Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year: "Together The Outland" Part 6
by Fred Herriot
450 Clare Avenue South, Welland, Ontario L3C 3B3 Canada
gorgo@havajava.com
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edited by E.B. Kushnir
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Eleventh in a series of fan-fiction stories based on "Urusei Yatsura," created
by Rumiko Takahashi
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IN THE FIFTH PART OF "TOGETHER THE OUTLAND," while Shinobu, Sakura, Lan and
Ryuunosuke are allowing their sisters to template themselves off them, Asuka
explains her situation to Osooko. Still frightened of men, she has now come
to believe that Mendou no longer loves her. Worse, Mendou has, in the wake of
events in "Spirit-War Tomobiki," decided that he will no longer pursue her,
which soon becomes common knowledge among the ladies of Tomobiki.
Unfortunately, Ryooko is not willing to contemplate marrying Tobimaro
Mizunokoji as she has become infatuated with Reigi Yumoa. Asuka's growing
feelings for Osooko soon become known to the former's mother, who does not
accept that idea at all. By that time...and by the time Seven Bake Rose has
made her appearance...the last Nendo-kata have Crossed Over. Ookako saves
Tsubame from a gang of toughs who do not like the idea of his marrying Sakura.
Nintaiko persuades Shinobu to date Soban in an effort to get her disinterested
in Nassur. As everyone learns of the court injunction shielding Ataru from
Tomobiki, Hei prevents Rei from being arrested (or killed) by transporting him
back to Lan. And Tatsuko, meeting her new family on Ryuunosuke's island,
performs her daily baptism in the Mother Ocean...

**** **** ****

Therefore...ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!

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"SHE is there?!!" Elle snarls.

Seven Bake Rose nods as she stands at attention aboard her frigate, now
in cloaked orbit over Earth. "I saw McTavish's crystal palace parked over
Tomobiki with my own eyes, boss," the mercenary reports. "I didn't see Mr.
Groom's sister, but you can lay bets wherever the Crystal Lady is, she's not
far behind!"

The Rose Queen shudders with barely controlled fury. "So! She dares
move against me! She's probably in concert with the Devil's Daughter and
Honey's grandmother to take him away from me!!"

"So what's the plan now, boss?"

Elle considers the matter. "Where is Honey right now?"

"In some place called Oshika," Rose reports. "It's north of Tokyo.
But, from what I've been able to gather, it's very close to the main base of
Mr. Groom's uncle. And he's just as bad as Mr. Groom's grandmother. I don't
think attacking there'll be a smart idea, especially now that his sister and
the Crystal Lady are nearby. They intend to see him today!"

"Then we'll have to wait until Honey is in Tomobiki before we
appropriate him," Elle concludes. "That damnable sister of his is a million
times worse than Nassur and Shogai combined! We'll have to be very cautious!"

"A safe plan," Rose nods. "Besides, if he's really getting the hots for
the Devil's Daughter now, then he'll probably come down to see her, make sure
that she's okay...probably even try to persuade her to move up north with
him," she shrugs. "I've heard that the reason he wanted to move out of
Tomobiki was so that he could get Lum away from there."

"Hmm," the Rose Queen thoughtfully muses. "I wonder how that boor Oogi
would take to that idea. Maybe I should call him and tell him what's
happening. Perhaps we could use that to get Honey away from Lum. After all,
learning about a whole PLANET which worships that witch would probably sicken
Honey and his grandmother enough that he'd finally decide he'll have nothing
to do with her." Shaking herself out of her contemplation, she stares at the
mercenary. "Maintain your watch, Rose. If opportunity comes, seize it."

"Yes, ma'am," Rose bows...

* * *

"Well, there they go," Shinobu sighs.

Everyone sits in Tomobiki town park watching as Nicole's crystal palace
gracefully soars north toward Oshika. "Now, Darling will have a family he's
comfortable with," Lum sighs, looking very pleased. "That's nice."

"You seem happy," Ten-chan stares quizzically at his cousin. "I always
thought you wanted him to stay here with his parents."

"I do...I still do," the older Oni nods. "But after hearing about what
Mr. and Mrs. Moroboshi did to Nokoko-chan, I'm beginning to wonder what sort
of parents Darling has."

"In other words, he was smart in getting out of there as fast as he
could," Ryuunosuke comments.

"Maybe...oh, I don't know," Lum shakes her head.

"Speaking of which," Mie walks up. "What the hell are you still doing
here, Lum-chan?! Aren't you going up to see Ataru-chan?!"

"Eh?!" Lum stares at the Kyushu native.

"You idiot, you're not exempted from the court injunction, remember?!"
Mie sighs in exhaspiration, reaching down to yank Lum to her feet. "Besides,
the sooner you see him again, the sooner your relationship gets back on track!
Let's go!!"

"Hey!!" Lum gasps. "Let me have my arm back!"

Before the two women could get far, Mendou and the guards stand in their
way. "Oh, no, you don't, Seikou!!" Megane snarls. "You're not taking Lum-san
into that den where we can't protect her from Ataru's idiocy!!! She stays
here!!"

"Right!!!" the other boys snap.

"Oh, Ten-chan," Mie sweetly calls out.

The five then get roasted by the young Oni's flame-breath!! "Thanks,
Ten-chan!" Mie smiles as she takes Lum back to the Moroboshi home.

"It's okay," Ten-chan sighs, pulling out a lollipop from his jumper and
taking a lick. "Boy, Mie-onee-chan can sure get real nice candy!" he smiles.

The others moan. "If Mie keeps this up, Lum'll be out of here in a
month, tops!" Ryuunosuke sighs.

"I think that's her general plan," Shinobu hums. "But for the life of
me, I can't understand why she wants to keep Ataru-kun and Lum together! I
always thought she wanted Ataru-kun to herself!!"

"Weird," Momoe hums...

* * *

Oshika.

Located at the tip of the Ojika-hantou, a strip of land stabbing south-
east into the Pacific Ocean which forms the north-east border of Sendai-wan,
the small town is perhaps one of the most peaceful places in Japan. Strange
that Ataru would choose this place above all the other possibilities, Komeru
Moroboshi muses as he walks to a gate leading to a strip of beachfront
property three kilometres long by five hundred metres deep. Stepping through,
he makes his way through a grove of pine trees onto the beach, now the scene
of very heavy construction.

The chief executive officer of Toranoseishin Finances finds a large rock
to seat himself as he watches the construction crews put the finishing touches
to the split-level bungalow now being built for his nephew. The house design
was excellent, a lot more roomier and less imposing than that hovel Muchi and
Kinshou lived in down south. Up the beach, four smaller bungalows were being
built to accomodate Nokoko's friends from the Outland. The bay in front of
them, enclosed by a hook of sand connecting the shore with a small island a
kilometre away, would be the place where Nicole McTavish would relocate her
crystal palace.

Komeru feels a chill run down his spine as he wonders what happened to
his niece over the twelve years of her exile in the Outland. Reigi had given
him sketchy details when he dropped that bombshell on him yesterday. Nokoko
looked well, was determined to be with Ataru as soon as she could and would
brook no interference from anyone. Not that Komeru would want to interfere.
If Nokoko wanted to be the family Ataru desperately needed after rejecting his
parents, that suited Komeru perfectly. It would be the ultimate kick in the
teeth to Kinshou.

And now with the court injunctions in place, no one save a very select
group could come north to see Ataru. It had been quite a piece of legal
engineering, but Komeru had made the situation plain: since Ataru no longer
wanted to deal with the people who had made his life hell for the last two
years, forbidding those same people to come north was the only way to keep the
insanity out of Oshika. Besides, the numerous companies which formed Komeru's
personal conglomerate had their headquarters and financial bases in nearby
Sendai. Politics and business always going hand-in-hand, whatever Komeru
normally wanted, he got...although, unlike the Mendous, he never pushed it.

Now, all he hoped was that Lum would not push it. While he was more
than happy at the arrangement between his nephew and the Oni, Komeru knew that
Lum was on very thin ice when it came to Nagaiwakai. One more major mishap,
his mother warned, and the Oni was either going to be ashes in her family
grave or else sent back to Uru with no hope of seeing her Darling again.
Komeru sighs. Nagaiwakai cared a lot for her grandson, but remained ill-
informed when it came to the exact goings-on concerning Lum and Ataru. Then
again, all her anger could just be attributed to personal pain and jealousy;
Lum's presence in Tomobiki, until recently, kept Ataru away from Nagaiwakai.

His thoughts are punctuated by the whistling noise of a large ship
making its way through the heavens. Looking south, he watches as the giant
crystal palace drifts over the ocean, then on arriving over the dredged-out
bay, settles itself into the water. The palace begins to metamorph, adjusting
its mass to better fit its new purpose as a ground-bound home instead of a
flying palace. One of the branches transforms into an arch bridge which
terminates some distance from Ataru's new house. Komeru stands as he walks
over to stare at the people emerging. One is instantly recognizable.
"Uncle!!!" Nokoko cries out as she runs to him.

"Hiya, Cupcake!!" Komeru laughs as they embrace.

Nokoko makes a face. "Don't call me 'Cupcake!!'" she bats his nose,
then places a kiss on his cheek. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," Komeru shrugs. "I'm more concerned about the girl who
disappeared on me twelve years ago!" he wryly muses, then stares concernedly
at her. "How are you?"

"I'm okay," his niece replies, projecting a celestial smile.

By that time, the Nendo-kata (save Osooko, who remained in Tomobiki with
Asuka) have emerged. Mal flies up to her lover. Komeru is stunned to see a
living, breathing double of Lum now dressed in a fetching long skirt. "Wow!!"
he whistles. "I'd swear you were Lum if I didn't know any better!"

"But, sir, Lum-chan is my sister," Mal smiles, blushing.

As they come up, Nokoko does the introductions. Greetings are
exchanged, then Nokoko turns back to her uncle. "Where's Ataru-chan?"

"Out there on the rock," Komeru points to the small island on the
leeward side of Nicole's palace. "He's been meditating there all day ever
since he came up here. I think he's still in shock over what happened in
Tomobiki before you arrived."

"That's sad," Nokoko muses, then turns to her schoolmates and friends.
"Why don't you girls relax? I'll look in on my brother."

"Sure, Nokoko-chan," Mujanba nods as Nokoko heads off.

By that time, another ship is heard. Komeru looks south to see Lum's
scout land some distance from Ataru's new home. The hatch opens, allowing Lum
and Mie to emerge. "*Tcha!* There's everyone!" the Oni points. "Hi!!"

"Sister!" Mal flies over to grasp Lum's hand, then smiles at Mie.
"Mie-chan, you're here, too!"

"Well, someone had to kick-start this lunkhead up here!" Mie playfully
elbows her classmate.

"Mie...!" Lum blushes, then blinks. "Oh, Darling, there you are!!
Darling!"

She flies over, embracing Komeru...just as a black-clad form crashes
into the financier's head, causing him to fall flat on his face! Lum is
shocked to see a very aged man in a ninja's gi pressing Komeru's face into the
sand. "You disrespectful alien!! How dare you be so personal with the
Master?! Bow to the Master! Bow! Bow!!"

"Idiot, I AM the Master!!" Komeru bashes the aged ninja into orbit!

"Sorry, sir...!" he wails as he breaks escape veolicty.

Everyone is understandably confused. "What was that all about?!" Nicole
points up.

"He's Megami," Komeru sighs, standing. "He's the oldest worker in the
corporation. I've never had the heart to retire him although he's now so
senile, he doesn't know the difference between me and the other workers!"

"Oh!" Lum then looks embarrassed, noticing the financier's weathered
features, greying hair, moustache and goatee. "I'm sorry, Oji-chan! I
thought you were Darling!! Where is he?!"

"He's out on the rock," Komeru nods to where Nokoko has gone.

Lum stares, then looks around, remembering something else. "Oh, where's
Reiko-chan and Belle-chan?! And is Yukio still around?!"

"They're at school right now," Komeru points north. "Good thing Mother
suggested the Ishinomaki Academy. It's one of the better private schools in
the country. I would've recommended Ataru send his kids there but Mother beat
me to the mark. And Yukio's in Sendai shopping right now."

Lum nods, then heads out to the small island. There, Ataru sits in a
lotus position, facing the endless expanse of the Pacific Ocean as waves crash
below his feet. Some of the spray soaks him, but he pays it no mind. Lum and
Nokoko stop some metres away, stare at each other, then approach. "Darling?"
the Oni hesitantly probes.

Ataru's breathing noticeably picks up as his eyes flutter open.
"Oh...hi, Lum," he neutrally responds.

Lum stares at Ataru's sister, then walks over to gently touch his
shoulder. "Darling...there's someone here to see you."

"Who?" he looks at her...then notices who else is there.

"Hi, little brother," Nokoko smiles as he stares dumbfoundedly at her.
"I told you I'd come back."

Ataru blinks, gracefully standing to stare more closely at this female
version of himself, his mind searching through his few and tattered memories
from over a decade ago. Finally, a name comes to him. "No-...ko-...ko...?!"

"Yeah, it's me!" Nokoko blushes. "I'm back."

Suddenly, the memories of their parting flood back into his mind, as if
the *saikoo jinseijitsu*, now powerless and exhausted from the efforts of the
Spirit War, just let it out so that it would cause its host pain. Shaking his
head, Ataru nearly staggers. Lum's hand gently supports him as tears begin to
flow from his eyes, a raging mix of emotions storming across his face.
"My...sister...!" he stammers, moving toward her. "My sister...! Why...?!"

Her own eyes stinging with her joy and relief, Nokoko leaps over to
fiercely embrace her brother. "Ataru-chan!!"

"Nokoko-chan!!" he sobs, holding her just to prove once and for all that
she has returned. "Nokoko-chan...why didn't you take me with you...?!"

"I wanted to," his sister sniffs. "Oh, Unity, I wanted to so much...!"

Their voices lose their strength as the tears flow. Nearby, Lum also
cries. "Darling's family is whole," she quietly notes. "After so long,
Darling's family is together again..."

* * *

Later, everyone travels to the Moroboshi estate south of Sendai for a
reception held in Nokoko's honour. By that time, Reiko and Belle have
returned from school, as has Yukio from shopping. Nokoko is the centre of
attention as the many other wards and workers who live at the estate come up
to talk with her, or simply stare at the once-missing child. Nokoko smiles as
she greets everyone, Mal beside her. Nearby, Lum, Ataru and Mie watch.
"Well, at least she doesn't have to worry about atomizing people when she's up
here," the Kyushu native muses.

