Second Chances Chapter 3
Pickles and Ice Cream
Part 1. I am not Yousho. I am really Jesus.
For many, the first thought of the morning tends to breakfast. Pancakes or waffles? Sausage or bacon? Rice and miso soup? Congee? Croissants? Fruit? Breakfast burritos? Yogurt? Bagels? Menudo?
Kagato's first thought was sausage. It wasn't the hot and tasty kind, though some would argue that. Perhaps it was because she woke up near one. A rather alert one.
Kagato sat up in a flash. "You." Her eyes glowed dangerously. Sparks of energy flashed between her fingertips, disappearing as suddenly as they appeared in a whiff of dissipation. Outside, the droning of summer cicadas filled the air with sound.
"Oh my goodness." Yousho sat up, his long dark hair rumpled, glasses long forgotten. The morning sun glanced along his youthful features, and decided to stay, illuminating his clear flower-red eyes. He fumbled around for a piece of clothing and a sense of dignity, having somehow removed all of it at some point in the night.
The next bits of conversation took no more than ten or fifteen seconds to complete.
"What happened?"
"I don't remember."
"I don't either."
"We were drunk."
"Very."
"Ah." Yousho paused, disrupting the flow of accusation and consternation. "This is a…predicament." Yousho stood up, his back turned to Kagato, pulling on his boxers.
Kagato quirked an eyebrow and wondered if she should admire the view or break something. Or someone.
"My pants. Where are they?"
It started off innocently enough, with goodbyes.
"What do you mean? That is terribly unfair." Kagato scowled.
"Don't pout," Washu grinned.
"I am not pouting," Kagato pouted. "You give me no reason to be left behind here with…with…" She gestured impatiently at Katsuhito and Sasami, who both looked at each other and shrugged.
"Yes we do. You, little lady, aren't old enough to come watch movies with us." Washu's grin grew larger, threatening the structural integrity of her face. "In fact, you're not even a year old."
"That is preposterous. I have at least five thousand years of…"
"Can it, pretty boy. No one wants to hear your stupid stories," Ryoko stuck her tongue out. Kagato suppressed the urge to return the sentiment.
"Fine. Enjoy your evening. I am sure mine will be far more eventful than some pathetic local entertainment," Kagato growled.
"Goodbye! We'll see you later!" Sasami broke in, Ryo-ohki managing a little wave of her own from the top of her head.
"We won't be out too late," Tenchi added. "Have fun!"
"Have fun…" Kagato muttered, the rest of the words trailing off into something indecipherable.
"Well, I'm sure we can come up with something," Katsuhito said blandly. "Perhaps we could have some tea and do some reading?" Nothing like good ole tea and reading.
"We do that every night. It grows tiresome." Kagato scowled. "And besides, I wanted to see what this 'downtown' of yours looks like."
"Let's have our own movie night!" Sasami said, smiling up at the two. "We can make some popcorn, and there's sodas in the fridge…it'll be fun!"
Or not.
"Tamahome!"
"Miaka!"
"Tamahome!"
"Miaka!"
"Tamahome!"
"Miaka!"
Sasami watched, enraptured, her face slightly flushed with emotion.
Kagato leaned over to Katsuhito. "What is this?" she whispered.
"Anime."
"I think I would rather die again. It was far more enjoyable."
"We can go outside."
Two pairs of eyes glanced at the screen. Then Sasami. Then back to each other.
Suddenly, two pairs of feet hit the ground with determination, and two pairs of knees straightened up.
"Sasami-chan, I'm going to go outside for a…I need to…" Katsuhito stumbled.
"…We need to make sure that there is still water in the lake," Kagato finished.
Sasami sighed, barely noticing the two leave. The two lovers had finally found each other after so much searching and separation…
"Tamahome!"
"Miaka!"
"And you say you're a genius. Water in the lake?" Katsuhito gently scoffed. The summer sun slowly sank into the distance, the tall shadows of the mountains staining the forest with darkness.
"Perhaps it changes seasonally," Kagato shrugged, annoyed at being wrong. "It's like that in some places, especially when it's hot like this." She kicked at a pebble in the path. The lake's water was indeed safe, thanks to the forces of nature. Ahead, they continued on toward the long steps of the shrine, its red gate gleaming in the falling light.
"I suppose you've been to a lot of places," Katsuhito looked at Kagato. Her face had grown thoughtful, free from its usual cynicism.
"Yes. Many places. None like this one, though," she mused. "I suppose it's the company."
"The company?"
