"For the moment," you tell Cordelia, carefully stressing the words, "I'm not going to do anything. Tatsuki just got out of a rough fight, and I've already managed to upset her worldview once today; I doubt she's in any mood to hear that there's a high-level magical seal on her, or that she may not be who, or what, she thinks she is."

Cordelia frowns.

"Besides," you continue, "this isn't the kind of news you spill in the time we have left to work with before the next match - which is what, seven minutes?" You glance at the clock. Yeah, not even seven minutes at this point. "After the tournament, when I can devote my full attention and whatever magic I have left to the problem - then I'll tell her. Preferably with the Kurosakis and their mysterious ninja-handling friend present. And maybe Lu-sensei, assuming we can find him."

"And in the meantime?"

"In the meantime, I believe I may have an appointment to keep." While Cordelia blinks in confusion at this, you walk over to the other girls and politely interrupt their discussion. "Excuse me. Ayane?"

"Yes?"

"Kasumi mentioned earlier that some people would want to talk to me. Do you think this would be a good time for that?"

The ninja-girl considers it, glances at the clock herself, and then shakes her head. "Probably not. Six minutes isn't nearly enough time for the sort of discussion that's likely to develop."

"I had a feeling it might not be," you admit. "Does that mean that I can expect them to show up for that talk after the finals?"

"Assuming you aren't knocked out before then?" She smiles. "Yes."

You wave away the cheerful threat. "Alright, so that's one meeting I have to take care of. As soon as that's done, though - Tatsuki, I'd like a chance to speak with you and the Kurosakis, if that's okay."

"More stuff about demons?" she guesses, a bit sourly.

"About the supernatural, anyway," you agree. "It's nothing that can't wait another hour or two, or even a few days - I do have your contact information, and I'd completely understand if Ichigo's folks felt that they should leave once the division finals are over. It's just that this is the sort of thing I'd prefer to discuss face-to-face, if I could."

Tatsuki nods, a bit hesitantly. "I'll let them know. I think we're supposed to be leaving after lunch, though."

Well, that's inconvenient - not unexpected, certainly, but still inconvenient. "Try to get them to hang around a bit longer, if you can. It's important. And like Ayane just said," you add, seeing that Tatsuki is about to ask for details, "it's not a subject that we can cover in the six minutes - well, five, now - that we have left."

"You're a busy boy, aren't you, Alex?" Ayane notes.

"Some days more than others. This is definitely shaping up to be one of the 'some days.'"

"Then perhaps you should make time to attend to the important matters on your plate."

You frown suspiciously at the violet-haired girl. "And how would you suggest I do that?"

"Well, as an example, you could always forfeit your next match." She smiles innocently. "That would give you plenty of time to get your first appointment out of the way."

"Ha. Ha. Nice try, Ninja Girl, but no way. I did not fly across an ocean and fight my way through half a dozen rounds of ki users, part-demons, and flat-out nonhumans, just to drop out in the quarter-finals. You want me out of this tournament, you're going to have to put me out."

Ayane's smile becomes a grin. "As you like it, then."

"I wonder what Zelda will say when I tell her that her big brother got beaten by a girl half his size?" Cordelia muses.

"The words 'liar, liar, pants on fire' come to mind."

"If that happens, you should talk to Ichigo," Tatsuki advises, getting in on the fun. "He has lots of experience explaining to the twins why I keep kicking his butt. He could give you pointers."

Your moment of banter is interrupted by a particularly loud explosion from the ring. Looking up, you find that the Prism Rangers are standing in a different formation, holding... a device whose appearance you cannot easily find the words to describe. It has seven major sections, each one a different color - and each color matching one of the Prism Rangers' outfits - and Prism Red has it mounted on his shoulder like a rocket launcher, though it's got entirely too many handles and weird projections for even the most science fiction-y such device you've ever seen. The rest of the Rangers are spread out to either side of their apparent leader, and a large ball of technicolor flame is rising from the ring about ten feet in front of them. As the audience cheers for no reason you can determine, the Prism Rangers disassemble their device into half a dozen different weapons - sword, axe, spear, bow, staff, gun, two daggers, and a pair of brass knuckles? - and then strike a different pose.

"Another victory for the Prism Rangers!" the Announcer cries out. "Let's hear it for the Champions of Justice, folks!"

There is a moment of applause, during which the oddball heroes bow. Then, striking yet another pose and crying out "PRISM RANGERS!" for a final time, they vanish - in another burst of rainbow pyrotechnics.

"And now," the Announcer says as the smoke clears, leaving the ring empty and remarkably untouched by all the explosions, "while the fires of justice and courage still burn brightly in our memories, let the third round of the Under Tens Division Finals begin! First up, Kurokami Medaka and Altria Drake!"

And once it's over, what is your plan for facing Ayane in the second match? You know from previous observation that she's fast, strong, skilled, and aggressive, and you're also aware that she's a ninja, though aside from the ability to hide in plain sight, you've not witnessed her using any other mysterious powers.