Chapter Five: Unforeseen Events.

The museum was less than a mile outside of the Palace, in a sector that had once been a cultural showcase. Now, the theaters and parks were empty, only the streetlights indicating that the zone had not been wholly abandoned. Their driver pulled up to the museum entrance and their escort secured a perimeter as the captain unlocked the doors. It took several minutes for the soldiers to get the lights back on, and they passed the time examining the artifacts near the door. Ukyo almost wanted to laugh seeing such mundane items as a toaster and a rice cooker labeled as "Old Earth" artifacts, but it brought home how much had changed for this universe in the thousand years since her time.

If they couldn't rescue Zhu-Shu again, and stop Blackmoon, would their universe end up the same? Despite Ying-Ying's optimism that the Zhulong would be of great use to the Earth after they had used it to recover Zhu-Shu, Ukyo wasn't as confident of their chances. Things were just too one sided now. Even if they could rescue Serenity from her crystal prison, with only Ami and Makoto left of the Inner Senshi, she couldn't see a happy outcome. With the reports that the soldiers had given her of more than a hundred vessels in orbit, and the ease with which Xi'an Chi had been able to whisk Zhu-Shu away, it was obvious that the Blackmoon could have already ended the war. There was something that they wanted in Crystal Tokyo, something that likely stood a good chance of destruction in an all out assault. If they knew what it was...

The lights came on finally and the captain led them to the gallery further in. The Zhulong hovered in space beneath a broken skylight over the large main room of the museum, and Ukyo smiled.

"Well, from out here, she looks as good as she did the last time I saw her."

Kuno raised an eyebrow. "This is a space vessel? It looks more like a sailing ship."

Ukyo shrugged. "Travel during the Silver Millennium was a lot more like sailing than the rockets used in our current universe. The actual ship is based on a sailing vessel, with mystical shields surrounding it to contain an atmosphere and provide defense. The bridge is forward, in the dragon's head. There are three decks internally, plus the upper deck, and a storage hold. Deck one is the surface deck, used primarily for boarding and sightseeing. Deck two is the command deck, three is living quarters, and four is engineering and weapons. The lowest deck is storage. Those things that look like wings folded to her side are the solar sails. Depending on where it is in its orbit, she can make it to Mars in as little as 20 days, making her one of the fastest ships in the entire Solar Federation. The Old Solar Empire that existed prior to the reign of the Chaos Lords was supposed to have ships capable of faster than light, but we had yet to recover that kind of knowledge. The Zhulong is technically a cruiser class vessel, about half the size of a battleship, but she packs more firepower than one. With a trained crew, and the Senshi aboard, she would have outclassed anything in the sky but the Tianlong. We had almost finished building Serenity's when Lin decided to give this one to you, Rei."

Rei sighed wistfully. "I wish she had waited till after we had been married. You needed her, and instead she was sitting idle on Mars while I was on the Moon."

Ukyo shrugged. "Then it wouldn't be here now, and we'd have no hope at all to rescue Zhu-chan."

Ukyo directed the soldiers to connect the gangplank and start removing the various equipment scattered across the upper deck, remnants of the historian's abandoned attempt to study and restore the Zhulong. As they complied, Ying-Ying noticed her wincing and rubbing her temples.

"Are you okay, Uc-chan?"

Ukyo nodded. "Just a headache. Too many memories coming in too fast. I feel like I have a whirlwind in my head."

Ying-Ying stepped over to rub her temples, her fingers glowing faintly. The pained look on Ukyo's face eased.

"That tickles."

"Just a light pain relieving spell. I would need herbs to do much else. I don't know why, but you are retrieving Orihime's memories at a vastly accelerated rate. It doesn't match any of the projections that Legend discussed with me. There are a lot of things I wasn't prepared for. I never expected to come to the future, and I certainly had not expected you and Rei to have become lovers, though I am overjoyed at the fact. I had believed I faced a future in which our lovely firebird would have always remained just out of reach."

Rei snuck in a kiss on her cheek. "Well you don't, because I am right here."

Ying-Ying giggled. "Indeed. You might be one catalyst that is making Ukyo remember the past so quickly, or it could be her armor, it might even have something to do with Clove's probing her the day after she attacked Zhu-chan as a dragon. I just don't know. There are too many variables."

"Clove probed me that morning? I thought Lo-Shen couldn't find any traces of meddling."

"Clove is very skilled, beloved. She erased the memories."

Ukyo reached out to tousle her hair. "Like you did of your visit when Lo-Shen and I were in my head?"

Ying-Ying blinked. "You remember?"

Ukyo nodded. "Yeah. I still haven't figured out what it was I was supposed to make a choice about though. Or do I still have to make it?"

Ying-Ying smiled lovingly. "You've already made it, my warrior."

"I did?"

"You did."

"So what was it I made a choice about?"

"You chose us." Ying-Ying pointed to the Guan-Do in Ukyo's hand. "You chose to be our Guardian, instead of staying just Ukyo the Okonomiyaki Chef."

Ukyo blinked. "So, the world crisis point you were talking about was Zhu-Shu making the engagement?"

Ying-Ying blushed. "Well, it was a crisis point for my world, at least. Life without you would have sucked. I want all my soulmates! I'm very selfish that way. It's bad enough knowing that one of us is imprisoned. To have been so close to both you and Rei, yet separated..." she shuddered. "Thank you for not rejecting us."

Ukyo hugged her. "Thank Clove too, sugar. I don't know what she did, but the link between Zhu-Shu and I was a hundred times stronger that morning. I could feel her every thought and emotion clearly. I couldn't have made any other choice and lived with myself, and the way I would have made her feel." She stepped back to look at the pink haired girl. "That's why I have no objections to Clove, my flower. When we touched while Konatsu was kissing me that first time, I felt her remorse over planning to use me, even if I didn't know how close she came to actually doing it. I could see how guilty she felt for almost doing to me what she's done to Konatsu, and how much she longed just to be loved. She needs us to help her be the kind of person she wants to be, instead of the person she was forced to be. And now I know that what she did made it possible for me to overcome my own stubborn idiocy. Because of her, I have you, and Rei, and Konatsu, and Zhu-Shu, and even Sarhia. She gave you all back to me when I didn't even know I was missing you. She's earned her place with us."

Rei looked at her questioningly. "Sarhia? You mean Zhu-Shu's teacher, the one who taught her Shiva's dance?"

Ukyo gave her a sly grin. "Yup. She's going to be a surprise for Zhu-chan. Wait till we get back to our Earth. I've got to go and dig her out of a mountain. You'll love her, I know it." She turned back to Ying-Ying. "Especially you, my kinky little wife. She has six hands."

Ying-Ying blushed bright red. "Oooooooh."

The troops had finally cleared the deck so they could get to the forward hatch, and Ukyo waved to Kuno and Kagura, who had been using her feather to examine the outside of the ship. They joined them outside the hatch. "See any external damage?" Ukyo asked.

