Starburst Crystal
	Created by Ardweden
Legend Eighteen: Gum, with occasional Music
	Written by Nathan 



"Yumi!  What're you doing?"  Kyouji scrambled to his feet and ran towards
Krackel, but was slapped to the ground again.

"Get away from her!" 

Kyouji and Tsugiko turned to see an enraged Krackel charging towards Yumi, 
but she managed to quickly squeeze through the hole of the former window 
before he reached her.  Krackel cut away the remains of the wall with his 
sword and started to climb through.  Kyouji and Tsugiko rushed towards 
him, but stopped when they saw what was happening.

"If you hurt..." Krackel trailed off, his sword falling from his hand.  
Yumi was kneeling over Rollo, a warm pink glow being emitted by her wand 
and covering the girl.

"Wintergreen... she's HURTING her!" Yumi all but snarled, causing Tsugiko 
to nearly collapse from shock.  "She CAN'T!"  The crystal in Yumi's 
forehead began to glow brilliantly, blinding Krackel and the two Crystal 
Warriors.

When the light faded away, Tsugiko saw that Yumi had collapsed over the 
girl, but was still breathing.  Krackel simply stared as the smaller 
girl's eyes fluttered open.

"B-brother?" Rollo asked, staring at the destruction in confusion.  She 
tried to sit up, but Yumi's unconscious form prevented her.

"Rollo!" Krackel shouted, roughly rolling Yumi off of his sister.  He 
smothered Rollo in a bear hug.  Tears streamed down his face.  "You're 
better!  Thank Mars!"

Rollo looked around and blushed.  "Brother, there are guests present," she 
protested.  

"Kyouji, what do we do now?" Tsugiko whispered.  She lowered her hammer 
from an attack to a ready stance.  Kyouji shook his head, wearily inching 
towards Yumi.

"What a touching reunion," a man's voice echoed from all directions around 
Krackel, Rollo, and the Warrior Priestesses.  "Why, I am glad I decided to 
stay."

"Riesen," Krackel snarled.  He released Rollo, and picked up his sword 
before taking two large steps away from his sister.  His eyes and his 
blade searched for Wintergreen's invisible lieutenant.

"Krackel?  What's going on?" Rollo said, brushing her long wavy blonde 
hair out of her eyes.  She crept closer to her brother, taking refuge in 
his shadow until she backed into him.  Krackel spun around, stopping his 
blade centimeters away from his sister's face.  Rollo stared at her 
brother, blinking in shock.  

"There's no time to explain.  Stand over there," he said, pointing away 
from the Warrior Priestesses.  As Rollo scurried away, he shouted, "Stop 
hiding, coward."

"Very well," Riesen replied.  Tsugiko and Kyouji blinked as Riesen 
teleported behind Rollo.  Before she could react, his arms shot around her 
waist.

"Let me go!" Rollo screamed, flailing at her captor.  Riesen winced as she 
stomped on his foot.  

"I am holding on to your sister, to keep her safe from the Warrior 
Priestesses.  After all, we wouldn't want anything...unfortunate to happen 
to her so soon after her recovery."  A snarl crossed Riesen's face.  Rollo 
had thrust her elbow into his side.

"Now, if you would excuse me," Riesen said.  He vanished in a flash of 
light, taking Rollo with him.


>o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< 


"The world's greatest diplomat, reduced to this?  A lowly kidnapper?" 
Riesen spat as he manhandled Rollo through the rose marbled columns of 
Wintergreen's summer palace.  Whenever he would cast a nervous glance 
behind him, he would push Rollo through the halls quicker than before.

Kidnapping was not his specialty, nor any other disreputable activity.  
Riesen preferred to work through subordinates, preferably people he had 
convinced through his talent into doing the task for him.  The right words 
to the right person at the right time, and a person's greed or mass 
hysteria would neatly take care of an otherwise messy situation that could 
have occurred if Riesen intervened personally.