"I'm used to being alone." They stopped at the foot of the stairs.
"Would you prefer that?" Katsuhito absently scratched his chin.
A pause. The two of them gauged each other with a certain calculated look, perhaps a touch of tension, a bit of wariness. Above, the traces of stars and the glowing hint of the moon began appearing.
"No. Let's go."
And BOY did they get drunk.
Kagato giggled, almost charmingly. "I did not know you had managed to hide an entire cooling unit up here inside of that cabinet. I had always thought that this office was far too primitive for such niceties." She reached her cup out toward him tipsily.
"It's called a mini-fridge. Where else would I keep my good saké out of Ryoko's greedy little hands?" Katsuhito grinned, pouring them each another cup. "That's not all I have in it though."
"Oh? Something fun?" Kagato drawled lazily, swirling the delicate saké around in the heavy tea mug, the only cups Katsuhito had up in his office.
"Fun and delicious," Katsuhito grinned as he rummaged through the mini-fridge. "I keep them here especially during the summertime for days just like this."
"When you entertain charming ladies that were originally ruins-busting men?" Kagato laughed, amused by her own little joke.
"Not that at all," Katsuhito said, bringing out some plastic-wrapped items. "Here, have one."
"What's this?" Kagato held up the crackly oblong package. She raised an ironic eyebrow at Katsuhito. "Is this something that two people do together?"
"I doubt that it's what you think it is. It's an ice-pop. Hold it by the wooden stick," Katsuhito replied, as he unwrapped his own.
"'Unwrap the plastic first before eating,'" Kagato smiled, quoting Sasami. "Oh, but those dried fruit sheets would have been the death of me had she not pointed that out." Somehow she managed to open the packaging and unwrap the popsicle while still hanging onto her mug of saké.
"Dexterous," Katsuhito noted.
"I'm quite talented," Kagato responded. "Many years of juggling two careers in science and high crime while raising a killing machine." She took an experimental lick of the light green ice-pop. She had enough earthly experiences to identify that as lime. Yum.
Katsuhito laughed, somehow finding that to be funny. It had to have been the drink, he thought, for that was tasteless to the extreme. He took a taste of his own light yellow popsicle. Lemon. He frowned. He had been hoping for banana.
"Oh, it feels good," Kagato sighed, before rolling the tip of the popsicle in her mouth. A bit of green liquid dripped along the length and she licked it up deftly before it could fall.
"It's…well, the thing you do on a hot evening," Katsuhito turned a shade pinker than his already flushed state. "At least around here."
"I know what the other thing is," Kagato grinned conspiratorially. "Want to know?" Her tongue touched the tip of the popsicle.
"W…hat is it?"
"Take it off." Kagato's eyes turned almost predatory.
"What?!"
"The disguise. I'm not that naïve. You're not what you appear to be."
"I don't know what are you talking ab…Ah!" Suddenly, almost faster than he could recognize, Kagato was pressed up against him, her scarlet-in-yellow eyes boring into his, her popsicle pointed directly at him, as if a substitute for the glowing shard of green that she could have easily summoned.
"Do it. I want to see." Kagato's eyes gleamed, her usually pale face flushed with drink and excitement. The popsicle dripped in the heat.
"There's nothing to…aah!" Katsuhito blinked, as the popsicle disappeared from Kagato's hand, replaced by a familiar device.
"Don't make me use it. I've stayed my curiosity for long enough, and if I use this to neutralize you, Washu will be here in an instant. So, little prince, will you let me see? Or do we get our dear Washu-chan involved? This is quite a sordid scene, you know."
Katsuhito frowned, and then shrugged helplessly. "Don't tell anyone else." In an instant, the mask of age dropped, and he was young again, his flower-red eyes seeming perhaps a little more brilliant, his hair dark as the night outside. Wrinkles disappeared, replaced with youthful skin, his chin smooth and clean-shaven.
Kagato smiled, a finger trailing along Yousho's cheek before settling on the edge of his glasses.
"I don't suppose you need these," she said.
"No."
"I really don't need these either," she tossed away her pince-nez. They disappeared into thin air, caught by some unseen subspace pocket. "They just look cool."
"So that's why you wear them?"
"Not really. It's a long story," Kagato smiled languidly. "Is there anything else you want to take off? It's quite hot in here." The device disappeared, and the popsicle returned. Kagato licked it with a flourish.
"That should be illegal."
"It is, on at least forty-six separate planets," she continued, making him more than a little uncomfortable.
"You've had these before?"
