Author's Notes: I'm including a synopsis of "Five Sukiyaki Lunch Boxes", in case you haven't seen the episode. Skip on down if you have. It's the last episode on the fourth American DVD, and unlike some episodes that focus on two or three characters it evenly divides its attention between the five angels. Hence the title.

It opens with Milfeulle driving a truck with a dapper man named Johnny in the passenger seat. She tries to start up a conversation, and he begins to recite an omelet recipe. In the back of the truck, Forte and Ranpha talk about the mission. Forte signed up because she thought there was more going on than a man needing a chauffeur. Ranpha signed up because she suspected Johnny of being a rich man traveling incognito. They play rock paper scissors to determine who gets to drive next, and Mint wins. She too tries to talk to Johnny, but he starts talking about the theme park character, Mr. Chicken. Mint is titillated, since the Mr. Chicken costume is one of her secret fetishes (I am not kidding, there was a whole episode about it). Meanwhile, Ranpha asks Milfeulle if Johnny said anything about his job or if he was married, and she replies that he's a chef. This doesn't convince her, since as the dub puts it, "Milfeulle's mind only works when it comes to food." Forte wins the next round, much to Ranpha's chagrin. Ranpha interrogates Mint as to what she talked about with Johnny, and she truthfully replies that they only talked about Mr. Chicken. Following that is an awesome conversation in which Mint says that Ranpha's loss of control around men must mean she doesn't have much experience with them. Ouch! Once in the driver's seat, Forte conspiratorially asks their client if he's a sniper. He says he is. Ranpha asks Vanilla what she's going to throw in rock paper scissors, but can't get an answer. She throws quite a hissy fit when she loses yet again. Vanilla doesn't try to talk to Johnny, who only says he has taken a monastic vow of silence. At this point Ranpha starts bitching about the humidity, causing Forte to tell her to calm down and shut the hell up. She also mentions that Ranpha's perfume is driving her crazy, to which the younger angel says "It's better than smelling like gunpowder all the time." She goes on to say that just because Forte is older doesn't mean she can boss her around. Forte pulls her gun on her friend, and Ranpha seems more offended than afraid. "I just told you how I feel, and now you want to shoot me?" "Yeah, you bet I do, you face painted tramp." Ranpha calls her a crazy gun toting bully, and before the conflict escalates any further, Vanilla signals that it's time to switch. Ranpha asks Johnny what the purpose of his trip is, and he says he's going to buy and terraform a planet. She's thrilled at confirming her suspicions that he's a rich man. The scene cuts to Volcott and Normad talking about Johnny. It turns out Johnny is a stage actor who falls asleep and recites his lines whenever he enters a vehicle. At this point Ranpha is caressing the sleeping Johnny's face with her eyes off the road. She just has time to ask him what he finds attractive in a woman before the truck flips over in a horrible crash. He finally wakes up, exclaiming what a wonderful nap he had. The last scene has Johnny and the angels walking towards the city. Ranpha looks terribly upset and despondent, and definitely isn't paying any more attention to Johnny. Forte throws pebbles at her head, telling her that she'd better regret her actions. Milfeulle talks to Johnny about omelets, which impresses him, and the scene ends with them walking into the sunset.

Whew, now that that's out of the way, on to part two:

-Cold Cutlets of Confusion-

"I love you Forte."

"Oh my gosh! Ranpha loves Forte!"

And the universe froze.

"Milfeulle, now they know we can hear them. Who knows what they might have said next..."

Mint too? Now they were doomed. Well, Ranpha was doomed. At least Forte hadn't said anything incriminating yet. Mint had always made innuendo to the affect that the eldest angel wanted the Kung-Fu Fighter's pilot, and this situation was not helping matters. For her part the blond was pulling herself out of the initial shock and searching frantically for the communicator that must have been left on. It was Ranpha's, which had somehow been stuck in the operating position.

"Y-you shouldn't eavesdrop on people Milfeulle..." she stuttered in that jittery way she had, "Now what crazy thing do you think you heard?"

"You were talking about being there for her and how you love her."

"Ano... You see, I-I didn't mean I loved her loved her." Ranpha looked to Forte for support, but she shook her head. She had dug her own grave, a rather personal metaphor considering their history, and she'd have to dig herself out of it. The younger girl grimaced at her indifference, and continuing babbling to the other angels. "I love Forte like a sister. You know what I mean, right Milfeulle?"

"Of course! Ooh, I love you that way, Ranpha. Do you love me too?"