Wintergreen, however, was not known for considering a person's desires.  
She wanted immediate results, often forcing Riesen to take a more direct 
approach than he would have wished to keep her favor.  He had courted her 
favor for too long to jeopardize his standing with Wintergreen.  With the 
recent defection of the Twixes, the last of his rivals for the coveted 
position of Wintergreen's second in command had vanished.  The prize was 
his for the taking, if he refrained from anything foolish.

He stepped quickly to avoid yet another of Rollo's countless attempts to 
stomp on his feet or kick his shins.

Like kidnapping Krackel's sister.

"Riesen, give Rollo to me now!"  Krackel's voice roared through the halls.  

Riesen rolled his eyes.  He had hoped the Warrior Priestesses would have 
occupied Krackel until Riesen delivered Rollo to Wintergreen.  Now it 
would be a foot race.  "Keep quiet," he commanded.  He struggled to cover 
Rollo's mouth with his free hand.

Rollo squirmed out of Riesen's firm grip.  "Krackel, I'm over here!  Help 
me!" Rollo cried repeatedly, until Riesen again covered her mouth with his 
hand.  She bit down on his hand until he shrieked in pain, dropping her.  
She stumbled out of his grip and ran blindly away from Riesen.

Riesen swore as he massaged his hand.  “How on Mars could someone that 
sickly and thin still be so strong?” he wondered.  The pain ebbed, and he 
gave chase.

The door to Wintergreen's throne room burst open, sending Rollo tumbling.

"Riesen, you should have told me we had a guest."  Wintergreen said before 
addressing Rollo, who was scrambling to her feet.  "Come now, you 
shouldn't leave so soon, not before you have a chance to sample our 
hospitality."  Wintergreen snapped her fingers.  A girlish giggle distinct 
from Wintergreen could be heard from the shadows.  A cry of "Sorbert" 
could be heard, then Rollo shivered as her legs were encased in ice.  She 
shuddered as Wintergreen glided over.

Riesen heard the heavy fall of footsteps behind him and ducked behind a 
column.

"Leave her alone!" Krackel demanded as he stormed towards Wintergreen.

"Krackel, you should have told me about your sister's recovery," 
Wintergreen turned, greeting the swordsman with a cold glare.

"She had just recovered, my Queen, when Riesen kidnapped her," Krackel 
said, scanning the hall.

"Is that so?  I will have to look into that.  But allow me to give you a 
gift on this momentous occasion."

"My Queen, you are too generous," Krackel said between clenched teeth.

Wintergreen cupped Rollo's head in her hands, relishing in the girl's 
fearful quivering lips.  "Your sister shall be my attendant.  It is the 
least I could do, given your faithful service to me," she said, reveling 
in Rollo's shocked gasp.  Krackel could not look his sister in the eye.  
"Let it be known that your sister's continued...favor depends on your 
faithfulness.  After all, such an exquisite beauty as your sister 
shouldn't be...marred due to carelessness on another's part."  She snapped 
her fingers, and Rollo vanished.

"My Queen, our agreement-" Krackel began, sputtering as he spoke.  His 
face grew redder with each passing second.

Wintergreen waved her hand dismissively.  "You may run along and sulk now, 
Krackel."

Krackel raised his blade in one hand.  He glared at Wintergreen then 
Riesen, shaking his weapon at each in turn as if to throw it.  He stood, 
shaking with rage, then stormed off.

"My Queen, I do not believe this is wise," Riesen protested, after he grew 
certain that the swordsman could not hear him.

"I still have use for Krackel, Riesen," Wintergreen said.  "Don't be 
worried.  He shall not interfere with your petty ambitions."

"My Queen, the thought never crossed my mind.  I was only expressing my 
concern.  I doubt we can trust him with the more...delicate aspects of 
your plans," Riesen said.

Wintergreen thought for a moment.  "You have a point.  But I have someone 
in mind to assist in the 'delicate aspects' as you so succinctly put it.  
Come, let me introduce you, although I do think you have met her."

"Her?" Riesen said, surprised.