"Of course. I've had many things before." Kagato smiled sharply. "Never a prince though."
"Oh."
Meanwhile, in another part of Japan…
Apricot-sama set down the doujinshi. "I hear chastity being defiled."
Ayeka brushed back a stray lock of violet hair. It was a lovely morning, the cicadas were going full-force, and it had cooled off a little overnight, making the weather just right. She hummed sweetly to herself as she made her way up the shrine steps, on her way to get her brother down for breakfast.
He often stayed the night in the shrine office – no surprise there, the tatami-matted floor was deliciously cool to sleep on. Now Kagato, on the other hand, no one knew where she was. Ayeka was hoping she had run off somewhere, probably to leave this "pathetic planet," and good riddance. One evil monster woman was quite enough, thank-you-very-much. Two was completely out of control.
She stopped at the top of the steps to look back down, the day gloriously clear, the golden morning light flooding the air. A bright smile came over her face. It was going to be a wonderful day.
Then she turned toward the shrine office.
There are those that say ignorance is bliss. Then, there are others that say that there is no knowledge that is not worth having. Now, whatever Ayeka believed was really up to her, but in retrospect, running off into the forest screaming would have probably been a better idea than eavesdropping. After all, the screaming forest part wouldn't be permanently scarring and would provide a measure of aerobic exercise.
As she stepped up to knock on the door, she heard Katsuhito's familiar voice. Then another.
"Don't tell me you've never done this before."
"Of course not. But what makes you think that this happens all the time?"
"I'm sure I don't know. Not with half the galactic tabloids accusing you of this, that, and the other. All these years I had thought that you were Jurai's personal colonizer, sowing the universe with her bastards."
"That's ridiculous."
"So claims of your potency are overrated? Pass me my bra, please."
"That…that's not what I meant. What about you? Tenchi told me about your room."
"That, my dear prince, is a secret."
"How many have passed through those doors? Oh, there's my pants. How did it get in here?"
"No idea, perhaps you wanted them chilled. And the answer is none of your business, by the by."
A pause. Some noises, unidentifiable. The blood drained out of Ayeka's face.
"Well then, shall we? Sasami is probably waiting for us for breakfast."
"This is between only you and me."
"Agreed."
Suddenly the door opened. Ayeka yelped, startled.
"B-brother! Y-you!" Katsuhito and Kagato stopped at the doorframe, both surprised to see Ayeka there.
Kagato quickly recovered. "Good morning, princess," she said with more than a dash of sarcasm. Ayeka glared at her, only to notice that Kagato looked perceptibility tired, visible shadows under her eyes. Katsuhito looked the same. Kagato smiled back at her, almost…almost pleasantly. It took all of Ayeka's court training to not slap her silly.
"I'm sure we'll talk later, sweet prince," Kagato's lips parted in a smile. "I'll see you both in a few." With that, she blinked out of existence.
"BROTHER! What have you been doing?!"
"Listen, Ayeka, I…OW!"
Part 2: Hello, Baby
"Miya?"
"No, this is not for you. You, little cabbit, should not be eating ice cream. I'm sure it would interfere with your processes. Did you want me to get you a carrot?" Kagato busily sliced up pickles of differing sorts: daikon, cucumbers, umeboshi, kimchi…
"Miya."
"Shut up. It's not going to my thighs. I have an excellent metabolic rate. Here, eat this." She handed Ryo-ohki a pickled carrot slice. Ryo-ohki turned up her nose at the offering.
"Miya miya miya."
"I have not gained weight. Don't make me send you back to Washu."
"Miyaaa."
"You, little cabbit, had better watch that mouth of yours. It is quite foul."
"Miya."
"No, last night was uneventful. Boring."
"Miya? Miya."
"I…how do you know?"
"Miya."
"Oh, so you got bored too? Well, you shouldn't be eavesdropping. I could still reprogram you if I wanted."
"Miya."
"Okay, I can't. But I could look it up."
"Miya."
"Shut up."
"Miya."
"No, he did not stick his 'carrot' into anything."
"Miya."
"Nor did I put anything in my mouth."
"Miya."
"Nor there."
"Miya?"
"No, not in that one either. You've a dirty mind."
"Miya."
"Quiet, you little brat."
"Miyaaa."
"Oh, you had better not have told *her* about it."
"Miya!"
"Better not tell her about what?" Sasami wandered into the kitchen.
"It-it's really nothing important," Kagato stammered. "In any case, perhaps you should take Ryo-ohki with you when you leave," she added, finishing the last of the chopping and washing the knife, before giving it a threatening shake at Ryo-ohki. Ryo-ohki scratched at her ear nonchalantly.