"You're right about that," Lum nods, then stares at Ataru. "Oh,
Darling, why didn't you tell me that you had people like this related to you?!
I would've loved to have met them!"

"I..." Ataru sighs, realizing that he could not skirt around this
subject anymore. "Well, I felt that with the way you were coming at me over
the last two years, keeping a few things secret was the best way to keep a
grip on my life."

Lum jolts, then looks away. "Why?!" she pouts. "I told you everything
about my life!"

"True, but every time you did tell me, it was because you were dragging
me off somewhere I didn't want to go," Ataru snidely glares at her.
"Setsubun, for example?!"

"You have to admit, he has a point, Lum-chan," Mie muses.

The Oni jerks. "Besides," Ataru looks back at his tea, "...I don't
think the *saikoo jinseijitsu* would've liked the idea of its primary power
source being curtailed by the likes of Uncle, much less Grandma."

"That's true," Lum nods.

A butler then enters the reception room, approaching the host.
"Apologies, Master, but your brother and sister-in-law are here," he bows to
Komeru.

"What the hell are they doing here?!" the financier's eyes roll, then
nods. "Okay!! Bring them in!"

Ataru's parents then walk into the room. "So there you are!" Kinshou
storms right up to her brother-in-law. "What makes you think you're going to
get away with this?!"

Everyone is quick to notice the nasty hatred between Kinshou and Komeru.
Muchi remains back, obviously not wanting to get involved in this argument.
"Get away with what?!" Komeru sneers.

"With your stupid court injunction!!" Kinshou growls. "If you think
you're going to block me from seeing my idiot son, you're mistaken!!"

"Who says I'M your son?" Ataru calmly sips tea.

His mother jolts, spinning around to face him. "And don't you start
with that now!! You're coming back home where you belong!"

"If you want me to do that," Ataru evenly glares at her, "...apologize
first!"

"Apologize?!!" she demands. "For what?!!"

"First, to Nokoko-chan for throwing her out of the house like you did!!"
he snarls, the ice in his voice causing Kinshou to shiver. "Second, to Uncle
and everyone here for barring them from me after Lum came to live with us!!
Third, to Grandma for stopping me from moving out of the house when Lum came!!
And fourth, to me for treating me like such garbage over the last ten years!!"

His mother trembles in rage. "If you think you're going to demand that
of me, you're mistaken!!" she growls.

"Fine," Ataru looks away. "Grow old and die alone! I never want to see
you again!!"

Hearing that elicits a pained wail from Kinshou as Ataru walks away.
"Oh, don't worry," Nokoko sweetly smiles as she walks up to her mother. "I'LL
be more than happy to be the family Ataru-chan needs, not to mention my
schoolmates! Right, girls?!"

"Right!!" the Nendo-kata chant as one.

With a vengeful giggle, Nokoko heads off to join Ataru. "Mrs.
Moroboshi, you should apologize," Lum notes.

"Hey, who's side are you on?!!" Kinshou snaps.

The Oni balks. "Well, it is the only prudent thing," she comments,
blushing.

"Boy, she IS a spiteful old bat, isn't she?!" Mie disgustedly shakes her
head.

Kinshou growls. "And if you think you're going to try to drag Lum-chan
up here against her will, think again!!" she points at Mie. "Lum-chan likes
it down in Tomobiki! And I never want to see you at the house again!! You've
caused enough trouble!"

"Who says Mie-chan has caused trouble?!" Lum snaps, butting between the
two. "Did Shutaro or Aisuru say something?!!"

"Well...!" Kinshou balks.

"And how dare you forbid my friend from visiting me?!" the Oni adds.
"Keep that up and I WILL move up here to live with Darling!!"

Kinshou faints! Seeing this, Komeru walks over to Muchi. "Let's talk!"
the older brother pinches the latter's ear, then drags him off.

Muchi does not protest. "Boy, your daddy was really smart leaving this
lot," Belle looks at Reiko.

"That's what I say!" the latter sighs.

"Hello, there, little one," a cheery voice calls out.

Belle turns around to see Donna and Nintaiko standing behind her.
Shocked on seeing one who looks like her queen, Belle's response is
understandable: she freaks out. "Your Majesty!"

"No, I am not Elle," Donna shakes her head. "I'm Elle-chan's sister
Donna. And this," she waves to Nintaiko, "...is my life-mate Nintaiko. We're
two of the Nendo-kata who came with Nokoko-chan."

Hearing that, Belle relaxes. "Oh, I'm sorry, Donna-san. You look so
much like the Queen."

"Well, I did template this new body off her," Donna admits. "Belle-
chan, I could not help but notice that you seem to be...alone."

"Well, she hasn't been adopted by Daddy, if that's what you mean," Reiko
explains.

Donna and Nintaiko look at each other. "What do you think?" the latter
muses.

"We've always thought alike, my love," the former beams, then stares at
Belle. "Belle-chan, how would you like us to become your parents?"

Belle blinks, surprised by this generous offer. "Really?!! Honestly?!!
You'll be my mommy...er, mommies?!" she stammers on remembering that two women
stand before her.

"Of course we will," Nintaiko nods. "Since we'll all be living together
in Oshika, you'll have the chance to play with Reiko-chan whenever you want."

"Well?" Donna probes.

"Okay! Okay!!" Belle beams as she allows Donna to lift her into an
embrace.

Nearby, Lum and Ataru look pleased. "Well, there's one less orphan to
worry about," the latter muses.

The former looks concernedly at her boyfriend. "I hope you don't feel
like you're an orphan, Darling."

"That's what you might believe," Ataru sighs, turning to walk over to
join Nokoko. "But I doubt I'll ever be convinced otherwise."

Lum looks sad as he walks away. "Darling..."

* * *

"What the hell is with you?!!" Komeru snaps, staring at his brother.
"You just allow that idiot to run ripshod over your life, your son's
life...and that doesn't begin to excuse what you allowed her to do to your
daughter!!"

"Does it matter anymore?!" Muchi shrugs. Both are now sitting in the
mansion's atrium, which presently presents a good imitation of a central
African jungle. "You know I've always been soft when it comes to Kinshou!"

"Soft?!" Komeru snorts. "Brother, why did you marry her?!"

"You couldn't, remember?!"

"So?!! Mother could've found you other girls, nicer ones at that!!"

"I didn't want Mother to find me anyone!" Muchi sighs. "I didn't want
Mother to dote all over me like she was willing to!! I wanted to live my own
life!"

"Well, I can understand that now," Komeru crosses his arms. "And now
you're facing the fact that Ataru wants to live his own life. In fact, I'd
say that Ataru's been living his own life since Lum walked into it. You
two've been blithely sailing along, ignoring the hell he's been going
through...and now you're going to pay for it! Big time, if I know Ataru; he's
got two years, maybe more, to get off his chest...and I don't think the Spirit
War fully cleansed him!"

"True," Muchi sighs, staring at the stars. "Actually, to be honest with
you, I'm happy for him."

"Oh?"

"Sure," he nods. "He's out there, starting his own life. He has a
daughter now. And by the looks of it, he's finally overcome his hesitation
when it comes to Lum. Same with Nokoko. She went out, got a life she could
control, and now wants to help Ataru live his own life."

"Then tell them that," Komeru insists. He knew deep down that Muchi did
not always play the role of the haggard, cash-strapped salaryman most would
assume him to be given his propensity for ignoring the mad insanity around him
by reading his paper. "At least let them know you're proud of them."

Muchi considers the point, then shakes his head. "No...not yet," he
sighs. "Let them get their anger out of their systems first. If Kinshou or I
try to force ourselves on them, it'll just make things worse. I understand
that. Kinshou'll have learn to understand it."

"So will Mother when the time comes," his brother nods.

"Yeah," Muchi nods. "It's going to hit the fan when she does face that.
Hopefully, no one'll get hurt over it."

"Yeah, hopefully," Komeru chuckles...

* * *

"A place to run on my own?!" Nokoko blinks as she follows Komeru down
one of Oshika's few main throughfares the next morning.

"That's right," Komeru smiles. "I know you, Cupcake. Even before you
decided to move to the Outland, you always were one who wanted to run your own
life. I'm more than happy to give you whatever stipends you need...but this
might actually make you feel better."

He points. In front of them is a coffee shop now under reconstruction.
The name TIGER CUB CAFE in Roman script and kanji has been posted over the
front door. "A coffee shop?"

"Hey, it's how I started," Komeru shrugs. "It's not too difficult given
your friends' telepathic abilities; they could learn all the tricks in
minutes. Further, given your looks, you've got an edge over other shops."

"That's pretty sexist, isn't it?"

"Hey, if our society was more like the Nendo-kata, we'd be a hell of a
lot better off," her uncle looks apologetic. "Like it or not, you have to
take things as they are. Isn't that what this Unity dictates?"

"Yeah, but always on *our* terms," Nokoko muses.

"And with that, you'll have no problems with any potential hentai-
types," Komeru comments. "All your telekinetic powers, plus the stuff your
friends inherited from their sisters, Nicole and all the tricks that palace of
hers can use...and, if push comes to shove, Ataru and his Cyborg half.
Where's the threat?"

"True," Nokoko muses as she stares into the coffee shop, now halfway
through its renovation. "We'd have to come here to modify it to something
we'd be comfortable with."

"Your choice, Cupcake," Komeru beams, waving her to the Tiger Cub. "As
far as I'm concerned, the sky's the limit on this one!"

Nokoko chuckles. Despite the lies Komeru espoused before he grew tired
of Kinshou's game, he did care deeply for his "daughter," just as much as he
did his many wards. In fact, during the three years Nokoko lived in Sendai,
Komeru always remained at home, playing with her, teaching her, caring for her
as if she was truly his own.

It still angered her...angered Komeru, too...that her mother abandonded
her to Komeru's care, then emotionally abandoned Ataru when Nokoko had left,
when he needed help the most. She still did not understand the full extent of
Ataru's hurt; she had only been with her brother for just a day. Further, she
still did not fully understand what was driving her mother. Was she still in
that much pain over losing *him?* "Uncle, can I ask you something?" she
stares at Komeru.

"What is it, Cupcake?"

Nokoko bites her lip. "Do you ever think about Kaeru-chan?"

Komeru sighs. "Sometimes. I still wonder what happened to his body
after he...well..."

"Does Mom still think of him?"

"All the time, I guess, given the way she treats Ataru," he muses.
"Wishing he was never born, then still thinking of him as her baby. One would
think that after Kaeru-chan died, she would have clung to you and Ataru. It's
crazy the way things work out, isn't it?"

"Does Ataru-chan know?"

"I don't think he remembers Kaeru-chan," Komeru shakes his head. "And
this New Years, Mother and Grandmother have vowed that he'll learn the whole
story. I can only guess what that'll do to his impression of your parents."

Nokoko shrugs. "They only brought it on themselves."

"True..."

* * *

"Okay, that's the last of it!" Ataru cheerily announces as he packs the
rest of his clothes in the dresser bureau. "We're all in!"

"Yay!!" Reiko beams as she hops onto the heart-shaped bed in the room
Ataru and Lum would share, as was proclaimed by a sign on the door. Matching
the three other bedrooms in the upper level of the house, the room was triple
the size of Ataru's old room in Tomobiki. Along with the bed and Korean-style
floor-pipe heating (which Ataru actually preferred over the kotatsu heaters,
partially because of his early encounters with Kotatsuneko), the room had a
large but shallow closet fit for two peoples' wardrobes, a television set in
one corner with two lounge chairs and a dual work area by the door.

Ataru walks out to the kitchen, where Mal is busy preparing tea. "You
got your stuff moved in, Mal-chan?"

"What little we possess," the Nendo-kata-turned-Oni muses as she pours
tea. "Beloved and I will proceed to purchase a wardrobe as soon as we can."

"She still with Uncle looking over the Tiger Cub?"

Mal concentrates for the briefest of seconds. "Yes. They're discussing
something which has made Beloved raise privacy guards."

"Privacy guards?" Ataru looks confused. "What would she wish to keep
from you given how long you've been together."

Mal blushes. "Ataru-kun, even my race values one's right to privacy. I
trust Beloved enough that when she feels fit to tell me, she will tell me."

"Okay. No sense for two relationships to become strained," Ataru nods
as he inspects the rest of his personal domain.

His.

It still was hard to believe even now. The land, the houses, had all
been built with the massed allowance Nagaiwakai had set aside for him every
month (to the value of five hundred million yen per month) for the past ten
years. Added to compound interest with the highest potential yield, it had
become quite a tidy nestegg when Ataru finally tapped into it. He did not
even get those ridiculous century morgages similar to his parents' for their
home. Fortunately, Oshika was enough in the boondocks to ensure that the
property rates, even for three kiometres of beachfront, were not out of
Ataru's reach.

And what a house. With Lum, Nokoko, Mal and Reiko, plus room for their
children when the time came, it was still more than enough. Four very large
bedrooms (one set aside for a nursery), a bathroom, dual kitchens and a dining
room on the upper level; a depressed living room with picture window and
twinned sofas and loveseats with a coffee table on the main level; plus room
for expansion in the basement level even with a laundry machine, dryer, the
furnace and other necessary equipment to keep the place running. This was his
place. No one else had title to this land, this house. His.

Damn, it felt good!

The door then opens, allowing Lum to fly in. "Darling!" she lands,
embracing him. "There you are...*tcha!!*" she emits an awed gasp as she looks
around, drinking in the view.

He stays silent as she makes her way around the home, greeting Mal along
the way. The disbelief and awe...not to mention the first hint of acceptance,
even love...in Lum's eyes sent shivers of delight up Ataru's spine. This had
been his best idea. His parents could never do this, not on his father's
salary. Mendou could do it, but that was if Lum wanted him, which she did
not. No one else could have done this. Only he could. Only he had the right
to do this. That felt even better! "Like?" he purrs as she steps into their
bedroom.

"I love it," she lets out a romantic sigh, leaning back into him. "Oh,
Darling, this is so...so...beautiful!"

"I'm glad," he embraces her from behind, his tongue playfully licking
the tip of her horn-bud. "After all, it's for both of us."

Lum purrs, her own desires coming to life. "Good!" she growls as she
yanks Ataru to the bed. "Let's break it in!"

"Yes, let's!" he nods, chuckling.

In the kitchen, Mal looks up as the door to Ataru's and Lum's room
closes, the faint sounds of giggling and more intimate noises leaking through
the walls. "Ah, the Unity between them is so strong," the Nendo-kata-turned-
Oni sighs. "Once they are free of all the problems before them, nothing will
stand in their way..."