Forte could hear Mint's amused giggling. What mushy tripe. Could this get any more embarrassing? What am I thinking; I should be thanking god NORMAD isn't around to hear this.

"H-hai. I love you too Milfeulle."

"Yay! I have four sisters! Hee hee, I'm so happy!"

"Well, good night then girls, eh heh heh..."

Ranpha practically crushed the communicator turning it off.

"Watashi no baka, baka, baka!" She berated herself. Forte sighed.

"It was a nice try, but there's no way you fooled Mint with that act. Hell, you didn't fool me."

Her friend slumped against the pillows, apparently having accepted defeat. She looked completely helpless and bleak. The poor thing. Ranpha was so cute and infuriating when she needed her... but comforting her would just add more trouble to the pile.

"Could you end my suffering with a bullet Forte?"

She allowed herself a smirk. "Lover's suicide, eh?"

Ranpha groaned. "Don't make bad jokes like that! We're hardly lovers."

"That's right." Forte replied simply.

"Grr! And you, you get away without having to... ergh!" The girl stormed over to her own bed and roughly stuffed herself beneath the covers. "Never mind."

Ranpha was facing away from her. She could still be so childish. Forte decided not to further press any of the issues that the night had brought up. But they stayed with her in her thoughts as she lay awake. Had she been that way when she was eighteen? No, she had been cold and bitter. Back then she never would have gone on about her feelings the way Ranpha had. Yet, this particular evening Forte had been pretty open with her emotions herself. It was probably the rest of the Angel Brigade's influence. None of them were as harsh and jaded as she was. Being with them had a healing affect on her, one that allowed her to be more comfortable with herself. She still didn't know what to do about her best friend's declaration though. What would she have done if they hadn't been interrupted? The more she thought about it the less she knew. It wasn't something one learned in the military or on the streets.

The next morning found the Angel Brigade waiting at the train station for their ride back to the space port.

"Tell me again why Johnny couldn't take a train here?" Ranpha asked annoyed. For some reason she seemed to have lost her infatuation with the actor after the crash, probably out of embarrassment. A good thing too, since Forte had seen him exchange numbers with Milfeulle; no doubt another manifestation of her supernatural good luck.

"A lot of people from the central city on this planet take the train when they come to see upcoming plays." Mint explained, ears twitching a little. Forte still wasn't sure what factors influenced when and how the smallest angel's extra ears moved. "It would be awkward for him to be surrounded by fans while he was sleeping."

"I guess so. And he'd be giving away all his lines before they got to see the show." Milfeulle added as their train pulled up. Ranpha stayed along side Forte as they walked towards their designated compartments. They hadn't spoken with each other since last night, and it seemed the blond was eager to talk about what had gone on. One of their compatriots took a notice of this.

"You two have a lot to discuss, I'm sure." Mint said suggestively through her deviously innocent façade. "Perhaps we should let you have one of the rooms to yourselves?"

Forte willed herself not to yell in retaliation, as that would only entertain and validate the short heiress further. Ranpha grabbed one of the smaller girl's shoulders and smiled an incredibly fake smile, barely keeping her smoldering rage in check.

"Oh no, I'd much rather ride with you Mint. Come on, let's go sit down." She dragged the not visibly intimidated girl to one of the compartments. Before they went through the door Ranpha cast one glance over her shoulder at Forte. She was still angry, and seemed a bit sad too. The three remaining angels entered the second room.

"Forte, why is Ranpha so upset today?" Milfeulle inquired worriedly. "Did something happen?"

"I really couldn't say." the markswoman replied coolly.

"Do you think she's sad because things went bad with Johnny?" The pink haired girl took out of her notepad. "I could give her his number if it would make her feel better..."

"Huh?" Well, that had been the start of all the trouble, sure. But it had really only been the tip of a much deeper iceberg, one that Forte was trying not to crash into. "No, she's over him." Milfeulle pouted, still not satisfied with the lack of an explanation. "Sorry, but I don't have a clue what bugging her. Maybe Mint will cheer her up."

Yeah, Miss Manipulator will make her feel better, and Volcott with become a galaxy famous ballerina. Forte looked away from the cooking virtuoso, feeling a bit dirty about the lie. Her eyes caught Vanilla's for a moment. There was a bit of an accusation in the youngest Brigade member's gaze. For some reason she remembered Vanilla saying to Ranpha, "You mustn't hide things."

(More to come.)