[AMS] [UY] "Urusei Megamisama!" (12/36)
"Urusei Megamisama!", Chapter Twelve: "The Game of the Oni"
By Henry J. Cobb
$Id: urusei_megamisama12.txt,v 1.13 1998/09/30 15:33:15 hcobb Exp $

The Ah! Megamisama! characters and situations are the creation of Kosuke
Fujishima.

The Urusei Yatsura characters and situations are the creation of Rumiko
Takahashi.

No infringement of their copyrights is intended.

Previous chapters are available at:
http://www.io.com/~hcobb/anime/fanfic/chaos.html

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    This chapter marks the end of "Volume One: Ataru".
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Skuld, 17 year old goddess of the future, typed away on her pocket
computer as she followed Ataru up the stairs to his room.  She grabbed a
cushion one handed, seated herself on it and then continued to type away
as she read from the tiny screen.

"She's been made warlord of the Oni and she's conquered six planets in the
last year!  I knew that Lum was destined for big things, but..."

Skuld looked up at Ataru, who sat and looked down at his desk.

"How am I supposed to tag somebody who can fly?"

Before Skuld could reply, Ataru's mother called from downstairs, "Skuld,
call for you."

"Hi Shutaro, what's up?"

At the mention of that name, Ataru poked his head out of his doorway.

"Channel six?  OK I'll check it out, thanks."  Skuld returned to Ataru's
room and turned on the TV.  Her own face appeared on the screen.

"What are you doing on TV Skuld?"  Ataru asked.

"I don't know."

"We'll be right back to the Goddess Conspiracy Special with the leader of
the alien force that's suddenly appeared today after these messages", the
announcer said as the screen blanked out to be replaced with Sensei
Sakura's face.

"Do you want to be rid of evil spirits?  Sure we all do, call now for our
yearly special!"

As Skuld turned away from the TV as she thought, then looked up at Ataru.
"That's it!  They're using my old junior high ID, but they've
electronically darkened it to make me look more sinister."

"Welcome back to Low Ratings Special, our guest tonight is Lum Invader.
So, Miss Invader, you were about to tell us why you've brought your fleet
of UFOs to Earth?"

"In the interests of interplanetary peace and just call me Lum, t'cha."

"And how do you see the cause of peace being advanced by this visit, miss
Te-Sha?" The reporter leaned forwards.

"Well it all started twelve years ago when our peaceful planet of Uru was
invaded by these creatures that call themselves goddesses, t'cha.  At first
we accepted them freely, but then we found that they we're out to steal our
men for their own nefarious purposes, t'cha.  They escaped before we could
render judgement on them and we've been searching for them for years and we
just now found them investing your planet and seducing your men with their
wicked ways, t'cha.  These so-called goddesses are an evil from beyond the
stars and we're here to help you deal with them, t'cha."

The reporter reached for his water glass, but stopped when he noticed a
vortex forming in the middle of it.

Swoosh!  Skuld popped out of the glass,  "That's a lie!"

"Why look, here's one of the evil creatures now, t'cha."  Lum pointed at
the goddess as the reporter fell over backwards in his chair.

"And you are?"  The reporter scrambled to right his chair.

"Skuld, goddess of the future,"  Skuld stepped down off the table and sat
in the chair the assistant director hurriedly brought out.

"Goddess of the future, that's quite a title.  Can you tell how many
fingers I'm holding up?"  The reporter hid his right hand behind his left
and showed the camera that he had all the fingers on it except his pinky
extended."

"Four, but I didn't foresee it, I'm just telepathic."

"See, that's proof of her evil mind control powers, t'cha!"

"I don't go around controlling people!"

"Rei knew the truth, is that why he had to die, t'cha?"

"That was an accident and you know it."

"This is a very interesting discussion ladies but I'm afraid our time is
up.  Please tune in next week for our special guest Elvis."

Click!

"Next on BookGoats, Brian Goat's guest is Lum Invader, author of ``The
Goddess Conspiracy''."

Click!

"Mr McGrackle, he howls and cackles!"

"General Atomic, the proud manufacturer of the neutron bomb and other fine
defense items for domestic use and export is proud to sponsor ``McGrackle
One on Two''  G.A., let's nuke the scum tonight!"

"Seventeen years of age, the daughter of Kamisama and either an alien out
to enslave mankind or the goddess of hope for the future, Miss Skuld!"

Skuld wondered where the host got his material as he turned to the girl
seated beside her.