Kuno shook his head. "Nay my lady. There are a few areas where repairs have seemed to have been made, but no current damage."

Ukyo nodded. "Probably when they brought her here from Mars." She stepped up to the hatch, which opened on her approach. They all followed her down into the ship. It was dark, but her armor offered plenty of light. She motioned aft. "That way is the war room and strategic command. It's where Lin-Tzu and I would have been directing battle. We'll get to it later." She pointed forward. "The bridge is this way. Let's go see if we can get the power on."

They followed her down the short corridor to another hatch, which slid aside to reveal a large room. Two large bay windows allowed light from outside into the room, which resembled a bridge from a sci-fi anime more than it did a bridge for a sailing vessel. Rei whistled. "Wow. I didn't think it'd look this sophisticated."

Ukyo laughed. "Magic as Science, my dear." She strode to a nearby station and lay her fingers on a few crystals. The station lit up, and she reached to touch several more crystals. They felt as a distinct thrumming began, making the floor vibrate softly. "Main engines online. Bringing up ships power now."

The bridge illuminated as all the stations sprang to life and overhead lights came on. One after another, various holographic displays flickered on and steadied. Rei looked at it and raised an eyebrow.

"Um, Uc-chan, this looks really complex. How are we going to fly it?"

"Not a problem. Ship's got a self willed intelligence." She turned towards the center of the bridge. "Hello Zhulong, My name is Ukyo Kounji, I am the reincarnation of General Orihime of the Imperial military forces. My access code is Guardian Alpha Prime, acknowledge."

Dead silence greeted her. She repeated herself, again with no result. She cursed. "Something is not right here." She turned to the access door behind the command chair and keyed the crystals next to it. The door slid aside to reveal an empty chair with a cable curled up in the seat, and numerous cables connected to it's back. Ukyo blinked. It was fitted with a series of restrants as well giving it a mildly ominious appearance.

"What the fuck? Where the hell is her Yggdrasil seed? What the hell is this chair?"

"Something is wrong?" Kagura asked.

"Yeah, something is very wrong. Someone's been tampering with this ship. Her brain is gone."


Xi'an Chi laughed as he observed the records of the breakfast the Nerimans had gathered for. Emeraude had been startled when Ukyo had described the general layout of the Tianlong, but she had been waved to silence as Xi'an Chi finished watching until Clove lead Mu back into the bedroom. The record paused as Xi'an Chi looked thoughtful.

"Master?"

"Yes my pet?"

"How is it possible for them to know so much about this vessel?"

The black dragoness on the other side of the throne gave her a "who cares" look before curling up to sleep again. Xi'an Chi looked at Emeraude in amusement. "Because that is not just 'Ukyo' anymore."

"I don't understand."

"Ukyo Kounji is the reincarnation of Song Orihime, the Guardian of the Dragon." He waved to the far side of the throne room, where a statue of a large female Oni stood, naked but still clutching an ornate bladed staff. "The intelligence we gathered is in error now because it's about people who no longer exist. It seems that both Ukyo and Rei have recovered at least some of their memories. Orihime knows about this vessel because she is it's architect. I stole it from her some two thousand years ago. It's not quite the same vessel she once knew, but it's external appearance has changed little. Now that she knows about it, I have little doubt that she will learn very soon about another survivor from that long ago war. I know it will raise her hopes, but she's merely playing right into my plans. That's why I had you deliver that pathetic Mu to them."

"I was curious as to why you wanted me to give the prototype to them."

"My former self failed utterly with making her an artificial Dragon's Child, but she was a testbed for several other projects as well. As a prototype for the the dopplegangers she proved a minor success, but it was when he tried to upgrade her capabilities that he was forced to put her and her little secret into stasis and wipe her memories clean before she could infect the entire network. That experiment failed spectacularly. So spectactularly it almost killed the previous version of myself from this universe."

"I see."

"Do you, my pet? I was laughing just now at the pitiful attempt to prevent my being aware of their plans by having Clove and Mu lock themselves into a room. While her enslavement to Clove of all people is deliciously ironic, it's just a bonus. I knew one or another of them would have no choice but to complete her contract. Soon, they will have no choice but to use the girl, knowing that they will be unable to hide anything from me, and that no matter what they do they will be proceeding into a trap. Very soon, they will learn how necessary she is to them, and the trap will be complete. My former self's failure will become my triumph."

Emeraude smiled viciously at her master's laughter.


Miss Tsuchigumo looked over the papers again.

"Well you certainly have an impressive school record. Some of the finest in Tokyo for your primary and secondary, though you transferred to Kyoto for your third year of middle school till now."

The slim figure in black standing before her bowed. "That is correct, Madam. However, family obligations have required my return to Tokyo and my enrollment in Furinkan. Miss Anami will not allow me to shirk my education despite my duties. She was quite insistent that I must attend school as a condition of employment."

"You have a job?"

"Indeed Madam. I am a butler." Light glittered off his narrow glasses as he bowed. "For Miss Nabiki-sama and Tao-Ching-sama."

Miss Tsuchigumo pushed her own glasses back up her nose. "And why Furinkan? I can see you once attended the same middle school as Kodachi Kuno."

"Hai. It was actually a divided school. Males and Females had their separated buildings and co-ed activities were uncommon, but I have been aquainted with Kodachi Kuno since childhood. She… was the reason I left Tokyo. I am aware Miss Kuno attends Furinkan. Her uncle was quite explicit that she has changed from the girl whom drove me to Kyoto. I have promised him I will take no actions against her unless she attempts to harm my master or mistress."

"The Director, hummm."

"Yes Madam. My Grandfather is his butler, and Kodachi and I were childhood playmates when he allowed her to visit. The debt the Hasai family owes to its saviors is beyond repayment. Were it not for Inuyasha, his brother, Lord Sesshomaru, and the Hibiki's, our clan would have perished. For 300 years, we have served the Hibiki clan, and awaited the return of those who came to restore to us our honor, Lord Tao-Ching and Lady Nabiki."

Miss Tsuchigumo blinked. "But Tao-Ching doesn't go to school, and Nabiki has been absent nearly two weeks now."

He nodded again. "Yes, madam. According to my families legends, this is the period during which they are traveling to the past to rescue our clan from destruction. They will return soon. I will await them. I am to be the first Hasai to serve the two who saved us. Our long secret can finally be revealed."

"I see." She tapped her nails on the desk. "You are saying that Nabiki has been absent because she's time traveling?"

"Yes, madam. Miss Nabiki, Tao-Ching, and Tatawaki Kuno, Ukyo Kuonji, Rei Hino, and Song Zhu-Shu are the names recorded in the Hasai legends. It is said they were sent by a goddess to undo time itself and deliver us from the Yamana and their mercenaries, the Dutch." He pushed his glasses up his nose elegantly. "I am aware of how that sounds, madam, but I assure you, I am not mad."

