Mrs. Ibuki rode in the cab, letting the lights of the city pass her by. In one hand, an ornate pink calligraphy pen twirled around and around. The cab driver was navigating the back streets of Tokyo with aplomb and confidence to make up for the lateness in arriving. It was an ugly job, but someone had to do it. That was an American saying, wasn't it? But true nonetheless. She didn't know what or how much her son-in-law knew, but she had to take action now before he got involved directly. She was in the neighborhood of the person she intended to visit. Not that she was looking forward to this. For goodness' sake, she was supposed to be retired now! Not putting out fires. But this was one she couldn't ignore. The cab driver pulled up before the destination house. "Are you sure this is the right address?" he asked Mrs. Ibuki as he looked at the dark house. "Yes, I am. Thank you sir." She handed him the fare, along with a modest tip, and let herself out of the cab. She walked up, past the unkempt yard, uncut grass and weeds. There was a faint light coming from inside, behind the drawn curtains. She heard the cab pull away. Taking a moment to compose herself, setting the pen firmly in one hand, out of sight of whoever might open the door, she then knocked. ********************************************************* Dark Heart High Netherworld Educational Institution for The Universal Propagation of Evil started by Mads www.improfanfic.com ********************************************************* Part Sixty-Two: Tribulations! by JonB ********************************************************* Yasuko double-checked the fabric of her sweater. The problem, she mused, was that the typical material of the typical sweater was not enough to contain her ample . . . bulk. She would have to look into alternate materials for future clothing. Satisfied that she wouldn't embarrass herself by busting out, she knocked on the large metal knocker of the doors to the Maimsworth manor. A moment later, the servant (Klein, her memory supplied) opened the door. "Ms. Wareme. How... pleasant. Please, Lord Maimsworth is in the dining hall with the other guests." Yasuko slid by the elderly man, the fabric stretching in such a way that would normally be appropriate, but not with this style of clothes. Darkness, she needed to be a little more careful of such things. And that irked her. Playing nice was hard, but well worth it. * * * * "I don't like this." "This tie is too tight." "He's going to poison me!" Liza grabbed her date by the collar, dragging his face down to meet hers. "I may not like going to this party any more than you, but there are reasons." "I know. Craig shares interests, may fund future work, yadda yadda yadda. You said all this earlier. But still!" "Hikaru, look at it this way; we go to this party, and someone from Knight School asks why. You can tell them in all truthfulness that you went to the victory celebration of a knight over his evil brother. And if they point out that Craig is evil too, then you can say that you were scouting the layout of the castle." The knight looked at his date. "You're right, Liza. Right. Sorry. It's all a matter of perspective. A scientist like me should know that." Liza smiled. "It's all right." She quickly kissed him. "Now, let's get moving, don't want to be too late." * * * * The doorbell rang again. It wasn't a needy ring, just a quick tap on the button to let those on the inside know that those on the outside were still there. Sakura didn't like it one bit. Who the hell would be calling at this time of evening? The bell chimed again. Sakura peeped through the spy hole in the door. Who she saw caused her to take off the locks in a split second, then yank open the door. "Kami! Beautiful Queen Brilliant Calligrapher Rosemary!" Mrs. Ibuki smiled at the young woman. "And you must be Sakura. Please, no need for formal names here, you can call me Mrs. Ibuki. May I come in, Sakura?" Standing in the presence of the living legend, Sakura could only nod dumbly. She stepped back, and Mrs. Ibuki stepped into the home. "Thank you dear. Is Violet around?" "Umm... Yes. Yes she is. Can I get you something? Something to drink maybe? Tea? Milk?" Sakura turned on the lights, and showed her guest to the kitchen. Mrs. Ibuki noted with silent displeasure the state of uncleanliness in the place. It was rundown. Ignored. Sakura cleared a stack of books off a chair and part of the table. "You sure? We were just working on something in the basement. I'll go get Mrs. Ringoshima." Mrs. Ibuki watched the girl go. It was worse than she had thought. * * * * "Liza Ramidra and Hikaru Hikari are present sir. I believe that completes the guest list. Supper will be ready in about twenty minutes then." Klein bowed and left. "Hikaru! Liza! Glad you could make it." Craig walked down from where the other guests were sitting or standing at the end of the table. "Hmm." He thought for a moment. "You know, I suppose introductions are in order. Come on." He led his two final