Saisyu Kusanagi approached Kyo slowly. Slowly, as in incredibly slowly, as in one step, then a pause, as if savouring the procession of heartbeats that seemed the only sound in the hotel at the moment (as well as the buzz of the shoddy electrical system).

"Father," Kyo said, automatically and unconsciously going into a military snap-to-attention. "You're, uh, alive. Again."

"Again and again and again," Saisyu replied. "I'm hoping my next death will be my last, but it seems no one can stay dead around here."

"Saisyu Kusanagi!" Benimaru cried, rushing forward and pumping the older man's hand. "It's an honour to finally meet you in a civilized fashion!"

The arm came loose from Saisyu's shoulder, and Benimaru slowly stopping swinging it. "I'm sorry, sir," he said. "I guess I just don't know my own strength."

"Give me that," Saisyu said, snatching the arm away from him. "So. Kyo. You're looking well."

"Um. You too, father."

"Mister Kusanagi," Daimon said, bowing. "It is also an honour for me to meet you in circumstances where you are not brainwashed."

"Now, then," Saisyu said. "If you'll excuse me, I have to continue mopping the floor."

"Mopping the floor?" Kyo said. "Father, why-?"

"Iori will throw me out into the rain if I don't."

"Yagami?" Kyo snapped. "Yagami has you mopping his floor?"

"Controversy!" Iori shouted, stepping up onto a table and knocking Athena over accidentally. "Kusanagi, your father wanted a job and janitorial duties was the only thing I had!"

"Yagami!" Benimaru cried, stepping forwards. "What the hell happened to you? You've got bruises, cuts, bandages-"

"Looks like a fight broke out," Kyo said. "Athena? You okay?"

"I'm fine," Athena said, peering out from a bruised face. "My dose is just hurt."

"So what the hell is everyone doing here?" Kyo asked. "Aren't we here to surprise Terry?"

"We are!" Mary cried, pushing through the crowd. "Now he should be here at any moment, so I want everyone to be wearing these little hats I bought at the store. Aren't they cute? Here, Kyo. Here's yours, Benimaru. Yours, Daimon."

Kyo looked at the little pointed paper hat in his hand.

"Dude, you got pink!" Benimaru cried, laughing and concentrated, letting his hair fall down so he could strap the hat on. "Mine's red. Red is an awesome colour, not gay like pink."

"An interesting development, wouldn't you say, Kyo?" Daimon asked, looking down at the hat in his hand.

"I guess," Kyo replied. "Yagami, what the hell is going on?"

"Shut up, Kusanagi," Iori snapped. "Things got a little out of hand here. Mai, get the Japan team a drink please."

Kyo glared at Iori, turned and said, "Let's get the hell out of here."

But Benimaru was already off chatting up the ladies, and Daimon was with him, trying to get past being shy.

"Goddammit," Kyo muttered, then walked into the party, hands shoved deep in his pocket.

"Why the expression, Kyo?" Mary asked. "Oh, shit, I mean Kusanagi. I can never tell what you call Japanese people. Anyways, you look down. It's a party! Have some fun!"

"Maybe I don't like parties," Kyo replied. "Parties are only fun if you like the people at the party."

"You don't like me?"

"We're not exactly friends, Mary. Are you drunk?"

"I'll have you know, Kyo, I can hold my alcohol excellently."

"Kusanagi," Eiji said, sitting alone at a table by himself. "You hate Yagami too, don't you?"

"Yeah, I guess," Kyo said, approaching him. "I dunno about hate. I can't say I like him, but I respect him. Sort've."

"Why?"

"Why what, Kisaragi?"

"Why don't you hate him?"

"Why would I? Sure, he's a jerk and a loser and he stubbornly thinks he's a better fighter than me, but that's no reason to hate a guy."

"You have more reason than any of us to hate him. He wants to kill you someday."

"Hah! Like to see him try, I really would."

"But-"

"And I'm sick of hearing you talk in that stupid monotone voice! Do you think that makes you sound badass, tough guy? You're such some loser in a costume. You lost to Yagami, for Christ's sake!"

Every upward pitch of Kyo's immediately subsequent laughter was a hammer punching a spike into Eiji's brain.

As Kyo left him, he went back into his meditative sulk. The next moment, he realized Mature was sitting opposite him.

"What do you want, assassin?" he asked.

