As they traversed on in India, following the defeat of Birch Small and ROZ, back in Egypt, Enya was shocked, hearing ROZ's screams, leading to her death. Enya shivered and struggled, "No… MY DAUGHTER! MY PRECIOUS GIRL HAS BEEN MURDERED!"

She bawled, as she sensed, "I can sense the grim misfortune that befell her… THE BOND BETWEEN MOTHER AND DAUGHTER HAS SPOKEN!"

Her face started to let out puncture wounds, and leaked out blood. She screamed in pain and torment, "MY PRECIOUS BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL! YOU DIE, LEAVING ME WITH YOUR WOUNDS COVERING ME, LIKE THIS?"

She yelled, "THOSE BASTARDS! I CAN FEEL IT! I CAN FEEL THE SAME FATE THAT YOU FELT! YOU WERE UTTERLY MAGINIFICANT AS YOU FOUGHT BY YOUR LORD MIO, MY DARLING ROZALYN!"

She griped, as she was on the ground, saddened and angry, "HOW? HOW DID THEY DO IT? TO KILL SUCH A NOBLE AND PURE SOUL, LIKE YOU? THEY MUST'VE DONE SOMETHING UNDERHANDED!"

She bawled and wept, scratching the ground. Her body shout out blood, as she shrieked, running off, "THE BASTARDS! DAMN THEM! I WILL SEE TO IT THAT THE LOVERS, THE EMPRESS, AND THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE WILL BOUND TO THEIR BODIES, AND BLED OUT INTO NOTHING! THEY'RE GOING TO REGRET THE DAY THEY WERE BORN! ALL OF THEM!"

She roared, "I WON'T STAND FOR IT! This is a time of action! A time of vengeance! And a Stand that will bring out slow death!"

She wailed, running off, screaming in agony and pain.

She shrieked, "I SHALL KILL THEM ALL! YAAAAAAAAAAAH, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Episode XXVIII – Chapter 3: The Empress!
OH, NO! Michelle's a Victim of Murder?!

Team Nevins is now moving onwards, leaving Kolkata, and heading to the peaceful Varanasi.

Yamabuki complained, as they were on a bus, "Listen, I don't normally complain, but stupid people are a bunch. You know your type, lady, but there's no helping the poor souls."

She was complaining to the woman that they tagged along with, back in Kolkata, who used to side with Birch, who escaped Team Nevins's punishment.

Yamabuki asked, "Also… I never got your name… We have so much to talk about…"

The woman said, "Rena."

"Ah, Rena… Such a cute name~!" Yamabuki said, "And you're the daughter of a family in Varanasi? And a rich family to boot? So amazing!"

She yammered on, as Michelle noticed her arm. She started to scratch a bit and felt uneasy. She thought, "What is this? A bug bite?"

Heather said, "We're almost there… The city of Varanasi."

The sacred rivers – the Ganges. A place for holy men, the old, and the sick; where domestic animals and food for human consumption, lie alongside human waste and corpses for cremation. The river embraces all. From birth onto death, its holy waters form a microcosm of life. It is said that visitors that come here in the sacred city of Varanasi become transfixed; never wanting to leave. Perhaps the landscape on this land is the mirror of the soul…

At the bus, a fly hovered onto Michelle's bug bite. But was decapitated by the huge bite, biting off its head. Michelle noticed it and gasped, "Huh? What the devil! It's gotten worse… Huh?"

XXXXX

As they got off the bus, Chazz asked, "What's wrong, old hag? You don't look well."

Michelle said, "I'm afraid my bug bite's gotten a lot worse off. It might be infected."

Heather stated, "It's best to have a doctor look at it. It looks swollen."

Yamabuki asked, "Say, doesn't that look like a face, from this view?"

Michelle barked, "STOP KIDDING AROUND, YAMABUKI! That's creepy!"

Peter replied, "She's right. It looked like a face… if you squint your eyes."

Michelle complained, "I DON'T NEED squinting!"

Yamabuki giggled, "Sorry. You need company for the hospital?"

Michelle walked off and barked, "NO! AND STOP TREATING ME LIKE I'M YOUR GRANDMOTHER!"

As she walked away, Rena let out a cold glare from behind, sticking her tongue out, and showing a small lump in her tongue, moaning and giggling. Rena, we believe, could be responsible for the bug bite in her arm. As Rena watched on, in cold malice, a hooded figure was watching from afar, as she whispered, "I see… Now I get it…"

XXXXX

At a clinic, Michelle was being treated to, by a doctor. He said, "Well, I'll just lance this."

Michelle gasped, "HUH? What did you say?"

The doctor, in gray hair and glasses, said, "It's definitely infected. It'll get worse, if we don't drain the fluid now."