"Riesen!" a jubilant high soprano squealed.  Riesen was tackled from 
behind as a pair of arms wrapped tightly around his neck.  He gasped for 
breath, staggering under the added weight, then staggering again as the 
unseen woman drove a knee into his kidney.  He flailed around trying to 
regain his balance.  Meanwhile, his passenger giggled with each stumble, 
finally sliding off his back seconds before he fell face to the ground.

After a couple deep breaths, he stood up and spun about to face his 
giggling assailant.  Riesen saw red, one and a half meters of it.  Red 
cloak, short red ponytail, red tights, bright red lipstick, red earrings.  
The only interruption in the all red color scheme could be found in her 
snug white tunic bound about her waist by a black sash.  The long sleeves 
bore thick bands of gold and blue.  Except for her preference for red, her 
clothes would not be out of place anywhere in Mars.  The mischievous smile 
on her rounded face, however, could belong to only one person.

"Twizzler," he wheezed, rubbing his throat.  He rolled his eyes.  He 
should have known.  Wintergreen usually did not use spells with verbal 
components.

"Hi, Riesie.  Long time no see," Twizzler said, giggling and waving.  She 
twirled around, showing off her perfectly proportioned form.  "Do you like 
these clothes?  I think they're so much better than the tacky livery Queen 
Licorice forced us to wear."

"Quite," he groaned, holding his forehead in his hand as if to ward off a 
headache.  "So how is our former monarch?"

Twizzler giggled.  "You should have seen her face when I took the kingdom 
from her and gave it to Wintergreen.  I don't think she has much to worry 
about now."  She drew a finger across her throat.

"Just...one moment, Twizzler."  Riesen turned to Wintergreen.  "My Queen, 
I protest!  Krackel would be better than this...this...this child!" he 
spat.

"I am not a child!" Twizzler snarled as she spun around, pointing her palm 
at Riesen.  A globe of darkness grew from her hand.  "Death By Chocol-"

"Enough!" Wintergreen shouted, swinging the point of the Spear of Mint 
level with Twizzler's throat.  The darkness vanished, and Wintergreen 
stayed her hand.

"Twizzler, I want you to...introduce yourself to the Crystal Warriors.  
Make sure they become well acquainted with your talents," Wintergreen 
commanded, cradling the Spear of Mint in her arm like a scepter.  “There’s 
a little prophecy I’d like you to assist me with.”

"Sure thing, W-, Your Majesty," Twizzler said, clapping her hands together 
in anticipation.

"Riesen, you will be in charge of-" Wintergreen said, until Twizzler 
caught her eye.  "What are you doing?"

Twizzler stared into a compact mirror as she finished applying make up and 
a fresh coat of lipstick.  The compact clicked shut, then the diminutive 
sorceress tugged on her clothes to smooth out the wrinkles.

"Twizzler!"

"Oh, sorry, Winter-" Twizzler began, until a cold glare from Wintergreen 
stopped her.  "I mean, my Queen.  The Knight Protector's going to be 
there, and I want to make a good impression."

Wintergreen rolled her eyes.  "Riesen, come to the throne room in ten 
minutes.  Dismissed," she said, exasperated.  She entered her throne room, 
the doors slamming shut behind her.

"Riesie?" Twizzler asked as she turned towards the diplomat.

"Please don't call me that," he groaned.

"You've seen the Knight Protector," Twizzler said as she leapt at Riesen, 
snaring his lapels.  "Is he as cute as Clorets says?"

Riesen sighed and threw up his hands.  "Why don't you find out yourself."


>o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o<


"Yumi.  Yumi.   Please wake up," Kyouji said, gently shaking the sleeping 
Warrior Priestess nestled in the rubble of what used to be Krackel's 
house.

"How is she?" Tsugiko whispered.  She knelt next to Yumi.

"Out like a light.  Whatever she did to that Rollo girl took a lot out of 
her," Kyouji said.  He knelt down and draped Yumi's arms over his 
shoulder.

Tsugiko brushed Yumi's arms off of Kyouji.  "We shouldn't move her."

Kyouji shook his head.  "She's asleep, not injured."

"But-" Tsugiko protested.