* * *

"Whoa!!!" Benten whistles as she lands her airbike by the front door of
Ataru's house, drinking in the view. "Shit, I better make sure this is the
place!!" Then noting the presence of Lum's scout, she nods. "Yep! This is
it!"

Dismounting her machine, she walks to the door. Before she could ring
the doorbell, the door opens on its own accord. "Come in, Benten-chan!" Mal's
voice calls out from inside.

The Fukunokami shudders as she hesitantly walks inside. The Nendo-kata
were worse than Vosians when it came to sensing someone approach their abodes.
Their telekinetic abilities made it all the more intimidating. This would
take some getting used to. "Yo, Mal!" she waves as she sees the Nendo-kata-
turned-Oni relaxing in the dining room. "Where're Lum and Moroboshi?!"

"Right here, Benten," Lum yawns as she walks out from the bedroom, now
dressed in a housecoat.

Benten is quick to notice the glow on her friend's face. "Whoo, what've
you two been doing?" she snidely muses.

"What do you think?!" Lum sticks her tongue out at her friend. "Darling
and I were trying out our new bed."

"Lucky!" Benten sneers.

"Ah, you're just jealous!" Lum smirks. "You should be a little more
appreciative of Darling, Benten. After all, he helped you fulfill your dream,
remember?!"

"At least he helped move it to the right conclusion," Benten hums as the
two sit at the dining room table.

Mal moves to pour them tea. While they were on Sakusei, Lum had told
Benten about what Ataru had really done for her and Nassur at the close of the
Spirit War. It pleased the Fukunokami because it had been done right behind
Shinobu's back, in such a way that the Terran could not interfere. And with
Nassur's *nicha* for Cinba's passing away fast approaching, the final goal of
Benten's dreams was now in sight. "So where's Moroboshi and his sister?" she
muses, then feels warmth in her feet. "And why's the floor so hot?!"

"Darling's in the bathroom relaxing right now," Lum sips her tea.
"Nokoko-chan's with everyone in Sendai purchasing clothes. And the floor has
heat-pipes in them. Different heating system, adopted from the Koreans.
Darling chose that to ensure that he had no need for kotatsus."

"Which keeps Kotatsuneko away," Benten concludes. "I see his plans to
keep everyone out of this place are running full steam ahead."

"I actually encountered that disembodied sentient when I was in
Tomobiki," Mal muses. "Actually, he is pleased that Ataru-kun is moving to
forge his own school...although Kotatsuneko-kun used the term 'litter' when he
spoke of it."

Both Lum and Benten are surprised. "You actually spoke to him?!" the
former blinks.

"Telepathically, of course," Mal beams. "Kotatsuneko-kun is quite a
conversationalist." She then looks at Lum. "So is his good friend, the sage
who administers your present place of education. He too wishes Ataru-kun
well. Actually, it was they who taught me how to make tea."

"That's nice," Lum smiles. "At least Darling doesn't have to think that
*everyone* in Tomobiki hates him."

"Yeah, but people like Kotatsuneko and the Principal are bit players,
Lum," Benten notes. "The ones you have to worry about are jerks like Lan,
Mendou, Megane, Miyaki and the rest of that crowd."

"Well, I still think Darling's overreacting," Lum sighs.

"Is he?" Mal hums.

"Or are you not reacting enough?" Benten inquires.

Before Lum could answer, a chilly feeling passes through the house.
"What the...?!" Mal blinks as she looks down to see snow drifting from the
door leading to the basement. "What's going on?!"

"Oh, Oyuki's visiting!" Lum smiles. "Come in, Oyuki!!"

The door opens, allowing a small pile of snow to drift out as Oyuki
emerges. "Ah, this must be the place," she notes, then looks up. "Hello,
everyone. Am I too late?"

"Most curious form of transportation," Mal comments.

"Come on up, Oyuki-chan!" Lum waves her friend up.

As Oyuki ascends the stairs, an incensed yell thunders from the
bathroom. "***OYUKI!!!!!!***"

The Tritonian nearly leaps out of her kimono in shock as an incensed
Ataru marches out of the bathroom, dressed in a robe and with a look on his
face which could kill. "Is...th-there a problem, Ataru...?" Oyuki stammers,
shuddering at the air around him boiling.

Ataru's yell then nearly blows all the windows out of the house!
"***WHAT'S THE BLOODY IDEA TELEPORTING INTO MY BASEMENT LIKE THAT?!?!?! AND
WHO GAVE YOU THE GODDAMNED RIGHT TO TELEPORT INTO* MY *HOUSE WITHOUT* MY
*PERMISSION?!?!?!***"

Oyuki pales; NO ONE has ever yelled at her like this! "I...I just came
here to visit Lum-chan, Ataru. Y-you never minded th-that before..."

One look at his face shows Oyuki that Lum's boyfriend no longer accepts
that. "That was when we were all living in that hovel back in Tomobiki!!!
Then, I didn't care what you did to that place considering it was those two
dipsticks who had to pay for it!!!" he threateningly points at her. "This is
MY house!!! Outside of Nokoko-chan, I'M the one who dictates what goes on in
this place!!! And that means if you want to come visit, you teleport here
OUTSIDE this house, then come in like normal people do!!! I will not have you
wrecking MY basement or ruining MY carpets with all the snow you drag in after
you come here from Triton!!! And if you don't do that, I'll have that damn
Warp Chamber of yours shut down by the Inquisition!!! GOT THAT?!?!"

Everyone, even Mal, is stunned by the level of anger which is literally
leeching from all the pores on Ataru's body. "O-of course," Oyuki readily
nods.

"Better!!!" he snaps as he storms back to the bathroom.

The door slams shut after him! "*Tcha*...!" Lum gasps

"Whoa!!" Benten whistles. "What lit his tailpipes?!"

"Well, it is his house after all," Oyuki sheepishly shrugs, looking
somewhat apologetic.

The four women then sit, drinking their tea in silence...

* * *

To be continued...

Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year: "Together The Outland" Part 7
by Fred Herriot
450 Clare Avenue South, Welland, Ontario L3C 3B3 Canada
gorgo@havajava.com
**** **** ****
edited by E.B. Kushnir
**** **** ****
Eleventh in a series of fan-fiction stories based on "Urusei Yatsura," created
by Rumiko Takahashi
**** **** ****

IN THE SIXTH PART OF "TOGETHER THE OUTLAND," Elle learns of Nokoko's presence
in Tomobiki. Fearing her more than Nassur or Dakejinzou, the Rose Queen
orders Seven Bake Rose to hold back until a more opportune chance comes. Lum,
Mie, Nokoko and her friends depart for Oshika, where there is a tearse reunion
between Ataru and his sibling. At a reception Komeru Moroboshi hosts sometime
later, Donna and Nintaiko decide to adopt Annabelle as their daughter. When
his parents arrive to try to drag Ataru back to Tomobiki, Ataru demands that
his mother apologizes to Nokoko, Komeru, Nagaiwakai and himself for her past
misdeeds. She refuses. Komeru tries to make his brother mend fences with his
estranged children. Muchi refuses, believing it best to wait until Ataru and
Nokoko are ready to reconcile. The next day, Nokoko is presented with her own
coffee shop, the Tiger Cub Cafe, for her and her friends to run. By that
time, Ataru's new home, a beachside split-level bungalow, is complete. Lum is
taken away by the effort her Darling took to build their dream home. However,
since he is the house's legal owner, Ataru refuses to permit anything unusual
to happen there, as witness his berating Oyuki when she teleported to the
house to have tea with Lum and Benten...

**** **** ****

To that end...ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!

**** **** ****

"He YELLED at Oyuki?!!" Shinobu gasps.

Everyone surrounds Lum in class the next morning, stunned looks on their
faces. The Oni had just told them about the incident in Ataru's home
concerning the Tritonian's teleporting there when she wanted to have tea with
her friends. "*Tcha!*" the Oni nods. "As far as Darling's concerned, Oyuki
can visit but she can't teleport into the house itself. She has to come down
outside, then walk in like everyone else."

"Oh?!" Megane sneers. "How long was he frozen?!"

"Frozen?!" Lum blinks. "What do you mean?!"

"I mean, how long was he frozen after Oyuki-sama punished him for his
disrespect?!" the guards' leader chuckles.

"Who says anything about Darling being frozen?!" Lum snaps, shocking
Megane with the venom in her voice. "And what about him being punished?!
It's his house, remember?! He sets the rules! If he doesn't want Oyuki-chan
to teleport into his house, she has no right to refuse him!! Just because
she's a princess doesn't mean that Oyuki-chan's not above respecting other
people's property rights!"

Everyone looks surprised. "I thought his uncle owned the property,"
Momoe muses.

"I thought it was a present from his grandmother," Kumiko comments.

"Nope," Mie does not look up from her book. "All the deeds are in
Ataru-chan's name. Now, the money he used was the allowance his grandmother
set aside for him for the past ten years, but he's the one who signed all the
contracts. He doesn't even have to worry about a mortgage; the place is his
until the day he dies."

"He had an allowance?!" Kakugari blinks.

"Five hundred million a month," the Kyushu native comments.

Mendou looks shocked. "FIVE HUNDRED MILLION YEN?!?! That's even more
than I get from my parents!!!"

"Yeah, but his mom always tried to stop him from using it," Mie notes.
"She never told Ataru-chan where his account was or what account number it
was...or something like that."

Everyone looks confused. "Ataru's family is wierd!" Chibi shakes his
head.

"You can say that again," Paama snorts.

"Who cares about that?!" Megane snarls, then turns to Lum. "Don't you
get it, Lum-san?! He's using that place to drive you out of his life!! He
just showed it when he humiliated Oyuki-sama! You just watch!! He'll be
doing it to you before long!!"

"What's this?!" the Oni demands. "Just because Darling wants people to
behave themselves inside his home doesn't mean he's trying to drive me out of
his life! I like that house!! I can even see myself moving there after
school's finished!"

All the boys look shocked. "What?!!" Megane demands.

"And besides," Lum sighs. "I can't leave Darling all by his lonesome up
there. He'll starve if he doesn't have any sex with me!"

Everyone faints! "Hey, who do you think you are?!!" Shinobu barks at
the Oni. "Jamie McTavish and Dansei Fujinami?!!"

Lum, however, is swept in a spotlight, taking microphone in hand. "Oh,
at last, my dreams are coming true!" she calls out. "My own beautiful Darling
has built a home where we can live, we can raise a family and where we can be
together, our love growing every time we touch, we kiss and we unleash the
lustful monsters within us! Who can deny that this is the destiny that we
have sought for so long?! Now I KNOW Darling and I will marry...!!"

Suddenly, Lum is blasted down by Megane's scream! "*NEVER!!!! WE SHALL
**NEVER** RECOGNIZE SUCH A HEINOUS ENGAGEMENT!!!!!!*"

Megane then gets buried by every desk in the class thanks to Mie!!
"***STOP INTERRUPTING LUM-CHAN'S SOLILOQUY, YOU CREEP!!!! THERE'S NOTHING YOU
CAN DO TO STOP IT!!!!!!***"

Koosei then appears beside the prostrate Megane, making notes in his
discipline records. "And that's ANOTHER week's detention for disturbing the
class, Megane!"

"What about Seikou?!" he demands.

"What about her?" the teacher innocently shrugs.

Megane moans. "Hey, Lum-chan!" a voice calls out.

Everyone turns to see Nokoko walk into the class, Ten-chan being held by
his jumper in her hand. "Nokoko-chan, what's going on?! What did Ten-chan
do?!" Lum flies up to her future sister-in-law.

Nokoko hands the young Oni over. "Make sure he doesn't come to Oshika
anymore. Ataru-chan doesn't want him there!"

"What?!" Lum gasps. "Why not?!"

"First of all, he pesters Reiko-chan and Belle-chan when they're
supposed to be going to school!" Nokoko points at Ten-chan.

"I only wanted to play with them...!" Ten-chan cries.

"Quiet!!!" Nokoko barks, making Ten-chan clam up, then turns back to
Lum. "Secondly, as far as Ataru-chan's concerned, he's worn out his welcome
on Earth! He doesn't want Ten-chan coming up there even if he doesn't want to
play with Reiko-chan! If he comes up again without permission, Ataru-chan'll
call Grandma and get Ten-chan's visa revoked and send him back to Uru!"

"What?!!" Ten-chan leaps out of Lum's arms, shocked that Ataru was
willing to push things that far. "She can't do that!!"

"Yes, she can!" Koosei appears behind the young Oni, the ice in his
voice causing Ten-chan to bolt to attention. "And I'll be happy to help her!!
Ten, what did I tell you about disobeying your elders, especially when you're
also trespassing on private property?!"

"But it's only Ataru...!" Ten-chan protests.

Annoyed, Lum zaps her cousin! "That's enough!!!"

The young Oni howls, dropping to the floor. "Ten-chan, you will *never*
go back up north unless Darling or I...**and only Darling and I**...give you
permission to go up there!!" Lum decrees, pointing at him. "If you disobey,
I'LL send you back home!!!"

"But...Lum-chan..." Ten-chan looks shocked by his cousin's decision.
"Why...?!"

"Because that house belongs to Darling and whatever he says goes!!" Lum
growls, causing her cousin to jolt back fearfully. "You have been a source of
trouble to Darling since you first came here! This is a planet with its own
rules, and it doesn't tolerate naughty little boys who don't listen to their
elders!!"

"But I'm a *good* little boy...!!" he whines.

He gets zapped again!! "A likely story!!!" Lum snarls.

Koosei then drags Ten-chan out of the room. "C'mon, Ten-chan! Let's
go! We're going to have a talk with the Moroboshis about you!" He then looks
at his class. "Private study hall, you guys!"

"Yes, sir," they chant.

Mie walks up to Lum. Weren't you being just a little harsh on the
poor guy? she telepathically inquires.

It's the only way he'll learn not to misbehave! Lum shrugs as she
returns to her desk...

* * *

"Well, well, well!!" Seven Bake Rose gleefully cackles as she sees an
image of room 337. "There's Mr. Groom right now...and with Ryooki out of the
way, there's no witnesses!!!"

She programs the teleporter...

* * *

"I'm beginning to understand something," Megane growls.

The other guards and Mendou stand beside him at the back of the class.
"What's that, Aisuru-kun?" Paama hums.

"Ataru's plan," the bespeckled student sneers. "Much that Jariten is a
pest, he's always helped Lum-san keep control over that bastard. Now that
we're all isolated from Ataru by that damn court injunction and with Jariten
out of the way, there's nothing Lum-san can do to prevent Ataru from doing
whatever he wants!"