guests to where the rest of the party was. "All right. We've got Yuri, Lily, Ryuji, Amy, Leilei, Atsuko, Yasuko, Ki, Balabalalde, Liza, Hikaru, and everyone knows me. Right?" "Wow." The twin comment came from Atsuko and Lily as they gazed with glossed eyes at the shining armor on Hikaru. Yasuko was a little more clinical in her appreciation. But it was echoed. "Nice catch there, Liza." This caused Liza to blush ever so slightly. However, not everyone was interested in complimenting the other guests. Ki had a hand on his sword and Bala had moved to a position to strike the Knight School student. Craig had other ideas. "Hey! No fighting! Supper's on the way. You are all my guests, and I expect you to act in a cordial manner to each other at the very least. Understand?" Bala, Ki and Hikaru all stood down. They knew the rules of being a guest and respected them. Swords were slid back, and Bala went back to just being Bala. "Yasuko! Nice sweater! Where did you get it?" The silence was broken by Lily, who was staring with wide eyes at the modest clothes the other succubus was wearing. "Oh, at this little place on the south side. You like?" Lily and Yasuko dropped out to discuss fashion. Atsuko leaned over to whisper to Yuri. "What's with those two? I know Yasuko came to the sleepover. But no one mentioned she had a twin sister." Ryuji answered. "They're not sisters." At Atsuko's gaze, Ryuji found himself explaining about how Yasuko got cloned with Liza's experimental weapon, and how Lily, who had been dead at the time, inhabited the body on a permanent basis. He neglected the fact that Amy had killed Lily, and that Liza had built the weapon. He knew that Atsuko wasn't quite ready for the truth of the matter, and so he phrased the events in such a way to make it seem like a good thing. "Hey, Craig! Any cookies for dessert?" Everyone looked at Yasuko. "Umm. Sorry. It just kinda slipped out. Never mind." * * * * Amakusa was sitting in his office. The distant sounds of refurbishment and construction reached the ears of the three beings in the room. Across from him was Ikari and a Trous demon. The demon swung its two protoplasmic heads back and forth, occasionally switching between the two. It was an expert, or rather; as close as any being could be when it came to the subject at hand. Amakusa tapped the papers in his hand back into a neat stack, then placed the report back on his desk. What these two were requesting required his specific permission. "Report/examinatioN Delivered/granteD Subject/patienT; Understated/ill-defineD. Knowledge/expectatioN Subject/patienT Read/comprehenD Report/examinatioN Cause/creatE Unstabilizing/dangerouS Mental/psychE Additional/extrA Conficts/problemS. True/accuratE Report/examinatioN." The Trous spoke with both heads, tapping the paper on the desk. " True/accuratE Copy/duplicatE Delivered/granteD Parents/kiN. "Subject/patienT Stable/unstablE. Division/duplicatioN Temporary/finitE. Transformation/alteratioN Single/singlE Devastating/unstoppablE. Warning/alerT!" "I have to agree with the Doctor, Principal. There is a definable risk to the school." Amakusa said nothing for a minute. He had read the report, and was evaluating his options. They were few. Some would solve the problem permanently, but would cause greater problems in the long run while others lead to greater danger in the short term. "Doctor?" "Amakusa/principaL?" "I agree. We need to partially seal Ms. Angeleye. I know she poses little threat now, but if she unstabilizes, and transforms, her potential would compromise the integrity of the school grounds and put the students at unacceptable risk. Preventing her from transforming while on school grounds is the most prudent solution. You have my permission to do this. Mr. Ikari, please contact Ms. Angeleye's family, and make the necessary arrangements. Doctor, you will consider yourself on call at all times should something unforeseen happens." "Agreement/understandinG." "Of course Principal. Have a nice summer." The other two left to do what they had to. Amakusa leaned back in his seat. "Well played." He said this to no one in particular. He was secure in the solitude of his thoughts. 'Yuri Mikagami. You hadn't stopped. You were just concentrating. You know that there are only three sealed students at Dark Heart. With Ms. Angeleye almost there as number four, and Balabalalde under your control, you have balanced that potential threat. 