Michelle complained, "WAIT! Can't we just put medicine and a bandage on it, and call it a day?"

"Don't worry, Miss. We'll numb the area, so it won't hurt. No problem at all… Now, come on and lie down."

She lied down, as they began to work on the growth. The doctor said, in his blue operating gown, "Now, now, you know I study medicine in England. You're from England, too, right? I can also do appendectomies."

He held up a scalpel and said, "Uh-oh. This one's rusty. Well, that's no problem."

Michelle felt uneasy, as she was nervous. He began to work, as Michelle cried, "NGAH! COME ON, DOCTOR! I don't wanna watch it being cut open! Have a heart!"

The doctor said, "It's alright, my friend…"

He placed the scalpel onto the growth, as Michelle closed her eyes and turned away. As he was about to cut it out, slicing noises were made. Michelle sobbed, "Hey, are you done yet? Can I open my eyes now?"

The doctor gagged, as Michelle opened her eyes, "Doctor, please! WAAAAAH!"

The doctor was stabbed in the jugular, with his own rusty scalpel. He fell down to the ground, bloodied and dead. "WHAT THE?" She cried, as she sat up.

The doctor was lying on the ground, dead, as Michelle shouted, "What the hell? The doctor!"

A child voice called, "HEY, DOCTOR! TRYING TO CUT ME OFF? THAT'S A PRETTY STUPID MOVE, YOU OLD FART!"

Michelle gasped, hearing a voice. She then said, "Wait a minute… Yamabuki said that my bug bite-. Wait a tick…"

She looked at her arm, as her growth sprouted a face. It laughed at her, as Michelle was surprised, "WHAT THE DEVIL?!"

The growth chanted, "CHUMIMIN~!"

Michelle cried, "What the-? What the fuck is this?"

The growth said, "I AM YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE, MICHELLE NEVINS! YES, I KNOW WHO YOU ARE, OLD HAG NEVINS! YOU'RE THE STAND, HERMIT GHOST! I, HOWEVER, AM THE SPIRIT CALLER, AND THE CARD OF THE EMPRESS! AND NOW, I'M GONNA BLOODY YOU UP GOOD!"

Michelle was shaken, as she cried, "A Spirit Caller?!"

She grabbed a knife and shouted, "WHEN DID YOU GET ON ME, DAMN IT?"

She jabbed onto the Spirit, but it caught the knife with its teeth. Michelle cried, "WHAT THE HELL? THIS THING'S GOT TEETH?!"

She struggled, as they were fighting over the scalpel knife. It pulled the scalpel from her hands and sliced upwards at the face. It only slashed a little of her bangs off. Michelle shrieked, "OHHHHH, NOOOOOO!"

She gasped, "Glad it wasn't me hand. Otherwise, I'd have it sewn back on, forcefully. That little thing butchered my hair!"

"Think you can just cut me, you bitch?" The Empress shouted, "I'm a part of your body now, Old Hag Michelle! You can't get away from me, no matter how hard you try! And yes, I can brag at you, at about more than 25 words… but then you'd get a part of you bitten clean off! So, no go on your Nevins Family rules! In fact, I bet I can tell you what is in that thick skull of yours! Yes, I know you're psychic, but hey, now that I'm a part of you, why bother to ask? You probably are about to say "Only a Stand can beat a Spirit, and the other way around! My Spirit is the Stone, Hermit Ghost, which gives my clairvoyance and remote viewing! But how am I supposed to fight something like this, with THOSE powers?" So, honey, was I spot on? Old Hag!"

Michelle thought, "Damn! Little bugger's onto me!"

She yelled, "WHERE'S YOUR HANDLER? YOUR USER! TELL ME WHERE HE OR SHE IS! How in the hell could you have infected me?"

Empress jeered, "YOU MORON! I won't tell!"

It spat out green slime at her, but she dodged out of the way. She gagged, "Disgusting freak!"

She ran off, as Empress cried, "RUNNING TO YOUR FRIENDS? Like that'll ever help!"

She went to the door, only to stop, as it opened. The nurse appeared and asked, "Doctor, your next patient is waiting for you."

She gasped, as she saw the doctor on the ground, dead. She trembled, as Michelle pleaded, "Nurse, you don't understand, it's not what you think! Someone came in and murdered the bloke!"

Empress barked, "Yeah, like that'll ever believe her!"

It called out, "I KILLED HER! I'm Michelle Nevins, a Brit! I'm staying at Hotel Clarks! And by the way, girlie, I'm into hot young nurses like you!"

Michelle cried, "RATFINK SPIRIT CALLER!"

Nurse shrieked, "MURDERER! MURDERER!"

Michelle cried, "WAIT! IT'S NOT TRUE!"