"Ooh, what are you making?"
"Just a little afternoon snack. It's hot today." Kagato said, as she dumped the contents of the cutting board into a bowl and began mixing it with melon ice cream.
"That…that doesn't look so good." Sasami made a face. "Are you sure about that?"
"Of course. Salt and sweet are nicely balanced, as well as sour. A touch of spice, and perfection. Plus, it's cold," Kagato added, taking a bite. "Ah, delicious."
"Can I try some?"
"You may."
Sasami got out a spoon from a drawer, and dug in enthusiastically, with predictable results.
"Um, Miss Kagato?" Sasami said, once she was able to talk again.
"Yes?"
"This tastes worse than Ryoko's cooking."
"Oh." She took another spoonful. "Well, I like it."
"Oooh! What are you making?" Mihoshi asked as she clattered into the kitchen, her arms full of an assortment of odd bits and pieces of things scavenged from her GP ship. Books, cosmetics…even a pair of underwear hit the counter in a multitude of sounds. If one was listening closely, one might have even heard a faint 'puchuu.'
"Pickles and ice cream," Sasami said as she washed her spoon. "It's pretty gross."
"Pickles and ice cream?" Mihoshi's eyes grew big. "Oooh! Does…does this mean? Does-does-does…Oh!" She clapped her hands excitedly, bouncing around in a little circle.
"Mean what?" Kagato looked at Mihoshi quizzically over her spoon. Licking it clean, she tapped it against the rim of the bowl, impatient.
Mihoshi's eyes grew starry. "How romantic! I wonder who the lucky guy is!"
"What?" Tap tap.
"Oh, I *have* to go tell Ryoko and Ayeka! Oh! Oh!! What if it's Tenchi? Oh my!"
"What? What if what's Tenchi?"
Mihoshi scattered out of the kitchen, books and toiletries forgotten. A small but well-worn pamphlet fell to the ground. Kagato leaned over to pick it up, careful not to let her snack tilt onto the floor in the process.
"'The Joy of Lesbian Sex.' Well, I'll never."
"What's that?"
"None of your business, little princess."
"Weeeell…" Washu tapped her chin with her finger. "She's managed to evade just about everything so far. I don't think she's going to want to hold still for that."
"That is why you must find out for us, Washu-chan. Please? You're the only one who can do it." Ayeka looked miserable, wringing her fingers unconsciously, the morning's image of her brother remaining in her mind's eye. Ryoko looked as though she was going to break something. What about *her* Tenchi!? With…with…
"I wouldn't jump to conclusions if I were you two," Washu stood up from her laboratory seat. The floating cushion bounced momentarily before regaining stability. "After all, it could have been nothing. This is Mihoshi we're talking about."
"Yes, but do you really want little Kagato spawn running around?" Ryoko asked. "You better go make sure that this is just a rumor."
Washu had a sudden image of a dozen little hellions running around the Masaki residence. Half-Juraian, half-… She shuddered.
"Fine." Washu slammed her fist into midair, and a full arsenal of items appeared out of thin air, hitting the floor with a clatter. Ayeka started. Ryoko just smiled.
"Let's see what's going on." Washu snapped her fingers, and a pair of sunglasses appeared in her hands. "Lock and load," she grinned.
Plan 3928: Target – Kagato.
It was after dinner when they made their move. Dinner came and went without incident, but for Kagato's forays into the forbidden realms of Iron Chefdom, proclaiming that this particular mixture of dried bonito flakes, ketchup, chili oil, peanut butter, and raspberry conserve was particularly auspicious on cold soba noodles, especially with a sprinkle of nutmeg. At that time, both Ryoko and Ayeka shot Washu questioning looks, but she merely held up her hand. Patience.
From the kitchen, the happy clink and clank of dishes being washed. Mihoshi and Sasami laughed merrily, Tenchi's voice joining in as he helped clear the table. Katsuhito sat on the couch reading the newspaper, Kagato at his side. She hummed pleasantly to herself as knitting needles flashed, a green and purple creation unfolding beneath her hands.
From three directions they came, slinking along the shadows, the knowledge of their prey strongly impressed upon their minds. Washu took center stage; Ryoko and Ayeka were merely witnesses. It was up to her.
"Hi Washu," Kagato said, not looking up. "Have some watermelon. It's very good." The pleasant click of the knitting needles continued.