Miss Tsuchigumo sighed heavily. "I can accept that, Hasai-san. Given that it involves the Dragon's Child, I can accept nearly anything…" the resignation in her voice was immense. "I am starting to wonder if Furinkan itself will survive her enrollment here." She glanced down at the papers again. "So if you know the Director, I must assume you are aware of the true nature of Furinkan?"

"My grandmother was a spider as well, Miss Tsuchigumo, and I am a hanyo. Our family has intermingled with youkai for generations. I bear the blood of many youkai in my lineage. In addition to my duties to the Hibiki, I also desire to participate in this experiment occurring in Furinkan. My family owes its existence to youkai, and has freely accepted them within our clan. It is our hope to spread the benefits we have shared in so doing to the whole world."

"Good. That relieves me of having to explain the unique situation this school is in. I will take you to join your home room now. However, the only class with available seats is Kodachi's."

"Her uncle tells me she is much changed. I am curious to see this 'new' Kodachi."

She looked at his black uniform, impeccably neat, with a soft grey cravat matching the ruffles at his wrists that almost covered black gloves. He pushed his narrow glasses up his nose again, the motion as polished and practiced as a professional model's. With his long raven black hair neatly tied back with an ebony ribbon, he looked like a butler straight out of an anime. If he was wearing a monocle, he'd pass for a young Walter C. Dornez, she thought with a small internal sigh. Oh if I was only a hundred years younger.

"I take it the uniform is staying?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes madam. The school uniform is far too informal for my position. A butler must always appear his best for his masters."

She sighed. "You realize you're going to have half the girls in school breaking their hearts over you." And some of the teachers too…

"It cannot be helped, madam. There is only one girl who could have ever claimed my heart, and Kodachi destroyed her, and my sole chance at happiness. You need not fear for the virtue of your students, madam. It matters not how many women toss their hearts at my feet, I have no heart to give," he said coldly.

The spider-woman raised an eyebrow at that as she lead him out of the office and across the school to class 1-G.


Homeroom had not yet started, so Kodachi was chatting with Kyoko about the bracelets they had acquired after Lo-Shen's familiar ceremony. "I know we're not supposed to play with them until practice today, but what do you think might happen when we can finally activate them?" she asked as she dangled it on her wrist in between them.

Kyoko shrugged. "I don't know. She said they were going to be like pactio cards. If they are, then it should transform into a special costume and a weapon that fits us." She giggled. "That probably means I'm going to get magic pom-poms!" The excitement in her voice was matched by her fast wagging tail. It almost made Kodachi jealous that she only had dog ears. The kawaii vixen's fluffy tail was absolutely adorable.

Kodachi smiled. "And I will get a ribbon, I'm sure." Her eyes looked over to where Mousse was desperately trying to finish her homework before the bell rang, her wings twitching as she wrote. She clucked her tongue. "Mou-chan, you really should have told me you hadn't done your homework before letting me seduce you last night."

The angelic looking girl smiled sheepishly. "But you were hungry, mistress."

Kyoko raised an eyebrow. "Hungry?"

Kodachi blushed. "After Lo-Shen performed her ceremony yesterday, I was struck with a very strange sensation. Hunger is the only way I can describe it. Eating dinner didn't help it any, and every time I looked at Mou-chan, it just got worse and worse. The craving to seduce her got overwhelming."

"I see. Did you feel much better after sex?"

"Definitely."

"You should probably talk to Kaede. You are half succubus, after all, and that sounds like one of her feeding frenzies."

"A feeding frenzy?"

Kyoko nodded. "Succubi feed on sexual energy. She says most humans tend to toss it around indiscriminately, and it tends to make her hungry for us because it's like an appetizer. When we take her to someplace like the Club, or anywhere that humans are releasing a lot of sexual energy, she gets so worked up that she'll wear all of us out. It's completely normal for succubi. Maybe you are just starting to manifest your succubus half."

Kodachi looked thoughtful. "Interesting."

Kyoko looked slyly at Mousse. "It will make your love life very interesting if that's the case, Mou-chan."

The tenshi blushed. "It is already interesting, Kyoko-chan."

Miss Tsuchigumo entered the room just as the bell rang. They rose, bowed and sat back down in greeting to her and the homeroom teacher and looked at her expectantly.

"Students, I'd like to let you know we are welcoming yet another new transfer student into your class today. He is already familiar with the experiment going on at Furinkan, and is part youkai. Please treat him as you would any of your fellow students, and show him our hospitality."

A figure dressed all in black entered the classroom at her signal and came to stand beside her. Kodachi stood in shock. "Raijin!?" she blurted out as she stared at him wide eyed.

He gave her a cool look. "Yes Kodachi-sama. Please, reseat yourself, madam." He turned to the rest of the class and bowed. "Greetings my fellow students. I am Raijin Hasai, the tenth. Butler to the Hibiki clan. It is a pleasure to meet you all."


Clove sat soaking up the heat from the bath as Mu washed her back. At least, she was very happily rubbing her bare breasts up and down Clove's soap covered back as Clove figured letting her use her body as a washcloth was a step up from her trying to use her tongue as one like she had started to. Once, I would have demanded a tongue bath from my maids… Gods, I am such a monster…

No, you are not. Konatsu gave her a very stern mental image of her wagging her finger at the dragon girl. If she were not enchanted to be our slave, but were doing this because she chose to, we would both be enjoying it. I can see the guilt you cling to for who you used to be Clove, but you are no-longer that person. I can see in Mu's head too, and this is making her happy as can be. Let her enjoy herself. She doesn't need to suffer because we feel guilty. All that making her stop would do is convince her we're angry with her. She can't understand anything else yet.

I know. And I know she's almost delirious with pleasure right now, and I'd rather she be happy than scared and afraid. But feeling how close to orgasming she is is making me feel even guiltier.

So switch with me. Her feelings aren't nearly as strong back here.

Clove gratefully retreated to let Konatsu control the body. Thank you. I am so afraid I'll let my desires overtake me and hurt her without meaning to.

That's because you're acting like a good mistress should. I am proud of you. You make me happy to be your Kunochi.

Konatsu blushed furiously as she felt Mu let out a small gasp and press her body closer as she shuddered. Well… that was… rather intense, she admitted. But she's happy, and feeling contented that she served her mistress well.

The Kunochi turned to the still slightly dazed girl, and patted her on the head. "Thank you, Mu," she said in Mandarin, Clove feeding her the proper words. "You should wash yourself too. You did well."

Mu beamed in joy and looked around for the sponge she had let float away when she switched to using her own body. She saw it, and lunged for it with a small giggle, then looked to make sure she was in her mistresses' view, and began washing herself.

Konatsu heard Clove sigh. She's even putting on a show just for us like Ying-Ying did.

So we let her. It's the least we can do.