'I wonder what your next move will be.' * * * * Dinner was in full swing. The food was stacked on the table, everyone was eating their fill, and discussions were still going strong. Craig, Liza and Hikaru were all discussing their mutual project, and how to make sure it was perfect. Lily was still giving fashion advice to Yasuko, while Yuri, Amy, Atsuko and Leilei were having girl talk. Yuri was pleased that Atsuko was having a nice time of herself. She had to admit that this was a good idea of Craig's, but wished Reika could be there as well. But Reika would never have considered coming. Bala was sitting down the table from her, eating and looking. Nothing creepy, just casting glances at Yuri and Ki, making sure the other young man didn't get too close. Ki on the other hand, was moping as only a teenager with a heart could mope. Ryuji saw this, and slid over to be directly across from Ki. "What's up?" Ki looked up from his tossed salad. "What the heaven. I should tell someone." He set down the fork and leaned back in his chair. "And believe it or not, it actually has nothing to do with Yuri." Ryuji refrained from comment. This was a new side to Ki, one far more open than his usual reserved self. Having a heart really had changed him. "You know the war with the Doombringers?" Ryuji nodded. Of course everyone knew. "Well, it's how I'm..." A stop as Ki searched for the words. "If the Doombringers win, the Steel Thorns will be destroyed and I will be lucky if I die. If the Steel Thorns win, and I somehow survive until then, they will disown me again, I will be reduced to nothing. Again." Ryuji saw the problem. Ki was screwed no matter which way it was looked at. "At least you'll be at Dark Heart instead of Evil Tech." "A high point in a low life." Ryuji waited a few moments before answering. "I don't know what to say, Ki. But you are a smart, charismatic and totally evil bastard. This may be a major setback, but even this shouldn't be able to stop you." Even Ryuji felt the emptiness of his words. But what else could he say? Thankfully, further potential for harm was avoided when Klein arrived bearing a tray with wine or water for each of the persons at the table. He set one at each place while Craig looked on with a questioning look on his face. At last Klein put the goblet before Craig. He took a quick glance at those who were looking at the head of the table, and whispered far more loudly than he should have. "Sir, should you not give the toast for this celebration? You killing your brother to assume the mantle of Lord Maimsworth?" Hikaru choked on his bread. Knowing the reason but not wanting to admit it was one thing, but this was totally disrespectful. But then again, it was Evil killing Evil, which was a good thing, wasn't it? But the worse reaction came from Atsuko. Craig ... Killed his brother? What? Why? How? She numbly ignored Yuri in her attempts to snap Atsuko out of her shock. Craig was such a nice guy. Sure. He was a little weird, wearing the armor and all, but everyone had to have some quirks. But he had killed someone. Not just anyone, but his own brother! And he had the audacity to celebrate this? Yuri didn't know about this did she? No. She had to think. There had to be a reason for all this. There had to be. Silence reigned as Atsuko's footsteps ran from the hall. "Aw, Dragonturds." * * * * The Steel Thorn castle stood still. In both senses of the word. Deep in its silent and empty halls, a council of war was at hand. "Report." The matriarch of the clans began the meeting. "It does not go well. In the past week, we have lost another 14. And we have only slain 8 of theirs." Some random clansman spoke up. "So we are even then." It was an acceptance of fact. "This war goes badly." Ayane Watanabe of the White Sun Whispers said. "As it does for the Doombringers." Saiyuki, the new leader of the Blue Winter Roses made the only cheery news so far. That she had become leader because of this war meant nothing. "That it does. The only question is, can we win this war of attrition?" Ayane spoke again. Her clan was taking this war very badly. "No." "There is something that happened just recently that we need to be aware of." This came from one of the hangers-on. "Oh?" The matriarch asked. "Your son was involved in a duel with a Doombringer." "Why should this concern us? Beyond if he was killed or not." "It was halted by an outsider." That brought silence to the room. That someone would interfere in the war could only serve to bring them into it. "Who? Why?" "It was the daughter of the Hellstorm. Yuri by name. She intervened in the duel, stopping it before either party could more than draw their weapons. But that is not the only concern." The speaker kept going, wanting to get this over with before he got killed. "Ki did not draw his sword. The Mikagami girl did." Total. Utter. Absolute. Silence. "A non-clan member drew a Steel Thorn blade?" "Yes." A gulp. He knew he was going to end up in a world of pain. "She drew it, wielded it and was unaffected." "Anyone not of the clans would have been reduced to ash!" "Impossible!" "He lies!" "Why would the boy not report this immediately?" "SILENCE!" Mikagami. The spawn of the Hellstorm. What she did was either an act of arrogance, secure in the fact that her father would protect her, or one of ignorance. But that she had done it was indescribable. "There must be a reason for this turn of events. What do we know of the Mikagami lineage?" "The Hellstorm? In no way is he related to any member of the Steel Thorns." "And his mate?" Silence. Again. Almost as common as the talking by this point. There