II. The Proclamation

"Say what?" said Konzen Douji, hardly daring to believe what he had heard.

Jiroushin read the paper he was holding one more time. "Kanzeonbosatsu orders all gods with titles from ages 500-8000 to join the Cross-Dressing Pageant on Tentenni's birhtday. The contestant must be male and will dress up like women. Only Tentei is the exemption."

An echo of complaints and groans came from the crowd of gods gathered in the Tenkai square.

"Hell, no hag will make me dress up like a woman!"

"What kind of an idiot made that woman in charge?"

"No way I'll wear high-heeled shoes!"

Jiroushin tried to silence them.

"It was co-signed by Tentei himself. I'm sorry, but what was said is final. You have no other choice. Either obey or be banished from Tenkai-that was the order."

More groans and complaints.

Tenpo, who was at the back of the crowd, started to think of what to wear. Kenren Taisho grumbled and joined the others in reading the poster Jiroushin had just pasted on the wall.

There was going to be a night gown competition and a talent competition. Darn. Who heard of a fighting god wearing a gown? Kenren read on. There was a 5-M Yen prize. Kannon had thought of everything so no one would get out of joining the contest.

Kenren trudged away. In times like this, there's only one person to turn to.

"Yung Lei, where is that roast I told you prepare?" yelled Misao, the goddess of chastity from the parlor.

Yung Lei left the stir-fry she was making and went to the oven. "It's almost ready!" she yelled over her shoulder.

Since she joined the army, her mother had been more strict and hostile than ever. All Lei could do was obey like a good daughter. She didn't even dare tell her mother that she had been promoted to lietenant a week before.

Lei turned the oven to 'high' and lifted the stir-fry from the stove. She was just about to make stew when the door bell rang.

"Yung Lei, will you get that?" yelled her mother.

"Hai!" answered Lei.

She rushed out of the kitchen and to the door.

"Nande?" she asked as she opened the door.

Outside were  Kenren, Shien, Homura, Nataku, and even Konzen. They were all looking sulky.

"Eh? What are you all doing here?"

Kenren stepped forward and explained that they needed help for the contest.

"We don't know anyone else." Kenren added.

"Oh. Well. I'm sorry, but I can't talk to you right now." Yung Lei said, looking nervously over her shoulder. "I'll meet you all later, okay?"

She closed the door just as her mother screamed, "Yung Lei, what's that I smell burning?"

Lei shrieked and ran to the kitchen, where a cloud of smoke was forming.

-end of chapter 2-