the woman was screaming herself. "Come on, Jun! You have to drive away from Grandma Michael! And if you don't stop hitting things, I'm going to kill you!" Yurika frowned, then climbed into the shotgun seat as Jun turned the wheel wildly, looking absolutely clueless. With a giggle, she placed her mouth close to his ear and whispered. "Wake up, sweetie."

She reopened her eyes and Jun woke up with a start. She smiled and tickled his chin. He was breathing heavy, as if he had run a marathon, or as if he was trying to not crash a car or piss off too many women at once. "What time is it?"

"Almost seven. And Saturday. No work today." She rested her head on his chest and smiled up at him, her fingers playing along his neck. Then she grabbed a cheek and pulled it before sitting up, fixing the straps of her short, white, silk nightgown. "I'm going to check everyone's plans today." Yurika closed her eyes and the next thing she knew, she was scanning each of the task-lists in the minds of all her housemates. It seemed generally clear… until she reached Itsuki's. Number one: Take Ruri to Jump Shuttle Station. 'What?!?' With a quick run of Ruri's, she realized it was true. Number one: Check luggage. Number two: Take Jump Shuttle from Kawasaki to Peaceland.

Yurika leapt out of bed, running over to the dresser to pull some of her clothes out. Jun, sitting up and rubbing his eyes and face groggily, watched her with squinted eyes. "what the hell are you rushing around for?"

"Come on, Junny, get out of bed!"

"But you said its Saturday…"

"But Ruri is going home today!" Yurika glanced at her fiancé, and, noticing he still didn't understand, bombarded Jun with the visuals of the task-lists she just looked over. Jun shook his head, finally coming to as he too got out of bed, albeit more slowly. "Okay, I got it, I got it. But it's still Saturday. What's the huge rush?"

"Because, Jun, I don't know when they're leaving, and I, for one, don't want to be left behind!" Yurika shook her head as she took off her nightgown, reaching for her white tank top. "I don't think you get it, Junny. Ruri is my friend, even if she is nine years younger than me." Once the tank top was on, Yurika began pulling on her blue jeans. "Ruri… inspired me to fantasize about my future you know… even when it wasn't so clear."

"How so?" Jun started to look in his closet for something to wear, but not rushing around like Yurika was. Yurika frowned as she picked up the orange and yellow sweater she chose, and bit her lip as she pulled it on over her head. "I… I kind of feel bad about telling you this, but I once dreamed of marrying Akito and adopting Ruri for our daughter. I was… a very nice dream, though short-lived. It was something I really wanted to do. But I guess the would isn't ideal." At seeing Jun's shoulders become slumped, she felt guilty. "Oh, don't get me wrong, Junny. I still love you and I'm really happy that we're getting married. Things were just… different during the war, and fantasies were all I had then. You understand, right?"

Jun nodded slowly. He reached out for his Nergal off-duty shirt, throwing it on their messy bed. "So… what do you dream about now?" Yurika smiled, a little embarrassed. "Well… I dream about marrying you, obviously. But… we're living out on our own, too. I see myself doing all sorts of things… being a waitress at Peaceful Days, being a Jump Shuttle Jumper, even teaching magic! I do have pretty good control now, don't you think?"

"For throwing it around like crazy, yeah."

"Oh, knock it off. And you… you're a song writer for a successful band. We have one kid, but only one, and we would spoil him or her to death, but still have him or her study like we did when we were in school."

Jun nodded, smiling himself. "It is a rather nice dream." Yurika nodded, but frowned. That was what Yurika dreamed, but what did Junny fantasize about? She opened her mouth to ask, but she was quickly interrupted by a ringing phone. Jun, who was halfway through pulling his pants on, stumbled and reached for the phone. He finally picked it up and fell on the bed, lying on it with his pants half-on. "Moshi-moshi, Yamada-Kazamo residence, Aoi Jun speaking."

Jun was quiet, listening to the other end. Yurika sat down on the edge of their bed, watching his face concerned. His face went from slightly annoyed to in shocked, his jaw falling slack. "Oh my… Thank you, thank you so much! Ye-yes, we'll be in today to sign! This afternoon? All right, we'll be there. Thank you so much!" He turned the phone off and grinned at Yurika. "We got the house in Tokyo ."

Yurika shrieked, and Jun winced at the noise. But then she kissed him upside down, full on the mouth. She then jumped up and down in joy. Jun rolled onto his side and finished pulling his pants up, looking genuinely happy. Yurika hugs him once he had his pants on. While he attempted to finish getting dressed, Yurika began brushing her hair, smiling like she would not stop doing so.

"Jun, what do you see in our future? What do you dream of?" Jun looked at her as he pulled his shirt on, and shook his head. "I'm already happy. I'm engaged to the woman I love, and now, thanks to that phone call, we'll soon be living together, just us."

Yurika frowned, her smile finally dissipating. "You don't ask for much." Jun shook his head, smiling still. "I've learned not to. Last time we were engaged, I asked for too much, and I ended up getting nothing. But now that I'm not asking for anything more than I need, look. We're getting so much more. Everything, even." Yurika's smile came back and she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Yes. Everything and more. Finally."

~*~

TBC…

~*~

A/N: I was kind of shocked that this went so quick, yet for so long. I doubt another chapter will come so quickly, but we ARE getting closer to the turning point, where it all goes wacky for everyone. Keep an eye out. And keep yourself aware of everything. Hints are everywhere. But it will be a while… APs are the devil. Tell me about your anticipation, though, eh? ^^ Toodles.