Isn't she driving you crazy too?

Well, yes, but to be honest, I'm a little too embarrassed to be as aroused as she's making you. You've got way more experience at sex and far fewer inhibitions. And that is not meant to sound like a criticism. I like your lack of inhibitions. You give me courage around Rei and Ying-Ying and Ukyo.

Ko-chan… how can you love me so much? I stole your body, planned to use you to betray Zhu-chan, made Mu my slave. How can you even bear to acknowledge my existence, let alone–

Oh stop that! I love you because you need me to love you. Because you were alone, and in pain, and desperately in need of my love. Of all of our love. Just like I was. We made each other something we couldn't be apart. I will always and forever love you, got it!

Y-y-y-es Ko-chan.

Good. Now watch Mu and enjoy the show while I keep our body from doing anything you'd regret, okay?

Yes, Ko-chan.

Konatsu nodded and settled back in the water up to her neck, looking past Mu to where Kanna was seated a short distance away, carefully polishing her mirror.

According to Kagura, the diminutive girl was older than her much more mature looking sister. Fully clothed in her usual kimono, she looked all of nine or ten, but sitting in the bath, she looked at least a little older. Her pale pubic fur was neatly trimmed, and it was obvious that she did indeed have breasts, they were just as petite as she was. It was her child like face that made her look so young. In her kimono, and with her hair flowers she looked just like a doll. Konatsu wondered what she'd look like in a Victorian style goth-loli outfit and made herself blush.

As Kanna continued to polish the mirror, she decided to ask "Do you carry that with you everywhere?"

Kanna looked up at her and nodded once. "We are one." She held up her mirror. "This is also my body."

She's a Tsukumogami, Ko-chan.

"Oh! I see. So that's why Ying-Ying keeps calling you a "cute little mirror."

Kanna nodded. "I am it's reflection."

"That's why you seem to have so few emotions."

"A mirror needs no emotion."

"Yet you seem to love your sister."

Kanna tilted her head at Konatsu. "She is my onee-san. She acknowledges me. Is that 'love'?"

Konatsu giggled. "She says you're her onee-san. Isn't she younger than you?"

Kanna shrugged. "Onee-san is bigger."

"Is that why?"

"Yes."

Konatsu smiled. "Then I suppose that 's a good onee-chan. Much better than mine were. I can see she really cares about you."

"I would not know. Naraku believed her a traitor. Many times I was sent to watch her. I was ordered to kill her. Yet I did not. I… do not understand why I did not."

"Because you love her. You might not understand it, but you do. She's your sister." Konatsu sighed. "I'd have given anything to have had a sister who I could have loved. My onee-chans were so hateful and awful that all I could do for years was plot how to kill them and my step-mother and end my misery. But in the end, I could never really bring myself to do it. I'd always mess something up because no matter how I hated them, they were the only family I had."

"You have a much better family now, Ko-chan." Clove said. "One that loves you utterly. Don't waste your pity on those monsters anymore."

"I know. I just regret that I could never have the sisters that I wanted." She looked at Kanna. "You look after your onee-chan, okay? Even if you don't understand what love is, you love your onee-chan, and she loves you. Never forget that."

Kanna nodded. "I will remember."

There was a gasp from between them, and they turned to see Mu had suddenly stiffened. She was staring into space, and a large blue gemstone had appeared on her forehead. Mystical symbols were swirling in her eyes as she trembled. Lines of blue light traced along her skin, trailers of energy coming from them like wisps of smoke. Clove took over the body as she stood to rush towards the girl in a panic, but before she could move, Mu suddenly stopped shaking as her eyes focused off into the distance.

"Main engines online," she spoke in a flat monotone voice that bore no resemblence to the voice she had used to ask Clove if she was her master. "Power Systems at full. Secondary systems on standby. Diagnostics routines operational. All systems reporting functional. Life-forms detected on main bridge. Scanning. Guardian armor identified. Armor occupant unidentified, signature inconsistent with Song Orihime. Royal Physician Identified. Signature consistent with Song Ying-Ying. Phoenix Regalia identified. Occupant signature inconsistent with Ares, Lady Phoenix. Two Unidentified. Please identify."

Konatsu blinked at her. "What the hell?"

"I don't know." Clove said just as startled. "I didn't think she could speak at all beyond a few words. I am not sure that this is the same Mu."

"Please identify." Mu repeated.

"What will we do?"

"Mu! Can you hear me?"

The girl turned to look at her. "Yes mistress. The entity known as Mu is on standby. Awaiting identification." She turned to face back forward. "Acknowledged, Ukyo Kounji Guardian Alpha Prime access accepted. Welcome aboard the Mu-San, Guardian."

Clove blinked. "What the hell."

"Error. Cannot access ships systems. Receiving data only. This unit is too far from terminal. Two way communication impossible. Systems cannot be brought out of standby until this unit is returned to base." Glowing eyes turned back to Clove. "Please assist this unit in returning to base. Returning control to Mu-san. Yggdrasil Seed 0000879 on standby."

The lines on Mu's skin vanished as her eyes ceased to glow. She blinked several times, then turned confused eyes to Clove. "Mistress? Mu feel very strange," she said in Japanese, shocking Clove and Konatsu both. "Mu has picture of ship in head and feel like she must go there." She looked at Clove wide eyed. "And Mu head feel funny." She rubbed at the spot where the blue gem was. "Is Mu broken?" she asked worriedly.

Clove shook her head. "It's okay, little one." She reached her hand out to Mu's head, her glowing palm covering the gem. "My my, what ever are you?"

Mu's eyes glowed again. "Yggdrasil Seed 0000879. Command AI interface for vessel designate Mu-San. Formerly named Zhulong. I have been merged with this unit for 967 years. We have been in stasis. All records between Silver Millennium Date 1023 to present have been deleted. Current Silver Millennium Date is 3078. 2055 years of data is unaccounted for."

"And why are you in my little Mu?"

"Unknown. Data deleted. Mu-san and I are symbiotically fused. Cause unknown. You are Clove-sama, yes? You are the master to whom we are bound. Please assist me in returning to our host vessel. We are incomplete without our ship. I have been activated with the ship. Mu and I are integrated, though distinct entities. I have downloaded local language files from the local area network and uploaded them to Mu to facilitate communications." Her glowing eyes blinked as what appeared to be rapidly scrolling ideograms ran across them. "We are similar to yourself. We also share a body as you do with your other."

"I see." Clove said, not really sure she did. The Seed's choppy sentences, archaic usage, and monotone voice made it hard to be sure she had heard her correctly. The lack of tonal inflections forced her to guess at half of her words.

What are we going to do? Konatsu asked in her head.

What else can we do? I have no idea what she is talking about, but I have a feeling Ukyo will. She stepped out of the pool to her dress and pulled out the communicator Ukyo had given her. "Clove to Ukyo."

"Yeah, what's up?"