She ran out the door, as Michelle was completely embarrassed and upset.
"ohhhh… noooo…"

XXXXX

Moments later, police cars surrounded the entire clinic, as they were entering the building to arrest Michelle. Luckily, Michelle managed to escape, before the cops would arrive. She was hiding in the back alley, as the Empress jeered, "Now you can't go back to the hotel!"

Michelle barked, "You really know how to hurt a lady, you little blabbermouth! YOU'RE PISSING ME OFF!"

"I can't at least kill you, without any distractions. That'll save me the trouble."

"YOU LITTLE-! I HATE YOU!"

She swung her arm and roared, "YOU'RE BLOODY DEAD, YOU FUCKING VARLOT!"

CLANG!
She slammed her arm on some iron bars, but the Empress grew arms from her arm and caught the bars. Michelle gasped, "WHAT THE DEVIL?! SINCE WHEN DO YOU GROW?"

"HEY! Take care of your own arm, you shitty old hag!" It mocked.

Michelle thought, "Damn… It's like it's growing, faster than a baby's body…"

She pulled her arm, but it was stuck tight. She cried, "What the hell? Let go of me, you bastard!"

It said to her, "Not a chance! Hey, Officer~! I'm the murderer~! I'm right here~! Come and get me, you fucking policemen!"

Michelle snarled, "YOU LITTLE-!"

Her eyes shone purple and said, "It's been a while… So it's come to this…"

She held her free arm and swung at the Empress, using her Ty Ko Ky, "OVERDRIVE!"

She shone her Ty Ko Ky Sendo onto the Spirit, but nothing happened. Empress explained, "MORON! You think your Ty Ko Ky can work on your own body? CONNECT THE DOTS, YOU HAG!"

The policeman cried, as he aimed his gun at Michelle, "HANDS UP! DON'T MOVE!"

Michelle gave up and barked, "FINE! Then how about HERMIT GHOST?"

Her arm produced a dark ghostly aura, and attacked the Empress. It wrapped its thorns around the Spirit, crushing it tight. She called, "I can use it this way, too! I don't care if it's my own body! You don't belong in it, anyway, ugly!"

The policeman yelled, "I TOLD YOU NOT TO MOVE! NOW FREEZE!"

BANG!
He fired, and the Empress was shot off the bars. It did remain in Michelle's arm. She sighed, "Thank god."

The policeman called, "STOP!" as Michelle ran off, avoiding the gunfire.

She covered the Spirit, as Empress cried, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I CANNOT SEE!"

Michelle thought, in complete anger, "SHIT! JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH!"

She kept running, away from the police.

Meanwhile, back in New Jersey, Mugi was lying faced down, as Steven said, "You failed, Mugi…"

Mugi was still on the ground, as she pleaded, "Merc-, merc-, mercy-. Mercy-. Mercy-."

Mundy said, "Tohka told us about Ginti… Too bad we knew that it was you, being his puppet, and praising for MIO and Steven Nevins…"

Mugi pleaded, as she was badly hurt, "No… You can't… Mr. Nevins… paid my darling boyfriend… to eliminate you… For-. For-. For once in your life… Have-, have-, have-, have-, have-, have a hea-, a hea-."

Mundy aimed his pistol at her, "This is my last bullet, until I return to reload. What you did in New Jersey, using the poor bastard, how dare you hurt the one you love?"

Mugi sobbed, "Please… Help me… I was… only… following… orders…"

Steven turned his back on Mugi and said, "You would try to take this city, as MIO's evil refuse. We knew all about it from Tohka, from beyond the grave… But Ginti will never truly understand it… until he learns how to use it…"

Mugi reached for them and pleaded, "No… Please… I love him… I love him… Love-, love-, love-. Love him… I want… Ginti… to… under… stand…"

Steven said to Mundy, "This is how I say it… … …"

He said his final words to Mugi, "YOU… are already dead."

Mugi gasped, "WHA?"

BANG!
Mundy fired his pistol at the broken robot, through the head, and she dropped to the ground, with her eyes crossed, and her mouth open in a circle. She was back to her regular face, as she died down, smoking from her body. Steven walked away and said, "It is done…"

[Mugi Kotobuki – Judgement: Deceased]

Mundy reloaded and said, "She may be a cute bartender girl, but she's a weak prey."

He pointed at the broken robot and said, "Mugi, or Memine, rust in peace. HELL 4 U!"

He followed him, and added, "WAIT! Aren't we supposed to get Ginti?"

Steven said, "Exactly. He was left there, near Viginti. Once we rescue him, he'll be revived."

"But you heard what Mugi said. He's dead."

"Not for long. If she were to take his life energy, she'd use a power core. But she had a Stand, so technically…"

"Technically, she has no Power Core, but her Stand has the same wavelengths. But the one thing it doesn't do is siphon energy from a victim."