was a rush for the bookshelves along the walls. Hellstorm was a well known figure. His wife, less so. A few minutes later, there was a triumphant cry from one end of the hall. "Hoshiko Mikagami. She first entered the records twenty- one years ago. They were married a little over two years later. One child. Daughter, Yuri T'glath, born late August three years later. "Mrs. Mikagami now works as a human resources consultant for various corporations. She fires people. "Other than that, there is nothing." The matriarch spoke again. "Curious. We know so little about her. She may have a relation to us that could prove to our advantage." She flipped a finger and the person reading the information dissolved in a soulless scream of black fire. "And that is for not knowing everything about the Hellstorm's mate." "Very well. We shall hire the esteemed General Hellstorm to 'review' our situation and advise. He should bring his mate, and we can take the opportunity to study her for any possible relation. If she is related, we can use that to our advantage. This meeting is over. Go find some Doombringers to slay." * * * * A moment to compose himself. It would do no good to appear like he had rushed after her. "The servants said you were here." "Go away." Atsuko said this to the gentle voice of her host. Naturally, Craig ignored this. He walked further into the library, finding Atsuko in the large chair that faced the fireplace. She was looking up at the portrait of the first great Maimsworth, Craig's grandfather. "Look. I'm sorry. Klein should never had said that." He noticed the dried streaks of tears on her face. "Who's that?" She pointed at the picture. "He looks so ... noble." Craig took a double take at the picture. He had seen it so many times, he really didn't see it anymore. "Noble? Grandfather?" He let out a small laugh. "Oh, he would have loved that. No. Not noble." He moved to a seat by Atsuko where they could both see each other by firelight. "We're not the nicest people in the world. My grandfather was a man with ambition. He wanted to step into the forefront of the worlds of evil, to let the Maimsworth name be known and feared. "He did a great job of it. The Maimsworths were becoming known, and respected. But he was getting old. He knew he would never get the job he started finished in his lifetime. He died in battle with the forces of good." "But, your brother?" Atsuko wasn't interested in the history of Craig's family at the moment. She wanted to know more about the death of his brother. "Mordred." Craig slumped. "Goodness take him." A shaking of the head. The memories were still sour. "He was insane. He betrayed the family, he betrayed me, and the legacy passed down to us. "One of the final exams this year, our class was pitched against a class from Darker Heart University. Basically it was a chance to see who could survive against superior forces. I had cut a deal with my brother to keep the other students away from my team; Yasuko, Ryuji and myself. He did that. But that was because he wanted to come for us himself. For me. "He was crazy. No one would argue with that. I was the class clown. Never really trying to be the best Evil Warlord I could be, but rather just living life. In his madness he saw the truth that I was weak. So he came to kill me himself. "With the help of the other two, I killed him. I had found something I was good at, electronics and that sort of thing. I used that against him, and killed him. I took this ring from his body because it was to remind me of who he was." He held up his hand and took off the gauntlet to show off the platinum ring. Atsuko gasped at the sight of it. It was beautifully engraved with a dragon of some sort. It was gorgeous in the firelight. And then it was gone. Craig had put the metal glove back on, apparently unaware of the reaction of the person across from him. "But with him dead, it all came crashing down. I will become Lord Maimsworth. I have a family tradition to keep up and try to restore. But it's so hard." A servant came into the room. "Lord Maimsworth! The Knight School student and the Steel Thorn are arguing, and may draw their blades. You must stop them!" Craig rose. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go back and make sure that the rest of my guests haven't killed each other yet." He moved away from the fireplace, the light reflecting off his black armor heading for the door. "Craig?" Atsuko twisted around in the chair, looking at the blonde boy. "Why did you tell me this? Why did you invite me? I can understand Yuri and the others. They understand you. I don't." "No one does. I don't understand me either. I've been trying to be someone who I have to be, but I don't have the first clue how to do any of it. I'm flying by the seat of my pants now." "Isn't that what your school is for?" "Yes, but there is only so much it can do for me. The rest I have to figure out on my own." He pushed open the door back into the hall. He could hear the distant sounds of yelling from the