"Also seventeen years of age, commander of the fleet of UFOs that have
encircled the Earth, demotic alien warlord or angel of mercy in
tiger-stripes, it's miss Lum Invader!"

"And I am your host, John McGrackle, here to resolve the issue of the
Goddess Conspiracy.  First, Miss Skuld, if you really are a goddess,
perhaps you can answer a long standing question?"

"Well, I can try sir."

"How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?"

"Uh, well.  Um, angels can change their sizes somewhat and it would depend
on the type of pin, but if more than one angel was dancing on a pin, they
would have to be really close.  But most angels like to dance in natural
settings and not on man-made objects."

"Hmmm...  And miss Invader, your fleet arrived here from another star?"

"We come in peace from the planet Uru.  That's about 34 of your light years
away, and just call me Lum, t'cha."

"And yet, miss Lum, you yourself are only 17 years old, correct?"

"Seventeen Earth years, t'cha."

"So, you traveled here faster than the speed of light?  How is that
possible?"

"Well, you know how Einstein described how gravity distorts space and time,
t'cha?"

"Don't tell them that!"  Skuld grabbed Lum's hand.

"And why not, t'cha?"  Lum jerked her hand back.

"I've seen how these Earthlings work!  Give them the secret of
interstellar travel and within a generation your planet will be overrun by
tourists."

"Oh.  Well Mr McGrackle, I don't know how it all works.  I just type in
the planet I want to go to, hit the button and zoom I'm there, t'cha."

"Miss Skuld, is it true that human beings have immortal souls?  If so, what
happens to them after death?"

"I'm sorry,"  Skuld looked down at the table, "but I can't tell you that."

"Ha!  She can't say because she doesn't know!  She's just a fake goddess,
t'cha!  That's why she killed my darling Rei, to protect her dirty secrets,
t'cha!"  Lum pulled a framed portrait of the late Oni out of her bikini
top cleavage, in total disregard for physics and decency,  "Poor Rei, you
died before you could tell everybody the truth.  I should have listened
when you warned me about her, t'cha."

"What warnings?  He was totally inarticulate!"

"That was just because of the evil spell you placed on him."

"Why you!"  Skuld felt a sudden internal pain.  "No, not now, stay in
there you!" She clutched her arms around her chest and rolled from her
chair to the floor.

"Aaaaah!  She's possessed, t'cha!"  Lum pointed at the goddess while the
cameraman zoomed in.

A puff of smoke swirled out from Skuld's back and when it dissipated a small
blonde angel in cross top and white wrap was revealed.

"What's this, t'cha?"  Lum looked at the angel through crossed eyes.

"Koku!"  Noble Scarlet summoned her flaming sword and swung it, but Lum
flipped back out of the way, dropping the portrait of Rei in the tumble.

"No, don't, stop!"  Skuld pushed herself up to her knees and reached in the
direction of the angel.

Lum dashed behind Mr McGrackle as Scarlet made her next swing.  The
political heavyweight ducked, sparing his neck as the sword passed right
over his head.

"Koku?"  Scarlet sniffed as an awful smell filled the air.

"Waaaah!"  Mr McGrackle threw his flaming wig to the ground and ran off
totally bald above the eyebrows.

"Koku?"

"Why would anybody wear a wig that hideous?"  Skuld asked, as she
hyperspace pocketed Rei's portrait.

"Beats me, t'cha,"  Lum floated in midair with her eyes crossed.

"We are experiencing technical difficulties, please stand by."  A graphic
of Noble Scarlet tangled in cables appeared on the TV.

Click!

"Wow, you're on every channel this morning,"  Ataru turned from the TV set
in his room.

"Will you please turn that off?"  Skuld asked from the comfort of her
futon, "I'm trying to get some sleep here."

"No time for that,"  Ataru started packing his bookbag,  "We've gotta get
ready for class."

A short student was waiting for them at the schoolgate.

"Yo Chibi, where's the gang?"  Ataru asked.

"I came to apologise."

"About time,"  Ataru folded his arms.

"Miss Scarlet,"  Chibi walked past Ataru to address the angel, "I'm sorry
for what I did in the fight, no hard feelings?"

"Koku!"  Scarlet held her miniature bookbag in both hands as she bowed to
Chibi.

Later, the class giggled when Skuld yawned during Sensei Onsen-Mark's
lecture on the Meiji restoration.

"Is there a problem, miss Skuld?  Is this class too boring for a
globe-trotting celebrity?"

