(A/N: Welcome back to The Eternal Saga Of Lost Spirits! When we last left the crew, Keitaro and Shinobu shared a breakdown and Kakano was informed of Keitaro's predicament. Now faced with a sister instead of a brother, Kakano has a lot to deal with. And as Keitaro and Shinobu draw ever closer to Okinawa, they draw closer to completing part one of Ninamori's plan. They are about to cross paths with Atsushi Norotaku, the former partner from Ninamori's past life. If you haven't noticed, the interval between newer chapters has grown larger, and that is of course because I have returned to school. Now being faced with my studies, I will have to put off most writing till the evenings when I have completed my tasks. Anyway, look for updates every day, for I cannot tell when I will finish a chapter to this story. I also now realize that this chapter gets kind of drawn out when Atsushi and Ninamori talk for the first time since Ninamori's death, and well, I hope I can get away with a moment of seriousness, then jump right into some comedy. And yes in advance I know that Kakano is way out of character but that's the point, she has gone off the deep end. So please, no flames for the Kakano thing, Just imagine if she really did go nuts, I think it would be something like this. So now, please continue to enjoy reading The Eternal Saga Of Lost Spirits.)

The Eternal Saga Of Lost Spirits

Chapter Six: The Saga Of Atsushi

"So.", asked Naru. "How well did Kakano take the news on Keitaro?"

Kitsune laughed. "She took it hard. She took off for the hot springs and I haven't seen her since."

"Well, I for one think its good she took it hard.", said Motoko. "The things she wants to do with her own brother! Now she can find someone new."

"Or not.", Kitsune pointed out. "She could just go the other way and get with Keitaro that way..."
"Kitsune!", gasped Motoko. "How dare you think such nasty things!"

"Seriously, that's crossing the line!", added Naru.

"Oh come on now. Its actually pretty fun!", Kitsune smiled. "You guys need to get a open mind. I can show you what its like if you wish..."

"I'll pass.", said Naru. "You tried to get me to do that in the past and the answer is still no!"

"If you even think It.", growled Motoko. "I will kill you."

"Fine. Fine.", Kitsune sighed. "You two are just no fun."

A few minutes later Su came dashing into the room, with a panicked expression on her face.

"Guys!", shouted Su. "Kakano! She stole my new Mecha-Tama, she's going after Keitaro!"

Over on Okinawa...

Keitaro and Shinobu had set out from the hotel early in the morning, wanting to get a head start on their journey to Okinawa. After a quiet ferry ride, they made landfall on Okinawa.

/It feels good to be home!/

"So you here.", thought Keitaro. "What now?"

/Well, the whole reason I came back here is to check up on Atsushi. I am really worried about my former comrade in arms./

"I will do this for you.", thought Keitaro. "But, I want to have some sort of vacation while I am here."

/You deserve one too, after all I have put you through./

"Yeah, yeah.", Keitaro chuckled.

Shinobu shuddered. "Sempai, I have a bad feeling about today..."

"How so?", asked Keitaro. "What is it that bothers you?"

"I just have a cold feeling that today will end up being full of chaos.", whispered Shinobu.

"I'm sure its nothing, Shinobu.", sighed Keitaro. "Anyway, we have to do something for Ninamori while we are here. We have to look up Atsushi Norotaku."

"Okay, the guy from the picture. If I see him I will let you know.", said Shinobu.

/Best bet is to head for this little shack I know of. Atsushi is almost always there doing one thing or another. Its just down the road a bit./

Keitaro and Shinobu strolled up to a dilapidated looking shack that Ninamori had pointed out. Inside the shack was a totally different matter. The walls where furnished with many different forms of weapons, all of which where primed and ready to go at a moments notice. Towards the center of the room there was an arena of sorts, with two people sparring in the middle. A third man was there too, the man from Ninamori's picture, Atsushi Norotaku.

"Come on now!", barked Atsushi. "Your doing it all wrong, you have to roll out of the way when someone has you cornered with a rifle like that. Do it like I showed you!"

"But Master Norotaku!", groaned a young girl sparring with the older woman before her.. "Its impossible to do it! Believe me I have tried but I just cant!"

Atsushi sighed. "I know its asking too much. I set my expectations way to high. I'm trying to make you all into someone your not."

"And that is Ninamori.", sighed the women the girl was sparring with. "Sushi-kun, why are you still trying to replace her?"

"Don't call me Sushi-kun, Cassandra.", muttered Atsushi. "And Ninamori will never be replaced, so stop trying to take her place. Its cold that you could ever think of taking the place of your best friend."

"I'm sorry.", said Cassandra, bowing apologetically. "I think its time Maddy and I went anyway." With that the two walked off through another door.

After Maddy and Cassandra had left, Keitaro and Shinobu emerged from their hiding spots to speak with Atsushi.

"Oh why good afternoon, ladies.", smiled Atsushi. "How ever can I..." Atsushi trailed off, looking at Keitaro. "Excuse me have we met?"

"Not exactly.", Keitaro laughed. "It's a long and strange story how I ended up before you."

Atsushi stared absently at Keitaro. The girl before him defiantly bore a resemblance to Ninamori, but was somehow different. "Did Ninamori have a sister or two I didn't know about?" Atsushi thought.

"Excuse me, Sachi.", said Shinobu. "But uh, I'm going to go and wonder around Okinawa. I haven't been here but before."