Steven smiled, "Yes. Steven Cooke knows his gems. And Power Cores are the root of all evil…"

Mundy said, "Sixteen days… and no progress, whatsoever… I miss Mizuki…"

"Me, too." Steven said, "Come on. Let's find Ginti, and leave Jersey. Enzo will understand. We're done here in Jersey."

They walked together, leaving the broken Mugi behind.

Back in Varanasi, Michelle was running for her life, with the Empress covered in a green sheet. Elsewhere, Yamabuki was talking to Rena, discussing how she is being in a lesbian crush with Birch Small.

"Do you realize how much of a liar that six-shooting girl is? She doesn't look gay, but you think she is." She explained, "I do smell rom-com on this one, but that sort of thing isn't right for you, since you care for true love."

Michelle was running towards them, as she thought, "Damn cops led me in the wrong direction! If I'd known this would've happened, I would've taken Yamabuki with me! I'm nowhere near the hotel!"

Yamabuki said to Rena, "Instead of a petty girl like Birch, why not someone else? Find yourself a hot prince that wants you, not for your money, but for something else. I know of this boy in Japan. Such a hentai, but he has a harem… looking for the right girl in his life. I, of course, am one of those, out of seven, but this guy's indecisive on the lover's market."

She explained, "Come on… I don't dwell on the past, like some… Look! I don't even care who you were dating, even before Birch Small… Just find a nice guy, and be done with it."

Rena was only viewing Michelle, who was running to Yamabuki. Rena pointed at a building, "OH! Look over there. There's a nice hotel, over there…"

She exclaimed, as two people appear, carrying a huge carpet with them, on a pole. Michelle took a detour to the right and snarled, "Bollocks!"

She ran down the marketplace, heading into another part of town. As she went off, a few items disappeared from the shelves, including fruits, vegetables, and a live chicken. She heard chomping sounds, and then barked, "HUH? What the-? You better not be biting me arm off, you swine!"

She noticed a huge lump and asked, "Eh? It got bigger! Now what?"

The cloth dropped down half-eaten items, like an apple, banana, lettuce, and bread.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" Michelle roared.

The bulge grew, as Empress chanted, "CHUMIMIN~!" and expanded, "I'm eating, Nevins! A growing girl needs her food!"

Michelle thought, "Oh, so it's a girl? I get it… Empress Card, female… Just my type… HEY, WAIT A MINUTE!"

"QUICK LITTLE BASTARD!" She yelled, "YOU STOLE THOSE FOOD, DID YOU?"

CHOMP!
A chicken head dropped to the ground, as blood trickled down. Michelle cried, "YEEEEGH!"

She removed the cloth, but…
SOCK!
Michelle was punched by the Empress's left arm, to the face. The Spirit grew into a small female body with scales, implanted in Michelle's arm.

Empress giggled, "CHUMIMIN~! Look how big I've gotten. Having another mouth to feed, isn't it, Mommy? Chu-mi-min~!"

Michelle trembled, "Wha? You disgusting little COW!"

She barked, "You may have gotten into my body, but you don't stand a chance to beat the great and goddamned Michelle Nevins! You're going down, you freak of nature!"

She then thought, "Only… How the hell am I going to stop this thing? DAMN IT!"

She held her arm out and called, "HERMIT GHOST!"

Her vines returned, wrapping around Empress, as she smirked, "Oh, Mother Dearest… You did a wonderful job raising me… But you know, you shouldn't tie your children down, where they won't grow. It only smothers them. You should raise them to be free. If not, they might REBEL!"

CHOMP!
She bit onto Michelle's arm, as Michelle screamed, "OHHHH, NOOOO!" and then resumed running. She thought, as she was worried, "It's no use… If I had a camera, I'd use my Ghost Writer to learn of the Spirit User! DAMN IT ALL! Come on, Michelle, think! It won't be just my arm, if this keeps up! She'll take over my whole body!"

Empress posed in a Karate stance, as Michelle was stunned. "I've only grown enough to end your life! See? I can reach your neck, without any difficulty, old hag! One slice to your artery, and you're limp as a rag doll!"

Empress landed a barrage of punches, but Michelle blocked it with her left hand. But she was being lambasted. She hollered, as she was being punched, "OHHHH, NOOOOOOO!"

The Empress landed swift rights, and an uppercut. She was sent flying, heading into a pot of incense ashes. She crawled up and moaned, "ungh… What the…"

Her eyes were focused on the ashes, as Empress laughed evilly. She then growled, "Bloody little minx!"

One man called, "Look at that! Some very strange woman is fighting with herself, with a strange growth on her arm!"

Michelle was swatted by a vase, as she roared, grabbing Empress, "BASTARD!"