"Ataru Moroboshi and Miss, uh Skuld to the principal's office please."
The loadspeakers announced.

"Sorry teacher, we have to go."  Skuld got up.

As she walked down the stairs, Skuld worried about what they had been
called for.  Had the principal unraveled her fake ID?

Skuld followed Ataru into the principal's office, then stopped.  "Mujaki!"
She pointed at that strange man-sized cat with brown markings that sat at
the kotatsu, sipping tea with the principal.

"Mujaki?  Is that his name?"  The principal asked,  "My friend here
doesn't say much."

Skuld did a quick mental scan.  The principal was human enough, Ataru was
his usual self and the cat was unusual.  Skuld fetched her sensor goggles
from hyperspace and studied the cat.  A high-level spirit, a powerful
ghost of some sort, but he didn't seem to present an immediate danger.

"Mew?"  The cat offered one of the taiyaki, just like in Skuld's dream.

"What is the matter miss?"  The principal raised an eyebrow.

Skuld folded her goggles back into Hyperspace.  "Uh, he isn't Mujaki,
perhaps it's best just to call him the Kotatsu Neko?"

The cat shrugged at this.

"Moroboshi,"  The principal addressed the boy, "I understand you are to
participate in some sort of athletic event to decide the fate of the
world?"

"Uh, yes sir."

"And has a venue been found for this event?"

Ataru turned towards Skuld.

"Not yet sir."  Skuld replied.

"Well, then can I offer this school's soccer field?  There's nothing so
fitting as the spirit of youth rushing out on the field of battle to give
their lives for emperor and country."

"Agreed, t'cha."

Skuld spun around.  "It's not such a great thing to sneak into a
first-story window!"

"And you are miss Lum?"

"Pleased to meet you, t'cha."

By the end of classes a large crowd of reporters had gathered outside the
schoolgate.

"Do you require a armored escort home Skuld?"  Shutaro's wry grin showed
that the offer was more than half serious.  He was used to media attention,
if not quite at this level.

"I've got a better idea.  Come'on Ataru,"  Skuld grabbed Ataru's arm and
guided him towards the soccer field.  Noble Scarlet leaned against Ataru's
head as he was turned around.

"What's up, you gonna drag me off to a deserted island for a romantic
evening?"

"Not quite, we're going home,"  Skuld held Ataru a bit more closely than
she really needed to as they stepped into the whirlpool in the drinking
fountain, to reappear from Mrs Morborboshi's sink.

"Urk!"  Mrs Moroboshi fell back to the floor as her son his angel and her
goddess appeared.

"Sorry about that mom," Ataru stepped down then held out a hand for Skuld.

"It's not that you idiot!  My wedding ring fell down the sink."

"Hey Skuld, can you get it with your goddess powers?"

"Hmm..."  Skuld considered telekinesis, but it seemed a bit iffy.

"Koku!"  Noble Scarlet pulled a tiny fishing rod out of hyperspace and made
a cast down the sink.

"My, what a helpful angel,"  Ataru's mother bowed to Scarlet as she
accepted her ring back,  "Now what are you going to do about this crowd of
reporters outside Ataru?"

"Well, nobody saw us arrive, right?  So could you please just cover for us
Mrs Moroboshi?"

"Very well, I'll do it for you Skuld."

Ataru and the two girls headed for his room as his mother wiped her hands
dry and headed for the front door.

She made sure that the chain was firmly placed then opened the door a
crack,  "You've seen that my useless son hasn't arrived, he's probably out
chasing girls somewhere!"  The she slammed the door shut before the pack
could ask any questions.

"I wish I was."  Ataru peeked out his curtains at the unruly crowd.

"Koku?"

"H-how can you say that, when you've got me?"

"Do I?  Or am I really just your pawn?  This is Lum and your fight, why
drag me into it?"

"Lum is dragging you into it to hurt me."

"Is that really the truth?"

"I'm a goddess, I don't lie.  My feelings for you are honest."

"If you're really Skuld's Darling then ask her why she killed Rei, t'cha."

"Damn it Lum, quit sneaking up on me!"  Skuld turned around to the now
opened window.

Noble Scarlet flew to just above Skuld shoulder and pulled out her sword.

"I just came back for my picture, t'cha,"  Lum held her hand out.

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to make sure that it didn't get damaged in the
scuffle,"  Skuld bowed to the slightly taller girl as she summoned Rei's
portrait from Hyperspace into her hand.

"I'm so sure, t'cha."  Lum tucked the framed picture back into her
cleavage.