"Tsugiko, trust me.  I know she's fine.  I would have felt it otherwise," 
Kyouji said as evenly as he could.

"I don't understand why we need to move her at all."

Kyouji looked around the house.  "Do you see Kit Kat anywhere?"

Tsugiko blinked in surprise.  "What does that have to do with Yumi?"

"The fight's over, Tsugiko.  By now, Kit Kat would be here annoying me 
like he normally does."

"So?" Tsugiko said, furling her brow in confusion.

"Haven't you noticed the furball disappears whenever we're about to fight?  
We're still in danger."

"Surely the villagers wouldn't do anything," Tsugiko protested.

"I'm not saying they would.  It's a hunch."

"A Kyouji hunch or a Knight Protector hunch?"

"Both."

Tsugiko opened her mouth to speak, then closed it as Yumi blinked her eyes 
open.

"Tsugiko-chan?" Yumi murmured.  She clenched her eyes shut until Tsugiko 
shielded her friend's eyes.

"How are you feeling?" Tsugiko asked.

"Sleepy," Yumi mumbled.  "How's the girl?"

"You healed her, Yumi..." Tsugiko trailed.  She chewed her lip, and 
glanced at Kyouji.  He nodded slowly.  She looked away, shaking her head.

"What happened, Tsugiko-chan?  Is everything okay?"

Kyouji looked grim.  "Riesen kidnapped her."

Yumi sat up.  "We've got to help her," she demanded, thrashing about.  
"He'll hurt her..."  She slumped forward.

Kyouji gently picked up the Warrior Priestess, draping her over his 
shoulder before settling her into a fireman's carry.  "Can you manage two 
packs at one?" he asked Tsugiko.

"I think so," Tsugiko said confidently.

"Let's go," Kyouji said as he shuffled towards the door.


>o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o<


Kyouji wandered around the makeshift camp, unable to do more than pace.  
They had stopped to camp some three hours away from Krackel's home.  Much 
to Kyouji and Tsugiko's shared concern, Yumi had slept through the 
journey.  Once again, Kyouji gave thanks for his new abilities.  Yumi may 
look like a wee slip of a girl, but even a wee slip grew heavy during 
three straight hours of alternating walking, jogging, and running.

He toyed with the fire once again, yet another in a list of camp chores he 
had concerned himself while he waited.  Without fail, each of the minute 
details he triple and quadruple checked were perfect.  He had set up the 
camp by himself while Tsugiko nursed Yumi.  Kyouji sighed for he had run 
out of distractions to keep him from worrying about Yumi.  He walked 
toward the tent, and almost rapped on the tent flap when Tsugiko stepped 
out.

"Is she still sleeping?" Kyouji asked once more.

Tsugiko shook her head.  "She's up, but still groggy.  I wouldn't go in, 
though.  Kit Kat's being extremely protective of Yumi.  It's like he's 
watching everything I do to see if it'll harm her in any way."

Kyouji sighed, shook his head, and raised his hands.  "I've given up 
trying to understand that thing."

Tsugiko pursed her lips as she thought.  "Well, I've heard pets are 
protective if their owners are hurt."

"I don't know if I'd call Kit Kat a pet," Kyouji said, shaking his head.  
He looked back at Tsugiko.  She seemed preoccupied and eyed the tent flap.  
"Is something wrong with Yumi?"

"No, no," Tsugiko stammered. She looked down at her feet.  "We're running 
low on food."

"Again?" Kyouji said, exasperated.  

Tsugiko sighed.  "Yumi's already eaten two sets of rations, and I think 
she might go through more before the night's over."

Kyouji whistled a long low note.  Tsugiko stared at him through narrow 
slits.  "What?" she demanded.  She hoped that Kyouji would not make some 
rude joke about Yumi's weight.

"I didn't realize how strong Wintergreen's spell on that girl actually 
was," he answered.  Tsugiko's expression softened immediately.  He sighed 
and shook his head.  "Once again, we don't know where the next town is.  I 
swear, we need to buy a map in the next town we see."  He sighed again.  
"But that doesn't solve our problem."