"Ooh, scary," Mature said. "I like the voice. Not too sure about the costume, though. Personally, I'm a tad disappointed. I thought anyone who would train for ten years nonstop for a simple matter of revenge would be a little bit interesting. That was a lame stunt you pulled there. I mean, the execution was impressive: you moved so fast I think only Vice and I saw it. Still, can't see how you would've thought that would work."

"I've relied on man's innate prejudices before."

"Innate? Relying on sociologically bred prejudices only works if you're in a society where those prejudices are bred. You think a bunch of martial-artists-from-birth were going to care if Iori Yagami punched Athena Asamiya in the face? He's done it a million times before! I guess you were just off training for ten years. Mighty anti-social, if I do say so myself."

"My vengeance will still happen tonight. Yagami may not have lost his friends, but he will lose his hotel."

"I knew ninjas sometimes stooped to arson, but I never thought the great Eiji Kisaragi would stoop to arson."

"Nor will I. Ever since Yagami called me, I have been making phone calls that will put my vengeance into action."

"Pretending that Iori hit Athena didn't work very well."

"A ninja must learn to improvise; roll with the punches."

"Kisaragi, Iori attacked you ten years ago and you're still muttering about it today. That's not rolling with the punches, that's just plain old obsession. I don't think ninjas learn to do that."

Eiji didn't reply.

Mature smiled and crossed her legs. She leaned forwards and said, "Tell me this, Kisaragi. If you had the chance, would you have done the same thing to Yagami, if it meant winning the tournament and eliminating a possible enemy?"

Eiji was silent for a moment. Then he said, "No."

"Oh come now, Kisaragi. Does not a ninja 'do what he must'?"

"Do not quote the Laws of Ninjutsu to me, woman!" he snapped, anger suddenly firing up in his voice.

"You see, Kisaragi," Mature said, holding up her glass and swirling her drink around. "I wouldn't have any problem with the display of drama today if it hadn't been so damned hypocritical."

"You speak nonsense, woman."

"Then deny it."

"What?"

Mature's eyes glittered. "Deny it," she said. "Say 'I would not have done the same thing to Yagami as he did to me'."

"Get away from me, woman."

"Ha ha! You Goddamned hypocrite!"

"Get away!" Eiji snapped, standing up.

He stared at her. Mature stared back, but her stare dripped pure femininity, and she did it with a smile. It took a lot of skill in staring down to stare down Eiji Kisaragi, and it was a testament to Mature's ability that she managed to stare him down for as long as she did.

Then, smiling knowingly, she snickered and stood up. "Credibility, Kisaragi, is so important in getting through life. Before I go, do you mind explaining your half-baked idea as to how this hotel is getting burned down?"

"It's too late to stop it," Eiji said, staring at her in anger. "But it's so simple. See K' over there?"

"How could I miss him?"

"What if K-Four-Nine and Angel showed up?"

"My, Kisaragi, that seems so subtle for you. And in the vast battle that follows, Iori's hotel is the casualty?"

"Leaving him broken, as he left me."

"Kisaragi, that's so… so… anti-social of you."

"Do not anger me any further, woman."

"I'm shaking in my boots. I think I'll find a good spot to watch the imminent show."

Over at the bar, Iori sat down and poured himself a drink. "Maybe this isn't so bad, Mai," he said. "In fact, maybe we should do this more often. We hardly have anyone over anyways. These parties are kind've fun."

"I just wish the music wasn't so loud," Andy Bogard said, resting an ice pack on his forehead.

"More orange juice for you, baby," Mai said, setting the glass down. "Remember, drink faster and the hangover will go away quicker."

"Not quick enough."

"Zis iz rather frustrating," Ash Crimson said, also behind the bar, pouring himself a screwdriver. "Kuzanagi is just over zere. I want him to notice me, to be surprised, to start a fight, and yet, it iz like I am invisible, non?"

"Kyo and Benimaru are so self-absorbed, I'm surprised they see can anyone else," Iori replied.

"Pft," Mai said. "Look who's talking."

"I admit it," Iori said. "I've been a jackass in the past, but from this day forward, maybe I should try and be a better, progressive Iori Yagami."

"Not going to happen," Mai replied. "Just take it slowly, Iori. One step at a time. Maybe in another ten years, you'll be downright likeable."

"Here's hoping," Iori replied.

"Yagami!" Benimaru cried, slapping his hand on Iori's back (Oh Jesus, Iori thought). "Looking for you all over the place! This is a mighty fine pad! Can I get some booze, please, Mai! You are looking FINE, by the way."