She ran off, as Empress shouted, while Michelle clutched onto her, "YOU HAG!"

Michelle griped, "DAMN IT! WHERE THE HELL'S THE SPIRIT USER?"

Meanwhile, as she was running, Rena stopped and said to Yamabuki, "I have to tell you something… I…"

She held Yamabuki and said, "You were right about Birch. You're so dependable and sweet, and I love you for that…"

Yamabuki blushed, as she said, "Huh? Me? Oh, no, you wouldn't want that-!"

She paused, "Wait… You actually enjoyed me? Is it my boobs? I have big boobs, you know…"

She thought, with a smile, "This is great… Am I lucky? I am not her type, but hey, ideas for a GL-story~! SCORE!"

Michelle ran past them, as Rena looked in in a cold stare. The hooded woman saw through to Rena, and hissed, "Alright, this is the final straw. Granted she is a lesbian… but no amount of trouble that she had unleashed, it will not let her win."

She dashed off, following Michelle, "I am doing you the favor, after all…"

In New York, in the warehouse, near the department store, Farra sighed in disgust, as she said, "Great… One more time, and the last time. Such bad memories… But hey, I can live out the past, again… One last time…"

She held her brooch and placed it on her chest, "I promise… To you girls, if you listen up… I will free you all… Once Harada and Mayu will rest in peace, we'll free you from Parker's spell…"

She then unbuttoned her shirt and placed the brooch on her bare chest. But, just as she is about to, a voice called.

"Farra…" a voice similar to her, called out, "Don't!"

She stopped, as she looked at the mirror. Her mannequin self was in the reflection. She gasped, "Huh? YOU! Or… ME! I mean, OH! I'M SO CONFUSED!"

The Mirror Farra spoke, without moving, "I wouldn't put yourself in grave danger, if I were you…"

She then said, "Look to your left…"

She turned to her left and found a huge box. She thought, "Huh? I don't remember this box…"

She opened the box and gasped, "Huh? This is…"

Farra's reflection said, "Yes… For Miss Pollyanna, and for your friends… Use it… and then, come with me… Otherwise, be a mannequin, forever…"

"WHAT? What are you saying?"

The mirror Farra said, "Well… You are waiting for Lovers to strike… Right?"

Farra nodded and said, "Yes. What are you saying to me? And who are you?"

The mannequin Farra turned into her fully-clothed reflection and said, "It's up to you. You'll see, once you come with me… But I will tell you, firsthand…"

Farra replied, "Okay… What do I know?"

Back in Varanasi, Michelle kept running around town, and then thought, "As long as the police isn't here, I'll be fine…"

She ran into an alleyway, avoiding the police car. She then arrived at an industrial area and said, "Made it!"

Empress taunted, "Hey, Michelle Nevins! You keep getting farther and farther from your friends…"

Michelle roared, "Do you really think I was running around town, randomly?"

"Eh?"

"I was only meant to take you there, personally! THIS IS WHERE YOU WILL DIE, YOU FREAK!"

She approached a huge barrel of black oil, and cried, "SEE THAT? Time to go swimming, without your swimsuit! HAVE A NICE DIP!"

SPLASH!
She dunked Empress into the black substance, as she said, "GOOD ENOUGH! Thank goodness…"

The black stuff began to bubble, and Empress emerged with a nail in her hands. She stabbed onto Michelle's neck, and roared, "SENILE OLD FOOL!"

Michelle cried in pain, "A NAIL?!" as Empress cackled, "You're probably asking, why the nail? When we fought, I picked it up, during the scuffle! Now, I can shove it into your carotid artery, and you'll bleed out like a stuffed pig! Did you actually think you were going to suffocate me in this oil? DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIE!"

Michelle was pinned to the wall, as Empress smiled, "Now, then…"

The hooded woman appeared, as she watched from a view. Empress said, "I may be made of your flesh, but I'm not that stupid! Forget the rules, already, mate? Only a Stand can beat a Spirit, and the other way around! Oh, yeah, didn't you say you were going to show me all that strength you have? Was I supposed to be impressed? SOME HELP! You're just a helpless old lady who's too ornery to help anyone, EVEN HERSELF!"

Michelle was struggling with her left hand, as she thought, "My hand is weakening… It was after she landed a barrage onto it. I think she sprained it… I can't move…"

Empress laughed, "JUST ONE MORE PUSH! Your life as you know it will come to an abrupt end! Chu-mi-min~! There's not a single way you can defeat me!"

The hooded woman called, "And next you'll say "You might as well surrender…", huh?"

Empress giggled, "You might as well surrender!" and gasped, "HUH? Who said that?"

"I DID, UGLY!" The hooded woman appeared, as Michelle was shocked.

"That voice…" She thought.