"That doesn't mention the fact that Ataru can easily drive Lum-chan out
of his life now that he's away from Tomobiki," Kakugari adds. "And once he
does that, she'll be so heartbroken, she'll head back home...or even worse..."
he pales as the most horrible scenario plays out in his mind.

"Don't think of such things, Daremo-kun!" Chibi hisses.

"Then our course of action is simple!" Mendou icily muses. "Moroboshi
must be dragged back to Tomobiki!"

"Yeah, but how?!" Paama demands.

"My, my...what's with the conspiring looks?!" a mocking voice inquires
from behind them.

The five nearly leap out of their uniforms when they see Nokoko standing
behind them, her arms crossed and an amused look on her face. "N-n-nokoko-
san...!" Chibi stammers.

"Trying to drag Ataru-chan away from me against his will, much less
mine?!" Nokoko growls, her eyes glowing burgundy. "I should warn you that
when I first went to the Outland, the matriarch of Mal-chan's school
sacrificed her life essence to save my life before I was killed by the
sulfuric acid fields that place is filled with!"

The five boys gasp, their faces paling, as her telekinetic powers snare
their hearts, applying enormous pressure on them. "And when that happened, I
inherited all her powers," Nokoko icily adds. "Not to mention the
determination all Nendo-kata have to preserve a school's Unity. And my
brother and Mal-chan's sister are now part of our school, which means that if
you try to hurt either of them, either physically or mentally..."

With strangled cries, they collapse into unconscious heaps on the floor!
"...you'll be cast to the depths of the Mother Ocean to feed the sharks!!"
Nokoko makes a cutting motion across her throat, her eyes reverting to their
normal brown.

Seeing Mendou passed out, the girls freak. "Mendou-san!!! What
happened to him?!!" Momoe gasps.

"She didn't even touch them!!" Kumiko stammers.

Nokoko glares at them. "Want some of the same?!" she snarls.

The girls fearfully back away, shaking their heads...just as Mie's
scream is heard. "LUM-CHAN!!!!!!"

Everyone spins around to see the Oni disappear in a teleporter beam, Mie
hanging onto her...and being taken with her! "Lum-chan!!!" Nokoko
screams...just as another teleporter beam takes her away!!

Pandemonium breaks out as Mendou, the guards, Shinobu and Lan are also
seized!!! Before a second is up, a deafening silence has fallen over the
class. "What happened?!!" Natsuko gapes.

"Someone kidnapped them!!" Ryuunosuke blinks. "But...who'd be after
them now...?!"

* * *

"WHERE ARE WE?!?!?!" Lan demands.

Everyone is presently inside a ship's brig. The light pink and white
colours look familiar to some. "I've got a funny feeling about this," Lum
gulps.

"I take it you have an idea where we are," Mie comments.

"Unfortunately," Lum stares at Nokoko. "I think we're on an Ellsian
ship."

"ELLE?!?!?!" everyone else exclaims.

"Yep!" Nokoko sighs. "Unity, what does that worthless bitch want now?!"

"Darling, no doubt," Lum hums, then staring at Nokoko, finds herself
giggling.

"What's so funny?!" Chibi demands.

"S-seven Bake Rose m-must be running this," the Oni nearly falls to her
knees in a spasm of giggles. "She's gonna freak when she finds out that
'Darling'..." she points to Nokoko, "...is really a woman!!"

Hearing that, everyone else howls with delight. "Eh, it's no problem,"
Nokoko snorts. "I warned the bitch the next time she tried to hurt my
brother, I'd go to Elle and kill all her Cute Boys! Guess they're about to
become ashes in their family crypts!"

Surprise crosses people's faces. "You've met Elle?!" Shinobu blinks in
surprise.

"About a half-year ago," Nokoko sits down on a bench. "The Outland
Nebula, where the local interdimensional warp to the Outland is located, is
three systems over from planet Elle. Nicole and I always went there to do
some shopping."

"I'm surprised Elle never noticed you before," Lan blinks in surprise.
"You and Darling do look alike."

"True, but since I only visited the shopping complexes in Baran and
other places, I never got to see the whore face-to-face," Nokoko snorts.
"Until my last visit. Nicole and I were in downtown Baran when Elle's idiot
savant Babara spotted me. Believing I was Ataru-chan, she had me arrested and
dragged to Elle...when it was proven that while I wasn't Ataru-chan, I was
related to him. That's when I heard of her attempt to make a popscicle out of
him."

"I bet that didn't go over well," Mie hums.

"Well, you guys're lucky you never saw her palace after I got done with
it," Nokoko ruefully smiles, eliciting a chuckle from everyone else. "I let
all the Cute Boys loose, then after I nearly rendered Elle into her component
atoms, Nicole and I skipped town."

"I wish you had killed her," Lum moans. "Maybe that was the reason
behind Elle's attempt to kidnap Darling sometime ago; just to keep you at
bay."

"Maybe," Nokoko chuckles. "I never heard about that. But when we all
decided to move out of the Outland and back to Earth, Cole came up with the
idea of templating Donna off Elle. She got samples of Elle's blood when she
went there looking for me, thinking that the bitch snatched me when I was
trying to get to Earth."

"Which means that Elle'll know about Nicole," Lum muses.

"There's still a chance," Mie hums. "Nokoko-chan, do you think Elle
knows about Mal-chan and the others?!"

"No, I've never had cause to tell anyone about them," Nokoko shakes her
head.

"Then there's still a chance that Darling could rescue us with the help
of Nokoko-chan's school," Lum beams. "They'll be a total surprise to Elle,
especially Donna-chan."

Mie and Nokoko happily nod. Everyone else looks shocked. "What?!!"
Megane gasps. "Are you crazy, Lum-san?!! What makes you think that idiot
Ataru's going to try to come rescue us?!!"

"I agree!" Shinobu nods, a lovestruck look appearing on her face. "But
I'm sure Nassur-kun will come rescue us!" she swoons.

Mendou and the guards readily nod. "Don't bet on that," Nokoko snorts.
"Ataru-chan's gone to a lot of effort to help Nassur recognize and marry
*Benten*, not you!! He won't call Nassur just to ensure he stays away from
you, Miyaki!"

Hearing this, Shinobu freaks. "WHAT?!?! How dare that creep try to
mess up my love life...?!!"

Mie side-kicks Shinobu into a bulkhead! "Whose business is it of yours,
Thunderhips?!!" she snaps.

Shinobu moans. "We're doomed," Lan sighs...

* * *

A while later, Rose's frigate docks with the flagship of the Royal
Ellsian Navy, the "Rose Emperor." Double the size of the standard patrol
monitor, the Royal flagship is surrounded by a fleet of a half-dozen monitors,
weapons armed and at the ready. In the hangar deck, Babara waits as the
boarding ramp lowers, allowing Rose to disembark. "We have them!" the
mercenary smiles.

A platoon of Ellsian troops scamper into the ship to retrieve the
prisoners. "Nicely done, Rose," the elderly nanny smiles. "Her Majesty will
be very pleased."

Rose relaxes as the prisoners are towed out. "A pleasure to see you
again, Lum," Babara glares at the Oni. "I don't believe this time we'll be
having surprises coming at us from either Nassur or Dakejinzou Shogai."

"What do you want, you old hag?!" Lum snarls, now restrained thanks to a
power-dampener around her neck.

"What do you expect?" Babara sighs. "Her Majesty's need for Mr. Groom
is much larger and more vital now!"

"What?!!" Megane bellows. "How dare you heap scorn on Lum-san's
dreams...?!!"

Babara belts him with her cane! "Silence, you pig!! Once you and your
four cohorts, plus these two are executed," she icily glares at Shinobu and
Lan, "...then Lum will have no allies left to call upon outside of her
precious Vosian, his partner and Princess Oyuki! Plus, I do not believe I
need to mention what your deaths will do to the Niphentaxians," she stares at
Lum.

"Who are the Niphentaxians?" Shinobu blinks.

"Read the next special," Lum sighs.

"Hey, why are you going to execute me?!" Lan demands. "I'm no friend of
Lum's!"

She gets belted by the cane! "Oh, spare me!" Babara snorts. "We all
know about your pathetic desires for revenge on the Devil's Daughter! Given
your mental instability, killing you would actually be something of a mercy!"

"She won't be missed!" Paama sneers.

Lan growls. Babara's eyes then fall on Mie. "Who is this?"

"Ah...sorry," Rose blushes, bowing. "She got caught up in the
teleporter when I snatched Lum."

"Oh?" Babara hums. "Well, one can admire friendship, although why any
of the females in that school would like Lum, I've really no idea. I don't
recognize you, so we'll spare you...as long as you behave yourself."

Mie glares at the dimunitive Ellsian. "That depends on you," she icily
exhales.

"Ah, Mr. Groom!" Babara turns to Nokoko. "There you are, all safe and
sound! Now, you can finally fulfill your obligation with Her Majesty and
become her official consort."

"Well, if Elle's turned into a lesbian, I'll be more than happy to marry
her," Nokoko quips. "Then again, my life-mate might not take too well to
that!"

Shock crosses the Ellsians' faces as they hear that obviously female
voice. "Wh-what...?!" Babara stammers, then prods her cane into Nokoko's
bust. Getting the wrong result, she spins at Rose. "You fool!!! This isn't
Mr. Groom!!! This is Mr. Groom's sister!!!"

"What?!!" Rose freaks, staring disbelievingly at Nokoko. "Impossible!!!
I could've sworn it was Mr. Groom!! Maybe the Devil's Daughter used a
sex-change gun on him!!!"

"Why would I do that?!" Lum snarls.

"You idiot!!! Why Elle-sama always relies on such an incompetent as
you, I'll never understand!!" Babara snarls.

"Sorry," Rose looks contrite.

The aged nanny then stares at Nokoko. "But...there may be an
opportunity," she muses. "Have her secured with the other prisoners," she
then orders the guards. "I'm going to talk to Elle-sama. Come along, Rose."

The prisoners are dragged off...

* * *

"I really don't like coming here, Osooko-chan!" Asuka looks scared as
they walk up the centre court of Tomobiki High School. "Why are we coming
here anyway?! Can't we just call ahead?!"

"Please control yourself, Asuka-chan," the Nendo-kata sighs. "I sensed
that a great act of disUnity surrounding Nokoko-chan and Lum-chan has just
occured. It has to be investigated."

"Osooko!! There you are!!" a voice cries out.

Ryuunosuke then runs up to them. "Ryuunosuke-chan, what has happened?!"
Osooko inquires.

"Some jerk just kidnapped Nokoko, Lum, Mie and the others!" the tomboy
pants on stopping. "Problem is, we don't have a clue as to who could've done
it or why!!"

"I can explain that," a voice speaks from behind them.

Everyone turns to see Abraham Shapiro standing behind them. "Shapiro-
san?!" Ryuunosuke blinks. "What is it?!"

"I spotted someone who may have been responsible for these abductions,"
the Vosian reports, then looks at Osooko. "Osooko-san, does the name of Seven
Bake Rose sound familiar to you?"

"Her?!" Osooko blinks, then nods. "Ah, yes! The lap-remora of that
sub-creature Donna-chan templated herself from!"

"You mean Elle's behind this?!" Ryuunosuke blinks.

"Unfortunately," Osooko evenly glares skyward. "But she shall now rue
the day she assaulted our school, as did those Mikado Marines on Sakusei
Station when they threatened Benten-chan's life-mate. Come, Asuka-chan. We
must see the others at once."

The two run off. Ryuunosuke and Shapiro watch them leave...

* * *

"Now, who could that be?!" Koosei grumbles as he walks into his living
room, his space-telephone now ringing. Picking up the receiver, he calls into
it, "Yes?"

Elle's image appears on the videoscreen beside the phone. "Hello,
Koosei-kun. It's been a while."

"Elle?" the teacher blinks as he sits down. "Yes, it has. But you're
not one to make a social call. What do you want?"

"Simple enough," the Rose Queen smiles. "Honey."

Koosei moans. "Brother, you are a glutton for punishment, aren't you?!"
he smirks. "What makes you think I'm going to turn him over to you, much less
try to persuade him to come see you?"

"Because if he does not come, he'll never see his sister alive again,"
Elle responds.

"What?!" Koosei blinks.

"Seven Bake Rose has just captured Lum, Nokoko and several of the Oni's
pathetic cohorts, right after you left class with Lum's cousin," Elle smiles
triumphantly. "I've already planned executions for Lum and her friends for
all their many crimes against me...and what they've done against Earth; I
don't need to describe to you what will happen when news of this reaches
Phentax Two. We're prepared against them as well. But I'm willing to spare
and free Honey's sister if he willingly surrenders himself to me."

Koosei glares at Elle's image. The Rose Queen looks frightfully
neutral, in full command of her senses. "What are your terms?" he sighs.

"Simple," Elle nods. "Honey is to call no one...and I mean Nassur,
Lum's father, Dakejinzou Shogai...OR his grandmother for that matter!! I know
all about her connection to Zephyrus. In fact, if she even raises a peep of
protest, Nokoko dies! I'm sure Honey will be able to stop that...say in the
same manner he rid himself of those morons he was sired by!"

"Go on."

"I also know Nicole McTavish is on Earth, too," Elle smiles. "Believe
me, I'll gladly see that witch dead for all she did against me and my Cute
Boys. She is to transport Honey to our frontier near the Yiziba system.
Further, Honey is to come *alone!* I don't want to see that genetic
abomination Yukio near him, much less his daughter! I'll decide what her fate
will be later! When he's there, I have him brought to Elle, then after we
marry, I'll have Nokoko sent back to Earth! Understood?"

"I understand," Koosei nods, holding his face poker still.

"And one more thing," Elle threateningly points at him. "No contacting
anyone with your phone, not even your girlfriend!! I've got a scout
monitoring all communications leaving Earth! Anything from you or Honey's
grandmother and that poor innocent student who was swept up when we took Lum
prisoner...Mie, I think her name is...will be made to suffer! Understood?!"

"Perfectly," Koosei sighs.

The line is cut. At that moment, the door opens. "I take it she's
called you," Shapiro comments.

"She did," Koosei growls, standing. "Well, I better get up to Oshika to
tell Ataru the bad news."

"Osooko-san and her lover are already on their way up," the ice cream
vendor reports. "I hope you can stop them before long."

"I'll try," the teacher moans...