"Ka," Kit Kat chirped as he slinked out of the tent.

Kyouji frowned.  He did not feel up to Kit Kat's usual games.  Like most 
cats, Kit Kat liked to be under foot of the one person in the crowd that 
hated cats.  Unfortunately for Kyouji, Kit Kat made him uncomfortable.  If 
the frustrating little critter had not proven his worth by finding the 
crystal shards and those berries...

Kyouji's eyes lit up.  "Do you remember those berries we ate in the land 
of the Sprees?"

Tsugiko nodded.  "Yeah, Kit Kat found them."

"Why don't you see if Kit Kat can find something like those berries.  I'll 
see if I can find something as well."

"What about Yumi?"

Kyouji thought for a moment.  "Why don't you take Yumi with you, if she 
feels up to it."

Tsugiko disappeared inside the tent, reemerging a minute later.  "Yumi 
said to give her a couple moments first."

"Okay.  I'll go on ahead," Kyouji said.  He walked into the tree line.  
For the first time in a while, his mind did not register that the trees 
were blue and gold instead of green and brown.

After twenty minutes of wading through brush and fallen leaves, Kyouji 
shook his head as he searched for a stream or some other source of food.  
Who was he kidding?  He knew next to nothing about survival except the 
occasional scrap gleaned from his grandfathers.  Most of the plants were 
out; without Kit Kat, Kyouji had no way of determining edible species.  He 
did not relish the possibility of being poisoned by accident.  That left 
animals as his only method of augmenting their food supply.  However, 
there were few signs of animal life detectable by Kyouji's untrained eye.

"Teru?  Are you there?  I could use some help," he called out within his 
mind.  Maybe Teru had learned a few tricks when she was alive.  He waited 
for a response.

"Figures.  She'll show up to be a nuisance, but when I need her help, 
she's on holiday," he groused.  "Might as well head back."

The camp was in sight when Kyouji heard a shrill whistle from behind him.  
He turned around, and saw a smiling cute redhead in a red cloak standing 
no more than five meters away.  The girl waved before winking, finally 
blowing him a kiss before vanishing behind a nearby blue and gold tree.

"Kyouji-san?  Kyouji-san?" Yumi said as she walked over.  "Is something 
the matter?  You've been staring at that tree for a while."  

"Nothing.  Nothing at all," the Knight Protector stammered.  "I was just 
seeing things.  How're you feeling, Yumi?"

"Better, Kyouji-san.  I'm still a bit tired, though.  I just wanted to 
tell you that Tsugiko-chan and Kit Kat found some of those crunchy blue 
berries from before," she said.  She smiled.  "They should be back soon.  
I thought it might be nice to have the rest of the meal waiting for them.  
Would you like to help, Kyouji-san?"

"Sure," Kyouji drawled, looking back at the tree before he let Yumi lead 
him away.


>o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o<


Kyouji winced as the sunlight assaulted his eyes.  "Just a couple more 
minutes, Mom.  I don't need to be at school until eight today" he groaned, 
rolling over on the ground.  He bit back a curse as a sharp rock bit into 
his side.   Kyouji's eyes shot open.  He had fallen asleep on his watch. 

After a few panic stricken moments wherein he made sure that the girls 
were still asleep or at least in the tent, he shuffled over to the embers 
of the campfire and fed it more wood.  As he turned to wake the girls up, 
he saw a flash of red cloak out of the corner of his eye. 

He spun back around, wobbling slightly as his ankles protested.  His mind 
whirled.  Ever since he came to Mars, a watch shift usually meant three 
hours of boredom.  While his mind had registered the possibility of an 
intruder, he did was not prepared for the event.

"Stop where you are," he said.  Kyouji regained his balance and turned to 
face the intruder.  He saw a petite redhead wearing a white tunic with a 
red cloak.  She stepped towards Kyouji, holding her hands in the air.  As 
she walked, she smiled invitingly.  Kyouji's breath caught in his throat 
when he saw that she combined the best aspects of Tsugiko and Yumi.