The hooded woman said, "Long time, no see, Auntie Michelle… Glad I came to your rescue, after that bitch Rena used you…"

Empress cried, "HUH? YOU KNEW?"

Michelle gasped, "RENA?! She's the Spirit User?"

Empress barked, "YOU STUPID BITCH! HOW DARE YOU SAY-?"

Her body started to stiffen, and then gasped, "Wait… I… I can't move… What is going on? What the hell is this?"

The hooded woman said, "Oh, I'm sorry… Auntie Michelle, I had a hunch on who it was… But first, be weary of what our little baby here was trying to do."

Michelle smirked, "I'll be glad to. I might as well what now? I'm sorry, my hearing wasn't working right. Run that to me, one more time…"

The hooded woman said, "Or better yet… Explain to the Baby Empress what she was dunked in… Because that oil you were coated in, it's NOT oil!"

Empress shrieked, "WHA-? NOT OIL?! AAAGH! IT'S… IT'S COAL TAR! YOU DUNKED ME IN COAL TAR!"

Michelle smirked, "You're so right!"

Empress cried, "It wasn't to suffocate me! You were planning to make me stop moving!"

Michelle said, "Well, that was the plan, thanks to her… Right, Beth?"

She removed her hood, showing herself, in her Rabbit Princess Choujin attire, "Empress of Yesterday, allow me to introduce myself! The name's Nevins! Beth Nevins! But you can call me… Rabbit Princess – The Chosen Choujin!"

Empress gasped in horror, as Beth explained, "A long story, you know, I had to visit India, using my psychic powers, to bring Rook back home to America. One teleporting portal into your current area, Varanasi, and off to Kolkata I go for pickup, and the helicopter ride home, thanks to the Speedwagon Foundation and AAW. Such nice blokes~!"

Empress cried, "YOU BRAT! How did you even know that was coal tar in there?"

Michelle said, "My niece may be bratty and young, but she thinks like her parents and myself! It wasn't my Hermit Ghost, it was my ESP Perk! Telepathic communications, to be exact!"

Back to where the scuffle took place, the townsfolk admired a map, drawn by Beth Nevins, using her ESP Perk. Beth explained, "My Auntie Michelle did the rest, using photographic memory. I don't even have it, but I know the lay of the land, and even know jerks like you!"

Empress cried, "WHAT? You drew a map? YOU DREW A MAP, LEADING YOUR AUNT TO FIND THE COAL TAR?! A MAP OUT OF INCENSE ASHES?!"

Beth smirked, "Yeah… And you know better than to be in Michelle's arms. You see, you're a Nevins, now, in Spirit Caller form. But, the lay of the land is this, as a Nevins. In battle, when you brag on to your opponent, you've already lost!"

Michelle smirked, "Even a glorified pimple knows about the family business, including how we fight! Beth says that, all the time! However, I have no quirks, but I still act like I am still a child, again. Like a fine wine, I get better with age! And now…"

Her arm shone purple and said, "Let's finish what we started!"

Her Hermit Ghost wrapped around Empress's body, as she broke free. Beth laughed, "Uh-oh… Looks like someone is cranky~!"

Empress snarled, "I don't care! I'll break free of this coal tar and kill you, first, daughter of Steven Nevins!"

Beth laughed, "And next you'll say, "I'll kill you, for you are a stupid little brat!" Cue!"

Empress roared, "NICE TRY! I'LL KILL YOU, FOR YOU ARE A STUPID LITTLE BRAT!" she shrieked.

Beth smirked, throwing her clackers, "TY KO KY CLACKER VOLLEY!"

She wrapped her clackers on one end, and wrapped the other end to Michelle's Hermit Ghost, wrapping the Empress in a huge string bind of psychic energy. Michelle barked, "And now… A Stand will defeat a Spirit… But in this case, Spirit and Choujin beat another Spirit!"

Empress was helpless, as Michelle boasted, "Now, to borrow my niece's shtick, next you'll say, "NO! Please, stop it! I BEG YOU!"."

Empress shrieked, "NO! PLEASE JUST STOP IT! I BEG YOU!" and she shrieked, as Michelle winked, labeling "OH, SHIT!"

Michelle smirked, "This will hurt me, more than it hurts you, you brat! It pains me to let you go… but children don't depend on their parents, forever!"

Michelle and Beth inhaled, as their Ty Ko Ky shone out. Michelle called out, as she leapt off the wall, "Once you've grown up…"
Beth concluded, "…you've got to learn to live on your own!"

They pulled tightly at each other, as they cried, "TY KO KY OVERDRIVE!"

SMASH!
They pulled the ropes, squeezing the Empress into bloody chunks, and exploded. Michelle gasped, as Beth giggled, "Good to see you again, Auntie Michelle."

She said, "Thanks, kid… I owe you one."