dining hall. "And one more thing. Domo arigato, Atsuko-chan. You asked why I kept talking to you? It was because I can, and not have to worry about living up or down to any notions about who I am or was or should be. With you, I can just talk. I'll send someone by later to see if you need anything." Craig let the door close behind him. * * * * The basement had seen better days. In one steady hand, the ancient pen was pointed straight at the woman pinned against the wall by lines of fine writing. "Curse you!" Mrs. Ibuki spared a look at Sakura. She was still breathing. The poor girl had been knocked across the room and out cold when the battle started a few minutes ago. She looked again at Violet Ringoshima. If the wards weren't holding her against the wall, the glare would have. "Violet. Look how far you have fallen. Consorting with the powers you swore to destroy." "Look who's talking! Your own daughter married her worst enemy! Had a child with that vile evil! And you accuse ME of hypocrisy?!?!" "My family is my concern. Not yours. That's all I wanted to talk to you about. To ask you politely to please stay away from my granddaughter. But you had to attack me. Why?" There was no answer or defense to that. Violet herself didn't know why. She just had. "That child. She's not natural. She has to be destroyed! We found a prophecy that mentions her. Sakura, be a dear and get it to show her. Sakura? Sakura!" Violet finally noticed her protégé on the floor. "Don't worry. She's still alive. What's this about a prophecy?" Mrs. Ibuki looked around, then where Violet was indicating with her gaze. Without letting Violet down, she moved over to the table and picked up the paper, reading it. "I shall have to examine this further." But she had already decided that the likelihood of this applying to Yuri was remote at best. She did have some experience in this field. A low moan came from the young woman on the floor. Mrs. Ibuki quickly moved to assist the girl. "Don't worry. You're going to be just fine, child. Just rest, and you will be safe." She made sure Sakura would survive the next few minutes then pulled out the cell phone that her daughter had insisted on giving her. She normally wouldn't have accepted, except it was her son-in-law footing the bill, so she used it to the point of being excessive. A few moments later, she put the phone away. "I may not be the most qualified to say this, but you pose a threat to yourself and others near you. I've called a hospital, and they shall take care of you, to help you get better." "Better? Better! I'm fine! Let me go!" "No." They were like this for a few minutes before the sounds of an ambulance reached their ears. Guided by Mrs. Ibuki's previous instructions, they reached the basement. One pair of women in impeccable white uniforms with a red cross on each shoulder went to help Sakura to her feet. Another pair of nurses, backed up by a pair of Knight School graduates, restrained the enraged Violet before sedating her. They filed out of the home, Sakura and Violet on stretchers, Mrs. Ibuki declining the help of a respectful young man. "Mrs. Ibuki, we will be needing a statement about what happened here." "Of course dear. You have my phone number, and where I live. I do regret that it has come to this though." "Do you need a ride home?" "Actually, that would be very nice. Thank you for offering." She climbed into the offered seat in a station wagon and was soon headed for home, prophecy stuck deep in a jacket pocket. * * * * "Craig said you were here. I was so worried when you left the table like that. And the last time I was here, Craig didn't completely disarm all the alarms and traps." Yuri had stuck her head in the door to the library. She could see her friend partially silhouetted against the freshly stoked fire. There was no other lighting source in the room, so Yuri had to navigate to her by it alone. "How are you feeling?" She asked the question with honest concern in her voice. "Fine. I think." Yuri sat down in the empty chair that Craig had vacated only a few minutes before. "Really? I know these new friends of mine can be a lot to handle. My first days at Dark Heart were a lot. Did I ever tell you that the first person through the door to my class didn't open the door because he was incorporeal? Actually meeting all these people at once. I mean, wow. You're doing pretty good." Atsuko started blubbering. Her lip started shaking and her eyes started to well with tears. Yuri leaned in close, trying to think of what was happening. Atsuko leapt at Yuri, wrapping her arms around her friend. "YUUURRRIIIIII~~~~~! It's just, just, just when I met Craig, I thought he was normal, but a little strange! Sure he wore armor and that, but he was nice! And normal! And when he said he was in your class, sure, it meant that he was weird, and I could forget the other times we met and he was just so normal! "So, he invites me to this dinner, and I accept. I mean, you were going to be here, right? Of course you were. He said you would