"Always am, Nikaido," Mai replied. "I don't think I like you with your hair down, though. What'll it be?"

"Your strongest beer!" Benimaru cried, slapping his hand down on the table. He looked at Shermie, whose waist he had his arm around and said, "The problem with being so strong is it's harder for me to get drunk!"

"Darling, tell me about it," Shermie replied. "Strength to sobriety ratio positive proof: Kensou passed out twenty minutes ago. A pity, isn't it?"

"Kensou passed out! That's hilarious! Where is he? We should play a prank on him or something!"

"Darling, that would be hilarious, I must say. Gauche, but hilarious."

"I don't know what that means but you're one beautiful chick, Shermie."

"Benimaru, you always know actually what to say, don't you?"

"I'm one smooth criminal. Hey, Yagami, what's with the long face?"

"I'm exhausted," Iori replied. "I'm not used to so many annoying people all at once."

"Yeah! Annoying people are lame, aren't they? Can't stand those buggers! Hey, Mai, if you come stand beside us, they're'll just be too much beautiful for people to handle! Ha ha!"

Kyo approached from behind them. "Benimaru," he said. "Can we just get the hell out of here? Please?'

"Lighten up, dude!" Benimaru replied. "We hardly ever get to parties these days! And this one is swinging! Booze, girls, music – what more could we ask for?"

"Yagami," Kyo said. "I thought we were beating up Terry tonight. What gives?"

"Kisaragi screwed everything up," Iori replied.

"Hi, Mai," Kyo said, a little awkwardly.

"Hi, Kyo," Mai said. "How's the love life?"

"I'm back with Yuki. You?"

"Almost back with Andy," Mai said. "Just need to get him sober enough to talk seriously with him."

"Why does Yagami look like he's been run over by a bus?"

"Don't mind him. He's enjoying himself. Iori prefers it when he's miserable and looks miserable when he's not."

"You're a whiz with hyperbole, Mai," Iori replied. "No, I'm just tired. I want to go to bed."

"Why don't you?" Kyo asked.

"I'm afraid Athena might try and climb in with me."

That was it. Enough was enough. Ash Crimson climbed up onto the bar stool and cried, "Kyo Kusanagi! Your time haz come! If only you had noticed me before (which I have no idea how you didn't, as I was standing right in front of you) maybe you could have spared yourself this pain! Your flames are mine, Kusanagi!"

Ash laughed and pulled back his hand, his arm warming up with green flame. Kyo and Iori reached out at the same time, grabbed Ash's legs and pulled. He went flying back into the shelves of bottles. The whole shelving unit, complete with alcohol, came down on him with a crash, leaving only a pile of wood and broken glass, and two legs sticking out.

"Well, it was expensive, but it was worth it," Iori said.

"Damn frog," Kyo muttered.

"Well," Mai said, slapping her hands together. "Looks like my job is done: all the drinks are on the floor."

Benimaru leaned over, looked at the pile and said, "Looks like Ash can't hold his alcohol."

Mai rolled her eyes and said, "That was lame, Nikaido."

Incredibly lame it was, but still Iori and Kyo started to crack up, and before Mai could boggle her eyes, they were full-bore throwing their heads back and laughing.

Shermie turned her head at the sound of the doors opening and said, "Darlings, this is all very droll, but I must warn you that we have visitors."

"Terry?" Iori said, turning.

No, not Terry.

There were two of them: the one that attracted the most attention was a woman of average height, and large breasts. The breasts seemed to stand out the most, as they seemed out of proportion to her lean frame, and her outfit, a leather jacket that ended up beneath the curve of her bosom, showed enough flesh to make it distracting. Similarly, any attempts to take in the rest of her were immediately distracted by the fact that she was wearing black bikini briefs, and she had very nice legs. Let's not say that any of this took away from her face, which, combining platinum silver hair and blue eyes, was very cute.

What this is trying to get across was that Angel was very beautiful and very scantily clad.

The man standing beside her… well…

"Oh, K-Four-9," Iori said, getting up. "What, you got tired of fighting the Clowns? Had to come here?"

"Shut up!" K9999 cried. "We're looking for K' and nobody's gonna stop us!"

"Think we're joking?" Angel asked. "Is THIS joking?"

Iori thought, as Angel's fist burst through the table, I was going to throw that one out anyways.