* * *

"***WHAT?!?!?!***" Ataru's rage nearly blows off the roof of his home.
"***WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT ELLE KIDNAPPED LUM AND MY SISTER?!?!?!***"

In the living room, Yukio, all the Nendo-kata, Nicole's group and Koosei
tremble as they stare at a VERY angry Ataru, who has just been told what
happened. "Afraid it's true, Ataru," the homeroom teacher sighs. "Worse,
unless you do exactly as she says, your sister's going to be facing a firing
squad! What did she do that pissed Elle off so much, anyway?!"

"Who cares?!!" Ataru snarls as he turns around, opening and clenching
his fist as he considers what to do. "I actually wish Nokoko-chan had
finished the bitch off!! Then I'd never have to worry about her again!!!"

"And so we shall!!" Mal snarls. "That sub-creature DARES try to shatter
our school's Unity by absconding with our matriarch?!! She'll be in the Black
Ocean, her soul's carcass feeding the devil-sharks, when we're finished with
her!!"

The other Nendo-kata readily nod, letting out a victory cheer. "Hold
it, girls!" Koosei waves them down. "If you try to butt into this, Nokoko'll
be executed!! You can't just blitz off half-cocked like this!! We need to
plan!"

"We're planning!!!" Ataru snarls, spinning on Koosei. "Just because we
don't do this all the time like Nassur doesn't mean we're stupid, you know!!"

"So what in Lecasur's name **do** we do?!" Mujanba cuts in. "Elle's
obviously trying to get Nicole into space so she can be killed, thus ensuring
that no one can try to rescue Nokoko! You can lay bets that once Ataru's in
the Refrigerator, Nokoko'll be dead!"

"I'm not going to sail my palace out there just to get my ass shot
off!!" Nicole protests.

"Say, Cole," Ataru sits beside Nicole. "Can your palace cloak itself?"

"Of course it can," Nicole nods.

"Does it have a teleporter?!" Ataru adds. "And electronic counter-
measures gear to jam sensory, too?!"

"I wouldn't go anywhere without them!"

"And can it do this...?" he whispers into her ear.

Nicole blinks, then nods. "Child's play!!"

"Good!" Ataru devilishly smiles. "Here's what we'll do!"

Everyone huddles...

* * *

"Well, well, well!" Elle mirthlessly smiles as she walks into the brig
aboard the "Rose Emperor" sometime later, flanked by a troop of guards,
weapons out and armed to full power. "Aren't we all cozy?! Don't worry; you
won't be here for long!"

"You witch!!" Lum spins on her. "How dare you keep forcing yourself on
Darling?!! He doesn't want you anymore!!"

"Oh, I'm sure I can persuade him to my cause, especially now that you're
here!" Elle glares at Nokoko. "It's been a while, Nokoko. I see the Outland
has treated you well."

"I've missed you too, slut!!" Nokoko snarls.

Incensed, Elle slaps her. "Mind your place!!" she snarls. "You and
your crystalline friend won't be stopping me from getting what I've waited
twelve years for! As a matter of fact, your friend will be delivering Honey
to me very soon! Once she does that, she'll be executed for her trying to
kill my defenseless Cute Boys!"

"Nicole-san actually did that?!" Megane gasps.

"I wish she succeeded, too!" Nokoko snorts.

"Silence!!" Elle barks. "And once she's out of the way, I'll have you
killed after Honey is in the Refrigerator!"

"You're welcome to try," Nokoko icily smiles. "Just make your first
shot count. 'Cause if I get free, you'll be the first one who winds up in the
Black Ocean! You know your pathetic Freemasons won't slow me down!!"

Lum and Lan stare disbelievingly at Nokoko, understandably awed that she
could make that assertion about challenging the Freemasons, the feared and
respected ninja-like citizen-soldiers of Yehisril now calling planet Elle
home. "Lord Dureko is awaiting the chance of a rematch!" Elle smiles. "In
fact, your fate will be decided by him and his teachers!"

"If you think you're going to get away with this, Elle, think again!!"
Lum snarls. "Nassur-chan or Dakejinzou-chan'll be around soon enough to
rescue us!"

"Oh, I don't think so, Lum," the Rose Queen icily smiles. "I told
Koosei Ryooki if he even THINKS of calling anyone to try to rescue you, then
Nokoko will be put to death...along with this one," she glares at Mie, then
turns back to Nokoko. "Even one peep from Honey's grandmother will be your
death warrant, Nokoko. I'm sure Honey can think of ways of keeping his
grandmother at bay before it no longer becomes necessary."

"We'll see who gets the last laugh," Nokoko muses.

An intercom signal is heard. "Your Majesty," Babara's voice filters
through the wall station. "Signal from our Earth observers. Nicole
McTavish's crystal palace has departed Earth orbit, on course for Yiziba.
Your orders?"

Elle walks over to the console. "Signal the squadron. Have them
proceed to the rendezvous point! Once Honey is safely aboard, have then
destroy McTavish's ship!! And tell the gunners to make sure of it this time!!
No sense in having that witch come out of the grave like Nassur is always want
to!"

"Yes, Elle-sama," the aged nanny nods.

With that, Elle departs, laughing all the way. Watching her go, Nokoko
looks unsure. *Cole, Ataru-chan, I hope you guys are on your toes! This
bitch is playing for keeps!!*

* * *

Sometime later, in a remote sector of Ellsian space, the seven patrol
monitors converge. Already at red alert, weapons armed and at the ready, they
maintain a vigil for Nicole's travelling palace. Elle remains relaxed in the
command chair of the "Rose Emperor." "Any sign of that woman's ship?!" she
barks.

"Nothing yet, Your Majesty...wait!" a sensory officer blinks as contact
is made. "Single vessel, approaching from the direction of Earth-Triton!
Configuration matches Nicole McTavish's ship!!"

"Excellent!" Elle smiles. "Signal her!"

The screen then dissolves into an image of Ataru and Nicole, both
standing in the palace's control centre. "We're here, Elle!" the latter
snorts. "Where do you want him?!"

"Right here," Elle waves beside her.

"Okay," Nicole nods.

Ataru then disappears in a teleport beam...to reappear beside Elle.
"Honey!!" the Rose Queen beams, leaping at him...

...and ramming chin-first into his elbow! "Don't act so familiar with
me, bitch!!" Ataru snarls. "I'm **not** one of your pathetic Cute Boys!!
What they ever saw in you is way beyond me!"

Elle collapses to the deck, now nursing a nice bruise under her lips.
The whole bridge crew is stunned silent by his act. She angrily glares at
him. "Why'd you do that?!"

"Want some more?!" Ataru icily inquires, the murderous gleam in his eyes
sending chills down everyone's spine, including Elle's.

Staggering to her feet, she spits up blood. "Let's see how defiant you
are after this!" she snarls, then turns to the captain. "Fire at will!!"

The seven patrol monitors blast away at the crystal palace. It
literally disintegrates into atoms! Smiling, she then faces Ataru. "Well,
where's your spirit now, Honey?!"

"It's quite fine," Ataru whistles, staring at his fingernails. "You
honestly think we'd fall for that old trick?"

Elle looks surprised at his ability to resist her trying to intimidate
him. "What?!!"

"That wasn't Nicole's palace you destroyed," Ataru smiles. "It was just
a hollow mass which was remotely controlled by the crystal palace, which is
quite far away. Oh, by the way, your little scout was taken into custody by
the Zephyrite Navy on Grandma's orders just after we left." He then glares at
her. "There are other ways of sending messages to my grandmother besides a
telephone, you know."

Elle shudders. "If I even hear a peep from her, your sister dies,
Honey! That's a promise."

"You try it...and *you* will die," Ataru icily responds. "And I have
ways of making that happen. And don't think these Freemasons I've heard so
much about'll stop me, either. I've got something even they'll find very hard
to swallow!"

"You mean your little transformation trick," Elle smirks. "We've made
preparations for that!"

"Since when was I talking about the Cyborg?" Ataru smiles.

The two glare at each other. Ataru remains frightfully neutral and Elle
tries to retake command of the situation. "Fine, then!!" the Rose Queen
snorts. "If I have to earn your love, Honey, I will! Have him taken to join
his friends!!" she barks at a pair of very large guards.

"Yes, ma'am!" they grab Ataru by both arms...

...then wind up pitched into the deckhead! "No thanks," Ataru yawns as
he heads for an exit. "I don't like aggressive women. I get my fill of that
from idiots like Miyaki and Fujinami!"

A platoon of guards escorts him out, keeping out of range of his hands.
Elle shudders, then turns to the captain. "Have two monitors place here to
keep an eye out for McTavish!! Inform me at once if there's even a sign of
her!"

"Yes, ma'am!!" the captain salutes as the Rose Queen storms off the
bridge.

Total silence reigns on the bridge as everyone stares at each other,
stunned and scared. "Incredible!" a communications officer whispers to her
friend. "It's like he's a different man! What happened to him?!"

"I don't know, but Her Majesty's out of her mind if she thinks she's
going to tame him!" the other officer hisses. "I don't even think Lord Dureko
would take him on like this!!"

"Yeah!" a third officer nods. "Did you hear what he did to the Masters
of Noukiios, not to mention the Devil's Daughter in their last Tag Race?!
Elle-sama's going to get that if she's not careful!!"

The others hum as they consider that point...

* * *

"What happened to him?!" Elle cries as she staggers into her bedroom,
slamming the door behind her. "What did that Oni witch do to make him so
evil?!" With an anguished sob, she falls on her bed, gingerly feeling the
bruise Ataru's elbow left her. "Why couldn't he be like he was twelve years
ago?!"

Letting out a sigh, Elle slips herself out of her battlesuit and cape,
then proceeds into the bath to refreshen herself. "Oh, how am I going to make
Honey love me?" she moans as she slips into the warm water, taking a cloth to
her bruised cheek.

She yelps as the pain rips through her nerves. Meanwhile, in the
bedroom, two figures sneak out of the shadows: Donna and Mujanba. The former
takes hold of Elle's battlesuit and cape. Coast is clear, the Vosian's
eyes flash as she psi-links to the Nendo-kata. Let's do it!

Donna nods as they return to the shadows, this time with Mujanba hiding
herself behind the door to the bathroom. Moments later, Elle emerges, drying
herself off. "Oh, what to do...?"

"How about going to sleep, sister?" a voice inquires.

Elle stops, totally shocked to see *herself* sitting on the bed, now
dressed in her uniform. "Who...?!!" she gasps, then tries to bolt for the
intercom...

...but is knocked out when Mujanba delivers a chop to her neck! "Uh-uh,
trench-wave!!" the Vosian smiles, wagging her fingers in a no-no gesture as
the Rose Queen drops to the deck. "No calling your friends!"

Donna then walks over to gently touch her sister's forehead, her eyes
glowing for a moment. "There!" she nods, standing as her eyes revert to
normal. "That should ensure that no one will suspect the truth. And this
should take care of any others!" her eyes again glow burgundy as she sweeps
the room with her powers.

Cries of shocked outrage are heard as a half-dozen black-clad forms drop
hard to the deck!! All are as husky-skinned as Anna, Babara's co-worker in
Project: Black Rose. "Thanks, Donna-chan!" the Vosian smiles. "It's always
such a pain dealing with Yehisrites since our tracking powers can't detect
their brainwaves."

"We are not so restricted," Donna notes.

Mujanba quickly piles their prisoners together, then presses one of the
crystals on her arm. She, Elle and the Freemasons disappear in a teleport
beam. With that, Donna relaxes. "Queen for a day," she hums, then looks
concerned. "But...if what I sensed from my sister is true...perhaps there are
other parties involved in trying to plunge Elle into the depths of disUnity.
If that is true, then it must be investigated at once."

Humming, she lays back on her bed, wondering what to do...

* * *

To be continued...

Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year: "Together The Outland" Part 8
by Fred Herriot
450 Clare Avenue South, Welland, Ontario L3C 3B3 Canada
gorgo@havajava.com
**** **** ****
edited by E.B. Kushnir
**** **** ****
Eleventh in a series of fan-fiction stories based on "Urusei Yatsura," created
by Rumiko Takahashi
**** **** ****

IN THE SEVENTH PART OF "TOGETHER THE OUTLAND," after everyone hears about the
incident in Oshika concerning Oyuki, Nokoko drags Ten-chan to class, warning
Lum that the young Oni will not be permitted to come to Oshika without
permission again. Koosei takes Ten-chan to have a talk with the
Moroboshis...which is when Seven Bake Rose strikes, kidnapping Nokoko
(believing her to be Ataru), Lum, Mie, Mendou, the guards, Shinobu and Lan.
After discovering her henchwoman's mistake, Babara quickly contemplates a new
plan. Everyone learns that Nicole and Nokoko have become Elle's enemies over
the latter's mistreatment of Ataru. Ataru is then sent the conditions for his
sister's safe release: he is to come alone (Nicole is to bring him), and he
is not to contact anyone who could help him rescue the others. Ataru
arrives...but the changes which have altered his personality so much since
"Sakura's Class Reunion" make many wonder if Elle has not lost her senses in
her mad pursuit of her Honey. Further, Ataru is not interested in playing
Elle's game. The Rose Queen's attempts at killing Nicole fail abysmally...and
shortly afterward, Donna beams aboard to switch places with Elle, the latter
now Nicole's prisoner...

**** **** ****

And with all that said...ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!

**** **** ****

"Darling, are you alright?!!" Lum gasps as she leaps to Ataru's side,
keeping him sitting straight.

The Terran moans, a dazed look on his face. He has just been brought
into the cell holding Lum, Nokoko and the others after he was escorted off the
bridge of the "Rose Emperor." Seeing no physical damage, Lum angrily spins on
Babara, who accompanied the guards. "What did you do to him, you old hag?!!"

"Oh, come now," the elderly Ellsian sighs. "Do you honestly think we're
going to take chances with Mr. Groom's ability to transform himself into that
cybernetic monstrosity he's been using on all of you? Do not worry. He has
just been injected with a neural paralyzer, which is inhibiting his higher
brain functions. He's as helpless as a kitten."

Lum has fire in her eyes. "You won't get away with this!!"

"We already have," Babara sneers as she walks out, the guards following
her.

Once they are alone, Lum, Mie and Nokoko turn to try to slap Ataru back
to his senses. "Hey, little brother, snap out of it!!" his sister barks into
his ears. "We need you now!!"

Ataru lets out a weak moan as he sinks to his side. "I wanna go to
sleep, Mommy..." he drunkenly slurs as his eyes close.

Everyone else has fearful looks on their faces. "Oh, man, this is the
worst!" Paama gulps. "Ataru's now a zombie and we're just hours away from
being executed because we like Lum-chan!"

"It's what you get for not having a life, Tweedledee!" Mie snorts,
reaching over to lightly touch Ataru's face. "Maybe you'll get a chance once
you're in Hell; I doubt you'll be heading upstairs given the shit you
idiots've caused!"