be. So I came. "And Reika won't talk to me anymore since I met Craig and told her about him! And she won't talk to you either! She doesn't want to get to know your friends. Why? Sure, they're weird, but they're people, right? Right? "But normal people don't kill their brother and then celebrate. But that is what Craig did. Tonight! And I came! Yuri, have you killed anyone?" Yuri froze. She hadn't forgotten about what she had done over the past year. Some memories she didn't like threatened to well back up. But Atsuko kept on going, not noticing her best friend's reaction. "But that's not the worst of it. I don't think I can understand you anymore! You have all these new friends, but I don't know about them! I can't relate to them. I mean, with Reika, I could always go to the mall, go shopping and eat ice cream. "But I can't do that now. If I go with you, I have to worry that some bandaged weirdo or 12 year old in a mini-skirt waving a lollipop is going to jump out and either try and kill you or ask you for help on their homework." Finally she released her death grip and Yuri began to take breath again. "Atsuko..." "Thank you." "No, I should say this to. I've been worried about you and Reika as well. I know that this has been hard on the two of you, and on me as well. I wish I could have gone to Kaien as well as you. I wish Reika was with us instead of at Daikan. But I went to Dark Heart instead. And before you ask, no, you shouldn't transfer. I'm sorry that Reika can't accept my life as it is. I really am. But I can't be angry at her for it. She is still my friend, as are you. And I am happy that you are trying. I should try harder too." "But that's enough of the serious talk. Here." Yuri pulled a tissue she had out of her pocket and handed it to Atsuko who dried her tears. "Besides. Craig? Come on. He's not the best guy around, even I know that. You actually like him?" she teased her friend. "That's from the girl with two guys after her. Very funny." Atsuko let out a little giggle. More of a humorous one than anything else. Yuri got up. "Listen, I should get back. From the sounds of things when I got here, Ki and Hikaru were quite ready to kill each other. Something about a duel their clans had a couple of centuries back. They might need some help keeping the two apart. See ya!" Yuri walked towards the door. Once again, Atsuko had to ask one question of her friend before they left. "Yuri. You never answered me." She choked on this. "Have you ever, you know, killed anyone?" Lie to keep her happy? She didn't turn back to face Atsuko, not wanting her to see her face. "Yes." Yuri closed the door and hoped what she did was the right thing. * * * * Craig had finally managed to separate the two combatants. Not without a decided lack of help from Amy and Bala. They were more interested in cheering (or blinking in Bala's case) Hikaru on. Their lives would be so much easier with Ki out of the way. Of course, Craig had the home ground advantage and the two were now seated at the opposite ends of the table. He had then gone out to find Klein. Having quickly done so, more by summoning him than anything else, Craig quickly laid into the poor old man. "WHY IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT'S UNHOLY DID YOU DO THAT?" "Do what, Master Maimsworth?" "Don't play stupid with me Klein. You know precisely what. That whole charade about the toast. Tell me." He drew a knife from somewhere and held it against Klein's throat. He needed to practice intimidation, and this seemed like as good a time as any. But Klien wasn't buying it. He knew how Craig acted. "Sir, I had to. Any mistress of the Maimsworth should not quail at the thought of killing one's own siblings." Craig bowed his head. "No. That wasn't it. She was more upset at the fact you made such a production of it, rather than me telling her outright." He deliberately kept his head bowed to prevent Klein from telling that he was lying. "Very well sir. If I may, dessert should be ready soon, and Ms. Wareme was very insistent on the cookies. Should I send something to the Miss in the library?" Craig released the man. "Yes. Yes. Go do that. Maybe tonight won't turn out to be such a mess after all." Craig watched as Klein disappeared into the shadows and from there to the kitchen, then he to began to trek back to the dining hall. And in the darkness, Craig's mother smiled. Her son may be alright in more ways than one. * * * * In the library, Atsuko dried the last of the tears she had kept shedding after Yuri had gone. In the firelight, she saw the paper that was lying on the table. Perhaps reading her horoscope might make things a little easier on her. She grabbed it, and flipped it open near the back to find them. Instead she found an article on the Schools Meeting a couple weeks back. Atsuko blinked and went to the front page. It was no ordinary paper, but one entitled the "Zeros Informational Paper." Below, the company charter read in part, "To present a fair, complete and unbiased account of the