Beth said, "Of course. You're looking at the Choujin Kid that defeated Kagura Sohma… right?"

Michelle asked, "But still… How did you know it was her?"

Beth said, as she helped her up, "Because… One knows her true form, once they have the powers to manipulate others to her bidding…"

Michelle said, "I see… OH! She's with Yamabuki! I forgot!"

She dashed off, as Beth said, "Don't worry about me! Just get her, and leave Varanasi, and head to another city! I'll handle Kolkata~!"

She waved, as she thought, "Huh… Only, how am I going to get there? And also, who's Yamabuki?"

Elsewhere, in another alley, Yamabuki was with Rena, as Yamabuki blushed heavily. She said, "Oh, Rena… I never knew this way before… But I want to experience it. Why don't we kiss?"

She held her shoulders, as Rena started to convulse and gag. Yamabuki asked, "What's wrong, Rena?"

She barfed out slime, as Yamabuki shrieked, "AAAAGH! WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? IT'S NASTY!"

Rena's body spurted out blood and slime, as an obese woman's body emerges from inside her. Yamabuki shrieked in horror, as the fat lady dropped to the ground, dead. Yamabuki cried, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THIS OVERWEIGHT LADY IS-?"

"A Spirit User? Yes." Michelle said, as she appeared towards Yamabuki, "So, she was the Empress's Spirit Caller, after all…"

Yamabuki asked, in sickness, "Uh… What just happened?"

Michelle said, "She has shown her true self, revealing as an ugly troll. She attached her Spirit to me, as a tumor on my arm, with a human face. That was her Spirit Caller. And camouflaged herself as a beautiful woman… No wonder Birch denied her love. YOU were careless! She played you like a damned fiddle, Yamabuki!"

Yamabuki gagged, and then vomited in the trashcan, viewing the sight of Rena, as her corpse lay on the alleyway.

XXXXX

Meanwhile, in New Jersey, in Viginti, Ginti was lying in bed, as Steven and Mundy were fixing him up, with bandages.

"Thank my survival techniques." Mundy said, "I learn to NOT be like Steve Irwin, and stay away from the Super Deadly creatures, like the huge ray."

Steven said, "You know, that was a bad thing you just said, right now…"

"So? But it is true. The Outback is all about survival."

"Except we're in New Jersey."

He finished, as Ginti was still out. Steven said, "I got to call Scarlet, and told her the bad news. However, Cy-Bo-Div will arrive to watch over Ginti, since The Speedwagon Foundation is busy in India. A lot of help, but there are limits."

Mundy said, "Still, I'm surprised that his girlfriend was a tool of evil…"

A voice called, "No, I'm not! I'm a tool of romance."

They turned around and saw Mugi, in her bartender uniform, and giggled, "Hi. Sorry that I was on Sleep Mode. My darling boyfriend… Is he okay?"

Steven was confused, "Eh?"

Mundy asked, "Wait… Who the hell are you?"

Mugi sobbed, as she cried, "COME ON! My name is Mugi! Mugi Kotobuki! I'm Ginti's girlfriend! I was created to be his lover!"

Steven asked, "Huh? Okay, why is Judgement still alive?!"

"Judgment?" She asked, "What is that? I know what the word means…"

Mundy barked, "Okay, hold on… What the devil is this? Who are you, and why did you attack us?"

Mugi pondered, as she beeped, "Processing… Processing… Processing… OH! You mean Memine? Sorry… Memine was a spare Mugi Doll, too… until she malfunctioned and turned into spare parts. She was so hostile that she wanted to keep my Ginti, forever… It's a shame. She does have the same name as his cute cat… Don't worry. She and I are together, resting."

The black cat was playing with a ball of string, as Mugi said, "I know it is not much, but I was shocked by the collateral damage to the bar."

Mundy said, "Namely because Memine, the android, tried to kill us."

Steven replied, "And she used Ginti as her puppet. It's complicated, but he'll be fine."

She nodded and said, "Thank you. Don't worry. We can rebuild the bar… It's covered."

Mugi went to Ginti and leaned by his chest. She smiled and said, "Ginti… I'm so glad you're okay…"

Steven then huffed, as he walked away, "Mundy, let's just get the hell out of here…"

Mundy asked, "What? Nothing to conclude over-?"

Steven roared, "I SAID, LET'S GO!" and marched off.

They left, completely speechless and confused, as Mugi was sitting by Ginti, who was still out cold.

Back in AAW HQ, Scarlet got the call, "WHAT? MURDER IN VARANASI?! And Nevins… She… Uhhh…"

She explained, "Uh, say that Triple H sent someone to ruin her, pretending to be Michelle Nevins! YES, IT WAS HIM! He made sure that The Gang is to blame for this! Right. That's how it happened. Yes, sir. Goodnight."