"Don't you know it's not polite to stare?" she scolded.  Her eyes sparkled 
in the sunlight.

"Sorry," Kyouji said as he turned away.  His face grew scarlet.

The girl giggled.  "Don't worry, I don't mind."  She twirled about, giving 
Kyouji an eyeful.

Kyouji did his best not to stare.  "I think you shouldn't come any 
closer."

"Why's that?  I certainly don't want to hurt you," she said in a sultry 
tone, emphasizing the final word.

Kyouji laughed nervously as his brain overloaded.  Of all the possible 
intruders he had imagined, he never thought one would hit on him.

"Doesn't she look familiar?" Teru whispered inside his mind.

Kyouji looked at the young woman once again.  The cloak did look familiar, 
but he still could not place where he had seen one like it.  And the girl-

"You're staring again," she said.  Amusement filled her voice as she posed 
for him.

"Haven't I seen you before?" Kyouji asked.  His eyes narrowed as he tried 
to place the girl's features.

"Perhaps," she replied, giggling.  She winked and blew a kiss at him.

Recognition dawned.  "I saw you last night," he said.

"You remembered!" she squealed.  She rushed forward and threw her arms 
around Kyouji's neck, knocking him off balance.  Kyouji's arms flailed in 
an attempt to regain his balance as he fell.

He landed on his back, with the woman in red draped over him.  He looked 
up, and saw her luminous eyes staring into his.  "Are you okay?" he asked, 
pushing up, only to find he could not.  The girl had him pinned.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that," she said.  Her words rang 
hollow.  "I'm Twizzler."

"Kyouji," he replied.  He tried again to push himself into a sitting 
position.

"Kyouji," she repeated dreamily, before sighing.  At that moment, Kyouji 
realized how close Twizzler was.  More importantly, her lips were only a 
couple centimeters away, and by the way her body shifted on his, Twizzler 
was leaning forward.

"I think you should-" he began.

"Good morn-,  Oh!  Kyouji-san, who's your friend?" Yumi said as she left 
her tent.

"-get up," Kyouji finished, cursing his luck.

"Hey, Yumi, what's going on out there?" Tsugiko said from inside the tent.

Kyouji's blood ran cold.  He turned his head towards Tsugiko's tent flap, 
and pleaded with Mars, the Starburst Temple spirit, and whatever deity 
listening to keep Tsugiko inside.

"We have a visitor," Yumi said.  A touch of regret crept into her voice.

Kyouji felt a pleasant light brush against his cheek grow firmer.  His 
eyes grew wide when he realized that Twizzler was kissing him on his 
cheek.  His eyes grew wider when Tsugiko's tent flap rustled.  

Tsugiko stepped outside.  Kyouji prayed that she would not see him.  He 
watched as her eyes widened and her jaw dropped.  Her surprise faded, 
replaced by a look of hurt that sliced into Kyouji's soul.  As he watched, 
Twizzler squealed with pleasure.  With a twitch of an eye, hurt grew into 
the familiar anger he expected from her.

"I can explain," he said, as Tsugiko approached.  He wriggled out of 
Twizzler's embrace and into a standing position.

SMACK!

Kyouji rubbed his jaw.  Tsugiko stared unblinking into his eyes before 
turning around and storming back into the tent.  Kyouji sighed in relief.  
He had expected much worse from Tusgiko.

Yumi alternated between staring open mouthed at Kyouji and the tent.  
"Tsugiko-chan!  Wait!" she shouted as she dashed into the tent.

"Girlfriend?" Twizzler asked as she brushed dust off her clothes.

"Not exactly," Kyouji said as he worked his jaw.

"Good," Twizzler purred, as she snuggled against his arm.

Kyouji jumped as the tent flap was thrown open.  Tsugiko stepped out, 
hefting her hammer.  Yumi dashed out and stepped in front of Tsugiko.  She 
held onto Tsugiko's arm and whispered to her friend.  Tsugiko scowled and 
shook her arm free from Yumi's grasp.  

"Stay out of my way, Yumi," she warned.  Kyouji paled as she approached.