"Why do you always have to access hyperspace like that?"

"It's how you taught me, t'cha."

"Well, I've now learned how to fold space away from my center of gravity.
I never thought you'd be such a slow learner Lum."

"Who's Rei?"  Ataru interrupted the two girls.

"He was an Oni boy and Lum's fiancee."

"Until you killed him.  Go ahead and ask her Darling, t'cha."

"Go to hell Lum."

"That reminds me.  Thanks for the promotion, t'cha,"  Lum waved as she
stepped out the window and flew off.

"Promotion?"  Ataru asked.

"She's a full demon now, ever since..."  Skuld turned away from Ataru and
wiped her tears away.

The crew did one last light check on the famous anchorman against the
pre-dawn twilight.  Normally they'd be reporting the news from Tokyo, but
now the network's big guns had been sent in to report from the scene and so
they'd been reduced to gofers.

"What's the boy's name again, Akuma, Akane?"  The famous anchorman asked
the financial reporter who was adjusting his tie.

"Ataru."

"Going live in three, two, one,"  The political analyst counted off.

The famous anchorman straightened up and gave his patented look of complete
sincerity to the camera.  "Live in Tokyo, the first day of the match is
about to begin.  Is Ataru the dupe of an alien parasite or a goddess's
champion?  Either way the fate of the Earth rests on his young shoulders.
Here he comes now.  Excuse me sir, has she tried to eat your brain yet?"

"No comment!"  Skuld pushed past the famous anchorman with Ataru in tow.

"Hey look, even the prime minister is here."

Skuld looked up at the man Ataru was pointing at and noticed the huge Oni
he was talking to.

{Mr Invader!}  Skuld shouted out in High Oni as she jumped up into the arms
of Lum's father.

{And how have you been little one?}  The prime minster of Uru asked the
goddess.

{How dare you speak the language of heros, t'cha!}  Lum glared at the
goddess.

"It's OK, I also know Japanese,"  Mr Invader carefully lowered Skuld to the
ground.

"You know each other?"  The prime minster of Japan asked.

"Yes, I was his guest for many years."

"Until you were expelled, t'cha,"  Lum crossed her arms and eyes.

"Sorry,"  Skuld turned away.  She found Lum's cross-eyed stares to be
almost as disconcerting as Ataru's habit of blinking with his irises.

"Are we here for a friendly get together or a duel, t'cha?"  Lum pointed
towards the home team's side of the field.

"Come along Ataru,"  Skuld dragged him to their corner.

The prime ministers of Japan and Uru took their front row seats as various
celebrities seated themselves behind them.

The students of the school gathered at the windows overlooking the field
and their teachers said nothing, after they were in before classes and this
was surely a once in a lifetime event.

As the first ray of sunlight came over the horizon, the referee's gun
sounded the start of the day's match.

Ataru dashed across the field towards Lum with his hands stretched out.

Lum waited until he was almost on her, then she flew over him.  Ataru
turned around and leapt up, but Lum kept just out of reach.

"What's the matter, Skuld's Darling, can't you fly, t'cha?"

Ataru said nothing and jumped again.

"On my planet even little babies can fly higher than that, t'cha."

She's only saying that because she knows I can't fly either, Skuld gritted
her teeth as Lum taunted Ataru for the rest of the day.

When the setting of the sun, Ataru collapsed onto the field.

"What's the matter, is there something wrong with Skuld's Darling, t'cha?"

"The match is over for today,"  Skuld knelt down and pulled Ataru's arm
over her shoulder.

"Daddy, let's go out and party. t'cha?"  Lum flew over to her father.

"We're going over to the prime minister's residence for dinner."

"Oh fuu, not another boring diplomatic event."

"Be patient dear,"  Mr Invader turned back to the prime minster of Japan,
"So, as a protectorate of Uru, you'll have very favorable trade terms..."

On the second day, Ataru tried roller skates and and a vaulting pole.

Lum flew aside at the last moment, leaving Ataru to impact spread eagled on
a telephone pole.

On the sixth day, Ataru turned away from Lum and stood still, even after
the gun sounded.

"Come on you bum, do something!"  The gang of four jeered from the
classroom.

Ataru just stood his ground with his arms crossed.

"Is something the matter with Skuld's Darling, t'cha?"  Lum flew up and
poked Ataru's back with the toe of her boot.

"Yaaa!"  Ataru spun around and leapt for Lum.