K' stood up, slowly. He walked through the tables, through the crowd, and faced the two newcomers. "Right," he said. "Shall we?"

"No, we shan't," Mary snapped, leaping in front of K' and the others. "No beating up each other yet. Iori and I want this party perfect for Terry?"

Huh? thought Iori.

"Out of the way," Angel said.

"If you don't move," K9999 said. "I'll make you move."

"How about you piss off!" King shouted.

"Yeah!" Ryo added.

"Who said that!" K9999 exclaimed. "I'll make you pay for that-!"

King got up and walked out of the crowd, right up to K9999 and stood in front of him, hands of her hips. "Here I am, buddy. You gonna blow my head up with your mind?"

"Maybe," K9999 snarled.

"Guys, seriously," K' said. "I can handle them."

"No! No!" Mary shouted. "No fighting!"

"Gonna back up your smacktalk with anything, shrimp?" King asked.

"Shut up!" K9999 snapped. "I'm the strongest here so don't mess with me!"

"The strongest?" Benimaru said, leaping from the bar and pushing through the crowd. "I'm the strongest here, little buddy. I guess I could give you some pointers, though, if you're really that insecure."

"Huh?" K9999 asked.

"First things first," Benimaru said. "You need a better image. This I-just-escaped-from-a-military-hospital look doesn't do it for you. First of all, you've got tall spiky hair, but you need it taller. Plus you need some new threads."

"Stop talking-!" K9999 snarled.

"Plus, we should work out a little!" Benimaru said. He raised his arms to make his shirt rise even higher. "You need abs like mine! Six squares of pure beauty! Look, if I flex my stomach, they roll around! Look, guys, look!"

K9999 flushed. His veins began to stand out and he snarled.

Angel touched his shoulder slightly and said, "Don't stress yourself out, babe," she said. "Remember what the professor said: you can't get too angry while you're on your medication. Your powers could go out of control."

"Look, guys!" Benimaru cried. "Look at them go!"

"We see you, Benimaru," Daimon said. "Very impressive."

"What, little shrimp here needs his meds?" King asked. "Sorry if I'm a little belligerent: I just hate it when people crash parties. Especially if they're ugly little inconsiderate pimples like this one."

K9999 gritted his teeth. "I'll make you regret that," he said.

"Take your best shot, pal."

King flew over the heads of the partygoers, her face bleeding, and crashed down behind the front desk in a pile of documents.

"I just sorted those," Iori muttered.

Ryo ran to the front desk. "King!" he cried. "Are you okay?"

She sprang up, vaulted over the desk, and charged through the crowd at K9999.

"Ah hah," K9999 said, smiling, watching her approach. The psychic blast manifested as a multi-coloured half-sphere around him, and it felt to King like electrocution. Steam rising off her body, she flew back into the crowd.

"No fighting!" Mary protested.

"Shush," Angel said, folding her arms. "I'm rather enjoying this."

"Who invited you, anyways?" Mary snapped. "Party crashers! Nobody wants you here!"

"Shut up!" K9999 cried. "Who cares? We're stronger than all of you, so we can just do what we please!"

"That's the spirit!" Benimaru cried, clasping K9999's shoulder. "That's right! We strong and beautiful make the world go 'round."

King leapt up to her feet and launched herself at K9999 again. This time, he decided to use a more brutal move on her face, twisting his flesh and bone into a drill that'd hopefully mutilate her features. She wouldn't be so pretty when he got through with her…

She vaulted over his attack, getting two punches into his jaw and neck. She landed and reared up, kicking his in the crotch and chest. To observers, it seemed like she was accelerating: Before K9999 could stumble back, she kicked his legs out, grabbed her falling torso and plowed him, face first, into the ground.

Not finished: She kicked him in the face and kneed him in the chest, and finally released him, letting him fly into the wall and collapse in a bloody heap.

"I will NOT lose to a punk-ass jackass asshole like you!" King shouted. She turned to face Angel aggressively. "What? You want a piece of me, bitch? What, come on! I see you looking at me! You want to fight, huh?"

"Honey-" Ryo said, stepping out of the crowd. "Are you okay?"

Angel blinked at the bloody mess of K9999. "You're going to pay for that," she said, to King.

"Then bring it," King said. "Come on, let's do this."

Angel launched herself at King, dropped and skidded along the ground, knocking King's legs out from under her.