She hung up, as she sighed, "Damn it… What a crazy 16 days it's been… But, as long as the others are alright, and I blame Triple H for everything, since they believe me, I'm good to go."

She looked around and said, feeling worried, "It's… It seems quiet… Sometimes I miss the guys… and their antics… I wish I knew what they were doing, right now…"

She sat up and looked around the office, feeling upset. She saw Mizuki in her bed, lying motionless and stiff. She whispered, as she thought, "She's the only one here… and so far, everyone's departed to parts unknown… New Jersey, Downtown New York, Hong Kong, India, Singapore… What next? They better save her, and soon…"

XXXXX

Back in New York, in Casa de Muñecas, Myu appeared, as she was looking at the window display. She thought, "Harada… Mayu…"

Inside, Farra was in mannequin form, being taken apart, as Asahi said, "For the last time, yes… But if it's to stop Lovers, and to spare Harada and Mayu, so be it…"

She brushed Farra's hair, who was only a head, as her body was on the table, in pieces. She then sobbed, as she thought, "I don't know how much more of this I can take… It's almost two and a half weeks now… Farra…"

She hugged Farra's head into her bosom and sobbed, "Miss Mizuki…"

XXXXX

Back in Varanasi, outside of town, Team Nevins was retreating to a white SUV. Heather and Peter sat by the river, as Heather sighed, disappointed, "And here I thought, for once, we'd finally have a comfy bed to sleep in…"

Peter huffed, "If Michelle hadn't screwed up, we wouldn't be in this mess, hiding from the cops. Scarlet's going to give us an earful, when we get back."

Michelle stated, "I took care of things. Percival told me about what Scarlet did… but we are no longer staying in India. We'll take this car, and head off to our next stop. Yamabuki, you do the driving."

Yamabuki caught the keys, but was still traumatized. Michelle complained, "WHAT? Why are you still in shock? I'm the one who was attacked by the Spirit Caller!"

Yamabuki moaned, "Sure… but I think I've rather gone through that…"

Team Nevins departed to their car, heading to the next leg of their trek to Egypt.

XXXXX

Aboard the BattleVan, Mundy was at the wheel and said, "Well, Scarlet is pleased to know that the others are okay, while we're in Jersey. Come on. Let's head back and pick up the girls."

Steven said, as he stepped in, "Right. Let Enzo Amore do the dirty work, himself. Fucking fugasi…"

"HEY! Don't be so racist!"

"Sorry. That's his mess, now…"

They drove away, as Steven explained, "Cy-Bo-Div will watch over Ginti, now. Sadly, he's bummed that his girlfriend broke into pieces, thanks to us…"

He grumbled, "But he didn't have to keep a spare of the damned thing…"

Mundy replied, "At least that android isn't bound to MIO's control now. He'll thank us, once he comes to… For now, let's leave."

They drive off, heading back to New York. However, little do they know, another car was following them, revving its engines, and slowly tailed them, with its headlights flashed on.

XXXXX

Back in Casa de Muñecas, Farra's mannequin form remained, as she faced towards the mirror. Asahi said, as she was worried, "Farra… I don't know if she'll speak to me…"

She then approached it and said, "Maybe my Spirit Form can talk to her… privately, and maybe have a chat or two…"

She was about to talk, but then, Sena appeared and called, "Hey, Asahi? Is Farra ready?"

Asahi said, "Well, not yet. We still need her dress for the display."

Sena smiled, "Cassandra's almost finished. Anyways, there's someone at the door for you. I'll get it."

The phone rang, as Asahi said, "OH! I'll get the phone, you get the door. I can't leave Farra alone…"

Sena left, as she got a phone call from Steven. She asked, "Steven? Oh, hey. Yeah, I'm sorry we took too long here… We have two weeks passed, and we're stuck here. It's still going on. What's that? Farra? OH, she's sleeping, right now. I wouldn't disturb her, being she's had a hard day's night."

She giggled, "Okay. Just return to HQ, and we'll call you when our mission is done. Coco doesn't approve of you boys, yet…"

She thought, "But he does trust you guys…"

She smiled, and concluded, "Not at all… Stay safe, and I'll see you tomorrow."

She hung up and blushed, "Those guys…"

At the back door, Sena opened it and said, "Hello? Can I help you?"

Myu bowed and said, "I'm a friend of Asahi Sakurai… My name is… uh…"

She blushed and trembled, "Myu Momochi… But friends call me Myu-Myu."

Sena asked, "Huh? You're the ghost whisperer?!"

Myu sobbed, "Hau…"

Something doesn't seem right. Is Myu Momochi wanting Harada and Mayu? For what? And what of Farra? Did she go through with it?
Find out in the next chapter…

To be continued…