As she flipped back, his hands fumbled for purchase and he grabbed ahold of
the sides of her bikini bottom.

"He wouldn't!"  Skuld crossed her hands over her mouth as Lum's garment
slipped lower.

"That's a very naughty Darling!"  Zapppt!

Ataru's lost his hold as he convulsed and dropped to the ground.

The paramedics were very surprised that Ataru had survived such a shocking,
but Skuld wasn't.  That evening in his room she berated him.

"What were you thinking to try such an idiotic trick?"

"Yes, you're right, I'm an idiot to think that I ever had a chance," Ataru
stared out his window at the crowd of reporters below, "Anytime I get close
to Lum she'll just zap me and nobody else cares.  They're all too busy
selling out the Earth for their own gain.  Yes, I'm the loser!"

"No, you're not the loser, you can win this match.  I have faith in you."

"Hah!  You're just using me for your own purposes to deal with your old
friend Lum.  You never cared about me."

"No, that's not true,"  Skuld walked over to grab Ataru's hands in her own,
"As a goddess I can't lie about my feelings.  If you win this match and
save your planet I'll marry you."

"Marriage?  You can't be serious?"

"Yes,"  Skuld wrapped her arms around Ataru's neck and brought him down for
a kiss, "I am."

"Yes, OK, I'll win this one for our happy marriage, but how?"  Ataru ran his
hands down Skuld's back.

"I know just the thing to even the odds for this match!"  Skuld spun out of
Ataru's hold, leaving his hands cupped awkwardly in midair,  "You know,
you're kind of silly,"  Skuld waved to Ataru as she vanished into a cup of
water with her angel.

"Uh,"  Ataru put his left hand behind his neck then turned back to look out
the window into the twilight.

Back at the goddesses temple, Skuld slid open the door to her lab and saw
boxes of baby supplies piled up in the room,  "What is this?"

"I'm sorry Skuld, I didn't know you were coming back,"  Belldandy seemed to
materialize behind Skuld, with her baby in her arms,  "I can move this all
elsewhere."

"Don't bother Oneesama.  I just have something I need to make.  I won't be
staying the night."

"Can I get you something?"

"Some tea would be nice please,"  Skuld waited for her sister to leave then
cleared a dozen half-finished devices off her workbench and pulled out a
project she'd last touched six months ago.

As Skuld ran her hands over the device she thought about the boy she'd been
building it for, "Sentaro..."

"Koku?"

"No time for the past, we've got a world to save."

Skuld turned off her welding torch when she heard a knock at the door,
"It's safe to come in Oneesama."

Skuld and Scarlet took off their goggles and turned to the door.

Urd stepped in with a tray of tea and sandwiches.  "I asked Belldandy if I
could bring this in.  It's been awhile since you've been by."

"Don't worry, the spell you cast on Ataru wore off a long while ago."

"Like duh.  Actually I'd like to know why you haven't gotten us any tickets
for the big game."

"For your ears only?"  Skuld looked up from her sandwich.  She'd almost
forgotten how good Belldandy's cooking was.

"It won't leave this room."

"It's our infant niece.  I don't want her getting dragged into this nasty
business with the Oni."

"I figured it was something like that.  What'cha making?"

"A rocketpack."

"What's the power source?"

"LOX and liquid hydrogen."

"Volatile stuff."

"Don't worry, I'll be careful."

"Well, I'm sure you're very busy, so I'll leave you to your work."

"Thanks."

"By the way, is it safe to let that run around loose?"  Urd gestured
towards the Skuld's angel.

"Don't worry about it.  She's much better behaved now.  How about your
angel?"

"World of Elegance is feeling much better.  She'll be flying on her own
power any day now."

"Koku,"  Noble Scarlet bowed sadly to Urd and remained bowed after the
half-goddess left.

"Don't worry about it Scarlet, it wasn't your fault,"  It was mine, Skuld
thought.

Hours later, Skuld and her angel were still working on the rocketpack.

"Ready for a rely test Scarlet?"

"Koku!"

"OK, testing line 23."

Skuld fidgeted in her wedding kimono.  The groom was very late.  Everybody
else was there, even her father.

"Not coming, is he, t'cha?"  Lum wore the traditional costume of an Oni
widow, complete to the tiger-striped veil.

Skuld's reply was cut off by a tremendous explosion which blew in the main
doors of the church.

A severely burned body was tossed in by the explosion to land at Skuld's
feet.  As she looked down she was horrified to notice that the victim was
Ataru.