"No fighting!" Mary snapped.

"Stay out of this, Mary!" Angel cried, skidding back, dodging and weaving King's swings.

King went upside down and sliced her foot backwards into Angel's forehead. Angel's head snapped back, and she continued the motion, carrying her body into a back flip and stabbing her toes into King's airborne back.

"Elaborate fight," Mai said, watching.

"Aren't they all?" Iori asked.

"You said it," Kyo agreed.

Angel landed on her feet and got King above the eye with a calculated blow. King reeled, trying to blink away the blood that got in the way of her vision. Angel charged, coming up with a kick to her opponent's face.

King caught the kick, and twisted backwards, pulling Angel off balance. She leapt up, planting her foot in Angel's solar plexus, stomach and between her breasts. The two women cannoned off each other and hit the ground in painful rolls.

"Stop FIGHTING!" Mary shouted.

"Mary!" King snapped, getting to her feet. "This cat needs her claws clipped."

"Don't get mad at me, please, Mary," Angel said. "I'm just doing my mission."

"Honestly, girls," K' said. "None of this is necessary. I can-"

He was cut off as Angel and King flew at each other again. They flew off each other again, a tooth coming loose from King's bleeding mouth, and two ribs creaking in Angel's chest. They hit the ground, and got to their feet.

"You're ruining the party, girls!" Mary said, stepping in between them.

"King's slowing down, Mary," Angel said, breathing hard and trying to stay on her feet. "Let me-"

"NO!" Mary said, and punched Angel in the face.

Angel hit the ground and stared up at her in shock and anger. She scissored her legs into Mary's and leapt onto her as she fell. Mary got Angel in the throat and rolled over onto her, pinning her arms and legs down. "Enough, you crazy bitch!" she snapped.

Angel stared up at her, her breasts rising and falling in rhythm. "Oh, Mary," she said, and plunged her tongue into Mary's mouth.

Okay, that got everyone's attention.

Mary gave out a small muffled cry of surprise and tried to pull away from the, admittedly amazing, kiss. She pushed off of Angel and stumbled away, staring at her, then looked at everyone else. Everyone else stared back at her.

"Mary…" Angel said, staring at her. "God, I guess I shouldn't have done that."

Somewhere in the silence, Vice burst out into laughter.

"No, no, no," Mary said. "I guess it's alright for people to display their feelings in times of, um, heightened stress and, um, stuff, but, uh-"

"I mean, I, you know," Angel said, flustered. "I know I'm supposed to be a badass killing machine, but there you were, you know, on top of me, and I guess I just kind've-"

"Yeah, yeah, I understand, I, um, I understand," Mary replied.

She helped Angel to her feet. Whereupon, Angel kissed her again.

"No," Mary said, pushing Angel away. "None of that."

"Yes, sorry," Angel replied. "Sorry. Sorry, sorry."

"It's okay, it's okay," Mary said. "Just- Let's all calm down for a second."

Eiji Kisaragi couldn't believe his Goddamned eyes.

He just couldn't believe them.

K' wasn't leaping around, sending out gouts of flame into Iori's dry walls. Angel wasn't leaping about smashing up tables and chairs. K9999 wasn't destroying everything with his psychic powers.

In front of him, Mature turned about on her seat and laughed in his face.

He shook with anger, got up onto the table and screamed at the top of his lungs, "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!"

The hotel's shoddy electrical system finally gave up the ghost, sparked, and set the ceiling on fire. A wall of fire and pieces of ceiling came down onto Eiji.

"Oh God!" Iori said, standing up. "Everyone get out!"

He leapt for the front desk.

"Iori!" Mai shouted. "Where're you going?"

"I have to check the register!" Iori shouted. "See if anyone's still in the building!"

Flames clambered over the crappy dry walls and around onto the floors. The crowd surged forward, scrambling to get out of the hotel.

Iori checked the register: the junkies had left a while ago, and the blond woman too. Good. He turned about and started shoving important documents into a briefcase.

Two support beams crashed down next to him and he fell onto his back.

Death by fire, he thought. Is that irony, or just coincidence?

Mai leapt onto the front desk and pulled him to his feet. She started dragging him towards the door.

"Wait!" Iori cried, and began kicking at a pile of flaming rags on the floor.

"Yagami, what the hell are you doing?" Mai asked, the inferno raging around her.

Iori kicked out the last of the flames and picked up a very scorched Eiji.