Outraged growls utter from the boys as the Kyushu native tries to psi-
probe Ataru's mind. "How is he?!" Lum looks anxious.

Mie shakes her head. "All I get is a sign saying 'Out of Order,'" she
sighs, pulling her hand away. "I wish I had Nassur's ability to use a psychic
knife. That'd snap Ataru-chan out of it in a flash."

The Oni sighs, sitting beside her unconscious Darling. She then looks
over. "Is the *saikoo jinseijitsu* affected?"

Everyone from Tomobiki turns sheet-white with mortal fear at Lum's
unspoken suggestion. Mie touches Ataru's face. "Nope," she shakes her head.
"It's in a different part of Ataru-chan's mind than what normally affects the
Cyborg. I don't think Elle's lapdogs know it's even there. You thinking what
I'm thinking?"

Lum hesitantly nods. "If push comes to shove...let it out. One good
whack in the back of Darling's head'll do it."

"Okay," Mie nods.

Megane leaps over to stare Lum in the eye. "Lum-san, are you CRAZY?!?!"
he gasps. "Let that monster out of his head?!! It'll kill all of us for sure
this time!!!"

"Maybe," Lum sighs. "Then again, that thing hates everyone who shows
any kindness to Darling. I'm betting that since Elle wants Darling for
herself...not to mention her wanting to freeze him in her refrigerator...the
*saikoo jinseijitsu* won't take to that idea well."

Mie and Nokoko readily nod to that idea. The others still look
hesitant, vividly remembering their experiences with the rampaging ninjitsu
database during the dark hours of the Spirit War. "I'm still hoping for
Nassur-kun," Shinobu shudders.

"Dakejinzou would look good right about now," Lan adds.

"Or Nokoko-chan's friends," Mie sits beside Lum. "I suppose we have to
sit back and wait for the fireworks to start."

"Yeah," Lum nods...

* * *

"Oooh..." Elle moans. "Where am I...?"

The Rose Queen's eyes open, then she shudders on feeling that she is
upside-down somewhere. Looking around, she finds herself in a room completely
walled by crystal. Further, her nude body is bound hand and foot by
crystalline braces. Looking down, she then pales on seeing that she is
potentially about to be lowered into a very thin, dark tube about the same
size as a photon torpedo launcher. "Where am I?!!" she barks out, trying to
free herself. "What is this place?!!"

"Welcome aboard my ship," an ominous voice growls from behind her.

Elle shudders as Nicole walks into view. "You!!!" she snaps, icily
glaring at the crystal-studded Scotswoman. "How dare you do this to me?!! My
troops will have you hunted down and slain for this act!! And that's not to
mention what will happen to Honey's sister!!"

"A pity the little brigade of skirmishers that were in your quarters
won't be around to make their reports to their bosses back in Baran," Nicole
smiles. "Yehisrites might be able to block out Vosian powers like my lover's,
but a Nendo-kata can pick them out in the blink of an eye. They're right over
there!" she points.

Elle looks over to see her half-dozen Freemason guards now frozen inside
crystalline torpedoes, almost as if they were in the Refrigerator of Love's
cryostasis tubes. Turning back to Nicole, she tries her best to look defiant.
"How can you explain my disappearance from the 'Rose Emperor' then?!
Someone's bound to notice sooner or later that I'm gone!"

"Oh?!" Nicole laughs. "Don't you remember that nice little cut I gave
you last time I was in Baran?! Why do you think I took it?! Nokoko and I
weren't the only people who lived in our part of the Outland, you know!
Mal-chan, why don't you join us?"

Elle turns white on seeing what to her appears to be Lum walk into the
room. "L-l-lum...?!" she fearfully stammers.

Understandably incensed, Mal zaps her with lightning, a bolt of energy
which nearly burns Elle to a crisp! "You disgusting sub-creature!!!" she
growls, her eyes ablaze. "How DARE you think of destroying our school by
murdering my Beloved, not to mention my poor sister?!! Believe me, the
punishment we are preparing for your many heinous acts will more than befit
the crimes you have committed!!!"

Elle emits a blood-curling scream, having never felt Lum's lightning
before this, especially not at the uncontrolled ferocity Mal can unleash.
"Mal-chan isn't the only one of her kind, you know," Nicole cuts in. "Another
one is Donna. You may remember her. She was sitting on your bed when
Muja-chan knocked you out."

The Rose Queen pales. "Wh-what...?"

"Let me explain. Nendo-kata are telepathic and telekinetic, as well as
possessing an allasomorphic ability to grow a new body just like that!" Nicole
snaps her fingers. "When I took your blood, I gave it to Donna, who grew
herself a body which is physically the same as yours right to the last
chromasome and RNA strand. When we put you to sleep, she also mind-scanned
you, copying things like body language, dialect, not to mention all your
knowledge and plans. As far as everyone is concerned, even your old maid,
Donna...is you."

Elle shudders. "Very soon, Elle will be ordering back all her forces
from the frontier...not to mention transmitting all command codes for your
navy to us prior to docking in Baran. Once she and Ataru are at the altar,
she'll knock out any neural paralyzer you may have planned to use on him to
keep the Cyborg down. And as for your guests at the wedding...well," Nicole
shrugs, "...I hope their papers are in order."

"That's an act of war!!" the Rose Queen snarls.

"Tough shit!" Nicole viciously slaps her. "You should've just taken the
hint and left Ataru-chan alone!! I wonder what he's going to have in mind
when he gets back aboard! Maybe eternity in the Outland frozen in
crystal...or even better, just beam you in there and let the acid fields do
the work! You'll probably live for about ten seconds before you're nothing
more than ashes!! Think on that!"

The two women then walk out of the chamber. Elle tries to free herself.
"Someone, help me!!!" she cries...

* * *

Sometime later, the "Rose Emperor" arrives at the Royal Docks outside of
Baran. Troops form a guard of honour as "Elle"...Donna, now dressed as the
Rose Queen...disembarks alongside Babara and Seven Bake Rose. "Have Honey
taken and prepared for the wedding," the fake Rose Queen orders. "Let's not
dally. The sooner it's done, the sooner Honey's in the Refrigerator and Lum
and her friends are forever out of my hair!" *Oh, the Mother Ocean will make
me pay for that comment!* she ruefully muses to herself.

"Of course, Elle-sama," Babara nods, not suspecting one bit that this is
not the real Elle. "What of Lum and her companions? Shall we execute them
now?"

"No, that's not necessary," Donna shakes her head. "Have them brought
to the cathedral. I want Lum to witness this. I'll decide what to do with
them later."

"Certainly, Elle-sama," the aged nanny nods, then heads off.

Donna then turns to Rose. "Rose, would you relay to all our monitors on
the frontier that they are now released to their normal patrol duties? I
don't think we'll need them to stand guard anymore."

"You sure about that, boss?" Rose looks concerned. "Nassur or Shogai
might pull a fast one on us."

"With the life of Honey's sister and Lum on the line?" Donna's eyebrow
rises. "I doubt even Honey's grandmother would risk losing her last living
grandchildren just to salvage her honour."

"True," Rose hums.

She moves to obey but is obviously still unconvinced. The transformed
Nendo-kata's eyes narrow as an annoyed look crosses her face. "And I don't
recall giving you an option to question my orders, Rose!!" she growls, her
voice rising an octave.

The mercenary shudders, having never heard her superior raise her voice
to her like that before. "S-sorry, b-boss!" she stammers. "I'll get right on
it!!"

With that, she scrambles back to the "Rose Emperor." At that time, the
prisoners are escorted off the ship. Ataru is now on a stretcher being
carried by two guards. "Elle, you witch!!!" Lum snarls, being held back by a
half-dozen guards. "You'll never get away with this!! I swear you'll never
get away with this!!!"

Donna turns away, letting out a snort. "That's what you think, Lum-
chan!" she sneers. "Let's see what you think after Honey and I've wed!! See
them prepared for the ceremony!"

"Yes, ma'am!!" the guards respond, towing their charges away.

With that, the fake Rose Queen makes her way to an automated hovercar,
which takes her to the palace. Once alone, she emits a long sigh. "I hope
Nicole-chan and the others come soon," she quietly muses, staring at the
beautiful skyline of Baran.

"*Is there a problem, Your Majesty?*" the car's onboard computer
inquires.

"There is no problem," Donna slips back into her role...

* * *

"'Lum-chan?!'" Mie blinks confusedly, keeping her voice down, after the
prisoners are forced into changerooms to prepare for the ceremony. "Since
when did Elle ever get that personal with you?" she stares at the Oni.

Lum hums as she slips out of her bikini, then frowns at the gown she is
being forced to wear. "I don't know, Mie-chan," she sighs as she slips into
it. "It's nothing."

"Nothing like hell," Nokoko snickers as she whispers into Lum's ears.
"We've got a friend in the right place."

The Oni blinks as she stares at Ataru's sister, then her eyes widen as
Nokoko mouths the word "Donna." "Oh, that's wonderful," Lum giggles as she
continues to dress, then mouths the Nendo-kata's name to Mie in response to
her questioning look.

Mie snickers. "Oooh, this is going to be good!"

* * *

"Lord Dureko," Donna smiles at the image before her. "How nice to see
you again. I trust you are well?"

The man on her videophone screen is a middle-aged Yehisrite with wavy
silver-flecked rust-red hair, a thick handlebar moustache and penetrating
green eyes. He is dressed in what appears to be a light pink button shirt.
"I am fine, Your Majesty, but I really would desire you not start
conversations with idle pleasantries," he grumbles. "What is it you desire of
me?"

*A race we could actually admire for their forthrightness,* Donna muses
to herself. "As you should know, Honey is once again in my hands. I will
have the wedding right away to prevent any further problems. However, despite
all the precautions I've taken, the chance is still there that someone might
come along to try to ruin my plans for marrying Honey. Naturally, I would
want that stopped."

"You should've asked us the first time you tried to wed the Slayer of
the Masters of Noukiios," Dureko comments, crossing his arms. "The Devil's
Daughter and her cohorts would all be in the Three-Faced One's court by now
had we been there two years ago."

"True, true," the fake Rose Queen dismisses the comment with a wave. "A
mistake in planning on my part. I sorely underestimated Lum's resolve to hang
onto Honey. No mistakes this time. I wish five echelons to be at the
cathedral in an hour so that any intruders can be swiftly dealt with. Once
the ceremony is over, they will then have the right to do whatever they please
to Lum and her followers."

Dureko looks surprised; an echelon was a battallion-strength group (nine
hundred warriors), which, given the Freemasons' skills, would make five
echelons a serious case of overkill even when dealing with the likes of
Dakejinzou Shogai! "Five echelons, Your Majesty?!"

"Yes, five echelons, Lord Dureko," Donna nods, flashing him an very
annoyed look. "As the Terrans are fond of saying, 'better safe than sorry.'"

"True," Dureko nods. "As you wish, Your Majesty. We shall be there.
Dureko out."

The screen goes dark. Smiling, Donna stands as she strips out of her
borrowed battlesuit, then walks over to where Elle's beautiful white wedding
gown was laid out in preparation for her big day.

Her telepathic powers had read Dureko's mind even while they had been
talking. The Yehisrite warlord was surprised, even suspicious, by "Elle"
taking such overprecautions, but had not guessed that was because the person
he was talking to was not the Rose Queen. And five echelons constituted half
the fighting force Dureko had at his command. With the others scattered
across the Kingdom, everyone would be back safe on Earth before re-
enforcements could be called.

Staring at the wedding gown, Donna sighs. It would look so good on her
when she handfasted with Nintaiko...

* * *

"So this is the Baran Cathedral," Megane looks around in awe at the size
of the very large church located near the Royal palace. "Nice place!" he
whistles at the rose-influenced architecture, not to mention the sixty-three
stained glass windows, each bearing the image of the Ellsian Kingdom's
previous Rose Queens.

"It is that, isn't it?" Mendou muses, then struggles with the handcuffs
holding his hands behind his back. "I just wish we weren't being forced to
tour it."

"Who's he?" Shinobu nods to a stained glass window behind the pulpit,
displaying the image of a very handsome man dressed in the robes of royalty, a
sword in one hand and a sceptre in the other.

"Adam, the Rose Emperor who founded the modern Ellsian state," Lum
explains. "He's a great hero to Elle's people. He saved the planet from
being invaded by the Seifukusu Dominion, villains who even make the Ipraedies
these days look tame."

"Poor guy must be turning over in his grave right now..." Paama
moans...then yelps as a rifle butt slams into the back of his head! "Hey,
watch it!!" he snaps.

The female soldier behind him gives Paama an icy stare. "How dare you
make light of the Rose Emperor's accomplishments?!!"

"Geez, sorry!" Paama grunts.

Kakugari looks around, noting that the walls are lined in black-clad
husky-skinned warriors. "Who're all the ninjas?"

"They're the Freemasons," Lum gulps. "Yehisrite versions of Grandma's
ninjas...and just as nasty. Atop that, they're totally loyal to Elle."

"We're dead," Lan shudders.

The murmur of the crowd then dies down. "Hey, there's Ataru and Elle!"
Chibi hisses.

The Wedding March begins. Everyone stands as the "couple" slide to the
altar on a moving pad. Awaiting them is the large bishop who presided over
Elle's first attempt at marrying her Honey. Ataru still has a very dazed look
on his face, he being supported by Seven Bake Rose. "Poor Ataru-kun," Shinobu
sniffs, momentarily forgetting her anger and sadness over his ending their
friendship. "He probably doesn't even realize what's happening."

"He'll get a wake-up call very soon," Nokoko smiles...

* * *

At that moment, the "Rose Emperor" and her sisterships are in a deployed
orbit over the gateway leading through Elle's planetary defence shield into
Baran. On the bridge of the flagship, the crew watches as their "leader"
proceeds to the altar alongside Ataru. "Well, it looks like she'll make it
through this time," the captain smiles, commenting to the first officer.
"Maybe now she'll calm down and start acting rationally again."

"And Babara-sama and Dureko-sama can sit down and find out who's been
trying to manipulate Her Majesty and put whoever it is out of business," the
first officer nods agreeingly.

A sensory alarm sounds off. "Ma'am, contact bearing down at us!" the
sensory officer yips. "It's McTavish!!"

"Red alert!!!" the captain barks, then braces herself as the bridge
lights dim. "Looks like they decided to try it anyway!!"

Suddenly, all seven ships darken as all power fades. "What the...?!!"
the first officer gasps in sudden surprise.