"Now, let me explain," he began, holding his free arm up to ward off a 
blow.

Tsugiko stopped less than a meter from Kyouji.  Instead of flattening him 
with her hammer, she glared at Twizzler.  "What are you doing here?" she 
asked, challenging Twizzler with each word.

Twizzler snuggled closer to Kyouji, resting her head on his shoulder.  She 
gazed into his eyes, ignoring the icicle stares from Tsugiko.

"Answer me!" Tsugiko demanded.

"Tsugiko-chan, please calm down," Yumi pleaded.

"Would you excuse me for a moment, Kyouji?" Twizzler asked, releasing his 
arm. She winked at him.  "But don't go anywhere.  I'll be right back."

Kyouji backed away from the girls.

"Kyouji, don't go anywhere," Tsugiko commanded.  Her eyes never left 
Twizzler as she spoke.  "I'll finish with after I finish with her.  As for 
you-" she said, addressing Twizzler.  "I want to know who you are, where 
you come from, and how you know Kyouji."

"Twizzler, none of your business, and a lady doesn't kiss and tell," 
Twizzler chirped in response. 

"That's not good enough," Tsugiko snarled.  Her crystal shone faintly, 
illuminating her in a diffuse green aura.

Twizzler giggled and hid a hand behind her back.  A faint glow seemed to 
emanate from behind her cloak.  "You're just jealous of Kyouji and I," she 
giggled.  "Firsties don't count here on Mars."

"WHAT?!" Tsugiko shrieked as her aura burst into flames.  Twizzler backed 
away to avoid the heat radiating from the other girl.  Tsugiko stepped 
towards Twizzler, her hammer in a ready position.

"No, Tsugiko-chan, don't," Yumi shouted as she forced herself between the 
other two girls.  She stood with her arms outstretched, shielding Twizzler 
form Tsugiko.  "I'm sure there's been a misunderstanding."

"Oh, I think we understand each other quite well," Twizzler said, glaring 
at Tsugiko.  

"Miss Twizzler, I think it's best that you go," Yumi said, still looking 
at Tsugiko.

Twizzler looked at a flame-enveloped Tsugiko.  "I think you're right.  
After all, I don't want to get my Kyouji into trouble."  She walked over 
to Kyouji and smiled.  Without warning she threw her arms around Kyouji 
and firmly kissed him on the lips.

"I'll see you later, Kyouji," Twizzler purred as she walked away.  "Oh, 
and Tsugiko, was it?  You might want to stay away from my Kyouji."

"Why's that?" Tsugiko snarled.  Yumi panicked.  She was not sure she could 
hold Tsugiko back if she went after Twizzler.  Those flames were hot.  She 
stepped out of the way.

Twizzler spun around and held her hand behind her head.  "Sorbert!" She 
mimed throwing an object, and a thin column of ice flew from her hand.  
Yumi and Kyouji watched as it smashed against the handle of Tsugiko's 
warhammer, knocking her back.  Much to their surprise, the ice 
extinguished the flames on the hammer, encasing the weapon in a thick coat 
of frost.  

Tsugiko blinked once, then twice, and with a cry, dropped the weapon.  Her 
flames vanished as she rubbed her hands together, occasionally blowing on 
them.  

"Tsugiko-chan, are you okay?" Yumi said, rushing over to her friend.

Kyouji, on the other hand, searched for the sorceress.  "Where did she 
go?"  

"Kyouji," Tsugiko wailed.  As she stared at the Knight Protector, tears 
welled in her eyes.  She choked back a sob, then ran towards the tent.

"Tsugiko, wait!" Kyouji shouted, following after her.  He stopped when he 
felt firm pressure against his arm.

"Kyouji-san, please wait," Yumi said.

"But I need to talk with her," he protested.  "She needs to know it's all 
a misunderstanding."

"Kyouji-san, I think you should wait," Yumi answered.  "I'm pretty sure 
that she'd rather talk to me right now."

"But-"

Yumi shook her head.  "Besides, that last comment of yours didn't help 
any."