"Let go of me," Eiji protested, half-heartedly.

"Shut the hell up, asshole," Iori replied.

As he and Mai made it to the door, he saw Kyo helping the unconscious Ash to the door. No, that couldn't be right: Kyo would've definitely left Ash Crimson behind.

He was right: the fire was playing with his eyes, and he saw Sie Kensou dragging Ash out. He would have to have a little talk with Kensou later on. "Hey Kensou! What the hell are you doing saving one of my arch nemesi?" "Psycho Soldiers do heroic things, Yagami." "You're such an idiot, Kensou."

Iori's knees gave out, and the ceiling gave inwards suddenly. Mai shrieked, but nothing happened.

Iori looked up. Athena was standing over them, a red glowing shield above her hands, holding the wreckage above them.

Mai grabbed them all and forced them out of through the door and into the rain. Coughing, she fell to her knees and turned around to stare at the hotel, engulfed by the fire.

In the distance she could hear sirens.

"No!" Eiji cried. "Nooooo! That was not how it was supposed to happen! It was supposed to be because of ME! He wasn't supposed to SAVE me!"

"Iori!" Athena cried, shaking Iori's form. "Iori, wake up! Oh God, Mai, he isn't dead, is he?"

"No," Mai said, looking at him. "Just unconscious, I guess."

The others gathered around them, watching the place burn down.

"A damn shame," May Lee said.

"Now what do we say to Terry?" Mary said.

"Say what to me?" a voice said.

They all turned.

Terry Bogard had changed his outfit: wearing now his brown jacket and jeans. He carried an umbrella over his head and it was beneath this that he watched the hotel burn. "What HAPPENED?" he asked.

"Electrical fire," Mai said. "Oh God, Terry, you're not going to beat him up again, are you? He just lost his hotel."

"Beat him up?" Terry said. "Why would I do that?"

"Oh, he's the nicest guy, Terry!" Mary cried, falling into his arms. "He had this party for you and invited us all and everything!"

"Seriously, Terry," King said, approaching them and holding a cloth to her mouth to stem the bleeding. "Don't pick on him. I don't think he's got the strength to fight you."

"Again: Why would I fight him?"

"Didn't that mob boss hire you to rough him up again?" Mai asked.

Terry laughed. "No," he said. "Company policy: we can't beat up anyone twice in one day. Can't happen."

Iori woke up and got to his feet. "Oh," he said. "Well, I'm glad for that then. Um, 'surprise!'"

Terry laughed and said, "I brought you a bottle of wine to say I'm sorry for beating you up, but I guess you won't have anywhere to drink it. You can stay at my place for a while if you like."

"Or mine," Mai said.

"Or ours," King said. "Until you get back on your feet."

"Wow," Iori said. "Well, I rather feel like a jerk."

"Why?" Terry asked.

"Never mind. Has someone called the fire department yet?"

Athena grabbed onto his arm and spoke seriously, "Iori, you can stay at my place. I'm being perfectly serious and intelligent here, everything you could expect in someone you'd want to start a relationship with – we can have sex tonight, I'll make you breakfast in the morning, we can do the things you want to do, the things I want to do-"

"Athena," Iori said. "No. But I'd like to be friends. Honest."

"I'd hate to be friends, Yagami," Athena said.

"Too bad," Iori replied. "We are, anyways. However, if K' is looking for company tonight-"

"No chance, Yagami," K' replied.

"Yagami!" Kyo said. "You're gay? What a fag!"

"Lame, Kusanagi," Mai said.

"Yeah, dude," Benimaru said. "That was kinda immature."

Kyo blinked, then said, "Screw you guys, then. I'm going home."

"Speaking of which," Angel said, looking at Mary longingly. "Maybe you could consider-"

"No, Angel."

"Even if-"

"No, Angel."

"Well," Andy said, looking at Mai and smiling. "At least someone will end up with someone tonight."

"Not until we work some things out, Andy," Mai replied.

"Aw, man."

Iori sighed and looked up at his hotel. "Well, it's been one hell of a night," he said. "But I guess this won't be so bad. The insurance will pay me through the nose."

"Argh!" Eiji cried, in anguish.

"Plus, I've got friends to help me out," Iori said. "Right, guys?"

"Right!"

And friends are what matter, Iori thought. Until the next tournament, of course.

Fin.

So what did everyone think? Stay tuned for the Afterword!