Nicole's disembodied voice then sounds off all around them. "Sorry
about that, loves," she giggles. "Can't let you scream to the surface that
we're heading in to raid the party. And I don't suggest you try to fire on me
if you get power back on line. Right now, your tramp of a queen's my prisoner
and I'll have her executed on the spot if you even think of shooting at us!"

The monitors begin to drift as the crystal palace charges past them,
flying through the portal toward Baran. On the bridge, the crew leap to
emergency stations as they try to keep some sense of control over their
vessels. "Elle-sama is McTavish's prisoner?!!" the first officer cries,
staring at the captain.

The captain is just as surprised. "Then...who's that in the Cathedral
with Mr. Groom...?!"

* * *

By this time, the ceremony is halfway finished. Ataru remains in his
dazed state, still being held upright by Rose. Donna remains in place, a
bored look on her face, now realizing that the mating rituals of air-breathers
seemed to drag on for Eternity! *Blessed Mother Ocean, will he finally get
this over with?!* her eyes roll. *I could have mated with Nintaiko-chan and
we could've had our babies at the rate this sub-creature is carrying on this
madness!*

In the audience, the assembled dignitaries look pleased. With the
Freemasons in visual range, they believe that this time, Elle has succeeded in
netting the one she has sought for so long. Mendou, the guards, Shinobu and
Lan have defeated looks on their faces, the realization dawning on them that
their luck in getting out of scrapes like this has probably just dried up.
Lum, Nokoko and Mie remain relaxed, mentally preparing themselves for when the
party-crashers came to rescue them. "I hope my handfasting with Mal-chan
doesn't take this long," Nokoko whispers to Lum.

"Sensualists do a nice, clean ceremony," the Oni advises. She had
talked with Nokoko in the "Rose Emperor's" brig about possible same-sex mating
ceremonies she and Mal could explore when they finally got back together.

"Now's not the time to talk about getting married, you know," Lan snarls
from behind them.

"What the hell do you care, airhead?" Mie snarls, icily glaring at her
classmate. "Considering how moronic that boyfriend of yours is, I wonder if
he's even got enough intelligence to propose to you, much less make love to
you!"

Lan looks ready to explode. "I resent...!!"

A rifle butt shuts her up. By this time, the bishop has reached this
point. "If there is anyone who in any way objects to these two being wedded
in holy matrimony, let them speak now...or forever hold their peace!" he
declares.

"I wish they never included something like that," Babara muses from
nearby.

Suddenly, a voice yells out, "I object!!!"

Everyone spins around to see the cathedral's doors fly open, a lithe
form striding purposefully into the hall. Shocked looks cross everyone's face
on seeing that this is a woman. "Nintaiko-chan?!!" Shinobu blinks, wondering
how her sister had come to be there.

"Who are you?!!" the bishop demands.

At that moment, Donna reaches over to grip Ataru's hand. Her eyes glow
burgundy for a brief second. Ataru jolts, then shakes his head, his dazed
look being replaced by momentary confusion. Nintaiko continues to approach
the altar. "I'm Nintaiko Miyaki of the Great School of the Nendo-kata!!" she
points at Donna and Ataru. "And that's **my** life-mate you're trying to
marry off there!!!"

"Oh, you want her?!" Ataru surprisingly blinks, then stares at "Elle."
"Donna-chan, shame on you!!" he snorts. "And here I thought you were that
moronic bitch you templated yourself from!" He then backs off the pedestal,
shoving Rose aside as he waves Nintaiko up. "Here you go, Nintaiko-chan!!
She's all yours!"

"Thank you, Ataru-chan!!" Nintaiko bows to him, then heads to the altar
to take her place beside Donna.

"Wait!!!" Babara barks. "What's the meaning of this?!"

"Isn't it obvious?!" Ataru icily glares at her. "I decided to change
the game! The old one bored me!!"

His left eye glows as he fires pulse beams at Lum, Nokoko and Mie,
shattering their bonds. "Thanks, Darling!!!" the Oni leaps into the air,
zapping Babara before she could sound the alarm!

"Ataru-chan, behind you!!!" Mie barks.

Before Rose could slam him with another neural paralyzer shot, psychic
flame consumes Ataru...and the mercenary finds herself caught by the Cyborg,
boosted into the air via her neck! He makes a "no-no" gesture, then cocks his
hand. "**I normally don't hit ladies, but then...**" he lets it fly,
"***YOU'RE NO LADY!!!!!!***"

Rose is smashed through a wall, taking with her a phalanx of
Freemasons!! "**Shoot, Nassur's right!**" Ataru snorts. "**She DOES have a
glass jaw!!**"

Pandemonium breaks out as the other Freemasons prepare to attack. "At
them, lads!!!" Dureko barks from the back of the room.

Before the Yehisrites could charge, the very cathedral shakes as if it
was seized by a giant's hand! The windows shatter and the masonry explodes as
sharp fragments lance into the crowd, blowing them down like a platoon of
infantry hit by canister fire!! Everyone from Earth hits the deck as Mal's
voice is heard. "***WHERE IS BELOVED AND MY SISTER?!?!?!***"

"Mal-chan!!!" Lum yips as she dodges stun-fire from whatever Ellsian
security forces survived the Nendo-kata's assault.

It turns into a total free-for-all as the guests and anyone else who
does not look like Ataru, Lum, Donna, Nintaiko, Nokoko and Mie are hit with
every conceivable attack the Nendo-kata and their allies have at their beck
and call. Even Asuka is there, screaming "MEN!!!!!! AIYEE!!!!!! GET AWAY
FROM ME!!!!!!" as she takes a bee-shaped fighter and bashes away any male
Freemason who tries to get close to her. Osooko stays close to her future
life-mate's side, shielding the paranoid Terran from any female Freemasons who
would take advantage of Asuka's phobia. From above, particle fire from
various points on Nicole's crystal palace pours down to cut the cathedral off
from any possible re-enforcement. And in the thick of it is Ataru, who now
finds himself surrounded by three phalanxes of warriors. "Surrender now and
we'll be easy on you!!" Dureko warns from nearby.

The Cyborg crosses his arms. "**Go ahead!!! You can't be any worse
than the Masters of Noukiios!!**"

Insulted that he would compare them to a group of slave traders, the
Freemasons let out a enraged cry as they charge. Ataru is instantly dogpiled
by three hundred Yehisrites! "Darling!!!" Lum gasps as she sees this from
above, then forms a lightning ball. "Get off him this instant...!!!"

An explosion of bodies then occurs as the Cyborg bashes them all away
with one arm!! Lum yelps as she leaps to safety, then stares in awe on seeing
that her transformed boyfriend is unharmed. "**I was right!**" Ataru snorts
as he moves to take on the next group. "**You ARE worse than the Masters of
Noukiios!**"

"Oh, Darling's okay!" Lum giggles as she heads back to work.

Meanwhile, Nokoko and Mie charge out of one of the holes in the
cathedral walls, heading for a large, remote building on the palace grounds.
Mal flies out after them. "Beloved, where are you going?!" the
Nendo-kata-turned-Oni inquires.

"To Elle's stupid Refrigerator!!" Nokoko snarls. "I got a promise I'm
going to see fulfilled!"

From inside the cathedral, Babara watches with growing horror as Ataru's
sister and her companions heads to the Refrigerator of Love. "No!!" the aged
Ellsian gasps. "That witch must be stopped!"

She then gets buried by the unconscious bishop, knocked out by Nintaiko
and Donna! "He refused to bond us!!" the former snarls. "What a sub-
creature! Can't they see that our love is just as legitimate as Lum-chan's
love for Ataru-kun?!"

"Who cares about what these silly air-breathers think?!" Donna sighs.
"You're lucky you weren't here standing through this barbaric ceremony!! I
almost fell asleep the way he droned on like that!"

"Well, I best take you to bed, then!" Nintaiko beams as she sweeps Donna
into her arms, then levitates toward Nicole's palace.

"Hey, is someone going to get us out of these damn chains?!!" Lan cries
out.

"**Sure, I will...!**" Ataru looks at them after knocking back another
phalanx of Freemasons.

"Oh, Darling, you're so nice!!" Lan beams.

Ataru's eye-beam then slices through a still-intact section of the side
wall! It then collapses right atop his former classmates!! "**Not!!!**" the
machine-man mirthlessly laughs as he ploughs into another group of Freemasons.

"Darling...you're just...plain awful..." Lan's voice escapes from
somewhere under the wreckage.

After blasting a group of dignitaries with her lightning, Lum flies to
Ataru. "Darling, where's Nokoko, Mal and Mie?!"

Osooko comes up. "They're heading for this place where Elle keeps her
cryofrozen lovers," she reports. "I believe Nokoko-chan intends to see them
sent to the Black Ocean!"

"**Good!!**" Ataru snorts.

"No...you mustn't..." a weak voice pleads.

Everyone turns to see Babara crawling her way out from under the
unconscious bishop. "'Mustn't?!!'" Lum snarls, lightning dancing over her
body. "You old ghoul!!! After all of Elle's stupid tricks and lies, after
all the times she's barged in where she doesn't belong, if you think we're
going to let you off scot-free this time, you're wrong!!!"

"I agree!!" Ataru declares after reverting to normal. "This time,
Elle's going to be taught a lesson she won't soon forget!!!"

Seeing the uncompromising looks on their faces, Babara turns to Ataru.
"Mr. Groom, have mercy, I beg you!! You don't understand what's at stake
here!"

Ataru snorts, then looks at Lum. "Lum-chan, if I wasn't totally out of
it, did I telepathically hear you suggest that you let *it* out so it can
play?!"

"I did," the Oni smiles.

The devilish looks on their faces causes Babara to fearfully shudder.
"'I-it'...?" she gulps.

"This!!" Lum winds up, then belts Ataru with a concentrated blast of her
lighting right at the back of his head!

Ataru drops to his knees, then as a familiar transformation takes place,
a dirge-like voice utters from his lips. "*WHO LET ME OUT THIS TIME?!*" the
*saikoo jinseijitsu* inquires.

"I did," Lum smiles, gazing at the possessed teen. "After all, I think
you'd want to have a hand in destroying this place, considering that bitch
Elle wanted to cryofreeze your host...and you."

The sentient ninjitsu database icily smiles. "*IS THAT A FACT?!*" it
snarls. "*THEN I'LL JUST HAVE TO HEAT THINGS UP A BIT!!*"

Babara shudders as Lum and the Nendo-kata make themselves very scarce.
The possessed Ataru then begins a tai-chi like manoeuvre as the aged nanny
tries to flee. "***EARTH-HEART FIRE-GEYSER!!!!!!***"

Baran Cathedral explodes!!

* * *

"Whoo!!!" Nicole howls as everyone watches the fire-geyser consume the
cathedral and a quarter of the palace grounds from an open observation deck on
the crystal palace. "Now, *that's* a bang!!!"

Lum and the Nendo-kata land on the deck, then turn to wait for Ataru.
"Wow!" the Oni whistles. "They'll be digging out of there for a week!" She
then nods. "Serves them right for touching MY Darling!"

Ataru then sails out the geyser of lava, back in Cyborg form as he makes
a perfect landing on the deck behind them. "**And that...**" he transforms
back to normal, "...is that!!"

"Darling!!" Lum swamps him with a kiss. "You're okay!"

"Hey, without all that energy that thing stole from Memory, it can only
do so much with what little *mei'de* I've got in me!" Ataru smiles, then looks
around. "Where's Nokoko, Mal and Mie?!"

"We're here!" a voice calls out from above them.

Mal lands with Mie and Nokoko. "You okay, sis?!" Ataru comes up to his
sister. "Those creeps didn't hurt you, did they?!"

"Are you kidding me, Ataru-chan?!" Nokoko snorts, hugging her brother.
"Against the two of us, those clowns down below are a bunch of ameteurs!"

"And the Refrigerator?" Lum hesitantly inquires. "What about the Cute
Boys?! Did you...?"

She gives the Oni a content smile. "I'm a Nendo-kata now, Lum-
chan...have been one for twelve years," she sighs. "I'll gladly kill in the
name of Unity...but even I can't stomach a massacre."

"Good!" Mujanba sighs. "Now, let's skeddadle for home before the Royal
Ellsian Navy tries to prolong our stay."

"They won't get far as long as Elle's aboard," Nicole laughs, then
stares at Ataru. "So what do we do with her?"

"I still say dump her in the Outland," Ataru muses.

"I agree to that one!" Lum snarls.

"Don't," Donna's voice calls out.

Everyone turns to see Elle's sister walk onto the deck. "What do you
mean, Donna-chan?!" Lum blinks. "That witch has caused us so much
trouble...!"

"I know that, Lum-chan, but let my sister live, please," Donna calmly
interrupts. "There is so much more to her than meets the eye, a state of
affairs I'm still trying to understand. I know that casting her to the Black
Ocean now will eliminate any threat to the Unity between you and Ataru-kun,
but in the end run, I sincerely believe that we would be committing a crime
against the Unity."

Everyone considers the point. Ataru sighs resignedly. "I might
seriously regret this in the future, but I've got no stomach for killing the
little sleeze myself! We'll hang onto her until we get to the border, then
dump her out in a crystal tube so her people can find her...IF they still want
her as queen after this!"

"Let's go, then!" Nicole waves them inside.

They head into the palace as it ascends into orbit. Everyone relaxes in
a lounge as Mie sits beside Lum. "Hey, Lum-chan, I have a question," the
Kyushu native muses.

"What is it, Mie-chan?" the Oni stares at her.

"What's Hifuto Syndrome?"

Lum blinks as the name comes to her. "That's a very deadly
flesh-rotting disease, if I remember my health studies back in junior high.
It's said to be awfully contageous among a lot of humanoids, not to mention
fatal if not caught in the early stages." She then looks warily at her
classmate. "You don't have it, do you?!"

"No, I just saw it posted someone and I got curious," Mie stands,
heading over to join Asuka and Osooko. "Thanks."

Nearby, Nokoko and Mal stare at each other. "I guess there's a lot more
to that Refrigerator than meets the eye," the former muses.

"Perhaps Donna-chan has a right to be concerned," the latter hums.
"Maybe we should come back here sometime in the future."

"Let's wait until after our siblings are married so that Elle can't use
it into another try to grab my brother," Nokoko smiles as she draws her
life-mate into her embrace. "And speaking of such handfastings, how about you
and I take a trip to the altar?"

"Oh, Beloved, I'll be happy to," Mal purrs as they kiss.