"Are you having any difficulties over there?"

Ukyo growled. "You could say that. The ship's brain is missing."

"Would that be something called a 'Yggdrasil seed'?"

Dead silence came over the comm for several seconds. "Now how on earth could you know that?"

"Um, I've been talking to her. She's fused into Mu and asking us to return her to her ship."

"Jesus H Fucking Christ. How in the hell?"

"She doesn't know. She claims her data was wiped. She only knows she's been fused to Mu for 900 something years. She said she and Mu have been in stasis."

"When did this happen?"

"Just a few minutes ago. She started talking about 'systems activating' and confirming something called 'Guardian Alpha Prime' and then said she was too far away and could we please return her to her ship."

Ukyo sighed. "So much for trying to keep you out of the loop in case she's a spy. Damn him. He's three steps ahead of us!"

"What should I do."

"We've got no choice. Bring her here. She's the ship's brain. The Zhulong is just a pleasure craft without her. We can fly her from point to point, but without the brain, none of her more advanced systems will function."

"And with that slave collar, can we even be certain of that?"

"No. We'll have to take our chances." There was silence for a moment before Ukyo spoke again. "Clove, look, I know how little confidence you have in yourself. It's okay. I want you to know I have confidence in you. I know what you've done. I know how guilty you feel about all of this, but it's okay. You are better than Xi'an Chi. He might be more powerful, but he can't hold a candle to your skill and genius. I believe in you. I know you will find a way to remove Mu's chains."

"My skills make me a monster, Ukyo." Clove said biting her lip.

"Maybe once. But you belong to me now, got it? You're my monster now. And I am your Guardian. I won't let you feel guilty anymore. We need you. We need you to free Mu, and break this trap. Understand?"

"Y-yes."

"Good. Now get your and Konatsu's cute little asses over here ASAP with Mu. The sooner we get this ship operational, the sooner we can go get your sister. And while we do that, your job is to find a way to break that chain."

Clove nodded firmly. "Understood."

"Can you portal?"

"I haven't had enough time to recharge. I've made two in two days. We'll have to come on foot."

"Be careful. You can follow the beacon on the communicator, but we've got the soldiers with us."

"Don't worry Uc-chan" Konatsu cut in. "I am her kunoichi. I will keep her safe."

"You're in the same body, Ko-chan. You had better." The comm line went dead.

Clove looked to where Mu had been toweling Kanna off. "Okay, lets go get dressed. We're going to join up with Ukyo and the others." She sighed. "Hopefully anyway," she muttered under her breath.

"Why are you so nervous, Clove-chan?"

"We're about to go into a strange city alone, dear."

"Of course we aren't," she giggled. "We'll have an army with us."

"What army?"

Dozens of pops came from all around the room as it was suddenly filled with shadow clones, all dressed in Konatsu's regalia. The closest one bowed and gave her a wink. "An army of me, of course," she said.

Clove reached out to poke at her. "Wow, you're solid."

"I'm using your youki. I can make all of the me's solid."

"Really?"

"Yup."

"Then answer me a question, Ko-chan dear."

"Yes?"

"Why are you not doing this all the time? We may share a body, but it would be so much easier for people to interact with us if you kept at least one clone around at all times."

Konatsu blinked. "I never thought of that!"

Clove shook her head. "Silly girl." She wrapped her arms around the Konatsu in front of her. "Not to mention it would make possible something I have been dying to do."

All the Konatsu's blushed as she peeked into Clove's mind. "Oh, my. Yes, I suppose keeping a clone around would make that possible," she giggled.

"And I bet having a separate body would make the others quite happy too, you know."

All the Konatsu's grinned. "Well, let's go join them and find out," the one in her arms suggested.

Clove laughed and took Mu's hand on one side and Kanna's on the other as she followed her escort of Konatsu's out the door to go get herself and Mu dressed.


Kodachi sat under her tree with Mousse, their picnic sheet spread out as they ate lunch, and looked morosely to another tree a few yards away, where Raijin had set up his own lunch. The young butler had pulled out a small one person table, complete with table cloth, place settings and several covered dishes and lit a three pronged candelabra before he sat down. He carefully uncorked a bottle of what she knew was grape juice and poured himself some in a wineglass before lifting the lid to one of the dishes and serving himself a portion.

She sighed. "Are you still angry with me?" she asked finally.

Raijin carefully cut a bite of his steak and chewed it before answering. "Angry? It is not a butler's place to hold a grudge, Kodachi-sama," he said chidingly, as if explaining something to a small child.

Kodachi winced at the cold tone. "I–I know I was horrible to you Raijin-san. For what it's worth, I am deeply regretful for what I did to both of you. I know I can never make up for it, but I am sorry. I was horrible to you and Makoto."

"What is in the past is in the past, Kodachi-sama. It cannot be changed."

Kodachi shook her head at Mousse when she tried to reach for her at the sight of her tears. "No Mou-chan. I–I have to accept this responsibility," she whispered. She looked up at heavens and prayed for strength, then brought her eyes down to stare at the grass.

"I–I have heard she still calls you 'Senpai'," she said softly. "Even after all I did, she still thinks of you."

Raijin's hands stopped cutting another piece of steak. They were motionless for long moments before he resumed. "She should forget about me," he said softly. "I am no longer worthy of her."

Kodachi shook her head sadly. "No Rai-chan. I am to blame, not you!"

"Do not call me that!" he said tightly.

Kodachi sobbed, again shaking her head when Mousse reached for her. The angelic girl looked at her forlornly. "I–I am sorry Raijin-san. Please. I was the only villain. I seduced you both. It's all because of me and my jealousy, no-one else. I couldn't stand that you two found something I couldn't. I–I wanted you both to love me… And I ruined everything."

"Regardless of who's fault it is, what is done has been done. You have stained us both beyond redemption. You took from us that which belonged only to the other. You played with us and tossed us aside like trash when you didn't get your desire."

Kodachi sobbed hard for several minutes as Raijin calmly continued to eat and Mousse looked on helplessly. She finally sniffled. "I–I know my crimes can never be atoned for, Raijin-san. I–if you are here to punish me, I–I accept that. I will suffer however much you desire."

The knife and fork were set down as Raijin wiped his lips with a napkin. "Then you misunderstand my appearance, Kodachi-sama. Your being here is incidental to my duties to the Hibiki. I am attending this school solely because my Mistress, Nabiki Hibiki attends it, and my senior, Miss Anami, has made it one of my daily assignments."

"Then–then why did you choose to sit so close to me, Raijin-san?"

Cold blue eyes looked at her over his narrow oval glasses. "Do you truly need to ask, Kodachi-sama?"

She sighed deeply and sniffled again. "Y–yes. I don't understand, Raijin. Why do you torment me so if I mean so little to you? I know I hurt you and Makoto! I hurt you more than I can bear! You are the worst of all my many sins. What can I do to show you how much I regret what I did?"