"I wanted to make sure she wasn't around.  You saw what she did to 
Tsugiko," he protested.  His shoulders slumped.

"Tsugiko-chan doesn't know that," Yumi sighed.  "Please, let me talk to 
her first."

Kyouji sighed.  "I'm sorry, Yumi.  You're right."

Yumi pursed her lips and looked away from Kyouji.  "Um, Kyouji-san, I hate 
to ask-"

Kyouji sighed again.  "What's the matter."

"How, how long-?"

"Twizzler, right?" Kyouji asked.

Yumi nodded.  She still did not look at Kyouji.

"I just met her a few minutes before you came out of the tent," Kyouji 
said.  He kicked a nearby rock.  "Who am I kidding?  It's the truth, but 
it sounds so phony."

"I believe you, Kyouji-san," Yumi answered softly.  "I'm sorry, I had to 
ask."  

Kyouji sighed.  "I know."

"Here," Yumi said, handing Kyouji a handkerchief.

"What's this for?" Kyouji asked.

"You might want to wipe the lipstick off your face before you see Tsugiko-
chan again," Yumi said, as she ran towards the tent.

"I should have been a girl this time," a voice complained in his head.

"Shut up, Teru.  You're not helping," Kyouji groaned as he cleaned his 
face.


>o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o< >o<


"Ever get the feeling you're not welcome?" Yumi whispered to Kyouji.

Kyouji glanced at Tsugiko and winced.  "You could say that."

Since their first step in town, the Warrior Priestesses had been ignored 
and shunned.  Passersby would not answer questions, and Yumi had to step a 
merry jig to avoid being run over by a crowd rushing out of a place of 
worship.  No one would acknowledge their existence with even a passing 
nod.  To the townspeople it was as if the three did not exist.

The silent treatment affected each differently.  Kyouji picked up on it 
immediately.  Yumi walked a bit slower than usual.  She was quiet and 
withdrawn, unlike her usual self.  Tsugiko grew curt and impatient, even 
more so than the in the morning.  Kyouji was forced to give her a wide 
berth just to keep the uneasy peace between them.   Yumi would quickly 
position herself between Tsugiko and Kyouji whenever Tsugiko’s irritation 
boiled over.  It did not help.

All Kyouji wanted was to be greeted by a friendly face.  Any one would do. 

"Kyouji!"

He turned around in enough time to see Twizzler dash towards him.  She 
leapt up, threw her arms around his neck, and tackle-hugged him.  
Fortunately for Kyouji, he was able to keep his balance this time.

“How’d she get here?” Tsugiko growled.  She reached for her hammer.

“Tsugiko-chan!” Yumi scolded.

“So, you, the one in the green-“ Twizzler began.

“My name’s Tsugiko, you-“  Tsugiko interrupted.  She trailed off, unable 
to find a vile enough name for the sorceress.

“Whatever.  Have you been staying away from my Kyouji?” Twizzler answered, 
snuggling against Kyouji.

“He is not ‘your Kyouji’,” Tsugiko said.

Kyouji sighed as Twizzler and Tsugiko argued.  Maybe he should have become 
a Warrior Priestess instead of the Knight Protector when he had the 
chance.

“See, I told you I should have come back as a girl,” Teru chimed in his 
mind.

“I wasn’t serious!”


Author’s notes-

Twizzler's spells in this chapter are all named after desserts.  I leave 
it up to the next writers in the queue whether or not it becomes a 
convention.

The title is taken from a book entitled “Gun, with occasional Music.”  
Unfortunately, I don’t remember the author.

Thanks: Ardweden, for prereading and being gracious enough to act as a 
sounding board, Rick Dumond, whose conversations about punishment in 
anarchic societies yielded the ending scene, Jonathan Causey, for 
assistance with Twizzler's costume and minor botanical assistance, and 
Capfox, for prereading and suggestions.

It’s been a year and eight parts since I first wrote for Impro, and I 
looking forward to writing more.  Thanks to everyone who has helped me 
over the past year.

C&C are always welcome.

Nathan
Achariyth@aol.com