actions of the forces of Good, Evil and those between." Astuko furrowed her brow. She thought for a few moments, but then it began to make sense. Even these people needed to have a newspaper, right? She flipped open the paper and skimmed through the article headers. One in particular a few pages in caught her eye. It was on the Clanwar between the Steel Thorns and the Doombringers. She remembered from earlier how Ki was a Steel Thorn. Now with a connection to the story, Atsuko began to read it in earnest. When she was done, she thought back on Ki's actions. Some of it made sense now. She then hurried through the paper, looking for something she wanted. It was on the back page, in the bottom corner. A subscription request. And payable in U.S. dollars among other currencies. Like the suitcase in her room. Craig did say she could keep the money. She ripped the form out of the paper very carefully and stuffed it into a pocket. She could mail it tomorrow. She left the library in a happy mood, hoping that it could last. Besides, wasn't there ice cream for dessert? ********** Authors Notes: Boy, Hikaru sure is whipped. Isn't he? Anybody want to give him a backbone? The Trous demon was the result of my imagination. It speaks in synonyms, one for each head. The weird capitalization was just for flavor. As for Amy. She's dangerous. No question about that. But she has been getting too powerful, too quickly. Consider this a preemptive strike to prevent her from going completely overboard. By no means is this going to stop her, but just a way to slow/stabilize her for a while. Let's put her on the backburner for a chapter or twenty, shall we? Just to be clear, there is no relationship between Mrs. Mikagami and the Steel Thorn clan. This is an expansion on Yuri's apparent ability to ignore such trifling things as alignment and affiliation when it comes to the world around her. Purity Grenade, her mother's sword, Dark Heart High itself, and now a Steel Thorn blade. They are just on the wrong path. Oh man. I started writing the scene between Craig and Atsuko and I couldn't stop. What you see there is the result. I had some idea of Craig showing a nice side to himself, but this was natural. And I think its official now. I'm a Craig fan. So sue me. Grandmas are cool, aren't they? I deliberately excluded the showing of the fight, deciding that detailing just how dear Grandma Ibuki manages to avoid any 'accidents' around Troi would ruin the effect. Atsuko makes for a great foil. As long as she stays a secondary character that is. As for the Z.I.P. deus ex machina. I wanted a BBC equivalent for the world of Dark Heart, and I figured only the Zeros were disinterested enough to turn the events of the day into a daily paper. It is as promised. Fair, complete and unbiased in all things. It reports on all things evenly and without being judgmental. A good resource. For those of you who are confused, the trailer below is one side of a phone call. We don't hear the other side because I was to tired to write it. Besides, it turned out nice. Ah, the obligatory references paragraph; Lily was resurrected in a clone of Yasuko back in part 53. Yasuko and the Cookies; all the way back in part 14. Brother slaying, Part 54. The Steel Thorn Clans, all of them are from chapter 50. Mrs. Mikagami's job was mentioned in chapter 7. For my Proofreaders et al; Diku, his help in discussing the status of Amy and Ki. He convinced me to tone back my initial ideas to a more reasonable level. Kobbie, for writing a Ki angst scene far greater than I ever could. It was just too bad that I couldn't capitalize on it in this chapter. But he did leave me with a party, and I had plenty of fun with that one. Mrs. Pam Berry, she is my mother, and has supported me in my attempts at writing. More importantly, she introduced me to the wonders of the Soap Opera. And DHH certainly qualifies as one. Mrs. Davidson, for kicking my ass seven ways from eternity until I found something I wanted to do. Thanks. ********** "Hello, Hikari residence." "Oh! Hello!" "What? What? Are you sure of this?" "SHE DID WHAT?" "Goodness. This is unexpected. I knew she was upset over the loss of her daughter, but this?" "Thank you. I know Sakura's parents have been completely worried for her safety. They said things they regretted, and now maybe they can say their apologies." "No, no. I'm fine. Really. Hikaru is out on a date. It's nothing. Just realizing that this means I need to find a new vice-principal for the new school year." "No, I couldn't accept. You've retired." "Well, that is true." "Are you sure? I know you have enough problems with your own family. No need to add the problems of the School." "Well, I suppose. As an interim measure until I can find a more suitable person for the job." "Thank you as well." "Indeed. I shall see you next week then? At the school then? I'm sure you know your way around, so we can skip the tour." "And on behalf of the students and faculty of Sakura Arts, I would like to welcome you back, Mrs. Ibuki."