"There is nothing within your power that can be done, Kodachi-sama."

"Then why! Tell me why!"

Raijin placed his dirty dishes into a covered tray, and made the entire table setting vanish, leaving only the table cloth, the candle and his wineglass. He placed his elbows on the table and looked at her over his folded hands, his glasses catching the light to completely hide his eyes. "Why Kodachi-sama?" he said with a slight smile. "Because you stole something away from me that can never be replaced. Something that she deserved but which you desired out of petty lust. Just as you stole something from her that was meant to be mine. Regardless, you still have it in your possession, Kodachi-sama, and all my self-loathing and wishing over the past year and a half has not changed that."

Kodachi blinked in confusion, her tears still falling. "I–I don't understand."

Raijin sighed softly and drained his glass. With a quick sweeping motion he stood, the table and chair vanishing as he did so. He pulled his gloves tight and straightened his jacket. "You are a thief, Kodachi-sama. I loved Makoto more than words can say, but you took her from me. You took her from me just as you took me from her. And so long as you continue to retain possession of what you have stolen, we can never be together. I sat here, Kodachi-sama, for the same reason I will sit here tomorrow, and every day hereafter. Because you are a thief, and you still have my heart."

He bowed, then turned and walked back towards the school, leaving Kodachi staring after him in bewilderment.


"Alright girls," Lo-Shen said as they settled down onto the benches beside the athletic field. "My youki's fully recharged from yesterday, so we're going to see what little bonuses you got from becoming my familiars. I've got shields up around the field so no-one should see us, and it should keep anything you unleash contained."

"And it should give Luna and I a chance to gauge your power verses the Senshi's." Artemis spoke up. "We're just here to observe, so don't worry about us."

They nodded, Kodachi still looking morose, while Mousse held her hand tightly. Ai was the first to stand. "Alright, since I'm the sole human here, let's see what this spell does for me. How do I activate it?"

"Just touch the big gemstone and say 'I invoke the contract'," Lo-Shen said. "It will invoke a henshin, which takes about ten seconds. Keep that in mind on the battlefield. During the henshin, you will be vulnerable if your opponent is not distracted. All of you are much better trained martial artists than the actual Senshi, so you should be able to cover for one another, letting some of you change first, and then covering the rest while they henshin."

"Does the henshin hide our identities like the Senshi's does?"

"No. I'm afraid not. I don't have the youki to waste on frivolities." Lo-Shen shrugged. "You are all relatively unknowns, so the odds of Blackmoon knowing who you are specifically are low. After all, Cooan didn't recognize any of you even though she knew of at least two of you. "

"True." Ai stepped a few feet away from the others and turned to face them. "Okay girls, showtime. I invoke the contract!"

Energy poured out of the bracelet to envelop her and lift her off the ground. She felt as her cheerleader's outfit burned away and bands of warm fire surrounded her and drew tight. Something formed in her hand as she settled to the ground and she realized she was now in heels. She looked down and groaned.

"You have got to be kidding me!"

The frilly pink bustier was lowcut, with a large bow at the base of the deep v. It was matched by a massive bow on her derriere, which had twin swallowtails dangling behind her in a wide train. Additional pink bows adorned her long pink lace gloves, and the tops of her stockings, attached to the bustier via garters. A short fuku wrapped around her hips, dipping to a point in front and back while riding high on her hips. Her high heeled stilettos were also pink, and had bows adorning them. She glared at Lo-Shen.

"Just what the hell is this? I NEVER wear pink! Or lace and bows!"

Lo-Shen grinned. "Don't blame me. The spell reflects your inner self. That's quite a cute outfit, dearie. Very sexy too."

Ai growled and looked at the long staff in her hand. It was also pink, and looked like an oversized baton, with tassels at both ends. "And what the hell does this do?"

"Try it and find out."

She muttered under her breath and assumed a stance, twirling the long baton. To her surprise, it was as nimble in her hands as her regular one and she had no problems doing any of her usual baton forms. Then she felt a curious urge, and used one end in an imaginary strike at a foe.

The tassels extended like a whip, cracking in mid air as a wave of force ripped across the field. She followed up with a rapid strike attack, additional waves of force shattering the air as she discovered that the heels she was wearing seemed to have no effects whatsoever on her normal acrobatics. No matter what she did, it was like they simply would not let her misstep. She finish off the imaginary opponent with a handstand, twirling her baton around one foot before doing a midair cartwheel and grabbing it out of the air.

"Wow," she murmured. "That was so incredibly easy. I did every move perfectly. It felt like I simply couldn't make a mistake."

"The henshin has boosted your agility enormously. I doubt you realized you were moving at a blur just then. Those attacks with the tassels were shockwaves from you breaking the sound barrier." Lo-Shen said dryly.

"Okay... That... was worth being in pink." She looked down at the uber kawaii ecchi outfit and snorted. "Okay, it's cute. I could grow to like it," she admitted.

Lo-Shen giggled. "Just remember, dear, you're using my youki for power. With all seven of you henshined at once, you've got maybe a couple of hours at full power before you'll exhaust me. Less if I'm actively supporting you."

"Gotcha." She blushed. "What if I'm just wearing the outfit?"

Lo-Shen shook her head and chuckled. "And you said you hated pink."

Ai grinned sheepishly. "Alright, I lied. Sue me."

"Of course dear, who's next?"

Ayeka stepped forward. "Okay, let's see what it sticks me with."

Ayeka's henshin left her with a bustier like Ai's, but where hers had been pink and lacey, Ayeka's was black leather armor, the bow at her breast adorned with a skull at its center. Long gloves covered with ornate black metal plates graced her arms, and tall thigh high boots covered her legs, also covered in the black metal. The large bow at her back was black and had a skull as well, the swallow tails appearing to be made of black chainmail. Heavy shoulder plates shaped like dragon heads covered her shoulders, while a horned tiara rested on her brow, their curled horns sweeping behind her head like the dragons' on her shoulders. In her right hand, instead of a baton, she carried a gigantic two handed sword, orange fire burning along the edges. She looked down at herself and grinned a toothy grin.

"How appropriate. I look like a deathknight."

"A deathknight pinup you mean. I doubt a real deathknight would have that much skin exposed. It's very sexy though." Ai commented. "Makes me want to strip you out of it."

Ayeka giggled and knelt before her. "Your knight is at your command, mistress."

Ai offered her hand to be kissed. "I accept your oath of fealty, my undead minion. Now show me what you can do."

"Yes, mistress." She tested the swing of her sword a few times, then scratched her chin. "I would be better at this if I had something to fight."

Lo-Shen muttered a few phrases, and a semi-transparent copy of Ayeka assumed a stance in front of her. Ayeka grinned and took up her stance again. Then with a whirl of steel, she and her dopple were in full swing.

Ai's jaw dropped. "Damn, she is good with that thing."