Washu looked to the low coffee table, where glasses of ice-cold barley tea and slices of watermelon sat waiting. Unfortunately tonight, they would have to continue waiting.
Katsuhito was silent, but for the rustle of newspaper in his hands. Still, Washu had the distinct impression that he was somehow watching her through the blandly boyish picture of Leonardo DiCaprio (Nippon Times headline: "Leonardo's a Big Fat Baka"). She shook her head as if shaking off the thought.
"Thanks." Washu sat down across from Kagato, staring at the knitting needles. They went by fairly quickly, with the kind of single-minded precision that suited Kagato's character. "Whatcha makin'?"
"Some socks," Kagato lifted her work up. "I believe they're known as 'booties,'" she added. A tiny pair of green with purple trim socks hung along the half-knitted work.
Washu scrunched her face. It didn't look good, she thought. Mihoshi may not have been exaggerating. "So, um, who's it for?"
"For my baby, of course." Washu blinked. Gasps of horror filled the air as Ryoko and Ayeka came racing into the room. Katsuhito and Kagato found themselves suddenly cornered, Ryoko, Ayeka, and Washu looming over them.
"B-b-b-b-b-baby?" Ayeka stammered. "W-w-w-w-what do you m-m-mean?"
"What else would I mean? Ryo-ohki of course." Kagato looked up quizzically at the girls clustered around her. "I've been watching this woman on the television. I believe her name is 'Martha Stewart' or something of this like. She gave me some excellent ideas." Kagato shrugged. "Besides, I think she looks good in this color."
Face-fault to the left, face-fault to the right, and a significant sweat-drop in-between.
"Is there something wrong?"
"Perhaps you should have some tea," Katsuhito reached over and handed the half-fallen Ryoko a glass. "It's very good."
The glass lolled weakly in her hand as Ryoko stared, dumbfounded.
Part 3: That is called riding me.
It took only a glance. Kagato and Katushito looked at each other conspiratorially, a minute, easily missed look, if one was not paying very close attention. The others sat around chatting pleasantly, having watermelon and tea.
Katsuhito stood up. "Goodnight everybody. I'm going to the shrine tonight." Without further notice, he folded his newspaper, set it down, and walked out.
Kagato stood up. "It's hot in here. I'm going outside." In a flash, she blinked out of existence.
Washu, Ryoko, and Ayeka looked at each other. The others bid their goodnights, and went off to bed, leaving the three to themselves.
"Well?" Ryoko said, once Sasami had trundled off to bed.
"Of course we're going to follow them. I've been tracking her for the last two minutes," Washu said, a screen appearing beneath her fingertips.
"Let's go." Ayeka stood up, a glow of power fainting tracing along her edges.
"Shhh!" Washu pressed her index finger against her lips. Ryoko paused, her lips half-parted as if to speak, and then closed her mouth stoically, nodding. Ayeka shivered, just a little bit, in the hot summer night.
In the darkness, they waited. The warm glow of light from the shrine was a welcome break from the shadows, and they made sure to keep low to the ground so that the light would not give them away.
Suddenly, voices.
"So? We didn't come all the way out here for nothing. Did you want me to do it?" Kagato, Washu mouthed silently. Ayeka nodded.
"Let's start"
"Take it off." Through the paper walls, they could see their silhouettes, moving. Someone disrobed, long sleeves falling to the floor. Katsuhito. Their shadows lowered, moving toward the ground, one seemingly straddling the other.
"Ahh…that feels good."
"It should. As you should know, I have a lot of practice in this."
"I find that surprising."
"There are many things about me that would surprise you."
"What do you call it?"
"That is called riding you."
"Ah…oh…mmm…"
Ayeka's eyes bulged. It could not be! Breaking her vigil, she steeled herself against the rampantly disturbing images bouncing around in her head, and ran up to the door of the shrine, slamming it open.
"Oh, hello, Ayeka." Kagato paused, her hands resting on Katsuhito's bare shoulders. She was kneeling at his side, he was lying on his stomach against the cool tatami matted floor.
"Ryoko. Washu. How nice of you to join us," Katsuhito added. "Come in before you let all the bugs in."
Washu and Ryoko peeked in, both sighing in relief that everyone was for the most part decently clothed. The door slid shut with a snap.
"G-get your hands off of him, you…you..."Ayeka managed to say, after absorbing the initial shock.
"I suppose we're done for tonight." Kagato sat back on her heels as Katsuhito sat up, pulling his clothes on.