Everyone smiles as some of the couples go to more private places to be
intimate with their mates. Mie notices a curious look on Asuka's face. "Hey,
you okay, Asuka?"

"I'm not sure," she hums. "But I got this weird feeling that we forgot
something when we left Baran."

"I can't think of anything," Mie innocently shrugs.

As the crystal palace warps for Earth, a titanic scream seems to echo
through space from Elle.

"***CURSE YOU, ATARU MOROBOSHI!!!!!!***"

* * *

Captain Invader emits a delighted laugh as he slaps Ataru in the back,
nearly causing him to fold in half. "Mr. Groom, you are some piece of
work!!!" he howls as everyone relaxes in the living room of Ataru's house a
day later, enjoying their victory celebration over Elle. "You planned all
that to save my daughter and your sister...and you pulled it off without our
help, too!!!"

"Even I couldn't've done it better," Nassur muses from nearby. "I guess
there's a lot more to you than meets the eye, Ataru."

"Well, what did you expect after I found out what I've got in the back
of my mind?!" Ataru shrugs sheepishly. "But, at least Nokoko-chan's school is
intact again...and despite my show of mercy at the end, I don't think Elle's
going to be around for a while."

"I hope never again!!" Lum snarls.

"Ditto here!" Ataru sweeps her into his arms, then kisses her.

Everyone lets out a chorus of wolf-calls and cheers. "Well, why are you
all celebrating?!" Osooko demands, conspicuously alone. "What about me?!
What am I supposed to without a mate of my own?!"

The other Nendo-kata are sympathetic. "Osooko-chan, you did agree to
allow Asuka-chan to go back to her family so she can tackle her fear of
males," Tatsuko warns. "Even if she does desire to return to you, she will
have to be rid of her phobia if she is going to live or work anywhere outside
of this compound, especially with Ataru-kun and Jason-kun living here."

"T-true," Osooko sniffs.

"Don't worry, Osooko-chan," Ataru smiles at Oyuki's sister. "I'll get
Grandma to loan you a Kuromoroboshi so you can send letters to Asuka-chan
whenever you want...and it's guaranteed since there's no way Asuka-chan's
mother can interfere."

"Thank you, Ataru-kun," Osooko then smiles.

"Speaking of your former classmates, Ataru," Nassur looks concerned,
"...but what are you going to do now that you left half of them on Elle when
you bugged out with everyone else?! They're not going to forgive you for that
one, you know!"

"Much that I hate to admit it, he's right," Benten sighs.

Ataru groans. "Well, if Elle's smart, she'll execute the whole lot and
I'll never have to think of them again!"

"Since when has Elle EVER been smart?!" Koosei muses.

"True," Ataru looks down, his shoulders slumping.

"And speaking of which," Nassur's eyes glow. "I think that's them right
now! They're coming up from the south fence."

"And they aren't here for a social call," Nokoko's eyes glow.

"Too bad," Ataru recovers. "Give me the phone!"

Lum hands him the cordless phone. He dials a number...just as Mendou's
incensed voice bellows from outside. "***MOROBOSHI!!!! YOU DARE LEAVE US
BEHIND WHEN YOU MADE YOUR GETAWAY WITH LUM-SAN?!?! COME OUT RIGHT NOW SO THAT
YOU CAN BE PUNISHED FOR YOUR HEINOUS SIN!!!!***"

Sirens are then heard, followed by surprised shouts. "Hey!!!" Megane
screams. "What are you doing?!! Get those things off us!!"

"Quiet!" a policeman is then heard. "You're under arrest!!"

"Arrest?!!" Shinobu yelps. "Why are you arresting us?!"

Lum walks to the door, staring outside to see her classmates now on the
sand, their hands cuffed behind their back as a platoon of Oshika's finest
prepare to drag them off. "Lum-san, please call these people off!!" Mendou
gasps. "Tell them what's going on!!"

"Why should I?!" the Oni snorts, not the least bit impressed. "After
all, you're the ones who're breaking the court injunction!"

"***COURT INJUNCTION?!?!?!***" everyone else screams.

"That's right!!" the platoon sergeant waves the familiar note now posted
on every telephone pole in Tomobiki in front of Mendou's face. "Don't you
people from Tomobiki know that there are things called 'laws' that you're not
supposed to break?! Take them away!"

"Lum-chan, help us!!" Lan screams as the police drag them off.

"Don't look at me, Lan," Lum snorts, looking away. "It's not my fault
that you can't understand that Earth has its own laws and that they have to be
obeyed even by us!!"

The students let out defeated moans as they are dragged away. Ataru,
Nassur and Koosei watch from the doorway. "Now, that's cruel!" the teacher
lets out an awed whistle.

"Are you implying that what they did to me is any less?!" Ataru icily
glares at Koosei.

"I didn't say that!" Koosei shakes his head...

* * *

To be concluded...

Urusei Yatsura - The Senior Year: "Together The Outland" Epilogue
by Fred Herriot
450 Clare Avenue South, Welland, Ontario L3C 3B3 Canada
gorgo@havajava.com
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edited by E.B. Kushnir
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Eleventh in a series of fan-fiction stories based on "Urusei Yatsura," created
by Rumiko Takahashi
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IN THE EIGHTH PART OF "TOGETHER THE OUTLAND," Ataru is stunned by a neral
paralyzer which prevents him from using the Cyborg to free Lum and Nokoko. In
the last ditch, Lum proposes to release the *saikoo jinseijitsu* to ensure
that Elle would never live to marry her Honey. However, Donna works behind
the scenes to make arrangements so that when the rescue does come, everyone
who could oppose them will be eliminated. The wedding gets underway just as
Nicole and the rescue party arrive. A free-for-all starts as the Nendo-kata
utterly overwhelm the defending Freemasons, Elle's loyal combat force of
expatriate Yehisrites. Nokoko, Mal and Mie race off to destroy the
Refrigerator of Love as Ataru and Lum contain matters in Baran
Cathedral...then when the time is right, Lum lets loose the sentient ninja
database in Ataru's mind, which turns around and destroys the cathedral.
Everyone escapes to Earth, Nokoko not electing to kill the Cute Boys. Later,
everyone realizes that Mendou, the guards, Lan and Shinobu were left behind on
Elle. Asuka returns to her family in hopes of finally mastering her fear of
men, but Osooko is hopeful that she will return to her side. At a celebration
that evening, teh people who were left behind on Elle try to punish
Ataru...but get arrested because their presence in Oshika is in defiance of
the court injunction protecting their former classmate!

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And with all that said and done...ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!

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A day later, Nicole's crystal palace makes rendezvous with the "Kashin"
over Earth. Also arriving on the scene is a golden-hulled hawk-shaped ship
half the battle wagon's size. In the hangar deck of the "Kashin," a military
greeting party waits as a shuttle docks. Captain Invader, in his clan
leader's uniform, marches up as a tall woman disembarks. "Welcome aboard the
Urusian Defence Force Ship 'Kashin,' Your Grace. I'm Captain Invader."

The woman, golden-skinned like all Zeiwanites, nods. "Thank you,
Captain. I bring greetings from the Prime Minister. He wishes you and your
family well."

As the greetings continue, Lum and Ataru stand in the row of spectators
nearby. "You know these people?" the Terran whispers.

"Daddy knows their Prime Minister," the Oni replies. "Before he was
elected, he was Ambassador to Uru."

The parade is dismissed. Captain Invader escorts the priest to the
observation gallery for refreshments. Lum and Ataru stay out of her father's
way. Arriving in the lounge, the two meet Brother Darklight Sunfire, who
waits there along with the other monks working for Nagaiwakai Moroboshi, not
to mention the guests from Earth. "Ataru, Lum," the tall Zephyrite nods.

"Hi, Brother Sunfire," the Terran smiles. "Thanks for arranging for
this."

"A pity we could not have done this ourselves," Brother Sunfire looks
embarrassed. "Despite our advancements, our churches do not have proper
procedures for same-sex matings."

"Nor do many other races," Lum sighs.

The monk nods, then walks away. Ataru's mother walks up. "Honestly,
Ataru!" she snorts. "Did you actually agree to allowing your sister to go
through this barbaric ceremony?!"

"'Barbaric?!'" Lum growls. "If you want to know, the Zeiwanites are
considered one of the most culturally advanced races in the Federation!"

"Ignore her," Ataru looks away. "She'll still grow old and die alone."

Kinshou faints! "Lum!!!" an incensed voice barks.

Yukio storms up, fixing Lum with an icy glare. "Wh-what is it, Yukio?"
the Oni stammers.

"I hear that you're still trying to drag Koichi back to Tomobiki," the
hybrid growls, leaning at her. "What's the matter?! Can't try to dominate
him without the help of those lap-dogs you've depended on for so long?!"

"Th-th-that's not t-t-true," Lum stammers.

"Yukio..." Ataru sighs.

"This, I warn you," Yukio points a threatening finger at Lum. "If you
think you're going to get away with betraying Koichi, you're mistaken!" the
hybrid points at Lum. "Do it again and I'll **take** Koichi away from you!!"

Lum gulps as Yukio marches away. "And that's a promise!!" she growls as
she walks away.

"Nice to see I'm popular," Ataru rubs the back of his head.

* * *

An hour later, the guests shift to the crystal palace. Nicole has
already arranged to have a large room converted to a temporary temple for
Nokoko's and Mal's handfasting. In her room, Nokoko slips into a ladies'
tuxedo, complete with bow tie and ankle-length skirt. Ataru waits for her by
the door. "You okay?"

"Am I?" she sighs. "I can see why you've been so hesitant on marrying
Lum. I've got butterflies in my stomach the size of battleships!"

"Hey," he pats her shoulder. "C'mon! Mal-chan's waiting!"

Nokoko nods, then slips her arm through his. The two step into the
temple. Nokoko is awed at the crowd awaiting her. "Wow!" she whispers.
"I've never seen so many people in all my life!"

"Don't let the amount fool you," he warns. "They're just here because
Lum's here."

In the back rows of the temple, Mendou and the guards look around.
They, along with Shinobu and Lan, had just been brought aboard at the last
minute. "A wedding?" Megane adjusts his glasses. "Who's getting married?"

"Nokoko and Mal are!" Ryuunosuke smiles, clearly excited by events.
"Great, isn't it?!"

The five boys pale. "What?!!" Mendou bolts up. "Moroboshi's weird
sister marrying Lum-san's maniac doppelganger?!! We shall never permit this
to happen!!"

"What are you going to do about it?!" Sakura muses.

"Heh!!" Megane laughs. "We'll just state our objections when the priest
asks for them!"

"Can't do that!" Benten giggles.

"Eh?!" the leader of the guards looks confused.

"Sensualist handfastings don't have that!" the Fukunokami snickers.
"You can't say a thing to stop this!!" she mockingly chants. "This time, you
lose!!"

"What?!!" Kakugari howls. "This is unforgivable!!! We will not allow
this to...!"

Koosei's Saturn Five crushes Mendou and the guards!!!! "Yes, it is
unforgivable to interrupt a handfasting!!" the teacher snarls. "Keep it up
and I'll get Oyuki-chan and Osooko-chan to freeze you solid!!!"

"You better realize that's an emergency escape hatch you're sitting
over," Nassur adds.

Mendou and the guards confirm their position, then try to
escape...before crystal cables snare them and bind them into place! "Not a
chance!!" Nicole walks up, winking at the five helpless boys. "Ataru-kun
warned us about you idiots! Sit back and relax!!"

The five boys helplessly moan. Nicole sits beside Mujanba, Jason and
Muzainba in the front row. Also there are the other Nendo-kata, Sakura and
Brother Sunfire. "I should apologize to you," the Zephyrite monk leans over.

"Eh?!" the Shinto priestess looks surprised. "Why?"

"Well, this is something your religion does not recognize."

"Oh, don't be ridiculous!" she giggles. "Ookako-chan'll do this
someday. I'm looking forward to this."

"You would condone this barbarism?!" Cherry leans at her from the row
behind.

"The gods work in mysterious ways!" his niece responds. "I will not be
denied the chance to see all their works in action!!"

Cherry is then crushed into his seat by Captain Invader. "I hear a peep
out of you, shrimp, and I'll spare Mr. Groom the trouble of ridding himself
and Lum-chan of you!" the large Oni growls.

"It's fate...!" the monk moans.

By that time, the Sensualist priestess finishes her pre-ceremony
prayers. "May the intended join together," she declares.

Nokoko looks back to see Lum escort Mal to her side. The Nendo-kata-
turned-Oni is dressed in a tuxedo matched with a lovely turquoise gown
reflective of the sea. Seeing her future mate approach, Ataru's sister
reflects on all the times they had shared together, separated by species and
other factors. Suddenly, her doubts disappear as Mal joins Nokoko at the
altar. The two face each other, grasping hands as the priestess raises her
hands in offering. "I call upon the Mother Goddess to bless the promises
about to be exchanged."

Ataru and Lum are present to present objects aiding the handfasting.
"May this water represent the pledge of blood, the uniting of flesh, the
covenant of your hearts, forever joined, never to be separated," the Oni
presents an ornate cup bearing a mix of tiger-star gems and golden tigers,
representing the two clans.

She hands the cup to her sister. On Mal's insistence, water,
representing the Mother Ocean, was used as the sacramental fluid. Facing
Nokoko, she smiles. "My love, I am forever yours."

She drinks, then hands the cup to Lum, who passes it to Ataru, then to
Nokoko. Facing Mal, Nokoko smiles. "Beloved, I am yours forever."

She drinks, then passes the cup to Ataru, who returns it to Lum. As the
Oni places the cup aside, Ataru picks up a silk pillow bearing a pair of
beautiful diamond wedding rings. Nokoko takes one and slips it on Mal's
finger. Ataru passes the pillow to Lum. Mal takes the other ring and slips
it on Nokoko's finger. The two hold hands. "Until death and beyond," Nokoko
smiles, "...never apart, never parted."

"Forever together," Mal completes, "...forever One."

They kiss. In the crowd, couples hold hands. Shinobu looks incensed on
seeing Nassur and Benten snuggle, but an incensed stare from Dakejinzou stops
her. "As you have sworn, so shall it be done," the priestess concludes. "Let
no mortal tear asunder what has been vowed this day. May the Mother Goddess
bless you, protect you and preserve your Union now and forever more."

Everyone cheers...

*** The End (Or Is It?!) ***

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NEXT STORY: As Ataru still recovers from the Spirit War, Hazel and Yukio must
face the consequences of their birth as Nassur's teacher comes to challenge
them for the right to live! Return to this newsgroup sometime soon for the
next story of the Senior Year, "Ancient Ties."
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