Megumi nodded. "She's at least as good as Kuno. She won't join the Kendo club though. She just practices at home."

Kaede whistled. "No wonder she always ends up using her baton like a sword when she gets mad."

Ayeka leaped over her opponent's attack, throwing her blade like a shuriken as she did. It spun in a blazing arc through the dopple's neck before arcing back into her hand as she landed. She smiled.

"Did my mistress find her knight's performance satisfactory?"

Ai clapped. "Yes, she did. Now come here and kiss me for your reward!"

Megumi giggled as Ayeka complied. "Alright, I'll go next then."

Her outfit was similar to Ai's, in blue instead of pink, and it glittered as if coated in frost. She laughed as she looked at it. "We're all variations on a theme it seems."

Lo-Shen nodded. "Ai set the theme. The spell is using her as a template." She smiled. "Besides, I think there's a rule that magical girl squads have to have matching outfits."

"I see." She looked down to the holsters on her hips. "Pistols. Interesting." She unholstered them and twirled them around her fingers. "No, not pistols. Ice guns. I haven't played with these since I was a kid."

"Need a target?" Lo-Shen asked.

"Can you give me a bunch?"

Lo-Shen waved her hand and several dozen targets filled the field. Megumi dodged as they all opened fire simultaneously. The guns in her hands fired repeatedly as she bobbed and weaved between the bullets seeking her, and it seemed with every shot, another target fell. She moved in a blur, moving like water between the bodies of her foes until she came to a stop behind the last target, her pistol at the back of it's skull. There was one last shot, the dopple turning to ice before shattering, and then Megumi walked through the frozen remains towards them. She twirled her guns again as she holstered them. "That was fun."

Ai smirked. "Impressive."

Megumi shrugged. "I used to be the ice tag champion in the Yuki-onna village before Dad got his government job and we moved to Tokyo. These guns seem to be a lot more powerful than the ice pellets we used for playing tag."

Kaede's outfit was a lot more revealing than the others, being made of transparent red lace. Only her bow kept it from showing her nipples, while the large bow in the rear kept her back just barely PG. She enjoyed showing it off for a minute or so before she blinked. "Hey, why didn't I get a weapon?"

Lo-Shen shrugged. "It's based on your natural abilities, dear. Do something succubus-y."

Kaede glared at her, muttering something under her breath. Then, she vanished.

They blinked. "What the hell?" Ai exclaimed, then jumped. "Hey, who goosed me!"

Kaede reappeared behind Ai. "Cool. I've always wanted to do that!" she giggled. "Okay. My illusion powers seem to be off the charts. I've never been able to go invisible before." She got a look of concentration on her face, and suddenly everybody turned into her clones. She giggled again. "Look. you're all me!"

"Yes, my sweet little succubus. You're going to be great for stealth. Any offensive powers?"

Kaede let them all return to normal appearance as she raised a hand. "Hummm. Now that I think about it..." Her hand glowed and a beam of light shot from it to burn into the field. "Light manipulation. It's what my illusion powers are basically. If I focus it properly, I can make lasers." She smiled. "Guess I don't really need a weapon. I am one."

Ai grinned. "Very cool." She looked over at Kyoko. "Next, my kawaii vixen."

Kyoko's henshin was easily the most dramatic. While her outfit was almost identical to Megumi's, in a more intense shade of blue, it was almost exactly the opposite as well. Where Megumi had been pale ice, Kyoko was blue fire. Her hair had changed from its normal cinnamon brown to azure blue, and her foxfire burned within it, as well as her tail. And she hadn't gotten pom-pom's after all, but a pair of batons burning with her blue flame. They had quickly confirmed she could use the batons both as close combat weapons as well as like shuriken, while simultaneously being able to hurl her foxfire as well. Both Ayeka and Megumi had volunteered to be her opponents, and the tiny fox girl had held her own against them both for several minutes before Ayeka had disarmed her. She grinned at the Kitsune as she stuck her sword in the ground. "Wow, you did awesome, Kyoko! That was amazing!"

The fox girl smiled shyly. "You really think so? But you beat me so easily."

Megumi laughed. "That was NOT easy, Kyoko-chan. I couldn't hit you once, even in the spots of you that aren't on fire."

"And with that dual wielding style, you're actually pretty tough. I bet if you got Zhu-chan to teach you, you'd be a champion in no time. You almost got me half a dozen times." She tousled Kyoko's burning hair. "You did good, my kawaii little fox." She pulled her hand back quickly and giggled. "Okay, note to self, your spirit flames get hot if I touch them long enough."

Kyoko giggled. "I'm sorry."

Ai stuck her hand in the flames. Kyoko looked at her worriedly. "Ai?"

Ai took her hand away from her hair. "No worries, my sweet vixen. They get hot, but they don't burn. I had to find out, because you are going to be wearing that form next time I get a chance to seduce you."

Kyoko blushed. Ai turned to Kodachi and Mousse. "Okay, which of you wants to go next?"

Mousse stood. "I will."

She marched out and henshined. Again, she resembled Ai's outfit, this time in white, but where their ribbons had all been a solid color, Mousse's were pure light. They glowed, wrapping her in a soft white aura that made her look truly angelic. And where their outfits had tight fitting gloves, Mousse's were wide belled sleeves, similar to her normal robe. She pushed her glasses up with one hand as she flung the other one out dramatically, dozens of chains flying out of her sleeve to impact all across the field like falling mortar shells. She nodded as she drew them back, and flapped her wings. Twenty feet above them, she crossed her arms as she lashed forwards with her wings, and a rain of feathers shot from them, like missiles arcing at high speed to impact against the shield on the far side of the field in a massive explosion. Then she vanished, reappearing at the far end of the field as she crashed face first into the shield. She picked herself up and felt around the grass until she found her glasses.

"Hey, you okay?" Ai called.

"I'm fine. I just misjudged how much space I needed to stop. I was moving much faster than I anticipated. That actually hurt a lot less than it normally does." She grinned sheepishly. "Don't worry. I'm kinda used to running into things."

Kodachi giggled. "Poor Mou-chan."

Mousse blurred again, then plowed into the grass at Kodachi's feet. She helped the angel up and dusted her off. "Be careful, Mou-chan. You know I hate it when you get your beautiful face dirty."

"I'm sorry, mistress. I'm having a hard time judging my speed. It seems to have increased enormously. This transformation will take some getting used to."

"You are quite beautiful this way though."

Mousse blushed. "Thank you, my love."

Kodachi kissed her, then stood up. "I suppose it is my turn." She stepped out to where they had all been henshining and called out "I invoke the contract!"

The light that swirled around her was not the same as it had been for the others. Where everyone else had been just a single color, Kodachi's was two. Red light swirled with a purple so dark it was nearly black around her, and obscured her from their sight. It also took much longer than any of their henshins had. Almost a full thirty seconds passed before the swirling aura dissipated and they all stared at the gymnast in shock.