"Okay, enjoy yourself now.", said Keitaro. "I'm going to stay here and talk with Atsushi."

"How do you know my name?", asked Atsushi after Shinobu had walked off. "I don't recall giving it."

"Ninamori brought me here to see you.", replied Keitaro.

"Ninamori!?", gasped Atsushi.

"You see this is where the story gets long and confusing.", said Keitaro. "For a slight recap, I am Keitaro Urashima, and I am the male manager of an all girls dormitory in Hinata. A few weeks ago I became violently ill, for I had taken on a second spirit, Ninamori. After a while of coming to terms with my new found feminine body, I decided I needed time to think and as I left my so called 'sister' Anju, who is really named Shinobu, came with me from the dorm after she confessed a love for me. Well in Tokyo, Ninamori got us some disguises and false identities, and told us the story of Atsushi Norotaku and her days as a mercenary. And that's what brought us to Okinawa."

"So...", Atsushi started. "Ninamori is alive?"

/Let me take care of this. Keitaro, I'm taking over for a while./

"No, Atsushi.", sighed Ninamori. "I am dead. I stole the poor guys body to come out here and check up on you."

Atsushi started to cry tears of joy. "NINAMORI!", Atsushi shouted, running over giving Ninamori a huge embrace. "There is no words to express the pain I felt when you died! But now your back!"

"Atsushi...", muttered Ninamori, breaking free of his hug. "Don't get the wrong idea. I am dead, there is no bringing me back."

"But your back now.", said Atsushi. "And why cant you just use that body? You are just like your old self again."

"This body belongs to Keitaro.", Ninamori whispered. "I have already done too much to ruin his life. I cant take complete control of his body. That's would mean one man never got to be as happy with someone as you were with me. I cant do that."

Atsushi whipped the tears from his eyes. "Ninamori... You have to reconsider."

"No, I wont.", Ninamori said coldly. "No matter how happy we would once again be, there would be another lost spirit out there, without a body, another one who never got to fully experience life. Atsushi your being selfish."

"If you wont even think of taking advantage of this chance, then why the hell did you come back?", asked Atsushi.

"I came to say goodbye, Atsushi.", said Ninamori, starting to cry. "And now I will rest in peace."

"Your never getting out of that body. At least not till it dies.", laughed Atsushi. "So you only have one shot, come live life where you left off, or be stuck in that body till it fails and stay as you are."

Ninamori sighed and started to walk for the door. When she reached the door, she turned her head and faced Atsushi. "I always have and always will love you, Atsushi Norotaku. And I will find a away to get a body of my own, and when I do, I will be back. Until then, take care of yourself, okay?"

Atsushi called back as Ninamori left the shack, "I love you too, Ninamori. And I will wait for you."

Ninamori gave control of the body back to Keitaro.

"No matter how many times you do that, it still feels weird.", thought Keitaro. "And thank you for not taking my body completely."

/Well, its nothing really. But its time we sought out some help for separating us./

Meanwhile on the other side of Okinawa...

Just off shore, a lone craft flew over the water, the stolen Mecha-Tama. On top was Kakano Urashima, who was now clad in long black robes, and a assortment of various lethal weapons. You know the usual, swords, bowie knives, grenades, Uzi's. Nothing special. You see, since learning of her brother's current state, what little part of Kakano that had not snapped finally snapped and she went temporarily insane. So she decided that she would need to blow off some steam. Yep, nothing like a little mass destruction to get your life back on track. So after stealing a fully armed Mecha-Tama from Su and raiding Haruka's closet for all sorts of lethal goodness, she set off for some random place. And for some much-needed revenge on a certain jerk from school, she came upon Okinawa as her first target.

"Fools.", muttered Kakano, as she made landfall on Okinawa. "I will make them pay. I don't know what most of them have done but they have to be mocking me! Some other girl gets my brother and I'm left at the wayside. So they all have to die."

Kakano made her presence on Okinawa known to all by firing a volley of missiles randomly into the boardwalk. As the missiles struck and explosions rocked the beach, people scattered and Kakano cackled evilly.

"Ha! All of you are pathetic!", yelled Kakano. "You all mocked me but now I will show you, I will show you and your little dogs and cats too! None shall escape my crazed wrath! FEAR ME!" Kakano fired more missiles, firing on anything that moved, and anything she thought was mocking her. "VILE TREE! HOW DARE YOU MOCK ME?"

Upon looking at the explosions from her lunch, Shinobu spotted Kakano, and shook her head in shame. "She always was a little different..."

"Ah ha!", shouted Kakano, spotting Shinobu. "You ran off with my brother and ruined my chances! Now, I shall do something to you, which I'm not sure of yet but none the less you will suffer greatly!"

"No!", shouted Shinobu, as Kakano fired a net gun and reeled her in. "You have to put me down!"

After hearing the explosions, Keitaro ran to find out what was up, only to see his sister on the Mecha-Tama, and Shinobu hanging from the net gun.

"What do I do?", Keitaro asked Ninamori franticly.

/Nothing, and you'll see why in a moment./

Out of no where it seemed came a RPG round, which struck the Mecha-Tama and brought both girls on it to the ground. Keitaro looked behind him to see Atsushi on top of a building, RPG launcher on his shoulder.

"Its play time.", Kakano said with a grin, hopping down off the now grounded Mecha-Tama. "Alright, if that's the way he wants to play it, that's how we will."

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