"So what brings you ladies up to the shrine tonight?" Katsuhito asked solicitously, folding his legs beneath him to sit straight up. Washu, Ryoko, and Ayeka looked at each other, as if trying to encourage someone to speak first.
"Weeeell…you two have been acting awfully strange," Washu said, finally.
"The pickles and ice cream," Ryoko added. "Mihoshi told us all about it."
"And what's this about…" Ayeka turned a brilliant shade of pink. "Riding you?"
Kagato and Katsuhito looked at one another.
"I suppose we should tell them the truth," Kagato said.
"Yes. You see girls," Katsuhito looked at them all very seriously. "We're desperately in love and want to be married and start a family."
"WHAT?!"
"Just kidding." Katsuhito grinned slyly.
"Actually, he said he's been having shoulder pain. So I've been coming up here to help work that out a bit. Rie Ding Yu is an excellent massage technique from Latruciz. You of all people should know that, Washu."
"But…but what about…last night?" Ayeka asked, hotly embarrassed. "I overheard you this morning talking about…about…"
"Oh that?" Kagato looked a bit pink herself. "Ah…"
"We had a little bit too much to drink," Katsuhito stepped in neatly. "It was hot, so we ended up a little on the under-dressed side before we fell asleep."
"Nothing happened." Kagato scowled.
"Oh, thank god." Collective sighs of relief were breathed as Kagato and Katsuhito looked at each other cynically.
"Somehow I expected that." Kagato finally said. They sat on the roof of the shrine in the brilliant moonlit night, stars glimmering against the black canvas of the sky. Beyond, the moon's clear light gleamed against the flat mirror of the lake.
"Nothing surprises me anymore, not with those girls around," Yousho replied. The trio had left, returning to the house, leaving the two alone at the shrine office.
Kagato leaned against her knees, looking at Yousho's profile in the pale moonlight.
"That looks good."
"What does?"
"You. You should be yourself more often."
"It's a long story."
"It's always a long story."
A pause. The chirp of the crickets filled the warm night air.
"They thought I was pregnant, didn't they?"
"Yes."
"How silly of them. As if we wouldn't use protection."
Yousho only smiled. The air seemed to fall still, the crickets pausing in their symphony. Suddenly, the wind picked up, cool and refreshing against the muggy summer night. Dark clouds began forming on the edge of the horizon.
"I suppose it will rain tomorrow."
"Yes."
"Too bad. It's a beautiful night. The stars look different from earth."
"Yes."
"Good night, sweet prince."
"Good night."
It wasn't that bad, after all. Living again, that is. Kagato walked along the edge of the lake, and stopped on a whim, kneeling beside the clear water. She stared at it, seeing the reflection of the moon, the faint light of the stars, and eventually, the little fish that populated the waters. It seemed to have never occurred to her that the world was so full of life, especially when for years she had seen planets only from a distance, gleaming jewels in the depths of space, fragile little gems that were a multitude, as carelessly strewn and diverse as a handful of glass marbles against a black asphalt surface.
Unique, all of it. She touched the water with the tip of her finger, disturbing the smooth tranquility. Her reflection flickered in the moving water, and she smiled at it, before noticing a tiny hint of mirrored movement.
Behind her, a figure loomed. But before she could move, before she could cry out or attack or think, it had her.
Water splashed as she struggled, but it was futile. A sudden burst of pain and blackness. She quickly sank into unconsciousness. The figure paused, the water distorting its reflection, and absorbed her into itself.
As quickly as it was disturbed, the waters returned to their previous serenity, the tiny fish once more darting about in the depths, carrying on with their lives.
Above, a shadow loomed in the night sky, blotting out stars in its passage with its mysterious bulk.
Next, on Second Chances:
An old enemy returns (he's broke, by the way). A new guy joins the household (temporarily). So who's this boyfriend of yours, Kags-chan?
Author's notes:
-"That is called riding me" is a line from an early draft of a Kagato/Azaka/Kamidake yaoi lemon by Slippery Eel ("Juraian Knights, Juraian Enemy"). I don't recommend reading it unless you like yaoi or have a strong stomach.
-"I'm not really Yousho" comes from an Alienboy52 fic – it's Cyrus' favorite line.
-I really like Fushigi Yuugi, so don't hate me too much.
-Apricot comes from an online RPG that we messed around with: http://pub8.ezboard.com/fonkfrm2 Check out the summaries if you're interested in seeing that quote in context.
Thanks: Thanks to all my prereaders: Cyrus, LittlePriest, and SC. Special thanks to SC for letting me use her cabbit talk joke.