Her outfit was still a match, the bustier in dark red striped vertically with black, black ribbons accenting red gloves and hose, with matching ribbons gracing her crimson shoes. Each ribbon also bore a scarlet red rose, while more roses accented the seam of her fuku, and several more were tucked into a bow that held her pony tail. Roses were still her theme after all, though they were no longer black.

But it wasn't the outfit that made them stare.

It was the small horns that poked through her hair just in front of her dog ears, the small bat wings sticking out her back, and the long spaded tail lashing behind her.

And, of course, the overwhelming wave of lust that poured from her.

Lo-Shen's jaw snapped shut with a click. She muttered a long string of gibberish as a choker appeared around Kodachi's throat, and the irresistible urge they all had to drag the girl off for a few weeks of sex vanished. Kaede swallowed hard.

"Jeezus. She's stronger than me, mom, and Yuri put together!"

Kodachi looked puzzled. "Why is everyone looking like that at me?"

Lo-Shen chuckled as she shook her head. "A miscalculation on my part dear. That's all. It seems your henshin activated your latent succubus side. That choker is a binding to restrain your aura until we teach you how to control it." She took a deep breath and blew it out. "I should have realized you were simply maturing late, and not merely assumed you had not inherited them at all. The later many youkai mature into their full powers, the more powerful they often are. Be thankful we were shielded and that I retained enough presence of mind to cast a spell. Unleashed suddenly like you were, you could have drained the entire school in moments, entirely by accident."

Kodachi was looking in amazement at her small wings and the heart spaded end of her tail. "I–I have wings?"

Kaede grinned. "Yup. Welcome to the sisterhood, imouto-chan."

"But–but, I am an Inu!"

"You're both, sweetie."

"But I don't want to be like my mother!" Kodachi wailed.

Mousse hugged her. "You won't be, mistress. Your mother was a Chaosian. You have sworn to live by the Accord. And you have also sworn to uphold the honor of the Amazons. We will never allow you to be evil again."

Lo-Shen shook her head. "Exactly, Miss Kuno. In fact, we're going to take care of that right now."

"We–we are?"

Lo-Shen nodded. "Luna, Artemis, I need you to bear witness. You're old enough for the council to accept you as valid witnesses."

"Of course, Loremistress." Luna nodded.

Lo-Shen used her walking stick to quickly draw a circle in light on the field. She had Kodachi stand in it as she drew more symbols in the air. The girls around Ai gasped as it took form.

"That's the oath of binding" Ayeka said softly. "I remember when they cast it on me."

They solemnly observed as Lo-Shen finished the spell, and stood before Kodachi. She took Kodachi's hand.

"Kodachi Kuno. I know you were never properly inducted into youkai society, but this is a ceremony that every youkai has gone through at their coming of age. Today, it seems you also have come of age, and manifested your true powers as a youkai. You stand now within a circle of binding, and I must ask you to swear the oaths which all those who live by the accord must swear. Do you understand, and accept the necessity?"

"Yes, Loremistress."

The circle flashed.

"Next, you are a daughter of the House of Kuno, descendant of the founder, heir to the legacy of Inuyasha. You bear both the blood of his noble clan, the Inu, and the blood of the clan of sisters, the Succubi. Do you acknowledge this?"

Kodachi bit her lip, but nodded. "I do."

"As a member of the clan of sisters, do you swear to never harm a human, excepting only in the direst case of self defense? To take nothing from any non-consenting individual, and to feed only on those who give their willing acceptance?"

Kodachi swallowed. "I do so swear, Loremistress."

"And do you swear to live by the accord, peacefully, alongside humanity, as one of them?"

"With all my heart, I do so swear."

The circle around her swirled and shrunk into her, vanishing. Lo-Shen smiled at her. "Heard and witnessed, my child. Be welcome to both the society of Youkai, and to the society of mankind."

Kyoko dove in to give her a hug. "Wai! You're officially one of us now!"

Ai wiped a tear from her eye. "Congratulations." She looked at Lo-Shen. "I don't suppose a mere human could take that oath, could they?"

Her girlfriends turned to look at her in shock. Lo-Shen smiled. "It's certainly not a requirement. But I don't see any reason why not."

"But, Ai? Why?" Ayeka asked uncertainly.

Ai looked at her and smiled. "I'm a monster, my dear vampiress. It's entirely unfair you get to share in something I don't, now isn't it?" She took a deep breath. "I am a future wife to four lovely youkai. I want to be a youkai too, even if it's only honorary."

Lo-Shen chuckled. "I could always make it a marriage ceremony too, you know."

Ai grinned. "I would love that, but we're too young, aren't we?"

"I'm an Amazon elder. Do you think I really give a damn about silly Japanese laws? Not even the Director would dare to raise an objection if I officiate."

Ai looked around at her girlfriends. And they were in such lovely wedding dresses too. She grinned hugely. "Whatcha say girls? I'm in."

Kyoko smiled dreamily. "We–we can really do this?"

Lo-Shen nodded. "Of course you can. I'm the Loremaster. I officiate at all the Amazon's weddings. Besides, the bonds between you five will be that much more powerful with a marriage oath backing it. And a marriage I officiate at will never be broken. No matter what happens, your marriage will survive. An Amazon marriage is for life."

Kodachi smiled. "I'll be the bridesmaid, and Mou-chan can be the best man!"

"I am not going to turn male wearing this outfit." Mousse protested.

Ai laughed. "Who cares if the best man is female. So is the groom."

The cats were rolling their eyes. "I suppose you need us as witnesses again?" Artemis asked.

Luna shook her head. "This should be held in a proper setting, not an athletic field."

Kaede grinned, and suddenly they were surrounded by a massive gothic cathedral. "This better?"

Ayeka looked around and laughed. "That's an awful lot of gargoyles, Kaede."

Megumi hooked her arm through Ai's. "This is very spur of the moment. Are you sure you won't regret this?"

Ai looked at her. "Will you?"

Megumi smiled and shook her head. "Never."

"There's your answer." Ai turned to look at her squad. "I am a monster. I will take the same oath as all of you and prove it. In return, my lovely vampire, my elegant snow maiden, my sexy succubus, and my fiery vixen, I beg you all for the privilege of your hands in marriage. Will you become my brides?"

Ayeka latched onto her other arm and turned her around to where Lo-Shen had drawn a new circle. She gave Ai a toothy grin. "What, do you really think we're going to let you escape after you've gone this far?"

Ai smiled as they led her forward. "I would certainly hope not."


Across Tokyo, eight different portals stood surrounded by machinery. The identical girls had vanished once the assembly had been completed, and now other forms had replaced them.

They were in all shapes and sizes, except that of human. At each portal, more than fifty creatures awaited the fall of night.

Yes. The night was their time. They would remind the humans of this world of that fact. Tonight.

Tonight, the devils would come out to play...