"Why?"  Ataru lifted a hand, but then collapsed before Skuld could reach
down for it and lay still.

"Nooooo!"  Skuld looked up at her workbench and the angel who was just
starting to wake up,  "Aren't you supposed to protect me from this?"

"Koku?"

"Don't worry, Mujaki can't fool me the same way twice.  By father, look at
the time!  No time for static testing, we'll just fuel it up and test at
the field."

As Skuld teleported in at the fountain next to the school athletic field,
she spotted Ataru doing warm up stretches while Cherry stood next to him
and ranted.

"There!  The shadows on your face!  It's obvious that today you will bring
a doom down not just on your own unfortunate self but on the entire
Universe!"

"What's so special about today old man?  Even if I do nothing, I still got
three more days to lose this match."

"Yes!  If only you would just stand there!  You yourself are naturally
doomed anyway, so please think this once of the fate of others!"

Cherry backed away, mumbling something and fingering his prayer beads as
Skuld walked over to Ataru.

"What was he talking about?"  She asked.

"I donno, something about the end of the world.  This entire match has got
him real freaked out.  I always thought Buddhist monks were supposed to be
real solemn dudes."

"And what is this, t'cha?"  Lum asked from right behind Skuld.

"It's something I made, to even the odds,"  Skuld ignored Lum's proximity
as she strapped the rocketpack onto Ataru,  "Do you object?"

"No.  If it's something you made, I'm sure it's no good, t'cha."

"Koku!"  Noble Scarlet stuck her tongue out at Lum.

"Remember Ataru, your left hand controls the switch and throttle.  Push
forwards for more speed.  Your right hand fires the lateral thrusters.  Push
in the direction you want to turn.  Do you think you've got all that?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine, don't worry."

"Good luck then."  Skuld wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him
close for a kiss.

"Just don't forget your promise, OK?"  He held her awkwardly against his
harness.

"Come on Darling!  I haven't got all day, t'cha."  Lum stood at her marked
position on the ground.

"Alright, already."  Ataru disengaged himself from the goddess and moved to
his position.  He turned back to wave at Skuld and her angel, then he
turned back to await the flagman's signal.

Lum took to the air at the first ray of sunlight.

The thrust from Ataru's rocket lifted him a few inches into the air.  Then
a blinding flash and thunderous roar shook the field.  Lum crossed her arms
in front of her face and was thrown up a few hundred feet.

"Nooo!"  Skuld flinched from Ataru's mental cry of agony and instinctively
closed off her telepathy as metallic fragments from the rocketpack rained
down around her.  "No father!, not again!  Please, not again!"

Skuld ran out onto the field as soon as the fireball lifted away but
stopped short and fell to the her hands and knees.  She couldn't even bear
to look at Ataru's blacked form, sprawled limply against the wall in front
of the first stadium seats, and so she stared down at the ground her tears
fell to as a hush settled over the crowd.

Skuld didn't even look up when Lum levitated down to the ground in front
of her.

"So, you found a way to deny me my prize, t'cha?"  Lum asked, "Seeing you
like this almost makes up for it.  But don't worry, I'll still take this
world, t'cha."

Suddenly the crowd began to mummer and then roar.

"See, they already cheer my victory, t'cha."

Skuld looked up then froze in shock.

"What is it, t'cha?"  Lum turned around and was pulled close against Ataru
by the grip of his hands on her horns.

"And now we can get married!"  Ataru's face was blacked and bruised from
the blast, but it still looked like the most handsome thing in the universe
to Skuld at that moment.

"Marriage?  So, that is what you want Darling, t'cha?"  Lum asked.  "Why
yes Darling, of course I'll marry you, t'cha!"  Lum grabbed Ataru's arm
and spun him around to face the crowd of reporters who seemed to magically
appear.

"What is this about a marriage?"  The first reporter asked.

"Well, we haven't set a date yet.  Darling did just propose to me after
all, t'cha.  But we'll get the full details to you as soon as we can,
t'cha."

"Mr Moroboshi, do you see your marriage as a way of ensuring peace between
Uru and Earth or is it more a personal matter?"  Another reporter asked.

"Uh..."  Ataru answered, as Lum pressed against him.

"Why?"  Skuld asked the ground.  "Why does she always have to win?"

"Koku!"  Noble Scarlet pulled at Skuld's sleeve.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, get back up into the fight.  I just need a moment to
feel sorry for myself."

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	Henry J. Cobb	hcobb@slip.net          http://www.io.com/~hcobb